Steven Horsford

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Major General Ondra L. Berry, a leader who has dedicated his life to both his community and his country. General Berry enlisted in the Nevada Air National Guard in 1986 and earned his commission as a second lieutenant by 1990. He served 25 years with the Reno Police Department, retiring as assistant chief. In 2019, he made history as Nevada's first Black adjutant general, leading the National Guard through its largest-ever activation during the COVID-19 pandemic. General Berry's initiatives, including the Battle Born Youth ChalleNGe Academy and mental health programs like Purple Resolve have impacted countless lives. His career has earned him honors like the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal, and he has served his community by cofounding the Northern Nevada Black Cultural Awareness Society and serving on several boards. I wish General Berry the very best in his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Congressman Jonathan Jackson, for co- chairing our Special Order hour for the Congressional Black Caucus. I rise tonight with my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus with a heavy heart to pay my personal respects and to remember a woman who meant so much to this body. The loss that we all feel for our dear friend and colleague, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, is truly immeasurable. On behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, I offer our sincerest condolences to Congresswoman Jackson Lee's husband, Elwyn; her children, Jason and Erica; the entire Lee family; and, of course, her staff in Houston as well as here in Washington, D.C. For nearly 30 years, Congresswoman Jackson Lee served in this body with honor, integrity, loyalty, and her signature style. As chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, it was a tremendous honor to be able to work with Congresswoman Jackson Lee each and every day. A woman of deep conviction, she was disciplined and principled. She was fearless in the face of challenge and adversity, and she always put her family, her community, and her country first. Her impact on Houston, the Congress, and the country will not soon be forgotten. From her time serving on the Houston City Council to her service here in the House of Representatives, she has advocated for social and economic justice and the advancement of the most marginalized. She made children, working families, and the safety of our Nation the cause of her life. From leading the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act legislation this Congress to H.R. 40, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act, to the Violence Against Women Act, to the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, Congresswoman Jackson Lee was a bold and courageous leader who always worked to make her community a better place. I join my colleagues in honoring her memory and her legacy by continuing the fight for the issues she cared for the most. She was a patriot and fighter to the very end, and this House was made better for her leadership. Words cannot express how deeply she will be missed by members of the Congressional Black Caucus, by the entire body, and by the constituents who she served. May God rest her soul. We love Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. May she rest in peace.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Lira Electric, a small business from my district which was recently honored as an SBA Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year during Small Business Week. Lira Electric started with just two employees in 2017, Robert Lira and his wife, and they have since grown to a team of 34, serving clients like the Department of Defense, MGM Resorts, and NV Energy. Their journey shows the important role that small businesses play in our economic growth. The success that they have achieved highlights the importance of initiatives like the Small Business Administration's funding programs which empower minority-owned businesses to thrive and contribute significantly to our economy. I congratulate Robert Lira and the entire team at Lira Electric for this well-deserved recognition. Their hard work inspires us all. I am proud to represent communities with businesses like theirs. Honoring the Life of Naomi Delores Jackson Goynes

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Naomi Delores Jackson Goynes, who recently passed away after a life as a beloved educator in North Las Vegas. She was born in Memphis in 1933 and pursued her passion for education at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Northern Arizona University, and UNLV. In 1964, she and her husband, Theron, moved to Las Vegas, where she worked for 36 years in the Clark County School District before retiring as an assistant principal. For their collective contributions to our local educational landscape, they were honored as the namesakes of the Theron H. and Naomi D. Goynes STEM Academy in North Las Vegas. Mrs. Jackson Goynes' strength, perseverance, and commitment to education will be remembered by her loved ones and everyone who knew her. I extend my condolences to her husband, Theron Goynes; her daughter, North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown; and all of her loved ones during this difficult time. Recognizing Joe Louis, Great Heavyweight Boxer

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize one of the greatest heavyweight boxers in history, Joe Louis. Tomorrow he is being recognized in Nevada in a tribute to celebrate both his professional and personal contributions to our communities. Louis was one of the first Black men to be elevated to national hero status after he broke many racial barriers and advocated for civil rights. Known as the Brown Bomber, he held the heavyweight title for almost 12 years, defending it a record 25 times, and despite a 4-year hiatus from boxing to serve during World War II. In addition to his boxing career, Louis was instrumental in breaking the color barrier in the PGA and paved the way for the first generation of Black professional golfers. His legacy left an enduring impact on sports and civil rights, helping inspire future generations to fight for justice. I am proud to honor his memory and celebrate his lasting influence. National Police Week

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Police Week. I am proud of the work we are doing here in Congress to make sure we give law enforcement the tools they need through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and through the appropriations process. Through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, we are making our communities safer, reducing crime, saving lives, and breaking the cycle of violence. This law has already made improvements in our school safety and mental health resources, and it has reduced the number of guns on the streets and cracked down on illegal gun trafficking. Improvements include historic investments in students' mental health for States and school districts, including $1 billion to hire and train more than 14,000 school mental health professionals. More than 750 prohibited individuals were denied firearms under BSCA's enhanced background checks for gun purchasers under 21 years old. More than 430 gun traffickers have been charged under BSCA's expanded Federal enforcement efforts to crack down on gun trafficking. Through community funding projects, Democrats putting people over politics have delivered more direct funding to our local law enforcement than our colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Third Way just released a report this week highlighting that House and Senate Democrats, through our community project funding, have secured nearly $400 million this year to fund public safety projects in our districts and States. This is compared to Republicans who secured around $272 million. I am proud to have delivered $4.4 million to law enforcement programs in Nevada's Fourth Congressional District, including to North Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's emergency command vehicle, the Judicial District Court's special advocate program, and $1.6 million to North Las Vegas Public Safety enhancement. These are true investments to public safety that save lives.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, good evening. I thank Jonathan Jackson for co-anchoring this important discussion on tonight's Special Order hour for the Congressional Black Caucus and to Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick for her tremendous leadership on all of our Special Order hours. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus to recognize the month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month. I thank Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman for her tremendous leadership on this very important issue, as well as each of our members for their work in addressing mental health, specifically in the Black community. Today, it is estimated that one out of every five American adults experiences mental health illnesses each year. In the United States, 21 percent of Black Americans reported having a mental illness, however, just 39 percent received mental health services. In recent years, the suicide rate among Black youth has been found to be increasing faster than any other racial or ethnic group. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is now the third leading cause of death for Black male adolescents and young adults in our country. Over the last 30 years, we have seen a 160 percent rise in the suicide rate for young Black men. The statistics regarding mental health in the Black community are alarming, yet it has received very little attention from this Congress. So it is time for us to address mental health and, in fact, to focus on mental wellness, the same as in any other health issue. It is time to remove the stigma that too often surrounds mental health, especially for members of our community who are less likely to receive mental health care services to begin with. This means addressing the systemic economic barriers our community faces to mental health care services, the lack of culturally competent care, and the root causes of declining mental health, including racism and implicit biases in daily life, high poverty rates, disparate economic participation, and low access to quality psychological and psychiatric services. It also means addressing the lack of diversity in our healthcare system. Often, when Black patients seek mental health services, they prefer a same-race healthcare professional, who are vastly underrepresented in this space. As legislators, we have a responsibility to the communities that we serve to find solutions to longstanding disparities that negatively impact our communities and to ensure that no one gets left out or left behind. As we can see, the research is clear, and the crisis before us is urgent. There are solutions. My colleague, Representative Watson Coleman, discussed just two that are bipartisan and have the support of Members on both sides. I know that there are efforts to pass bills in days when the majority wants them to, and we are asking you to make mental health the priority, especially in this month. In order to remedy these disparities, reverse these trends, and save lives, we have to address them head-on by providing access to better and more affordable healthcare, improving economic conditions in our communities, and moving toward more culturally competent and evidence- based care. We have to take action now. Lives are on the line. It is possible. It can be done by focusing on Mental Health and Wellness Month in a way that lifts up all communities and the services and support that they need.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative Cherfilus-McCormick, for leading this very important Special Order hour. I thank all of my colleagues who are here and the assistant Democratic leader, Mr. Neguse, as well. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight, as our dear colleague would say to his constituents, Mr. Speaker, with my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus and, in fact, the entire House of Representatives to remember a man of the people. The loss we all feel for our dear friend and colleague, Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr., is immeasurable. Words really cannot express how deeply he will be missed by our Caucus, but we want to express our heartfelt condolences and our prayers to the Payne family, to his staff, and to anyone and everyone who knew him. He is forever in our hearts, and we are so sorry for your loss. As chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, it is an honor to work with my colleagues each and every day for the betterment of our constituents, this body, and our country. It was an honor to work with a man of such good character, passion, and deep commitment to serving his community and our country as Donald M. Payne, Jr. He was a kind and thoughtful person, a person who always had a good spirit despite some of the most difficult health conditions that anyone could experience. He always had laughter and a humor about him and an optimism that was truly contagious. To our Caucus, Donald Payne was prolific, literally prolific, on this floor. He came to this floor to speak for the people. He had a goal of being ``the Michael Jordan of 1-minutes,'' and he would go on to win that award not once, not twice, not three times, but five awards in a row. For those who may not know, a 1-minute speech is when you come to this body and bring attention to an issue that is important to the constituents whom you represent. Despite sometimes not being in the best of health, he found the time and every opportunity to speak to his constituents and to speak on behalf of them. That is how many of us will remember him. We will remember him with a smile, always dressed to impress, heading to the House floor to speak to the country on behalf of the people and the community that he loved the most. He was a man of purpose and a man of humility. He was a public servant through and through. This House has been made better for his leadership. Congressman Payne, Jr., will always be a part of the history that we make here on behalf of the American people. I join my colleagues in honoring his memory, his legacy, and his life by continuing the work to fight for the people on the issues that matter to them most. May God bless your soul, Congressman Donald Payne. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to know you, to be friends with you, and to serve with you. Your legacy will live on, and may God bless you.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a very concerning truth about this Chamber. Recently, this Chamber moved at lightning speed on a bill that will ban TikTok if it becomes law. I voted against that bill for many reasons, one being that the process was alarmingly fast with little time to discuss the facts or the impact to small businesses or content creators, which actually should have ownership. Mr. Speaker, I find it very hypocritical that with all the pressing urgent matters before our Nation, we swiftly moved this bill through committee and on the floor. I am not the only one noticing that fact. The American people are also asking why we can't act on other important issues, why we can't pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act on the floor in 5 days. We haven't even been given an opportunity to have a hearing on the topic. Mr. Speaker, why can't we pass legislation to address the gun violence epidemic in this country, like my Break the Cycle of Violence Act or Congresswoman McBath's assault weapons ban? Mr. Speaker, why can't we have a hearing to address the housing crisis that is facing Americans or pass my HOME Act?

Mr. HORSFORD. You have time to pass a bill in 5 days to ban TikTok.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Hydeia Broadbent, a Las Vegas native who turned her life's biggest challenge into a powerful message of hope. Born with HIV, Hydeia wasn't expected to live past her early childhood, but she defied those odds, living until 39 before passing away last week. She dedicated her life to educating others about HIV/AIDS. She appeared on national platforms, telling everyone that life with HIV is still a life full of potential. At age 12, she said: ``I am the future, and I have AIDS. I can do anything I put my mind to.'' She did, making every day count and inspiring us all to do the same. Hydeia's legacy is a testament to the power of resilience, hope, and the impact one person can have. As we remember her today, let's carry her message of positivity and determination forward. May God bless Hydeia Broadbent.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Jackson and Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick for co-anchoring tonight's Special Order hour. I thank all the Members who have come to honor the start of Women's History Month, and I rise today with my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus to commemorate Women's History Month and to reflect on the innumerable contributions to our country that women, and Black women specifically, have made throughout our Nation's history. During Women's History Month, we celebrate the generations of Black women whose courage, advocacy, sacrifice, and patriotism have moved our country and the world forward. For generations, Black women have been hidden figures, leading our country through social evolutions, critical periods of growth, and eras of innovation. From the civil rights movement to consistently serving as a foundation for our community's success, Black women continue to push the needle. In fact, to the co-chairs, just this weekend we were in Selma for the 59th commemoration of Bloody Sunday. One of the people that we had the honor of hearing from was Ms. King, who was the person who received the letters from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., when he was writing the letter in a Birmingham jail. As she explained that process, it was his handwritten notes on scraps of paper that were passed to his attorney that ultimately were written by this Black woman that actually gave us that letter. I went up to her after the conclusion of her panel, and I thanked her for being a part of history and being a part of the movement that led to the passage of the civil rights legislation and so many important bills. It was also in 1968 when Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman in Congress. She, along with her colleagues, sought to make America live up to its promise that we are all created equal and, in this body, founded the Democratic Select Committee, which ultimately would become the Congressional Black Caucus. I am so honored to serve as chairman of this Congressional Black Caucus, and I am proud to say that today we are now comprised of the largest membership in our Nation's history. The CBC has grown from 13 members when we were founded 52 years ago to 60 members representing more than a third of the U.S. population, including more than 20 million Black Americans. It is on Shirley Chisholm's shoulders that the Congressional Black Caucus has continued to fight to dismantle barriers, to create opportunities, and to protect the very rights of every individual, regardless of their circumstance, because we believe, as Ms. Shirley Chisholm believed, in a future where everyone can thrive and achieve their full potential. Every day, we build on the legacy of Representative Shirley Chisholm, understanding that we must always speak truth to power and to stand up for the values that we hold dear. We remain mindful that we must work to push back against efforts that impede progress, including those to roll back women's rights or to cut off access to capital and better opportunities. This month and every month, we will remain mindful that we must directly address the challenges that persist, particularly for Black women in this climate. Black maternal mortality is at an all-time high. Access to reproductive care; the ballot box; fair representation; diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and in corporate America; and fundamental freedoms are under threat every day. As the conscience of the Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus will continue working, fighting, and leading to protect abortion rights, to invest in childcare, to deliver paid leave, and to finally achieve pay equity for Black women and to close the racial wealth gap in America. These are the priorities that the Congressional Black Caucus believes are important as we uplift the issues of Women's History Month. Again, I thank our co-anchors for leading tonight's Special Order hour and all of our members and especially the women of the Congressional Black Caucus. When we started 52 years ago, the CBC was made up of 13 people--12 men and 1 woman. Today, I am proud that of those 60 members of the CBC, 31 are women, Black women, who are leading in the Congressional Black Caucus. We have come a long way. We have a much longer way to go. I thank the members for their work on these important topics.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the immediate passage of legislation extending the Affordable Connectivity Program, a lifeline that connects over 23 million families in America, 274,474 in Nevada, and over 76,000 in Nevada's Fourth Congressional District. The bipartisan infrastructure law created the ACP, and it has been crucial to ensure that low- and middle-income households can afford their monthly internet bill, yet, without immediate action, the program will wind down in just a couple of months. Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act would keep it alive with a $7 billion investment. It would keep Americans in every ZIP Code connected, supporting families who need access to work, education, and healthcare, whether in my home State of Nevada or every other State across the country. Mr. Speaker, we finally began to close the digital divide. Now is not the time to widen it, so I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act and to make sure that the internet remains accessible and affordable for everyone.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, we do have a crisis at the border. For decades, we have been waiting for a solution for comprehensive immigration reform. In fact, in my first term here in the House, I was proud to be one of the leads on a comprehensive immigration reform bill that included commonsense solutions for undocumented people here, accelerated pathways for our young people who call themselves Dreamers, and had investments in enforcement measures. However, House Republicans refused to allow it to move forward, even after the Senate voted to pass it. Mr. Speaker, I would ask my House Republican colleagues why they won't take yes for an answer. President Biden has made clear our immigration system is broken, and only Congress can fix it. Instead, my Republican colleagues want to scream that the President is not doing enough to fix our broken immigration system, but, yet, are not willing to bring actual reforms up for a vote. In fact, they only brought a bill that would cut 2,000 Customs and Border agents from the border. That is not a solution. Let's work together. Let's pass a bipartisan bill. Take yes for an answer.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of protections for U.S. private sector investments in Central America, which addresses the root causes of illegal immigration to the United States of America. In 2023, it was announced that the Government of Honduras would open six new consulates in the United States. They are intended to address the needs of Hondurans who made the dangerous journey to the United States and entered the country illegally. This after-the-fact approach is emblematic of a multilateral failure to deal with the root cause of illegal immigration--a fundamental lack of opportunity in Central America. Once a local economy has failed to provide opportunity, job seekers are forced to look elsewhere to provide for their families. They often come to the U.S., but the battle is lost at this stage. Consulates in foreign land serving those who arrived here due to shortcomings of broken political systems are too little, too late. What do those who emigrate desire most? A secure, well-paying job in their own country. A thriving domestic private sector provides a job market that allows capable and ready-to-work individuals to support their families. We know this can be done. In fact, in Honduras, it has been proven that U.S. private sector investment, spent wisely and properly deployed, is creating thousands of jobs in the local economy. One prominent example is Honduras Prospera, a U.S.-led developer of special economic zones called ZEDEs. Prospera has invested over $100 million to bring new industries and new opportunities into Honduras. But now the underpinning Honduran constitutional ZEDE-law is under attack by President Xiomara Castro's administration. They are threatening illegal retroactive repeal of the ZEDE law via an illegitimate reshuffling of the country's Supreme Court. We cannot stand by and allow the expropriation of U.S. investment while denying thousands of Hondurans the right to a stable job. And this action violates a 50-year legal stability guarantee under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Undermining U.S. private sector investment will have significant and lasting negative effects for the Honduran people. Over the past few years, Honduras has confronted both the destruction wrought by Category 4 Hurricanes Eta and Iota, along with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As Hondurans work to rebuild, ensuring stable U.S. investment will afford Hondurans a fair working environment that provides good economic, educational, health care, labor, and housing opportunities. Better domestic opportunities help to reduce the pressures that lead citizens to irregular migration. Sustained U.S. investment in Honduras is strongly in our national security interest. After breaking Honduras' alliance with Taiwan and establishing diplomatic ties with China, President Castro recently traveled to China to meet with President Xi Jinping ``to jointly plan for the future development'' and inaugurate Honduras' embassy in Beijing. The promise of Chinese investment is both a powerful motivator for President Castro and a growing concern for global stability in the region. Preserving and furthering U.S. investment and engagement in Honduras is critical for our national security. I encourage my fellow Members of Congress to ensure that all hard- working Hondurans who wish to live and work in their country can have the opportunity to do so. So, let's request that U.S. agencies that control American visa access deny these benefits to any Honduran politician or policymaker advocating the expropriation of U.S. assets or investments. Strategic U.S. private sector investment is proving to make Honduras a land of opportunity for Hondurans while alleviating an ever-growing migration crisis here in the U.S.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our late former colleague, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. I am honored to have served with and to have been able to learn from such a legend in our Congress. She was a true trailblazer, becoming the first registered nurse to serve in this body. She was the first Black woman ever elected to public office from the city of Dallas when she was elected to the Texas State House and the first woman to ever lead a committee in the Texas chamber. She was also a Presidential appointee appointed by then- President Jimmy Carter as a regional director of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. She then returned to the Texas Legislature as a State senator, becoming the first Black senator from the Dallas area since Reconstruction. Mr. Speaker, she acknowledged the challenges of being both Black and a woman, once telling a reporter: ``Being a woman and being Black is perhaps a double handicap. When you see who is in the important huddles, who is making the important decisions, it is men.'' That drove her to fight for equity and to give women and people of color more opportunity and access. She came to Congress in 1993 and would later serve as the 17th chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. During her tenure, one of the things that she helped establish is the Tri-Caucus, represented through the coalitions of the Congressional Black, Hispanic, and Asian Pacific American Caucuses that exist to this day. She became the first African American and the first woman to be the ranking member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and subsequently became the chairwoman of that committee. Mr. Speaker, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson helped many of us. As a young freshman, it was Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson who encouraged and pushed for people like me and Leader Jeffries to pursue leadership roles. Today, I am honored to serve as chair of the CBC, and Leader Jeffries is our Democratic leader. It is that type of mentorship, that type of encouragement, that I will always hold dear. Like Representative Crockett, we will do our part to live out her legacy. We truly miss Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, but she will be proud of the legacy she blazed, and we will honor her memory for generations to come. Rest in power, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson) for bringing us together for this important Special Order and to thank him for his tremendous leadership on Social Security as the ranking member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security and for introducing the Social Security 2100 Act, which I am proud to be an original cosponsor of. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the urgent need for us to take action to protect and to improve one of the most important programs in our Nation, Social Security. It is shameful that it has been more than 50 years since Social Security benefits have been improved. Social Security is vital to making sure our senior citizens, the disabled, and many children in Nevada and all across the country are able to keep a roof over their heads and to keep food on the table. Mr. Speaker, there are 149,700 Social Security recipients in Nevada's Fourth Congressional District, which I am honored to represent. This includes 113,832 retirees, 8,380 children, 11,279 widows and spouses, and 16,209 disabled workers. Collectively, they receive $248 million in monthly benefits in our district alone. When beneficiaries receive their Social Security checks, what do they do? They turn around and spend that money in our communities, helping to churn the local economic engine. I know some of my colleagues on the other side will say we can't afford it. Well, the truth is, we can't not afford it. By simply ensuring millionaires and billionaires pay just their fair share of FICA that everyone else who works every day does, we can absolutely afford it. With these funds, we can increase benefits for all recipients by 2 percent, which would be the first general increase in Social Security in over 52 years. You tell my constituents we can't afford it, and meanwhile they are struggling to afford their rent and their food. Something else that I hear a lot about from my constituents is the fact that this bill, as proposed by Congressman Larson, repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision, the WEP, and the Government Pension Offset that currently penalizes many workers who have worked in the public sector, including teachers in Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I have one of the most diverse districts in the country, and I also have a significant military presence and many veterans who live in my district. Social Security's progressive benefit formula is particularly important for groups that tend to earn lower wages during their working lives, which include African Americans and Latino families. For example, in 2020, average earnings were about $41,000 for African Americans and $38,000 for Hispanics. The progressive formula means benefits replace a higher share of preretirement earnings for low-wage workers. People of color are less likely to work for employers who offer pensions and less likely to receive pension benefits in retirement, which weakens their security. In 2014, 30 percent of African American seniors, 19 percent of Latino seniors, and 25 percent of Asian American seniors received income from pensions or retirement benefits other than Social Security. This compares to 47 percent of White seniors. Mr. Speaker, many of the Latino and Black seniors in my district and all across the country rely on Social Security for all or nearly all of their income. After decades of hard work, they deserve the benefits that they have earned, and they deserve a program that keeps their benefits in line with inflation and the cost of living. By preserving and expanding benefits, Social Security 2100 would increase retirement security for people of color who have worked hard and who depend upon Social Security in their retirement. Finally, Mr. Speaker, nearly one in five adult Social Security beneficiaries are veterans. Military servicemembers pay FICA, earning future retirement, survivor, and disability benefits. Seriously injured veterans may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. Over 8 million veterans received Social Security benefits in 2022. This is more than 5.41 million veterans who received disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Social Security 2100 Act will extend the Social Security trust fund until 2066 and increase benefits for every recipient. Only we, the Congress, can make the necessary changes to protect and enhance Social Security, and we must take that action. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this side of the aisle to put people over politics and to protect Social Security.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a superb Air Force defense fellow for her tireless commitment to the U.S. Air Force, Congress, and to the constituents of Nevada's Fourth District. Wendy Lewis' relentless commitment to the Air Force proved invaluable in providing support to the House of Representatives and our constituents. This Nation is grateful for her commitment and the personal sacrifices that she has made during her time in the Defense Fellowship program and the United States Air Force. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and the United States of America, I commend Wendy and her family for their dedicated support to our Air Force and to this Nation. Nevada's official State motto is ``all for our country,'' representing the patriotic spirit of the people of Nevada. Wendy, who has served at Creech and Nellis Air Force Bases in Nevada, embodies this motto and is dedicated to public service. She has proven this through her service as an officer and now as a public servant. Wendy is the personification of giving back and has given her all to honor my State's motto. She is an example of the true spirit of Nevada, and her commitment to service inspires others. I congratulate her on an extremely successful career, her dedication to service, and wish her the best in her future endeavors. May God bless her, our troops, and may God bless the United States of America.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson) for anchoring tonight's Special Order hour and for his tenacity, perseverance, and dedication along with Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick as the coanchor for the Congressional Black Caucus. At the end of each year, Mr. Speaker, as Members of Congress, we owe it to the American people to show our work. We owe it to the American people to show who we have been fighting for and what we have delivered on their behalf. Mr. Speaker, as the first year of the 118th Congress comes to a close, I rise today with my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus because the report card on House Republicans' do-nothing chaos agenda and the CBC's people over politics agenda is in. Since the 118th Congress was sworn in this January, and as our Caucus has grown to a historic, record-breaking 60 members, we have been fighting for the people. We have been fighting to preserve our democracy, fighting to protect voting rights and create fairer districts, fighting for public safety and police accountability, fighting to protect a woman's right to make her own healthcare decisions, fighting against the expulsion of Black elected officials, fighting archaic traditions that block progress, and, of course, fighting extremist Republicans and a judiciary who would rather erase us, who want to see us less free, and with fewer fundamental rights. While the Congressional Black Caucus and House Democrats have been working to deliver results for the American people, the majority party has descended into complete and total chaos; chaos that left our country without a House Speaker for the first time in our Nation's history and brought the people's House to a standstill for 22 days; chaos that has nearly shut down our government and brought our country to the brink of defaulting on our national debt time and again. The American people deserve so much better than the Republican do-nothing Congress. By contrast, Democrats have offered a positive vision for our country and a real record of accomplishments to show in our districts and all across America. This is because of the investments that we worked to pass during the 117th Congress, along with President Biden and Vice President Harris, which was made possible because of historic legislation, including the Inflation Reduction Act, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law, including the Chips and Science law to bring U.S. manufacturing back to the United States and so much more, including historic investments in funding for our historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions. In my district alone, we just announced, with President Biden on Friday, a grant worth $3 billion to fund true high-speed rail to connect Las Vegas to the Los Angeles region. Finally, after decades of people talking about it, because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, it is finally happening. This will be a monumental and transformational boost to our local economy, and it will also create tens of thousands of good-paying union jobs--jobs, jobs, jobs. Jobs that will be offered to every faction of our community and small business owners, including Black-owned and other minority-owned small businesses. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are connecting the more than 123,000 households in my State that did not have access to the infrastructure to connect to broadband, to the internet, something as simple as connecting to the internet, something that far too many of us take for granted, there are counties and rural communities in my State that do not have that access, that do not have that benefit, but thanks to this law, those investments are finally happening. Another 825,000 families in low-income households are connecting to broadband thanks to the affordable connectivity benefit that was part of the infrastructure bill and that we are now working to make sure is included in the supplemental. Nevada is also seeing over $300 million invested to support the expansion of electric vehicle charging stations. I am so proud to have met just recently with a number of small businesses, including one Latina-owned business and one Black-owned business. They are electric companies who are now, for the first time, being connected to these contracts and have an opportunity to grow their business, to hire more workers, and to be part of this new burgeoning sector. These are just a few of our accomplishments, and we still have so much more work to do. I thank my colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus, because many of these historic bills would not have been possible without the leadership and the votes of the Members who make it happen, including our immediate past chair, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty; the assistant Democratic leader, Mr. Clyburn; our Democratic leader now, Mr. Jeffries, who literally worked toward reaching negotiation to deliver the votes necessary. We know that as we begin the work on behalf of our constituents in 2024 and beyond, there is more work to do, and so we will be tackling issues around Black economic prosperity and wealth creation, continuing to advocate for the passage of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and making sure that every community is safe: Safe from gun violence, safe from overpolicing, safe from hate crimes, whether they be against the Jewish community or Asians or African Americans because we understand that all communities deserve to be safe. I am proud of the accomplishments, the record that we can stand here and talk about, putting people over politics, and I look forward to working with my colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus as we continue to advance these legislative efforts for the people that we represent.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I thank both Congressman Jackson and Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick for their leadership and for co-chairing and co- anchoring tonight's Special Order hour for the Congressional Black Caucus. To the previous speaker and my classmate, Representative Donald Payne, I am grateful for his tremendous leadership and personal lived experience on this very important topic. I am grateful for so many of the other members of the CBC who have spoken on the importance of recognizing November as National Diabetes Awareness Month and have highlighted the disparate impact that diabetes has on the Black community. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Black Americans are 60 percent more likely than White Americans to be diagnosed with diabetes by a physician. Additionally, the health outcomes of Black Americans diagnosed with diabetes are worse than the outcomes experienced by White Americans. Black Americans are 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalized from long-term complications, 3.2 times more likely to be diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, and twice as likely to die from this disease. We know that the rate of diagnoses among Black Americans is on the rise. Over the past two decades, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes for Black and Hispanic youth has increased by 95 percent. At the start of the 117th Congress, the Biden-Harris administration and Democrats in the majority of the House and Senate made it our priority to lower everyday costs for the American people and to improve the affordability of lifesaving prescription drugs like insulin. We delivered on that promise. With unanimous support from the Congressional Black Caucus and House and Senate Democrats, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped the cost of insulin at $35 per month under Medicare prescription drug coverage, traditional Medicare, and Medicare Advantage. Because of this action, some private companies have extended that reduced cost to others, including children. The IRA has significantly improved the affordability and accessibility of lifesaving insulin for the 1 in 10 Americans with diabetes, including millions of seniors who in some cases were paying as much as $400 for a month's supply of insulin. After the insulin cap for seniors went into effect, the top three insulin manufacturers reduced their prices for all Americans, as I indicated. This is what we can do when the government works for the people. This is what the Democratic Party does when we are in the majority. We put people over politics, and we will continue to do that on behalf of the American people, who deserve nothing less. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Congresswoman Shontel Brown, who led the CBC in a press conference today by marking National Diabetes Month, as well as all of our members for their work in uplifting the stories of their constituents who are living with diabetes and who have benefited from the insulin cap under the Inflation Reduction Act.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pride to congratulate our own Las Vegas Aces on their remarkable achievement of back-to-back WNBA Championship wins. This team has done it again. Their hard work, talent, and teamwork have demonstrated what a never-give-up attitude can achieve, battling past setbacks from injuries, including star and last year's Finals MVP Chelsea Gray. I recognize this year's Finals MVP, A'ja Wilson, and the Aces' coach, Becky Hammon. Mr. Speaker, it is not every day that a city gets to celebrate three championships in just over a year, two from the Las Vegas Aces. That is why I was proud to join Vice President Kamala Harris in recognizing the team at the White House in August. Las Vegas is a city of champions. For the second straight year, the team finished with the best regular season record. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate everyone on this achievement, especially the players and coaching staff. Southern Nevada is excited to see more of what this team has, and we look forward to many more successes.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce my legislation, the Pay Workers What They've Earned Act. As we face this extreme MAGA Republican shutdown caused by Speaker McCarthy's unwillingness to work in a bipartisan fashion, we must remember the lessons of past shutdowns. The Republicans are hell-bent on shutting down the Federal Government, harming thousands of Nevadan workers and small business contractors, wreaking havoc on our economy, and impacting essential services for women and children, our military, and causing delays to Medicare and Social Security payments to seniors. It is wrong. It is unacceptable. It is why I am committed to supporting a bipartisan solution to keep government working for my constituents in Nevada. Madam Speaker, my legislation would reimburse Federal employees for fees and interest and fines charged through no fault of their own during a government shutdown. The bill would also reimburse State and Tribal Governments for costs incurred during government shutdowns. As thousands of Federal employees and small business contractors learned in previous sessions, simply reopening the government doesn't help them pay their credit card fees or their overdue rent notices.

Mr. HORSFORD. This is something you may not understand, but the hardworking people of Nevada's Fourth do.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus- McCormick for her tremendous leadership and also Congressman Jonathan Jackson. The two have been great co-chairs for our Special Order hour, a time when the Congressional Black Caucus comes to the floor to discuss important issues affecting all of America. Today, my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus are here to recognize the impact that gun violence has on Black communities and communities all around our country. In recent years, our Nation has bore witness to horrific acts of gun violence in our communities, from the racist murder of nine parishioners at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, to the attack at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, to police-involved shootings of unarmed Black men, women, and children. Time and again, when these tragic events happen, we hear politicians in Washington offer their thoughts and prayers, but we know that thoughts and prayers are simply not enough. They are not enough to end the violence that traumatizes entire communities and rips family members and friends away from their loved ones. They are not enough to end the cycles of violence created by the systemic and structural disadvantages of generations of racism and disinvestment in our communities. We must do more than offer thoughts and prayers alone. In order to solve this crisis, we must first understand the problem before us. Data shows that Black Americans are disproportionately impacted by gun violence in our country. Specifically, Black Americans experience 12 times the gun homicides, 18 times the gun assault injuries, and nearly 3 times the fatal police shootings of White Americans. On top of this, we know that these guns are not manufactured in our communities, which is why we believe gun manufacturers should be held accountable, and those who allow access to guns should be held accountable. Alarmingly, despite the fact that Black boys and men account for just 6 percent of the total population, they comprise more than half of all gun homicide victims in our Nation. Madam Speaker, and to the chairs, I know personally the effects of losing a loved one to gun violence. My father was shot and killed when I was 19 years old, a freshman in college. I remember getting the call that so many loved ones fear getting, and, in serving the district, the call that so many of my constituents tell me that they experience, the call that says that you don't get to say good-bye, that you don't get to tell your loved one once again that you love them, that they don't have the opportunity to see you, as my father didn't have with me, to finish my education, to raise three children, to serve my community, and to be here on the floor of the House of Representatives speaking about the issue of gun safety, not just in my community but in communities all across the country. These are problems that can be attributed to a number of factors, including the combination of weak gun laws as well as systemic racial inequities, including unequal access to safe housing, inadequate educational and employment opportunities, and a history of disinvestment in public infrastructure and services in communities of color. To remedy the ongoing issue of gun violence, we must continue to advance policies aimed at saving lives and making our communities safer. In the last Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus was instrumental in the House, passing the most significant piece of gun reform legislation in nearly 30 years with the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was signed into law by President Biden. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act took meaningful steps to protect our children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the overall threat of gun violence around our country by extending background checks for firearm purchases, clarifying licensing requirements, funding red flag laws and crisis intervention programs, and weakening the boyfriend loophole. This landmark piece of legislation was a positive step toward curbing gun violence in our communities, but we need to take more action to reimagine public safety, including holding law enforcement officers more accountable, using public health resources to address mental health crises, and ensuring all communities are well resourced with access to job opportunities, affordable childcare, and social services that improve quality of life. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues on the Congressional Black Caucus, as well as the partners of nonprofit organizations like Giffords, Brady, and Everytown, for their tireless work to advance safer communities and to save lives. To the people who have made this Congress act last Congress and who will demand that we act now, we know that public safety is not a red or blue issue. It is an American issue. There is no reason that in the most powerful country in the world, we can't do more to save lives, reduce crime, and break the cycle of violence. Our thoughts and prayers are simply not enough. We need action. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick for her leadership on these issues and Congressman Jackson. They experience these tragedies every day in the communities that they both serve. Madam Speaker, you have the commitment of the Congressional Black Caucus and its members that we will continue to advance safety for all of our communities.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the hardworking labor force across this country. Today, on this hot and muggy Washington, D.C., day, a thirst strike and vigil was held on our House steps. I was proud to join my colleague from Texas, Congressman Greg Casar, and the men and women highlighting the dangerous new policy in Texas as they held their thirst strike on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Madam Speaker, as a Representative for Nevada and the Las Vegas area, I can tell you that I know how dangerous the summer heat can be. The Texas Governor's dangerous new policy eliminates water break protections while Texas, Nevada, and many other areas of our country are experiencing record-breaking heat. Meanwhile, the brave men and women working in outdoor jobs like construction workers, mail carriers, and so many others continue working in the heat. Madam Speaker, we need Federal action to protect these workers who are simply trying to provide for their families and to keep a roof over their heads. I urge OSHA and the Biden administration to take action and protect our workers. We deserve a water break.