Chrissy Houlahan

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bipartisan and bicameral U.S. Public Health Service parity act, H.R. 2846. This bill is about keeping a promise Congress already has made to the people who serve our country. You should not have to choose between your service and your family. I know something about that choice because, when I served in the Air Force, there was a 6-month waiting list for on-base childcare, but I only had 6 weeks of personal leave after the birth of my child. It was, in many ways, a choice that I needed to make between my family and my service. If we value service and we value families, which we do, no one who raises their hand to serve this country should have to make that choice. My own experience is just one reason why I was so proud to help secure 12 weeks of paid parental leave in the past for our military servicemembers in the fiscal year 2021 NDAA. That was good for military families. It was really good for retention and, it is very, very good for readiness. However, we unintentionally left one of our uniformed services behind, the commissioned officers of the United States Public Health Service. Today, with this bill, we can fix that. More than 6,000 Public Health Service officers serve our country. They are ready to deploy wherever and whenever they are needed. They have responded to hurricanes and oil spills. They helped lead our Nation's response to COVID. They have deployed to confront infectious disease outbreaks around the world, natural disasters, and public health emergencies. They wear the uniform of our Nation. They leave their families when duty calls, and they serve alongside other uniformed services when our country needs them. However, when they become parents, right now, we don't give them the same parental leave benefits that we provide their counterparts in the armed services. There is not a very good reason-- indeed, there is no reason for that distinction. If we value their service when a hurricane strikes, when a disease spreads, or when another emergency threatens the American people, then we should value their families, too. That is the simple principle behind this bill: same commitment to service, same sacrifice, same support for their families. I am really grateful that this has been a bipartisan and bicameral effort from the very beginning. I thank Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member Pallone for bringing this legislation to the floor. I thank my Republican co-lead, Representative Bacon, and our Senate partners, Senators Duckworth and Murkowski, for working on this to get this here. The Senate has, indeed, already acted. Today, the House has the opportunity to finish the job and to ensure that every uniformed service receives the same benefits and the same basic support when its servicemembers welcome a child into their families. We ask a great deal of the men and women who serve this country, and they should never have to wonder whether serving their Nation means shortchanging their family. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the U.S. Public Health Service parity act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my constituent Jack Perme. I first met Jack several years ago in Westchester, where he was volunteering to help bring clean water to people in need, and that generosity would come to define his life. Jack began experiencing symptoms of spinocerebellar ataxia as a child. This progressive neurodegenerative disease impaired his coordination, his balance, his speech, and his ability to swallow. It ultimately took his life at just 28 years old. As the ataxia progressed, Jack had to give up driving and the many hobbies that he loved, including blacksmithing, woodworking, and 3D modeling. Yet, when Jack discovered that he could ride a recumbent bike, he regained a sense of freedom and independence. He immediately set out to share it. In 2024, Jack founded Moving Forward for Ataxia. He rode thousands of miles, raised more than $55,000, and provided 17 recumbent bikes to people across the country. My heart is with Jack's parents, Monica and David; his stepmother, Leslie; his siblings, Grant and Ricky; and everyone who loved him and was touched by his bravery and his generosity. Jack's message to all of us was very simple: Build connections, be kind, and whatever struggle you face, keep moving forward. That is exactly what his legacy will help others to do.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, military readiness is not just physical. It is, indeed, mental. It is emotional. It is financial, and it is spiritual. That is why every branch of our Armed Forces maintains a Chaplain Corps. Our chaplains are indispensable. They are counselors, advisers, and trusted members of the units and the families they serve. They strengthen the resilience of our force every single day, but chaplains are also servicemembers themselves. They have assigned duties and responsibilities. Among those responsibilities are two sacred obligations. One is to faithfully practice their own religion and to faithfully protect every servicemembers' right to practice theirs. A chaplain's faith belongs to their religion, but their duty belongs to every servicemember. That is how the Chaplain Corps serves the entire force without ever asking a chaplain to violate the tenets of their own faith. A Catholic priest, a Presbyterian minister, or a Jewish rabbi is not expected to lead a Muslim prayer, but they are expected to ensure their Muslim servicemembers have a place to worship and help them identify a lay leader if one is, in fact, needed. That principle has guided our military for generations because it protects every servicemember and because it respects every faith and even those who have none. This amendment abandons that principle. It doesn't strengthen the religious liberty. It, indeed, narrows it. It transforms a chaplain's duty to care for every single servicemember into permission to turn some of them away. Under this amendment, a commanding officer who expects a chaplain to carry out that longstanding responsibility could face punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. That is, in fact, a profound departure from how our military has always understood religious liberty. The military asks Americans of every faith and those of no faith to serve shoulder to shoulder with one another. Our Chaplain Corps exists to ensure that every one of those servicemembers can freely exercise their beliefs. This amendment weakens that mission. It weakens the trust that holds military units together and ultimately it, therefore, weakens the force itself. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, two things can be true at the same time. I can support voter ID requirements, which I do, and I can support banning Members of Congress from trading stocks, which I do, and I am in compliance. I can also oppose this bill because it is not an honest attempt to do either. This bill's stock-trading provisions do not go nearly far enough. In this bill, Members can retain their investments that they already own, preserving the very conflicts of interest that a real ban would eliminate. Instead, also in this bill, Republicans are attaching new barriers for Americans to vote by mail, requiring photocopies of a very narrow set of acceptable IDs, more narrow than those required in the State of Texas. They are so narrow that a very similar bill was vetoed by a Republican Governor in the State of Ohio. They put more burdens upon voters without access to copiers and more strain on election officials. If Republicans really wanted to ban Member stock trading, then bring us a really clean bill, and I will vote for it. In fact, I offered amendments to this bill, and Republicans rejected them all. Additionally, congressional ethics cannot become a Trojan horse for voter suppression. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reject this bill.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I thank the ranking member, Mr. Smith, for yielding me the time. Mr. Chair, today, I have the opportunity to speak briefly with regards to the fiscal year 2027 NDAA. The bipartisan bill that passed out of committee includes many quality-of-life provisions and priorities for our servicemembers and their families. These issues have an immeasurable impact on our recruitment and our retention efforts as well as on readiness. The bill includes a targeted pay raise in which junior servicemembers would get higher pay increases. These improvements to servicemembers' paychecks should provide welcome relief to military families who are still struggling with ever-increasing gas and food prices caused by the ill-conceived and poorly executed tariffs and the current war with Iran. H.R. 8800 also addresses the growing concerns about medical readiness and access to healthcare by reversing efforts by the Department to limit the scope of services available at military treatment facilities. We need to make sure that military treatment facilities and military health systems can deliver a force that is medically ready to deploy at a moment's notice and, just as importantly, we must be sure that the medical providers themselves have the requisite skills to address whatever injuries might come their way. The bill expands ongoing efforts to improve access to safe and quality childcare by including au pairs in the Child Care in Your Home pilot program and establishing a student internship program to improve recruitment and staffing of military child development centers. It provides a process by which military families executing a permanent change of station will receive timely and relevant relocation assistance and available childcare and food access services in advance of that military duty station move. Finally, the bill requires the Department to issue regulations banning the Department of Defense personnel from insider trading on prediction markets, a necessary and crucial step in safeguarding our national security. We brought this bill to the floor in a bipartisan fashion, and I urge my colleagues to reject poison pill riders that will destabilize this important work and to not insert bipartisan politics over the well- being of our servicemembers. This NDAA, like many previous defense bills, should continue to be bipartisan.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in opposition to this amendment. This amendment would, indeed, eliminate one of the most successful and the very least expensive national security investments the United States has ever made. Since as far back as 1863, our service academies have welcomed a small number of exceptional international cadets and midshipmen to study alongside America's future military leaders, and the results have been extraordinary. Those students return home to become generals, chiefs of defense, ambassadors, and senior government officials in their own lands. They leave with lifelong relationships with the Americans that they trained with, alongside, and a firsthand understanding of the American military professionalism, civilian control of the military, and the very values that define our armed services. Those relationships matter. In moments of crisis, nations do not simply rely on treaties, they rely on trust, and trust is built between people long before it is tested between governments. This program, indeed, builds that trust. It does so for roughly 60 students per service academy each year. This isn't charity. It is strategy. We educate the future military leaders from allied nations, and we also send our own cadets and midshipmen overseas to study as well. Both sides built on trust, both sides better officers. America is safer because of it. Show me another defense investment that creates future allies, strengthens military-to-military relationships around the world, and expands American influence for the cost of educating a couple hundred students. You won't find one. Supporters of this amendment claim that they are putting America first, and I disagree. America leads because other nations choose to train with us, to fight alongside of us, and to learn from us. Choosing isolation over influence does not make America stronger. It makes America smaller. If Members are concerned about capacity at these service academies, then let's expand that capacity and fund additional cadets or more ROTC, create more opportunities for more Americans to serve, but do not dismantle a program that has quietly strengthened American national security for generations. That is not a stronger defense--it is a weaker one--and yet another example of how undervalued and misunderstood American soft power is by this administration. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers), the esteemed chairman of the Armed Services Committee.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth), my friend and colleague and fellow member of the Armed Services Committee.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Maryland.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Gary Smith, a visionary leader whose 50-year career at Pennsylvania's own Chester County Economic Development Council has shaped the economic growth and prosperity of southeastern Pennsylvania. A lifetime Chester County resident, Gary grew up on his family's farm in West Bradford Township, which he still owns today. He joined Chester County's Economic Development Council in 1976, and he became the CEO 2 years later. Under his leadership, the organization expanded its programs and grew into a regional economic development leader and superpower. Now, after 50 years, Gary is stepping down as that CEO, and he leaves behind an enduring legacy. Gary has led with unwavering commitment to our community, from small businesses to family farms to younger generations entering the workforce. In recognition of his contributions, he was recently inducted into the Chester County Hall of Fame, and he couldn't be more deserving of that. I congratulate Gary on this honor. I thank him for decades of service to Chester County and to our great Commonwealth. His impact will doubtless be felt for generations to come.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 60th anniversary of Centro Hispano, one of the longest-running Latino-serving organizations in Pennsylvania and a cornerstone of Reading and Berks County since 1966. For six decades, Centro Hispano has supported generations of Latino families as they navigated education, healthcare, immigration, employment, and everyday life in our community. Today, Reading is home to one of the most vibrant and diverse Latino populations in the Northeast, and Centro Hispano remains a trusted first stop for families seeking help, guidance, and opportunity. Mr. Speaker, there would be no Centro Hispano without Mike Toledo. Mike has spent decades moving mountains for the people of Reading. When families needed food, he found it. When children needed nutrition, he connected local dairy farmers with Centro's meal programs. When the community needed COVID vaccines, he operated organized clinics. When tragedy struck at the R.M. Palmer factory, Mike was already mobilizing help. When people questioned whether their voices mattered, he organized voter registration drives and reminded the community why democracy does matter. Mike greets people with two simple words: Hello, family. That spirit of compassion, dignity, and community defines both the man and the institution he helped build. To Mike Toledo and everyone at Centro Hispano, congratulations on 60 extraordinary years of service. Berks County is stronger because of them, and we are all grateful.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Rabbi Jon Cutler on his retirement after 11 years of service as Rabbi of Beth Israel Congregation in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Rabbi Cutler has devoted his life to faith, to service, and to caring for others. Ordained by the Reconstruction Rabbinical College, he has spent decades guiding congregations, counseling families, and strengthening our community. He also has served our Nation with distinction for more than 30 years as a Navy chaplain in the Navy Reserves, retiring with the rank of captain. During his military service, Rabbi Cutler ministered to servicemembers and civilians through some of our country's most difficult moments, including Desert Storm, the aftermath of September 11 at the Pentagon, and deployments to Iraq and East Africa. Since joining Beth Israel in 2015, Rabbi Cutler has led with compassion, inclusivity, and a deep commitment to interfaith understanding. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Sixth District, I thank Rabbi Cutler for his extraordinary service to both our Nation and our community, and I wish him and his family all the best in his retirement.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize April as National Donate Life Month and to recognize the historic life-saving contributions of Gift of Life Donor Program. Donate Life Month is a time to honor organ and tissue donors, donor families, transplant recipients, caregivers, medical and donation professionals, and the thousands of Americans waiting for a second chance at life through transplantation. For more than 50 years, Gift of Life Donor Program has led the Nation in saving lives through organ donation, driven by an unwavering determination to end the transplant waitlist. Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Gift of Life is the nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) serving 11.3 million people in the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware. As one of the most active OPOs, Gift of Life coordinated the most life-saving organs transplanted in U.S. history in 2025. The program also has coordinated the most kidney transplants in the U.S. for ten years in a row--bringing its cumulative total to 22,756, the highest number of kidney transplants facilitated by any OPO in U.S. history and helping to address a critical public health issue. Overall, Gift of Life has coordinated the most donor heroes (15,586) and organs for transplant (43,108) since the start of our national donation system in 1988. Yet the work is far from finished. Today, more than 100,000 Americans--including approximately 4,500 people in Gift of Life's region--need a transplant to survive. Working around the clock in partnership with 123 hospitals and hundreds of transplant centers nationwide, Gift of Life's staff meets this urgent public health crisis every day. A global leader since the early days of transplant, Gift of Life continues to advance the field, championing organ recovery and preservation technologies that have greatly increased the possibility of donation for families who want to create a legacy of hope for their loved one. In addition, Gift of Life provides the most comprehensive array of services available to the U.S. donation and transplantation community. Its affiliates--Gift of Life Institute and Gift of Life Howie's House-- extend this impact globally and locally. For more than 20 years, the Institute has served as an international training center for organ and tissue donation professionals. Gift of Life Howie's House, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, is a 32-room lifeline for transplant families, providing temporary affordable lodging, meals and professional supportive services for thousands of patients and caregivers during their transplant journey. Each of us can support the Gift of Life mission. A single organ donor can save up to eight lives; a tissue donor can heal as many as 100 others with gifts that restore health, mobility and sight to patients in need. Every person has the potential to save and heal lives through donation regardless of age, health or medical history. Registering takes less than one minute. This simple act is a profound expression of generosity and shared responsibility. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating National Donate Life Month, honoring the extraordinary generosity of donors and donor families, giving hope to our fellow citizens waiting, and encouraging all Americans to register as donors. Together, we can help Gift of Life achieve its vision of ending the transplant waitlist.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, during Roll Call No. 94 on H.R. 1958, I mistakenly recorded by vote as NAY when I should have voted YEA.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary service of Kirk Fernitz, a dedicated public servant who is retiring after decades of service to our Nation, to our veterans, and to our community at the Coatesville VA Medical Center in Pennsylvania's Sixth Congressional District. Born and raised in Germany, Kirk came to the United States as a student and earned his degree from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania before becoming an American citizen and commissioned as an Army officer. Over the course of 30 years in uniform, he served in the Active and Reserve Components of the U.S. Army, deploying to Iraq twice and supporting peacekeeping missions in Africa under Joint Special Operations Command. Following his military service, Kirk devoted more than three decades to the Coatesville VA, culminating in his role as the director of community and congressional affairs, where he worked tirelessly to strengthen the connection between veterans, the VA, and our community. Kirk's career reflects a lifetime of commitment to service, to our veterans, and to our community, and they are better for it. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Sixth Congressional District, I thank him for his dedication and wish him and his wife, Kristin, and their sons, Erik and Haydn, all of the very best in retirement.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, joined by my colleagues from the Pennsylvania delegation, to honor the life and the service of Corporal Timothy O'Connor, Jr., a Pennsylvania State trooper and a proud member of our Chester County community. Corporal O'Connor wore the uniform of the Pennsylvania State Police for 15 years, serving the people of our Commonwealth. He was part of the brotherhood and sisterhood of troopers who run toward danger so that others can live in safety. Two weekends ago, while conducting a traffic stop in the line of duty, Corporal O'Connor was tragically shot and killed. Today we stand here together to honor his courage, his sacrifice, and his service. We hold his wife, Casey, their young daughter, and the entire Pennsylvania State Police family in our hearts. Mr. Speaker, please do join us for a moment of silence to honor the life of Corporal Timothy O'Connor.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Deborah P. Brown for more than forty-four years of extraordinary service to the American Lung Association and for a lifetime of visionary leadership dedicated to saving lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. As Chief Mission Officer of the American Lung Association, and previously as President and CEO of the Lung Association of the Mid- Atlantic, Deb Brown has been a transformative leader whose steadfast advocacy, innovative leadership, and unwavering commitment to public health have strengthened programs, advanced research, expanded advocacy, and forged impactful partnerships across the Nation. Her work has helped improve lung health and strengthen public health protections for Pennsylvanians and communities nationwide. Deb's commitment to lung health is deeply personal. After losing loved ones to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), she dedicated her life to ensuring that no family faces lung disease without access to support, education, and hope. That experience strengthened her resolve to raise awareness, advance research, and champion policies that improve quality of life for those living with lung disease. In Pennsylvania, Deb was instrumental in advancing landmark public health achievements, including tobacco prevention initiatives, asthma control efforts, expanded healthcare access, clean air protections and anti-idling legislation that strengthened safeguards for residents across the Commonwealth. Her leadership also extended to Delaware, where she played a pivotal role in the passage of the state's Clean Indoor Air Act--then the second comprehensive law of its kind in the Nation. As Chair of the Delaware Cancer Consortium, she led statewide efforts to improve cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. Over the past eight years, under her national leadership, Deb advanced the American Lung Association's work in research, advocacy, and public education. Under her direction, the organization successfully advocated for stronger car and truck emission standards, cleaner power plants, and critical methane emission controls from oil and gas operations--policies that continue to deliver lasting health benefits. She also served on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Act Advisory Committee. During her tenure, the organization supported approximately $178.6 million in research investments to advance initiatives that improve lung health and accelerate innovation. Deb's leadership was particularly critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she helped advance science-based public health efforts to protect people living with lung disease. She also played an important role in advancing Tobacco 21 policies, protecting children from predatory marketing of e-cigarettes, and supporting state-level successes, including increased tobacco taxes. She strengthened advocacy efforts that bring lung disease patients and caregivers to Washington, D.C. each year to advocate for protecting access to affordable healthcare and securing sustained federal funding for the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With degrees in Public Health and Health Education and as a Certified Health Education Specialist, Deb has dedicated her career to empowering communities through education, prevention, and advocacy. She has authored curricula, contributed to research publications, and trained advocates and educators across the country. Just as importantly, she is widely respected for her mentorship and compassion, helping cultivate the next generation of public health leaders. Through her visionary leadership, deeply personal commitment, and tireless dedication to lung health, Deb has improved the lives of countless individuals and families and helped create healthier communities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States. Her legacy will endure in cleaner air, stronger public health protections, groundbreaking research, expanded access to care, and the many lives saved and leaders inspired by her example. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating the career and retirement of Deborah P. Brown.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Velazquez for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a big win for small businesses and innovators in my district and across the country, as well. For years, I proudly led the bipartisan RAMP for Innovators Act, a bill that gives our small businesses the tools they need to turn great ideas into market-ready products. Today, I am thrilled that a significant portion of that work is included in the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act. Thanks to this bill, these very important provisions and improvements will soon be law. Today's passage is a testament to what bipartisan and bicameral collaboration can achieve. It was a real disservice that the SBIR and STTR programs lapsed last year, which are the lifeblood of innovation on Main Street. They help both entrepreneurs and small businesses in places like Pennsylvania's Sixth District turn ideas into real products and businesses. Thanks to this legislation, the programs are back and stronger than before. Importantly, the bill incorporates key provisions for my RAMP for Innovators Act that give small businesses more control over their commercialization efforts. Under this legislation, companies can now use technical and business assistance funds not just to utilize outside experts but to also hire new staff, expand existing teams, and to train their employees to move their technologies to market. Agencies will continue to provide oversight to ensure that funds are used effectively, but awardees now have a lot more flexibility to direct these resources to where they are most needed. Additionally, this bill ensures that SBIR and STTR recipients can participate in the Innovation-Corps, or I-Corps, programs, which provide key trainings that help turn research into market-ready products. Under the provisions in my RAMP for Innovators Act, businesses can use TABA funds and other funding sources for participation in I-Corps, giving small businesses the flexibility they need to fully take advantage of these opportunities. Having scaled a lot of businesses in southeastern Pennsylvania, I know how critical these resources are. They can literally mean the difference between a promising and even life-changing idea sitting on a shelf and a product that creates jobs and strengthens our economy. I thank Representative Balderson for his continued participation and bipartisanship on this, the RAMP for Innovators Act, and to Senator Coons for championing these provisions in the Senate. Together, we are ensuring that small businesses have the support that they need to grow, hire, and bring bold ideas to market. This is a really proud moment for Main Street, for innovators, and for my community. I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' for the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Brigadier General Aida ``Terri'' Borras on her retirement from the U.S. Army. Brigadier General Borras' forty-one year career has been characterized by exceptionally meritorious service while serving in positions of increasing responsibility, culminating as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff (Intelligence) for Headquarters Department of the Army G2. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York, Brigadier General Borras' distinguished service has impacted the lives of countless Soldiers and their families. Borras enlisted in the Army in 1985. During her enlisted career, she served as an intelligence Soldier in the Combined Field Army (Republic of Korea-U.S.), the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), the 1st Special Operations Command (Airborne), the Special Forces Command (Airborne), and participated in combat operations during Operation Just Cause. In 1992, she was selected for the Army's Green to Gold Program and graduated two years later from The George Washington University and received her commission as a second lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Corps in 1994. Her command assignments include: Platoon Leader, Delta Company, 629th Military Intelligence Battalion (CEWI), Maryland National Guard; Company Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, INSCOM Support Battalion (Provisional); Battalion Commander, Army Reserve Element at the 1st Information Operations Command (Land); Battalion Commander, North Central Army Reserve Intelligence Support Center; Brigade Commander, Army Reserve Operational Activity; Commanding General, Military Intelligence Readiness Command; and Deputy Commanding General, Southern European Task Force Africa. Staff assignments include: Intelligence Watch Officer, Joint Analysis Center; Joint Information Operations Planner on the Multinational Force--Iraq staff during Operation Iraqi Freedom; Director, Army Reserve G-39 (Cyber and Information Operations Directorate) on the Office of the Chief, Army Reserve; and Director, Commander's Action Group for the Commanding General, United States Army Reserve Command. I thank Terri for her distinguished service, and her professionalism and passion for service in every role she has filled throughout her prestigious career. Part of what makes the U.S. military the greatest in the world is that servicemembers like Terri voluntarily dedicate their lives to serve and sacrifice for this country. I also want to thank her husband Patrick and her children, Sean, Liam, Conor, Eion and Siannen, for their unwavering support. I wish Terri and her family all the best in what I hope to be a restful and enjoyable future.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 3370, PROTECT Firefighters Act, and H.R. 1742, Access to Reproductive Care for Servicemembers Act, bills originally introduced by Representative Sherrill of New Jersey, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, it is really devastating to listen to the other side talking about how we somehow were not supposed to be told when boots went on the ground before. Somehow, we were lucky enough, by God's grace, that nothing bad happened to the men and women in the service of our Nation. Yet they actually were injured, seven of them. The U.S. military is being used against Venezuela without congressional authorization, without transparency, and in ways that appear only designed to benefit the very powerful amongst us--the oil companies--and not the Venezuelan people, and certainly not our American people to whom we are obligated to represent. It is as simple as that. The American people don't want their sons or their daughters sent into harm's way for their missions to Venezuela or to Greenland or to anywhere else that are undertaken just to enrich corporations and the most wealthy amongst us and cronies of the President's, and to do nothing in the process to lower the cost of living, to help families afford housing or healthcare, or to secure a future for our children.