Chrissy Houlahan

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Kennedy).

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I very much thank all of my colleagues for joining us and meeting here tonight. This evening, we heard about the damage that President Trump's actions have done to our Nation's security. If our Nation turns its back on Ukraine, we heard about what comes next: Our ally Taiwan left in greater jeopardy to a Chinese invasion; our allies elsewhere left looking for security and other trading opportunities; and worst of all, our enemies worldwide left emboldened by Trump's isolationist actions. The American people should be worried tonight. History has shown us that when America is isolated, we are less safe. I very much hope that my Republican friends, the 101 of them, now 100 of them, who very recently voted in support of this nation in its fight for their democracy and, as a consequence, all of our democratic values, will stand up to our President and will help us, the United States, change our course and, as a consequence, the world change its course for safety and freedom, as well. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Taxpayer Data Protection Act, but before then, I will hold this piece of paper up for just a little while because it is my anticipation that before I finish speaking, the internet will have transcribed this piece of paper and the data that is in it. Mr. Speaker, what if I told you that, somewhere in the multiverse, there was a person, dare I say a villain, who was intent on accessing all the data of the world's most powerful nation and of all of her people. Imagine him sitting in his lair. Perhaps he is stroking a cat. In his mind's eye, he envisions the files of data that he and his minions will soon have access to. Perhaps he will have access to your Social Security number or perhaps your health information. Perhaps he will know about your financial status or what you buy. Perhaps he will unilaterally refuse payments to the defense programs, take a cut of his own from payments, or even will authorize contracts to only his very favorite people and his very favorite organizations. He will also know deeper secrets that our government works so hard to make sure remain so, so that our citizens can be protected, and so will our adversaries have those same secrets, either intentionally or unintentionally. You would probably really enjoy this scenario if it were the plot of the new 007 movie, but imagine if it wasn't just a plot and that it was, instead, a reality. This is, in fact, what president Elon Musk and his unelected, unvetted, and untrained minions are attempting to accomplish. Elon Musk is not rooting around in our Treasury data so he can find fraud and waste. He does not care about curbing spending or getting the budget balanced. He is not trying to optimize our Nation's wealth or to help us all make smarter choices. He never cared about any of this, and he never will. Yet, knowing this, Trump has, in fact, set him loose on the hunt for data. Make no mistake about it, he is attempting, if he has not already, to access this cache of information, both the personal and the national interest information of our entire people and our entire Nation that will forever be his and his minions' and at their disposal forever, should they be successful. My guess is that by now, the internet has already translated this piece of paper into data because that is the way the internet works. That is not a read-only piece of data. You may have been able to read it, but in that space of time, my guarantee is that someone on the internet has not only translated it but is also now spinning it into different directions and thoughts. This all should strike fear in the hearts of all Americans for all kinds of different reasons. It is a blatant and overt theft of information that is not theirs to have. Think of the power that that information will wield. It is a violation of our Constitution and of the checks and balances that we all grew up honoring, regardless of what party we associate ourselves with. What is a person to do? A person has to think hard about how they feel about the means and ends. You may be one of those people who believes that this government needs to be held in check. I understand that you may have voted for this, but is this, in fact, the way that you want this to be accomplished? You should be concerned that the law is being broken in your name. You may be one of the people in the middle who fears that your information will be used against you and just now is waking up and realizing that this may not be exactly what you want. You should also be outraged and concerned. If you are one of those people who never signed up for this to begin with, I am truly sorry. We are in a situation right now where the House, Senate, and White House are all under Republican control. We need all of you, all three different kinds of you, to tell us to do our jobs. What does doing our job look like? It looks like supporting this bill that is on the floor, the Taxpayer Data Protection Act. What it looks like is passing this bill on the floor with a resounding majority and making sure--a la ``Schoolhouse Rock!''--that it goes to the Senate as well and that it gets to the President's desk with a veto-proof majority. What it looks like is stopping the executive orders and actions of the executive, Trump, so that this kind of thing cannot continue to happen. The legislative branch, us, but really specifically the Republican majority today are the only ones who can put a stop to this dangerous lawlessness, but they are not going to do that even though they will privately acknowledge how wrong it is, even though they privately hope that Musk and Trump will wear themselves out, even though they privately hope the courts will work, and even though they privately say it is read-only access and is not that much data. Mr. Speaker, it is dangerous, unconstitutional, and illegal. I ask my friends to step up and speak up. Please continue to call your Congressmen, particularly your Republican ones.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the hard work and invaluable contributions of Kristen Meyer to my office. Kristen has honorably served as an Air Force Congressional fellow on my legislative team for the past year. While Kristen's time in my office is coming to an end, her contributions to my community and to our Nation will be durable and lasting. Notably, in just one year's time, she has helped us to reinvigorate the bipartisan Servicewomen and Women Veterans Caucus like never before. She has championed dozens of legislative proposals through the fiscal year 2025 NDAA, which passed last evening, and she spearheaded numerous Intelligence Authorization Act provisions that will make our country and our world safer. She has improved office processes, strategies, community outreach, and much more, and most importantly, she has made us laugh even when we felt like crying. The HoulaTeam is incredibly grateful to the generosity, ferocity, kindness, and humor that Kristen has brought to our office every single day. I thank Kristen for her service and for her vital contributions to the intelligence community. We wish her the best of luck on her next steps, and we will miss her.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith both for their leadership and clear vision for our committee, which has guided our national security and collective defense. This Congress, I had the privilege of serving as the ranking member our military Quality of Life Panel alongside my dear friend and Republican colleague, Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska. The bill before us today, including more than 20 provisions from that Quality of Life Panel, is truly a testament to what this body can accomplish when we come together and when we do hard work together. From inadequate pay and substandard housing conditions to food insecurity and long wait times for essential services, our panel's findings make it clear that we still have a lot of work to do to ensure that our military families survive and thrive. I am very pleased that the fiscal year NDAA includes a 14.5 percent pay raise for most junior enlisted and a 4.5 percent pay raise for all servicemembers. This increase is critical for us to retain our all- volunteer enlisted forces and maximize the investments we have made in them. It also includes key healthcare provisions, like no-cost contraception and my bill, the MOMS Who Serve Act, which is the largest investment in maternal health in the DOD's history. It requires the DOD to fully fund overdue maintenance for housing and fee assistance for childcare so that no family is turned away. It ensures that our spouses have the support they need to ensure pathways to employment and transfer licenses for careers when they move. This is the most consequential and important piece of legislation of the entire 118th Congress. With this bill in law, our Nation will be more secure and our servicemen and -women more resolved to face the global challenges of tomorrow. I would be remiss if I closed without noting my severe disappointment in those colleagues who chose to sully this bill with political culture wars that will impact the healthcare of minors. This is not what we were tasked to do, and I urge us to remain focused and of service. Young America, the next generation of our all-volunteer force, and their families are watching, and our national security depends on it.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 456, H.R. 82, and NAY on Roll Call No. 457, H.R. 5342.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) on 40 years of working with Congress and providing policymakers with educational resources about climate, clean energy, and environmental topics. To address climate change, we need durable policies that support impactful climate solutions that withstand the ups and downs of Washington. That requires us to work across the aisle and craft bipartisan legislation. Thankfully, there is more common ground on combatting climate change than ever before, and the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus is providing a unique space for Members who share my interest in paving the way forward together. EESI also understands the value of finding common ground and has been a true partner to the Caucus in helping to educate members on a multitude of topics, including the advancement of climate solutions in the Farm Bill, natural climate solutions, carbon sequestration, community resilience, and climate negotiations on the international stage during the U.N. Conference of Parties. During my time in Congress, I have always appreciated EESI's ability to deliver timely, nonpartisan, science-based educational resources in formats that my staff and I can use to serve the constituents of the Sixth District of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. EESI's partnership has directly supported the educational efforts that the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus has facilitated for its Members and staff. Building bipartisan collaboration around data-driven climate solutions will keep the United States on a course to meet its climate goals while revitalizing the economy, safeguarding energy security, and providing cost-effective, cleaner power for everyday Americans. EESI has a long history of working on climate and environmental issues regardless of which party is in the White House. EESI's predecessor organization dates back to the time of Richard Nixon, and EESI itself was established as an independent nonprofit organization during Ronald Reagan's first term. The organization began its work on climate change under the George H.W. Bush Administration and, more recently, it has extensively tracked the historic climate investments passed by the House and Senate during the Biden Administration. This history exemplifies EESI's commitment to facilitating constructive, bipartisan dialogues around how to bast combat climate change. Congratulations to EESI on 40 years of working alongside Congress and promoting durable, bipartisan climate solutions. I wish EESI all the best for the next 40 years of advancing solutions, fostering bipartisanship, supporting rural communities, and cultivating young leaders.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for the opportunity to speak on this Special Order. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues as a very proud member of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum Steering Committee. Together, we are very much committed to addressing one of the greatest threats to our Nation's long-term stability, and that is that of our unsustainable debt trajectory. We also understand that we simply can't afford to treat our fiscal future like a political football. I represent Pennsylvania's Sixth Congressional District, a very purple community, where people understand that fiscal responsibility isn't a partisan issue, but it is a community value. We know that our prosperity both at home and across the country depends on smart and responsible fiscal stewardship. Before coming to Congress, I was a business leader in Pennsylvania, and I have seen firsthand the risks and consequences of debt when it is not carefully managed. Businesses that ignore fiscal discipline may eventually falter. They may lose investors, may lose opportunities, or may even fail. In the same way, if we continue on our current fiscal path as a nation, we could also find ourselves on similarly dangerous ground. Over the past few years, this Nation and consequently the Federal Government has faced very costly and unprecedented challenges, from responding to the global pandemic, to defending our allies abroad from brutal, illegal attacks, to historic emergency national disasters. These crises have demanded investments and American leadership to protect our country and to support our global partners. However, as interest rates now dip and inflation lowers and eases, now is, in fact, the time to refocus our efforts. In the coming months, we must have serious conversations about the future of our long-term fiscal health. As we look toward this future, the long-term implications of our national debt demand our attention and demand action. Right now, as has been mentioned, the U.S. national debt is over $35 trillion, larger than our entire economy's GDP. On a similar note, according to the Congressional Budget Office, if we fail to change course, interest payments on that debt alone are projected to exceed $1 trillion annually by 2033. That is $1 trillion just to pay the interest, money that could otherwise go toward infrastructure, families, education, and national security. Speaking of national security, I want to be clear: Our economic security is absolutely directly tied to our ability to defend ourselves and to lead on the global stage. The more that we borrow, the more we depend on foreign creditors, and the less flexibility that we have in making decisions that are in our national interests. As our interest outlays increase, the less funding we have to spend on things like our military's preparedness. We cannot afford to have our hands tied by debt when it comes to protecting this Nation. In Congress, we face critical deadlines in the coming months. As we prepare to vote on yet another short-term funding extension this week, we are reminded that a bipartisan full- year compromise for fiscal year 2025 government funding has yet to be reached. Early next year, we will once again face the debt ceiling. These are not abstract deadlines. These are real and pressing moments where we have the opportunity to get control of our fiscal future together, but that opportunity is slipping away if we continue to delay these difficult decisions and if we continue to politicize this issue. So that is why the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum exists. We are here. We are here to sound the alarm, and also to propose durable solutions, solutions like a bipartisan fiscal commission, or the Fiscal Responsibility Act that we passed just last year. Our mission as a group is to raise the profile of this issue with our colleagues and with the public while ensuring that we have healthy, constructive debates on fiscal policies here in Congress. As a bipartisan group, we know that this is not about scoring political points. This is about securing a sustainable future for our children and for our grandchildren. We may not agree on every solution or on the levers to pull, increasing revenues or decreasing costs, but we cannot afford to continue to keep kicking the can down the road. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to please come together, to set aside partisanship, and to work toward a balanced, sustainable budget. We owe that to the American people.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Lofgren for yielding me the time to speak on behalf of my bill, H.R. 1735, and I thank so much my colleague, Representative Baird, for his tireless efforts to help us get this across the finish line. It is past time that America's K-12 students enter the 21st century, and this Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act is a bipartisan bill that will help with that and will direct $10 million in funding, importantly, funding that is already appropriated to the National Science Foundation, toward grant programs, and it will support the modernization of mathematical and statistical modeling education across this fine Nation. As someone who is educated as a systems engineer, with both undergraduate and graduate degrees, which focused on things like operations research and linear programming and statistical modeling, I have had the privilege of using all of these kinds of maths all during my career and life. Also, as a former high school chemistry teacher, I saw firsthand that many of my students struggled because they lacked the basic foundations in math that are necessary to succeed in the sciences, and frankly, to succeed in our economy. These math skills form the basis of all the STEM disciplines, and importantly, they also form the basis of critical thinking and problem- solving as well. Without them, students struggle to keep up, let alone to get ahead not just in math and science but ultimately in our competitive workplace and world. The National Assessment of Educational Progress, which is colloquially known as the Nation's report card, has shown that this is a national challenge. The most recent assessment registered the very largest declines in math scores since we first started assessing them in 1990. The scores of our average fourth graders were down five points. Worse, the average score of our eighth graders recorded an eight-point lower assessment than the last time. As our students are continuing to recover from the pandemic, now particularly is a very good time to focus on a renewed and modified investment in math and STEM education and skills. If our students can't get ahead in school, how will they get ahead in the STEM workforce as engineers, as chemists, as nurses, as doctors, and so much more? As importantly, how will those who do not pursue STEM fields succeed where these same kinds of skills are very, very useful in things such as the trades and manufacturing or any other job in industry? Thankfully, schools across the country are already developing new tools and curricula to better connect students and help them learn these challenging topics. It is crucial though that the Federal Government deliver its financial support to schools that are already leading this effort and that want to in the future. My colleagues also supported an amendment to the bill ensuring that this funding is broadly available, so students can benefit from it no matter what kind of school they go to. Their adjustment made sure that schools which are private, faith-based, or homeschools also have access to this funding. I also want to highlight that this funding is all drawn from funds that are already appropriated to the National Science Foundation. This legislation does not represent any new funding authorizations or authorities. It is simply ensuring that the NSF is able to spend the money it already receives to bolster innovation in this very important area. This bill will go a long way towards providing our very youngest people with the skills that they need to succeed in today's marketplace. It passed with a strong bipartisan majority in the 117th Congress and was passed unanimously out of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology last year in this Congress as well. I once again thank my Republican colleague, Mr. Baird, for his work on this legislation. I also extend my deep appreciation to the SST staff and committee who have helped to shepherd this legislation through today. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this very commonsense, bipartisan measure.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, what happened to the Republican Party that once stood for free market capitalism, for for-profit businesses to be allowed to run their companies as they wanted, to be able to have people not be fettered by people like us here in Congress? Seriously, what happened to them? I rise in opposition to my Republican colleagues and their efforts to strip Americans of their freedom to build, invest in, and do what is right for them, themselves, and their businesses. These bills that these Republican Members are passing and advancing this week will take away these rights from these businesses, investors, and consumers alike. What does this mean? It means businesses can't account for record storms that impact their bottom line, retirees' hard-earned savings will suffer under limited investment options, or company policies that elevate women and minorities will be ignored. Simply put, Republicans are trying to cancel freedoms that have been studied and proven to increase profits long term. It is absurd, and dare I say, it is pretty weird. As co-chair of the Stakeholder Capitalism Caucus and a proud Pennsylvanian business leader, I urge my colleagues to reject this anticapitalist agenda.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 409.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Bentley Systems as they mark 40 years of business in southeastern Pennsylvania. Under Greg Bentley's leadership as CEO, Bentley Systems has grown to become the industry leader with its digital twin advanced infrastructure technologies. Their tools are utilized by every State department of transportation across our Nation and by 194 countries worldwide, not only helping move forward our outdated infrastructure, but also moving us into the 21st century. In Congress, I am proud that we have made recent bipartisan progress for the Federal Government to fully realize this kind of potential. From the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization to the Water Resources Development Act to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, each of these bills have contained related provisions that will help save taxpayer dollars and improve our infrastructure for years to come. I congratulate Greg Bentley on his well-deserved retirement as CEO. His entrepreneurial leadership and vision have transformed Bentley into a cornerstone of innovation right in our own backyard of Exton, Pennsylvania. I congratulate Bentley Systems, and here is to 40 more years.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, today I rise to urge my colleagues to support my bipartisan amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations Act. My amendment seeks a commonsense approach to a pressing issue that impacts not only our energy and national security but also the daily lives of millions of Americans, including my constituents, who have struggled with power reliability issues in the wake of increased extreme weather events. Notably, my bipartisan amendment urges the Department of Energy to address domestic shortages of electrical transformers using the existing authorities of the Defense Production Act. Large power transformers and distribution transformers are the backbone of our Nation's electrical grid. They ensure that power is delivered to homes, businesses, and essential services across our country. Here is the problem: Right now we are facing a significant shortage of these critical pieces of infrastructure due to supply chain challenges. This leaves our grid vulnerable to disruptions, whether from natural disasters or cyberattacks or extreme weather. It also leaves us dependent on other countries, including our foreign adversaries like China, for these key components. This means that both our energy and our national security are at risk. In southeastern Pennsylvania, which I am very proud to represent, we have experienced significant electricity reliability issues following extreme weather events. Indeed, just this past week, severe storms caused very prolonged power outages in our community, impacting families, businesses, and essential services like hospitals and emergency response units. In addition, more than 130,000 Pennsylvanians were without power during those heat advisories, some for days and days on end. These outages have highlighted the fragility of our current grid infrastructure, and they underscore the current need to bolster our critical energy supply chains. My district is not alone in these struggles. Indeed, across the Nation, we have seen the impacts of power outages and grid failures as they become more frequent. They disrupt communities, hinder economic activity, and have even claimed lives. Swiftly addressing the shortage of transformers is about protecting our communities, our economy, our national security, and our American way of life. Luckily, we have the tools to address this issue. There are existing authorities within the Defense Production Act that could be leveraged to bolster domestic manufacturing to supply and repair transformers and ensure that our grid remains resilient and reliable. In fact, in 2022, President Biden granted the authority to utilize the Defense Production Act to accelerate domestic production of transformers and electric grid components. In addition, I was proud to vote in favor of the Inflation Reduction Act, which also included $500 million in funding for the DPA, or Defense Production Act, much of which is still available to bolster these critical supply chains and should be rapidly deployed. This amendment showcases the strong bipartisan support for the Department of Energy to utilize these existing authorities and existing funding for this purpose. As co-chair of the bipartisan Climate Solution Caucus, I have worked tirelessly with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to secure our energy infrastructure and to combat climate change. This amendment is a testament to that shared commitment to these goals. I thank my co- chair, Representative Andrew Garbarino, and caucus members Jack Bergman and Don Bacon, and Congresswoman Kim Schrier for their support on this amendment. By addressing the shortage of transformers, we are not only enhancing our Nation's energy security but also advancing our efforts to build a more resilient energy system that serves all of the American people. In closing, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment to help bolster our grid, to protect families and communities, and to ensure a reliable power supply for all Americans. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, as a former chemistry teacher, I understand how challenging fostering a positive learning environment can be. While technology can be a resource, it can also cause irreparable harm if not used properly. Our community in Malvern, Pennsylvania, experienced a gross abuse of technology when teachers at the Great Valley Middle School were targeted by eighth grade students who set up fake TikTok accounts impersonating them and posting offensive and very hurtful content. This wasn't a prank. It was a blatant misuse of social media, violating basic rules of human decency. It is inappropriate, regardless of a child's age, or whether the school is public, charter, or private. These teachers are questioning why they continue in a profession where they can be so casually targeted, and I don't blame them. This incident highlights the misuse of technology and how it disturbs the classroom and stunts the growth of empathy. We must confront this crisis in schools and our homes as well. Each of us has a responsibility to foster civility and decency. Our teachers deserve and expect our support. Anything less is unacceptable.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 280.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the House and to revise and extend my remarks. First, I thank Chair Rogers and Representatives Smith and Bacon for the opportunity to work on this really important piece of legislation, which is the National Defense Authorization Act. Unlike any other piece of legislation that we have passed in Congress, we have passed this bill every single year for over six decades. It is a testament to our enduring commitment to our brave men and women in uniform, and it is proof that Republicans and Democrats can indeed continue to find common ground and provide for our collective defense. Since I arrived in 2019 in Congress, I have had the privilege of serving on the Armed Services Committee, which oversees this defense bill, and it is truly one of the highlights of my career to serve on such a bipartisan committee. This idea of bipartisanship, putting country before party, is not new to me. It is indeed how I was raised. As the daughter and granddaughter of naval aviators, it is not an exaggeration to say that my very earliest memories are on a military base. I was born at Patuxent River Naval Air Station just a few hours from here. When it was my turn to fulfill our commitment to our Nation, I served in the Air Force, but that, of course, did not come without challenges. Now, as a member of the Armed Services Committee, I have shared not only my own challenges and those of my family who have been in uniform, but also those of my mother and my grandmother and countless other Pennsylvanians and Americans I have been able to talk to along the way. Sharing these stories helps make our military the greatest on Earth and make it even stronger. For nearly a year, I have now had the privilege of serving as ranking member on our Military Quality of Life Panel alongside my very dear friend, Republican colleague Representative Don Bacon from Nebraska. From inadequate pay to substandard housing conditions and to long wait times for essential services, it is very clear that we have enormous work to do to ensure that our military families have the support and resources that they need to thrive. That is why we proposed 31 different recommendations, and I will highlight just a few of them. First and foremost, pay. We want pay that is competitive with our civilian economy, including a significant additional pay raise for junior enlisted, E-1 through E-4. Second, housing. Our recommendation is to reverse the 5 percent reduction in BAH that was passed nearly a decade ago. BAH would now cover 100 percent of the calculated rate for military housing. In a similar vein, third, we recommended funding facility budget requests at 100 percent of the maintenance and modernization requirements so that we are able to fully fund them. Next and finally, childcare. The bill that we passed out of committee would cover childcare expenses for those who worked in our childcare development centers for their first child at a minimum. This would get more staff on the books, more open and available childcare slots, and reduce wait times. Finally, on healthcare. Servicemembers won't need referrals any longer for physical therapy, for nutrition, for women's health, for audiology, for optometry, and podiatry specialties. Next, spousal employment. We will be supporting military spouses by expanding childcare access for them from 90 to 100 days while they are able to look for a job, and we are permanently expanding our partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. We have the greatest military in the world because of the people that wear the uniform and the families that support them, so we must take care of them. At the very least, we owe our military community a bill that is free from political drama and theater. Unfortunately, we here on the floor are now seeing some very upsetting amendments being offered to a very bipartisan bill and potentially adding to this bill many poison pills, poison pills that will make it difficult for even me to vote for the final passage of the bill, even though there is so much goodness in it. Here are just a few ideas of what we will be voting on today: Banning Pride flags in workplaces and public areas in the Department of Defense. This one is particularly absurd: Banning content related to certain animals that change their sex, like clown fish, and a range of education materials. Thirdly, prohibiting the Secretary of Defense from paying or reimbursing expenses related to reproductive care, such as abortion services. Fourth, eliminating any DEI, or diversity, equity, and inclusion, within the military and laying off everyone who is in those offices. Finally, prohibiting all assistance to Ukraine, which, of course, would be a gift to Russia, China, Iran, and all of our adversaries. These are just some of the very nonserious efforts that we are seeing here on the floor. It is enormously frustrating to see these being added to this bill, which was such a bipartisan bill, voted out of committee 57-1. Regardless of which amendments are passed, these are attacks against women, against the LGBTQ community, against diversity initiatives, and more. They will have a chilling effect on military recruitment and retention at a time when we are facing historic challenges to fill our all-volunteer ranks. We, the Congress, need to knock this off. I proudly served in uniform, as did generations of my family before me, and I will do everything in my power to send a truly bipartisan bill to the President for signature. I very much look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate to do just that.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I rise with the strongest possible opposition to this amendment prohibiting assistance to Ukraine. This represents the most extreme and shortsighted position of some of the Members of the House of Representatives, particularly Republicans, with respect to global security. Too many have tried to stop or strip funding from Ukraine whenever they literally have the chance to, and here is yet another example. This amendment, like others that were considered and failed last year and this year, is misguided and against the will of the American people. Thus, it is against the will of the legislative body. Indeed, in April we overwhelmingly voted to support Ukraine, 311-112-1, not even close, which further proves the very unseriousness and waste of time of this amendment. What some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle fail to recognize and to appreciate is that not only does the American public support Ukraine, but that supporting Ukraine actually, indeed, helps the American public by avoiding further instability in Europe just miles from NATO. It, indeed, deters war. This amendment would irreversibly hurt our posture on the world stage. I urge Members to oppose it.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, it is her decision alone on what to do here. That is why I introduced the MARCH for Servicemembers Act, which would, in fact, expand access to abortion services at military treatment facilities. We should be supporting our family servicemembers, not hindering them. Mr. Chair, I strongly urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment and the overall bill if it passes.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time. Mr. Chairman, it truly saddens me to be here yet again having the same conversation we had last year, yet again standing before this Chamber as a woman, yet again a woman who has actually served and actually worn a uniform and actually was a mother in uniform. Here I am yet again defending our servicewomen's and -men's rights to seek the medical care that they need when they are serving our country. I am sick and tired of Members who have never served telling servicemembers, the same servicemembers that they are proud to publicly express their purported support for, that they don't deserve the financial or otherwise freedom to seek the medical care that they and their family members deserve and need when they need it. To those who have served in uniform, and most of them are men who are here on this floor, and still don't wish to afford servicemembers the ability to seek reproductive care, I am enormously disappointed with them, as well. We all know how difficult military life is. If a woman in uniform or member of a family who is in uniform says it is not the right time, perhaps, to start a family, or she has a medical reason or otherwise, it is her----

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in fervent opposition to this amendment. Just literally days after 100 of our colleagues returned from the beaches of Normandy, we are standing here debating the very purpose and existence of the alliance that made sure that we had the opportunity to observe the 80th anniversary. Perhaps more importantly, that observation was to remember the power of alliances and the consequences of our inaction and of our isolationism. Mr. Chair, this amendment is unserious. This will not be passed, nor will it likely be signed into law because it would catastrophically undermine and ruin our Nation's leadership on the world's stage. Rather than spend our time on amendments that will weaken our national and global security, we must rather focus on improving NATO relationships, the very same relationships, by the way, that are helping us put Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine to bed. I urge my colleagues forcefully to oppose this amendment.

Ms. HOULAHAN

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment that would remove unnecessary and partisan language from the legislation that is under consideration, the Police Our Border Act. Let me read what my amendment says because it is only two lines. Page 2, strike line 17 and all that follows through line 19 and redesignate succeeding provisions accordingly. Strike the term ``Biden'' each place such term appears. Let me tell you what lines 17 through 19 say. ``The southwest border crisis created by the Biden administration has made every State a border State.'' Before I continue on, I thank Ranking Member Nadler for his leadership on this issue on the Judiciary Committee. The reason I read that amendment and the lines that it refers to is that it is really important that the American people know that the situation at our border requires our action. I agree. We agree. The vast majority of Congress agrees. However, if you listen to this Chamber, and many of you all have lately, you would think that this is not a bipartisan issue. Unfortunately, this is intentional. I want to let the American people in on a poorly kept secret: Too often bills are written to be intentionally inflammatory to divide Republicans and Democrats. My amendment seeks to bring us together, back to the middle ground that we all share because real, substantive, and durable action will need the support of both of our parties. We know our police and law enforcement need and deserve support. We know our border needs and deserves to be addressed. We know that fentanyl is an issue requiring our attention, but bipartisan action is what is required and what is demanded by us of our bosses. Our bosses are the electorate. We in Congress must do a better job than to just be simple partisan hacks, political reporting with no chance of ever making it to or past the President's desk. The American people, our bosses, deserve better, which is why this amendment, my amendment, plainly just asks for data on the facts and the facts alone. A report like the one in the bill that is proposed with my proposed changes is important not only for our law enforcement but also for the American people, as well. It will allow us to take a step toward understanding things such as the estimated dollar amount of all the resources that would be devoted to addressing the situation at the border and the extent to which such resources are not available to law enforcement agencies. It would help us understand the exposure to and possible injury as a result of the fentanyl crisis on our law enforcement. With this data, we can finally address these issues. As is demonstrated by the way that this legislation was written, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are likely to falsely claim that President Biden is boasting of an open border, but this ignores the fact that under numerous administrations, both Democrat and Republican, the situation at our border has worsened. In fact, this issue is not just about Republican or Democratic administrations, it is also about the Congresses that have not addressed this issue, either. Record migration to our border, coupled with a woefully inadequate and overwhelming processing system here in the U.S., has caused existing challenges to get progressively worse over time. We know that our law enforcement agencies have faced many new challenges as a result. This is a serious issue which we must address with serious legislation. I believe if my amendment passes that many of my colleagues on this side of the aisle will find it in their ability to be able to vote for the underlying bill. I would encourage those on the other side of the aisle to find it within their heart to see not everything as a partisan issue. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reject the deeply cynical and deeply political option in the current text and to instead vote ``yes'' on my amendment that will enable the underlying bill to move forward in a bipartisan fashion. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining.

Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Chair, it is rebuttals and comments like these that I find, frankly, deeply distressful. They are nothing but finger- pointing, and really the genuine politicization of this body and this government. My colleagues are self-defeating in their efforts to try to put the words into this piece of legislation that requires us to assign one single point of blame when there clearly is quite a lot to go around, and it has gone around for a very long time. By politicizing this issue in this way, it is self-defeating because we have no ability to actually pass this piece of legislation, and so in and of itself this becomes a self-defeating effort. I believe if my colleagues truly wanted the information that this bill purports to want, if they truly wanted to understand what is causing the border issues and what could be done to be helpful, then they would work with us as Democrats to make that, indeed, happen. We would then be able to pass this bill in the House, and as is the custom with our Constitution and with ``Schoolhouse Rock,'' send it to the Senate and send it to the President's desk for signature. Here we have no opportunity to have this happen. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.