Julie Johnson

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to amend the rule to make in order the amendment at the desk that protects against any cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Reverend Willie Rainwater of Carrollton, Texas. Reverend Rainwater was more than a pastor. He was a pillar of justice, a steward of history, and a relentless voice for civil rights. From preserving the Carrollton Black Cemetery to organizing the city's annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade for more than 25 years, he brought our community together in the spirit of equity and remembrance. His work wasn't just in the pulpit. It was in the streets, in our schools, in our city hall meetings, and in the daily struggle to make north Texas more just and united. Reverend Rainwater now joins his beloved wife, Juanita, with whom he shared a life of faith, service, and community leadership. Together, they made north Texas better. Today, we remember a man whose faith was inseparable from action, whose love for his neighbors left an imprint on our institutions, and whose memory is a blessing to us all. May we continue to carry his torch forward.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to sound an alarm on a crisis threatening America's future. I am talking about the Trump brain drain. Donald Trump and Republicans in this House are launching a full scale assault on our Nation's ability to think, learn, and to innovate. Let's look at the facts. Trump's budget cuts funding for the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, STEM education, and even basic K-12 public schools. He has tried to crush public service loan forgiveness and gut Head Start, all while trying to give tax breaks to those who don't need them. This isn't cost savings. It is self-sabotage. In Dallas, we are home to UT Southwestern Medical Center, one of the top research institutions in this country. We have innovators, world- class hospitals, biotech startups, and students ready to change the world. They can't do that when Federal research funding is drying up and educational support is being pulled out from under them. Dallas ISD alone has over 150,000 students, many from middle-class families. Cuts to programs like Head Start, Title I, and after-school STEM enrichment don't just hurt, they derail students' futures. Texas colleges and universities share one of the largest enrollments compared to almost any other State. Yet, under Trump's budget, millions of them would lose access to workstudy jobs and to affordable student loans. That is not just an educational crisis, it is an economic time bomb attacking our workforce development. This country has long been a magnet for global talent. Engineers, scientists, and doctors come here to help build our future, but Trump's anti-immigrant crusade is scaring them off. Whether it is blocking student visas, slashing green cards, or denying people their due process, he is slamming the door on the very people who fuel our economy. Dr. Kseniia Petrova, a brilliant Harvard scientist whose research could lead to breakthroughs in early cancer detection, was charged with a felony by the Trump administration for failing to declare preserved frog samples at customs, which is normally a very minor infraction handled by a mere warning. Instead, she is locked up in an ICE detention center in Louisiana, facing possible deportation to Russia. This isn't just cruel, it sends a chilling message to scientists and international students around the world: Come to America, and you may be imprisoned instead of empowered. Then there is Ardem Patapoutian, who came to the U.S. from war-torn Lebanon at 18. He worked nights delivering pizza to become eligible for the University of California. Years later, with the help of an NIH research grant, he launched a lab making groundbreaking discoveries on how humans sense touch and went on to win the Nobel Prize in 2021. However, thanks to Trump's cuts to science funding, his Federal grant has been frozen. Just like that, China offered to fund his lab for the next 20 years in any city, any university, anywhere he wants. China is winning this war. That is what countries like China are doing. They are investing in students, in science, and in research because they want to win the future while Trump wants to only tweet about the past and harm American innovation. We should be doubling down on education and innovation. We should be building labs and funding scholarships, not building walls. Here is the truth: You don't make America great again by making Americans dumber. You don't build up the economy by draining it of talent and opportunity. This is not just about spreadsheets and budget lines. It is about real people: students trying to become the first in their family to graduate, young scientists working on the next breakthrough, and teachers trying to give every child a chance. Trump's budget doesn't just threaten programs. It threatens progress. We must fight back. Let's protect our students, support our researchers, and defend the right for everyone to dream big and achieve greatness in the United States of America.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in complete outrage, not just in opposition, to this Republican budget bill. Behind the talking points, behind the smug press conferences, very deep in the fine print, it is all there. Mr. Speaker, 13.7 million Americans will lose their healthcare, and millions of families will see their food assistance taken away. That is not my opinion. Those are the numbers from the Congressional Budget Office. Republicans tell you: Don't worry. No one is losing coverage. We are not cutting SNAP. Understand they are lying to you, and they know it. This bill is so shameful that they are moving forward at 1 a.m. in the morning, tonight, in the dead of night. Why? They are doing that because they hope we are asleep. They don't want us paying attention. They don't want us to know what they are, in fact, truly doing. They hope we are not watching, and they hope no one notices until it is too late. Texans are paying attention, and I am here to sound the alarm on this outrageous bill. In Texas, over 5 million people depend on Medicaid. They are children with disabilities, working moms, and aging parents in nursing homes. These cuts will lead to fewer doctors, longer wait times, and hospitals closing. Yes, people will die because they can't get the care that they need. Mr. Speaker, let me tell you about Stephanie, a mom from Richardson, Texas. Her son was born with spina bifida. His entire life depends on the care they get through an emergency Medicaid waiver. This is his equipment, his treatment, and his survival. Republicans in this Chamber will take that care away from Stephanie's 11-year-old son. For what? Why are we doing this? Why are we causing so much pain across so many families in this country who depend on support for basic needs? It is so that Trump and his friends can have a huge tax cut. The other thing that is deeply concerning is we have an incredibly large deficit, and all the Republicans peacock around, parading about how atrocious the deficit is. This bill is going to add $4 trillion to the deficit. It is not conservative. It is not principally, financially prudent, responsible legislation. It is outrageous and borderline criminal against the people of this country. Let's talk about food assistance. Mr. Speaker, one in seven Texans rely on SNAP at a time when Trump's tariffs have made groceries more expensive than ever. Republicans want to take food off the tables of families who are just trying to get by. This isn't about fiscal responsibility. It is about cruelty. It is about choosing hedge fund managers and people like Elon Musk over hungry kids. Budgets are moral documents, and this one being put up by House Republicans is morally bankrupt. I will not vote for a bill that abandons families like Stephanie's and lets kids go hungry or that sells out our most vulnerable neighbors just to pay for another tax break for those who definitely do not need one. Mr. Speaker, if you are a Member of this body who claims to care about life, liberty, or your own constituents, you should not vote for it either. If you show me your budget, I will show you your values. Republicans have made their values crystal clear. They value a handful of wealthy people in this country over the millions of hardworking families who depend on the United States Government.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today we are seeing a full scale assault on the arts, culture, and public knowledge in America by Trump and Republicans in this Congress. The administration has made it clear: They are not just trying to defund NPR, PBS, or make changes to the Library of Congress, they are trying to dismantle every institution that informs, educates, and inspires the American people. From Sesame Street to the Smithsonian, from symphony halls to small- town libraries, Republicans are waging a culture war on anything they cannot control. Their goal is simple: Erase facts, silence independent voices, replace them with partisan noise, and use them as propaganda machines to spread disinformation and continue to divide our Nation. The latest example is President Trump's removal of Dr. Carla Hayden as Librarian of Congress, a respected public servant with decades of experience, and his illegal installation of personal attorney, Todd Blanche, in her place. He is not a librarian or a scholar but only a Trump loyalist. It doesn't stop there. Republicans have repeatedly pushed to zero out funding for NPR, a lifeline for rural news and local journalism. They have attacked PBS, which brings educational programming to children who don't have access to cable or broadband. For decades, American children have learned from Big Bird and Elmo. These aren't just TV characters. They have become part of the joys of growing up in this country, and Republicans want to deny our kids the joy and the opportunity to learn for generations in the future. These cornerstones of our civic life belong to the public. Arts and culture should not be partisan. They are how we tell our stories. They are how we learn. They are how we connect across communities, across cultures, and across language. They are worth defending. Congress must protect these institutions. We must safeguard NPR, PBS, and the Library of Congress from being turned into propaganda tools. We must make clear that knowledge, truth, and creativity are not the enemies of democracy, but instead, they are its very foundation. Mr. Speaker, Republicans in this House are proposing a budget that includes devastating cuts to Medicaid. These are cuts they know will negatively impact their constituents, just like they would mine in north Texas. This isn't about balancing a budget, responsibly cutting spending, or making government more efficient. This is about trying to balance the books on the backs of working families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities. In Texas, these healthcare cuts will be catastrophic. We already have the highest uninsured rate in the country, with nearly 5 million people in Texas lacking health coverage. Mr. Speaker, one in four Texas children rely on Medicaid or CHIP, and more than one-half of Texas births are covered by Medicaid. These cuts would gut funding for rural hospitals, eliminate access to care for thousands of Texans with disabilities, and put even more pressure on emergency rooms that are already stretched very thin, causing hospitals to close and making it even harder to find care. It is cruel. It is reckless. It is part of a broader agenda that prioritizes tax breaks for Trump and his friends over healthcare for the people who need it the very most. Instead of expanding Medicaid like we should have done over a decade ago, Republicans are trying to dismantle this basic-needs program altogether. I won't stand by while they try to take healthcare away from Texans who need it most. I will fight tooth and nail to protect Medicaid, to protect our hospitals, and to make sure no Texan is left behind simply because they are sick, struggling, or don't make enough money to exceed the meager income limits for Medicaid. Republicans should be working with us to build a stronger, more equitable health system instead of destroying the one lifeline millions of Texans rely on. Mr. Speaker, Medicaid is the foundation of our healthcare system. It is good for business. It is good for our economy, and it is good for the American people. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join Democrats in defense of this vital program.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National Police Week to recognize a new chapter in public safety leadership for the city of Dallas. On May 5, Dallas officially welcomed two exceptional leaders, Daniel Comeaux as chief of police and Justin Ball as chief of fire-rescue. Chief Comeaux has over 30 years of law enforcement experience, including his recent role as Special Agent in Charge of the DEA's Houston Field Division. His leadership has been marked by intelligence- driven crime reduction and a collaborative approach to community policing. Chief Ball, a nearly 30-year veteran of Dallas Fire-Rescue, has risen through every rank since joining the department in 1997. His dedication and innovative leadership have been instrumental in advancing the department's mission to protect and serve our community. These appointments reflect Dallas' commitment to public safety and community trust. I commend City Manager Kimberly Tolbert for her thoughtful selection of these leaders. I thank Chiefs Comeaux and Ball for their service. I look forward to supporting their efforts here in Congress to help ensure the safety and well-being of all Dallas residents.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this complete waste of time, the Gulf of America Act. While Americans are struggling with real problems, while Trump is trampling over the constitutional rights of the citizens he swore to protect, Republicans are wasting this Chamber's time with performative nonsense. Here is the choice this comes down to: We could focus on helping 40 million Americans saddled with medical debt, or we could rename the Gulf of Mexico. We could ensure that the 10 million children going hungry every night have enough food to eat, or we could rename the Gulf of Mexico. We could address our Nation's highest maternal mortality rate, where women are dying in this country every day while giving birth, or we could rename the Gulf of Mexico. We could address our Nation's lack of affordable housing, where families are struggling to find safe shelter, or we could rename the Gulf of Mexico. We could make sure our veterans, who are waiting for weeks for appointments at VA clinics, get the desperate care they need after making such extreme sacrifices in the honor of service to our country, or we could rename the Gulf of Mexico. We could be protecting Social Security and Medicare, protecting Medicaid, finding affordable childcare for the millions of children in this country and reducing the high cost of living that so many families in all of our districts are struggling to afford basic necessities, or we could rename the Gulf of Mexico. Republicans have made their choice. They want to focus on renaming a body of water that doesn't need renaming instead of the emergent needs of the people that we all represent. The bill's cosponsor, the woman from Georgia, in her district one in five residents live below the poverty line. Her district ranks near the bottom in Georgia for health outcomes, and opioid overdose rates continue to climb. Broadband access remains limited, and public schools are underresourced. However, again, instead of working on bills to bring down the high cost of healthcare, making broadband accessible for Americans all over the country, or helping families struggling with addiction, we are renaming the Gulf of Mexico as if it is the most important, pressing issue facing this country. This is not governing. It is a distraction. It is political theater, and it is an insult to the intelligence of every American who expects us in Congress to do the serious work of solving real problems and making their lives better. This bill does not achieve any of those ends. The American people did not send us here to troll and suck up to a President. They sent us here to legislate, lead, and make their lives better. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this stupid bill and focus on what matters to the American people.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable leader, President Richard Benson, as he prepares to retire after 8 years of service to the University of Texas at Dallas. Under his leadership, the university has soared to new heights: expanding research, increasing enrollment, and strengthening UTD's reputation as one of the top public research institutions in the Nation. During his tenure, President Benson championed innovation, supported world-class faculty, and opened doors for thousands of students to achieve their dreams. Over the past 8 years, UTD has grown in size and stature. Its impact in the Dallas/Fort Worth region and the entire State of Texas has never been greater. This includes opening the first phase of the Edith and Peter O'Donnell Jr. Athenaeum, which features the UT Dallas art museum. The museum showcases an array of Asian art exhibits, as well as pieces from the university's growing collection of Latin-American art. President Benson's legacy will live on in every lab, in every classroom, and in every life changed by this incredible university. I thank President Benson for his vision, his dedication, and his unwavering belief in the power of education. On behalf of the entire House and the people of Texas' 32nd Congressional District, we wish him all the best in his next chapter.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Republicans' voter suppression act. I want to give Republicans one chance to actually fulfill the rhetoric that they are spouting to the American people, which is actually giving people the right to vote. I appreciate efforts to ensure that our elections are safe and free from foreign interference and that only U.S. citizens can vote. However, one of my concerns with this bill is, as it is written, it does not allow for mail or online voter registration. This bill, let me be perfectly clear, requires hardworking American people who go to work at 8 in the morning and who don't get off until 5 p.m. to go in person to a voter registration office, to take off work to go in person to register to vote. That is why I have offered an amendment to have online voter registration. There are millions of servicemembers and their families serving our country overseas, individuals with disabilities, and seniors who are unable to vote in person. Why are we keeping these barriers for eligible citizens when the world is evolving around us? We live in modern times, and so many of our lives happen online for daily activities. We can pay our bills and we can pay our taxes online. You can apply for college, a car, a home, and everything else online. For this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee. If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with my commonsense amendment to this bill. My amendment would ensure Americans could still register to vote and prove their citizenship online or by mail. This is a simple, commonsense amendment, and it would make certain that we can care for the people who can't get out of their homes and that this Congress is not depriving any eligible citizens of their right to vote. Republicans have refused this amendment. Republicans are refusing your ability to go and make it easy for citizens to register to vote in this country. Republicans can now vote to pass this amendment.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am rising in opposition to the Republicans' dismantling of the Judiciary Act. It is not about justice; it is about power. It is a full-scale assault on our Constitution, the courts, and the people those courts are meant to protect. The American people must be able to challenge unconstitutional laws and seek relief when they are harmed. That is the role of the judiciary, to be a check on our government from overreach and to safeguard our public rights. Instead of respecting that, Republicans are attacking judicial independence because they don't like the outcome when the courts rule against them. Earlier today, Republicans in debate acknowledged that President Trump has been overruled by judges more than the last three Presidents combined, and that is because he is insistent on extending an overreach of the executive branch. We have the courts to safeguard that. What the Republicans are trying to do is to require every single person who has been harmed in any way to file individual lawsuits, clogging up our courts, requiring them to hire expensive attorneys, precluding their access to the courts. It is unconstitutional, and this rule must be voted down. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote against it.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and hosting this important Special Order hour on a topic that impacts many of my constituents in north Texas. Since day one, the Trump administration has targeted essential social services that make government unreliable for all Americans: veterans, people with disabilities, seniors, and our children. All of these people and more rely on government to survive and all President Trump wants to do is cut, cut, and cut. Let's call it what it is: It is a full on assault of the most essential lifelines millions of Americans count on, especially Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. They are right in the crosshairs of this administration. The Trump administration and Republicans in this House are pushing cuts to the programs that Texans rely on every day. These aren't just numbers in a budget; they are difference between stability and catastrophe for hundreds of thousands of my constituents. In Texas alone, more than 4 million people rely on Medicaid for healthcare, including half of the children in our State. Let me remind you, this is a State of 32 million people. Half of the children in our State rely on Medicaid, one out of every two kids in Texas. When Trump proposes gutting it, he is not just slashing spending, he is taking away critical healthcare from children, from seniors in nursing homes, and people with disabilities who depend on it to survive. Today, in the Capitol, one of my dear friends is here visiting who runs a hospice company. They provide dignity of care to people at the end of their life. They provide necessary comfort for families as they are trying to deal with these situations. End of life care is the most expensive part of our healthcare system. Companies like hospice companies provide a necessary but much more affordable access to the end of life with dignity for families, and they rely on Medicaid. They rely on Medicare to stay in business to help families and so many people in need. We still have to talk about Social Security. Over 4 million Texans, retirees, veterans, widows, and people with disabilities rely on Social Security to keep the lights on, keep food on the table, and pay their bills. It is not a luxury; it is a promise this country made to working people. If you pay in, you can retire with dignity, but Trump's budget says otherwise. He is talking about entitlement reform. That is Washington speak for cuts. Cuts that would hit rural communities, communities of color, and low-income seniors the hardest. Let me be crystal clear: Texas already ranks 43rd in the Nation in access to healthcare. It is a statistic I am not proud of from my State. We lead the Nation in uninsured adults. We also lead the Nation in maternal mortality and infant mortality, two statistics the Republicans in our State should be embarrassed of. Now, Trump and Republicans want to make it worse. It is cruel, it is reckless, and it is dead wrong. This isn't about balancing a budget; it is about priorities. Donald Trump's priorities are tax breaks for his buddies while working families are told to tighten their belts. We should be expanding care, not slashing it. We should be protecting retirement security, not playing games with the futures of people who worked their entire lives. Texas families are watching and we will not let this administration destroy the programs that protect our health, our security, and our basic dignity. I urge my colleagues, especially my Republican colleagues, you represent the same people I do, hardworking folks trying to make ends meet, trying to provide a life for their kids. If you went to your townhalls, you would see people standing up, speaking out. They don't want this. The people in this country don't want this. My message to you is that Democrats are standing up. We are doing everything we can to protect you, your family, and your kids in the right for safety, justice, and your right to pursue the American Dream. Mr. Speaker, Texans and all Americans deserve better.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak out against another outrageous move by Donald Trump: his attack on the National Institutes of Health. The NIH is not just another governmental agency, it is the foundation of America's medical research. It funds lifesaving breakthroughs that doctors and scientists rely on to treat and cure diseases. It supports the work that helps us fight cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease, diabetes, and rare genetic disorders. It fuels innovation that leads to better treatment, more effective medications, and new medical technologies. Yet, Donald Trump and the Republicans in this building want to gut it. Trump has proposed slashing billions of dollars from the NIH budget, which would cripple research, stall medical progress, and put American lives at risk. These cuts would mean fewer clinical trials, new treatments and advances in the fights against the diseases that impact millions of Americans. Every person in this country, every patient battling illness, every doctor searching for answers, and every family hoping for a cure would feel the consequences of these disastrous cuts. Let's be clear about what is at stake. The NIH funds over 300,000 researchers across the country, supporting studies that have led to some of the most important medical breakthroughs in history. This funding helped develop treatments that have increased cancer survival rates, improved heart disease prevention, and even led to vaccines that protect us from deadly viruses. It is responsible for nearly every major medical advancement of the last century. These cuts are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. They are a direct threat to American lives and health. If Trump and Republicans succeed in slashing NIH funding, it means that crucial research into diseases like Parkinson's, ALS, and multiple sclerosis will be delayed or abandoned altogether. It means that hospitals and research centers will struggle to continue their work. It means that the next big breakthrough, the next cure, the next lifesaving drug, the next medical innovation that can save each one of our families and your family could be lost forever. For Texas, the consequences would be severe. In 2023 alone, the NIH invested over $1.5 billion into Texas research institutions. This funding supports critical work at UT Southwestern in Dallas, where scientists are pioneering new cancer treatments; at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where researchers are leading the fight against Alzheimer's and heart disease; and at the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M, where cutting-edge biomedical research is shaping the future of medicine. If Trump's cuts go through, these institutions will lose the funding they need to continue their vital work. This attack on the NIH is part of a larger pattern. This is the same Donald Trump leading an administration that rejects science. He is threatening all of our health. He downplayed COVID-19, costing hundreds of thousands of American lives. He ignored public health experts and spread antiscience conspiracy theories while hospitals were overrun with dying patients. Trump already tried to cut NIH funding before, only to be stopped by a Democratic Congress. This time he is taking direct aim at the very institution that helps doctors and scientists find cures, save lives, and protect public health. We cannot afford to let this happen. We must fight back. If we care about our families, health, and future, we must reject these reckless cuts and demand more funding for NIH, not less. The research being conducted today will determine the treatments available tomorrow, and the investment we make in science now will save lives for generations to come. This is not a partisan issue. Well, rather, it should not be a partisan issue. Disease does not care whether you are a Republican or a Democrat. Cancer doesn't check your voter registration. Alzheimer's doesn't ask where you fall on the ideological spectrum. This is about protecting the health of every single American. I urge my colleagues in Congress and every American listening to stand up for science, stand up for medical research, stand up for the NIH. The health of all of our families could depend on it.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition today to the Republicans' voter suppression act. This bill is not about election integrity. This is not about ensuring that only citizens vote. This is about making it impossible for people and new voters to vote. Mr. Speaker, this has played out in Texas and other jurisdictions across the country. Yet, in 2021, Texas has led the Nation in voter suppression, rejecting nearly 13 percent of mail-in ballots. Texas rejected nearly 13 percent of ballots cast by rightful citizens of this country, people who are being disfranchised for exercising their right to vote. The Republicans are really using this patriotic chest-beating moment of voting in an attempt to make it difficult for people of color, for seniors, for veterans, for persons with disabilities to be able to go and cast their vote. I filed three amendments to make this bill better that were all rejected by the Republicans, one of which would have made it possible to provide documentation of citizenship through online means, to register online. There are millions of people in this country who cannot physically get to a polling place. There are men and women in our service branches who are stationed abroad who cannot physically get back to their polling place in their jurisdiction to register to vote. We are basically telling these citizens of this country that their votes don't count. We don't care if they can vote. We don't care how hard it is, and we are going to make it impossible for them to vote. Republicans categorically rejected that amendment. Mr. Speaker, what about the accountability for making sure that election officials don't screw up and tell a citizen of this country that they don't get to vote? Where is the right to cure? I filed an amendment that would have said that, if citizens were wrongfully denied the right to vote, they would have 24 hours to get a hearing to have a judge take a look at it to prove that the election clerk got it wrong and that they are an American citizen and deserve to be able to cast their ballot. Republicans categorically rejected that. It is an atrocity on the American public, and it is an atrocity for citizens who are trying to duly cast their vote.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the incredible legacy of Annise Parker, a trailblazer, a fearless advocate, and a champion for LGBTQ rights in Texas and across the Nation. As the first openly LGBTQ mayor of a major American city, Houston, Annise shattered barriers and showed millions of people that LGBTQ Americans belong in government and in every part of public life. Her work wasn't just about representation. It was about action. She fought for equality, fairness, and for a Texas where everyone, no matter who they love, has the opportunity to thrive. Through her leadership at the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, she helped elect and empower leaders at every level of government. It is because of Annise's leadership that the next generation of LGBTQ Americans have more seats at the table, more voices in the conversation, and more hope for the future. Mr. Speaker, I thank Annise for her service, her courage, and her unwavering commitment to justice. Texas and our Nation are better because of her.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I recognize that most Americans are not economists, trade experts, or well versed in the intricacies of tax policy. If you will, I want to take this opportunity to sort of ``Schoolhouse Rock'' tariffs. Let's talk about what they are, how they work, and how they impact Americans and their families. Tariffs are taxes on imported goods, plain and simple. When the government slaps a tariff on a product, it makes the product more expensive to buy from other countries. Take your sneakers. Most sneakers are made with rubber, synthetic fabrics, and leather, stuff that gets imported from China and other places. Let's say the government puts a tariff on those materials. That is an extra included tax on materials that make up the sneakers. Now these products become more expensive to make, and the way that companies make up for that is passing that cost on to the consumer. A pair of sneakers that cost $30 might now cost $50 after tariffs are imposed. You now have to work more to get more money and then pay more for the same exact pair of sneakers. The idea of tariffs is to protect American businesses and jobs. The reality, though, is, as you can see with the sneaker example, it often backfires. Other countries hit back with their own tariffs, hurting American manufacturers and workers. Now, are tariffs always bad? The answer is no. When used correctly, tariffs can be a powerful tool. They can protect American jobs, boost key industries, and stop countries like China from flooding our market with cheap, low-quality goods. When a country imposes tariffs strategically on industries we need to rebuild, like steel and manufacturing and technology, we can give American businesses the breathing room to compete and grow. When foreign countries play dirty with unfair trade practices, tariffs can be a productive way to respond to that. Here is the key: Tariffs have to be smart. When used correctly, tariffs can defend American industry. When used incorrectly, though, they are just another tax on working people. Right now, the Trump administration is using tariffs in the wrong way, and their actions are causing costs to skyrocket for families in Texas and all American families. To be clear, Trump's tariffs on Canada and Mexico are nothing but a tax on American businesses and consumers. They are two of our biggest trading partners. For example, Mexico is Texas' largest trading partner, accounting for one-third of our State's exports. In 2023, trade between Texas and Mexico totaled more than $272 billion. We trade so many products with our neighbors to the south that families in Texas use every day, like tomatoes, greens, avocados, car parts, electronics, plastics, and the list goes on. With Canada, Texas buys steel and lumber to build homes to ensure families have a roof over their heads. All of these products will have higher costs, and the only ones who will pay more are the families and businesses that buy them. Instead of strengthening those relationships with our neighbors, Trump's tariffs are making everything more expensive for us. What do we get in return? Absolutely nothing. American companies didn't suddenly stop buying from Canada or Mexico. They just have to pay more to do it. Meanwhile, those countries have hit back with their own tariffs, hurting Americans across the board. Instead of using tariffs for smart trade policy, Trump is using them as a political stunt that punishes the very people it claims to help. Madam Speaker, these tariffs are self-inflicted wounds on the American economy. We see this every day in the stock market with the market value falling by trillions of dollars over the past few weeks. Those in their twenties, thirties, and forties have lost tons of money in their 401(k). I should also mention something else because I know there is something more sinister going on. Right now, we have Elon Musk in the White House. He has been our president since January 20, calling all the shots and using President Trump as his puppet. These tariffs will benefit his businesses because they are being imposed on Elon's competition. This is a clear conflict of interest. It is wrong, and it is a display of the grift and the greed that the Trump administration has ushered into this White House. None of this is about helping American families. None of this is about lowering costs. This is about Trump and Musk settling scores, causing chaos, and making sure they line their pockets on the backs of Americans and the middle class. Madam Speaker, we need to end these reckless tariffs and get back to lowering costs for the people we serve.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, the House is soon going to vote on some legislation that guts Medicaid and it slashes healthcare for veterans. It cuts funding from important infrastructure projects and takes food away from families struggling to survive. We have a choice: We can invest in the people we serve, or we can let Republicans burn it down. I am fighting for $2 million to help our Dallas Police Officers tackle violent crime, gangs, and drug trafficking. I am working to secure over $1 million to upgrade security at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport because keeping Americans safe should not be up for debate. We can fund these programs, but instead of trying to make government work, Republicans are doing everything they can to break it, stripping away services that millions of people rely on. I will not vote for a bill that carries out Trump's mission to dismantle our government. I will not vote for a bill that takes healthcare, food, and security from the people who need it most, especially as they work to line the pockets of Trump and his friends on the backs of hardworking Americans. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleague to do what is right and vote ``no'' on this bill. Let's stand up for the people who sent us here.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California (Mr. Garamendi) for hosting this Special Order hour on this very important topic. Last night, 217 Republicans voted to gut Texas Medicaid, raise costs, and take away healthcare from over 100,000 of my constituents, including over 80,000 children and over 12,000 seniors just in my district. I love my State. There are so many great things about Texas, but unfortunately, we are number one in some of the worst ways. Texas leads the Nation in the number of people without health insurance--for children and adults. We lead the Nation in maternal mortality, having the highest number of mothers die during childbirth. We lead the Nation in infant mortality. Over 4.8 million Texans currently rely on Medicaid, over 16 percent of our State. These are not just statistics to gloss over, but they are children, moms, seniors, and our loved ones in nursing homes. The Republican-endorsed cuts will exacerbate Texas' healthcare crisis, creating irresponsible, political-based policy instead of collaborating for real solutions. In addition to the loss of healthcare access, many of those still with coverage will see their costs skyrocket. Under the Republican budget they voted for just last night, the average premium for 103,000 people who receive coverage under the Affordable Care Act in my district will increase by 69 percent. Let me say that again. Their premiums will increase by 69 percent because of what the Republicans have done in this budget. Many families would face even steeper consequences. In Texas-32, a 60-year-old couple with a household income of $85,000 would see their health insurance premiums increase by $13,000 a year. That is a 181 percent increase in just 1 year. Families cannot afford that. Mr. Speaker, I am all for cutting waste and finding fraud and abuse, but taking away healthcare and making it unaffordable for the people of Texas is not the way to do it. Texas Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security programs must be protected. They represent our commitment to the American people that their government will be there to help them when they are at their most vulnerable. The fact is that these cuts will mean life-altering changes for families across America and will lead to nursing homes being closed, doctors refusing to care for patients, healthcare claims being denied, and more debt and increased costs on the backs of families who are already struggling to make ends meet. I will ask this question to my Republican colleagues: Are you ready to take in your aging parents to care for them when your local nursing homes close? Are you ready to move your dining room table out and bring in a hospital bed because there is not a long-term care facility to take care of them? We have already lost 27 rural hospitals in Texas because of a lack of adequate Medicaid funding. It takes some people in our State 3 to 4 hours just to get to a cardiologist after they have a heart attack--and do you know what? They are dead. This has real consequences for people when we don't have adequate healthcare. This should not be a partisan issue. It doesn't matter if you are a Republican or Democrat. When your mom is sick, you want them to have healthcare. When your baby breaks their arm, you want them to have healthcare. This is a universal human issue, and it is irresponsible what the Republicans have done in this budget. I am proud to stand with my Democratic colleagues as we fight against these devastating cuts, and I encourage my Republican colleagues to join us because their constituents want healthcare, too. Everyone does. Mr. Speaker, I am committed to finding ways to improve healthcare and make it more reliable and affordable. That is what Texas families want. That is what the American people want.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California for the purposes of a colloquy.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Sure. I am Julie Johnson. I represent Texas-32. I am from Dallas, Texas. It is an urban district with a lot of suburban areas. We have access to great hospital care there. However, we still have healthcare deserts. We have people who can't afford health insurance at the current skyrocketing prices that they are. We have very high housing costs. We have people with very high student loan debt. If you are a 32-year-old trying to live the American Dream and trying to buy your first house or afford your student loan, you can't do it all. Do you know what the minimum wage is in Texas? $7.75 an hour. You are trying to do the best you can. You are working at the grocery store, doing things that make our economy run, working in retail, but you are making $7.75 an hour. You can't afford health insurance that costs you $24,000 a year when you don't even make that, and that is the problem with where we are.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 43.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want my neighbors back home to know that, like you, I am angry and I am furious about the constitutional crisis caused by the Trump administration. They are handing over our data and private information to people who should not have access to it. They are firing patriotic civil servants. They are purging FBI agents, and they are trying to eliminate agencies like the USAID. All of this is unconstitutional. We must protect the American people and our allies from this coup. To the Republicans in this House, it is time for you to stand up and speak out. You know what is wrong. You know this will jeopardize the lives of your own constituents, as well as mine. Yet you do nothing. Lawsuits have been filed. We are introducing bills. We are taking action to keep Americans safe and support our Constitution. We need you at home to stay mad, talk to your neighbors, and organize against what they are doing This is not what the American people voted for. This is your government, and that is what Democrats are fighting to restore.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Republican reproductive healthcare surveillance act. I am from Texas. The last thing any Texan wants is the government telling doctors or women what they can or cannot do with their bodies. That is exactly what this bill does. I was in Texas in the State legislature when Texas Republicans wanted to pass this same bill. They wanted to use Big Government to reach into doctors' offices and make personal healthcare decisions on behalf of women in my State. These are complex medical issues, and no politician should interfere in the lives of women and their families. Doctors have medical training. Politicians don't. We must protect the doctor-patient relationship. Simply put, Republicans should not have a seat at the table in a doctor's office. It amazes me that my colleagues in the so-called party of small government continue to put forth bills that seek to control women, families, and doctors. I will always make sure women and families have the tools they need to make their own healthcare-related decisions. This misguided bill endangers the lives of women, and I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to serve Texas' 32nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives for the 119th Congress. As a Texas-educated attorney for over 30 years, I know what it takes to fight for those who need it most. Throughout my career, I have stood up for workers, those living with disabilities, students who are being taken advantage of by for-profit colleges, and so many of my fellow Texans who needed someone fighting alongside them. I took those skills to the Texas State legislature where I fought for Medicaid expansion, a fair judicial court system, consumer protections, and for women to make their own healthcare decisions free from government intrusion. When extremists decided to target the LGBTQ community in Texas, I raised my voice and helped kill hundreds of anti-LGBTQ bills that would have hurt the members of my community and their families. As the trusted voice for Texas' 32nd Congressional District in Congress, I am ready to deliver real results for my neighbors. That means working to lower costs across the board; support and expand infrastructure for the fastest growing metroplex in the country; secure our southern border; and make healthcare safe, affordable, and reliable for all Americans. My home State of Texas plays a huge role in powering our Nation and our world. We have a massive economy that supports millions of jobs, and we are Mexico's largest trading partner. Texas also has the largest border with our neighbor to the south, and it will be up to Texas and Texas Democrats to provide meaningful solutions to the problems that we face. I am ready to lead on these important issues. I am thrilled I will be serving on three committees this Congress that will help me deliver these results to make life better for Texas' businesses, middle-class families, and our seniors. On the House Homeland Security Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee, I will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to keep our Nation safe and to strengthen our alliances around the world. On the House Administration Committee, I will work tirelessly to protect the people's right to vote and to make sure this institution, the people's House, functions in a way that is better for Texans and all of our Nation's citizens. Let me be clear: The work begins right now. In Congress, I am committed to rising above the division and coming up with bipartisan solutions to solve our Nation's biggest problems. I will work with anyone, Democrat or Republican, who is willing to come together, put partisanship aside, and to make life better for the people that we all serve. I want my constituents to know how grateful I am to have this opportunity, and I wake up every day with the mission and the purpose to serve them in this Chamber. I thank them so much, and I want them to know that I will always have their back here in the United States Congress.