Julie Johnson

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 250th anniversary of the birth of our great Nation. Founded on the ideals of equality and self-determination, the American experiment has been an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy. For 250 years, our Nation has been at the forefront of innovation and scientific discovery. It is because of our strong democratic institutions and our Nation's diversity that this country is so great. Most importantly, we celebrate and honor the sacrifices that so many Americans have made to protect and defend the freedoms that we enjoy today, but we are at a crossroads. Rights are being eroded, not expanded. The right to vote is under attack. Racial divisions and healing have taken backward steps, while the rise of White Christian nationalism explodes. For the first time, our younger generations are not seeing a future where they are better off than their parents. We must reset as a politic and resume a focus on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone; a focus that the rule of law and due process matters; and a focus that truth matters, service is honored, and accountability exists even at the highest levels of government. As we contemplate what it means to be an American today, we can look back and see that progress made by our ancestors and look forward knowing that, united under our ideals of freedom and equality, we can take steps to finally achieve that more perfect Union.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we have just recognized 4 years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Women today have fewer rights and are less safe because of Republicans. It is unacceptable that if you are a pregnant woman in this country, your only guarantee to access safe, effective care for you and your baby is where you live. Abortion bans haven't decreased abortions. Instead, they have only put women's lives at greater risk. If you live in a blue State, you can make your decision that you and your family determine is best for you, and you can access the care that you feel is appropriate. If you live in a red State and have a complication, however, you have to be near death to be seen by a medical professional. The Texas abortion ban specifically is so confusing and restrictive that doctors are refusing to treat pregnant women until they face life- threatening complications because treating them too soon could send that doctor to jail. These are the problems that women and families are facing across the country because of what Republicans have done, and it is putting lives at risk. Mr. Speaker, as we observe 4 years since this awful Court decision, our fight for safer health and reproductive care for women across this country must continue. We must never stop until women have their full equality to access the care that they deserve. Achieving a More Perfect Union

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize National Nurses Week and honor the extraordinary nurses serving North Texas and communities across our country. Every single day, nurses are there for us in life's most difficult and vulnerable moments. They are the first hand a newborn feels, the calm voice in an emergency room, and a compassionate presence beside patients and families facing uncertainty. Nurses do far more than provide medical comfort. They advocate for patients, comfort families, educate communities, and hold together a health system that too often asks them to do more with less. Over the past several years, we have seen nurses carry unimaginable burdens, from staffing shortages to burnout, while continuing to show up for their patients with professionalism and compassion. They deserve more than our gratitude. They deserve safe working conditions, fair pay, mental health support, and investments in our own healthcare workforce. To every nurse serving in hospitals, clinics, schools, veterans' facilities, nursing homes, and community health centers, I thank you. Congress and your country honor your service, your sacrifice, and your unwavering commitment to caring for others. Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Republican Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act. Let's be clear about what this bill does. It does not make our communities safer. It does not meaningfully address violent crime. What it does is continue a failed approach to a criminal justice system that punishes Texans in poverty instead of protecting public safety. We have already seen the consequences of this approach in Texas and across the country. Cash bail systems have created a two-tiered justice system where wealth determines freedom. If you are rich, you can buy your way out of jail. If you are poor, you can sit behind bars for weeks or months before ever being convicted of a crime. In Texas, we have watched State leaders exploit fear around bail reform while ignoring deeper problems in our justice system. County jails are overcrowded. Courts are backlogged. Public defenders are overwhelmed. Too many people accused of low-level, nonviolent offenses are trapped in jail simply because they cannot afford bail. This bill attacks charitable, nonprofit organizations who provide bail assistance. Whether you are eligible for bail should depend on the nature of the offense, your flight risk, and your prior criminal history, not whether you have the funds to post it. If this Congress truly wants to address violent crime, then we should invest in evidence-based solutions: funding mental health services, reducing court backlogs, supporting victims, strengthening community violence intervention programs, and ensuring judges have the resources to make individualized decisions based on actual risk, not a person's bank account. This bill ignores those solutions in favor of political talking points and fear-mongering. Americans deserve a justice system that is fair, constitutional, and focused on real public safety, not one that criminalizes poverty and expands mass incarceration. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill. Immigration

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, for too long, this Republican Congress has failed the American people on immigration. We have allowed a broken system to remain broken: one that is too slow, too chaotic, and too unfair for everyone involved. The American people deserve an immigration system that is fair, fast, and final--fair for families seeking safety and opportunity, fast enough to reduce years of backlog that leave people in limbo, and final so that decisions are made efficiently, transparently, and with integrity under the rule of law. We will not fix our immigration system by abandoning our constitutional values. We will not restore order by stripping away due process rights or criminalizing people without giving them a fair hearing before the law. That is why I voted against the Lakin Riley Act and the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act. While supporters claim these bills are about safety, they expand mandatory detention and enforcement powers in ways that undermine due process and threaten our basic constitutional protections. In this country, we do not decide guilt or innocence without a hearing or access to an attorney. We do not throw away civil liberties because of political pressure or fear. Due process is not a loophole. It is a cornerstone of American democracy. It protects citizens and noncitizens alike from government overreach and ensures that our laws are applied fairly and consistently. We can modernize our immigration system and protect public safety while still upholding the Constitution. Those goals are not mutually exclusive. In fact, our system works best when we defend both security and justice together. We need comprehensive immigration reform that expands legal pathways, addresses workforce needs, invests in immigration courts, and creates clear, enforceable rules that reflect our values as a Nation. America has always been strongest when we lead with both compassion and the rule of law. As a Member of Congress, I will never vote to sacrifice one for the other.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, artificial intelligence is already transforming the way Americans live, work, and learn. It holds enormous promise for our future. From improving healthcare outcomes to helping small businesses grow, AI can be a powerful force for good when we, as legislators, create the environment to use it responsibly. We also have a responsibility to prepare our workforce for the challenges ahead. That is why I have been leading on this issue in Congress, focusing on expanding job training and ensuring that employees and employers alike in north Texas and across this country have the tools they need to succeed in an AI-driven economy. We cannot afford to fall behind. Other nations are investing aggressively in this technology. If we don't act, we risk ceding both economic and national security leadership. Congress must act to prepare our workforce for this new reality and to establish a smart, reasonable regulatory framework--one that encourages innovation while protecting the public and keeping our kids safe in an increasingly digital world. AI presents extraordinary opportunities, but only if we are prepared. That means investing in our people, setting clear rules of the road, and leading with purpose.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend Congresswoman Rivas for hosting this Special Order hour. Mr. Speaker, millions of American families are struggling with the skyrocketing cost of living. They can't afford gas, groceries, or their bills. Republicans in the White House week after week are gaslighting the American people. Now, we are seeing Donald Trump make reckless foreign policy decisions which are increasing the costs for American families as we speak. Over the past few weeks, the news out of the Middle East has been alarming. Trump has significantly escalated military involvement in Iran, a war that puts American lives at risk. Now, let's talk about what this means for working families. Wars aren't just fought overseas, but they are paid for right here in the United States. Every increase in military spending and every escalation of conflict has a ripple effect that touches grocery bills, utility costs, and most immediately the price at the pump. Gas prices are rising with an average gallon in Texas now between $3.26 and almost $3.50, while diesel approaches $5 a gallon, a jump of 25 cents just this past week. It is families who are paying the price: parents who are driving their kids to school, commuters trying to get to work, and seniors who are trying to make their Social Security stretch just a bit further. All of this is happening while Trump and Republicans continue to ignore the affordability crisis facing everyday Americans every day of every week and every hour. We are talking about real families deciding whether to fill their car with gas or put food on the table. We are talking about the anxiety that comes from not knowing how to cover the next bill when our leaders gamble with the lives and the money of American taxpayers abroad. The billion dollars that we are spending each day on this war could be spent on supporting families, tax relief, the child tax credit, healthcare, the Affordable Care Act--everything. How many times have we heard from Republicans coming to this floor clutching their pearls saying: Oh, we don't have the money to spend to make healthcare accessible for so many people. There are so many things that Republicans come down here to say that we don't have the funding for, yet they are willing to let this President spend their hard-earned tax money on a war overseas instead of the needs of the people right here at home. While families are tightening their belts, Republicans in Washington are going on a spending spree. They are continuing to try to fund a foreign war with no end in sight, which the American people do not want. All without addressing concerns right here on affordability right now, at kitchen tables at home right now, for people in this country. The picture could not be clearer. While Republicans prioritize reckless wars over the well-being of the American people, Democrats are laser focused on protecting working families and making sure they can afford what they need to survive. I urge Republicans to remember the people behind the numbers. Remember the families struggling to fill their tanks, to buy their groceries, and to pay their rent. Remember that every dollar spent on this never-ending war is a dollar taken from American families already stretched too thin. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today not just to call attention to the human cost of war but to call on all of us to act to protect the families of this country, act to prioritize affordability and lower the costs for those who need it, and act to ensure that the promise of the American Dream is not priced out of reach for the millions of people who sent us here to fight for them.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the SAVE America Act makes it harder for Americans to vote. As a member of the Subcommittee on Elections, my responsibility is to protect access at the ballot box, not to restrict it. That is why I offered several comments and amendments to preserve online voter registration, ensure due process when an eligible citizen is denied the right to vote, mandate that citizenship only needs to be proven once, and allow the use of an expired passport to register to vote. My amendments sought to limit the harm that this bill would cause and ensure that every citizen had accessible and secure ways to register and cast a ballot. This seems normal to me. This isn't about ID. This is about access. This is about procedures that will minimize the inconvenience to the United States citizens to cast their ballots. Despite these facts, Republicans on the Rules Committee unanimously blocked these amendments from even being considered. That tells you everything you need to know. This isn't about making it easier for Americans to vote. It isn't about so-called election integrity. It is about tilting the playing field. Republicans are losing support because voters aren't buying their ideas. Instead of changing their policies, they are trying to silence the American people at the ballot box. It is not working for their rigged, gerrymandered districts. It is not working for this effort to try to preclude people from registering to vote. If Republicans really cared about people registering to vote, they would have online voter registration. The majority would make it to where people didn't have to go to one registrar's office in the middle of a county only during working hours when they are working their own shifts and they are not able to get there. How are people expected to register to vote under these rules? If my Republican colleagues really cared, they would open it up. They would make online registration the rule and the law of the land. It is shameful. It is undemocratic. I urge my colleagues in this Chamber to vote ``no'' on this bill.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, many of my colleagues have said that this bill, the SAVE America Act, and the constant attempts by Republicans to clamp down on voter fraud solves a problem that doesn't exist. I couldn't disagree more. The problem is that Republicans are losing at the ballot box. They are losing young voters, voters of color, and women. So there is a problem, that no one is buying into Republican ideas and policies and the only solution is for Republicans to engage in a coordinated effort to silence the American people. They want to stop people from exercising their most fundamental constitutional right, the right to vote. The SAVE America Act doesn't save anything. Instead, it continues to restrict access to the ballot box, imposing a modern-day poll tax and a dangerous show-your-papers mandate. Under this bill, Americans would be required to appear in person or by mail, just hoping that the elections clerk accepts their documentation, and present either a passport or a birth certificate to register to vote, and every single time they want to cast a ballot. A passport costs $150, and a copy of a birth certificate could cost up to $60. Many Americans simply can't afford to purchase these documents. Those requirements constitute a poll tax. The reality is that one-half of Americans, more than 140 million citizens, don't have a valid passport, and as many as 69 million women who have taken their spouse's name do not have a birth certificate matching their legal name. Because this legislation has a requirement to show documents, this legislation would eliminate online voter registration. I want to be very clear. This is how people give up. They quit trying to register to vote, and that results in them not voting, and their voices not being heard. That is the intent of what is going on here. None of this is about election integrity or protecting the ballot box. When Republicans come to this floor to talk in front of the cameras, they say it is about this, but it is blatantly lying to the American people. Our job in Congress is to make it easy for people to participate in our democracy, to make it easy for people to vote and not make it harder. The bottom line is simple. The SAVE America Act and the countless number of other efforts Republicans are pushing will deny millions of Americans their right to vote.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Qualified Immunity Accountability Act because no one is above the law or the Constitution. Across this country, we are witnessing a dangerous pattern: Federal law enforcement officers--specifically, ICE agents--operating with near total impunity. We have seen constitutional rights violated, and we have seen communities terrorized. We have seen American citizens harmed and, tragically, killed without meaningful accountability and reform. Time and again, the Department of Homeland Security has failed to act or rein in its agents. That is not how we uphold the rule of law in this country. Qualified immunity protects government officials, including police officers, from being held liable in civil lawsuits. Qualified immunity was meant to be a good faith protection to protect good faith officers from frivolous lawsuits, but that is not how it functions today. In practice, qualified immunity has become a get-out-of-jail-free card, a legal shield that blocks accountability even when an officer violates someone's constitutional rights or uses excessive force when none was needed. I know this because, as an attorney, I have tried these exact cases in court. My bill changes that. The Qualified Immunity Accountability Act lowers the standard for prosecution so Federal law enforcement officers can be held accountable when they violate an individual's civil rights. It makes clear that no Federal agent, ICE included, is above the Constitution, and when rights are violated, there will be real consequences. This bill simply reaffirms what is in the Constitution. It protects law enforcement who act in good faith, while ensuring that those who abuse their power cannot hide behind a doctrine that was never intended to excuse misconduct. Accountability strengthens public safety. It builds trust between communities and police. Proper accountability does not weaken this. There are so many brave law enforcement officers who do their jobs and serve their communities with honor and distinction. Unfortunately, we have had some bad apples who are spoiling the bunch, and in doing so, are actually making it unsafe for law enforcement to do their jobs. Across the country, ICE agents have conducted raids without warrants, detained U.S. citizens, used excessive force, and torn families apart, often with little oversight and no consequences. Communities are left traumatized, afraid to report crimes, afraid to seek medical care, and afraid to leave their homes to live their daily lives. This is not public safety. This is government-sanctioned fear. When an agency can violate the Constitution and face no accountability at all, that agency is not enforcing the law, it is undermining it. The Constitution guarantees due process. It guarantees equal protection. It guarantees freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. Those rights are not optional, and they are not discretionary. They are not suggestions. They do not disappear because someone wears a badge. This bill sends a simple message. If you violate someone's civil rights, you will be held accountable, no matter who you are. I originally submitted this bill as an amendment to the ICE funding bill that was voted on yesterday, but Republicans in this House refused to have any amendments on this important issue even considered. It is clear that they want to continue to give Kristi Noem and Donald Trump the green light to continue terrorizing our communities and have untrained ICE agents run rogue, killing American citizens. This is not how trust is rebuilt. This is not how we restore faith in the rule of law. This is not how we honor the oath that every public servant takes to support and defend the Constitution. Justice can never be conditional, and accountability can never be optional. I urge my colleagues to support the Qualified Immunity Accountability Act, pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and stand on the side of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the basic principle that justice must apply equally to everyone.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Department of Homeland Security funding bill. I cannot support funding for a Department that has shown repeated disregard for the Constitution, the rule of law, and the safety of the people it is supposed to protect. Mr. Speaker, I remind the American people and this body: Every Member of Congress has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution. That means all aspects of it--the Fourth Amendment, the Fifth Amendment, the rights of due process, and the rights of unwarranted search and seizure. Yet, we are failing at this moment because ICE is terrorizing the American people and violating constitutional rights every single day. We have seen ICE agents and the Department of Homeland Security detain and arrest American citizens without any justification, enter homes without warrants, use excessive force when it wasn't required, and ignore constitutional rights. They are even weaponizing children in this country, kidnapping them from schools and using them as weapons against their parents. It is morally wrong, outrageous, and not who we are as a common people. This is a Department that is out of control, going rogue, and needs to be reined in. These are not isolated incidents. They are the result of unchecked power and a complete lack of accountability. Last night, I offered commonsense amendments to impose basic constitutional guardrails: accountability for abuse, due process protections, and civil recourse when rights are violated. Republicans refused to even consider them. Without these amendments, this bill gives DHS and ICE free rein to operate unchecked and unaccountable while Republicans in this body continue to look the other way. The American people deserve better. They deserve safety without fear, enforcement without lawlessness, and a government that follows the Constitution. Mr. Speaker, until the Department of Homeland Security is willing to operate within the rule of law, I cannot support continued funding without meaningful reform. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this legislation to extend the Affordable Care Act and the tax credits. In my district alone, nearly 100,000 people rely on these tax credits to afford coverage, and because Republicans let them expire, many of them are starting off the year without access to care. I hear from families all across north Texas every day begging for help. One constituent in Dallas, a small business owner with a child who has type 1 diabetes, told me plainly: ``I need these tax credits so my baby can survive.'' This is life or death for so many families in our communities. Yet, Republicans have refused to extend these tax credits, making healthcare unaffordable for millions of people. I refuse to accept Republicans governing in the currency of cruelty. It is critical that we restore these credits and put the money back in the pockets of the people who need it the most. I urge every Member of this body, Democrat and Republican alike, to support this bill and stand up for the American people. We deserve better. I will never stop fighting to protect the basic necessities that every family needs to survive.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of my bipartisan Fast Track Healthcare Apprenticeships Act, alongside my friend, Congressman Mike Kennedy from Utah. Across the country, and especially in Texas, families are feeling the strain of a healthcare system that simply does not have enough trained professionals. Longer wait times, higher costs, and fewer options for care are symptoms of a workforce that is stretched far beyond its limits. Our bill takes a commonsense approach to address the shortage. It streamlines and modernizes the healthcare apprenticeship approval process, requiring Federal and State labor agencies to act on the application within 45 days, and directs the Department of Labor to digitize and update the apprenticeship agreement forms to make them more accessible. These changes will help aspiring health workers get trained faster and step into good-paying, stable jobs. It will reduce barriers for employers, strengthen our workforce pipeline, and expand access to care in communities that desperately need it. Our bipartisan bill supports workers and providers and helps ensure that every family can rely on a healthcare system that is accessible, affordable, and built to meet their needs. I urge all of my colleagues to join us in supporting this bill.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Tracy Eubanks on his extraordinary leadership and decades of experience to Metrocrest Services. For more than 40 years, Metrocrest has been a lifeline for families across Addison, Coppell, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, and Dallas, providing food security, housing stability, workforce support, and compassionate care in moments of crisis. For the past 13 years, Tracy has guided this organization with vision, integrity, and a deep commitment to uplifting every member of our community. Under Tracy's leadership, Metrocrest Services opened its new, state- of-the-art community center, an investment that will serve north Texas families for generations. He has strengthened partnerships, expanded critical programs, and ensured that every person who walked through Metrocrest's doors was met with dignity and hope. As Tracy prepares for his retirement in 2026, we honor not just his accomplishments, but the countless lives he has touched. North Texas is stronger, more resilient, and more compassionate because of his service. I thank Tracy for his leadership, his heart, and his unwavering commitment to the people of our community. Honoring Pauline Medrano

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor County Treasurer Pauline Medrano for her extraordinary dedication to public service in her newly elected role as president of the County Treasurers' Association of Texas. Treasurer Medrano has spent more than a decade in elected office, always putting the people of Dallas County first. Her leadership has helped to strengthen public institutions, increase transparency, and build a culture of accountability and service that has positively impacted countless residents. Her election as president of the County Treasurers' Association of Texas is a testament to the respect she has earned across our State. It reflects her deep experience, her unwavering commitment to excellence, and a belief that government works best when it works for everyone. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Treasurer Medrano for her years of leadership, her community involvement, and her tireless dedication to the people who she serves. Her willingness to answer the call of public service embodies the very, very best of civic leadership. I wish her the best of luck as she takes on this new role on behalf of our community. I commend Treasurer Medrano for her invaluable contributions to Dallas County and to the State of Texas. Brazen Payoff

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the House voted last week on a bill to reopen the government, but tucked away in the fine print of that bill was something very disturbing and troubling: a very brazen payoff of millions of taxpayer dollars that could quietly be transferred to the personal bank accounts of eight Republican Senators. These are Senators who may have had knowledge or even participated in efforts to overturn the 2020 Presidential election. At a time when Americans are struggling to get ahead, Republicans in both the House and the Senate signed off on a deal that lines the pockets of the very people who wrote it. In every corner of my district, families are doing everything they can to make ends meet. They are juggling rising grocery costs, higher rents, and healthcare bills that seem to grow every single month. They expect this Congress to meet the moment with integrity, responsibility, and the basic respect for the people who we serve. What Republicans did was an insult to every hardworking taxpayer who plays by the rules and expects honesty from their government. Republicans could have voted it down. They could have passed an amendment to remove that provision from the bill. Despite being given the opportunity to do so, House Republicans let it pass. Now I am grateful that the House voted just last night to pass a bill to take this away, but there is no guarantee that the Senate will actually do that. The American people deserve better than these corrupt, backroom deals. They deserve better than legislation crafted to enrich the few at the expense of the many, and they certainly deserve better than a governing philosophy that treats cruelty as strength and corruption as strategy. The contrast before us could not be clearer. On one side, we see a Republican majority operating in the currency of cruelty and corruption, willing to hold working families hostage, willing to cut healthcare, and willing to undermine transparency, all to score political points and reward political friends. On the other side, Democrats are fighting with courage and compassion. We are fighting to protect the Affordable Care Act and to keep healthcare accessible for millions of Americans. We are fighting to lower costs for families and restore trust in a government that should be working for the people. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the Senate to reject this corrupt bargain and pass our bill that takes away this unethical and corrupt payout and to stand with the families who sent us here. These are families who deserve a government as honest, hardworking, and committed as they are.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the story of my constituent, Marwan Marouf. Marwan has lived in the United States for more than 40 years. He is a devoted father of U.S. citizens, a respected community leader, and he has no criminal history. He suffers from a life-threatening heart condition and has fully complied with every requirement of our immigration system, submitting every application on time, providing extensive documentation, and cooperating completely with USCIS. Yet, 2 months ago, after dropping his 15-year-old son off at school, Marwan was detained by ICE. This is a man who founded the largest Boy Scout troop in north Texas, who delivered food and supplies to families across our community during the pandemic, and who is recognized by the city of Richardson for his outstanding service to our community. Tomorrow, Marwan faces a proceeding where he will face removal. I have repeatedly requested humanitarian parole on his behalf, and those requests have gone unanswered. Mr. Speaker, Marwan is exactly the kind of person humanitarian parole was created for: a dedicated public servant, husband, and father. I urge DHS to grant him humanitarian parole.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this bill. I am a ``hell no'' vote on any legislation that strips healthcare away from millions of Texans. In my district, nearly 100,000 of my constituents rely on the Affordable Care Act's tax credits to pay for their coverage. Without these lifesaving credits, many of them will go without healthcare at all. Every day during this shutdown, my office has heard from thousands of families across my district saying: For the love of God, save my healthcare. Tucked away in this bill is a brazen payoff of millions of taxpayer dollars funneled to the benefit of a handful of Senators. While families are struggling to afford groceries and healthcare, we are being asked to sign off on a deal that lines the pockets of the very people who wrote it. That is an insult to every hardworking taxpayer who expects honesty from their government. The contrast could not be clearer. Republicans are operating in the currency of cruelty and corruption while Democrats are fighting with courage and compassion. The American people deserve better, and I will never stop fighting to protect the basic necessities that every family needs to survive.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about a topic that should transcend partisanship: respect for science and the pursuit of truth. History shows us that when nations embrace science, they grow stronger. When they suppress it, they grow weaker and often less free. Throughout our history, we have witnessed dictators and authoritarian leaders suppress science and knowledge because it threatened their rule. In Nazi Germany, Jewish scientists were forced out of universities, and research was put under complete control of the government. The result was not only the loss of a generation of brilliant minds but a society in which truth itself was subjugated to government propaganda. In Stalin's Soviet Union, biology was condemned as ``bourgeois science.'' Researchers who insisted on facts rather than ideology were imprisoned, killed, or sent to work in slave labor. Even as far back as Mao's Cultural Revolution, China dismantled academic institutions, silenced experts, and elevated loyalty over knowledge. Generations lost their chance at education, and the nation's progress was stunted. Mr. Speaker, if we do not learn from our history, we are doomed to repeat it. We are witnessing the same pattern repeating in our own lifetime. In Hungary, Viktor Orban has taken over universities, closed independent institutions, and forced academic programs to shut down when they contradict his political goals. In Russia, Vladimir Putin has jailed scientists and censored research, all to preserve the illusion of control and strength. What these regimes have in common is simple: They know that science, at its core, is a challenge to authoritarianism. Science is a search for truth. It cannot be dictated by politicians, so when science becomes an affront to the goals of authoritarian leaders, they attack it, suppress it, deny it, and replace it with propaganda and misinformation. Here at home, Donald Trump is following the same playbook. He has mocked climate scientists, dismissed decades of evidence, even as Americans suffer record floods, droughts, and wildfires. Donald Trump has undermined doctors and public health officials by putting the Nation's leading vaccine denier in charge of our public health. Trump has promoted unproven cures for diseases, cut billions in critical research funding, and dismantled advisory boards that create avenues for government to work with scientists to make good policy. In his 2026 budget, Trump is proposing to eliminate funding for the Administration for Community Living, which supports older and disabled Americans; the Department of Health and Human Services' Prevention and Public Health Fund; the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund; the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, an association of 16 academic centers and children's hospitals dedicated to trials of novel treatments for pediatric brain cancer; and so much more. We need to understand why this is happening and why Republicans in this Congress are supporting it. These attacks are not random. They are deliberate, and they prove a tendency by this President to emulate the authoritarians of the past and present. Trump's goal is to erode trust in experts, replace facts with loyalty, and convince Americans that only one man and one government can be trusted to define what is right and what is wrong. When a leader can erase truth and rewrite reality, they can justify anything. They can jail opponents. They can seize power and ignore the judges and the rule of law. They undermine the very essence of democracy itself. Mr. Speaker, science is not partisan. It is not our political enemy. It is a safeguard against lies and misinformation. When our Nation's top leaders attack it, they are not only rejecting evidence. They are rejecting accountability. America has always been strongest when we embrace discovery and not denial. When we put researchers, innovators, and problem-solvers to work--from curing polio to sending humans to the Moon and leading breakthroughs in clean energy and technology--our greatness has always come from empowering science, not mocking it. Trump and Republicans are working to gut these critical advancements. Their tactics echo the worst chapters of history, and they mirror the tactics of authoritarian regimes today. If we fail to call this out, we risk normalizing it. I believe the American people know what is at stake. They know that progress, safety, and freedom depend on science and truth, and truth cannot be dictated from a bully pulpit. Defending science means defending democracy. It is about making sure our children inherit a nation that values evidence over propaganda and freedom over fear. We cannot let authoritarians' attack on truth take root here. We cannot let science become the casualty of politics because if we do, history shows us exactly where that road will lead.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, I visited the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas, about 3 hours outside of Dallas. What I saw was deeply disturbing. It speaks to the harmful policies under Donald Trump and Secretary Noem, policies that are ripping families apart, wasting taxpayer dollars, and making our communities less safe. Bluebonnet was built to house prisoners under the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, but in 2019 the first Trump administration handed a contract to a private prison company to convert it into an ICE detention center. Today, instead of prioritizing dangerous criminals, those who commit rape, murder, or trafficking drugs, people who pose real threats to our communities, ICE is filling this facility with people who have done absolutely nothing wrong and are being targeted simply because of the color of their skin. As a Member of Congress and as a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I have both the right and the responsibility to see what is happening inside these facilities. For years, Members of Congress could visit unannounced, but under Secretary Noem, that right was stripped away. My team and I worked for weeks just to gain entry and finally got a scheduled appointment. When I visited, 1,079 people were being detained at Bluebonnet. Nearly 700 of them, almost two-thirds, were designated by ICE itself as a low threat. Let me repeat: Hundreds of people with no violent history, no record of serious crimes, targeted solely because of the color of their skin, were denied their constitutional rights and then locked away in a detention center. I met with several detained individuals. Here is a common story that we came across. A man came here more than two decades ago and worked a blue-collar job. He raised his family in Texas. He has children whom he loves and who depend on him. He hasn't committed any violent crimes or sold any drugs. His only offense was a traffic stop. Now, he faces deportation to a country he left decades ago. My question is: How is this fair? Why are people who are contributing to our economy, who are working hard and making sure that our citizens are being taken care of, being targeted instead of all of the violent criminals? This is what is happening under Trump. They are not prioritizing threats to public safety. They are not going after violent offenders. They are taking workers out of our economy. They are spreading fear in communities where families should feel safe, and they are doing it with our taxpayer dollars. Let me be very clear. Locking up people who pose no danger to our communities does not make us safer. It weakens us. It destabilizes families. It wastes resources that should be used to pursue violent criminals, traffickers, and those who actually endanger our neighbors. As I left the detention center that day, an employee from ICE made one request: Stop politicizing us. It is the White House that needs to hear this message most of all. Trump and Secretary Noem are not using taxpayer dollars to keep communities safe; they are using it as political theater. They dress up in ICE jackets, parade through detention centers, and turn detainees into props for their campaigns. This isn't law enforcement. It is performance. It makes a mockery of our justice system by prioritizing sensational videos over safety and cruelty over compassion. This is political theater at the expense of human lives. We need a smarter and fairer approach. That means alternatives to detention that allow people to remain with their families while their case moves forward. It means investing in an immigration system that is fair, fast, and final so that people can have their cases heard in front of a judge and are not left in limbo for years. It means prioritizing dangerous individuals, not hardworking parents who have built their lives in our communities. People who play by the rules, follow the law, and adhere to the guidelines laid out before them should never be targeted because of the color of their skin and denied due process. Our society should not accept this, and this administration needs to put a stop to this injustice. That is what I saw at Bluebonnet, a betrayal of our values as a nation. We are a country of immigrants. We are a country that claims to honor family, community, and fairness. Yet, the Trump administration is locking up people who are simply trying to work, raise families, and contribute to our community. This is not about fairness or safety, and it is not who we claim to be as Americans. Congress must step up and hold this administration accountable. We must work in a bipartisan way to build an immigration system that keeps people safe and ensures that people's rights are respected. Locking up neighbors who pose no threat does not make us stronger. It divides us. It weakens us, and it undermines everything that we stand for.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, for decades, Jeffrey Epstein's abuse was an open secret powerful people knew. Agencies knew. Some in government knew. Yet, year after year, he continued to operate in trafficking, exploiting, and destroying the lives of children and young women. This was not only sexual violence. There were financial crimes. Epstein's empire was built on money, blackmail, and connections, and those connections reached into the highest halls of power. What makes this scandal unbearable is not just Epstein's evil but the way institutions, Republican and Democratic administrations alike, looked away. No administration, past or present, has fully stepped up to bring the truth to light. The very agencies charged with protecting the vulnerable, instead, protected the powerful. Now, under Donald Trump, that coverup has gone from negligence to active obstruction. Trump promised to release the files. He promised the American people transparency. Instead, he and his handpicked lieutenants have buried the truth under a mountain of lies and contradictions. Let's review the record. In June of 2024, Trump said he would declassify the Epstein files. His campaign even celebrated that promise online. On January 30, Trump's FBI Director, Kash Patel, vowed to release everything. On February 21, Attorney General Pam Bondi said the client list was literally on her desk. As of today, none of that has materialized. However, when Bondi told Trump in May that his own name appeared in those files, everything changed. Suddenly, the files were too dangerous to release. Then the Department of Justice claimed there was no client list at all. Trump went from promising full transparency to calling the files boring, then a hoax, then a dead issue. This is not transparency. This is a coverup. Madam Speaker, when leaders abuse their office to shield predators, that is corruption of the highest order. When hundreds of survivors are denied justice to protect one man's reputation, that is a crime against the very idea of democracy. The majority often speaks about morality. We are told about protecting children, about being pro-life, and standing up against human trafficking. So I ask my colleagues on the other side: Where is the outrage now? Where is that moral clarity when the lives of trafficked and abused girls demand your courage? This is not about partisanship. This is about whether the United States Congress will side with survivors or with abusers. Will we protect the powerful or will we protect the powerless? Trump threatens Republican Members who demand justice in this matter. Like Epstein survivors, the majority are now terrorized by men in power to stay silent. I know that many aspects of this criminally corrupt scandal are horrible to look at and think about, but we don't have to be divided. Together, we can be the solution and send a message that we will not let this happen again. Here is my demand: Release the files, every name, every deposition, every page, unredacted, except to protect the survivors. No more excuses. No more delays, and no more hiding. Madam Speaker, sunlight is the oldest disinfectant. It is the only way to end the rot of corruption that let Epstein thrive, and it is the only way to give survivors the justice they deserve. Right now, there is a bipartisan effort in this House to force a vote on releasing the files. We need only two more Republicans to join us, two Members who believe their oath to the truth is stronger than their loyalty to Donald Trump. We need two Members who are willing to live up to the words they so often speak about morality, family, and protecting children. Let me say this: Americans are divided on so much today, but on this demand for justice, transparency, and accountability, we are united. Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Americans across every community want this coverup to end. At a time when our country desperately needs something to unite around, this could be it. The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough. If our justice system means anything, it must mean justice for the vulnerable human beings that powerful men thought they could use and throw away. No more secrecy, no more corruption, no more protection for predators. Madam Speaker, history will remember what we do in this moment. Here is the truth: If we in Congress cannot unify to defy the most well- connected predator of our time, what good are we?

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor George Harris, a giant in the Dallas community and someone who dedicated his entire life to fighting for LGBTQ equality. Last month, George passed away at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy of courage, service, and sacrifice. After serving in the Army and working at the CIA, he was discharged simply because he was gay. He built a life of love alongside his partner of more than 50 years, Jack Evans. In 2015, George and Jack made history as the first same-sex couple legally married in Dallas County, a moment that inspired Americans from across the country. George helped create institutions that still serve our community, like the Resource Center; the LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce; and The Dallas Way, one of our Nation's largest LGBTQ archives. Preserving our history was one of George's last labors of love, ensuring future generations know the struggles and triumphs of those who came before him. Dallas and our Nation are better because of George Harris. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of this entire House and our Dallas community, I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and neighbors. May we honor his legacy by continuing his fight for equality and dignity for all.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today full of gratitude and pride for the incredible people of north Texas, my neighbors, and my constituents, who have stepped up in extraordinary ways to help their fellow Texans through one of the most devastating flood disasters our State has faced in years. We all know that when tragedy strikes in Texas, we don't wait around for permission to do the right thing. We just show up. We roll up our sleeves. We help our neighbors pick up the pieces. That has been on full display in the weeks after the floods. I will take a moment to recognize just a few of the many heroes from Texas' 32nd Congressional District who have gone above and beyond to provide hope and help when it was needed the most. Sabrina Pinales, Ryan Lenamon, Savion Lee, David Hardage, and Lauren Sturdy, five of my remarkable constituents, didn't think twice before answering the call. They joined their church mission team and headed straight to the Hill Country where flood waters had washed away homes overnight. These five north Texans have been on the ground every day helping families, clearing debris, delivering supplies, and rebuilding what was lost. They remind us that faith in action and neighbor helping neighbor is what holds this State together when times are hard. I also want to lift up the brave men and women of the Plano Fire Department and first responders from Dallas. When floodwaters rose and families needed rescue, these heroes did what they always do: They run toward the danger. They deployed to central Texas to help rescue stranded families, clear the roads, and make sure entire communities could get back on their feet safely. They represent the very best of our communities: courage, commitment, and compassion. It is not just these few. Across north Texas, neighbors have opened their doors to displaced families. Churches, synagogues, and mosques have collected food, clothing, and essentials. Local businesses have donated truckloads of supplies. Nonprofits like the North Texas Food Bank have mobilized to get fresh meals and water to families who have lost everything in just seconds. Countless volunteers have driven hours to help strangers through this terrible disaster. These are who Texans are. We are defined by our resilience, by our people, by our willingness to stand shoulder to shoulder and say: ``We got you.'' Our State has faced immense tragedy with hundreds of victims, many of whom were children, little girls excited to go to summer camp to make new friends and create memories that would last for a lifetime. Our entire Nation mourns those we have lost, and we are holding close the families who are doing everything they can just to make it through each day hour by hour. Those families and those victims deserve answers. We must hold State and Federal officials accountable. We have a new chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Mr. Garbarino from New York. It is my hope that he will respond to our calls to convene the Homeland Security Committee for an oversight hearing of these floods to examine what went wrong and how our government can do better in the future. Texans deserve a government that matches their generosity. We deserve a government that plans ahead, responds quickly, and never lets politics get in the way of protecting our communities. Today, I say thank you to Sabrina, Ryan, Savion, David, and Lauren. I thank the Plano Fire Department and our first responders from Dallas. I thank every volunteer, every neighbor, every house of worship, every first responder who has made a difference during this crisis. Mr. Rogers once said when bad things happen, to always ``Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'' We have a lot of helpers in north Texas and across our State who have gone above and beyond to help with their neighbors, and we are damn proud of them.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to mourn the loss of so many lives across Texas. We lost the hope of our future, so many children, so many beautiful girls, who just went to camp to have a good time, to bond with their friends, and to have that time that we all cherish from our memories of our own childhood. Too many lives have been lost. We have the responsibility as members of government to have a look at why, what happened, what could we do better, and how can we make sure that things like this never, ever, ever happen again. What we know, unfortunately, is that partisan politics had a role. Republicans have historically denied the ongoing effects of climate change and what is happening in our country. Over the last decade, we have had more and more intense storms, unexpected, throughout the entire country, but surely in Texas. We have had freezes that have killed hundreds of people, and now we had a 1-in- 100-year catastrophic rainstorm that produced horrific floods and tragic loss of life. What happened in this policy is that Republicans at every level of government in our State failed the people of Texas. At the local level, they refused to have support grants from the Biden administration that would have put in place critical sirens and warning equipment that would have warned these kids at this camp to get out, flee, and seek higher ground. What we know is that communities that accepted these resources, they all survived. The warnings worked. This community didn't want to accept help from a Democrat, and now we have hundreds of people who are dead. Requests were made from the State to help, ultimately, and our Governor denied requests three times for over a million dollars each time that they would have, again, tried to provide warning equipment, again failing. Now what we have in our Federal Government is FEMA. FEMA is designed to be there as a last resort for communities when these unimaginable tragedies strike. FEMA trains and provides our first responders, the first line of defense, the people that go in and risk their lives at a time when it is most dangerous. They can't do it alone, and FEMA provides critical training, resources, and supplementation. FEMA is designed to have an immediate response within a minimum of 15 hours. However, under President Trump and his canceling of FEMA, defunding FEMA, firing FEMA employees, terminating hundreds of FEMA employees, it was over 72 hours before critical resources were brought into Texas. Mr. Speaker, 72 hours is critical when you are floating in a river and you need help. In these situations, 72 hours make the difference between life and death, and Trump and our Federal Government failed. After Katrina, we saw how inadequate FEMA can be sometimes. We saw the disaster of government when it didn't work. Congress put in place some measures to repeal and increase FEMA. One of those was you have to hire an experienced administrator of FEMA, somebody who knows what they are doing, because this isn't a time to play around. This administration hired as the director of FEMA somebody who never even knew whether or not a hurricane season existed, somebody who has no experience in this area. Homeland Security Secretary Noem put in place measures, cost-cutting measures, that catastrophically impacted what the response was in this situation. Phone calls were never answered. The day after this flood happened, she canceled the contracts of the people who answer the phone when you call for help. That is not the response that this government needs, and we have to do better. I am calling upon my Republican colleagues, I am calling upon everyone in this Congress to have us come together because these tragedies don't just affect Texas. They can affect all of us. Weather is violent, fierce, and deadly, and it is indiscriminate about where it strikes, but we have the ability to fix it. I call on my colleagues to come together. Let's make it better and let's make sure that these tragedies don't happen again.

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas

Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have been listening to this debate, and I am struck by the appalling ability of the Members of the other side who are so afraid of this President. They are willing to lie to the American people because they fear the tweet of a President more than they fear the wrath of the voters at the ballot box. This will come home to roost because 17 million people are going to lose their healthcare. In Texas, we are one of the largest creators of clean energy jobs. Texas is the energy State. I am proud to be an energy State. We have vast amounts of oil and gas jobs, but we also are the largest creator of clean energy jobs. We will lose millions of jobs in our State because Republicans of this delegation are going to vote for this bill. In response to Representative Nehls, I am a proud graduate of the University of Texas. I think Texas A&M and our elite University of Texas deserve to have the funding in our universities. With this bill, we must vote it down. I condemn the Republicans in the State of Texas who are going to harm our State with their support of this bill.