Teresa Leger Fernandez

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I have some other issues I wanted to talk about with my wonderful colleague from across the aisle. Mr. Speaker, I want to go back to the issue of the forever wars that President Trump is leading us down into. As I said in my opening, he says it is to combat drug trafficking, and I agree, we should be arresting and putting these drug dealers away for life. I don't like the President of Venezuela. He is an authoritarian, a dictator. He is the opposite of what democracy should be like. But let's face it, this isn't about drug dealing because Trump keeps pardoning convicted drug dealers. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to enter in the Record the December 8, 2025, article titled: ``Trump pardons major drug traffickers despite his anti-drug rhetoric.'' ``The President has granted clemency to about 100 people accused of drug-related crimes during his time in office, a Post analysis shows.''

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, Trump said he would lower costs for Americans on day one. Guess what he actually did on day one. He pardoned Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, who was convicted of creating the largest online black market for illegal drugs and other illicit goods. He pardoned Larry Hoover, who imported tons of illegal drugs in a major city, $100 million a year into that city. Mr. Speaker, Trump is lying to the American people, and he thinks he can play war. War is not something you play with. We do not want another Afghanistan or Iraq where a Republican starts a war that lasts 20 years, costs trillions of dollars, and too many lives. Where is the Republican outrage about these pardons for drug traffickers who kill the people we love in our communities? I am very glad, as I noted earlier, to see some oversight in calling for the release of the video, but we must be doing more. My Republican colleagues need to join Democrats in asserting that Congress, and Congress alone, has the authority to declare war. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I have half a minute to speak, and we have 22 days to act where we need to pass those tax credit extensions. For months, we have been urging you to do it. Let's get it done. The bills that we are considering here today, some of them have already passed last week. We should be doing the Americans' goals. We should be extending those tax credits. We should be doing it now. I call on four Republicans to join us and sign that discharge petition. Help us give Americans a healthy Christmas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Michael Canfield, the President and CEO of IPMI, Inc. and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (IPCC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Over the last 30 years, Mike's leadership built the businesses and operations of this cultural landmark owned by the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico. The Cultural Center and tribal businesses are on land that was once a boarding school, with the historical complexities that the boarding school era represents. The transformation of the land into a thriving business center, a world renowned cultural center, and a world class Native American charter school, exemplifies the possibilities when Native Americans exercise self-determination and control over their own destiny and resources. He oversaw a restructuring of the museum so that the voice that told the history of the Pueblos was Puebloan, he professionalized the historical archival work, and education department and the restaurant at the cultural center is not only a place for delicious post contact food, but also itself a teaching kitchen. The Cultural center is the most visited site in Albuquerque. The former Albuquerque Indian School campus is a place of spirited community and family. The distinguished Legacy Circle also honors the name of Michael G. Canfield because of his work elevating IPCC to a place of national recognition. This honor exists now as he has helped create endless opportunities for Pueblo people. These visionaries to receive this honor through new IPCC estate plans ensure the strength of the culture and economic stability for generations to come. His leadership focused on his people, the preservation and celebration of Pueblo culture. Visitors steam into the dance circle at the cultural center to watch Puebloan and other indigenous dancers from around the world share both culture heritage and creativity, where the drums reverberate under our turquoise skies. But the Indian Pueblo Marketing, Inc., which is the economic arm of the 19 Pueblos stewardship of their land now boasts two hotels, two major office buildings, restaurants and business centers. The financial return helps fund not just the cultural center activities but also the 19 Pueblos themselves, who in turn use the funds to meet their governmental needs. I had the benefit of working with Mr. Canfield as the attorney for IPMI and can attest to the wisdom and diplomacy he brought to every board meeting, every finance discussion, and every entrepreneurial expansion he proposed. He always balanced the cultural heritage that needed to be preserved and honored and the economic opportunities that beckoned. His impact on the IPCC and the Native American community will be remembered forever. The Pueblo people have always lived on these lands, and their descendants have found another home at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. I am honored to recognize Mr. Canfield so history will remember his name. There is strength in culture and tradition, there are leaders we will follow to show us the way. Let Mike Canfield be remembered as one of those leaders.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dr. Robert Martin, former President of the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. As one of the 37 tribal colleges in the United States, and the only fine arts college in the world dedicated to the study of contemporary Native American and Alaskan Native arts, the IAIA fills a vital space in the academic world. A world class arts education institution doesn't just happen overnight; it takes leadership and vision. Dr. Martin spent the last eighteen years providing that vision as he expanded IAIA from 2007 to 2025. The student body represents 99 tribes and includes individuals from 35 states. Dr. Robert Martin has inspired not only Congress, but philanthropists to invest in the school. The many famous alumni, like Sherman Alexie, a celebrated author, poet, and screenwriter, to Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz a historian and author known for works in indigenous issues to the next generation who are active in helping him guide the school and inspire present day students in the classroom and in the studio. He has also championed tribal colleges beyond IAIA because he knows that they nurture the languages that keep tribal cultures alive and vibrant like the Navajo, and the Zuni that even have programs offered at the college. As a champion for indigenous art and education, he nurtures the university mission to empower creativity and mold the indigenous leaders we need. His extensive experience in higher education is a testament to his commitment to indigenous students and stories. I know the impact of his work lives on in the students, faculty, and staff of every institution he has been a part of. His legacy as an outstanding leader in higher education has even earned him his own day in Santa Fe, November 8, called ``Dr. Martin Day''. His dedication to education and cultural preservation has also earned him distinguished recognition from the White House, as one of the recipients of the 2022 National Humanities Medal. I am honored to include his name into the Record, so history will remember him. There is strength in culture and tradition, there are leaders who answer the call. Let Dr. Martin be remembered as one of those leaders.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of a new beacon of hope and belonging in our Land of Enchantment. The doors of the QC--Santa Fe's first LGBTQIA+ Center--have opened, and those doors open a space where every New Mexican can breathe freely, stand proudly, and be wholly themselves. In this home of chosen family, community, and courage, Santa Feans will gather not just for events or activities, but to share joy, to be seen, and to be embraced without condition. The QC adds its own bright colors to Santa Fe's already vibrant tapestry--a testament to the leadership of the Human Rights Alliance Executive Director Kevin Bowen and the entire community's tireless passion, persistence, and commitment to equality in Santa Fe and throughout New Mexico. It brings me such joy to know that these advocates continue to fight for equality in New Mexico and uplift members of our beautifully diverse community. I stand in firm solidarity with the QC and its mission to protect the rights of all New Mexicans--regardless of who they are or who they love.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, there were thousands of girls and young women abused, trafficked, and used by Epstein and the elite and the powerful who believed they could get away with it. Epstein told the young victims that he controlled the banks and the government. Those women refused to be silenced. Today, they have pierced the dark with their light. Anytime any girl is trafficked, molested, or abused, the world must stand up. Today, the House proves Jeffrey Epstein wrong. The Senate must do the same tomorrow.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, when Republicans vote in favor of today's rule, they will be voting in favor of higher coffee prices, higher car prices, and higher prices for car seats and strollers. Republicans will be voting for inflation. They buried a provision in today's rule which prevents the House from voting or even debating Trump's tariffs. Trump imposed a 50 percent tariff on Brazil because he didn't like the fact that that sovereign country was prosecuting a former President for staging a violent coup. Now Republicans are making people pay for Trump's protection of that convicted President in Brazil every time they buy coffee. That tariff doesn't serve any economic purpose. Thanks to Trump's tariffs, Americans across the country are already paying more for their coffee, whether they drink Folgers or the New Mexico Pinon Coffee that we love at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The Constitution says Congress should levy taxes and tariffs, but Republicans don't have the courage to stand up to Trump, to stand up for their constituents, the constituents who are taking food out of their grocery carts because grocery inflation is back. Remember, consumers pay for the tariffs, not foreign countries. Don't brag about how much has been collected for tariffs because that is money that has essentially been taken away from American families. I hope my Republican colleagues realize what they are doing to American working families and stop this madness. They can't hide behind this rule and say they didn't vote on the tariffs. Republicans have been warned. They should know what they are doing when they vote for this rule. When they vote for this rule, they are voting to continue Trump's tarifflation. Vote against tarifflation. Vote against this rule.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Chair, Republicans have a series of amendments targeting trans people and the ability of servicemember parents to make decisions about healthcare for their children. All of these amendments, including this one, do not do anything to make us safer or to honor our commitment to the servicemen and -women who are willing to give their lives for this country. These amendments are part of a culture war that is intended to make Americans angry, divided, and fearful. They want to rename it the Department of War because they are in a war against the idea that the American life is something that includes all of us, that we can all belong. Their proposed facilities ban is a huge violation of privacy and would make all women and girls less safe. Will Republicans require menstrual monitoring, checking reproductive organs, as has happened, as my colleague pointed out? Girls and women who are tall, strong, and gender-nonconforming are already being questioned and yelled at. Republicans seem to always want to dictate from D.C. what we can do with our bodies, and that is not freedom. I stand with all our servicemembers, including our trans servicemembers, who are willing to fight and die for our freedoms. I am going to fight for their freedom to be who they are, to fight for an America where we all belong. We should not be at war with each other. We all belong.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, once again, Republicans on the Rules Committee blocked a vote on the bipartisan Massie-Khanna bill to release the Epstein files. Covering up the files just protects the criminal activity of pedophiles and the people who participated in those heinous acts. Epstein told the young girls and women: I have the banks and I have the government. You have no power. Let's prove him wrong. I am asking that just two more of my Republican colleagues sign the petition to expose the rich and powerful monsters that were part of the Epstein sex circle. Trump is engaged in a cover-up. He is forcing Republicans to ignore their own moral conscience when he blocks the Massie-Khanna bill. What is he hiding? Well, just in the last 24 hours, the card that Trump said didn't exist was released. It is a disgusting, degrading birthday card that Trump sent to Epstein calling him a pal and stating that they shared a wonderful secret. Mr. Speaker, if that is not enough, Trump had the audacity to imply that domestic violence is not a crime. He said: ``If a man has a little fight with the wife, they say this was a crime.'' Consistent with that, he has cut Federal funds that support victims of sexual crimes, including domestic violence. Trump was found liable in court for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll. Yesterday, a court upheld an $83.3 million defamation jury award against President Trump. Women are not safe in Trump's America. So, yes, Americans deserve a vote on the Massie-Khanna bill to know what else Trump is hiding. The survivors' painful stories brought many to tears last week. Their pain made us cry, but we cannot stop at tears. We owe them the justice they asked us for. Release the damn files.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am Latina. I am a citizen, and I speak Spanish. My family has been in ``Nuevo''; ``New'' Mexico for 17 generations. Today, ICE can now detain me if they hear me talking to my ``tia''; ``aunt'' saying something like: (English translation of the statement made in Spanish is as follows:) As of today, the Supreme Court has put latinos in danger of being detained by ICE. They have given them permission to detain any person who looks latino, speaks with an accent, or works a humble job. Instead of protecting its people, this government has just sentenced millions of latinos to live in fear. We'll see more fathers handcuffed in front of their children, and workers detained while they harvest our food We now have to carry our passports, as if being latino were a crime. This is the kind of racism that goes hand-in-hand with fascism. Hoy, la Corte Suprema puso a todos los latinos en peligro de ser detenidos por ICE. Les dieron permiso de detener a cualquier persona que parezca latina, hable con acento, o tenga un trabajo humilde. En vez de proteger a su gente, este gobierno acaba de condenar a millones de latinos a vivir con miedo. Veremos mas padres esposados frente a sus hijos, y trabajadores detenidos mientras cosechan nuestra comida. Ahora tenemos que cargar nuestros pasaportes, como si ser latino fuera un crimen. Esto es el racismo que va mano a mano con el facismo. In my America, we all belong. In Trump's America, we do not.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, last night, the Rules Committee spent hours helping Trump and the White House cover up the Epstein files. Trump is terrified the House will agree to the Massie-Khanna resolution to require that his administration release the damn files. He is lobbying against it. What is he afraid of? To kill the Massie bill, Republicans are pushing a resolution that will give Chairman Comer of the Oversight Committee sole power over what gets released. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't trust a self-proclaimed--these are his words--Trump man to decide what to redact and what Americans get to see. Remember, Trump repeatedly--not just today, but repeatedly--called the Epstein scandal a hoax, and he has called Epstein himself a terrific guy. The Oversight Committee acted only because Democrats forced the subpoenas. Today, Republicans, as we heard, are patting themselves on the back for releasing the same documents that were given to rightwing influencers months ago. We want the Oversight Committee to do its job, hold the hearings, follow the money, pursue the truth, and protect the victims. We can do both. The committee can do its job. All we need are two more Republicans to sign Massie's discharge petition so the files get released to the public. Let's not forget that this is about the women and children who were terrorized and abused by a pedophile and his rich friends. It is about the coverup that started with the rich and powerful and is still coming from a gold-plated Oval Office. We have listened to the survivors share their stories. They have made many of us cry, but we won't stop at tears. We will work to bring justice to these brave women, to do what they have asked, which is to release the files. The rule, by the way, is also a Republican attempt to cover up how they are raising energy prices for American families in the Energy and Water appropriations bill. Renewable energy brings down the cost of electricity. Trump and Republicans are destroying this clean and affordable energy by cutting its funding in half. They are doing this to benefit the fossil fuel companies that donated to their campaigns. Finally, they are also rewriting the history of January 6. They quietly slipped into the rule a brand-new select committee on selective memory designed to protect the very insurrectionists who stormed this Capitol. These were violent thugs who attacked our democracy and brutalized police officers. Donald Trump pardoned those violent criminals. Now, Republicans want to give them cover in the same Halls of Congress that the thugs once attacked. Shame, shame, shame.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Santa Fe--our state capital, the heart of New Mexico, and my beloved home, where I raised my family, for being named the No. 1 City in the United States in Travel + Leisure's annual reader survey. Imagine a city nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where the sun blesses us in winter, spring, and summer. The skies stretch endlessly--clouds dance, summer storms roll through and leave behind the fresh smell of rain and double rainbows. And when you walk our streets, you are surrounded by creativity and inspiration: the work of our artists, musicians, and writers; the care of our educators, medical professionals, and first responders; the vibrancy of our small businesses, museums, and cultural institutions; the unmatched flavors crafted by our chefs; and the deep pride of our hardworking residents. Visitors may come for the food, the views, the art--but they leave with something more. A sense of calm, of peace, of awe. They say they have just visited a place where love is paramount--love for a city, a culture, the Earth, and for each other. I congratulate and Felicidades to Santa Fe--and it has always been No. 1 in our hearts. Now the world knows it too.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Chair, my amendment supports the circuit rider health program, which Cannon Air Force Base spearheaded to make sure military families in rural communities have access to the specialized care they need. Just like the circuit riders of the American frontier who brought church services to remote towns, today's circuit riders bring child psychiatry, neurology, and other critical specialties directly to our bases. Cannon may have pioneered this approach, but rural military installations across the country could benefit. Nearly 50 percent of active-duty bases are in health care deserts, where accessing specialists often means long drives, missed duty, and high costs. In just over a year, Cannon's program served 160 patients, saved $200,000 in travel voucher costs, and reclaimed 1,400 duty hours. The circuit rider program saves money, improves mission readiness, and strengthens care for servicemembers and their families. I urge support for my amendment to expand this cost-effective and proven model to rural bases nationwide.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, Republicans are destroying that which is good and kind in America. Abraham Lincoln said that America is ``the last best hope of Earth.'' Our public radio and TV and our work across the globe for public health and peace are what is the best of America. They are taking Elmo off the air because they gave billionaires a tax break. They are defunding Tribal radio and rural broadcasting while Trump burns through $56 million of taxpayer money on golf and throws himself a $45 million birthday parade. Republicans are engaged in waste, fraud, and abuse. That is the definition of it. That is the definition of destruction, deception, and corruption. The bill doesn't protect Tribal broadcasting, doesn't protect emergency alerts, and doesn't protect the working families who rely on public media for news, safety, and education. Republicans are eating your public programs to serve caviar to their donors. The public will remember who stood with Big Bird and who strangled him.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask for everybody's prayers, love, and ``blessings''; ``bendiciones.'' I ask for a moment of silence.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Ralph Vigil's life and legacy. He lived a life of passion--passion for the protection of the water, the land, the ecosystems, and the community of our beautiful Pecos, New Mexico. The first time I heard Ralph, he was talking about the importance of protecting our land as a place for everyone and everything, including our wildlife. He repeated the dicho, or Spanish saying: ``Un poquito para mi, un poquito para vos, un poquito para las criaturas de Dios'' (``A little for me, a little for you, and a little for the creatures of God'') as he spoke of how he farmed and left some of the bounties in the field. Ralph was colorful and strong in his language when he asked me and others in leadership if we would stand with the people and the places we all loved. (You all are laughing because you can hear him now.) The lands we love don't fight for themselves. They need leaders like Ralph who understand our ``herencia (heritage), cultura (culture), y futuro (future)''), to organize the parciantes, organize the meetings, organize the hikes, and the advocacy. He was a tireless advocate for an array of conservation issues, from the Caja del Rio to our beloved acequias to protecting the Pecos watershed. There aren't many people in the Pecos Valley or in the conservation community who don't know the great Ralph Vigil because if there was ever a problem to fix or knowledge to learn, he was the person to call. New Mexico is blessed with a beautiful landscape. Ralph understood this better than anyone because there wasn't a day he wasn't recording footage or capturing photos of this beauty. His social media was sprinkled with beautiful sunsets and sunrises, clean flowing water, and the oasis of green that evokes awe in our desert landscape. With his collaboration and leadership, some of the victories for our cultura, herencia y futuro include the moratorium on mineral development on state trust lands in the Pecos with Stephanie Garcia Richards, the two-year protection of the Pecos River Watershed from mining claims put in place by Secretary Haaland, and the inspiration he gave to leaders from Santa Fe to D.C. Love is at its most powerful when it is unconditional when nothing is asked in return and setbacks and faults do not diminish the passion. Ralph loved New Mexico's lands and people unconditionally. Ralph was connected to the land and people of Northern New Mexico as if there were an umbilical cord that was never severed. He was connected to the land through his farming, his gentle care of acequias, and his protection of the watershed that in turn protected the water that is our lifeline. He embodied the definition of querencia (no translation-- a place where one feels safe, happy, and strong, a place where they can truly be themselves). He was a son, a father, a brother, an uncle and friend that everyone could look to for leadership and wisdom. Like so many, I cried when I learned of his passing. I am honored to recognize the legacy that is Ralph Vigil. We are living through a historic moment where we need leaders like Ralph whose ability to transcend and translate is needed more than ever. His legacy will not only live on in his beloved rural communities but, today, also in the records of our great Nation--a Nation that Ralph made endlessly better during his incredible life.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. There are a lot of Representatives here today because the Democratic Women's Caucus and my Democratic colleagues are here to stand against Republicans' bad bill and their budget. My Democrat colleagues are here to tell the stories of how the Republicans' slashing of Medicaid and SNAP will betray American families, women, and cause immense suffering. Vanessa's 6-year-old son, Alex, has hemophilia. The littlest cut could cost him his life. Imagine worrying about your child bleeding to death just for playing in the schoolyard. Alex can live an almost normal life with medicine, but it costs $700,000 a year. Vanessa works at the Taos schools, but in her words, without Medicaid, we would not be able to afford this medicine. Alex's mom is terrified to lose Medicaid because she is worried it means she will lose her son. Republicans, we need four of you, just four of you, to stand up against the billionaires and to stand with Alex and working moms like Vanessa. Who will join us to save Alex's life?

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today, as every day, I stand in honor of our police and our law enforcement. I often say to those who serve that to serve is an act of love. I recognize the love of those who step up to put their lives on the line and to put their lives in a place of danger to protect us. I honor that service and that love. Today, like last night, I heard an outrageous lie about which party supports law enforcement. Let's look at the facts. Republican President Donald Trump's proposed budget will slash funding for the ATF and Drug Enforcement Administration, fire FBI employees, wipe out community policing grants, and gut civil rights enforcement. Trump's budget doesn't support local law enforcement. It hurts them. In my rural district, local law enforcement actually needs more support. I am outraged when Republicans say Federal help is duplicative, which is what they said last night in the Rules Committee. I have spoken with the police officers and sheriffs who traverse thousands of miles of bumpy rural roads in my district. Rio Arriba County, for example, is bigger than the State of Connecticut, yet it has fewer than two dozen police officers. Mr. Speaker, do you know what helps a small, rural police department like Rio Arriba? Do you know what the sheriffs need? They need support from the FBI and Federal law enforcement. FBI comes in and helps them solve crimes. Tribal law enforcement also relies on the FBI. Tribal leaders frequently describe the long wait times for police to arrive and the countless criminal investigations left unsolved because there aren't enough FBI agents. Mr. Speaker, when you cut funding for the FBI, as Republican President Trump proposes in his budget, you are not cutting duplicative funding. You are cutting essential investigative services. It is a guarantee that crimes will go unsolved. The partnership between law enforcement agencies at all levels is critical to keep our communities safe. From the sheriff in Rio Arriba to the Capitol Police officers right outside these doors, each plays an important role. Unfortunately, not everybody respects all of our law enforcement officers. In this very building, January 6 insurrectionists brutally attacked the Capitol Police and law enforcement officers from multiple jurisdictions. More than 140 police suffered injuries and went to the hospital. Five officers died. Then, President Trump pardoned the violent thugs who battered those police officers. It is a shame. Every day, we walk by our dedicated Capitol Police, yet very few Republicans have the courage to condemn the pardons of the violent thugs who beat the police. Last night during Rules, we couldn't even get a Republican who is a former prosecutor to condemn the pardons-- more shame. If Republicans truly backed the blue, they would all denounce those pardons. Mr. Speaker, I wonder if my colleague from Texas condemned those pardons. Is he willing to do so now? Mr. Speaker, I want to turn to what Americans are focused on right now and what the thousands of callers to congressional offices, Republican and Democratic, are worried about. It is Republican cuts to Medicaid. This is a big week for Republicans. As reported in Punchbowl, it is their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cut Medicaid. This week in the dead of night while America was sleeping, Republican committees took a sledgehammer to lifesaving programs like Medicaid. Mr. Speaker, let me tell you what is happening. Democrats fought all night to save 8.6 million Americans from losing access to Medicaid. That doesn't include the 4.2 million Americans who will start paying a whole lot more for their healthcare premiums so big corporations can get their tax deductions. Republicans voted down every single amendment that Democrats offered to protect Medicaid. Let me remind everybody that in more than 25 districts, more than a third of the constituents rely on Medicaid. That includes Republican Nick Begich's and Robert Bresnahan's districts. Not a single Republican had the courage to stand up for their constituents. The people are showing up in our offices to demand that Republicans listen to them. Some are protesting in their wheelchairs. Yesterday, I spoke to a disabled woman named Julie outside the committee markup. Thirty-five years ago, Julie crawled up the House steps to demand that Congress pass the Americans with Disabilities Act. She is now back to beg for the bare minimum. She told me that she doesn't trust Republicans to protect her healthcare. Based on their votes, she is right. Congress listened to her plea 35 years ago. Now, the wealthy interests and Trump's pressure are just too much. Republicans won't listen to a word from Julie or the 80 disabled advocates who came with her. She and other advocates are asking them to protect Medicaid and to protect the services they need. Even though they are in wheelchairs, they are not voiceless and will show up with their power. If that doesn't break our hearts, I don't know what will. We have a broken system that prioritizes the wealthy, corruption, and loyalty to President Trump over the health and well-being of people like Julie. There are 8.6 million people who will suffer because Republicans took their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cut Medicaid. Republicans may be gleeful, but Americans will be tearful. Remember, congressional Republicans will lie over and over and say this is about rooting out fraud. No, it is not. It is about giving permanent tax cuts to the oligarchs. In fact, the top 20 percent of income earners will get 68 percent of the benefits in their bill. Make no mistake that people will die as a result of these cuts. Families will suffer. Many will go broke thanks to medical bills, while millionaires get money for more yachts. Do they really need any more yachts? Mr. Speaker, getting back to law enforcement, do you know the other things that sheriffs in my district need to respond to crime and to keep people alive? They need rural hospitals. When Republicans strip $715 billion from Medicaid, no matter how they try to paint that pig, they will be eliminating rural hospitals and emergency rooms. When they do that, police officers in rural areas in places like Chama, New Mexico, in my district will have to drive 1\1/2\ to 2 hours to the nearest emergency room. Ask any first responder: The quicker somebody gets to an emergency room, the more likely they are to survive. When life or death is a matter of minutes, what Republicans are doing this week is deadly. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am really wondering what kind of people they want to defend over there. Let's talk about those pardons. Let's talk about the fact that this isn't something that happened over there. This happened in this Capitol. Those violent offenders were violent before they got there. Let me talk about a couple of them. Do my colleagues want to defend Steven Cappuccio? He was convicted of six felonies, including assaulting a police officer. Mr. Speaker, he was together with David Dempsey. David Dempsey was sentenced to 20 years. He stomped on a police officer's head, and he struck an officer in the head with a metal crutch. This is the kind of person the Republicans want to defend. Enrique Tarrio, a former national leader of the Proud Boys and a domestic terrorist, was pardoned by Donald Trump. Guy Reffitt, somebody who brought a gun, zip ties, and body armor, was pardoned by Donald Trump. Not only that, they have gone after their pardons, and they haven't stopped the criminal spree. A Houston man was pardoned by Trump and then arrested on sex charges. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record an article titled: ``Houston man pardoned by Trump arrested on child sex charge.''

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. This happens over and over again. They seem unwilling to stand up for the Capitol Police whom they walk by every day. They refuse to put up the plaque that is, by law, honoring them. I wonder if they ever even say: I am sorry. I am sorry that President Trump pardoned the people who beat you. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Frost).