Susie Lee

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Madam Speaker, we can all agree in this House that our immigration system is broken, and we need a real bipartisan solution to protect our border and create a pathway to citizenship, solutions like the bipartisan Dignity Act and the bipartisan legislation that was negotiated in the Senate. Business leaders all around this country are asking for this because it will help build the workforce our economy needs, address worker shortages, strengthen supply chains, and boost our competitiveness. It is a win-win for businesses of all sizes and for families. Many of my Republican colleagues, I believe, agree with that. However, when they finally had the chance to do something about it, too many changed their mind because of none other than Donald Trump. The far right would rather campaign on a broken immigration system than actually fix a broken immigration system. I came to Washington to solve problems, not exploit them for cheap political points, and I hope my colleagues have the courage to do the same so we can keep people safe, boost our economy, and preserve the American Dream.

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, during roll call votes on H.R. 2882 and H.R. 443, my vote was not recorded. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 32 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 33. personal explanation

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, our law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep our communities safe. Last month, that bravery was put on full display when first responders were called to UNLV during a horrific active shooter alert, which tragically ended in the deaths of three professors and the traumatization of countless other students and staff. Among those first responders were metro officers Jacob Noriega and Ty Vesperas, who encountered a fourth shooting victim immediately upon arriving at the scene. With Officer Noriega applying pressure to the victim's chest wound and Officer Vesperas racing them in a cruiser to a nearby ambulance, these officers were critical in saving the victim's life. They are heroes who ran toward danger. That is why we must stand by our law enforcement. When they see an opportunity to help someone in need, they don't hesitate. These heroic actions in the face of a deadly threat were a silver lining on a very dark day in our community. The recognition they received for their lifesaving efforts from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is well deserved. I will continue to do everything I can in Congress to make sure our law enforcement has all the support they need to protect southern Nevadan families. Rabbi Felipe Goodman

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rabbi Felipe Goodman for his 25 years of dedicated service to Temple Beth Sholom in southern Nevada. Before joining Temple Beth Sholom in 1998, Rabbi Goodman served as the assistant rabbi in Comunidad Bet-El de Mexico in Mexico City, one of the largest conservative synagogues in Latin America. Rabbi Goodman has served as the senior rabbi at Temple Beth Sholom in Las Vegas for 25 years, where his charisma and dedication has made a profound impact on our community. His dedication has increased attendance at Shabbat services significantly during his tenure and transformed Temple Beth Sholom into a more vibrant, stronger congregation. In 2013, Rabbi Goodman was selected by The Daily Forward as one of America's most inspiring rabbis among the distinguished 36 rabbis shaping the 21st century. In the past, he has served as a member of the Chancellor's Rabbinic Advisory Committee at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, a member of the executive committee of the Rabbinical Assembly, and as president of the Board of Rabbis of Southern Nevada. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Rabbi Felipe Goodman for his many years of dedicated service to southern Nevada and congratulating Rabbi Goodman on his 25th Anniversary Jubilee.

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rabbi Felipe Goodman for his 25 years of dedicated service to Temple Beth Sholom and southern Nevada. Before joining Temple Beth Sholom in 1998, Rabbi Goodman served as assistant Rabbi in Comunidad Bet-El de Mexico in Mexico City, one of the largest conservative synagogues in Latin America. He also co- authored the most widely distributed Pesach Haggadah of the Conservative Movement in Latin America. Rabbi Goodman has served as the Senior Rabbi of Temple Beth Sholom in Las Vegas, Nevada for 25 years, and his charisma and dedication to community has made a profound impact on our Jewish community. Attendance at Shabbat services has increased significantly during his tenure through innovative programing and a true sense of community that has transformed Temple Beth Sholom into a more vibrant and stronger congregation. Rabbi Goodman remains an active leader outside the synagogue. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Joint Retirement Board of the Conservative Movement. He is also one of the nine Permanent Members of the Joint Bet Din of Conservative Judaism, and one of a group of only 17 Conservative Rabbis in the world certified by The Joint Bet Din of The Conservative Movement, as experts in the laws and writing of ``Gittin.'' Rabbi Goodman is also part of the AIPAC National Leadership Council and is working on his new book. ``Torah from Sin City.'' In 2013, Rabbi Goodman was selected by The Daily Forward as one of America's Most Inspiring Rabbis, among the distinguished ``36 Rabbis Shaping The 21st Century.'' In the past. he has served as a member of The Chancellor's Rabbinic Advisory Committee at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, a member of the Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Assembly, and as President of the Board of Rabbis of Southern Nevada. Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring Rabbi Felipe Goodman for his many years of dedicated service to southern Nevada, and in congratulating Rabbi Goodman on his 25th Anniversary Jubilee.

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, this is the first week of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' spring semester, a time when students should be excited to see their friends after winter break and faculty begin to review the syllabus with an eager class. Sadly, this won't be a typical week back for the students of UNLV. That is because this week is the first week that students will be returning to in-person classes since last month's horrifying shooting in which a gunman took the lives of three professors and critically wounded a fourth. Thousands of students and faculty members were forced to huddle in classrooms behind locked and barricaded doors, waiting for hours to find out whether their campus was safe or not. Immediately after the shooting, I, and many of my colleagues, demanded once again that Congress do something, just anything, to curb our Nation's gun violence epidemic. Since then, our country has witnessed another 70 school shootings. That is in just 6 weeks. How many pieces of legislation to address gun violence have been brought to the floor in that time? Zero. It is shameful. Instead, our far right has played partisan games to score cheap political points, threatening a government shutdown, and completely dismissing the very real fear that students and educators at UNLV and across the country feel each and every day. That fear should not be normal. Nevadans are tired of it and so am I. I want my colleagues to work together to end this sick cycle of gun violence. Let's honor these victims with action.

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jackie Wallin, a beloved figure in Laughlin, Nevada, and the architect of so much success across our community. Jackie is retiring from her position as the president and CEO of the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce after dedicating 36 years of service to southern Nevada and the tristate area. She has been instrumental in promoting small businesses, tourism, and philanthropic work for families, veterans, and seniors across the community. Just last week, I had the pleasure of meeting with Jackie during a roundtable conversation with the chamber. We discussed issues that face local businesses and how I can better help them here in Washington. We are working together to make sure that life is more affordable and to cut through red tape. Notably, I got to see Jackie's work in action--not only her persistence in fighting for the interests of her community but also the genuine care and charisma she brings to every interaction. Throughout the day, I had the pleasure of touring the beautiful riverfront in the downtown area in Laughlin, where I witnessed the incredible community development that would not have been possible without Jackie's decades of hard work. I wish Jackie the best of luck as she moves on from leading the chamber. Laughlin is a tight-knit community that looks out for one another. Rest assured, Jackie will never stop looking out for her neighbors, no matter where she is. I expect to see her riding a motorcycle in the future. Mr. Speaker, I thank Jackie for all she has done for our community. Laughlin and all of southern Nevada are better off because of her.

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as southern Nevada is reeling in the wake of a horrifying mass shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. We remember Jerry Chang, Patricia Navarro-Velez, and Naoko Takemaru. All three of these faculty members were killed last week at work in the middle of the day while teaching our next generation of leaders. Once again, 6 years after Las Vegas witnessed the Nation's deadliest mass shooting, our community is coming together to mourn another entirely preventable loss of life this week when four more people were shot and killed in the northwest valley. As we pick up the pieces of these tragedies, our community is once again asking why. Why do we continue to accept these atrocities as normal? Why do we tolerate this violence when we have legislation before us that could save lives and stop the next tragedy before it is too late? Mr. Speaker, I have a son in college. He is a freshman. I worry every day about the possibility that a tragedy like this would strike his campus. For many parents in my community, that worry became a reality last week. They saw texts and tweets with the breaking news that every parent in this country has come to fear: an active shooter at their child's school. Students were instructed to run, hide, and fight. That is not normal. For our kids, this reality is even more traumatic--the sound of gunshots, barricading classroom doors, everyone hiding under their desks, silence, not knowing whether the next person to walk through that door is someone to save them or a murderous assailant. That is not normal. Let's not forget the resulting emotional trauma that will plague everyone involved for years to come. We are all incredibly grateful for the quick action of the first responders, the University Police Services, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, who all bravely prevented that day from becoming even deadlier. Like so many mothers in this country, I am angry, and I am exhausted. This has become a reality for far too many Americans for far too long. Last week's shooting at UNLV was the 80th shooting at a school this year, a year that has broken the record for mass shootings and claimed the lives of over 40,000 children, parents, and neighbors. That is not normal. On that same day that we lost three of our own in southern Nevada, Senate Republicans were busy blocking legislation that could prevent another tragedy. Students, faculty, and university staff were hiding for their lives, cowering in fear, while Washington politicians were cowering behind the gun lobby that refuses to support policies demanded by an overwhelming majority of Americans. That should not be normal. Nevadans are tired of it, and so am I. We cannot and should not continue to accept this violence. Weapons of war on our streets are not normal. Barricading classroom doors is not normal. Parents being afraid to send their children to school, from kindergarten to college, is not normal. I don't want to hold another vigil. I don't want to hold another moment of silence. What I want to do is I want this institution, which Nevadans sent me to help fix, to stop accepting this violence and to end this sick cycle of inaction. Mr. Speaker, I am not naive enough to think that we can't prevent every shooting, but, God, please, let us at least get caught trying. Mr. Speaker, I am begging my colleagues and anyone who is listening to consider why we have accepted this for so long. Please, let's honor these victims with action.

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an incredible educator in southern Nevada, Ms. Laura Penrod, who has been recognized as Nevada's Teacher of the Year for 2024. Ms. Penrod currently teaches at Southwest Career and Technical Academy where she opened the special education department and began working and teaching English soon thereafter. She brings 17 years of teaching experience to help her students not only in the classroom but also after school, advising several extracurricular activities and in her community as a fearless champion of public education. Ms. Penrod exemplifies what makes our teachers so special--the drive to do good and always be there for our students. I wish Ms. Penrod the best of luck as she moves on to the National Teacher of the Year competition, and I am deeply grateful for the impact she has on her students and our community.

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chair, during Roll Call votes on amendments to H.R. 5961, two of my votes were not recorded correctly. On Ogles No. 8, I intended to vote ``aye''. On Porter No. 10, I intended to vote ``aye''. Had my vote been recorded correctly, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 683 and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 685. Amendment No. 12 Offered by Mr. Jackson of Illinois

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, during Roll Call votes on the motion on ordering the previous question (H. Res. 891) and H. Res. 891, the Rule for H.R. 5283, H.R. 5961, and S.J. Res. 32, my vote was not recorded. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 678 and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 679.

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, during roll call votes on H. Res. 793 and H. Res. 888, my vote was not recorded. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 676 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 677.

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chair, I am literally losing my voice, but somehow I will find the strength to make my voice heard on this dangerous bill. I rise today to speak against this bill's completely dated, out-of- date insistence on stripping women of their fundamental freedoms, not to mention the 80 percent cut to title I across this country. This is funding for our most at-risk students everywhere, in every community in this country. It will eliminate over 200,000 teachers and jeopardize the education of 26 million students. First, I will take you back to a week ago when Americans all across this country from Ohio to Kentucky to Virginia came out in droves to reject extremist efforts to strip a woman's right to make decisions about her own body. Now, Republicans here in Washington are doubling down on that same out-of-touch agenda, this time by sneaking partisan policy wins into what is supposed to be a bipartisan process for funding our government. Conservatives have spent 50 years saying abortion should be left up to the States. They finally got their way when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Now, even after local communities everywhere are demonstrating clearly that they believe in a woman's fundamental freedoms, radical House Republicans are doing everything they can to make abortion illegal at a national level. It is time to wake up, listen to women across this country from the coasts to the hills to the deserts who have spoken and will continue to say: Hands off our bodies. It is our choice. Let's leave it that way. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.'' This nonsense needs to end.

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chair, during rollcall Vote No. 637 on Amendment No. 87 to H.R. 4664, my vote was not successfully registered. Had my vote been registered, it would have been a ``no.'' Amendment No. 91 Offered by Mr. Rosendale

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my Republican colleagues to end this MAGA meltdown and come together to avert a government shutdown and the chaos it will bring our country. I just returned from my hometown of Las Vegas--the entertainment capital of the world--and spent the weekend talking to my constituents who are fed up with the political theater here in Washington. They can't understand how extreme Members of this body won't stop until they force this country into a government shutdown. Maybe those Members should have spent the weekend talking to the thousands of TSA agents who are going to be forced to work without pay; or the 53,000 women and children in Nevada whose vital nutrition assistance will be put in jeopardy; or maybe the 200,000 Nevada veterans whose VA claims processing and wait times will grow; or the tens of thousands of Nevadans whose Medicare and Social Security inquiries will be put on hold. Most importantly, maybe they should have listened to the thousands of hospitality workers and small businesses who make Las Vegas the magical place that it is, and whose livelihoods will be put at risk by a shutdown. Have no doubt, without funding to keep the 50 million visitors moving through Harry Reid International Airport each year, our city, our hardworking families, and our local economy will suffer the consequences of these extremists' political games, and the rest of the country will, too. The U.S. Travel Association estimates that a government shutdown will cost the U.S. travel economy as much as $140 million every single day. Let's be clear: we all know how this story ends. It ends by working across the aisle, that is what will get us out of this mess. House Democrats are ready to fund the government to avert a shutdown. The question right now is: Can Republican leadership stand up to the most extreme minority wing of their party and end this nonsense? Madam Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule.

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Grace Vergara- Mactal, Executive Director of SEIU 1107, for her upcoming retirement and a career of service to Nevada. Grace was born and raised in the Philippines where she earned her bachelor's degree and worked as a medical technician. Immigrating to the U.S. in 1989, her first job involved mopping floors for $3.50 an hour, but she worked her way back into the health care field as a hospital lab technician. As a leader and organizer for her fellow lab workers, Grace was suspended from her job while circulating a petition. Undeterred, she pursued this activism, climbing from volunteer, to organizer, Organizing Director, Chief of Staff, and eventually leader of Local 1107. As one of the foremost leaders of the labor movement, both in Nevada and across the country, Grace has been a tireless advocate for good jobs and quality services during her incredible 3-decade career. As Executive Director, she represents nearly 20,000 health care and public service workers across the state. In this position, Grace has led with a commitment to mobilizing and empowering workers and families while fighting for economic, racial, and social justice. Her work focused on growing Local 1107, passing historic legislation, winning major contract battles, and building vital community coalitions. She also serves as Vice President and Executive Board Member of the Service Employees International Union, officer of the SEIU Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, and Executive Board Member of the Nevada AFL-CIO. In addition to being an important union leader, Grace is a trailblazer in our community. As the first member of the AANHPI community to serve as an officer for Local 1107, she is an important representative for one of Nevada's fastest growing demographics. Grace has a particular dedication to developing and supporting worker leaders, especially workers of color in her leadership with SEIU Local 1107 and the Nevada AFL-CIO. Grace often says that she will always be an organizer at heart, so I am confident that her retirement will not be the last that I see of her. Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring Grace Vergara-Mactal on her outstanding service to Nevada and our Nation, and in congratulating Grace on her retirement.

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall No. 367 on H. Res. 614, my vote was not successfully registered. Had my vote been registered, it would have been a ``nay.''

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chairman, I rise today as a Representative from southern Nevada, where we have Creech Air Force Base, Nellis Air Force Base, and hundreds of thousands of veterans that call southern Nevada home. As their Representative, I have extreme disappointment with this bill that we have before us, the MILCON-VA bill. As a member of the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, I take great pride in our work. This traditionally has been bipartisan and laser-focused on the needs of our veterans, of our servicemembers, and their families, and on the military's construction requirements to meet global security challenges facing our Nation, not just today, but in the future. Unfortunately, this bill is not a reflection of that MILCON-VA tradition of putting politics aside and putting our military, our servicemembers, our veterans, and our Nation first. Instead, this bill sacrifices our promises to veterans, our military readiness, and our national security, honestly, in favor of meeting the demands of a few extremist Republican politicians. Instead of ensuring our Nation provides for Americans who have sacrificed to keep our Nation safe, this bill focuses on picking culture war fights, banning the VA from flying certain flags or banning them from taking steps to advance equal opportunity and health access for every veteran. Instead of focusing on preparing our military to protect U.S. interests, the bill would prevent the VA from providing lifesaving reproductive healthcare to female veterans. As my colleague just said, the mission of the VA should be respectful to our veterans. I say to every woman veteran who has put her life on the line for our freedom that we should show them the respect that they can make their own choice and be free to make their own choice for their own healthcare. I want to be clear, as a woman who has undergone a D&C, that abortion care is healthcare. I will say that again. Abortion care is healthcare. Women who have put their lives on the line for our country, for our freedom, should have the ability to make that choice. The policies that extremist politicians, in addition to that, have tacked on to this bill prevents the VA from providing that type of care, even in the case when a pregnancy is the result of rape, incest, or the life of the mother is at risk.

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Policies that extremist politicians have tacked on to this bill are offensive to men and women who serve our country, including my constituents at Creech and Nellis Air Force bases. I am especially alarmed at the $1.5 billion in proposed cuts to military construction. I am supportive of being thoughtful and responsible with our Federal spending, but at a time when our Nation faces mounting security challenges across this globe, I cannot understand how we can stand here today and cut nearly 10 percent of funding that would ensure that our military bases are fully equipped to handle global threats. This bill would increase the backlog of projects at bases likes Nellis and Creech, where I have heard directly from my airmen and airwomen working out of temporary, cramped, and outdated, unsafe facilities; and this, at a time when our military is already struggling with recruitment and retention. Full military construction funding is key to enable that our servicemembers meet National Defense Strategy demands, so we must invest fully in critical facilities, like Nellis' communication support center and the Weapons School Campus. We also need to support the mission-critical Reconnaissance Operations Training Facility and to repair the base's taxiway at Creech. We call on our men and women in our military to make our Nation and keep our Nation safe, but this bill does not meet the demands of our servicemembers and, instead, abandons men and women who we should be supporting most in southern Nevada and beyond. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' and, instead, please let's get back to working together to get servicemembers and our veterans the resources that they need, that they have earned, and give them the respect and the freedom that they have fought for.

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor retired Colonel Jerry A. Brown for a career of service to our nation. Col. Brown is a 1996 graduate from the Army ROTC program at Emporia State University, and the second generation of his family to serve in the United States Army. He has faithfully served our Nation for over 30 years, starting as an enlisted Petty Officer in the United States Navy before commissioning as an Officer in the United States Army. During his career, Col. Brown deployed to the Mediterranean while serving on board the USS Forrestal CV-59 in April 1988, he conducted operations to support the Persian Gulf War, and he participated in combat in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2010 to 2011. As a Congressional Legislative Liaison Officer of the 63rd Readiness Division, Col. Brown has supported Army Reserve priorities, programs, and resources by building relationships, educating, and informing Senators, Representatives, State Legislators, Mayors, and non- governmental organizations across the Division's seven-state regional footprint of New Mexico, Arizona, California, Texas, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Further, as a Congressional Legislative Liaison Officer, he is responsible for legislative actions with professional organizations, defense industry partners, and veterans service organizations that includes informing, advising, and representing senior Army Reserve leadership on congressional activities, and for telling the Army Reserve Story in the 7-state region. In his last post, Col. Brown also provided support to the 7-state region as a board member for the 2022 Service Academy. He supports all local leaders of Nevada by providing them with information regarding the Army Reserve and the economic impact to states and cities. He has also supported the Army Reserve Ambassador Program, which supports students with full-ride scholarships to any ROTC program in the Nation with the hope that they will one day return to the Southwest as tomorrow's leaders. In his over 30-year military career, including 10 different assignments and 2 different services, Col. Brown has shared his knowledge and experience with hundreds of officers and enlisted Soldiers, helping them to develop as leaders and enhance their careers. Col. Brown is an exceptional leader who will be greatly missed by the U.S. military when he moves into retirement, while his service will be long remembered by those he worked with. There is no doubt that the soldiers he helped train and mentor over his 30 years will continue to build on his legacy of service and working to make our Nation stronger. Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring Colonel Jerry A. Brown on his outstanding service to our Nation and in congratulating him on his retirement.

Ms. LEE of Nevada

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk made in order by the rule.

Ms. LEE of Nevada. I am prepared to close, Mr. Chair, and I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chair, I am pleased to see bipartisan support for my commonsense amendment to support first-time home buyers across the country. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to secure meaningful Federal action to better support hardworking families in their efforts to buy their first home and to realize that part of the American Dream. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk made in order by the rule.

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of my amendment to H.R. 3564. This amendment serves one of my highest priorities, expanding access to affordable housing across southern Nevada. My amendment is quite simple. It would direct the Government Accountability Office to assess how changes to the Federal Housing Finance Agency's pricing framework would impact first-time, low-income home buyers. This is a critical addition to any proposed GAO report on new FHFA policies, and it follows my commitment to making sure that any Federal action on housing does right by all Americans and Nevadans, especially those seeking reliable, affordable housing or seeking to buy a home for the first time. I represent Clark County, which ranks among the top 10 counties nationwide with the highest concentration of renters. Clark County also has one of the highest proportions of households that spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent, and the cost of rent has been going up. The cost of homeownership as well has been going up, and the American Dream remains out of reach for far too many. We must focus how we can work across party lines, hand in hand with the entities that help families buy their first homes, and ensure that the American Dream can become a reality and not push it further out of reach. We must find bipartisan ways to make access to affordable housing easier, especially for the families of southern Nevada who most need additional support as they work to affordably purchase a home. This is just what my amendment will help us do. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of this amendment to H.R. 3564. Quite like my other amendment, this one also speaks to a top priority of mine in Congress: expanding access to affordable housing across southern Nevada. This amendment would direct the GAO to assess how changes to the FHFA pricing framework would impact affordable housing preservation, rural housing, and manufactured housing. This is another critical addition to any proposed GAO report on any new FHFA policies, and it follows on my commitment to making sure that any Federal action on housing does right by Nevadans and their need for a fair and stable housing market. I am committed to making sure that all Federal action on housing improves southern Nevada's stock of affordable housing, including manufactured and rural housing options. This is not an area where we can risk unintended consequences, and, as such, my amendment will direct the GAO to study and make absolutely sure that our Federal Government is doing all it can do to improve affordable housing availability. In Clark County, Nevada, this is of utmost importance as we continue to see a severe shortage in affordable housing stock. That means real stress and uncertainty for far too many hardworking Nevadans and their families. Again, I remain committed to working across the aisle to ensure that every family has access to affordable, reliable, and safe housing. This amendment is a step in the right direction. Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.