Anna Luna

Mrs. LUNA

Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. This is not a decision that we have reached lightly, but the actions of the Attorney General cannot be ignored. No one is above the law, yet the Attorney General has sought to put himself above the law, and the DOJ failed to do their job, which is why we are using inherent contempt. Despite what my colleagues may think, this is not a stupid idea but actually our constitutional duty and is well within the scope of our legislative authority to assert the House's power in this manner. The arguments against the House standing up for itself are a last- ditch effort made by people who are intent on covering up for President Biden and Attorney General Garland. The issue at hand is the enforcement of a congressional subpoena, a fundamental tool of oversight that is being undermined. If this body is to continue, we cannot sit by any longer. The House of Representatives must not be ignored, and the time for action is now. This resolution is more than Merrick Garland. It is about whether or not the House of Representatives will be able to function properly. As the court said in Anderson v. Dunn, without the power of inherent contempt, the House would be exposed to every indignity and interruption, that rudeness, or even conspiracy, may mediate against it. We cannot allow this to happen, Mr. Speaker. If we do not assert our authority, we risk setting a dangerous precedent where the House's power is eroded and our ability to fulfill our congressional duties is compromised. The consequences of inaction are grave. In conclusion, we must remain vigilant and assert our authority to ensure the balance of power in our Republic. I urge all of you to support this resolution and defend the integrity of the House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LUNA

Mrs. LUNA. Madam Chair, I support this amendment. The Department of Defense should not be giving money to propaganda machines. In fact, the only money that should be going from the Department of Defense anywhere is to lethality, not organizations ticked off that a conservative from Ohio might be calling out different branches for their focus on DEI or CRT or a movement that is basically alienating conservatives and pushing conservatives outside of its ranks. I think there are a lot of Members who speak on these bills who are not servicemembers or have no experience with the Department of Defense. Honestly, we in this governing body are not going to allow a wokification of the Department of Defense. Frankly, with the near-peer threat that we have in the future, I think that it is increasingly important that we focus again on lethality and not woke nonsense. It has no business in the NDAA.

Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Chair, my amendment would prohibit CRT training for employees of the Department of Defense or members of the Air Force. The primary focus of our military should be mission readiness and lethality. Unfortunately, many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have continued to push for diversity, equity, and inclusion to the deficit of our servicemen and -women. Divisive ideologies like CRT have no place in our military. Our servicemembers should be learning the critical and often lifesaving skills that help them and their fellow servicemembers stay alive when they are deployed rather than having training hours diverted to forced CRT and race-based training. As a veteran, I know firsthand that our servicemembers are not concerned about CRT training or DEI in the military. In fact, our servicemembers care about the skills and qualifications that prepare them for war. When servicemembers are wounded, they do not care about how diverse their medics are; they care that the medics responding to them in their time of need are qualified and trained with the skills to keep them alive. It is beyond time we stop prioritizing CRT and other divisive ideologies that are weakening our military and putting our Nation's security at risk. We will gut CRT from our Nation's military with this NDAA. We are one Nation, one people, and this majority body believes in unity over division and merit over identity. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Chair, to say that the military isn't actively doing this is misleading. In fact, I personally have seen training that our servicemembers, including my husband, have had to go through. To put it in perspective, my husband, before he got out of the military, was made to write down the top five people he associated with, writing down their race, sexual orientation, and gender. If those people were not diverse enough, he was then racist. Well, I have news for my colleagues across the aisle. When you have men and women deploying around the country, serving with Black and Brown people, because that is apparently what we are going to talk about in regards to color around the world, and you are telling them that they are racist, even though they have laid down their lives for these people, I think that just shows how out of touch this governing body is. To say that our military is not being forced to do that is misleading. They absolutely are. When I talk to men and women, both enlisted and at the officer level, I can tell you that they are more concerned about what is happening in the Pacific and what is happening in Russia than the infighting and the constant name-calling and also the wokification of our military. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim my time.

Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mills).

Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LUNA

Mrs. LUNA. Mr Speaker, I rise today to honor George ``Lum'' Atkinson, a veteran and dedicated community leader from Gulfport, Florida. George was born on June 23, 1926, in Birmingham, Alabama, right before the Great Depression. As Tom Brokaw once said, ``the greatest generation that ever lived.'' The oldest of 4 boys, he had only one pair of shoes. They were for school, Church, and any other fancy occasion. This meant basketball in the school gym was played barefoot or in socks. When he was nine years old, he was hit in the head with a baseball bat and had to stay in bed for six months. He would spend his days in bed shooting bbs into a metal tin with wax. Every evening, his father would melt the wax, pick out the bbs, and hang it back up in the morning. In the mid-1940s, Lum and his family had to leave the cold of Alabama for the warmth of Arizona or Florida due to his brother's asthma. They had been to Florida before to visit family, so they landed in Treasure Island and began their lives on the Gulf Coast. He and his family became a part of the community and became the first six members of Church by the Sea in Madeira Beach, Florida. Lum was a student in high school when World War II began. As a senior at St. Petersburg High School, Lum decided to drop out of school and enlist in the Marines to defend our country. Since he was only 17, his parents had to give their permission. His mother was against his early enlistment, wanting him to get his diploma before enlisting. She made him promise that he would get his diploma when he returned after the war was over. So, after the war, he returned to St. Petersburg High School to get his degree. When you make a promise to Momma, you keep it. Lum was an excellent marksman during World War II. He went to Hawaii in the 2nd Division, then transferred to the 6th Division to participate in the Battle of Okinawa. On April 1, 1945, the invasion of Okinawa began. Lum was a member of the main landing force in northern Okinawa. By April 20th, the northern portion of the island was under the control of the 6th Division. With the northern portion secured, Lum's unit took on new duties critical to the war effort. Lum assisted in maintaining the airstrip during the day, guarding the airstrip from snipers and sabotage while in a foxhole at night, and getting supplies to the southern portion of the island where the Japanese had a stronghold. When the war ended, Lum's unit was sent to China to guard Japanese prisoners and help the Chinese repair their country. For their service in the Battle of Okinawa, the 6th Marine Division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest division award possible. Corporal George ``Lum'' Atkinson was awarded the World War II Combat Action Ribbon, the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, and the Good Conduct Medal. When he returned from World War II, he met and married the love of his life, Mary. They settled down in the small town of Gulfport, Florida, where they raised three girls. During this time, he joined the Marine Corps Reserve. He was called up for the Korean War and was stationed at Camp Lejeune. Always willing to serve his country and community, Lum worked for 38 years at Florida Power as a lineman, foreman, and switchman. While at Florida Power, he played on the company softball team. Knowing his love for the game, one of his coworkers asked him to help with Gulfport Little League around 1957. He started coaching and remained active on and off for almost 50 years, serving as President, Secretary, Umpire, Scorekeeper, Manager, Coach, and Groundskeeper. He is still in touch with many of his players. In fact, at his 95th birthday party, about 30 of his former ballplayers came to celebrate him. In 2002, the City of Gulfport renovated the baseball fields at Tomlinson Park, and because of his dedication and loyalty, they named the new park ``Lum Atkinson Ball Fields.'' Caring about the City of Gulfport, Lum was also a member of the Gulfport Volunteer Fire Department. He retired with the rank of lieutenant when the city changed to a Fire Department with full-time firefighters. When his wife Mary and her sister, Catherine Hickman, founded the Gulfport Community Players and the Gulfport Historical Society, Lum became a member of both organizations. Just as he was a dedicated member of the Gulfport Little League, Lum was an active supporter and volunteer of those two organizations Gulfport Community Players, Gulfport Historical Society, and the Gulfport Little League continue to flourish today, contributing to the vibrant community of Gulfport, thanks in no small measure to the dedication of Lum Atkinson. Please join me in appreciation for Lum Atkinson and all the men like him, who selflessly defended our freedoms abroad and then came home to build strong families and strong communities. I thank Lum. May God Bless him and the United States of America.

Mrs. LUNA

Mrs. LUNA. Put those damn flags away.

Mrs. LUNA

Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Speaker, I object.

Mrs. LUNA

Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the horrific crimes of child rape. A fundamental principle of justice: the punishment of those who commit the most egregious crimes against the innocence of our children. It is a matter that strikes at the very core of our values and demands our unwavering attention and action. There will be those who argue that the death penalty is unconstitutional. But let me be unequivocal: when it comes to protecting our children from the horrors of child rape, the death penalty is not only constitutional, it is a moral imperative. Our Constitution stands as a beacon of freedom and justice, crafted to safeguard the rights and liberties of every American. Yet, what greater violation of those rights could there be than the brutal and unforgivable abuse of our most vulnerable--our children? The federal minimum for child rape must be upgraded to the death penalty, and a minimum of life behind bars. For it is not merely a matter of punishment, but of deterrence and justice. We must send a resounding message to those who would prey upon our children: such heinous crimes will not be tolerated in our society, and those who commit them will face the most severe consequences, a life for a life. Protecting our children is not just a duty, it is our sacred obligation as a Nation. We cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of innocent victims or allow such predators to roam freely among us. We must hold these monsters accountable. It is our responsibility to ensure that our children are safe from harm, and that those who would seek to harm them are swiftly and decisively punished. Upgrading the federal minimum for child rape to the death penalty is not about vengeance--it is about justice. It is about standing up for the most vulnerable members of our society and sending a clear message that their safety and well-being are paramount. The time has come to reaffirm our commitment to protecting our children from harm. Let us stand together, united in our resolve, and demand that those who commit such heinous acts face the full force of the law.

Mrs. LUNA

Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Speaker, today, I address the fundamental principle of justice: the punishment of those who commit the most egregious crimes against the innocence of our children. It is a matter that strikes at the very core of our values and demands our unwavering attention and action. There will be those who argue that the death penalty is unconstitutional, but let me be unequivocal: When it comes to protecting our children from the horrors of child rape, the death penalty is not only constitutional, but it is morally imperative. Our Constitution stands as a beacon of freedom and justice, crafted to safeguard the rights and liberties of every American. Yet, what greater violation of those rights could there be than the brutal and unforgivable abuse of our most vulnerable--our children. The Federal minimum for child rape must be upgraded to the death penalty and a minimum of life behind bars. For it is not merely a matter of punishment, but of deterrence and justice. We must send a resounding message to those who would prey upon our children that such heinous crimes will not be tolerated in our society and those who commit them will be faced with death.

Mrs. LUNA

Mrs. LUNA. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to speak against the current omnibus that we are seeing hitting the floor today. This administration and many people on both sides talk about how they want to champion Black and Brown people in this country, and that is a direct quote from a recent press release from the Biden administration. The fact is that this omnibus, this government being open and allowing for open borders, is doing nothing but actually hurting those communities. What we are seeing right now at the border is a rise in crime. We are seeing these very communities being impacted by the rise in gang violence. Frankly, it has been disgusting to watch crony capitalists push the importation of cheap labor. I don't know if anyone has recently witnessed what happened with Tyson Farms, but they actually fired Americans to hire immigrant workers, a.k.a. illegals. After September 25, 2023, they were probed by the Federal Government over the employment of migrant children, who likely washed the bloody floors and razor-sharp machines. Why would anyone want to continue to fund a government that, A, is complicit in this, but, B, is also responsible for losing 85,000 migrant children? The fact is that we cannot continue down this path. It is hurting all people. I think if you want to claim to protect minorities, then you need to ensure that you are putting Americans first and not simply just using that as a way to get elected while stabbing Americans in the back and hurting our communities.

Mrs. LUNA

Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 503.

Mrs. LUNA

Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I am happy to be here today to draw attention to something that is important to our children's health, parental choice, and the many farmers across our Nation. For years, America's school lunches have lagged behind other countries' programs in terms of health and nutrition. European and Asian students often have access to fresher and healthier meals than students in the United States. This problem has been worsened by the Federal Government's overregulating what schools are allowed to serve our children, in particular, preventing schools from offering whole milk to students. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act would allow students who participate in the National School Lunch program to serve their students whole milk, but my amendment goes a step further by ensuring schools may also offer their students to use organic milk as well. The food we give our children and where it comes from is incredibly important. My amendment empowers parents and the ability that they have to decide what is healthiest for their children. As many parents know, high-quality nutrition is closely related to better academic and behavioral outcomes in children. Allowing parents to choose organic milk is a step in the right direction. Studies have also found that organic milk contains more omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants than nonorganic milk, which helps with brain function, heart health, and fighting disease, respectively. Of course, it is vital that we also know where this milk comes from, organic or not. Far too often, Congress listens to special interest and big ag lobbyists and ignores the countless family farmers who are the backbone of our country. Our organic family farmers and the countless unseen families who feed our Nation are invaluable to our country. These farmers work many long, thankless hours to bring us nutrient-rich, high-quality milk. Mr. Chair, on behalf of my family and I, I thank them. I am thankful to be able to be here today to continue to empower and fight for our children, and I thank those that are helping to bring organic milk to our country. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LUNA. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chair, I hear a lot from my colleagues across the aisle on the experts, but I also wonder how many people in Congress have had to use National School Lunch programs; and, frankly, I have been one of those people. When I hear people speak in opposition to this saying that it is going to hurt minorities, it is going to hurt those of us who have actually had to use the program, I find it ironic. Frankly, I think that we need more people in office that have had rougher upbringings to bring a different lens and perspective. To hear that whole milk is bad for children, to hear the arguments against organic milk, and to hear the arguments that are coming from across the aisle, I don't know that it represents, necessarily, the best interests of the American people other than political spite. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LUNA

Mrs. LUNA. Madam Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 6116.

Mrs. LUNA

Mrs. LUNA. Madam Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 2908.

Mrs. LUNA

Mrs. LUNA. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. LUNA. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. LUNA. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The Army Corps has halted beach renourishment projects in Florida due to the perpetual public easement access policy. This is now affecting more than nine counties in Florida where the Corps has refused to renourish our beaches without stripping property rights from every homeowner, an unattainable requirement. The Corps has renourished Florida's beaches for the past two decades using temporary construction easements to proceed with beach renourishment. The Corps is now going back and enforcing this new policy dating back to 1996, but it has not enforced the same policy for the past two decades. They refuse to address the threat of shore erosion while continuing to watch our beaches disappear before our very eyes. Numerous members of the Florida delegation have reached out to Assistant Secretary Conner at the Corps to resolve this issue. The unelected bureaucrats at the Army Corps of Engineers have a different agenda. They have stonewalled every single one of us every single step of the way. The Corps has neither followed up nor followed through on proceeding with scheduled beach renourishment projects where we are in dire need due to damage from recent hurricanes. If the Army Corps does nothing, our beaches will continue to dissipate and our homes will be susceptible to destruction. The truth is, the Army Corps did not require perpetual easements before, and they do not need them now. The responsibility for the inevitable degradation of Florida beaches, marine life, and economy will rest entirely with the Army Corps of Engineers. I do not know who the Army Corps works for, but it is clear that it is not the American people. This amendment puts the Army Corps on notice for their shameful neglect of Floridians and forces them to get to work on restoring our beaches. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.