George Latimer

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago this week, the Supreme Court stripped from millions of women the right to make their own healthcare decisions. Since overturning Roe v. Wade, women across this country have struggled, suffered, and even died. Doctors are forced to hesitate even in emergencies, fearing prosecution, and State legislatures have been emboldened to threaten medical practitioners in other States. As Westchester County executive, I signed legislation to protect women from harassment and intimidation when seeking an abortion because this decision is deeply personal and belongs to a woman and her doctor, not to politicians, not to protesters, not even to the Supreme Court. That is why I am a sponsor of the Women's Health Protection Act. Congress must codify the right to reproductive freedom as the law of the land. If we do not, women across the country will continue to suffer unnecessarily in the wake of the misguided decision in Dobbs.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, Westchester County is fortunate to have an active citizens group, the League of Women Voters, who are committed volunteers that advance voter education, discussion of key local, State, and national issues, holding seminars and programs on timely topics, and moderating public candidate debates in a nonpartisan manner. In my home county, we have a number of local leagues, and their leadership is indispensable to ensuring good civic participation at every level of government. Let me recognize: New Rochelle, Joan Alexander; Larchmont-Mamaroneck, Louise Perez and Beth Radow; Scarsdale, Beth Cukier; Rivertowns, Susan Maggiotto; White Plains, Alan Cass; Rye-Rye Brook-Port Chester, Liz Rotfeld and Roz Carvin; and the Countywide League of Women Voters of Westchester for the past 5 years under the leadership of Kathy Meany. In upholding our Nation's values, we salute their voluntary service and recognize them today on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a group of Westchester residents who have taken on the role of civic involvement on issues of importance to the local, county, State, and Federal level. I am speaking about the leaders and advocates in my home district. These individuals have taken on that most traditional of American values, which is active citizenship in matters of public policy. We have seen our values such as the right to vote, the rights of free speech and due process, and the rights to benefits earned through honest work or service to our Nation under attack. It will take everyday citizens to stand up and say, no, we don't agree with what is happening today. We see a better future for America. I recognize Margaret Bradbury, Kim Snyder, and Rhiannon Navin in New Rochelle; Jenny Geer in Mamaroneck; Suki van Dijk in Rye; Khris Tahmin in Eastchester; Jenny Bernhard and Liz Scafidi in White Plains; Gaby Bordwin and Marjorie Hsu in the Rivertowns; Eileen O'Connor and Elizabeth de Bethune in Yonkers; Susan Van Dolsen of Harrison; and Shannon Powell of Mamaroneck. The work they are doing has earned our respect and deserves our praise.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, as prices rise and our economy stalls, this week, House Republicans are pushing a cruel and a senseless plan to cancel $9.8 billion in funding that Congress already passed into law. The rescissions package enacts the extreme and out-of-touch agenda that includes DOGE slashing support, reducing support for AIDS prevention, reproductive health, and even public broadcasting. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I am particularly disturbed by the $8.3 billion in cuts to foreign assistance targeting programs that help the most vulnerable people across the world. These cuts include a $9 million cut to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which has saved over 26 million lives. Additionally, cuts at home include gutting $1.1 billion from PBS and NPR, silencing trusted voices and educational content like Sesame Street. These cuts are being celebrated as savings at the same time that the majority is pushing their big, ugly bill that will add at least $3 trillion to our national debt. It is clear this isn't about savings. It is about pushing a harmful ideology on the U.S. and the rest of the world. I will not support it.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, today, we mourn the passing of a legend in Westchester County, the Honorable Eddie Mae Barnes. She was a role model for women in our area, as one of the first African-American female leaders elected to public office. She served four 4-year terms on the Greenburgh Town Board, 16 years as a voice for those who had no voice across the community, especially in the Fairview neighborhood. She was the author of the town's Police/ Community Advisory Commission, bringing residents and law enforcement closer together. She was the driving force behind naming the local community center in honor of Theodore D. Young, who did so much good for young people in Greenburgh. She was, by profession, a nurse with a BS degree from Dillard University and an M.S. degree from Teachers College at Columbia. For 32 years, she was director of nursing at Rye Hospital Center. She was a true healthcare professional. She was kind and loving. She was as tough as nails. She fought for the things she believed in, and she offered a hug to all. Eddie Mae Barnes was a wonderful friend, and we will deeply miss her.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, before I hopped on the Northeast Regional train to D.C. this morning, I joined Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins to bring attention to the Trump administration's proposed 25 percent cut in funding the Amtrak Northeast Corridor service. This is a bad business decision that speaks more to politics than any objective analysis of what will grow the economy and jobs. In the congested corridor between Boston and D.C., where major businesses are headquartered and where we generate major revenue for this Nation, we don't need more cars on the road and more planes circling our airports. We can attract more Amtrak riders with modernization and upgrades, but this administration shows every day that if you don't support them and their policies, you don't count. They will remove Federal services from key cities, take away longtime tax deductions, impose their values and policies, and now curtail transportation options. Those of us who represent northeast and mid-Atlantic States get the message loud and clear: We don't count. Amtrak represents growth and expansion for America. When we treat it as such, we will see more of these benefits in other corridors.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, which Elon Musk should we believe? In February, he called the U.S. Agency of International Development, USAID, ``corrupt'', ``beyond repair,'' and ``a ball of worms'' that needs to be eliminated. He claimed that there is a ``gigantic fraud loophole'' where government funds given to NGOs lack sufficient oversight. In March, Elon Musk called Social Security ``the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time,'' and policy followed his comments. Then this week he said that: ``If the massive deficit spending continues, there will only be money for interest payments and nothing else: no Social Security, no medical, no defense, nothing.'' This week he said about the big, ugly bill: ``I am sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.'' Which Elon Musk do you believe? The erratic rhetoric and policies of this administration are becoming clear to all who watch.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, my district has over 30,000 small businesses, from restaurants and small grocery stores in New Rochelle to construction companies in Yonkers. Every day, I hear from businessowners that they need certainty to run their businesses. They rely on an immigration system that ensures that their employees won't be targeted and unjustly detained on their way to work. They rely on trade policies that keep the cost of their products stable, and they rely on Federal partners who will be there when they need assistance. Since taking office, President Trump and SBA Administrator Loeffler have outlined an agenda that will harm small businesses. Proposals such as cutting the SBA workforce by 43 percent; relocating SBA offices away from New York City, the center of that region; and firing an independent inspector general do not represent anything that looks like America First. It is an ideological agenda, and it is imposed upon the majority of this country that functions differently and requires tailored policies. In addition, last week, my home county of Westchester was branded a sanctuary jurisdiction by the Department of Homeland Security, completely inaccurately. Westchester is not and has never been a sanctuary jurisdiction. In the last 7 years, we have reduced violent crime, and we have brought economic strength over a period of time that rivals any county in this Nation. Westchester County cooperates with Federal immigration law. County law, however, requires that no administrative police can circumvent due process. We do this to ensure that all residents will cooperate with local law enforcement. Westchester rejects the deep state police that appear masked and without badges and proper identification. This bill represents an attempt by House Republicans to enact retribution on places because this administration wants to impose its view of law enforcement: deep state authority not subject to judicial review. The result of petty and punitive motives of this bill is that small businesses will suffer. You would think that, when you offer support for this President's tariff strategy, reckless as it is, which is damaging small businesses that rely on international goods, components, and supplies, they would instead be working to stimulate that. Yet, this bill could not be further from that goal. If this bill is passed, SBA offices will be relocated as political payback, away from public access in major cities. In fact, that is the point: to reduce programs that help small businesses gain access to capital, professional services, and predictable tariff policies. That is why I introduced an amendment to prohibit SBA from relocating an office if the next closest office is more than 50 miles from the communities that were relocated. We should be debating legislation that will help small businesses tackle what they identify as their biggest needs: workforce development, stability, and access to capital. That is not what we are doing. If we continue on this irrational path, American businesses will suffer.

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, the mistakes we are making in this Congress, bill after bill after bill, will damage this Nation's strength at a time when we need unity and strength more than ever before. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow marks the 81st anniversary of D- day, a unique mission that took months of planning and turned the tide of World War II. America's military, working with Canada and our European Allies, made the difference that day by beginning the liberation of France. Now, 81 years later, another European country is fighting off an invasion by an aggressor. The Ukrainians have fought valiantly, with thousands giving their lives to protect freedom and democracy. They have proven to be strong fighters, creative in the art of war. The assault over the weekend on Russia's bombing fleet is a modern marvel. They are capable of defeating Russian aggression and remaining a free nation only if they have sufficient support from their allies. It is all the more concerning that today President Trump said it may be better to let Ukraine and Russia fight for a while before pulling them apart like children in a schoolyard. Ukraine and its people don't have that time. This war must end. With D-day on our mind, Congress must commit more assistance to Ukraine and defend democracy before it is too late.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, on May 21, Sarah and Yaron were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. They worked at the Israeli Embassy and were planning their engagement, but their future together was cut short when a man yelling, ``Free Palestine,'' murdered them. This past weekend, 12 people who gathered weekly to bring attention to the hostages held captive by Hamas were firebombed by an anti- Semitic terrorist in Boulder, Colorado. Committing violent acts and murder against Americans living their everyday lives is not justifiable protest. These two unconscionable tragedies in just the past 2 weeks are a product of a terrifying rise in anti-Semitism in our country. Sadly, this does not come as a surprise to the American Jewish community, who regularly face hatred and threats. According to AJC, roughly 7 in 10 Jewish adults have experienced anti-Semitism online, and 77 percent feel less safe in America over the past 18 months. I will be clear that I do not stand for normalizing hate and anti- Semitism. I stand with the Jewish community in my district and around the country against these increasingly brazen attacks.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. McGarvey for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the colleagues who have joined me in leading this bill, Congressman Alford of Missouri, Congressman Mfume of Maryland, and Congresswoman Goodlander of New Hampshire. I appreciate the opportunity to work together and to highlight why this important legislation is needed. Small business owners are often resource constrained. Every day, these individuals play the role of salesman, compliance officer, marketing professional, and more, often juggling a variety of business- related activities to support their business. When a small business owner submits a proposal to work with the Federal Government, they invest considerable time and resources into making their submission the best it can be. They are also forced to navigate a complex and time-consuming contracting process while balancing their other important responsibilities. Last year, the Small Business Committee heard testimony from a small business owner who said that solicitation proposals can cost a small business upward of $10,000 worth of labor to draft, develop, review, and execute. With that in mind, it can be rightfully frustrating for a small business owner if a Federal agency decides to cancel a solicitation without transparency into why that decision has been made. Without insight into how the decision was made, it can feel as though their hard work and considerable investment to submit a proposal was made in vain. If we are serious about bringing more small businesses into Federal contracting, then we must ensure that businessowners have confidence and trust in their Federal partners. This bipartisan bill, the Transparency and Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act, would improve accountability in the Federal contracting process for small businesses. The bill would require SBA to issue rules requiring that when an agency cancels a solicitation, they must share a justification for why they are canceling the solicitation and provide information about any plans to reissue it. If an agency does not plan to reissue the solicitation, then the bill would create procedures for a small business to receive assistance in identifying similar contracting opportunities. This bill passed the Small Business Committee unanimously in March and passed the House by voice vote in the last Congress. It is a bipartisan and commonsense solution to help our small businesses more successfully navigate the Federal contracting process. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues here to support this important bill.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, during Small Business Week here in the House, it is timely that we speak about what we need to do to help American businesses increase their revenues, hire more workers, and grow profits that support our economy. The travel industry is an economic powerhouse in the United States, with nearly $2.9 trillion annually in economic activity. The U.S. ranks behind Spain and France in global competition for travel. China, India, and Saudi Arabia are gaining on us. Our market share is 9.1 percent, but we can generate 127 million new additional visitors over the next decade and $478 billion in additional revenue, which translates into $55 billion in tax revenue, creating 140,000 new jobs. With upcoming marquee events like the Ryder Cup, the FIFA World Cup, and the Summer Olympics, we need to be investing in systems to make the experience seamless. This means updating airplane screening technology, modernizing TSA, full-strength staffing at Customs and Border Protection, and extensive marketing efforts. New York City, which I represent in part, is a major worldwide tourist destination. There is still time to build this industry to make us the best in the world. Mr. Speaker, I thank the U.S. Travel Association for leading the way.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon, the House may be voting on America's worst budget ever. It includes cuts to SNAP and Medicaid funding that will hurt those who can least afford it and provide tax breaks for those who don't need them. Also among these tax changes are rollbacks to critical clean energy taxes and credits that were part of the Inflation Reduction Act. These include phasing out clean energy production and investment tax credits and ending longstanding home energy efficiency tax credits. If these aren't bad enough, they also add provisions to require the accelerated sale of public lands for oil and gas drilling and to rescind funding from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund that protects America from pollution and lowers the cost of energy bills. Climate change is real, and it is happening now. We must act. These were commonsense initiatives to move us away from complete reliance on fossil fuels and move toward a clean energy future. Mr. Speaker, try to spin it any way you want. Americans will suffer. Our world will continue to burn.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, in just a few hours, the Rules Committee will be making the final touches to America's worst budget ever. They are doing it in the middle of the night to hide the fact that this bill will make Americans sicker and poorer. Take SNAP, the most effective antipoverty tool we have. This bill is the deepest cut to food assistance in history, making it harder to put food on the table for seniors, families, and veterans, including 74,000 people in my district. Vivian, in New Rochelle, said: I have been delivering food to seniors and people in need since 2009. I do this every day because I know what it is like to be in need myself. I had to stop working when I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and now I rely on SNAP, and it is still not enough. If those benefits are cut, it would be devastating. Republicans are taking food assistance and healthcare away from those who need it the most to give tax breaks to those who need them the least. Try to spin it any way you want. Everyday Americans will suffer.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, America's worst budget ever is what we are voting on this week. It is essentially a tax scam that will benefit the wealthiest of Americans. Mr. Speaker, 196,000 people in my district will have their healthcare taken away, including 73,000 children and 27,000 seniors. Continuing a cap on the State and local tax and SALT deduction, instead of full restoration means New Yorkers will keep paying more in Federal taxes. It is all for tax breaks and giveaways to those who don't need it. Mr. Speaker, 74,000 people in my district will lose their SNAP benefits, which will make it difficult or impossible to put food on the table. These are the deepest cuts to food assistance ever. The result is more hungry children. Last week, our country's bond rating was dropped one grade down from AAA. We need to change the direction of our country's economic future. This bill doesn't do that, no matter what my colleagues hear on the floor this week. In fact, it will add $5 trillion to the national debt. Mr. Speaker, spin it any way you want. Everyday Americans will suffer from this budget.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the outstanding contributions made by At Home on the Sound to benefit senior citizen residents of Larchmont and Mamaroneck. Tonight, they are celebrating their 15th anniversary with their Crystal Celebration. I can't be there in person, but we are there in spirit. At Home provides a support system to help seniors continue to enjoy a vibrant lifestyle as they age--able to remain in their homes and highly active. At Home volunteers and professionals deliver a monthly schedule of educational programs, active discussion groups, social gatherings, and the necessary transportation. When I retire, not that long from now, I know exactly where I can go to learn how to paint and play bridge, canasta, mahjong, and a host of other recreations. At Home on the Sound complements the already active senior recreation programs offered by the Village of Larchmont, the Village of Mamaroneck, and the town of Mamaroneck, providing a complete menu of services and programs for those 60-plus years of age in our area. I congratulate them on 15 great years. The best is yet to come.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I recently wrote a letter to Secretary Noem and Secretary Rubio, which I will share with my colleagues. ``I write today to express my grave concern over the administration's apparent misuse of obscure provisions in our Nation's immigration laws to deport or detain indefinitely individuals without due process. Independent of whether a noncitizen is guilty of what they are being accused, I fear these actions are setting a bad precedent that undermine the American justice system, runs contrary to the letter and the spirit of the U.S. law, and pose a risk to American citizens at home and abroad. ``The Fifth Amendment provides that all persons in the United States are entitled to due process of law, including, at minimum, notice, an opportunity to be heard, and a decision by a neutral decisionmaker. Contrary to this constitutional protection, the administration has decided to leverage exceptions in the law, such as invoking the foreign policy bar of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and/or the Enemies Alien Act of 1798 as its reasoning for detaining or deporting individuals without due process. ``The foreign policy bar of the INA states that if the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe an alien's entry, proposed activities, presence, or activities in the United States would have `potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States, that person can be excluded or deported from the United States.' ``Similarly, the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 permits summary deportations during times of war and was last invoked during World War II. These provisions now have novelly been used during peacetime as grounds to send Department of Homeland Security agents to the homes of individuals with varied alien status, including permanent residents and asylum seekers, arrest them, and either detain them indefinitely or forcibly deport them. Lawyers representing the subjects have been denied access to their clients as well as access to the warrants and other official documents. Judicial orders have been blatantly ignored and courts denied access to potentially evidentiary information. ``I am concerned these actions by the administration are simply a trial balloon to expand Presidential authority without judicial or legislative oversight in order to detain individuals at their will or discretion. The constitutional checks and balances and our Bill of Rights have been the envy of the free world and a warning to dictators everywhere that a nation can be strong and secure and at the same time show forbearance in the administration of justice. Seeing the erosion of these concepts in our own Nation is disheartening, to say the least, and a dangerous precedent to entertain for any free people. ``It is my responsibility to speak out, not because I agree with the affected individuals or sanction acts for which they are accused, but because if we wish to live in a democratic society, we must defend the lawful rights of all, including those whose actions make them subject to the American justice system. The actions taken by the administration to arrest, detain, or deport without lawful due process sets a dangerous precedent for us all, even those who one day may count themselves among former holders of high office. Americans also now risk being subject to retaliatory treatment in other countries. Given the centuries-old protections granted by our Constitution, I urge the administration to rethink its actions in order to preserve the letter and the spirit of our American laws.''

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, President Trump fired the Librarian of Congress just 1 year shy of completing her 10-year term. He also fired the head of the U.S. Copyright Office, replacing them with his former lawyers and current DOJ appointees. While the President may get to appoint the Librarian, these offices are under the jurisdiction of Congress, and we should be consulted. I have raised concerns about troubling patterns that we have seen emerging in our country, patterns that echo tactics of regimes in Hungary, North Korea, and Venezuela. These are not governments we admire. Yet, this latest move fits that mold. The Library of Congress is the world's largest library and a symbol of our commitment to free thought. We have seen growing attacks on libraries and books nationwide. Now it seems even the Library of Congress is not off limits. While personnel were fired, this is about power, who controls what Americans read, learn, and dream. When you limit access to knowledge, you limit freedom. You send a clear message that questioning authority is no longer welcome. The slide away from democracy continues.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the New York Post Editorial Board wrote about President Trump's plans to accept a free gift from Qatar of a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet. The New York Post said: ``What is President Trump thinking? He's bragging of winning a $400 million `gift,' a `palace in the sky' . . . from Qatar that, in effect, he'll eventually own personally. ``Sorry, this `gift' is from far free; Qatar will surely expect something in return. ``And the optics are beyond awful, especially as Congress mulls hundreds of billions in Medicaid cuts.'' The New York Post continues: ``That not only looks bad; it creates all kinds of conflicts of interest and runs smack into the Constitution's Emoluments Clause, which prohibits foreign gifts.'' The Post Editorial closes: `` . . . but given all the foreign investments and conflicts of interests--and now a $400 million plane-- they seem designed to benefit the President more than anything.'' This from the New York Post editorial board. I couldn't have said it better myself.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Madam Speaker, allow me to paint a picture of a country: threats to the media to control the flow of information to the citizenry; cutting funds to childhood education, higher education, and the arts to limit free and independent thought; telling families it is time to tighten their wallets for the greater good; a focus on investing in prisons; members of the judiciary jailed for following the law; military parades that celebrate the leader. When Americans hear this, we associate them with the likes of Lukashenko of Belarus or Kim Jong-Un of North Korea, but these are all examples of our country, the United States of America, in the last 3 months and what is planned. Fear is the ultimate goal of leaders like this. We need to stand up for freedom and democracy or we may lose them forever. This Congress must stop being a rubberstamp for this President and perform its constitutional duty as a check and a balance.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, today, I honor George Torres and Ursula Cruz-Greene from Bronx Community Board 12 which serves the north Bronx neighborhoods including Wakefield and Edenwald in the 16th Congressional District. My friend, Ritchie Torres, represents other neighborhoods in this area. George Torres is the district manager of Community Board 12. Born and raised in the Bronx, his parents still live in the Parkchester home that he grew up in. After serving in several roles in the Bronx for city and State officials, including Jose Serrano and Mayor Bloomberg, George joined Community Board 12 in 2015. His experience makes him a tremendous liaison for public officials and community leaders in the Bronx. Ursula Cruz-Greene is the community coordinator and has been with Community Board 12 since 1995. She started as a temporary employee, and her hard work paid off. She became a permanent employee 6 months later. Ursula's dedication to the community is clear to anyone who knows her. Mr. Speaker, our community is lucky to have such dedicated public servants like Ursula and George.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, this week is National Teacher Appreciation Week. My gratitude for teachers far surpasses 1 minute of time. Our Nation is a better place because of the work teachers do every day to teach the next generation and arm them with the skills that are needed to succeed. My favorite teacher was Rayella B. Heely, who taught my eighth grade algebra class in Mount Vernon, New York, in 1966. She was tough, and she did not give out easy grades. I did not get a particularly good grade, but she taught me concepts that I remember to this day. Teachers are increasingly asked to do more in addition to teaching. They check in on the well-being and mental health of their students. They make sure that students get enough to eat during school meals and have notebooks and pencils and crayons. They are advocates in front of school boards to prevent cuts to funding and to resources. There is a famous saying: ``To teach is to touch a life forever.'' Mr. Speaker, I thank teachers for the lives that they continue to touch and shape. As former students and parents of students, we are forever grateful.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I have been a Member of this body for just over 120 days. It was clear in November that the American people voted for their family economics. They wanted to see lower costs. Mr. Speaker, I am perplexed that this House has yet to vote on any legislation that lowers costs for the average family. In fact, we will be voting this week on a bill that renames the Gulf of Mexico. No one is clamoring for a newly named body of water. They want lower grocery bills. House Republicans' proposals to cut Medicaid and SNAP to pay for tax breaks for billionaires will make life more, not less, expensive for people in Westchester and the Bronx. The President's thoughtless red light-green light tariffs are making it harder and more expensive to import goods. Those increased costs are paid for by Americans, not foreign countries. Mr. Speaker, instead of mind-bending tariffs, giveaways to billionaires, and renaming bodies of water, we should be voting on bills that lower costs for the average family. I know many of my colleagues agree. Let's get to real work on behalf of our constituents.

Mr. LATIMER

Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, new Federal economic data came out yesterday, and it showed that in the last 3 months, the U.S. economy shrank by 0.3 percent. This is a sharp reversal from the 2.4 percent growth the economy experienced in the last quarter of 2024. This now is the worst economy that a President has had in their first 100 days since President Nixon. Despite promises candidate Trump made that he would lower costs on day one, prices remain high, and, in fact, it is expected that prices could rise by 6.5 percent by year's end. Trump policies are why prices remain high, even though he has tried to pin this on former President Biden. The red light, green light tariff policies have caused uncertainty in all sectors of our economy as well as internationally. Wall Street and Main Street alike have been sending signals for weeks that they do not like or trust those economic plans. The stock market has dropped almost 9 percent and lost $4.5 trillion in wealth. This is hurting everyday Americans, including people in Westchester and the Bronx. President Trump is the President now. It is his economy to own and fix.