Kathy Manning

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, in the Indo-Pacific and around the world, the United States is more secure when we build partnerships and work with our allies. H. Res. 1056 recognizes the importance of trilateral cooperation between the United States, Japan, and South Korea to uphold regional security, strengthen our economies, and work toward a free, open, and peaceful Indo-Pacific region. By passing this resolution, we send a clear bipartisan message that Congress supports trilateral cooperation and that the U.S., Japan, and South Korea are not only aligned behind a shared vision but that we have the resolve to uphold it. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1056, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4741, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Securing Global Telecommunications Act, bipartisan legislation that I introduced with Representative Young Kim of California, will preserve America's global leadership in tech and telecom and protect the safety and integrity of our networks. Mr. Speaker, the devices we use every day, cell phones, tablets, and computers, connect to increasingly advanced mobile networks that depend upon a nearly invisible set of internationally agreed-upon standards. However, in recent years, our adversaries and competitors, Russia and China, have tried to maximize their influence over international bodies like the International Telecommunication Union, the ITU, to shape new technology standards to their liking. They are determined to dominate the future of critical technologies, like 5G and AI, by giving their companies, such as Huawei and ZTE, an unfair advantage. This effort goes beyond boosting their businesses. It is about controlling a strategic domain, which could threaten our own security. Failing to secure our communications infrastructure and networks could open the door to data theft, surveillance, and malicious threats against Americans. That is why the U.S. and our allies must remain alert to this pressing threat and work together to counter it. We must also make it easier to deploy more secure and reliable tech and telecom infrastructure. That is exactly what my bipartisan bill would address. It would require a comprehensive strategy for securing global telecom infrastructure worldwide, crack down on Russian and Chinese malign influence at the ITU, and support greater cooperation with our allies to promote and finance secure networks and trusted vendors. By taking these measures, we can shore up our critical vulnerabilities and counter our adversaries' strategic technology goals. Mr. Speaker, in closing, our adversaries believe they can achieve undue influence over international telecom infrastructure and technical standards. This bill would help stop them. I encourage all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in voting to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7159, the Pacific Partnership Act, as amended, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am proud that, in this Congress, we have been able to work in a bipartisan manner to strengthen our relationships with the Pacific Islands, from the bipartisan amendments, to the Compacts of Free Association, to the legislation before us today. These legislative efforts support the leadership of the Biden-Harris administration, which hosted two summits with the Pacific Islands at the White House, opened new embassies in the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu, and released the first-ever U.S.-Pacific Partnership Strategy. This legislation would codify that strategy, ensuring that future administrations maintain that focus and provide other authorities to strengthen our outreach to the Pacific Islands and our coordination with allies and partners. Together, we are affirming a fundamental point: The United States is a Pacific nation. We are determined to deepen and maintain our lasting partnerships with each of the Pacific Islands, and we will do so by listening to and incorporating the principles of what the Pacific Islands have articulated themselves. That collaborative approach is reflected in this bill. I thank the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case), my good friend, for his leadership and dedication to this critical region. His work on this measure is a testament to our shared commitment to the Pacific and to ensuring that the United States remains a reliable and engaged partner. Bipartisanship is so important because there is still so much work to be done. Our diplomats, developmental professionals, and Peace Corps volunteers are working tirelessly on the ground. Can we sustain the resources they need to execute our policy? Can we follow through on each of the deliverables the United States has promised, including at the Pacific Islands Forum that just concluded at the end of August? I know each of us here understands the stakes, and I am committed to working with all of my colleagues to ensure that we follow through. Mr. Speaker, I encourage support for this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case).

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, the Pacific Islands are not just our neighbors. They are our partners. The security and prosperity of this region are directly linked to our own. Together, we can ensure that the United States continues to be a leader in promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the Pacific Islands for generations to come. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me and support this important bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1608, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, Mexico is the top U.S. trading partner with bilateral commercial activity totaling more than $750 billion last year and accounting for more than 15 percent of total United States trade. These figures represent an investment in the American people and the Mexican economy. In fact, U.S. companies directly invested $130.3 billion into Mexico in 2022, and nearly 5 million U.S. jobs depend on trade with Mexico. That is why I support S. 1608, which will allow for the expansion of the Starr-Camargo Bridge. The existing bridge supports the economic well-being of so many in south Texas and U.S. businesses that rely on the bridge as a critical entry point for import-export into the United States. The expansion of the bridge connecting the United States and Mexico will support more resilient supply chains and address blockages caused by outdated infrastructure and traffic. It is invaluable to local growers and producers on both sides of the border as they move vegetables, fruit, and other needed products to market. I understand that the project is also designed to include toll booths, the fees of which will help pay for the cost of upkeep and maintenance. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar).

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I support this strong measure, which has strong bipartisan support. This bill will allow for the expansion of the Starr-Camargo Bridge, which will greatly benefit our supply chain capacity with our largest trading partner, Mexico. This is an investment in the American people and the U.S.-Mexican economy. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill. I thank my colleague, my good friend, Mr. Cuellar, for his work on this, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7089, as amended, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this important legislation authorizes the Diplomatic Security Service of the Department of State to investigate allegations of human trafficking crimes. I thank Chairman McCaul and Representative James for their leadership and for working with us on this legislation. I also thank the Bureau of Diplomatic Security for engaging with the committee in a constructive manner. Human trafficking is a scourge on humanity. It is a grave violation of human dignity and freedom, exploiting the most vulnerable among us, including women and children. The scale of this crime is staggering, with millions of people around the world trapped in conditions of forced labor, sexual exploitation, and unimaginable suffering. These are not just statistics. They are real people with dreams, families, and aspirations, all cruelly taken away by traffickers. This bill is not just about expanding authority. It is about ensuring that we have the capacity to act decisively and effectively. By enhancing our ability to investigate these crimes, we can bring more traffickers to justice and, more importantly, rescue and rehabilitate more victims. Mr. Speaker, the passage of H.R. 7089 is a moral imperative. It is about standing up for the voiceless and ensuring that justice prevails. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this critical bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing. Human trafficking causes unimaginable suffering, and this bill empowers the Diplomatic Security Service to extend its essential work in investigating and combating these crimes, ensuring we can respond quickly and effectively. Our Diplomatic Security officers, with their unique global reach and expertise, play a vital role in dismantling trafficking networks that operate across borders. H.R. 7089 is not just about expanding authority. It is about delivering justice and hope to victims while holding traffickers accountable. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this important bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, transparency is critical for effective congressional oversight, and Mr. Jackson's bill will allow Congress greater insight into the license application decisions and enforcement actions taken by the Bureau of Industry and Security. The bill reflects the critical national security role that BIS and our export controls play in today's world, but placing greater burdens on BIS while failing to provide the necessary funding to update the 15- year-old equipment it uses is only doing half the job. Therefore, it is important that Congress provide BIS with the resources and technology necessary to effectively implement this bill and advance its core mandate. I, therefore, encourage my colleagues to work with the urgency required to help us address the resource issue. With that in mind, I hope my colleagues will join me and support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6614, as amended, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the bill calls for more transparency around license application decisions by the Bureau of Industry and Security for potential exports to entities on its Entity and Military End Users Lists. Inclusion in these lists means that the export, re-export, and transfer of certain U.S. items to these entities requires a license. This bill would enable Congress to conduct oversight to ensure that the BIS licensing and enforcement processes are working properly and effectively. I thank Mr. Jackson and Chairman McCaul for working with Ranking Member Meeks to reach a bipartisan agreement on this bill, which will ensure that the committee is getting the information it needs while protecting business proprietary information and allowing BIS to effectively execute its core national security mandate. As we add to the list of things we are asking BIS to do, it is also important that we equip BIS with the resources and staffing to meet those requirements. We are asking BIS to take on more responsibility with less. BIS desperately needs to update its outdated and inefficient IT system, which has not been updated in over 15 years. In that time, the number of license applications BIS receives per year has more than doubled to over 40,000 per year. As a result, simple data requests such as compiling license application information for Congress can be lengthy and often involve painstaking manual review of materials. Let me repeat: We are adding more burden to BIS without giving them the resources they so desperately need. Representative Crow and Ranking Member Meeks have worked on a bill to fund IT modernization for BIS, and I sincerely hope that as we pass bills like this one offered by Mr. Jackson, we also live up to our responsibility to actually equip BIS to do its important work and give them the resources they so desperately need. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, hardworking North Carolinians pay into Social Security year after year with the promise that they will be able to retire with comfort and dignity. In my district, over 158,000 retirees and families rely on Social Security, yet House Republicans' extreme budget plans to raise the retirement age to force Americans to work longer for less. That means cutting Social Security benefits for three out of every four people in my district. While extremist Republicans are pushing to cut Americans' hard-earned benefits, we Democrats are fighting to protect and strengthen Social Security. That is why I am a proud cosponsor of the Social Security 2100 Act, legislation to enhance Social Security benefits for the first time in 50 years and ensure the program's solvency for years to come. Social Security is a sacred promise that Congress must keep, and I will always fight to ensure hardworking North Carolinians' benefits are protected.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the late Corporal Matthew A. Wyatt. After graduating from high school in June 2001, Corporal Wyatt made the courageous decision to serve his country. He joined the Marine Corps, where he was based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina before deploying to Iraq. On December 3, 2004, Corporal Wyatt gave his life to stop an enemy attack on his base. He was only 21 years old. Corporal Wyatt bravely acted without hesitation to save the lives of his fellow servicemembers. I know the impact the loss of a loved one can have on a bereaved family, the Gold Star family that continues to mourn the loss of their fallen hero: his father, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Alan Wyatt; his mother, Verlene; and his entire family and their proud three-generation history of military service. Corporal Wyatt's stepmother, Lauren, works in my district office, helping ensure that veterans and military families in my district get the care they need. In her work, she honors Corporal Wyatt's service and sacrifice for our country. To pay tribute to Corporal Wyatt's sacrifice, I am proud to cosponsor Representative Bost's legislation to rename the United States post office in his hometown of Millstadt, Illinois, in Corporal Wyatt's honor. I thank Representative Bost for his efforts and for the beautiful remarks he made about Matt on the House floor this morning. While no act of gratitude will ever be enough to fill the void left by Corporal Wyatt's absence, I hope this small but meaningful gesture will comfort his loved ones and remind them that his sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his hard work and friendship. Mr. Speaker, for far too long, millions of veterans exposed to toxins like burn pits and contaminated water did not receive the care and benefits they earned. That is why, in the last Congress, House Democrats took action to correct this injustice. I was proud to help pass the PACT Act, historic legislation to deliver long-overdue benefits and healthcare to 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxins while serving our country. The PACT Act expanded eligibility for healthcare at the VA, including expanded coverage for illnesses related to Agent Orange. For veterans' families who lost their loved ones, the law may provide monthly stipends and access to life insurance, among other benefits. Now, 2 years after President Biden signed the PACT Act into law, it is helping veterans and their families across the country. The VA has received over 1.4 million PACT Act claims, including over 4,700 claims from veterans in my home district, North Carolina's Sixth District. Our country has an obligation to care for those who bravely serve our Nation. With the PACT Act, Democrats and the Biden administration are delivering on that promise. I was proud to help pass this deeply important legislation and support the thousands of veterans in my district who are now able to get the care they need. Mr. Speaker, I will always work to honor the sacrifices America's veterans have made and to ensure they are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Chair, I was unable to be recorded on Roll Call No. 327. Had I been present, I would have voted NO on Roll Call No. 327. Amendment No. 164 Offered by Ms. Tenney

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Madam Speaker, today I rise to celebrate Pride Month, a time to recognize the diversity, resilience, and joy of the LGBTQ community. Pride is a celebration, but it didn't begin that way. In June 1969, Pride began with a protest as patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back against a police raid targeting their community. Fifty years later, our country has made significant progress toward equality, but there is much more work to be done. Last year alone, over 510 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in State legislatures. As a member of the Equality Caucus, I am standing up to these attacks. This Pride Month, I am continuing to advocate for the Equality Act to secure comprehensive protections for LGBTQ+ people nationwide. To the LGBTQ+ community in North Carolina and across the country, happy Pride. I see you and am honored to stand along your side in the fight for full equality.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Representative Lucy McBath, for her courage and her persistence in taking a mother's unbearable pain following the loss of her son, Jordan, and turning that pain into a relentless effort to do everything possible to pass bills that will chip away at this terrible problem. Thankfully, 2 years ago, under President Biden's leadership, we helped pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. It was historic legislation to address gun violence and keep weapons out of dangerous hands. It was a strong step forward, but we can, and we must do much, much more. Right now, guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. Our Surgeon General just declared the gun violence in this country a public health crisis. We all know he is right because, every day, more than 100 Americans lose their lives to gun violence. As an active member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I have talked with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. I have presented the majority with a list of ten things we could consider doing together and asked Republican Members which of these things would my colleagues be willing to work with us on? One of my colleagues from North Carolina said to me: We don't have a gun problem. We have a mental health problem. Well, there are mental health problems in countries all over the world, but they do not have the same level of gun violence that we have because guns are not as widely available. In my own community, when I meet with local police officers, community leaders, parents, mental health professionals, and educators, they all tell me the same thing. We have got to do more to stop this devastating scourge of gun violence. This is killing our children and our parents. It is robbing people of their loved ones and leaving families of victims devastated, with a grief and a gaping loss that can never be repaired. In my district, North Carolina's Sixth Congressional District, we lost one of our best, most dedicated law enforcement officers to gun violence in the past year. Sergeant Dale Nix, a real hero who devoted his life to helping victims of domestic violence. Our whole community continues to mourn his loss. As an active member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I urge my colleagues to work with us on things that the vast majority of Americans agree on: Universal background checks, safe storage laws, community and violence intervention programs. We are ready to work with the majority. Please work with us to do the right thing for our children and our future.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, last week, I traveled with my colleagues to Normandy to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the battle that turned the tide of World War II and led to the defeat of the Nazis. I met 100-year-old Air Force Tech Sergeant Chuck Richardson from my State of North Carolina, who flew 35 combat missions including on D- Day. He was a real hero. We saw rows and rows of white crosses and Stars of David marking the graves of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in that terrible battle. We were reminded of the fragility of democracy and the dangers of tyrants who disregard the rule of law. Today, democracies around the world are under attack and authoritarian regimes are rising. D-Day proved that brave Americans working together could save the free world. We must put partisan divides aside and, once again, provide the leadership the world so desperately needs.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I thank my cousin, Representative Raskin, for yielding me time. We have wasted another legislative week on ludicrous messaging bills to defend the liberty of laundry and freedom for the fridge. Today, they are pushing a bill to upend our Nation's process for collecting Census data. Let's be clear. The so-called Equal Representation Act does nothing to live up to its name. In fact, their bill would result in the opposite. It will reduce participation in the Census, which our government relies on for a host of data to inform our decisionmaking. What is more, this bill will violate our Constitution, which states that all persons be counted in the Census. Instead of wasting time on deeply unserious messaging bills, Congress should be focused on what really matters to the American people, particularly reproductive freedoms. Right now, across the country, women are suffering from extreme abortion bans that are endangering their health and limiting their ability to make private medical decisions. Women in America are worried about their reproductive freedoms and deeply concerned about what extremist politicians will attack next. We know that radical judges and politicians are not stopping with abortion bans. They are now attacking fertility treatments and attempting to restrict birth control methods like plan B and IUDs. If far-right extremists really cared about women, they would want to make the full range of birth control readily available, not restrict access to it. This Sunday is Mother's Day. How about giving moms and potential moms the gift they really want: the right to decide whether, when, and with whom to have children. Instead of flowers, let's guarantee the right to use the full range of FDA-approved birth control. In honor of Mother's Day and for this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee. If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill. My amendment would strike the text of H.R. 7190 and replace it with my Right to Contraception Act, a bill to protect the right to access all forms of FDA-approved birth control and protect women's reproductive health from political interference. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert in the Record the text of this amendment immediately prior to the motion to recommit. For full text, please see H.R. 4121.

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in voting for the motion to recommit.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

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

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, extreme Republican politicians continue to attack women's reproductive freedoms. First, they overturned Roe, demolishing abortion rights for millions of Americans across the country, including in my home State of North Carolina. Now, they are attacking fertility treatments, like IVF, and they are even coming after birth control. In fact, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly called for the reconsideration of Griswold v. Connecticut, the case that first established the right to contraception. Just last year, 195 Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives voted against the right to use birth control. I will not stand by and watch extremist politicians strip away women's rights. That is why I reintroduced the Right to Contraception Act, to safeguard the right to access all FDA-approved birth control from political attacks. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting my Right to Contraception Act and stand up for women's health and freedom.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8034, the long-overdue aid to our democratic ally Israel. Israel is fighting an existential battle against Iran and its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah. I have seen with my own eyes the gruesome devastation wrought by Hamas' October 7 terrorist attack, and I worry every day about the hostages who are still being held by Hamas. Last Saturday, Iran unleashed an unprecedented attack on Israel with 300 drones and missiles. If only one ballistic missile had hit its target, there would have been a devastating loss of life, loss of Jews, Muslims, and Christians. I ask my colleagues to remember that a ``no'' vote would deny much- needed humanitarian aid and much-needed funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to help high-risk religious institutions in our country. The world is watching to see if we will stand with our allies, with Israel and Ukraine, in their time of need. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''