Gregory Meeks

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Jacobs).

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mills).

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4215. This bill would institute clearer timeframes for the licensing decisions made by the State Department for direct sales of defense items by private firms to foreign buyers. While large systems, such as aircraft, ships, tanks, and missiles, are principally provided via the foreign military sales, or FMS, process, a number of important items, such as small arms, vehicles, radars, and other equipment, are transferred via direct commercial sales. These items are often vital for our partners and allies to replenish their military stocks and defensive capabilities. While the vast majority of these sales are processed and licensed in an expeditious manner, foreign partners often seek greater speed and clarity regarding the process. This bill simply institutes reasonable timeframes of up to 60 days for a licensing decision to be made. This does not preordain an outcome. The State Department can still either return such licenses for adjustment or modification due to additional revisions or controls determined necessary or reject the requested license outright. Crucially, the bill also does not alter or undermine congressional oversight over direct commercial sales. In short, while I have strong concerns about the arms sales and security assistance policies of the Trump administration, I support efforts to provide our allies and partners with improved timelines and processing for defense articles that they need for our shared national security goals. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purposes of closing. Mr. Speaker, the time period limitations on direct foreign commercial sales set forth in this bill will, in fact, provide greater clarity for our allies and a more rapid delivery of necessary items to our partners around the world. Moreover, the bill does so without undermining congressional oversight or predetermining any decisions. Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4216. This bill directs the Department of State to conduct an annual review in consultation with the Department of Defense of what weapons and technologies can be moved from the FMS-only list to be eligible for direct commercial sales. It also requires helpful reporting to Congress on the process and evaluation of these changes. Importantly, it does not modify or undermine Congress' oversight or visibility into the proposed arms transfers. The context behind this bill is very important. Our country provides defense articles and services to our allies and partners via foreign military sales, often abbreviated to ``FMS.'' U.S. FMS cases offer a unique approach, which include not only the most capable military platforms to our friends but what historically has been known as the total-package approach. This refers to the fact that the United States, via FMS sales, provides not only the military hardware itself, but a total package that includes training, repairs, and maintenance support, as well as capacity building for that nation's military. Our adversaries, quite simply, do not and often cannot provide both such exquisite technologies but also the whole suite of support that comes with them. The advanced technology, as well as the total-package approach and our diplomatic influence, values, and position sets us apart. While FMS transfers are fit for many cases and situations, some foreign partners have sought to expand their defense purchases via greater direct commercial sales from U.S. firms. While these steps need to be taken carefully, the review required by this bill is a smart step in the right direction which I support. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing, but I will be very brief. This legislation provides a useful directive while maintaining congressional prerogatives and oversight over armed sales. I hope that all of my colleagues will join me and support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 747, as amended. The opioid crisis has claimed too many lives. We have seen some real progress the last few years in part because of domestic and international policies put in place by President Biden, including getting President Xi to do more to stop fentanyl precursors from reaching our shores. Of course, the issue is far from solved. This bill will strengthen sanctions on major Chinese producers of fentanyl and those who aid and abet opioid traffickers. If you are knowingly sending deadly chemicals to American citizens, you absolutely must be sanctioned, and I would encourage President Trump and Secretary Bessent to focus more on this issue. That said, we cannot sanction our way out of the fentanyl crisis. Sanctions are an important tool, but cooperation is essential. If we want countries to limit the fentanyl precursor exports and prevent these substances from entering our communities, we need the active partnership of law enforcement in nations like China and Mexico. This is just a simple fact. Tough talk has its place, but effective diplomacy and law enforcement cooperation are indispensable. Let me be clear. Use of military force is not a viable solution. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Representative Barr, for his advocacy on this important issue. Congress works on behalf of the American people best when we work together, and Mr. Barr and I worked together on several issues in this Congress. Both sides worked in good faith to get this bill done last Congress and again here today. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. As I have indicated, I support this bill because sanctions have a role in curbing the opioid crisis, but they are only a sliver of the solution. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of H.R. 2643. This legislation would require the State Department to develop a report detailing the ties between the political and economic elite in Haiti and the criminal gangs that have run roughshod over the majority of the capital. Each day, the situation in Haiti gets worse. Approximately 1.3 million Haitians, including more than 700,000 children, have now been forced out of their homes by gang violence. Just since last October, gangs have killed more than 5,600 innocent Haitians. Gang activity is no longer confined to the outskirts of Port-au- Prince, expanding into cities once free from violence. Gangs, able to outgun the Haitian National Police, continue to launch heavily armed attacks on ports, highways, critical infrastructure, police stations, courthouses, prisons, hospitals, businesses, and neighborhoods. They have committed gruesome massacres against senior citizens and, for more than a year now, have dictated Haiti's security and political tempo. Not everyone in Haiti has suffered at the hands of gangs. Members of the political and economic elite who have enabled, armed, and benefited from the unrest in Haiti are also to blame for the ongoing crises. Should the State Department find criminal collusion between members of Haiti's political and economic elite and the gangs, the legislation requires that the administration place sanctions on those individuals. It would deny entry to the United States to those who are found to support gang activity, who use kidnappings and rape to control and silence communities, and who use coercion to bring youth in and around Port-au-Prince into the service of criminal activity. Mr. Speaker, we ignore the ongoing crisis in Haiti at our own peril. We have a duty to make sure that we identify and hold accountable those who perpetuate chaos. I thank my colleagues for working in a bipartisan manner because this is the right thing to do, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, we cannot allow the criminal gangs in Haiti and those powerful political and economic elites who have enabled and empowered them to inflict violence and chaos on Haiti with impunity. Impunity must stop. The people of Haiti must believe that they have the opportunity to chart a path to a secure, stable, and democratic future and that gangs will not be allowed to rule and dictate the reality on the ground. The people of Haiti are waiting. They want to hear our voices and to know that those who are committing the crimes or have enabled them to be committed cannot just continue to go back and forth from Haiti to the United States and move around with impunity. This will send a message to them that they will be held accountable for what and how they are destroying the lives, livelihoods, and opportunities for the hardworking people of Haiti. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this bill and encourage my colleagues to support it, as well. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 3357, the Enhancing Multi-Class Share Disclosures Act. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Hill and Ranking Member Waters for their leadership and efforts to bring my bill to the floor today. Publicly traded companies are critical to this country's economic dynamism and wealth creation. Their shareholders, including everyday American families, believe in the potential of these companies and demonstrate this faith by investing in their equities. This flood of new capital allows companies to do research and development, hire Americans, and innovate for the greater good. My legislation strengthens our capital markets by requiring more transparency around multiclass shareholder companies. For annual shareholder meetings, companies will have to disclose the true distribution of voting power of insiders, like directors or executives, who hold more voting rights than their ownership share would suggest. An imbalanced power structure could limit other investors' abilities to direct strategy or hold boards accountable. Basically, this bill gives Main Street investors the complete and full picture and the necessary information to make smart and informed decisions. Let me be clear: I very much understand the benefit of multiclass share structures and think they have a place in corporate governance. Major companies from outside of the United States have chosen to list in New York City precisely because we have more flexible multiclass structures. Yet, our advantage over other financial hubs, like Hong Kong and Shanghai, is not just one set of regulations. It is the transparency and openness of our capital markets, and transparency strengthens markets. By doubling down on our strengths, this bill will further cement our competitive lead and aid investors along the way. Mr. Speaker, I call on my colleagues to support my legislation.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, this rescissions package is disastrous. It cuts $8 billion in lifesaving and critical U.S. foreign assistance, including food assistance, access to clean water, and lifesaving medicine. Let's stop pretending that this is about fiscal responsibility. This package is not about saving money. It is about selling a con yet again to the American people. The President claimed the United States was wastefully sending condoms to Gaza. The fact is that they were sending them to Mozambique to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS. The President claimed that there was a wasteful $21 million grant to India. The fact is the grant never existed. It goes on from there. The President claimed that there was a national emergency in Brazil to justify slapping a 50 percent tariff on a country where the U.S. has run a trade surplus for over a decade. There is no emergency. He shouted about the Epstein files, and now his administration is saying there are no such files. This all, once again, is to serve as a con to the American people. Let's be clear about what the Republicans are voting to defund today: programs that help educate women and girls, programs that fight deadly diseases. Food, clean water, humanitarian relief for the world's most vulnerable--are we really going to take these things away from the most vulnerable with it? America's credibility and global leadership must not yield to this con. Let's get to the real waste. The real waste is incinerating 500 metric tons of expired aid sitting in warehouses meant to feed suffering children in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The real fraud is telling the American people that these cuts will help them, and they won't. The real fraud is letting Elon Musk and his DOGE minions wreak havoc at State and USAID after the President fired the independent watchdogs at those agencies. This is not how you run and lead a country. This is how you run a scam on the American people. Let's call this for what it is. It is a con. Republicans claim that they are doing this to save taxpayer money, but as Mr. McGovern says continually, you cut $8 billion in Foreign Service and then you add over $3 trillion or $4 trillion to the American debt. It is a con.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to amend the rule to make in order the amendment at the desk that protects against any cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for allowing me to speak. Mr. Speaker, this rescissions package isn't about fiscal responsibility. It is about abandoning America's legacy of compassion, ceding global leadership, and turning our back on the most vulnerable. The President's demand to slash $8.3 billion in lifesaving foreign assistance is plunging America deep into moral bankruptcy. Despite what Secretary Rubio and others have falsely claimed, cuts to U.S. foreign assistance have caused unnecessary deaths around the world. The cuts in this rescissions package, based on outright lies, will cost many more lives. Now, maybe they don't care about lives, but I think we have a moral obligation that we should. My Republican colleagues should know better. Why? Just months ago they voted for this funding. They understood, and I believe they understand now if they would tell the truth, that we all should know that foreign assistance is smart policy and a national security imperative. Rescinding these funds now will have real and immediate consequences. This package cuts $400 million from PEPFAR. These aren't Democratic pet projects as some would have you believe. PEPFAR was established by President George W. Bush and has saved more than 26 million lives, while slowing the spread of HIV/AIDS around the world. Cutting these kinds of funds is another death sentence for children and women who depend upon lifesaving medication that costs us just pennies. It cuts $1.3 billion from humanitarian assistance, while over 300 million people around the world urgently need food, shelter, and medical care. These aren't abstract numbers. These are real lives that are at stake. To justify these cuts, the President has misled the public about the very agencies carrying them out. Take USAID, for example. It has never failed an audit, never been found out of compliance with laws or regulations. In 2022, it ranked third among nine Federal agencies for evidence-based budgeting and decisionmaking. Let's contrast that with the Department of Defense, who is getting more money. The Department of Defense has failed its audit. Mr. Speaker, 7 years in a row they have failed their audit. If this was truly about waste, fraud, or abuse, we would be having a lot different conversation here this afternoon. This package also slashes funding for UNICEF, which works to protect children around the world. It means yanking more than 40 million kids out of school. It eliminates programs that help almost 4 million people have clean drinking water. Do you know who is excited about this package? I can tell you who is excited about it. China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, they are excited about this package. They would love to do this themselves if they could, because they know that this takes away our strength and our relationships, and then they will try to jump in. They are laughing. They are happy because they see us surrendering, because that is what this is. This is a surrender. We cannot be fooled by this budget talk. You know what? Look at it. These funds really are less than 1 percent of our overall Federal budget, less than 1 percent. Meanwhile, if you look at what the Trump administration and our GOP colleagues are doing, they are actually adding deficits of trillions of dollars to give tax breaks to billionaires. This is not really about fiscal restraint. Saving lives is what we should be talking about. Those billions of dollars that they are going to get in tax cuts are not going to change the lives of those billionaires. Let us reject this rescission bill. Let us vote ``no'' and restore the money to save lives.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1701. When President Xi started the Belt and Road Initiative and the Maritime Silk Road Initiative, Beijing embarked on a coordinated state mandate to finance, acquire, access, enhance, and build ports around the world. Today, the PRC is actively engaged in 115 port projects in at least 68 countries with more than $65 billion invested or promised. At least 89 port projects have characteristics that could support military applications. With the largest Navy in the world, the PRC's ambitions are clear. It seeks global basing locations for an aspirational blue water Navy. Representative Huizenga's Strategic Ports Reporting Act will allow us to better track Beijing's attempts to grow its global maritime influence through its investments in foreign ports. The United States Government needs ready access to all available information about the nature, extent, and intent of the PRC's involvement in port projects and maritime infrastructure around the world. We need a strategy to drive diplomatic, development, and defense engagements to mitigate threats from the PRC's activities at critical ports. While several think tanks and research groups already map and report on PRC port activities, this bill's reporting requirements can shed light on the impact of these ports on U.S. interests and national security. It is critical that the United States Government continue to monitor the nature, the extent, and the intent of the PRC's involvement in port projects and maritime infrastructure around the world and analyze the impact on U.S. strategic interests and on our partners and allies. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to join in supporting this measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Olszewski).

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, the United States needs a strategy to effectively mitigate threats from the PRC's growing maritime influence through its investments in foreign ports. The report required under this bill will shine a light on the nature, the extent, and the intent of Beijing's involvement in port projects and maritime infrastructure around the world and will inform efforts by the United States Government to analyze the impact of these ports on U.S. interests and our national security. Mr. Speaker, I hope that all of my colleagues will join me in support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1263. I am the proud sponsor of this bill, the Strengthening the Quad Act, and I am grateful to Representative Young Kim for introducing it with me alongside Representatives Bera, Huizenga, and Kamlager-Dove. The Quad is a diplomatic dialogue the United States has established with the Governments of Japan, Australia, and India. It is a timely initiative with strong support in all four capitals and the support of three successive U.S. administrations. President Trump helped relaunch the Quad during his first term. President Biden elevated the Quad to the leaders' level and operationalized it. In addition, the second Trump administration has embraced the Quad, as well. In fact, as Mr. Huizenga has said, Secretary of State Marco Rubio's first diplomatic meeting was with the Quad foreign ministers. The reason the Quad is so important today is very simple. Freedom and democracy in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world are currently under attack. According to Freedom House, the world has experienced 19 consecutive years of decline in global freedom. Given this global crisis, America must lead with our values and harness regional diplomacy to bring democracies together like never before to foster cooperation and find solutions to complex challenges. In particular, in the Indo-Pacific, one of the best tools we have to do that is the Quad. The Quad allows us to work with three leading Indo-Pacific democracies to showcase the heft of open markets and open societies. In the face of the PRC's authoritarian model, we must demonstrate to the region that democracies can and will deliver results. On this, Republicans and Democrats agree that the Quad is integral for a free and open Indo-Pacific. However, to ensure the Quad's success and longevity, we need to identify and pursue clear objectives and deepen political and institutional support in all four of the capitals. This is why H.R. 1263 calls on the State Department to develop a long-term strategy for the Quad. The strategy and report to Congress will allow successive administrations to set ambitious benchmarks and to partner with Congress to meet them. My bill also establishes a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group to facilitate engagement and cooperation among the legislatures of the four democracies. Inter-Parliamentary engagement will expand diplomatic ties and strengthen oversight of our respective governments in order to enhance the Quad's effectiveness. It will also help to sustain political support and resources for the Quad in all four nations. It is simply a very important bill to further democracy in the Indo-Pacific. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, this is a bipartisan bill. I thank Representative Young Kim for her work on this bill along with Mr. Bera, Mr. Huizenga, and Ms. Kamlager-Dove. This bill passed the House in the last Congress and also the one before that. With authoritarianism on the rise and our Indo-Pacific allies and partners increasingly worried about the United States' commitment to their region, passing this bill now and getting it signed into law will reassure our allies that the United States will remain engaged at the highest of levels. This will help ensure that democracies in the region can continue to deliver and that we stay committed and find success in our collective endeavor to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. Mr. Speaker, I hope all of my colleagues will join me and support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, this is one of the most momentous votes of this Congress. The President unilaterally imposed one of the largest tax increases in American history. People's retirement accounts are now in shambles. We all know these tariffs are a disaster, and that is why Republicans are now trying to block a vote on whether to end these tariffs so they don't have to go on the record. It is why a few minutes before this speech, President Trump blinked, announcing a brief pause but we will be doing the same dance again in a couple of months. It is time to simply end the chaos. That is why I introduced a resolution to end these tariffs, but Speaker Johnson and the majority don't want to go on record. They are trying to dodge a vote. But guess what. You can run, but you can't hide from the American people. Speaker Johnson, again, ``is using Rules Committee Resolutions, consummated by majority vote of the whole House, to declare that `a day is not a day' in order to avoid the U.S. law that requires Congress to vote.'' By the way, those aren't my words. That is a tweet from a Republican House Member who just simply told the truth. Let me be clear: A vote for this rule is a vote for tariffs. It is a vote for raising the costs on everyday Americans. Now, many Republicans I have worked with over the years can attest that this should not be a partisan vote. I care about bipartisanship. We should be bipartisan. That is why, in this Congress, I introduced an AUMF repeal bill with Representative Roy. That is why this week, I co- led a bill to claw back tariff powers from the executive with Representative Bacon. That is why I did many bipartisan bills with Representative McCaul in the Foreign Affairs Committee. The Speaker pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, Republicans who have complained about executive overreach and rules distortions for years, now is the chance to put their money where their mouth is. This is the time. The American people will hold them accountable if they don't. Do you support the largest peacetime tax increase on American families? Do you support raising the cost of groceries for them? If you do not and you want to end America's largest economic self-sabotage ever, then vote against this rule and stand up for the American people.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for allowing me to speak. I thank the ranking member for all of his hard work because for sure what the President of the United States has done was lied to the American people and broke a promissory note. That promissory note was that he told the American people on day one, inflation would go down. Prices would go down on day one, he said. Instead, what the President has done is, unleashed an economic chaos on the American people. Recessions are normally caused by complex factors like oil price shocks, overleveraged financial markets, or global pandemics. This new economic disaster isn't caused by war or by an act of nature. It is the result of one man who lied to the American people. His name is Donald J. Trump. With no coherent plan, he is imposing the largest peacetime tax increase in American history. That is what tariffs are: taxes that will increase the cost of living, your food, the car you need to drive to work, your appliances, and your electronics. All of it will increase what the average family will spend by more than $5,000 a year. Trump has launched a trade war that has united our allies and our adversaries against us. I could go on and on about the absurd incompetence underpinning Trump's trade war: the pseudo emergency used as an authority, the nonsense methodology used to justify the tariff rates, or the ever-changing rationale about the reasons for starting this tariff tantrum. The tariffs have already triggered a stock market plunge, wiping out trillions of dollars in value. That is the hard-saved money for your children's education, for your 401(k), and for your dreams of retirement. It is only going to get worse. As prices go up, people will have less money to eat at their local restaurants, see a movie, enjoy a family vacation. That means lower demand, slower growth, job losses in every sector of our economy from Main Street shops to factory floors. The Speaker pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.

Mr. MEEKS. While Trump may have started this, if this Republican majority chooses to duck a vote on my resolution ending these tariffs, then they will own this, too. They will own the higher prices. They will own the jobs lost. They will own the retirement savings erased. They will own all of it. Mr. Speaker, join us, sign on, and stop this tax of American people. This is what should be happening for us to continue to be the greatest Nation on the planet and make sure that things are affordable for the American people. Let's join together in defeating the previous question and put an end to this self-imposed economic wrecking ball.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that Donald Trump's policies are collapsing our economy. Unemployment is rising. The NASDAQ had its worst day since the COVID crash. Millions of dollars in retirement savings have been wiped out in just weeks. The reason is clear: the Trump administration's reckless tariffs on our allies. To impose these tariffs, Trump declared a made-up national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, but the law has a safeguard. Any Member can force a vote to terminate the emergency. What happened? Speaker Johnson doesn't want a vote. Why? It would force Republicans to go on the record about Trump's tariffs. Instead, Speaker Johnson has rewritten the law in real time. Here is what the rule says: ``Each day for the remainder of the first session of the 119th Congress shall not constitute a calendar day.'' What? If you don't think that makes any sense, neither do I. House Republicans are declaring that the days are no longer days and that time has literally stopped. The Speaker is petrified that Members of this House will actually have to take a vote on lowering costs for the American people. This is what the American people elected us to do, but now, because of Donald Trump's tariffs and because Republicans would have to take a tough vote, Speaker Johnson is stopping us from voting. If Congress can't act to lower prices, protect retirement savings, and hold the President accountable, why are we even here? What are we doing here? A ``yes'' vote on this rule is a vote for Trump's tariffs. A ``yes'' vote on this rule is a vote to keep prices high for American families. A ``yes'' vote is a vote to block Congress from doing its job to lower costs. If you actually care about lowering costs, you should vote ``no'' on this rule. Mrs. Fischbach. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I just want to point out that Democrats love to claim foul on Republicans for shutting off national emergencies, but they are cherry-picking the facts. Let's take a look back at when we were in charge in the 117th Congress. They never allowed a vote on terminating the COVID national emergency. Mr. Gosar introduced two separate national emergency disapproval resolutions, and Democrats, who were in control at the time, not only shut off consideration of those resolutions without a single vote, but they shut them off for the remaining 18 months of the Congress. Even 2 years after the COVID emergency was declared, Democrats still silenced the voices of Republicans who wanted to take a vote. What is that saying again? Rules for thee but not for me. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply saddened today for the passing of Dr. Hazel Dukes. We called her Ma Dukes. Ma Dukes' lifelong commitment to equality, from breaking racial barriers in New York to leading the NAACP at the national and State levels, has left an indelible mark on our society. She was a trailblazer. For many of us, she was our present-day Sojourner Truth. In 1966, Ma Dukes became the first Black woman employed at the Nassau County Attorney's Office. Her tireless work for voting rights, fair housing, education, and economic development uplifted countless individuals and communities. Through her leadership and determination, she not only changed policies but also inspired generations to continue the fight for justice. While words cannot fully ease the pain of such great loss, I find comfort in the extraordinary legacy that she leaves behind. May her memory continue to inspire us all to carry forward the work she so passionately championed. As all of us grieve in the State of New York and across America, we find peace in the words of Psalms 34:18: ``The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.'' May His presence bring strength, wisdom, and healing to all who are mourning the loss of the great Ma Dukes, a woman of warmth, wisdom, and unwavering dedication to those she served. Her impact has extended beyond her advocacy. She was a mentor, friend, and guiding force to me and so many others.