Betty McCollum

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, Republicans say they have a mandate. President Trump has told his party, don't even bother working with Democrats. Congressional Republicans wanted to go it alone when they passed President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The American people are now finding out it is really a pretty big, ugly mess, especially when it comes to their healthcare and their everyday lives. Republicans made devastating healthcare cuts to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. They made $990 billion worth of cuts. We are now just 2 weeks away from a government shutdown. Speaker Johnson is, once again, refusing to work across the aisle with Democrats. Democrats want to prevent exploding health insurance premiums. They have already started to show up in some people's mail. That is because the Affordable Care Act subsidies are about to expire. Oh, that was part of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Mr. Speaker, I want to ensure that the funding Congress passes is actually delivered to the people in our communities, and I don't want it to be illegally cut or withheld by the Trump administration. We are seeing cuts in CDC, NIH, and the Department of Education. We all know what happened to the State Department and USAID. It was basically just stamped out from existence. If House Republican leadership wants to go it alone on Federal funding to keep our government open, well, that is their prerogative. They shouldn't expect my vote.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 100th anniversary of Delta Air Lines, a remarkable milestone for one of the world's most innovative and enduring airlines. As Delta commemorates a century of service in 2025, we in Minnesota are especially proud to reflect on the deep roots this company has in our state through the history and legacy of Northwest Airlines. Founded in 1926, Northwest Airlines grew from humble beginnings into a global carrier headquartered in the Twin Cities. Northwest played a central role in shaping Minnesota's economy, creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, and connecting our communities to the Nation and the world. Its story is inextricably linked to our state's modern history. One of the earliest chapters of that story is written at Holman Field in Saint Paul, the city's historic downtown airport. Holman Field bears the name of Charles ``Speed'' Holman, the pioneering aviator and Minnesota native who was hired as Northwest's first pilot in 1926. Holman's legacy as a fearless pilot and a trailblazer in American aviation is preserved every time a plane lands at that field along the Mississippi River. In 2008, when Delta and Northwest Airlines merged, it marked not the end of Northwest's legacy, but its continuation. Delta wisely built upon Northwest's deep roots in Minnesota and throughout the Upper Midwest, ensuring that the Twin Cities would remain a vital hub for international travel and commerce. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) now stands as one of Delta's largest hubs, carrying forward a proud tradition of service, safety, and innovation that began nearly a century ago. That same spirit of innovation continues today through the Minnesota Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Hub at MSP. This partnership, led by Greater MSP, brings together partners such as Delta, Ecolab, Xcel Energy, and the Metropolitan Airports Commission in the Nation's first large-scale hub committed to scaling production of sustainable aviation fuel to replace conventional jet fuel. As an anchor partner of the Minnesota SAF Hub, Delta is helping to create an industrial-scale supply chain for sustainable aviation fuel, anchored in Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, Delta's 100th anniversary is not only a milestone for the company, but also a moment to honor the people who make up Delta's legacy and current workforce. From Charles ``Speed'' Holman and the thousands of dedicated Northwest employees who made aviation history, in Minnesota, to the tens of thousands of Delta's current employees-- many of whom belong to a union--pilots, flight attendants, customer service agents, and the skilled technicians, engineers, and mechanics who ensure Delta flights are safe and enjoyable--this centennial reflects a shared story of vision, resilience, and progress. On behalf of the people of Minnesota's 4th Congressional District, I extend my warmest congratulations to Delta Air Lines on 100 years of service and innovation, and I look forward to its continued success in the century ahead.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, Minnesotans are feeling the heat, literally. The Twin Cities have experienced 10 days over 90 degrees this summer, and wildfire smoke has resulted in 18 air quality alerts, nearing the record of 22 days in 2023. This is not a fluke. It's a sign of a worsening climate crisis that threatens our life, health, safety and economic security. Instead of investing in solutions to this crisis, the Republican majority in Congress is advancing legislation that would raise energy costs for American households and businesses, make us less competitive and weaken our national security. Last month, the House Appropriations Committee passed H.R. 4553, the fiscal year 2026 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. As the only Minnesotan on the Appropriations Committee, I will vote against advancing this bill. Its cuts will harm Minnesota and our Nation. Our global competitors like China are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in clean-energy development, but Republicans are choosing to cut U.S. investments that create high-wage jobs, drive innovation and lower energy bills for Americans. Republicans' bill slashes energy efficiency and renewable energy programs at the Department of Energy by $1.6 billion, a staggering 47 percent cut. For Minnesota, this cut means we'll lose over $6.7 million in federal funding if Republicans' Energy and Water bill becomes law. If that wasn't bad enough, Republicans on the Appropriations Committee voted for a 44 percent cut to the Weatherization Assistance Program, which helps low-income households lower their utility bills by improving home energy efficiency. This program helps roughly 1,200 Minnesotans weatherize their homes each year, saving families about $372 annually on their energy bills. While most U.S. households spend 3 percent of their income on energy costs, low-income households often spend 15 percent or more. Under the MAGA Republican plan, many senior citizens and families would be forced to choose between buying groceries or cooling their homes during record-breaking heat. It could get even worse for these families. President Donald Trump has proposed eliminating funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Trump calls LIHEAP ``unnecessary,'' but for thousands of Minnesotans, it is a lifeline that helps to keep the heat on during our brutal winters. As House Republicans' Energy and Water bill increases Minnesotans' energy costs, their funding cuts will have a chilling effect on clean- energy jobs--a sector that has been growing five times faster than Minnesota's overall job growth. More than 62,000 Minnesotans work in clean energy, and more than 44,000 of them work in energy efficiency. More than 300 local contractors alone work on projects directly supported by the Weatherization Assistance Program. Since taking office, Trump has been jeopardizing clean-energy jobs in Minnesota by terminating clean-energy incentives in his so-called ``One Big Beautiful Bill,'' canceling grants and illegally withholding funds from state, local and tribal governments. These actions are stalling clean-energy projects and eliminating high-wage jobs. The Trump administration is also attacking workforce development for clean energy. In May, the Department of Labor shut down Job Corps, closing the doors of the Hubert H. Humphrey Job Corps Center in St. Paul. For 44 years, Job Corps provided job training, education and housing for thousands of low-income, at-risk youth, preparing Minnesota's workforce to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, including jobs in renewable energy and efficiency. We cannot afford to abandon these investments during a worsening climate crisis. American families are already struggling with high energy bills. But the need to develop our own homegrown clean and sustainable energy isn't just a matter of economic security; it's also about our national security. The Department of Defense considers climate change to be a top national security concern. Climate change is making nations around the world more unstable and less safe. It's also hurting our military readiness here at home, with sea-level rise and extreme weather flooding our bases. Permafrost thaw is making Alaskan runways unusable. Radar stations are at risk of falling into the sea. Mr. Chair, we don't have the luxury of ignoring the very real effects of climate change happening around us--especially when they're affecting our lives and livelihoods and our national security. Future generations will pay the highest costs of Republicans' failure to act. As a Minnesota representative, I will fight to defend these critical investments because Minnesotans deserve better. The children deserve better.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart in support of Representative Omar's resolution honoring the victims of the devastating shooting that occurred August 27, at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis. On what was supposed to be a joyous day, with the student body gathered for their first student Mass of the year, the children and parishioners of Annunciation Catholic Church experienced a horrific event that has become all too familiar to Americans and Minnesotans. An assailant armed with an assault rifle, shotgun, and pistol fired dozens of rounds at praying children, educators, support staff, and parishioners. Two students were murdered, 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski. Dozens were wounded, and many more are enduring emotional trauma that they will carry for life. It is heartbreaking that only two months after my friends Speaker Emerita Melissa Hoffman and her husband Mark were murdered, and Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were shot, Minnesotans are once again grieving for victims of gun violence. I am grateful for the immediate actions of the older students, adults, law enforcement, EMTs, and medical personnel whose actions prevented a horrible situation from becoming even worse. Lives were saved thanks to the bravery of those who took swift action. Mr. Speaker, we are decades late in taking meaningful action to prevent the mass shootings we are all too accustomed to. Under President Biden, Democrats and Republicans joined together to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first bill addressing the gun violence epidemic since Republicans allowed the assault weapons ban to expire in 2004. We have a duty to protect Americans from gun violence. Especially American children, for whom guns are the leading cause of death in America. It is time we turn our collective grief into collective action. I would like to include in the Record a news article titled Richfield couple in their 80s among the 21 wounded during Annunciation Church shooting by the Minnesota Star Tribune. The article profiles a handful of the many victims of this shooting. I hope everyone will take the time to learn about who they are: [From the Minnesota Star Tribune, Sept. 2, 2015] Richfield Couple in Their 80s Among the 21 Wounded During Annunciation Church Shooting (By Paul Walsh, Laura Yuen and Sharyn Jackson) Families are sharing the extent of their children's injuries as well as stories of their courage and resilience while protecting their friends and ``little buddies.'' As the shock begins to wear off, some families of children wounded Wednesday at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis are revealing details of their kids' injuries on online fundraising sites. Others, including one girl grazed by a bullet, have spoken to reporters outside the church. Stories of bravery and resilience are beginning to emerge as well. Some kids wounded during the shooting were protecting friends or their ``little buddies'' at school from a storm of bullets. Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, were killed in the shooting. Of the 21 who were injured, 16 were children. Eight families have so far created GoFundMe pages. Here is what we know about the students who were caught in the gunfire, just days after returning to the classroom from summer break, and two of the three adults: Weston Halsne Weston quickly became the face and the voice of youngsters who were inside Annunciation Church last week when gunfire broke out. He told reporters about his friend Victor Greenawalt (see below) shielding him from the barrage of gunfire. At first, Weston seemingly came away physically unscathed. However, it turns out Weston ``will need surgery to remove a bullet fragment that is lodged in his neck, dangerously close to his carotid artery,'' his aunt, Allison Hawes, wrote on an online fundraising page she started for Weston's family. ``You've been amazed by his quick wit, awed by his persistence, and charmed by his earnestness,'' Hawes said. ``If you've been watching the news, you've seen his grief stricken face and heard, despite his shock, Weston's account of the horrific details during the mass at Annunciation Church. And in spite of everything, this 10-year-old boy was able to express appreciation for his friends and pray for their recovery. Victor Greenawalt When fifth-grader Weston spoke to reporters after Wednesday's shooting, he recounted that his brave friend Victor ``laid on top of me'' to shield Weston from the bullets and ended up getting hit. Victor Greenawalt's uncle, Mike Kelly, said his nephew's ``selfless acts'' helped spare the lives of his friends. ``But he and his sister were injured in the process,'' Kelly wrote on an online fundraising site. ``Vic, along with his family, have started the long journey of recovery. A journey that involves unknown and ongoing future medical costs.'' A sign seen Thursday at a memorial outside the church that someone drew said, simply, ``Thank You Victor.'' Genevieve Bisek Genevieve Bisek was shot in the neck, and the 11-year-old's ``medical journey is uncertain,'' according to an online fundraising campaign begun on behalf of the family. A spokesperson at HCMC said Genevieve was in satisfactory condition as of midday Friday. ``This courageous child, her family, and the entire community are struggling to comprehend the unimaginable,'' the campaign's posting read. ``Genevieve's older sister was also present during the tragedy, bravely helping her Mass buddy to safety. She now carries the emotional weight of that day, questioning if she will ever feel the same again.'' Sophia Forchas One of the children wounded was taken to the hospital where her mother was working as a nurse. Seventh-grader Sophia Forchas remained at HCMC on Friday in critical condition, a hospital spokeswoman said. According to an online fundraising campaign started to help the family with medical and other expenses, Sophia's mother, Amy Forchas, is a pediatric critical care nurse who reported for work in response to the shooting. Amy Forchas showed up at HCMC ``before knowing it was her children's school that was attacked and that her daughter was critically injured,'' a posting on the campaign's webpage read. Also at the scene at the time was Sophia's younger brother, Anthony, the posting disclosed. The fundraising campaign includes a photo of Sophia and Anthony, a fourth grader, together outside the school and wearing their uniforms and big smiles. ``Though he was physically unharmed,'' the posting continued, ``the trauma of witnessing such a terrifying event--and knowing his sister was critically injured--is something no child should ever experience.'' Lydia Kaiser Twelve-year-old Lydia Kaiser was wounded while protecting her ``little buddy'' during Annunciation's first Mass of the school year, according to an online fundraising campaign started to help Lydia's family with medical and other expenses. Her father, Harry Kaiser, is an Annunciation gym teacher and ``was also in attendance and helped to secure the room, to keep children safe, and stuck with them all until they were reunited with their families, even while his daughter was entering the emergency room.'' endre gunter Natalie Davis said her family's world ``was turned upside down'' when her 13-year-old nephew was shot at the church Wednesday. In a posting on an online fundraising campaign on behalf of Endre Gunter's family, Davis wrote that the eighth- grader was shot twice while attending Mass. ``It's impossible to make sense of this act of violence against children, in a place that should have been a sanctuary of peace and safety,'' Davis wrote. ``In the face of unimaginable fear and pain, Endre showed strength and faith beyond his years.'' Davis said that before Endre went into surgery, he asked the doctor, `` `Can you say a prayer with me?' '' vivian st. clair Despite being shot, 9-year-old Vivian St. Clair remained resilient through the most terrifying moments. An online fundraising campaign started on behalf of Vivian's family noted that despite being shot in her back and her arm, she ``ran from the church to the school gym, where a police officer scooped her up and rushed her to an ambulance.'' Vivian was taken to HCMC, where her mother works, the posting continued. ``Through it all, she continues to smile and radiate sweetness,'' the campaign read. ``She's been telling people how excited she is to swim at her grandma's pool in Arizona [Thursday] evening with her dad, Joe--just showing how innocent and hopeful she remains.'' david haeg A smiling boy with two missing front teeth wears a backpack and a green school uniform polo smiles on what appears to be his front stoop. Six-year-old David Haeg has undergone surgery and has more days ahead being cared for in a hospital pediatric intensive care unit, according to an online fundraiser started on behalf of his family. ``His road to recovery will be long, but he is showing incredible strength and resilience,'' the online posting read. ``In the midst of this unimaginable time, the last thing David's family should have to worry about is mounting medical expenses.'' astoria safe On Thursday while visiting a memorial at Annunciation, Astoria Safe, 10, placed a stuffed animal on a display for one of her friends, Harper Moyski, who was killed in the attack. A shot grazed Astoria on the forehead, and a bullet fragment was lodged there. Doctors deemed it too dangerous to remove but said it wouldn't cause long-term problems. Astoria told a reporter she's feeling OK. She also described how she helped pull two other kids down next to her when the bullets started flying. ``I had two buddies side by side, and I just pushed their heads down to make sure they were safe,'' she said. ``I thought it was fireworks, it was just crazy. And the smell was terrible.'' ronald and suzan wilson Ronald Wilson, 87, and Suzan Wilson, 82, of Richfield, were among three adults who were wounded in the Aug. 27 gunfire at Annunciation, their family confirmed Tuesday. An online medical update from over the weekend written by a daughter has been read more than 5,300 times as of midday Tuesday. It notes that Ronald Wilson came away with a minor cut on his head. Suzan Wilson, however, suffered serious injuries to her head from shrapnel. ``As my parents . . . enter this later stage of life, my siblings and I have lovingly and constantly been reminding them to make safe choices like not getting on ladders or shoveling the walk,'' Jenny Harding wrote. ``Unfortunately, on Wednesday August 27th, being at mass at Annunciation Church turned out to be unsafe.'' Harding went on to share that ``my mom walked to the ambulance herself while noticing all of the `big strong police officers' giving comfort to children everywhere she looked. My dad comforted one of the injured children in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.'' A member of the Wilsons' family said Tuesday they were not ready to share more about the couple. Louis Krauss of the Minnesota Star Tribune contributed to this report. I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I would like to include in the Record the following statement mourning the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. SAINT PAUL, Minn.--Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, issued the following statement on Wednesday after a gunman opened fire on a mass service during the first week of classes at Annunciation Catholic School, killing two children and wounding 17 others. ``The horrific violence this morning at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis is heartbreaking. As a mother and grandmother, the tragic shooting of young school children, teachers, staff, and parishioners while they gathered at mass to celebrate the new school year is a tragedy beyond comprehension. The Twin Cities and all of Minnesota grieve alongside the victims and their families. They deserve and have the full support of our community, our state, and our nation. ``The immediate actions of adults, older children, law enforcement, EMTs, and medical personnel saved lives. I commend Governor Walz for acting swiftly and sending the State Patrol and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to respond to this horrific crime. ``President Trump and Congress have a duty to take action to end this epidemic of gun violence. We cannot once again wait for another tragedy before we enact common sense gun safety laws.''

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3633, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. S. 1582, the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation in U.S. Stablecoins Act, and H.R. 1919, the Anti- CBDC Surveillance State Act. While I am opposed to these three bills, I am not opposed to the concept of crypto itself. But I have concerns about how crypto is currently being regulated and the financial security of my constituents who invest or store their dollars in crypto. Rather than considering the three bills before us this week, Congress should consider legislation that puts guardrails in place to protect consumers, prevent fraud, and establish an effective regulatory framework for crypto. Instead, these H.R. 3633, S. 1582, and H.R. 1919 fall short of creating an effective regulatory framework, allow Big Tech and the Trump family to enrich themselves, and stifles innovation at the Federal Reserve. Now, Mr. Speaker, let me tell you a bit about what these three bills would do. H.R. 3633, which Republicans are calling the CLARITY Act, would carve the crypto industry out from current securities laws and regulations. This would continue to expose consumers to harmful crypto practices. Additionally, the CLARITY Act would not only enable conflicts of interest from Trump and his family through meme coins like $TRUMP, but it would also send the message that Congress approves of the way President Trump is selling access to the White House. That is why I joined Congressman Vindman in sending a letter to the House Committees on Financial Services and Agriculture expressing our serious concern that the CLARITY and GENIUS Acts, including dangerous carveouts for the President and Vice President from conflict-of-interest rules. S. 1582, the GENIUS Act, is a bipartisan attempt at establishing a framework for stablecoins--a type of cryptocurrency primarily used for trading crypto assets, transacting in goods and services, insulating against local currency instability, and sending payments across borders. While S. 1582 is a step in the right direction, it fails to establish an effective federal framework to regulate stablecoins. The bill also opens up a path for Big Tech and other commercial businesses like Meta, Amazon, and Walmart to amass consolidated power over both commerce and banking services. Each of these corporations are exploring starting their own stablecoins. Finally, H.R. 1919, the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, would immediately halt and prohibit the United States from exploring the potential benefits of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). This bill would stifle innovation at the Federal Reserve as they research and develop ways to meet the evolving money and payments landscape, keeping the U.S. behind the starting line as other countries race ahead and compete to develop and implement CBDCs. As much of our transactions have moved away from using the physical dollar through the increased use of credit cards, mobile wallets, and cryptocurrencies, the Federal Reserve has been researching ways to innovate the U.S. dollar. Congress should not stifle the ability of the Federal Reserve to meet the needs of our evolving digital age. Mr. Speaker, rather than putting forward three bills that fail to make consumers safer and stifle innovation, Congress should instead consider a comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto that will promote the responsible development of these digital assets while protecting American consumers and investors. I urge my colleagues to reject H.R. 3633, S. 1582, and H.R. 1919.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor the 90th anniversary of Social Security and its place as the cornerstone of Americans' retirement security. On August 14, 1935. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law, establishing a sacred trust with hardworking Americans to have the right to retire with dignity and security. Social Security became the most effective antipoverty program in American history by creating a social insurance system to pay workers 65 and older a regular income upon retirement. Today, Social Security provides retirement benefits, disability benefits, and survivor benefits for millions of Americans. Social Security's benefits help millions of seniors, people with disabilities, survivors, and their families put food on their tables, pay for rent, heat their homes, cover medical bills, and more. Social Security is a guaranteed safety net that prevents 22 million people from living in poverty, including nearly one million children. In Minnesota's 4th Congressional District, 126,751 people receive more than $262 million in earned monthly benefits, including: 100,067 retirees, 12,769 disabled workers, 7,062 children, 4,745 widows, widowers, and parents, and 2,108 spouses. On November 12, 2024, I voted for the Social Security Fairness Act, which was signed into law by President Joseph Biden on January 5, 2025. The Social Security Fairness Act repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset. These unfair provisions had reduced or eliminated the Social Security benefits of more than 2.8 million individuals. The Social Security Fairness Act increased Social Security benefits for many types of workers, including some firefighters, police officers, teachers and other public sector employees, to ensure that they receive the full Social Security benefits to which they earned and deserve. Safeguarding the right to retire with dignity and security is a priority for me in Congress. We must prevent the current highly partisan political environment in Congress and the White House from putting the future of Social Security at risk and we must ensure that the Social Security Administration--the agency that administers this important program--is not weaponized to promote mis- and disinformation. I am committed to strengthening the long-term solvency of Social Security and protecting and improving the basic benefits promised to seniors, persons with disabilities, survivors, and their families. The American people have made it loud and clear to Congress that cutting their hardearned benefits is unacceptable and that Social Security must be protected for current and future generations. I will continue to fight to ensure that Social Security is there for the people who worked for it and deserve it. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the 90th anniversary of Social Security, committing to protecting Social Security, and making sure that Social Security remains strong for future generations.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), and I move to strike the last word.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the distinguished ranking member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, as the designee of Ms. DeLauro, I move to strike the last word.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Stansbury).

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. Let me be as clear as the chairman was. BioMADE has never funded any efforts to develop or produce lab-grown meat for any purpose. The Rules Committee should not have made this amendment in order because it is just not germane to this bill. Mr. Chair, let me tell you a little bit more about why it is important that this amendment be defeated. By preventing funding for the Bioindustrial Manufacturing and Design Ecosystem partnership, or BioMADE, this amendment would hand a clear win to China. The bipartisan National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology recently completed its comprehensive review on biotechnology's impact on national security. It concluded that China recognizes the immense military and commercial potential of biotechnology and biomanufacturing. They have made it a strategic priority and are quickly starting to ascend to dominance. To preserve our lead, we must take swift action to commercialize and scale biomanufacturing here at home. These new technologies use the power of biological cells and systems to perform complete chemistry-- complex issues. They will enable us to onshore the production of critical chemicals, including those used in munitions and high-performance aviation fuel, as the chair mentioned; to develop new medical cures and treatments and produce them on-demand near the front lines; to engineer biological sensors that can detect pathogens and chemical threats on the battlefield in real time; and to better extract critical minerals from domestic mining deposits, reducing our dependence on China for rare earth mining. That, again, Mr. Chair, is why the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology report recommended that Congress support a network of manufacturing facilities to scale up bioindustrial production, including for defense needs. BioMADE is a private-public partnership with nearly 300 members across 37 States. Its mission is to partner with industry to enable innovators to pilot new bioindustrial production in facilities across the country that are linked to regional supply chains and agricultural feedstocks and to train the future workers in this industry. To be clear, we should be accelerating BioMADE's efforts, not senselessly blocking them. Last year, the Chinese Government invested over $4 billion in biomanufacturing. We must take action now. We must not cede the lead to China. We must win the biotech competition. It is for that reason, Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in strongly opposing this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, this program is designed to assure that our allies and partners of the U.S. are supported in times of trouble. This funding provides basic humanitarian aid and essential services to the populations in need. Let's talk about what it does for America's national security. This program is an important tool for our combatant commanders who use this to assist our allies, and it builds and cements our relationships. Let me just give you a few examples. When we help our allies improve their capacity to prepare and to respond to a crisis that will take place, when we help implement the Humanitarian Mine Action Program, this provides significant training, readiness, and enhanced benefits even to our United States military. It contributes to alleviating the worldwide problem of explosive remnants of war, which includes landmines, unexploded ordnance, and small arms munitions. The program allows our military to hone their critical wartime, civil-military, language, cultural, and foreign internal defense skills. Finally, through the Foreign Disaster Relief Program, a program executed by our combatant commanders, we provide unique assistance during natural and manmade disasters when interagency support is requested. DOD's ability to respond rapidly with extensive manpower, transportation, and communication capabilities is critically important in a time of crisis. When we assist in filling in these capability gaps with our partners, we help contain the crises and limit threats to regional stability by providing relief aid within hours or even within days of a disaster. Each of these programs are vital to the success of our combatant commanders' relationships with their counterparts. Cutting these funds would lessen the ability of our Armed Forces to execute their missions. For these reasons, I oppose this amendment, and I ask my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Chair, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the chairman of the committee.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I would like to point out, again, that when we do these projects together with our allied nations, it provides significant training, access, and readiness enhancement benefits to the United States military. Mr. Chair, the question was asked on this House floor who came to our aid, who stood for the United States. I was here on September 11 serving in Washington, D.C., my first term in Congress. NATO, the world, came to our aid. The world came and helped us when we fought against the Taliban. Mr. Chair, I thank those nations for standing with us, and I look forward to working with them in the future in this type of partnership. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I am very, very proud of my vote to vote against the President's big tax package, which added $3.4 trillion of debt to our national debt over the next 10 years. Yet, right now, I am rising in opposition to this amendment. America's strength around the world does not only stem from our military power but our network of alliances in Europe and the Pacific that allow us to project power. Our allies support us, and we support them. That means, when our allies are threatened, the United States needs to be with them. That is exactly what we are doing in Ukraine: helping a sovereign nation defend its democracy from Russian aggression. A similar situation could easily occur in the Pacific, where Taiwan is threatened by the People's Republic of China. China has a recent history of seizing territory. Look at the invasion of Tibet in the 1950s. They have suppressed democracy in Hong Kong. When the Chinese President speaks of reunification of Taiwan, we should believe that he will attempt it. We cannot allow that to happen. China may not stop with Taiwan. If Taiwan falls, other Pacific Island nations, like the Philippines, would be threatened. America is not alone in these concerns. Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand are deeply concerned about the future of Taiwan's democracy. That is why they are working with us to deter China and to prevent an invasion of Taiwan from happening. Mr. Chair, the $500 million from this bill will assist Taiwan in preparing their military and increasing their readiness and their deterrence capabilities. Mr. Chair, I support the inclusion of the funds in this bill, and I strongly oppose this amendment. I ask my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, the Department of Defense works with partner militaries around the world to advance regional stability and mutual security. These foreign military forces must be healthy and functional to effectively engage with our forces and support these missions. The HIV-AIDS epidemic has a devastating impact on many countries, including on their militaries. It reduces readiness, unit deployments become limited, and it saps the morale and capabilities of the infected individuals and their communities. DOD's HIV-AIDS prevention program pairs health and security assistance to provide care and treatment in concert with military training, exercises, and humanitarian activities. This amendment would eliminate a successful military-to-military HIV- AIDS prevention, care, and treatment efforts in more than 55 countries. In doing so, it would increase the burdens and risks for American forces and weaken global security by reducing the capacity of our partner forces. For these reasons, I will urge defeat of this amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I agree with the gentlewoman from Georgia. We need to do more for our children here at home. I fail to see how cutting the Department of Education, canceling grants, some of them in my district for special education teachers, ending the AmeriCorps help that our schools were getting with many students having someone to sit with them and help them with extra one-on-one for reading and for math to help them succeed, not to mention the cuts to SNAP. I used to teach. The last thing you want is a child with a hungry stomach in your classroom because they are more focused on what they didn't eat than learning. Mr. Chair, there is more we can do, and that is another reason why I am so glad I didn't vote for the President's tax cut. I just reiterate, again, that this mil-to-mil training builds resilience, support, and respect between the militaries. It keeps their militaries healthy, and I continue to oppose this amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. To be clear, I have disagreements with Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. Israel totally had the right to defend itself after the heinous attacks on October 7, and all the hostages should come home. The Israeli military campaign has been an absolute tragedy for the people of Palestine. The people of Gaza are in desperate need of more humanitarian relief, which I strongly support. The funding in this bill does not support offensive weapons for Israel. That is funding in a separate appropriations bill. This bill provides for defensive measures only, like Iron Dome, which I support. Safety is what everyone in the region deserves. Israeli children deserve to go to bed at night knowing that missiles from Yemen, Iran, the Houthis, or anywhere else in the region will not rain down on them. Palestinian children deserve to go to bed at night knowing that their schools, hospitals, and homes will not be bombed. That is what we all need to work toward: Peace. Mr. Chair, I urge the defeat of this amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment. Jordan is a longstanding, reliable ally in the region, as the chair pointed out. When there is any type of incident in the region, for our national security officials, from CENTCOM generals to diplomats, the first contact they make is to get the temperature of the region from their Jordan counterparts. The United States and Jordan have, since 1996, a status of forces agreement, a 2006 acquisition and cross-service training agreement, and a 2021 defense cooperation agreement. This is a 30-year stability-built relationship in the Middle East with an Arab partner. We need to nurture and maintain it. We have deployed military personnel to Jordan to support operations that defeated ISIS to enhance Jordan's security and to promote regional stability. Jordan air bases have been particularly important for the U.S. to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and target acquisition and reconnaissance missions in Syria and Iraq. Just 2 weeks ago, our U.S. Central Commander traveled to Jordan, where he met with the chairman of the Jordan Joint Chiefs of Staff and key staff. They discussed the evolving security situation in the region, the deepening bilateral defense relationship between the United States and Jordan and further expanding the military-to-military relationship between Jordan's Armed Forces and ours. This partnership continues to serve as a steadfast, capable, strategic partner for peace and stability in the region. We need strong allies. Jordan has been and continues to be one of our strongest. For this reason I oppose this amendment. I ask my colleagues to do the same, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, first, the majority has already eliminated funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative in this bill. It is zero. I personally believe that to be a huge mistake, and that that only emboldens Putin. President Trump seems to be agreeing now because just the other day he announced the decision to provide billions of dollars of equipment to Ukraine through our NATO partners. I give credit to the President for that decision. Now we have an amendment to further prohibit any support of Ukraine as they fight to defend their country from an illegal Russian invasion. Putin is attempting to rewrite the map of Europe through use of force. He is doing so in violation of international law. He is deliberately killing civilians, targeting hospitals and schools, destroying the economy and the livelihood of Ukraine in the process. Putin and his thugs are committing war crimes on a mass scale. They are putting the United States and the democratic nations of the world on notice, and that is why we must strongly oppose him. If we do not, then he or other authoritarian leaders will likely try something like this again, either in Ukraine or elsewhere in the world.