Jennifer McClellan

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his words. To hear more stories from Georgia, I now yield to the Representative from Georgia's Seventh District, Congresswoman Lucy McBath.

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick), who represents the 20th District.

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ivey), who represents the Fourth District.

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I will take a personal privilege to close this Special Order hour with some stories from Virginia, which I know you, Mr. Speaker, care a lot about. You and I served together in the State legislature there where we were able to find common ground across the aisle a little more easily than we are able to do in Congress. In Virginia, about 350,000 people benefit from the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, enhanced premium tax credits, 30,000 in my district, the Fourth Congressional District. For a family of four that earns $129,800 a year, they are looking at premiums that will increase by $4,675. A family of four earning $64,000 a year will see their annual premiums increase $2,571. A 60-year-old couple earning $82,800 a year will see their annual premiums increase $11,968. That is a 174-percent increase. That is what Virginians are facing if we can't find common ground to solve this problem, even temporarily. Our former colleagues in the General Assembly have predicted that at least 60,000 Virginians would end up canceling their insurance coverage due to affordability if they lose access to the enhanced premium tax credits. Mr. Speaker, last week, Cardinal News--which covers the Southwest and Southside, Virginia, both of us represent portions of that part of the Commonwealth--told several stories. There was one from Reagan Fisher Wyssbrod from Salem. Reagan and her husband, who is self-employed, have two children. Wyssbrod works three part-time jobs to help support the family while keeping the flexibility needed for her children. She spends some days as a substitute teacher and as a business manager for a library association. She does some bookkeeping on the side. None of these jobs offer benefits. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology, roughly two decades of experience in health insurance and accounting, and she is willing to take almost any job that will offer benefits, she said, even if that means working at McDonald's because she doesn't want to let her children go without healthcare. Her projected monthly premium increase is $400, which would raise her monthly out-of-pocket costs to $1900. On top of that, her longtime doctor has moved out of network. It is astonishing, she said. She spent 3 weeks combing through plans and eventually found one that would save the family about $100 a month, bringing their premium down to $1,800, allowing her to keep her doctor, but it has a higher deductible. She said the worst case scenario is her out-of-pocket costs would be $20,000 on top of the monthly premium. Ultimately, it came down to: I don't go to the doctor that often, my kids don't go to the doctor that often, so we will just roll the dice. She said: We will wrap some bubble wrap around us, I guess. I don't think bubble wrap is going to help if they get in a car accident. Victoria Cassels, an accountant in Roanoke, worries about her adult daughter who lives in Richmond, who is a self-employed graphic designer with an autoimmune disease. Her condition limits how much work she can take on, and she depends on marketplace coverage. Her monthly premium rose by $400, about three times higher than it was last year. Cassels is going to do what she can to help her daughter cover the costs if she can't take on enough work to meet this new expense. Cassels prepares taxes for individuals and small businesses and says more of her younger clients are talking about dropping health insurance all together because they just can't afford it. In the last few years, she has had a slew of clients in their twenties and thirties who have started their own businesses. Just getting started in life, they don't have the savings to afford the increasing cost of health insurance. Without health insurance, it is going to be very difficult for them to start a family. Ben Pearman, financial adviser from Bent Mountain in Roanoke, runs his own business which is well established, and he has a steady income, but higher monthly costs have led him to reconsider his options. As a single man in his fifties, he pays for his own health plan. Next year, his monthly premium will jump from $724 to $935. He can absorb the higher cost but is considering switching to concierge care, a model in which the patients pay a flat monthly fee, but that would leave him without insurance if an accident happens. Linda Bartlett, 64, entered semi-retirement last year, and now works part time at Roanoke's Mast General Store. She turned to the marketplace until she qualifies for Medicare. Her premium is about to double, bringing her monthly payment to $1,200, which is nearly all of her Social Security check. Mr. Speaker, I yield now to the gentlewoman from Illinois' Second District, Congresswoman Robin Kelly.

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to put this debate in a larger context. I was in the State legislature where the Affordable Care Act passed. It wasn't perfect. Our healthcare system has never been perfect, but what it did, between the marketplace and expanding Medicaid, is it got the number of uninsured to record lows, at least in Virginia. I can't speak to nationwide, but in Virginia, we saw our uninsured rate go to record lows. We were able to expand Medicaid on a bipartisan basis because it didn't just benefit urban cores, but suburban centers and rural communities, rural communities that had high numbers of uninsured, that were worried about how their healthcare centers, their hospitals were going to have the volumes to stay open. We expanded Medicaid. During the--I call it the big, ugly bill, we put millions of Americans at risk of losing their health insurance through cuts to Medicaid. We saw a list of over 300 hospitals in rural areas identified as being at risk of closing. During the August recess, I traveled all over Virginia not just to talk to my constituents, but as one of only two members of the Energy and Commerce Committee to talk to a wide cross-section of Virginians. I visited a dental clinic in Abingdon. Eighty percent of their patients are covered by Medicaid, 80 percent. The other 20 percent are uninsured. Before that clinic opened, that community got dental services once a year when a mobile dental clinic showed up, and the line was incredibly long to get one day of dental service a year. When I visited this clinic, I didn't come in with any talking points. I just came to tour. I asked: What keeps you up at night? The director said: I don't know how we are going to keep our doors open with these Medicaid cuts. Two TV stations were there who were there when the clinic opened because they understood what a big deal this clinic was, not just for Abingdon, but the entire southwest corner of the Commonwealth. My colleague who represents that area in response to that visit said: Democrats are just fear-mongering. Well, lo and behold, less than a month later, three rural clinics closed, citing Medicaid cuts in H.R. 1. A hospital in Farmville closed its labor and delivery unit. I ran for office because I grew up listening to my parents tell stories when they grew up in the segregated South during the Depression. They saw the best of government and they saw the worst of government. Mr. Speaker, the best of government was when people came together to solve problems and to help people who were hurting through no fault of their own. These were people who were working day in and day out and couldn't afford to put food on the table. They couldn't afford healthcare when they got sick. They couldn't afford a roof over their heads. The worst of government is when we sit here and focus more on: How can I score political points? How can I benefit the wealthiest 1 percent on the backs of every other working American? As I traveled around Virginia in August and October, and in the 54 days that we weren't doing our job here in Washington--not having committee hearings and not voting on the House floor--what I heard was people losing faith that our government knows how to be at its best. We have to get back to that. Our system is not perfect. That is why in the Constitution it says that our government was formed in order to form a more perfect Union. It is not a perfect union but a more perfect Union. The beauty of our form of government is when we listen to the people and see that they are hurting, we have an opportunity to do something to stop that hurting, an opportunity to feed the hungry, house the homeless, care for the sick, welcome the stranger, and visit the incarcerated. When we do for the least of these, we are at our best. We have gotten away from that, Mr. Speaker. We better get back to it because the American people are losing faith that this body, Congress, will do its job. We better do it. They are depending on us to. They have told us they are worried. We heard the stories tonight. This is just one thing people are worried about. We need to get back to our better nature. We need to come together, find common ground, and help people who are wondering: Come January 1, how am I going to afford this health insurance? What am I going to do when my kid burns his hand and ends up in the burn unit with a bill of $15,000 that I can't afford to pay? What am I going to do if my baby is born prematurely and has to stay in the NICU at an average price of $70,000 a day? People are wondering: Do we hear them, and are we going to act? Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National Rural Health Day and National Rural Health Month. Due to a lack of infrastructure and support, rural communities suffer from the worst health outcomes nationwide. Pharmacy deserts, maternal health deserts, mental health deserts, worker shortages, and more limit people's access to care, sometimes forcing residents to travel 1 hour or longer for primary and emergency care. These communities that already need help accessing affordable, quality care now face a growing crisis due to draconian cuts to Medicaid and the big, ugly law signed in July, which will make it harder for rural communities to access the care that they need. Mr. Speaker, 338 rural hospitals from across the country have been identified as at risk, 6 in Virginia, 1 in my district. I traveled around rural areas during our recesses talking to these providers about their concerns. I was accused by my Republican colleagues of fear-mongering. Yet, I was amplifying the fears that they had. Lo and behold, weeks after visiting some of these providers, three rural providers closed their doors citing the big, ugly law's Medicaid cuts. A Farmville hospital announced the closure of its labor and delivery unit, citing a reduction in Federal care. We need to do more for our rural communities in providing care, not less. Mr. Speaker, it's not too late to address this health care crisis of Republicans' making. We can start by permanently extending the enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act to prevent millions more from seeing their premiums skyrocket. This Rural Health Day, I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to recognize this issue for what it is, and to act now.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a lifetime of service of one of my constituents, Colonel William Woodard Butler, the 2025 Veteran of the Year for Virginia's Fourth Congressional District. With over 38 years of service between Active Duty and the Reserves, Colonel Butler has devoted his military career and beyond to improving the lives of our servicemembers, advancing medical research, and giving back to his community. Colonel Butler completed two overseas deployments, one to Okinawa and another to Qatar. He has over 980 hours of flight time, of which 65 are in combat. He then rounded out his military career as a professor of aerospace medicine at the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. In addition to this, he now serves as an active member of his community, as a trustee for the John Randolph Foundation, and as a member of the city of Hopewell's planning commission. He helped establish a permanently endowed scholarship for Chesterfield, Hopewell, and Prince George students pursuing a medical career. I thank Colonel Butler for his service to our Nation and admire all he has done to improve the lives of those in our community, Commonwealth, and country. I am honored to name him the 2025 Veteran of the Year for Virginia's Fourth Congressional District.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel William Woodard Butler, an extraordinary Virginian and the 2025 Veteran of the Year for Virginia's 4th Congressional District. Colonel Butler is an outstanding choice for this honor, having devoted his entire military career to saving and improving the lives of our service members and advancing research in surgery, tropical medicine, hyperbaric medicine, and aerospace medicine. Colonel Butler has logged over 980 flight hours, including more than 65 hours in combat, and completed two overseas deployments, one to Okinawa and another to Qatar. He concluded his distinguished military career as a Professor of Aerospace Medicine at the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, earning the Air Force's special experience identifier of Clinical/Academic Grandmaster in both Hyperbaric and Aerospace Medicine. Internationally recognized for his groundbreaking work in altitude- induced decompression sickness and aeromedical evacuation, Colonel Butler's research has directly improved the safety and survivability of critically ill and injured service members during transport. His contributions have had a lasting, positive impact on the Department of Defense and have almost certainly reduced the overall transport morbidity for tens of thousands of casualties. Colonel Butler's exemplary service has earned him national and international recognition. In 2019, he was inducted into the National Air and Space Museum's Wall of Honor. In 2022, he received the Aerospace Medical Association's prestigious John Ernsting Award, and in 2024, he was honored with the Chesterfield Education Foundation's BRAVO Award. Following more than 30 years of combined active duty and reserve service, Colonel Butler continued his dedication to the mission as an Aerospace Medicine Consultant to the Air Force for an additional decade. He has authored over 150 publications, including 29 peer- reviewed articles, 39 peer-reviewed abstracts, and 23 proceedings, technical reports, and textbook chapters, culminating in a definitive 200-page monograph on the safe aeromedical evacuation of critically ill and injured casualties. Beyond his remarkable professional achievements, Colonel Butler has remained deeply involved in his community. He serves as a Trustee for the John Randolph Foundation, a member of the Hopewell City Planning Commission, and an active congregant at the Family of God Church in Chesterfield. He also helped establish a permanently endowed scholarship for students in Chesterfield, Hopewell, and Prince George pursuing medical careers and is an engaged member of the William and Mary Alumni Book Club in Richmond. Mr. Speaker, Colonel Butler's legacy of service, both in uniform and in his community, embodies the best of Virginia's 4th Congressional District. His lifelong commitment to science, service, and community betterment stands as an inspiration to us all. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Colonel Butler on being named the 2025 Veteran of the Year and in thanking him for his decades of exemplary service to our Nation.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 245th anniversary of the First African Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia, one of the oldest continuously operating Black congregations in the United States and a cornerstone of faith, resilience, and community leadership in the Commonwealth and in Virginia's 4th Congressional District. The church's roots run deep into Richmond's past. On July 1, 1841, members of three Baptist churches gathered at First Baptist Church to formally organize what was to become ``The African Baptist Church of Richmond.'' That founding charter included stipulations that reflect the fraught realities of its time, including the oversight of religious instruction by a committee of white members of Richmond's Baptist churches. Founded in 1780, during a time when the vast majority of African Americans in Virginia were enslaved, First African Baptist Church began as a congregation of free and enslaved worshippers who sought spiritual refuge and self-determination in the heart of Richmond. Despite extraordinary obstacles, the congregation persevered, grew, and became formally recognized as an independent church in 1841 under the leadership of Reverend Robert Ryland. Throughout its remarkable history, First African Baptist Church has stood as a beacon of hope and activism in Richmond. It was a center for abolitionist organizing, education, and later, for the Civil Rights Movement in Virginia, playing a vital role in advancing justice, equity, and opportunity for all. I had the honor of joining the congregation for their 245th anniversary celebration and witnessing firsthand the deep faith, unity, and pride that continue to define this historic church. Under the dedicated leadership of Reverend Dr. Rodney D. Waller, First African Baptist Church remains a powerful force for good, empowering future generations through worship, education, and community outreach. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 245th anniversary of the First African Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia, and in recognizing the profound contributions this historic congregation has made to our Commonwealth.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, the United States has one of the highest preterm birth rates in the world, which is a leading cause of infant mortality. Today, the March of Dimes released its 2025 report card on the state of maternal and infant health. The United States received a D-plus for preterm birthrate for the fourth consecutive year in a row. In 2024, 380,000 babies were born prematurely. That is 10.4 percent of all babies born. The worst rates are in the southern region of the United States. These statistics are personal for me. My daughter was born 9 weeks early when my placenta ruptured. We both nearly died. She spent the next 6 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit. We were among the lucky ones. Far too many mothers and babies don't have that same outcome. Mr. Speaker, today I join Representatives Jennifer Kiggans and Robin Kelly to introduce a bipartisan resolution to designate November 2025 as Prematurity Awareness Month, and I join my colleagues to do more to prevent preterm births.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order.

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today to anchor this Congressional Black Caucus Special Order hour. Sometimes the voices of people and businesses impacted by congressional action or inaction get lost in the back-and-forth of the floor and the media. For months, Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have focused on amplifying the stories of our constituents, and tonight we do the same, amplifying the stories of people whether they are small business owners, they are employees, they are self-employed, farmers, or others, who could find themselves unable to afford healthcare without an extension of the enhanced premium tax credit. We know that there is a healthcare crisis looming in this country. We know that every American is one illness or accident away from economic devastation. That is the point of health insurance, to make sure that when they need care, they can access it without going bankrupt. While the healthcare system isn't perfect, the point of the Affordable Care Act was to ensure more people had access to insurance through Medicaid expansion, through employer provided healthcare, and through the Affordable Care Act exchanges. It is called Marketplace Virginia in my State. The more people have insurance, the more we know when they need care they can get it and not go bankrupt. More importantly, they can get primary care and preventative care so that when they get sick--because they will--they don't show up in the hospital when it is too late or more expensive to treat. Also, when more people show up in those hospitals uninsured, they will get care, and the cost of that care goes to everybody else. Tonight, Mr. Speaker, you will hear stories of people who purchased their insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchange who, because of the enhanced premium tax credits, can actually afford their premiums. Without those tax credits, many of them--we have heard time and time again--will be forced to choose: Do I buy that healthcare plan, or do I feed my family? Do I pay for that healthcare plan, or do I pay my mortgage or my rent? Do I buy that healthcare plan, or do I pay my utility bills? For too many Americans, the cost of everything is too high. Unfortunately, many are being forced to forgo health insurance and gamble and hope that they won't get sick. They will, and we will all pay the price for it. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell).

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Brown).

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke).

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, Speaker Johnson has called the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits a boondoggle, but let me tell you what those tax credits have meant for millions of Americans. Over 80 percent of the tax credit goes to help working people in States that President Trump won. Since they were introduced, more than half of the growth in national enrollment has come from Texas, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. Who are these folks? They are not the 29-year-old sitting in his mother's basement playing video games. They are restaurateurs, beauticians, landscapers, mediators, chiropractors, funeral directors, farmers, ranchers, freelancers, contractors, and gig workers, and now they are stuck. As open enrollment began and they opened their mail, they found that their premiums, in some cases, doubled; in some cases, tripled. I heard from a local restaurateur in my district, Lester Johnson. He and his wife own Mama J's, a beloved restaurant in the Jackson Ward neighborhood of Richmond, which was once known as the Harlem of the South. The Johnsons rely on ObamaCare, or the Affordable Care Act, for themselves and their 8-year-old daughter. They pay $700 a month, and Lester has estimated that, if the subsidies expire, his bill will go up to $1,400 a month. He has about 40 employees, and they would see premium hikes, as well. Lester says: It is a lot of money for people. I think everyone is feeling the anxiety. He is worried about his family and the families of those 40 employees. I heard from Bron Hansboro, the owner of The Flower Guy Bron, a Richmond small business: We have been looking at this coming down the pike for a few months, and I have had to be proactive, and I have had to consider what it looks like for my business if these credits are removed, and what it looks like is taking increased risk and finding money that doesn't exist to make sure that we can supplement and offset the cost of my sole employee's expenses. His sole employee is Ronni Moss, who said: I found fulfillment in my part-time work as a floral and event designer with Bron. In 2021, I left my corporate job for full-time employment. It was an important move for me to work in a dream career while contributing to the success of this small business. At reasonable rates, I have purchased health insurance on the marketplace, and the benefits that they have offered at my corporate job while they allowed me to give birth to my handsome son, it is the marketplace that has proved more valuable to me. Now, with the increased insurance on top of the increase in groceries and other living expenses, I am not sure how my family is going to manage it. We have heard from farmers across the district who are already struggling, particularly soy farmers. In my district in Virginia, we have some of the largest number of soy farmers in the Commonwealth. They are already struggling under the tariffs and as a result they can't sell their crops. One of my farmers said to me: Basically, unless you are a beef cattle farmer, you are already a volunteer right now, and now we have to figure out not only how we feed our families but how we pay for our health insurance because we purchase under the marketplace. Why is it so important that people are insured? I was in the Virginia Legislature when we expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The reason we did it is because we had rural hospitals that were about to close. We had so many people who were not getting preventative care, and it was leading an already bad maternal health crisis to get worse. It was leading an already bad infant mortality crisis to get worse. It was leading a preterm birth crisis to get worse. By getting people connected to a medical home, paid for by insurance--in that case, Medicaid, or later when we created a State- based exchange--through the exchange, they could get preventative screenings that could identify cancer while it was still treatable. Pregnant women would be healthy when they got pregnant and not have to deal with hypertension and other chronic diseases that lead to a high maternal mortality rate. We saw health outcomes improve. We saw hospitals, which were on the verge of closing because of the high number of uninsured, overcome that risk. During the summer recess, I visited a dental clinic in far southwest Virginia in Abingdon. Before that dental clinic opened, communities in southwest Virginia waited a full year for a dental clinic that was part of a larger healthcare clinic to come where they could get basic dental care, such as dentures and other types of dental care. When this clinic opened, 80 percent of their patients are Medicaid recipients. Twenty percent are uninsured. Now thanks to the pending Medicaid cuts, they don't know what they are going to do. They are worried about the uninsured in that community who are covered by Medicaid and now that community is also worried about those that are insured through the Affordable Care Act. Mr. Speaker, because without your health insurance, you don't know what you are going to do when, in the blink of an eye, your child is injured. I know that fear. When my son was about 3 years old, in the blink of an eye, he burned his hand. I happened to be in a rural area as part of a conference. We went to the local hospital. They didn't have a burn clinic. This was on a Saturday. They said you can drive back to Richmond and on Wednesday there is a burn clinic and they can take your son, or we can see if we can get him admitted to UVA Hospital or VCU Hospital, both of which were hours away, but we can see if he can get admitted right now. I said: We are going to see if he can get admitted right now. Between the ambulance ride, a week in the hospital, and the treatment, because I had employer-provided healthcare, I still had to pay $1,000 out of pocket. The total bill was $15,000. This was 12 years ago. Think about what that bill would be today. I was fortunate. Because I had employer-provided health insurance, I only had to pay $1,000, but I think about how many people don't have that and Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act is their only option. Right now they are worried about whether that option is going to be available. What does that mean for the people that I represent? In Virginia, about 350,000 people benefit from the enhanced premium tax credits. For a family of four that earn just under $130,000 a year, they will see their premium go up 43 percent, to $4,675. For a family of four who earn $64,000 a year, their premium will go up 20 percent, $2,571 more that they have to pay for insurance. For a 60-year-old couple earning $82,000 a year, they will see their premium go up 174 percent. Their premium will go up $11,968. Most of the families I talk to don't know where they are going to find that money. They don't know if they are going to be able to pay that premium. They do know one thing, guaranteed, they are going to need healthcare. They don't know if they are going to be able to pay for it. We will continue to raise these stories because too many people are depending on Congress to act. Their lives literally depend on it. Hopefully before December 31, we will find the political will to extend these tax credits. If we don't, we better come up with a solution to ensure that Americans all across this country can access the care they need when they need it. If we don't, how are we going to look them in the eye and say we served their needs? I worry about that. I worry about that mother who wakes up one morning, bleeding, 9 weeks away from her due date who goes to the hospital and isn't sure how she is going to pay that bill, if she makes it. I worry about that mother whose child has to stay in the NICU for 6 weeks who doesn't know how she is going to pay that bill. I worry about that mother who has to figure out how am I going to get my child the developmental care that she needs to ensure she meets her milestones because all that costs money that she probably doesn't have, and that mother could have been me. I was fortunate that I had insurance, and while I worried about whether my daughter or I would make it, I didn't have to worry about how I would pay for it. There are too many Americans who go to bed at night wondering, is that lingering cough something that I need to go to a doctor for today? Can I afford it, or do I wait until I can't breathe and I am in the emergency room? That is what is at stake. It is not a game about will Democrats or Republicans win. It is a question about whether the American people can get the care they need when they need it. The Congressional Black Caucus will stand up every single day and fight not just for our constituents but for every single American whether you live in an urban core, a rural holler, a suburban cul-de- sac, no matter where you were born, although we know--let me clarify that if you are not a citizen, you are not eligible for the ACA. Let's just put that to bed for a minute. No matter where you were born, where you live, the color of your skin, how you worship, you can get the care you need when you need it and know you won't go bankrupt. That is all people are asking for right now, and we are going to fight to make sure that every single American can go to bed at night not having to worry about the answer to that question. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for your attention tonight. I ask you to come together to find a solution to this crisis. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of the Honorable James M. ``Jim'' Holland, who faithfully served the people of Chesterfield County's Dale District for nearly two decades before his passing on October 14, 2025. I had the honor of working closely with Jim and witnessing firsthand his deep love for and unwavering dedication to his constituents. His kindness, humility, and steadfast commitment left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him, and his influence will be felt for generations to come. Born in Gates County, North Carolina, in 1951, Jim Holland served honorably in the U.S. Army's 18th Airborne Corps before earning degrees in accounting and business administration from Fayetteville State University and North Carolina Central University. A certified public accountant, he built a successful practice and later taught accounting for 24 years at Virginia Commonwealth University, inspiring generations of students with his belief that numbers are a tool for integrity and empowerment. Elected in 2008, Supervisor Holland was the longest-serving member of the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors, chairing the Board in 2014, 2021, and 2024. Known for his calm and collaborative leadership, he guided the county through the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, championing strong schools, fiscal responsibility, and community investment. His dedication led to major improvements in local infrastructure and the renaming of the Beulah Recreation Center in his honor in 2025. Beyond his contributions in local government, he represented Chesterfield on numerous regional and state boards and was appointed by multiple Virginia governors for his expertise and judgment. Deeply rooted in his faith and community, he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church Centralia and received the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Leadership Award earlier this year. Jim Holland is survived by his wife of 52 years, Judith, and their children, Jessica and James, Chesterfield County and the Commonwealth of Virginia have lost a devoted public servant and educator whose legacy will endure in the community he helped build. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of Supervisor Jim Holland, a man guided by faith, service, and a lifelong commitment to leaving things better than he found them.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Shineforth, formerly known as UMFS, on the occasion of its 125th anniversary of service to children, families, and communities across Virginia. Founded in 1900 as the Virginia Conference Orphanage, the organization has evolved over the past century to meet the changing needs of vulnerable children and families. From its earliest days, providing care and shelter for orphans, to its transformation into United Methodist Family Services, and now as Shineforth, the organization has remained steadfast in its mission: to create a world where all children can belong and thrive. Over the past 125 years, Shineforth has pioneered innovative services for children in foster care, those with special education needs, and youth facing behavioral health challenges. Its programs, including foster care and adoption services, residential treatment, community- based support, and the Charterhouse School, have become a model of compassion, resilience, and evidence-based care. What has not changed is Shineforth's unwavering belief in the worth and dignity of every child. Generations of families in Virginia have been strengthened because of the care, advocacy, and vision provided by this organization and its dedicated staff, volunteers, and supporters. As Shineforth celebrates this remarkable milestone, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring 125 years of transformative service. May the next century of Shineforth's work continue to light the way forward for children and families in Virginia and beyond.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend a warm welcome to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Spiritual Head of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the second largest Christian Church in the world. It is a distinct honor for our Nation's Capital to host such a revered global religious leader whose life's work has been defined by faith, peace, and reconciliation. His All-Holiness has long been a tireless advocate for interfaith dialogue, human rights, religious freedom, and environmental stewardship. For decades, he has traveled the world promoting understanding and respect among faith traditions and urging us to safeguard our common home for future generations. His spiritual leadership has touched the lives of millions of Orthodox Christians and countless others across the globe. I am especially proud to represent the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Richmond, Virginia, a vibrant and faithful community that stands as a testament to the Orthodox tradition's rich history and enduring presence in America. Their commitment to faith, service, and fellowship reflects the very values His All-Holiness has championed throughout his ministry. On behalf of the 4th Congressional District of Virginia, I welcome His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Washington and extend deep gratitude for his lifelong dedication to promoting peace, unity, and justice in our world.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Special Olympics Virginia and the Law Enforcement Torch Run as they celebrate 40 years of extraordinary service to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For four decades, Special Olympics Virginia has provided year-round sports training and competition to thousands of athletes, empowering them to achieve their personal best while fostering inclusion, respect, and community engagement. Through these programs, athletes not only develop athletic skills but also gain confidence, leadership abilities, and lifelong friendships. The Law Enforcement Torch Run exemplifies the incredible partnership between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve. Officers across Virginia have carried the Flame of Hope, raising awareness and vital funds to support Special Olympics programs. This collaboration has helped break down barriers, build trust, and promote understanding for individuals with disabilities. As we celebrate this milestone, we recognize the dedication of athletes, coaches, volunteers, and law enforcement officers whose commitment has transformed the lives of countless Virginians. The legacy of Special Olympics Virginia and the Law Enforcement Torch Run is one of inclusion, compassion, and unwavering support for every athlete's potential. I congratulate the Special Olympics Virginia and the Law Enforcement Torch Run on 40 years of service and in celebrating their continued impact on communities throughout our Commonwealth.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Pallone for the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 3062, the Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act. My concern is that this bill is going to be bad for our national security interests, in addition to leading to rising costs that will ultimately harm consumers. Currently, the State Department must sign off on all cross-border energy pipelines and power lines. However, this bill would remove that requirement so that FERC and the Department of Energy would have the final say on pipelines and power lines, respectively. While FERC and DOE could consult with other appropriate Federal agencies, such consultation is optional. If there is a disagreement between the State Department and the Department of Energy or the State Department and FERC, this bill says that our national security and diplomatic interests will take a back seat, and at the end of the day, FERC and DOE will make the final call on critical decisions that could impact international relations and national security issues. It is disconcerting to hear my colleagues on the other side of the aisle call national security and diplomatic interests political, as the committees of jurisdiction have traditionally taken great pains to keep politics out of those agencies. More importantly, FERC and DOE simply are not equipped to have the final say on national security and diplomatic decisions. As we have heard, this bill could also drive up costs for consumers at a time when many Americans are already facing rising costs and struggling to make ends meet. It will allow modifications to projects without any need for a permit or environmental review. This means a developer can radically expand a cross-border pipeline without any Federal review. It also specifically curtails the Federal review for pipelines from Texas to Mexico that carry natural gas to Mexican LNG facilities. These provisions would facilitate increasing LNG exports, which have been shown to drive up prices for American consumers. Mr. Speaker, for the sake of our consumers, our national security interests, and the future of our planet, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 3062.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order hour.

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today to anchor this CBC Special Order hour. For the next 60 minutes, members of the CBC will have an opportunity to speak directly to the American people. Today, the Congressional Black Caucus is remembering an anniversary. It was a terrible anniversary that happened 62 years ago today in Alabama. Mr. Speaker, to begin our commemoration, I yield to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Figures).