Jennifer McClellan

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 7386, the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act. Again, this not only implements the lessons learned from 9/11, but this bill strengthens the FirstNet Authority so that ultimately a network that could not have been imagined in 2001 now will be always available, dedicated, and interoperable for our first responders so that they know they can do their job and not worry about their communication system going down. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7022, the Mystic Alerts Act. Emergency alerting capabilities have come a long way in recent decades as a direct byproduct of innovation and breakthroughs in wireless technology. Not long ago, 911 calls predominantly were made from landline phones, and emergency alerts were received primarily over broadcast television and radio channels. Both capabilities still exist and have an important role in emergency communications, but I expect for most Americans, they make their 911 calls and receive their emergency alerts on their cell phone, a smartphone. The creation of the Wireless Emergency Alert, or WEA, in 2012 marked a significant leap forward in our ability to disseminate warning and alert messages to the public. Prior to 2012, Americans needed to already be tuned into broadcast programming to receive an alert being distributed for any number of important situations. In the case of a hurricane or a winter storm that was forecasted in advance, for instance, the Emergency Alert System was critical for broadly distributing public safety updates and instructions to viewers. But we know that not all emergencies announce themselves days in advance. All across the country, natural disasters like tornadoes, wildfires, and flash floods show up with little or no advance warning. One tragedy after another has demonstrated that when a wildfire spreads or floodwaters rise rapidly without warning, being able to push emergency warning information out directly to cell phones in a danger zone is one of the most powerful tools we have to save lives. The WEA system allows alerting authorities at nearly every level of government the ability to reach Americans where they are. Cell phones are ubiquitous today, and if we avoid falling into the traps of unclear and overalerting, it will only continue to be more effective as wireless providers and alerting authorities take steps forward to improve geotargeting and location accuracy. H.R. 7022 directs the FCC to take steps that will open up the WEA system so that satellite communication providers can leverage direct- to-cell capabilities to deliver wireless emergency alerts to cell phones in terrestrial dead zones where mobile carriers don't have coverage. This is incredibly important for Americans who enjoy spending time in our beautiful national parks and forests, skiing in the mountains, and exploring other natural areas where connectivity is limited but where being without emergency information can be deadly, as we saw with Mystic this summer. I thank Representatives Fletcher and Pfluger for their leadership on this effort to not only expand the reach of lifesaving emergency alerts but to turn tragedy into a victory to ensure more families don't suffer the same tragedy. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7022, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCLELLAN. Madam Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 7022, the Mystic Alerts Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1681, the Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act, which was introduced by Representatives Craig and Evans. When communications providers deploy broadband infrastructure, efficiency is critical to stretching their capital investments as far and to as many homes and businesses as possible. In the course of developing and comparing different ways to carry out a project, providers may determine that the most direct route to lay broadband infrastructure requires traversing lands owned and managed by the Federal Government. At the Energy and Commerce Committee, we have heard testimony from witnesses and hearings about delays and inefficiencies handling permit applications that are pending at the various agencies overseeing Federal lands. While environmental and historic preservation protections will always be of paramount importance to me, we should always strive to ensure that our agencies operate as efficiently as possible. With H.R. 1681, Congress can ensure agencies dispense with applications to deploy communications infrastructure more quickly, where no additional environmental or historic preservation due diligence is required. This bill requires the administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA, to establish an interagency strike force that will improve collaboration between NTIA and the agencies and departments responsible for reviewing and approving communications use applications. Our intent is for NTIA to bring relevant parties together to identify obstacles and inefficiencies that have slowed progress in the past and collaborate on solutions to address these barriers going forward. This will ultimately expedite the deployment of broadband infrastructure to the rural and remote areas that are still most in need. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCLELLAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 1681, the Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1343, the Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act. It should come as no surprise that many of the communities lacking internet access are rural, remote, and in sparsely populated areas. Bringing this critical infrastructure to them will, in many cases, require crossing large geographic areas. This is especially true in many of our Western States, where significant amounts of territory are owned and managed by the Federal Government. In recent years, the Energy and Commerce Committee has heard testimony about inefficiencies in Federal permitting. Specifically, witnesses acknowledge difficulty accessing information about the status and progress of applications to deploy communications infrastructure on publicly owned and managed lands. To help address these issues, H.R. 1343 requires NTIA, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, to develop and implement a plan to assist communication providers in navigating the burdens of deploying communications infrastructure on public lands. Ultimately, this bill should lead to more robust collaboration between those responsible for reviewing permit applications for Federal lands and the communication providers that are trying to bring high- speed internet to all of our constituents. I thank Representatives Soto and Pfluger for their leadership on this issue. This bipartisan legislation is a product of regular order, and I am pleased to see it taken up by the full House today. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, H.R. 1343, the Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5200, the Emergency Reporting Act. This important bill would improve the way we assess communication failures that keep Americans in the dark with no access to 911 or emergency information during and after natural disasters. When disaster strikes, the ability to dial 911 for help or to receive an emergency alert with potentially lifesaving information depends on networks being up and running during that event. The network staying up, in turn, depends on the strength and resiliency of our communications infrastructure and whether networks are being built and maintained to withstand increasingly powerful elements. Every Member of this body represents a district that is susceptible to natural disasters. Hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, flash floods, earthquakes, and many more have destroyed whole communities and decimated infrastructure serving entire regions. Madam Speaker, because we know they will continue to wreak havoc on the places we represent, it is critical that we put systems in place to gather the best information in the aftermath of natural disasters about what went wrong and why. This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to more closely examine communications failures in the aftermath of disaster periods so that we, as policymakers, can use information about recurring trends to help make networks more hardened and resilient in the face of future disasters. It is essential for Congress and Federal agencies to prioritize efforts to make networks more reliable so they work for all Americans when they need them most. I thank Ranking Member Matsui and Representative Bilirakis for their leadership on this important bill. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5200, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCLELLAN. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui).

Ms. McCLELLAN. Madam Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 5200, the Emergency Reporting Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 98, the Senate companion to H.R. 2399, or the Rural Broadband Protection Act, which passed the House in 2025. This legislation would direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a process to more thoroughly vet internet service providers participating in the Universal Service Fund's High Cost program. For years, it has been clear that Congress must step in to enact reforms to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in the High Cost program. Following an investigation by Energy and Commerce Democrats in 2017, the Government Accountability Office opened its own inquiry into reports of abuse of High Cost support. In a scathing report, the GAO identified a remarkable lack of oversight by the FCC and recommended greater accountability to ensure precious USF dollars are spent on the mission of deploying high-speed broadband to unserved and underserved communities. Since then, we have seen modest progress to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in the High Cost program, but more accountability is needed. I commend Representatives Kelly and Houchin for their work on this legislation to bring greater oversight and accountability to the High Cost program and protect the integrity of USF funds, every dime of which must go to help unserved and underserved communities still lacking high-speed internet. I believe this legislation will help address critical gaps in the vetting process for High Cost recipients and curb waste, fraud, and abuse in the program, so I urge my colleagues to support S. 98. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of S. 98, the Rural Broadband Protection Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5201, the Kari's Law Reporting Act. This is an important bill that follows up on legislation signed into law in 2018. The original Kari's Law was prompted by the tragic story of a young child unable to reach 911 when it mattered most. During what became a fatal domestic dispute in a hotel room, she repeatedly dialed 911 to call for help, but the call was never connected because the hotel system required guests to dial a prefix to make an external call. The young daughter of the victim did exactly as she was taught and correctly dialed 911, but that one digit ultimately stood between Kari Hunt and the help that she needed that day. Kari's Law requires providers of multiline telephone systems, which serve entities like office buildings and hotels, to reconfigure their systems to enable callers to simply dial 911 without a prefix to reach emergency assistance. Today, however, it is evident that providers have yet to fully comply with Kari's Law, and so this legislation will provide Congress and the FCC with the tools necessary to track down delinquent providers and ensure they comply with the law. This is critically important so that tragedies like that of Kari Hunt do not happen again. I thank Ranking Member Matsui and Representative Bilirakis for their leadership on this important bill, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5201. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), the ranking member.

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 5201, the Kari's Law Reporting Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 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, I rise today to anchor this Special Order hour on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus in honor of Black Maternal Health Week. For the 10th year in a row, the Black Mamas Matter Alliance led Black Maternal Health Week last week to address the high rates of preventable maternal mortality among Black women who are more than three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. Black Maternal Health Week focuses on advocacy, community building, and policy change. This year's theme, Rooted in Justice & Joy, highlights the need for both systemic change to address racial disparities and the celebration of Black motherhood and strength. This Special Order hour is an opportunity for the Congressional Black Caucus to discuss the ongoing crisis facing our Nation's Black mothers and to explore solutions to protecting our communities' Black women. Tonight, I start this Special Order hour with identifying the state of Black maternal health in our Nation. In a nutshell, we are in crisis, and the Black maternal health crisis is not just statistics. Eleven years ago next week, I nearly became one of those statistics when my daughter and I both nearly died when my placenta ruptured 9 weeks before my due date. I needed an emergency C-section. I had placenta previa, and because I had health insurance and access to pre- and postnatal care, I was one of the lucky ones, but too many Black women in America aren't so lucky. Compared to other high income countries, the U.S. still has the highest rate of maternal deaths. In 2023, the most recent year for which data is available, the national maternal mortality rate actually declined, but Black women were still more than three times as likely as White women to experience a pregnancy-related death and 87 percent of these deaths were preventable. In my own State of Virginia, after significant improvements from peak deaths in 2021, Virginia's maternal mortality rate got worse in 2023. We face a complex road ahead as we seek solutions to protect Black women and families against this loss. The maternal health crisis connects healthcare with insurance policy, reproductive freedom, environmental policy, and so much more. These issues don't exist in a vacuum, and many of them are rooted in decades, I would say, centuries of inequity. These issues require a holistic approach to bring down the mortality rate and save lives, but recent rollbacks at the Federal level risk deepening this maternal health crisis. Medicaid cuts and the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits over the Affordable Care Act have driven up the cost of maternal care for millions, making this vital care inaccessible for those unable to pay for it out of pocket. The Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade caused one in three women of childbearing years to live in States with abortion bans or extreme restrictions, and in those States, States with bans, women are two times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes. Again, it is not just statistics. We have seen tragic stories of women like Amber Thurman and Candi Miller, who died suffering miscarriages awaiting simple procedures that could have saved their life, but the hospitals weren't sure if they fit within the exceptions to the ban. On top of this, the Trump administration has doubled down on making it harder to secure justice for Black families and address the maternal health crisis in Black communities with President Trump's executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, limiting the Federal Government's ability to enforce hospital accountability for treatment of Black mothers weeks after the Biden administration reached a historic settlement agreement to uphold these guidelines and provide training for hospital staff to address bias. Under the Trump administration, funding cuts and mass layoffs have left agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services without the resources or staff needed to conduct research and implement policies that save lives. Thousands of datasets that have helped to identify the maternal mortality factors and track how we are doing with policies to address them can no longer be accessed. Now, President Trump wants to go even further, as his proposed budget for 2027 calls for over $800 million in cuts to maternal and child health programs at HHS. The proposal would eliminate many essential programs entirely, including the Healthy Start program, which serves mothers and infants in high-risk communities; the maternal mortality review committees; the Perinatal Quality Collaboratives; and other programs that track maternal mortality and share solutions for reducing it. This is not acceptable, and the Congressional Black Caucus will do everything within our power to oppose this proposed budget. Mr. Speaker, in the face of these setbacks at the Federal level, we will continue to push for change. As a member of not only the Congressional Black Caucus but the Black Maternal Health Caucus, and especially as a mom who faced that crisis personally, I am fighting back as we continue to push forward because we cannot afford to wait. We certainly can't afford to sit back and do nothing. That is why I am cosponsoring the momnibus, a package of 14 bills that aims to address the root causes of maternal health challenges, provide support to mothers, and study how we can build a better system for every American family in need of care. The Black Maternal Health Caucus has fought for this legislation for years. We will not stop until it becomes law. It must become law now. Our fight remains far from over, but legislators and advocates alike continue to work toward tangible change to eradicate this Black maternal health crisis. I am proud to stand and work alongside Members, like the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Representative Yvette Clarke. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke).

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Underwood).

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Sykes).

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, the threat to our hospital OB/GYNs is not theoretical. Centra Southside in Farmville, Virginia, announced the closure of its labor and delivery unit, and it ended OB/GYN services at their Centra Southside Community Hospital on December 19, 2025, citing a combination of significant financial and operational challenges, including the recently enacted reductions in healthcare funding and the Medicaid cuts. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. McIver).

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Menefee).

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, when I began, I said that the Black maternal health crisis was not just about statistics. That is because behind every statistic is a mom who didn't make it to raise her child. I want to tell one such story now of Kira Johnson. Kira was already a mom, a mom to Langston and Charles Jr., and wife to Charles. She was a Ph.D. student at Pepperdine. On April 12, 2016, she was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Hospital at about 12:30 p.m. for a routine C-section delivery. At 2:33 she gave birth to her son Langston. At 3 p.m. Kira was out of the operating room and was taken to a post-anesthesia care unit. Shortly before 5 p.m., blood-tinged urine was seen in Kira's Foley catheter. By 5:24 p.m. Kira's Foley catheter was draining bright, red blood. Her doctor was made aware of Kira's situation, but it wasn't until 6:44 p.m. that a surgical emergency CT scan was ordered, but it was ultimately not performed. At 11:42 p.m., two physicians were at Kira's bedside and one performed an ultrasound that found an expanding hematoma and now free fluid. They recommended taking Kira to surgery to identify the source of the bleeding, but her physician, Dr. Naim, who was also at the bedside at this time, wished to continue expectant management at this time. By 12:30 a.m., as Kira's condition began to rapidly decline, her husband, Charles, pleaded for help. Kira was finally taken to surgery about 12:30 a.m. on April 13, 2016, 10 hours from the time when the family initially realized that something was wrong. At 2:22 a.m., during surgery, Kira was found to have three liters of blood in her abdomen and did not survive the blood loss. She was pronounced dead at 2:22 a.m. on April 13, 2026. The autopsy stated that the cause of death was due to hemorrhagic shock due to acute hemoperitoneum, or massive internal bleeding, post C-section. Now, Cedars-Sinai Hospital signed an agreement and reached a historic settlement agreement with the Biden administration's HHS Office for Civil Rights. It entered into a resolution agreement on January 6, 2025, to take significant steps toward ensuring that no other family has to go through what Kira's did. The agreement required Cedars-Sinai to provide training on the hospital's obstetric hemorrhage management policy, create a pain management protocol for assessing and managing acute pain for birthing patients, update guidelines for trial of labor after C-section delivery and continue to track the vaginal birth after C-section success rate, administer an online bias reporting tool to document incidents of bias or suspected bias experienced by patients and the public, require staff to complete respectful care training, and develop and implement a program to provide doula resources in patients. A week later, President Trump signed his executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. Because the settlement agreement promotes diversity and equity efforts and is grounded in healthcare nondiscrimination protections, it is under risk. That is just one example of how the actions of the Trump administration last year is making the maternal health crisis, particularly for Black women, worse. I spent a lot of time as a member of the senate in Virginia working on addressing Black maternal health as a member of the Joint Commission on Healthcare. Through our maternal mortality review teams, we were able to track and identify the differences between rates of death of White women, Black women, and indigenous women, and we found the reasons were different. Using national datasets through the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, or PRAMS, which is an entire CDC team that monitors risks associated with pregnancy, we were able to determine that, at least in Virginia, Black women were more likely to die due to cardiovascular issues, an underlying health issue, before they got pregnant; whereas, White women were more likely to die from suicide or drug overdose related to mental health issues. With those different datasets and understanding these differences, we were able to focus on policies that addressed the underlying root causes to eliminate Black maternal deaths for both Black and White women. We began to see some progress, but, again, the very team managing PRAMS and the datasets we were using to identify the root causes and the differences is now gone. The staff that oversaw the HHS Health Resources & Services Administration, which is a national maternal mental health hotline that can help field calls from new moms seeking mental health support was cut. DOGE canceled funding for several Black maternal health projects. The Trump administration defunded research at Morehouse School of Medicine on how to improve the health of Black pregnant and postpartum women, it cut research on how stress influences racial and ethnic differences in maternal health outcomes for women with hypertensive disorders, and it cut studies on uterine fibroids which disproportionately impact Black women. It wasn't just HHS and CDC that removed datasets. There was data from the Census Bureau and the EPA as well as the CDC that were detailing racial and ethnic data broken out by other factors that helped show some of the risk factors that led to differences in these underlying health outcomes and maternal health outcomes. Without these datasets, how are we going to track the causes which change over time, put policies in place to address the causes, and then track to see if those policies are working? It is very frustrating, again, as someone who nearly bled to death giving birth to my daughter, that we are not able to address this and there doesn't seem to be an urgency, as Congresswoman Moore said, to address these underlying causes. The Medicaid cuts are going to make it worse. Medicaid finances about 65 percent of births from Black mothers, and these cuts are only going to increase the disparity in maternal mortality rates and lead to more deaths as millions of Americans lose their health insurance. This health insurance is relied upon by pregnant women across the country for prenatal visits, ultrasounds, screenings for conditions such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and postpartum depression. It also helps them get annual physicals that will identify cardiovascular issues. The President's DEI executive order also makes it more difficult to address bias in medicine. We have seen medical schools that taught students for decades that Black people can tolerate more pain, which led to tragic outcomes. We have heard story after story after story of women in the hospital who said, after giving birth, that something is wrong. They were ignored, and something was wrong. This disparity also occurs in other health areas, but, again, I want to connect the correlation between heart health and maternal health. I remember being in a conference discussing the disparity in heart health where a woman said that she had her first heart attack after she became a mother. After giving birth, she went home, and she felt odd. The more she thought about it, she said: I think I am having a heart attack. She went to the emergency room, and the doctor said: No, you are not having a heart attack. You don't meet the risk factors. You are only 36 years old. You have never had a history of heart disease. Come back later. You are not having a heart attack. She went home. She was having a heart attack. Fortunately, she was able to get back to the hospital before she died. That is just one example. We have heard many, whether you are Serena Williams or Kira Johnson, where you know something's wrong, yet the hospital and the doctors don't listen. That happens more and more to Black women. We have to do something about it. You heard today that the Black Maternal Health Caucus has put forward, under Representative Underwood and Representative Adams' leadership, the momnibus act. What is that? It is a comprehensive package of 14 individual bills that will make critical investments in the social determinants of health that influence maternal health outcomes, like housing, transportation, nutrition, and pollution. It will extend WIC eligibility in the postpartum and breastfeeding periods. It will provide funding to community-based organizations working to improve maternal health outcomes and promote equity. It will increase funding for programs to improve maternal healthcare for veterans; to grow and diversify the prenatal workforce to ensure that every mom in America receives maternal healthcare and support from people they trust; to improve data collection processes and quality measures to better understand the causes of the maternal health crisis in the United States and to form solutions to address it; to support moms with maternal mental health conditions and substance abuse disorders; to improve maternal healthcare and support for incarcerated moms; to invest in digital tools to improve maternal health outcomes in underserved areas, particularly rural areas; to promote innovative payment models to incentivize high-quality maternal health and nonclinical support during and after pregnancy; to invest in Federal programs to address maternal and infant health risk during public health emergencies; to invest in community-based initiatives to reduce levels and exposure to climate change-related risks for moms and babies; to promote maternal vaccinations to protect the health of moms and babies; and to make critical investments in research to reduce preventable causes of maternal deaths and improve healthcare for women, before, during, and after pregnancy. This bill has 205 House cosponsors and has been endorsed by 313 national organizations across a variety of issues. We hope that this will be the year, that this 10th anniversary of Black Maternal Health Month will be the year we make progress. We have already regressed and can't afford to wait a moment longer. I would be remiss if I didn't reiterate yet again the importance of reproductive freedom. When a woman is told, as I was, that if you get pregnant again, you could die, the decision from that point on--well, really, the decision at any point of when, whether, and how to get pregnant should be with her and her partner and whom she wants to have part of the decision, and not her government. The decision of what type of contraception to get access to should be hers and her doctor's. When you reach a certain age, some contraception is more risky, yet the forms that are best for you, some politicians-- not doctors, politicians--don't think you should have access to them. These abortion bans that have exceptions for the life of the mother, we have seen, particularly in Texas and Georgia, that has led to tragedies, where women show up in the midst of a miscarriage, in the midst of bleeding out, and the hospital has to wonder whether they are close enough so that they can provide the care that they need, or do they have to wait until they are septic. Well, once they are septic, it is probably too late. These are things that we had been warning about before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Unfortunately, our warnings have come true. We have to think through the impact of when politicians make decisions about healthcare, and not physicians and patients. It can have tragic results. Mr. Speaker, the Congressional Black Caucus and the Black Maternal Health Caucus will continue to fight for Black moms everywhere. We will continue to fight so that we don't need Black Maternal Health Week anymore. We will continue to fight, Rooted in Justice & Joy, so that no other mother has to worry, when they get the best news, that it is going to end tragically. We are here to make sure that it doesn't. 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 recognize and honor the extraordinary legacy of the Richmond Free Press, a publication that, for decades, served as a trusted voice, vigilant watchdog, and cultural cornerstone for Black communities across Central Virginia. From its founding in 1992 by Raymond H. Boone to its final issue earlier this year, the Richmond Free Press stood as a powerful testament to the importance of independent Black journalism. At a time when too many stories impacting Black communities went underreported or unheard, this Black-owned publication filled a critical gap by elevating voices, shining a light on injustice, and celebrating the achievements, resilience, and contributions of Black Virginians. For more than three decades, the Richmond Free Press provided in- depth coverage of issues that matter most--from education and economic opportunity to health disparities, housing, and civil rights. It chronicled both the challenges and triumphs of our communities, ensuring that the lived experiences of Black Virginians are not only acknowledged but preserved for future generations. Importantly, the Richmond Free Press also played a vital role in strengthening civic engagement. By informing readers, holding institutions accountable, and fostering dialogue, it empowered individuals to participate more fully in our democracy. Its impact extended far beyond the pages of a newspaper as it helped shape public understanding, influence policy conversations, and build a more informed and engaged citizenry. As the Richmond Free Press concludes its print circulation, we reflect not only on the end of an era but on the profound and lasting imprint it leaves behind. While its physical pages may cease publication, its legacy endures in the journalists it inspired, the stories it told, and the communities it uplifted. The closing of the Richmond Free Press also serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges facing local and community-based journalism, particularly outlets that center historically underrepresented voices. It also underscores the importance of sustaining and supporting diverse media institutions that are essential to a healthy and inclusive democracy. On behalf of Virginia's 4th Congressional District and the many readers whose lives have been touched by its work, I extend my deepest gratitude to the editors, reporters, photographers, and staff who made the Richmond Free Press a beacon of truth and accountability. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the Richmond Free Press for its remarkable service and enduring contributions to the Commonwealth of Virginia and to our Nation.

Ms. McCLELLAN

Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a historic milestone for the Commonwealth of Virginia and to honor the extraordinary career of Justice Cleo E. Powell, who was unanimously selected to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia by her peers. Chief Justice Powell is the first African American to serve as Chief Justice in the history of the Commonwealth. Justice Powell's appointment represents both a historic achievement and the continuation of a career defined by excellence, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to justice. Throughout her distinguished career, she has embodied the highest ideals of the legal profession and has served the people of Virginia with wisdom, fairness, and deep respect for the rule of law. A proud graduate of The University of Virginia for both undergraduate and law, Justice Powell began her legal career in private practice in Richmond, Virginia. Her professionalism and legal acumen quickly established her as a respected figure in Virginia's legal community. In 1993, Justice Powell made history by becoming the first African American woman to serve as a judge on the District Court for the County of Chesterfield. During her tenure, she earned widespread respect for her fairness, thoughtful deliberation, and commitment to ensuring that every person who appeared before her court was treated with dignity and respect. Her exceptional judicial service led to her election to the Chesterfield Circuit Court in 2000 and to the Virginia Court of Appeals in 2008, where she continued to distinguish herself as a jurist of remarkable intellect and sound judgment. In 2011, the Virginia General Assembly elected her to the Supreme Court of Virginia, where she again made history as the first African American woman to serve on the Commonwealth's highest court. During her tenure on the Supreme Court, Justice Powell has been widely recognized for her careful legal reasoning, principled approach to the law, and deep understanding of the profound responsibilities entrusted to the judiciary. Her opinions reflect a thoughtful balance of legal scholarship, respect for precedent, and a commitment to ensuring that the law serves all Virginians fairly. Now, as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, Justice Powell assumes an even greater leadership role within the Commonwealth's judicial system. Her historic appointment reflects not only her exceptional qualifications and experience, but also the trust and respect she has earned from her colleagues and the broader legal community. Justice Powell's journey is one of perseverance, dedication, and service. Her achievements have opened doors and expanded opportunities for future generations of attorneys and judges, particularly for young people who may now see themselves reflected in the leadership of Virginia's highest court. Mr. Speaker, Justice Cleo E. Powell's appointment as Chief Justice marks a proud and historic moment for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Her leadership will undoubtedly continue to strengthen our judiciary and uphold the principles of justice and equality that are foundational to our democracy. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Chief Justice Cleo E. Powell on this historic achievement and in thanking her for her extraordinary service to the Commonwealth of Virginia.