LaMonica McIver

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of our Nation's workers, to give voice to their fear, their concerns, and their anger. While the American people are focusing on putting food on their tables, the Labor Department has quietly dismantled

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member, the fine gentleman from Virginia, for his remarks and for coming here this evening to talk with us. Mr. Speaker, home health aides are some of the most essential workers in our economy, taking care of our parents and grandparents as they age and ensuring that sick and disabled people can live with dignity. It is downright despicable that this administration has proposed to reverse the rule requiring that these vital workers be paid the Federal minimum wage. This reckless rollback threatens the dignity, wages, and basic rights of nearly 4 million of our lowest paid and most essential workers, the majority of whom are women and women of color. These care workers are certified nursing assistants, home health aides, personal care attendants, and direct support professionals. They provide skilled, often medically necessary care, from administering medication to helping with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and eating. Their work is both physically and emotionally demanding. It is essential to the health, safety, and independence of nearly 10 million older adults and people with disabilities who rely on these services to remain in their homes and communities. For some, it is the care they receive from these aides that actually helps them enter or remain in the workforce. It is difficult to capture the profound impact they have on not only families but our economy. While they wait for that proposal to go through, the administration has already announced that they will no longer enforce the care worker rule, effectively stripping these workers of basic wage protections without notice, without public comment, and without regard for the devastating impact this will have on families, caregivers, and our long-term care system. Mr. Speaker, I just can't wrap my head around some of these changes. Home care workers are too valuable. They are already underpaid and unprotected, with 2 in 5 already living at or near the poverty line. Nearly one-half rely on public assistance to make it, and now Trump wants to give the green light to pay these folks less than $7.25. Yes, I said it, $7.25 an hour. It is just wrong. It is completely unsustainable. We are already in the midst of a staffing crisis in the care economy. I know my colleagues are afraid of the Bureau of Labor Statistics these days, but BLS says that demand for home care workers will grow by more than 20 percent in the next decade as our population ages. Mr. Speaker, how are we going to recruit and retain the workforce we need to take care of our seniors if we don't pay them? Surely, they can't make it if we don't pay them. They can't stay employed if we don't pay them. Mr. Speaker this is not just a labor issue. It is a civil rights issue. It is a women's right issue. It is a disability issue. I know this administration is already sick of hearing from me, but that is too bad. In August, I wrote to the Secretary of Labor urging her to stop these rollbacks. Today, I want to again call on the Department of Labor to withdraw this dangerous and disgusting proposed rule immediately, to reinstate full enforcement of the 2013 rule, and to focus its efforts where they belong, on improving wages, training, and conditions for our home care workers. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the fine gentleman from California (Mr. DeSaulnier) to discuss the conditions for some of our most vulnerable workers, those with disabilities.

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks and for joining me this evening. At this very moment, the Department of Labor is working to rescind the Farmworker Protection Rule, a Biden-era standard that gave farmworkers, many of them seasonal workers here under the H-2A visa program, the basic right to speak up about unsafe working conditions without fear of being fired or deported. Let's be clear. This rule that the administration is attacking wasn't about politics. It wasn't about gangs or drugs or any of the disgusting tropes the other side will paint against hardworking immigrants. It was about seatbelts in vans, safety on the job, and the simple human dignity of not being punished for demanding better conditions. What has this administration done? They have proposed stripping those protections, both for transportation safety and for organizing on farms. While they wait for that change to take effect, they have announced they will not enforce the 2024 Farmworker Rule at all. What does that mean in practice? It means workers, including the 300,000 seasonal workers worked for come to our country to do vital work, supporting our Nation's agriculture industry, are once again forced to choose between their safety and their survival. It means transportation will remain the leading cause of death for farmworkers, and it means that the worst of the worst employers get a free pass. It doesn't stop there. The Trump Department of Labor also wants to stop coordination between the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, OSHA, and the Employment and Training Administration on enforcement of farmworker protections. These agencies are supposed to work together to stop abuse. Corrupt recruiters have infiltrated the H-2A program, charging workers illegal fees and taking advantage of the most desperate migrant workers and actually facilitating human trafficking. The administration's answer? Make it harder to investigate them; make it harder to kick these abusive recruiters out of the H-2A system; and, against their own promises, let the trafficking continue. Let's be clear again. The H-2A program is one of the largest sources of labor trafficking in the United States. The safety regulations the Department of Labor is going after were designed to keep workers safe, but Trump's regulatory changes sent a clear message to employers. Retaliate against your workers, is what the administration is saying. Trump says: Silence them all you want. No one is coming to stop you. This doesn't just hurt migrant farmworkers. It drags down the working conditions and wages of all agricultural workers in America. Every time protections are stripped away from one group, it undercuts the baseline for everyone else. This is all by design. While this administration is gutting legal protections, they are slashing transparency, too. The National Agricultural Statistics Service just announced it will eliminate the Farm Labor Survey, the very tool we use to understand what farmworkers are paid and how they are treated. This survey informs wages for H-2A jobs. Eliminating it makes exploitation easier and accountability harder. Mr. Speaker, the cruelty here is not accidental. It is deliberate. It is rooted in a despicable framework that sees farmworkers, particularly those from other countries and those that are Black and Brown, as disposable. These workers feed America. They feed you every night. They do the work most people can't and won't. Instead of protecting them, this administration wants to strip away their voice and hand power to the very people who exploit them. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Omar) to discuss the tools available to OSHA to keep Americans safe at work.

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Omar) for joining me tonight and for her remarks. Mr. Speaker, when it comes to Trump's attacks on the diversity of our workforce, the Department of Labor is his biggest cheerleader and superfan. As a matter of fact, they are president of the fan club. After Trump rescinded the Equal Employment Opportunity executive order, the Department of Labor proposed to remove the requirement that those who do business with the Federal Government cannot discriminate in hiring. On top of that, Trump is demanding that companies send proof that they are eliminating their antidiscrimination programs and show proof that they abandoned affirmative action plans. Federal contractors may sound to some people like a narrow, far-off group. Who even are they? In reality, Federal contractors are a massive segment of our economy, and chances are that you or someone you know relies on Federal contracts for work. Under Trump, their employers would no longer be able to even collect data on the racial, ethnic, and gender makeup of their workforce. Let me repeat that: The Federal Government is proposing that contractors no longer even track discrimination. If you stop collecting the evidence, you can pretend the crime no longer exists. The result: an older, Whiter, more male-dominated workforce that doesn't really reflect the diversity of backgrounds that makes our Nation great. Let's call it what it is: a calculated, careless, cowardly rollback of hard-won protections carried out under false pretenses and driven by an agenda that wants to take us back to 1964. If that weren't enough, just weeks after the Trump administration announced its plans to eliminate the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, the agency charged with enforcing antidiscrimination in Federal contracting, the Department of Labor has now launched a full-scale attack on workers with disabilities. It is shameful. Trump's DOL is dismantling the requirement that Federal contractors take steps to employ qualified individuals with disabilities. At a time when disabled Americans face historic employment gaps, this administration wants to turn back the clock and undo the progress that we have made over decades of disability work. As my colleagues have mentioned, they even want to bring back the cruel, outdated policy of allowing employers to pay disabled workers less than minimum wage, often pennies on the dollar. How disgusting for someone who is doing the same work as everyone else each and every day. My colleagues across the aisle want you to be afraid of Federal DEIA programs, maybe even to think they are stopping you from getting a job. In reality, these are things like paid internships, so you don't have to come from a well-off family to work a Federal job, or basic disability accommodations in the office, like making sure the office coffee pot is in reach of someone in a wheelchair. Are these destroying our workforce like the President says? These moves are not about fairness. They are about power and about stripping protections from the most marginalized so that the powerful can operate without accountability. We need to be open and honest about the truth. These actions will increase discrimination in the workforce. They will make us less productive, not more productive. They will turn the focus of Federal hiring away from merit. Some of these rollbacks, Mr. Speaker, are terribly awful, but some of them seem like they are just torn from a law textbook. Seriously, the administration wants to get rid of the minimum lighting standards for construction sites. Let me say that again for the public who may be watching. This Trump administration wants to get rid of the minimum requirement for lighting standards for construction sites. For those of you watching at home, I know that, sometimes, what we do here is a bit hard to follow, and maybe you don't want to sift through the jargon that gets thrown around. Let me just read to you the standard that this administration wants to get rid of. Here is what Trump wants to take out of the Code of Federal Regulations. It reads as follows: ``Construction areas, aisles, stairs, ramps, runways, corridors, offices, shops, and storage areas where work is in progress shall be lighted with either natural or artificial illumination.'' This gets rid of the requirement for good lighting on construction sites so that you can't see the nail you are hitting. Who okayed this? Seriously, let's just think about this for a second. If you are working on a construction site, under the Trump administration, your boss does not have to make sure that any electrical equipment rooms, first aid stations, and the rest of the job site actually have enough light to allow you to see what you are doing. We hear all day about the regulations supposedly weighing down our economy and all about the red tape. Without a doubt--I sit on the Committee on Small Business--I am happy to talk about red tape, but these are basic safety standards. What do I know, right? I am here to represent the people of New Jersey's 10th Congressional District. I don't work on a construction site every day. Like me, you may want to know what the experts think. In 1962, Congress created the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health to answer just that question. Mr. Speaker, guess what. The Trump administration fired all the members of the committee, and OSHA just issued a final rule removing the requirement that it consult with the committee before modifying or repealing construction safety regulations. Trump's OSHA doesn't have to consult the experts because it said so. It is just because they said so. It is truly unbelievable. Let's make something clear, Mr. Speaker: The administration's actions at the Department of Labor aren't just tinkering, and they are not just some complicated, bureaucratic procedure. They are life-and-death decisions that, right now, the Department of Labor is rolling back protections on that generations of miners fought and died for. Earlier this year, the Department of Labor planned to shutter dozens of the Mine Safety and Health Administration field offices across the country. These are the frontline offices that work to keep mines safe and help to review plans, inspect sites, and make sure someone is there to look out for workers when lives are on the line. Eventually, when that plan came to light, the administration changed course and announced that it would not close the 34 offices it wanted to. Mr. Speaker, they are now trying to shutter the offices another way: by gutting the rules that give the Mine Safety and Health Administration the power to act, even if the offices stay open. Let me walk you through just how dangerous these rollbacks are. One repeal removes the requirement to inspect drilling areas for hazards before operations begin and gets rid of the need to repair dangerous drilling equipment. Another rollback narrows the training protocols that the Mine Safety and Health Administration district managers can require before approving mining operations. In fact, Trump wants to limit what can be required in a roof control and ventilation plan, which would help protect miners from roof collapses and toxic dust in the air. He wants to deregulate roofing and necessary ventilation. Mine operators are no longer required to give workers hard copies of hazard communications, or HAZCOM. Historically, employers are required to inform their employees in a mine of what chemicals or hazards they may face to help prevent injury and illness. Trump and his cronies are even going after the tools used to measure lighting and visibility underground, as I mentioned about the construction sites, as well. As we speak, Trump is working to give more control to mine operators about their safety and health plans, even when we know that injuries and deaths will follow. We know what keeps miners safe, but this administration doesn't think we should let the Mine Safety and Health Administration require it. Maybe the most unbelievable decision is the delay of the toxic silica rule, a rule 40 years in the making. The science is crystal clear: Silica exposure causes lung cancer, chronic respiratory disease, black lung, and even death. The Mine Safety and Health Administration itself had estimated this rule would prevent more than 1,000 deaths and 3,700 cases of silica- related illness, but the Trump administration says it is on hold. What are we talking about here? Weakening or removing respiratory requirements, fit testing, medical evaluations, and training for exposure to some of the most dangerous substances like asbestos, lead, vinyl chloride, and more. Look, colleagues and Americans watching at home, the administration says it is too prescriptive to ensure workers don't inhale poisons that actually kill them. It is too much of a burden to make sure a respirator actually fits. It is too much red tape to make sure a worker's lungs can survive the shift. What do you say? Let's be clear: Miners and workers didn't ask for these rollbacks. The only people calling for these changes are the lobbyists and executives who have never stepped foot inside of a mine, who have never watched a coworker die in a collapse, who have never buried a friend with black lung. Safety cannot be optional. Miners cannot be expendable. Congress cannot stand idly by while the Labor Department turns on the people it was created to protect. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Stansbury).

Mrs. McIVER. Thank you so much to the gentlewoman from New Mexico for joining us and for your remarks. Mr. Speaker, tonight we have heard about the increased discrimination in the workplace, the repealing of protections for those with disabilities, and the dangerous construction sites our neighbors are forced to show up to. All of this is part of the dangerous campaign the Department of Labor has launched to dismantle decades of progress for working Americans. These rollbacks are a direct assault on workers' safety, wages, and dignity. From healthcare workers, many of them women and women of color, at risk of losing minimum wage and overtime protections; to construction workers who could now be forced to operate in unsafe conditions with no guarantee of adequate lighting or visibility standards; to farmworkers who already endure grueling conditions are being stripped of hard- fought protections. None of this is okay. This is not normal. Allow me to say this plainly for the second time tonight: If you work in America today, you are less safe than you were a year ago. You are more likely to be underpaid, exploited, or ignored. This is unacceptable. I am proud to have led 64 of my colleagues in urging the Secretary of Labor to reverse course, and I am proud of the work we have done here tonight to make sure that none of this goes unnoticed. This work is about the people, the people we serve and every single American. It is about the home care worker pulling double shifts. It is about the construction worker trying to make it home to his kids. It is about the farm worker who feeds our families and us but can't protect their own families. We have heard about the rules that will put America's workers in danger, and if we do not do something about these rules, things will get worse for American workers. They are unsafe and underpaid, and it is time we do something about it. Mr. Speaker, I thank you, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, once again, we find ourselves staring down a deadline to fund the government--deadline after deadline after deadline. Once again, we expect to see our colleagues across the aisle use this as an opportunity to put partisanship over people. Like so many Americans watching from home, I must ask: Why does this keep happening? Why does this keep happening? My colleagues across the aisle either don't understand, or they simply don't care about how a government shutdown impacts people, real people. They seem to think that it is a tool that they can use to force their cruel agenda onto our communities and a tool to take more from the folks who they have already hurt with their big, ugly bill. During recess, I conducted a roundtable with school leaders from 18 cities in my district, and they talked about the challenges that students will face with cuts to SNAP benefits and the school lunch program. They spoke of how students will not be able to show up to school ready to learn and how it would impact their learning experience and their school environment. I spoke to families who told me that they didn't know how they would be able to afford healthcare once their Medicaid is cut, once the effective date kicks in. We talked to many constituents about how they would be able to afford to put food on their tables once SNAP benefit cuts kick in. The people deserve a government that works, a government that works for the people, one that is stable, functional, and focused on solving real problems, not constantly heading toward a shutdown, not a government engaged in constant cruelty, constant chaos, and constant confusion. Once again, the American people deserve a government that works for them. That means investing in what matters, such as public safety. How about education, transportation, healthcare, and the services that families and communities rely on the most? Those are the programs we should be investing in, not cutting. We need more investments in these programs. Mr. Speaker, we must and will oppose attempts to slash those services, and we won't support a partisan, poisonous bill that hurts the people we serve and the people who depend on us, the people who have elected us to work on their behalf and their behalf only. That is as simple as that. We will not support it, point-blank, period. Better is possible. We know that better is possible. We know better, despite what the other side of the aisle does. That is why we are going to continue to fight like hell for the people we serve because we know that they deserve better. We will not stop fighting, no matter what. We are fighting not just to pass something to keep the lights on for another few months but for a solution that actually serves the American people, something that makes people's lives better. Did we forget why we are here and why the people elected us? They elected us to make their lives better, not to hurt them or make their lives worse. That is not our job. Let me remind you: The people elected us. They put their trust in us to make their lives better, not worse. I invite all of my colleagues to join us. Join us to fight for people and to work for people. Let's get back to the real work in these Chambers. Let's make it make sense why we are here working on behalf of our constituents who have elected us. Let's get back to the people's business. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Kamlager-Dove).

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I am telling you, it is time for us to work for the people. I thank the fine gentlewoman from California for those remarks. It is time for us to work for people. That is what we are here for. That is what your constituents voted for you to do; not to make cuts. Think about it. I say this to my colleagues across the aisle, the next time you are out in your district working, ask one of your constituents: Is your life better? Has your life been better since January 20? Is it better? Ask. See what they tell you. I can bet you that it isn't. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the fine gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan), my co-anchor of this Special Order hour.

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia for those remarks, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Andres Acebo, J.D., as the 13th President of New Jersey City University, located in the 10th Congressional District of New Jersey. As the youngest-ever president appointed to a public university in New Jersey, Acebo has made remarkable advancements during his interim presidency. His innovative approach and commitment to excellence have significantly enhanced the university's impact on the local community and its academic standing. In just two years, Acebo turned NJCU's $22.7 million deficit into financial stability, achieving its first balanced budget since 2017. His efforts led to significant credit rating upgrades from Moody's and Fitch, and he was named the top influencer in New Jersey higher education by ROI-NJ in May 2024. Beyond financial accomplishments, Acebo's leadership has propelled NJCU to remarkable heights in social mobility, as the university ranked No. 1 in New Jersey and 10th nationally in CollegeNET's 2023 Social Mobility Index, maintaining that top state ranking and a position in the Top 20 nationally in 2024. This commitment to student success is further reflected in the graduation rates, with 1,667 students earning their degrees in Spring 2024, an impressive 8.2 percent increase in bachelor's degrees from the previous year and an additional 1,544 graduates projected for 2025. He established partnerships with peer institutions, connecting schools that share similar values and agreements, which fostered a larger higher education community. Under Acebo's leadership, NJCU's athletics also benefited positively as he transitioned the program to a new conference with CUNYAC members in 2026. What an incredible accomplishment and a shining example of New Jersey excellence. I congratulate Andres. He makes New Jersey proud.

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a new voice, as a new face, as a new generation, but still living by the words: ``When you see something that is not right, you must say something. You must do something. Democracy is not a state. It is an act.'' Those words, the words of the late John Lewis, are as relevant now as they have ever been. They ring true in a time when our democracy is threatened, in a time when politicians attempt to choose their voters instead of letting their voters choose them in an effort to suppress the voices of the American people, and when the powerful reject accountability and oversight and come after those who stand up against cruelty. Representative John Lewis believed that our democracy is precious and sacred. He believed that showing up and taking action had the power to create a more perfect Union. He was right. His passion for peace, justice, and a true belief in America inspired generations. Today, we stand on his shoulders as we continue to fight to protect our democracy on so many fronts, and as we defend that sacred right at the heart of it: Our voice, our vote. I am proud to stand beside my colleagues in this work and the battle for the soul of our democracy. Mr. Speaker, I will continue to allow the spirit of John Lewis to encourage me to act and to get into some good trouble and necessary trouble to redeem the soul of America.

Mrs. McIVER

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

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my amazing Ranking Member Velazquez for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 2966, a bill that does not serve our small business community, despite its name. At a time when local businesses are working hard to keep their doors open and their workers employed, this bill would make it even harder to access the capital they need to survive. By adding new documentation requirements around age and citizenship, it slows down the loan process and risks excluding legitimate applicants, particularly those from immigrant and mixed-status communities who already face steep challenges. Let's be honest about what this bill really does. It uses small business policy as a vehicle for immigration politics. That is not only misguided, it is harmful. Small businesses are still feeling the aftershock of inflation, supply chain breakdowns, and rising costs. We should be focused on helping them recover and grow, not creating new hoops for them to jump through. What is especially troubling is that this bill would lock into law a policy that was rolled out without enough input and with little regard for economic consequences. Immigrant businessowners start businesses at high rates. They create jobs. They invest in their communities. If we care about economic growth, we cannot afford to turn our backs on them. As someone who has worked closely with small business owners in immigrant communities, I have seen the resilience and determination they bring to our economy. This bill sends the wrong message and sets the wrong priorities. We should be making it easier for small businesses to access the tools they need to thrive. That means focusing on the actual issues that they raise with us every day. Let me remind my colleagues on the other side that those issues would be inflation, access to capital, workforce shortages, and the lingering effects of--guess what, drumroll--tariffs. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill. This bill does not put American businessowners first. In fact, it sets them back.

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the legacy of Catherine Willis, a woman who lived to help her community realize the dream of justice and equity, and whose legacy lives on in every neighborhood she touched. She was a dedicated public servant, excelling in pushing East Orange forward in her roles as director of senior services and director of planning and economic development. Her work in education, housing, and civil rights reflected her belief that no one should be left behind. She stood up for those in our society who often fall through the cracks. Ms. Willis didn't just serve the people. She empowered them. She reminded us all that the strength of a community lies in how it treats its most vulnerable. Today, I ask this body to recognize not just her accomplishments but her enduring impact. May we remember her not only for what she did but for what she made possible.

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding me the time. My colleague across the aisle, obviously, wants us to be ``sleep'' because that is the opposite of being woke. I guess my colleagues should introduce sleepy policies and be ``sleep'' at the job. Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my strong opposition to the efforts to undermine American small businesses by the very agency tasked with fueling them. Let me be clear. This is what H.R. 2931 would do. It would allow the Small Business Administration to gut punch the small businesses it is supposed to serve, just to punish cities that embrace their immigrant communities. Targeting sanctuary cities, as this bill does, is beyond the scope of the SBA's duties. It flies in the face of what the SBA is supposed to do: lift up small businesses in communities across the country, no matter what city they are located in or what party they belong to. Rather than driving economic growth, this legislation would strip essential resources from some of our Nation's most vibrant and diverse communities. This would hurt the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of businessowners. If the New York office were to close, the effects would spill over into my own community. The SBA office in Newark services over 800,000 small businesses in New Jersey alone. Cutting offices from these areas will stall growth and jeopardize jobs. It will displace employees and disrupt critical services that local businesses rely on. It will burden nearby offices and stretch resources very thin. It will make it harder for businessowners to get the help they need when they need it. Newark's office would be overwhelmed if the New York City office closes. This bill weaponizes Federal resources to hurt cities that have made the choice to protect immigrant communities. This is unjust. I have worked closely with my Democratic colleagues to raise these concerns directly with the SBA administrator through multiple letters, outreach, and even in the Small Business Committee yesterday. SBA's responses, if any, have been dismissive. I stand firmly against using the SBA as a tool to penalize cities based on their immigration policies. I hope my colleagues will stand with me. I urge Members to vote ``no'' on the Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025 to protect the SBA's mission and vibrant economies for all of our cities.

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1804, commonsense and bipartisan legislation, which I am proud to co-lead with my colleague, Congressman Meuser, to bring better oversight and real accountability to one of the Small Business Administration's most important loan programs, 7(a). Mr. Speaker, small business owners aren't asking for easy. They are asking for a fair shake and a real shot. That is what the 7(a) loan program is supposed to do: help turn grit and a good idea into a successful business. This program is the reason that someone with a solid plan or a good business but without a big investor or family money can still open up shop. When small business owners step up with a vision, a diner on the corner, a new chapter for the family plumbing business, or a pet supply store, it is on the government to make sure the tools we have to support them actually work. Right now, they don't. There hasn't been sufficient oversight of this program, and that means we haven't been doing all that we can to protect small business owners from fraud. Over the last decade, there has been more than $335 million in documented loan agent fraud. That is why this bill matters. It tackles this problem in two ways. First, it creates accountability for loan agents by making sure that the people who connect businesses to resources don't operate in the dark. Second, by requiring information on loan performance, default rates, and risk analysis, it gives Congress the data we need to do our jobs, making sure the 7(a) program works as intended, and protects small business owners. It is on us to make sure that the programs we use to support small businesses actually work and work honestly. Ensuring 7(a) loans work is important because the program is a lifeline. It is a way to make sure that when people go to apply for a loan, they are walking into a fair process, not a rigged one. Whether it is the mom in Newark who wants to open up a store or the first-generation American in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, who wants to bring a taste of home to town, small businesses create good jobs. They give back. They reinvest, and they show us what is possible in our communities. H.R. 1804, our 7(a) Loan Agent Oversight Act, is a smart, targeted fix and will help make sure that small business owners' dreams stay attainable. Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank my colleague for co-leading this bill with me, and I also thank our ranking member and our chairman for their support. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the legacy of Sharpe James, the former mayor of Newark, the largest city in New Jersey and my hometown. Through his life of leadership, Mayor James transformed Newark's skyline and spirit. He was a proud son of the city, bold, unflinching, and committed to its renaissance. From his time as a State senator to his tenure as mayor, he never stopped fighting for Newark's future. Sharpe believed in Newark when few others did, and he worked every day to lift it higher. Today, I ask this body to recognize not just his accomplishments but his enduring impact and mind for service. His story is part of Newark's DNA, woven into its past, present, and future.

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on an issue that has devastated families and communities across this country: gun violence. For years, gun violence has been an unchecked epidemic. In the Black community, the toll has been heartbreaking and more deadly. Still, very little meaningful action has been taken to stop the hurt. Our communities continue to be ravaged, while too many remain silent. We cannot continue to treat this as normal. There is nothing normal about burying children. There is nothing normal about the weapons that turn schools, churches, and neighborhoods into battlegrounds. I am here for the next generation to say: They deserve better than this. They deserve a future where they never have to say enough is enough because we will have already done what is necessary. I, along with my CBC colleagues, will not stay silent. We will continue to demand comprehensive gun reform, background checks, closing loopholes, and a ban on assault weapons because our lives and our children's lives depend on it. The time for reform is now. Let's do what is right. Let's do what is just. Let's do what is necessary before another name is added to another list.

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, ``I probably wouldn't be alive because I wouldn't have been able to afford [my] medicine.'' That is what Dominique from East Orange, New Jersey, said about Medicaid. Dominique is one of the 100,000 Americans who lives with the sickle cell disease, and she is one of the millions of Americans who would be devastated by Republicans gutting Medicaid. We need to understand that the suffering they are going to create has a face, and it is Dominique's. When she was just 6 years old, Dominique was diagnosed with sickle cell disease. That is also when her aunt enrolled her in Medicaid. Medicaid didn't mean that life was easy--Dominique spent much of her time in hospitals and visiting doctors--but it made life possible. With Medicaid, she is able to see a hematologist regularly, receive the appropriate equipment and medications to make living at home possible, seek mental health care due to the toll of living with this disease, and receive treatment for any potential emergencies. Dominique gets to live knowing the care she deserves is within her reach, in her own words, thanks to Medicaid.

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise and stand here today not as a politician, but as a daughter, a mother, and a product of public schools. I am here because I know what education can do, what it did for me, what it has done for millions of children across this country, and I cannot sit quietly as one of the cornerstones of our democracy is chipped away. What we are witnessing with the dismantling of the Department of Education isn't just a bureaucratic decision. It is dangerous. It is a decision that tells every child in this country that their future doesn't matter, that their dreams are negotiable, that their ZIP Code should determine the quality of their education. Let me be clear, that is not just wrong, it is vicious because when we give up on our schools, we give up on our communities. When we defund education, we are defunding hope. We are telling a little girl in the south ward of Newark, a little boy in the Borough of Roselle, or a student living in Jersey City that their potential has limits, that they weren't meant to retire. However, I know better, because I have seen what happens when we invest in our kids. I have seen how a great teacher can change the course of a life. I have seen how a Pell grant can lift up a family. I have seen young people go from classrooms with broken chairs to boardrooms and executive suites because someone believed in them. I have often said that education is the one thing no one can take away from you, but right now Trump and his billionaire buddies are trying to take away the very structure that ensures our kids get that education in the first place. It isn't about politics. This is about values. This is about who we are as a country. Do we invest in the next generation or do we abandon them? We are better than this. Our children deserve better than this. I cosponsored H.R. 433, the Department of Education Protection Act, to prohibit the use of congressional appropriated funds for any reorganization or dismantling of the Department of Education. I urge my colleagues across the aisle in this room to fight for our schools, fight for our teachers, fight for every child who dares to dream beyond their circumstances because they are watching, and they are counting on us.

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Sahli Negassi, a NJ-10 student at West Orange high school who received a perfect score on the SAT this year. Less than 1 percent of SAT test-takers earn a perfect score each year, and Sahli's accomplishment is nothing short of extraordinary. His SAT preparation was largely self-directed, relying on free resources, and using his time and determination to study for the exam. Beyond academics, he is deeply involved in extracurricular activities at West Orange High School. He has been a dedicated member of the cross-country and track teams since seventh grade and spent two seasons on the color guard. Sahli is also the president of the math team, chapter president of the National Honor Society, a varsity chess team member and part of the Royal Strings ensemble. His involvement in multiple activities and honor societies speaks to his well-rounded excellence. After graduating high school, he hopes to attend Harvard and study law. Any school would be lucky to have such a bright young mind. What an incredible accomplishment and a shining example of New Jersey excellence. I Congratulate Sahli. He makes New Jersey proud.

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the New Jersey-10 winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge. Aman, Alexa, Charlie, and Gabriel teamed up to make Tailored Trivia. The app allows users to create customized trivia games that make studying and memorization more interactive. This tool lets students test SAT vocabulary words, learn phrases in new languages, and quiz their classmates. In creating this app, Aman, Alexa, Charlie, and Gabriel also grew their skills in coding, design, and teamwork. I am so proud of their hard work, dedication, and contributions to New Jersey, and I am excited to see what they will accomplish next. Celebrating Sahli Negassi

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Sahli, a New Jersey-10 student at West Orange High School who received a perfect score on the SAT this year. Less than 1 percent of SAT test takers earn a perfect score each year, and Sahli's accomplishment is nothing short of extraordinary. His SAT preparation was largely self-directed, relying on free resources and using his time and determination to study for the exam. Beyond academics, he is deeply involved in extracurricular activities at West Orange High School. He has been a dedicated member of the cross-country and track teams since seventh grade and spent two seasons on the color guard. Sahli is also the president of the math team, chapter president of the National Honor Society, a varsity chess team member, and part of the Royal Strings Ensemble. His involvement in multiple activities and honor societies speaks to his well-rounded excellence. After graduating high school, Sahli hopes to attend Harvard and study law. Any school would be lucky to have such a bright young mind. What an incredible accomplishment and a shining example of New Jersey's excellence. I congratulate Sahli. He makes New Jersey proud.

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. COVID-19 shuttered the doors of many beloved local businesses, and many more are still continuing on a path of financial recovery. Now, with sky-high prices and rising inflation, small businesses need our support more than ever. Today, I join Representative Chu to reintroduce the Investing in Main Street Act of 2025 to increase access to capital for small businesses who need it. This bill amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 by increasing the amount that certain banks and savings associations may invest in small business investment companies from 5 percent to 15 percent. As the ranking member on the Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access, I know firsthand the challenges businessowners face. Small businesses contribute so much to our communities. In fact, they make up over 40 percent of our Nation's GDP, and it is time we give back to our hardworking businessowners. These additional investments will create more jobs, allow existing businesses to expand and thrive, and reduce barriers to entry for small businesses looking to get off the ground. I am grateful to Representative Chu for leading the charge on this essential improvement to SBIC funding, and I am proud to co-lead this crucial bill. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Williams and my ranking member, Representative Velazquez. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mrs. McIVER

Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Bynum and Figures for organizing this Special Order hour. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Black History Month and the profound and vibrant legacy of the many Black Americans who have made our country. Black history is a living, breathing narrative that enriches our Nation and influences our daily lives. It is a powerful testament to resilience, creativity, and the pursuit of justice. We think about those who came before us and fought for freedom, trailblazers like Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth, whose voices paved the way. As only the second Black woman ever elected to Congress to represent New Jersey, I stand on the shoulders of giants, including my colleague, mentor, and friend, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman. We both are here because of the path that leaders like Shirley Chisholm blazed before us. With the highest ever membership to the Congressional Black Caucus, 62 members strong, we have never been stronger. We represent the dreams of our ancestors, and those dreams are in danger by this administration's hateful policies that hurt Black people nationwide. Our hard-fought progress is threatened by the racist agenda pushed forward by this administration, but we will not back down. In the words of the late, great John Lewis: ``We have been too quiet for too long. There comes a time when you have to say something. You have to make a little noise. You have to move your feet. This is the time.'' Together, we must make a little noise and create good trouble to protect the progress we have fought so hard for. Together, we can ensure that the stories and contributions of our community continue to inspire and uplift future generations.