Nancy Pelosi

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rose to congratulate Daniel Lurie, the 46th Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco. Daniel Lurie is an innovative, empathic leader elected with a call to service, change and accountability. Although he is San Francisco's first mayor since 1911 to win office without previously serving in government, Daniel Lurie is well known for his innovative approach to solving entrenched issues and delivering results for San Francisco. As the founder of Tipping Point Community, Mayor Lurie launched the Bay Area's largest anti-poverty organization, directing over $500 million toward solutions for housing, job creation, and essential services. Under Mayor Lurie's leadership, Tipping Point spearheaded construction of a first-of-its-kind affordable housing building at 833 Bryant Street, a project that came in on time and under budget with good-paying union labor. Mayor Lurie also led the bid to bring Super Bowl 50 to the Bay Area in 2016, making it the most philanthropic Super Bowl in NFL history, and founded The Civic Joy Fund in 2023, bringing more art, music, and enthusiasm to our city streets. Throughout his career, Mayor Lurie has set new standards for impact and partnership, including innovative public-private collaborations that uplift communities. Mayor Lurie's priorities include ensuring safety and vibrancy in all neighborhoods, as well as economic growth. He is entering City Hall effective from the start having just negotiated a hotel strike settlement with higher wages for our union workers and stability for our vibrant hospitality industry. Born and raised in San Francisco, Mayor Lurie lives in the City with his wife, Becca Prowda, and their two young children. I congratulate Daniel Lurie, his mother Mimi Haas, his father Rabbi Brian Lurie, and their entire family, and look forward to working with Mayor Lurie toward a thriving San Francisco for all.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I missed votes due to recovery from a hip replacement surgery after sustaining an injury during a bipartisan Congressional delegation trip to Luxembourg to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 516.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Kaptur for calling to the attention of our colleagues the distinguished service of David Hobson. When she said he worked across the aisle, that is exactly what he did, with respect for the dignity and the views of all of us in this body. I had the privilege of traveling with him to theaters of war, with him and Jack Murtha, his pal. I have had the joy of enjoying the candy that he would bring from Ohio, saying it was the best chocolate candy ever. I also had deep gratitude to him for what he did to help us with the Presidio in San Francisco, for our appropriations funding, again reaching across the aisle. This was a very special person, a person full of joy but very serious about the legislation and very committed to bipartisanship in the body. It was an honor to serve with him. I join in extending condolences to his family. Mr. Speaker, I thank his family for sharing him with us. David Hobson was a blessing to our country.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank our distinguished whip for yielding and for her beautiful statement about a great person who has honored us with his work and his patriotism in this body. It is my privilege to join my colleagues on the floor of the House as we celebrate a true public servant and a trusted aide to so many of us, Keith Stern. Keith first came to Congress in 1997 to work for Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard. He comes from Los Angeles, so we are very proud of him as a Californian--even though he is a Dodger fan, but that is a different story. Over the next three decades, he went on to hold many top jobs in the House, always working for the people. For Jim McGovern, he was at the center of policy development on the powerful Rules Committee. As floor director of operations for me as Speaker of the House, he provided expertise for Democrats' major legislative achievements. For Whip Clark, he has provided counsel on major issues facing the House. He has been tactically, strategically, philosophically, and in every way a major asset. Working for more than 7 years in my office, he was simply invaluable. Throughout his tenure, Keith has offered indispensable expertise in House procedure. Coming from the Rules Committee, his vast institutional knowledge made Keith a trusted strategic resource in legislating. In every role, his service has been marked by insight, integrity, dependability, and unending devotion to this House of Representatives, even in the most trying of times. My staff in the Office of the Speaker were the finest group of public servants in the House. I always brag about them, the greatest staff ever assembled in the history of the House of Representatives. Keith was a shining example of that brilliance, dedication, and patriotism. Congratulations, Keith, on a job well done. Thank you for your leadership, which has made a difference in the lives of so many people. Best wishes to you, and gratitude for sharing you with us to Cara; your two beautiful children, Sandy and Colleen; your parents, your mom, your stepmom, and your dad, who are here with us in the gallery, as you embark on this new chapter. Thank you, Keith Stern, for your patriotism and your service, and best wishes to you as you go forward.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favor of the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act. Sixty-five years ago, in the Tibetan Uprising of 1959, thousands of courageous Tibetans risked their lives for their freedoms as they took a stand against Chinese occupation. When the People's Liberation Army security forces tightened their hold on Lhasa in response to the uprising, a young Dalai Lama was forced to flee his country--and he has lived in exile ever since. The leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama serves as a symbol of the bravery and resilience of the Tibetan people--and his story challenges the conscience of all freedom-loving people. It was my privilege to lead Congressional delegations to visit the His Holiness in Dharamsala in 2008, and 2017. On those trips, we saw firsthand the aspirations of the Tibetan people--especially in the eyes of the children who had only known relentless intimidation by the Chinese Communist Party. In the decades since the uprising, Beijing has only accelerated its aggression against Tibetans. The world has witnessed unconscionable and intolerable actions of the Chinese Communist Party against the Tibetan people: mandatory political education, restrictions on religious freedom, a mass surveillance regime, and further closing off Tibet from the world. Yet despite their oppression, the children of Tibet still yearn for a future where they can speak their language, practice their faith and celebrate their culture without fear. The United States of America has a clarion moral duty to stand up for Tibet and speak out against Beijing's abuses. In the Congress, there has long been strong, bipartisan, bicameral support for the Tibetan people. We were proud to enact the Tibet Policy Act in 2019: promoting Tibetans' religious, linguistic and cultural identity, and including the right to select their own religious leaders in accordance with their own belief system. It has been my privilege to help shape this bill--including through our annual Tibet Strategy Meetings when I was Speaker and in further sessions convened in my office in recent months. Alongside Ranking Member McGovern and fearless Tibetan advocates, we workshopped the bill language to strengthen American efforts for a diplomatic solution to Tibet's status, from establishing a statutory definition of Tibet, to further empowering the U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues to combat disinformation. It was with great pride that I voted for this bill's passage in the House in February--and I am proud to support this bill's passage again today. I urge a strong `aye' vote today to reaffirm Congress's bipartisan and unbreakable support for human rights in Tibet and thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Meeks for their leadership.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life, leadership and service of Reverend Cecil Williams: a spiritual giant who devoted his life to empowering those marginalized, forgotten and in need. Reverend Williams embodied the Gospel of Matthew: `for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you cared for me. I was in prison and you visited me.' Through his many good works, he transformed countless lives--in the Bay Area and beyond. Reverend Williams stood on the forefront of the American struggle for civil rights and social justice: whether fighting against racism, protesting the Vietnam War, confronting the crack cocaine epidemic or bringing compassion to those with HIV/AIDS, to name just a few of his many good works. In a moment when the LGBTQ+ community faced intense discrimination and stigma, Reverend Williams began presiding over the weddings of same-sex couples in San Francisco--nearly five decades before marriage equality became the law of the land. Alongside his beloved wife Janice Mirikitani, who was his partner not only in marriage but in service, Reverend Cecil Williams helped launch and lead the GLIDE Memorial Church for six decades. Strengthened by their belief in unconditional love and the power of redemption, GLIDE has built a community of compassion and inclusion in the heart of one San Francisco's toughest neighborhoods. Today, more than 11,000 San Franciscans of all races, ethnic backgrounds, cultures, social classes, ages, faiths and sexual orientations are a part of GLIDE's vibrant, diverse congregation. Living out Reverend Williams and Janice's faith-based social justice mission, GLIDE is also one of the largest providers of social services in the city. GLIDE serves three nutritious meals a day, 365 days a year, to thousands of San Franciscans in need--while offering comprehensive support services, including affordable, accessible, quality health care, mental health services, and HIV/AIDS and substance abuse treatment. GLIDE also helps women overcome domestic violence and oppression by providing housing, child care and supportive services. Reverend Williams was not only respected but revered in our City as a clarion voice for love, respect and justice. At the same time, he embodied the spirit of our City's patron saint, Saint Francis of Assisi, who taught us to `Preach the gospel. Sometimes use words.' Indeed, he preached the gospel with his inspiring deeds each and every day. May it be a comfort to Reverend Williams' children Kim and Albert, his stepdaughter Tianne, his grandchildren and all his loved ones that so many San Franciscans mourn their loss and pray for them during this sad time--and that his saintly teachings will live on in the hearts of all those who were blessed to know him.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick very much for bringing us together to honor this great person. Anyone who ever watches the House of Representatives knew that Mr. Payne was first row, first seat. Any President or head of state who came into this body had to pass by him and pay their respects as he paid his respects in return, and practically every day, he did a Special Order on a priority. Whether it was in command of a discussion or what happens in the distinguished visitor's chair, Donald Payne was to be reckoned with. It is with immense sadness that I rise today to honor our dear colleague. Mr. Speaker, as you can see from the flowers and the black crepe, we are all mourning him deeply. Donald Payne came from a tradition of leadership, patriotism, effectiveness, and excellence. Public service was in his DNA. Many of us served with his father, Donald Payne, Sr., who was globally recognized as a great leader. Long before Donald Payne, Jr., was here, his father sang his praises. One day, he would replace him. During his nearly 12 years here in the House, he strengthened our legislative efforts, especially in infrastructure at the helm of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He led a fight to secure clean drinking water for every child. Indeed, even in what would be his final remarks on the floor, when we heard him just a matter of weeks ago, he made the case for lowering housing costs and expanding supply, demonstrating his total commitment to working families in the Garden State of New Jersey and beyond. In our Caucus in the Congress, Congressman Payne was beloved. He was truly beloved. Indeed, all of us who served with him have been blessed by his personal kindness, his sense of humor, and his devotion to finding common ground. Again, he was respectful of this institution by treating it with great dignity. The dapperness of his apparel was always a source of joy to us and brightened our day. Again, I hope it is a comfort to his wife, Beatrice; their triplets, Donald III, Jack, and Yvonne; and the entire Payne family that so many people mourn their loss and are praying for him at this sad time with a special thank-you to them for sharing Donald Payne with us in the Congress. It is an honor to call him a colleague, and the American people benefited from his leadership and service.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman, the distinguished ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, for yielding, but also for her leadership in bringing this to the floor. Madam Chair, I join Mr. Turner and others in saluting the Speaker, as well as our leader, Mr. Jeffries, for making this important legislation possible. I associate myself with everything that has been said already about Ukraine, but I want to just focus on one particular area. It was 2 years ago and almost 2 weeks ago that I led the first high- level delegation to Kyiv, and we saw firsthand the courage of the people, the danger of the Russians. Let me just tell you what is heartbreaking about it. Vladimir Putin has instructed his troops to use rape, kidnapping, and murder in front of family members as a weapon of war to demoralize the people of Ukraine. I hope that our colleagues will choose democracy and decency rather than autocracy and evil, because I fear that, if you choose the Putin route, you will have blood on your hands--blood of the children, blood of their mothers, raped in front of their parents, raped in front of their children. Madam Chair, I urge an ``aye'' vote on this and all the other bills before us today.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his great leadership of the Intelligence Committee, and I thank our members of the Intelligence Committee on both sides of the aisle for their important work to protect our national security. Having served there, I know it is a place where we strive for bipartisanship. Mr. Chair, as the gentleman indicated, I came to this committee in the early nineties, and my purpose was to protect the civil liberties as we protected the national security of our country. I had two purposes. One was to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and secondly, on par with that, was to make sure that we protect the civil liberties. Over the course of that time, I have voted for legislation that is less than what I would have liked but advanced the cause. Both the chair and the ranking member have put forth a very clear idea about why 702 is important, and I associate myself with their remarks. I just want to say to this: I went in, in the early nineties. I became the ranking member, the top Democrat on the committee. For 20 years, I was in the Gang of Eight, in terms of receiving intelligence, up until last year when I stopped being the Speaker of the House. For that whole time, it has been about what this means to the civil liberties of the American people. I had a bill that we brought when former President Bush was President that addressed some of our FISA concerns that didn't go all the way. This bill does. In this legislation, there are scores of provisions that could strengthen our case for civil liberties. Some of them are improvements on existing law. Some of them are new provisions in the law to protect the civil liberties of the American people. Therefore, the Biggs amendment seriously undermines our ability to protect national security, and I urge our colleagues to vote against it. I don't have the time right now, but if Members want to know, I will tell them how we could have been saved from 9/11 if we didn't have to have the additional warrants. Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on the Biggs amendment and a ``yes'' vote on the bill.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I especially thank him for his leadership to the great State of Maryland and the city of Baltimore, as well as for calling for this Special Order this evening so that we can come together and express the heartbreak that we all felt and now to commemorate the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and these six beautiful souls, in loving memory of them, who lost their lives on that dark morning. I thank Congressman Mfume for organizing the Special Order. I join him and Congressman Sarbanes in recognizing the leadership role of the Governor of Maryland, Wes Moore. I want to pay tribute to the mayor of Baltimore, Brandon Scott, and to all of our congressional delegation for uniting together in a bipartisan way in response to this tragedy. Just to remind you, it was 2 weeks ago, in the dark of night and braving the cold, a crew got to work making repairs to the Francis Scott Key Bridge. They were doing their jobs so that 30,000 people a day could go to theirs, to do their jobs. Our love and prayers are with those who lost their lives in this collapse and with their families who lost a husband, a brother, a father, a son. Our gratitude is with the heroic emergency responders who responded so quickly and saved lives, as well as the teams working quickly to clear the channel. The magnitude of the collapse cannot be understated. Six families shattered, first and foremost. Tens of thousands of commuters rerouted, paralysis of a port that handles $80 billion in commerce, sending a shock wave through the entire economy. Inspired by the love, unity, and resilience of the Baltimore community, Baltimore will rebuild. President Biden, as has been mentioned, and the Congress must be there with resources to support every step of the way. On that score, I would say, having been in Congress for a long time, sadly, we have been witness to many natural and other disasters that have befallen our communities, whether it was the bridge in Minnesota, whether it was the storm in Florida, whether it was Katrina in New Orleans, or whether it was water damage in Iowa. The list goes on and on, but we have all been there for each other. Maybe not all of us, but most of us have been there. This is a big, big tragedy, but in terms of cost, much smaller than many of the hurricanes and the rest that have happened in the rest of the country. We can learn from them. Whether it is unemployment insurance for the workers, whatever it happens to be, we want to make sure that we utilize every resource at our disposal to bring people together. The Governor has pointed out, as has Congressman Mfume, Congressman Sarbanes, and members of the delegation, the mayor, and our Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, that this is a national challenge. If you are a restaurateur in Tennessee, you are affected by this. If you are an autoworker in Ohio, you are affected by this. If you are a salesperson in West Virginia, you are affected by this, because of the products that come through and the jobs that are affected by it. In closing, my father was mayor of Baltimore my whole life. When I was in first grade and when I went off to college, he was still the mayor of Baltimore. That is where my heart is. I always was so proud of the fact that the National Anthem was written in Baltimore. Francis Scott Key, in the War of 1812, wrote the National Anthem. My brother, Tommy, who also was mayor of Baltimore, was always fond of singing it in his way. The line in the song that I always liked the best, and I think that applies here, is when he says: ``Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.'' That is when I start cheering at the game, not at the end, but at that point, as I just did at opening day in San Francisco. Those were the words penned by Francis Scott Key as he gazed upon the ramparts. Now a bridge bearing his name is near where those ramparts were. As we rebuild, we will, indeed, give proof through the night that our flag is still there, our flag being our unifying symbol of our country that we are all in this together. We will be there. We will learn from other disasters. We will teach other disasters in the future by how we, in a new fresh way, in the Baltimore way, Baltimore strong, rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Proof through the night that our flag is still there.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Forgetting that, if you can--Mr. Speaker, I can't--think of this: The Chinese Government will control the algorithm, and they can change it any time in the United States. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership on this very important issue. I thank the distinguished chairwoman of the Energy and Commerce Committee and associate myself with her remarks as well as with Mr. Pallone. I thank Mr. Krishnamoorthi and Chairman Gallagher of the Select Committee on China for their great leadership bringing this legislation forward to the committee of legislative jurisdiction. Mr. Speaker, I have a few points to make, and it is interesting to hear this respectful debate. First of all, this is not a ban on TikTok. I am a grandmother of teenagers. I understand the entertainment value, the educational value, the communication value, and the business value for some businesses on this. This is not an attempt to ban TikTok. It is an attempt to make TikTok better, tic-tac-toe, a winner. Here is what I have to say: The people of China have come forth. The Tibetans have come forth and said on TikTok that in China they are suppressed. They cannot put their message out. Not only that, but the Chinese Government misrepresents the situation in Tibet. Let me just tell you about Hong Kong, Mr. Speaker. During the Hong Kong election, TikTok TikToked into Taiwan that the Uyghurs on whom there is a genocide exercised by the Chinese Government, they have told the people in Taiwan that the Uyghurs like that genocide, and they told them that the people of Hong Kong liked the destruction of their democracy. They don't frame it that way, but that is their message. Again, they are suppressing the communications from Tibet. Then, just yesterday on the steps, we heard from the Taiwan people, we heard from the Tibetans, we heard from Hong Kong, and we heard from a woman whose husband was arrested because of his communications with somebody with a shared view. So this is controlled by the Chinese Communist Government. I can't forget this.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for calling this Special Order in honor of the very special person that many of us have had the privilege to serve with--in my case for over three decades. She was so proud that Congresswoman Crockett would be following in her footsteps, so it is so appropriate that she is bringing us together now for this formidable force in public service. Eddie Bernice Johnson sat in that chair reigning for the whole time. She reigned. We always went to her for guidance and advice. Not only did Eddie Bernice make history, Mr. Speaker, she did make a difference as the first African American and the first woman to wield the gavel of the powerful Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Not only did she make history and make a difference, she enabled our country to make progress. We marveled at the respect that she commanded in the scientific community, the academic community, in industry, from her constituents, and from her colleagues on Capitol Hill. The capstone of her career, our Chips and Science Act in her last term in Congress, will drive decades of scientific discovery while recruiting a diverse, inclusive workforce for the industries of tomorrow. Indeed, she insisted on it. She insisted on investing in STEM education so American minds of all kinds could solve our greatest challenges, the challenges of our time. Eddie Bernice was always talking about taking our Nation into the future. We chatted quite a bit--she was soft-spoken toward the end but with great force. And we chatted and laughed about and admired what is written on the walls of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, a quote from the poet Tennyson, and it is so much about Eddie Bernice: For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see, Saw a vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be She understood that wonder. May it be a comfort to her beloved son, Kirk; dear grandchildren Kirk, II, David, and James and her entire family that we mourn their loss. We pray for them during this sad time. We thank them for sharing Eddie Bernice Johnson with us in this Congress, but, more importantly, with our country. May our darling Eddie Bernice Johnson, whom we all loved so dearly, rest in peace.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for her tremendous leadership over a long period of time. She is a great intellectual resource in helping Ukraine. I thank Marcy Kaptur very much for her leadership. Madam Speaker, nearly 1 year ago, many of you will recall, in this Chamber we had a joint session of Congress. We were honored by the presence of President Zelenskyy who had come directly from the battlefield and brought us a flag signed by the soldiers. He delivered a magnificent speech. President Zelenskyy made clear the necessity of American support by saying: Your money is not charity. It is an investment in global security and in democracy. The fight of the Ukrainian people for democracy is just remarkable to behold, but their fight is for their democracy and ours, as well. Being empowered by the investment we made last Congress, passed by an overwhelming bicameral vote, Ukraine has battled historically against the tide of the biggest army in Europe, the Russian Army. It is important for the American people to know that Ukraine has reclaimed and won back 50 percent of the land previously seized by the Russians. They have won back 50 percent. More than 60 percent, close to two-thirds of the money that we have invested in military assistance for the Ukrainians has been spent in the United States. It has been spent in the United States creating jobs here as we support the Ukrainians. Madam Speaker, nearly two-thirds of the money has been spent here, and 100 percent of the determination of victory belongs to the Ukrainian people. Others have mentioned, Mr. Hoyer included, that at the same time, our hearts break when we hear about the atrocities committed against women by Putin's forces. Women are subjected to rape as a weapon of war. They have been murdered in front of their parents or in front of their children and raped in the same way. Tens of thousands of children have been kidnapped by the Russian soldiers. I said to someone who knows about these things: Isn't it sad that the brutality of war has turned these soldiers into brutes? They said: Make no mistake. The Russian soldiers do what they are ordered to do. These rapes, these kidnappings, and these murders of families in front of family members are the direct order of Vladimir Putin, who is a very evil person. We must put an end to this unadulterated evil. The longer we wait to get them the money, more people will die, more children will be kidnapped, more women will be raped, and more uncertainty will be injected into the situation as to whether or not we are there to protect democracy and to support it. As the war wages on, the administration has repeatedly made clear: America is at the end of the supply of money we have voted and Ukraine is nearly out of time. Today, President Zelenskyy returned to the Capitol to make a compelling case for America's continued support to help Ukraine finish the fight; because the battle for Ukraine, again, is a battle for democracy itself, and we will not let death, destruction, and dictatorship of Vladimir Putin prevail. President Biden's supplemental funding request must be brought to the floor as soon as possible so that we honor our duty to stand with the Ukrainian people until victory is won. It has been said on both sides of the aisle, the cost of war is great. Should Putin prevail and then go on to other invasions of NATO or non-NATO countries, it will only cost more money, more lives, more families separated. That cannot be what we are about. At the same time, this legislation calls for us to honor a commitment to peace in the Middle East by our support for Israel and the humanitarian assistance that is in the legislation for the Palestinian people as well as others. Madam Speaker, I thank Ms. Kaptur for her leadership during this Special Order and for yielding time.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on World AIDS Day, as we remember tens of millions of beautiful souls we have lost around the world to HIV and AIDS and pray for their families. Over the last two decades, our fight against HIV/AIDS in the world has been transformed by PEPFAR, made possible by the leadership of President Bush and bipartisan support in Congress. It was my privilege to be a leader in this fight on the Foreign Operations Subcommittee where we secured more than $100 billion for PEPFAR to support its life-giving work. I salute President Bush and Mrs. Bush for their ongoing attention and commitment to this issue. I have traveled to visit the clinics in Africa and have been told by people there that PEPFAR gave them hope. They would never have been tested if they didn't think there was an opportunity for something to improve their lives. They lost the stigma of being tested positively by having hope given to them. I thank President Bush and Mrs. Bush for helping address the issue with their Pink Ribbon Campaign. As we go forward, let us hope that this body will soon reauthorize PEPFAR for what it means. During the COVID crisis, I spoke to the head of the World Health Organization and asked him if PEPFAR helped. He said, yes, the science, the distribution of drugs, the network that was created was all very helpful to us in the fight against COVID, especially in Africa. Again, thanks to President Bush for his leadership at the time. I told him at that time that I am with you as long as it is big. He made it big, and he has made it constant; and we salute him and are grateful to him for that. This year's World AIDS Day is fraught with meaning because our nation faces the imperative of reauthorizing PEPFAR HIV is very resourceful: it keeps adapting to survive, and so must we. I join so many of my colleagues and voices across the world in calling on Congressional leaders to make reauthorizing PEPFAR a top priority as we negotiate government funding legislation. Today, and every day, America must demonstrate to the world that we remain fully committed to building an AIDS-free generation, with health equity and justice for all.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, it is with overwhelming joy that I rise today to pay tribute to Bishop Marc Andrus, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California: a spiritual luminary and moral leader whose more than three decades of service has been nothing short of exceptional. Bishop Marc embodies the creed of the City of St. Francis: `Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.' Indeed, as an instrument of peace, he has played a beautiful symphony: honoring our sacred responsibility to care for those in need, to defend the dignity of all God's children and to preserve our precious planet. Whether in the pulpit or in our communities, the magnificent ministry of Bishop Marc has made a direct, and extraordinary, impact. He has held the position of Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California since 2006. As such, he leads a flock of 27,000 Episcopalians across 75 congregations in Northern California: walking with them down the path toward salvation and social justice. At the same time, his support for the Episcopal Impact Fund and a capital campaign to support Bay Area congregations has only amplified his impact--empowering more people of faith to perform good works in their communities. And his leadership on the San Francisco Interfaith Council helps bring our City together to work for housing and health care, education and environmental impact, justice and peace. When St. Luke's Hospital was on the verge of closure, Bishop Marc stepped forward to help marshal an effort to rescue this pillar of health, healing and history in San Francisco's Mission neighborhood. The Blue Ribbon Panel that he co-chaired--which brought together community members, labor leaders, local officials, health professionals and industry stakeholders--quickly assembled a plan of action to rebuild the hospital so that it could continue to provide outstanding medical care. And when COVID struck, he was an invaluable resource for helping his diocese--and our City--navigate the chaos and uncertainty, convening experts twice a week to coordinate on policy decisions and public outreach. Bishop Marc's clarion call for marriage equality was consequential in moving the nationwide fight forward. At a time when the Episcopal Church had not approved of rites for same-sex marriage, Bishop Marc publicly urged all couples--gay or straight--to be married in a civil ceremony with a blessing to be performed by the clergy. He went on to lead efforts within the Episcopal Church to win official marriage rites for same-sex couples, and he supported two amici curiae briefs bolstering marriage equality in the courts. And he brought great pride to our City when, as the very first person that he ordained as Bishop, he ordained the first transgender member of the Diocese of California clergy. Growing up among the rolling hills and mighty rivers of eastern Tennessee, Bishop Marc could hear the Lord's call to be good stewards of His Creation. As an influential voice across the Episcopal Church, and co-chair of its Environmental Task Force, he has helped formulate climate policy recommendations and design initiatives to mobilize for climate action. In 2021, Bishop Marc led an Episcopal delegation to COP26--not only to reaffirm our moral duty to care for God's Creation, but also our obligation to advance eco-justice for communities hit hardest by the climate crisis. Thanks to his efforts, the Episcopal Church gained official observer status, giving it a platform to engage more directly with negotiators on all areas of the convention to address the climate crisis. At COP27, speaking at a panel that I appeared on, he offered striking moral clarity on the need to rescue our planet for future generations. How fitting that, this Saturday, many from his congregation and his many friends in our City will gather at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco for the 174th Convention of the Diocese of California, where we will celebrate his towering legacy. But more profound than the praise we will offer him at the event will be the impact of prayerful leadership and service, which will be forever etched in the hearts of so many in the Bay Area and beyond. I thank Bishop Marc for walking with us down the righteous path. May his retirement be filled with the same faith, charity and hope that he has so generously shared with us for so long.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution to support one of our closest allies in the world and partners, Israel, as she defends herself against terrorist attacks. I thank Chairman McCaul for his leadership in bringing this to the floor. I also thank Chairman McCaul as well as Ranking Member Meeks for their leadership and working together, crafting this resounding statement of support, and doing so in a unifying, bipartisan way. Mr. Speaker, on October 7, we watched in horror as Hamas terrorists unleashed a brutal assault on Israel's families and slaughtered so many. We have gone into some detail about the brutality of it all. It is brutality outside the circle of civilized human behavior. The attacks were horrible. With this resolution, the United States Congress resoundingly declares our support for Israel, not with revenge but with justice, that justice will be done. While doing so, we continue to remain concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with civilians caught in the middle of the war. I echo Secretary Blinken's call for a humanitarian pause so that innocent lives can be saved. Mr. Speaker, 80 years ago, on the floor of this House, my father, Thomas D'Alesandro, as a Member of Congress from Maryland, called upon the Roosevelt administration to support the establishment of the State of Israel in what was known as Palestine at the time. He was early in calling for that, so it is in my DNA to protect that State of Israel. Hamas is dedicated to the destruction of the State of Israel. Hamas has been declared a terrorist organization by the United States. Hamas must be destroyed, but in destroying them, we must protect the children in Gaza. They use them as shields. We want to protect them. This resolution, with overwhelming bipartisan support on the floor of the House, is so necessary. I urge a unanimous vote and thank the chairman and ranking member for their leadership.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I missed a series of votes due to my participating in official memorials and honoring the legacy of my friend Senator Feinstein. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 518 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 519.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, with deep condolences and sympathy to Senator Feinstein's daughter Katherine and her granddaughter Eileen, and the entire Feinstein family, I offer a privileged bereavement resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise for the purpose of speaking with great sadness and emotion about the loss of our great Senator, our senior Senator from California, Senator Dianne Feinstein. I do so, as I say, personally, as a friend, neighbor, and fellow San Franciscan. All of us do so with great pride as the great Senator she has been to our State, and the longest serving woman Senator from California. She came here with Barbara Boxer, she stayed on, and she left on her own terms. She was the first woman mayor of San Francisco, coming into office under sad circumstances but leading us with great dignity, with great effectiveness, and with great leadership. Much more will be said about it. We will have so much time to talk and brag about Dianne Feinstein. Her legacy will be a long one that we will all be inspired by. However, today, at this time, just hours since her passing, rather than talk about her, let us just pray that she rests in peace. In that regard, Mr. Speaker, I ask that all present in the Chamber, as well as Members and staff throughout the Capitol, please rise for a moment of silence and in remembrance of the late Honorable Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. This is disrespectful. Shame on those who play political games with the courageous people who would give their lives to save ours.

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for her leadership on this issue. I commend the chair and ranking member of the Armed Services Committee for the legislation that came out of their committee 58-1, the bipartisanship to protect and defend, which is the oath of office that all of us take to serve in government; and also, though, to acknowledge that, on the floor of the House, these poisonous resolutions came forward and were added to the bill. I rise to move to instruct House conferees to honor our men and women in uniform by protecting their fundamental health freedom. I was listening with interest and prayerfully, frankly, to the previous speaker, who just said that terminating a pregnancy is not a health issue. Well, for some people, it might be. Do you believe in the Hyde amendment? I am not a fan of the Hyde amendment, but that is the law of the land. Under the Hyde amendment, if there is rape, incest, or the life of the mother is at risk, then that changes the dynamic in terms of public policy. Now, suppose a family member has a situation where the life of the mother is at risk or a child of a servicemember is the victim of violence and rape in the community. Would you want that person to have their health needs met? If they are in a State that says absolutely not, then they would have to travel elsewhere to have their health needs met, in keeping with the Hyde amendment. If you believe in the Hyde amendment, which I don't subscribe to, but many of you do, how can you deprive the life of a mother--whether it is a servicewoman herself or the spouse of a serviceperson, or child of a servicemember--the ability to seek the healthcare that they need? The NDAA has long been bipartisan. This year, House Republicans are now engaging in a version that would restrict servicemembers from receiving full reproductive rights.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, this month we observe the 50th anniversary of the coup in Chile. It is important to note the role that the House played in declassifying documents relating to the United States' role in the coup of Allende and the Presidency of Pinochet. I rise to pay tribute to our former colleague, Maurice Hinchey, who in 1999 introduced legislation to declassify documents related to the coup in Chile. Following his leadership, I took his legislation to the House Intelligence Committee conference. In our markup of the conference report of the Intelligence Authorization Act for fiscal year 2000, I was successful in getting an amendment passed in committee that mirrored the Hinchey legislation. This language was sustained on the floor and when the FY 2000 Intelligence bill was signed by President Clinton, it became law. The legislation stated that no longer than 270 days following enactment--we wanted a shorter period of time, they wanted a longer period of time. This was the compromise--270 days following the enactment, the CIA had to submit a report on all of its activities in various events in Chile in three categories: the assassination of President Salvador Allende; the ascension of Pinochet to the Presidency; and the violation of human rights committed by the henchman of President Pinochet. In 2001, therefore, the CIA prepared 16,000 documents for declassification. Since then, thousands more documents--maybe up around 23,000 documents--have been declassified. During the debate on the FY 2000 legislation, it was argued that the search for documents related to human rights violations in Chile--now, we are talking about murder, disappearances, imprisonment, torture; that is what we are talking about--directed by the National Security Council was sufficient. They said we did that. It is sufficient. They said nothing further was needed and raised the question of how much money will this cost and how much time will it take for the Director of Central Intelligence to produce an adequate report. However, Maurice Hinchey argued, in these words: ``It is time that the Central Intelligence Agency accounted for its role in the military coup that toppled the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende and led to his death. The American people need to know how our government supported the rise of Augusto Pinochet, a ruthless dictator who systematically murdered and tortured his enemies.'' In May 2016, I had the privilege of leading a strongly bipartisan congressional delegation to Chile. When we visited the Museum of Memory and Human Rights--and I would recommend that if you get to Chile you certainly see that--it was emotional and gratifying for some of us to see the documents that we had declassified under Maurice Hinchey's leadership helping bring the truth to light. To this day in Chile there is still great sadness about the loss of life and other crimes against humanity perpetrated by Pinochet's henchman. Last week was the 50th anniversary, and at the observance--an event marking 50 years since the coup--President Gabriel Boric spoke eloquently about the importance of reconciliation and democracy. Democracy--he said it again and again. Thankfully, the President had also called for a plan to find the nearly 1,500 people who are still missing or unaccounted for, for their families. It is my hope that this spirit will lead to more revelations and accountability. As we mark 50 years since the coup, I salute the leadership of Maurice Hinchey. He was a champion of justice; not only in Chile but in Argentina and in other countries suffering under similar despotic regimes, including those affected by Operation Condor. Operation Condor was how all these vicious dictators coordinated their activities. Maurice Hinchey saw the connection and coordination among the dictatorships in the death and violence in their countries, and in relentlessly speaking out against it, he made a difference. His family is still active in the civic life of New York State. He passed away on November 22, 2017, but his leadership in the fight for truth and justice continues to be an inspiration to us all.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I thank her for her leadership on this important issue and for giving us all the opportunity to speak on the rule that would bring this shameful legislation to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I strongly oppose the Republicans' latest assault on the health and safety of our children. Every child deserves clean air to breathe. We in California believe this is our sacred duty. That is why our State has taken strong action to reduce vehicle pollution, preserve our environment, and protect our children. I just have one question for our colleagues across the aisle: Why? Why don't you want children to have cleaner air to breathe? Why don't you understand what this means to their health? Why do you not understand the connection between pollution and asthma and how unfair that is to children in our population? That is why more than five decades ago this Congress acted to preserve California's authority to protect our children and has repeatedly reauthorized that since. Despite this precedent, this bill would restrict the ability of States like California to protect families from dangerous pollution. Now, it is important for people to understand that as the gentlewoman pointed out, this is at the discretion of the States. Seventeen States have decided that they would use such a waiver in order to protect the children and the air that they breathe. Why would you want to throw the American auto industry into disarray, diminishing leadership and the electric vehicle future? Mr. Speaker, as the gentlewoman referenced, it is an economic decision that the auto industry makes. We have in this body, in the Democrat majority, come to the aid of the auto industry--not corporations, but the industry and the workers--and we want our auto industry to be preeminent in the world. California is a very big market for the auto industry. For 50 years they have lived with this emissions standard, this waiver, that enables that to happen. If you are making cars for California it is easier than to make the same safe cars for the rest of the country because it is a big market in California. Sixteen other States have followed suit, representing at least 40 percent of new auto purchases in our country--a big chunk of our auto industry economy. Again, what would be the reason that you would interfere in the free market of the auto industry and the free breathing for our children of cleaner air? The only explanation could be that Big Oil opposes this legislation. They are so living in the past. They don't even realize that the future is upon us, and the future is for the children. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this rule.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, this month offers a joyful opportunity to celebrate the legendary love and leadership of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter, as they mark their 77th wedding anniversary. All Americans know of the greatness of President Carter, whose dignity, decency, and devoted public service has touched countless lives. Today, I rise to herald the many good works of First Lady Rosalynn Carter, a revered leader in her own right. In a moment where there was real stigma against mental illness, Rosalynn Carter decided to make mental health one of her flagship issues. As First Lady of Georgia, she was deeply moved by the stories of Georgians who shared their struggles with mental illness or caring for a family member with a mental illness. Those stories informed her service on the Governor's Commission to Improve Services for the Mentally and Emotionally Handicapped, where many of her contributions were later implemented as policy. These stories informed her service on the Governor's Commission to Improve Services for the Mentally and Emotionally Handicapped, as I said. When her husband went to the White House, she served as honorary chair of the President's Commission on Mental Health, where the recommendations became the foundation for decades of change. In her compelling testimony before Congress on the landmark Mental Health Systems Act, she declared: ``The mental health problems facing our country are the problems of all citizens.'' After leaving the White House, she founded the mental health policy initiative and mental health journalism fellowship at the Carter Center. Alongside Betty Ford, she advocated for the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which ensures that reimbursements for mental health are the same as for physical health; mental or physical health, no distinction. Patrick Kennedy in our House was such an important leader on this. The same boundless compassion also fueled the First Lady's fervent commitment to our Nation's caregivers. She has devoted herself to bringing support and attention to tens of millions of families and professional caregivers across the country. For 36 years, the Georgia Southwestern State University Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving has advocated for policies to support their work. She even wrote a handbook for caregivers: ``Helping Yourself Help Others.'' At the same time, First Lady Carter has lent her voice to so many causes: From childhood immunization, especially among vulnerable communities, to gender justice, as she fought to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Beloved at home, First Lady Carter was also deeply respected abroad. All are in awe of her historic visit to Latin America in 1977, where she championed human rights, democracy, and a new chapter of engagement in the region. With her characteristic grace and grit, she embraced this high-stakes diplomatic mission: Meeting with heads of state and speaking with authority as an emissary for our Nation. With her characteristic grace and grit, again, 2 years later, Rosalynn Carter made history as the first sitting First Lady to address the World Health Organization, when she shared her mental health findings. In her memorable remarks, she argued that mental health was an aspect of physical health, and that healthcare is a human right. Since, through the Carter Center, she has helped strengthen mental health care in Liberia: Caring for people exposed to the stress of conflict, while training community workers to identify signs of mental illness. Personally, it was my special privilege 2 years ago to travel to Plains to join in celebrating the Carter's 75th wedding anniversary, a marvelous celebration of their eternal love and limitless partnership. Rosalynn has long been Jimmy's closest friend and confidant, and the Carter Center will forever stand as a testament to the true partnership in service that the Carters share. God has truly blessed America with the leadership of the Carters, and our grateful Nation salutes them for their lives well-lived.