Nancy Pelosi

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his great presentation today. Today, we are on the floor of the House where the other side has turned this Chamber where slavery was abolished, where Medicare and Social Security and everything were instituted, into a puppet show. Do you know what? The puppeteer, Donald Trump, is shining a light on the strings. You look miserable. You look miserable. The only advantage to all of this is that instead of reversing what we did on the IRA to save the planet or reversing what we did to reduce the cost of prescription drugs, we are wasting time.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, this weekend, our Nation will solemnly observe Memorial Day to honor our fallen heroes and their families. Instead of this honoring of our veterans, shamefully, the Republicans across the aisle will spend the weekend working to impose suffering on our valiant veterans. The Republicans have forced Americans down a treacherous path to accept their extreme proposal, which would eliminate 30 million health visits for our veterans and slash revenues at the VA. It would trigger a catastrophic default, which would force our Nation to stiff veterans on the benefits they have earned. That also applies to the effect it would have on America's middle class. All this is for the Republicans to pass another massive tax cut, which they will do in a matter of weeks. That is their plan, to do it by the birthday of the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, June 16. Trillions of dollars will be added to the national debt to give tax breaks to the high end at the cost of the suffering of our veterans. It is disgraceful. Republicans must stay here and not skip town, work to avoid a default, and honor the sacred duty of our veterans as we observe Memorial Day.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and thank you for bringing us together so that we can pay our respects and gratitude to the great Congressman from Rhode Island. On a personal note, just listening to his comments there, he and Congresswoman DeLauro have a competition about pizza. They don't know that most people come to San Francisco to learn how to make pizza. I say that in sharing the pride we take in our Italian-American heritage, and the knowledge that we have about food. In any event, I thank Mr. Cicilline for his great leadership in this Congress. He has been a champion on policy issues. He spelled them out here. I will never forget the day that he joined John Lewis, Katherine Clark, John Larson, and others, to have a sit-in on the floor of the House. Mr. Speaker, they did not tell us that they were doing this because as leadership we would have said you are not allowed to do that. They could anticipate that I might say that. They just protected the leadership from having to make that statement, and they launched their sit-in on the floor of the House. It was very successful because, by coincidence, we had planned a rally about gun violence prevention, and they were having a sit-in on gun violence prevention on the floor of the House. The whole world found out about it because Mr. Takano spread the word through his telephone, even though the Republicans turned out the lights in the House and nobody could see what was going on in here. He spread the word through his telephone. Actually, it became a sit-in heard around the world. I thank Mr. Takano, John Lewis, and Mr. Cicilline. You heard him talk about the issues and the knowledge he has about them, the judgment he has about prioritizing and the legislative strategic thinking of trying, in the most possible way, to be bipartisan and to be transparent and to be accountable. Representative is a job title Mr. Cicilline has. It is his title, and it is his job description for representing the people of Rhode Island. He loves his district. He loves his State. He loves his country. By being a Representative, coming to the floor and speaking for those people, every time he did, he did so with great pride. Again, he is a man of many issues and many talents. He also has many ethnicities. When he came, I thought, oh, good, we have more Italian Americans in the Congress. I would see him at the Italian-American events. When I would go to Jewish events, he would be there as a Jewish Member of Congress. Of course, there was the LGBTQ+ community. So he was a man for all seasons, all ethnicities, all orientations. That made him a very great Representative for our entire country across the board. There are many Members who want time to sing the praises of this great man. I have many stories I could tell about how, in his role as leader in our Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, DPCC, he made our message more effective, by how he gave guidance to Members and how he mentored others after they came here. I give him some points for having been the mayor of Providence because when you are mayor you are a manager, you have to get things done. He brought that administrative skill to a legislative job, and we all benefited from it. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Magaziner for yielding time. As I say, we all have a lot to say about David Cicilline, and we will take other opportunities to do so. For tonight, I not only thank him for his leadership but for his leadership in this body and the rest. For the beautiful presentation he made about our country this evening, his patriotism, his service, his call to duty, and his being so effective in doing all of the above, I thank Mr. Cicilline.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise with overwhelming joy today in celebration of the fortieth anniversary of a beloved and iconic institution in my home City, SFJAZZ. What began as a two-night Jazz in the City festival four decades ago has blossomed into one of our community's most cherished cultural wonders and a true national treasure. All are in awe of its world-class programming: producing more than 450 concerts every year, featuring artists from the Bay Area, from across America and from around the world. Through its committed focus on outreach and education, including the award-winning High School All-Stars initiative, SFJAZZ is also helping to foster the next generation of musical excellence. Personally, it was my privilege to attend the grand opening of the SFJAZZ Center ten years ago--another special anniversary that we celebrate this year. This magnificent, state-of-the-art concert hall has quickly become our Nation's premier hub for jazz: not only a venue to enjoy glorious music, but also a training ground for young musicians to study their craft. When the COVID pandemic struck, SFJAZZ swiftly pivoted to digital programming--lifting spirits by bringing beautiful music directly into people's homes, while helping keep our families safe. At the same time, through the SFJAZZ 50/50 Fund, the organization helped channel donations directly to artists during a difficult moment for the live entertainment industry. As SFJAZZ marks four decades, San Franciscans--and all Americans-- give thanks for the joy, beauty and vibrancy it continues to bring to our lives. Mr. Speaker, I also rise today to pay tribute to Randall Kline: the visionary leader of SFJAZZ who made so much of its success possible and who is stepping down as Executive Artistic Director after an extraordinary forty-year career. Randall's story is the stuff of legend: first hitch-hiking to San Francisco in 1974, then putting down roots by the Bay with just $600 in his pocket, a bass and a dream. With a relentless work ethic and an inexhaustible imagination, he has transformed SFJAZZ from a community- based organization into a globally revered jazz powerhouse. Our Nation owes him a debt of gratitude for the towering role that he has played in preserving and promoting an all-American art form. So, it is only fitting that Randall is honored with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award, as his leadership has left an indelible mark on the cultural fabric of our City, our Country and our world. On behalf of Randall's many friends in the Bay Area and beyond, we salute his four decades of dedicated service to our City and send best wishes on this joyful occasion as he prepares for his next adventure.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Boyle and Mr. Richie Neal for their leadership in bringing our side of the story to this. And what is that? I thank the Republicans for the clarity with which they have put forth their default on America act because their default on America act will do just this. When you vote for this bill, you will vote to: Put veterans' healthcare at risk, eliminating up to 30 million healthcare visits for our veterans. Slash Pell grants for tens of thousands of students. Rip away food assistance for women, infants, and children, a million of them, a million seniors off of Meals on Wheels. Pollute the planet by overturning what we did to save the planet with green tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act. Cut $8 billion in law enforcement from State, local, and Federal law enforcement, pulling cops off the street, and up to 700,000 fewer jobs to be created. Certainly, we negotiate over the appropriations bills. I am an appropriator, and for 20 years I have been in 19 engagements of the debt ceiling kind. Whether we lift the debt ceiling is a question of whether we honor the Constitution that says the full faith and credit of America shall not be in doubt. When you use that as a wedge, as President Trump admonished you not to, you are placing in doubt our credit rating and what that means to American people on their credit card bills and at the kitchen table. You are playing with fire. We have been down this road before. When the former President was President, three times we lifted the debt ceiling, never placing in doubt the full faith and credit of the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his leadership for fairness and safety in our schools and for justice in our communities. I stand here today in opposition to the legislation that is on the floor. In listening carefully to the maker of the motion, he references a religious context in his comments, and so will I, then, following his lead. Yes, we are all God's children. We all have a spark of divinity in us, and therefore, are worthy of respect. That spark of divinity that is within us insists that we respect it in others, as well. So recognizing that we are all God's children, I rise in opposition to this legislation because trans kids are all God's children; belong in sports, in schools, in books, in families, and on teams. It is really important for us as leaders in our country to speak with respect for all of the people in our country. Trans kids listen and hear what we say, and we do not want to do them harm for whatever purpose on the floor of this House. The gentleman also referenced Title IX. While none of us were probably here when Patsy Mink very courageously passed Title IX, many of us were here as we reauthorized it over time and fought off, fought off initiatives to weaken it to say that in supporting women in sports was taking away from men in sports. That is simply not the case. I will say that this bill is an insult to the legacy of fairness and inclusion that Patsy Mink intended, and was passed by the House and the Congress in Title IX; Senator Birch Bayh, the Senator from Indiana. So I say let every child, regardless of gender identity, deserve a chance to be part of a team, to learn lessons of sportsmanship, to push themselves to reach their fullest potential and vote ``no'' against this legislation.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his leadership on this important committee and for giving all of us the opportunity to express our support for the District of Columbia. I come to the floor with great pride on this. As Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton knows, I take pride in the fact that my father, when he was a Member of Congress many, many years ago from Baltimore, was the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the District of Columbia. He was a big supporter of home rule which didn't exist at that time and then, of course, we saw home rule, then we saw Mayor, and we see the District of Columbia. Now our aspiration for statehood has always been but continues to be. So when we hear this debate on the floor, what are we talking about here? Has this become the city council of the District of Columbia that we are debating issues? That is up to the District of Columbia. What we do is respect their ability to make their own rules whether we like them or not. So the point is that this is sort of a gotcha kind of an amendment that I think is most unfortunate and unworthy of the debate on statehood and representation for the people in the District of Columbia who fight our wars, pay our taxes, contribute to the greatness of our country, but do not have representation in the Congress of the United States and fall victim to any criticism of their individual legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I thank him for his great leadership in opposing this reckless legislation that is on the floor today. I thank Mr. Grijalva for his leadership, as well as our ranking member on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mr. Larsen, for their setting the record straight in the different categories of this legislation. The gentleman from New Jersey just set the record straight again. I thank the gentleman so much for giving a history lesson to some in this room who may not remember the course of events that has taken us to this place. Today, Mr. Chairman, I rise to join in sounding the alarm, a five- alarm climate emergency, which is the existential threat of our time. Many of our colleagues, including our distinguished ranking members, have gone into detail about opposition to this bill. I want to focus on the climate aspect. It was with pride during my term as Speaker that House Democrats made climate our flagship issue. When we enacted the Inflation Reduction Act, our Nation took a landmark step to rescue our planet. Yet, our progress stands in sharp contrast to the reckless Republican bill before us, which, on every score, puts polluters first. We know that climate is a health issue. The gentleman referenced that in his comments. While Democrats are slashing pollution to preserve clean air and water, this bill guts bedrock health protections to fast- track polluter projects. Climate is an economic issue. While Democrats are creating jobs and lowering energy costs, this bill gives $2.4 billion in handouts to the biggest polluters. Climate is a national security issue. While Democrats are declaring America's energy independence, this bill seeks to keep us at the mercy of oil-rich dictators. Finally, climate is a moral issue. While Democrats are honoring our obligation to pass on a healthy planet to our children and grandchildren, this bill is nothing short of a dereliction of duty. It is God's creation. We are religious people here in this body, right? It is God's creation. Don't we have a responsibility to be good stewards of God's creation? The climate emergency is putting lives at risk right now, with extreme weather pillaging communities that you represent and hitting families at the kitchen table. With this legislation, Republicans have chosen to ignore the needs of America's working families. Instead, Republicans are putting polluters over people. For the planet, and for the children, I urge a ``no'' vote.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and for his extraordinary leadership as the chairman of the Rules Committee for so many years. I thank the chairman and the members of his committee for expeditiously bringing us to the floor for this very, very important legislation. This will probably be my last speech as Speaker of the House on this floor, and I am hoping to make it my shortest. Members have planes to catch, gifts to wrap, toys to assemble, carols to sing, religious services to attend to. In terms of singing songs, one that I always think of at this time and in this setting is an English song: Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, pleased to put a penny in the old man's hat. Yes, indeed, the goose is getting fat. We have a big bill here because we have big needs for our country. We have the largest defense appropriation ever and, again, to help us honor our oath of office to protect and defend, and what the Constitution says, provide for the common defense but, at the same time, pleased to put a penny in the old man's hat. We address the needs of America's working families, with special focus on our children. So I rise in strong support of this bipartisan omnibus government funding bill for us today, to keep from shutting the government down but, more importantly, to meet the needs of the American people. Let me applaud the magnificent appropriations chairwoman, Rosa DeLauro. She is a maestro with a baton. She has just done such a job of reflecting the values of our country in terms of how we allocate our resources. There is plenty else in the bill that is outside the realm of the Appropriations Committee, all of it very, very important. I commend Chairman Pat Leahy in the Senate and Vice Chair Richard Shelby for their bipartisan support; congratulate them for their service to the Congress for many years; wish them much success with much gratitude as they end their service in Congress. I want to recognize the outstanding work of all of the staffs on both sides of the aisle, on both sides of the Capitol, but I want to point out my brilliant policy director, Richard Meltzer. I also want to acknowledge Wendell Primus, Robert Edmondson, Alex Urry, and so many other policy professionals, again, on both sides of the aisle who helped strengthen the bill. Mr. Speaker, this bill is about our heroes, honoring our heroes, our heroic veterans, with a major increase in veterans' healthcare, a national security imperative that falls under the nondefense discretionary, even though we know it is part of our national security responsibility. Honoring the heroes of 9/11: delivering benefits to families that have long been wrongfully denied; and bolstering funding for a health program for first responders and survivors there. Our firefighters and first responder heroes: those who weigh in when emergency disaster calls upon them for relief resources. The extraordinary heroes in Ukraine, fighting on the frontlines of the battle for democracy: In this legislation, we proudly deliver another consequential round of security, economic and humanitarian aid. As the President of Ukraine said the other night, it isn't about charity; it is about security; it is about working together. What a special honor it was for us to be on the floor when President Zelenskyy spoke powerfully about the courage and commitment, heroism and hope of the people. Of course, our everyday heroes, America's working families, the people who make our country work, our families grow, our communities thrive for our children, securing critical investments for the health, housing education, economic well-being, and more; on top of, under President Biden, forming nearly 10 million jobs, largely in the private sector, but with the public policy to enable that to happen. Indeed, this bill puts people over politics. Mr. Speaker, it was sad to hear the minority leader earlier say that this legislation is the most shameful thing to be seen on the House floor in this Congress. I can't help but wonder: has he forgotten January 6? Indeed, this is a day of immense patriotism, immense patriotism as we reform the Electoral Count Act of 1987 to thwart future attempts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power, and as I said before, here, in the heart of our democracy. Mr. Speaker, this is truly a package for the people. With immense gratitude to Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, Chairman Patrick Leahy, and Vice Chair Shelby, I urge a strong bipartisan ``aye'' vote. I wish everyone a happy, healthy, and safe New Year. Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah. Whatever it is you celebrate, be safe.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, today, as the final official act of the 117th Congress, the House will pass a strong, bipartisan omnibus government funding bill. As a courtesy to my colleagues--who are eager to get home for the holidays--I will be brief. But I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge our magnificent Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro. Thank you for ensuring that so many of Democrats' key priorities were included in this package. And I salute you on an extraordinarily successful 117th Congress-- during which you have wielded the gavel masterfully: whether helping meet families' needs here at home or powering the fight for Democracy abroad. Thanks also to our committed counterparts in the Senate--Chairman Pat Leahy and Vice Chair Richard Shelby--for crafting this package. And I want to recognize the outstanding work of my staff, led by my brilliant Policy Director, Richard Meltzer: tirelessly working to infuse this legislation with Democrats' vision and values. I also want to acknowledge Wendell Primus, Robert Edmondson, Alex Urry, and the many more policy professionals in the Speaker's Office whose work helped to strengthen this final package. Thanks to Democrats' tenacious negotiating, we have secured in this bill a significant increase in non-defense discretionary funding. And with this boost, we steer more federal resources to key priorities that will improve the everyday lives of the American people. To name just a few: This means fulfilling our patriotic duty to our veterans, securing a major increase in veterans' health care. This means deeply needed relief to support victims of natural disaster, address the water crisis in Mississippi and deliver $1 billion for Puerto Rico's electric grid. This means increasing the maximum Pell Grant, making it easier for children to chase their dreams of higher education. This means important investments in building more affordable housing and strengthening our energy infrastructure. This means more funding for the National Labor Relations Board, strengthening workers' right to organize. This means more resources under the Violence Against Women to prevent and prosecute gender-based violence. And this means our Members will bring home critical Community Project Funding to help meet specific needs in our districts. And with this package, we are also making impactful new investments for America's working families. We are expanding the promise of quality, affordable health care: from preventing disruptions to Medicaid coverage, to strengthening critical lifelines for underserved communities, to improving access to mental health services, to taking commonsense steps to prepare for the next pandemic. We are advancing our For The Children Agenda: ensuring millions of kids have permanent, continuous health coverage while creating a new permanent Summer EBT program to ensure 29 million kids have access to nutritious food during the summer. We are securing basic accommodations for pregnant workers--so that no one has to choose between a healthy pregnancy and a paycheck. We are guaranteeing protections for breastfeeding in the workplace-- so that parents cannot be punished for caring for their newborns. And we are honoring our sacred duty to our 9/11 heroes: securing catch-up payments to families that for too long have been wrongfully denied every cent they're due; and bolstering funding for a health program that cares for courageous first responders and survivors. Importantly, with this package we will deliver another consequential round of security, economic and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. On Wednesday--here on this Floor--President Zelenskyy spoke powerfully about courage and commitment, heroism and hope. And we applauded him--and his people--for their undaunted determination as they battle for their homeland and for their freedom. The fight for Ukraine is the fight for Democracy itself--and we will stand with the valiant Ukrainian people until victory is won. As we propel the fight for freedom abroad, we also take a strong step to shore up our Democracy here at home. The omnibus includes a bipartisan bill to reform the Electoral Count Act of 1887--which will help thwart future attempts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power, like we saw here in this very Chamber on January 6th. Mr. Speaker. This is truly a package For The People. And with immense gratitude to Chairs DeLauro and Leahy--and Vice Chair Shelby--I urge a strong, bipartisan ``AYE'' vote.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute Douglas Neal Letter for his exemplary service as General Counsel of the House of Representatives. For four years, Doug has relentlessly defended this institution, its Members and its prerogatives. His passion for public service and his brilliant legal mind have been essential to this Chamber's work For The People. Doug's legal career has spanned 40 years of dutiful service-- including a range of senior positions at the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as time as a Senior Litigator at the Georgetown University Law Center's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection. One of our nation's most skilled appellate lawyers and a leading expert on Constitutional law, Doug has presented oral argument before federal appellate and trial courts in more than 200 cases. After four decades of service in the executive branch, Doug answered the call to serve the House at the start of the 116th Congress in January 2019. Under Doug's leadership, the General Counsel's Office has expertly handled complex litigation and provided wise legal advice to our Members, Officers, Committees and staff--regardless of political affiliation. When the House's institutional interests were at stake, Doug and his team worked tirelessly to protect the House's critical role in our Constitutional structure. Doug successfully argued before the Supreme Court in a landmark case advocating the complete enumeration of the Census to ensure the accuracy of the apportionment of the House and its institutional integrity. In addition, Doug successfully led a team of talented attorneys in litigating numerous cases to uphold the House's subpoena authority. Under a high-stakes national spotlight, Doug and his team successfully fought to defend the Committee on Ways and Means' statutory authority to obtain tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service. He was also successful in defending the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol's ability to obtain presidential records from the National Archives and Records Administration. Further, under Doug's guidance, the House filed amicus briefs articulating its position on several key legal matters, including the proper interpretation of the Constitution's Speech or Debate Clause in connection with several criminal prosecutions. Numerous Members and Committees relied on Doug's litigation expertise in connection with two Presidential impeachments, as well as extensive investigative and oversight activities. Doug also defended House Members, Officers and staff in judicial proceedings at both the trial and appellate levels and advised Members and Committees on their interactions with both private companies and other governmental entities. Upon leaving the House, Doug will join the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, where he will continue to provide legal counsel of the highest caliber. On behalf of the entire House community, I thank Doug for his dedicated service and wish him and his entire family the very best in all of his future endeavors.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 5229, legislation to: remove the bust of Roger Taney from the United States Capitol and commission a new statue honoring Justice Thurgood Marshall. Let us salute those who have fought for this action in the House: Leader Steny Hoyer Whip Jim Clyburn CBC Chair Joyce Beatty Chair Bennie Thompson Congresswoman Barbara Lee Congressman G. K. Butterfield and our former colleague, Mayor Karen Bass. Driven by their leadership, this Chamber has proudly and repeatedly voted to remove statues of Taney, Confederate officials and other advocates of bigotry from the Capitol grounds. The House is grateful to the Senate for taking an important step forward--voting unanimously to remove this vile tribute to Taney-- author of the horrendous Dred Scott ruling. We look forward to swiftly sending this bill to the President's desk, and we remain committed to sweeping out other vestiges of hate from the halls of Congress. This building is a Temple of Democracy. It is a monument to our nation's most fundamental ideals. It reflects all that we take pride in as a nation--and so too should the tributes that grace its halls. They should honor those who sought to strengthen our Democracy for all--not weaken it in favor of a few. They should honor those who fought to expand freedom--not restrict its blessings. There is no room for celebrating the violent, racist atrocities of our past--nor those who championed them. That is why, in 2020, I proudly ordered the removal of the portraits of four Speakers who traitorously served in the Confederacy. It is why the House has voted to remove Confederate statues from the Capitol. And it is why we have made clear again and again that Roger Taney must have no place under this sacred roof. Taney's legacy is one of hatred and oppression: a mind twisted by bigotry and a lifetime spent defending the evils of slavery. He is inextricably linked to one of the most horrific chapters of our history. And yet, this bigot's likeness still casts a shadow over the Old Supreme Court Chamber. Who better to replace him than one of the most admired jurists of our history: Justice Thurgood Marshall. A trailblazing champion of civil rights--a voice for equal justice under the law and a force for our Democracy--Justice Marshall sought to uphold the best of America. Personally, I will be deeply proud to see this Baltimore native take his rightful place amid the Capitol's pantheon of great American patriots. His statue will bring luster to this building, just as his legacy continues to bring luster to our nation: guiding America toward the future our children deserve--one ruled by understanding, not prejudice. Indeed, speaking in Philadelphia's Independence Hall three decades ago, Justice Marshall warned: ``Democracy cannot flourish amid fear. Liberty cannot bloom amid hate. Justice cannot take root amid rage.'' Today, the Congress honors those words. With this vote, we toss into the dustbin of history a monument to fear--to hate--to rage. With this vote, we renew our resolve to ensure that: Democracy will flourish liberty will bloom and justice will take root, from sea to shining sea. Mr. Speaker, I urge a resounding, bipartisan `aye' vote to finally send this bill to the President for signature.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Thank you all. Good morning, my friends. It is wonderful to be here with you. Thank you for the recognition. L.F. Payne, thank you for keeping this going and for your leadership. It was an honor to serve with you in the House--each and every one--I think I served with all of you, certainly Jane, Donna, and Mr. Secretary of so many titles. To all of you, welcome back to the Chamber. It is an interesting time, a busy time. Something that binds us all together is the oath that we take to the Constitution of the United States, regardless of party, regardless of the aisle, we are united in that oath to the Constitution. I thank you for so much that you are doing in terms of Congress to Campus and the beautiful ceremony you have each year honoring those who have gone on to heaven--I assume--having served in the Congress. We just lost--a week and a half ago--Mr. McEachin. I mention him because of his recent departure, but also, he said something very beautiful on his first speech on the floor of the House. He quoted Christ's first sermon. Imagine that. Christ's first sermon. I will read this to you, so you know I did not make this up. Mr. McEachin cited during his first speech the words of Jesus' first sermon, ``The spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring good news to the poor.'' Imagine. Imagine. Again, with all of us here, we offer hope in the face of hardship--on both sides--we offer a voice to the voiceless, and to bring good news to those in need. Now, I have some remarks here, but I thought I would just tell you a couple stories. We lost Norman Mineta this year, as you know, and some of us were together at his service. Mr. Ambassador, Governor, former colleague Jim Blanchard, I call him Jamie because one of his friends was my friend and always referred to him as Jamie. He spoke before I did, and he talked about how a number of Members come together on a regular basis and discuss this, that, and the other thing, and they have all this guidance that they want to give us. When I got up, I said, I am very familiar with that group--George Miller, Tom Downey, Marty Russo, you know, that whole crew--you know who I am talking about. When they would call me with this guidance that they brought together, they would say: Madam Speaker, if you were smart, you would do thus and so. And I didn't take offense because I used to hear them say that to Tom Foley and others. Why they thought that was a good introduction to their remarks, I don't know. In any event, I think it was said in--I don't know why somebody would say that to you? If you were smart, you would do it this way. That is the wisdom of the former Members; but when they were Members, they said that, as well. I thank you all for what you do to continue taking the experience of Congress into the community, the values of patriotism to our great country--what has unified us so much over time. Imagine the wisdom of our Founders to found a country based on something unknown, undone before. Now, I see some Members here who are going to be part of this organization. All of a sudden, I am like, what? One of these days I will be joining you, too. I look forward to that, but in the meantime know that the foundation that each of you has put down when you were here is something that we continue to draw upon. It is very important to us--especially at a time when we worked in a much more bipartisan way, and that always has to be what we strive for--bipartisanship, accountability, and shedding light on what we do so that the people understand that their voices are heard. I hope that you always take pride in your service in Congress no matter how raucous it may be here. We have seen some raucous times in our day going way back. Again, please understand the source of strength and inspiration that you all continue to be to us here, and the fact that you come together, whether it is on this day or technologically in other ways, and don't hesitate to call us, even if it is not the Speaker, but other Members to say: If you were smart, you would do thus and so. So it is my pleasure--for the last time--to welcome you to this Chamber as Speaker of the House. Again, when I see you again, I may be sitting on that side of this podium, so I look forward to that. Thank you all for your patriotism, for your love of this great country, the greatest country that ever existed in the history of the world. Let me tell you what is happening today. Today, the President will be signing the Respect for Marriage Act. That is a big deal for some of us. In my first speech on this floor, I talked about HIV and AIDS 35 years ago. One of the last bills I signed as Speaker for the first time was the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. One of the last bills I signed to send over to the President that he will sign today is the Respect for Marriage Act, in between the other things that relate to the hate crimes and all that. The reason I mention it is because it was always an expansion of freedom in our country, and that is what we hope we always continue to do--ever increasing the freedom in our country. At the end of the day, I will welcome 50 heads of state from Africa. The President is having an African summit now, and he will be welcoming 50 heads of state at the White House. Then, tonight, they will come here. I am so proud that we can show them this temple of democracy, welcome them here, hear what they have to say, build a strong bond with them. So many of you have been so much a part of everything that has happened here. I thank you for that, forever expanding freedom in our country. Thank you so much. Lovely to be with you.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, it is with great joy and great pride that I rise to celebrate two longtime members of our congressional community-- indeed our family--as they prepare for retirement: Ella Terry and Patricia Smith, better known as Miss Pat. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, it is my privilege to extend our deepest thanks and appreciation for their decades of service. With extraordinary devotion and a deep-seated love for this institution, each has served the Congress longer than most Members. That is reason to applaud. Ahead of their well-earned retirements, let us wish them both well. It is sad to see them go, but we are grateful for their many, many years of service they have given us. On our side of the aisle, we all know that Ella Terry has worked in the House Democratic cloakroom since the dawn of the millennium in January of 2000, after working for more than a decade in the Capitol Coffee Shop. She knows our preferences. Altogether, she has dutifully served on Capitol Hill for 34 years. She has a warm, caring, steadfast presence, a sunny smile, no matter how arduous things may be going on the floor or the cloakroom. With Ella, no one is a stranger, everyone is a friend. She is a bedrock member of our family here in the House. When Congresswoman Gabby Giffords first returned to the floor after the heinous attack on her life, Ella embraced Gabby and told her through tears: I am so proud of you. Gabby was so proud of you, too. The late Congressman Elijah Cummings once told his colleagues: Ms. Ella is my personal adviser. And since he was personal adviser to the rest of us, we are all in your debt for your advice to him. Thank you to Ella's daughter, Tawanna, who is here, and granddaughter, Christina, thank you for being with us; and to your entire family for sharing her with us for so many years. Across the aisle, Miss Pat has brought that same unwavering dedication to her service in the House Republican cloakroom. For nearly five decades, Miss Pat has been a cherished colleague in the Capitol; first in the House dining room and in the Longworth House Office Building, and then for 36 years just off the floor of the House. A remarkable friend to all those privileged enough to work alongside her, she has been a daily blessing to this Chamber. The House is also grateful to Miss Pat's loving family, especially her two daughters, Nikoshia and Bianca, and her beloved granddaughter, Lauren. The House of Representatives is a brighter, more joyful place in which we serve, thanks to Ella and Miss Pat. These patriots reflect the highest ideals of public service; a joyful commitment to others, a profound love for our country, and a lifelong reverence for the Congress. Their service, their kindness, and their friendship will be long- remembered by the countless Members and staff they have served over the years. Let us join in thanking Ella and thanking Miss Pat, and best wishes for new adventures that lie ahead for you. Congratulations. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to yield to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the Republican leader.

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield back the balance of my time as we end our tribute to two great Americans, members of our families, Miss Pat and Ella Terry. Thank you all so much.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support for the Respect for Marriage Act, an historic step forward in Democrats' fight to defend the dignity and equality of every American. Let us salute those who have legislated and advocated relentlessly to make this bill the law of the land. I thank the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Jerry Nadler, Equality Caucus Chair David Cicilline, and all of the members of the Equality Caucus, and the grassroots activists out there, without whose mobilization so many pieces of legislation to expand freedom in our country would not be possible. I say that because when I came to this floor 35 years ago, my first speech on the floor, after I was sworn in, was to talk about--say that I came here to fight HIV and AIDS. What I learned after that is we had to fight against discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS. Two people who were so significant in that are Phyllis and Del, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, champions in our country. Well, I will talk about them in a moment. First, I want to salute the Senate for its strong bipartisan legislation, the leadership of Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Tammy Baldwin, and the bipartisan, strong support that this House gave the legislation to send it over to the Senate. Marriage equality has been law across our country since 2015 and, proudly, even longer in the State of California. Indeed, my thoughts today are with Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, two dear friends and iconic trailblazers. I have brought their picture to the floor time and time again to talk about freedom and dignity and respect so many times. Nearly two decades ago, their enduring love made history as they joyfully, joyfully said their vows in San Francisco City Hall, the first. In the years since, the same euphoria has blessed couples and bonded families in every corner of America. Yet, since the Supreme Court's monstrous decision overturning Roe v. Wade, rightwing forces have set their sights on this basic personal freedom. In his concurrent opinion, Clarence Thomas explicitly called on the Court to reconsider its ruling in Obergefell. While his legal reasoning is twisted and unsound, we must take Justice Thomas at his word and the hateful movement behind him at their word. We must act now, on a bipartisan, bicameral basis, to combat bigoted extremism and uphold the inviolability of same-sex and interracial marriages. Once signed into law, the Respect for Marriage Act will help prevent rightwing extremists from: Upending the lives of loving couples, traumatizing kids across the country, and turning back the clock on hard-won progress. This legislation takes several steps to uphold marriage equality under Federal law. First, it tears the bigoted, unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act off the books for good. When that bill was passed, our colleagues understood that it was not constitutional. Why else would they have tried to strip the judicial review of the Defense of Marriage Act if they thought it could take the test of judicial review? Today's vote will codify a legal reality already handed down by the Supreme Court and ensure DOMA can never again be used to justify hateful discrimination. Second, the Respect for Marriage Act will enshrine married couples' right to equal protection under Federal law, from tax filings to Social Security, to bereavement and veterans' benefits. Third, this legislation will require that every State recognize all valid out-of-state marriages, regardless of any heinous restrictions imposed by particular State law. This legislation is the latest step in House Democrats' fight to win full equality for LGBTQ Americans and forge a more perfect union that our children and their children, all of our children deserve. Fighting alongside tireless advocates, we transformed the fight against HIV/AIDS, here at home and around the world; and I thank President Bush for his leadership in that regard as well, all of our Presidents--well, up until a certain point. We tossed Don't Ask, Don't Tell into the dustbin of history. We enacted fully inclusive Federal hate crimes legislation, protecting Americans from the scourge of bigoted violence, with the Matthew Shepard Act; our friend, Barney Frank, our former colleague, was so instrumental in passing that legislation. Today, we will include marriage equality into Federal law now and for generations to come. I am just going to speak personally for a moment because, as I mentioned earlier, my first words on the floor of this House were about fighting against HIV and AIDS and discrimination that goes with that. My final bill as Speaker the first time, one of the final bills that I signed was the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Now, one of the final bills that I will sign in the enrollment will be this beautiful legislation, the Respect for Marriage Act that we are passing today. Today, we stand up for the values the vast majority of Americans hold dear, a belief in the dignity, beauty, and divinity, divinity, spark of divinity in every person, an abiding respect for love so powerful that it binds two people together. San Francisco's--when we talk about freedom, I think of Harvey Milk. He once told his supporters: ``I have tasted freedom. I will not give up that which I have tasted.'' Thus, today, this Chamber proudly stands with the forces of freedom, not going back, and justice. Mr. Speaker, I urge a resounding bipartisan ``aye'' vote in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act in loving memory of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, my dear friends, and iconic pioneers, and I urge a strong bipartisan vote. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his tremendous leadership to protect and defend the American people and our Constitution. I thank the gentleman for his kind words about my colleague from San Francisco, Jackie Speier, for her leadership on behalf of the men and women in uniform. Mr. Speaker, what an honor it is to speak on this important legislation with you in the chair, a champion for the security of the American people, whether on the Armed Services Committee, the Intelligence Committee, other initiatives, whether it is cybersecurity or the rest, you have been a leader. You have taught us a lot about your areas of expertise and more, and because of you, we were able, on one of the anniversaries of the ADA, to change the infrastructure of the House so that you could preside. Mr. Speaker, you were the first to preside, and now as we come to the end of your service and your leadership in the Congress--not in the world--that you should be in the chair is an honor for all of us. You bring honor to this Congress, to that position, and I thank you for your service and your leadership, Mr. Langevin of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this year's strong bipartisan, bicameral National Defense Authorization Act, the foundation of America's national security priorities. This legislation honors our fundamental charge under the United States Constitution to provide for the common defense. That is why Democrats have fought tirelessly to invest in our Nation's greatest sources of strength, from our heroic servicemen and -women and their families to promoting American leadership around the globe. Thanks to the distinguished chair of the Armed Services Committee, Adam Smith, as well as the ranking member, Mike Rogers, and all the members of the committee and staff for your tireless work assembling this bipartisan, bicameral legislative package. That is what makes it stronger, its bipartisanship. I would like to talk about some of the things that are in the legislation because as our country grows and our needs are greater, the cost goes up, as well. But how those resources are prioritized is very important to our colleagues who are making their vote known to the public to whom we are accountable to understand our definition of strength. That starts with the deeply deserved 4.6 percent pay raise to help ease the sting of inflation for our men and women in uniform. We are also empowering the Pentagon to raise the basic housing allowance, bringing down food prices by directing more funding to commissaries, and expanding support for childcare services; meaning the personal needs of our personnel are so very important, and this legislation does just that. Building on the sweeping progress in last year's NDAA to combat sexual assault in the military, this year we require independently trained investigators outside the immediate chain of command to investigate claims of sexual harassment, as well. Our colleague Jackie Speier was so important in all of that. Importantly, we blocked an anti-choice demand to eliminate the right to travel to access legal abortion for servicemembers stationed in a State that criminalizes reproductive health. Because for Democrats, health freedom is a value for every woman everywhere. Additionally, this legislation delivers a record amount of funding for research and development at America's HBCUs and steers additional funding to other minority-serving institutions. This is so important because Democrats--and now Republicans--know that we must build a diverse, inclusive national security workforce, one reflective of our Nation. By investing in these essential engines of opportunity, we expand the talent pipeline and make sure our Nation's brightest minds will help solve our toughest national security challenges with inclusiveness, with diversity, with our best. At the same time, we are investing in America's global preeminence. It is a national security imperative to honor our troops with cutting- edge technologies, equipping them to tackle complex 21st century threats. You know this so well, Mr. Speaker, as does our chair and ranking member. We are harnessing the power of clean energy to ensure that our defense facilities and vehicle fleets are resilient to climate change. Meanwhile, we are nurturing a growing semiconductor industry which we reinvigorated earlier this year with the CHIPS and Science Act. Now, the NDAA will require government contracts to use chips that are made in America: creating good-paying jobs here at home, securing our supply chains, and bolstering our economic competitiveness. This year's NDAA also makes robust progress to promote American leadership in the global arena. The safety of families here at home depends on international security and stability. So with this legislation, we ensure that America and our allies maintain a military and qualitative edge in strategic regions across the world, investing more than $11 billion in the Pacific Deterrence Initiative; securing more than $6 billion for the European Deterrence Initiative; and further support for Ukraine's fight for freedom through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Indeed, Democrats know that the security of our Nation is not only measured in our military might, but also in the health, strength, and our well-being, and the respect we have for our partners. As I draw to a conclusion--I didn't say close--I just want to salute the people of Ukraine and President Zelenskyy for their courage. In fighting for their democracy, they are fighting for our democracy and the democracies of their neighbors in Europe, as well, and really throughout the world. So, we have a moral responsibility, as well as a practical one, to support our Ukraine initiatives. Importantly, there are two additional provisions the Democrats fought to attach to this legislative package. The first is a version of the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, a long-sought Democratic priority to make it easier for Federally employed firefighters who contract certain diseases to qualify for Federal workers' compensation. Our firefighters are our nobility. They risk their lives, putting their lives on the line to protect our families, our homes, our communities from devastation. With this provision, we take another step to deliver the benefits they are entitled to that they have earned. The second initiative, and very consequential, is the oceans package. It is a very important and, I understand, bipartisan initiative closely negotiated with military leaders. This bipartisan legislation is a force for America's national security and economic competitiveness. Mr. Speaker, 4 in 10 Americans live in coastal counties, and the well-being of every family depends on strong, secure water sources. By taking action to conserve our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes, we are protecting jobs and businesses, ensuring resilient access to clean water, and preserving invaluable aquatic life and their natural habitat. Our military leaders repeatedly have told us that the climate crisis is a top threat facing our Nation. The climate crisis is a security issue. So we are also modernizing the NOAA Corps and securing more hurricane hunter aircrafts to help protect communities from extreme weather and climate disaster. Mr. Speaker, today, we are confronting threats to democracy here and around the world. Again, I would, in closing, once again salute President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine. Their fight for democracy is ours, as well. We have not only a moral but also a strategic responsibility to continue to support their fearless fight as we do in this legislation. In order to uphold our sacred responsibility and ensure that Americans are safe and America is secure, I urge a strong bipartisan vote for the NDAA. Then, we will send it to the Senate and on to the President to become the law of the land. My understanding is that there is agreement between the House and the Senate in a bipartisan way as we send this on. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Rogers for his great leadership in all of this. On a separate note, we are overjoyed that Brittney Griner is on her way home after the President's tireless and focused work to secure her release. Earlier today, we passed the Marriage Protection Act, and we are so happy that she will be joining her wife when she comes home. Again, Congress remains firmly committed to supporting the administration as it continues to work to secure the release of Paul Whelan and all those who Putin has unjustly detained. I just saw on the news as I was coming over here that Paul Whelan said the President made the right decision to get Brittney, trade for that, and then keep the focus to get him free. Again, I support Chair Smith and Ranking Member Rogers for their great leadership in accomplishing a bipartisan, strong bill that again keeps our country strong and measures our might in terms of our hardware, of course, but also, in terms of the people who keep us strong. We are deeply in their debt. Mr. Speaker, I urge a strong bipartisan vote.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and for her management of this very important legislation as a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. It is my honor to stand on this floor today in support of the Uyghur Policy Act and to join my colleague, Mr. Smith. For decades, Mr. Smith and I--as well as Frank Wolf and so many others--have been working together for human rights throughout the world. I thank him for his leadership and his remarks on this important legislation. Again, a strong step in our continued work to counter the genocide of the Uyghur people. In Xinjiang and across China, millions of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are enduring outrageous and barbaric abuses, from mass surveillance and discriminatory policing to mass incarceration in forced labor camps to mass torture, including solitary confinement and sterilization. In its latest Human Rights Report, our own State Department has unequivocally declared that the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of the Uyghurs amounts to genocide and crimes against humanity. It is often said that one of the most sinister and cruel forms of torture employed by authoritarian regimes is to tell the oppressed: ``Nobody even remembers you.'' They don't even know what the fuss is about. This Congress remains bipartisan, bicameral, unbreakable in our commitment to shining a bright light on the persecution of the Uyghurs. With this legislation, we send a powerful signal to the Uyghur people: America sees you; we stand with you; and we are fighting for you. And we send a resounding message to Beijing: This genocide must end now. My remarks go on to talk about the Uyghur Policy Act and what it does, in addition to what we passed in 2020, the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act; in 2021, the Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act. It includes the establishment of a Special Coordinator at State to spearhead the effort, which will ensure a laser focus on the brutal conditions facing the Uyghurs. For decades, the Chinese Communist Party has waged a campaign of cruelty, terror, and repression, from cracking down on the culture, religion, and language of Tibet, intimidating the people of Taiwan, to restricting basic freedoms in Hong Kong, to jailing journalists and dissidents; and more. We support and salute the courageous citizens across mainland China who are in the streets today speaking out for their freedom. I join freedom-loving people around the world supporting the Chinese people for exercising this Fundamental right to make their voices heard. Yet let us not forget how the government of China has often responded to these demonstrations with a heavy hand: whether in Tiananmen in 1989 or more recently against those marching for their rights in Hong Kong. The past must not be precendent for Beijing's response to this wave of peaceful protests. As I always say: if we do not speak out for human rights in China because of commercial interests, we lose all moral authority to speak out for human rights anywhere. This is America's moral imperative--and today, we take another step to honor this charge today with the legislation before us I urge a strong, bipartisan yes vote on the Uyghur Policy Act. Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of legislation, H.R. 9308, honoring a legendary leader in Congress, Susan Davis, my dear colleague from San Diego. Susan Davis began her career in public service in her beloved San Diego: First in social work, then on the historic school board, then the State Assembly; and now, the Armed Services Committee, Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker, I urge a strong bipartisan ``yes'' for this bill honoring Susan Davis, and also for the Uyghur Policy Act. Mr. Speaker, I again thank our colleagues for bringing these pieces of legislation to the floor, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on both.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, as we gather here, we stand on sacred ground, the Chamber of the United States House of Representatives, the heart of American democracy. I will never forget the first time I saw the Capitol. It was on a cold January day, when I was 6 years old. My father, Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr., was about to be sworn in for his fifth term in Congress representing our beloved hometown of Baltimore. I was riding in the car with my brothers. They were thrilled and jumping up and down and saying to me: ``Nancy, look, there's the Capitol.'' And every time I would say: ``I don't see any capitals. Is it a capital A, a capital B, or a capital C?'' Finally, I saw it, a stunning white building with a magnificent dome. I believed then, as I believe today, this is the most beautiful building in the world because of what it represents. The Capitol is a temple of our democracy, of our Constitution, of our highest ideals. On that day, I stood with my father on this floor as he took the sacred oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. All of us who have served in this House have taken the hallowed oath of office. It is the oath that stitches us together in a long and storied heritage. Colleagues who served before us are all our colleagues: colleagues like Abraham Lincoln, Daniel Webster, Shirley Chisholm, Patsy Mink, and our beloved John Lewis. Personally, it binds me as a colleague to my father, a proud New Deal Congressman and one of the earliest Italian Americans to serve in Congress. This is an oath we are duty-bound to keep, and it links us with the highest aspirations of the ages. In this room, our colleagues across history have abolished slavery; granted women the right to vote; established Social Security and Medicare; offered a hand to the weak, care to the sick, education to the young, and hope to the many. Indeed, it is here, under the gaze of our patriarch George Washington in the people's House that we have done the people's work. My colleagues, I stand before you as Speaker of the House, as a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a devout Catholic, a proud Democrat, and a patriotic American, a citizen of the greatest republic in the history of the world, which President Lincoln called the last, best hope of Earth. Indeed, in the words attributed to another of our colleagues, the legendary Daniel Webster: ``Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution of your country and the government established under it. . . . ``Miracles do not cluster. That which has happened but once in 6,000 years cannot be expected to happen often.'' Indeed, American democracy is majestic, but it is fragile. Many of us here have witnessed its fragility firsthand; tragically, in this Chamber. So democracy must be forever defended from forces that wish it harm. Last week, the American people spoke, and their voices were raised in defense of liberty, of the rule of law, and of democracy itself. With these elections, the people stood in the breach and repelled the assault on democracy. They resoundingly rejected violence and insurrection and in doing so, ``gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.'' Now, we owe to the American people our very best to deliver on their faith, to forever reach for the more perfect union, the glorious horizon that our Founders promised. The questions before us in this Congress and this moment are urgent; questions about the ideals that this House is charged by the Constitution to preserve and protect: `` . . . establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.'' Our posterity, our children. Babies born today will live into the next century, and our decisions will determine their future for generations to come. While we will have our disagreements on policy, we must remain fully committed to our shared, fundamental mission: To hold strong to our most treasured democratic ideals, to cherish the spark of divinity in each and every one of us, and to always put our country first. In their infinite wisdom, our Founders gave us their guidance: ``e pluribus unum'', ``out of many, one.'' They could not have imagined how large our country would become or how different we would be from one another, but they knew we had to be united as one. We the people: One country, one destiny. It has been with great pride that, in my 35 years in the House, I have seen this body grow more reflective of our great Nation, our beautiful Nation. When I came to the Congress in 1987, there were 12 Democratic women. Now, there are over 90 and we want more. The new members of our Democratic Caucus will be about 75 percent women, people of color, and LGBTQ. We have brought more voices to the decisionmaking table. When I entered leadership in 2002, there were eight of us. Today, there are 17 members of leadership. When I first came to the floor at 6 years old, never would I have thought that some day I would go from homemaker to House Speaker. In fact, I never intended to run for public office. Mommy and Daddy taught us through their example that public service is a noble calling and that we all have a responsibility to help others. In our family, my brother, Tommy, then became mayor of Baltimore also. It has been my privilege to play a part in forging extraordinary progress for the American people. I have enjoyed working with three Presidents, achieving historic investments in clean energy with President George Bush; transformative healthcare reform with President Barack Obama; and forging the future, from infrastructure to healthcare to climate action with President Joe Biden. Now, we must move boldly into the future, grounded by the principles that have propelled us this far and open to fresh possibilities for the future. Scripture teaches us that: ``For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under Heaven.'' My friends, no matter what title my colleagues have bestowed upon me--Speaker, Leader, Whip--there is no greater official honor for me than to stand on this floor and to speak for the people of San Francisco. This I will continue to do as a Member of the House, speaking for the people of San Francisco, serving the great State of California, and defending our Constitution. With great confidence in our caucus, I will not seek reelection to Democratic leadership in the next Congress. For me, the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic Caucus that I so deeply respect, and I am grateful that so many are ready and willing to shoulder this awesome responsibility. Madam Speaker, standing here today, I am endlessly grateful for all of life's blessings. For my Democratic colleagues, whose courage and commitment--with the support of your families--have made many of these accomplishments possible. That could not have been done without you. For my dear husband, Paul, who has been my beloved partner in life and my pillar of support, thank you. We are all grateful for all of the prayers and well-wishes as he continues his recovery. Thank you so much. For our darling children: Nancy Corrine, Christine, Jacqueline, Paul, and Alexandra; and our grandchildren: Alexandra and Madeleine; Liam, Sean and Ryan; Paul and Thomas; Bella and Octavio, they are the joys of our lives of whom we are so very, very proud, and they are a comfort to us at this time. And for my brilliant, dedicated, and patriotic staff under the leadership of Terri McCullough, working together, the finest group of public servants the House has ever known, thank you all so much. And, again, for those who have sent me here, for the people of San Francisco, for entrusting me with the high honor of being their voice in Congress. In this continued work, I will strive to honor the call of the patron saint of our city, Saint Francis: ``Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.'' In this House, we begin each day with a prayer and a pledge to the flag. And every day I am in awe of the majestic miracle that is American democracy. As we participate in the hallmark of our Republic--the peaceful, orderly transition from one Congress to the next--let us consider the words of, again, President Lincoln, spoken during one of America's darkest hours. He called upon us to come together, to ``swell the chorus of the Union when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.'' That, again, is the task at hand. A new day is dawning on the horizon, and I look forward and always forward to the unfolding story of our Nation; a story of light and love, of patriotism and progress, of many becoming one, and always an unfinished mission to make the dreams of today the reality of tomorrow. Thank you all. May God bless you and your families, and may God continue to bless our veterans and the United States of America. Thank you all so much.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Fairness for 9/11 Families Act, another vital step to support our September 11 heroes and their families. I salute Chairman Nadler for his committed leadership in bringing this legislation to the floor. Mr. Speaker, on September 11, our Nation watched in horror as unfathomable acts of terror unfolded on our soil, gripped by an unthinkable nightmare. For thousands of families, it was only the beginning: Children growing up without a mom or dad by their side; missing smiles at dance recitals and soccer games; empty seats at graduations and weddings and baptisms. Yet, in the wake of such harrowing tragedy, these grieving families rallied together, channeling their sorrow into solidarity, transforming their pain into purpose, mobilizing their agony into advocacy. Some of them were very much responsible for us getting a 9/11 Commission, which some in Congress had resisted. Without their outside mobilization, it would not have happened. Congress and the country greatly admire the courage of the survivors and families who have come together to make their voices heard. In fact, it was my honor to host many of them in the Capitol just earlier this month, to listen to their moving stories and learn how we can continue to support them. This is an injustice, as was described. Moved by their remarkable resilience, the House has worked relentlessly over the years to honor our solemn promise to the 9/11 families. We passed the Zadroga Act to ensure that they could receive help from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund; and we passed the Never Forget the Heroes Act to permanently authorize those funds. But there is still more to be done to ensure they get every last cent they are due. I don't know that any money really makes up for their loss; but what they are due, they should receive. The Fairness for 9/11 Families Act corrects an outrageous injustice, finally delivering the $2.7 billion that these families are owed from the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund. This initiative was established to support Americans devastated by evils of international terror, but for years, the wives, husbands, and children of those killed on 9/11 were refused assistance from this particular fund, even as more distant relatives received compensation. Yes, they were getting funds from an earlier fund, but if you got money from the earlier fund, you couldn't get money from this additional fund. This is about fairness today. As Democrats took the majority, we ended this unconscionable disparity. Today, we vote to make them whole, delivering the benefits they were wrongfully denied. No amount of money can replace those who were stolen away, nor restore the memories and moments that could have been; but with this legislation, we can further ease two decades of anguish, and we can take another step to ensure that justice is done. I am so pleased it is being done in a bipartisan way, because at the start, that was not the case. President Lincoln once cautioned against the ``silent artillery of time''--the slow, steady fading of our Nation's collective memory. For 21 years, these families have served as a bulwark against that silent threat. Here today, let us stand with them and renew our sacred promise to never forget. Mr. Speaker, I urge a resounding and bipartisan ``yes'' and, hopefully, a unanimous vote so that we may empower thousands of Americans to begin finding the peace that they deserve. Mr. Speaker, as I have the floor, I also rise in strong support of the continuing resolution to keep government open and working for the people. This legislation ensures full government funding through December 16, giving appropriators more time to reach bipartisan, bicameral agreement on funding levels for the upcoming fiscal year. It includes critical funding to support Ukraine, to respond to natural disasters, and to advance many additional key priorities. I thank Rosa DeLauro, chair of the Committee on Appropriations, for her strong values-driven leadership to bring forth this necessary legislation. As I always say, as an appropriator myself, left to their own devices, the appropriators will find a bipartisan path. I thank Rosa for her ongoing work to assemble an omnibus government funding package that honors our values as a Nation. That is the next step. Today, we proceed with this legislation. As we do, war rages on in Ukraine. With the legislation we pass today, Congress secures an additional $12.3 billion for Ukraine-related priorities, including security, economic and humanitarian aid to the historic and heroic Ukrainian people. This package comes at a pivotal moment as Ukraine's freedom fighters work to turn the tide, liberating key cities and repelling Russian forces. When I traveled to Berlin for the G7 Speakers' Summit earlier this month, it was my privilege to hear directly from Ukraine Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, who offered an invaluable report on the state of the war. At those meetings, I reiterated America's unbreakable, unshakeable commitment to stand with Ukraine in the fight for democracy. By the way, every other Speaker from the G7, they call them heads of parliament in some countries, spoke out strongly in favor of democracy in Ukraine. So it wasn't just me talking about unbreakable, unshakeable commitment, others did, too. With this supplemental funding, we take another strong step to honor our country's pledge. Alongside this critical package for Ukraine, this legislation directs significant funding to help American families devastated by disaster. We continue to hold all of the families affected by Hurricane Ian in our hearts and prayers during this difficult time, but we need money to help them. The $2 billion more in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding in this bill will go toward supporting Florida, as well as Puerto Rico, Alaska, and other communities hit by catastrophe. But, again, we need more. We are also allowing FEMA to spend up to its entire year of funding, giving the agency access to an additional $18.9 billion from FEMA's disaster relief fund to quickly respond to disasters, especially appropriate now with Ian; and we will need more. Thanks to the leadership of Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez, we are sending $2.5 billion to help New Mexicans begin to heal, recover, and rebuild after the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon fire. She and the Members from New Mexico were very instrumental in making sure we were aware of the disastrous mistake that was made in New Mexico and how we need to address it. At the same time, thanks to the impassioned advocacy of Congressman Bennie Thompson, we secured $20 million in Jackson, Mississippi, which is suffering a devastating water emergency. This man-made disaster poses a direct threat to public health and demands urgent action. Additionally, we are proud that this legislation includes $1 billion more for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, a vital lifeline to help families pay their bills and stay safe in their homes this winter. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is a package for the people. I urge a strong bipartisan ``yes'' on the continuing resolution so that we may swiftly send this bill to the President's desk. I hope that we will have a unanimous vote on the legislation, Fairness for 9/11 Families to support our 9/11 heroes and their families.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker. I rise today in strong support of this robust public safety package--legislation rooted in two of Democrats' most cherished values: safety and justice. On behalf of our Caucus and the Congress, I salute the persistent, values-driven leadership of CBC Chairwoman Joyce Beatty and Members of the CBC--ensuring that accountability is central to our efforts. Let us also commend Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar for their tireless efforts to advance the goal of public safety for all. We applaud the committed leaders of the legislation before us today: Congressman Josh Gottheimer, Congresswoman Katie Porter, Congressman Steven Horsford, and Congresswoman Val Demings. And thank you to Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler and Energy & Commerce Chair Frank Pallone for steering this legislation to the Floor. House Democrats believe that every American deserves to live in a safe community--where they and their family can thrive. For us, this is a deeply held value. And that is why our Majority has long sought--and today, continues to take--strong, commonsense action to fund our police, giving them the tools they need to prevent crime. Let me be clear: Democrats salute our law enforcement heroes. And we have fought to support them: securing a half-billion-dollar increase for local and state law enforcement in March's Appropriations legislation. At the same time, we remain fully committed to improving training and accountability among the law enforcement ranks. Our nation remains outraged at the scourge of systemic racism and brutality targeting communities of color and marginalized communities-- knowing that it remains a serious threat to safety. That is why Democrats will never stop fighting for the fundamental transformation that our culture of policing demands--which goes hand- in-hand with our unyielding commitment to public safety. Our George Floyd Justice in Policing Act--twice passed by the House-- includes strong, unprecedented reforms to save lives: from banning chokeholds; to stopping no-knock warrants; to combating racial profiling; to establishing nationwide standards against misconduct. Sadly, this urgent and necessary legislation was blocked by Republicans. But under the leadership of our brilliant, relentless Congresswoman Karen Bass, we will not rest until these life-saving measures are the law of the land. Today, with our four bills, we seek to take a strong step to build stronger, healthier relationships between law enforcement and those they serve. And together, they will help prevent crime, save lives and advance justice. Our Invest to Protect Act funds our police, with grants to: help small, local law enforcement agencies retain and recruit officers; require the Attorney General to evaluate and collect data on how police departments are using the funds to reduce the use of force; and invest in strong accountability measures, including: training for de- escalation, responding to substance use disorders, supporting survivors of domestic violence, and promoting a duty of care. Our Mental Health Justice Act will help send unarmed mental health professionals to respond to mental health crises in our neighborhoods: crucial action to save lives. Our Break the Cycle of Violence Act invests in effective, evidence- based community violence intervention initiatives--building on the lifesaving progress we forged in our American Rescue Plan. Our VICTIM Act will bolster the ability of police forces to solve homicides, sexual assaults, shootings and other violent crimes: a necessary step to ensure justice is served and improve trust in law enforcement. In the same spirit, House Democrats take immense pride in our work so far this Congress to keep America's families safe from harm. Under the magnificent leadership of President Biden, we enacted an historic gun violence prevention law--which is saving lives by getting deadly weapons out of dangerous hands. Meanwhile, the House has successfully passed legislation reinstating the Assault Weapons Ban and establishing an AMBER Alert-style warning during shootings--measures that strongly support our law enforcement. And this Congress, our Majority has also passed legislation to: require universal background checks, promote safe storage, and ban bump stocks, high-capacity magazines and ghost guns. Make no mistake: our colleagues across the aisle overwhelmingly voted against all of these measures. Because they fail to realize that preventing gun crime is a crucial piece of the puzzle in building safer communities--especially for our children. Madam Speaker. Every Member who has the special privilege of serving in these hallowed halls takes a sacred oath to the American people. That oath--which is blind to party affiliation--is to ``protect & defend.'' And with this package today, the House is honoring this foremost responsibility. So I encourage every Member to join us in putting People Over Politics--and vote for safer communities in every corner of the country. With that, I urge a resounding, bipartisan AYE vote on all four bills in this strong public safety package.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I thank the chair for her patriotic leadership on the House Administration Committee and her invaluable service and leadership as a member of the Select Committee on January 6. Madam Speaker, I thank her for yielding, but I more importantly thank her for bringing this important legislation to the floor. I salute her leadership and that of Congresswoman Liz Cheney, vice chair of the January 6 Select Committee, a principled and courageous voice for freedom in our country. This legislation is a manifestation of their courage, their patriotism, and their determination in our mission to save American democracy. I thank Chairwoman Lofgren and Vice Chair Cheney. Madam Speaker, we are really the beneficiaries of such greatness in our country's history. One of our Founders, Thomas Paine, said that the times have found them to declare independence; to fight a war for independence against the greatest naval power that existed at the time; to win that war under leadership of our great patriarch, George Washington, and then to write our founding documents. Thank God they made them amendable so that we could have expanding freedom in our country. One of their early documents, the Declaration of Independence, has been called by some the greatest document of the millennium, of a thousand years. Some years later the Union was under threat. Abraham Lincoln--this is long before he was President--Abraham Lincoln delivered a stark warning about the state of our Union. Speaking in Springfield in 1837, more than two decades before the Civil War, he diagnosed a dangerous erosion of our democracy. ``They were pillars of the temple of liberty,'' Lincoln said, referring to the generation of Americas who fought for independence and served as living proof of the importance of democracy. He continued: `` . . . now that they have crumbled away, that temple must fall unless we, their descendants, supply their places with other pillars . . .'' His words ring just as true today as we confront a dire threat to our democracy and a duty to supply new pillars to preserve it. On January 6, 2021, an insurrection erupted at the Capitol, seeking to nullify the results of a free and fair election. This was a direct assault not only on the Capitol, but on our Constitution, on the rule of law, and on democracy itself; a direct assault on the Constitution because the Constitution said that day that the Congress would, again, certify the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris per the Constitution by presenting the electoral college vote. So that was an assault on the Constitution. That was that day. It wasn't just any day; it was the day that the Constitution was supposed to be honored. Now, we have a solemn duty to ensure that future efforts to undermine elections cannot succeed. That is why the House established the Select Committee on January 6, to find the truth of the attack and ensure that it could never happen again. Since then, there have been attempts across the country to nullify future elections. That is why, today, we are taking historic and bipartisan legislative action to safeguard the integrity of future Presidential elections. The Presidential Election Reform Act takes four necessary steps. First, the bill reaffirms that under the Constitution, the Vice President has no authority to reject a slate of electors or delay the count in any way. This was the heart of the former President's illegal, false electoral scheme. Second, the bill directly limits the types of objections to only those outlined in the Constitution, which can be raised during certification. You just can't raise any and all, but those that are allowed in the Constitution. All objections would require one-third of each Chamber to be entertained and a majority to be sustained. Third, our bill requires Governors to transmit lawful election results to Congress or be compelled to by a Federal court. Under this proposal, no rogue Governor can unlawfully subvert the will of the people, the heart of a democracy expressed in the democratic electoral process. Fourth, our bill makes crystal clear that States cannot change the rules governing an election after the election has occurred--did you hear that? ``Cannot change the rules governing an election after the election has occurred''--preventing radical State legislators from attempting to nullify the election. I keep using that word, ``nullify.'' These changes are imperative right now. Emboldened by January 6, politicians are waging a sinister campaign across America, the country, to subvert our future elections, peddling the big lie that the 2022 election was stolen; assembling an army of operatives to intimidate voters at the polls and poll workers, as well; and even threatening to reverse results for which they disagree. Wait a minute. We are talking about a democracy. ``Threatening to reverse results for which they disagree.'' Let me be clear: This is a kitchen table issue for families. We must ensure that this antidemocratic plot cannot succeed. It is a kitchen table issue because denying the American people their fundamental freedom to choose their own leaders denies them their voice in the policies we pursue. Those policies can make an immense difference in their everyday lives, on top of which we have a responsibility. We take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. This legislation is in furtherance of honoring that oath of office so that our children, our grandchildren, future generations, know that they live in a great democracy that cannot be undermined for political reasons. Madam Speaker, every Member knows that January 6 was an attempt to subvert democracy, but many across the aisle refuse to admit the truth. They refused to admit the truth that very night with blood on the floor, glass on the floor, and all the rest when we came in to honor our constitutional responsibility. Overwhelmingly, others on the other side of the aisle voted not to accept the results of the people in the election. Now, House Republican leaders are whipping against this necessary measure. To all those who oppose this legislation, I ask you: How could anyone vote against free and fair elections, a cornerstone of our Constitution? How could anyone vote against our Founders' vision, placing power in the hands of the people? How could anyone vote against their own constituents, allowing radical politicians to rip away their say in our democracy? Decades after Lincoln's stark warning, the future he foretold, a crumbling of the pillars of democracy, came to pass with a Civil War. One year into the horror and devastation, President Lincoln called on the Congress to come together to save the Union. In his message, he wrote--this is when he is President--``We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of Earth.'' We ``hold the power and bear the responsibility.'' Today, American democracy, ``the last best hope of Earth,'' is again in grave danger, and its fate is in our hands. So, I implore every Member to heed Lincoln's words, to stand up for the rule of law and our Constitution. In doing so, we pass on a vibrant democracy for generations to come--America, the beacon of hope in the world; this building, a symbol, a temple of democracy, synonymous with freedom and democracy throughout the world, which was assaulted, but we must correct it. Madam Speaker, I urge a resounding bipartisan ``aye'' vote on the Presidential Election Reform Act. In gratitude to Madam Chair Zoe Lofgren, chair of the House Administration Committee and a member of the January 6th Committee, and our very distinguished vice chair of the January 6th Committee, thank you for your patriotism. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your courage. Madam Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I thank you for your tremendous leadership and the other chairs for bringing this legislation to the floor. The hour is growing late, and as a courtesy to my colleagues, I intend to shorten my remarks. For those that I shorten the remarks, I promise to put them in the Record if you promise to read them. Let me also begin by saying that I associate myself with the remarks of all of my Democratic colleagues, and that covers a lot of territory. Madam Speaker, under the visionary leadership of President Biden, Democrats have forged historic progress for America's families. First, we enacted our life-saving American Rescue Plan: to propel us out of the pandemic by putting money in pockets, vaccines in arms, children safely in school, and people back to work. Next, we secured the transformative bipartisan infrastructure package to create good-paying union jobs rebuilding our Nation. This week, President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act, which declares our economic independence, strengthens our national security, and enhances our families' financial future. We also honored the valiant service of our men and women in uniform with the PACT Act. Today, Madam Speaker, is a day of celebration, a day we take another giant step in our momentous agenda. Our Inflation Reduction Act is a robust, cost-cutting package that meets the moment: ensuring that our families thrive and that our planet survives. This is landmark legislation which we send to the President's desk, and it is a resounding victory for America's families starting at their kitchen table. What it means to you--to our constituents, to people out there whom we serve in terms of healthcare--if you are one of Medicare's 64 million enrollees, this bill brings down the out-of- pocket costs in prescription drugs. We do this by empowering the Secretary of HHS to negotiate lower prices, at long last. We have been fighting for this for years. We do so by capping out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. And you, our constituents, will not pay one more cent for life-saving medication. This includes a $35 cap on insulin copays. We do this by banning drug manufacturers from raising prices faster than inflation, protecting you against predatory price hikes. Make no mistake: these measures are a big blow to Big Pharma, which has had a stranglehold for decades, preventing us from making this move. Now we have relaxed that stranglehold a bit--there is more to be done--but we give more leverage and more breathing room to America's families. At the same time, this bill locks in lower premiums that Democrats secured first in the rescue package. Together, lowering the cost of prescription drugs and healthcare premiums are vital strides in our fight for economic justice. This is particularly important to low- income communities, underserved communities, and communities of color. In doing so, we honor the call of Dr. King, who said: ``Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhumane because it often results in physical death.'' The inflation bill is a plan divided into three parts: Prescription drugs and healthcare; second, the most consequential climate action in the history of our Congress of our country. Doing these two things will reduce the deficit. At the same time, this legislation advances President Biden's and Democrats' relentless commitment to putting justice first. All of these crucial investments are fully paid for by making sure the ultra-rich and biggest corporations pay their fair share. The climate provisions will make a meaningful difference for America's working families. I am going to put that in the Record, if you promise to read it, but it is about clean air and clean water for our children. It is about 9 million good-paying union jobs. It is about preventing conflict over resources and habitat. It is about values-- values espoused by Pope Francis when he said earlier this summer that our planet has reached a ``breaking point'' in the fight against climate crisis. Extreme weather continues to wreak havoc across the country and around the world, and it is clear the costs of inaction far outweigh the costs of action. The bill saves the planet while keeping more money in your pockets. For working families, you will save an average of $1,000 a year and lower energy bills. For underserved communities, this bill invests $60 billion in environmental justice initiatives to ensure that everyone enjoys the benefits of a cleaner, green economy. Again, the bill pays down the deficit by $300 billion in the first decade. Here is what it means to you: it lowers the deficit and drives down inflation in the long term. These monumental investments for families and healthcare are fully paid for ensuring the biggest corporations and wealthiest pay their fair share. That is an estimate of about $160 billion a year of taxes that are unlawfully not paid. Right now families are being harmed by corporate profiteering. But let me just say that I don't want you to take it from me. I want you to take it from a large number of economists--126--including seven Nobel Prize winners and three former chairs of the Council of Economic Advisers in a letter urging passage of this bill. I want you to hear this, my Republican friends, because clearly you don't know this. But now that you do, perhaps you will change your comments. These investments will fight inflation and lower costs for American families while setting the stage for strong, stable, and broadly- shared, long-term economic growth. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record their letter. August 2, 2022. Hon. Charles Schumer, Majority Leader, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Hon. Mitch McConnell, Majority Leader, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Kevin McCarthy, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Senate Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, and House Minority Leader McCarthy: We write to strongly urge you and your colleagues in Congress to swiftly pass the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This historic legislation makes crucial investments in energy, health care, and in shoring up the nation's tax system. These investments will fight inflation and lower costs for American families while setting the stage for strong, stable, and broadly-shared long-term economic growth. This legislation represents the single biggest step to date in tackling the climate crisis. It makes key investments to incentivize the transition to cleaner energy sources and greater efficiency. It also invests in the current energy distribution system to make it more resilient, lowers energy costs for families, and helps protect U.S. family budgets against future shocks. This legislation will quickly and noticeably bring down health care costs for families. It allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices with pharmaceutical companies, reduces Medicare out-of-pocket costs for drugs, and reduces insurance costs for 13 million Americans by building on provisions in the Affordable Care Act. These investments would be more than fully paid for. The revenue raised to finance them would come exclusively from wealthy individuals and corporations. Further, the revenue stems from enhanced tax enforcement and closing some of the most distortionary loopholes in the tax code. This proposal addresses some of the country's biggest challenges at a significant scale. And because it is deficit- reducing, it does so while putting downward pressure on inflation. We strongly recommend Congress act decisively to build a stronger economy by passing the Inflation Reduction Act as soon as possible. Sincerely, Joseph Stiglitz, Columbia University; Robert Solow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Peter Diamond, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Oliver Hart, Harvard University; Eric Maskin, Harvard University; Edmund Phelps, Columbia University; Robert Rubin, Council on Foreign Relations; Jacob Lew, Columbia University; Jason Furman, Harvard University; Martin Neil Baily, Brookings Institution; Doug Elmendorf, Harvard Kennedy School; Roger Ferguson, TIAA (formerly); Alan Blinder, Princeton University; Louise Sheiner, Brookings Institution; Tara Watson, Brookings Institution; Mark Paul, Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy; Matthew Rabin, Harvard Economics Department and Business School; Katharine Abraham, University of Maryland; Byron Auguste, Opportunity@Work; Brad Delong, University of California-Berkeley. Jesse Rothstein, University of California-Berkeley; Heidi Shierholz, Economic Policy Institute; Betsey Stevenson, University of Michigan; Dean Baker, Center for Economic and Policy Research; Mark Zandi, Moody's Analytics; Josh Gotbaum, Brookings Institution; David Johnson, University of Michigan; Hilary Haynes, University of California-Berkeley; Larry Katz, Harvard University; Karen Dynan, Harvard University; Richard Schmalensee, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Maurice Obstfeld, University of California-Berkeley; Carl Shapiro, University of California-Berkeley; William Spriggs, AFL-CIO & Howard University; Prasannan Parthasarathi, Boston College; Robert Blecker, American University; Anna Stansbury, MIT Sloan; Robert B. Williams, Guilford College; Paula Voes, Rutgers University; Emily Hoffman, Western Michigan University. Michael Reich, University of California, Berkeley; Rob Wassmer, California State University, Sacramento; Yana Rodgers, Rutgers University; Barry Bluestone, Northeastern University; Josh Bivens, Economic Policy Institute; John Schmitt, Economic Policy Institute; Juliet Schor, Boston College; Eileen Appelbaum, Center for Economic and Policy Research; Robert G. Williams, Guilford College; Barry Bosworth, Brookings Institution; Douglas Kruse, Rutgers Professor; Michael Ash, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Richard Murnane, Harvard University; Ben Zipperer, Economic Policy Institute; Janet Knoedler, Bucknell University; Daron Acemoglu, MIT; Robert Murphy, Boston College; Michael Garvey, Washington Center of Equitable Growth; David Cutler, Harvard University. Lisa Lynch, Brandeis University; Robert Pollin, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Ebru Kongar, Dickinson College; Sheldon Danziger, University of Michigan; Teresa Ghilarducci, The New School; Bernard E. Anderson, University of Pennsylvania; Peter Matthews, Middlebury College; Adam Hersh, Economic Policy Institute; Alan Aja, Brooklyn College (City University of New York); Clair Brown, University of California-Berkeley; Younghwan Song, Union College; Aaron Sojourner, Upjohn Institute for Employment Research; Krishna Dasaratha, Boston University; Larry Chimerine, Chase Econometrics and the Wefa Group (formerly); Arindrajit Dube, UMass Amherst; Valerie Wilson, Economic Policy Institute; Carolyn Craven, Middlebury College; Chris Tilly, UCLA; John Shea, University of Maryland at College Park; Sarah Wilhelm, Western Governors University. Xavier Jaravel, London School of Economics; Jacob Robbins, University of Illinois at Chicago; Gernot Wagner, Columbia Business School; Jonathan Colmer, University of Virginia; Christopher Ruhm, University of Virginia; Joya Misra, University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Peter Schaeffer, West Virginia University; Nina Banks, Bucknell University; David Weil, Brandeis University; Gail Blattenberger, University of Utah; Dania Francis, University of Massachusetts Boston; Jeannette Wicks-Lim, University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Emmanuel Saez, University of California; Manuel Pastor, University of Southern California; Kate Bahn, Washington Center for Equitable Growth; Sean Reardon, Stanford University; Randy Albelda, University of Massachusetts Boston; Tim Smeeding, University of Wisconsin; Kenneth Peres, Communications Workers of America (retired); David Alexander, Illinois Action for Children. Monique Morrissey, Economic Policy Institute; Trevon Logan, The Ohio State University; Geoffrey Schneider, Bucknell University; Kimberly Clausing, UCLA School of Law; Paulette Olson, Wright State University; Henry Levin, Emeritus Professor at Stanford and Columbia; Frank Stricker, CSU Dominguez Hills; Laura Giuliano, UC Santa Cruz; Christopher Magee, Bucknell University; Gabriel Mathy, American University; Laura Tyson, UC Berkeley; Robert M. Anderson, UC Berkeley; James Stewart, New School; Siavash Radpour, The New School for Social Research, Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis. Ignacio Gonzalez, American University; Esteban J. Quinones, Mathematica; Sylvia Allegretto, Economic Policy Institute; Rene Rosenbaum; Roger Myerson, University of Chicago; Paul Leigh, UC Davis; Lawrence Mishel, Economic Policy Institute Robert Scott Economic Policy Institute; Peter Eaton, UMKC; Candace Howes, Connecticut College; Gerald Epstein, University of Massachusetts Amherst; William Darity Jr., Duke University; Eva Paus, Mount Holyoke College.

Ms. PELOSI. Another point I want to make is I hear them saying that this is going to be such a thing about the audits. Despite the Republicans' desperate falsehoods, this bill does not increase IRS audits on America's working families. The IRS commissioner himself, a Republican appointed by Donald Trump, said these resources are absolutely not about increasing audit scrutiny on small businesses or middle-income Americans. So there you have it. So I would just say at the end of all of this, I ask these questions: When you hear about what this means to America's working families, how can you vote against lowering healthcare costs and prescription drugs costs for seniors and underserved communities as we continue to fight inflation? How can you vote with pharma at the cost of America's seniors and America's working families? How can you vote against protecting future generations from rising sea levels, raging wildfires, and crippling drought? How can you vote against reducing the deficit and asking billionaires, companies, and wealthy avoiders of taxes to pay their fair share? I am not talking about people who work the system. I am talking about people who illegally do not pay their taxes. So, Madam Speaker, every Member of this body is confronted with a choice. We either put people over politics or politics over people. For centuries, Members of Congress have stood exactly where we stand facing the exact same decision as they constructed the pillars of America's economy and safety: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, things that the Republicans opposed all along the way. This bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, a package for the people, increases the leverage of the public interest over special interests and expands the promise of health and financial security now and for generations to come. Madam Speaker, I urge every Member to put aside their misunderstanding of this and vote for the Inflation Reduction Act as we send this historic legislation to President Biden's desk for signature this evening for him to sign into law. Madam Speaker, under the visionary leadership of President Biden, Democrats have forged historic progress for America's families. First, we enacted our life-saving American Rescue Plan: to propel us out of the pandemic by putting money in pockets, vaccines in arms, children safely back to school and people safely back to work. Next, we secured a transformative Infrastructure package: to create good-paying union jobs rebuilding our nation--in a way that strengthens our middle class, advances justice and protects the environment. This week, President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act, which declares our economic independence, strengthens our national security and enhances our families' financial future. We also honored the valiant service of our heroic veterans with the PACT Act. And today, we proudly take another giant step in our momentous agenda. Our Inflation Reduction Act is a robust cost-cutting package that meets this moment: ensuring that our families thrive and that our planet survives.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his great leadership. Mr. Speaker, each year, more children die from gun violence than any other cause--cancer, auto accidents, or any other cause. Our Nation has watched in unspeakable horror as assault weapons have been used in massacre after massacre in communities across the country. Disturbingly, so many of these mass shootings have targeted our precious children in their schools, at the movies, at the malls, and throughout our communities. That is why I rise today in strong support of reinstating the Assault Weapons Ban Act, a long overdue step to get deadly weapons off our streets. Make no mistake, we know that an assault weapon ban can work because it has worked before. For 10 years--from 1994 to 2004--our families were protected by a strong assault weapons ban strongly championed in the Senate by then-Senator, now-President Joe Biden. Chuck Schumer led the way over here; Dianne Feinstein in the Senate. I was a relatively new Member of Congress who was whipping for this legislation. It made us all very proud. More importantly, it saved many lives. During that time, we witnessed gun crime with assault weapons drop by up to 40 percent. Let me repeat, gun violence with assault weapons reduced by 40 percent. Meanwhile, since the ban expired, the number of mass shooting deaths has grown by nearly 500 percent. It is particularly sickening to now see these same deadly weapons-- are you ready for this--being marketed to children. Here is an advertisement for a JR-15 designed to be a so-called ``smaller, safer, lighter'' version of the horrific AR-15, which has been used to murder so many of their playmates and friends. Look at this, these little skulls with ponytails on it. The manufacturers stated that their ``goal was to develop a shooting platform that was not only sized correctly . . . but also looks, feels, and operates just like mom and dad's gun.'' Mom and dad's gun. They used that expression. Indeed, gunmaker WEE1 Tactical launched the JR-15 and said: ``we are so excited to start capturing the imagination of the next generation.'' Indeed, this callousness is disgusting. It is despicable, and it reminds us that the crisis of gun violence requires action. To the families who are survivors and have suffered from gun violence, we have said over and over again, we will not stop until the job is done. We thank them for sharing their sorrow to help prevent others from suffering in that way. They have turned their agony into action. Now, whether we are saying we are going from Newtown to Uvalde and everything in between and since, there are so many deaths, so much sorrow, so much hope that we would get the job done. They are responsible for our bringing this legislation to the floor. Their outside mobilization, their advocacy with great intellectual integrity has made all the difference. Today, House Democrats will vote to reinstate the assault weapons ban with strong protections for children and families. The bill prohibits the sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of semiautomatic assault weapons, as well as high-capacity magazines. And contrary to what the gentleman on the other side of the aisle said, it requires safe storage for lawfully owned assault weapons already in our communities. It is not about taking guns away from people who should have them, it is about safe storage. Do you have a problem with that? It strongly supports our law enforcement heroes who should not have to confront weapons designed for the battlefield instead in our communities. To be clear, this is a very special day in the Congress of the United States that history will record as one designed to save lives. For his passionate, persistent leadership on this legislation, let me salute Congressman David Cicilline, who has been fighting ferociously on this issue for years and years. To Lucy McBath, who has been, again, a member of the committee of jurisdiction, an intellectual resource, a strategic thinker, and an inspiration to all of us, who turned her personal grief into action and makes a difference, I thank her. I also thank Chairman Jerry Nadler, chair of the Judiciary Committee, for steering this legislation through the Judiciary Committee and to the floor. Also, I recognize, once again, President Joe Biden's longtime leadership on this issue and the beautiful words he expressed about this when we were celebrating the bipartisan safety bill recently. Mr. Speaker, all those who have had the privilege of serving in these hallowed Halls take a solemn oath to the American people. At the heart of our oath is our duty to protect and defend the Constitution, the American people. With this legislation, we honor this foremost responsibility. When the House returns in August, we will bring to the floor a robust public safety package beyond this. Let me be clear: House Democrats are for people over politics and say to our friends in this body and down the hall and wherever they are: Your political survival is insignificant compared to the survival of children who are at the mercy of these guns. We believe that every American deserves to live in a safe community where they and their families can thrive. That is why Democrats are funding our police while making reforms for better law enforcement training and accountability as we give them the tools they need to prevent crime. We are so proud of the work done by CBC chair Joyce Beatty working with Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Abigail Spanberger to write historic legislation that prioritizes meeting the needs of our law enforcement officers while at the same time having accountability. That is historic. We haven't done that before. I am more confident than ever that we will pass a package rooted in two of the Democrats' most cherished values: justice and safety. I urge my colleagues to support the assault weapons ban, recognizing, again, that the survival of our children is more important than the political survival of any of us. I urge a strong and, hopefully, bipartisan vote to put people over politics by reinstating the assault weapons ban.