Deborah Ross

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the release of Venkata Vasamsetty from ICE custody. Ms. Vasamsetty is a Wake County substitute teacher, a mother, and a grandmother of U.S. citizens, who has lived in this country legally for 27 years with no criminal record. Last month, ICE arrested her and wrongfully detained her. By every measure, she is an asset to our community and poses no threat. Under this administration, thousands of other law-abiding immigrants just like her are being held in detention facilities, often without access to proper medical care and humane living conditions. It is wrong to use the American taxpayers' dollars to detain people like Ms. Vasamsetty. We must continue to speak out against ICE's cruel and unlawful actions. We cannot allow this administration to continue detaining our neighbors and terrorizing our communities.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Julia Daniels, a remarkable North Carolinian whose generosity, leadership, and love for our State touched countless lives. Born in New Bern and raised in Raleigh, Julia dedicated herself to preserving and enriching North Carolina's culture and civic institutions. She was a champion of the arts, history, and education, helping strengthen organizations, including the North Carolina Museum of Art and the North Carolina Historical Commission. Julia was often called a professional volunteer, but her impact went far beyond that title. To many, Julia was the embodiment of grace and service. She opened her heart to causes she believed in, inspiring generations through her kindness and civic spirit. As we mourn her passing, we also celebrate an exceptional life and a legacy that will endure across North Carolina for generations to come.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Allen Paul, a gifted journalist, author, and storyteller whose work helped preserve and illuminate the history of North Carolina. Allen dedicated his career to telling important stories with depth, accuracy, and humanity. Written alongside his son Mack Paul, one of his final works, ``Miracle Road: The Story of Research Triangle Park,'' captures one of the greatest economic transformations in American history: the rise of Research Triangle Park from a landscape once described as ``possums and pines'' into a global center of innovation, research, and opportunity. The book chronicles the visionaries, scientists, business leaders, and community advocates who helped build the triangle into what it is today. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Allen preserved the history that shaped North Carolina's future. His contributions will continue to educate and inspire generations to come.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of North Carolina's most notable business success stories, the SAS Institute. Headquartered in Cary, SAS has exemplified the very best of American innovation, entrepreneurship, and commitment to excellence. Founded in 1976 by Dr. James Goodnight and John Sall, SAS began as a modest project to analyze agricultural data for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and has since grown into one of the world's largest privately held software companies. What started as a statistical analysis tool has evolved into a global enterprise serving customers in more than 140 countries, including every major department of the federal government and nearly every Fortune 100 company. SAS's impact on our economy, our workforce, and our technological leadership cannot be overstated. It is one of North Carolina's largest employers. and its reputation for workplace excellence is second to none. From pioneering on-site childcare in the early 1980s to offering comprehensive healthcare services on its campus, SAS has long been recognized as a model employer whose people-first approach has influenced workplaces around the world. SAS also serves a prominent role across industries and the public sector. In financial services, SAS helps banks around the world detect fraud and protect consumers from financial harm. In health and life sciences, SAS has helped bring life-saving treatments to patients by supporting clinical research and regulatory review. In education, SAS has provided tools to help educators measure student growth and improve outcomes, while its academic programs have helped prepare generations of students, educators, and researchers for careers in analytics, data science, and Al. As SAS celebrates its golden anniversary, we honor not only its remarkable achievements but also the values that have guided its journey: innovation, integrity, and a steadfast belief in the power of data to improve lives. I salute the SAS Institute and the thousands of dedicated employees who have made this company a North Carolina institution, a global leader, and a beacon of excellence for 50 years. Here's to the next 50.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a victory that North Carolinians have waited years to see: The Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup champions for the first time in 20 years. From the first puck drop of the season to the final horn, the Hurricanes showed the grit and teamwork that define our State. They proved that success isn't built overnight. It is earned through discipline, perseverance, and trust in one another. Today, we celebrate the players, coaches, staff, and the hundreds of thousands of Caniacs who never stopped believing, especially Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour, who first led our team to victory in 2006 as team captain. The Canes have shown the hockey world that North Carolinians are hockey fans, and hockey belongs in the South. Of course, the championship belongs in North Carolina. The Stanley Cup is finally home.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor North Carolina's new Principal of the Year, Wake County's own Dr. Mariah Walker. As the principal of the Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy, Dr. Walker has dedicated her career to ensuring her students are supported and empowered. She has strengthened academic excellence, expanded postsecondary opportunities, and consistently uplifted her students' achievements. What makes Dr. Walker exceptional is that she believes every student deserves someone who ridiculously believes in their potential. That belief can truly change lives. On the heels of Teacher Appreciation Week, the North Carolina General Assembly is finally considering increasing teacher salaries. Our State ranks 46th in the Nation for teacher pay. That is simply unacceptable. Mr. Speaker, educators, like Dr. Walker, give their all to the next generation. They deserve fair pay.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member McGovern for yielding time to me. If we defeat the previous question, we will offer a bill, my bill, that will truly honor police officers: H.R. 7711, my No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act. On January 6, as we all know, violent rioters assaulted Capitol Police, beating them with flag poles, dragging them through crowds, and pepper spraying them in the face at point-blank range. President Trump has not only called these criminals patriots, he decided January 6 insurrectionists deserved a blanket pardon for their attacks on police officers. It is shameful. Now, the Trump administration is considering millions of dollars in payouts to these insurrectionists, which is a giant slap in the face to all the brave officers who fought to protect us--us, and our democracy on January 6. My bill would prohibit the use of Federal funds to compensate any convicted January 6 rioter. Mr. Speaker, if my colleagues on the other side of the aisle were serious about honoring police officers, they would take up my bill to prevent President Trump from paying off his favorite cop beaters.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. This bill would provide a limited and logical extension of the authority to share criminal history records so that those who help screen law enforcement officers have the information they need to maintain hiring standards. As we observe National Police Week, I am pleased to support this legislation that strengthens our law enforcement agencies and improves public safety by ensuring that applicants are appropriately screened. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan legislation, and I congratulate Congressman Schmidt on a fine bill. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8352, the bipartisan Criminal History Access Act of 2026. I applaud my colleague, Mr. Schmidt, for introducing this important bill and for working together to get it through the Judiciary Committee. Every State has its own standards for determining who may serve as a State or local law enforcement officer. Those standards are set and administered by a State board or agency. These peace officer standards and training agencies, or POST agencies, are often also empowered to certify individuals who may be hired as law enforcement officers, train the potential officers, or assist with vetting other local law enforcement personnel. This bill would authorize State POST agencies to directly access Federal criminal history records when vetting and certifying law enforcement trainees and officers. POST agencies are essentially the gatekeepers to the law enforcement profession. Their job is to keep bad actors out. Over 50,000 people apply for law enforcement positions across the country every year, and applicants already sign off on disclosure of their criminal history records as part of that process. The problem is that current Federal law blocks most POST agencies from accessing those records, so they end up relying on whatever the hiring department shares with them. When disqualifying information gets left out, POST agencies never see it, and someone who shouldn't be certified may get certified. This bill fixes this by amending 28 U.S.C. 534 to add POST agencies to the list of entities authorized to receive Federal criminal history records, the same access that law enforcement agencies already have. This is a simple, no-cost fix to close this gap. Again, I thank Congressman Schmidt for working with me in a bipartisan manner to bring this issue to the committee's attention and to propose a commonsense solution. I thank the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training for their technical expertise and assistance with this legislation, which is also supported by the Major County Sheriffs of America, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, this bill would require the Attorney General to provide demographic information about NICS denials. I support collecting data to better understand and evaluate the effectiveness of NICS and determine whether it needs to be strengthened in any way. Mr. Speaker, in memory of Sheila Jackson Lee, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2267, the NICS Data Reporting Act, which would require the Attorney General to submit an annual report to Congress providing demographic data about the individuals who receive denials from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, NICS, as part of an attempted firearm purchase in the preceding year. The NICS background system has processed more than 300 million checks since the FBI launched the system in 1998. NICS checks are critical to enforcing our laws that keep certain disqualified individuals from possessing a firearm. The overwhelming majority of NICS checks determine that a prospective purchaser may legally purchase a firearm, and these checks are typically completed in just a few minutes. But in some instances, a NICS search determines that a person may not legally purchase a firearm because the person is matched to a serious criminal conviction, a domestic violence restraining order, a dishonorable discharge from the armed services, a wanted person's list, or other disqualifying record. Since its inception, NICS has denied sales to more than 1.5 million transactions, keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous people who should not have them. The sponsor of this legislation, Congressman Massie, has cited evidence suggesting that Black and Hispanic men may be more likely to experience false denials since, due to over-incarceration, they are disproportionately likely to share a name with other Black or Hispanic men who are incarcerated. Mr. Massie has also expressed concern that erroneous NICS denials may disproportionately affect people based not just on race, ethnicity, and national origin, but also on sex, gender, age, disability, income, and English language proficiency. This is why his legislation asks for the demographic data of individuals denied firearms through NICS for each of the categories I just listed. There is absolutely no harm in seeking this information. We need data and facts to understand our complex world, to craft responsive legislation, and to determine how to allocate government funding. In fact, when I was in North Carolina representing people who had been wrongly stopped by law enforcement officials, we instituted a data collection system that looks into whether or not people have been detained based on their race or their gender, and it has been very effective. NICS is an essential tool that keeps guns out of dangerous people's hands. We should seek to learn more about how NICS is working and make improvements, if any are necessary. We need a universal violent criminal background check to close loopholes in current laws, like the internet loophole and the gun show loophole. I support this legislation, and I urge my Republican colleagues to stand with us in supporting public access to all information, including demographic data, so that we can be certain that our laws and our government are working for every American. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Artemis II crew on their successful mission around the Moon. On this historic journey, Christina Koch made history as the first woman to travel this far into space. I am especially excited to celebrate Christina's achievement because she is a proud graduate of NC State University in my district. Go Pack. She is an inspiration to women and girls everywhere who want to pursue a career in a field that has been dominated by men. Artemis II reminds us of the power of investing in space, science, and innovation, and, as Christina shared, the power of a crew. These four extraordinary astronauts set the stage for the future of the space program and for future generations of scientists. Let's continue to make robust investments in science that will propel us to new heights.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, during Women's History Month, to honor Ellen Lewis of Wake Forest, North Carolina, a remarkable community member who is not often remembered in the history books. Born into slavery, Ellen Lewis was about 15 years old when Union soldiers came through Wake Forest after the Civil War and told enslaved people that they were free. After emancipation, she built a life of service to her community, becoming a respected nurse and midwife who delivered hundreds of babies, both Black and White. Her story reminds us of the generations of Black women who have been the backbone of maternal care in our communities. Yet, today, Black mothers in America are still far more likely to experience complications or die from pregnancy-related causes. Let's recommit ourselves to building a healthcare system where every mother can give birth safely and with dignity.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with grave concerns about President Trump's unwarranted and unconstitutional war of choice on Iran. Only Congress has the authority to declare war. The President does not have the power to send our Nation to war unilaterally. We are now in an escalating conflict that the American people do not want and that Congress did not authorize. Senior Trump administration officials have failed to provide significant evidence of an imminent threat to justify this attack, and there is no consensus on when it will end. What is their plan to prevent further loss of American servicemembers? What will stop our country from being pulled into another protracted conflict in the Middle East? How much will it cost? This is why I just voted for a War Powers Resolution to curb President Trump's use of military force in Iran and protect American lives.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Black History Month to honor a giant in the civil rights movement, Ella Baker. She grew up in North Carolina and studied at Shaw University, an outstanding and historic HBCU in Raleigh. After attending Shaw, she moved to New York City and fought for economic justice for Black Americans. She went on to work with Dr. King to organize the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Following nationwide sit-ins led by Black college students, Ms. Baker was an instrumental figure in forming the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee at Shaw University at a conference in 1960. From fighting for voting rights for Black Americans to mentoring the next generation of civil rights leaders, Ella Baker paved the way for future generations. North Carolina and our country are better because of Ella Baker.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, after months of delays and distractions, Trump's DOJ finally released another trove of documents from the Epstein files. The DOJ claims it is in full compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but that is simply not true. It is just the latest in a long line of lies and excuses from this administration. To date, the DOJ has only released half of the files, in direct violation of Federal law. The survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse have already endured unimaginable pain. They deserve truth and accountability. However, in this latest release, some of the survivors' names and images were exposed while the men who abused them remained redacted. What is DOJ hiding? Who are they protecting? Here is the bottom line: Anything short of full compliance amounts to a coverup.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 53rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade when the Supreme Court finally granted women the right to control their own reproductive healthcare. Tragically, in 2022, one-half century of reproductive freedom was stripped away when the conservative majority on the Court overturned Roe. Since then, we have seen extreme abortion bans enacted across the country, including in North Carolina. Today, Republicans at all levels of government are waging an all-out war on Americans' access to care, pushing healthcare even further out of reach for millions of women. First they took away our right to choose, and then they took away our healthcare coverage. They came for our freedom, and then they came for our doctors and hospitals. Women deserve better. Republicans deserve the blame.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, in November, my home State of North Carolina watched in horror as Federal immigration agents descended on our State and terrorized our communities. During these raids, my constituent Fatima Velasquez-Antonio, was detained. She has work authorization, no criminal record, and is allowed to legally remain in this country while her asylum case is pending. Yet despite all of this, she was taken into custody and ripped away from her family for weeks. Thankfully, after an outpouring of public anger and criticism, the Trump administration finally released Fatima a few days before Christmas. Fatima is one of countless hardworking immigrants who have been unlawfully or unjustly detained across the country. People like Fatima with deep ties to our community are being targeted instead of a focus on apprehending violent criminals. We cannot allow the Trump administration to continue violating the rights that all individuals in this country are guaranteed.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor former Governor Jim Hunt, a giant in North Carolina history who sadly passed last month. Governor Hunt leaves behind an extraordinary legacy as a fighter for education, economic development, equality, innovation, and so much more. He was the engine for positive progress in our State. Hunt was known nationally as the Education Governor. He worked relentlessly to ensure that every North Carolinian had access to high- quality and public education and every teacher earned a decent salary. Governor Hunt was a visionary who pushed the economy in North Carolina into the modern era, propelling us from economic stagnation to global leadership in technology and innovation. Personally, he was a mentor to me. I will carry his legacy with me forever. North Carolina is a better place because of Jim Hunt.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Madam Speaker, this week I introduced the FEMA Administrative Reform Act to accelerate the delivery of Federal disaster recovery aid to western North Carolina. All year, President Trump and his administration have continued to withhold aid and politicize disaster relief. In June, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem implemented a policy requiring her personal approval of any contract above $100,000, including FEMA disaster aid reimbursements. This result has been delay after delay and local communities waiting endlessly for the aid they desperately need. Madam Speaker, my bill would reverse this disastrous policy and speed up the flow of Federal dollars to western North Carolina and communities across the country. It is clear that Congress needs to take action. Our people need the relief that Congress approved over a year ago.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, we have reached the precipice of a full-blown healthcare crisis in North Carolina and this country. ACA tax credits are only weeks away from expiring. Unless Congress acts, an estimated 157,000 North Carolinians will lose their coverage. This week, I led my North Carolina colleagues in demanding actions from Speaker Johnson. What is his strategy? Where is the plan? I am the proud cosponsor of a bipartisan solution to this crisis, but Speaker Johnson refuses to put any bill on the floor for a vote. Next week is our last legislative week of the year and our last chance to preserve access to lifesaving care for our constituents. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of North Carolina, I am pleading with my Republican colleagues to join Democrats in saving healthcare for millions of Americans.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Reverend Janet Watrous, who sadly passed away in October. Reverend Watrous was both a spiritual and social justice leader in our community for many years, and she was my neighbor. She got her start in the ministry when she graduated from the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1977. When the Episcopal Church officially allowed women into the priesthood, she became a priest, going on to serve as the first woman in parishes across the country, including New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and eventually North Carolina. Janet was often called the Energizer Bunny by her colleagues because of her infectious attitude that made everyone around her want to work hard and do good. She led with love and light, whether it was through her diocesan work in North Carolina or serving as the president of Planned Parenthood. Our community will always remember her spirit and the lives she changed for the better.

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate North Carolina State University's new chancellor, Kevin Howell, who was recently installed as the university's 15th chancellor. I have known Chancellor Howell for 30 years. He has served North Carolina State, the UNC system, and a former Governor at the highest levels. Originally from Shelby, North Carolina, Howell graduated from NC State and was the first Black student body president during his senior year. He went on to earn his law degree from UNC Chapel Hill and served as a law clerk for the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Howell was born and raised in North Carolina and spent many formative years at NC State, developing a deep appreciation and understanding of this thriving academic community. In 2015, his NC State family even saved his life. Chancellor Howell's kidneys failed while he was working for former Chancellor Randy Woodson. One of his NC State coworkers did a historic and honorable thing, donating a kidney and saving his life. This selfless deed demonstrates the strength and unity that have defined NC State since its founding in 1887. Chancellor Randy Woodson was an extraordinary leader who left his mark on the university forever. I have no doubt that Chancellor Howell will excel and continue leading NC State and its students, staff, and faculty to even higher heights. Congratulations to Chancellor Howell. I look forward to our continued working relationship on behalf of NC State. Honoring Reverend Janet Watrous

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the Trump administration's deployment of CBP to North Carolina. Since last weekend, North Carolinians watched in horror as masked agents descended on our State, terrorizing communities, and abducting people off the streets based on the color of their skin. These immigration raids only serve one purpose: sowing fear and intimidation. If the Republicans cared about fixing our broken immigration system, this wouldn't be the way to do it. If they did, they would work with Democrats to ensure our border is secure, families stay together, and our farms and businesses can get the workers they need. Instead, they refuse to do anything to fix our immigration system for legal immigration. Mr. Speaker, Wake County and our State are welcoming, vibrant places, made stronger by the hardworking immigrants who choose to call our communities home. It is time for Federal immigration officers to go home and stop attacking our people. They need to arrest real criminals.

Ms. ROSS

Ms. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, next week we will recognize the 1-year anniversary since Hurricane Helene plowed a path of destruction across western North Carolina. In August, I had the chance to visit and hear directly from several affected communities. Time and time again, I heard the same thing. They need more Federal support, and they need it faster. We are lucky to have the steady leadership of Governor Stein guiding the recovery effort, but the Federal Government needs to do its part, too. Unfortunately, the Trump administration continues to slow down the Federal relief process. That is why I am calling on the President to slash the red tape that is holding back critical assistance that was appropriated last year for our State. Mr. Speaker, Congress also has a critical role to play. We need to replenish the disaster relief fund and immediately pass Governor Stein's request for additional Helene recovery funding. We can't abandon western North Carolina.