Luz Rivas

Ms. RIVAS

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material into the Record on the subject of my Special Order hour.

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, just over a year ago, I was part of a talented and diverse group of 33 freshmen Members of Congress. We were veterans, doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, small business owners, and State legislators who were sent by our constituents to make their lives better. They sent us to Congress to protect their healthcare, lower the costs of their groceries, and make life more affordable. Democrats are working on bills that would meaningfully help families deal with the affordability crisis. There are bills that have been introduced that stop price gouging at the grocery store, make housing more affordable, and make healthcare accessible for all, but Republicans have yet to take up any of these proposals. We are in midst of an affordability crisis, and Republicans are refusing to work with us to address it. We are 13 months into our first term in Congress, and my colleagues and I have yet to see a meaningful piece of legislation from Republicans that makes life less expensive for our constituents. Over the past year, Republicans chose to rename the Gulf of Mexico, redefine what a showerhead is, rename the Kennedy Center, look into annexing Greenland, regulate fridges and gas stoves, and perhaps the most egregious one is to make the largest cuts to healthcare in our country's history in order to give billionaires more tax breaks. The fact that Trump and Republicans are prioritizing these bills over lowering the cost of living is insulting to our constituents. I fail to see how renaming the Gulf of Mexico, redefining the definition of a showerhead, or annexing Greenland will help families in our districts afford groceries or pay their rent. Because of Donald Trump and Republicans' policies, families across the country paid an average of over $1,600 more due in everyday expenses. Californians are paying over $2,300. However, do you know who is benefiting from the Trump administration? Billionaires. With the big, ugly bill, Trump and Republicans have implemented the largest cuts to healthcare in the history of our country and worsen the affordability crisis just to line the pockets of their billionaire donors. The big, ugly bill is also the largest cut to food assistance in American history. The bill cuts SNAP benefits by 20 percent for all participants, or roughly $200 billion, jeopardizing SNAP benefits for more than 40 million people, including 16 million children and 8 million seniors who rely on this for nutritional assistance. Republicans turn their backs on making life affordable for our most vulnerable in order to help billionaires afford another yacht. My House Democratic Caucus freshmen colleagues and I are focused on making life better for the American people and driving down grocery prices, utility bills, rent and mortgage payments, and childcare and elder care costs so that hardworking people can breathe easier. To help working families, especially multigenerational households, deal with the rising costs of living, I am introducing the Multigenerational Family Tax Credit Act. My bill gives multigenerational families a tax credit for expenses that they incur when they upgrade their houses to make them more accessible for their aging parents who live with them. This includes upgrades like grab rails in the shower, an additional bathroom or bedroom, or even assistance to go up and down stairs. This tax credit will help multigenerational families afford to make the upgrades necessary for seniors to age gracefully in one place. Tonight, we will hear from some of the freshmen of the Democratic Caucus and the work that they are doing to make life more affordable for their constituents. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Whitesides), my colleague and friend.

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Bell), my colleague and friend.

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Mannion), my colleague and friend.

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the great State of Maryland (Ms. Elfreth).

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Elfreth for her remarks. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the great State of Arizona (Mrs. Grijalva).

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, over the past year, Republicans have chosen to focus on nearly everything except addressing the affordability crisis. One of those items includes renaming the Gulf of Mexico. As a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, I saw this bill make its way through the committee thinking that it was a joke. I was correct to think that because the origin of renaming the Gulf of Mexico was from a joke. In 2011, Stephen Colbert joked about renaming the gulf during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, stating that: ``I don't think we can call it the Gulf of Mexico anymore. We broke it; we bought it.'' When the big, ugly bill was being marked up in the Natural Resources Committee, I led an amendment that would make this unserious proposal more beneficial for working families in my district. My amendment made it so that the gulf cannot be renamed until Secretary Burgum can assess how the bill will actually lower grocery prices, improve the GDP, lower unemployment, and create jobs. Of course, Republicans rejected my amendment. That seems to be the pattern that we are all seeing, and that is why we are here today to share the stories on how the affordability crisis is affecting our constituents. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Dexter).

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, in July, Republicans voted to betray our values as a Nation and turn their backs on children, working parents, veterans, and our most vulnerable. Under direct orders from the President, the big, ugly bill ignored the concerns of a majority of Americans to instead cater to billionaires. For over a year, Republicans have done nothing to save Medicaid, protect immigrant communities, provide food for needy families or children, or address the skyrocketing cost of living. Republicans voted to stand with billionaires and make life harder and more expensive for working families. What Republicans somehow fail to see is how the big, ugly bill would harm their constituents. House Democrats all voted to save Medicaid and SNAP, protect our immigrant communities, and stand with working families across the San Fernando Valley and across the country. As you heard from many of my freshmen colleagues who participated today, Republicans are turning their backs on everyday Americans. We all have constituent stories, constituents who have reached out to us to share the impact of these policies on their daily lives. Just recently, I heard from an elderly couple in my district from Valley Village who are facing serious health concerns, including chronic heart problems and cancer. He and his wife make regular visits to the oncologist and are going through multiple rounds of chemotherapy. They live on a fixed income from Social Security. Between regular visits to the doctors and the monthly increase in their rent, they are struggling to make ends meet. No one should have to make the choice of paying for their rent or a visit to the doctor that they need in order to survive. Unfortunately, these are the decisions that this administration is forcing everyday Americans to make. Republicans must work with House Democrats to bring these costs down for families in the San Fernando Valley and across the country. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, the work we do in Congress should improve the lives of our constituents, not focus on vanity projects for an egomaniac or line the pockets of people who don't need it. We heard from several talented and dedicated Democratic freshmen tonight about the work that they are doing to make life more affordable for their constituents. The true test of how great we are as a country is how we treat and care for our most vulnerable. Time and time again, Democrats are rising to the occasion to pass this test and make life more affordable for all. By doing literally everything except for addressing the affordability crisis that they created, Republicans are failing that test. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. RIVAS

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. RIVAS

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material into the Record on the subject of my Special Order hour.

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, as a Member from California, I yield to my colleague from the great State of Utah, Congressman Blake Moore, so they can continue honoring Congressman Doug LaMalfa.

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott).

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from North Dakota (Mrs. Fedorchak.)

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Kennedy).

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore).

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, my condolences to the family of former Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Mr. Speaker, I am glad to be here on the floor today to lead this important discussion with my Congressional Progressive Caucus colleagues about protecting healthcare for millions of Americans. Earlier today, the House voted to pass Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries' bill to extend the Affordable Care Act's enhanced premium tax credits for 3 more years. I thank Leader Jeffries for his relentless leadership to make today's vote a reality. House Democrats have been fighting for months to save these critical tax credits and for years to protect the Affordable Care Act from Republicans' constant attacks. The ACA tax credits are the reason that record numbers of Americans have health insurance today. The ACA tax credits lower monthly premiums and make coverage realistic for working families, small business owners, seniors not yet eligible for Medicare, and people who fall through the cracks of employer-based insurance. Because of these tax credits, people can go to the doctor before a problem becomes an emergency. They can manage chronic conditions. They can live with dignity instead of fear of bankruptcy. Democrats did not give up on the American people, unlike many Republicans, who chose to let these tax credits expire 1 week ago. That is right. When the ball dropped in Times Square on New Year's Eve, millions of Americans saw their healthcare premiums rise. That is a direct result of the healthcare crisis that Republicans created through their inaction on Americans' most pressing concerns. Over the past year, instead of working on meaningful solutions to lower the cost of groceries, lower the cost of housing, or protect healthcare, Republicans chose to rename the Gulf of Mexico, redefine what a showerhead is, rename The Kennedy Center, look into annexing Greenland, and regulate fridges and gas stoves. Yet, in all seriousness, there are real problems that our country is facing. ICE is terrorizing communities across the country, and yesterday, masked agents murdered Renee Nicole Good in broad daylight in Minnesota. Trump is entertaining entering another war with Venezuela. Vaccines are being rolled back, which will make students and communities sicker. Americans are struggling to afford basic goods. Speaking of affordability, we are in the middle of an affordability crisis that Republicans refused to address. Republicans chose to shut down the government instead of extending the ACA tax credits to help Americans afford healthcare. During the longest shutdown in government history, my colleagues and I heard from our constituents about how Republicans' inaction to extend the ACA tax credits would impact them. I hand-delivered several of these stories from my freshman colleagues to Speaker Johnson so that he could see how his shutdown was creating hardship for Americans from California to New Hampshire, Washington, and everywhere in between. In my district, the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, nearly 31,000 people would have seen their healthcare costs rise if the ACA tax credits expired, and nearly 11,000 people would have lost access to healthcare entirely. Additionally, a 60-year-old couple in my district earning nearly $83,000 per year would have seen their annual premiums rise by nearly $14,000, and a family of four earning nearly $130,000 a year would have seen their annual premiums rise by over $6,000. This is just in my district. Republicans were willing to let this happen to Americans across the country, regardless of political affiliation. I am proud to have voted with my colleagues to pass Leader Jeffries' bill to extend the ACA tax credits and protect healthcare, but our work is not done. The Senate needs to take up this bill immediately so that Americans don't have to worry about their premiums skyrocketing. In the richest country on Earth, no one should have to worry about choosing between paying for groceries, making rent, or having healthcare. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Randall), my cohost for tonight's Special Order hour and my friend and fellow freshman classmate from the beautiful State of Washington.

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko).

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of California (Mr. Garamendi).

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano), my colleague and friend and the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the great State of Arizona (Mrs. Grijalva).

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the great State of Oregon (Ms. Hoyle).

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the great State of Arizona (Ms. Ansari).

Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of New York (Mr. Goldman).