Maria Salazar

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I am here today because I oppose this resolution. It is fundamentally flawed. It is trying to invoke the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which doesn't even apply in the case of Venezuela. The War Powers Resolution applies when there is active combat with the United States forces. It does not include law enforcement or counternarcotics operations against declared terrorists like Nicolas Maduro, who happens to be the head of a major drug cartel in the Western Hemisphere. Therefore, we do not need this resolution because what the President is doing is well within the law. The President does not need congressional approval to protect Americans from terrorist attacks. Let's see what the Constitution says. The Founding Fathers vested in Congress the power to declare war, but they were equally clear that the power to defend the homeland from foreign and domestic threats belongs to the President as Commander in Chief. Therefore, President Trump does not need congressional permission to kill terrorists at sea who are bringing cocaine and fentanyl to the streets of Miami, New York, or Chicago. Let's see what international law says. The United States is waging a noninternational armed conflict with Venezuela. What does that mean? Our issue is not with Venezuela as a country but with Nicolas Maduro, the narcotrafficker who hijacked that country after he stole the elections last year. Under the Law of Armed Conflict, we can use military force to stop his drug cartel from flooding the streets of the United States. According to article 29 of the Charter of the Organization of American States, of which the United States is a member, it says that the countries of the Western Hemisphere may take military action against a threat that endangers the peace of the Americas. The Maduro regime has destroyed the peace of the whole Western Hemisphere. If not, ask anyone who lives in my district, the city of Miami. Now let's go back to American history, which says that Maduro is the world's largest drug trafficker. In 2020, he was indicted by a Federal grand jury in this country for pushing hundreds of thousands of tons of cocaine to the streets of the United States. Back in 1989, we had a very similar experience in Panama with Manuel Noriega. At the time, President Bush took action in Panama to remove Noriega. There was no need for congressional approval, but as Commander in Chief, he did what he needed to do. Today, Panamanians are eternally grateful to the United States. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan ordered United States forces into the islands of Grenada to protect the lives of American citizens. Once again, the President did not ask approval from Congress. Reagan acted swiftly, lawfully, and decisively. Today, the actions taken against the cartel of the los Soles, headed by Maduro, fall squarely into this same category--operations against nonstate actors and criminal organizations, not a war against a sovereign nation or a legitimate President. This resolution presented by the Democratic Party would tie President Trump's hands in the fight against drug-trafficking terrorists. Every Venezuelan knows that Maduro is just a thug and a delinquent who has been in the drug-trafficking business for 27 years since he took over the country. They have totally destroyed the most prosperous country in Latin America, Venezuela. Of course, Congress has the crucial role in authorizing wars, but the President has independent authority to defend the mainland. Panama is thriving. Grenada is thriving. Once Maduro is gone and order is restored to the country, it will be the most prosperous country in Latin America, having the largest reserves of oil in the world, which will give them enough resources not to depend on the charity of the United States or any other country to fix the destruction that Maduro wrought. Mr. Speaker, for those reasons, I strongly oppose this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the honorable gentleman from Arkansas, the distinguished French Hill, chairman of the Committee on Financial Services. It is a pleasure for me to be serving with him on this committee. Mr. Speaker, I am going to say before I start, before I explain to this body why I am introducing this resolution, when I was a journalist covering stories for Univision Network, I interviewed many people who had lost their legs or lost their brothers or sisters in the middle of the ocean, trying to get to Miami, and the sharks ate them up. Some of them were eaten up alive. Others lost legs. When they made it to Florida, I was able to interview them as a journalist and see the horrors of what they had to go through because they were escaping the paradise called socialism. I am going to start with that and maybe finish with another anecdote. The reason we are introducing this resolution is to condemn the horrors of socialism, and I am presenting just the facts. I invite my colleagues on the other side to vote to condemn this nefarious ideology. This has nothing to do with political parties. This is not a Democratic issue. This is not a Republican issue. This is a moral vote against an ideology that has destroyed millions and millions of families--many of those families I serve in District 27, the heart of the city of Miami, the heart of the Cuban exile community and now the Venezuelan community--and murdered more than 100 million lives besides crushing hundreds of thousands of other families and individuals. Unfortunately, socialism and Marxism crush the human soul. It is not just in my community in Miami. Millions of Cubans had to flee. It is the rest of the hemisphere and the rest of the world. Just look at Russia, look at North Korea, and look at Iran. What a coincidence that, today, President Trump is receiving in the White House the mayor-elect, Mr. Mamdani, from New York City. I salute the President for receiving Mr. Mamdani because he won fair and square, and that is the way democracy works. Let me just tell you something. Knowing very well how Fidel worked, how Hugo Chavez works, and how socialism works, I want to put this in perspective. If it were to be the other way around and Trump would have been the mayor-elect and Mamdani were to be the President of the United States, I assure you that there is no way that Mamdani is going to receive Trump at the White House, period. How do I know that? Because I know exactly how they operate. Democracy is just a tool to get to power, period. People who love freedom, we are just useful fools to be used in order to get to the business of power, which is all socialist, communist, whatever you want to call it. If it is not democracy, freedom, and a free-market economy, it is just a bad ideology. Unfortunately, that is what they do to achieve power. They use us. Just look at Venezuela. Oh, my God, Venezuela is in the news. Everyone is talking about Venezuela, my God, the Caribbean. Let me just give you the facts. Maria Corina Machado, who is the legitimate President of Venezuela, who won 80-20 after President Biden gave the opportunity to Maduro to do fair and square elections and transparent elections, 2 years ago Maduro signs a document by the name of the Barbados Agreement, and he agrees to the Biden administration and to Juan Gonzalez, who used to be the National Security Advisor for Latin America, that he was going to leave if he did not win the elections. He signed that document with the Biden administration. What did he do? He just spit on Biden's face because we believed that, oh, my God, Biden, look what he is doing. It is good. It is a good idea to give the opportunity to Maduro to just create and conduct free, fair, and transparent elections with international observers, and he was going to go. Look at where he is at now. Maduro is not only the head of the Suns Cartel, one of the most important drug trafficking cartels in the world, but he was also indicted in 2020 by a Federal grand jury in this country for being one of the major drug traffickers in the world. Not only that, he is now on the transnational criminal organization list. Not only that, he is the head of the Suns Cartel.

Ms. SALAZAR. As you can see, I can speak until tomorrow about socialism. The problem is that Venezuela is the perfect example, and the Venezuelans would make fun of the Cubans 25 years ago, saying that it was impossible for that to happen in Venezuela. They had the largest reserves of oil in the world. They were a brave and strong democracy. They were not an island. It was impossible. They have such a strong economy. Look, right now, the average Venezuelan weighs 15 pounds less because of a lack of food, and the Trump administration has to come to rescue them from what they have turned that country into. We are at a crossroads in this country. Young Americans, 70 percent believe that socialism is good. One in three believes that government should control major industries. One in four says that we should abolish private property. It is my duty as a Representative of District 27, the heart of the Cuban exile community, to tell this body it is time to denounce socialism in this country because, just like it happened to the Venezuelans, it could happen to the Americans.

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, if there is someone who has seen the horrors of socialism up close within the Democratic Party, and is in the House, it is the Honorable Congresswoman Maxine Waters. And I would love for you to support this resolution specifically because, Madam Waters, for decades, you traveled to Cuba dozens of times to visit Fidel Castro personally, whom you considered your friend. Congresswoman Waters was in Havana, and she saw the destruction of Biblical proportions that Castro caused on that island, who, at the time, in 1960, had the highest per capita income in the Western Hemisphere. * * *

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I am asking for unanimous consent to withdraw the violations of the rules and continue with my speech, which is that there are many people on this floor that have--

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, there are many people on this floor who have seen the horrors of communism. They have been to Cuba. They have been friends with Fidel Castro. They have seen the jails full of Cuban prisoners. They have seen people preparing rafts to die in the middle of the ocean, eaten by sharks. There are many people in the Democratic Party who have witnessed that and have not said anything. For this reason, Mr. Speaker, I am asking some of my colleagues on that side of the aisle, many of them who are very good friends of mine, to understand that denouncing communism and socialism is the right thing to do for the Democratic Party. If some of the highest, most important Members of the Democratic Party on that side of the aisle want to vote with us, they would be doing a favor to their Republic. Not only that, the Democratic Party will become the new champions for freedom in the Western Hemisphere.

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to commemorate the 120th Anniversary of the National Audubon Society, one of our Nation's oldest and most enduring conservation organizations. For over a century, Audubon has been driven by a simple but profound truth: what is good for birds is good for people and the planet. Audubon was founded in 1905 in response to the destruction of birds for the feather trade. Since then, Audubon has helped secure landmark conservation protections, from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act to the ban on DDT. These achievements reflect a legacy of science-based advocacy and bipartisan action that has safeguarded countless species and habitats. They also understand that it all begins with birds, because if birds are in trouble, it's a sign our environment is too. By centering conservation efforts on birds, Audubon has been a leader in smarter, more sustainable solutions that help both wildlife and people. These efforts in turn have helped species such as the Bald Eagle, Brown Pelican, and Whooping Crane, all once on the brink of extinction, make remarkable recoveries. Our Nation's 26th President, Teddy Roosevelt, was a passionate conservationist and from an early age, had a deep appreciation for birds. In writing to renowned ornithologist Frank Chapman, President Roosevelt remarked, ``Spring would not be spring without bird songs, any more than it would be spring without buds and flowers, and . . . . besides protecting the songsters, the birds of the grove, the orchard, the garden and the meadow, we could also protect the birds of the seashore and of the wilderness.'' Both my constituents and I agree with President Roosevelt--we must make serious efforts to protect as many birds as possible. That is why I led the introduction of the Neotropical Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act during the 118th Congress. Signed into law in April 2024, this bill reauthorized the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act, which provides financial assistance for projects to promote the conservation of neotropical migratory birds. By protecting birds, we can protect our environment and the natural beauty that surrounds us. As Audubon marks 120 years, its mission remains as vital as ever to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. The legacy of the women and men who built this organization continues in the conservationists, volunteers, and community leaders who carry its work forward. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the National Audubon Society for 120 years of unwavering leadership, innovation, and impact. Audubon is not just part of conservation history; it is a leading champion for the future of our Nation and planet.

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to honor twenty years of the Town of Cutler Bay, a beautiful town in Florida's 27th District, and a shining example of local leadership, community strength, and the American promise at work. On November 8, 2005, the people of Cutler Bay voted to chart their own destiny, becoming Miami-Dade County's newest town. In just two decades, from the Deering Coast to Saga Bay, Cutler Bay has shown what happens when citizens don't wait for change--they build it. I am honored to represent them in Congress, and I have been delighted to stand shoulder to shoulder with this remarkable community to help them become even stronger. My support for Cutler Bay's versatile efforts has been constant, from recognizing our health partners during National Health Center Week, to advocating for small businesses and delivering federal resources to strengthen local infrastructure and environmental resilience. In 2023, I secured $4.4 million in federal funding for the Marlin Road Improvement Project, a major investment to bring new sidewalks, dedicated bike lanes, upgraded lighting, and high-visibility crosswalks to make Cutler Bay safer and more accessible for everyone. These improvements will revitalize a key corridor for residents, students, and small businesses, making daily life safer and more connected. But their work doesn't stop at the surface. I have also worked hard to secure funding for what lies beneath Cutler Bay's homes, our water, our wetlands, and our way of life. That's why I recently toured the Cutler Bay Coastal Wetlands Project, a key component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), the largest ecosystem restoration effort in the world, authorized and funded by Congress. This project restores the natural flow of freshwater from the C-100 canal system into the coastal wetlands along Biscayne Bay, helping rebalance salinity levels, reduce saltwater intrusion into the Biscayne aquifer, and revive native wetland habitats. Work like this is a testament to what happens when federal, state, and local partners come together with a shared mission: to protect South Florida's water supply, to defend Biscayne Bay, and to build resilience against sea-level rise. Cutler Bay's Coastal Wetlands Project is a local piece of a much larger Everglades restoration puzzle, one that keeps South Florida safe, strong, and sustainable for generations to come and one that I am happy to be a part of. I congratulate Mayor Tim Meerbott, the Town Council, our first responders, and every resident of Cutler Bay, on twenty extraordinary years. They have proven that when a community lights its own path, the future shines brighter for all of Miami-Dade. I am deeply proud to represent the Cutler Bay community in the United States Congress.

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, formerly known as Miami Children's Hospital until 2015, was founded in 1950 and is South Florida's only free-standing pediatric hospital. Staffed by 850 physicians and more than 500 pediatric subspecialists, Nicklaus is home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States. It is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine, and according to U.S. News & World Report, many of Nicklaus's specialty programs ranking among the best in the Nation since 2008. The tremendous impact Nicklaus has is not felt in District 27 alone. Nicklaus Children's Health System, the parent organization of Nicklaus Children's Hospital, maintains an extensive network of outpatient and urgent care centers in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin Counties, serving families throughout Florida, the United States, and more than 100 countries. Not only does Nicklaus maintain an extensive network but it also continues to ensure children and their families have access to the specialized care they need and deserve. Nicklaus offers more than 30 pediatric specialties and operates leading institutes focused on pediatric care, including the Helen and Jacob Shaham Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute, the Brain Institute, the Heart Institute, and the Orthopedic, Sports Medicine, and Spine Institute. And just last year, the Hospital opened the Kenneth C. Griffin Surgical Tower, one of the most innovative pediatric surgical facilities in the United States, ensuring that children and adolescents can receive expert surgical care without leaving Florida. Additionally, Nicklaus has a top-of-the-line emergency transportation fleet. The Hospital's LifeFlight Critical Care Transport Program, which includes six ambulances, two helicopters, and fixed-wing jets equipped for pediatric and neonatal patients, saves nearly 4,000 infants and children annually across Florida, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. From Miami to the Panhandle, from the Panhandle to Central and South America, from Central and South America to the Caribbean, Nicklaus is a world-class institution that has provided care to so many for decades. On the occasion of its 75th anniversary, I want to congratulate Nicklaus Children's Hospital and commend its continued commitment to advancing pediatric health care for children and families in Miami, throughout the country, and across the world.

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 155. personal explanation

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, May is Brain Cancer Awareness month, and there are over 450,000 Americans living with primary malignant and non- malignant brain tumors in the United States. These range from primary brain tumors called Gliomas, including Glioblastomas, to secondary brain tumors that occur from metastases from other parts of the body. Today, I want to recognize the work and efforts of a wonderful patient advocacy organization--Voices Against Brain Cancer (VABC). The organization is based in South Florida but assists families all over our Nation. Founded by Mr. Mario Lichtenstein, VABC was started in memory of his son, Gary Lichtenstein. Gary lost his fight with brain cancer on October 1, 2003 at the age of 24, just as he was starting his career in Chicago. After three months of radiation, Gary slipped into a coma from which he did not recover. Soon after his passing, Gary's family started Voices Against Brain Cancer Foundation to raise money and awareness for the fight against the illness. As its founder so bravely states, ``I couldn't save the life of my son, but perhaps I can save the life of others''. The mission of Voices Against Brain Cancer is to find a cure for brain cancer by financing scientific research and increasing awareness within the medical community, as well as supporting patients, their families, and caregivers afflicted with this devastating disease. Through the years, VABC has funded scientific research at over 50 institutions in the United States and across the globe including Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the University of Miami. Voices Against Brain Cancer also advocates for increased federal funding for brain tumor research at the National Institutes of Health and increased public awareness. The cure rate for most brain tumors is significantly lower than it is for many other types of cancers, a statistic VABC is driven to change. The organization champions specific patient-centered programs such as Survivor Reboot Groups, which supports brain cancer survivors, and the Caregiver Meet-Up, which brings caregivers together, meeting virtually or in person to share experiences. It also created the After the Storm Group, which is for those who have lost a loved one; the C3 program--Connect, Create, Collaborate which includes art, music, and yoga workshops, allowing people to collaborate with others going through similar situations; and finally Brain Cancer 101, an educational program. Voices Against Brain Cancer has turned tragedy into purpose. As we close out Brain Cancer Awareness Month, let us remember Gary Lichtenstein and salute his family that has worked so hard to find more effective treatments and a cure for this terrible disease.

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, every generation of Congress faces moments that test our commitment to justice, and today is one of those moments. I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 146, the TAKE IT DOWN Act. The Senate has already done its job. They passed this legislation unanimously. Now, it is our turn in the House of Representatives. This is our moment to stand up to protect our children and make this the law of the land. The name of the legislation is the TAKE IT DOWN Act. The mission of this bill is simple, profound, and long lasting. It stops cyber abuse. It prevents the bullying of one child against another and, even more importantly, prevents suicide born out of shame. It is outrageously sick to use images--the face, the voice, the likeness--of a young vulnerable female to manipulate them, to extort them, and to humiliate them publicly just for fun, just for revenge. That is why we created this bill, to stop the abuse spreading like wildfire right now on social media. It is widely known that 99 percent of the time, the victims, most of them girls, don't even know their faces, their bodies, their intimate parts are being circulated around the internet in fake, compromising pornographic images. Unfortunately, in life, perception is reality. Even though the images are fake, the consequences are very, very real. Even though, as I said, the images do not belong to them, those girls are paying for them dearly with shame, humiliation, and the unbearable suffering when you are 14, 15 years old. Up until now, there was no recourse. Just imagine waking up one morning to find yourself trapped in a nightmare that you never created. This is exactly what is happening to our children, and this is why we must act. Mr. Speaker, the bill called the TAKE IT DOWN Act finally sends a very loud and clear message to Big Tech. If you, Big Tech, do not remove these fake images within 48 hours, you are as guilty and as responsible as the predators who created them. I am talking to Snapchat, to Instagram, and to TikTok. All of them will have to comply within 48 hours when a victim calls and demands and tells you that you have to remove those images. There are no more excuses. You, Big Tech, have to take it down. Let's talk to the bullies, to the predators, to the perverts who are hiding behind a computer, the ones who created this fake material. If you dare to do this again to another innocent child, most of them girls, you are going to prison. You will be in jail for a long time. Don't do it, and don't dare to do it anymore. Prison is a great place where you can sit and ponder what you have done to another human being. Today, we take away the power from the aggressors and the accomplices, and we give it back to the victims and their families. Up until now, the parents of the victims found that the schools couldn't do anything. The police couldn't do anything. Big Tech would not even pay attention to them but no more. Now they can because we are passing this law. What a great honor it is for me to be part of this initiative, one that the First Lady has personally championed. The President of the United States endorsed this legislation during the recent state of the Union that he conducted in front of Congress. The President explained this as a vital step to defend our sons and daughters against online predators. My fellow colleagues, this is not about politics. This is about basic human dignity. This is about protecting children who are the most vulnerable among us. As I just mentioned, the Commander in Chief called on us to act on this law in this very Chamber a few weeks ago. Mr. Speaker, I urge the House of Representatives to vote ``yes'' on the TAKE IT DOWN Act. Let's make history today. Let's protect our children. Let's just take it down.

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the passage of my bill, H.R. 5349, the Crucial Communism Teaching Act. My legislation will develop a curriculum on the real, brutal history of communism and provide States with the resources to implement it from kindergarten through the end of high school. This bill is crucial at this hour for the health of our Nation. Why is that, Mr. Speaker? It is because America's youth has been brainwashed by media and academia for the last 30 years to believe that communism is good. What a travesty. What a horror. Ask my parents and my community if that is true. I am just going to bring you some proof, Mr. Speaker. Nearly 40 percent of Gen Zers and millennials think that ``The Communist Manifesto'' written by Karl Marx is a better defense of freedom than the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson. Just picture that, Mr. Speaker. Jefferson and Karl Marx, for 40 percent of Gen Zers, Marx wins over Jefferson. What a problem we have in this country. The Declaration of Independence, as we all know, gave birth to the longest and most prosperous democracy in the world, ours, and that is why we have to preserve it through this bill. More than one-third of millennials approve of communism because they do not know what they are talking about or what this is all about. They don't know that communism has claimed over 100 million lives all over the world, making it the deadliest ideology known to mankind. I represent the people of the city of Miami, which is the heart of the Cuban exile community. It is the refuge of hundreds of thousands of Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who have, in record numbers, fled the horrors of this ideology. We would like, through this bill, to teach our kids not to fall into that trap. Let's just talk about Venezuela. Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world. That is a fact. It used to have the same GDP as Germany only 25 years ago. That is another fact. It has an inflation rate right now of over 150 percent. The average Venezuelan has lost 15 pounds for lack of food in a country that has the largest oil reserves in the world. Something doesn't match. In the last 25 years, nearly 8 million Venezuelans fled the country, a country that, as I said, has the largest reserves of oil and is full of natural resources. Now let's go to Nicaragua. It was the breadbasket of Central America 25 years ago. Under Communist Daniel Ortega, 28,000 properties have been expropriated, and Nicaraguans now are poorer than they were in the seventies. A couple of years ago, seven of the last presidential contenders were put in jail because elections for Communists is a problem, therefore, you have to stifle them and you put your political opponents in jail. That is the easiest part because there is no accountability. Now let's go to Cuba where my parents come from. My parents fled in the sixties. Seventy percent of Cubans today eat only once a day. The average Cuban makes $1 a day as income. In 1960, Cuba had a per capita income close to Italy or Argentina. Hunger, being hungry, is a very powerful motivator. Thousands and thousands of Cubans, I have known some of them, throw themselves into the ocean in the Florida Straits to get to Miami, facing the sharks and facing drowning just to escape that Communist inferno. They expose their children to that. Just picture what that means. What kind of life do you have to be living wherever you are in Cuba that you throw yourself into the ocean and face the sharks in the dark? Today, the average Cuban has 1 hour of electricity, and they have no food, no water, no medicine, no clothes, and they are desperate to come to the United States. This is an island that is 90 miles away from the United States, which is the most powerful economy in the world, and an island that could be Taiwan, Singapore, or Hong Kong but for communism. Now let's leave this hemisphere and let's go to China. In China, up to 55 million people starved to death under Mao Zedong in the Great Leap Forward. Mao was one of the most evil Communist leaders, we all know, but, Mr. Speaker, do you know that nearly one-half of our American kids do not even know who Mao Zedong is? In Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge murdered 1 million people. In the USSR, 10 million were sent to freeze to death.

Ms. SALAZAR. Communists are in the business of power. It only takes one generation to believe their false promises and we lose everything. We cannot misinform our children. Knowledge is power. Churchill said that by studying history, ``the farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.'' Communism only leads to destruction and misery. Mr. Speaker, I urge support from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. This bill has nothing to do with politics, and it has nothing to do with political parties. It has to do with preserving the institution and what we have created as a Nation. Let's teach our children about the truth. Let's not fall into the trap. Let's start from kindergarten to teach the children, and then they will be able to make a knowledgeable decision when they go to the voting booth. Mr. Speaker, I urge support from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Let's pass H.R. 5349.

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Madam Chair, on Roll Call No. 285, I mistakenly voted Aye when I intended to vote NO.

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge the passage of my bill, the Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act. Anti-Semitism has always been a tragic feature of world history, but there was no greater display of anti-Semitism than when the Nazis tried to wipe out the Jews from the face of the Earth. Hitler and his satanic advisers were the architects of one of the cruelest chapters in the history of humanity called the Holocaust. We all know too well the horrors of that period, but we often forget the remarkable individuals across the world who, at great personal risk, helped millions and millions of Jews escape the death camps. H.R. 537 recognizes 60 diplomats--some of them are pictured right here--who used their positions and influence to help those under persecution escape death. How? By issuing fake visas or hiding them in the embassies. They simply smuggled the Jews destined for concentration camps out of the hands of evil. These heroes come from a variety of nations, including the United States, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Spain, Italy, Poland, Japan, and even Nazi Germany. They displayed undeniable courage and embodied the best of humanity during one of the darkest times of human history. History, unfortunately, repeats itself, and today denial of the Holocaust is at an all-time high, with one out of five Americans under the age of 30 believing it never happened. Meanwhile, anti-Semitic incidents in this country, in the United States, have gone up more than 300 percent since the terrorist attack on Israel last October. Honoring the heroes of the past helps us acknowledge the Holocaust as a real event and serves today in the present as a chilling reminder of one of the devastating consequences of silence in the face of evil. Nonetheless, despite these unspeakable atrocities that defined that period, these people demonstrated that humanity also has the capacity for extraordinary acts of courage. By supporting this legislation, we will honor the memory of these heroes, we will preserve the truth of the Holocaust for future generations, and we will continue to fight anti-Semitism in all its forms. Finally, I would like to acknowledge Abe Foxman and Art Reidel, as well as my co-lead of this bill, the gentleman from New York, the Honorable Congressman Ritchie Torres.

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge passage of H.R. 4389, the Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act of 2023. Bird populations have declined by over 3 million since 1970, and the iconic birds that we know and love must be actively protected. Birds like the Baltimore oriole, wood stork, great blue heron, and snowy egret are not just beautiful to look at, they are vital to our environment and our economy. Many of the migratory birds we see at home spend their winter months in Latin America and the Caribbean, but they are threatened by habitat loss along their journey back and forth. Federal efforts like H.R. 4389 are key to conserving these species. My bill reauthorizes and improves the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Grant program. These government programs provide competitive grants for them to find refuge along the way, and, thankfully, they are matched 2 to 1 by private-sector investments who also care about the environment. The good news is that they pay major dividends. Over the last two decades, almost $90 million invested by the United States in bird conservation produced almost $350 million from other countries who were partners in the Western Hemisphere. Since 2002, these programs have supported 700 projects across dozens of Latin American countries, benefiting more than 5 million acres of habitat. Protecting these beautiful birds is also highly important for my constituents in the city of Miami. The Florida Everglades serves as a critical natural habitat for birds migrating and is one of the top bird-watching spots in the country, including for ibis, egrets, and herons. In 2022, more than 96 million people across this country participated in bird-watching, generating more than $100 billion in economic benefits for the country. If we protect these migratory birds, we are protecting the Everglades and we are protecting the ecosystem. If we are the ecosystem, we are bolstering our economy. It is a clear bipartisan win for everybody. I thank Chairman Bruce Westerman, Congressman Rick Larsen, Congressman David Joyce, and Congresswoman Mary Peltola for co-leading this bill with me. As a champion of animal welfare and strong protector of the Everglades, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4389.

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, President Ronald Reagan warned in 1985 that America has an unrelenting obligation to halt communist penetration in our hemisphere. If we fail to meet this obligation, we will send the unmistakable signal that the greatest power in the world is unwilling and incapable of stopping communist aggression in our own backyard. Right now we are facing that scenario in the islands of Cuba and Haiti. History teaches us that the current threats in our hemisphere must be addressed with the utmost seriousness, for these issues go to the heart of American security and American history. I stand here today to ensure that once again we learn from history and understand that the turmoil in our hemisphere in America's own backyard can and must be stopped or the price we pay will be dear. Let's focus on Cuba and Haiti. The stakes are incredibly high. The Cuban people live in a perpetual cycle of misery and despair at the hands of their communist oppressors. They are deprived of basic necessities, like food and electricity, living in literal darkness for hours a day, a product of the communist regime's intentional rolling blackouts. The regime has adopted the slogan ``patria o muerte'' or ``patriotism or death'' while subjecting the Cuban people for the last 60 years to conditions that will surely lead them to the latter--death from deprivation. A few days ago, Cuban protestors bravely took to the streets of Santiago and other cities on the island after once again being subjected to massive food shortages and blackouts for up to 18 hours a day. Now the protestors are crying out ``patria y vida'' or ``patriotism and life.'' In response, the Cuban regime did what they always do: blame us, the United States, for our embargo. But we fully understand the operations manual for the communist Cuban regime's propaganda machine. They have been exploiting, starving, imprisoning, and beating their own people for decades. But we know the truth. We as a Congress, as an American people, can take several steps to ensure the protestors' voices are not shouting in vain. First, I am calling on President Biden and the administration to take a stronger stance against the Cuban regime and stand in solidarity with the brave freedom fighters pouring into the streets all over Cuba. United States support of the Cuban freedom fighters is not a partisan issue. It is morally right and intimately linked to our own security and our own history, freedom, and democracy. We know that information is power, so let's provide internet access to the Cubans now so they can have a window to the free world. Now, I am talking to the Cuban military commanders. I have a crucial message for you. History has its eyes on you. It is inevitable that peaceful protestors will continue to take to the streets in Cuba in the hopes of finding freedom. And there will come a time when your moral integrity will face the ultimate test, whether or not to raise your weapons against your own neighbors and your own friends. My message from this floor is very clear to the Cuban military commanders: Make the right choice. Do not shoot at your own fellow citizens. Do not shoot at the Cuban people. Myself as a Member of this Congress, the United States of America, and history itself will recount these days, and your own legacies will be a result of you holding your fire. Now, it is not just Cuba that needs our attention. Another monster is looming large in our backyard to threaten American security: Haiti. Haiti is crumbling, a completely failed state in anarchy, overrun by gangs, violence, and chaos. Haiti's humanitarian, political, and security crisis grows worse by the second, while most people are on the brink of starvation. There is currently a Haitian refugee crisis unfolding. Haitian refugees will pour into our own country by the thousands. For the last 2 years, the Biden administration has swept the problems brewing in Haiti under the rug, and now their worst nightmare has appeared. We must call for a coalition of our allies in Latin America to help restore order in Haiti and halt the threat before it impacts additional countries like the Dominican Republic. America's enemies, hostile countries like China, Iran, and Russia, would love nothing more than to force communism onto our small neighbors like Haiti, just like they did in Cuba 60 years ago. We cannot sit idly by, nor afford to ignore the flames that are growing. We must take action now. I urge the Biden administration to pay close attention to my warnings. We need a clean strategy on the situation in Haiti, and we need this Congress to lead the way. We must extinguish the flames of instability and communism burning in our backyard. If we don't, they will surely continue all the way through to our own American kitchen. We cannot ignore Haiti or Cuba. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding his time and for supporting my bill. Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program in the CARES Act in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. What was the goal of this program? To keep small businesses open and to keep employees on payroll. The intention of the PPP program was clear, and it was very good. Unfortunately, bad actors took advantage of it and used it to steal billions of dollars from all of us. The Small Business Administration Inspector General has reported that there are potentially $200 billion worth of fraudulent loans. That is nearly 20 percent of all COVID pandemic loans. That is appalling and unacceptable. Mr. Speaker, a time of reckoning is now coming for those who stole those billions of dollars from the taxpayers' funds. My bipartisan bill, called the RECLAIM Taxpayer Funds Act, would require the Small Business Administration, the SBA, to create detailed rules and guidance for borrowers and lenders to return those stolen funds back to the United States Treasury Department. My district, the city of Miami, is home to thousands and thousands of small businesses, including some of the best restaurants in this country. Let's continue to support hardworking small businesses while punishing those bad actors. We can definitely do both. H.R. 4667 is the right step to regain government accountability in a bipartisan effort. Mr. Speaker, I thank my Democrat friend from Kentucky, Mr. McGarvey, for introducing this bill with me, and I encourage my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 4667, which puts Americans first by ensuring that criminals are not stealing our constituents' money.

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment, which would simply prohibit the executive branch from using the term ``Latinx'' in official public documents. Although 98 percent of Latinos reject the term ``Latinx,'' the White House has made a point to continue referring to us, the Latinos, as ``Latinx.'' Mr. Chair, let's talk about the epidemic of wokeness in our community. Wokeness has taken over our schools and our children, and now it wants to take over the Hispanic culture. The reality is that the Spanish language has two genders, masculine and feminine--male and female, period. There is no x. A new generation wants to modify a universal Hispanic reality. It wants to erase a grammatical rule that has been place for centuries. In 2004, the term ``Latinx'' first appeared online on Google Trends. It is supposed to signify a nonbinary option for Hispanics by removing the ``a'' for female or the ``o'' for male when addressing someone. ``Latinx'' has been overwhelmingly rejected by the Hispanic community in this country. Only 2 percent of the Hispanic population uses the term ``Latinx,'' while 90 percent prefer to use ``Hispanic'' or ``Latino.'' What we are seeing is that the use of ``Latinx'' is growing in university classrooms, where gender ideology and political correctness have taken over academics and intellectual rigor. Listen to this. We are seeing the use of ``Latinx'' in government documents at a time when the people it refers to don't even want to use it. How could that be? That is imposing on us. We don't even want it. That is why I have introduced this amendment to prohibit the Biden administration from using ``Latinx'' in official, public-facing government documents. This is an important move that would prevent this wokeness from being forced onto us, the Hispanics, a conservative community that uses ``male'' and ``female,'' period. Mr. Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to support my amendment and to stand with the Latino community--``Latino'' with an o and ``Latina'' with an a, not with an x. I urge them to choose our traditional Hispanic culture over woke culture, to choose our history over political correctness to please a small group of people who don't even know anything about us. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome Miami's new resident, and futbol legend, Lionel Messi. It is an honor to host a world-class athlete in my district. Messi signed onto Miami's soccer team, Inter Miami, which kicked off its inaugural season in Major League Soccer 3 years ago. His presence is already making an impact in my community. He brought home the first win of the 2023 Leagues Cup with a free kick in the 94th minute of the game. Today, Messi is a household name, but he was born to humble beginnings in Argentina. His father was a manager at a steel factory and his mother worked in another factory. He started playing futbol at the age of 4, coached by his father, making his senior debut at 18 years old. He credits his dedication to soccer to his beloved grandmother, Celia, and continues to honor her at every game he plays. Some of his many achievements include winning the World Cup and its Player of the Tournament award in 2022, being named best FIFA player three times, and winning the Champions League four times. He has scored over 800 goals at club level and he scored the most goals of any player in a calendar year with 79 of them. Personally, Messi is a devout Catholic and lives his faith through charitable works. He established the Leo Messi Foundation in 2007, working to improve children's access to healthcare and education. Inter Miami is blessed to have this elite player on their team, and the significance of his presence extends beyond the field. This extraordinary player is going to inspire children in my district to work hard to achieve their dreams. He said, ``I start early and I stay late, day after day, year after year. It took me 17 years and 114 days to become an overnight success.'' The lesson he is conveying is that you can pray for a house, but sometimes God gives you a hammer, lumber, nails, and talent. Don't be fooled into thinking that he did not answer you, you have to put in the hard work. Every person has the opportunity to succeed if they are dedicated to accomplishing their goals, especially in this country, the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I welcome Messi to Miami, and may his hard work be an inspiration to everyone who has a dream for their life. God bless him, his wife, and his three sons as they begin a new life in Miami, which is part of the 27th Congressional District, the best district in the United States.

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, he had one of the finest pens in the Cuban exile community in its 60 years of banishment from the island. There are very few writers who could capture the suffering of the Cuban people, a country that has paid the consequences of believing in a toxic political idea. This was a man who could warn the rest of Latin America what would happen if they followed and believed Fidel Castro's false promises. His name was Carlos Alberto Montaner, and he just passed at 80 years old. His great political mission was to see a liberated Cuba. I wonder how many people like him have died waiting for the island to be freed from the jaws of Communism? Thousands upon thousands. How will he be remembered? We will remember him as a good man, a decent man who was kind and humble. His only preoccupation was to deliver a message of freedom to the Cubans and to his Latin American fellow men. His articles were impeccable, profound, and yet accessible to anyone to understand. They were full of content and historical analysis thoroughly explaining the falsehoods that Communism promises and never delivers. Montaner's book called ``Guide to the Perfect Latin American Idiot'' is a classic. It is a manual for Latin Americans to avoid falling for communist tricks and to avoid falling for what Fidel Castro has promised this hemisphere. The reality is that the 20 most developed countries in the world are capitalist democracies. They have free markets, and they have freedom of expression and small government where the individual is allowed to decide their fate rather than some unknown bureaucrat in a distant government office. The government serves only to establish the rules of the game, and the winner is decided by whomever plays it best. Montaner was my teacher. I read his articles meticulously, and by taking notes on his best ideas, I learned so much from his analyses, not just for their brilliance but also because they were full of goodwill for his compatriots. They were full of freedom. It was an honor to know him, to interview him, and to be his friend. We will miss him, and I offer my deepest condolences to his widow, Linda and to his daughter Gina. In the future, democratic leaders of a liberated Cuba will owe Montaner a special place in the island's conscience. He helped pave the road to the idea that democracy is the best system for humanity. May God cover him with His glory for he acted with purpose and honor in his time on Earth, always working for the love of his Latin-American family and admiring the American agenda.

Ms. SALAZAR

Ms. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, Teacher Appreciation Week is an annual celebration of educators and the remarkable contributions they make in the lives of students, parents, schools, and entire communities. Today, I want to recognize the extraordinary teachers of Miami-Dade County, the state of Florida, and across the United States. Teachers play a crucial role in the lives of their students. In addition to their role as an educator, they may also be a coach, counselor, tutor, or simply someone a student can confide in. The presence of teachers in these roles help foster a culture of trust and comfort with their students. Despite the challenging circumstances many face, teachers continue to show up each day inspiring, empowering, and motivating their students. Whether in or outside the classroom, teachers have remained committed to the success of their students, especially in my own state of Florida. I would like to recognize the accomplishments of Franquiana Williams, who was named 2023 Rookie Teacher of the Year by Miami-Dade County Public Schools. A proud product of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Franquiana juggles many hats. In addition to being a young mother, she is a devoted teacher who encourages students to be authentic while bringing reading lessons to life using trendy dance moves, real-world examples, and hand gestures. She also doesn't hesitate to put her Spanish- speaking skills to the test if it means helping ESL students better comprehend a lesson. She strives to inspire her students to thrive not just academically but also socially and emotionally. Williams' ``Calm Corner'' allows students to learn how to reflect on their feelings and brainstorm healthy ways to express frustrations or disagreements that can interrupt learning. She is a shining example of why our teachers are so important. As I said before, Teacher Appreciation Week is a time to celebrate the contributions of educators. The exceptional leadership they bring to the teaching profession is vital toward ensuring the success of our students. So, on this occasion of Teacher Appreciation Week, I thank the teachers of Florida for leading with ingenuity, resilience, and passion each and every day in their classrooms, and for their commitment to Florida's students.