Michelle Steel

Mrs. STEEL

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to support this bipartisan legislation that will help ensure students receive healthy school meals. Students need access to nutritious meals so that they can be their best, both in and out of the classroom. Today's bipartisan legislation does just that. During pandemic lockdowns, school food programs were critical to those in need. These programs play an important role in non-pandemic times, too. It is important that we ensure this program is sustainable for schools, and that means responsible oversight and a return to regular order. We want to make sure that students who rely on school meals have access to them and that schools can continue to supply them, even in the face of skyrocketing, record-high inflation. As our constituents know, the price of just about everything has increased. The average family is spending $450 more per month. Eggs are up 32 percent, milk is up 16 percent, and bacon is up 15 percent. Our school meals programs are no exception to these rising costs. This measure will help schools cope with rising food prices by temporarily providing supplemental reimbursements as these programs transition back to normal operations. I do think it is very important to emphasize that these increases are temporary and will last 1 year. I appreciate the Democrats and the Senate for working with us to ensure these are temporary, supplemental funds to address inflation specifically. They are not an arbitrary increase in spending. Using the inflation crisis or the supply chain problem to increase Federal spending permanently would be especially unwise and irresponsible. I also am glad the legislation requires USDA to provide school leaders and parents with support and guidance as the program transitions to normal operations. It is Congress' job to ensure these programs are working as efficiently and effectively as possible. It is our duty to make sure these programs are fulfilling their intended purpose, which is to help students. I am happy to see this legislation put these school nutrition programs back on the right track. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx), Republican leader of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, the Keep Kids Fed Act is a bipartisan, budget-neutral bill that supports students and protects taxpayers. This bill will return our school nutrition programs back to normal, pre-pandemic operations. I appreciate the majority working with us to ensure this is a true transition back to regular operation, which is fully paid for and includes a requirement to support parents and school leaders. This legislation will also support schools dealing with the supply chain and inflation crisis. This allows our Nation's schools to focus on delivering healthy meals for students so they can focus on being successful in the classroom. I am pleased we were able to come to a bicameral and bipartisan solution, and I urge my colleagues to vote for the Keep Kids Fed Act. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. STEEL

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service and career of one of my constituents, Matt Liffreing. Whether with the City of Huntington Beach, or the chamber of commerce, his commitment to serving our community spans many roles and more than 4 decades, where he recorded and reported the events of Huntington Beach. Not only is he a lifelong Southern Californian, but he is truly a trailblazer in the field of cable journalism. With programs like his ``Local Cable Update. ``Made in Huntington Beach,'' and ``Surf City Highlights,'' Mr. Liffreing has brought everything from important current events to exciting local businesses to the airwaves, sharing the stories of our vibrant communities. Today, on behalf of all Orange County, l want to thank Mr. Liffreing and congratulate him on his 40 years of service to our community.

Mrs. STEEL

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7791, the Access to Baby Formula Act, a bipartisan bill I am proud to lead with my colleague from Connecticut. The shortage of infant formula across the country has led to panic and desperation among so many families. As a parent, there is nothing more important than ensuring the health and safety of your child. As families continue to bear the brunt of crippling inflation, this formula shortage only compounds the stress that these families are facing at home. It is estimated that the cost of baby formula is up almost 20 percent in the last year. More than 40 percent of the top-selling baby formula products were out of stock as of the beginning of this month. Families desperate to feed their babies shouldn't have to face empty shelves because of government mismanagement and overregulation. We should have never gotten to this point, but this bipartisan legislation will provide certainty for recipients and manufacturers, ensuring this crisis doesn't happen again. Under this bill, WIC participants and infant formula manufacturers will receive the clarity they need in the event of another emergency or supply chain disruption. The bill requires infant formula manufacturers to have a plan that will detail how they will address an emergency or disruption, so WIC participants aren't impacted. Importantly, the bill also includes strict timelines so the companies and WIC participants will know the rules of the road during a disruption. Finally, this bill includes important transparency requirements so the public will know what the administration is doing to remedy this crisis and prevent future disruptions. I am pleased that we were able to come together and put American families first. Madam Speaker, families deserve to have this weight lifted off their shoulders. It is time to act and pass this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. It is undeniable that the nationwide baby formula shortage has created immense panic and desperation among families. From skyrocketing inflation and gas prices, to rising violent crime, the American people are being faced with crisis after crisis. The last thing families need right now is a shortage of such essential goods as baby formula. In the United States of America, no parent should be unsure of how they will feed their infant child. We need to act today to reverse the effects of this shortage on American families, and the bipartisan bill before us today offers an opportunity to right this ship. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. STEEL

Mrs. STEEL. Mr. Speaker, today, I stand with my fellow Orange County Representatives to honor the courage and sacrifice of one of my constituents. On Sunday, Dr. John Cheng of Aliso Viejo drove his recently widowed mother to her church in Laguna Woods. They were attending a special lunch in honor of their pastor, who had just returned after 2 years in Taiwan. Just after lunch, a gunman opened fire, and Dr. Cheng gave his life defending those around him. Local law enforcement agents said, without Dr. Cheng's courage, there would have been more casualties that day. He was a beloved son, husband, father of two, and a respected physician. He was a hero. We share our condolences with his family and stand here today to honor his life. Please join us in a moment of silence to honor Dr. Cheng. May he rest in peace, and may his courage never be forgotten.

Mrs. STEEL

Mrs. STEEL. Mr. Speaker, every day, more and more families are struggling to find the basic goods they need to run their lives. This latest shortage, 40 percent of all baby formula out of stock, highlights exactly how out of control this crisis has become. Orange County families are no stranger to the pressures of our broken supply chain. For months, we have been under the strain that millions of Americans are now experiencing. I have been calling on this administration, as well as Governor Newsom, to ease the restrictions that are further burdening our already crippled supply chains. From removing unworkable regulatory standards impacting the trucking industry, to embracing American energy independence, there are concrete steps that the Governor and President can take to address this crisis. They should do so immediately to provide relief to southern Californians and all Americans.

Mrs. STEEL

Mrs. STEEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ao Dai Day this Sunday, May 15. I am proud to represent nearly 200,000 Vietnamese Americans in my district in California. My district is a home to Little Saigon which has the largest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam. Many of these men and women fled communism in Vietnam in search of freedom here in America. They have worked hard to build their American Dream. The Ao Dai, which I am wearing today, is a traditional dress that represents the adaptability and strength of the Vietnamese people. It is a symbol of beauty and pride in Vietnam's unique and wonderful culture. Last year, the State of California officially approved a resolution to recognize May 15 as Ao Dai Day. I join them in celebrating this special day and the many Vietnamese families in my district who are proud to call our great country home.

Mrs. STEEL

Mrs. STEEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Orange County families to share their frustration and outrage that they are feeling because of the skyrocketing gas prices in this country. While this administration refuses to embrace full energy independence and instead continues relying on foreign dictators for oil, southern Californians are paying more for gas than anywhere else in the country. On top of that, despite what could be a $68 billion surplus, Governor Newsom and Sacramento Democrats have decided to raise gas taxes on July 1. My constituents simply can't afford another day under the policies that are forcing them to pay more while getting less. Enough is enough. Whether it is here in Washington, D.C., or in Sacramento, President Biden and Governor Newsom need to commit to unleashing energy independence today. The people of this great country need relief today.

Mrs. STEEL

Mrs. STEEL. Mr. Speaker, every day, we see more and more illegal crossings at the southern border. March was the worst month yet, with over 221,000 migrant encounters. Instead of securing our border and empowering law enforcement, this administration continues to make this crisis worse every day. I am a proud immigrant and first-generation American. I came here legally. There are 4.4 million people waiting their turn to legally come to the greatest country in the whole world. Meanwhile, this administration continues to allow millions of illegal migrants to take advantage of our weak border policies. We are a nation of laws, and enough is enough. The administration must stop the flow of drugs and crime into our country and secure the border to protect our citizens.

Mrs. STEEL

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 471, the PAUSE Act, to protect all Americans from Biden's border crisis.

Mrs. STEEL

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, passing the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 was an important step in addressing the ongoing economic crisis facing our country. This legislation includes my bipartisan proposal to establish a task force to address the ongoing port backlog at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. These ports move 40 percent of all shipping containers entering the U.S. and are major ports of entry for California's oil supply. The combination of the ports' backlog, inflation, and the administration's crippling energy policies are making everything unaffordable for Californians, especially gas. We must address the supply chain crisis, unleash domestic energy production, and stop the reckless government spending driving inflation. I urge the Senate to pass this bill immediately so we can tackle this crisis and help California families.

Mrs. STEEL

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I am sorry I am just a little late because, actually, the Education and Labor Committee, we are doing markups right now. I rise to address the ongoing energy crisis and the impact it is having on families in Orange County. The picture you see here is a snapshot of what gas prices looked like for my constituents in the past week. But I heard--actually, this is in Orange County. Last week, same time--this isn't my district, but in Sacramento that we have actually hit over $9 per gallon. These prices have increased 30 percent in the last year. Gas prices in Orange County, and across the country, are rising every single day. One reason for these skyrocketing costs is policies enacted by this administration that have weakened our energy independence and made us dependent on foreign oil. With the President taking the necessary step of banning Russian oil, it is even more important that we return to our former energy independence. We cannot turn from one foreign dictator to another to meet our energy needs. We have the resources right here to bring down costs and produce the cleanest energy on Earth. I urge all my colleagues to join me in pursuing policies to secure our energy independence.

Mrs. STEEL

Mrs. STEEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Huntington Beach Police Officer Nicholas Vella who was tragically killed in a crash while responding to a call in Newport Beach on February 19. Officer Vella served as a law enforcement officer for 18 years and spent 14 years with the Huntington Beach Police Department. He dedicated his life to protecting our community. My heart goes out to his wife and daughter, the Huntington Beach Police Department, and all who loved and knew Officer Vella. I am so thankful every day for our brave law enforcement officers. They put their lives on the line for us, and I am so grateful for their service and sacrifice. I want to thank their families, too, because their sacrifice does not go unnoticed. I will be praying for Officer Vella and his family.

Mrs. STEEL

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. STEEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes. China has avoided accountability for their unfair trade practices, gross human rights violations, and environmental abuse for too long. My amendment would require the Chinese Communist Party to match emission-cutting targets established by the United States. China accounts for 28 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than any other country in the world. This amendment takes necessary steps to hold China accountable for their pollution. It is time they are held to the same standards as any other developed country. They shouldn't get a free pass. We cannot allow China to walk all over us. I also want to address what was said by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle about criticism of this bill. Two days ago, Democrats suggested that criticism of this legislation is ``Asian bashing'' and ``xenophobic.'' What nonsense. Let me be clear: I will never back down from calling out the CCP on their transparency and to be responsible. We should all be on the side of free speech, democracy, and human rights. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.