Mikie Sherrill

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL.--and that rips healthcare away from people and takes food away from children. To the country, stand strong. As we say in the Navy: Don't give up the ship.

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to a rule for a bill that does nothing to protect over 450,000 New Jerseyans who will see their healthcare premiums skyrocket. I took my first oath to the Constitution when I was 18 and went to the Naval Academy. It is an oath to serve, to run toward the fight. I ran for Congress after I saw Washington Republicans attacking the Affordable Care Act. I promised I would take on the status quo. I would fight the big fights because that is what people expect of their leaders. That is what people deserve from their leaders. I am proud of the wins that I have delivered as the Representative for New Jersey's 11th District: capping the cost of insulin and prescription drugs for seniors, funding the Gateway Tunnel, the PACT Act for veterans, flood mitigation projects, and delivering for Picatinny Arsenal. New Jersey has trusted me, and last week, they placed their trust in me again, electing me their 57th Governor. I ran on a similar promise: to take on anyone and stop at nothing to lower costs and build opportunity for everyone. This will be my last speech in this Chamber. I intend to submit my resignation next week and turn to protecting all of New Jersey. My parting message to Jersey is: Thank you. To my staff, thank you for your dedication to serving the 11th District of New Jersey. To my colleagues, do not let this body become a ceremonial rubber stamp for an administration that takes food away from children--

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Peter P. Errante, who is retiring after 41 years of faithful and dedicated service as a civilian employee of the U.S. Army at Picatinny Arsenal. Mr. Errante chose to apply his knowledge and experience to the U.S. military's armaments enterprise at Picatinny Arsenal located in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District. The contributions he has made to our national defense, and to our allies' defense, are enormous, and we all owe him a debt of gratitude. Mr. Errante started out his career as an engineer, and in October 2002, he was selected as the Deputy Product Director for Crew Served Weapons as part of the newly formed Program Executive Office Soldier, Project Manager Soldier Lethality Organization. He served a key role in standing up for that organization and will continue that position up to his retirement on September 30, 2025. As Deputy, Mr. Errante executed over $7 billion in acquisitions and delivered over two million crew served weapons and accessories to soldiers and allies. He was directly responsible for weapon life cycle management, including development, production and sustainment of the M249 Squad Automatic Rifle, M240 Machine Guns, M2/M2A1 Machine Guns, Mk19 Grenade Machine Guns, Multi-role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon Systems (MAAWS) M22, M24, M25/M25A1 Binoculars, Mounted Machine Gun Optics, M107, M110, and M2010 Sniper Rifles, Medium Caliber Weapons, Common Remotely Operated Weapon Stations (CROWS), and Non-Standard Weapons and Optics. Thanks to his efforts, Picatinny's Armaments Center has continued to develop and sustain vital combat systems that both our warfighters and our allies depend on and will continue to use in the future. I want to thank Mr. Errante for the critical engineering and program management that he and his team have done over his career to support our national defense, and I wish him the best for a well-earned and restful retirement.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to amend the rule to make in order the amendment at the desk that protects against any cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable partnership of Annette and Myron Greenbaum of South Orange, New Jersey, who will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on July 4, 2025. They first met on a group ski trip: Annette was there with a friend, Myron with the group. Their first date came shortly after, when Annette had an extra theater ticket and invited Myron to join. Neither remembers the name of the play, but both remember it led to the next meeting. Their second date was a Marx Brothers movie, an early sign that laughter would become one of the cornerstones of their life together. They were married on July 4, 1965, in a small ceremony at a temple on Central Park West, followed by a luncheon at the Delmonico Hotel, a classic Manhattan venue that's part of the city's long history. In the early years of their marriage, Annette and Myron lived in a Brooklyn Heights brownstone, enjoying walks along the promenade, afternoons at museums, and everything the city had to offer. Eventually, they made their home in South Orange, New Jersey, where they raised two children and have lived in the same house for more than forty years. Along the way, they opened their home to many beloved cats--each one a part of the family. Today, they are the proud grandparents of three. When asked the secret to a long marriage. Annette doesn't give a grand declaration, just a simple truth learn to accept each other's quirks. It is my privilege to recognize Annette and Myron's 60 years of marriage. Their story is a reminder that the best partnerships are built not just on love, but on humor, patience, and a shared life well- lived.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, February 6, 2025, my vote on Roll Call No. 33 was not recorded. There were two votes during the series, and I manually voted, delivering my vote cards directly to the clerk. Though I submitted two vote cards separately, both my votes were recorded during the first vote. Had my vote for Roll Call No. 33 been recorded, I would have voted YES.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Councilman Ron Smith, who will retire at the end of this month after years of dedicated service to Jefferson Township. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Seton Hall University and a Master's Degree in Supervision and Administration from Kean University, Councilman Smith embarked on a career as a School Business Administrator. Over his career, he has worked for Essex County Vocational Schools and as an Interim School Business Administrator for numerous school districts, most recently the Kearny Board of Education. Currently, he is the President and Educational Management Consultant with HRS Management Services. In addition to serving as an adjunct faculty member at Kean University and Seton Hall University, Councilman Smith was an Associate Vice President for Administration and Finance at Kean University and an aide to New Jersey State Senator Robert Martin. Prior to being elected as a Councilman in 2017, he was a member of the Piscataway Board of Adjustment, the Jefferson Township Planning Board, and served as the President of the Jefferson Township Board of Education. Additionally, he currently serves as a Chairman of the Lake Hopatcong Commission. A U.S. Army veteran, Councilman Smith received an honorable discharge after serving from 1954 to 1956. His dedication to his community and country is reflected in his civic activities and professional memberships, including leadership roles with the Association of School Business Officials International and the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials. Councilman Smith's lifelong dedication to service and leadership has left an indelible mark on the community. I want to express my gratitude to Councilman Smith for his decades of service and for the countless ways he has enriched the lives of others, and I wish him the best for a well-earned and restful retirement.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Council President Jay Dunham, who will retire at the end of this month after an extraordinary 14 years of faithful and dedicated service as a councilman in Jefferson Township. Council President Dunham's commitment to public service is rooted in a distinguished career that spans multiple industries and an unwavering dedication to his community. For 33 years, he worked for Verizon, and he later served as the manager of the Mount Paul Retreat Center in Jefferson prior to its sale, where he was in charge of a complex that included a 68-room main building, a large lake, a dam, and a cemetery. A veteran of the Vietnam War, Council President Dunham has continued to advocate tirelessly for his fellow servicemembers. He is a past commander and current quartermaster for VFW Post 564, as well as a past commander and current chaplain of American Legion Post 423. His leadership in these roles reflects his enduring dedication to his fellow servicemembers who answered our Nation's call to service. He has been an active member of the Milton First Aid Squad, the Jefferson Township Historical Society, and the St. Thomas Church finance committee. Additionally, he is a founding member of the Jefferson Township Veterans' Memorial Committee and has contributed his time to civic organizations such as Jefferson Highlights and the Jefferson Arts Committee. Council President Dunham's lifelong dedication to service and his leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to the betterment of our community has left an indelible mark on Jefferson Township. I want to express my gratitude to Council President Dunham for his decades of service and for the countless ways he has enriched the lives of others, and I wish him the best for a well-earned and restful retirement.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Brian E. Fuchs, who retired this month after 41 years of faithful and dedicated service as a civilian employee of the U.S. Army. After graduating from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Dr. Fuchs chose to apply his knowledge and experience to the U.S. military's munitions research at Picatinny Arsenal located in NJ-11. The contributions he has made to our national defense, and to our allies' defense, are enormous, and we all owe him a debt of gratitude. Dr. Fuchs first entered the U.S. Army in 1983 where he worked in energetics materials testing, detonation physics, and energetic formulations. Since then, Dr. Fuchs has maintained a variety of different positions on various boards and organizations focused on insensitive munitions research. Dr. Fuchs is also a leader in the rapidly growing field of research on explosive ink where, under his leadership, his team was able to produce the first qualified explosive ink. Along with his long career in munitions development, Dr. Fuchs is an Adjunct Professor for the Stevens Institute of Technology and serves as the Steering committee chair for NATO's Munitions Safety Information Analysis Center (MSIAC). Widely recognized by several organizations, Dr. Fuchs was awarded the National Defense Industrial Association Firepower Award for Technology Development in 2016. Dr. Fuchs has also been awarded the Academic R&D Award by Printed Electronics USA, the Six Army Research Development Achievement Award for Technical Excellence, and the Army Research Development Award for Leadership. These awards were all given in recognition of Dr. Fuchs' outstanding devotion to duty and his contributions to research and development of munitions. I want to thank Dr. Fuchs for the critical engineering and research work that he and his team have done over his career to support our national defense, and I wish him the best for a well-earned and restful retirement.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 200th Anniversary of The Morris County Prosecutor's Office, an agency in New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District, and its outstanding commitment to serving Morris County and improving the quality of life within the community. The Morris County Prosecutor's Office works to protect and uphold the laws of the State of New Jersey and keep our residents safe. On December 20, 1824, George K. Drake was appointed the first Prosecutor of the Pleas for Morris County, making Morris County one of the first Prosecutor's offices to be established in New Jersey. Since its founding, The Morris County Prosecutor's Office has been dedicated to keeping Morris County safe and a great place to live, work, and raise a family. The Morris County Prosecutor's Office has been able to achieve their mission for two centuries by working with members of the Morris County community and law enforcement agencies. The Morris County Prosecutor's Office is committed to justice, fairness, crime reduction, working with law enforcement, and attending to the needs of the public. The office leads and supervises chiefs of police and municipal prosecutors, ensuring that their mission is fulfilled throughout the county on a local level. This year marks the bicentennial anniversary of The Morris County Prosecutor's Office, and I admire their dedication to protecting and serving Morris County. I am grateful for all of their effort and accomplishments that have kept Morris County residents safe and look forward to seeing their continued work.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Bloomfield Fire Department for receiving accredited status from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). This is a significant milestone and I am so proud of all the hard work, training, and organization that Bloomfield Fire Chief Louis Venezia and his team do every day to be able to provide the highest quality service to the citizens of Bloomfield. The Bloomfield Fire Department is one of the 300 agencies to obtain Internationally Accredited agency status from the CFAI. The process of accreditation focuses on a rigorous self-assessment and peer review process, focused on the agency's ability to provide quality service to the public, in vital areas such as communication, decision-making, community alignment, relationships with labor and more. According to CFAI, accredited departments ``exemplify organizations that are strategic-minded and well-organized, are properly equipped, staffed, and trained.'' Going through the accreditation process is no easy task, and this certification means that the Department is both providing excellent service to the public and will continue to improve in the years to come. I thank the Bloomfield Fire Department for always ensuring our community is safe and for being ready for an emergency call, whenever that may happen. I am grateful for their commitment to protecting our district and want to give congratulations to the entire team for this notable accomplishment.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 30th anniversary of the Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) in appreciation of its importance to New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District as a center of entertainment and arts education. MPAC has its origins in the Community Theater, the first first-run movie theater in Morristown, which opened in the 1930s but eventually fell into disrepair. In 1994, the Theater reopened as a performing arts center, sparking a 30-year journey leading to the MPAC we know today. None of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of countless staff members, volunteers and philanthropists. MPAC has grown to offer over 200 performances a year to close to 200,000 patrons. Their events and educational programs not only enrich the community with vibrant music and culture, but have an $18 million impact on the local economy. MPAC is truly a cultural cornerstone and key economic driver for Northern New Jersey. MPAC's programs strive to ensure the arts are an integral part of everyone's life by making music, culture, and dance accessible to all. Their educational programs have grown exponentially to touch over 40,000 children and their families each year of all ages and abilities. Opening the world for these students while introducing the creative spark and mental health benefits of the arts. I am especially thankful for MPAC's groundbreaking Miracle Project which brings the communication, social and confidence building skills learned through performance arts education to children and young adults with autism and other special needs. Whether it is through large scale entertainment events, civic conversations, free community engagement initiatives, or their extensive educational programming, it is clear that MPAC provides a critical forum to immerse ourselves in the arts and open our minds to new cultural experiences. In this 30th anniversary year, I am grateful for all they have done to support New Jersey artists, our community and our local economy. I am excited to see their continued impact on the performing arts across New Jersey.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr Speaker, on July 22 and July 23, 2024, I missed votes on the House Floor. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA: Roll Call No. 356; NAY: Roll Call No. 357; YEA: Roll Call No. 358; NAY: Roll Call No. 359; NAY: Roll Call No. 360; YEA: Roll Call No. 361; YEA: Roll Call No. 362; NAY: Roll Call No. 363; NAY: Roll Call No. 364; NAY: Roll Call No. 365; NAY: Roll Call No. 366; NAY: Roll Call No. 367; NAY: Roll Call No. 368; NAY: Roll Call No. 369; NAY: Roll Call No. 370; NAY: Roll Call No. 371; NAY: Roll Call No. 372; NAY: Roll Call No. 373; NAY: Roll Call No. 374; NAY: Roll Call No. 375; NAY: Roll Call No. 376; NAY: Roll Call No. 377; NAY: Roll Call No. 378; NAY: Roll Call No. 379; NAY: Roll Call No. 380; NAY: Roll Call No. 381; NAY: Roll Call No. 382; NAY: Roll Call No. 383; NAY: Roll Call No. 384; NAY: Roll Call No. 385; and NAY: Roll Call No. 386.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, today I missed a vote on the House Floor. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 344, the Democratic Motion to Recommit on H.R. 8281. Stated against:

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my deep disappointment in what my colleagues on the far right have done with this year's National Defense Authorization Act. Instead of building on the bipartisan work we achieved in the Armed Services Committee, they have loaded up the bill with MAGA culture war amendments and refused to allow a vote on amendments that would improve the quality of life for servicemembers, their families, and the American people. For centuries, a cornerstone of the American people's trust in our military has been reinforced by laws like the Posse Comitatus Act, which provides a guarantee that our Armed Forces are there to protect them, not police them. There are dangerous gaps in the laws that govern National Guard deployment. Every year since the former President first abused these laws to suppress protests in Washington, D.C., I have introduced an amendment to make sure that any future President cannot skirt these important laws. If elected to another term, Donald Trump has promised to be a dictator on day one and has outlined his intent to weaponize the military and law enforcement to go after his political opponents. I can't say I am surprised that this year the House is refusing to even debate this amendment. I am also deeply concerned by the turn this bill took when it comes to our servicewomen. When I was first commissioned 30 years ago at the Naval Academy, there were many who argued against women serving in leadership positions. People circulated James Webb's op-ed titled: ``Women Can't Fight.'' They said women couldn't withstand the g-force of F-15s like men could. In fact, the Chief of Naval Operations at the time said women wouldn't be serving on submarines in his lifetime and received a standing ovation from the brigade of midshipmen. By the time I graduated, things were changing. My class of 1994 was the first eligible to serve in most combat roles, so I got my wings. I became a helicopter pilot and helicopter commander, and I flew missions across the globe. It is that opportunity that allowed me to eventually become a Member of Congress, the fact that I was given the opportunity to lead, serve, and climb the ranks in pursuit of a shared mission. It is because of that progress that we finally have the first woman Chief of Naval Operations and member of the Joint Chiefs. We have the first female commander of an aircraft carrier, my classmate, and the first woman superintendent of the Naval Academy. Today, I see my Republican colleagues trying to take us backward, offering amendments to strip women's ability to serve in combat roles, to make our military less inclusive for Black, Brown, and LGBTQ servicemembers, and to repeal the Pentagon's policy that allows servicewomen to be reimbursed for travel to get an abortion. Frankly, it is like we are living in The Upside Down. These policies will not make our military stronger. It will make it harder to recruit and retain talented Americans who simply want to serve our country, just like I did. Today, after the fall of Roe, we are sending servicewomen and their families to serve in States with draconian abortion laws, States like Texas, which has the 49th worst reproductive care in the Nation. These are orders. They don't have a choice of where they want to serve. If we are going to tell them to serve in Texas or Florida, we should, at a bare minimum, ensure that they have the baseline reproductive care and rights that they deserve. We send servicewomen overseas to risk their lives for their country. We should not be sending them to Texas or Florida or Idaho to risk their lives giving birth. That is why I offered an amendment to codify the DOD's travel policy, an amendment to ensure that military service providers know the care they are legally obligated to provide servicewomen and their families, an amendment to ensure that servicewomen know the care they are entitled to regardless of where they are stationed, and an amendment to ensure that the military can provide emergency care to servicewomen, including medically necessary abortions. It is why I offered an amendment to lift restrictions on the DOD, so military facilities have the freedom to perform abortions. Guess what? All of these amendments were ruled out of order by my far-right MAGA colleagues on the Rules Committee. In the greatest deliberative body in the world, my Republican colleagues wouldn't even bring these up for a debate or a vote. They would rather tuck their plans away in Trump's Project 2025 or a speech to the Susan B. Anthony List rather than debate them on the merits or go on the record with their votes. Mr. Speaker, I know, as a veteran, that we must do better for servicemembers and military families, but today's bill has once again been hijacked by the far right, not to improve our military or national security, but to drive an agenda that makes America look small, attacks women, and ultimately will be detrimental to the greatest fighting force in the world.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, many of my colleagues across the aisle are not content with delaying necessary aid to Ukraine for months at the cost of countless innocent lives, but are once again playing right into Putin's hands and attempting to block all American assistance to Ukraine. The rest of the world, literally all of our allies, understand that a Ukrainian victory is necessary to prevent further Russian aggression, deter an invasion of Taiwan, and preserve the global democratic order. Republican national security leaders, including the chairs of the Armed Services, Intelligence, and Defense Appropriations Committees understand that this funding is critical to our own defense industrial base. However, instead of working to strengthen our national security, we are once again having an argument that my colleague across the aisle has lost over and over and over again. My colleague is comfortable handing over Ukraine and the rest of Europe to Putin. The rest of this House, the rest of Congress, and the rest of the world reject it. Enough. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to this amendment. It is just the latest in a long series of attempts by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to drum women out of combat roles in which they are currently serving. It is dressed up as protecting women, as a step aimed at preserving military readiness, but make no mistake, it is about a deeply held belief that women shouldn't fight. When I served in the Navy, I was part of the first class of women eligible for most combat roles, and I know firsthand what women bring to the table in combat roles. This fight is to ensure that women can serve in combat roles. It is one that I have already fought and has impacted my entire career in the Navy. It has also impacted the careers of our first female commanding officer of an aircraft carrier, our first woman Chief of Naval Operations, our first female superintendent of the Naval Academy. Make no mistake, I had to pass numerous physical tests during my time in the Navy. Some, such as the physical readiness test, were simply basic measures of fitness based on my age and gender. Some, such as the helicopter dunker, the platform dive, and SERE/POW training school, were gender- and age-neutral and based on the ability I needed to have to serve in a certain role--namely, a Navy helicopter pilot who flew over water, often at night. The military determined this, not Congress. Congress should not be telling the military what standards they should be implementing for physical fitness standards. The services have long had the ability to make these decisions based on their expert knowledge on what is actually needed for servicemembers. Congress should not intervene, especially when it could lead to the prevention of qualified women in combat roles and especially not as a cheap political ploy to score points in a culture war. By all means, we don't need to take my word for it. Let's see what the Army has to say. It is redundant. Per Secretary Wormuth, the Army already has sex-neutral fitness standards that apply to every single combat arms military occupational specialty. It is duplicative. Per Secretary Warmoth, the Army is already pursuing increased standards to close combat force MOSes to comply with last year's bill. It is counterproductive. Under this amendment, the Army would lack empirically defensible data to set the standards. Instead, per Secretary Warmoth, the Army would be forced to rely on this amendment's conclusion that sex-neutral minimum standards are scientifically justifiable without the science. Mr. Chair, once again, this body is considering amendments that serve one goal: cheap shots at women as part of a MAGA culture war. Our military readiness is an incredibly important thing that should be treated with careful deliberation. It should not be subject to the whims of a single Member of this House who has willfully disregarded the input of experts from the Army and of the House Armed Services Committee which rejected this very amendment. I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment.

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining.

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan), my friend and partner in this fight and the ranking member of the House Armed Services Quality of Life Panel.

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to my colleague.

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I am vehemently opposed to this amendment. I wish I could say that I am surprised by the situation in which we find ourselves where, once again, House Republicans are trying to take rights away from servicewomen and military families, but I am not. I am not surprised because it is their third attempt to get this policy repealed in the last year alone. They tried in last year's NDAA. They tried via Senator Tuberville as he waged his culture war with no concern for how he was impacting military readiness and setting back the careers of many talented officers. This year, instead of having an actual debate about the best policies regarding vital reproductive healthcare for servicewomen and military families, they are once again hiding behind the Rules Committee and only putting forward their standard regressive, backward policies that continue to fail. Preventing military women from traveling for care when they are stationed in States with draconian abortion laws isn't pro-life. It is not pro-life to force women to risk their lives and their careers with nonviable pregnancies. It is not pro-life to make it harder for women to access basic healthcare. It is not pro-life to do it at the expense of women who already risk their lives in service of their country. I wish we could treat this issue with the seriousness it deserves. I wish we could have a real debate about reproductive healthcare for servicemembers, but we can't. Why? Because this majority would rather score cheap points in their MAGA culture wars than have a serious discussion about their antiwomen policies. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, amendments like this cheapen the National Defense Authorization Act. They make America look weak. They demean this body. This isn't the only one. Once again, this majority has chosen not to treat matters of national security with the seriousness they deserve to be treated, and they are choosing to use the National Defense Authorization Act to shove their extremist culture war agenda down the throats of the American people. Homophobia? Check. Racism? Check. Misogyny? Check. Serious policy amendments that will strengthen our national security? Far less important to this majority. These ludicrous amendments are why, later today, I will be offering a motion to recommit, not to start the process all over but to give our servicemembers and our Nation the serious, policy-focused National Defense Authorization Act that we passed out of the Armed Services Committee. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment and support a clean, policy-centered National Defense Authorization Act. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.