Suhas Subramanyam

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I have spoken here about how this administration did not adequately warn U.S. citizens in the Middle East before launching attacks against Iran. They left American citizens in the Middle East stranded and told them that they were on their own. Mr. Speaker, I applaud them for correcting this mistake and working really hard to try to get people flights out and helping them to evacuate. Unfortunately, it looks like that was only a temporary response because this week, I am having constituents tell me that, once again, they are being told that they are on their own. One family I am working with is in Kuwait right now and was told to take a commercial flight out and that the State Department couldn't help them. The problem is that Kuwaiti airspace is actually closed right now. The family was told that they would have to take a bus to Saudi Arabia and that the State Department wouldn't really help them with that. Even if they did get there, there are frequent restrictions on flights in Saudi Arabia due to continued missile and drone threats. Again, I am left wondering why we are telling Americans that we have billions of dollars to spend on bombs, missiles, and warships, but we don't have the money to get American citizens who want to get out, out of the Middle East, particularly ones who are in dangerous areas where there are no commercial flights. It is insulting to tell the American people to foot the bill to get out of the Middle East in a dangerous position when we didn't warn them in the first place. Once again, I am calling on the administration to help Americans who need to get out, get out. The safety of the American people should come first. Supporting Small Business AI Startups

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, AI is massively reshaping our economy and our small businesses. When most people think of companies leading on AI, they think of the Big Tech companies, but there is more to this AI economy than those big companies. They are AI small businesses and startups that play a key role in innovation. They are the drivers of innovation, economic growth, and American technological supremacy. They can often be more agile than bigger tech companies and create fantastic solutions and products, but they aren't always working on an even playing field. That is why I am introducing this week the small AI innovators empowerment act. This bill would look at challenges that small AI businesses and startups face, including areas like access to funding, hiring and retention of talented employees, and the impact of regulatory uncertainty. Supporting small-tech businesses helps us to stay ahead of international competition as our world becomes increasingly reliant on AI. I thank Congressman Obernolte for sponsoring this bill with me. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting AI small businesses by supporting this small AI innovators empowerment act. Congratulating The Flower Gallery

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate The Flower Gallery of Virginia on its 50th anniversary. The Flower Gallery has contributed to the joy of residents in our community, including Manassas and Northern Virginia, since 1976, when Doug Burroughs first bought the shop from his employer. Over that time, The Flower Gallery has helped our community celebrate life's milestones, including many birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries. It also provides local youth and civic organizations with flowers for fundraisers and community events. I congratulate Doug for creating such a beloved institution and for 50 years of success. I am wishing Doug and The Flower Gallery many more years of prosperity. Opposing Attack on Federal Workers

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, we know that this administration has been constantly attacking our Nation's Federal workers and contractors. They have chased out people with specialized skills and decades of experience, making our country less safe and less healthy, while also making our agencies either understaffed, or led by unqualified loyalists. The latest attack might actually be one of the worst, and that is the creation of the Schedule P/C positions. We knew that there would be an attack on Schedule F. This basically would make it easier for career civil servants to be fired and to be replaced with loyalists who are not qualified. Federal workers would lose job protections, and it would make it incredibly difficult to attract people, retain them, and get the best talent in the country to come work in the Federal Government. We have been working on this across many administrations, and this is undoing a lot of that work. The reality is that Federal workers and contractors pledge allegiance to our country and not to a President or an ideology. This rule would hurt our country for many years to come, and it would do irreparable damage to our institutions and to the people who rely on them. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this rule. It is not well thought out, and it is going to hurt us in the long run.

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I am a little confused why we are still having this shutdown and still having this debate, because House Democrats have been very clear about what we want. We just want no more masked agents and warrantless break-ins. We also have a bill that would fund the important parts of DHS, like FEMA and like other parts of it. What we don't want is to be funding private planes for the Secretary. What we want is some accountability for ICE and transparency. This is what the American people want. I want to remind us about who is actually prioritizing safety, because it is this administration that actually fired a lot of people who are cybersecurity experts. We are now in a war where cybersecurity is at the forefront. They fired a lot of people who were in counterterrorism, and now there is a 22-year-old running counterterrorism for our country when we are in a war with a country that specializes in terrorism. Meanwhile, Secretary Noem has spent millions on personal planes. The American taxpayers want accountability for their tax dollars, and they deserve better.

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, we will obviously be talking about the Iran war this week, but something that is not getting enough attention right now is the 300,000 U.S. citizens in the region who are stranded because we sent all this firepower to the region. If we are going to attack Iran, why didn't we have a plan to get American citizens out of the region? Someone just asked President Trump that question. Here is what he said: ``Well, because it happened all very quickly. We thought, and I thought maybe more so than most--I could ask Marco--but I thought we were going to have a situation where we were going to be attacked. They were getting ready to attack Israel.'' Mr. Speaker, I don't even know what that means. What I think is that with all that military firepower in the region, we could have given them a little bit of warning or at least more than just what we gave them. Instead, only now are they being told to evacuate the region--with one caveat, though. They are on their own because there are barely any commercial flights going in and out of the region. While hotels are being attacked and everything appears to be a target, this administration is not doing enough to help. We should have seen this coming. Why aren't we valuing American lives more in the region? The administration was just telling them tough luck. Mr. Speaker, this should be a national priority. If we are going to spend billions on jets and bombs, we can afford to evacuate Americans. We need to get serious right now about protecting Americans in the Middle East.

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I thank everyone here today for all their hard work and leadership. One of the things that the President said last night is he is doing so much to lower energy costs through drill, baby, drill and through all of the other actions he has taken. I think on the campaign he said he was going to lower energy prices by 50 percent. Yet, last year, Americans paid more than 13 percent for their electricity bills compared to the previous year. The big reason is that the big, ugly bill added about $250 billion to Americans' energy bills by picking energy favorites and slowing down new technology, so energy prices continue to rise for Americans. Something the President said is that the data centers will help lower Americans' energy costs. One of the assumptions there is that they will pay for their own energy infrastructure and essentially not shift that burden to Virginians and Americans. In Virginia, we are facing an additional 9 percent increase in energy costs this year, and data centers are a big part of that. They consume about 25 percent of the energy and could be more soon. It could be up to 40 percent. Last year, more than $4.3 billion in transmission infrastructure costs for data centers were passed on to ratepayers. With this pledge, basically the President is asking for technology companies building data centers to pledge to build their own energy infrastructure along with their data centers moving forward and not shift the costs to ratepayers. I welcome the idea of making sure that ratepayers aren't shouldering the burden of energy infrastructure and energy generation because the American people deserve better than that. One of the things I would like to see more of is rather than a pledge, a concrete proposal, actual regulatory framework that will protect people's energy costs. That is what we are doing in Virginia. Down in Richmond, there is now legislation that they are moving forward to essentially make sure that ratepayers aren't paying for the energy generation of data centers. I look forward to having this bipartisan conversation, but I know that if the President doesn't come up with the framework that we need, then it is going to be another promise made, promise not kept when it comes to energy prices.

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and career of the great Robert Duvall, who passed away on February 15 at the age of 95. Many know Mr. Duvall as one of the most iconic actors and filmmakers of his generation. He is known worldwide for his unparalleled range and for bringing to life some of the greatest stories ever told, such as his haunting debut as Boo Radley in ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' and powerful portrayal of Tom Hagen in ``The Godfather.'' In our community, we know him as just a great guy and great human being, an Army veteran who served our country, and a man of quiet integrity, who preferred his Virginia farm to the glitz of Hollywood. Robert lived by a simple rule: listen, really listen. He did that as a resident of Fauquier County, where he was known as a great neighbor and environmentalist, who supported so many causes in our community. In Winchester, he supported a children's home, often visiting the kids with gifts, like gingerbread houses during the holidays. As Robert once said: ``Yesterday is gone, and we can't get it back.'' While we cannot get him back, we are left with an incredible legacy that he leaves behind in our community and around the world. Mr. Speaker, I extend my condolences to all of his family. May he rest in peace, and may his legacy in Hollywood and in our community continue to inspire. honoring the life of witold ``vic'' brick

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible life of Witold ``Vic'' Brick, a local veteran in Loudoun County who fought with the Allies in World War II. Vic passed away last week at the age of 103. He was born in Warsaw in 1923, and he graduated from school in 1943. After experiencing the worsening conditions under German occupation, Vic joined the Polish underground movement, the AK. The AK was the primary Polish resistance of the Germans in World War II, tasked with sabotaging German military efforts. He was part of an uprising that lasted 63 days until it was captured. Vic was amazingly able to survive this and was liberated by General Patton. Vic didn't stop his service there. After being rescued, he joined the Polish 2nd Corps, part of the British Eighth under the command of General Alexander, who served bravely until the end of the war. It was Congress that allowed Vic and 10,000 other Polish servicemen living in England to immigrate to the United States. Vic considered himself lucky in an unlucky situation and remained forever grateful for the opportunities he was given as an American citizen. Vic was a valued part of our community in Loudoun County. We were proud to have him and lucky to hear his stories about all the years that he served, as well as the years after that. Vic is survived by his children, George, Kay, and Michelle, and his nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. May Witold ``Vic'' Brick rest in peace and his bravery inspire others to do the right thing, even when the odds are against you. va disability benefits determinations

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in response to the recent interim rule from the Department of Veterans Affairs that would change how disability benefits are determined for our veterans. Under this rule, disability ratings would be based not on the underlying condition, but on how a veteran presents after medication. If you have severe PTSD and take medication for it, your benefits will be evaluated not based on your underlying PTSD but based on your condition after taking the medication at the time you are being evaluated. Remember, these medications wear off. Maybe you seem fine right now after taking your medication during your evaluation, but then the medication doesn't work later on or loses its effectiveness over time. You are still judged based on the time you were evaluated. We are creating a system here that is destined to fail our veterans. We are even incentivizing them not to take their medication if they want to receive full benefits. Thankfully, because of public backlash, the VA has said that it will not enforce this rule right now. However, the rule is still in place, and it can be enforced at any time. Veterans relying on these lifesaving medications every day are still left in limbo, not only for their mental health but for their chronic pain, traumatic brain injuries, seizures, heart disease, diabetes, and all the other ailments that they have suffered as a result of their service. These medications do not cure disabilities. They help veterans function despite them. It makes no sense, and it is wrong for a veteran's benefits to be dependent on how well their medication is working during the time of evaluation. We must eliminate this rule once and for all.

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 390, the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations Act, or ACERO Act. Destructive wildfires threaten human lives and communities around the country. Just over 1 year ago, the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires in southern California killed 31 people and caused tens of billions of dollars in damage. In 2025, the U.S. experienced nearly 78,000 wildfires that burned more than 5 million acres. One tool we can use to prevent, mitigate, and respond to wildfires is aviation. Crewed aircraft have long been used to monitor and fight fires. Now, advanced aviation technologies and uncrewed aerial systems can advance our response to wildfires. It is important now more than ever that crewed and uncrewed aircraft work together safely alongside ground operations. That means sharing and coordinating real-time operations information between aircraft, drone operators, and ground crews across multiple government agencies. Here is where NASA and ACERO come in. NASA has done further research, development, and demonstration work, to use its tools and technologies for specific public safety applications, including wildfire response. The success of an initial pilot program led NASA to launch the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations project, or ACERO. This legislation would formally codify the research and development efforts under ACERO in law. This bill directs NASA to conduct research and development activities to improve aerial responses to wildfires. Additionally, NASA would be authorized under this bill to conduct research in areas including advanced aircraft technologies and airspace management, information sharing and real-time data exchange, and the development of an interagency coordination platform. We need to ensure our first responders have access to the most advanced tools to respond to wildfires. This bill supports using NASA's brightest minds and cutting-edge technologies to support the safety of our communities. The ACERO Act will enable safer, more effective aerial operations for Federal, State, and local efforts on the front lines of wildfire management and response. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Mr. Fong and Ms. McClellan, for their work on this bill. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 390, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the ASCEND Act. The bill would codify the successful Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition pilot program. The data acquired from the pilot project was shown to complement Earth observations from NASA's fleet of satellites and instruments. NASA has continued these activities as the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Pilot Program. This bill also allows us to acquire commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery from vendors. The bill also includes provisions to support data publication, transparency, and reports to Congress, and to ensure the widest possible use of the data procured under the program consistent with program goals. This bill supports both science and our commercial remote sensing industry, such as companies in my home Commonwealth of Virginia, by augmenting scientific research with additional sources of data and leveraging commercial capabilities. I thank the bill's sponsors for their work on the ASCEND Act and encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, as well. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Mr. Hurd and Ms. Bonamici, for their work on this legislation. It is a great bill. I am a cosponsor myself. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2600, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act. We are already seeing companies around the world use AI for customer service, cybersecurity, talent recruitment, and even content production. While AI can bring significant benefits to companies of all sizes, small companies can't afford to take advantage of these benefits. They don't have the millions of dollars and the teams of consultants. They get left behind despite their immense potential. For the small businesses that form the backbone of our economy, navigating rapidly challenging and changing tools like AI can be overwhelming. This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish and distribute resources on how small businesses can adopt AI tools and risk management practices. It would build on NIST's Small Business Cybersecurity Corner program to help small businesses by providing voluntary guidance on adopting AI and avoiding potential issues with the technology. This bill will help level the playing field for small companies rolling out AI. AI should be an opportunity for every American business, not just those with the biggest budgets. As AI rapidly evolves from simple automation to agents that could interact with customers, handle sensitive data, and even make decisions, the stakes for getting it right on privacy and cybersecurity are growing. This bill will ensure that our small businesses have access to the practical resources they need to harness this technology. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Mr. Collins and Ms. Stevens, for their work on this bill. I think we are all in agreement that small businesses should be able to take advantage of the immense potential of AI as well as be able to understand the risks and cybersecurity pitfalls that may come out of it. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3679, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6329. This is about improving the quality and transparency of information Federal agencies use to make rules. The bill would require OMB to update their guidance to ensure agencies use high-quality, reliable information when creating new rules. That means the best scientific, technical, economic, or statistical information available. Agencies would also have to make public the models, methods, and information sources they use in rulemaking. Anyone in the public can then give feedback on the information agencies use. The bill requires OMB to report any public complaints to Congress. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsor of this bill. This bill passed the House overwhelmingly last Congress, and I again urge my colleagues to support the bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5235. This bill makes it easier for Americans who have valuable skills and experience to be hired as contractors, even if they don't have college degrees. It gets rid of minimum education and experience requirements that don't make sense in some of these Federal contracting solicitations. That is not to say a college education isn't valuable; but, too often, Federal agencies put unnecessary degree requirements on contractor positions. These unnecessary requirements hurt a lot of people. More than 77 percent of Americans over 25 don't have a bachelor's degree. Many of those individuals have skills, training, and knowledge to support our agencies and serve the American people. We shouldn't block them from those opportunities. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 5235, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues and the patrons for their work on this bill. I urge colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5235, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a cosponsor of the ROTOR Act. I thank the sponsor as well. On January 29, 2025, a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines flight 5342 collided midair outside of DCA, and 67 lives were lost. Among the victims were families from my community in northern Virginia. We lost children, parents, and members of the ice-skating community. These folks had their whole lives ahead of them. It is a tragedy that has had a profound and lasting impact on our community and our Nation. This week, the families of the victims are here on Capitol Hill, and I got to speak with them today. They have one message for us: Pass the ROTOR Act. The ROTOR Act addresses the glaring holes in aviation safety around DCA that allowed this completely preventable accident to happen. It does so by requiring military and civilian aircraft in busy airspace to broadcast and receive real-time traffic information. Having been more than a year since the collision, it is time for there to be real accountability and change. We must ensure that nothing like this ever happens again, and people don't fear flying. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the so- called SAVE America Act. The supporters of this bill claim that undocumented immigrants are overrunning our elections and voting in droves, but I will give an example of the reality. We actually did a study in Virginia of all the election irregularities over 20 years. How many instances of noncitizens voting do my colleagues think we found? We found zero. Another study found it was pretty much nonexistent between 1999 and 2023 in the United States. They are solving a problem that does not exist. What this bill does do is it creates other problems that make it harder to vote. It undermines our democracy. It makes it harder for military voters who move a lot. It makes it harder for families impacted by natural disasters who lose documents. It makes it harder for the nearly 70 million women who have changed their name after marriage and have a birth certificate that no longer matches their voter IDs. It also makes it harder for the half of Americans who don't have passports. The President claims that this is just an attempt to secure our elections. But let's be real. This is just another attempt to tilt the electoral deck in his favor. If we want to make elections safer, we should stop threatening to nationalize elections. Stop threatening to have ICE at voting locations. Why don't we save America from this bill and vote ``no.''

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible life of Michael Thomas Senate of Lovettsville, Virginia. A marine, an engineer, a public servant, and a pillar of our community, Mike Senate believed that service did not end with one role or one chapter of life. After serving his country as a marine during the Vietnam war, he devoted decades to strengthening the town he called home, Lovettsville. He served on the town planning commission, the town council, and even as vice mayor. He helped shape projects that will serve generations, from parks and memorials to safer streets and shared-use paths. Others, including myself, knew him also for his work in public safety. As a firefighter, EMT instructor, and leader, Mike trained, mentored, and stood shoulder to shoulder with so many first responders--volunteer and career. He showed up, he covered shifts, he taught classes, and he made sure that when help was needed, it could arrive safely and effectively. While I did not do my firefighting training under Mike Senate, his wife, Tracey was my EMT instructor. Mr. Speaker, you didn't have to take one of his classes to know the incredible impact Mike had. He raised the bar for instructors and trainees alike in our county, and his legacy lives on in all the people he helped and who help others. On behalf of our community, we thank him for a lifetime of service, and we extend our deepest condolences to Tracey and the entire family and to all who were proud to serve alongside him. Preventing Forced Labor in China

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce the No Funds for Forced Labor Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill to protect human rights and prevent forced labor of Uyghurs and other religious communities. A recent annual report by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China found that authorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region ``maintained a system of forced labor that involved former mass internment camp detainees.'' This comes while China has targeted Uyghurs and other religious minorities, threatening detainees with physical violence, abuse, and torture. Despite companies' due diligence, these forced labor networks can be so extensive that the World Bank's International Finance Corporation has financed companies who have inadvertently employed forced laborers in the region. This bill addresses that risk. It allows the Treasury Secretary to instruct the U.S. director at each international financial institution to oppose provisions of any loan that would risk using forced labor. I thank all our cosponsors, and I encourage my colleagues to join us in supporting and advancing this bipartisan bill. Tax Season Concerns

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, as we approach tax season across the country, I am becoming increasingly concerned with the IRS's capabilities to accurately and responsibly carry out the duty they have to American taxpayers. Americans will be relying on an agency to verify their returns and issue accurate returns that has lost over one-quarter of its staffing in the last year, with that number only growing. Every day, my office has a new constituent who reaches out wondering where their tax refund is from this past tax season, and that is only going to get worse as this new tax season begins. One of the services available to taxpayers is the Taxpayer Advocate Services which works closely with my office to return what taxpayers are rightly owed. While TAS advocates work hard on these cases, it is apparent that they are already both backlogged and understaffed. Additional cuts to IRS funding will only exacerbate this issue. To properly prepare for tax season, we should be increasing resources for services such as the taxpayer advocates and making sure Americans feel like they can rely on the IRS to handle the process without delays or errors. From what my office has seen, this is not the case, and it must change right now. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is one of the best ways we can attract top talent to work in the Federal Government and public service. Often these employees will be making less money than in the private sector, but the loan forgiveness gives the government an advantage. It is disappointing that we see people like public servants treated like this by making them wait years for public service loan forgiveness. This program promised student loan borrowers that after 10 years of public service, their debt would be forgiven. Yet, under this administration, PSLF processing has slowed to a crawl. For example, the PSLF Buyback application, an essential step for many pursuing loan forgiveness, had more than 80,000 applications pending at the end of the year. Some borrowers have had their eligibility threatened due to petty political grievances. There are consequences to this. Americans are delaying major life milestones such as purchasing a home or starting a family because they are still making payments on loans they were assured would be forgiven. Let's be clear: The stagnation of PSLF is the direct result of the current administration's mismanagement. I call on the administration to honor its promise to the people who have dedicated their careers to public service and who have rightfully sought loan forgiveness.