Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I rise in strong opposition to this spending bill. In it, House Republicans have reduced funding to the NIH and the National Cancer Institute and virtually eliminated funding for medical and behavioral research into deadly diseases. House Republicans eliminated the CDC's tobacco prevention and control programs. I repeat: House Republicans have defunded our most important antismoking programs with this bill. Deaths will be the reality if these cuts come to fruition. How can Republicans still be this beholden to Big Tobacco? House Republicans also eliminated the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative despite States like Florida, where we are seeing a 33 percent spike in new HIV diagnoses. With this bill, House Republicans are eliminating Healthy Start, whose sole mission is to improve the well-being of expectant mothers or those who just gave birth, all to reduce infant mortality. On top of that, this extreme MAGA bill eliminates funding for title X family planning because their far-right ideology forbids access to reproductive health and related preventive health services. Of course, House Republicans have eliminated the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program in tandem with riders that block access to abortion services or reproductive healthcare services. At least this bill nakedly reflects the true values of the MAGA House Republicans because it will encourage discrimination, promote bigotry, trample on women's rights, decimate public education, and push minorities further away from equality. Of course, it ``protects'' Americans from critical race theory, LGBTQI+ communities, and programs that promote diversity and equity. This bill should adhere to the agreement that was made in the Fiscal Responsibility Act we passed on a bipartisan basis in the spring. Slash-and-burn budgeting hurts real people while you take care of your corporate co-conspirators. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this terrible spending bill if it ever even comes to a vote.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his longstanding support of this important legislation that really reflects the values that we stand for here in the United States of America. I particularly thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) for the back and forth--depending on who is in the majority in our Chamber in each successive Congress--as we sort of trade responsibility for who leads this bill. In addition, I have also previously co-led this legislation with our former colleague, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and Mr. Diaz- Balart also joins us, as well. There is really broad bipartisan support for this bill, and I am so proud to lead this legislation on the Democratic side of the aisle. This legislation would ensure that our government is never complicit in theft and expropriation ordered by autocracies. By prohibiting U.S. recognition of illegally confiscated trademarks, this bill stands strongly against attempts by the Cuban regime to profit from hijacked intellectual property. Representing a diaspora community as I do, I have heard countless constituents recount how their home countries stripped them of hard- earned wealth. Many Cuban families had to start from scratch when they arrived. They had property and their businesses confiscated. Our Nation has benefited immeasurably from their cultural contributions and entrepreneurial spirit. We are not just a nation of immigrants. We are a nation of innovators. We should always reward creativity and punish piracy. Our most fundamental responsibility is protecting Americans and those living in our country from being victimized by our adversaries. Our failure to do so would only embolden global despots who seek to target their exiles. I hope my colleagues join us in refusing to tolerate trademarks being held hostage, as this one is in particular, and the many others that are held hostage by the Cuban regime and other regimes, as well. I am hopeful that our friends on the other side of the Capitol, once we send this bill to them, will send it to the President of the United States for his signature.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I recognize my dear friends, Chairman Womack and Ranking Member Hoyer, and I do mean that in the truest sense of the word, for their work on this bill, which does contain several of my priorities. I do want to respond quickly to the chairman's comments about the border really being the problem with fentanyl coming across into the United States and that it is not necessary to fund the Office of National Drug Control Policy. When you focus on safety, making sure that you can keep people safe from harm that they can't avoid on their own, we need layers of protection. So it is a fool's errand to cut an office like the Office of National Drug Control Policy because we aren't doing enough, in your mind, to handle drug entries into the country from the border. It is ``both/and'' when it comes to safety, not ``either/or.'' Unfortunately, this bill, although it does contain several of my priorities, has so many misguided, toxic, and extreme provisions that it will make us all less safe and careens our government once again toward a shutdown. This is a bill that is rather unsung. I always try to come and talk about this bill. It does have a whole lot of acronym agencies that have far reach into Americans' protection, security, and safety. It is so important that we make sure we shine a little bit of a spotlight on it as a result. This bill does prioritize reducing pool and spa deaths by providing $2.5 million for programs authorized under my Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, for which I appreciate the chairman's help. As the leading cause of unintentional death for children under 5 in the United States, drowning is clearly a public health threat that we must confront. However, sadly, overall this bill makes all of our constituents less safe. This bill handcuffs consumer watchdogs, leaving hardworking families more vulnerable to fraud or dangerous deadly products. It guts the Consumer Product Safety Commission's already paltry budget, slashing resources at an agency that has a major focus on protecting children and families. We need to keep families safe, not make them nervous to choose products when they walk down the aisles of a store. On top of protecting scammers and cheats, this bill hurts public servants and threatens our national security. How does it do that? The same Republicans who claim to support our national defense and Armed Forces would cut the National Security Council in this bill and the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. The same Republicans who boast how tough they are on heroin and fentanyl actually cut the Office of National Drug Control Policy in this bill. Don't believe Republicans who claim to be the party of law and order, either. This bill actually underfunds multiple levels of our Federal courts and the public defenders. This bill basically waves white-collar criminals right on through to do their sketchy business by cutting the SEC and the FTC. If you want to empower scammers and cheats or get more robocallers bothering you at home by ringing your phone off the hook, vote for this bill, but if you want to protect families, vote against it.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Brenda C. Snipes. This powerful and inspirational woman gave 55 years of her life as a public servant to our schools, to our democracy, and to the people of Broward County, Florida. She moved to Florida in 1964 with her husband, each beginning their careers as educators, and she eventually became principal of C. Robert Markham Elementary School before retiring in 2003. Soon after, Governor Jeb Bush appointed Dr. Snipes as supervisor of elections, where she served for four terms. Dr. Brenda, as she is affectionately known by so many, is celebrated for many achievements, but I will mention just one: She helped register more than 50,000 local high school and college students to vote during her tenure. A champion of voter education, awareness, and outreach, Dr. Brenda Snipes was not only a leader in our community, she was a friend of over two decades. Mr. Speaker, her impact and commitment to the people of Broward County will never be forgotten. Rest well, my friend.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, two years ago, thousands of Cubans peacefully demonstrated for their basic rights, and their corrupt rulers responded with a brutal, indiscriminate crackdown. Maykel Castillo Perez and Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara both helped forge the historic and resurgent prodemocracy movement on July 11. They have been imprisoned ever since. Maykel, a Latin Grammy-winning rapper, coauthored the song ``Patria Y Vida,'' an anthem for the mass demonstrations. Luis Manuel, an Afro-Cuban visual artist, has fought passionately for free expression and against censorship. Maykel disappeared from public view after being detained without a warrant on May 18, 2021, and a kangaroo court sentenced him to 9 years in prison. The U.N. reports Maykel remains in prison ``solely for his prodemocracy activism,'' enduring inmate threats, solitary confinement, and denied family visits and medical attention. Yet he still rebels however he can. On the anniversary of the July 11 protests, he sewed his mouth shut and tattooed ``Patria Y Vida'' on his arm. Maykel told friends: ``I have enough strength to keep bleeding . . . I prefer with great pride to descend in a coffin than to bow.'' Luis Manuel's despicable treatment is compounded by the jarring legacy of anti-Black racism in Cuba. On July 11, he too was arrested after posting a video on his plans to join Cuba's mass democracy demonstration. Like Maykel, he was tried behind closed doors and thrown in a maximum security prison. Due to abuse, bad medical care, and denial of food and water, Luis Manuel is suffering from extreme weight loss and severe medical issues. I am grateful the Biden administration granted humanitarian parole to both Luis Manuel and Maykel, but for the Cuban regime, exiling these patriots isn't enough. Their very existence is a threat. While these cases are egregious, thousands of peaceful prodemocracy protesters have been jailed, tortured, or killed. If we truly intend to live up to our Nation's values, we must work tirelessly to liberate those who continually sacrifice their freedom for others. As co-chair of the Cuba Democracy Caucus, I proudly join forces with Freedom House and Amnesty International to demand justice for Maykel and Luis Manuel through the Defending Freedoms Project. I intend to use my platform to ensure their unconditional release is a top priority in any discussion of Cuba policy. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me. (Spanish translation of the statement made in English is as follows:) Hoy me levanto para exigir la liberacion inmediata de dos presos de conciencia cubanos. Maykel Castillo Perez y Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara ayudaron a empezar el movimiento pro-democracia el once de julio. Ellos estan encarcelados desde ese dia. Maykel, rapero y ganador del Grammy Latino, es coautor de la cancion ``Patria y Vida'' que fue himno de las protestas. Luis Manuel es un artista visual afrocubano que ha luchado duro por la libre expresion y contra la censura. Maykel desaparecio de la vista del publico tras ser detenido sin orden judicial, y un tribunal irregular lo condenoa nueve anos de prision. Segun el informe de las Naciones Unidas, Maykel sigue encarcelado ``unicamente por su activismo a favor de la democracia''. Sin embargo, todavia se manifiesta como puede. En el aniversario de las protestas, se cosio la boca y se tatuo ``Patria Y Vida'' en el brazo. El trato despreciable recibido por Luis Manuel se ve agravado por el preocupante legado del racismo contra los Afrocubanos. Tambien fue arrestado luego de publicar un video sobre sus planes de unirse a manifestaciones masivas por la democracia en Cuba. Al igual que Maykel, fue condenado y encarcelado atras de a una prision de maxima seguridad. Luis Manuel a sufrido una perdida extrema de peso y graves problemas medicos. Agradezco que President Biden este ofreciendo libertad humanitaria a Luis Manuel y Maykel, pero para la dictadura cubana exiliarlos no es suficiente. Su propia existencia es una amenaza. Si queremos estar a la altura de los valores de nuestra nacion, debemos trabajar todos los dias para liberar a los que sacrifican por los demas. Como copresidenta del Caucus para la Democracia en Cuba, voy a luchar al lado de Freedom House y Amnistia Internacional para demandar justicia para Maykel y Luis Manuel. Voy a hacer todo lo posible para abogar por su liberacion incondicional. Espero que mis colegas de ambos partidos se unan a mi. I'd like to share more about these brave patriots, in their own words and those of people who know them well. The following is a letter written by Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara to the Miami Herald, entitled: `Cuba's authorities have stolen my youth just for speaking my mind'. It was published July 10th of this year, two years after his arbitrary arrest. I am an artist and a political prisoner in Cuba. I was arrested on July 11, 2021, on my way to a protest in which thousands of my compatriots rose up across the island to demand freedom. I've been imprisoned ever since. Last year, I was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of contempt and insult to national symbols, because I used the Cuban flag in a performance in August 2019. This is how the Cuban government views my art. I was tried, alongside my dear friend, the Grammy Award-winning rapper Maykel Castillo--known as El Osorbo--who is now serving a nine-year sentence for similar offenses. My imprisonment is a result of the Cuban authorities' systematic strategy to silence the voices of young people. They have been harassing me for years, arresting me 50 times between 2017 and 2021 and also through defamation, violation of privacy, threats and police beatings. But it wasn't until the historic protest of 2021 that the regime decided to lock me up for a longer period of time so I could no longer communicate with my people. I'm imprisoned in Guanajay, a maximum-security penitentiary southwest of Havana. Many of my fellow prisoners are serving life sentences for murder. The authorities have separated me from other political prisoners. I share a cell with three others. I'm allowed to talk to other inmates in the hallway, but I'm only taken out to the yard when other prisoners are gone. I should be allowed to spend an hour outside every day, but I'm only let out occasionally at the whim of the guards. I've lost weight because of the scarcity of food and poor quality of meals. I'm often afraid to eat because the food looks rotten. After I was sentenced in June 2022, the rules for visiting me changed. Now my family can only visit me once a month, instead of twice. No one else is allowed. Even my beloved uncle is banned because of his involvement in activism. More than 1,800 Cubans, mostly young and Black, were arrested in the protests in 2021. Of these, 897 have been tried, and 777 remain in prison. Many are minors. Some have been sentenced to up to 30 years for sedition. But there's no evidence that the protest was premeditated. It started in a small town outside Havana, when a young boy posted a video on Facebook of people protesting power outages. Within hours, thousands of Cubans decided to take to the streets. Since that day, hundreds of young Cubans have been trapped behind bars. Every day is the same. Violence is constant. Only one's body changes. Your hair falls out and your face ages prematurely from pain, frustration and sadness. Your friends leave the country. Lovers' caresses are long gone. The soundscape here is always the same. All you hear is the murmur of death slowly approaching. In these harsh conditions, human beings are stripped of their youth. They wander the four square meters of their cells with no sense of future. I speak as a young man in today's Cuba. We are full of energy and confidence, determined to lend our talents to the quest for a truly democratic and free Cuba. The regime that has survived for 64 years on the Caribbean's largest island is once again trying to crush a generation, just as it crushed and erased those who preceded us. Today every young Cuban is a political prisoner. A censored artist. An exile inside and outside Cuba. Even if you're an accomplice of the system, you will inevitably be crushed like the others, because to be young is to be daring and reckless, eager to bring change to the world. It means fighting for love, dreams and utopia. But these qualities are considered crimes in Cuba, and that condemns us all to martyrdom. Today, as I approach the age of 35 behind bars, I reflect on the loss of youth under a dictatorial system. Forced to survive political violence, we all lose 90% of our physical and intellectual productivity. Only 10% is left for creative and life-affirming pursuits. On behalf of the young Cubans locked up in the island's horrible prisons, I appeal to people of conscience around the world to support our struggle to liberate ourselves and our country. All we did was demand the right to choose our political future and to speak our minds. No one should have to give up their youth for such a just cause. Next, I'd like to share a story written by Julyssa Lopez and published January 6th, 2023 in Rolling Stone magazine detailing Maykel Osorbo's life and current detention. The article is titled ``Two Years After `Patria Y Vida.' Cuban Rapper Maykel Osorbo Remains in Jail.'' Maybe it was the excitement of post-lickdown celebrations or the simple triumph of getting through the worst of the pandemic, but the energy felt different at the 22nd annual Latin Grammys back in November of 2021. Thousands of people, dressed in shimmering gowns and slick suits, had gathered at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for the awards ceremony. At the end of the night, when it was time for the anticipated Song of the Year category, the air turned electric as people waited to hear who might take home the trophy--maybe be a massive pop name like Cammilo or Rauw Alejando, who were both nominated and sitting in the audience. Instead, the award went to ``Patria Y Vida,'' a song that started out in a small studio in Miami and spiraled across the streets of Cuba in 2021. The title, which inverts the popular Fidel Castro-era slogan ``patria o muerte,'' took on such force that it became a common chant during the unprecedented demonstrations that swept the island that summer. Despite its political impact, no one expected ``Patria Y Vida'' to win in Las Vegas, particularly because of how traditional the Latin Recording Academy can be. Five of the song's performers--Yotuel Romero, Descemer Bueno, Eliexer ``El Funky'' Marquez Duany, Alexander Delgado Hermandez, and Randy Malcom Martinez--appeared onstage, shocked and tearful, to accept the award. But there was one artist notably absent: the rapper Maykel Osorbo. At that precise moment, Osorbo was sitting in Kilo 5 Y Medio, a maximum-security prison in the rural, tobacco-rich region of Pinal del Rio, Cuba, far from the glamour and glitterati of the awards show. By then, he'd been jailed for six months, after authorities detained him on accusations that included assault, resistance, public disorder, and ``propagating the epidemic,'' all of which outside lawyers supporting him say are false charges. His family heard from him only sparingly, and they worried about his health, which had deteriorated since his arrest. Since the late 2010s, Osorbo--whose real name is Maykel Castillo Perez--had gained attention on the island as one of the most public figures of Movimiento San Isidro (MSI), a collective made up of dissident artists and intellectuals in Havana. He was also known for his bold, outspoken music, which caught the ear of Romero. Romero had begun working on ``Patria Y Vida'' in October of 2020, and he'd been collaborating with other artists who, like him, had moved to the U.S. from Cuba. Still, he felt the track--which was inspired by the political anthems of nueva trova legend Silvio Rodriguez--needed the voices of people still living on the island. He asked Osorbo to be part of the song, aware that the music risked provoking the Cuban government; the lyrics call for freedom and mention several activists by name. Bus Osorbo wasn't afraid. He and his close friends El Funky recorded verses in secret, sending them to Romero through WhatsApp. Over the next few months, they watched in awe as the song caught on in Cuba, becoming a rallying cry as unrest started brewing in the country. Frustrations had been mounting as Cubans faced food and supply shortages something many saw as a direct product of government mismanagement and the effects of the pandemic--though others, including Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel, pointed to the effects of the U.S. embargo. Additionally, there was a tightening of restrictions during lockdown that reflected the Cuban government's broader limits on civil liberties. Osorbo continued working with MSI, often using his platform to speak out and demand justice for people who'd been detained for expressing themselves. His rising popularity and outspokenness made him a frequent police target and, according to the humanitarian organization Prisoners Defenders, he was arrested and beaten multiple times before he was thrown in prison in May 2021. Meanwhile, tensions in Cuba boiled over in July that year, resulting in rare nationwide protests. Many of them were set to the sound of ``Patria Y Vida''--a sign that even if Osorbo was locked away, the messages he'd gotten out were still resonating with people. After the Latin Grammys that November, there was a faint sense of hope: Perhaps such massive international attention would eventually mean Osorbo's release. In February 2022, the United Nations Group on Arbitrary Detention responded to a complaint, spearheaded by Prisoners Defenders, and determined that Osorbo had been ``persecuted and arbitrarily detained for exercising his fundamental rights to freedom of opinion, expression, assembly, association and participation.'' They demanded his release, and Osorbo's friends organized to fight for him. El Funky, who moved to the U.S. in 2021, released music lambasting Cuban authorities for imprisoning artists, and Osorbo's partner, the activist Anamely Ramos, spoke out at demonstrations and rallied supporters on social media. But in June 2022, a court in Havana made its final decision. Osorbo was sentenced to nine years in prison; artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara, a close MSI associate, was sentenced to five. Javier Larrondo, the president of Prisoners Defenders, believes some of the recognition Osorbo got for his music did help. In addition to winning Song of the Year, ``Patria Y Vida'' also secured the award for Best Urban Song, making Osorbo a two-time Latin Grammy winner-- and, perhaps, lightening his sentence. ``Given the way crimes were fabricated the way they were for Maykel, if he'd been hidden in anonymity, he perhaps could have even had a 12- or 13-year sentence dropped on him,'' Larrondo says. Still, the sentence was a painful one for him and those who'd been following Osorbo's case. Osorbo will turn 40 this August: he'll be almost 50 by the time he's released. People have continued to denounce his imprisonment: Last month on Christmas Eve, the Argentine-Venezuelan singer Ricardo Montaner called for his liberation. Others, like El Funky, want to make sure Osorbo isn't forgotten. ``We're going to keep making music, keep speaking up, until Maykel is free,'' he says. Maykel Osorbo grew up in Old Havana as an only child. When he was 10 years old, his mother left in the dead of the night, part of a swell of Cubans who left the island after the 1994 Maleconazo protests that led then- president Fidel Castro to briefly allow citizens to leave the island voluntarily. Osorbo was largely on his own after that. ``Maykel had a hard childhood,'' says El Funky, who met Osorbo in the neighborhood as a kid. ``He had to become a man at a really young age and went through really difficult things.'' They stayed friends throughout the years, and they always had a love of music in common. They both wanted to be performers, but El Funky had to put his career ambitions on hold in 2005, after his first child was born, to focus on opening a cafe with his father. In 2013, Osorbo came knocking on his door. ``He said, `Compadre, you have talent, we've known each other for years. There are all these music festivals in Cuba with prizes. I have a studio where we can work without a problem,'' El Funky remembers. At first, El Funky told Osorbo that he was done with music, but Osorbo had a way of inspiring. Within a few months, they were releasing songs together and independently, building recognition as artists in the neighborhood. They rapped about life in Cuba, and invariably what they were releasing was political. ``I've always said that anyone who writes songs about everyday realities in Cuba is talking about the situation in Cuba,'' he says. ``So, without meaning to, we were making protest music.'' Osorbo's work took on a radical urgency in 2018, when Cuba proposed Decree 349, a law that prohibited any artistic expression in both public and private spaces without approval by the government's Ministry of Culture. Authorities were also given the power to shut down artistic activity that they deemed as containing ``sexist, vulgar or obscene language.'' Many artists and poets spoke out against the law, many of them eventually creating the MSI collective. Osorbo took on a central role alongside Otero, who was arrested dozens of times for staging demonstrations and art performances. Osorbo's music became more direct than ever, filled with lacerating critiques of the government. In late 2020, he teamed up with El Funky for ``Diazcarao,'' a heated, blistering rap that directly took aim at president Diaz- Canel. El Funky believes that song is what started to rattle the government, just before ``Patria Y Vida'' exploded into the world. Once they'd recorded their parts in ``Patria Y Vida,'' Osorbo and El Funky decided to take a huge risk by shooting a few scenes for a music video Romero was planning. They worked with the video director Anyelo Troya, who pawned off one of his cameras to get better equipment for the shoot, and snuck into an abandoned building in the dead of night. The Cuban government had enforced lockdown curfews, and they'd all face fines and even jail time if they got caught. They had three friends stand watch the entire night, switching off so they could sleep, and featured Otero in the video as well. Once it was finished, the video made an impact quickly, garnering one million views within three days. ``People who know me and my work were like, `Now you really went crazy.' I knew there was going to be a fallout,'' El Funky remembers. Ramos says that shortly after the song came out, she heard people starting to use the phrase 'patria y vida' casually on the street, and she noticed neighbors playing the song in public. She says that she was stunned by how much other Cubans were connecting to ``Patria Y Vida,'' but she was concerned about Osorbo. ``All of us knew when we saw the reaction it got that there were going to be consequences. We know the authorities weren't going to forgive something like that.'' Cuba, at the time, had been ramping up arrests on artists in particular. A 2021 report from the international NGO Freemuse, which has been documenting and researching incidents of censorship and suppressing freedom of expression, showed that Cuba's rappers are some of the most persecuted rap artists in the world. Prisoners Defenders outlined more than 120 ``repressive police acts'' committed against Osorbo between 2019 and 2021, including beatings and arbitrary detentions. In one incident, he was picked up by police when he was at a park with his two-year-old daughter, who was left alone after authorities took him away. Clashes that intensified that April ultimately led to his arrest. According to Prisoners Defenders, Osorbo had been walking to MSI headquarters when he saw police harassing a woman on the street. He attempted to intervene, and police moved to arrest him instead, despite not having a reason. By then, Osorbo had become a beloved figure in town, and neighbors quickly jumped in and helped him escape. They surrounded police officers and screaming at them to let Osorbo go, showing the mass support he had from Cubans. (An image of Osorbo holding one handcuffed arm up in the air after evading arrest went viral.) Almost a month later, on May 18, authorities picked him up again, handcuffing him shirtless and without shoes on while he was at home. Like many of the previous arrests, this one was made without an arrest warrant or clear charges against him. He's been held ever since. EI Funky was detained at one point as well, but ultimately let go. ``I'm not the type of person they were going to arrest,'' he says. ``I've done stuff, don't get me wrong, and I'm a person who has a lot of support, but I don't have a personality like Maykel and Luis Manuel. These guys are leaders--natural leaders. When they thought of things, what they'd come up with was so ingenious that it was a danger to the state.'' In addition to his work with Prisoners Defenders, Larrondo is a singer who's played the most renowned Venues in Spain and several other parts of the world. He's performed with the legendary Celia Cruz and sang on an album alongside artists such as Gloria Estefan and Alejandro Sanz. He understands the value of freedom of expression intimately. His interest in Osorbo's case came from his experiences both as a musician and a defender of human rights, and he's been working with the hope of finding organized, systematic ways for the artistic community to show solidarity with artists who are oppressed around the world. ``Patria Y Vida'' was the main storyline at the 2021 Latin Grammys, and the song's two wins made headlines around the world. There was some inevitable controversy, with skeptical fans and musicians arguing that ``Patria Y Vida'' reflected a Western, anti-left political agenda and noting that the government organization USAID has used Cuba's hip-hop scene in the past as a way to infiltrate the Cuban government. (Some Cuban rappers Rolling Stone spoke to have countered that regardless of what the U.S. has done, Cuba's artists and hip-hop scenes have their own voice.) But more broadly, the Latin Recording Academy was applauded for swaying from its more risk-averse tendencies and recognizing a song with a strong social message. And then, as the months passed, Osorbo's story largely faded from mainstream coverage--and, seemingly, from the Latin industry and Latin Grammy's consciousness. Osorbo, who remains behind bars, wasn't mentioned at the 2022 awards ceremony this past November, and El Funky says no one contacted him about other efforts to raise awareness. However, he has kept writing music about Osorbo and other political prisoners in Cuba, refusing to back down. Artists such as Romero have also spoken out; he's currently working on a documentary about ``Patria Y Vida.'' Larrondo believes that cases such as Osorbo's illustrate a violation of fundamental rights, and that limits on artistic expression--like other human-rights violations--require bigger, broader movements in response. ``In the music industry. as well as in the sports industry. there isn't a systemic process to show solidarity with oppressed artists or athletes,'' he says. ``I say this thinking of the Iranian case of the athlete sentenced to death. I haven't seen soccer players, or soccer clubs, express themselves against that sentencing in a big way, doing things like organized moments of silence at stadiums. the same way I haven't seen artists defending the freedom of Maykel Osorbo in a massive way.'' He adds: ``The fact that some artists have stood up for Maykel is good, but without some coordination or a major response from the collective art world to support a Latin Grammy winner, and a constant, permanent message--without that. you can't have that person set free from prison. Any artist in any regime could suffer things similar to Maykel.'' Ramos worries constantly about Osorbo's medical condition in prison. She says he went through a critical period in which skin lesions and boils appeared on his skin, perhaps a result of contracting scabies or an infection in prison. Though he's since stabilized, she wonders if the symptoms could be a sign of cancer, and she believes the Cuban government is actively withholding medical attention-- something it has been accused of doing with prisoners in the past. Beyond that. she says Osorbo's mood has dipped, especially after the holidays ``He's really not doing well, and he's been that way for a long time.'' she says. ``Especially these days toward the end of the year, which is a tough time that you typically spend with family.'' Despite all this, Osorbo recently managed to share an audio recording, which was posted on his social media accounts. It's a message of gratitude to his family, his friends, and above all, those who have supported him. ``Those supporters have been there for me at all times, they have made me grow,'' Osorbo says. ``They have made me leave behind who I was and they've made me who I am.''

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. Let me be clear. The act that the gentleman is trying to defund does not require auto manufacturers to install kill switches. It does not do that. Passive drunk driving technology is a vital tool in safeguarding our loved ones and other innocent people on our roads. This new technology offers a lifeline of hope to not only save lives but to prevent the lifelong emotional toll and gargantuan costs these accidents inflict on families. Deadly drunk driving accidents can echo across generations, but we can seize this opportunity to stop such tragedies. Between 2019 and 2021, Florida saw a 31 percent increase in drunk driving crashes. In Mr. Massie's home State of Kentucky, 190 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in 2021 alone. That was a 26 percent increase. When we saw these grim statistics, we acted in a bipartisan fashion in Congress. How often do we see that? Both Republicans and Democrats supported the HALT Act to require auto manufacturers to make this passive technology standard in new vehicles. The sponsor of this misguided amendment will tell you that he worries about privacy concerns. We heard the same inane calls with seat belt requirements. You don't have a right to engage in potentially fatal behavior that we know poses a major health threat to public safety. Passive drunk driving technology is pro-police. This anti-drunk driving technology lightens the load on police officers, allowing them to focus on more pressing safety concerns. The importance of this technology goes far beyond statistics. It is about saving lives, preventing heartbreak, and making our roads safer. It is a passionate call to action to prevent alcohol-impaired driving from shattering the lives of those we hold dear. This amendment, I understand, was dubbed the kill switch amendment, and it does not require a kill switch. It simply requires passive technology to help us prevent drunk driving. In the name of the 406 people who were killed by a drunk driver in my own State of Florida last year alone, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment. Let's take steps to reduce deaths due to drunk driving, not increase them.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this bill. We have felt the effects of climate change for years in south Florida, draining millions from State and local government coffers to respond to the cycle of natural disasters. What is the majority's response in this bill? A crippling 39 percent cut to the EPA and policy provisions that will severely undercut efforts to curb CO2 emissions. We haven't seen EPA funding levels dip this low since 1991, which ironically is when experts told us that we needed to start tackling climate change. What does that mean for people watching us at home? More asthma, higher rates of cancer, and more frequent natural disasters, upending American families' lives. We need to invest in clean energy, not just right now, but yesterday. Besides underfunding clean energy efforts, this bill also neglects the cherished Smithsonian Institution. I was extremely disappointed that this bill bars funding for the new National Museum of the American Latino and the operation of the existing Molina Family Latino Gallery. The legislation that created this museum enjoyed strong bipartisan support just 3 years. The Latino community is so integral to America's heritage, it baffles me why the majority would block the Smithsonian from highlighting their historic and cultural contributions, especially since Congress established this museum. We must embrace the beautiful mosaic that makes our Nation so incredible, and that includes investing in public museums to provide a cultural and educational platform. This bill, by the way, also underfunds the Holocaust Memorial Museum. I respectfully requested the majority to include an additional $2 million over fiscal year 2023 for the museum's education program. The intentional, genocidal violence inflicted on Israeli civilians and the unconscionable apathy of many nations--and far too many in our own Nation--is a sobering reminder that Israel is surrounded by hostility and danger. Anti-Semitic threats and attacks in the U.S. were already skyrocketing up 37 percent in 2022. Only by fully funding education programs can we truly combat this rise in hate. Let's take some pride in America. Let's not cloak bigotry and ensure that we can educate people and promote understanding and unity, build up our public spaces, not starve and neglect them. For these reasons and many others, I urge Members to vote ``no.''

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in pain. As Florida's first Jewish Congresswoman, the debate we are having today is deeply personal. I have never felt this magnitude of agony, shock, and anger burning in the hearts of the entire Jewish community. For me, for many of us, this goes beyond our belief in the survival of the Jewish state and rises far above politics as usual. Today should be a moment of unity for this Chamber, a time where partisan games and showmanship are put aside. The House should be voting on a simple bill to provide urgent security assistance to Israel in her battle against Hamas terrorists. This same terrorist organization that perpetrated intentional genocidal violence on Israeli civilians on October 7, who just yesterday vowed to repeat that massacre over and over again. That is why this House should send a clean bill to the Senate. Instead, Speaker Johnson is willingly jeopardizing Israel's security by making support for Israeli existence contingent on issues totally unrelated to its security. He has taken an unprecedented step and one with potentially fatal consequences. I have seen statements from colleagues across the aisle since October 7, ones proclaiming an ironclad commitment to Israel. I have heard their promises over the years to never condition aid to Israel. You know you have looked pro-Israel leaders in the eye and promised that you would never do that. Think about it. But here we are. We cannot send a message to our strongest ally in the Middle East, especially in this dire hour of need that the U.S. will only support Israel if we can score political points against Democrats. We cannot hold Israel security captive as she reels with over 230 of its citizens still being held hostage. That is why last night I offered an amendment that would have eliminated this offset, which isn't an offset. It would have eliminated the false choice Republicans are forcing upon us by tying Israeli security assistance to unrelated policy debates. Yet to my dismay, but not surprise, my colleagues across the aisle rejected my amendment, preventing it from even being voted on on the floor today. When given the chance to fix their mistake, Republicans rejected it, once more opting for political gamesmanship. Our sole Democratic ally in the Middle East deserves better. Don't try to say you have Israel's best interest at heart if you are willing to jeopardize Israel's security in this way. The Israeli people deserve better. ``Am Yisrael Chai,'' ``The people of Israel live.'' Mr. SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks to the Chair.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution and the State of Israel and to speak out against the horrific murder of 1,400 Israeli civilians and the kidnapping of hundreds more. The unspeakable, genocidal violence inflicted on Israelis and the Jewish people by Hamas terrorists goes beyond condemnation. It demands action. As part of a bipartisan and bicameral delegation, I was in the region in pursuit of peace when Hamas launched their cowardly attack on civilian communities. Three days later, I met with Israeli's unified leadership and pledged continued U.S. support for the defense of the Jewish state. President Biden has led our Nation in mourning the dead, praying for the kidnapped, and mobilizing to support Israel in eradicating Iranian- backed death cults like Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic jihad, which are dedicated to the elimination of the Jewish people. Israel has never had a stronger ally and the Jewish community has never had a stronger advocate or stronger voice in the Oval Office. The unconscionable apathy of many nations and many in our own Nation is a sobering reminder of the fact that Israel remains surrounded by hostility and danger. As a proud Jewish American and Zionist, let me be clear: Israel has a right to defend itself, and Hamas must be destroyed. As an advocate for peace, normalization, and a two-state solution, it must be stated that Hamas is the primary obstacle to all three. We should not tolerate Americans who rationalize massacres and lionize monsters while spouting off anti-Semitic tropes and accusations. I will not equivocate because there is no equivalence between Israel's righteous efforts to protect its civilians and democracy from terror and Hamas using innocent Palestinians as a human shield, broadcasting carnage, burning families alive, and raping teenage girls to death. ``Am Yisrael chai''; ``the people of Israel live.''

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I stand here as a proud member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies for many years. I unfortunately rise in opposition to this harmful bill. Let's start with the two most obvious problems. It raises energy costs for families, and it has zero chance of becoming law. It was drafted with one goal: to appease MAGA extremists. The new Speaker of the House just spoke of reaching across the aisle for all Americans, yet one of the Republicans' first major acts is to jam through a bill that raises their energy costs and undermines our security, all just to keep their rightwing base happy. How do we know? Instead of fortifying our power infrastructure and confronting the climate crisis, it fixates on blocking the Army Corps of Engineers from renaming items that celebrate the Confederacy. You just cannot make up this stuff. That rockets to the top of the priority list for House Republicans. As we recover from the hottest summer on record, it cuts a critical clean energy program by half a billion dollars, choking off vital energy efficiency avenues to battle climate change. House Republicans have drafted a bill that is entirely removed from the realities that our families and the entire planet face right now. I recently had an affordable housing roundtable with Broward County in my home State of Florida, and they all talked about being rent burdened by climbing housing costs. Yet, this bill takes away funding to help American homeowners keep their homes safe and energy efficient to cut their power bill. Instead of investing in a stronger America, it cedes supremacy to a Chinese Communist Party that throws its full weight into infrastructure and clean energy investments. If Republicans want to craft a bill that helps American families, start by abiding by the bipartisan budget agreement that was signed into law by President Biden just a few months ago. In the rare instance where this bill actually honors that agreement, it fully funds a $425 million budget request for Everglades restoration, which I am thankful for, and it allows us to keep moving the EAA Reservoir project forward. Beyond that, though, this bill has dramatic funding gaps that jeopardize America's energy stability and independence. It raises costs for families, hurts job creation, fails to tackle the climate crisis, and rolls over to Chinese and Russian competitors. Mr. Chair, for all of these obvious reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this so- called CR, which is a MAGA gift basket to far-right extremists. Let's first address the reality. The gutting cuts in this bill do not continue current funding like we have historically done in continuing resolutions. Instead, this so-called CR slashes cancer and Alzheimer's research, defunds the police, and undercuts allies like Israel and Ukraine. Republicans claim to care about our borders, but this invites more immigration problems. Instead of giving migrants a path to work and pay taxes, it leaves them to languish in substandard private prisons. This grab bag of budgetary garbage stands no chance of becoming law and just slingshots into a shutdown in 36 hours, a shutdown that harms everyone, from seniors and servicemembers to this Nation's most vulnerable and its very security. It snarls small-business loans and trade, delays home loans, and could force Federal contractors into layoffs. It is a MAGA recipe for more chaos and inflation, and my home State of Florida will feel it first. The longer it drags on, the deeper the airport lines will get as TSA agents and air traffic controllers go without pay and passport processing slows down. Worse, it actually makes our military serve without pay. Don't forget, in the 2019 GOP shutdown, they forced Coast Guard members into food banks. That does not make America stronger. Instead of making communities less safe and handcuffing FEMA's recovery responsiveness, which this CR does, why don't Republicans join Democrats to fight Big Pharma and keep lowering drug prices like insulin? Instead of a shutdown that closes Social Security field offices, which this CR does, and takes food from the mouths of children, why won't Republicans join Democrats to bolster education, healthcare, and climate investments like Americans want? Why? Because MAGA extremists don't want to make life better for all Americans. They want to inflict pain on their own leadership, on our government, and on the American people. Why? Because it covers up their lack of an agenda, excites their base, and throws gas on their bonfires of distraction and chaos. America deserves better than that and so does this institution.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the State-Foreign Operations bill while having tremendous respect for my colleague from Florida, with whom I share many points of view, but certainly not on the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill before us. Here we are, for the fourth time this week, bringing forward a bill that has no chance of becoming law. This bill is supposed to invest in programs and people that ensure the national security of the United States, protects her interests abroad, and promotes our democratic values around the world. This bill is supposed to show that the United States stands up for our allies and democratic values while countering adversaries on the global stage. This bill is supposed to fund the programs that improve the lives of women and girls around the world by investing in education, health, and economic development. It is supposed to ensure the United States can effectively wield our soft power. Instead, this bill packages devastating cuts with petty partisan riders. It needlessly harms our career servicemembers and diplomats. It sends a message that the United States is willing to abdicate our role as a moral superpower, a role China and Russia are eager to fill. This bill says we will abandon our allies, our interests, and our democratic agenda all to cater to the whims of an extreme fringe. The world is at an inflection point, more complex, more rife with threats than ever before. If there is any doubt, just look around. Russia has committed war crimes in Ukraine, and China has ratcheted up its aggression in the Indo-Pacific and ruthlessly cracked down on dissent at home. Authoritarians and dictators prop each other up, from Latin America to the Middle East. They all bait the United States, challenging us to step up or stand down. In the face of that, this bill abdicates our responsibility to offer a viable alternative to protect allies and our vital interests here and around the globe. We all know that when we gut programs to promote global education and health, when we cast aside entrepreneurship support, and when we neglect multilateral institutions doing vital work, we undermine our ability and credibility to protect and defend, to truly make sure that we can keep the world safe with our allies. We lose our seat at the global table to ruthless thugs, dictators, and fascists when we try to pass harmful policy like this bill proposes. We do that at our own peril and imperil everything that Americans hold dear, which is why I encourage my colleagues to oppose this cruel and dangerous bill.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I rise to oppose this bill because it is incomprehensible to me that the majority would actually spend as much time--really, any time--on culture war riders and focusing on their extremist priorities as opposed to protecting the national security interests of our Nation. Here we are, once again, considering a bill that has no chance of becoming law as we hurdle recklessly toward a costly government shutdown that will be damaging most importantly to the morale of our troops, which this bill purports to actually want to protect, and to the defense of our Nation. Worse, this historically bipartisan national security bill has been hijacked by radical rightwing extremists. Instead of confronting grave national security threats like climate change, this bill is riddled with bigoted attacks on Americans who bravely serve our Nation. It needlessly politicizes the military and undermines the freedoms of those who risk their lives to protect ours. My colleagues across the aisle were tasked with crafting a Defense bill that supports all of our servicemembers, not just those who are White, straight, and conservative, and they failed miserably on that mission. I won't stand idly by as culture warriors try to undermine the service of LGBTQ+ individuals who bravely fought and continue to fight for our country every day. To top it off, listen to this: The report that goes along with this bill puts the word ``extremism'' in quotes. Republicans can't even admit that this is a real concept or threat. I plead with my Republican colleagues to put forward a Defense bill that focuses on the real needs of the members of our military, focuses on the actual national security interests of our country, and stops feeding the extremism that is actually emanating from their own party. I beg them to stop using this critical bill, one that we literally count on to keep every American family safe, as a disruptive wedge for partisan, discriminatory policies. Keep America strong. Don't divide it.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise to express grave concern that the majority has included in the Homeland Security appropriations bill a cut to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. In the face of the grave and significant threats against nonprofit organizations across this country, rising threats toward religious and other nonprofit institutions, these cuts will likely have a profound impact on the safety of our community across the country and in Florida and our community in particular. We strive to foster an open and safe environment in our communities and our houses of worship, in line with the core value of welcoming the stranger. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the CTC, faith-based institutions are more susceptible to attacks by violent extremists due to their symbolism, perceived lack of security, and accessible locations. We are going in the wrong direction in this bill, and the amendment to increase the amount of funding provided for nonprofit security grants is critical. At a time of increased vulnerability to threats of hate-motivated violence by domestic extremists, the House should be significantly increasing funding for religious institutions and at-risk nonprofit organizations, not cutting them and putting more people at risk. Shame on us if we don't increase the bottom-line number for nonprofit security grants.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

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

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, my amendment gives my Republican colleagues a chance to reconsider some of the cruel and reckless partisan riders tacked onto this atrocity of a Homeland Security bill. Republicans are really done, obviously, pretending that they just want people to immigrate here legally. This bill puts their bitter disdain for all immigrants on clear display because when President Biden set up legal pathways to reduce pressure at the border, the radical right objected. They took aim at Dreamers and refugees with legal status. By taking away their right to work, they threaten to harm our economy, jack up inflation, and condemn these communities to poverty in the process. That is not securing the homeland. It is inflicting vicious harm. Instead of registering immigrants and offering the chance to work and pay taxes, this bill would leave immigrants to languish in private prisons that fail to meet bare minimum standards for convicts, all at taxpayer expense. This Republican bill blocks inspections of detention facilities so our constituents can't see the horrific treatment and squalid conditions that migrants are forced to endure. Even that malevolence doesn't satisfy my Republican colleagues. Listen carefully here. This bill goes further to mandate that every last one of these prisons is filled to the brim, packed full of people who have not been convicted of a crime, have not faced a judge, and have not seen a lawyer. Finally, this bill blocks legally admitted migrants from being reunited with their families, separating children, even toddlers, from their families. Yet, MAGA Republicans will still preach to all of us about family values. I know the people they are marginalizing in this bill, people who come from Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti. They are my neighbors, my friends, my children's classmates. They are like family in my community. None of us are happy with our immigration system. Why not work toward a bipartisan plan that balances legal pathways with unbiased enforcement? The secret is out: Republicans don't want a solution. They want more chaos and more heartbreak. They want more desperate people trying their luck against the Rio Grande or the Florida Straits instead of safely applying online from home and coming through a port of entry. The pain is the point for these extremists. Mr. Chair, I wish my amendment could make sense of this bill, but these provisions barely scratch the surface. All I can hope is that my colleagues will show a shred of courage and common sense, even if it means facing jeers from the radical rightwing fringe, their base who is holding this majority hostage. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in countering this effort to deepen the despair of families who have had enough of it for one lifetime. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I will give a couple of examples of the type of torture that the language in this bill supports and endorses. One provision, section 404, prohibits funds for asylum officers to adjudicate fear claims, which is the point of our asylum program. Republicans include the perfect provision to demonstrate that they value disrupting due process for migrants more than they value speeding up results for their constituents. They want to block asylum officers, who receive extensive training and face enough difficulties as it is, from assessing whether refugees have a reasonable claim to asylum. While Republicans continue to engage in massive hyperbole, leaving people with the impression that people are storming the border, this bill actually prevents a lawful, orderly asylum process from occurring because the Republicans defund it in this bill. Another section eliminates the inspections of detention facilities. All I have heard since the MAGA majority gaveled in this Congress is oversight, oversight, oversight. Yet, when it comes to our detention facilities where vulnerable women and families are held indefinitely without a trial or legal counsel, Republicans want no oversight at all. These inspections are critical. These inspectors ought to get combat pay for what they walk into. At one facility in my home State, Mr. Chair, an investigation found severe violations, including sexual voyeurism by guards, denial of menstrual products as punishment, refusal of lifesaving medication and healthcare, beatings, and extended solitary confinement. Yet, Republicans in this Homeland Security bill actually eliminate funding for inspections of detention facilities and allow this torture to continue. It is outrageous. Mr. Chair, I will use the balance of my time to underscore my fierce opposition to these toxic anti-immigrant provisions. I will always stand up to counterattacks on legal pathways for migrants. I will also condemn cruelty against the vulnerable, even when it is justified by deterrence. I will never stay silent when opportunists try to blind the American people to the trauma we are inflicting on a generation of refugees. The extreme MAGA Republicans ignored dozens of commonsense requests from bipartisan Members regarding detention conditions, preserving asylum access, and ensuring that Congress upholds its oversight responsibility. Mr. Chair, I hope my colleagues will join me in mitigating the most harmful components of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this heartless bill which cuts nutrition assistance to mothers and children and needed relief to our hardworking farmers. If my Republican colleagues insist on preserving their tax cuts for the rich at all costs, please have the decency not to do it on the backs of women, children, and farmers. Yet, as cruel as these cuts are, it is enough to satisfy the small band of MAGA extremists now running this House. Republican leaders have caved to them again by adding harmful, divisive riders just to bring these bills for a vote. This legislation should have a toxic hazard warning on it. One rider blocks women from accessing mifepristone via telemedicine or the mail, even in States that allow it. This sneak attack on abortion medication would vastly restrict a woman's right to control her own body. Since it is so unpopular, of course, Republicans are adding this healthcare access barrier now in the dead of night. This isn't the only extreme rider on this bill. Instead of putting children and farmers first, this bill blocks the FDA from regulating nicotine standards. You are a doctor. That is shocking. It does this, mind you, despite scientific data showing that it will mean more addicted kids and fewer saved lives. In Florida alone, 32,300 people die each year from smoking-related deaths. Instead of helping hungry children and struggling families, Republicans give handouts to big tobacco in this bill. Look, I know Americans are divided on many issues, but there is one thing we can all agree on: We do not take food assistance away from children, families, seniors, veterans, and the disabled that desperately rely on that funding. Yet this extremist MAGA bill does just that. Mr. Chairman, as an appropriator, I always echo the adage: Show me your budget, and I will show you what you really value. This bill exemplifies the ugliest of all values if it takes food from the mouths of the hungry, if it blocks women's reproductive care, and if it cuts funds to American farmers. For these reasons, I strongly urge my colleagues to reject these cold-hearted values and vote ``no'' on this bill.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with great enthusiasm that I rise to recognize the remarkable work of the Urban League of Broward County. The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to elevating the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. Founded in 1975 as an affiliate of the National Urban League, the Urban League of Broward County is a community-based organization dedicated to empowering communities and changing lives. The League helps our underserved communities achieve their highest true social parity, economic self-reliance, power, and civil rights. The organization promotes economic empowerment through education and job training, housing and community development, workforce development, entrepreneurship, health, and quality of life. The League helps our community achieve these goals through a variety of programming--from their Summer Enrichment Program, which offers students the opportunity to create, discover, and learn, to ADVANCE-U, which offers a full range of essential economic resources for residents to help them succeed in the workforce, stabilize their finances and build assets. The Urban League of Broward County's commitment to the health and wellness of Broward's families is extensive, impressive, and inspiring. I am grateful to the leadership and staff for their tireless efforts to fight for the rights of my constituents and all Americans to live with freedom, dignity, and prosperity. I thank President and CEO, Dr. Germaine Smith-Baugh, and everyone at the Urban League of Broward County for improving the lives of those in Florida's 25th Congressional District.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Perez), who is here as an advocate on behalf of her constituents serving in the military as well as our veterans.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chair, as the expression goes: Show me your budget, and I will show you what my values are. It is very clear with the lollipop tree of culture war riders that this bill that funds the quality of life and the national readiness and security of the United States of America and the protection and quality of life of our military servicemembers, it is clear that because this bill cuts $1.5 billion below what we are currently funding in military construction, the Republicans have shown where their values are. They can put all the lipstick on the pig that they have developed in this bill that they want, but at the end of the day, they are still cutting $1.5 billion from military construction. That is cutting funding for airport hangars, for training centers, for childcare centers, for infrastructure that ensures that we can keep our servicemembers safe when they are serving overseas, while they are serving in the United States, and that is something that we have not done in modern times in this bill. Why? Because generally the military construction, veterans affairs, appropriations bill is, on a bipartisan basis, written as a commitment that we make to take care of our servicemembers while they are serving in the military on Active Duty and to take care of our veterans when they transition to retirement and spend the rest of their lives as veterans. This committee has a special responsibility. We are the only committee in the Congress that is responsible for the entire life cycle of an individual from when they start their service on Active Duty all the way through Active Duty and through their life as a veteran. We have a special responsibility to make sure that we are taking care of them, and cutting $1.5 billion is the opposite of that. The values that our friends on the other side of the aisle have shown is very clear. What they were more interested in doing, and the priority that was at the top of their agenda, included riders that prevent all veterans from getting equal access to healthcare no matter where they live. What they want to do in this bill--and you will see in subsequent amendments that will be offered--is they want to take away women veterans' right, their ability to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions. Furthermore, because veterans get their healthcare from the VA, it is essential that we do not discriminate against those veterans, those women veterans, no matter where they live; that they be able to get that access to healthcare whenever they need it to ensure that they can make their own reproductive healthcare decisions regardless of the State they live in. We spent the bulk of our time in the subcommittee and the full committee debating riders that do everything from prohibiting VA from implementing diversity and equity policies so that all veterans, no matter their religion, their culture, their ethnicity, their sexual orientation, that all veterans are treated equally; that we can ensure that no one feels alienated when walking through the doors of the VA facility. The Republicans zap any program, any policy related to treating veterans equally and making everyone feel welcome when they walk in that door. It was a top priority for them to prohibit VA facilities from flying the Pride flag over VA's facilities. If that is one of their top priorities, it is no wonder that they are cutting a billion-and-a-half dollars out of military construction, because our friends on the other side of the aisle have their policies backwards when it comes to taking care of the people who have served our country and continue to serve our country. They have given a license to discriminate against people who are LGBTQIA+ under the guise of religious liberty. They are preventing the Federal Government from adequately responding to that and from VA to provide healthcare services to everyone equally, and they are prohibiting access to gender-affirming care, which no matter what you might like to believe on the other side of the aisle, there are people who have served our country who deserve those services. All veterans should feel welcomed, included, and cared for. The fact that they are cutting funding for PFAS forever chemical cleanup means that we are going to be causing cancer and severe illness--which people are already getting by being exposed to these forever chemicals. We are going to ensure, because of the Republican values that are reflected in this bill, cutting funding for PFAS forever chemicals, we are going to ensure that more people who served our country and who live nearby facilities that need to be cleaned up from these chemicals get sick and eventually die. That is on them. There is enormous need for more funding to help make sure that we can do right by our veterans. This bill does the opposite, and I stand in opposition to it. I urge all Members to join me in voting against this bill so that we can go back to the drawing board. We will likely go back to the drawing board, I am quite sure, as this bill is on a crash course with the Senate bill which does a much better job at living up to the values that we all should adhere to, and that is taking care of people who have served our country and are serving our country nobly now. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 4366, with great respect to both of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, Chairwoman Granger and Chairman Carter, who are friends but with whom we strongly disagree on this legislation. The FY 2024 military construction, veterans affairs, and related agencies bill is, sadly, not one that I can support. Back in May, the subcommittee mark of the MILCON-VA bill cut the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund by $14.7 billion in 2024 and completely eliminated the toxic exposures fund in 2025, less than a year after we passed the bipartisan Honoring our PACT Act that promises dedicated funding for veterans of all wars exposed to Agent Orange, burn pits, and other toxic substances. This was in addition to the default on America act introduced in April by Republicans, which included a $2 billion rescission to immediately cut critical funding for VA and include no protections for veterans funding. We pushed back hard on these cuts as Democrats, and we were successful. Thankfully, as part of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, President Biden was able to undo that grievous harm by delivering the promise we all collectively made to our veterans by fully funding the toxic exposures fund. However, the problems did not stop there, and Democrats made significant efforts to right the other major wrongs in this bill, but, unfortunately, to no avail. The MILCON-VA bill is traditionally one of the more bipartisan bills--actually, so often that it is almost indistinguishable who is in the majority and who wrote those bills. That is not the case, sadly, this year because it is riddled with partisan riders, coming out of the full committee on a party-line vote significantly worse off than where it started. Riders include preventing VA from implementing its interim final rule that provides access to abortions for the life or health of the mother and in the case of rape or incest, as well as abortion counseling to provide healthcare services for women who desperately need it, and, importantly, to ensure that veterans have equal access to healthcare regardless of what State they live in because they get their healthcare from a Federal agency. It includes riders that do everything from prohibiting VA from implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives as well as training; prohibiting VA from flying the Pride flag over VA facilities; creating a license for people and organizations to discriminate against LGBTQI+ people under the guise of religious liberty and prevents the Federal Government from adequately responding; and prohibiting access to gender-affirming care, further disenfranchising veterans from VA. VA is a place where all veterans should feel welcome, included, and cared for. All veterans means all veterans, and what this bill does is shameful. On the MILCON side, this bill cuts funding for servicemembers and their families by $1.5 billion compared to the enacted level, compared to current services. The Republicans have cut military construction funding by $1.5 billion compared to the current funding. In fact, this bill is $200 million lower after the full committee markup than when it was first introduced in subcommittee. Even after the agreement with President Biden was signed into law, this bill cuts even more. We have a recruitment and retention problem, Mr. Chairman, and this bill cuts funding for military construction. We have major quality-of-life issues for our servicemembers, and this bill cuts funding for military construction and cuts funding for things like childcare centers, training centers, and airplane hangars that house and protect our billions of dollars of military equipment. This bill cuts dedicated funding for PFAS forever chemicals remediation and cleanup, which is a cut of $200 million from the current level, and dedicated funding for military installation climate change and resiliency projects, which is a cut of $90 million from the current level. There is an enormous need for funds to clean up PFAS forever chemicals contamination at BRAC sites as the services are still in the early stages of dealing with PFAS forever chemicals contamination. Dedicated PFAS forever chemicals funding has previously been provided in this bill so we can ensure continued progress in remediating contamination at closed bases and minimize the impact for those surrounding communities. This is critical funding needed to fulfill our commitment to ensure those pieces of land are safe for future use and for people who live nearby. This is poison that Republicans are refusing to provide funding to clean up. Furthermore, neglecting to continue investing in protecting our installations from climate change is a national security risk. We all know how extremely costly disaster assistance funding is. I am from Florida. I certainly know about that better than most. Last year, we provided DOD with $90 million, a comparatively small sum of funding now, which will pay huge dividends in the future and ensure our national security in the face of our changing climate. By eliminating the dedicated resilience funding this year, this bill would threaten future military readiness. Cutting military construction by $1.5 billion slows our historically bipartisan efforts to reduce the infrastructure backlog to strengthen our national security and to improve the quality of life of our servicemembers and their families. We are backtracking on our commitment to our servicemembers and their families. To make matters worse, veterans rely on programs throughout the Federal Government, not just programs in this bill. Instead of honoring the bipartisan budget agreement that this Chamber voted into law just last month, the FY 2024 House appropriations bills collectively break the commitment that was negotiated, agreed to, passed by a majority of Congress, and signed into law by President Biden to adequately fund critical domestic investments. Instead, these bills are written to the same exact number used before negotiations even began. These drastic cuts diminish access to education, transportation, job opportunities, and food assistance that veterans and their families rely on. Is there no line that Republicans won't cross? Is there no population that is off-limits? The MILCON-VA bill is just one piece of the puzzle, Mr. Chairman, and gutting all the other programs that veterans and their families rely on throughout the Federal Government breaks our promises to veterans and pulls the rug out from under those who served our country and whom we promised to take care of upon their return. I cannot and will not support it. The House MILCON-VA bill, as well as all 11 other appropriations bills, are headed for a collision course with the Senate, which got to work in a bipartisan manner. By the way, their version of this bill passed unanimously out of full committee. They got to work in a bipartisan manner to complete appropriations bills on time, consistent with the Fiscal Responsibility Act. These appropriations bills renege on the agreement and risk an automatic, across-the-board cut with a CR, toward which we are clearly headed--or, worse, toward a government shutdown. I will follow, Mr. Chairman, one of the first tenets that I learned as a legislator many years ago: Your word is your bond. I will stand by our veterans and our servicemembers by opposing this bill that deprives them of the services, care, and quality of life that they have earned and deserve. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee.