Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to recognize the life of Dr. Leonard Tipton, who was a remarkably impactful individual until he sadly left us at 84 years old. Dr. Tipton was an American success story. The first in his family to graduate from high school, he would go on to earn a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, ultimately bringing his talents to the University of Florida. Dr. Tipton made important contributions to Florida and beyond, serving as a Professor in the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida from 1985 until his retirement in 2005. As a renowned scholar, Dr. Tipton pioneered work on survey research methodology and the role the media plays in setting, not just reporting on, a public agenda. Dr. Tipton was known to be an extraordinary teacher and mentor. Dr. Tipton's former students have an unprecedented track record of success, going on to become successful academics, Oscar-winning filmmakers, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters, and this Member of Congress. I was fortunate enough to experience firsthand the teaching and mentorship of this creative enthusiastic educator. He always worked to make sure his students had the resources and tools to succeed, inspiring us to achieve greatness. His generosity and love of teaching were the hallmarks of his career as an educator and will be fondly remembered by all who met him. May his memory be a blessing.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I make a motion to overrule the ruling of the Chair.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I make a point of order.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, you have made a ruling that the gentleman's motion is not in order, and I object and disagree with that ruling. I would like to make a motion to overrule the decision of the Chair.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the approaching, somber, first anniversary of Hamas' horrific attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This past year, we have experienced continued heartbreak and mourning with fresh pain rearing its ugly head each time we learn the tragic fate of hostages who were captured that fateful day and subsequently murdered by their captors. Just a few weeks ago, on the eve of a rescue operation, Hamas executed six hostages in cold blood, including an American, Hersh Goldberg-Polin. It was a gut punch. After surviving absolutely horrific conditions for nearly a year, they were brutally murdered by Hamas in the tunnels below Gaza all because their rescue was imminent and because of Hamas' hatred of Jews and their commitment to destroy Israel. As a Jewish mother of three, meeting with so many parents of the hostages, including Hersh's parents, Rachel and Jon, has felt deeply personal. Their fortitude and strength in advocating for the return of their children is nothing less than heroic. I have met with Rachel and Jon countless times this past year, and something that always sticks with me is when Rachel shared her last embrace with Hersh before he left for the Nova music festival for his 23rd birthday. No mother should ever have to think that when they kiss their child good-bye before a concert, it will be for the last time because they will be murdered by terrorists. This senseless evil compels us to hold our own children tighter and strengthens our resolve to end the terrorist threat that lives on Israel's doorstep, which no people should have to endure. I was in the region with a congressional delegation on October 7 and in Israel on October 10. Since October 7, I have traveled to Israel twice more. During a visit in March, the most searing moment for me was when our delegation paid our respects at the site of the Nova festival. The Nova festival was a celebration of peace. Thousands of young people joined together in the desert to celebrate life. At sunrise, terrorists invaded the site, including flying in on motorized paragliders with the sole objective of murdering, maiming, sexually assaulting, and kidnapping festivalgoers and hundreds of Israelis in their homes. No parent should fear getting the text that so many received that morning from their children that the worst has happened. When you go to the Nova site today, you see memorials and photos of the beautiful, vibrant faces of the hundreds of young people marked where they were murdered. As a mother, a Jew, and a Zionist, the experience was overwhelming. Despite the horror and ongoing tragedy of the almost 100 hostages that still remain in Gaza, ripped away from their loved ones for almost 365 days, the people of Israel are strong and will never stop fighting for their future. I am inspired by those Israelis who have dedicated themselves to bringing the hostages home and seeking a just peace. October 7 didn't just impact Jews living in Israel. It impacted Jews around the world, especially here at home. While anti-Semitism was already on the rise after October 7, Jewish hate exploded, reaching record levels of anti-Semitic incidents in the United States. According to ADL, since it first started tracking incidents of anti- Semitic harassment, vandalism, and assault in the United States in 1979, this past year resulted in the highest number of anti-Semitic incidents on record. The American Jewish Committee found that two-thirds of American Jews say the status of Jews in the U.S. is less secure compared to 1 year ago, and 62 percent of American Jews report facing anti-Semitism online or on social media in the past 12 months. This is unacceptable. Anti-Semitism doesn't just threaten Jews. It is an attack on the very foundations of our society, pluralism, religious freedom, and equal rights, endangering all of us. I am so grateful for President Biden and Vice President Harris' moral clarity and leadership in combating anti-Semitism. In May 2023, their administration took the unprecedented step to release the U.S.' first ever whole-of-society National Strategy to Counter Anti-Semitism. We must combat this hatred, and I urge all of my colleagues to call out anti-Semitism no matter where it comes from. Lastly, I have a plea for my colleagues: When you are home in your districts, please check in on your Jewish friends and neighbors. We are not okay. Local Jewish organizations are planning events around the October 7 anniversary, so I implore you to reach out and show up for your Jewish neighbors and constituents. Speak out against anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, which is a form of anti-Semitism. Together, we will stand up against hate and stand up for Israel. We will never forget the victims, the hostages, and their families. We must bring them all home now. ``Am Yisrael Chai,'' ``The people of Israel live.''

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding and for his strong support of this legislation and his poignant and important words. I thank him for taking the time to go into some detail about the experience of his own Jewish community in his Congressional District. I rise in strong support of my bipartisan bill, H.R. 7764, to establish a commission to study the potential transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution. I also thank Representatives Turner, Boyle, and Max Miller for joining me in leading this bill, and of course, I thank Chairman Steil and the ranking member for prioritizing it and getting it through unanimously in the Committee on House Administration. Last year, ADL tracked a 140-percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents from the previous year resulting in a record high since ADL began tracking these instances of hate almost 50 years ago. According to the American Jewish Committee, nearly two-thirds of American Jews feel less secure in the U.S. than they did a year ago. To combat the rising hate, President Biden and Vice President Harris developed our country's first ever National Strategy to Counter Anti- Semitism. The strategy notes that we cannot address the root causes of anti-Semitism without awareness and education. With anti-Semitism skyrocketing, acknowledging the past and acting to build a better tomorrow is more critical than ever. It will take a whole-of-society effort to do this, and folding the Weitzman National Museum of Jewish History into the Smithsonian is one step toward that goal. We must uplift Jewish stories and raise awareness of the contributions of Jewish Americans throughout our Nation's history, which the Weitzman does every day. Taking this critical step to welcome the Weitzman Museum into the larger Smithsonian family would help us share those achievements with the American people from all over the country as its mission is to educate visitors and online audiences about who Jews are and how they contributed to our country. The museum develops critical in-person and online educational programming, provides professional development for educators, and produces award-winning special and traveling exhibits. However, its ability to reach a national audience is limited, which is why the best way to amplify its resources is to incorporate it into the Smithsonian Institution. This powerful institutional integration signals a strong commitment to address the dramatic rise in anti-Semitism. It does that by helping amplify the myriad ways Jewish Americans enrich our Nation. We need all Americans alike to learn about all the remarkable Jews who served in our government and the military or who won Nobel Prizes, led universities, and made lifesaving medical discoveries our Nation counts on. The Jewish community's commitment to tikkun olam, a commitment to repair the world, is clear across so many generations of Americans. Bringing the Weitzman Museum of American Jewish History into the Smithsonian alongside the African American, Native American, and other pending cultural museums is fitting and essential. We must shine a light on it to support Jewish Americans and respond to skyrocketing hate. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, again, for their support, and I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with great enthusiasm that I rise to recognize Cooper City Commissioner L. Jeffrey Green. Jeffrey Green began his career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in January 1988 and recently celebrated his 36th year with the Bureau. Mr. Green currently serves as the Community Relations Coordinator for the Miami Division and is responsible for expanding the FBI's presence in local communities through civic and community engagement. In addition to his FBI career, Mr. Green is also an elected Commissioner for Cooper City. In this capacity, Commissioner Green is one of five elected officials responsible for governing local municipal affairs. This includes providing oversight of the City's $60+ million- dollar budget, its public safety operations, and all aspects of running a local government. Commissioner Green will be ending his term serving the City this November. As a devoted public servant for more than 14 years, Commissioner Green helped transform Cooper City into ``Someplace Special'' to work, live, and raise a family. Commissioner Green leads with his heart and has been a calming voice on the City Commission throughout his tenure. On behalf of the people of Florida's 25th District, we are grateful for his leadership and wish him well. We appreciate his invaluable work for the residents of Cooper City.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 9468. This bill will alleviate a shortfall in the Veterans Benefits Administration by providing $3 billion, ensuring veterans receive the benefits that they have rightfully earned. Without this funding, veterans' and survivors' payments to over 500,000 individuals scheduled to be delivered on October 1 will be at risk. This shortfall, unlike what the gentleman just referred to, exists because the PACT Act is working. Ever since it was signed into law, the VA has been hard at work finding veterans in need of care and cutting through the bureaucracy to get them the benefits and medical care that they deserve. There are now a record number of veterans receiving disability or compensation benefits, 6.6 million, up from 6.3 million last year. The VA is hard at work, processing a record number of claims exceeding 2 million, on pace to break last year's record by 30 percent. Veterans are also using the GI Bill and job training benefits at record rates. Funding this shortfall will ensure that the VA continues delivering for veterans. However, this bill alone will not address all the pressing funding needs at the VA. We know that the VA requires more funding to ensure that the PACT Act is fully implemented in the next fiscal year. There is another $12 billion shortfall for FY 2025 in the Veterans Health Administration also due to increasing demands from the PACT Act. The smoke and mirrors that is being stirred up by our friends on the other side of the aisle is just that. There is massive demand for healthcare benefits and the additional PACT Act benefits that, thankfully, Democrats provided under President Biden and Vice President Harris' leadership. You can see the fact that more veterans are enrolling in VA care. Over 412,000 have enrolled in the last 365 days, a 27 percent increase year over year. The VA has also seen a record number of healthcare appointments, on pace for 127 million in 2024, well exceeding the previous year's record. The VA's targeted and aggressive outreach to veterans ensures that they know about the care and benefits the bipartisan PACT Act made available and shows that it is working. Although this $3 billion for benefits is critical, I urge my Republican colleagues to also support the $12 billion that is needed for healthcare in FY 2025 in the continuing budget resolution. People who are listening to this discussion should know that inexplicably, this funding has been excluded by the Republican majority in the CR that goes until March that we understand we are likely voting on tomorrow. Our friends on the other side of the aisle are going to deprive veterans of the vital healthcare that the PACT Act requires that they receive and continue to cloud the ability for us to be able to get our veterans that care. I am a show-me person, not a tell-me person, and so we need to show the veterans who have earned these benefits that the PACT Act requires we provide for them, and we do that by making sure that we address the shortfall that is the result of the demand that we knew there was. For so many years, veterans were denied access to the care that they earned. The clear exposure to toxic substances while they were in battle and while they were defending our country resulted in illnesses that now the PACT Act allows them to get access to that healthcare and ensure that it is covered. If we don't fulfill that $12 billion and make sure that those resources are available to our veterans, then our friends on the other side of the aisle will be responsible for that. As I have said, I support this bill before us, but I am disappointed that my colleagues across the aisle did not work in a bipartisan manner to draft this legislation. Let me be clear; it is not perfect. There is a reporting requirement that I would have written differently if we were consulted on that language, but it is critical that we get this funding to our veterans and survivors before funding runs out. Therefore, I do urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano), the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I don't have any additional speakers. I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, do you know what is a stubborn thing? Math. Math is a stubborn thing. As I have mentioned earlier, this bill falls short of supporting the full funding needs for the VA. It is very simple. The VA has told us that by March of 2025, which is only a few months away, they will need an additional $12 billion for veterans' healthcare. There is nothing mysterious about this. I am not that good at math, but the VA has reported that they are delivering more appointments to veterans than ever before, and that has something directly to do with why they need the additional resources. In fact, there have been 91 million appointments thus far in 2024, outpacing last year's total. The VA expects to see 127 million appointments by the end of this month. The VA has also reported that costs for drugs and prosthetic devices are higher due to market pressures. Additionally, community care costs will need to grow by 16.5 percent next year in order to deliver anticipated community care needs for veterans. Math is a difficult thing, apparently, for our friends on the other side of the aisle. Despite these warnings, my colleagues across the aisle have decided to ignore the VA, to obfuscate, to create smoke and mirrors. Mr. Speaker, I spent the morning with over 100 of my veterans who served in World War II, the Korean conflict, and the Vietnam war, and I promised them I was coming back here to make sure that we addressed this $3 billion shortfall and that we would ensure that we fully implemented the PACT Act and ensured that veterans who were exposed to toxic substances would have their care covered. The PACT Act presumes, Mr. Speaker, that that exposure is what caused their illnesses, caused the disease that so many had to struggle with getting the ability to have that healthcare paid for until the PACT Act became law. Despite these warnings, my colleagues across the aisle have decided to ignore the VA. In their continuing resolution, which would end on March 28, and which we expect to vote on tomorrow, they purposefully excluded any additional funding for veterans. I will remind you, Mr. Speaker, and my colleagues, that when we committed that we would make sure that the PACT Act funds were guaranteed, that we had guaranteed funding so that we wouldn't leave the funding for veterans' healthcare to the whims of the appropriations process, as we do every year, our friends on the other side of the aisle decided to put a bill together that denied that guaranteed funding. They denied that guaranteed funding repeatedly until they were finally shamed into living up to our commitment to our veterans. This funding is needed to hire more medical professionals, deal with the growing cost of community care, relieve cost growth issues for pharmacy and prosthetics. We have to make sure that we are there for them. The bottom line is that this bill that is here before us is a good first step in addressing the funding pressures the VA is experiencing due to the administration's successful implementation of the PACT Act, but it fails to address the additional funding needs in healthcare. I encourage my colleagues across the aisle to include the funding in a CR that is necessary for the VA to ensure that our veterans receive the quality care that we promised them, that the law requires, and that they deserve. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, It is with a heavy heart that I rise to recognize the remarkable life of Minnie Mae Robinson. Ms. Robinson was an extraordinary woman who, until the age of 102, lived her life with an unwavering love for serving God. Born on May 18, 1922, in the small town of Louisville, Georgia, Minnie's spiritual journey with faith began at an early age, and her humble beginnings set the groundwork for the profound spirituality that defined her life and legacy. She moved to Miami, Florida in 1950 and was always passionate about helping and caring for others. Minnie became a member of the historic St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church in the heart of Overtown, was an active and longtime member of the Usher Board, and served diligently as a member of the Mission Circle, the Flower Club and Eastern Star. Her passion for caring and serving others led her to pursue a career in nursing, a role she embraced with dedication and love. She was a committed and hard worker who believed in charitable giving and community service. Her first nursing Job was at Christian Hospital located in Overtown, the first black-owned hospital that provided medical care for black Miamians. She also worked at Mount Sinai Medical Center on Miami Beach and privately until her retirement. Throughout her life, Minnie exuded infinite wisdom and grace, taking on the roles of a devoted mother, loving grandmother, cherished sister, caring aunt, supportive cousin, and true friend Her impact was not confined to her immediate family. She touched the lives of countless individuals, offering unwavering support, genuine compassion, and a listening ear to all who were fortunate enough to cross her path. Her relentless dedication to serving others and her community made her a pillar of strength and a source of inspiration. Truly an inspiration, Minnie is remembered for her kind and generous spirit and legacy of service to family, church, and community. My heart is with her family in mourning the loss of this kind, generous, and compassionate soul. We were forever privileged to have shared this time with her. May her memory be a blessing.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, due to official committee business, I was unable to vote at the start of the series. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 340.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank my co-captain for yielding. Mr. Speaker, today, as my co-captain said, after last votes, the Congressional Women's Softball Game will play our 16th annual game at Watkins Elementary School. What makes the softball game so special is not just the charity that we support or the cause that we play for, but the fact that women Members of this House, Republican and Democratic, team up to play our common adversary: the Capitol Hill Press Corps. There are very few things in this town that are certain. One thing I know for sure is that when Republicans and Democrats come together, we can really mess with the press and get things done. This game is near and dear to my heart as so many of you know because we raise money for the Young Survival Coalition, which provides resources and support to young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Many of you know that I beat breast cancer myself after I was diagnosed at age 41. My length of survivorship coincides with the number of years that we have played this game, 16 years cancer-free, and since we founded the Congressional Women's Softball Game in 2009, we have raised $4.3 million for the Young Survival Coalition and its crucial work. Let's bring another win home for the Member team and beat the press. More importantly, let's beat cancer. Doors open at 5:30. Game starts at 7 p.m.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I thank the ranking member for yielding and congratulate her on presenting her first appropriations bill on the House floor. We are all behind her. I rise in strong opposition to the Republicans' fiscal year 2025 Homeland Security bill, which neglects the real threats that we face from anti-Semitism, extremism, and domestic terror, and promises to throw our southern border into chaos. After walking away from a robust, bipartisan border security deal all to pander to Donald Trump, the GOP has finally offered up its alternative. Since this is nothing more than a messaging exercise, I want to make sure my constituents get the message. Republicans are slashing resources for border management and immigration processing. They are hanging border communities out to dry by defunding shelters and services. They neglect the founding mission of the Department of Homeland Security by eliminating terrorism prevention funds. You just can't make this stuff up. This bill also rolls back successful Biden administration policies like family reunification and humanitarian parole. Worse, it doubles down on ultra-MAGA policies like separating children from parents and racial profiling, and it inflicts cruel bans on reproductive healthcare. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I led Democrats in committee, demanding full funding for critical programs like nonprofit security grants, which defend our communities against surging anti-Semitism and hate crimes. In the months following October 7, harassment, vandalism, and assaults against Jews increased by over 360 percent, with nearly 9,000 documented examples across all 50 States. Federal hate crime investigations shot up by 60 percent since then, and the majority of cases involve threats against Jews, who comprise just 2 percent of the U.S. population. Every single Republican Member voted to waste that money on a useless border wall instead, which Mexico still isn't paying for, by the way, rather than protecting their Jewish constituents. This bill is more concerned with protecting the reputations of extremists who spread anti-Semitic disinformation than it is with protecting the lives of Jewish Americans. That is shameful. We know the result of failing to provide these spaces with the protection they need. Communities of all faiths have been devastated by hateful extremists. We must direct our limited Homeland Security resources against real threats we face, not toward some fictional invasion or against women's reproductive healthcare or against rainbow flags or providing political cover for your convicted felon ringleader. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject these political games and get serious about funding our immigration system and securing our communities against extremist terror.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise as the designee of the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro). Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark), the distinguished minority whip.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is noncontroversial, and I appreciate the kind words of the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Schweikert), and I feel the same. I am not opposed to it. It supports artificial intelligence technologies to expedite VA claims, and anything we can do to expedite VA claims efficiently and effectively is worthwhile. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I would be happy to engage in a colloquy.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Using artificial intelligence and anything we can do to efficiently and effectively make sure that we can assist the VA in processing claims is a good thing. We are likely at the nascent stage of being able to use that kind of technology. As this is an increase-decrease amendment, essentially it gives you an opportunity to come here and talk about the importance of highlighting the need to expedite claims, which are improving. Thankfully, we are in a much better place in terms of the backlog. I know Secretary McDonough is very focused on making sure that we can continue to do that. Having your advocacy on the floor today is helpful in spotlighting the issue and making sure that we can advance at a more rapid rate. Mr. Chair, I yield back to the gentleman.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is noncontroversial. I am not opposed to it. It supports artificial intelligence to assist the VA with its audits and financial management systems. It is an increase-decrease amendment, and I do not oppose it. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

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