Tim Walberg

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Stop Child Care Scams Act to fight childcare fraud and protect taxpayer dollars. Fraud isn't new, but what we have seen in recent years is staggering. Billions of dollars have been stolen from programs meant to help children and families. As Americans work day in and day out to put food on the table and support their families, fraudsters are lining their pockets with dollars meant to help hungry Americans and innocent children. Let me make one thing perfectly clear. Every dollar stolen through fraud is a dollar that cannot help feed a hungry person or provide childcare for kids and families who need it. Minnesota, sadly, has become a glaring example of this failure. Fake businesses, like the now infamous Quality Learing Center, claimed to serve children, but in reality, many of these facilities sat empty with no students and no staff. The scale of this abuse, Mr. Speaker, is staggering. An estimated $9 billion was lost to fraud. That is $9 billion that could have supported real childcare services or fed families in need. Instead, weak oversight allowed criminals to get rich at the expense of children and taxpayers, and it doesn't stop there. During the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders of the nonprofit group Feeding Our Future stole more than $250 million in Federal nutrition funds meant for hungry children. Instead, those dollars were spent lavishly on luxury cars and mansions. That is not just fraud. It is theft from the most vulnerable. Unfortunately, this problem extends far beyond the State. Across the country, fraudsters are taking advantage of gaps in oversight while taxpayers foot the bill. That is why this legislation is so important. In March, my committee passed the eight bills included in this package. I thank Representatives Messmer, Grothman, Onder, Foxx, Wilson, Rulli, Owens, and Miller for their hard work to tackle this problem. Each of the bills is included in the Stop Child Care Scams Act, which delivers commonsense reforms to restore integrity to these programs. It strengthens auditing and data sharing and increases reporting requirements to detect and prevent fraud. Just as importantly, it kicks fraudsters out of assistance programs, ensuring bad actors can't jump between Federal assistance programs to defraud hardworking Americans. This bill is guided by a simple principle: Taxpayer money meant for children and working families should never be lost to waste, fraud, or abuse. Mr. Speaker, we know most childcare providers are doing the right thing, but when fraud runs rampant, it drives up costs, reduces access, and undermines trust in the system. If we want to protect access to affordable, high-quality childcare, we must first eliminate the fraud draining these programs. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Stop Child Care Scams Act to protect children, restore accountability, and ensure these programs serve those who truly need them. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller), the sponsor of the bill.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman), a great member of our committee.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens), the sponsor of one of the bills in this package, in fact, one of the bills that the Democrats voted with us unanimously.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Rulli), who is the sponsor of another one of the bills in the package that my Democrat colleagues voted for unanimously with us.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, now I will get back on the germane issues that we are dealing with with this legislation and not rabid statements without foundation. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Onder), who is a great member of our committee.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Messmer), a sponsor of one of the bills in this package and a great member of the committee.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Kennedy).

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. We have the responsibility to ensure taxpayer dollars are used to help Americans, not fraudsters and scammers. Mr. Speaker, if you noticed today, we heard testimony from members of this committee and off this committee, including a Member we just heard from Minnesota, the State with a significant problem that alerted us to the fraud, waste, and abuse that was going on, not simply States or Members that are going to be so-called targeted by the President. These are Members who understand what went on and how taxpayer funds were being abused through fraud. For too long, criminals have exploited Federal programs, stealing billions while children and families lose access to critical support. That must end. The Stop Child Care Scams Act strengthens oversight, closes loopholes, and prevents bad actors from continuing their schemes across multiple programs. These are straightforward, long-overdue reforms that will make a real difference. Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar taken from someone who truly needs help. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Stop Child Care Scams Act. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1224, I call up the bill (H.R. 2616) to require public elementary and middle schools that receive funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to obtain parental consent before changing a minor's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form or sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 2616.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2616, the Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act. For years, concerned parents have felt ignored as education bureaucrats push radical agendas in schools without their knowledge or input. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when kitchen tables became classrooms, parents got a firsthand look at what was really being taught. What many saw raised serious concerns. Instead of focusing on the basics like math and reading, many teachers and schools were introducing controversial lessons on gender ideology and pronouns, all while student achievement plummeted and continues to this day. In the years since then, those concerns have only grown. Many schools are engaged in systematic attempts to erode parental rights. Schools are facilitating gender transitions or encouraging students to change their names and pronouns without telling parents. These are enormously consequential decisions that have lasting impacts on a child's well-being and development. Parents deserve to be part of those conversations. One study from Defending Education found that at least 21,000 schools across the United States have policies that allow or encourage staff to hide a student's name change or gender identity. This lack of transparency risks confusion, undermines trust, and weakens the essential partnership between families and schools. It also places teachers in difficult positions, sometimes expecting them to withhold information from parents or be less than fully transparent. These policies are incredibly harmful to children and families. In fact, we are now seeing a wealth of data to prove that children and teenagers who seek out drastic, life-altering medical procedures often struggle with mental health issues now and beyond. Instead of supporting kids, these secretive gender transitions, often encouraged by radical school officials, do more harm than good. At the same time, many parents are asking a simple question: Why aren't schools more focused on helping students recover academically? Test scores in key subjects remain stagnant or have declined, and students are still working to overcome pandemic-era learning loss. Parents, teachers, and school leaders should be working together to support student success, not be at odds with one another. That is why I am proud to lead H.R. 2616, the Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act, alongside my friend and colleague, the vice chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, Congressman Burgess Owens. This bill takes monumental strides to restore parental rights and educational sanity. H.R. 2616 affirms the right of parents to be in charge of their children's upbringing and ensures schools remain partners in a child's education, instead of usurping the role and rights of parents altogether. The bill also establishes clear guardrails to ensure taxpayer dollars are used to support learning, not indoctrinate kids in radical ideology and agendas. At its core, this bill is grounded in a simple principle, Mr. Speaker. That principle is that parents want what is best for their kids. Schools should be partners in that effort. I believe Members on both sides of the aisle share the goal of helping students succeed. This legislation moves us in that direction by strengthening trust, improving transparency, and keeping the focus where it belongs: on students' education. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I certainly would agree that this bill will promote good mental health and security and probably academic success in the process. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens), who is the bill's co-lead and vice chair on the Education and Workforce Committee.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Messmer), a great member of the Education and Workforce Committee.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller), a special member of the Education and Workforce Committee.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Harris), a great member of the Committee on Education and Workforce.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I am ready to close if the gentleman from Virginia is, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day, this issue is about parents, their children, and the protection of both. This bill also protects teachers. It gives them the opportunity to use the resources already available to them to protect students, but not do that at the expense of parental rights. Every parent in this country wants the same basic thing: to know what is happening in their child's life and to be able to guide them through it. That is not political. It shouldn't be. That is just being a parent. Too many families today--and it is the majority of them--feel like they are being cut out of decisions that matter: decisions that affect their child's identity, their well-being, and their future. These are life-changing decisions that are being allowed and encouraged that are destructive. That is not how our schools are supposed to work. Schools should be partners with parents, not replacements for them. Trust between families and educators is essential. That trust starts with honesty and transparency. The Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act is just what it says. It is about restoring that trust. It is about making sure parents are informed, respected, and involved. It is making sure kids are protected. At a time when students are still working to recover from significant learning loss, our focus should be clear: strong academics, honest communication, and helping every child succeed. That is what this legislation does, Mr. Speaker. It puts parents back where they belong: at the center of their child's life and education. In fact, it mandates and strongly encourages parents to be back there with their kids. That is a good thing. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 2616, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Robert C. ``Bob'' Burnham, Sr., who will be posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, and to pay tribute to a life marked by service, sacrifice, and devotion to both his country and his family. Bob joined the United States Army in 1943 as the world faced unparalleled conflict during World War II. He completed basic training at Fort Custer, where he prepared for the demands of wartime service with discipline and resolve. He went on to serve as a member of Battery D of the 548th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, rising to the rank of Corporal through dedication and leadership. In 1945, while serving in Germany, Bob was wounded in action. His courage and sacrifice during this pivotal moment in our Nation's history stand as lasting reminders of the price paid by those who fought to secure freedom and peace around the world. In 1946, Bob returned home and built a life grounded in humility, hard work, and steadfast love for his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather whose quiet strength shaped the lives of all who knew him. Bob also served his community for many years as a courier for Kalamazoo Public Schools. Mr. Speaker, the life of Robert Burnham, Sr. reflects the very best values of our Nation: courage in service, dedication in work, and love in family. As we honor him with the Purple Heart, may this recognition stand not only as acknowledgment of his sacrifice on the battlefield but also of the dedication and resolve that he lived each day of his life. May his family find comfort in knowing his legacy will continue to inspire future generations.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, it is my special privilege to recognize Charles Scott of Coldwater as the Veteran of the Month for May and to honor him for his dedicated service to our great Nation. Charles served in the United States Army from 1979 to 1992, reaching the rank of Staff Sargent. For his committed service, he was presented with numerous badges and awards, including the Army Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Overseas Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Driver and Mechanic Badge, Korean Defense Service Medal, and Army Achievement Medal. After being honorably discharged, Charles earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Drury University and went on to work as a school supervisor. He then moved to Coldwater, where he served as a Veterans Service Officer for 22 years. During his time in the role, he received numerous awards, including the Certificate of Appreciation from the Branch County Veterans Board in 2008, the Veterans Service Officer of the Year Award in 2013, a Certificate of Appreciation for planning, designing, and managing the Branch County Veterans Memorial, Branch County's Patriotic Citizen of the Year Award in 2015, and the Special Tribute Award in 2025. While Charles was specifically tasked with guiding Branch County veterans through the process of securing the benefits they have so rightfully earned, he also helped guide other veterans in surrounding communities to find the help they needed. Charles provided both expertise and compassion to thousands of veterans during his time as a Veterans Service Officer, ensuring that they received the care, benefits, and respect they deserved. While Charles has retired from the position, he continues to assist veterans wherever possible, including by recently organizing a veterans' program at the Branch County Fair, Charles Scott's life of service, love of country, and keen desire to serve fellow veterans inspire us all. May others know of my high regard for Charles, as well as my deep gratitude for his lasting contributions to the country we love.