Susan Wild

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I dedicate these remarks to my wonderful community in Pennsylvania-Seven and to my mother and father, who didn't live long enough to see me elected. I grew up in a true bipartisan household, with a father who was an old-school Republican Air Force officer and a mother who was a Quaker pacifist liberal. It was an interesting childhood, as you can imagine. You hear a lot of bad about Congress, but I am going to choose to focus on the good, what we can actually get done for the people. My district office should, first and foremost, be thanked. My district office back home is often the closest contact that any constituent has with the Federal Government. They hear from our local voters, our local constituents, sometimes with frustration, sometimes with happiness when there is a good result, and sometimes with anger. They treat every single person in Pennsylvania-Seven as though they are family. I have been told that multiple times. Legislatively, here in Washington, I have to speak of some of my proudest moments. I was sent to Congress with a mandate to work on reducing prescription drug prices. I heard from so many people on the campaign trail about the struggles that they had, and I am so proud to have been part of a Congress that passed the IRA, which was the first time that we have ever managed to get prescription drug prices down. That effort continues and every year will increase. I beseech my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to please keep that intact. I am proud of having raised awareness of mental health issues and suicide prevention. I am so proud of the work done to pass the CHIPS Act, which has benefited my industrial and manufacturing district so very much. I am most proud, I think, of having put the greater Lehigh Valley on the radar of folks here in D.C. because Pennsylvania is not just Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, although some would say it comes down to the Eagles and the Steelers. We in the greater Lehigh Valley are the third largest region in Pennsylvania and the fastest growing region in Pennsylvania. I am proud to say that my team and I did just that: We put Pennsylvania-Seven on the radar of people here in D.C. I am proud to have had huge returns for the greater Lehigh Valley during the past 6 years. The bipartisan infrastructure law alone brought $395 million to my community. Our local airport has constructed a whole new TSA terminal. It was the first completed project under the bipartisan infrastructure law. I was able to bring $50 million over the past 6 years in community project funding, ranging from funding for food pantries and grocery deserts, Head Start, wastewater treatment plants, bridges long in disrepair, and all kinds of things. There have also been countless thousands of dollars returned to the people of Pennsylvania-Seven through the work of my district office team. There is a lot to be worked on in the future, and I hope that Congress will work on the issue of childcare. It is such an important issue. We must do something about childcare, and I hope that universal pre-K will be part of our future. Most of all, we need to work on campaign finance reform--please. This past election, in my district alone, the race cost a total of $38 million for one congressional race. That is obscene. It wasn't even the most expensive in the country. It was the 10th most expensive in the country. Imagine that, and imagine all the good that could be done with that. All of this work doesn't happen because of one elected official. It is the team that you have behind you. My wonderful, caring, intelligent team that never forgot that our mission was to serve the wonderful people of Pennsylvania-Seven, I thank them. To the voters of Pennsylvania-Seven, I thank them for the greatest privilege and honor of my life in representing you. Finally, my amazing kids, Clay and Adrienne. They are my rocks, the center of my universe. I am so glad they were here by my side for this incredible journey, and I could not have done it without them. I love them. Then there's my sidekick, Zoey, the Congress dog. Mr. Speaker, I will miss this place.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman, the ranking member, and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Moran) for bringing the Jenna Quinn act forward. It is so important. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Jenna Quinn act, a crucial piece of legislation that directly addresses the pervasive issue of child sexual abuse in our country. Unfortunately, child sexual abuse is a silent epidemic. The CDC estimates that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys will experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. In my home State of Pennsylvania, child abuse laws reflect the sobering reality of this crisis. Between 2019 and 2023, a period of 4 years, there were more than 32,000 individuals charged in child abuse cases, and of those charged, a striking 56 percent were between the ages of 19 and 35, and 23 percent of these defendants were charged with endangering the welfare of children, according to the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. These numbers highlight the widespread and deeply rooted problem in our communities. They also reinforce the need for proactive measures to prevent child abuse before it occurs, which is exactly what the Jenna Quinn act seeks to accomplish. This bill empowers educators and school personnel, who are often on the front lines when it comes to identifying and stopping child sexual abuse, with the tools they need to recognize, report, and prevent the abuse from happening. By providing schools with trauma-informed training and helping staff to recognize, report, and ultimately prevent child sexual abuse, the Jenna Quinn act will create a safer environment for children across the country. This training is not about turning teachers into investigators. It is about making sure that every teacher knows what to do if a child shows evidence of abuse or discloses abuse or if the teacher notices warning signs. It is about giving those children the chance to be heard and to be helped. The bill emphasizes flexibility, allowing States to develop the right programs for their schools while ensuring that Federal support is there to back them up. Let me be clear that this bill is a bipartisan solution to a problem that knows no political boundaries. Protecting our children is not a partisan issue, but it is a moral imperative. Our educators deserve the training and resources that they need to effectively intervene in situations of abuse, and our children deserve to feel safe in their classrooms. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on the Jenna Quinn act.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 501.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, instead of wasting time with messaging bills that have no chance of becoming law, Speaker Johnson and House Republicans should be taking steps that would actually solve problems for the American people. Please put the Right to IVF Act on the floor for a vote today, and vote ``no'' on the previous question so that we can protect Americans' right to build their families free from government interference.

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, there are only 2 weeks left of this Congress and I, along with many of my colleagues, want to use that time to do useful things that will actually help the American people. Instead, House Republicans and Speaker Johnson have us debating the Liberty in Laundry Act, but I am here today to urge my colleagues to consider a vote on the Right to IVF Act, a bill that I have been proud to lead this Congress, which would protect the right of Americans across the country to receive fertility treatments. I wish we were not facing unprecedented times, where even our most basic freedoms, including the freedom to start or grow your family, are at risk. Like so many hopeful parents, I struggled with my own fertility when having my children, and I am so grateful that there were no government restrictions on what was available to me. That would have made an already heartbreaking situation even more heartbreaking. Unfortunately, politicians and judges across the country are now threatening to strip hopeful parents of that right. Imagine looking at a couple who has been hoping and praying for a baby for years and has struggled to conceive or a cancer patient who has been told by their oncologist that treatment could destroy their fertility, and then telling them that they can no longer turn to IVF. Imagine a military couple in the midst of IVF treatments in one State where they are permitted, then being transferred to a new post in a State that forbids IVF. Since long before my time in Congress, I have believed that judges and politicians have no place in your bedroom or doctor's office, and that your personal medical decisions are yours alone to make. That is why I am proud to be the House lead of the Right to IVF Act, which would ensure hopeful parents across the country have access to the fertility treatments they need and to expand insurance coverage to make those treatments more affordable. With an incoming administration that has promised to roll back reproductive rights, it is more crucial than ever that we pass the Right to IVF Act and prevent access to fertility treatments from being swept up in all the dangerous rhetoric and legislation around embryos and personhood.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to honor one of my constituents, Jared Isaacman, who made history earlier this month as the first nonprofessional astronaut to walk in space, as part of the SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission. While in space, the crew conducted tests to study how humans can function in space. Jared has long been an integral part of the Lehigh Valley community. He is the founder of an Allentown-based company, Shift4, an e-commerce payment system now seen all over the world. Jared is also a remarkable philanthropist who has positively impacted so many lives throughout our district. Thanks to his generous contributions, the Lehigh Valley now has an outstanding children's hospital at St. Luke's Hospital network. Children in our community are able to receive the care they need in a less intimidating and more child-friendly environment, helping ease the stress of medical visits for kids and parents alike. Madam Speaker, I thank Jared for his commitment to our Lehigh Valley community, and I congratulate him again on this historic flight.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, I attended the funeral of Jacob Ellis, who devastatingly passed away at the age of 15 after a brief but vicious course of cancer. Jacob lived his all-too-brief life to the fullest, volunteering with local animal shelters, traveling the world to ride roller coasters, and baking desserts for his friends and family. My heart goes out to the Born and Ellis families and to all families touched by pediatric cancer, which has left a hole in far too many hearts. Almost every week, I am visited here by advocates for pediatric cancer research funding. I can think of no cause more worthy. In honor of Jacob and so many other young people who have passed all too soon, I am honored to be cosponsoring an amendment to the Defense appropriations bill allocating $2 million for research on pediatric brain cancer and spinal cord tumors. I will also work to make sure that we are developing medications and therapies for our youngest cancer patients that do not themselves cause residual injury or illness. I have heard from so many who developed a new cancer from a toxic medication they were given as a child. May Jacob's memory be a blessing, and may we never stop working until we have eradicated pediatric cancer from our world.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, 228 days. That is how long it has been since scores of people were violated, maimed, tortured, and killed in Israel. It has been 228 days since 252 people, including children and the elderly, were abducted from Israel into Gaza. Yesterday, I met with four of their families, Alex Danzig, a 75-year- old, was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz. He spent the last 30 years working at Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust remembrance center, educating about the lessons of World War II. Ohad Ben Ami, a dual Israeli-German citizen, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be'eri. Ohad's daughter showed me one of the last photos she has of him which depicts him being dragged into a van by a terrorist. Shaked Dahan, whose dog tag I wear in his honor, was a 19-year-old IDF soldier killed on October 7. Footage of his lifeless body being dragged from the tank he drove was shown to me by his family. His body was taken to Gaza, and his family prays for its return so they can give him a proper burial. Matan Angrest, a 21-year-old IDF soldier, also abducted, status unknown, is believed to be alive. He shares a November 28 birthday with his younger sister. This past year was the first time they had ever marked their birthday apart. Mr. Speaker, it has been 228 excruciating days for these families. We must not forget them. Until they are released, I will keep saying their names and standing with their families.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to the gentlewoman from Connecticut for convening us this evening to discuss an issue that affects every corner of our Nation: food insecurity. In blue, red, and purple districts alike, too many families struggle to afford the food that they need to keep themselves and their families healthy and fed. Throughout my time in Congress, I have used my voice and my vote to support nutrition programs because I am determined to ensure that in our Nation, the richest in the history of the world, no one goes hungry. As part of this effort, I have prioritized key nutrition programs. In 2018, my very first vote was to reauthorize the farm bill, which funds many critical nutrition assistance programs that people in our community rely on. These programs include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP; Meals on Wheels; The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children; nutrition assistance, school breakfast programs, and summer meal programs. Now, extreme Members of the House have put forward a farm bill that includes devastating cuts for SNAP participants that so many in our community rely on to feed their families. Their proposed bill would cut nearly $30 billion in SNAP benefits that families rely on to put food on the table every night. In 2023, one in eight households, roughly 44.2 million Americans, experienced food insecurity or lack of access to an affordable, nutritious diet. In my district, Pennsylvania's Seventh, the Greater Lehigh Valley area, nearly 40,000 households, or 13 percent of the households in our community, rely on SNAP to feed themselves and their families. In the richest Nation in the world, no one should go to bed hungry because they can't afford to eat, and no one should have to worry about having enough food for their kids because politicians decided to play games with the necessary benefits that they rely on every single day. This is a moral imperative of the highest priority. Children's physical and cognitive development depends on proper nutrition. Quite simply, adequate food sets them up for success in school and throughout life. We cannot, we must not abandon families in our communities that struggle with food insecurity. This should not be a partisan issue and it is deeply disappointing to me that Members on the other side of the aisle would put forth a bill that so severely cuts SNAP benefits. I will always stand up to efforts to strip benefits away from the most vulnerable members of our society, children. I hope to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on a bipartisan path forward that protects critical nutrition programs, including SNAP, in the upcoming farm bill reauthorization.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, our teachers do not get nearly enough love. Well, maybe during COVID they did when students were all at home, and parents and families suddenly realized just how important those teachers were, but not before or since and not nearly enough. I am very happy that it is Teacher Appreciation Week, although, honestly, I think we should be appreciating our teachers every single day. I am so proud to honor outstanding teachers across my community in Pennsylvania's 7th starting with Ms. Jennifer Danzeisen from Palmerton Area High School in Carbon County. Ms. Danzeisen has worked at the Palmerton School District for more than 20 years, and her students have repeatedly commended her calming presence, her heavy involvement in extracurricular activities, and her commitment to all of them. On top of her work as the department chair for business and technology classes, she advises the Mock Trial Club and Future Business Leaders of America and coaches the tennis team. Even while juggling numerous responsibilities, she prioritizes treating all of her students with dignity and respect. I thank Ms. Danzeisen and all of our wonderful teachers for their commitment to shaping our next generation. In this teacher appreciation week, I am also proud to recognize Ms. Susan Klotz from Kenneth N. Butz Jr. Elementary School in the Nazareth Area School District. Ms. Klotz has been an educator in the Nazareth Area School District in Northampton County for 23 years. In addition to making each and every one of her students feel valued and supported in their learning journey, she is an adviser for the Kindness Squad, working with students to spread kindness not just throughout their school but across our community and even globally. This year alone, she facilitated the collection of more than 2,000 books for the Cops `n' Kids program and organized a toy drive for students in the Dominican Republic. Ms. Klotz also spends time mentoring aspiring educators from East Stroudsburg University. She always goes the extra mile to make school a place where everyone--teachers, students, and families alike--can thrive. I thank Ms. Klotz and all of our wonderful teachers for their dedication to bettering our community. This teacher appreciation week, I am proud to recognize Morgan Polony, a third-grade teacher at Steckel Elementary School in Lehigh County. As a Whitehall High School graduate herself, Morgan is deeply connected to her community, both inside and outside the classroom. She has served as a high school softball coach, teacher leader, mentor, and active participant in various district committees. Her students and colleagues know that they can always count on her for encouragement, leadership, and a positive attitude. Morgan's impact in Whitehall goes beyond teaching. She actively participates in community events and fundraising for organizations like Big Brothers, Big Sisters and the Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital. Her presence is felt at her students' sporting events and spirit days where her colleagues said her school spirit is truly unmatched. We thank Morgan, and all of our wonderful teachers, for her unwavering dedication to our shared community.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, before we begin, I want to take a moment to acknowledge that as of today, Florida's cruel and inhumane 6-week abortion ban has taken effect. Attacks on women's basic reproductive freedom have not and will not stop. While days like today are difficult, they also remind us of the stakes that we are facing in this fight. I, for one, am proud to stand here and declare my unwavering support for reproductive freedom. When the Supreme Court took the cruel but unsurprising step to overturn Roe v. Wade, my heart broke for all the women whose basic reproductive freedom would now be in jeopardy. As a mother, a lawyer who used to represent healthcare providers, and as a sitting Member of Congress, I have always believed that private medical decisions should be kept squarely between a woman and her healthcare provider. After my immediate horror at the Dobbs decision faded, I started thinking about what other opportunities this would open up for far- right extremists to further control women's bodies and their healthcare decisions. It is why I worked hard with my staff in the year after Dobbs to draft and introduce the Access to Family Building Act, which would codify a right to in vitro fertilization and other assistive reproductive technologies at the Federal level, because I knew that extreme politicians, intent on controlling women's bodies, wouldn't stop at abortion rights. They were coming after all forms of reproductive healthcare. One month after I introduced this bill on the House floor, the Alabama State Supreme Court made the heartbreaking and cruel decision to classify frozen embryos as children, throwing IVF patients and providers into a state of confusion and panic. We heard it almost immediately. Clinics stopped doing the procedures at all. Women who were in the middle of an IVF treatment cycle literally had to just stop. On the heels of the Alabama decision, more than 150 of my colleagues signed on as cosponsors of the bill. Numerous healthcare and advocacy organizations endorsed it, including the Military Family Association, and constituents across my community and throughout the country shared their own difficult fertility journeys. As someone who struggled with infertility myself, I know how heartbreaking and expensive this process can be. I know for sure that politicians and courts should not have a say in how anyone chooses to start or grow their families. Don't let anyone tell you that it is just rich career women seeking to defer their childbearing years who rely on IVF. Over the past several months, I have been in close contact with both veterans and cancer patients, men and women, by the way, who have spoken about their own IVF needs and their fears that this safe and reliable procedure may now be in jeopardy. The reality is that these are the stakes that we are dealing with. The reason we are gathered here tonight is to shed light on additional pieces of legislation that some of our colleagues have introduced or supported, which, if enacted, could have the same repercussions as the Alabama decision. It is important to note that not everyone on the other side of the aisle is aligned on this issue, and I applaud the handful of my Republican colleagues who have signed onto the Access to Building Families Act to protect IVF and other forms of reproductive assistance. However, there is a real and present threat that exists right here in Congress of extremists who have signaled their explicit intention to attack IVF and other forms of reproductive healthcare at the Federal level. Make no mistake. Any of these national bans that have been talked about or proposed that would classify frozen embryos as children would supersede State-level protections thereby throwing IVF access into complete jeopardy nationwide. That includes a State like mine, Pennsylvania, which currently has no such restrictions. A Federal ban would absolutely affect every woman and couple in Pennsylvania and throughout the country trying to start a family and experiencing infertility issues requiring them to avail themselves of these types of reproductive technologies. That is why I am not going to stop fighting to protect it, and it is why I am proud to have received such overwhelming support for the Access to Family Building Act. I hope that we will soon be able to bring this to a vote on the House floor. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, our community lost a giant with the passing of Anthony Koury, a longtime deacon of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church in Easton, Pennsylvania. For more than 60 years, he served Our Lady of Lebanon as an altar server, lector, bingo worker, cantor, volunteer, and deacon. He also spent more than 40 years at Notre Dame High School in Bethlehem working as a teacher, coach, and athletic director. Deacon Koury lived a life of total service to his family, to his church, and to his surrounding community. He will be greatly missed, and I am so thankful for his work as a champion of our Lebanese community. May he rest in peace.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6306. Over the past 3 years, our country has made critical headway in expanding the United States' diplomatic footprint, including opening new, strategically located facilities in the Indo-Pacific region. Our Nation has always been at its best when we engage intensely in diplomatic efforts to defend and advance both interests and ideals around the world, and that is why it is so critical that we equip our diplomats with the resources they need. As part of this work, the State Department works regularly to open, renew, or modernize its facilities around the world so that U.S. diplomats can effectively advance our interests around the world. I am proud that this work has included reestablishing our embassy operations in Kyiv to stand with Ukraine after Russia's unprovoked, full-scale invasion in 2022. When we raise the U.S. flag on a new or updated diplomatic facility abroad, it is a powerful signal of our commitment to democracy and peaceful, productive engagement between nations. In maintaining its facilities around the world, the State Department mitigates security and counterintelligence risks through tailored, site-specific measures that address the particular challenges of a specific locale. The Department has deep expertise in this area, informed by decades of experience to harden our security posture, counter our adversaries, and open our doors to those who wish to learn about and engage with the United States. Congress has played a role in developing this expertise, too, as evidenced in bipartisan reforms to the Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act that we passed into law last Congress. We must continue to ensure the State Department has the flexibility to balance bold, expeditionary diplomacy, while mitigating operational risks. With this bill before us today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee worked in a bipartisan fashion to ensure the Department has the needed flexibility to advance the Department's ongoing efforts to maintain and open new facilities, even as we seek to minimize risks in embassy construction or maintenance that our competitors could exploit. I am pleased to support this measure, and I invite my colleagues to do the same. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure. In closing, the State Department's efforts to expand our diplomatic footprint and enhance its existing facilities worldwide showcase America's dedication to effective diplomacy and international cooperation. The operational security and effectiveness of these facilities is paramount, and the State Department has demonstrable success in building facilities tailored to mitigate country-specific risks. Our congressional reforms have supported this mission, providing the necessary framework for safe and dynamic diplomacy while ensuring that State has the flexibility it needs to build and maintain its facilities around the world. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting H.R. 6306, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As the lead Democrat on H.R. 4723, I rise in strong support of this bill. The United States, working alongside Croatia, Bosnia, and Serbia, crafted a tenuous diplomatic settlement to end the fighting and keep the peace in Balkans in the wake of the devastating wars of the 1990s. The resulting framework has been frustratingly imperfect, but it has provided a path forward for Bosnia and, indeed, for the entire region. This legislation calls attention to the difficulties facing Bosnia as it seeks to join the EU. It calls for critically needed reforms to ensure that all Bosnians can have a voice in their government, and it addresses the forces that threaten the region's fragile peace. Neither progress nor peace in the region are inevitable. These trends require an enduring commitment to fostering them. The bill reaffirms that U.S. commitment, along with our partners in Europe, to actively maintain peace. The sanctions imposed under this bill provide a necessary disincentive to ensure that the Dayton Agreements hold strong and do not unravel under political pressure. The sanctions section include waiver language and appropriate exceptions for intelligence activities, humanitarian aid, and to comply with our international agreements. Despite clear challenges, Bosnia has made strides on meeting the EU membership criteria for integration. It is in the interest of the United States to help ensure that Bosnia meets its compliance with EU rules and standards, so that its accession to the bloc can happen as soon as viable. I want to take a moment to recognize and thank my colleague, Representative Wagner, for leading this effort, as well as for her longstanding work to support peace and progress in this region. In closing, Mr. Speaker, this bill turns our attention to a region where U.S. presence and diplomacy go a long way. The European Union also realizes that progress in Bosnia and the surrounding region is not inevitable. In that light, I welcome the EU's decision to open membership negotiations. Transatlantic cooperation between the U.S. and the EU is essential to not only keeping the peace in the western Balkans, but also ensuring a democratic and prosperous future. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting H.R. 4723, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6610. As we all recall, the State Department experienced an unprecedented level of demand for passports after a global slowdown in travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of our constituents were frustrated by the significant processing wait times they faced in securing their passports. As this bill moved through the Foreign Affairs Committee, we were pleased to learn that the State Department had achieved prepandemic passport processing times again. Nonetheless, the work we must undertake going forward is to ensure that the Bureau of Consular Affairs and other relevant department entities have the tools, analysis, and resources that they need to sustain ups and downs in consular demand. The State Department is already working to modernize and streamline its passport processing, and this legislation supports those efforts. This bill, as amended by the Foreign Affairs Committee, will further modernize passport processing through a range of important mechanisms. We must not saddle the department with unfunded mandates or inefficient solutions. Congress must offer guidance and support to ensure that the State Department can get the job of modernization done. Americans deserve the best practices and smartest technologies to inform the department's provision of consular services. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to partner with my colleagues in Congress, at the State Department, and beyond to advance this objective. In closing, Mr. Speaker, the unprecedented demand for passports postpandemic created significant backlogs at the Department of State and frustratingly long passport processing times. I am glad that those processing times are now back at prepandemic levels and that the State Department's consular bureau is already modernizing its passport processing. Be that as it may, it is our responsibility to ensure that the department has what it needs to handle any future shifts in demand. This bill will ensure that American travelers can always count on efficient and reliable passport services by integrating cutting-edge practices and technologies into our consular services. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting H.R. 6610, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 149. I introduced this resolution on behalf of my district, which counts one of the country's largest Ukrainian-American communities. Together, we have advocated and organized for this moment, and I recognize my Ukrainian- American constituents and all the extraordinary Ukrainian-American leaders whose tireless efforts led to this legislation coming to the floor of the House for a vote. I also remember the time that Representative Wagner and I and a couple of other members of the Foreign Affairs Committee stood right at the border of Ukraine on the Poland side and watched as children and mothers streamed across the border. It was tragic and really hard to watch, but those were the fortunate children, as we have learned. Far too many Ukrainian children have been abducted to Russia. This vote is about sending an unequivocal message to Vladimir Putin that we stand with the Ukrainian people and that we will not stop working for justice and accountability when it comes to the atrocities that Russian forces have systemically employed in this war of aggression. We must be clear. Russian forces have engaged in an effort to destroy Ukraine's democracy, its sovereignty, its territorial integrity, and, ultimately, its identity itself. Their crimes against children stand out as the most heinous aspect of a much larger strategy, a relentless campaign of state violence against the most vulnerable members of Ukrainian society. As part of this effort, Russian forces have abducted and forcibly relocated thousands of Ukrainian children to Russian-occupied and affiliated areas in blatant violation of Article II(e) of the Genocide Convention. The Russian objective is clear: to eradicate the young generations of the Ukrainians by attempting to destroy their sense of national and cultural identity. We cannot be silent in the face of these violations of Ukrainians' most fundamental rights and dignity. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working to pass this legislation unanimously through the Foreign Affairs Committee. Finally, as meaningful as this vote is to me and my constituents, I call on the leadership of this House to hold an even more consequential vote. Mr. Speaker, the people's Representatives must be able to vote on the Senate's supplemental package containing critical assistance for Ukraine as well as humanitarian assistance for the people of Ukraine, for the Palestinian people, and for so many other populations around the world who are in dire need of assistance. We must come together in support of this national and global priority. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to think about the Ukrainian Americans across this country whose relatives in Ukraine are facing a relentless campaign of aggression simply because of their unrelenting quest for a democratic Ukrainian state. We must stand with them. We must stand with the next generation of Ukrainians and ensure that they are able to continue their proud legacy. As a people, Ukrainians have endured despite extraordinary hardship experienced across generations. Today, they are fighting for their future as a sovereign, independent democracy whose freedom has been hard-won and is imperiled today. Together, let us join in passing this resolution here on the floor of the House of Representatives by a resounding bipartisan margin, and let us work toward passing the assistance for the Ukrainian people that they so urgently need. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6602. In recent years, our use of export controls to safeguard our national security has expanded greatly. However, these efforts have not come with a commensurate increase in the budget of the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security, or BIS, which is the U.S. Government entity leading export control efforts. The Biden administration has vastly expanded controls against Russia and Belarus since the horrific invasion of Ukraine and has imposed unprecedented unilateral controls against China in the semi-conductor space. This has resulted in a large increase in the license review and enforcement burden at BIS, which now processes nearly 40,000 licenses per year. For our controls to be effective, I strongly believe that they need to be laser-focused on the highest priority cases where the national security concerns are most clear. At the moment, the Departments of State, Defense, Energy, or Commerce can individually block the approval or denial of a license by an interagency committee by escalating a decision if they don't agree with it. This legislation will allow the chair of the operating committee to decide cases where the agencies are divided 2-2, which should mitigate the number of escalations that we see and result in a more streamlined and effective process. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative McCormick and Chairman McCaul for working with the minority to address our concerns. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, to safeguard our national security in an ever-changing global landscape and to ensure that we are putting American workers and families first, our policies must be robust and effective, not counterproductive. If we want our export controls to work, we need to do a few things. First and foremost, we need to make sure that we are blocking the transactions that pose a clear threat to our national security. This requires focusing on key chokepoints and specific technologies and not having blanket rules that will inundate the Bureau of Industry and Security with a review of items that are not problematic. Second, we need to ensure that those controls are multilateral, so that the intended party isn't simply able to buy the same goods from other global suppliers or nations. Unilateral actions don't work, and they hurt American workers and families by ceding market share to foreign competitors resulting in job losses here at home. Third, we need to ensure that the license review process is fast, effective, and that BIS has the resources and tools necessary to effectively implement and enforce controls. So while I stand in support of Mr. McCormick's bill, I also urge the House to think seriously about increasing funding for BIS. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H. Res. 1068.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of Judge, the accelerant detection dog of the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania, fire department whom we knew as just Judge. Today would have been his 15th birthday, but, sadly, he passed away just a few weeks ago of natural causes. Judge came to the city fire department at about 1 year of age and had been specifically trained as an accelerant detection dog. He would sniff out accelerants such as gasoline, paint thinners, and those kinds of things that are rapidly flammable. His work led to 16 convictions of arsonists leading to prison time. Because of his formidable reputation, arsons dropped by 60 percent in Allentown. Judge spent all of his time, 24/7, with Fire Chief Lee Laubach and was a beloved member of the Laubach family, but first and foremost, he was a working dog. We all miss Judge. May he rest in peace.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be joining the gentlewoman from El Paso, Texas, to address one of the most pressing issues facing our Nation: our broken immigration system. I am from Pennsylvania. We are not a border State, but I hear an awful lot about what is happening at the southern border. I am deeply concerned about it, as are my constituents. It is something that we, this group of us who are speaking this evening, are committed to fixing. For far too long, both parties have played political games with the crisis at our southern border rather than pursuing real solutions to restore order. That is why I am so proud to be a cosponsor of the Dignity Act, a bipartisan bill that would tackle the crisis at our border and reform that badly broken immigration system. Let me tell you just a few things about what the Dignity Act would do. Number one, and most pressing to many, many of my constituents, it addresses border security. It increases the hiring of CBP personnel. It provides funding for border infrastructure and equipment. It makes it a crime to transmit the location of law enforcement personnel at the border for the purpose of trying to defraud the immigration laws. It also requires employers to verify the immigration status of their employees using an E-Verify system. All of those are things that we have been hearing about from the GOP for ages. This bill also provides a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers who came here as minors and have lived here for years in the shadows, unable to fulfill their lives, unable to become meaningful members of the workforce and to pay taxes. These people, these Dreamers, need a pathway to citizenship. We have been talking about this for way too long. It gives good, law-abiding people an opportunity to pursue the American Dream, which, by the way, so many of our parents, grandparents, and ancestors pursued. That is what this country is all about. There is absolutely no question about it: We need comprehensive immigration reform, and that means we have to bolster border security and ensure that law-abiding, tax-paying immigrants are treated with humanity and respect. We need enhanced infrastructure and funding for our Border Patrol agents to help enforce our laws and keep dangerous drugs off of our streets. We also need to strengthen those pathways to citizenship, which, by the way, will help build our workforce in critical industries and will boost our American economy. I have heard from employers, HR managers, manufacturers, and all sorts of businesses in my community that face workforce shortages. They want us to find ways to expand opportunities for legal immigration. Immigration reform is also a national security issue. Comprehensive immigration reform, as contemplated by the Dignity Act, would help us keep the drug dealers, terrorists, and other bad guys out. The best way to get things done in Congress is something that we don't do nearly often enough. It is for Democrats and Republicans to work together. We know that. We all know that. We have seen it historically. As I said, we don't do nearly enough of that. I am so proud that the Dignity Act has broad bipartisan support. I will continue to work to find ways that I can engage more of my friends across the aisle to support this commonsense immigration reform. Let me be clear. Our country needs the Dignity Act. This bill would allow us to bring order back to the southern border. It would surge resources to help enforce our laws and to support border communities like El Paso and so many others. It would help take back power from those who seek to abuse and overrun our asylum system. It would allow us to efficiently process those who are eligible for legal immigration and asylum. We must bring the bipartisan Dignity Act to the floor for a vote. It is the only truly bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill. We need to pass it. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in leadership to put aside partisan politics and consider the best interests of the American people.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Lorna Breen was a hero, a healthcare provider who put her life on the line to treat patients during the pandemic. Like countless other healthcare providers during that time, she struggled with her mental health and ultimately took her own life on April 26, 2020. To honor her legacy and provide resources to support other physicians facing mental health crises, I was proud to introduce the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, and I was thrilled to watch President Biden sign it into law last Congress. Now, the time has come for us to reaffirm our commitment to supporting our healthcare providers. Today, I introduced legislation to reauthorize this critical law, extending its funding through 2029. The work to bring mental health out of the shadows is far from over, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting this legislation that will keep our healthcare providers safe. I am grateful for the support of Representatives Kiggans and Dingell for joining me to introduce this bill, for the partnership with my colleagues in the Senate, and for the tireless advocacy of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, being a mother to my two children, Clay and Adrienne, is the greatest privilege of my life and my greatest joy. I often refer to them as the best thing I have ever done, and they are my rocks. When I hear from women who so badly want to have children, but struggle with their fertility, it really makes me sad. According to the CDC, infertility affects one in five women in the United States. In fact, it affected me, but I have seen firsthand how heartbreaking and expensive struggling to conceive can be. I firmly believe as lawmakers that it is our duty to support these families, not to restrict their access to reproductive healthcare. Everyone deserves access to the full range of assisted reproductive technologies to help them start or grow their families, including treatments like in vitro fertilization, or IVF. That is why I am so proud to join Senator Tammy Duckworth today to introduce the Access to Family Building Act, which would codify the right to assisted reproduction technologies and ensure that no State law can infringe upon this right. Mr. Speaker, I hope that we can all agree that we should support hopeful parents, and I call on my friends on both sides of the aisle to join me in bringing this legislation to the floor.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, as we are all aware, we are living in a digital age, where access to high-speed, reliable internet is a necessity. It is no longer a luxury. I have heard from so many constituents in urban and rural communities about the detrimental effect that slow, spotty, or a nonexistent internet connection has on them, whether it is trouble logging on for virtual school days, telehealth appointments, a job interview, or anything else. The Affordable Connectivity Program has allowed millions of Americans, including one in seven households in my district, to access broadband internet and, with it, expand educational and economic opportunities, more easily access telehealth, and connect with loved ones. With 22.5 million Americans depending on this program, you would think that Congress would be acting to protect the funding for the ACP, but you would be wrong, because extremists in the GOP leadership have refused to bring a bill forward to extend the funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which runs out at the end of April. We must get this funding done. It is far too important to every American.

Ms. WILD

Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the previous question. Instead of focusing on policies that would make life better and easier for Americans, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are constantly wasting time on legislation to disrupt longstanding laws, to pass bills that would offshore American manufacturers, make it more difficult for workers to receive a fair shake, and prevent the Federal Government from holding big corporations accountable. Rather than focusing on these issues, our time would be better spent ensuring that our seniors have access to the benefits that they have earned. Social Security and Medicare are more than just important government programs, they are commitments made by one generation to the next. Since my first term in Congress, I have worked tirelessly to protect these critical benefits, fighting back against extremist cuts that would gut our Nation's cornerstone economic security programs. The fight goes on because the GOP is still hell-bent on eliminating these programs. Social Security and Medicare are overwhelmingly popular because they provide critically important benefits, not only to our seniors, but to other vulnerable Americans, as well. My constituents and all Americans have paid into these programs, and they are counting on them for a dignified retirement and essential healthcare. It is also critical that we work to ensure that the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have the resources that they need. Despite the fact that Social Security is by far the most popular and necessary program in our country, the Social Security Administration does not receive the funding that it desperately needs to support many of the most vulnerable in our community and across the Nation. Mr. Speaker, ensuring that our seniors can receive the benefits they have earned should not be a partisan debate. I hope that my Republican colleagues agree and that we can find bipartisan commonsense solutions to this pressing issue. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question so that we can focus on more pressing legislation, like funding our government and reaffirming our commitment to seniors and the more vulnerable members of our society, and reaffirming our commitment to Social Security and Medicare.