lankford, who i respect highly, put together with a lot of work from a lot of people, and when it was sent over there, it was already dead on arrival, according to your speaker. i just don't understand why, since most of my friends in the border patrol liked it. host: got you, caller, thank you. we have a few seconds, representative, go ahead. guest: i haven't talked to any border patrol agents that commented on the senate bill. not to say there were some that were supportive of it. if you really want to take the border seriously, wait in mexico needs to be reinstituted. it was not a part of that package. really, that's why it was dead on arrival. that's something joe biden can do. he just simply refuses to do so. if that's not a part of the package, it's window dressing. host: republican active pat fallon, thank you. guest: thanks, pedro. host: we now take you to the house of representatives.

the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. the clerk: the speaker's rooms, washington, d.c. april 17, 2024. i hereby appoint the honorable randy k. weber sr. to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. signed, mike johnson, speaker of the house of representatives. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the order of the house of january 9, 2024, the chair will now recognize members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour debate. the chair will alternate recognition between the parties with time equally allotted between the parties and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and minority whip limited to five minutes, but in no event shall debate continue beyond 11:50 a.m. the chair recognizes the gentleman from new york -- the gentlewoman from from new york, ms. mallioitakis, for five

minutes. ms. mallioitakis: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise today to recognize the anniversary of the discovery of new york bay by giovanni verrazzano which occurred 500 years ago today. of florence italy, he was the first to lead an expedition to find a western passage from the atlantic ocean to the pacific on april 17, 1524, he entered new york bay becoming the first to chart the east coast of the united states. his discovery expanded maritime knowledge and and sparked inspiration for other explorations, including henry hudson's voyage to new york bay that established new am stker -- new amsterdam 85 years ago. it has become a hub for trade and commerce and highest impact of any city in the united states. to commemorate the impact of the discovery, in 1960 governor rockefeller named the bridge in our district connecting the

boroughs of staten island and brooklyn the bridge after him. today new york city is home to 8.8 million people, 800,000 of whom are of italian dissent with the largest population of italian americans residing in my district. new york city takes great pride in giovanni's discovery and i join our community in celebrating his historic achievements today. mr. speaker, i also rise as a new york city representative in a post 9/11 world to talk about how concerned i am that our border is not secure. since joe biden took office, c.b.p. has encountered at least 340 individuals on the terrorist watch list along the southern border or in our interior.

i just want to give you some examples. an after fan migrant or the terror watch list spent nearly one year in the united states after he was apprehended and released by c.b.p. agents in march of 2023. he was processed at the border, c.b.p. released him without alerting officials about terrorism ties and free to fly domestically in the united states. he was arrested in february, 2024, then released by immigration judge in march who was not told that he was a national security risk. last month in an illegal immigrant from lebanon caught at the border admitted to c.b.p. that he was a member of hezbollah and was headed to new york to try to make a bomb. in february of 2024, i.c.e. apprehended another terrorist who was allowed to roam in the u.s. for nearly a year after crossing the border illegally. and the terrorist was a member of al-shabaab that was only arrested after i.c.e. became aware of his threat to national security.

and in february, a colombian man on the terror watch list was caught crossing into eagle pass area. in august of last year it was discovered a smuggler with isis ties helped more than a dozen uzbek migrants into the united states over the southern border, and in april of 2021, c.b.p. announced they arrested two yemeni men on terror watch list on separate incidents as they attempted to cross the southern border in california and both a no-fly list. we caught least 340 individuals either at the border or in the interior. the more concerning number is who did we not catch? we know that nearly two million people estimated by c.b.p. have entered this country without any, any encounter by government or law enforcement. we don't know who they are. where they are. or what their intentions are. that comes down to about 800 individuals a day. we need to secure our border,

particularly with growing threats from iran, who said they want to commit an attack on our own soil. russia, china, and if we are going to send out allies money, we should support our allies, we need to ensure our own homeland is secure against these threats as well. even the f.b.i. director is confirming that joint terrorism task forces in all 56 of f.b.i.'s field offices are occupied with threats coming across our border. it is un-able to me that the president refuses to reverse any of his 60-plus, more than 60 border policies he changed via executive order. and unconscionable to me that senator schumer refuses to work with us to force the president, because the president has discretion, right. he put these policies in place to begin with. he can reverse them. senator schumer should work with us to force the president to reverse these policies.

and i believe our speaker needs to go back to joe biden and chuck schumer and say, if we are going to pass foreign aid, we must have at least, at least a few commonsense border protection measures in there. i don't think it's that hard to ask from republicans or democrats to say at least let's prohibit the individuals who are gangs, terrorists, or criminals from entering this country. thank you. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady's time has expired. the chair recognizes the gentleman from maryland, mr. hoyer, for five minutes. mr. hoyer: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. hoyer: i would remind the previous speaker that the bill sent, bipartisan bill from the senate, which does, in fact, deal with the critical issues she raised. the leadership of the republican

party has refused to take that bill up. but there is another more important issue that confronts this house. that we should have acted on days, weeks, months ago. that is the security of the global community. the sanctity of international law. and the saving of the sovereignty of ukraine. mr. speaker, i rise today on behalf of an embattled israel and beleaguered ukraine. apprehensive allies around the world. a month ago speaker johnson said, quote, no one wants putin to prevail. i'm of the opinion that wouldn't stop in ukraine, said our speaker. if he was allowed, he would go all the way through europe.

speaker johnson a month ago. there is, he said, a right and wrong. there is good versus evil in my view. and ukraine is the victim here. they were invaded. we stand with good. he went on to say i understand the timetable. and i understand the necessity of urgency of the funding. and yet we widell our thumbs -- widell -- twiddle our thumbs without any paper on this floor how we are going to affect the urgent end of which the speaker spoke. he then said, just april 16, we need, he said, steady leadership. we need steady hands on the wheel. look, said the speaker, i regard myself as a wartime speaker.

if he regards himself as that, he must act now. there is no time for delay. there is no time for political chaos to impede our aid to ukraine. clearly we are not acting urgently. if we did, we would have allowed us to pass the senate national security bill a long time ago. putin has got to be happy with the failure to bring the senate bill to the floor. it must look like "gulliver's travels" with little people in america. the lilliputians that are in our midst tying down america's ability to respond. we have seen the consequences of house inaction. over the weekend iran made an unprecedented attack on israel. launching roughly 350 drones and missiles that targets -- at

targets across the country. they see and irresolved united states. although israel shot down nearly all of them, with the support of america. god bless president biden. and our allies. the audacity and breadth of iran's attack ought to concern us all as americans and global citizens n ukraine we have allowed our allies to run so low on ammunition that their air defenses cannot fend off similar air attacks. shame on america. shame on this house. indeed, iran supplies putin with the same drones and missiles to strike ukrainian cities. meanwhile, ukrainian soldiers are so starved for ammunition they wade into swamps in search of abandon russian artillery shells they can reuse. that is how committed they are to winning this war. and that is how desperate they are for our aid. this congress has failed to provide it for them for 473

days. the world watches us and wanders, does america remain the defender of freedom, democracy, and its allies? has the wellspring of democracy run dry. the free world expects more from the great arsenal of democracy. and so should we. most members of this house do. over 300 members of this house have voted for the proposition contained in the senate bill. on seven occasions in the past year over 300 democrats and republicans voted to aid ukraine. even more of us voted to aid israel. we are not a silent majority. but a silented -- silenced majority. silenced by a speaker who refused to give us a vote. it will pass. he could put the senate supplemental on the floor at any

moment. and it would pass with a large bipartisan majority. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. hoyer: freedom is waiting upon us today. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. hoyer: international law is waiting for us to redress the grievance that has occurred by russia's invasion of ukraine. mr. speaker, let us act now. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the chair recognizes the gentleman from minnesota, mr. emmer, for five minutes. mr. emmer: thank you, mr. speaker. one of the greatest hockey coaches of all time, herb brooks, let me start with issuing a challenge. be better than you are. set a goal that seems unattainable. when you reach that goal, set another one even higher. i can think of few people who have consistently risen to that challenge better than our floor director, david planning. as the head of our whip operation for the last year and

a half, david has played an integral part in making sure our house republican majority delivers on our agenda for the american people with the slimmest majority in history, who only controls barely one half of one third of the government, making sure we get our priorities across the finish line is no easy feat. but in large part thanks to david's grit, professionalism, and insatiable desire to win, house republicans have been able to pass signature pieces of legislation that much larger majorities could not. but it's not just david's fierce competitiveness that makes him great. it's the intentional relationships he's created with people across every seconder of our -- sector of our conference. it's the steadiness he exudes no matter how high the stakes. it's his positivity that not only makes him a winner but makes him an incredible tea teammate. competitor, winner, teammate.

those are the words that come to mind when i think about david planning. and although we are quite sad for him to leave us as he moves on to another career opportunity at the end of the month, i have no doubt that those characteristics will continue to carry him far. david, thank you for your service. not just to our office but for our entire house republican conference. thank you for your steadfast commitment to our commonsense conservative agenda. thank you for giving up so many nights, weekends, and holidays to make sure that our conference is successful in our mission to counteract joe biden and the democrats' failed agenda. and most importantly, thank you for your friendship and the incredible memories we are going to have from the last 15 months. never stop setting and reaching your goals. we cannot wait to see how you excel outside the halls of congress. we wish you nothing but the best in your next chapter. mr. speaker, i yield back.

the speaker the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from massachusetts for five minutes. ms. pressley: mr. speaker, i rise today to call attention to the massacre of the palestinian people and the urgent need to de-escalate the middle east. for months now after the brutal attack on october 7, the world has watched in horror as the crisis in gaza has worsened daily. today less than 200 days later, nearly 34,000 palestinians have been killed by israeli forces. every day that goes by without a ceasefire is another day that palestinians are subjected to violence, starvation, death and destruction. and every day that we do not de-escalate the region, more lives are put at risk. mr. speaker, i condemn the iranian military's attack on israel and i condemn the israeli military's attack on the iranian consulate in syria. these escalations are dangerous and we now find ourselves at a critical inflexion point.

we can either leverage diplomacy to the he is -- to de-escalate tensions and push for peace, or we can stand identify ideal by as this spirals into a broader regional conflict that results in more loss of life. palestinian, israeli and american. we must de-escalate and facilitating a lasting ceasefire in the region is the only path forward. some of my colleagues seem all too willing to rush into an endless war with iran and continue providing a blank check to the israeli military. right now palestinians in gaza are being starved, bombed, tortured and executed. generations of palestinian families have been wiped out. over two million are displaced from homes that have been raised to the ground -- razed to the ground. make no mistake, history will remember this moment as a genocide. we cannot bomb our way to peace. and the u.s. must stop using our tax dollars to arm the israeli military with more bombs and

bullets. the same bombs and bullets that have been used to kill over 14,000 children in gaza. shameful. it's why we see momentum across the globe in support of a ceasefire. millions are marching peacefully in the streets. a ceasefire is the mandate. a ceasefire to serve humanitarian aid. a ceasefire to bring all of the hostages home. a ceasefire to save lives. we will never be silent in the face of injustice. ceasefire now. mr. speaker, i rise today to honor the life and legacy of luke bayley santos, a came -- of cambridge, massachusetts. our community is devastated over the loss of luke. he was a force for good. and a bright light in politics and in our world. luke believed deeply in the power of community organizing and could build meaningful relationships with folks from any and every walk of life because he cared deeply. he knew that our destinies were tied and our humanity connected.

he had a heart for story telling as well. he represented the best of us. a genuine person who loved his family, his friends and the pursuit of justice, luke never had be a agenda -- never had an agenda, only passion. he was ready to roll up his sleeves and play any role. our team often described him as a wonder kid and the kid who would be president someday. luke, i am devastated that your time on this earth was so short. your 20 years were filled with meaning and contribution and love. you made every day count. and every day you made our world better. in your name we will continue the work of building a more just world. mr. speaker, i rise today to mark the passing of a true community builder, the unofficial mayor of m.i.t., mr. paul parvano. paul was compelled to work, so tell me about yourself, into

every conversation he had. and he meant it. so let me tell you a little bit about him. paul joined m.i.t.'s office of government and community affairs in 1990. he tumped countless students -- touched countless students, faculty, community leaders and elected officials in his 33 years of service. he was committed to the full inclusion of disabled people in every aspect of life. he served as a board member of the national braille press, just one of his many contributions to the empowerment and upliftment of the broader disability community. a braille champion, his advocacy improved access to financial information for the blind across the united states. his contributions earned him the cambridge naacp's lifetime achievement word, the came bridge community center's reverend nicholas founders award, and he was the inaugural recipient of the m.i.t. staff award for distinction and service, all well deserved. but his legacy was really forged in the intimate moments he shared so freely with any and everyone he met and how generously he shared his

hard-fought wisdom. he showed us how to lead with compassion. and although he was blind, paul saw people, he saw the infinite possibilities within people and in our world more than any person i've ever known. to his wife, martha, and his daughter, emily and ely, thank you for sharing -- ellie, thank you for sharing paul's light and love with us. we're a better commonwealth because of him. i yield. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from arizona, mr. ciscomani, for five minutes. mr. ciscomani: mr. speaker, i rise today to celebrate the talent -- town of or valley's 50th anniversary. on april 15, 1974, it started as a small town with only 1,200 people. today it has grown into a booming community with a population of over 48,000 arizonans. the town recently celebrated its

50th anniversary with fireworks and parades. my family and i have been fortunate enough to experience this over the years. thank you to mayor winfield and vice mayor baird for their leadership to the community. i am so proud to represent oro valley and so many other wonderful communities like this in our district. mr. speaker, i rise today to remember the life of lead police officer adam r. buckner. one of arizona's brave law enforcement officers who tragically passed away on sunday, march 31, 2024. at just 31 years old, adam lost his life while serving our community so bravely in tucson.

officer buckner started his law enforcement career with the new orleans police department in 2017. then joined the tucson police department in november of 2021. officer buckner recently won midtown division's officer of the month award for his dedication to the community. his commitment shined bright during his time as a police officer. officer buckner was committed to helping others in times of need and truly loved the tucson community. he's remembered as a loyal, kind and selfless friend and remains a true hero in the hearts of our tucson community. officer buckner is survived by his wife, mother, sister and three brothers. we will never forget officer buckner's sacrifice or the ultimate sacrifice of any first responder. his death is a reminder that our police, fire, medical personnel

and all first responders risk their lives every time they put on the uniform. we extend our gratitude for his dedicated service and are eternally grateful for his contributions. mr. speaker, this past week iran has launched a direct, aggressive, unprovoked attack on our ally, israel. i was on the ground in israel less than two weeks ago with a group of 18 of my colleagues to hear from israeli police, soldiers and officials about the importance of a united states partnership. as israel defends itself in their war against hamas, iran and other proxy terrorists, the u.s.-israel friendship is more crucial than ever. i met with families of hostages and visited sites of the october

7 attacks. one of the most impactful parts of my visit. we have seen the names, the numbers, the footage, but when you meet the families who lost loved ones or visit with them like we did this week, it is even more gut-wrenching. we also met with several israeli officials, including prime minister netanyahu and the president. 193 days, that's how long the israeli hostages have been held by hamas terrorists. in israel, i spoke with the families of the hostages. for months these families have agonized over not knowing the status of their loved ones. as a parent myself, it's an unmanageable -- unimaginable pain. we must stand in solidarity with israel and bring every hostage home now. it's a sober moment, a somber moment, but incredibly impactful

visit and only reinforced my support for our friends in israel. six days after i returned, iran launched an i tack -- launched an attack on our ally, israel. over the weekend iran launched an attack on israel that included the use of 185 drones, 110 surface to surface missiles and 36 cruise missiles. despite the scale, this attack was rendered unsuccessful due to israel's military air defense and their partnership with the united states. i am now more than ever going to continue to protect the u.s.-israel relationship. i am proud to co-sponsor one of the israel security supplemental appropriation act. this body must act now. we need to come together to support our ally. time is of the essence. i urge my colleagues to stand united on this issue immediately. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired.

the chair recognizes the the gentlewoman from michigan, ms. tlaib, for five minutes. ms. tlaib: mr. speaker, on behalf of the congressional mamas caucus, i'm asking our chamber to please take a moment and recognize that we are experiencing a black maternal health crisis in our country. in g in's 12th -- in michigan's 12th congressional district, we're experiencing not only the black maternal health crisis but also infant mortality crisis. we don't want another study. we want action. michigan's one of the highest -- has had one of the highest death rates among black women in our country because our systems and institutions have failed to provide our black neighbors with the comprehensive, high-quality care they deserve. a system, a system free of systemic -- systemic racism. to address black maternal mortality crisis, we must understand and acknowledge our country's racest history and the ways -- racist history and the ways it has manifested in our

health care system. black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes more than white women and this is unacceptable. black women have consistently been neglected and mistreated in our health care system. they should feel safe and supported by their health care professionals and they should be believed. black women in front line communities like ours also live with the devastating effects of pre-existing conditions, from air and water pollution. i founded the congressional mamas caucus with mothering justice, because we were tired, we were tired of policies created about mothers but not with mothers. i'm also incredibly proud to have been the co-sponsor and continue to support the black maternal health act, that bill that would address every dimension of the maternal health crisis in america. this would ex and it to w.i.c. eligibility, fund community-based organizations, prioritize black mental health, support incarcerated mothers and invest in federal programs to

address the black maternal health crisis. i will not stop until black women receive the equitable nondiscriminatory comprehensive care they deserve. mr. speaker, water contaminated by lead service lines can be found in every single congressional district in our country. from rural areas to densely populated cities, lead service lines are widespread and pose serious health risks to all of us. but particularly our children. i found the get the lead out caucus, with the goal of eliminating lead from our drinking water once and for all. experts have estimated that we need 60 -- $60 billion to replace every single lead pipe in america in the next 10 years. we continue to wake up to stories about children being poisoned and cities having to hand out bottled water because they have failed to invest in our water infrastructure. we are now seeing our own food supply being impacted by toxic water being used to wash produce that end up in our refrigerator

and our dining room tables. people across our country are being forced to drink, bathe, cook and wash -- is with water that -- wash dishes with water that's literally poisoning our bodies. this effects all of us in the united states. i'm proud that i'm leading in partnership with congresswoman debbie dingell and lisa blunt rochester, and leading in appropriation -- an appropriations request to provide $1.5 billion in additional funding for lead service line replacements in michigan around throughout the country in the next fiscal year. -- and throughout the country in the next fiscal year. i know that many of our municipalities have talked to all of us about struggling to find the resources to meet the urgent need for lead pipe detection and replacement, so this $1.5 billion would keep us on track for our goal of total nationwide lead pipe replacement in the next decade. water is life. there is no more precious

resource than water. we must continue to demand that clean, affordable water is a human right in our country. .... mr. speaker, i would like to take a moment to congratulate laya nasher, a resident from our district and a dedicated leader in our community for becoming the first yemeni american woman to earn the prestigious truman scholarship award. born in yemen, she's a proud immigrant and raised by her mother in detroit. in 2021 i had the honor and privilege of laila interning in our office. since then have watched from afar her encredible commitment to public service. she's committed to advancing equity in our public education and supporting underserved communities. and first generation college students like herself. as a student at harvard, she's now studying social anthropology and history and inspiring young american yemeni women in our

community and across the country to pursue our dreams. i'm so proud of you in receiving the truman scholarship award and cannot, cannot wait to see all that you are going to be able to accomplish in the years to come. please join me in congratulating laila for her deep commit many to our community. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. lamalfa, for five minutes. mr. lamalfa: thank you, mr. speaker. we witnessed the egregious overreach of government during the code of pandemic which resulted in the infringement of america's rights and devastating consequences for our economy and an unprecedented government spending. from the outset of the pandemic, we witnessed unprecedented government action that is trampled upon our basic treatments freedoms and liberties. social shut downs, mandated mask wearing, and vaccine mandates were imposed with little regard for individual autonomy, constitutional rights, or people's personal health issues. they not only reeroded the

fabric of our society but a severe economic harm on businesses across the nation. those of us with an ounce of common sense expected from the beginning that covid was little more than the flu. two weeks to flatten the curve. well, were we played or how did that really turn out when it became three-plus years. instead of allowing citizens medical freedom, they forced the jab on to all of us, encouraging employers to threaten employees with termination if they didn't comply. keeping kids out of college in order to return to their classes they had to take the jab. one of the common controversies came from ivermectin, which we now know and many knew at the time works as an effective early treatment for covid-19. how many people were harmed because they weren't allowed this early treatment because it was politicized? indeed, recently f.d.a. finally had to walk back an early on

smart aleck tweet they made trying to compare reliever america tim prescribed for people and formulated for people to something that would be comparable for livestock. after having suffered that embarrassment, they had to walk it back. in the meantime, how many lives are lost because this early treatment was not available. instead they were forced into other types of treatment or being ignored when doctors in hospitals said come back to us when it's really bad. then we'll check you in. americans should have the right to make their own informed decisions with doctors they trust. including the choice to use alternatives such as ivermectin and especially in early treatment. it's troubling the government is suppressing treatment for covid-19 and other materials that were available. while promoting a one size fits

all centered around vaccines. safe and effective, we were told. in fact, the censorship of information has had real world consequences for medical professionals who dared to speak out. again, what you see is that f.d.a. had to walk back their lies and deception about this. they also were browbeating hospitals and doctors into selling same thing. we see that even in my local area where people are asking legitimate questions about ivermectin and made fun off. this is just horse paste, don't do that. medical experts are contradicting themselves time and time again since the beginning of the pandemic. we were told to lock down for two weeks, right? then it was masks. then it was double masks. something called social distancing. for a while they thought ventilators would be the issue. they hurried manufacturers to make those. and found out those were maybe

harmful. now we have before trump left office we had top officials saying, i'll never take it if it's trump's medicine. immediately after they were forcing it on people when biden took over. interesting how that works. commonplace therapeutics with decades of human usage and proven success including ivermectin which won a nobel prize in 2015 for its lifesaving qualities. as i mentioned were branded as a an -- as an unsafe horse medicine. experts should be allowed to bring this forward that have all people's best interests in mind. if a treatment works, then it should be distributed as widely as possible or allowed. whether it's a vaccine, a dosage of ivermectin or antibodies. the politicization of different treatments hurt americans by restricting their ability to receive life saving medicine

especially early treatment when it could have saved thousands of lives. as we stand today there is multiple option that is have been proven effective in treating the virus. we hear the same old saw about the latest iteration of vaccine being forced upon people and making billions for pharmaceutical companies. we should be able to choose what we want. if you want therapeutics, you should have that ability. a lawsuit filed in texas three doctors claim the f.d.a.'s actions interfered with their medical practices and harmed their reputations. pharmacists have refused to fill ivermectin prescriptions for patients and doctors have faced reperfect suggestions for -- percussions for advocating for this. there is much more. when people ask for forgiveness, for lying to us like that, no way. there should be prosecution. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from california, ms. eshoo, for five minutes. ms. eshoo: thank you, mr.

speaker. i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore. ms. eshoo: thank you. mr. speaker, as the only member of congress of armenian syrian descent, i rise to commemorate armenian genocide remembrance day which will be observed next week by the armenian community in the united states and around the world. on this solemn occasion, we remember the 1.5 million armenians and hundreds of thousands of assyrians, greeks, cal deans, area mayans, and maronites who were systematically slaughtered by the ottoman empire between 1915 and 1923. what all the victims had in common is they were christians. among them members of my own family. to honor my ancestors and all who perished, i worked with so many other members for nearly

three decades to pass a resolution recognizing the armenian genocide. for many years, the conventional wisdom in washington was that a misguided policy of genocide denial served u.s. geopolitical interests. but thanks to the determined advocacy of the armenian american community, we overcame this entrenched opposition. and in october, 2019, the resolution passed the house by a bipartisan vote of 405-11. ending over 100 years of official u.s. silence. as the vote total was announced, i thought my parents, grandparents, and extended family were applauding from heaven. now nearly five years later it's important to acknowledge that the fears of the resolution's detractors never materialized. rather than diminishing america's standing in the world,

our recognition of the armenian genocide has done the opposite. strengthening american global leadership by affirming our commitment to human rights. i'm proud of the progress we have made, but we have more work to do to combat the lasting effects of genocide denial which has left many americans unaware of the dark chapter -- this dark chapter of history. my legislation, the armenian genocide education act, addresses this issue. by establishing a program within the library of congress to develop educational resources on the armenian genocide to be used in american schools. with nearly 90 co-sponsors, this legislation is the most co-sponsored bipartisan bill pending before the house administration committee. i urge the chairman of the committee anti-ranking member, mr. -- and the ranking member,

mr. morel -- morelle, to support this bill as soon as possible. i'm confident it would pass with a large bipartisan vote when it comes to the floor of the house. this bill is critical because it is so often said that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. alarmingly, it felt as if history were repeating itself last september when azerbaijan perpetuated an ethnic cleansing campaign against the armenians that bore a disturbing resemblance of the mass displacements committed by ottoman forces a century ago. this atrocity was preceded by a grueling blockade that deprived civilians of food, medicine, and other essentials for over nine months. bringing them to their knees. we must not wait another century to hold azerbaijan accountable

for the crimes it has committed against the armenian people. that's why i once again call on the state department to end u.s. military aid to azerbaijan, sanctions the officials for human rights abuses, and provide desperately needed aid for the 120,000 armenians who were forced from their homes at gun point last year. the best way to honor the legacies of those who perished in the armenian genocide is by using our voices to prevent atrocities today. with that, mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from nebraska, mr. bacon, for five minutes. mr. bacon: thank you, mr. speaker. today i rise to recognize and celebrate a selfless civil servant who has served the second district of nebraska for well over 20 years in federal, state, and local government. james wright, currently serves in our district director and made a lasting impact for our

constituents n2001, james start add decade long position with my friend and former congressman lee terry. as a constituent and special projects coordinator. a role he handled constituent case work and developed outreach projects that addressed the needs of local governments, private civil organization, and other constituents. one of most impactful was leading the district's transition assistance program after the fcc directed the conversion of all tv and radio systems from analog to digital. his program included information, education, and engagement to many who needed assistance to make a smooth and seamless transition. after a decade with congressman terry, former governor asked james to head up the office of violence prevention where he was responsible for developing, fostering, promoting, anisessing violence prevention programs throughout the state of neb nebraska. james served there for a year before returning to federal service and working with u.s.

senator mike johanns, a man i respect very much. he served as a special project court mador and representative where he continued his passion for helping constituents by funding resources and solutions to resolve their cases. following his time in the senate he took a detour from his federal service and worked for the city of omaha under another friend, the mayor. as the director of the community outreach. in that role he assisted the neighborhood groups and alliances to the development outreach programs. after working in city government, served under my friend and predecessor, congressman brad ashford, as director of constituent services, which provided direct assistance to constituents, delivering guidance and assistance to the constituent services team. he also worked with the senior staff to develop and maintain strategic relationships with relevant stake holders and state and local government related to issues of importance to the congressional district. during this time his leadership was key to the authorization of

the first ever public-private partnership that construct add modern veteran health care center that's become the standard across the nation in how to deliver better, faster, and more effective v.a. care. james joined my team in january of 2017. as our district director james oversees the management and operation of the office, supervises and mentors our staff, and multitude organizations and constituents and elected officials across a wide variety of issues. he supervisors all of our constituent services, delivering the best constituent services in congress as recognized by the congressional foundation in 2021. but james' service to the community goes way beyond his 20 years of federal civil service. he's a semiprofessional actor. james has served as a board member of the owe massachusetts community playhouse since 2019 and starred in several of their productions, including roles in fences, sweat, and parade. ..

most importantly, james is aive lowing husband to his wife, angie, and father of his 7-year-old son, lincoln. he mentions his success to his mother who taught him to stand up for himself and through hard work and determination he could accomplish anything he set his mind to. i want to add on a personal note, james is a great supervisor. he cares for people, he's strategic, and he's been a blessing as our district director running our omaha office. congratulations to james on his 20-plus years of service to his community and the second congressional district of nebraska. mr. speaker, i yield back.

the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from massachusetts, mr. lynch, for five minutes. mr. lynch: good morning, mr. speaker. thank you. as a member of the subcommittee on national security, i rise in strong support of aid for a free and independent ukraine. i also stand in solidarity with the more than 37 million ukrainian people who have never relented in their fight for freedom in the face of more than two years of state-sponsored terrorism launched by russian president vladimir putin. this past weekend the commander in chief of the ukrainian armed forces reported that with u.s. assistance depleted, ukrainian army positions along the country's 600-mile eastern border have worsened significantly in recent days. with ukrainian soldiers facing a critical munitions shortage, russian troops are currently firing 10 artillery rounds for every ukrainian round.

until the prolonged impasse on ukraine funding here in congress, the united states was the primary ammunition supplier for the ukrainian army. now the top american military commander in europe describes the situation succinctly. he says, quote, if one side can shoot and the other side can't shoot back, the side that can't shoot back loses. it's as simple as that. ukraine's air and missile defense systems are also similarly depleted. in reference to a recent russian air strike targeting a key power plant in the keesk region, -- kyiv region, president zelenskyy indicated that ukraine simply ran out of the missiles necessary to defend its critical energy infrastructure. russia in fact has taken full tactical advantage of escalating lapses in the ukrainian air defenses, launching aerial offenses against almost every power plant in the country. not surprisingly, russian troops are continuing to advance in

eastern ukraine, a primary goal of vladimir putin. russia has brutally bombarded the city known as the city of peace and is now well positioned to capture the strategic town whose high ground will enable russian forces to launch direct offensives against the last ukraine an strong holds in the east -- ukrainian strong holds in the east. meanwhile, over 40% of ukraine's civilian population or nearly 15 million people are in need of ururgent humanitarian assistanc. it's reported that the country endured a 20% increase in civilian casualties and injuries last month, over february of 2024, with double the number of children killed or injured. moreover, large scale coordinated attacks on ukraine's civil and energy infrastructure destroyed or damaged 20 energy facilities across the country, leaving millions without electricity and running water. according to the global rights

compliance and international human rights organization that is assisting the ukrainian government in investigating and prosecuting russian war crimes, the stark reality is that more and more ukrainians are dying by the day as the ukraine aid package remains stalled in congress. after several months of refusing to even consider aid for ukraine, speaker johnson is now indicating that he plans to bring up a foreign package as soon as this week. unfortunately the house republican majority is still playing politics with a matter of grave importance to the ukrainian people and democracy globally. going to great length to craft legislation designed to appease an extreme faction of the republican conference. this political gamesmanship continues even though the united states senate passed a bipartisan foreign aid package more than two months ago that i believe would easily pass this house with the necessary support from members on both sides of the aisle. we have reached a new low in

this congress. it is totally unthinkable throughout our history that a republican member of this house would attack a democratic ally and support a gangsster and a war -- gangster and a war criminal like vladimir putin but that is where we are today. ukrainian president zelenskyy recently stated, the united states congress needs to think twice about pushing these political matters with regard to supporting ukraine and vote to support all of the countries whose lives depend upon it. i strongly agree. i urge the house republican leadership to take up the senate bill, ensure that ukraine and our other international allies like israel will receive the support they urgently need. thank you, mr. speaker, and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from guam, mr. moylan, for five minutes. mr. moylan: thank you, mr.

speaker. and today i'd like to honor and recognize the guam chamber of commerce who this year are celebrating their 100th anniversary. the guam chamber of commerce has and continues to be the voice of economic growth in guam. an advocate for enhancement of small businesses and organizations which promotes opportunities for employers and employees alike. an association of like-minded business entities focused on improving industries and a leadership which expands on professionalism. the guam chamber of commerce is an icon of commerce within the marianas and pacific region in general. on behalf of the house of representatives, i would like to congratulate president kathryn castro, chairman of the board, and board of directors of the guam chamber of commerce, along

with hundreds of businesses and organizations who comprise of their membership on the celebration of their 100th anniversary. we thank them for fostering commerce activity in guam over the past 10 decades and look forward to decades more of their dedication towards our island's economic growth. mr. speaker, today i rise to recognize mayor melissa savares as she serves her final term as mayor in guam. for close to two decades, she has dedicated herself to the betterment of families, youth residing across guam's largest village. her history of service including her time as president of the mayor's council of guam, a board member of the guam community health centers, a commissioner on the serve guam commission

americorps program, and a member of the civilian military task force, among other things. the mayor is a powerhouse in her community and is widely known across the island for her public service and her efforts in preventing crime in the village. under her leadership, the municipal planning council has sponsored youth sports teams and initiatives such as youth drug-free summer basketball league. student robotics and real world design challenges, to name a few. i would like to thank -- say thank you to the mayor for her commitment to the village and wish her the very best in retirement. her departure from the office would undoubtedly be felt, but i am certain she has laid a solid foundation for continued growth and development to come. thank you, mr. speaker, i yield

back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from florida, mr. froster, for -- mr. frost, for five minutes. mr. frost: i ask unanimous consent to address the house. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. frost: mr. speaker, i rise today to celebrate the place i get to call home and serve, the 407, known as the city beautiful. from its charming mom and pop shops to world class attractions, the success of our city is a testament to the incredible and unwavering spirit of our community, orlando is a place like no other. and at the heart of our city is a thriving small business community whose passion and dedication is felt by everyone they serve, especially when it comes to orlando's amazing and diverse food scene. as we celebrate the spirit of community, pride and support that defines the 407, let us reaffirm our commitment to its continued success by uplifting

our local businesses. in supporting them, we ensure that orlando remains not just the place full of potential, but a city that can truly thrive. mr. speaker, i rise today to recognize an extraordinary black luminaries from around central florida and their achievements and contributions to our city. their dedication shapes our everyday history, reminding us to uphold black voices in government, community, business and all spaces of power. caroline fennel, shannon stubbs, ms. mary maxwell, reginald b. mcgill, tanesha nun gary, joseph cesar, reverend james t. morris, ronald o. rogers, and thomas chapman. we're reading their names into the record today because nobody can erase their contributions to building a better central

florida. mr. speaker, i rise today because yesterday the state of florida and our entire nation lost a dedicated public servant, senator, governor, respectable statesman, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, bob graham. bob graham dedicated his life to public service. he dedicated his life to the people and he was a champion for all of us. from his work on protecting the everglades and fighting for our environment, to fighting for education and opportunity for all students, to even teaching citizenship before he was elected at miami-dade county high school, bob graham's legacy can be seen everywhere across the state of florida and in all of us. he truly represented a time in florida politics that we could all be proud of. mr. speaker, i rise today to

honor four extraordinary women for their impact on central florida and beyond. their tireless efforts, unwavering determination and profound achievements have shaped our local history and continue to inspire generations to come. we honor them for their strength of character, unwavering spirit and profound influence that they have on our community. grisilia gentleman kobey, chief operating officer of the heart of florida united way. dr. marie jose francicio. pastor sharon y. ruler, founder and pastor of agape perfecting praise and worship center. and associate general council at the university of central florida. i want to celebrate these women and all that they've done for our community. mr. speaker, i rise today to

honor winter park's new mayor, sheila disisio. it is a unique district that attracts new visitors but has fostered a deep sense of community for many of central florida's residents. mayor disisio is a long-time winter park resident and has always put her community first by volunteering, sitting on the city's board of commissioners and now will be serving as the city of winter park's first women to be mayor. winter park faces unique challenges, responsible growth, affordable housing and infrastructure improvements. but her deep roots in the community and her passion to tackle these challenges with her community's best interests at heart will ensure that she and the city of winter park are successful. i extend my heartfelt congratulations to mayor disisio and i'm eager to work alongside her, to work for and with the people of winter park. mr. speaker, i yield back.

the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the the gentleman from georgia, mr. carter, for five minutes. mr. carter: mr. speaker, i rise today to recognize donna's service and leadership at the alzheimer's association georgia chapter. donna, a savannah resident, has contributed over 19 years of volunteer leadership at the alzheimer's association. during her time, she's been actively involved in various roles, including serving as co-chair, on the board of directors and as georgia's congressional ambassador of the organization. donna's involvement in health-relate fields extends beyond her time ated alzheimer's -- at the alzheimer's association. for over 30 years she served as the chaght am county health department's program manager. as a pharmacist i understand how vital it is to continue to push for advancements in our health care system, especially for alzheimer's disease, detection, diagnosis and prevention.

donna has diligently worked to increase awareness for alzheimer's patients and i wish her the best in her future endeavors. she is a friend to all and if you get to know her, she might even bake you one of her most famous chocolate cakes. ... mr. speaker, i rise today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the historic harrington school on st. scion's island. originally called the hair tan graded school, the one room schoolhouse was built by african-american tradesmen in 1924. the school was the main educational structure for three african-american communities on st. simon's island. in the 1960's, many students left the school to attend st. scion's elementary. the guilding was briefly used as a daycare center until being abandoned in 1970. restoration efforts were led by

the st. simon's african and american heritage coalition and st. simon's land trust in four. the restoring school -- restored school is a community gathering space for holidays, celebration, meetings, and other events. congratulations on its 100th anniversary. keep up the good work. mr. speaker, i rise today to commemorate the life of howard cohen, a member of the savannah community who inspired and influenced so many. of graduating from the benedictine military school, he served in the nation's air force division during the korean war. in 1952, he established savannah's first weightlifting gym, drawing nationwide attention for those interested and involved in the sport. his athletic ambitions were taken up by his son, michael, who went on to make the u.s. olympic weightlifting team in

1980 under his father's guidance. for himself his love, passion, and dedication to weightlifting set him on the path to achieve many notable titles. he was a 10 time pan american champion who achieved 32 national championships. his legacy will live on. and he will continue to serve as a role model for generations to come. mr. speaker, i rise today to celebrate the 75th anniversary of sharp memorial methodist church. in young harris, georgia. built in 1948 and opened in 1949, the church has been a cornerstone of the young harris community. the church was named after dr. joseph ashford sharp, born in 1864. after graduating from emory at oxford, he served as president of the college for 25 years. dr. sharp dedicated his life to

the service of others and deeply inspired his congregation, the community, and generations of students. standing at the entrance of young harris college, sharp memorial methodist church continues to honor his legacy and serve the community. 75 years later, young harris trustees, local community and alumni are coming together for a week of celebration, reflection, and looking ahead. the legacy of dr. sharp and the ongoing work of sharp memorial methodist church will undoubtedly strengthen and enrich the community for generations to come. thank you, mr. speaker. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. costa, for five minutes mr. costa: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for five minutes. and revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. costa: mr. speaker, as a member of the house foreign relations committee i want to address the house on the challenges we face in ukraine.

the challenges in the middle east with israel and iran. and in taiwan and asia. the world is watching and looking for american leadership. iran has launched a telegraphed attack on israel, sending over 350 drones and missiles last weekend. seeing these missiles being intercepted above the term mount emphasizes iran's disregard for muslim, jewish, and christian holy sites and their desire to take innocent lives. i ran's actions continue to disrupt opportunities for peace in the middle east. i was in israel two weeks ago. one of over a dozen trips i have made to the middle east in the last 30 years. before the attack on october 7, saudi arabia was on the brink of signing a peace agreement in joining the abraham accords. formalizing the saudi-israeli relations for both countries would achieve strategy and military goals -- strategic and

military goals. bringing hope for more peaceful opportunities with moderate arab nations. when the ayatollah saw this i believe he pulled the strings on proxy forces to stop these negotiations that resulted in hamas' horrific attack on innocent israeli citizens on october 7. that took over 1,200 lives and 200 hostages. iran is one of the number one state sponsored terrorists in the world. is number one. for years the iranian regime has been funding hamas, hezbollah, and houthis to spread international chaos. iran is directly or through its proxies killed hundreds of americans that have been in the region. china is also threatening taiwan and watching how the united states responds to other conflicts around the world. they are watching. the new axis of evil iran, russia, china, north korea presents an ever threatening, growing threat to the united states and our allies.

this is a seminal moment in american and world history, i believe. therefore we cannot abandon our allies in their darkest time of need. ukraine needs our support. for months the senate passed the supplemental aid package that has been held hostage by our republican colleagues who some appear to be on the side of russia. i don't get it. president reagan and senator mccain must be turning over in their graves. it's been over six months since the attack on october 7 and what has the house done? nothing. wasting time on baseless and impeachments, threatening the motion to vacate. throws to -- close to shutting down the government. yet democrats stepped in to save the day. we have always been clear on day one we are here to govern. putting people before politics. we have extended the hand of bipartisanship to work on behalf of the american people and security of our country. we have demonstrated our words with action. passing and extending the death ceiling, avoiding government shutdown three times, and

finally passing our budget six months late. 195 democrats have signed the discharge petition to bring the senate passed supplemental package to the floor for a vote. the house must pass the national security package this week. it will provide additional equipment for ukraine, israel, taiwan with critical security and military needs to defend their freedom and therefore our freedom. providing humanitarian aid for the palestinians who have been horrifically punished and suffered in gaza. and armenian refugees removed from their historical home. along investments in border security to help alleviate challenges we have here. i ask my colleagues, will you stand with freedom loving democracies and help bring this bill to the floor and support ukraine, israel, and taiwan? or will you stand with putin and embolden his mafia of particular at that timor -- dictators to further attack our allies. that's the question.

your actions will show not only the american people but history where you stood in protecting the future of democracies. the world is watching. this is our churchill-chamberlain moment. will we be like churchill and continue to be the beacon of light for freedom around the world? or will we try to appease as chamberlain did to the nazi dictator hitler that resulted in the cause of over 100 million deaths during world war ii. that is the question. this is the moment. we must stand for freedom. we must pass the security package this week for ukraine, for israel, for taiwan. and for freedom loving people around the world. that is the challenge we face this week. i hope we are successful. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from virginia, mr. cline, for five minutes. mr. cline: thank you, mr.

speaker. i rise today to honor thure tan clubs in mount sidney, new hope, and wiers cave. i know how well these clubs embody the spirit of service and community that is the backbone of rural america. through volunteer work and donations, these clubs keep our district beautifully maintained and bolster communal ties. they hold annual events like barbecues to raise the funds they need to positively impact our local communities. on april 13, a special celebration was held at the community center to honor the past, present, and future generations of lurie tans -- ruritans who make contributions to their communities. this is a testament to the enduring service of community. it's with pride i stand here to congratulate them on their 85th anniversary. their ongoing work to instill a

commit many to -- commitment to public service. thank you to these clubs for their 85 years of service and here's to many more years of success and community support. mr. speaker, i rise today to honor the virginian review newspaper. for 110 years the virginian review has been a guiding light for past present generations, present generation, and those who come. it was born out of a consolidation of two newspapers. the covington virginian founded in 1914, and daily review founded nine years before. after 74 years they talked of merging and on january p.1989, the virginian review published its first edition. today under the direction of the owner continues to uphold its impressive reputation as an incredible source to keep our communities informed by their essential news coverage and thoughtful reporting. since the beginning the virginia review has been a consistent news source delivering local, state, and national updates to

folks across the virginia's sixth district. i wish the team all the best as they celebrate 110 years of outstanding journalism. i rise today to congratulate the christian come college women's basketball team on winning the united states collegial athletic association division national it national championship in petersburg, virginia. they won the trophy by a score of 76-65. and in the championship game of johnston and wales, charlotte. their victory was an entire team effort led by a junior, miranda, who led the crusaders with 22 points. a junior, and freshman, mary, who also had 19 points. miranda was named player of the game for the national championship for her efforts. and katherine thomas was named tournament m.v.p. for her outstanding play. led by head coach mary and assistant coach annie, this is a testifiment -- testament to their hard work.

congratulations to these athletes, parents, coaches, and staff on an incredible season and well deserved vicktory. mr. speaker, i rise today to congratulate the blue ridge christian girls basketball team on winning the virginia association of christian athletics state championship. after being down 21-7 at one point, the bears fought their way back in contention winning their second vaca tight until three years. they had a tremendous performance throughout the season finishing 18-2. and going on to win the championship. despite the countless challenges of working through illness and other obstacles, the perseverance and commitment to success demonstrated throughout the year led their team to vicktory. winning the state championship tightle is a testament to the unwavering and dedication, hard work the coaches and players display throughout the season. i extend my congratulations to the entire bears coaching staff and team for their incredible season. it's my honor to recognize their wellwell deciphered vicktory. i wish them nothing but the best for seasons to come. mr. speaker, i rise today to reaffirm my unwavering support

for israel, our ally in the middle east and beacon of democracy in that region. over the weekend iran launched an attack to israel firing over 300 missiles and drones to the nation. this is the first iran has attacked the nation of israel. these direct attacks follow the brutal war launched by iran-backed hamas terrorists on october 7 of last year. this vicious attack claimed the lives of over 1,200 innocent israeli citizens and took more than 240 hostage. some of which who were americans. while some on the other side of the aisle and in the media attempt to draw a moral parallel between hamas and israel, there is no comparison. as the prime minister once said, quote, you cannot equate a democracy that values life with a terror organization that chore ever glorifies death, end quote. israel has a right to defend itself. while they continue to fight for their country's survival, hamas continues to intentionally target population centers.

let me be clear, hamas has no interest in peace or a solution. their only objective is to eliminate the jewish state. can i not phatam -- fathom why people choose to stand with has massachusetts i i remain steadfast in my support of america's closest alley. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from virginia, ms. mcclellan, for five minutes. ms. mcclellan: i ask unanimous consent to address the house. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. mcclellan: mr. speaker, i rise today to celebrate earth day which will be on monday, a day to honor and celebrate our remarkable planet. earth day is an important opportunity to renew our commitment to combating climate change, transitioning to a clean energy future, promoting conservation, and sustainability, and advancing environmental justice. ..

we face serious environmental channels -- challenges across the globe, combating the destruction of natural habitats in the market and everything in between. under the leadership of the biden-harris administration, congressional democrats made historic climate progress over the past few years, including the largest investment in climate action and clean energy in our nation's history. the inflation reduction act is creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs of the future and as we continue to transition to cleaner, more sustainable technologies, we are working to ensure that everyone can benefit from these investments and that no one is left behind. the biden-harris administration is complements our efforts with transformative executive actions that include finalizing strong standards that cut greenhouse gas emissions and safeguard our communities. thanks to the administration, we have taken historic action to reduce methane emissions, strengthen standards for soot,

limit emissions from cars, trucks and buses, and curb pfas or forever chemical contamination. in the coming weeks we look forward to a strong final rule for mercury and air toxic standards for power plants. last year i led over 50 members of congress in urging the administration to finalize strong standards that will protect the health and well-being of the american people. and we eagerly await that final rule. i commend the administration for their commitment to ensuring that 40% of the overall benefits of federal investments in climate clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing and other key areas flow to historically disadvantaged communities that have been disproportionately impacted by climate change and pollution. for too long low-income communities, communities of color, our tribal and indigenous communities have borne the brunt of environmental degradation in our worsening climate. the climate crisis exacerbates

longstanding inequities and contributes to worse public health outcomes for vulnerable populations. my predecessor, the late donald mceachin, was a true environmental justice champion who always stood up for these vulnerable populations. and each year he would lead a resolution to recognize earth day and call for actions to protect our planet. this week i look forward to building on his legacy and helping to reintroduce that resolution to honor earth day. as a mother to two young children, i am fighting to ensure a healthy, more sustainable for my children and yours, and earth day is a reminder we have no planet b. we must continue fighting to protect our earth on the protect our next generation. thank you, mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the the gentleman from california, mr. correa, for five minutes.

mr. correa: mr. speaker, today i rise to celebrate the career of high school coach kevin kieran after 17 days at modern day, coaching the girls' basketball team, this will be his last season coaching the monarchs. coach kieran recently celebrated his 900th win after a devicive victory in the southern california regional playoffs. it was a bittersweet moment for the coach as he and his players reflected on his legacy that he's going to leave behind. he wraps up his coaching career with 12c.i.f. southern section titles, six state crowns and two national championships. and that is a record. coach kieran is an orange county native and modern day high

school will keep him as athletic director. coach, we wish you the best, i'm glad you're staying around. let's keep the good work going. thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, today i rise to honor the heroic life and legacy of richard "dick" higgins. dick was a husband, long-time orange county resident and a national hero. he served in the navy during world war ii, after surviving the horrific attack on pearl harbor, december 7, 1941. his service to our community continued after he left the navy, visiting schools and doing interviews and making sure that history stayed alive with young people and others in orange county. dick lived to 102 years old and he is survived by two children,

two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren. and in his word, he now goes to be with his block offed winnie ruth, his wife of 60 years. dick, thank you for your service to our country and thank you for your sacrifice. thank you, mr. speaker. and, mr. speaker, today i rise to honor this year's orange county school counselors of the year. and i'm so proud that two of these counselors are from my hometown. ms. rodriguez from anaheim high school district. they represent the best in our local public schools. like myself, ms. rodriguez and mr. giroux are grown in our local home townes. they're products of orange county public schools and now

are giving back to the public school system that gave them so much. they and the rest of these fine educators will continue to shape the future leaders of tomorrow. all of us in orange county and in congress appreciate their commitment to our community, our youth and our future. thank you, mr. speaker, and i yield. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from ohio, ms. sykes, for five minutes. mrs. sykes: thank you, mr. speaker. for women looking to start or grow their families, motherhood should be one of the greatest, most joyful time in their lives. but for far too many black women in ohio's 13th congressional district and across the country, this experience is often overshadowed by heart ache and loss. ohio has one of the highest black maternal death rates in

the entire nation, with black women two to three times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy or birth-related causes. and we rightfully talk about these social determinants of health that black women face in accessing quality, affordable prenatal and postnatal health care in our community, which contributes to these completely unacceptable maternal mortality rates. but today i'd like to focus our attention to another contributing factor to black indonesia mortality -- black maternal mortality that is often overlooked which is partner violence. homicide is the leading cause of death among pregnant women in the united states. it's higher than the three leading health causes of leading maternal mortality. addressing the violence that plagued women during pregnancy and shortly thereafter is why i introduced the safer homes and families acts this. comprehensive legislative package would provide vital support to keep moms and families safe. including prohibiting the use of electronic devices for stalking, providing training for health

care providers to better identify and treat individuals experiencing abuse, and allowing survivors to break a lease without adverse costs. statistics have indicated that nearly 20% of women experience violence during their pregnancies. and in one in six women abuse first begins during their pregnancy. this violence substantially increases the likelihood for pregnancy-related complications that not only endangers the life of the woman, but also that of her unborn baby. while members of the congressional black maternal health kay cuss are working -- cause are working tirelessly to address the ongoing epidemic, it is clear there's more work that needs to be done. even to this day we are still trying to convince colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers how important it is that we care for women and care for mothers. this is not a partisan issue. it is a human issue. our black mothers and babies in every district across the country deserve to live long, healthy and happy lives. i'm confident that regardless of our political party, we can work

together to improve health outcomes and deliver on the promise of better health, healthier lives and brighter futures for all of us. so i call on my colleagues to join us in the fight to keep our moms and babies safe. our mothers and babies simply cannot wait any longer. finally, i'd like to recognize the many local organizations in ohio's 13th congressional district that are working each and every day to improve the health of black moms and babies in our communities. organizations like start county thrive, full-term first bir birthday are all committed to improving maternal health outcomes and promoting equity in ohio's 13th district. improving maternal health requires action and collaboration at every level and i am extremely proud and grateful for these organizations, for the work that they are doing. this black maternal health week and beyond i am committed to improving health care access to all and giving women and families the tools that they need to live healthy, happier

lives in ohio's 13th congressional district and beyond. thank you, mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to clause 12-a of rule 1, the chair declares the house in recess until noon today. we get you were and we go and do something productive. safety is always a