in my humble opinion, our military deserves better than it's getting. our country faces a devastating recruitment crisis. men and women are not volunteering to serve the levels required. our readiness is down, costs are up and it seems like nearly every major weapons system -- often discussed in this very room -- is costing too much, delivering too little and taking way too long. the bottom line is the status quo is on acceptable. it is not working. the members of this committee, you will know it. you know it is not working. the members of the house armed services know it is not working. we have hearing after hearing, year after year. here we are -- >> you can continue watching on c-span3. more on the c-span now video

app. we take you to the house of representatives as a gavels in this morning live here on c-span. 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. january 14, 2025. i hereby appoint the honorable young kim 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 3, 2025, 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 allocated between the parties and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip limited to five minutes. but in no event shall debate

continue beyond 11:50 a.m. the chair now recognizes the gentleman from illinois, mr. quigley, for five minutes. mr. quigley: thank you, madam speaker. madam speaker, on october 7, 2023, the people of israel experienced the greatest terror attack in their nation's history. 1,200 people were killed and 250 more were abducted in what was the most severe attack on the jewish people since the holocaust. nearly 100 hostages remain in gaza with at least 1/3 of those believed to be dead. i was horrified by the atrocities committed by hamas on october 7. but i am encouraged by the reports that indicate that israel and hamas are closer than ever to reaching a ceasefire agreement that would return all remaining hostages held in gaza to their families. still, the reality of the matter is whether a ceasefire is reached and whether that ceasefire lasts, we must act now. i firmly believe in israel's

right to defend itself. it has been a critical ally in the region and has earned our support as it defends against threats from iran and its proxies, including hezbollah and lebanon, the houthis in yemen and hamas in gaza. still, the manner in which israel defends itself matters. after 15 months of war, i believe prime minister netanyahu has overseen a military campaign that has had catastrophic consequences not only for the people of gaza, but for his own people as well. as israel's strongest ally, we have a responsibility to ensure that the legitimate anger felt by its citizens and the rest of the world after october 7 does not spiral into endless violence. what began as a war of defense has now devolvinged into a war of retribution and widespread destruction. over 47,000 palestinians have been killed since the war began. though a recent study published byestimates the death toll could

be 40% higher. the majority of those kill ready women and children. 90% of gaza's population is internally displaced and the threat of widespread famine has lingered for months. at least six newborns have recently died of hypothermia. the number of children killed in gaza during the war exceeds the total number of children killed in conflicts worldwide over the last four years. and thousands of children like malik are grappling with life-threatening injuries as a direct result of the war. on october 24, 2023, he was waiting for food coupons at a market in a refugee camp when an air strike hit and blew off his arm. it bears repeating that hamas is an evil terrorist organization that cynically ex ploilts civilians -- exploits civilians and has little to no regard for life. even the lives of other palestinians.

but research shows that terrorist organizations have rarely been dismantled purely through military force. precisely because hamas is such a threat, we must approach defeating them with a rational, evidence-based approach. research by iran shows that terrorist groups through targeted intelligence operations -- end through targeted intelligence operations or through a negotiated political settlement. i fear the war in gaza will act as a recruitment tool for hamas and will create a new generation of fighters who will seek revenge. after over a year of fighting, hamas is weakened but has not been eliminated, nor have the remaining israeli hostages been released. the last hostages that were released were in november of 2023 and they gained their freedom through diplomatic negotiations. what is urgently needed to bring an end to this brutal war is a diplomatic solution. both the israeli government and hamas must agree to end the fighting, release the hostages and flood the gaza strip with

desperately needed food and medical supplies. it is in israel's security interest to have a stable neighbor and a palestinian state. civil society has broken down completely in gaza and the territory urgently needs a peacekeeping force to help restore order. this force, ideally composed of arab states, will play a critical role now and in post-war gaza. hamas cannot remain in power and the people of gaza deserve new political leadership that will prioritize peace as they establish a new government. ideally that government will be a reformed palestinian authority empowered to both govern in the west bank and gaza. the ultimate goal for all parties must be a lasting peace. and that can only be reached through a two-state solution. we have the opportunity to change the trajectory of lives like malik. in 10 years he'll be 24. the choices we make in the coming weeks and months can either leave him desperate and hopeless, a prime candidate for

recruitment for hamas, or we can give him and the more than one million children living in gaza the opportunity to grow up in a world that has prioritized peace and security. we must work toward ending this war and building a positive future for both palestinians and israelis. thank you and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from georgia, mr. carter, for five minutes. mr. carter: madam speaker, i rise today to celebrate coach lamar kirkly's 50-year anniversary with the savannah country day school. mr. kirkly has spent the past five decades coaching and teaching students at savannah country day. he had led the boys basketball team as well as the boys and girls cross country and tennis team. mr. kirkly has earned the spot in the greater savannah athletic hall of fame and seen the teacher of the year award in 2020 from the exchange club of savannah. he also won the savannah morning

news coach of the year award several times and across many different sports. mr. kirkly was previously a stellar basketball player during his years at armstrong state university. he has expressed that teaching and coaching go hand in hand and he has excelled at both. mr. kirkly has an excellent ability to relate to students, colleagues, players and parents and continues to excel in his career. congratulations, mr. kirkly, on 50 impactful years at savannah country day and thank you for what you did for our three sons. mr. speaker, i rise today to mourn the loss of vincent ford who sadly passed away in december from cancer at the age of 68. mr. ford was a former democratic leader in the georgia state senate and a candidate for atlanta mayor in congress who advocated for causes he believed in for many decades. after his 1996 election to the

39th district in the state senate, mr. ford went on to be re-elected 10 times. mr. ford earned his undergraduate degree in history at central connecticut state college in 1978 and moved to atlanta to study african-american history shortly thereafter. there he wrote thesis on the sit-in movement in the atlanta university center where he later taught history. he had several remarkable legislative achievements, including laws that took effect in 2002, targeting abusive lending practices. mr. ford will forever be remembered as a remarkable man who was committed to leadership, justice and service throughout his life. mr. speaker, i can attest to this as i had the honor of serving with vincent ford in the georgia state senate. mr. speaker, i rise today to congratulate stacy jennings on her being named united way's 2025 woman of the year.

ms. jennings has been a longtime volunteer in the heart of community service in savannah. she's spent 33 years with the united way of the coastal empire where she's served on the board, several committees and helpful fund raising. ms. jennings is also the executive director of communications for the savannah board of education. she's proven herself to be a dedicated leader and impactful server of the community by supporting families and students across the community within the school system. ms. jennings' honorable achievement as united way's woman of the year will be celebrated in march at the women who rule event hosted at the savannah convention center. she currently serves on the marketing committee and has not stopped her efforts to join new committees since she started at the united way of the coastal empire. congratulations, ms. jennings, on this incredible accomplishment and thank you for your dedicated service to the city of savannah.

mr. speaker, i rise today to mourn the loss of former mcintosh county sheriff charles which will better "chunk" jones. mr. jones lived an honorable life serving in the u.s. army's d company. he also served in vietnam back in 1968. mr. jones' career in law enforcement began in 1971 with the brunswick police department and he later joined the city of darian police department. after joining the city of darian, mr. jones was promoted to the chief of police. after his time at the darian police department, mr. jones joined the georgia state parole where he graduated as a state trooper. he also returned to his hometown and accepted the captain position with the city of darian. he then won his first sheriff's election to serve the community from 1993 to 1998. mr. jones was also a commercial shrimp fisherman and captain of his shrimp vote, lady vanessa, which was named after his daughter. he married his high school

sweetheart, the late brenda marie jones, with whom he shared three children. christopher, vanessa and if a elisha. today we p -- felicia. today we honor his life and hold his family in our thoughts and prayers. thank you, mr. speaker, and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from new york, mr. kennedy, for five minutes. mr. kennedy: madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for five minutes and to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized. mr. kennedy: madam speaker, i rise today to celebrate the incredible journey of sydney who finished third on season 26 of "the voice." sydney, a young singer from west seneca, new york in my district, has -- new york, in my district, has inspired viewers across the country. her extraordinary talent was undeniable from an early age. with the support of her loving family, especially her mother, she began her singing george bushy at the age -- journey at the age of 7, participating in local talent shows. by the time she was 10, she won

first place in the erie county fair talent competition. since then, sydney has performed the national anthem at a buffalo bills football game, countless times for the buffalo bisons baseball team and this year at a buffalo sabres hockey game. she's also a regular performer at the annual music is art festival, organized by robbie, one of the founding members of the googoo dolls who is also from my district. at just 16 years old, sydney accomplished what so many dream of. a four-chair turn at her blind audition for the voice and a run all the way to the finale of one of the biggest singing competitions in the world. over the course of this season, sydney showed her incredible range and artistry and her duet with gwen stephanie who also served -- stefani, who also served as her coach, was an unfocialable moment. she had the endless spoffer her

-- support of her family, friends and our entire community. from accompanying sydney on her journey to california for the competition, to welcoming her home at the buffalo niagara international airport upon her return, her friends were always by her side to cheer her on. especially kate, lilly, izzy, alana, holly and erin. sydney's success extended beyond "the voice." last year she won a challenge promoted by broadway evolved which led to a week-long broadway workshop with tony-nominated actress betsy wolf. but what stands out most is sydney's humility and heart. sydney has made our entire community so proud with her talent, her hard work and her poise throughout the entire competition. she's carried herself with grace and determination, inspiring the next generation of talented artists. while this chapter of "the voice" may have ended, i have no

doubt that the next chapter of a long and successful career is ahead of you, sydney. on behalf of all of western new york, thank you for sharing your voice. congratulations, sydney. madam speaker, i rise in remembrance of cornelius j. cane whose life was defined by service, family and enduring dedication to our community. as someone who was blessed to call him a friend, i can tell you neil's love for his family was matched only by his unwavering dedication to serving our community, a calling he fulfilled with distinction throughout his remarkable career. a buffalo native, neil's career with the buffalo fire department spanned nearly four decades, where he rose to the position of commissioner, embodying courage and leadership every step of the way. as commissioner he as commissioner he led with compassion and integrity. always putting the needs of others first and setting a

standard ever excellence for those who followed in his footsteps. throughout his decades of service to the buffalo fire department, he dedicated himself to protecting the safety and well-being of the community he loved, the city of good neighbors. his work extended far beyond the firehouse. his commitment to buffalo was evident in his efforts to make the city a safer, stronger, and better place for all its residents. he was a proud member of the buffalo professional firefighters association, local 282. the ancient order and east coast retired firefighters association. he was a devoted fan of the buffalo bills. the buffalo sabres, anti-new york yankees -- an the new york yankees. his life was an inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing him and his legacy will live on through many lives he touched. neal was a loving husband to his wife of 54 years, ellen, and a devoted father to sheila, bob,

and terry. and a cherished poppa to his beloved grandchildren. he was one of 16 children and had a deep commitment to the values instilled in him as a member of the cane family. that sense of duty that guided his extraordinary legacy of work in public service. may we all take inspiration from neal's devotion to his family, his steadfast service to our community, and his unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. may he rest in peace. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. lamalfa, for five minutes. mr. lamalfa: thank you, madam speaker. i want to highlight this morning a piece of legislation i intend to co-sponsor that's brought by my good major league, john joyce from pennsylvania. it's known as the preserving choice in vehicles -- vehicle purchases act. the bill aims to prevent the

u.s. e.p.a. from issuing clean air act waivers that would enable state-level bans or restrictions on gas and deedsle vehicles. diesel vehicles. it ensures americans can select the vehicles based on their individual needs and financial situations without undue government interference. my home state of california, once again, leading on the wrong things. the agency called the california air resources board is intending to ban the sale of gas and diesel powered cars, trucks, and s.u.v.'s by 2035. only 10 model years from now. who the heck is carb? especially since this has far-reaching effects across the country. there are seven other states seeking to emulate what carb is doing. this regulation seeks to force a transition to electric vehicles, regardless of the affordability, availability, or practicality

for many precedents and families. the biden administration e.p.a. has granted the necessary waiver recently, at the end of this era, allowing carb to enforce this mandate at the state of california level. which sets a precedent that could lead to same is already bans in other states across the country. believe me, it will happen. several other states are already looking at this. what do you end up with? the manufacturers having to produce two different types of vehicles for this state or that state, making them more expensive and heaven knows the difficulty it is producing electric vehicles anyway. rural americans, rural californians face long commutes and rely heavily on reliable, affordable vehicles. i have -- represent a very rural area. there are people that are afraid to take the electric vehicles far with the ability to know if they can charge and make it back. the mandate poses significant financial challenges as e.v.'s remain more expensive than their

gas and diesel powered counterparts. they have more expensive tires, harder to get parts for, etc. a very, very limited charging infrastructure, we see the billions the biden administration has put aside for charging station and only built about seven or eight in the whole country over the last couple, three years. so it's impractical. e.v.'s are an unviable option for many. it will not only increase the cost of living for individuals and families, but reduce transportation options for many rural residents and even urban residents that maybe have a car that's already paid for that they would soon see they wouldn't have the ability. as also part of the mandate is quietly eliminating fueling stations, making fuel more expensive, harder to produce. in my home state of california in the country when they banned the pipeline come interesting canada makes fuel harder to get. it's come interesting all edges. you can tax people out of this is part of their goal.

of course my home state of california's power grid is already struggling to deliver electricity to meet existing energy demands. which the currently frequent blackouts and energy shortages. we have these blackouts in my part of the state, we are starting to see them in southern california with the unfortunate massive suffering going on due to wildfires, that they have to preemptively shut off the power to particular areas if they think the wind is going to blow too hard and cause foilage to prooff trees, shrubs into powerlines and cause an outage, blackout, etc., and there are a fire with it. as has happened many times in my district f we mandate this shift to electric vehicles would place additional strain on the grid leading to more outages and higher energy costs. california has not demonstrated the capacity to expand the grid infrastructure. they are tearing down dams in my district and they have their eye

on more to make clean c.o.-2 free hydroelectric power. the grid gets tighter due to this. this raises serious concerns about the feasibility all this mandate, yet they force it forward. practicality converting these vehicles the alliances that biden is trying to do with stoves and water heaters, means we are the materials, the minerals -- where are the materials, minerals to come from that produce these leak trick appliances and vehicles. by can't mine as it is, it takes 29 years to build a copper mine in this country. we going to import it all? have poor kids in other countries, slave labor in other countries to supply us so we can be pristine. carb members are not accountable to the public. every source board is appointed by the governor. they don't have to answer to anybody and frequently don't. we have a direct threat to -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. lamalfa: this is what

governor newsom wants to -- fires burn out our vehicles we need to have him stand aside, let president trump lead the way on allowing this to have our vehicles. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. thank you. the chair recognizes the the gentlewoman from mississippi, mrs. trahan, for five minutes. mrs. trahan: madam speaker, house republicans have a big vote planned for today. i wish i was talking about a bill that will lower cost force hardworking families or help more americans buy a home. the issues that so many people told us mattered most to them, the 2024 election. but instead in just their second week of power, house republicans have chosen to vote on a federal takeover of sports. at all levels. to justify this power grab, my colleagues across the aisle are preying on the legitimate concerns that some people have about transgender athletes in

women's sports. over the vast majority of those folks, many of them parents, their concerns don't come from a place of hate. they come from a place of worry. about the safety of their daughters and the fairness of their sport. as the only woman in congress who played division i sports in college, i know how critical it is that we ensure that sports are safe and fair above all else. it's all any athlete wants. to know that if they put in the hard work and the training necessary, they are going to have a fair shot on game day. as the mom of two young daughters who i cheer on from the bleachers every weekend, i know that parents want their kids to be able to enjoy the game they love. after all, we know how important sports can be to children's development. they give the chance to build confidence. learn teamwork. and develop lifelong friendships. that's why like parents and athletes across our country i have long placed my trust in the

governing bodies of sports. the experts who have dedicated their lives to these games to create fair and responsible rules for participation. and despite what the authors of this legislation have said, many of those organizations have already updated their rules to ensure fairness and safety in their sports. that includes the international authorities overseeing track and field. boxing, cycling, swimming, rugby to name a two. these organizations, many led by former athletes, worked with scientists, athletic federation, human rights organizations to craft thoughtful evidence-based rules are. including those governing participation in the paris olympics last summer. don't get me wrong, madam speaker, i recognize that there is more work to be done. but why in the world would we let insincere, attention seeking

politicians here in washington, many of whom no little to nothing about competitive sports, take over? it doesn't make any sense. however, that's exactly what my republican colleagues are going to do today. inject themselves into decisions they have no business making. in fact, if you listen to them, they would have you think that a transgender woman in college who may have transitioned after puberty and may present physical advantages over her opponent is the same as a 10-year-old girl who just wants to play soccer on the weekends with her friends. but those two situations aren't the same at all. and the consequences of that approach will be devastating. girls as young as 4 being subjected to invasive lines of questioning about their bodies and even physical inspections by an adult, a stranger, a predator?

all because some creep accuses them of not being a girl? what parent would want to put their daughter through that? i know i wouldn't. madam speaker, we won't be able to find common ground on this issue today, but this debate has made one thing abundantly clear, members of congress are the last people who should decide who gets to play sports in america. that responsibility belongs where it always has, to the organizations whose mission it is to protect the fairness, safety, and the integrity of their sports. i urge my colleagues to vote no on the g.o.p.'s child predator empowerment act. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the chair now recognizes the gentleman from kansas, mr. mann, for five minutes mr. mann: madam speaker, last week in the nation's capitol 6.8 inches of snow closed federal office buildings. nearly 1,300 mile winds in

kansas, blizzards bought more than 18 inches of snowfall to the district. farmers, ranchers, didn't have the luxury of closing down for the week. when you answer the call to fuel and clothe the world you are required to show up, even when the temperatures are far below freezing. our congressional district is one of the top agricultural producing districts in the country. home to more than 60,000 farms along with farmers, ranchers, feed lot managers, dairies, nutritionists, veterinarians, and agribusiness owners who bring the agricultural ecosystem to life. when the snow piles up and the temperatures refuse to rise past freezing they don't get a break. they throw on their warm layers and get the job done. those of us in agriculture understand that mother nature is not a reliable business partner. at the end of october, much of my district was still navigating dry to severe drought conditions, on top of navigating already farm gear they squeeze the the margins. mother nature changed course again with a foot of snow. in true kansas fashion families

and neighbors came together to help one another in time of n need. kansans helped move snow to ensure livestock could be water and fed. to move calves they were warm after they were born to get to a place possible properly fed and nourished in negative temperatures. kansas stayed up through the night to make sure livestock had a chance of surviving or guarantee their equipment was ready to go to work by sun rise the next morning. why on earth would anyone do this, madam speaker? it's a special calling that many families in my district have answered. in a world where instacart and amazon fresh can deliver groceries to your door in nearly an hour in you are in an urban area, it can be easy to forget our food doesn't just come from the grocery store shelf t comes from the men and women who work tirelessly day in and day out to feed and clothe the world. on days of extreme weather like last week, these men and women bust their backs to ensure we can still have food on our plates when the storms are long gone. it can often be a thankless job,

but on behalf of kansas anti-nation i thank these brave men and women for keeping us fueled, clothed, and fed, your tireless efforts do not go unnoticed we are deeply grateful for your commitment to feed a hungry world. madam speaker, agriculture is the heart of the first district of kansas. our live blood. when i built my team in the district, it was important for me to find someone who knew agriculture and would fight for the farmers, ranchers, and agriculture producers of kansas. sara henry was the perfect choice. after graduating from the agriculture education from iowa state university, she moved to washington, d.c., where she worked in several congressional offices and the national corn growers association. it was during that time she met her husband and the two moved back to dalton's old stomping grounds in randolph kansas. it aloud her to serve as my district director and later -- district ag director and later as the district director this.

month she'll begin a more part-time role of kansas association of wheat growers so she can focus on her two sons. thank you for leading our disdirect team well. for being an incredible advocate and friend and caring about kansas. we are excited for you and next chapter of life as you adjust to being a family of four. thank you for being an integral part of our team. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: thank you. the chair now recognizes the gentlewoman from illinois, mrs. ramirez, for five minutes. ms. ramirez: thank you, madam speaker. madam speaker, today i rise to honor a powerful force in the fight for justice and the fight for equality and for true democracy. the illinois poor people's campaign. in one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the poor people's campaign dares to believe that poverty can be eradicated. their work continues their legacy and the vision of

reverend dr. martin luther king jr., building a multiracial movement to end poverty, centering the voices of those with lived experiences of poverty and breaking down barriers to full democratic participation. the illinois poor people's campaign understands that democracy is too precious, it's too significant to leave in the hands of those who would prioritize the interests of the ultrawealthy corporations. i want to especially recognize illinois poor people's campaign members and constituents of illinois' third district. sheila garland, joyce broady and lenny broady, and i additionally want to recognize the illinois p.p.c. tricaucus, carlos -- chairs, carlos rodriguez, jessica, andriev rand susan phillips -- and reverend susan phillips. their unwe have aering commitment to -- unwavering commitment to all of us, all over the country, is inspiring and it should also encourage us

to also live a life of this kind of dedication. so on behalf of illinois' third congressional district, i commend illinois poor people's campaign for their relentless fight for justice and equality and their efforts to ensure every person has a say in our democracy. thank you to all its members. madam speaker, i rise today to honor this woman. born in texas and later making chicago her home, pasora's life long commitment to advocacy has left an undeniable mark in our communities and our nation. her journey as an advocate started where she and her brother championed immigrant worker rights. and after her brother's tragic assassination in 1983, she

carried his legacy forward. challenging -- channeling her grief into action and dedicating herself to the causes they both held dear. in 1987, she founded a grassroots organization that has empowered undocumented families, addressing critical issues such as overcrowded schools, housing insecurity, police brutality and bilingual education. in 2006, she and her late husband, reverend walter, sparked a nationwide movement for our shared humanity when they offered their church in my district, alberto united methodist church, as a sanctuary for a woman who was undocumented and in need of sanctuary, elviro, and her -- elvira, and her son. her courage, faith and tireless work reminds us of the power of

community and the enduring fight for dignity and for equality. pastora, on behalf of illinois' third congressional district, i thank you for your compassion, i thank you for your dedication to creating a more just, a more compassionate world. and may this congress learn from you, from your dedication, from your courage, and may it be truly what it says it is, the people's house. reminded of our roots and reminded of our shared humanity. congratulations, pastora. with that, madam speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from virginia, mr. cline, for five minutes. mr. cline: thank you, madam speaker. madam speaker, i rise to recognize an outstanding group of young athletes in virginia's sixth congressional district, the broadway high school boys cross country team, who won the vhsl class iii state

championship in november. despite online predictions that showed the gobblers losing by over 50 points, each runner clocked in at their fastest time that day to clinch first place with a 10-point margin over the runners up. the team also became district and regional champs for the first time in the school's history. following team members made this victory possible. payton allen, gavin deal, max fletcher, grayson, jaden, asher, gavin, cameron, lee and tristan. head coach darryl and assistant coach michael provide thaird leadership and encourage -- provided their leadership and edge couragement. it reflects not only their individual talent but their commitment to the team. i once again want to congratulate each runner, their coach, families and their supporters. the hard work and dedication have inspired us all. madam speaker, i rise today to honor an exceptional student-athlete from salem high school and the roanoke valley

governor's school, kathryn ha. she's a two-time state golf champion, winning in 2022 and 2024, finishing the latter with an impressive score of 68, two under par, even in challenging condition. she also captured the 2024vhsl girls open state chasm and -- championship and has been named the virginia golf association's player of the year for 2023 and 2024. under the head coach of leadership of head coach blane, she was introduced to golf by her father, proving that family support is invaluable. academically, she signs as well. maintaining a stellar 4.377g.p.a. she plans to continue pursuing her academic and athletic jumpy at vanderbilt -- journey at vanderbilt university. her remarkable achievements exemplify perseverance, skill and sportsmanship. she serves as role model not just in her community, but for young athletes across our nation.

congratulations, kathryn. madam speaker, i rise today to congratulate the clark county high school boys cross country team for their remarkable achievement in winning the class ii state championship. the eagles placed four runners in the top 15 and scored 49 points to capture the program's first state title since 2009. seniors james, jackson and aiden each earned all-state honors for placing in the top 10. sophomore landen earned a state medal for placing in the top 15 and sophomore matthew rounded out the scoring. carter and jonathan also ran for the clark county boys team and warren, brody and luke were members of the postseason championship team. the team is led by coach jeff webster who was named the winchester star cross country coach of the year for both girls and boys. the guys outperform what had we thought they would do. to place four runners in the top 15 was an exceptional effort and one that the other teams could not match.

madam speaker, i once again congratulate the 2024 clark county boys cross country team, virginia's sixth congressional district is incredibly proud of their accomplishment and i wish them continued success in the seasons ahead. madam speaker, i rise today in strong support of the protection of women and girls in sports act. since 1972 title ix has allowed women to thriving and excel in sports nationwide. this landmark legislation has empowered countless women to compete at the highest levels, achievements we should honor and protect. yet the left has embarked on a relentless campaign to rewrite title ix, aiming to erase the critical distinctions between men and women, boys and girls. this misguided agenda poses a direct threat to the very spirit of title ix, opening the doors for biological meals to compete in women's sports, thereby undermining the hard-won accomplishments of female athletes nationwide. let me be clear. house republicans will not idly stand by while the radical left diminishes over five decades of progress for women.

the protection of women and girls in sports act is essential for ensuring that all young women who aspire to play sports have the opportunity to compete fairly, preserving fairness and protecting their achievements. we must safeguard the integrity of female athletics so that young women can succeed in sports for generations to come. madam speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair now recognizes the gentlewoman from massachusetts, ms. pressley, for five minutes. ms. pressley: madam speaker, i rise today to call out the harm and hypocrisy this bill, h.r. 28, is couched as bill that protects children when it does the exact opposite. madam speaker, this bill not only erodes federal protections for our kids, it puts the physical and emotional safety of every child in our public schools at risk. imagine you are 8 years old trying out for the soccer team and your coach demands you show them your genitals. that is abuse. that is exploitation. that is agreej owls. but it -- egregious. but it is exactly what this republican bill does it. allows adult, not medical

professionals, just random adults, to demand to inspect your child's genitals without parental consent. as a survivor of a near decade of childhood sexual abuse, as a bonus mom to a school-aged daughter, i am horrified. to the members of congress who support this legislation, you are putting the safety of children across this nation at risk. and why? because you want to vilify and harm trans kids. children who should have every right to show up in this world and live and thrive like anyone else, you are punching down on the most vulnerable and exacting harm on everybody. i would ask my colleagues, you have spoken to any of these children? how about their parents? they pose no threat to you, but you pose a threat to them. denying them their health care, isolating them from their friends, creating conditions for bullying and even suicide ideation. you are posing a threat to every child who wants to step onto a soccer field orpik up a softball

bat in this country. i urge my colleagues to vote no and speak out in strong opposition to this disgusting predatory bill that does nothing to keep a single child safe. madam speaker, for too long our nation's criminal legal system has been wrought with systemic injustices and bices, has prior -- bices, has prioritized cruelty at the expense of rehabilitation and justice. that is why we have a mass incarceration crisis. nearly one in two adults in america has had an incarcerated loved one. today in the name of all who have felt the injustices of the state, we are standing united to call on president biden to use his clemency powers to release people from prison and reunite them with their families, mothers like michelle west, who was incarcerated for the crimes of her abuser. brothers like charles ellis jr. from my district who had infective assistance of counsel when he committed a crime at the age of 19. sons likish mail who was

sustained to -- sentenced to life in prison for a nonviolent cannabis charge. madam speaker, why is anyone still incarcerated for cannabis? with nearly two million people behind bars, more people per capita than any other country, it is time for clemency to put the united states on a path towards ending mass incarceration. locked in cages are people who pose no threat to public safety. the elderly, disabled, the chronically ill, those are wrongly convicted, people serving time under outdated sentencing laws. it is the height of hypocrisy to claim they are a risk to public safety when they are the very people at this moment that we are trusting to keep the public safe. 800 be incarcerated men are fighting wildfires in california for $5 a day, only to return to a jail cell at night. and during the pandemic, these same people were making hand sanitizer. president biden, you have the power to save their lives. that is why this moment demands -- that is what this moment demands and we are grateful for your leadership. we need action, we need compassion, we need clem yens -- clemency.

madam speaker, this weekend in my district the massachusetts seventh, community members came together to celebrate haitian independence day. there was much freedom soup that was consumed. on january 1, 1804, haiti became the first free black republic, declaring independence for all people from colonial rule and enslavement. this weekend also marked is a years since a devastating earthquake killed thousands and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes on the island. these anniversaries encapsulate the values of the haitian people. resistance and resilience. the republic of haiti continues to experience heightened violence and political instability which is why as co-chair of the house haiti caucus, i continue to advocate for human turn aid to our ally -- humanitarian aid to our ally, strategic partnerships for economic prosperity and an end to deportations to haiti. even with just a few days remaining in the biden-harris administration, we must prioritize stability for haitians on the island and in

the united states. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from iowa, mrs. miller-meeks, for five minutes. mrs. miller: thank you, madam speaker -- mrs. miller-meeks: thank you, madam speaker. madam speaker, i rise today proud to announce i've joined the bipartisan congressional doge caucus. this important initiative is focused on bringing much-needed efficiency to the federal government and reducing wasteful spending that burdens taxpayers. as an iowan, i know that every dollar counts. many of my constituents are living paycheck to paycheck. while unelected bureaucrats in washington continue to waste taxpayer dollars. that's why i'm excited to work alongside leigh leaders like vivek ram sammy -- ramaswamy and elon musk. the national debt has now surpassed $36 trillion and since 2003, 2023, $2.7 trillion in improper payments have been made by federal agencies.

the doge caucus will work tirelessly to address this issue, streamline praikses and en-- operations, and ensure the government is working more effectively and efficiently for all merges. i look forward to -- for all americans. i look forward to collaborating with my colleagues and advancing president trump's agenda to rein in wasteful spending while we work efficiently to provide services and protect taxpayer dollars. ... i'm in strong support of the women and girls in sports act introduced by representative steube. the last term the house passed this bill as well but it was not taken up by the that. the this critical legislation ensures only biological women and girls can participate in athletic programs designed for their sex at birth. preserving fairness and integrity in women's sports. for decades title ix has worked to provide equal opportunities for women in education and athletics. this bill reaffirms that commitment by clarifying that sex is determined by an

individual's chromosomal expression at birth. i can tell you as a physician and scientist that the science indicates that males, especially after puberty, have greater and longer muscle mass which means they run faster, swim, and jump higher. they are greater cardiac volume and greater lung volume which also enables them to have gr greater endurance and strength. those individuals who are competing with women don't offer a level playing field for female athletes. this bill also requires a report from the government accountability office to assess the negative psychological, developmental, and socio-logical aspects of male participation in female sports. this is about fairness. it's about protecting women's rights and women spaces and ensuring that girls have equal opportunities in athletics. i urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. thank you.

madam speaker, i'd like to extend a warm welcome to the thousands of iowans, including the hundreds from iowa's first congressional district, who will be traveling to washington, d.c., to attend president trump's inauguration. i know that many of you will be making the journey with your families, friends, and fellow community members. i'm excited to see such a strong presence of iowans in our nation's capital. from local leaders to activists to business owners, students, and veterans iowans of all walks of life are coming together to witness this historic event. it's a testament to the pride and dedication we have in our state and country. my team and i are here to make sure your experience is as smooth and enjoyable as possible. and we look forward to assisting you in any way we can while you're here. welcome to washington, d.c., iowa. with that, madam speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair now recognizes the gentlelady from ohio, mrs. beatty, for five minutes. mrs. beatty: i rise today in

honor of the celebration yesterday of my soar report -- sorority delta theta sorority incorporated. it was 112 years ago yesterday that 22 visionary young black women at howard university came together to create a sorority rooted in the ideas of change, justice, and empowerment. i am a proud life member of this esteemed sisterhood. for me it started at delta kappa chapter as a freshman at central state university. and then as a member of the dayton alumni chapter and now the columbus ohio alumni chapter. i am honored to recognize this extraordinary legacy and contributions of this organization which has been a beacon of service, sisterhood, and social action since its beginning in 1913.

these trail blazers envisioned an organization that would prioritize service over socialization. and they have the foundation for what would become one of the world's largest african-american women's organization. over the decades, this organization has tackled some of the most pressing challenges facing our communities. the national library project provided books to underserved black communities in segregated south. deltas became the first sorority to establish employment counseling and career development for black women. we partnered with habitat for humanity, building homes for families in need at home and abroad. and also delta sigma theta earned special n.g.o. status with the united nations ensuring our voices are heard on the world stage. delta sigma theta women are among the most powerful change

makers in history. our history includes ceiling shatters, public servants like who i fondly call aunt ed in a, like -- edna, like lieutenant colonel early serving as the highest ranking black woman officer during world war ii. it includes the honorable shirley chisholm the first black woman elected to congress, the first black woman to seek a major party's nomination for president of these united states. and, yes, the only female of the 13 members who founded the congressional black caucus. it also includes individuals like justice ketanji brown jackson, the first black woman to serve on the supreme court. deltas define leadership in a broad spectrum of influence. from civil rights, icons like

ida b. wells, to cultural legends like arita franklin torques leaders in this very chamber like chair of the congressional black caucus, ms. clarke. like our brilliant sisters who serve here, congresswoman puree, congresswoman lucy mcbath, congresswoman jasmine crockett, congresswoman summer lee, congresswoman jennifer mcclellan and senator angela alsobrooks. as we celebrate founders day, we recommitted ourselves to the mission and division of delta sigma theta authority incorporated, fostering economic empoweringment, advancing education, improving physical and mental health, promoting international awareness, and lastly, engaging in political advocacies. these values have guided us for

112 years and will lynn to light our way -- and will continue to light our way forward. thank you. let me also add i associate myself with every word that congresswoman pressley said in respect to what we are rightly naming when we think about this bill being proposed, it is really the child predator empowerment act. there is nothing fair, there is nothing safe about a teacher, a counselor, a nonmedical professional asking a young child to remove their garments so they can be inspected. madam speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from puerto rico, mr. hernandez rivera, for five minutes. mr. hernandez rivera: thank you, madam speaker.

madam speaker, this past weekend venezuelan dictator maduro boldly declared his intention to invade and liberate puerto rico. as puerto rico's representative before the united states government, i want to let mr. maduro know, an overwhelming majority of puerto ricans support a relationship of permanent union or permanent association with the united states be that as a state or as a u.s. commonwealth. that same overwhelming majority also defends the right of a respectable patriotic minority to advocate and fight for the island's independent through -- independence through peaceful and democratic means. that respect for differing views is a hallmark of our democratic values, something mr. maduro clearly does not understand. mr. maduro, the future of puerto rico will be decide bide puerto

ricans in a peaceful and democratic manner. the same way that the future of venezuela should be decided by the venezuelan people in a peaceful and democratic manner. and now i will address my constituents in spanish. [speaking spanish]

thank you, madam speaker. i yield the rest of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman if you would would provide a translation to the chair. the gentleman yields back. the chair now recognizes the gentleman from illinois, mr. garcia, for five minutes. mr. garcia: mr. speaker, i rise today to honor the life of a fighter for human rights, jose "chacha gimenez. who passed away on january 10 after a life dedicated to social

justice. cha-cha was the founder of the young lords. an organization created by puerto rican teens with the original purpose of providing a safe space in a changing chicago. inspired by the writings of dr. martin luther king and malcolm x and important importantian leader pedro, cha-cha transformed the young lords from the street organization into a social justice group to fight for equality and freedom beyond chicago. their movement was rooted in the self-determination of puerto ricans and the island and main land. the organizationed actions against again at thistry facial and displacement of puerto ricans in lincoln park, chicago. they fought get police brutality and brought much needed basic services like education, childcare, and health services to our feigneds. cha-cha -- neighborhoods. cha-cha understood the latino

and black communities were facing similar struggles and forged an alliance with the black panthers to help underserved low-income communities. soon after they partnered with a group of white low-income residents called the young patriots, establishing chicago's rainbow coalition. cha-cha's leadership united people of all backgrounds to fight selectively -- collectively for a better future. and his legacy will live on for generations to come. rest in power, cha-cha gimenez. mr. speaker, i rise today to honor the village of riverside, illinois, which this year celebrates its 150th anniv anniversary. originally called always plains, this charming village is known for its peaceful river banks and scenic forested areas. on august 8, 1875, riverside elected its first village president and trustees, and over

the decades it's become a thriving community earning the title of village in the forest. with its expansive green parkways, iconic gas lit street lanterns, and cultivated streets, the village's charm is matched by its distinction as a national historic landmark. a title that its proudly held since 1970 in part to the numerous home designs by famous architects such as frank lloyd wright, overwhelm stead and volk, jenny sullivan and drummond. congratulations riverside on this incredible milestone. i look forward to celebrating all year long. mr. speaker, i rise today to honor the life of juan sales, who passed away in december of 2024. juan was a public servant,

educator, attorney, and an advocate for immigrants and indigenous peoples. he served our community with passion and dedication. born in texas to mexican parents, juan's hard work took him to college and later law school in washington state. he moved to chicago in 1978 to join the legal assistance foundation and never stopped working for the rights of immigrants and for immigration reform. my friend juan was the first mexican american elected to the illinois general assembly in 1984. later in 1987 he became the first mexican american to represent chicago's 25th ward as alderman. .. he will be remembered. i yield back.

the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the chair now recognizes the gentlewoman from new jersey, mse minutes -- ms. mcgiveer, for five minutes. ms. mciver:the a.r.c. act will save lives and reduce amputations by ensuring high-risk medicare and medicaid recipients have access to p.a.d. screenings at no additional costs. lowering costs will also lou for better screening -- will allow for better screening, earlier detection and treatment and remove cost-prohibitive barriers to care. this bill is very special to me as it was first introduced by my predecessor, the late representative donald payne jr. i am honored to ensure his work

for better, more accessible care and his legacy are carried on with the a.r.c. act. with the co-leadership of representatives jackson and kelly, i am proud to introduce the a.r.c. act to save limbs, reduce patient costs and save lives. mr. speaker, i also rise to object to the dangerous bill of h.r. 28. protection of women and girls sports act of 2025. better known as the child predator empowerment act. as a mom of an 8-year-old little girl who loves sports, who loves soccer, this bill is invasive to young girls, but also dangerous to every kid. it puts every kid at risk, every kid is at risk underneath this bill. so i ask my colleagues to vote no on this bill. with that, mr. speaker, i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman yields back.

the chair now recognizes the gentlewoman from michigan, ms. stevens, for five minutes. ms. stevens: mr. speaker, i rise today to recognize the tremendous achievements of president joe biden. the 46th president of the united states. while i can spend my time highlighting the nearly innumerable achievements of his administration, i rise to celebrate what this nation is today because of president biden's leadership. a nation on the rise. president biden and vice president harris inherited a nation in crisis. the greatest public health crisis in a generation, in generations, frankly, coupled with threatening economic down turn with rising costs and high unemployment. president biden recognized this

head-on. he saw what our nation needed and he acted. to jump-start economic investment, to get americans working, moving and innovating like never before. and alongside congressional leaders, he delivered for the american people. president biden delivered historic investments into our communities through the american rescue plan, the bipartisan infrastructure law, the chips and science act, and the inflation reduction act. just to name a few. these historic legislative packages unleashed hundreds of billions of dollars into our communities to get us moving and growing again. the national statistics may highlight the breadth and depth of this -- these historic investments, but no place speaks better to the generational change created by president biden's leadership like my home state of michigan.

$13 billion in infrastructure funding that has flowed through michigan. 62 new clean energy projects, the most in the country, have been announced in michigan. over 400,000 new jobs have been created in michigan. so many in fact that detroit has been boasting its lowest levels of unemployment in nearly 50 years. with the largest investment in the great lakes in decades, nearly all areas of concern in michigan will be remediated, including two effecting my district, the clinton river, and the river rouge. combined with historic state-level investments, michigan, the home of the flint water crisis, is officially headed to a lead-free future with detroit being lead-free by the end of the decade. as home to the big three auto automakers, no place is leading the charge to electrify our

future like we are in michigan. we are manufacturing, we are growing, and we are innovating. and these are stories, these are numbers that represent the american worker. american workers have been able to achieve an economic reality, not just a political wish list. because of president biden's dedication and leadership. the needs of the american worker were heard. including seeing president biden be the first president to join striking workers on a picket line in, of course, my home state of michigan. alongside the united auto workers. it is the last week of his historic administration. a true public servant who stood up every single day of his career on behalf of the american people. who has reached out to the next

generation to make sure that we are heard, to mentor individuals like myself, and who has been selfless in his actions. we salute you, sir. we recognize you. for everything that you have done and committed and the change you have made. thank you m, mr. speaker, and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman yields back. the chair now recognizes the gentlewoman from texas, ms. johnson, for five minutes. mr. johnson: thank you, mr. speaker. i ask unanimous consent to address the house for five minutes, to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. johnson: i am honored to serve texas' 32nd congressional district in the united states house of representatives for the 119th congress. as a texas educated attorney for over 30 years, i know what it takes to fight for those who need it most. throughout my career, i have stood up for workers, those living with disabilities, students who are being taken

advantage of by for-profit colleges, and so many of my fellow texans who needed someone fighting alongside them. i took those skills to the texas state legislature, where i fought for medical expansion, a fair judicial court system, consumer protections, and for women to make their own health care decisions, free from government intrusion. and when extremists decided to target the lgbtq community in texas, i raised my voice and helped kill hundreds of anti-lgbtq bills that would have hurt the member of my -- the members of my community and their families. as the trusted voice for texas' 32nd congressional district in congress, i am ready to deliver real results for my neighbors. that means working to lower costs across the board. support and expand infrastructure for the fastest growing metroplex in the country, and secure our southern border and to make health care

safe, affordable and reliable for all americans. and my home state of texas plays a huge role in powering our nation and our world. we have a massive economy that supports millions of jobs, and we are mexico's largest trading partner. texas also has the largest border with our neighbor to the south, and it will be up to texas and texas democrats to provide meaningful solutions to the problems that we face. and i am ready to lead on these important issues. i am thrilled i will be serving on three committees this congress that will help me deliver these results, to make life better for texas businesses, middle class families and our seniors. on the house homeland security committee and house foreign affairs committee, i will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to keep our nation's strength and to strengthen our alliances around

the world. and on the house administration committee, i will work tirelessly to protect the people's right to vote and to make sure this institution, the people's house, functions in a way that is better for texans and all of our nation's citizens. let me be clear. the work begins right now. in congress i'm committed to rising above the division and coming up with bipartisan solutions to solve our nation's biggest problems. i will work with anyone, democrat or republican, that is willing to come together, put partisanship aside, and to make life better for the people that we all serve. to my constituents, i want you to know how grateful i am to have this opportunity and i wake up every day with the mission and the purpose to serve you in this chamber. thank you so much and know that i will always have your back here in the united states congress. and, mr. speaker, i yield back.

the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman yields back. the chair now recognizes the gentlewoman from ohio, ms. can'ter, for five minutes -- ms. kaptur, for five minutes. ms. kaptur: mr. speaker, we are all watching the ferocious palipalsaid, eaton -- palisadesn and hurts fires expand -- hurst fires expand. our hearts go out today and forever to come to the thousands of displaced people, the brave, unrelenting fire and rescue crews and the public officials trying to bring order in the midst of chaos. let me share having practiced as a city and regional planner long before election to congress.

i was awestruck when i visited there at the large number of homes built high on forested mountain sides with many sizable mansions at their very peaks. in fact, most recently, as ranking democrat on the house appropriations energy and water subcommittee, i was flown on an extensive tour over los angeles by a u.s. army corps helicopter to evaluate freshwater challenges in that drought-prone region. as the granddaughter of a forster, experience led me to question how such densely developed communities with housing perched on forested ascended hill sides could be evacuated in the event of emergency. my stomach ok queezed at the -- symptom queezed at the -- stomach squeezed at the thought. i called for congress to return to washington to fully fund fema and the small business administration for disaster relief efforts. it took until late december to

approving $28 billion in funding, well below the $40 billion the biden administration requested. and now this horror has launched. statistics show in canada and the united states, whether it is along our pacific coast in vancouver, or quebec, historic precious forests are burning to the ground during this era of prolonged drought. one estimate indicates the recent annual tree loss just in canada equates to their forests' loss capacity to absorb the annual carbon dioxide from all jet aviation fuel spewed into the atmosphere across our globe. and this chart attests to that. just a few years ago, due to major forest fires in quebec, our southern great lakes region in my state of ohio was covered with an erie hazy atmospheric soot blowing south across the border with canada. what an out of body occurrence, never before encountered where we live. my own plants were smothered by

it. long ago i learned in a forestry class there's only one way to regenerate a forest. burning to the ground. thus, allowing massive communities to be built in forests is always dangerous. when i was born, california's population numbered about 10 million people. today it has quadrupled to 42 1/2 million people and los angeles county's dense population alone now numbers over 10 million people, larger than 80% of the states in our union. california's population is projected to reach 60 million people by 2050 and that is six times its population in 1950. freshwater is running out. challenges to life on a changing continent and world are daunting, and we must all ask tough questions about how to build and rebuild places that are livable and survivable. it will take years to salvage the los angeles neighborhoods

and some will never be rebuilt. meanwhile, other regions across our nation can welcome fire refugees. the growing freshwater fights between communities and states that attend to life in the west are hastening. more people are demanding more freshwater, when that is a physical impossibility as aquifers run dry. there's only so much freshwater. if one looks at places like the great lakes, we say, how does our nation best invest in sustainable water and energy systems for the coming century and beyond? we must think forward, not backward. america must have a more comprehensive approach to build forward sustainable communities. step one is to rescue the west. but there must be attention to resettling in freshwater regions that are more sustainable. for example, advancing freshwater settlement for our great lakes region will require standing up the great lakes

authority and infusing it with the ability to relieve bonded indebtedness of struggling freshwater communities. they must be able to financially reinvest to upgrade their freshwater systems in places like flint, detroit, toledo, cleveland, youngstown, milwaukee, kenosha, chicago and so many more, freshwater is life. the old expression, go west or south, young man, still appeals. but our planet is teaching us there are limits to what the earth can sustain. living in the past is not an option. onward america together. thank you, mr. speaker, and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman yields back. pursuant to clause 12-a of rule 1, the chair declares the house in recess until noon today.