▶ 0:26:23I call this meeting of the appropriations committee to order. I'd like to welcome everyone to today's meeting. Today we'll be marking up our Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Measure for Fiscal year 2026. This is our final regular appropriations bill for the fiscal year 2026. As with our previous markups, it's my intention to complete all of our work on this body today.
▶ 0:26:52While we'll take a recess for four votes as needed, we will otherwise be here today until our work is completed. Uh with that, we will begin the markup. Again, our only order of business today is consideration of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2026. I'll now recognize Chairman Rogers to present the bill.
▶ 0:27:26Thank you, Chairman Cole, and thank you for the leadership that you bring to the House floor, this committee, and the entire process of appropriately funding our federal government. I also would like to thank uh ranking member Ming Ranking member Delaro and all members of the committee.
▶ 0:27:55The House Appropriations Committee does some of the most important work in the Congress and it can't be completed without members dedication to this effort. Additionally, I would also like to thank both the majority and minority staff for their hard work. Today we are taking up the fiscal year 2026 commerce, justice, science and related agencies bill.
▶ 0:28:24Over the last eight months, America has been revitalized under President Trump and ushered in by his administration. We're charting a course of recovery, of growth, and reinforcing our standing on the world stage. As a nation, we are putting the safety and soundness of the American people first.
▶ 0:28:51We're tackling immigration by securing our borders while standing up for what is right and just. We're addressing crime that has been infiltrating our neighborhoods and cities for far too long. We have a unified approach and we're starting to see results.
▶ 0:29:16the size of the federal government swelled over the last four years under the Biden administration. However, we we have an answer to the mission creep of many of these agencies and the red tape that has plagued our businesses and prevented innovation.
▶ 0:29:38Through this bill and the other bills that have been marked up in this committee, we are rightsizing federal government agencies to ensure they're working on behalf of the American public, not against them.
▶ 0:29:53The CJS bill provides a total discretionary allocation of 76.8 billion which is representative of a 28 2.8% decrease when compared to the total effective spending of the fiscal year 2025 enacted level The bill makes strategic investments in several agencies while
▶ 0:30:23appropriately reducing others. Despite recent progress in the fight against fentanyl and other opioids, overdose deaths continue to plague our communities and neighborhoods. Transnational criminal organizations such as Mexican drug cartels remain a serious threat to the United States.
▶ 0:30:50As a result, this bill continues to ensure the DEA within the Department of Justice receives the funding it needs to combat illicit drug use and dismantle drug cartel networks. And I'm proud to report that the funding level for the DEA is making a difference.
▶ 0:31:13Since January 20 of 25 at 0 the DEA seized approximately 246 lethal a million lethal doses of fentinel. Additionally, the DEA has made over 2,000 fentinel related arrests.
▶ 0:31:36In August, the Department of Justice secured a guilty plea from the co-founder and former head of the Sinaloa cartel. This is important news and this fight must continue.
▶ 0:31:54Moreover, the fiscal year 20 2026 bill strongly supports the men and women in blue that protect our families and neighborhoods by increasing funding for state and local law enforcement.
▶ 0:32:11This bill includes increased funding levels for the burn jag program and cops hiring program to put our state and local law enforcement first to ensure America is the leader in space maintains a competitive advantage over China.
▶ 0:32:35The fiscal 26 CJS bill also continues to sustain strong funding levels for NASA and its endeavor to return to the moon and beyond. The legislation also protects and reinforces constitutional rights such as the Second Amendment by reigning in and refocusing the ATF.
▶ 0:33:02As shown by deadly floods in Kentucky and Texas and other places, now is the time to ensure the National Weather Service is equipped with the funding it needs to warn and protect our citizens.
▶ 0:33:17This bill does just that by appropriately funding Noah's weather Overall, the provisions and funding levels in the fiscal year 26 CJS bill will protect our children, our families, our neighborhoods, and our country. With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back. I thank the gentleman. I'd now like to recognize the ranking member, Miss Ming, for remarks on the bill. Thank you, Mr.
▶ 0:33:47Chairman. I would first like to thank the appropriations committee staff for all of their work on this bill, Bob Bonner, Jamie Weise, Norah Fay, and FA Cobb, and my individual office staff, Tom Dineer, and Rebecca Lee. I would also like to thank my Democratic colleagues on our subcommittee, Congress members Ivy, Morelli, Dean, and Morvan. Mr. Mr.
▶ 0:34:11Chairman, although I know that you and I share many of the same priorities, I ultimately must strongly oppose this appropriations bill. This bill would abandon small businesses and hardworking Americans, weaken law enforcement, and surrender our nation's competitive edge. My hope is that we can work together to address my very significant concerns with the bill.
▶ 0:34:36As it stands, the 2.1 billion in cuts proposed today would be a betrayal of our fundamental responsibility to keep Americans safe and our economy strong. This bill does not fix the many problems caused by this administration's failures and Elon Musk's Doge team this year. In fact, it exacerbates many of these problems.
▶ 0:35:02Most importantly, we must address the high cost of living and stop the weakening of our economy. As last week's jobs data shows, the economy is weakening. We have lost manufacturing jobs since April when the Trump administration's tariffs first took effect. Layoffs are on the rise in almost every part of the economy, including a 40% increase last month.
▶ 0:35:31And for the first time since the pandemic, more Americans are looking for work than there are jobs Even for those who still have a job, wages are not keeping up with inflation, which is still too high. In New York City, average hourly wages are up only 50 cents since February.
▶ 0:35:53We are on the wrong track, and American families are But this bill sharply cuts funding for the agencies and programs that create jobs, boost American small businesses, and advance our economy.
▶ 0:36:08Economic Development Administration grants are cut by 36%, abandoning rural and distressed communities that are desperately in need of economic investment and well-paying Making it harder to start a new business and create jobs is the worst thing that we can do for our economy right now.
▶ 0:36:31Yet, the bill slashes funding for the Minority Business Development Agency, taking away opportunities from American It cuts funding for the international trade administration by more than 30%. Weakening the federal government's ability to help American businesses expand exports and fight unfair trade Americans are not only worried about the economy.
▶ 0:37:00Folks are also worried about gun violence, hate crimes, and the opioid epidemic. But this bill delivers a devastating blow to the federal law enforcement agencies that protect them. For example, this bill slashes FBI funding by more than half a billion dollars, forcing the elimination of thousands of FBI special agents and analysts.
▶ 0:37:25Public servants who work with our local police to solve murders, stop drug trafficking, prevent terrorism, and combat cyber crimes. targeting everyday Americans. The FBI's ability to catch criminals would be damaged and public safety would be compromised as a result of this bill.
▶ 0:37:46This bill also decimates funding for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, which would lose more than a thousand personnel who work with our state and local law enforcement to keep illegal guns off our streets, catch dangerous criminals, and prevent gun crimes.
▶ 0:38:03The bill further reduces funding for organized crime drug enforcement task forces, undermining our fight against the cartels and drug dealers that bring opioids into our communities, as well as for the Justice Department's National Security Division, which works to protect the US against terrorism, espionage, and other threats to our national security.
▶ 0:38:26The bill also leaves women and children more vulnerable to violence by sharply decreasing funding for juvenile justice and violence against women act grants. It zeros out community violence intervention and prevention grants as well as hate crime prevention and prosecution grants.
▶ 0:38:45and the Justice Department's Community Relations Service, which for more than 60 years has worked honorably to help mediate and end community conflicts across our country, is eliminated. The Justice Department's OIG, whose work to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse at the department should have strong bipartisan support, but is also cut by 30%. This cut opens the door to even more fraud and corruption.
▶ 0:39:14I believe that all of this is the wrong approach for the CJS appropriations bill. We should be investing more, not less, in the safety and security of the American people. Moreover, the Legal Services Corporation, which provides basic civil legal assistance to the poorest American families, seniors, and veterans, is cut by nearly half.
▶ 0:39:37Under this funding level, nearly 3 million fewer people will receive help with their legal problems, including over 8,000 in my district alone. This bill abandons our most vulnerable constituents who can't afford a lawyer when they're facing eviction, seeking safety from domestic violence, or are denied benefits that they have earned.
▶ 0:40:01Perhaps most short-sighted of all, this bill disinvests in the scientific research that drives American innovation, technological leadership, and economic competitiveness. This bill cuts the National Science Foundation by more than $2 billion dollar, including a nearly total decimation of STEM education programs, abandoning the next generation of American scientists and engineers who will
▶ 0:40:31shape whether our country continues to be a leader or a follower in the global economy. As our as other countries are racing forward in space exploration and climate science, this bill would cause the US to fall behind by cutting NASA's science account by over 1.3 billion.
▶ 0:40:53The bill also makes massive cuts to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which has helped American industry overcome technical challenges, innovate manufacturing, and work on the cutting edge of technologies like quantum and artificial intelligence.
▶ 0:41:10I disagree with the bill's approach and as I've said repeatedly, I believe that we should be doubling down on the investments in science that grow our economy and incentivize advancements that improve life for all Americans. Last but not least, this bill contains dozens of harmful policy writers that must be removed from the bill before it's enacted into law. I thank the chairman.
▶ 0:41:37However, because of these shortcomings and more, I must urge my colleagues to oppose this bill. I ask my colleagues to work together in a truly bipartisan manner to produce a bill that invests in safety, economic opportunity, and scientific greatness. I don't believe that these are partisan values. They should be our shared goals as Americans. Thank you very much, and I yield back. Thank you, gentle lady.
▶ 0:42:06I now recognize myself for remarks on the bill. Thank you, Chairman Rogers, and thank you, Ranking Member Ming, Ranking Member Delora, and to all our members. The fiscal year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Bill sets firm priorities strengthening the safety of our communities, driving American leadership in science and innovation, and expanding opportunity in our economy.
▶ 0:42:33These objectives are achieved while enforcing higher standards of government accountability and protecting hardworking taxpayers. Each investment delivers real benefits to our nation and constituents. Our streets are made safer for American families and children. We confront fentanyl and the deadly scourge of addiction that has stolen far too many lives. A priority of this conference and President Trump.
▶ 0:43:00We also ensure robust support for local law enforcement and their work to protect our communities. This bill fuels American ingenuity, investing in NASA to push the boundaries of space exploration. Just as critically, it takes a firm stand against chi communist China's efforts to steal US technology, defending our innovation, protecting our enterprise, and securing America's leadership on the world stage.
▶ 0:43:28We meet these missions while securing savings to taxpayers and protecting the constitutional rights of Americans. We reiterate President Trump's efforts to rightsize the federal bureaucracy and reverse the federal weaponization of the last administration by confronting politicization and overreach at the Department of Justice and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. We reaffirm accountability and the rule of law.
▶ 0:43:59Each investment makes America safer, stronger, and more prepared for the future. I thank Chairman Rogers for his thoughtful approach, and I strongly support this measure. With that, I yield back. I now recognize my good friend, the ranking member of the full committee, the gentle lady from Connecticut, Mr. Lure, for her opening remarks on the bill. I thank the chairman and chairman Rogers uh and ranking member Mang.
▶ 0:44:27Uh it's a pleasure to be with you today and I thank you for yielding. Let me share my appreciation for the subcommittee staff on both sides of the aisle and in particular Bob Bonner, Norah Fay, Fay Cobb, and Jamie Wise. I oppose the bill before us today which defunds federal law enforcement and threatens public safety. continues Republicans attacks on America's scientific supremacy, promotes waste, fraud, and abuse, and hurts the middle class and working families. We are in the middle of a cost of living crisis.
▶ 0:44:57President Trump promised to lower costs on day one, but instead he and House Republicans are making the cost of living crisis even worse. The big ugly law handed massive tax breaks to billionaires and the biggest corporations while Americans continue to struggle with the costs of basic necessities. While President Trump brags about the money he is stealing out of America's pockets and from small businesses through his chaotic and senseless trade agenda.
▶ 0:45:26Today, we are considering the last House Republican 2026 funding bill, which will raise costs for struggling American families, jeopardize their safety, abandon rural communities, and undermine efforts to ensure our trading partners play by the rules.
▶ 0:45:42Since taking office, President Trump's administration has stolen resources for programs and services across the federal government, including several in this bill that helped to lower costs for middle class and working class, keep Americans safe and our economy strong, and ensure America is at the forefront of scientific innovation and discovery.
▶ 0:46:03President Trump has frozen programs that provide seniors, veterans, rural families, and people with disabilities with the skills and tools they need to access the internet, as well as emergency funding to help the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to acquire weather radars and satellites that will help create life-saving forecasts.
▶ 0:46:25Over $4.5 billion dollars in Department of Justice grant money, including cops grants and the Office of Violence Against Women grants has been frozen, stolen from the communities and the local police departments that are counting on these investments to improve their law enforcement capabilities. In fact, they are defunding law enforcement.
▶ 0:46:48They froze funding that supports re-entry initiatives and violence prevention, prevents hate crimes, provides services for crime vict victims, and supports underserved communities. Stealing this funding makes the American people less safe and more likely to become victims of crime. Congress enacted and appropriated funding for these frozen and terminated programs in law.
▶ 0:47:10But President Trump and his unelected unaccountable political appointees are substituting the decisions and judgment of Americans elected representatives with their own uh own ideas and turning article one of the constitution on its head. These cuts are not numbers on a page. They are not only felt in Washington DC. They affect all of our constituents.
▶ 0:47:34At the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Trump administration has dismissed National Weather Service forecasts and other critical employees endangering American communities. As a result of funding and employee cuts within Noah, we have fewer forecaster, fewer weather balloon launches, and less reliable weather data and forecasts that families, businesses, and state and local governments rely on to stay safe and to stay open.
▶ 0:48:00In Connecticut, coordination with the National Weather Service has been critical for saving lives through everything from wildfires to blizzards to floods. Bill Turner, Connecticut State Emergency Management Director, said, and I quote, "It's a very fragile house of cards right now, and we need them to continue. It really could be catastrophic in a lot of ways for our state if they go down that path of stopping the National Weather Service and their functionality." End quote.
▶ 0:48:28I ask my colleagues, did anyone come to your town halls and complain that the National Weather Service has too many meteorologists to accurate uh to be accurate of forecasts, advisories, watches, and warnings? I don't think so. I know the chairman of the full committee has worked to impress upon the administration the importance of weather monitoring institutions in Oklahoma, but National Weather Service offices are needed across our country.
▶ 0:48:53We cannot leave critical weather monitoring capabilities to the benevolence of the president. That is why funding is appropriated by the Congress, not the administration. Unfortunately, this bill doubles down on Republicans probillionaire, procorporation, anti-science, and anti-ruule of law agenda. This bill turns its back on Republicans promises to rural communities, underfunds programs that create jobs and revive economically distressed, distressed communities, especially in rural America.
▶ 0:49:23The president is driving a trade war against our allies and our biggest trading partners that will raise prices for Americans. This bill cuts funding for the International Trade Administration by nearly 30%, severely hindering our ability to fight other countries unfair trade practices and help American businesses expand their access to international markets. This bill makes families, women, children, and all of our communities less safe.
▶ 0:49:50It slashes funding for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Organized Crime, Drug Enforcement Task Forces, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, limiting federal efforts to help state and local law enforcement combat gun violence, drug trafficking, and organized crime.
▶ 0:50:09It cuts legal services, the Violence Against Women Act grants, juvenile justice grants, community violence intervention and prevention grants, hate crime prevention grants, and other resources that prevent violence. And why does this bill slash the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General by 30%. What are you afraid might be uncovered in Pam Bondi's Department of Justice? Americans expect a few things of their country.
▶ 0:50:38a strong economy, safety for their families, and respect for the rule of law. Consequences for corruption. This bill fails to deliver on each of these fronts. Americans cannot keep up with the everinccreasing cost of living. But instead of working with Democrats to make investments that can help to lower costs, keep Americans safe, and our economy strong. Republicans have put forward another bill that favors billionaires and corporations. Another bill that does not fight waste, fraud, and abuse, but embraces it.
▶ 0:51:08I cannot support this bill, and I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. Are there any other members wishing to make general comments about the bill? A gentleman from Alabama, Mr. Strong, is recognized for comments about the bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First, I want to say thank you to Chairman Rogers for his steadfast leadership and tireless work on writing this bill. But I' I'd also like to thank ranking member Ming uh and both the majority and minority staff for their hard work.
▶ 0:51:38As the vice chairman of this subcommittee, it's an honor to speak in strong support of this fiscal year 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill. This bill makes crucial investments in NASA, the Aremis program, strengthens America's leadership in space through the space launch system, and advances propulsion technology. We will return Americans to the moon and set a course for Mars.
▶ 0:52:04I'm proud uh that my district, Alabama's fifth, is home to the engineers, scientists, and civilians driving the space launch system and propulsion technologies that makes this mission possible. These investments uh have our nation's uh proud tradition of exploration to ensure the United States remains the world's leader in discovery and innovation.
▶ 0:52:25Alabama's fifth district also is home to a significant FBI presence where dedicated professionals advance our national security mission every day. We're proud uh to have them in our community and grateful for their critical work they do to keep our nation safe. Our time is now. Uh I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back. Thank you. I thank the gentleman and uh chair recognized the gentleman from Georgia, Mr.
▶ 0:52:54Bishop for remarks about the bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise unfortunately to say that this is not a good bill. The CGS bill really eliminates thousands of federal law enforcement positions. It opens our communities to more violence. It cuts resources to protect women and children from domestic violence.
▶ 0:53:23uh it does not address the cost of living crisis that families in America are facing. It slashes resources to promote economic development and to produce to uh boost our exports and to fight unfair trade practices. And it actually attacks science and education in America. And what I can't believe it, this bill actually defunds the police. It's not the liberals. is not the leftwing.
▶ 0:53:53It's not the progressives. It's not the socialists, but it's this Republican appropriations committee that's actually defunding the police. It's cutting funds for the FBI. A billion dollars in law enforcement uh uh will force the loss of thousands of FBI agents.
▶ 0:54:15Weakens our fight against violent crime, espionage, spies, cyber crime, national security, international and domestic uh terrorism. And it cuts thousands of positions from the ATF, which weakens our ability to prevent illegal gun trafficking and to assist state and local law enforcement to capture dangerous criminals in our And
▶ 0:54:45it makes our communities and our families less safe. This bill, because of the underfunding, it opens our schools, our grocery stores, our churches, concerts, and our communities, makes them vulnerable to more mass shootings because it makes guns easier to end up in the wrong hands.
▶ 0:55:09It cuts juvenile justice grants, hate crime grants, and the other resources that prevent violence uh in our communities. Uh the bill and this administration says that they want to make our cities safer, clean, and beautiful. Well, it does not do that.
▶ 0:55:32It does just the opposite because it guts the economic development administration which has the programs that create the jobs that revitalize revitalize our stressed communities particularly inner cities and in our rural communities. uh it slashes funds. Let's say that we want to make America great again. Let's make America great again. They're doing just the opposite in this bill.
▶ 0:56:00Um what we're doing is we are attacking education and attacking science. It cuts billions from science technology development, STEM education, aeronautics research, and the National Science The United States of America is being outmatched by China and India.
▶ 0:56:21Over the last two decades, China has produced 10 times as many terminal degrees in the STEM disciplines as we have. India has produced 10 times as many as we have. And of course, if we continue this, we will lose the competitive edge that America has had over the years. We are not making America great again. We are making America dumb.
▶ 0:56:50And we do not need to do that. I could go on and on about the deficiencies in this bill, but I won't. I say this, we can do better. We must do better. We owe it to the American people to do better. and this subcommittee and this bill uh needs to come together on a pro- America, Americans uh basis so that we can truly make America and our communities best.
▶ 0:57:19We can lower the cost and we can make Americans all across this country thrive. With that, I yield back. Thank you, gentlemen. The gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Hoyer is recognized for opening remarks about the bill. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. First, I rise uh and thank Mr. Rogers for the his leadership on this committee for a very long period of time.
▶ 0:57:48His picture is right over that door uh representing the fact that he was the chairman of this committee, the leader of this committee for many, many years. I believe Mr. Rogers is one of the leaders of this committee who cares deeply about this committee, about its role and about its independence and its positioning under the Constitution of the United States and its obligations to the people of the United States.
▶ 0:58:19Um it is unfortunate that uh not only his subcommittee my subcommittee on which I'm the ranking member but many other subcommittees and we heard it yesterday from Mr. Adult and saying we had limited resources. We do have limited resources. We need to be cognizant of our fiscal challenges that confront us. Uh we need to bring down the debt.
▶ 0:58:48uh I'm one of those that has long felt that we need to be more fiscally disciplined. But in that context, we also need to understand that we need to invest in competing with the rest of the world.
▶ 0:59:02uh not to be competing to win the rest of the world, but competing so that our people have the kind of economy and growth and quality of life that we want them to have and that our national security is kept intact both abroad and here at home with our law enforcement personnel. All of many of these come under the purview of Mr. Rogers um committee.
▶ 0:59:30So I rise reluctantly as I think all all of Democrats will be that ultimately I will not support this bill. I'm hopeful that at the end after we have a conference with the Senate or however this is going to work out that I'll be able to support this and I thank him however for his in protecting this committee's integrity uh and using a judgment of this committee not
▶ 1:00:01simply of an administration whatever administration it might be. Though I oppose this bill, I do believe that the chairman has done what he could within the context of the 302b allocation he was given. Uh there are many many however deficiencies, many cuts under fiscal year 7 25.
▶ 1:00:32Uh, one of those I'm concerned about, as the gentleman knows, is Gddard Space Flight Center. I have an article here written by a gentleman named Stephen Graham Greenblat who's a physics I think believe it's physics professor at Harvard University and he talks about Sputnik. Now, Sputnik most of you don't know what Sputnik was.
▶ 1:00:59Uh I happen to be remember the exactly the day I was driving in 1957. I just graduated from high school when Sputnik in 1957 went around the globe and in effect took America by the coattails and shook it because we were astounded that the Soviet Union had surpassed us in an objective that we had.
▶ 1:01:24And then John Kenny became president and John Kennedy said, "We're going to compete." Republicans said, "We're going to compete." Democrats said, "We're going to compete." And America competed. The professor points out at that point in time, uh, some 70 plus years ago, having had this shock decided we would compete. How do we do it? We invested.
▶ 1:01:54We didn't disinvest, we invested. We invested in science. We in invested in engineering. We invested in STEM. We invested in people's going to college. Unfortunately, we are doing exactly the opposite now. While we talk about competing with China at that time in n then at that point in time 10 universities, China had one in the top 10 universities.
▶ 1:02:26eight out of 10 are from China. Number one is China, University of Science and Technology of China in producing as the gentleman from Georgia said, scientists, engineers, people who are going to make a difference 10 years from now, 20 years from now in the competition between uh China and ourselves. critically important economically and critically important from a national security standpoint.
▶ 1:02:55So when we see that we see at Germany by the way and the United States are the other two. Harvard is the only college in the United States who's in the top 10 of those who are contributing to uh major science I I don't have enough time. So I'll conclude by saying we need to do better. I think Mr. Rogers would agree with that.
▶ 1:03:24I don't ask him to say it today, but we could do better. And we must do better. We must do better if America is going to be what we want it to be for our children, uh for our grandchildren, and in my case, for my great-grandchildren. and I look forward to working with the chairman to achieve those objectives as we continue through this process. Thank gentlemen.
▶ 1:03:53The gentle lady from Ohio, Miss Captor is recognized for remarks on the bill. Uh thank you uh very much. Uh first of all, Chairman Rogers for whom I have such great respect. uh, Ranking Member Mang equally, Chairman Cole, Ranking Member Deluro for your hard work on this really important bill. I rise in opposition to it.
▶ 1:04:16I wish I didn't have to do that, but this bill should make American families uh, safer and better off in terms of the affordability crisis that they are facing. It does not. Let's start with the American economy. This bill cuts $144 million to the Economic Development Administration, one of the most important segments of this bill.
▶ 1:04:44Now, this follows this proposed cut the recision the Trump administration has made of 3.7 billion dollars. Recision of funds that had already been awarded to manufacturing firms across our country to improve their competitiveness and ability to meet fierce unfair competition from unfair traders like China uh and Russia.
▶ 1:05:12uh diverting steel and other products around uh this world. And so this is another body blow when the economy needs lifting. If you've noticed what's happening to unemployment across this country, so with EDA having a 31% reduction, that's huge.
▶ 1:05:31Our country has lost 78,000 manufacturing jobs since the beginning of just this We should be investing in our communities to hang on to the jobs we have and creating jobs in places that are struggling. Surprise, surprise. One of those is Ohio, a portion of which I'm proud to represent. Okay.
▶ 1:05:52On top of this, in the middle of a nonsensical and chaotic trade war by tweet, uh, as US trade accounts amass more red ink, this bill cuts $183 million or 29%, almost a third, to the International Trade Administration. That's like the diagnostic agency for where the disease really is. The other party always claims to want to help reduce the trade deficit. Well, folks, guess what? It's going up.
▶ 1:06:22Uh, and this is the key agency to help us diagnose a road forward, not backward. But it's being slashed. Trade wars have Trade deficits have consequences because they mean lost jobs and economic growth in our country. And our manufacturers in particularly are feeling the brunt of it. And so are our farmers. China has not booked a single shipment of soybeans coming from America this year. Hello. Hello.
▶ 1:06:50Oh, if it were not for ethanol and biodiesel, half the corn and soy crop in my district goes into fuels. All those farmers would be bankrupt. Cattlemen are losing markets to JBS. Corn and soy farmers have lost markets to China that have been backfilled by Argentina and Brazil. Hello. In terms of keeping Americans safe, this bill fails by cutting the staff and budget for law enforcement. The FBI will lose thousands of agents. I used to want to be an FBI agent.
▶ 1:07:19and I was rejected because I was a woman. That was back in the dark ages. This will reduce the FBI's ability to protect communities while threatening our national security uh as foreign states increase their crossborder cyber and information warfare and financial warfare against our country. Further, this administration has shown disregard for fighting certain kinds of crime and redirected funds from investigating and prosecuting white collar crime and corruption.
▶ 1:07:49Sadly, my state of Ohio knows all too well how white collar corruption has dramatically increased energy bills for millions of households, similar to their disregard of enforcing our tax laws against billionaires. The new administration seems to want to look away from any malfeasants committed by their rich friends.
▶ 1:08:12Mark my words, the super rich are already sweeping in and buying the farms, homes, and small businesses of the working class. They're already moving the law, removing the law enforcement that investigates such crimes or stops them from creating more This abandonment of justice for all will only embolden them further. Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Tim Cook, they don't donate to our campaign.
▶ 1:08:38All dine with the president, make false statements to appease him, offer the occasional gold bar as a gift so they can get their business deals approved, another government government contract, and the roadblocks to their oligarchy removed. We already are in the Robin Baron era of our 21st century.
▶ 1:08:58Earlier this year, the Department of Justice removed information about the Violence Against Women's Act grant funding from their website, leaving nonprofits who help survivors in the dark. Now, this bill cuts $73 million from the Violence Against Women Act grants. The majority claims to be the most pro law enforcement ever. Yet, this administration and the cuts presented in this bill don't show it. Why are they so hellbent on reducing resources for the local police?
▶ 1:09:27Finally, I must close by raising my concerns about the future of American leadership in science. Funding for science helps drive cutting edge scientific research in places like our heartland, the home of John Glenn, Neil the creation of the uh Wright and the Glenn research centers. It's sad what this administration is doing with the$2.1 billion dollars from NSF and the cuts to NASA.
▶ 1:09:56I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill. It takes us backward, not forward, and urge my colleagues to join me in opposing it. And I yield back. Thank you, gentle lady. The gentleman from South Carolina, Mr. Clman's recognized for comments on the bill. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank you and ranking member Delaro as well as Chairman Rogers and Rank Member Ming for your tremendous work on this bill.
▶ 1:10:24But I rise in opposition to the legislation and I associate myself uh with many of the objections that have been raised by my Democratic colleagues. This bill's cuts to the Department of Justice funding bring to mind this recent paratization of Republican ideology.
▶ 1:10:44and I'm quoted, "There must be in groups whom the law but does not bind out groups whom the law binds but does not protect." This was the ideology recently expressed by a conservative ideologue and what I lived in the Jim Crow South
▶ 1:11:14when I was growing up. Now, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to this issue in his letter from the Birmingham City Jail when he define an unjust law that we were all breaking.
▶ 1:11:35Kane wrote, "It is a code that a numeric or power majority group a minority group to obey but does not make it binding on itself." The 1960s civil rights activities did much to eliminate unjust laws and the two-tier justice of system of Jim Crow.
▶ 1:12:05just as the progress of the 1860s was reversed by the so-called redeemers and culminated in Jim Crow, I fear that the gains of the 1960s are being jeopardized by the MAGA While the primary in-group outgroup divide under Jim Crow was black and white, today a different hierarchy
▶ 1:12:35is emerging. President Trump and his cronies enjoy the law's protection, but are free to break the law without accountability. While everyday Americans are less protected against lawb breakakers, this bill lessens protections for victims of federal crimes by slashing FBI funding.
▶ 1:13:02It lessens protections against gun crimes by gutting the funding for ATF. It lessens protections for communities threatened by the opioid epidemic by cutting funding for organized crime drug enforcement task forces. This legislation lessens protection for children by cutting juvenile justice grants.
▶ 1:13:28It lessens protections for women by cutting violence against women act grants. It lessens protections for lowincome Americans by cutting legal services corporations funding.
▶ 1:13:43The bill lessens protections by eliminating funding for community violence intervention and prevention grants, hate crime prevention and prosecution grants, and the Justice Department's Community Relations Service.
▶ 1:14:00These cuts come on top of President Trump's reckless pardons of nearly 1,600 criminals, which have deprived victims of $1.3 billion dollar in restitution and fines.
▶ 1:14:18The Trump administration and many Republicans in Congress have made it clear that their law enforcement priorities are sneaky apprehensions, inhuman detentions, and mass I support the rule of law, including enforcing immigration laws, but we must do so in a manner that is in the best interest of the American people and public safety.
▶ 1:14:49The double standard being perpetuated today are sweetheart deals for the rich, powerful, and well-connected. While everyday Americans are left unprotected, unprotected against high costs, illnesses, hunger, scams, and many other harms.
▶ 1:15:10I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill and to join the efforts of getting our country back on the path toward being one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. and I yield back. Thank the gentleman. The gentle lady from Florida, Miss Washington Schulz, is recognized for remarks on the bill.
▶ 1:15:42Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to start by recognizing my friend, ranking member Grace Mang for her first presentation as a cardinal of a piece of legislation being marked up in the appropriations committee. Uh it's a long time coming and welld deserved. Colleagues, we are on our last markup for fiscal year 2026, and I held out hope that we could end on a high note.
▶ 1:16:07But after reviewing the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill, it's clear we're ending with a bill and a budget request that is not ready for prime time. The cuts the president proposes are outrageous and this bill attempts to codify them.
▶ 1:16:22Starting with the deeply disturbing cuts to programs that protect women and girls and more cuts to programs that combat and investigate hate crimes, including After we've all spent days talking about Jeffrey Epstein's victims, this bill shamefully guts or kills programs that could help women like them. To name a few, the Violence Against Women Act grants cut. The Rape Survivor Custody Act formula grants underfunded.
▶ 1:16:50The missing and exploited children programs once again underfunded. Legal services for victims cut. Protecting funding for sexual for the sexual assault victims hotline denied. One minute my Republican colleagues pledged to do all they can to help victims and then this bill leaves them out in the cold. to somehow top that hypocrisy, I've listened to my colleagues endlessly pledge their dedication to fighting anti-semitism in the United States.
▶ 1:17:18And while I'd like to believe that most of my colleagues mean it, this bill does not put their money where their mouths are to fight anti-semitism in a real way. In the words of Cuba Gooding Jr., show me the money. This bill actually eliminates the DOJ's hate crimerevention accounts, including the Shephard Bird Hate Crime Prevention Act grants. Not a cut, not a limit on the department. This bill gets rid of it, gone.
▶ 1:17:47And community approaches to advancing justice grants, they are totally zapped out of this bill, too. Even the US Commission on Civil Rights, which I mentioned yesterday, is engaged, which is engaged in a year-long investigation into surging campus anti-semitism directed by Congress, gets cut. Instead of tackling the problem, this bill acts as if it's all been solved, shamefully jeopardizing their vital work.
▶ 1:18:12So, if your pledge of support for the Jewish community truly meant anything, please work with me and all of us, either here or in conference, to protect and fund these vital programs. If the House is on fire, this bill just lets the administration turn off the water. The scourge of anti-semitism and hate won't stop because we want it to. We must all fight it online, in our schools, in workplaces, and throughout our communities.
▶ 1:18:39And finally, as people in Florida and everywhere demand we work to make life more affordable, this bill just looks away. The Trump tax on everyday goods squeezes our families finances with unpredictable erratic tariffs. And allegedly, all this pain is meant to revive manufacturing at home. But the US economy has lost manufacturing jobs for four straight months, 12,000 and counting. Trump taxes are the reason.
▶ 1:19:05And under this bill, the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership goes underfunded, while Trump's budget would simply burn the program to the ground. Even the Economic Development Administration that's charged with revitalizing communities is slashed by almost $150 million. And I'll talk more about this later today, but as a Flidian, it's deeply disturbing that Noah and hurricane programs throughout the Commerce Department are being cut and live under a constant threat from this administration.
▶ 1:19:34On a final, more positive note, I'm relieved the chairman included more funding for NASA's budget than the president's pathetic budget request. And with all due respect to my colleagues, some of whom have sent letters of support, if the NASA headquarters moves anywhere, it's coming home to Florida, home of the one true Space Coast. Mr.
▶ 1:19:54Chairman, I'm a show me person, not a tell me person, and I'm not much of a poker player, but the tell in this bill shows me that Republicans cannot really be counted on when it comes to fighting and keeping Jews safe. I'm willing to work and committed to working with anyone to fix the issues in this bill, but for now, I urge my colleagues to vote no, and I yield back. Thank gentle lady.
▶ 1:20:25The gentle lady from Maine, Miss Pengri's recognized for remarks about the bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, I'm going to join the chorus of many of my colleagues who say unfortunately I cannot support this bill, but I do want to congratulate Miss Ming on her first markup and thank Chairman Rogers and others who've done the work on this bill. Uh, it just doesn't end up with a very good result. Uh we've already heard a lot about the bad things in this bill and I appreciate one of my colleagues who said uh let's face the facts.
▶ 1:20:55This defunds the police from the party that said it believes in law and order. We have cuts to the FBI, to the ATF, and even worse, cuts to legal services and juvenile justice, cuts to the grants that fight hate crimes and help with community relations, cuts to VAWA grants, Violence Against Women Act. How long have be we been working on this?
▶ 1:21:19And this comes from the administration where the president just recently said things that take place in the home shouldn't be called a crime. They call a little fight with the wife a crime. Now, I just got to tell you, this doesn't come off very well in a state like mine where we're a low crime state, but it's been estimated that about half of our murders are related to domestic violence.
▶ 1:21:44So, how do you feel if you're a child who lost your mother who might have been shot in the home after a little fight that took place in the home? And your own president says that shouldn't even be called a crime. Cuts to domestic violence grants, cuts to violence against women grants. That is a crime and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle should be fighting back against that.
▶ 1:22:09There are horrendous cuts in here to technology and science to the National Science Foundation and NASA all because of this ideological dispute where my colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to pretend the climate crisis isn't real and that anything they cut over there doesn't matter because it's okay not to research the climate crisis and leave these problems to our children and grandchildren. But I want to focus just a little bit on two agencies which have a particularly large impact on my state.
▶ 1:22:38And that's the cuts that are going on to Noah and to the National Weather Service. There are cuts in this bill. There's already been cuts at these agencies. And the Trump administration to purge federal employees have already resulted in Noah losing 600 of their staff and the National Weather Service 57. Noah is our premier environmental intelligence agency. It collects data for public safety, economic development, food and energy security.
▶ 1:23:05If you are a fisherman in the state of Maine, you depend on their assessments. And without them, our fishing industry will not have the survey results it needs and will be locked out. The National Weather Service, of course, issues weather and climate reports and warnings to protect lives and protect our economy. You can't fly a plane without a weather forecast. What are you thinking with the disasters that we're facing?
▶ 1:23:28Whether there are unpredicted floods in Texas or tornadoes or hurricanes, our citizens need to know that our weather service will be there and be adequately staffed and have the resources that they need. A particular concern of mine is the buoys. Now, you may not know, you hear me talk about I have to ride on a ferry and I live in a community where fishermen get up at 4 or 5:00 in the morning. They need to know what the weather is going to be and the buoys, the weather buoys are a critical source of that. I thought you'd be interested.
▶ 1:23:58So, I just looked up this morning the West Panobscot Bay buoy. Now, it's telling you that the wind is northnortheast out of um out of the northnortheast with 7.8 knots, wind gusts up to nine. Now, if you're a fisherman, you say, "Well, that's not too bad. That doesn't look too windy." But northnortheast means it could be some bad weather coming in and you might want to give that a little thought. Gives you the water temperature, the air temperature, 55. If you were coming to Maine today, you'd all have to put on your down coats because it's a little bit cool out there on the water and probably getting cooler based on the weather prediction.
▶ 1:24:29Our buoys used to be serviced annual. Then they went down to three years. Now they don't get serviced until they're broken. So that means you got to wait for somebody to come in and fix it. A buoy might be out for a long time. Well, that's critical information for a fisherman or someone who has to travel on the water as we all do in my area every day. Now, if we don't invest in these things, forecasting the weather, data collection, we will fall behind. About 400 Americans currently die because of extreme weather disasters every year.
▶ 1:24:59And we all know they're getting worse. This isn't a problem unique to me. It doesn't matter if you live in Texas or California or anywhere across the country. You need to know that this bill is horrendously underfunded. It does not fight back against the cuts that have been already made by Doge and deeply damaging these agencies. It leaves us behind in the science war. It just does not give us the resources that we need to protect our communities and make sure that we're adequately protected in the future.
▶ 1:25:29I um oppose this bill and I urge my colleagues to do the same and I yield Thank gentle lady. The uh chair recognizes gentle lady from New Jersey, Miss Watson Coleman, for remarks on the Morning and thank you, chairman and ranking member. I rise today in opposition to this bill because it will make Americans less safe.
▶ 1:25:54It will make us less safe from crime, less safe from terrorism, less safe from abuse, and less safe even from severe storms. It is a recipe for American vulnerability.
▶ 1:26:10To start, this bill cuts funding for the FBI by $370 million, which would force the bureau to lay off thousands of agents, analysts, and investigators who monitor ongoing threats to our national security. It cuts funding to the ATF by $420 forcing this agency to eliminate more than a thousand positions across their workforce.
▶ 1:26:39That's a thousand fewer people tracking down illegal arms dealers, gun smugglers, and international criminals. This bill also cuts funding for the DOJ's Office of Inspector General by $42 million. As my colleagues are aware, the inspector general is an internal watchdog. They make sure nobody within DOJ is abusing their power or breaking the law.
▶ 1:27:09So, we know they're very busy right now. I can't imagine why this administration would want to defund that particular office. Even as communities across the country continue to recover from severe wa weather events, this bill cuts funding to Noah by $390 million.
▶ 1:27:33Noah conducts climate monitoring and research, carries out coastal restoration, tracks severe storms like hurricanes, and distributes information to the public so we can keep our family safe. As these catastrophes become more common as a result of climate change, we should be increasing resources for Noah, not taking them away.
▶ 1:27:59As if making America more vulnerable to storms, to criminals, to terrorists, and to corruptions were not enough, this bill keeps on cutting. It takes $73 million from violence against women act grants, reducing resources that help victims of domestic violence escape their abusers, secure justice for themselves, and begin to rebuild their lives.
▶ 1:28:26It also slashes funding for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by $20 million and the US Commission on Civil Rights by $1 million, allow hollowing out key provisions of the Civil Rights Act and clearing the way for discrimination and abuse in the workplace and beyond.
▶ 1:28:49So lastly, this bill cuts $20 million from Legal Services Corporation, which provides a legal assistance for victims of abuse and other issues who otherwise could not afford an uh legal representation.
▶ 1:29:07If you're a victim of domestic violence, you can't afford a lawyer to get the justice that you deserve, or if you've been wrongly and wrongfully evicted from your home, or if you've lost everything in a storm and the insurance company is giving you the runaround, then the LC LSC is there to fight for you. It's an office that exists to stand up for vulnerable people.
▶ 1:29:37Its mission is to fundamentally protect Americans. Its job is indeed to protect people. I But that is at odds with what seems to be the goal of this legislation we are considering today, which is to make us less safe and less secure.
▶ 1:29:59I encourage my colleagues to oppose this bill in its current form and make necessary changes to prevent our country from national from natural disasters, from crime and for terrorism, all of which can be avoided. And I thank you and I yield Thank the gentle lady. The gentleman from Hawaii, Mr. Case is recognized for remarks about the bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
▶ 1:30:28I uh first want to echo my colleagues um comments of appreciation for both the chair and the ranking member of the subcommittee for your uh obviously well-meaning efforts on this bill. I also adopt and embrace uh my Democratic colleagues concerns uh with a wide range of uh areas of this bill which unfortunately are seriously deficient.
▶ 1:30:51Um the comments of my two colleagues just preceding from Maine and New Jersey on uh for example the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reductions are particularly resonant um because you could have just uh as easily taken your comments on Maine and translated them to the Pacific. Even though our waters are warmer uh we have the same basic issues and for Hawaii having uh just dodged two bullets uh in the last um six weeks.
▶ 1:31:17uh one a tsunami which could have done major harm which we had the ability to detect early and to adjust to versus uh being basically blinded in terms of what was out there as well as the hurricane that just avoided Hawaii. Uh Noah's efforts and those of other federal agencies are really critical uh and any reductions are pennywise and pound foolish uh and would come back to haunt us at the end of the day.
▶ 1:31:43I do want though to focus on a fairly discreet and innocuous issue that nonetheless stands for a much broader principle that we have debated through every single one of our 12 uh bills uh this year and that is the proper role of Congress in the discharge of our article one powers not just of Congress but of this committee because our article one powers in this committee uh involve legislating funding and overseeing and if we are not able
▶ 1:32:13to do all of those in an independent objective way exercising our own judgment then we are seeding our authority and we've seen many many uh debates along these lines and here's one very very small example but one example of what can go wrong the Bureau of Prisons the Federal Bureau of Prisons operates of course prisons and detention centers throughout our country um they house uh some of our most hardened federal criminals and they also have detention facilities including one in Honolulu,
▶ 1:32:43which is a federal detention center, Honolulu, uh, which has close to a thousand beds, um, FDC Honolulu usually operates with some surplus. And so obviously other federal agencies are interested in utilizing um that detention center when they need them for their own purposes aside from the Bureau of Prisons.
▶ 1:33:02Um and these um other agencies that are interested including uh include the Immigration and Customs Enforcement uh which routinely uses it for things like holding uh folks uh pending deportation overseas or for adjudication. It's not an unusual use of of the federal detention center.
▶ 1:33:21Um, I received a very innocuous um, uh, email in June from from uh, Bureau of Prisons basically alerting me to the fact that quote unquote BOP will update its inter agency agreement with the US Immigration Customs Enforcement to house its detainees in additional BOP facilities including FDC Honolulu. Um, I of course um, asked the question back to them. Okay, fine. I understand that. I want to know a little bit more about it for a couple of different reasons. First of all, what are you using my detention center for?
▶ 1:33:51Quote unquote mine. How does it imp in influence uh my employees who work in that center? How are you going to segregate uh the units because ICE detainees are different from BOP detainees and another number of other issues. Ask for a copy of the inter agency agreement.
▶ 1:34:07asked them to update me on exactly how much use of FDC Honolulu was going to be provided to ICE and um what kind of adequate security staffing equipment and detainee health and safety was going to be assured perfectly routine oversight questions for any member of Congress, any party under any time. That's what any one of us would ask under these circumstances.
▶ 1:34:30And I received back a very surprising uh email from BOP which said um hope this finds you well. Appreciate that. Uh the uh inter agency agreement is a law enforcement insensitive and so I'm unable to share it.
▶ 1:34:46a federal agency telling a member of Congress that a document that memorializes an agreement between two agencies that directly is directly relevant to my district and to the operations of this committee is denied to me. Now, that's not acceptable and despite the fact that we asked for it a couple more times and asked for an update on what's going on, radio silence.
▶ 1:35:10Thus this committee involved and I appreciate the inclusion in the manager's amendment of a mandate that in fact an inter agency agreement a relatively innocuous agreement which I highly doubt uh reaches the highest levels of national security should be produced to this committee and to me.
▶ 1:35:29So appreciate inclusion in the manager's amendment, but our responsibilities include oversight and we have the right to ask for this information and when it is denied to us, we are denied the ability to do our job. So we should not let this mentality take hold in this committee or otherwise that somehow federal agencies can restrict information to us in the discharge of our oversight duties. With that, thank you again for the inclusion. I yield Thank the gentlemen.
▶ 1:35:59The gentle lady from Illinois, Miss Underwood, is recognized for remarks on the bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Hello. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise today in strong opposition to the bill. Once again, House Republicans have written a bill that doubles down on the Trump administration's failed policies that are already hurting families we represent. It cuts critical resources for children and families.
▶ 1:36:27It guts investments in science and economic development. And it makes our communities less safe. Yet again, that is not fiscally responsible. It's just reckless. One of the most glaring problems with this bill is the deep cuts that it grants under the Violence Against Women Act. These grants are essential resources for rape crisis centers and support services for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
▶ 1:36:55The Trump administration has already created chaos by freezing grants from the Office of Violence Against Women. And now, House Republicans are piling on by slashing funding in this bill. And at the same time, the federal government has yet to release the full records on Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and associates. Survivors deserve answers and Congress should be demanding accountability, not cutting the very programs that protect women and children.
▶ 1:37:23I have heard from organizations in my district that provide desperately needed assistance and resources for survivors, and they have warned that if these cuts are finalized, they will face severe operational challenges and be unable to meet the needs of my constituents. I would urge my colleagues to check on the organizations in their own districts to learn more about how these cuts would endanger their constituents, too.
▶ 1:37:50We have all heard a lot from House Republicans this year about their alleged concern for women's safety as long as it can serve as an excuse to limit our right to control our bodies or to attack transgender people. But when it comes to funding these life-saving programs that actually prevent and respond to violence against women, it's clear that women's safety is not a real priority.
▶ 1:38:17This bill also strips funding away from community violence intervention and prevention grants. It zeros out support for hate crime prevention and it slashes the antirust division, making it easier for corporate monopolies to steamroll workers and small businesses. This bill also advances a deeply dangerous anti-science agenda.
▶ 1:38:43It slashes funding for STEM education programs at NASA and the National Science Foundation, jeopardizing the training and development of thousands of undergraduate, graduate, and post-doal researchers at institutions like Northern Illinois University in my district. That puts our future workforce, particularly students from underserved communities, at risks. These programs are the foundation of our economic competitiveness and national security.
▶ 1:39:12And when we slash science, we surrender our global leadership to our And at Noah, the National Weather Service is already struggling with short staffing and broken equipment after the Trump administration's dangerous Doge layoffs. But instead of investing in the tools that help forecast hurricanes, wildfires, and floods, this bill doubles down on the damage by cutting Noah by hundreds of millions of dollars. Once again, that's not fiscally responsible.
▶ 1:39:42It's just reckless. I urge my colleagues to reject this dangerous bill, this dangerous bill, and I yield back. Thank gentle lady. Gentleman from New York. Mr. Morelli is recognized for comments on the bill. Thank you, uh, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 1:40:05And I want to as well as a member of the uh the CJS subcommittee uh offer my thanks to Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Mang for their hard work and for um the uh privilege of being able to serve with them and thank them for the leadership. But I do rise today uh and echoing much of what my colleagues have said with deep concern over the measure before us and regrettably I must urge um opposition of the legislation before us.
▶ 1:40:34There's not enough time in the day to actually go through all the deeply problematic provisions in the bill, but I would like to mention a few in my uh the few minutes I've got allotted here. First, this bill proposes 143.5 million cut to the economic development administration. A move that would severely undermine regional economic growth, weaken local manufacturing ecosystems, and stifle job creation. And these are not just abstract numbers.
▶ 1:41:01uh they are lost opportunities for communities such as mine in Rochester, New York. When we shortch change investment at home, we hand our global competitors, particularly the Chinese government, an advantage, which they will uh certainly seize. The bill slashes $2 billion from the National Science Foundation, threatening the very foundation of American innovation.
▶ 1:41:23This cut will decimate research grants, STEM training, and discourage early career scientists and delay the breakthroughs that fuel our future uh industries. If we fail to invest in the next generation of scientists, we risk losing our edge in a fiercely competitive global economy. And that's a theme that is recurring uh throughout uh this bill. The $ 1.3 billion cut to NASA's science mission directorate is no less alarming.
▶ 1:41:52These reductions will delay key scientific missions, disrupt our high-tech workforce, and seed American leadership in space exploration, particularly again to the Chinese government. They also jeopardize critical efforts in climate monitoring, planetary defense, and the development of cutting edge technologies that bolster our economy. Adding to this instability is the fact that NASA currently lacks a Senate confirmed administrator. at a moment of intensifying international competition.
▶ 1:42:21This absence of steady leadership places high stakes programs at greater risk. And sadly, during our appropriations hearings, we did not hear from NASA to present its argument for its appropriations. Compounding these concerns are troubling cuts made to key public safety initiatives. Critical law enforcement agencies like the ATF and FBI are being asked to do more with much less.
▶ 1:42:43The FBI's budget is cut by an astonishing $368 million and the ATF is cut by $418 million. During a time when my colleagues on the other side of the aisle repeatedly claim to care about public safety, there is no question these cuts undermine our ability to enforce gun laws, investigate violent crime, and protect our communities.
▶ 1:43:07And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention a few of the egregious policy writers included in the included in the bill like preventing the ATF from regulating ghost guns which have flooded into states like New York from states without strong laws and weaken ATF's ability to combat firearms trafficking. America is a wash with gun violence.
▶ 1:43:26And instead of allowing ATF to use its lawful authority to issue regulations to prevent gun crime, which Congress has authorized them to do, the majority is on tent on intent on preventing them from using any money to carry out the mission. Lastly, while the Department of Justice received an overall 1% increase in funding, I rise with serious concerns about how this funding is being stewarded.
▶ 1:43:48In addition to outrageous actions like destroying the department's voting rights section, which works to in in enforce the voting rights act and the public integrity section, which literally investigates political corruption, a disturbing pattern has emerged at the Justice Department. Since the president's return to the White House, over 330 lawsuits have been filed against his administration.
▶ 1:44:1135% of those cases where courts have issued substantive rulings, DOJ attorneys have been accused of outright defiance, ignoring court orders, falsifying information, withholding evidence, and quietly circumventing judicial oversight. It is disgraceful. The president is unilaterally dismantling the independence of the DOJ.
▶ 1:44:32From hiring his own criminal defense attorneys as top legal officers to using the top federal law enforcement agency as a tool for political retribution, the president is treating the DOJ as his own personal law firm, shifting the mission of the Department of Justice from serving the American people to serving just one individual. As appropriators, we wield the power of the purse.
▶ 1:44:54It is not only our right but our responsibility to ensure federal funds are used not to subvert the judiciary or undermine democratic institutions. So in good conscience I cannot pretend like this is business as usual. My foundational pillars of the rule of law are under siege from within. Uh I urge defeat of the bill and I yield back. Thank gentlemen. The gentle lady from Pennsylvania, Miss Dean, is recognized for remarks on the bill.
▶ 1:45:25I thank you, Chairman Cole, Ranking Member Deloro, Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Mang. Uh I rise today in opposition to this important bill uh the Commerce, Justice, and Science Bill. I'm honored to serve on the Cub uh on the subcommittee on behalf of women, children, immigrants, LGBTQ plus community, workers, educators, families, everyday Americans who are struggling to afford groceries, rent, and medicine.
▶ 1:45:55I rise in support of science, justice, democracy, and the rule of law. To be clear, this bill defunds law enforcement and makes America less safe. It slashes funding to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, ATF, by $418 million. If passed, these cuts would force ATF to cut its workforce by more than 1,500 workers.
▶ 1:46:26That's out of and I I think a lot of people wouldn't understand this or wouldn't think about it. ATF is only about 5,100 members employees. So if we cut 1,500 positions because they're forced to by taking nearly a half a billion dollars uh excuse me uh a half a billion dollars from them that would be uh a loss of 186 agents. And remember ATF is tasked with helping combat violent crime.
▶ 1:46:56186 agents off the streets. ATF is the primary federal law enforcement agency tasked with addressing violent crime and its partnerships with state and local agencies are essential to preventing preventing and to solving shootings. Crimes are inherently more violent when a firearm is involved and ATF makes America safer by helping local law enforcement keep illegal guns off the street.
▶ 1:47:25Federal and state local law enforcement agencies and officers across the United States rely heavily on ATF to prevent illegal gun trafficking and to combat crime. Local law enforcement agencies also heavily rely on ATF's gun tracing programs to not only solve individual gun crimes, but to also uncover and disrupt larger firearm trafficking networks that threaten community safety.
▶ 1:47:51These cuts to ATF threaten public safety and make it easier for criminals to get guns. This bill also slashes funding for the FBI to the FBI by $368 million, which would effectively force FBI to reduce its current workforce by thousands of positions. And then there's the cut to state and local law enforcement, which I was so disheartened to see.
▶ 1:48:16The bill cuts Violence Against Women Act grants by $73 million, juvenile justice grants by $ 48 million, and completely eliminates other local law enforcement grants such as this is eliminating community violence intervention and prevention grants, hate crime prevention grants, and juvenile delinquency prevention grants. Funding that the local law enforcement relies upon to combat crime.
▶ 1:48:45Simply put, this bill, the Republican majorities bill, defunds law enforcement, makes it easier for criminals to get guns, and makes us less safe. I'll be offering amendments today to support local law enforcement, and to make Americans safer. But I cannot vote for this bill as written, and I rise today to voice my opposition.
▶ 1:49:07I yield Seeing no other members wishing to make opening remarks, I would like to recognize Chairman Rogers to offer a manager's amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have an amendment at the desk.
▶ 1:49:34I would also ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with and the gentleman, Chairman Rogers, is Mr. Chairman, this manager's amendment contains technical and non-controversial to bill and report language agreed to by both sides of the aisle.
▶ 1:50:06That's it. Okay. A gentle lady from New York, Miss Ming, is recognized uh to deliver remarks on the manager's I rise in support of the chairman's amendment. This amendment accommodates changes from both sides of the aisle and makes a number of technical corrections. I ask my colleagues to please support this amendment and I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. The gentleman from Texas, Mr.
▶ 1:50:34Quayar is recognized to for comments on the manager's amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank chairman Rogers and the ranking women, Miss Many also for this amendment. I support it. Also, in particular, I want to thank uh both the chairman and the ranking member for adding a provision uh that lead talks about early detection and warning for severe weather and flooding events.
▶ 1:50:57in particular uh something that would help and would have helped uh there in the Hill Country in Texas, the floods that we had where we lost a lot of kids there in the Mystic Camp. I went to go visit uh that camp and and again if we would have had some of the warning uh that we had, we would have prevented the issues that we had.
▶ 1:51:16When you talk to the first responders, they took me around and they were, you know, you they would tell me they would find people 30, 40 feet up in the trees. That tells you how high this um situation was in in central Texas. Uh communities uh across the country, in particular in rural areas like the Hill Country, Texas, have faced devastating floods, not once, but just recently also uh more than once.
▶ 1:51:45Too often outdated hydraulic models and data leaves fa families with little time to prepare and uh worsening both property damage and the loss of life. By directing Noah to strengthen real time flood detection, improve modeling, launch pilot programs uh to high risk uh rural areas. This language will ensure that small towns and rural areas uh floodprone communities are not left behind.
▶ 1:52:12Uh those efforts will give the local emergency managers better tools, improve coordination with community stakeholders, and ultimately save lives uh when the next storm or flood arrives. This common sense proactive steps step investing in better detection and warning systems will reduce the cost of recovery later while giving families the time they need to protect uh themselves uh and their families like we saw in the Hill Country.
▶ 1:52:42Uh so again, Chairman Rogers, thank you so much. Ranking member Ming, thank you so much and I thank you for adding this uh amendment. Thank you. Thank the gentleman. The gentle lady from the state of Washington, Miss Perez, is recognized for remarks on the manager's amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um I was talking I had a round table at a uh with some corrections officers and learned that their life expectancy is only 58 years old.
▶ 1:53:0958 years old for average life expectancy of a corrections officer. They have a suicide rate seven times higher than other law enforcement. Um, and when I talked to these folks, I said, you know, I these officers like, how can I how what what can I do? How can I help you? And they kept telling me what they really need.
▶ 1:53:27Um, but one of them told me, you know, whether or not I can give a detainee a roll of toilet paper is going to determine whether that detainee sees me as an adversary for the rest of the time that they are in detention. Whether or not I can give them toilet paper means the difference between whether or not I'm going to get maybe assaulted, um, ejaculated on.
▶ 1:53:50And so what they're asking for is more agency to do the job that that they are called to. And so I'm very encouraged by the inclusion and the managers amendment. Not only recognition of the mental health crisis they're facing, but also an investigation of um what what strategies what what latitudes do they need to be able to have agency in their life in their work.
▶ 1:54:15Um, and um, you know, when I looked around at what was available, what I could help with, I found many avenues to fund a chatbot for suicide prevention. Um, but our chapencies receive no support. They're not often considered eligible. Why are we funding a chatbot to talk somebody out of suicide when they don't even want the chatbot, but not supporting the chapency programs that are saving lives?
▶ 1:54:44these people see some of the worst things in the world and they and they counsel, you know, these officers um afterwards. And so we have to meet people where they're at. We can't presume a technocratic um solution to everything. And I also just wanted to um share with the committee u my appreciation of the inclusion on um removal strategies of sea lions. If if you don't know, a sealine is not a sea line is not a seal. It is the size of a corolla.
▶ 1:55:15It is 11 feet long. They're massive. Um here's a seal. Here's a sea lion. These are um murderous and they are decimating salmon runs. Um and the current removal strategies are not sufficient for them to be able to exercise all of their permits. So I'm very excited by the inclusion of that and the the forward progress we can have to have more effective removal strategies. With that, I yield back. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, gentle lady.
▶ 1:55:41Do any other members seek recognition to speak on the Seeing none, I recognize Chairman Rogers for one minute to close in favor. One minute to close that it that's it. Question is on the amendment. All those in favor say I.
▶ 1:56:13All those opposed say no. The opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the amendment is adopted. I now recognize Chairman Rogers to offer a Republican onblock amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have an amendment at the desk.
▶ 1:56:43Rogers amendment number two. I would ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading of the amendment. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with and Chairman Rogers is recognized. Mr. Chairman, this amendment includes important additional provisions associated with FBI counterterrorism, opioid and fentinel detection, as well as information sharing.
▶ 1:57:13These are important updates that will enhance the fiscal 26 commerce, justice, science, and related agencies bill. I would like to thank my Republican for working on these additional items and I urge the adoption of the amendment. I yield back. Thank gentlemen. Ranking member Ming is recognized for response to the Republican onblock amendment. I rise in opposition to this amendment.
▶ 1:57:41Unfortunately, it adds to the list of controversial provisions that will move us further away from the bipartisan compromise that will be required to get this bill done on behalf of the American people. For example, this amendment includes even more gun riders that don't belong in this bill on top of those already in the base bill. I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment. Thank you.
▶ 1:58:06Do any other members seek recognition to speak on the onblock Seeing none, I recognize Chairman Rogers for one minute to close. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I ask for favorable consideration of this amendment and I yield back. The question is on the amendment. All those in favor say I.
▶ 1:58:36All those opposed say no. No. The opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the amendment is adopted. Chair now recognizes the gentle lady from Connecticut, Miss Laura, for an Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have an amendment at the desk and I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.
▶ 1:59:05Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with. The gentle lady is recognized for remarks on her I rise to offer this amendment to protect the American people who support our law enforcement officers and expect the Congress to do the same.
▶ 1:59:21The Federal Bureau of Investigation, which performs vital law enforcement duties ranging from financial crimes to combating drug cartels and keeping Americans safe from terrorism, used to be a bipartisan priority for this committee.
▶ 1:59:38Just to choose a few high-profile examples from the last year, the FBI has saved over victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud, totaling nearly $400 million, arrested top leaders of the Sinaloa drug cartel for their role in leading the drug trafficking enterprise, and stopped domestic terror attacks, including plots to target polling centers during the last election
▶ 2:00:08and domestic terrorist plans to destroy an energy facility near Nashville. There is no question that the FBI responds to real and pressing threats every day. And yet, this majority has proposed cutting the FBI by more than half a billion dollars, defunding this vital law enforcement agency, and taking federal agents away from critical cases that affect Americans savings, communities, and their very lives.
▶ 2:00:38It is impossible to see this cut as anything other than political revenge for the FBI's role in investigating President Trump. This is how democracies die. When certain individuals and groups are seen to be above the law and when those in power dismantle the ability of law enforcement to hold them accountable. And remember how Republicans howled for years about how Democrats were trying to defund the police.
▶ 2:01:06Imagine our surprise when this majority promptly attempts a devastating cut to our nation's premier law enforcement agency, defunding law enforcement. This amendment restores a funding level that the FBI's director Kosh Patel told the CJS subcommittee would be needed to avoid further FBI staffing losses. Director Patel told us and I quote, "We need more than what has been proposed.
▶ 2:01:34And if I can just uh the the exchange the proposed budget that I put forward this is Patel is to cover us for 11.1 billion which would not have us cut any positions. In fact OM recommended $10.1 billion. Uh and and in a direct question to him I said okay what do you need? Do you need 11.1 billion? He says approximately. I said what what would happen?
▶ 2:02:02So would there be no additional positions deleted from the FBI if you get that amount of money? He said that is correct. However, we have seen a loss of of of of FBI personnel in 2025 and 2026. And it seems that um uh Cash Patel and Russ vote are are were in contradiction of one another. Um and this is President Trump's handpicked director of the FBI confirmed on a strictly partisan basis.
▶ 2:02:29If there was anyone who would be listening to him, you would think it would be this majority whose only question the president says jump is how high. Russ vote may believe that OM can control uh the funding for every government agency. But director Patel evidently feels differently. He sees what we all see. This funding request is insufficient for federal law enforcement officers to be able to do their job.
▶ 2:03:00And you know, I applaud his courage in this singular matter. I have a feeling he was taken to the woodshed, but at least he fessed up and spoke directly to us at the CJS hearing. I look forward to hearing their support, my colleague support for Director Patel and for our brave law enforcement officers by adopting this amendment. I am proud to propose this amendment and I urge my colleagues to support it as well. Thank you and I yield back.
▶ 2:03:30Thank the gentle lady. The uh chairman of the subcommittee, Chairman Rogers is recognized to respond to the amendment. This amend this amendment would increase the funding level of the FBI which is funded in this bill at approximately 10.1 billion.
▶ 2:03:51While Director Patel has quickly reformed the FBI after four years of mismanagement, the FBI's salaries and expenses account all is directly tied to the committee's defense Therefore, any increase in the FBI salaries and expenses account would violate the committee's allocation levels.
▶ 2:04:19For that reason, I oppose the amendment and urge my colleagues to do the same, and I yield back. Thank the gentlemen. The gentle lady from New York, Miss Ming, is recognized to address the amendment. I rise in strong support of ranking member Deloro's amendment. The FBI has long been a valuable resource to our state and local law enforcement agencies, helping them prevent and solve serious violent crimes.
▶ 2:04:46Yet, the bill before us today cuts the FBI by more than half a billion dollars below the current level, which would force the FBI to cut its workforce by thousands of positions. This is not a controversial amendment. It merely provides the FBI with the level of resources that FBI Director Cash Patel himself told us is necessary to avoid further reductions in the FBI's workforce.
▶ 2:05:11The FBI's special agents, analysts, and other professional and support staff perform invaluable work at the FBI's headquarters, field offices, resident agencies, overseas offices, and other critical facilities. They protect the American people not just from violent crime in their local communities, but from cyber attacks and other threats coming from adversaries outside of the US.
▶ 2:05:36I urge adoption of the amendment to ensure we are providing our law enforcement with the support they need and I yield back. Thank uh gentle lady. Are there other members wishing to address the amendment? Gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Ivy is recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. and I rise in strong support of the amendment.
▶ 2:05:56Uh I too was at the hearing where uh director Patel um actually told us that he not only u needed additional money and to maintain the uh level of agents that he had but he wanted additional agents. I if I recall it's like a 1300 or something along those lines. So um he spoke uh very strongly in terms of the need for additional resources.
▶ 2:06:19Uh, and as a former prosecutor who had a chance to work with the FBI, and I did criminal defense work against uh the FBI in those cases, too, I know that it's an it it had been anyway an outstanding investigative office that was doing great work. Unfortunately, there have been a lot of attacks against the FBI during um this current administration. I know senior FBI agents were sumearily removed. Some were uh punished and demoted. Uh some were forced to retire.
▶ 2:06:48Uh, and I think apparently that is in connection to their involvement with respect to the prosecution of January 6 cases and or investigations with respect to now President Trump. That's not the way this is supposed to work. Law enforcement agents just like career prosecutors should not be punished for the work that they do. Uh, in fact, they should be commended for the work that they do u because they had done outstanding work in those cases.
▶ 2:07:14But on this particular issue with respect to the um the additional uh funding for salaries, I I would note this. Um we just heard a few weeks ago that the FBI is actually going to lower the standards for hiring FBI agents. And that apparently is because they're having trouble uh attracting and retaining FBI agents given the turmoil that's going on over there.
▶ 2:07:37But by contrast, the Trump administration in an effort to attract more ICE agents uh faster and faster uh for I think um the type of work that can be less consequential than what the FBI does, especially with respect to the investigations and prosecutions of cartels and gangs here in the United States. Um they're offering new ICE recruits $50,000 signing bonuses.
▶ 2:08:04So, you know, let's get our priorities straight here. And and you can't tell us it's about the money because he found the $50,000 per agent. We don't even know what the the maximum amount of that's going to be. Pulled it out of nowhere in order to find the money to hire more ICE agents off the top of his head. And the last point I'll make on this too is with respect to law um the militarization of Washington DC. I won't go into the particulars of that, just the money.
▶ 2:08:34$1 million a day. $1 million a day out of the blue. No particular appropriation designated for that kind of expenditure, especially since it's probably illegal. Uh but, you know, we can find the money when we want to do it. The Trump administration does it on a routine basis. We really ought to do it here. And you cannot tell me that we don't need the number of FBI agents that we have.
▶ 2:09:00Allowing this kind of reduction and cut to the FBI at this critical makes absolutely no sense. Especially since the FBI, we talked a little bit about the cartels and the gangs, but but think about the uh the impact from the standpoint of of u uh national international uh espionage that takes place. We rely on the FBI to help us address those kinds of concerns with respect to China stealing our top secrets and information from us here in the United States.
▶ 2:09:30Let's not cut those people that keep us safe, not only on the streets every day, but in the sweets as well. So, I certainly support the amendment. U we certainly don't want to be defunding the FBI at this critical time. I uh I think um one of my former colleagues, Mr. Gates was selling t-shirts for defund the FBI. Um, I don't think that's what we want to be advocating right now.
▶ 2:09:54I think we want to stand in support of the FBI, give them the resources that they need because from a law enforcement standpoint and from a national security standpoint, we absolutely need that funding going to them right now more than ever. And with that, I yield back. Thank the gentlemen. Are there other members wishing to address the Seeing none, the gentle lady in his rec from Connecticut is recognized for one minute to close. Thank you very much. Sorry. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 2:10:23I want to thank my colleagues, the uh ranking member and and and and Congressman Ivy, and I I appreciate your background uh in this, which can only help uh to uh broaden the scope of this amendment and give it some some more depth with with your with your experience. I I just think you you confirmed a director of the FBI.
▶ 2:10:47He came before us with real clarity and courage, I might add, and said $10.1 billion is not enough for me to do my job, for me not to be laying off more FBI personnel when we need to be recruiting more and and using the numbers which is a thousand or,300 more with the work that they do.
▶ 2:11:09And we mentioned the cartels was that adding the the uh national and international espionage uh efforts there uh there the u uh domestic terror attacks the broadest base of what the FBI uh encourages. U let me just remind people I think um uh the American people want to be confident that criminals and fraudsters and gangs are being shut down.
▶ 2:11:38They want to know that our communities are safe. They want elected representatives that support the police and law enforcement in the same way uh that that they do. The amendment gives that certainty, gives my Republican colleagues a clear opportunity to support the law enforcement officers that they claim to care so much about. Urgentes support for the amendment. I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. The questions now on the amendment offered by the gentle lady from Connecticut. All those in favor say I.
▶ 2:12:08All those opposed say no. Opinion chair. The nose have it. Roll call has been requested. Sufficient report has been shown and the clerk will call the role. Mr. Adder Holt. Mr. Adder Holt. No. Mr. Aguilar. Mr. Aguilar. I. Mr. Alford. Mr. Ammedday. Mr. Ammedday. No. Mrs. Bice. Mrs. Bice. No. Mr. Bishop.
▶ 2:12:39Mr. Bishop. I Mr. Calvert. Mr. Calbertt. No. Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter. No. Mr. Casease. Mr. Casease. I. Mr. Sisammani. Mr. Sisammani. No. Mr. Klene. Mr. Klene. No. Mr. Cloud. Mr. Klyber. Mr. Klyber. I. Mr. Clyde. Mr. Clyde. No. Mr. Cole. Uh, no Mr. Cole. No, Mr. Quayar.
▶ 2:13:10Mr. Quayar. I Miss Dean. Mr. Deluro. Mr. Loro. I Mr. Diaz Bolard. Mr. Diaz Bolard. No. Mr. Edwards. Mr. Elzie. Mr. Elz. No. Mr. Edwards. Mr. Edwards. No. Miss Escobar. Mr. Espayot Mr. Espayat I Mr.
▶ 2:13:38Flechman Miss Frankle Miss Frankle I Mr. Franklin Mr. Franklin no Mr. Gonzalez Mr. Guest Mr. Guest no Mr. Harter Mr. Harter I Dr. Harris Dr. Harris no Mrs. Henson Mr. Hoyer Mr. Ivy Mr.
▶ 2:14:08Ivy I Mr. Joyce Mr. Joyce No Miss Captor Miss Captor I Mr. Loa Miss Lee Miss Lee I miss Let No Mr. Mr. Lean. Oh, that somebody said I. Okay. Uh, Mr. Lean. Mr. Lean. I Miss Mallaloy. Miss Mallaloy.
▶ 2:14:38No. Miss McCullum. Miss McCullum. I Miss Ming. Miss Ming. I Mr. Molinar. Mr. Molinar. No. Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore. No. Mr. Morelli. Mr. Morelli. I Mr. Morvan. Mr. Morvan. I. Mr. New House. Mr. New House. No. Miss Perez. Miss Perez. I Miss Pingri. Miss Pingri. I Mr. Pokean. Mr. Pokean. I Mr. Quigley.
▶ 2:15:08Mr. Quigley. I Mr. Rashenthaler. Mr. Russianthaler. No. Mr. Rogers. Mr. Rogers. No. Mr. Rutherford. No. Mr. Rutherford. No. Mr. Simpson. Mr. Simpson. No. Mr. Strong. Mr. Strong. No. Mrs. Torres. Mrs. Torres. I Miss Underwood. Miss Underwood. I Mr. Valido. Mr. Valido. No. Miss Wasserman Schultz. Miss Wasserman Schultz. I Mrs. Watson Coleman. Mrs. Watson. Coleman.
▶ 2:15:38I Mr. Wac. Mr. Wac. No. Mr. Zinci. Mr. Zinci. Are there any members members wishing to vote or change our vote? The gentleman from Tennessee. Mr. Flashman, no gentleman from New York. Mr. Loa, no. Gentleman from Missouri. Mr. Alford, no. Gentleman from Texas. Mr. Cloud, no. Gentle lady from Pennsylvania.
▶ 2:16:08Miss Dean. I the gentleman from Maryland. Mr. Hoyer. I Are there other members wishing to be Oh, sorry. Gentle lady from Texas. Miss Escobar I again any other members wishing to vote or change their vote? Seeing none, the clerk will tally.
▶ 2:17:11On this vote, the eyes are 27, the nose are 33. The amendment is not adopted. Gentle lady from New York, Miss Ming, is recognized for the purpose of an Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk and request unanimous consent that the amendment be considered as read. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with and the gentle lady's recognized for remarks on her amendment.
▶ 2:17:35I rise to speak in support of my amendment which would strike section 543 in extreme policy writer that would make Americans less safe. Section 543 would prevent the ATF from regulating ghost guns, which are untraceable firearms that any member of the public can build just from kits or separate pieces. Ghost guns have been used in school and mass shootings, domestic violence, domestic terrorism, and police shootouts.
▶ 2:18:06This policy writer would endanger law enforcement. It would allow anyone to purchase all the pieces needed to easily assemble a gun. And because these guns can't be traced, they make it harder for our police to solve crimes and catch the bad guys. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me to make this common sense change to defend our communities from violent crime and strengthen our law enforcement. And I also want to thank Congressman Espayat for his collaboration.
▶ 2:18:38Thank the gentle lady. Gentleman from Kentucky, Chairman Rogers, is recognized to respond to the amendment. This amendment, Mr. Chairman, seeks to double down on efforts from the Biden administration to push the boundaries of regulating lawful gun ownership.
▶ 2:18:58I cannot support an amendment that validates the ATF's regulatory overreach we witnessed during the prior especially when it involves such hallowed rights enshrined in our constitution. For that reason, I oppose this amendment, urge my colleagues to do the same, and I yield back. Thank the gentleman, the gentle waiting from Connecticut, Mr.
▶ 2:19:27floor is recognized to address the amendment. I rise in support of this amendment which takes it a stand against the continued proliferation of quote ghost guns. I didn't know that ghost guns were um lawful.
▶ 2:19:45I didn't these weapons untraceable firearms without serial They can be assembled from components or kits bought anonymously online and are a major threat to public safety. They can be constructed by anyone with minimal instructions, undermining every state and federal effort to prevent firearms from getting into the wrong hands.
▶ 2:20:12These firearms are uniquely dangerous because they are uniquely difficult to track. Detective Nick Clearly of the Madison, Wisconsin Police Department said, "Mr. Pokeham, we cannot stop the flow of them." This is a quote, "because we do not know where they come from. We've basically just left with a dead end that can shoot bullets." End quote.
▶ 2:20:43And these weapons are becoming more prevalent with every passing year. Between 2016 and 2021, the number of ghost guns recovered by law enforcement agencies across the country increased by over 1,000%. With over 19,000 recovered in 2021 alone, in 2023, ghost guns represented nearly 10% of firearms recovered by the Boston police. Only halfway through 2024, Baltimore police had already recovered 169 ghost guns.
▶ 2:21:13Overall, the ATF received nearly 45,000 reports of suspected ghost guns recovered by law enforcement between January 2016 and December 2021. Of those, 692 involved homicides or attempted homicides. Hundreds of people are being killed by ghost guns. These are not just a theoretical danger. They are being used to kill every day.
▶ 2:21:41It is deeply irresponsible to ban efforts to protect Americans from this dangerous technology which even the current Supreme Court agreed 7 to2. This Supreme Court said 7 to2 that ghost guns could be regulated as firearms under the gun control act.
▶ 2:21:59Congress must act against this growing threat before we see more tragedies like the one in Lake County M Montana this February where a man shot and killed his girlfriend then ambushed a police officer with a militarystyle ghost gun that fired armor pierp piercing ammunition from a highcapacity magazine.
▶ 2:22:19The American people are sick and tired of having their streets flooded with dangerous weapons while their elected representatives stand by and do nothing. Thoughts and prayers are great, but it's about action to help prevent these tragedies that will mean something. Every moment that we delay regulating this dangerous technology is a moment that we put more of our constituents at risk.
▶ 2:22:48I urge my colleagues to support the ranking members amendment and I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. The gentleman from New York, Mr. Espayat recognized to address the amendment. um I'm pleased to join our subcommittee ranking member, Congresswoman Grace Mang, in offering this amendment which strikes section 543.
▶ 2:23:16This section prohibits the ATF from using funds to implement and enforce rules that the last administration issued, which aimed to curb ghost guns. Section 543 is yet another exhibit of my Republican friends putting the interest of the powerful gun lobby over the interests of our communities. The use of ghost guns across the country has been dramatically increasing.
▶ 2:23:44According to ATF, the number of ghost guns recovered and traced by law enforcement went from 1,629 in 2016 to 19,273 in 2021, a more than 1,000% increase.
▶ 2:24:02Without serial numbers or traceable features on the gunframe, slide or other components, tracking weapon movement from sale and thefts is nearly When you go to IKEA or you go to Home Depot and you buy you assemble a dining set.
▶ 2:24:25You roll up your sleeves, get the uh the equipment, and assemble a bed. When you uh get a ghost gun, you assemble a 9 mm gun, a deadly weapon that shows up in the corners of many of our districts on the weekend where young people are shot and killed. That's what happened.
▶ 2:24:53without the ability to trace the gun, often in the hands of someone that should not have the gun. So, this is a a deadly situation and uh the last the the last administration addressed this and we're trying to get it back on track.
▶ 2:25:12Even with tracking capabilities from casting, ghost guns create significant investigatory and safety challenges, especially since most of the ghost guns are are able to be seized or are possessed by, as I said earlier, by persons prohibited from owning a firearm. So, I am proud to uh join the subcommittee ranking member in offering this amendment. I think this is an amendment that will make our streets safer.
▶ 2:25:43It will save lives. We may not have to spend money on the National Guard if we had this amendment as much as we're spending now because the streets will be safer. I know that the local district attorney in my in my district has told me that there is a dramatic increase in recovering uh ghost guns out there that uh land up in the hands very often of very young people, 14, 15 year olds.
▶ 2:26:13They assembled them at home. It's a kit that you get at home and when you come out, you have a 9 mm a weapon of death, and there's no way to track it because it doesn't have a serial number. There's just no way of tracking where it came from, who bought it, etc. So, I join in this amendment uh and I hope that my colleagues could do the same. I yield back, Mr. Chairman. Thank the gentleman.
▶ 2:26:43The gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Ivy, is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh I I appreciate um the concerns of my Republican colleagues with respect to the Second Amendment. Uh and I've heard repeatedly the issue about or the complaint about overreach by the Biden administration. Uh but that's not what happened in this particular regulation. And you don't have to believe Glenn Ivy.
▶ 2:27:12You can actually believe the Supreme Court. In the case of Bondi vandertock, just in March, by a 7-2 majority, the Supreme Court upheld the Biden administration regulation that this language would overturn. Uh, and the author of that was Mr. uh, Justice Gorsuch. All three of the Trump appointees to the Supreme Court upheld the Biden regulation.
▶ 2:27:41I was just as surprised as you all apparently are about that, but it was a pleasant surprise from my perspective. It's for the reasons that we've just discussed a few moments ago. Ghost guns, there's absolutely no reason that they should be legal. They're made for the sole purpose of circumventing investigation, preventing uh the tracing of guns because they don't have serial numbers. They can circumvent background checks because you can just print it out in your house. You don't have to go buy it from a dealer.
▶ 2:28:10They don't have to rely on it being shipped anywhere where it can be u uh crossing state lines because if you've got a 3D printer, you can put it out in your house. And as the Supreme Court pointed out, the assembly is pretty easy. This is probably too small for you to see, but uh in a rare effort by the Supreme Court, they don't usually put photos in their opinions, but Justice Gorsuch thought it was so important to do it here that he did it twice.
▶ 2:28:35And in this one that I'm holding up, there's a little red circles you might not be able to see, but the two guns are uh totally identical. The only difference is the one on the bottom is a ghost gun. And so, the only difference of what had to be made uh or changed for it to be fully assembled was just removing those two parts. he had an additional photograph or set of photographs in his opinion as well illustrating basically the same thing. So look, we've got legislation here in the Congress. Mr.
▶ 2:29:05Espat's one of the sponsors for uh the lead sponsors for a bill uh that would affirm the regulations that have been in place essentially, but they're not even fully necessary uh based on the Supreme Court ruling unless there is an effort by the Congress to circumvent what the Supreme Court said. The Supreme Court upheld the regulation that was uh drafted and published by the Biden administration.
▶ 2:29:32I think the Supreme Court, if you look at their opinion, goes through the rationale behind that and says it was done with good reason. It's clearly grounded well in the Gun Control Act, uh, which was produced 50 years ago, right on the heels of the U. Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy assassinations. The Gun Control Act was was uh passed by the Congress and signed by the president to try and address these exact types of problems that we're facing today.
▶ 2:29:59uh times 10 because even back in 1968, tumultuous year, the stuff that started going on on the streets after that, especially during the crack era, unimaginable at that at those times. And what is, I think, shocking from the standpoint for most Americans, is that Congress would actually try and take steps to legalize these types of firearms being readily available here on the streets of the United States. Makes absolutely no sense.
▶ 2:30:28It totally undermines public safety and there's no rational basis for it. Last point, uh, a court in Baltimore, uh, just I think a week and a half ago, um, found in favor of the plaintiffs who sued one of the, uh, the companies that makes this product, I believe it was Polymer 80, uh, and won a 62 million dollar verdict against them. That's where that community feels about it.
▶ 2:30:54I know the president has been pointing at Baltimore saying they're not doing enough to make their streets safe uh their their streets safe uh safe. This is one of the steps to try and do that. And I hope that we can stand in support of jurisdictions like Baltimore, Washington DC, cities across the country, states that have banned ghost guns, recognizing how dangerous they are and how irrational it is to make them available on our streets, stand with the Supreme Court by a 7 to2 ruling that supported the Biden regulation
▶ 2:31:24and make sure we're doing everything we can to keep the streets safe. And with that, I yield Thank the gentleman. The gentle lady from Pennsylvania's recognized to address the amendment. I I thank you chairman uh and uh I'm so enlightened. Thank you, Representative Ivy, for adding to the conversation.
▶ 2:31:47I was not aware of the Supreme Court uh support in this way uh majority Supreme Court even including illustrations. But that goes to show you that what happened uh when the framers wrote the second amendment uh didn't anticipate ghost guns. As technology changes, deadly technology changes, we have to change. It is upon us in Congress to make sure we do something about it.
▶ 2:32:16And so I want to be really clear in my own uh community, suburban Philadelphia, my local police departments are calling me, are talking to me and telling me that ghost guns are prevalent. Ghost guns are a problem. They are finding them at the scene of a crime. And of course, that's the point of a ghost gun, to not be able to trace it beyond that point. They are as deadly as non- ghost guns, as other weapons. uh and yet they are not traceable.
▶ 2:32:47Therefore, it makes sense that we would have this regulation as upheld by the Supreme Court. The other thing I want to say is read the the language of this. Again, this isn't tearing at the parchment of the second amendment. This is literally this simple statement section. And of course, this uh amendment would strike out this bad language.
▶ 2:33:10None of the funds made available by this or any other act may be used to implement, administer, apply, enforce, carry out, or defend any part of ATF's rule entitled definition of frame or receiver and identification of firearms. That's it. It is not tearing up the Second Amendment.
▶ 2:33:31It is simply saying, "Of course, it is appropriate that we have to update regulations around firearms that are dangerous and deadly in the hands too often of children in our communities. It is appropriate that Congress do this." And why in God's name would we want to say, "Sure, more ghost guns on the street, more crime that we cannot trace." I yield back.
▶ 2:34:01Thank the gentle lady. Uh the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Clyde, is recognized to address the amendment. Mr. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First, you know, the term ghost guns is a terrible term. It's an attempt to try and redefine what are actually privately made firearms. These are firearms that have been legal ever since the entire Second Amendment of the Constitution was written in the 1790s.
▶ 2:34:29I mean, if you if you do not allow privately made firearms, then you eviscerate the Second Amendment of our Constitution because this right of self-defense otherwise because of the Gun Control Act of 1968 would be totally and completely regulated by the federal government. So, we would have a constitutional right, the Second Amendment. All right.
▶ 2:34:56Having to ask permission of the government in order for firearms to be transferred from manufacturers to individuals. And that can never be allowed. We never should have to ask permission of the government in order to exercise an unalienable god-given constitutional right.
▶ 2:35:16So for the folks in this room to say that ghost guns, all right, um are are the term ghost guns, privately made firearms, do not and banning them do does not affect the Second Amendment is simply not true. And then to say that um that uh that they're untraceable, there's all sorts of means to trace firearms today.
▶ 2:35:39You know, you've got um you've got trace tracing by rifling, tracing by firing pin imprint, tracing by imprint on the breach face of a firearm, on the cartridge. Um there are all sorts of ways you don't need a serial number, not for guns involved in crimes. So, I stand against this amendment and I ask all my my colleagues to stand against it as well. Thank you and I yield back. Thank you. I thank the gentleman. The gentleman from Georgia, Mr.
▶ 2:36:08Bishop is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you. Uh I rise in support of this amendment and I'd like to yield my time to the gentleman from Mary Maryland, Mr. Ivy. Gentleman's recognized. Thank you to my colleague. I I just want to be clear about what was just said. uh that's totally contradicted by the Supreme Court even under the new uh version of of of their constitutional interpretation.
▶ 2:36:38So if you go back to Brewer where they changed the rule and said basically the second amendment only applies where there's a historical anticedent to one of the gun regulations. So they were marking these guns back before 1791. you had jurisdictions in the United States that required marks and the court pointed to that and upheld upholding these statutes to allow basic regulation.
▶ 2:37:05And then secondly, um, in all of the cases, the one I just read for from, uh, Vandertock, from Brewer, and, uh, other ones written by Justice Scalia, for example, um, they always say there's room for regulation, reasonable regulation, limited regulation, like background checks to make sure that these weapons are handled in the appropriate way. So, I it's just, I think, incorrect, and I I can't really let that stand.
▶ 2:37:34uh according to the sup to the Supreme Court that Donald Trump put in place. Basically, it's clear that regulations are permitted. It's clear under Vandertock that ghost guns are can be regulated by the regulation that was passed by the Biden administration under the Gun Control Act, which has been upheld over and over and over again. As I said, it's half a century old and it's withtood constitutional challenges over and over and over again.
▶ 2:38:02So, it's clearly incorrect to say that uh ghost guns that that basic gun laws don't apply to ghost guns. And then the last point about the the serial numbers that's the thing. There are no markings on these ghost guns and and and intentionally. So, they send the pieces separately. None of the pieces have markings like the frame for example.
▶ 2:38:26uh and the 9 section 921 of the gun control act talked a little bit about it but the thinking was that we should add the regulation just to be clear and apparently the Supreme Court agreed by a 7 to2 vote with Gorsuch writing the opinion and the only two dissenters were Thomas and Alo. So I think it's very clear the regulation that's in place is constitutional according to the United States Supreme Court just in March.
▶ 2:38:55Um, and I think it makes common sense, frankly, that we should be able to regulate ghost guns. Ghost guns that can't be traced. Ghost guns that are becoming the weapon of choice for criminals across the country. Ghost guns that are being used by terrorists and international organizations to commit these crimes for that exact reason. Let's be reasonable and rational about this and um avoid these setting these limits. I yield back. Reclaiming my time.
▶ 2:39:23This is a good common sense anti-rime prolife amendment. It helps the safety of the American people. I yield back. Are there any other members wishing to address the gentleman from Florida? Mr. Rutherford's recognized to address the Several times here this afternoon, it's been mentioned that ghost guns are not traceable.
▶ 2:39:51That is absolutely false. Ghost guns are traceable and the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, NIBEN, is used to trace those guns and others and also to tie one gun to multiple different uh crimes. So, they are traced through uh all the methods that uh my good friend Mr.
▶ 2:40:20Clyde spoke of earlier, whether it's the uh the bullet, the casing, and the receiver, those are all They are all unique and admissible in court. So, we need to stop saying that these guns are not traceable. They absolutely are traceable not only back to a particular gun but to a series of crimes that they may have been involved in.
▶ 2:40:51I just want to clear that up. Thank Thanks gentlemen. Are there other any other members wishing to address the Seeing none, the gentle lady is recognized for one minute to close. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 2:41:09And I again want to urge my colleagues to help us to prioritize the safety of our law enforcement officers, to prioritize public safety and our constituents from getting hurt over protecting ghost guns, which according to the Supreme Court uh can be constitutionally regulated.
▶ 2:41:35And even if some are traceable, there are at least some that are not. And that's why regulation is needed. And that's why this amendment should be passed. Ghost gun owners should adhere to the Supreme Court decision and follow the same rules as other gun owners. Um I I urge a yes vote on this amendment. Thank you. Thank the gentle lady.
▶ 2:42:03The question is now on the amendment offered by the gentle lady from New York. All those in favor say I. All oppose say no. Opinion chair the nose have it. Roll call. Roll call has been requested. Sufficient support has been shown. The clerk will call the role. Mr. Adhalt. Mr. Adderhalt. No. Mr. Aguilar. Mr. Aguilar. I. Mr. Alford. Mr. Alford. No. Mr. Ammeday. Mr. Ammedday. No. No Mrs. Bice.
▶ 2:42:34Mrs. Bice. No. Mr. Bishop. Mr. Bishop. I Mr. Calbertt. Mr. Calbert. No. Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter. No. Mr. Case. Mr. Casease. I. Mr. Sisammani. Mr. Sisammani. No. Mr. Klene. Mr. Cloud. Mr. Cloud. No. Mr. Klyurn. Mr. Klyurn. I. Mr. Clyde. Mr. Clyde. No. Mr. Cole. No. Mr. Cole. No. Mr. Quayar.
▶ 2:43:02Miss Dean Miss Dean I Mr. Loro Mr. Loro I Mr. Diaz Bolard Mr. Diaz Balard no Mr. Edwards Mr. Edwards no Mr. Elzie Mr. Elzie no Miss Escobar Mr. Espayat Mr. Espayat I Mr. Fleshman Mr. Fleshman no Miss Frankle Miss Frankle I Mr. Franklin Mr. Franklin no Mr. Gonzalez Mr. Gonzalez no Mr. Guest Mr. Guest. No.
▶ 2:43:32Mr. Harter. Mr. Harter. I Dr. Harris. Dr. Harris. No. Mrs. Henson. Mr. Hoyer. Hi. Mr. Hoyer. I. Mr. Ivy. Mr. Ivy. I. Mr. Joyce. Mr. Joyce. No. Miss Captor. Miss Captor. I. Mr. Loa. Mr. Loa. No. Miss Lee. Miss Lee. I. Miss. Let Miss Llo. No. Mr. Leven. Mr. Levan. I. Miss Mallaloy. Miss Mallaloy. No. No, Miss McCullum. Hi.
▶ 2:44:02Miss McCullum. I Miss Ming. Hi. Miss Ming. I Mr. Molinar. Mr. Molinar. No. Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore. No. Mr. Morelli. Mr. Morelli. I Mr. Murvan. Mr. Murvan. I Mr. New House. Miss. Perez. Miss Perez. I Miss Pingri. I Miss Pingri. I Mr. Pokean. Mr. Pokean. I Mr. Quigley. Mr. Quigley. I Mr. Rashinthaler.
▶ 2:44:32Mr. Russianthaler. No. Mr. Rogers. Mr. Rogers. No. Mr. Rutherford. Mr. Rutherford. No. Mr. Simpson. Mr. Simpson. Mr. Simpson. No. Mr. Strong. Mr. Strong. No. Mrs. Torres. Mrs. Torres. I. Miss. Underwood. Miss Underwood. I. Mr. Valido. Mr. Valido. No. Miss Wasserman Schultz.
▶ 2:45:03Mrs. Watson Coleman. Mrs. Watson Coleman. I Mr. Wac Mr. WAC. No. Mr. Zinci. Mr. Zinci. No. Are there any members wishing to record their vote or change their vote? Gentle lady from Texas. Miss Escobar. I. Gentleman from Virginia. Mr. Klene. No. Are there others? A gentle lady from Florida. Miss Werman Schultz.
▶ 2:45:31I Are there others wishing to record their vote or change their vote? Seeing none, the CH clerk will tally.
▶ 2:46:14On this vote, the eyes are 27, the nose are 33. The amendment is not adopted. Gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Clyde is recognized for the purpose of an Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have an amendment at the desk and I ask unanimous consent that the clerk be that the clerk dispense with a reading.
▶ 2:46:39Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with and the gentleman's recognized for remarks on his amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of my amendment that would strike the funding carveout for the campus grant program authorized by the Violence Against Women Act. I want to be clear, this amendment is not about reducing funding for the campus grant program. It is not about reducing funding for stopping violence against women on campus.
▶ 2:47:06In fact, my amendment keeps the grant program funded at exactly the same level. Furthermore, it is not about denying resources to any category of schools. Rather, it is about ensuring that every dollar Congress appropriates is distributed based on need and merit, not by congressional earmark. We should ensure that the Office of Violence Against Women at the Department of Justice is empowered to award funds for the campus grant program where they are needed the most.
▶ 2:47:36By carving out half of the available funds for only 2% of the institutions, we risk denying support to other campuses facing equally urgent violence against women challenges. Every student, whether they attend a large public university, a private college, a community college, or a historically minority serving institution, deserves the same protections and the resources to prevent sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking.
▶ 2:48:04My amendment restores fairness and flexibility to this program so that no campus is excluded from equal consideration. I urge adoption of this amendment so that funding is fairly and equally distributed based on need rather than by predetermined carveout and or earmark. Thank you and I yield back. Thank the gentleman. The gentle lady from New York, Miss Ming, is recognized to respond to the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I oppose this amendment.
▶ 2:48:34This campus program supports historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic serving institutions, and tribal colleges and universities to strengthen their institutional response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus. This program helps give all college students access to critical support services.
▶ 2:48:56Students at these institutions often face unique barriers to reporting and receiving support for domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Many of these schools operate with limited resources compared to larger or wealthier institutions. This grant program helps to close those by making campuses safer and more responsive.
▶ 2:49:23students stay in school, graduate, and thrive, particularly those from historically underrepresented communities. Just to take a look at some statistics, Latina women aged 18 to 24 have a higher prevalence of physical violence, um 29.7%, rape 6.2%, and stalking 6.8% in their lifetime.
▶ 2:49:47Nationally, 45% of black women experience sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking in their We should not roll back the progress that we have made to ensure equal opportunity for all. I urge my colleagues to vote no on this amendment. I yield back.
▶ 2:50:14Uh the chair recognizes the chair of the subcommittee, Mr. Rogers, uh to address the amendment. I urge a yes vote. Are there other members wishing to address the amendment? Seeing none, the gentleman is from Georgia's recognized for one minute to Thank you, Mr.
▶ 2:50:44Chairman. Um, I urge a yes vote on this amendment to ensure that all women on campus are treated equally. I It's a It's a a terrible thing when there's violence against women on campus. And I think that every campus, regardless of the institution, uh, should have these funds available uh, in an equal way. and I uh I yield Thank the gentleman. The question is now on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia. All those in favor say I.
▶ 2:51:16All oppose say no. Opinion of the chair. The eyes have it. Roll call has been requested. Sufficient show of support has been demonstrated. The clerk will call the role. Mr. Aderhalt. Mr. Adterholt. I. Mr. Aguilar. Mr. Aguilar. No. Mr. Alford. Hi. Mr. Alford I Mr. Ammedday Mr. Ammedday I Mrs. Bice Mrs. Bice I Mr. Bishop Mr. Bishop No Mr. Calbertt Mr. Calbertt I Mr. Carter Mr.
▶ 2:51:45Carter I Mr. Casease Mr. Case no Mr. Sisammani Mr. Klene Mr. Cloud Mr. Klyurn Mr. Klyurn no Mr. Clyde Mr. Clyde I Mr. Cole. Mr. Cole. I Mr. Quay Miss Dean. Miss Dean. No. Mr. Lauro, Mr. Diaz Bolard.
▶ 2:52:18Mr. Edwards. Mr. Edwards. I Mr. Elzie. Mr. Elsie. I Miss Escobar. Mr. Espayat. Mr. Fleshman. Mr. Fleshman. I Miss Frankle. Miss Frankle. No. Mr. Franklin. Mr. Franklin. I Mr. Gonzalez. Mr. Gonzalez. I Mr. Guest. Mr. Harter. Dr. Harris. Dr. Harris. I. Mrs. Henson.
▶ 2:52:49Mr. Hoyer. Mr. Hoyer. No. Mr. Ivy. Mr. Ivy. No. Mr. Joyce. Mr. Joyce. I. Miss Captor. Miss Captor. No. Mr. Loa. Mr. Loa. No. Miss Lee. Miss Llo. Miss Llo. I. Mr. Lean. Mr. Levan. No. Miss Mallaloy. Miss Mallaloy.
▶ 2:53:19I. Miss. McCullum. Miss. McCullum. I. Miss Ming. Miss Ming. No. Mr. Molinar. Mr. Molinar. I. Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore. I Mr. Morelli Mr. Morelli No Mr. Mvan Mr. Murvan No Mr. New House Mr. New House I Miss Perez Miss Pingri Miss Pingri no Mr. Pokean Mr. Pokean no Mr.
▶ 2:53:48Quigley Mr. Quigley no Mr. Rashenthaler Mr. Rogers Mr. Rogers I Mr. Mr. Rutherford Mr. Rutherford I Mr. Simpson Mr. Simpson I Mr. Strong Mr. Strong I Mrs. Torres Mrs. Torres No Miss Underwood Miss Underwood no Mr. Valido Mr. Valido I Miss Wasserman Schultz Mrs.
▶ 2:54:18Watson Coleman Mrs. Watson Coleman no Mr. Wac Mr. WAC I Mr. Zinci Mr. Zinci. I Are there any members wishing to vote or to change their vote? The gentleman from Florida. Mr. Diaz Bolard. I gentleman from Texas. Mr. Cloud. I The gentleman from Virginia Mr. Klene I.
▶ 2:54:42Gentle lady from Minnesota off. I on no for Miss McCullum. Gentleman from Mississippi. Mr. Guest I. Gentle lady from Texas. Miss Escobar. No. Gentle lady from Pennsylvania. Go girl. Okay. Gentlemen from California. Mr. Harter. No.
▶ 2:55:10Are there other members wishing to record their vote or change their vote? See a gentle lady from Florida. Uh, gentle lady is not recorded. Miss Wasserman Schultz. No. Uh, gentle lady's not recorded. Thank you.
▶ 2:55:41Mr. Loro, no. Are there other members wishing to vote or change their vote? Seeing none, the clerk will tally.
▶ 2:56:29I'm gonna talk about Oh, gentleman from New York. I do not believe the gentleman is Mr. Aspayat votes no. On this vote, the eyes are 31, the nose are 26. The amendment is adopted.
▶ 2:57:03Before the chair moves to the next amendment, he'll just note for the record that thanks the gentle lady from New York. She put out a plaintive plea, excuse me, New Jersey put out a plaintiff plea yesterday for American food for lunch. you owe her a thanks. And then you owe the chairman Rogers who responded noly to that plaintiff plea a thank you as Okay.
▶ 2:57:31Gentle lady from Ohio, Miss Captor, is recognized for an amendment. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have an amendment at the desk and ask it be considered as read. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with. The gentle lady's recognized for remarks on her Dear friends, my amendment would increase funding by $160 million for the first A in NASA aeronautics.
▶ 2:57:58The current mark in the bill is $775 million and my amendment would increase that amount to 935 million. I chose that figure because it's the same amount that was included in fiscal 2024 budget. And then of course uh that was repeated in the FY25 continuing resolution.
▶ 2:58:20My goodness, somebody's calling us right Please don't take that away from my Uh now also as a percent of the amount of debt that the President Trump's budget added to the US debt um in the uh billionaire bonanza bill.
▶ 2:58:44Uh what I'm proposing is 0.00004% of that 4 trillion that he added to the national debt. It's so teeny weeny it doesn't even show up on my screen when I start dividing it. Um, so I offer this amendment because I fear our country is continuing to backslide in our investments in aeronautics. Aeronautics is a foundational science.
▶ 2:59:11It is an art and it's all about propulsion engineering of airflight capable machines. In 1998, aeronautics made up 6.6% 6% of NASA's budget, but today it's about half that amount. That is not in the defense interest of this country. The president's budget request was even worse and included only 589 million, a giant cut from last year.
▶ 2:59:37Of course, I'm prejudiced being from Ohio, the home of flight uh the Wright brothers, the Wright Patterson Air Force Base, and the home of John Glenn and Neil Armstrong who gave their lives to America's aeronautical advancement. NASA is a jobs engine. It contributes to our national economy and scientific knowledge on space and defense fronts.
▶ 3:00:01Aerospace industry employs around 2.2 million highly skilled Americans in living wage jobs and it generates over 125 billion dollars to our export economy. to maintain global advantage and strong capability here at home. We have to invest in the future where historically we have been leaders, but we can't afford to rest on our laurels and watch as China passes us by. I'm worried we will end up with a sizable cut.
▶ 3:00:30Thus, I just want to say I hope this account won't be seen as a source of funds for other priorities as negotiations occur as we move forward in the appropriations process. And I'm happy to withdraw this amendment now. But I want to thank you, Mr. Mr. Chairman for the opportunity to raise this issue and I hope that we'll be able to work together to fund this important account soon. Thank you and I yield I thank gentle lady. I look forward to working with her. Uh the gentleman from Georgia, Mr.
▶ 3:01:00Clyde is recognized for the purpose of an amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I I have an amendment at the desk and I ask unanimous consent that the clerk dispense with a reading.
▶ 3:01:27Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with and the gentleman's recognized for remarks on his amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. and arise in support of my amendment to reduce the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EEOC account back to fisc year 19 funding levels to address the weaponization of this agency against my constituents.
▶ 3:01:47While the EEOC was created to help make employment fair, I have serious concerns that the agency has been weaponized against businesses through its lack of transparency, bureaucratic overreach, and deep-seated DEI practices. This is evident in the story of a constituent company in my district that has been unfairly targeted in an ongoing EEOC investigation. This thriving familyrun business employs many men and women and upholds a high standard of excellence in the community.
▶ 3:02:18They frequently hire new drivers and that hiring is based on merit, which I think should be the basis of all employee hiring at every business that wants to be successful. They also require every applicant to have a CDL, commercial driver's license, driving experience, and no at fault accidents, which disqualify candidates due to strict insurance requirements and simply common sense.
▶ 3:02:42In 2021, the company did not hire a female CDL applicant because of her recent atfall accident record. Following this denial, she filed the the applicant filed an EEOC complaint alleging sex discrimination, and the case was taken up by an Atlanta-based The company quickly provided a detailed position statement and supporting documents showing the objective basis for the non-hiring decision.
▶ 3:03:09However, the investigator ignored this and expanded the investigation, requiring them to provide all driver applications from 2019 to 2022. Out of the hundreds of applications, only 12 women applied and none of them were qualified for the position. Despite the detailed documentation proving otherwise, the EEOC determined in 2024 that the company discriminated against women.
▶ 3:03:34Yet, the agency never provided any meaningful explanation or summary of evidence supporting that conclusion as required by its own compliance manual. They even accused the company of discrimination against one female driver who had never even applied for a job at the company. The EEOC falsely created that charge out of thin air and was eventually forced to retract it.
▶ 3:03:59Then in December 2024, under a new investigator, a consiliation agreement was reached requiring the company to pay over $1 million to the class of female applicants for lost wages and to compensate for vague emotional distress harm. Additionally, they implemented an unlawful quota of hiring four female drivers per year.
▶ 3:04:21This quota ignores the reality that very few women pursue CDL licenses or apply for these positions to drive big heavy vehicles. Once again, the EEOC failed to explain how damages were calculated or how the hiring quota was determined. So, this fabricated issue crossed multiple investigators and management at the EOC and was not limited to one rogue individual.
▶ 3:04:48Despite the company's efforts to litigate and comply with the EEOC's demands, in July 2025, the EEOC declared that it had failed consiliation, again with no explanation. This pattern of secrecy and arbitrary decisionmaking made it impossible for the business to even understand how it had violated the law. But I believe that was the whole point. The business had not violated the law at all. But the EEOC was using the process as the penalty.
▶ 3:05:13These unlawful hiring quotas, lack of transparency, and DEIdriven allegations violate President Trump's executive order 14173 and undermine the stated priorities of the acting EEOC director. As this company now faces mounting legal fees and an uncertain path forward, the very existence of this family-run business is now threatened. It's past time to teach the EEOC a lesson. You cannot violate an AY's own stated priorities and expect funding increases every year.
▶ 3:05:43I would hope that this very modest budget cut would get their attention. Mr. Chairman, I stand for fairness, but without transparency and reasonable explanations, the weaponized EEOC is wasting our taxpayer dollars to promote woke ideology and issue standards that are both impossible and unfair to small businesses across our nation. The business in my district is a prime example.
▶ 3:06:05For now, I withdraw this amendment, but I will bring it back and bring it to the House floor should the EEOC not immediately make a course correction to follow the actual facts and stop making the process into the punishment. And I yield back. The amendment's been withdrawn. I thank the gentleman.
▶ 3:06:25The gentle lady from Florida, Miss Wasserman Schultz, is recognized for the purpose of an Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, I have Wasman Schultz one at the desk and ask for unanimous consent that it be considered as read. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with and the gentle lady's recognized for remarks on her amendment. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 3:06:54I rise to offer an amendment that would help address the gaps in current federal law and procedures that allowed for Jeffrey Epstein's secret sweetheart plea deal to be upheld in the first place. Specifically, this amendment would insert report language directing the Department of Justice to assess their compliance with the Crime Victim's Rights Act that passed in 2004.
▶ 3:07:17that identifies shortcomings in DOJ practices that are a barrier to crime victims exercising their rights and recommends specific reforms to strengthen enforcement of crime victim's rights within the DOJ. It also requires DOJ to report these findings to Congress to provide us with a clear understanding of how we can strengthen victim's protections and rights, especially in cases like epste where charges aren't formally filed in court.
▶ 3:07:43I think we all want to make sure, or at least I would hope, that a plea deal like Jeffrey Epstein got can never happen again without making sure that the victims under the Crime Victim's Rights Act have the law followed and get the opportunity for for them to face the person who hurt them and ensure that they can have their say on the plea deal.
▶ 3:08:10I have long fought for Epstein survivors to get justice and to ensure future survivors don't face similar mistreatment. And this amendment would advance that yearslong effort one Congresswoman Frankle, former Representative Jackie Spear and I have championed alongside EP Epstein survivor Courtney Wild, a Florida native who bravely fights to reform a system that cruy mistreated her.
▶ 3:08:31The Crime Victim's Rights Act, which is current law, was meant to protect the rights of all crime victims, to ensure their voice was heard in court, and to make sure they received timely notice of any major development in the defendant's case, including a plea deal. Yet, EP Epstein's victims were never notified when US Attorney Alex Acasta gave Epstein a sweetheart plea deal. This serial sexual predator got only 13 months in county jail, most of which he spent on a work release program.
▶ 3:08:59It's a plea deal that gave Epstein and any co-conspirator immunity from federal prosecution. It protected the very people we're still fighting to uncover and bring to justice. These survivors clearly deserved to be notified and have their day in court to speak out against this egregious deal. That was the original intent of the Crime Victim's Rights Act. Courtney thought so, too. Yet now she found herself on a new mission that she should never have had to face.
▶ 3:09:25going to court against the US government to fight for all the victims who just like her were left in the dark about Epstein's lenient plea deal. She fought for decades only to have the court rule that because Epstein's charges had not been formally filed, she and his other victims were not guaranteed the rights outlined under the CVA. As she still fights for this justice, I commend Courtney's unwavering determination. She's shining a light on these ambiguities in current law.
▶ 3:09:50And we all know that more survivors, far more than the ones Epstein prayed on, they also fight for the same right. Valare, a victim's rights advocacy group here in DC, documented various situations where prosecutors provide only vague mentions that a plea is under under consideration. And again, it happens without victims being informed of all terms, timing, or the possibility of restitution. D.A.'s victims then lose the chance to fight for agreements that reflect their needs and interests, just like Epstein's victims.
▶ 3:10:18This just shows us that unless the law is clarified to require meaningful and timely consultation on pleas, more victims will be marginalized at critical stages of criminal cases. But until we change the law, which my bill, the Courtney Wild Reinforcing Crime Victim's Rights Act, would do, we can pass this amendment to at least get a more clear picture of the scope of this problem and whether DOJ policies uphold the intent of the Crime Victim's Rights Act. Does it really protect all victims? And in what way should the these protections be expanded?
▶ 3:10:49Because all survivors deserve transparency. They deserve justice. The immense strength of survivors like Courtney to share their stories and fight for accountability should encourage all of us to muster up just a fraction of their courage. No survivor should have to tell their story over and over again like many of the Epstein survivors have. They have been forced to do it under intense scrutiny from the public just to try to get the justice that the law owed them in the first place.
▶ 3:11:15Please stand them with them today and stand up for those who suffered a terrible injustice by the ambiguity in current crime victim's rights law. I urge all of my colleagues to vote yes and I yield back the balance of my time. Thank the gentle lady and the gentleman from Kentucky. Distinguished Chairman Rogers is recognized to respond to the Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 3:11:42The House Oversight Committee is currently investigating this matter. The Department of Justice is complying with the investigation and has given every commitment to continue doing so. And the White House is also moving forward. Transparency is in motion. The oversight committee's initial August 5, 2022 subpoena to the department was broad.
▶ 3:12:13The Justice Department provided the first round of documents on August 22nd of 25 and indicated more are on the way. In fact, the oversight committee is pursuing and receiving information beyond the justice department, including records in the Epstein estate possession, custody, or Not only
▶ 3:12:44must we allow sufficient time for the department to fully comply with the oversight subpoena, but we must also give the oversight committee a chance to investigate everything it requests. Take the time to do this investigation and discover the truth. For these reasons, I oppose the amendment and urge my colleagues to do the same. and I yield back.
▶ 3:13:14Thank the gentlemen. The gentle lady from New York, the ranking member of the subcommittee, Miss Ming, is recognized to respond to the amendment. I rise in strong support of this amendment. As my colleague noted, the DOJ failed the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Gileain Maxwell.
▶ 3:13:31In 2007, the DOJ failed to adequately notify victims as it cut a sweetheart deal with Epstein, allowing him to serve only 13 months in jail for his crimes and giving victims no opportunities to be heard. And while the Epstein case is now an infamous example of the federal government failing to protect victims and keep them informed about the prosecution of those who harmed them, it is very likely not the only case.
▶ 3:13:59This amendment begins to force the DOJ to account for where it has failed so that survivors of crime can be active participants in seeking justice and so that our country does not once again fail the victims of some of the most heinous crimes imaginable. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and I yield back. Are there other members wishing to address the amendment?
▶ 3:14:28Seeing none, the gentle lady is recognized for one minute to close. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This amendment has absolutely nothing to do with what the oversight committee is doing. Um, that's a specific significant case that we need to make sure we get to the bottom of and that those files are released.
▶ 3:14:48The Crime Victim's Rights Act is federal law and not only in this case, but in other cases, as I cited in my opening remarks, we have victims that are not being given the opportunity to weigh in on plea deals that are negotiated by prosecutors and they are circumventing the ability of victims to have their day in court. So, I have legislation that would address that.
▶ 3:15:12But this this amendment would simply say that we should have DOJ identify shortcomings in their practices that are a barrier to crime victims exercising their rights. They should recommend specific reforms to strengthen enforcement of crime victim's rights within the DOJ. And it would require them to report these findings to Congress to provide us with a clear understanding of how we can strengthen victims protections and rights, especially in cases like epste where charges aren't formally filed in court.
▶ 3:15:41I don't it is incomprehensible to me that anyone in on this committee would not vote for this amendment and make sure that we can ensure that federal law is followed and that victims are able to be able to get the justice that we gave them when the crime crime victim's rights act was passed in 2004. I would appreciate the member's support and if you actually support victims and want to make sure that they have an opportunity to be heard, you'll support this amendment. Thank you. I yield back.
▶ 3:16:10Thanks, gentle lady. The question is now on the amendment offered by the gentle lady from Florida. All those in favor say I. All those opposed say no. No. Opinion chair. The nos have it. Roll call has been requested. Sufficient support has been demonstrated. The clerk will call the role. Mr. Adderhalt. Mr. Adder Holt. No. Mr. Agular. Mr. Alford. Mr. Alford. No. Mr. Mrs. Bice. Mrs.
▶ 3:16:40Bice. No. Mr. Bishop. Mr. Bishop. I Mr. Calbertt. Mr. Calbert. No. Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter. No. Mr. Casease. Mr. Casease. I Mr. Sisammani. Mr. Sisammani. No. Mr. Klene. Mr. Klene. No. Mr. Cloud. Mr. Klyurn. Mr. Klyurn. I. Mr. Clyde. Mr. Clyde. No. Mr. Cole. No. Mr. Cole. No. Mr. Quay Mr.
▶ 3:17:09Quayrar I Miss Dean Mr. Loro Mr. Loro I Mr. Diaz Bolard Mr. Diaz Bolard No Mr. Edwards Mr. Edwards no Mr. Elzie Mr. El No Escobar Miss Escobar I Mr. Espayat Mr. Espayat I Mr. Fleshman Mr. Fleshman no Miss Frankle Miss Frankle I Mr. Franklin Mr. Franklin. No. Mr. Gonzalez.
▶ 3:17:40Mr. Guest. Mr. Guest. No. Mr. Harter. Mr. Harter. Mr. Harter. I. Dr. Harris. Dr. Harris. No. Mrs. Henson. Mr. Hoyer. Mr. Hoyer. I. Mr. Ivy. Mr. Ivy. I. Mr. Joyce. Mr. Joyce. No. Miss Captor. Miss Captor. I Mr. Loa. Miss Lee. Thank you, Miss Latlo. Miss Latlo, no. Mr. Leven, I Mr.
▶ 3:18:10Levan, I Miss Malloy. Miss Mallaloy, no. Miss McCullum. Miss McCullum. I Miss Miss Ming. I Mr. Molinar. Mr. Molinar. No. Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore. No. Mr. Morelli. Hi. Mr. Mr. I. Mr. Morvan. Mr. Morvan. I. Mr. New House. Mr. New House. No. Miss. Perez. Miss. Perez. I. Miss. Pingri. Hi. Miss. Pingri. I Mr. Pokean, Mr. Pokean. I Mr. Quigley, Mr. Quigley. I Mr. Rashenthaler.
▶ 3:18:41Mr. Russianthaler. No, Mr. Rogers. Mr. Rogers. No, Mr. Rutherford. Mr. Rutherford. No, Mr. Simpson. Mr. Simpson. No, Mr. Strong. Mr. Strong, no. Mrs. Torres, Miss Underwood. Hi, Miss Underwood. I Mr. Valado. Mr. Valido. No, Miss Wasserman Schultz. Hi, Miss Watson Schultz. I Mrs. Watson Coleman. Mrs. Watson Coleman. I Mr. Wac Mr. WAC no Mr. Zinci Mr.
▶ 3:19:08Zinci no Are there any members wishing to vote or change their vote? Gentleman from Mr. Aguular I. Gentle lady from California. Mrs. Torres I. Gentleman from New York. Mr. Loa. No. Gentleman from Texas. Mr. Cloud. No.
▶ 3:19:35Are there other members wishing to vote or change their vote? Seeing none, the clerk will tally. The gentleman from Nevada. Gentleman from Nevada wish to vote. Mr. Amade votes no.
▶ 3:20:49On this vote, the eyes are 26. Uh the nose are 33. The amendment is not Uh the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Clyde, is recognized for an amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. and I have an amendment at the desk and I ask unanimous consent that the clerk dispense with the reading. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with. The gentleman's recognized for remarks on his amendment.
▶ 3:21:20Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise today to offer an amendment to the committee report accompanying the FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Appropriations Bill. This amendment provides a sense of Congress regarding the definition of an interstate sale. Specifically, it states that an interstate sale will be considered as occurring at the location of the place of business where the payment is received and accepted or from where the product is shipped at the choice of the business if those are different locations.
▶ 3:21:50This language is guidance to help clarify congressional intent. Since the Supreme Court's Wayfair decision in 2018, small businesses have faced significant compliance burdens from a patchwork of state and local sales tax regimes. A clear and consistent understanding of where an interstate sale occurs would help reduce confusion and help ensure that small businesses are not forced to shoulder disproportionate costs just to remain compliant.
▶ 3:22:19You know, sales occur at the place of business and not some nebulous place across the country. This language reflects Congress's commitment to foster clarity and fairness in an interstate commerce while recognizing the realities faced by small businesses across state lines.
▶ 3:22:37You know, interstate authority was seated by the states to the federal government in article 1, section 8, clause 3 of the So I urge adoption of this amendment to the report. Thank you and I yield back. Thank the gentleman. The gentle lady. Yes sir. I don't know. Has a copy been distributed? Well, gentle lady over here does.
▶ 3:23:08Well, evidently the gentle lady from Minnesota does. Thank the gentleman. Uh that's quite all right. Thank you for for bringing it up. Uh gentle lady from New York is recognized, Miss Ming to uh address the Sorry to say I rise in opposition to this amendment. I'm not sure this is appropriate in an appropriations bill. Uh and I yield back.
▶ 3:23:38Are there others wishing to address the If not, the gentleman is recognized for one minute to close. Oh, yes, sir. Uh, would the gentleman yield for a Mr. Clyde, would you yield? I don't have time. I'll yield some time. I have time. Will you yield for a Well, let let me recognize a gentleman from Maryland first who's requested recognition.
▶ 3:24:07You go ahead and ask the gentleman he wants to yield for a Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. CL, would you yield? Uh, what is the impact of this? I've read the language I'm and what uh the language that you want clarified or the issue that you want clarified? I I heard your explanation, but I want to Is there a case that you're particularly interested in? Did something happen?
▶ 3:24:34Oh, there are multiple cases when small businesses have to uh comply with 50 49 actually 40 well 50 if you consider the District of Columbia too 50 different sets of rules across the country for sales tax um and registration where they have no nexus whatsoever in those states. All right, but yet they're being forced to do that.
▶ 3:25:00uh the um the Supreme Court looked for some congressional clarification in the Wayfair uh decision and so I think this is an appropriate time. We're seeing small businesses we're seeing states come against small businesses all across the country now and it's been a real problem and so uh it this is an opportunity to to clarify that and it's not in the bill itself it's in the report. I see it's a report. Thank you. Uh and I hope report language has meaning. We've had that discussion in the past.
▶ 3:25:30Um, and it'll have meaning if the agencies believe that we're going to take it seriously and expect them to follow that report. Has this been discussed with the authorizing I'm not deeply into this, but I'm just confused because this clearly attempts to uh deal with the law case you're talking about, which would normally be a authorizing issue.
▶ 3:25:59It's not a none of the funds amendment. Um I I Well, I'll I'll see what Chairman Rogers has to say and uh go from there. Well, actually, Chairman Rogers did not claim time, but I think uh gentleman from the other gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Ivy, uh is recognized to address the Just a just a follow-up question.
▶ 3:26:28Is it South Dakota be wayfair? Is that the decision you're you're referencing? gentleman from Georgia, I believe the gentleman from Maryland was directing a question. Am I correct in that, Mr. Ivy, did you have a question for Yes, Mr. Chair. Um, where you would need to yield him time to answer. I I would yield you time to answer. The question is, is South Dakota v Wayfair the case you're referencing? Yes. Okay.
▶ 3:26:56And so this this would go to the determination of how sales tax would would be It would be the authority of the judiciary committee on the authorizing Okay. But it's just it it go it only goes to sales tax. Is that the the Okay. All right. U I yield back.
▶ 3:27:27Are there other members wishing to claim time to address the amendment? Seeing none, the gentleman's recognized for one minute to close. Mr. Chairman, I encourage a yes vote on this amendment and I yield back. Questions now on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia. All those in favor say I. All those opposed say no.
▶ 3:27:57the opinion of the In the opinion of the chair, the eyes have it and the gentleman's amendment is Uh, gentle lady from Florida, Miss Wasserman Schultz, is recognized for an Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have an amendment news desk. Um, this is an amendment that was filed as a result of conversations.
▶ 3:28:24So, I want to just make sure the right one is pulled up and I ask unanimous consent that it be considered as read. Um, without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with. Uh, the gentle lady is recognized for remarks on her amendment. One quick question. I want to make sure we've got the right amendment. Yeah, me too. We got it. Okay. Yeah. Let me just just make sure. Yes, that's it. Okay. Gentle lady's recognized. Thank you very much.
▶ 3:28:49Colleagues, I think that we all can remember uh the reporting that occurred on the president's plan to close nearly all weather research labs across the country. Um including significant hurricane research labs. I'll just quote one article from The Hill several months ago. The Trump administration wants to zero out climate re climate research at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
▶ 3:29:16According to a newly released budget document, the document calls for no funding to go to the agency's climate laboratories or regional climate data and information. It also wants to zero out research at Noah's weather research program and weather laboratories, as well as its tornado and severe storm research. The budget document also calls for a shutdown of weather and climate laboratories around the country, including a lab in Mount Aloa, Hawaii.
▶ 3:29:40Sorry, apologies to Ed Casease that tracks greenhouse gas emissions and another in Miami whose research includes hurricane studies. Um, our budget, our uh bill before us does not reflect those uh those requests in the president's budget, but it is uh there's are significant cuts, but they don't follow the president's uh the president's budget thankfully.
▶ 3:30:03But the risk is real given that the president has pretty indiscriminately decided to withhold funds and fire individuals and uh make closures without uh consultation with Congress. So I rise to offer an amendment with my colleagues, Mr. Alfred, Miss Frankle, and Mr. Diaz Balard that directs Noah to maintain their current facilities and capabilities so we do not erode the safety and security of all our families facing deadly hurricanes or extreme storm threats, floods, and other natural disasters.
▶ 3:30:31Because too many of us here do not need me to detail the horrors that our overheated climate conflict on our on a community. Texas appropriators are still mending broken hearts from the deadly floods that tropical storm Barry left behind. And our Carolina and Gulf Coast colleagues likely still nurse storm inflicted wounds not only from years gone by, but from Milton and Helen that devastated across the c across the coast coastline and our region last year. I know we all heard those cries of pain coming up from Camp Mystic.
▶ 3:31:01Just Monday, I visited communities on Florida's Sun Coast who withtood the worst of that our state has seen in recent years. And not one of them stood up to say, "We sure could have used less data and less information before those storms." Not one person demanded we dial back, dilute, or destroy the timely research that Noah gives us to brace for these extreme storms. In fact, they all wanted just the opposite. They all knew every minute of warning means thousands of lives saved. As these storms prowl our coasts and stalk the Gulf of Mexico, our neighbors want every data point they can get.
▶ 3:31:31Just that few extra hours of warning means hundreds fewer funerals. More accurate cones of impact will allow more families to put smarter prep and evacuation plans in place. And that's exactly what Noah provides for all of us and has provided much, much more predictable pathways for these storms and disasters. Look, it's peak hurricane season right now, and while it's calm right now, we know deadly storms are brewing in the Atlantic. Yet, even as these threats loomed, we were losing top researchers.
▶ 3:31:59And there were serious proposals to close over a dozen weather and climate sites. Even Miami's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory and Noah's hurricane research division. At the start of this hurricane season, South and Central Florida Noah facilities were underststaffed by 20 to 40%. John Morales, our most senior meteorologist in South Florida, raised doubts on air that he may be unable to provide accurate forecasts due to a lack of critical data. What a horrible thing to have to tell your community.
▶ 3:32:28And you can't look at any of this in isolation. That's why I'm proud to work with my colleagues in a bipartisan way here in the committee to protect the vital mission that Noah has. Look at that. We're being appropriators, not Republicans and Democrats. Another example of why this amendment is vital is the Miami Lab, which provides the scientific backbone that we rely on back home to forecast storm intensity and paths. This would be a generational loss in public safety and science.
▶ 3:32:53To shutter any of these worldclass weather and climate labs would risk losing 75 years of research history, and we know what happens when we silence these early warning systems. And I know we all see the value of Noah and the life-saving work the facilities and its employees conduct. Supporting this amendment will help prot protect these critical assets. I'm thankful to have worked with my colleague, Mr. Alfred, Mr. Diaz Balard, and Miss Frankle has joined us to ensure that we can continue to get our constituents all the information they need to keep themselves safe.
▶ 3:33:23I know I won't give up the fight to protect vital programs and work like the work that Noah performs for our communities. And I urge all of my colleagues to vote yes, extend my appreciation to Mr. Alfred and uh my friends on the other side of the aisle and I yield back and urge member support of the amendment. Thank the gentle lady and the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Rogers. Distinguished chair subcommittees recognized to address the amendment. I want to thank gentle lady for working with Mr.
▶ 3:33:50Alford on this matter and coming to a good conclusion and we urge the vote. Thank the gentleman. The gentle lady from New York, Miss Ming, is recognized to address the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I strongly support this bipartisan amendment. Noah's labs and cooperative institutes conduct work that is important to our economy and public safety.
▶ 3:34:14These labs and cooperative institutes help us to plan and prepare for changes in the Earth's climate and help to improve our country's weather forecasting. This gives emergency managers and the general public more time to prepare for and respond to severe weather events such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. Uh, this proposal uh is bipartisan and I urge adoption of this amendment and yield back. Thank you, gentle lady. The gentleman from Missouri, Mr.
▶ 3:34:44Alfred, is recognized to address the amendment. Well, thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, it seems we have three Flidians and one Missuran teaming up together. This ought to be good. I want to thank my colleague, Representative Wasserman Schultz for her important amendment.
▶ 3:35:01And while I love the spirit of her original amendment, I could not support its language as it would have severely hobbled the Like Representative Wasserman Schultz district, Missouri's fourth congressional district has been hit hard and hit frequently with natural disasters and catastrophic storms that have ripped apart homes, communities, and lives. I personally in 2011 covered the Joplin tornado that killed more than 160 Missurans.
▶ 3:35:32You know, for many of my constituents, the difference between life and death is the life-saving alerts and up-to-date information that the National Weather Service through Noah provides and the professional relationship that the meteorologists in these offices have with the meteorologists at television stations, many of whom I worked with in my career, and radio stations.
▶ 3:35:56I share Miss Wasimman Schultz deep concerns about ensuring that Noah remains able to provide the best possible service for our constituents and keeping offices like the one in Pleasant Hill, Missouri in my district open and operating with humans and not just artificial intelligence.
▶ 3:36:14Again, I thank the general lady from Florida for her passion and for working with us to negotiate an amendment that will not hobble Secretary Lutnik, but give direction to protect the integrity of Noah to continue to save lives. Mr. Chairman, I yield back. Thank you, gentlemen. Sounds the chair like we've had three hurricanes and one really big tornado work together for good. The gentleman from Maryland is recognized to address the amendment.
▶ 3:36:44Thank uh you Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman from Missouri and I congratulate Miss Washerman Schultz on her amendment. I have a had a relationship with Noah over the years. They have offices in my district and now I think essentially in Mr. Ivy's district we share things back and forth. Uh I rise in strong support of this report language.
▶ 3:37:13Uh the president's administration's effort to dismantle Noah is a textbook example of what I call you're on your own. Uh you're on your own when the hurricane batters your town. You're on your own when the flood waters rise and wash away your home. You're on your own when tornado flattens your community. Uh the administration apparently doesn't want to monitor these natural disasters to provide early warning to those caught in their path.
▶ 3:37:44Uh firing so many federal workers that some of the National Weather Services regional office can no longer operate 24 hours a day. Obviously weather operates 24 hours a day. Uh he has also the administration has also taken steps to show the the Noah Center for Weather and Climate Prediction in College Park, Maryland, just outside my district and in Mr. Ivy's district.
▶ 3:38:09It's home to teams of hardworking scientists who provide Americans across the country with a weather forecast that we rely on every day. I agree 100% with Mr. Alfred that AI may have a lot of assets but it's still not a human being that can respond in an effective way all the time.
▶ 3:38:31Uh the administration apparently also wants us to study storms not not study storms or the climate crisis that makes them more frequent and more intense with each passing year. The budget would have zeroed out the agency's climate research We didn't do that. The chairman didn't do that. The committee didn't do that. I congratulate them for that. This amendment would prohibit the president uh from using funds.
▶ 3:38:59And I know it's been modified somewhat from my remarks, but it does make sure that it stays whole in every community so that it can do the job that Americans wanted to do and needed to do. And I rise in strong support and yield back. Thank the gentleman, the gentle lady from Florida, Miss Frankle, is recognized to address the amendment. Okay. Thank Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for this bipartisan amendment because I would just say this.
▶ 3:39:30Florida knows hurricanes. And just to put this in lay terms, uh you got to have these warnings so you can get your flashlights, your water, your food, you put up your shutters, and if you need to, you get out of town. So, this is a good amendment. And I'll just end by saying hurricanes do not know whether you're a Republican or Democratic or have no party affiliation. And with that, I yield back. Thank gentleman from California, Mr.
▶ 3:39:58Lean is recognized to address the Thank you. Uh, Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the amendment and I'm so encouraged that uh if even for just a minute or two that politics have been set aside. We all represent communities that depend on accurate weather data.
▶ 3:40:16Farmers timing their planting and harvest, ranchers safeguarding their livestock, fishermen navigating dangerous waters, first responders preparing for wildfires or for tornadoes, and families deciding whether to evacuate ahead of a hurricane. Shutting down Noah Labs, trying to underfund them wouldn't just silence a few scientists. It would leave every one of our districts less prepared for costly disasters.
▶ 3:40:44In 2024 alone, the US suffered 27 separate climate and weather disasters, each causing more than $1 billion in losses. A record number of billion dollar disasters in a single year. These events, floods in the Midwest, hurricanes in the Gulf, and wildfires in California didn't check party registration before wreaking havoc. They hit red states and blue states alike.
▶ 3:41:11Every dollar we spend on accurate forecasting and advanced warning saves lives and protects Doing anything to harm Noah Labs would roll back that progress. It would mean slower warnings, less accurate forecasts, and greater losses of life and property. Simply not good stewardship. It's pennywise and pound foolish. I've heard some say that private companies can do this, but even private forecasts rely on Noah's foundational data.
▶ 3:41:41Without Noah's model and measurements, many collected in the very labs we're discussing, the private sector cannot produce reliable products. Eliminating Noah's capacity would the entire weather enterprise. And let's be clear, this is not about ideology. I know all my friends here care deeply. I care deeply about my coastal community. I know we care about our farmers. We care about our small businesses.
▶ 3:42:06We have constituents who in some parts of the country wake up early to check the forecast before deciding uh what to do about their crops or whether even to send their kids to school. And they trust that the information comes from rigorous nonpartisan science. And we cannot betray that trust. Beyond the immediate safety concerns, weakening Noah's climate research also blinds us to long-term risks.
▶ 3:42:32Carbon dioxide levels grew by 3.7 parts per million in 2024. That's the fastest rate on record. Our wetlands and forests are increasingly stressed. Reducing their ability to absorb carbon and buffer our communities from floods and fires. Ignoring these facts will not make them go away. It will simply leave us So, I'm grateful to my colleagues for thinking about the families in your own district who depend on timely warnings.
▶ 3:43:00Thinking about the small businesses whose insurance premiums skyrocket after every billion dollar disaster. Thinking about the sheriffs and the emergency managers who rely on this data to decide whether to evacuate a neighborhood or to deploy resources. I'm glad this is not a partisan vote. It's about keeping Americans safe, protecting our economy, and respecting good science that serves us all.
▶ 3:43:25And I hope maybe, just maybe, we've cracked the door open just a little bit to consider other ways we can work together to protect science and the public interest. Thank you, and I yield Thank you, gentlemen. Gentle lady from Ohio, Miss Captor, recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 3:43:43I rise in strong support of my friend Congresswoman Werman Schultz's amendment and would like to draw the membership to uh the mid-continent region uh not the uh we've heard from the west coast, the east coast, the south coast. Well, there's another coast, the longest coast, and it's the Great Lakes coast. And I particularly stand on behalf of the people of our region where fresh water is our life uh and our livelihoods.
▶ 3:44:09The Great Lakes are the largest body of fresh water in the world and uh we are the third largest economy. We share our lakes with Canada. It is an uh responsibility and this amendment will, as others have mentioned, prohibit the bill from closing, consolidating or eliminating any Noah laboratory or cooperative institute, including our Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab, which has a terrible acronym they call GLURL.
▶ 3:44:38If I couldn't find a better name than that, I'd really wonder. Uh that stands for Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab. Uh for example, we remember too well in our region the summer of 2014 in Toledo, Ohio, when a Lake Erie harmful algo bloom poisoned the public water supply. And I guarantee you if I took you out on Lake Erie right now and you had a decanter of water we pulled up, you would die because of the dissolve reactive phosphorus that has leaked into our water systems.
▶ 3:45:07And in 2014, they were completely shut off for three days and over half a million people had no water for three days. Flint, Michigan had a related crisis at that time, but we in the Great Lakes have major challenges ahead of us and the Great Lakes Lab was critical in helping us analyze and for the moment restore livability to our communities. Uh these scientists from the Great Lakes are the backbone of our ability to forecast and plan for these harmful algolooms.
▶ 3:45:35One misstep on an average day can result in a big crisis. Um, but it is this lab that turns raw data from our satellites, boys and other monitoring systems into life-saving information for people across our region for farmers, for fishermen and fisher women, and for all the people that rely on Lake Erie for their fresh water. Uh, they study flooding. People have talked about flooding in other regions, ice cover which is a little bit thin now on the Great Lakes.
▶ 3:46:06My own lake doesn't freeze over anymore. Lake Erie invasive species. All these are building blocks for restoration of our freshwater Great Lakes ecosystem and the communities that rely on it. The closure of these labs would erase decades and I'm telling you decades of hard one expertise, vital data crippling our ability to respond to environmental crises which we have. We have tornadoes out our way.
▶ 3:46:31Uh abandoning the 40 million Americans who depend on this irreplaceable life-giving freshwater resource. Uh it is a critical uh asset not just to our region but to the country as well as to Canada. And it's not optional. It is foundational. Uh the lakes and this research lab deserve more than neglect. They deserve respect. And we can't close our eyes to the future.
▶ 3:46:56I am pleased to stand to support preservation of this lab to protect our largest freshwater body system on the face of the earth that provides life to our people. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. The gentleman from Florida, Mr. Diaz Bolard, is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 3:47:22And I want to first thank the uh chairman of uh chairman Rogers for working with us. This is four members that got together. And this is what happens, Mr. Chairman, uh when you do a little bit less messaging and you actually try to get together to pass an amendment versus just message on an amendment. It can actually happen. And so I'm grateful to my two colleagues uh from Florida and also to Mr. Alfred uh who while relatively new in the committee uh continues to demonstrate what leadership is all about. Thank you all.
▶ 3:47:52I do think, by the way, that the more we talk, the less support we're going to get. So, I'm going to shut up and yield back. Gentleman sets an admirable example for the committee. Uh, gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Ivy's recognized to address the amendment. After him, is that the uh the idea? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, thank you to my colleagues um Miss Wasserman Schultz in particular uh for your leadership. the the bipartisan effort on this front is uh greatly appreciated.
▶ 3:48:23I have two NOA installations in my district. Um obviously this has been a tough year for many of the employees who live in Prince George's County and the surrounding area and really across the country, but um they've been doing outstanding work, those scientists at at Noah. I appreciate the fact that that's being recognized here today and the difference that it makes from a public safety standpoint. and I thank you all for the work that you've done and look forward to uh continuing to work with you all in the future. And with that, I yield back. Thank the gentleman.
▶ 3:48:52Are there other members wishing to address the Seeing none, the gentle lady from Florida is recognized for one minute to Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I thank uh Chairman Rogers and Mr. Alfred, Mr.
▶ 3:49:06Dora, Miss Frankle, and all of my colleagues for working together to help ensure that really our collective sentiment to make sure that these incredibly important lab Noah lab facilities, climate research facilities, and research funding is not shut down. Um, because we know that lives hang in the balance.
▶ 3:49:29And you know, I just am really glad that we were able to demonstrate that it is possible to come together and actually really find common ground and agreement. That is the tradition of this committee and I'm glad that we were able to come together to contribute to that. I I yield back and urge members support of the amendment. Thank the gentle lady. The question is now on the amendment offered by the gentle lady from Florida. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed say no.
▶ 3:49:56The opinion of the chair, the eyes have Uh, and the amendment is adopted. Who was that troublemaker? Gentleman from Texas, Mr. Quayar is recognized for the purposes of an amendment. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk and I ask that we dispense with the Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with, and the gentleman's recognized for remarks on his amendment. Uh, yes, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 3:50:23This is the amendment that I've been offering every appropriation bill that I'm hoping that sometime in the near future every chairman and ranking member will seriously consider this. Uh as you know uh under article one uh section nine and then clause seven. We have the right to appropriate but we also have a responsibility for uh oversight.
▶ 3:50:46And again, once we provide dollars to the agencies, how many times we really sit down and look at what they're doing with those dollars, you know, we might see something in in the media and then we decide to react, but uh we need to have a systematic uh overview. Senate setting up the right measures, the right missions uh is important. We did start some of the work back in 2010 as I mentioned uh the modernization of uh of the performance act that got passed in the 90s.
▶ 3:51:15Uh but we need to do our work and I envision one of these days having this language and actually having uh as part of the report uh some of the performance measures that we ought to look at to see if the agencies are uh following the instructions and the dollars that we signed. So with that, uh, members, uh, hope to have this conversation later on, uh, and, uh, hopefully we can add this language in every single appropriation bill. With that, Mr.
▶ 3:51:45Chairman, I, uh, offer and withdraw my amendment. Thank you so Thank the gentleman very much. The gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Quigley, is recognized for an amendment. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a amendment at the desk and I ask that the reading be dismissed with. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with and the gentleman's recognized for remarks on his amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, and I don't want to inflame things.
▶ 3:52:15I like the kumbaya moment, but there's a few things we have to talk about when we talk about violence against women that have been said recently, particularly by the president where he was quoted as saying uh about clim crime in DC was virtually nothing except for lesser things that take place in the home they call crime. Quote, "They'll do anything they can to find something. If a man has a little fight with the wife, they say that was a crime. So now I can't claim 100%.
▶ 3:52:46Now respectfully if the president wants to clarify that that would be helpful but it is um as stated deeply disturbing. Uh what doesn't need clarification was that in June he suggested that we make massive cuts to the office of violence against women and by suggesting that we consolidate into the larger office of the justice programs. Now, let's be clear.
▶ 3:53:12Uh, the Violence Against Women Act requires OBW to be a separate and distinct office in DOJ and for good reason. Having a separate office for violence against women means we can approach this type of violence with specialized survivor centered policies. Look, my first real job, I spent the summer between my junior and senior of high school working as a counselor at a domestic violence shelter in Chicago.
▶ 3:53:43So I lived there and in the middle of the night uh a woman would come in with her traumatized kids and she was uh beaten severely and carrying things in bags and cardboard boxes and uh you saw just what the devastation was. And I guess what I learned was you really have to have a safe place for women to go when someone is experiencing this kind of crisis.
▶ 3:54:10And when I became a Cook County Commissioner, one of the first things I was able to get done was a separate courthouse for domestic violence victims so they could be isolated from their abusers as they entered and uh they weren't deterred from coming in. To su to successfully respond to assault and domestic violence, we need to consider the legal, health, social, and financial impacts. Unfortunately, the bill in front of us today cuts funding for the multi-prong programs.
▶ 3:54:40These cuts include transitional housing, effective policy, uh, policing initiatives, training programs, and services to end violent against older women and women with But while this funding is going down, demand for the programs is going up. National Alliance to End Sexual Violence found that 58% of sexual assault services providers report an increase in demand. 60% reported an increase in demand for prevention services.
▶ 3:55:09Now, uh like many of you, I've met with local domestic violence service providers, uh including ones that receive grants through VAWA. Uh just one story, a woman in Chicago who was in a horrible situation for several years because she only spoke Mandarin, uh she didn't think she could go any place for help.
▶ 3:55:31A culturally specific service grant through VAWA allowed this organization to hire staff who spoke many languages including this. So when she found them and reached out, they were able to get her out of the situation. She was able to leave her abusive marriage and is now economically independent. The traditional housing program allowed this woman to leave an unsafe situation, get back on her feet, and even further her career.
▶ 3:55:58Without the VAWA program supporting these transi transitional housing, for example, these survivors would not have been able to leave these situations or rebuild their lives. It's the combination of all these programs that make it possible for survivors to escape violence and heal from it, reclaim their independence. My amendment adds $100 million to the office of violence against women and adds language prohibiting the attorney general from consolidating the office into the rest of DOJ.
▶ 3:56:28I'm offering this amendment to make sure that these resources remain available for the people who need them and to make sure that violence against women remains a national priority. Thank you and I urge your support. Thank you, gentlemen. Uh the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Rogers, the distinguished chair of the subcommittee is recognized to address the gentleman's Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 3:56:55The House CGS fiscal 26 bill maintains strong support for programs that support domestic violence victims by providing approximately $641 million for the DOJ Office on Violence Against Additionally, this bill increases the crime victims fund obligation cap, allowing for more grants to go out to
▶ 3:57:26state and local domestic violence This amendment would seek to increase funding for OBVW by $100 million without a proposed offset.
▶ 3:57:40Additionally, this amendment includes language prohibiting the consolidation of OBVW within the Office of Justice The fiscal 26 House bill maintained OBVW as a separate office and grant making component at the Department of Justice. I appreciate the intent of the amendment, but I must oppose it.
▶ 3:58:09The House uh bill was strategically crafted with member input and every funding level has been carefully considered. I owe my colleagues to oppose the amendment and I yield back. Thank the gentlemen. The gentle lady from New York, the ranking member of the subcommittee is recognized to address the amendment. I rise in support of this amendment.
▶ 3:58:37The Office of Violence Against Women is the only federal office that directly represents the needs of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. As many of our colleagues have shared with Attorney General Bondi, any delays or reduction in funding for OBVW will have devastating consequences for the countless individuals who rely on these resources for safety, legal protection, and recovery.
▶ 3:59:04It should also be unacceptable to all of us on this committee that the Department of Justice is unwilling to uphold the law that ensures OBVW is managed as a separate entity. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and I yield back. Thank the gentle lady.
▶ 3:59:28Are there other members wishing to address the Seeing the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Ivy is recognized to address the Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I I stand in support of this amendment. Um, as many of you know, domestic violence is uh a real scourge uh that has a corrosive effect uh across the board in many communities, but especially in families.
▶ 3:59:54We talked the other day about the trying to figure out red flags for mass murders and and uh active shooter scenarios uh people who commit homicides. When you go back and look at the family history for many of those people, they come from homes where domestic violence was rampant. And there's also u I mentioned the sins of the father kind of deal. The replication of that when you go from generation to generation.
▶ 4:00:18This act and the office that manages it is one of the few that that that really is aimed at targeting and fixing and addressing that problem. When I was the local prosecutor, uh we had a clear issue and we really didn't have a unified approach to how to deal with it.
▶ 4:00:37I had someone in the office that when I came in who'd been there trying to set up an office of uh for domestic violence survivors and not just a house where they could they could come until they had a chance to find somewhere else to go, but a place that provided wraparound services for them uh from the standpoint of finding whether it was additional job opportunities, educational opportunities, assistance with their children because many of these domestic violence survivors had young children than tow.
▶ 4:01:06uh and also assistance whether it was with respect to law enforcement for enforcing uh stayaway orders that had been put in place. But there's a whole range of services that was needed and they were all scattered out across the county. Made it difficult for individual women, well, not only women but primarily women to get access to those services and ramp them up and use them in a way that could be most effective. With the funds from that program, we were able to establish that unit.
▶ 4:01:32And I'm proud to say that 23 years later, it's still up and running and doing great work in Prince George's County. It was actually modeled after uh uh the type of office that is in other states and other jurisdictions, probably like many of yours.
▶ 4:01:46Uh but yeah, it it it makes a difference to focus on this program, to target this program, to make sure that we're providing domestic violence survivors, many of them who feel they don't have any place else to turn, uh the types of support that they need to get through it and find a path forward for themselves and their children and their families. So, I thank you for offering this amendment and I urge my colleagues to vote in support of Thank you, gentlemen.
▶ 4:02:12Are there other members wishing to address the Seeing none, the gentleman from Illinois is recognized for one minute to close. I've been told they're two separate issues, but in reality, I don't think they are. Um, this amendment stands on its own and deserves support for all those victims and uh to those that we want to prevent from being victims.
▶ 4:02:37Um, but there's a lot of dispute I hear from others about releasing all the documents with Jeffrey Epstein. I can hear the arguments now, but the fact of the matter is no matter how you feel about that, we have failed the victims of Jeffrey Epstein. um in honor of them and to prevent future victims uh of any type of assault and abuse. Uh let's approve this amendment.
▶ 4:03:07Thank you. Thank gentlemen. The questions now on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois. All those in favor say I. All oppose say no. In the opinion of the chair, the nos have it. Roll call has been requested. Sufficient support has been demonstrated. The clerk will call the Mr. Adder Holt, Mr. Adder Holt, no. Mr. Agular. Mr. Agular. I. Mr. Alford. Mr. Alford?
▶ 4:03:37No. Mr. Ammedday. Mr. Amade. No. Mrs. Bice. Mrs. Bice. No. Mr. Bishop. Mr. Bishop. I. Mr. Calbertt. Mr. Calbertt. No. Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter. No. Mr. Casease. Mr. Casease. I. Mr. Sisammani. Mr. Sisammani. No. Mr. Klein Mr. Cloud Mr. Clyburn Mr. Cloud Mr. Cloud No Mr. Clyde Mr.
▶ 4:04:07Clyde No Mr. Cole no Mr. Cole no Mr. Quayar Miss Dean Miss Dean I Mr. Loro Mr. Diaz Bolard Mr. Diaz Bolard No Mr. Edwards Mr. Mr. Edwards. No. Mr. Elie. Mr. Elie. No. Miss Escobar. Miss Escobar. I. Mr. Espayat. Mr. Fleshman. Mr. Fleshman. No. Miss Frankle. Miss. Frankle. I. Mr. Franklin.
▶ 4:04:37Mr. Franklin. No. Mr. Gonzalez. Mr. Gonzalez. No. Mr. Guest. Mr. Guest. No. Mr. Harter. Hi. Mr. Harter. I. Dr. Harris. Mrs. Henson. Mr. Hoyer. Hi. Mr. Hoyer. I Mr. Ivy. Mr. Ivy. I Mr. Joyce. Mr. Joyce. No. Miss Captor. Mr. Loa. Mr. Loa. No. Miss Lee. Miss Lee. I.
▶ 4:05:07Miss Llo. Miss Llo. No. Mr. Levan. Miss Malloy. No. Miss Malloy. No. Miss. McCullum. I Miss McCullum. I Miss Ming. Miss Ming. I. Mr. Mr. Molinar. No. Mr. Molinar. No. Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore. No. Mr. Morelli. Mr. Morelli. I. Mr. Murvan. Mr. Mvan. I. Mr. New House. Mr. New House. No. Miss. Perez. Miss. Perez. I. Miss Pingri.
▶ 4:05:38Miss Pingri. I. Mr. Pokean. Mr. Pokean. I. Mr. Quigley. Mr. Quigley. I. Mr. Rashenthaler. Mr. Russianthaler. No. Mr. Mr. Rogers, no. Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Rutherford, no. Mr. Simpson, Mr. Simpson, no. Mr. Strong, Mr. Strong, no. Mrs. Torres, Mrs. Torres, I. Miss Underwood, Miss Underwood, I. Mr. Valido.
▶ 4:06:09Miss Wasserman Schultz. Mrs. Watson Coleman. Mrs. Watson. Coleman. I. Mr. WAC. Mr. Wac. No. Mr. Are there any members wishing to vote or change their vote? Gentleman from Gentleman from New York. Mr. Leven, I gentle lady from Florida. Mr. Rossman Schultz. I gentleman from Maryland. Dr. Harris. No. Gentle lady from Connecticut.
▶ 4:06:40Mr. Luro. gentle lady from Ohio. Did. Gentle lady vote. Miss Captor votes I. Gentleman from Montana. Mr. Zinci. No. There's somebody over here. Gentleman from South Carolina. Mr. Clyurn. I We have other members wishing to vote or change their vote.
▶ 4:07:10Seeing none, the clerk will tell us. I heard it walked out. I did not I do not have Mr. Quer recorded.
▶ 4:07:42Purple tallying. Members can't be here to vote.
▶ 4:08:32On this vote, the eyes are 28, the nose are 32. The amendment is not adopted. The gentle lady from Florida, Miss Frankle, is recognized for the purpose of an amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Whoops. I have an amendment at the desk and I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with. The gentle lady is recognized for remarks on her Thank you, sir.
▶ 4:09:03The uh colleagues, the bipartisan, and I want to emphasize the word bipartisan, pregnant workers fairness act was passed to ensure equality and dignity in the workplace. It says employees must provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, child birth, and related medical conditions unless it causes due undue hardship.
▶ 4:09:28So, and we're talking about simple common sense things like maybe an extra water break, no heavy lifting, time off for recovery, or leave for medical appointments. The law ensures that no worker has to choose between her health and her My amendment strikes section 602 of this bill, which prohibits funds in this act from being used to enforce the Equal Opportunity Commission's April 19th, 2024
▶ 4:09:59rule that makes it clear that a elective abortion is a related medical condition requiring reasonable accommodation. Uh, in other words, this bill unfairly and dangerously carves out abortion care as one medical need where a woman can still be singled out, punished, or denied basic accommodations.
▶ 4:10:28And to me, that is cruelty beyond belief. In fact, it's a level of cruelty that defies It's one thing to oppose abortion. It's another thing to punish a woman for having one by damaging her her ability to make a living by stripping her workplace rights. And incidentally, the courts have actually ruled that abortion is a a medical event.
▶ 4:10:57And like any medical procedure, it can involve recovery time. It can involve a doctor follow-ups. And and as uh many of you probably know, uh in many states, abortion services require travel to distant cities, compliance with mandatory waiting periods, or multiple visits. These realities mean that workers need flexibility with scheduling or short-term leave to safely and legally access care.
▶ 4:11:27Now listen, my amendment doesn't force anyone to agree or not agree or agree or not agree with the very personal decision that a woman um may need to make to end her her her pregnancy. What my amendment does do, it protects her right to keep her job, her wages, her health care coverages, regardless of whatever the reason led uh to that medical occurrence.
▶ 4:11:56because uh personal disagreement with abortion is not a license to strip away workplace rights and to take away uh again I want to say to take away a woman's ability to make a living. So I'm urging my colleagues support this um uh amendment strike section 602. Let's not make this a debate about abortion.
▶ 4:12:18It's about protecting women's health and it's ensuring she can keep her job, her paycheck, and the ability to support herself and her family. And with that, I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. Uh the chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Rogers, to address the amendment. I oppose this amendment. I'm proud that the fiscal 26 bill rolls back the outofcontrol Biden Harris regulatory agenda.
▶ 4:12:50This amendment proposes to let it flourish. This provision prevents the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from completing the definition of reasonable accommodation to include abortions. For that reason, I oppose the amendment. Urge my colleagues to do the same and I yield back. Thank gentlemen. The gentle lady from New York, ranking member of the subcommittee, Miss Ming is recognized to address the amendment.
▶ 4:13:20Mr. Chairman, I strongly support this amendment. I support women and their right to make whatever healthc care decisions are best for them. That is up to them and their doctors and we should all trust women to make their own decisions in privacy.
▶ 4:13:35Through the bipartisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, Congress put laws in place that would prevent discrimination against pregnant women and require companies to make accommodations so that they can continue to do their job while they are expecting. It seems perfectly reasonable that such accommodations would include providing pregnant workers time to obtain necessary health care.
▶ 4:14:00Section 602 of this bill undermines that protection and as an insult to the women Congress stood up to protect through the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. I thank my colleague for offering this amendment to strike this harmful and unnecessary provision and urge a yes vote. I yield Thanks, gentle lady.
▶ 4:14:23Are there other members wishing to address the Seeing none, the gentle lady from Florida is recognized for one minute to Well, I've said it before, I'm going to say it again. It's it's a very personal decision for that should be made by a woman, not by a politician, whether she should uh either start or add to her family. many times there's not even a decision being made. It's in a medical emergency.
▶ 4:14:54Uh but with that said, I don't want to say opposition to uh an amendment that would make it clear that uh a woman having an abortion still gets the protection of the pregnancy fairness act. It is to oppose that is an insult an insult to the women of this country. Women of this country have a right to make a living to support themselves and to their family and that's what this amendment does.
▶ 4:15:22And with that I yield Thank the gentle lady. The uh question is now on the amendment offered by the gentle lady from Florida. All those in favor say I. All those post say no. The opinion of the chair the nos have it. Roll call has been requested. Sufficient or support's been demonstrated. The clerk will call the Mr. Adder Holt, Mr. Aguilar. Mr. Aguular. I. Mr. Alford.
▶ 4:15:52No. Mr. Alford. No. Mr. Ammeday. Mr. Ammeday. No. Mrs. Bice. Mrs. Bice. No. Mr. Bishop. Mr. Bishop. I. Mr. Calbertt. Mr. Calbert. No. Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter. No. Mr. Casease. Mr. Casease. I. Mr. Mr. Sisammani. No. Mr. Klene. Mr. Klene. No. Mr. Cloud. Mr. Cloud. No. Mr. Klyber. Mr. Klyurn. I.
▶ 4:16:22Mr. Clyde. Mr. Cole. Mr. Cole. No. Mr. Quayar. Miss Dean. Miss Dean. Miss Dean. I Mr. Luro Mr. Luro I Mr. Diaz Bolard Mr. Edwards Mr. Edwards No Mr. Elie Mr. Elzie No Miss Escobar Miss Escobar I Mr.
▶ 4:16:52Espayat Mr. Espayot I Mr. Fleshman Miss Frankle Miss Frankle I Mr. Franklin Mr. Franklin Mr. Franklin no Mr. Gonzalez Mr. Gonzalez no Mr. Guest Mr. Guest. No, Mr. Harter. Mr. Harter. I Dr. Harris. Dr. Harris. No. Mrs. Henson. Mr. Hoyer. Mr. Hoyer. I Mr. Ivy.
▶ 4:17:23Mr. Joyce. Mr. Joyce. No. Miss Captor. Miss Captor. I. Mr. Loa. Mr. Loa. No. Miss Lee. Miss Lee. I. Miss Llo. Miss Llo. No. Mr. 11 Mr. Lean I Miss Miss Malloy no Miss McCullum Miss McCullum I Miss Ming Miss Ming I Mr. Molinar Mr. Molinar No Mr.
▶ 4:17:51Moore Mr. Morelli Mr. Morelli I Mr. Morvani I Mr. Moran I Mr. New House Mr. New House no Miss Perez Miss Perez I Miss Pingri Miss Pingri I Mr. Pokean Mr. Quigley Mr. Quigley I Mr. Russianthaler Mr. Russianthaler no Mr. Rogers Mr. Rogers no Mr.
▶ 4:18:18Rutherford Mr. Simpson Mr. Simpson no Mr. Strong Mr. Strong no Mrs. Torres Mrs. Torres I miss Underwood. Miss Underwood I Mr. Valido. Mr. Valado. No. Miss Wasserman Schultz. Mrs. W. Mrs. M. Wasserman Schultz. I Mrs. Watson Coleman. I Mrs. Watson Coleman. I Mr. WAC. Mr. WAC. No. Mr.
▶ 4:18:48Zinci. Are there any members wishing to vote or change their vote? Gentleman from West Mr. Moore. No. Gentleman from Alabama. Mr. Adder Holt. No. Gentleman from Georgia. Mr. Clyde, no. Gentleman from Tennessee. Mr. Flechman, no. Gentleman from Florida, Mr. Diaz Bolard, no. Gentleman from Wisconsin. Mr.
▶ 4:19:16Pokean, I gentleman from Maryland. Mr. Ivy, I are there other members wishing to gentleman from Florida? No, please. Mr. Rutherford, no. Thank you. Yeah. Gentleman from Montana. Mr. Zinci. No. Are there other members wishing to vote or change their vote?
▶ 4:19:45Seeing none, the clerk will tell.
▶ 4:20:19On this vote, the eyes are 27, the nose are 34. The amendment is not adopted. Gentle lady from Florida, Miss Frankle is recognized for an amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have an amendment at the desk. I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with. The gentle lady's recognized for remarks on her Here we go again. Another good day for the women of the country.
▶ 4:20:47Uh, my amendment strikes the poison pill rider that blocks the Equal Opportunity Commission from enforcing its updated workplace harassment guidance. Incidentally, this guidance was the first major update in nearly 25 years replacing replacing guidance that was written back in the 1980s and 1990s. And the guidance finally reflects today's workplaces.
▶ 4:21:12The new guidance addresses harassment tied to pregnancy, child birth, and related conditions. It gives hundreds of practical real world examples uh of of harassment and it's updated because it talks about now video calls and online chats. Uh the guidance does not write the law.
▶ 4:21:34It clarifies it and it it gives employers it gives employees and even the courts a road mapap on on how anti-harassment protections apply in modern workplaces. It helps workers understand their rights. It helps employees stop harassment before it starts. And it ensures that every workplace is safe and fair and productive.
▶ 4:22:00Because listen, I think we all know harassment is not just immoral, it's costly. A healthy workplace is more productive. It's more engaged and better for business. Uh the Equal Opportunity Commission is critical in making that possible.
▶ 4:22:18issuing guidance, providing technical assistance, and holding bad actors And and did you know, if you don't, I'm going to tell you, sexual harassment is the single most frequently reported form of workplace harassment. One in three women will face it at some point in their careers. and uh our bipartisan women's caucus.
▶ 4:22:43We we've held hearings on this and the stories we heard were Hotel housekeepers forced to carry panic buttons to protect themselves from assaults by guests. A welder who walked away from her trade after constant barrage of crude jokes and comments. A waitress who endured humiliating remarks and pinches just to earn tips.
▶ 4:23:08a Silicon Valley executive who left their own startup after repeated derogatory comments in the boardroom. I it doesn't matter. All walks of life harassment is occurring and workforce harassment uh forces people to make heartbreaking choices. Sometimes to turn down promotions, sometimes to leave jobs, sometimes to entirely abandon careers. It damages health.
▶ 4:23:37It damages li livelihood and it ripples into their families and communities and the e so guidance the EEOC that's the again the uh uh commission uh which rep the Republicans are designed to prevent the harms. I think I think I better say that again in in just logical terms.
▶ 4:24:03the Republicans are are are blocking guidance to to stop the protection of our workers. That's why I'm going to ask a question. I you know something I always you're always asked the question, right? You're always Mr. Pokeans always asking the question, so I'm going to ask the question. Here's the question.
▶ 4:24:22Wh why why in the world would anybody in this room want to want to push a an agenda that would make workplace workplaces more hostile and more difficult for hardworking men and women to make a living? Why? Why does Can anybody tell me that? If you could tell me that, I'll even yield my mic. I have a hund one minute and six seconds. Listen, uh I I urge my colleagues support this amendment. Strike down the dangerous rider in the bill.
▶ 4:24:50stand up for safe, fair, and work and workplaces for all Americans. And with that, I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. The chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Rogers, to address the amendment.
▶ 4:25:09This amendment uh would increase the funding level of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission which is funded in the bill at about 435 million without an offset. Despite this tight budgetary environment, the fiscal year 2026 recommendation is about 15 million more than this committee's recommendation in fiscal year 25.
▶ 4:25:38The recommendation balances the needs to sufficiently fund agencies to do their jobs and cut government spending. For that reason, I oppose the amendment and I urge my colleagues to do the same and I yield back. Thank the gentleman. Chair recognizes gentle lady from New York, Miss Wing, to address the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I strongly support this amendment.
▶ 4:26:04In 1986, the US Supreme Court held that workplace harassment can constitute unlawful discrimination under title 7 of the Civil Rights Act. Decades later, as noted by the EEOC, harassing conduct remains a serious workplace problem.
▶ 4:26:20Between 2019 and 2023, more than a third of the charges of employment discrimination received by the EEOC included an allegation of unlawful harassment based on race, sex, disability, or another statutoily protected characteristic. The actual cases behind these numbers reveal that many people experiencing harassing conduct at work that may be unlawful.
▶ 4:26:45As the EEOC pointed out in its enforcement guidance on harassment in the workplace issued last year, this guidance addresses how workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information is defined under EEOC enforced statutes. However, section 603 of the bill before us today prohibits funding to implement or enforce this important guidance from the EEOC.
▶ 4:27:14This writer absolutely does not belong in this bill. I urge adoption of my good friend's amendment to remove this harmful writer from the bill. Are there other members wishing to address the amendment? Seeing none, the gentle lady from Florida is recognized for one minute to Thank you, M. I uh I just I think um Mr.
▶ 4:27:42Rogers may be uh talking about the next amendment because my my amendment does not add uh any extra money to this uh uh bill. Mr. Rogers, I I could yield to you if you want to take a look at that. Well, in any event, here here's the thing. I'll tell you again what my amendment does.
▶ 4:28:08What my what my amendment is is striking a what a a rider in the bill that that blocks the uh commission from enforcing guidance. Very very good uh guidance modernizes really what's going on in the workplace. It's guidance to both employers and employees on h how to protect uh and keep workplaces safe. That's that's what it's about.
▶ 4:28:34I think I think it's the with no disrespect to the next amendment that Mrs. Coleman will have. I think that is the one that uh puts a little bit more money. it's a good one, but it's not mine. All right, I yield back. I thank the gentle lady for understanding. Obviously had a mix up You good?
▶ 4:29:04Are you okay with the oppos? Okay. All right. U just to clarify, chairman remains opposed to your amendment. So, okay. But thank you. Um, are there any questions now on the amendment offered by the gentle lady from Florida? All those in favor say I. Those opposed say no. Opinion of the chair. Those have it. Roll call is requested.
▶ 4:29:33Sufficient support has been demonstrated. The clerk will call the role. Mr. Aderhalt. Mr. Aguilar. Mr. Alford. Yes. Mr. Alford, no. Mr. Amade. Mr. Amday. No. Mrs. Bice. Mrs. Bice. No. Mr. Bishop. Mr. Bishop. I. Mr. Calbertt. Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter. No. Mr. Casease. Mr. Casease. I. Mr. Sisammani.
▶ 4:30:04Mr. Sisammani. No. Mr. Klene. Mr. Cloud. Mr. Klyber. Mr. Klyber. I. Mr. Clyde Mr. Clyde No Mr. Cole no Mr. Cole no Mr. Quar Miss Dean Mr. Deluro Mr. Luro I Mr. Diaz Bolard almost halfway through amendment Mr. Edwards Mr. Edwards no Mr. Elz Mr.
▶ 4:30:33Elz no Miss Escobar Miss Escobar I Mr. Espayat Mr. Espayat I Mr. Fleshman Mr. Flashman. No. Miss Frankle. Miss Frankle. I Mr. Franklin. Mr. Franklin. No. Mr. Gonzalez. Mr. Gonzalez. No. Mr. Guest. Mr. Guest. No. Mr. Harter. Mr. Harter. I. Dr. Harris. Dr. Harris. No. Mrs. Henson. Mr. Hoyer. Mr. Hoyer. I. Mr. Ivy.
▶ 4:31:04Mr. Ivy. I. Mr. Joyce. Mr. Joyce. No. Miss Captor. Miss Captor. I Mr. Loa. Mr. Loa. No. Miss Lee. Miss Lee. I Miss Latlo. Miss Llo. No. Mr. Lean. Mr. Leaven. I Miss Miss Mallaloy. Miss Mallaloy. No. Miss Miss Ming. Miss Ming.
▶ 4:31:35I. Mr. Molinar. No. Mr. Molinar. No. Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore. No. Mr. Morelli. Mr. Morelli. I Mr. Morvan. Mr. New House. Mr. New House. No. Miss Perez. Miss Perez. I Miss Pingri. Miss Pingri. I Mr. Pokean. Mr. Pokean. I Mr. Quigley. I Mr. Quigley. I Mr. Rashenthaler. Mr. Russianthaler. No. Mr. Rogers. Mr. Rogers.
▶ 4:32:05No. Mr. Rutherford. Mr. Rutherford. Mr. Rutherford. No. Mr. Simpson. Mr. Simpson. No. Mr. Strong. Mr. Strong. No. Mrs. Torres. Mrs. Torres. I. Miss. Underwood. Miss. Underwood. I. Mr. Valado. Mr. Valido. No. Miss Wasserman Schultz. Mrs. Watson Coleman. Mrs.
▶ 4:32:35Watson Coleman. I. Mr. Mr. Wac. Mr. Wac. No. Mr. Zinci. Mr. Zinci. No. Are there members wish to cast their vote or change our vote? Gentleman from Mr. Calbertt. No. Gentleman from Florida. Mr. Diaz Bolard. No. Gentle lady from Pennsylvania. Miss Dean. I. A gentle lady from Minnesota. Miss McCullum. I. Gentleman from Indiana. Mr. Murvan. I. Gentleman from Virginia.
▶ 4:33:07Mr. Klene, no. Gentleman from California. Mr. Aguilar. I gentleman from Alabama. Mr. Adherald, no. Are there any other members wishing to vote or change their vote? Gentle lady from Florida. Gentle lady is not recorded.
▶ 4:33:39Are there any others? Seeing none, the clerk will tally.
▶ 4:34:31On this vote, the eyes are 27, the nose is 33. The amendment is not adopted. Gentle lady from New Jersey has Watman or Watson Coleman is recognized for an Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do have an amendment at the desk and I seek unanimous consent to dispense with the reading of it. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with and the gentle lady's recognized for remarks on her amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 4:35:03My amendment would restore the funding for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This bill in its current form defunds the EEOC by $20 million and would have defunded it another $ 35 million had Mr. Clyde had his way. Defunding the EEOC is just another way to rig the game against working people.
▶ 4:35:26Not only do corporations and wealthy executives need tax breaks, well, apparently they need greater leeway to abuse their workers as well. The EEOC is part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Landmark legislation that affirms it's not your race, it's not your skin color, it's not your religion or your gender or your identity that matters. What matters is your ability.
▶ 4:35:55But all too often that is not how things shake out. because qualified candidates are passed over for hiring and promotions because of prejudices because of racism and sexism or or just personal The EEOC stands up for qualified workers. It's a guardian of merit. It fights for folks who deserve more dignity than they've been given.
▶ 4:36:22It's a guard rail that stops bosses from exercising total control over their workers. Workplace discrimination won't go away if we defund the EEOC. In 2023, they adjudicated more than 80,000 claims. Defunding this commission only means more abuses will be permitted and where workers will be mistreated.
▶ 4:36:47And we all recognize that we are operating and living and working in an environment where the worker is mistreated, is disdained, and is taken for granted and is discriminated against because of race, creed, color, or national origin, ancestry, or any other other that there is. Earlier in my career, I served as a director of the Office of Civil Rights at the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
▶ 4:37:18So, I know what workplace discrimination looks like. And even earlier before that, my first job was working with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, enforcing the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, discrimination against h in housing, employment, and accommodations.
▶ 4:37:37and investigating those amplified for me just how racist, sexist, and other other discriminatory uh people had control over housing, employment, and even public accommodations for people who should not have been treated that way.
▶ 4:38:01I know how devastating it is to be bright, to be young, to be talented, to be a professional, to have their career derailed by an abusive boss. I even know what it feels like to be a person who's filed a discrimination complaint because of my sex against a an attorney general and a director of a division on civil rights which was designed created to protect those rights
▶ 4:38:31and by want to let you know I've won that case. So I uh want to support this additional $20 million to the um to the EEOC.
▶ 4:38:48It is heartbreaking for me to have worked in this field for some 50some years and to see that I'm still fighting the exact same fight I did in the beginning and that is equality and justice for all irrespective of my race, my religion, my ethnicity, who I love or what I look like.
▶ 4:39:12And so I urge my colleagues to please consider what justice should look like in this the most diverse country in the entire world and to accept my amendment. And with that, I thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. The gentleman from Kentucky, Chairman Rogers, is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 4:39:38This amendment would uh increase the funding level of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission which is funded in this bill at about 435 million without an offset. Despite this tight budgetary environment, the fiscal year 2026 recommendation is approximately $15 million more than this committee's recommendation in fiscal year 25.
▶ 4:40:07The recommendation balances the needs to sufficiently fund agencies to do their jobs and to cut government spending. For that reason, I oppose this amendment. Urge my colleagues to do the same and yield back. Thank the gentlemen. Chair recognized a gentle lady from New York, Miss Ming, who address the amendment. Mr.
▶ 4:40:32Chairman, I rise in support of my colleagues amendment to restore funding for the EOC, which plays a critical role in ensuring that all Americans can work in a fair and inclusive workplace and helps both workers and employers by resolving disputes quickly and fairly. Cutting funding for this agency only risks delays and weaken enforcement of the law. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and I yield back. Thank the gentle lady.
▶ 4:41:02Are there others wishing to address the amendment? Seeing none, the gentle lady is recognized for one minute to close. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know, I I believe in you have not because you ask not.
▶ 4:41:18So, I'm going to ask Jeff Bezos, who spent $55 million on his third wedding, if he could find 20 million to give to the EEOC so that we can enforce the laws against discrimination and protect the rights of everyone for their employment irrespective of their race, creed, color, or national origin. So, I ask my colleagues, would you ask Jeff Bezos with me? Let's send him a letter and ask him. He's very generous.
▶ 4:41:47and if he isn't, his first wife is. So with that, I ask that you would uh support this amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentle lady. Um questions now on the amendment offered by the gentle lady from New Jersey. All those in favor say I. All those post say no. The chair of the nose have it.
▶ 4:42:18Amendments's been uh excuse me. Roll call has been requested. Sufficient support having been demonstrated. The clerk will call the role. Mr. Adder Holt. Mr. Adder Holt. No. Mr. Agular. Mr. Aguular. I. Mr. Alford. Mr. Ammeday. Mrs. Bice. Mrs. Bice. No. Mr. Bishop. Mr. Bishop. I. Mr. Calbertt. No. Mr. Calbert. No. Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter.
▶ 4:42:48No. Mr. Casease. Mr. Casease. I. Mr. Ciscomani. Mr. Klene. Mr. Klene. No. Mr. Cloud. Mr. Klyurn. Mr. Klyber. I. Mr. Clyde. Mr. Clyde. No. Mr. Cole. Mr. Cole. No. Mr. Quayar. Miss Dean. Yes. Yes. Miss Dean I Mr. Loro Mr. Loro I Mr.
▶ 4:43:18Diaz Bollard Mr. Diaz Bolard No Mr. Edwards Mr. Edwards no Mr. Elzie Mr. Elzie no Miss Escobar Miss Escobar I Mr. Espayat Mr. Espayat I Mr. Fleshman Mr. Franklin Mr. Franklin no Mr. Gonzalez Mr. Gonzalez no Mr. Guest Mr. Guest. No. Mr. Harter. Mr. Harter. I. Dr. Harris. Dr. Harris. No. Mrs.
▶ 4:43:50Mr. Hoyer. Mr. Hoyer. I. Mr. Ivy. Mr. Ivy. I. Mr. Joyce. Mr. Joyce. No. Miss Captor. Miss Captor. I. Mr. Loa. Miss Lee. Miss Lllo. Miss Lllo. No. Mr. Leven. Miss Mallaloy. Miss Mallaloy. No. Miss McCullum. Hi. Miss McCullum. I Miss Ming.
▶ 4:44:21Miss Ming. I Mr. Molinar. Mr. Molinar. No. Mr. Moore. No. Mr. Moore. No. Mr. Morelli. Mr. Morelli. I Mr. Mvan. Mr. Mvan. I. Mr. New House. Mr. New House. No. Miss. Perez. Miss. Perez. I Miss Pingri. Miss Pingri. I. Mr. Pokean Mr. Pokean I Mr. Quigley Mr. Quigley I Mr. Rashenthaler Mr. Russianthaler No Mr. Rogers Mr. Rogers No Mr.
▶ 4:44:51Rutherford Mr. Rutherford No Mr. Mr. Simpson no Mr. Strong Mr. Strong no Mrs. Torres Mrs. Torres I miss Underwood Miss Underwood I Mr. Valido Mr. Valido no Miss Wasserman Schultz Miss Wasserman Schultz I Mrs. Watson Coleman Mrs. Watson Coleman I Mr. WAC Mr. WAC No Mr. Zinci Mr.
▶ 4:45:18Zinci no there any members wishing to vote or change their vote gentle gentleman from Mr. Quay I gentle lady from Florida. Miss Frankle I gentle lady from Nevada. Miss Lee I. Gentleman from California. Mr. Lean. I gentleman from New York. No. Mr. Loa. No. Gentleman from Arizona. Mr. Ciscomani.
▶ 4:45:48No. Are there others wishing to record their vote or change their vote? Gentleman from Missouri. Mr. Alford. No. Are there others wishing to change or record their vote? Not the court will tally.
▶ 4:46:45On this vote, the eyes are 28, the nose are 31. The amendment is not adopted. Gentle lady from New Jersey, Miss Watson Coleman is recognized for an amendment. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk and I ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading of it. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with. The gentle lady's recognized for remarks on her Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 4:47:13I won't be asking for a roll call vote for this, but I do want this to be part of the My amendment would reverse dramatic cuts to the Legal Services Corporation that are included in this bill. The Legal Services Corporation or LSC is an uh resource for lowincome Americans who need legal services but cannot afford them. Let me be clear about who the L LSC is serving.
▶ 4:47:43Their clients are victims of domestic violence, seniors, veterans, children, survivors of natural disasters, etc. These are folks living on less than $19,000 a year. In 2024 the LSC helped 6.4 million people with legal services.
▶ 4:48:07That includes nearly 1 million children, more than 300,000 sen seniors, 45,000 veterans, and 200,000 cases related to domestic violence Yet, this bill proposes to slash the LSC's budget by 46%. This would have a devastating consequence for lowincome Americans who are already vulnerable.
▶ 4:48:33It would strip crucial resources from struggling families who do not have the means to defend themselves and to pursue the justice that they are owed. The LSC serves communities in each and every congressional district across the country. Each and every member of this committee has constituents who are served by the LSC. If anyone is curious about the impact of these cuts on their districts, well, I've got the sheet right here.
▶ 4:49:01Chairman Rogers, if you're curious, the cuts in the bill would mean 159 fewer veterans, 800 fewer seniors, 3,000 fewer children, and 710 fewer victims of domestic violence would be able to access legal services from the LSC in your district, Kucky's five. Across the country, these cuts mean 3 million fewer people get the legal support they need.
▶ 4:49:30Nationwide, that's 450,000 fewer children, more than 140,000 fewer seniors, over 20,000 fewer veterans, and over 94,000 fewer survivors of domestic violence getting the legal services that they are entitled to. The LSC is not a partisan body. It does not help people based on ideology or political inclination. It helps people based on their need, and we're all better off for it.
▶ 4:50:00For every dollar that we devote to to the LSC, taxpayers get $7 back and increased economic activity. It's one of the most efficient services that we fund. Through the LSC, we save ourselves money in the long term and provide the protection of the law to struggling families who otherwise would not be able to receive it. It's a good program and we should make sure that it has the resources it needs.
▶ 4:50:30I therefore encourage my colleagues, please support this amendment. I thank you and I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. The gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Rogers, is recognized to address the amendment. This amendment uh would increase the funding level of the legal services which is funded in the bill at about 300 million without an offset.
▶ 4:50:58The fiscal 26 CJS bill required difficult decisions on how to best spread thin resources. arise to highlight that while funding for the legal services corporation was reduced, it was not eliminated. I think it's important to recognize that fact.
▶ 4:51:22This amendment takes for granted the difficult balance of sufficiently funding agencies to carry out their missions while recognizing the need to reduce government spending. For that reason, I oppose the amendment, urge my colleagues to do the same, and yield back. I thank the gentleman. The gentle lady from New York, ranking member of the subcommittee, is recognized to address the amendment. Mr.
▶ 4:51:51Chairman, I strongly support this amendment. Legal services are fundamental to the justice systems integrity and the rule of law. They ensure lowincome and working-class families can get help with the most basic civil legal problems. This can include family law matters ranging from domestic violence, child support and custody, and housing concerns such as evictions and foreclosures.
▶ 4:52:15These issues are life-changing for so many of our constituents, and we know how important it is for them to have proper legal representation. The bill we're considering today cuts funding for LSC nearly in half, meaning millions of Americans, including children, seniors, veterans, and survivors of domestic violence, would be denied the legal assistance they need across all of our districts. In my community alone, that would mean nearly 9,000 fewer people would get help.
▶ 4:52:45Children facing instability at home, domestic violence survivors seeking legal protections to escape abuse, veterans struggling to access benefits, and seniors facing eviction would all go without assistance. The investment we make in LSC every year helps make sure that our most vulnerable constituents have a fair shot when faced with hardship.
▶ 4:53:09It also saves taxpayers money by resolving legal issues early and reducing the burden on shelters, health care system, social services, and law enforcement. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. The gentleman from Washington is recognized to address the amendment. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 4:53:32Um if I could before I address the amendment uh for the last couple of days well for this entire season I've been sitting here my view of the committee hearing room I have the beautiful visage of former chair Nita Loey and as you all know yesterday the members of Congress former and current that we lost over the last year were recognized in the statuary hall and I just wanted to just for a second bring up Miss Loe's name and that we all recognize
▶ 4:54:03her service and remember her. Also, the brother of our friend, Mr. Diaz Balard, was part of that group as well. And I'm sure many of you had people from your own states that were recognized. So, I just want to mention that. And thank you, Chair Loey, for keeping me in line here on a daily basis.
▶ 4:54:20Uh but I do want to uh address the legal services corporation and I'm sure everybody is familiar with the program but and you know as the fine um sponsor of the amendment talked about it ensures that Americans in every corner of our country have access to civil legal services which truly is a fundamental tenant of the American 130 LSC grantees provide civil legal services to over two million Americans every year.
▶ 4:54:51They help homeowners and renters avoid wrongful evict eviction or foreclosure. They help seniors and veterans avoid fraud and abuse. They help families escape domestic violence and help resolve barriers to employment. And I would note as well that federal law restricts LSSE funded programs and organizations from providing legal assistance to nonitizens with certainly some statutory exemptions.
▶ 4:55:20But the numbers speak for for themselves. As the fine sponsor said, every dollar invested comes back seven times over in economic value, which is a strong economic return in anybody's estimation. The need for these services is real. To meet the urgent needs of the lowincome Americans, LSC's fiscal year 26 budget request seeks an increase of $335 over last year's fiscal year.
▶ 4:55:51All of which goes to organizations in our communities that provide civil legal services to these eligible Americans. Even with that increase, the need is much greater than the resources provided. The unressed legal issues resulting from a lack of access to legal resources lead to economic instability which negatively affects families, businesses, and I would say all of our communities.
▶ 4:56:17So certainly I appreciate and understand that the fiscal uh constraints that we are working under and we must be responsible. But I just want to say there's value to these programs and I certainly look forward to working with the sponsor, with the chairman, uh, to ensure that LSSE has the resources necessary to ensure that all Americans have access to civil legal services. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back. Thanks, gentlemen.
▶ 4:56:46Are there other members wishing to address the Seeing none, the gentle lady from New Jersey is recognized for one minute to Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have tremendous uh respect for my colleague who spoke on behalf of LSC. We've worked together on some other things.
▶ 4:57:06He's just a good guy and I appreciate it and I hope that he has the kind of influence that he should have because of his wisdom and his righteousness with his with his colleagues. With that, um, I ask for support of this amendment and I yield back. Gentle lady, inadvertently called me, Mr. Speaker. I thought you were my Nobody wants to be the speaker.
▶ 4:57:33I would be your friend and I would be the friend of the entire House of Representatives. That could be the case. Um, the gentle lady, I just want for clarification. You want us to proceed with the vote? You mentioned you were No, sir. No. No. I do not want a um I want a vote. Do you want a voice? Yes. Thank you so much. All right. All those in No, I do not want a roll call. Okay. All those in favor of the say I.
▶ 4:58:03All those opposed say no. And the opinion of the chair the nose have it. I have it right. No, I don't think so. Nice try, Bill. Uh the meeting the amendment is not agreed to, but the debate was appreciated. Uh gentle lady from California, Miss Taus is recognized for an amendment. Thank you, chairman. I rise to offer an amendment and ask that the reading be dispensed with.
▶ 4:58:32Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with. The gentle lady is recognized for remarks on her Uh thank you, chairman and subcommittee. Chairman, I uh my amendment would prohibit the Department of Justice from using taxpayer dollars to pay settlements to January 6 It would also prohibit the Department of Justice from negotiating and entering into settlements with insurrectionists.
▶ 4:59:01January 6 was a violent attack by a violent insurrectionist mob and an act of treason. Ashley Babbot was a willing a willing participant of that violent mob trying to overturn a democratic fair election, trying to kidnap and murder members of
▶ 4:59:31Congress and trying to hang the Republican Vice President Pence. The officer who stopped her from entering the floor while members were trapped inside protected members of Congress in our democ democracy in this institution.
▶ 4:59:58That officer his reward was violent threats against him and his family. In contrast, President Trump rewarded these insurrectionists with a $5 million settlement paid in full by hard working taxpayers dollars.
▶ 5:00:23The same hardworking taxpayers who pay the cost to clean up and repair the damage that these insurrectionists and violent mob caused. The settlement is a betrayal that puts those who protect us at greater risk.
▶ 5:00:42It is a stain on the officers who were doing their job, the brave policemen and police women who saved lives and protected this institution. So, what message is the president sending to those who beat our police officers with the American flag?
▶ 5:01:08Those who attacked the US capital in a failed attempt to overturn a fair election with a $5 million reward. After this five million settlement, five other Proud Boy members of a rightwing extremist group filed a lawsuit against the US government for
▶ 5:01:45The five insurrectionists were convicted of plotting and taking part in the January six insurrection. And President Trump's response on his very first day and first few hours in office was to pardon all 1,500 of their closest violent agitators.
▶ 5:02:17More of these lawsuits are expected and that is why we must ensure that our constituents, the hardworking, lawabiding taxpayers we pretend to do not have to foot the bill for these violent insurrectionists.
▶ 5:02:42I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, not because it has Torres D next to it, but because it is the right thing to do for our democracy, for the rule of law, and for the next generation of Americans that we protect when we banned abortions. And I yield back.
▶ 5:03:11Thank you, gentle lady. The chair recognizes a gentleman from Kentucky, Chairman Rogers, to address the This amendment ties the hands of by limiting their discretion to settle cases when justice may require it. I can't support an amendment that limits the abilities of some defendants, but not others. For that reason, I oppose the amendment.
▶ 5:03:41Urge my colleagues to do the same and I yield back. Thank the gentlemen. The chair recognizes gentle lady from New York, Miss Bing, to address the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this amendment, which simply says that we will not pay the people who attacked our US capital on January 6.
▶ 5:04:04On that dark day, our democracy itself was attacked, as were many of the people on both sides of the aisle in this room. It is bad enough that the president chose to pardon the criminals who rioted, destroyed property, and violently attacked our Capitol police officers.
▶ 5:04:26It would be an even more serious mistake to allow the Justice Department to compensate them for the consequences of their decision to attack our capital and threaten the peaceful transfer of power. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and I yield back. Thanks, gentle. The gentleman from New York, Mr. Morelli, is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr.
▶ 5:04:56Chairman, and thanks to my friend and colleague, uh, the gentle lady from California for offering this amendment. Mr. Chairman, it is truly a sad state of affairs that we even feel the need to debate whether American taxpayers should be used to settle lawsuits with those individuals who attacked the United States capital on January 6, 2021.
▶ 5:05:18These individuals who attempted to overturn the 2020 election and in many cases violently assaulted the law enforcement officers protecting us are now suing the federal government claiming they were the ones who had been This is truly an Alice and Wonderland moment. Under a normal administration, Republican or Democrat, this amendment would be unnecessary.
▶ 5:05:42But this administration has shown time and time again it will stop at nothing to rewrite history and cater to and coddle those who violently attacked the capital on January 6th. Within hours of taking the oath of office this past January, President Trump issued a blanket pardon for hundreds of violent offenders, including many who had assaulted law enforcement during the Since then, the Department of Justice has continued to look for ways to expand the scope of these pardons,
▶ 5:06:13arguing that the pardons even cover crimes completely unrelated to January 6th in a switch in just several days after uh the administration took office. The pardons language specifically references offenses related to events at or near the capital on January 6, not crimes committed in other states on other dates and with real no real nexus uh to the events of January 6th. January Yeah, January 6.
▶ 5:06:43When the attorney general came before our subcommittee earlier this year, I asked her specifically about the department's changed position on these cases and she repeatedly refuse to answer the question. Mr. Mr. Chairman, what message does it send when the president and his department of pardon attempt to expand the scope of the pardon and then potentially pay millions of dollars to those who laid siege to the United States capital?
▶ 5:07:13The message is clear. Political violence is acceptable as long as it's committed in the service of Donald Trump. At a time in which threats to members are at an all-time high and after President Trump unleashed an army of insurrectionists into our communities, it is astonishingly reckless to provide financial assistance that incentivizes future acts of political violence. It's also deeply unfair to law enforcement.
▶ 5:07:39I'll associate myself with the words of former Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger, who recently said with regard to the $5 million settlement for Ashley Babbot, which was referenced by Miss Torres. He said, "This settlement sends a chilling message to law enforcement nationwide, especially to those with a protective mission like ours. So much for supporting law enforcement. Mr. Mr.
▶ 5:08:03Chairman, these actions make it clear this administration will do anything to support these violent insurrectionists and demonstrate that Miss Torres amendment is sadly very badly needed. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment and I yield back. Thank you, gentlemen. The other gentleman from New York, Mr. Espayat, is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr.
▶ 5:08:27Um you know we have been um advocating and fighting um in this committee through the Lech branch committee where I am the ranking member of to install a plaque the men and women the Capitol police that defended our lives defended democracy. defended our lives.
▶ 5:08:57Didn't matter whether you were Democrat or Republican. They didn't ask you to raise your hand if you were Republican or Democrat and then proceeded only to help one side and not the other. They were here to protect all of us. Many of them were severely hurt by this insurrectionist violent mob.
▶ 5:09:20And we have been fighting uh to install a simple plaque that will honor their duty, their their service, their commitment to to this house. And we have been up until today unsuccessful in doing that. I am sure that it is not a very expensive endeavor. I am sure that it is not a complicated one.
▶ 5:09:47But this body has yet to acknowledge properly and formally the men and women of the Capitol police that defended our lives, ushered us to safety, put their bodies on the line, were severely hurt, some of them retired, some of them committed suicide after the incident, one death. So we have not been able to do that yet.
▶ 5:10:15Here we are trying to financially with members of this violent mob. Unamerican, unbelievable that we're doing that.
▶ 5:10:36And we and we go out there and we walk right right past these Capitol police officers and we see them doing their job and we cannot acknowledge them in a proper way yet we're willing to with these insurrectionists that came in. They were vipartisan in their violence. They say hang Mike Pence. Mike Pence was a Republican. Where is Nancy? Nancy Pelosi is a Democrat.
▶ 5:11:06They make no as to who they wanted to hurt. In fact, when I went over to the Ways and Means room where everybody was huddled, I saw Republicans and Democrats there. Some of us look very scared from both sides of the aisle. And yet, we have failed to properly honor these police officers. And I will want to give a handout to this violent mom.
▶ 5:11:36Unamerican, I strongly urge you to vote against this. And I yield back. Thank gentlemen. The gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Ivy, is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I I I certainly support this amendment.
▶ 5:12:00And I I I want to say that normally after you have a case where as a prosecutor you get a conviction and the conviction goes up on appeal and it's affirmed and um there's no evidence of any kind of prosecutorial misconduct. There's no evidence of any kind of misconduct by the police like say for example fabricating evidence or something along those lines. um you're immune to a pro any kind of settlement challenge.
▶ 5:12:30If you get sued personally or if the state were in this instance the federal government gets sued, it's a walk away winner. Uh because there's no evidence there was any injury done to the these people that was inappropriate. These people clearly deserve to go to jail. Uh the ones that were prosecuted, many of them pled guilty. Many of them went to trial. I think there were a handful that were acquitted, but roughly 1,500 of them were convicted. All of their appeals went up.
▶ 5:12:59If you if you plead guilty, you don't get an appeal, but if if they went to trial and and and and appealed it after a conviction, they were all affirmed. Uh there were some were a count was overturned, but everybody's cases got affirmed. And what that meant was that these cases were proper. The evidence was proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The juries that uh imposed those verdicts of guilty did it based on the evidence and did it appropriately.
▶ 5:13:27The judges that sustained those convictions acted appropriately and the appellet courts did too. So under these kind of circumstances, it is totally for the federal government to award settlement dollars to these defendants. They don't deserve it. Nothing was done wrong to them. They were the bad actors. They were the ones that committed a wrong.
▶ 5:13:49They're the ones that committed violent acts that led to the deaths, as we just heard a moment ago, of in some instances, police officers and the countless attacks that took place that day. We should not be giving any money to any of those individuals. They don't deserve it under the law and certainly not from a moral standpoint. So, why we're doing this is unclear, I think, on those grounds.
▶ 5:14:12But, you know, I think it's pretty clear that President Trump uh really wants to try and change the the history of this. He's concerned about how it'll look down the road. He's tried to make every kind of argument you can to pretend like it's something different than what it actually was. Um, and the reason they want to do these settlements without going to court is because if it went to court and the government moved to throw these out on summary judgement, they'd win every time.
▶ 5:14:42So, giving the money away, and that's exactly what this is. giving away money, millions of dollars, and creating a precedent for this going forward is a problem not only for the Treasury. And you know, we've been talking about many of the amendments you guys object to is bon based on lack of funds. This would actually save money for the federal government and rightly so. Save it from people that don't deserve to have it and shouldn't be getting it under any circumstances.
▶ 5:15:11So, I I urge you all to support this amendment. It's the right thing to do. It sends the right message with respect to the prosecutors and police who are out there working these cases. Frankly, the judges who were probably mystified about the pardons that were given here, uh, and to the American people, folks like the folks in my district who look on this and just kind of wonder what the hell went on with this.
▶ 5:15:34There was a stretch there before President Trump got reelected where he kept talking about two tiers of justice and complaining that he was getting some kind of lower standard of justice. Um, well, the fact of the matter is he got more justice than anybody deserves or ought to get by far.
▶ 5:15:52He still got convicted on the 34 criminal counts, but the folks who got convicted on these cases and the people who were victimized by these uh attackers on the capital, they didn't get the justice they deserve. With that, I yield back. Thank the gentlemen. The other gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Tory is recognized to address the amendment.
▶ 5:16:17I agree with emphatically with my colleague from who's an outstanding prosecutor, but more than that uh views fairly I think we're about to see again the rationalization of criminal I don't know how people who rationalize what happened on January
▶ 5:16:476 can look at themselves in the mirror. I was outraged. I am outraged today at the actions of the president of the United States. in pardoning I am convinced that the reason he did it is because they did exactly what he asked them to do.
▶ 5:17:17Which means he was a co-conspirator and is equally guilty. And if you think that those words are too harsh, it is the truth. One penny for any of the insurrectionists is too much.
▶ 5:17:45Not just for the taxpayers, but for Why do we incarcerate people? a to penalize them but also to disincentivize actions that they took being taken by You sit there silent. You shake your head.
▶ 5:18:08You're part of the incentive for the angriest and most criminal of your of the American people to do this action Let me tell you, and I've said this before, I was there. We were taken out of the capital. All of the leadership, there was not one of us, Republican or Democrat, who was not as outraged as I'm trying to reflect right now.
▶ 5:18:39I know most of you in this room. Some I don't know well, but I know some people well in this room. of very high character, of very high morals, of very high standards, and to send a message to the American people this is okay is beneath our duty and our responsibility and our oath to the Constitution of the United States.
▶ 5:19:12I cannot believe that we are letting down the Capitol police, the Constitution, and the American people by rationalizing this It ought to be beneath us and certainly beneath the president of the United States.
▶ 5:19:34But none of you, none of us urged them to do I hope what they did to do one of the very few assaults on the capital of the United States. The British did it in 1812 and they burned the capital. This is going to be a big boat.
▶ 5:20:04Not because politically, but morally and ethically in terms of what we're going to say to the American public about their conduct. Both sides have very angry people on each side.
▶ 5:20:30I want all of you to think about the consequences of the vote you're about to take and the message it sends to people who will march down Constitution Avenue, come on the Capitol assault police officers, protecting not us per se, Okay.
▶ 5:20:56But democracy, the right of a government to act freely and within the law. This is not about whether we spend 10 million here, 10 million there. That's important decisions. This is about who we are as a Congress representing the constitution and laws of our country.
▶ 5:21:32Not one of the 1500 they were convicted. This is not an allegation. they were convicted or plead guilty to the crime of assaulting the government of the United States and trying to prohibit the Congress of the United States from doing its job which it constitutionally had sworn to do.
▶ 5:22:07Now, colleagues, I have great affection for many of you and respect for all of you as members of Congress, chosen by your neighbors and friends. The only way you got here. Don't let them down. Have the courage to stand up and do what you know is right.
▶ 5:22:31If a Democratic president had done this, you would all be up in arms. Please do not make a political judgment here. Uh I have to support the leader judgment here. I don't want to be Liz Cheney decision. Do what's right for our country. Do what's right.
▶ 5:23:01Thank gentlemen. The gentle lady from Ohio, Miss Captors, recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise in strong support of the Tories amendment uh to prevent any funds from being used for settlements with January 6th insurrectionists. On January 6, the hallowed grounds of our capital and our very system of governance that has sustained our country for more than two centuries came under attack.
▶ 5:23:32How do I know this? I was among those trapped in the capital on that fateful day in the gallery against my will. That never happened to me in my life before. Certainly never happened to me in the Capitol before. Uh just as some of us in this room were, I'm curious how many people who remain serving in Congress today on this committee were trapped inside the capital that day.
▶ 5:24:01Could you raise your hand, please? You see, there are some that hope for faded memory. But for those of us, the vast majority of people on this committee did not raise their hand. Because you know the truth? The truth is that most members of Congress weren't in the chamber that day. Some had been on the floor and were drawn off into the Rayburn building or other buildings to protect them.
▶ 5:24:28But for those of us who were in the capital, we represent a minority of those who were serving and responding to our congressional duty to be there that day for the recording of the official count that had come to us from the states. So what shocked me that day was that the majority of members were not on the floor.
▶ 5:24:48Now earlier in the day when the official proceeding the members there when the insurrection started were herded off the floor and so they were put in special rooms. I still don't know to this day where they were. But for those of us who were trapped in the capital, friends, it was a complete new experience. And we didn't leave for hours. We were trapped on the floor.
▶ 5:25:16The insurrectionist tried to bang in the doors and the guards on the inside, the police on tried to hold them back. We had some members truly, I think to this day, had pts. I grew up in a working-class neighborhood, so I don't have PTS. But I know what happened up there. We heard when the tear gas went off. Uh if it weren't for Dr. Raul Ruiz, I mean, I didn't know how to use a tear gas mask and all the rest. So, he's a hero in my eyes. And how he tried to bring calm to the people in our corner.
▶ 5:25:45This was not a walk in the park and none of you experienced it. So, you shouldn't even vote on this. But for those of us who did, we have a responsibility to the republic. All right. So, I was stunned at the chaos, at the tear gas, at the wild behaviors. We could hear people. We could hear them coming. They're trying to get through the transoms on the doors.
▶ 5:26:08We heard stuff hitting the doors from the outside and the damaging intent of what was enveloping us and we didn't really understand what it was. All right. So, together we watched as Capitol police officers defended our capital and the thousands of lives inside of it. I can't imagine what happened to the people who are in cleaning crews, people who just were wandering in the capital that day. I have no idea what happened to them. So, the American people saw more than we did what was on the outside.
▶ 5:26:39And what is very telling to me, because I've read every word in the record, and I recommend you do that, too. For the people who spoke right before hell broke loose, see who they were. Look who was on the floor. and some of what they said indicated they knew exactly what was going on outside. Okay? So, it's in the record. I say that to all the people who didn't join us that day. All right? So, it was the most recorded constitutional crime in our nation's governance in the whole history of the country.
▶ 5:27:10It was an insurrection for those of us who were on the inside doing our job. Don't what do we deserve for the hours that day and for all the harm that could have been done to people? To this day, I know of some of the people that were in that room where we were up in the Capitol um in the gallery who have remembrances that are not pleasant. They can't sleep at night to this day. What about them? Lots of them left Congress. They said, "This is it. I've had enough." Right? Okay.
▶ 5:27:40Is that the attitude that we want to pay those who did this to our own people, to our country, to our Congress? We're going to pay them. They should do work in service to the country. All right. Now, we know many police lost their lives and had injuries. Many quit. That night, I went back to the place where I'd been held because I just wanted to see what was there. It was after, I don't know, 10:00 at night or something. And I walked over there and one of the sergeant-at-arms personnel was sitting outside the door and he was just staring.
▶ 5:28:10He was of age. Um I would guess at least 60. And I said, "Sir, are you okay?" He said, "Congresswoman," and he just stared straight. He says, "I've never seen anything like it in my 30 years of being an officer. I never saw him again. I never knew what happened to that man." As I was leaving the chamber, all right, what was going on?
▶ 5:28:31We were forced to the floor upstairs because we saw the guns on the outside of the chamber and the guns then on the inside of the chamber pointed out. All right? And we were told, "Get down on the floor. We don't know if we can exit you quickly." All right? We don't know who's on the other side of the door. Okay, put yourself put your wife in that position. Put your daughter in that position. Think of what I was so afraid for some of our members as we had to evacuate because we were on one side of the gallery.
▶ 5:28:59We had to go to the other side of the gallery and there were a lot of people that couldn't make it under those gold bars, under those brass bars, nor over them. What about them? I worried about them. How are they going to get out? So, uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I hear the gavl. But I just want to say I would ask the members in this chamber if you were not there, if you did not experience this, you shouldn't vote. You shouldn't vote on this because we never other than recording our experience.
▶ 5:29:30Uh if if you don't know what happened, really, you shouldn't even vote. All right? And so I just say that it was not a pleasant experience. I urge my members to support this amendment because those who were harmed in one way or another never got justice and these people shouldn't get money for what they did. I yield back. Gentle lady from Connecticut, Mr.
▶ 5:29:58Lor's recognized to address the amendment. I wasn't intending to speak on this, but I listened to Miss Captor and we were up in the gallery that day listening because Connecticut was not involved in the vote, etc.
▶ 5:30:16But it was a moment to listen to what was happening and all of a sudden we see people being evacuated from the floor and was like, "What the heck is going on?" Capital, please come to the podium and just say stay in your seats. Everything is going to be okay. We sat down. Not a few minutes later, capital police come back and say, "Get out the gas masks." I've been here 34 years. I didn't even know, god damn it, there were gas masks under our seat.
▶ 5:30:46We pulled out the gas masks. I didn't know what to do with it. I don't know how to do it. Jims, my colleague from Connecticut, was there. I said, "Jim, what what the hell do we do with these?" And then they said, "There's no time. We got to move. we got to go. And so you ever see you're up in the gallery on the third floor, it's up and down. It's up and down. Up and down over the over over the bars. And it wasn't just us. There were a lot of young members of the of the journalists up there.
▶ 5:31:14Young women who were scared to death. And yeah, were we scared, you know. And it was one of our it was it was Crow who said, "Take your pin Stay low. It was a former ranger. Stay down. And then there were the shots. And they said, "Hit the ground." And they had the barricades up against the chamber walls.
▶ 5:31:38The windows had been and had what happened outside in the lobby there. If they had broken through, they'd have been on the floor of the House of Representatives. That's how close it was. We hit the floor. I had my phone with little juice. Little juice in it.
▶ 5:32:04And I wanted to make a call to my husband and I was afraid because I recalled 911 and those last phone calls where people called loved ones. But I made the call and I just said to him, "Just tell the kids I'm all right. They're going to get us out of here. The Capitol police will get us out of here." And the Capitol police got us out. And Marcy says it right. We got to the doors on the other side.
▶ 5:32:35And again, it was Crow who stood up and he said, "Don't move. Don't move because we don't know who's on the other side of the door." And we waited until it was safe. And they opened the door. And when we walked out that door, there were all of these insurrectionists on the floor, spread eagle with a Capitol police over them, and they got us the hell out of there. Those folks were heroes that day. They saved our lives.
▶ 5:33:01My god, every time we see them, I know every s time I see a Capitol police officer, I say, "Thank you. Thank you." And to that we would be willing to compensate people who put not our lives at risk, our staff's lives at risk. One of my staff members was barricaded in the office that I had as a leadership office that now Mr. Cole has poor Harper.
▶ 5:33:31He barricaded himself in there. And you know, he couldn't go into the Capitol for months. It's a young guy. He just couldn't do it to go back into the Capitol. I tried to get him as we were being pushed down the steps to go and Capitol police said, "No, you can't stop. Just keep going." And we weren't able to get him out of there until the end of the day. I don't know where some of you were because some of you were here. I don't know where you were. I don't know what your experience is.
▶ 5:34:01This is our We're personal experience for some of us here. maybe all of us here who were there that day. It wasn't an ordinary day on Capitol Hill. It was a day where people were determined to overturn an election and overturn the government. And I don't care who they are. They should not be rewarded or compensated as it is.
▶ 5:34:30They were pardoned, which is almost there's a Catholic word, there's a sacrilege that that happened, but so be it. But now, let's not add insult to injury and compensate them for what they did of nearly taking down the United States government. God help us, who we are, what we stand for. There's more than just being elected to this office. It's about what we hold dear.
▶ 5:35:01What makes us do what we want to do? What are the values that we uphold in this institution? That is what is central and what makes this government work. That's what our jobs are is to make this government work for people. And that day there were those who wanted to destroy the government and not make it work. Please God, do not allow them to be compensated. I yield back.
▶ 5:35:32Thank gentlemen waiting votes have been So without objection from the comm the committee stands in recess. We'll obviously resume where we left off. A subject to call the chair. M Mr.
▶ 5:35:46Chairman start right back here, but I don't see any reason to sit here when members have left. We're not going to be able to get to a vote and come back. I'll withdraw the objection, Mr. Well, I appreciate that. Thank you very much.
▶ 5:36:15This is a very serious vote and to interrupt it and go walk around and I have one minute I think is wrong. I didn't interrupt the object. The votes interrupted it. Well, we're subject to recall the chair. Thank you very much.
▶ 8:28:08Committee will come to order and we will resume debate. Thank all of you for getting back here. Uh we were on the touris amendment. I believe Mr. Lean was next up. And I believe after that, Miss Watson Coleman was next up. The gentle lady is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
▶ 8:28:38I rise in strong support of my friend and my colleagues because I believe that giving 30 cents of taxpayer dollars to a bunch of who tried to kill anybody they could get a hold of and threaten to hang the uh vice president of the United States is abominable. It's awful.
▶ 8:29:06It's distasteful, disgusting, indefensible, repugnant, odious, outrageous, vulgar, shameful, objectionable, losome, vile, shocking, foul, detestable, ghastly, repugnant, and downright wrong.
▶ 8:29:31And for all of those reasons, I support my colleagues amendment and I pray that my colleagues across the aisle will recognize just what a terrible precedent this would represent and how they're going to go down in history in supporting people who intentionally try to kill a vice president.
▶ 8:30:00kill democracy and tear down our democracy. I thank you and I yield Thank gentle lady. Are there others wishing to address the amendment? Seeing none, the gentle lady is recognized for one minute uh to close. Uh thank you, chairman.
▶ 8:30:23And I think one of my colleagues uh quoted a former Capitol Police uh chief manager uh when he said after he found out about the $5 million settlement um he said, "I am extremely disappointed and disagree with this settlement in 2021. The DOJ investigation determined no wrongdoing by the police.
▶ 8:30:51This settlement sends a chilling message to law enforcement especially to those with a protective mission like ours. Every single day, we salute our flag. And that salute ends with with liberty and justice for all.
▶ 8:31:18And all of us here in this room are against political violence. I know that. I've talked to many of you about what happened on that horrible January 6. Many of you were not here, but it happened. And I can't tell you how difficult that day was.
▶ 8:31:49reverting back to my 911 dispatcher days, ensuring that everything that happened was recorded was noted because I wasn't sure if the cameras were still rolling running from um one side to the other to hold a member's hand who was also shouting at the floor at the vile comments
▶ 8:32:19that were being said. Political violence should not be tolerated. Not on January 6 and not today. And we should not reward anyone by giving them $100 million for committing political violence. I urge you to vote in support of this amendment and I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. The questions now on the amendment offered by the gentle lady from California.
▶ 8:32:48All those in favor say I. I. All those post say no. Opinion of the chair. The nose have it. Roll call has been requested. Sufficient number of hands have been raised. Clerk will call the role. Mr. Adderhalt. Mr. Adhalt. No. Mr. Mr. Alford. Mr. Ammeday Mr. Ammedday. No. Mrs. Mr.
▶ 8:33:19Bishop. Mr. Bishop. I Mr. Agular. Mr. Aguular. I Mr. Calbertt. Mr. Calbertt. No. Mr. Carter. Mr. Casease. Mr. Mr. Ciscomani. Mr. Ciscomani. No. Mr. Klene. Mr. Cloud. Mr. Klyurn.
▶ 8:33:52Mr. Clyde. Mr. Cole. Mr. Cole. No. Mr. Quayar. Miss Dean. Miss Dean. I Mr. Luro. Mr. Loro. I Mr. Diaz Bolard. Mr. Mr. Diaz Bolard. No. Mr. Edwards. Mr. Edwards. No. Mr. Elz. Miss Escobar. Miss Escobar. I. Mr. Mr. Espayat. I Mr. Fleshman.
▶ 8:34:24Miss. Frankle. Miss. Frankle. I. Mr. Franklin. Mr. Franklin. No. Mr. Gonzalez. Mr. Gonzalez. No. Mr. Guest. Mr. Guest. No. Mr. Harter. Mr. Harter. I Dr. Harris. Dr. Mr. Harris. No. Mrs. Henson. Mr. Hoyer. Oh, Mr. Hoyer. I Mr. Ivy. Mr. Ivy.
▶ 8:34:54I Mr. Joyce. Mr. Joyce. No. Miss Captor. Miss Captor. I Mr. Loa. Mr. Loa. No. Miss Lee. Miss Llo. Miss Lello. No. Mr. Leven. Mr. Leven. I Miss Mallaloy. Miss McCullum. Miss McCullum. I Miss Ming. Hi. Miss Ming. I Mr. Molinar.
▶ 8:35:26Mr. Molinar. Mr. Molinar. No. Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore. No. Mr. Morelli. Mr. Morelli. I. Mr. Mvan. Mr. New House, Miss Perez, Miss Perez, I Miss Pingri, Miss Pingri, I Mr. Pokean, Mr. Pokean, I Mr. Quigley, Mr. Quigley, I, Mr. Russianthaler, Mr. Rogers. Mr. Rogers, no. Mr. Mr. Rutherford, no. Mr.
▶ 8:35:57Simpson, Mr. Simpson, no. Mr. Strong, Mr. Strong, no. Mrs. Torres, Mrs. Torres. I Miss Underwood Miss Underwood I Mr. Valado Miss Wasserman Schultz Miss Wasserman Schultz I Mrs. Watson Coleman Mrs. Mrs. Watson Coleman I Mr. WAC Mr. Wac No Mr. Zinci Mr. Zinci no Are there any members wishing to record their vote or change their vote? Gentle lady from Utah.
▶ 8:36:28Miss Mallaloy no. Gentleman's from Missouri. Mr. Mr. Alford. No. Gentleman from Virginia. Mr. Klene. No. The gentleman from Georgia. Mr. Clyde. No. Gentle lady from Oklahoma. Mrs. Bice. No. Gentleman from Tennessee. Mr. Fleshman. No. Gentleman from Hawaii. Mr. Casease. I gentleman from Texas.
▶ 8:36:53There's actually another gentleman in And then there's yet another gentleman from Texas. And this is hard for me as an Oklahoma to admit there's a fourth gentleman in Texas. Mr. Cloud, no. Okay. Who else have we got? I know. Yeah. In Oklahoma, that's one Oklahoma against free taxes. We call that a fair Are there any other members wishing to record their vote or change their vote?
▶ 8:37:25Seeing none, the clerk will tallying.
▶ 8:38:03On this vote, the eyes are 25, the nose are 31. The amendment is not adopted. Gentle lady from California, Miss Tors, is recognized for the purpose of an Uh, Mr. Chairman, I um ask that the reading be dispensed with. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with and the gentle lady's recognized for remarks on her amendment.
▶ 8:38:27My amendment would reverse the 10 million cut to the transitional housing assistance grants for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault. 38% of domestic violence victims become homeless at some point in their lives. More than 90% of homeless women have experienced severe physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lives.
▶ 8:38:54It takes unimmanageable strength to stand up to those abusers and survivors face significant barriers when looking for housing and support services. This program provides 6 to 24 months of transitional housing with support services for victims who are homeless or in need of a safe transitional place to stay and for whom emergency shelter services or other crisis intervention
▶ 8:39:25services are It also funds three to four months of follow-up support services after they exit the program and provides them with legal assistance. In fiscal year 2024, this program received $50 million in funding. This bill cuts that funding by I wish that I could stand here and say that the need for this funding has been reduced by 20%.
▶ 8:39:56But sadly that is not the case. And although there is much more this committee should do to fix this bill, this one area uh is where we can correct this mistake. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. The gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Rogers, is recognized to address the amendment. Mr.
▶ 8:40:26Chairman, while Mr. Chairman, while I appreciate the intent of this, the fiscal 26 CJS bill required difficult decisions on how to best spread thin Despite this tight budgetary grants administered by the Office on Violence Against Women was approximately $8 million higher than last year.
▶ 8:40:56House Bill, our House bill and 135 million above the president's for fiscal 26. For that reason, I appreciate the amendment but must oppose it and urge my colleagues to do the same and I yield back. Thank the gentlemen. The gentle lady from New York, the ranking member of the subcommittee, Miss Ming, is recognized to address the amendment. Mr.
▶ 8:41:26Chairman, I strongly support this amendment which restores funding for programs that provide a critical safety net for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who are fleeing dangerous situations. These wraparound services are essential to helping survivors rebuild stable, self-sufficient lives. Investment in this program is a cost-effective use of federal funds.
▶ 8:41:53This investment reduces the long-term costs associated with homelessness, emergency medical care, law enforcement response, and child welfare involvement. Especially at a time when violence against women is on the rise, we should be doing all we can to help. I appreciate my colleagues amendment to restore critical investments in the office of violence against women transitional housing program and urge your support. I yield back. Thank the gentle lady.
▶ 8:42:21The gentle lady from Florida, Miss Wasserman Schultz, is recognized to um address the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank my colleague, Miss Torres, for offering this important amendment, and I rise in strong support of it. The transitional housing program is a critical lifeline for survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault, stalking, and other forms of violence predominantly impacting women.
▶ 8:42:48For so many of them, this could be the most important lifeline that anyone gives them. Its funding offers survivors the assurance they need to leave their abusers, knowing they have a safe place to lay their head at night. These programs also connect survivors with the support services they need to navigate from immediate life-threatening crisis to hopefully a life of long-term stability. I fought for years to expand protections for these survivors to be able to move from transitional housing to long-term stable homes.
▶ 8:43:16And I'm so proud to lead a bipartisan biccameal bill, the Fair Housing for Survivors Act, to protect survivors of abuse from the discrimination they too often face in the private housing market. But instead of working together to increase protections, this Republican bill actually takes us backwards. It basically abandons vulnerable women. This bill slashes $10 million from this program, right alongside multiple deep cuts to women's safety and anti-discrimination programs.
▶ 8:43:43and it happens all while violence against women continues to be a widespread problem in our country. This cut also ignores the fact that there are large gaps in services for these survivors because even under current funding levels, there is still not enough emergency housing for these survivors and their children.
▶ 8:44:00The National Network to End Domestic Violence tells us that during just one day in 2024, over 8,000 women across the country who requested emergency shelter, transitional housing, or rapid rehousing programs were denied that essential housing due to a lack of resources. To put this in perspective, around 15% of survivors who were seeking housing within a 24-hour period were left without a secure place for them and their children.
▶ 8:44:27We need to be expanding funding for these programs and protections for survivors, not shrinking them. Because we know that access to shelter is a matter of life and death for those confronting domestic abuse. And especially because we know how closely violence against women and homelessness are linked.
▶ 8:44:43I I just recently saw um when I went to the flight center in my congressional district, a center that helps women who are trying to escape human trafficking, human and sexual trafficking, as well as get services as a result of domestic abuse.
▶ 8:45:00I met several different women who at some point in the past year had been living in their car with their children or have been completely homeless and sleeping on park benches with their It does not have to be that way and it should not be that way ever. Especially because we know how closely violence against women and homelessness are linked. We need to make this a priority. More than half of homeless women have experienced violence at the hands of an intimate partner.
▶ 8:45:29That is so often what causes their homelessness. When a survivor makes the brave decision to leave their abuser, it is our job to ensure that they have the support and resources they need to break abusive cycles. Restoring this funding means thousands of survivors will be able to rebuild their lives without worrying if they will have a roof over their head. I thank the gentle lady for introducing this amendment and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it. I yield back. Thank gentle lady.
▶ 8:45:54Are there other members wishing to address the Seeing none, the gentle lady from California is recognized for one minute. Thank you, chairman. This is a good program that helps victims of domestic violence get back on their feet. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this amendment and yield back. Thank the gentle lady. The question is now on the amendment offered by the gentle lady from California. All those in favor say I.
▶ 8:46:24All those opposed say no. Paining the chair of the nose have it. A roll call has been requested. Sufficient number of hands have been raised. Clerk will call the role. Mr. Adder Holt. Mr. Adhalt. No. Mr. Mr. Aguilar. Mr. Aguular. I Mr. Alford. Mr. Alford. No. Mr. Ammedday. Mr. Amade. No. Mrs. Mr. Bishop. Mr. Calbertt.
▶ 8:46:54Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter. No. Mr. Casease. Mr. Casease. I. Mr. Ciscomani. Mr. Klene. Mr. Cloud. Mr. Klyber. Mr. Clyde. Mr. Clyde. No. Mr. Cole. Mr. Cole. No. Mr. Quayar. Miss Dean. Miss Dean. I Mr. Deloro. Mr. Lauro. I. Mr. Diaz Bolard.
▶ 8:47:27Mr. Edwards. Mr. Elsie. Miss Escobar. Mr. Escobar. I. Mr. Mr. Espay. by Mr. Fleshman, Miss Frankle, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Franklin, no. Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Gonzalez, no. Mr. Guest, Mr. Guest, no. Mr. Harter, Mr.
▶ 8:47:57Harter, I Dr. Harris, Dr. Harris, no. Mrs. Henson, Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Mr. Hoyer I Mr. Ivy Mr. Joyce Miss Captor Miss Captor I Mr. Loa Mr. Loa No Miss Lee Miss Lee I Miss Lllo Mr. Leven Mr.
▶ 8:48:27Lean I Miss Mallaloy Miss Malloy no Miss McCullum Miss McCullum I Miss Ming Miss Ming I Mr. Mr. Molinar. Mr. Molinar. No. Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore. No. Mr. Morelli. Mr. Morelli. I Mr. Morvan. Mr. Murvan. I Mr. New House. Miss Perez. Miss Perez. I Miss Pingri. Miss Pingri. I Mr. Pokean. Mr. Pokean. I Mr. Quigley. Mr. Quigley.
▶ 8:48:57I Mr. Russianthaler. Mr. Rogers. Mr. Rogers. No. Mr. Mr. Mr. Ruford. No. Mr. Simpson. Mr. Simpson. No. Mr. Strong. Mr. Strong. No. Mrs. Torres. Mrs. Torres. I. Miss. Underwood. Miss. Underwood. I. Mr. Valido. Mr. Valido. No. Miss Wasserman Schultz. Miss Wasserman Schultz. I. Mrs. Watson. Coleman. Mrs. Watson. Coleman. I. Mr. WAC.
▶ 8:49:27Mr. Wac. No. Mr. Zinci. Mr. Zinci. That's clearly really good barbecue. Uh, do any members wish to uh vote or record their vote or change their vote? Start with the gentleman from Florida. Mr. Diaz Bolard, no. Gentle lady from Louisiana. Miss Lllo, no. Gentle lady from Oklahoma. Mrs. Spice, no. Gentleman from Ohio. Mr. Joyce, no.
▶ 8:49:57Gentleman from Texas. Mr. Ellie, no. Gentleman from Texas, Mr. Cloud. No. Gentleman from Virginia. Mr. Klene. No. Gentleman from North Carolina. Mr. Edwards. No. Gentleman from California. Mr. Carter. Mr. Calbert. No. Gentleman from Texas. Mr. Quaar. I. Gentle lady from Florida. Miss Frankle. I. Gentleman from Georgia. Mr. Bishop. I.
▶ 8:50:26Gentleman from Tennessee. Mr. Fleshman. No. Gentleman from South Carolina. Hi, Mr. Klyurn. I a gentleman from California. Gentleman from California. Had you already voted? Okay, I'm sorry. I apologize. Gentleman from Maryland. Mr. Ivy. I Are there other members wishing to record their vote or change their vote? Seeing none, the clerk will tally.
▶ 8:51:38On this vote, the eyes are 28, the nose are 31. The amendment is not adopted. Gentle lady from California, Miss Torres, is recognized for an amendment. Uh, thank you, chairman. I um ask that the reading be dispensed with. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with. The gentle lady's recognized for remarks on her amendment. Thank you, Chairman.
▶ 8:52:05If this amendment looks and sounds familiar to all of you, it is because I've introduced it in several other bills. And while we've had very close votes before, I am hoping that today we can find an agreement. The amendment simply requires that our government follow the law and provide due process for veterans facing deportation.
▶ 8:52:33Veterans who swore an oath to defend America and put their lives on the line have earned their right to due process and should have access to legal counsel and receive a fair and full hearing in accordance with the law. But in Trump's America, some are kicked out of the country they swore to defend in the dead of night with no chance to assert their rights.
▶ 8:53:03In April, ICE rescended its former policy of considering military service a significant mitigating factor and issue a new policy less protective for service members and their families.
▶ 8:53:20How is it that military service, the highest act of service to our nation, putting your life on the line for our nation is not a significant mitigating factor? It's outrageous. Who was the dumb appointed official who came up with that?
▶ 8:53:44The fact is that we have no idea how many veterans have been detained or deported because this administration cannot or will not tell us how many. The last time I offered this amendment, I mentioned the Purple Heart Army veteran that is self-deporting to South Korea after living in the US for nearly 50 years.
▶ 8:54:14This is US Army veteran Seun Park. I also want to point out that ICE is doing the same for undocumented or non-citizen family members of American veterans. In June, while conducting a violent raid, federal agents were recorded repeatedly punching in the head and neck, tear gasing the proud father of three US Marines.
▶ 8:54:47right here. ICE is also detaining veterans who are citizens, which is why I've made revisions to this amendment to include all veteran citizens or non-citizens. In July, federal immigration agents were recorded surrounding the car of a disabled US Army veteran who was a United States citizen.
▶ 8:55:12They broke his car window, sprayed him with tear gas, pepper sprayed him, and detained him for three days. Military service is a family sacrifice. We should not allow masked federal agents to arrest, detain, and deport service members without their due process.
▶ 8:55:33the color of their skin, the ability to speak a second language, or the zip code should never be used to meet an illegal deportation quota. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back. Thank you, gentle lady. The gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Rogers, is recognized to address the amendment.
▶ 8:56:09I appreciate this sentiment, but I don't see the necessity for this amendment. In June of 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement changed a directive stating military service by nonitizens or their immediate family members can be considered as a positive factor in immigration enforcement actions.
▶ 8:56:41The current administration, as I'm sure we all do, value the contributions of everyone who serves in our armed forces and their directives are showing it. For that reason, I appreciate this amendment, but must oppose it and urge my colleagues to do the same. I yield Thank the gentleman. Uh the gentle lady from New York, the ranking member of the subcommittee, Miss Ming, is recognized to address the amendment.
▶ 8:57:11I support this amendment which provides constitutional protections for those who have served our country. This amendment does not say people are immune from prosecution should they commit a crime, nor does it say they cannot be deported. But due process is a fundamental right in the US guaranteed by the fifth amendment. We must ensure the constitutional rights of the men and women who served our country and who fought to protect all of our constitutional rights.
▶ 8:57:41I urge my colleagues to support the amendment. Thank the gentle lady. Are there other members wishing to address the Seeing none, the gentle lady from California is recognized for one minute to close. Uh thank you, chairman. Veterans who have served our country with honor deserve more than just empty words. They deserve the protections of due process and access to legal counsel before any deportation.
▶ 8:58:11This amendment is a is the bare minimum. The very very bare minimum to ensure those who served get due process. We cannot allow a broken system to continue stripping away the rights of veterans who have given so much to our country. I urge every member of this chamber to stand up for our veterans today by voting yes on this amendment and I yield back. Thank the gentle lady.
▶ 8:58:41Uh the question is now on the amendment offered by the gentle lady from California. All those in favor say I. All those opposed say no. The opinion of the chair, the nos have Uh roll call has been requested. We see a few more hands. Sufficient support has been demonstrated. Clerk will call the role. Mr. Adder Holt. Mr. Adhalt. No. Mr. Mr. Aguilar. I.
▶ 8:59:11Mr. Alford. Mr. Alford. No. Mr. Amade. Mr. Ammeday. No. Mrs. Bice. Mrs. Spice. No. Mr. Bishop. Mr. Bishop. I. Mr. Calbertt. Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter. No. Mr. Casease. Mr. Casease. I. Mr. Ciscomani. Mr. Klene. Mr. Klene. No. Mr. Cloud. Mr. Cloud. No. Mr. Klyber. Mr. Klyber. I. Mr. Clyde.
▶ 8:59:42Negative. Mr. Clyde. No. Mr. Cole. No. Mr. Cole. No. Mr. Quayar. Mr. Quayar. I Miss Dean. Miss Dean. I Mr. Lauro. Mr. Loro. I Mr. Diaz Balard. Mr. Diaz Bolard. No. Mr. Edwards. Mr. Edwards. No. Mr. Ellie. Mr. Elie. No. Miss Escobar. Mr. Escobar. I. Mr. Espayat. Mr. Espayat. I. Mr. Fleshman. Miss. Frankle. Mr. Franklin.
▶ 9:00:12Mr. Franklin. No. Mr. Gonzalez. Mr. Gonzalez. No. Mr. Guest? Mr. Guest? No. Mr. Harter? Dr. Harris. Dr. Harris. No. Mrs. Henson. Mr. Hoyer. Mr. Hoyer. I. Mr. Ivy. Mr. Ivy. I. Mr. Joyce. Mr. Joyce. No. Miss Captor. Miss Captor. I. Mr. Loa. Miss Lee. Miss Lee. I. Miss.
▶ 9:00:43Let No. Mr. Levan. Mr. Leaven I Miss Mallaloy Miss Malloy no Miss McCullum Miss McCullum I Miss Ming Miss Ming I Mr. Molinar Mr. Molinar No Mr. Moore Mr. Moore no Mr. Morelli Mr. Morelli I Mr. Murvan Mr. Murvan I Mr. New House Mr.
▶ 9:01:09New House no Miss Perez Miss Perez I Miss Pingri Miss Pingri I Mr. Pokean Mr. Pokean I Mr. Quigley Mr. Quigley I Mr. Russianthaler Mr. Rogers Mr. Rogers No Mr. Rutherford Mr. Rutherford no Mr. Simpson Mr. Simpson no Mr. Strong Mr. Strong no Mrs. Torres Mrs.
▶ 9:01:37Torres I miss Underwood Miss Underwood I Mr. Valido Miss Wasserman Schultz Miss Wasserman Schultz I Mrs. Watson Coleman Mr. Wac Mr. Wac No Mr. Zinci Mr. Zinci Are there members wishing to vote or change their vote? Gentleman from Mr. Fleshman. No. Gentle lady from Florida. Miss Frankle.
▶ 9:02:07I gentle lady from New Jersey. Mrs. Watson Coleman. I gentleman from California. Mr. Harter. I a gentleman from Georgia. You're recorded as a no. Are there other members wishing to vote or change our vote? Seeing none, clerk will tally.
▶ 9:03:10this vote. The eyes are 28, the nose are 29. The amendment is not adopted. Gentleman from New York, Mr. Espot is recognized for the purpose of an Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with. The gentleman is recognized for remarks on his amendment. Uh I rise today to offer a simple common sense amendment.
▶ 9:03:39The Department of Commerce oversees a wide range of agencies including the patent and trademark office, NOAA, the Minority Business Development Agency, the Economic Development Administration, and the National Weather Service, and the Bureau of Industry and Security. These agency collect an enormous amount of data, some of which names, addresses, and other identifiable information can be incredibly sensitive.
▶ 9:04:09My amendment makes clear that none of the funds in the bill may be used to share that identifiable data with the Department of Homeland Security for civil immigration enforcement unless DHS uh obtains and brings a warrant from a federal judge. This this is important because Americans trust these agencies with their personal information for very specific purposes.
▶ 9:04:36Whether it is applying for a patent, checking the weather, or accessing small business support, that trust is broken if the same data is quietly handed over uh to one of the other agencies. This amendment is about privacy, due process, and ensuring that personal data collected for legitimate purposes is not turned into a backdoor tool. I urge the adoption of this amendment. I thank the gentleman. The gentleman from Kentucky, Mr.
▶ 9:05:05Rogers, is recognized to address the amendment. This amendment u is unnecessary and sends the wrong message. Title 13 of the US code already makes it illegal for the Census Bureau to disclose information that identifies individuals. Title 13 also requires that the data the bureau collects is only used for statistical purposes.
▶ 9:05:36For these reasons, I oppose the amendment and urge my colleagues to do the same. And I yield Thank the gentleman. The gentle lady from New York, Miss Ming, is recognized to address the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment which safeguards the privacy rights of individuals by preventing the sharing of sensitive personal data without judicial oversight. This is a very timely amendment.
▶ 9:06:02Sharing names and addresses without a warrant risks violating constitutional protections. People must be able to trust federal government programs like the census. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this amendment and I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. Are there other members wishing to address the Seeing none, the gentleman from New York is recognized for one minute to close.
▶ 9:06:29Chairman, again, um this is uh not controversial. Is about due process. This is about protecting the privacy of everyone who interacts with these government agencies. Uh the names, addresses are provided to the department uh for patent weather alerts and other businesses, not uh to DHS. If they want access to the information, they should um go to a courtroom and get that access. Um I yield back.
▶ 9:07:02Thank you, gentlemen. The question is now on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York. All in favor say I. All oppose say no. Pin the chair. The nose have it and the amendment is not agreed to. Gentleman's from New York. Mr.
▶ 9:07:26Morelli is recognized for the purpose of an Thank you. Uh, Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment uh, number one at the desk. It's labeled revised. Would the gentleman care for it read or Yes, sir. Okay. The gentleman has asked that the amendment be read.
▶ 9:07:59An amendment offered by Mr. Mr. Morelli of New York. In the report at the app appropriate place, insert the following. Releasing the Epstein files. Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this act, the attorney general shall submit a report to the committee, including all records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in the possession of the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorney's Offices, that relate to Jeffrey Epstein and Gizlain Maxwell.
▶ 9:08:25The report must also include certification that all available information has been provided for or if not an explanation of what is being withheld and why. It shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex if necessary. The gentleman from New York is recognized for remarks on his amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think the amendment uh and thank you for reading is actually very simple.
▶ 9:08:49merely directs the attorney general to provide this committee with a full and unredacted report on all files related to the records, documents, communications, and investigative materials of Jeffrey Epstein and Galain Maxwell. To be clear, this about basic accountability. Um, there has been an astonishing lack of transparency from President Trump and the Department of Justice around the deeply horrific Epstein case.
▶ 9:09:15Uh the report from this amendment would allow this committee to assess the extent of the egregious crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and exactly who was involved. So the committee I think needs to exercise its responsibilities, get to the truth, and give some measure of comfort to um uh Jeffrey Epstein's victims. Um and with that, I uh uh ask for approval of the Thank the gentleman.
▶ 9:09:42The gentleman from Kentucky, Chairman Rogers, is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the reasons I stated before, I oppose the amendment. I urge my colleagues to do the same and yield back. Thank the gentleman. The gentle lady from New York, the ranking member of the full committee is recognized to address the amendment. Mr.
▶ 9:10:05Chairman, I usually don't like amendments that cut salaries because I think in almost every case, those in public service are genuinely trying to do the right thing. Unless there is fraud or gross incompetence, we should not penalize people financially because we don't like how the decisions they make or the way that they do their job. Uh, but I am going to support this amendment because of how disappointing it is that the AG has not taken this issue seriously.
▶ 9:10:33On February 21, the attorney general stated on national TV that Jeffrey Epstein's client list was sitting on my desk right now to review. On February 27, the AG made a show of claiming to release the Epstein files, handing out empty binders. And yet, just a few months later, the AG is now claiming that there is no client list and there are no files to release.
▶ 9:10:56But the AG did, according to multiple news reports, inform the White House about the president's name appearing in the Epstein files. Either the AG is misstating the facts or something much, much worse is happening. Either way, the fact that the majority would shut down the House of Representatives early rather than allow Democrats to get to the truth of this matter raises extraordinarily serious questions. It's critical that we get transparency and accountability on this case.
▶ 9:11:27Unfortunately, the Justice Department has failed to deliver either thus far. This amendment will help us get both and it will help get the American people the answers that they deserve. Are there other members wishing to address? Gentleman from Maryland, Mr.
▶ 9:11:47Hoyer, is recognized to address the I thank the chairman for recognizing me and I'll yield to the sponsor of the amendment to clarify. Uh I think the subcommittee chair ranking member was thinking about the old amendment but I think gentleman has replaced that. Yes. Thank you to uh to my uh distinguished colleague and friend uh Mr. Hoyer.
▶ 9:12:15And uh I do uh just want to point out that the revised language is a report back to this committee within 30 days to get the information. Uh I appreciated what the ranking member and my longtime friend from New York had to say. And I think conversations I had with uh Mr. Hoyer, Miss Mang, and others persuaded me to revise the amendment so that it does not uh uh reduce the salary or withhold salaries. And I think uh that's in the long-standing tradition of of the members on this side.
▶ 9:12:44uh particularly last year when there was a lot of efforts in this committee to withhold salary and um initially we drafted it and I thought better of it. This is really just about transparency. So I appreciate the gentleman yielding and appreciate my good uh friend and I thank the gentleman. I may uh point out to the members on the other side of the aisle that I opposed regularly in the last Congress these reductions to $1. and I talked to my friend and said we need to be consistent.
▶ 9:13:14Now, it's somewhat ironic that we just voted down an amendment which would have uh required from those who committed insurrection. Now, we may vote down an amendment that requires greater information on a child molester, a pedophile, if you will.
▶ 9:13:59I'm giving people time to think about those two votes together. I have two minutes and 38 seconds left. Where are our values?
▶ 9:14:30We've talked a lot about values through the years. You don't think our values are so hot and you tell people regularly that's the case. I say you, the members on the Republican side, I don't know what you're thinking. I don't know what we're the message we're sending to the American people.
▶ 9:14:56We don't want to hold accountable people who pled guilty. They said yes, I did it and yes, it was a crime and they were sent to jail. And now, as my colleague and dear friend Glenn Ivy pointed out uh they didn't have an appeal because they admitted they did it.
▶ 9:15:25But now we want them able to get money from the federal government, from the taxpayers because somehow they've been wronged. You would not do that from any for any other group of criminals, period.
▶ 9:15:51And you talk a lot about holding people liable for criminal activity, as you And now we have an opportunity to say, let's see what this guy did. Let's see what others may have done to children 14, 15, 16, 17 years of age.
▶ 9:16:19And you once again are going to vote no on amendment that tries to hold them responsible and give victims and possible victims I suppose you rationalize it somehow, but I can't figure it out.
▶ 9:16:50Are there other members wishing to address the amendment? Seeing none, the gentleman is recognized for one minute to close. Thank you uh Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the comments of my uh distinguished colleagues. To be clear, this is really just about basic accountability.
▶ 9:17:10Uh, President Trump and the Department of Justice's suspicious actions and lack of lack of transparency around this deeply horrific uh, case shows a strong potential for public corruption, abuse of power, and failures in federal law enforcement. I think at the very least the Department of Justice uh cannot be uh above oversight. That's what the charge of this subcommittee and the standing committee are.
▶ 9:17:34The amendment ensures that the department fulfills its most basic responsibility to for facts about the administration's uh actions uh and it not only owes it to this committee and to the Congress but in a much broader and a much deeper and much more important sense owes that accountability to the American public. Uh I urge support of the amendment and with that I'll yield back sir. I thank the gentleman. The question is now on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York. All those in favor say I.
▶ 9:18:05All those opposed say no. Opinion of the chair. The nose have it. Certainly. Gentleman has asked for roll call. Sufficient support is evident. The clerk will call the role. Mr. Aderhalt. Mr. Adhalt. No. Mr. Aguilar. Mr. Aguular. I. Mr. Alford. No. Mr. Alford. No. Mr. Ammedday. Mr. Ammedday. No. Mrs. Bice. Mr. Bishop. Mr. Mr. Bishop I Mr. Calbertt Mr. Calbertt No Mr.
▶ 9:18:35Carter Mr. Carter No Mr. Case Mr. Casease I Mr. Sisammani Mr. Sisammani no Mr. Klene Mr. Klene no Mr. Cloud Mr. Cloud no Mr. Klyber Mr. Klyber I Mr. Clyde Mr. Clyde no Mr. Cole Mr. Cole no Mr. Quayar Mr. Quayar I Miss Dean Miss Dean I Mr. Mr. Deloro I Mr. Diaz Bolard Mr. Diaz Bolard No Mr. Edwards Mr.
▶ 9:19:05Edwards No Mr. Elzie Mr. Elsie No Miss Escobar Miss Escobar I Mr. Espayat Mr. Espay I Mr. Fleshman Mr. Fleshman no Miss Frankle Miss Frank I Mr. Franklin Mr. Franklin no Mr. Gonzalez Mr. Gonzalez no Mr. Mr. Harter Dr. Harris Dr. Harris no Mrs. Henson Mr. Hoyer Mr. Hoyer I Mr. Ivy Mr.
▶ 9:19:35Ivy I Mr. Joyce Mr. Joyce no Miss Captor Miss Captor I Mr. Loa Mr. Loa No Miss Lee Miss Lee I Miss Lllo Miss Lelo no Mr. Lean Mr. Levan I miss Mallaloy Miss Mallaloy no Mr. McCullum. Miss McCullum. I Miss Ming. Miss Ming. I Mr. Molinar. Mr. Molinar. No. Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore. No. Mr. Morelli. Hi. Mr. Morelli.
▶ 9:20:06I Mr. Mr. Morvan. I. Mr. New House. Mr. New House. No. Miss. Perez. Miss Pingri. Miss Pingri. I. Mr. Pokean. Mr. Pokean. I Mr. Quigley. Mr. Quigley. I. Mr. Russianthaler. Mr. Mr. Russianthaler. No. Mr. Rogers. Mr. Rogers. No. Mr. Rutherford. Mr. Rutherford. No. Mr. Simpson. Mr. Simpson. No. Mr. Strong. Mr. Strong. No. Mrs. Torres.
▶ 9:20:36Mrs. Torres. I. Miss Underwood. Miss Underwood. I. Mr. Valido. Mr. Valido. No. Miss Wasserman Schultz. Miss Wasserman Schultz. I Mrs. Watson Coleman. Mrs. Watson Coleman. I Mr. WAC. Mr. Wac. No. Mr. Zinci. Mr. Zinci. No. Are there any members wishing to record their vote or change their vote? Gentleman from California. Mr. Harter. I. Gentle lady from the state of Miss Perez. I.
▶ 9:21:09Are there other members wishing to change their vote or whose vote has not been recorded? Seeing none, the clerk will tally.
▶ 9:21:48Uh, gentle lady from Oklahoma recording. Mrs. Vice votes no. On this vote, the eyes are 28, the nose are 33.
▶ 9:22:18The amendment is not adopted. Uh, gentleman from New York, Mr. Morelli is recognized for an amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. and I have an amendment at the desk and I move to dispense with the reading. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with and the gentleman is recognized for remarks on his amendment. Thank you, sir. Uh this amendment would do two things to strengthen the organized crime drug enforcement task force housed within the uh Department of Justice.
▶ 9:22:44First, in response to the more than 20% cut to the OCD ETF, the majority included in this bill, this amendment would restore full funding to the task force. Second, in response to the president's budget request, which completely dissolved the task force, this amendment would ensure that no federal funds may be used to dismantle this critical initiative.
▶ 9:23:06Over 40 years ago, uh my now favorite Republican president, Ronald Reagan, uh considering the alternatives, created the um OCD ETF. He understood that if we were serious about improving public safety through fighting drug cartels, money laundering, and organized crime, we needed a coordinated, integrated, strategic federal response that unites federal prosecutors, DEA agents, federal investigators, financial analysts, state and local law enforcement in a single
▶ 9:23:36focus task force structure. Since its founding, OCDEF has expanded and adapted to meet evolving threats. that now targets not only major narcotics traffickers but transnational criminal syndicates engaged in fentinyl trafficking, cyber crime, human smuggling, weapons trafficking, and financial crimes.
▶ 9:23:58Uh these cases are prosecutor-led and intelligence supported, which means they focus resources on high value targets, not low-level offenders, but the command and control of criminal organizations. The program leverages existing personnel across the Department of Justice, DHS, Treasury, and more. Meaning we get enhanced outcomes without duplication or ballooning costs. It is intelligent driven. It is inter agency and it is results-based.
▶ 9:24:25And let's just pause for a moment to talk about results because for all the talk about fiscal responsibility, this program has one of the best returns on investment in federal law enforcement. In fiscal year 2022, OCDF brought in $524 million in cash and property seizures and forfeitures. In fiscal year 2023, it brought in $423 million, almost offsetting its funding through its own success. It essentially paid for itself.
▶ 9:24:54Even FBI Director Patel said during my exchange with him at our budget deliberation just a few months ago, "It's good ROI." He directly contradicted the president's budget request which proposed completely dissolving the task force. But I am grateful for his honesty in talking about uh OCDF's um uh successes. Dismantling this structure would not save money. It would waste it.
▶ 9:25:19OCDF's role assisting local law enforcement to fight organized crime is absolutely critical to ensuring public safety across the country. Without it, uh, federal and lo local law enforcement will be extremely hampered in their ability to continue combating criminal activity. At a time when Americans are looking to us for real solutions, the administration is actively dismantling a legitimate and effective initiative that has successfully lowered crime in cities across the United States.
▶ 9:25:48Dismantling is not just reckless, it's a betrayal of the very public safety principles this body stands for. I urge my colleagues to support this important amendment. Uh thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back. I thank the gentleman. The gentleman, Kentucky, Chairman Rogers is recognized to address the amendment.
▶ 9:26:11This amendment would increase funding for the organized crime and drug enforcement task forces OSEDF by $160 million without an offset and prevent any funds in this bill to eliminate, dismantle, transfer or dissolve the task forces.
▶ 9:26:33Let me take a moment to recognize the this administration has had so far, working with state and local law enforcement partners at dismantling illicit drug networks and having the courage to take the fight to the drug cartels, poisoning Americans across the country with fentinel and other illegal Equally important
▶ 9:27:04is the fact the House CJS fiscal year bill retains the task forces on its own appropriation. Our commitment to work to the work of the task forces can't be underestimated or understated.
▶ 9:27:24This increased funding in this amendment, however, takes for granted the delicate balance the House CJS bill has struck between sufficiently finding agencies and reducing government The House CJS fiscal year bill already includes increases for both drug enforcement and state and local law enforcement which further underscores
▶ 9:27:54our commitment to these endeavors. I appreciate the intent of this amendment but must oppose it and urge my colleagues to do the same. Yield back. Thank the gentleman. The gentle lady from New York, Miss Ming, is recognized to address the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I strongly support this amendment.
▶ 9:28:17The Justice Department's organized crime drug enforcement task forces are critical to helping our country reduce the flow of illegal drugs into the US and prosecute the people trying to bring narcotics into our country. States and local governments are up against increasingly sophisticated networks of transnational criminal organizations that traffic drugs, firearms, and people.
▶ 9:28:42But the DOJ's organized crime drug enforcement task forces provide vital support to our state and local law enforcement, bringing 1,200 federal agents and hundreds of prosecutors to this important anti-rime effort.
▶ 9:28:56Last year, for example, the Department of Justice's organized crime drug enforcement task force co-led a 10-monthlong investigation with New York State and our NYPD that led to a drug and firearms bust in New York City that included the recovery of 74 firearms, including nine assault style rifles, eight assault style pistols, and four ghost guns, over 2100 rounds of ammunition, and 500 gram of cocaine.
▶ 9:29:26aign with a street value of over $15,000. In February, the deputy attorney general put forward a memo highlighting the importance of the organized crime drug enforcement task force, noting that it helps to surge existing resources to address the DOJ's core enforcement priorities, stopping illegal immigration, eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and ending illegal trafficking of dangerous drugs and human beings.
▶ 9:29:56And yet, just a couple of months later, the administration is trying to end this important resource that makes our streets safer and supports our local law enforcement. The Morelli amendment will prevent the DOJ from killing this initiative. I urge the committee to send a strong message of support for our state and local law enforcement by adopting this amendment. I owe back. Thank the gentle lady.
▶ 9:30:19Are there other members wishing to address the I'm sorry. The gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Ivy, is recognized to address the Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise in strong support of this amendment. Um, I appreciate the the the the chair's comments with respect to additional funding that's going to state and local entities. Um, I've been a federal prosecutor. I've been a state and local prosecutor as well.
▶ 9:30:47Um, and I understand that the difference is that federal prosecutors have tools that state and local prosecutors don't. And that's especially critical with with international cartels like the Sinaloa cartel for example or multi-state organizations like MS-13 which is international too but it also crosses multiple states. So um for example in the uh county that I was a prosecutor in we had an MS-13 case that that had grown out.
▶ 9:31:16I recognized that um we could do a RICO prosecution uh because uh the scope of what they were doing, the number of murders and the like, the amount of money that was going through the organization and the drugs was bigger than what we could handle. And our local police department didn't have the tools, for example, for things like wire taps. So I contacted the US attorney at the time, that was Rod Rosenstein, who as you know later became the acting attorney general for Mr. Trump in his first administration.
▶ 9:31:46We did a joint prosecution there and he referred and used the tools from OSAD at Maine justice because this is what they do all the time and they're experts in this area and they do outstanding work with it. RICO is a very complicated statute. Title three uh wiretap investigations are very complicated and if you screw them up it can the whatever you seize from the standpoint of wiretapped information can get suppressed if you don't do it correctly.
▶ 9:32:14It's important to have expert uh law enforcement efforts leading this operation. And by the way, this can take months. Uh the my my ranking uh committee chair mentioned that um that investigation took 10 months. Some of these take years. The one in the Eastern District of New York right now with respect to um MS-13 began during the first Trump administration.
▶ 9:32:37So, I don't know why we would want to get rid of this capability to prosecute these organizations that we've all been complaining about, especially with respect to fentanyl importation into the United States. Why don't we fund the prosecutors and allow them to lead the investigations that we know we need to deal with these kinds of crimes uh and deal with the presence of these international organizations that are doing violent activity bringing dangerous drugs into our streets, firearms and the like
▶ 9:33:07every day. Let's have the tools to fight back with it because we know, like I said, we have great state and local law enforcement. They do fantastic work, but they don't have the legal tools and in some instances they don't have the resources to do what the Department of Justice can do in these kinds of investigations. Let's let them do that work. If you look back at what they've done over time, Mr. Morelli mentioned that uh they started during the Reagan administration.
▶ 9:33:34Their work with RICO helped that the um the mafia organizations that were so big in the 50s and 60s kind of ground to a halt. They're not totally gone, but they certainly aren't what they used to be back in the day because of Department of Justice RICO prosecutions. And Reagan ramped it up because of the act the the increase of drug activities and the combination of guns with that on the street. And so that's when we had, for example, in Washington DC 450 to 500 murders in one year.
▶ 9:34:04That's all come down in large part because of the work Department of Justice has done with the FBI, with the DEA, with other international organizations and Border Patrol and ICE working together on these kinds of cases. We can really make our streets safer. And the real kicker, as Mr. Morelli mentioned, is the amount of money they bring back from these pays for the the the expenditures to cover um that that department.
▶ 9:34:32I mean, in some instances, they're almost making a profit, so to speak, that helps to not only pay for themselves, but pay for other functions in the federal government and the Department of Justice. It makes absolutely no sense to eliminate this group, especially right now when we're facing these kinds of challenges that get more sophisticated every day with respect to AI issues because, you know, these cartels have the funds and now the talent to start using those sorts of things. So does u criminal organizations based in China.
▶ 9:35:00you know, they have the activities that they're using with respect to drones on our border. State and local can't balance that out in the same way the federal resources can. Let's put our best team on the field. Do everything we can to keep our people in our streets safe and you don't lose any money. There's no cost from an expenditure standpoint because it really is covered by the money they bring in with the asset forfeite and the seizures. I urge you strongly to support this amendment.
▶ 9:35:31Thank the gentleman. Are there other members wishing to address the Seeing none, the gentleman from New York is recognized for one minute to close. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to uh thank the ranking member and uh my colleague and friend, Mr. Ivy, for their comments and their eloquence on the subject.
▶ 9:35:51I um I do think that it makes the greatest sense and this is where I think the director of the FBI was being candid with us when he said there was a great ROI on this and that it makes sense to bring together different elements of the government to work together and to offer each their own expertise and working together really can generate much greater results. I do want to acknowledge and thank Mr. Rogers for um rejecting the president's call to eliminate this alto together.
▶ 9:36:21OSED uh in your budget, however, is uh in my view dramatically underfunded. So uh and a reminder, not only does this restore the 20% cut year-over-year, but this also prohibits the administration from using any federal funds to dismantle the task force should they choose to ignore the wishes of this Congress. So, I hope members will understand the value of this um as it relates to public safety of all Americans and I would urge a yes vote on the amendment.
▶ 9:36:51I yield back. Thank the gentleman. Uh the question is now on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York. All those in favor say I. Those opposed say no. The opinion of the chair, the nose have Roll call has been requested. Sufficient support is evident. The clerk will call the role. Mr. Adterholt. Mr. Adterholt. No. Mr. Agular. Mr. Aguular. I Mr. Alford. Mr. Alford. No. Mr. Amade. Mr. Amade. No. Mrs. Bice.
▶ 9:37:22Mrs. Bice. No. Mr. Bishop. Mr. Bishop. I. Mr. Calbertt. Mr. Calbert. No. Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter. No. Mr. Casease. Mr. Casease. I. Mr. Sisammani. Mr. Sisammani. No. Mr. Klene. Mr. Klene. No. Mr. Cloud. Mr. Klyurn. Mr. Klyurn. I. Mr. Clyde. Mr. Clyde. No. Mr. Cole, no. Mr. Cole, no. Mr. Quayrar, Mr. Quayrar. I Miss Dean. Miss Dean. I Mr. Deloro. Mr. Loro.
▶ 9:37:51I Mr. Diaz Bolard. Mr. Diaz Balart. No. Mr. Edwards. Mr. Edwards. No. Mr. Elzie. Mr. Elz. No. Miss Escobar. Miss. Escobar. I. Mr. Espay. Mr. Espay. I. Mr. Fleshman. Mr. Fleshman. No. Miss Frankle. Miss. Frank. I. Mr. Franklin. Mr. Franklin. No. Mr. Gonzalez. Mr. Gonzalez. No. Mr. Guest. Mr. Harter. Mr. Harter. I Dr. Harris. Dr. Harris. No. Mrs. Henson.
▶ 9:38:22Mr. Hoyer. Mr. Ivy. Mr. Ivy. I. Mr. Joyce. Mr. Joyce. No. Miss Captor. Miss Captor. I. Mr. Loa. Miss Lee. Miss Lee. I. Miss. Let Miss Llo No Mr. Lean Mr. Lean I Miss Malloy Miss Malloy No Miss McCullum Miss McCullum I Miss Ming Miss Ming I Mr. Molinar Mr. Molar No Mr.
▶ 9:38:52Moore Mr. Moore no Mr. Morelli Mr. Morelli I Mr. Morvan Mr. Morvan I Mr. New House Miss Perez Miss Perez I Miss Pingri Miss Pingri I Mr. Pokean Mr. Pokean I Mr. Quigley Mr. Quigley I Mr. Rashenthaler Mr. Rashenthaler No Mr. Rogers Mr. Rogers No Mr. Rutherford Mr. Rutherford No Mr. Simpson Mr. Simpson no Mr.
▶ 9:39:21Strong Mr. Strong no Mrs. Torres Mrs. Torres I miss Underwood Mr. Valido Mr. Valido. No. Miss Wasserman Schultz. Miss Wasserman Schultz. I Mrs. Watson Coleman. Mrs. Watson Coleman. I Mr. Wac. Mr. Wac. No. Mr. Zinci. No. Mr. Zinci. No. Are there any members wishing to cast their vote or change their vote? Gentleman from Washington.
▶ 9:39:53Mr. New House. No. Gentleman from New York. Mr. Loa. No. Gentle lady from Illinois. Miss Underwood. I Oh, I'm sorry. Hey, we're trying to not miss anybody. Gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Hoyer. I Are there any others uh wishing to cast their vote or change their vote? Seeing none, the clerk will tally.
▶ 9:41:35on this vote. The eyes are 28, the nose are 32. The amendment is not adopted. A gentleman from New York, Mr. Morelli is recognized for the purpose of an Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have an amendment at the desk and I move to dispense with the reading. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with and the gentleman's recognized for remarks on his amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, this amendment does a number of things.
▶ 9:42:01First and most importantly, it increases funding for Inspectors General at the Department of Justice, NASA, and the National Science Foundation. There is so much talk of eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in government these days. Inspector General offices are on the front lines of preventing waste, fraud, and abuse. And right now, we are in we are placing them in a weakened position as it relates to these agencies.
▶ 9:42:26Specifically, the amendment provides a total of $66 million across the agencies to ensure that each IG office receives a increase over the FY2025 enacted level. The same increase already provided for the Commerce Department OIG in the underlying bill. This is a modest measured investment with a significant return. Consider the contrast at NASA.
▶ 9:42:52While the agency is about to receive an additional $10 billion from the reconciliation bill, its inspector general faces a six7 million cut under the bill we're considering here today. The same dynamic applies to the Department of Justice. DOJ is getting an extra $3 billion, including massive increases, to the Executive Office for Immigration Review. But again, the IG sees no resources uh to oversee this dramatic funding increase. Uh Mr.
▶ 9:43:21Chairman, the amendment also repeals a provision recently enacted through the reconciliation bill that redirects the space shuttle discovery from its long-standing home in Virginia under the Smithsonian Institutions Care to a NASA facility in Texas. While the reconciliation bill provided NASA with $85 million for the move, experts at the Smithsonian estimate the cost of the move to total more than $325 million.
▶ 9:43:49It is unprecedented for Congress to rem remove an object from the Smithsonian collection and send it somewhere else. With this in mind, the amendment strikes the $85 million in PL11921 for this relocation. Back in July, this very committee unanimously approved my amendment prohibiting the use of funds at the Smithsonian to transport the space shuttle. The amendment before us today continues along that path, ensuring this wasteful provision is never implemented.
▶ 9:44:19Taken together, the reforms in this amendment strengthen oversight and help safeguard American taxpayer dollars from frivolous spending. I urge support for the amendment and I yield back. I thank the gentleman. Uh the gentleman from Kentucky, Chairman Rogers, is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 9:44:41I appreciate the intent of this amendment to increase funds for the inspector's general accounts for Department of Justice, NASA, and National Science Foundation. this amendment does not include offsets for the increases and would cause the bill to exceed the allocation.
▶ 9:45:06Additionally, the amendment strikes a provision providing NASA to move the space shuttle in the newly enacted one big beautiful bill. The ink is barely dried on this new legislation and already my colleagues are seeking to amend and strike portions of it through the appropriations process. I can't support that effort.
▶ 9:45:31Urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment and I yield I thank the gentleman. Uh the gentle lady from New York, Miss Bing, is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise. I'm uh it's actually Miss Ming first and and then we'll come to the general lady. Thank you. I rise in strong support of this amendment. Preventing waste, fraud, and abuse in government is one of our most important responsibilities.
▶ 9:46:01Yet, the bill before us today cuts funding for the DOJ's Office of Inspector General by more than 30%. It makes substantial cuts to the offices of Inspector General, NASA, and NSF as well. These are agencies whose combined spending comprises the vast majority of the funds we provide in this bill. Cutting these vital entities that help to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in these agencies is simply irresponsible.
▶ 9:46:29This amendment ensures that these inspectors general have the resources they need while eliminating an especially wasteful piece of spending from the recently enacted reconciliation bill. I urge adoption of this amendment. Thank you. I yield back. I thank the gentle lady. The gentle lady from Connecticut, ranking member of the full committee is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of this amendment.
▶ 9:46:56You know, inspectors general provide essential oversight for executive agencies, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are being spent according to Congress's instructions and are not being wasted or redirected for political reasons.
▶ 9:47:09While the Trump administration's ongoing war on science and American research capacity, as well as his campaign to weaponize the Justice Department against political enemies, former employees, and anyone else who gets on his bad side, it is more important than ever to keep a close eye on these agencies.
▶ 9:47:28Under the Trump administration, the NSF, National Science Foundation, has acted hundreds of grants for research on topics from artificial intelligence to PTSD um in and veterans to STEM education for K through2 students and more. And before this committee considered a single appropriation bill, President Trump and OM Director Russ Vote directed agencies to freeze over 100 million in appropriated funding for NASA science initiatives.
▶ 9:47:59This administration has already fired or forced out nearly 1,500 senior staff from NASA with plans to cut hundreds more. an irreplaceable loss of talent and of experience that will put strategic competitors like China in the driver's seat uh of space exploration. All of these directives came straight from the Trump administration. They do not care about the will of the Congress.
▶ 9:48:26They want to take money from wherever they want, whenever they want, and be answerable to no one. At the Department of Justice, there are more than enough concerns to merit supporting the Inspector General. Whether that is Attorney General Pam Bondi's legal approval of President Trump's luxury airplane gift fromQatar, FBI Director Cash Patel's purge of FBI employees, or former senior official, now federal judge email Bob's dismissal of charges against Mayor Eric Adams.
▶ 9:48:57This has become a lawless department which will attempt to hide from accountability at every turn unless we insist upon it. It's time for Congress to reaffirm its commitment to the idea and the purpose of Inspectors General as nonpartisan watchd dogss.
▶ 9:49:15The president began his administration by firing 17 inspectors general across agencies including the Department of Defense, State, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, Energy, and Transportation. Since then, eight of those fired IG's who together oversaw5 trillion dollars in appropriated funds and three and a half million federal employees sued the administration.
▶ 9:49:40And the president's own lawyers have admitted in court that he did not follow the law in firing them. Regardless of which party is in power, no administration should be able to fire watchd dogs and avoid accountability. Inspector General offices deserve our support and the American people expect their tax dollars to be spent according to law. We should support this amendment and support the funding for Inspectors General. Uh I urge my colleagues to support the amendment and I yield back.
▶ 9:50:13Thank you, gentle lady. Are there other members wishing to address the Seeing none, the gentleman from New York is recognized for one minute to close. Thank you uh Mr. Chair. It is uh interesting when we are at a point when we are expanding responsibility and expenditures in the Department of Justice and Homeland Security etc.
▶ 9:50:37The notion that we would be uninterested in expanding the role of inspector general or giving them enough resources to monitor all the new expenditures is mystifying. Um, this is essentially like saying, "I don't want to have an accountant. I don't want to have an auditor because I'm afraid of the bad news or because I don't want to be held to a standard which we should um hold to." Uh, we're stewards of the public uh trust.
▶ 9:51:04we're stewards of American taxpayer dollars and inspector generals go a long way to not only providing financial stability and financial oversight uh but also of management oversight and can give us a roadmap on how to continue to improve uh the work of our agency. So this budget by not acknowledging that in my view actively hurts our ability to partner with IG's to conduct oversight and investigations into department of justice uh NASA and the National Science Foundation.
▶ 9:51:32something that I think this committee uh would want to do um would want to make sure that we're continuing to fulfill our obligation. So, I hope the members will reconsider the funding levels and um will fund these watchd dogss to ensure their compliance uh with the law is done. And with that, I urge adoption of the amendment. I yield back. Thank gentlemen. The question now is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York. All those in favor say I. I. All those opposed say no.
▶ 9:52:03The opinion of chair the nos have it. Uh roll call has been requested. Sufficient support is evident. Clerk will call the role. Mr. Adderhalt. Mr. Adhalt. No. Mr. Aguilar. Mr. Aguilar. I. Mr. Alford. Mr. Alford. No. Mr. Alford. No. Mr. Ammedday. Mr. Ammedday. No. Mrs. Bice. Mrs. Bice. No. Mr. Bishop. Mr. Bishop. I. Mr. Calbertt. Mr. Calbert. No. Mr. Carter.
▶ 9:52:33Mr. Carter. No. Mr. Casease. Mr. Casease. I Mr. Sisammani. Mr. Sisammani. No. Mr. Klene. Mr. Klene. No. Mr. Cloud. Mr. Klyurn. Mr. Clyurn. I. Mr. Clyde. Mr. Clyde. No. Mr. Cole. Mr. Cole. No. Mr. Quayar. Mr. Quayar. No. Miss Dean. Miss Dean. I. Mr. Loro. Mr. Lauro. I Mr. Diaz Bolard Mr. Diaz Bolard No Mr.
▶ 9:53:02Edwards Mr. Edwards No Mr. Elie Mr. Elzie No Miss Escobar Miss Escobar I Mr. Espayat Mr. Espayat I Mr. Fleshman Mr. Fleshman no Miss Frankle Miss Frankle I Mr. Franklin Mr. Franklin no Mr. Gonzalez Mr. Gonzalez no Mr. Mr. Harter Mr. Harter I Dr. Harris. Dr. Harris. No. Mrs. Henson. Mr. Hoyer.
▶ 9:53:33Mr. Hoyer. I Mr. Ivy. Mr. Ivy. I Mr. Joyce. Mr. Joyce. No. Miss Captor. Miss Captor. I. Mr. Loa. Mr. Loa. No. Miss Lee. Miss Lee. I. Miss. Let Miss. Let no. Mr. Levan. Mr. Levan. I. Miss Malloy. Miss Mallaloy. No. Miss McCullum. Miss McCullum. I. Miss Ming. Hi. Miss Ming I Mr. Molinar Mr. Molinar no Mr. Moore Mr. Moore no Miss Melli Mr.
▶ 9:54:04Morelli I Mr. Morvan Mr. Mvan I Mr. New House Mr. New House no Miss Perez Miss Perez I miss Pingri Miss Pingri I Mr. Pokean Mr. Pokean I Mr. Quigley Mr. Quigley I Mr. Rashenthaler Mr. Rashenthaler no Mr. Rogers Mr. Rogers no Mr. Rutherford Mr. Mr. Rutherford. No. Mr. Simpson. Mr. Simpson. No. Mr. Strong. Mr. Strong. No. Mrs. Torres.
▶ 9:54:35Mrs. Torres. Mrs. Torres. I. Miss. Underwood. Miss Underwood. I. Mr. Mr. Valido. No. Miss Wasserman Schultz. Miss Wasserman Schultz. Miss Wasserman Schultz. I Mrs. Watson Coleman. Mrs. Watson. Coleman. I. Mr. WAC. Mr. Wac. No. Mr. Zinci. Mr. Zinci. No. Are there any members wishing to record their vote or change their vote?
▶ 9:55:06Seeing none, the clerks will tally.
▶ 9:55:39On this vote vote, the eyes are 27, the nose are 33. The amendment is not Gentle lady from Pennsylvania, Miss Dean is recognized for an amendment. Thank you, Chairman. I have an amendment at the desk and I ask that the reading be dispensed with. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with. The gentle lady is recognized for remarks on her Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 9:56:05I rise in support of my number one amendment, which would strike section 568 from this bill. I offer this amendment in support of public safety and victims of gun violence. And like I think everybody in this room, gun violence is on our mind with the tragic murder of Charlie Kirk, the shooting in a Colorado school, one at Kirk at a university, Colorado school, and I'm sure sadly shootings in
▶ 9:56:36many of our communities, whether they are rural, suburban, or urban. So, I am very mindful that we are all worried about gun violence. As drafted, section 568 limits ATF's ability to carry out its Demand 2 program.
▶ 9:56:51ATF F's demand 2 program was created in 2000 to improve law enforcement's ability to trace guns used in crimes by imposing additional reporting requirements on firearms dealers whose guns have been traced to criminal activity. Since 2000, the year 2000, ATF has regarded a demand 2 designation as an important indication that a seller might be a popular destination for criminals to purchase firearms.
▶ 9:57:22Since the year 2000, ATF has updated its regulation for demand to one time. That was in 2018 during the Trump administration when the threshold of guns recovered in crimes was raised from 10 in a single year to 25.
▶ 9:57:40You can imagine my surprise seeing an amendment about the 2018 ATF regulation being attributed to the Biden uh as we saw on the updated uh list of amendments as it really is not true. It was not a Biden initiative. It's a 25-year-old bill, as I said, revised during the first Trump administration.
▶ 9:58:05Under current guidelines for demand to a firearm dealer is subject to the program only if, and let me be clear, within a single calendar year, at least 25 of that dealer's firearms are recovered in crimes. And those guns were sold within the past three years. The time to crime, three years. Let me repeat that. 25 or more separate firearms sold in a single store found at crimes in a single year.
▶ 9:58:34In fact, just so you know, only 2% of gun dealers in the United States are subject to the demand to program. And more than 80% of gun dealers do not have a single firearm traced to their store in any given year. So 25 is quite a threshold. So what happens to the 2% of gun dealers subject to demand two? They simply have to file quarterly reports.
▶ 9:58:59All they have to do file the reports of saying what guns, used guns they bought back into their stores. This allows ATF to trace guns where the original purchaser has sold that gun to another, a different dealer, which in some instances may be done to avoid reporting requirements. That's it.
▶ 9:59:18a quarterly report for firearm dealers who have at least 25 of their firearms recovered by law enforcement in criminal activity with a single calendar year. What's worse in this uh change in the law, high volume sellers under this criteria would be able to diminish their crime gun traces as a percentage. You read on page uh 113 of this bill. uh they would be far less likely subject to the program.
▶ 9:59:48For example, if I am uh an FFL and I sell 10,000 guns in a single year, that seller, I would not be subject to the demand to requirements unless I sold 250 guns found at crime scenes in a single year. This language hides the ball. In reality, it raises the threshold and it is quite drastic. It strips the program of its efficiency.
▶ 10:00:15The Debanchu program makes America safer by trying to keep firearms arms out of the hands of criminal. It helps law enforcement trace and prevent violent crime. So why would we roll back a program like this? Why would we make it easier for dangerous criminals to get guns? Let me be clear. I am not clear. I'm actually really puzzled. How did this language get into the bill?
▶ 10:00:42Why would anyone want to kill the demand to initiative that helps FFLs and law enforcement curb and solve crimes? If I were an FFL, and I am not, let me be really clear. I'm not, I would appreciate the Demand 2 program because if my shop sold 25 guns or more in a single year that showed up at a crime, I would want to know that and figure out how to stop that.
▶ 10:01:11So today, I urge my colleagues to vote yes to stop the pandemic of arms going to dangerous people large and small. Hold FFLs accountable and I yield back. Thank you, gentle lady. The gentleman from Kentucky, Chairman Rogers, is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 10:01:36For far too long, the federal government has pushed the boundaries of law- abiding citizens, especially when it comes to the Second Amendment. I'm proud that the House bill maintains strong Second Amendment protections. Over the last four years, America witnessed an ATF that regulated through political impulses.
▶ 10:02:05This amendment would once again jeopardize this hallowed protection by striking a second amendment protection in the bill. I oppose this amendment, urge my colleagues to do the same and I yield back. Thank the gentleman. A gentle lady from New York, Mr. Ming, the uh ranking member of the subcommittee is recognized to address the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I strongly support this amendment.
▶ 10:02:35The Demand 2 program is an important tool for helping law enforcement fight gun violence. The program has aided ATF's law enforcement efforts by helping identify lacks business practices among some firearms dealers. It has provided us with invaluable data on who is supplying crime guns. Section 568 of this bill weakens this critical law enforcement tool. This writer should be struck from the bill.
▶ 10:03:02I urge adoption of this Thank the gentle lady. Are there other members wishing to address the Not. The gentle lady is recognized for one minute to close. I thank the gentleman. Again, I would ask everybody if you would briefly turn to page 133. Don't we want to be able to help law enforcement trace guns that are connected to crimes?
▶ 10:03:31If you own a firearm store, if you are an FFL, wouldn't you want to make sure you knew that your guns were not routinely showing up at crime sites? Mr. Chairman Rogers, with all due respect, this does nothing to harm the Second Amendment. Not one thing. People can still go in and buy their guns and sell their guns to the firearms dealer. Background checks completed.
▶ 10:03:59It does nothing to harm the Second Amendment. It helps law enforcement trace guns, crime guns. It's the only guns they're trying to trace. As I said, if I were a firearm dealer, I would want this protection. I would want this reporting so I could figure out what was gone wrong in my stores.
▶ 10:04:20Please support the demand 2 program started in the year 2000 not under the Biden administration which seems to be an an infection. If you take a look at what happened here who added that language that it was some Biden sickness. This was not a Biden thing. This is not a revenge thing. This is 25 years of trying to trace guns that are connected to crimes. Please support the amendment. Please support public safety.
▶ 10:04:50I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. The questions now in the amendment offered by the gentle lady from Pennsylvania. All those in favor say I. All those post say no. And your chair knows have it. Roll call has been requested. Sufficient support is evident. The clerk will call the role. Mr. Adder Holt. Mr. Adder Holt. No. Mr. Aguilar. Mr. Aguilar. I. Mr. Alford. Mr. Alford, no. Mr. Ammedday, Mr.
▶ 10:05:21Ammeday, no. Mrs. Bice, Mrs. Bice, no. Mr. Bishop, Mr. Bishop, I. Mr. Calbertt, Mr. Calbertt, no. Mr. Carter, Mr. Carter, no. Mr. Case, Mr. Casease, I. Mr. Mr. Klene. Mr. Klene. No. Mr. Cloud. Mr. Klyber. Mr. Klyber. I. Mr. Clyde. Mr. Clyde. No. Mr. Cole. Mr. Cole. No. Mr. Quayrar Mr.
▶ 10:05:50Quayar I Miss Dean Miss Dean I Mr. Lauro Mr. Lauro I Mr. Diaz Bolard Mr. Diaz Bolard No Mr. Edwards Mr. Edwards No Mr. Elsie Mr. Ellie no Mr. Miss Escobar Miss Escobar I Mr. Espayot Mr. Espayat I Mr. Fleshman Mr. Fleshman Mr. Fleshman No Frankle Miss Frankle I Mr. Franklin Mr. Franklin. No. Mr. Gonzalez. Mr.
▶ 10:06:20Gonzalez. No. Mr. Guest. Mr. Harter. Mr. Harter. I. Dr. Harris. Dr. Harris. No. Mrs. Henson. Mr. Hoyer. Mr. Hoyer. I. Mr. Ivy. Mr. Joyce. Mr. Joyce. No. Miss Captor. Miss Captor. I. Mr. Loa. Mr. Loa. No. Miss Lee. Miss Lee. I. Miss. Let Miss. Let no Mr. Levan Mr. Levan I.
▶ 10:06:50Miss Miss Mallaloy. No. Miss McCullum. Miss McCullum. I Miss Ming. Miss Ming. I Mr. Molinar. Mr. Molinar. No. Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore. No. Mr. Morelli. Mr. Morelli. I. Mr. Mvan. Mr. Mvan. I. Mr. New House. Mr. New House. No. Miss. Perez. Miss Pingri. Miss. Pingri. I. Mr. Pokean. Mr. Pokean. I Mr. Quigley. Mr. Quigley. I Mr. Russianthaler.
▶ 10:07:20Mr. Russianthaler. No. Mr. Rogers. Mr. Rogers. No. Mr. Rutherford. Mr. Rutherford. No. Mr. Simpson. Mr. Simpson. No. Mr. Strong. Mr. Strong. No. Mrs. Torres. Mrs. Torres. I. Miss. Underwood. Miss. Underwood. I. Mr. Valido. Mr. Valido. No. Miss Wasserman Schultz. Miss Wasserman Schultz. I Mrs. Watson Coleman. Mrs. Watson. Coleman. I. Mr. WAC. Mr. Wck. No. Mr. Zinci. Mr. Zinci. No.
▶ 10:07:49Are there any members wishing to Excuse me. Are there any members wishing to cast their vote or change our vote? Gentleman from Maryland. Mr. Ivy. I. Gentleman from Texas. Mr. Cloud. No. Are there any other members wishing to cate? Gentle lady from state of Miss Perez. I. Are there any others wishing to cast or change your vote?
▶ 10:08:16Seeing none, the clerk will tally On
▶ 10:09:03this vote, the eyes are 28, the nose are 32. The amendment is not adopted. Thank you. Gentle lady from Pennsylvania, Miss Dean is recognized for an amendment. Thank you, Chairman Cole. I have an amendment at the desk and I move that the reading be dispensed. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with and the gentle ladies recognized for remarks on our amendment. Thank you, Chairman.
▶ 10:09:30I rise today tonight in support of my amendment number two to provide funds for the DOJ's Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative. Community violence intervention and prevention programs are a federalist approach to reducing crime and making America safer.
▶ 10:09:49Instead of the federal government telling states what to do, community violence intervention and prevention programs give states, localities, and local law enforcement the resources and the freedom to combat crime themselves by addressing their specific needs at the local level through federal contributions. This bill unfortunately completely defunds these program that so many local law enforcement agencies across our country rely upon.
▶ 10:10:18So this amendment, my amendment would provide flat funding for these programs at $100 million. That's a restoration instead of zeroing out the program. The DOJ launched community-based violence intervention and prevention initiatives in 2022 as part part of the bipartisan safer communities act.
▶ 10:10:40This legislation was passed in direct response to a series of mass shootings including those in Uvalde and Buffalo and it was passed as a result of the chronic problem of gun violence in many communities. These programs identify those who are at higher risk and work to reduce violence through targeted community centered interventions.
▶ 10:11:04This DOJ initiative seeks to prevent and reduce violent crime in communities by supporting comprehensive evidence-based violence intervention and prevention programs based on partnerships among community residents, community leaker leaders, local government agencies, victim service providers, and community-based organizations, law enforcement, hospitals, researchers, and other stakeholders. In short, these programs work.
▶ 10:11:33This is not the time to roll back bipartisan legislation that is making our schools, our children, and our cities, our country a safer place. Every state, town, and community across the country is unique. And I call on my colleagues to support this proven approach to crime reduction that so many local law enforcement agencies rely upon. Thank you, and I yield back.
▶ 10:11:59I thank the gentle lady and the gentleman from Kentucky, Chairman Rogers, is recognized to address the Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm proud that the House bill maintains strong support for state and local law enforcement, including increasing funding for the burn and cops hiring grant programs.
▶ 10:12:27This amendment directs funds towards the community violence intervention program, a progressive grant program championed by the Biden administration. Further, as drafted, this amendment does not properly offset spending in the bill. It's for these reasons that I oppose the amendment and urge my colleagues to do the same. And I yield Thank the gentlemen.
▶ 10:12:56The gentle lady from New York, Miss Smitting, is recognized to address the amendment. I rise in support of this amendment. The Community Violence Inter intervention and prevention initiatives approach to interrupting cycles of violence has proven to be one of the most reliable and cost-effective ways to reduce community violence. And I believe my colleagues like to save money.
▶ 10:13:20Studies have shown that when faithfully implemented for every $1 invested in a CVI program, a community can save up to $41 in medical and criminal legal expenses. By disrupting cycles of violence, CBIPI reduces gun violence, homicides, arrests, and incarceration, and also improves community police relations.
▶ 10:13:46This is a common sense solution that we should all support for our communities. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. Are there others wishing to address the amendment? Seeing none, the gentle lady from Pennsylvania is recognized for one minute to close. I thank the chairman. I thank both chairman. Uh I thank our ranking members as well for your support and for the important information.
▶ 10:14:16uh Ranking Member Mang that you offered. You're absolutely right. In response to the notion that we can't afford this, we simply can't afford this. I would argue we can't afford not to do this. Community violence interruption programs work. They save lives. They reduce gun violence. The economic cost of gun violence in any community is extraordinary. So, the offset is real. It is offset to the economy.
▶ 10:14:44it's offset to the society and the families. I urge our our friends here to support this. Don't think it's poison because somehow it happened during the Biden administration when I was uh hoping to become an appropriator. I heard the old adage there are Republicans, there are Democrats, and there are appropriators. I had hoped we would be appropriators and we'd rise above this infection that if anything touched Biden, we must get rid of it.
▶ 10:15:14Unfortunately, I guess with other vaccines, we haven't had the vaccine. I ask you, please support this. This is money well spent. It will save lives in your communities and mine. I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. Questions now on the amendment offered by the gentle lady from Pennsylvania. All those in favor say I. All those opposed say no. Opinion chair. The nos have it.
▶ 10:15:44And the amendment is not agreed to. I'll do it again, but I would ask the gentle lady just to follow me when I'm put my hand up right away, sir. No, actually you didn't. But that's fine. We're going to have the vote. I apologize. That's that's quite all right. I just would just ask it's late but uh again thank you and we will have the vote sufficient reports there the clerk will call the role Mr. Adhalt Mr. Adhalt no Mr. Aguilar Mr. Aguilar I Mr. Alford Mr.
▶ 10:16:14Alford no Mr. Ammedday Mr. Ammedday no Mrs. Bice Mrs. Bice no Mr. Bishop Mr. Bishop I Mr. Calbertt Mr. Calvert no Mr. Carter Mr. Carter no Mr. Case Mr. Casease I Mr. Sisammani Mr. Sisammani no Mr. Mr. Klein. Mr. Klene. No. Mr. Cloud. Mr. Cloud. No. Mr. Klyber. Mr. Klyber. Mr. Klyber. I. Mr. Clyde. Mr. Clyde. No. Mr. Cole. Mr. Cole. No. Mr. Quayar. Mr.
▶ 10:16:44Quay. I. Miss Dean. Miss Dean. I. Mr. Deloro. Mr. Loro. I. Mr. Diaz. Balart. Mr. Diaz Bollard. No. Mr. Edwards. Mr. Edwards. No. Mr. Elzie. Mr. Elz. No. Miss Escobar. Miss Escobar. I Mr. Espayat. Mr. Espiad I Mr. Fleshman Mr. Fleshman no Miss Frankle Miss Frankle I Mr. Franklin Mr. Franklin no Mr. Gonzalez Mr. Gonzalez no Mr. Guest Mr. Guest no Mr. Harter Dr.
▶ 10:17:14Harris Dr. Harris no Mrs. Henson Mr. Mr. Hoyer I Mr. Ivy Mr. Ivy I Mr. Joyce Mr. Joyce no Miss Captor Miss Captor I Mr. Loa Mr. Mr. Loa, no. Miss Lee, Miss Lee, I Miss Latlo, Miss Latlo, no. Mr. Levan, Mr. Levven, I. Miss Malloy, Miss Mallaloy. No, Miss McCullum. Miss McCullum. I Miss Ming. Miss Ming. I Mr. Molinar. Mr. Molinar.
▶ 10:17:44No. Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore. No. Mr. Morelli. Mr. Melli. I. Mr. Murvan. Mr. Morvan. I. Mr. New Mr. New House. No. Miss Perez. Miss Perez. I Miss Pingri. Miss. Miss Pingri, I Mr. Pokean M. Mr. Pokean I Mr. Quigley Mr. Quigley I Mr. Russianthaler Mr. Russianthaler no Mr. Rogers Mr. Rogers no Mr. Rutherford Mr. Rutherford no Mr. Simpson Mr. Simpson no Mr. Strong Mr.
▶ 10:18:14Strong no Mrs. Mrs. Torres I miss Underwood Mr. Underwood I Mr. Valado Mr. Valido no Miss Wasserman Schultz Mrs. Watson Coleman Mrs. Watson Coleman I Mr. WAC Mr. WAC No Mr. Zinci Mr. Zinci Are there any members wishing to cast their vote or change their vote? Gentle lady from Florida. Miss Wman Schultz votes I. Gentleman from California.
▶ 10:18:44Mr. Harter votes I. Are there any other members wishing to cast their vote or change their vote? Seeing none, the clerk will tally.
▶ 10:19:26This vote. The eyes are 28. The nose are 34. The amendment is not adopted. Gentle lady from Pennsylvania, Miss De's recognized for an amendment. Thank you, chairman. I have an amendment at the desk and I move that the reading be dispensed with. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with. The gentle lady's recognized for remarks on her I thank you, Chairman Cole.
▶ 10:19:48I rise this evening in support of my amendment number three to provide justice for the survivors of sexual abuse and I'm hoping for bipartisan support on this. This amendment would require that no funds made available by this act may be used by the Department of Justice to withhold, redact, or delay the release of non-classified investigative records relating to the Epstein Maxwell case.
▶ 10:20:14Far for far too long, children, especially young women or girls have been abused by the rich and elite who have the resources to buy their way out of being held to account for their crimes. This amendment is about accountability, deterrence, and justice. But accountability, while ne a necessary first step, is not sufficient.
▶ 10:20:37We members of Congress must also stand together to meet this moment to protect our children and to ensure that nothing like the Epstein affair ever happens again. I'd like to share a lesson from my home state of Pennsylvania. In the wake of the horrific child sexual abuse that came to light with Jerry Sanduski, Pennians responded with action.
▶ 10:21:01Child advocacy centers, which are integral to prosecuting and preventing child sexual abuse, arose throughout our state 15 years after Sanduski was held to account. Pennsylvania now has 41 child advocacy centers, including one near and dear to my heart, Mission Kids, in my own Montgomery County. It is a leading it is a nationwide leading child advocacy center.
▶ 10:21:30Pennians learned from this tragedy, met the moment, and built the infrastructure necessary to prosecute and prevent our children from being harmed like this. But accountability was necessary for that. I look forward to working with my colleagues to protect our children and to prevent this from happening again. But first, we need accountability. We must bring these abusers to justice. I know everyone in this room wants that. We also need to know how this went on for so long.
▶ 10:22:01Without that knowledge, how can we possibly prevent something like this from happening again? I stand today with survivors and offer this amendment in support of justice, deterrence, accountability, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to prevent anything like this from ever happening again. But first, we must hold these child sexual abusers to account. I ask for support for my amendment, and I yield back, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 10:22:30Thank the gentle lady. The gentleman from Kentucky, Chairman Rogers, is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the reasons I stated before, I oppose the amendment and urge my colleagues to do the same, and I yield back. Thank the gentlemen. The gentle lady from New York, Miss Bing, is recognized to address the amendment. I rise in support of this amendment. Like the other amendments related to this matter, this is about transparency and accountability.
▶ 10:23:01To date, this administration has only released documents that are mostly old news and heavily redacted. They are not sufficient to help us get the full truth of this terrible case. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back. Thank gentle the gentle lady from Florida, Miss Franklin is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
▶ 10:23:29Thank you, uh, Representative Dean, for this amendment, which I rise in support. This amendment that says no funds may be used by the Department of Justice to block the release of records uh, in regards to the Epstein Maxwell case. Look, folks, here's what we know. Federal prosecutors uncovered evidence of an extensive sex trafficking operation that ran for 25 years.
▶ 10:24:0025 years. It involved rape, coercion, and the abuse of hundreds of victims across multiple properties. I want to say that again. 25 years of sex traff trafficking of hundreds of victims across multiple properties and yet believe it or not only two people have ever been charged and Jeffrey Epstein and Just Lane
▶ 10:24:30Maxwell. But we all know this. The story of Epstein is not just about one man. Survivors have made it clear that he could not have caused this abuse or or created this abuse on this scale alone. Others recruited recruited girls, scheduled, transported them, opened doors, and looked the other way.
▶ 10:24:56And powerful figures may have participated For survivors, knowing who else was involved is about justice and dignity. They deserve to know who enabled their exploitation and who profited from their silence. And for the public, it's about trust.
▶ 10:25:18If the wealthy and well-connected can hide behind privilege and secrecy, then equal justice under the law is nothing more than an empty This is bigger than one predator. It is about whether our society will confront systems of power that shield abusers or whether we will continue to let silence by protection. Survivors need the truth.
▶ 10:25:45The public needs transparency and only with full accountability can justice be done. I hope we will all support this very good amendment. And I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. Uh, are there other members wishing to address the Seeing none, the gentle lady from Pennsylvania is recognized for one minute to close. I thank you again, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 10:26:13Uh, I thank my colleagues for rising in support of this amendment. Uh, as Miss Frankle said, 25 years of trafficking, of abuse, of sexual uh, assault, rape, at least a billion dollars flowing through JP Morgan Chase and who knows what other banks. It isn't that Mr. Epstein could have done this all himself or with the aid of Ms. Maxwell.
▶ 10:26:44Others participated in this horrible trafficking rape program of and those predators have been got gotten off scot-free. The victims deserve transparency. Many of you have talked about transparency for years.
▶ 10:27:06This administration talked about transparency in the Epstein files with the DO with the Department of Justice and the attorney general famously saying she had the binder on her desk. She had the list on her desk. Don't you want transparency for the sake of our children? I ask for a yes vote. Thank you, gentle lady. The questions now on the amendment offered by the gentle lady from Pennsylvania. All those in favor say I. I.
▶ 10:27:36All those opposed say no. Opinion of the chair of the nos have it. A roll call's been requested. Sufficient support is evident. Clerk will call the Mr. Adder Holt. Mr. Adder Holt. No. Mr. Aguular. Mr. Aguular. I. Mr. Alford. Mr. Alfred. No. Mr. Ammedday. Mr. Amade. No. Mrs. Spice. Mrs. Spice. No. Mr. Bishop. Mr. Bishop. I. Mr. Calbertt. Mr. Calbert. No. Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter. No. Mr. Case Mr.
▶ 10:28:06Casease I Mr. Sisammani Mr. Sisammani no Mr. Klein Mr. Klene no Mr. Mr. Klyurn Mr. Klyber I Mr. Clyde Mr. Clyde no Mr. Cole Mr. Cole no Mr. Quayrar Mr. Quayar I Miss Dean Miss Dean I Mr. Mr. Loro I Mr. Diaz Bolard Mr. Diaz Bolard No Mr. Edwards Mr. Edwards no Mr.
▶ 10:28:36Miss Escobar Miss Escobar I Mr. Espayot Mr. Espayott I Mr. Fleshman Mr. Fleshman No Miss Frankle Miss Frankle I Mr. Franklin Mr. Franklin no Mr. Gonzalez Mr. Gonzalez no Mr. Guest Mr. Guest no Mr. Harter Mr. Harter I Dr. Harris Dr. Harris no Mrs. Henson Mr. Hoyer Mr. Hoyer I Mr. Mr. Ivy Mr. Ivy I Mr. Mr.
▶ 10:29:05Joyce No Miss Captor Miss Captor I Mr. Loa Miss Lee Miss Lllo Miss Leello no Mr. Levan Mr. Lean I miss Miss Mallaloy no Miss McCullum Miss McCullum I miss Ming Miss Ming I Mr. Molinar Mr. Molinar no Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore. No. Mr. Morelli. Mr. Morelli.
▶ 10:29:36I Mr. Morvan. Mr. Morvan. I Mr. New House. Mr. New House. No. Miss Perez. Miss Perez. I Miss Pingri. Miss Pingri. I Mr. Pokean. Mr. Pokean. I Mr. Quigley. Mr. Quigley. I. Mr. Russianthaler. Mr. Russianthaler. No. Mr. Rogers. Mr. Rogers. No. Mr. Rutherford. Mr. Rutherford. No. Mr. Simpson. Mr. Mr. Simpson. No. Mr. Strong. Mr. Strong. No. Mrs. Torres. Mrs. Torres. I. Miss. Underwood.
▶ 10:30:06Miss. Underwood. I. Mr. Valido. Mr. Valido. No. Miss Wasserman Schultz. Miss Wasserman Schultz. I Mrs. Watson Coleman. Mrs. Watson Coleman. I. Mr. Wack. Mr. Wack. No. Mr. Zinci. Mr. Zinci. No. Are there any members wishing to vote or change your vote? Gentleman from Texas. Mr. Cloud. No. Another gentleman from Texas. Mr. LZ. No. A gentleman from New York. Mr. Loa. No. Gentle lady from Nevada. Miss Lee.
▶ 10:30:35I Are there any other members wishing to vote or change their vote? Seeing none, the clerk will tally.
▶ 10:31:15On this vote, the eyes are 28, the nose are 34. The amendment is not adopted. Gentle lady from Pennsylvania, Miss Dean, recognized for an amendment. Thank you, Chairman Cole. I have an amendment at the desk and I move that the reading be dispensed with. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with and the gentle lady's recognized for remarks on her amendment.
▶ 10:31:36I rise this evening in support of my final amendment number four to provide funding for two evidence-based programs that reduce recidivism, improve public safety, and protect our children and our veterans. For three decades, treatment courts have brought together public safety and health professionals to prevent fatal overdoses, strengthen families, and make our community safer.
▶ 10:31:59Treatment courts across the country have reduced recidifism by as much as 58% and have saved the American taxpayer an average of $6,000 for every single person they serve. In short, treatment courts work. I know that is the case in my district. In my district back home in Pennsylvania, we have what is known as the big four treatment courts. Drug courts, DUI courts, mental health courts, and veteran treatment courts.
▶ 10:32:28I look forward to working with all of you to expand these programs. But in the meantime, I offer my amendment today to fund two programs uh to the level they are at the Senate CJS bill. Number one, veteran treatment courts are an alternative to incarceration for military veterans and service members whose involvement in the justice system is rooted in substance use disorder, mental health disorder, or trauma.
▶ 10:32:56These courts connect veterans in crisis with local, state, and federal benefits and treatment services available to to them through military service. Our veterans risk their lives to serve our country. And I call on my colleagues to support this amendment for increased funding for veteran treatment courts. The second item in this amendment is about keeping families together and protecting our children.
▶ 10:33:21On any given day in the United States, 2.7 million children have a parent serving time in prison or in jail. According to the National Institute of Justice, the impacts of parental incarceration on children include psychological stress, antisocial behavior, academic suspension or expulsion, economic hardship, and criminal activity of their own.
▶ 10:33:44Parental incarceration generates a generational cycle, creates, excuse me, a generational cycle of trauma that the child bears. This amendment seeks to curb or end that. This funding uh request, which is also in the Senate CJS bill, supports family-based alternative programs that are court-based and designed to prevent separation of parents and children in the first place.
▶ 10:34:12Instead of incarceration, these programs provide services and resources, counseling, parental classes, stabilization supports as alternatives to jail or prison. Our children deserve better and shouldn't bear the burden of having an incarcerated parent when it is not necessary. This funding request does just that by keeping families together, by protecting children.
▶ 10:34:36I ask you, I call upon you, my colleagues, to support families, children, and veterans by voting yes on this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back. Thanks, gentle lady. The gentleman from Kentucky, Chairman Rogers, is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This amendment increases funding for the Veterans Treatment Courts Program.
▶ 10:35:01I've long been a supporter of veterans treatment courts and maintained the enacted level of 32 million for this program in the fiscal year bill. This amendment also funds the family-based alternatives to sentencing program. This program is elim eliminated uh in uh in the bill.
▶ 10:35:29But I want to emphasize that states and localities who wish to fund the program have the flexibility to utilize burn grant dollars to fund the program. This approach allows local communities to determine what is best instead of the federal government.
▶ 10:35:50Further, as drafted, this amendment uh does not properly offset spending in the bill and would cause the bill to exceed the allocation. It's for these reasons that I oppose the amendment and urge my colleagues to do the same and yield Thank the gentleman. The gentle lady from New York, the ranking member of the subcommittee, Miss Ming, is recognized to address the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I strongly support this amendment.
▶ 10:36:21As I have said in the past, I take my responsibility to those who bravely served our nation very seriously. I have also spent my career focused on legislation helping American families and children. Veterans treatment courts seek to treat veterans suffering from trauma, substance abuse, and/or mental health disorders while helping ensure public safety.
▶ 10:36:48These programs address the root causes of criminal behavior and focus on underlying issues. Family-based alternative justice programs also help parents access services to stabilize the home and end intergenerational cycles of justice involvement. These programs reduce recidivism and increase public safety.
▶ 10:37:12Studies show that participants in these programs are less likely to We must continue to support and restore these critical programs that keep our communities safe, help veterans, families, and law enforcement and prevent violence. I appreciate my colleagues amendment and urge your support. I yield back. Thank you, gentle lady.
▶ 10:37:37Are there other members wishing to address the Seeing none, the gentle lady from Pennsylvania is recognized for one minute to close. Thank you, Chairman Cole, and I thank you for the consideration of this amendment as well as my other amendments. I ask you to think about it and think about our veterans, think about our families, think about the children uh who have incarcerated parents and the impact that has on them.
▶ 10:38:02We know these programs work and rather than just being subject to trying to grab some grant money, as important as that is, why wouldn't we want to have sustained federal partnership in these programs? And so the offset, Mr. Chairman, is the societal savings and the direct dollar economic savings that these programs provide. Uh I thank you all for considering this amendment. Uh and I ask for an affirmative vote. Thank the gentle lady.
▶ 10:38:31The questions now on the amendment offered by the gentle lady from Pennsylvania. All those in favor say I. All those opposed say no. Opinion of the chair. The nose have it and the amendment is not agreed to. Gentle lady from Texas, Miss Escobar is recognized for an amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would actually like the amendment read, Uh clerk will read the amendment.
▶ 10:39:00An amendment offered by Miss Escobar in the bill after section 599. Insert section blank. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this act or any other act may be used in carrying out any federal law enforcement activities unless participants in such an action visibly display their employing agency's name or widely recognized initials, the agents legible badge or identification number and last name.
▶ 10:39:26provided nothing in this section shall be implemented that may compromise the integrity of an ongoing undercover operation. Uh gentle lady from Texas is recognized for remarks on her amendment. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. Colleagues, when we were debating the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, my colleague uh Mr.
▶ 10:39:50Dragilad and I brought forward a an idea, an amendment to have federal law enforcement agents, specifically ICE agents, either display their badge number or their last name. And we were actually hoping to come together in a bipartisan way to find a bipartisan amendment to the bill that would accomplish that kind of identifier.
▶ 10:40:21I'm sorry to report I we're not going to be successful in that. I'm still open to it and would still love to do that uh work together toward a bipartisan compromise on this. In the absence of that though, I am using this time so that I can talk about the issue that communities like mine and communities across the country are facing.
▶ 10:40:46And in thinking about how I was going to discuss this with all of you, I I thought I'm going to do a little research. I want to know why police departments have uniforms and badges to begin with.
▶ 10:41:01And what I discovered was, and it makes perfect sense, policies for uniforms and badges for law enforcement were created to establish a recognizable authoritative presence, which helps deter crime and promotes public trust. It also promotes coordination, enabling officers to quickly identify each other during enforcement operations.
▶ 10:41:27It encourages accountability because officers are identifiable for their actions and their conduct. Badges actually go back to medieval times. They were designated uh for an individual who would be known as a defender tasked with ensuring safety and following the rules.
▶ 10:41:52I don't know if you all have seen many of the videos that are circulating on social media and that have been in the news. I don't know if you all have heard from your constituents about the way that ICE is engaging in many communities, but there is a real fear and a real real terror that is out there in our communities as a result of what is happening with ICE in America today during the Trump
▶ 10:42:22administration. We are seeing a number of federal law enforcement agents who are not just masked, but they are plain clothed. They are driving unmarked vehicles. They are literally snatching up people from the streets. I have seen videos of them breaking car windows to pull people out.
▶ 10:42:48I saw a video today of a pregnant woman dragged out of her car by federal law enforcement and pinned to the ground. This is not acceptable. It should not be acceptable to anyone. And in fact, it weakens the bond between law enforcement and communities.
▶ 10:43:14a very critical bond that creates public safety. With the one big beautiful bill, we are very quickly going to have an additional 10,000 ICE agents in America.
▶ 10:43:31And with the recent Supreme Court ruling that essentially greenlights racial communities like mine, a community that is 85% Latino, we are going to see even more fear in our communities and it erodess the public trust. It makes us less safe.
▶ 10:43:56I'd like to enter into the record, and I'm running out of time, but there's four different articles that I'd like to enter into the record four examples that I very quickly found of criminals impersonating ICE agents because ICE agents no longer are wearing badges or uniforms and they are in unmarked vehicles. There is a real threat and colleagues we cannot and we should not ignore it.
▶ 10:44:26Just quickly without objection so they can be entered. Thank you Mr. Chairman. we have an obligation to ensure that the public feels safe and that law enforcement is accountable. There's no one who despises a bad law enforcement agent more than a good law enforcement agent. Let's help ensure that we create that accountability.
▶ 10:44:55And it starts with us ensuring that the status quo doesn't continue. And I'm willing to work with anyone on an amendment that would accomplish that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I offer and I withdraw my amendment and I yield back. I thank the gentle lady for uh that. Uh the gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Morvan is recognized for an amendment.
▶ 10:45:27Mr. Chair, uh I have an amendment at the desk and I move that the reading be dispensed with. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with and the gentleman is recognized for remarks on his amendment. I rise to offer the amendment that would restore full funding for the international trade administration as well as the economic development administration. This bill makes a more than 20% cut to the ITA at a time when their case load is an all-time high.
▶ 10:45:51The agencies does critical work in strengthening the competitiveness of the US industry and ensuring that American workers can compete on a level playing field. At the moment, the ITA has 115 active anti-dumping and counterveailing duty cases against products sold by foreign producers and dumped prices or unfairly subsidized by their government. And a large portion of these cases are against China.
▶ 10:46:16Underfunding this agency, which is already strapped for resources, will cause delays in combating unfair trade practices. This translates to job loss for workers in northwest Indiana and across the country. Throughout my career, I've sat across from many people who have been on the losing end of unfair trade. And I can tell you that the duties imposed by the ITA are vital in combating bad practices, and protecting American workers.
▶ 10:46:42This bill will also make a significant cut to economic development, which helps economically distressed communities, stimulating job growth. In my district, the EDA grants have directly supported improvements in water infrastructure, transportation, planning, and environmental management. The EDA is tasked with facilitating critical investment.
▶ 10:47:01For example, the city of Leaport, Indiana, received 2.5 million in matching funds from the EDA for water infrastructure improvements in my district to create 185 185 jobs and retain additional 230 workers. These dollars support projects that drive business growth and expand job opportunities in communities that need it most. I urge the committee to restore this funding, which supports American workers and manufacturing communities. With that, I yield back. Thank the gentlemen.
▶ 10:47:31Uh the chair gentleman from Kentucky, Mr. Rogers, Chairman Rogers, to respond to the The House uh bill includes responsible levels of funding for the International Trade Administration and Economic Development This amendment would increase funding for EDA and ITA without any offsets exceeding the
▶ 10:48:01bill's allocation. While there are many priorities I would have liked to fund EDA for a higher level, we must be responsible with taxpayers money. I must oppose the amendment and urge my colleagues to do the same. And I yield Thank the gentleman. The gentle lady from New York, Miss Ming, is recognized to address the amendment. Mr.
▶ 10:48:29Chairman, I strongly support this amendment, which restores funding for programs that create and preserve good American jobs when working families need them most. At a time when our families are struggling with the high cost of living, we should be doubling down on job creation, not slashing the programs that help American businesses compete and win.
▶ 10:48:52Yet, this bill, as written, guts EDA grants by over 35%, walking away from investments that have created hundreds of thousands of jobs and revitalized struggling local economies, primarily in rural areas. EDA grants are not handouts. They are investments that create opportunity in communities that have been left behind.
▶ 10:49:15Just seven months ago, Congress reauthorized EDA for the first time in 20 years with strong bipartisan support. I know many of my colleagues here know how important these investments are for their constituents. So why are we slashing programs that we just modernized and endorsed? The timing of the ITA cuts are even harder to defend given the unprecedented chaos that President Trump's tariffs have unleashed in our global economy.
▶ 10:49:46Small and medium-sized businesses are drowning in rising costs and struggling to navigate unpredictable trade policies. Yet, this bill fails to invest in the lifeline that ITA provides. The businesses that ITA helps don't have armies of trade lawyers.
▶ 10:50:05They rely on ITA to help them export, understand regulations, address trade barriers, and navigate the global ITA's anti-dumping and trade enforcement work also protects American jobs from countries that don't play fair. You can't make America great by making it harder for our American businesses to compete.
▶ 10:50:30I appreciate my colleagues amendment to restore critical investments in EDA and ITA and urge your support. I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. The gentle lady from Connecticut, the ranking member of the full committee, Mrs. Laurel is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of this amendment which funds the Economic Development Administration and the International Trade Administration, two agencies which are essential in our fight to level the playing field for American workers.
▶ 10:51:00The EDA provides grants and assistance for distressed communities that have suffered from economic trends like offshoring as well as from natural disasters. It helps communities like Red Lodge, Montana, which was awarded a $2.9 million grant for roadway and storm water infrastructure improvements that will support business growth in the city and improve the city's resilience against future flooding.
▶ 10:51:27The EDA's disaster supplemental grant program has made available approximately 1.45 four or five billion dollars to support economic recovery activities uh uh following major disaster declarations. Just in the last year, they have funded projects to help communities hit by disasters in Kentucky, Virginia, Florida, Puerto Rico, North Carolina, Washington, California, and more. EDA helps small businesses as well.
▶ 10:51:57In 2017, Romeo Chocolates received a $50,000 loan from the EDA's revolving loan fund, which helped him to acquire furniture, equipment, and working capital that helped that small business expand its operations by establishing a permanent retail location. And it helps larger manufacturers. It helped Newport Biodiesel in Newport Biodeiesel, Inc.
▶ 10:52:22leverage 400,000 in loan funds to finance the cost of purchasing and installing new biodeiesel tanks for their businesses, which turns used cooking oil into clean burning fuel and employed 27 people.
▶ 10:52:38Last year, it was reauthorized on a bipartisan basis, allowing it to make investments in high-speed broadband, increasing the resources for technical assistance of local economic development projects, and supporting the expansion of facilities for workforce training. So that the EDA supports job creation, innovation, opportunity, particularly for areas of the country that have suffered economically.
▶ 10:53:01And the international trade administrations helps to fight unfa unfair foreign trade practices like when countries flood American markets with underpriced goods in an effort to put American competitors out of business. They also help American companies get a foothold in foreign markets like Universal Synaptics, a Utah aviation technology company that was able to secure a $ 1.5 million contract with an Indonesian company through a trade mission organized by ITA
▶ 10:53:32specialists. and ITA helped JQ American, an oil and gas energy equipment company based in California, successfully secure 5.3 million in sales for energy projects in Oman and beyond. American companies exporting American projects product is not that isn't that what this administration claims that it's all about. ITA helps to monitor imports of products like steel and aluminum.
▶ 10:53:58It ensures that we can maintain a level playing field for American businesses and workers by preventing spikes and low standard metal imports from abroad. Maintaining stability in these markets is essential for our national security and industrial base. ITA helps protect against dumping of foreign experts into US markets. They are currently nearly 800 products from wind towers to garlic to biodiesel that are being monitored by ITA to prevent the dumping of goods.
▶ 10:54:26This bill would kneecap our ability to enforce those orders, many of which uh uh were imposed under the first Trump administration. President Trump promised to fight for American workers, but since taking office, he's turned his back on them. He has cut programs like Medicaid that families rely on, uh attacked protections for workers at the Department of Labor, instituted chaotic tariffs uh with our uh uh that are driving up costs for households by over $2,000, according to the Yale Budget Lab.
▶ 10:54:56Now, Republicans are cutting the agencies designed to help workers, American workers, and businesses. The results speak for themselves. We have lost nearly 78,000 manufacturing jobs since President Trump took office, including 12,000 jobs this August alone. We should be investing in agencies and programs that help create economic activity or those jobs will continue to disappear. Our communities will continue to suffer higher costs. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and I yield back.
▶ 10:55:29Thank the gentle lady. The gentle lady from Ohio, Miss Capter is recognized to address the amendment. Thank you. Uh Mr. Chairman and members, I rise in very strong support of the Miran amendment and uh it's about jobs in this country and investment. With unemployment at a three-year high and manufacturing jobs already down over 78,000 since the beginning of this year, America's economy is sending a clear warning.
▶ 10:55:58And that's why the EDA is especially important as well as the International Trade Administration. Inflation, as we all know, continues to burden families. Uh food costs are up nearly 3% and most of the other goods about 2.7.
▶ 10:56:11And I'm hoping that in placing this on the record as this bill goes to conference, we might be able to help with additional funding for the EDA and the International Trade Uh the EDA and the Department of Commerce help put people back to work and that's what we want.
▶ 10:56:29Um the EDA helps to fund projects in communities across this country in partnership with those communities to make it easier to start or to expand businesses. They really do have excellent advice. And with all we're going through with these trade wars now, uh, we have to really look at the International Trade Administration to make sure that we stay on the straight and narrow and that we export more than we import.
▶ 10:56:58That's hard, but we have to keep aiming at that. And also the trade promotion that they do at the Department of Commerce is really important. And removing trade barriers by trying to negotiate and to expand markets abroad. It's easy to say, hard to accomplish. Just in the field of agriculture, I want to put on the record that we do have an export crisis.
▶ 10:57:24Uh back in 2018, uh that particular period of time cost farmers 26 billion dollars in agricultural losses and ended our 60-year streak of agricultural trade surpluses. So, we the curve bent there in the wrong direction and we really haven't picked up. soybean exports to China.
▶ 10:57:43Our largest buyer collapsed from, get this, 12.3 billion uh to 3.1 billion as China permanently shifted its purchases uh and suppliers uh to Brazil and to Latin America. And we've lost that market share. The ongoing trade war uh has caused us uh another 39% loss in the markets. The numbers prove it.
▶ 10:58:08and American farmers are losing critical edge in markets they had dominated before. Um, not a single soybean shipment to China was booked by American farmers this year. That's a shocking number. Uh, the International Trade Administration is our farmer's lifeline, providing market intelligence, removing trade barriers, and promoting American agriculture worldwide. And finally, uh, I wanted to say that the enforcement powers of ITA are really important.
▶ 10:58:37used to hold foreign nations um to account in their anti-dumping and counterveailing duties. I can't tell you whether it's steel, so many other products, all the problems we have in manufacturing and agricultural America trying to get a level playing field and uh ITA has levied more than $31 million just in fraud by these companies. So, a little bit more spent brings more back as we try to hold these companies and countries accountable.
▶ 10:59:05So, um I really urge my colleagues to support this amendment to help create jobs at a time when our country really needs it and to protect American farmers and manufacturers uh from any glitches in the economic agenda that is causing more inflation and really deeply hurting uh uh our econ economic growth this year. And I think this is a very constructive amendment. It's not hundreds of millions of dollars that are being asked for. And I would ask for support of the Miran amendment.
▶ 10:59:36Hopefully as this bill moves forward, it can be tucked in as we try to repair and work with the Senate. So, thank you very much and I yield back. Thank you, gentle lady. Are there other members wishing to address the Seeing none, the gentleman from Indiana is recognized for one minute to close. Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to close in regards to uh the the economy of of our nation.
▶ 11:00:03And as I mentioned before, for 15 years, I was a township trustee in the region of the largest steel producing area in the nation. And when there are conditions beyond control and people lose jobs because of trade cheats or subsidized steel or aluminum coming into our community, I genuinely sat across from those individuals who lost their job, lost their health insurance, and didn't know what to do next.
▶ 11:00:30And so when we talk about reasonable investment, this is a reasonable investment as we go with the new economy of tariffs to understand that you have to have an enforcement agency that protects against our adversary China whose belt and road philosophy is to outsmart us when it comes to circumventing our trade policies from foreign countries and bringing it into this nation so they could sell their subsidized steel.
▶ 11:00:57So bottom line is if it's not today, maybe tomorrow we can work in a bipartisan way to protect the workers that we all stay that we stand for. And with that, I yield back. Thank the gentleman. The question is now on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Indiana. All those in favor say I. All opposed say no. The opinion of the chair, the nos have it. Rule calls been requested.
▶ 11:01:26Sufficient amount of support is evident. The clerk will call the role. Mr. Adder Holt. Mr. Aderhalt. No. Mr. Aguular. Mr. Aguilar. I. Mr. Alford. Mr. Alford. No. Mr. Amade. Mr. Ammedday. No. Mrs. Bice. Mrs. Bice. No. Mr. Bishop. Mr. Bishop. I. Mr. Calbert. Mr. Calbert. No. Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter. No. Mr. Casease. Mr. Casease. I. Mr. Mr. Sisammani. No. Mr. Klene. Mr. Klein. No. Mr. Cloud.
▶ 11:01:57Mr. Cloud. No. Mr. Mr. Klyurn. I Mr. Clyde. Mr. Clyde. No. Mr. Cole. Mr. Cole. No. Mr. Quayar. Mr. Quayar. I. Miss Dean. Miss Dean. I. Mr. Lauro. Mr. Diaz Bolard. Mr. Diaz Bolard. No. Mr. Edwards. Mr. Edwards. No. Mr. Ellie. Mr. Ellie. No. Miss Escobar. Miss Escobar. I. Mr. Espayat. Mr. Espayat. I. Mr. Mr. Fleshman. Mr. Fleshman. No.
▶ 11:02:27Miss Frankle. Miss Frankle. I Mr. Franklin. Mr. Franklin. No. Mr. Gonzalez. Mr. Gonzalez. No. Mr. Guest. Mr. Guest. No. Mr. Harter. Mr. Harter. I Dr. Harris. Dr. Harris. No. Mrs. Henson. Mr. Hoyer. Mr. Hoyer. I. Mr. Ivy. Mr. Ivy. I. Mr. Joyce. Mr. Joyce. No. Miss Captor. Absolutely. Yes. Miss Captor I. Mr. Loa. Mr. Loa. No. Miss Lee.
▶ 11:02:59Miss Llo. Miss Llo. No. Mr. Lean. Mr. Leaven. I Miss Mallaloy. Miss Mallaloy. No. Mr. Miss McCullum. I Miss Ming. Miss Ming. I. Mr. Molar. Mr. Molinar. No. Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore. No. Mr. Mr. Morelli. I Mr. Morvan. Mr. Morvan. I Mr. New House. Miss Perez Miss Perez I Miss Pingri Miss Pingri I Mr.
▶ 11:03:29Pokean Mr. Pokean I Mr. Mr. Quigley Mr. Quigley I Mr. Russianthaler Mr. Russianthaler no Mr. Rogers Mr. Rogers no Mr. Rutherford Mr. Rutherford no Mr. Simpson Mr. Simpson no Mr. Strong Mr. Strong no Mrs. Torres Mrs. Miss Torres. I Miss Underwood. Miss Underwood. I Mr. Valado. Mr. Valido. No. Miss Wasserman Schultz. Miss Wasserman Schultz. I Mrs.
▶ 11:03:58Watson Coleman. Mrs. Watson Coleman. I Mr. WAC. Mr. Wac. No. Mr. Zinci. Mr. Zinci. No. Are there any members wishing to vote or change their vote? Gentle lady from Miss Lee. I. Are there any others wishing to change their vote or record their vote? Seeing none, the clerk will tally.
▶ 11:04:35Don't call anything yet. We got somebody gentle lady from Connecticut. Mr.
▶ 11:04:49Luro votes I On
▶ 11:05:21this vote, the eyes are 28, the nose are 33. The amendment is not adopted. Gentle lady from Washington, Miss Perez, is recognized for an amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that my amendment be um not not read. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with. The gentle lady's recognized for remarks on her amendment. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
▶ 11:05:47Um, when I first got elected two and a half years ago, um, I missed my baby. I missed my husband. I missed the quietness of my home. And it was easy to dismiss, um, the metric ton of letters I was getting about Hunter Biden's laptop. It was not what I felt I came here to do.
▶ 11:06:11And um you know, candidly, like a lot of people were dismissing it and and and it was a joke to Hunter Biden's laptop and and I it was it's so easy to engage that instinct. And um I I was able to stop and think about this and lift open the hood on it.
▶ 11:06:29And what I what I started to understand was that what a lot of folks who were writing me were saying was that they have a conviction that uh your last name or a good lawyer can inoculate you from the consequences of your actions. And it was not about just a laptop. It was about our justice system.
▶ 11:06:54And um you know I I um I uh I got a I've been listening to the debate on a lot of the Epsign stuff and and um my actually my eighth grade English teacher just sent me a book. Um it's a it's a Scottish theologian named John Bailey and I wanted to share it Um this is a prayer from 1936.
▶ 11:07:18Oh Lord, forgive me for my failure to apply myself to the standards I demand of others, my blindness to the suffering of others, and the time it takes me to learn from my own, my apathy towards wrongs that do not impact me, and my oversensitivities to those that do. Lord, forgive me for my failure to be true, even to my own standards, my excuses in the face of temptation, my choosing the worse when I know the better.
▶ 11:07:45Forgive me for my slowness to see the good in others and see the flaws in myself. My hard-heartedness towards the faults of others and my readiness to make allowances for my own. My unwillingness to believe that you have called me to a small work and my brother or sister to a great one. And I and I offer this amendment with humility and and with a conviction of my own heart that I don't live up to these standards all the time. My amendment is simple. I will not be offering requesting a roll call on it.
▶ 11:08:16I I we've done that enough and it hasn't changed the outcome of this work. Um it my amendment is very simple. I'm not trying to score a partisan point. I'm just asking for clarity. I'm asking for your help in in affirming and in reestablishing American confidence in our justice system.
▶ 11:08:38My amendment says that we're not going to transfer these funds until we have the details about why Gizlane Maxwell was transferred from a maximum sentence prison to club fed. It's it's not I'm not trying to be partisan. I'm not asking you to engage in that.
▶ 11:08:58I'm just asking for your help in restoring our role in oversight and American confidence in uh you know in in in our con our belief that your last name and your good lawyers should not change the of your consequences. And um with that, Mr. Chair, I yield Thank the gentle lady.
▶ 11:09:25Uh, the chair recognizes Chairman Rogers to address the amendment. We thank the gentle lady Mike for that report.
▶ 11:09:50And uh, I move that we Uh, I oppose the amendment and I ask that others do the same. Gentle lady from New York, Miss Bing is recognized to address the amendment. I rise in support of this amendment.
▶ 11:10:15We have an important oversight responsibility on this committee which this amendment supports. This is about transparency, accountability, and justice. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back. Thank the gentle lady. Are there others wishing to address the amendment? Seeing none, the gentle lady is recognized for one minute to close.
▶ 11:10:44Committee for their consideration, I I I request your support. Lend me your eye. Um and I I and I yield back. Thank you, gentle lady. The question is now on the amendment offered by the gentle lady from Washington. All those in favor say I. All those opposed say no. Okay. The chair. The nose have it and the amendment is not agreed to.
▶ 11:11:18Uh, chair recognizes Mr. Warmarmac for the purposes of a motion, please. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 11:11:33Um, I'll make a motion here in just a minute, but earlier today we considered and passed an amendment by voice that um I could tell when it was being discussed was somewhat confusing and uh there seemed to be some complications with uh kind of the technicalities of the issue that was uh subject to this amendment.
▶ 11:12:00And because of that uh and because I feel very strongly uh that that we pass that amendment in error uh I am going to move to the chair now that we re reconsider the amendment offered.
▶ 11:12:15I think it is Clyde number three that was offered uh sometime middle of this uh Clyde number three and I move that we that particular amendment and I as I understand the process in order to be able to do this we'll have to vote on the motion to reconsider and then reintroduce the amendment
▶ 11:12:51okay uh Uh members are allowed to speak on the motion before we actually vote on the motion. Uh so are there any members on either side wishing to speak on the motion? Uh gentleman from Missouri, Mr. Alfred's Yes, sir. I will be brief. Uh having talked to both parties, I I I truly believe Mr. Clyde's heart was in the right place with this.
▶ 11:13:18Uh to be quite honest, I I didn't know how I was going to vote on this. If my name was called, I would probably vote present. I I just think we need more information. And as we work through this process, I believe the the intentions of Mr. Clyde are good. The intentions of Mr. Wilmac are good. I think we can come to a resolution and then bring it back and bring some substantive change if needed uh where Mr. Clyde sees fit and through the authorization committee as well. With that, I yield back.
▶ 11:13:50I thank the gentleman. Are there others wishing to speak on the motion uh to reconsider the amendment? Seeing none, the gentleman is recognized for one minute to close on his motion. Okay. Well, I didn't really uh take my five minutes in discussing uh in a matter of closing before we vote on the motion to reconsider.
▶ 11:14:15Part of the issue that I have with the vote that was taken this afternoon was that while it has been uh while the the the sponsor of the amendment says the amendment was prepared at 8:00 this morning, nobody in this room got it until well after lunch and a short time before the motion or the amendment was offered for consideration by this committee, which I think is not consistent with the spirit of how we deal with amendments uh to appropriation bills in a markup like
▶ 11:14:45as important as this one. Further, I don't believe that this particular subject belongs in an appropriation bill and is best left to the authorizing committee. So, I do and I'll be able to speak a little bit more on the historical context of the issue at hand once the if in fact we do reconsider the vote and if indeed we do debate that uh that motion again and I yield. Thank gentlemen.
▶ 11:15:14The that's right. So the way I understand actually there is no debate on the uh
▶ 11:15:45u if we adopt the motion we just go straight to a vote on whether or not to remove it. There's not a debate. We've already debated the amendment. So we won't redesate the amendment and then have a debate on it? No, that's what this is about on the MO. We don't read in my discussions with the parliamentarian. We would consider the motion to reconsider and if it passes, then we would redesate the amendment and basically start over.
▶ 11:16:16Well, I was not part of that discussion, but I'm talking to the same parliamentarian you did. Oh, no. You actually We'd have to start with a new amendment or something, but I'm I'm okay with that.
▶ 11:16:34I I just think that um I I've I've made my case uh to the extent that I think I can with the time limits that I have and uh and I would respectfully like to uh reconsider that particular Okay. questions now on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas. All of those in favor say I. All those opposed say no. The opinion of the chair, the eyes have it. Uh and the motion is adopted.
▶ 11:17:06The questions now on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia. All those in favor say I. All those opposed say no. No. The opinion of the chair, the nose have it and the motion is not adopted. Seeing no further amendments, I now recognize Mr. Adder Holtz for the purpose of a motion. Mr.
▶ 11:17:36Chairman, I take one second. Uh, let's hold for one second. The ranking member and gentle lady's recognized for a question or comment. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I know we with with the uh with the motion that's going to be made and voting, etc. that there's going to be mayhem and people are rushing for the door uh to uh and to bolt out of here. So, but I wanted to take a moment uh just to say uh congratulations to you and thank you, Mr. Chairman, uh for the work that you have done.
▶ 11:18:07U this is this is unbelievable. yes, that you deserve all of this applause.
▶ 11:18:21And I will just say in a in a with the tensions high um with the differences that are that are there, you remain calm and steady and so fair in your deliberations uh that it's proud, we're all proud uh to serve with you as leading this this committee. And so, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. I just want to thank my friend and my partner of many years. Thank you very much.
▶ 11:18:48An extraordinarily generous and gracious thing to say and do and I appreciate it. And I hope as we have our discussions on other matters that we can continue to work together and get these bills moving and get the time that we all need uh to bring a compromised product to the floor where we can work We'll do it. But again, thank you very Thank you. Thank you.
▶ 11:19:19Mr. Chair, oh well that's what I wanted to do. I wanted to go back and repeat that so people knew what we were doing. Okay. The questions now in the motion to favorably report the House fiscal year. So Mr. Adder Holtz has a motion to make. Mr.
▶ 11:19:38Chair, I move to favorably report to the House the fiscal year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill at this time to the Questions now on the motion to favorably report to the House the fiscal year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. All those in favor say I. All those post say no. No. the opinion of the chair.
▶ 11:20:07The eyes have it and the motions agreed to. Recorded vote has been requested. Sufficient uh support is evident. The clerk will call the role. Mr. Adderhalt, Mr. Adderholt, I. Mr. Agular. Mr. Aguilar. No. Mr. Alford. Mr. Alford. I. Mr. Ammeday. Mr. Amade. I Mrs. Bice. Mrs. Bice. I Mr. Bishop. Mr. Bishop. No. Mr. Calbertt. Mr.
▶ 11:20:36Calbertt I Mr. Carter Mr. Carter I Mr. Casease Mr. Casease No Mr. Sisammani Mr. Sisammani I Mr. Klene Mr. Klene I Mr. Cloud Mr. Cloud I Mr. Klyurn Mr. Klyurn no Mr. Clyde Mr. Clyde I Mr. Cole I Mr. Cole I Mr. Quayar Mr. Quayrar Mr.
▶ 11:21:05Quayar No Miss Dean Miss Dean No Deloro Mr. Deloro No Mr. Diaz Bolard Mr. Diaz Bolard I Mr. Mr. Edwards Mr. Edwards I Mr. Elz Mr. Elzie I miss Escobar Miss Escobar no Mr. Espayat Mr. Espayat No Mr. Fleshman Mr. Flashman. I Miss Frankle, Miss Frankle, I Mr.
▶ 11:21:36Mr. Franklin, I Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Gonzalez, I Mr. Guest, Mr. Guest, I, Mr. Harter, Mr. Harter. No, Dr. Harris. Dr. Harris, I Mrs. Henson. Mrs. Henson, I Mr. Hoyer. Mr. Hoyer. Mr. Hoyer. No. Mr. Ivy, Mr. Ivy, no. Mr. Joyce Mr. Joyce I Miss Captor Miss Captor No Mr. Loa Mr.
▶ 11:22:05Loa I Miss Lee Miss Lee no Miss Lllo Miss Latlo I Mr. Leaven Mr. Leaven no Miss Malloy Miss Mallaloy I Miss McCullum Miss McCullum no Miss Ming Miss Ming no Mr. Molinar Mr. Molinar I Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore. I Mr. Morelli. Mr. Morelli. No. Mr. Murvan. No. Mr. Murvan.
▶ 11:22:35No. Mr. New House. Miss Perez. Miss. Perez. No. Miss Miss Pingri. No. Mr. Pokean. Mr. Pokean. No. Mr. Quigley. Mr. Quigley. No. Mr. Russianthaler. Mr. Russianthaler. I, Mr. Mr. Rogers. I Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Rutherford. I Mr. Simpson. Mr. Simpson.
▶ 11:23:06I Mr. Strong. Mr. Strong. I Mrs. Torres. Mrs. Torres. No. Miss Underwood. Miss Underwood. No. Mr. Valido. Mr. Valido. I. Miss. Wasserman Schultz. Miss Wasserman Schultz. No. Mrs. Watson Coleman. Mrs. Watson Coleman. No. Mr. WAC. Mr. Wac. I Mr. Zinci. Mr. Zinci. I go to your office.
▶ 11:23:36Let me get this for one second. Uh, we'll find out. Miss Frankle vote. He voted I. I'll know for Mrs. Frankle. Thank you. Are there any members wishing to vote or change their vote or just to be sure check on your vote? Clerk will tally.
▶ 11:24:10Yes. Been a long process. Thank you. Well done. On this vote, the eyes are 34, the nose
▶ 11:24:40are 28. The motion is agreed to three days. Three days. three days. I ask unanimous consent that staff be permitted to make technical conforming changes to the bill and report just approved. Seeing no objections, so ordered. Without objection, there being no further business, the committee