conflict in the middle east. we think we're doing our part in that for sure. >> the national security advisor jake sullivan had said the biden administration would not sign a dissent agreement with saudi arabia if the kingdom and israel did not agree to normalize relations. >> they go back 80 years not only have they endured for 80 years but they continue to strengthen and to deepen and to broaden both democratic and republican administrations. the relationship is multidimensional including political cooperation a number of fronts, military cooperation including regular military training but also military operations. the level of trade in goods and services which is value at $40 billion on an annual basis support 160,000 jobs right here

in the united states. there's also an important people to people dimension to the relationship so i think the last figure i saw was 70,000 americans living and working in saudi arabia. at least 30,000 saudi students in the united states. this is a multidimensional relationship that only continues to grow and deepen over the years. in continuing to grow and to deepen going forward. host: a lot more to say but we are out of time. a spokesperson for the embassy of saudi arabia thanks so much for joining us. that is it for today's washington journal we are back again tomorrow morning 7:00 a.m. eastern. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2024] house will be in order. the chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. the clerk: the speaker's rooms. washington, d.c. may 8, 2024. i hereby appoint the honorable

michael cloud to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. signed, mike johnson, speaker of the house of representatives. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the order of the house of january 9, 2024, the chair will now recognize members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour debate. the chair will alternate recognition between the parties with time equally allotted between the parties and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip limited to five minutes, but in no event shall debate be beyond 11:50 a.m. the chair recognizes the gentleman from georgia, mr. allen, for five minutes. mr. allen: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise today to congratulate southern company ogle thorpe power, dalton utilities and all partners involved in plant vogue's unit four officially coming online. at the heart of georgia's 12th district we are home to plant vogel, where the first two nuclear reactors to be constructed in over three decades in the united states are

now fully operational. representing a key investment in georgia's energy future. unit three entered commercial operation in july, 2023, and now unit four has followed suit. this historic achievement has been years in the making and proves that america can still do big things. plant vogel is now officially the largest nuclear power station in the country. and i am proud that georgia's 12th district is a leader in america's nuclear energy future. as i've said many times before, and all of the above $energy strategy -- an all-of-the-above energy strategy is crucial to maintaining america's energy dominance. nuclear has a pick of toll role to play -- pivotal role to play. throughout the nation, we have 11,000 utility-scale electric power plants currently under operation. less than 60 of which are nuclear power plants. even with such a relatively

small footprint, nuclear energy accounts for approximately 20% of our energy production and approximately 50% of all emission-free energy generated in the country. nuclear power plants can operate 24/7, providing a stable base load supply of electricity. this reliable -- reliability is crucial for maintaining grid stability and ensuring uninterrupted power supply. particularly during periods of high demand or adverse weather conditions. since being elected to congress, i have visited plant vogel on numerous occasions to witness various stages of progress throughout the unit three and unit four construction process. in fact, i visited there just before loading of the fuel and was inside the container right before we were beginning operation on unit four. seeing this project come to fruition is nothing short of remarkable.

just last week i was joined by fellow members of congress and industry leaders in augusta for an informative panel discussion on the benefits of nuclear energy expansion in the u.s., followed by a visit to plant vogel to see the new units up and running. plant vogel is providing safe, reliable emission-free energy to consumers and businesses across the peach state and beyond. and each of the new units able to produce enough electricity to power an estimated 500,000 homes and businesses. it will continue to generate power for decades to come. this massive accomplishment certainly came with its challenges along the way. but as we do in georgia, we persevered. this historic milestone is a major win for all georgians and america as a whole. and i'd like to once again congratulate southern company oglethorpe power, dalton utilities and all partners involved in this tremendous success. and through their perseverance.

i look forward to continuing my work on the house energy and commerce committee to enact innovative solutions that further bolster america's clean energy future. and i am proud that our bipartisan nuclear energy package will soon be on its way to the president's desk for signature, which includes my bill, the nuclear licensing efficiency act. to reform and streamline nuclear licensing and the permitting process. thank you, mr. speaker, and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the chair recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. costa. without objection. mr. costa: mr. speaker, for decades head start and early head start programs have provided comprehensive childhood development services to millions of children across america.

research has shown that participation in head start can lead to positive outcomes for our children. by providing children with a strong foundation in their early years, head start helps level the playing field, especially for disadvantaged children and gives them a better chance at academic success. house democrats have made it clear that investing in america's children will always be among our highest priorities. thanks to investments, we have -- investments we have fought for in the budget, we're working to ensure federal dollars reach every corner of the country. in my district i've secured $23 million for fresno county and $22 million for talero county head start and early head start programs. these funds will provide families with health and support services while growing the next generation of leaders in the san joaquin valley and in california. investing, investing in education is investing in our children's future because what our children -- when our children succeed, america

succeeds. mr. speaker, i also rise today to recognize what has been taking place around the week in this country and around the world. and that is commemorating, ending in 1945, recognizing the six million jewish victims that were killed in the holocaust. sadly, on october 7 last year, 79 years after the holocaust, we witnessed a terrorist organization, hamas, rape, execute and take hostages. over 1,400 israelis, americans and other nationalities, which was the largest killing of jews since the holocaust. there is clear evidence that rising threat of hate and anti-semitism is being spread here at home and across the world. i want to commend president biden and speaker johnson yesterday for bringing together a bipartisan gathering to speak against anti-semitism, challenges here in america. in the united states

anti-semitism incidents have soared over 140%. in 2023. breaking all previous records. in america we support free speech and peaceful protest. but disrupting academic education, attacking jewish students and faculty have no place on college campuses or universities in america and it must be stopped. we must unmask groups like the national students for justice and palestine for what they are. they celebrated on october 8 the actions of hamas that took 1,400 israeli lives. this is an ex text of groups -- extension of groups like terrorist groups like hamas. hamas, whose mission statement is to eliminate the state of israel and to kill jews. as referenced in their slogan. from the river to the sea, the river is the jordan river and the sea is the mediterranean. it's to eliminate the state of israel and to kill jewish people. that's what their purpose is.

we must work together to break this cycle of hate that is plaguing our society and putting lives at risk around the world. in an era of rising anti-semitism, coupled with fading memory of the holocaust, we must fight conspiracy theories and ensure that lessons of the past are never, ever forgotten. last month i was in israel and i went to the novembera concert sight -- nova concert site where 164 concert goers attended. innocent people killed on october 7. last week i participated in a bipartisan visit of members at the holocaust museum for an exhibit that clearly raises the issues of anti-semitism in america. in the 1920's and the 1930's, led in part by prominent americans like henry ford and charles lindberg, i urge my colleagues and others coming to washington to go and see this comparative analogy of anti-semitism from the 1920's and the 1930's and what we are

dealing with here today. for it is real and we must do everything together to combat this plague of anti-semitism, the poll tisks hate and the politics -- politics of hate and the politics of fear. for as a famous historian once said, those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. and that's why it's important that we recognize this anniversary of the holocaust and why we remember that on october 7 of last year, it is not a lingering, distant, fading memory, but it's a real reality hit that we have to deal with here today. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from iowa, mrs. miller-meeks, for five minutes. mrs. miller-meeks: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, i rise today in honor of military appreciation month. with 24 years of service in the army and now representing a

congressional district with a significant active duty and veteran population, i am deeply honored to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of our nation's heroes. military appreciation month was proposed by the late senator john mccain in february, 1999. two months later, congress voted to officially designate may as the nationally recognized period for honoring the military, culminating with memorial day. across the army, navy, marines, air force, coast guard and space force, there are more than 2.8 million service members worldwide tasked with protecting the freedoms we enjoy here at home. i thank all those who serve and have served. may god bless them and may god bless the united states of america. mr. speaker, i rise today to honor the first responders across iowa who were on the front lines following the recent tornado outbreaks across the state. as iowans, we are no strangers to severe weather. every summer we do what we can

to prepare for the inevitable floods, severe thunderstorms and potential tornadoes. and while we prepare for the worst, iowa's first responders are the heroes on the ground, quickly jumping into action for people impacted by the horrific storms. without our first responders, severe weather events like the ones so many iowans experienced on april 26, would be much more catastrophic and deadly. so, mr. speaker, i ask my colleagues to join me in commending these brave heroes and thanking them for their unbreaking commitment to the safety of all iowans and all-americans. mr. speaker, i rise today to honor wendy donald who was named school nurse of the year for 2024 by the iowa school nurse organization. with more than 25 years of nursing experience and seven years serving the school district, wendy's dedication shines through. she advocates tirelessly for the inclusion of school nurses and

decision -- in decision making processes and collaborates with educators, parents and health care professionals to meet the diverse needs of our students. wendy's proactive approach extends beyond the school walls, working closely with local health care providers to promote community health. her initiatives such as raising funds for children in the e.r. exemplify her innovative thinking and compassion. and as a former nurse, i certainly recognize these attributes. let's recognize wendy's profound impact on our community. congratulations, wendy, on this well-deserved recognition. thank you for your service and inspiring us all. thank you, mr. speaker, i rise today in recognition of national skilled trades day which took place on may 1 this year. in iowa and across the nation, our skilled trades people aren't just contributors to the community, they are the heart beat of our communities. shaping our infrastructure and crafting the world we live in. from carpenters shaping our homes to hvac technicians

keeping us comfortable, these individuals are the unsung heroes of our local communities. today i stand proud to honor their contributions and reaffirm my commitment to champion their interests in congress. let us continue to support and celebrate the skilled trades, ensuring that future generations can fulfill these -- can pursue these fulfilling and essential careers. mr. speaker, i rise today to celebrate iowa hawkeyes' cooper degene, eric, tori and logan for being recently drafted into the national football league. iowa is world renowned for cultivating athletic talent and these elite athletes will join 37 other hawkeyes currently playing in the nfl. the coach and the entire crew at the university of iowa have worked tirelessly in support of these players and in their journeys to the premier league in football. the coach and his team deserve the utmost credit for developing a first-class program that makes

good players into great players and winners into champions. so, mr. speaker, i ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating these four drafted players and all of the hawkeyes making their way to the nfl. and by the way, it wasn't a fair catch. with that, as always, go hawkeyes. mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman yields. the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from illinois, ms. ramirez. ms. ramirez: i ask unanimous consent to address the house for five minutes. mr. speaker, i rise today to affirm that we're paying attention. wwe were paying attention when 35,000 palestinians were killed, we were paying attention when over 14,500 children were robbed of their future.

404 doctors and aid workers were killed. 100 journalists and media workers were killed. and we are paying attention as over 1.1 million people are on the verge of starving to death. ... yesterday we were paying attention when israel seized control of rafah. when president biden said providing periodic congressional reports to congress enables meaningful oversight. we were paying attention last month when a nonpartisan task force issued an independent credible report outlining the israeli government's violations of international humantarian law. in 76 pages of details, they provide example after example of what they call a systematic disregard for international

humanitarian law. and military best practice regarding civilian harm mitigation by the israel defense forces, including with u.s. provided arms. today, today we are paying attention as president biden's national security memorandum 20, what we call the nsm20, congressional reporting deadline on israel's use of u.s. arms comes to be due. we know that netanyahu's administration has been and is continuing to assure the u.s. government that it is using u.s. weapons in line with international laws and it's not interfering with the delivery of humanitarian aid. given what we have witnessed over the last 214 days, how can we trust netanyahu's assurances that they are complying with international law? how can we be expected to ignore the violations of international law and intermeans with the delivery of humanitarian

assistance we have witnessed in real time? what are we to say to the constituents whose families are starving? whose loved ones cannot receive medical care? or who never received the promised evacuation from gaza. what do we say to the brave and courageous students across campuses, our children, who are defending other children in gaza who are being murdered with u.s. bombs? what do we say to the children who are still looking for their mothers under the rubble as we approach mother's day? the administration's willingness to make exceptions for israel has got to stop. the actions of the netanyahu government are exceptional, exceptionally nonclient with international law and unconcerned with human rights. the biden administration must consider other credible sources of information beyond israeli government as it fulfills its nsm20 reporting obligations and the administration must fulfill those obligations today. i expect that this country will

demonstrate our commitment to international law, to human rights, and congressional oversight. because we are paying attention. the time has come for the administration to follow through on its warning about israeli conduct and take meaningful action. because if the administration is paying attention, they will enforce both our laws through s.m.-20 and section 6201 of the foreign assistance act, and also international law. anything less undermines our credibility and is a stain on the legacy of our country's leadership. with that, mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman yields. the chair recognizes the gentleman from virginia, mr. cline. mr. cline: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, we were paying attention. we were paying attention on october 7. we were paying attention when hamas, the terrorist

organization, slaughtered innocent women and children, elderly, citizens of the nation of israel. we were paying attention. and now the world is paying attention as israel seeks to eliminate hamas. we stand with israel. we stand with the citizens of israel. and we are paying attention not only to israel as it seeks to destroy hamas and rid the world of this terrorist organization, but we are paying attention to those in congress and across the country who are siding with hamas. who are siding with terrorists. who are siding with murderers. remember october 7, we stand with israel. mr. speaker, i rise today to recognize the efforts of john hanley high school seniors, these remarkable students have taken on a significant project to honor alumni from the douglas school who valiantly served in world war ii. the project involves adding their names to the patsy klein theater at john hanley high school, acknowledging the contributions and service of those veterans alongside those

already honored from john hanley. douglas schooled served african-americans in winchester until its closure in 1966. they want to make sure all the world ward war ii veterans are given the recognition they deserve. it involves a lot of researching and documenting the names of douglas school veterans. a crucial step in preserving our history and ensuring the bravery and sacrifices of all our world war ii veterans are honored. so far they collected 300 names of world war ii veterans and working to verify they attended douglas high school. i urge my colleagues to join me in applauding these students in their efforts to ensure that the contributions of our veterans are never forgotten. mr. speaker, i rise today to recognize the salem high school debate team for winning the 2024 virginia high school league championship, the first in their history. this historic win came after an impressive performance at james madison university where they showcase their skill and determination against the

rockridge team winning with a score of 21-13. the team was led by clairolins and kalely chrisly whose unmatched skill and policy debate steered them to victory. claire has also etched her name in vhsl history by winning titles in forensics, impromptu speaking, and debate event in a single year. in the vhsl competition, they had a combined 10 wins and one loss. while wining the region, super region, and state championships. their achievements propelled salem to this title. i congratulate salem high school on their state championship and debate and the students and coaches and everyone involved in this monumental achievement. mr. speaker, i rise today to recognize george bailey a. valiant world war ii veteran, who joined the capital wing showcase at the airport. george, who faithfully served in the army's 283rd field artillery battalion, represents the best of american courage and resolve.

his dedication to our country followed by his distinguished career showcases the spirit of innovation and excellence. at the showcase he was given the honor to take to the skies on the flight aboard the historic continueson 0y-1. george's enthusiasm for aviation serves as a powerful reminder as to the gratitude we owe to our veterans. they paveed the way for freedoms and opportunities we enjoy. as we look forward to cele celebrating george's 100th birthday next year with hopes another flight, i want to thank george and all those who joined in support of this member horrible showcase. your dedication ensures the legacy of our nation's heroes continues to be celebrated and remembered for generations to come. mr. speaker, i rise to celebrate the shenandoah apple blossom festival's 100th birthday. it was established in 1924. despite having hosted 97

festivals to date because of the world war ii and the covid-19 pandemic. it includes 10 days of events including a carnival, dances, parade, and attracts crowds of more than 250,000 people. last week 500 people joined a celebration of james r. wilkins jr. athletics certainty at shenandoah university to honor a century of tradition, resilience, and community spirit at the festival. mr. speaker, this achievement is an incredible milestone. i want to extend my gratitude to all those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the apple blossom festival one of the best celebrations in virginia's sixth district and nationwide. year after year their dedication has create add celebration for their community to recognize the rich heritage of the shenandoah valley. mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. veasey, for five minutes. mr. veasey: mr. speaker, i rise today to celebrate an amazing

fort worth texas and now u.s. hero. miss openle lee, better known as the grandmother of juneteenth, who is as be incredible gift to not just fort worth but the entire nation. and this past friday she was awarded with the presidential medal of freedom for her efforts establishing juneteenth as a national holiday. and when i say effort, i mean effort. ms. opal lee literally at 90-plus years of age walked across the country and took many steps, literally, to make this happen. at 97 not only did she receive the presidential medal of freedom, but she will also be receiving an honorary doctorate from southern methodist university at their upcoming commencement. i'm so glad to see all this work

that ms. opal lee is doing be rewarded and recognized. and i also want to touch on a few of the other things that she is doing. she has an amazing community garden that is feeding people all over the county and fort worth. and also has an incredible food bank that is doing similar work. and i know that everyone is watching what ms. lee is doing and proud of her accomplishments. and just all the fame she has brought to fort worth. and the united riverside community is also proud of her as they get to call her neighbor. ms. lee, keep up the good work. we are proud of you. and cannot wait until we get that museum done. mr. speaker, i rise today to recognize the accomplishments of some of our young people in fort worth. in 2024, at texas relays, we had

three state champions. you may have heard these names before that's because they were also state champions in previous meets. first i want to highlight kalani lawson from dunbar high school who defended her state championship in the girls' 4-a100 meter hurdles. she's only a junior. and not only that, she broke last year's record that had been on the books since the 1990's. and she broke her own record again this year and taking home the gold, running the 100 meter hurdles in 13.89 seconds. i also want to take the time to highlight another back-to-back champion, that is fort worth odie wyatt's malik franklin, who won the state championship in the class 35-a boy's 400 meter with the winning time of 47.23. malik won back-to-back championships. he's also a great student.

star of the football team. you should check out some of his videos on maxprep during the football games. but malik is going to take his talents and continue his track career at arizona state university. very proud of his accomplishments. and also want to give a shout out to a.p. ranch and greg and coaches out there that are just bringing home those championships for north texas and working with so many of our kids. making north texas one of the great areas for sprinters and distance runners. and also he had an injury last year but won the state championship his sophomore year. angel sanchez from diamond hill jarvis high school who claimed the boys 4-a, 3,200 meter and also the mile, during the 3,200 meters he posted a time of

9:14.44 which is five times faster than the second place finisher. and he also posted in the 1600, 4 -- 4.1308. a new class 4-a record. angel has literally raced all around the country. he's been highlighted and running in oregon, many other high school meets. and up on his graduation here in a couple weeks he is going to be headed to oklahoma state to continue to run. go, pokes, we'll continue to watch angel run while he is at oklahoma state. just really want to congratulate him for everything that he has done for diamond hill jarvis. that entire community on the north side of diamond hill is extremely proud of mr. sanchez and what he's doing and can't wait to continue to see him run. mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the chair recognizes the gentleman from kansas, mr. mann. mr. mann: thank you, mr.

speaker. i rise today to continue calling attention for the need for congress to pass the comprehensive five-year farm bill that provides certainty to our agricultural producers while responding to market changes and strengthening the ag safety net. my priorities for the next farm bill have not changed. it is in the best interest of our american farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers to authorize a farm bill that protects and strengthens crop insurance. incentivizes agriculture trade programs that help americans remain competitive on the global stage, and conducts rigorous oversight and rolls back overly restrictive regulation and supports agriculture research and development. investing in agriculture research and particularly animal health research supports our nation's food security and ultimately our national security. this is especially true today as the high leigh pathogenic avian influence virus spreads across

wildlife, poultry, and cattle. my staff remain in close contact with usda regarding the spread and we are grateful for their efforts to control the outbreak, however, it emphasizes the reality that animal health often does not get the attention that it deserves. .. it has no proven impact on our country's food supply, but we are starting to see the economic impact of this virus. last week colombia became the first country to restrict u.s. beef imports coming from states where h.v.i. is present. as of yesterday, at least 22 states have issued sum restrictions on the importation of -- some restrictions of the importation of dairy cattle from infected states. we have the opportunity to allocate resources to the prevention rather than the outbreak control. these investments serve as a more cost effective approach to protecting our nation's food supply by eliminating animal disease and outbreaks before they spread. for years kansas has led the united states in supporting global food security

initiatives. just last year, the u.s. department of agriculture opened a state-of-the-art national bio and agra defense facility in manhattan, kansas. the facility will conduct research into serious animal disease threats and the potential impact of those diseases. it is the only maximum biocontainment space in the country where usda conducts comprehensive research, develops animal vaccines and anti-virals and explores dying not tick and training -- diagnostic and training capabilities. this is down the street from kansas state university and their school of veterinary medicine and the biosecurity research institute. these institutions are the crown jewels of the animal health corridor, creating a scientific hub where world renowned research happens, leading the world in agriculture research and health. american farmers, ranchers and agriculture producers understand that to turn a profit, we must embrace the idea of innovating, adapting and increasing efficiency.

according to usda, agriculture research returns $20 in benefits to the economy for every public dollar that's spent. we save american tax dollars and the risk of disrupting our food supply chain when we adequately invest in agriculture and animal health research. despite this, federal funding has declined in real dollars over the past two decades while other forms of research have increased. if we continue down this path, we will not only hurt our agriculture producers, but also american consumers, american food security and in turn our national security. we must ensure the farm bill addresses the risk to animal health and better positions us to invest in prevention rather than outbreak control. investing in animal health research bolsters the long-term ability of u.s. animal-agriculture to be competitive in the global marketplace, provides consumers with safe, wholesome and affordable food, and ensures agriculture thrives in america. thank you, mr. speaker.

with that, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the chair recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. garcia. for five minutes. without objection. mr. garcia: mr. speaker, we all know that our planet is the most important thing we have. which is why we make the necessary investments to protect it. i'm proud to announce that i've joined forces with senator elizabeth warren to introduce the build green infrastructure and jobs act. now, this bill is part of the green new deal and is a major step toward addressing climate change. it will invest $500 billion over 10 years to electrify and modernize public vehicles and trains across the country. all while building new electric transportation, infrastructure -- transportation infrastructure in every major city in america. it will make our transportation systems safer and cleaner, from buses to trains to rail.

and the bill links transit investments with increasing density and affordable housing. it will also help create millions of new green jobs with strong protections for labor. the build green act is sustainable, equitable and, most importantly, necessary for protecting our future. we will continue working to combat our climate crisis and supporting a green new deal for every single american. let's pass this bill now and electrify the nation. thank you, mr. speaker. and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the chair recognizes the gentleman from south carolina, mr. norman. for five minutes. mr. norman: thank you, mr. speaker. i'm honored to rise today to honor and congratulate the conservative partnership institute, otherwise known as c.p.i., on their 7-year anniversary. i also welcome ed and mark into the gallery to recognize this great organization.

in 2017, former congressman and senator jim demint began this organization to be an incredible support system for conservatives in washington, d.c. c.p.i. was designed to train and unite true conservative leaders in washington and all across the country to stand up against the swamp. i consider the c.p.i. a safe haven, a place that feels like home for conservative lawmakers and staffs to go to connect, to learn and to brainstorm. c.p.i. has shown a great commitment to conservative offices, to conservative members, to conservative staffers and to conservative lawmakers alike. c.p.i. provides everything from regular training seminars on house and senate procedures, advertisement on floor strategy, communications, budget and much, much more. their vested interest in all aspects of governance plays a

large role in the success we have seen from conservative offices and individuals. the training provided by c.p.i. is top of the line and its positive impacts are clearly on display, not only here in washington, d.c., but in districts all across the country. their efforts continue to ensure that we are well prepared in our fight for this great nation. i also want to take the time to specifically honor jim demint as his life long and tireless fight for freedom, prosperity and traditional american values. jim represented south carolina in the house of representatives and then in the senate from 1999 to 2013. he led meaningful efforts such as a ban on congressional earmarks, and reclaiming control of billions of dollars of wasteful spending. today he and others, including ed and mark, spearhead the fight for a new generation of true

conservatives. all over america, the c.p.i. has been a bulwark against the swamp and the support systems for conservatives looking for the right thing to do. the goal is reflected daily in the operations of c.p.i. and the tremendous impact that it continues to spread. and cannot thank the many patriots who have fought hard to preserve this great american system as we know it. otherwise known as freedom for we the people. please join me in congratulating c.p.i. for their excellence during the first seven years. it means everything to me and my colleagues and our staffs to have a home at the c.p.i. building. and i'm forever grateful to jim demint and others and the entire team at c.p.i. for providing the platform for us to grow even stronger in our american ideals. i look forward to watching them pave a path forward for true conservatives to thrive and to make america the best that it can be.

mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from pennsylvania, ms. wild, for five minutes. ms. wild: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. ms. wild: our teachers do not get nearly enough love. well, maybe during covid they did, when students were all at home and parents and families suddenly realized just how important those teachers were. but not before or since. and not nearly enough. so i'm very happy that it's teacher appreciation week. although, honestly i think we should be appreciating our teachers every single day. i am so proud to honor outstanding teachers across my community in pennsylvania's seven, starting with ms. jennifer from palmerton area high school. she has worked at the palmerton school district for more than 20

years and her students have repeatedly commended her calming presence, her heavy involvement in extra curricular activities, and her commitment to all of them. on to have of her work as the department chair for business and technology classes, she advises the mock trial club and future business leaders of america and coaches the tennis team. even while juggling numerous responsibilities, she prior tietzs treating all of her students with dignity and respect. thank you and all of our wonderful teachers for your commitment to shaping our next generation. and this teacher appreciation week, i am also proud to recognize ms. susan clots from the nazareth school area district. ms. clots has been an educator in the nazareth area school district in northhampton county for 23 years. in addition to making each and every one of her students feel

valued and supported in their learning journey, she is an advisor of the kindness squad, working with students to spread kindness not just throughout their school, but across our community and even globally. this year alone she facilitated the collection of more than 2,000 books for the cops and kids program, and organized a toy drive for students in the dominican republic. ms. clots also spends time mentoring, aspiring educators from the university. she always goes the extra mile to make school a place where everyone, teachers, students and families alike, can thrive. thank you, ms. clots, and all of our wonderful teachers, for your dedication to bettering our community. and this teacher appreciation week, i am proud to recognize morgan paloni, a third gradehery school in lehigh county.

as a white hall high school graduate herself, morgan is deeply connected to her community. both inside and outside the classroom. she has served as a high school softball coach, teacher, leader, mentor and active participant in various district committees. her students and colleagues know that they can always count on her for encouragement, leadership and a positive attitude. morgan's impact in white hall goes beyond teaching. she actively participates in community events and fundraising for organizations like big brothers, big sisters. and the lehigh valley riley children's hospital. her presence is felt at her students' sporting events and spirit days where her colleagues said her school spirit is truly unmatched. thank you, morgan, and all of our wonderful teachers for your unwavering dedication to our shared community. thank you, mr. speaker. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman yields. the chair recognizes the

gentleman from guam, mr. moylan, for five minutes. mr. moylan: thank you, mr. speaker. the people of guam would like to congratulate and recognize admiral john aquilino, call sign lung. he began his career as a mid shipman at the u.s. navy academy. upon graduating in 1984, he would go on to receive his aviator wings. over his four decades of service in the u.s. navy, he performed his duties with distinction. from his first fighter squadron assignment commander of the u.s. pacific fleet, he has stood a most commendable watch. and as the admiller stood his last watch and command, as commander of the u.s. indo-pacific command, he ensured

375,000 service members and civilian personnel maintained a bias toward action and excellence. this was especially the case in his service to the land of america's first sunrise, guam. during his tenure as indo pay con commander, he led the establishment of the joint task force, micronearbyia, and continually advocated for the guam missile defense system. his efforts ensured the people of guam know that the defense department is committed to defending the homeland and our allies globally. as the u.s. indo-pacific command welcomes the addiminish, we would like to take -- the addiminish, we'd like to take time to thank admirable and his family for their support, advocacy and commitment to the navy and our nation. today we take a pause to witness this shipmate go ashore for a

final time. admirable, god bless you and we wish you fair winds. and flowing seas. hoorah. mr. speaker, as the nairgs celebrates -- as the nation celebrates asian american and pacific islander heritage month, i proudly rise to recognize my community. the island of guam. over 7,000 miles away from the u.s. mainland, a proud community of filipino americans, korean americans, micronesian and an araef ethnicities. we are a melting pot of different cultures and backgrounds, united by our shared values and beliefs. at the core of it all lies, restore harmony and make good. ... p.t.o. it plays significant

take care of each other and work towards a common goal of unity and harmony. as guam's representative in congress, i am committed to ensuring the voices of the perspectives of asian americans and pacific islanders are heard on the national stage. during this month, may we continue to pay tribute to the achievements and invaluable contributions for over 50 ethnic groups, speaking more than00 languages and dialects. let us honor the rich diversity of cultures, traditions, and contributions that the aapi community has woven into america's history. in my community back home and fellow islanders on the mainland, i extend my warmest wishes during asian america and pacific islanders heritage month. thank you, mr. speaker, i yield

back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from connecticut, mr. larsen, for five minutes. mr. larsen: thank you -- mr. larson: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise today to address the body to discussion the nation's number one anti-poverty program for the elderly and the nation's number one anti-poverty program for children. that's social security. mr. speaker, i know, you know this, but can you imagine that congress hasn't made an adjustment to social security in more than 53 years. richard nixon was president of the united states, the last time that congress enhanced benefits for the country. imagine, mr. speaker, i'm sure for people in our audience, that 10,000 baby boomers a day become

eligible for social security. and as you know, the fund is about to be cut by 20% in two ways. if congress does nothing by 2034, according to the latest report, it will be cut 20%. so basically the nation's number one anti-poverty program for the elderly will be cut by 20% if congress does nothing. and it hasn't done anything in more than 50 years. now, there are some proposals, including social security 2100, that would extend and pay for this. and there are others, like the republican study committee, that

says what they want to do is raise the age. the idea that people are living longer. well, that's true. that's a good thing. so if people are living longer they should be working longer and should be getting less. i don't know how that makes sense if you're living longer when you retire you should be receiving, yes. because as you know, mr. speaker, for every year you raise the age, that's a 7% cut in benefits. so raising the age to 70 is a 21% cut. and if that were to be enacted, that would cut social security 21% before 2033. and again leaving our most vulnerable. it's not only, mr. speaker,

seniors. social security is also the number one anti-poverty program for children. it is also the disability program that more veterans rely on than they do the v.a. imagine that. that this body, this congress, the only body capable of doing this, the president can't do it through executive order, the supreme court isn't going to rule on it. the only body that can act is the united states congress. and it hasn't done a thing. the american people, especially with 10,000 baby boomers a day becoming eligible for social security, are demanding that congress act. we have a proposal to enhance benefits. we have a proposal to lift the

more than five million americans, mr. speaker, who get below poverty level checks from their government having paid into social security throughout a lifetime. that simply isn't fair. we have a proposal to give 23 million americans a tax cut who currently continue to work because they have to, and their social security ends up being taxed. now, the republican study committee lays out tax cuts for the extraordinarily wealthy in the trillions. how about we do something for the average american citizen? the guy who gets up and works every day. president biden has suggested what we need to do, because these programs are all paid for, don't impact the debt or the deficit, they are an earned benefit, he's suggested that how

about we have people making over $400,000 pay their fair share. currently billionaires pay next to nothing. millionaires are done paying social security on february 2. everybody else has to pay in. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. larson: it's about time we owned up to our responsibility. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. frost: mr. speaker, i rise today just one week after his heavenly birthday to honor one of the legends and icons of jazz music, the great ihra sullivan. ihra was many things, a jazz great, educator, mentor, father, husband, a friend of mine.

and i remember first meeting ira as a jazz student at the university of miami young musicians camp jazz honor program. i remember walking in very young age, i think i was in the eighth or ninth grade, and he asked me to play vibraphone to a jazz song. i had auditioned as a drummer. for me that was a foreign thing. i wasn't hip to the history of jazz vibraphone. so i felt he was asking me to tip pane on a jazz congress. the next day he came in and he gave me a bear of gary button mallets, told me to try playing the vibraphone to jazz. believe it or not i was very confused. either way that decision changed my entire life from then on i started practicing jazz vibraphone and became very obsessed it with. years past he would always invite me to come back and perform with him anti-new class he was teaching all young people that ira had inspired and lives

that were changed. he also achieved technical skills not achieved by many. a multiinterinstrumentallist in the truest sense of the word. fluidly being able to play but both the trumpet, also the saxophone, the flute, the drum set, piano, and many others. he was born in chicago, but moved to miami in the 1960's to perform and teach. ira has the ability and has been both a jazz great in the history books, but also has remained an accessible educator for artists of many different levels and calibers. he mentored jazz great. he also taught high schoolers at the young musicians camp at the university of miami where i met him. today i wanted to honor ira sullivan for inspiring so many people. i stopped playing jazz a few years ago. i have been telling myself i'd get back into it. just a few days ago i joined a high school jazz combo from

central florida and played drums on a standard tune. i'm going to start practicing again in honor of ira. rest in peace, ira, jazz legend and great teacher. mr. speaker, i rise today to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the rosen college of hospitality management at the university of central florida, established through a transformational $18 million donation from mr. rosen, the college advances educational and community development initiatives that bolster florida's leading industry, tourism and hospitality. ucf rosen college consistently ranked and as the top hoppity college in the nation and among top five globally. a testament to its educational extension and leadership in hospitality research. committed to advancing knowledge, embracing innovation, and serving humanity through hospitality, the college stands

as not only for its top ranking, but also for its extensive range of programs that provide a 99%, 99% job placement rate for their graduates. it's an honor to be able to represent the u.c.f. rosen college of hospitality management here in the halls of congress as theypropel florida's primary economic sector forward and enrich our state in the global hospitality landscape. mr. speaker, i rise today to honor four extraordinary women for their impact on central florida and beyond. their tireless efforts, unwavering determination, and profound ashays-meehans have shaped our local history and continue to inspire generations to come. we honor them for their strength of character, unwavering spirit, and profound influence they have had in our community.

enchanto, associate general counsel at the university of central florida college of medicine. we have garcella, chief operating officer for the heart of florida united way. we have dr. marie france with a, founder of the center for multicultural wellness and prevention. and pastor sharon riley, founder and pastor of agapai perfecting praise and worship center. i want to celebrate these women for all that they are. trail blazers, visionaries, scientists, educators, and leaders. and among countless others they have left a legacy of compassion, innovation, and empowerment in a state that needs that now more than ever. mr. chair, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the chair recognizes the gentlelady from california, ms. barragan, for five minutes. ms. barragan: mr. speaker, i rise today in the name of freedom.

the freedom that women should have to make decisions about their own bodies. and have that ability. a sacred freedom the house republicans are fighting to take away from your mother, your sister, your daughters, and every woman in america. this week republicans are holding votes to say the government should not be involved in households having more efficient appliances. yet they have no problem saying government should tell women what to do with their bodies and limit their access to women's health care. while house democrats will continue to fight to restore roe vs. wade so women have the freedom over their bodies, we must call out the extreme republican agenda that is focused on nation -- on a nationwide ban to access women's reproductive health care. and this assault on women and

our freedoms is already under way in many republican-led states where women are now subject to cruel abortion bans, which have brought fear and danger. but also have brought heartbreaking experiences that will have lasting impacts. for example, in mississippi a 12-year-old rape victim was forced to carry a baby to term. in ohio, a woman was criminally charged for having a miscarriage after she went to the hospital to seek care when her doctor said that the fetus was not viable. republican-controlled states throughout the south and midwest have passed extreme laws that leave no option for women to access reproductive health care. these women have no choice but to travel hundreds of miles to a state where access to care is still available. a missouri woman had to travel to illinois to save her own life

after both the state of missouri and kansas health systems refused to provide care when her water broke just four months in and doctors said she's at risk of losing her uterus. mothers who cannot afford to travel out-of-state for reproductive care have been forced to endure painful pregnancies and risk their own lives when they are advised of serious complications. bans make access to reproductive care unobtainable for low-income women. many are latinas or women of color. over 6.7 million latino women live in states that have banned or are likely to ban abortions. more than three million of these women come from families that earn below 200% of the poverty line. access to reproductive health care is a woman's rights issue and a racial justice issue. .. republicans in congress also want to strip away women of their fundamental right to

decide when to start a family. just look at their policies and their voting records. 127 house republicans are co-sponsors of a bill that will threaten access to i.v.f. nationwide and have blocked legislation by democrats that would protect i.v.f. access. 195 republicans have voted against legal contraception. house republicans voted unanimously against the restoration of roe v. wade. and extreme maga republicans plan to go further and let states monitor women who are pregnant. to restrict their ability to access reproductive care. house democrats will not stand by and let maga republicans restrict the freedom of women from getting the life-saving care they need. we will continue the fight to make reproductive freedom the law of the land and allow women to make decisions about their

own health care again. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields. pursuant to clause 12-a of rule 1, the chair declares the house in recess until noon tod >> watch live coverage of the house on c-span when members return. in about an hour. we continue our live coverage now take you to a hearing under way on the president's 2025 budget request for the commerce department.