way and they want to be done with it to show that they can govern. host: let's hear from louise. democratic line, thanks for calling. caller: i think that speaker johnson did the right thing. votes like marjorie taylor greene and all, they don't want to see anything happen in this country that is good for this country. i'm glad that the democrats did help, went on and voted together. that's what they are supposed to do. compromise. the republicans in the democrats. so, they need to learn that. to compromise. thank you. host: that's louise in north carolina. goodwill for johnson, how long does it questions previously postponed. votes will be taken in the

following order. motions to suspend the rules and pass h.r. 7219 and h.r. -- 7525. the first electronic vote will be conducted as a 15-minute vote. remaining electronic votes will be conducted as five-minute votes. pursuant to clause 8, rule 20, the unfinished business is vote on the motion of the the gentleman from kansas, mr. laturner, to suspend the rules and pass h.r. 7219 as amended on which the yeas and nays are ordered the clerk will report the tile of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 7219, a bill to ensure federal agencies rely on the best recently available scientific, tech nick call and statistical information and evidence to develop, issue or inform the public of the nature and losses and bases of federal agency rules and guidance and

for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: the the speaker pro tempore: the the speaker pro tempore: the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended? members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a 15-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the speaker pro tempore: on this vote, the yeas are 364.

on this vote, the yeas are 377, the nays are 4. 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. the chair lays before the ho house -- the speaker pro tempore: the chair lays -- the speaker: the chair lays before the house a communication. the clerk: the honorable the speaker, house of representatives, sir. i have the honor to transmit

here with a copy of a letter received, from the co-executive directors of the new york state board of elections, indicating that according to the unofficial rules of the special election held on january 30, 2024, representative timothy kennedy was elected. signed, kevin mccumber. the speaker: for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? mr. nadler: i ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from new york, the honorable timothy m. kennedy be permitted to take the oath of office tad. hiss certificate of election has not arrived, but there's no contest and no question has been raised with regard to his election. the spe the speaker: without objection. will representative-elect kennedy and members of the new york delegation present themselves in the well. all members will rise and the

representative elect -- all members having risen, the represent i have -- the representative-elect will please raise his right hand. do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the united states against all enemy, foreign and domestic that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same that you take this obligation freely without any mental ■reservatio or purpose oaf vaition, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the

office on which you are about to enter, so help you god? mr. kennedy: i do. the speaker: congratulations, you're now a member of the 118th congress. without objection, the gentleman from new york, mr. nadler is recognized for one minute. mr. nadler: thank you, mr. speaker. as dean of the new york delegation it is my distinct honor to rise today to introduce congressman-elect tim kennedy. i can think of nobody better to represent new york's congressional district and succeed brian higgins than tim

kennedy. as a life-long resident of the area who grew up in a blue collar family, he embodies the values of fighting for the little guy that makes new york so great. he's been a formidable advocate for our reason. as chair of the senate transportation committee he secured $100 million for the niagara frontier transportation authority, helped deliver railroad investments for our roads and networks. beyond transportation he's been a longtime champion for western new york's work force an economic development, evident through his support for the northland work force center and the revitalization of buffalo's iconic central terminal. hays steps into his new role, i speak on behalf of the entire new york delegation, we are confident tim kennedy will continue to fight tirelessly for the safety of our congressional

district. now i yield to our newest member, mr. kennedy. mr. kennedy: thank you, congressman nadler. my colleagues in the new york delegation, mr. speaker, and leader jeffries. i stand before you humbled by the opportunity god has given us to be together in this moment. this awesome and magnificent responsibility granted to me by the people of western new york. i'm grateful to those who have entrusted me with their vote and their confidence to represent our beloved buffalo, naira region in the united states congress.

i want to take a moment to recognize my family who is here with me, my wife katy, our children -- our children connor, erin and padraig. i also want -- i also want to recognize my parents, martin and mary kennedy. and my in-laws, dave and jane dirk. my brother john also made the visit down along with many other family members and friends. i'm grateful that they can all join us here today. look down on us, our by by angel bridget, along with so many

family members and friends who passed on, whose spirits remain with us here today on this auspicious occasion. they are no doubt toasting and celebrating in the heavens above. calling buffalo, new york, and america home, where the o'bryan, o'don neu hue, doubtmire and sterns, mccarthys and duffys, mixed all together and the result is a kennedy. hay -- i hail from the city of good neighbor, the community of good neighbor, the original home of the seneca nation of indians, the village of buffalo, burned to the ground by the british in the war of 1812. rebuilt and incorporated in 1832. the western terminus of the erie canal, helping to transform our nation through improved commerce. a border community with our

greatest ally, canada, to the north. a region surrounded by great lakes and in between, one of the greatest wonders of the world, niagara falls. the grandeur of the falls is only surpassed by the people who have defined the region around us. today we stand as a community of day pais trot i think citizens who have always championed democracy and freedom. from the days of serving as a final stop on the underground railroad, to the niagara movement, the precursor of the naacp, which was formed in our community. the equality and justice these leaders strove for over a century ago is yet to be fully achieved. and there is still so much work to be done. in buffalo-niagara, we walk in the foot stoaches frederick douglass, harriet tubman,

dr. martin luther king jr., mary talbot, shirley chisholm and so many other civil rights leaders and in their spirit we march on. it was niagara falls that made buffalo the city of light. and while we've seen our share of darkness, buffalo is see regular surgence that generations only dreamt of. as a melting pot of ethnicities and cultures are helping to redefine our region and an economic renaissance has taken hold. we're a working class community with a belief in achieving a better life and the american dream through education, honest, hard work, and perseverance. i believe the character traits that define us in the buffalo, niagara region, are the same ideals held by all americans. i believe the hope we hold as a

western new york community in achieving our greatest potential is shared equally by all communities across our country. i look forward to working with you to change our country for the better. i'm hopeful that we in this chamber can demonstrate leadership on a world stage that our fellow americans can be proud of. and i wish to thank once again, me people of western new york, for having faith in me to lead our community and our country in the united states congress. god bless us all, god bless america. i yield back.

the speaker: under clause 5-d of rule 20, the chair announces to the house in light of the administration of the oath, the gentleman of new york, the whole number of the house is 430. pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion of the gentleman from kansas, mr. laturner, to suspend the rules and pass h.r. 7525 on which the yeas and nays are ordered. the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 7525, a bill to require the director of the office of management and budget to issue guidance to agencies requiring special districts to be recognized as local government for the purpose of federal financial assistance determinations. the speaker pro tempore: the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill? members will record their votes by electronic device. this is five-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the speaker pro tempore: on this vote the yeas are 352, the nays are 27. 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. the house will be in order. for what purpose does the gentleman from wisconsin seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to take from the speaker's table, the concurrent resolution s. conrecent 34 and ask for its immediate consideration of the house.

the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the concurrent resolution. the clerk: concurrent resolution establishing the joint congressional committee on the inaugural ceremonies for the inauguration of the president-elect and vice president elect of the united states on january 20, 2025. the speaker pro tempore: is there objection to the concurrent resolution? without objection, the concurrent resolution is agreed to. and the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from wisconsin seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to take from the speaker's table the concurrent resolution, s. conrecent 35 and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the concurrent resolution. the clerk: senate concurrent resolution 35, concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the rotunda in emancipation hall on the joint inaugural

ceremonies conducted for the inauguration of the president-elect and vice president elect of the united states. the speaker pro tempore: is there objection to the consideration of the concurrent resolution? without objection, the concurrent resolution is agreed to and the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. the house will be in order. for what purpose does the gentleman from utah seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to speaker out of order. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman from utah will suspend. members of the house, the house will be in order. the gentleman from utah, you may proceed. >> we rise before you today with a heavy heart as we mourn the loss of a true american hero, sergeant bill. mr. owens: he dedicated and

commitment to serving our communities. he served the people of san jauqin, utah. his sacrifice serve american samoa a stark reminder of the dangers law enforcement faces each day. they put the laws on the line to keep us safe, to withhold justice and maintain law and order. the sergeant did his best in that high calling. the bravery and selflessness, we owe it to sergeant huser and the family that wear the uniform to ensure they are not forgotten. we must stand together to support our law enforcement officers. may god bless sergeant huser and may we comfort his family in this time of grief and may he watch over all those who continue to serve on the frontlines of law enforcement. and now for a moment of silence.

mr. owens: thank you, mr. speaker. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair will entertain requests for one minute speeches. for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition? mr. burr chet: to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. mr. burchett: if you'd like the people to know we have a few more seats if they're congregating back there. this may is anatomiesing perp's

month. over 600,000 people go missing in the united states every year. tens of thousands of these folks remain missing every year. law enforcement officers work hard to solve these cases as quickly as possible. i want to thank them for all they do to find these people and ensure their safety. congress should do what it can to help the men and women in law enforcement to do their jobs and bring these people home. that's why i joined congressman joe neguse in leading a bipartisan bill to improve reporting requirements for individuals who go missing on public lands and this bill called the trace act enhances reporting requirements for the unidentified person system so investigators across multiple agencies have access to all the important information to catch criminals behind people's disappearance. no missing person case should go unsolved because investigators couldn't easily access the information they need. improving the way our agencies record and share details could save lives, mr. speaker.

600,000 missing persons is too many. one missing person is too many. we should do all we can to find them and help them get home safely. thank you, mr. speaker, i yield the remainder of my time. the speaker pro tempore: thank you very much. for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks as necessary. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> i recognize the monterey high school boys basketball team for winning the 2024 division 4 state championship. the toreadors are the second basketball team ever from monterey county to win a state title, mr. speaker, this one was special. mr. panetta: throughout the season the toreadors were determined to be victorious. however, after winning their league title they lost in the sectional playoffs. nevertheless due to their overall performance during the

year, the toreadors were given an at large invitation for the state playoffs and the 14th seed. though they weren't happy with the ranking they were thrilled with the opportunity to show they were better than that and played with a huge chip on their shoulders. they beat the third seed, the sixth seed, the second seed, the fourth seed, and yes, eventually the toreadors beat the number one seed to capture the state championship. it's historic it's historic teams like -- wins like that and teams like this that define determination. congratulations to the determined toreadors for their historic victory and for making california's 19th congressional district very proud. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition? >> to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. carter: i rise today to honor the life of donald ebrom,

jr. he graduated from columbus high school and attended university of georgia. he joined the georgia crown distributing company. he worked his way up to president of the company where the company saw continued success under his leadership. in 1992 he was chairman of the board of the company. he served five consecutive thoarnls university board of regenerals. this included time as chairman from 1994 to 1995. outside of his professional career, don was known as a generous and kind man. he was a founding member of the university system of georgia foundation as well as a member of numerous professional civic and social organizations. don was larger than life. he positively impacted everyone

he met and he will be sorely missed by all. thank you, mr. speaker, and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: thank you very much. for what purpose does the gentleman from north carolina seek recognition? without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. davis: mr. speaker, on national nurses day, let's honor the unsung heroes. they hold hands and wipe tears and offer comfort to our families in the most difficult times. nurses are the heart and soul of our health care system, dedicated themselves tirelessly to the well being of others. they work long hours, sacrificing time from their own families to ensure that ours are taken care of. their commitment goes beyond the confines of the hospital walls. today, let us take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to

these remark baling health care professionals. nurses. you are the backbone of our communities. and on this national nurses day, we honor and sell prate you. to the nurses of eastern north carolina, thank you for your selflessness, courage, and unwavering commitment. thank you, mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: thank you very much. for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition? >> to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. gaetz: i rise to alert this house of the actions of the federal bureau of prisons which seem to be vindicating the claim made by peter navarro that he's being held as a political prisoner. i have been try for five weeks to be able to interview mr. navarro and there are provisions that ought to allow this. i was informed directly by director peters who runs the bureau that that request would be denied.

and the reason it's being denied is because peter navarro is too notorious to be interviewed by a member of congress. john gotti was interviewed when he was in prison. the q-anon shaman was interviewed. director peters herself brought nbc news through prisons to showcase the work of corrections being done. i think there's something else afoot here. mr. navarro, i'm told is not being allowed to access his attorney. it's because it is shameful what's being done to peter navarro based on a sham january 6 committee, a sham indictment, a sham conviction we ought to work to remediate upon president trump's rightful return to office. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new mexico seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute.

ms. strainsberry: i rise today to honor the life of baron lamont jones of albuquerque. a brother, son, friend and determined advocate. for those who knew baron they know his story and the unimaginable adversity and the indomitable sense of humor that lit up to a room and the life he built committed to lifting up the voices of those formerly incarcerated in our community. baron's work while working with the aclu was instrumental in the passage of the new mexico civil rights about and new mexico voting rights act, among many other legislative victories. i join barren's family and especially heather, his parking lot for the of 32 years, his many friends, aclu new mexico, and so many others who are grieving and celebrating his life. with that, i yield back.

the speaker pro tempore: thank you very much. for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and rhett let's -- and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. thompson: i rise to honor the men and women in the nursing profession. this week is national nurses week. every year from may 6 through 12, we celebrate the work and contributions nurses make in the health care field. national nurses week ends on florence night ingail's -- florence nightinggale's birthday, the founder of the modern nursing profession. i have seen the care and compassion they show their parents. nursing is a science and art, reserved for those who are the most care, giving and passionate about serving others. nurses provide families with compassion and care. we should always thank our

nurses for their hard work and dedication. please join me in recognizing the gursing community this week. we should be grateful for their commitment to helping others especial will knees -- especially in these trying times. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from ohio seek recognition? without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. ms. kaptur: i rise to celebrate and recognize quinian mitchell, a cornerback from the university of toledo. he was recently selected by the philadelphia eying wls the 22nd oriole pick in the 2024 nfl draft. northwest ohio is undeniably proud of mr. mitchell. he became the first toledo rocket selected in the first round in 31 years. mr. mitchell was the first defensive back taken in this year's draft and he also became the first u.t. player ever named

as a semifinalist for the chuck banarik award given annually to the nation's top defensive player. his selection in the draft now marks three straight years that a toledo player has been selected by and nfl franchise. i want to congratulate with heart felt congratulations quinian mitchell for his achievements. he truly. embodies the spirit of spleens that the university of toledo in northwest ohio strives for. go rocket, go quinian, go birds. thank you, mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from wisconsin seek recognition? mr. grothman: i'd like to ask permission to speak for a minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. grothman: there's been a lot of question as to why president biden, or a lot of people in my district wonder why president biden continues to allow over a quarter million people in this

country month after month after month. one of the speculations is that he, by letting people in here, eventually congress will make them citizens or their children or grandchildren become citizens and they'll change the nature of america. america's supposed to be a country built for moral and religious people and a freedom-loving people. people who do not want a big government. people who want to vote for limbed government. it's of great concern that this morning i read an article about what's going on in north carolina and they found people who are here, not citizen, voting already. this is not surprise, i suppose, should have thought of it in the first place. you're giving a lot of these people drivers licenses. you give them some other form of identification. it's not surprising some would slip through the cracks and vote, and vote before they had the chance to be educated on the limited government that's supposed to be the hallmark of the united states of america. i call on this body to crack

down on people who are voting in our elections who are not yet legal citizens. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: thank you very much. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from minnesota seek recognition? without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. ms. omar: i rise to celebrate the life of sandy mcdowell, a restaurateur and friend to all. he was a 23eubgsture in the community throughout his life worked in food service many years before starting his own catering company and restaurant. in 2012 he opened sammy's avenue eatery on west broadway avenue in north minneapolis and recently began operating a pop-up restaurant in st. paul in a space which features black-owned businesses. sammy's eatery was -- has become known for its delicious food it

serves and over the past decade became an important gathering place for the community. sammy will be remembered for his generosity toward others. he always went the extra mile to check in on the wellness of his friends, as well as his customers. his passion for community and the well being of others was contagious. i know that the space he is created will continue to be a source of friendship, inspiration and comfort. sammy had an immeasurable impact on our community and he will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved him. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: thank you. for what purpose does the gentleman from michigan seek recognition? >> address the house and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. huizenga: i rise today to

recognize economic development organizations across my district and the nation. every year we honor economic development companies for making our communities an even better place to call home. the work done by these economic developers creates new opportunities and lasting impongs township, cities and counties across southwest michigan. cornerstone alliance, southwest michigan first, market van buren and battle creek unlimited are the standard for economic development in michigan, thanks to their strong leadership. as a small business owner myself i understand the importance of creating a forward-looking began that advances your community's goals and well being. mr. speaker, please join me by celebrating economic development week as we recognize the important contributions of these organizations and individuals striving to make our communities a better place to live, work and raise a family. with that, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: thank you, representative. for what purpose does the gentleman from indiana seek recognition?

without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. mor van: i rise to -- mr. mrvan: i rise to recognize teachers week. as we reflect on the impact that teachers have made in our lives and are continuing to make every day for all our student, i remain immensely grateful for all who have chosen to be teachers and involved in the school system. because of their selfless passion, their boundless energy, and commitment to inspiration, they are essential to ensuring our future leaders are able to harness their interests and reach their full potential. thank you to all of the teachers, aides, and assistants, and all the professionals in schools throughout northwest indiana and our nation who have dedicated their time and talents to helping students succeed. with that, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: thank you very much. the chair lays before the house the following personal requests.

the clerk: leave of absence requested for mr. davis of illinois for today. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the request is granted. under the speaker's announced policy of january 9, 2023, the gentleman from new york, mr. williams, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. mr. williams: i ask unanimous consent that members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous material on the subject of this special order. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. so ordered. mr. williams: thank you, mr. speaker. america, these are troubling times. the very fabric of our society is being pulled apart. violent protests are spreading across college campuses in our

own nation. crime marchs unchecked in our cities, and the number of fentanyl overdoses rise unabated. and now this. the tragic deaths of two of central new york's finest. their lives taken in the line of duty as they stood in the gap between civil society and chaos. that night, what was another routine traffic stop turned into an unspeakable tragedy. today two more families endure indescribable pain. only a few weeks ago, i was right here with my colleagues in this very place to speak in honor of another new york police officer who was killed in the line of duty. now we are here again after two more heroes have been laid to

rest in my own district. the names of the officers who were killed are lieutenant michael husak and officer michael jenson. lieutenant, none to his friends as hooch was the husband and father of three young children. he was a great dad, fun, spontaneous, present and supportive. in 2020 the lieutenant was recognized with a medal of valor for his actions in confronting a shooter in syracuse. he was a decades long firefighter and bomb squad commander. officer jensen was a son and brother with a career of service still ahead of him. ands and family remember his

dedication and optimism. his mother called him her handsome son. the chief said you could tell he took his responsible seriously, of course, in between hockey matches. officer jensen joined the syracuse police department in early 2022 and served honorably in the patrol division on the third platoon, day in and day out. thousands upon thousands attended their funerals to weep together to support one another and honor their service and sacrifice. they mourn with the officers. a functioning civil society

gives them the tools they need to carry out their work, protecting inside people and restraining those who do harm to other. i'm pro police and anti-criminal. when our society loses sight of these basic truths, our worse days follow. 20 law enforcement officers watching today -- let me say this to you, don't lose hope. keep the faith. you hold the fabric of our society together against criminality and chaos. you alone stand between innocent people and those who would seek to victimize them. we need you. we need you. your vigilance, your tireless service is deeply appreciated, and we weep with you today and stand with you every day. this congress, we've passed

numerous bills to support law enforcement, many, however, inexplicably languish in the senate where support for law enforcement is waned. we will not stop until our elected officials are doing everything in their capacity to empower you, our law enforcement professionals, and to support your critical work to protect all americans. it is my sacred and solemn privilege to welcome and acknowledge michael hoosock's widow, katelyn. kate and their three beautiful children are with us in the gallery this evening. would you mind standing for just a moment. thank you for being here with us. thank you for blessing us.

today, kate, this nation honored your brave husband. kids, this nation is grateful for his noble service. humbly, i will tell you that we mourn with you and that we recognize your suffering and sacrifice. may god bless and keep you and watch over each one of you. you will not be forgotten. since these tragic events just a few short weeks ago, countless members of congress have sought me out to express their shock and anger and sorrow at the loss of our heroes, and i've invited them to join me in the solemn occasion and will yield as much time as necessary that they may stand with me. mr. speaker, i'd like to yield five minutes to my colleague from new york, mr. d'esposito.

mr. d'esposito: thank you, mr. williams. and thank you to my colleagues that join us here tonight to salute two fallen heroes. just weeks ago, we stood on the floor of this great house and saluted another member of law enforcement whose life was taken far too soon by a career long criminal. and when jonathan diller's wife and widow spoke at his funeral, she pleaded with those in

attendance and said that just a couple years prior, she listened to the funeral of two other nypd officers who had lost their life to career criminals and pleaded that it wouldn't happen again and asked the elected officials that were in that church to make changes so that criminals did not have the upper hand. so that law enforcement could actually use the tools in their gun belt to affect change and keep communities safe. and i was joined by colleagues from all throughout the country again just weeks ago to salute detective jonathan diller. and sadly, here we are again.

paying tribute to syracuse police officer michael jensen, an onondaga sheriff's lieutenant, michael hoosock who made that sacrifice and was standing on the line between good and evil and paid the price with their life on april 15th. and just a couple weeks later, in north carolina, four more law enforcement officers paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, joshua eyer of the mecklenburg police officer, thomas weeks, alden elliott with the north carolina department of correction, and sam palooch of the north carolina adult correction.

you see, what's happening is that police officers are dying in record numbers. more than 23,000 members of law enforcement have died in the line of duty since 1786. 100 members of law enforcement died in the line of duty in 2023 and in my home state of new york and in a department i was proud to serve for 16 years as a detective, 5,363 of my brothers and sisters were injured on the job in 2023. our p.d.a. president called the assault, quote, a full blown epidemic. those 5,363 attacks in 2023 was 13% higher than the previous year. and people keep asking, well,

why? what's the issue? the issues are that new york we have a state legislature led by democrats who have chosen to put criminals before law-abiding citizens, passing insane laws, cashless bail, criminal justice reform without ever once having a conversation with the men and women who actually fight crime each and every day, who go out on that street, who put those uniforms on, who pin their shield to their chest and go out and wrestle career criminals, take guns off the street, close out murders, dismantle gangs, there never once was a conversation with any of them. and what it's led to is a more dangerous new york. what it's led to is a new york where criminals feel emboldened. in fact, mr. speaker, you go into stores now in new york and across this country, and there

are everyday things we want to buy, they're locked up. why? because criminals are emboldened, because democrats across this country and specifically in new york have failed the american people. they've made our state less safe. but to the family that's sitting in the gallery, realize you have elected officials not only in this body but across the country who will fight each and every day for our brothers and sisters in blue. nicole, samuel, gabriel, you may not have your father to walk you to that first hockey game, to that first day of school, to something important in your life. but realize that you have law enforcement officers from across this country who will walk with you each and every day by your side because that's exactly what we promised when we took our oath. we promised we would never

forget our fallen. mr. speaker, next week, thousands upon thousands of law enforcement officers from around this country will come here to the nation's capitol to pay tribute, to pay homage to men and women who have paid and made the ultimate sacrifice. and just weeks ago they started etching the names of hundreds of members of law enforcement who gave their life in 2023. and etched in one of the statues at our national law enforcement officers memorial is a quote, and it says, it is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it's how they lived. so to the family of our heroes here tonight realize, it's not how they died that made them heroes, it's about how they lived. it's about the change they made. it's about the arrests of the

criminals they put behind bars. it's about how they went out there each and every day to make their community that much safer and realize that we will carry on their legacy forever because that is our job. so, mr. speaker, i thank my colleagues that are here this evening that haven't worn the uniform that are speaking out on behalf of all of those that do, because law enforcement throughout this country need to hear they have people supporting them, that will pass legislation to keep them safe and give them the resources that they need to defend themselves and keep those communities safe. to my colleague from new york, mr. williams, thank you for gathering us here this evening to make sure that we pay tribute to the fallen. and i promise you, we will never forget. mr. speaker, i yield back.

mr. williams: thank you. i'm proud to stand with mr. d'esposito. he's worn the badge and uniform and knows of what he speaks. i yield as much time as he may consume, mr. stauber of minnesota. mr. stauber: mr. speaker, i rise today to honor all of america's law enforcement heroes. a few weeks ago, as was stated, in upstate new york, they suffered a terrible loss when two law enforcement officers were fatally shot while pursuing a driver who fled a traffic stop. and in my home state of minnesota, we are still mourning the deaths of two burnsville police officers and a firefighter paramedic who were killed responding to a domestic crisis. these men were not only law enforcement officers but husbands, family, friends and beloved members of our communities. these tragedies are reminders of

the dangers that our law enforcement officers face every day. we can never take their service for granted. as a former police officer with over 20 years of experience on the job, i have seen and experienced firsthand the violence committed against law enforcement. however, in the years since leaving law enforcement, i have noticed a rise in violent attacks against america's law enforcement. i am deeply concerned by this trend by those who protect and serve our communities. a recent story published that assaults against police in minnesota are up 160% from 10 years ago. while some are asking why this is the case, to me the answer is obvious, the reckless defund the

police movement and other antipolice rhetoric pushed by those on the far left has emboldened criminals worsening the danger law enforcement faces when they put on that uniform. this is unacceptable. i believe one of the best ways we can honor the law enforcement officers who made the sacrifice is defending the heroes who are doing this dangerous and much needed job. as as the governor's and state legislature and even here in congress enact policies that make law enforcement less safe, it is up to the rest of us to utterly reject these ugly attacks on the american law enforcement officer. as we honor those law enforcement officers who have

given their lives in service to others, let's also recommit to standing in defense of their brothers and cyst -- sisters in uniform now and forever. i yield back. >> thank you, mr. stauber. i now recognize as much time as she may consume, my colleague from new york, ms. tenney. ms. tenney: we are grateful for you doing this and thank you for organizing this to syracuse officer generalson. i like my colleagues before have mentioned. i thank my colleagues who are here who answer to call in this dangerous job and deserve our respect and renewed support of them. as we gather here today a few

weeks since april 14 these men paid the sacrifice and our community continues to mourn their lives and selfless service and legacies. and ex emapplied filed courage and commitment. and a testament to his bravery, his actions earned him the esteemed medal of valor in 2020. as we remember him today let us not only reflect on his achievements as a police officer but the legacy and and survived by his beloved wife and three children. since officer jensen joined the police department on february 26, 2022 he made an impact on force and in our exeunt. his dedication to duty and service earned him the

distinguished title of officer of the month and just recently in december of 2023, while his time among us was cut short his memory will be in the family, friends and fellow officers and everyone in his hometown of rome, new york and now represented by mr. williams but very important part. as we honor their memory, let us reaffirm the support for the brave men and women who safeguard our communities each and every day of the syracuse and the sheriff's office who continue to defend our community in the wake of such a tragedy. may the memory of these carl ageous men inspire us. our men and women in uniform are not taken for grnted and sacrifice is honored and protecting is met with respect and support they deserve.

i yield back. >> thank you. so honored to be joined by my new york colleagues and welcome one more, mr. molinaro. mr. molinaro: i thank my colleague, congresswoman williams for the sacrifice and tragic loss that far too many in families face. and now to the families of michael, again to honor the memory of their loved one, two heroic men who gave their lives in service to the community and it is becoming all too necessary. yet again, we rise on another night to recognize and to memorialize the lives of two american heroes, two officers in

upstate new york who give the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their community. another city and county mourn the loss of one of its finest, two of its fine efforts. and another two police officer families suffer unspeakable loss. these two men, michael committed a lifetime of service to the county and the shy of syracuse in new york. they were routinely carrying out their obligations to a community when yet again, the same headlines we have seen over and over again throughout new york and throughout this country fell victim to an assailant who began shooting at them and killing them both. the lives of these brave

officers is that that tragedy and too many families across new york and across america see their loved one patroling the streets, keeping us safe, lives ending too soon they will never forget. and it is still a tragedy that should never have occurred. and i spent the last 30 years in service in upstate new york when the state legislature led by a single party and the governor embraced criminal justice reforms, they ignored the very fact that they were making our communities less safe. they ignored that countless members of law enforcement, district attorneys and those of us who engaged in the criminal justice system for so long says cashless bail would result in a more dangerous community. cashless bail would result in

more victims being created. cashless bail would end the lives of law enforcement because it would tie the hands of police officers. they ignored us. and democrats in albany and single party rule in new york continues to pass reckless policies just like cashless bail and countless other policies that are making it more difficult for law enforcement to do their job and because we have seen not only a rise of crime in our communities but we have seen an increase in violence committed against police officers and the death of law enforcement officials all too often. how much more would it take -- how many more children won't have their fathers to come home to and mothers to love. how many more empty chairs at

the dining table. how many more police officers must stand shoulder to shoulder in a somber line mourning the loss of one of their colleagues before the state of new york gets serious. we need to provide the tools to protect us and they may protect themselves as their jobs only get more and more dangerous. i proudly represent communities in upstate new york like my colleague, ms. tenney, who wants to remind the leaders in albany,

new york, and in washington, the violence that we have seen and the lost of lives that we experience isn't only occurring in big cities. but it is sadly occurring in communities big and small like those we represent. we have an obligation to the men and women to keep them safe and now we have the families of the two officers that we owe, that we owe reforms that make the jobs of the men and women they left behind even safer. so, i again, commend my colleague, mr. williams, for reminding us of the loss of these two men, the sacrifice they made and that we are indebted to their families that now live on with great loss and

i hope that their loss is not in vein and the message we got the not only from tonight but the tragedies that occur over and over again that those who are entrusted in new york to keep us safe get serious about it. and for those men and women who serve in law enforcement may you truly again inly come home to a community that supports you and families that love you. i yield back. >> thank you. again, honored to be joined by another veteran of law enforcement, mr. rutherford of florida. mr. rutherford: i thank the gentleman from new york and i appreciate you hosting this special hour so that we can recognize the sacrifice of these

two men. as an law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind, to safeguard lives and property and and peaceful against violence and disorder and respect the constitutional rights of liberty, equality and justice. mr. speaker, that is the code of ethics for every law enforcement officer across this great country. that is the code and the oath that binds us all together as law enforcement officers. so as a former sheriff, i rise with a truly heavy heart to honor the life of lieutenant michael hoosak and michael

jensen. as you have heard, mr. speaker, on sunday, april 14, of 2024, the lieutenant and officer were killed in the line of duty while responding to a traffic stop. these officers' lives were suddenly and viciously taken while answering the call to protect and serve their community. lieutenant hoosak was a braifn servant leader and father and husband. he served 17 years in the odaga sheriff's office and served where he was needed the most, wherever they would send him and he gave his best.

he joined the sheriff's office in 2007, promoted to lieutenant and commander of the bomb squad. according to those closest to you felt like you were immediately his best friend. he is survived by his wife kaitlin and three children. and i cannot tell you how heart broken we are for you. officer michael jensen was a lifelong athlete before joining the syracuse police department and graduated from college with two business degrees and answered the call to serve his community less than three years ago.

. . . . just this past december officer jensen was named officer of the month. that's the kind of officer he was. he's remembered for his infectious smile, his personal interactions with the residents throughout the syracuse community. and my thoughts and players are with both officers, families, and friends, the onondaga county sheriff's office, the syracuse police department and the greater syracuse community as they mourn this great loss. ralph waldo emerson once said, the purpose in life is not to be happy, it's to be useful. it's to be honorable. it's to be compassionate.

to make some difference that you lived and lived well. these fine officers laid down their lives protecting the community that they love. they lived their lives honorably , with compassion, and dedicated to serving and making a positive difference in the lives of others. simply stated, lieutenant hoosock and officer jensen truly lived well. and i pray that we may all live our lives, that we may all live our lives worthy of their sacrifice.

may they service and sacrifice never be forgotten. may god bless them and may god bless their loved ones. mr. speaker, i yield back. mr. williams: i'm proud to welcome another veteran of law enforcement, my colleague from mississippi,. >> thank you, mr. williams. mr. speaker, this april two families received that call that no law enforcement leader ever wants to make. mr. ezell: onondaga police officer hoosock and jensen were shot and killed in the line of duty. i rise to honor their legacies and share my sympathies and my

prayers with the loving families they leave behind. as a former sheriff and 42-year law enforcement officer, i want to make it abundantly clear the sacrifices made by lieutenant hoosock and officer jensen are not in vain. like countless other officers from upstate new york to south mississippi, they put on the badge and went out in their community to protect and serve, putting themselves in harm's way because they believed in right and wrong. mr. speaker, one of the things you learn very quickly during a career in law enforcement is that the families of our officers serve alongside them, parents, siblings, spouses, and children each make tremendous sacrifices because of the loved one's service to their

community. and none is as difficult as the sacrifice that families and friends have made of these two heroes. my heart breaks for you and the onondaga sheriff's office, the syracuse police department, and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing lieutenant hoosock and officer jensen. my prayers, as well as the prayers of this body and the entire nation are with those loved ones as you grieve. mr. speaker, it's time for america to wake up. wake up, america, and realize what's going on in this country. our law enforcement officers are dying. families are suffering. but know that we are here with

you and will always be as we pray god bless you and give you comfort. with that, mr. speaker, i yield back. mr. williams: thank you, mr. ezell. glad to welcome my colleague from utah, ms. ms. maloy -- ms. maloy, for who i yield as much time as she may consume. ms. maloy: i rise to express gratitude and reverence to our law enforcement community. self-governance in this country is meaningless without the enforcement of the law. it requires men and women who step forward, put their lives on the line and serve as guardians over you, me, and our families. they do this never knowing when they might need to give their last measure of devotion for us. i express my deepest condolences to those who loved syracuse police officer michael jensen and onondaga lieutenant hoosock.

as i rise with my colleagues of law enforcement, i found out we had a similar tragedy in utah. just yesterday we lost one of our own officers, santa quinn officer bill huser left behind a daughter, a granddaughter, and dedicated law enforcement community. the sergeant's day started probably like it was every day and he couldn't have known it was his last watch and tragically killed in the line of duty, the duty of protecting utahance and our freedoms. my thoughts and prayers are to the family and we're grateful what he did in his life. my good friend of sheriff curtis summed up some of my feelings. he said, when we lose someone whose life purpose is to do good we lose a small piece of who we are as a community and a nation. i rise today to make sure that families like the huser family

in utah and the family sitting in the gallery right now know that america recognizes and appreciates their sacrifice. i want to thank you on behalf of utah's second congressional district and make sure you know that you are not alone. and with that, mr. speaker, i yield back. mr. williams: thank you. i'd like to recognize mrs. fischbach from minnesota. thank you for being here. i yield as much time as you may consume. mrs. fischbach: thank you for putting together this important special order and thank you for kate hoosock for being here today. i'm deeply sorry for your loss and the loss of officer jensen. every day our law enforcement officers leave for work and their families can never be certain if they will return home. know that i am grieving with you and praying for you and your family. the increasing violence we have seen against law enforcement in recent years is unacceptable.

as mr. stauber mentioned, this year in minnesota, two officers and a firefighter were killed when a man they were negotiating with opened fire without warning. and last year in my district, deputy josh owen was killed when responding to a domestic violence call. his name will be added to the memorial next week. mr. speaker, the attack on law enforcement must stop. all of these officers gave their lives protecting their communities. every time we hear another story like this, our hearts break all over again. our law enforcement deserves our gratitude and our respect. i am so disappointed to see many people, including some in this chamber, trying to make our brave officers into villains. i stand in support of law enforcement and my republican colleagues like you've seen this evening, are doing everything we

can to pass legislation to protect and thank our officers. i know that because of this disgusting movement of hatred towards our officers, we must. but our voices need to be strong. we must support law enforcement. i've introduced legislation to encourage the recruitment of the next generation of law enforcement through a grant program. i supported legislation to empower officers to do their jobs effectively and i've asked the judiciary committee to investigate the weaponization of government against law enforcement. i will continue to do everything in my power to support our police officers because they support all of us. god bless all of our law enforcement officers and i thank them for the job that they do. and thank you, mr. williams, and i yield back. mr. williams: thank you, mrs. fischbach. thank you. i'm pleased to recognize my

colleague from new york, mr. lawler, for as much time as he may consume. mr. lawler? mr. lawler: thank youo to my colleague, mr. williams, for bringing us here today to recognize lieutenant michael hoosock and officer michael jensen, two heroes who gave of themselves in service to our community. as the bible teaches us, greater love has no man than this, and he lay down his life for his friends p. lieutenant hoosock and officer jensen laid down their life in defense of our community to ensure the safety and the well-being of our residents. they answered the call of duty and went above and beyond and

made the ultimate sacrifice, and it wasn't just the sacrifice they alone made. it was the sacrifice that their families made. to kate, nicole, samuel, and gabriel, there are no words that will make this better, there are no words that will make this ok. we grieve with you. our heart breaks for you. and we will be here to support you. this morning, i spent time at the brinks robbery memorial for slain police sergeant edwin o'grady, police officer waverly brown, and brinks guard peter paige. nearly 43 years ago they were

killed in a 1981 brinks robbery. nine children were left fatherless. every year we gather october 20th to remember those two officers and security guard who died in that horrific robbery. and every year, one by one, their killers were released. we've seen in new york over the last six years, 37 cop killers released.

the depraved indifference for law enforcement is unconscionable because the reality is it we don't respect law enforcement, if we don't respect the rule of law, there is no society. the reason we have seen a rapid increase in crime in new york is precisely because there is no respect for the rule of law and people do not believe there are consequences for actions. cashless bail will go down as the single stupidest policy that has ever been signed into law

anywhere. since that law took effect, over 40% of those that have been arrested for a felony offense and then released under cashless bail have been rearrested for committing another offense. you look at cashless bail, you look at raise the age, the halt act, clean slate, and the continued parole for cop killers. and as a we have a lawless society. last year, $4 billion in retail theft. why snr because quality of life crimes aren't prosecuted any more in new york. we let people walk out the store with whatever they want.

the lawlessness must come to an end. the respect for law enforcement putting victims above criminals is essential. and without it, we will continue to be in this place where cops are murdered and taken away from their families. it's why as a member of the state legislature, i introduced a bill that would ensure life without the possibility of parole, pardon or clemency for killing a law enforcement officer. if we cannot respect our law

enforcement officers, if we cannot stand up for them and ensure their safety as they stand up for all of us and he ensure ours and we do not deserve a safe and just society. so to the family of lieutenant hoosock and lieutenant generalsen, we will continue to fight for justice for you and to ensure that other families don't have to endure this horrific tragedy. mr. speaker, i yield back.

>> to the hoosock family and to the jensen family i promised that those two would be honored by our nation, that they would be honored in this esteemed place and that you, too, would be recognized and honored. and i thank you for honoring us with your presence and i'm grateful to each representative who spoke this evening. somber times take a closer look that so often we take for

granted. there exists in this world profound evil, manifesting in evil ways. what stands that every single day. serving in law enforcement stand courageously in that treacherous place. as you go about in your day of safety and comfort, this may fade into the background but the risk inherent in their line of work never fades. they clock in every day with the knowledge that they place themselves in heightened danger and put on that uniform and do so for our sake. we are privileged to forget to enjoy the safety and comfort that are a direct result of their labor but we are obliged, times like this remind us

forcefully, tragically that evil and danger are ever present but that heroes still exist amongst us, heroes like lieutenant michael hoosock and lieutenant h.r. michael jensen and and in front of all decent folks they protect and serve. and their families. i thank you for joining us today. thank you. and to america, i would say, if you know any folks that serve in law enforcement, right now is a good time to thank them. our police officers, firefighters, e.m.s. and families dedicate their lives so

we may be safe, recognizing the commitment and sacrifice they make is something we all can and should do. words may only accomplish so much but they do mean something. convey it to those around you as you see them and recognize their sacrifice and they are not alone and not forgotten. i'll start by thanking kaitlin hoosock and their children that i got to know today. and thank you for joining us once again and for everyone here and everyone watching that you are not alone. mr. speaker. i concluded this special order. i have no further speakers and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: under the speaker's announced policy of january 9, 20 24-r, the

gentleman from illinois, mr. jackson is recognized as the designee as the minority leader. mr. jackson: i rise today to co-anchor this special order along with my distinguished colleague representative cherfilus-mccormick, members of the congressional black caucus have the opportunity to speak to the american people on the topic of mental health. an issue of mental health, the congress and constituents we represent and all of america. it is now my privilege to yield to the honorable congresswoman coleman from the great state of new jersey. thank you.

congressman congressman -- >> i thank you for organizing this special order hour. five years ago, i founded and chair c.b.c. on plaque youth suicide and mental health. this suicides among young black youth has been on the rise but it has gone unnoticed. steadily and quietly our children were dying. and so i and several of my colleagues who will speak here tonight came together to get to the bottom of this problem. we brought in experts including social workers, teachers and school administrators to help paint a picture of this problem. this picture was grim.

between 2007 and 2020, a black child died by suicide every three days. ages 10-17 increased by 144%. among young children ages 5-12, black youth were twice as likely to died by suicide and for teenaged girls increased by 7%. these findings would make it sick to their stomach and mental health act which would surge funding to the national institutes of health and the national institute of minority health and health disparity and outreach plan to reduce the significance ma. now fast forward five years and the impact of covid has brought

this crisis to everyone's attention. the social isolation, the fear of getting sick and watching loved ones die have taken a toll on all of us. our nation suffered a trauma made up of millions of cries sees but the pandemic fell heavily on black women. they are pillars of their families and communities combined with being essential workers increased the vol physical and mental health problems. as a result, 50% of plaque women experienced levels of depression and 20% experienced severe distress. unemployment among black women increased at times when unemployment was falling. this unemployment created additional stress on already

struggling communities. it is our responsibility to ensure that overburdened communities especially in impoverished and rural areas of the country have access to mental health care. since the task fors what con veepped we addressed this issue and improving accessing the crisis hotline by calling 988 but so much work needs to be done. our children have been given neither the tools to maintain their health or the care they need to cope. but it does not have to be this way. children who have access to help can thrive. they can be strong, happy and resilient and active and productive in their communities. we have the capacity to recreate the conditions in which all of our children have a shot of

happy, fill filling lives. each of us wants no replay for our children to grow umh healthy and we must have and need our plaque women to be mentally and physically equipped to provide that growth that is so necessary. where we see them struggle, we sphrug will. we feel the pain. we know this to be true, republicans, democrats and independents. it doesn't matter what your party affiliation is. and 52 months after the introduction of pursuing and mental health act and the youth mental health research act bipartisan bills to get our children the care they need and we still can't come together. look around the country. people are fed up with this congress, the least productive

congress in decades. i implore my colleagues to take this situation seriously and put aside our differences and show our children we care and get them the help they need. and i yield. mr. jackson: i thank the congresswoman. i ask imreuk that all members may have five legislative days to resize and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this special order hour. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. jackson: it is my rivel to yield to the congressman of the great state of nevada congressman chairman steven horsford. mr. horsford: thank you to congresswoman jackson for

honoring this for the congressional black caucus and to you representative cherfilus-mccormick on all of our special order hours. i recognize the month of may as mental health awareness month. i thank representative bonnie watson coleman and each offer members in addressing mental health specifically in the black community. today it estimated 1-5 american adults experiences mental health illnesses each year. 28% of black americans reported having a mental illness and 39% received services. the suicide rate among black

youth has been found to be increasing faster than any other racial or ethnic group. according to the centers of disease control and prevention, suicide is now the third leading cause of death for black male adolescence and and over the last 30 years, we have seen 160% rise in the suicide late for young black men. the statistics regarding mental health in the black community is alarming and yet ha received very little attention from this congress. it is time to address mental health and to focus on mental wellness, the same as any other health issue. it's time to remove the stigma that too often those who receive mental health care services to

begin with. and this means addressing the barriers our communities face, the lack of competent care and the root causes of declining mental relate including racism and biases in daily life. disparity participation and low access to quality services. and means addressing the lack is addressing the health careack is system. when black members seek services they seek a professional which is vastly underrepresented. as legislators, we have a responsibility to the communities we serve to find solutions to long-standing disparities that negatively impact our communities and ensure no one gets left out or left behind. and we can see the research is

clear and the crisis before us is urgent and there are solutions. my colleague, representative watson coleman discussed just two that are bipartisan and has the support of members on both sides. so i know that there are efforts to pass bills in days when the majority wants them to and we're asking you to make mental health the priority especially in this month. in order to redeem -- to remedy these disparities, reverse these trends and to save lives, we have to address them head-on by providing access to better and more affordable health care and improving economic conditions in our communities and moving towards more culturally competent and evidence based care. we have to take action now. lives are on the line. it is possible. it can be done.

focusing this month on mental health month, mental health and wellness month in a way that lifts up all communities and the services and support that they need. thank you, and i yield back. mr. jackson: i'd like to thank steven horsford from the great state of nevada. it's now my privilege to yield to the honorable congressman jamaal bowman from the great state of new york. mr. bowman: thank you very much, representative jackson, for your leadership on this very important issue. mr. speaker, prior to coming to congress, i worked in education for 20 years. i started my career as a elementary school teacher in the south bronx before becoming a high school dean of students and guidance counselor, before having the privilege of opening my own school and running it as a middle school principal for 10

1/2 years. the year before i decided to run for congress, 34 children died within the k-12 school system in the bronx and 17 died via suicide. and no one was making the connection between these horrible outcomes for our children and families, the historical neglect and trauma of their communities and the policy that comes from just local government and state government but also from the federal government, as it was mentioned by our chairman horsford, it is incredibly difficult to access the mental health resources in historically marginalized communities because of historical underfunding and historical neglect. and so it is tremendously urgent

and incumbent upon us here in the house of representatives to pass transformational revolutionary legislation as it relates to supporting the mental health of every single person in our country. but we need to make sure that we're not simply passing legislation, but we are also providing the resources and the funding to build out the mental health ecosystem so we can have more professionals working within the mental health system as professionals supporting the american people, particularly those who are most vulnerable. a couple weeks ago, we introduced the access to mental health act which invests -- which seeks to invest many more resources into our minority serving institutions, hispanic

serving institutions, and historically black colleges, so that we can build out the mental health programs in these particular institutions. we need more counselors, we need more psychologists, we need more psychiatrists. we need trauma specialists. and we need many more mental health professionals in our schools and in our communities. now, when we make these investments, representative jackson, what we see is a dramatic decrease in the number of people who are incarcerated in our communities because many of the people who are incarcerated suffer from mental health challenges that have gone untreated. many of the people who are incarcerated have experienced intense trauma. what professionals call toxic stress and chronic trauma in their lives that needed to be

responded to by a mental health professional but it never was. and as a result. is they commit crimes in their communities, when they're going through harm within their own bodies and minds and spirits without receiving the care that they need. they are more likely to commit harm. so investing in our mental health as part, i might add, of a universal health care system dramatically increases the costs for our jail and prison system, increases the cost for our overall health care system, and it improves education and economic outcomes. so it's a win, win, win when we pass legislation as it relates to mental health and invest in supporting our children and

families with their mental help. i mentioned toxic stress and chronic trauma. we have certain communities in our country, rural and urban, historically underserved, historically underfunded, historically marginalized, historically neglected. those communities, because of lack of access and opportunity, many have been red lined on purpose by this very institution. those communities, when children are born into those communities, they're much more likely to experience toxic stress and chronic trauma. do you know when our babies from prenatal to age 3 experience toxic stress and chronic trauma, do you know the prefrontal cortex of the brain doesn't

develop accordingly? as a result, their regulatory skills, as well as their higher order thinking skills are compromiseed which leaves them more likely to experience and ad verse mental health event or to be diagnosed with a mental health condition. makes them more likely. it also makes them more likely to be placed in special education in our school system and makes it more likely for them to be a part of the school, the prison pipeline. that's why my brother, representative jackson, it's not just about investing in mental health but investing in universal childcare and universal pre-k because when we invest in universal childcare and universal pre-k, we are ensuring our kids are growing up and nurtured in the most nurturing conditions imaginable.

and they are less likely to experience the stress and trauma i talked about. and when they don't experience the stress and trauma, their prefrontal cortex develops properly which leads to better education and economic outcomes and keeps them off the school the prison pipeline. so this is a matter of national security, investing in our mental health. because if we really care about foreign countries and how they're maybe responding to us and kicking our butts when it comes to technology, when we invest in all americans, especially the most vulnerable ones, we're going to have incredible economic social and health outcomes on the back end. so thank you, representative jackson, for your leadership. thank you for allowing me to say a few words. i now yield back to the good

brother from the great state of illinois. mr. jackson: and i thank you, the honorable congressman jamaal bowman. thank for you those insightful words. it's my privilege to yield to the honorable congressman from the great state of rhode island, congressman gabe ammo. mr. ammo: thank you representative jackson. mr. amo: i rise to discuss an issue critically important for rhode islanders and all americans, the need for greater investment in our mental health care system. the topic is timely, of course, especially as we recognize may as mental health awareness month. now, here in congress we have a duty and a responsibility to act on mental health. we must both reduce the stigma associated with mental health while ensuring it is both taken seriously and seriously addressed. that's why i'm proud to join my

colleagues in the congressional black caucus tonight as we shine a light on the current state of mental health in america. together we're committed to reducing disparities and access, expanding coverage for mental health care, and reversing trends that have worsened over the past few years. but first we must be clear-eyed about the numbers. right now one out of every five americans are struggling with mental illness. think about that. these are our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers, our loved ones. and yet as we acknowledge the mental health conditions are far more common than we think, we must recognize the different communities have different levels of access to treatment. as i've said, one out of every five americans lives with a mental illness, a number that

remains equal when broken down among race and ethnicity. however, despite black communities reporting relatively equal rates of mental illness, the percentages of them receiving mental health services register far lower than their fellow americans. mr. speaker, it's clear mental health is an issue that does not discriminate and is it not see color or background and affects struggling americans the same, yet access to care is not the same for all americans. simply put, the barriers are higher for black americans, whether it's because of stigma for seeking help or lack of accessible and affordable providers. it's clear we must do more to bring down those barriers. after all, if we are to live up to the words of our founding document, life, print, and the pursuit of happiness, then we

must disclose the racial disparities a president treatments especially as americans are experiencing rates of loneliness so high the surgeon general declared it a public health crisis. congress must lead by example. to that end, i'm proud to lift up legislation that would expand investments for mental health in schools and reduce racial gaps in treatment. i thank congresswoman bonnie watson coleman for her leadership on this second point. hough, i'd be remiss if i didn't recognize my home state. and thank you to the work of the mental association of rhode island and the national alliance for mental illness, rhode island. our state was recently named the fifth best state for mental health care in america. but that's not enough. over the past year, we've seen enormous progress due to state

level advocacy and initiatives that secure and increase access. and yet as we highlight these protections being codified into law, we must keep our efforts to closing the equity gaps in our system. every american, no matter the color of their skin or background that they come from deserves to lack that dignity, that respect. every patient regardless of what they're struggling with, deserves the support and service ises they need to give their best lives, by asking and listening to each other. by arming ourselves with the facts and by using them to push for greater access to care, we can make a real difference in the mental health out of all americans across our country. .. . so i thank my colleagues again for their leadership and for

hosting this special order. representative jackson, i yield back. mr. jackson: i thank the honorable congressman from the great state of rhode island, congressman gabe amo. mr. speaker, i rise tonight because in the midst of the sound and fury of our current political climate, there remains a profoundly unaddressed and underestimated crisis raging in the hearts and homes of this country's african-american citizens. the melancholy truth that too often what ails the hearts and minds goes unnoticed. thankfully, may is mental health awareness month and we are therefore afforded the opportunity to acknowledge the mental health of african-americans as we would any other health crisis that threatens our quality of life. while it's true that the mental health of any community must be of grave importance, since none

of this country's socioeconomic benefits can be appreciated without peace of mind, in the case of african-americans the history of systemic and outright political terror must be of singular importance and they must be of singular importance because life has become more complicated, alienation has become more common and political violence has become more threatening. the times in which we live necessitate a greater emphasis and consideration of the mental health of this country's most vulnerable citizens. at a time when social media proliferates our lives with doom scrolling and mean world syndrome, we would be foolish to underestimate the impact and influence of what living in the digital age happens to be doing to our minds. so i rise tonight because it is time for us to raise greater awareness about the confluence of mental health issues stalking two generations of african-americans like never

before. and i rise tonight because we must henceforth remove the stigma of openly dealing with a public health issue we cannot avoid. the time for our -- the time for our accommodating silence must come to an end. the time for us to assign shame is over. the time for us to portray black human as superhuman protagonists who move through the american drama unbothered and unaffected must be challenge neferred way. black people are as human as everybody else. we suffer from death, dread, disease and despair, like every other community. we may be strong and we may be resilient but we are not without the scars and stripes that any community with our history would have to bear. and perhaps there was a time when we were unaware of what the effects of mental health were doing to our very lives and our bodies, but now that we know that one out of every five american adults are now suf

suffering from some mental health crisis or concern, we know that in the united states of america, 2% of flims reported struggling with mental illness and we also know that 39% of them received the mental health -- did not receive the mental health services that they deserve. subsequently, it should not surprise us that in recent year, the suicide rate of -- among african-american young people has increased faster than other racial or ethnic groups. it should not surprise us that young people across racial lines are suffering with anxiety, various forms of dismore feea and other issues that the -- dysmorphia and other issues at rates never seen in this country before. according to the minority office, african-american adults are more likely than white adults to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress such as sadness and feeling like

everything is an effort. according to the same findings, black adults live beg throw e-- living below the poverty line are more likely to report serious psychological distress than those with financial security. what this shows us is that the negative mental health of black people in this country is often the result of a devious and devastating confluence of issues. that is to say, members of the black community, in addition to dealing with social media, the human predicament, and a history of repression, must also face the kind of structural racism that creates barriers to being able to access the care and treatment they both need and deserve. it is no wonder when only one of every three african-americans living with a mental illness receive any kind of treatment at all. only one in three. additionally, in 2020, it was reported that 10% of african-americans still do not have health insurance and are among the chronically uninsured.

even with the affordable care act firmly in place and thank god that we have it, we must do more to get members of the black community insured. they need both access and the affordability of care. it should not be the case that just a little over 10% of the black community still cannot get the required medal -- medical services they require. over the -- the overall survival of black people in this country is far too contingent on -- and tenuous for them not to have this one area of certainty in their life, access to care and mental health care. and needless to say, without insurance treatment for mental illness is as unlikely as it is statistically uncommon. but these are some of the unique challenges black people face in an effort to live beyond the choking grip of mental illness. and that's why this month of awareness is so important.

the victims of mental illness should not have to fight this battle alone. they should not have to struggle in the shadows of american life. and black people in this country who struggle with mental illness should not have to bear this cross with crowns of thorns while all the world go free. if every community is susceptible the i have cisse tuesday of -- the vicissitudes of mental illness, every community should have access to the things that make for mental peace. the current lack of access to care is as unacceptable as it is un-american. i say to every african-american suffering from mental illness, you having in to be -- you have nothing to be ashamed of. you have done nothing wrong. you are not guilty of anything. and you need not be ashamed -- need not be shamed into greater levels of unnecessary suffering. let the word goforth from this

moment forward, mental illness is a health concern compounded by social factors, and not the result of a deficiency in character or personal responsibility. people are not suffering from mental illness because they are bad people. and to be sure, people are not suffering from mental illness because they are somehow ethically weak or deficient in their capacity to try harder as it were. we have to stop assigning responsibility to a victim when it comes to mental illness the way we used to do with drug addiction and the like. mental illness could care less about how emotionally strong or morally consistent you are. there's a reason why we call it an illness. and we call it an illness because all of us are potentially susceptible to falling victim to it under the right set of tragic conditions and circumstances. to the millions of people in america and particularly to the millions of african-americans who are suffering from mental

illness, i see you. i hear you. i honor your courage. i avail -- i value your life. and perhaps most of all, i stand in solidarity with the possibility of your healing. you are not alone in this time. you are struggling, your sacrifices have not gone unnoticed. we stand in this solemn place to affirm the dignity of your persistent efforts to be heard and recognized by your government. i want you to know that your labor has not been in vain. today we ask faith leaders in the black community to help us remove the stigma that prevents people from getting therapy and treatment. we ask church leaders, mosque leaders and synagogue leaders, who are essential elements for the successful recovery of someone getting the help they need. prayer and spiritualty can help in the effort to eradicate

isolation and give victims access to comowfnts healing but these benefits must be supported by proven treatments. there's no reason the black church hand black mental health professionals cannot work together to bring relief and restoration to the millions of black people who need it. today we call upon the formation of a broad and interdisciplinary approach to a mental illness that will not only address the problem but also leave the dignity of the person intact. because struggling people are still people. our people, citizens of this country, men and women who in spite of the difficulties they face, are no less worthy of our love and devotion. because this country is only as strong as the weakest amongst us. a country that cannot secure the health and well being of the weak will never be able to protect and sustain the longevity of the strong. i am convinced that we must do

everything in our power to support the expansion of culturally competent care. in fact, this government should incentivize the practice of creating an army of black mental health professionals who work on the frontlines in the merging war. because whether we know it or not, the future of this nation and our communities might well depend upon it. this is not a crisis in the making -- in the making. that is a crisis already amongst us. and what we do about this issue might well determine the direction of this me andering republic in days and years to come. so let us gather the best of the american spirit to accomplish this work. let us summon the proverbial angels of our better nature. let us join hands and lock arms and dedicate our resources so we might preserve all notions of domestic tranquility and let the oppressed go free. mr. speaker, you have heard from

my distinguished colleagues about the topic of mental health and all issues of great importance to the congressional black caucus, our constituent, congress, and all americans tonight. with that, mr. speaker, i thank you for your kindness, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: thank you very much. does the gentleman have a motion for the house to consider. mr. jackson: yes, mr. speaker. i motion to adjourn the house at this time. and i thank you for your kindness, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the question is on the notion adjourn. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes have it. the motion is adopted. accordingly, the house stands adjourned until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow for morning hour

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