[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 184 (Tuesday, November 7, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H5475-H5476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            COMMEMORATING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' HERITAGE MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Van Drew). The Chair recognizes the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Porter) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Indigenous 
Peoples' Heritage Month and the enduring contributions made by the 
Acjachemen and Tongva people to our community. In Orange County, we are 
dedicated to supporting our indigenous neighbors, as they reclaim their 
history.
  For generations, indigenous groups have fought against the pressure 
to assimilate. They have retained a strong connection with their 
cultures even when the Federal Government has failed to support them. 
Indigenous Peoples' Heritage Month is a celebration of their 
resilience.
  We owe these communities recognition. In the past, I have held 
roundtables with Tribal leaders and chaired hearings to better 
understand how our current systems leave Native people behind.
  I am proud to represent indigenous populations, to lift up their 
stories, and to celebrate how their perspectives make our communities 
stronger. I will continue to be a partner with indigenous leaders and 
will fight to get their communities the help that they need.


                        Standing Up for Veterans

  Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, elected officials have a duty to stand up 
for veterans. I rise today not only to honor their sacrifices with my 
words but to reiterate a call for meaningful action.
  Nearly 100,000 veterans call Orange County, California, home. They 
embody the resilience of our Nation. Yet, when they come home, they 
face institutions that systematically fail them. For those who have 
fought for our country, we must take care of them and their families. 
We must deliver the benefits that they are owed. We must address their 
invisible wounds by making it easier for them to get mental health 
care.
  In Congress, I have proudly worked on improving military families' 
housing, strengthening the Veterans Crisis Line, and getting Orange 
County veterans answers and care from the VA.
  On Veterans Day, we thank our troops for their service, and we 
recommit ourselves to getting them the help that they need.


                        Student Loan Forgiveness

  Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, student debt holds back our entire economy 
and hurts all of us. Americans today, young and old, cannot start 
businesses or save for retirement because they are burdened by student 
loans.
  I am glad the Biden-Harris administration is doing what it can to 
forgive student debt despite roadblocks from a corrupt Supreme Court. 
The administration's actions will extend relief to 125,000 Americans 
who can participate better in our economy, totaling $9 billion that 
will go back into our communities.
  In the long term, we must have a comprehensive plan to prevent 
another student debt crisis from happening as we fix the current one. I 
founded the College Affordability Caucus to address these problems.
  Debt-free higher education is one of the best investments that we can 
make to improve the lives of young people and strengthen our Nation's 
workforce for decades to come.


                     Standing Up for Trans Students

  Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight how anti-
transgender campus policies hurt students' well-being.
  In September, the Orange Unified School District became the sixth 
school district in California to adopt a forced outing policy. As young 
people are growing up, these harmful mandates expose students for 
something as simple as going by a different name

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without considering whether they are safe at home.
  More than half of transgender youth contemplate suicide due to a lack 
of support from their family or community. Schools should be places 
where students can focus on learning, free from fear.
  As a single mom of three, I rely on public schools to help my kids 
mature into thoughtful and confident citizens, and I oppose misguided 
policies that endanger LGBTQ+ Americans.
  I urge all California schools to stand up for trans students and 
protect the safety of queer youth.

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