    [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2025)]
    [House]
    [Pages H778-H779]
    From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                        ILL-CONCEIVED BUDGET RESOLUTION

      The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
    Washington (Ms. Strickland) for 5 minutes.
      Ms. STRICKLAND. Madam Speaker, this week House Republicans are
    bringing forth their ill-conceived, cruel budget resolution. This
    resolution will set the stage across the board for cuts on the basic
    services our constituents depend on the most. These constituents, by
    the way, live in both red States and blue States.
      As the majority brings up their budget resolution, they have already
    said what they plan to do because they told us. They want to take away
    Head Start

    [[Page H779]]

    school lunches. They want to take away food assistance from children
    and needy families. They want to take away Medicaid and Affordable Care
    Act premium assistance. Instead of strengthening the social safety net,
    the MAGA majority has decided to strip Medicaid coverage from almost
    65,000 children in my district alone.
      Almost 40 percent of children in Washington State get their
    healthcare through Medicaid, 35 percent of moms giving birth and their
    newborn babies rely on Medicaid for their healthcare, and the MAGA
    majority wants to strip away their healthcare.
      If any of my colleagues vote for this, they have forfeited the right
    to claim they are pro-life ever again. It is not pro-life to take away
    a newborn baby's healthcare. It is not pro-life to take away healthcare
    from 65,000 children in my district. It is not pro-life to take away
    food from hungry children.
      We were promised that president Musk and the MAGA majority would
    lower costs for the American people from day one. This does none of
    that. Instead, they are trying to take away healthcare and food from
    our kids.
      I urge everyone to vote ``no'' on this resolution and stop the
    Republican rip-off.

                    Unprecedented Firing of Military Leaders

      Ms. STRICKLAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the
    unprecedented firing of some of our most qualified and senior military
    leadership, including General CQ Brown, the eminently qualified
    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
      General Brown is an exceptional leader, a dedicated servicemember,
    and an American hero. His firing, the dismissal of Admiral Franchetti,
    and the judge advocate generals for the services is a travesty. When
    nominated, General Brown had logged in over 3,000 flying hours,
    including 130 combat hours and command of the Pacific Air Forces for
    the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. His service and dedication are
    impeccable.
      Most galling is that the person President Trump nominated is
    affirmatively less qualified than General Brown was when he was
    nominated. This person has not even met the most basic qualifications
    to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
      What does this tell our servicemembers and their families and our
    future recruits that expect to be promoted on merit and ability?
      President Trump has decided to prioritize nominating people who will
    make us less safe and less secure because his only requirement is blind
    loyalty.
      As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, we constantly hear
    the drumbeat of needing to prepare for the threats that we face both
    today and tomorrow, both here at home and abroad. President Trump's
    abrupt dismissal has created chaos, will degrade our readiness, hurt
    recruitment, and empower our enemies.

                    Life and Legacy of Ernest Charles Tanner

      Ms. STRICKLAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today, as we celebrate Black
    History Month, to recognize the life and legacy of Ernest ``Ernie''
    Charles Tanner.
      Ernie Tanner was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 5, 1889. His
    family moved to Tacoma, Washington, my hometown, in 1900, where he
    attended Tacoma High School, which is now known as Stadium High School.
    At Whitworth College, he was the first African American to play
    football at the college level in the entire Pacific Northwest.
      After college, Mr. Tanner worked as a Tacoma elevator operator, and
    in 1918 he joined the Tacoma chapter of the International
    Longshoremen's Association, then known as ILA. He remained a member
    until he died.
      In 1934, Mr. Tanner was the only Black member of the Tacoma strike
    committee during the big strike that shut down every single Pacific
    Coast port. Mr. Tanner worked closely with San Francisco leader, Harry
    Bridges, to keep Black and White workers united during the strike so
    employers could not break the union.
      He was a trustee of Local 2897 from 1934 to 1936, where he pressured
    leaders to pay Black dockworkers the same wages as their White
    counterparts.
      Ernest Charles Tanner passed away in 1956 at the age of 66. He
    achieved what many seek when they join a union, the recognition of the
    dignity of all work, to rise out of poverty, and to provide a better
    life for his family. This was exemplified when Mr. Tanner's son, Jack
    Tanner, became the Pacific Northwest's first Black Federal judge in
    1978. This is generational success and wealth.

      Ernie Tanner broke barriers in sports and labor. On behalf of his
    community, it is appropriate that we recognize his life and legacy
    today. Happy Black History Month to everyone.

                              ____________________