[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 7, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1884-H1885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CELEBRATING MOTHER'S DAY

  (Ms. Tlaib of Michigan was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, as the chair of the Congressional Mamas 
Caucus and a mother of two incredible boys, I rise today to celebrate 
Mother's Day.
  I recognize the strength and love that mothers bring to our families 
and our neighborhoods, yet too often mothers are left behind in this 
Chamber.
  In the richest country in the world, Mr. Speaker, no mother should 
worry about feeding her children or affording

[[Page H1885]]

basic care. Ending child poverty is a policy choice. I introduced the 
End Child Poverty Act to provide a universal child benefit for every 
child in our country and cut child poverty by 60 percent.
  Paid leave, affordable childcare, and universal school meals should 
be a guarantee, not a privilege.
  I also introduced and helped cosponsor the Black Maternal Health 
Momnibus Act to ensure that all mothers are safe, respected, and 
supported. We know that Black women are three times more likely to die 
from pregnancy-related causes.
  This week, I am proud that the Congressional Mamas Caucus is 
launching Mamas for Medicaid, as we see, again, many folks in this 
Chamber cutting a lifeline for so many mothers and families across our 
country.
  An $880 billion cut to Medicaid would be devastating, so this 
Mother's Day, I am asking all of my colleagues to not only thank our 
mothers but do it with action as we recommit to fighting for the 
dignity and health of every mother in our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank all the amazing mothers of the 12th 
Congressional District and wish a happy Mother's Day to all of our 
mamas. We see and honor them, and we must, again, be able to celebrate 
them with action.


                           Starvation in Gaza

  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, using starvation as a weapon is a war crime.
  For over 2 months, the Israeli Government has completely and 
deliberately blocked food, water, medical supplies, and fuel from 
entering Gaza and targeting local aid convoys.
  At least 57 Palestinians, including children, have already starved to 
death. Over 9,000 children are already experiencing malnutrition.
  Palestinians have been forced to eat grass, dirty flour, and animal 
feed just to survive, while thousands of trucks carrying food and 
lifesaving aid have sat blocked at the border because of the Israeli 
Government.
  Palestinians deserve to live. Instead of agreeing to an offered 
cease-fire and the release of all hostages, war criminal Netanyahu 
announced his plans to forcibly expel and ethnically cleanse the entire 
Palestinian population and to flatten and annex Gaza.
  This was always the plan, and I am waiting for my colleagues in this 
Chamber to call it out. Our country is an accomplice in this genocide, 
and the world is letting it happen. The only path to make it stop is an 
arms embargo. Americans overwhelmingly support it. We should listen to 
our residents and save lives now.
  Silence here on starvation is supporting this war crime.


                 University of Michigan Student Rights

  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, from the university president to its board of 
regents, from the State attorney general to the White House, University 
of Michigan students and faculty exercising their rights to speak out 
against genocide have been under attack from all sides.
  From selective prosecutions to eight faculty members being fired for 
attending protests, the university has damaged its reputation while 
putting its full weight into suppressing speech and First Amendment 
rights.
  Their courageous solidarity movement has been undaunted, and this 
past week has offered a ray of hope that the Constitution still applies 
on campus, Mr. Speaker. It doesn't end when you enter a campus.
  First, the university president responsible for suppressing student 
rights, gutting DEI, and rolling over for the Trump administration 
resigned and fled to another State. Then, the attorney general in 
Michigan was forced to drop felony charges against campus protesters 
before a judge could rule on whether to remove her from the cases due 
to bias.
  This coordinated smear campaign is especially outrageous and 
egregious as Michigan prides itself on being an incubator for protests 
and social justice movements, where students are inspired to hold the 
powerful accountable and make the world a better place, but there is an 
exception for Palestinians.
  All across campus, historic divestment campaigns, from apartheid in 
South Africa to fossil fuels, are celebrated. Yet, there is an 
exception for Palestine when it comes to free speech, and it remains 
strong.
  Whether intentionally or not, Mr. Speaker, its proponents are playing 
directly into the Trump administration's hands as they seek to destroy 
universities as we know them.
  These governmental overreaches and power grabs are test cases, and 
their impacts won't be confined to college campuses. Mr. Speaker, you 
don't have to agree with their speech to understand what is at stake 
when their rights are being threatened.

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