[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 200 (Monday, December 1, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H4910-H4911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING BISHOP MICHELLE C. THOMAS

  (Mr. Subramanyam of Virginia was recognized to address the House for 
5 minutes.)
  Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
congratulate the newly consecrated bishop, Michelle C. Thomas, a 
community leader in northern Virginia.
  In 2006, Bishop Thomas became the first African-American female 
pastor to establish a church in our county, Loudoun County, Virginia. 
She has delivered invocations for numerous dignitaries and heads of 
state. Now, she is the first female bishop in the history of Loudoun 
County.
  Perhaps the most remarkable accolade is reflected in the lives that 
she has changed. Faced with her own nightmare in the loss of her son, 
Fitz, Bishop Thomas went on to inspire countless others, serving as an 
active role model and advocate for her son's friends and community.
  Her work continues to uplift those around her, and I congratulate 
Bishop Michelle C. Thomas on officially being consecrated to the office 
of bishop.


         Honoring the Life and Legacy of John Howard Eisenhour

  Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of 
John Howard Eisenhour, a devoted public servant, veteran, and proud 
Virginian who, unfortunately, passed away on November 10.
  John lived a life rooted in service and civic responsibility. He 
served our Nation as a tank commander in the United States Army at Fort 
Hood and went on to a distinguished career in Federal service. John 
held key roles at the Office of Management and Budget, the Department 
of Defense, the American Embassy in Thailand, and the National War 
College. Even after retirement, he continued to lend his expertise as a 
consultant to the Federal Government.
  Locally, John was active in civic life for many years, giving his 
time and energy to local Democratic politics and community service. 
John's legacy lives in all of the lives and communities that he 
touched.
  My heart goes out to his family, and may he rest in peace.


                Corruption and Controversy at Fannie Mae

  Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Madam Speaker, for decades, Fannie Mae has played a 
critical role in supporting home buyers and renters and has employed 
many of my constituents.
  Madam Speaker, under this administration, it has taken a turn toward 
corruption and controversy. This year, Fannie Mae's ethics watchdogs 
have been fired.
  A senior Fannie Mae executive shared confidential mortgage pricing 
data with a competitor at the direction of Bill Pulte, the Director of 
the Federal Housing Finance Agency. In his brief tenure, Director Pulte 
has weaponized his office to target Democrats with allegations of 
mortgage fraud.
  Earlier this year, Fannie Mae has terminated hundreds of my 
constituents, as well, over charitable donations, without any due 
process to them. Months later, Fannie Mae has still not answered my 
letters or provided these employees with any meaningful explanation for 
their dismissal.
  Instead of confronting the housing affordability crisis, Fannie Mae 
has turned to advancing the political interests of this administration, 
turned against the people who worked for them and served them for so 
many years, and turned against the American people.


                 Good and Bad News for Social Security

  Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Madam Speaker, we had some good news this week.
  One of my constituents was finally able to get an in-person 
appointment to receive at least an interview about her Social Security 
benefits. You would think that we would be delighted that appointment 
is going to happen in a couple of days, but this is also bad news 
because she had actually reached out to our office in February and is

[[Page H4911]]

now getting an appointment in January.
  That is 11 months since she reached out to our office. She was 
probably trying to reach out to the Social Security office much longer. 
After repeated requests from our office, we didn't really hear back 
until finally getting her that appointment on December 3.
  This is because there have been cuts to the staff in that particular 
office of Social Security. Sixty percent of the staff at that 
particular office have been cut. This is a huge issue in our community 
right now.
  Social Security offices across the country are seeing that more 
people are now being forced to come in person to do these appointments 
and interviews, yet there are fewer appointments that are able to be 
had for them.
  This is a huge concern, and we have to address it. Right now, this 
administration is going the wrong way when it comes to administering 
Social Security benefits.

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