[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 21, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H1131-H1138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 6945, SUPPORTING PREGNANT AND
PARENTING WOMEN AND FAMILIES ACT; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R.
6359, PREGNANT STUDENTS' RIGHTS ACT; AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF
H.J. RES. 140, PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE RULE
SUBMITTED BY THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT RELATING TO PUBLIC LAND
ORDER NO. 7917 FOR WITHDRAWAL OF FEDERAL LANDS; COOK, LAKE, AND SAINT
LOUIS COUNTIES, MN
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the
Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1009 and ask for its
immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 1009
Resolved, That upon adoption of this resolution it shall be
in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 6945) to
amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to
clarify the authority of States to use funds for pregnancy
centers, and for other purposes. All points of order against
consideration of the bill are waived. An amendment in the
nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules
Committee Print 119-17 shall be considered as adopted. The
bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. All points of
order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived.
The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the
bill, as amended, and on any further amendment thereto, to
final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour
of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and
ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means or
their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.
Sec. 2. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in
order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 6359) to
require institutions of higher education to disseminate
information on the rights of, and accommodations and
resources for, pregnant students, and for other purposes. All
points of order against consideration of the bill are waived.
The amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by
the Committee on Education and Workforce now printed in the
bill shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as amended,
shall be considered as read. All points of order against
provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived. The previous
question shall be considered as ordered on the bill, as
amended, and on any further amendment thereto, to final
passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of
debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and
ranking minority member of the Committee on Education and
Workforce or their respective designees; and (2) one motion
to recommit.
Sec. 3. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in
order to consider in the House the joint resolution (H.J.
Res. 140) providing for congressional disapproval under
chapter 8 of
[[Page H1132]]
title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the
Bureau of Land Management relating to Public Land Order No.
7917 for Withdrawal of Federal Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint
Louis Counties, MN. All points of order against consideration
of the joint resolution are waived. The joint resolution
shall be considered as read. All points of order against
provisions in the joint resolution are waived. The previous
question shall be considered as ordered on the joint
resolution and on any amendment thereto to final passage
without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate
equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking
minority member of the Committee on Natural Resources or
their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Georgia is recognized for
1 hour.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate
only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as
I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time
yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
General Leave
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, last night the Rules
Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 1009, providing for
consideration of three measures. H.R. 6945, the Supporting Pregnant and
Parenting Women and Families Act, is under a closed rule.
The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by
the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Ways and Means or
their respective designees, and provides one motion to recommit.
H.R. 6359, the Pregnant Students' Rights Act, is under a closed rule.
The rule provides 1 hour of debate, equally divided and controlled by
the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Education and
Workforce or their respective designees, and provides one motion to
recommit.
H.J. Res. 140, providing for congressional disapproval under chapter
8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau
of Land Management relating to Public Land Order No. 7917 for
Withdrawal of Federal lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN,
is under a closed rule.
The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by
the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Natural Resources or
their respective designees, and provides one motion to recommit.
Mr. Speaker, we are here today to debate a rule on three pieces of
legislation. Beginning with H.R. 6945, the Supporting Pregnant and
Parenting Women and Families Act.
Mr. Speaker, across the country, pregnancy centers serve as trusted,
community-based nonprofits that offer a wide range of material
assistance and support, including pregnancy testing, prenatal
education, parenting classes, ultrasounds, diapers, baby clothing,
adoption referrals, and connections to housing and other services.
In 2024 alone, these organizations assisted nearly 2 million
individuals nationwide, Mr. Speaker.
{time} 1220
Despite their longstanding role in supporting families and advancing
the core purposes of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, a proposed
rule under the previous administration raised uncertainty about whether
States could continue partnering with pregnancy centers even though
these services clearly align with helping children remain in their
homes and reducing dependence on government assistance.
H.R. 6945 addresses that uncertainty by making clear that States may
not be restricted from choosing to work with pregnancy centers and that
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families funds may be used for these
services consistent with Federal law.
This bill does not mandate participation. Again, Mr. Speaker, this
bill does not mandate participation, but instead preserves State
flexibility and protects against future administrative overreach.
At a time when families are facing rising costs and difficult
choices, ensuring access to proven community resources matters. This
legislation reinforces support for pregnant and parenting women,
respects State decisionmaking, and strengthens efforts to help families
thrive.
Additionally, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6359, the
Pregnant Students' Rights Act. Mr. Speaker, today's student population
looks very different than it did decades ago. Nearly one in five
undergraduate students is raising children while enrolled, yet many
pregnant students remain unaware of the rights and accommodations
already available to them under Federal law.
While Title IX clearly prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy
and requires reasonable accommodation, those protections are only
meaningful if students know they exist and understand how to access
them. Too often, that information is buried, inconsistently shared, or
not communicated at all.
H.R. 6359 takes a straightforward approach by requiring colleges and
universities that receive Federal student aid to clearly disseminate
information regarding pregnant students' rights and available
accommodations, as well as both on-campus and community resources. This
bill also ensures students know how to file a Title IX complaint if
those rights are violated.
This legislation does not expand Federal authority or create new
rights. Instead, it promotes transparency, consistency, and
accountability so that pregnant students can remain enrolled, complete
their education, and plan for their futures. By reinforcing access to
information respecting existing law, H.R. 6359 supports students,
families, and institutions alike.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, the rule provides for the consideration of H.J.
Res. 140, providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of
title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of
Land Management relating to Public Land Order No. 7917 for Withdrawal
of Federal Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN.
The Duluth Complex is home to one of the largest undeveloped mineral
reserves in the world. It contains roughly 8 billion tons, Mr. Speaker,
of copper and nickel, in addition to cobalt and platinum. It is the
world's second largest copper deposit and the world's third largest
nickel deposit.
Currently, China controls approximately 60 percent of global critical
mineral production, and we have seen them use their control over the
industry as a bargaining chip. It is clear, Mr. Speaker, that
increasing domestic production of critical minerals is vital for
America's economic and national security.
However, in 2023, the Biden administration issued PLO 7917, which
withdrew 225,504 acres from mineral development in the Superior
National Forest. This PLO locked these reserves for 20 years and
prematurely ended the permitting process.
H.J. Res. 140 is simple. It permanently ends this irresponsible
withdrawal and allows a transparent process to potentially develop the
minerals in the Duluth Complex to move forward.
As the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), the sponsor of this
bill, stated in the Rules Committee last night, this legislation
doesn't green-light mining in the Duluth Complex. It reverses the Biden
administration's mineral ban in the area and allows companies to
continue to compete while following Federal permitting and
environmental processes. Again, they will continue to follow Federal
permitting and environmental processes.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to consideration of these pieces of
legislation. I urge passage of this rule, and I reserve the balance of
my time.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for
yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, we had plenty of time last night in the Rules Committee
to debate these awful, lousy bills: H.R. 6945, H.R. 6359, and H.J. Res.
140. I encourage everyone to look them up. Don't take my word for it.
Two of these bills are about misleading pregnant women to stop them
from making decisions about their own
[[Page H1133]]
bodies. This is all part of the Republicans' war on women. These bills
are aimed to please anti-choice protesters who are flying into
Washington this week. The third is about making it easier for a foreign
mining company to dump pollution into a pristine wilderness recreation
area in Minnesota.
All of these bills are being brought to the floor under completely
closed rules--no amendments, limited debate, no nothing. I won't waste
more time on these terrible bills. They are just more of the same
stupid garbage that this majority has brought to the floor time and
time again.
What I do want to highlight, Mr. Speaker, is that this week marks 1
year since Donald Trump was sworn in as President of the United States.
Republicans have had total control of the entire Federal Government--
the House, the Senate, and the White House--for over a year.
Yet still, after an entire year in charge, Republicans continue to
point the finger at Democrats rather than take responsibility for their
own embarrassing failures and broken promises. Republicans and Trump
ran on fighting for working people, but every single day, they have
governed on behalf of billionaires and corporate donors.
Let's take a look at some of these broken promises. Donald Trump said
he would put America first. He has not. What he has done is given a $40
billion loan to Argentina. He stabbed American ranchers in the back,
proposing that we import beef from South America. He threw a fancy
party at the White House for a Saudi Prince who murdered an American
journalist. He has not put America first.
He also promised no more endless wars. Give me a break. He renamed
the Pentagon the Department of War. Last year, he bombed Iran, Iraq,
Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen. He bombed Venezuela and now says
that we are running the country, whatever the hell that means. He is
also threatening to take an autonomous territory from Denmark, a NATO
ally.
Let's go over another failure. Donald Trump promised ICE would only
deport the worst of the worst. Guess what. That is not true. ICE agents
are terrorizing not just immigrants, but U.S. citizens, sowing chaos,
murdering an unarmed American mom in broad daylight, and deporting
veterans and asylum seekers who are here legally.
Another campaign promise: Donald Trump said he would lower prices on
day one. Oh, my God, Mr. Speaker, has anyone in this administration
gone shopping? Let me say this as someone who buys his own groceries in
Worcester, Massachusetts. Prices are not only high, but they are going
up even more because of Trump's reckless tariffs. Remember when Trump
bragged about how he would get gas down to $2 a gallon? It is $3 a
gallon down the street from my house.
Let's keep going down the list. Trump said he would get drugs off our
streets and put criminals in jail. Give me a break. He pardoned the guy
who created the dark web market that smuggled in tons of fentanyl. Then
he pardoned the Honduran ex-President convicted of trafficking tons and
tons of cocaine into the United States.
Let's not forget, he pardoned all the January 6 rioters, many of whom
have since gone on to reoffend with illegal gun possession and
committing child sex crimes after Donald Trump let them out of jail.
Then, of course, we have the promise that Trump would replace
ObamaCare with something better. Instead of something better,
Republicans let the enhanced ACA tax credits expire at the end of 2025,
which means that now people are paying more. Tens of thousands of
people in Massachusetts alone have now dropped coverage, meaning they
have no insurance at all.
Republicans don't have a plan to replace ObamaCare. They never have.
Fifteen years later, I am starting to think that they never will.
Now, another thing that Donald Trump promised: no corruption and full
transparency. Remember that promise? Seriously, how much money does one
family need to make off the Presidency before Republicans admit it is
corruption? The Trump family has gotten nearly $4 billion richer since
he took office last year. How much can one family treat the Presidency
like a piggy bank before Republicans finally step up and do something
about it?
{time} 1230
Why is his ballroom being funded by billionaire donors? What are they
looking for?
What about the Epstein files? There has been no transparency there.
We had to force a vote in Congress. He reluctantly signed the bill, and
he still hasn't released all the files. Less than 1 percent of the
files have been released. What the hell is taking so long? What is he
so afraid of? What is he hiding?
It has been clear to me since day one of Donald Trump's disgraceful
Presidency what it has been all about. Look at who was in the front row
of his inauguration, all billionaires: his Treasury secretary, a
billionaire; his education secretary, a billionaire; his entire
Cabinet, Health and Human Services, Energy, Interior, all led by
billionaires.
These people don't shop for themselves or they don't worry about
paying rent. They don't care about us. Trump said he would drain the
swamp. What a bunch of BS. He moved the swamp into the Lincoln bedroom
for God's sake.
The bottom line is simple: He has not done a single damn thing that
he promised to do. Not only have they failed, they have failed
catastrophically, and look no further than the bills on the floor
today.
There is nothing for workers, nothing to lower grocery prices,
nothing to take on price gouging, nothing to bring down rent, nothing
to help people buy a home, nothing to lower prescription drug costs,
nothing to raise wages, nothing to strengthen workplace protections,
and nothing to create jobs. Just culture war garbage and corporate
giveaways is all the GOP knows how to do.
After 1 year of total power, there is nobody else to blame. This is
the Republican record, and it is awful. This is Donald Trump's economy,
and it sucks. The people back home see it. They feel it. They are
living it. They see who keeps getting help and who keeps getting hurt.
They see the billionaires cashing out while working families get
squeezed. The Republican Party has had a year, and the American people
have had enough.
Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from
engaging in personalities toward the President.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, before I yield to Mr. Bost, I will say that by my count,
I think my colleague blamed Donald Trump 14 times for the things the
Democratic Party did before he got elected. Gas is very close to $2 a
gallon in Tifton, Georgia, and I think it costs a lot less for gasoline
in most Republican States than it does Democrat States right now
because of the Democrats charging more and more taxes on their
citizens.
As for the Affordable Care Act or ObamaCare that you all take so much
credit for and are so proud of the way you wrote it, the benefactors of
that legislation, the large insurance companies' CEOs are actually
going to be on the Hill this week and will get to be questioned. I hope
you will question them fairly hard, but I did bring one of my bills
because I expected you to say that.
The charge is $546.53. The insurance carrier discount is $509.93.
Insurance paid zero, nothing, not one dime. I paid $36.60.
Now, if you wanted to fix it for the American citizens, the question
is: Why was it even a $500 charge if the fair value is $36? Republicans
are trying to work to fix that. Unfortunately, we can't get a single
Democratic vote for a piece of healthcare legislation that will
actually work for all of the American citizens.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr. Bost), my friend and chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, Friday is the March for Life. It is a moment for
compassion, common sense, and a commitment to our most vulnerable. That
is why I rise today in strong support of the pro-life bills included in
this rule, including
[[Page H1134]]
safeguarding funding for pregnancy resource centers act and the
Pregnant Students' Rights Act.
These bills are about something very simple: Protecting the dignity
of the unborn and meeting very real needs of mothers and families.
Pregnancy resource centers offer counseling, medical services,
parenting resources, and support systems through some of the most
difficult moments that a mother can face. They should never be targeted
or defunded because they protect life.
At the same time, no woman should be forced to choose between
continuing her education or continuing her pregnancy. Women who choose
life should be supported, encouraged, and empowered, not pushed aside
or told that their dreams for the future don't matter.
I have always been proud to stand for life, and that commitment has
guided my work not only here in Congress but my work as a State
legislator. My wife and I make sure that we put our money where our
mouth is in supporting young women who find themselves in a situation
with a pregnancy out of wedlock.
Being pro-life is about doing more than just talking about it. It
means standing up for life at every stage and backing it up with
actions. This Friday, this Mall out here will be packed with a powerful
demonstration of the sanctity of life. It is important that the
people's House meets that moment. We should be unafraid to say that
every life has value and that mothers deserve our support, not our
silence.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and these pro-
life, profamily priorities.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consumer.
I will correct the Record on something. Donald Trump promised he
would lower gas prices to $2 a gallon. I just did Google maps and
looked at the price of gas in the gentleman's district. It is like
$2.80. That is a far cry from $2.
Mr. Speaker, if we defeat the previous question, I will offer an
amendment to the rule to bring up H.R. 12, the Women's Health
Protection Act, to restore the rights of women to an abortion
nationwide and undo extremist abortion bans in States across the
country.
Mr. Speaker, since the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, 13 States have
imposed complete abortion bans and many more have imposed extremely
short timeframes to get an abortion, endangering women, threatening
doctors with criminal prosecution, giving politicians in State capitol
buildings extreme power over personal medical decisions and fundamental
freedoms.
The bills in this rule are part of that dangerous trend. One bill
actually diverts Federal TANF funds meant for low-income families to
fund so-called crisis pregnancy centers, which provide pregnant women
oftentimes with fake medical advice with the goal of dissuading them
from accessing contraception or abortion care.
Republicans aren't providing more funding for TANF. God forbid they
do that. Giving this money away to these fake medical clinics is
stealing money from low-income families who need real help. The damage
these fake pregnancy centers do isn't theoretical.
In my district, a woman was told by one of these centers that she had
a viable pregnancy, but as time went on and she continued to feel sharp
pains, she went to a real doctor and was diagnosed with an ectopic
pregnancy that threatened her life and resulted in an emergency
surgery. She will have lifelong complications. If she had received
actual medical care earlier, she could have received the treatment she
needed before it was too late.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so
we can bring up a bill that will actually protect women and allow them
to access the full suite of reproductive care options.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my
amendment into the Record, along with any extraneous material,
immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Massachusetts?
There was no objection.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, to discuss our proposal, I yield 3 minutes
to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu).
Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, right now, millions of Americans are struggling
to afford healthcare. Millions of new and expecting mothers are seeing
their premiums skyrocket and they are being forced to go without health
insurance. Across this country, countless women are being forced to
flee their States for lifesaving abortion care while too many others
have suffered or died waiting for care that should never have been
denied.
{time} 1240
Mr. Speaker, the legislation this body is considering today does
nothing to address these real crises. Instead, it diverts scarce
Federal antipoverty dollars, TANF dollars, away from struggling
families and toward so-called crisis pregnancy centers that exist to
shame, mislead, and delay women from accessing abortion care.
This bill does nothing to lower healthcare costs. It does nothing to
help families afford prenatal care, childbirth, or postpartum care. It
does nothing to address the deadly consequences of extreme Republican
abortion bans that are forcing women to delay care and risk their
lives.
Mr. Speaker, if we defeat the previous question on this rule, my
Democratic colleagues and I will offer my bill, the Women's Health
Protection Act, or WHPA. WHPA is the Federal solution to the extremist
Supreme Court's decision to strike down Roe v. Wade. It would restore
the right for everyone, no matter what State they live in, no matter
their ZIP Code, to receive abortion care.
In a world where doctors are being threatened with prison time for
doing their jobs, it would protect providers who are simply trying to
save lives. This is the legislation this body should be considering
today.
I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can bring
up this important legislation.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Crank).
Mr. CRANK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time.
Mr. Speaker, I can't help but notice. Some of my colleagues talk
about whether or not someone is a real doctor. I don't understand how
someone is not a real doctor when they show a patient an ultrasound.
Giving them all of the information and letting a woman make a decision
is somehow not celebrated here.
If we were really for life, wouldn't we be excited that a woman
looked at that ultrasound and said: You know what? I have decided I
want to have that baby.
That is not a choice everyone in this body wants that woman to make.
They want them to make a different choice for some reason.
Mr. Speaker, I am here today to support the pregnancy centers across
America, including Life Network in my home of Colorado Springs,
Colorado. Pregnancy centers offer hope, and they offer opportunity.
They promote life and give necessary and lifesaving resources to
struggling mothers and fathers. It is these very pregnancy centers
whose only focus is for the enrichment and support of these often
inexpectant parents who are the target of a punitive and distasteful
action by the previous administration.
In Colorado's Fifth Congressional District, Life Network has served
3,900 patients, providing high-quality pregnancy tests, ultrasounds,
early pregnancy care, and more for free to anyone who walks through
their door.
This is just the impact in my district. I know that the presence of
similar pregnancy centers across the country are providing hope and
support to thousands of parents each day. Funding for these mothers and
fathers, many of whom are underserved, should never be politically
taken away.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Fischbach for introducing the
Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act, which I
strongly support, to provide a statutory protection for pregnancy
centers under the Temporary Assistant for Needy Families program.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman who just spoke that some of
us had different experiences. In my district, a woman almost died from
one of
[[Page H1135]]
these crisis pregnancy centers because she got bad advice from a quack.
Don't lecture us about our dedication to making sure that women are not
only presented all options but treated by people who are actually
qualified.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Mexico
(Ms. Leger Fernandez), a distinguished member of the Rules Committee.
Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 52nd
anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a decision that allowed women to make their
own decisions about what to do with their bodies without the
interference of politicians.
It allowed women to make those decisions in consultation with their
own faith, their own doctor, and the people they love. Roe v. Wade
proved that when women have that freedom to make our own healthcare
decisions, we live healthier and fuller lives.
Sadly, after Roe v. Wade was overturned, 22 States implemented full
or partial abortion bans. We have seen women bleed to death or become
infertile after the onset of sepsis because they couldn't get care for
miscarriages or other pregnancy-related complications.
House Republicans today are joining the effort to limit women's
access to full reproductive healthcare and information. Instead of
acting to lower healthcare costs, we are in a healthcare crisis.
Instead of addressing the affordability crisis, they are trying to pass
laws to siphon funds away from needy families and offer a skewed vision
of what a pregnant student should hear from her university. Republicans
are using this moment to remind us just how little they respect women's
lives or our choices.
As chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus, I know that pregnancy can
be joyful. As a woman who almost died on an operating table when I was
pregnant, I also know how complicated pregnancies can be. That is why I
am so mad about these bills.
Republicans' so-called Pregnant Students' Rights Act pretends to help
pregnant students. It provides no childcare, no diapers, no formula, no
housing, nothing pregnant students actually need. What it does do is
it controls. Republicans seem to be always about controlling women,
controlling people in their doctor's offices. It is about control.
It requires schools to tell students about carrying a pregnancy to
term but not about what resources might be available for miscarriage,
not about abortion, and not about the full range of medical care that
they might need to access.
If a doctor only tells a person about one treatment option which
might not be the best for them, that would be malpractice. Here on the
House floor, it is called Republicans' priorities.
Then we get the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families
Act, which is another nice name but another ugly attack on women. This
bill allows red States to siphon cash assistance meant for food, rent,
and childcare into unregulated crisis pregnancy centers, places that
masquerade as medical clinics. They spread misinformation, delay care,
and shame women who may choose to have an abortion.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from New Mexico.
Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, what is worse is their bill blocks
the Federal Government from monitoring States' use of TANF dollars for
those anti-abortion clinics. They don't want accountability on those
clinics.
I would tell my Republican colleagues not to lecture us about waste,
fraud, and abuse when they refuse to monitor anti-abortion clinics and
when they stay silent when Trump pardons over 44 people convicted of
fraud. That is a conviction of fraud, not just a suggestion.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this rule.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, while the gentlewoman was
speaking, I did take a second to pull up a couple of things on gas
prices since they are blaming President Trump for it. They are correct.
In Worcester, the gas price is $2.91 a gallon on average. In
Oklahoma, it is $2.21. In Wyoming, it is $2.22. In Texas, it is about
$2.23. In Georgia, it is about the same thing.
Do my colleagues know what the difference is? We all have Republican
Governors. Our Republican Governors are working to lower the cost of
energy. The Democratic Governors are obviously keeping energy prices
high and blaming the President for that. I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, it is interesting. Now the gentleman is blaming the
Governors and not Biden. I don't even know where the hell Worcester is.
I never heard of that place the way he is saying it. It is certainly
not in Massachusetts.
Mr. Speaker, in any event, while this Chamber is wasting more time on
yet more messaging bills, a real crisis is unfolding in plain sight.
Our allies are preparing for a possible military conflict with the
United States. Let me repeat that again.
Our closest allies, our partners in freedom and peace for decades,
are reinforcing their territory because the President of the United
States has plunged us into the greatest transatlantic crisis in a
generation.
Are we supposed to be relieved by the fact that finally, after a week
of chaos, he said he won't use force? Is that supposed to somehow
comfort us? I don't really feel very comforted because these are the
same people who told us they wouldn't invade Venezuela the week before
they invaded Venezuela. Let me remind everyone how this started.
Last weekend, Donald Trump sent a message to Norway's Prime Minister.
I want the President's words in the Record because the American people
deserve to hear them.
{time} 1250
``Dear Jonas, considering your country decided not to give me the
Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped eight wars plus, I no longer feel
an obligation to think purely of peace.''
Now, let's listen to that again. Since he didn't get the prize, the
President of the United States says he no longer feels obligated to
think of peace.
Then he pivots from grievance to threats, saying that he wants
``complete and total control of Greenland.''
That is nuts. Again, this is truly crazy. This is the President of
the United States talking about a NATO ally the way that Putin talked
about Crimea before he invaded Ukraine.
`` . . . if we don't do it the easy way, we are going to do it the
hard way.''
Again, that is not a Putin quote. It is a Trump quote. You can hardly
tell the damned difference anymore. Wake up, America.
Are any of my friends on the other side of the aisle going to step up
and put an end to this insanity, or are we all just going to shrug it
off and move on? The President's own words show that he is living in a
different reality. He told The New York Times that acquiring Greenland
is psychologically important to him. Not to the United States, but to
him personally.
Mr. Speaker, just so we are all on the same page, the U.S. does not
need to invade Greenland to protect America. We already have a U.S.
military presence there, and Denmark has basically said that they are
happy to partner with us even further, because our militaries already
work very closely, to make sure that Russia or China doesn't gain a
foothold in the Arctic, so his own justification is total BS.
Threatening to annex Greenland actually makes us less safe. If we
wanted to stand up to Russia, I can think of a really easy way to do
that that doesn't involve invading a NATO ally. No, no, no. In no way
is this about national security or defending the Arctic. It is a cover
story.
This is about a thin-skinned, petty man throwing a global tantrum
because he didn't get the prize that he thinks he deserves. Through all
of this, barely a peep from most Republicans--not a whisper. Imagine if
this were a Democratic President. They would be up in arms. We would be
having investigations and subpoenas, and it would be a national
scandal. Yet, we are hearing nothing from Republicans because they are
in a cult.
I will say what they won't: None of this is normal. This is not a
joke. This is not something Republicans can
[[Page H1136]]
shrug off or turn away from. This President is threatening a NATO ally
in writing, and the world is responding.
European allies have begun sending troops to Greenland to protect it
from an American invasion. Canada has signaled that such an invasion
would activate Article 5, meaning our allies would be obligated to take
military action against us. Record-setting protests are taking place in
Greenland and in Denmark because they have no interest in being taken
over by Trump.
Instead of deescalating, Trump is ramping up--tariffs, threats,
blackmail, trying to bully our allies into letting him grab territory.
Do you know what the kicker is to all of this? Working people will
pay the price for Trump's little temper tantrum. When you blow up
alliances, you don't just blow up diplomacy. You blow up supply chains.
You blow up markets. You blow up global stability, and it is never the
billionaires who eat the cost. It is families. It is farmers. It is
workers. It is regular people.
Maybe that is why 91 percent of Americans think that taking over
Greenland is a stupid idea, but here is the bottom line: China benefits
when America alienates Europe. Russia benefits when NATO is weakened
and distracted. Every authoritarian on Earth benefits when the
President of the United States starts acting like a two-bit tyrant.
I will just end on this: The world where America invades Greenland is
a horrible, horrible world. It is a world with no moral compass. It is
a world with no North Star towards liberty and justice. It is a world
where China, Russia, and America conspire together to subvert freedom,
democracy, and peace. It is a world I don't want to live in, but it is
the world that will come to be if we allow this President to do what he
says he wants to do.
My message to our allies is simple: Do not mistake this President for
the American people. Stand up to him. Do not appease him, and know that
there are Americans and there are Members of Congress who will stand
with you in defense of democracy, alliances, and the rule of law.
My message to House Republicans is even more simple: It is time to
take the car keys from grandpa. Stop worshipping this President. Stop
acting like you are in a cult. Grow a spine, and for once in your
lives, cut the BS and do something to stop him.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Massachusetts is reminded
again to refrain from engaging in personalities towards the President.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how
much time is remaining.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Georgia has 17\1/2\
minutes remaining.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want everybody to take a deep breath, and I want you
to know that Donald Trump, nor the United States is going to invade
Greenland. It is not going to happen. It is just not.
Now, Russia might invade it, and China might invade it. As far as
Canada and the NATO alliance goes, I just have to tell you that Canada
committed to buying approximately 90 F-35s. Do you know how many they
actually purchased? Less than 20.
Canada's national security strategy is to pick up the phone and call
Donald Trump to protect us. Donald Trump has done the right thing by
making NATO and our partners stand up and acknowledge that they don't
have the defenses in place that they need.
While some people might not want to believe it, I will tell you one
that does.
Mark Rutte, NATO chief, praises Trump at Davos by saying that he
forced Europe to step up on defense. Now, this is the head of NATO. He
is the head of NATO. A couple of comments about President Trump.
`` . . . I'm not popular with you now because I'm defending Donald
Trump, but I really believe you can be happy that he is there because
he has forced us in Europe to step up, to face the consequences that we
have to take care more of our own defense,'' Rutte said.
Wednesday, in remarks at Davos, Switzerland: ``No way. Without Donald
Trump, this would never have happened. They are all on 2 percent now.''
It went on during a panel at the World Economic Forum.
``I'm absolutely convinced, without Donald Trump we would not have
taken those decisions. And they are crucial, particularly for the
European and the Canadian side of NATO to really grow up''--``grow
up,'' this is the head of NATO saying this about NATO--``in the post-
Cold War world.''
``The Americans still have over 80,000 soldiers in Europe. . . .
including in Poland, in Germany . . . they are still heavily invested
in European defense. And yes, they have to pivot more towards Asia. So,
it is only logical for them to expect us in Europe to step up, over
time.''
I will tell you: Donald Trump doesn't have any plans to invade
Greenland, but the Russians do. The Russians do. If NATO is not willing
to do what it takes to defend Greenland, then the United States should.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend from North Carolina (Mr.
McDowell).
Mr. McDOWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of two commonsense,
profamily bills before the House today.
This week, as thousands gather in Washington for the March for Life,
we are reminded that being pro-life means standing with mothers,
children, and families.
The Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act allows
States to better partner with pregnancy centers who are providing real
help to new mothers who are taking the journey of parenthood. These
centers are a pillar for nearly 2 million families every year, making
it easier to provide and foster a loving bond throughout communities
just like mine in North Carolina.
No longer will political discrimination keep compassion at the
doorway. No longer will bureaucrats in Washington prevent pregnant
mothers from accessing services and assistance from faith-based
pregnancy centers, which help their families grow and thrive.
Mr. Speaker, we need to be a country that affirms life.
In tandem, the Pregnant Students' Rights Act communicates a simple
truth to young women: The birth of your child is not an ultimatum of
choosing to grow your family or continuing your education. If you are a
young woman who gets pregnant and is getting your education, this bill
strengthens Title IX protections to make sure that your school clearly
informs you of your rights and ensures accountability if those rights
are violated.
For too long, young women have felt isolated, pressured, and
unsupported. That is unacceptable, and it needs to stop.
Mr. Speaker, these bills reflect what the pro-life movement has
always stood for: dignity, opportunity, and hope. I urge my colleagues
to support the rule, support these families, and stand on the side of
life.
{time} 1300
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, it is incredible to be lectured by people
who claim they are pro-life but who vote to take food away from hungry
kids in this country, who vote to cut SNAP by $200 billion in the big,
ugly bill, who vote to cut Medicaid by $1 trillion in the big, ugly
bill. It really is incredible. It takes my breath away.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms.
Bonamici).
Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding me
the time.
Mr. Speaker, I thought maybe I was in the wrong place when I heard
the debate when I walked in today. I do want to add that I agree it is
not pro-life to cut services to families and to make childcare more
expensive. These bills are anti-choice.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to these two deceptively
titled bills: H.R. 6945, the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women
and Families Act, which allows Health and Human Services funds to be
sent to crisis pregnancy centers, and H.R. 6359, the Pregnant Students'
Rights Act, which unfairly limits the information it requires colleges
to provide to students and the students it chooses to support.
Most crisis pregnancy centers are sham organizations. They have the
sole purpose of advancing an anti-choice
[[Page H1137]]
agenda. They routinely engage in deceptive advertising to get people in
the doors, hold themselves out as medical clinics, and then use blatant
misinformation about the services they provide.
For example, a pregnancy resource center in Pennsylvania told a
pregnant woman that she had a miscarriage, so she left. Then, later,
she was still experiencing pregnancy symptoms, so she went to a real
doctor who told her she still had a viable pregnancy.
This deception is wrong on so many levels, and these centers should
be held accountable, not receive government funds.
I introduced the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act to prohibit
unfair or deceptive advertising about abortion services and services
that crisis pregnancy centers do and do not offer.
Also, pregnant students deserve access to medically accurate,
comprehensive planning resources and a full range of reproductive
healthcare options. Yet, the Pregnant Students' Rights Act only
requires colleges to provide information about carrying a child to
term.
I offered an amendment to this bill that would have colleges also
provide comprehensive, medically accurate information to students, but
my Republican colleagues rejected it.
Deciding whether and when to have a child is a deeply personal--
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McDowell). The time of the gentlewoman
has expired.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the
gentlewoman from Oregon.
Ms. BONAMICI. Deciding whether and when to have a child is a deeply
personal decision. It should not be made by politicians, and it
certainly should not be made by anti-choice extremists.
The biased, anti-choice efforts underpinning these two bills will
make it harder for students to make informed decisions about what is
best for them. They are the ones who should be making these decisions.
Promoting partisan legislation that fails to address the full
healthcare needs of students does not lead to academic success.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing these bills,
reject H.R. 6359 and H.R. 6945, and instead stand up for those who are
making that personal decision themselves.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I know a lot of people who work in these centers. They
are honest, dedicated, hardworking people who care about the pregnant
mothers and the unborn children. I think that the attacks on them are
unfounded, unwarranted, and unprofessional.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on the rule, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I yield myself the balance of
my time.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, let's be clear, all of these crummy bills
that are coming to the floor today are under completely closed rules.
The gentlewoman who just spoke, her amendment was blocked from being
debated and voted on on the House floor by my Republican colleagues.
Everything is just closed--their way or the highway. It is a terrible
pattern that has developed here.
Mr. Speaker, after 1 year of total Republican control, there is
nowhere left to hide. Republicans ran on helping working people. They
ran on lowering costs. They ran on grocery prices and rent. What did
they do? They delivered all right--for billionaires and big donors.
If Wall Street wanted a tax break, it would get done in a nanosecond.
If Amazon wanted another loophole, it would materialize out of thin
air. If Big Oil wanted another permit, they would roll out the red
carpet. If Big Pharma wanted to rip off people, Republicans look the
other way.
That is how things have worked around here for the last year. It is
never a problem paying for tax breaks for billionaires, but somehow,
when everyday people needed help, Republicans were nowhere to be found.
They cut food assistance, cut Medicaid, and cut help for regular
people. They stole from those with the least to give more to those with
the most.
I am so sick of the excuses. For a year, we have heard Republicans
blame everyone but themselves: blame Biden, blame Democrats, blame
George Soros, blame the Clintons, blame Kamala Harris, blame the blue
States, blame the media, blame fill-in-the-blank.
Here is a thought, Mr. Speaker: Why don't you guys blame yourselves?
You control the House, the Senate, and the White House. You are in
charge. You set the schedule. You control the government. You have been
in power for an entire year. If you are still blaming someone else,
that is really not a strategy. It is a confession.
As much as you guys might need a priest, I am not here to offer
forgiveness or absolution. I am here to demand accountability.
Republicans need to take ownership of your pathetic, incompetent,
disastrous inability to deliver on anything you said you would.
Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this rule and a ``no'' vote on
the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bresnahan). Members are reminded to
direct their comments to the Chair.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance
of my time.
Mr. Speaker, after listening to that, I can't help but go back to
when 99 percent of Republicans voted to keep the government open just a
couple of months ago, and 100 percent of Democrats voted to shut it
down, how the Democrats were running around saying: See what the
Republicans did. I mean, it is a totally false narrative.
Mr. Speaker, this week, the House can advance three simple pieces of
legislation under this rule.
H.R. 6945, the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families
Act, addresses uncertainty and makes clear that States may not be
restricted from choosing to work with pregnancy centers and that TANF
funds may be used for these services consistent with Federal law. This
is not a mandate, Mr. Speaker. We are not saying that the States have
to do this.
H.R. 6359, the Pregnant Students' Rights Act, requires colleges and
universities that receive Federal student aid to clearly disseminate
information regarding pregnant students' rights, available
accommodations, and both on-campus and community resources.
H.J. Res. 140 rescinds the Biden administration's mineral ban on
almost a quarter of a million acres in the Superior National Forest and
allows a transparent process to develop the minerals in the Duluth
Complex to move forward.
Mr. Speaker, all three of these measures are worthy of support, and I
urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on the previous
question and ``yes'' on the rule.
The text of the material previously referred to by Mr. McGovern is as
follows:
An Amendment To H. Res. 1009 Offered By Mr. McGovern of Massachusetts
At the end of the resolution, add the following:
Sec. 4. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution, the
House shall proceed to the consideration in the House of the
bill (H.R. 12) to protect a person's ability to determine
whether to continue or end a pregnancy, and to protect a
health care provider's ability to provide abortion services.
All points of order against consideration of the bill are
waived. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of
order against provisions in the bill are waived. The previous
question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on
any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening
motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and
controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the
Committee on Energy and Commerce or their respective
designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.
Sec. 5. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX and clause 8 of rule XX
shall not apply to the consideration of H.R. 12.
Sec. 6. The Clerk shall transmit to the Senate a message
that the House has passed H.R. 12 no later than three
calendar days after passage.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of
my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on ordering the previous
question.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
[[Page H1138]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
____________________