[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 93 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H3744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





   RECOGNIZING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF STERLING AMERICAN LEGION POST 150 
                                MEMORIAL

  (Mr. Subramanyam of Virginia was recognized to address the House for 
5 minutes.)
  Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, this past Memorial Day, my office 
joined the Loudoun community in honoring the 50th Anniversary of the 
Sterling American Legion Post 150 Memorial.
  It was 50 years ago that Post 150, led by committee Chairman Jack 
Kapp, established the park on Memorial Day 1976. They recognized that 
our community needed a place to remember those who served and those who 
never returned home.
  As part of this important anniversary, my office was proud to provide 
four American flags that will now fly over the memorial next year.
  For 50 years, the Sterling American Legion Post 150 Memorial has 
stood as a reminder that freedom is never free and that the sacrifices 
of our fallen must never be forgotten. The members of Post 150 continue 
that mission every single day through their support for veterans and 
military families.
  Places like this memorial preserve the service and sacrifice of our 
fallen heroes for future generations. They must also serve as a 
reminder that actions are just as important as words and symbols. That 
means supporting our veterans and military families here in Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, may we always remember and recognize those who made the 
ultimate sacrifice for this Nation.


                   Delaying USAID Retirement Benefits

  Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, over the past year and a half, 10,000 
USAID employees were forced out of their jobs. Many of them were my 
constituents, and many with decades of diplomatic experience were 
pushed into retirement as the agency was illegally dismantled.
  That was bad enough for them and for our country's security and 
safety, but now former USAID constituents are reaching out, saying that 
they aren't getting their full and accurate retirement annuities.
  In many cases, USAID retirees have received no benefits at all since 
July of 2025, benefits that they earned and are legally entitled to. 
This also includes discontinued health insurance, as well, making life 
hard for them and their families.
  As a result, according to the recent surveys of these USAID 
employees, 85 percent of them have experienced negative financial 
impacts, and 76 percent report negative impacts on their mental health.
  When people try to contact USAID's H.R. office for help, staff there 
have reportedly been directed to ignore emails and calls and funnel all 
outreach into a single ticket system. It is almost deliberately 
inefficient. When our constituents try to call to speak to a live staff 
member, they aren't able to.
  Questions are going unanswered, and people are left in the dark, 
waiting without pay while facing mortgages, college tuition payments, 
and rising costs of groceries and gas.
  Not paying retirees their earned benefits is a slap in the face to 
the people who dedicated their careers to public service and making 
America strong and secure through their work abroad.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the administration to stop breaking the law and 
stealing from USAID employees. They must immediately fix this. That 
means issuing all owed retirement benefits to every eligible USAID 
employee.


          USCIS Policy Abandons 70 Years of Law and Precedent

  Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, on May 22, USCIS released a policy memo 
that it would grant adjustment of status from within the United States 
only in extraordinary circumstances.
  This broad policy abandons over 70 years of law and precedent. It is 
pulling the rug out from under families who have worked to be together 
and from businesses that thought their workers would continue to be 
able to work.
  It is effectively forcing hardworking students, family members, and 
entrepreneurs on a pathway to a green card to leave the country for 
many years while they wait for their status to change. Almost 
immediately, my office was flooded with inquiries about what this will 
mean for families.
  Over a week later, USCIS has tried to clarify their original memo. 
One spokesman said that people who provide an economic benefit will 
likely be able to continue on their current path. With no specific 
details, families are left with more questions than answers.
  Yesterday, I sent a letter to USCIS seeking clarification on how they 
plan to implement this policy but also urging the agency to immediately 
reverse it.
  Our immigrant communities that are doing everything right should not 
be punished. Our businesses, already struggling under the economic 
chaos of this administration, should not suddenly be told that many of 
their employees won't be able to continue working. These policies are 
undermining our greatest strength by driving away talent, innovation, 
and leaders in communities across the country and across the world.
  Mr. Speaker, these policies signal that the United States cannot be 
trusted to keep the promises it makes to immigrant communities and, 
really, to anyone. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this 
USCIS policy.

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