[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 30, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4335-H4344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 8800, NATIONAL DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF
H.R. 8595, NATIONAL SECURITY, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, AND RELATED PROGRAMS
APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2027; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 8884,
REMOVING BARRIERS TO WORK FOR DISABLED AMERICANS ACT; PROVIDING FOR
CONSIDERATION OF H. RES. 1383, COMMEMORATING THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
OF THE ENACTMENT OF THE WORKING FAMILIES TAX CUTS; AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the
Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1398 and ask for its
immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 1398
Resolved, That at any time after adoption of this
resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule
XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of
the bill (H.R. 8800) to authorize appropriations for fiscal
year 2027 for military activities of the Department of
Defense, for military construction, and for defense
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other
purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed
with. All points of order against consideration of the bill
are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and
amendments specified in this section and shall not exceed one
hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking
minority member of the Committee on Armed Services or their
respective designees. After general debate the bill shall be
considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. In lieu
of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by
the Committee on Armed Services now printed in the bill, an
amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the
text of Rules Committee Print 119-33 shall be considered as
adopted in the House and in the Committee of the Whole. The
bill, as amended, shall be considered as the original bill
for the purpose of further amendment under the five-minute
rule and shall be considered as read. All points of order
against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived.
Sec. 2. (a) No further amendment to H.R. 8800, as amended,
shall be in order except those printed in part A of the
report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this
resolution, amendments en bloc described in section 3 of this
resolution, and pro forma amendments described in section 4
of this resolution.
(b) Each further amendment printed in part A of the report
of the Committee on Rules shall be considered only in the
order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member
designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall
be debatable for the time specified in the report equally
divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent,
shall not be subject to amendment except as provided by
section 4 of this resolution, and shall not be subject to a
demand for division of the question in the House or in the
Committee of the Whole.
(c) All points of order against further amendments printed
in part A of the report
[[Page H4336]]
of the Committee on Rules or against amendments en bloc
described in section 3 of this resolution are waived.
Sec. 3. It shall be in order at any time for the chair of
the Committee on Armed Services or his designee to offer
amendments en bloc consisting of further amendments printed
in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules
accompanying this resolution not earlier disposed of.
Amendments en bloc offered pursuant to this section shall be
considered as read, shall be debatable for 40 minutes equally
divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority
member of the Committee on Armed Services or their respective
designees, shall not be subject to amendment except as
provided by section 4 of this resolution, and shall not be
subject to a demand for division of the question in the House
or in the Committee of the Whole.
Sec. 4. During consideration of H.R. 8800 for amendment,
the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on
Armed Services or their respective designees may offer up to
10 pro forma amendments each at any point for the purpose of
debate.
Sec. 5. At the conclusion of consideration of H.R. 8800
for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill,
as amended, to the House with such further amendments as may
have been adopted. 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 one motion to recommit.
Sec. 6. At any time after adoption of this resolution the
Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare
the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on
the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R.
8595) making appropriations for national security, Department
of State, and related programs for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2027, and for other purposes. The first reading
of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of order
against consideration of the bill are waived. General debate
shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour
equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their
respective designees. After general debate the bill shall be
considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. The bill
shall be considered as read. Points of order against
provisions in the bill for failure to comply with clause 2 or
clause 5(a) of rule XXI are waived.
Sec. 7. (a) No amendment to H.R. 8595 shall be in order
except those printed in part B of the report of the Committee
on Rules accompanying this resolution, amendments en bloc
described in section 8 of this resolution, and pro forma
amendments described in section 9 of this resolution.
(b) Each amendment printed in part B of the report of the
Committee on Rules shall be considered only in the order
printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member
designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall
be debatable for the time specified in the report equally
divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent,
shall not be subject to amendment except as provided by
section 9 of this resolution, and shall not be subject to a
demand for division of the question in the House or in the
Committee of the Whole.
(c) All points of order against amendments printed in part
B of the report of the Committee on Rules or against
amendments en bloc described in section 8 of this resolution
are waived.
Sec. 8. It shall be in order at any time for the chair of
the Committee on Appropriations or his designee to offer
amendments en bloc consisting of amendments printed in part B
of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this
resolution not earlier disposed of. Amendments en bloc
offered pursuant to this section shall be considered as read,
shall be debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and
controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the
Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees,
shall not be subject to amendment except as provided by
section 9 of this resolution, and shall not be subject to a
demand for division of the question in the House or in the
Committee of the Whole.
Sec. 9. During consideration of H.R. 8595 for amendment,
the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on
Appropriations or their respective designees may offer up to
10 pro forma amendments each at any point for the purpose of
debate.
Sec. 10. At the conclusion of consideration of H.R. 8595
for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to
the House with such amendments as may have been adopted. The
previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill
and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening
motion except one motion to recommit.
Sec. 11. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in
order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 8884) to amend
title II of the Social Security Act to reauthorize
demonstration authority for the disability insurance program.
All points of order against consideration of the bill are
waived. In lieu of the amendment in the nature of a
substitute recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now
printed in the bill, an amendment in the nature of a
substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print
119-34 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. 12. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in
order without intervention of any point of order to consider
in the House the resolution (H. Res. 1383) commemorating the
one-year anniversary of the enactment of the Working Families
Tax Cuts. The amendment to the preamble printed in part C of
the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this
resolution shall be considered as adopted. The resolution, as
amended, shall be considered as read. The previous question
shall be considered as ordered on the resolution and
preamble, as amended, to adoption without intervening motion
or demand for division of the question except 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.
Sec. 13. House Resolution 1377 is laid on the table.
Sec. 14. In the engrossment of H.R. 8800, the Clerk
shall--
(a) add the text of S. 1383, as passed by the House, as new
matter at the end of H.R. 8800;
(b) assign appropriate designations to provisions within
the engrossment;
(c) conform cross-references and provisions for short
titles within the engrossment; and
(d) be authorized to make technical corrections, to include
corrections in spelling, punctuation, page and line
numbering, section numbering, and insertion of appropriate
headings within the engrossment.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Yakym). The gentleman from Georgia is
recognized for 1 hour.
{time} 1230
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 may 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, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, last night the Rules Committee met and reported a rule,
House Resolution 1398, providing for consideration of four measures:
H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2027, under a structured rule.
The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by
the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services or
their respective designees, provides for one motion to recommit, and
makes 312 amendments in order.
H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related
Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, under a structured rule.
The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by
the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations or
their respective designees, provides for one motion to recommit, and
makes 29 amendments in order.
H.R. 8884, Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act,
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 for one motion to recommit.
H. Res. 1383, Commemorating the One-Year Anniversary of the Enactment
of the Working Families Tax Cuts.
The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and
controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Ways and
Means or their respective designees.
Additionally, the rule provides that H. Res. 1377 is laid on the
table and, once the NDAA is passed, the Clerk shall add the text of S.
1383, the SAVE America Act, to the bill and transmit it, once again, to
the United States Senate.
Mr. Speaker, we are here today to debate a rule on four measures.
[[Page H4337]]
First, H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2027.
Under the leadership of Chairman Mike Rogers and Ranking Member
Adam Smith, one of the top priorities of the bipartisan fiscal year
2027 NDAA is to rebuild our arsenal of freedom.
As President Reagan reminded the Nation more than four decades ago:
``It is not just immoral but unforgivable to ask the sons and daughters
of America to protect this country with aging equipment and bargain-
basement weapons.'' That conviction remains as true now as it was then.
This year's NDAA continues our commitment to ensuring the United
States maintains the most capable, lethal, and ready fighting force in
the world. This is made possible through a top-line that supports an
investment consistent with rebuilding the American arsenal and
revitalizing our defense industrial base.
Since the 1990s, we have seen a lack of competition in the defense
sector that has reduced resiliency in supply chains, stifled
innovation, and, ultimately, has increased costs for the taxpayers
while decreasing readiness. This bill aims to change that.
The fiscal year 2027 NDAA strengthens America's security by expanding
domestic production capacity, mobilizing private-sector investment,
accelerating innovative defense entrants, cutting unnecessary
regulatory barriers, and creating thousands of high-skill American
jobs.
To reduce costs, this bill expands the multiyear procurement
authority for critical platforms such as the F-35, F-15EX, Arleigh
Burke-class destroyers, and many other weapon systems.
This enables the defense industrial base to expand and accelerate
domestic production, leading to decreased costs, increased capacity,
and increased jobs.
A country that cannot make its own ammunition and weapons cannot
deter a war, Mr. Speaker.
In addition, the fiscal year 2027 NDAA makes another major stride in
strengthening servicemembers' quality of life and revitalizing our
recruitment efforts. It authorizes a 5 to 7 percent pay raise; improves
military housing, education, and childcare options for military
families; and invests in support systems that keep our force resilient.
The bill also tackles the Nation's pilot shortage head-on by issuing
targeted aviation bonuses, expanding the training pipeline capacity,
and accelerating pathways to produce and retain the next generation of
military aviators.
Implementing the Peace Through Strength agenda, the fiscal year 2027
NDAA rebuilds depleted stockpiles and accelerates game-changing
technologies, like quantum computing, hypersonics, and autonomous
systems, while sustaining legacy platforms until future replacements
become operational.
Platforms such as the F-22, F-18, A-10, and MQ-9 have been
instrumental in the operations against Venezuela and the Iranian
regime. Sustaining these platforms will eliminate the capability gaps
created by prematurely divesting legacy platforms without a replacement
platform being operational.
Peace Through Strength starts with a factory floor at Scranton, a
shipyard in Newport News, a welder in Pascagoula, and our skilled
workforce at Robins Air Force Base.
A stronger, more resilient defense industrial base is what turns
American manufacturing capacity into credible military power. This
credible military power is what convinces our adversaries that today is
not the day to test the United States of America.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues and the House Armed
Services Committee staff for all of the work that went into creating
this strong, bipartisan legislation that should pass with overwhelming
support.
Second, Mr. Speaker, the rule also provides for consideration of H.R.
8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs
Appropriations Act, 2027.
H.R. 8595 advances the America First policy agenda and restores
accountability to how taxpayer dollars are spent abroad.
This year's legislation provides $47.32 billion, 6 percent below the
fiscal year 2026 enacted level, while still supporting a foreign policy
agenda that supports our allies and counters our adversaries.
This bill restores fiscal sanity by reducing duplication,
streamlining operations, and prioritizing core diplomatic functions.
Additionally it codifies President Trump's executive orders to
eliminate wasteful programs in spending, strengthen oversight of
foreign assistance, and ensure no funds flow to organizations that
refuse to cooperate with the United States.
Further, this legislation funds efforts to counter malign influence
from the People's Republic of China, denying the CCP access to U.S.
factory sources and prohibiting countries from using U.S. aid to repay
debts owed to Communist China. It deserves bipartisan support, and I
look forward to its passage.
Third, Mr. Speaker, the rule also provides for the consideration of
H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act.
This is a simple bill with an important goal: to make sure Americans
with disabilities are not punished for wanting to go to work.
For too long our disability policies have been built around outdated
assumptions, assumptions that treat work as a risk rather than an
opportunity.
H.R. 8884 gives the Social Security Administration the tools it needs
to test new approaches, gather real data, and design policies that
support work instead of discouraging it.
This bill extends the Social Security Administration demonstration
authority through 2030. Participation is voluntary and will not result
in a decreased overall income for any member that elects to participate
in the program.
This demonstration authority will be a gateway for the Social
Security Administration to run scoped test programs which could help
disabled Americans work, earn, and maintain stability without risking
harm to beneficiaries.
This is commonsense legislation that everyone should support. I look
forward to passing it in the House and sending it over to the Senate.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, the rule provides for consideration of H. Res.
1383, Commemorating the One-Year Anniversary of the Enactment of the
Working Families Tax Cuts Act.
Nearly 1 year ago today, House and Senate Republicans delivered on
President Trump's promise to cut taxes, deliver affordability, and
strengthen our economy for everyday hardworking Americans.
The Working Families Tax Cuts Act is the largest tax reform passed by
Congress in decades, making permanent the tax cuts passed under the
first Trump administration and ensuring a tax cut for over 140 million
Americans.
We saw over $324 billion in tax refunds for both individuals and
families in 2025 and approximately 96 percent of the filers receiving a
refund earn less than $200,000 in annual income.
Further, crucial provisions in this legislation provided numerous
deductions for overtime pay, service industry workers who rely on tips,
as well as deductions for car loan interest and expansion of the
enhanced child tax credit.
American families and workers overwhelmingly benefited from the
Working Families Tax Cuts Act, and President Trump and congressional
Republicans delivered for the American people by making these tax cuts
permanent.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to consideration of these measures and
urge passage of this rule. I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1240
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for
yielding me the customary time, and I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, let me begin by asking: Do Republicans even have the
votes to pass this rule? Because, if not, what on Earth are we doing
here? Wasting more time?
Even your own Members are fed up, Mr. Speaker--every week wondering
if someone is going to throw a fit; if Donald Trump is going to post
something crazy and blow everything up; if Mike Johnson is going to
bring something to the floor when he doesn't have the votes. The chaos
and the dysfunction around here is unhinged.
We wasted hours and hours at the Rules Committee last week debating
[[Page H4338]]
and voting on a rule that never came to the floor. And for what?
Because Congress passed a bipartisan housing affordability bill, and
the President had a temper tantrum, refused to sign it, and derailed
everything? I mean, really? And why? Because he is still busy trying to
fraudulently claim that the 2020 election was stolen, and now he wants
to use that as an excuse to try to rig the midterms.
Let me remind my colleagues: This is the United States of America. It
is still the United States of America. We are not China, or Russia, or
some two-bit dictatorship.
This is insane what is going on here. Families cannot afford rent.
Folks are priced out of buying a house. Donald Trump is asked about the
bipartisan housing bill yesterday, and he says: `` . . . it's so
unimportant . . . `' he says: `` . . . it's so unimportant . . . `'
then he says: ``I made a lot of money with housing.''
The American people are not asking whether Donald Trump made a lot of
money in housing. They are asking why they cannot afford it. They are
asking why his economy sucks, why their prices are going up, and nobody
in this Republican administration seems to give a damn.
So, now, we are back with another rule. Maybe it passes. Maybe it
doesn't. Who knows anymore. This rule includes a National Defense
Authorization bill with a trillion--that is with a t--dollar price tag.
I should tell my colleagues that we already spend more on our
military than the next six countries combined. It is an astronomical
amount. Over another trillion dollars on our military budget? Boy, that
is so wild and extravagant, even Dr. Strangelove would be impressed.
Now, Mr. Speaker, let me get this straight: Republicans want to give
Donald Trump over a trillion dollars for the Pentagon? Donald Trump who
started an illegal war? Donald Trump who got 13 American servicemembers
killed because he started a war to distract from the Epstein files?
That is who they want to give a trillion dollars to? I mean, get real.
The State and Foreign Operations bill is a mess, too. It guts all the
programs that actually prevent crises before they explode. When the
next war, famine, pandemic, or global breakdown knocks on our door,
just remember it was Republicans who set the stage, just like they did
when they cut funding for screwworm protection.
There is the Social Security disability bill that hands more
authority to an administration already targeting programs that working
people rely on.
Then, we get to this Republican self-esteem exercise, yet another
nonbinding resolution, praising Republicans for the big, ugly bill.
Mr. Speaker, I have a secret for you. I checked with my staff. Not a
single person has called my office saying: Congressman, I think
Republicans should spend time congratulating themselves on a bill they
passed last year that took away my healthcare and is directly
responsible for raising my bills. I haven't got a single call about
that.
What exactly is it that my Republican friends are congratulating
themselves for anyway? You passed the big, ugly bill a year ago. Since
then, gas prices have gone up. Grocery prices have gone up. There is a
new war in the Middle East. Healthcare is more expensive, and fewer
people have it. Child hunger has gone up. The tariffs are crushing
farmers and driving up costs.
That is what you guys are doing a victory lap over? Really? I mean,
really? Never have we seen so much inequality between the rich and the
poor in this country. Regular people are getting screwed while the top
0.001 percent saw their incomes go up by--get this--$20 million last
year.
You guys could not be more out of touch if you tried, Mr. Speaker.
There might be hours of floor debate on these crummy bills this week,
but right now we are here to talk about the Republicans' agenda, their
plan for the week. The truth is that their bills are just more of the
same old status quo nonsense that people back home are sick and tired
of.
The Republican agenda is a nightmare for this country. The American
people are in an economic crisis right now. They are getting screwed by
the policies of this administration. Their wallets and their
pocketbooks are getting cleaned out by this President and this
majority's billionaire-forced agenda.
Then, they turn on C-SPAN today--and God help them if they do--and
what do they see Republicans bringing to the floor? Not a bill to help
deal with rising inflation and economic uncertainty--no, no, no. Their
focus this week is a resolution to congratulate themselves on a bill
that they already passed last year. In case they haven't noticed, for
most people, things have gotten worse since then, not better.
People are looking to this place and wondering whether anybody at all
on the Republican side has any idea what their life is actually like.
They believe that this Republican majority is just out of touch, out of
sync with where regular people are. If people look at these awful,
lousy bills, the answer is obviously no.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, no doubt the Democrat socialists of America believe
everything that the gentleman from Massachusetts just said, but the
majority of Americans are smart enough to know that those things are
simply not true.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McGOVERN. Boy, that was a good retort.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, if we defeat the previous question, I will offer an
amendment to strike the section adding the SAVE America Act to the NDAA
during engrossment.
Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. I think the SAVE Act is an awful bill.
It is not about election security. It is about relitigating Donald
Trump's loss in 2020--and he did lose. He lost big. It will make it
harder for American citizens to vote if this SAVE Act ever becomes law.
Here is another thing that is clear to everyone, or should be. This
little maneuver by the Speaker is a nothing burger. It is a shell game.
It is the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain pretending to do magic. Here
is the truth: The SAVE Act will not become law. Even if this rule
manages to pass, the Senate will not pass an NDAA with the SAVE Act
included. They have already said that, and Leader Thune, 5 days ago,
already filed cloture on the Senate's own version of the NDAA without
the SAVE Act.
At the end of the day, it is very simple. Republicans are using
procedural tricks to try to make it harder for people to vote because
they can't win elections the old-fashioned way. They can't win them
fair and square. It is offensive. In the case of this MIRV scheme, it
is downright stupid.
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 (Mr. Meuser). 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 5 minutes
to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell), the sponsor of this
amendment.
Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member McGovern for allowing
me to speak.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to attaching the SAVE America
Act to the NDAA.
This week, Mr. Speaker, marks the 250th anniversary of our Nation's
independence. Yet, instead of working to strengthen our democracy,
Trump and Republicans are hell-bent on undermining it.
While we should be celebrating how far we have come since the days of
Jim Crow voter suppression, Republicans are working to drag us back.
Old battles have indeed become new again.
Mr. Speaker, the so-called SAVE America Act is nothing more than a
scheme devised by my colleagues across the aisle to save themselves
from accountability at the ballot box. It is a voter suppression bill
designed to block millions of eligible voters from casting their
ballots.
[[Page H4339]]
Let me be perfectly clear. We all agree that it is important for
citizens to verify who they are during the voting process, but this
bill is not about voter ID.
{time} 1250
It is so extreme that even a valid driver's license would not be
enough to register to vote.
This bill is about one thing and one thing only: making it harder for
Americans to vote and easier for Republicans to win.
Here are the facts: Rampant voter fraud is a myth. It does not exist.
It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in Federal elections. In
fact, under current law, noncitizens would face up to 5 years--5 years
in prison for attempting to vote in Federal elections, and they would
even risk being deported.
That is why the fact of the matter is that noncitizens voting is
roughly 0.0001 percent according to the Brennan Center.
This legislation is an egregious attempt to solve a problem that is
not based in reality. The solution to this nonexistent problem is not
to prevent eligible voters from voting and accessing the ballot box.
Mr. Speaker, roughly half of all Americans do not have a valid
passport. In my home State of Alabama, that number is even higher. More
than 72 percent of Alabamians do not have a passport. To get one, most
Americans would have to pay an application fee of $130.
Mr. Speaker, this is nothing more than a modern-day poll tax.
There are also 69 million women who have changed their last names
after getting married. Those women would not be able to vote using
their birth certificate.
Under this voter suppression bill, up to 21 million eligible
Americans would be blocked from exercising their right to vote.
The SAVE Act also requires States to purge their voter rolls on a
consistent basis without requiring commonsense measures, like requiring
officials to notify voters before removing them from the voter roll.
That means that eligible voters would risk learning that they had been
removed from the polls on election day.
Mr. Speaker, keeping voter rolls accurate is important, but it must
be done by using quality data and best practices to ensure that
citizens are not inadvertently removed from the voter roll.
In my home State of Alabama, an effort was made to remove noncitizens
from the voter rolls using data from the State's department of labor.
The data was highly incorrect, and what we found is that 93.8 percent
of the voters removed were U.S. citizens--U.S. citizens being removed
because my State thought that they were using something accurate in
removing voters from the voter roll.
Let me say that again: 93.8 percent of the voters removed were U.S.
citizens.
Mr. Speaker, this is very personal to me. I am a proud daughter of
Selma, Alabama, and the Representative of Alabama's voting rights and
civil rights district. It was in my hometown 61 years ago where
hundreds of foot soldiers like John Lewis shed blood on a bridge for
the equal right of all Americans to vote. They marched. They bled. They
prayed, and some even died for the right to vote. The so-called SAVE
Act makes a mockery of their legacy.
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, we in Congress should be
working to make voting more accessible, not less. Our democracy
functions best when every citizen is given an opportunity to
participate in our elections.
I urge all my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question,
``no'' on the rule, and to oppose any efforts by President Trump and
Republicans to suppress the voting rights of Americans.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, one of the key provisions of this rule is the National
Defense Authorization Act. This is a bipartisan piece of legislation
that has passed every year for the last several decades and passed out
of committee with a strong bipartisan vote.
I encourage the American citizens to understand this with regard to
our national security and our national defense and how important this
piece of legislation is. Up until 2022, in order to launch a satellite,
the United States was buying rockets from Russia.
Mr. Speaker, 2022 is the last time we purchased rockets from Russia
to launch satellites, and 2024 is the last time we actually used a
Russian rocket to launch a satellite.
We have to invest in our defense industrial base so that we are not
dependent on the enemies of the United States of America to provide for
the security of the American citizens. The National Defense
Authorization Act, in a very bipartisan manner, does exactly that.
Mr. Speaker, this rule needs to pass. We need to ensure that we are
not dependent on our adversaries for our national security, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I remind the gentleman and others that we already spend
more than six of our nearest competitors in terms of military spending
combined. We are talking about $1.5 trillion--trillion with a t--going
to the defense budget this year.
I have to tell you that I really think we ought to have a debate in
this Congress about the definition of national security, and I think it
ought to include things like healthcare. My Republican friends cut $1
trillion from healthcare. People are losing their healthcare left and
right, but if you don't have healthcare, you don't feel very secure.
The definition of national security also ought to include the quality
of education we provide our young people.
It ought to include things like ending hunger in this country. We are
the richest country in the history of the world, and we have 48 million
Americans who don't know where their next meal is going to come from.
It ought to include housing and whether people can afford housing. We
have an affordability crisis right now that we tried to address in a
bipartisan way, but Donald Trump had a meltdown.
It ought to include supporting our veterans and cleaning up our
environment.
It ought to include things like investing in our workforce.
All of those things are sources of our national strength that are
getting shortchanged here, so forgive us if we are not getting excited
about this massive increase in military spending at a time when the
average American is getting screwed.
Enough. Enough.
When you go back to your districts and you talk to people in coffee
shops, they are not worried about whether we are spending $900 billion
or $1.5 trillion on our military spending, most of which goes to
defense contractors. What they are worried about is whether they can
afford their groceries, whether they can afford their rent, and whether
they can afford the gas for their car.
Those are things that are real. Whether they can send their kids to
college, all of those things matter.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Rhode
Island (Mr. Magaziner).
Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, 8 million Americans have lost their health insurance
over the last year. Again, 8 million Americans lost their health
insurance.
Millions more have seen their health insurance premiums go up by
hundreds and thousands of dollars. Hospitals and community health
centers have shut down all across the country. Why? It is because our
Republican colleagues passed the big, ugly bill last year that cut
funding from healthcare in order to fund tax cuts for billionaires and
big corporations.
That is not all. They also cut money from SNAP.
Mr. Speaker, 1 million children--children--lost their SNAP benefits
over the last year. Children are going hungry. People who are sick and
hurt are not able to go to the doctor because they can't afford it
anymore.
I see our Republican colleagues. They don't understand why their bill
isn't more popular. They don't understand why the American people
aren't grateful to them for cutting their healthcare and cutting their
food aid in order to pay for tax cuts for rich people who don't need
it.
[[Page H4340]]
They tried changing the name of their bill. They don't call it the
big, beautiful bill anymore. They said that maybe if they change the
name, then people will like the fact that they can't afford to go to
the doctor anymore because of our tax cuts for the rich.
Well, that didn't work, so now they are proposing to use floor time
this week to vote on a resolution congratulating themselves for passing
this monstrous bill that has cut healthcare and cut food aid for the
American people in order to pay for tax cuts for people who don't need
it.
Don't worry. The bill did more than that, by the way. One thing that
it did fund is more ICE agents invading American cities, such as
Minneapolis and Chicago, and killing American citizens in broad
daylight.
They wonder why the American people aren't grateful for that. Well,
maybe a resolution congratulating ourselves for doing this will do the
trick.
Why aren't the American people grateful for the fact that whatever
small tax relief was included for the middle class is outweighed
dramatically by the increased costs from the tariffs, the war, and
health insurance premiums skyrocketing?
Mr. Speaker, how about this: How about we, as a Congress, instead of
using this floor time on meaningless resolutions, actually do the work
of the American people? How about we fund healthcare? How about we fund
food aid? How about we fund education instead of yet more tax cuts for
Elon Musk and the billionaires partying at Mar-a-Lago while working
people suffer?
{time} 1300
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
A couple of things, Mr. Speaker: One is that Federal tax revenues are
actually up this fiscal year over last fiscal year, and that is because
the economy is doing pretty good under President Donald Trump. Again,
tax revenues are up 5 percent over the last year.
I want to mention one other thing. People under the age of 18 were
exempt from the changes we made in the SNAP benefits. Under 18, they
were exempt. Yet, they still stand up and say we kicked children off of
SNAP. Read the law. If you are under 18, you are exempt from the
changes we made.
I will speak, Mr. Speaker, about one thing that is in this piece of
legislation, in this rule, that is wrong that I have tried to correct
for many years. If we get the chance to vote on it, I hope we will get
it corrected.
I will tell you, several years ago, I went to Bethesda, and a young
man I represented had stepped on a pressure plate and lost both legs in
Afghanistan. I stayed in touch with the young man. A couple of years
later, I was taking him hunting. I remember exactly where I was on 475
in central Georgia. He told me: I work at O'Reilly Auto Parts, but I
have to be careful--at the time, it was $1,100 a month--to make sure
that I don't make more than $1,100 a month or my family loses the
Social Security benefits.
We talked a little while about this. I told him: When I get back to
DC, I am going to meet with the lawyers because that just doesn't sound
right.
When I came to D.C., I scheduled a meeting with the attorneys up here
who deal with Social Security. I met with them, and I had the
discussion with them. They told me that that is actually the law, that
that is correct.
Here we have this young man who is combat wounded, totally and
permanently disabled, who wants to go back to work. I am a firm
believer that the number one thing we can do for our veterans,
especially when it comes to veteran suicide and their mental health, is
to get them back to work as soon as possible.
So, I wrote a piece of legislation that has had multiple cosponsors
from both parties, from all spectrums of the political divide,
conservative, liberal, Democrat, Republican, moderate. We haven't been
able to get it through because of some of the budget rules that plague
this place on good ideas.
Now, we have H.R. 8884. If it is passed, I am confident that the
concept of the Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act will be put in place as
a pilot project. What it would allow people to do is, for people who
are combat wounded, totally and permanently disabled, it will allow
them to go back to work and keep their Social Security benefits.
It shouldn't take as long as it has taken to do this and to get this
passed. If this rule passes, I am confident that H.R. 8884 will pass.
If we can get it through the Senate--and that is a big ``if'' with
getting anything through the Senate--then, hopefully, our combat-
wounded, totally and permanently disabled veterans can go back to work
and not be afraid of going back to work because they would lose their
Social Security benefits.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I have to admit I was taken a little bit aback by the
gentleman's statement earlier when he said the economy is doing
``pretty good.'' I think those are his exact words.
I am kind of stunned by that because inflation is up. The price of
groceries is up. The price of gas is up. The price of housing is up.
The price of everything is up. People, by every poll that has been
conducted, whether it is on the left, on the right, or in the center,
say the same thing: People are not satisfied with this economy. They do
not think it is pretty good, no matter what their party affiliation is.
They do not think it is good.
Now, maybe if you are Republican in the House of Representatives and
you hang around with the Mar-a-Lago class, maybe they think it is
pretty good. I mean, Elon Musk is now the first trillionaire. I guess
he thinks it is pretty good.
If you are the average worker, whether it is in Massachusetts or
Georgia or California or South Dakota, you don't share that view
because it isn't. Things are actually pretty bad. Things are pretty
bad.
The gentleman said that poor kids are not losing their SNAP benefits.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record an
article titled: ``Over 700,000 Poor Kids Across 12 States Have Lost
Food Aid Under Trump-GOP Budget Law.''
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Massachusetts?
There was no objection.
[From Common Dreams, May 27, 2026]
Over 700,000 Poor Kids Across 12 States Have Lost Food Aid Under Trump-
GOP Budget Law
(By: Jake Johnson)
A new analysis warns that large-scale loss of food
assistance is ``jeopardizing the short- and long-term health,
education, and economic benefits of nutrition programs for
our children and society.''
The budget package that US President Donald Trump and
congressional Republicans rammed through last summer has
already spurred large-scale loss of nutrition assistance
among low-income children, with an analysis released
Wednesday estimating that more than 700,000 kids across a
dozen states have lost federal food aid since the GOP law
took effect.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), a
liberal think tank, found that the ``sharp participation
declines'' among children likely stem from provisions of the
Republican law that--for the first time in the program's
history--shift large Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) benefit costs onto states. The law also
expands punitive SNAP work requirements.
The new analysis notes that children account for ``nearly
half of the 1.6-million-person decline'' in SNAP enrollment
since last July among people of all ages in the 12 states
with data available.
``The new law's cost shift has led states to take steps
that are making it harder for eligible people to receive
SNAP, including families with children,'' CBPP explained.
``Losing SNAP also makes it harder for low-income children to
qualify for other food assistance, such as WIC and free
school meals--jeopardizing the short- and long-term health,
education, and economic benefits of nutrition programs for
our children and society.''
Republican lawmakers repeatedly denied that their
legislation would strip food aid from needy children, with
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) saying the package was
laser-focused on ``fraud, waste, and abuse.''
``We are not cutting SNAP,'' Johnson falsely claimed in May
2025, just over a month before Trump signed the Republican
legislation into law. The package will cut $186 billion from
SNAP over the next decade and strip food aid from millions of
low-income people, according to the nonpartisan Congressional
Budget Office.
Katie Bergh, a senior policy analyst at CBPP, emphasized
that the SNAP cuts triggered by the Republican law have not
``fully taken effect,'' meaning recent benefit losses among
families across the country are just the start unless
Congress moves quickly to avert disaster.
[[Page H4341]]
``Congess must act before even more eligible low-income
families--including families with children--lose the food
assistance they need to afford groceries, starting by
delaying this SNAP cost shift for all states,'' Bergh wrote
on social media.
The Trump-GOP cuts to SNAP, combined with rising grocery
costs stemming in large part from the president's tariffs and
war of choice against Iran, have resulted in surging food
bank demand across the country.
``We've been going to food banks every week,'' a single mom
in Arizona whose SNAP benefits were recently cut off told NBC
News. ``We're eating less, we're eating more frozen stuff.''
Far from reversing course on their assault on federal
nutrition assistance, Republicans and the Trump
administration are doubling down, pursuing massive cuts to
fruit and vegetable benefits for low-income mothers. CBPP has
projected that roughly 5.4 million people would lose fruit
and vegetable aid if Republicans' newly proposed cuts become
law.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, this article appeared in May 2026. That
number is now estimated not at 700,000 but at 800,000 in this country.
Think about it. The economy is doing pretty good, and in this country
that we live in right now, the United States of America, we have close
to 50 million Americans who don't know where their next meal is going
to come from, who are hungry. I don't think they think the economy is
pretty good. In fact, the majority of these people are working
families. They are working harder than ever, but because everything is
going up, they can't afford groceries.
Go to any grocery store in this country, and you will see people
actually putting groceries back on the shelves because their paychecks
don't stretch as far as they used to because prices are going up.
By the way, it is not just the big, ugly bill. It is the President's
stupid tariff policy, which is raising prices all across this country,
and the war in Iran that--I don't even know if he knows what the hell
he is doing. It just goes on and on and on. Again, we are spending
countless dollars on this war, again, which is resulting in energy
prices going through the roof.
No, people do not think the economy is pretty good. They do not. I
suspect that that is what is behind this effort by Republicans to try
to rig the midterm elections, because they know that the American
people are not happy with where things are.
It is not just Democrats, not just independents, but a whole bunch of
Republicans. A whole bunch of Republicans are also dissatisfied.
I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to go to coffee
shops, to go to diners, to go to grocery stores, and to go to VFW halls
in their districts and listen to what people are saying. They are not
happy. They are very concerned about the state of the economy. They are
not confident that things are going to get better.
They do not think that the person running this country right now has
any clue about what the reality is for working families. He lives in a
different sphere altogether. He is worried about reflecting pools,
building monuments in his honor, and redoing the East Wing that he said
would cost nothing but is going to cost us billions when it is all said
and done--cost the taxpayers billions. That is what he is consumed
about.
They want a Congress and a government that cares about them.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
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 14\3/4\
minutes remaining. The gentleman from Massachusetts has 8 minutes
remaining.
{time} 1310
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume. I don't have any additional speakers, am prepared to
close.
I have listened a lot today, and I want to get back to the heart of
this matter, which is the National Defense Authorization Act. That is
what this rule is about. It is about H.R. 8884 and allowing--in the
case of the legislation that I had--Purple Heart recipients, people who
are wounded in combat totally and permanently having the ability to go
back to work and not worrying about losing their Social Security
benefits, at least for a period of time. It is about the appropriations
act for our State Department and things that we do around the world.
There is a lot in this rule, Mr. Speaker, and this rule needs to
pass. Yes, the SAVE America Act will be attached to the legislation
when it goes across because, yes, we do think you all are letting
noncitizens vote in elections. We know you are doing it at the local
level, and we think that places like California ought to get their
ballots counted before the end of the night, not before the end of the
week.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time until the gentleman is
prepared to close.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am not yet prepared to close, but I do want to remind
the gentleman that it was the Republicans that put into this rule a
bill to congratulate yourselves on the big, ugly bill, and it was the
gentleman who said that people think this economy is doing pretty good,
and I take issue with that.
There are people who are losing their healthcare. Republicans like to
pretend that their big, ugly bill, which cut Medicaid and the
Affordable Care Act by more than $1 trillion, didn't actually hurt
anyone. I mean, there are lots of real stories of people being hurt.
Kathy and Jeffrey Many, who live in Brandon, Vermont, are owners of a
garage door installation repair business. They said that their premium
was jumping up from $625 a month to nearly $2,670 per month, and the
cheapest alternative they could find was still nearly $2,000. Kathy and
Jeffrey ended up dropping their coverage. The economy is not working
good for them.
Eric and Lisa Frankenfeld, a chiropractor and his wife, who live in
Point Pleasant, New Jersey, said their premium was set to skyrocket to
$1,928 per month, up from $340 per month, so they decided to go without
coverage this year. Lisa said: We are healthcare providers who cannot
afford benefits. Oh, the irony.
Katelin Provost, a 37-year-old single mom and social worker from
Henderson, Nevada, saw her premium jump from $85 to $750 a month. She
said she would likely drop her own coverage in order to keep insurance
for her 4-year-old daughter.
I mean, these are real-life stories. I can go on and on and on and
read them here. The economy is not pretty good for them. The economy is
lousy for them, and there is nothing that is in this rule that we will
consider that will help any of them.
In fact, there is nothing that this Republican Congress has done to
help any of them. Instead, you have made their lives worse. The economy
is not doing pretty good. The idea that you are going to congratulate
yourselves on the passage of the big, ugly bill, well, I just have a
difference of opinion.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to address a couple of issues. One is he said
healthcare providers can't afford their benefits. Well, that is because
you turned the whole system over to a select few extremely large health
insurance companies that are accountable to nobody, and they are not
paying their claims. They are not.
My father was a surgeon. A lot of my friends are in the healthcare
business. Let me tell you something: When you gave UnitedHealthcare and
the other multibillion dollar corporations control over all aspects of
our lives, you did a lot of damage, and you did that in your so-called
Affordable Care Act.
If the Affordable Care Act had worked, we wouldn't be having this
discussion. You want to talk about the problems in the healthcare
system, you need to look in the mirror because you all wrote the bill,
and now those big insurance companies aren't accountable to anybody.
They own the PBMs. They own the pharmacies. They own the doctors'
offices. They own the hospitals. They are huge, huge oligopolies that
cater to nobody other than their shareholders.
Look at the share price of the large health insurance companies. Look
who you made rich with the Affordable Care Act. It was the shareholders
and the executives of all of those major health insurance companies.
When I talk about the economy, yes, I realize that the American
citizens are
[[Page H4342]]
paying more. Inflation, which started because of the so-called American
Rescue Plan--I think that is what you all called it--and your so-called
Inflation Reduction Act--why did you name a bill the Inflation
Reduction Act? It was because you started the inflation with the
American Rescue Plan, and then you turned around and passed the so-
called Inflation Reduction Act that just exponentially escalated the
amount of inflation that the American citizens were having to deal with
on a regular basis.
My point with the economy is this: Real GDP grew. Real GDP grew at a
2.2 percent annual rate for the full year of 2025. That beat the
baseline expectations.
Yes, American citizens are having challenges. One of the reasons they
are having challenges is the cost of energy.
Do you know what? I will admit, after Donald Trump tried to end the
Iranian jihadist control over what was happening around the world--and
he has done a pretty good job with it--and let me tell you this: Donald
Trump, the President of the United States, knows exactly what he is
doing with Iran. He knows exactly what he is doing with Iran, and if
you would get the briefings, you would understand why.
In fact, I would point out that a U.S. Senator who doesn't like the
President had a few things to say, and as soon as he went and got the
briefing, he turned around and reversed his position. Instead of
blaming everything on Donald Trump, you should get the facts.
However, the cost of energy is embedded in every single thing that we
do and that we buy. When the Democratic Party does things like
canceling the Keystone pipeline, like stopping the development of
nuclear power plants, like stopping oil and gas developments inside the
United States of America, it hurts the American citizens. It hurts the
American citizens, and it leads to inflation.
I am sorry that we are having to deal with the inflation that the
Democrats started with the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation
Reduction Act and the pain that has come from that, and I am sorry the
American citizens are dealing with the pain of the Affordable Care Act.
I wish we could repeal that horrible bill, but we didn't get it done.
We didn't get it done.
Healthcare providers who can't afford their benefits, they can't
afford their benefits because the insurance companies that you turned
the system over to aren't paying the claims.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, it is rich to be lectured about healthcare from my
Republican friends. Let me tell you what Democrats did with the
Affordable Care Act. By passing it, it stopped health insurance
companies from charging sick people more premiums than healthy people.
It kept health insurance companies from denying coverage to pregnant
women and people with preexisting conditions. It demanded insurance
companies cover more preventive services. It allows young adults to
stay on their parents' insurance until they are age 26. I could go on
and on and on.
What did my Republican friends do? They cut $1 trillion from
healthcare. By the way, I should remind the gentleman that Republicans
control the House, Republicans control the Senate, Republicans control
the White House, and healthcare prices are going through the roof under
your watch.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Care Act created a system where the major
insurance carriers are not answerable to anybody. You did this to the
American citizens. It is your responsibility. I reserve the balance of
my time.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Massachusetts has 5\1/4\
minutes remaining.
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
Mr. Speaker, I could go on and on about healthcare all day. I just
urge those who are in the gallery and those who are watching, I mean,
look at your own healthcare bills, look at your own healthcare coverage
now after nearly 2 years of Republican control of the government. The
bottom line is: People are losing their healthcare benefits. In this
country, that is unconscionable.
Mr. Speaker, I have served here a long time, and I have seen
majorities struggle before. I have seen close votes. I have seen
disagreements. This is something else entirely. This is a majority that
cannot function unless Donald Trump is lucid and in a good mood, and
even then it is a coin flip.
I mean, Americans need cheaper housing. They need a raise. They need
healthcare that doesn't break the bank. They need a government that
lowers prices and brings down inflation and protects them. Instead,
what they are getting is a Republican administration that raises
prices, increases inflation, and protects the Epstein pedophiles.
Republicans promised they would lower prices on day one. It is now
year two. They have been in complete and total control for almost 18
months. They run Washington.
{time} 1320
If you go home and ask people in small towns, in big cities, in
suburbs, in rural communities, and in States across this country how
things are going with Trump and Republicans in charge, they will tell
you the truth, which is that things are getting worse because Trump's
economy sucks.
He swore he would end inflation--end it. Those are his words, not
mine. He said he would end wars. He is starting them. He promised gas
would be cheap. The national average is nearly $4 a gallon.
The only people who are doing great right now are the billionaires,
and now a trillionaire, and the greedy corporations that helped
Republicans get elected because that is whom they work for.
I think people are sick and tired of it. They are sick of watching
Congress lurch from crisis to crisis. They are sick of Republicans
spending more time managing their own egos than lowering anybody's
bills.
Let me just end with this. As we celebrate our country's 250th
birthday this weekend, we have so, so much to be proud of as Americans.
We have so much to celebrate and be thankful for. Each new generation
that has fought to expand the circle of our democracy and make real the
promise of our founding has brought us closer to the dream of a more
perfect Union. That is what makes America great.
I am looking forward to spending this Fourth of July with families
and friends back up in Massachusetts, the birthplace of America, where
our citizens came together to overthrow the most powerful army in the
world and establish a government of, by, and for the people.
However, the truth is that right now too many people feel as if this
country is run by, of, and for the powerful, the wealthy, and the well-
connected.
Do you know what, Mr. Speaker?
They are right. People see the corruption, the greed, the self-
dealing, and the self-enrichment of this President's family and his
crooked administration, and they are fed up with it. I believe that
patriotism means calling your country to a higher standard. Patriotism
means telling the truth, Mr. Speaker, and the truth is that Americans
are hurting, costs are too high, and our democracy and freedoms are
under assault by an out-of-control, lawless administration run by a
President who thinks he is a king.
Republicans are either too busy pledging allegiance to Trump to
notice or too distracted fighting with each other to care.
We can do better than this, we should do better than this, and we
must do better than this. Reject this rule. Stop acting like a cult.
Let's bring back bills that actually help people, and, for God's sake,
let's start acting like America.
Again, Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this rule, a ``no'' vote
on the underlying bills, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded, they already know it,
but they are reminded, again, to refrain from engaging in personalities
toward the President.
As well, Members are reminded not to reference guests in the gallery
and are reminded to direct their remarks to the Chair, not to each
other in the second person.
[[Page H4343]]
There is decorum here as well.
Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance
of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I know that you were talking about the President of the
United States, Donald J. Trump, who has done something that will
probably never be done again in the history of the country.
He has been elected in 2016 and 2024.
I want to say this as we talk about healthcare and health insurance
and the other things.
This side of the aisle recognizes there are problems, and this side
of the aisle recognizes that the only way to fix those problems is to
repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Now, the other side of the
aisle thinks that they did a perfect job.
Now, let me tell you something, Mr. Speaker. Before the Affordable
Care Act went into place, UnitedHealth Group was trending at $28 a
share. Today it is $415 a share, and that is after about a $140-a-share
drop.
The only thing the Affordable Care Act did was make a bunch of health
insurance executives rich. They are not paying their claims today.
One thing we could do, and I wish we would do, is to give the State
insurance commissioners the authority to step in and make them pay
their claims.
I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, my local hospital has about $15 million
outstanding with the UnitedHealth Group. It is a small hospital, $15
million; a big company, a small hospital. I don't know if my hospital
will ever get paid.
That is not what this one is about, Mr. Speaker. This week the House
can advance four pieces of legislation under this rule. It is about
H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027.
It authorizes a historic $1.15 trillion to rebuild the American defense
industrial base and arsenal.
This act implements the Peace Through Strength agenda and restores
lethality to our armed forces by investing in modernization and
multiyear procurement for weapons systems production to deter our
adversaries.
It also makes a significant investment in the quality of life of our
servicemembers and retention opportunities.
The fiscal year 2027 NDAA reforms key programs and saves taxpayer
dollars resulting in a ready, capable, and lethal fighting force.
This legislation will deter China and counter Russia, North Korea,
Iran, and foreign terrorist organizations while leveraging our
alliances across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Finally, this act strengthens our nuclear deterrence, prioritizes the
Golden Dome, and grows our Nation's strategic space capabilities.
This is bipartisan, must-pass legislation that every one of my
colleagues should support.
Additionally, H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State,
and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 delivers on an America
First foreign policy agenda.
This protects our allies, confronts our adversaries, cuts waste, and
puts American national interests first. It strengthens embassy
security, fights fentanyl, defunds radical programs, and ensures every
dollar advances American security and prosperity.
Further, H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled
American Act, allows the Social Security Administration to test new
approaches on a voluntary basis and without impacting the participants'
overall income to ensure Americans with disabilities are not punished
for returning to the workforce.
Finally, H. Res. 1383, Commemorating the One-Year Anniversary of the
Enactment of the Working Families Tax Cuts, highlights the largest tax
reform passed by Congress in decades, making permanent the tax cuts
passed under the first Trump administration, and ensuring a tax cut for
over 140 million Americans.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on the
previous question and ``yes'' on the rule.
The material previously referred to by Mr. McGovern is as follows:
An Amendment To H. Res. 1398 Offered By Mr. McGovern of Massachusetts
Strike section 14.
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 SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, this 15-
minute vote on ordering the previous question will be followed by 5-
minute votes on adoption of the resolution, if ordered; and adoption of
H. Con. Res. 108.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 215,
nays 210, not voting 6, as follows:
[Roll No. 230]
YEAS--215
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei (NV)
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Barr
Barrett
Baumgartner
Bean (FL)
Begich
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs (AZ)
Biggs (SC)
Bilirakis
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Bresnahan
Buchanan
Burchett
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crank
Crawford
Crenshaw
Davidson
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Downing
Edwards
Ellzey
Estes
Evans (CO)
Ezell
Fallon
Fedorchak
Feenstra
Fine
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Flood
Fong
Foxx
Franklin, Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Fuller
Gallagher
Garbarino
Gill (TX)
Gimenez
Goldman (TX)
Gooden
Gosar
Graves
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Hamadeh (AZ)
Haridopolos
Harrigan
Harris (MD)
Harris (NC)
Harshbarger
Hern (OK)
Higgins (LA)
Hill (AR)
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Hunt
Hurd (CO)
Issa
Jack
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kennedy (UT)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley (CA)
Kim
Knott
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
Langworthy
Latta
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Letlow
Loudermilk
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Mackenzie
Malliotakis
Maloy
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McDowell
McGuire
Messmer
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Moolenaar
Moore (AL)
Moore (NC)
Moore (UT)
Moore (WV)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Onder
Owens
Palmer
Patronis
Perry
Pfluger
Reschenthaler
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rouzer
Roy
Rulli
Rutherford
Salazar
Scalise
Schmidt
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Shreve
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Stefanik
Steil
Steube
Strong
Stutzman
Taylor
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner (OH)
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Epps
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Westerman
Wied
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NAYS--210
Adams
Aguilar
Amo
Ansari
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bell
Bera
Beyer
Bishop
Bonamici
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bynum
Carbajal
Carson
Carter (LA)
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chu
Cisneros
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Conaway
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
Dean (PA)
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dexter
Dingell
Doggett
Elfreth
Escobar
Espaillat
Evans (PA)
Fields
Figures
Fletcher
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Friedman
Frost
Garamendi
Garcia (CA)
Garcia (IL)
Garcia (TX)
Gillen
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzalez, V.
Goodlander
Gottheimer
Gray
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (TX)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kennedy (NY)
Khanna
Krishnamoorthi
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latimer
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Liccardo
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Magaziner
Mannion
Matsui
McBath
McBride
McClain Delaney
McClellan
McCollum
McDonald Rivet
McGarvey
McGovern
McIver
Meeks
Mejia
Menefee
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Min
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Morrison
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Neal
Neguse
Norcross
[[Page H4344]]
Ocasio-Cortez
Olszewski
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pelosi
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Pingree
Pocan
Pou
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Randall
Raskin
Riley (NY)
Rivas
Ross
Ruiz
Ryan
Salinas
Sanchez
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Sewell
Sherman
Simon
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Subramanyam
Suozzi
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Tran
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Vindman
Walkinshaw
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Whitesides
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOT VOTING--6
DeGette
Dunn (FL)
Emmer
Hayes
Lucas
Rose
{time} 1404
Ms. MEJIA, Messrs. COHEN, SCHNEIDER, and Ms. SCHOLTEN changed their
vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
Mrs. LUNA changed her vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
So the previous question was ordered.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Knott). The question is on the
resolution.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Recorded Vote
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. This is a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 198,
noes 224, not voting 9, as follows:
[Roll No. 231]
AYES--198
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei (NV)
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Barr
Barrett
Baumgartner
Bean (FL)
Begich
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs (AZ)
Biggs (SC)
Bilirakis
Bost
Brecheen
Bresnahan
Buchanan
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crank
Crawford
Crenshaw
Davidson
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Downing
Edwards
Ellzey
Estes
Evans (CO)
Ezell
Fallon
Fedorchak
Feenstra
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fleischmann
Flood
Fong
Foxx
Franklin, Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Fuller
Gallagher
Garbarino
Gill (TX)
Gimenez
Goldman (TX)
Gooden
Gosar
Graves
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Hamadeh (AZ)
Haridopolos
Harrigan
Harris (NC)
Harshbarger
Hern (OK)
Higgins (LA)
Hill (AR)
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Hunt
Hurd (CO)
Issa
Jack
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kennedy (UT)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley (CA)
Kim
Knott
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
Langworthy
Latta
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Letlow
Loudermilk
Luttrell
Mace
Mackenzie
Malliotakis
Maloy
Mann
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McDowell
McGuire
Messmer
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Moolenaar
Moore (AL)
Moore (NC)
Moore (UT)
Moore (WV)
Moran
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Onder
Owens
Palmer
Patronis
Perry
Pfluger
Reschenthaler
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rouzer
Rulli
Rutherford
Salazar
Schmidt
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Sessions
Shreve
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Stauber
Stefanik
Steil
Steube
Strong
Stutzman
Taylor
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Epps
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Westerman
Wied
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOES--224
Adams
Aguilar
Amo
Ansari
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bell
Bera
Beyer
Bishop
Boebert
Bonamici
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Burchett
Burlison
Bynum
Carbajal
Carson
Carter (LA)
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chu
Cisneros
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Conaway
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Craig
Crane
Crockett
Crow
Cuellar
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
Dean (PA)
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dexter
Dingell
Doggett
Elfreth
Escobar
Espaillat
Evans (PA)
Fields
Figures
Fine
Fletcher
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Friedman
Frost
Garamendi
Garcia (CA)
Garcia (IL)
Garcia (TX)
Gillen
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzalez, V.
Goodlander
Gottheimer
Gray
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Harris (MD)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (TX)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kennedy (NY)
Khanna
Krishnamoorthi
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latimer
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Leger Fernandez
Levin
Liccardo
Lieu
Lofgren
Luna
Lynch
Magaziner
Mannion
Massie
Matsui
McBath
McBride
McClain Delaney
McClellan
McCollum
McDonald Rivet
McGarvey
McGovern
McIver
Meeks
Mejia
Menefee
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Miller (OH)
Min
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Morrison
Moskowitz
Moulton
Mrvan
Mullin
Nadler
Neal
Neguse
Norcross
Ocasio-Cortez
Olszewski
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pelosi
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Pingree
Pocan
Pou
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Randall
Raskin
Riley (NY)
Rivas
Ross
Roy
Ruiz
Ryan
Salinas
Sanchez
Scalise
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Self
Sewell
Sherman
Simon
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spartz
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Subramanyam
Suozzi
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Tran
Turner (OH)
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Vindman
Walkinshaw
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Whitesides
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOT VOTING--9
DeGette
Dunn (FL)
Emmer
Fitzpatrick
Hayes
Lucas
Mills
Rose
Tenney
{time} 1414
So the resolution was not agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Stated for:
Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted
YEA on Roll Call No. 231.
Motion to Reconsider
Mr. SCALISE. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion to
reconsider.
The Clerk read as follows:
Mr. Scalise of Louisiana moves to reconsider the vote on
adoption of H. Res. 1398.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to reconsider.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Recorded Vote
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
____________________