MORNING-HOUR DEBATE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of
January 6, 2026, the Chair will now recognize Members from lists
submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning-hour debate.
  The Chair will alternate recognition between the parties, with time
equally allocated between the parties and each Member other than the
majority and minority leaders and the minority whip limited to 5
minutes, but in no event shall debate continue beyond 1:50 p.m.

                       RECOGNIZING CAMERON SMITH

  (Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania was recognized to address the House for 5
minutes.)
  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, it is with pride that I rise
to recognize Cameron Smith of Westmont, Pennsylvania, for earning the
rank of cadet captain in the Civil Air Patrol.
  Cameron is a 2026 graduate of Bishop McCort High School. He is a
member of the Cambria County Composite Squadron, which is a branch of
the Pennsylvania Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. He earned the Amelia
Earhart Award and received promotion to cadet captain by completing
Phase III of the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program.
  Cameron is the son of Matt and Tori Smith. His plans in the immediate
future include sitting for the Federal Aviation Administration final
exam to obtain his private pilot license.
  I congratulate Cameron and his parents on this notable achievement
through the cadet program and extend to him best wishes for success
throughout his aviation career.

                         Recognizing Alan Gift

  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Alan Gift
on his selection as the 2026 Franklin County Conservation District
Farmer of the Year.
  In partnership with the conservation district, Alan has demonstrated
a strong commitment to agricultural stewardship and environmental
conservation.
  Also, through the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program, Alan
has initiated a comprehensive project that reduces runoff. At the age
of just 30 years, Alan has distinguished himself as a leader in the
agricultural industry and a role model for aspiring farmowners.
  I join with the Franklin County Conservation District in
congratulating Alan Gift for his outstanding agricultural efforts.

     Commemorating Anniversary of Franklin County Area Development
                              Corporation

  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the
40th anniversary of the Franklin County Area Development Corporation.
Since its founding in 1986, the organization has facilitated more than
1,000 projects in Franklin County.
  This milestone anniversary presents a valuable opportunity to
celebrate the development corporation's enduring impact on Franklin
County. The success and the priorities of the Franklin County Area
Development Corporation foster prosperity and achievement throughout
Franklin County.
  On behalf of constituents in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional
District, I personally congratulate President Mike Ross, his staff, and
his board of directors on this milestone, and I express my personal
gratitude for their continued leadership.

                        Recognizing Leah Ritchey

  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the
gifted artists from Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District who
participated in this year's Congressional Art Competition. Several
students from Cambria, Huntingdon, Blair, and Franklin Counties
participated.
  The 2026 winner is Leah Ritchey, who is a freshman at Cumberland
Valley Christian School. Through her acrylic painting, Blazing Liberty,
Leah captures the traditions of America by drawing inspiration from our
Statue of Liberty, a timeless symbol of patriotism, and the fireworks
that bring us together. Leah's work serves as a beautiful tribute to
our Nation's semiquincentennial.
  I extend appreciation to Leah's art teacher, Lisa Fisler, and her
mom, Jesse Walizer, for supporting Leah's incredible artistic talents.

                    DIMINISHED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE

  (Mr. Courtney of Connecticut was recognized to address the House for
5 minutes.)
  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, 5 days from now, on July Fourth, our
country will be celebrating its 250th birthday.
  All over the Nation, there will be enthusiastic events in big cities
and small towns to recognize the publication, 250 years ago, of the
Declaration of Independence, which, as historian Jill Lepore recently
wrote, is ``arguably the most important piece of prose in modern
history.''

  Its author, Thomas Jefferson, laid out a vision of an independent
America built around the individual's rights to life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness, which still inspire not only our own people but
people all over the world.
  Unfortunately, it is also the 1-year anniversary of arguably one of
the worst pieces of legislation in the modern era, the so-called One
Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Trump signed into law on July
Fourth, 2025.
  As the Congressional Budget Office documented, this bill will add 3.4
trillion new dollars to our national debt, provide permanent $1
trillion tax breaks to the top 1 percent of income earners, cut
nutrition programs by at least $187 billion, and, worst of all, cut $1
trillion from America's largest healthcare program, Medicaid, starting
on January 1.
  At the time the bill was debated, an overwhelming coalition of
hospitals, nursing homes, physician groups, nurses, and patient groups
tried to warn the Republican majority and the White House that millions
of Americans will be denied healthcare from this draconian butchery of
the healthcare system. To be exact, 10 million Americans will lose
their coverage, according to CBO.
  The majority dismissed those concerns and jammed this measure
through, accusing Democrats of scaremongering. According to them, the
new work requirements in the law for vulnerable populations would have
exemptions for the ``medically frail,'' and there was nothing to worry
about.
  A couple of weeks ago, however, these warnings sadly came true when
RFK Jr.'s health department released the actual rule that State
Medicaid directors will have to follow starting in January.
  The hope was that a medical diagnosis for cancer, HIV, or other
serious, chronic conditions would qualify for protection. Instead, the
rule makes clear that a cancer diagnosis will not automatically qualify
for an exemption. Instead, the patient will have to document that the
disease actually impairs the ability to work.
  A patient suffering from pancreatic cancer, brain cancer, breast
cancer, or lymphoma will have to demonstrate, with job searches and
employer paperwork, that the disease and the debilitating therapies are
an impairment, a hopelessly vague standard that will rob desperately
ill patients of care.
  To put it in a nutshell, the definition of ``medical frailty'' is no
longer a medical diagnosis by a doctor but a subjective employability
standard that makes no sense.
  There is a word for this, Mr. Speaker. It is ``inhumane.''
  Don't take my word for it. On this poster is a list of 48 patient
groups vehemently denouncing this vicious rule, which Secretary Kennedy
and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should withdraw
immediately.
  As you can see, the most credible patient groups--American Cancer
Society, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, National MS Society,
American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Lupus Foundation
of America, March of Dimes, The ALS Association, and The AIDS
Institute, to name just a few--have all warned Kennedy and his
followers in Congress that this rule will create chaos and dramatically
increase the number of desperately ill people who will lose their
health coverage.
  There is no better way to honor the principles of our treasured
Declaration of Independence--to guarantee the right to life and the
pursuit of happiness--than to block this grotesque rule, which will
condemn the sickest and most vulnerable of our society to degradation
and pain.