Birthright Citizenship

  Ms. RIVAS. Mr. Speaker, just moments ago, the Supreme Court struck
down Donald Trump's illegal attempt to end birthright citizenship and
ruled that 4 million children born in the United States, including many
across the San Fernando Valley, have a place in this country as
American citizens.
  For 250 years, our country was built and defined by immigrants and
children of immigrants. This includes people like my sister and me, who
were born and raised in Los Angeles and are now pursuing our own
American Dreams and contributing to the country that we love.
  The Constitution is clear. Anyone born in the United States is a
citizen of the United States. Donald Trump does not get to bend the
rules and rewrite the Constitution just to comply with his illegal and
anti-immigrant agenda.
  Mr. Speaker, I will keep fighting to protect our immigrant
communities like mine in the San Fernando Valley and across the country
so that they, too, can have their chance at the American Dream.

                          EXPRESSING GRATITUDE

  (Mr. Kean of New Jersey was recognized to address the House for 5
minutes.)
  Mr. Kean. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with deep gratitude for the
patience, kindness, prayers, and concern that have been shown to me and
my family over the course of the last several months.
  This is not an easy speech for me to give. I am a private person by
nature, and I have spent most of my life talking about the people that
I represent, issues facing our communities, and work that needs to be
done.
  Talking about myself has never come naturally, but I believe that I
owe an explanation to the people of New Jersey's Seventh District, to
my colleagues in this Chamber, and to the American people for my
actions.
  Several months ago, due to health concerns, I entered the hospital
for some testing. I did not believe that this would result in a long-
term stay. I was given the diagnosis of depression.
  Now, when people hear the word ``depression,'' many people think it
simply means feeling sad. But depression is so much more than that. It
is physical and emotional. Until you experience it yourself, it is
difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be.
  The doctors recommended that I remain in the hospital to address my
illness. They explained to me that this would be the fastest way to
recovery. To be honest, I was hesitant. I didn't think that I had time
for it. I had responsibilities to my family, constituents, and to this
institution.
  Like many people, I believed that I could simply push through, but I
agreed to follow my doctor's recommendations, again, not believing that
it would result in a long-term stay. I began to understand not only my
diagnosis but how long depression had been affecting my life.
  When I first informed the public that I was dealing with a medical
issue, I was still trying to understand what was happening myself. When
I said I hoped to return in a matter of weeks, I believed it. Those
were the best estimates that the doctors could provide. Yet, as the
over 48 million of my fellow Americans being treated for this illness
have come to discover, there is no timeline for healing and recovery--
only the work of getting better one day at a time.
  Today, I am grateful that I listened to my doctors, and I am grateful
for the exceptional care that I received from doctors, nurses, and
support staff. I am grateful that I accepted help because today I stand
before you healthier, stronger, and excited to return to the work that
I love.
  I have always been a supporter of mental health care. During my time
in New Jersey legislature, I worked to advance mental health parity. I
believed in the cause then, and I understand it in a far more personal
way now.

                              {time}  1115

  This experience has given me a deeper appreciation for the millions
of Americans who face these challenges each and every day.
  Many do so quietly. Many do so alone. Many do so while carrying
burdens that the rest of us never see. To them I would say: Asking for
help is not a weakness. It is a strength.
  I thank my constituents. I thank them for their patience. I thank
them for their understanding. I thank them for their prayers, and I
thank them for allowing me the honor of serving them.
  I also thank my staff, who worked tirelessly to ensure that our
office continued serving constituents every day during my absence.
  Most importantly, I thank my family, whose love, whose support, and
whose faith carried me through some very difficult days.
  This is not a partisan issue. It touches every community, every
family, and every corner of this country.
  If sharing my story encourages even one person to seek help, if it
gives one family the courage to have a difficult conversation, or if it
reminds one person that recovery is possible, then this moment will
have been worthwhile.
  I am grateful to be back with the full support of my doctors. I am
grateful to be healthy. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue
serving the people of New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District.
  I say thank you. May God bless the people of New Jersey, and may God
bless the United States of America.

                    HAITI TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS

  (Ms. Brown of Ohio was recognized to address the House for 5
minutes.)
  Ms. BROWN. Mr. Speaker, as often the case with the current occupant
of the White House, it all started with a lie.
  Nearly 2 years ago, JD Vance got up off his couch and tweeted a
racist smear that Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and
dogs. Days later, Donald Trump shamelessly repeated it at a
Presidential debate.
  They knew it was a lie. They knew those families were here legally.
They knew they were working, raising children, paying taxes, and
helping rebuild a community.
  None of that mattered because the point was never to tell the truth.
The point was to make Americans fear Haitians, to turn them into
scapegoats, to convince the country that Black immigrants were the
source of their problems.
  JD Vance admitted that he was willing to ``create stories'' to
advance his political agenda.
  We all saw what happened next: Springfield was terrorized. Schools
were closed. Bomb threats poured in. White supremacists descended on
the city.
  So families lived in fear because two of the most powerful
politicians in America decided that a racist smear was politically
useful. They never apologized. Instead, they spent 2 years putting that
lie to work and turning it into government policy. Now, that campaign
of fear is the official policy of our government.
  Last week, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to
terminate the Temporary Protected Status, also known as TPS, for
hundreds of thousands of Haitians, not because Haiti is safe, not
because the facts have changed, but because this administration wants
more people for ICE to deport.
  Haiti remains consumed by political collapse and humanitarian
disaster. The conditions that justified TPS still exist.
  These are people who care for our seniors, build our community, and
pay billions in taxes. They followed the rules. They trusted the
American promise. Now, they are being told that a racist political
narrative matters more than the law they followed to a T.
  This is not who we are, America. The House has already passed the
bill extending TPS because the facts demand it and because decency
requires it.
  Now, the Senate must pass it before the mass deportation tears lives
and communities apart, all because of a racist, reckless, bigoted,
blatant, dishonest, and disgusting campaign lie.

                        Big Ugly Law Anniversary

  Ms. BROWN. Mr. Speaker, while families are struggling to keep up with
rising prices for food, housing, gas, and utilities, this President is
focused on something else entirely different--himself.
  He is spending taxpayer dollars on a lavish White House ballroom. He
is tearing up the reflecting pool for another vanity project. He is
putting his name and image on anything he can.
  While Americans are tightening their belts, Donald Trump is building
monuments to himself.
  One year later, Republicans are still celebrating what they call the
President's signature legislative achievement.
  That law ripped healthcare away from millions of Americans, cut food
assistance for families and children, made it harder to afford
college--all to hand out massive tax breaks to the wealthiest people in
America.
  It was a transfer of wealth from working people to wealthy people.
  Mr. Speaker, 17 million Americans have lost healthcare. More than 4
million Americans, including 800,000 children, have already lost access
to basic food assistance.
  Meanwhile, the wealthiest 0.1 percent received tax cuts worth nearly
a quarter million dollars just last year.
  I will ask the simple question: How has Trump's big, ugly law helped
the American people? As far as I can tell, it is just welfare for the
wealthy and well-connected.
  Meanwhile, we have gotten higher prices, higher inflation, slower job
growth, and an economy that works even better for those already on top.
  Republicans called it the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. I call it a
big, ugly law, because there is nothing beautiful about taking
healthcare and food away from families to pay for tax cuts for
billionaires.
  Happy anniversary to Trump's signature achievement. One year later,
the verdict is in: Working families paid the price, and the wealthiest
Americans cashed the check.