Providing for Consideration of H.R. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year Providing for Consideration of S. Protecting Our Gold Star Families Education Act; Providing for Consideration of H.R. Women's Health Protection Act of Providing for Consideration of H.R. Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of Providing for Consideration of H.R. Active Shooter Alert Act of and for Other Purposes

Floor Speech

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Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership on the very important elements of the rule that will be brought to the floor today. I thank him, and I thank all the members of the Rules Committee. I particularly want to acknowledge the leadership of Chairman Jim McGovern for his leadership in bringing so much policy to bear in this one rule as we proceed with the week's legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in what is a momentous week for our House Democratic majority as we carry on our work to defend Americans' health, security, and freedom.

The rule includes five pieces of landmark legislation, which the gentleman, Mr. Morelle, has very clearly explained. I thank him and Mr. McGovern for their skilled leadership in assembling this rule and steering this crucial legislation to the floor.

First, this week we will have our version of the NDAA. It supports our Nation's servicemen and servicewomen, it strengthens our national security, and promotes national leadership in the global arena.

Our majority is delivering new pay raises for heroic men and women in uniform, while securing more investments in next-generation defense technology to keep us strong and qualitatively superior.

We are strengthening the security of DOD supply chains, while advancing new and fundamental research and development at HBCUs and MSIs.

We are further supporting the Ukrainian people in their fight for democracy with $1 billion in additional security assistance.

I salute Chairman Adam Smith and the Armed Services Committee for their persistent patriotic leadership in assembling this legislation, which will help ensure that Americans are safe and our democracy is secure.

Again, when we are talking about our security, we have to talk about our veterans. As we have said, we promised them when they fight for us, we will protect them when they come home. This bill, the PACT Act, takes another monumental step to care for our brave men and women in uniform--who risked their lives to fight the enemy, but now face the deadly threat of exposure to dangerous toxins.

The legislation in this bill, I believe, will be strongly bipartisan, deliver access to VA healthcare to millions of veterans suffering from dangerous diseases caused by their exposures.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Mark Takano for making and addressing toxic exposure as a top priority in Congress--the PACT Act.

Next, the Active Shooter Alert Act, which the gentleman from New York very clearly spelled out. We will pass the Active Shooter Alert Act-- Mr. Morelle described it very well--and I agree, it is a step, and we must have what he said he supports, and I do, too--the ban on assault weapons and other lethality.

This Federal legislation that we are doing today will quickly warn communities when a gunman opens fire. It is a commonsense, lifesaving measure widely supported by law enforcement.

Let us recognize Congressman David Cicilline, a longtime champion in the fight against gun violence, for spearheading this legislation, and also being the author of the assault weapons ban.

The fourth and fifth bills that our Democratic majority will pass this week take strong action to defend women's health and freedom.

Our Caucus has been hard at work assembling a robust and resolute legislative response to the Supreme Court's assault on reproductive rights. We passed this legislation before, the WHPA, the Women's Health Protection Act, which will enshrine the essential protections of Roe v. Wade as the law of the land.

And with our Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, we will reaffirm the constitutional right to travel and have access to the abortion pill.

Let us salute Congresswoman Judy Chu for her leadership. We passed this bill in the fall and we need to pass it again. We thank Congresswomen Fletcher and Strickland and Congressman Raskin for their tireless, determined leadership on the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act.

Madam Speaker, this legislation that the House Democrats will pass this week is the latest in our work to defend Americans' health, security, and freedom. Our majority will never relent in this fight-- now and in the future.

Madam Speaker, I urge a strong ``yes'' vote on the rule today and ``yes'' votes on the five bills that we are considering in the days ahead.

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