Providing for Consideration of H.R. Liberty in Laundry Act; Providing for Consideration of S. Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved Act of and Providing for Consideration of Senate Amendment to H.R. Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver Reauthorization Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I feel like I am living in an alternative reality right now.

Liberty in laundry? I mean, liberty in laundry? Are you kidding me, Mr. Speaker? I mean, you can't make this stuff up. Who came up with the title? ChatGPT? What is next, changing the national motto to ``lint free or die''?

It is no surprise coming from the same Republican Party that gave us the Refrigerator Freedom Act and the Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act. I mean, is something wrong with them? I ask that seriously, Mr. Speaker. Americans voted for lower grocery prices, not whatever the hell this is. This is insane.

As I listen to the gentleman on the other side talk about lowering costs for consumers, I have to wonder what bill is he talking about because it is definitely not this one.

This bill gives big companies license to cut corners and make bad appliances that use more electricity and water. I mean, to put it simply, they object to appliances that save consumers money on their bills. What the hell planet are these guys living on where that saves people money?

I remember, Mr. Speaker, when a washing machine used to last 30 years. People could go their whole lives without buying a new refrigerator. Now they break all the time. Why is that? It is because these big, huge companies cut corners and because my Republican friends are letting them do it right here and right now.

That is what this is all about. That is the Republican solution: Let the appliance companies cut corners so they can make a buck, say it will lower costs, and then turn around and act surprised when everyone's crappy washing machine breaks down in 2 years.

This bill is about one thing. It is about making money for big corporations at the expense of everyone else. That is all my Republican friends care about.

Then we have the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025. I have to tell you, the military budget is out of control. We are looking at over a trillion dollars. I mean, does anyone here realize how much money that is? This is for an agency that cannot even pass an audit. Not once in 33 years has the DOD been able to pass an audit.

Meanwhile, I hear from every one of my friends on the other side of the aisle about the deficit, the deficit, the deficit. There are long diatribes about the national debt. Where is that energy and passion today as we are talking about an agency that probably wastes more money in a second than most people earn in a year?

The kicker here is that all this money we spend on the military, a huge chunk of it doesn't even go to our troops. It goes to defense contractors. It goes to their CEOs. It goes to the military-industrial complex. There is no discussion of that on the floor today--just more money, more money, more money for the Pentagon.

When does it all end?

Don't worry, though, the Republicans found time to strip out language on in vitro fertilization for our servicemembers. They found a way to deny people IVF because of their extreme views on everything under the Sun. Women's rights, family rights, you name it, they are against it.

They also found a way to talk about transgender people, their weird obsession. They talk about transgender people and bathrooms more than they talk about jobs and the economy. They never miss an opportunity to divide people, to double down on the cruelty.

Once again, the agenda of this majority is just all screwed up, and today's rule is just the latest example of how wrong their priorities are.

Mr. Speaker, before I forget, I have one last thing. This rule that we are debating provides for three more completely closed rules on legislation. This is the most closed Congress in history. This is the most authoritarian House in U.S. history. My colleagues are making Putin proud. But I will tell you this: It is lousy for democracy.

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I do want to acknowledge that the citizens did vote for lower gas prices, grocery prices, secure borders, and extension of the Tax Code.

I again want to read the provision of the bill: Medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria that could result in sterilization may not be provided to a child--a child, Mr. Speaker-- under the age of 18.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, if we defeat the previous question, I will offer an amendment to the rule to bring up H.R. 9643, a bill to protect and expand nationwide access to fertility treatment, including in vitro fertilization.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans have been relentless on their attacks against reproductive healthcare rights, including IVF treatments that are so important to millions of Americans hoping to start a family.

Just recently, the House-passed and Senate-passed versions of the NDAA contained provisions to improve IVF access for our servicemembers. However, what did Republicans do? They stripped those provisions from the legislation we are considering today. They stripped the recommendations to allow access to IVF treatment.

Simply put, that is why we must defeat the previous question and pass H.R. 9643, to ensure that IVF treatment is protected for all Americans.

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