Rescissions Act of 2025

Floor Speech

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Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to President Trump's rescission package that steals $400 million from PEPFAR, a lifesaving global health program.

Let me remind my colleagues that PEPFAR is a bipartisan effort first led by Congresswoman Barbara Lee and signed by President George W. Bush. It has been reauthorized on a bipartisan basis four times.

Right now, Republicans who are supportive of PEPFAR are calling the White House seeking assurances that it will be protected. Do not listen to the President's empty promises. Nothing in this bill protects PEPFAR.

If I were to put it simply, PEPFAR saves lives. It has already saved 26 million lives. That is indisputable, and it should be enough to continue to fund one of the most successful global health programs in history.

If I cannot appeal to my colleague's humanitarian side, perhaps they will listen to all the ways PEPFAR serves American interests. PEPFAR is a cornerstone of global health progress and U.S. diplomacy. If Congress was to bow to President Trump's demands to pull PEPFAR funding, it would leave a gap for China to fill.

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Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

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Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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