What Grace Meng said, and what was done

“Mr. Chair, my constituents in Queens are facing an affordability crisis, and this bill will only make it worse by endorsing a failed America-alone policy that diminishes our presence on the world stage, abandons women and girls, and guts our soft power.”

“Mr. Chairman, I thank Ranking Member DeLauro for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the 2026 Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act.”

“Mr. Chair, while this bill won't right every wrong, it represents Democrats and Republicans reaching an agreement that asserts Congress' authority, pushes back against this administration's overreach, and stands up for proven policies that have made our country and world safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this appropriations package. As the ranking member of CJS, this may not be the bill I would have drafted if my Democratic colleagues and I were in the majority, but it is a strong, responsible compromise that meets the needs of the American people.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 12th Anniversary of Women's Entrepreneurship Day, celebrated globally on November 19. In the United States alone, over 14 million of our Nation's 36.2 million small businesses are owned by women, employing around 10.7 million workers and contributing an astounding $2.1 trillion in revenue.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor His All-Holiness Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, on his visit to Washington, D.C., and his reception of the Templeton Prize in New York City.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, or National CAPACD. In 2000, 16 local civil rights leaders came together to form National CAPACD, harnessing the transformative power of a dynamic coalition of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community-based organizations.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ashook Ramsaran, a distinguished civic and community leader in my Sixth Congressional District. Mr. Ramsaran has been a resident of Queens, New York, since emigrating from Guyana (formerly British Guiana) in 1968.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. There are 25 million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the U.S., representing the fastest growing racial group in the country.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in honor of Dr. Hazel Dukes, a lifelong activist, a champion for civil rights, and the president of the NAACP New York State Conference.”

“Mr. Speaker, my Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and I are proud to honor Black History Month and stand with our Congressional Black Caucus colleagues in the shared fight for equality and justice.”