What Lloyd Doggett said, and what was done

“Mr. Speaker, approaching the 61st anniversary of Medicare, a true lifeline for retirees and individuals with disabilities, I am filing the Saving MEDICARE Act to ensure a solvent, better Medicare that reaches more Americans.”

“Mr. Speaker, for over a year, the House Republican leadership has yielded to Donald Trump's peculiar friendship with Vladimir Putin and blocked action on this measure. Every day that Republicans look the other way, Ukrainians die.”

“Mr. Speaker, we could restore access to a family physician for millions of American families who no longer have it thanks to the Republican action. Or, we could instead choose to provide for our future by ensuring that every single 3- and 4-year-old in America can access pre-K.”

“Mr. Speaker, before departing the Capitol last week, I stood at this very spot with Democratic and Republican colleagues, three separate times, to honor, with moments of silence, American servicemembers who have fallen in Trump's reckless war in Iran.”

“Mr. Speaker, from the same folks who brought us $4.7 trillion in additional Federal debt and who worship the ``king of debt,'' Donald Trump, as he describes himself, they present this unbalanced budget amendment.”

“Mr. Speaker, from his first day in public office, President Trump has made it clear that he wants to rule America by imperial decree. He didn't want to be king just for a day in America.”

“Mr. Speaker, as Baghdad was first bombed 23 years ago, Americans were bombarded with lies. When that giant statue of Saddam Hussein was pulled down, the lies were paired with attacks on all of us who opposed what was ultimately recognized by almost all as a colossal American blunder.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a critical national resource that for 30 years has served as a lifeline for victims and survivors of domestic violence and relationship abuse across our country: the National Domestic Violence Hotline.”

“Mr. Speaker, we are barely 2 months into this new year, and yet we have already had 35 mass shootings, devastating communities across the country. If only two or three people are killed, it hardly makes national news anymore.”

“Mr. Speaker, President Trump's repeated bullying of Canada and its eloquent Prime Minister Carney is both embarrassing and alarming. Our country could not have a better neighbor or trading partner than Canada.”

“Mr. Speaker, Saturday was a great day for progress in Texas, from Houston to Fort Worth. For almost a year after the tragic death of our late colleague, Sylvester Turner, the citizens of the 18th Congressional District of Texas in Houston have been denied representation in this Congress.”

“Mr. Speaker, oil over democracy. Trump has made clear his priorities, accepting ruthless suppression by Maduro's comrades so long as the oil profits flow to him as the self-described acting President of Venezuela.”

“Mr. Speaker, in their incessant drive to impose a national ban on all forms of abortion, Republicans continue to block relief for millions of Americans who are struggling with soaring ObamaCare health insurance premiums.”

“Madam Speaker, I support strengthening our relations with African countries through the African Growth and Opportunity Extension Act. I think increased trade, economic activity, and development that respects human rights, labor rights, and the environment can benefit both Americans and Africans.”

“Social Security should not bear the price for that Do Not Pay system's use of the data. I certainly support that provision, but every American will bear the cost of Republicans' failure to protect their hard-earned benefits and private information from Trump's hatchet job on the Social Security Administration.”

“Mr. Speaker, our vote today represents hope, the hope of millions to access their family physician, the hope for so many Americans who have wondered how they will be able to afford healthcare, hope that by using an extraordinary measure today in the House, we can address an extraordinary need.”

“Mr. Speaker, unable to run America, Trump says that he will run Venezuela. Unwilling to provide help to Americans facing soaring health premiums, he offers new tax subsidies to Big Oil.”

“Mr. Speaker, at the end of a long series of votes today, I missed the final vote on Representative Crenshaw's misnamed Do No Harm in Medicaid Act, which would prohibit Medicaid from covering gender-affirming care for youth.”

“Mr. Speaker, in a bill that they call ``big'' and ``beautiful,'' Republicans have approved the biggest reduction in access to healthcare in American history. They rejected my amendment in committee to maintain the tax credits that make the Affordable Care Act truly affordable.”

“Mr. Speaker, we all mourn the loss from the tragic attack on two National Guard members here in Washington last week. Yet, once again, the master of distraction seeks to avoid any accountability for his role in this tragedy.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Michael Mucchetti, my chief of staff, for concluding 25 years of devoted service. Prior to coming to Congress, he worked with me at the Texas Supreme Court as a briefing attorney.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, His All-Holiness Bartholomew. Born Demetrios Arhondonis in 1940 on the island of Imvros (today, Gokceada, Turkey), His All-Holiness Bartholomew was elected in October 1991 as the 270th Archbishop of the 2000-year-old Church founded by the Apostle Andrew.”

“Mr. Speaker, at 3:35 in the morning, a favorite time of Republicans for taking up this bill, we consider a travesty. The Senate took an ugly bill, went out and whipped it with an ugly stick, and made it even uglier with 17 million Americans going without health insurance; a 17 percent increase in electric rates; and the largest nutritional assistance cut in American history, leaving Americans hungry.”

“Mr. Speaker, where lies are king, the truth is the enemy. Institutions that spread knowledge are defamed as ``enemies of the people.'' NPR and PBS are targeted here today precisely because they are so good at delivering the truth.”

“Mr. Speaker, breaking yet another promise, Republicans are cutting Medicare by $500 billion. On October 1 of this year, every Medicare healthcare provider will see a 4 percent cut, and that will occur year after year as seniors try to find someone who will accept Medicare.”

“Mr. Speaker, Speaker Johnson calls our soaring national debt the ``number one threat'' to our Nation. The Republican Senate leader says that it is a ``ticking time bomb'' just before he lights the fuse with this sorry resolution that hikes the debt by $6 trillion.”

“Mr. Speaker, brokers who sell stocks and mutual funds have long been required to file a report in January of each year on Form 1099. They send it to their customers.”

“Mr. Speaker, today Republicans offer a truly remarkable answer to unemployment insurance fraud, and that is to make a big cut in those who are already fighting unemployment insurance fraud and abuse.”

“Mr. Speaker, Al Green is my friend and, for that matter, so is Mr. Newhouse, though I don't know him quite as well. I think this motion is a serious mistake.”

“Mr. Speaker, half the children in my hometown, and probably more in Mr. Green's, are at risk of losing their care as seen in our Children's Hospital. Medicaid is a lifeline to individuals with disabilities.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Mrs. Fletcher for her words. It is great to have all the members of our delegation here. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr.”

“Mr. Speaker, I would ask for a moment of silence to honor Congressman Sylvester Turner and to ask that when the House adjourns today, that it adjourn in his memory.”

“Mr. Speaker, Putin and Trump: a dictator and a wannabe, and another destroyed Ukrainian city. Thousands have been murdered and thousands of children have been kidnapped. Trump disgracefully voted yesterday with North Korea and Russia to blame the murdered, not the murderer.”