What Lucy McBath said, and what was done

“Mr. Speaker, I thank so much, once again, our esteemed colleague Representative Jennifer McClellan from Virginia who consistently, over and over again, has always been steadfast in holding Special Order hours for the Congressional Black Caucus.”

“Since his passing, those protections have eroded further, and the struggle to protect voting rights continues in his name here with legislation, back home in my home State of Georgia, and in State legislatures all across this country.”

“Black Caucus, but more so, because this is National Gun Violence Awareness Month, and I am very, very aware of this month. I make time and effort every single year during this month to continue to highlight the scourge of gun violence in America as a public health crisis.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia, our esteemed colleague and our good friend, Representative McClellan, for her historical context, for telling the truth, and for always, always standing up to defend the democracy and the rights of African Americans.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the Education and Workforce Committee for yielding. Stealing from those who need it most is especially egregious, and I can agree with my colleagues on that.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for allowing me to share some insight today. Mr. Speaker, as an American and someone coming from a military family--my father was a dentist in the Army Dental Corps, and I still have three members of my family today who are currently serving in the military forces--I can tell you that our veterans have given so much of themselves to this country.”

“Mr. Speaker, I will vote ``no'' on this egregious bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, if you really care about veterans, then do what is right for them.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8352, the Criminal History Access Act of 2026. This legislation would improve the vetting of state and local law enforcement officers, and I thank Congressman Schmidt and Congresswoman Ross for working together to craft a straightforward. bipartisan bill.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1252, memorializing law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. This week--National Police Week--is an opportunity for Congress to show our appreciation to the men and women in law enforcement, and express our gratitude for their integrity, sacrifice, and service.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Kennedy for gathering us here this evening on this very somber anniversary. He truly is honoring his community in Buffalo very well. I actually have family members in his district.”

“Mr. Speaker, since the passing of our colleague and friend David Scott last month, we continue to miss his presence and honor the impact that he had on this body.”

“Mr. Speaker, I do rise today in opposition to H.R. 8365, the Monitor Accountability Act. This bill addresses the work of Federal monitors who are appointed by a court to oversee the progress a State or a unit of local government is making after violating Federal law.”

“Often monitors are put in place after there is a finding of serious misconduct, including violations of constitutional rights or actions that jeopardize people's public health, safety, and well-being.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 6260, the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act, which is, I think, just another example again of unnecessary Federal meddling into policies that should be left to the States.”

“But this bill doesn't do it. I need to reiterate that a charge is not a conviction, and H.R. 6260 will keep charged Americans jobless. It is going to keep them homeless, and it is going to keep them in poverty.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5625, the Cashless Bail Reporting Act.”

“States are grappling with these issues every single day. In my home State of Georgia, Republican politicians just reversed course on a whole slate of reforms that they ushered in by Republicans in the State legislature just a few years ago.”

“Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee for giving me time to speak on the floor today. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to the Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais and what this moment means for the future of our democracy. For generations, Americans have fought to make this Nation live up to its promise.”

“Mr. Speaker, during Women's History Month, we recognize women who have written their own chapter and blazed a trail for women around the world. On Saturday, March 21, my constituents in Douglasville and Douglas County will welcome home our Olympic hero, Elana Meyers Taylor.”

“``firearms.'' In addition, because H.R. 2189/S. 1283 do not prohibit modification, there is nothing to prohibit a convicted felon, domestic abuser, or anyone else for that matter, in possession of such a ``less-than-lethal'' device from turning it into a fully lethal weapon.”

“Mr. Speaker, Democrats will continue to support law enforcement innovation and the adoption of tools that keep everyone safer, but we must oppose this misguided legislation that does not promote innovation or de-escalation and will only put our law enforcement, those experiencing domestic abuse, and others in danger.”

“Mr. Speaker, as we continue our celebration of Black History Month, I rise to recognize a Georgia trailblazer, Elana Meyers Taylor, a member of Team USA Bobsled. Elana is a mother of two and the only athlete from Georgia competing at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan.”

“Mr. Speaker, during Black History Month, a time of celebration and honoring of our ancestors, we cannot ignore the challenges we face as a nation. As the daughter of civil rights trailblazers, I take pride in serving as a leader within the Congressional Black Caucus.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Terri Denison as she retires from an outstanding career as Georgia district director of the Small Business Administration. Since 2002, Terri has been a steadfast advocate for small businesses and entrepreneurs, ensuring that they have the resources and guidance needed to grow and succeed.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the Education and Workforce Committee, Mr. Bobby Scott, for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, like so many women across the country, I struggled for so many years to get pregnant.”

“Mr. Speaker, for the women in your life whose stories you don't even know, for the women across the country whose lives you may not even understand--the choices and the environments that they live in--and for the women in America who have gone through things some people can never even imagine, I ask my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this misguided bill.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6719, the Combating Online Predators Act. There are a number of teenagers and pre-teens who have lost their lives to suicide because of sextortion.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to fight for some of the most overworked and underpaid people in our country to ensure that the money that they work so hard for goes to them and their families, not to someone who didn't work for it.”

“Mr. Speaker, before I came to this body, I was a flight attendant for a national air carrier. The money that I am making today is far more than I ever made as a contract employee for an airline.”

“Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee for yielding. I rise today in support of H.R. 6732, the Coercion and Sexual Abuse Free Environment Act, or, as we all call it, the CSAFE Act.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Raskin for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6715, the Child Predators Accountability Act of 2025.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank both of our leaders this evening, Representative Hoyer and Representative Clyburn, for making sure that we never forget. Mr. Speaker, today we pause on the 5-year anniversary of one of the darkest days of our democracy.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the Committee on Education and Workforce for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, I have to say, today, we are here considering a bill that is named the PROTECT Our Kids Act.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out on the rising costs of healthcare, which are putting undue burdens on the American people.”

“Broward County. She is a home health aide who works full time, raising two children, and still cannot afford health insurance without the tax credit from the Affordable Care Act.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act is very critical, bipartisan legislation that would provide long-overdue relief to victims and survivors of human trafficking to help them overcome the lasting effects of being trafficked and allow them a chance to heal.”

“Mr. Speaker, we must ensure our government continues to invest in prevention services and enforcement that keeps survivors protected. Any cuts or weakened efforts will risk putting them back in harm's way or back in the streets, and we cannot allow that to happen.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend two City of South Fulton police officers, Sergeant Myesha Cooper and Officer Robert Johnson. On Saturday, August 16, Sergeant Cooper and Officer Johnson were called to the scene of an accident where they swiftly rescued a mother and her two children from an overturned vehicle.”

“Mr. Speaker, our public health system is on life support while Secretary Kennedy pulls the plug on lifesaving programs. Just 9 months in, he fired his own CDC director and has forced out disease experts who protected us through a pandemic and disease outbreaks.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the attack on every American's right to a quality public education in this country. Families have been promised the right to send their kids to good public schools, regardless of where they live, how much money they make, or their child's disability.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative McClellan from Virginia, for leading this time here on the House floor. Mr. Speaker, it is pretty difficult to believe that it has actually been 5 years that have passed since the loss of our dear friend and our colleague, Congressman John Lewis.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary leader, Mr. David Garrison of Georgia, on the occasion of his retirement from Delta Air Lines after 34 years of service to one of our Nation's most respected airlines and a cornerstone of our state's economy.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to attempts by Republicans to slash healthcare that millions rely on just to benefit Elon Musk and the friends of the President.”

“Mr. Speaker, hanging this plaque is the least that we could do to honor those who have fought and died and given their lives for us, this body.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank so much my esteemed colleagues, Representative Kamlager-Dove and Representative Brown, for their leadership in tonight's CBC Special Order hour. It is the most opportune time for us to be able to talk directly to the American people about the truth of this White House and its administration.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my delegation colleague, Representative Johnson, for being the managing Member and for yielding to me this evening. I thank him for these moments tonight as we are in a very critical time, as my friend has been expressing before I came.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan) for yielding, and I thank the gentlewoman for anchoring this Special Order hour tonight on behalf of the CBC.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the City of Douglasville on the occasion of its Sesquicentennial Birthday. For 150 years, Douglasville has contributed to the rich history of the state of Georgia, and I am honored to uplift today's remarkable milestone.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am so honored and privileged to be here tonight to speak on the Congressional Black Caucus, with our Special Order hour tonight specific to honoring Black History Month.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Union City, Georgia, for being named a City of Civility by the Georgia Municipal Association. Union City has adopted a civility resolution and a pledge built on active listening, empathy, and respect for differing opinions, efforts which, to quote from their materials: Encourage ``respectful and constructive dialogue'' in public spaces.”

“Madam Speaker, when school lets out and the heat of summer comes, the promise of daily meals falls away for too many children. Last year, summer meal programs in Georgia failed to serve one-third of our counties and reached less than 15 percent of eligible children.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the opening of the Akers Mill ramp project. During my first months in Congress in 2018, I gathered Federal officials to speak about the importance of the investment in our State's infrastructure.”

“Madam Speaker, I had always wanted to start a family of my own, but like many women in America, I struggled to get pregnant. Some days I kept praying to God wondering if He was ever going to allow me to have a child at all.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor President Jimmy Carter and the legacy he leaves behind as the former President from my State of Georgia. President Carter was the small-town son of a farmer and a nurse.”