What Melanie A. Stansbury said, and what was done

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished leadership and 50 years of dedicated service of Bishop David Cooper, Senior Pastor of New Hope Full Gospel Baptist Church of Albuquerque, New Mexico.”

“Mr. Speaker, happy Disability Pride Month, which originated in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This month and every month, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and leadership of New Mexicans living with disabilities in our State and across the country.”

“Mr. Speaker, we rise tonight to acknowledge that DOGE is, indeed, dead. Mr. Speaker, the scandals, the gossip--when New Mexicans tune in to see what is happening here in Washington, it feels like they are tuning into an episode of a reality TV show rather than another day in the people's House, but the messiest House isn't an overseas villa.”

“Mr. Speaker, there are so many things to be said about DOGE and the waste of money and lives that happened over the course of the year and a half that it was officially on the books.”

“Mr. Speaker, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, Joan Sebastian Guerrero, Ruben Ray Martinez, Alex Pretti, Renee Good, and dozens of others are now dead at the hands of ICE, this administration, and detention centers across the country.”

“Happy pride, everyone. Today, we rise to celebrate Pride Month in LGBTQ+ communities all across New Mexico and the country. To every member of the LGBTQ+ community, you are seen, you are loved, and you make this world brighter.”

“Mr. Speaker, as we sit here in the people's House, millions of children in the Middle East are living in fear, trauma, and danger. That fear has only intensified as the President has waged an illegal war in Iran, with hundreds of schoolchildren killed, thousands of civilians lost, and bombs still dropping in Lebanon as entire communities have been reduced to rubble.”

“Mr. Speaker, we must celebrate the wins because there is so much that happens here in the House that is not in service of the American people, including, this week, Republican efforts to give a blank check to ICE and to pass an education bill that would gut funding for schools and education institutions.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise on the floor this afternoon because I believe this Nation is losing its moral compass, led by a President who is more interested in ballrooms and bullying reporters than the rights and the dignity of our basic human rights as Americans.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to support this War Powers Resolution to stop the U.S. Government from being complicit in a war in Lebanon that is devastating the Lebanese people.”

“As family and friends are watching in horror and grief, my own office has received countless heartbreaking stories from family members and colleagues living in Palestine and Lebanon: displacement, loss of homes, livelihoods, and entire communities; children living in fear; and people attacked, beaten, or arrested for merely attempting to live their lives and to pray.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7831, the License to Drill Act. This bill would reauthorize a commonsense permitting program, allowing the Bureau of Land Management to continue collecting fees with applications for permits to drill oil and gas wells.”

“Mr. Speaker, on May 12, 2026, Oversight Committee Democrats convened the first-ever hearing to solicit testimony from survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes. The hearing, ``Survivors Fight for Justice: Exposing Epstein's Crimes in Palm Beach and Across the World,'' marked a critical step forward in the fight for justice and accountability.”

“Ms. Marijke Chartouni Dear Ranking Member Garcia and Democratic Members of the Committee, I am writing to you as a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. What was done to me--and so many other young women and girls--was not the result of chance or individual failing.”

“Mr. Speaker, on Memorial Day, we pause to honor the brave Americans who gave their lives in service to this Nation, those who wore the uniform knowing that freedom and liberty always carry a cost.”

“Mr. Speaker, what should have been bipartisan effort to honor and preserve the stories of American women has been hijacked and corrupted. The original Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act had broad bipartisan support because it was rooted in a simple idea that the stories of all women deserve to be told.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of our veterans and the proud men and women who have worn the uniform in service to this great Nation. In New Mexico, service is part of our culture and who we are.”

“Madam Speaker, I am appalled by what is coming before us on the floor today all wrapped up in one big, ugly rule. There are billions for ICE's warrantless searches on Americans and for funds that cut millions of Americans' children's access to food.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, once again, our Republican colleagues are coming to the House floor to write another blank check to ICE on the backs of the American people.”

“Mr. Speaker, I want to just take a moment as our colleagues did across the aisle to recognize Ranking Member David Scott and his family from Georgia. It is a sad day.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to President Trump's 2027 budget. Let me be clear. This budget is completely and totally morally bankrupt to its core--rotten to its core.”

“Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of this War Powers Resolution, this debate is making me sick: the lies and colleagues who are so weak that they won't enforce the Constitution to rein in a President who is clearly out of control.”

“Mr. Speaker, I don't even know if I can dignify a response to the things that I have heard here this morning. Perhaps we will do another showerhead resolution or utilities or something like that.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight during Black History Month to raise the alarm on the rewriting of American history that is happening at our national parks, our museums, our monuments, and our public spaces as the Trump administration is attempting to erase the histories, the stories, and the lives of our Black, Native, Chicano, AAPI, and LGBT+ communities.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the Congresswoman for her extraordinary words and for sharing her story with us tonight. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs.”

“Mr. Speaker, 16 years ago today, the Supreme Court decided in the Citizens United decision to put our democracy up for sale. I am here today to say, Mr.”

“House--because, Mr. Speaker, we will take back the House--I guarantee you that on day one, our top priority will be to root this corruption and this rot out of the Federal Government.”

“Mr. Speaker, you know you have lost in 2026 when Republicans in the United States House of Representatives are openly talking about impeaching the President of the United States if he invades Greenland, as one was quoted today in the press.”

“Mr. Speaker, do you recall just a week and a half ago when the President of the United States stood in front of the American people and said that he conducted an unauthorized military invasion of Venezuela to save American lives from drugs, but then a few days later told us it was actually about the oil?”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today first in thanks to our fearless leader, Representative Hayes, today, but Mr. Speaker, I rise today to sound the alarm on what is happening at the U.S.”

“Mr. Speaker, as they say, follow the money: invading a foreign country, stealing their oil, extortion, violence, giveaways to corporate America, American oil and gas companies, and, yes, Trump donors.”

“I just want to say this, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday was a good day for the American people. What it looks like when you work for working people is you get shit done.”

“Chamber. It is about 7 p.m. East Coast time. It has been a long day. I just came from the Oversight Committee where we just subpoenaed additional witnesses in the Epstein investigation including potential co-conspirators in the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein.”

“Madam Speaker, imagine being so ideologically committed to destroying an imperfect healthcare bill that has helped millions of Americans access care over the last 15 years that you would block a vote--just a vote--to extend the lifesaving credits that help keep millions of Americans on their healthcare.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4371, or what the GOP is calling today the Kayla Hamilton Act. Let me begin by saying what should be clear to every Member of this body: The murder of Kayla Hamilton is a horrific and truly heartbreaking tragedy, and no family should ever have to endure such a loss.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I could not agree more that we need a fix to healthcare now--not tomorrow, not next week, not next month, but today.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give an ode, perhaps a eulogy, to the downfall of DOGE and to the people's movement that brought about its demise. As we say good-bye to the departing, we take solace in knowing that our democracy endures in our people and our communities.”

“Madam Speaker, Chaco Canyon is sacred ground. It is the ancestral homeland and living landscape to both Pueblo and Dine people. It is a World Heritage Site, a place of ancient ruins, kivas, and sacred lands as far as the eye can see.”

“Mr. Speaker, Free D.C. To my colleagues across the aisle, I appreciate the debate, but I have to say I thought we were going to try to fix healthcare, to address costs, try to fix the economy, and get the country back on track.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stand with truth and justice, to stand with every survivor of sexual assault, and to demand the release of the Epstein files now.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to say: Welcome back to the House of Representatives. This is our first full week back after the shutdown and the 54 days of lockout that we experienced here in this Chamber, after a completely wasteful, avoidable, and painful shutdown that not only harmed families, workers, and our communities but cost our country billions of dollars.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am here tonight to stand union strong with our workers across America and in solidarity with my sister from New Jersey, Representative McIver. We stand union strong, labor strong, America strong, and worker strong.”

“Mr. Speaker, violence is never the answer, but neither is silence. We must reject political violence in all of its forms and push back against all who would seek to stoke further violence, division, and fear amongst us.”

“I have to say: If my colleagues across the aisle are so genuinely concerned about the well-being of women who are serving in the military and sexual violence, how about actually addressing that and the 45 percent of women who have reported that they have been sexually harassed just last year alone?”

“Mr. Speaker, I remind us that we are here to talk about the National Defense Authorization Act and to stand with our servicemembers who proudly signed up to serve this great Nation.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a grateful but sad heart to honor the life of U.S. Senator Fred Harris, a tireless champion for justice, democracy, and the people of New Mexico and Oklahoma.”

“Mr. Speaker, I have to say that I am always amazed, disturbed, and sometimes can't believe what I hear on this floor. We are sitting here today as a government shutdown is looming.”

“Mr. Speaker, we are here today to say hands off our Social Security because Social Security is not a luxury. It is not a handout. It is a sacred trust, a promise that we make to Americans that the hard-earned money that they pay into the system will be there when they need it--our seniors, our children who have lost a parent, people in our communities who live with disabilities.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am so proud and honored to be in the fight with the ranking member and, more importantly, to be in the fight for America and for our veterans, seniors, and children.”

“Mr. Speaker, you guys are so weak that you won't even vote to release the files. It is 11:20 p.m. in the middle of the night, and once again, you are trying to jam your dark agenda through Congress in the dark of night.”

“Mr. Chair, I rise in the strongest opposition to this defense spending bill because, once again, in the dark of night, the GOP is passing bills, stripping the American people of their safety, security, and support.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Gary Allen, who just retired as the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Western Territory General Vice President and was the President of Local Lodge No. 794 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes to honor the three lives lost this week in the catastrophic floods in Ruidoso, New Mexico, including two young children visiting Ruidoso from El Paso.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say: No to endless wars. No to a President who breaks the law daily. No to a Republican Congress that is so weak and so spineless that they refuse to stand up.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose this harmful, shameful, and offensive rescission package. The GOP is canceling $9.4 billion, yes, billion, in funding for programs that fund lifesaving work across the world.”

“Madam Speaker, today I rise to oppose this attack on our Nation's Capital. I remind everyone that 1 week ago today, Donald Trump was in the most epic breakup of probably a generation.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Min for convening this Special Order hour. As we are getting set up, I know that we have a poster that we want to get up here, so let me just start out.”

“Mr. Speaker, I find it laughable that for the last several decades, the GOP has branded themselves as the party of fiscal responsibility and economic development when they are trying to pass a bill right now that would blow a hole through the deficit, $37 trillion over 30 years, while they are trying to gut the infrastructure that helps small businesses survive.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the cruel and morally bankrupt healthcare agenda moving through this Chamber that would gut Medicaid; gut Medicare; collapse our healthcare systems; and cut food assistance to millions of children, seniors, and veterans across this country.”

“Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve to know what is happening in this body this week as the GOP is intentionally making moves in the dark of night.”

“Mr. Speaker, Donald Trump's war on science is putting our country and our economy in peril. From haphazard firings of Federal workers who work on nuclear security and keep our food and medicine safe to firefighters and healthcare workers, I am here to say enough is enough.”

“Mr. Speaker, as we honor Police Week, I rise to take a moment to thank all of our first responders who bravely put their lives on the line every day across New Mexico and to honor all of those who have fallen in the line of duty.”

“Mr. Speaker, let me begin with a simple fact: No Member of Congress should be trading stocks. Period. None. That is why I believe we must ban congressional stock trading and why I am proud to cosponsor this act here in Congress.”

“Madam Speaker, in Donald Trump's America, not even Elmo is safe because over the last 100 days, we have seen an unprecedented attack on the media, and especially our public media.”

“Mr. Speaker, Donald Trump says that he isn't sure if he needs to uphold the Constitution. It is clear to all of us from his attacks on the courts, the rule of law, our democratic institutions, our civil and legal rights, an open and free press, the dismantling of Federal agencies, and attacks on our communities that, indeed, he does not know what his constitutional duties are.”

“Mr. Speaker, a few days ago Donald Trump unveiled his so-called skinny budget for fiscal year 2026. This budget is only skinny on the cuts that it would cut for the American people, $163 billion for vital programs that serve our communities, Tribal programs, housing, healthcare, opioid reduction, and addiction recovery programs.”

“Mr. Speaker, today marks the 100th day of this administration. One hundred days of chaos, dysfunction, and attacks. Attacks on our democracy, our communities, and our environment, rollback protections for climate and clean energy, for our air, land, water, and wildlife.”

“Mr. Speaker, Black history is American history, indigenous history is American history, Latino history is American history, and women and LGBTQ+ history is American history. We will not be silenced.”

“Mr. Speaker, I will take a moment today to share a story of why we are fighting and who we are fighting for. Every day this administration claims they are trying to make America healthy again, and yet everything they are doing seems to indicate that they are trying to make us sicker again.”

“Mr. Speaker, the amount of gaslighting in this Chamber this afternoon has been absolutely stunning, truly, as I sat here this afternoon. What the GOP is doing is they are introducing a budget resolution that takes the worst of the House and the worst of the Senate and puts it in one big, beautiful bill that is going to blow a hole through the national debt.”

“Mr. Speaker, I want to start by saying welcome back to my friends across the aisle. It is really nice to have them back here in the people's House, especially after last week.”

“There are a couple of bills to roll back consumer protections to keep banks from ripping them off. Is that your agenda? That is it? You are going to rip off American consumers, undermine their voting rights, undermine the judiciary, and insult moms?”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to say to our President and to his administration: Hands off our education, hands off our teachers, hands off our students, and hands off our schools.”

“Mr. Speaker, among the daily assaults on our communities, on our economy, and the daily distractions and absurdities that we see from this administration and from my friends across the aisle in this Chamber, it can be easy to lose track of the bigger picture of what is happening across our country right now and the historical inflection point on which we stand.”

“Mr. Speaker, as we stand here today on the House floor, Donald Trump's Secretary of Health is announcing that he is firing over 10,000 healthcare professionals across America.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to ask a question that millions of Americans across this country are asking right now. That question is, ``What is Elon Musk doing with our data?'' because I think that none of us can figure that out.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to address the Members of this Chamber and the American people, especially in the wake of remarks by the President and actions by the GOP here in the House this week which undermine the Constitution and the fundamental rule of law.”

“Mr. Speaker, I think ``insanity'' is a good word for what is happening here on the House floor today. Another good word is ``bizarre.'' When I go home and I tell my constituents what happens in these Halls, they are amazed.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for convening this Special Order hour. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the real-world impacts of what is happening right now in our Federal Government.”

“Mr. Speaker, sometimes when I am standing in this Chamber, I literally cannot believe my ears, and I have to say that today is one of those days.”

“America, continue to be courageous because what is happening right now is not normal: The dismantling of agencies, including today the Department of Education, the firing of teachers, veterans, military, hacking your personal data, cozying up to foreign adversaries.”

“Mr. Speaker, as you know, there are hundreds of sovereign Tribal nations across the United States. Since this great Nation's founding, the United States has signed hundreds of treaties with Tribal nations and passed hundreds of laws reaffirming Tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and U.S. commitments to indigenous communities.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose this so-called budget resolution which is one of the greatest heists in American history as they loot the Treasury to give permanent tax breaks to billionaires at the expense of millions of Americans.”

“There will be cuts to income and food assistance, billions of dollars that go to families to keep food on the table and a roof over their head and to give tax breaks to billionaires.”

“Mr. Speaker, I stand before you tonight to honor and to celebrate Black History Month. Black History Month is not just a celebration, but a reminder of the struggles, achievements, resilience, and contributions of Black Americans throughout our Nation's history.”

“Mr. Speaker, Federal employees found themselves targeted yesterday by yet another reckless scare tactic by Elon Musk. As they were asked for five bullet points to demonstrate what they accomplished last week, a failure to comply would result in their termination by resignation according to a tweet by Elon Musk.”

“Mr. Speaker, I want to be honest. This legislation is literally breaking my heart because I am a New Mexican, born and raised, and there is not a single family in the State of New Mexico who has not been touched by the addiction crisis--the opioid crisis, fentanyl, alcoholism.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to speak directly to the American people and to our Federal workers, not only across the country but especially in New Mexico. I know that many are feeling frightened, uncertain, and under attack.”

“Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today with a heavy heart as we remember and honor the life and legacy of my dear friend and mentor, State Representative Eliseo Lee Alcon.”

“Mr. Chairman, I rise today in respectful opposition to H.R. 471 and to also express my concern and my condolences to all who are suffering in California from the devastating wildfires.”

“Mr. Speaker, today I stand to honor and remember the life and the legacy of Dr. Harold Bailey. As president of the NAACP Albuquerque Chapter and a leader across New Mexico, he was a pillar in the community, mentor, a father, someone who mentored countless generations of individuals who have transformed the fabric of our life in New Mexico.”

“Mr. Speaker, what I would like to know is, what does this bill have to do with lowering costs, the economy, or making our communities safer? The answer is nothing.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Jenna de la Rosa-Galey. Jenna is a member of Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails, Troop 91, and has exemplified extraordinary leadership, creativity, and demonstrated a commitment to making a lasting impact, by earning the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Emma Brundage. Emma is a member of Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails, Troop 10141, and has exemplified extraordinary leadership, creativity, and demonstrated a commitment to making a lasting impact, by earning the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award.”