What Nydia M. Velázquez said, and what was done

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 6955. Community banks and credit unions are the foundations of our financial system. As ranking member of the House Small Business Committee, I understand better than most the role they play in our communities, offering small business loans, farm loans, and mortgages.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong opposition to the so-called ``Ending Discrimination in Government Contracting Act,'' legislation that would more accurately be described as the ``Ending WOSB Participation in Government Contracting Act.'' This latest attempt to attack small business entrepreneurs and women's participation in the federal marketplace is transparent, misguided, and cruel.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Principal Marc Pascente for his extraordinary commitment to public education and his unwavering dedication to the students, families, and communities of New York's 7th Congressional District and across New York City.”

“Mr. Speaker, almost a year ago, we debated a horrific piece of Republican legislation that cut more than a trillion dollars from healthcare and nearly $200 billion in food assistance for hungry families, all so billionaires could get another tax cut.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6644. I thank Ranking Member Waters and Chairman Hill for including my language on cooperative housing developments and oversight of monitors and receivers of public housing authorities.”

“Mr. Speaker, finally, let me say that this bill is a much-needed first step. It is not the entire answer. We must all recognize that we still need substantial monetary investments in housing programs to ensure effective development and reconstruction of the units we need.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Minerva Solla, a tireless advocate for working people, whose commitment to justice, dignity, and human rights has spanned more than five decades.”

“Madam Speaker, I commend Ms. Scholten and Mr. Downing for their dedication to our Nation's innovative small enterprises, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5784. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.”

“Madam Speaker, I again applaud Representatives Tran and Patronis for their bipartisan work on this bill. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.”

“Madam Speaker, I commend the sponsors for working together on this important legislation to provide small businesses with the training they need. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this War Powers Resolution. Twenty-three years ago, I stood on this same floor as Congress debated an Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my heartfelt birthday wishes to Ms. Hattie White as she celebrates her remarkable 100th birthday. Born in 1925, she lived in the vibrant Bedford Stuyvesant community in Brooklyn, New York.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the GENIUS Act. From the beginning, I have said that Congress needs to tackle stablecoin legislation, but we cannot pretend that this is happening in a vacuum.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this bill. It is ironic we are debating a bill called the CLARITY Act when it offers no clarity on one of the biggest issues in crypto, the blatant conflicts of interest inside our own government.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Theodore M. Renz, who is retiring after nearly four decades of exceptional public service as the Executive Director of the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) in Ridgewood, Queens.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Josie Mota Gomez, a visionary in education, lifelong advocate for youth, and social justice. For more than three decades, Josie has been a pillar of the El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice, located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, her hometown.”

“SBA's capacity to carry out its mission and strip resources away from hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs. Sincerely, John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO, Small Business Majority. ____ Tuesday June 3, 2025.”

“Mr. Speaker, let me say that H.R. 2966 will not improve SBA lending or support small businesses. This bill creates new barriers, targets legally operating entrepreneurs, and burdens lenders with requirements they aren't equipped to meet.”

“Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in voting for the motion to recommit and vote ``no'' on H.R. 2987. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my strong opposition to the efforts to undermine American small businesses by the very agency tasked with fueling them. Let me be clear.”

“President Trump issued an executive order on April 28 that directed the department and the attorney general to publish a list of states and local jurisdictions ``obstructing federal immigration law enforcement and notify each sanctuary jurisdiction of its non-compliance, providing an opportunity to correct it.'' ``Some of the cities have pushed back.”

“H.R. 2966 adds insult to injury by imposing sweeping new restrictions on SBA loan eligibility, explicitly excluding entrepreneurs with certain immigration statuses--including asylees, refugees, DACA recipients, visa holders, and undocumented individuals.”

“Mr. Speaker, the SBA is supposed to serve American small businesses, full stop--not just in certain cities, not just when it is politically convenient, but everywhere for everyone.”

“Mr. Speaker, in 1994, Congress established a goal of awarding 5 percent of Federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses. Recognizing the obstacles that female entrepreneurs faced when entering and competing in the Federal marketplace, Congress identified this goal as an uphill battle.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jessica Arocho, an exceptional individual who has devoted her life to serving the North Brooklyn community. As the Director of Community Affairs at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, Jessica exemplifies the spirit of service that defines our community leaders.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mr. James ``Jim'' King. Over the span of his career, Jim was instrumental in launching and leading the New York Small Business Development Center, where he served as Executive Director for 33 years.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this reckless Republican funding bill. Republicans claim that this is a clean CR, but the facts tell a different story.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dominican Heritage Month and to celebrate the 181st anniversary of the Independence of the Dominican Republic, observed on February 27th. This month provides an opportunity to reflect on the resilience, history, and achievements of the Dominican people--both in their homeland and across the diaspora.”

“Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to this Republican rip-off. This budget slashes $880 billion from Medicaid, putting 286,000 people in my district, including nearly 100,000 children, at risk of losing healthcare.”

“Mr. Speaker, I applaud Ms. Davids, Mr. Alford, and Mr. Conaway for their commitment to our Nation's veterans. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 828, and I yield back the balance of my time.”

“Mr. Speaker, I applaud Representatives Chu, Finstad, and McIver for their bipartisan work on this bill. I encourage all my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rosa Figueroa as she retires after 18 remarkable years as the Director of the LaGuardia Community College Small Business Development Center (SBDC).”