Gregory W. Meeks
Representative for New York · Democratic · United States
“Our Republican colleagues have also made in order many amendments that would further damage our national security interests. Prohibiting funding for the United Nations means abdicating U.S. leadership to competitors like China and Russia.”
“Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to the fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill for the State Department and foreign operations. Last year, the Trump administration illegally dismantled USAID and fired over 1,300 State Department employees.”
“Speaker Johnson, again, ``is using Rules Committee Resolutions, consummated by majority vote of the whole House, to declare that `a day is not a day' in order to avoid the U.S. law that requires Congress to vote.'' By the way, those aren't my words. That is a tweet from a Republican House Member who just simply told the truth.”
“Mr. Speaker, this is one of the most momentous votes of this Congress. The President unilaterally imposed one of the largest tax increases in American history. People's retirement accounts are now in shambles.”
“Mr. Speaker, Republicans who have complained about executive overreach and rules distortions for years, now is the chance to put their money where their mouth is. This is the time. The American people will hold them accountable if they don't. Do you support the largest peacetime tax increase on American families?”
“With no coherent plan, he is imposing the largest peacetime tax increase in American history. That is what tariffs are: taxes that will increase the cost of living, your food, the car you need to drive to work, your appliances, and your electronics. All of it will increase what the average family will spend by more than $5,000 a year.”
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“Our Republican colleagues have also made in order many amendments that would further damage our national security interests. Prohibiting funding for the United Nations means abdicating U.S. leadership to competitors like China and Russia. Prohibiting funding for an ally like Jordan makes zero sense amidst the fallout of President Trump's war of choice with Iran and the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Cutting off funding for the National Endowment for Democracy, The Asia Foundation, East-West Center, Peace Corps, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Asian Development Fund, and African Development Bank Group further undercuts American leadership and democracy around the world. Sustained investment in our diplomatic and development institutions is essential if you want to prevent wars instead of paying for them. Mr.”
“Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to the fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill for the State Department and foreign operations. Last year, the Trump administration illegally dismantled USAID and fired over 1,300 State Department employees. {time} 1300 It rescinded $13 billion for critical humanitarian and development programs, and now House Republicans want to approve legislation that amounts to a 20 percent cut from 2025 enacted levels, locking in those dangerous Trump cuts. It isn't penny-wise, and it certainly is pound-foolish. Case in point: When the administration cut funding for global health, it ended key disease outbreak surveillance and prevention programs. Now we have the second largest Ebola outbreak on record and are scrambling to protect U.S. livestock from the New World screwworm.”
“Mr. Speaker, Republicans who have complained about executive overreach and rules distortions for years, now is the chance to put their money where their mouth is. This is the time. The American people will hold them accountable if they don't. Do you support the largest peacetime tax increase on American families? Do you support raising the cost of groceries for them? If you do not and you want to end America's largest economic self-sabotage ever, then vote against this rule and stand up for the American people.”
“That is why I did many bipartisan bills with Representative McCaul in the Foreign Affairs Committee. The Speaker pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.”
“Speaker Johnson, again, ``is using Rules Committee Resolutions, consummated by majority vote of the whole House, to declare that `a day is not a day' in order to avoid the U.S. law that requires Congress to vote.'' By the way, those aren't my words. That is a tweet from a Republican House Member who just simply told the truth. Let me be clear: A vote for this rule is a vote for tariffs. It is a vote for raising the costs on everyday Americans. Now, many Republicans I have worked with over the years can attest that this should not be a partisan vote. I care about bipartisanship. We should be bipartisan. That is why, in this Congress, I introduced an AUMF repeal bill with Representative Roy. That is why this week, I co- led a bill to claw back tariff powers from the executive with Representative Bacon.”
“Mr. Speaker, this is one of the most momentous votes of this Congress. The President unilaterally imposed one of the largest tax increases in American history. People's retirement accounts are now in shambles. We all know these tariffs are a disaster, and that is why Republicans are now trying to block a vote on whether to end these tariffs so they don't have to go on the record. It is why a few minutes before this speech, President Trump blinked, announcing a brief pause but we will be doing the same dance again in a couple of months. It is time to simply end the chaos. That is why I introduced a resolution to end these tariffs, but Speaker Johnson and the majority don't want to go on record. They are trying to dodge a vote. But guess what. You can run, but you can't hide from the American people.”
“While Trump may have started this, if this Republican majority chooses to duck a vote on my resolution ending these tariffs, then they will own this, too. They will own the higher prices. They will own the jobs lost. They will own the retirement savings erased. They will own all of it. Mr. Speaker, join us, sign on, and stop this tax of American people. This is what should be happening for us to continue to be the greatest Nation on the planet and make sure that things are affordable for the American people. Let's join together in defeating the previous question and put an end to this self-imposed economic wrecking ball. {time} 1300 The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President.”
“That is the hard-saved money for your children's education, for your 401(k), and for your dreams of retirement. It is only going to get worse. As prices go up, people will have less money to eat at their local restaurants, see a movie, enjoy a family vacation. That means lower demand, slower growth, job losses in every sector of our economy from Main Street shops to factory floors. The Speaker pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.”
“With no coherent plan, he is imposing the largest peacetime tax increase in American history. That is what tariffs are: taxes that will increase the cost of living, your food, the car you need to drive to work, your appliances, and your electronics. All of it will increase what the average family will spend by more than $5,000 a year. Trump has launched a trade war that has united our allies and our adversaries against us. I could go on and on about the absurd incompetence underpinning Trump's trade war: the pseudo emergency used as an authority, the nonsense methodology used to justify the tariff rates, or the ever-changing rationale about the reasons for starting this tariff tantrum. The tariffs have already triggered a stock market plunge, wiping out trillions of dollars in value.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for allowing me to speak. I thank the ranking member for all of his hard work because for sure what the President of the United States has done was lied to the American people and broke a promissory note. That promissory note was that he told the American people on day one, inflation would go down. Prices would go down on day one, he said. Instead, what the President has done is, unleashed an economic chaos on the American people. Recessions are normally caused by complex factors like oil price shocks, overleveraged financial markets, or global pandemics. This new economic disaster isn't caused by war or by an act of nature. It is the result of one man who lied to the American people. His name is Donald J. Trump.”