Under the leadership of our Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico has pursued a bold, transformational vision.

As a Head Start alumnus, I know the value of high-quality early childhood education and believe that Congress should be strengthening its support for childcare in this country, not taking steps backward.

I always appreciate when folks remark on our budgets, that they are a reflection of values.

Under the leadership of our Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico has pursued a bold, transformational vision.

Head Start, pre-K, and childcare programs have a profound return on investment.

Head Start, pre-K, and childcare programs have a profound return on investment.

As a Head Start alumnus, I know the value of high-quality early childhood education and believe that Congress should be strengthening its support for childcare in this country, not taking steps backward.

I always appreciate when folks remark on our budgets, that they are a reflection of values.

I think that is one show of success when we measure access to these programs and what it means as well.

As a Head Start alumnus, I know the value of high-quality early childhood education and believe that Congress should be strengthening its support for childcare in this country, not taking steps backward.

Under the leadership of our Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico has pursued a bold, transformational vision.

Head Start, pre-K, and childcare programs have a profound return on investment, as has been pointed out today.

Now, New Mexico became the first state in the Nation, along with D.C., to use this alternative methodology to set rates.

These low market rates keep wages low, revenues low, and supply low.

I hope that we all agree is that the wages that early childhood educators make is very, very low.

I stand before you today reporting for duty to our country, to our communities, to our Constitution, and most importantly, for New Mexico. As you can see, Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I can't say the same for my Republican colleagues…

they are a moral and an actual legal trust responsibility of the Federal Government to make good on our promises to protect these lands for Indigenous communities, and to do proper consultation.

I demand a recorded vote. A recorded vote was ordered. The SPEAKER pro tempore. This is a 5-minute vote. The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 217, noes 204, not voting 14, as follows: [Roll No. 231] AYES--217…