Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1688, introduced by Representative Ruben Gallego from Arizona, our outgoing subcommittee chairman--and I appreciate his leadership on that--amends and reauthorizes several programs within the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act in order to improve the prevention, investigation, treatment, and prosecution of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect involving Native American children and families. There is an enormous need for family violence prevention and treatment resources in Tribal communities. Native children experience child abuse and neglect at an elevated rate, which leads many to require special education services, to be more likely to be involved in the juvenile and criminal justice systems, and to have long-term mental health needs. Passage of H.R. 1688 will create technical assistance programs in the Bureau of Indian Affairs, allow for urban Indian organizations to partner with Tribal governments, and ensure culturally competent care. I thank Representative Gallego for introducing and championing this vitally important legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1688. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”