Summer Lee

You know, I think that – you know, I think people who are experiencing this, right, who are – who are outside of the arena, who have been organizing since October, you know, that is a step.

We have to actually take steps that are going to evidence that, take steps that are going to show that we're willing to start to listen to people who have been outside of the political, I would say, conversation for so long.

We have to do more than just say that we believe that. We have to actually take steps that are going to evidence that, take steps that are going to show that we're willing to start to listen to people who have been outside of the…

I think that there has been – and I think that, if you really look at this, long before October 7, it was almost taboo to talk about Palestinians, to talk about the experiences that they have and that they continue to have in our politics.

Ensuring the independence of IGs is critical to OIG's credibility and effectiveness.

President Trump also left gaping holes in the IG community for years at a time.

This bill is part of the Democrats' Freedom to Vote Act. Along with the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, these are the types of bills we should be bringing to the floor, not this nonsense. Every day that we let rightwing…

Environmental rules and regulations are not just important for tackling the climate crisis. They are essential for addressing the toxic legacy of environmental racism and injustice.

We know statistically that they are not the ones whose communities have been intentionally polluted or targeted by police.

I will not allow our voices to be silenced. I will not allow these attacks to go on unchallenged.

The reason DEIA policies were even created was to right existing wrongs.

I want to specifically say to trans people across this country, I see you. I am here to support you.

It is not just that we have colleagues here in this Committee who are making the claim that too many Black folks are getting jobs...

We should not tolerate it, and we stand with you.

There are a few, I believe, true believers whose spew these hateful indignities toward people in my community.

You are entitled to dignity and respect at work. You are entitled to dignity and respect everywhere because you are an American.

Since 2017, the Department has managed to spend over a half a billion dollars on developing a new personnel vetting system, NBIS, with little to show for it.

To quote GAO's report, DOD's estimate is minimally accurate, minimally comprehensive, not credible, and minimally well-documented.

The only way to truly deliver for the American people is to fully and properly invest in the programs meant to serve them.

Part of the Republican playbook is to slash funding to government agencies and then cry foul when they cannot function properly.

This great return on taxpayer investment is especially true when it comes to the IRS.

Part of building a new energy economy is the development of a workforce that is high quality and unionized.

My Republican colleagues would like to use this hearing to bolster this narrative that the Biden Administration is enacting a war on energy.

There are additional areas of concern that the committee should remain focused on ensuring that AI's development and deployment for civilian agency use is safe, secure, and protects civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy.

These experts should not have to worry that they might be fired if their findings upset powerful energy executives who contribute to Donald Trump's political campaign.