[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H778-H779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ILL-CONCEIVED BUDGET RESOLUTION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Washington (Ms. Strickland) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. STRICKLAND. Madam Speaker, this week House Republicans are 
bringing forth their ill-conceived, cruel budget resolution. This 
resolution will set the stage across the board for cuts on the basic 
services our constituents depend on the most. These constituents, by 
the way, live in both red States and blue States.
  As the majority brings up their budget resolution, they have already 
said what they plan to do because they told us. They want to take away 
Head Start

[[Page H779]]

school lunches. They want to take away food assistance from children 
and needy families. They want to take away Medicaid and Affordable Care 
Act premium assistance. Instead of strengthening the social safety net, 
the MAGA majority has decided to strip Medicaid coverage from almost 
65,000 children in my district alone.
  Almost 40 percent of children in Washington State get their 
healthcare through Medicaid, 35 percent of moms giving birth and their 
newborn babies rely on Medicaid for their healthcare, and the MAGA 
majority wants to strip away their healthcare.
  If any of my colleagues vote for this, they have forfeited the right 
to claim they are pro-life ever again. It is not pro-life to take away 
a newborn baby's healthcare. It is not pro-life to take away healthcare 
from 65,000 children in my district. It is not pro-life to take away 
food from hungry children.
  We were promised that president Musk and the MAGA majority would 
lower costs for the American people from day one. This does none of 
that. Instead, they are trying to take away healthcare and food from 
our kids.
  I urge everyone to vote ``no'' on this resolution and stop the 
Republican rip-off.


                Unprecedented Firing of Military Leaders

  Ms. STRICKLAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the 
unprecedented firing of some of our most qualified and senior military 
leadership, including General CQ Brown, the eminently qualified 
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  General Brown is an exceptional leader, a dedicated servicemember, 
and an American hero. His firing, the dismissal of Admiral Franchetti, 
and the judge advocate generals for the services is a travesty. When 
nominated, General Brown had logged in over 3,000 flying hours, 
including 130 combat hours and command of the Pacific Air Forces for 
the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. His service and dedication are 
impeccable.
  Most galling is that the person President Trump nominated is 
affirmatively less qualified than General Brown was when he was 
nominated. This person has not even met the most basic qualifications 
to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  What does this tell our servicemembers and their families and our 
future recruits that expect to be promoted on merit and ability?
  President Trump has decided to prioritize nominating people who will 
make us less safe and less secure because his only requirement is blind 
loyalty.
  As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, we constantly hear 
the drumbeat of needing to prepare for the threats that we face both 
today and tomorrow, both here at home and abroad. President Trump's 
abrupt dismissal has created chaos, will degrade our readiness, hurt 
recruitment, and empower our enemies.


                Life and Legacy of Ernest Charles Tanner

  Ms. STRICKLAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today, as we celebrate Black 
History Month, to recognize the life and legacy of Ernest ``Ernie'' 
Charles Tanner.
  Ernie Tanner was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 5, 1889. His 
family moved to Tacoma, Washington, my hometown, in 1900, where he 
attended Tacoma High School, which is now known as Stadium High School. 
At Whitworth College, he was the first African American to play 
football at the college level in the entire Pacific Northwest.
  After college, Mr. Tanner worked as a Tacoma elevator operator, and 
in 1918 he joined the Tacoma chapter of the International 
Longshoremen's Association, then known as ILA. He remained a member 
until he died.
  In 1934, Mr. Tanner was the only Black member of the Tacoma strike 
committee during the big strike that shut down every single Pacific 
Coast port. Mr. Tanner worked closely with San Francisco leader, Harry 
Bridges, to keep Black and White workers united during the strike so 
employers could not break the union.
  He was a trustee of Local 2897 from 1934 to 1936, where he pressured 
leaders to pay Black dockworkers the same wages as their White 
counterparts.
  Ernest Charles Tanner passed away in 1956 at the age of 66. He 
achieved what many seek when they join a union, the recognition of the 
dignity of all work, to rise out of poverty, and to provide a better 
life for his family. This was exemplified when Mr. Tanner's son, Jack 
Tanner, became the Pacific Northwest's first Black Federal judge in 
1978. This is generational success and wealth.

  Ernie Tanner broke barriers in sports and labor. On behalf of his 
community, it is appropriate that we recognize his life and legacy 
today. Happy Black History Month to everyone.

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