Recognizing Captain Jeremy Watkins

Floor Speech

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Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I take this moment to recognize Captain Jeremy Watkins for his 22 years of extraordinary service with the Dearborn Fire Department in Michigan's 12th District Strong.

Captain Watkins started as a firefighter with the Dearborn Fire Department in 2002. He steadily rose through the ranks, serving as engineer, lieutenant, and was promoted to captain in 2024.

Over the years, Captain Watkins has been recognized for his commitment and outstanding public service, achieving five Meritorious Company Commendations, as well as the Fire Chief's Unit Award, the Fire Chief's Life Saving Award, and the John D. Dingell Medal of Freedom Memorial Commendation.

He has also been recognized multiple times, Madam Speaker, for his safe driving record and for his work at the vaccination center.

Captain Watkins has devoted countless hours and energy to serving the people and the families of the city of Dearborn.

Please join me in recognizing his 22 years of commitment to protecting our communities across Michigan's 12th District as we wish him strength in his fight against brain cancer. Ending Profit from War

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Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, ending utility shutoffs, boldly tackling the climate crisis, fully funding Social Security, universal school meals for every child that is hungry in our country, guaranteeing healthcare and clean water is a human right.

Year after year, many colleagues tell me that there is no money for these lifesaving programs, and then they turn around and vote for another record-breaking $886.3 billion in military budget and massive weapons giveaways for foreign governments, funneling billions of our tax dollars to the very same defense contractors that many of them are invested in and taking campaign donations from.

We should not be voting to send our U.S. dollars to any government that is violating human rights, period. It is disturbing that many of my colleagues in this Chamber are actively profiting financially when they vote to pass more funding for weapons and wars. Literally every bomb dropped makes them money.

The American people deserve Representatives who vote in the best interests of our families. We are all elected to serve the public, not to serve stock portfolios.

I introduced the Stop Politicians Profiting from War Act to put an end to this corruption and ban Members of Congress from owning war and defense stocks. The American people deserve better. We are sick of politicians profiting from death and war. Demanding Justice for Syrians

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Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, over 600,000 have been killed. It has been over a decade since the start of the Syrian civil war, and victims of numerous horrific crimes committed during the conflict are still waiting for justice.

In recent months, regional powers and dictators have sought to sweep the war criminal, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's heinous, horrific crimes under the rug and welcome him back into the international arena. Shame.

Assad's regime committed some of the worst atrocities of the 21st century, including using chemical weapons literally on his own people and widespread use of horrific torture on his own people.

I introduced the Justice for Syrians resolution, and I urge my colleagues to bring it to the floor for a vote. This bill directs the U.S. through the United Nations to finally hold war criminal Assad accountable for crimes against humanity at an ad hoc international court of law.

This is critical. Please join me in demanding justice for our Syrian people and our families that are directly impacted that live here in the United States and push to hold war criminals like Assad accountable for their crimes against humanity.

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