Floor Speech2026-06-02

RECOGNIZING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF STERLING AMERICAN LEGION POST 150 MEMORIAL

Context

On 2026-06-02, Representative Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10) delivered a floor speech titled "RECOGNIZING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF STERLING AMERICAN LEGION POST 150 MEMORIAL" in the House.

Full Text

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 93 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 93 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026)] [House] [Page H3744] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF STERLING AMERICAN LEGION POST 150 MEMORIAL (Mr. Subramanyam of Virginia was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, this past Memorial Day, my office joined the Loudoun community in honoring the 50th Anniversary of the Sterling American Legion Post 150 Memorial. It was 50 years ago that Post 150, led by committee Chairman Jack Kapp, established the park on Memorial Day 1976. They recognized that our community needed a place to remember those who served and those who never returned home. As part of this important anniversary, my office was proud to provide four American flags that will now fly over the memorial next year. For 50 years, the Sterling American Legion Post 150 Memorial has stood as a reminder that freedom is never free and that the sacrifices of our fallen must never be forgotten. The members of Post 150 continue that mission every single day through their support for veterans and military families. Places like this memorial preserve the service and sacrifice of our fallen heroes for future generations. They must also serve as a reminder that actions are just as important as words and symbols. That means supporting our veterans and military families here in Congress. Mr. Speaker, may we always remember and recognize those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this Nation. Delaying USAID Retirement Benefits Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, over the past year and a half, 10,000 USAID employees were forced out of their jobs. Many of them were my constituents, and many with decades of diplomatic experience were pushed into retirement as the agency was illegally dismantled. That was bad enough for them and for our country's security and safety, but now former USAID constituents are reaching out, saying that they aren't getting their full and accurate retirement annuities. In many cases, USAID retirees have received no benefits at all since July of 2025, benefits that they earned and are legally entitled to. This also includes discontinued health insurance, as well, making life hard for them and their families. As a result, according to the recent surveys of these USAID employees, 85 percent of them have experienced negative financial impacts, and 76 percent report negative impacts on their mental health. When people try to contact USAID's H.R. office for help, staff there have reportedly been directed to ignore emails and calls and funnel all outreach into a single ticket system. It is almost deliberately inefficient. When our constituents try to call to speak to a live staff member, they aren't able to. Questions are going unanswered, and people are left in the dark, waiting without pay while facing mortgages, college tuition payments, and rising costs of groceries and gas. Not paying retirees their earned benefits is a slap in the face to the people who dedicated their careers to public service and making America strong and secure through their work abroad. Mr. Speaker, I urge the administration to stop breaking the law and stealing from USAID employees. They must immediately fix this. That means issuing all owed retirement benefits to every eligible USAID employee. USCIS Policy Abandons 70 Years of Law and Precedent Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, on May 22, USCIS released a policy memo that it would grant adjustment of status from within the United States only in extraordinary circumstances. This broad policy abandons over 70 years of law and precedent. It is pulling the rug out from under families who have worked to be together and from businesses that thought their workers would continue to be able to work. It is effectively forcing hardworking students, family members, and entrepreneurs on a pathway to a green card to leave the country for many years while they wait for their status to change. Almost immediately, my office was flooded with inquiries about what this will mean for families. Over a week later, USCIS has tried to clarify their original memo. One spokesman said that people who provide an economic benefit will likely be able to continue on their current path. With no specific details, families are left with more questions than answers. Yesterday, I sent a letter to USCIS seeking clarification on how they plan to implement this policy but also urging the agency to immediately reverse it. Our immigrant communities that are doing everything right should not be punished. Our businesses, already struggling under the economic chaos of this administration, should not suddenly be told that many of their employees won't be able to continue working. These policies are undermining our greatest strength by driving away talent, innovation, and leaders in communities across the country and across the world. Mr. Speaker, these policies signal that the United States cannot be trusted to keep the promises it makes to immigrant communities and, really, to anyone. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this USCIS policy. ____________________

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RECOGNIZING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF STERLING AMERICAN LEGION POST 150 MEMORIAL Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 93 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 93 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026)] [House] [Page H3744] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF STERLING AMERICAN LEGION POST 150 MEMORIAL (Mr. Subramanyam of Virginia was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, this past Memorial Day, my office joined the Loudoun community in honoring the 50th Anniversary of the Sterling American Legion Post 150 Memorial. It was 50 years ago that Post 150, led by committee Chairman Jack Kapp, established the park on Memorial Day 1976. They recognized that our community needed a place to remember those who served and those who never returned home. As part of this important anniversary, my office was proud to provide four American flags that will now fly over the memorial next year. For 50 years, the Sterling American Legion Post 150 Memorial has stood as a reminder that freedom is never free and that the sacrifices of our fallen must never be forgotten. The members of Post 150 continue that mission every single day through their support for veterans and military families. Places like this memorial preserve the service and sacrifice of our fallen heroes for future generations. They must also serve as a reminder that actions are just as important as words and symbols. That means supporting our veterans and military families here in Congress. Mr. Speaker, may we always remember and recognize those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this Nation. Delaying USAID Retirement Benefits Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, over the past year and a half, 10,000 USAID employees were forced out of their jobs. Many of them were my constituents, and many with decades of diplomatic experience were pushed into retirement as the agency was illegally dismantled. That was bad enough for them and for our country's security and safety, but now former USAID constituents are reaching out, saying that they aren't getting their full and accurate retirement annuities. In many cases, USAID retirees have received no benefits at all since July of 2025, benefits that they earned and are legally entitled to. This also includes discontinued health insurance, as well, making life hard for them and their families. As a result, according to the recent surveys of these USAID employees, 85 percent of them have experienced negative financial impacts, and 76 percent report negative impacts on their mental health. When people try to contact USAID's H.R. office for help, staff there have reportedly been directed to ignore emails and calls and funnel all outreach into a single ticket system. It is almost deliberately inefficient. When our constituents try to call to speak to a live staff member, they aren't able to. Questions are going unanswered, and people are left in the dark, waiting without pay while facing mortgages, college tuition payments, and rising costs of groceries and gas. Not paying retirees their earned benefits is a slap in the face to the people who dedicated their careers to public service and making America strong and secure through their work abroad. Mr. Speaker, I urge the administration to stop breaking the law and stealing from USAID employees. They must immediately fix this. That means issuing all owed retirement benefits to every eligible USAID employee. USCIS Policy Abandons 70 Years of Law and Precedent Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, on May 22, USCIS released a policy memo that it would grant adjustment of status from within the United States only in extraordinary circumstances. This broad policy abandons over 70 years of law and precedent. It is pulling the rug out from under families who have worked to be together and from businesses that thought their workers would continue to be able to work. It is effectively forcing hardworking students, family members, and entrepreneurs on a pathway to a green card to leave the country for many years while they wait for their status to change. Almost immediately, my office was flooded with inquiries about what this will mean for families. Over a week later, USCIS has tried to clarify their original memo. One spokesman said that people who provide an economic benefit will likely be able to continue on their current path. With no specific details, families are left with more questions than answers. Yesterday, I sent a letter to USCIS seeking clarification on how they plan to implement this policy but also urging the agency to immediately reverse it. Our immigrant communities that are doing everything right should not be punished. Our businesses, already struggling under the economic chaos of this administration, should not suddenly be told that many of their employees won't be able to continue working. These policies are undermining our greatest strength by driving away talent, innovation, and leaders in communities across the country and across the world. Mr. Speaker, these policies signal that the United States cannot be trusted to keep the promises it makes to immigrant communities and, really, to anyone. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this USCIS policy. ____________________