Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, took to the House floor to urge a “NO” vote on H.R. 3838, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Waters blasted Speaker Johnson for blocking amendments offered by Committee Democrats to strengthen consumer protections, safeguard small businesses and community banks, expand affordable housing, and crack down on Trump family crypto corruption.

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The National Defense Authorization Act often includes provisions that have nothing to do with our national defense, and that’s not a bad thing. In the past, Members of my Committee have passed reforms to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, updated our anti-money laundering bills, and made numerous changes to securities and consumer protection laws on the NDAA.  And this year, Speaker Johnson cut a deal with his Freedom caucus members to insert a ban on the U.S. from researching how to create a digital dollar knowing that Democrats overwhelmingly rejected it in July.

Even though Speaker Johnson included this provision, he blocked all of my Committee Members’ financial services amendments from consideration in this bill.

So, what did he block? I offered an amendment to restore funding to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that Trump unlawfully cut. I also offered language to protect workers, small businesses and small community banks and credit unions by reforming deposit insurance.  Another amendment that Republicans are blocking would increase funding for affordable housing. And finally, I tried to attach my bill to stop the Trump family’s crypto corruption, which now exceeds $7.7 billion.

But Republicans won’t bring these to the floor, probably because they are scared that they would pass. It’s why Republicans also jammed in their ban of a digital dollar—they know that most Americans reject what they are doing.

For all of these reasons, and many more, I urge a no vote on H.R. 3838.

I yield back the balance of my time."

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