Jason Smith · TranslatePolitics.com

House of Representatives

Agoa Extension Act

2026-09-01

“I want this bill to pass. It will keep the government open. The bill has trade policies for Africa and Haiti. These policies help our country's economy and security. Africa has minerals we need. China wants those minerals. We should not let China get them. We need secure supply chains not controlled by China. Our policies will help Haiti too. Haiti is close to the US. We want Haiti to be stable. That will be good for our security. Our policies for Africa and Haiti need updates. This bill gives us time to make those updates.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Cole for the opportunity to speak. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, which not only prevents another government shutdown but also includes legislation passed by the Ways and Means Committee and the House to reauthorize trade policies that are vital to our Nation's economy and national security. For over two decades, the African Growth and Opportunity Act has been the foundation of America's trade partnership with the nations of sub- Saharan Africa. AGOA promotes greater economic stability and opportunity across Africa while advancing America's strategic and national security interests, including access to critical minerals and more secure supply chains that are not beholden to Communist China. Africa is home to approximately 30 percent of the world's critical mineral resources. Strengthening our trade relationship with Africa ensures that we do not surrender those critical minerals to China. China has invested $8 billion to $10 billion in Africa and is seeking to monopolize that entire market to control future technological innovation and achieve military dominance. We cannot let that happen. This bill also reauthorizes the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act and the Haiti Economic Lift Program Act, known as HOPE and HELP. These programs provide trade preferences for textile and apparel products from Haiti and encourage greater stability in a nation less than 600 miles away from the Florida coast that has long suffered political and economic upheaval. Greater stability in Haiti means fewer regional security concerns for the United States. Earlier this year, we reauthorized both of these vital agreements for an additional 1 year. Today's legislation ensures that both AGOA and Haiti HOPE/HELP will be in effect through the end of 2028, which will give our committee and stakeholders interested in these vital programs time to consider reforms and update them to ensure that they continue to advance U.S. interests.

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House of Representatives

Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act

2026-07-23

“I want this bill to pass. It will help disabled veterans. I want you to vote for it. The other side does not want to help veterans. They want to control people's benefits. They want to control people's lives. That is bad. I want to give veterans the dignity of work. I want them to live better lives.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, we have heard some amazing arguments on the floor just now, but one thing that has been crystal clear by the arguments that we have heard in opposition to this bill which helps veterans is simply that the Democratic Party is focused on legislative items that allow them to control Americans. They want to have 100 percent control over the benefits of Americans. They don't even want to give them the opportunity to have the dignity of work. They said it on the floor today. I can't believe that they would possibly want to say that they know better for your livelihood than what you do, but that is what the speakers are saying, and that is why they are opposing this bill. That is a shame. Mr. Speaker, you hear individuals say that it is a risk. The only risk of this bill is simply that my Democratic colleagues can't have 100 percent control over the benefits of veterans who are disabled. This bill allows them to give the opportunity to have the dignity of work and not lose their benefits but to still be able to thrive. We are focused on the success of the individual, not the fact that the government can control your livelihood. Mr. Speaker, I encourage this body to support this great piece of legislation that Mr. Austin Scott has worked on for some time to deliver relief for real Americans, for veterans, and not to the Democratic Party, who wants to control their benefits. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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“I want this bill to pass. It spends money on programs for disabled people. It will make them work more. The government needs to spend more money to help disabled people work. We had a hearing where someone said work is good. The bill's author used to help veterans. I want to talk about him to make the bill look good. I say this bill has support from both parties. I want my colleagues to pass the bill.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, introduced by our colleague from Georgia, Representative Austin Scott. Many Americans that are living with disabilities want to enter the workforce and seek gainful employment. In fact, an estimated 60 percent of Americans who receive benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance program have stated a desire to return to work. Yet less than 1 percent leave the disability insurance program each year for a job. That is a gigantic gap between the number of disabled Americans who want to work and the number who successfully return to work. The Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act seeks to shrink that gap by simply restoring the Social Security Administration's authority to test drive solutions that can empower more of our fellow Americans to get back to work. Up until 2022, the SSA had such authority to run demonstration projects on improving work outcomes. With that authority expired and with so many disabled Americans still unable to successfully navigate the current program, we have to find a better way forward. In fact, some of the challenges cited for why so few SSDI beneficiaries successfully return to the workforce are confusing rules of the road for eligibility, that and a fear of overpayments and benefit cliffs. Just so we do not forget why we should be focused on this issue, at a hearing of the Ways and Means Social Security and Work and Welfare Subcommittees in September, we heard from a witness, a former beneficiary, about how the work he found helped give his life real purpose and a different outlook. He was talking about the dignity of work, and that is what this bill will help deliver. Representative Scott has been a long-time--and I would say long-time, tireless champion for Purple Heart veterans. Many of them wish to return to work but cannot afford the severe restrictions placed on their work status. I commend Mr. Scott for expanding his bill to allow the SSA's demonstration authority for so many impacted individuals, including blind Americans. He has identified a commonsense solution and is fighting to see it come to pass, just as it did through the Ways and Means Committee with bipartisan support. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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“I want to cheer for a program that spends money in my district.”