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Appropriations and Senate Agenda
00:15:37
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unidentified
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C-SPAN's Washington Journal, our live forum inviting you to discuss the latest issues in government, politics, and public policy from Washington, D.C. to across the country. | |
| Coming up Thursday morning, investigative journalist Dave Leventhal on congressional stock trading law. | ||
| And then we'll discuss the Epstein files and other congressional news of the day first with Washington Republican Congressman Michael Baumgartner and then with Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Stephen Lynch. | ||
| C-SPAN's Washington Journal. | ||
| Join the conversation live at 7 Eastern Thursday morning on C-SPAN, C-SPAN Now, our free mobile app, or online at c-SPAN.org. | ||
| And now live to the floor of the U.S. House as members return for a series of votes. | ||
| live coverage here on C-SPAN. | ||
| Proceedings will resume on questions previously postponed. | ||
| Votes will be taken in the following order. | ||
| Passage of H.R. 5214, passage of H.R. 5107, and motions to suspend the rules with respect to H.R. 4058 and H.R. 6019. | ||
| The first electronic vote will be conducted as a 15-minute vote, pursuant to clause 9 of Rule 20. | ||
| Remaining electronic votes will be conducted as five-minute votes. | ||
| Right now. | ||
| Pursuant to clause 8 of Rule 20, the unfinished business is the vote on passage of H.R. 5214, on which the yays and nays are ordered. | ||
| The clerk will report the title of the bill. | ||
| Union calendar number 269, H.R. 5214, a bill to require mandatory pre-trial and post-conviction detention for crimes of violence and dangerous crimes and require mandatory cash bail for certain offenses that pose a threat to public safety or order in the District of Columbia and for other purposes. | ||
| The question is on passage of the bill. | ||
| Members will record their votes by electronic device. | ||
| This is a 15-minute vote. | ||
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unidentified
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This is the first and only vote series today in the House. | |
| Members working on a number of different issues and bills. | ||
| Representatives now considering a bill regarding a cash bail system for Washington, D.C. | ||
| It would require mandatory cash bail for serious crimes that pose a threat to public safety, including rioting. | ||
| D.C. was the first city of the U.S. to eliminate cash bail in 1992. | ||
| This measure would also change D.C. law to require mandatory pre-trial and post-conviction detention for defendants charged with dangerous violent crimes. | ||
| The House Oversight Committee approved this bill 26 to 19 back on September 10th, mainly along party lines. | ||
| California Representative Dave Minn was the only Democrat to vote yes. | ||
| While members tally their votes here, we'll show you remarks from Senate party leaders on Capitol Hill today. | ||
| Good afternoon. | ||
| Although it was totally unnecessary, the shutdown is over, and thankfully after 43 days, we had enough Democrats who concluded that continuing to punish the American people with an extended shutdown wasn't the right way to deal with the challenges that face our country. | ||
| And so we're all very pleased that we are out of the shutdown. | ||
| And of course, the question now is what comes next. | ||
| And I think, at least here in the Senate, we have a lot of things, as you know, we have to get done. | ||
| The defense authorization bill, which has passed the Senate, is now being conferenced with the House. | ||
| When that conference is complete, we want to get that across the floor of the Senate. | ||
| We have another nominations package we need to clear before the end of the year. | ||
| And of course, we want to get the appropriations process moving again. | ||
| It got slowed down during the shutdown, unfortunately. | ||
| And as a consequence of that, we've got a lot of ground to make up. | ||
| But as you all know, we did pass the three appropriations bills and MILCON, VA, AG, and Ledge Branch. | ||
| So three of the 12 are now law. | ||
| And those three, we got across the floor of the Senate before August, which is the first time that's happened since 2018. | ||
| So as you all know, we are very committed to regular order on appropriations. | ||
| We think that's the best way to fund the government rather than having an omnibus bill written in the leader's office or a year-long CR going through a normal appropriations process where the committee marks up bills, has input from all the members on the committee, reports them to the floor, and there's an open process, transparent process on the floor that we think is the best way to fund the government. | ||
| And so the challenge now is to get the next package ready to go. | ||
| Starting, we've got the defense appropriations bill ready. | ||
| We tried to move to that during the shutdown. | ||
| The Democrats blocked it. | ||
| We want to get on that. | ||
| We're also trying to clear four other appropriations bills to put together a minibus that we could act on here in the Senate. | ||
| So we're working through those holds, but I would just urge everybody who is interested in actually having the government funded through the traditional appropriations process to try and work constructively to get these bills up on the floor, to let us get on them and have an amendment process and try and process them in a way that enables us to fund the government through the appropriations process as opposed to, as I said, either a continuing resolution or an omnibus or something like that. | ||
| Those are not solutions that are good for the country and they're certainly not good for this institution or for the House of Representatives. | ||
| We want to do it the old-fashioned way. | ||
| So that's what we intend to be working on over the course of the next several weeks. | ||
| And I'm hopeful we'll have more progress to report. | ||
|
unidentified
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You had a conversation during lunch about what you're going to do with this provision that allows senators to sue. | |
| Have you decided what you're going to do when the House sends that bill over to rescind that provision? | ||
| Well, we had a good conversation about that, and we'll have, I'm sure, a more fulsome conversation. | ||
| Obviously, we'll see what the House does, but I will tell you that that was designed. | ||
| That was a Senate-specific solution. | ||
| The statute that was violated applied only to the Senate, which is why we addressed it the way that we did. | ||
| We strengthened that provision when it comes to allowing a federal government agency, the Justice Department, in this case, to collect information, private information on individual senators. | ||
| We think that's a violation of separation of powers under the Constitution. | ||
| Obviously, Jack Smith violated the law and the way he went about that. | ||
| This is something that needed to be addressed, and we'll see what the House does. | ||
| And then we'll find out what our colleagues here in the Senate want to do. | ||
| One thing I can tell you is there is a high level of interest in addressing the weaponization of the federal government, in this case the Biden Justice Department, against Article I members, Article I members of our government here in the United States Senate. | ||
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unidentified
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Now that the Congress has passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act with overwhelming votes in both chambers, Democrats say that they think the Justice Department, Pam Bondi, may slow walk the files released citing ongoing investigations. | |
| Would it be a mistake for the administration to hold back these files given the overwhelming expressions of sentiment by the Congress here? | ||
| Well, I trust the judgment of the Justice Department to ensure that whatever files they release protect the victims clearly. | ||
| And I think there are other items, perhaps materials that were acquired through grand jury trials that perhaps they will have to make some decisions about, but I think they'll make the right decisions. | ||
| I think the clear intent was in both the House and Senate in the bill now that I don't know if the President signed it yet or not, but is to get the information out there. | ||
| And I think, as you saw, there was a big vote yesterday in the House, and it was unanimous here in the Senate to do that. | ||
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unidentified
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Speaker Johnson said that he was blindsided about that DOJ provision allowing senators to sue. | |
| He also said he was angry about it. | ||
| And then he also said he was disappointed that the Senate didn't change the Epstein bill like he demanded. | ||
| Why are you and him in such different pages when it comes to these huge issues? | ||
| Well, I mean, I think there are different, obviously, having served in the House of Representatives for six years, I understand there are different ways of doing things. | ||
| The House and Senate function differently. | ||
| We have procedures and rules that we have to adhere to and follow. | ||
| It makes it, it's much harder to get things to pass things, as you all know, through the floor and the Senate. | ||
| And so I think sometimes there are differences of opinion or disagreements that are partly related to that, the difference between the House and the Senate. | ||
| They're different cultures. | ||
| But in the end, the Speaker and I talk regularly. | ||
| We communicate on a consistent basis. | ||
| And we are unified in terms of our objectives and goals. | ||
| And that is to work with the President of the United States to implement his and our agenda in a way that benefits the American people. | ||
| And I think we've worked successfully to do that throughout this entire year, whether it's tax policy, energy policy, national security. | ||
| You will write down the list. | ||
| We have had a record of success, I think, both House and the Senate, in a unified way working together. | ||
| So at times there may be, as I said, slight differences of opinion about how to proceed, how to get things done. | ||
| But I think for the most part, I would say that we have an incredibly strong working relationship and we work closely with the White House. | ||
| And I think that's what's enabled a lot of the success. | ||
|
unidentified
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Senator Leader Hosanna has come out in favor of preempting state-level AI regulation. | |
| Is that something that you would support in the defense bill? | ||
| That is an issue that is being talked about in the context of the defense bill. | ||
| It's a complicated issue, as you know. | ||
| It did get litigated last summer on the floor of the Senate and in the House for that matter, too. | ||
| But it's complicated in the sense that there are lots of folks who believe that states ought to have some input into these things. | ||
| But on the other hand, if you have states regulating an industry that operates across state lines, that also has implications for our economy. | ||
| And so we've seen this before. | ||
| We saw it this year earlier when we had to repeal the California waiver, which was something that was affecting 18 states and needed to be addressed. | ||
| So we will take a look at how this is drafted in terms of the discussion that's being held with the defense authorization bill to see if it is consistent with and complies with ensuring that states have some role when it comes to how companies operate within their states, | ||
| but also recognizes the importance of having policies that enable interstate commerce and artificial intelligence is going to be one of those issues I think that's going to be it's going to explode. | ||
| And so it's complicated, but I think our members are taking a hard look at how best to do that. | ||
| And the President clearly has weighed in on what he would like to see happen and we'll certainly take his views and give them optimum consideration. | ||
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unidentified
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On Russia sanctions, the White House is suggesting that they're ready to go ahead. | |
| When will we see a vote on this bill? | ||
| You've said that it's ready to go. | ||
| Right. | ||
| I think what is more likely happens is the House originates that. | ||
| It's a revenue measure, and so it has to, it's, you know, revenue measures originate in the House. | ||
| If we had one available to us in the Senate, we could do it here. | ||
| But I think too, if you want to expedite movement of that in terms of getting it on the President's desk, it's probably quicker if it comes out of the House, comes over to us, and we're able to take it up and process it on the floor. | ||
| So, but we'll continue to have conversations about that. | ||
| The President has now weighed in in support of the Russia sanctions legislation. | ||
| As you know, Senator Graham has been working on this for a long time, and we want to make sure that we're doing everything we can to give the administration the tools that they need to facilitate and bring about a peaceful resolution between Russia and Ukraine. | ||
| And there are many of us, I'm on that bill, who think the Russia sanctions bill is an important tool in making that happen. | ||
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unidentified
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Thank you all. | |
| Before the end of the year? | ||
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unidentified
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We'll see. | |
| What do we got | ||
| here? | ||
| Okay. | ||
| Thank you, everybody. | ||
| Good afternoon. | ||
| And I'm proud to be joined by Senators Klobuchar, Merkley, and Gallego. | ||
| So, yesterday, the House and Senate finally agreed to pass legislation to compel Donald Trump to release the Epstein files. | ||
| A few hours after it passed the House, I came to the floor and got unanimous consent for the Senate to immediately pass that bill. | ||
| I told Leader Thune that I was going to come to the floor and ask for a unanimous consent request that deemed the bills passed. | ||
| And at about five, before the first vote, and at about 10 of 5, he said he wasn't going to block it. | ||
| That was good. | ||
| But enough, enough, enough with the Republican delay, dithering, and dilly-dally. | ||
|
Epstein Bill Finally Passed
00:12:06
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| This morning, the Senate finally received the Epstein bill. | ||
| It's finally on its way to the President's desk. | ||
| That's right. | ||
| After months, months of waiting, months of Republican delay, so many failed attempts from Trump to hide the truth, the Epstein-File Transparency Act is headed to the desk. | ||
| It's a huge step for justice for the brave and unrelentingly courageous victims. | ||
| They were amazing. | ||
| It wouldn't have happened without them. | ||
| We salute them. | ||
| It's also a great day for Americans, because Americans wanted to see the truth. | ||
| Let's be clear, though, this wouldn't have happened without Democrats like the people with me today. | ||
| But we are not done. | ||
| No way. | ||
| Our promise to the victims and to the American people is this. | ||
| This will not and cannot be the end of the work. | ||
| We'll keep the pressure up. | ||
| Pressure for the President to sign, and then pressure on the DOJ to release the full unredacted files. | ||
| No hiding, no game playing, no covering up. | ||
| Pressure to make sure the documents are released in their entirety and not warped by a corrupt DOJ who's hell-bent on hiding the truth, bending the law, and protecting Trump. | ||
| Trump's own Justice Department that told him he was in the files. | ||
| Remember this. | ||
| We know he's in there. | ||
| He knows he's in them. | ||
| What the heck is he hiding and been hiding for so long? | ||
| It's time for the truth. | ||
| This bill is a command for the President to be fully transparent, come fully clean, and provide full honesty to the American people, even if he doesn't want to. | ||
| And just like we did with this vote and for months on end, Democrats will fight for full transparency, nothing less. | ||
| Senator Klopichaw. | ||
| Thank you very much, Leader Schumer. | ||
| Courtney Wilde, 14 years old when she was sexually abused by Epstein. | ||
| Danielle Bensky, 17 years old, when Epstein sexually abused her. | ||
| Her mom had a brain tumor, and he told her that he could help her mom, but only if she abided by his demands, including recruiting other girls. | ||
| He told her, I can use it to help you, or I can make it really difficult for your mother. | ||
| As she said recently, it's a call to action. | ||
| We're standing up for so many victims of sexual assault. | ||
| As a former prosecutor, I can tell you that's what this is about. | ||
| It is also about trust. | ||
| When Donald Trump and the Republicans promised the American people time and time again, whether it was about bringing down costs, not true. | ||
| Whether it was about making changes that help people, not true. | ||
| But whether it was about releasing these Epstein files, now we'll find out the truth. | ||
| Donald Trump knew that there was overwhelming numbers of votes coming in against him, and at that moment, he made the decision that he would say that he wanted the vote to go through. | ||
| At that moment, when Senator Schumer made the decision to come forward, there was no one who would stand up and say, nope, we shouldn't have them released. | ||
| And I thank Senator Schumer for doing this. | ||
| The House discharge petition materialized because there were the votes to override his veto. | ||
| So now is the moment of truth. | ||
| One, he has to sign it. | ||
| But two, and most importantly, when we look at what the Attorney General of the United States, who is running a Justice Department, that literally when Donald Trump orders them by truth social or in person to do something, they do it. | ||
| Drop charges, they'll do it. | ||
| Pardon their friends, they'll do it. | ||
| It is literally a snap of their fingers. | ||
| Make sure that you charge a Federal Reserve Governor or the Attorney General of the state of New York or the former FBI director. | ||
| We're there, we'll do it. | ||
| That's what's been going on. | ||
| So right now, we're facing a moment. | ||
| Because of these faux investigations that she is now claiming are reopening. | ||
| Now we're going to find out: are they really going to release the files or not? | ||
| And we are ready to stand up for victims like Danielle and so many others in this country. | ||
| The Epstein files have always been about full accountability for the perpetrators and justice for the victims. | ||
| And Donald Trump, when he campaigned, he said, I'm going to release these files. | ||
| It became increasingly clear that that wasn't going to be the case. | ||
| So in July, 25 Democrats introduced the Epstein files bill. | ||
| Not one Republican would co-sponsor it. | ||
| Four months ago. | ||
| Then two months ago, Leader Schumer introduced that bill as an amendment on the Defense Authorization Act. | ||
| And 51 Republicans tabled it. | ||
| And every Democrat said, no, let's debate it and let's pass it. | ||
| That's just two months ago. | ||
| And then here we were yesterday evening. | ||
| We called for all 100 senators to join in the vision of equal justice under law and they did. | ||
| And that's a great stride forward, but it is not the finish line. | ||
| Because we know that Trump is not going to release those files. | ||
| We are going to press him like hell, but everything we know about Donald Trump is he will obscure and delay. | ||
| And there's a second set of files in the Treasury Department. | ||
| $1.5 billion in suspicious activity reports. | ||
| Senator Wyden and his finance team led an investigation with some bipartisan support. | ||
| Those files provide huge information that will complement the information from the Department of Justice. | ||
| What happened yesterday evening was a really huge tribute to grassroots Americans from the far right, from the middle, from the left, all saying we believe that powerful men abusing and raping teenage girls should be held accountable. | ||
| It's a vision throughout the political spectrum. | ||
| And it was certainly a huge stride forward for the victims who so courageously stood up and shared their stories. | ||
| But let's keep working toward the finish line when there will be actual accountability for the perpetrators and full justice for the victims. | ||
| Senator Gallego. | ||
| Thank you. | ||
| Well, today we've won the battle for justice. | ||
| We won the battle for these poor women that were victimized repeatedly, both by these awful elite men as well as the Trump administration by trying to cover up every step of the way accountability. | ||
| But it's just a battle. | ||
| There is still war that needs to go on. | ||
| We should not be in any doubt that this president is going to take every opportunity, along with his allies, along with Pam Bondi, to slow down, to cover up, to confuse, because at the end of the day, the truth will come out and it will hurt this administration. | ||
| So I just encourage everyone that was involved and was involved in the fight from day one to make sure that we do not fall for the same traps that he's going to continue to put down. | ||
| These women deserve justice. | ||
| These women deserve to be treated like any other U.S. citizen. | ||
| And just because it was elite men from New York City or from Mar-a-Lago or from where in the world, they deserve to be brought to trial and to justice just as much as anyone else. | ||
| The president needs to show that he is for us and not for them and stop trying to stop a real open investigation and a real understanding of what happened with the Epstein files. | ||
| Thank you. | ||
| Okay, questions. | ||
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unidentified
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Yes. | |
| What's your reaction to this proposal from Health Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy to set up HSA accounts to help people afford the insurance plans on the Obamacare marketplace? | ||
| Could that be a potential common ground? | ||
| Is that the question? | ||
| Look, we insist on that the ACA tax credits have to be renewed and extended, period. | ||
| If Cassidy's proposal, as I understand it, replaces them, looks like it's privatizing health insurance, and it looks like it's really problematic and particularly problematic to do very quickly. | ||
| Yes. | ||
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unidentified
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Republicans have said that Democrats have been too singularly focused on President Trump's role in the Epstein files. | |
| What would you say to that criticism? | ||
| And are you equally concerned about the names of Democrats or people that donated to Democratic causes that could pop up? | ||
| We think every name should come out. | ||
| Everything, everything. | ||
| There should be no cover-up. | ||
| Yes, not no. | ||
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unidentified
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Are you hopeful that it will finally get a vote this month now that Trump said he was okay with it? | |
| And if it does become law, what do you think should be the focus? | ||
| Do you think there should be 100% tariffs on Turkish goods, Chinese goods, Hungarian goods? | ||
| What would be the most effective? | ||
| Look, the bottom line is I think there are 87 co-sponsors or sponsors, including Leader Thune and myself. | ||
| We've wanted to move the bill for a long time. | ||
| Hopefully it can move. | ||
| Putin has to be told in every way that he cannot be just a bully and over. | ||
| The bill is passed. | ||
| Without objection, a motion to reconsider is laid on the table. | ||
| Pursuant to clause 8 of Rule 20, the unfinished business is to vote on the passage of H.R. 5107, on which the yays and nays are ordered. | ||
| The clerk will report the title of the bill. | ||
| Union calendar number 271, H.R. 5107. | ||
| A bill to repeal the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022 enacted by the District of Columbia Council. | ||
| The question is on the passage of the bill. | ||
| Members will record their votes by electronic device. | ||
| This is a five-minute vote. | ||
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unidentified
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Members deciding on whether to repeal parts of Washington, D.C.'s policing law, including getting rid of a ban on the hiring of officers with a history of serious misconduct. | |
| This repeal effort would also scrap a proposed board to review the D.C. Police Department's use of force. | ||
| The House and Senate both passed a similar bill to repeal D.C.'s policing law back in 2023, but it was vetoed by then President Biden. | ||
| The House failed to override that veto. | ||
| We have some news to pass on to you. | ||
| This from The Hill. | ||
| President Trump has signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law, officially directing the Justice Department to release all unclassified records and documents connected to the convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. | ||
| A little further down in the story, Attorney General Pam Bondi now has 30 days to make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in possession of the Department of Justice. | ||
|
Air Traffic Control Modernization
00:06:29
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unidentified
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There's more to that story. | |
| You can read it in theHill at the Hill.com. | ||
| While members vote here, we'll bring you remarks from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who spoke today at the Honeywell Aviation Summit. | ||
| I threatened Jim that I'd hug him when I walked on stage. | ||
| He said, No, we can't hug. | ||
| Thanks for having me. | ||
| It's good to be with you. | ||
|
unidentified
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Thank you, sir, for taking the time to join us today. | |
| I really appreciate it. | ||
| Good to be here. | ||
| You may put the pressure on me. | ||
| Brian Bedford here from the FAA, and Chris Rushlow is here somewhere as well. | ||
| So no pressure. | ||
| Oh, there's Chris right there. | ||
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unidentified
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He's right there as well. | |
| Looking handsome as ever. | ||
|
unidentified
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So, what I'd like to do, if it's okay with you, Secretary, is do a little fireside chat. | |
| Sure. | ||
| Right. | ||
| And ask you just a few questions, get your perspectives on what you see relative to the industry. | ||
| So I have a couple things here that I'd like to talk about. | ||
| First one being around air traffic control modernization. | ||
| You know, the need to modernize the U.S. National Aerospace System has been identified as a national priority. | ||
| Your department received a $12.5 billion down payment towards air traffic control modernization in the one big beautiful bill. | ||
| This issue has significant bipartisan support. | ||
| Where does air traffic modernization efforts stand today? | ||
| And when do you expect to see major reforms to begin? | ||
| And what should we look at in terms of what would success look like, you know, six months, a year from now, or two years from now? | ||
| So, first off, it was great. | ||
| Before I even got the job, President Trump called me and was talking about air travel and talking about our air traffic control system and how our system is antiquated, old, needs to be built brand new. | ||
| Sometimes I'd say we have to rebuild it. | ||
| He said, no, we're going to build a brand new air traffic control system. | ||
| So hence the brand new air traffic control system. | ||
| By the way, we could have had a better name for that. | ||
| That was a failure. | ||
| So just DCA happened, which was horrible, horrific. | ||
| And after that, we started to work on what would a plan look like to revamp our system. | ||
| And we were near completion, and then we had Newark happen, where we had the outages at Newark 30-second, two 30-second outages. | ||
| The scopes had to reboot, so that was a minute and a half outage on those two situations. | ||
| And so we rolled our plan out. | ||
| We've asked for $31.5 billion. | ||
| To your point, we have $12.5 billion. | ||
| By the way, if anyone goes to the Hill, please ask them to give us the rest of the money. | ||
| All help is welcome. | ||
| So what we have is money to upgrade our telecom. | ||
| Again, we have most of the network is copper wires. | ||
| We have to get to fiber. | ||
| We have to go from analog to digital. | ||
| We have new radars that we're able to deploy. | ||
| We have money for a brand new center. | ||
| We're able to buy new radios and voice switches as well. | ||
| And so I think as you look at what we're going to, first of all, the process has started, right? | ||
| We had money at the FAA, so we're already doing the switchover from copper to fiber. | ||
| I think the complication will be going from analog to digital. | ||
| And our timeline has been by the end of 2028, right? | ||
| So we're not, I don't, this can't, the FAA, no offense to those from the FAA who are here, they'll do projects over the course of 10 or 15 years. | ||
| And by the time this technology is ready to be deployed, it's old, right? | ||
| There's already like two generations of new technology by the time we are ready to deploy the old technology. | ||
| And so we are going to move as quickly as possible. | ||
| We're going to move safely. | ||
| We're not going to break the NAS in the process, but we are going to do it at a different speed, the speed of Trump. | ||
| And so I think as you're looking at the, we're going to do a good job communicating what we're doing, the progress we're making. | ||
| Maybe one other point on this. | ||
| You guys have all heard about our integrator. | ||
| We're going to select an integrator. | ||
| We're at the final stages of that. | ||
| I want the president to be involved in that selection. | ||
| It was his idea to say, listen, I'm a builder, right? | ||
| If I'm going to build, we have a project manager that's going to build for us. | ||
| So we've embraced that, and I think it's going to be helpful just because, and again, I'm going to say a lot of no offenses to the FAA, but the FAA does a great job on safety. | ||
| But they're not builders. | ||
| This is not what they're doing. | ||
| The nays are 190. | ||
| The bill is passed. | ||
| Without objection, a motion to reconsider is laid on the table. | ||
| Pursuant to clause 8 of Rule 20, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion of the gentleman from Mississippi, Mr. Guest, to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 4058, on which the yays and nays are ordered. | ||
| The clerk will report the title. | ||
| Union calendar number 252, H.R. 4058, a bill to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance outreach for the Urban Area Security Initiative and the state Homeland Security Grant Program of the Department of Homeland Security and for other purposes. | ||
| The question is: will the House suspend the rules and pass the bill? | ||
| Members will record their votes by electronic device. | ||
| This is a five-minute vote. | ||
|
unidentified
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A couple of votes now on suspension bills, avoiding House rules for debate. | |
| They get 40 minutes of debate. | ||
| No amendments are allowed, and they need two-thirds majority for passage. | ||
| This particular bill offered by New York Democrat Andrew Goldman amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance outreach efforts for state and local grantees. | ||
| It's a five-minute vote. | ||
| Along with news, the President Trump has just signed the bill to release all the Epstein files into law. | ||
| Zoe Richards and Kyle Stewart of NBC News report that Representative Sheila Sherfiles-McCormick, Democrat of Florida, was indicted today in connection with stealing and laundering $5 million in federal relief funds and using that money for her congressional campaign, the Justice Department said. | ||
|
Introducing The First Lady
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In a news release citing the indictment, the Justice Department said Sherfilis McCormick and her brother Edwin Sherfilis worked on a staffing contract funded by FEMA for COVID vaccinations tied to their family health care company back in 2021, and that the company was overpaid by $5 million in relief funds. | |
| You can read more at NBCNews.com. | ||
| And now First Lady Melania Trump and Second Lady Usha Vance speak to military families at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. | ||
| Good afternoon, | ||
| everyone, and thank you for that beautiful introduction and the music. | ||
| It's such an honor to be here with you at Camp Lejeune, home of some of the finest Marines and military families in our nation. | ||
| And for me, it's particularly special to be right around the corner from Cherry Point, where my husband JD was stationed. | ||
| He's told me so many stories about his time in Eastern North Carolina that this feels like home. | ||
| And of course, it's only a few days late, but I have a message for all of you from JD. | ||
| Happy birthday! | ||
| 250 years looks good in all of you. | ||
| We are so grateful to you for carrying on the Marine Corps' proud traditions of duty, honor, and service. | ||
| As JD said recently at Camp Pendleton, where we went to celebrate the birthday, Marines embody boldness in action, unity in purpose, and a lightning readiness to go wherever the nation requires. | ||
| It's not just our Marines, though. | ||
| Today, I've had the privilege of spending time with your families at the elementary and high schools on base. | ||
| At a time when children around the country are struggling, it is so heartening to see thriving schools and engaged students. | ||
| And in my own work, as I've been working on reversing the declining literacy rates and disengagement that we see in schools, Dodia schools and military families are just a shining example and have been among my best partners. | ||
| I'm so impressed by your commitment to building strong communities and schools. | ||
| Military families are truly a model for our country and for my own family as we are in our life of public service today. | ||
| So today, without further ado, I am honored to introduce our First Lady, who shares my deep gratitude for your sacrifices to secure our country's safety and its well-being. | ||
| The First Lady is committed to bettering our nation by ensuring that every child feels loved, supported, and prepared for the future. | ||
| Her recent accomplishments include protecting children online through the passage of the Be Better Act and providing opportunities for children in foster care. | ||
| Most recently, she championed an executive order fostering the future for American children and families to help those children as they transition into adulthood. | ||
| Please join me in welcoming the First Lady of the United States, Mrs. Melania Trump. | ||
| Good afternoon, Camp Lezune. | ||
| Thank you, Usha, for that kind introduction. | ||
| To General Rizzo, for your warm welcome here today. | ||
| It has been a memorable day and an honor to meet the men and women of the United States Marine Corps. | ||
| Last week, the Marine Corps celebrated 250 years of service, two and a half countries of centuries of courage, tradition, and excellence. | ||
|
Art Of War Transformed
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| To you and your families who give so much for our country, thank you. | ||
| Technology is changing the art of war. | ||
| Predictably, AI will alter war more profoundly than any technology since nuclear weapons. | ||
| The most significant change will be speed. | ||
| Speed in weaponry, decision-making, detection, attack, and defense. | ||
| Artificial intelligence will take center stage in the theater of war. | ||
| It already plays a meaningful role on the battlefield. | ||
| Of course, it is the Marine who will always play the most critical role in realizing mission success. | ||
| The nays are 45. | ||
| Two-thirds being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended. | ||
| The bill is passed, and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. | ||
| Pursuant to Clause 8 of Rule 20, the unfinished business is to vote on the motion of the gentleman from Wisconsin, Mr. Stile, to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 6019. | ||
| on which the yays and nays are ordered. | ||
| The clerk will report the title. | ||
| H.R. 6019, a bill to repeal certain provisions relating to notification to the Senate offices regarding legal process or disclosure of Senate data and for other purposes. | ||
| The question is, will the House suspend the rules and pass the bill? | ||
| Members will record their votes by electronic device. | ||
| This is a five-minute vote. | ||
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So votes now on a measure repealing a provision in the recent temporary government funding bill that would allow certain U.S. Senators to sue the Justice Department for searching their phone records without their knowledge. | |
| In relation to the January 6th investigation, this was added to the House government funding bill that was passed earlier this year. | ||
| Many representatives were unaware this was a part of the bill and objected when it was found. | ||
| Speaker Mike Johnson then offered a path to vote on its repeal. | ||
| This needs a two-thirds majority for passage. | ||
| While we wait for this vote, we bring you debate on this measure from the floor. | ||
| Of H.R. 6019, introduced by my colleague, Congressman Austin Scott of Georgia. | ||
| Now, before I dive into the substance of this bill, let me highlight some good news. | ||
| The government's open and funded. | ||
| SNAP benefits are being funded. | ||
| Air traffic controllers, TSA agents, hardworking people are getting paid. | ||
| Of course, Mr. Speaker, if the Democrats had their way, the federal government would still be shut down. | ||
| People wouldn't be receiving their SNAP benefits. | ||
| Law enforcement officials at the federal level wouldn't be receiving payment. | ||
| Our air traffic controllers and TSA agents also wouldn't be paid. | ||
| So the good news is, Mr. Speaker, by passage of the underlying legislation that we're going to be discussing today, the government is open and operational for the American people. | ||
| Look, Mr. Speaker, no bill is perfect. | ||
| And the bill we passed to reopen the government, it's just that. | ||
| It had a provision that needs repair that we need to go in and remove out from that bill. | ||
| In the legislation by my colleague, Mr. Ross and Scott of Georgia, does just that. | ||
| The troubling provision grants senators a private cause of action against the United States. | ||
| If a senator's data, either official or personal, is retrieved without their knowledge, they could sue the government. | ||
| But it also included a provision that allows senators to receive a minimum of $500,000 per instance of data retrieval. | ||
| That policy, in my opinion, the opinion I think of all of the members of this institution is unacceptable. | ||
| No one should be able to enrich themselves because the federal government wronged them. | ||
| No elected official should be able to. | ||
| So, without question, there are far better ways to handle this. | ||
| The legislative branch should correctly address the Biden administration's weaponization of the FBI to spy on United States senators in its Operation Arctic Frost. | ||
| The abuses, Mr. Speaker, by the Biden administration are completely unacceptable. | ||
| I'm committed to holding those involved accountable. | ||
| No one benefited by the failures of the Biden administration. | ||
| However, that does not mean that elected officials should be financially benefiting from those failures now. | ||
| These provisions are not the right path to address the concerns, true concerns, over the separation of powers. | ||
| Remember, Congress serves the American people, not the other way around. | ||
| Today, we have an opportunity to take a good bill that reopened the federal government and make it better by repealing the provisions that were slid into the Ledge Branch Appropries Act of 2026. | ||
| I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 6019 to repeal this legislation. | ||
| And I thank my colleague, Congressman Austin Scott, for bringing it forward. | ||
| I reserve the balance of my time. | ||
| The gentleman from Wisconsin reserves the gentleman from New York, Mr. Morelli, is recognized. | ||
| Thank you, Mr. Speaker. | ||
| I yield myself such time as I may consume. | ||
| And I rise in strong support of H.R. 6019. | ||
| Last week's bill to fund the government included a provision added quietly in the dead of night that facilitates the transfer of millions of taxpayer dollars from the United States Treasury to the personal bank accounts of eight Republican senators. | ||
| And not just any senators. | ||
| They were senators who may have had knowledge of or even participated in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. | ||
| Efforts that culminated in a violent attack on this very institution. | ||
| And because many of my Republican colleagues seem determined to forget the reality of that day, allow me to remind you that during this attack, Capitol police officers were maimed while protecting the lives of the very senators now seeking to enrich themselves at the taxpayers' expense. | ||
| Officers lost eyes. | ||
| They lost fingers. | ||
| They suffered traumatic brain injuries and had their spinal discs smashed. | ||
| One was stabbed with a metal fence stake. | ||
| Another suffered a heart attack after being repeatedly tased. | ||
| Some tragically lost their lives. | ||
| Others were so severely injured that they could no longer continue in law enforcement. | ||
| The plot to overturn the 2020 presidential election led multiple grand juries, both state and federal, to bring felony charges against its organizers and participants. | ||
| These charges were based on actions like promoting fake elector slates, urging state officials to find votes to change the election outcome, and urging Vice President Pence to stand just a few feet from here behind that very dais and violate the United States Constitution. | ||
| According to public reports, one of the eight Republican senators now eligible for this taxpayer-funded windfall testified before one of those grand juries. | ||
| At the conclusion of the testimony, that Republican senator reportedly embraced the prosecutor and lauded the work of the grand jurors as cathartic. | ||
|
Investigating Congressman Mills
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| That same-thirds being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended. | ||
| The bill is passed, and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. | ||
| The House will come to order. | ||
| For what purpose does the gentleman from South Carolina seek recognition? | ||
| Mr. Speaker, I rise to a question of the privileges of the House and offer the resolution that was previously noticed. | ||
| The clerk will report the resolution. | ||
| Whereas prior to serving in the House of Representatives, Representative Corey Mills founded PASIM Solutions International LLC and Paysim Defense LLC and acquired Amtech Corporation, now renamed as ALS Inc., companies which engage in security and military contracting with the United States government as well as foreign nations. | ||
| Whereas in August 2024, the Office of Congressional Conduct found from January 2023 to present, PAYSIM Defense slash ALS has been actively contracting with the federal government, securing close to $1 million in federal contracts for munitions and weapons distributed to prisons across the country. | ||
| Specifically, since January 9th, 2024, 94 contracts have been awarded to entities owned by Rep Mills and went on to conclude, there is substantial reason to believe that Rep Mills may have entered into, held, or enjoyed contracts with federal agencies while he was a member of Congress in violation of House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law. | ||
| Whereas in August 2024, the Office of Congressional Conduct noted, according to its website, PASEM Solutions is currently registered and or partnered with trusted local firms who work in the following countries. | ||
| United States, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, UAE, Australia, Kenya, Malaysia, and Kuwait. | ||
| Public reports indicate companies owned by Representative Mills sought or entered into contracts to sell munitions to foreign nations while serving as a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services. | ||
| Whereas entities owned by Representative Corey Mills seeking or entering into contracts to sell munitions to the United States government is correct. | ||
| The House is not in order. | ||
| The House will come to order. | ||
| The clerk will report the resolution. | ||
| Whereas entities owned by Representative Corey Mills seeking or entering into contracts to sell munitions to the United States government as well as foreign nations while he serves as a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services represents a clear and troubling conflict of interest. | ||
| Whereas in August 2024, the Office of Congressional Conduct further adopted and transmitted to the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives a report indicating that there was substantial reason to believe that Representative Corey Mills may have omitted or misrepresented required information on his financial disclosure statements, | ||
| accepted excessive contributions to his campaign committee in the form of personal loans and contributions that may not have derived from the Representative Corey Mills' personal funds and may have accepted through his campaign committee in-kind contributions or other contributions not lawfully made. | ||
| Whereas individuals who served in the military with Representative Corey Mills have called into question the veracity of the account of events which formed the basis of a recommendation that Representative Corey Mills receive an award of bronze star bestowed in 2021 for his service under enemy fire in Iraq in 2003. | ||
| Whereas in August 2024, Representative Corey Mills provided the Daytona Beach News with documents purporting to prove that he earned a bronze star with heroism, including a Department of the Army Form 638 recommending Representative Corey Mills for a bronze star, which includes a signature from then Army Brigade Commander Arnold N. Gordon Bray. | ||
| Whereas retired Brigadier General Arnold N. Gordon Bray has stated she did not personally write, read, or sign the Department of the Army Form 638 recommending Representative Corey Mills for a bronze star. | ||
| Whereas five people who served with Representative Corey Mills, including two men who were reported as having been personally saved by Representative Corey Mills at great risk to his own life as a basis for their recommendation for his bronze star in the Department of the Army Form 638, disputed that Representative Corey Mills was involved in their rescue or provided life-saving care. | ||
| Whereas one private first class cited as having been involved in one of the listed achievements on Representative Corey Mills' Army Form 638, recommending him for a bronze star, denied that Representative Corey Mills provided him any aid and also denied that his injuries were life-threatening. | ||
| Whereas one sergeant cited as having been involved in one of the listed achievements on Representative Corey Mills' Army Form 638, recommending him for a bronze star, called the account a fabrication and claimed that he was not involved in any claim that Corey Mills makes about me. | ||
| Whereas Representative Corey Mills' employment application to Dying Corps Internation stated he served in the United States Army 75th Ranger Regiment and attended United States Army Sniper School, claims which are not corroborated by his military records. | ||
| Whereas on February 19th, 2025, Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officers were called to resolve a private matter at Representative Corey Mills' residence, where officers were called to the 1300 block of Maryland Avenue Southwest around 1:15 p.m. for the report of an assault. | ||
| Whereas police reports obtained by MBC4 Washington confirmed that the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department was investigating Representative Corey Mills for an alleged assault of a 27-year-old woman that took place on February 19, 2025, at the residence of Representative Corey Mills. | ||
| Whereas the first police report provided to MBC4 Washington by a source and confirmed by a second source familiar with the investigation said that the 27-year-old woman accused her significant other for over a year of having grabbed her, shoved her, and pushed her out of the door, and also said that the woman involved showed the officer bruises on her arm, which appeared to be fresh. | ||
| Whereas NBC 4 Washington also reported that the Metropolitan Police Department identified Representative Corey Mills as a significant other of the alleged victim of assault, which alleged victim was a 27-year-old woman who was not the wife of Representative Corey Mills, and that the alleged victim let officers here Subject 1, now identified by MPD as Mills, instruct her to lie about the origin of her bruises. | ||
| Eventually, Subject 1 made contact with the police and admitted that the situation escalated from verbal to physical, but it was severe enough to create bruising. | ||
| Whereas on February 21st, 2025, the Washington Post also confirmed two D.C. police officers said that the alleged victim of assault initially told a 911 operator and police that she had been assaulted and that officers said she also had what seemed to be visible injuries. | ||
| And that while a supervisor initially classified the offense internally as a family disturbance, police commanders later learned of the incident, reviewed the reports and body camera footage from the responding officers, and reclassified the case as a domestic violence assault. | ||
| Whereas on February 21st, 2025, NBC4 Washington also reported that the Metropolitan Police Department determined that probable cause to arrest Representative Corey Mills for the misdemeanor assault existed and sent an arrest warrant for Representative Corey Mills to the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. | ||
| Whereas on July 14, 2025, the House is not in order. | ||
| The House is not in order. | ||
| The clerk will report the resolution. | ||
| Whereas on July 14th, 2025, a different former romantic partner of Representative Corey Mills, who was apparently in a relationship with Representative Mills from November 2021 to February 2025, | ||
| reported to authorities in Florida that Representative Mills threatened to release nude images and other intimate videos of her and threatened to harm her future romantic partners in retaliation for her decision to end a relationship with Representative Mills after seeing the public reports described above concerning the alleged February 2025 physical assault. | ||
| Whereas on October 14th, 2025, the Circuit Court of the Third Judicial Circuit in Columbia County, Florida issued a final judgment of injunction for protection against dating violence against Representative Corey Mills based on a finding that his former romantic partner was a victim of dating violence or had reasonable cause to believe she was in imminent danger of becoming a victim of an act of dating violence. | ||
| And whereas such conduct by Representative Corey Mills affects the dignity and integrity of the proceedings of the House and brings discredit upon the House, now therefore be it resolved that one, Representative Corey Mills be censured. | ||
| Two, Representative Corey Mills forthwith present himself in the will of the House of Representatives for the pronouncement of censure. | ||
| Three, Representative Corey Mills be censured with a public reading of this resolution by the Speaker. | ||
| And four, Representative Corey Mills be and is hereby removed from the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House. | ||
| The resolution qualifies. | ||
| For what purposes does the gentleman from Florida seek recognition? | ||
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unidentified
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Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk. | |
| The clerk will report the motion. | ||
| Mr. Mills of Florida moves to refer the resolution to the Committee on Ethics. | ||
| The gentleman from Florida is recognized for one hour. | ||
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. | |
| I think it is very clear that the actual Committee of Jurisdiction is in fact the Ethics Committee and cooperating with them is my top priority. | ||
| I believe in all the accusations and false things that are being said will be proven to be absolutely false in many ways and I have the evidence and receipts and look forward to working with them. | ||
| I rise in support of my motion to refer this resolution to the Committee on Ethics and encourage a yay vote on this motion. | ||
| With that, I yield back. | ||
| Without objection, the previous question is ordered on the motion. | ||
| The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Florida. | ||
| All those in favor say aye. | ||
| All those opposed say no. | ||
| In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. | ||
| I ask for the yays and nays. | ||
| Is there ordered? | ||
| Those favoring a vote on the yays and nays will rise. | ||
| A sufficient number have risen. | ||
| The yays and nays are ordered. | ||
| The members will record their votes by electronic device. | ||
| This is a five-minute vote. | ||
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unidentified
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And in what we think will be the final vote of the day here, members deciding whether to refer a censure resolution against Florida Republican Congressman Corey Mills for alleged domestic violence and stolen valor to the Ethics Committee. | |
| Some news this afternoon, the Ethics Committee announced it will create an investigative subcommittee to look into the variety of issues surrounding Congressman Mills. | ||
| This effort, led by South Carolina Republican Nancy Mace, would also remove Representative Mills from his committee assignments. | ||
| Reacting to the Ethics Committee announcement, Congresswoman Mace posted this. | ||
| This is a naked attempt to kill my resolution to censure Representative Corey Mills. | ||
| Common sense tells us we don't need an investigative subcommittee to decide if Corey Mills, who a court found to be in immediate and present danger of committing dating violence against a woman, should serve on committees related to national security or the testimony of soldiers and the stolen valor. | ||
| If this motion to refer fails, the House would likely debate the underlying resolution for up to an hour and would hold a roll call vote if requested, possibly tomorrow. | ||
| While members vote on this, we'll show you some of Representative Mace's comments on this issue. | ||
| Representative Corey Mills of Florida and removing him from the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. | ||
| Whereas prior to serving in the House of Representatives, Representative Corey Mills founded PASIM Solutions International LLC and PASIM Defense LLC and acquired Amtech Corporation, now renamed as ALS Inc. | ||
| Companies which engage in security and military contracting with the United States government as well as foreign nations. | ||
| Whereas in August 2024, the Office of Congressional Conduct found from January 2023 to present, PASIM Defense ALS has been actively contracting with the federal government, securing close to $1 million in federal contracts for munitions and weapons. | ||
| Distributed to prisons across the country. | ||
| Specifically, since January 9th, 2024, 94 contracts have been awarded to entities owned by Representative Mills and went on to conclude, quote, there is substantial reason to believe that Representative Mills may have entered into, held, or enjoyed contracts with federal agencies while he was a member of Congress in violation of House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law. | ||
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Representative Mills' Controversial Contracts
00:06:33
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| Whereas in August 2024, the Office of Congressional Conduct noted according to its website, Paysim Solutions is currently registered and or partnered with trusted local firms to work in the following countries. | ||
| United States, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, UAE, Australia, Kenya, Malaysia, and Kuwait. | ||
| Public reports indicate companies owned by Representative Mills sought or entered into contracts to sell munitions to foreign nations while serving as a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and on the Committee on Armed Services. | ||
| Whereas entities owned by Representative Mills seeking or entering into contracts to sell munitions to the United States government as well as foreign nations, he did so while he serves as a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Committee on Armed Service represents a clear and troubling conflict of interest. | ||
| Whereas in August 2024 and the Office of Congressional Conduct further adopted and transmitted to the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives a report indicating that there are substantial reason to believe that Representative Corey Mills may have omitted or misrepresented required information in his financial disclosure statements, | ||
| accepted excessive contributions to his campaign committee in the form of personal loans and contributions that may not have derived from Representative Corey Mills' personal funds and may have accepted through his campaign committee in-kind contributions or other contributions not lawfully made. | ||
| Whereas individuals who served in the military with Representative Corey Mills have called into question the veracity of the account of events which formed the basis of a recommendation that Representative Corey Mills receive the award of a bronze star bestowed in 2021 or afterwards for his service under enemy fire in Iraq in 2003. | ||
| Whereas in August 2024, Representative Corey Mills provided the Daytona Beach News with documents purporting to prove that he earned a bronze star with heroism, including a Department of the Army Form 638 recommending Representative Corey Mills for a bronze star, which includes a signature from then Army Brigade Commander Arnold N. Gordon Bray. | ||
| Whereas retired Brigadier General Arnold N. Gordon Bray has stated he did not personally write, read, or sign the Department of the Army Form 638 recommending Representative Corey Mills for a bronze star. | ||
| Whereas five people who served with Representative Corey Mills, including two men who were reported as having been personally saved by Representative Corey Mills at great risk to his own life as a basis for the recommendation for his bronze star and the Department of the Army Form 638, disputed what Representative Corey Mills, that Representative Corey Mills was involved in their rescue or provided life-saving care. | ||
| Whereas one private first class cited as having been involved in one of the listed achievements on Representative Corey Mills Army Form 638 recommending him for a bronze star denied that Representative Corey Mills provided him any aid and also denied that his injuries were life-threatening. | ||
| Whereas one sergeant cited as having been involved in one of the listed achievements on Representative Corey Mills Army Form 638, recommending him for a bronze star, called the account a fabrication and claimed that he was quote not involved in any claims that Corey Mills makes about me. | ||
| Whereas Representative Corey Mills' employment application to DINE Corps International stated he served in the United States ARMY 75TH Ranger Regiment and attended United States ARMY Sniper School, claims which are not corroborated in his military records. | ||
| Whereas on February 19 2025, Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officers were called to resolve a private matter at Representative Corey Mills' residence. | ||
| Where officers were called to, the NAYS ARE 103. | ||
| Those present, 12. | ||
| The motion is adopted. | ||
| Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. | ||
|
unidentified
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The House | |
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Last Of The Tuskegee Airmen
00:04:46
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come to order. | |
| For what purpose does the gentleman from Alabama seek recognition? | ||
| Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House out of order. | ||
| Without objection, the gentleman is recognized. | ||
| Thank you. | ||
| Mr. Speaker, I rise with the Alabama delegation, including one of our U.S. Senators and many others here on the House floor, to pay respect to the end of an era. | ||
| One of the most improbable, inspiring, and truly remarkable chapters in American history quietly closed during our most recent break. | ||
| Lieutenant Colonel George Hardy, a veteran of Vietnam, Korea, and World War II, passed away. | ||
| And this is not a name most of us know in isolation, but we all know the story of the black men who were trained as pilots on airfields in the backwoods of Macon County, Alabama, who would go on to become what the world knows today as the Tuskegee Airmen. | ||
| Lieutenant Colonel George Hardy was the last surviving Tuskegee airman who flew combat missions in World War II. | ||
| He was born in Philadelphia at a time when the military was not integrated, but by the age of 19, he was flying combat missions over the skies of Europe, defending and liberating rights and freedoms abroad that we all know he did not enjoy even back at home. | ||
| But despite that, Lieutenant Colonel Hardy kept the mission first, front and center. | ||
| And with the other Tuskegee airmen, they exceeded expectations and they left behind a spectacular record of service and accomplishment. | ||
| And though these men took off as the unlikeliest of American heroes, they landed As what is possibly the greatest, most well-known, most well-decorated fighting force in this nation's history. | ||
| And so, as a young man now that has the privilege to represent Tuskegee, it is my honor and it is my obligation, my duty, to stand on this House floor and acknowledge the life, the legacy of Lieutenant Colonel George Hardy and the Tuskegee Airmen and all of those who have served this nation. | ||
| And with that, I will yield to my colleague from Alabama, Gary Palmer. | ||
| Thank you. | ||
| It's appropriate that we acknowledge the passing of the last of the Tuskegee Airmen. | ||
| I'd just like to share with you a little bit about them. | ||
| They trained at Motenfield in Tuskegee Airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama, and later formed units like the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group. | ||
| They were under the command of Colonel Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr., who was born right here in Washington, D.C. When the pilots of the 332nd Fighter Group painted the tails of their P-47s red, the nickname Red Tails was coined. | ||
| The red markings that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen included red bands on the noses of the P-51s. | ||
| Some of the bomber crews who flew missions, some of the most dangerous missions during World War II, called them the Red Tail Angels. | ||
| In combat during the war, they flew over 1,500 sorties, 15,000 sorties, escorting bombers and engaging enemy fighters. | ||
| They received numerous accolades for the service, including three Distinguished Unit Citations, 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 14 Bronze Stars, 744 Air Medals, at least 60 Purple Hearts, and one Silver Star. | ||
| Colonel Davis went on to become the first African American Brigadier General in the United States Air Force. | ||
| It is totally appropriate that we recognize the incredible accomplishments with all the opposition that they faced that the Tuskegee Airmen achieved in defense of our liberty. | ||
| I yield back. | ||
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unidentified
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Thank you. | |
| The chair asks all those present in the chamber as well as members and staff throughout the Capitol to please rise for a moment of silence. | ||
|
Ellie Sheehan's Recognition
00:15:33
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| Thank you, Mr. Speaker. | ||
| The chair will now entertain requests for one-minute speeches. | ||
| For what purpose does the gentleman from Pennsylvania seek recognition? | ||
| Mr. Speaker, request unanimous consent to address the House for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. | ||
| Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. | ||
| Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ellie Sheehan, drum major of the Penn State Blue Band this season. | ||
| This is a historic milestone because Ellie is the first woman to hold the position in the blue band's 126-year history. | ||
| Ellie hails from Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, and is pursuing a degree in marketing with a minor in digital media trends and analytics. | ||
| She brings years of experience within the blue band, most recently as the leader of the Piccolos. | ||
| The Blue Band's drum major leads the band through warm-ups and performances. | ||
| Since 1977, it's been a tradition for the drum major to do a front flip as the band enters the field at home football games. | ||
| Ellie continues this tradition. | ||
| As any visitor to Beaver Stadium can attest, the blue band plays a central role in Penn State's game and represents the highest level of tradition, excellence, and pride. | ||
| As a graduate of Penn State, I'm proud to congratulate Ellie Sheehan for being a fantastic blue band drum major. | ||
| Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back the balance of my time. | ||
| For what purpose does the gentlewoman from Texas seek recognition? | ||
| I ask unanimous consent to address the House for one minute. | ||
| Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. | ||
| Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the story of my constituent, Maron Marouf. | ||
| Moron has lived in the United States for more than 40 years. | ||
| He is a devoted father of U.S. citizens, a respected community leader, and he has no criminal history. | ||
| He suffers from a life-threatening heart condition and has fully complied with every requirement of our immigration system, submitting every application on time, providing extensive documentation, and cooperating completely with USCIS. | ||
| And yet, two months ago, after dropping his 15-year-old son at school, Moron was detained by ICE. | ||
| This is a man who founded the largest Boy Scout troop in North Texas, who delivered food and supplies to families across our community during the pandemic, and who was recognized by the city of Richardson for his outstanding service to our community. | ||
| Tomorrow, Moron faces a proceeding where he will face removal. | ||
| I have repeatedly requested humanitarian parole on his behalf, and those requests have gone unanswered. | ||
| Moron is exactly the kind of person humanitarian parole was created for, a dedicated public servant, husband, and a father. | ||
| I urge DHS to grant him humanitarian parole, and I yield back. | ||
| For what purpose does the gentleman from Wisconsin seek recognition? | ||
|
unidentified
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Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House, revise, and extend my requirements. | |
| Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. | ||
|
unidentified
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of a Green Bay local legend, WFRV chief meteorologist Tom Mahoney, who recently passed away at the age of 75. | |
| Tom first appeared on local news in northeast Wisconsin in 1972 and quickly became a trusted presence in households across our region. | ||
| For more than 30 years at WFRV until his retirement in 2013, he guided families through blizzards, thunderstorms, and sunny skies with humor, kindness, and a genuine passion for meteorology. | ||
| He shared that passion with the next generation by visiting schools throughout northeastern Wisconsin, inspiring countless young people. | ||
| Beyond the weather desk, Tom was also a man of deep faith. | ||
| As a Catholic deacon, he visited the sick, led funerals, and often left the studio after the 6.30 newscast to conduct wake services, just to come back in time for the 10 o'clock broadcast. | ||
| Mr. Speaker, as the representative from northeastern Wisconsin and as a lifelong resident of the area, I want to thank Tom Mahoney for his lifetime of service to northeastern Wisconsin and for always being a trusted voice for families in our community. | ||
| His wife, Sue, their children, and grandchildren are in my prayers during this time. | ||
| Tom's impact on our community will live on in the memories of those he guided through countless storms and sunny days. | ||
| And with that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back. | ||
| For what purpose does the gentlewoman from Vermont seek recognition? | ||
| Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. | ||
| Mr. Speaker, on October 2nd, 2018, a man, a journalist, a father, a fiancée, was lured into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. | ||
| He went to get documents so he could marry his fiancé. | ||
| He never came out. | ||
| He was murdered in that building, and his name was Jamal Khashoggi. | ||
| He was a writer for the Washington Post, and his murder was an attack on the free press. | ||
| A month later, our own CIA under Trump concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, MBS, had ordered Khashoggi's killing and dismemberment. | ||
| The UN came to the same conclusion. | ||
| MBS ordered the murder. | ||
| Despite that, yesterday, President Trump welcomed MBS to the White House with fanfare and pomp and circumstance. | ||
| Trump said, Khashoggi was controversial. | ||
| Whether you liked him or not, well, things happen. | ||
| There is only one way to look at this, and that is moral rot. | ||
| Dangerous, chilling, moral rot. | ||
| I yield back. | ||
| For what purposes, the gentleman from North Carolina seek recognition. | ||
|
unidentified
|
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House for one minute, revise, and extend my remarks. | |
| Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. | ||
| Charles Chick Richardson, a World War II veteran who served this country as a U.S. Air Force B-17 bomber crewman, went to be with the Lord earlier this month. | ||
| I'm truly blessed to have known a man who went through so much to protect our country, flying over Europe and even willingly marching straight into combat with such red, white, and blue courage. | ||
| Chick lived to be 102 years old, and in that long life, he accomplished so much, raising a family, working in the automotive industry, and even writing a book about World War II called 35 Missions to Hell and Back. | ||
| Chick was a prime example of a true American who loved his country so much that he was willing to dedicate much of his life to protecting it. | ||
| It was such an honor to know this patriot, willing to put his life on the line to fight for his country. | ||
| I pray we all have even an ounce of the bravery and the love for this country that Chick had. | ||
| Rest in peace, Chick. | ||
| I yield back. | ||
| For what purposes, the gentleman from New York, seek recognition. | ||
|
unidentified
|
Mr. Speaker, I have requested unanimous consent to address the House for one minute to revise and extend my remarks. | |
| Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. | ||
|
unidentified
|
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. | |
| Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize the achievements of Reverend William E. Norman Sr. celebrating his 30th year of pastoral service for the congregants of Solid Rock Christian Center of Yonkers, New York. | ||
| Reverend Norman has led the church in spiritual matters, Sunday worship services, weekly Bible study classes, in person and online. | ||
| His service to the larger community extends to his efforts to meet the needs of the poor and the hungry, young people and seniors, the homeless, and those in need of mental health services. | ||
| Pastor Norman serves the City of Yonkers as Director of Veterans Services, as well as Commissioner for the City's Human Rights Commission, as a member of the Yonkers Auxiliary Police, and as a police chaplain for the Yonkers Police Department. | ||
| He has served with distinction as United States Marine for four years in active duty and two years in the reserves. | ||
| A native of North Carolina with roots in Brooklyn, Pastor Norman is a longtime Yonkers resident and leader. | ||
| With his wife, Reverend Tamara Norman, and four children, including Councilwoman Deanna Norman, he has charted a vision for future community development that would serve all, combining housing, childcare, recreation, social services, and worship. | ||
| We salute Reverend William Norman for his years of service in spiritual and secular realms, all that benefit the people of the city of Yonkers. | ||
| Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back. | ||
| For what purposes, gentlemen from Virginia, seek recognition. | ||
|
unidentified
|
Mr. Speaker, I seek the cadet's consent to address the House for one minute. | |
| Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. | ||
|
unidentified
|
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an extraordinary achievement in high school athletics. | |
| Benedictine College Preparatory School, located within Goochland County, has made program history by capturing its third consecutive VISAA Division I State Championship, defeat in Trinity Episcopal 20-0. | ||
| From the first snap, the cadets showed they came ready to compete. | ||
| Benedictine set the tone, demonstrating exceptional determination, discipline, and heart. | ||
| JoJo Johnson led the charge with an impressive 85-yard touchdown run, followed by key contributions from quarterback Caden Kohler and VMI commit Landon Snyder, giving the cadets a command in 2-0 lead at halftime. | ||
| Defensively, the cadets were nothing short of a dominant, ultimately leading to their championship win. | ||
| Benedictine forced five turnovers, including a critical interception by Malaki Mingo that helped seal the shutout. | ||
|
Huge Thank You
00:14:35
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unidentified
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I am honored today to recognize the student athletes, coaches, families, entire Benedictine community for their remarkable accomplishment and for the pride they have brought not only to Virginia, but Virginia's fifth congressional district in the entire Commonwealth. | |
| And with that, I yield back. | ||
| For what purposes, gentlemen from Virginia, seek recognition. | ||
| Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. | ||
| Thank you, Mr. Speaker. | ||
| Mr. Speaker, I want to rise to just give a huge thank you to all the food pantries, food banks, and nonprofits that helped so many families during this past shutdown, really all year, with food insecurity. | ||
| They've been giving out hundreds of thousands of meals, very rarely ever turning away anyone. | ||
| The ones in my community include ones like Dulles South Food Pantry, Haymarket Regional Food Pantry, Mobile Hope, Northern Virginia Food Rescue, creating foundations for hope, House of Mercy Food Pantry, and of course Loud and Hunger Relief. | ||
| They did so much. | ||
| Fresh produce, sweet treats, pantry essentials, even Thanksgiving meals coming up next week. | ||
| And so they saw, some saw up to a 500% increase in new families asking for food. | ||
| And this is still going to be a big issue. | ||
| We saw the snap cuts over the summer. | ||
| All of them told me that that's going to be a big issue. | ||
| And so we need to continue to address food insecurity in America. | ||
| But I want to thank those organizations for stepping up when we needed them most. | ||
| I yield back. | ||
| For purposes, the gentleman from Florida seek recognition. | ||
| Ask unanimous consent to address the House for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. | ||
| Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. | ||
| Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize First Lieutenant Duncan DeMarsh, a proud lifelong resident of Volusha County and an outstanding young leader who will soon deploy for one year to the Middle East with the Florida Army National Guard in service to our nation. | ||
| First Lieutenant DeMarsh has distinguished himself through his public service as the legislative aide to my friend State Representative Traymont, where he worked tirelessly on behalf of the people of Florida. | ||
| He was also elected vice chairman of the Volusia Republican Party, where he helped secure important victories in the most recent election. | ||
| As he prepares for his deployment, I want to express my deep gratitude not only to Duncan, but also to his new bride, Savannah DeMarsh, and the rest of their family, who share in the sacrifice that military life demands. | ||
| Their strength and support make his service possible. | ||
| We in Congress and the American people are indebted to the brave men and women who stand watch on our behalf. | ||
| I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing First Lieutenant Duncan DeMarsh a safe mission and a swift return home. | ||
| Thank you, Mr. Speaker. | ||
| For purposes, gentlemen from Hawaii seek recognition. | ||
| Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. | ||
| Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. | ||
| Thank you, Mr. Speaker. | ||
| I rise today to honor the life and service of Maui County Councilmember Tasha Kama, a mother to all, a warm hand and a hug when you needed it most, a voice for the voiceless and a champion for everyone she served. | ||
| Tasha was a fierce advocate for affordable housing, a tireless defender of Native Hawaiian rights, and a steadfast fighter for our keiki and our kupuna. | ||
| But more than any title or position, she carried a quiet strength and a deep faith that grounded our entire community. | ||
| She showed up for people, not for recognition, but because she believed every person deserved dignity, respect, and aloha. | ||
| Hawaii and the world needs more Tashas. | ||
| With her now watching from above, we must now try to live and lead with the same courage, compassion, and unwavering aloha that defined her life. | ||
| To the Kama Ohana and all those whose lives she shaped, we offer our deepest condolences. | ||
| May her legacy continue to guide us forward. | ||
| Rest in aloha, my friend. | ||
| Mahalo, and I yield back, Mr. Speaker. | ||
| For what purpose does the gentleman from Georgia seek recognition? | ||
| I ask unanimous consent to address the House for one minute to revise and extend my remarks. | ||
| Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. | ||
| Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Esther Omo Yimilowa, a graduate student at Georgia Southern University. | ||
| She was awarded the 2025 Amateur Radio Digital Communications Scholarship, an example of her academic achievement, resilience, and determination. | ||
| Her determination was shaped by the strength and community she found in Georgia Southern after leaving her home country of Nigeria. | ||
| After arriving, she immersed herself in research focused on power converters and machine learning applications. | ||
| With countless hours of research and lab work, Esther didn't hold back on the scholarship application. | ||
| She plans to use the scholarship money to purchase tools and resources to support her research as well as to cover some school expenses. | ||
| Now her focus is towards helping the next generation of women engineers and young girls like her who face uncertainty in the next chapter of their life. | ||
| She wants to pay it forward, as it was a path she didn't take along. | ||
| Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back. | ||
| For what purpose does the gentlewoman from Virginia seek recognition? | ||
| Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. | ||
|
unidentified
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Thank you. | |
| Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a lifetime of service of one of my constituents, Colonel William Woodard Butler, the 2025 Veteran of the Year for Virginia's 4th Congressional District. | ||
| With over 38 years of service between active duty and the reserves, Colonel Butler has devoted his military career and beyond to improving the lives of our service members, advancing medical research, and giving back to his community. | ||
| Colonel Butler completed two overseas deployments, one to Okinawa and another to Qatar. | ||
| He has over 980 hours of flight time, of which 65 are in combat. | ||
| He then rounded out his military career as a professor of aerospace medicine at the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. | ||
| In addition to this, he now serves as an active member of his community, as a trustee for the John Randolph Foundation, and a member of the City of Hopewell's Planning Commission. | ||
| He helped establish and permanently endowed scholarship for Chesterfield, Hopewell, and Prince George students pursuing a medical career. | ||
| I thank Colonel Butler for his service to our nation and admire all he has done to improve the lives of those in our community, Commonwealth, and country. | ||
| And I am honored to name him the 2025 Veteran of the Year for Virginia's 4th Congressional District. | ||
| Thank you, and I yield back. | ||
| For what purpose does the gentlewoman from Virginia seek recognition? | ||
|
unidentified
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Mr. Speaker, I will handle the consent to address the House floor and to rise and extend my remarks. | |
| Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. | ||
|
unidentified
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Family Caregivers Month and to honor the more than 63 million Americans who selflessly care for their loved ones. | |
| That includes more than 1.5 million Virginians who step up every single day for their parents, spouses, and family members. | ||
| As a Navy veteran, nurse practitioner, and someone who has seen firsthand the challenges families face, I know just how essential these caregivers are to our long-term care system. | ||
| But far too often, caregivers shoulder enormous emotional, physical, and financial burdens without adequate help. | ||
| That's why Congress must work together to advance common-sense, bipartisan solutions like the Credit for Caregiving Act, increase respite care funding, and expand workplace flexibility. | ||
| These are practical steps that will give caregivers the support they desperately need. | ||
| When caregivers thrive, families thrive. | ||
| And this month and every month, let's honor their sacrifice. | ||
| Thank you to all the caregivers out there. | ||
| We appreciate you. | ||
| And I yield back. | ||
| For what purpose does the gentlewoman from New Mexico seek recognition? | ||
|
unidentified
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I'm sorry. | |
| Can we have him go next? | ||
| For what purpose does the gentleman from Tennessee seek recognition? | ||
|
unidentified
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Address the House for one minute to tell the truth. | |
| Without objection, the gentleman is recognized to tell the truth. | ||
| Thank you, Mr. Speaker. | ||
| I'm here to talk about two incidences that shame me as a member of this House and as an American citizen. | ||
| Today, President Trump signed the Epstein Documents Release Bill. | ||
| Lots of women were up here who were victims of Jeffrey Epstein's sexual felonies, and they celebrated when the House passed it and the Senate passed it. | ||
| But it's clear today that classified documents therein will not be released, and documents that might relate to an ongoing investigation which President Trump authorized going after Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, and others on the Democratic side, which are false and improper investigations. | ||
| For Ms. Bondi said there was nothing there, will not allow for material to be disclosed. | ||
| And the Senate said the House shouldn't get involved with the $500,000 that each senator should get for simply having a phone call noted, not listened to, not documented, but noted. | ||
| $500,000 for nine senators. | ||
| That money should go to the Epstein victims. | ||
| Truth spoken, justice should be required. | ||
|
unidentified
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I yield back the balance. | |
| For what purpose does the gentleman from Utah seek recognition? | ||
| I ask unanimous consent to address the House for one minute and to advise and extend my remarks. | ||
| Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. | ||
| Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of my alma mater, Brigham Young University. | ||
| Since its founding in 1875, BYU has stood as firm as a fundamental institution of learning and innovation in the state of Utah. | ||
| Throughout its history, the university's program, students, athletes, professors, and alumni have made great contributions to a variety of fields, including the advancement of technology, physical and social sciences, sports, business, law, and many other areas of significance. | ||
| BYU continues to grow and evolve as they plan to open a medical school soon. | ||
| The university, which also includes campuses in Hawaii and Idaho, is renowned globally, further living up to its motto, The World is Our Campus. | ||
| The BYU Pathways Worldwide Program serves over 74,000 students in over 180 countries in 2024. | ||
| Above all, I appreciate BYU's focus on instilling its motto, Entocher, Learn, Go Forth to Serve. | ||
| I'm grateful for the BYU education I received in undergraduate and law school, and I'm proud to represent BYU and the Provo community in Congress. | ||
| Congratulations to BYU and President Shane Rees on 150 years of innovation. | ||
| I'm excited to see how BYU will continue to grow and forgive me of that parking ticket when I was a student so many years ago. | ||
| Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back. | ||
| For what purpose does the gentleman from California seek recognition? | ||
| Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. | ||
| Thanks a lot, Mr. Speaker. | ||
| I just want to remind everybody across the country where their food comes from, and a whole bunch of it comes from California. | ||
| Look at these crops here: 100% pistachios, almonds, plums, prunes, olives, nectarines, kiwi fruit, honeydew, garlic, celery, artichokes come from California. | ||
| Shelled walnuts, California, tomatoes, 96% of mandarins. | ||
| So, if we don't have the water to grow these crops in California, if we don't have the support from government not regulating us out of business, it's not going to come from there anymore. | ||
| And if it doesn't come from there, it's going to have to come from a foreign country because nobody else in the country can grow these crops quite the way we can in California. | ||
| Well, they can do a pretty good job in some other places, but this is where it happens. | ||
| And so, we need the support of the federal government to continue to build the water supply, SITES Reservoir, Shasta Rais in Northern California, as well as hold on to our water supply and not have it all frittered out to the Pacific Ocean in pursuit of a non-scientific pursuit of water for fish. | ||
| I yield back. | ||
| For what purpose does the gentleman from New Mexico seek recognition? | ||
|
unidentified
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All right. | |
| Well, good evening, Mr. Speaker. | ||
| I ask for unanimous consent to address the House and to revise and extend my remarks. | ||
| Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. | ||
| Mr. Speaker, Chaco Canyon is sacred, the ancestral homeland and a living landscape and home to Pueblo and Dene people, a World Heritage Site and a landscape of ancient ruins, kivas, and sacred lands as far as the eye can see, which is why I stand here tonight in solidarity with tribal leaders from across New Mexico to say, protect Chaco Canyon, | ||
| protect it from the attacks of a Trump administration that is trying to open these lands once again to oil and gas drilling. | ||
| Can you imagine one of our most sacred sites, which Secretary Holland protected in 2023, which the New Mexico delegation is trying to permanently withdraw? | ||
| A place that Pueblo leaders say holds the footprints of their ancestors and countless generations, Navajo leaders who say that it is deeply embedded in our way of life and the living community and our very culture. | ||
| But this administration has forged ahead to open these lands to the irreparable desecration of drilling on this sacred site. | ||
| And so I call on the administration and the American people to join us in this fight to protect Chaco Canyon. | ||
| Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Carter, is recognized until 10 p.m. as the designee of the majority leader. | ||
| Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this special order. | ||
| Without objection. | ||
|
First Baptist Church of Savannah
00:02:54
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| Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate First Baptist Church of Savannah on their 225th anniversary. | ||
| Since 1800, this church has stood as a cornerstone of faith, service, and resilience in our community. | ||
| From its beginnings on Franklin Square to the historic sanctuary on Chippewa Square, First Baptist Church has been a beacon of steadfast devotion and is recognized as the oldest surviving house of worship in Savannah. | ||
| Through its leadership and dedicated members, this church has shaped not only life in Savannah, but also Baptist life across Georgia and our nation. | ||
| It has nurtured faith, advanced education through its connection to Mercer University, and embraced a spirit of service. | ||
| Between its open-door policy during the Civil War to its recent pipe organ concert series, First Baptist Church has continually worked to build community and welcome all in their congregation. | ||
| We celebrate them for both a remarkable history and a vibrant legacy of hope for the future. | ||
| Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Catherine Spies, who until recently served as a director of flight test engineering at Gulfstream Aerospace and has now been selected as one of the 10 members of NASA's 2025 astronaut candidate class. | ||
| Holding a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California and a master's degree from Harvard University, Ms. Spies has consistently exemplified her dedication and innovation. | ||
| NASA's astronaut candidate class is among the most competitive programs in the world, drawing thousands of applicants from across the nation. | ||
| A former Marine Corps attack helicopter pilot and engineer at Gulfstream, Ms. Spies stood out for her extraordinary record of service and expertise. | ||
| Her selection continues our state's proud tradition of producing pioneers in science and technology and will inspire young people across Georgia to dream big and pursue careers in STEM. | ||
| As she begins training for future missions, we are honored Catherine Spies will continue to uphold Georgia's legacy of innovation and service to our nation. | ||
| Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Frank Gardner, chairman of the Liberty County Republican Party, who recently passed away. | ||
| Frank was more than a dedicated leader. | ||
| He was a proud military veteran and a man of deep faith and conviction. | ||
| His commitment to his community and to our country was reflected in everything he did, whether it was placing campaign signs, knocking on doors, or lending a helping hand to a neighbor. | ||
|
Inspiring Leadership in Democracy
00:03:24
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| Frank led by example and inspired others through his actions. | ||
| He worked tirelessly to strengthen the Republican Party in Liberty County and across Georgia, reminding us that real leadership begins with service and humility. | ||
| His legacy will live on through the many lives he touched and the example he set for those who follow. | ||
| We extend our deepest condolences Condolences to Frank's family, friends, and the Liberty County community. | ||
| His life embodied patriotism, dedication, and service to others. | ||
| Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back. | ||
| For what purposes does the gentleman rise? | ||
| Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn. | ||
| The question is on the motion to adjourn. | ||
| Those in favor say aye. | ||
| Those opposed, no. | ||
| The ayes have it. | ||
| The motion is adopted. | ||
| Accordingly, the House stands adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow for morning hour debate. | ||
|
unidentified
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And the U.S. House has adjourned for the evening following a series of votes on the chamber floor, including measures related to cash bail and police hiring policies. | |
| In Washington, D.C., members also voted on a measure to repeal the ability of certain senators to sue the Justice Department over phone record searches without their consent. | ||
| These searches were in relation to the January 6th investigation and were added to the temporary government funding bill passed late last week. | ||
| Members also voted on a censure measure against Florida Representative Corey Mills, which was filed by South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace. | ||
| You can watch live coverage of the House when members return here on C-SPAN. | ||
| C-SPAN's Washington Journal, our live forum, inviting you to discuss the latest issues in government, politics, and public policy from Washington, D.C. to across the country. | ||
| Coming up Thursday morning, investigative journalist Dave Leventhal on congressional stock trading law. | ||
| And then we'll discuss the Epstein files and other congressional news of the day first with Washington Republican Congressman Michael Baumgartner and then with Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Stephen Lynch. | ||
| C-SPAN's Washington Journal. | ||
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