Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1596) to rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge located in the State of Texas as the ``Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material in the Record on S. 1596, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, Jocelyn Nungaray was a vibrant 12-year-old girl from Houston, Texas, whose life was tragically cut short on June 16, 2024, when she was murdered by two Venezuelan nationals who illegally entered the United States and are allegedly members of the Tren de Aragua gang. This senseless act has done irreparable damage to Jocelyn's family, friends, and community.

In May, Jocelyn's mother, Alexis, testified on this legislation, but more importantly, she highlighted Jocelyn's caring personality, deep love for animals, and passion for finding animals homes, sharing stories of Jocelyn's life, such as Jocelyn's efforts to nurse injured animals back to health. Alexis recounted one instance when Jocelyn brought a pigeon that had injured its legs into her home. Jocelyn, without hesitation, tried to nurse the pigeon back to health in her bedroom until it was well enough to be released back into the wild.

In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing the Secretary of the Interior to rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge after Jocelyn Nungaray, permanently commemorating Jocelyn for her compassion for animals and people who care about nature.

To ensure the name change is permanent, Congressman Babin and Senator Cornyn introduced identical legislation that would codify the President's executive order.

The National Wildlife Refuge System plays an important role in coastal conservation, public recreation, and environmental education, all of which honor Jocelyn by allowing current and future generations of Americans to enjoy the natural landscape and animals that Jocelyn also enjoyed.

I, again, thank my colleague, Congressman Babin, for introducing the House companion of the legislation and for his commitment to honoring Jocelyn's memory.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), who is the lead sponsor of the House companion bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), my friend who is the chair of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, for his unwavering work and dedication to bring this good piece of legislation to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for speakers. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, refuges are places dedicated to conservation, public enjoyment, and environmental education.

Jocelyn was a kind, compassionate young girl who loved animals and cared deeply for the natural world. Renaming this refuge is a fitting honor to Jocelyn's life that ensures that her memory lives on.

Again, I thank Congressman Babin and the Texas delegation for their work on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, S. 1596 will codify the renaming of the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas to honor the memory of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray.

Wildlife refuges are more than places to protect our environment. They are places where so many young people are inspired to build a lifelong connection to nature and develop a sense of stewardship for the world around them.

Jocelyn Nungaray was one of those young people. She loved animals and the outdoors. Her life was tragically taken far too soon. This legislation ensures that her love for wildlife and the natural world will be remembered and honored forever at one of our Nation's most important coastal conservation areas.

Spanning 39,000 acres along Texas' Gulf Coast, this refuge is a vital sanctuary for migratory waterfowl, endangered species, and countless other wildlife. Now, it will also stand as a lasting tribute to Jocelyn's spirit and the values she held dear.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 1596 and help preserve Jocelyn's legacy in a place that reflects the beauty and wonder she saw in the world. I hope that this will bring her family some semblance of peace.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Westerman, my good friend and classmate, for his services here.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1596 to rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge located in the State of Texas and in my district as the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge to forever commemorate the life of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, who was tragically killed on June 17, 2024.

Jocelyn was brutally murdered in Houston, Texas, last summer. Two illegal Venezuelan aliens, both reported members of Tren de Aragua, the gang notoriously known around the country, have been charged in her killing.

Naming the refuge after Jocelyn is a very fitting way to honor her love for animals and to preserve her spirit within the very landscape that she called home.

I thank Chairman Westerman and Senator Cornyn for their leadership and support on these efforts. I also thank my Democratic colleague across the way for her support.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this very commonsense legislation. We can never bring back Jocelyn, but we can commemorate and memorialize her for the love of animals that she had, and her wonderful family, and have that as a fitting testimony to her short life.

Mr. President, Jocelyn Nungaray was a 12-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered just north of Houston last June. The two suspects who committed this ghastly crime were illegal immigrants who never should have been in our country in the first place.

To commemorate Jocelyn's life, I have introduced the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act, which would permanently rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas in her memory.

This bill would actually codify President Trump's Executive order and ensure that future generations will remember Jocelyn for years to come. I hope my colleagues will join me in renaming this Texas wildlife refuge in her honor.

Mr. President, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be discharged from further consideration of S. 1596 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time.

I know of no further debate on the bill.

I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 191, No. 192, and No. 193, I was not recorded due to inclement weather delaying travel. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 191, YEA on Roll Call No. 192, and YEA on Roll Call No. 193.

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