Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. Grijalva) as a cosponsor of H.R. 8313.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when

the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the House passage of the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act, and I thank Congresswoman Letlow and Senator Fischer for their leadership in sending this important legislation to the President's desk.

Wildfires have wreaked havoc across Nebraska's Third District, with more than 860,000 acres burned this year alone.

Now more than ever, Nebraskans deserve relief, not additional burdens.

I was proud to cosponsor this commonsense piece of legislation, which will ensure that Emergency Conservation Program eligibility can be triggered faster in response to a natural disaster, like the wildfires in my district, and provide much-needed flexibility for producers as they begin to rebuild.

Nebraskans are resilient, but they shouldn't have to navigate unnecessary red tape while recovering from disaster.

Today, with final passage of this bill, we took a meaningful step toward providing producers with the timely support they need to rebuild, restore, and recover.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to seeing President Trump sign this into law.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate 80 years of the Midwest Theater, a place that has meant so much to Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and surrounding communities.

For eight decades, this theater has been more than just a building. It has been a gathering place, a community hub, and a doorway to worlds far beyond our own. Children, parents, grandparents, and friends have come through these doors to laugh, to cry, to wonder, and to be transported into stories from every corner of the globe.

The Midwest Theater has given us the gift of escape, the chance to set aside the worries of everyday life, and lose ourselves in imagination, creativity, and shared experiences.

While it began as a movie house, it has grown into something even greater: a thriving performing arts center that enriches the cultural life of western Nebraska through film, music, theater, and live performance.

As we celebrate 80 remarkable years, we also celebrate the countless number of volunteers who have sustained this institution and the generations still to come who will create new memories here.

Happy 80th anniversary, Midwest Theater. May your lights continue to shine brightly for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Mrs. Shirley Graber of McCook, Nebraska, and wish her a very happy 100th birthday. Reaching a century of life is a truly extraordinary milestone and I hope Mrs. Graber's day be filled with treasured memories, the love of family, and the appreciation of friends near and far.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at noon on Monday next for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to move toward American energy independence and pass my bill, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act.

With global tensions, volatile fuel prices, and persistent uncertainty in the energy sector, energy independence is no longer a theoretical goal but a vital part of America's national security and economic survival.

Fortunately, E15 is a winning solution. It is a reliable, clean, and affordable homegrown fuel that strengthens every link in our domestic energy supply chain.

Nationwide, year-round E15 would provide immediate relief to consumers, lowering costs at the pump at different levels, but in my district you can see up to 52 cents per gallon at a time when families need it most.

It would increase demand for corn, as you have been hearing, by over 2 million bushels a year, delivering the certainty, opportunity, and market development America's farmers have unequivocally called for.

E15 compatibility is here and can be delivered through existing infrastructure, as the past 5 years of summertime waivers have already demonstrated.

The question is no longer whether E15 makes sense. We know it does. The question is whether Congress will allow consumers to have this viable option.

To my colleagues in Congress, I urge you to stand with America's consumers, America's farmers, and America's energy future by making nationwide, year-round E15 a reality.

Together, we can finally deliver the certainty, affordability, and energy independence the American people deserve.

Mr. Speaker, today I stand before you to honor the extraordinary life of Robert ``Bob'' Busch, a devoted Nebraskan whose legacy will live on in our hearts and in the fields of western Nebraska.

Bob epitomized the spirit of hard work from a young age, starting his journey in agriculture by learning to drive a tractor at 12 years old before mastering the beet harvester at 16 years old.

This early dedication blossomed into a lifelong commitment to farming, embodying the values of diligence and perseverance in all he did. He will be remembered not only as a man of faith and deep conviction but also a pillar of strength around western Nebraska, where he farmed the same land that has been in his family for generations.

As a respected leader in agriculture, Bob made valuable contributions to organizations like the Nebraska Sugar Beet Growers Association and the Western Sugar Cooperative, tirelessly advocating for water and farming interests in western Nebraska. His voice will be sorely missed, and his impact will be felt for years to come.

Bob Busch was a remarkable individual, and while we mourn his passing, we celebrate the incredible life he lived.

Mr. Speaker, tax day is usually a very painful reminder of how much of one's hard-earned money goes out the door. Today would have been no different from the past if Democrats had gotten their way and if Republicans had failed to pass the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.

Take my district, for example, where a typical family of four's taxes would have increased by 26 percent, costing them more than $1,300 a year. For most families, $1,300 is not chump change. It is rent, a home improvement project, or even about 7 weeks' worth of groceries. However, today is different. The more thoughtful approach Republicans took prevailed.

This year, Americans are seeing bigger paychecks, larger refunds, and more opportunities for them and their families to build long-term financial security.

Now, the same family of four with two kids earning up to $73,000 a year who would have seen a 26 percent increase will have no Federal income tax liability and will have their child tax credit permanently increased to $2,200 per child. The relief does not stop there, with the average tax refund being nearly $3,500 and an additional $6,000 standard deduction for America's seniors.

We also strengthened America's agriculture industry by permanently doubling death tax relief and allowing producers to fully deduct new equipment costs, helping family operations innovate and continue for generations to come.

This is what real tax relief looks like, and it is exactly what Republicans will continue fighting for here in Washington.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in keeping the people of Nebraska in their thoughts and prayers as our State confronts the worst wildfire crisis in our history.

Nebraska has always been defined by resilience. From the pioneers who endured brutal blizzards, devastating droughts, and an uncertain future to build a life on the Great Plains, to the families who call it home today, that spirit has never left us. It is who we are.

Today, that spirit is being tested once again. On March 12, four fires ignited across central and western Nebraska. In less than a week, they have burned over 826,000 acres, and there is still no clear end in sight.

This past weekend, I joined Governor Pillen and Senator Ricketts to tour the affected areas and meet with local officials to learn about the latest containment efforts. What I saw and heard was certainly sobering. The scale of this devastation is staggering.

Across 10 counties, no less than 46 structures have been destroyed and 470 more are threatened. At least 600 Nebraskans have had to evacuate their homes, and 1 Nebraskan, Rose White of Arthur, Nebraska, has lost her life. I certainly take a moment to offer my heartfelt condolences to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all who knew and loved her.

Right now, these fires continue to burn, and Mother Nature is not predicted to be of any assistance any time soon. The Morrill fire, now the largest wildfire in Nebraska's history, has already burned more than 643,000 acres

and is only 16 percent contained. The Cottonwood fire has taken over 131,000 acres and is just 40 percent contained. Road 203 fire has burned more than 35,000 acres and is only 36 percent contained, and the Anderson Bridge fire has burned up to 17,000 acres and is 60 percent contained.

Yet, even in the face of this disaster, Nebraskans are doing what we have always done, and that is coming together. Neighbors are helping neighbors. Unaffected communities across our State are sending their support, and a countless number of brave volunteer firefighters and first responders continue to work around the clock, putting everything on the line to protect lives, land, and livelihoods.

Governor Pillen has deployed the Nebraska National Guard, and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has sent Iowa National Guard helicopters with Bambi Buckets and crews trained for firefighting operations to assist in these efforts. This is what it means to look out for one another.

While this fight is far from over, we must remember what is at stake. Agriculture is the backbone of Nebraska's economy and a way of life for countless families. These fires are not just burning land. They are threatening livelihoods.

Heading into the summer, it is expected that more than 35,000 head of cattle will be without grass this grazing season. Tens of millions of dollars' worth of fencing, fence lines, and other crucial infrastructure have been lost. This means for many producers that the hardship will continue long after the fires are contained.

I ask those producers to please document their losses when it is safe to do so. Federal disaster assistance programs are available, and I want to ensure that support is received for those who are eligible.

I also will take a moment to be honest about what is happening here in Washington. While Nebraska is battling the worst wildfire in our State's history, Senate Democrats are continuing to hold funding for the Department of Homeland Security hostage, putting future FEMA disaster relief funding at risk. Enough is enough. Disaster relief and other vital programs, including TSA and others, should never be used as a political pawn.

All Nebraskans should know that they have the full support of the entire Nebraska Federal delegation, and we stand ready to help in any way that we can. We have faced tough times before, and we have always come through them stronger together. We will do that again now because that is who we are as Nebraskans.

Mr. Speaker, Americans across the country agree, the unmitigated flow of fentanyl under the Biden administration now constitutes an emergency.

Let's discuss some facts. In 2023 alone, this crisis contributed to the deaths of 70,000 Americans--in just one year, 2023--a number that only worsened the following year, when the amount of fentanyl that crossed our border with Canada was actually enough to kill 9.5 million people, given that potential.

Given this context, it is no surprise that between 2024 and 2025, under President Trump, fentanyl seizures at the northern border nearly doubled. As the supply of fentanyl is so tied to trade through the movement of precursor chemicals, the President has utilized trade policy to spur progress.

While today's resolution is meant to debate the merits of the emergency created by the flow of fentanyl, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle will use this as a venue to debate trade policy. I have been watching.

I certainly welcome my Democratic colleagues' interest, relatively new interest, in the trade policy following what I would say was 4 years of neglect on trade policy under President Biden. However, if we are serious about engaging in real reform, I believe that my colleagues would not just resort to political maneuvers.

I am not a fan of tariffs. That is no secret. I am in favor, however, of robust engagement with our trading partners. Let me be very clear. In trade, there is no stagnation. If we are not gaining ground, I think we are losing ground, and data would show that.

During the Biden administration, the President and this body were way too passive on our trade agenda. Right now, President Trump obviously is taking a new aggressive approach in order to level the playing field and address supply chains that have put Americans at risk.

Beyond the gains made in addressing the fentanyl crisis and outside the scope of this emergency, the President's engagement has led to significant gains for fairness throughout the global trading system.

While Canada is one of our most important allies and trading partners, and a friend, there have been a number of irritants in our economic relationship. Under President Trump's leadership, we have seen this change, most recently when Canada removed its discriminatory digital services tax.

These productive--and I will say oftentimes uncomfortable-- conversations must continue, though, as we strengthen and extend USMCA during this 2026 Joint Review.

The President has, at every turn, reaffirmed his commitment to use tariffs as a means to drive these conversations, and Congress has delegated a number of tariff authorities to the executive.

While we are ultimately debating the merits of the emergency, let me be clear: This approach will not change the President's tariff strategy, just the conditions. This body works best when engaging with the full context of the policy environment.

As we await the Supreme Court's decision on whether tariffs lie within the authority of IEEPA, today's politically motivated vote, I believe, is premature. If my colleagues have full confidence there is no risk of fentanyl imports at the northern border, then they have more faith than I do.

Mr. Speaker, if this resolution is instead driven by a newfound tariff skepticism, I urge them to allow the Supreme Court to first make its decision.

To overlook the very basis of the emergency in the hope of removing tariffs for which the President has other authorities to pursue only increases uncertainty in the short term.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and thank County Court Judge James Worden upon his retirement. A lifelong Nebraskan, his judgeship has been evidence of his dedication to public service.

Throughout his two-decade tenure, Judge Worden has served Nebraskans with integrity and a profound commitment to upholding the rule of law.

Whether it was expanding others' understanding of the judicial system, celebrating families' new beginnings through National Adoption Day events, or demonstrating compassion in the Scotts Bluff juvenile drug court, he exemplified a judicial career built on the conviction that justice should be firm, fair, and just.

Judge Worden will be remembered for his strong faith and devotion to his family and as a trusted member of his community. He is someone who quietly led by example and generously gave his time to strengthening the lives of others.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Judge Worden for his faithful service to the State of Nebraska. I wish him, Joni, and his entire family all the best in the years ahead and congratulate him on a career defined by respect, service, and lasting impact.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the diligent work of the full committee chairman, Chairman Smith, to prioritize this issue.

Madam Speaker, we have an opportunity to advance the bipartisan legacy of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a program which has been a pillar of U.S. trade and economic engagement throughout sub- Saharan Africa.

As we all know, trade requires consistent engagement. With over 17,000 tariff lines and complex supply chains, trade is a detailed and dynamic system which values certainty.

AGOA is a unique opportunity to strengthen trading relationships through market signals and cooperation on our partners' trade and investment policy, rule of law, as well as worker and human rights. We cannot sit on the sidelines while our global adversaries, including the Chinese Communist Party, spread their malign influence across the continent.

As the Trump administration engages on trade, AGOA can be a complementary trade policy as we look to build mutually beneficial reciprocal trade. Though preference programs can be the foundation of our engagement with developing countries, they should never be the extent of it.

Take Kenya, for example. It has been a beneficiary of the program since it

began. When AGOA first went into effect in 2000, Kenya had very limited trade with the United States. Under AGOA, Kenya's GDP has grown exponentially, as have their imports from the U.S. As their economy has succeeded, so has their capacity for trade.

This was why I was so eager to see the first Trump administration work to advance bilateral negotiations with Kenya, and I hope to see continued progress with Kenya and other potential partners.

As the world works to avoid overreliance on unreliable single sources, redundant supply chains for both inputs and markets for our outbound products are key. Stronger partnerships across Africa can be a solution for many of these items, from critical minerals to agriculture.

With the fastest growing population and untapped economic potential, we must maintain reliable and proactive engagement across the continent.

Madam Speaker, again, I welcome all my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan program.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6504, the Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act.

The Haiti HELP/HOPE program provides significant benefit to both the U.S. and Haiti. These preferences can deliver tangible results in Haiti while also supporting our goals for diversification.

Providing duty-free access for textiles and apparel from Haiti leads to more affordable products for U.S. consumers while creating in- country opportunities for Haiti's workforce.

The apparel and textiles industry is important for the Haitian people, providing economic stability throughout times of uncertainty and unrest.

As President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said: ``World trade helps to lay the groundwork for peace by making all free nations of the world stronger and more self-reliant.'' While times have changed somewhat since these words were spoken, the message still rings true.

As a key pillar of our economic engagement with Haiti, the HELP/HOPE program has supported industry growth while encouraging a more stable business environment. However, as with AGOA and other expired preference programs, Haiti HELP/HOPE should not be the extent of our engagement. Congress and the Trump administration must develop additional strategies to work with Haiti to create a more sustainable and self-reliant economy.

A more stable Haitian economy supports American companies that seek to do business there, creating a supply chain for those products as we diversify away from China.

Onshoring and nearshoring of critical industries cannot leave opportunities within our own hemisphere on the table. We have the opportunity today to reassert congressional commitment to fostering security and prosperity in Haiti, supporting businesses that are already operating in Haiti or looking to establish new supply chains.

Reauthorizing Haiti HOPE/HELP is the right thing to do. It is in our interest to support stability in Haiti, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 299.