Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an important Kentucky business, Ale-8-One Bottling Company, which celebrated its

100th year in business on August 1, 2026. It is the oldest privately held bottler in the United States still owned by the founding family.

Located in Winchester, Kentucky, the business was founded in 1926 by George Lee Wainscott. His first creation was a soda called Roxa-Kola, named after Wainscott's wife Roxanne. The drink was quite successful but spurred a lawsuit from the Nation's largest cola company. Wainscott ultimately won the lawsuit but decided to develop a new, unique drink. He combined ginger with citrus to create a new flavor. He introduced it at the Clark County Fair in 1926 and held a contest to name his new recipe. A young fairgoer said the drink was the latest thing, or ``A Late One''. Thus Ale-8-One was used as the drink's name.

The company and the family secret recipe stayed protected through 4 generations. In the fall of 2009, Wainscott's great-great-nephew Fielding Rogers became the youngest family member to assume the leadership role. Rogers serves as owner, Chairman of the Board, and President. Ale-8-One is a very popular drink in Kentucky and other locations. Its signature green glass bottle is instantly recognized.

I extend my sincere congratulations to this family business on their 100th anniversary. Their success and longevity are inspiring, and I am honored to recognize Ale-8-One Bottling Company on their 100th anniversary before the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the vital contributions of Sterling Health Care during Health Center Week. Sterling Health, founded in 2012, serves the people of Nicholas, Bourbon, Bath, Montgomery, Clark, and Powell counties in Kentucky.

Sterling Health provides a robust list of vital medical services, including primary care, behavioral health, dental, vision, pharmacy, school-based health, a mobile unit, women's health, children's health, and substance abuse treatment. When they started in 2012, Sterling Health was focused on providing quality care to all, regardless of their ability to pay. That focus continues today.

In 2025, Sterling Health had 31,260 patients with 134,053 visits, and 255 full-time employees. Sterling Health is recognized by HRSA as a Quality Leader in several categories. They recently received 2 Communicator Awards of Excellence in Commercial Campaign (radio) and Website. They are planning to break ground soon on a new clinic in Owingsville.

Sterling Health is very community oriented. They sponsor mission- related causes and donate to area communities to provide resources

for many causes, including Special Needs Camp of Kentucky, First Responders Academy for youth, Camp Bravehearts for emotional regulation for children, the Bath County JAG team, and blood drives. In conjunction with their school-based health clinics, they hosted Teddy Bear Day, where young students used medical tools, examined their teddy bears, and learned about health care. Sterling Health is living their mission: ``To improve the lives of the people in the communities we serve.''

I extend my sincere appreciation to Sterling Health Care CEO Tina Bryant and all their staff. Their dedication and service to the health and well-being of our communities is inspiring, and I am honored to recognize them during Health Center Week before the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I want to start by applauding my good friend from Arkansas, Chairman French Hill, for his leadership on this critical legislation. Great job working across the aisle for bipartisan support for this legislation that will help strengthen Main Street America.

The Main Street Capital Access Act is exactly the kind of reform needed to advance this committee's goal of making community banking great again. Over the past 18 months, we have worked hard to develop over two dozen banking reform bills--many of them with strong bipartisan support--and combined them into one multifaceted package designed to strengthen our community financial institutions, not big banks, like the ranking member is referring to, community banks, Main Street banks, midsize banks.

If we want to help hold big banks accountable, then what we need is competition. Competition and choice are good for America, good for consumers, and good for financial stability.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a link to 14 letters of support from the Consumer Bankers Association, the American Bankers Association, the Bank Policy Institute, the Independent Community Bankers of America, the National Association of Home Builders, and others: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:4c869bbb-74d2-4d1e- befb-1b3aba1a0be3

Community banks and credit unions are the financial backbone of this country. They finance farms, factories, first-time home buyers, and the local entrepreneurs who create jobs in every corner of America. These institutions don't just serve communities. They are part of the community.

Here is the hard truth: Community banks have suffered under a regulatory framework that forgot who the system should serve. For too long, Washington has been writing rules as if every bank and credit union in America is a trillion-dollar global institution. They are not. They are our hometown banks and community financial institutions.

These guardrails that the ranking member talks about rolling back, we are not rolling back guardrails for big, multitrillion-dollar banks. We are talking about small community financial institutions.

The goal is simple: Regulation should follow the risk, not the ZIP Code or the political fashion. A $500 million community bank in rural Kentucky, rural Arkansas, or rural Michigan should not be regulated under the same framework built for a trillion-dollar institution operating around the globe. That means higher costs, fewer loans, more forced consolidation. This hurts everyday Americans by reducing both access to credit and opportunities for small business growth.

The Main Street Capital Access Act is about changing that. It is about rightsizing this regulatory framework to ensure that community lenders get back to what they do best: serving their customers and their communities.

Main Street opens the door for new bank formation, improving transparency in the chartering process, making applications more predictable, and ensuring rural and underserved communities can once again see new institutions formed instead of watching their local banks disappear.

You want to hold big banks accountable? Allow new banks to form.

It also restores proportionality to regulation, updating capital leverage and enhanced prudential standards to actually reflect a bank's risk profile, not just an arbitrary static asset threshold. That means less money spent on regulatory gymnastics and more money available for loans in your communities.

We are also bringing fairness and due process back to the supervision process. Banks and credit unions should not

be governed by opaque examiner preferences. They should be governed by clear risk-based and transparent standards that focus on core financial performance rather than foot faults and check-the-box compliance.

Main Street also addresses the structural problems that are driving consolidation. This legislation requires regulators to ensure clarity and predictability in the merger process so that healthy banks can grow and troubled banks can find partners before they fail. It ensures that when banks do fail, like Silicon Valley Bank, community banks aren't shut out of the resolution process by design.

Finally, this legislation recognizes reality: Innovation is happening. The question is whether it happens inside the banking system, where it is supervised and safe, or outside, where it isn't. This bill lets banks partner, modernize, and compete.

Community banks, Mr. Speaker, are the financial infrastructure of America--rural America, suburban America, urban America. When they thrive, small towns thrive. When they are regulated out of existence, capital dries up and opportunity for local ownership disappears.

The Main Street Capital Access Act is a critical step toward restoring the financial backbone of this country.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1181, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act. I thank my friend, the gentleman from Arkansas, the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, for his leadership on the bill and for yielding.

I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation.

I thank Congressman Riley Moore for his leadership on this important bill. I thank Congressman Richard Hudson for his longstanding work defending the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens, and our colleague from New York, Elise Stefanik, for her original introduction of this bill in several previous Congresses.

At its core, this bill is about protecting privacy and preventing government surveillance on citizens simply for exercising their constitutionally enshrined Second Amendment rights.

H.R. 1181 prohibits payment card networks and financial institutions from requiring or assigning merchant category codes, or MCCs, that single out firearm retailers for separate tracking and monitoring.

Unfortunately, we have seen repeated examples of progressive regulators and government officials pressuring financial institutions to target lawful industries and lawful customers.

From Operation Choke Point under the Obama administration and Choke Point 2.0 under Biden to New York financial regulators pressuring insurance companies to abandon longstanding relationships with the NRA, Americans have legitimate reasons to be concerned about the weaponization of the financial system.

Despite what those on the other side of the aisle may say, this bill does nothing to prevent law enforcement or regulators from investigating criminal activity, nor does it change the stringent requirements on financial institutions to comply with existing anti- money laundering laws or suspicious activity reporting requirements.

However, what my friend from California who just spoke doesn't say, but it needs to be said, is that the lawful purchase of a firearm protected by the Second Amendment is not in and of itself suspicious activity, nor should it be surveilled by the government.

What it does is prevent the creation of a framework that could be used to monitor, flag, and discourage lawful purchases from federally licensed firearm retailers.

This is about preventing government actors from using financial data to target Americans who are engaged in conduct expressly protected by the Second Amendment's right to keep and bear arms, a fundamental liberty for Americans.

Americans should not have to worry that lawful purchases that they made will be used to create lists, databases, or surveillance tools aimed at this constitutionally protected activity.

My friend, the ranking member from California, cited statistics about annual and daily deaths that she says are the result of gun violence. Respectfully, the right to bear arms is not the cause of violence. One murder is too many in America, period. We all agree on that.

Rather than blaming gun violence, Congress would be more productive focusing on the root causes of homicide: the breakdown of the family, lack of active parenting, mental illness, open-border policies, policies to defund the police, soft-on-crime policies like no cash bail, and politically motivated violence, like the kind that was behind the murder of Charlie Kirk. Addressing these societal problems does not require unconstitutional surveillance of Americans.

H.R. 1181 establishes commonsense guardrails to prevent regulatory abuse and safeguards constitutional freedoms.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, let me first start by applauding Chairman Hill for his leadership in advancing this landmark legislation. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is exactly the kind of commonsense housing reform needed to increase housing supply and help lower costs for American families.

As the chairman of the Financial Institution Subcommittee, I want to address Title IX of this bill. It deals with regulatory relief for community banks. Community banks represent the backbone of the housing industry, providing home loans for many first-time home buyers and serving as critical lenders to homebuilders.

For years, Federal regulators have written rules as if every bank in America is a trillion-dollar global institution and then act surprised when community banks disappear and housing costs skyrocket.

For Kentucky, this is personal. Community banks are the financial infrastructure of housing in rural America. When they thrive, small towns thrive. When they are regulated out of existence, capital dries up and the opportunity for homeownership disappears.

This legislation changes that. By streamlining de novo formation, increasing supervisory transparency, and strengthening access to deposits, community banks can better serve their communities and remain a key contributor to the home loan market, expanding opportunities not just for Kentuckians but for Americans to become homeowners.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bob Quick, President and CEO of Commerce Lexington. After 25 years with Commerce Lexington and more than 37 years in the chamber of commerce/economic development profession, Bob is entering retirement.

Bob is quite well respected in Lexington's business community, the entire city of Lexington, and all across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. His diplomatic approach helps bring people together to find solutions to issues facing the business community. Under his tenure, Commerce Lexington has experienced tremendous growth and improvement, including economic development tools, public policy programming and advocacy, talent attraction, strategic partnerships, marketing, and community and minority business developnlent. Bob's leadership resulted in several successful initiatives, including Greater Lexington's Washington, D.C. Fly-In, the Commerce Lexington Foundation, the nine-county Regional Competitiveness and the Access Loan Program.

Commerce Lexington was named National Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives in 2016. This tremendous accomplishment was due to the leadership skills of Bob Quick and his excellent team at Commerce Lexington. Numerous other awards over the years have also recognized the accomplishments of Commerce Lexington and its effectiveness in championing businesses. Bob leaves a tremendous legacy.

Bob Quick is not only an excellent leader; he is a well-respected man of character and humility. He inspires others every day as he leads with a servant's heart. I wish him well in his well-deserved retirement and I am honored

to recognize him before the U. S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a true patriot, Mr. William Oster ``Bill'' Tooley of Louisville, Kentucky. Mr. Tooley, a veteran of the United States Army, recently celebrated his 100th birthday.

Mr. Tooley was born in Russellville, Kentucky, on May 28, 1926. He attended Owensboro High School. During World War II, he volunteered for the U.S. Army. Following basic training, he was assigned to a medical battalion, the 71st Infantry Division, at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was responsible for taking care of the generators that kept the lights and electricity running, allowing surgeons and other medical personnel to care for wounded soldiers. After World War II ended, he served his last year in the medical battalion and was stationed in Germany.

Following his time in the military, Mr. Tooley went to work for Bell South as a lineman. He worked his way up to an electrical engineer, moving from Owensboro to Danville to Louisville. He was in engineering management when he retired in 1987. Mr. Tooley was an active community member, serving on the Saint Regis Park City Council for 18 years, where he served as the building compliance officer.

Mr. Tooley was married to Betty Rouse Tooley for 61 years. They had 6 children, 18 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. He is expecting his first great-great granddaughter in October 2026.

Bill Tooley is a true patriot, a great American, and an inspiration to us all. I am forever grateful to him and his fellow soldiers who sacrificed so much in service to our Nation. It is my honor to recognize his service and his 100th birthday before the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of one of Lexington, Kentucky's most influential citizens, Porter G. Peeples. Better known as P.G., he was the longtime leader of the Urban League of Lexington-Fayette County. He passed away while working in his office on April 28, 2026. Peeples is survived by his wife, Wilma, a son and daughter, and two grandchildren.

Peeples was born in Lynch, Kentucky on October 26, 1945, where his father was a coal miner. He attended the Lynch Public Colored School until desegregation happened his senior year in high school. During his life he kept close ties with other African Americans with roots in Eastern Kentucky coal towns. The first in his family to go to college, Peeples attended South East Community College and transferred to the University of Kentucky during his junior year, where he was one of around 50 black undergraduates. He was a volunteer with the newly formed Urban League. Soon after his graduation in 1968, he took a job at the Urban League as Education Director. In 1972 he was named Executive Director and worked there until his death.

The Urban League focused on workforce training, minority business support, and mentoring programs for young people. Through Peeples' efforts, they began to also work on affordable housing issues. Today the Urban League has more than 100 rentals and is a part of a partnership developing 12.5 acres dedicated to affordable housing. He worked with the Kentucky Housing Corporation to secure low-interest loans for buyers and was appointed to its board in the 1980s. He was serving on that board at the time of his death.

Peeples was also a champion for civil rights. He was well-respected by the business community, government leaders, and non-profit agencies. Peeples excelled at developing and nurturing relationships with people throughout the Lexington community. I appreciated his leadership, his love for our community, and our conversations about how to improve opportunities for the citizens of Lexington.

P.G. Peeples was a respected leader whose many accomplishments leave a lasting legacy on Lexington and the many individuals whose lives were influenced by his persistence, his passion, and his selfless, humble nature. It is my honor to lift up his life before the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the girls' and boys' basketball teams at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester, Kentucky.

Kentuckians are well known for their passion for basketball. High school basketball is certainly no exception. The boys' state tournament began in 1918. The girls' tournament began in 1920. For many years, the tournaments, both known as the Sweet Sixteen, have brought great basketball to fans across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This year's tournament proved to be filled with excitement.

On March 14, 2026, the George Rogers Clark High School girls' team won the Sweet Sixteen in Lexington's Rupp Arena. In an exciting game, they defeated Assumption 48-43 to win the tournament for the first time in school history. On March 21, 2026, the George Rogers Clark boys' team also won from behind in an overtime victory (58-50) over St. Xavier at Rupp Arena. This accomplishment is historic, as the last time the boys' and girls' champions were both from the same school was in 1928, almost 100 years ago.

I congratulate girls' Coach Robbie Graham, boys' Coach Josh Cook, all staff members, and especially the incredible student athletes. Their accomplishments are the result of determination, perseverance, athletic ability, and many hours of practice. The Sweet Sixteen victories brought pride to the entire student body of George Rogers Clark High School and the people of Clark County.

For their accomplishments in winning both the boys' and girls' Sweet Sixteen tournaments, I congratulate all the students and coaches. It is my honor to lift up their accomplishments before the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the vital contributions of medical laboratory professionals to the healthcare system and acknowledge Medical Laboratory Professional Week, observed from April 19 through April 25, 2026.

The professionals who work in medical laboratories play a critical role in patient care, as

approximately 70 percent of all medical decisions rely on laboratory test results. Complex testing that occurs in labs is essential for the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, as well as for monitoring patient health.

Medical laboratory professionals often work behind the scenes, often without direct interaction with the patients. However, their work is fundamental to the delivery of safe, accurate, and timely healthcare services.

In Kentucky, dedicated teams exemplify excellence, professionalism, and commitment to high-quality, safe, and precise patient care every day. The employees of the Laboratory at Centerpoint Health--Georgetown, located in Kentucky's 6th District, are excellent examples of such dedicated professionals.

I am honored to extend my sincere appreciation to all medical laboratory professionals, including those at Centerpoint Health-- Georgetown. Their dedication and service to the health and well-being of our communities is inspiring, and I recognize them during Medical Laboratory Professionals Week before the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this dangerous and misguided War Powers Resolution that would weaken our country and serve as a gift to our enemies.

The radical terrorist regime in Tehran, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, has targeted and killed thousands of Americans since 1979. The United States, Israel, and all of our allies are safer because the Ayatollah is dead.

Since the taking of our hostages from our embassy in 1979 to the infamous 1983 Beirut barracks bombing that killed 241 U.S. Marines, to the attack on the USS Cole that left 37 Navy sailors dead, to the maiming and killing of thousands of U.S. military members during the global war on terrorism, the Iranian terrorist regime has always posed a grievous threat to the United States. Operation Epic Fury is neutralizing that threat, and it has been a tremendous success.

President Trump promised that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon. He is acting on that promise to make the world a safer place, and he is complying with the law in doing so, not just in complying with the notification requirements of the War Powers Resolution, not only through the consultation provisions, and not only with routinely updating Congress, but also under the Commander in Chief powers.

As a legal matter, the President of the United States doesn't need the permission of Congress to engage in hostilities to protect the American people. The Commander in Chief Clause gives the President the exclusive power to command the military in operations approved by Congress, and it also gives the President substantial independent power to direct military operations, so long as the President does not infringe on the exclusive powers of Congress.

What are the exclusive powers of Congress? The declaration power--we have been silent on that--and appropriations, the power of the purse. This Congress has appropriated funds to defend the country, and we increased appropriations through the reconciliation bill this year.

The NDAA is the policy of this Congress, which identifies Iran as a threat to our country. The Constitution was clear that Congress has the sole authority to declare war, which changes the legal status of the country. Yet, the Framers did not think that the language meant that the President and Congress have to work together all of the time to turn the keys of the war power.

The Founders were practical men. They understood that Congress is slow to act, and Alexander Hamilton argued in Federalist 70 that energy in the executive is essential for national security, unity, secrecy, dispatch, and decision, and he contended that a single President is vital for defending the country.

Mr. Speaker, Congress' real power is not just the declaration power. It is the power of the purse. If my friends want to constrain the President, they have the authority to do it through the appropriations process. They do not have the constitutional authority to constrain the President from defending this country and defending our national security, advancing our national security, and ridding the world of this menace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Lorrie Anne Parker of Lexington, Kentucky. She passed away on February 25, 2026.

Lorrie was born in Frankfort, Kentucky. She grew up worshipping with her family at Providence Church of Christ and attending Bible Camp in London, Kentucky. Lorrie was blessed with a compassionate heart and desire to serve others.

Lorrie grew very passionate about defending and protecting the unborn. She worked over the years with groups who shared her passion for Life. For twenty-eight years, she served on the Board of Right to Life of Central Kentucky, serving two terms as Chapter President. She also served as Vice President of Kentucky Right to Life. Lorrie helped establish the Kentucky Memorial for the Unborn in the historic Frankfort Cemetery, which overlooks the state Capitol.

Lorrie became active in campaigns of candidates who shared her beliefs. She served in the office of Congressman Ernie Fletcher. When Fletcher was elected Governor of Kentucky, she worked in his administration. She later served as Office Manager for Governor Matt Bevin. She was highly respected by all who worked with her.

Lorrie is survived by her husband of twenty-five years, Colonel (Ret.) James ``Steve'' Parker.

Through her work and her passions, Lorrie touched countless lives. Her life was guided by her deep faith in her Lord Jesus. She was truly a Godly woman who lived a consequential life. I am honored to call her my friend and to lift up her life before the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 63 and YEA on Roll Call No. 64.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Housing for the 21st Century Act, a bill that advances exactly what Americans voted for: fewer bureaucrats, more builders, lower costs, and real results.

Right now, families across America are still recovering from Biden- era inflation, sky-high interest rates, and a Washington regulatory state that makes it harder and more expensive to build a home.

The radical left's answer is always more government, more mandates, more red tape. Well, that is how we got into this mess. Republicans have a better answer: Build more homes, faster, better, and cheaper.

The solution to inflation, the solution to higher costs, is always more supply. The reason we have affordability challenges in housing, Mr. Speaker, is because we have an inventory shortage. Republicans are offering solutions to provide more housing stock to lower the costs for the American people and deliver on that American Dream of homeownership.

This bill cuts through the regulatory choke hold that Washington has imposed on housing. It streamlines permitting, modernizes outdated Federal programs, and gets the Federal Government out of the way so builders can do what they do best: build.

It empowers local communities, not central planners in Washington, D.C. It supports community banks. It focuses on supply-side solutions, not failed subsidies that only drive prices higher.

Under President Donald Trump, we proved that when we cut regulations, unleash private investments, and trust American workers, the economy grows and families thrive. This bill applies that same America First, progrowth approach to housing.

Instead of telling Americans how to live, this legislation helps them own a home, raise a family, and build wealth, the foundation of the American Dream.

Mr. Speaker, I love the fact that this legislation focuses on overregulation of manufactured housing, an outstanding solution for many low- and moderate-income individuals who just can't get there in terms of a downpayment or just can't get there in terms of the monthly payment. Manufactured housing, especially in rural America, is a great solution for a lower downpayment and a lower monthly payment.

Burdensome HUD regulations have been an impediment to unleashing more manufactured housing stock for Americans. This bill provides a solution to that, eliminating ridiculous regulations that really impede manufactured housing.

Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions, I will spend my time here tonight highlighting the section of the bill that provides regulatory relief for community banks.

To drive down costs, we need to make it easier for those community- based lenders to originate residential construction loans and development loans to address the shortage of inventory. More supply means lower costs, and more provision of capital into the real economy from community financial institutions that know the borrower, that have a relationship with that builder, the more supply of housing stock to help lower the cost.

Inflation and high prices are always a function of a supply-demand mismatch. If we can help incentivize more capital formation and lending to the builders, the entrepreneurs who provide additional housing for Americans, especially in that one to four residential construction zone, the better in terms of affordability for Americans.

According to the FDIC, approximately 60 percent of one- to four- family residential construction and development loans were held by banks with assets under $10 billion. Those are the community banks. Lowering the regulatory costs on those institutions in particular is critical to increasing the supply of housing.

This bill does exactly that. It lowers the regulatory burden on those community financial institutions that provide the bulk of these construction loans. This is the bill that the Committee on Financial Services passed, and we passed it with bipartisan support because the problem is obvious: We don't have enough housing, and Washington is making it worse. The solution is also obvious: Stop standing in the way.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation rejects the left's obsession with central planning and embraces free enterprise, local control, and common sense. It puts builders back to work and expands housing supply, and it helps bring costs down for hardworking Americans.

That is why I urge my colleagues to support Housing for the 21st Century Act, deliver real America First solutions for the people we serve, and enhance regulatory tailoring for those community financial institutions--cutting red tape; streamlining bank exams and outdated thresholds so well-run banks can focus on lending, not paperwork; expanding community and rural banks' access to stable deposits so that they can lend locally and support small businesses and households; supporting rural banks; encouraging new bank formation; and providing regulators flexibility to handle failures without hurting local access to banking.

Mr. Speaker, I especially thank Chairman Hill for including in this legislation a version of my bill, the Promoting New Bank Formation Act, which allows for a phase-in of capital requirements for new banks to make it easier for de novo charters. We have seen a dearth and a decline in de novo charters. The more community-based lenders, the better. The more community banks that are formed in this country, the more competition and choice, the more access to capital for those construction and development loans. That means lower home prices, more homes, and more access to the American Dream of homeownership for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I thank all of my colleagues--most of my colleagues for supporting this bill tonight, the Housing for the 21st Century Act.

First of all, Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the leader of the Pro-Life Caucus, for his longstanding leadership and commitment to this virtuous cause. He has made an amazing difference. Perseverance is what defines this movement, and we are so grateful for his leadership in this country and for this important cause.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Tatum Elizabeth Dale, a proud Kentuckian, a dedicated public servant, and one of the best people I have ever had the blessing of serving with.

Tatum was my district director, and she passed away at the young age of 35 years old on Christmas Eve from complications of moyamoya. For over 15 years, Tatum served side by side with me for the people of the Sixth Congressional District and the Commonwealth she loved.

She held almost every job a person could hold in my office: scheduler, field representative, deputy district director, district director, and, finally, deputy chief of staff.

She earned every role not through ambition but through trust. Titles never defined Tatum. Results did.

Tatum was Kentucky through and through. She grew up on a farm outside of Murray where she learned the values that would guide her entire life: hard work, humility, faith, loyalty, service to others, and the cause of life. Those values shaped everything she did.

She knew our district better than anyone else. She knew the communities, the leaders, the families, and the history. She remembered names, conversations, and details others would forget. Constituents didn't see her as a staffer or my district director. They saw her as an advocate who listened, followed through, and fought for them. She was Tatum. She wasn't the Congressman's chief of staff. She was Tatum.

Tatum had a special devotion to eastern Kentucky. She knew the hollers and the highways, the county judges and the community leaders, and the unique challenges facing those communities. She made sure that they were never overlooked.

One of the best examples of that commitment came in Menifee County where she loved the people and she loved the community. She took on the U.S. Forest Service over the proposed removal of the safety buoys at Cave Run Lake. Tatum singlehandedly organized, advocated, and ultimately won, protecting tourism, safety, and local economic development. When the county newspaper ran a front-page story about this victory, she proudly displayed it in her office throughout the rest of her career.

She also poured herself into addiction recovery efforts, helping establish the Sixth District addiction recovery working group and securing millions of dollars in Federal grants for Narcan distribution, counseling, recovery services, and transitional housing. Her work saved lives.

She was a fierce advocate for our veterans and helped set up and worked for our veterans in casework with the veterans' coalition.

Beyond government, Tatum lived her faith. Through her church, she participated in mission trips to Haiti where she served children living in deep poverty. She loved them, she prayed for them, and she gave them hope. Service for Tatum was not confined to a job description. She made a difference wherever she went.

Inside our office, Tatum was the heartbeat of our team. Her leadership philosophy was simple: last to eat, first to fight.

She mentored young staff, protected her colleagues, and demanded excellence, always with kindness. She showed up early, stayed late, and never asked anyone to do anything she wouldn't do herself.

She was also my most trusted adviser. She knew when to challenge me-- she did--and she knew when to steady me. She made me a better Congressman, and she made our team better public servants.

Kentucky lost a daughter who honored her home in everything she did. Our office lost a leader, our communities lost a fierce advocate, and all of us lost a friend.

Her legacy lives on in the lives she helped, in the problems she solved, and in the example she set for what public service should be.

Tatum Dale served others every single day of her life. She loved people. That is why she did it. She did her work beautifully. We will honor her best by carrying forward the standard she set.

Rest well, dear Tatum. You are missed, you are remembered, and you will never be forgotten.