Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with immense pride to honor San Angelo, Texas, native and commander of the 449th Aviation Support Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Jordan Boyd, as well as two extraordinary National Guard units: the 108th Assault Helicopter Battalion in Austin and the 149th General Support Helicopter Battalion in San Antonio.

These units are extraordinary. On the morning of July Fourth, as floodwaters devastated central and west Texas, these two units immediately jumped into action and have not stopped since. Knowing many of the stranded children were present at that time, these crews pushed themselves to every imaginable limit, flying through adverse weather to reach Camp Mystic and the entire Guadalupe River. Their daring efforts saved 366 lives that day and reunited hundreds of families.

Mr. Speaker, I thank not just the pilots but also the maintainers and support personnel and all of the people in the Texas National Guard that have shown immense heroism over the past few months. I can't thank them enough for their heroic efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to include in the Record an opinion column from the Odessa American titled ``Campbell: The Nature of Truth,'' published May 1, 2025. In it, the author reflects on how society grapples with competing claims of truth and encourages readers to return to foundational and verifiable sources--a theme with deep implications for both our civic culture and the way we approach legislation.

I believe this thoughtful reflection is a meaningful reminder of the importance of clarity, honesty, and shared understanding in democratic discourse.

[From the Odessa American]

Campbell: The Nature of Truth

Truth is ephemeral in the temporal world. It seems that

everyone has his or her own version and whether or not they

actually know the truth is open to interpretation and subject

to one's own preference or prejudice. It's a key concept in

my business, journalism, where truth is the lynchpin. We are

bound to be truthful to the best of our ability and we are

prohibited from writing anything that we know to be false. We

can be fired for doing it.

That's the difference between the Odessa American and

publications like the National Enquirer, which publish

nothing but stories that they know to be untrue. That's not

to say we never publish falsehoods, but we don't do it

deliberately. It's that we have good reasons like credible

sources and reliable references to believe that what we write

is true.

In the case of political candidates, if we had to believe

everything they say we would never write anything about them.

We're not saying that what they say is true. We're saying

it's true that that is what they said. We attribute

accurately and leave it to the readers to ascribe credibility

or not.

There has never been a newspaper or a book written that had

nothing false in it. Only one book is 100 percent true: the

Bible. God cannot lie and we may be certain that every word

of the Bible is true.

Depending on the translation, Jesus 75-80 times in the

Gospels uses the phrase ``I tell you the truth'' or

variations of it and in John 14:5 he is even more specific

when he says, ``I am the way, the truth and the life.'' So he

was not just telling the truth, he was and is the truth. He

embodies it. I think Jesus emphasized the truth and the fact

that he was always telling it because he understood the

inherent deceitfulness of the world. He was saying, if you

want the pure truth, look to me.

At the end of Revelation we see the importance of this

issue when it says that everyone who loves and practices

falsehood is classified with the sexually immoral, murderers

and idolators as being among those who will be damned. Of

course some people occasionally tell white lies in deference

to the feelings of those they love, but then people who are

always strictly truthful are often respected for it and their

candor is accepted in deference to the values they espouse.

Truth derives from wisdom and like wisdom it is more

valuable than much pure gold and sweeter than honey from the

honeycomb. The English philosopher Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

said truth is the child of time, meaning that it emerges and

is revealed through the passage of time, not through

someone's immediate authority or declaration.

When we hear things privately or in the public arena, if

the truth of them is not discernible we may be confident that

time will show the truth. The political writers' adage is

that nothing anyone says during a campaign may be true, but

during the course of it the truth will become clear and the

voters will know whom to vote for from the total body of the

dialogue. German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) said

lying steals one's dignity and we know from Scripture that

God wants us to maintain our dignity as Christians by

avoiding such things.

Stone-Campbell Church Movement leader Alexander Campbell

(1788-1866) advocated for a rational and deliberative

understanding of Christianity, firmly rooted in the New

Testament. He opposed both speculative theology and emotional

revivalism, emphasizing a return to the Bible as the primary

source of truth. Campbell advocated for a focus on biblical

text and avoided theological systems that relied on

philosophical or speculative reasoning.

Truth derives from the wisdom developed through the fear of

the Lord and wisdom and truth are indispensable in our

pursuit of virtue. How may we obtain these treasures of the

Holy Spirit? Of course, through prayer, reading Scripture,

attending church and fellowshipping with other Christians.

Pray and ask God for the wisdom to discern truth and

succeed in our ever-advancing pursuit of higher and higher

virtue. Ask to be empowered to bear well the responsibility

of being a link in the multi-generational sustenance and

progress of good character in your family. Ask for a complete

God-given understanding of the nature and importance of truth

and thereby avoid the errors that can set back or thwart your

spiritual goals.

Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to rise today to recognize and commend the distinguished service of the 6994th Security Squadron of the United States Air Force Security Service, along with the 360th, 361st, and 362nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadrons. These squadrons executed highly classified and dangerous missions aboard the venerable EC-47 aircraft to meet the intelligence

requirements of the Military Assistance Command and the Central Intelligence Agency in the operating areas of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

These integrated aircrews flew out of Tan Son Nhut, Nha Trang, Pleiku, Phu Cat, and Da Nang Air Bases in the Republic of Vietnam, as well as Nakhon Phanom and Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Bases in Thailand, from 1966 to 1974.

The 6994th Security Squadron was primarily composed of enlisted logistical and maintenance personnel, intelligence analysts, Morse intercept operators, and cryptologic linguist mission specialists. These professionals maintained and operated state-of-the-art airborne radio direction finding (ARDF) equipment aboard the EC-47 aircraft, used to detect, identify, and geolocate low-powered enemy transmitters on the battlefield. They also collected critical signals and communications intelligence about enemy plans and movements.

Working closely with the aircraft navigator, the mission specialists were able to geolocate enemy radio transmitters, often within a 200- meter radius, and determine the identity of enemy units. When priority targets were detected and confirmed, their locations and identifications were relayed to ground commanders for decisive action. During its tenure in Vietnam, the 6994th earned five Air Force. Outstanding Unit Awards with Valor, two Presidential Unit Citations, and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Device. It remains the most highly decorated squadron in the command from its origins in the United States Air Force Security Service to its current configuration as the 16th Air Force. Their success came at a high cost; 17 members of the squadron were killed in action during the conflict.

The 360th, 361st, and 362nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadrons were co-located with their 6994th counterparts and provided the pilots, navigators, and maintenance personnel necessary to operate and sustain the EC-47 aircraft. In flight, pilots controlled the aircraft while navigators coordinated with enlisted mission specialists to take electronic lines of bearing on specific enemy radio transmissions. These lines were then plotted on maps to pinpoint the exact location of enemy transmitters. Like the 6994th, the Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadrons also endured significant sacrifice, losing 19 members during the war.

As integrated teams, these squadrons provided battlefield intelligence that was vital for ground commanders to plan offensive and defensive operations. It has been reported that, thanks to intelligence provided by the ARDF program, many attacks on friendly forces were mitigated, and up to 95 percent of B-52 strikes during the Vietnam conflict were influenced by data collected through the program.

Even today, much of the work and results of the Airborne Radio Direction Finding program in Vietnam remain classified. Nonetheless, their impact on the success of the war effort and the broader mission of safeguarding the interests of the United States and the free world is undeniable.

Today, we honor the professionalism, dedication, and courage of the airmen of the 6994th Security Squadron and the 360th, 361st, and 362nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadrons, whose work in executing the Airborne Radio Direction Finding program provided critical intelligence to ground commanders during the conflict in Southeast Asia. May the legacy of their service and sacrifice be remembered and honored forever.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today not just as a Member of Congress but as a wingman, a servicemember, and a friend to those in uniform and in strong support of S. 201, the Aviator Cancers Examination Study Act, or the ACES Act.

Far too many of our military aviators and aircrew are being diagnosed with cancer at troubling rates. A 2021 Air Force study supported by additional Department of Defense research found that aviators face a 29 percent higher likelihood of testicular cancer, a 24 percent higher likelihood of melanoma, and a 23 percent higher risk of prostate cancer compared to their civilian counterparts.

These are incredibly healthy, in-shape, well-tested individuals, yet they have almost 30 percent higher cancer rates than the average civilian population.

Mr. Speaker, these numbers tell a painful story. When brave men and women volunteer to defend our Nation from the cockpit, they shouldn't face a second battle against cancer without our full support.

This is why this legislation, led by me and my friend from California (Mr. Panetta) in the House and by Senators Kelly and Cotton in the Senate, is critically necessary.

The ACES Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to partner with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a comprehensive study on the prevalence and causes of cancer among military aviators. We need to know the why, and we need to provide our aircrew with air cover for their own health.

By identifying the unique risk factors associated with aviation service, we can implement targeted screening protocols that enable earlier detection, when treatment is most effective. This leads to faster access to care and benefits, significantly improved survival rates, more time with loved ones, and the opportunity for continued service.

This bill builds upon previous research that has been done, but it goes the distance and increases the pool to the veteran population, not just those who are Active Duty, but also to those who have previously served as aviators.

I am an Air Force fighter pilot with over 20 years of service, and I fought alongside the best that this Nation has to offer. I have also stood beside too many of my brothers and sisters as they face their toughest battles--not in

the air, but when they got home, in hospital rooms, fighting a disease that they never saw coming.

That is the story of my friend, Colonel Andy ``Pablo'' Shurtleff. In March, Andy did a wonderful job of testifying before the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, sharing how his sudden cancer diagnosis brought his promising career to an abrupt end. He spoke with clarity and conviction about how a better understanding of cancer risk in the aviation community might have led to earlier detection not only in his case but in many of our friends and many of our wingmen, detection that could have saved his life and their lives.

Shortly after that, on Friday, May 23, my friend Pablo lost his battle with cancer. In his final days, one of the few comforts he knew was that the ACES Act was on track to becoming law. His courage, voice, and advocacy for other servicemembers should not be forgotten.

There are countless others I have served with, including people like Colonel Michael ``Bam Bam'' Stapleton and so many others who many of us know. That is what this bill represents. It represents keeping Pablo in the cockpit. It represents Pablo's kids and others in the next generation wanting to sign up for this because they know that we are going to give them that air cover.

This bill received bipartisan support on the House floor with a vote of 376-5 in May. This bill has the support of over 20 veteran organizations, cancer advocacy groups, and medical experts because they recognize what is at stake.

With the passage of this version of the bill, it will be sent to the President's desk, and I am hopeful that the President will sign it into law quickly so we can fulfill our promise to those who serve, a promise that when someone serves our Nation, we have their backs, that we will serve them, and that we will protect them.

Today, as we cast our votes on this critical legislation, we stand closer than ever to honoring the memory of heroes like Andy and giving future servicemembers a real chance at early detection, better treatment, and lifesaving research.

I sincerely thank my colleagues who cosponsored this bipartisan legislation, as well as Chairman Bost, the chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee; the ranking member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee; Chairman Luttrell; members of the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees; Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Senator Jerry Moran; and leadership for their unwavering support for moving this bill. Unlike many others in Congress, this was moved with Mach, with airspeed, and I appreciate that.

I am also deeply grateful to the dedicated volunteers of the MACH Coalition, whose passion and persistence helped carry this effort forward.

My heartfelt thanks go to Senator Mark Kelly, himself a combat veteran, a pilot, and an astronaut, and Senator Cotton for championing this bill in the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' There really is no reason that we can't make this a unanimous ``yes'' vote in support of the ACES Act.

Most of all, my deepest gratitude goes to the thousands of pilots and aircrew members who are defending our Nation every single day. We see them. We thank them. We have their backs. This is the air cover that they so desperately deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute to the life and legacy of Lee Clark, a soft-spoken and kind country gentleman, a loving husband, an amazing father, and a true friend. Lee passed into the arms of our Lord on Friday, June 27, 2025. His loss is deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

A sixth-generation Texan and rancher, Lee exemplified the values of integrity, diligence, and quiet strength that define the best of rural Texas. Born and raised in Menard, Lee Clark, a steward of the land, devoted his life to the care of his livestock and range. His tireless work ethic, principled nature, and gift for storytelling earned him the respect and affection of all who knew him.

On September 8, 1990, Lee married his best friend and the love of his life, Lisa Price Clark. Together they built a life centered on faith, family, and hard work. Lee was a devoted father to his two daughters, Candice and Madelon, and he was endlessly proud of the women they became. He was dearly loved by his family and inspired those who crossed his path with his encouragement.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the memory of Lee Clark--a devoted family man, a true Texas rancher, a pillar of his community, and a man who lived with steadfast purpose. May God grant comfort and peace to Lisa, Candice, Madelon, and all who mourn his loss. May Lee's memory be a blessing, and may he rest in eternal peace.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to say that he has done a great job of representing in a very tough time. It is easy to lead when times are good. When times are tough, we see character. Mr. Roy has done a very nice job, an extraordinary job, in leading in a very challenging situation.

It is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor all of the lives that were lost during this devastating and tragic series of floods that swept through central and west Texas last week and to recognize the bravery and the selflessness of the heroes who stepped up when they were needed most. I will start by honoring the memory of the 11 lives that were lost from my district.

They were: Officer Bailey Martin, Bobby Martin, Amanda Martin; and Jayda Floyd from Odessa. Lost from Midland were Michelle and Cody Crossland; and Joel, Kyndall, and Tasha Ramos; Tanya Burwick from Blackwell, who worked in San Angelo for many years; and Steve Edwards from San Angelo.

These lives were lost far too soon, selfless individuals, leaders, officers in the police force, and people whom we

will miss dearly. We will continue to pray for the many more whose lives have been lost and for those families that are still searching for them, hoping and praying for a miracle.

I sent my young girls to Camp Mystic for a couple of reasons. Number one is because, for young women, this was a place where they didn't have access to the digital world. They had access to relationships. They were taught about faith. They were placed in cabins with other young girls where they learned how to develop friendships. They learned things like horseback riding, archery, swimming, and camp craft.

My girls are fourth-generation campers at Camp Mystic. I learned about this when I was a kid and went to many closing ceremonies as a young child, watching my sister and her friends. Now, I have had the opportunity to watch my own girls for the last 10 years attend this camp.

I want to say that my wife, Camille, and I are eternally grateful that we are reunited with my two daughters who were present at the camp during this tragedy. While we rejoice their safety, and I will be forever grateful to God for sparing their lives, we are mourning and deeply grieving the many families who are having to say good-bye to their loved ones and to their daughters up and down the river, campers who were there for the Fourth of July to celebrate our Nation's independence and to celebrate being with families.

It is just unimaginable the grief. It is unimaginable the heartbreak, especially those young kids and those young girls specifically at Camp Mystic.

I want to honor Dick Eastland, who was the owner of Camp Mystic. He was a man whom I have known my entire life, a man who gave his life trying to save campers at Camp Mystic.

The Eastland family for years has poured their lives into young women, building these young women and these young ladies to be women of faith, to be women of character, to be citizens of this great Nation, and to raise families in a way that we would see the character and the strength of their faith.

Dick Eastland and the entire Eastland family are like many other families throughout this country who run camps. Whether they are Boy Scout camps, Girl Scout camps, YMCA camps, summer camps, or church camps, it doesn't matter. These camps are important to our Nation. In ways that sometimes parents can't always do, these camps represent a place where these kids can come to learn how to be better citizens, better friends, and better community members. They are important.

Camp Mystic was important. The image that I will never forget in my mind as I walked the camp just 2 days after this tragedy is where my young daughter stood getting away from the flood that was rising very rapidly, and where she had her head bowed, praying for safety. They were singing songs, knowing that there was a really tragic event unfolding in front of them. They were praying for their friends and for their safety.

My middle daughter said that this was a family. Everybody knew everybody, and this family is deeply grieving right now.

I hope that this serves as a wake-up call for our Nation and that it serves as a wake-up call for us to congratulate and celebrate the countless heroes, some of whom gave their lives. We will never know their stories.

We celebrate the fact that we live in a country where we can freely worship and where we can stand firm on our faith. Camp Mystic was a place like other places throughout this country that taught that to these young, innocent souls. It taught them to lean on their faith and taught them to lean on their friends, their relationships, and their families. It taught them the core values of what this great country affords.

I hope that this serves as a wake-up call for all of us to get back to that foundation, that we can take a lesson from this tragedy and build on it in a way that we do good and honor the memory of almost 130 people now, and rising, those that tragically lost their lives.

We won't ever forget. This green ribbon serves as a reminder here today.

Again, I thank my friend here, Chip Roy, for representing during this hard time and for calling this hour to recognize that memory.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chair Comer, my good friend from Kentucky, for yielding me time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 884, that would prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia. This is a commonsense bill.

I am going to start with a question. It is posed: For what reasons-- why--would my colleagues on the other side of the aisle want foreigners to vote in local elections in Washington, D.C.? What is the purpose? Let's just pose that question of why.

I ask the American public to ask your Representative where they stand on this issue because it is a bipartisan issue, with over two-thirds of this body having voted for it last year.

Free and fair elections are a prerequisite for the healthy Republic that our Founding Fathers envisioned in the District of Columbia as the epicenter, and they entrusted its care to Congress in Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the U.S. Constitution.

On November 21, 2022, the D.C. City Council made a radical decision to allow noncitizens, including illegal aliens and those who are aligned with embassies of foreign countries, to vote in local D.C. elections. After the noncitizen voting law went into effect, the District actively encouraged noncitizens to vote for Mayor, attorney general, members of the State Board of Education, and more.

Some may wrongly dismiss these as merely local elections. However, the reality is that local elections are a vital part of our democratic process and have a significant impact on communities. Local elections determine critical matters, such as taxation, the criminal code, and the election of city council members who create essential ordinances, including those that dictate voting rights.

It is also important to acknowledge that many local elections are decided by razor-thin margins, underscoring their significance and the importance of active participation.

I find it unimaginable that the District, along with many across the country, would intentionally weaken the power of their constituents, citizens, many of whom come from underserved communities, in favor of noncitizens who, in some cases, have broken our laws to enter this country or could potentially be employed by a foreign adversary.

As the capital of our democracy, Washington, D.C., should be at the forefront of ensuring safe and secure elections, not encouraging illegal immigrants and others to vote for policies that we don't want.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to look beyond the Democrats' claim that this bill is discriminatory or misrepresents its intended purposes. No, it doesn't. It absolutely does not. This keeps the sanctity of being a citizen of this great country at the highest possible level.

Madam Speaker, let's restore that sanctity, and I go back to the question. This is common sense. We have to ask ourselves: Why would we want a foreign agent, an illegal immigrant, or somebody else who is not a citizen voting for elections in D.C.? What nefarious purpose are my colleagues pushing?

As I mentioned last Congress, the House passed this bill with bipartisan support. All Republicans and one-third of Democrats supported this commonsense measure. I ask everyone in the House of Representatives to stand up and do the right thing and vote for this bill.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 377, I call up the bill (H.R. 881) to establish Department of Homeland Security funding restrictions on institutions of higher education that have a relationship with Confucius Institutes, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 881.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 881, the DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern.

I have long been concerned that the threats the Chinese Communist Party poses to our homeland are not only real, but they are right here.

In the Homeland Security Committee and on my Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, we have heard from a wide array of national security experts and law enforcement officials who have continuously raised alarms about the CCP's increasing subversive activities inside our country through organizations like the CCP's Confucius Institutes, the Thousand Talents Program, and other CCP- affiliated groups.

While Confucius Institutes are presented as centers for promoting Chinese language and culture, it is proven that they have been used to steal critical research, recruit talent for military-civil fusion enterprises, conduct espionage, commit transnational repression, and influence academic institutions to the benefit of the CCP.

At their peak, the United States hosted approximately 118 Confucius Institutes, primarily at colleges and universities. Now, there are fewer than 14 active Confucius Institutes today, but the danger still remains. Many of these programs have rebranded themselves within universities with the same mission as before, and that is to subvert national security and expand CCP influence operations.

Another example is the CCP's Thousand Talents Program, which the FBI has listed as the most prolific sponsor of State-sponsored talent recruitment programs that bring outside knowledge and innovation back to China, often through stealing trade secrets, breaking export control laws, or violating conflict of interest policies.

These talent recruitment programs are a win-win for China. China wins twice. First, U.S. taxpayers are funding their research, not China; and, second, China then uses the research it would not have otherwise had to advance its own economic and military interests.

Today, we are debating H.R. 881, my legislation which, by the way, is bipartisan, that would prohibit DHS from funding American universities that host a Confucius Institute or Thousand Talents Program or maintain relationships with Chinese entities of concern. H.R. 881 also ensures that universities prioritize the education of their students over any of their partnerships with these institutions.

This legislation passed the House last year with bipartisan support, and this year H.R. 881 passed the Committee on Homeland Security with unanimous, bipartisan support.

I thank Chairman Green; Ranking Member Thompson; my counterpart on the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, Ranking Member Magaziner; and the Committee on Homeland Security staff for moving this critical legislation forward.

The DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act would play a vital role in protecting our students, intellectual property, and national security. Together, this effort demonstrates a unified, bipartisan way to protect our Nation from the insidious influence of the CCP, and that our students, our intellectual property, and our national security are protected from the malign influence of the CCP.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my Republican and Democratic colleagues to support this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Moolenaar), the chair of the China select committee.

Mr. Speaker, I will point out that this bill was actually brought up during the Biden administration and has nothing to do with one administration or another. It was bipartisan, and those entities of concern are named in and are labeled within the DOD. We do have a pattern of history of Confucius Institutes switching names but remaining the same for the purpose of malign influence.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Evans), also a cosponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member and the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Magaziner) for his work on this bill. This is a process that has taken a couple of years, and I believe that we have a good, bipartisan bill that addresses the issue at hand.

Mr. Speaker, let me close with this. Continuing to use our taxpayer dollars to give the Chinese Communist Party a seat in the front row of our universities' classrooms and research labs would be a catastrophic mistake.

It has been proven that the CCP does use programs like Confucius Institutes, not to build bridges or promote culture, as they may say, but to expand their influence inside the United States for malign purposes. This legislation would put an end to this egregious national security threat. Quite frankly, it is well overdue.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together, to stand firm for our American education system, and to vote ``yes'' on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today not just as a Congressman but as a servicemember and friend to advocate on behalf of veterans and servicemembers fighting a second battle that they never signed up to fight. This is in support of H.R. 530, my legislation called the ACES Act, the Aviator Cancers Examination Study Act.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman) for being willing to give his life and serving in the military as a helicopter pilot. I thank Chairman Bost, the ranking member, and the majority leader, Mr. Scalise.

Military aviators and crewmembers are tragically and unfortunately being diagnosed with various forms of cancer at alarming rates. According to a 2021 Air Force study and subsequent Department of Defense research, our aviators have a 29 percent greater probability of testicular cancer, a 24 percent higher probability of melanoma, and a 23 percent higher risk of prostate cancer compared with the normal civilian population.

Those aren't the only forms. These aren't just statistics. These are real lives, real families, and real sacrifices. When brave men and women volunteer to defend our Nation from the cockpit, they shouldn't face a second battle against cancer without our full support. This is why my legislation is so important.

The ACES Act directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to partner with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive study on cancer prevalence among military aviators and identify the agents, chemicals, compounds, and mechanisms in military aviation environments that may be causing these elevated rates of cancer.

By identifying specific risk factors unique to aviation environments, we can develop targeted screening protocols for early detection when treatment is most effective. This means faster access to benefits and treatment for those diagnosed without the burden of proving their cancer resulted from

their service. If every aviator receives specialized cancer screenings based on their specific exposure risks, countless lives would be saved.

To put this study's profound impact into perspective, picture this. A melanoma caught early, treated, and cured sends a mom back to her family. Prostate cancer found before it spreads allows a doctor ample time to set up a proper and more likely successful treatment plan. A testicular tumor found and removed in a routine screening designed for pilots, versus in an emergency room situation, gives the dad a chance to eat around the table with his family for years to come.

This is what the ACES Act makes possible. As an Air Force fighter pilot myself for 20-plus years, I fought alongside the best the Nation has to offer. I have also stood in hospital rooms watching far too many of my brothers and sisters fight their toughest battles not in the air but in hospital rooms against cancer.

Today, I am honored to be joined by a group of extraordinary heroes from our Air Force and Navy, Americans who have raised their hands in support of our Nation and volunteered to serve as pilots. These patriots, who defended our skies, are now fighting for their lives. The ACES Act is for them.

It is for the families of those fighting, who spend countless hours at the hospitals and treatment centers and surrender everything to care for their loved ones and keep hope alive.

It is for those who we have already lost, whose names we will always remember, and who I will always remember in my heart.

It is for my friend, Colonel Andy ``Pablo'' Shurtleff, an F-22 fighter pilot, a brother in arms, who at this very moment is fighting for his life against cancer. In March, Colonel Shurtleff testified before the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, sharing how a promising career was cut short after a sudden diagnosis. He explained that an earlier understanding of what causes cancer among pilots could have led to an earlier diagnosis for him, one that could have very well been instrumental in his treatment.

The ACES Act has the support of over 20 veteran organizations, cancer advocacy groups, and medical experts because they recognize what is at stake.

This isn't a partisan issue. It is about fulfilling a promise that our country made to those who were willing to serve. It is a promise that when someone serves our Nation, we will serve them in return.

Every day we wait means more aviators receiving life-altering diagnoses without understanding why, more families devastated by uncertainties, and more veterans fighting for the care they deserve. It is time to acknowledge the true cost of aviation service.

The ACES Act is not just a bill. It is a lifeline for those who have already given so much for our freedom. It is a moral obligation. It is a message to every pilot who has ever put on that flight suit to protect our skies that we see them and hear them and that we are here to also do the right thing.

Mr. Speaker, when I signed up to run for Congress, this issue was on my heart. When I signed up as a member of the Air Force, I didn't know that this was a potential issue. There are groups out there like the River Rats, led by so many amazing pilots, men and women who were ready to give their lives, who are now trying to do the right thing. Mr. Vince ``Aztec'' Alcazar is one of those people who has really led on this issue.

I know that my colleague from Michigan, the ranking member, and I know lots of people who were in a situation and are in that situation now, and the ACES Act is that lifeline.

Mr. Speaker, once we pass this on the House floor today, I urge my colleagues in the Senate to do the right thing and to act this week. Let's send H.R. 530 to the President's desk this week and have it signed into law. Let's do something that many Americans think isn't possible, and that is act with speed inside the U.S. Congress. Let's keep our mark up and do the right thing and send this to the Senate, get it passed, and get it to the President's desk.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Mr. Bost, and the majority leader, Mr. Steve Scalise, for acting with speed, acting aggressively, and keeping the mark up. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.J. Res. 35, to nullify the EPA's rule on the waste emissions charge, also known as the natural gas tax.

With President Trump back in office, it is time to restore American energy. It is time to restore American energy dominance, which is why I am proud to lead this CRA to rescind the ill-conceived natural gas tax.

As part of his war on energy, former President Biden took radical steps to end fossil fuels during his administration, which hurt the hardworking energy producers not only in my district in the Permian Basin in Midland and Odessa but also across America.

This Congressional Review Act is a tool that Congress uses to overturn Federal agency actions, a direct example of congressional checks and balances on the executive branch and one of Congress' most important duties.

My CRA will not eliminate the program that collects this tax, but it will remove the EPA's ability to collect it. This is an essential first step in eliminating this tax, while we work to undo the underlying statute: killing the natural gas tax once and for all. It is critical to negate these punitive regulatory requirements now to ensure that the United States can reclaim its place as the world leader in energy for generations to come.

In the waning days of the Biden administration, the EPA doubled down on Biden's disastrous energy policies, imposing a burdensome and harmful tax on oil and natural gas facilities called the waste emissions charge, also like we have been discussing, the natural gas tax or the methane tax. This natural gas tax was a blatant abuse of power and the first time that the Federal Government has ever directly levied a tax on emissions, creating a duplicative layer of red tape that would devastate American energy, if continued.

The specifics of this tax started at $900 a metric ton in '24, increasing to $1,200, and then $1,500 in the subsequent years. While the statute directs the EPA to develop a formula to impose and collect a tax based on intensity, Biden's EPA did so by ignoring well- established international standards.

Actually, one of the things I have heard here today is that industry was consulted. That is false. Industry was not consulted. In a hearing, I asked a member of Biden's Department of Energy to tell me one producer they had worked with. I asked them to name one producer they had worked with, and they couldn't come up with that producer. They couldn't come up with even one until pressed. Then they said whatever producer they thought. I went back and double-checked that. They hadn't been consulted. They hadn't been talked to.

This is an important day. Taxes, like the one we are discussing, raise energy production costs. They discourage investment. They ultimately lead to higher consumer prices and costs. Not only is this a tremendous burden on both producers and consumers but this rule also completely ignores the significant progress that the United States private sector has made over the past decade or more.

U.S. emissions have decreased by 18 percent between 2005 and 2022, making the United States the world leader in reductions of emissions, while simultaneously increasing production threefold or fourfold.

Today's vote exemplifies the principles upheld in the Supreme Court's landmark Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo decision. By overturning Chevron deference precedent, the court restored the judiciary's rightful role in interpreting statutes and checking agency overreach.

This is important for all of us. What Biden's administration did for 4 straight years was to overreach, to impose burdensome regulations, and to hurt innovation, the actual innovation that was reducing emissions. They destroyed that progress.

I am very proud to lead this CRA. I am proud that it will be bipartisan. I have had multiple Democrats who have told me that they are going to vote for this because it is common sense and it actually helps all of our goals: affordable, reliable energy that also helps the environment.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I thank the chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce for leading this.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for bringing this bill to the floor. The American public spoke loud and clear on November 5. They said energy was on the ballot. They said that the hilarity and the fraudulent approach that the Biden administration took towards energy policy was wholly rejected.

Madam Speaker, we are in a new day and thank goodness we are. I represent the Permian Basin, Midland and Odessa, Texas, and for 4 years, this community was demonized, demonized, by the President, demonized by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, demonized for the work that they did to bring affordable, reliable energy to this country. They did so with an all-out assault.

I am proud today to support my legislation, H.R. 26, the Protecting American Energy Production Act. This is on behalf of every one of my constituents in Midland and Odessa, Texas, who provide the very pen that is being used by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, who provide the cell phones and the cosmetics and the personal protective gear that goes into an emergency room. They are not just using liquid fuels, but using a safe technology, hydraulic fracturing, which was completely falsely characterized briefly this morning by my colleague on the other side of the aisle.

In 2019, America became the number one oil and gas producer, and it is wholly in part due to the shale revolution and the technology of being able to environmentally friendly extract this product and produce it here domestically for our use and to ship it to our allies and our partners around the world.

After 4 years of the previous administration's outright assault on American energy, it is critical now that we codify and that we work tirelessly to restore some integrity and some character to this American energy dominance and pass meaningful legislation that will unleash American energy and create jobs for hardworking Americans.

My legislation that is being considered today is a necessary first step in reversing the Biden administration's war on energy and preventing the Federal Government from banning the use of hydraulic fracturing.

Fracking is safe. It is clean. It is an effective way to produce affordable energy and to strengthen our national security. By ensuring its continued use, we can reestablish our global energy leadership. We can keep costs low for consumers, every consumer, and we can drive further technological advancements in the industry.

This bill advances President Trump's rightful position, his pro- energy, pro-American outlook on energy, to restore our position as the top producer in the world. Instead of allowing Russia, Iran, and Venezuela to do so, we are going to produce it here.

I thank my constituents for the fact that even though you were demonized, even though you were made to feel like you weren't doing something that was worthwhile, you did. You stood up, and you did it in the face of adversity.

Even at the end of the campaign season in 2024, then-candidate for President Kamala Harris in a debate said that she was pro-fracking. So it is hard to believe that anybody would actually vote against this legislation today because that was the platform of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle.

Today is an opportunity to bring us together, Republicans and Democrats, to codify what we both know has been a major advancement.

It is time to end the bans and unleash our lands. It is time to come together. I am proud to work with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle because I know this will be a bipartisan bill. I know that there will be many Democrats who vote for this. I am glad that we can do this.

I thank the chairman for bringing H.R. 26 to the floor. I fully support it, and I urge my colleagues to also support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in full support of H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

Female athletes should never be forced to compete against biological men in sports, plain and simple. Allowing biological men to compete in female sports is not only a complete and utter failure to women who have trained their whole lives to achieve their dreams, but it also completely ignores the scientific fact that men and women have clear biological differences that make competing on the same sports team unfair and dangerous.

Mr. Speaker, last year, the Biden administration tried to push a radical Title IX change that would have prevented any institution receiving Federal funding from banning biological men from competing in women's sports. That is insane.

Educational institutions have a responsibility to protect the women and girls who attend them, and this legislation ensures that they will be able to do just that.

Let me be clear: Allowing biological men to compete in women's sports hurts women. It takes away opportunities, scholarship funds, and titles that are meant for women.

As a father of three girls, this is personal to me. I want my girls to be able to succeed in the sports that they play. I want them to be safe. I want that to be a level playing field. What we are talking about here is protecting women, protecting my three girls.

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act will prevent schools from allowing biological men to compete in women's sports by defining sex in an athletic competition by genetics at birth.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlemen from Florida (Mr. Steube), my good friend, for leading this effort, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support and full support of H.R. 29, the Laken Riley Act. It is long overdue that we actually take law and order seriously, that we enforce the laws that are on the books.

Laken Riley is not an isolated incident, unfortunately. Jocelyn Nungaray from Texas, mother Rachel Morin, and many others, were innocent women who were horrifically killed by illegal aliens, and their families are going to be mourning their loss of life for the rest of their lives.

Violent criminals like the ones who committed this heinous act and others continue to pour over our border daily, which is why we desperately need to pass this act today.

This legislation will protect American communities by requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement to issue detainers, mandatory detention for those who are here illegally who also commit theft. It is pretty simple. There should be nothing controversial about this.

In fact, I am interested to see how my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who vote against this go back to their districts, Madam Speaker, and say: I don't stand for law and order because I don't want illegal aliens who are here committing theft, rape, murder, or any other offense, to be detained. How can you go back to a district and say that?

In Texas, by the way, good news. With the Laken Riley Act, you now have standing to sue the Federal Government when they don't do this, when they don't enforce the laws on the books. You have standing to sue the Federal Government for failing to uphold the laws that are on our books.

My heart goes out to Laken Riley's family. My heart goes out to other people who have had to watch as this administration has stood by and done nothing to protect our country, our communities, and the sanctity of the safety that we as Americans should always have. Let's go home and let's be proud, in a bipartisan way, that we are willing to uphold the law.

I stand in full support of the Laken Riley Act.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for yielding me time.

I rise in support of my legislation, the Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act. This bill is essential to improving transparency and efficiency in the broadband deployment process, which will help close the digital divide for rural Americans.

According to a 2024 GAO study on broadband deployment, the BLM and Forest Service, which handle most of the permitting reviews on Federal lands, often exceed the 270-day statutory deadline for processing applications. Lengthy application reviews, excessive fees, and complex environmental and historic preservation reviews mean delays in providing service and higher prices leaving ordinary Americans without basic broadband services.

My legislation is simple. It requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to submit a comprehensive plan to Congress within 180 days detailing how the agency will track the acceptance, processing, and disposal of broadband permitting applications on Federal lands. These applications are essential for accessing easements and rights-of-way to build or maintain telecommunications infrastructure. The NTIA will also be responsible for detailing how quickly they will implement their plan and any potential barriers that they could face.

The Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act is a critical step toward a more connected America. By enhancing government accountability and accelerating broadband deployment, we are not just improving a process, we are investing in the future of our Nation. This act will help ensure that investments in broadband expansion reach Americans more quickly and effectively.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. Together, we can close the digital divide and create a more connected future for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the passing of former Mayor Bert Massey of Brownwood, Texas on November 13, 2024. Mr. Massey was born in Brownwood on October 3, 1943, and he was a pillar of leadership in his community throughout his life. Mayor Massey graduated from Brownwood High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas in August 1967, followed by a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law in January 1969. He served on the District Court for the Northern District of Texas and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Massey served on the city council from 1978 to 1984 and as Mayor of the City of Brownwood from 1984 to May 2010, while practicing law as a partner for Massey & West. As the longest-serving Mayor, Mr. Massey was instrumental in countless public infrastructure and quality-of-life projects. Among these are the renovations of the Depot Civic and Cultural Center, the construction of the Martin & Francis Lehnis Railroad Museum, the relocation of City Hall to Center Ave., the construction of the Joint Law Enforcement Center, the relocation of the Senior Citizens Center, the construction of the Bert V. Massey II Sports Complex and the Camp Bowie Family Aquatic Center.

Along with his years of service to his community, Mayor Massey was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was known for his wealth of knowledge, engaging stories about his beloved community and his warm smile. Mayor Massey's dedication to the Brownwood area and love for his family will be deeply missed by all. I am proud to honor Mayor Massey's many incredible contributions to the City of Brownwood, and I extend my deepest condolences to his family and all who had the privilege of knowing him.