Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of a grateful Nation and the citizens of the 24th Congressional District of Texas. The 2025 Congressional Veteran Commendation is hereby presented to Lieutenant Colonel Don Munson, United States Army, of Coppell, Texas, for his honorable service in the Armed Forces of the United States of America and for his continued service to his community.

Lieutenant Colonel Munson was commissioned as an officer upon graduating from Tulane University in 1960 as a Distinguished Military Graduate. Over the course of a 23-year Army career, he served in numerous leadership roles, including with the 82nd Airborne Division, Special Forces, and the 1st Cavalry Division. During the Vietnam War, he commanded C Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, and later served as Operations Officer for the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry. For his extraordinary gallantry, he earned the Silver Star for capturing three enemy combatants under fire and the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in extracting stranded soldiers under intense enemy attack. Throughout his command, he was deeply respected for his courage, integrity, and care for those under his leadership--never losing a single soldier in combat.

Lieutenant Colonel Munson's decorations also include two Bronze Stars for Valor, eleven Air Medals, five Meritorious Service Medals, and the Purple Heart, as well as the Master Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and Pathfinder Badge.

His dedication to service did not end with his military career. A longtime member and former commander of the Military Order of World Wars, he authored and published the Dallas Chapter's monthly newsletter for twenty years. As a result of his hard work and leadership, the Dallas Chapter was named ``Chapter of the Year'' for 15 of its first 19 years. He also served as Chairman of the Dallas Veterans Day Parade, helping elevate the event to one of national prominence. For nearly two decades he directed the Texas A&M Youth Leadership Conference, an initiative he founded to teach principles of patriotism, leadership, and service to the next generation.

Lieutenant Colonel Munson's service is consistent with the finest traditions of the United States Army and reflects great credit upon himself, the State of Texas, and the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of a grateful Nation and the citizens of the 24th Congressional District of Texas. The 2025 Congressional Veteran Commendation is hereby presented to Lieutenant David Richard Lockwood, United States Navy, of Grapevine, Texas, for his honorable service in the Armed Forces of the United States of America and for his continued service to his community.

Lieutenant Lockwood began his military career in the Army National Guard in 2015 and later commissioned as a Chaplain in the United States Navy in 2021. Throughout his service, he has ministered to Sailors, Marines, and their families with compassion, courage, and excellence serving in Japan, Everett, and Bahrain. As Command Chaplain for Expeditionary Medical Facility Jacksonville, he created a training platform later adopted by the

Bureau of Navy Medicine to train more than 1,500 sailors worldwide. From 2023 to 2025, he served as Chaplain Program Officer for Navy Recruiting Command, leading a ten-person team across four states, mentoring nearly one thousand personnel, and facilitating the recruitment of ninety-two new Navy Chaplains from diverse faith backgrounds. His dedication to service and leadership is reflected in his numerous awards, including two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and the President's Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service.

Lieutenant Lockwood's service extends far beyond his military duties. Through his nonprofit work, he has supported and trained dozens of humanitarian and faith-based organizations across Latin America, strengthening leadership and outreach in Spanish-speaking communities. He has also served as a pastor, counselor, and seminary professor mentoring future faith and nonprofit leaders in Texas and abroad. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he provided critical pastoral care to patients and medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, offering hope and resilience in an unprecedented time of crisis.

Lieutenant Lockwood's unwavering devotion to others has brought healing, guidance, and inspiration to countless individuals and reflects the highest traditions of the United States Navy, bringing great credit upon himself, the State of Texas, and the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, every day, small business owners serve as their own accountants, legal counsel, and managers while still handling the day-to-day operations of their enterprises. That means they work extra hours or they hire extra assistance just to keep up with and bear the costly burden of complying with local, State, and federal regulations.

To say that we are not going to save money and we are not going to help small businesses save money by cutting resolutions is an absolute lie.

Working hard has always been the standard for small business owners, but when the Biden-Harris administration created $1.8 trillion in additional regulatory costs for businesses across the country in just 4 years, small business owners felt the brunt of that pain.

H.R. 2965, the Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act of 2025, supports the Trump administration's deregulatory agenda by giving small businesses the relief they need to grow and succeed, no matter what industry they are in.

Put simply, this bill aims to ensure that any new rulemaking by the Small Business Administration is at no cost to small businesses--not $1.8 trillion, but no cost. The very agency that helps small businesses start, grow, and build cannot also be the one that increases their financial and regulatory burden.

In addition, H.R. 2965 requires the SBA Office of Advocacy to report to Congress on the total cost of all Federal regulations impacting small businesses. Unlike what we just heard from the other side of the aisle, to be clear, this bill does not prevent agencies from issuing new regulations, but rather, it requires them to eliminate those that are duplicative, outdated, or don't reflect the intent of the law.

The PPP was a program that was established by Congress. It was not a regulation established by the SBA. That is totally irrelevant.

In doing so, it creates a systemic culture of regulatory discipline where agencies will have to consistently review regulations with scrutiny.

Small businesses make up 99.9 percent of businesses in America, and they remain the key source of economic prosperity across all of our districts.

H.R. 2965 moves the needle toward empowering small businesses by reducing red tape. To say that that doesn't save money to small business, then obviously she has never been a small business owner.

If we want America to succeed, it starts on Main Street. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act of 2025.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the remarkable career and life of Officer Richard ``RJ'' Hudson, who devoted thirty years to serving and protecting his community through his work in law enforcement.

Officer Hudson began his law enforcement career with the Bedford Police Department in March of 1995. On January 4, 2005, he joined the Grapevine Police Department, where he served with distinction for two decades. In 2007, he became a member of the Grapevine Motor Unit, where his skill and passion quickly made him a beloved figure within the Police Motor Officer Community. As a skilled accident reconstructionist, Officer Hudson led the multi-agency C.R.A.S.H. team, dedicating himself to ensuring the safety and well-being of his community. His leadership, knowledge, and mentorship were deeply valued by colleagues, and his reputation for excellence extended throughout the state of Texas.

Over the course of his distinguished career, Officer Hudson achieved the rank of Master Peace Officer, accumulating nearly 1,500 training hours and earning numerous certifications, awards, and commendations. Among his many recognitions was the prestigious Governor Abbott's Star of Texas Award in 2021 after a serious on-duty crash in 2017.

While we are deeply saddened by his passing, we celebrate the extraordinary service and unwavering commitment of Officer RJ Hudson. His legacy will live on through his family, the countless lives he touched, and the example he set as a public servant.

Madam Speaker, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that we passed is wholly focused on unleashing growth for Main Street, empowering expansion of advanced manufacturing, and delivering the skilled job opportunities that will enrich people with valued learning trades that help build American innovation, technology, and infrastructure.

In north Texas, we are in a perfect position to lead this new era of American growth. Our businesses and our workforce are ready to take advantage of these opportunities. Whether they are in energy, advanced manufacturing, law enforcement, education, or technology, north Texas has something for everyone.

That is why our 2025 North Texas Job Fair was the biggest one yet and a true example of the kind of opportunity and growth that we are delivering through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

This year, we were joined by 35,000 job seekers who were able to connect with over 500 employers who were looking to fill more than 30,000 jobs across industries that are vital to our local economy.

One great example is the U.S. Border Patrol, as they are now expanding their workforce and hiring new agents as a direct result of our One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This will mean stronger borders, safer Texas communities, and definitely greater peace of mind for our families.

America's future is shining brighter than ever. With the economic policies of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to lower costs, increase wages, and expand job opportunities, I know America's industrial engine will be unleashed to deliver a breadth of career empowerment not seen at any time in our Nation's history.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of Detective John Haecker from the Euless Police Department, who is retiring after decades of dedicated service.

John began with the City of Euless in 1995 as a part-time Parks Field Technician. He became a full-time Police Officer in 1999, promoted to Senior Police Officer in 2003. He currently serves in the Criminal Investigation Division with the Economic Crimes Unit. He was named Officer of the Year in 2010. A Certified Master Peace Officer and Certified Fraud Examiner, John has extensive training in Identity Theft, Forgery, and Credit/Debit Card Fraud. He is also responsible for the training of new Detectives for the Criminal Investigative Division.

John has served as President of the Fraud Investigators Association of Texas and is a member of the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. He enjoys spending time with his family and has proudly continued his family's tradition of public service.

I would like to thank Detective Haecker for his exemplary service to North Texas and congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Officer Christina O'Rear on her retirement after 30 years of distinguished service in law enforcement.

Officer O'Rear earned both an associate's degree in Law Enforcement and a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Lamar University. She holds the designation of Master Peace Officer and has completed more than 2,500 hours of training. Throughout her career, she has been recognized with multiple certifications, awards, and commendations for her professionalism and dedication.

Since joining the Grapevine Police Department, Officer O'Rear has served her community with distinction in numerous roles, including Patrol Officer, Detective, Victim Liaison, and member of the Honor Guard. She has also contributed as a Task Force Officer with the Tarrant County Narcotics Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Beyond her investigative and enforcement duties, she has provided critical support as a Peer Support, CISM, and Mental Health Coordinator, roles that reflect her compassion for both her colleagues and the community she served. She currently serves as Co-Regional Director of the Texas Crisis Intervention Association and as Regional Director of the Texas Law Enforcement Peer Network.

As Officer O'Rear retires at the end of August, we celebrate a career defined by integrity, service, and leadership. I thank Officer Christina O'Rear for her three decades of outstanding service to the Grapevine community and to the State of Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Officer Terry Caldwell, who is retiring after an extraordinary 41-year career in law enforcement, including 28 years of dedicated service with the Grapevine Police Department.

Officer Caldwell began his distinguished career in 1984 with the Dallas County Sheriff's Department and, over the course of his service, earned multiple certifications and commendations, amassing more than 3,700 hours of professional training. During his tenure with the Grapevine Police Department, Officer Caldwell served 25 of his 28 years as a School Resource Officer in the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District, a role he considered his calling. He was deeply committed to working alongside the young people of our community, serving as a trusted role model and mentor to thousands of students across elementary, middle, and high schools.

Officer Caldwell's unwavering dedication, professionalism, and service have left an indelible mark on the community he has faithfully served. His career stands as a testament to the values of integrity, compassion, and commitment that define the very best of law enforcement.

On behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I congratulate Officer Terry Caldwell on his well-earned retirement and thank him for his decades of service to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Assistant Director of Border Security for the Houston Office, Erik Shoberg.

For the last 30 years, Mr. Shoberg has demonstrated unwavering loyalty and dedication to protecting America's borders through his work at the United States Customs and Border Protection. He served in posts across the Nation and abroad, including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Houston, and Toronto. During his time at the U.S. CBP, he has had oversight into immigration processing, biometric programs, firearms/ canine programs, intelligence and targeting processes, and external task force officers.

Throughout his career, Mr. Shoberg has showcased his intellectual versatility by consistently being at the forefront of innovating efforts to modernize the work being done by the U.S. CBP. Many of these efforts have focused on the identification of high-risk travelers and the integration of intelligence into operations, allowing for a more harmonized effort focusing on national security concerns. Mr. Shoberg's commitment to improving processes has led to the identification of numerous persons of interest. For his service, Mr. Shoberg has been the recipient of multiple Commissioner's Anti-Terrorism Awards throughout his career and has received a Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Award for Team DHS Excellence.

It is the hard-work, dedication, and faithful service by our U.S. CBP officers like Mr. Shoberg that are the backbone of American security. We thank Mr. Shoberg for his 30 years of incredible service to our Nation and wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend Officer John Chandler for his 20 years of dedicated service to the Grapevine Police Department and to our North Texas community.

A native Texan, Officer Chandler graduated from L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas, and continued his education at the University

of Texas at Arlington. He began his law enforcement career in January 2005, joining the Grapevine Police Department. Throughout his career, Officer Chandler held various roles including Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Firearms Instructor, and Mental Health Officer. In each of these positions, he not only upheld the highest standards of law enforcement but also served as a mentor and leader to his fellow officers. His work as a Mental Health Officer demonstrated his compassion and dedication to serving vulnerable members of the community.

He has accumulated over 2,500 hours of advanced law enforcement training and has earned multiple certifications and commendations, reflecting his pursuit of excellence and his readiness to rise to every challenge. His legacy is not only marked by years of faithful service but also by the lives he impacted, the officers he trained and mentored, and the trust he built with the community.

Officer Chandler's service to law enforcement and his community has left a lasting impact. As he enters his next chapter, I extend my best wishes to him for a well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor a tremendous young woman from the Texas 24th Congressional District, Ava Moore.

Ava was an exceptional individual. She was a leader, a patriot, and a bright light in our North Texas community. From the first time we reviewed her application to the U.S. Air Force Academy, it was clear she was destined for greatness. Her academic excellence, leadership, and dedication to serving our nation stood out. That's why I nominated her not once, but twice to the Air Force Academy. The Academy itself recognized her potential and asked her to attend the U.S. Air Force Preparatory School.

Ava successfully completed that program this May, and she was home for just a short break before heading off to basic training and beginning her next chapter at the Air Force Academy. Our staff had spoken with her about her abbreviated summer break and could hear in her voice how excited she was to start a career in service to her beloved country.

While kayaking with friends on Grapevine Lake, Ava's life was taken in a senseless, preventable tragedy. Our entire office is heartbroken about her loss and grieved for Ava's

family, friends, coaches, and teammates. I am grateful local and federal law enforcement took swift action to apprehend those responsible, as that was the bare minimum we owe to Ava and to every American family trying to raise children in peace and safety.

I had the privilege of speaking with Ava's father, a man of great faith, kindness, and forgiveness. Even in the face of unimaginable loss, he told me he was remaining hopeful and positive, because, in his words, ``that's how Ava would have wanted it.'' That tells you everything you need to know about the kind of young woman Ava was, and the family who raised her.

They chose to honor her life not with sorrow, but with a coming home memorial, a celebration of how she stood as an incredible example for all those around her. This past week, Ava was laid to rest with full military honors, as family and friends gathered to celebrate her grace, dignity, character, and strength.

Our Nation is at a loss with Ava's passing. She was leading a life of service as a young woman whose dream was to protect and defend the very freedoms we enjoy in this country today. She was taken far too soon.

May we honor Ava by remembering the incredible young woman that she was and may God bring peace to her family knowing that though her time on earth was cut short, her legacy and her example will last with all of us. We ask the Lord to bless and receive His servant, Ava Moore. She has come home.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor Ava Moore, a tremendous young woman from the 24th Congressional District. She was a leader, a patriot, and a bright light in our north Texas community.

From the first time that we reviewed her application to the U.S. Air Force Academy, it was clear that she was destined for greatness.

In May, Ava was home for just a short break before heading off to basic training. While kayaking with friends on Grapevine Lake, Ava's life was taken in a senseless and preventable tragedy. Our entire office is heartbroken about her loss.

I had the privilege of speaking with Ava's father, a man of great faith, kindness, and forgiveness. Even in the face of unimaginable loss, he told me that he was remaining hopeful and positive because, in his own words, that is how Ava would have wanted it.

Our Nation is at a loss with Ava's passing. May we honor her by remembering the incredible woman that she was. May God bring peace to her family, knowing that her legacy and her example will last with all of us.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, in the past 107 days since President Trump was inaugurated and Administrator Loeffler took the helm at the Small Business Administration, we have seen incredible strides toward streamlining services, eliminating waste, and ensuring that every taxpayer dollar delivers immeasurable results.

Beyond tackling bloat, inefficiencies, and burdensome regulations, the administration has partnered with us to deliver real results for the American people.

Today, congressional Republicans are partnering with them through my bill, the American Entrepreneurs First Act.

We have heard this bill described this morning as complicated and as taking drastic measures. Drastic measures mean that the SBA is going to need new resources to be able to actually do their job.

Simply put, all this does is say that when they are giving out SBA loans, they have to require age verification and citizenship status verification. That is it. How complicated and drastic is that? Verify age and citizenship status, that is it. It is codifying an important executive action that is already taking place.

In recent months, it has been discovered that under the previous administration, lax safeguards have allowed illegal aliens, children, and even the deceased to apply for and receive SBA assistance.

Thanks to the great work done by this administration, we learned that in June 2024, the SBA approved a $783,000 loan application for a small business that was owned by almost one-half, 49 percent, by an illegal alien.

Further, they found that between 2020 and 2021, the SBA issued over 3,000 loans totaling $333 million to borrowers over 115 years old--one more time, that is $333 million of taxpayer dollars that went to borrowers over 115 years old--and more than 5,500 loans totaling $300 million to children under 11 years old. Is that where we want our dollars to be spent?

We know, without a doubt, that the previous administration welcomed millions of illegal aliens into our country when, during the first 50 days of the Trump administration, ICE made over 32,809 arrests, which included 14,111 convicted criminals, including 1,155 criminal gang members.

We cannot allow those kinds of folks who are in our country illegally to take money away from hardworking Americans who are applying for SBA taxpayer-backed loans.

I am thankful to see that the tide is now turning and that we have a new day here in America, but it is important that we pass this legislation to protect the successes of this administration in the long term.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the American Entrepreneurs First Act.

Mr. Speaker, over the past 2 years, my colleagues and I on the Ways and Means Committee have traveled around the country, listening to working families, small business owners, and job creators. North Texans have been very clear: They want relief, certainty, and a tax code that works for them, not against them.

Last week, we delivered. The bill that we passed out of committee reflects the real needs of our communities and the promises that we made to the American people. It is a strong, commonsense compromise that builds on the success of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

This bill expands the child tax credit, makes the small business deduction permanent, and boosts the standard deduction with a new enhancement for seniors. It restores immediate expensing for R&D and increases access to tax-free health savings accounts.

In short, this one big, beautiful bill stops the largest tax increase in American history and delivers historic tax relief instead.

I look forward to its swift passage and to President Trump signing it into law.

Mr Speaker, I rise today to recognize Euless Police Corporal James Gordon for his twenty-eight years of selfless service to North Texans.

Corporal Gordon, a graduate of Lewisville High School and Texas A&M University, began his career in public service as a Probation Officer for Denton, Tarrant, and Dallas Counties. He Joined the Euless Police Department in 1996, serving with distinction for nearly three decades. Promoted to the rank of Police Corporal in 2000, he has held numerous critical assignments and roles that strengthened the safety and trust in the community.

Corporal Gordon is best known to many in the Euless community for his role as a Neighborhood Police Officer and his dedicated work with crime watch programs. He has been a pillar in community engagement efforts through the Citizen's Police Academy, CERT Program, Child Safety Seat Program, Rape Aggression Defense (RAD), CPR instruction, and the David Hofer Police Camp. His commitment to safety extended to conducting home security surveys and creating the Euless SAFE business program to promote responsible business security practices.

A skilled and decorated officer, Corporal Gordon served as a SWAT officer from 2001 to 2008 and has been a Defensive Tactics Instructor since 1999. His leadership earned him the title of Crime Prevention Expert from the Texas Crime Prevention Association and STEP Officer of the Year for the State of Texas in 2007. His professional affiliations include the Texas Crime Prevention Association, where he serves as President of the North Texas chapter, and the Texas Municipal Police Association. His commitment to duty and the community has also been recognized through numerous awards, including the Distinguished Service Award, multiple Unit Citations, and the prestigious Euless Employee of the Year in 2018. Beyond his accolades, James Gordon is a trusted mentor, an Eagle Scout and a devoted public servant who has made a lasting impact on countless lives.

As he enters a well-earned retirement, dedicating his time to family and friends, I express my deepest gratitude for his courage and commitment to the safety and well-being of the people of North Texas. Congratulations and thanks to Corporal James Gordon.