Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a distinguished leader in the maritime industry, retired United States Coast Guard Captain J.J. Plunkett, who is retiring after more than three decades of dedicated service to maritime safety, port operations, and national security.

A 1987 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy, Captain Plunkett served in the Coast Guard for over twenty-two years, progressing from field inspector to senior executive leadership. His career in the Coast Guard had many stops serving as a Marine Inspector in Portland, Oregon; Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) Executive Assistant and Project Chemical Engineer at Coast Guard Headquarters; Chief of the Operations Department at Marine Safety Office Mobile, Alabama; Deputy Sector Commander of Sector Long Island Sound; and Captain of the Port of Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur, Texas.

Following his service in the Coast Guard, Captain Plunkett has served for over fourteen years as the Chief Operating Officer and Port Agent for the Houston Pilot Association. In this role, J.J. provided strategic leadership over pilot operations, enhancing efficiency, safety protocols, and organizational excellence while serving as a trusted industry voice. The Houston Ship Channel is home to the largest petrochemical complex in the United States and the largest container port in the Gulf of Mexico. It contributes nearly one trillion dollars to our Nation's economy annually. Houston ranks first in U.S. exports and first in U.S. foreign tonnage.

J.J. Plunkett's leadership and expertise help the Houston Pilots safely guide more than 8,200 vessels through the channel annually. On December 17, 2025, Captain Plunkett will retire after a distinguished maritime career with the United States Coast Guard and the Houston Pilots.

Mr. Speaker, I wish my friend Captain J.J. Plunkett, his wife, Lori, their children and grandchildren. Fair Winds and Following Seas in the next chapter of their lives.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, pipelines and energy infrastructure are the backbone of American energy dominance, yet section 401 of the Clean Water Act, designed to protect our water quality, has too often become a roadblock for critical projects.

Too many States are using this authority to block interstate natural gas pipelines, transmission lines, and other federally approved projects for reasons that have nothing whatsoever to do with water quality. These projects are routinely certified by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as being in the national interest, yet they are never built because a single State can withhold or delay a 401 certification.

We have all seen the consequences: delays that stretch on for years, procedural roadblocks that force applicants to withdraw and to resubmit just to restart the process, and legal hurdles so steep that a single denial can derail an entire multistate project or kill it altogether.

Meanwhile, these very same States continue benefiting from the affordable, reliable energy produced in other parts of the country, even as they obstruct the pipelines needed for our Nation's development, economic security, and long-term competitiveness.

This amendment tackles that problem head-on. It establishes expedited judicial review for major energy infrastructure projects, ensuring that the courts reach timely decisions.

It also limits standing to the applicant or those who face direct or irreparable harm, preventing activist groups from weaponizing the process to stall projects that are essential to our power grid, economy, and, most importantly, national security.

Mr. Chair, we cannot meet growing energy demand, power our data centers, or lead the world in AI without the infrastructure to move American energy. It is impossible. This amendment is a targeted, responsible solution, and a crucial step toward restoring America's energy dominance.

Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman and understand her opposition, but her reasons for opposing this amendment are the very reasons that we need this amendment.

We have a situation that has been weaponized, that has held up and killed many good projects that would lead to our energy independence and to those very States that she is talking about.

Mr. Chair, I urge support of my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. Chair, I yield 1\1/4\ minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer).

Mr. Chair, I reiterate exactly what we said in my opening statement and what Mr. Rouzer has stated. Many times, the opposition has nothing to do with clean water whatsoever. It has been weaponized. We need to expedite this, as Mr. Rouzer, my friend, said.

Mr. Chair, this is extremely good for the environment, and I would still urge all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment.

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

Mr. Speaker, due to illness, I was not able to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 308, and YEA on Roll Call No. 309.

Mr. Speaker, due to illness, I was not able to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 306, and YEA on Roll Call No. 307.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair for the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1949, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2025. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this very important legislation.

The United States is already the world's leading producer of oil and natural gas and also the top exporter of LNG. A whole lot of that energy comes straight out of my district in the great State of Texas.

That is why it is long past time that we repeal the harmful, politically motivated Biden-era restrictions that have shackled and locked down our LNG industry. These restrictions did nothing but threaten American jobs, drive away investment, and undermine the energy security of our own allies and friends.

H.R. 1949, led by my friend Representative August Pfluger from Texas, fixes this. It lifts restrictions on the import and export of natural gas and allows American LNG to flourish once again.

Mr. Speaker, America should never ever voluntarily surrender its energy advantages, not when our production strengthens families, their paychecks, and communities, and certainly not when Texas and our Gulf Coast stand ready to supply LNG to the world safely, cleanly, and reliably. Energy security is national security. We must never forget this.

I am proud to support this bill. It is a wise, good bill that will strengthen America. I urge my colleagues to join me in unlocking America's full LNG potential to achieve world energy dominance.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 782) expressing condolences and support for the victims of the July 4 flooding in Texas, honoring acts of heroism, and committing to stand with those impacted by these floods.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on H. Res. 782.

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

Mr. Speaker, this resolution also honors the brave first responders who risked their lives while rescuing over 850 souls.

It further pledges our commitment to stand in solidarity with the survivors of this unspeakable tragedy and the families who lost loved ones.

My own family has attended summer camps in the Hill Country for many generations, and my grandchildren were there only days before these tragic floods.

The July floods stole the lives of over 135 innocent people, including 37 children, some of them my own constituents in District 36.

It wreaked havoc on over 2,000 homes and businesses throughout Kerr County and inflicted $1.1 billion worth of damage on the residences across the Hill Country. Just seeing the tremendous damage in person done by this disaster was an unbelievable experience.

I am very proud of the President's response. By swiftly issuing a major disaster declaration, FEMA has been able to approve $38 million in individual assistance, as well as $31 million in public assistance.

This tragedy prompted the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, under my chairmanship, to pass the Weather Act Authorization. This legislation will improve emergency preparedness for communities nationwide and deliver vital enhancements to our forecasting capabilities, which is why it must be brought to the House floor soon.

While the Federal response has been both vigorous and robust, it is the duty of this Congress to offer solace and comfort to the people of Texas. This resolution today will do just that.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman and my good friend from Texas-- this tragedy occurred in his district--Congressman Chip Roy, for his able leadership on this bipartisan resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy), the resolution's sponsor.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, this resolution will cement unwavering support of this Congress to the brave folks from the great State of Texas. To honor the lives lost and the perseverance of the survivors, it is our duty to pass this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of H. Res. 782, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a proud East Texan, beloved doctor, and my friend, Dr. Curtis Marion Garner.

Curtis was reunited with his wife, Anne, after sixty-two years when he joined her in heaven on September 15, 2025. He was born to Curtis Mahan Garner and Verna Burkes Garner on December 30, 1934, in Livingston, Texas. His Garner ancestors were Republic of Texas settlers in 1835, in Polk County. Mr. Garner considered himself an East Texan through and through, believed he lived in the best place on earth, and was not wrong.

Curtis graduated from Livingston High School as co-valedictorian with Anne Mahan, who later became his wife. He attended Baylor University and later graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, where he received several honors for medical school graduates. Following his internship, he and Anne settled in Woodville, Texas.

Curtis served as a physician in Woodville, for over sixty years, from 1960 until his retirement in 2021. He also worked as a family physician for over thirty years in the Swearingen-Garner Medical Clinic and as an emergency room physician at Tyler County Hospital, where he was beloved by the many nurses, doctors, and other staff he served with throughout the years.

Curtis and Anne were members of First Baptist Church of Woodville, where he served as a Sunday school teacher for almost sixty years. He was a man of faith and steadfastness who loved his family. Curtis and Ann had three children: their daughters Melissa Garner and Marian Ballard, and their son Curtis Mahan Garner. Their greatest joy was their grandchildren Evan, Barrett, Will, Elizabeth, Alison, Emily, Curtis, Madison, Zachary, and Mallory, as well as seventeen great- grandchildren.

Curtis led a life distinguished by faith, compassion, and devotion as a Christian, father, and grandfather. His legacy of service and love remains an enduring inspiration to his family, community, and all who knew him.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Williams, my good friend from Texas, as well, for yielding.

The Small Business Innovation Research, SBIR, and Small Business Technology Transfer, STTR, programs are the Federal Government's largest source of funding for small businesses focused on early-stage technology development and commercialization.

They offer small businesses an opportunity to participate in Federal research and development, facilitating the transition of federally funded R&D into innovative products and services. For this reason, these programs are often referred to as America's seed fund, as they invest in research and emerging technology ideas that may be too risky for private sector funding.

These SBIR and STTR programs are funded from set-asides of the extramural research budgets at Federal agencies, providing billions of dollars in awards every year. This substantial investment by taxpayers necessitates diligent oversight by Congress to ensure that these programs are operating efficiently and are protected from theft and abuse by our adversaries, such as the Chinese Communist Party.

The reauthorization Congress passed in 2022 for these programs addressed some vulnerabilities, but more work needs to be done. Both the Small Business Committee and the Science, Space, and Technology Committees are dedicated to addressing these issues and ensuring that taxpayer funds support American small businesses rather than being funneled to foreign adversaries.

While we continue our work, it is critical that we do not allow this vital program to expire. Therefore, we have introduced this 1-year extension of SBIR and STTR programs and encourage all Members to vote ``yes'' on this bill.

I look very much forward to working with Chairman Williams, Ranking Member Velazquez, Chairwoman Ernst, Ranking Member Markey, and Ranking Member Lofgren to get a full reauthorization completed and through Congress as soon as possible.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true American hero from Southeast Texas--PFC Kate Louise Pate-Walker.

Kate was part of the legendary Six Triple Eight, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. It was the only all-Black, all-female unit deployed overseas during World War II. Their mission was clear: sort and deliver a massive backlog of mail to nearly seven million U.S. troops. Morale depended on it.

They were given six months. They did it in three.

The work of the Six Triple Eight went far beyond mail--it was about dignity, hope, and connection. For soldiers far from home, a letter meant everything. Kate and her fellow women knew that, and their determination lifted the spirits of our fighting forces in Europe.

Kate earned multiple military honors for her service, and when the war ended, she returned home to Texas, married, raised a beautiful family, and continued a life of service to her community.

Born in Vidor and raised in Sour Lake, Kate was a trailblazer in uniform and a leader at home. She lived a life defined by faith, perseverance, and love for family and country.

And now--decades later--the women of the Six Triple Eight have finally received the Congressional Gold Medal. Though the recognition came late, it is highly deserved. Their bravery, sacrifice, and determination are part of our Nation's story, and Southeast Texas is proud to claim PFC Kate Pate-Walker as one of our own.

Mr. Speaker, may her memory and legacy of service continue to inspire future generations of Americans to answer the call of duty with courage.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Christina Marie Henderson Blake, known to all of us as Tina, who entered her heavenly home on July 3, 2025, after a courageous battle with glioblastoma.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, and raised in Galveston, Tina graduated University of Texas at Austin, where she formed lifelong friendships through her beloved Kappa Kappa Gamma. She married the love of her life, Bruce, and together they raised two children, Jessica and Alex, first in Midland and later in southeast Texas in my district.

Tina was a pillar of every community that she called home, leading in the

Junior League, the American Cancer Society, and the Midland Symphony Guild. She helped grow her family's land in Liberty County, Texas, into a successful cattle ranching business and was a very respected leader in agriculture.

Her greatest joy was her family, especially her four grandchildren. Tina brought warmth, strength, and grace to everything that she did. Roxanne and I are honored to have called her our friend.

Madam Speaker, her legacy will live on in the countless lives that she touched. May God bless her family and her loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, it is an anguishing thing to have to come up here and talk about some of our friends and colleagues who have gone through this. Chip has done a wonderful job here with this Fourth of July.

My family and I dropped off four grandsons and a granddaughter back in May at Camp Mystic and at Camp Stewart for Boys. My history with this area goes way back, 60 years or better.

I served as a counselor at Camp Stewart under Uncle Bill James, who sold that camp later on to the Ragsdale family. Kathy Ragsdale and I have been talking on the phone recently, and what a loss she sustained. She lost her daughter, Jane.

Mr. Speaker, spending a couple of days out there in that beautiful country, probably the most beautiful in the entire State of Texas, with the crystal-clear, green Guadalupe River canopied by 100-plus-foot Cyprus trees, some of them 10 feet in diameter, it is just unbelievable beauty, tranquility, and peacefulness. To think that, within a span of less than 1 hour, that thing came up 30-plus feet and became a raging, raging torrent--a demon, if you will--wiping out wonderful, wonderful families, children, and turning that place into a devastating desert.

I thank the first responders, our President, our Governor, Chip Roy, and a number of my colleagues for their help. I am the chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. NASA itself offered aircraft and imaging technology to come out and help in the search and rescue efforts.

Quite frankly, it touched lives. My district is literally probably 250 miles away from this one, but I have to mention names. My district lost Aiden Heartfield, Joyce Badon, Ella Cahill, the whole family of John and Julia Burgess and their two little boys, Mary Grace Baker from Beaumont, and Reese Manchaca. So many others were touched by this in a way that we will never ever forget.

Yet, Texas is tough. As Chip said, we are no strangers in my district to disasters. I have been in office now going on my fifth term. I think we have probably had seven disaster declarations in my district because of tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes, as well.

We have a Texas spirit. It is unbreakable. Quite frankly, we are going to rise above this. We want to let these families that are out there know that they are in our prayers. We are going to do what it takes to make this place whole again, keep these camps going, and keep this wonderful tradition that we have. The cultural, patriotic--you name it--the Christian environment of these camps are going to have to be sustained, and they will.

Mr. Speaker, I just say before I close how much we appreciate all of the people who absolutely sacrificed. My own son was out there the last 2 or 3 days with his chain saw. He brought his 10-year-old son out there. People were coming and stepping forward. We heard about the Luttrells; our colleague, Morgan Luttrell. They are out there finding some of these victims.

This thing is turning out to be much bigger than we had thought. At first, we thought maybe there would be a couple of dozen people lost here, but we are looking at close to 300. By the time it is all done, I am just not sure how disastrous this thing is going to be.

Yet, Lord, we want to thank You for Your blessings, Your love, Your mercy, and we are going to rise above this because we are Texans. We pull together, and we keep our faith in our Heavenly Father.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in very strong support of H.R. 1, President Trump's one big, beautiful bill.

Here we are, despite months of our Democratic colleagues' best efforts to delay, fearmonger, and mislead the public about this bill, and we are ready to deliver for the American people.

Here is the thing about fear-mongering. You can only say ``the sky is falling'' so many times before folks start waking up and seeing for themselves exactly what is going on.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act secures our border. It prevents the single largest tax increase in American history and refocuses safety net programs for those who truly need them, not the ones shamming. Then, it reinvigorates our Armed Forces, where we saw a diminution for 4 long years under the Biden administration.

Mr. Speaker, it is high time that we deliver this to the President's desk for a signature. This is promises made and promises kept, and I am very proud to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be here to support H.R. 1223, the ANCHOR Act, sponsored by my colleagues, Representatives Fong and Stevens.

The ANCHOR Act tackles the critical need for improved cybersecurity across the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. This fleet of 17 vessels carries out vital research in diverse marine environments, from the Great Lakes to the polar regions.

The groundbreaking research conducted aboard these vessels has largely shaped our understanding of the ocean. Scientists study ecosystems and food webs, offshore energy resources, wave dynamics, natural hazard forecasting and response, and the deep ocean floor.

These scientists and technical experts operate a wide range of specialized equipment, including deep-towing systems, underwater cameras, and state-of-the-art acoustic sensors, often sailing to some of the world's most remote locations.

Ensuring secure and reliable communication and data transmission systems, regardless of location, presents a unique challenge. Each vessel needs tailored cybersecurity infrastructure to safeguard its scientific equipment and protect data, both on board and during transmission to shore.

Unfortunately, the fleet currently lacks the necessary infrastructure. This bill would change that. The ANCHOR Act directs the National Science Foundation to develop a plan for much-needed upgrades to the Academic Research Fleet, including cybersecurity enhancements and modernization of telecommunications equipment.

This plan must consider the type of research conducted on each vessel, the location, any specialized equipment, and network bandwidth needs. It is essential to protect taxpayer-funded research conducted by the fleet from nefarious actors.

We have made significant strides securing research at our agencies and university campuses. Now we must ensure the research being done off of our coasts is fully protected.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleagues for their efforts on this issue, and I urge my fellow Members to support this bill.

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

The U.S. Academic Research Fleet enables us to use state-of-the-art equipment worldwide to conduct cutting-edge science that cannot be performed on land. This fleet is a key factor in making the U.S. research enterprise a global leader.

However, our leadership is currently at risk, as it is widely recognized that our adversaries are willing to compromise, undermine, or steal our research. They aim to exploit our discoveries and surpass us as leaders in global technology. We cannot afford to let that happen.

To continue making groundbreaking discoveries, we must equip our research vessels with the cybersecurity infrastructure necessary to maintain the integrity of their data and equipment.

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

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1453) to amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to require reporting regarding clean energy demonstration projects, and for other purposes.

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. 1453, the bill which is now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1453, the Clean Energy Demonstration Transparency Act of 2025, sponsored by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Carey).

This sensible legislation will provide Congress with the necessary tools to effectively oversee the Department of Energy's growing number of large demonstration projects. DOE established the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, or OCED, to carry out the technology demonstration projects authorized in the Energy Act of 2020 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. These projects include bipartisan initiatives like the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program and the Long-Duration Energy Storage Demonstration Initiative.

This bill requires the Secretary of Energy to submit semiannual reports to Congress on all demonstration projects managed by OCED. These reports must include details on contracts, milestones, schedules, funding profiles, and cost-share agreements.

Historically, DOE's applied energy offices have managed these programs, ensuring a seamless transition from

basic laboratory research to applied field work. However, with the creation of OCED, these activities were placed in a new office, separating critical expertise and adding an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.

At the same time, the infrastructure bill and the Inflation Reduction Act appropriated over $27 billion to OCED to fund these projects.

This combination of organizational restructuring and a large influx of funding should raise concerns for every lawmaker of this institution, considering DOE's past mismanagement of demonstration projects.

Since its inception, OCED has been slow to award funding and has struggled to identify unique capabilities not already addressed by the applied energy offices. Congress lacks adequate safeguards and the capacity to conduct rigorous oversight over OCED and its demonstration projects.

For example, when the Science, Space, and Technology Committee sought more information on DOE's decision to waive the cost-share requirement for a multimillion-dollar project, the Department was not obliged to document or justify its rationale. Requiring DOE to submit semiannual reports will provide Congress with crucial tools to protect taxpayer dollars, hold OCED accountable, and ensure that projects are based on merit rather than crony favoritism.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Carey for his continued leadership on this issue despite no longer even sitting on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. I also thank Representative Riley for his work in advancing this bill forward.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Carey).

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

Mr. Speaker, one of our key responsibilities in Congress is to manage taxpayer dollars wisely. I don't take that job lightly. I want to see DOE and all of our vital Federal research agencies succeed in developing revolutionary next-generation technologies.

At the same time, we need to monitor the progress of these projects well before their costs balloon to multibillions of dollars and strain research budgets.

H.R. 1453 allows us to do precisely that. It enhances transparency between DOE and Congress, giving both parties the necessary information and insights into the successes of Federal demonstration projects to foster further achievements.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Carey) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Riley), his cosponsor, for leading this bill.

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