Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I have one question for President Biden and his administration: What will it take? We are halfway through 2021 and more than 700,000 illegal aliens have already been apprehended unlawfully crossing our southern border.

Finally, as this administration begrudgingly chokes out the words ``border crisis,'' Americans and migrants alike are being raped, trafficked, kidnapped, exploited, and murdered.

Drug cartels are fully in control of the U.S.-Mexico border and in many places on both sides of the border, and they are not stopping there. They are infiltrating every community across the country--not just down at our border States--and they are hell-bent on causing us harm. Every State is now a border State.

More deadly drugs, like meth and fentanyl, are coming up through the southern border than ever before to kill over 70,000 Americans every year from overdoses. There has been over a 300 percent increase of fentanyl seized at the southern border. Even FBI Director Christopher Wray said that there was no question that cartel activity from Mexico is spilling over into the United States. And yet the Biden administration is silent. Silent.

Today marks 84 days since Vice President Kamala Harris was foolishly dubbed the border czar. Last week, when asked when she planned to actually do her job and visit the border, she had the audacity to laugh. If any American didn't show up for their job for 84 days, they would probably be fired.

Clearly, this administration has all but abandoned our border communities and all of its American citizens. What a slap in the face to the American people, the rule of law, his sworn oath of office, and to the migrants who put their lives at risk to come here because Biden told them to and encouraged them to.

So what will it take? How much worse does the worst border crisis in our history need to get before President Biden begins fulfilling his duty to defend and secure the homeland and protect us and our sovereignty? How many more children need to be thrown from 18-foot walls or abandoned to die? How many more women and girls and young boys need to be sexually assaulted, trafficked, or murdered? How many more Americans need to die from drug overdoses or have a loved one hurt by an illegal alien who shouldn't even be here?

I am speaking for the millions of Americans who have empathy for those wanting to come here but who want to do so in a legal way. I am speaking as a descendant of immigrants myself. I am speaking as a taxpaying citizen who knows that we are trillions of dollars in debt and do not have the money to pay for noncitizens who are breaking our laws. Lastly, I am speaking as an American who loves his country enough to die for it. Enough is enough.

President Biden needs to do his job, secure our border, and protect this great Nation and the oath that he swore to uphold.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Barbers Hill High School Eagles Baseball Team for winning the 2021 Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) 5A High School Baseball State Championship. The Eagles Baseball team joins the Lady Eagles Softball team in clinching their first State Championship in school history. Barbers Hill is the first 5A High School, and only the seventh overall, in Texas history to win both State titles in the same season.

The Eagles finished the 2020-2021 season, with a record of 35 wins and eight losses. In the playoffs, Barbers Hill faced Manvel, Foster, Santa Fe, Lake Creek, and Friendswood before facing Hallsville for the State Championship. On June 12, 2021, the Eagles beat the Hallsville Bobcats by a score of two to one winning their first state title.

Raithen Malone, a senior Pitcher, was named the State Tournament Most Valuable Player. Six Eagles were selected by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association to play on the Conference 5A All- Tournament Team: Raithen Malone, Brodey Williams, Simon Larranaga, Braden Jacobs, Jace Martinez, and Carson Garrett.

I would like to personally recognize each individual that contributed to this team's winning season. Players: Luke Sims, Carson Garrett, Trevor Bates, Cameron Cauley, Jace Martinez, Raithen Malone, Braden Jacobs, Will Buntin, Brent Holdren, Colin Schmadl, McKade Massengale, Kyle Isaacks, Kasyn Franco, Ernest Sanders, Josh Campbell, Brodey Williams, Logan Knichel, Hunter Mercer, Blaine Huntley, Colt Erickson, Alden Brookshire, Maddox Malone, Carson Dunham, Simon Larranaga, and Kaden Garcia. Head Coach: David Denny. Assistant Coaches: Darren Seymour, Chris Cauley, Josh Presnall, and Noel Garcia. Athletic Trainers: Gina Pace, Adam Carroll, and Ha Nguyen. Student Trainer: MJ Stevens. Manager: Brennan McDonald. Statistician: Maddi Clary. Superintendent: Dr. Greg Poole. Athletic Director: Tom Westerberg. Principal: Rick Kana.

I wish each of these young men continued success in the classroom and athletics. Go Eagles.

Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from Oklahoma for having this Special Order tonight.

Madam Speaker, my message tonight is simple. We are more than $28 trillion in debt and sinking fast. If we don't make drastic changes to the way we govern, we won't have a country left to govern.

In 2011, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, famously proclaimed that the national debt is the single greatest risk to our Nation.

When I was elected in 2014, 7 years ago, the national debt was $18 trillion. In just 7 years, Madam Speaker, we have increased the debt by more than $10 trillion. In fact, we have spent more in the last year than the annual economic production of every single country in the world, with the exception of our own, China, and India.

Shockingly, President Biden's only idea of how to deal with our rapidly increasing debt is to spend $6 trillion more. The President and my colleagues across the aisle throw the word trillion around like it is nothing. It is hard to contemplate the magnitude of a trillion, but think about this: one trillion seconds is around 32,000 years. Let that sink in.

The left's out of control spending and blatant disregard for our future must absolutely be stopped. Our failure to do so will undoubtedly lead us down the road to economic ruin, which is exactly why the Republican Study Committee's, the RSC's balanced budget is our best chance at reclaiming our fiscal future.

Madam Speaker, I am incredibly proud that one of my bills, the State and Local Pensions Accountability and Security Act, which prohibits the unelected bureaucrats at the Treasury Department or the Federal Reserve from bailing out irresponsible State or local government pension systems was included in the RSC's final budget proposal.

So let's eliminate the deficit and let's balance the budget in the next 5 years, as this does. Let's cut spending by $14.4 trillion over the next decade, and reduce taxes by $1.9 trillion, and get our country back on the right track, and that is exactly what this budget proposal does.

To quote my colleague from Alabama, Congressman Mo Brooks, he says, ``Great nations weaken from within before they fall from without.'' Our future generations are counting on us to get this done.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Liberty High School Lady Panther Softball Team for winning the 2021 Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) 4A High School Softball State Championship.

The Lady Panthers finished the 2020-2021 season, with 33 wins and seven losses. In the playoffs, Liberty faced Wharton, Sealy, Carthage, Lake Belton, and Bullard before facing Calallen for the State Championship. On June 5, 2021, the Lady Panthers beat the Calallen Wildcats by a score of ten to three winning their second state title in just four years.

Kaci West, a senior Pitcher, was named the State Tournament Most Valuable Player for the second time in her career after winning as a freshman in 2018. Six Panthers were selected by the Texas Girls Coaches Association to play on the Conference 4A All-Tournament Team: Kaci West, Hollie Thomas, Jaylen Prichard, Reese Evans, Kamdyn Chandler, and Bailee Slack.

I would like to personally recognize each individual that contributed to this team's winning season. Players: Reagan Williamson, Jaylen Prichard, Bailee Slack, Kamdyn Chandler, Maci Beam, Hollie Thomas, Kaci West, Reese Evans, Kylie Bishop, Mikaelah Burkland, Ashlyn Cordova, and Alex Wiley. Head Coach: Karen Slack. Assistant Coaches: Joe Slack and Katherine McAdams. Athletic Trainer: Michael Pope. Athletic Director: Chad Taylor. Superintendent: Dr. Cody Abshire. Principal: Benicia Bendele.

I wish each of these young ladies continued success in the classroom and athletics. Go Panthers.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Barbers Hill High School Lady Eagles Softball Team for winning the 2021 Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) 5A High School Softball State Championship.

The Lady Eagles finished the 2020-2021 season, winning 37 consecutive games with a record of 42 wins and two losses. In the playoffs, Barbers Hill faced Manvel, Angleton, Friendswood, Waller, Montgomery, Lake Creek, and Hallsville before facing Aledo for the State Championship. On June 5, 2021, the Lady Eagles beat the Aledo Bearcats by a score of four to one winning their first state title.

Sophia Simpson, a senior Pitcher, was named the State Tournament Most Valuable Player capping off a 22-0 senior season. Six Eagles were selected by the Texas Girls Coaches Association to play on the Conference 5A All-Tournament Team: Sophia Simpson, Estela Garza, Faith Guidry, Reagan Duty, Delaney Dunham, and Samantha Landry.

I would like to personally recognize each individual that contributed to this team's winning season. Players: KateLynn Cooper, Brookelyn Livanec, Sophie Naivar, Samantha Landry, Harper Gonzalez, Amber Thibodeaux, Lauren Clift, Brynn Hooper, Kenlee Vaughan, Kaylee Hornberger, Kaitlyn Dutton, Sophia Simpson, Delaney Dunham, Destiney Yoder, Faith Guidry, Reagan Duty, Maddie Glover, Chesnee Clements, Jacklynn Ortiz, Estela Garza, and Raegan Malone. Head Coach: Aaron Fuller. Assistant Coaches: Lacey Eads and Jared Smith. Athletic Trainers: Gina Pace, Adam Carroll, and Ha Nguyen. Student Trainer: MJ Stevens. Managers: Cheyenne Borden and Lauren Culpepper. Superintendent: Dr. Greg Poole. Athletic Director: Tom Westerberg. Principal: Rick Kana.

I wish each of these young ladies continued success in the classroom and athletics. Go Eagles.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Deer Park High School Lady Deer Softball Team for winning the 2021 Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) 6A High School Softball State Championship.

The Lady Deers finished the 2020-2021 season, winning 38 games with eight losses. In the playoffs, Deer Park faced North Shore, Pearland, Brazoswood, Ridge Pointe, Clear Springs, and Flower Mound before facing Converse Judson in the State Championship. On June 5, 2021, the Lady Deers beat the Converse Judson Rockets by a score of one to zero winning their third state title.

Hannah Benavides, a senior Pitcher, was named the State Tournament Most Valuable Player capping off an 18-2 senior season on the mound. Five Lady Deers were selected by the Texas Girls Coaches Association to play on the Conference 6A All-Tournament Team: Hannah Benavides, Erin Perez, Tabby Bailey, Emma Overla, and Haidyn Hardcastle.

I would like to personally recognize each individual that contributed to this team's winning season. Players: Haidyn Hardcastle, Lindsey McKnight, Haley Wilkerson, Addison Lehew, Erin Perez, Kayla Zaid, Madison Jones, Myla Garcia, Alex Nicolas, Tabby Bailey, Raeanna Nieman, Madison Applebe, Linda Gobea, Madison Bailey, Hanna York, Emma Overla, Hannah Benavides, Lorelei Graham, Bryanna Fuentes. Head Coach: Amy Vidal-Bush. Assistant Coaches: Emily Beaty, Danyell Hines, Katie Schaefer, and Bryan Williams. Trainer: Ellie Logan. Managers: Amelia Strange, Angela Ramirez, and Aydee Gonzales. Superintendent: Stephen Harrell. Athletic Director: Darren Chandler. Principal: Scott Davis.

I wish each of these young ladies continued success in the classroom and athletics. Go Deers.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson).

Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today with one clear message for the American people: Bad policies have bad consequences.

Not that many weeks ago, we had a thriving and stable economy. We were energy-independent. We were a sovereign Nation with a secure border. Now, roughly 100 days into Joe Biden's presidency, we are living in what feels like the twilight zone with gas shortages, 2008 levels of inflation, rampant and out-of-control spending, high unemployment rates, destruction in the Middle East, political correctness and wokeness, winning the war on common sense, and worst of all, a massive border crisis.

These things didn't just happen, folks. They are the direct result of the left's conscious policy decisions--or rather delusions. Is this the America they really wanted?

Unfortunately, the mainstream media wants to distract you from the colossal failures of America's weakest President and his administration. In fact, the liberal media dedicated approximately zero minutes of airtime to

the April illegal border crossing numbers, which were the worst in our Nation's history.

But I am here to tell you the truth. Biden's foolhardy policies have created a disaster on America's southern border. He has failed us. He has failed you and your family. And most importantly, he has failed to maintain the sovereignty of our beloved Nation.

We cannot begin to comprehend the lasting impact that Biden's border crisis will have on the sanctity and security of this Nation. And as I wade through the anarchic waters of living in Joe Biden and the Democrat's America, I am reminded of the words of Alexander the Great, when he said, ``I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.''

My friends, leadership is everything. And sadly, right now, our country is in desperate need of a real leader.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the faithful service of John David Nugent as he retires from his role of nearly 25 years as lead pastor at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Jasper, Texas. Under Pastor Nugent's leadership, the Hillcrest family has grown tremendously from 617 to 1,632 church members. Pastor Nugent's time at Hillcrest Baptist has also seen the construction and completion of a new campus for the church to call home.

Prior to his time at Hillcrest, Pastor Nugent became licensed in ministry in 1973 and was ordained on September 16, 1979, at Central Baptist Church in Monroe, Louisiana, where he served as associate pastor from 1977 until 1981. He would later go on to serve as pastor at First Baptist Church in Lone Pine, Louisiana; New Zion Baptist Church in Oak Grove, Louisiana; and First Baptist Church in Spurger, Texas, before making the move to Jasper.

Over the years, Pastor Nugent has held influential roles with the Sabine Valley Association, New Bethel Association, Bayou Macon Association, and Louisiana Association.

For nearly a half century, Pastor Nugent has been a steadfast servant of God and tirelessly devoted to furthering His kingdom. He has selflessly dedicated his time as pastor to improving the lives of his congregants, strengthening his community, and spreading the word of the Lord to all who would listen. It is no wonder why he is held in high regard by all who know him. Madam Speaker, I honor and thank my friend, Pastor Nugent, for his years of dutiful service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Michelle Brewer for her appointment by Governor Abbott to the prestigious OneStar National Service Commission. The Commission actively seeks out opportunities for Texas volunteers and charitable organizations to engage and connect with one another, and accelerates their impact on local communities. Furthermore, OneStar manages and operates the Rebuild Texas Fund, an organization dedicated to assisting Texans who are still feeling the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey.

Michelle's time and experience with Hardin County Strong as Disaster Recovery Director has more than prepared her for this role. Over her past four years as director, Michelle was fundamental in helping her community recover from Hurricane Harvey, and she was able to use critical connections, resources, and her vast wealth of knowledge to bring desperately needed assistance to Hardin County in an expedited manner.

The most important duty of every public servant is giving back to the community they serve. Madam Speaker, I would like to honor my friend, Michelle Brewer, for her work experience and time in Hardin County that demonstrate she more than exceeds this expectation. I cannot think of an individual better suited for this position.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mayor Roy McDonald on his retirement after 26 years of faithful service to the citizens of the City of West Orange, Texas.

Roy was born on June 30, 1944 in Glenmora, Louisiana to Jesse and Della McDonald and grew up in DeQuincy, Louisiana. After graduating from DeQuincy High School in 1962, he went on to serve his country in the United States Army from 1962 through 1965, where he earned the rank of Specialist 5th Class.

Following his time in the military, Roy moved to Texas in 1966 to work for Dupont, where he remained for 32 years until his retirement in 1998. It was in Orange, Texas that he met and married his wife LaVerne on January 7, 1967 and raised their children Beverly and Troy. His children remember fondly the road trips he planned for his family, how he mapped out every trip they took, and how he taught them to follow along on the map as they traveled across the country. His children remember these road trips being such fun experiences that they didn't even realize how their dad was teaching them at the time.

Roy and LaVerne share a strong faith in God and have been faithful, lifelong members of McDonald Memorial Baptist Church, where he has served as deacon, Trustee, and Sunday School teacher for many years. Roy has also served as a member of the Gideon International organization.

In 1987, Roy became involved in politics by serving on the West Orange City Council for five years before becoming Mayor of West Orange in May of 1995. During his time as a public servant, he worked on numerous local, regional, and state committees. Roy served on the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission from 1999 to 2004, working in several different positions from Secretary to President. He also served on the Texas Association of Regional Councils as Chairman of the Budget and By-laws Committee and as President of the Association. In addition, he served on the Texas Municipal League Small Cities Advisory Council as Chairman. In 2002 and 2004, Roy was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the Southeast Texas Regional Review Committee.

During his tenure as mayor, Roy oversaw the construction of a new City Hall, new Fire and Police Stations, and numerous drainage and street projects. He also helped organize the city's recovery efforts after several natural disasters, such as the ice storm in 1997, and as many as nine hurricanes and tropical storms over the last three decades.

I wish Roy well in this next phase of life and have no doubt he will enjoy spending more time with his bride LaVerne, his daughter Beverly and her husband Dr. Servet Satir, and with his son Troy McDonald and wife Rose, and especially his five grandchildren Troy McDonald II, Olivia Satir, Kyle McDonald, Micah Satir, and Megan McDonald.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Mayor McDonald for his lifetime of dedicated service to the citizens of West Orange and wish him the very best during his well-deserved retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Hermon Rudolph Netherland, who passed away on Friday, March 19, 2021, at the age of 94. Hermon was a U.S. Navy World War II veteran, longtime resident of Tyler County, and deeply respected by all who knew him.

Hermon was born on April 21, 1926, in Enterprise, Louisiana, to Anne and Neal Netherland. At a young age, his family moved to Port Arthur, where he was raised. Like many kids of his generation, Hermon worked from an early age. His family had a large garden and they grew an assortment of fruits and vegetables from bell peppers to cantaloupes. Hermon had the responsibility of tending the garden. His duties included hoeing, watering, and picking the vegetables. At the onset of WWII, Hermon felt led to serve his country and wanted to enlist. However, Hermon's father was against this decision, fearing his 15- year-old son would go to war. After spending the next year convincing his father, Hermon was finally allowed to enlist in the Navy.

After completing Basic Training in San Diego, California, and signal school in Chicago, Illinois, Hermon enrolled in underwater demolition training at Fort Pierce in Florida. He soon qualified as both a Navy signal man and frog man, (someone who assisted with underwater demolitions). After a deployment in Newport, Rhode Island, Hermon went on to participate in nearly every major campaign in the Pacific Theater. Throughout the war, he would be based on the USS Birgit, a troop transport and cargo ship. His duties would rotate between signalman, frog man, and manning a landing craft taking troops to shore on several of the most dangerous invasion campaigns. Hermon was present for the U.S. invasion of Guam, Sai Pan, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, the Philippines, and the Marshall Islands. While in the Philippines, Hermon and fellow Navy frogmen were tasked with helping to open the Straits of Hormuz.

The USS Birgit returned to America after the war via the Panama Canal. Conveniently, its final stop was the Port of Orange, where the ship was then decommissioned and sold. Essentially, the ship he had spent the entirety of the war on, traveling across the Pacific Ocean, delivered Hermon to his own front door. Shortly after returning home, Hermon met Velma, the love of his life. They were married soon after she completed high school. They were blessed with 64 years of marriage and a wonderful baby girl. Following his time in the military, Hermon went to work for Texaco in Port Arthur and retired from there after many years of service. During his retirement, Hermon enjoyed spending time at his cabin located on Lake Amanda in Colmesneil to hunt and fish.

Hermon is survived by his sister-in-law, Charlene Netherland of Oregon, and numerous friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Neal and Anne Netherland; wife, Velma Netherland; and daughter, Sharon Netherland.

Madam Speaker, I honor my friend Hermon Netherland as one of the last members of the Greatest Generation. His faithful service to our country will not be forgotten, and my heartfelt prayers remain with his family and friends during this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, as co-chair of the House Border Security Caucus, I very much appreciate the opportunity to come to the floor with the Republican Study Committee to talk about the most pressing issue our Nation is facing today, right now; and, sadly, it was entirely avoidable.

There are no ifs, ands, or buts. The crisis on our southern border is a direct result of President Biden's failed immigration and border security policies--miserably failed.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have predictably done what they do best: Blamed President Trump and his administration.

But anyone with a pulse can see that this border crisis started the very day that President Biden was sworn in. On his first day in office, Biden stopped construction of the border wall, ended the national emergency declaration on the southern border. He stopped the migrant protection protocol so asylum-seekers would have to wait in Mexico.

And rather than utilizing the title 42 health restrictions to protect Americans during this pandemic, Biden and his administration are releasing COVID-positive illegal aliens into Texas to worsen the pandemic and fan out across this country.

He would go on to stop deportation, stop enforcing immigration laws, bring back ``catch and release,'' and end the hard-won changes that President Trump had initiated to control our southern border.

He has specifically said that Americans will not be prioritized-- repeat: Will not be prioritized--over illegal immigrants for access to COVID-19 vaccines, and promised citizenship to millions upon millions of migrants here illegally, which does nothing but incentivize more illegal crossings. All of this in less than 2 months.

Who on earth is surprised that there is a massive border crisis?

Yes, President Biden owns this border crisis. The truly sad reality is this isn't Biden's first rodeo. When he was vice president, he saw surges on the border, and he knows full well what exactly that means.

He saw children being used and recycled by smugglers. He saw women and children physically abused, raped, and even murdered by the cartels, who fully control our southern border now, empowered by President Biden. He even saw American families torn apart after a loved one was killed by a dangerous criminal illegal alien.

He should know better. And you know what? He does know better. Unfortunately, he is controlled by politics and his radical leftwing base, and he won't turn back now.

The American people deserve to know that President Biden is taking advantage of them through this crisis. And while the American people were locked down for a year because of the pandemic, illegal aliens roamed free. While they worked hard, paid their taxes, and saved just to get by, illegal immigrants cost them billions every year with free education and healthcare.

My great State of Texas and the other border States cannot take another minute of Biden's border crisis. The President of the United States needs to step up and he needs to lead. Lives are at stake.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a community leader and friend, Robert Eastern Carl, Jr., who passed away on Saturday, February 20, 2021, at the age of 90. Robert was a longtime resident of Tyler County and had the respect of all who knew him.

Robert was born on July 17, 1930, in Camden, Texas, to Estelle Miller Carl and Robert Eastern, Sr. As a young adult, he was called to aid his country in the United States Army and fought in the Korean War. Following his time in the military, he returned to Tyler County and went to work as a rigger for Texaco. While employed by Texaco, he dutifully served as Board President of the Texaco Credit Union for 15 years. After his years of service, he began his well-deserved retirement. Robert was the man to call whenever you needed anything fixed. No matter who called, he never hesitated to come to the aid of his fellow man. Robert was devoted to his family and loved the Lord with all his heart, soul, and mind. He was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Woodville and a dedicated deacon for many years. In his spare time, he also enjoyed hunting and fishing with friends and loved ones.

Robert is survived by the love of his life and wife of 66 years, Gay Carl of Woodville; daughter, Debbie Darville and husband, Roy, of Marshall; sons, Keith Carl and his wife, Lori, of Port Neches and Kevin Carl and his wife, Peggy, of Buna; brother, James Carl of Nederland; sisters, Eunice Vinson of Chester and Ann Adkinson and her husband, Ira, of Porter; grandchildren, Brian Darville, Andrew Darville and his wife, Heather, Mattie Riu and her husband, Tim, Michael Carl and his wife, Laura, Alison Carl, Emily Carl, Amy Tallerita and her husband, Beau, Zachary Carl and his wife, Channing, Seth Carl, Chloe Carl, Sophie Carl, Jonathan Carl and his wife, Jessica, and Matthew Carl and his wife, Melissa; great grandchildren, Kyson Darville, Blake Darville, Emerald Riu, Felix Riu, Annette Carl, and Charlotte Carl; and special friend, Jimmy Telford. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Estelle Carl; brother, Earnest Lee Carl; and sisters, Joyce Best and Rita Chandler.

Madam Speaker, I honor my friend Robert Eastern Carl, Jr., for his faithful service to his community. My thoughts and prayers remain with his family and friends during this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a community leader and friend, W. Eugene Burrell of Fannett, Texas, who passed away on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at the age of 86. Eugene was a lifelong cattle rancher, rice farmer, and civic leader in Southeast Texas. He had the respect of all who knew him.

Eugene was born on October 27, 1934, in Beaumont, Texas, to Louise DeVillier Burrell and Walter Jordan Burrell. He began farming rice at the age of 18 and worked in that role until the age of 21, when he decided to serve his country in the United States Army. After serving in the Army from 1955 to 1957, where he was stationed overseas in Germany, Eugene returned home and continued rice farming--an occupation that would unknowingly last for 52 years. Apart from growing rice, he was also a dedicated cattle rancher for more than 70 years. Eugene served as a board member on numerous industry and community boards, such as: the American Rice Incorporate Board in Houston, the American Rice Growers Board in Cheek, Texas, the Coastal Cattlemen's Association Board, the Equalization Board for the Jefferson County Appraisal District, the West Jefferson Municipal Water District, and the Texas Rice Festival, where he volunteered with his wife, Sandra. In 1999, Eugene was named the Texas Rice Festival Farmer of the Year and subsequently its Pioneer Farmer of the Year in 2017. His steadfast faith was always important to him. In fact, he served as a member of St. Mary's Fannett Knights of Columbus organization.

In addition to ``Eugene,'' his friends and family lovingly referred to him as ``Dad,'' ``Pawpaw,'' ``Boogie,'' and ``Fred''. Supporting his children, and later his grandchildren, by attending their sporting events and various competitions over the years was always a top priority to him. Eugene is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sandra Ray Burrell; daughters, Karen Burrell Reneau and her husband, Charlie, and Kelly Burrell Alton and her husband, Randy; son, Troy Eugene Burrell and his wife, Shelly; grandchildren, Landon Reneau and his wife, Hillary, William Reneau and his wife, Amanda, Lane Stuart, Reid Alton, Mary Alton, Abby Alton, Cody Burrell, and Cameron Burrell and his wife, Lauren; great-grandchildren, Eli Reneau, Ella Reneau, and Bryar Burrell and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Louise and Walter Burrell, and brother, James ``Jack'' Burrell.

Madam Speaker, I would like to honor my friend W. Eugene Burrell for his many years of faithful service to his community. My thoughts and prayers remain with his family and friends during this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a community leader and longtime friend, W. Eugene Burrell, of Fannett, Texas, who passed away on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at the age of 86.

Eugene was a lifelong cattle rancher, rice farmer, and civic leader in southeast Texas. He had the respect of all who knew him. Eugene was born on October the 27, 1934, in Beaumont, Texas, to Louise DeVillier Burrell, and Walter Jordan Burrell.

He began farming rice at the age of 18 and worked in that role until the age of 21, when he decided to serve his country in the United States Army.

After serving the Army from 1955 to 1957, where he was stationed overseas in Germany, Eugene returned home and continued rice farming, an occupation that would last for 52 years.

Apart from growing rice, he was also a dedicated cattle rancher for more than 70 years. Eugene served as a board member on numerous industry and community boards, such as the American Rice, Inc., board in Houston; American Rice Growers board in Cheek, Texas; the Coastal Cattlemen's Association board; the Equalization Board from the Jefferson County Appraisal District; the West Jefferson County Municipal Water District; and the Texas Rice Festival, where he volunteered with his wife, Sandra, who was the love of his life.

In 1999, Eugene was named the Texas Rice Festival Farmer of the Year, and subsequently its Pioneer Farmer of the Year in 2017. His steadfast faith was always very important to him. In fact, he served as a member of St. Mary's Fannett Knights of Columbus organization.

In addition to ``Eugene,'' his friends and family lovingly referred to him as ``Dad,'' ``Pawpaw,'' ``Boogie,'' and ``Fred.'' Supporting his children, and later his grandchildren, by attending their sporting events and various competitions over the years was always a very top priority to him.

Eugene is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Sandra Ray Burrell; daughter Karen Burrell Reneau and her husband, Charlie; daughter Kelly Burrell Alton and her husband, Randy; son, Troy Eugene Burrell and his wife, Shelly; grandchildren Landon Reneau and his wife, Hillary; William Reneau and his wife, Amanda; Lane Stuart; Reid Alton; Mary Alton; Abby Alton; Cody Burrell; Cameron Burrell and his wife, Lauren; great-grandchildren Eli Reneau, Ella Reneau, and Bryar Burrell; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Louise and Walter Burrell; and his brother, James Jack Burrell.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor my friend W. Eugene Burrell for his very many years of faithful service to his community.

My thoughts and prayers remain with his family and friends during this very difficult time.

May God bless his family.