Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Sergeant Chris Fisher, a loving husband to his wife, Carly, and a devoted father to two young children.

On September 2, Sergeant Fisher, a sworn officer of the Warm Springs Police Department, was ambushed and killed in the line of duty.

The son of a policeman, Sergeant Fisher devoted his life to protecting our communities, bravely serving with the sheriff's offices of Fayette, Heard, and Meriwether Counties before joining the Warm Springs Police Department. Sergeant Fisher also honorably served our country in the United States Army.

Above the many titles and uniforms he earned, Sergeant Fisher was a husband, a father, a son, and a man deeply loved by his family.

May God bless Carly Fisher, the children, the Fisher family, and our law enforcement community, who are all mourning this painful loss.

Honoring Tunnel to Towers 2026 William ``Billy'' Kelly Memorial Golf

Classic

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the fifth annual Tunnel to Towers William ``Billy'' Kelly Memorial Golf Classic held this morning in Peachtree City, Georgia, in remembrance of the Americans who lost their lives from the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Two years ago, I was honored to attend this charity tournament alongside my dear friend, Nancy Holland, a beloved leader in our community.

Nancy introduced me to Robyn Walensky, a former news reporter and survivor of September 11, who founded this tournament with her husband, Greg, in memory of retired NYPD Officer William ``Billy'' Kelly.

Officer Kelly deployed to Ground Zero and was assigned to the forensics unit responsible for sifting through debris from the World Trade Center to help bring closure to families who lost loved ones. As a result of his tireless service with the NYPD, Officer Kelly was sadly diagnosed with, and passed away from, a September 11-related cancer.

This morning, the tournament named for Officer Kelly honored the memory and family of fallen Carrollton Police Officer Dustin Krish, whose watch ended on June 9, 2026.

May the memories of heroes like Officer Kelly and Officer Krish inspire generations of Americans to come.

Celebrating Birthday of Harvey Wortham, Coweta County's Oldest Veteran

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the upcoming 98th birthday of Coweta County's oldest veteran, Harvey Wortham.

Mr. Wortham was born on October 7, 1928, and is a lifelong resident of Coweta County.

In 1954, Mr. Wortham enlisted in the United States Army and completed basic training in South Carolina before receiving advanced instruction in track mechanics at Fort Knox in Kentucky. He was then deployed to Coleman Barracks in Mannheim, Germany, after which he was honorably discharged as a specialist third class.

After completing his service, Specialist Wortham returned home, resumed his work at the cotton mill, and cared for his beloved grandmother. He and his wife of 63 years, Betty, who is smiling from above, built a joyful life with 3 daughters, 5 grandchildren, and now 10 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to thank Specialist Wortham for his service to our country, and I am delighted to wish him a wonderful 98th birthday from the floor of the United States House of Representatives.

Honoring LaGrange College Panthers on Their Victory in the Clash of

Highway 29

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the LaGrange College Panthers for their second consecutive victory in the Clash of Highway 29.

Last year, I stood on the House floor to recognize the inaugural Clash of Highway 29, which features two colleges separated by less than 20 miles in Georgia's Third Congressional District.

This year, the LaGrange College Panthers, led by Coach Wes Dodson, again defeated the Point University Skyhawks 31-7. LaGrange set the pace early, as quarterback Henry Brodnax, an alumnus of Trinity Christian School in Sharpsburg, threw two first-quarter touchdown passes.

On defense, the Panthers' junior defensive back, Messiah Scandrett, earned USA South Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for an outstanding performance, including a key fumble recovery and an interception returned for a touchdown.

Congratulations to the LaGrange College Panthers for winning the second installation of Georgia's newest college football rivalry, the Clash of Highway 29.

Mr. Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 9535.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 10 o'clock and 28 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 11 a.m.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Burlison for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 6330, the Federal Relocation Payment Improvement Act.

I am grateful for the overwhelming bipartisan support this legislation received in committee, and I am grateful for the opportunity to present it before the House of Representatives for consideration today.

Madam Speaker, our Republican majority was elected on a promise to make the Federal Government more efficient, reduce bureaucracy, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. My bill fulfills that pledge by streamlining the Federal employee relocation process, reducing administrative burdens, lowering costs for American taxpayers, and modernizing an outdated system.

To understand why this reform is necessary, let us review how the current process operates. Each year, approximately 33,000 Federal employees relocate across the country to meet the operational needs of their agencies, at a cost of nearly $1.5 billion to the taxpayer.

Under current law, a Federal employee who is directed to relocate pays relocation expenses out of pocket, retains documentation for each of those expenses, submits detailed reimbursement requests, and then waits sometimes more than 2 years to be fully reimbursed.

Meanwhile, the agencies tasked with administering these relocation reimbursements dedicate significant time and resources to reviewing, processing, and reconciling each claim. In some cases, a single relocation can generate more than $140,000 in administrative costs.

The result is a process that is burdensome for employees, costly for agencies, and inefficient for taxpayers. Fortunately, Madam Speaker, there is a better way. Federal agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, have participated in pilot programs that provide employees with a single, upfront, lump-sum relocation payment instead of requiring reimbursement for each individual expense.

When given the option, Federal employees have overwhelmingly chosen this streamlined approach. For instance, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported nearly $1 million in administrative savings. The GSA estimates expanding this authority across the Federal Government could save taxpayers between $300 million and $500 million annually.

Madam Speaker, that is the purpose of my legislation, H.R. 6330. My bill makes this successful authority permanent and available to every Federal agency. My bill preserves agency flexibility by keeping participation optional. My bill requires agencies to report to Congress on the savings achieved, ensuring continuing accountability to Congress and the American taxpayer.

For Federal employees, this means a simpler and more predictable relocation process. For Federal agencies, it means fewer administrative burdens and a more efficient use of administrative resources. For American taxpayers, it means an estimated $300 million to $500 million in annual savings.

I thank our chairman, Representative James Comer, for his leadership in advancing commonsense government reforms. I thank my colleague Representative Burlison, who has distinguished himself as one of the greatest defenders of liberty in Congress. I thank the members of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for their thoughtful consideration of my legislation.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support my bill, H.R. 6330.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable career of a great American, Gina Joy Rigby-House, who will soon retire from her role as Vice President of AFLAC.

A native of Smiths Station, Alabama, Gina first worked for AFLAC part time during high school. After attending Liberty University, Gina dedicated her career to advocacy and government relations.

For nearly a decade, Gina worked for the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association, and in 2000 she joined a company whose commercials and mascot are familiar to us all, AFLAC.

For 26 years, Gina honorably served the employees and shareholders of AFLAC by cultivating relationships with our country's leaders and shaping policies that benefited millions of Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I first met Gina and her husband, Mike, in 2018 when I was serving in President Trump's first White House. Gina and I worked together to facilitate an Oval Office event with AFLAC employees to celebrate the passage and enactment of the historic Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which proved to be a memorable day we will never forget.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the distinguished career of Gina Joy Rigby-House, who will be remembered by this Congress and her colleagues in Washington for her accomplishments, character, integrity, and steadfast devotion to her work. May the wonderful example she set be an inspiration for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Ashley Dawson of

Coweta County, Georgia, for being named the 2026 National Schools to Watch Teacher of the Year.

Selected as the sole recipient of this honor, Dr. Dawson was chosen from an exceptionally competitive field of educators representing more than 750 Schools to Watch schools across 22 States.

For more than 14 years, Dr. Dawson has served students in Georgia's public schools. Before being named assistant principal of Blake Bass Middle School in Newnan, Dr. Dawson taught social studies and audio/ video broadcast and film.

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, I met with Dr. Dawson at the Capitol. Her passion for education is inspiring, and her ideas about new educational opportunities will provide incredible experiences for the students at Blake Bass Middle School.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Dawson sponsors Beta Club, leads the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, and serves as the school's yearbook adviser.

Mr. Speaker, all of us remember a teacher who shaped our lives and guided us onto a path toward success.

Dr. Ashley Dawson, the 2026 National Schools to Watch Teacher of the Year, is that type of teacher for which Coweta County and all of Georgia's Third Congressional District are very proud.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two young leaders from the Chattahoochee Valley: Frank Lumpkin IV of Columbus, Georgia, and Justus Armstrong of nearby Phenix City, Alabama, whose work over the last 9 years has advanced the effort to expand Interstate 14, more commonly known as I-14, from Texas to my home State of Georgia.

Known as the Forts to Ports Highway, I-14 will connect military communities from Fort Hood in Texas to Fort Benning in Georgia and spur economic growth across the Southeast.

In 2017, at just 19 years old, after graduation from Columbus High School, Frank founded the Chattahoochee Valley Infrastructure Coalition, recognizing the need to build support across the community for the expansion of Interstate 14.

Today, Frank is an attorney and serves our country as a captain and a Judge Advocate General in the United States Army Reserve.

Frank's relentless advocacy has led to congressionally authorized studies and I-14's designation as a congressionally authorized future interstate.

Strong bipartisan support exists at all levels for dedicated Federal investment and congressionally authorized future interstates, including I-14. These high-priority corridors have received further congressional authorization underscoring their national significance.

Because of this groundwork, Columbus, Georgia, a city I represent, has the opportunity to receive the first piece of I-14 outside of Texas. I-14's expansion to Georgia will provide interstate access to impoverished communities and create high-quality, blue-color jobs across the Southeast.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of Frank Lumpkin's work, and I look forward to supporting his coalition's inspiring advocacy.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1300 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Leger Fernandez), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Committee on Rules met and granted a rule providing for consideration of a few measures.

First, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1041, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, or their respective designees, and provides one motion to recommit.

Additionally, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6047, the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, or their respective designees, and provides one motion to recommit.

The rule also provides for consideration of H.R. 1329, the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, or their respective designees, and provides one motion to recommit.

Finally, the rule provides for the flexibility to consider a rule related to reconciliation on the same day it is reported from the Committee on Rules in order to expeditiously consider such legislation if it is received from the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, passage of my resolution today allows us to take important action this week. My resolution allows us to consider legislation affecting veterans, military families, and future generations.

This week, the House has an opportunity to take action on behalf of those who answered our country's call to serve, the families who stand beside them, and the stories that help define who we are as Americans.

Mr. Speaker, the rule before us also provides consideration of H.R. 1041, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, introduced by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost), my friend and colleague.

Chairman Bost has long been a strong advocate for veterans and military families. Yesterday, during discussion of this legislation, we spent time talking through the practical consequences of an issue affecting veterans across our country.

Mr. Speaker, I thought Chairman Bost helped paint an important picture, and I believe it is worth sharing with the House today, while certainly to address the 250,000 veterans who have been affected by this issue, but sometimes understanding legislation begins by thinking about just one person and sharing their story. Picture for a moment a veteran navigating the lasting effects of military service. Maybe they are balancing appointments, recovery, family responsibilities, and challenges associated with service-connected injuries. They are not a danger to themselves. They are not a danger to anyone else, but they simply reach a point where they recognize something many Americans recognize from time to time: I just need a little help. Maybe they speak with fellow veterans at The American Legion, a local VFW Post, or another veterans service association. Maybe they visit Veteran Affairs seeking support, and maybe they are having difficulty managing finances while focusing on their recovery.

The VA then determines a fiduciary may help manage their benefits. This isn't uncommon. A fiduciary is exactly that--someone assigned to help oversee financial matters.

Under the current framework, assignment of a fiduciary results in veterans being reported by VA bureaucrats to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, otherwise known as the NICS list, despite never being determined to be a danger to themselves or anyone else.

Once entered into that system, veterans can lose their Second Amendment constitutional rights, despite never receiving the same process or legal findings applied to nonveterans.

Mr. Speaker, that is the issue before us.

Earlier this year, President Trump's Department of Veterans Affairs, led by a great Georgian, the Secretary of Veteran Affairs, Doug Collins, took important steps to restore fairness for veterans. The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act builds on that progress by establishing lasting protections under law.

Simply put, this legislation ensures veterans seeking support through the VA are not subjected to different treatment solely because they sought assistance while navigating the lasting effects of military service.

The Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act consists of several important provisions.

Section 2 restores due process protections and ensures that the assignment of a fiduciary alone cannot automatically result in placement onto the NICS list, which prohibits firearm access. If you are a veteran at home seeking assistance from the VA, this means asking for help no longer creates uncertainty surrounding your constitutional rights that you defended in uniform. You can seek support. You can focus on recovery. You can continue moving forward with the benefits the Constitution affords you.

Section 3 ensures that veterans previously affected have their records corrected and updated. It rights a wrong and corrects an injustice. If this issue affected you or your family, this legislation creates a path to address concerns that may have followed you for years.

Section 4 clarifies that assistance in managing financial matters alone cannot serve as the basis for different treatment. Seeking support should never result in different treatment.

I applaud the many organizations that have stepped up to help us consider this legislation and advocated for its passage, including the National Rifle Association, the Gun Owners of America, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Their leadership and partnership throughout the consideration of this legislation will yield success today. Their advocacy helped elevate this issue and move it forward, beyond just a concept and a debate, for families and military families across the country.

Mr. Speaker, the rule before us also provides for consideration of H.R. 6047, the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026. While military service may come to an end, for many veterans and families, the responsibilities and challenges associated with that service can continue for years.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask the House to think back to the veteran we were just discussing. Now, imagine that

same veteran returned home from catastrophic service-connected injuries. Recovery did not end after leaving the battlefield. Instead, recovery became a part of everyday life. Medical appointments became routine. In-home care became necessary. Family members stepped into caregiver roles, and financial responsibilities continued arriving every month.

For veterans and families, that reality continues for many years after military service ends. That is exactly why Congress must act.

Mr. Speaker, legislation receives a name for a reason. This legislation before us bears the names of Sharri Briley and Sergeant Eric Edmundson because their experiences help explain why stronger support matters.

After losing her husband, Army Chief Warrant Officer Donovan ``Bull'' Briley, during the battle of Mogadishu, Sharri Briley experienced responsibilities no military family should have to navigate alone. At just 24 years old, while serving our country near the Iraq-Syria border, Sergeant Edmundson's vehicle struck an improvised explosive device, an IED. The blast caused catastrophic injuries that fundamentally changed the course of his life. By the grace of God, Sergeant Edmundson survived.

Today, years later, Sergeant Edmundson and his family continue navigating the lasting effects of injuries sustained in service to our country. Their experiences remind us of an important reality: Military service often creates responsibilities carried not only by veterans but by entire families.

Simply put, H.R. 6047 strengthens support for catastrophically injured veterans, caregivers, surviving spouses, and military families. The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act consists of several important provisions.

Section 2 increases compensation for catastrophically injured veterans requiring regular in-home care. If you are that veteran at home, navigating daily care, appointments, adaptive equipment, and financial strain associated with severe service-connected injuries, this legislation provides approximately $10,000 annually in additional support. That support helps offset costs that families experiencing such burdens carry every day.

Section 3 strengthens support available to caregivers and military families. If your spouse, parent, child, or loved one helps care for you each day, this legislation recognizes an important reality: Military service often affects entire families.

Section 4 ensures these reforms are implemented effectively.

Section 5 expands eligibility requirements for Guard and Reserve servicemembers by reducing qualifying Active-Duty requirements for VA home loan eligibility. If you are a Guard or Reserve servicemember at home, this legislation expands opportunities for homeownership and helps more military families achieve the American Dream.

Mr. Speaker, finally, the rule before us provides consideration of the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act, introduced by my colleague, Nicole Malliotakis of New York, one of the most respected members of the House Republican Conference.

The vision for the Smithsonian American women's history museum is straightforward but important: to preserve, research, and share the stories, experiences, and contributions of women whose leadership, sacrifice, and service built our country.

On December 27, 2020, President Trump signed legislation into law, taking an important step toward making that vision a reality. That reflected something many Americans already understand: The story of our country cannot be fully told without the stories of the women who shaped it.

While Congress and President Trump established a path forward for the museum, the project stalled because one important piece remained unfinished: The museum still does not have a permanent home on The National Mall because the original law prohibited it from being located within the Reserve. The Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act helps complete that work.

Mr. Speaker, all of us can think of women whose strength, sacrifice, and example led us to who we are today: a mother, grandmother, teacher, mentor, leader, or someone whose example shaped our own story.

In many ways, these stories became part of our country's story, too. For generations, American women shaped our country through military service, public service, education, science, innovation, leadership, and sacrifice. That is why Congress must act.

Mr. Speaker, simply put, the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act moves this project from authorization toward reality by providing a path for the museum to be built alongside other Smithsonian museums at a place of historic and national prominence.

The Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act consists of several important provisions.

Section 2 removes restrictions preventing the museum from being located within the Reserve on The National Mall, designates the south monument site, and allows the Smithsonian to move forward with planning and construction.

Section 2 also facilitates transfer of the land to the Smithsonian Institution and establishes planning and reporting requirements to ensure transparency and accountability as the project moves forward.

If your family visits our Nation's Capital years from now, a child walking through those exhibits may learn about a scientist, teacher, servicemember, entrepreneur, or national leader, and even be inspired to change our country, too.

I applaud Representative Malliotakis for her leadership on this effort.

Mr. Speaker, this week, the House has an opportunity to act on behalf of veterans seeking fairness, military families carrying lasting responsibilities, and future generations who deserve to understand the stories that helped shape our country. These measures address different issues, but they are connected by a simple principle: We should honor service; we should support families; and we should preserve the stories and values that continue shaping our country.

For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support my resolution, which is provided for consideration in this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I just want to make sure everybody at home knows what is before us. I find it notable, and I am sure we will debate H.R. 1041, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, but just to comment on H.R. 6047, the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act, this bill has meaningful, meaningful reform, and it enables veterans to live a much better life.

It significantly increases the monthly benefits rate for catastrophically, service-connected disabled veterans with a traumatic brain injury or other service disabilities that require regular, around-the-clock, in-home medical care, offering an additional $10,000 annually. It raises survivors' VA benefits by an extra 1.5 percent over 2 years, providing an extra couple hundred dollars to over 500,000 survivors.

Since 1993, Congress has not adjusted DIC aside from inflation. This is meaningful, and it has a great impact on veterans across the country, notwithstanding the fact that it also expands the eligibility requirement for National Guard and reservists from 90 days of Active Duty service to 14 days of Active Duty service with a 1 percent fee. This would allow more Members of the Guard and Reserves, generally younger members, to be able to live the American Dream by owning their first home.

Over 500,000 survivors, National Guard and reservists, and thousands of catastrophically disabled veterans and their families will be positively impacted by this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I just want to list some of the organizations that stand with us, hoping this bill is considered for debate and final passage later today.

It is helpful for the Record to note that The American Legion endorses this legislation. The Wounded Warrior Project endorses this legislation. Paralyzed Veterans of America endorses the legislation. Vietnam Veterans of America endorses this legislation.

AMVETS, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Gold Star Spouses of America, Inc., the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the USA, National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, The Independence Fund, Quality of Life Foundation, Veterans Multiple Sclerosis Alliance, and National Military Family Association all support this legislation, which to me illustrates why its passage is so important. Again, I stand with those groups, as do many of my colleagues.

I suspect this will receive wide bipartisan support. What we are doing today is debating the rule, the resolution that enables us to consider that legislation. We can have that debate, but we can't do it unless we pass the rule, which is why our side feels so fervently responsible for helping move this issue forward to solve these issues for veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I don't know what the Representative is referring to with respect to trans-obsessed bills. This resolution has nothing whatsoever regarding that legislation. That was passed 2 weeks ago. I assume the Representative is just 2 weeks too late.

That having been said, I do want to spend a little bit more time talking about H.R. 1041, Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act. I think this is owed a lot of contemplation, deliberation by people watching at home. As I mentioned before, 250,000 veterans, a quarter of a million people, who served our country in uniform, have been subjected to an injustice. We have the ability to correct that today.

I walked you through, the viewer at home, but just picture a veteran who is navigating those lasting effects of military service, and they may be having a hard time trying to pay for their bills or trying to figure out a way to make ends meet. So they reach out to The American Legion, the VFW, many of the organizations, by the way, who endorse the other veterans legislation that we discussed and the other side so passionately opposes.

However, nonetheless, take yourself into this picture. The veteran is going into The American Legion hall, having a conversation, and they say: Hey, why don't you reach out to the VA?

They do so, and the VA says: Okay, let's see what we can do.

They end up appointing a fiduciary to help them manage their benefits. For over 30 years--I should say, 28 years, but nearly 30 years, that veteran has then been subjected to an unconstitutional process that we can correct today because when that happens and when someone is appointed a fiduciary to help them manage their benefits, they have been sent to the NICS list, which is administered by the Department of Justice, the FBI, which prohibits the owning and ownership of a firearm. To me, that is a grave injustice. The people who put on the uniform of our country and served our country to defend our constitutional rights should be afforded the exact same constitutional rights that we have.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to encourage everyone to remember reading this resolution, there are three bills we are just looking to have a vote on today. The other side is trying to block consideration of this legislation. I hope some will cross the aisle and help us achieve this later. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I want to debate this resolution before us today, but I will comment briefly. With respect to President Trump, first and foremost, over the 4 years of his first Presidency, he was subjected to persecution unlike any President before, which probably led to the now at least three assassination attempts.

I welcome the other side joining us in not just condemning those but helping us ensure that he is not subjected to that type of threat going forward.

What I will say, with respect to the ballroom, is that there was a bipartisan group of individuals who came down and said this was necessary. Presidents from both parties have extolled the virtue of having a safe space not just to host functions but to ensure that the President and members of our country, who serve our country, are protected in those environments.

We saw that, unfortunately, on full display just a month ago when a shooter tried to rush a dinner, at which the President and many other Republicans and Democrats were congregating, with the explicit purpose of assassinating members of President Trump's administration. I welcome the calls of condemnation from the other side and look forward to hearing them in the gentlewoman's rebuttal.

What I would say is the issue before us today, just a good reminder, there are three bills on which we are seeking to have a vote. We are seeking to have a voice and an opportunity to vote on this legislation today. You can vote however you want. This rule allows us to have that opportunity.

As I mentioned before, this gives us a chance to help veterans who have suffered catastrophic injuries. That is one of the pieces of legislation we are voting on today. This has the ability to restore the constitutional rights of 250,000 veterans who have had their rights stripped from them because of legislation that was passed 28 years ago that has been interpreted in a certain way ever since. This legislation enables us to build a museum honoring America's women and all the contributions they have made to this incredible country that we all enjoy today.

I just remind folks that that is what we are debating, and that is what we are voting on. I welcome conversations about each, but that is the question before us.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Representative mentioned, or rather alleged, that the legislation before us this week is not an American priority, so I think we should just dissect the three bills under consideration.

First and foremost, Mr. Speaker, is it not a priority for us to ensure that the constitutional rights our veterans fought to defend are conferred on to them?

Is that not a priority for us to correct an injustice inflicted upon our veterans?

Is it not a priority for us to pass legislation that will help strengthen benefits and help catastrophically injured veterans that is broadly supported across the veterans community including veterans service organizations like The American Legion, Wounded Warrior Project, and Paralyzed Veterans of America?

Those groups and those associations support our legislation.

How is that not a priority?

Lastly, how is it not a priority to ensure that we honor America's women by building the museum that has rightly deserved to be built for many years?

We are going to take action to do that today.

I will just note, too, the Representative mentioned many things about President Trump. But, yet, I still wait to hear from the other side the broad condemnation of the relentless persecution that has led to attack after attack, after attack on President Trump and his family. It is unfair to him, and it is one of the reasons why, as the Representative noted, later this week we may be considering--we will see what happens in the Senate--but we may be considering legislation that is going to help pay our law enforcement officers in the Federal Government. That is a priority for us and always has been for us.

Again, Mr. Speaker, when you look at what we are debating this week, we are trying to help veterans get their constitutional rights back. We are trying to help veterans through bills that are endorsed by every veteran service organization that serves our Nation's veterans, and we are trying to build a museum that we have been trying to build for 6 years. I think all three are priorities for our country.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Malliotakis), who is one of the most respected voices in the House Republican Conference.

Mr. Speaker, first, I would say the colleague to whom my colleague from New Mexico referenced was speaking about a bill that already passed 2 weeks ago, so I think he was 2 weeks too late for debate.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Malliotakis).

Mr. Speaker, again, that is one of the reasons why my colleague is one of the most respected voices in the House Republican Conference, one of the best debaters we have.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, in closing, the rule I have presented today, House Resolution 1300, enables this House of Representatives to carry out its responsibilities and consider legislation affecting veterans, military families, and future generations.

Before I close, Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to think one more time about that veteran we discussed today. Think about the veteran who walks into the VA simply looking for support. Think about that veteran navigating recovery, appointments, and the lasting effects of military service. Think about the spouse, the parent, or the loved one who quietly stepped forward and carried responsibilities that military service brought home. Think about the families who continue showing up every day with strength, perseverance, and grace because for many military families, service does not simply end when the uniform comes off.

Mr. Speaker, throughout this debate, we discussed different bills addressing different issues, but each measure before us reflects a simple principle: When the brave men and women of our country answered the call to serve, they did so without hesitation. When they return home, they should know their country will stand beside them with that same commitment.

That means protecting constitutional freedoms. That means strengthening support for veterans and military families, and that means preserving the stories and experiences that help tell the story of our country.

To the veterans and military families watching today, these issues are not abstract. They are your lives. These are your experiences, and these are the responsibilities Congress has an obligation to take seriously.

Mr. Speaker, this rule allows this House of Representatives to move forward and continue delivering on those responsibilities. For those reasons, I urge my colleagues to support the rule.

The material previously referred to by Ms. Leger Fernandez is as follows:

An Amendment To H. Res. 1300 Offered By Ms. Leger Fernandez of New

Mexico

In section 2, insert ``and the amendment specified in

section 5 of this resolution'' after ``accompanying this

resolution''.

At the end of the resolution, add the following new

section:

``Sec. 5. The amendment referred to in section 2 of this

resolution is as follows:

Page 5, strike line 20 and all that follows through page 6,

line 10 and insert the following: (and redesignate

accordingly):

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the proceedings had during the recess be printed in the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 7 o'clock and 1 minute p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 9 a.m.

Mr. Speaker, over the past 3 weeks in college basketball, a national champion was crowned, the transfer portal opened and closed, and the 2025-2026 season officially ended.

I proudly represent the University of West Georgia. I am a passionate supporter of their basketball program, led by Coach Dave Moore, a natural leader, and his talented staff: Andy Young, Mark Schult, Willie Evans, and Jalen Sasser, and administered by Athletic Director Jason Carmichael and President Dr. Michael Johnson.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a few of the West Georgia Wolves who are leaving next season, having exceeded expectations and built a program poised for future success.

Shelton Williams-Dryden was named First Team-All Atlantic Sun, averaging 20.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.

Josh Smith was named the Atlantic Sun's Sixth Man of the Year, averaging 16.2 points per game.

Kolten Griffin averaged 7.7 points per game and set a record for the most games played in the history of the program.

Malcolm Noel averaged 8.1 points per game and will graduate after three seasons with the Wolves.

Mr. Speaker, the West Georgia Wolves are a source of great inspiration for many across my district, and I am immensely proud to represent them in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I intended to address the House last Friday, on April 17, but our legislative calendar shifted, and the House was not the session.

As a result, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 102nd birthday of someone very special to me, my grandmother, whom my family affectionately refers to as Gacks.

My grandmother was born on April 17, 1924, in Des Moines, Iowa, and today she resides in Georgia, blessed with incredible health. At the early age of 102,

my grandmother still drives a car, shops at the grocery store, and attends a weekly exercise class with her friends.

I am my grandmother's only grandchild, which is notable because she will forever have a perfect record of having her grandchildren elected to Congress.

Since her 95th birthday, we have celebrated her birthday in very special ways. This year, my grandmother is watching at home with family as we wish her, from the floor of the United States House of Representatives, a very happy 102nd birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bipartisan legislation, H.R. 4624, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, which I proudly authored and introduced with my colleague from Kansas (Ms. Davids), a former professional mixed martial artist herself and a leader in her Caucus.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, Tim Walberg; the ranking member, Bobby Scott; and the distinguished members of the committee for considering and favorably reporting my legislation with an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote.

Today, our House of Representatives has an opportunity to make history by passing the first Federal boxing legislation in over a quarter century.

Mr. Speaker, professional boxing in America has an incredibly rich and storied history. It is a sport that demands courage, perseverance, and determination from its champions, and its heroes have inspired greatness, ignited dreams, and forged generations of memories and tradition.

Mr. Speaker, 39 years before Jackie Robinson bravely broke barriers in Major League Baseball, Jack Johnson, the Galveston Giant, reigned as the first Black heavyweight champion of the world, from 1908 to 1915. Decades before the New York Knicks were formed, thousands of spectators crammed into Madison Square Garden to see Jack Dempsey fight.

Many of you may recall storied bouts during boxing's golden era, like Leon Spinks versus Muhammad Ali in 1978, Marvin Hagler versus Thomas Hearns in 1985, and Mike Tyson versus Evander Holyfield in 1997.

Unfortunately, American boxing has since faced a steady decline. It has been 38 years since an American won a heavyweight gold medal at the Olympics, and the majority of boxing's premier fights are now overseas, many time zones away.

In recent years, ``HBO World Championship Boxing'' and ``Showtime Championship Boxing,'' long home to the greatest fights, ceased operations.

Last year, ESPN's contract with a leading boxing promotion ended without renewal, leaving professional boxing without an American distributor.

At the heart of boxing's downturn is a structural flaw that our predecessors in Congress identified over 25 years ago but declined to address. We have the opportunity to fix this today and revive this great American sport.

For over a century, individual States enacted legislation to regulate professional boxing, but the patchwork of regulations without uniform minimum standards led to the exploitation of boxers and rampant corruption.

Since the 1950s, Congress has considered proposed legislation to address these problems. After multiple attempts in the 1990s, Congress finally acted, passing the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 and the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act in 2000.

As a result, boxing is the only professional sport regulated by Congress.

The Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 established minimum safety standards for professional boxers. The Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, more commonly known as the Ali Act, attempted to reform unfair and anticompetitive practices in the professional boxing industry. Both were enacted by voice vote with unanimous support from the House and Senate.

Mr. Speaker, today, we have the opportunity to follow in our predecessor's footsteps and pass the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act.

My legislation amends the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 and preserves in its entirety the original Ali Act.

First, my bill clarifies ambiguities in current law that have stifled innovation and investment in the sport. This

legislation allows for the creation of Unified Boxing Organizations, otherwise known as UBOs, that will provide professional boxers with more opportunities, better pay, and greater protections.

The UBO system will not replace the current structure of professional boxing. Instead, UBOs will operate as a separate, parallel system that will give boxers the freedom to choose which system works best for them.

The bill's strict antidoping and antigambling protocols will safeguard the integrity of the sport and restrict UBOs from charging boxers fees for placement in rankings or participation in championship matches.

To improve the safety and well-being of professional boxers, my legislation establishes a national minimum payment per round of $200 and strengthens existing health and safety protections, including establishing for the very first time a national minimum of $50,000 in health coverage for injuries sustained during a bout.

My legislation also seeks to alleviate confusion fans often face while following the sport by specifying that sanctioning organizations and UBOs shall only award one championship title for each weight class.

Mr. Speaker, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act strengthens safety for boxers, improves the quality of life for boxers, and establishes a framework for innovation within the sport to flourish.

Passage of my legislation will return boxing events to our country, and bringing jobs, investment, and economic activity back to American communities.

The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act is endorsed by Lonnie Ali, the wife of Muhammad Ali; the Association of Boxing Commissions; and former heavyweight champion of the world Mike Tyson.

Additionally, America's largest arena operators support my legislation, including Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corporation, MGM Resorts International, and State Farm Arena in my hometown of Atlanta. Representing American workers, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters also supports this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation has accomplished something few other issues before this Congress have done. The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act fostered collaboration between Republicans and Democrats who worked together in good faith to revive one of America's greatest sports, in the name of one of America's greatest athletes.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1095 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Leger Fernandez), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, last night the Committee on Rules met and granted a rule providing for consideration of one measure. The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7744 under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member on the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees. Additionally, the rule provides for one motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, nearly 3 weeks ago, on February 13, my Democrat colleagues irresponsibly and vindictively shut down the Department of Homeland Security, crippling the capabilities of the very Department charged with protecting the American people.

Leading up to that moment, I brought forth a rule that allowed the House to concur in the Senate amendments to H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, legislation that funded the remainder of the Federal Government through the end of the fiscal year with the exception of the Department of Homeland Security.

Despite previously agreeing to a bipartisan and bicameral approach to fund the Department of Homeland Security through the end of the fiscal year, including provisions for both funding and enhanced oversight, Democrats reversed course at the last minute and have since held this critical funding hostage, directly putting the safety and security of the American people at risk.

Mr. Speaker, I return today to give my Democrat colleagues the opportunity to reverse course on this dangerous lapse in leadership and move legislation forward that provides full funding for the personnel, training, and technology necessary to protect our homeland and keep our communities safe, secure, and resilient.

The Department of Homeland Security oversees agencies responsible for aviation security, border protection, cyber defense, disaster response, maritime security, and counterterrorism missions that directly impact the safety of millions of Americans every single day.

Simply put, a ``yes'' vote on today's rule is a vote to consider legislation that will fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, ensuring that the agencies tasked with keeping the American people safe, from counterterrorism to cybersecurity, to disaster response, are not weakened at a moment when threats are rapidly increasing.

A ``yes'' vote on today's rule is a vote to stand with the men and women on the frontlines of our national security, from coastguardsmen to GSA officers, to cyber defenders, law enforcement personnel, and emergency responders who are now working every day without pay to keep our country safe.

A ``yes'' vote on today's rule is a vote to consider legislation to end this Democrat shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security and restore the resources necessary to defend the American people.

Mr. Speaker, the need to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security becomes even clearer when we consider the serious global threats facing our country today. For nearly 50 years, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the number one state sponsor of terrorism, has called our great country the ``Great Satan'' and indoctrinated generations of its people with the chants of ``Death to America,'' making clear its commitment to our destruction.

Despite repeated attempts at diplomacy, the regime has relentlessly pursued a nuclear weapon, developed its ballistic missile program, and funded proxy terrorist organizations across the world, all while its own people suffer under corruption, repression, and economic collapse.

This past Saturday, President Donald J. Trump kept his promise, decisively authorizing Operation Epic Fury, a large-scale kinetic military operation targeting key regime military infrastructure and leadership responsible for incessant aggression and attacks against the United States and our allies.

This moment did not occur in isolation. It was the result of decades of sustained hostility by the Iranian regime toward the United States, just as the maniacal Iranian regime was reaching the nuclear weapon threshold.

To the American people, the timeline is clear.

In November 1979, Iranian students, backed by the regime, stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held hostage 66 brave Americans for 444 days as they beat them and subjected them to mock executions and other forms of torture.

In October 1993, Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, killed 241 American military servicemembers, including 220 marines and 21 other service personnel in a truck bombing at a Marine compound in Beirut.

In June 1996, Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists killed 19 U.S. airmen and wounded nearly 500 others in a truck bombing at a U.S. Air Force housing complex in Saudi Arabia.

Between 2003 and 2011, Iranian proxies killed at least 603 American troops in Iraq, roughly one out of every six American combat deaths in that war.

In January 2016, Iranian forces seized two U.S. Navy boats and detained 10 U.S. sailors who were held at gunpoint, forced to kneel with their hands behind their heads, and filmed for propaganda being released 15 hours later.

More recently, on October 7, 2023, Iran-backed Hamas terrorists murdered 46 Americans and kidnapped 12 Americans in addition.

Between October 2023 and November 2024, Iran and its proxies carried out more than 180 attacks on U.S. forces in the region, killing American servicemembers and wounding American service personnel.

In July 2024, an Iranian national linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attempted to assassinate then-candidate for President, Donald J. Trump, forcing his Presidential campaign, which I remember being a part of it, to charter decoy planes to avoid the threat.

In recent weeks, Iranian representatives continued to lie and negotiate in bad faith, stalling peace talks as they prepared offensive military threats against American forces.

This pattern of aggression makes crystal clear that these are not isolated incidents. They instead represent a sustained and deliberate campaign by the Iranian regime to target the United States and undermine our national security.

This is precisely why decisive action by our Commander in Chief, President Donald J. Trump, was necessary. By destroying Iran's military capabilities, its missile capabilities, dismantling its naval strength, and ensuring that this regime can never obtain a nuclear weapon, President Trump and his administration have acted to protect the American people and defend our national interests. This level of action is only possible because of the strength of the United States military.

During his first term, President Donald J. Trump rebuilt our military to a level many thought would never be possible. Through historic investments, a renewed focus on modernization, and the restoration of military readiness, he ensured that today we possess the strongest and most capable military humanity has ever seen. It is that peace through strength, rebuilt and restored, that made decisive operations like Operation Epic Fury possible, demonstrating to our adversaries that the United States has both the capability and the resolve to act swiftly, effectively, and without hesitation to protect the citizens of our country.

Mr. Speaker, during this operation, six Americans bravely sacrificed their lives to keep our homeland safe. May we forever remember and honor their legacy of selfless service to these United States of America.

The threats facing our country today do not stop at distant battlefields. They can reach our networks, our borders, and our communities here at home.

While Iran's aggression is often discussed in terms of conflict in the Middle East, we must not forget that the regime and its proxies also pose a direct threat to the American homeland. Our Homeland Security and Intelligence agencies have warned that Iran and its affiliates maintain the capability to conduct cyberattacks against our utility services, direct espionage campaigns within our borders, and potentially inspire or direct violence within the United States, targeting critical infrastructure, financial systems, and other central networks on which millions of Americans rely.

That is why President Trump's Department of Homeland Security plays such a vital role in coordinating intelligence, strengthening cyber defenses, securing transportation systems, and protecting the American homeland from emerging threats.

Mr. Speaker, border security is homeland security. At a time when hostile regimes and terrorist networks continue to threaten the United States, we cannot ignore the risks posed by an unsecure border and inadequate vetting of individuals entering our country. Ensuring that terrorists, traffickers, and foreign operatives cannot exploit weakness in our immigration system is a fundamental responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security.

While security at our southern border has drastically improved and more than 600,000 criminal aliens have been deported under President Trump's administration, millions of unvetted, illegal immigrants who entered our country during 4 years of the porous open border under the Biden administration still remain in the United States today.

Among these illegal immigrants are members of violent transnational gangs, some of which have ties to Iranian-backed terror networks who threaten the safety of American communities. At a time of heightened global tensions and increasing threats, the presence of even one dangerous individual within our borders poses a serious risk to America.

If we look at results here at home today, we have seen real progress in safety and security under President Trump, proof that his approach works and can be trusted abroad.

Under President Trump's leadership, fentanyl deaths fell by 34 percent in 2025, as trafficking across our southern border was cut in half. Violent crime has declined nationwide, with homicides experiencing one of the largest single-year drops on record. In cities where enhanced enforcement has taken place, the results have been even more dramatic. Murders here in Washington, D.C., have dropped 60 percent. Chicago saw its lowest number of murders since 1965. Memphis saw 200 fewer murders and a 40 percent decline in shootings. New Orleans' homicide rate reached its lowest level in 50 years.

Mr. Speaker, these outcomes exemplify what strong leadership and commitment to law and order can achieve, but maintaining that progress requires a fully functional Homeland Security apparatus.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to make one thing clear for the record and for everyone who is watching today: Despite what some of my Democrat colleagues may be telling their constituents, as they fear primary challenges from the left, this debate is not about funding ICE or CBP. Those agencies were already fully funded through H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was enacted last year.

This debate is about the rest of the Department of Homeland Security, the agencies responsible for counterterrorism, cybersecurity, disaster response, aviation security, maritime security, and other critical missions that protect the American homeland.

By refusing to fund the remainder of the Department of Homeland Security, my Democratic colleagues have left critical Homeland Security missions vulnerable at a time when threats against our country are increasing. The consequences of that decision are already being felt.

Due to the Democrats' Homeland Security shutdown, our country's cyber defenses remain weakened, leaving critical infrastructure like hospitals, water systems, and energy grids more vulnerable to attacks from adversaries like Iran.

Due to the Democrats' Homeland Security shutdown, our Coast Guard faces disruptions to essential missions, like search and rescue, port security, and drug interdiction, while servicemembers in harm's way are left without the full support and pay that they deserve.

Due to Democrats' Homeland Security shutdown, TSA officers who service airports like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, as well as other airports across our country, are forced to work without pay, hurting morale, straining staffing, and increasing the risk of security gaps, delays, and disruptions in our airports.

Due to the Democrats' Homeland Security shutdown, FEMA is stretched to its limits, jeopardizing disaster response, recovery efforts, and preparedness as severe weather threatens communities across the country.

Passage of the resolution today allows the House of Representatives to consider, debate, and pass legislation that ends this Democrat shutdown and fully funds the Department of Homeland Security, ensuring that agencies charged with protecting the American people are equipped with the resources necessary to carry out their critical missions without disruption.

Mr. Speaker, protecting the American people should never be a partisan issue. Regardless of party, every Member of Congress has a responsibility to ensure the agencies tasked with defending our homeland have the resources they need to do their jobs.

It should really be that simple.

I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on House Resolution 1095 because it allows this House of Representatives to carry out its most fundamental duties: to govern, to safeguard the American people, and to confront the serious threats facing our country today with strength, clarity, and resolve.

A ``yes'' vote today allows us to end the Democrats' Homeland Security shutdown and protects our homeland.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I was half hoping the gentlewoman from New Mexico was going to rise to thank us for giving her an opportunity to rectify the wrong she inflicted upon the Department of Homeland Security 3 weeks ago when they neglected to fund it, but based on her comments, it doesn't seem to be the case.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Garbarino), who is a rising star in our Conference and the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Fine), a member of our freshman class, one of the best- educated members of our Conference, and a champion debater.

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

Mr. Speaker, just to respond briefly, first and foremost, if the gentleman had listened to my opening remarks, as he suggested he did, he would know that we noted that we, in fact, funded CBP and ICE last year.

This is about funding the Coast Guard and TSA. This is what today's vote is about.

That is why we hear the consternation from the other side. It is because they take bad vote after bad vote after bad vote. We are giving them a chance to rectify that today.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Fong), a friend before we both were elected to Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is disappointing that the gentleman from Maryland refers to funding our Border Patrol and funding those who keep our borders safe as poison pills. That is his prerogative, not mine.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from South Carolina (Mrs. Biggs), a member of our freshman class, one of the highest ranking female military officers in the history of the House of Representatives, a combat veteran, and a lieutenant colonel.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Kennedy), a member of our freshman class who traveled earlier this year to Central America to review the threats to our national security that these transnational gangs posed.

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

Mr. Speaker, in closing, the rule I have presented today allows the House of Representatives to carry out its responsibilities and to govern in an orderly and responsible manner for the American people.

As a reminder, a ``yes'' vote on this rule enables us to consider legislation that will fully end the Democratic shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security and allows us in this body to restore funding for the agencies responsible for protecting the American people.

A ``yes'' vote on this rule ensures that the men and women serving on the front lines of our homeland security, from coastguardsmen and TSA officers to cyber defenders, law enforcement personnel, and emergency responders, have the resources and support that they need to carry out their critical missions.

A ``yes'' vote on this rule strengthens the security of the American homeland by restoring funding for the agencies responsible for counterterrorism, cybersecurity, aviation security, disaster response, and maritime security, at a time when threats to our country are increasing.

As I made clear earlier, a ``yes'' vote on this rule ensures that the rest of the Department of Homeland Security can continue its vital work, even as ICE and CBP have already been funded through H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Finally, a ``yes'' vote on this rule allows the House to fulfill its most basic responsibility to govern and to ensure the safety of the American people is never used as a political bargaining chip.

Mr. Speaker, the consequences of leaving the Department of Homeland Security unfunded are too serious to ignore. This rule allows the House to act to restore full funding and to ensure that the agencies tasked with protecting the American people can carry out their missions without further disruption.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule.

The material previously referred to by Ms. Leger Fernandez is as follows:

An Amendment To H. Res. 1095 Offered By Ms. Leger Fernandez of New

Mexico

Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the

following:

That immediately upon adoption of this resolution, the

House shall proceed to the consideration in the House of the

bill (H.R. 7744) making appropriations for the Department of

Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30,

2026, and for other purposes. All points of order against

consideration of the bill are waived. An amendment in the

nature of a substitute consisting of the text of H.R. 7481,

as introduced, shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as

amended, shall be considered as read. All points of order

against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived. The

previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill,

as amended, and on any further amendment thereto, to final

passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of

debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and

ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or

their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Sec. 2. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX and clause 8 of rule XX

shall not apply to the consideration of H.R. 7744.

Sec. 3. The Clerk shall transmit to the Senate a message

that the House has passed H.R. 7744 no later than three

calendar days after passage.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.