Byron Donalds

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 1676, the Make SWAPs Efficient Act.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of State Wildlife Action Plans, a major milestone for fish and wildlife conservation. Statewide action plans serve as a vital blueprint for identifying the unique conservation needs of each State and territory and are required for States to take part in the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant program.

These plans play a leading role in helping to prevent and recover endangered species and guide the conservation of over 12,000 species in the greatest conservation need.

Currently, there is no deadline for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to approve a State-submitted wildlife action plan, with most taking over 18 months to simply get an approval. This is something that is unacceptable, and my legislation seeks to change that.

The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to approve a State's SWAP within 180 days, once the Secretary determines the SWAP complies with the requirements of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. If the Department of the Interior fails to authorize the SWAP within 180 days, the SWAP is deemed approved.

It is time to take a real swipe to unnecessary red tape, minimize self-induced delays, and streamline the regulatory process for the allocation of much-needed conservation funding to our States.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very good piece of legislation. It was my pleasure to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle on this. I recommend that the body approve this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 4922, the DC CRIMES Act.

Now, in reference to what the gentleman was just talking about, Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the United States Constitution is quite clear. It grants Congress the power to exercise exclusive, exclusive jurisdiction over the Federal District, which all Americans know now is Washington, D.C., and it is the Nation's Capital.

That is in the Constitution that was ratified by several States. Congress does have the constitutional authority to regulate activities within the Federal District. When it is said that somehow Congress is now eroding local control, that is simply not true.

Any local powers by the D.C. Council have been granted to the D.C. Council by Congress, and Congress is the seat of authority when it comes to the Federal enclave.

He also talked about Florida's laws. Let's be very clear: Florida has established itself as a beacon of law and order, making sure that our citizens are safe throughout all of our jurisdictions. If there are some abilities for some measures of flexibility, Florida has proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it knows how to keep its people safe, which is very different with respect to the D.C. Council and with respect to escalated crime here in the Nation's Capital.

Our great Nation's Capital has been plagued by violence, destruction, disorder for far too long, and decades of weak, pro-crime leadership has turned this once great city into a dystopia.

I will remind my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that some of their colleagues have been victimized by the crime here in Washington, D.C. Rather than prioritizing the safety of law-abiding citizens and protecting the lives of innocent residents and visitors, District officials have actively facilitated dysfunction and chaos through

their progressive, soft-on-crime policies.

Instead of addressing the clear epidemic of youth crime in this city, the D.C. Council increased the age of youth offenders to individuals 24 years old and younger. Meaning fully grown, legal adults in the District of Columbia can receive sentences meant for children.

This is simply insane, and that is why I introduced the DC CRIMES Act, which lowers the definition of youth from under the age of 25 to under the age of 18, removes the ability of judges to sentence youth offenders below mandatory minimum guidelines, and requires the D.C. attorney general to establish a public website containing much-needed statistics on juvenile crime in D.C.

The Trump administration's efforts have shown that lawlessness is a choice, and it is time for Congress to step up, adhere to our constitutional duty, and firmly address crime in the Nation's Capital.

For the citizens of D.C., I would say, we wish your Council did this the right way, but they did not and we will act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 137 to rename the House Press Gallery the Frederick Douglass Press Gallery, in honor of a man whose life and work embodied the very best of American ideals and shattered through glass ceilings.

Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in 1818 and courageously escaped bondage in 1838. He built a life dedicated to truth, liberty, and justice.

He became a journalist in Rochester, New York, and launched The North Star using his own money, giving voice to the voiceless in the years before the Civil War.

He fought fiercely against slavery, championed equal rights and women's suffrage, and became one of the most forceful orators in American history. During the Civil War, Douglass recruited Black soldiers, met with President Lincoln to advocate for equal pay and treatment, and worked to assist those escaping slavery.

After his Rochester home was destroyed in a suspected arson attack, he moved to Anacostia here in Washington, D.C., and became the editor, and later owner, of the New National Era, which chronicled Black progress throughout the Nation.

Douglass was the first Black reporter admitted to the Capitol press galleries. From 1871 to 1875, he reported on the House and Senate action, keeping the African-American community informed during Reconstruction after the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. He spent countless hours writing and studying right here in the House Press Gallery. Even after his tenure in the gallery, he often would return to the Capitol.

Congress has honored Douglass with a portrait and plaque in the gallery and a statute in Emancipation Hall. This

resolution permanently renames these famous offices off of the House floor for all Americans today, and years to come, to honor his work for freedom in this hallowed Chamber.

I thank Speaker Johnson, Chairman Graves, Representatives Andre Carson, Burgess Owens, Stephen Horsford, Wesley Hunt, and John James for their leadership on this resolution.

I also thank my former staffer, Luke Diel, for all of his hard work and dedication in this effort. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 137.