Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)1 of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intention to present a question of privilege to the House. The form and resolution is as follows:

H. Res. 539. Censuring Representative LaMonica McIver and removing her from the Committee on Homeland Security.

Whereas, on May 9, 2025, Representative McIver took part in an incident at the Delaney Hall Federal Immigration Facility located in Newark, New Jersey;

Whereas Representative LaMonica McIver of New Jersey, as a result of her actions on May 9, 2025, has been charged in a three-count indictment by a Federal grand jury for assaulting, resisting, impeding, and interfering with Federal officers;

Whereas Representative McIver is alleged to have challenged guidance from a Federal officer regarding access to the secure immigration detention facility;

Whereas Representative McIver is alleged to have interfered with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officials from making an arrest of an unauthorized visitor;

Whereas Representative McIver is alleged to have ``slammed her forearm into the body'' and ``restrain'' an HSI officer by ``forcibly grabbing him'';

Whereas Representative McIver is alleged to have further interfered with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deportation Officer engaged in the performance of his official duties;

Whereas body camera and other video evidence support the allegations made within the Federal indictment;

Whereas such actions constitute a violation of section 111(a)(1) of title 18, United States Code, relating to assaulting, resisting, impeding, and interfering with a Federal officer;

Whereas clause 1 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives provides, ``A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House shall behave at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House.'';

Whereas such actions of a Member of the House of Representatives do not reflect creditably on the House; and

Whereas Representative McIver's continued service on the Committee on Homeland Security, which is charged with oversight of Federal immigration enforcement and other national security matters, would represent a significant conflict of interest: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved,

Section 1. Censure of Representative LaMonica McIver:

Representative LaMonica McIver--

(1) is censured;

(2) shall forthwith present herself in the well of the House of Representatives for the pronouncement of censure; and

(3) is censured with the public reading of this resolution by the Speaker.

Sec. 2. Removal from Committee on Homeland Security:

The following named Member be, and is hereby, removed from the following standing committee of the House of Representatives:

Committee on Homeland Security: Mrs. McIver.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intention to raise a question of the privileges of the House.

H. Res. 539, Censuring Representative LaMonica McIver and removing her from the

Mr. Speaker, what is it that the Democrats don't want the American people to know? It is a legitimate consideration that the citizenry from sea to shining sea should ask themselves right now. What exactly is the problem?

They say again and again, oh, DHS could do this if they wanted to. They already report to us. We are saying exactly that: The special interest alien data should be reported to Congress along with the rest of the data.

Why would the Democrats take a big stand? This is the former chairman of Homeland Security and current ranking member, who has been on the committee for a long time. This is a rare appearance on the House floor to push back against about this.

Americans should think about this. Democrats are pushing back on this because they don't want the citizens of America to know what special interest aliens, who participated in suspicious travel patterns, came into our country illegally in 2021, '22, '23, and '24. Because you know how many are coming in in 2025? Zero are coming in. That is how many. That is because we have an executive branch that has been enforcing American law since January 20 of 2025.

We, the people, demand to know what is the data of so-called special interest aliens. These are suspicious-travel-pattern, illegal immigrants coming into our country. We want to know: Where did they come from? How did they get here? Where were they before? We want to know all the data that we allegedly collected. Congress has a right to know.

Why would DHS need Congress to codify their authority to give us this data? It is because of activist radical judges that stop the executive branch. Every day Americans have to read about that garbage, a radical judge stopping the elected President from performing his role as Commander in Chief and President of the United States.

The executive branch needs Members of Congress to perform like my friend and colleague, Ms. Marjorie Taylor Greene, has done by presenting this law. I am a proud original cosponsor. The President needs this legislation to mitigate against the radical judges that will try to stop him from releasing through Congress to the American people the data from 2021, '22, '23, and '24 of what suspected illegal aliens came into our country that fit this category.

Now, across the country and in this body, most Americans know I am very plugged into law enforcement. I get calls every day from these guys, boots on the ground across the country, including deep in Federal law enforcement, and they support this law. Don't tell me that Federal law enforcement doesn't want to do this or it is bad for the country in some way. That is smoke. That is smoke that is being put out by Democrats to protect themselves from the impact of the reveal of the truth of just what kind of people that fit this category were allowed into our country. They were waved in for 4 years. It was stopped almost immediately in January of this year.

I am clearly in full support of the bill. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the bill. We are going to bring this bill to the floor, and they are going to call for a recorded vote. I am glad they will. I hope you do call for a recorded vote because I want you on the record pushing a red button.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it also.

Mr. Speaker, let's have a candid conversation if we could, sir, with my colleague across the aisle about what is happening here.

Congress and America, we need to clarify for the citizens watching, Mr. Speaker, Congress has a unique authority, and therefore, responsibility for our Nation's Capital as opposed to other municipalities across the country. Why not Phoenix, New Orleans, Atlanta, et cetera? It is because they are not the Nation's Capital, that is why. It is because it is not reflected in the responsibilities that are enumerated for Congress for the District of Columbia, our Nation's Capital.

With the pendular swing of majority control that we observe in our Nation, from Democratic majority to Republican majority, my Democratic colleagues feel responsible to make changes when they have the majority, as do we.

When we were under Democratic majority control in recent years, since I have been in Congress, the Democrats supported and did not oppose some policy and legislative decisions at the municipal level in our Nation's Capital that we knew would injure our Nation's Capital in the realm of law enforcement.

That is where we are. Republicans have majority control in the House, the Senate, and the White House, so of course we are going to respond to the threat that we face within our Nation's Capital toward law enforcement.

This is my bill, and this is how simple it is: It requires the District of Columbia to comply with Federal immigration law. What is wrong with that, Mr. Speaker? My colleague stated two or three times in his opening statement that the District of Columbia does not obstruct Federal law enforcement. That is not true.

America has to read between the lines. When he says they do not obstruct, it means they don't, like, physically stop ICE from executing a warrant. What he is not saying, Mr. Speaker, is that the District of Columbia does not comply with Federal immigration law enforcement warrant detainers, which is the safest, most widely accepted means by which a human being that is in the custody of one jurisdictional authority is transferred to another jurisdictional authority safely and within the parameters of the law for the benefit of the individual and the community.

D.C. doesn't do that for Federal immigration detainers. If they have somebody in custody, Mr. Speaker, for whatever purposes, and that guy has a warrant for ICE, they know that there is a warrant for that man. Under normal circumstances, the custody of that individual would be transferred safely once the District of Columbia was finished with that individual. They don't do that with ICE. They subject their communities to dangerous circumstances and law enforcement to absolutely unnecessary danger.

My bill just mandates that the District of Columbia is the one city that Congress has authority over, and therefore, responsibility to be involved with things like this.

We shouldn't have to have this law.

Why? Because the District of Columbia should be following the Federal law in the first place. We shouldn't have to bring this to the floor. We shouldn't have to engage in this debate. I shouldn't have to explain these things. However, we are going to, by God, require that our Nation's Capital comply with our Nation's Federal law.

I encourage my colleagues to take a deep breath, step back and say, yes, our Nation's Capital will be subject to the very laws that this body passes. I appreciate the chairman's advocacy for my bill, and I encourage my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, due to flight delays during my travel from my home state of Louisiana, I was unable to be in attendance for votes in the evening of May 13, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 123, and NAY on Roll Call No. 124.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Reverend Jimmy Swaggart for his 90th birthday. Throughout his life, Reverend Swaggart has been a beacon of faith and inspiration, leaving a legacy through his preaching and ministry.

Reverend Swaggart hails from humble beginnings in Ferriday, Louisiana. Early in his career in the 1950's, Swaggart preached throughout rural Louisiana, living in church basements, and homes of pastors. During this time, Reverend Swaggart received an offer to join a record label as a gospel artist but opted instead to follow his calling ``to preach the gospel.''

By 1961, Reverend Swaggart was ordained by the Assemblies of God and began reaching wider audiences through the radio. He also founded his own brick-and-mortar church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Over the following two decades, Reverend Swaggart began telecasting bible studies, Christian music, and his weekend services. 1987 was arguably Swaggart's most influential year on record. Swaggart's TV ministry reached an estimated 510 million people in 145 countries. His sermons and educational programs yielded $150 million a year to his church, bible college, and mail-older business. On a daily basis, donations averaged an astounding $500,000, and Reverend Swaggart poured every penny into delivering the word of God across the world.

Reverend Swaggart's influence gained international esteem and influence over the 1990's and 2000's by spreading the Word of God through his remarkable sermons. Today, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries is comprised of the Family Worship Center, Crossfire Youth Ministries, The Evangelist Magazine, Family Christian Academy, and Jimmy Swaggart Bible College (JSBC). Swaggart's SonLife Broadcasting Network (SBN) provides Christian programming 24/7 and is available around the world in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. The ministries remain headquartered on 270 acres in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Jimmy Swaggart Ministries has evolved into a family business with Frances, his wife of 72 years, their son Donnie, and grandson Gabriel. Frances Swaggart embodies unwavering faith, exceptional leadership, and substantial impact on the Work of God, making her a personification of the 31st Chapter of Proverbs. Donnie serves as Executive Vice-President of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries and Pastor of the Family Worship Center Church. Donnie has traveled globally evangelizing and teaching from Holland to Papua New Guinea on the Holy Spirit, with his Pentecostal foundation clear in every message. Gabriel Swaggart, President of JSBC and co-pastor of Family Worship Center, has a Bachelor's in Liberal Arts, a Master's in Christian Ministries from Oral Roberts University, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Strategic Leadership while managing operations at Jimmy Swaggart Ministries and SBN.

At 90 years old, Reverend Jimmy Swaggart continues his dedication to spreading the message of the Bible and Jesus Christ through his ministry. His unwavering commitment to spreading Christ's love has touched the hearts of millions around the world, leading countless people to salvation. Reverend Swaggart's contributions to Christian ministry and broadcasting have left an immeasurable mark on the world of evangelism.

Happy birthday to Reverend Swaggart. I greatly commend his dedication to God, to Country, and to the State of Louisiana.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate William P. Mills, III on being named a 2025 recipient of the Horatio Alger Award. Mr. Mills, the president and owner of MPW Enterprises LLC, is one of only 11 corporate, civic, and cultural leaders across the country who have been recognized with the accolade for 2025.

The Horatio Alger Award is presented annually to individuals of outstanding character. The award acknowledges a commitment to higher education, charitable efforts, and the overcoming of adversity. Recipients exemplify the Association's values and mission to support young men and women as they pursue the American Dream through higher education.

Mr. Mills' life is a testament to hard work and perseverance. He was industrious from a young age, working a paper route, shining shoes, mowing lawns, and bagging groceries. He graduated with degrees in Wildlife Biology and a Master's in Fisheries Biology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette--paying his way through school by working on Mississippi River dredges each summer.

Mr. Mills went on to work in the energy industry before starting his own businesses conducting environmental research and oil and gas exploration. He expanded his business ventures to include real estate management and property development. Success was not pre-determined for Mr. Mills. It was earned through hard work.

Beyond his achievements in industry and businesses, Mr. Mills has chosen to give back to his community as a philanthropist. He oversees the Mills Family Foundation, serves on the board of the Stuller Family Foundation, and funds a scholarship at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Each of these commitments provides significant public benefit to the South Louisiana community that I'm honored to represent.

Mr. Speaker, Will Mills has also been a trusted friend and counselor for me personally throughout my nine years of service in Congress. His depth of understanding regarding

Constitutional issues and his instinctive grasp of the complex details of legislation has been a steady guide as I've endeavored to be worthy of my own responsibility to serve We, the People.

Mr. Mills is highly deserving of the 2025 Horatio Alger Award. I'm fortunate to know him and to call him a friend. I thank him for his commitment to our community, and I congratulate him on this prestigious accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker, due to circumstances outside my control leading to delays in travel, I was unable to be present for votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA Roll Call No. 28 and YEA Roll Call No. 29.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Richard Everett Ricker, a dear friend and brother. Rick Ricker was a legend in Louisiana, and he was kind enough to give me a job when I very much needed one in 1984. Rick Ricker became like a father to me through the years, and our friendship was unbreakable. Honestly Mr. Speaker, I don't believe I would be standing before you today as a Congressional servant to We the People, if Rick Ricker had not guided me through some of the darkest periods of my life. For the last forty years, Rick has always been there for me. In fact, Mr. Speaker, Rick introduced me to my wife Becca almost twenty years ago. I just cannot fully explain how much Rick has meant to me and my family.

Rick Ricker was a fighter, and he waged a valiant battle to the very last minute of his life, but RIck has gone home to the Lord.

Rick loved golf, and Harley Davidson motorcycles, and fast cars. He drank and laughed and loved life. Rick Ricker lived, Mr. Speaker. He lived an edge of life that most men will never understand, and I can say without doubt that he dearly loved his family. He was so, so proud of his sons and the men that they became, he gave me a thousand updates on them through the years. If pure love is a measure of a man's struggle to be a good father, Rick Ricker set a shining example, because he made it very clear how much he admired and loved his sons. When Rick's wife died, many years ago, he was injured in his heart in a way that changed him forever. Rick and I have just been through so much together. When my father died in August of 1989, I called only two men that night, and one of them was Rick. I cried with him, and he comforted me the way only a loving father can.

Richard E. Wicker is survived by his two sons, Brent and Brian; four grandchildren, Amber, Isaiah, Kaleb, and Elora Rickery; three brothers, Fred, Peter, and Jim; one sister, Peggy, and a multitude of nieces and nephews. The virtue and success of his family today will forever mirror the love that Rick had for them.

I will miss Rick terribly as my brother. I am prayerful that we will meet again in the kingdom. Lord Jesus, please hold Rick close and cover him with your grace.

Mr. Speaker, Congress frequently falls short of the will of we the people. We know this as Representatives. We struggle to do our best. Rarely do we have an opportunity to set things right. I have worked for 8 years on the Social Security Fairness Act, and tonight, it comes to the floor for a vote.

Mr. Speaker, tonight, we can repeal the unrighteous law. Tonight, men and women of this Chamber, of this honored body, can recognize the significance of their signature and can honor their own signature and cast a vote in support of H.R. 82.

Mr. Speaker, I have watched Congress after Congress after Congress as this bill has been skillfully and deviously killed in every Congress by one means or another. There is an echo through the Chamber of: ``There is a better bill pending. We will get it next Congress. There is a more conservative bill in the Senate. We can't pass this bill. It won't see the light of day in the Senate.''

Mr. Speaker, we shall shine the light of the American people upon this body and upon the Senate. We demand a clean vote. This is why we have forced it. By God, we shall get it. It is totally unrighteous to state that we can use seized and stolen money to address our ledger as a nation.

Mr. Speaker, we must stop the unrighteous theft. H.R. 82 has my full and vigorous support. It carries the signatures of over 300 Members of this people's House. I expect its passage tonight.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9597) to amend title 41, United States Code, to make changes with respect to the Federal Acquisition Security Council, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative

days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer), the chairman of our committee.

I support the bill, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9592) to amend title 44, United States Code, to modernize the Federal Register, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 9592, the Federal Register Modernization Act.

Our government must be both transparent and accountable to the American people.

Laws requiring proper recordkeeping are vital to both. In 1935 the Federal Register Act established the Federal

Register, a daily publication of the Federal Government's activities including Presidential documents, proposed and final rules, and public notices.

In other words, the Federal Register provides official notice to the public and Congress that an executive branch document exists.

The Federal Register also provides the building blocks for the Code of Federal Regulations, which makes it easier for the American public to find and understand the Federal regulations governing our Nation.

In 1994, the Government Publishing Office began publishing the Federal Register online with modern search tools and downloadable content.

Congress has recently taken steps to make the Federal Register more efficient by passing the Federal Register Printing Savings Act in 2017. However, additional reforms are still needed to alleviate the Government Publishing Office of the 1935 law's requirement to print and distribute paper copies of the Federal Register every day.

H.R. 9592 allows the Government Publishing Office to stop wasting paper and money and instead publish the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations online.

The bill also streamlines the process for Federal agencies to transmit official documents to the National Archives, ensuring a more efficient process for making these important Federal documents public.

Lastly, the bill provides necessary safeguards so that backup physical copies are properly stored and alternate publication systems can be established in cases of a continuity of government national crisis.

Taken together, these reforms will bring the Federal Register into the 21st century and save taxpayer dollars.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this commonsense legislation. I thank my colleague Representative Gerry Connolly for partnering with me to ensure these long overdue reforms get done, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time on this bill, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9596) to amend title 41, United States Code, and title 10, United States Code, to provide best value through the multiple award schedule program, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material for this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 9596, the Value Over Cost Act.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Donalds).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this bill, and I am prepared to close.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5301) to amend title 31, United States Code, to require agencies to include a list of outdated or duplicative reporting requirements in annual budget justifications, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5301, I urge support across the aisle, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill would increase government efficiency and save taxpayer dollars by eliminating unnecessary reports.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Garcia and Grothman for their leadership on this issue and for the House Budget Committee's collaboration.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues on both sides to support the bill. I have no further speakers on this bill, and I am prepared to close.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1510) to amend provisions relating to the Office of the Inspector General of the Government Accountability Office, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1510, the GAO Inspector General Parity Act.

Two years ago, Congress passed sweeping bipartisan reforms for the inspector general community. Those reforms, passed in the fiscal year 2023 NDAA, provided critical reforms to enable both the independence of Federal agency inspectors general and proper congressional oversight over their activities.

As a legislative branch entity, the Government Accountability Office's inspector general was not included in those reforms. H.R. 5300 fixes that by providing the GAO inspector general the same resources and oversight now provided to other IGs across the government.

Those reforms include requiring the head of GAO to notify the Congress if the GAO inspector general is to be removed or transferred, providing Congress the knowledge it needs to weigh in on such decisions if necessary.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this bill, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my House colleagues to support this commonsense bill to support the GAO Inspector General in carrying out their oversight mission.

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