Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson) as cosponsor of H.R. 5239.

Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to join you in recognizing and celebrating the extraordinary public service and legacy of Mr. Jeffrey E. Turner, a lifelong son of Clayton County and a dedicated servant-leader whose impact on our community spans more than three decades. A road named in Mr. Turner's honor is a lasting symbol of his journey and service, paving the way for others who will follow in his footsteps.

From his early days in 1987 as one of only four African American patrol officers on the Clayton County Police force, Mr. Turner's career has been defined by courage, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to justice and community safety. Rising through the ranks to become Clayton County's first African American Police Chief, Mr. Turner led with vision, compassion, and innovation. Under his leadership, the department earned National Accreditation, an accomplishment that elevated both the standards and reputation of our law enforcement institutions.

Beyond the badge, Mr. Turner served our community with humility and integrity during some of Clayton County's most challenging times. His steady leadership and unshakeable dedication offered a model of public service grounded in both excellence and heart.

While Mr. Turner now steps away from formal office, his legacy continues, in the safer neighborhoods he helped build, in the officers he mentored, and in the example he set for generations to come. We honor not just his titles, but the integrity with which he carried them.

I thank Mr. Turner for his 35 years of selfless service to Clayton County. His commitment has left an indelible mark on our community, and it is my hope that this moment of recognition serves as a reminder that his contributions will not be forgotten.

With my deepest appreciation.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present during November 12 to November 15, 2024, my votes for Roll Call Numbers 456, 457, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, and 465 would have been cast as such: YEA on Roll Call No. 456, Bill Number: H.R. 82; NAY on Roll Call No. 457, Bill Number: H.R. 5342; NAY on Roll Call No. 459, Bill Number: H. Res. 1568 (PQ); NAY on Roll Call No. 460, Bill Number: H. Res. 1568 (Rule); YEA on Roll Call No. 461, Bill Number: H.R. 8446 (MTR); YEA on Roll Call No. 462, Bill Number: H.R. 8446; YEA on Roll Call No. 463, Bill Number: H.R. 7409 (MTR); YEA on Roll Call No. 465, Bill Number: H.R. 8932.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a most beloved woman of faith in her centennial year, Mrs. Mary Louise Bishop-Brown.

Mrs. Bishop-Brown, the eldest of nine children, was born on June 24, 1924 to King Bishop and Julia Nesmith Bishop in Dorsey Town, South Carolina. Having given her life to the Lord, Mary established her first faith connections while attending St. Mark's African Methodist Episcopal Church as a young girl. In young adulthood, she took a job working as a cook. However, Mary's interests quickly expanded beyond the kitchen when she met Miley Brown, the love of her life. At first sight, the two were immediately smitten and bound for a bountiful future together. Though this relationship would be put on hold due to Mr. Brown's deployment to Europe during World War II, nothing could keep these two from their eventual marriage on October 26, 1946.

Blessed to grow up in a large and loving family, Mary knew that was what she wanted for her and Miley. They went on to have seven children--Jackie, Ethel, Miley Jr., Wanda Annette, Herbert, Marilyn, Murray Lee, and Emma Jane. Mary also raised Sean, her grandson, as her own. Being believers and people of faith, Mary and Miley prioritized keeping their family rooted in the Word of God. They brought their children up in the St. James Missionary Baptist Church, where they were spiritually and emotionally nurtured through Sunday School and weekly church services. Additionally, Mary kept busy with church duties, singing in the choir and cooking for various church events, whether that be for anniversaries, church unions, funerals, or whenever else she was called upon. However, with sunshine there must come rain. Mary's heart became overwhelmed with sadness when Miley passed away on December 23, 2001. With that said, nothing could keep Mary from bringing goodness to all she met with and joy to those around her. She now lives in Fairburn, Georgia, where she lives with her youngest daughter, Marilyn.

Mary embodies what it means to be a righteous person of faith. She has lived several lifetimes in her 100 years on this planet and witnessed numerous changes in our nation throughout the years. Despite this, she never stopped being who she was, and loved all who crossed her path. ``Do unto others as you would have them done unto you''--this is the golden rule Mrs. Bishop-Brown stood by. I hope that we can all learn from her example as we celebrate her long, continued life.

May God continue to bless Mrs. Mary Louise Bishop-Brown.

Mr. Speaker, I rise at this time feeling a great honor to be here in the House of Representatives of the United States to say a few words about an extraordinary person.

Mr. Speaker, as I reflect, I am thinking of three specific instances of my interactions with this wonderful lady that I think sheds a great light on the legacy of her story.

One was where I served in the Georgia State Senate. I was chairman of the State senate rules committee, and we were dealing with a very serious issue facing our farmers, particularly our peanut farmers. Into the committee walked this lady, Mrs. Rosalynn Carter, to express the need to help these farmers. It ruled the day because there was some debate on that, but she turned it and gave a resounding victory, and helped to give that victory to our farmers.

The second instance was in the rules committee when we had another bill. It was to give our young people of Georgia scholarships in our university systems. Some had great problems with that. It was a good friend, Zell Miller's bill, Governor Zell Miller at the time, and some wanted to reference it as gambling because it was related to that. However, with Rosalynn Carter there, again, she was able to help get a victory.

The third time was when Rosalynn Carter came into my district in Georgia. It was in the neighborhood of Summerhill and Grant Park. There she was with us all, hammering nails and building houses for those who needed houses in my district. What a lady.

Mr. Speaker:

Them that's got shall get

Them that's not shall lose

So the Bible said and it still is news

Mama may have, papa may have,

But God bless the child that's got his own.

Mr. Speaker, Rosalynn Carter was most assuredly a child of God, and we thank God for sending Mrs. Rosalynn Carter our way.

Mr. Speaker, the very first thing I want to say is this: Take note, those of you who are around the world watching this House of Representatives in action, that the very first bill that we are putting out is a bill to send a powerful message that we not only stand with Israel, but we will fight with Israel.

There is absolutely no way, as God is our maker, that we are going to stand by and see Israel destroyed. Make no mistake about it. It is as clear as a bell. In the Holy Scriptures brought down by the mighty hand of God Almighty: Stand with my people, the people of Israel.

Mr. Speaker, I was called upon as a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to go to Iran to write the paper on Iran. I met the people of Iran, and I want the people of Iran to listen: Go to your mullahs. Go to your leadership. They are the ones that control Hamas, Hezbollah.

Then, I call upon our friends in Saudi Arabia. The answer to this is in your hands.

Mr. Speaker, had my vote for H.J. Res. 27, the ``Providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5 United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency relating to ``Revised Definition of `Waters of the United States' '' been cast, it would be recorded as YEA. I would also like the record to show that had my vote for H.J. Res. 42, the ``Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act'' been cast, it would be recorded as NAY. Further, had my vote for H.R. 1149, the ``Countering Untrusted Telecommunications Abroad Act'' been cast, it would be recorded a YEA.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 187, NAY on Roll Call No. 188, and YEA on Roll Call No. 189.

Mr. Speaker, had my vote for Mace of South Carolina Amendment No. 1, to H.R. 734, the ``Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act'' been cast, it would have been recorded as NAY. I would also like the record to show that had my vote for Motion to Recommit for H.R. 734, the ``Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act'' been cast, it would have been recorded YEA. Lastly, I would like the record to show that had my vote for H.R. 734, the ``Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act'' been cast, it would have been recorded as NAY.

Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 190, YEA on Roll Call No. 191, and NAY on Roll Call No. 192.

Mr. Speaker, had my vote for H. Res. 298, On Ordering the Previous Question and On Agreeing to the Resolution for the ``Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 734) Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act and providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res 42) disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022'' been cast, it would be recorded as NAY.

Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 185, and NAY on Roll Call No. 186.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here to make a passionate plea to my Republican friends. Yes, we have to pay our debt, but we do not need to deal with this, putting it on the backs of the poor, our children, our veterans. We must stand down. It is a national security issue.

We must incorporate getting food to our veterans when 11.7 percent of our veterans live in food-scarce communities and households. Let me just sum it up and say that if Caesar were here, he would say the words that he said to Brutus: Brutus, yours is the meanest cut of all.

We cannot put this on the backs of our children, our grandchildren, our seniors, and our veterans. I plead with you in the words of Caesar and God almighty because if we do not, it is ungodly.

Mr. Speaker, had my vote for H.R. 1151, the ``Upholding Sovereignty of Airspace Act'' been cast, it would have been recorded as AYE. Had my vote for H. Res. 240, ``Condemning recent actions taken by the Russian military to down a United States Air Force drone'' been cast, it would have been recorded as AYE. Had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 183, and AYE on Roll Call No. 184.

Mr. Speaker, I would like the record to show that had my voted for H. Res. 104 been cast, it would be recorded as AYE. I would also like the record to show that had my vote for H.J. Res. 24 been cast, it would be recorded as ``nay.'' Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yea'' on rollcall No. 117 and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 118.

Mr. Speaker, Tommy Dortch was and still is a leader of this Nation.

Tommy and I worked together to, first of all, elect Maynard Jackson to become the first African-American

mayor, and then Andy Young, the first African American to be elected to Congress since Reconstruction, right here.

When I think of Tommy, I am reminded of that glorious song that God Almighty has given to us: ``Them that's got shall get,'' and ``Them that's not shall lose,'' because the Bible says and it still is news. Your mama may have and your papa may have, ``But God bless the child That's got his own.''

God bless Mr. Tommy Dortch, my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. This is an important bill, and, yes, it will bring down inflation.

Mr. Speaker, we are dealing here with basic economics, and unless we have multiple forces working simultaneously, we will not be able to bring down the costs of food particularly.

I raise this point because, as Chairwoman Waters pointed out, it does help in terms of prescription drugs. It brings down the cost of healthcare. Those reflect some of our basic needs. It helps our veterans with their healthcare.

Just as I stepped up and helped to deal with the step-up, we are having a problem with the front end of our food supply chain. We have 17,000 of our ranchers and small farmers going out of business every year.

Mr. Speaker, let me just say that this is very important, and it sets the stage for this bill working with our lower food and fuel costs to continue the process.

Finally, we will have a bill in September that addresses the front line of our supply chain that will also bring down costs and inflation.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the following letter from the Government Accountability Office.

United States Department of Agriculture--Applicability of the Congressional Review Act to the 2021 Updates to the Thrifty Food Plan