Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ostomy Awareness Day, which will be observed on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

An ostomy can be a difficult, frightening, and deeply personal journey--not just for the individual, but for their entire family. Yet for so many, this procedure is nothing short of a second chance at life. It provides a path forward for men and women facing serious, often devastating medical challenges--including colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, traumatic injuries, and severe illnesses. These surgeries are truly lifesaving and life-restoring. They give people their lives back, allowing them to return to their jobs, care for their children, stay involved in their communities, and get back to doing what they love.

But too often, people living with an ostomy suffer in silence due to misunderstanding, stigma, and unnecessary barriers to care. Ostomy Awareness Day gives us a critical opportunity to educate the public, break down those taboos, and remind everyone that an ostomy does not define a person's worth or limit what they can achieve. Back home in Michigan, approximately 25,000 of our neighbors, friends, family members, coworkers, veterans, and community leaders are living with an ostomy. They represent the very best of Michigan--showing incredible resilience, strength, and determination in overcoming daunting health battles to live full, active lives.

We also owe a deep debt of gratitude to the dedicated support systems around them--the families, caregivers, physicians, nurses, certified ostomy nurse specialists, and healthcare professionals who walk alongside these patients every single day. Their compassion, expertise, and tireless work make a world of difference in helping patients adjust, heal, and thrive.

This year's theme, ``One Community--Stronger Together,'' hits home. It reminds us that no one should ever have to navigate a major health challenge alone. Access to quality care, peer support, and public education are essential to ensuring every individual living with an ostomy has the resources and dignity they deserve.

An ostomy is not the end of someone's story--it is the start of a healthier, more hopeful chapter. I am proud to stand with the ostomy community in Michigan and across our entire Nation, and I urge my colleagues to join me in raising awareness, ending the stigma, and celebrating these remarkable survivors.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing October 3, 2026, as Ostomy Awareness Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Concussion Awareness Day, observed on September 18, 2026, and to draw attention to the millions of Americans, civilian and military, affected by concussions each year.

Today, I am proud to highlight the University of Michigan Concussion Center, the national leader in advancing our understanding of these injuries. Since its founding, the Center has generated more than $100 million in research funding and produced more than 200 publications spanning injury prevention, identification and clinical care, and most importantly its long-term effects. Michigan Concussion Center reseachers connect scientific discovery with clinical expertise and real-world needs, working alongside civilian and military health professionals, educators, and community partners to improve prevention, treatment and recovery. The Center's impact extends well beyond Michigan and the United States, with members collaborating on research and public education in more than 25 countries.

As a leader of the NCAA-DoD-supported Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium, researchers at the Michigan Concussion Center are conducting the largest concussion study in the world, tracking more than 53,000 civilians and military officers to understand the acute and long-term effects of concussions. This public- private partnership has been instrumental in understanding and mitigating the effects of concussions on brain health, military readiness, and warfighter lethality.

Their collaborations have also produced practical innovations. In partnership with the University's Center for Academic Innovation, the Center developed a virtual-reality training tool that allows athletic trainers and other health providers to practice recognizing and responding to concussions before stepping onto the sidelines. The Michigan Concussion Center also helped develop the recently released Concussion Navigator with the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators and the Brain lnjury Association of Michigan. This resource gives Michigan families trusted guidance on symptom monitoring, locating specialist care, and ensuring safe return to school, work, and play.

The University of Michigan Concussion Center recognizes that research has its greatest impact when reliable information reaches the public. Through outreach, community engagement, and education, the Center equips students, athletes, parents, coaches, health professionals, and others to recognize concussion symptoms, respond appropriately, and support a safe recovery.

On National Concussion Awareness Day, I encourage my colleagues and all Americans to learn the signs and symptoms of concussions, support safety measures, and seek timely medical care when a head injury occurs. I commend the University of Michigan Concussion Center as a national leader in advancing concussion science and for working to protect everyone, in every field, every day. Their dedication reflects the University of Michigan's enduring commitment to research and service for the common good.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this strong compromise to H.R. 979, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.

We have worked on this effort for years, so I thank Chair Guthrie, Ranking Member Pallone, Chairman Bilirakis, and all of my colleagues who have worked diligently to find common ground and move this legislation forward.

I also thank the broadcasters and the car companies and everybody else who has been part of a lot of tough discussions. I have spent my life at the heart of the American auto industry, and cars have always been a core part of who I am.

I understand both the importance of making sure consumers have access to critical information and the importance of getting Federal policy right as technology continues to evolve.

AM radio remains an important tool for communities across the country, especially when it comes to delivering lifesaving information during emergencies and natural disasters. Consumers need to have reliable access to those alerts, but we also have to recognize that technology changes. That is why I believe the compromise before us today strikes the correct balance.

This bill mandates AM radio in every new car, but it also includes a sunset provision recognizing that Congress should reassess the mandates as technology evolves. If AM radio continues to provide value in the future, Congress can and should act again.

It strengthens compliance timelines, ensuring that consumers have reliable

access to emergency information without delays.

The bill requires a public study on the potential impacts of mandating AM radio, including implications for safety and innovation and potential solutions auto manufactures could adopt.

There were a lot of tough conversations and work with stakeholders and across the aisle to find this compromise. Today, it just feels like a day to say this is what Congress is supposed to do.

As we all know, AM radio remains widespread across our country. Madam Speaker, 99 percent of the 286 million vehicles on the road today have AM radio, and roughly 90 percent of new vehicles will still include it. With the average vehicle on the road being more than 12 years old, almost all Americans will continue to have AM radio in their vehicles for years to come.

This is about putting consumers in the driver's seat and maintaining broad access to emergency communications.

I am proud of the work that went into this bipartisan compromise. I will be voting in favor of this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Madam Speaker, let's get this bill across the finish line.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3276, the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act. I am very proud to lead this important effort for bird conservation with my colleague Congressman Cline. I thank him for his leadership on this

effort. I also thank the chair and the ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee for making this happen.

We have a responsibility to make sure that our communities are safe for birds and people to live together. Birds play critical roles in our ecosystem and in our day-to-day lives.

Since 1970, bird populations in North America have declined by a third and are continuing to decline at an accelerating rate. Almost 3 billion birds have disappeared. They are gone. Habitat loss is the biggest driver of this decline, and this bill works to protect, restore, and enhance urban and rural habitats for birds.

Supporting parks and greenways and reducing urban hazards can make a real difference for migrating and nesting birds and protect bird populations for generations to come.

Both the sportsmen and conservation communities have recognized that birds need our help, and that it is up to us to take serious action to address this crisis.

I might add that it is very timely for this consideration, as bird migration is underway. During migration, birds can become disoriented, making awareness and simple protections especially important.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the broad, bipartisan coalition that has fought for this legislation so far, including the National Audubon Society, Ducks Unlimited, the National Wildlife Federation, the Garden Club of America, and the American Bird Conservancy.

H.R. 3276 is a real step forward for conservation, and I strongly support its passage.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 9436 pushes the North Atlantic right whale closer to extinction.

I respect my colleague from Maine a great deal, and I agree with him that we can protect the right whale and protect the Maine fishermen as well. A 13-year waiver from complying with the Endangered Species Act does nothing for the lobster industry, which was on

a path to sensible rules that keep fishermen on the water and protect these critically endangered whales. They still have 2 more years to get the rules right, and we don't need to cut off a process that was moving in the right direction.

Let's be clear. The gentleman and I actually share something in common, and that is the immediate threat to fishing communities across this country with President Trump's chaotic trade policies and the war of choice in Iran. If we are serious about American competitiveness, we need to get our priorities straight. We should not be picking unnecessary fights with our closest friend and neighbor. Canada is our ally and our largest trading partner. This foolish trade war we are now in with Canada will tangibly raise costs for American families and create uncertainty for American businesses, workers, and communities.

Fisheries across our country are being decimated by the high price of diesel fuel.

As we have heard from the majority, the lobster industry is a $2 billion industry that supports about 1,700 jobs. These fishermen are changing how they work and rethinking how many fishing trips they can take given rising costs. They are often opting for longer, more dangerous trips rather than taking multiple trips to try and pull in the same amount of seafood using less oil.

According to the New England's Fishermen's Stewardship Association, this means more fatigued workers and a higher risk of accidents.

Great Lakes fisheries, which include commercial, recreational, and Tribal fisheries, are a $5.1 billion industry supporting 75,000 jobs. Fishermen are opting to stop fishing because they can't make the math work with diesel as high as it is, and fish prices to consumers are being raised to compensate.

Across the country, marine fisheries generate $319 billion in sales and support 1.7 million jobs. A U.S. shrimper recently reported spending an additional $20,000 on a single trip because of diesel costs. These fishermen are already operating on razor-thin margins, and fuel costs are near or exceeding the shrimp prices. This isn't sustainable. Just as we have seen in the Great Lakes, fishermen are going to start walking away from their small businesses.

Not only are our fishing communities struggling to stay afloat, they also need to pass along these additional costs to American families purchasing their seafood.

Back in the Great Lakes region, our manufacturing sector is facing alarming tariffs from Canada because of President Trump's and Secretary Lutnick's inability to seriously and diplomatically negotiate a strong and fair trade deal. As if we needed yet another reminder of the pain inflicted on our States by these policies, the President decided to get back at Canada by changing the name of one of our Great Lakes. By the way, it is not going over well at home.

Unfortunately, the majority is doing nothing this week to bring down costs and fight for American families and businesses. That is why, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to the committee. If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill.

My amendment would direct the Secretary of Commerce to publish a report on the high costs of fuel, fishing gear, and retaliatory tariffs on U.S. fishing businesses and the price of healthy seafood for American families.

I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of this amendment into the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.

I hope my colleagues will join me in voting for the motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, National Gout Awareness Day will occur on May 22, 2026. This marks the 20th anniversary that patients, care partners, advocates and the medical community around the United States raise awareness of the crucial needs of people suffering from this chronic and painful form of arthritis.

Gout is a chronic form of inflammatory arthritis affecting more than 12 million Americans. Gout occurs due to a buildup of uric acid in the body. When excess uric acid builds up in the body, it deposits around joints and can lead to swollen joints and sudden, intensely painful attacks that can be debilitating.

It is a chronic medical condition that, left untreated, can result in more frequent or painful attacks and joint damage. It can also increase patients' risk for other severe medical conditions such as kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke.

While gout is not currently curable, it is treatable if patients have access to care that manages acute gout flares and addresses the root cause of chronic gout. Continuous and timely access to care is critical to ensure gout patients can successfully manage their disease.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House of Representatives join me and rise in commemoration of Gout Awareness Day, honoring those committed to helping alleviate the suffering of people with gout and those people dealing with this chronic inflammatory condition.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3726, the Fisher House Availability Act.

I would first like to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Miller-Meeks, for her leadership on this effort. I am very proud to co-lead this bill with her. I thank the chair and ranking member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee for making this happen.

This bill will ensure that servicemembers and their families are eligible to stay at VA lodging, the Fisher Houses, as we are discussing, when space allows, regardless of where care is provided. It doesn't matter if they are receiving care at a VA facility, a military hospital, or a civilian provider.

Fisher Houses are home away from home near VA and military hospitals. No veteran or servicemember who has served their country should have to face medical care or a hospital stay without the support of their loved ones by their side.

Fisher Houses has allowed these families to be where they are needed most, without worrying about whether they can afford a place to stay. This allows veterans and servicemembers to focus on what is important: the healing process.

I was with family at a military hospital, sitting in the intensive care waiting room, with a young mother whose husband was in intensive care in a coma, and she had a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old. She had no money for a motel or a hotel. She didn't know how she was feeding her children, and they were sleeping on couches in the intensive care.

I was not a Member of Congress then, but I called my friend, Alma Powell, and said that this is unacceptable. No family should not have support.

She introduced me to the Fisher family. At that point, there were just a couple of Fisher Houses. There are now more than 100.

We have two Fisher Houses in Michigan--yes--at the John D. Dingell Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Detroit and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, and I visit them often. I know the work that they do and the comfort that they are able to provide to our military and veteran families during some of the most difficult times.

We must do the right thing for the families of our servicemembers and veterans, and we must always fight to stand up and support our veterans and those who fought to defend our freedoms. This should never be partisan. It is always important to give bipartisan support to our veterans and to our active military.

That is why this matters so much to me, and that is why I strongly support passage of H.R. 3726.

Mr. Speaker, as a former chair and proud member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, I have worked tirelessly to defend our public lands and wildlife for the benefit of all outdoor enthusiasts. I am here today on the floor to continue to fight for healthy wildlife populations and to protect public lands access for our Nation's hunters and fishers.

I have been warning my colleagues for years that this legislation, as written, will undermine science-based conservation of wildlife and will result in closures of areas to hunting and fishing.

The fact is that when land managers are allowed to follow the best available science, restrictions on lead ammunition and tackle can be used as a tool to expand access for hunters and fishers, not limit it. This is especially important in places like national wildlife refuges, where managers must ensure that hunting and fishing activities are compatible with the refuge's purposes, including safeguarding threatened and endangered species.

Even last fall, I saw new hunting and fishing opportunities combined with restrictions on lead. The Trump administration's 2025 hunt-fish rule combined these limited lead regulations for new hunting and fishing opportunities with its Lead-Free Hunting Voluntary Incentive Program.

For example, at Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, they combined a new opportunity for lead-free bear hunting with a program that distributed all needed lead-free ammunition to hunters.

The bill as currently written undermines that effort by requiring costly and unworkable unit-specific analysis before any regulation on lead can be proposed. In many cases, this bureaucratic burden in H.R. 556 may cause entire units to be closed to hunting or fishing.

From an administrative perspective, it is less risky to remain in compliance with the ESA and the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act by closing units to hunting and fishing than to navigate the complex process required by this bill.

Meanwhile, wildlife populations are under increasing pressure from a range

of stressors, including habitat loss, disease, and climate change. Lead contamination often contributes to population decline alongside these other factors, and waiting until lead becomes the primary cause of harm means we are acting too late.

That is why, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee.

If House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to the bill.

Mr. Speaker, my amendment ensures that land managers can make science-based decisions to protect both wildlife and hunting opportunities so they don't face a choice between keeping lands open to hunting and fishing or protecting wildlife.

As someone who strongly supports our hunters and anglers, I want these activities to remain sustainable and accessible for future generations. Hunters and anglers are among conservation's greatest champions, and they deserve our support.

Grounding conservation and recreation in sound science supports both the natural resources we value and the outdoor traditions we cherish.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment in the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in voting for the motion to recommit that will protect our Nation's rich wildlife heritage for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4776, the SPEED Act.

For more than 50 years, the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, as it is called, has been the bedrock of conservation law and preserved the environment, human health, and the people's voice in policy decisions.

The SPEED Act would limit the public review process and, quite frankly, would undermine the original intent of NEPA. I do understand the need to complete permitting and the Federal decisionmaking process more quickly than is happening, but we cannot do so at the cost of public input and transparency.

I happen to know. I happen to have lived with the original author of NEPA. What he did when this was passed--and this is called the Magna Carta of environmental laws around the world--is make sure that when something is going into someone's community, the public has a right to input.

Now, I said yesterday, I told my chair: This isn't the Ten Commandments. We should work together and try to make it better, but not at the expense of the public.

One of the most significant causes of permitting delays is limited capacity at the agencies that handle NEPA reviews. The SPEED Act does nothing to address recent cuts to staffing and funding at these agencies, which is going to further slow down project permitting.

I remain open to working on a bipartisan permitting reform, but it must be done to protect the original intent of NEPA.

I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 4776.

Mr. Speaker, today, we are witnessing an unprecedented extinction crisis with 1 million species at risk of disappearing forever in coming decades.

As the co-chair of the Endangered Species Act Caucus, protecting our Nation's wildlife is one of my top priorities. I am deeply concerned that the provisions included in this bill will cause our country to backtrack on the progress we have made. That is why I have to be opposed today to the bill on the floor, the so-called Pet and Livestock Protection Act.

There has been a lot of discussion about the gray wolf. Let's talk about the listing of the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act. While progress has been made in certain regions, the reality is clear: Gray wolves have not yet achieved full recovery, and removing Federal protections would be premature and dangerous.

Today, wolves occupy only a fraction of their historic range. Large areas of suitable habitat remain unoccupied, and many existing populations are small, isolated, and genetically vulnerable.

True recovery under the Endangered Species Act requires not just survival in a few regions, but long-term security across a significant portion of the species' range.

We also know from experience what happens when protections are lifted too soon. After previous delisting efforts, several States moved quickly to authorize aggressive hunting and trapping seasons. In some cases, wolf populations declined sharply within 1 single year. These setbacks erase decades of conservation progress and create instability, rather than sound wildlife management.

Gray wolves play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. As apex predators, they help regulate prey populations, reduce overgrazing, and promote the recovery of forests and watersheds. These ecological benefits support biodiversity and contribute to healthier landscapes that benefit hunters, farmers, outdoor recreation, and rural communities alike.

Some argue that delisting is necessary to address conflicts with livestock in local communities, but science tells a different story. Broad lethal control does not reliably reduce livestock losses and can actually increase conflicts by disrupting pack structure. Nonlethal tools, such as range riders, fladry, improved husbandry practices, and fair compensation programs have proven to be far more effective and deserve continued investment.

The Endangered Species Act is one of the most successful conservation laws in our Nation's history. It sets clear science-based standards for recovery and requires that threats be adequately addressed before protections are removed.

Delisting gray wolves without enforceable, science-based State management plans undermines both the intent of the law and public trust.

This decision is about more than one species. It is about whether we let politics override science or whether we uphold our responsibility to protect wildlife for future generations.

Until gray wolves are truly recovered, connected across the range, and protected by durable management plans, Federal protections must remain in place. That is why attempts to delist the gray wolves through congressional action are opposed by scientists, conservation groups, and the majority of Americans across the political spectrum.

For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to oppose delisting and to stand with science, conservation, and the rule of law.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my strong support for S. 284, the Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to co-lead it with my colleague, Representative Hudson, whom you just heard from, and also Congressmen Mike Levin and John Rutherford.

This bill will reauthorize the Congressional Award program, which has been responsible for printing and distributing awards to young Americans across this country since 1979. This important program expired nearly 18 months ago, and it is in desperate need of reauthorization.

The Congressional Award is the highest award for youth legislated and presented by the United States Congress

to young people. It is a noncompetitive program designed to acknowledge young people for their initiative, achievement, and service.

Over 8.1 million hours of service have been contributed to communities across the country as part of the Congressional Award program. There are currently over 50,000 youth enrolled, and they reside in every congressional district across this country. This award encourages young Americans to do and to be their best, but the program has lapsed. My office is receiving notes from people who are not receiving their hard-earned awards.

Believe it or not, there are people who are proud that these are congressional awards, and they are proud that we are encouraging them.

Take this note that I received from a constituent: ``I earned both the Silver and the Gold Medal for the Congressional Award last year. However, due to backlogs or shortages, I still haven't received the actual awards. I would like to get them from you if that is the case.''

This young student, like thousands across the country, put in time and effort, working toward their award, but, unfortunately, they have been unable to receive it because the program has expired. Congress needs to reauthorize it.

That is why this reauthorization is so important. It will ensure that the young people who achieved their own challenging goals and who helped their communities with their volunteer hours are recognized and honored for their work.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my cosponsors again for their support and Chairman Tim Walberg and Ranking Member Bobby Scott for their assistance and support of this important bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 2878.

The Great Lakes aren't just a part of Michigan and the heartland's landscape. They are part of our economy, our identity, and our heritage. They are more than 20 percent of the world's freshwater and must be protected.

They provide drinking water to millions. They are home to a thriving ecosystem for a wide breadth of species. They support countless jobs. Our Great Lakes' fishing economy alone is worth more than $5 billion.

Unfortunately, there are many threats jeopardizing the future of the Great Lakes and the region's way of life, including, as my colleagues just heard described, the highly invasive sea lamprey, one of the most disgusting things I have ever witnessed in my life.

The USGS Great Lakes Science Center is located in my district. It meets the Nation's need for scientific information used to restore, enhance, manage, and protect the freshwater fisheries and habitats of the Great Lakes. The GLSC helps to protect the freshwater fisheries and habitats that are invaluable economic and ecological assets for the entire Great Lakes region.

We know the devastating effects that invasive species, pollution, and extreme weather have had on the Great Lakes, and the research conducted at this lab is essential to mitigating these threats and addressing these issues.

The work of the GLSC and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission has reduced the invasive sea lamprey populations in the Great Lakes by more than 90 percent. Thanks to this program, populations of native fish, including lake trout, whitefish, and walleye, have started to recover and, with them, the economy of the region.

In November 2024, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission announced that lake trout, a popular fish nearly exterminated by sea lampreys and overfishing in the mid-1900s, has fully rebounded in Lake Superior. We must continue to support the GLSC's work with the Fishery Commission because the fight against invasive species is an ongoing battle.

The Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act would reauthorize funding for the Great Lakes Science Center for another 5 years, helping to ensure that they are able to continue conducting the critical research that ensures future generations can enjoy the same beauty, biodiversity, and economic opportunities for our Great Lakes for many years.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, first, I thank Congressman Golden for bringing us together on this important bill.

As co-chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus, I know how critical labor rights are not only for workers in unions but for all American workers. We are all better off because of unions. Healthcare, retirement, safe workplaces, holidays, the length of the workweek, and vacations were negotiated for all of us. We have them because unions negotiated them.

We are here because President Trump signed an executive order seeking to end collective bargaining rights for

unionized Federal employees across several agencies. Congress granted, not the executive branch, collective bargaining rights for Federal employees decades ago, and they have been upheld for years by the administration of both parties and now thousands of workers have had those rights taken away.

Let's get one thing clear: Our Federal employees are absolutely essential to keep our country running.

The Speaker pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.

They are firefighters, nurses, doctors, air traffic controllers, food inspectors, law enforcement, and public safety officials. They impact every part of our lives, and we take them for granted. We cannot hurt them. We must support them.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my Republican colleagues who have joined us on this bill and encourage those who have not yet recognized this is an opportunity for all of us to work together. Let us show government employees we have their backs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my strong support for H.R. 2290, the World War II Women's Memorial Location Act, which I, as has been previously stated, introduced

alongside my good friend, the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Fulcher).

Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes The National Mall as the location for the memorial, commemorating the service and sacrifice of the women who worked on the home front during World War II.

This bill advances a decade-long effort to properly honor the more than 18 million trailblazing women who are now known and loved as Rosie the Riveters.

Our Rosies answered the call when our Nation needed them the most, redefining the role of the American woman and opening the door wider for generations to come. During World War II, women went to work in record numbers. Yet, they are all too often the untold story of the home front.

At Ford Motor Company's Willow Run bomber plant in Michigan, just as an example, women made up almost half of the workforce that turned out one complete B-24 Liberator bomber every 55 minutes. Many women worked in jobs that no one ever thought they could do, such as riveters.

Mr. Speaker, the Rosies taught me what a riveter was. I didn't realize what it was until I was by that plane, and I went: Oh, that is what a riveter is.

They were also welders, and they proved to themselves and the world that Americans can do it.

I am blessed to have many Rosies in my life. I have gone to many birthday parties for 100-, 102-, and 103-year-olds because we are blessed to have a number of the original Rosies living in my area. They have inspired me. They tell me their stories. On a cold Veterans Day this year, when the wind chill was zero degrees, I stood outside with those strong, resilient women with every ounce of their intellect there, sharing the stories of what it meant to be a Rosie.

This bill will take us one critical step closer to ensuring that our Rosies receive the recognition that they deserve.

In 2022, Congress passed bipartisan legislation authorizing the establishment of a memorial dedicated to the Rosies. However, additional legislation is needed to permit the memorial to be located near the existing World War II Memorial. They are part of that whole story.

I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation and help complete the story of World War II in our Nation's front yard.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the World War II Women's Memorial Location Act, which was carefully crafted to respect the Commemorative Works Act process, honoring the legacies of our Rosies and ensuring that the memorial may be located at a site near the current World War II Memorial.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, a devoted public servant to Michigan for decades.

Congresswoman Kilpatrick began her career as a public school teacher in Detroit before being elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, where she became the first Black woman to serve on the powerful appropriations committee.

She would serve nearly 20 years in the State House before being elected to the United States Congress, where she also served on the House Committee on Appropriations. She was chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and cared deeply about mentoring and empowering the next generation of leaders.

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have joined the bipartisan Michigan delegation to honor her memory tonight.

Over her 14 years in the House, she fought for much-needed Federal funding to revitalize southeast Michigan when it needed it the most.

Her work helped bring Detroit back from the verge of bankruptcy and grow into the flourishing city it is today.

She secured money for education, infrastructure, medical services, and other much-needed investments. Our beautiful, clean riverfront is just one permanent reminder of her impact on our community.

We are thankful for her lifetime of service to our great State.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg), who is the dean of the Michigan delegation.