Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a century of excellence by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Chi Omega Chapter located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

The Chi Omega Chapter was chartered under the leadership of Anna Easter Brown, one of the original 16 founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

The chapter is home to Ruth Anderson Smith, who has served as a member for over 75 years and is 103 years old. She is a Chi Omega Diamond. There are three Chi Omega Pearls who served for over 65 years in membership, with 12 over 50 years who are Golden Members.

That is 100 years of membership, educational support, health advocacy, and steadfast commitment to our HBCUs and transforming lives and strengthening eastern North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate everyone who came to celebrate this amazing celebration of 100 years.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor Thurston Quinn, who turned 100 years old.

Mr. Quinn has been a central figure in our veterans community. He served in the 89th Infantry Division during World War II, fighting in France and Germany. He had a distinguished service career, receiving two Bronze Stars, a Combat Infantry Badge, and an Occupation Badge. When the war ended, he returned home, and he continued to serve his community.

Mr. Quinn's legacy is preserved at the Disabled American Veterans office in Goldsboro, where the cafeteria bears his name. What a true American hero.

It was a pleasure to join his family and friends at his church to wish him a 100th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, the Tarboro High School Viking football team is North Carolina's 2A State champion.

The Vikings completed an amazing, undefeated 15-0 season. The victory marked the program's 10th State championship title and back-to-back title wins.

He may go all the way, indeed. Senior Kamerin McDowell-Moore went all the way. He was named the game's MVP, recording 15 tackles and 17 carries for 190 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Coach Jeff Craddock is the absolute GOAT. Many thanks to Principal Terry Hopkins, coaches, parents, the Tarboro community, and the entire Viking family for their incredible support.

Mr. Speaker, when our student-athletes succeed, the entire community wins. What a victory for the Vikings.

Mr. Speaker, Congress has the opportunity to save Christmas.

As millions across the country face the uncertainty and anxiety about their health coverage, without congressional action, the enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act will soon expire, leading to higher costs and risking healthcare coverage for some altogether.

It will force families off health plans and add to the burden on our rural health centers with unpaid care that they are already experiencing at the time that Members of Congress prepare to go home for Christmas to their families with the certainty of their own coverage. It is just not right.

There are bipartisan proposals to address this crisis, and I thank my colleagues who have been working around the clock to find a solution and who have not lost sight of why our constituents have sent us here: to work for them, to work for solutions.

One of the greatest gifts Congress can give to families back home is accountability and coverage.

Mr. Speaker, here is the scoreboard. It seems the game of mid-decade redistricting is still ongoing. I commend Indiana for recognizing that this isn't good for democracy, and it is not good for our country.

It is wrong for Democrats and it is wrong for Republicans to draw maps mid-decade for the sole purpose of putting up points on the scoreboard, which is why I introduced the RESET Act and call on Congress to pass it. Congress must restore electoral stability to enhance trust.

With elections every other year, imagine assemblies across the country waiting to see the results, only to redraw the congressional districts to run up the points. The people deserve better. The people deserve their voices to be heard. We must put our constituents first. Stop the political gamesmanship and bring this redistricting madness to an end.

Mr. Speaker, with the House's authorization of the National Defense Authorization Act, we are actively safeguarding the American people and making strategic investments in eastern North Carolina.

At Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, we authorized $54 million for the child development center. During multiple base visits, we toured the existing center, which is in dire need of repair, met with staff, and visited the precious children of our servicemembers, who are in dire need of this support.

We also authorized $41 million for Seymour Johnson's Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Complex to ensure our airmen are ready to deploy.

Additionally, we authorized a timeline extension for the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Flightline Utilities Modernization project in full support of our F-35s.

Our investments here in eastern North Carolina will not only strengthen our economy but also contribute to America's safety.

Mr. Speaker, many farmers and producers are in dire need of help, facing hardship because of decisions made beyond their control.

At kitchen tables right now, farmers are often forced to make unthinkable choices, like shutting down a farm that has been in their family for generations. For farm families, relief is not their preference, but right now, it is urgently needed for survival.

The recently announced assistance package is a step in the right direction, but some growers, such as tobacco, are being left behind. Others are left fighting to figure it out amongst themselves.

Short-term aid only tackles part of the problem, but we need balanced trade policies and certainty, or else many farms may be at risk.

Mr. Speaker, to the chair and the ranking member, I thank them for their work and their leadership that has gotten us here today. I also thank the ranking member for yielding time.

Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of the 2026 NDAA. It is an essential piece of legislation that underscores our commitment to ensuring that we uphold the safety and security of the American people.

The 2026 NDAA is a reflection of many of our priorities. When we talk about about priorities, especially in eastern North Carolina, I visited our child development center, and part of the funds we see in this bill are going to help Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. When I think about the work that is needed at Cherry Point, there are specific efforts in here that help this community through the Flightline Utility Modernization Project, as well.

Let me say what really is important, when we talk about affordability, is to see this 3.8 percent pay raise for the men and women who are serving us well. This is going to help them at the checkout counter. I stand in full support of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, our farmers are the heart and soul of eastern North Carolina. They wake up before the sun rises, working hard to put food on the tables across this country and to keep our local economy strong.

Right now they are facing real and growing pressure. Tariffs are hitting many of our farmers hard. Costs are climbing, markets are shifting, and it is getting harder and harder for them to make ends meet. It is as if they are fighting with one hand tied behind their backs, and they can't keep taking it under the chin.

We can't sit back and watch our farm families, who feed this country, get pushed to the brink. Their livelihoods are hanging in the balance, and they deserve more than words. They deserve action.

We need fair, balanced trade policies that strengthen our agricultural communities so our farmers can thrive and not just survive. We must not sit back, but that means we need tariff-relief assistance so our farmers can stay open and our rural economy can be strong.

Our farmers have always had our backs. We must have their backs.

Mr. Speaker, Thanksgiving brought families together to enjoy delicious meals and some of us are still recovering.

There were two fortunate turkeys, one named ``Gobble,'' the other ``Waddle,'' from Travis and Amanda Pittman's farm in Wayne County, North Carolina, and they were selected for a Presidential pardon.

They went on a journey from the East to the White House. They even stayed at The Willard InterContinental hotel and now at North Carolina State University.

Although, Gobble and Waddle survived the dinner table, they shine a light on the dedication of our agriculture community and the hard work that is taking place with companies such as Butterball and the National Turkey Federation.

Farmers allow for these longstanding traditions, and we must never forget it. Let us take a moment to recognize eastern North Carolina farmers and those across our country.

Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud to honor the Pittmans and Gobble and Waddle as they strut their stuff now with the Wolfpack.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about rural America and the challenges it is facing.

People back home in eastern North Carolina are concerned about the lack of investment in rural communities, programs that are hard to access, high input costs, low return on their crops, and increasing debt just to keep the farm open.

That is why I am introducing two key bills to strengthen rural communities and family farms. The Rural Uplift and Revitalization Assistance Act will provide necessary technical assistance for rural communities to improve access to rural development programs.

The Farm Transitions Act of 2025 will reauthorize the Commission on Farm Transitions and require it to release a report with recommendations to help farms transition to the next generation.

These bills will make it easier to access rural development programs and for our next generation of farmers to keep our rich agricultural tradition alive.

Mr. Speaker, members of my team and I have recently traveled to all 22 counties in North Carolina's First Congressional District, all on the same day, in what we call Pies of Thanks.

At each stop we delivered pecan, apple, and pumpkin pies to law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS professionals, and our 911 telecommunicators.

These dedicated public servants are the backbone of safety and emergency care in our communities. They work long hours, often on weekends and holidays, answering the call during some of life's most difficult times for families.

Thanksgiving offered us a moment to pause and to honor these heroes. A simple pie may be small, but it carries a heartfelt message: To all of our first responders, the people of eastern North Carolina see you, appreciate you, and are grateful for you.

Mr. Speaker, I pay special tribute to my friend, A.B. Swindell, who peacefully passed on October 23.

A proud son of eastern North Carolina, A.B. was an Army veteran, a 50-year mason, a lifelong outdoorsman, a talented storyteller, and a committed public servant.

He built a distinguished career as a beloved teacher and wrestling coach, served on the Oxford City Council, served as an assistant to Representative Tim Valentine, and served a decade in the North Carolina State Senate.

He was well known for not only his humor and grit but also his practical leadership, deep respect for education, his lapel pin, and unwavering advocacy for eastern North Carolina.

A.B. was devoted to his best friend and wife, Diane; his children, Russ, Walton, William Joseph; and grandchildren, who knew him as Pop.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to Diane. Regardless of all the talk of Ms. Frances, you know who he loved, and he was happy to enjoy life with you.

To his family: I am grateful to have known A.B., and we are fortunate for his remarkable life of service.

Mr. Speaker, I honor the life and legacy of Louis Pate, Jr., a former North Carolina senator from Mount Olive who passed on August 29 at 88 years old.

Louis' journey began in Duplin County. He would later serve 20 years in the United States Air Force, including time as a navigator on a B-57 during Vietnam.

After his military career, Louis returned home to continue serving. He served as the mayor of Mount Olive, in the North Carolina House of Representatives, and later in the State senate, serving as deputy president pro tem.

Louis' greatest accomplishment above all was being a devoted husband for 59 years to Joyce and being a loving father to their children, Lisa, Chip, and Frances.

Mr. Speaker, I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to serve alongside Louis, and I extend my heartfelt condolences to Joyce and the Pate family.

Mr. Speaker, as we recently celebrated veterans across the country, H.R. 5939, the USMC Helicopter Support in Vietnam Congressional Gold Medal Act, would award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Vietnam-era Marine Corps and Navy veterans who performed vital helicopter support missions.

These flight crews executed incredibly risky and dangerous operations. They successfully carried out lifesaving medical evacuations, transporting approximately 189,000 servicemembers.

Recognizing those who put their lives in harm's way to help out our wounded is long overdue. With the enactment of this bill, Congress can and must take the crucial step toward finally giving these brave veterans the hero's welcome they so deserve.