Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I extend my congratulations to the Northland Neighborhoods, Inc. (NNI) on its 30th anniversary. For three decades, NNI has demonstrated what can be accomplished when neighbors come together under a shared commitment: to make a community a better place for all who live there.

Since its founding in 1996, NNI continues to play a crucial role for those living in the Northland, covering a diverse range of efforts to build upon the foundations of their community. One key way this has been done is by supporting vulnerable homeowners through the Home Repair Program. The program, which allows homeowners to cover potentially costly repairs at critical moments, allows neighbors to maintain their community pride and lessen the possibility of deterioration or vacancies of communities.

As a result, homeowners can directly invest in their future as members of their streets and subdivisions. These efforts have culminated in $1.4 million dollars spent on 103 home repairs in the last year. Whether it be a plumbing issue, roof leaks, or the thousands of other home repairs that can occur and start to snowball, the Northland knows it can turn to NNI for help.

In celebrating this milestone, it is worth focusing on how NNI has kept residents connected and engaged over the past three decades. NNI's engagement through public meetings and service has been directed at the chief cornerstone of what makes communities strong and unique, providing a shared space for people to unite and share their concerns and beliefs. Your continuous advocacy and core mission has demonstrated the significant impact of housing and its role in constructing a healthy community. Local progress begins in the homes where the lives of those young and old unfold. NNI has shown that its commitment to the people they serve is enduring and strong no matter their stage in life, from being brought home from the hospital, buying one's first house, to new families introducing children into the world.

Commemorating these 30 years of service, we must recognize the people who have made NNI's accomplishments possible. To the leadership, contractors, and community partners, thank you for your contributions that have placed the voices of the Northland at the center of all you have done. Their dedication represents the time, energy, and talents of an organization built in service to others.

As the Northland continues to grow, your work will have played no small part in what makes the area special. I am confident that the new opportunities and new challenges that this growth brings will be met by the same

spirit and dedication that has defined NNI since 1996. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues today to join me in celebrating this anniversary. We thank them for making the Northland a stronger, safer, and more connected place for future generations of residents and families and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Prairie View A&M University as it celebrates its 150th anniversary. Since its founding, this university has served countless individuals, bringing its historic legacy, academic excellence and enduring service to the nation.

Prairie View A&M University's rich history begins in 1876 when the Texas Constitution created an agricultural and mechanical college that would then turn into Texas's oldest public HBCU. In spring 1878, the university would welcome its first eight students. Originally designed to be a teaching college, the university expanded its curriculum to include agriculture, nursing, arts, sciences, and mechanical arts by 1887. Furthermore, as the university continued to grow and succeed, it became a land-grant institution by 1890, offered baccalaureate degrees in 1919, and finally added graduate studies in various academic fields by 1937, as a testimony to its achievements.

The university's longstanding history of supporting the higher education of Black students has played a transformative role in fostering academic excellence, civic engagement, and postgraduate employment for historically underrepresented communities. This institution has time and time again demonstrated its commitment to teaching and service, strengthening communities and improving lives throughout the state of Texas and beyond.

With President Dr. Tomikia P. LeGrande leading the university forward with its ``Journey to Eminence'' plan, the university plans to further establish itself as a premier HBCU and blueprint for other universities across the country. As a Carnegie-classified high-research (R2) university, it has further cemented itself as a distinguished research institute and is home to the National Center for Infrastructure Technology and the Texas Juvenile Crime Prevention Center.

As a member of the NCAA Division I Southwestern Athletic Conference, students can compete in a high-sports level environment which in turn, can enable future athletic careers. With more than 170 student-led organizations, students have a wide range of interests and topics to engage with in addition to the academic opportunities available.

Since its inception, this university has not only developed a reputable history in the state of Texas but in the country as a whole. With generations upon generations of educated graduates, Prairie View A&M University has helped bring educators, engineers, military leaders, elected officials, scientists and public servants at all levels of government into the world. Notably, this institution leads in graduating Black students with degrees in architecture and engineering and is highly ranked for increasing the number of Black nursing graduates in Texas through its clinical training. The access to quality education is key to a thriving community and this institution delivers this opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Prairie View A&M University's 150th anniversary. This is an accomplishment deserving of recognition in our Nation's Capital, and I am honored to extend my congratulations as the university celebrates this milestone. I anticipate many more monumental anniversaries, for I know this university will continue to be a fountain of knowledge and joy for our community, continuing its outstanding contributions to higher education for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the proud co-chair of the Defend the 14th Amendment Task Force because I believe in one simple truth: The 14th Amendment is now under siege.

For more than 150 years this amendment has stood as one of the greatest promises our Nation has ever made: That every person born in this country is entitled to equal protection under the law and that no government may deny anyone due process simply because of who they are or where they were an immigrant from.

It was born from one of the darkest chapters in American history. After slavery ended, our Nation faced a choice: We could preserve injustice under a different name, or we could expand the promise of freedom.

The 14th Amendment was our answer. It declared boldly that citizenship could not be rationed, equality could not be optional, and liberty belonged to all of us.

Today, that promise is being tested. This administration has made no secret of its willingness to chip away at the constitutional protections generations of Americans have fought, marched, bled, and even died to secure.

They are using every tool at their disposal to weaken the very rights that safeguard us all. For me, this fight is deeply personal.

I was born in the Jim Crow South, little place called Waxahachie, Texas. I came of age in a nation where equal protection existed only on paper long before it existed in practice.

I marched with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference starting when I was 15 years old. The SCLC was led by a young preacher by the name of Martin Luther King, Jr. I marched because I believed America could become what it claimed to be. I believed that the Constitution should protect every citizen equally. I witnessed firsthand what happens when governments decide some people deserve fewer rights than others.

The progress we celebrate today did not happen by accident. It happened because brave Americans demanded that the 14th Amendment finally be honored. It was the Equal Protection Clause that became the constitutional foundation for Brown v. Board of Education, ending legally sanctioned segregation in our public schools.

It was the 14th Amendment that strengthened the fight against discriminatory voting laws, housing discrimination, and unequal treatment in employment.

It was the 14th Amendment that has protected interracial marriage, expanded equality for women, safeguarded the rights of people with disabilities, and affirmed the dignity of LGBTQ Americans.

Time and time again, when our Nation has taken a step toward justice, it has done so because someone stood up and insisted that the words of the 14th Amendment actually meant what they say. That is why attack of any kind on equal protection and due process are not isolated legal disputes. They are attacks on the very foundation of modern civil rights.

They are attacks on the constitutional principle that tell every child they matter before the law. They are the attacks on the guarantees that protect workers from exploitation, families from discrimination, religious liberty, voting rights, and the simple expectation that government must treat people fairly.

When government weakens these protections for one group, it weakens them for everyone.

History teaches us that constitutional rights are rarely lost all at once. They are chipped away slowly, one exception, one excuse, one precedent at a time until Americans wake up and discover that what once seemed guaranteed has quietly disappeared.

We cannot allow this to happen.

Our constituents know what is at stake. They understand that the promise of America has been bigger than politics. They know that the Constitution belongs to every American, not just those in power.

As the co-chair of the 14th Amendment Task Force, I stand with my colleagues in defense of one of the most important guarantees ever written into our Constitution. We will defend equal protection. We will defend due process. We will defend, yes, birthright citizenship. We will continue fighting until the promise of the 14th Amendment is not merely something we celebrate in history books, but something that every American can experience in their daily lives.

The struggle to perfect our Union has never been easy, but every generation is called to protect the freedoms it inherited. Now, it is our turn.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the inspiring resilience and perseverance of my constituent Liliana Haggerty. At just 14 years old, Liliana was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that spread through her lymphatic system.

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of meeting Liliana and her wonderful family in my office. Her courage in the face of a frightening disease was profound. As a patient, she founded a nonprofit dedicated to providing pediatric hospital patients with pajamas, blankets, and socks.

Thanks to the exceptional care she received at Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City and an aggressive 12-week chemo plan, Liliana's cancer is now in remission.

Today, Liliana dedicates her time to advocating for other patients and families navigating through serious illnesses.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating Liliana's accomplishments and wishing her continued success in the years ahead.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 7128, the TRIA Program Reauthorization Act of 2026, sponsored by Representative Flood.

I am pleased that today we are considering this critical legislation to reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program for 7 years. This is a bipartisan bill, as it has been in past reauthorizations.

I first thank Chairman Hill, Ranking Member Waters, Representative

Flood, and our staffs for working to ensure long-term certainty and availability of affordable terrorism risk insurance all across the country, which small businesses, hospitals, universities, not-for- profits, and others rely on.

TRIA was first enacted after the September 11 terrorist acts. After the attack, terrorism risk insurance all but disappeared, and any coverage that could be found was extremely expensive. Without terrorism insurance, commercial reconstruction in New York stalled, raising the threat of larger economic fallout.

In response, Congress passed TRIA in 2002 to provide certainty for insurers and policyholders and access to terrorism risk insurance by creating a Federal backstop in the event of catastrophic losses. Since then, the program has effectively done just that.

As we look back nearly 25 years since 9/11, it is important to recognize the Federal Government's role in supporting economic development through TRIA. In our role in Congress, as stakeholders, we unanimously agree with that act.

TRIA is set to expire at the end of 2027. By reauthorizing the program ahead of that deadline, it will offer desperately desired certainty to policyholders moving forward.

This legislation will provide a long-term reauthorization through 2034 and make targeted but sensible updates to the program. The bill would increase the threshold to certify an individual terrorism event to require more than $10 million in property and casualty insurance losses from the current level of more than $5 million. It would also codify the existing regulatory requirement that Treasury provides public notice in the Federal Register within 30 days of beginning the process of certification determination and require Treasury to issue its determination within 90 days of that notice.

To address minor technical feedback from Treasury, the bill will now allow the Secretary of the Treasury to extend the review period for an additional 365 days if there is insufficient information at the time to determine certification.

I also thank Congresswoman Velazquez and Congresswoman Pressley for their efforts on the bill, as their communities were directly impacted by tragedies caused by terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this essential legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter into a colloquy with the chairman.

I was appalled by reports that a FEMA employee used their authority entrusted by the United States to determine access to Federal aid based on a political yard sign.

Whether we are talking about FEMA or the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, this type of action violates the mission of Federal programs that Congress designs to work for all Americans.

Likewise, H.R. 7128 is also designed to avoid anything like that from happening in the future with regard to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program.

Congress passed TRIA shortly after the horrific September 11 terrorist attacks in an effort to ensure all businesses, not just some, could access terrorism insurance coverage. Since then, we have repeatedly reauthorized the act to provide certainty to all American businesses and the insurance market.

However, a capricious use of TRIA would undermine the certainty, and, for that reason, some of the changes we made to the act would ensure that certainty is a part of what both sides believe to be necessary.

Mr. Speaker, I know the chairman agrees with me on this matter, and I value his thoughts as well.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill) to engage in a colloquy with me.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, TRIA exists because the private market, left alone, will not provide adequate terrorism risk insurance for businesses, universities, and policyholders. The losses are too large and

too unpredictable for private insurers to price or absorb alone. We learned this after September 11 when coverage all but vanished and commercial reconstruction stalled in New York City.

Congress stepped in with a Federal backstop, and for over two decades, TRIA has kept the market functioning. H.R. 7128 reauthorizes that Federal reinsurance program for 7 years, extending certainty to small businesses, hospitals, universities, and not-for-profits that rely on it.

This is a bipartisan piece of legislation. With TRIA set to expire at the end of 2027, passing this bill now and by reauthorizing it through 2034 with sensible targeted updates is both timely and necessary.

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

Mr. Speaker, as Chairman Flood has previously stated, bipartisanship is more than just a policy. A genuinely bipartisan effort is defined not only by the substance of the policy but also by the process that meaningfully incorporates input from both parties.

Mr. Speaker, I have been here quite a while, and believe me, there are always reasons not to work with the other side: the President, elections, political strategy, or policy disagreements. Americans, though, at this particular time are looking for those who can deliver results, despite these changing but ever-present realities.

I commend the leadership of Chairman Hill; Ranking Member Waters; my counterpart, Chairman Flood; and our colleagues in the Senate on this bipartisan legislation.

Since our Nation's founding, the ability to own land and a home has been closely tied to the promise of freedom, responsibility, and opportunity.

As this Nation turns 250, it is our responsibility to preserve that promise for the next generations. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is an important step in that direction.

This legislation strengthens existing programs, improves coordination among regulators, encourages governments to address local barriers to housing supply, and includes key banking reforms, including raising the public welfare investment cap to unlock billions in private capital.

I thank the hundreds of national organizations and everyone who was involved in this effort, especially Chairman Flood, Ranking Member Waters, Chairman Hill, and Senators Scott and Warren on their very, very difficult work in the Senate.

Chairman Flood has talked about housing is personal, and he is absolutely right. We all have our American stories. Mine began in a little shack in Texas without running water and electricity.

I have to say this, and I wish my dad were here to hear me say it: Our family was poor, but we always had a home. We just didn't have a house to put it in.

My main goal in coming to Congress was to ensure that a family in America can work hard and afford a safe, decent house in which to deposit their home. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in this effort.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the revision of H.R. 6644, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act introduced by Chairman Hill, Ranking Member Waters, Chairman Flood, and myself.

I appreciate very much the leadership of Ranking Member Waters and Chairman Hill in negotiating this very important revision. To quote Chairman Hill: ``This is how Congress is supposed to work.'' I could not agree more. I might add, this is how the vast majority of the American public would like to see us conduct business.

Housing remains the single largest expense for the Americans who sent us to Washington. Rising housing costs are consuming an increasing share of household income. Families are struggling to cover necessities and are increasingly unable to save enough to transition into homeownership.

The legislation we will be voting on is extraordinary. The underlying concept--updating Federal housing programs--is a matter, really, of common sense.

What sets this moment apart is not just the concept of the bill, but the bipartisan, open, and deliberative process. The process in the House has made the bill appealing legislatively and politically. It reflects a monthslong and difficult effort to do what our constituents sent us here to do. Chairman Hill did not get everything he wanted. Ranking Member Waters did not get everything she wanted. Chairman Flood did not get everything he wanted, and I can say very clearly I did not get everything I wanted. However, I understand that democracy demands deliberation, and we have a bill that is supported by housing stakeholders and will deliver for the American people.

I thank Chairman Flood for working with me to reform the HOME program. I thank Chairman Flood and Representative Rose for working with me to expand access to manufactured housing. I thank Representative Nunn for working with me to reform USDA rural housing programs. I thank Representative Lawler for working with me on HUD oversight and to improve Section 8. Finally, I thank Ranking Member Warren for her partnership in working with me on the innovation piece. I also thank Ranking Member Warren and Chairman Scott in the Senate, who I greatly respect.

The revised bill, negotiated by Chairman Hill and Ranking Member Waters, is an effort to advance the priorities of the House, Senate, and White House. The constituents in my district, like those all around this country, want to see this bill passed and signed into law. This was one of the greatest opportunities I have had since I have been in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and honor Chief Charles lseman, who has dedicated more than 35 years of service to the City of Grandview as a police officer. Let us take a moment to recognize this accomplished individual in Missouri's 5th Congressional District who has worked to protect and provide safety to the people of Grandview for over three decades.

Beginning his career at the young age of 21, Chief Iseman joined the Grandview Police Department, where he would remain for the entirety of his years in service. Chief Iseman's work ethic, integrity, and skill to solve problems allowed him to advance through the ranks within the department. From being promoted to Sergeant of the Patrol Division in 2000 to eventually being appointed Chief of Police for the Grandview Police Department in 2011, Chief lseman has continuously demonstrated his professionalism and care for his community.

Serving a city with a population of over 20,000 individuals. Chief Iseman used his leadership to lead the Grandview Police Department in a new direction that prioritized a community-oriented policing approach and listened to stakeholders. This new approach proved to be beneficial as trust continued to be built and collaborations began to increase. Additionally, the creation of new initiatives such as the ``Move Toward the Badge'' further showcased the desire to involve the community in decisions that the Grandview Police Department earned the ICMA 2021 Community Partnership Award.

Moreso, Grandview was one of the first 15 cities in Missouri to earn the Blue Shield Community designation under Governor Mike Kehoe, which recognizes cities with strong community support. Chief lseman led the department to create successful partnerships with schools and faith leaders which in turn allowed the department to have increased funding to bring in new technology, more officers, crime reduction while maintaining one of the fastest police responses in the Kansas City Metropolitan area.

Chief Iseman's legacy is not just in the cases closed or hours worked, but in the lives, he has touched and the example he has set for the next generation of officers. He has exemplified a long and distinguished career that will not be forgotten. We know that a career of this length involved immense sacrifice, and we are grateful to him and his family, and his dedication.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues today to join me in celebrating the contributions that Chief lseman has made to Grandview and to Missouri's 5th Congressional District. As Chief lseman closes out this chapter, we hope he can look back with pride of a job well done. We thank Chief Iseman for his unwavering commitment, he has earned a long and happy retirement, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors. I thank him for his service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a towering figure in the history of Kansas City, Missouri, and in the life of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, Mr. Alvin Brooks, on the occasion of the 300th consecutive meeting of the Alvin Brooks Wednesday night Black men's chats.

That is 300 consecutive weeks. That is 300 consecutive weeks of showing up, 300 sacred spaces for dialogue, and 300 opportunities for healing, mentorship, accountability, and growth.

At age 93 years young, Mr. Brooks has not only witnessed history, he has helped shape it.

As a young man growing up in the super-segregated city called Kansas City, Alvin Brooks refused to accept the limitations imposed on him by racism and injustice. At a time when the color of our skin too often determined the boundaries of our opportunity, Mr. Brooks chose courage. He chose service. He chose to become one of Kansas City's few Black police officers in 1954.

That decision was not only about a career. It was about breaking barriers. It was about ensuring that marginalized voices would have a place where they could be heard.

Alvin Brooks was a mover and shaker. Throughout his distinguished career in law enforcement, Mr. Brooks became a crucial pillar of our community. He served not only as an officer but as a bridge-builder. He served not only as a public servant, but as a civil rights advocate. He served not only as a leader within the department, but eventually as president of the Kansas City, Missouri, Board of Police Commissioners.

Even beyond those titles, Mr. Brooks has always been what Kansas City knows him to be: a steady presence in moments of crisis, a trusted voice in times of unrest, and a moral compass when our city needs clarity and calmness.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., once said, ``Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.'' Alvin Brooks has been and continues to be that light: a light of nonviolence, a light of racial reconciliation, a light of justice, and a light to show the way for the changing and coming generations.

Even at an age when many would have long ago stepped back, Mr. Brooks stepped up. In the midst of a global pandemic in 2020, a time of isolation, anxiety, and national reckoning, Mr. Brooks established the Alvin Brooks Wednesday night Black men's chats. What began as a virtual gathering became something extraordinary, a consistent intergenerational forum bringing together men from across Missouri and eventually from across the whole Nation. The discussions included faith and public policy, civil rights, education, public health, the history of the Negro Leagues, and the urgent issues facing Black communities in America.

For nearly six uninterrupted years, Mr. Brooks has convened those meetings every single week. The chats have brought together civic leaders, education, faith leaders, civil rights advocates, students from historically Black colleges and universities and public officials, including Members of this very House in a space rooted in respect and growth.

That consistency is not accidental. It is a reflection of how Alvin Brooks has always been and will always be.

His commitment to service extends even further through the work of a civil rights leader and as a former member of the Hickman Mills school board, where he continued to invest in the future of Kansas City's children. He understands that community empowerment begins with education and that equity must be built generation by generation.

Mr. Speaker, what makes this milestone so powerful is not just the number 300. It is the discipline, faith, and the love behind it.

In an era when civic discourse can feel fractured and fleeting, Mr. Brooks reminds us that democracy is strengthened in small rooms and virtual gatherings just as much as it is on this floor. He reminds us that leadership is not about spotlight but stewardship.

For decades, Alvin Brooks has carried the mantle of responsibility with grace, helping guide communities through pain and progress alike.

Today, as we recognize this historic man, this giant of a man, his legacy of resilience and courage and service without ego will continue.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mr. Alvin Brooks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and honor Kansas City's very own ``Hollywood Cowboy,'' Nathaniel ``Rex'' Purefoy, who has dedicated his life to preserving the legacy and culture of African American cowboys through performances and storytelling. Let us take a moment to recognize this extraordinary individual in Missouri's 5th Congressional District who has captivated the public with his unique horsemanship and roping techniques for over 50 years.

African American cowboys were an essential part of American history in the various territories and into statehood for many states. They worked on ranches and in cattle drives on trails coming through mid- western states such as Missouri and Kansas before the Civil War and through the early 1900s. They also performed in rodeos when not on the trail.

In Kansas City, native Rex Purefoy further contributed to ensuring that generations upon generations did not forget about African American cowboy culture but rather embrace its heritage and celebrate it. Along with his loyal partner, his horse Ringo, Rex brought his famous ``Hollywood Cowboy Show,'' a performance full of rope twirling, music, and Western fashion across the United States. As an avid trick-roper and horseman, Rex traveled across state lines performing in rodeos, shows, parades, and even performed with the Barnum and Bailey Circus and The UniverSoul Circus for many years.

In addition to his own shows and live performances, Rex was a special guest star in

the 1970s ``The Flip Wilson Show'' and had cameo roles in movies and local Kansas City area television programs. As a testament to his talents, Rex appeared in a critically acclaimed movie with boxing legend Muhammad Ali entitled ``The Black Rodeo,'' in 1972. Rex's commitment to create not only an entertaining performance but one that would leave the audience with a lasting memory of African American culture led to him being recognized nationally, becoming an inductee of the National Cowboys of Color Museum and the Hall of Fame.

Beyond his work as a performer, Rex has found other ways to further protect the legacy of African American cowboys. Working as a photographer, Rex has documented other African American cowboys and the Black community, submitting the works to noted Black publications to preserve their history. He has contributed to numerous photographs to African American publications, such as Jet Magazine, Ebony Magazine, The Kansas City Call newspaper, The Kansas City GLOBE newspaper, The Next Page KC newspaper, The Carolina Times, and the New Jersey Gazette.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues today to join me in celebrating the contributions that Nathaniel ``Rex'' Purefoy has provided to the African American community and the United States overall. We thank Rex for sharing a piece of history with our community and feel more at ease knowing that the legacy of African American cowboys has been preserved for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mrs. Beatty for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6644, also known as the Housing for the 21st Century Act. This legislation, introduced by Chairman Hill, Ranking Member Waters, Chairman Flood, and me, advanced out of the Financial Services Committee by an impressive 50-1 vote.

This legislation reflects input from Democrats, Republicans, and hundreds of organizations nationwide. If enacted, the Housing for the 21st Century Act would streamline regulations, expand affordable housing financing, and modernize Federal housing programs to significantly expand the Nation's housing supply. Passage of this bill would be historic not because it is extraordinary but because it is overdue.

For decades, chronic underbuilding in the United States has driven up housing costs, priced millions out of homeownership, strained household budgets, and constrained employers' abilities to attract workers.

Americans want their Representatives to act on the rising cost of living. For most American families, the monthly housing payment is their single largest expense. Representing about one-third of the Consumer Price Index, housing is also the single largest component of overall inflation.

I commend Chairman Hill, Ranking Member Waters, Chairman Flood, and

others for prioritizing good policy over bad politics on this important matter. I am especially proud that the Housing for the 21st Century Act includes the HOME Reform Act, which represents the most significant update to the HOME Investment Partnerships Program since its creation.

This bill may not increase spending, but it ensures that every dollar we do spend goes further. Although this legislation is significant, we must view this legislation as the beginning of a new era of accommodating the American movement of housing for all.

In the Senate, the introduction of the ROAD to Housing Act highlights growing bipartisan cooperation on housing. I look forward to negotiations with the Senate on a bicameral product that can make it to the President's desk for signature and, above all, a product that would deliver tangible results for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with immense sorrow along with Missouri's 5th Congressional District, to commemorate the life and legacy of a great Kansas Citian, Ms. Alice Kitchen. The fruits of Alice's advocacy for women, children, and marginalized communities will live on for generations to come. Alice was a force to be reckoned with, stopping at nothing to ensure that others could live free of abuse, injustice, and discrimination. Her undeniable impact will continue to grace Kansas City with inspiration.

Alice's long history of advocacy began when as a high school student, she became involved with Guadalupe Center as a volunteer in the 1950s. As she saw the many families in predominately Hispanic neighborhoods in Kansas City who lacked access to food, running water, and electricity disturbed her, she questioned the morality behind sitting by when others lived that way. After graduating from her Catholic high school, she moved to Encino, California, where she joined the Sisters of Social Service convent where she ministered to domestic workers in Beverly Hills, most of whom were Mexican immigrants. These individuals, she described, were lonely, poorly paid, and isolated. She took those experiences and paved a life of activism. After graduating with her master's degree in social work at the University of California--Los Angeles (UCLA), Alice returned to Kansas City to work in a legal aid office where she helped young, first-time offenders avoid longer criminal records. With a love for social services, she continued her career at Children Mercy's where she served as the director of social services for two decades. Under her leadership, she sought funding for specialized treatments needed by children with medical issues and initiated programs to assist young mothers fight their battles with addiction.

Alice was devoted to bringing light to issues she believed in, and a full-time job was not going to hold her back. During Alice's voluntary night shifts, she established Amethyst Place, a supportive housing program that served mothers and children recovering from abuse, organized neighborhood cleanups as a board member of the Kansas City Housing Authority and assisted young mothers in obtaining health insurance. As a volunteer co-chair of the Affordable Care Public Education Committee in the Kansas City Metropolitan area, she advocated for the expansion of Medicaid and accessible healthcare. In March of 2012, her efforts were recognized, and Alice received the Champion of Change award from President Barack Obama at the White House. Gender equity and advocating for policies that support women was another mission that peaked Alice's interest. During her time with the League of Women Voters and Women's Equality, she was able to educate women voters and bring light to the disparities women were facing within workplaces. Her fearlessness led Jane McQueeney, a friend of Kitchen, to give testimony to the City Council in Kansas City when McQueeney was receiving less pay when working for the federal government. Kitchen worked with Kansas City to adopt an ordinance to prohibit discrimination against women and to stop employers from penalizing women with less experience.

When it was time for retirement, Alice saw it as an opportunity to do her evening tasks full-time. At age 69, she traveled to the Mosquito Coast of Honduras on a human rights observation mission. She took her mission on headfirst and investigated bullet holes in boats, houses that had burned down, and wounded villagers with her international activist group, the Cross Border Network. Alice never stopped looking for a way to improve the lives of others or to push anyone to their fullest potential. She lived her life to her fullest potential, and she continues to inspire others to do the same. In fact, she had a knack for finding strengths in people before they did themselves and pushed them to foster their strengths. As a woman who was one in a million, she continued to prove to the people who surrounded her, that they were also just as special.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring the life of Alice Kitchen. Her passing is devastating, but the legacy she leaves behind reminds us that no matter how short life tends to be, we can still make a world of difference. While she is not here to grace the community in Kansas City with her valiant voice, or her indominable spirit, her soul will live on through the extensive and beautiful legacy that she built. The legacy she left has lit fires under enough people in Kansas City, so they can forage through the noise and echo her advocacy, which will keep her spirit alive for eternity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to commemorate the life of James ``Jim'' Neil Crain and recognize him for the excellent work and impact he had on the Grandview community. Introduced to public service at an early age as an Eagle Scout, Jim dedicated the rest of his life to serving the City of Grandview and caring for anyone he crossed paths with. Jim showed endless love for his community, and the impact he had will be remembered forever.

Born on October 3, 1945, in Kansas City, Missouri, Jim spent his early years studying in the Grandview school system before moving onto William Jewell College where he graduated with his bachelors in 1967. To further his studies, obtained a master's degree in business administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. In addition to his education endeavors, Jim served during the Vietnam War in the U.S. army as First Lieutenant and was later honorably discharged in 1971.

As an Operations Manager at Hallmark Cards, Jim had a 34-year successful career before retiring in 2004. Being a Grandview native, Jim decided to seek ways to get involved with his hometown and committed himself to improving and growing the City of Grandview. Leading with kindness, service, and compassion, Jim served as a Grandview Alderman for 40 years and remained active on the Parks and Recreation Commission during his tenure. Jim's dedication to the constituents of Grandview is evident through the various groups he was involved in, including serving as Board Director for the Grandview Assistance Program, and as a founding member of the Grandview Youth Court where he acted as treasurer and board member.

Beyond his professional life, Jim led a life of faith, empathy and wisdom. Jim could often be found spending time with his family, watching a Kansas City Chiefs game or NASCAR race. He spent his life uplifting and empowering the residents of Grandview through his leadership and commitment to being a voice for the community. Though Jim has passed, his legacy and impact on his community will remain long past our mortal lifetimes. I am reminded of Mark 10:45--``For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'' Jim's life was one dedicated to serving others in need, improving the lives of countless people throughout. Jim's legacy will live on through his loving family, friends, and the current and future generations of Grandview. As we celebrate and fondly appreciate the decades of devoted service from Jim, let us be inspired by him to uplift our community.

Mr. Speaker, I regrettably missed 4 votes on September 10, and September 11, 2025.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 261; NAY on Roll Call No. 262; YEA on Roll Call No. 263; and NAY on Roll Call No. 264.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Dina Bennett, Director and visionary of the American Jazz Museum (AJM), as she bids farewell to the iconic institution and transitions to new professional ambitions.

Dr. Bennett's dedication to sustaining, cultivating, and celebrating music has echoed throughout her life. Growing up in a music family, music was always around her; her father was in a band with her uncle, and as a young girl she attended the Fun Factory of the Arts, a program that aimed to nurture the talents of children with an interest in music. The camp not only gave her a space to begin exploring the artistry of music, but it recognized a capacity within her that was needed to sing. As a result, she was offered a scholarship for piano lessons, which gave her a consistent and formal setting to refine her skills. In addition to her love for music, service was an equal part of her life, starting with sharing her newfound expertise in piano. She went on to become a Minister of Music at her Baptist church, playing for Sunday school, for the choir, and for her dad before sermon.

Once Dr. Bennett hit thirty, her childhood passion began to beat louder, and she decided it could no longer be a side-gig, music and the arts would be her contribution to the world. This led her to pursue her PhD in Folklore and Ethnomusicology, with a minor in African American and African Diaspora Studies at Indiana University. Dr. Bennett chose to study jazz; her fieldwork and dissertation took her, not to the birthplace of jazz, but to where it was raised: Kansas City. She did her anthropological work in the 18th and Vine District, and it is beyond fitting that her career in museum curation led her back to our beloved Jazz District, starting as Deputy Director of AJM and leaving as Director.

AJM is a cultural touchstone of Kansas City and a beacon of the Black community, history and legacy. As Dr. Bennett says, ``In African American music, music is part of everything from birth to the grave.'' The strength of jazz is in its variability, in riffs and chord changes that demand improvisation and invention. Its melodies can serve as an anthem of joy, a requiem of pain, and a force of creativity and evolution. AJM appreciates and preserves jazz as an art form, with all its whims and caprices. The museum showcases legendary musicians; Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, and countless others who have played a pivotal part in composing the symphony ofAmerican jazz. Beyond recounting the rich history of jazz in the United States, AJM carries the art form into the modern era by offering jazz instruction to middle and high school students and orchestrating The Blue Room, a jazz club that hosts professional artists and community jam sessions.

These contributions could not come to fruition without an outstanding conductor ensuring all the pieces move together in harmony. That is where Dr. Dina Bennett has so spectacularly shined. As an employee of AJM for nearly five years and now its Director, Dr. Bennett, has orchestrated the success of many remarkable exhibits at the museum. To mark their 25th anniversary, the museum created a timeline of jazz that allowed visitors to engage and share their own memories and moments in history, creating a community record of jazz in Kansas City. Dr Bennett also worked on an exhibit that partnered with Disney to examine the significance of the movie Soul and incorporated an interactive piano for guests to play themselves. In these examples and many more, the skill and influence of Dr. Bennett resound. She has been instrumental in maintaining and refining our beloved American Jazz Museum that Kansas City enjoys today. Dr. Bennett has set AJM on a new course, one that will strum new engagement with jazz and its cultural wellspring, while supporting the never-ending transformation of the art form in Kansas City and beyond.

The time, effort, and sacrifice that Dr. Bennett has invested in the museum will not be forgotten and her impact will continue to ring through AJM and our 18th and Vine District for many years to come. With a surplus of gratitude, we thank her and watch with anticipation as she continues to be a formative voice in the legacy of jazz and Black music.