Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the millions of professional truck drivers who serve the American public each and every day.

Truck drivers transport billions of dollars' worth of goods across our country, delivering essential products that Americans rely on every day. These men and women are the backbone of our Nation's economy. Without their dedication and tireless work, our communities would not have access to the goods and services they depend on.

These drivers have committed their careers to serving others and ensuring that our Nation's supply chain continues to move. However, that responsibility does not come without its fair share of challenges. Truck drivers face long hours on the road, time away from their families, demanding work conditions, and the constant responsibility of safely delivering the goods our Nation depends on.

These challenges are felt by truckers across our country, including the thousands of hardworking men and women who call Arkansas home. I want to applaud the associations in my state and across our Nation that represent the needs of truck drivers. Associations such as the Arkansas Trucking Association advocate every day on behalf of these men and women and the trucking companies that employ them. Their work has helped make Arkansas a national hub for trucking.

I also want to acknowledge the thousands of trucking companies and their drivers based in Arkansas for the hard work they do for my constituents. Companies such as J.B. Hunt and Maverick Transportation employ hardworking drivers who help deliver goods not only throughout Arkansas, but the entire Nation.

As Vice Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am proud to be a champion of several key pieces of legislation this Congress aimed at strengthening the trucking industry, improving safety, and making sure our Nation's truck drivers are heard and supported. I will continue to advocate for our truckers and their needs.

As we recognize these hardworking men and women during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, we must remember that our economy depends on them. Without our truck drivers, our economy would come to a standstill, our shelves would go empty, and our communities lose access to the goods they rely on every day.

I want to thank the millions of truck drivers across our country, and especially those who call Arkansas home, for keeping America moving.

Mr. Chair, I thank the distinguished chairman of the Budget Committee for his hard work, as always.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the budget resolution. First off, I want to thank Chairman Arrington and the members of the Budget Committee for producing this budget.

Republican Members of Congress, working closely with President Trump, are the only ones serious in Washington about attacking wasteful Federal spending.

As chairman of the Intelligence Committee, I am fighting waste, fraud, and abuse in the classified budget.

HPSCI Republicans are working to force the intelligence community to achieve clean financial audits, and we are working to create a culture of accountability.

In my opinion, there can be no doubt that this administration is also serious

about going after waste, fraud, and abuse. The screaming from the other side of the aisle is proof that this is the case. The flak is always heaviest when you are directly over the target.

Democrats oppose this budget, and they oppose every action of this House because they want unelected Washington officials to be in charge until President Trump's term expires. Obstruction is their priority because their porkbarrel spending has been exposed and their slush funds are being drained.

To fight their obstruction, we need a budget resolution. We need to stand united as a Republican Conference so that we can have a functioning government.

We need to empower the running of the executive branch by the President the American people elected.

The resolution doesn't include everything each of us might ask for, but it is necessary to keep us moving forward. And I urge all Members to support the resolution.

Mr. Chair, I include in the Record the budget views and estimates letter of the House Intelligence Committee.

House of Representatives, Permanent Select Committee on

Intelligence,

June 5, 2026.

Hon. Jodey Arrington,

Committee on the Budget,

House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

Dear Chairman Arrington: Pursuant to Section 301(d) of the

Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and rule X, clause 11(c) of

the Rules of the House of Representatives, and in response to

your letter dated May 7, 2026, the Permanent Select Committee

on Intelligence (hereafter ``the Committee'') herewith

provides its views and estimates for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027.

In your letter to the Committee, you requested information

on policy reforms related to improper payments and we have

identified specific proposals within our jurisdiction that we

believe directly relate to the detection of improper

payments, as well as measures needed to improve financial

accountability across the Intelligence Community.

You have also asked us to examine spending to determine if

savings are possible. There is a single program within the

Committee's jurisdiction that falls within the category of

mandatory spending. It is the Central Intelligence Agency

Retirement and Disability System (CIARDS). The CIARDS, which

was established in 1964 and is authorized at $514 million

annually, is a retirement account that has been closed to new

participants for more than 40 years.

The Committee has requested a Government Accountability

Office (GAO) review of CIARDS to ensure its financial

integrity and operational efficiency. Should any potential

for savings be identified, we will pursue them. At this time,

we believe annual appropriations remain necessary at their

current level to provide earned benefits to retirees.

The rest of the classified budget of the Intelligence

Community is authorized in two large programs--the National

Intelligence Program (NIP) and the Military Intelligence

Program (MIP), which are funded through annual discretionary

spending. The NIP includes the budgets of the Office of the

Director of National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence

Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National

Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency,

the National Reconnaissance Office, the intelligence

components of the military services (Air Force, Army, Marine

Corps, Navy, Space Force) and the intelligence components of

the Departments of Energy, Homeland Security (including Coast

Guard), Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of

Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration), State,

and Treasury. The MIP provides additional funding to support

specific requirements of the military services and combatant

commands.

While detailed funding levels for FY 2027 remain

classified, the topline budget requests for both the NIP and

MIP have been publicly released. The total funding requested

for the NIP is $81.9 billion, which is unchanged from the

prior year request. The MIP budget request is $50.0 billion,

which is an increase of $17.0 billion or 34 percent from the

prior year request.

Improving Congressional Oversight of the Classified Budget

By longstanding policy, the Congress has agreed to

authorize, and fund classified intelligence programs without

disclosing to the public the specific funding amounts or

nature of such programs or activities to protect the national

security of the United States. To support the classified

budget, complex mechanisms within the executive branch have

long been leveraged to enable the development, execution, and

performance evaluation of the secret budget and to protect

the classified programs of the Intelligence Community from

discovery by foreign adversaries. Over time, congressional

leaders have sought to balance the need for secrecy with the

need for appropriate financial controls and reporting.

The National Security Act of 1947 prohibits the

Intelligence Community from spending federal funds on any

intelligence or intelligence-related activity unless

specifically authorized by Congress and, when authorized,

only according to the conditions specified by Congress. Each

year, the congressional intelligence committees of the House

and Senate pursue passage of the Intelligence Authorization

Act to provide this required authorization. The most recent

authorization was enacted in December of 2025 as part of the

National Defense Authorization Act. Additionally, there are

statutory requirements for the Intelligence Community to keep

congress fully and currently informed, to submit classified

budget justification materials, and to conduct independent

financial audits.

In 2022, amendments to the National Security Act sponsored

by the Committee clarified that the Director of National

Intelligence must ensure that the programs and activities of

the Intelligence Community are structured and executed in a

manner that enables budget traceability. Statutory changes

also sought to align the Federal Bureau of Investigation's

intelligence budget, as well as those of other intelligence

programs, with the National Intelligence Strategy and the

requirements specified in the National Intelligence

Priorities Framework. Alignment is necessary to improve

accountability and to implement performance measures tied to

requirements established by the President.

However, despite existing statutory requirements, the

Committee continues to identify challenges in oversight of

the secret budget, including a heightened risk of waste,

fraud, abuse, or mismanagement. These challenges stem from

insufficient budget documentation, as well as inadequate

financial systems and related controls. To further improve

oversight and accountability of the budget, the Committee

will be considering legislation clarifying current law to

ensure that the classified budget justification submitted

under section 506J of the National Security Act provides full

and accurate budget documentation (including full and

accurate cost information) for each program, project, and

activity. Proposed changes will also prohibit the withholding

of budget information from the congressional intelligence

committees absent a specific national security determination

by the President--a determination that must be transmitted to

Congress.

Enactment of these changes to law will assist the Committee

in resolving longstanding challenges to congressional

oversight of the budget, most notably the budgets of the

Federal Bureau of Investigation and certain highly classified

programs of the Central Intelligence Agency. The Committee

will also be examining additional changes to ensure that the

development, execution, and performance evaluation of the

classified budget can occur with appropriate levels of

security in compliance with laws and policies necessary to

ensure transparency and accountability.

Financial Management

The Committee is also seeking to address the fact that only

one element of the Intelligence Community has achieved an

unmodified or ``clean'' financial audit. Independent audits

of the classified budget have been a requirement under the

National Security Act since 2014. While the Committee

acknowledges ongoing efforts to achieve auditable finances,

we have noted a longstanding failure by the Intelligence

Community to pursue business system modernization,

transformation and integration required since 2010.

The Government Accountability Office initially documented

the transformation and integration failure in 2018 and

continues to affirm that no significant actions have been

undertaken to achieve the policy established by law.

Modernization and integration are necessary to improve

confidence in the accuracy of the classified budget, to

support budget accountability and to protect the continued

secrecy of classified programs. For this reason, the

Committee will pursue changes to statute clarifying

responsibility for action and will prioritize investments

necessary to achieve the required transformation.

Publicly Available Information and Commercially Available Information

The Committee is also seeking to better understand and to

more effectively conduct oversight related to the acquisition

and use of publicly available information (PAI) and

commercially available information (CAI) across the

Intelligence Community. PAI and CAI are large and growing

centers of expenditure within the classified budget and are

increasingly central to intelligence analysis, strategic

warning, economic security, sanctions enforcement, military

planning, and strategic competition. However, the Committee

has found that budget justification materials submitted to

Congress provide limited visibility into this spending.

A number of efforts are being undertaken by the Committee

to improve budget documentation and related financial

reporting related to PAI and CAI expenditures. This includes

examination of changes to law that would expand enterprise

governance and safeguarding measures for sensitive

commercially available information, particularly datasets

that may contain United States person information.

Accountability Within the Intelligence Community

While there is no indication of pervasive fraud or abuse

associated with the classified budget, it is critical that

those found to have

committed crimes face justice. However, the Committee has

learned that there is a substantially lower likelihood of

prosecution of fraud that occurs within the Intelligence

Community. As of 2025, the Department of Justice pursued only

25 percent of the Intelligence Community Inspector General's

criminal referrals.

In the coming months, the Committee will consider the

extension of law enforcement authority to the Inspector

General of the Intelligence Community with the objective of

increasing successful prosecution rates. Such authority has

been granted to other inspectors general across the U.S.

Government and has merit based on the unique challenges

associated with investigations into personnel affiliated with

classified programs.

Spending Increase Needed to Address Counterintelligence Threats

While reforms are needed to address budget transparency,

financial reporting, and accountability, the Committee cannot

ignore the growing threats associated with foreign

intelligence activities within the homeland. The magnitude of

threats to national and economic security associated with

foreign adversaries and their proxies operating within the

homeland, and against our interests globally, is greater

today and more complex than at any time during the Cold War.

The Committee has determined that--

Foreign intelligence penetrations consistently outpace the

ability of the current counterintelligence enterprise to

detect threats and to act on a strategic level to impose cost

and deter adversary operations.

The United States lacks a sufficiently funded and

coordinated, national-level strategic response to the

counterintelligence threats posed by the People's Republic of

China, Russia, and other foreign adversaries.

To address these problems, the Committee will consider

enhanced budget authority to enable the National

Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) to coordinate

the integration of all instruments of national power to

protect the homeland to counter foreign intelligence

activities. This is a critical statutory responsibility of

the NCSC, which has not been sufficiently funded.

The Committee will also consider options to provide

additional budget authority across the U.S. Government to:

(1) enhance the counterintelligence workforce of Federal

departments and agencies; (2) support programs and

operational activities to achieve national strategic outcomes

(undertaken under the authority and direction of the various

departments and agencies, including those in partnership with

State, local and tribal governments); (3) support the

construction, expansion or modernization of Sensitive

Compartmented Information Facilities to support interagency

cooperation (including with State, local and tribal

governments); (4) support research and development of

counterintelligence capabilities and tradecraft to address

the strategic threats and opportunities associated with

advanced technology; and (5) to support the modernization of

technical security countermeasures capabilities across the

government.

Additional information concerning the counterintelligence

budget will be provided via appropriate channels to protect

classified information. In addition, the Committee is

prepared to work with you to provide the Budget Committee

with the information necessary to understand current threats,

which we believe justifies our recommendation for additional

funding.

Critical Investments in Artificial Intelligence

The final matter on which the Committee will share its

views is related to the rapid advancement of artificial

intelligence. The Committee agrees with the President's

declaration that the United States is in a race to achieve

global dominance in artificial intelligence and supports

additional spending authority to meet this important

challenge.

The Intelligence Community must make investments, pursuant

to the strict oversight of Congress, in recognition of the

dramatic shifts that are occurring in artificial

intelligence. However, absent additional budget authority for

the rapid fielding of capabilities--capabilities emerging

within the commercial marketplace today--there is a risk that

the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense will be

outpaced by adversaries, most notably China.

To be clear, this is not a problem of innovation in

America, which is leading in this critical field. Instead, we

see a serious problem associated with the adoption of this

technology by those charged with protecting the national

security of the United States. Specific information

concerning artificial intelligence investments planned by the

Intelligence Community in FY 2027 is classified and can be

made available separately.

Conclusion

In the coming months, the Committee will consider statutory

changes to improve oversight and accountability with respect

to the classified budget. We will also work to ensure budget

authority is appropriate to address unprecedented and growing

threats, particularly threats associated with foreign

adversary operations within the homeland and the rapid

advancement of artificial intelligence.

Thank you for your support as we work to bring these issues

forward in the House. If you or the Members of the Budget

Committee have any questions about the views and estimates

expressed in this letter, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Eric A ``Rick'' Crawford,

Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate all the support of the distinguished chairman of the Budget Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true leader, public servant, and a pillar of our community, city of Carlisle Police Chief Eric Frank, who is retiring after more than 42 years of service.

He has served as an EMT, a Carlisle police officer, and as the department's chief for the past 25 years. That is a quarter of a century of leadership and a lifetime of sacrifice for the people of Arkansas' First District.

Chief Frank has been the backbone of public safety in Carlisle as demonstrated by his leadership in recent years through the challenges of the pandemic and during devastating storms.

In 2023 when severe weather took lives in Carlisle, he provided decisive leadership, coordinating with State agencies and always putting the safety of residents first.

Whether launching drug take-back programs, advancing child safety, or handling day-to-day work, Chief Frank approached every duty with the same unwavering commitment.

On behalf of the grateful people of Arkansas' First District, I thank Chief Frank for his service, his integrity, and his dedication. He has served with distinction, and I am proud to be his Congressman.

Mr. Speaker, here is what we know: We are in an elevated threat level with FIFA World Cup games beginning this week, America's 250th birthday and related celebrations coming up this summer, Iran and its proxies are targeting U.S. military personnel daily, and the 25th commemoration of the September 11 terrorist attacks will be coming up.

We know that FISA 702 is the most important foreign intelligence authority to detect and mitigate national security threats.

This week, the World Cup kicks off, and 45 countries descend upon the United States for World Cup games, which just so happens to be the week that Democrats have actively chosen to disallow this critical national security tool from being renewed and allow it to go dark.

Democrats have chosen to compromise national security and the safety of Americans to play, essentially, political chicken with an essential national security tool. This is unserious, very dangerous behavior on the part of congressional Democrats.

Mr. Speaker, we are not talking about the policy. Instead, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are talking about personalities. They are concerned about personalities. They are not concerned about the policy.

I know, because they are really smart, that they understand that the DNI has no 702 query authority. Either they know that to be true and, yet, continue on this personality conflict issue, or they don't know that the DNI doesn't have 702 query authority. In either case, it is wrong.

We are not debating the underlying policy here. We are debating personalities, and that is a real shame.

Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and Mark Warner are all members of the Gang of Eight. They have all been read into the threats, as I have. They know the highest levels of national security threats, above every other Member of Congress, and they are all willing to let this program go dark and subject the American people to all manner of threats that might materialize here in the absence of this program.

That is an abdication of their constitutional responsibilities. It is shameful is what it is, for Gang of Eight members, who understand what is at stake, who have been read in at the highest levels, who understand the importance of 702, who know that 60 percent of the Presidential daily brief is derived from 702, for them to say ``no'' because they don't like the individual in question who doesn't even have 702 query authority. So let's go ahead and take this program hostage to make a political point because they don't like President Trump either.

That is what this has devolved into. It is an absolute shame. If this authority lapses starting on Saturday, we move into uncharted territory. It is unclear how providers will respond to statutory expiration, especially the lapse in liability protection and how uncertain this will impact foreign intelligence that is critical for policy and security decisions.

Once this authorization expires, the clock starts ticking. The implications get worse every single day.

While the 702 database would remain available to search, the data in that database will become increasingly out of date with potential provider noncompliance with orders, litigation by providers or outside groups, and even reticence by agency personnel to continue implementing an expired authority for fear of personal liability.

Enough is enough. Let's just get past the personalities, if we can, recognize the need to take care of the people in this country, and to secure our country. That is one of the things that we are supposed to do in this institution, is to protect the American people. Let's do that, take the personality potshots offline because if we want to do that, we have plenty of material to work with. Yet, let's just focus on the policy here, get this done, and move forward.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, the distinguished chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for the time. I appreciate his leadership on highlighting the error of removing the United States Armed Forces from an action that will bring an end to a 47-year conflict.

Mr. Speaker, introducing this provision at this point in time reeks of political gamesmanship when President Trump and his administration are actively engaged in negotiations to bring the tyrannical reign of Iran, the largest state sponsor of terrorism, which the text indicates is the case, to an end.

Placing restrictions on the President both undercuts the ongoing U.S. negotiations and supports the Iranian regime in their 47-year journey to hold the world hostage with a nuclear weapon and approves of the reprehensible slaughter of reportedly more than 30,000 Iranians. To make matters worse, Iran is attempting to use their illegal attempt to close an international strait as leverage in the negotiations.

I am not sure if my colleagues on the other side of the aisle missed the media reporting, but the United States is not engaged in military operations in Iran right now. President Trump's position is consistent with past practices of both Republican and Democratic administrations.

In 1993, a Democrat administration's position was that the War Powers Act clock actually stops when hostilities ceased.

Due to the great success of Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. is currently positioned with the upper hand, and this resolution would completely turn the power over to the tyrannical Iranian regime.

The Iranian regime is the most weakened it has been in the past half- decade. This is a historic opportunity. Their air force has been dismantled. Their navy is currently at the bottom of the ocean. Their command and control structure no longer exists, and their weapons supplies are depleted. They are out of options. They have come to the end of their rope. This is evident by Iran's continued posturing.

Congress should be on the side of the United States in a conflict with the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism. It baffles me why our Democratic colleagues would be so determined to weaken the United States' negotiating position.

President Trump has been very clear on the goals of this mission: to ensure that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.

I, for one, am very appreciative of President Trump's courage and willingness to do what numerous leaders before him were unable to accomplish for 47 years.

This resolution will hinder efforts to bring a threat of a possible Iranian nuclear weapon to an end and support the illegal Iranian claim over the Strait of Hormuz.

This politically-charged resolution divides the U.S. in a way that will have Iranian leadership cheering in favor of its passage. Bringing this resolution to the floor undercuts the primary American objective to eliminate the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran and supports Iran's illegal claims on an international strait that is directly affecting Americans' daily lives. Is this what is intended by the sponsors? I hope not.

It seems that our Democrat colleagues only ever come to the table to push a political point versus bringing real solutions that advance American interests.

Diplomacy must be backed by strength, and considering this resolution signals that some congressional Members lack the political resolve to do the right thing. We should support measures that ensure that all tools of national power are available to be used to end the Iranian terror regime. Democrats have overwhelmingly agreed Iran is an existential threat to the United States and its allies. Supporting the President at this point in time will help to achieve America's strategic objectives and ensure the U.S. and our allies are operating with the full support of this body.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Mast for his partnership and his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Georgia for yielding. I rise in support of House Resolution 1224, the rule to consider S. 1318, the Foreign Intelligence Accountability Act. This legislation makes further reforms to section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, and reauthorizes the authority for 3 years.

FISA section 702 is one of our country's most important foreign intelligence authorities and is limited to collection on foreign nationals based overseas who are likely to provide foreign intelligence value.

These are terrorists, hackers, and spies living abroad. No U.S. citizen anywhere in the world can be a target under section 702.

While no U.S. person can be a target of FISA 702, some U.S. person information may incidentally be collected if a foreign target is talking to or about a U.S. person or entity.

In 2024, in response to significant FBI abuses of both section 702 and traditional FISA, Congress passed the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, or RISAA, which imposed 56 new requirements and safeguards. Most of the reform measures were directly in response to past abuses by the FBI.

Reauthorizing FISA 702 is essential, but the reality is that despite the successful limits and reforms implemented through RISAA, there is still major distrust of the FBI.

Over the past weeks, alongside Speaker Johnson and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jordan, we have met with members across the Republican Conference to identify core requirements and go line by line through the legislation to make changes and address concerns with the goal of reauthorizing section 702 and requiring additional layers of accountability.

The reality is that no reauthorization effort will likely address everyone's concerns, but this bill makes measurable reforms to strengthen accountability and safeguards while maintaining the criticality of the foreign intelligence tool.

Specifically, the new legislation adds the following six new provisions: clarifies that no U.S. person can be a target of 702 collection, and any targeting of U.S. person requires a title I or title III warrant; requires an outside review and authentication of FBI U.S. person queries by the Civil Liberty Protection Officer at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; establishes criminal penalties for intentional abuse of FISA 702 queries and falsification of statements to the FISC; requires DOJ to update procedures to allow Members to attend FISC hearings; requires FBI attorney preapproval of all FBI U.S. person queries; and mandates an independent audit by the Government Accountability Office on 702 targeting procedures.

With these important reforms, the bill includes the reauthorization for FISA 702 authorities for 3 years.

In addition to section 702 reforms, the rule adds H.R. 1919, the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act to the underlying bill. This bill blocks the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency to individuals, thereby preventing the Fed from collecting personal financial data on Americans.

The Anti-CBDC bill has passed the House two times already this Congress, and I was proud to support it both times. I want to thank Whip Emmer for introducing it and Financial Services Chairman French Hill for moving it through committee and working with us to attach it to the section 702 extension. When this bill is sent to the Senate, I urge them to pass the combined measure, and I urge all Members to support the rule and underlying bills.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1318, the Foreign Intelligence Accountability Act. This legislation makes further reforms to section 702, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and reauthorizes the authority for 3 years.

Originally authorized in 2008, section 702 allows the intelligence community to gather foreign intelligence on foreign targets based overseas. Targets of 702 are terrorists, hackers, and spies living abroad. No U.S. citizen anywhere in the world can be targeted under section 702.

I want to be very clear on this point. Section 702 is not a backdoor surveillance tool that allows the government to collect and review an American's emails or other electronic communications. The only U.S. person data collected is if the terrorist, spy, or hacker targeted under 702 is talking to an American or about an American. In that case, only the communications held in the foreign target's accounts are collected.

For the government to collect that American's communications, current law already requires the government to get a warrant under different FISA authorities.

Section 702 is one of our country's most important foreign intelligence authorities.

In 2025, 100 percent of the President's intelligence priorities reported on by the NSA were supported by section 702, and more than one-quarter of all NSA reporting contains 702 information; 90 percent of synthetic drug disruptions enabled by the CIA were supported by section 702; and 63 percent of the intelligence products in the President's daily brief contained section 702 information.

Reauthorizing FISA 702 is essential. In 2024, Congress reauthorized section 702 through legislation known as RISAA. This legislation included 56 reform measures that restricted FBI U.S. person queries, implemented greater FBI accountability for any noncompliance, mandated greater transparency across the IC and FISC, and included key reforms to address abuses related to traditional FISA like we all witnessed in the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane investigation.

The RISAA reforms resulted in a 94 percent drop in the number of FBI U.S. person queries from 2022 to 2025, 119,300 down to 7,400. At the same time, the FBI's compliance rate increased to 99 percent, equivalent to other IC agencies.

Despite the efforts of FBI Director Patel to implement the reforms and accountability, rebuilding trust will not happen quickly. For that reason, working with Chairman Jordan and House leadership, I have met with all unique groups across the Republican Conference over the past several months to identify additional key reforms and to develop a consensus product.

The reality is that no reauthorization effort would be likely to be perfect in everyone's eyes, but this bill makes measurable reforms to strengthen accountability and safeguards while maintaining the criticality of the foreign intelligence tool.

Specifically, the bill before us: clarifies that no U.S. person can be a target of 702 collection, and any targeting of a U.S. person requires a warrant; establishes criminal penalties for intentional abuse of FISA 702 queries and any false statements to the FISC; mandates new procedures to allow Members to observe FISC hearings; requires an FBI attorney review all FBI U.S. person queries; orders an independent audit by the Government Accountability Office on 702 targeting procedures; and establishes an outside review and authentication process of all FBI U.S. person queries by mandating the ODNI Civil Liberties Protection Officer review FBI query justifications.

With these important reforms, the bill includes a 3-year reauthorization for FISA 702. The bottom line is that the importance of this tool to U.S. national security cannot be overstated, and for that reason, it is essential for Congress to reauthorize this authority.

On a 24/7 basis, we face the threat of cyberattacks from our adversaries. We have U.S. military personnel and citizens being targeted overseas. We have foreign terrorist organizations recruiting Americans and plotting attacks on the homeland.

FISA 702 is a vital national security authority that enables the intelligence community and military to mitigate and defeat these threats. In fact, if the 702 tool had existed prior to 2001, we may have been able to prevent September 11 from happening.

I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 1318. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood).

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), the distinguished chairman of the Financial Services Committee and member of HPSCI.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick), the distinguished chair of the CIA Subcommittee on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Jackson), the chair of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I thank the ranking member, my friend from Connecticut, for his comments.

FISA 702 is a critical foreign intelligence tool. There is no other authority that can replicate the value, speed, and agility of this authority.

Two years ago, Congress enacted 56 reform measures focused on section 702, U.S. person queries and other FISA transparency and accountability measures. These measures have forced meaningful change at the FBI. The bill before us continues the 2024 reforms and includes additional privacy and civil liberty protections and transparency measures.

Before closing, I want to express my appreciation to Chairman Jordan for

working with me on this effort over the last several months. I thank the members of the House Intelligence Committee, many of whom have spoken today on behalf of this bill, for their oversight on section 702 and other foreign intelligence authorities.

I also thank the fantastic staff in the Office of House Legislative Counsel, especially Philip Bayer, Toby Dorsey, and Tony Sciascia.

I thank the HPSCI majority staff, including Griffin Decker, Ryan Breitenbach, Jonah Shumate, Laura Casulli, and Mandy Bowers.

I thank the Members who dedicated countless hours to the process of hammering this out who attended the meetings, whose input we heard and whose input we value. I thank them, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on S. 1318.

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

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today on behalf of rural communities in support of my amendment, which clarifies that USDA Circuit Rider program activities that are necessary to prevent imminent harm to life or property shall be treated as excepted activities during government shutdowns.

The USDA Circuit Rider program is a hugely successful initiative that provides necessary technical expertise and training to rural communities. The technical expertise is critical to communities to operate safe and clean drinking water systems and helps ensure compliance with clean water regulations.

Circuit riders, as these experts are referred to, are in the field every day, helping communities with water system compliance, operations, management, and training.

Additionally, this assistance protects the Federal Government's sizable investment in rural water infrastructure.

Under most government shutdowns, the Circuit Rider program has been deemed essential because of the critical role it plays to prevent imminent harm to life and property, until the most recent shutdown in October.

Circuit riders routinely serve as first responders for the rural water sector, providing immediate assistance during system failures, water quality violations, natural disasters, and other emergencies, often as the only available technical resource.

Therefore, it is essential, even during a government shutdown, that this program continues.

My amendment simply clarifies that during a lapse in appropriations, the Circuit Rider program will continue to be funded and operational. Even during a government shutdown, folks in rural communities continue to need safe and clean drinking water.

Mr. Chair, for that reason, I strongly urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I urge passage of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to introduce my bipartisan hot rotisserie chicken amendment No. 8 to H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026.

My amendment seeks to add hot rotisserie chicken to the list of foods eligible for SNAP recipients to purchase. By expanding access to hot rotisserie chicken, we are providing families with a high quality, nutrient-dense protein source.

This directly aligns with the new dietary guidelines for Americans established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is a step toward Making America Healthy Again.

Hot rotisserie chicken is available at most local grocery stores that accept SNAP and is often around $5 or $6. That is a great bargain, Mr. Chair, considering the multiple meals you can get from one chicken. Plus, there is no financial burden on the taxpayer associated with this amendment.

Currently, SNAP participants may only purchase cold rotisserie chicken, which is simply refrigerated hot chicken. This requirement not only degrades quality but also wastes energy and adds unnecessary cost. Additionally, some Americans lack easy access to reheating methods, making it difficult for them to warm and consume the cold rotisserie chicken.

By allowing the purchase of hot rotisserie chicken, we give families the opportunity to use it as a meal or as an ingredient in countless recipes such as chicken salad, enchiladas, soups, and casseroles, and the list goes on.

This meaningful change will allow families to enjoy a wider variety of wholesome meals.

Governors from States around the country and my great State of Arkansas have pending waiver requests at the USDA to allow their States to make hot rotisserie chicken SNAP eligible. Their leadership demonstrates the growing recognition that this amendment is not only practical and targeted, but essential to our constituents.

Together, we can make our nutrition assistance programs more effective and make a positive impact on the American family with this sensible, targeted addition.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson), who is the distinguished chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.

Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Glendon Markin, II, a dedicated veteran who has served our country in national security positions for more than 25 years. His excellence in the field is not only an extraordinary personal milestone, but a testament to the character and commitment he brings to every endeavor.

In 2002, Glen joined the United States Navy, after serving as a legislative aid in the U.S. House of Representatives during the September 11, 2001, attacks. His service in the Navy included tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, exemplifying steadfast dedication, courage, and devotion to duty.

Following his military service, he continued protecting America in several critical roles within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, including as the Deputy Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs. In that role, Glen provided essential guidance to the Intelligence Community regarding legislative strategy. He oversaw stewardship of the National Intelligence Program budget, aligned congressional engagement strategies across all intelligence elements, ensured Congress was appropriately informed, and supported the Senate confirmation of five presidential appointees.

Most recently, he has been serving as the Director of the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at the National Reconnaissance Office. In this role, he applies his expertise in translating complex, technical information to achieve legislative and public engagement successes.

Beyond his distinguished service, Glen treasures his role as a husband and father to his wife and their two daughters. He exemplifies commitment, a strong work ethic, and a resilient passion for the traditions we hold dear.

In honor of his upcoming retirement, I congratulate Mr. Markin and extend my deepest appreciation for his enduring contributions to the United States and to the Intelligence Community. I wish him every happiness that life has to offer in the next chapter of life. May God bless him, and may God Bless America.

Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 83, I mistakenly voted Nay when I intended to vote Yea.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, my good friend, Mr. Mast, for yielding and for his leadership on highlighting the error of removing the United States' Armed Forces from a conflict that will bring an end to a 47-year engagement.

Mr. Speaker, make no mistake about it: The Iranian regime is the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world. Despite extensive diplomatic efforts, the regime refuses to give up its nuclear weapon ambitions, its ballistic, cruise, and antiship missile production and proliferation, or its support of terror.

As Secretary Rubio said yesterday: ``Iran is run by lunatics, religious fanatic lunatics. They have an ambition to have nuclear weapons. They intend to develop those nuclear weapons behind a program of missiles and drones and terrorism that the world will not be able to touch them for fear of those things.''

When these murderous despots tell us that they want to eliminate us from existence, which they have said time and time again over the past 47 years, and now, in a relatively short timeframe, they attempt to sprint to the finish line by significantly hardening their conventional defensive posture, expediting the development of nuclear weapons and showing their desperation by slaughtering thousands of their own people, it is clear that we have reached the point of no return--a point after which it is too late to respond.

We all know that we wouldn't be here today if the President's name weren't Donald Trump. Democrats have been calling for the U.S. to take action against Iran until Donald Trump did so.

Last month, Democrats sponsored H.R. 7380, the IRAN Act, chastising the Iranian regime for repeatedly shutting down internet connectivity and impeding the Iranian people from communicating during emergencies and exercising internationally recognized human rights.

Earlier this year, the Democrat-sponsored H.R. 5912, the DISRUPT Act, would require the executive branch to ``develop a whole-of-government strategy to disrupt growing cooperation among the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which are the foremost adversaries of the United States, and mitigate the risks posed to the United States.''

This Democrat bill even states that the partnering of these four U.S. adversaries ``reinforces threats posed by each such adversary individually.''

It seems pretty clear to me that the Democratic rhetoric has argued in

favor of cracking down on the brutal Iran regime--of course, until President Trump was the one to initiate the regime's demise.

President Trump has the duty to protect Americans and the United States' interests both at home and abroad. The administration engaged in earnest diplomacy to mitigate the Iranian threat. It became crystal clear, however, that the Iranian regime used the diplomatic process to buy itself time to reconstitute its ballistic missile inventories and nuclear weapons program.

As the threat neared its apex, a point beyond which mitigation would be impossible, President Trump lived up to his duty as Commander in Chief and took decisive action.

On March 2, President Trump notified Congress, consistent with the oft-criticized War Powers Resolution of 1973, of military action used to address this threat to the American people and American interests.

In other words, the President has clearly acted consistent with precedent and has prosecuted this military action in a transparent and forthcoming manner, holding multiple press conferences and sending his Cabinet officials and operational experts to provide multiple classified briefings on the status of the ongoing conflict to all Members of Congress, as well as the appropriate committees and their staffs.

Mr. Speaker, passing the measure today would do nothing to keep America safe. It would do nothing to strengthen Congress. All it would do is put America's safety and all of its allies at risk. It would allow Iran to once again rebuild its murderous regime and terrorize the world.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.'' I thank Chairman Mast for his partnership and leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Mast for yielding and for his leadership on this critical issue.

Mr. Speaker, make no mistake about it, we are not at war with Venezuela.

Nicolas Maduro is a murderer, an autocrat, a narcoterrorist, and a thug who has oppressed his own people, stolen elections, and turned a once prosperous and free country into a desperate nation that millions have fled.

Most importantly, as for the action that the United States took against him on January 3, he is a criminal, an indicted fugitive from U.S. justice.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have demanded Maduro's removal for years, after the stolen 2024 election, the fraudulent 2018 election, and the Constituent Assembly power grab in 2017.

In fact, H. Res. 1409 of the 118th Congress is a Democrat-sponsored resolution with the unambiguous title of ``Standing in solidarity with the Venezuelan people and condemning Nicolas Maduro's attempt to steal the Venezuelan Presidential election.''

Here is another Democratic hit, H.R. 8741 of the 118th Congress, pointing to the threat to our homeland, defining Maduro as a person of concern who has engaged in a ``long-term pattern or serious instances of activity adverse to the national security of the United States, the security of critical infrastructure of the United States, or the safety and security of United States persons.''

Who can forget Democrat-sponsored H.R. 5670 of the 118th Congress that succinctly called for ``an end to the usurpation of Presidential authorities by Nicolas Maduro.''

Instead of celebrating President Trump's historic leadership on this issue and the unmatched operational excellence of the United States military, law enforcement officers, and the intelligence community in carrying out this historic and heroic effort, House Democrats are once again putting politics before protecting the American people.

Mr. Speaker, this hypocrisy is evident in the message coming from congressional Democrats. Earlier this month, Chuck Schumer stated that President Trump ``seems content to drag our country . . . into an endless war with no plan, no transparency, and nothing but wishful thinking.'' Nothing could be further from the truth.

Operation Absolute Resolve was a masterfully, meticulously planned law enforcement operation supported by the U.S. military.

I don't know how much clearer we must be with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, but the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela. None of the actions taken by the Trump administration to execute an arrest warrant on a criminal constitutes war.

The Trump administration has briefed both Chambers of Congress in detail on the operation to bring Maduro to justice, an action the Democrats in this Chamber would have celebrated had it been carried out by the feckless and failed Biden administration.

Additionally, Secretary Rubio confirmed again to Congress on January 14 that there are currently no U.S. troops in Venezuela and that the introduction of U.S. Armed Forces into future hostilities will be undertaken consistent with notification of the War Powers Resolution if required.

Mr. Speaker, the hypocrisy of House Democrats is palpable this afternoon in this Chamber.

I urge each of my colleagues to vote down this deeply flawed resolution and instead thank President Trump for continuing to take historic action to place the safety of the American people first.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Mast for his partnership and leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order into the Record.

Mr. Speaker, it is particularly important with this Special Order to clear the air. Americans deserve no less than to understand the truth of what just transpired in Venezuela.

Nicolas Maduro has been removed as the reigning despot, narcoterrorist, and illegitimate President of Venezuela. This fact is a momentous and great thing, pure and simple.

Notwithstanding what you might have heard from many Democrats when President Trump's successfully ordered Maduro's arrest and exfiltration, the realization on the part of the world, especially Venezuelans, that Maduro's sword of repression has come to an end resulted in praise and thanksgiving. This mission clearly showed America's full force and capability to instigate good in the world and battle the forces of evil.

Americans woke up on January 3, 2026, to news that our truly courageous and skillful intelligence community, law enforcement, and military had executed a mission that is simply unbelievable if we had not heard about the exploits soon thereafter.

What an unprecedented risk our men and women took on that day to do what no other political administration in the world had ever contemplated as remotely possible: to remove and exfiltrate for prosecution a ruthless dictator whose direct involvement in narcoterrorism has led to the death of scores of Americans and other allies' citizens.

Please don't take my word for the nature of Maduro's reign over Venezuela. My Democrat colleagues have for years been raising the alarm of Maduro's destruction through a multitude of legislative measures. Just a small subset of this Democrat-led legislation is cited in a House resolution--H. Res. 987--we have introduced today.

Examples include H.R. 328, a Democratic-sponsored bill that excoriates the Maduro regime which ``has refused to respect the overwhelming choice of

the people of Venezuela and subsequently arrested and abused thousands of innocent citizens of Venezuela, including children, for peaceful political participation.''

Mr. Speaker, consider H. Res. 1471 of the 118th Congress, another Democratic-sponsored piece of legislation that stresses ``Venezuela, where actors linked to the regime of Nicolas Maduro have engaged in a sustained and synchronized campaign of disinformation to undermine the country's 2023-2024 electoral process, invalidate the results of such elections, and attack Maria Corina Machado and other opposition leaders.''

Mr. Speaker, pointing to the threat closer to home, Democratic- sponsored H.R. 8741 of the 118th Congress defined Maduro as a person of concern who is engaged in a ``long-term pattern or serious instances of activity adverse to the national security of the United States, the security of critical infrastructure of the United States, or the safety and security of United States persons.''

Mr. Speaker, contemplate Democratic-sponsored H.R. 5670 of the 118th Congress that succinctly called for ``an end to the usurpation of Presidential authorities by Nicolas Maduro.''

Yet, despite this forgoing string of legislation sponsored by my friends on the other side of the aisle pointing to Maduro's reign of terror, sadly, President Trump's decisive actions to do something about it all seems to have caused a reversal in sentiment among Democrats. Rather than expressing unity during a time when the Western Hemisphere has been freed from a despot's clutch, instead, Democrats have called the Trump administration ``warmongers'' who are ``lying to the American people,'' or referring to the President himself as having put us in a ``fascist cul-de-sac,'' having committed ``an impeachable offense.''

Do these comments from Democrats sound supportive of the Trump administration or the fine men and women who successfully conducted one of the most daring operations in American history? Not to me. Not to any American who reads or hears them.

Instead, they seem to revel in demeaning a President whose administration just accomplished what the Democrats have never been able to do; that is, executing Maduro's demise.

Despite a long, laundry list of Democratic bills and resolutions seemingly hoping for Maduro's eventual removal, Democrats now choose to attack those who were able to make reality their previously voiced ambitions. Yet merely because it was the Trump administration which graciously performed the seemingly impossible, these Democrats now oppose one of America's greatest hours.

To this end, we introduced a resolution today to make clear that the House of Representatives is supportive of the efforts of our brave patriots who deftly brought an end to Maduro's terrorization of not only the good people of Venezuela but also those Americans and others who have experienced Maduro's drug-laden terrorism.

This Special Order and the related House resolution clarify one thing: America is grateful for this administration's efforts to rid the world of a freedom-killing, murderous dictator. We are all better for it.

Mr. Speaker, I now recognize my friend, vice chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Kelly).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Mississippi for his remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood), the distinguished chairman of the National Security Agency and Cyber Subcommittee on the House Intelligence Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize the gentleman from Arkansas, Mr. Hill, my colleague and the distinguished member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, as well as the chairman of the Committee on Financial Services.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Austin Scott, my good friend and a distinguished member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and chairman of the Subcommittee on the National Intelligence Enterprise.

Mr. Speaker, I am now pleased to recognize my good friend from Florida, Greg Steube, also a member and colleague on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for his eloquent comments.

I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney), who is also my colleague on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York for those outstanding comments.

Mr. Speaker, I take no pleasure in highlighting the hypocrisy of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. In fact, I wish we all could speak with one voice on this issue. It should never be partisan or controversial to praise the arrest of a man like Nicolas Maduro.

Make no mistake about it, Nicolas Maduro is a murderer, an autocrat, a narcoterrorist, and a thug who has oppressed his people, stolen elections, and turned a once prosperous and free country into a desperate nation that millions have fled. We should all be celebrating the actions of the Trump administration in attempting to bring him to justice.

Sadly, as we have shown today, many of my Democrat friends who were once on the right side of this issue have changed their minds simply because Nicolas Maduro's arrest was orchestrated by someone they don't like, President Trump.

Instead of celebrating the administration of justice by an impartial U.S. court, they bemoan it. They call it unconstitutional, illegal, impeachable, and fascist. They insinuate that our government is somehow no better than Maduro's Socialist and murderous regime. That is just nonsense. In fact, it is embarrassing for those Members.

I respect my colleagues, both Democrat and Republican, who have long opposed the Maduro regime and the Chavez regime before it, people like Representatives Salazar and Gimenez, who represent thousands of Venezuelan Americans whose families or themselves have experienced the terror of

Venezuelan Socialism and oppression. I thank them for taking the time to support us and for showing why this effort in Congress is so vital. Without voices like theirs bringing us the true feelings of Venezuelan Americans, we would only have heard from those who cared more about opposing the President than bringing an oppressor to justice.

I also thank the many nameless, faceless Americans who planned and executed this daring and successful arrest. The public will never know their names or see their faces. Americans who have suffered from drug overdoses in their families brought on by illegal narcotics trafficked to the U.S. by Maduro and his cronies will never get to thank those individuals. I thank them, and I want them to know that they are being prayed for and thanked for all that they have done.

Bringing a man like Nicolas Maduro to justice won't bring back the millions of Americans we have lost to drugs or the countless numbers of Venezuelans who have been political victims of the regime, but it is a start.

Mr. Speaker, justice is worth fighting for. A Western Hemisphere free from drug trafficking and gangs, supported and run by illegitimate autocrats, is worth fighting for. Standing behind our principles, even when it is politically inconvenient, is a posture worth fighting for.

Mr. Speaker, as I close tonight, I remind the American people that this administration's law enforcement actions to bring Maduro to justice have received the full support of Republicans in Congress. I hope my Democratic colleagues, who were once in favor of such actions, will be able to put aside their animus toward the President and embrace new possibilities for the people of Venezuela.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 8 o'clock and 7 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of my constituent, Dr. Rose Marie Bryant Jones, a dedicated leader in her community and a long-time member of the Republican Party of Arkansas, who recently passed away on Friday, December 26, 2025, at the age of 83.

Dr. Jones was born on January 7, 1942. in East Pulaski County, and was a true trailblazer throughout her life, known for breaking down educational barriers. She graduated from Philander Smith College in 1963 and subsequently from the University of Arkansas. Dr. Jones was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and a founding member of the African American Coalition of Arkansas.

She was a schoolteacher in Lonoke County for over 30 years, before and after integration, and established tutoring programs across two counties in Arkansas. Dr. Jones took great pride in educating and influencing the next generation of students in her community.

Her public service did not stop in the classroom. She served on the Lonoke Public School Board and the Lonoke City Council as a pioneer of civil rights, with the heart of representing all Lonoke citizens through redistricting efforts. In 1998, she ran for the office of Arkansas Secretary of State. She was even the President of the Pea Ridge Cemetery Board. In 2024, Dr. Jones stepped up again for her community and was elected Justice of the Peace in Lonoke County, where she continued her storied career in public service.

She made a lasting impact on all of those who knew her and an incredible impression on the 1st Congressional District of Arkansas. May her legacy of perseverance and hard work continue to encourage us all. Dr. Rose Marie Bryant Jones led a life worth honoring and celebrating for her service to her community. I send my prayers and sincere condolences to the friends and family of Dr. Jones as they grieve her passing.