Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership on this initiative. I am glad somebody is showing some leadership here today.

I rise in opposition to the removal of the use of United States Armed Forces for hostilities within or against Venezuela, or the support for drug dictators act.

The United States is using a proportional force to apply pressure on narcoterrorists who are colluding with the illegitimate leader of Venezuela, Nicholas Maduro. They have already acknowledged that.

The use of military pressure, which matches pressure that the U.S. has used in the global fight on terrorism, is a proper extension of the use of force in the Western Hemisphere where narcoterrorists operating through and with Venezuela are creating instability and poisoning Americans in droves.

The use of measured military power is the logical step to attempt to stop narcotics terrorists from supporting Maduro.

The United States has imposed individual, financial, and sectoral sanctions on the Venezuelan Government as well as sanctions on the Maduro government and its supporters. This proposed resolution would disable the very effective tool that has been used to keep pressure on terrorist forces who have a Venezuelan nexus and are planning, plotting, and carrying out attacks against the U.S. and our interests.

The strikes on narcoterrorist cartel assets have been precise and limited. Military action of this nature does not require congressional authorization. Under Article II of the Constitution, the President has the authority--and I would say the responsibility--to protect the United States and American citizens from attack. Moreover, U.S. troops have not been put into harm's way.

Admittedly, it shocks me that we need to remind my colleagues on the other side of the aisle what we are fighting for here. The most recent CDC data shockingly reports that more than 82,000 drug overdose deaths have occurred during the 12-month period ending in January 2025. If ISIS or al-Qaida had contributed to the killing of that many Americans in a single year, our leaders would be rightfully assailed for failing to respond.

Now that President Trump is taking the fight to the terrorists who have actually contributed to our Nation's drug overdose epidemic, he is met with criticism rather than the praise that he and his administration deserve.

I guarantee you that family and friends don't distinguish between the branch of terrorism that led to the death of their loved ones. They just want them defeated.

For too long, these cartels have poisoned the American people, destabilized and corrupted our neighbors, and tortured and killed thousands of innocents throughout our hemisphere.

I have traveled extensively across the Western Hemisphere and met with many of our neighbors' leaders and their forces who are also engaged in the fight against these cartels, and these terrorist organizations are some of the most vile and evil in the world.

To bar the President from using military force consistent with other counterterrorism activities, simply due to a Venezuelan nexus, is not supportable and is antithetical to his duty to protect our Nation from foreign terrorism threats.

This resolution would prevent the application of the use of force against the very narcotics terrorists cooperating with Venezuela.

How in the world is that consistent with the primary duty of the government to protect our Nation and its citizens?

I strongly recommend that my colleagues vote against this misguided resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lieutenant General Kenneth A. Minihan, United States Air Force, a transformative leader in American intelligence who passed away last month.

General Minihan spent 33 years in uniform, advancing the security of our Nation. Rising through the ranks, he ultimately led all U.S. Air Force intelligence efforts as Deputy Chief, Intelligence, and subsequently held key joint force positions, commanding both the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.

He guided the intelligence community through its most consequential transition from the Cold War to the Information Age and pushed America to prepare for a world where data, networks, and information would define the next battlefield.

A visionary of what we now know is cyberspace, he recognized the power and risk associated with this warfighting domain. He warned the Nation about foreign intrusions into our military networks, championed real-time integrated military operations, and built foundations of the cyber and signals enterprise we depend on today.

His leadership created the structures, culture, and historical stewardship that still guide America's intelligence ideals. General Minihan was a man dedicated to his intelligence tradecraft, his Commander in Chief, his Nation, and his family.

His service to country was strengthened by the steadfast devotion of his wife, Barbara. She raised their family through every military deployment and every move, and supported military spouses and children across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps with grace and compassion.

A son of Texas and a proud airman, General Minihan leaves a legacy of military and intelligence professionals to carry his guidon into the future of a strong and secure U.S. national security enterprise.

On behalf of the House Intelligence Committee and a grateful Nation, we thank and honor Lieutenant General Ken Minihan for a lifetime of extraordinary service.

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

Mr. Chair, this amendment is so great, you are not even going to believe it.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 3898, the PERMIT Act, that offers a solution to compensatory mitigation.

A lack of wetland mitigation credits is holding back residential housing construction, and the available credits are increasingly expensive.

These costs are passed down to the consumer, exacerbating the already unaffordable housing market that the U.S. is facing.

Unpredictable and lengthy permitting timelines for mitigation banks are making it more challenging to bring new credits to the market. Moreover, the requirement to purchase mitigation credits located within the same hydraulic unit code--geographic area determined by surface hydraulic features--can mean that credits available at a nearby wetland bank cannot be used if they are too far away.

Without available credits, a builder's second option is in-lieu fee programs; however, not all States offer this option, or builders can use a permittee-responsible mitigation. Still, most builders are not equipped to carry this out. Both options are expensive and burdensome.

My amendment fixes this issue by increasing the supply of mitigation bank credits, driving down the cost curve, and lowering home prices both through directly lowering the regulatory cost of building a new home and allowing builders to use lots that the cost of mitigation today prevents them from using.

Additionally, my amendment directs the Army Corps of Engineers and EPA to publish a revised compensatory mitigation rule that incorporates advances in science and lessons learned since 2007; promotes equivalency and flexibility among mitigation options, providing builders additional options beyond mitigation bank credits; speeds the approval of mitigation banks, including through the interagency review process, which provides numerous duplicative opportunities for the Army Corps offices to raise the same concerns; allows for mitigation credits to be used across multiple hydraulic unit codes; and allows for out-of- kind mitigation where appropriate.

Together, these changes will increase the availability of credits and provide alternatives to ensure that a lack of credits doesn't hamstring new developments.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment to H.R. 3898, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I am very pleased to recognize that my friends on the other side of the aisle do recognize that we have a real big problem with compliance burdens and the costs associated with that, and how that prevents Americans from realizing the American Dream of homeownership. As they raise the point of affordability, they neglect the fact that we can address affordability by reducing costs to potential homeowners.

At least we can agree that we have a cumbersome regulatory framework that needs to be fixed. This helps fix and is actually a proactive step in addressing the affordability crisis. One of those things has to do with homeownership, and by adopting this amendment, we are increasing the likelihood that an American can actually build a home and realize the American Dream.

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

Mr. Chair, I have heard this mentioned more than once today, and that is that we need to increase the number of personnel to process, manage, and administer the regulatory burdens that Americans are facing. Let me say that again. The Democrats say we need to increase personnel because the regulatory burden is so cumbersome that it takes additional personnel to be able to administer it. That seems counterintuitive to regulatory relief.

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

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present for the vote series on November 17, 2025 due to a funeral for a family member.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 286; YEA on Roll Call No. 287; and NAY on Roll Call No. 288.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of the oldest living residents of Arkansas, my constituent, Mrs. Ida Newbill, on her 111th birthday.

Born on October 14, 1914, Mrs. Newbill has lived through more than a century of extraordinary progress, bearing witness to generations of history with grace, wisdom, and faith. She was raised attending Sunday school, and continues to build her life upon strong values, which have served as guiding principles for her family and community.

Together with her late husband, Mr. Joseph Newbill, Mrs. Newbill raised six children, four of whom are still living: daughter Alberta Glass (age of 94), daughter Willie Mae Terry (age of 91), daughter Augustine Terry (age of 90), and daughter Ida Henderson (age of 88). Mrs. Newbill is a proud matriarch of a United States Army family, with her son, grandson, and great-grandson having honorably served our Nation.

She also has a profound love for locomotives. Each year, a special locomotive visit by the North Louisiana and Arkansas Railroad to Arch Street in Eudora, Arkansas, near her home, has become a cherished tradition to celebrate her birthday. Today is no different, Danny Robbins will drive the train to her hometown and host a birthday celebration for ``Momma Ida,'' as she is often referred to throughout the community.

May her life continue to remind us all that faith, family, and perseverance are the foundations of a happy life. It is with great admiration that I wish Mrs. Newbill a very happy birthday and honor her contributions to the 1st Congressional District of Arkansas, and I extend my sincerest wishes for continued joy, peace, and health in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Nathan Morris, current Superintendent of the Cross County School District. He is a dedicated Arkansan, a passionate educator, and a strong leader.

On September 15, 2025, Dr. Morris received the prestigious honor of 2026 Arkansas Superintendent of the Year. This award is presented to those who successfully lead learning in their districts, demonstrate strength in both personal and organizational communication, show continuous improvement in administrative knowledge and skills, and actively participate in local community activities while maintaining a deep understanding of regional, national, and international issues.

Dr. Morris' efforts have ensured a graduation rate of 98 percent with a growing academic proficiency rating. Cross County High School has been included in the lists by U.S. News and World Report for both Best High Schools and Best Charter High Schools. At the elementary school level, Cross County Elementary Technology Academy has been recognized as Top 10 World's Best Schools for Overcoming Adversity while under Dr. Morris' leadership.

Dr. Morris began his tenure as superintendent in 2018 and has since guided Cross County through a significant transformation. He has implemented programs that foster teacher leadership, professional collaboration, and growth which have led to lowered office referrals, boosted teacher effectiveness, and 20 percent growth in enrollment.

Dr. Morris exemplifies commitment, hard work, and an unwavering passion for academic success. His recognition as Superintendent of the Year is not only an incredible personal milestone, but a reflection of the great community we have throughout the First District of Arkansas.

I want to offer my sincere congratulations to Dr. Morris, and I look forward to his continued work in education.

Mr. Speaker, upon casting my vote, I departed the House floor without realizing the voting system did not register my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 282.

Mr. Chair, on Roll Call No. 254, I mistakenly voted No when I intended to vote Aye.

Amendment No. 22 Offered by Ms. Greene of Georgia

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Desha County Judge Mr. Richard Tindall, a dedicated Arkansan, faithful Christian, lifelong learner, and beloved public servant, on the occasion of his passing on Friday, July 11, 2025, at the age of 79.

Mr. Tindall was born on September 13, 1945, in Monticello, Arkansas and graduated from McGehee High School, where he met his wife of more than sixty years, Mrs. Sandy Tindall. Mr. Tindall held a deep commitment to his family and was an adored father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Mr. Tindall is fondly remembered for his innovative spirit and held a variety of occupations, including a small business owner, a licensed contractor, and a farmer. He also possessed an array of interests as an avid outdoorsman, tournament fisherman, and horse showman. He became one of the first to attempt to raise saltwater shrimp in freshwater in southeast Arkansas.

In 2018, Mr. Tindall ran for Desha County Judge, and thanks to the broad support of Desha County citizens, he was elected to serve. After taking office in January 2019, Judge Tindall led Desha County through numerous disasters, flooding events, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He held this role with great dedication and integrity until the day he passed.

In his role as County Judge, Mr. Tindall developed relationships with local, state, and federal agencies to aid county residents through disasters. He was also responsible for the day-to-day operations of the county, which included management of various departments, oversight of over $5 million in assets, 500 miles of county roads, and an annual budget of over $7 million.

Mr. Tindall strove to make his community a better place. He was a man who believed in the importance of family and faith above all else and worked tirelessly to support his community, which he loved deeply. His kindness, loyalty, and service will forever be remembered. Let us continue to honor his legacy by carrying forward these values that he lived by. Desha County residents will deeply cherish Judge Tindall's memory, and he made a profound impact on all who knew him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the outstanding contributions of Mr. Lee Vent, a lifelong administrator and educator, who was recently recognized as a Legacy Leader by the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators. The organization is dedicated to supporting and enhancing educational leadership in Arkansas through various initiatives and legislative advocacy. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the field of education in Arkansas.

Mr. Vent has shown unwavering dedication with an incredible 56-year career in education, including 43 continuous years as a Superintendent, making him the longest continuously serving Superintendent in Arkansas. He currently serves as the President of the Great Rivers ESC Board of Directors and Superintendent of the Clarendon-Holly Grove School District. Mr. Vent is a strong testament to the vision, compassion, and resilience demonstrated by thousands of Arkansas educators.

Mr. Vent's love for learning began in a three-room schoolhouse, which had no indoor plumbing. He has spent most of his educational career in schools along the Mississippi Delta, or what he calls ``the pure Delta.'' He has dedicated his life to selflessly serving the community, and ensuring students are prepared for a promising and successful future. Mr. Vent embodies the very best of American educators, fostering a knowledgeable, collaborative, curious, and innovative learning environment for all.

Mr. Vent's continued efforts are well-recognized through his strength in personal and organizational communication and constant improvement of administrative knowledge and skills. His deep commitment to transforming our community through educational resources brings great pride to our district.

It is my honor to congratulate Lee Vent on his recognition as a Legacy Leader and for his decades of service. I thank him for preserving the legacy of learning. I wish him continued success, and may his actions continue to encourage others.

Mr. Speaker, today I celebrate the storied career of Officer John Salb, who will be retiring today after proudly serving the Capitol Police for over 30 years.

Officer Salb first joined the Capitol Police in 1993 when he was hired as a security aide, before being hired as a full-time officer the following year. Working in Capitol Divisions 2 and 3, Officer Salb has protected this Capitol and its millions of visitors and workers with honor. After 30 years, he likely has enough stories to fill this House Chamber. A number of those include his brother, William, as the two served together from 1994 until 2008.

In 2011, John made his way down to the House Intelligence Committee, where he spent every day for the last 14 years securing our Members and staff. For over a decade, John has been a valuable asset to our intelligence team, not only providing security but also serving as the committee expert on all things Capitals and Commanders.

While everyone at Intel will miss our friend, we wish him the best as he embarks on his next great journey. May John enjoy his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, today I was unable to vote in the afternoon due to attending an event at the White House that was during voting time. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 40 and YEA on Roll Call No. 41.

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of St. Bernards Healthcare, which celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2025. St. Bernards, based in Jonesboro, Arkansas, began caring for patients in 1900, in response to a malaria fever epidemic. A group of Olivetan Benedictine Sisters received a request to care for the sick, and they purchased a six-room house to be converted into a hospital. That house is now a hospital that stands as a 454-bed regional medical center, the largest of its kind in eastern Arkansas and southeast Missouri. Every year, 625,000 patients across 23 counties depend on St. Bernards's 100 locations and more than 4,700 team members to provide exceptional care.

St. Bernards strives to uphold the mission set by its founding Sisters, who still sponsor it today--``to provide Christ-like healing to the community through education, treatment, and health services.''

Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating St. Bernards Healthcare's 125th anniversary.

Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for yielding me time.

I rise today in support of the cluster munitions prohibition amendment.

We have heard from Members speaking in favor of this amendment, and I would like to echo their concerns from a military perspective.

Cluster munitions do kill innocent civilians, but they also are incredibly deadly to U.S. military personnel as well.

The vast majority of cluster munitions lack a self-destruct capability and have failure rates of 2 to 40 percent.

With many of these war-torn nations unable to adequately address their own UXO clearance operations, often due to a lack of having their own EOD-trained personnel, this is where the United States military steps in.

Through programs like the Humanitarian Demining Research and Development Program and the Humanitarian Mine Action Program, the U.S. Department of Defense sends highly skilled EOD personnel to provide demining assistance to partner nations post-conflict.

This means that even if the United States is not directly involved in a conflict, we send America's EOD personnel into harm's way when they conduct clearance operations.

President Biden has provided Ukraine with cluster munitions for use against Russia, and anyone would be a fool to believe that when the Ukraine-Russia conflict is over, American EOD personnel will not be sent to assist in post-conflict clearance operations.

On my last visit to the EOD Memorial Wall at Eglin Air Force Base, I reread the names of 344 fallen EOD technicians. If we don't support the cluster munitions prohibition amendment, we will be adding more names to that wall.

As a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Explosive Ordnance Disposal Caucus, it is my duty to be a voice in Congress for America's EOD personnel.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise in support of my bill H.R. 3317, the Rolling Stock Protection Act. I ask that my colleagues join me in supporting this simple and direct bill.

In May of last year, this bipartisan legislation was favorably reported out of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

My bill will close a loophole in Federal law that currently allows some of the country's largest transit agencies that receive Federal Transit Administration dollars to purchase rolling

stock, such as railcars, from State-owned enterprises and State- connected businesses, including those linked to the Chinese Communist Party.

Mr. Speaker, I will be honest with you. I thought Congress had fixed this problem back in 2019 with the passage of the Transportation Infrastructure Vehicle Security Act, or TIVSA. That measure, which was included in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, prohibited the purchase of rolling stock from State-owned enterprises by transit agencies receiving Federal funds.

Why are we back today? We are here today to make it crystal clear to the FTA that CCP-connected companies are never allowed to receive taxpayer dollars.

While TIVSA should have eliminated any future payments of American taxpayer dollars to CCP-connected companies, like the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation, the FTA's execution of the law provided lifetime exemptions to four transit agencies from the prohibitions on contracting with CCP-connected companies.

I mentioned that the FTA granted lifetime exemptions to four transit agencies from the law's prohibitions, and I think it is important that we know who we are talking about. The four agencies receiving this exemption from the FTA were the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA; the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, MBTA; the Chicago Transit Authority; and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority.

I am pleased to report that one of those transit agencies, SEPTA, just announced in April that after significant production delays and cost overruns, it was exercising the right to terminate its contract with CRRC for cause. That is a positive step.

Alternatively, another agency that received the lifetime exemption, the MBTA, recently announced that it is re-upping the contract with CRRC and adding another $148 million in rolling stock purchases.

The enactment of TIVSA should have eliminated any possibility that transit agencies that receive Federal funding could continue using those dollars to pay for contracts with companies connected to the CCP, but 5 years after TIVSA was made law, a major public transit agency is expanding just such a contract.

That is all the more reason we are taking action to pass H.R. 3317 today. This bill will end, once and for all, the practice of sending Federal dollars to CCP-controlled rolling stock companies by eliminating these lifetime exemptions.

Chinese companies that are controlled by the CCP have nearly limitless financial resources they can use to undercut domestic rolling stock manufacturers. It is an unfair, uncompetitive playing field, and I am proud to put an end to it today.

Let's be clear. The CCP isn't just investing in these State-owned enterprises to help them better compete in the market. The CCP is trying to take control of the market. The CCP wants to dominate this industry and drive American manufacturers out completely. We can't let that happen.

H.R. 3317 is supported by a broad range of organizations, including the Transport Workers Union, the Alliance for American Manufacturing, the Teamsters, the Railway Supply Institute, and the Rail Security Alliance. I thank them for their support of my legislation, and I hope that my colleagues will join me in approving the passage of this bill today.

My bill will prevent the CCP from using the rolling stock manufacturing market as another tool to undermine our national security and our economic interests.

This is simple legislation that will solve an important concern. H.R. 3317 is good for American workers and will ensure responsible stewardship of American taxpayer dollars.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting my legislation.