Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Joe Cooper of Springfield, better known to a lot of folks as ``Joe the Barber.''

Joe has been cutting hair in Springfield since 1970 and has owned Cooper's Clippers since 1983. For five decades, Joe has cut hair. He has cut my hair. He has cut my father's hair. He has cut the hair of nearly everyone I know.

Joe has told jokes. He has told stories. They solve the problems of the world right there in the barber shop, and he has gotten to know generations of Springfield families.

He is also a huge Cardinals fan. Joe has accurately called the Dodgers the best team that money could buy. So if you are a Dodgers fan sitting in his chair, you may want to keep that to yourself until the haircut is finished.

Ask Joe what he will miss most, and his answer is simple: The people.

I congratulate Joe on 56 years behind the chair, and I thank him for being such a memorable part of the Springfield community. I wish him a joyous retirement, and go Cardinals.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1118) to amend title 41, United States Code, and title 10, United States Code, to provide best value through the multiple award schedule program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I support the Value Over Cost Act, H.R. 1118, which modernizes the General Services Administration's governmentwide Multiple Award Schedule program.

GSA's Multiple Award Schedule program is the Federal Government's most-used contracting procedure for commercial products and services. Federal agencies rely on the Multiple Award Schedule to purchase the best commercial products, services, and solutions at the best price.

Currently, GSA is required to evaluate the ``lowest overall cost alternative'' when determining what will be available on the Multiple Award Schedule. This requires a burdensome process that can actually lead to higher prices over time as contractors pass hidden administrative or ongoing support costs along to the Federal Government.

This bill allows GSA to consider awarding contracts based on the best value instead of the lowest overall cost alternative.

This reform mirrors a change that was made in fiscal year 2026 in the National Defense Authorization Act, putting the civilian agencies on equal footing with our defense agencies.

This bill will maximize the Federal Government's ability to get the best value when procuring modern technology.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Byron Donalds and Jared Moskowitz for their leadership on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support this targeted government efficiency bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important governmentwide procurement reform bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7283) to amend title 41, United States Code, to amend the time period for certain acquisition-related dollar thresholds.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Ensuring Federal Purchasing Efficiency Act is a simple, commonsense reform to government procurement.

The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council is required to adjust certain dollar thresholds, such as the simplified acquisition threshold, every 5 years. However, everyone has seen how quickly the value of money can move in just 5 years.

This bill would simply require these thresholds to be updated every 3 years instead of every 5 years.

These dollar thresholds define the applicability of different policies, procedures, and restrictions to the procurement of property or services needed by Federal agencies to achieve their missions.

Raising these dollar thresholds more frequently saves taxpayer dollars on administrative costs and increases competition to do business with the government, especially for small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important government efficiency reform legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Fallon).

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this government procurement reform bill that will lessen administrative burdens for Federal agencies and companies doing business with the government, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2069) to amend the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 to ensure that other transaction agreements are reported to USAspending.gov, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Madam Speaker, I support this bill, H.R. 2069, the Stop Secret Spending Act of 2025, which requires Federal agencies to report complete and accurate information to USAspending.gov.

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, as later amended by the DATA Act of 2014, established USAspending.gov, a public database of all government spending.

It is critical that government spending is transparent to the American people so that they can be assured that agencies are appropriately using their hard-earned tax dollars.

Transparency is fundamental in building trust in government.

For 20 years, agencies have been required to be more transparent with how they are spending taxpayer dollars, but, unfortunately, gaps have been identified in what gets reported to USAspending.gov by Federal agencies.

Increasingly, Federal agencies have relied upon spending authorities known as other transaction agreements, or OTAs. OTAs are not subject to certain Federal acquisition laws and requirements and, most importantly, are not required to be reported to USAspending.gov under current law.

Agencies use different methods to report the billions of dollars in spending related to OTAs, according to the Government Accountability Office. This has led to inconsistent reporting and unreliable information, resulting in a lack of full transparency over how billions of dollars are spent by Federal agencies.

To be clear, the DATA Act of 2014 intended for all Federal spending to be captured on USAspending.gov.

The Stop Secret Spending Act corrects this issue by requiring OTA spending to be reported to USAspending.gov.

The bill also requires agencies to report annually on types of funding that previously were unreported for a variety of exemptions.

Lastly, it restores the requirement for agency inspectors general to review the entirety of data submitted to USAspending.gov to ensure that it is complete and accurate.

H.R. 2069 will provide more transparency to the American people. It allows taxpayers to hold agencies accountable for how they spend your money.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this very commonsense legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Moore).

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important governmentwide Federal spending transparency reform bill that will help the public and Congress understand exactly how Federal agencies are using the very limited tax dollars that we have, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4123) to improve Federal technology procurement, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the FIT Procurement Act.

Hardworking taxpayers expect the Federal Government to be a responsible steward of their hard-earned dollars. They make tough financial decisions every day, and they rightly expect Washington to exercise the same discipline and restraint.

Too often, however, our Federal procurement system does the opposite. It rewards inefficiency, layers on unnecessary administrative burdens, and slows down agency operations, all at the expense of the taxpayer. These inefficiencies drive up costs and limit agencies in their ability to deliver timely and effective results.

My bill, the FIT Procurement Act, addresses these challenges through targeted, commonsense reforms in the Federal procurement process. The legislation focuses on reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, improving coordination across agencies, and strengthening the acquisition workforce through better training and clearer guidance.

To improve workforce capability, the bill requires the Director of Federal Acquisition Institute to develop and implement cross-functional information and communications technology training for acquisition professionals. This ensures those responsible for purchasing information and communication technology have the tools and knowledge needed to make smart, cost-effective decisions.

The FIT Procurement Act also increases efficiency by expanding the use of simplified, commercial-style purchasing. It raises the micro- purchase threshold from $10,000 to $25,000 and the simplified acquisition threshold from $250,000 to $500,000.

Purchases under the micro-purchase threshold require no contracting officer involvement and significantly reduce the administrative overhead. Raising this threshold alone is estimated to save more than $40 million annually while allowing contracting officers to focus on larger, higher-risk acquisitions where oversight matters the most.

Increasing the simplified acquisition threshold further reduces administrative costs and improves economic efficiency for small businesses that are competing for Federal contracts.

In addition, the FIT Procurement Act authorizes advanced payments for cloud computing services, allowing Federal agencies to access the same upfront payment discounts that are commonly available in the private sector, delivering additional savings to our taxpayers.

Taken together, these reforms streamline procurement, reduce wasteful spending, and improve accountability without expanding government or creating new bureaucracy, ultimately leading to disciplined acquisition practices and real savings for the American taxpayer.

I thank Chairman Comer for his leadership and commitment to advancing this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I couldn't have said it better than my colleague Representative Subramanyam.

I urge my colleagues to support this long-overdue governmentwide procurement reform bill that will help the Federal Government to more efficiently obtain the systems and services that it needs to support our critical missions, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6330) to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for lump-sum relocation payments for Federal employees relocated in the interest of the Government, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Madam Speaker, relocating Federal employees who receive assignments to change official duty stations is a costly and bureaucratic process. According to the General Services Administration, which manages such relocations, in fiscal year 2024, the cost for employee relocation across agencies ranged from $11,000 to a staggering $143,000 per employee.

This high cost contrasts with the private sector, where relocation costs are considerably less. In fact, current law and regulations require seven categories of mandatory relocation entitlements and another six discretionary.

This complexity diverts Federal agency resources that could otherwise be available for other mission-focused priorities. It also comes at the expense of Federal employee satisfaction, as those relocating are forced to navigate a prolonged bureaucratic maze of document filings and payment processes.

Fortunately, there is a tested alternative to the current system, as demonstrated by agencies such as the Fish and Wildlife Service and Customs and Border Protection in a recent pilot program.

Those agencies have utilized this pilot program to provide negotiated, lump-sum payments to relocating employees who are then responsible for moving themselves. The simplified lump-sum payments and processes have already been demonstrated to reduce agency costs while boosting employee satisfaction.

This bill would expand and codify the successful pilot program to allow all agencies to provide these lump-sum payments to relocating employees when such alternative is the most cost-effective option.

Furthermore, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that enacting H.R. 6330 would save the government $306 million over 5 years.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for offering this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor. I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Jack).

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important governmentwide reform bill that will save hundreds of millions of dollars while improving the lives of the Federal workforce.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1722) to require an annual report of taxpayer-funded projects that are over budget and behind schedule, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Madam Speaker, Congress cannot sit on the sidelines while government projects continue to soar above cost projections and run behind schedule.

Each year, the Government Accountability Office reports on such projects, including Federal information technology programs and National Nuclear Security Administration projects. However, there are likely additional government boondoggles flying under the radar, falling years behind schedule, or running billions of dollars over budget.

The Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act will keep policymakers and the public better informed about government-funded projects that are significantly behind schedule or over budget.

We cannot fix what we do not know is broken. This bill directs agencies to report on projects that are more than 5 years behind schedule or have expenditures that are at least $1 billion more than the original cost estimate. The Office of Management and Budget is then required to submit an annual report to Congress summarizing these troubled Federal projects.

Congress has a duty to oversee the Federal Government for inefficiency and waste. This bill informs policymakers and allows Congress to address failing government projects before further taxpayer dollars are misused.

A similar bill passed the House in the 118th Congress as S. 1258, and the identical bill, S. 766, sponsored by Senator Joni Ernst, passed the Senate in December 2025.

I thank Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Yassamin Ansari for their work on the House companion bill. It is time to get this bill sent to the President's desk.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks).

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

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important bipartisan and bicameral government reform bill that will ensure the necessary oversight of the over-budget and behind-schedule Federal projects that take place.

Only when Congress and the public have better visibility into these mismanaged government projects will we be able to avoid such boondoggles in the future.

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

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5578) to ensure that whistleblowers, including contractors, are protected from retaliation when a Federal employee orders a reprisal, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Madam Speaker, every person employed by the Federal Government should have adequate protection from retaliation for speaking out against fraud, waste, or abuse of taxpayer dollars.

However, contractors with the Federal Government have different whistleblower protections than typical government employees.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of the Inspector General found that a lack of whistleblower protections for contractors discouraged them from coming forward. This isn't surprising. It is a difficult decision for someone to come forward and risk their job and their livelihood.

The Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act would address this by strengthening whistleblower protections for Federal contractors by prohibiting reprisals for certain actions.

Such actions could include disclosure of information the protected individual believes is evidence of mismanagement, waste, abuse, or a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety related to a contract or grant.

I thank House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Garcia for his work on this important bill with Chairman Comer and recognize Senators Gary Peters and Chuck Grassley for their steadfast leadership on these necessary reforms.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan and bicameral bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important whistleblower reform bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Steven Lampley, a devoted husband, loving father, faithful servant of God, and tireless advocate for the people of southwest Missouri.

Steve was a genuinely good man. He loved his wife, Kathy. He loved his children, William, Rachel, and Hailey. Nothing made him happier than spending time with them, whether hunting, fishing, camping, or just being together.

More than anything else, that is how I know Steve would want to be remembered.

The values that guided Steve at home were the same values that guided his service to our community. A lot of people complain about the state of our government, but Steve believed the answer wasn't just to complain. It was to get involved, and, boy, did he do that.

Through his work with the Greene County Republican Central Committee and the Missouri Republican Assembly, he devoted countless hours to strengthening the grassroots and serving his fellow Missourians, spending his own time and money driving to Jefferson City, advocating for legislation, and getting bills that protected people's constitutional rights across the finish line.

If you knew Steve, you knew he never asked someone else to do something he wasn't willing to do himself. He stepped up when leadership was needed, treated everyone with dignity and respect, and quietly went about doing what he believed was right.

My prayers are with Kathy, William, Rachel, Hailey, and everyone who loved Steve. May God comfort them in these days ahead, and may they always find peace in the life and legacy that he lived and the example that he leaves behind. May he rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Brian Weiler, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, who has served as the Director of Aviation at the Springfield-Branson National Airport since 2011.

Prior to his time at the airport, Brian worked for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) for 15 years. Before that, he managed airports in Kansas and Florida.

Brian held progressively higher leadership roles in state, county, and city governments for more than 30 years and is a member of the City of Springfield's leadership team. His accomplishments include negotiating with American Airlines to finance and construct a new maintenance base at Springfield's airport, partnering with Ozarks Tech to start a flight school that tripled enrollment in its first five years, and transforming an unprofitable 100,000-square-foot former airline terminal into a significant non-aeronautical revenue source and regional economic asset with 100-percent occupancy and more than 1,000 employees.

The Springfield-Branson National Airport is the hub I use to fly to Washington, D.C., and back each week, and I am most thankful for Brian's oversight of the airport. It is an important economic driver to Missouri's 7th Congressional District, and I am so appreciative that he is a constituent. I wish him the best in his retirement and the next chapter of his life.

Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to honor my good friend Tim.

William F. Buckley, Jr., once said that a conservative is someone who ``stands athwart history, yelling `stop,' at a time when no one is inclined to do so, or to have much patience with those who so urge it.''

Tim has been the executive director during my entire time here in the Freedom Caucus. His hard work and dedication have left a lasting mark on this body.

Just think about the changes to the rules that occurred just 3\1/2\ short years ago, those rules that every Member of this Congress benefits from today. It was an effort that was monumental, but shepherded and strategized by Tim, to give back power, which is normally inclined to consolidate to one or a small group. For once in recent history, we have seen an effort to actually disseminate power from leadership back to the individual Members. We couldn't have done it without the work and strategy that Tim provided during those difficult times.

Tim is the kind of guy who you don't always see, but his impact is felt with every victory that we have had. Behind the scenes, he has been instrumental in advancing our mission to fight for freedom and to serve the American people.

Mr. Speaker, there are few people who come to Congress, who enter this crazy circus, and give up and sacrifice so many other opportunities because they are driven to actually save this country. Tim is one of those. The members of the Freedom Caucus are those.

It is a group, a band of brothers and sisters, that I am extremely proud to be a part of. They are people who pray. When everyone else in this town is going out to fancy dinners on fly-in nights, having steak or lobster or whatever, this is a group of men and women who sit and eat Chick-fil-A in a boardroom with a whiteboard and strategize about how we can continue to make this country better and how we can stop the steady decay of this great Nation.

Whether it is having negotiations at 3 o'clock in the morning or strategy sessions on weekends ahead of critical votes, Tim has always been there, putting in the hours, fighting in the arena with us to save this Nation, but not taking the spotlight.

Tim, your tireless work and your unwavering dedication have made you an invaluable part of this team and a game changer in the Halls of Congress. You will be deeply missed on this team, no doubt. Yet, you will continue to fight for conservative principles, I am certain.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support my bill, the Smart Space Act of 2026, legislation that modernizes how the Federal Government manages its real estate portfolio.

Today, the Federal Government holds billions of dollars in underutilized and outdated Federal buildings, while hardworking American taxpayers are left to cover the costs of their repair, upkeep, and maintenance.

If Congress is serious about being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, then Congress must also be serious about how the Federal Government manages its real estate.

This is exactly what the Smart Space Act is designed to do.

The Smart Space Act requires the General Services Administration to convene real estate experts to identify alternative financing solutions for acquisition of or disposal of Federal properties through leveraging public-private partnership.

These partnerships have been used successfully by both the private sector and State governments for years to modernize infrastructure while keeping costs at bay.

Public-private partnerships are proven to lower long-run costs, minimize taxpayer exposure, and deliver reliable infrastructure more efficiently than traditional Federal procurement methods.

Importantly, this legislation does not mandate any new construction or spend a single taxpayer dollar. Instead, it creates a framework for disciplined decisionmaking while retaining full congressional and Presidential oversight.

It also encourages the Federal Government to engage in public-private partnerships, which is both a practical and responsible step toward modernizing our Federal infrastructure while ensuring fiscal discipline.

The Smart Space Act is about doing more with less, respecting the taxpayer, and bringing common sense to how the Federal Government finances its core assets.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Graves for his leadership and commitment to advancing this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the reigning Miss Teen USA, Mailyn Marsh of Ozark, Missouri. Mailyn is a 17-year-old junior at Ozark High School. She was crowned Miss Teen USA 2025 in Reno, Nevada.

Mailyn is a driven student leader and community advocate, who is consistently recognized for her poise, purpose, and passion for creating meaningful change. She is known for her academic excellence and for being heavily involved as a student mentor.

Mailyn has served as president of the Kindness Club, vice president in the Health Occupations Students of America organization, and is an active member of Student Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Key Club, and Educators Rising. She is the Educators Rising State Champion, demonstrating her commitment to education, sustainability, and future healthcare leadership.

Beyond academics and advocacy, Mailyn is an accomplished equestrian and has a deep love of horses. She is a young woman grounded in faith, kindness, and integrity. With aspirations of becoming a board-certified dermatologist, she hopes to merge her love of science, wellness, and empowerment to help others feel confident in their own skin.

Mailyn is proud to be only the third young woman from Missouri in history to take the coveted Miss Teen USA title. She is honored to advance her advocacy on a national stage, using her platform to inspire the next generation to lead with compassion, pursue excellence with confidence, and create meaningful impact within their communities and beyond. I am proud to have her as a constituent.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the lives of Deputy Michael Hislope and Deputy Gabriel Ramirez of the Christian County Sheriff's Office who yesterday were killed in the line of duty while serving the people of southwest Missouri.

Deputy Ramirez was murdered during a traffic stop while doing what law enforcement officers across this country do every day: protecting the public and enforcing the law.

He was a United States Army veteran who continued his service at home, serving nearly 1 year as a deputy.

What followed was a dangerous manhunt that stretched through the night and ended near Reeds Spring where Deputy Hislope was killed while helping bring the violence to an end.

Deputy Hislope was also a United States Army veteran and had served his country as a deputy for more than 6 years.

Two other deputies were also shot, and countless officers placed themselves in harm's way to protect others. Their courage and sacrifice stand in stark contrast to the evil they confronted.

Today, we grieve for two families who have lost sons, husbands, and brothers, and we honor the public servants who answered the call to stand between danger and their neighbors.

Please join me in praying for their families, the injured officers, and the entire law enforcement community as they carry this profound loss on their hearts.

I ask for a moment of silence, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of a remarkable constituent and dedicated Missourian, Sam Coryell, whose impact on Springfield and southwest Missouri will be remembered for generations.

Sam started his career as a teacher, serving for 30 years as a college music professor at Evangel University before focusing his talents on entrepreneurship. In 1988 Sam cofounded TLC Properties, helping oversee the development and management of thousands of residential units across southwest Missouri. What began as a local venture grew into a family of businesses rooted in service, integrity, and community that created homes and opportunity for countless families in Missouri's Seventh District.

Those who knew Sam described him as a visionary leader who believed in helping others, always doing the right thing, and serving the community. His personality and flair will be missed, but his impact will be felt for generations.

While he is welcomed into the glory and presence of our Lord and Savior, we who remain get to benefit from the amazing and lasting legacy that he leaves behind.

May you rest in peace, Sam. We look forward to our reunion in Heaven.