Floor Statements

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

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 2 o'clock and 26 minutes a.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until today, Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 9 a.m.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Penn State wrestling team for winning the NCAA Division I wrestling tournament last month. This historic achievement marks the Nittany Lions' fifth consecutive title and Penn State's 13th team title over the last 15 seasons.

The NCAA wrestling tournament, hosted in Cleveland, Ohio, saw the Lions qualify all 10 wrestlers for the 3-day event, with 7 wrestlers placing as top seeds.

The team scored 181.5 points, breaking their own record of 177 points, which they set last year.

To conclude championship weekend, four Nittany Lions earned individual national titles. In addition, Mitchell Mesenbrink was named the 2026 NCAA Championship Outstanding Wrestler.

Much of this success is a testament to the leadership of Head Coach Cael Sanderson, who has been with the team since 2010. Cael, a former collegiate wrestler and Olympic athlete, knows exactly what it takes to deliver a championship-level team. As the university's head coach for more than 10 years, Cael has delivered the team from strength to strength. Another accolade that the team can tout is winning the Big Ten championship for the fourth consecutive year.

As a former high school wrestler myself and a Penn State alum, I love seeing the success that the Nittany Lions have had each year. Penn State wrestling brings together the student body, Penn State alum, and State College residents to watch an exciting evening of matches. There is nothing quite like a packed Bryce Jordan Center on a Saturday evening.

I was a former wrestler at Bald Eagle Area High School under the leadership of Coach Dick Rhoades, and in 2015 I was honored to be recognized by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The leadership and discipline that I learned during practice have stuck with me throughout my life.

I know that all young men at Penn State will be able to take the lessons that they learn through wrestling and apply them to other aspects of their lives.

Mr. Speaker, the athletes, the coaches, and the staff should all be proud of this amazing accomplishment, and I wish the team the best as they continue working towards their goals next season.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Centre County 4-H robotics team, which recently qualified for the Robotics World Championship.

The team known as Centre Punch placed second out of 41 teams at a regional event in New York City earlier this month. In addition to placing second, the team was given the Creativity Award. Their robot weighed 135 pounds and featured a climbing mechanism, allowing it to pull itself off of the ground.

The team will travel to Houston, Texas, at the end of the week to compete in the 2026 FIRST World Championship.

This marks the first time in over 5 years that the team will compete in the championship, joining 600 teams from 60 different countries. Teams compete in pit-based challenges and undergo reviews by judges to demonstrate their engineering and their teamwork.

Mr. Speaker, this achievement reflects the group's hard work and determination. I thank them for representing Centre County so well and wish them luck.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Carter Pearce, a senior at DuBois Area High School, for winning an international vocabulary competition.

Vocabulary Bowl is sponsored by Vocabulary.com and invites more than 900,000 high school students to compete in a virtual competition, which lasts over a month.

Carter, who placed first, mastered over 8,000 words. After winning in the fall, he competed in the spring competition and mastered all the featured words.

Carter is also a member of the DuBois Area High School Vocabulary Quiz Bowl team and has helped the team win multiple regional competitions. Since joining 2 years ago, Carter has helped the team win four State titles.

Carter graduates later this spring and plans to major in history. His goal is to become a history teacher.

Mr. Speaker, this is a fantastic achievement, and I thank Carter for representing Pennsylvania so well. I wish Carter all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Library Week, celebrated April 19 to April 25. Since its establishment in 1958, National Library Week has served as an opportunity for us to acknowledge the essential role libraries play in our communities.

This year's theme, ``Find Your Joy,'' encourages Americans to discover the new books, spaces, and programs offered at their local libraries.

With more than 100,000 libraries across the United States, these institutions are the cornerstone of our neighborhoods.

Librarians are there for us at every stage of life. From helping young students to read to assisting adults with research, library staff provide the support that individuals in our communities need.

As part of the weeklong celebration, today is National Library Workers Day. I strongly encourage everyone to thank a librarian for their dedicated service and the expertise they provide.

Mr. Speaker, librarians are pivotal to the success of many individuals, and I thank them for their commitment to public service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Borough of State College for its recent recognition as the Nation's Best Small College Town by USA Today.

For the first time in this decades-long poll, State College secured the top spot, a reflection of the borough's commitment to making this an area people love to live in.

Commonly known to Pennsylvanians as Happy Valley, State College is home to more than 40,000 residents. The borough shares a deep-rooted partnership with Penn State, where residents and visitors gather to celebrate the community's school spirit.

Beyond the Penn State campus, Centre County provides the perfect backdrop for people who want to explore the surrounding trails and parks.

Mr. Speaker, State College has grown significantly since the borough's founding more than 120 years ago. The downtown area is home to many thriving local businesses and restaurants that help make State College a welcoming town.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate State College on this fantastic achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the beautiful Pine Creek Rail Trail, which was recently named Pennsylvania's 2026 Trail of the Year by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

This 62-mile trail connects Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, and Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. Visitors hike through the scenic Pine Creek Gorge, better known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.

The Pine Creek Rail Trail was first used by the Iroquois nation and then later developed as a railroad in the 19th century. For more than 100 years, this railroad helped move tons of iron, coal, and lumber through the region. In 1989, the railroad ceased operation.

Today, the nationally recognized trail attracts more than 44,000 visitors each year and generates more than $5 million in local revenue.

Mr. Speaker, the Pine Creek Rail Trail is a shining example of the beautiful landscapes in the Commonwealth, and I thank all the volunteers and officials who work tirelessly to upkeep the trail and ensure that visitors can experience the beauty of the region.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1011) to amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to remove barriers to agricultural producers in accessing funds to carry out emergency measures under the emergency conservation program, and for other purposes.

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 bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1011, the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act, introduced by Representative Letlow of Louisiana.

The Emergency Conservation Program, or ECP, and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program, EFRP, are two important cost-share programs available to landowners following a natural disaster.

Under ECP, landowners can receive technical and financial assistance for repairs and restoration of land adversely affected by natural disasters, including floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts. Additionally, EFRP offers financial assistance to nonindustrial private forestland owners for recovery efforts following similar natural disasters.

In recent years, agricultural producers have witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by numerous disasters. The recovery efforts and associated costs have underscored the importance of these programs during times of great need for our Nation's farmers.

Over the past decade, we have seen some of the largest and most destructive wildfires on record, particularly in

Western States. While the West continues to face forest health and wildfire crises, significant wildfires have also ignited in States such as Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska, leaving producers in these areas in need of conservation and restoration assistance.

Our agricultural community has also seen the devastating impacts of hurricanes in recent years. A harrowing example of this occurred in 2024, when hurricanes Helene and Milton wreaked havoc across several southeastern States. Many producers looked to ECP for help with fencing repairs, debris removal, replacement of watershed infrastructure, and land stabilization. At the same time, EFRP was utilized for hazard tree removal, reforestation, site preparation, and erosion control.

While these programs have been helpful to producers and forest landowners, some participants have reported experiencing delays in receiving payments.

To help expedite funding to those in need and get work done on the ground more quickly, this legislation would broaden eligibility for advanced payments for both ECP and EFRP and raise the cap on assistance from 25 percent of total costs to 50 percent of project costs for repairs and 75 percent for replacement.

Mr. Speaker, this is crucial for the American agriculture industry. When a natural disaster ravages valuable natural resources or dismantles critical agricultural infrastructure, landowners simply cannot afford to wait on the Federal government to finish processing paperwork before they begin the process of rebuilding. Advance payments allow us to streamline this process and improve program delivery.

Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation and encourage my colleagues to vote favorably, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Louisiana (Ms. Letlow).

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, I am prepared to close, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Patricia Stano's 100th Birthday on April 13th. Patricia is a long-time resident of Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania, and an outstanding community member with almost half-a-century of service as a nurse.

Patricia was born in Greenville, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Paul and Petrina Matusz. She and her husband, Joseph, married in 1948. Through 60 years of marriage, Patricia and Joseph welcomed two children: Suzanne Freyer and Elizabeth Hoopes. Patricia has two grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.

Patricia was a student at St. Michael's Catholic School in Greenville and then attended St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh during World War II.

For more than 40 years, Patricia dedicated her life to caring for others. She held various roles at the Greenville hospital, and the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad Company.

Outside of the hospital, Patricia helped run a local 4-H club in Mercer County, sharing her love for sewing, cooking, and crafts with local students.

Congratulations to Patricia on this magnificent milestone. I wish her a happy 100th birthday, and may God bless her and her family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Connor Hill of Port Matilda, Pennsylvania. Connor recently won the Regeneron Science Talent Search competition.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search is one of the oldest math and science competitions in our nation. Each year, high school seniors across the country are invited to compete.

For 84 years, this competition has inspired students to address global issues. Connor is a senior at Delta High School in State College, Pennsylvania. He was among the 40 finalists who were invited to Washington, D.C. earlier this month to present their final projects. The 40 finalists received more than $1.8 million in awards. Connor received the top award of $250,000 dollars.

Connor's research solved a long-standing mathematical mystery by identifying every possible ``noble polyhedron.'' This is a shape where every face and corner is identical. Connor created a computer program to analyze how these shapes can exist. He discovered 146 unique examples.

Congratulations to Connor on this amazing accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a dedicated servant to the agricultural industry, David J. Salmonsen, who is retiring after nearly three decades of dedicated service to the American Farm Bureau Federation and the American farmer and rancher.

David's journey did not begin in the halls of Congress, but on the soil of his family's diversified dairy and crop farm in Manlius, New York. That upbringing instilled in him a fundamental understanding of the challenges facing our producers--an understanding he carried with him through the University at Albany and the Washington College of Law.

For 29 years, David has been a steady hand and a trusted authority for the Farm Bureau. As Senior Director of Government Affairs, he became one of the Nation's preeminent experts on international trade. From the WTO Doha talks to the implementation of the USMCA and Phase One agreements with China and Japan, David was consistently at the table, ensuring that the voice of the American farmer was heard in every corner of the globe.

His expertise was so highly regarded that he served as a cleared advisor for the USDA and USTR for over two decades, providing critical Counsel on the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee. Yet, despite his global reach--leading delegations to Geneva, Brussels, and London-- David never forgot his roots. He brought a practical, farm-grown perspective to the most complex international negotiations, never losing sight of the producers he represented.

Mr. Speaker, David Salmonsen leaves behind a legacy of expanded markets, fairer trade, and a stronger future for American agriculture. We thank him for his 29 years of tireless advocacy, and we wish him and his family the very best in a well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize The Oil City Derrick, which published the final print edition of The Derrick and The News-Herald on March 20.

The Derrick opened at 1871 under its prior name of the Daily Derrick by C.E. Bishop & Company. The publication covered the latest stories in Oil City.

When Edwin Drake struck oil in western Pennsylvania, The Derrick quickly became a national news outlet, and it was best known for its coverage of oil prices.

The newspaper was a key source of information for journalists like Ida Tarbell, who reported the oil wars of the 1870s.

Patrick C. Boyle, a prominent figure in the oil industry, bought The Derrick in 1885. Patrick helped to establish other newspapers, including the Bradford Era and the Oil and Gas Journal.

The newspaper was owned by the Boyle family for four generations. Patrick Boyle passed away in 1920, and ownership of the newspaper was passed on to his son, Edward Boyle, who served as a publisher until his death in 1938.

For more than 100 years, the Boyle family was influential in the newspaper's success. From Patrick Boyle's purchase of the outlet in 1885, the family's stewardship ensured that for 154 years The Derrick never once missed a day of publication--an incredible accomplishment.

The pages of The Derrick served as the record for the region's history. Major events included President Ulysses S. Grant's visit to the area and the Great Fire and Flood of 1892.

The Derrick didn't just witness change. It lived through it. Through every win and loss of the oil boom to the dawn of the industrial revolution to the emergence of the digital age, this newspaper adapted and prevailed.

The Derrick stood as a constant for 154 years, capturing the evolution of our community and the very way that we share the news.

Mr. Speaker, it is never easy when we see our local institutions close, especially those that have played such an important role in our communities like The Derrick has for more than a century.

My heartfelt thanks go out to the staff who have worked diligently over the years to deliver the news to the people of Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District.

For 154 years, The Derrick has been there, and we are all grateful for that.

Mr. Speaker, for 60 years, the mission of the Allegheny Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited has been focused on protecting, conserving, and restoring local cold-water resources.

The Allegheny Mountain Chapter has been critical in ensuring Pennsylvanians can enjoy the Commonwealth's waterways and natural resources.

For more than half a century, volunteers and community members have helped to tackle issues impacting the waterways. Over the years, the group has partnered with Penn State, the National Guard, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to reduce damage on the region's waterways and the ecosystems found therein.

While the group focuses on completing projects, the chapter has spent many years educating younger generations. Members of the chapter initiated an environmental day at the DuBois Area Middle School and Punxsutawney Area Elementary.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Allegheny Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited for their dedication to preserving our natural resources. Their efforts are critical in allowing us to enjoy the natural beauty of the Commonwealth. I congratulate them on celebrating 60 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Agriculture Day. This is a time to honor the hard work of American farmers and all those who contribute to our country's agricultural industry.

Agriculture is a fundamental part of our daily lives. I have always said that every American interacts with agriculture at least three times a day simply by eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

To be a farmer is to deal with a set of risks and variables that many Americans never have to consider. Through conflicts, natural disasters, and pandemics, farmers have stood steadfast in their commitment to provide for Americans.

It is more important than ever to ensure that our farmers, ranchers, and foresters have their voices heard in the Halls of Congress. That is why it is my honor to represent farm families and rural America as the chairman of the Agriculture Committee.

Mr. Speaker, National Agriculture Day is the perfect opportunity to highlight the dedicated Americans who work tirelessly to provide for our Nation. I sincerely thank every farmer, rancher, and forester for their hard work and selflessness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the State College Community Land Trust as they mark 30 years of service in April.

Since 1996, the Land Trust has been turning houses into affordable homes for families across State College.

Through a dedicated process of purchasing and renovating properties, the Land Trust creates opportunities for individuals and families to settle in the community.

The Land Trust keeps homeownership affordable by owning the land. This strategy cuts costs for families by 30 percent.

The organization has expanded their mission of affordability by developing energy efficient homes that help keep utility costs low.

For 30 years, the Land Trust has established 57 affordable homes and helped 85 families. They have played a pivotal role in ensuring State College remains a place where families can afford to live and thrive.

Mr. Speaker, the Land Trust has been pivotal in helping members of our community achieve the dream of homeownership, and I thank them for their service.

I congratulate them on 30 years.