Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the order of the House of January 3, 2025, providing for morning- hour debate be extended for the remainder of the 119th Congress, except that House Resolution 976 shall supplant House Resolution 6.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Denise Sticha for 30 years of dedicated service to communities across Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District and beyond.

Denise recently retired as the executive director of Centre County Library and Historical Museum, a position she has held for more than 7 years.

In this position, Denise oversaw library services for 29 municipalities. This included the main library in Bellefonte, branch libraries in Centre Hall and Phillipsburg, a world-class research library, and a local historical museum in Bellefonte.

In 1981, Denise began her career at the Murrysville Library. Following her position at the Murrysville Library, Denise worked at various institutions, including Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County Federated Library System, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, and Berks County Public Libraries.

Mr. Speaker, Denise has provided exceptional literary services to communities across the State, being an outstanding leader and mentor to many.

I wish Denise the best and thank her for her many years of service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Union County West End Fire Company for 75 years of dedicated service to the community.

Founded in 1950, the Union County West End Fire Company has been answering the call to serve the community and protect their neighbors in times of need. Our volunteer firefighters provide fire, rescue, and EMS services, often balancing it with day jobs and family commitments.

These professionally trained volunteers are the backbone of fire protection and emergency response, especially in our rural communities. They are there in emergency situations like fires, car accidents, medical calls, and disaster response. Their commitment to service and teamwork is second to none.

The Union County West End Fire Company gives back throughout the year, whether it is delivering turkeys to families during the holidays, escorting local sports teams to the final round of playoff games, or celebrating championship wins. They truly are the heart of the community.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate the Union County West End Fire Company on 75 years of outstanding service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Kiwanis Club of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, on its 100th anniversary.

Since the club's founding on January 26, 1926, the members of the Kiwanis Club have been a crucial part of the community in Lock Haven.

The club has 43 members, and it works to help children by improving literacy rates, health, and educational outcomes.

Lock Haven Kiwanis sponsors two Key Clubs, one at Central Mountain High School and the other at Jersey Shore High School. It awards annual scholarships to Key Club members at both schools.

The club recently started a Bringing Up Grades, or BUG, program at the Robb Elementary School in Lock Haven. It also partners with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to build and deliver beds to children and youth who do not have beds.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Lock Haven Kiwanis Club for 100 years of dedicated service to the Lock Haven community and wish them the best as they work toward many more.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a special tradition that took place this past Saturday, December 13: National Wreaths Across America Day.

Every year in December, thousands of volunteers set out in a coordinated wreath-laying ceremony across America and the world. This year's theme was inspired by the last words of Captain Joshua Byers: ``Keep moving forward.''

Captain Joshua Byers was company commander of Fox Troop in Iraq in 2003 when an IED struck his Humvee. As smoke filled the air, Josh gave his driver one final command: Keep moving forward.

Though Josh didn't make it home, this command saved lives and became the battle cry for his unit and family.

It is only fitting that the theme for 2025 should reflect the same spirit: a call to action for volunteers and supporters in the communities that they serve.

Madam Speaker, I thank the many organizers, volunteers, and participants who make Wreaths Across America possible. Their dedication ensures that hundreds of thousands of veterans are remembered with dignity and respect.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Nittany Leathernecks' contribution to Christmas throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Nittany Leathernecks Detachment of the Marine Corps League is a community service organization composed of active, retired, and former Marines. Since 1947, the mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program has been to collect new, unwrapped toys through October, November, and December each year and distribute them as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community.

The Nittany Leathernecks Detachment coordinates Toys for Tots for Centre County. The detachment works with the Centre County Adult Services Office, which coordinates with the Centre County food pantries to identify needy children and to distribute toys.

The Nittany Leathernecks campaign annually provides a Christmas gift experience to more than 9,000 children.

Mr. Speaker, I thank these selfless Marines for their service to our country and their dedication to uplifting our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 222) to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to allow schools that participate in the school lunch program to serve whole milk, and for other purposes.

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 S. 222.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a bill near and dear to my heart, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025.

My legislation will allow for unflavored and flavored whole, reduced- fat, or 2 percent milk to be offered in school cafeterias, giving our

students the option to choose the milk that they want to drink.

Milk is an essential building block for a well-rounded and balanced diet, offering 13 essential nutrients and numerous health benefits.

Unfortunately, out-of-touch and outdated Federal regulations have imposed restrictions on the types of milk students have access to in school meals. While the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act's intention to reduce child obesity was good, its impacts to attack whole milk have been misguided and devastating over the 15 years since its passage, resulting in the loss of an entire generation of milk drinkers.

It has always been a myth that whole milk causes weight gain. The beverage is 97 percent fat-free, and it is the least processed type of milk. Common sense tells us that whole milk is not the culprit of childhood obesity. Instead, milk is the number one source of protein for kids ages 2 to 11. Milk is also the top source of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and vitamin D for children ages 2 to 18.

Medical research has proven that whole milk has several benefits, such as strong bone density, a healthier immune system, reduced cardiovascular risk, lowered blood pressure, reduced hunger cravings, reduced type 2 diabetes risk, and increased sleep quality.

Additionally, children are not consuming the amount of dairy recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and are not getting these important benefits and nutrients. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee reported that over two-thirds of school-age children fail to meet the recommended levels of dairy. Rather than drinking milk they didn't like, students are throwing it away and losing out on the 21 essential minerals and 13 vitamins necessary for healthy development.

School nutrition programs provide critical access to the nutrients growing children need, including those provided by milk. In fact, school meals provide 77 percent of the total daily milk consumption for low-income children ages 5 to 18.

In addition, it is also important to remember that this legislation does not require any student to drink or any school to serve whole milk. Rather, this legislation simply gives schools the flexibility to serve a broader variety of milk in the school lunchroom.

Dairy farmers in Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District and across our country work hard every day to produce nutritious milk for our families and communities.

I am proud to lead this legislation that would allow schools to serve flavored and unflavored whole and reduced-fat milk in school cafeterias. Today, we will restore students' access to a wide variety of milk options, ensuring students have the necessary nutrients to learn and grow.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg), the chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Kiley), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Finstad), the Chair of the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the State of Washington (Mr. Newhouse).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Moolenaar).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce), who is a physician.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).

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

Mr. Speaker, I have proudly led this charge to restore whole milk in school milk programs for the last decade.

I am grateful to those who played a role in this effort, including the House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg and former Chairwoman Virginia Foxx; my co-lead, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, who is a pediatrician; my Senate companion co-leads, Senators Roger Marshall, Peter Welch, Dave McCormick, and John Fetterman; my staff in my personal office and on the House Agriculture Committee, who have worked tirelessly to advance this bill every step of the way, especially my legislative director, Faith Tuttle.

I also thank the National Milk Producers Federation, and in particular Paul Bleiberg; the International Dairy Foods Association; the Farm Bureau; the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau; and the most dedicated grassroots movement in America, 97 Milk, including the leadership of Bernie Morrissey and Sherry Bunting, Nelson Troutman, Krista Byler, Christine Ebersole, Dr. Edward Silverman, and a host of parents and dairy farmers. I thank each and every one of these individuals who

put their mark on this bill in a meaningful way.

I encourage all of my colleagues to support this legislation and drink whole milk.

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

Mr. Speaker, Saturday is the National Guard's 389th birthday. Nearly four centuries ago, the National Guard was founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Since then, the National Guard has exemplified the spirit of citizen soldiers. These are ordinary men and women who answer the call to serve their community and country at a moment's notice.

From the footprints that mark the snows of Valley Forge to the sandy beaches at Normandy, from the skies above Vietnam to the deserts of the Persian Gulf, the National Guard has been there for America every step of the way. For 389 years, these men and women have represented America's best.

Mr. Speaker, today we honor the men and women who have worn the uniform of the National Guard, past and present. We salute their sacrifice, their courage, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people through war and peace, disaster and recovery, and every moment in between.

Happy birthday to the National Guard.

Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, we marked a solemn day: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

On December 7, 1941, our great Nation was suddenly attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy, killing more than 2,400 American servicemembers and civilians and propelling us into World War II.

On the 84th anniversary of the attack, we remember those brave souls who lost their lives that day, and we honor those who survived. There are only 12 remaining survivors, and they are all over 100 years old.

Unfortunately, none were able to make the trip to Hawaii this year for the remembrance ceremony, but we are forever indebted to their sacrifices. We will forever honor all of the Americans who were at the naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, that day.

Mr. Speaker, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said:

``No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.''

And we did.

God bless those who lost their lives that day, and God bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Cameron Elk Suicide Prevention Task Force for receiving the Program of the Year award from the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health.

The award recognizes an outstanding health program in a rural community that uses unique, creative, and innovative approaches to increase access to healthcare services and improve community health outcomes.

The task force addressed this need by designing 30,000 locally manufactured 988 Lifeline challenge coins; distributing 500 copies of the book ``988/End the Stigmas,'' designed by local artist and mental health advocate John Schlimm; and installing a digital billboard on the Elk County highway route that reaches thousands of vehicles daily.

Mr. Speaker, by bringing attention to mental health, we can help those affected seek and receive the care they need. I applaud the Cameron Elk Suicide Prevention Task Force for its innovative approach to educating high-risk communities and saving lives.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the distinguished chairman of the Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Forestry for his great work, for his leadership, and for his tireless work on this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 356, the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025.

Actively managing our national forests is critical for both forest health and the economic health of our rural communities. Congress has long recognized that responsible timber harvesting is essential for encouraging that stewardship.

Since many communities throughout the United States, including Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District, are located within national forest lands, declining timber harvests can lead to chronic underfunding of local schools, emergency services, and other projects that rely on a strong tax base. As a result, Congress made a commitment to provide resources to rural communities and schools that have tracts of land managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Since 1908, Federal law has required that 25 percent of the revenue generated through timber sales in national forests is returned to the local county. These funds are then used by local governments to provide critical support services for schools, roads, and other essential needs.

Timber harvesting in the national forest system reached its peak in the late 1980s, then dramatically declined in the early 1990s. This decline led to significantly reduced payments to counties, notably impacting rural schools. This trend continued throughout the decade, and harvesting levels have since remained only a fraction of their historical highs.

To offset this lost revenue, Congress created the Secure Rural Schools program in 2000 to offer an alternative funding formula that takes historic production levels into account. This program has been a lifeline to hundreds of rural counties and school districts across the country who have seen their budgets slashed through no fault of their own.

The program expired in the fall of 2023, resulting in county payments reverting to the rate under permanent law, which equates to a nearly 70 percent reduction.

Today's legislation will extend Secure Rural Schools for 3 years and make adjustments to payments already made for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Without this critical reauthorization, these rural school districts will not receive any additional funding this year, and payments scheduled for distribution in the spring of 2026 and beyond will remain at significantly reduced levels.

I represent many communities that receive funding through the Secure Rural Schools program, and I remain committed to seeing the program operate consistently and successfully. We must ensure that Congress continues to fulfill our obligation to our rural counties and schools.

Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote favorably.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Elliot Abrams for 42 years of dedicated service to the residents of Patton Township, Pennsylvania.

Elliot was first elected township supervisor in 1980, after service on both the Patton Township Sign and Review Board and the Planning Commission. Elliot has a long history of service to Patton Township and to the entire Centre region

For more than 50 years, Elliot delivered the weather report as chief forecaster and senior vice president of AccuWeather. He was first hired at AccuWeather in 1967. In 1971, Elliot graduated from Penn State University with both a bachelor's and a master's degree in meteorology.

Elliot holds the title of certified consulting meteorologist and the AMS Seal of Approval for both radio and television from the American Meteorological Society. He is one of only a few living individuals to earn this distinction.

Mr. Speaker, Elliot has dedicated his life in service to the Centre region both on and off air, and he will formally retire from the Patton Township Board of Supervisors at the end of this year.

Mr. Speaker, I wish him all the best.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA, which mandated that every child with a disability in America should have access to a high-quality public education.

When Congress passed IDEA in 1975, it was a landmark step toward educational equity. It opened classroom doors to ensure that every child with a disability could grow, learn, and succeed at school. The legislation expanded opportunities for millions of students with disabilities, helping them reach their full potential.

Unfortunately, before 1975, students with disabilities had long been denied access to public education, but IDEA transformed the public school experience for students with disabilities and their families.

Mr. Speaker, we have an obligation to our students in this country. Thanks to IDEA, our education system is working to serve the needs of every student in America.

This important milestone shows how far we have come in educating students with disabilities, and the legacy of this landmark legislation means a brighter future for all.