Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Pioneer High School football team. The Pioneer Panthers had an incredible season and a well-deserved visit to the 1A State Championship finals.

While the end of this football season wasn't what the Pioneer team really had hoped for, each and every one of the football players on this team should be proud of the hard work that allowed them to reach the State championship. Their dedication in every game is an inspiration to their school and community.

I also thank the parents, teachers, staff, and coaches for all of their contributions and support throughout this football season.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Pioneer Panthers on reaching the IHSAA 1A Football State Championship. I know they will continue to deliver great successes on and off the football field in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Gracyn Stevens from Kirklin, Indiana, who won the 13th annual National Cattlemen's Beef Association National Anthem Contest. Gracyn will sing ``The Star- Spangled Banner'' at CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. She will also sing before both ``Cowboys Night at the Opry'' shows at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

Gracyn said that it was an honor to win this contest and represent an industry that she loves and that she will strive to make a meaningful impact on for years to come.

Gracyn Stevens says she appreciates the lessons that she learned growing up showing cattle in 4-H. The cattle industry taught her that true success is about the effort and passion put into each project.

I congratulate Gracyn on this outstanding achievement. I know she will make Indiana proud at CattleCon.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 315, S. 356, and YEA on Roll Call No. 316, H.R. 1676.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Indiana High School Athletic Association 3A football State champions, the Cascade Cadets.

The Cascade High School football team triumphed over Fort Wayne Luers with a 29-14 victory, securing the first football State championship in the school's history.

These outstanding athletes played their hardest at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday. The Cascade Cadets secured a commanding lead in the first quarter and remained dominant throughout the game, ultimately emerging victorious.

I congratulate these outstanding student athletes on winning the State championship, a fitting way to end their perfect season. The students on Cascade's football team should be extraordinarily proud of their tireless efforts and dedication. I know this win means so much to everyone in the Clayton community who was cheering them on to victory.

Congratulations, again, to the Cascade Cadets on this historic championship.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Gary Steinhardt from Lafayette, Indiana.

Gary Steinhardt served in the U.S. Army for 30 years and is a veteran of the Vietnam and Iraq wars.

Gary has also served as a professor of agronomy at Purdue University, focusing on soil conservation and the preservation of agricultural land. He has been with Purdue for nearly 50 years.

Gary has been a great advocate for veterans in Tippecanoe County for years. Gary has served in multiple positions within the VFW and the American Legion, such as post chaplain and commander of post 38. He has also been very active with other Vietnam veterans' organizations in the area, furthering legislation affecting veterans' issues.

Gary was recently diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. My thoughts and prayers go out to Gary and his family during this time, and I thank him for his many years of selfless service to our country, our veterans, and Purdue University.

Honoring Rick Lang

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Martinsville Police Chief Rick Lang, who is retiring from the Martinsville Police Department this month after over 50 years in law enforcement.

He first became a law enforcement officer in 1974 and has spent most of his life faithfully serving the people of Morgan County with unwavering dedication.

Rick Lang first served as the Martinsville police chief from 2015 to 2016 and took over for a second time as chief that year. Prior to serving as police chief, Rick Lang served as a Morgan County-based detective with the Indiana State Police.

I thank Rick for his dedicated years of selfless service to our Martinsville and Morgan County communities, and I wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement as he begins this exciting new chapter in his life.

Recognizing Brownsburg Bulldogs

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate back-to-back Indiana High School Athletic Association's 6A State champion football team of Brownsburg Bulldogs.

The Brownsburg Bulldogs faced Westfield High School once again in the State finals at Lucas Oil Stadium. Brownsburg successfully defended its title as the reigning State football champion, defeating Westfield with a final score of 38-31. The Brownsburg football team finishes their remarkable season undefeated with a record of 14-0.

I congratulate these outstanding student athletes on winning back-to- back State championships. Every one of these students should be incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence.

I also thank the parents, the coaches, and the faculty, who gave their time and efforts for this team. They couldn't have won without their support.

Once again, I congratulate the reigning State 6A football champions, the Brownsburg Bulldogs.

Recognizing South Putnam Eagles

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the South Putnam High School football team on winning the IHSAA 1A State championship this year. The South Putnam Eagles took on Pioneer. After a back-and-forth battle in the first half, the South Putnam Eagles took on a commanding lead, achieved a decisive victory, and won with a final score of 55-29 against Pioneer. This historic victory is South Putnam's first State football championship since 1986.

This State championship win is a testament to the South Putnam student athletes' dedication, teamwork, and perseverance. They should be incredibly proud of their hard work.

I thank the parents, teachers, and Coach Chuck Sorrell for their support and efforts that helped this team succeed on and off of the field.

Again, I congratulate the South Putnam Eagles on their State championship.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Jack Billman, an invaluable member of our Greencastle community.

Jack has been married to his wife, Joan, for over 50 years, and they have three children and three grandchildren.

Jack and Joan Billman founded the Greencastle Defenders of Liberty in 2009, which brought in many Hoosiers and connected the people of Putnam County with their elected officials at the State and local levels to discuss current issues and solutions. Jack believes that an informed and active citizenry is very necessary to keep America free and productive.

Prior to his extensive community involvement, Jack Billman was an Army veteran, enlisting in the U.S. Army straight out of high school. He also had a career as a commercial pilot.

I am immensely grateful to Jack for his service to our country and the United States Army, as well as his service to and involvement with the community of Putnam County.

Honoring Norman Voyles

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Norman Voyles, Sr., who recently passed away at the age of 87. He led a life that emphasized his love for farming and his outstanding service to his community.

Norman Voyles was a graduate of Martinsville High School in Indiana and served in the Indiana National Guard for 6 years. Norman Voyles also held many roles in local government, further underscoring his commitment to serving his country.

He served as a Morgan County commissioner, and he later took on roles on the Morgan County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Morgan County Farm Bureau Co-op, and as president of the Morgan County Farm Bureau.

Most importantly, Norman was a loving husband and father to three sons. I am praying for the comfort of his family during this difficult time.

May Norman rest in peace.

Honoring Warren Macy

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dr. Warren Macy, who has been a physician and an active member of the Greencastle, Indiana, community for over 50 years.

He received his bachelor's degree and completed his medical school at Indiana University before opening his own practice in Putnam County.

Last year, he received the 2024 Doc Hollywood Award at the Indiana Rural Health Association annual conference for his outstanding service and care to Hoosiers in rural communities.

Dr. Macy is also a devoted husband to his wife, Connie, and they have three children and two grandchildren.

I thank Dr. Warren Macy for his service to Greencastle and for the invaluable medical care he has provided to our community for decades.

Congratulating Yuri Kubo

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Yuri Kubo, a graduate of Purdue University and a native Hoosier who was 1 of just 10 candidates chosen for NASA's latest astronaut class.

Yuri Kubo earned his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering in 2008

and his master's degree in electrical and computer engineering in 2015.

These 10 outstanding astronauts were selected from a group of approximately 8,000 other candidates. Yuri Kubo and the other nine individuals face 2 years of training before they are eligible for future planned missions to the International Space Station and the Moon. NASA is even looking at a mission to Mars.

I congratulate Yuri and the full 2025 astronaut class. They will make Purdue University, Indiana, and the country proud.

Congratulating Megan Johnson on 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Megan Johnson, a fourth grade teacher at Central Elementary School in Plainfield, Indiana, who was named the 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year by the Indiana Department of Education.

Megan Johnson has over 18 years of experience in upper elementary classrooms and is passionate about her students having the foundational literacy skills needed to thrive through project-based learning.

According to the Indiana Secretary of Education, Megan Johnson has made it her mission to improve outcomes for her students, and she prepares her students to succeed far beyond the four walls of her classroom.

Mrs. Johnson has also completed 80 hours of professional development in the science of reading, earning the State's early literacy endorsement.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Megan Johnson on this wonderful achievement, and I thank her for all she does to educate and empower the children in Plainfield.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bruce E. McKee, a constituent from Morgan County who served our country as a member of the United States Air Force from 1979 to 1986, including serving overseas in Korea.

Bruce McKee has demonstrated outstanding service by supporting veterans in our Morgan County communities. Bruce founded the Indiana Spirit of '45, focused on remembering veterans of the Greatest Generation.

In December of 2012, McKee and the Indiana Spirit of '45 started Taps on the Square to honor fallen veterans and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Taps on the Square continues, rain or shine, in downtown Martinsville. McKee also works with the Battle Buddies group to support veterans struggling with reentering civilian life or PTSD.

As a veteran myself, I am grateful for the work Bruce is doing to support fellow veterans and servicemembers in our district.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to support my amendment to direct the Department of Defense to begin evaluating pulse laser capabilities and to brief Congress within 90 days on its feasibility against drone swarms in the near term and missile threats in the medium term.

Drone swarms and hypersonic weapons are advancing rapidly, overwhelming traditional defenses. Kinetic interceptors are costly, and continuous-wave lasers require long engagement times.

Pulsed lasers offer an opportunity and a breakthrough, delivering multi-gigawatt bursts that can neutralize drones instantly and engage multiple targets rapidly, making defense more affordable and scalable.

Pulsed lasers have advanced rapidly in recent years, building on the same industrial and scientific foundation as existing directed-energy systems but with greater efficiency and lethality.

The purpose of this amendment is not to deploy this technology immediately but to ensure the Department of Defense has a pathway to mature, test, and integrate this promising technology.

Pulsed lasers are complementary to existing missile defense programs. Kinetic systems remain essential for some threats, but magazine depth and cost limit them.

Pulsed lasers provide a scaleable, lower-cost layer that extends the effectiveness of the entire air and missile defense portfolio.

My amendment directs the U.S. Secretary of Defense to stay ahead of the adversaries and modernize our layered defenses and assess our potential pulse layer capabilities. I greatly appreciate the inclusion of my amendment in the en bloc. I ask my colleagues to support my amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Chuck Conner who officially retired on Monday, July 14, after serving as a national agriculture leader since 1997.

A Benton County native and graduate of Purdue University, Chuck Conner served as the president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives for over 16 years. From 1997 to 2001, he served as president of the Corn Refiners Association.

He also has a storied career in public service as Deputy Secretary and Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture under President George W. Bush.

Chuck Conner continued his public service as an adviser to U.S. Senator Richard Lugar from Indiana for 17 years.

We are grateful for his decades of service and work to benefit our great agricultural industry. I wish him all the best as he embarks on retirement.

Honoring Kent and Isabella Chism

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kent and Isabella Chism, two outstanding Hoosiers.

Kent is a fifth-generation family farmer in Indiana who focuses on growing corn and soybeans. His wife, Isabella, currently serves as the American Farm Bureau Federation's Women's Leadership Committee chair, and is the former second vice president of the Indiana Farm Bureau.

The Chisms are internationally recognized for their hard work and dedication to promoting America's great agricultural industry. Their family farm has also been a home for workshops, farm visits, and open houses. The Chisms recently received the 2025 Indiana Master Farmers award for their work advocating for agriculture.

Indiana's agricultural industry is better off thanks to the Chisms, who have used their experiences to be prominent voices for agriculture at the State, local, and national levels. I am grateful for their work that has certainly benefited Indiana and our farmers.

American Energy is Dominant Again

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes American energy dominant again by resuming leasing for domestic energy production. This includes onshore and offshore oil and gas leases as well as coal leases.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act strengthens grid reliability and invests in building key energy and critical minerals infrastructure through the Energy Dominance Financing program.

This legislation also finally repeals the Green New Deal subsidies from the Democrats' so-called Inflation Reduction Act, such as the tax credit giveaway for expensive, unreliable electric vehicles.

This historic bill also restores our energy security by starting to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which was drained under the previous administration. This big, beautiful bill is a historic win for America's great energy sector that will help reduce energy costs for hardworking families in my district and across the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will strengthen and protect Medicaid for those who need it the most. This legislation focuses on eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse that have historically plagued this system, ensuring that resources are used efficiently and effectively.

Contrary to the misinformation spreading, there are roughly 1.4 million illegal immigrants who are receiving Medicaid, crowding out benefits meant for American citizens.

What is more, this bill invests billions of dollars in long-term care for seniors and people with disabilities by establishing a new pathway for States to offer community-based services. This will help preserve Medicaid for the most vulnerable populations who rely on it: pregnant mothers, children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities and low- income families.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding.

Mr. Speaker, on July Fourth, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law. This historic legislation delivered the largest tax cuts to working-and middle-class Americans in U.S. history and will revitalize rural America.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made permanent the 199A small business tax credit, providing certainty to small businesses and ensuring Main Street can thrive.

This legislation also saves 2 million family farms, including over 6,800 family farms in my district, from facing a death tax increase. This will protect the generational transfer of family farms.

This bill also cuts down on the waste, fraud, and abuse in our Federal agencies that have made it harder and more expensive for our American people.

This bill is a win for our farmers, small businesses, and Americans in every income bracket.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to cast two votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 162, H.R. 2096, and YEA on Roll Call No. 163, H.R. 884.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding to me.

Madam Speaker, every single day, our brave men and women in blue leave their families not knowing if they will return home.

During National Police Week, we pause to show our gratitude for our law enforcement officers and recognize the sacrifices that they make every single day to keep our communities safe.

Today, I particularly recognize Fred Fislar from the Hendricks County Sheriff's Office and Brandon Schreiber from the Newton County Sheriff's Office, two constituents of mine who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty in 2024.

Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.

To the law enforcement officers across the State of Indiana, I thank them for their unwavering courage, dedication, and service to our communities.

I also thank the families of our law enforcement officers. Their strength, resilience, and sacrifices should also be honored and appreciated.

Let this week serve as a reminder that we should always back the blue.

Additional Recognitions for National Police Week

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 129.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor McCutcheon High School's Mavericks Robotics team, which won the 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship.

The Mavericks Robotics team competed against 3,700 teams from around the world just to clinch a spot in the world championship. Only 600 of those teams made the cut, and this robotics team won it all.

These talented students from McCutcheon High School dedicated 17 to 20 hours a week designing, building, and marketing their robot. Each of the students on the Mavericks Robotics team played a vital role in their global victory, from designing aspects of the robot, computer programming, crafting the physical build of the robot, or helping raise money for the project. These brilliant students should be proud of this truly outstanding accomplishment.

I congratulate the world champion McCutcheon Mavericks Robotics team.

Recognizing Sergeant Rodney Jenkins

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Sergeant Rodney Jenkins, a dedicated public servant who devoted over two decades to law enforcement in Montgomery County, Indiana.

At 19, Rodney became one of the first full-time male dispatchers at the Montgomery County Communications Center, and his career only flourished from there.

In 1998, Rodney Jenkins was hired as a jail officer and reserve deputy with Montgomery County Sheriff's office.

In 2000, he was hired as a road deputy, and 9 years later, he was promoted to sergeant.

His leadership, coupled with his dedication to both administrative and field duties, showcases his true passion for law enforcement and community service.

We are grateful for Sergeant Jenkins' exceptional service to our community, and I am proud to congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement.

Retirement of Dr. Karen Plaut

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Karen Plaut, the executive vice president for research at Purdue University who recently announced she will retire on June 30 of this year.

Dr. Plaut has a truly impressive career. Dr. Plaut attended the University of Vermont, received her master's from Pennsylvania State University, and received her Ph.D. in animal science from Cornell University. She held a fellowship at the National Cancer Institute at NIH and led breast cancer research at the University of Vermont.

Dr. Plaut then joined NASA and served as the lead scientist for the International Space Station Biological Research Project, working with engineers to build life science habitats for zero gravity.

Dr. Plaut joined Purdue University in 2010 and became executive vice president in 2023.

I wish Dr. Plaut the best of luck and congratulate her on her well- earned retirement.

Recognizing Dr. John Scamahorn

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor fellow Boilermaker Dr. John Scamahorn.

Dr. Scamahorn earned his degree in veterinary medicine from Purdue University in 1972 and has spent his career supporting veterinarians at the local, State, and national levels.

Dr. Scamahorn runs the Animal Medical Clinic in Greencastle, Indiana. He also helped found the Indiana Animal Health Foundation, which helps fund scholarships and service animals. He also has contributed significant time to 4-H members.

He received the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2001 and the American Veterinary Medical Association Meritorious Service Award in 2022, which recognizes a veterinarian who has brought honor and distinction to the veterinary profession.

Indiana is proud to be the home for Dr. Scamahorn, and I thank him for his exceptional service to veterinarians and our communities.

Recognizing Jinsie Bingham

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Jinsie Bingham, a trailblazing broadcaster and lifelong Greencastle, Indiana, resident. She even graduated from DePauw University, located in Greencastle, in 1956. Her broadcasting career started when she joined the local radio station WJNZ, formerly known as WXTA, as the sales manager in 1969.

In 1977, Jinsie Bingham became the first woman in Indiana to own and operate a commercial radio station. She ran WJNZ, which is now known as WREB and serves Greencastle to this day. In 1996, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indiana Chapter of American Women in Radio and Television.

Jinsie Bingham retired from broadcasting in 1994 but continues to be active in the Greencastle community to this day. She is also known as the unofficial historian for the area.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to know Jinsie Bingham, and I thank her for her decades of service to Greencastle.