Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Omicron Kappa Kappa Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. for its Achievement Week and Honorees.

Since 1925, Achievement Week has been an annual, internationally mandated program of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. The purpose of the program is to inspire race, pride, and public appreciation of the Negro's potential. Chapters celebrate their communities and engage the public through exhibits, activities, meetings and forums in schools, churches, and public halls.

The fraternity's 2025 International Achievement Week is from November 10, 2025, to November 17, 2025. This year's Achievement Week theme is ``Impactful Service Through Intentional Friendship.''

The Omicron Kappa Kappa (OKK) Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. received its graduate chapter charter on December 14, 1996, and serves primarily the Fairfax, Herndon, and Reston, Virginia areas.

The fraternity's Annual Achievement Week Awards Luncheon serves as an opportunity to recognize our youth and members of the community for their contributions to the chapter and the community over the past year.

I include in the Record the following OKK awards recipients:

Trailblazer Award: Lieutenant General (Retired) R. Scott

Dingle, U.S. Army

Trailblazer Award: The Honorable Robert R. Rigsby,

Associate Judge, District of Columbia Superior Court and

Colonel (Retired), Judge Advocate, U.S. Army Reserves

High School Essay Contest First Place Winner: Gabriella E.

Celestine, James W. Robinson, Jr. Secondary School

Brigadier General Charles Young Military Leadership Award:

Major Justin Brown, Engineer, U.S. Army Reserves

Citizen of the Year Award: Dr. Mamie Parker, PhD

Dr. Ronald E. McNair Award for Excellence in Aerospace and

the Arts: Imani C.O. Nzekwe, Thomas A. Edison High School

Dr. Charles R. Drew Award for Excellence in Medical

Research: Hernan Bekele, Carter G. Woodson High School

Dr. Ernest Everett Just Award for Excellence in Biology:

Shreya Soni and Peyton Tran, South County High School

Dr. Oscar James Cooper, M.D., Award for Excellence in

Biomedical and Health Sciences: Chloe Giglio, McLean High

School

Professor Frank Coleman Award for Excellence in Physics and

Astronomy: Leona Agyepong, Lake Braddock Secondary School

Dr. Edgar Amos Love Award for Excellence in Biomedical

Engineering: Aaryasinh Vaghela and Rishik Puli, Basis

Independence School

Charles ``Chuck'' Smith Award for Excellence in Computer

Science and Mathematics: Eamon O'Leary, South Lakes High

School

Founders Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Dennis Humphrey,

PhD

Omega Man of the Year: Sanford Crenshaw

Superior Service Award: Brian Bond

Service Pins: Gerald Hamilton, 55 Years; Howard Foard Jr.,

50 Years; Gerald Curry, 45 Years; Robert Drummer, 40 Years;

Julius Reynolds, 40 years; Earl Smith Jr., 40 Years; Shun

Williams, 40 Years; Michael Craghead, 35 Years; Michael

Kennebrew, 25 Years; Joseph Nelson, 25 Years.

Basileus Bricks: Michael Welch, Chairman, Charles Drew

Blood Drive; Sanford Crenshaw, Vice Basileus; Vince Jones,

Vice Chairman, Charles Drew Blood Drive; Zachary Canady,

Keeper of Records and Seal; Jeremiah Davis, Chairman,

Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the men of Omega Psi Phi, Inc. and the honorees for this year's Achievement Week.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 2180, the Keep the Watchdogs Running Act; H.R. 759, the Federal Firefighters Families First Act; H.R. 1560, Postal Supervisors and Managers Fairness Act of 2025; and H.R. 1559, Postal Employee Appeal Rights Amendment Act of 2025, all bills originally introduced by Representative Connelly of Virginia, for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation to repeal a last-minute, dead-of-night provision added to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act that green-lights eight Republican Senators to raid the Treasury and reward themselves with millions of taxpayer dollars because they were investigated for their involvement in the 2021 insurrection.

These eight Senators provided support to President Trump's attempt to overturn the results of a free and fair election. It is a brazen attempt by Republicans to further whitewash a conspiracy and a violent insurrection while lining their own pockets with taxpayer dollars.

It is a trifecta of the type of corruption that shakes Americans' faith in Congress: contempt for the rule of law, a secret backroom deal, and self-enrichment.

This Republican Senator slush fund is yet another example of the corruption that has taken hold here.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 5214, which erodes the self-governance of the District of Columbia.

Mr. Speaker, 2 months ago, I was a local government official not far from here, in Fairfax County. In the 6 years I spent in that role, I learned that the people best positioned to make decisions about the local policies in their local communities are local leaders after listening to that local community.

My colleagues across the aisle who are advocating for these bills, with due respect, know very little about the District of Columbia, know very little outside of perhaps their walk from their apartment in Navy Yard to this Capitol complex. They don't know the history, neighborhoods, communities, and challenges that folks in the District are facing.

While my colleagues espouse the virtues of self-governance, they simultaneously advocate for bills like this that strip self-governance from 700,000 Americans.

In 1973, Congress passed the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to grant the inhabitants of the District powers of local self-government. This bill is just one of many in this House that erodes those powers to help President Trump consolidate power over our Nation's Capital.

Meanwhile, the American people are confronting crisis after crisis that demands action from this Congress. Our national economy is struggling under President Trump's leadership. Tariffs are driving up prices. Looming healthcare cuts are about to result in skyrocketing premiums for Americans across the Nation.

In the midst of this, how does the majority choose to spend its time? It is spending its time by meddling in D.C.'s local affairs and further disenfranchising 700,000 taxpaying Americans.

I strongly oppose this bill and encourage my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, for years, we have watched dangerous conspiracies like Pizzagate and QAnon shape our political landscape. They helped fuel the rise of President Trump and were built on baseless claims about secret pedophile rings, while the real documented case of child sex trafficking involving Jeffrey Epstein remains shrouded in secrecy because President Trump refuses to release the files.

Mr. Speaker, what is President Trump hiding? Why won't he release the files? The House finally has the opportunity to act. Release the files, and let the American people see the truth.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Korean American Association of the Washington Metropolitan Area (KAAW) and its President, Steve Lee, on the occasion of the 22nd KORUS Festival.

As one of the largest festivals of its kind, the KORUS festival brings together Koreans, Korean Americans, and others from our rich multicultural community to celebrate our dynamic and harmonious relationship. The festival provides not only the opportunity for us to experience the customs of the Korean culture, but also to recognize the shared history and partnership between our two nations. As a member of Congress, I look forward to continuing my friendship with KAAW and the Korean American community as we continue to build on the success of our alliance and work together toward the achievement of our common goals. I will continue to do all that I can to ensure that the U.S.-Korea alliance remains strong and enduring.

It would not be possible to hold an event of this magnitude without the support and commitment of volunteers from the community. It is my great honor to recognize the efforts and include in the Record the name of the following individuals:

Steve S. Lee, Victoria Lee, Taesung Lee, Brian Kim, Mi

Kyung An, Jae Byun, Jae Lee, Kwang Hyung Park, Wan J. Chae,

Chun J. Park, Elwin Maldonado, Mi Ja Kim, Jenny Hwang, Eric

Shin, William Hwang, Bethel Lee, Ella Jung, Naomi Mercy Han,

Zephaniah Kim, Sena Kajiyama, Sophia Moon, Jeffrey Kim, Roi

Lee, Sophia Patton, Enoch Hayul Lee, Ellie Harin Lee, Iriel

Kang, Kaylee Kim, Luke Lee, Leonard Kim, Aria Kwon, Kevin

Kim, Irene Kang, Han June Lee, Veronica Patton, Luke An, and

Genevieve An.

I would also like to give special recognition to Ms. Anna Ko, whose tireless work as KORUS coordinator and Master of Ceremonies helped make this amazing event possible.

Mr. Speaker, festivals like KORUS are a wonderful example of the tremendous diversity we enjoy in Northern Virginia. Such a variety of cultures enriches the lives of our citizens and fosters greater tolerance and understanding. I commend KAAW and the volunteers listed above for helping to bring such wonderful events to fruition and ask my colleagues to join me in wishing them great success in their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Community Residences Inc. on the occasion of their 50th anniversary.

For half a century, this remarkable organization has stood at the forefront of the movement to expand opportunity, ensure dignity, and promote independence for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Northern Virginia.

What began in 1975 as a grassroots response to the lack of community- based housing for people with disabilities has grown into one of the region's most respected providers of inclusive services. In its earliest days, CRi, then Arlington Community Residences, challenged outdated models of institutionalization by creating homes where individuals could thrive as valued members of their neighborhoods. Over the decades, the organization evolved, broadening its programs and reaffirming its mission in a new name Community Residences Inc, with the tagline, choice, respect, and independence; that reflects the core principles guiding their work.

As the organization celebrates 50 years of service, it also looks forward to the launch of its Champions Campaign: a bold initiative to secure the resources needed to expand housing, enrich community programs, and prepare the next generation of advocates. The campaign is not only an investment in facilities and services, but in the vision that every individual deserves the right to self-determination, belonging, and a life of purpose.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing CRi for 50 years of leadership, compassion, and impact. Their history is a testament to the power of community action, and their future promises to carry forward the values of choice, respect, and independence for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Northern Virginia community that came together this past weekend for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Out of the Darkness Fairfax Walk at the Mosaic District.

This annual event brings hope and healing to families across our region, offering space for remembrance, resilience, and collective action to end the tragedy of suicide.

Organized by the National Capital Area chapter of AFSP, the Fairfax Walk has become one of the most visible demonstrations of solidarity in the fight for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Each year, survivors of loss, advocates, mental health professionals, and neighbors walk side by side to honor loved ones and to break the stigma that has for too long silenced conversations about mental health. The impact of this work cannot be overstated: in Virginia, more lives are lost to suicide each year than to car accidents, and the need for accessible, compassionate support is urgent.

Thanks to the dedication of volunteers, community partners, and sponsors, this year's Fairfax Walk has raised over $125,000 to support prevention programs, research, advocacy, and resources for those in crisis. Local partners including Leidos, Intact, SPAN, Interstate, Wellsourced, Dutyfirst, Columbia Mental Health, Embark Behavioral Health, Bechtel, and the County of Fairfax joined AFSP in providing resources and encouragement to those walking this past Saturday.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Virginia's 11th Congressional District, I ask you to join me in extending my gratitude to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention National Capital Area chapter for their leadership, and to every participant who walked Out of the Darkness in Fairfax. Their commitment ensures that no one has to struggle alone, and that our community continues to move toward light, compassion, and healing.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the honorees of the 2025 Elly Doyle Park Service Awards. These awards, sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Authority Board in cooperation with the Fairfax County Park Foundation Board, recognize individuals and organizations for their extraordinary contributions to our environment and public park system.

The Elly Doyle Park Service Awards were established in 1988 in honor of former board member Ellamae Doyle's many years of outstanding service. Recipients have also been selected for the Eakin Philanthropy Award, named in honor of the family that donated the first parcels of parkland to the park authority more than 50 years ago; the Mayo Stuntz Cultural Stewardship, named in honor of a celebrated local historian and military veteran; the Sally Ormsby Environmental Stewardship Award, named in honor of a local champion of environmental education and protection; and the Harold L. Strickland Partnership and Collaboration Award, named for the former Sully District representative on the Park Authority Board. In addition, a special recognition will be given to Park Authority volunteers, who play an integral role in the agency's success.

It is my honor to congratulate all the recipients of the Elly Doyle Park Service Awards and to include in the Record the names of the following individuals:

Elly Doyle Special Recognition: Cynthia Glakas, Paul Gross,

Brian Keith, and Christina Tyler Wenks.

Elly Doyle Park Service Award: Tim Bowers and Carolyn J.

Gamble.

Harold L. Strickland Partnership and Collaboration Award:

Marc Kohn.

Sally Ormsby Environmental Stewardship Award: Sara Holtz.

The Mayo Stuntz Cultural Stewardship Award: Mary Lipsey.

Fairfax County Park Foundation Eakin Philanthropy Awards:

Helen L. Kafka (posthumously), McLean Central Park Playground

Team, Pohanka Automotive, and the Scott A. & Phyllis P.

Crabtree Family Foundation.

Chairman's Choice Award: Ken Quincy and Aimee Vosper.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating this year's awardees. Fairfax County is regarded as one of the best places in the country in which to live, work, and raise a family, and our nationally recognized park system has played a key role in that distinction. Our community has a strong commitment to promoting and preserving our environment, including our public parks and outdoor spaces, as the efforts of the individuals and organizations recognized tonight reflects. These are truly selfless actions done for the benefit of all and merit our highest praise.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Hickory Farms.

Established in 1975, Hickory Farms is a community made up of 198 single-family homes in the Braddock District. Fairfax County is full of history, and this community's history has been well documented by local historians, including resident Robert Cosgriff. Through research, Cosgriff found that Hickory Farms is situated on a piece of land that some scholars believe is the largest private land holding in history. In 1672, Charles II of England granted proprietary rights to approximately 5 million acres to Henry Earl of Arlington and Thomas Lord Culpeper, Baron of Thorsway, for their support of Charles' claim to the throne during the period of the Commonwealth under Cromwell. The rights to the property were passed through descendants, and the first owner to reside on the 21,996-acre estate, the largest single land holding in what is now Fairfax County, was William Fitzhugh. The estate was named ``Ravensworth'' after an ancestral home in England. Their property was approximately nine percent of the total area of Fairfax County, and included the land now known as Hickory Farms.

Fairfax County contains over 1,500 homeowners' and condominium associations, each one performing similar functions for residents, but some associations, like Hickory Farms Community Association (HFCA), go above and beyond for their members. While much of HFCA's functions are standard, such as ensuring owners maintain their properties and ensuring the common areas are maintained, they also make a conscious effort to encourage a deep sense of community within Hickory Farms.

This sense of community starts right when new homeowners or tenants move into the neighborhood. HFCA's Welcome Wagon Representatives welcome new residents, hand them a welcome packet, and collect contact information to make sure they are able to take full advantage of everything HFCA has to offer. Throughout the year, residents can gather with their neighbors for social events like children's parades, Halloween parties, summer kickoffs, and more. Many of these events take place throughout the large common areas within Hickory Farms. The common areas comprise over 20 acres of wooded land and open areas, including a number of maintained walking trails.

It takes countless volunteers to maintain the common areas, greet new neighbors, put on social events, and support the necessary functions of the HOA. Not only does Hickory Farms recognize people's contributions in the monthly newsletter, but a number of active volunteers have been recognized on an even

larger level. I include in the Record the following volunteers:

Braddock District Citizen of the Year: Robert Cosgriff

(1997) and Bob and Lee Sottile (2002)

Braddock District Neighborhood Enhancement Award: Melissa

and Jarrett Stark (2019)

Braddock District Civic Engagement Award: Robert Cosgriff

(2024)

Lord Fairfax (Braddock District): Robert Mullin Jr. (1990)

and Robert Cosgriff (2021)

Lady Fairfax (Braddock District): Pamela Barrett (2009)

In addition to these individual recognitions, HFCA has received a number of awards as a community because of their environmental and conservation efforts. HFCA earned the Fairfax County Environmental Excellence Award in 2002 and 2024, as well as earning the ``Friends of the Trees'' Award in 2021. These awards are a testament to the dedication of the Hickory Farms residents and the commitment of the HFCA to uphold high environmental standards for their community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me, in congratulating Hickory Farms on its 50th anniversary. For five decades, residents have enjoyed the best of what Fairfax County has to offer because of the tireless work of the HFCA. This community is a prime example of why this county is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. Cheers to another 50 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, observed each October to honor the invaluable contributions of people with disabilities to the workforce and to reaffirm our commitment to expand their participation in the future.

In 1945, the Nation first designated a national week to recognize the contributions of people with physical disabilities. Designated by Congress as NDEAM in 1988, commemoration evolved to acknowledge the importance of increasing the number of people with disabilities in the workforce. In 2001, the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) was created and was given responsibility for NDEAM and for selecting and helping promote its annual theme.

This year's theme is ``Celebrating Value and Talent'', which reminds us that Americans with disabilities bring innovation, resilience, and unique perspectives to our communities and all sectors of our economy.

As we celebrate NDEAM and disability employment, I want to recognize the success of the AbilityOne Program, one of the largest and most impactful sources of employment for people who are blind or have significant disabilities in the United States.

Since Congress first established the program over 80 years ago, AbilityOne has empowered individuals with disabilities by providing meaningful work opportunities through Federal contracts. Today, nearly 40,000 Americans, including thousands of veterans, are employed on these contracts providing essential products and services for Federal agencies with excellence, reliability, and pride.

ServiceSource, based in my Congressional district, is one of 400 AbilityOne Federal contractors doing this work across the country, contributing to workforce development and strengthening communities. I commend their efforts and other employers who are actively hiring people of all abilities.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month and in advancing policies that empower every American to secure a job and thrive. During the month of October, we should all reaffirm our commitment to a workforce that recognizes and welcomes everyone's contributions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing October as National Spine Health Awareness Month.

In the U.S., 100 million people suffer from neck or back conditions every year according to the CDC. Back pain is the number one cause of missed workdays, the leading cause of job-related disability and pain in the U.S., and the most common non-cancer related reason for an opioid prescription in the U.S. In addition, those with back and neck pain are four times more likely to become clinically depressed.

The National Spine Health Foundation, located in my district in Reston, Virginia, is the only national patient-centered non-profit dedicated to helping patients overcome debilitating spinal conditions and take back their lives. For over two decades, the Foundation has increased its commitment to and has developed award winning patient education, advocacy, and research work to give patients the tools they need to make informed decisions about their spine health and navigate their own treatment journeys with confidence.

To further address the complex challenges of spinal health, the Foundation has created four specialized task forces led by experts in their fields.

The Opioid Task Force which has advanced research on minimizing opioid use while still optimizing pain relief.

The Bone Health Task Force promotes bone health screening protocols, research, and public education.

The Military & Veterans Task Force works to ensure that service members and veterans receive advanced, appropriate spine care.

Finally, the Motion Preservation Task Force ensures patients and providers have access to lifechanging motion-preserving procedures, focusing on artificial disc replacement.

The Foundation continues to be strongly committed to spine health research. Patient reported outcomes have long been part of fabric of NSHF since its inception. As they are deeply invested in supporting evidence-based healthcare decisionmaking, it is important to be part of the process of creating the evidence. Their cloud-based research tool called `Spine-online' enables them to conduct multi-center studies and partner with research teams both in the U.S. and internationally. Active studies are currently occurring on robotic surgery, enhanced surgical recovery, augmented reality, a genetic basis for personalized spine treatments, stem cell therapy, and more.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the importance of good spinal health and thanking the NSHF and the healthcare providers who help spine and neck patients, not just in October, but all year long.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the First Baptist Church of Merrifield on the occasion of the 155th anniversary of its sanctuary. For more than a century and a half, First Baptist Church of Merrifield has served as a cornerstone of faith, service, and community for the Northern Virginia region. First Baptist Church of Merrifield was started in a log cabin between 1871 to 1872. FBCM had then branched out and began worshipping on property owned by Mr. Robert Bradley of Merrifield. In 1891, the property was purchased from him by church Trustees: John E. Coates, Joshua Ball, and Joshua Pearson for the sum of five dollars. FBCM is a church formed from strong community family ties and has remained steadfastly community focused since.

FBCM remains a vital part of our district today by partnering with neighbors and local organizations to fulfill local needs through service projects, food and supply drives, youth programs, and many other community-centered initiatives. Through these efforts, FBCM continues to foster a spirit of faith, service, collaboration, and compassion throughout our district.

Over the past 155 years, FBCM has been led by 13 pastors and 2 interim pastors. Each one contributing to the growth of FBCM and leaving behind their own unique legacy of service. A few of those contributions include: the establishment of the Golden Ages Senior Saints Ministry, the construction of the Merrifield Child Development Center, the recovery of the original church bell, the creation of a youth mentoring program with Luther Jackson Middle School, the development of a tutoring outreach program targeting local students, and much more. FBCM and its congregation lead by faith and example in our community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending First Baptist Church of Merrifield for its efforts to better the Northern Virginia region. Achieving 155 years of ministry is a milestone worth celebrating. It is a privilege to work alongside this great congregation in the community, and I wish them continued success through faith, family, and service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lt. Colonel Jabar Shabazz, who is retiring after 31 years of faithful service to our Nation, culminating in his service as lieutenant colonel, the highest rank in the Sheriff's Office, immediately below Sheriff.

Lt. Col. Shabazz has always been a competitive and driven person, as was apparent in his days as a college basketball player. He attended Virginia State University on a four-year athletic scholarship and played small forward. In his senior year, his team won the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship. While his goal was to join the NBA, Shabazz ended up meeting several folks who worked for the Richmond Sheriff's Office when he was playing in a summer league after college.

He began his career in public service in 1989 when he joined the Richmond Sheriff's Office. After five years of distinguished service in Richmond, Lt. Col. Shabazz decided to join the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office in March of 1994 after taking a tour of the Adult Detention Center (ADC) and liking what he saw.

Since his graduation from the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy, he has spent the majority of his career in the ADC but has served with distinction in all areas of the agency, including court security and internal affairs. Throughout his time in each division and rank, Lt. Col. Shabazz made his mark on his colleagues and the Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid. Sheriff Kincaid ended up offering Shabazz the position to serve as her Chief Deputy in 2022, despite his nearing retirement. Knowing he had more service to give, he accepted and obtained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

When taking over the position of Chief Deputy of Operations, Shabazz was confident in his skills in operations and was looking forward to being responsible for both the ADC and all of their support services. Sheriff Kincaid described him as being ``the gold standard of leadership in [the] agency,'' and that he ``brings with him a mentality of getting to yes and finding a way over, around, or through any obstacle to get the job done.'' His appointment to this position was also historic, as he became the first African American Lieutenant Colonel and Chief Deputy.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Lt. Colonel Jabar Shabazz on his retirement. On behalf of myself and the citizens of Fairfax County, I thank him and his family for his honorable 31 years of selfless service to our Nation. Fairfax County is the safest jurisdiction of its size, and that is in no small part due to the dedication of individuals like Lt. Col. Shabazz. Best wishes for a safe and happy retirement.

Mr. Speaker, across America, hardworking people are struggling to pay their bills. This includes housing, groceries, healthcare, and more. Hundreds of thousands of jobs have been cut due to the DOGE policies. Our economy is sputtering, and the tariffs are jacking up prices.

The so-called big, beautiful bill will decimate Medicaid, taking healthcare from seniors, children, and working families, while driving up premiums.

The President has told the majority not to negotiate with our side to keep the government open. The budget that has been introduced will drive up everyday costs, including healthcare premiums.

Mr. Speaker, it is time for us to come together and deliver what the American people need, which is access to affordable healthcare and a government that is funded and functional.