Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 491, the Equal COLA Act; H.R. 492, the Saving the Civil Service Act; H.R. 493, the FAIR Act; and H.R. 1670, the Family Building FEHB Fairness Act, all bills originally introduced by Representative Connolly of Virginia, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with profound gratitude and humility as I begin my service on behalf of Virginia's 11th District.

As a lifelong Northern Virginian, I am honored by the trust my community has placed in me. I am deeply grateful to my wife, Yvette, and our son, Mateo, whose love and patience sustain me. This moment belongs to them as much as it does to me.

I am also honored to follow in the footsteps of my dear friend and mentor, Congressman Gerry Connolly, a singular figure in Virginia and in this body, who showed us what principled leadership looks like. His legacy will guide me every day.

With that gratitude, Mr. Speaker, comes responsibility to speak honestly about the challenges my community faces. In Virginia, we are on the leading edge of President Trump's economy. In my district, everyone knows someone who has lost their job due to the agenda coming from the White House and too often from this Chamber. If we do not change course, what is true in Northern Virginia today will soon be true in every district in this Nation. Families everywhere will know someone who has lost their job because of the DOGE cuts, the tariffs, the budget bill, or our failure to address the rising costs on everything from groceries to rent to prescription drugs.

This week, Mr. Speaker, the people of Virginia sent a clear message: They want pragmatic solutions. They want a government that works for everyone. They want us to tackle the high cost of living, housing, and health care, to confront climate change, to honor the public servants, our Federal employees, who keep our government running.

Mr. Speaker, I am humbled by the trust my constituents have placed in me. I will carry their hopes and their voices into this Chamber every day. I will never forget where I came from, and I will never stop working for a government that reflects the best of who we are. Together, Mr. Speaker, I believe we can build that future.