Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 3925,

the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act.

For nearly a decade, the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation has worked with the U.S. Forest Service to complete a land exchange in San Bernardino County.

The San Manuel Reservation is surrounded by Federal lands and the communities of San Bernardino and Highland, leaving the Nation with limited space to meet its housing, infrastructure, and cultural needs.

H.R. 3925 would complete an exchange of approximately 1,500 acres of Forest Service land for an equivalent amount already owned by the Nation. Much of the land being provided by the Nation was acquired specifically to facilitate this exchange at the request of the Forest Service.

Completing this exchange will create a more contiguous land base, reduce checkerboard ownership, and improve land management for both the Nation and the Forest Service.

This legislation also protects the historic Arrowhead landmark, a site of significant cultural importance to the Yuhaaviatam people and a well-known symbol throughout the San Bernardino Valley.

This exchange will also support better wildfire preparation and land management in an area that faces significant wildfire risk. The Nation has already made substantial investments in fire protection and emergency response at the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest.

Mr. Speaker, after years of work and unfortunate delay, congressional action is needed to finally complete this process. This is a straightforward measure that respects Tribal sovereignty, protects important cultural resources, and improves land management in my district.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3925.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the ALERT Act. The collision last year at DCA was a terrible tragedy, and like most aviation tragedies, it was 100 percent preventable.

The NTSB earlier this year released a comprehensive report analyzing the accident. What it discovered, like most aviation accidents, is that there was a whole chain of events that occurred. Any one of those links could have been interrupted and prevented the accident.

The NTSB made a number of different recommendations on what can be done to improve the situation, and this bill implements those recommendations. This is far beyond just the paths that helicopters and aircraft take, which need to be separated. It goes to things like the staffing of air traffic control towers, the technology behind collision avoidance systems, military training routes and the ways that those are communicated, and a host of different things that, implemented together, will ensure that these types of accidents do not happen in the future.

Madam Speaker, I am so proud to be a cosponsor of this bill. I thank my friend and fellow pilot, Chairman Graves, for his tireless advocacy in seeing this through to fruition. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant opposition to the ROTOR Act.

This bill is a well-intentioned response to the horrific airline accident last year at DCA. In the months since the accident, it has become clear that the accident would have been prevented had the helicopter that was involved in the collision been broadcasting its position and its speed through the ADS-B Out system.

This bill would indeed fix that. However, this bill imposes a costly mandate that every aircraft within the system implement a technology called ADS-B In.

Mr. Speaker, most of the aircraft that would be affected by this bill, those with a takeoff weight of over 12,500 pounds, already have superior technology for collision avoidance called TCAS II.

Mr. Speaker, this is technology that works at all airports. At most of the general aviation airports in my district, ADS-B Out will not work near the ground, Mr. Speaker, because you have to be receiving air traffic control signals for it to work. TCAS II works at all of those airports.

Moreover, since the ROTOR Act was introduced months ago before the NTSB report was released, it does not implement many of the recommendations in that report.

Chairman Graves has a far superior bill called the ALERT Act that addresses all 50 of those recommendations.

Mr. Speaker, I urge us to reject the ROTOR Act today and to quickly pass the ALERT Act, conference those changes with the Senate, and get it on the President's desk for signature.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life and service of my dear friend, Sergeant Grant Ward, a respected leader within the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Grant passed away on February 1 following a long and extremely courageous battle with cancer.

Grant was also the longtime president of the San Bernardino County Safety Employees Benefit Association. In that role, he was a tireless advocate for strengthening the relationship between our county's leaders and the first responders whom he represented.

I can unequivocally say that Grant was one of the finest public servants whom I have ever had the privilege to know. He was a true servant-leader, always putting the wants and needs of the people whom he represented above his own.

Grant was also a tireless advocate for the public service officers whom he represented. He strengthened collective bargaining within the county. He improved legal protections for officers, expanded member services, and ensured that the voices of law enforcement were heard at every level of our government.

Godspeed to my friend, Grant, who I will dearly miss.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 980.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and my friend and colleague from Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden) for including my bill, H.R. 913, the Streamlining Aviation for Eligible Veterans Act, in the text of this bill.

This bill will make meaningful improvements to the way that the VR&E program serves our disabled veterans, and my section of the bill will enable those veterans to use their VR&E benefits to pursue vocational flight training.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, we have a nationwide pilot shortage, and our veterans make excellent candidates for pilots, having been trained in a highly technical environment and being trained to follow the rules and being able to absorb all of the knowledge necessary to be an exceptional pilot.

Mr. Speaker, there currently are impediments for VR&E benefits being used in vocational flight training. These benefits are intended, as currently written, to be used in programs that are degree granting. As we all know, earning a college degree has nothing to do necessarily with learning how to fly an aircraft.

This bill will improve that section by granting the VA the flexibility to have veterans pursue vocational flight training outside of degree-granting programs.

Mr. Speaker, that will not only incentivize our servicemen and -women to become pilots and to embark on new careers, but it will also help to solve the nationwide pilot shortage in our country. Most importantly, it puts our veterans first.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 980.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with an incredibly heavy heart to honor the life of my friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa.

Doug was one of the most effective Members of this Chamber. He was deeply passionate about issues that affected his constituents in northern California.

As most of the Members of this Chamber know, we all have little silos where people come to us for advice. I always could count on Doug to give me the straight scoop on anything related to water, agriculture, or rural America. That is why we elected him as the chairman of the Western Caucus 2 years ago, and he did a phenomenal job in that role. I will miss his service there.

I will also miss the man that he was. He was an incredibly decent man, a man of exceptionally high moral character. Everyone that knew Doug would remark on his authenticity. When you met Doug, what you saw is what you got. He was a man of deep kindness, never had a cruel or unkind word for anyone in the years that I knew him. He was a man of incredible humility, and anyone in this Chamber knows that we could use some more of that in here.

Above all, Mr. Speaker, I will miss my friend. I will miss our conversations about cars. He was a car guy; I am a car guy. I would tease him every summer when we came back into session because he was restoring a De Tomaso Pantera, and I would ask him: Doug, what progress did you make on the Pantera this summer? He would hang his head and say: Nothing.

On this playing Galaga with him, a little known fact about Doug LaMalfa, he was a fierce competitor at Galaga. Above all, I will miss our conversations.

I am honored to be here joining my colleagues in saying farewell to Doug and to honor his life. Godspeed to my friend, Doug. We will miss him.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from Georgia, for recognizing me.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support as both a member of the Health Subcommittee and a proud cosponsor of this bill, H.R. 1262, the Give Kids a Chance Act.

Mr. Speaker, we live in the most technologically advanced society in the history of human civilization, and modern medicine has recently come up

with amazing solutions and cures for many of the physical ailments that have afflicted humanity.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, we have many rare pediatric diseases for which there is no cure. While we are researching the cures for those diseases, thousands and thousands of children continue to suffer.

Mr. Speaker, we need to give every priority and do everything we possibly can to speed up the delivery of these treatments for rare pediatric diseases, and that is what this bill is all about. The Give Kids a Chance Act will reauthorize the FDA's Priority Review Voucher system to speed the research and development of these technologies and innovative treatments and bring them to market. It also clarifies the FDA's authority over expediting these therapies and reauthorizes needed funding for the NIH to fund research and development into these cures.

Mr. Speaker, this bill will help us finally bring solutions to these thousands of suffering children.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my bipartisan cosponsors for their hard work on this bill. I urge this body to pass it this evening and urge its speedy consideration in the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service of Victorville City Councilwoman Debra Jones. During her nearly fourteen years of dedicated public service, Debra has advocated tirelessly for the Victorville community and its citizens' most pressing concerns. Debra is renowned in our community as a selfless and caring servant and is a true friend to all who have the privilege of knowing her.

Elected to the City Council in November 2018 and sworn into office the following month, she went on to serve as Mayor from December 2020 through December 2023. Debra was instrumental in championing Measure P, which expanded law enforcement, strengthened code enforcement, and led to the development of a new police station and civic plaza, enhancing public safety and revitalizing the city's core. She also helped establish the Victorville Wellness Center, the first facility of its kind in San Bernardino County, which reduced the city's unsheltered homeless population by fifty-seven percent and now serves as a model for other communities.

In addition to her work in public office, Debra has been deeply involved in education and community service. She co-founded the Adelanto Elementary School District's first Special Education Parent Advisory Committee, served two terms on its Governing Board, and has devoted herself to volunteerism, philanthropic writing, and foster parenting--particularly for infants prenatally exposed to illicit drugs.

Debra has also represented Victorville on numerous regional boards and commissions, including the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, the San Bernardino Council of Governments, and the Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority. Her service on these bodies has been marked by professionalism, collaboration, and a deep commitment to transparency and good governance.

Debra's accomplishments would not have been possible without the support of her family. Her husband, Gene, and their six children have stood by her side throughout her many years of public service and community leadership.

Debra has had a profound impact on the Victorville community. Heather and I deeply appreciate her years of service, and we wish her and her family well as she enters this next stage of her already eventful and purposeful life. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Councilwoman Debra Jones and celebrating her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, as we debate the rule providing for consideration of amendments to this year's National Defense Authorization Act, I rise to highlight a critically important issue from my district and to offer an amendment that would solve the problem.

Mr. Speaker, I represent a vast district in southern California. Among the five military bases that I represent is the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms. This is a critically important national asset where large-scale training operations are conducted that are available nowhere else in the world.

Recently, the Marine Corps has proposed to expand the scale of operations and training at that base, which I fully support. To accomplish that expansion would require an expansion of the restricted airspace that is above those training operations.

We want to make sure the Marine Corps has access to all of the airspace they need to conduct their operations, but, Mr. Speaker, they are going about it in an extremely troubling way.

They are proposing to create a new restricted area over this airspace which would restrict the public's access to that effectively full time, despite the fact that the Marine Corps only proposes to make use of this airspace 60 or fewer days every year. That is less than 20 percent of the time, Mr. Speaker.

The problem with this is it is going to have a devastating impact on four local area airports, as well as operations in the adjacent Johnson Valley, which is home to the King of the Hammers, one of the largest off-road races in the world and one in which over 80,000 spectators enjoy every year in my district.

These operations will be in jeopardy if the public is restricted from accessing that airspace.

Mr. Speaker, the Marine Corps has other options for getting use of this airspace. For example, they could declare a temporary flight restriction on the days that they propose to use it, which would be communicated to all of the local users of the airspace, or, Mr. Speaker, they could better and more effectively communicate when they are using that airspace to other airspace users so the public would be aware when the military needed the airspace and when the public had access to that.

In fact, we have already directed them to do exactly that. In the National Defense Authorization Act in 2021, we directed the Department of Defense and the FAA to work together to develop a system to digitally inform the public when restricted airspace was activated and when the public was welcome to use deactivated airspace. They were given 6 months to do that. Mr. Speaker, this is not reinventing the wheel. This delivery already exists for temporary flight restrictions. This would just be extending it to the restricted areas.

Mr. Speaker, 4 years later now, the DOD and the FAA have still not acted on this.

My amendment simply conditions the Marine Corps' issuance of a new restricted area on compliance with the direction of Congress that we have already given them 4 years ago to create this new information sharing.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of my amendment and that it be made in order to solve this problem.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 65th anniversary of the Mojave Water Agency, an institution that has stood as a pillar of responsible stewardship, innovation, and public service in California's High Desert since its founding in 1960.

For over six decades, the Mojave Water Agency has safeguarded one of our region's most precious resources: water. Formed by local voters in response to declining groundwater levels, the Agency has grown into one of the most respected and visionary water management organizations in our state.

As one of California's original State Water Project contractors, the Mojave Water Agency was instrumental in bringing imported water to the region. That achievement helped pave the way for responsible population growth, economic development, and long-term sustainability in one of the most arid areas of our Nation. Today, the Agency's service area spans nearly 5,000 square miles and provides water resource management for nearly half a million residents.

Over the past 65 years, the Mojave Water Agency has distinguished itself through its technical excellence, long-range planning, and commitment to the efficient and responsible use of water. Its leadership has fostered strong partnerships with local governments, businesses, and residents, building a foundation of trust and shared responsibility.

Equally commendable is the Agency's focus on public education and outreach. Through this work, the Mojave Water Agency has not only fulfilled its operational mission but has cultivated a strong culture of civic pride and community stewardship.

The Mojave Water Agency has helped ensure that life across our region remains sustainable, secure, and well-prepared for the challenges ahead. On behalf of California's 23rd Congressional District, I extend my deepest appreciation to the leaders, staff, and partners of the Mojave Water Agency for 65 years of exemplary service. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this remarkable institution and in wishing it continued success for decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Major Jennie Marie Fregoso for her outstanding 25 years of service in the United States Army. From May 2000 to July 2025, Major Fregoso exemplified the Army's core values of duty, honor, and selfless service, leaving a lasting impact on every unit she served with.

Major Fregoso began her career as a Medical Logistics Specialist with the 349th General Hospital and later served with distinction in the 349th Combat Support Hospital and the 349th Field Hospital. Throughout her career, she held key roles including Executive Officer, S1, S3, S8, Projects Manager, and Conversion Coordinator. Her versatility and leadership were pivotal during the transformation of the 349th Combat Support Hospital into the 349th Field Hospital and 380th Hospital Center, and she was personally commended for her performance as Battle Captain during CSTX.

During her 2004 to 2005 deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Major Fregoso served at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, took part in a humanitarian mission in El Salvador, and led a cost- saving initiative that saved the Army over $600,000. She completed key leadership courses and earned multiple awards, including the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.

Major Jennie Marie Fregoso's service has strengthened the operational readiness of the Army Reserve medical community and shaped the careers of countless soldiers. Her legacy is one of dedication, leadership, and unwavering professionalism. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring her exceptional career and in wishing her continued success and fulfillment in retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in proud support of my bill, H.R. 1766, the NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act.

Mr. Speaker, as more and more of Americans' lives move into a digital format, it is leaving the information of Americans more and more vulnerable to cyberattacks. That is why it is critical that we establish cybersecurity protocols and capabilities to counter the threats not just of foreign actors but of cybercriminals and transnational criminal organizations who attempt to breach our data security and access the data of Americans.

This bill is an important step towards doing that. It establishes a new Office of Policy Development and Cybersecurity within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The role of this office would be to research the cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the American economy and within our government and to coordinate efforts to counter cyber threats within those organizations.

Mr. Speaker, cybersecurity is national security, and this bill is a meaningful step towards achieving that for the people who we represent.

I thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for their support on this bill, as well as my bipartisan co-lead, Congresswoman McClellan, and urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Dr. Barbara J. Finlayson-Pitts who was recently recognized as the North American laureate of the 2025 L'Oreal-United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) For Women in Science International Awards.

Each year, the L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards acknowledge five exceptional women from each of the world's major regions. Barbara was selected from an impressive pool of 466 nominees for her pioneering contributions in the realm of environmental science and atmospheric chemistry. On June 12, Barbara will join the additional four laureates at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France for an official recognition of her groundbreaking research.

Barbara embodies the very best of our community's values through not only her consistent dedication to better understanding the world around her, but also through her passion for preparing future generations of researchers as a professor within the University of California, Irvine's Department of Chemistry.

Barbara holds a bachelor's degree from Trent University, and both a master's and doctoral degree in chemistry from the University of California, Riverside. Barbara is a long-term resident of Big Bear Lake--and in her spare time--she enjoys observing Big Bear Lake's resident eagles, Jackie, Shadow, Sunny, and Gizmo.

Heather and I thank Barbara for her years of service and significant contributions to the scientific community. I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Barbara on this monumental achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Jeff Willis on his retirement from the Big Bear City Fire Department after nearly four decades of dedicated service. Throughout his career, Jeff served as a firefighter, engineer, captain, division chief, assistant chief, fire marshal, and fire chief. Jeff is renowned in our community as a selfless and caring individual and is a true friend to all who have the privilege of knowing him.

A resident of the Big Bear community for over 48 years, Jeff attended local schools prior to joining the Big Bear City Fire Department as a paid call firefighter at 18 years old. Jeff was promoted to paid call engineer within 2 years and advanced to the rank of fire captain just 2 years later--a true testament to his unique skillset and exceptional abilities.

In 2007, at just 43 years old, Jeff became the youngest fire chief in the history of the Big Bear City Fire Department. Jeff's additional accolades include serving as a board member for the Fire Districts Association of California and as both chair and vice chair of the Joint Legislative Task Force representing the California Fire Chiefs Association.

Jeff's decorated career and service to Big Bear City would not have been possible without the support of his family. His wife, Yvette; his three sons, Brandon, Jordan, and Kadon; his two stepsons, Joshua and Brennan Eddy; his mother, Barbara; and his late father, Ken, were instrumental in supporting his work in keeping our community safe.

Jeff had a profound impact on our community and the Big Bear City Fire Department. Heather and I deeply appreciate Jeff for his years of service, and we wish him and his family well as they enter this next stage of his already eventful and purposeful life. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Jeff Willis and celebrating his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 331, the HALT Fentanyl Act.

Mr. Speaker, opioid overdoses have become an epidemic in this country. Last year, over 100,000 Americans lost their lives to overdose, and fentanyl poisoning is the driving force behind that.

Mr. Speaker, it is not just the country at large that has experienced this problem. In my own district, we have seen an over 1,000 percent increase in the rate of fentanyl poisoning and deaths.

Mr. Speaker, I had the most difficult day in my over 20 years in public office recently when I had to console one of my constituents, a mother who lost both of her sons on the same day to the same fentanyl poisoning event.

We must give our law enforcement the tools to combat this problem. This bill does exactly that. It permanently reschedules fentanyl and its analogues as a schedule I narcotic, and it gives our law enforcement agencies the tools that they need to begin dealing with this problem.

That is why I am proud to be a cosponsor of the House version of this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote in support of it.