Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, due to an illness in my family, I missed the following Roll Call votes on November 20, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 303, and YEA on Roll Call No. 304.

Mr. Speaker, due to an illness in my family, I missed the following Roll Call votes on November 21, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 305.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize and congratulate Penny Justice on her selection as the winner of Florida's Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriot of the Year Award. This annual award ceremony celebrates our great American servicemembers, first responders, and citizens and recognizes men and women who, through their actions and words, exemplify servant leadership and patriotism.

Mrs. Justice has made exceptional contributions in support of service members, veterans and their families in Northeast Florida, and has demonstrated extraordinary patriotism and dedication to our Nation's ideals.

On this historic occasion, I congratulate and recognize Penny Justice. I thank her for her dedication and leadership. Congratulations to Penny and may God bless her.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavailable, and I missed the following Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 265; and YEA on Roll Call No. 266.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavailable, and I missed the following Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 272; YEA on Roll Call No. 273; YEA on Roll Call No. 274; YEA on Roll Call No. 275; and NO on Roll Call No. 276.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavailable, and I missed the following Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 277; YEA on Roll Call No. 278; and YEA on Roll Call No. 279.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavailable, and I missed the following Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 267; YEA on Roll Call No. 268; YEA on Roll Call No. 269; YEA on Roll Call No. 270; and YEA on Roll Call No. 271.

Mr. Speaker, due to my flight being diverted because of severe weather, I was unable to vote on July 14, 2025.

Had I been present, I would have voted

YEA on Roll Call 191;

YEA on Roll Call 192; and

YEA on Roll Call 193.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the Davidson amendment.

Today, our Nation is facing growing and real threats from adversaries around the world. There is China, who continues to rapidly grow their naval capacity at an alarming rate.

Iran, and its terrorist proxy groups, are threatening our allies and disrupting free trade in the Red Sea.

Finally, South American cartels and drug smugglers are harming the health and well-being of American citizens.

To face these growing threats, our Navy must rise to the occasion. That means projecting strength throughout the world, while bolstering our naval fleet. The LCS supports America's maritime security, sea control, and deterrence, and, importantly, President Trump's agenda.

Just this past April, the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul helped the U.S. Coast Guard stop two alleged drug smuggling operations in the Caribbean Sea. These ships assist in stopping narcotics, protecting the homeland from illicit maritime drug trafficking, and securing our border.

Also, sea mines are actually responsible for more damage to U.S. naval warships than any other weapon since World War II. Although it is 10 years after originally planned, the LCS platform is now providing support for detecting, localizing, and neutralizing surface, near- surface, moored, and bottom mines, helping our sailors stay safe around the world.

The Navy has emphasized the need for a mixed naval fleet in the past, consisting of both blue water and littoral combat ships that act as fast-moving surface warfare vessels.

They continue to undergo upgrades to improve their lethality and survivability in littoral waters so they can intercept drug and human traffickers in the Caribbean and sweep for deadly mines. Most importantly, they support U.S. naval efforts to end Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

Our littoral combat ships have risen to the occasion to defend our homeland. They have provided the necessary backup needed to protect Americans at home and abroad.

Mr. Chair, if we want our military to continue to be the best in the world, we cannot throw away a dime to save a nickel, especially when an LCS vessel has only reached half of its life cycle. That is exactly what this amendment does.

The decommissioning of the Navy's mixed fleet strategy, the LCS vessels, is not the answer to our budget constraints. That is why I stand in opposition to this amendment, and I ask my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the Davidson amendment.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the U.S. Army Special Combat Engineers 59th Land Clearing Company, also known as ``The Bushwhackers,'' for their immense sacrifice to our Nation during the Vietnam war.

The company was tasked with clearing the Vietnam jungle, which was heavily infested with deadly mines, booby traps, and enemy personnel. It was a daunting task.

They were met with sniper fire, firefights, rockets, and mortars, which led to countless injuries, meriting many members with Purple Hearts and the death of 13 of our Bushwhackers.

The longest serving officer of the company, Mr. Ronald Evans, currently resides in my district in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Today, I rise to honor Mr. Evans' service to our country along with that of his entire company. Their bravery and service are what has made America the greatest country in the world.

Mr. Speaker, due to illness, I was unable to vote on May 8, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No 122.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavailable and missed Roll Call Vote No. 119. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 119.

Mr. Speaker, due to illness, I was unable to vote on May 1, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 113, and YEA on Roll Call No. 114.

Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate all the hard work that got us here today.

Mr. Speaker, I have to tell you, as I sat here on this floor listening to the conversation, it reminded me of an old saying that my father had. For many, many years, I heard this: A lie can travel around the world three times before the truth can get up and put its pants on.

That was before the internet. Now, after what I have heard today, I would say it is probably more like 100 times that a lie can travel around the world before the truth can get up and put its pants on.

I happen to know that House Republicans have been working diligently to fully fund the core Federal Government services so that President Trump and his administration can continue to identify the waste, fraud, and abuse of American tax dollars, protect our border, and support Americans, including our veterans--contrary to what you heard--our military families, first responders, of which I am a former, and our seniors.

Most importantly, by passing H.R. 1968, this continuing resolution, we are ensuring that a costly government shutdown does not fall upon the American public.

It is our constitutional obligation in Congress to fund the Federal Government, and House Republicans are acting on that duty. Unfortunately, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are not. House Democratic leadership came out in opposition to this bill and spread egregious falsehoods about what this bill does and does not do before it was even printed. You have heard that before.

Let's be clear, this bill will not hurt law enforcement by slashing COPS grants, nor will it zero out the toxic exposure fund for veterans. Instead, it is a clean bill that will extend funding and certainty for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, this bill would maintain government operations while responsibly protecting Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare recipients from unnecessary disruption and the confusion that comes along with a government shutdown, promote public safety, renew our commitment to supporting law enforcement officers, raise pay for our junior enlisted troops by the largest amount in 40 years, fund important nutritional assistance for mothers, infants, and children, and the list goes on.

House Democrats seem dead set on shutting down the government over their disdain for the Commander in Chief, no matter the cost to their own communities.

Mr. Speaker, I am committed to passing this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Peter L. Foster, a proud American and distinguished commercial and test pilot, who shattered a set of world aviation records in 1988.

On August 31, 1988, while flying a Lake LA-250 Renegade aircraft with an internal combustion engine, Mr. Foster broke two world records by reaching an altitude of 7,468 meters during a horizontal flight and 7,498 meters of altitude overall.

For 36 years, those records have stood unbroken, and to this day have helped the United States maintain its place as a world leader in aviation.

For Mr. Foster's achievements for our country and contributions to American aviation and aerospace, I thank him.