Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6019, a bill that I am proud to be an original cosponsor of. It would repeal the indefensible Senate payday provision that was snuck into the critical funding legislation to reopen the government last week.

With the goal of ending the suffering caused by the Schumer shutdown top of mind, I voted yes on the CR. It was the right thing to do. I hope the American people are never again used as ``leverage.''

However, what the Senate sent us contained a poison pill, a provision to give certain Senators the ability to sue the Federal Government for $500,000, or perhaps millions of dollars, for alleged illegal surveillance conducted by the Biden DOJ. I remain convinced the last administration conducted a large number of politically motivated investigations. However, the solution isn't for aggrieved lawmakers to get a payday at taxpayer expense.

As Members of Congress, the people have entrusted us to be a check on the executive branch. They didn't send us here to collect checks when the executive oversteps.

All Members of the House should take issue with Senate leadership for secretly slipping in this provision. In fact, whoever carefully crafted this scheme failed to tell their Senate colleagues. I agree with Senator John Kennedy, who said: ``Whoever put this in had an obligation to tell us about it, and they didn't.''

The consensus of many legal experts is that this provision amounts to a pay increase. To me, the provision reads like a Christmas bonus, and that is blatantly unconstitutional. It defies the 27th Amendment, which says no law can change a lawmaker's compensation until a new Congress is sworn in.

If the House legislation we are debating today does not receive a vote in the Senate, I want to make it clear that I am taking action.

Today, I have introduced H. Res. 892, a House resolution that empowers Speaker Johnson to bring this issue before the courts and challenge the so-called Senate payday provision as blatantly unconstitutional.

Importantly, because my resolution is a House resolution, it does not require the consent or cooperation of the Senate, which has shamefully shown no willingness to undo this egregious policy. The House does not have to wait for the Senate to act and watch idly while this payday stands.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support Representative Scott's legislation and to support my resolution so we can stand up for the integrity of Congress, uphold the Constitution, and restore public trust in this institution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the Senate's provision that allows Senators to make financial gain off illegal government surveillance.

Three things can be true at once, Mr. Speaker. The first truth is this: The shutdown has to end. The American people and countless Tennesseans I represent are suffering and experiencing real pain. This record-breaking Schumer Democratic shutdown was completely avoidable, and it was completely carried out for political purposes.

The second truth is that the last administration, led by Joe Biden and his autopen, unfairly surveilled conservatives and conservative Members of Congress. That included sitting United States Senators.

Yet, Mr. Speaker, the third thing I would note is that the American taxpayer has suffered enough because of the last administration. No one in this body should support allowing Senators to sue and collect from taxpayers because the FBI went rogue under President Biden.

Don't get me wrong. The overreach is more than troubling. It is unfathomable that the Department of Justice was weaponized in this way. I fully support holding those radical agents accountable and the ongoing investigations into their misdeeds, yet no elected officials should profit from

the political calculation of leftwing bureaucrats and judges.

Mr. Speaker, the folks I represent are still reeling from historic Bidenflation, the effects of the border crisis, and the regulatory agenda of the last administration. It is shameful to ask them to shoulder the burden of paying U.S. Senators a half million dollars or more for those misdeeds.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 3838, Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution of Delivery and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.

My amendment is intended to address the Janet Mello fraud case, the Army civilian who was indicted and pleaded guilty to stealing over $100 million that were intended for the 4-H Military Partnership Grant Program.

The 4-H Military Partnership Grant Program serves 4-H clubs that are in many military installation youth centers. These programs include 4-H positive youth development programming, engaging in hands-on learning in day and overnight summer camps, including military team adventure camps.

We, as a nation, ask so much of our military families. Frequent moves can be especially difficult for children. However, the 4-H Military Partnership Grant Program can serve as a lifeline to military families by providing continuity, as it is often the case that a family can move from one installation to another and maintain active participation in 4-H programs because they are located at so many military installations.

Janet Mello ruthlessly plundered more than $100 million from this program meant to support the children of our military heroes. This calculated betrayal was not only a staggering act of theft but a cruel assault on the very families who sacrifice the most for our Nation's freedom. By draining critical resources, she robbed military children of the opportunities and security promised through 4-H.

The American people deserve answers, and they deserve to know how such a monumental fraud was allowed to fester in the shadows for so long. My amendment requires a report on how this fraud was missed, what red flags were ignored, and what fixes are needed to prevent this from ever happening again.

The House passed my amendment last Congress. Unfortunately, it was not included in the final bill. I am proud to reintroduce this amendment again this Congress with slightly adjusted reporting requirements.

I also note for my colleagues that my office sought and received technical assistance on this amendment from the Office of the Secretary of Defense Comptroller.

Mr. Chairman, I include in the Record a press release from the Department of Justice describing this fraud in greater detail.

[From US Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas, July 23, 2024]

Former Army Civilian Employee Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

for $100 Million Fraud Scheme

San Antonio--Janet Yamanaka Mello, the civilian Army

employee who stole over $108 million from a grant program

designed to provide services to military dependents and their

families was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for five

counts of mail fraud and five counts of filing a false tax

return.

According to court documents, Janet Yamanaka Mello, 57,

worked as a financial program manager for the U.S. Army,

Installation Management Command--G9 (Morale, Welfare and

Recreation) Child and Youth Services (CYS) at Fort Sam

Houston. In or around December 2016 through at least August

29, 2023, Mello formed a business she called Child Health and

Youth Lifelong Development (CHYLD). The sole purpose of CHYLD

was to receive grant funds from the 4-H Military Partnership

Grant program, which Mello fraudulently secured by way of her

position as a CYS financial program manager.

Once Mello received a grant check, she deposited the check

into her bank account, spending the money on clothing,

jewelry, vehicles and real estate. Court documents indicate

that Mello repeated the process 49 times during a six-year

period, requesting approximately $117,000,000 in payments,

and receiving approximately $108,917,749.

Subsequently, Mello failed to accurately report her income

for tax years 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, omitting

millions of dollars in income fraudulently received through

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, in closing, I thank Congressman Fulcher for cosponsoring this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting accountability by ensuring that we get answers to how this fraud was able to steal from military families and taxpayers undetected from 2016 through 2023.

Mr. Chair, I urge Members to vote ``yes'' on my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the CLARITY Act, which provides long-overdue updates aimed at protecting the future of digital assets, encouraging growth, and protecting American consumers.

The days of stifling this emerging industry through litigation and rogue rulemaking must end. The Securities and Exchange Commission under former Chair Gary Gensler went far outside the agency's statutory mandate in many ways, especially with cryptocurrencies.

The CLARITY Act will strengthen transparency and accountability for consumers. It will require developers to provide accurate disclosures with details about the asset project's operation, ownership, and structure. It requires brokers and dealers to disclose important information to investors, to hold their own funds separate from their customers' funds, and to report any conflicts of interest.

This bill ensures Americans know where they are putting their money, and it gets government out of the way of growth and innovation.

Let's pass the CLARITY Act for the good of this country.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1919, the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act.

Among the many rights that we enjoy as Americans, privacy is among the most fundamental. Establishing a central bank digital currency would not only usurp consumers' privacy and individual freedoms, but it would also hinder free market innovation.

Digital assets are here to stay. I agree strongly with President Trump that the United States should be a leader in this space. However, the last administration held a very different view. They wasted no time exploring ways to set up a surveillance state digital currency managed and micromanaged by the Federal Government.

President Trump understands the dangers of more government and more surveillance. It is why he issued an executive order prohibiting a CBDC. The vote before the House would make that ban permanent, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, today the House will vote on the GENIUS Act, short for the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act. The bill, which was introduced in the Senate by my friend and fellow Tennessean, Senator Bill Hagerty, provides a clear regulatory framework for the issuance of payment stablecoins.

Today, this payment product is offered with little, if any, Federal oversight. By establishing this regulatory clarity, this bill will drive significant demand for stablecoins. This bill will ensure issuers back stablecoins with high-quality liquid assets, a major win for the American consumer.

The GENIUS Act includes consumer protections and enables innovators to do what they do best. It also happens to strengthen the U.S. dollar's reserve currency status. This will result in the ability to make near-instant payments anywhere in the world, which is good for consumers, companies, and Americans.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of this morning's ruling from the Supreme Court that will greatly reform the ability of rogue district court judges to issue nationwide injunctions.

According to a Politico article this morning, with this ruling, the Supreme Court said that in most cases, judges can only grant relief to the parties who brought a particular lawsuit and may not extend those decisions to protect other individuals without going through the process of converting a suit into a class action.

I have been fighting for this day for years, including introducing legislation in multiple sessions of Congress that would curtail the ability of rogue district court judges to issue nationwide injunctions, often at the behest of special interest groups that shop around for a friendly district court judge.

This is a good day for democracy. Please join me in congratulating the Supreme Court for this outstanding ruling.

Mr. Speaker, the House Ways and Means Committee has run the numbers for the American people. They all point to this fact: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is good for this Nation, good for everyday Americans, and certainly good for the men and women I represent in Tennessee.

Here are the numbers. The bill, which this body passed and which I was proud to vote for, some experts say could produce an annual GDP growth rate of more than 5 percent in the next 4 years, with longer term annual growth reaching 3.5 percent.

The bill is also set to preserve between 6 and 7 million manufacturing jobs nationally. That would impact a whole lot of families. In my district alone, this bill protects 12,000 manufacturing jobs, more than $1.1 billion in wages, and more than $2.2 billion in economic growth. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill without delay.

Mr. Speaker, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is about restoring fairness and awarding work, and it begins with Americans' taxes.

In Tennessee, the bill we passed here in the House would put an average of $11,700 more in the pockets of a family of four every year. Under this bill, everyday Americans will see lower income tax rates, a larger standard deduction, and an expanded child tax credit. That means more take-home pay, more money for groceries, gas, and healthcare. Filing will be simpler. Refunds will be bigger.

This bill doesn't just cut taxes. It makes them fairer. It puts kitchen-table concerns at the center of policy and shifts the balance back toward the middle class. With the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we are saying yes to opportunity, yes to working families, and yes to an economy that grows from the bottom up.

Mr. Speaker, it would be hard for me to count the number of job creators I have met in Tennessee's Sixth Congressional District since I came to Congress in 2019, but I can tell you that nearly all of them emphasized to me the need for tax certainty and for tax and regulatory relief.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes something called R&D reprieves. That sounds like jargon to most people, but if a piece of equipment is the only thing separating you from expanding your business or hiring more employees, you know the term well.

Research and development tax credits have been the lifeblood of growth for small businesses and for our Nation's economy for several years. Estimates tell us that the immediate expensing for R&D will accelerate more than $20 billion in investment. I have seen this firsthand in my own small business that I continue to operate. This bill is further proof of promises made, promises kept, and I was proud to support the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Mr. Speaker, the men and women who put a badge on every morning, every afternoon, every evening want to leave the world better than they found it. Yet we civilians don't fully appreciate just how much time they spend away from their families to protect ours. They stay late writing reports or working events. They are often required to testify in court on their days off to ensure the conviction of a suspect they have arrested. That time, overtime, is needed to truly serve their communities. They do it without complaint.

They do receive extra pay, of course, for their overtime, yet that often comes with the burden of extra income taxes. It puts many of our law enforcement officers in a tax bracket that costs them more money.

Fortunately, it is not about the money for most of our men and women in uniform. Fortunately, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act ensures that our brave law enforcement officers won't be taxed on their overtime pay.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Tennesseans I represent who overwhelmingly support President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The bill delivers for the American people in many ways, not the least of which is border security.

Under the last administration, 1,504 Iranians were caught crossing the border illegally. Nearly half of them were released into the country. We still don't know how many of them were on the terrorist watch list. Let's think about that.

Last month, zero illegal immigrants were released into the U.S., compared to 62,000 a year ago in May.

Indeed, President Trump secured the border in record time, a master class in leadership, without a blank check from Congress.

Now, it is on the Senate to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and give the President the resources he needs to keep the border secure. The bill will

fund more boots on the ground, more deportations, and the critical border wall.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2808) to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prevent consumer reporting agencies from furnishing consumer reports under certain circumstances, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, before I get to the specifics of this bill, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Congressman Ritchie Torres who has been an outstanding co-lead and steadfast advocate for the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act.

This has been a long journey leading up to today's vote, and I thank Representative Torres for his unyielding desire to put a stop to the scourge of abusive mortgage trigger leads.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2808, the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act will literally impact each and every consumer that applies for a mortgage in this country.

Currently, credit bureaus are notified when a consumer applies for mortgage financing. That information, which is referred to as a trigger lead, is then often sold by the credit bureaus to data brokers and other lenders without the consumer's knowledge or approval. Consumers are then often bombarded with hundreds of unwanted solicitations.

The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act would dramatically reduce the number of unwanted calls and messages that millions endure during the home-buying process.

The bill prohibits a consumer reporting agency from furnishing a trigger lead to a third party unless the consumer has opted in. The third party must be a federally insured depository institution, a federally insured credit union, or an originator or servicer of a consumer's existing mortgage. Agencies can also furnish a trigger lead if a consumer has a preexisting relationship with a covered entity.

Over the years, I have heard from individuals from all walks of life about their deep-seated frustrations when it comes to being inundated by abusive mortgage credit trigger leads. Being contacted dozens to hundreds of times a day after applying for a mortgage is simply unacceptable. Many abusive trigger leads occur at nearly all hours of the day and night. This is especially true if the trigger lead user resides in a different time zone than the individual that they are contacting.

It is also important to note that many of these merciless trigger leads come from unscrupulous companies that misrepresent the important fact that they are not affiliated with the mortgage company the individual initially applied with.

Another important factor to consider is that when consumers get flooded with trigger leads, they often blame their mortgage originator, despite that mortgage originator having no role in selling their information.

Just this weekend, my own sister-in-law, who applied for a mortgage last week, was inundated with literally hundreds of these contacts, so this is very personal to me and my family.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

I emphasize just how much support there is for this legislation. My colleague has just enumerated some of that. This month, 43 attorneys general and members of the National Association of Attorneys General signed a letter supporting this bill.

Additionally, many organizations, some already mentioned, have come out in support of this bill, including the American Bankers Association, the Tennessee Bankers Association, America's Credit Unions, the Broker Action Coalition, the Independent Community Bankers of America, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and the National Association of Mortgage Brokers.

Mr. Speaker, I urge each of my colleagues to stand up for every future home buyer in their district by voting ``yes'' on H.R. 2808, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a true public servant. Daniel Clyde Wheeler passed away just over two months ago. Dan Wheeler grew up in the Crab Orchard community in Cumberland County, Tennessee, an area I'm proud to represent here in Congress.

Like myself, Mr. Wheeler grew up on a family farm. That experience led him to become a staunch advocate for our state's growers and producers. In 1965, he started a long career working for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, where he served as an agent for Marion County and Sequatchie County. In no time, he was representing an entire region encompassing the Cumberland Plateau and the Chattanooga area of Tennessee.

In 1973, Mr. Wheeler became Assistant to the President and Director of Organization for Tennessee Farm Bureau. By 1980, he took on the role of lobbyist for the Farm Bureau Federation, a role he saw as an opportunity to advocate for his fellow farmers across Tennessee and across the Nation. He later was named Chief Administrative Officer of Tennessee Farm Bureau. His dedication led to him becoming Tennessee's 32nd Commissioner of Agriculture in January 1995. I was blessed to succeed Commissioner Wheeler, who I considered to be a man of great knowledge as well as a personal mentor.

Commissioner Wheeler became a strong voice nationally with regard to tax reform. In our state, he fought to keep taxes low. He fought hard for our state's tobacco farmers. He formed the first-ever Governor's Council on Agriculture and Forestry, an important step that brought key stakeholders to the table. That, I suspect, will be his enduring legacy, bringing growers and producers into the same room as policymakers. That collaboration continues to have a major impact on our state's leading industry, agriculture.

Commissioner Wheeler also served as the Southern United State Trade Association President, where he represented 17 states and territories. He served on the Tennessee Board for Economic Growth and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission. The list goes on.

In 2000, he was named Man of the year in Service to Tennessee Agriculture by Progressive Farmer Magazine.

He helped neighbors outside the agriculture industry as well. He served the Maury County United Way, the Columbia Kiwanis Club, the Maury Regional Hospital Foundation, and the First Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Columbia, Tennessee on their Board of Directors. His life is an example of a life well lived, a life dedicated to others, and a life that truly made a difference.

He leaves behind a wife of 59 years, Carol, and two sons, Jim and David, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

I want to thank Commissioner Dan Wheeler and honor him for his many contributions to our great state of Tennessee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible life of Joe Moore. who passed away in late March at the age of 90. Moore lived a life dedicated to agriculture. I, along with many other current and former Tennessee FFA members, consider him to be a mentor, a role model, and indeed a hero.

The Time Magazine cover was published after he was named the FFA Star Farmer of America in 1955. Appearing in the October 24, 1955, issue, it shows a 21-year-old Joe Moore, the only active FFA member to make TIME's cover.

At the FFA convention that year, judges were impressed by his farming operation conducted in Jackson County, Tennessee, which I am honored to represent today. He had a net worth of $37,000 at the time--a great deal for someone his age in the mid-1950s. At that time, he was farming 505 arches, 85 of which he owned personally.

I often say farmers are our Nation's original conservationists. Joe Moore is a shining example of why I believe that to be true. The TIME article noted how he incorporated modern farming techniques to combat erosion and improve soil health. He carefully monitored the diet of his livestock to keep them healthy. He showed great attention to detail and inspected his animals closely, which enabled him to detect any health issues early.

Over the years, his family farm has taken a bit of a beating. Very little care was taken to where row crops went into the ground. No remedies for erosion had been taken. But Joe was determined to restore the land to richness. He tackled years of abuse and the less-than-ideal terrain, arguing that his rocky slopes could be as fertile as flat land with the right amount of care. The article even says Joe viewed misfortune as a test of faith.

Mr. Moore found success off the farm as well. He was the owner and operator of the Upper Cumberland Oil Company in Cookeville,

which sold and distributed Texaco petroleum products for almost 30 years.

He also believed in giving back. He was one of the founders of the Granville Museum in his home community and served on its Board of Directors. He also served as an elder of the Liberty Church of Christ and was a longtime supporter of FFA in Tennessee.

He is survived by his wife of more than 68 years, Ann, along with a son, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.

I want to end, Mr. Speaker, with a quote from Moore from 1955, ``farming is the closest thing to the Lord you can do.'' I could not agree with him more.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a true public servant. Daniel Clyde Wheeler passed away just over 2 months ago.

Dan Wheeler, as most people referred to him, grew up in the Crab Orchard community in Cumberland County, an area I am proud to represent here in Congress.

Like myself, Mr. Wheeler grew up on a family farm. That experience led him to become a staunch advocate for our State's growers and producers.

In 1965, he started a long career working for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation where he served as an agent for Marion County and Sequatchie County. In no time, he was representing an entire region encompassing the Cumberland Plateau and the Chattanooga area of Tennessee.

In 1973, Mr. Wheeler became assistant to the president and director of organization for Tennessee Farm Bureau. By 1980, he took on the role of lobbyist for the Farm Bureau Federation, a role he saw as an opportunity to advocate for his fellow farmers across Tennessee and across the Nation. He later was named chief administrative officer of Tennessee Farm Bureau. His dedication led him to become Tennessee's 32nd Commissioner of Agriculture in January of 1995.

I was blessed to succeed Commissioner Wheeler, who I considered to be a man of great knowledge, as well as a personal mentor.

He formed the first-ever Governor's Council on Agriculture and Forestry in Tennessee, an important step that brought key stakeholders to the table. That, I suspect, will be his enduring legacy, bringing growers and producers into the same room as policymakers. That collaboration continues to have a major impact on our State's leading industry, agriculture. Commissioner Wheeler also served as the Southern United States Trade Association president, where he represented 17 States and Territories.

In 2000, he was named Man of the Year in Service to Tennessee Agriculture by Progressive Farmer magazine.

Commissioner Wheeler helped neighbors outside the agriculture industry, as well. He served the Maury County United Way, the Columbia Kiwanis Club, the Maury Regional Hospital Foundation, and the First Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Columbia, Tennessee, on their board of directors.

He leaves behind a wife of 59 years, Carol; two sons, Jim and David; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

I thank Commissioner Dan Wheeler and honor him for his many contributions to our great State of Tennessee.

Honoring the Life of Joe Moore

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible life of Joe Moore, who passed away in late March at the age of 90. Mr. Moore lived a life dedicated to agriculture. I, along with many other current and former Tennessee FFA members, consider him to be a mentor, a role model, and indeed a hero.

The Time magazine cover next to me was published after he was named the FFA Star Farmer of America in 1955. Appearing in the October 24, 1955, issue, it shows a 21-year-old Joe Moore, the only active FFA member to make Time's cover.

At the FFA convention that year, judges were impressed at his farming operation conducted in Jackson County, Tennessee, which I am honored to represent today. He had a net worth at that point of $37,000, at the time, a great deal for someone of his age in the mid-1950s. At that time he was farming 505 acres, 85 of which he owned personally.

I often say farmers are our Nation's original conservationists. Joe Moore is a shining example of why I believe that to be true. The Time article noted how he incorporated modern farming techniques to combat erosion and improve soil health. He carefully monitored the diet of his livestock to keep them healthy. He showed great attention to detail and inspected his animals closely, which enabled him to detect any health issues early.

Mr. Moore found his success off the farm, as well. He was the owner and operator of the Upper Cumberland Oil Company in Cookeville, which sold and distributed Texaco petroleum products for over 30 years.

He also believed in giving back. He is the original founding board member of the Granville Museum in his home community, served as an elder of the Liberty Church of Christ, and was a longtime supporter of FFA in Tennessee.

He lived a long life alongside his wife, Ann, of more than 68 years. He leaves behind a son, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I will end with a quote from Moore from 1955: ``Farming is the closest thing to the Lord you can do.'' I could not agree with him more.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the inspiring career of Eddy Haynes who recently retired from Putnam County, Tennessee, Emergency Medical Services. For 37 years, he faithfully served his community as an advanced emergency medical technician.

Over the years, he endured long shifts and countless challenges but never lost sight of the mission: Helping people when they needed it most. Those who worked alongside Eddy described him as dedicated, a professional, and committed to the health and safety of others.

According to his coworkers, Eddy not only helped save lives, he shaped them by mentoring young EMTs. They noted that his calm demeanor under pressure instilled confidence in his team, and his intense sense of duty set a high standard for all who worked with him.

Mr. Speaker, Eddy's legacy of commitment to service in Putnam County will long endure. I congratulate Eddy. May he enjoy this well-deserved time off.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Vice Chairman Moore for yielding and for claiming this time to highlight the many accomplishments of the Trump administration during the first 100 days.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of tens of thousands of Tennesseans I represent to express appreciation to President Trump and his administration on their bold action over the last 100 days.

After 4 years of unprecedented illegal immigration under President Biden, our borders are finally under control. After 4 years of deficit spending, we are grateful to have a Chief Executive who is willing to cut waste, fraud, and abuse on behalf of the American taxpayer. Indeed, what we have witnessed over the last 100 days is a real master class in the art of following through.

If elected again, President Trump said he would put a stop to men competing in women's sports. He did.

He said he would end divisive and anti-American DEI policies in schools across the country. He did that, too.

The President told us that this country would once again be respected on the world stage. Mr. Speaker, it is clear he has delivered on that promise, as well.

There are many, many wins I could point to. Just last month, 228,000 new jobs were added to the U.S. economy. Prices fell for the first time since May 2020. The Border Patrol reported a 94 percent drop in illegal immigrant encounters at our southern border compared to the same month last year under Joe Biden.

It is noteworthy, Mr. Speaker, that the only thing the President needed to accomplish this was leadership. We heard the last administration claim time and time again that Congress would need to pass legislation to secure the border. We heard a blank check would end the unprecedented illegal immigration happening at our southern border. Yet, last month, President Trump's Border Patrol reported only 7,181 illegal crossings compared to 137,473 similar crossings during the same month in 2024. All of that without Congress lifting a finger. It is clear that the accomplishment was because of the clear leadership of President Donald J. Trump.

In Tennessee specifically, President Trump's tariffs and economic policies have brought about millions of dollars in new investment and countless new jobs. Cra-Z-Art is moving manufacturing equipment from Asia back to the United States to expand operations in Lewisburg, Tennessee. Charms, the maker of Blow Pops and other candy, has planned a nearly $100 million expansion of its Covington, Tennessee, plant. Schneider Electric has announced plans to expand their footprint in middle Tennessee in the coming months.

Thanks to President Trump, gas prices are down and optimism is up. Candidly, this White House has been able to accomplish more positive results in 14 weeks than the last administration did in 4 years, and President Trump has just gotten started.

I look forward to working with my fellow House Republicans to codify many of the President's executive actions into law. I am confident we will

pass a reconciliation bill that gets large parts of the President's vision for restoring the greatness of America across the finish line.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Hill for yielding me time to discuss this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that the sky was the limit when it came to regulations for the last administration. Our Nation endured 4 years of costly new rules, rules that continue to wreak havoc on our economy and stunt economic growth. Indeed, it is going to take some time to undo the mess from the last White House.

S.J. Res. 18 puts us one step closer to cleaning up this mess. It calls the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's overdraft rule what it is: drastic, punitive, and harmful to banks and credit unions. It also stands to harm the very people it purports to protect.

Mr. Speaker, I share with you today a story of a lady in one of the towns in my district, Lafayette, who said to me fairly recently: ``Please don't take away my overdraft protection.''

If the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau requires banks to charge no more than $5 for a $200 overdraft, we will likely see an end to that service altogether. No one wants to overdraft. Unfortunately, it isn't uncommon. In fact, many Americans can recall using overdraft services and them being a lifeline at one point or another in their lives. This is just one of many examples of overreach by the last administration, and it must be overturned.

In America, we celebrate capitalism. We encourage competition. We don't smother our financial institutions just for political favor.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this resolution in defense of financial institutions that choose to extend overdraft lifelines to their customers who need them.