Floor Statements

I was unable to make the vote due to a funeral. I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 295, H.R. 4795.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the lives of Cornelius Allen Bottomley, Jr., known to everyone who loved him as Allen, and his nephew, John William Hughan. It is fitting that we remember them here together, because that is how their family holds them in their hearts.

Allen Bottomley, of Hanover, Massachusetts, passed away on September 13, 2024, at the age of 54, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on December 18, 1969, in Boston to the late Dorothy Warnock Bottomley and Cornelius Allen Bottomley, Sr. He graduated from Plymouth-Carver High School in 1988, earned his bachelor's degree in computer science from Bucknell University in 1993, and completed his Master of Business Administration at the F.W. Olin School of Business at Babson College in 2000.

Allen's strong work ethic showed up in everything he did, at home and on the job. After Bucknell, he spent six years working alongside his father, Neil, as Director of Operations for their company, Evaluation Associates, in Plymouth, Massachusetts. After earning his MBA, Allen served for a short time as a financial analyst at Send.com in Waltham before beginning a twelve-year run at Fidelity Investments' Boston Coach, where he held many positions and rose to Senior Vice President of Strategic Operations Analysis. Beginning in 2015, he brought that same steadiness to Granite Telecommunications in Quincy, where he served as Vice President of Treasury and Financial Operations.

Mr. Speaker, the resume tells you what Allen did. It does not tell you who he was. Allen was known for his quick wit, his boisterous laugh, his kind heart, his brilliant mind, and a fierce loyalty to family and friends. He chose to surround himself with genuine, trustworthy, and intelligent people. He loved boating on Cape Cod, skiing in Vermont, and sitting contentedly at home with his family in front of a beautiful fire.

Allen cooked and carved the turkey on Thanksgiving. He chose and cut down the family Christmas tree each December. He offered sage advice to family and friends, and he managed to fix anything and everything that broke around the house. Those are small things, and they are the things families hold onto.

Allen is survived by Jane (Connolly) Bottomley, his wife of 26 years, and their two children, Cornelius Haraden Bottomley, III, known as Haraden, and McKenzie Jane Bottomley. He was immensely proud of all three, and he loved watching his son and daughter grow into the amazing young adults they are today. Jane is quick to admit that the first thing that drew the two of them to one another was their ability to make each other laugh, and that laughter grew into a deep love, a deep respect, and an uncomplicated happiness rooted in simply being together. His family has said that Allen's ultimate goal was their happiness, and that they intend to keep trying to succeed and make him proud. Mr. Speaker, I cannot think of a better tribute to a husband and a father than that.

Allen also leaves behind his sister, Allison Bottomley Hughan, his brother-in-law, Peter, and his niece, Emmeline, of Norwell, Massachusetts. He was predeceased by his nephew, John.

John William Hughan was taken from his family far too soon. He was born in Boston and lived in South Boston until he was five years old. He moved to Norwell, where he attended the William Gould Vinal Elementary School and took up new sports, the trumpet, and Cub Scout Pack 66. He went on to Norwell Middle School, where he worked hard to excel academically.

John had a natural talent for music. He worked at the trumpet for years, and he was selected for the Massachusetts Music Education Association Southeastern District Honor Band and the Southeastern Massachusetts School Bandmasters Association Honor Band in both seventh and eighth grade, along with the Bridgewater State Middle School Honor Band in those same two years. He was a member of the United Church of Christ Norwell, where he had taken part in the music program since he was five years old, starting in Cherub Chimes, moving on to the bells in Rockin' Ringers, and eventually performing trumpet solos. He had just completed his confirmation, and over the years he took part in numerous service events. John loved every genre of music, and his family often caught him singing or humming along to a song.

John was an athlete, too. He played club lacrosse with the Laxachusetts program beginning in third grade and was looking forward to joining his Laxachusetts 2028 team and the Norwell High School team. His love of soccer grew in seventh grade, and he had just started tryouts at Norwell High School, excited to play alongside his classmates. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 38 in Hanover, Massachusetts, where he had recently achieved his Life Rank and was working toward becoming an Eagle Scout. For his Eagle project, he wanted to build an outdoor classroom at Norwell Middle School.

John spent his summers on Cape Cod, and he spent most of those days on the water. He raced Optis for many summers and made friends at yacht clubs across the Cape. He had started sailing 420s and was looking forward to racing more the next summer with his friends at Chatham Yacht Club. He spent many hours on the golf course, and his game improved to the point that his goal was to beat his dad. Weekends were often family days on the powerboat, heading over to Hyannis, to Nantucket, or just putting around Bass River. He almost always had a smile.

Mr. Speaker, John was a conversationalist. He could talk with anyone and would talk with anyone, and from an early age he believed everyone wanted to talk with him. He was curious and full of questions. He was the kind of friend who would try to make you laugh, make you feel heard, and make you feel important. His friends and classmates describe him as kind, always with a smile.

John was a wonderful big brother. He was proud of his sister Emmeline's accomplishments, watched her sporting events, cheered her on from the sailing racecourse, and beamed when she succeeded. He was forever trying to improve her lacrosse game, talk through sailing strategy, and battle it out with her in the front yard playing soccer. They had a special bond and a real reliance on each other. He was a remarkable son, too. His mother hugged him every day, sometimes having to chase him out the door to be sure she got her hug.

Mr. Speaker, Allen Bottomley's greatest accomplishments were being a father, a husband, a son, a brother, an uncle, a brother-in-law, and a friend, and his happiest moments were the ones he spent with his family. John Hughan will be remembered for how hard he worked at everything he tried, for the kindness that came through in everything he did, and for his compassion toward his friends and family. Both of them will be missed beyond words.

On the two-year anniversary of their passing, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the lives and legacies of Cornelius Allen Bottomley, Jr., and John William Hughan, and in keeping the Bottomley and Hughan families in our thoughts. May God continue to bless and watch over their souls.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill with Ms. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act.

No student or professor should be shut out of research, study abroad opportunities, academic partnerships, or feel unwelcome in the classroom because of where they are from or what religion they practice.

Yet, that is what boycott, divest, and sanction seeks to do, which targets one country and one religion: Israel and Judaism.

My bill prevents discriminatory BDS practices and policies from being enacted at universities that undermine academic freedom by cutting off study abroad, joint research and exchange, restricting students' and faculty's ability to study what and where they choose.

It is narrow, targeted, and doesn't touch anyone's speech. It doesn't touch protest or academic debate. It simply says: If your university that takes federal taxpayer dollars, it can't discriminate against academic partnerships or investments with one country. That is it.

This has been our Federal funding policy for decades. This is why this bill passed out of committee with overwhelming bipartisanship support, including the ranking member and five other Democrats.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bipartisan bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor August Caccavone, who celebrated his 100th birthday on August 12, 2026.

August Caccavone is a retired U.S. Army Sergeant, a lifelong resident of Fort Lee and Hackensack, and a proud World War II veteran who has dedicated his life to serving his country and community.

August is a survivor of the Battle of the Bulge who served as a Sergeant in the 7th Army, was awarded the Bronze Star for destroying two German machine guns, and later served in the Philippines, and with the 8th Army in Japan, exemplifying extraordinary courage and dedication in defense of our Nation.

August remains an active member of VFW Post 2342, where he continues to support and uplift fellow veterans with kindness and good humor; and where he greets neighbors, shares his enduring love of life, and serves as a living symbol of perseverance, strength, and selfless service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and enduring legacy of H. Andrew Schwartz of Bethesda, Maryland, a beloved husband, father, and one of Washington's most respected communications professionals, who passed away on July 16, 2025, at the age of 56.

Andrew lived, above all, for his family. He was the devoted husband of Amy Goldberg and the loving father of his three sons, Benjamin, Eli, and Daniel. The son of Joseph Schwartz and Shirley Schwartz, Andrew poured himself into the lives of those he loved. He was a proud and deeply involved father during his sons' years at Sidwell Friends School, where he took special joy in Sidwell football, and he leaves a remarkable and lasting legacy through the beautiful lives of his children.

A proud graduate of Tulane University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science and formed lifelong bonds through Zeta Beta Tau, Andrew went on to earn a master's degree in broadcast journalism and public policy from American University. A lifelong learner with a genuine passion for education, he built a distinguished career at the intersection of journalism, public policy, and communications. His writing appeared in the ``Washington Post'', the ``Washington Times'', and other national newspapers and magazines, and he spent two decades as Chief Communications Officer at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where he shaped how vital ideas reached the American public and the world.

Yet, Andrew's greatest professional legacy may well be the hundreds of young people he mentored and the countless causes to which he generously gave his time and talents. He believed in lifting others up, and he did so with characteristic energy and warmth.

Those who knew Andrew remember a man who was larger than life, vivacious, passionate, and possessed of a joyous laugh that filled every room he entered. He was happiest near the water, whether swimming laps or standing at the ocean's edge. He carried a deep love of New Orleans and its food, culture, and music, and he shared a devotion to the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles with his father and his sons. His story was far too short, but it was, by every measure, an extraordinary one.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the memory of H. Andrew Schwartz, in celebrating a life defined by family, service, and boundless spirit, and in extending our deepest condolences to his wife, Amy, his sons, Benjamin, Eli, and Daniel, and all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my very good friend from New Jersey as well as my friends on the other side for their support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 6007. Today, this House will come together and do something simple but important: honor a great American hero.

Mr. Speaker, Tony Gallopo, as you have heard, was a brave Navy veteran, vice commander of the New Jersey Department of The American Legion, and

commander of American Legion Post 86 in Newton, New Jersey. He spent time in Bergen County and Sussex County. He was a firefighter. He was a man who served and then came back and served more.

For years, my good friend did what a lot of people talk about but few actually do. He fought every single day to make sure our veterans got the healthcare they earned and deserved and to make sure they were looked out for. He never forgot anyone, and that is why he was such a special man. We all miss him.

Tony was instrumental in opening the Sussex County, New Jersey, Veterans Affairs Clinic in 2017, the CBOC. He and I worked side by side, cutting through red tape to get veterans real referrals, real specialists, and real healthcare--healthcare that they earned and deserved.

Sadly, Tony passed away in 2020, leaving behind his wife, Betsy; his brilliant daughters, Ashley, Sarah, and Ally; and an incredible legacy of helping those in need. Today's vote on this bill will honor his name and his work at the very clinic he helped to build.

I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, he literally helped build it. We sat at a picnic bench right outside the clinic many times talking about how we could make it better and how we could deliver more service to veterans.

He never forgot that for a second. He never forgot the country he served, and he never forgot the flag he saluted every day with such great pride.

It is Americans like him we should all look up to. It is Americans like him who built this great country for 250 years. It is why we should honor him today.

This isn't partisan. It is just common sense. It is what we owe every person who ever wore the uniform and protected our great Nation.

I thank his family--Betsy, Ashley, Sarah, and Ally--for sharing Tony with all of us. I know how hard it is right now without him, but his legacy goes on, and it looms large. He lives on. No one has forgotten him for a minute. When we go to The American Legion, we all talk about him. There are pictures everywhere, and he continues to be a light in New Jersey, in our country, and for all of us as somebody we should look up to.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to pass this legislation, and I am so grateful for the bipartisan support. I also urge the Senate--I know Senator Cory Booker has taken the lead on this--to take this up quickly and honor our great hero, Tony Gallopo.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of Carol Wrotniak, who passed away on June 7, 2026,

at the venerable age of 94. Carol was a woman of deep faith and a cherished pillar of her community, leaving behind a profound legacy of devotion and love.

I wish to extend my deepest condolences to my dear friend and colleague, Representative Tom Suozzi, his remarkable wife, Helene, and their family on the passing of her beloved mother. Carol's life was defined by her unwavering commitment to her family and her heritage. As a devoted Catholic and a proud member of Glen Cove's Polish community, she brought warmth, kindness, and generosity to everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Above all, Carol was a cornerstone for her family. Her enduring love will live on through her children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren, who were the pride and joy of her life.

Carol's spirit continues to shine brightly through the lives of the many people she impacted. I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering this remarkable individual and celebrating the inspiring life she lived.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Comstock & Holt, Inc. on the occasion of its remarkable 170th anniversary. Since its founding in 1856, Comstock & Holt has stood as a cornerstone of American trade and remains the Nation's oldest continuously operating duty drawback specialist. For nearly two centuries, the company has exemplified the entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and dedication that have helped drive American economic growth.

Comstock & Holt's legacy is deeply tied to the duty drawback program, the oldest trade instrument in the United States. Established through the Tariff Act of 1789, duty drawback is founded on the principle that duties should not be permanently imposed on goods that do not remain in American commerce. By allowing businesses to recover duties paid on imported products that are later exported, the program strengthens American manufacturing, promotes exports, and enhances the competitiveness of U.S.businesses around the world.

Founded in New York City by Charles J. Holt and William H. Holt, the company has provided uninterrupted service for 170 years. Through wars, economic downturns, technological advances, and significant changes in trade policy. Comstock & Holt has remained a trusted partner to American businesses, its expertise has helped countless companies navigate complex customs laws and reclaim funds rightfully available to them under federal law.

The company's history includes the incorporation of C.J. Holt & Co. in 1919 and its eventual combination with Comstock & Theakston, Inc., founded in 1894. In 2025, the firms formally united under the name Comstock & Holt, Inc., bringing together more than 300 years of combined industry expertise. Beyond serving clients, the company has played a leading role in shaping modern drawback regulations, educating the trade community, and advancing improvements to the drawback system.

For 170 years, Comstock & Holt has remained committed to the principles that have guided American trade since our Nation's founding. Its work supports industries ranging from agriculture and manufacturing to pharmaceuticals and technology, helping American companies compete in the global marketplace. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Comstock & Holt, Inc. on this historic milestone and in recognizing its extraordinary contributions to American commerce and trade.

Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking and recognizing my very dear friend and a phenomenal leader in our country, Sheriff John Rutherford.

Sheriff Rutherford served in law enforcement and continues to serve our great country today in Congress. He serves with distinction and a deep recognition that standing by our men and women who wear a uniform is not a partisan issue. It is an American issue. It is what we should do for our communities and our country, and I am grateful for him. I thank him so much.

It is an honor to serve as the co-chair of the bipartisan House Law Enforcement Caucus, especially this week during National Police Week when we honor the brave men and women in law enforcement and all of the first responders who put their lives on the line every single day to protect our communities and keep our families safe.

Of course, as the sheriff said, this is a particularly tough week because we recognize the fallen and honor the fallen, and, of course, spend time with their families.

But every day, officers and families from across our Nation watch as their loved ones go off to protect us. So while we gather here in Washington to honor those who put on the badge and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, we also honor those who go out every single day.

Earlier this month, Congressman Rutherford and I attended the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Ceremony here in our Nation's Capital, surrounded by thousands of names etched into that stone wall, names that represent heroes, families forever changed, and a debt we can never fully repay.

You heard Congressman Rutherford share some of the names that will be etched onto that wall. This year 363 brave officers will be added to the memorial, including 11 officers from my home State of New Jersey.

Tonight, we honor their memory, their courage, and their sacrifice, and we recommit ourselves to them, because the names on the walls, those are moms and dads and brothers and sisters and loved ones. So we commit ourselves to them, to getting the backs of men and women who continue to serve.

Every single day when they wake up, our officers put on that bulletproof vest, kiss their spouses and children good-bye, and head into unknown danger. They run toward that danger when many run away. They are the first to respond, often the last to leave, and, far too often, the ones we only recognize when tragedy strikes.

That is why it is so important this week that we recognize them. Frankly, we should be doing this every day to honor their service, because to me the badge represents that service and sacrifice, unwavering commitment, courage in the face of danger, and a true bond with the communities that officers serve every day.

Mr. Speaker, supporting law enforcement should never be a partisan issue. I will say this time and again. It is why we are standing together on one side of the aisle, symbolically, because there should be no Democrat or Republican way to protect a community or stand by an officer.

That is why we are so proud to work together every day on legislation with a group of us. Support can't stop with words, it has to require action. That is why we continue fighting for commonsense investments in public safety and in the officers who protect our communities. Together, we worked to secure more than $1 billion in Byrne Justice Assistance Grants and Community Oriented Policing Services resources to help local departments hire officers, improve training, and access critical support.

We helped secure resources for bulletproof vests, hate crime prevention initiatives, and support for smaller departments and rural departments. We secured full lifetime resources for the World Trade Center Health Program so our 9/11 responders and survivors continue to receive the care they earned and deserve.

The sheriff talked about our push on the bipartisan Invest to Protect Act because we know that smaller and midsize departments need more support, not less. We need more, not less. They need help with retaining and recruitment and mental health resources, especially for our smaller departments who carry the burdens of the jobs home every day. We have to help them.

We talked about the Protect and Serve Act to ensure stronger penalties for those who deliberately target law enforcement officers in the line of duty. I also support, and have in the past, the Thin Blue Line Act because, Mr. Speaker, if you deliberately hurt a cop, you are going to jail; and if you kill a cop, you should get the death penalty.

This week, during National Police Week, I announced the bipartisan Stop the Doxx Act to protect officers and their families from targeted intimidation online. It is because protecting law enforcement means protecting officers not only while they are serving on the streets but also at home with their families. The idea that people are taking pictures of officers without their permission, pictures of their family--they are taking the information of their address and their phone numbers and putting that online to target officers--is totally unacceptable. As the sheriff said: If you target officers, Congress will target you.

As I have said for years: We need to fund, not defund, law enforcement to keep our communities safe. Weakened law enforcement does not make our communities safer. It drives good officers away, it strains departments, and it undermines our communities and public safety.

Tonight is, first and foremost, about gratitude and honoring, honoring those who have served, those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

To your families, all those families out there, some of whom the sheriff talked about: God bless you. Thank you. We pray for you. We are here to take your tragedy and ensure that it is remembered with action.

To those who continue to serve right now: Thank you for the long hours, the missed holidays, the missed family dinners, and for carrying the burdens most Americans will never fully understand. Thank you for your professionalism, your sacrifice, what you face on the streets every day, and the disrespect you have to endure.

To the families who stand beside these heroes every day: We thank you, all of you.

Mr. Speaker, especially during National Police Week, we remember that duty and service are not without cost. We honor the sacrifice of those officers. Their service will never be forgotten, and their legacy will live on forever.

Madam Speaker, I think Congressman Kennedy said it best.

Congressman Rutherford and I just leaned over to each other after what you just said, Congressman Kennedy, and said: That is exactly right. There is far more that unites us as a country than divides us. We spend far too much time in this Chamber and outside of this Chamber tweeting, screaming, and yelling instead of focused on getting things done for the American people and thanking those who serve our great country.

That is what this week is about, Police Week, to thank those who are continuing to get up every day to protect us and to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting us and serving us. We should honor them, as we should honor all of those shoulders we stand on, by actually doing right by them, by investing in them, by supporting their families, by making sure that officers who are out there today on the front lines looking out for us have what they need to keep themselves safe and to keep our communities safe.

There should be no fights about that or disagreements about that and no questions about whether we are going to fund law enforcement or not. Those should not be even issues of debate. It should just be about doing the right thing by people, by those who protect us, by those who serve us, people like Sheriff Rutherford who, before he was in this Chamber, served us in Florida, and looked out for families. That is the kind of service we should recognize.

What Congressman Kennedy said is exactly right. We should look out for each other. We should stand together. It should not be a thing that we are on this side of the aisle, because that is irrelevant.

We stand in a Chamber with a flag behind the Speaker that we salute every day and that we pledge our allegiance to every day, as we should. To me, there is so much to be proud of for living in this great country, the greatest country the world has ever known. There is so much to be grateful for as an American.

The reason we have this safety, because this blanket of safety is provided by others, those who serve on the front lines, our servicemen and -women and those who are here at home, law enforcement, looking out for us. They do it knowing the risks they take, the sacrifices they make, and what could ultimately happen to them and to their families if they make that ultimate sacrifice, which so many have.

We remember them. We honor them. I hope that we take their falling as a call to action for all of us in this Chamber to protect all law enforcement, to invest in them, and to remember that this should not be a partisan political issue whether we stand by our law enforcement or not. That should not be a fight we should ever have. The question just should be how much should we invest to keep them safe and to keep our country safe.

With that, I thank the co-chair of the Law Enforcement Caucus, a great man and a great friend, Sheriff and Congressman John Rutherford.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I don't want to be standing here today introducing this resolution, but I feel, Mr. President, you have left me no choice. It has been 74 days since the start of the conflict in Iran, and Congress still hasn't been formally briefed on the objectives, our progress, or what success looks like.

Our Nation's Founders were very clear about this. Congress has a constitutional responsibility under Article I to provide oversight. Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress exclusive power to declare war, raise and support armies, maintain a navy, and make rules for the military.

We may have one commander in chief at a time, which I agree with, but the United States Congress has a specific constitutional responsibility. The American people sent us to Washington to be their voice, their eyes, and to hold the government accountable. That is not a partisan position. That is our job, our job as Democrats and Republicans.

The War Powers Act of 1973 only affirms that responsibility, clearly laying out, in furtherance of the Constitution, that the President has 60 days after formally informing the Congress to either come to Congress for declaration of war or an Authorization For Use of Military Force. Unfortunately, the President has done neither.

That is what this resolution means to me. It is a call to action to the President of the United States to do what the Constitution requires and to brief the Congress and the country on the state of the conflict, the objectives, the progress we have made, and what lies ahead.

Let me be very clear on what this resolution doesn't mean to me. I believe the Iranian regime must be crushed. They are the world's leading state sponsor of terror, a tyrannical government that chants ``The great Satan'' and ``death to America,'' bankrolls Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Houthis who have attacked our bases and have killed scores of Americans.

The ayatollah has killed tens of thousands of their own citizens in Iran, brutally so, just for seeking freedom. They are an enemy of the United States of America and work closely with our other adversaries, including Russia, North Korea, and China.

Unlike some of my colleagues who oppose taking on this regime, I believe--no, I actually know, that the world is a safer and more secure place if the Iranian regime were destroyed. They have attacked Americans and done everything to undermine our freedom and our democracy since the 1970s.

I support the administration crushing the Iranian regime. I want to ensure we destroy their nuclear programs, their ballistic missile program, their drone programs, and their terrorist proxy programs. But that said, you cannot leave the United States Congress in the dark any longer. You can't leave the American people in the dark, and that is what this resolution means to me.

Oversight is a key constitutional responsibility of Congress, and moments like this are exactly why the Founders crafted a government with separation of powers. In other words, it wasn't by accident. In The Federalist Papers, Hamilton and Madison made the Founders' intentions unmistakable. Papers 23, 41, 69, and 74 deliberately entrust Congress the power to provide for the common defense.

Hamilton said: ``The declaring of war would appertain to the legislature,'' and yet here we are with no formal briefings, no formal hearings, no plans presented on the conflict.

The Founders weren't naive. They anticipated this very moment. That is why we, ultimately, had the War Powers Act of 1973, so the President couldn't go it alone. Article I says he must come here to authorize or declare war. Under the War Powers Act, he is prohibited from keeping armed forces engaged in a conflict for more than 60 days without congressional approval.

But this administration has not given real briefings on the Iran conflict to the Intelligence Committee or the Foreign Affairs Committee or the Armed Services Committee, formal briefings related to this conflict.

Unfortunately, it is often that I have gotten more information, like a lot of my colleagues have, from papers like The New York Times. That is absurd. Yesterday alone, I learned from The New York Times that Iran maintained 70 percent of its pre-war missile stockpile despite our military actions. I learned or read, at least, in The New York Times that Iran has restored operational access to 30 of 33 missile sites it maintains along the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr. Speaker, I don't know if any of that is true or false, but Congress isn't getting briefed, so I wouldn't know if that is true or false. That is not acceptable to me. That is not how this is supposed to work.

It stands in direct contrast to our constitutional obligations and to the precedent for how other administrations have treated Congress during a military campaign of this size and duration. And if some haven't, then, by the way, we shouldn't have accepted that either.

Previous administrations, some, have come to Congress within 60 days to make the case for their actions. After strikes against Iranian- backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria in 2021, the Biden administration notified Congress and sent a formal letter explaining their legal justifications under an existing Congressional authority.

In 2003, the Bush administration conducted extensive briefings to Congress and was granted congressional authorization months before the invasion. After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, George H.W. Bush's administration regularly briefed Congress. Before U.S. combat began, the administration consulted Congress extensively and sought authorization to use military force.

Again, I didn't want to have to bring this resolution to the floor. I had hoped the administration would have changed their course after I introduced it and properly briefed the Congress and the country.

Mr. Speaker, people have lots of questions about the goals, about the Strait of Hormuz, about $5 gas, about what a win looks like for America. Make no mistake, my resolution explicitly grants us the ability to maintain a presence in the region, to respond to any Iranian aggression that places Americans or our allies in danger, and to safely remove our troops. If the President comes to seek authorization with a proper briefing, I would do my job and consider it, like we all should.

This vote isn't whether or not we should crush the Iranian regime. It is a message to the President and his administration to brief the Congress and the country. The people elected us to do this job, Mr. President. Come to us. Make your case. Lay out your plan. Let us do our job as a co-equal branch of government.

My ask, Mr. President, is brief the appropriate committees and do so regularly. Lay out the plan. Let us do our job as a co-equal branch of the government. This is too important not to.

Again, as I said, I believe the Iranian regime should be crushed. It is not a question of that. It is a question about making sure we can do what we must do as elected officials of this branch of government.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that if they are able to develop a nuclear program and they continue to have their ballistic missile program and their drone program, then I am deeply concerned about the threat they present to the United States and our allies in the region.

It depends how you define that.

I am just saying, Mr. Mast, that if they, right now, are able to--and these are kind of questions I have that I am not getting briefed on. These are the questions I have in terms of where they are in some of their program capabilities to be able to right now threaten our country. That is part of the question that I have. But I think you and I are in agreement, sir, that they are clearly a threat to the United States of America.

No, thank you. I thank the gentleman for the colloquy.

Sure.

By the way, I completely agree with your outline of the threats that Iran poses, and I want to be very clear about that. I think they present a clear and present danger to our country, their regime there, which is why they need to be crushed.

My broader point and the question, I guess, I would have for you is: Do you believe that we, Congress, are being appropriately briefed and kept up to speed? That is really, fundamentally, my challenge right now, that I don't feel like we are getting the information.

I am on the Intelligence Committee. I don't think we are getting the information that we should be getting as a coequal branch to make sure that we can do our jobs.

Thanks.

No, listen, I am glad that you are briefed, because I think you have--

If the gentleman will yield, I think you have incredible experience, and I am grateful for your service to our country.

I am glad you are getting those briefings. The challenge is, at least from my colleagues' perspective and me, who sits on the committee, we have not been getting those sort of briefings that you have been getting. That is part of what we are raising a flag about.

I would ask Chairman Meeks the same question, but that has been, just so you understand, the real frustration, because I am with you that we should crush Iran.

I am with you, and I just want to make sure--I want to understand where we are in that process and actually get appropriate updates on what is going on so that I can do my job. That is really what this is about for me.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman and Sheriff Rutherford for yielding.

This week, law enforcement officers from across our country are gathering here in Washington for National Police Week. It is a time when we honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our communities and our great country--the greatest country the world has ever known--and to commit ourselves to supporting those who serve us day in and day out.

Every day, these men and women put on a vest and a badge, kiss their loved ones good-bye, and head out the door, not knowing whether they will be coming home. Their courage, selflessness, and commitment to safety will never be forgotten.

To the families who carry the weight of this loss every day, we stand with them. We pray for them and remain forever grateful for their loved one's service.

We must redouble our commitment to investing in law enforcement to make sure we protect our great country.

I am very honored to be here with the co-chair of the bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus, Sheriff Rutherford, and with all of these Members who stand united in making sure we protect our great country.

Please join me in a moment of silence to honor the fallen heroes of law enforcement.

Madam Speaker, last April, Jersey and our Nation lost a dedicated father, husband, public servant, and just a real giant.

I miss Don Payne, like we all do. He was a Member of Congress for nearly 14 years. The son of Newark was an incredible champion for hardworking Jersey families. He fought for healthcare issues and fought to upgrade our transportation, rail, and infrastructure, but beyond that, he just was there for all of us.

When I was first elected, Don showed me the ropes, shared his wisdom, and gave me a good Jersey ribbing whenever he could. His great sense of humor and meaningful experience made it a true privilege to serve in the House with him. In those suits, he was the man.

A true family man, Don always beamed about his loved ones. I will miss him greatly, like we all do, as we mark today on what would have been his 67th birthday. We remember the impact Don made on so many not just in this great Chamber but across the Garden State and across the country.

May his memory be a blessing. We miss Don.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill.

Democrats just had a huge win across the country because we focused on what hardworking families care about: lowering food and healthcare prices, cutting childcare costs, and lowering utility bills.

What do socialists stand for? Tax-raising, job-killing policies like defunding the police, shuttering prisons, massive unfunded spending increases, and even government-run grocery stores.

In New York, job-killing comptroller, socialist, and reckless spender Brad Lander refuses to condemn anti-Semitic language like globalize the intifada, which calls for the death of the Jewish people. Many of Mayor-elect Mamdani's policies are radically at odds with both the Democratic Party and American values.

After all, socialists aren't Democrats. They are socialists. Democrats are about common sense, problem-solving ideas that promote public safety, opportunity for all, and lower costs for all Americans.

I urge all Republicans to work with us on those pressing issues.

America is the land of opportunity. Capitalism, American innovation, and the American worker are what built our great country. We cannot let socialism tear it down.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to welcome the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All-Holiness Bartholomew, to Washington, D.C. this week, and to congratulate him on receiving the distinguished Templeton Prize.

His All-Holiness has been a steadfast leader for the Orthodox Church, and especially for my constituents in New Jersey. He continues to encourage us all to reach toward peace, to love and respect our neighbors, and to uphold our values as a Nation.

At a time when hate and intolerance are surging across the country, His All-Holiness's focus on religious freedom is a powerful reminder that we must work together and respect one another. In the greatest country in the world, there should be no room for intolerance or hate of any kind.

As His All-Holiness Bartholomew has said, ``We have it in our power either to increase the hurt inflicted on our world or to contribute toward its healing. The choice is ours.'' Together, we must work toward a world filled with healing and hope.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen's ``Born to Run,'' a legendary album that is still inspiring generations today. Since its release, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have captured not just the American spirit, but also the Jersey values that unite us.

Bruce is Jersey, and Jersey is Bruce. Just when a 25-year-old kid from Freehold thought about giving up, his hard work paid off with an album that shared the Garden State with America and America with the world.

Every song on the album is a timeless classic: From ``Thunder Road'' to ``Jungleland,'' to ``Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,'' to ``She's the One,'' not to mention, of course, the title track.

Whether from a turntable, cassette, the radio, or your phone, ``the Boss'' sings for us all when chasing after that ``runaway American Dream,'' ``baby, we were born to run.''