Julia Letlow

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and recognize the 40th anniversary of Entergy's River Bend Station, proudly located in St. Francisville, Louisiana. Since commencing commercial operations in 1986, River Bend Station has proudly served the residents of West Feliciana Parish, the State of Louisiana, and the Gulf Coast region for four decades, providing safe, reliable electricity.

River Bend Station stands as a cornerstone of energy resilience in Southeast Louisiana, playing a vital role in meeting the power needs of nearly half a million customers. With a maximum dependable capacity of 978 megawatts, River Bend contributes to grid stability during periods of peak demand and extreme weather events.

River Bend Station employs more than 800 employees and contractors who demonstrate an unwavering commitment to operational excellence, nuclear safety, emergency preparedness, and the highest professional standards. Their work exemplifies the spirit of public service and technical leadership that strengthens Louisiana's energy infrastructure.

Beyond providing critical energy, River Bend Station maintains strong and ongoing partnerships throughout West Feliciana, East Feliciana, Pointe Coupee, and East Baton Rouge Parishes. The facility supports local jobs, contributes to charitable organizations, invests in STEM education, and prepares future generations through workforce development initiatives that help secure Louisiana's economic and energy future.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of River Bend Station's operation--a milestone that honors the dedication and accomplishments of its employees and underscores the plant's significant role in Louisiana's energy future.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Entergy's River Bend Station, its leadership, and its employees, on this important anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Willie Cooper, whose decades of service left a lasting mark on agriculture in Louisiana.

For 56 years, Mr. Cooper served with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Farm Service Agency, supporting farmers and advancing one of Louisiana's most vital industries.

In 1972, he was appointed Louisiana State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency, a role he held for 42 years.

He served under 8 Presidents and 13 Secretaries of Agriculture, an extraordinary testament to his expertise and the trust placed in him.

Mr. Cooper was known for his integrity, humility, and unwavering commitment to doing his work the right way. He embodied the very best of public service.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of this body, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of working with him. May we honor his memory through our service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1011, the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025.

Across this country, farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners are on the front lines of natural disasters. Whether it is hurricanes in my home State of Louisiana, wildfires in Nebraska, or severe storms across rural America,

these events do not just damage land. They threaten livelihoods, local economies, and our Nation's food and fiber supply.

Too often, when disaster strikes, the programs designed to help, including the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program, are slowed by red tape, delays, and barriers to access.

My bill, H.R. 1011, takes a commonsense approach to fixing that. This legislation ensures that producers, forest landowners, and family forestry businesses can access advance payments of up to 75 percent of recovery costs so they can begin rebuilding immediately rather than waiting months for reimbursement.

It expands the types of emergency conservation practices that qualify for assistance, recognizing that recovery goes far beyond repairing fences. It includes restoring farmland, rehabilitating conservation structures, and stabilizing land after devastating events.

It also ensures that wildfire damage can qualify for assistance when natural conditions cause fires to spread, providing fairness and certainty for landowners facing increasingly severe fire seasons.

For forest landowners and family forestry businesses, this bill provides critical flexibility to remove debris, replant trees, and restore working lands without unnecessary delay.

Mr. Speaker, timing matters. We are quickly approaching both hurricane and wildfire seasons. Communities across the country are preparing for what may come. When disaster hits, recovery cannot wait. Producers and landowners need tools that match the urgency of the moment. This bill delivers exactly that.

For a farmer whose fields have been washed out, for a rancher rebuilding miles of fencing, and for a family forestry business working to recover from a storm or wildfire damage, this legislation means faster recovery, less financial strain, and a stronger path forward.

I also recognize the bipartisan leadership behind this effort. In the Senate, I thank Senator Deb Fischer and Senator Ben Ray Lujan for leading this important legislation. Here in the House, I am grateful for the support of my colleagues, Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Don Bacon, Mike Flood, and Adrian Smith. This is what bipartisan, solutions-oriented policymaking looks like.

H.R. 1011 removes barriers, cuts through delays, and ensures that disaster assistance works when it is needed most. It strengthens the resilience of rural America because when our producers and forest landowners recover faster, our communities recover faster.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this practical, bipartisan solution and stand with the farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and family forestry businesses who feed, fuel, and sustain our Nation.