Floor Statements

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.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of John Norman Gallaspy, a constituent who left a profound legacy in Louisiana. His life was defined by the many roles he undertook, beginning as one of the youngest students at Louisiana State University and later becoming a father, husband, and champion watermelon grower.

He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Field Artillery and deployed to Korea in 1952, after graduating. His exceptional fire support saved many lives and earned him the Bronze Star for Valor in Combat. He later attended LSU Law School and met his first wife Dixie Yates.

Mr. Gallaspy and his late wife spent 60 years together and raised three sons in Bogalusa, where he practiced as a self-proclaimed ``small town lawyer.'' Beyond his career, Mr. Gallaspy remarried to Martha Moak, was a grandfather to eight, an avid reader, and author.

Mr. Speaker, I am deeply honored to commemorate his remarkable life and service to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Louisiana State University baseball team for taking home their eighth national title.

Under the leadership of Coach Jay Johnson, LSU captured their second title in 3 years. The Tigers triumphed through their championship season with 53 wins and an undefeated College World Series.

Coach Johnson and his team exemplified excellence on and off the field, making Louisiana proud of not only their athleticism but also their outstanding character and service to the Baton Rouge community.

As LSU's Representative in Congress, I joined my constituents in following the team's journey to yet another championship. ESPN this week referred to LSU as the ``Greatest Ever College Baseball Program,'' and I couldn't agree more.

This victory wasn't just about raising the trophy at the end. It was a testament to the resilient, winning spirit of our State.

I thank the players, coaches, and staff for inspiring a new generation of Tigers to dream big and for representing Louisiana with honor on the national stage.

Congratulations. Geaux Tigers.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the 75th anniversary of Associated Grocers, Inc. of Baton Rouge. For 75 years, this organization has been a steadfast partner to locally owned supermarkets, supporting small businesses, sustaining local jobs, and fostering economic growth across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

Associated Grocers was founded in 1950 by a group of visionary independent grocers who understood the power of collaboration in a competitive marketplace. Over the decades, this cooperative has grown to serve more than 200 independent retailers, a model that strengthens local economies and ensures that consumers have access to fresh, quality foods, even in rural and underserved areas.

Congratulations to Associated Grocers, Inc. of Baton Rouge on this milestone anniversary. May their legacy of service, partnership, and community leadership continue to inspire future generations.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana, for 100 years of educating students in our State.

My background is in higher education, and I know a good school when I see one. I can confidently say that Southeastern is hitting the mark.

With more than 150 academic programs and over $1 billion in annual economic impact, Southeastern is truly changing lives. This year, the school saw its highest ever graduation rate and freshman retention rate.

Hitting the century mark is no small achievement, and Southeastern's momentum is only increasing. With their recent record-breaking enrollment increase, Southeastern will continue to shape our Nation's leaders for years to come.

A quality education sets students up for a lifetime of success. By that measure, Southeastern has had a tremendous impact. I thank the wonderful faculty and staff who have made 100 years possible. Under President William Wainwright's leadership, Southeastern is moving in the right direction. I look forward to seeing the great work they do in the school's second century and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained today during the roll call vote on H.R. 23 -- Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 7.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained today during roll call votes on the Motion to Recommit and passage, H.R. 5717, No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act; H.J. Res. 136, Tailpipe Emissions Rule CRA; and H.R. 9106, Enhanced Presidential Security Act of 2024. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 436, YEA on Roll Call No. 437, YEA on Roll Call No. 438 and YEA on Roll Call No. 439.

personal explanation

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Madelyn Connor.

There are very few times in life when you meet a person and leave the conversation inspired to do more, but that was Maddie.

Madam Speaker, she was a dreammaker. She had a vision for her community, a dream in her heart, and a drive to see it through to completion.

Earlier this year, I received a request to visit a new charter school opening its doors in northeast Louisiana. I knew very little about the school named the Academy of Collaborative Education, also known as ACE. I only knew that it would serve students from our region who had received an autism diagnosis.

On the day of my visit, Maddie swung open those school doors, and I was met with her contagious smile and a huge hug. As she sat me down to explain the origin of the school, I noticed that her passion for the kids who would benefit from this program shone through the most. It came from one of the most genuine and fiercest of places: a mother's heart.

She explained that her son had received an autism diagnosis, and she was left with disappointment and frustration when she realized the curriculum at her local public school would not suffice for his needs. She sat down with his speech pathologist, Joellen Freeman, one day to share her concerns, and it was there that a dream and a plan was born: to start a charter school aimed at supporting children with autism.

The journey to start this school was riddled with obstacles and heartache, but Maddie never gave up. That was her nature. Nothing was going to stop her from giving these kids an opportunity to learn in a supportive environment.

It took 2 years and an arduous 250-page application process, but her dream was finally realized with an official ribbon cutting on July 26, 2024, alongside her cofounder, Joellen.

This picture of her was taken on that very day the ribbon was cut. Her family and friends were there to celebrate and remember her beaming with joy on the day that her dream was realized.

I will never forget when I stood up to leave after our meeting and tour of her new school was complete. She stopped me on the way out to grab something from her desk. Her eyes flooded with tears as she showed me a picture of her son, Ace. She said: This is my why.

She didn't have to say another word. Our eyes met, and I instantly understood. There is nothing more powerful than a mother's love. It has the power to change the world.

In northeast Louisiana, we lost our dreammaker on August 30, 2024. Richard, who is with us today in the gallery, lost his loving wife. Gracyn, Ace, and Jett lost their precious mother.

As they navigate this journey through grief, I pray they will find some comfort in knowing that they were Maddie's whole world, so much so that she left them a legacy.

The Academy of Collaborative Education has the power to transform a region and impact countless lives in our State of Louisiana and beyond. It will be there for years to come to help autistic children and worried moms and dads because Maddie had a dream in her heart and a fierce determination to help her children, and she never gave up.

Madam Speaker, I leave my colleagues with the words spoken by Maddie's husband, Richard, at her funeral. He said: We lost Maddie, but only in flesh. Her spirit lives on through her family, friends, and each and every one of the people who knew her. We will all be reunited with her again one day. How sweet that day will be.

May we all live each one of our days left inspired by the way Maddie lived hers: as a dreammaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a truly remarkable Louisianian, Major General Lee Hopkins, for his 40 years of service in the Louisiana National Guard upon his retirement.

Major General Hopkins was commissioned in 1986 through the State Officer Candidate School of the Louisiana Army National Guard. He then enlisted into the 205th Engineer Battalion and concluded his 40-year career as the Assistant Adjutant General for the Louisiana National Guard.

He also shares my passion for education. General Hopkins oversaw the State's highly successful education programs consisting of three Youth Challenge Programs, three STARBASE programs, and one Job Challenge Program to provide targeted education and STEM opportunities. His leadership positively affected the lives of more than 10,000 at-risk youth during this period.

This only scratches the surface of all the incredible ways General Hopkins contributed to our State and country throughout his career. Please join me in thanking him for his service and sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in full support of H. Res. 1226, memorializing law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, that I am proudly co-leading with Representatives Michael Guest, Chris Pappas, and Abigail Spanberger.

Today, I would like to take a moment to honor the courageous heroes from my home State of Louisiana who have been added to the Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Memorial:

Officer Carl Douglas Kimball; Deputy Sheriff Marylin Anjanette Mayo; Officer Trevor Aron Abney; Corporal Scotty Wayne Canezaro; Sergeant Nicholas Neal Pepper; Sergeant Charles Fitzgerald Dotson; Lieutenant Barry Paul Giglio; Corporal Robert William McKinney; Deputy First Class Kyle Michael Melancon; Sergeant David Jacob Poirrier; Corporal Shawn Kevin Kelly; and Lieutenant Michael Stephen Godawa.

I ask everyone to join me in praying for these officers and their families who put their lives on the line each day for every American.

May we continue to teach future generations the critical mission that law enforcement personnel undertake in service to our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my support for this bill and also to express to the House the heartfelt gratitude of Luke's family, his friends, and all who loved him.

My husband was someone I knew to be a truly exceptional and gifted individual. Luke's purpose was always driven by people, and his passion was public service. Luke was the kind of person who would meet a stranger and just a few minutes later could walk away, having established an enduring friendship with them.

Mr. Speaker, I can't even begin to count the number of people who called, texted, emailed, or wrote me letters in the days after we lost Luke telling me how he had touched their lives.

Throughout his career, I saw so many times when he would spend hours on the phone talking to local mayors and police jurors about the problems in their communities, showing them the same care and attention that he would give if it had been the Governor of Louisiana or the Speaker of the House on the other end of the line.

As I travel the Fifth District to this day, I still meet many of those same people who fondly remember those times that he helped them.

What was different about Luke and one of the incredible things that set him apart was the fact that his mind was like an atlas, encyclopedia, and historical narrative of our little corner of northeast Louisiana. He not only knew the people and their concerns, but he knew their stories.

He could drive through those little, small towns all over our region and show you where Ulysses Grant and his troops had prepared for the attack on Vicksburg, where Theodore Roosevelt had gone hunting for the famous black bear, and where Huey and Earl Long played as young brothers and later campaigned for votes as Governors.

There is no place that Luke loved more than his own Richland Parish, the home of the Letlow family for eight generations. His story was deeply rooted in the fertile soil of the delta, which gave name to his pet project, Richland Roots, a website he created to tell the stories of Richland Parish and its rich history.

He would spend countless hours researching the past of the towns and villages of the parish, the landmarks, the churches and, yes, even the post offices. You see, Luke understood that all over Richland Parish there were these little pieces of the past that were left with us, containing both the stories and the lessons from those who came before us. Now he will receive his very own landmark, a little piece of Richland Parish to help tell his story.

It is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that one day another history-loving kid from Richland Parish will see that post office and learn about Luke's story.

I hope they will learn about how his journey took him from the back roads and small towns of northeast Louisiana to the corridors of the United States Capitol in Washington.

I hope they will learn about how he dedicated himself to the people of our region, working every single day to make their lives better.

I hope they will learn about the fact that even though he was never able to serve as a Member of this House, the men and women who served here thought so highly of him that they bestowed this high honor.

Mr. Speaker, when Luke's light would shine on you, it was impossible to feel anything other than his warmth and love. He had a way of making you feel exceptional, and I know that to be true for every person in his life. It is what I miss the most.

Luke may be gone, but his light will never leave us. I see it every day in the faces of our children: our son, Jeremiah, and our daughter, Jacqueline. I see it every time I go home and drive those back roads in Richland Parish and see the places that he loved so much.

By bestowing this honor on him, you are ensuring that his name and his legacy will live on long after all of us are gone. I ask my colleagues to join our majority leader and our Louisiana delegation in supporting this bill on behalf of Luke's family and his friends and all who loved him.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Jim Harper's time as President of the Louisiana Farm Bureau.

Jim is a longtime resident of Rapides Parish where he farms sugarcane, rice, crawfish, and soybeans, some of Louisiana's finest crops.

He has given 25 years of his life to the Louisiana Farm Bureau Board of Directors, and I join the countless number of people in thanking him for the tireless work that he has done to protect our farmers, ranchers, and producers. Our Louisiana agriculture industry is better because of his commitment and his dedication to Louisiana's largest industry.

Jim has been a friend and true colleague, and there is not a soul who doesn't enjoy the opportunity to work with him.

I wish him nothing but the best in his next phase of life: spending more time with his wife Debbie and their grandchildren. I know he will never be a stranger to the Louisiana agricultural community.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of a truly remarkable gentleman, Mr. Ray Young.

Mr. Ray was born in Hico, Louisiana, in 1929 and grew up no stranger to hard work or getting his hands dirty on his family's farm.

Building a successful agriculture business from the ground up and establishing deep roots in the ag community, he is well-regarded as the Nation's longest tenured crop consultant, a passionate and widely respected officer in both local and national organizations, and a tireless advocate for agriculture in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Ray grew to be loved by all who encountered him and quickly became an irreplaceable figure across the State of Louisiana.

Mr. Ray held a rare and unique quality, always seeing the good in everyone he met--even seeing the promise in a challenging piece of land. He was a friend to many and an enemy to none, never judging anyone by their limitations.

Beyond his extensive agriculture background and accomplishments, Mr. Ray's unwavering faith in the Lord served as an inspiration and showcased the very best of our Louisiana community.

He was a man of good faith and goodwill with a true servant's heart who sought to love others the way Christ loves us. I have no doubt he has heard the words from above: Well done, good and faithful servant.