Floor Statements

Mr Speaker, on behalf of Florida's Third Congressional District, we wish Mr. Joseph Salonia a very happy 100th birthday.

Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts on February 17, 2025, Joseph moved to Connecticut as a young man where he grew up during the Great Depression, He attended school until the eighth grade before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943. While in the Army, he served at Fort Hood, Texas for weapons and M-10 tank training before serving in Oregon and Alaska prior to joining the Second World War effort in Italy.

For his service in World War II, Mr Salonia received two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart for his combat wounds. After healing from his injuries, Joseph entered Army intelligence, serving in France, before being discharged from the Army and returning to his home in Connecticut.

For decades, Joseph worked as a construction labor iron worker, a tin knocker, and a real estate agent in Connecticut. He married his bride Margaret and had two daughters, Chris and Brooke.

He celebrates 100 incredible years at his Chiefland, Florida home in Florida's Third Congiessional District, Happy birthday to Mr, Joseph Salonia.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished colleague and friend from the great State of Tennessee for yielding to me.

Tonight we gather to honor and bid farewell to an extraordinary leader and friend, Energy and Commerce Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Tonight we say good-bye, as she concludes her remarkable tenure in Congress. Serving under her leadership on the Energy and Commerce Committee has truly been a privilege and an honor.

I first met Cathy when I was a chief of staff. It was 2013, and I came to meet with her as she was the Conference chair at the time. I was shaking I was so intimidated, and I just remember she exuded a cool calmness, an openness, and, most importantly, a warmth that was immediately putting me at ease. As someone who was brand new to the Hill, someone who was a very young woman at the time who didn't know much of anything, she still made me feel like my opinion mattered. That is one of her many gifts.

Fast forward as a Member of Congress with the honor and privilege to serve here, I will never forget the night that I was in the Cloakroom and Cathy comes up to me and says, Kat, I think you would be good for the Energy and Commerce Committee. I am shaking and intimidated like, holy crap, the chairwoman is asking me to serve on the best damn committee in Congress.

It was her faith in me that really gave me an insight into how she would be as a leader, as someone who we would look to as we navigated some of the toughest pieces of legislation and controversial issues.

I later recall, after having joined the committee, attending a speech where she was asked by the moderator to give her life story. Any Member of Congress will start spouting off that I was born here, I did this, and I am that. No. Cathy stopped, and she said, I will give you my life story and who I am in 10 words. She used the following words to describe her commitment to service, who she was, who she is: a pioneer, trailblazer, leader, working mom of three, wife, ability advocate, and trust builder.

In my time serving with her, I have learned that not only does she embrace these words, but she lives them every single day.

As a pioneer and trailblazer, she is the first woman to lead the Energy and Commerce Committee, paving the way for many others to follow. She has forged paths in policy areas that were complex, controversial, tough, but, most importantly, critical to saving our Nation's future.

As a leader, she was a unifying force and continues to unify within the Energy and Commerce Committee. She has an exceptional ability to bring together Members with diverse viewpoints--which as we know here in Congress, there are many--ensuring that everyone has that feeling of being valued and also being heard.

As a wife and mother, she has balanced the responsibilities of public service and motherhood, which we all know is no easy task. She has managed it with grace and unwavering dedication.

As an ability advocate, she has been an unwavering voice for those with disabilities, advocating for policies that promote inclusion and opportunity, knowing the experience firsthand. We expect to see Cole on this House floor in many, many more years to come. He is going to be here.

As a trust builder, her honesty, transparency, and commitment to doing what is right have earned her respect in every single room that she has entered.

Chairwoman Rodgers' legacy in Congress will continue to inspire us all. I thank her for her service, her leadership, and her example. We wish her every success and happiness in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative Bucshon, for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to stand here today and debate H.R. 2706, the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act. Of course, I don't think there is a whole lot of debate that is going to happen here today because I hope it will be unanimous.

For Members who don't know, this bill is named after Charlotte Woodward, an adult woman with Down syndrome who received a lifesaving heart transplant over 12 years ago.

Sadly, as has been mentioned, not all individuals with disabilities have that same opportunity. That is why we are here to consider this bill today, to ensure that all Americans, regardless of the disability they may have, have the same opportunity to receive a lifesaving organ transplant.

When I first learned of this issue, I could not believe that this practice was happening here in our country. However, after learning more about the issue and hearing stories from advocates, including Charlotte herself, they were advocating for change. I was shocked and horrified to learn that

there were no protections for these individuals.

According to a 2019 report from the National Council on Disability, which is the agency that advises the legislative and executive branch on disability policy issues, people with disabilities have been routinely denied due to subjective judgments about the value of a human who happens to have a disability, subjective assumptions about their quality of life, and misconceptions about their ability to comply with postoperative care.

Even more, that same report found that some organ transplant programs have policies that exclude, rather than include, people with disabilities as candidates for transplant.

In 2021, as a freshman Member of Congress, I met Bobbi and Josh Sarmiento. They are from Ocala, Florida, in my district. These constituents reached out and wanted to share the story of their son, baby Zion. I spent time learning about their journey and couldn't help being moved to action as I left them that day.

I couldn't possibly do justice in recounting their story. Instead, I will read an excerpt from baby Zion's mom, Bobbi, in her own words, their story and experience with the organ transplant system that she provided to a congressional panel just last year.

In Bobbi's words, she said:

We learned at 10 weeks gestation that our son, Zion, had

Down syndrome, and at his 20-week anatomy scan, he had a

heart defect called a complete AVSD, or also called a

complete AV canal defect. Simply put, we have four chambers

in our heart. Zion had a large hole in the center separating

those chambers from forming. This is a common heart defect

those with Down syndrome have.

Our beautiful boy was born on June 15, 2021. We spent 40

days in the NICU before being discharged to go home. We have

some of the best memories of our time at home before his

open-heart surgery was scheduled for September of 2021. We

did all the research and asked all the questions. We never

knew we would end up being the worst-case scenario.

To make a long story short, Zion had 5 open-heart surgeries

in a matter of 12 days. He was such a warrior through each

one. After the fifth surgery didn't work as planned, we were

told that he would need a heart transplant. The hospital we

were at did not do transplants, so we were left with three

options in Florida. To qualify, we were told his other organs

had to be working, which they were, and we have the autopsy

to prove this.

Our first option told us that they had never done a

successful heart transplant on someone with Down syndrome. I

asked how many they had tried. No response. Through my own

research and digging that moms do to get answers, I have

since learned that the answer was zero. Our second option

said that they didn't feel their team could do a successful

heart transplant for Zion, and the third option kept us

waiting.

Finally, they came back and said that, because baby Zion

was on ECMO life support three times through the five

surgeries, he couldn't have brain activity. I would like to

note that Zion came off ECMO after the second and fifth

surgery, which we knew upfront was vital to being accepted

for the heart transplant list. They wanted a brain

activity test run and sent to them for their final

decision. We were told before it was sent that the test

was perfect.

With nothing to disqualify him, we thought that we would be

on our way to the next step. They came back and told us that

after much deliberation, they concluded that they just

couldn't waste a heart.

Wow, that is hard to read.

Our son was worth the same chance at life as anyone else.

With no options left, we had to make the decision to remove

the machines. On October 8, 2021, our son left our arms and

ran into the arms of Jesus.

Baby Zion deserved the same chance at life as any other American, but he was denied a heart transplant by the same doctors because he had Down syndrome, and they ``couldn't waste a heart.''

The tragic story of baby Zion and the courage of his parents, Josh and Bobbi, along with the drive of so many incredible advocates, have led us today to H.R. 2706, the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act, which would prohibit healthcare providers and other entities from denying or restricting an individual's access to organ transplants solely based on an individual's disability.

The bill would require expedited review of discrimination claims at the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services. No family should have to wait or be denied.

I thank Charlotte Woodward, Bobbi and Josh, and all of the advocates who have worked so hard to get this bill where it is today. We would not be here without your tireless work to educate and advocate on behalf of individuals with disabilities across the country.

I also want to thank my colleague, Debbie Dingell, for her partnership and work on this bill. It was truly an honor to work with the gentlewoman on important issues like this.

I also acknowledge my Senate counterpart, Senator Rubio, for championing this issue in the Senate.

Lastly, I thank Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers for her work and support on this issue. Her leadership in Energy and Commerce on this issue and the multitude of important issues that we deal with in the committee cannot be overstated. Not only is the gentlewoman a trailblazer and an ability advocate, but a force of nature.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my outstanding colleague from the great State of Arizona (Mr. Biggs) and also from the great State of Texas (Mr. Babin) for hosting this Special Order this evening.

It is time to call a spade a spade. The wide-open border policy of the Biden-Harris regime is quite literally killing Americans across the country, and there is no denying this.

I myself have been to the border nine times, and I have ridden along with our agents through their shifts for hours seeing firsthand the horror, the trafficking, the crime, the gang members, and the abuse of women and children. I have seen the hundreds of thousands of wristbands littering the ground along the riverbanks. The wristbands that the cartels force people to wear to show which cartel they belong to, how much they have been paid, and, of course, what number they are.

It is such a big operation that the cartels have created the most efficient means possible to move people into the country illegally. What is worse, the American government, Biden and Harris, are helping the cartels do it.

How, you might ask? Well, it is by taking away critical resources from our Border Patrol agents, by not enforcing the current laws on the books, and by taking away policies that stop the flow of illegals, not by legislative action but through executive action, of course.

I suppose we shouldn't be surprised that Biden and his border czar, Kamala Harris, don't care about the law. When it gets in their way, they subvert it.

It is clear they have zero regard for the American people, despite nearly 300 people a day dying of the trafficked fentanyl that comes across the border or the thousands who have fallen victim to violent crime by illegals. They just simply ignore us and pretend like it doesn't happen and it doesn't exist.

Now, while the Vice President, a/k/a border czar, pretends to care now all of a sudden about our southern border, I have a few questions for her.

Madam Vice President, do you know how many Americans have been harmed by criminal illegal aliens?

Do you know how many lives have been forever changed by the violence perpetrated against them by the people who broke our laws, who you invited here, you flew here, who have crossed our border and harmed our citizens?

As if every town in America wasn't already a border town, I ask this: What about the hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied minors trafficked into this country for whom the Federal Government knows nothing of their whereabouts?

The 325,000 kids that have been lost under her watch, what has she done about that?

Do their lives not matter?

These children have been forced into child labor situations, sex trafficking, and abuse. What has been done about that? It happened on her watch.

House Republicans have been correcting the record and shining a spotlight on the disastrous crisis at our southern border for 4 years now, sounding the alarm of the failures of this administration and particularly border czar Harris.

She is not fooling the American people by pretending to care all of a sudden. She is not fooling this Chamber. She is certainly not fooling the angel families who have lost loved ones due to the reckless policies that she and President Biden have put forth.

We need a real Commander in Chief, not a czar, not someone who is cackling, laughing, and making jokes. It is not a laughing matter. We certainly don't need a trafficker in chief. That is what we have now. We need a real Commander in Chief, and November is coming.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment, which would restrict taxpayer funds from being used to finalize any rule or regulation that has resulted in an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more at the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.

Under the Biden-Harris regime, the regulatory landscape has never been worse. Regulatory agencies within the Department of the Interior have exerted an extraordinary amount of power with very limited oversight.

My amendment seeks to change this dynamic by requiring that any major rule or regulation proposed by these agencies must be approved by Congress before it can take effect.

This means that the elected Representatives of the American people would have a direct say in the regulations that govern our natural resources and public lands. It means that the individuals who are closest to their constituents, who understand the needs and concerns of their communities, will be at the forefront of decisionmaking.

I, of course, believe that commonsense Americans would be incensed to know that in 2023 alone, the Biden-Harris regime ended the year by adding nearly 91,000 pages to the Federal Register of regulations.

Why should Americans care about that? Because those 91,000 pages of regulations just cost every American family over $15,000 annually.

That is right. American families now pay $15,000 more every single year for the exact same goods and services thanks to these onerous regulations, but it gets worse. Who do these hardworking families turn to to fight these new costs, these new rules, these new regulations that are dictating every aspect of our lives? Not their elected officials, no.

These expensive and expansive rules and regulations housed in those 91,000 pages, those are the doing of the nameless, faceless bureaucrats that dwell in basements all over Washington, D.C., who, by the way, are not elected. Quite frankly, Mr. Chair, that should piss off every single American.

It is a slap in the face that we the people have no recourse, which is why my amendment reining in these rules and regulations is so very important.

You can and should be able to fire your elected officials. In the case of these all too powerful bureaucrats, you can't even find them, let alone stop them. This is where our amendment, the REINS Act, comes in and is so important.

Under the Biden-Harris regime, regulations cost more than the entire Federal discretionary budget. Let me repeat that. Under the Biden- Harris regime, they have added more in regulatory costs that add up to more than the entire Federal discretionary budget.

As a point of reference, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which funded government, came in at a price tag of $1.7 trillion. The Biden- Harris regime's price tag on their regulations was over $2 trillion with a t.

It is not just the cost that is insane. It is the unachievable nature of these regulations. Take, for instance, the proposed greenhouse gas emission standards. There are no vehicles that exist today that can do the job and make the grade on the standard.

Your leaf blower and lawnmower at home, under the Biden-Harris regime, need to be zero emission. Good luck buying that in Biden's economy.

Permitting requirements for livestock emissions are unachievable because of, well, science. Shocking, I know. What sounded good on paper is quite literally unfeasible in real life.

Government is supposed to serve the people, not make their life harder, and quite frankly, that is all these regulations are doing, making life harder and more expensive.

Mr. Speaker, there has never been a better time to rein in spending. We need to rein in these frivolous rules and regulations and rein in the true swamp creatures called bureaucrats.

If you believe in the principle that significant regulatory decisions should not be made behind closed doors but rather in the open Halls of Congress where the voices of the American people can be heard, you will support this amendment.

If you believe that the American people should be at the center of the decision-making process, you will support this amendment.

If you believe in government transparency and accountability, you will support this amendment.

It is time that this body starts asserting its constitutional Article I authority and adopt this amendment.

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

Mr. Chair, it is laid out pretty simply. If we are to really restore the people's voice in this Chamber, we have to adopt this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in putting the American people first, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment, which would restrict funds at the Department of Homeland Security from being used to finalize any rule or regulation that has an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more. Some might know this language commonly as REINS, Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny.

It is no secret that the regulatory agencies today are out of control. Under the Biden administration, we have seen hundreds of billions, with a b, of dollars in regulatory costs fall on the shoulders of average Americans without any input from their elected Representatives in Congress.

My amendment seeks to restore congressional oversight and the people's voice over these regulations by requiring that any major rule proposed by these agencies must be approved by Congress, a/k/a the people's House, before they go into effect.

By including my amendment in this bill, we restore Congress' Article I authorities by bringing significant regulatory decisions back to the body that is closest to the will of the people. We will no longer allow unelected, nameless, faceless bureaucrats to impose regulatory costs behind closed doors, but, rather, commit ourselves to open, transparent governance.

We have already seen the Biden administration's outrageous border crisis having allowed more illegal immigrants into the country than the population of 43 U.S. States. Nearly 1,400 pounds of deadly fentanyl has been seized at the border in just a single month, and 367 known suspected terrorists on the international terrorist watch list have crossed the border under the Biden administration.

This administration has waged war against the immigration system of the United States, and the results speak for themselves. It is a total failure. This commonsense amendment is a core part of our mission to reintroduce government accountability and to restore the elected Representatives' voice in the process.

By requiring congressional approval for major regulations, this amendment forces a thorough examination of the potential costs and benefits of proposed rules. This scrutiny is to prevent regulatory overreach, ensuring that regulations are grounded in sound science, economic reasoning, and the overall well-being of the American people, regardless of political affiliation.

Oftentimes, these regulations serve as a mechanism for agencies to sidestep congressional authority in crucial policy decisions. As the core legislative body, it is crucial for us to reaffirm our constitutional role and prevent any unwarranted expansion of regulatory powers.

All in all, my amendment restores the people's voice in these significant Federal agency decisions that impact our everyday lives. Our Nation needs major regulatory reform, and incorporating our amendment is a crucial step forward to a more transparent and accountable government for all Americans.

I encourage and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure and standing up for our strongly held belief in a democratic government by

the people, for the people, in our constitutional Republic.

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

Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. Chairman, in response to the notion that there is actually someone over there in the basement of these Federal agencies listening to the American people who weigh in via comment on these proposed rules and regulations, that is laughable.

In some cases, we have seen agencies take in more than 250,000 comments, different letters, and petitions from concerned citizens, associations, and organizations. They have fallen on deaf ears.

In the case of DHS, they have worked tirelessly to put things up for a proposed rule, things like asylum eligibility and public health. One would think that Members of the people's House would be the ones in charge of dictating asylum process. One would think that it would be Members of Congress who would actually be looking to develop legislation that would cover the modernization of H-2A programs or refugee appearances and interviews or the modernization regulations of nonimmigrant workers.

I could provide hundreds of examples of different proposed rules and regulations that have bypassed Congress, bypassed the people's House, and effectively silenced the American people's voice because we now have unelected, nameless, faceless bureaucrats and a hyperpoliticized administration shoving their political agenda down our throat.

If we are going to restore our Article I authority, it starts here, and it starts now. I encourage all of my colleagues to adopt this amendment. It is common sense. It is good for all parties involved. I don't care what side of the aisle you are on. The facts are exactly the same.

We are elected Representatives for the people and by the people. We need their voice here now more than ever.

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

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Florida's Third Congressional District, we commend the Korean Baptist Church of Gainesville, Florida for its 2024 Korean War Veterans Event on Saturday, June 1, 2024.

Following the Korean War, the American people and Korean people have formed a strong, admirable friendship that has stood the test of time for decades. It is important to continue this relationship for years to come and I am grateful for the efforts of the Korean Baptist Church of Gainesville to foster these bonds.

I congratulate them on another great event. We look forward to seeing the fruits of this labor in our North Central Florida community.

Madam Chair, I would like to clarify the scope of the prohibitions in Division D of H.R. 8038.

As I understand it, Division D of H.R. 8038 would prevent TikTok from obtaining distribution through app stores and online marketplaces in the U.S. and deprive them of obtaining Internet-hosting infrastructure and services provided by U.S. entities, unless and until it is divested from ByteDance within 270 days of enactment.

When acting in their capacity of providing access to the Internet, Internet service providers (ISPs) do not engage in the activities that would be restricted by operation of Section 2(a)(1).

In providing their customers access to the Internet and connectivity to web sites and online service, ISPs are not engaging in distribution activities prohibited under subparagraph (A). And in providing access or connectivity to web sites or online services at the request and direction of their customers, ISPs are not engaged in providing any Internet hosting services restricted under subparagraph (B).

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

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

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 8035, which would eliminate all nonmilitary funding in this Ukrainian aid package.

Breaking this down a bit, that would mean cutting nearly $10.5 billion, with a b, from this whopping $60 billion Ukrainian bill.

To date, American taxpayers have already given $113 billion to Ukraine since Russia's invasion.

This new spending, $60 billion, is designated as emergency spending, meaning it goes straight to our national debt, a national debt that grows every single second to the tune of $8 billion every single day.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, there has been robust debate in Congress, in this Chamber, about the United States' role in the war. While we here in this Chamber disagree on the role that we should play, there is one thing that I hope we can agree on: We as United States Representatives should not--I repeat, should not--forsake our own national security in favor of another nation. We should not secure the borders of nations abroad while simultaneously ignoring the very real and very dangerous border crisis in our own country.

While we should debate the merits of providing funds for weapons and equipment to defeat Russia in this conflict, funds that fall outside of immediate, narrow, and lethal aid should not warrant the same urgency or consideration.

All told, sections of this bill that are not lethal aid come to about $10.5 billion, with the bulk of it going to support the Ukrainian economy--not the American economy, the Ukrainian economy. Anyone who is living under Biden's economic plan right now knows that it sucks.

We need to be clear. This is emergency spending, again, going straight to our national debt, full stop. Again, we are borrowing $8 billion a day.

Over the past 20 years, Congress has designated $12 trillion in emergency spending. With these funds in the bill that are not designated for military purposes, the American people are resigned once again to absorbing another $10.5 billion to support Ukraine and their economy, while simultaneously adding the debt to our $34.7 trillion national debt. That is simply unacceptable.

We are robbing Peter to pay Paul, and the American people are once again left holding the bag. You cannot stand here on this Chamber's floor as a Representative of the American people in the people's House and sincerely say that you have done everything possible to look out for American national security and American economic security if we don't narrow the focus of this bill.

We have to adopt this amendment. By the way, while I was speaking, we have added another $5.5 million to the national debt.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, let me just begin by saying the feeling is mutual. I have tremendous respect and admiration for my colleague from the Sunshine State.

I hear loud and clear the critical elements of this bill that have been deemed necessary. Heck, I deem them necessary. The American people and the Representatives in this Chamber demand accountability and transparency. However, there are multiple poison pills within this text that the American people and certainly my constituents back home don't support.

For example, there is $300 million for international narcotics control and law enforcement, but what about the 100,000-plus people every single year in America who are being poisoned by fentanyl? Where is the funding to stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States?

What about the $25 million for transition initiatives? What about the $60 million for diplomatic programs?

I noticed that my colleague--again, who I deeply respect--mentioned that part of that is for security, but what about the rest?

Or the $481 million for refugee and entrance assistance when we have a border crisis that has resulted in some of the most egregious public health, public safety, humanitarian, and national security crises in American history.

We are approaching over 10 million illegals crossing into our country and being paroled, which is a fancy way of saying catch and release, into the United States. We are approaching 2 million got-aways.

We have a massive crisis here at home, and if America is not safe and secure here at home, we cannot help our partners abroad.

Mr. Chair, I urge, respectfully, that my colleagues put America first and adopt this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Florida's Third Congressional District, I wish Ms. Carol Couch a very happy 100th birthday.

Carol has always been known for her confident and strong personality. Carol joined the U.S. Army in April 1942 and was assigned to 1612th SCU Sta Comp WAC Det in Washington, D.C. While there, Carol worked to decode enemy messages which was then a top-secret job. After World War II, Carol and her husband Edgar Cox were honorably discharged, and they packed all their belongings, including three young children, into a truck to move to Florida.

After opening a collections bureau, her plans changed and Carol drew up plans to build a million-dollar building providing office space to professionals, including doctors and dentists. Her husband thought her plans too ambitious and attempted to stop her, but Carol went to the courthouse and had herself declared separate from her husband so she could continue without his permission.

A woman of many interests, Carol became partner in a road construction company, oversaw the construction of her home, worked with doctorate students to form their thesis papers at the University of Florida, and maintained a multitude of hobbies. She even worked for 15 years at the University of Florida as a typist with an incredible speed of 120 correct words per minute.

In her later years, Carol worked for the Census Bureau and volunteered at Grace United Methodist Church, Friends of the Library, and several other organizations. Carol gradually bowed out of these responsibilities and gave up driving in her early 90s. Of all she accomplished, however, being a veteran was her favorite accomplishment, and she always drove with an American flag in the back windshield.

For the last several decades, Carol has made her home in North Central Florida, and has been a treasured member of several veterans' groups. I am honored to wish her a happy 100th birthday on May 22, 2024, and to thank her for her dutiful service to our Nation. I Congratulate her on this milestone. I am elated to celebrate with her.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to submit extraneous material.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a beloved and invaluable neighbor who will be remembered by our community for years to come. His name was Alphonso Lee Gordon, Sr., affectionately known as Mr. Al.

Mr. Al passed away unexpectedly last year. He was an institution at the Marion County Board of County Commissioners and a proud Army veteran. He loved hosting annual banquets, bringing in cupcakes for coworkers and providing radio correspondence for emergency telecommunicators and public safety agencies during emergencies, including hurricanes and severe storms, of which Florida is no stranger.

He was a friend to all who knew him, as he gave so much of himself every single day. He was a true public servant, and his loss came as a shock to everyone who treasured his friendship.

Several members of our team worked closely with him in Marion County and remember him fondly for his smile and his helping hand.

Thank you, Mr. Al, for having served our community. The lives you touched won't forget and can never repay your hand of friendship.

Honoring Dr. Juan Gilbert

Mr. Speaker, I rise in celebration of Gator Nation's very own Dr. Juan Gilbert. A professor from the University of Florida, Dr. Gilbert has his Ph.D. in and teaches computer science.

On campus, he leads the Computing for Social Good Lab, dedicates time to the National Society of Black Engineers, and mentors students. Additionally, he has 17 publications and 40 awards and distinctions. It is impressive.

His entire career is decorated with outstanding and admirable works, but today, there is one milestone in particular that I would like to recognize. Dr. Gilbert was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest honor given only to trailblazers who have made technological advancements for the betterment of our Nation and fellow Americans.

Applauded for his expertise in human-centered computing, he is the inventor of a universal voting system that revolutionized the accessibility and reliability of elections around the world.

This honor is a tremendous one, not just for Mr. Gilbert but for the entire University of Florida community. Go Gators.

I have never been shy about the accomplishments of our beloved university and the incredible talent that it brings to Gainesville and certainly the world. This is no exception.

Thank you, Dr. Gilbert, for your commitment to serving our country. Go Gators.

Honoring Olajuwon White

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Olajuwon White, Florida's Third Congressional District Veteran of the Year for 2023.

Mr. White currently serves as the director of veteran services for Levy County, Florida. In this role, he works to help veterans with casework related to compensation, pension, burial benefits, educational assistance, and so much more.

His career began as a hospital corpsman in the United States Navy. He certified as an independent duty corpsman and surgical technician.

Following his military service, Ollie, as we like to call him, worked with Alachua County as a senior veterans claims counselor, working with hundreds of veterans to file claims and leading educational sessions for our local veterans and their dependents. He also has experience working with the VA as a field examiner in Tampa.

Outside of his professional capacity, Mr. White works hard to engage veterans in Levy County and the surrounding area, turning what was once a quiet area for our heroes into a vibrant community where veterans know that they will receive the attention and support that they need at the Federal and local levels.

It was an honor to recognize Ollie in our Gainesville district office in January for all of his hard work leading to this honor. He is a treasured member of our district veteran community and an irreplaceable leader in Levy County.

Congratulations, Ollie.

Recognizing Rodney and Loretta Tyre

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize two constituents of mine, Rodney and Loretta Tyre, the owners of T&T BBQ and Southern Home Cooking in Jasper, Florida.

As Hurricane Idalia made its way across north-central Florida, thousands of Floridians were left without power for days. The small community of Jasper, located just a few miles south of the Georgia border, is a tight-knit community, and, quite frankly, when disaster struck, they sprang into action.

The owners of T&T BBQ worked to serve the community using a standby generator, providing fresh meals to all those whose homes and businesses had been damaged or lost in the storm.

They worked out of the kindness of their hearts during a time of need for many. It is folks like the Tyree family who make north-central Florida the best place to live, work, play, and raise a family.

Thank you, Rodney and Loretta, for everything that you do for our community.

Honoring Fulbright Scholar Caleb Apperson

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge an extraordinary student and scholar with ties to Florida's Third Congressional District, the Gator Nation, Mr. Caleb Apperson.

Caleb is a recent graduate from the University of Illinois and a current Fulbright Scholar at the National Chengchi University, also known as NCCU.

For his undergraduate degree, he majored in East Asian languages and culture, minored in political science, and earned a critical language scholarship through the Department of State.

Studying in Mandarin, he is earning his graduate degree in international law and business to deepen his understanding of the cultural, religious, political, and historical identity of Taiwan.

He dreams of becoming a language analyst with our national security agencies to facilitate productive conversations between the United States and Taiwan on the global stage.

Caleb is using his skills and education to become a diplomatic problem-solver in our ever-modernizing and complicated world.

We are especially proud of his work to continue the great relationship between the United States and Taiwan, one of our strongest allies in Asia.

We will need skilled young men like him to serve as leaders, and I am proud to have someone with his intellectual curiosity and caliber willing to take on the challenge.

Congratulations on your scholarship, Caleb, and we look forward to seeing all that is ahead in your career of public service.

Remembering Charles Chestnut III

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a beloved and invaluable neighbor who will always be remembered in our community for his servant leadership, selflessness, and good will to all.

Charles Chestnut III was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend. As a young man, he served in the U.S. Army and attended Bethune-Cookman University and the Eckels School of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia.

After returning home to Gainesville, he was elected to the Alachua County school board and worked for 16 years to represent all students and families.

He was the first Black Alachua County school board member and went on to become a commissioner for the Board of Alachua County Commissioners. He was also recognized as a talented businessman, operating Chestnut Funeral Home for over six decades.

In addition to his impressive career, he led the Alachua County NAACP Youth Council and was an active member in the Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church of Gainesville.

He was a staunch advocate of civil rights, a believer in education, and a friend to all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Mr. Chestnut was married to Gainesville City Commissioner Cynthia Moore Chestnut for more than 45 years and was the father to six children: Alachua County Commissioner Charles ``Chuck'' Chestnut IV, local businessman and attorney Christopher Chestnut, and daughters Pamela, Janice, Tia, and Candace.

I thank him for his service to our country and our community. I am so grateful for the example that he set for generations to come. He will be missed.

Congratulating Susan Crowley

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank and congratulate my friend Susan Crowley on her retirement from the University of Florida.

Ms. Crowley retired in January from her role as assistant vice president for community relations after an impressive 17 years serving the Gator Nation.

Her efforts to connect Alachua County and the university were felt across the last two decades and will undoubtedly impact future Gators.

She has fostered a community of service and connection through her two signature programs, ``Discovery Breakfasts,'' of which I have attended many,

and ``Gators Volunteer,'' also a program I have been a part of. These programs have educated, connected, and served our neighbors in the greater Gainesville area, connecting UF students with surrounding communities.

Susan also served as a point of contact and liaison between the University of Florida, local chambers of commerce, and local governments, and has spearheaded fundraisers for keystone organizations.

She has helped raise millions of dollars for organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Florida, Florida Wildlife Care, and the Lupus Foundation of America. She has also spearheaded the UF Campaign for Charities, an annual $1 million giving effort.

Susan, your impact has been monumental in bettering the lives of our neighbors in north-central Florida. Thank you for everything that you have done, and we hope that you enjoy your well-earned retirement. Of course, Go Gators.

Honoring the Life of Joseph Fricks

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of Joseph Eugene Fricks of Ocala, Florida, who passed away in December 2023.

Joe was a gifted aviator and a treasured family man. During his life, Joe had the honor of serving on the flight deck and transporting the Presidential press corps during the Presidencies of Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush Sr., and Clinton.

Later in life, Joe proudly flew countless American troops home from the Middle East while transporting critical equipment and supplies.

Whether it was fundraising by piloting airplanes at local air shows, transporting the Presidential press corps, or volunteering to clean the bathrooms every Sunday after Mass at Ocala's Blessed Trinity Church, he continued giving until the very end.

He was considered an expert and an authority among his peers, a smiling face to his neighbors, a daddy to his children, and a loving pa to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His family, friends, and community miss him dearly.

Joe, you will be sincerely missed. Thank you for your service.

Recognizing UF Provost Scott Angle

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Scott Angle, the University of Florida's newest provost, appointed by President Ben Sasse.

An author of over 300 scientific publications and holder of seven patents, Dr. Angle's knowledge is unparalleled.

During his time as a professor with UF/IFAS, Dr. Angle's areas of expertise included management of natural resources, food sciences, soil sciences, and more.

He most recently served as the senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources before transitioning to his role as current provost.

As vice president of IFAS, he undoubtedly made the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences a center of excellence and actively strived to improve the education of each and every student.

In this role, he promised an immersive education, and he certainly delivered. His mentorship and example encouraged students to immerse themselves in internships, study abroad experiences, professional internships, competitive teams, leadership development, the ambassador's program, and the Leadership Institute.

Of course, a first-rate university like UF would only have a first- rate leader such as Dr. Scott Angle in the position of leadership to guide the next few years of this top five public university.

Congratulations on your new and exciting role at the University of Florida, Dr. Angle. It is such an honor to know you and to have worked with you over the years. I have no doubt that you will continue to do amazing things. As always, it is great to be a Florida Gator.

Honoring the Life of Ward Scott

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a titan in conservative politics and thought in north-central Florida, Mr. Ward Scott.

Ward graduated with a bachelor's of arts in English in 1966 and a master's of education in 1969 from the University of Florida.

After his studies, he became a long-time Santa Fe College English instructor, from 1969 until 2007. He served as president of the college senate for multiple years in the early 2000s.

He returned to Santa Fe as a professor emeritus in 2008 and received the Santa Fe Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

Ward served the public in a variety of ways over the years, including on the city of Alachua's Affordable Housing Committee, the Economic Advisory Committee, and the Weed and Seed Grant Committee.

He also served on the Alachua County Rural Concerns Advisory Committee and, in 2009, as the city of Archer's interim city manager.

He was an avid tennis player, skier, and supporter of the arts. Most recently, in his retirement, Ward hosted the ``Ward Scott Files,'' a podcast/live show that he broadcast on Facebook to discuss local, State, and national issues.

I was honored to join his show on a number of occasions after my election to Congress, and it was always wonderful to talk with him and hear his passion for our country and the issues that mattered the most to him.

His loss is one that we will feel for a long time in our Gainesville community, and we send our condolences to Ward's wife, Barbara, and his family. His legacy will surely live on with those who had the honor of knowing him.

Rest in peace, Ward. We will miss you.

Honoring the Life and Memory of Roger West

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life and memory of Mr. Roger West, who passed away peacefully at home last month. He fought against a recent reoccurrence of lung cancer with great courage.

Roger would say that he was a cattle rancher his entire life, learning about raising cattle from his grandfather in Polk County, Florida. He was the first in his family to attend college at the University of Florida, where he focused his studies on the cattle industry and agri-science research.

While at UF, he met fellow Gator Ellen from Miami, who would later become his wife.

Roger earned a bachelor's and master of science in animal science and later moved his young family to College Station, Texas, to attend Texas A&M University for his PhD in meat science and muscle biology.

The West family then returned to Gainesville and UF shortly thereafter where Roger taught and did research before becoming a professor in 1983.

After 20 years on the UF faculty, Roger retired as a professor emeritus in 2003 and spent his retirement doing what he loved most: spending time with his family and developing his cattle ranch.

Roger served the ag community in Florida with gusto, serving with the American Meat Association, the USDA, NCBA, the Florida Cattlemen's Association, and the Florida Farm Bureau. He proudly supported FFA and young students interested in ranching and agriculture in the Sunshine State.

Dr. West was an amazing husband, father, and friend to so many. I certainly considered him a friend of mine. His legacy will certainly live on in those who had the honor of knowing and working alongside him. He will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chris and Ania Wakeman, the owners of Blackwater Restaurant in Yankeetown, Florida.

Now, for those unfamiliar, Yankeetown is a very small town on the banks of the Withlacoochee River in north Florida. It is pretty rural. While it is just a small town to some, the Yankeetown community has always rallied in ways that many cannot imagine during times of need.

Hurricane Idalia was no different.

Last August, when power was still not yet restored and residents were working to pick up the pieces and survey the damage to their homes and businesses--heck, while many of their homes and businesses were still underwater--Chris and Ania opened their restaurant to anyone who needed a

meal or a place to spend time over the next couple days.

While they were in no way obligated to serve their community, they stepped up to support their neighbors out of the kindness of their hearts, expecting nothing in return. They demonstrate the best of Florida's Third Congressional District and remind me why I am so terribly proud of our region and our district, especially our resiliency in the face of a natural disaster of this magnitude.

On behalf of Florida's Third Congressional District, I thank the Wakemans for embodying the spirit of service that we all strive to represent. We are grateful for everything that you do and the example that you set for others in the Sunshine State.

Hawthorne High School Football Team

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Hawthorne Hornets on their State championship title in the 2023 Class 1R. With a 22-13 defeat of Madison County, the Hornets took home the top spot in the class.

The Hornets' varsity football team won 13 games in their season before going on to the State tournament where they won for a second year in a row.

Their coach, Cornelius Ingram, a previous football player for the University of Florida and the NFL, turned the program around for the past few years and has led his student athletes to a series of impressive wins. In the wise words of Vince Lombardi: ``The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.''

These young men gave it their absolute best and have made their high school, their community, and our Congressional District so incredibly proud over these past 2 years.

Congratulations to the Hawthorne Hornets and to Coach Ingram for taking home the football State championship. Go Hornets.

Bradford High School Football Team

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Bradford Tornadoes on their State qualifying football team.

This varsity football team coached by Jamie Rogers won 14 games before going on to the State tournament where they played their absolute best and showed their school spirit.

Bradford High School and the surrounding community is so proud of this football team and their hard work. I know I am.

Congratulations again to this amazing team of talented young men on an outstanding season. Go Tornadoes.

K9 Leo

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the bravery and heroism of downed K9 deputy K9 Leo, a beloved member of the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

K9 Leo was shot on Saturday, February 17, and died from his injuries on Tuesday, February 20. K9 Leo and his handler were responding to a battery and strangulation call when the suspect at the scene fired shots at K9 Leo and other law enforcement officers.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office transported Leo to the University of Florida's emergency veterinary clinic where he was treated, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

Paying the ultimate price, K9 Leo did exactly what he was trained to do: serve and protect.

My thoughts and prayers are with his handler, Corporal Justin Tortora, the Marion County Sheriff's Office, and the Ocala and Marion County communities.

K9 Leo won't soon be forgotten, and we know that his legacy and superior training will be passed on to the next generation of law enforcement K9s in Marion County and in the Sunshine State.

Rest in peace, K9 Leo. We have got the watch.

The Villages Wood Shop

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank The Villages' Woodworkers Club.

For over a decade, these carpenters have been working to provide their community with handcrafted toys and other wooden products, including urns for our veterans.

What began as a small group of people making Christmas toys for children in Florida's Third Congressional District grew into what is now an organization of more than 1,400 people making more than 6,000 toys a year.

While these woodworkers deliver Christmas joy throughout the holiday season, they also play an important role during other times of the year out of respect for our veterans in need of a dignified burial.

All too often our veterans are forgotten when they return home, and this, sadly, is no different when they pass away. Inspired to provide beautifully made urns for veterans who do not have family or the financial means to afford funeral costs, our Village carpenters give veterans a beautiful--and a final--resting place.

The Villages' Woodworkers Club works closely with six cemeteries in north central Florida to ensure that each cemetery always has 10 urns on hand. They have also donated 50 urns to the Missing in America Project.

These patriots have selflessly given their time, expertise, and craftsmanship to ensure that our veterans are remembered and respected.

I thank them for taking care of our own. We certainly are grateful for their service.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 8 o'clock and 38 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, today, we take a stand against the Chinese Communist Party and their efforts to turn content creators in America into foot soldiers for the CCP.

We aren't banning a company, as the highest paid lobbyist for ByteDance, which is owned by China, would lead you to believe. We aren't infringing on constitutionally protected speech or growing the size of government.

All we are saying is break up with the Chinese Communist Party. As a constitutional conservative, I don't want my government or Big Tech to have unfettered access to my private data, so why in the hell would we want and allow the Chinese Communist Party to have access to our private data?

The CCP is an adversary of the United States, and this legislation narrowly, thoughtfully, and directly addresses the national security threat and protects Americans' data and, by extension, their First Amendment rights, because let us not pretend for one second that TikTok is not infringing on our First Amendment rights.

I would say, as Representative Roy from Texas said, this bill is about conduct, not content.

There is no restriction mentioned on content in this bill.

But I will mention, Mr. Speaker, that the espionage is not covered or protected as one of the five tenets of the First Amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I was delayed for this vote while in a classified hearing

for the Energy & Commerce Committee. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 66, H.R. 7511.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7176, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024. This bill is a pivotal piece of legislation that would bolster United States energy security, foster economic growth, and promote environmental sustainability.

At its core, this bill would streamline the regulatory process for LNG exports and unleash the full potential of America's abundant natural gas resources. This bill reverses the disastrous Biden administration's extreme liquefied gas export permit ban.

I know how much the left loves that word, ``extreme.'' They are the very definition of it.

This bill also presents a strategic opportunity for the United States to fortify its energy independence. By facilitating the exportation of LNG, we reduce our reliance on foreign energy sources, mitigate geopolitical risks, and improve U.S. national security.

The bill creates new jobs, stimulates investment in energy infrastructure, and fosters innovation across related industries. Increasing LNG exports will expand markets, bolster domestic production, and increase economic growth.

This bill would also provide cleaner, more environmentally friendly energy options for our partners and our allies, and it is important that they know where we stand and that they can depend on and trust us during these times.

This bill also supports global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while increasing global energy security.

My home State of Florida plays a pivotal role in the broader landscape of U.S. LNG exports, with JAXPORT serving as a hub for LNG expansion and development. JAXPORT is the only port on the East Coast to offer on-dock and near-dock LNG fueling capabilities.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues who care about national security to get on board with this bill.