Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 1238 and H.R. 9535.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize an outstanding Hoosier whose dedication to our country did not end when he took off the uniform.

This week, I will have the honor of welcoming Evansville Army veteran Ken Eppler and his lovely wife, Cathy, to my congressional office here at the United States Capitol.

Following his service to our Nation, Ken found great happiness in his incredible talent as a painter. He graciously lent me one of his beautiful paintings, The Enduring Spirit to display here in the Halls of Congress in honor of America's 250th anniversary.

Ken served our Nation with honor in the United States Army, earning both Airborne and Air Assault qualifications before serving with the 101st Airborne Division during the Gulf war.

He later continued his service in the Indiana National Guard and has made us all proud as a defender of our country and a wonderful member of our community. His commitment to our Nation is reflected not only in his military service, but also in the remarkable artwork he continues to create.

The Enduring Spirit depicts three colonial children standing together playing the fife and drum while proudly holding an American 250 flag. To me, this patriotic painting is a powerful reminder that the ideals of freedom and love of country are passed from one generation down to the next. It is a privilege to display his incredible artwork for my colleagues and all who visit Washington, especially those Hoosiers coming to our Nation's Capital.

Ken has said that he hopes his artwork inspires students to love our country and encourages young people to learn more about our Nation's great history. I cannot think of a better message to share with the myriads of people who travel to Washington and visit our country's Capital.

Indiana's Eighth District is proud to call Ken Eppler one of our own, and I am honored to display his beautiful artwork which I think reflects the very best of Hoosier and American patriotism.

Congratulating Evansville Mater Dei Wildcats Baseball Victory

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Mater Dei Wildcats for winning the 2026 Indiana High School Athletic Association Class 2-A baseball State championship.

In a thrilling 6-3 victory in the final game, the Wildcats captured their second baseball State championship in school history, the last one being back in 1991.

I also want to recognize first-year Head Coach Adam Wildeman whose leadership led the Wildcats to 15 consecutive victories, delivering another championship back to Evansville. This victory is a proud moment for Evansville, Vanderburgh County, and all of Indiana's Eighth Congressional District.

Congratulations, once again, to the Mater Dei Wildcats.

Congratulating the Barr-Reeve Vikings Softball Victory

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Barr-Reeve Vikings softball team on winning the 2026 Indiana High School Athletic Association Class 1-A State softball championship, their first State softball championship in school history.

With a dominant 6-0 victory in their final game, the Vikings had an outstanding season with 32 wins and only one loss, cementing their names in the Hoosier athletic history books.

This championship is the result of years of hard work and great perseverance. A great job was done by Head Coach Josh Huff, whose leadership inspired the discipline these athletes put forth to bring home this victory.

Congratulations to the Barr-Reeve Vikings for making all of us proud in Daviess County and throughout the Eighth District, and may they enjoy their well-deserved summer vacation.

Congratulating Tecumseh Braves Softball Victory

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Tecumseh Braves softball team on bringing home the 2026 Indiana High School Athletic Association Class 2-A softball State championship.

This marks the fourth State championship title the Braves have captured in the last 5 years and the seventh in the program's history.

What an extraordinary achievement, reflecting incredible amounts of hard work, discipline, and a great commitment to their teammates and their sport.

Year after year, the Tecumseh Braves have set the standard for excellence, as their many big wins show.

Thanks to Head Coach Gordon Wood, whose outstanding leadership has helped establish Tecumseh as one of Indiana's premier softball programs.

Way to make all of us in Warrick County proud. I congratulate them all.

Congratulations to the Jasper Wildcats Girls' Tennis Victory

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Jasper Wildcats girls' tennis doubles team of Adaysha Smiley and Stella Knies for winning the 2026 Indiana High School Athletic Association girls' tennis doubles State championship.

In a hard-fought straight-set victory, the doubles team captured the State title, capping off an outstanding season. Hats off to these two athletes for their prowess and sportsmanship throughout the year, which makes this big win all the more sweet for the Wildcats and the fans.

I also want to give a shout-out to Head Coach Scott Yarbrough, whose outstanding leadership has, once again, guided the Wildcats to another State championship. All of Dubois County is proud of this tennis team and these special young ladies for their impressive victory.

I congratulate, once again, the Jasper Wildcats girls' tennis team.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Stop Child Care Scams Act, which provides a commonsense path toward preventing the rampant waste, fraud, and abuse in our Federal childcare support programs.

Every year, nearly 2 million children receive State and Federal Child Care and Development Block Grant subsidies totaling over $8 billion. These childcare assistance programs allow lower income parents to stay in the workforce so they can create their own economic independence and contribute to the economic development in their communities.

Under the current program requirements, States are supposed to submit a report detailing any errors that are discovered in the administration of the CCDBG grant fund distributions.

Mistakes are not unusual given the changing nature of childcare, but because there is no penalty, the reporting of fraudulent payments is often ignored.

That is why I am pleased that my Child Care Payment Integrity and Fraud Accountability Act is included in today's bill. It requires that States clearly account for any improper payments that have been made so that Americans can see exactly how their money is being spent and leaders can manage what improvements are needed to best safeguard taxpayer dollars.

Preventing fraud and protecting our citizens' hard-earned money is one of the most important things we should be doing in Congress. Americans deserve an end to the waste, fraud, and abuse poisoning our country. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2616, the Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act. Hoosier families in southern Indiana and across this great Nation deserve to be in full control of how they guide and raise their most precious gift from God, their beloved children.

American parents must be aware and have great faith in the partnership between themselves and those teaching and counseling their impressionable child.

The Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids legislation takes an important step in restoring any trust that has been broken by ensuring that parents are notified and involved in important school-based decisions affecting their children.

This bill also increases accountability for any kind of information withholding and it puts an end to any mind control efforts that are intended to force radical and ideological viewpoints inside the classroom.

At the end of the day, we all believe that a loving parent knows best how to raise their own child, and this bill reaffirms that uncontroversial principle.

I thank Chairman Walberg and Subcommittee Chairman Owens for advancing this legislation that puts families and children first.

Mr. Speaker, for the sake of parental rights of Hoosiers in Indiana and the rights of schoolchildren across this great country, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, we all know that farmers are facing high input costs and that commodity prices are too low. Today, I stand here in support of a policy that will bring about a sustainable solution.

The Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act is not an agriculture assistance package. It is not a mandate. Retailers have a choice. It is not an emergency payment.

This bill delivers cost savings at the pump for U.S. consumers with a promise of stability for small refiners and guaranteed profitability for the next generation of American farmers.

Don't just take it from me. Consider the appeal from hundreds of companies, manufacturers, and producer cooperatives that are pleading for this program.

The hardworking American farmer deserves certainty, and this bill delivers just that.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in investing in America's farm families, in agricultural businesses, and in our beloved rural communities by supporting this important legislation.

Mr. Chair, I stand today in strong support of the bipartisan Farm, Food, and National Security Act.

This bill expands access to nearly 2,000 new demand streams for corn, soy, and farm waste through the BioPreferred Program.

The 2026 farm bill also marks an end to consumer transparency issues and preserves value-added labeling for bioproducts that use American- grown farm products. In other words, this program serves as a demand driver for farmers in Indiana and across the country.

Nationally, the bio-based products industry contributes $489 billion to the U.S. economy and drives nearly 40 percent of the demand for U.S.-grown ag products.

The 2026 farm bill reaches farmers in a moment of great need and addresses concerns surrounding market access, input costs, farm succession, and economic viability in rural America.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting American farmers by voting in favor of this American farm bill.

Mr. Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about something very important to me, my family, and the majority of Hoosiers in Indiana's Eighth District: the protection of the unborn and the 2026 March for Life.

As a devout Catholic, I am grateful that from my position in Congress, I can support legislation that protects the defenseless unborn and can stand up for their God-given right to survive, a gift that truly should only be endowed upon any of us by the grace of our creator.

It is truly inspiring to witness the multitudes of Americans who journey from far distances across this great country to attend the march.

In my role in the House of Representatives, I am a reliable vote for the pro-life community and have been able to sponsor many pieces of legislation that provide for the needs of pregnant mothers and the life they are carrying in the womb.

I am honored to celebrate each person participating in this year's march, and I am grateful to be in the position to support the hopes of every Hoosier and American devoted to the sanctity of life.

It is my great privilege and fervent promise that I will never give up fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an issue affecting both families and businesses in Indiana and across the United States, which is the expensive, but essential, financial support workers need to provide care for their young children and elderly parents.

Current law discourages employers from helping their workers pay for onsite childcare or elderly dependent care because of the unreasonable pay calculations that increase costs and burdensome regulations for the company.

This guidance is so outdated. It was enacted in 1938, and we all know things have come a long way since then when families did not use daycare services for their little ones and elderly parents lived with their adult children until death.

The current mandates of the Fair Labor Standards Act related to dependent care drive up costs for businesses through unreasonable pay calculations.

These expensive requirements naturally remove the incentive for many companies to provide this important coverage for their employees. It is high time we eradicate this unwarranted red tape and let businesses invest in the needs of their employees without punishing the company for doing just that.

That is why I introduced the Empowering Employer Child and Elder Care Solutions Act. Hoosiers and all Americans must not be forced to choose between caring for a loved one and working outside of the home.

Businesses deserve to be profitable but are also entitled to have the most qualified workers to support their company's growth. A company must be rewarded and not penalized for making critical benefits available to their employees, which, in turn, helps the company recruit the best and the brightest to their workforce.

The Empowering Employer Child and Elder Care Solutions Act lowers costs, cuts red tape, and better serves American companies by making profamily benefits achievable. Passing this legislation contributes to our goal of returning affordability to the American people and the U.S. workforce.

The American taxpayer needs our help now more than ever to get our economy back on track, and this bill will be one small step in making that dream a reality.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his support on H.R. 2270.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a Hoosier leader and a man whose service to our community has had a great impact on all of Indiana and the healthcare industry of our country. After 34 fruitful years, Mr. Rob McLin will retire in January from Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Indiana, the hospital in which he was born.

Over the years, Rob has shown great leadership at every level he has worked, including 15 years as president and CEO.

His tenure brought some of the most transformative advancements in Good Samaritan history, including the Beacon Project, the Gibault Memorial Tower construction, implementation of the Epic medical records system, creation of the hospital's EMS program, expansion of the Family Health Center, and establishment of a residency program that now educates new physicians in southern Indiana.

Rob has led the hospital through immense challenges, including the disastrous COVID-19 pandemic. He is a well-respected healthcare advocate, having served as the chair of the Indiana Hospital Association in 2020; and this year receiving the distinguished service award, which is one of the highest honors in Indiana healthcare.

Rob retires, leaving not only his many accomplishments but also a legacy of compassion, excellence, and commitment to the people who he served. I congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement and wish him many happy adventures with his wife, Angela, and their children and grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Rob for his great service to our community.

Honoring Rockport Elementary School Students

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary group of young, Eighth District Hoosier artists from Indiana's Rockport Elementary School whose handmade Christmas ornaments are beautifully representing our great State at this year's National Christmas Tree Lighting Festival.

Each year, students from across the country are chosen to design Christmas tree ornaments that reflect the beauty and character of their home State.

This year, Rockport Elementary students in my district created wonderful ornaments that celebrate the spirit of Indiana, with some ornaments honoring our proud agricultural heritage and others displaying our State bird, the ruby red northern cardinal; and our State flower, the elegant peony.

Their artwork showcases everything from the Indy 500 race to our perpetual rolling cornfields and even pays tribute to Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home. These students just didn't create decorations, but they captured the spirit of our Hoosier State for the whole Nation to admire.

When I landed in Washington, D.C., this week, I went straight from the airport to visit our special State tree nearby the White House Christmas tree. I was so proud to see the artistry of our students, and I am inspired by their talent and creativity.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate every student who contributed to this wonderful display, as well as the teachers and families who encouraged their education and talents. Rockport Elementary has made Indiana proud, and I am honored to recognize their achievements here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Danielle Chrysler for her distinguished career of service to the State of Indiana, our Nation, and the United States Army National Guard.

Lieutenant Colonel Chrysler most recently served as the Army Congressional Branch Chief at the National Guard Bureau, where she was the principal Congressional Liaison for the Director of the Army National Guard. In this capacity, she brought to bear more than three decades of experience in government affairs, defense policy, and cyber policy.

Her military career spans 15 years in the Indiana Army National Guard, including command of the 215th Area Support Medical

Company and a deployment with the 38th Infantry Division, where she served as Executive Officer to the Commanding General. Prior to her most recent role, Lieutenant Colonel Chrysler served four years in Joint and Army Congressional Affairs at the National Guard Bureau, strengthening the relationship between Congress and our Citizen- Soldiers.

In addition to her military service, Lieutenant Colonel Chrysler has held a series of senior civilian leadership roles in Indiana. She served as Executive Director of the Indiana Office of Defense Development, as Chief Operating Officer and President of the National Center for Complex Operations, and earlier as Chief of Staff to Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman. She also served as Legislative Director for Governor Mitch Daniels, where she was instrumental in advancing major initiatives on property tax reform, transportation infrastructure, and benefits for Hoosier veterans.

Mr. Speaker, Lieutenant Colonel Chrysler's career reflects a lifetime of commitment to service, leadership, and excellence. She has dedicated herself to strengthening our national defense, advancing Indiana's role in critical policy areas, and ensuring that the National Guard remains prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Lieutenant Colonel Danielle Chrysler for her outstanding service to Indiana and to the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the massive benefits that my constituents in Indiana and all Americans will reap thanks to the passage of the working families tax cuts.

I am so pleased we are able to put hardworking taxpayer dollars back into the pockets of deserving Americans. Mr. Speaker, because of this important legislation, the critical savings they will now receive can be poured back into the economy to fuel it and get our country's fiscal health back on track.

At home in Indiana's Eighth Congressional District, more than 80,000 Hoosier families have been protected from losing half of the child tax credits. Thanks to the death tax exemption, Hoosier farmers can pass their family-owned farms down to their children without losing most of it to the IRS.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to more opportunities to deliver tax relief and eliminate waste and fraud for my constituents so they can survive and continue raising their families in the greatest country in the world. May God bless Indiana, and may God bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mead Johnson, a global leader in science-backed pediatric nutrition, as they celebrate 120 years of leadership and innovation in the field. Mead Johnson's flagship manufacturing and R&D center was created in Evansville over 100 years ago and still stands as one of the largest manufacturing facilities for infant formulas.

The Mead Johnson story began with the founder, Edward Mead Johnson and his son, who was born with a condition that made it difficult for him to digest his feedings. He worked with Dr. Abraham Jacobi, known as the father of American pediatrics, to create the first scientifically- based infant formula that saved his son's life. Since then, Mead Johnson has become a world leader with a mission to nourish the world's children for the best start in life. Mead's dextri-maltose was the first clinically supported infant feed product in the U.S. Today, the Enfamil family of formulas developed in Evansville support infant nutrition across the globe, and Enfamil is the top infant formula brand recommended by pediatricians in the U.S.

Mead Johnson has hired thousands of people in and around Evansville throughout their history and currently employs nearly 800 employees working across 25 departments. Nearly 20 percent of their employees have been with the company for 15 or more years, showing how much people value being a part of the Mead Johnson mission. Mead's R&D strength comes from a deep bench of diverse experts working across disciplines to advance infant nutrition.

New scientific discoveries made in Evansville have allowed Mead Johnson to innovate and evolve their products. One of the heritage innovations is the addition of DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid that is critical for infant brain and eye development. Mead Johnson was the first in the U.S. to introduce DHA into infant formula in 2002 which is now widely recognized as a standard of care in infant nutrition. I commend Mead Johnson and the important work their team accomplishes in advancing pediatric nutrition and nourishing the world's children, starting in Southern Indiana.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the CLARITY Act.

America's innovative ecosystem has made our Nation an investment magnet and development hub, but thus far, our regulatory system has failed the digital assets industry. Under the current framework, fraudsters go unpunished, consumers remain unprotected, and the best and brightest minds in the industry have picked up and left for other countries.

The CLARITY Act finally establishes distinct jurisdictional boundaries between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, while also creating guardrails to incentivize and safeguard investment.

The bill not only expands opportunities for Wall Street and Silicon Valley, but it also provides great opportunities for Hoosier farmers by opening a new frontier for rural innovators and expanding access to capital in agricultural communities.

The digital asset markets are in dire need of regulation, and the CLARITY Act is the solution. I look forward to witnessing a new era of economic prosperity and technological advancement that this bill will bring to America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to give my personal congratulations to the Jasper Indiana High School Girls' Tennis team for becoming the IHSAA State finals champions.

In the stunning final four match, our Wildcats won 4-1, earning the girls' tennis team their first ever State title, and the first State title for any girls' sports team at Jasper High School.

Thanks to these great athletes for showing the world their formidable Hoosier/Jasper spirit.

Congratulations again to the Wildcats and to their head Coach Scott Yarbrough, who led this great group to their historic win.

They make us all proud.