Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is hard to put into words how I am feeling.

On one hand, I feel the heaviness and sadness that hundreds of thousands of students like my sons are feeling because they know that Charlie Kirk, an inspiring American, was assassinated for standing for his faith, exercising his First Amendment rights, and engaging in open and honest debate.

On the other hand, I feel enraged because some Americans celebrated at the news of Charlie's murder. If that was you, shame on you.

I am sick and tired of this evil.

Today is 9/11. Instead of remembering the evil attack on our country that day 24 years ago, we are now talking about another tragedy fueled by the same kind of hate. It is the same hate that assassinated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Like Dr. King, Charlie was shot because he passionately and courageously spoke truth and invoked generational change in our Nation. They both dreamed of a better America for all, no matter their politics or skin color.

Charlie loved his Savior, Jesus Christ, loved his family, loved his country, and loved his fellow Americans. He believed that through honest conversation, the best ideas could win.

Charlie's vision for America inspired millions. Evil has killed him as a human, but watch out. Thousands of Charlies are already ready to stand for their faith, raise their families, and face down evil that has raised its head again in our country.

Mr. Speaker, may our Lord comfort the Kirk family and use Charlie's legacy to heal our land.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Carroll High School for their accomplishments in teaching future generations of leaders.

As President Trump has highlighted, Indiana does education right, and Carroll High School is no exception. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Carroll High School as the number one high school in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and number 15 in the State.

Carroll has demonstrated their high standards through excellent performance on State-required tests, a 95 percent graduation rate, and exceeding expectations for college readiness.

In high school, students learn more than just math and chemistry equations. Rather, students build their work ethic, establish critical thinking skills, and learn what it means to be a citizen of our great country. Teachers are endowed with educating our students, which is why I am incredibly thankful to all the educators at Carroll High School for carrying out this mission. Their dedication to teaching Fort Wayne's next generation of leaders is incredible, and our community is extremely appreciative.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Carroll High School on this accomplishment, and I am excited to see the future achievements of Carroll High School students.

Mr. Speaker, this week marks 6 months of the America First leadership under President Trump Donald Trump.

He has had innumerable accomplishments over the first half of this year and has kicked off a new golden age for our country. His strong leadership has single-handedly added over half a million jobs to the U.S. economy. Many of these jobs came back to my home State of Indiana, like the announcement from General Motors about increasing its production in the Fort Wayne truck plant.

He has brought gas prices to their lowest point since 2021 by unleashing American energy independence.

Outside of the economic impacts that have saved money for everyday Americans, President Trump has kept his commitment to protect American children and families by halting so-called gender-affirming care for children in this country.

As another testament to his impressive pace, President Trump has also signed 27 bills into law, the greatest of which, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, delivers tax cuts to American families, solidifies funding for America's Golden Dome, and defunded Planned Parenthood.

Over the past 6 months, President Trump has delivered on his promise to restore America's strength and dominance, and I look forward to continuing the fight with President Trump leading the way to ensure America's golden age lasts for decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary American who has resided for over 70 years in Indiana's 3rd District, Mrs. Stephanie Papagiannis, as she celebrates her 100th birthday on July 25, 2025. a century marked by perseverance, family, faith, and an enduring love for this country.

Born in 1925 in the village of Vishini now known as Vissinia. Stephanie grew up amid the political and cultural upheaval of Greek- occupied Macedonia. She witnessed firsthand the efforts to erase the language and customs of the native Macedonian people, yet she never lost her sense of identity or resilience.

In 1952, with incredible courage and hope, Stephanie left behind a war-torn Europe and emigrated to the United States with her young son, James, to reunite with her husband Peter in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Together, they built a new life grounded in hard work, community, and opportunity. The couple raised three children, and today, their family has grown including five grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

Stephanie and Peter contributed meaningfully to the local community, opening two highly regarded establishments; the Pontiac Rib Bar and Pete's Gateview Inn. Their restaurants were not just businesses they were gathering places that embodied their warmth and entrepreneurial spirit.

A proud member of Fort Wayne's Macedonian American community, Stephanie maintained strong ties to her heritage and faith through St. Nicholas Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral, founded by her relatives. Her life has served as a bridge between generations and is inspiring to all.

Mr. Speaker, as Mrs. Papagiannis celebrates her centennial surrounded by loved ones, we pay tribute to a remarkable woman whose story represents the very best of the American immigrant experience who lived the American dream. May her legacy continue to inspire, and may her next chapter be filled with joy and peace.

Mr. Speaker, I thank our Financial Services chairman for his leadership on a really important issue that is going to affect many generations ahead of us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act.

Our Founding Fathers were clear that Congress, not the executive branch, has the power to coin money and regulate its value.

Yet, in 2022, the Biden administration issued an executive order that placed the highest urgency on the research and development of a central bank digital currency, a so-called digital dollar.

Under the wrong circumstances, this technology could allow the Federal Government unfettered access into the wallets of every American, putting privacy and freedom at risk.

Unfortunately, Americans know all too well how far some administrations are willing to go to intrude into our lives. We all saw how the Biden administration ruthlessly pressured social media platforms to silence the voices of Americans who criticized their disastrous COVID-19 policies.

We saw this same ideology taken to the extreme when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau froze the bank accounts of Canadians who dared to protest his government during the pandemic.

Now, imagine if the Federal Government could see where we spend our hard-earned paychecks, track our charitable donations, or even cut off access to our own money if it disapproves of our beliefs.

Any digital dollar must reflect our values of privacy and our First Amendment rights. This bill ensures our digital assets policy is in the hands of the American people, not the administrative state. It protects our values of privacy, individual freedom, and free market innovation by prohibiting a CBDC surveillance tool that could be wielded against the American way of life.

I am proud to be a cosponsor of this important legislation, and I thank Whip Emmer and Chairman Hill for their outstanding leadership on this important issue.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Angola, Indiana's, Trine University women's softball team on winning the 2025 NCAA Division III softball championship. Under the leadership of head coach Donnie Danklefsen, the Thunder gave the championship game their all.

This game was a nail-biter, as the team was down by one run throughout most of the game. On top of that, the team's star pitcher, Alexis Michon, pitched the entire game despite an injury early on.

Even with this adversity, the team rallied together and kept their determination to win. Everything turned around for the Thunder in the sixth inning when Emma Lee crushed a three-

run homer and this team sailed to a 3-1 victory.

Trine University women's softball has continued to make Indiana's Third District proud, as this is their second national title in 3 years. Their perfect post-season is a testament to the hard work and talent of this team.

These women have set an example for all of us as to the achievements that are possible with unwavering dedication and strong leadership.

To the 2025 Trine University softball team, congratulations on this monumental accomplishment. I know each of you will continue to pursue excellence and set an example for others.

Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that Congress has a spending problem. We continue to spend taxpayer funds despite our $36 trillion debt. This level of debt is massive, equaling over $323,000 per taxpayer when split up among the taxpayers of this country.

If that wasn't bad enough, when we look at this spending, billions of taxpayer dollars are wasted on frivolous efforts to support programs that have no benefit to taxpayers themselves.

I was excited to see President Trump taking an unprecedented approach to curb excessive spending by our Federal agencies by establishing the Department of Government Efficiency. Since established, DOGE has illuminated the billions of dollars being drained on pointless projects that do nothing to help the American people.

For example, DOGE has exposed million-dollar contracts, including $3 million to support ``Sesame Street'' in Iraq and $6 million for net- zero cities in Mexico. Funding for USAID programs is also frequently going to NGOs that work to promote their liberal agenda in the most conservative parts of the world.

Just imagine $1 million going to one of the cities in our congressional districts and the impact that it could have there. It is a disgrace that Americans' hard-earned tax dollars are being used to support these programs and organizations under the guise of necessary foreign aid.

In addition to this, Congress continues to prop up the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to promote public media stations like PBS and NPR. Taxpayer dollars should not be used to promote a narrative that demonizes one side of the aisle or another. Yet, that is exactly what these media stations continue to do. NPR and PBS have continued to have an ideological bias, promoting things like critical race theory and the LGBTQ agenda.

From foreign aid to NPR, massive amounts of taxpayer dollars are wasted every day with little to no government oversight. Congress cannot continue to let blank checks go out the door without revisiting the way that these funds are used to help the American people.

This is why I am proud to support the rescissions package sent to Congress by President Trump. This package will claw back $9.4 billion of wasteful government spending, including $8.3 billion allocated to dozens of wasteful programs at USAID and $1.1 billion to prop up the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

This rescissions package is the first step in ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used to promote everyday Americans in very real ways.

I look forward to passing this first rescission package and look forward to continuing to support the work of President Trump and the DOGE team to identify and eliminate wasteful government spending.

End Misuse of Emergency Spending

Mr. Speaker, speaking of spending, outside of wasteful spending on international aid and public media, Congress has another problem contributing to the national debt: emergency spending.

Over one-third of our current national debt, about $12 trillion, can be attributed to emergency spending. This is an addiction that needs to be remedied. Shockingly, money used on emergency spending is rarely paid back and most is never used for actual emergencies.

For example, emergency spending during the COVID-19 pandemic spent $70 million on tourism marketing campaigns in Puerto Rico and another $6 million to replace irrigation systems at two golf courses. Other emergency spending bills have dished out $140 million for infrastructure improvements for Gulf Coast shipyards and $9.7 million for an assistance program to compensate eligible orchard tree losses.

We cannot continue to use emergency spending to fill gaps in funding that weren't properly appropriated to begin with. This spending not only contributes to the national debt but furthers a spiral of spending for the next fiscal year.

I am proud to have introduced my bill, the Emergency Spending Accountability Act, to correct this gross misuse of emergency spending.

My bill will ensure that every taxpayer dollar spent on emergency spending is fully paid back and accounted for over the following 5 years once the bill passes. Additionally, my bill would restore integrity to the term ``emergency spending'' by requiring committees to justify why these funds qualify as necessary, sudden, urgent, and unforeseen and are not permanent.

These provisions will help to put Congress back on track toward fiscal responsibility and prevent further abuses of this funding mechanism.

I thank all Members who support this legislation, and I am looking forward to seeing its progress through this body.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support for H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Despite the claims from our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, this bill will give huge benefits to everyday working Americans in all of our districts. This bill includes many tax benefits, including a made-in-America auto tax break, which will not only support American families trying to buy a car but will further support new jobs in manufacturing facilities like General Motors and Toyota in Indiana.

On top of this, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act supports building America's Golden Dome defense system, securing the homeland and bolstering America's capabilities that will start with the skilled workforce in my district in northeast Indiana.

This bill also puts money back into working Americans' pockets. It supports those who work tirelessly in restaurants and nurses and factory workers who work overtime to support their families by establishing no tax on tips and no tax on overtime.

This bill supports every American, from small business owners to hourly wage workers, and propels America's economic performance.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my thoughts on the dilemmas that we face here in Congress.

Watching what is happening not only here at home and here in Congress but also around the world, we have a great opportunity in front of us. We can be not only strong here at home, but we can also be strong abroad. President Trump is showing that as he travels today in the Middle East.

I just want to remind us all that we have threats around the world who are watching the United States on a daily basis.

I was recently over in Syria, and there was a great opportunity there that President Trump has addressed by lifting the sanctions on the Syrian people, but the Syrian people know that America can be trusted. Now, let's take that opportunity and help not only them, because that is going to help stabilize the region in the Middle East and it is going to help our ally, Israel, it is going to help our other allies who are participating in the Abraham Accords. I want to applaud President Trump for what he is doing.

However, to see how the people in the Middle East and others around the world who are there have respect for our President is refreshing, to know that they know he is going to do what he says he is going to do.

He is a strong leader. He is one who is willing to sit down and talk to anyone. He is not afraid to sit down and talk to anyone. He has the American people behind him. He has the American economy behind him.

Look at what he is doing with China right now, Mr. Speaker. We all know that China is the threat that we are concerned about the most. We also know that others around the world don't want to do business with China because of the way they operate. They manipulate their currency. They take advantage of their own people, and they don't respect the environmental standards that we do.

What President Trump is doing is truly remarkable. He is resetting the national stage, the global stage, for the United States of America and for the American people. The tariff policy that he has implemented is bringing people to the table.

People ask: Why are people wanting to talk to President Trump in the Middle East as he is there visiting?

They see how much they want to get his ear. It is because he has reset the table and said: The American people are going to be put first, no longer are we going to continue to supplement, subsidize, and let other countries take advantage of the American people.

So I applaud the President today.

The Budget

Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about our budget. We here in Congress have a greater opportunity and a responsibility to be sure that we move towards a balanced budget and reduce our debt and deficits.

I would encourage all of us, Republican and Democrats, to realize we are spending more money than what we make. Mr. Speaker, $1 trillion goes towards our interest each year. That means $1 trillion doesn't go towards helping the American people.

Also, we are in deficit spending. Trillions of dollars are going to the national debt. I was first elected to Congress in 2010. The debt was $9 trillion. In 2017, I left for a period of time, it

was $18 trillion. Now we are in 2025, and the national debt is $36 trillion of debt. That is going to be put on the backs not only of our children and grandchildren, but it is going to be put on the backs of us as Americans today.

Hardworking Americans are watching what we are doing. They are working hard.

Are we working hard for them?

We need to come to the table with this reconciliation package. I want everybody--we should all be at the table and realize that our healthcare costs are out of control. President Trump is already showing leadership on this. If the healthcare industry can't get its act together and lower the costs, then we are going to have to address it. It is no longer a free market in healthcare.

So I believe that we, as Congress, are going to have to start taking measures to be sure that the cost isn't just continually passed on to the American people and driving our debt further and further.

I would challenge the healthcare industry: Start doing it now; start lowering the cost.

We know healthcare costs in this country are out of control. Medicaid is the one that is now paying for it, and more and more people have been forced on to Medicaid. This goes back to ObamaCare. We were told by the Democrats that ObamaCare was going to fix our healthcare problems. Look where we are at today, Mr. Speaker. It is worse today than what it was back in 2008 and 2009 when ObamaCare was passed.

This is our opportunity to realize we have to cut spending in Washington. Let's make sure we take care of our men and women in uniform, but let's address the healthcare costs that are truly subjugating our Federal budget.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to talk on such an important issue that faces our country.

Our country has been ailing since 2020, but, thankfully, President Trump is back, along with Republicans in both the House and the Senate, and we are ready to govern responsibly.

The prescription that will help heal our country and get us back on track is the beautiful reconciliation bill that Republicans have been working on diligently to get to President Trump's desk. It cannot be overstated. Our debt crisis is out of control.

When I was first sworn into office in 2010, our Federal Government had $9 trillion of debt. When I left temporarily in 2017, despite our efforts to curb spending, it had doubled to $18 trillion of debt, and now today in 2025, we are staring down the barrel of $36 trillion of debt.

This is only going to hurt our children, grandchildren, and, frankly, it is going to hurt us today.

Republicans' big, beautiful bill was passed out of our Budget Committee just under 3 months ago and is already well on its way to being approved by this body by Memorial Day.

The legislation that committees are marking up this week and next is going

to usher in the new golden age of America by prioritizing a revolutionary, conservative agenda that will improve the efficiency of government and finally get a handle on runaway spending that has gone unchecked for far too long.

This bill is going to lower taxes. This bill is also going to increase border security and restore fiscal sanity back to the greatest country on Earth. Gone are the days of prioritizing wokeness, frivolous spending, and the leftist dream of open borders. Here to stay is a new era of putting America first.

The American people spoke loud and clear in November. They are ready for Washington to operate in a new patriotic and responsible way, and our reconciliation package is the first step in that direction.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of such a historic opportunity, and we as Republicans cannot let this opportunity slip by. I appreciate our Speaker and the leader in the Senate working together well and this body working together to make sure that our country is strong, not only for our generation but for generations to come, and continue to keep America great.

Mr. Speaker, President Trump, Indiana Governor Braun, and House Republicans in our first 100 days have worked in unison to make our communities safer, citizens healthier, and country wealthier.

It has started at the border. The Trump administration's swift and strong actions have caused illegal aliens to simply give up on crossing our borders illegally, proven by the 94 percent drop in apprehensions since March 2024.

These efforts have only been strengthened by Governor Braun sending the Indiana National Guard to the border and the House passage of the SAVE Act.

Governor Braun has made Indiana healthier by signing nine health- related executive orders, one of which addresses the same harmful food dyes and artificial ingredients that President Trump and the administration banned just this past week. This was accomplished while the House literally saved lives by securing medical protection for babies who survived attempted abortions.

Finally, the three have worked in unison in making our country wealthier by both executives implementing their own DOGE initiatives and the House working overtime to codify those cuts.

There is so much more I could mention, but the best of all of this is that it is just beginning.

Mr. Speaker, today, I somberly rise to recognize the tremendous life and career of the Honorable Judge Michael J. Kramer from Ligonier, Indiana.

Judge Kramer was a well-recognized titan of the judicial branch in the State and beyond. Prior to his sudden passing last month, he achieved the legendary feat of becoming the longest serving judge in Noble County history.

His many accomplishments include being named Distinguished Hoosier by former Governor Frank O'Bannon, being named Volunteer of the Year by Drug-Free Indiana, and becoming Advocate of the Year for the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America.

Michael was serving as the chair of Drug-Free Noble County and was a member and former president of the Noble County Bar Association at the time of his passing.

Noble County was lucky to have lived under the unbiased and truth- seeking gavel of Judge Kramer. He will be sorely missed by his surviving family and the community he loved so much.

Mr. Speaker, despite his unexpected passing, the institutions he helped form and the community he made safer will continue to honor his memory and legacy. The world can use more men like Judge Michael Kramer.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 89, and YEA on Roll Call No. 90.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his hard work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution disapproving of the rule submitted by the CFPB relating to overdraft lending very large financial institutions.

The CFPB's purpose is to implement and enforce consumer financial protection laws and ensure that consumers have access to financial services and products while ensuring fair, transparent, and competitive markets.

The overdraft lending rule issued by the CFPB instead harms consumers by setting government price caps on overdraft fees. Setting these caps and requiring large banks to lower their overdraft fees will force smaller and community banks to follow suit, resulting in less options for our constituents.

Overdraft fees are provided by banks for people who are caught in a bind. Hoosiers who need to make emergency payments should not be turned away at the register because this rule forced their bank to stop offering overdraft services. This government-created market established by the CFPB's overdraft lending rule ignores competition of banks and how they provide their services and pushes banks to restrict or exit this service.

Mr. Speaker, the former CFPB Director Chopra was not thinking about consumers when he implemented this midnight rule on his way out the door. I am proud that House Republicans and President Trump have the opportunity to right this egregious wrong implemented under the Biden administration.

These shouldn't be called fees. They should be called insurance for our constituents.

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

Madam Speaker, today, I rise to celebrate a remarkable milestone, the 100th anniversary of WOWO Radio in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a cherished cornerstone of communications and a beacon of conservative values.

Since its first broadcast on March 3l, 1925, WOWO Radio has been a steadfast source of news, entertainment, and community connection.

From being the first station to air a basketball game to becoming the conservative powerhouse we know today, WOWO has touched countless lives. In the process, WOWO Radio has been able to educate, inform, and encourage local communities.

I have had the privilege of being part of WOWO's story, featured weekly on Kayla Blakeslee's show and engaged in conversations that keep our community informed, as well as filling in for the great Pat Miller on the ``Pat Miller Program.''

I am proud to have introduced a resolution honoring WOWO's storied history alongside my counterparts, Senator Banks and Senator Young.

WOWO's mission has always been clear: serving its listeners with truth and integrity and fostering a vibrant, informed northeast Indiana.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize WOWO, the Voice of a Thousand Main Streets, for 100 extraordinary years. I congratulate WOWO Radio on a century of excellence.