Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable milestone for a cornerstone of faith and service in south Mississippi.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of Abundant Life Evangelistic Church in Biloxi, Mississippi. For more than three decades, this church has been more than a house of worship. It has been a place of hope, healing, and community for thousands of families on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Under the steadfast leadership of Bishop Jason Johnson and his wife, First Lady Kim Johnson, Abundant Life has grown into a vibrant congregation committed to spreading the Gospel of Christ and uplifting those in need.

From youth outreach to disaster relief and from mentoring programs to feeding the hungry, the church has never wavered in its mission to live out the love of Christ.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the entire church family for their 35 years of faithful service, and I pray for many more years of impact and growth.

God bless Abundant Life Evangelistic Church, and God bless the great State of Mississippi.

Madam Chairman, I rise today to support this legislation which was introduced by Chairman Graves along with myself and Ranking Members Larsen and Carbajal.

This bill supports the efforts of the Coast Guard to protect the United States' waters, interdict drugs, stop human trafficking, and promote maritime safety.

The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 authorizes funding for the Coast Guard through fiscal year 2029 and makes critical investments to enable the service to meet its growing mission demands.

As the Coast Guard works to implement the service's future vision of Force Design 2028 and procure new vessels, aircraft, and shoreside infrastructure with the historic investments made in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, this legislation includes accountability for those investments and modernizes the contracting process within the service.

As the Coast Guard looks to grow its forces, this legislation will support the Coast Guard's efforts to boost recruiting and retention while supporting President Trump's vision to strengthen the domestic maritime base and boost the pool of qualified United States merchant mariners who can mobilize during times of crisis to operate sealift assets.

The legislation also gives the service an important voice by establishing a Coast Guard service secretary, as envisioned in my legislation, H.R. 2546, the Secretary of the Coast Guard Act of 2025.

This measure also makes important reforms following the revelations of Operation Fouled Anchor, which was a report detailing improper handling of sexual assaults within the service. As a sheriff and a firsthand law enforcement officer, I have seen the harmful effects that happens to these victims.

I am pleased that the bill before us strengthens protections for members of the Coast Guard from sexual assault, provides support to victims, and increases transparency within the service about the manner in which such cases are handled.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the work of Chairman Graves on this legislation along with Ranking Member Larsen and Subcommittee Ranking Member Carbajal, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Master Sergeant James Edward (Jim) Garner, Jr., who passed on June 17, 2025, at the age of 88.

Born in Paulding, Mississippi in 1936, Jim served 27 years in the U.S. Army. He was deployed to places such as Korea, Vietnam, The Dominican Republic, Thailand, Cambodia, and more, retiring in 1980 as a Special Forces Master Sergeant.

He led operations under Colonel Charles Beckwith of Delta Force, and later taught ROTC at Marion Military Institute, where he created the school's first Orienteering Team.

His unmatched dedication is awarded and shown through his dozens of military honors and decorations.

Jim excelled at checkers and dominos, cooked delicious meals, loved outdoor pursuits, and kept a thriving garden.

He was known for being an avid reader and having a vast knowledge of old movies. But above all, he cherished his wife Margaret, and their big loving family.

Today we honor a life that was full of service, courage, mentorship, and love. Jim Garner was a true American Hero.

Mr. Speaker, if you have ever played the game of golf in the Mississippi heat, you know the game gives nothing away. The course doesn't care about your story, but every now and then, someone comes along who plays the game with so much heart, so much resolve, it demands our respect.

Dawson Thompson is one of those people. Raised in Pascagoula and born with achondroplasia, Dawson never asked for shortcuts. Even after surgeries, even when given permission to ride a cart, he walked every hole every round because that is what his competitors were doing and because that is who Dawson is.

Earlier this month, Dawson competed in the U.S. Adaptive Open, one of the most competitive and inspiring stages in golf. He carried not just his clubs but the hopes of a town, a State, and anyone who has ever been told a dream was out of reach.

Mr. Speaker, Dawson Thompson didn't just represent Pascagoula, Mississippi, with pride. He showed the Nation what quiet strength and true perseverance look like.

I am proud to congratulate Dawson on his remarkable achievement, and I know the entire Fourth District joins me in celebrating his journey and hoping this is just the beginning.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Ms. Ernestine McCauley Dailey, a faithful servant and a beloved and proud Mississippian who was called home to her Heavenly Father on June 21, 2025, at the age of 99.

Born in Jasper, Alabama, Ernestine spent over six decades in Gautier, Mississippi, where she lived a life signified by humility, strength, and service.

Ernestine worked at E.R. Moore Garment Company. She became the very first secretary at Gautier Elementary School, and she later served in the vice president's office at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, touching countless lives through her work.

Alongside her beloved husband, Uless, a World War II veteran, Ernestine traveled this great Nation in their motor home, creating memories and spreading joy wherever they went.

At her passing, she was the oldest member of the Gautier First Baptist Church in Gautier, Mississippi, a source of great pride and reflection of her enduring faith. She leaves behind a legacy of love, family, and devotion.

Let us honor Ms. Ernestine today by remembering the values that she cherished: faith, family, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary American and proud son of south Mississippi, Lieutenant Colonel Boyd Mason, for his nearly three decades of distinguished service to our country.

Lieutenant Colonel Mason served with courage and honor, including 2\1/2\ years doing Active Duty in the Vietnam war. His dedication to our Nation didn't end with his military service. He continues to be a guiding light in Jackson County and all across south Mississippi's Fourth Congressional District.

Today, Mr. Mason faces a new battle. The battle this time is a personal one, a fight against cancer.

Yet, his strength and spirit remain unshaken. He is a devoted father of 5, grandfather to 12, and a great-grandfather to 5 more.

Lieutenant Colonel Mason's legacy of service, faith, and perseverance reaches far beyond the battlefield. It lives on in the lives he has touched and the freedoms he helped to defend.

While our military members risk their lives every day for the sake of our great country, it is more important than ever to honor those who answered the call. Lieutenant Colonel Mason is a hero, plain and simple, and I ask all Americans to join me in keeping him and his family in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. Speaker, we honor Lieutenant Colonel Mason today.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 161.

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2035) to amend title 46, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Transportation to ensure that all cargoes procured, furnished, or financed by the Department of Transportation are transported on privately-owned commercial vessels of the United States, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 2035.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2035, the American Cargo for American Ships Act.

This measure focuses on strengthening the United States maritime industry by mandating that cargo procured, furnished, or financed by the Department of Transportation must be transported on United States- owned, -flagged, and -crewed commercial vehicles.

This bill ensures that the United States carriers will play a more significant role in the transportation of goods funded by the Federal Government, which will fuel economic growth and bolster United States maritime jobs.

H.R. 2035 also helps ensure that our Nation has a ready fleet of vessels and mariners that we can mobilize in national times of emergency.

I am proud to co-lead this legislation, and I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Carbajal) for introducing this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

American shipping has been severely undermined over the past several decades, largely due to the dominance of foreign-flagged vessels that operate at lower cost by sidestepping United States labor, safety, and environmental standards.

H.R. 2035 is critical to restoring our Nation's maritime industry and ushering in a new era of American maritime dominance.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to co-lead this legislation, and I would like to express my gratitude, again, to Representative Carbajal for introducing the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2351) to direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to update the policy of the Coast Guard regarding the use of medication to treat drug overdose, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record for H.R. 2351.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2351 directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to update the services policy regarding use of medication to treat drug overdoses.

This bill also strengthens the Coast Guard's ability to go after drug traffickers and respond to opioid overdoses. H.R. 2351 amends the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act, removing ambiguities in the current law which prohibits the prosecution of cases involving unmanned or autonomous vessels. This bill will therefore ensure that drug traffickers responsible can be charged, tried, and convicted.

Mr. Speaker, I thank T&I Committee member, Representative McDowell, for his leadership on this bipartisan legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of H.R. 2351, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McDowell).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, this bill will ensure drug traffickers face justice as they employ new technology and methods to flood our country with dangerous drugs. It will also give the Coast Guard the parity to police other armed services with regard to rapid treatment of drug overdoses, keeping guardsmen safe from accidental exposure.

H.R. 2351 implements changes that will help secure our maritime border and increase safety on our seas.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2390) to amend title 46, United States Code, to clarify that port infrastructure development program funds may be used to replace Chinese port crane hardware or software, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record for H.R. 2390.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2390, the Maritime Supply Chain Security Act. This bill strengthens the ability of ports to confront threats by Chinese software and hardware.

H.R. 2390 clarifies that funds from maritime port infrastructure development programs can be used for projects focused on upgrading or replacing port cranes that were either installed or supplied by the People's Republic of China or any of its related government entities.

I want to thank Representative Rouzer, leader on the T&I Committee, for his work on this legislation that ensures Federal funds can be used to counter threats posed by our Nation's adversaries.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer).

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close and I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2390. It is an important next step in securing American ports and reducing the potential threat from foreign equipment and software. We must continue to take action to protect our transportation system from both physical and cyber threats.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 248) to require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in bathrooms on passenger rail cars.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 248.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 248, the Baby Changing on Board Act is effective, bipartisan legislation intended to help parents better care for their children when traveling.

The bill requires Amtrak to install baby changing tables in all ADA- accessible restrooms on trains owned by Amtrak. These facilities are common on other transportation modes, including airlines. They are likewise necessary on intercity passenger rails.

The bipartisan bill is a long, overdue improvement to Amtrak service.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 248 is long overdue. It provides help for American families traveling with young children. It simply makes sense for Amtrak to comply with ADA requirements, especially as a recipient of Federal funding.

I was glad to see the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure favorably report this measure, and I look forward to the House doing so, as well.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1182) to require the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate regulations relating to the approval of foreign manufacturers of cylinders, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 1182.

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

Mr. Speaker, in recent years, foreign-produced gas cylinders from countries like China have entered the United States market despite failing to meet Department of Transportation safety standards and specifications.

In addition to threatening public safety, these dangerous imported cylinders take market share from the gas cylinder manufacturers in the United States.

H.R. 1182 is bipartisan legislation that will improve safety while also providing a level playing field for American cylinder manufacturers. Importantly, this legislation will apply the same safety standards to foreign-produced cylinders as those manufactured in the United States.

Finally, the bill will increase the capacity of PHMSA to conduct foreign inspections without cost to the United States taxpayers by allowing for more adequate cost recovery from applicants.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Balderson).

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1182 will better protect the public from the dangers of poorly manufactured and mislabeled compressed gas cylinders.

This legislation will also better ensure fair competition for American manufacturers and workers.

Further, H.R. 1182 improves transparency by requiring all applications to be subject to public review and input. It ensures that the United States regulators have access to any and all pertinent information regarding applicants.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Ohio (Mr. Balderson) for leading this important bipartisan effort.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1373) to require certain meetings of the Tennessee Valley Authority to be transparent and open to the public, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 1373, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressmen Burchett and Cohen for their continued work in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to make the

Tennessee Valley Authority transparent for its customers. This bill is the latest in those efforts.

Specifically, this bill puts into law practices that make more meetings open to the public and ensures that minutes from those meetings are publicly available after the fact.

The bill also contains limited exceptions for meetings involving sensitive information in order to protect TVA's competitiveness and ability to carry out its mission for its customers.

Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1373, the TVA Transparency Act is a commonsense bill that makes Tennessee Valley Authority more transparent while ensuring it can serve its customers effectively.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1948) to authorize the International Boundary and Water Commission to accept funds for activities relating to wastewater treatment and flood control works, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 1948, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1948 would allow the United States section of the International Boundary and Water Commission, or IBWC, to receive additional funding from other Federal and non-Federal partners to support water and wastewater infrastructure.

The IBWC is already authorized to receive funds from the Environmental Protection Agency, but this bill will allow the IBWC to partner with other agencies and entities, such as the Department of Homeland Security, to address the maintenance backlog for critical water infrastructure.

This legislation will allow the IBWC to access more funding sources so it can maintain these assets and, in turn, help provide cleaner water for our warfighters to train in and strengthen our security posture along our southern border.

Enacting the bill would help advance the Trump administration's priorities as outlined in the President's fiscal year 2026 budget request.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1948 is a strong, bipartisan bill that advances the Trump administration's priorities that helps the IBWC effectively manage critical water infrastructure along the southern border.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 252) to amend title 46, United States Code, to prohibit certain contracts for port operations and management, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 252, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 252 takes important steps to strengthen the security of our supply chains by limiting the ability of the Chinese, Russian, North Korean, or Iranian state-owned entities to own, lease, or operate port terminals in this country.

This legislation will ensure that our ports remain safe from both cyber and physical threats, which increases our national security posture.

I commend my colleague from California (Mr. Calvert) for leading on this issue and working to strengthen our Nation's posture against our adversaries.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).

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

Mr. Speaker, this bill creates a vital safeguard for some of our Nation's most critical infrastructure. H.R. 252 prevents certain foreign entities from entering into contracts for the ownership, leasing, or operation of port facilities that are subject to security plans. This, in turn, reduces vulnerabilities at our ports and bolsters national security.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.