Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Rogers for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, this will be my last floor speech as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and I am beyond proud that the last few minutes of my time on this floor is dedicated to our troops.

I rise today in support of the NDAA, but I rise, above all things, in support of our servicemembers and their families.

During my 4\1/2\ years as a Member of Congress, my office has championed this effort to get our troops off of food stamps and above the poverty line.

At times, it felt very difficult, but we have ultimately followed through with this commitment and this promise to our folks in uniform, especially our junior enlisted personnel who, just a couple of years ago, were making only $22,000 a year as a base salary.

My historic Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act was signed into law in February 2023 and allows our Active-Duty troops' spouses to cross- deck their professional licenses across all 50 States when they move, without having to spend thousands of dollars and potentially years getting recertified.

It was a huge victory for our servicemembers and their families, but it didn't solve the pay problems that our personnel were having.

This week, we will pass this year's NDAA, which includes our historic 14.5 percent pay raise for our junior enlisted, and this, in combination with the Defense appropriations bills over the last 2 years, represents the single largest pay raise for our enlisted troops in our Nation's history.

I thank Chairman Rogers and Chairman Calvert from the Appropriations Committee for truly driving this and enabling this.

Lastly, I thank God for this imperfect Union that we call America. She is only held together by the stitches sewn by the men and women and their families who serve in our military every day and in the future, and held together by the veterans who served in the past. May we never forget their sacrifices, for they are the ones who have delivered us this great gift called the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members of Congress to support our military and this NDAA.

With that, Mr. Speaker, go Navy, beat Army.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a member of our community who has proudly served the people of Santa Clarita for more than 12 years, State Senator Scott Wilk. As Senator for the 21st Senate District, Scott Wilk has dedicated his life to the betterment of his residents and to solving California's problems.

His leadership in the Problem-Solvers Caucus as well as his membership in the Little Hoover Commission and the State Allocation Board has provided invaluable contributions to California residents and small businesses who needed a helping hand. Within Sacramento, Senator Wilk has worked tirelessly to enact change and deepen the bonds between his constituents.

As a member of the Valley Industry Association, Senator Wilk has helped the Santa Clarita Valley business industry thrive and acted as an indispensable mentor to young entrepreneurs. His voice and actions have been paramount to the continuous growth of the Valley as the network he has built supports both businesses and individuals in need.

A champion of change and a loving family man, I want to sincerely thank State Senator Scott Wilk for his years of service. The 21st Senate District and the state of California are better because of his voice and actions, and I look forward to seeing how he continues making a positive impact to those around him.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Lucas and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology staff for their leadership on this very important bill.

Mr. Speaker, you can't tell the story of my district without also telling the story of NASA, whether it is Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier in the X-1 about 77 years ago, Pete Knight setting the record as the fastest man ever in the X-15 in 1967, the development and first flights of the space shuttle in the seventies and eighties, or now the upcoming first flight of the X-59, which is a commercial supersonic aircraft that will bring supersonic flight back to the United States for the commercial industry.

NASA's DNA is simply ingrained in the Antelope Valley, or as we affectionately call it in my district, the aerospace valley. That is why I am so proud to rise in support of the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2024.

This bill advances the Artemis program, returning Americans to the Moon for the first time in nearly 50 years. It supports our still- emerging commercial space economy, which is essential for Artemis, national security, and our scientific interests. It also includes my bill, the ACERO Act, to support work already underway at NASA to integrate unmanned aerial vehicles and ground systems into wildfire response, which will help stop fires before they spread.

We need to ensure that our firefighters are equipped like combat warfighters on the battlefield with cutting-edge technology to keep them safe, help them accomplish the mission as quickly as possible, and put the fires out as quickly as possible.

These UAVs will act as a force multiplier for firefighters to help protect communities like those in my district and usher in the next generation of firefighting technology so that our firefighters make sure that they come home safely at night.

This bill is about the next chapter for NASA, a chapter that starts in the aerospace valley and reaches all the way out to the edges of our solar system.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this bill, and I encourage my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support and thank Chairman Lucas and the committee staff for their support as well of H.R. 7630, the ANCHOR Act, which protects our scientific infrastructure from CCP espionage.

I also thank my colleague from across the aisle, Ms. Stevens, for her support in cosponsoring this bill as well.

As I said during the markup of this very important piece of legislation, the U.S. is the proud home to some of the best minds in the world, minds that keep our Nation on the cutting edge of scientific research, driving our national security, our economy, our healthcare, and so much more. Those advantages would immediately disappear if we allow lapses in our research security to occur.

The NSF currently owns 17 ships that make up the Academic Research Fleet. This fleet enables scientists across the Nation to conduct complex research on the ocean, the sea floor, the Great Lakes, remote polar regions, and throughout our Nation's borders maritime regions.

Unfortunately, this fleet is also aging and has become susceptible to cyber espionage from the CCP. According to The Wall Street Journal, in 2019 the fleet was the largest target to more than two-dozen cybersecurity attacks by the CCP as part of an elaborate scheme to steal research about maritime technology being developed for military use.

Following these attacks, Mr. Speaker, the NSF ordered an independent advisory group to provide recommendations for strengthening the cybersecurity capabilities of the Academic Research Fleet.

The ANCHOR Act implements these recommendations to protect the fleet and is the tool that the taxpayers will fund to make sure that the research they conduct is secure and protected.

We can't afford to wait, and we can't let China continue to rob us of precious American innovations paid for by our constituents.

I thank Chairman Lucas, again, for his support of my bill, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9468) making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, 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 on H.R. 9468.

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

Mr. Speaker, to clarify, I appreciate the bipartisan support for this stopgap measure, but this isn't smoke and mirrors.

There are more veterans. There are more benefits. These are good things. All we are asking for is that the President's budget request and the congressional processes reflect the higher demands and thus, the higher dollar values, but also hopefully gain more efficiency and, frankly, have the dollars go a little bit further through the VA processes.

That is why the reporting language in this bill is very important, but I am glad that this does have bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the great State of California (Mr. Valadao), a member of the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies and a hero to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, this isn't about getting a pound of political flesh or making this about Republicans versus Democrats, left versus right. This is about doing what is right for our veterans. The fact is, there is a real cliff that hits at the end of this week, and tying it to a CR is a disservice. We shouldn't use veterans as political pawns within the CR conversation.

Facts are stubborn things. The executive branch owns the VA. The VA is part of the executive branch. Before we discuss the $12 billion shortfall in FY25 funding, we should require a root cause analysis to be done on why we have a shortfall this year itself. From there we will move forward.

You have our commitment as a Republican majority that we will never let the benefits of our veterans lapse as a result of anything, much less, frankly, lack of oversight by the executive branch.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice), a member of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to reiterate again, facts are stubborn things. The VA is part of the executive branch. We have a higher demand. We know the PACT Act exists. Let's have the President ask for a commensurate level of money before going to Congress. The PBR, President's budget request, should reflect this higher demand.

This is one of the issues with root cause. That is what we are asking for, not just giving the money to the VA, but getting to the root cause.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost), the chairman of the Veterans Affairs' Committee.

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

Just a reminder, there is $140 billion cash on hand by the VA in discretionary dollars for FY 2025. This bill works to close the gap for FY 2024 to the tune of $2.88 billion.

This is an opportunity for every single Member of Congress to show their support for our veterans across the Nation, 7 million of them.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H.R. 9468, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Madam Chair for her leadership on these very important issues.

Since day one of representing my constituents of the beautiful 27th Congressional District in the Halls of Congress, I promised to never vote to cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid. In fact, I have been committed to improving or fortifying these programs throughout my time in the House of Representatives. It is with this commitment in mind that I rise today in support of my bill H.R. 8089, the Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act.

In these hyperpartisan times, it feels harder than ever to find issues where Republicans and Democrats can come together to find commonsense solutions to help American families and help their lives in what is otherwise a very tumultuous period. That is why I am grateful for the partnership of my fellow Californian, Representative Scott Peters, who was the co-lead for this very important bill.

I also extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Chairwoman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as the staff of Chair Rodgers. Her leadership has been unprecedented in this Chamber. For everything that she has done, I thank her.

Mr. Speaker, I have long said that programs like Social Security and Medicare are, literally, contracts between the government and its citizens. The American people need the government to uphold their end of the contract by paying into and supporting these programs. The American people, literally, are giving their money into these programs and in exchange expect the government to return that money to them on the back side.

Congress must uphold our end by ensuring these programs remain viable and accessible to those who need them. That includes paying out benefits in full to those who earned them, which is why it is so important that Congress prioritize repealing things like the windfall elimination program and other provisions of Social Security by passing bills like H.R. 82, which I am proud to support and hopefully we can bring to the floor for a vote, as well.

Part of this commitment is ensuring that these programs remain solvent for years to come. That is exactly what this bill does. This bill will save Medicare and Medicaid millions of dollars over time by implementing a commonsense measure to ensure that fraudsters and scammers don't, literally, steal dead doctors' credentials to bill Medicare and Medicaid for services that they never provided. Our seniors and Americans deserve to have the funds in these programs used for them, not for scammers and fraudsters.

This is not just about combating fraud. It is about honoring our commitment to programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. These are programs that countless Americans rely on and deserve to be protected. I am proud to support them, and I will continue to support and never cut Medicare or Social Security. I once again urge support for my bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Lucas and the entire committee for bringing this very important bipartisan bill to the floor.

It has now been 2 years since the CHIPS and Science Act was signed into law, providing a much-needed kick-start to America's lagging semiconductor industry as we compete with an accelerating Chinese Communist Party threat in China.

The CHIPS Act was a good bill that I supported, but as I said during the markup of this legislation, a bill is only as good as its implementation and only as good as Congress' oversight of its effectiveness. The CHIPS Act only works if the investments are available to American enterprises and not available to our foreign adversaries, like the CCP.

Following great oversight work by the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, it became clear that complicated and confusing language in the CHIPS Act would allow China access to American-paid, American-funded research.

This lack of clarity would allow China to use malign foreign talent recruitment programs in our universities and other research labs to recruit researchers to access this data, effectively getting our constituents to fund breakthrough research for the Communist Party.

The Chinese Government has a nasty tendency of doing what I call rob, replicate, and replace. They take our intellectual property. They replicate it. They make it slightly better, slightly cheaper, and then replace it on the open market and compromise our technical advantages.

These researchers in these universities may often be ensnared by China without even knowingly being ensnared and can unwittingly hand our enemies an advantage in technological advancements.

In order to address this, Congresswoman Stevens and I introduced H.R. 7686, which updates and clarifies the definition of ``malign foreign talent recruitment programs'' to protect our national investments.

My bill is a simple, noncontroversial, bipartisan solution that ensures our taxpayer dollars and the research they fund are being protected from the CCP and their espionage behavior.

I thank Chairman Lucas and the entire committee, again, for their support on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Thomas Dierckman, a beloved member of CA-27's community and an integral district staffer who has been with me since I was first elected to Congress.

Tom's life of public service began as a teenager where he spent time away from cowboying to become an Eagle Scout. Later, at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, he earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering. Consistent with Tom's dedication to his community, he used his training as an engineer to give back to his country. He was commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy after college and joined the Civil Engineer Corps.

During Tom's service as a Naval Officer, he did his part in every community where the

Navy brought him. For example, he coached basketball at his first duty station in Yokosuka, Japan, and was a public works officer at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Oakland, CA, where he taught Civil Engineer Corps students.

While Tom's tenacity took no days off, he always made time for his family and those most important to him. Following Tom's marriage to his wife, Sandy, in 1976 and the birth of his two sons, he left active duty in 1982 and stayed in the reserves for another 17 years. Tom resigned from the Armed Forces with the rank of Captain in 1999.

After he resigned his commission as an active-duty Naval Officer, he moved to Southern California and joined the Newhall Land and Farming Company where he was responsible for all aspects of residential, commercial, and industrial development. In 1990, he was named Senior Vice President and retired in 2004.

Since the 80s, Tom has been an integral part of our community. He served on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., Valencia Water Co., Castaic Lake Water Agency, and Valencia Bank and Trust. Tom was also a board member of the College of the Canyons Foundation, a director emeritus of the COC Foundation, and president of the Boys & Girls Club of the Santa Clarita Valley. In short, Tom's been busy.

For his work in our community, Tom has earned the Silver Spur Award for Community Service, the Boys & Girls Club's Samuel Dixon Award for extraordinary service, as well as being named Santa Clarita Valley Man of the Year in 2012.

My path crossed Tom's because of his desire to make an impact on the next generation in our community. Tom worked tirelessly to help nominate the emerging military leaders of our district. Over his tenure, he walked with 41 students as they navigated the application and nomination process to our Nation's great military academies. I thank Tom for his dedication in making sure that our academies receive the best of the best and for his critical role in a stronger, more secure future for this great Nation.

I am forever grateful for Tom's steadfast dedication to our community and the work he has done as part of my team. Tom's approach to life is a powerful example to us all of what it means to pay it forward.

Mr. Chair, I am proud to support this very solid Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2025. It is a good bill that will secure our nuclear triad, protect our domestic energy supplies, and pressure the Biden administration to refill our Strategic Petroleum Reserves.

I thank Chairman Cole and especially Chairman Fleischmann, as well as the committee staff, for their hard work on this bill and pulling this forward to the floor.

I am particularly satisfied that this legislation includes my provision to block a rule that was established by the Department of Energy to actually weaken environmental oversight for battery electric storage systems, or BESS facilities.

These BESS sites are essentially giant lithium batteries lined up, side-by-side, and stacked on top of each other, in many cases, and connected to the larger power grid. They are not necessarily, Mr. Chair, bad things.

While energy storage systems are essential for a modern power grid, especially in areas like in my district in southern California where we have high winds and high fire risk and high loads, these BESS facilities could potentially pose dangers for communities if not properly planned, if not properly engineered and constructed, and if put in locations that pose significant harm to our communities and our environment.

In a recent hearing, the San Bernardino fire chief testified that if these BESS sites are not perfectly constructed, they can actually create fires that are extremely difficult and almost impossible to extinguish.

My provision simply says that the Department of Energy needs to stop trying to cut corners and to do the homework before installing these energy storage systems in our communities.

Let me be clear. This isn't an anti-storage provision. It is a provision to ensure that the communities have a voice, and that the government isn't running with scissors during the development of these facilities.

I can tell you in L.A. County, they have made some very bad choices recently when it comes to these BESS facilities. You don't have to look any further than the community of Acton, right in the middle of my district, to understand the risks associated with rushing these energy storage projects.

Acton is a small community, Mr. Chair, right in the middle of the Angeles Forest where L.A. County is forcing, effectively, this BESS facility to be constructed.

Let me paint a picture of where this location is. In their infinite wisdom, L.A. County decided to put this BESS facility smack dab on top of the most active part of the San Andreas Fault. It is right in the middle of some of the most combustible wildlands and poses a significant wildfire risk.

Within a par 5 of this location, there is a large electrical substation that would be basically knocked out, which supplies all of the power to L.A. County or most of the power to L.A. County, if this were to have any issues.

Within a par 5, there is a freeway that is a main corridor going to the high desert. There is a railroad. There is a reservoir, which is drinking water for the high desert and about a third of my district. There are high-voltage transmission lines going overhead. If the facility catches on fire, those will be knocked out. There is a Brightline West planned nearby, a new rail line, as well as California's high-speed rail, right by this BESS facility in L.A. County.

In the end, the community had no input. They had no voice. The government was running with scissors, and the L.A. County officials were able to put this BESS facility in a location that, frankly, is probably the absolute worst location that they could have chosen.

I thank the chairman for this good bill overall. It does a lot of amazing things. I especially want to make sure that I reiterate that these battery storage facilities are good, they are necessary, but they need to be done right. We can't be cutting corners on these very unique technologies.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, today it is with profound respect and pride that I stand to honor a remarkable patriot from my district, Ms. Barbara ``Bobbie'' Stone.

Bobbie, who recently passed away at the age of 102, served as a U.S. marine during World War II and was a formidable member of America's Greatest Generation.

On this past Memorial Day, we recognized Bobbie at the Santa Clarita Eternal Valley event, celebrating her and other women's crucial roles in our military history. Despite her having Alzheimer's, her spirit of gratitude was evident and her legacy was undeniable.

Bobbie was more than a veteran; she was a beacon of courage and an inspiration to all who knew her. Her strength, patriotism, and pioneering spirit were immeasurable. Like the heroes who served before and beside her, she fought not just for victory abroad but for recognition and equality at home.

As we honor her memory, let's remember Bobbie as she was: a fierce warrior, a dedicated marine, and a cherished member of our community.

Heaven has gained what we have lost, and she is now by the Lord's side. May God bless Bobbie, and may God bless the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the retirement of an American patriot who has proudly served our great Nation for more than 40 years. After a storied career in uniform and a distinguished civilian career at CA-27's Plant 42, Dr. Smith has earned some well-deserved time with friends and family.

Prior to directing the 412th Test Wing Operating Location at Plant 42, Dr. Smith began his career when he entered the U.S. Air Force. He graduated with top honors from the first Navigator Offensive Avionics Systems class at Castle Air Force Base. Following his

first formal tour at Ellsworth Air Force Base, Dr. Smith served across the country in an impressive myriad of capacities, ranging anywhere from Instructor Navigator, to Branch Chief, to Regimental Air Liaison Officer. With approximately 3,000 flight hours and numerous accolades, including being a part of the 15th Air Force Crew of the Year, Dr. Smith consistently distinguished himself from his fellow airmen no matter which role he was serving in. His exemplary leadership led him to be selected as Deputy Director of the 412th Test Management Group and eventually the Edwards Inspector General.

During his transition to civilian service, Dr. Smith continued to be an outstanding leader at Edwards Air Force Base. As Director of the 412th Test Wing at Plant 42 he has led a multi-functional team that supports over 16,000 contract and government personnel; and worked with top defense contractors that produce and test B-2, U-2, RQ-4, F-22, and F-35. These important programs are not only the economic backbone of the Antelope Valley--they are also critical to ensuring our Nation's security and ability to deter and win a war. Additionally, he supported NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center's planetary and earth science missions and serves the state of California as our Title-31 Air Support Command Commander.

Dr. Smith's life is a testament to dedication, passion, and leadership. As he enters retirement, his work will undoubtedly leave Edwards Air Force Base and Plant 42 well equipped to continue their mission in the coming years and his legacy will inspire future generations of pilots.

On behalf of a grateful community, I extend our heart felt appreciation to Dr. David Smith for his outstanding service, and wish him happiness and prosperity in retirement. We thank him for his exceptional commitment to our country.

Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman of the subcommittee, Ken Calvert, who has been a true leader on the bill.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the bill.

The minority will talk about environmentalism and social justice messaging, but the reality is that this bill goes beyond those. We must remember that the goal of the military is to deter a war, and if unable to deter a war, then to win a war.

Today, especially, the pacing threat is China.

This bill does just that. It helps us not only accelerate programs but keep pace with China in a budget constrained environment of only $833 billion. We are trying to gain efficiency so that it behaves like $1 trillion.

It supports all the weapons systems from high to low, B-21s, as well as supporting and protecting U-2 classified programs.

In my opinion, the most important thing is a 20 percent pay raise for E-1s through E-4s.

I strongly urge support of the Defense appropriations bill, and I applaud Chairman Calvert's leadership on this issue as we try to make the world a safer place.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a member of CA-27's Edwards Air Force Base who has served with passion for over 20 years. As a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force, John D. Stock has dedicated his life to serving our Nation and training the next generation of pilots.

John D. Stock's diligent service includes 3500 hours of flight time across two oceans and five continents. By executing successful operational missions, instructing pilots and aircrew personnel, and volunteering in his local community, his leadership has had a deep impact on the aviation community and beyond.

I want to thank Lieutenant Colonel John Stock for his dedication and service. Our community is better because of him, and I look forward to seeing how he continues to make an impact on those around him.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute Lieutenant Colonel John D. Stock for his retirement from our beloved United States Air Force.

He was stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in the 27th Congressional District of California. Lieutenant Colonel Stock served our Nation for over 20 years with honor and distinction. With 3,500 flight hours across two oceans and five continents, his service record is truly remarkable.

Whether executing missions, instructing pilots, or volunteering in his community, Lieutenant Colonel Stock exemplifies the highest standards of leadership and service. His impact on aviation and beyond is profound. He enhanced our Air Force capabilities, and he mentored those around him, a true leader.

I extend my deepest gratitude to Lieutenant Colonel Stock for his unwavering dedication and exemplary service. Our Nation is stronger because of individuals like him. I look forward to his continued positive impact in our community.