Mike Haridopolos

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Titusville Police Officer Jason Van Zile for an extraordinary act of courage and selfless service.

During a sudden and dangerous storm on the Indian River Lagoon, a family paddleboarding near Parrish Park was thrown into the water after a violent storm. Officer Van Zile was the first officer to arrive. Seeing that there was no time to wait, he removed his gear and entered the water.

Despite dangerous conditions and a safety rope that became caught in submerged rocks, the officer continued to rescue all three members of the family, including two children.

He is a former lifeguard, a United States Marines veteran, and his courage that day reflects a lifetime of service to others.

I congratulate Officer Van Zile on being named the city of Titusville's Employee of the Month and thank him for his incredible service.

Celebrating Brightline's Cocoa Station

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a major step forward in transportation and economic opportunity on Florida's Space Coast.

Last month, the Federal Railroad Administration awarded more than $57 million to help build the new Brightline station in Cocoa.

For years, residents of Brevard County watched Brightline trains travel

through the community without having a station of their own. The new station will now connect the Space Coast to the rest of Florida, providing new opportunities for tourism, business, and continued economic growth.

I was proud to work alongside local and State leaders to provide the necessary funds to make the Brightline a reality, and I look forward to the day that Brightline welcomes its first passenger aboard in Cocoa.

Recognizing Eugene Vogt

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Eugene Vogt, a distinguished veteran from Florida's Eighth Congressional District.

Mr. Vogt served our Nation in both the United States Air Force and United States Coast Guard for more than two decades. Throughout his career, he served with the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron aboard the Coast Guard cutters Point Swift and Gallatin conducting patrols between Venezuela and Canada.

Mr. Vogt has said that his experiences around the world taught him that our freedoms are only guaranteed when future generations are willing to participate in and protect them.

It is my honor to recognize Eugene Vogt as Veteran of the Month and thank him for his decades of service to our country.

Recognizing Colonel Joseph Matthews

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel Joseph Matthews, a distinguished Army veteran from Florida's Eighth Congressional District.

Colonel Matthews dedicated 27 years of his life to serving our Nation in the United States Army, specializing in military intelligence. His remarkable career took him to places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, Germany, and Saudi Arabia. His service also reflects a deep appreciation for the freedoms he spent his career defending with pride.

It is my honor to recognize Colonel Joseph Matthews as Veteran of the Month and thank him for his extraordinary service, sacrifice, and commitment to the United States of America.

Celebrating Launching of Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate another historic achievement for America's space program and Florida's Space Coast.

On August 30, I had the honor to watch firsthand the launching of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from Kennedy Space Center. Named in honor of NASA's first chief astronomer, Roman will travel nearly 1 million miles from Earth and give scientists an unprecedented view of our universe.

The telescope will help us better understand how the universe has evolved, study distant galaxies and black holes, and search for planets in our solar system.

As chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, I am proud to represent the men and women of our Space Coast who make missions like this possible and ensure America continues to lead in space exploration because, after all, you can't be number one on Earth if you are number two in space.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Titusville Police Officer Jason Van Zile for an extraordinary act of courage and selfless service.

During a sudden and dangerous storm on the Indian River Lagoon, a family paddleboarding near Parrish Park was thrown into the water after a violent storm. Officer Van Zile was the first officer to arrive. Seeing that there was no time to wait, he removed his gear and entered the water.

Despite dangerous conditions and a safety rope that became caught in submerged rocks, the officer continued to rescue all three members of the family, including two children.

He is a former lifeguard, a United States Marines veteran, and his courage that day reflects a lifetime of service to others.

I congratulate Officer Van Zile on being named the city of Titusville's Employee of the Month and thank him for his incredible service.

Celebrating Brightline's Cocoa Station

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a major step forward in transportation and economic opportunity on Florida's Space Coast.

Last month, the Federal Railroad Administration awarded more than $57 million to help build the new Brightline station in Cocoa.

For years, residents of Brevard County watched Brightline trains travel through the community without having a station of their own. The new station will now connect the Space Coast to the rest of Florida, providing new opportunities for tourism, business, and continued economic growth.

I was proud to work alongside local and State leaders to provide the necessary funds to make the Brightline a reality, and I look forward to the day that Brightline welcomes its first passenger aboard in Cocoa.

Recognizing Eugene Vogt

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Eugene Vogt, a distinguished veteran from Florida's Eighth Congressional District.

Mr. Vogt served our Nation in both the United States Air Force and United States Coast Guard for more than two decades. Throughout his career, he served with the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron aboard the Coast Guard cutters Point Swift and Gallatin conducting patrols between Venezuela and Canada.

Mr. Vogt has said that his experiences around the world taught him that our freedoms are only guaranteed when future generations are willing to participate in and protect them.

It is my honor to recognize Eugene Vogt as Veteran of the Month and thank him for his decades of service to our country.

Recognizing Colonel Joseph Matthews

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel Joseph Matthews, a distinguished Army veteran from Florida's Eighth Congressional District.

Colonel Matthews dedicated 27 years of his life to serving our Nation in the United States Army, specializing in military intelligence. His remarkable career took him to places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, Germany, and Saudi Arabia. His service also reflects a deep appreciation for the freedoms he spent his career defending with pride.

It is my honor to recognize Colonel Joseph Matthews as Veteran of the Month and thank him for his extraordinary service, sacrifice, and commitment to the United States of America.

Celebrating Launching of Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate another historic achievement for America's space program and Florida's Space Coast.

On August 30, I had the honor to watch firsthand the launching of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from Kennedy Space Center. Named in honor of NASA's first chief astronomer, Roman will travel nearly 1 million miles from Earth and give scientists an unprecedented view of our universe.

The telescope will help us better understand how the universe has evolved, study distant galaxies and black holes, and search for planets in our solar system.

As chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, I am proud to represent the men and women of our Space Coast who make missions like this possible and ensure America continues to lead in space exploration because, after all, you can't be number one on Earth if you are number two in space.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair for yielding, and I am

proud to stand beside her today in support of this good rule and talk about the future of America.

I first have to say this: One of the things that makes America great is that anything is possible, and I am very optimistic that we will be able to pass legislation to make us all proud.

Just last week, we celebrated the 250th anniversary of America and the idea of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In my mind, when you talk about the pursuit of happiness, it means improved by care. That is exactly what we are looking to do when we change for the better our VA system.

As the son of a veteran and a father of a person now in the military, we make very simple pledges: that if you choose to serve your country, we will provide for you after your service. This bill will make sure that surely not only will you get the pension you deserve, but also benefits if injured in service. It is common sense, and it has, unfortunately, taken this long to get it all together.

The good news is that help is on the way. We respect those who serve, those soldiers who put their lives on the line every single day for us and allowed us to live in freedom for over 250 years.

For too many veterans, getting healthcare benefits means dealing with long lines, confusing paperwork, or unnecessary government red tape. This bill will fix that.

It makes it easier for veterans to see a doctor when they need one, whether it is at a VA hospital or a trusted provider back at home. It speeds up disability payments, expands access to mental health care, and also improves care for veterans with serious injuries. It also helps families who have sacrificed alongside them. It provides more support for caregivers, protects benefits for surviving spouses, and gives servicemembers better tools to transition from military life to civilian careers.

Just last week, I met with so many veterans back in my district, and they know that there are some things that maybe we can improve, as always. What I think politics is is the art of the possible, and without a doubt, this bill will move forward, keeping the promise that you will get not just your pension but your benefits that you have earned should you be injured in service.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair for putting this forward. It is so important that we move this type of bill forward because we are celebrating the 250th anniversary and the pursuit of happiness because of the sacrifice our veterans have made.