Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Robin and Garrett Dixon and their children, Chandler Jane and Cash, for being named Alabama's Outstanding Young Farm family.

The Lee County farmers received the honor during the Alabama Farmers Federation Farm and Land Conference on August 8 in Mobile, Alabama.

The Dixon family primarily grows cotton and peanuts on their farm in Salem. The crops they tend clothe and feed America and the world. Garrett began growing the farm from near scratch in college and has invested countless hours into improving every acre of land his family tends. He has installed irrigation, improved soil fertility and has now accepted a new challenge of growing their cattle herd. The livestock graze cover crops planted in row crop fields each winter, adding value to the land.

Their sphere of influence extends beyond the farm. Robin is an agriscience teacher at Smiths Station High School and shares on-farm experience with her students.

The Dixons understand grassroots involvement and have deep ties to groups such as the Alabama Farmers Federation. Garrett has chaired the State Young Farmers Committee and serves on multiple boards.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing this young family on this great honor. I congratulate the Dixons.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 70th birthday of Virginia Payne.

Virginia was born in Lee County, Alabama, on August 24, 1956, to Mr. Arthur Lee Lockhart and Mrs. Lucille Lockhart and raised with strong faith and family values. Virginia is married to Wilbert Payne and was blessed with four children: Audrey, David, Jacques and Doricho. The Paynes have 10 grandchildren.

Virginia retired from Walmart in 2021 after 30 years of serving others during her time there. She was affectionately known as ``Mrs. V'' to her colleagues and customers--always lending a hand or a smile. Virginia was a member of the Zenith Horizons Social Club since the late 1970s, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to fellowship, friendship and community. She has served as a table host for the Cheryl Comer Ministries Brunch, raising more than $2,100 to support local youth scholarships and ministry efforts.

The Payne family are members of Truth and Love Ministries Church and faithfully attend Sunday worship and fellowship at Green Chapel Missionary Church.

In her retirement, she enjoys spending her time with her family. She also loves to dance and is a member of a dancing group called the Opelika Dancercize Club. When not dancing or with family, The Paynes enjoy traveling. Virginia's family lovingly describes her as ``the rock'' and the reason for many of their individual successes. She has supported her family to help them accomplish their goals, assisting with celebrations and helping in any way she is needed. She has also provided unwavering and unconditional support to her husband throughout his civic involvement.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Virginia Payne and wishing her a Happy 70th Birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Robert ``Bob'' Anthony Klimek, Jr. who passed away January 30, 2026.

Robert was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1933 to parents Robert Anthony Klimek, Sr. and Emma Ellen Klimek. During the Korean War, he enlisted in the Air Force with the aim of becoming a pilot. Following his successful completion of pilot training, he served as a test pilot, a flight instructor, and flew the F100 as a fighter pilot. By the end of his career, Bob has amassed 5,000 hours of flying time, rising to Command Pilot.

Later in his Air Force Career, Bob specialized in electronic warfare. This became especially important during his service in the Vietnam War. During his service in Vietnam, he invented, and received a patent for, a device to detect and avoid Russian Surface to Air Missiles (SAMs). This groundbreaking invention saved countless lives and was so effective only one plane was lost to a SAM following its deployment through the end of the war.

Following a distinguished 24-year career in the Air Force, Bob retired at the rank of Colonel. For his outstanding service, he received Military Merit Medal, Medal for Meritorious Service, Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit. He also earned undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado, Master's degree in Engineering Management from George Washington University and a Juris Doctorate degree from Georgetown Law School.

Bob became a lawyer with a focus on government and international contracts following his time in the Air Force. He lived an adventurous life, developing passions for scuba diving, sailing, flying recreationally, and travel.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Lucia Casale; along with his children, Robert Anthony Klimek, III, and Constance Conway; his grandson, Niel Young; and great-grandchildren Peyton and Emma Young.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring the life of Robert ``Bob'' Anthony Klimek, Jr.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of the 1976 graduating class of Talladega High School in Talladega, Alabama.

Members from the 1976 class, including many of their former teachers and coaches, will gather for a reunion banquet on Saturday, August 15th in Talladega. Fifty years ago, 200 members of this class proudly walked across the stage, marking the culmination of years of dedication, learning and friendship. This 50th reunion is a moment to reflect on cherished memories, honor those who have passed away and celebrate the remarkable journeys of each class member.

The members of this distinguished class have, over the past five decades, contributed greatly to their families, communities, professions and to the betterment of society; and the

bonds formed within the halls of Talladega High School have endured the test of time, serving as a testament to the strength of shared experiences, mutual respect and lifelong friendship.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in wishing the 1976 graduates of Talladega High School congratulations on this milestone and a wonderful celebration in August.

Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 1438, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Fong).

Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), my friend and colleague.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Bresnahan).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Van Epps).

Mr. Chairman, I urge all Members to support the en bloc package, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 1438, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Davidson).

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

Mr. Chairman, I have no further speakers. At this time I urge support of the en bloc package, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 1438, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. Chairman, I have no speakers on this en bloc package.

Mr. Chairman, I urge support of the package, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 1438, I offer amendments en bloc.

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

Mr. Chairman, I urge support of the en bloc package, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.

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

Mr. Chair, I will start by thanking my good friend, Adam Smith, the ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services, for his work on this bill. Again, this year, we have continued to work in a bipartisan fashion to lead the Committee on Armed Services, and we have done this for years. I could not have a better partner in doing that.

Folks really need to take note of this, because this is the largest piece of authorizing legislation that moves through the Congress. It authorizes over half of all discretionary spending. We lead this committee in a bipartisan fashion. We passed this bill out of committee in a bipartisan fashion, and that doesn't just happen. That occurs because of leadership that we get from both sides of the aisle.

The staff take their cue from the chair and the ranking member--and other Members do--when we conduct our business, and we do it in a bipartisan fashion. It is so important. We are talking about our Nation's security. We are talking about our men and women who put their lives at risk for our Nation, for the families involved. We want them to know that this is not political gamesmanship that is leading up here. This is Members working in a serious, focused fashion to try to get good policy developed that will make their lives better and keep our Nation free and safe.

Adam Smith just does a great job in leading the committee. When he was chair, he led by example, and he has continued to lead by example as ranking member, and I appreciate that.

I also thank the staff for their work. We have an incredible professional staff on the Committee on Armed Services on both sides of the aisle. They do follow our lead, and they work in a very collaborative fashion, and I thank them for that.

We had a little over a thousand Member provisions submitted to our committee before the markup. We had 1,200 amendments offered during committee markup and 1,400 amendments here. The staff had to go through all of that and work it up, and they have just done it in a very professional fashion.

I also thank House legislative counsel, CBO, and the Parliamentarian for their leadership and staff in developing this bill to the point it is at today.

Mr. Chairman, a couple of weeks ago, we celebrated the 250th anniversary of our independence. But as many of you know, the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps are each celebrating their 251st birthday this year. That is because in 1775, the Continental Congress knew we needed a professional fighting force to secure our freedom.

It was a bold and courageous act that shocked the British and the world. I am certainly not asking for Congress to do anything that courageous.

But for the sake of guaranteeing our freedom well into the future, we need to act now to reverse decades of underinvestment and neglect in our Armed Forces and our defense industrial base.

This bill will do that and much more. It will build the ready, capable, and lethal fighting force we need to deter China and other adversaries.

I know there are provisions in this bill that some folks disagree with, but understand that this is just a single step in a long process.

Everyone should know that we will continue to work in a bipartisan manner as we make our way through the Conference committee. We will work to produce a bill that can best pass both Chambers and be signed into law.

I urge all Members to help us reach that goal by supporting this bill today and moving it along.

Mr. Chair, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of this budget resolution. This resolution unlocks $60 billion in critically needed supplemental funding to support the warfighter and ensure our military readiness.

Without these funds, military training exercises will be canceled, maintenance of equipment facilities and weapon systems will be deferred, munitions procurement will be postponed, and the combat readiness of our Armed Forces will suffer.

This budget resolution will enable us to move legislation to provide $1.6 billion to ensure our servicemembers are paid on time; $17 billion to cover unplanned operational costs such as fuel, training, and maintenance repairs; and $18 billion to replenish the arsenal of critical munitions.

Yesterday, you may have noticed Secretary Hegseth testified before the Senate that, without these funds, we face critical shortfalls that threaten the Department's ability to pay our servicemembers, rapidly replenish equipment and munitions, and sustain vital operations without disruption.

No matter how you feel about the current events, these funds are necessary to ensure our fighting forces remain ready, our troops are paid, and our Nation is safe.

Mr. Chair, I urge all Members to support the resolution.

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. 8800.

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

Mr. Chairman, throughout our committee's oversight hearings this year, we have heard a consistent theme: The defense industrial base, the foundation of our military power, is in deep trouble. Over the last 30 years, the defense

industrial base has atrophied significantly. We are no longer capable of manufacturing for our warfighters at scale and speed.

In the 1990s, America had 51 prime defense contractors. Today only six remain. Skilled talent has left the workforce, leaving hundreds of thousands of defense manufacturing jobs unfilled. Excessive regulation pushed small businesses, startups, and private capital out of the defense business. Inconsistent demand signals discouraged prime contractors from investing in production capacity.

As a result, our stockpiles of critical defense articles have fallen to dangerously low levels. That includes critical minerals, which we have very little capacity to mine, refine, or process.

While America allowed vital manufacturing capability to erode, China did not. China's shipbuilding capacity dwarfs ours. They are outproducing us on ships, drones, and munitions. They control over 90 percent of the world's critical mineral refining and processing capacity, and they have embedded themselves deep within our defense supply chains.

The consequences are clear. There are growing doubts about our ability to sustain a protracted conflict against China and our other adversaries, and that is unacceptable.

We must take action to address these problems before American deterrence erodes any further.

The FY27 NDAA, takes that action. This year's bill is focused on revitalizing the defense industrial base. We are giving industry the certainty it needs to invest, expand, and produce faster. We are cutting needless regulations that prevent innovative businesses from working with the Pentagon. We are reviving our organic industrial base by improving conditions at our depots, arsenals, and shipyards. We are securing our supply chain by giving the Department authorities to better identify vulnerabilities and then replace them with domestic or allied sources, and we are creating new jobs and helping Americans build advanced technical skills.

In addition to revitalizing the defense industrial base, the NDAA meets our other crucial needs. We are raising pay for servicemembers and improving housing, education, and childcare for military families. We are strengthening our nuclear deterrence and missile defense, while maintaining a strong posture to deter our adversaries, and we are prioritizing the development of innovative technologies that will give our warfighters the edge in future conflicts.

To support these policies, we are authorizing $1.15 trillion in discretionary funds to match President Trump's historic budget request. For the first time in 40 years, we have been presented a budget that accounts for the true cost of American deterrence. This top line begins to reverse the damage caused by decades of underinvestment in the U.S. military.

However, we understand that with this historic investment comes an even more urgent need to guard against waste, fraud, and abuse. The bill does so by cutting nearly $30 billion in wasteful spending, reducing fraudulent payments, and providing new authorities to ensure the Pentagon achieves a full, clean audit within 24 months.

Peace through strength doesn't begin on the battlefield. It begins in our factories, our depots, and our shipyards. This bill reflects our commitment to rebuilding that foundation. It will build the ready, capable, and lethal fighting force we need to deter China and other adversaries.

Mr. Chair, I urge all my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Agriculture,

Washington, DC, June 29, 2026.

Hon. Mike Rogers,

Chairman, Committee on Armed Services,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Rogers: I am writing to you concerning H.R.

8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year

2027. There are certain provisions in the legislation that

fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on

Agriculture.

In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed

expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill,

I am willing to waive this committee's right to sequential

referral. I do so with the understanding that by waiving

consideration of the bill, the Committee on Agriculture does

not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the subject

matters contained in the bill that fall within its Rule X

jurisdiction. I request that you urge the Speaker to name

members of this committee to any conference committee that is

named to consider such provisions.

Please place this letter into the committee report on H.R.

8800 and into the Congressional Record during consideration

of the measure on the House floor. Thank you for the

cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this

matter and others between our respective committees.

Sincerely,

Glenn ``GT'' Thompson,

Chairman, Committee on Agriculture.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. DesJarlais), the chairman of Strategic Forces Subcommittee.

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Kelly), the chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Jackson), chairman of the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Fallon), chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), my friend and colleague.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Moylan), an outstanding member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mills), another outstanding member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Strong), a former member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. McGuire), a freshman member of the Armed Services Committee.

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

First, I will take a minute to thank my friend, Ranking Member Smith, for his tremendous partnership in fashioning this piece of bipartisan work that is so important for our Nation. He has been a great partner, and I do want everybody to know that.

This is a very important bill. It provides critical authorities for our warfighters to keep us free and safe.

I urge all Members to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, Congress established the Afghanistan War Commission to provide the American people with accountability and transparency after 20 years of war that claimed nearly 2,500 American servicemembers.

The commission has interviewed hundreds of senior leaders across four administrations and reviewed thousands of sensitive records.

While the commission has completed a first draft of its report, government shutdowns and delays in accessing certain agency records have made a 1-year extension necessary.

I share the desire for accountability, but we don't get it if the commission is forced to turn in an incomplete product. This extension will ensure the commission's work is complete and accurate.

Mr. Chair, I urge all Members to oppose the amendment, respectfully.

Mr. Chair, this amendment strikes a provision that prohibits the enrollment of Chinese, Russian, Iranian, and North Korean students at our military academies and replaces it with an outright ban on all foreign students, including our allies.

The fact is, there is tremendous benefit in having our cadets study and train alongside cadets of our allies and partners.

Furthermore, the law requires that allies who send students must pay the full tuition and room and board expenses so that the U.S. taxpayer is not paying a dime for those foreign students.

The law also requires these students to be vetted by Homeland Security, State, and DOW to ensure they are not a threat. Finally, the law caps the number of accepted so that no Americans are displaced by the foreign students.

The underlying bill already codifies the prohibition of those students from our adversaries. We shouldn't extend that prohibition to our allies. As such, I oppose this amendment.

Mr. Chair, President Trump has made it a priority to ensure that our cadets and midshipmen are treated like other college athletes and are able to compete on a level playing field with other Division I universities.

The current statutory limit of five slots per year for cadets and midshipmen to ``go pro'' is burdensome and prevents superior athletes from choosing to attend a service academy.

These folks will still need to satisfy the 5-year service obligation in the Reserves where they will be an effective recruiting force for our military academies. As such, I respectfully oppose this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, pursuant to House Resolution 1438, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. Chairman, at this time I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, at this time I have no speakers, and I urge adoption of the en bloc package. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, while I agree with the amendment's intent to increase burden sharing, I must respectfully oppose it.

The Department of War opposes this amendment.

Secretary Hegseth requested funding for these authorities in the budget because training with our allies and partners is essential to U.S. military readiness. Many of our partners, specifically those in the Western Hemisphere and the Pacific, cannot participate in joint exercises without some limited financial assistance from the U.S.

Those exercises are critical to ensuring American forces can train and operate effectively alongside our allies and partners in a conflict with China. Defunding those programs would only make it harder to strengthen burden sharing to deter China and to defend the homeland.

Mr. Chair, I urge all Members to oppose this amendment.

Madam Chair, thanks to President Trump's PURL initiative, our European allies are funding the vast majority of Ukraine's defense. That is exactly as it should be. However, even though our allies pay for those U.S. weapons with that money, the Department still needs the funding to implement the President's policy.

This amendment would also defund intelligence-sharing and end-use monitoring that has kept U.S. weapons from ending up in the wrong hands.

The administration continues to support providing Ukraine intelligence and PURL Initiative in an effort to force Putin to the negotiating table. We shouldn't cut off the President's negotiating leverage.

Madam Chair, for those reasons, I respectfully oppose the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Madam Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 80th anniversary of the Lion Tamers Social and Civic Club. The organization was established in 1946 in the City of Opelika.

The organization was formed and founded by Charles Black, John T. Carr, Sr., Dr. Frank W. Clark, Hugh Burt, and Clarence McKay. For more than 35 years, the organization has hosted a Family Funday and Gospel Explosion including a Juneteenth celebration and scholarship for deserving students. Mr. Wilbert D. Payne, Jr. serves as the coordinator for this annual event that is hosted at Covington Recreation Center, providing a fun and free experience with refreshments and activities provided to all who attend.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in wishing the Lion Tamers Social and Civic Club the best for their upcoming event and a very happy 80th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 148, I mistakenly voted Aye when I intended to vote No.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an exceptional student from my district, Judd Pope. As a senior at Piedmont High School in Piedmont, Alabama, Judd has made school history as the first student at his school to earn a perfect score on the ACT.

In February of 2025, Judd achieved the perfect ACT super score of 36, an accomplishment that reflects not only academic excellence, but a true commitment to learning.

Judd will graduate from Piedmont High School in May of 2026 and plans to attend Auburn University, where I have no doubt, he will continue to excel.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and celebrating Judd's achievement. He represents the very best of Alabama, and we are proud to see him carry that spirit forward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Dr. Barbara Bigsby Boyd. Dr. Boyd was elected in 1994 to the Alabama House of Representatives for the 32nd District covering portions of Calhoun and Talladega Counties. She has served as the Democratic Caucus Vice Chair and a member of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.

Dr. Boyd was born in Anniston, Alabama, on January 31, 1937. She attended Cobb High School and received her B.A. Degree in French and English from Miles College, her M.A. in Supervision and Curriculum Development, and her Ed.D. in Instructional Leadership and Reading from the University of Alabama.

Dr. Boyd spent 45 years in education serving in both public and private education in secondary, two-year and four-year colleges including Jacksonville State University, Gadsden State Community College, and Miles College.

Dr. Boyd is a member of the Trustee Board of Murray Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, a life member of the NAACP, as well as the Alabama New South Coalition and Dorcas Art and Social Club. She is also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Phi Delta Kappa, and Kappa Delta Pi. Her committees in the State House include Children and Senior Advocacy, County and Municipal Government, Rules and State Government.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and celebrating the extraordinary career of Dr. Boyd and wish her the very best in her retirement. I thank her for her service to the state of Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Bill Partridge. After almost 40 years of service, Oxford Police Chief and Public Safety Director, Bill Partridge, announced his retirement starting May 1, 2026. Chief Partridge joined the Oxford Police Department in 1989 and was first appointed Chief of Police in July 2007.

Chief Partridge served as the president of the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP) two times, as well as chairman of the AACOP legislative committee, former chairman of the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission, advisory board chairman for the Center of Best Practices in Law Enforcement at Jacksonville State University, and vice president of the FBI National Academy Associates-- Alabama Chapter.

During his tenure as Chief of Police, Partridge became a known leader in law enforcement across the state of Alabama and helped secure funding and support for the East Metro Alabama Crime Center. This facility is a state-of-the-art building that works in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies in the region, state, and across the country to help fight crime.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and celebrating the extraordinary career of my friend, Bill Partridge. I thank him for his service to the State of Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish a very happy 80th birthday to my dear friend, Lee Vanoy. Lee McMickens Vanoy was born on April 9, 1946, in rural Mississippi. She and her sister Ann were soon adopted by Horace and Polly McMickens of Bessemer, Alabama. She and her childhood friend Ramona enjoyed piano lessons, tea parties and trips to the beauty parlor. Now they still enjoy trips to Florida beaches and spa days.

On August 26, 1965, she married Jim Vanoy in Bessemer, Alabama and was blessed with wonderful children and grandchildren: her sons, Van (Deanne) and Ben (Mieka); and her grandchildren, Courtney (Schylar McBride), Taylor, Blake and Alex.

Lee spent most of her career working as administrative assistant beginning at BellSouth in Bessemer and then at various churches in Opelika, Alabama, but her greatest joy was being a wife and mother. She has also been a cherished member of my district staff for over 20 years. Aunt Lee, as she is called by her many nieces/nephews, great nieces/nephews, and even great-great nieces/nephews, is known for her big heart and the dressing she makes for Thanksgiving at the old Vanoy home place in Vance, Alabama.

Jim and Lee moved to Opelika in 1970 and call Opelika home. They like being close to Auburn University and enjoy football games, baseball games, and all alumni activities. Lee has served as a member, secretary, and chairman of the Lee County Republican Executive committee for many years. She is also involved in many Republican and social clubs in and around East Alabama. Lee also enjoys hosting receptions for political candidates in her home.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in wishing Lee a very happy 80th birthday.