Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the ALERT Act. This is critically needed legislation that will go a long way to improve aviation safety.

Last year's midair collision between an Army helicopter and a passenger jet on approach to Reagan National should have never happened.

The NTSB completed their investigation earlier this year, and their report included 13 recommendations to the Army and the Pentagon to ensure another tragedy like this doesn't happen again. Title II of the ALERT Act carries out all 13 of those recommendations.

In fact, the NTSB states that this bill not only meets their recommendations but in most cases exceeds them. For instance, the NTSB made several recommendations to the Army to improve its training and safety management system. The ALERT Act requires all military services to make these safety modifications, not just the Army.

The ALERT Act also addresses concerns raised by the Department of War with the bill as it passed the Senate. The bill before us ensures our bombers, fighters, and other classified aircraft can continue to execute their critical national security missions without revealing their location to our enemies.

We ultimately got a product that improves aviation safety without undermining our national security. This is a strong bipartisan bill that passed the Armed Services Committee by a vote of 53-0.

I thank the NTSB and the Pentagon for working with us throughout this process. I also thank Chairman Graves and Ranking Members Larsen and Smith, as well as our staff on both committees for their hard work.

Finally, I express my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those who lost their lives in this terrible accident. I thank the PAT 25 and the Flight 5342 families for their tireless efforts to ensure a tragedy like this never occurs again.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Major John ``Alex'' Klinner. Major Klinner was deployed in support of Operation Epic Fury when his KC-135 crashed in Western Iraq on March 12, 2026. Major Klinner was one of six airmen killed, and one of three members of the 6th Air Refueling Wing performing duties for the 99th Air Refueling Squadron of Birmingham, Alabama.

Major Klinner grew up in Auburn, Alabama, with parents, Johnny and Mary Ellen Klinner. He graduated from Auburn High School in 2011 and Auburn University in 2016 with a degree in mechanical engineering. For many years, he served as a counselor at Camp Mac in Munford. He was also a leader in many student organizations.

Major Klinner joined the Air Force in 2017 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program and completed pilot training in November 2018. He was a combat veteran many times over, logging 543 hours of combat and combat support hours. At the time of his passing, he had recently been promoted to Major.

Many in the Auburn and Birmingham communities knew Alex to be kind, devoted servant-leader to those around him. He is survived by his wife, Libby, and their three young children, as well as his parents, along with two sisters and their families. My prayers are with his family and friends as they face this tragic loss.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring the life and service of Major John ``Alex'' Klinner and extending our deepest condolences to his family. We remain grateful for his service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleagues from the States of Alabama and Ohio to honor the lives of the six KC-135 crewmembers who tragically lost their lives in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 12, 2026.

Our prayers are with the families of Major John Klinner, Captain Ariana Savino, and Technical Sergeant Ashley Pruitt assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing performing duties for the 99th Air Refueling Squadron out of Birmingham, Alabama, along with the families of Captain Seth Koval, Captain Curtis Angst, and Technical Sergeant Tyler Simmons assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing out of Columbus, Ohio.

I also acknowledge the total of 13 servicemembers who have lost their lives during this conflict. We commend their selfless sacrifice and service to our country and pray for their loved ones.

Please join me in a moment of silence to honor their memory.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 4138) to waive the 60-day notice requirement for the posthumous honorary promotion of Captain Cody Khork, United States Army and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Oxford High School boys' basketball team for winning the AHSAA 6A State Title. The team's record is 30-4 and is coached by Joel Van Meter.

On Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center's Legacy Arena, the Oxford High School team beat the Cullman High School team 68 to 44. Tournament MVP Jaylen Alexander scored 11 points, had eight assists, and had five steals. Chris Latson scored 21 points, Marcus Perry, Jr. scored 17 points, and Caileb Wilson scored 10 points. This is Oxford High School's first basketball state title in school history.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebration as we congratulate the team, coaches, students, faculty and fans at Oxford High School on this exciting occasion. Go Big O.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I rise in strong opposition to this resolution.

The intelligence is clear that Iran was attempting to rebuild its nuclear program. Iran was developing missiles that could place American bases in the region and our homeland at risk.

The rapid expansion of Iranian missiles and drones posed an immediate threat to U.S. forces and partners in the region.

Iran's missile and drone arsenal acted as a conventional shield to its nuclear program. Faced with this threat, the President sought diplomatic solutions, but the Iranian regime refused to abandon their pursuit of a nuclear weapon. They refused to limit their ballistic missile arsenal, and they refused to rein in their terrorist proxies.

Only when it became clear that Iran would not agree to a peaceful resolution did President Trump take decisive action and lawful action to protect the American people.

As Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth have repeatedly explained, this is a limited military operation with clearly defined objectives.

Those objectives are: Number one, to destroy the Iranian missile drone and defense infrastructure posing a threat to U.S. forces and partners in the region; and, number two, to degrade Iran's industrial capacity to produce additional drones and missiles; and, number three, to destroy Iranian naval assets with the capacity to threaten U.S. forces and the free flow of commerce through the region.

Achieving these objectives will ensure Iran can no longer threaten the U.S. or our allies.

Past administrations have allowed the threat from Iran to grow and fester to the problem we have now. President Trump took decisive action to end the threat and restore the credibility of American deterrence.

At this time, we should be focused on ensuring our warfighters have the resources and capabilities they need to succeed in this operation. We should not pass any resolution that will end this critical operation before achieving these military objectives. Doing so would needlessly risk the lives of American servicemembers and American allies.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members to pray for the safety of our men and women in uniform and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. I also urge my colleagues to oppose this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 170th anniversary of Talladega Insurance Agency in Talladega, Alabama. Talladega Insurance is currently under the leadership of Boyd McGehee.

Talladega Insurance Company was incorporated in 1856 making it the oldest insurance agency in the State of Alabama and the second oldest in the United States.

The company attributes its longevity to its superior staffing. The Talladega Insurance Agency is built on family, as it is a family-owned and operated business and has had four generations leading the way. In the 1920s, Turner Joel Jones acquired the Talladega Insurance Company renaming it Talladega Insurance Agency and his brother, George, soon joined him in the business.

In 1950, William Boyd McGehee, Jr. (Billy) left his family's pharmacy in Montgomery, Alabama, seeking new directions. He and his wife moved to Talladega to join her father in the insurance business.

In 1974, Billy's son, William Boyd McGehee, III (Bill), returned with his wife, Evelyn, to Talladega to work at Talladega Insurance after leaving Atlanta, where he worked for the Great American Insurance Company. In 2004, Bill's son, Boyd, joined the agency.

Today, Boyd runs the agency. He is an alumnus of The University of Alabama and The National Alliance's Producer School. In 2008, he was named Alabama's Young Agent of the Year by the Alabama Independent Insurance Agent Association. Boyd has carried on the family tradition and has made Talladega Insurance Agency not only successful in business, but a community partner as he continues to invest in the City of Talladega.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in wishing my friend, Boyd, and his team at Talladega Insurance Agency a happy 170th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership on this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill.

The bill before us today is a flawed response to last year's tragic midair collision at Reagan National. First and foremost, this bill will undermine our national security.

The Department of War just released the following statement regarding the bill: ``As currently drafted, enactment [of this bil] would create significant unresolved budgetary burdens and operational security risks affecting national defense activities.''

Let's talk about those operational security risks. The ROTOR Act requires ADS-B, which is a beacon signal, In and Out to be transmitted on all aircraft in the national airspace, including Department of War aircraft performing sensitive missions.

ADS-B systems transmit information on the location, speed, and direction of aircraft over unencrypted, open channels. Websites like FlightAware then post that information for all the world to see.

Since 2018, certain military aircraft have been exempt from broadcasting that information pursuant to a memorandum of agreement between the FAA and the Pentagon. The ROTOR Act overrides that MOA with the FAA rulemaking. The FAA, not the Pentagon or our military commanders, will have the final say on which military aircraft must be equipped with ADS-B and when it must be turned on. That is unacceptable.

Requiring our fighters, bombers, and highly classified assets to regularly broadcast their location puts our men and women in uniform at risk by exposing operational planning, aircraft details, and patterns of life to our adversaries.

Now, we can all agree that certain military aircraft should be equipped with and transmit the ADS-B signal, especially in congested civilian airspace. Fortunately, the current MOU already provides for that. At this time, nearly all Army helicopters flying in congested airspace are equipped with ADS-B Out and have been instructed to transmit.

The problem is the ROTOR Act goes much further than these aircraft, undermining the operational security of our fighters, bombers, and aircraft on classified missions. For obvious reasons, we do not want our enemies to know where our bombers or fighters are or where they are headed.

Beyond the serious national security impacts of the ROTOR Act, the bill fails to address nearly 90 percent of the recommendations made by the NTSB.

Over 40 critical air safety recommendations are left out of this bill. This includes important recommendations for the Department of War, such as increased coordination between the military and the FAA on aircraft safety matters, better safety management systems and reporting for military aircraft, and enhanced training for military pilots operating in congested airspace.

All of these flaws can be easily fixed if the committees of jurisdiction in the House are afforded the opportunity to follow regular order and consider an alternative bill.

I have joined Chairman Graves and Ranking Members Larsen and Smith to introduce the bipartisan ALERT Act that will fix the flaws of the ROTOR Act, but our legislation goes much farther than the ROTOR Act to improve aviation safety by addressing all 50 of the NTSB recommendations. It will also ensure our military can continue to carry out sensitive operations that are crucial to our defense and to our Nation.

The Department of War is requesting these changes be made before the ROTOR Act is signed into law. If we defeat this bill, we can have the ALERT Act on the floor the very next day. We can reconcile the differences with the Senate and get the bill to the President the next week.

The House of Representatives should not send a bill to the President that has no input from the House, especially a bill this impactful to our national security.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to oppose the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend Annie Wilcox Boyajian, President of Freedom House, for more than a decade of tireless dedication and exemplary service in advancing the cause of global democracy, particularly during the most recent disruptions in the freedom and democracy landscape globally and within the United States.

In an era marked by profound challenges to democratic institutions, Ms. Boyajian has demonstrated unparalleled leadership and resolve. Relentlessly, alongside the entire leadership team and staff of Freedom House, she has protected dissidents from harm around the world, leveraging her extensive network and strong, trusted relationships to safeguard those who stand against oppression and tyranny. Her efforts have provided critical support to vulnerable individuals and communities, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights defended amid rising threats.

Furthermore, with great determination, Ms. Boyajian has transitioned Freedom House with dignity and care for its staff and partners, while incredibly navigating the volatile worldwide of democratic backsliding, resulting from years of unchecked authoritarian rule. Under her guidance, the organization has adapted to these turbulent times while maintaining its core mission, emerging stronger and more resilient in its commitment to human rights, freedom of expression, and the rule of law.

Freedom House, founded in 1941 by Eleanor Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie, remains a cornerstone of American leadership in the global fight for freedom and democracy. Ms. Boyajian's stewardship has upheld and enhanced this legacy, positioning the institution as an indispensable force in countering authoritarianism and fostering democratic renewal worldwide.

Her leadership and commitment will be missed greatly at Freedom House, as her mark of excellence will be recorded in the historical annals and remembered by all who have witnessed her profound impact. On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, we wish her continued success and look forward to her enduring leadership in the continuous struggle for a world where all are free.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Annie Wilcox Boyajian's extraordinary service and the enduring legacy of Freedom House--a legacy that continues to inspire hope and action in the pursuit of freedom for all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this resolution.

For decades, violent drug cartels have ravaged American communities. They have flooded our streets with deadly narcotics. They have destabilized our hemisphere, creating openings for malign influence from China, Russia, and Iran. Year after year, they have killed thousands of Americans.

We decided long ago that we would not tolerate threats to the American people from terrorists like al-Qaida and ISIS. We shouldn't tolerate them from narcoterrorists either.

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives received a detailed briefing from the administration on Operation Southern Spear. We heard directly from Secretary Rubio, Secretary Hegseth, and General Caine. Their message was clear: Narcoterrorists are the single greatest threat in the Western Hemisphere.

President Trump is acting decisively, lawfully, and within his authority as Commander in Chief. Our military is targeting known drug smuggling boats loaded with drugs and moving along well-established trafficking routes. Every strike is based on rigorous intelligence linking these boats with well-known narcoterrorists.

Every strike undergoes a comprehensive legal review and complies with defined rules of engagement to ensure innocent civilians are not harmed. The Armed Services Committee is notified of every strike and has been briefed on this operation several times. These strikes are lawful under U.S. law and international law, and all actions are in compliance with the law of armed conflict.

Most importantly, these strikes have dramatically reduced drug smuggling operations.

The bottom line is that Americans are safer today because of President Trump's actions. Let's not return to the old, failed playbook of treating our counterterrorist administrations solely as a law enforcement matter. We tried that for decades, and it didn't work. It cost hundreds of thousands of American lives.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in protecting Americans by opposing this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Moody High School football team for winning the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) 5A State Championship.

At Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, on December 4, 2025, the Moody football team, with a record of 13-2, secured the school's second state championship over Vigor High School with a shutout of 25- 0.

The championship team from Moody, Alabama, is led by Coach Jake Ganus and is the school's second football state title.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the Moody football team, Coach Ganus and his coaching staff, the faculty and fans on this exciting win for the school. I congratulate them and Go Blue Devils.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Fire Chief Gary Sparks on his retirement, after more than 40 years of service as a firefighter for the City of Oxford, Alabama.

Chief Sparks began his work with the City of Oxford when he was just 15 years old, washing trucks and cleaning the station. On May 12, 1983, he became an official member of the Oxford Volunteer Fire Department.

He later became a full-time member of the Anniston Fire Department on February 13, 1987, rising through the ranks to eventually become Assistant Fire Chief in 2003.

After 20 years of service with the Anniston Fire Department, he retired on February 13, 2007. Chief Sparks became full-time Fire Chief for the City of Oxford on March 3, 2007.

Chief Sparks is involved in several civic organizations in his community. He is currently serving on the Alabama Joint Fire Council. He has served Alabama's fire service for eight years with dedication and insight as a member of the Personnel Standards & Education Commission with the Alabama Fire College. He is a Past President of the Alabama Fire Chiefs Association and was voted the 2015 Alabama Fire Chief of the Year.

In addition to being a dedicated firefighter, Chief Sparks is also a committed husband to his wife, Monica, a wonderful father to his son Robert (Meaghen) and grandfather to McKenna and Conor.

On February 2, 2026, Chief Sparks will retire.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Coosa Christian School football team for winning the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) 2A State Championship.

At Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, on December 5, 2025, the Coosa Christian School football team, with a record of 13-2, secured the school's first state championship over Lanett High School with a score of 29-22. Two touchdowns were scored in the final few minutes of the game with a 20-yard touchdown run by Mac Long with 22 seconds left on the clock.

The championship team from Gadsden, Alabama, is led by Coach Rush Propst and is the school's first football state title.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the Coosa Christian football team, Coach Propst and his coaching staff, the faculty and fans on this exciting win for the school. I congratulate them and Go Conquerors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Moody High School girls' flag football team for winning the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) 1-5A State Championship.

At Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, on December 3, 2025, the Moody flag football team, with a record of 22-3, secured the school's first state championship in flag football over Montgomery Catholic School with a score of 28-17.

The championship team from Moody, Alabama, is led by Coach Wren Moore and is the school's first flag football state title.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the Moody girls' flag football team, Coach Moore and the coaching staff, the faculty and fans on this exciting win for the school. I congratulate them and Go Blue Devils.

Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.