Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the retirement of Tony Russell, the Superintendent of FEMA's Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, Alabama.

As Superintendent, Mr. Russell has provided executive level management and leadership for the CDP, which provides unique, hands-on training to more than 60,000 emergency responders a year from state, local, tribal and territorial agencies. He oversees operations of the CDP's 176-acre campus, which is home to the only training facility in the country where civilian responders can train in a toxic agent environment and the Nation's only hospital training facility dedicated solely to preparing the healthcare, public health and environmental health specialists for mass casualty events related to terrorism or natural disasters.

Mr. Russell previously served as the Superintendent of FEMA's Emergency Management Institute. During his tenure at EMI, he was deployed in support of critical agency priorities. In 2012, Mr. Russell assisted with the Superstorm Sandy response and recovery activities in New York. In 2014, he was designated as the Acting Region VIII Administrator, serving as the Senior Executive for all FEMA priorities and requirements in the states of Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming and Utah.

In 2009, Mr. Russell was appointed by the President as the FEMA Region VI Regional Administrator and served in that capacity until 2012. In this role, he was responsible for all FEMA operational decisions within the states of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas and Louisiana.

During 2003 and 2009, Mr. Russell served as a Federal Coordinating Officer for FEMA's Region VIII. In addition to his FCO duties, in 2009 he assumed the role of Acting Director of the FEMA Louisiana Recovery Office for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike, with offices throughout the state. He also managed FEMA operations in many complex disaster response and recovery operations across the country, including potential hurricanes in Texas, the Pandemic Influenza Regional Team, and the agency's support to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

Mr. Russell, a former United States Marine Corps Officer, holds an undergraduate degree in political science and management from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. He earned two master's degrees from National University in San Diego in the areas of business administration (MBA) and management (MA). He also received a Master of Arts degree in Homeland Security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, and completed Executive Leadership Education at Harvard University.

Mr. Russell is an active member of the emergency management community, including the International Association of Emergency Managers, and holds the designation of Certified Emergency Manager.

Mr. Speaker, please Join me in recognizing this milestone for my friend, Tony Russell.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1612, I call up the bill (H.R. 5009) to reauthorize wildlife habitat and conservation programs, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the House amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5009 and that I may include tabular material on the same.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5009. For the first time in decades, this year's defense bill carries a different name. It is the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act. We did that to underscore the tremendous gains this bill makes toward improving the quality of life of our servicemembers and their families.

No servicemember should have to live in squalid conditions. No military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children. No one serving in the military should have to wait to see a doctor. That is exactly what many of our servicemembers are experiencing, especially junior enlisted personnel.

This bill goes a long way to fixing that. It includes a 15 percent pay raise for the junior enlisted. It expands allowances for housing and food. The bill significantly increases funding to improve existing barracks and build new ones. It encourages the services to pursue public-private partnerships to provide better unaccompanied housing.

The bill reduces dangerous healthcare wait times by waiving referral requirements for specialty care and expanding the number of DOD doctors and nurses with new special recruitment and pay incentives.

The bill improves access to childcare for military families by increasing investment in DOD childcare centers and fully funding childcare fee assistance programs.

The bill helps military spouses gain and retain employment by making it easier for them to transfer professional licenses between States.

We are making these historic improvements in the quality of life of our servicemembers because, now more than ever, we need to recruit and retain the best and the brightest. That is because the threats our Nation faces, especially those from China, are more complex now than they have been in over 40 years.

To deter these threats, the FY25 NDAA reforms acquisition authorities and fosters private-sector innovation to speed the fielding of game- changing new technologies that will give us the advantage in a conflict with China. It strengthens our security partnerships with Taiwan and our Pacific allies. It fully funds the modernization of our nuclear deterrent; protects U.S. military bases, the defense supply chain, and academic research from Chinese espionage; and builds the logistics networks in the Pacific the military needs to carry out operations against China. It includes new investments to retool and revitalize the industrial base to ensure it can deliver the systems we need to prevail in any conflict.

In the face of growing threats from China, it is also critical we restore the military's focus on lethality. The FY25 NDAA does so by ending divisive policies that have hurt recruiting, unit cohesion, and military readiness.

We all know that deterring these threats will be an expensive endeavor. That is why this bill includes over $30 billion in savings from cutting systems that can't survive a conflict with China and by reining in programs like the F-35 that are not delivering on existing requirements.

Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill and a fair compromise that will go a long way to ensure our Nation can successfully deter and defeat any adversary.

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

Mr. Speaker, below is a table representing $31.6 billion in savings over the Future Years Defense Program included in the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon), my friend and colleague who chaired the task force and worked hand in hand with Representative Houlahan from Pennsylvania in fashioning the 32 recommendations for the quality of life improvements that are embedded in this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gimenez).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Strong), who is my friend and colleague from the Alabama delegation and also a great member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to gentleman from Texas (Mr. Jackson), who is another outstanding Armed Services Committee member.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), who is one of the senior members of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. McClain).

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

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Moylan).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Mike Garcia).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans), a fine member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nunn).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nunn) for his words, and I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Murphy).

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member because, as is obvious to anybody listening, he is very bright and very articulate, but he is also just a great friend and tremendous partner in working together in a bipartisan fashion year in and year out as we work on these important issues. I appreciate his help so much in fashioning this bill.

I will begrudgingly go ahead and acknowledge that our Senate counterparts have been pretty great to work with, too. Senator Reed and Senator Wicker are great gentlemen and have been real partners as we have gotten this bill to this point.

I thank the Armed Services Committee staff, as well as the leadership staff, the Rules Committee, the CBO, legislative counsel, the Parliamentarian's Office, and the Clerk's Office for all of their hard work in helping us get to where we are. I also thank Speaker Johnson for his leadership in moving this bill forward.

Mr. Speaker, the bill before us represents a bicameral compromise. Each corner has some wins and some losses, but the totality of the bill deserves support from all Members.

This bill would help revitalize our defense industrial base. It will build the ready, capable, and lethal fighting force we need to deter China and our other adversaries, and it will provide historic improvements in the quality of life of our servicemembers and their families.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the proceedings during the former Members program be printed in the Congressional Record and that all Members and former Members who spoke during the proceedings have the privilege of revising and extending their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask for the House's attention today to recognize the 70th birthday of Gerald Morris. Gerald was born to Emma Lois and Toby Lee Morris on December 4, 1954, in Anniston, Alabama. He is one of six children. He graduated from Saks High School in 1972.

On February 22, 1985, Gerald married Waltina Morris. They were blessed with five children and seven grandchildren.

Gerald was inspired by his uncle, Edgar Morris, who was a tailor. He had his shop in downtown Anniston. Gerald worked at a men's clothing store named Phil's Men's Store and began doing alterations for customers there. He attended trade school and opened his own shop in downtown Anniston named Morris Alterations in 1981. As life would have it, his son was able to open a men's clothing store right across the street from his own storefront. Two of Gerald's daughters work alongside him daily.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Morris switched gears at the shop and began making a variety of popular masks that sold from Alabama to Connecticut. After the pandemic, work was busier than ever as people went back to their social engagements, proms and weddings, they needed his artful craft to make their clothing perfect for them.

Gerald has been in business for almost 44 years and attributes his success to all of his hard work and loyal customers. He has no plans of retiring. Gerald and his store are a fixture of downtown Anniston and Gerald gives back to his community by helping local schools.

The Morris family attends New Jerusalem AFM Church of God.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Gerald on this milestone and wishing him a very happy birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the 50th wedding anniversary of Tom and Cindy McLeod.

George Thomas McLeod, Jr. was born in Birmingham, Alabama on January 3, 1953, to George Thomas McLeod and Marie White McLeod. Cynthia Diane McAuley was born in Mobile, Alabama, on August 30, 1954, to Claude Ewing McAuley and Barbara Delores McAuley. When Cindy was in elementary school, her family moved to Birmingham.

Tom and Cindy attended Shades Valley High School and that's where their love story began. Tom graduated in 1971 and stayed in Birmingham to work for the family business. Cindy graduated in 1973 and briefly attended classes at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, before Tom convinced her to move back to Birmingham. He sold his motorcycle to buy her an engagement ring and she said yes.

They married on November 2, 1974, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Birmingham. They started a family in 1978 with the birth of a son, Christopher Neal McLeod. Chris is married to Joanna Mazzone of Pelham, and they have two sons: Caden Thomas (13) and Coker Neal (10). Their daughter, Kimberly Lynn McLeod, was born in 1982. Kim is married to Dr. John Flannagan of Anniston, and they have one son: Will Rivers (8).

Fifty years later, Tom and Cindy enjoy spending time with friends and family, traveling in their RV, bird watching, yardwork and attending their grandsons' sporting events. Tom also enjoys golfing while Cindy serves her friends and family and rescues stray animals.

The McLeod's attend Double Oak Community Church in Mt. Laurel and are members of Greystone Golf & Country Club. They celebrated their 50th anniversary with friends and family at Greystone Country Club Legacy, with a surprise party hosted by their children and their spouses on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing this milestone and wishing them a happy 50th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for the House's attention today to recognize the retirement of Myra Bushard, Executive Assistant to the City Manager in the City of Anniston.

Myra was born on August 24, 1962, to Reverend S.E. and Lousie Dulaney and grew up in the Blue Mountain area as the youngest of seven siblings. She graduated from Saks High School and then New World Business College in Anniston in the Executive Secretarial Program in 1981. She worked as secretary to the President and Vice President at Fort McClellan Credit Union. From 1986 through 1993, she worked in Birmingham at the Birmingham Credit Union, then worked as receptionist and Administrative Assistant at the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce from 1993 through 1995. In 1995, She worked as Trust Operations Officer at SouthTrust Bank Trust Department for 10 years.

Myra has served in her role with the City of Anniston since February 28, 2005. She has served under four Administrations including Mayor Chip Howell, Mayor Gene Robinson, Mayor Vaughn Stewart and Mayor Jack Draper. She has served many City Managers including John Seymour, George Monk, Don Hoyt, Brian Johnson, Kent Davis, James Johnson and Steven Folks.

Myra's official retirement date is October 31, 2024, and a reception in her honor will be held on October 30, 2024.

She is married to her husband of over 40 years, Bryan. They are blessed with two children, Jonathan and Alicia, and six grandchildren. Family is everything to Myra.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Myra and thanking her for her service to the City of Anniston. I congratulate Myra.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for the House's attention today to recognize the 100th birthday of Daisy Barnes.

Daisy was born to Willie Andrew and Sally Ann Hooks Barnes on October 11, 1924, in Lapine, Alabama. On May 16, 1942, she married the love of her life, Charlie W. Sankey. They were married 68 years before his death in 2010 and were blessed with nine children: Theodias Sankey (deceased), Charlie Lee Sankey, Willie Sankey, Daisy Sankey Henderson, Dorothy Sankey Brown, Doris Sankey, Diana Sankey Motley, David Sankey and Danny Sankey.

Daisy attends Rockdale Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Samuel Robinson and has served as an usher and deaconess. She is also a founding member of The Sunrising Five gospel group and sang with them for over 50 years.

Daisy is full of laughter and is a fabulous dresser. She loves gardening, cooking and caring for her family. She is also a member of Eastern Star.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Daisy on this milestone and wishing her a very happy 100th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for the House's attention today to recognize Hobson City's 125th Founders' Day Celebration.

The Town of Hobson City was first known as Mooree Quarters, a Black settlement dating back to 1868 in a section of Oxford, Alabama.

In 1890, a Black man ran for Justice of the Peace in Oxford and the white mayoral candidate vowed if the Black man won, he would go to the State Capitol and have the boundary lines redrawn excluding Mooree Quarters. The Black man won the election, and in 1896 Mooree Quarters Settlement was removed from the Oxford Town limits.

According to the 1899 Alabama Constitution, to be eligible to vote, a resident had to have lived in the county of his residence for 12 months, be a male at least 21 years old, able to read and understand the Constitution, have a steady job for 12 months, own at least 40 acres of land and pay taxes among other requirements. Some Black property owners were allowed to vote in city and county elections. Twenty men responsible for the incorporation of the town qualified to vote under those terms.

For almost three years, Mooree Quarters settlement sat alone in the county. Taking matters into their own hands, a committee of citizens took their concerns to attorney Ross Black in Anniston, Alabama. Black attorneys were not allowed to practice law in Alabama during this time. The attorney advised them to incorporate the territory into their own municipality. On July 20, 1899, approximately 125 Blacks living in Mooree Quarters filed a petition with Calhoun County Probate Judge E.F. Cook to become a separate and distinct municipality. After proper legal proceedings, the town became incorporated on August 16, 1899, making it the first city in Alabama established exclusively for and by Black people. S.L. Davis was elected the first Mayor of Hobson City. Hobson City was named for Richard P. Hobson, a white Naval hero in the Spanish American War and a representative of the Alabama Legislature. Today Hobson City is under the leadership of Mayor Alberta McCrory.

This year's honorees include Dr. David Satcher, 16th Surgeon General of the United States and Alabama State Representative, Dr. Barbara Bigsby Boyd.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Hobson City's 125th Founder's Day Celebration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for the House's attention today to recognize the 25th anniversary of the Community Actors' Studio Theatre (CAST) organization.

CAST was incorporated as a 501(c)3 in October of 1999. Since that time, CAST has remained committed to its mission to give everyone in the community an opportunity to be engaged.educated and entertained in the theatrical arts.

In its 25 years. CAST has produced over 130 shows, engaged over 600 individuals from the community in the production of those shows and has provided school-day perfonnances to over 10,000 school children.

CAST is unique in the community because it offers the opportunity for those who want to participate in theatre and provides families a chance to act together. Besides two schools, CAST offers the only instructional program in the theatrical arts in the area, CAST Kidz, teaching weekly classes in dance, voice and acting to over 100 students aged 5-18. These students perform in local productions of their own and compete in and win regional and national theatrical competitions.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking CAST for all they do for the community and the children in the area and wishing the organization a happy 25th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for the House's attention today to recognize the 90th birthday of Joe Garrett, Jr. Joe was born to Joe and Luellen Garrett on October 21st, 1934, in Talladega County. He is the oldest of 10 children. He grew up and was educated in the Talladega County School System.

On November 27, 1954, Joe was married to the former Ms. Mary Etta Swain They were blessed with four children to raise including Joe E., George, Anita and Earl. They have 11 grandchildren (one deceased), 25 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren. After almost 60 years of marriage, Mrs. Garrett passed away on March 6, 2014.

Joe worked for many years mainly in the construction industry. He is active in his church and has served as a deacon, president of the Usher Board, Sunday School teacher and Sunday School Superintendent. He is also president of the Laymen Auxiliary of the Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist District Association. In his free time, he enjoys gardening and sharing his fresh vegetables with neighbors.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Joe on this milestone and wishing him a very happy birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the 50th wedding anniversary of Larry and Betty Deason.

Larry Kenneth Deason was born in Anniston, Alabama, on February 9, 1952, to George Henry Deason and Mary Jewell Deason of Anniston. Betty Lowe Bagley was born on March 24, 1952, to Oscar Miller Bagley and Madell Lowe Bagley.

Larry and Betty both attended Anniston High School and graduated in 1970, the last class to graduate from the old high school building. They started dating their senior year at AHS.

Their first date was a Coke party hosted by the George Neely Chapter of Hi-Y. They dated off and on through the rest of high school and college.

Larry and Betty married on July 20, 1974, at Parker Memorial Baptist Church in Anniston. They are blessed with their daughter Maryann D. Gendron, son-in-law Steven Gendron, grandson Henry Steven Gendron and granddaughter Sarah Kathryn Gendron.

The Deasons spend most of their time at the lake in Wedowee, Alabama, or attending banking conventions. They celebrated their 50th anniversary on a Mediterranean cruise with dear friends.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing this milestone for my dear friends, Larry and Betty Deason and wishing them a happy 50th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for the House's attention today to recognize Whit and Amanda Lovelady and their children Annagrace and John Luke for being named Alabama's Outstanding Young Farm Family. The Talladega County farmers received the honor during the Alabama Farmers Federation Farm & Land Conference on August 3rd in Montgomery, Alabama.

The Lovelady family raise cattle and hay and have built their farm from the ground up over the last decade. They annually bale 10,000 rolls of hay while managing Angus, Charolais and commercial cattle herds at Cedar Roost Ranch. The Loveladys make every acre of their farm count. In addition to the cattle and hay, they custom bale and fertilize fields for their neighbors, sell freezer beef and pork and use a forestry mulcher to make land more productive. These young farmers are working diligently to expand these operations.

Their two young children have seen Whit and Amanda model a love for farming and are already deeply invested in life on the farm. Whit was influenced by his late grandfather Windle Batchelor and Amanda by her late father O.E. Williams, Jr.

Their passion for agriculture runs deep, and they have encouraged younger generations to be involved in Alabama's No. 1 industry. They are leaders in the Alabama Farmers Federation and their community. Whit also serves as Talladega County Cattlemen's Association President.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing this young family on this great honor. Congratulations to the Loveladys.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Auburn University Men's Golf team for winning the NCAA Division I National Title.

On May 29th, the Auburn Tigers held off Florida State University three matches to two to secure their title win. The tournament came down to the last match of the day and was finally won on the 17th hole with a par. The tournament was played at the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California.

This is the first national championship for the Auburn Men's Golf Team and advanced the team to 4-1 all-time in NCAA championship match play. Previously, the team had not advanced past a semifinal round.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Coach Clinard, the Auburn University Men's Golf team, students, faculty, and all the fans. War Eagle.