Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and extraordinary legacy of Lieutenant Santiago C. Soliz, a cherished family man, proud veteran, and devoted public servant from Alice, Texas.

A proud graduate of Alice High School, Lt. Soliz went on to answer the call of duty through his service in the United States Army. Upon returning home, he chose to continue serving his community, dedicating more than three decades of service to the Alice Police Department.

Beyond his long and distinguished career, Lt. Soliz was the heart and foundation of his family. Alongside his beloved wife, Belen, they built a home filled with love for their children, Juan Carlos and Monica, and grandchildren, Mason and Karley.

Lt. Soliz lived a life defined by strength, selfless service, and love for his family and community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Aviation Ordnanceman Third Class Petty Officer Janyssa Lilybeth Espinoza for her exceptional service in the United States Navy.

Raised in Texas, Petty Officer Espinoza graduated from Veterans Memorial High School before enlisting in the Navy at age 19. She proudly represents our community as the first woman in her family to serve our nation in the military.

As an Aviation Ordnanceman aboard the USS George Washington and the USS Abraham Lincoln, she carries out critical flight deck operations, handling weapons and supporting our F-18 and F-35 aircraft under demanding conditions.

Especially during her extended ten-month deployment at sea aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, Petty Officer Espinoza showed herself to be a true leader, stepping up during the most challenging of times to support her fellow sailors while working long hours thousands of miles away from her loved ones. Through it all, she remained steadfast in her love of country and remained focused on the mission at hand.

Petty Officer Espinoza exemplifies the courage, sacrifice, and dedication that define our Armed Forces. I thank Petty Officer Espinoza for her selfless devotion to our Nation, and I wish her fair winds and following seas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the incredible 105th birthday of Mrs. Ofelia Mata Lugo.

Born in 1921, Ofelia's life is a beautiful stow of strength, faith, and family. As a young woman, she worked tirelessly harvesting crops before settling in Mercedes with her husband, Leonel, to raise their family. Through every chapter of her journey, including achieving her lifelong dream of becoming a United States citizen in 1967, her spirit has always shone bright.

Today, Ofelia is the proud mother of five children, a grandmother of 13, and a great-grandmother of 24. Her life has been filled with countless moments of joy, from cheering on the Mercedes Tigers and the Dallas Cowboys, to standing proudly beside her son, Leonel, Jr., as he retired from the United States Army.

Ofelia remains a shining example of the American dream and the strength of our South Texas heritage. I congratulate her on 105 years.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 10167) to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to stop minting the penny, to require cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the CBO estimate for this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Republican Conference Chairwoman McClain's Common Cents Act. Rather than spending more money producing a coin than the coin itself is worth, this straightforward, commonsense bill ensures that Congress is a good steward of taxpayers' dollars by providing long-term fiscally responsible solutions.

Mr. Speaker, let's look at the numbers. According to an audit of the United States Mint, it costs $3.69 to make a 1-cent penny. In fact, for 19 consecutive years, the U.S. Government has spent more than one penny to make one penny. In 2024 alone, taxpayers lost more than $85 million producing pennies.

Chairwoman McClain's bill eliminates that wasteful spending by codifying President Trump's directive to the Mint to stop producing new pennies for circulation. However, we also need to make sure we are not solving one problem by creating another.

If we stop making pennies, then Americans are likely to use more nickels, and at nearly 14 cents to produce nickels, they aren't exactly a bargain either. That is why this bill gives the Treasury Secretary the flexibility to move a lower-cost composite for the nickel, again, saving taxpayers money.

The bill also provides a clear uniform standard for rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel when exact change isn't available, ensuring our small businesses have the certainty they need.

Importantly, the bill keeps Congress informed by requiring Treasury to notify the House and Senate and explain their reasoning before discontinuing any additional circulating coins.

This is very simple. The Federal Government should not spend more money to make something than it is worth itself. We should look for savings where we can, modernize outdated practices, and ensure businesses and consumers have certainty at the register.

Mr. Speaker, this is what responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars looks like.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support Chairwoman McClain's bipartisan Common Cents Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. McClain), the House Republican Conference chairwoman and sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2978) to permit State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies that receive eligible Federal grant funds to use such funds for investigating elder financial fraud, pig butchering, and general financial fraud, and to clarify that Federal law enforcement agencies may assist State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies in the use of tracing tools for blockchain and related technology, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I note that although H.R. 2978 has not been reported out of Judiciary Committee, which also received a referral for the bill, the Judiciary Committee supports H.R. 2978 being considered today under suspension of the rules. I thank Chairman Jordan for his committee's support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2978, the Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception Act, or GUARD Act.

Financial fraud is one of the fastest-growing threats facing hardworking Americans, particularly seniors and retirees who have spent decades saving for the future. Today, sophisticated scammers are using technology to target vulnerable Americans through increasingly complex schemes.

The GUARD Act helps address this challenge by allowing State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to use existing Federal grant funding to investigate financial fraud.

This bill also gives law enforcement greater access to modern investigative tools by allowing Federal agencies to assist State and local authorities with blockchain tracing and related technologies. These tools can help law enforcement follow the money, identify bad actors, and recover funds that have been stolen from victims.

As scammers continue to develop new ways to exploit Americans, our law enforcement agencies must have the tools and information necessary to keep pace.

This bipartisan bill takes a commonsense approach by strengthening coordination between Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement, while providing the resources needed to investigate and disrupt financial fraud.

More importantly, the GUARD Act will help protect seniors and retirees who have worked hard their entire lives and deserve to be protected from predatory actors.

I thank Representatives Nunn, Fitzgerald, and Gottheimer for their leadership on this important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2978, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nunn), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser).

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

Mr. Speaker, for the reasons I explained earlier, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8278) to require certain supervisory agencies to assess their technological capabilities, and for other purposes, as amended.

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 this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the CBO estimate for this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 8278, the Fostering the Use of Technology to Uphold Regulatory Effectiveness in Supervision Act, or the FUTURES Act.

This bipartisan, commonsense measure addresses a real challenge. As technology evolves at unprecedented speed and banks and financial firms adopt new tools, do our financial regulators have the technology and expertise they need to keep pace?

I am proud to support the FUTURES Act, led by Representatives Marlin Stutzman and Bill Foster, which takes important steps toward modernizing our Federal financial regulatory agencies.

The FUTURES Act provides Congress with a comprehensive view of the roadblocks hindering our supervisors' ability to effectively regulate and supervise their financial institutions. It does so by providing Congress with a clear picture of the technology regulators currently use, where critical gaps exist, and what barriers stand in the way of closing those gaps.

If our regulators and supervisors cannot keep pace with a constantly evolving market, there is a legitimate risk to both financial market stability and the broader economy. We must equip agencies with the tools they need to effectively oversee the ever-changing landscape of global finance. A crucial first step in doing so is to remove roadblocks, outdated agency practices, procurement barriers, and needless bureaucracy that slows the adoption of cutting-edge supervisory technology.

The FUTURES Act would identify and address these roadblocks and help enable more effective, realtime oversight of markets and institutions. This is a critical step to create a more transparent and efficient supervisory environment for financial institutions and market participants of all sizes.

The bill also takes a look at whether agencies can recruit, train, and retain the technical experts needed to meet their missions. Just as we hold our financial institutions to rigorous standards on cybersecurity and vendor oversight, we should equip our regulators to meet the same high bars.

I look forward to the insights this bill will generate and how they will guide future engagement to improve supervision across the Federal financial system.

I supported this bipartisan, commonsense bill last Congress and during our committee markup in May, and I am pleased to do so today.

All of my colleagues at the Financial Services Committee supported this bill, and I urge the rest of my colleagues in the House to join us in passing this important bipartisan bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Stutzman and Mr. Foster for their leadership, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Stutzman), the sponsor of this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, for the reasons I explained earlier, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4646) to clarify that whistleblower protections described in section 4712 of title 41, United States Code, apply to any contract funded from amounts appropriated to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and for other purposes, as amended.

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 this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 4646, the Whistleblower Protection Act, which passed with bipartisan support out of the Financial Services Committee.

Texas families are stretching every dollar right now while scammers are cashing in on taxpayer-funded programs. While Texas families play by the rules, scammers and corrupt leaders shouldn't get rewarded.

That is why I am working to stop the abuse and bring accountability back to Washington, and this bill brings us closer to that goal by strengthening whistleblower protections for those wanting to rightfully blow the whistle on waste, fraud, and abuse in our government.

Whistleblower protections are one of the most effective tools that we have to combat waste, fraud, and abuse throughout our government. This bipartisan legislation is simple. It clarifies that whistleblower protections apply to every HUD contractor, a vital step that is necessary due to the bureaucratic implementation of congressionally enacted enhanced whistleblower protections originally passed in 2013.

When Congress initially passed these enhanced whistleblower protections in 2013, known as section 4712, it intended them to apply to both contracts awarded before these protections became law and to contracts that predated section 4712 becoming law but have since been modified.

Unfortunately, many HUD programs have contracts that are often decades long, meaning that there are still active HUD contracts that predate 2013 and do not include key protections from section 4712, leaving thousands of HUD contractors with uncertainty.

This legislation fixes that by providing much-needed clarity to HUD and ensuring that whistleblower protections apply to every HUD contractor, regardless of when a contract was signed. This is something HUD has even asked for, most recently in their fiscal year 2027 budget request to Congress.

We must never allow retaliation against people who are simply trying to act in the taxpayers' best interests, and I will never stop rooting out corruption and cutting government waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting my bill, the bipartisan Whistleblower Protection Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, for the reasons I explained earlier, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor former mayor, Dolly Perez, on her retirement after nearly four decades of service to the city of Premont.

Dolly's deep commitment to her hometown is a family legacy, inspired by her father who served on the city council over 70 years ago.

After giving 36 incredible years of service as Premont's city secretary, Dolly answered the call to leadership, successfully running for mayor to finish community projects, balancing the city budget, and building a brighter future for the town she loves.

Her decades of sacrifice, compassion, and leadership have left an incredible mark on the community.

I thank Mayor Dolly Perez for her extraordinary lifetime of public service and congratulate her on her well-deserved retirement.

Honoring Retired Air Force Major Homer Gallegos

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of an American hero and a pillar of the McAllen community, retired United States Air Force Major Homer Gallegos.

Born and raised in McAllen, Major Gallegos answered the call to duty in 1968, enlisting in the Air Force and serving a tour of duty in south Vietnam. He dedicated 30 years to the Air Force Reserves, ultimately retiring at the rank of major.

His service to our Nation did not end when he took off the uniform. For over two decades, Major Gallegos worked as a licensed professional counselor at the McAllen Vet Center, helping his fellow veterans heal from the invisible wounds of war.

He served as a commander of the VFW Post 8788 for over 20 years, where he stood in the honor guard to provide final military honors to Rio Grande Valley veterans.

His lifetime of selflessness earned him the national Hands and Heart Award from the Secretary of Veteran's Affairs. His legacy will forever be defined by his faith, devotion to his family, and his servant's heart.

100th Anniversary of Falfurrias Volunteer Fire Department

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the incredible men and women of the Falfurrias Volunteer Fire Department for 100 years of service to south Texas.

The department's history traces back to 1926, when local citizens formed a bucket brigade to fight a fire breaking out in Falfurrias.

Recognizing the need for an organized operation, the brave community members officially established the department. From its earliest days, operating with an old Jeep carrying a single barrel of water, the department has grown into a modern emergency response powerhouse with a fleet of over 15 trucks, covering more than 500 square miles across Brooks County.

For 100 years, their mission has remained unchanged: to serve with honor and with bravery.

We are grateful to the Falfurrias Volunteer Fire Department for keeping Brooks County safe.

Recognizing Special Interns

Mr. Speaker, I would like to quickly recognize that we have special interns from the district that are celebrating their birthday today. I would like to wish a happy birthday to David Rodriguez and Joseph Uribe. We wish them many blessings, today and always. God bless them.

Under clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors were added to public

bills and resolutions, as follows:

H.R. 7: Mr. Van Epps.

H.R. 138: Ms. Norton, Ms. Hoyle of Oregon, and Mr. Calvert.

H.R. 491: Ms. Wilson of Florida.

H.R. 516: Mr. Mullin.

H.R. 569: Ms. Fedorchak.

H.R. 614: Mr. Lawler.

H.R. 652: Ms. Moore of Wisconsin.

H.R. 1055: Mr. Costa and Mr. Keating.

H.R. 1065: Ms. Garcia of Texas.

H.R. 1105: Mr. Gallagher.

H.R. 1106: Mr. Riley of New York.

H.R. 1138: Ms. Salazar.

H.R. 1189: Ms. Clarke of New York.

H.R. 1227: Mr. Himes and Mr. Rulli.

H.R. 1229: Mr. Van Epps.

H.R. 1340: Mr. Obernolte.

H.R. 1589: Mr. Pappas.

H.R. 1685: Ms. DelBene.

H.R. 1700: Ms. McCollum.

H.R. 1782: Mr. Case.

H.R. 1787: Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Levin, Mr. Mrvan, Mr. Ivey, Mr.

Pocan, and Mr. Menefee.

H.R. 1946: Mr. Higgins of Louisiana.

H.R. 1970: Mr. Van Orden.

H.R. 2002: Mr. Fitzpatrick.

H.R. 2028: Mr. Torres of New York.

H.R. 2089: Mr. Timmons, Mr. Van Epps, Mrs. Fischbach, and

Ms. De La Cruz.

H.R. 2120: Ms. Perez.

H.R. 2245: Mr. Carson.

H.R. 2305: Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania and Mr. Magaziner.

H.R. 2332: Mr. Carey.

H.R. 2350: Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania.

H.R. 2414: Ms. McBride.

H.R. 2509: Mr. Langworthy.

H.R. 2531: Mr. Costa, Ms. Schrier, Mr. Norcross, and Mr.

Van Orden.

H.R. 2587: Mr. Figures.

H.R. 2678: Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mrs. McIver, and Mr.

Conaway.

H.R. 2767: Mr. Lynch.

H.R. 2859: Ms. Ross.

H.R. 2936: Mrs. Foushee, Mr. Carbajal, and Mr. Amo.

H.R. 3045: Mr. Riley of New York and Mr. Whitesides.

H.R. 3057: Mr. Hunt.

H.R. 3105: Mr. Fitzgerald.

H.R. 3111: Mr. Pallone.

H.R. 3184: Mr. Crow and Mrs. Grijalva.

H.R. 3199: Mrs. Kim.

H.R. 3206: Mr. Cuellar.

H.R. 3223: Ms. Perez.

H.R. 3243: Mr. Cohen, Mr. Gomez, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Casar,

Mrs. Foushee, Mr. Case, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms.

Pettersen, Mr. Castro of Texas, Ms. Brown, and Ms. Meng.

H.R. 3295: Mrs. Kim.

H.R. 3307: Mr. Thanedar, Mr. Mackenzie, and Mr. Buchanan.

H.R. 3310: Mr. Moskowitz.

H.R. 3505: Mr. Amo.

H.R. 3644: Mr. Subramanyam.

H.R. 3821: Mr. Riley of New York.

H.R. 3906: Ms. Williams of Georgia.

H.R. 4092: Mr. Fulcher.

H.R. 4119: Mr. DesJarlais and Mr. Van Epps.

H.R. 4180: Mr. Beyer.

H.R. 4443: Mr. Larson of Connecticut.

H.R. 4487: Ms. Waters.

H.R. 4525: Mr. Deluzio.

H.R. 4620: Ms. De La Cruz.

H.R. 4696: Ms. Crockett and Mr. Torres of New York.

H.R. 4763: Mr. Raskin.

H.R. 4876: Ms. Scholten, Mr. Frost, and Mr. Crow.

H.R. 4881: Mr. Case.

H.R. 4958: Ms. Schrier.

H.R. 5106: Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Hamadeh of Arizona.

H.R. 5199: Mr. Nunn of Iowa.

H.R. 5203: Ms. Stansbury.

H.R. 5335: Mr. Gimenez.

H.R. 5448: Mr. McGovern.

H.R. 5463: Mr. Onder.

H.R. 5486: Mr. Pallone and Mrs. Fletcher.

H.R. 5521: Ms. Salinas.

H.R. 5543: Mr. Raskin.

H.R. 5549: Mrs. Spartz and Mr. Fulcher.

H.R. 5731: Mr. Figures.

H.R. 5791: Mr. Carbajal and Ms. Meng.

H.R. 6056: Mr. Correa, Mr. Meeks, and Ms. Williams of

Georgia.

H.R. 6130: Mr. Gray, Mr. Mrvan, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Larson of

Connecticut, Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Schneider, Mr. Costa, Mr.

Garbarino, Mr. Rouzer, and Ms. McClellan.

H.R. 6181: Mr. Cisneros and Mr. Harder of California.

H.R. 6509: Mr. Mrvan.

H.R. 6520: Mr. Messmer.

H.R. 6529: Mr. Vindman.

H.R. 6574: Ms. Goodlander.

H.R. 6610: Mr. McCormick.

H.R. 6617: Ms. Hoyle of Oregon.

H.R. 6677: Ms. Hoyle of Oregon and Mr. Amo.

H.R. 6682: Mr. Riley of New York.

H.R. 6694: Ms. Velazquez and Ms. Ocasio-Cortez.

H.R. 6718: Mr. Carson.

H.R. 6766: Mr. Landsman and Mr. Obernolte.

H.R. 6806: Mr. Olszewski and Mr. Amo.

H.R. 6832: Mr. Feenstra.

H.R. 6849: Mr. Costa.

H.R. 7016: Mr. Beyer, Mr. Raskin, and Ms. Simon.

H.R. 7411: Mr. Carson.

H.R. 7539: Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Fine, Mrs. Miller of

Illinois, and Mr. Stauber.

H.R. 7601: Ms. Ocasio-Cortez.

H.R. 7622: Mr. Carson and Mr. Amo.

H.R. 7625: Mr. Garamendi.

H.R. 7651: Mr. Alford, Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, and Ms.

Boebert.

H.R. 7905: Mr. Bacon.

H.R. 7945: Mr. Kustoff.

H.R. 7961: Ms. Houlahan and Mr. Amo.

H.R. 7977: Mr. Norcross.

H.R. 7986: Ms. Lofgren.

H.R. 7998: Ms. Norton.

H.R. 8016: Ms. Wasserman Schultz.

H.R. 8045: Mr. Scott of Virginia.

H.R. 8073: Mr. Figures.

H.R. 8162: Mr. Lawler.

H.R. 8200: Mr. Bost.

H.R. 8205: Mrs. Miller of West Virginia, Mrs. Hayes, Mr.

Latimer, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Ms. McBride, Mr. Riley

of New York, Mr. Conaway, Ms. Stansbury, Ms. Ross, Ms.

Pingree, Mr. Himes, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Casten, Mr.

Landsman, Mrs. Grijalva, Ms. Mejia, Mr. Larson of

Connecticut, Mr. Sorensen, Mr. Peters, Mr. Jackson of

Illinois, Ms. Adams, Ms. Budzinski, Mrs. Beatty, Mr.

Magaziner, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Suozzi,

and Ms. Scanlon.

H.R. 8271: Ms. Tenney.

H.R. 8330: Mr. Gallagher.

H.R. 8373: Mrs. Grijalva.

H.R. 8375: Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Ms. Budzinski, and Mr.

Ciscomani.

H.R. 8411: Mr. Johnson of Georgia.

H.R. 8465: Mr. Keating.

H.R. 8468: Mr. Hunt.

H.R. 8490: Mr. Carson.

H.R. 8501: Mr. Figures and Mr. Thompson of California.

H.R. 8600: Mr. Whitesides.

H.R. 8666: Mr. DeSaulnier, Ms. Friedman, and Mr. Tran.

H.R. 8691: Mr. Carson and Mr. Costa.

H.R. 8730: Mrs. Miller of West Virginia, Ms. Crockett, and

Mr. Mrvan.

H.R. 8839: Mr. Moskowitz.

H.R. 8887: Mr. Neguse.

H.R. 8892: Mr. Carey.

H.R. 8898: Ms. McBride and Mrs. Miller-Meeks.

H.R. 8909: Ms. Velazquez.

H.R. 8939: Ms. Waters.

H.R. 8955: Mr. Crow.

H.R. 8979: Mr. Figures.

H.R. 8982: Mr. Suozzi, Ms. Simon, and Mr. Subramanyam.

H.R. 8990: Mr. Moran.

H.R. 9021: Mr. Thanedar, Ms. Titus, and Mrs. McIver.

H.R. 9032: Ms. Waters and Ms. Crockett.

H.R. 9043: Mr. McDowell.

H.R. 9048: Mr. Riley of New York, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia,

and Mr. Weber of Texas.

H.R. 9129: Ms. Salinas.

H.R. 9169: Mr. Van Drew.

H.R. 9183: Ms. Crockett.

H.R. 9189: Ms. Tlaib.

H.R. 9199: Mr. Norman.

H.R. 9204: Ms. Chu.

H.R. 9205: Ms. Chu.

H.R. 9211: Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Bell.

H.R. 9216: Mr. Cohen and Ms. Waters.

H.R. 9250: Mr. Garbarino, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Moore of West

Virginia, Mr. Garcia of California, Mr. Harrigan, Mr. Levin,

Mr. Flood, Ms. Chu, Mr. Meuser, and Ms. Crockett.

H.R. 9289: Mr. Vindman.

H.R. 9293: Mr. Evans of Colorado and Mr. Mackenzie.

H.R. 9332: Mr. Vindman.

H.R. 9339: Mr. Vindman.

H.R. 9361: Mr. Finstad and Mr. Jackson of Texas.

H.R. 9370: Ms. Brown and Ms. Scholten.

H.R. 9371: Mr. Frost.

H.R. 9382: Mr. Mannion and Ms. Tenney.

H.R. 9401: Mr. Lawler, Mr. Crow, and Ms. DelBene.

H.R. 9411: Mr. Fitzpatrick.

H.R. 9414: Mr. Vindman, Mr. Cisneros, Mr. Keating, and Ms.

McBride.

H.R. 9417: Mr. Moylan, Mr. Haridopolos, Mr. Rogers of

Kentucky, and Mr. McDowell.

H.R. 9421: Ms. Tenney and Mr. Steube.

H.R. 9441: Ms. Dexter and Mr. Tonko.

H.R. 9448: Ms. Ross, Mr. Lieu, and Mr. Nadler.

H.R. 9451: Mr. Fitzpatrick.

H.R. 9492: Mr. Fitzpatrick.

H.R. 9508: Mr. Fitzpatrick.

H.R. 9535: Mr. Van Drew.

H.R. 9580: Mr. Messmer.

H.R. 9591: Ms. Crockett, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Ms.

Williams of Georgia, Ms. Underwood, Ms. Simon, Ms. Wilson of

Florida, and Ms. Chu.

H.J. Res. 12: Mr. Ciscomani.

H.J. Res. 135: Mr. Whitesides.

H.J. Res. 200: Mr. Menendez and Mr. Pallone.

H. Con. Res. 37: Mr. Tonko, Ms. Bonamici, and Mrs. Foushee.

H. Con. Res. 44: Ms. Pingree, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr.

Vargas, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, and Mr.

Pocan.

H. Res. 547: Ms. Waters.

H. Res. 1025: Ms. Waters.

H. Res. 1382: Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina.

H. Res. 1384: Mr. Bell, Ms. Brown, Mr. Garcia of Illinois,

Mrs. Beatty, Ms. Norton, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Goldman of New

York, Mr. Castro of Texas, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Davis of

Illinois, Ms. Barragan, Ms. Mejia, Mr. Conaway, Mr. Takano,

Mr. Menefee, Ms. Salinas, Mrs. Foushee, Ms. Chu, Mr. Cohen,

and Mr. Gomez.

H. Res. 1395: Mr. Fields.

H. Res. 1415: Mr. DeSaulnier and Ms. Jayapal.

H. Res. 1420: Ms. Underwood and Ms. Bynum.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Aurora Guzman from McAllen Memorial High School for being selected as a Texas Girls Coaches Association all-star player.

A brilliant athlete and student, Aurora is known for her captivating energy on the court. Behind her success are years of hard work, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to her sport.

Aurora has shown true leadership, helping to elevate the Lady Mustang basketball team while earning recognition as a premier player in the region. She not only represents McAllen Memorial, but she also represents the entire Rio Grande Valley and every young athlete who dreams of playing on the big stage.

I thank Aurora for representing south Texas with pride. I congratulate her on this prestigious honor. We wish her the best of luck next month at the TGCA all-star game.

Recognizing McCreery Aviation

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize McCreery Aviation on 80 years of exceptional service in south Texas.

Founded in 1946 by J.F. ``Mac'' McCreery, the company began as a small flight school following World War II. What started as one aircraft has grown into a premier, full-service aviation provider at McAllen International Airport, serving aircraft owners and international travelers across the region.

Today, under the leadership of Mac's son, Bob McCreery, the company reflects the strength of the family-owned business built on hard work and commitment. Through high-quality maintenance, pilot training, and support for international trade, McCreery Aviation continues to play a vital role in our community.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate McCreery Aviation on eight decades of service. I wish them continued success for generations to come.

Recognizing Alice ISD

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Alice ISD, the recipient of the 2026 Small School District title at the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards.

This milestone highlights the exceptional leadership, vision, and dedication shaping the future of the Alice community.

With this award comes $50,000 in grant money for student-centered upgrades across six campuses. These funds will bring new changes, from an outdoor science classroom and digital marquees to transforming the Schallert Elementary Library into a modern workspace.

None of this would be possible without the dedicated administrators, teachers, and support staff who lift their students up.

I congratulate the superintendent, Dr. Anysia Trevino, the Board of Trustees, and the entire Alice ISD community on this grand achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6644, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which will make the American Dream of homeownership affordable again for countless Texas families.

By expanding housing supply, restoring efficiency to outdated HUD programs, supporting our veterans seeking homeownership, and protecting families from corporations unfairly competing with them to purchase homes, this legislation brings homeownership back within reach for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 6644.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding, and I thank Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis for working so hard to get this piece of legislation on the floor today.

I stand proudly to support H.R. 1329, the bipartisan Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act, as an original cosponsor.

For 30 years, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have worked together to establish a space that carries on the legacy of the American women who fought tirelessly for our rights. It is absolutely unacceptable that any Member would oppose this bill because they want a biological male, a man, to be honored in the space designed for women, biological women.

Any vote that opposes this legislation undermines every woman who fought for our right to vote, our right to own a home, our right to attend college, and even our right to own our paychecks.

Ultimately, I represent a community that understands the difference between a man and a woman, a community that respects women, a community that will be proud that today and always they can count on me to stand up for biological women and stand up for common sense.

Common sense, let's think about that. Let's think about common sense, which obviously my colleagues on the other side of the aisle do not have and lost along the way.

Today, I will ``with pride''; ``con orgullo'' vote ``yes'' on this bill. I will vote ``yes'' on this legislation. I will vote ``yes'' for my ``grandmother''; ``abuelita,'' who is in Heaven smiling down, and ``for my mother''; ``para mi mama,'' who is watching right now on C- SPAN ``with pride''; ``con orgullo,'' watching her daughter speak on behalf of women here in America, to tell our story, to share our history, women's history.

I will vote ``yes'' for this legislation. I will vote ``yes'' for biological women. Today, I will vote ``yes'' for common sense.

Mr. Speaker, in honor of National Police Week, I rise to recognize two exceptional officers from Texas' 15th Congressional District, Trooper Juan Zuniga and Trooper Roman Gonzalez.

Trooper Zuniga, a McAllen native, has spent over 12 years protecting the citizens of our State. Since graduating from the Department of Public Safety Academy in 2013, he has served as a mentor and a highly skilled expert in crash reconstruction and drug recognition.

Edinburg native, Trooper Roman Gonzalez, has led a life defined by sacrifice. Before his 17-year career as a trooper, Roman served as a U.S. marine in Iraq where he earned the Combat Action Ribbon for his courage on the front lines.

Both of these men continue to go above and beyond as members of the elite Texas DPS Honor Guard. They ensure that our fallen heroes are laid to rest with dignity, precision, and respect.

Troopers Zuniga and Gonzalez represent the very best of south Texas. I thank them for their service.

Police Chief Jaime Ayala

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Police Chief Jaime Ayala of the Edinburg Police Department who was recently awarded the Mike Gentry Executive Leadership Award by the Texas Police Chiefs Association. This award is reserved for those who embody exceptional leadership in law enforcement.

Since stepping into his role, Chief Ayala has shifted the department's focus from simply responding to crime to actively preventing it. By building a proactive agency and deploying drones for real-time emergency responses, he has ensured that Edinburg remains at the cutting edge of public safety innovation.

Under his leadership, the Edinburg Police Department was awarded the Rio Grande Valley's Favorite Law Enforcement Agency for the third year in a row.

This honor reflects his team's deep commitment to serving and connecting with our beautiful community.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Chief Ayala on this incredible achievement.

Honoring Sergeant Joshua Roque

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Alice native Sergeant Joshua Roque for his outstanding service and leadership at the Jim Wells County Sheriff's Office.

Since joining the department 6 years ago, Sergeant Roque has demonstrated exceptional work ethic and leadership. Moving from his role as a correctional officer to patrol sergeant, he has distinguished himself not only as a deputy but also as a resilient member of the SWAT team.

He is known throughout the agency for his professionalism and positive attitude that he brings to every shift. Whether he is supervising his squad or making critical decisions under pressure, he leads with integrity.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Sergeant Roque for his dedication to public safety and unwavering commitment to the mission of the Jim Wells County Sheriff's Department.

Mr. Chair, I thank our chairman. When I say thank you, I mean thank you, thank you, thank you.

It has been 3 long years that we have not been able to pass the most bipartisan farm bill that this Chamber has seen, and what the other side of the aisle is saying is completely nonsense.

Our chairman has gone from east to west, from north to south, from Democratic to Republican counties and States to see what our farmers truly need. Guess what? This farm bill shows it.

The American people who are watching this right now at close to midnight is saying to themselves: What is the holdup? It has been 3 years.

This is a bipartisan farm bill. This is a farm bill that meets the needs of the farmers. And guess what. It meets the needs of our American people.

It will ultimately lead to lower prices for not only our farmers but for the everyday American who is buying groceries at the grocery store.

This nonsense needs to stop. This bipartisan showcase that is happening tonight must stop. It is time to pass the farm bill and not wait a moment longer.

Every trade association and every farm association are saying to pass the farm bill--not the activists, but the actual people who believe that farmers and American national security and farm security come first.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Lawrence Gelman.

For nearly 40 years, he served as a pillar of our South Texas community. A brilliant physician and visionary leader, he founded DHR Health, pioneering the physician-owned model in the Rio Grande Valley and championing the idea that doctors were the best qualified to run hospitals. Today,

DHR Health is one of the largest physician-owned hospitals in the United States of America and the only Level I trauma center south of San Antonio.

Dr. Gelman's influence reached far beyond the hospital walls. A radio host and dedicated steward of the arts, he spent decades preserving historic stained glass windows now permanently housed at the Gelman Stained Glass Museum in San Juan, Texas, which remains a gift to the Rio Grande Valley.

Dr. Gelman will be remembered for his love of God and his family. He leaves behind a legacy of generosity to his friends, family, and community.

Recognizing Officer Joel Pulido

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to congratulate Officer Joel Pulido for 28 years of service with the Edinburg Police Department.

Officer Pulido started with the department in 1997 as the calm voice on the dispatch radio. Not long after, he joined the field after earning his badge and became a mentor to the next generation of recruits.

Throughout his career, he was committed to keeping criminals off our streets and protecting our community. His exceptional detective work solved 26 murder investigations with a perfect conviction rate. He didn't just close the cases. He delivered justice for families when they needed it the most.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Officer Pulido for nearly three decades of integrity and service. I congratulate him on a well-deserved retirement.