Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in strong support of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

This bill is our opportunity to deliver on the promises we made to the American people. It is our chance to put working families, small businesses, and communities back at the center of our economic future.

In the First District of Texas, the median income is just $62,000. If we fail to pass this bill, a family of four at that income level will see their taxes go up by over $1,100, a staggering 22 percent increase.

That is not just a number. That is 6 weeks' worth of groceries. That is money that could be used to fix a truck, invest in a small business, or save for a child's future.

If we do pass this bill, we protect that $1,100 of hard-earned income. In fact, we protect every American's money.

At its core, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is about more than dollars and cents. It is about liberty and empowering the American people. It is about giving families, workers, and small businesses the freedom to thrive without government taking more of their money.

We have the chance in this moment to expand opportunity, restore dignity and work, and strengthen the American Dream. That is worth fighting for.

Let us not fail in this task. Let us pass the one big, beautiful bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the No Dollars to Uyghur Forced Labor Act.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation that would prohibit United States State Department contracts with companies tied to forced labor in the Xinjiang region of China.

Our bill would ensure that U.S. funds are not used to finance projects in partnership with companies or organizations that import products mined or manufactured in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China.

Many basic goods that we consider to be part of our everyday lives as Americans are produced in Xinjiang, including textiles, bricks, cotton, and polysilicon.

As home to the majority of China's cotton, coal, and natural gas reserves, and representing one-sixth of China's land mass, the Xinjiang region is central to China's economy.

It is considered to be the core hub for China's Belt and Road Initiative, which is China's primary tool to exert economic influence across the globe.

China's economy relies in large part on Xinjiang, yet behind its industries lie a horrifying reality: mass detention, forced labor, and brutal oppression of the people who live there.

The CCP is oppressing the Uyghur people and other ethnic minorities by detaining them in what they call reeducation centers for forced labor in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China.

Slavery in any form is morally repugnant. America, known on the international stage as a beacon of freedom and liberty, must not be complicit in the Chinese Communist Party's genocide and oppression of the Uyghur people.

The United States must push back on China not only in our words but through our actions. Failing to do so enables the CCP to grow in strength and exert its malign influence over the world. It is past time we enforce accountability against our greatest adversary. The U.S. must act decisively against the companies that profit from these abuses and take a firm stand against totalitarian regimes.

The CCP asserts its control over the Uyghur people through threats, intimidation, confinement, and physical and emotional abuse. Failing to confront China empowers gross human rights abuses and allows for the spread of such atrocities to be determined by the CCP.

Our legislation will ensure that our State Department plays no part in the forced slave labor of the Uyghur people. America must continue to lead with strength and morality on the world stage and refuse to fund these brutal tactics and cruelty.

Passing this critical legislation is the first step. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, on April 26, after a tragic off-duty accident, the east Texas law enforcement community lost one of its young, rising stars, Tyler Police Officer Sam Lively.

I rise today to honor Officer Lively, to mourn alongside his family, and to pray for peace and comfort for all who knew him during his 25 years of life.

Officer Lively embodied the very best of east Texas, dedicating his life to serving others and protecting the community he loved as a member of the Tyler Police Department since 2023. His service was underscored by courage, compassion, and commitment.

Those who knew him speak of his infectious smile, his natural leadership, and his dogged determination.

They also note that despite the departure of his physical presence from this Earth, they know he now resides in his eternal heavenly home because of his faith in Jesus Christ. Sam understood that our hope is not in this world. Instead, he knew with certainty that our hope is only in Jesus.

Today, although we mourn his untimely loss, we celebrate his impactful life.

Sam Lively will be missed but not forgotten. May he rest in peace, and may God be with his family and the law enforcement community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Kilgore College Rangerettes and celebrate two extraordinary milestones: the 30th anniversary of the 54th line, the Class of 1995, and the 85th anniversary of this world-renowned team.

Founded in 1940 by Gussie Nell Davis, the Rangerettes were the first precision dance team to perform during a college football halftime show. With their high kicks, jump splits, and iconic red, white, and blue uniforms, they have set a standard for discipline and excellence for over eight decades.

The Class of 1995 holds a special place in this legacy as the first to perform under Director Dana Blair and Assistant Director Shelley Wayne, whose leadership continues to shape the Rangerettes today. Many of these teammates became dance and drill team instructors, passing on the discipline and artistry instilled during their time as Rangerettes.

Their sophomore year featured unforgettable moments, including performances in France, at the Texas State Fair Gala, and alongside legends like Willie Nelson. Their finale performance to Donna Summer's ``Last Dance'' remains an emotional highlight, with one teammate saying, ``I could cry thinking about this song.'' As they often say, ``Once a Rangerette, always a Rangerette.''

For 85 years, the Rangerettes have been ambassadors of Texas culture, blending grace and precision to inspire generations. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Kilgore College Rangerettes, the Class of 1995, and their lasting legacy of excellence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Kilgore College Rangerettes and to celebrate two remarkable milestones in their storied legacy: the 30th anniversary of the Rangerettes Class of 1995 and the 85th anniversary of this world-renowned team.

Founded in 1940 by the visionary Gussie Nell Davis, the Kilgore College Rangerettes were the first precision dance team in the United States to perform during a college football halftime show. Ms. Davis established the team with a bold vision to elevate the collegiate experience and set a new standard of excellence for performance and presentation.

From their iconic high kicks and jump splits to their timeless red, white, and blue uniforms, the Rangerettes exemplify the best of Texas culture--blending grace, athleticism, and discipline into a performance style recognized around the world.

Over the decades, the Rangerettes have graced stages from the Cotton Bowl and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to Presidential Inaugurations, Las Vegas stages, and USO tours abroad. Yet it is their commitment to tradition, poise, and teamwork that has inspired generations of young women and helped shape the landscape of precision dance teams across the country.

The Class of 1995 holds a special place in this legacy, and their 30th anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on their impact, both as performers and as ambassadors of the Rangerette tradition.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring all the teammates from the Class of 1995, and the entire Kilgore College Rangerettes organization for 85 extraordinary years.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to introduce Dr. Michael Gossett, pastor of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, to the United States House of Representatives to serve as the guest chaplain this week and offer a prayer this morning.

Dr. Gossett and his wife, Katie, lead the largest congregation of believers in east Texas. They also proudly shepherd a flock of four wonderful children at home.

Pastor Michael, as he is known, and Katie are passionate about their call to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are personable and approachable in their style, showing the same love and grace as our risen Lord and Savior.

Having been a firefighter for 5 years before entering full-time ministry, this Liberty University alum is tough-minded, disciplined, and steady in his leadership. He is authentic and genuine and always faithful to preach the truth of the inherent Word of God. Because of that, he has been a strong and effective leader for Green Acres since he arrived in 2019.

I am proud to call him my friend and proud that he dedicated his life to being salt and light in this lost and dark world.

To God be the glory for the great things He is doing through the Gossetts and Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas. We welcome Pastor Gossett.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1156, the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act, introduced by our chairman, Jason Smith.

It is clearer by the day that the COVID pandemic gave rise to widespread financial fraud. A prime example of that is the fraudulent unemployment insurance claims that were filed, which totaled between $100 billion and $150 billion, most of which happened as a result of organized crime.

Incredibly, to date, less than 4 percent of these stolen funds have been recovered. If we do nothing before March 27, the statute of limitations to bring these criminal cases against these fraudsters will come to an end, and the rest of these taxpayer funds will be lost forever. We cannot allow this to happen, and we must make best efforts to recover these stolen funds.

Mr. Speaker, make no mistake, the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act is supported by both red and blue States across the country. The National Association of State Workforce Agencies, a nonpartisan association representing all States, endorsed extending the statute of limitations so that criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions could continue uninterrupted.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, dated February 11, 2025, supporting passage of H.R. 1156.

National Association of State Workforce Agencies,

Washington DC, February 11, 2025.

Re Support for H.R. 1156.

Hon. Jason Smith,

Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Hon. Richard E. Neal,

Ranking Member, Committee on Ways and Means,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Neal,

I am writing on behalf of the National Association of State

Workforce Agencies (NASWA), a non-profit and non-partisan

association, whose membership is comprised of workforce

agencies in all states, the District of Columbia, and U.S.

territories. We are writing to support H.R. 1156, the

Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act.

State unemployment insurance program administrators are

dedicated to fighting fraud in both state and federal

unemployment insurance programs. With the statute of

limitations expiring at the end of March for federal pandemic

unemployment insurance programs, we support an extension as

proposed in H.R. 1156 to ensure that both criminal

prosecutions and civil enforcement can continue

uninterrupted. While an extension of the statute of

limitations is critical. it is also important to our members

that states continue to receive the resources needed to

pursue fraud cases and support federal investigations.

Thank you for your efforts to improve the integrity of

unemployment insurance.

Sincerely,

Scott B. Sanders,

NASWA President & CEO.

Mr. Speaker, this bill gives States the time they need to go after criminals who commit acts of malice and intentional fraud against American taxpayers.

As a proud cosponsor of this legislation, I strongly urge my colleagues to stand in support of the American taxpayer and stand in support of passage of this important piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the East Texas Symphony Orchestra and to celebrate its February 22nd ``Spirit of America'' concert.

Originally founded in 1936 as a non-professional group of lawyers, oil operators, teachers, and students from Tyler Junior College, the ETSO is now a delegation of professional musicians as talented as any who are passionate about sharing high-quality symphonic music with East Texans from Vaughn Auditorium located on the beautiful campus of the University of Texas at Tyler.

Under the thoughtful, skilled, and dynamic leadership of Music Director, Richard Lee, the ETSO connects East Texans with the joy, grandeur, and profound beauty of the timeless sounds and experiences that only orchestra music can bring.

And, the ``Spirit of America'' concert is another such experience-- with the added elements of history, patriotism, and love of country.

Featuring the extraordinary performers from Texas College and Jarvis Christian University, and musical compositions by Aaron Copland and Aaron Dworkin that include the narrated words of two of America's greatest statesmen--George Washington and Abraham Lincoln--this concert will inspire and challenge each of us to remain firm in our principles and steady in our resolve.

Thanks to Director Lee, and all the talented composers, musicians, and staff for their hard work in making this concert possible.

It was a night to remember.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act.

Taiwanese companies in America, including those in critical semiconductor sectors, face double tax burdens due to the lack of a U.S.-Taiwan tax agreement.

Taiwan is one of our largest trading partners without such a treaty, yet it supports more than 22,000 U.S. jobs and contributed $185 million to U.S. research in 2021.

This bill addresses these issues by eliminating double taxation, reducing withholding tax rates, and clarifying residency rules. It strengthens our economic alliance with Taiwan, ensuring a reliable supply chain for semiconductors and reducing dependence on China and our adversaries.

In my home State of Texas, Taiwanese tech companies are investing billions in advanced manufacturing, but double taxation threatens their ability to operate effectively. Today's bipartisan bill equips us to expand cross-border investment, safeguard critical supply chains, and push back against China's growing influence.

Without this legislation, we will risk alienating Taiwan, one of our strongest partners in the Indo-Pacific region. We also risk ceding more power to China in the Taiwan Strait and isolating ourselves further on the global economic stage. That is simply unacceptable.

This bill is critical to reaffirming our commitment to economic growth, national security, and the U.S.-Taiwan partnership.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in Congress to support this vital legislation to do just that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today before you to reaffirm the House Republicans' efforts to empower and protect American women and girls. By passing legislation such as Congressman Greg Steube's Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, Congressman Mike Collins' Laken Riley Act, and Congresswoman Nancy Mace's Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act, we address significant lapses in our justice, legal, and educational systems, and we push back against a radical left agenda that leaves our society in moral tatters.

Individually, these bills tackle critical issues, and collectively they create a safer, healthier, and more prosperous Nation for our women and girls. That is really important to me and should be to every American. However, as a father of two girls, specifically, I want my girls to have the opportunity to thrive in a society that gives equality to both men and women, that nurtures their growth, and protects their well-being. I do not want to be part of a society that places them at greater risk and reduces their opportunities in this country.

Our daughters should not be forced to adhere to radical policies that undermine truth, safety, and reality, policies that have been pushed for the last 4 years by the Biden-Harris administration. We as a Republican Conference will not sit idly by on this issue, nor have we, as evidenced by the bills that I referenced today.

Let me personally thank, again, Congressman Steube, Congressman Collins, and Congresswoman Mace for their dedication to protecting my two daughters and every daughter, mother, and sister across this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to speak in support of S. 1147, the Jenna Quinn Law.

As the proud sponsor of the House companion legislation, I know how critical and vital this legislation is for so many.

I thank, at the outset, Senator Cornyn for his hard work on the Senate side on this bill and for his years of leadership protecting children.

S. 1147 will authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to allow existing Federal funds to be used by eligible entities for evidence-based, informed training on sexual abuse prevention, education, and reporting. These courses would focus on teachers, school employees, students, caregivers, and other adults who work with children.

Furthermore, the bill would ensure that grant recipients coordinate with local educational agencies to train students, professionals, and volunteers who work with children on abuse prevention, recognition, and reporting. These are important matters.

This bill, however, does not add to overall spending. We do have a spending problem here in the United States. Rather, it makes existing funding available for these important programs.

Over the past year, I have had the privilege of meeting and getting to know the namesake of this bill, Texan Jenna Quinn.

Mr. Speaker, you just heard her story. Jenna is a symbol of hope and bravery. She has an inspiring story of overcoming sexual abuse herself, and her unwavering commitment to helping so many like her who have been or presently are victims of abuse is just remarkable.

As it stands, our Nation's children face a tragic and silent epidemic, child sexual abuse.

As I speak before you now, Mr. Speaker, every 9 minutes, new evidence for a claim of sexual abuse is substantiated. Of all victims under the age of 18, 2 out of 3 are between the ages of 12 and 17. Tragically, child sexual abuse is one of the most underreported crimes in our country.

Mr. Speaker, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys are subject to this heartbreaking reality. Even more alarming, 90 percent of these children who are victims of sexual abuse know and trust their abuser. The same was true for Jenna Quinn.

While child sexual abuse is a criminal epidemic, one part of the solution to this tragedy lies in preventative education. Education, combined with a comprehensive set of preventative policies, is a powerful tool to combat this crisis.

School personnel report 52 percent of all identified child abuse cases classified as causing harm to children, more than any other profession or organization, including child protective services and law enforcement. For that, we are profoundly grateful to our educational partners.

Each life is precious, and each life deserves protection at all stages. I am confident that the Jenna Quinn bill will strengthen our efforts to prevent the evils of child sexual abuse and help identify children who have experienced this or are currently experiencing it and get it stopped. Most importantly, it will help them in finding pathways to healing.

Today, I am grateful that both Republicans and Democrats have come together to pass or will pass this bipartisan, bicameral, and commonsense legislation.

I thank Representative Susan Wild on the Democratic side for her hard work on this effort, and I thank Chairwoman Foxx and her staff for their dedication and hard work on bringing this legislation to the floor.

I know that there are children whose lives will forever be impacted for the better because of the Jenna Quinn bill.

Mr. Speaker, today, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and get it to the President's desk so it can be signed into law.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the eve of her retirement to honor Chairwoman Kay Granger for her many years of dedicated work on behalf of Texans everywhere and our entire country.

For nearly three decades, Chairwoman Granger has tirelessly served the 12th Congressional District of Texas. For many of us, she has been a valued mentor, and, more importantly, a respected friend. As the most senior member of the Texas Republican delegation, her experience, wisdom, and leadership have been a valuable resource. In fact, they have been invaluable.

Chairwoman Granger has been a true trailblazer, and her legacy will not be soon forgotten. Her time in public service has been marked by many firsts. She served as the first female mayor of Fort Worth, the first Republican Congresswoman from Texas, and the first female Republican to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

Over the years, Chairwoman Granger has left a lasting impact on the Dallas/Fort Worth area, our great State of Texas, and our Nation as a whole. She has worked tirelessly to advocate for her constituents and to advance policies and improve the lives of both Texans and Americans everywhere.

She has successfully secured funding for many worthy local funding projects in Fort Worth, increased local and national defense spending to protect the American people, and kept a close eye on overall Federal spending. Her contributions to preserving our national security and supporting economic growth will not soon be forgotten.

Chairwoman Granger, thank you for setting the standard in our mission to represent the great people of Texas. Your leadership is a testament to the strength of the Texas spirit, and your work will have a lasting impact for generations to come. We have truly been blessed by your leadership, dedication, and service, but, most of all, your friendship.

Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a devoted servant of the Lord and Savior, my pastor and friend, Chris Legg, of South Spring Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas.

I have known Pastor Legg now for almost a decade. He is a dedicated, authentic, and humble shepherd of the flock entrusted to him, and he is one of the most insightful teachers of Scripture I have ever encountered.

Every Sunday through his teaching, I am challenged to more closely align my heart and my actions with the righteousness of the living God. Committed to discipleship, Pastor Legg understands that we are all ministers of the Gospel, but he also understands that we are all broken people in need of a Savior. If we doubt that, he simply reminds us to look in the mirror.

Whether it is from the pulpit at South Spring, at Alethia Family Counseling Center, behind the microphone during his Reconstructed Faith podcast, or simply engaging with everyone he meets, Pastor Legg does his best to point this lost world to a Savior who loves us each unconditionally and who came to bring us eternal life and life more abundantly.

It is my great honor to sponsor Pastor Legg, husband to Ginger, father to five, and friend to all, as Guest Chaplain to deliver the opening prayer before the United States House of Representatives.

On behalf of east Texas, I thank Chris and Ginger for their lifetime of dedication to the Gospel.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 7198, the Prove It Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation to protect small businesses from the burdens of Federal regulations.

I was proud to join Congressman Finstad and Congresswoman Caraveo in introducing this bill and to vote for it in the House Judiciary Committee.

This legislation puts teeth into the Regulatory Flexibility Act, which has been discussed today. In 1980, it required Federal agencies to take into consideration the direct and indirect impacts of their regulations on small and family businesses, but it is not being enforced today.

Effectively, there is no recourse to those businesses under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, which is why, in more than 75 percent of the cases, these new regulations actually completely ignore that Regulatory Flexibility Act or put a de minimis amount attached to the impact on small businesses.

We need teeth to that 1980 Regulatory Flexibility Act, and the Prove It Act will do just that. It will change what has not been done in the past, and it will restore power to small businesses today to push back against new regulations.

Today, small businesses pay seven times more per employee than medium-sized businesses to stay compliant with Federal regulations. They don't have the resources to keep pace with the ever-growing burdens imposed by the heavy hand of the government.

I am amazed that I am hearing from the opposition words like ``delay,'' ``burden,'' and ``uncertainty'' as it relates to the Federal Government. I am more concerned with the delays, burden, uncertainty, and inadequate resources that exist for small businesses to respond to these new regulations.

Federal agencies seem to ignore the reality and harm that these regulations cause, which only further discourages American innovation and small business growth.

The Prove It Act empowers small businesses to petition the Small Business Administration to review proposed Federal regulations and gives them the tools to challenge unnecessary regulation imposed upon them, which they do not have today. It brings more accountability and transparency to the work of government agencies and reaffirms our commitment to stand with small business.

If we are going to stand on the side of government or small business, I choose to stand on the side of small business. Small businesses are, in fact, the backbone of our economy, and their innovation keeps the spirit of the American Dream alive.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation to support the crucial role small businesses play as drivers of economic growth and job creation. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7198, the Prove It Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the grand opening of the Lofts at the Grim, in the city of Texarkana. Today marks the completion of the highly anticipated restoration project of the iconic Grim Hotel located in Texas' First Congressional District.

This community landmark, originally completed in 1925, has served as a community gathering place for decades, bringing together locals and visitors alike in the spirit of true Texas hospitality.

Thanks to the combined efforts of national developer, Cohen-Esrey, and local partner, Premier Texarkana Development, this historic building will once again support the vibrant local community by providing commercial spaces and affordable housing.

As a nod to the longstanding significance of the Grim Hotel, historical features of the building have been preserved, such as its grand lobby and the Palm Court Room, while the living spaces have been revitalized with modern amenities.

The refurbished Lofts at the Grim will provide comfortable housing for hardworking East Texans, bringing more families into Texarkana's historic district.

Ultimately this revitalization project serves as a reminder of the importance of both honoring history and embracing change. I offer my sincere thanks to those who have been a part of this project.

I am looking forward to seeing the positive impact that the Lofts at the Grim will have on the surrounding community and Texas' First Congressional District as a whole.