Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that the United States continues to lead in satellite communications technology and space exploration to ensure our global competitiveness.

In today's world, indispensable spectrum resources know no borders or boundaries, and they must be used to enhance space and satellite operations, provide broadband access to our fellow Americans, and enhance America's security capability.

As our private-sector partners continue to innovate, the Federal Government can play a collaborative role through the modernization of the launch spectrum licensing process.

This is why I joined my esteemed colleague from Florida (Mr. Soto) in reintroducing the Launch Communications Act. This updates and simplifies an outdated regulatory process so the U.S. can maintain our competitiveness in space exploration.

Currently, commercial missions launching from the United States to space must use government-owned spectrum to communicate with the rockets during launch and reentry.

Additionally, these private companies must apply to the FCC who must then coordinate with the NTIA to receive special temporary authority to use such spectrum each time they launch.

The Launch Communications Act will lift the burden of obtaining many authorizations and enable the private companies to temporarily use certain spectrum bands for satellite launches when needed.

On multiple occasions this legislation requires the FCC to streamline the launch authorization process for commercial launches, eliminating the special temporary authority process, permitting multilaunch authorizations, and automating the frequency review process.

This is consistent with Space Policy Directive-2 issued by President Trump in May of 2018 to refine Federal spectrum regulations and minimize regulatory burdens.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 269.

Madam Chair, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 467, the HALT Fentanyl Act.

This legislation will place all fentanyl-related substances, as a class, into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

The Energy and Commerce Committee has taken an important step toward solving our fentanyl crisis. I am proud to have supported this bill since the 117th Congress.

We have heard from Molly Cain, the Cullens, and countless others who courageously told their stories of how their children were murdered by fentanyl. Make no mistake: Fentanyl is a poison in our communities. Every pill, every toke, every line of cocaine is like playing a game of Russian roulette every single time.

This crisis is happening at the hands of bad actors such as the Chinese Communist Party and the drug cartels. China remains the primary source of illicit fentanyl and its precursors that are trafficked internationally and through our porous southern border.

In fiscal year 2023, Customs and Border Patrol has seized over 17,000 pounds of fentanyl, enough to kill 11 times the entire population of the United States.

The HALT Fentanyl Act is an important step in the right direction, and we must permanently schedule these substances.

Let's call it what it is: a weapon of mass destruction. Our law enforcement officers fight heroically every day to combat this epidemic, and it is imperative that we protect them.

Madam Chair, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 1.

With this bill, the days of America's dependence on imported energy are beginning to come to a close.

Under President Biden, gas prices have skyrocketed, leases for oil and gas have been canceled, and electricity prices have soared.

Thankfully, multiple committees have come together to provide a multilateral solution to these problems.

When H.R. 1 becomes law, it will lower energy costs and unleash American energy, providing clarity for critical infrastructure investors.

It will streamline energy permitting and exports and repeal the new natural gas tax imposed by the Biden administration.

House Republicans are delivering on our promise to reestablish the days of American energy independence.

Importantly, H.R. 1 slashes burdensome regulations that make it difficult and unappealing to build in America.

Eliminating these barriers in conjunction with comprehensive permitting reform will reverse the Biden administration's radical energy policies that destroyed American dominance in the energy space and compromised our national security.

Simply put, H.R. 1 will unleash American innovation and unlock American resources for future generations.

I look forward to voting ``yea'' on H.R. 1, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1108, a bill to extend the FCC spectrum auction authority through May 19, 2023.

From internet connectivity to telephone services, spectrum auctions are essential to the inner workings of the technologies that we use daily in our lives.

The FCC's authority to use competitive bidding augments American competitiveness by enabling our commercial providers to access the spectrum they need to continue operating and innovating.

In less than 2 weeks, the FCC's spectrum auction authority is set to expire. It is the duty of Congress to extend this authority, which has never been allowed to expire to date. The expiration of FCC auction authority would put U.S. wireless providers at a global competitive disadvantage, leaving users across the United States in dire straits.

This bipartisan legislation provides a solution that works for everyone, and I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 1108.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to stress the importance of maintaining our Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

The Biden administration has recklessly handled our SPR and made us more vulnerable economically and defensively. They have drained the reserve by almost 40 percent with no plan to replenish it, jeopardizing our economy and our national security.

America is currently unprepared for a true emergency, forcing us to beg for oil from countries like Venezuela. We are also more vulnerable to an energy supply disruption caused by natural disasters like hurricanes.

H.R. 21 would ensure that the administration has a plan in place to increase domestic energy production and to replenish the SPR.

Democrats want you to believe that draining the SPR is the only way to combat prices. Wrong. We can produce our own oil and gas.

Americans have suffered enough under the left's failed Green New Deal.

I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 21.

I also encourage them to support Representative Gaetz's amendment to ensure the important Gulf Test Range remains a pillar of our military readiness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the newest Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, Buck O'Neil.

John Jordan ``Buck'' O'Neil is a native of Carrabelle, Florida, and signed with the Memphis Red Socks in 1937, then with the Kansas City Monarchs the next year.

O'Neil was a three-time all-star and became a Negro World Series champion in 1942.

O'Neil later served as manager of the Monarchs and a scout for the Chicago Cubs.

Buck made history as the first Black National League coaching staff member and was determined to keep the memory of the Negro Leagues alive and helped establish the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

Last Sunday, Buck was inducted posthumously into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, a well-deserved and long-overdue honor.

Because of legends like Buck O'Neil, America's favorite pastime is what it is today.

Madam Speaker, on Roll Call No. 307, I mistakenly voted Yea when I intended to vote Nay.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a very special organization located in Dunnellon, FL; the southernmost portion of the Second Congressional District of Florida.

The Woman's Club of Dunnellon celebrated its 100th Anniversary on May 8, 2022. For 100 years, they have diligently and gracefully served their community.

With a focus on community betterment, this group has organized numerous events to promote fellowship and foster a brighter future for our youth.

Their most recent fundraiser proceeds went towards local charities benefiting women and children and college scholarships for female Dunnellon High School graduates.

I want to personally thank this incredible organization for its contributions to Marion County and Florida's Second Congressional District as a whole.

The Woman's Club of Dunnellon is truly the ``Heart of the Community,'' and I hope to see their outstanding work continue for years to come.

Madam Speaker, as the son of a veteran, father of a veteran, and a veteran myself, I rise in support of important work being done at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regarding research and development of treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases.

This work is combining the capabilities of National Polytrauma Centers, like the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa, Florida, with the expertise of the private sector to give hope to veterans who are battling these illnesses, everywhere.

Veterans are 60 percent more likely to be diagnosed with ALS compared to the general population.

More research needs to be done to understand the connection, which goes back at least 100 years, between military service and ALS, as well as to ensure we are able to achieve the best possible outcomes for our veterans.

I applaud the VA for continuing to make this a priority and look forward to seeing the potential of these partnerships.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Kathryn McInnis of Old Town, Florida.

Mrs. McInnis is a pillar in her community and a role model for many. A member of multiple advisory boards, she has dedicated her life to serving and improving the lives of others. Mrs. McInnis is especially dedicated to our youth. She knows firsthand the challenges presented in rural communities and has been an advocate and mentor to every student she has encountered.

She is an active member with the Dixie County Education Foundation and has also served on the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council. For more than two decades, she has served on the Florida Gateway College Board of Trustees. Earlier this month, Florida Gateway College dedicated a building in her honor so that her impact will be remembered for years to come.

Mrs. McInnis' heart for serving others is unmatched, and her energetic spirit is infectious. I want to personally thank this incredible woman for her contribution to Dixie County and Florida's Second Congressional District as a whole.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Lieutenant Marc Tochterman, who is retiring from the Bay County Sheriff's Office after 23 years.

Marc also served his country for 22 years in the Navy before that.

During his time in the sheriff's office, Lieutenant Tochterman assisted my office, Representative Gwen Graham's office, and Representative Steve Southerland's office, as well.

Marc also serves as the regional coordinator for the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run and as the vice president of the Defenders Motorcycle Club's Panama City Chapter.

Marc has a heart of gold.

Marc is a doting father, a loving husband to his wife, Virginia, and, additionally, a dear friend to me and everyone on my staff.

Though we are sad that Marc is retiring, we are proud of the impact he has made on our community.

Madam Speaker, we thank Lieutenant Tochterman and we are all grateful for his service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a member of our Greatest Generation and Florida's Second Congressional District, Larkin V. ``Pete'' Bowen of Marianna, Florida.

Born October 24, 1921, Mr. Bowen moved to Wewahitchka, Florida with his family in 1941 to build a new life.

Like so many in the Panhandle during that time, he found work anywhere he could.

In 1943, Mr. Bowen started working for the State Road Department, now the Florida Department of Transportation, in Jackson County as a road crew guard.

He later moved to Marianna in the 1950s with his beloved wife Orianna and three children.

During his 42 years working for the state, Pete paved most of the roads across north Florida and maintained a small farm to provide for his family.

From shucking oysters to delivering the ``Pensacola News Journal'' on Sundays, Mr. Bowen made sure there was enough money to see his children succeed.

In his community, Pete is known for his generosity and unwavering faith.

He has been a pillar among both the New Hope Baptist and Trinity Baptist and has selflessly helped with repairs and upkeep at both churches.

Mr. Bowen is also known for sharing his crops with neighbors and lending a helping hand to any fellow farmer who needs one.

Today, Pete Bowen has eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Bowen has turned his two acres into thirty and has built a long-lasting legacy.

Stories like his are what truly makes Florida's Second District so great.

Please join me in wishing Mr. Bowen a happy 100th birthday.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in honor of National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and in support of the nearly half a million veterans living with prostate cancer in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system. Our nation's heroes are diagnosed with prostate cancer at nearly twice the rate of the civilian population, and they deserve the best care our nation has to offer.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is already a notable leader in prostate cancer care through partnerships with the private sector and the nation's leading prostate cancer researchers and physicians, but improvements are needed--especially when it comes to consistent screening protocols and early diagnosis.

I have introduced the Veterans' Prostate Cancer Research and Treatment Act, which will give the VA the tools to do just that.

Prostate cancer is the number one cancer diagnosed at the VHA and this bill will improve the care our veterans receive every step of the way. Whether it be at an early screening, the difficult moment a veteran receives a prostate cancer diagnosis, during treatment, during recovery, or while receiving end-of-life care, our veterans deserve the best.

16,000 veterans are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually--nearly 43 each day. The most common cancer diagnosed in the VA health system should be met with the most recent clinical data, national expertise, and state-of-the-art technology.

Where a veteran resides should not determine the quality of care they receive. Early screening saves lives and early screening should be the standard of care at every VA.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting veterans with prostate cancer this month by supporting the Veteran's Prostate Cancer Research and Treatment Act.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Apalachicola native Ella Breedlove Speed, who is turning 101.

Mrs. Ella is a pillar in her community and a role model for many. For more than two decades, she worked for the Franklin County School District as a bookkeeper. She also has served as a missionary in the Holiness Church of the Living God and is currently serving as an elder and bishop in the Love Center Church.

Bishop Speed's heart for serving others is unmatched and her energetic spirit is infectious. Make no mistake, age is just a number. Mrs. Ella is still just as sharp as she was in her younger days and she has not stopped serving and comforting others.

I want to personally thank this incredible woman for her contribution to Apalachicola and Florida's Second Congressional District as a whole. Happy birthday to Mrs. Ella.