Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of an outstanding South Carolina family and small business whose story reflects the true American values of hard work, service, and community. George and Joanna Katergaris along with their children, Mina and Mike, are the longtime owners of the Wagon Wheel Restaurant in Fort Lawn, South Carolina.

For nearly five decades, the Wagon Wheel has been a cornerstone of the community and a gathering place for generations of families all across Chester County.

George and Joanna came to the United States from Greece in the 1970s in search of an opportunity and a better life for their family. They arrived in America with no connections, no government handouts, no safety net to rely on, and worked their way forward step by step. With them, they brought a deep respect for the values of faith, family, and hard work.

When the Katergaris family took ownership of the Wagon Wheel in 1978, the road ahead was challenging. Their restaurant was located in a location with dirt roads and one paved road. With dedication and a clear commitment to quality, they built the restaurant into a beloved local institution.

Known for its traditional southern cooking and welcoming atmosphere, the Wagon Wheel quickly became a place where neighbors, friends, and families gathered year after year. Over time, southern dishes like fried squash, fresh seasonal vegetables, and homemade dinner rolls became favorites on the menu, but it is the welcoming atmosphere and care in every detail that kept people coming back.

The Katergaris family has created an environment defined by quality, by consistency, and by genuine hospitality.

The connection between the restaurant and its community has always been strong. Over the years, customers have shown their appreciation in countless ways, just as the owners have consistently given back through service and care. This mutual respect reflects the close relationships that they have grown over generations and made the restaurant a cornerstone in this area.

Today, the Wagon Wheel continues to thrive under their daughter, Mina, and her husband, Bill Nixon, who carry on the same traditions and standards that have guided the restaurant for nearly 50 years. Their son, Mike, also remains actively involved, especially during the busiest times of the year. Together, with their dedicated staff, they have upheld a strong reputation that continues to define the Wagon Wheel Restaurant.

The story of the Wagon Wheel Restaurant is a testament of their hard work, their integrity, and their devotion to the community. It reminds us that real, lasting success is about the people that you treat well along the way.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the family of South Carolina, I thank George and Joanna and their family for their many years of service in Fort Lawn and Chester County. I pray their work continues to inspire people to lead by their strong values. They epitomize the American spirit of faith, family, and freedom.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)1 of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intention to raise a question of the privileges of the House.

The form of the resolution is as follows:

Censuring and condemning Delegate Stacey Plaskett and removing her from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for conduct that reflects discreditably on the House of Representatives for colluding with convicted felony sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a congressional hearing.

Whereas Stacey Plaskett, the Delegate representing the United States Virgin Islands in the House of Representatives, inappropriately coordinated with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a congressional hearing in February 2019;

Whereas Delegate Plaskett was actively coached by Epstein during the hearing, received instructions on specific lines of questioning, and was congratulated afterwards with the message ``Good work'';

Whereas Jeffrey Epstein was a known, convicted felony sex offender, having pled guilty and been convicted for procuring a child for prostitution and of soliciting a prostitute in a plea deal in 2008, and served a 13 month sentence;

Whereas in the course of that investigation, the FBI compiled reports on dozens of confirmed minors who credibly alleged sexual abuse by Epstein;

Whereas Epstein was under further Federal investigation beginning in November 2018, two months before Delegate Plaskett's recently revealed text exchange during a congressional hearing, following investigative reporting by the Miami Herald detailing Epstein's controversial 2008 plea deal and highlighting accounts of his victims;

Whereas Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, and he was later found dead in the New York Metropolitan Correctional Center;

Whereas according to documents released from Epstein's estate, during a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing featuring testimony from Michael Cohen, disgraced former attorney to President Donald J. Trump, Delegate Plaskett coordinated her line of questioning with Jeffrey Epstein in real-time over text message while the hearing was underway;

Whereas Delegate Plaskett, who previously served as an assistant attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division, is known to have had extensive political, personal and professional connections with Epstein after his conviction as a sex offender up to the time of his arrest and then death in 2019;

Whereas Delegate Plaskett's relationship with Epstein stands in stark contrast to the public image she has curated for herself as a defender of justice and accountability while secretly collaborating with an individual whose crimes against vulnerable women and children shocked the nation;

Whereas Delegate Plaskett's willingness to receive instructions on official congressional proceedings from Epstein, a convicted felony sex offender with deeply concerning international associations, is especially alarming and inappropriate given her own past service in the U.S. Department of Justice and her current role on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and raises serious questions about Delegate Plaskett's judgement, integrity, and fitness to serve; and

Whereas such associations erode public trust in Congress, particularly when they involve using input from a sex offender to advance partisan attacks during official proceedings: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved,

Section 1. Censure of Delegate Stacey Plaskett.

The House of Representatives--

(1) censures and condemns Delegate Stacey Plaskett for inappropriate coordination with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a Congressional Hearing, which reflects discreditably on the House of Representatives; and

(2) directs the Committee on Ethics to conduct a full investigation into the extent of Plaskett's ties to Epstein and any potential further improprieties.

SEC. 2. Removal from House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

The following named Member be, and is hereby, removed from the following committee of the House of Representatives:

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Ms. Plaskett.

Mr. Speaker, I do.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the House of Representatives has a responsibility and a duty to protect the integrity of this institution. What we learned from the documents released by Jeffrey Epstein's estate is nothing short of alarming.

Those documents show that Delegate Stacey Plaskett, a sitting Member of Congress, coordinated her questioning during an official oversight hearing with a man who is a convicted sex offender, a man whose crimes against minors shocked this entire Nation.

Let me be clear: This was not just casual contact. There were deliberate communications, and they shaped her official line of questioning in a congressional hearing.

The American people expect honesty. The American people expect integrity

and judgment from their elected officials. They expect Members of Congress to conduct themselves with one word--decency--not to seek advice from a predator who exploited minor children.

This resolution does not accuse. It acknowledges what is documented. It censures Delegate Plaskett for her conduct; removes her from the Intelligence Committee, where her judgment is paramount; and directs a full investigation into the extent of her relationship with Mr. Epstein.

Some will try to spin this as politics, but protecting the honor of this body is not partisan. It is not Democrat. It is not Republican. Standing against a convicted predator's influence in our proceedings is not partisan. It is basic decency.

We cannot pretend this didn't happen. The American people deserve better.

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

Mr. Speaker, before I yield time to my good friend from Louisiana, to Representative Raskin, I will

be careful in my remarks. You need to be careful with your facts. You have an 11-year veteran of this body who should know better. You have an 11-year Member of this body who took money. It wasn't a newspaper article. It was a fact. She took money from Jeffrey Epstein.

It is ironic that you are taking up by defending Ms. Plaskett, which is going to the Ethics Committee, but she has lost her willingness or lost her ability to serve because she got irrational judgment by taking money from a convicted pedophile of young children. It is unfathomable that you are taking the position that you are. These are facts.

You mentioned Ghislaine Maxwell. She is not a sitting Member of Congress.

She, as a sitting Member of Congress, has relinquished any sense of duty to serve on these committees.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins).

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

Mr. Speaker, let me just say for my good friends on the left, you know, we are hearing words. That is all this is, words. You are taking the side of a young lady who should have known better. She served for 11 years. She disparaged herself. She did it to herself.

This is not smoke and mirrors. These are actual texts that pretty well indict Ms. Plaskett. Would she probably take it back? Yes, but it is too late now.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy), my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining?

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs).

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

Mr. Speaker, before I recognize Mr. Clyde, let me just say I don't know Ms. Plaskett. My overall impression of her has been good. She gives these words about protecting families and children. Where is that demonstrated when she took money from a convicted pedophile that had served time? Where was that?

The words are beyond believability. I think she is a nice person, but she missed the boat. She lost her--I don't know the word to describe it. For what she has done, she deserves to come off of the committees.

Let me remind you, we want to go to the Ethics Committee. To those listening, the Ethics Committee is five Democrats and five Republicans. Let them find it, but in the meantime, you do not deserve to serve on a committee, a national committee.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde).

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

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

I find it interesting that the minority leader mentioned that we aren't really a majority. I will tell you, 77 million people are a majority. They rendered the consequences to elect the President that has revived this country from a disaster, 4 years under the Biden administration.

Let's go back into a little bit of history here about the hearing. The messages show that Plaskett texted Epstein before the hearing that started that day, at 7:55. She texted him, the sex offender, the predator on the children she says she protects. They had comments like he told Ms. Plaskett to

talk about his grades. He mentioned that she had a great-looking outfit. This is from Mr. Epstein.

At 10:40, a broadcast feed cut to Ms. Plaskett, showing her moving her mouth as if she was chewing something.

Ms. Plaskett mentioned that she had multiple, multiple texts. According to the records--and I don't know how many of her texts came from those convicted of felonies, but at 2:25, minutes before Plaskett began questioning Cohen at 2:28, Epstein messaged back ``Good work'' at 2:34, 1 minute after Plaskett finished her questioning of Cohen. So the whole 5 minutes was pretty much conducted under the direction of a convicted pedophile.

Ms. Plaskett was reached by phone Thursday. Plaskett declined to answer questions about the text messages and directed all inquiries to her congressional staff. Plaskett's chief of staff said Thursday she was ``not in a position to confirm or not'' whether the Congresswoman was texting with Mr. Epstein at the hearing. She did not respond to follow-up questions.

Bottom line, these are facts. These are text messages. This wasn't smoke and mirrors, so it is interesting that they are taking that tact.

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

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I find it interesting that the President is occupying the minds of my good friends on the left rent-free, and essentially, they bring him up every time. Keep doing it. Keep doing it.

This President has a record that is second to none. I hope my listeners in the audience can distinguish between just words and babbling on when they reject the facts of what has been presented. Texts don't lie. They can offer all the excuses--and I do think Ms. Plaskett is a nice lady. She made a mistake here, a bad mistake. She took advice from a convicted pedophile. That is indefensible in this discussion here today.

Mr. Speaker, I have listened to my colleagues defend the indefensible. I have heard everything from this is old news to this is just politics. Not a single person has disputed the key fact: written records in Epstein's own estate documents show Delegate Plaskett sought his input for an official hearing.

This is the issue, that alone. Everything else is just noise.

This Chamber cannot overlook that a sitting Member of Congress coordinated with a convicted sex offender to prepare questions for an official proceeding. Imagine telling the American people that that is acceptable. Imagine explaining to parents all across this country that Congress sees no problem with relying on the counsel of a predator of our innocent children.

Some of my colleagues want to blur the edges, soften the facts, or bury this under procedural fog--noise, as I call it. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and accountability is not optional.

This resolution is not excessive at all. It is appropriate. It is measured. It is necessary at this time.

The question before us is very simple: Do we uphold a minimal--a minimal--standard for ethical conduct, or do we just shrug and say: Well, maybe next time?

Mr. Speaker, the public deserves better. The House deserves better. The American people deserve better.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a truly great South Carolinian, Mr. Jeff Wilson. He is an outstanding public servant and beacon of our farming community. As head of Cotton Hills Farm in Lowrys, South Carolina, he recently was named the South Carolina Farmer of the Year for 2025 by the Sunbelt Ag Expo. This distinct honor is for his decades of dedicated service to farming, conservation, and community.

For over 40 years, Jeff Wilson has exemplified the very best of what it means to be a South Carolina farmer. He is hardworking, he is innovative, and he is deeply committed to preserving the land and the legacy of his family.

Cotton Hills Farm has been in the Wilson family since 1882. That is over 143 years ago. Originally starting with only 100 acres gifted to Jeff by his great-grandmother, it now spans over 1,000 acres producing a diverse array of crops.

Jeff's story is one of dedication not only to the land but to the family. After serving our Nation in the Air Force during the Vietnam war, Jeff returned home to carry on the farm. He followed in the footsteps of his father, who took over the farm at the age of 13. Now, four generations later, Jeff farms alongside his sons, Jeb and Pete.

Jeff has truly been an innovator in the agriculture industry. He has upheld sustainable farming practices long before they were commonplace and adopted no-till methods, cover cropping, and efficient underground irrigation to conserve water and to protect the soil. His commitment to conservation has earned him statewide and national recognition, including leadership roles on the soil and water conservation state board and the Southeast Region Hall of Fame award for the National Association of Conservation Districts.

Jeff also works outside the family farm. He and his family operate three retail markets and a GAP-certified packing facility. These bring the fresh, local produce directly to the consumers.

Throughout his life, Jeff has been deeply involved in serving his community. He has served 50 years with the Ruritan Club, 30 years with the Young Farmer and Agribusiness Association, and he is on the Clemson Extension Advisory Committee. He was also awarded County Conservationist of the Year.

Jeff's commitment to education through programs like the annual Farm & Tractor Day and the South Carolina Ag + Art Tour reflect his desire to share the values of agriculture with future generations.

Above all, Jeff Wilson's character stands as a shining example of integrity and of gratitude. His faith in our Almighty God and his humility are shown in everything he does, always reminding us of how important it is to give back to our community and to our country.

I can personally attest to the genuine and forward-thinking spirit that Jeff brings to every opportunity. His leadership strengthens South Carolina agriculture, ensures the future of family farming, and honors the heritage that makes our State proud.

On behalf of the people of South Carolina, I thank Mr. Jeff Wilson for his extraordinary contributions to our State, to our city, to our county, and to our country. I pray this work continues to inspire young people to lead by his strong values.

We just had the tragic passing of a great American, Charlie Kirk, who extolled the values of faith, family, and freedom. Jeff Wilson extolls the values that Mr. Kirk extolled for 31 years of his life.

Godspeed.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, my amendment prohibits provisions of gender transition procedures including surgery or medication through the Exceptional Family Member Program.

The Exceptional Family Member Program provides resources to military families with special needs. This program is designed for military spouses, children, or other dependent family members who require ongoing medical or educational services, such as individuals with asthma, autism, chronic respiratory illnesses, intellectual disabilities, and much more.

Under the Biden administration, the Air Force suggested using the Exceptional Family Member Program for families who want to help their child transition. Democrats also introduced a bill to expand this program to include transgender dependence and specifically lists gender dysphoria as a qualifying medical need to be included in the program.

My amendment ensures that we reserve this valuable program for its original intent to help families with special needs by prohibiting the use of the program for the provision or referral for gender transition procedures such as gender surgery or medication.

The Exceptional Family Member Program, otherwise known as EFMP, should be used fully to support families with special needs and chronic illnesses, not for gender transition procedures, as has been mentioned.

The program, as it was intended, specifically lists certain things for identifying families with special needs which includes the following: potentially life-threatening or chronic conditions, current or chronic mental health conditions, asthma or other respiratory- related diagnoses with chronic recurring symptoms, intellectual or developmental delays, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, chronic conditions that require adaptive equipment which assistive technology devices, or environmental or architectural considerations.

Allowing gender transitioning procedures through the EFMP goes against the very intention the program was designed for. It provides valuable resources for families who otherwise would not have the funds to do so. Gender transitioning is not covered under any of the criteria for identifying individuals eligible for the EFMP.

Mr. Chair, I ask for adoption of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, all I would add to that is we have got an obligation to the American people to keep this country safe and to support our finest military men who are willing to risk it all in defense of America.

My friend on the opposite side of the aisle mentions hip surgery. I think that is entirely different than a sex change operation. That doesn't say the person doesn't have it. With regard to the military and the funding, that is not where the money should come from.

How about telling that child who has asthma that he has no treatment? How about telling that child with a mental impairment there is no money to do it and that we have to put the money toward somebody who is not sure about what sex they are?

It is just not a priority in the military. The funding should not be set aside for that. There is a set amount of dollars that have to go toward this valuable appropriations process, and it is not to determine what somebody's sex is. This needs to be decided in other places with their own money and at other times.

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

Mr. Chair, let me just put some numbers to this. Over the course of 5 years, the Pentagon spent $15 million--$15 million--in treating 1,892 transgender troops, including $11.5 million for psychotherapy and $3.1 million for surgeries, according to the Department of Defense.

The price tag for individual gender-affirming surgical procedures and other medical treatments can range from $8,000 to $100,000. To compare hip surgery to a sex-change operation, it is two different worlds and two different thoughts that we just have a complete difference of opinion.

I think if you take a survey of any of the troops, Mr. Chair, who are serving this country, the vast majority would say that transgender surgeries have no place in the military.

The public to be borne with that price tag is, to be honest with you, Mr. Chair, incomprehensible.

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

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize an extraordinary public servant, Ms. Melinda Woodhurst, whose unwavering dedication to our Nation's veterans has left a lasting mark on York County, South Carolina. Her strong advocacy and innovative thinking has transformed the landscape of veteran services and has created meaningful change for our servicemembers and their families. She is a prime example of servant leadership.

Since 2017, Ms. Woodhurst has served as the York County veterans service officer. Month after month, she attends meetings with numerous Veteran Service Organizations and the York County Veterans Advisory Council to stay closely connected with the needs of her community. Her involvement also extends to partnerships with the hospice network of York County and other vital support institutions.

Ms. Woodhurst's service to our community has been far-reaching, particularly through her work with the Disabled American Veterans. The chapter's aging transportation van, affectionately known as the bag of bolts, finally gave out during a trip to Dorn Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Even when fundraising progress stagnated, Melinda stepped forward on her own time to raise over $30,000, enabling the purchase of a new van. She also worked to submit an application for a Disabled American Veterans Trust Fund grant, bringing the potential total funding to nearly $60,000.

Ms. Woodhurst's leadership goes much further than fundraising. Understanding that the certification process for volunteer drivers through the Dorn VA could take up to 9 months, she collaborated with VA representatives and identified a solution. Thanks to her coordination, Melinda streamlined the

entire certification process, condensing it into a single trip to Dorn. As of January 10, 2025, this process has resulted in 14 certified drivers, which was a dramatic improvement that is now being considered for statewide implementation.

Her vision extends beyond boundaries, as she prepares to transition the management of the Veterans Transportation Program to the newly opening VA community-based outpatient clinic this summer. This will ensure that the impact of her work continues long after her tireless efforts.

Melinda Woodhurst is not only a dedicated public servant but also a compassionate leader and an unwavering advocate for our veterans. Her work is a shining example of what true civic responsibilities look like that I know will shape generations to come. Her efforts have cut red tape, saved time and money and, most importantly, provided critical services to those who have sacrificed for our Nation.

We recently found out that Ms. Woodhurst, due to family reasons, is going to retire as of this week, and I just want to extend to her a slogan that Winston Churchill said years ago when Great Britain was under attack. He said: There will be a time when doing your best isn't good enough. You have got to do what is required.

Melinda Woodhurst has done what is required to serve her community, her State, her country, and more importantly, her God.

On behalf of the Fifth Congressional District of South Carolina, I extend my deepest appreciation for her tireless efforts and exemplary service for those who serve our Nation. I thank her and wish her Godspeed in her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde), my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, as we recognize the anniversary of the Dobbs decision, I want to point out, from the outset, that there is no species, no animal, that kills its own.

My family has been in the horse business for a good while. We raise pleasure horses. There is no mare that we have that kills its born, the new horse. We are in the cattle business. There is no cow that I have ever seen that has killed what it births. Yet, we as humans, for some reason, take that as a right that we can have.

The Dobbs decision was one of the most important decisions of our lifetime. For nearly 50 years, Roe v. Wade took power away from the people and handed it to unelected judges, but Dobbs finally made it right.

The Court didn't outlaw abortion, as my friends on the left tried to claim. What it did was restore the fundamental truth that States and the citizens who live in them have a right to decide how we protect life.

In South Carolina, we have chosen to stand for the unborn, and I stand before you today in unwavering support of our State's rights to do just that.

In 2018, Governor McMaster took a bold step. He blocked abortion clinics, like Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid funding because these dollars should go toward real healthcare helping women, children, and families, not to organizations that end innocent lives.

Despite what my good friends from the left claim, killing a child is not a birth control measure.

When Planned Parenthood sued to undo the decision, it wasn't just about funding. It was about undermining the rights of our States, our government, and our people.

That is why I led a bicameral amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to take up Medina v. Planned Parenthood. This case is about far more than Medicaid. It is about whether the States, like South Carolina, can align their healthcare policies with their values and whether the courts will respect these values.

Dobbs and Medina both point to the same truth. Washington, D.C., clearly doesn't get to decide everything. The Constitution makes it clear those decisions rest squarely with the American people.

I will continue to fight for States' rights and for the rights of South Carolinians to govern ourselves without Federal interference.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 6 o'clock and 37 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commemorate a special day for a very special person. On Sunday, June 1, at Westminster Presbyterian Church located in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Senior Pastor Mike Honeycutt called to the pulpit Mr. Don Gillespie.

Don has been an outstanding public servant and a devoted leader in both law enforcement and pastoral care. A man of deep conviction and humble service, Don has dedicated his life to protecting communities, building others up through coaching and ministry, and living out his faith.

Don was born and raised in Rock Hill, South Carolina, by loving Christian parents. He grew up attending First Presbyterian Church and has been a devoted member of Westminster Presbyterian Church since 1992.

From an early age, Don demonstrated a passion for sports, especially baseball and football. This passion carried him through his years at Newberry College, where he attended on a baseball scholarship and lettered all 4 years. During his sophomore year at college, Don was shared the Gospel by a close friend and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

After graduating in 1975 with a degree in history, Don initially planned to teach and coach high school students. Instead, he embarked on a remarkable career in law enforcement when he joined the York County Sheriff's Department, becoming the agency's first narcotics officer.

Over the course of more than two decades, Don rose through the ranks to become chief deputy and played a pivotal role in establishing the narcotics division in 1979 and the special weapons tactical team in 1989, where he served as commander.

Throughout his career, Don continued to pursue professional excellence, graduating from the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville in 1981 and the National Academy in Quantico in 1991.

In 1997, following his retirement from law enforcement, Don became the corporate security director at Bowater Pulp and Paper Company, where he served until 2013.

Even while managing these demanding roles, Don remained a dedicated coach and mentor, volunteering as a Dixie youth baseball coach for over 24 years, and leading a high school travel baseball team for a decade. Don has consistently shown a commitment to all the people around him.

In 2014, Don was asked by his pastor to serve as director of pastoral care at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Under his leadership, the ministry has expanded significantly to include programs such as the Stephen Ministry, Grief Share, and a comprehensive pastoral care team. These initiatives, staffed by volunteers trained and equipped by Don, have provided critical support to countless individuals, both inside and beyond the Westminster congregation. His ministry reflects his heart for service and his love for others.

Don's impact on those around him has been profound. He has given a lifetime of service to his community, his church, and his family. He and his wife, Jan, who retired from the 16th Circuit Solicitor's Office, have raised five sons and are the proud grandparents of ten.

I offer my sincere gratitude to Don for his steadfast leadership and dedicated service. He is a man who truly embodies the creed: ``To live is to serve.'' Winston Churchill once said that there will be a time when doing your best isn't good enough. You have got to do what is required.

Don has done what is required to serve his family, his community, and his God.

Mr. Speaker, the only time that I have seen anyone receive a standing ovation in church for his service, it was this man.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Foxx for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, a bill that finally codifies the spending cuts identified by the Department of Government Efficiency, otherwise known as DOGE.

The American people are getting a front row seat to one party who is perfectly content to bankrupt this country, one party. We will get no votes on this rescission package, none from the Democratic Party.

They had their time. When their President, who was cognitively, let's just say, deficient, where were the cuts? None. They didn't say anything. They didn't stand up for the American people. They were silent.

Where were our good friends with the 15 to 20 million illegals coming into this country, with the drugs flowing in, with the children that were trafficked? Where were they? They were quiet. They didn't say a thing. Mr. Speaker, it is anti-American.

This package is not about tightening belts. It is about cutting loose the dead weight.

As Congresswoman Foxx just mentioned a few things, let me mention a few things that Democrats will spend Americans' money on:

$3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street; $6 million for NetZeroCities in Mexico--NetZeroCities in Mexico, what is that? Mr. Speaker, Democrats will spend $158 million for Lebanon peacekeeping operations which fail to contain Hezbollah; $135 million for the World Health Organization controlled by China. This is what Democrats are for. This is how they are wanting to spend your money.

With $38 trillion in debt, they will keep on spending and spending on their pet projects. President Trump is calling an end to it.

Mr. Speaker, of this, we are talking about $9.4 billion in rescissions, funds that should never have been appropriated in the first place. This includes $8.3 billion from foreign aid programs--some which I just read--$1.1 billion from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting. Taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize a leftwing media operation like NPR and PBS. These cuts are more than symbolic. Mr. Speaker, they are structural. They target woke U.N. handouts, failing to keep the peacekeeping efforts, and Biden's DEI and climate propaganda campaigns masquerading as humanitarian aid.

Let me be clear. This does not cut defense. This does not cut Social Security. This does not cut Medicare. This is about rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse and very firmly putting America first, which they are not doing.

If we don't codify these cuts, they will be reversed quietly over time with no vote from this Chamber.

This rescissions package is the lockbox. It makes the DOGE cuts permanent. It ensures the victories that we don't want to get washed away in the next budget cycle. This is our chance to turn--

Mr. Speaker, this is about freedom. This is about maintaining America as we have known it in the past. This is about returning the American people to some fiscal sanity, which my friends on the left will not do and never have done, particularly in the last 4 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an exceptional public servant, David Camhi, whose unwavering dedication to law enforcement and public safety has made an everlasting impact on his community.

Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Camhi has exemplified the highest standards of service, of leadership, and of integrity.

For over 15 years, Mr. Camhi has served with distinction in the New York Police Department. His leadership, his commitment, and his generosity have been nothing short of extraordinary. He has led complex criminal investigations and tactical operations with unparalleled precision and excellence. His expertise spans critical areas such as counter-terrorism, crisis management, and investigations, ensuring the safety of New York City and its residents, this, in spite of the political winds in New York which have favored the criminal instead of favoring the victim.

From his roles as special operations sergeant and platoon commander to integrity control officer, Mr. Camhi has continuously demonstrated the core

mission of the New York City Police Department: to enhance the quality of life in New York City by working in partnership with the community to enforce the law, preserve peace, protect the people, reduce fear, and maintain order.

In every position that he has held, he has embodied the values of public service and law enforcement with passion, professionalism, and courage.

Before his career in law enforcement, Mr. Camhi began his public service journey as a chief of staff for the New York State Assembly. In that capacity, he gained invaluable experience in legislative affairs and policy development, providing him with a unique perspective on bridging the gap between law enforcement operations and public policy. This foundation has allowed him to create a more comprehensive approach to community safety and to fostering collaboration among Federal, State, and local agencies.

Currently, as the commanding officer of the New York Police Department's Detective Bureau Tactical Training Unit, Mr. Camhi plays a vital role in preparing law enforcement officers for the challenges they face. Under his leadership, the unit provides essential tactical investigative training to detective bureau personnel, to special operations units, to military units, and to law enforcement officers at every level, Federal, State, and local.

Beyond his operational leadership, Mr. Camhi has proven to be a respected mentor and instructor, shaping the next generation of law enforcement professionals. His commitment to training ensures that officers are not only ready for the dangers they face but are also guided by the highest ethical standards as they serve their communities.

Through all his professional accomplishments, Mr. Camhi holds one thing above all: his family. He remains a devoted son, a devoted husband, and a devoted father, which is a testament to the values that guide his work and his life. Despite the demands of his career, he was always present, especially for his son, Sam, making sure that he always had his dad at every important moment. His dedication was not just to his job, but to his family.

I would also add that David's father was in law enforcement for a number of years, and when 9/11 occurred, guess who was first to volunteer his time to risk his health to go help clean up the damages of 9/11?

On behalf of the American people, I extend my deepest appreciation for his tireless efforts and exemplary service. May his leadership and dedication continue to inspire others for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for David Camhi.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I rise in full support of this rule. As I told my good friends in the Rules Committee today, you are not going to lecture me on compassion. You are not going to lecture me on being kind to the poor and the forgotten.

You are the party who let 15 million illegals in this country, wantonly and deliberately. You are the party who defended a President who wasn't mentally competent.

One of the ladies mentioned that Donald Trump voted from a golf course. Donald Trump could read a thank-you note, unlike President Biden.

Donald Trump had 77 million people who wanted to reverse the course that this country was on for the last 4 years. To hear you all talk all of a sudden about disenfranchisement for females, you are always playing the victim card. Seventy-seven million people rejected that.

Now, on the proxy voting, every one of our friends in the back listening had to show up here. Every one of them had to physically come here. I am in the construction business. Do you think the electrician could vote by proxy to get the house wired? Do you think the dentist could vote by proxy to get the teeth fixed and fillings filled?

It is a joke. With all the problems this country has, here we are, arguing over proxy voting.

You brought up the Speaker voting by proxy. I voted by proxy. Speaker Pelosi put it in order a few times, and no one agrees with this.

The hardworking Americans go to work. When we sign up for this job, as has been said, we agree to come to this Chamber, 435 of us.

If you want to get into Members of your own party who voted coming off boats and just basically took a vacation, it ends today.

That is why I fully support this.

Mr. Speaker, it is really laughable for the listening audience and those watching on TV to hear my good friend, Mr. McGovern, talk about defunding the police. They are the party that wanted to defund the police. Their Vice Presidential candidate put up money to pay the rioters to get out of jail.

Mr. McGovern talked about the military. We have had 4 years of a Biden administration that ran the military off with the wokeness in DEI. Enrollments are up at record levels. President Trump has been in office now for 49 days. Look what he has done.

My friend mentioned cutting Social Security. There is nothing about Social Security that is in this bill. My friend mentioned or I guess will mention cutting Medicaid. There is nothing about cutting Medicaid in here.

What they are doing is using scare tactics, but the American people aren't buying it. The Democrats had 4 years to have their way with the government and look what it brought. It brought high taxes, high gas prices, and high egg prices.

Why did 77 million people vote them out of office? It was because of their policies. President Trump in 49 days is bringing it back.

If the Democrats get back in control, the main thing they will try to get a concession on is to defund--they keep saying ``billionaire Elon Musk.'' I am sorry. Elon Musk didn't make it from government. He made it from producing a product.

Guess what he has had the mind and the genius to find. The Democrats support these things that he found in the different agencies, mainly leading off with USAID.

Mr. Speaker, I want everybody to listen to see if they agree with this. For the taxpayers, what Elon Musk found was $2 billion, which was part of a greenhouse gas emission fund. Guess where it went. It went to Stacey Abrams. Is that where the taxpayers want their money spent?

There was $1 million to the Social Security Administration's Gender X initiative marker. Is that where the taxpayers want their money to go?

There was $45 million for a diversity, equity, and inclusion scholarship in Burma. How does that work?

There was $182 million in Health and Human Services contracts including $168,000 for an Anthony Fauci exhibit at the NIH.

Folks, this would be funny if it wasn't so serious, $2.5 million to promote inclusion in Vietnam.

I am not going to waste the time, but this is just a short list of how this President under Elon Musk is identifying waste, fraud, and abuse.

All the things that you are saying are just not true. I sat through this. You mentioned this was like needles in your eyes. Hearing you say these things is worse than that because it is just untrue.

What this bill does is it extends funding--and I am typically not for CRs; it is no way to do business--but it extends funding with fixed spending at 2024 levels. It includes anomalies requested by the Trump administration to support immigration enforcement efforts to deport criminals.

Their party was the one that opened the gates to America. How is that working out? How about the deaths occurring? We had the mothers and fathers of victims in this audience for the joint session, and guess who didn't stand. Nobody in your party stood. No one had the decency to stand up for the little boy with cancer who wanted to be a police officer.

These anomalies increase defense discretionary spending by $6 billion. It cuts nondefense discretionary spending by $13 billion. It reduces the overall Federal spending for fiscal year `25 below the `24 levels. Guess what. Do you remember the 87,000 IRS agents that were going to harass the taxpayers? This bill cuts $20 billion out of it. It does away with it.

This President is just getting started.

I doubt we will have any support from the Democratic side, which I don't expect. This bill is going to pass, and the country is in better shape. You had your time 4 years ago, and how did that work out for the American people? It didn't work out too good. I fully support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a truly remarkable individual, Phil Ginn, whose unwavering commitment to his community has been an inspiration to all of us who know him.

His lifetime of service to his family, to his faith, and to his country has made him an institution in his community, and his influence will be felt for generations to come.

Judge Ginn's pursuit of excellence began with his education. He graduated magna cum laude from Appalachian State University and earned his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His legal career spanned over four decades, including 22 years as the senior resident superior court judge for the 24th Judicial District in North Carolina. Throughout his tenure, he upheld the rule of law with wisdom, with fairness, and with integrity.

Judge Ginn's influence extended far beyond the courtroom, where he not only delivered legal rulings but also mentored those around him, always striving to instill truth and justice.

After retiring from the bench in 2014, Judge Ginn transitioned to the business world as he purchased a struggling horizontal pump company in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Over the next 3 years, with the help of key employees and through exemplary leadership, he managed to turn the business into one of the largest privately owned horizontal pump companies in the United States.

In early 2018, Judge Ginn completed the sale of the company and returned to his beloved mountains of western North Carolina.

It is not just in law and business where Judge Ginn's legacy is found. His greatest passion has always been his faith. His devotion led him to serve as chairman of the Southern Evangelical Seminary board of trustees. In 2021, he assumed the role of the sixth president of the board. Under his leadership, the seminary has continued its vital mission to evangelize our culture as a defender and as a disciple of the Christian faith.

Founded in 1992 by Dr. Norman Geisler and Dr. Ross Rhoads, Southern Evangelical Seminary is widely recognized as one of the top 10 evangelical Christian seminaries in the country, offering accredited programs rooted in a classical philosophy of education.

Recently, SES has further enhanced its national standing as one of the premier evangelical seminaries in America through the establishment and

dedication of a new innovative training center in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The center includes a state-of-the-art, fully digital campus that serves as a thriving international body.

Throughout his accomplishments, Judge Ginn has remained a devoted husband, a devoted father, and a devoted grandfather. He and his wife, Lynn, have been married for over 40 years and have raised four daughters, three sons-in-law, and five grandchildren, imparting to them the same values of faith, service, and community that have helped shape his life and legacy.

Above all of his many accomplishments, it is Judge Ginn's unwavering faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that has truly defined his life. In his courtroom, in his office, and in his personal life, the Holy Bible has been a standard of truth, the source of all wisdom, and the promise upon which he stands.

In dealing with his fellow man, he is a person who knows no superiors. He is a person who knows no inferiors. He lives by the values instilled in him at a young age by his parents, the Reverend and Mrs. Charles Ginn, to treat others without regard for position or power, respect elders and love children, work hard, speak the truth, stand for the American flag and those who fight for our freedom, and give generously but quietly.

Judge Ginn's life is a master class in respect, honor, and kindness, and his legacy will be long remembered not just for his accomplishments but for his character.

Judge Ginn's legacy of leadership, compassion, and commitment to justice continues to inspire all who encounter him. He is a man who lives by the Bible and is proof of: ``To whom much is given, much will be required.''

On behalf of the people of South Carolina's Fifth Congressional District, I extend my deepest congratulations to Judge Ginn and his family on his well-deserved recognition. His life reminds us that true leadership begins with being a good and honorable person.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in giving heartfelt thanks to Judge Phil Ginn.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Houchin for leading this debate, and I rise in full support of the House budget resolution as introduced by Chairman Arrington.

What our viewers, both in the balcony and watching this by TV, are going to see is two different worldviews.

My friends on the left think tax money is their money, that you shouldn't know where it is spent in any shape, form, or fashion.

Where they want to spend our tax dollars, which is now being uncovered by Elon Musk, is on a variety of things, but it began 4 years ago with the invasion of the border.

My friends from the left, the minute the Biden administration took office, opened the gates for over 170 different countries to let everybody and anybody into this country. My friends on the left allowed 400,000 unaccompanied minors to come into this country, and we don't know what happened to them. It is not good, though.

They claim to sympathize with people in this country, but what about sympathy for the children? They did nothing to stop the invasion at the border. They had words, but that is all it was.

They want the American people to know that it is their money to spend on illegal aliens' free college tuition, putting it on the backs of the everyday working man.

This is the first step in a long journey of what we are voting on today. From the very first day I set foot in this Chamber, I have always promised my constituents that I would do everything within my power to reinstate fiscal sanity to our great Nation.

What is worse than a bankrupt country? How does that help children? How does that help single moms? It doesn't. That is what this bill attempts to stop or at least begin the process of healing.

We now suffer from World War II levels of indebtedness and pay more on interest than we do on our national defense, to the tune of over $880 billion in interest.

Unfortunately, many Members of Congress have demonstrated a complete lack of fiscal discipline and will try to spoil a strong bill that President Trump himself has endorsed.

This budget resolution enables us to reach over $4.5 trillion in tax cuts for hardworking Americans and more than $2 trillion in spending cuts, a concept that Congress has been foreign to for way too long.

With a historic trifecta, since the Republicans were elected by 77 million people to control the House, the Senate, and the executive branch, we have the opportunity to deliver on our promise to America. We must do what is best for them, including raising the debt ceiling by $4 trillion to prevent Democrats from using a fiscal crisis to hold Trump's agenda hostage.

The Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Ciscomani). The time of the gentleman has expired.

Mr. Speaker, due to the previous Biden administration's failed security measures, included in our budget is $300 billion in critical and urgent funding for strengthened border security and our Armed Forces.

America is paying twice. We pay to ship illegals over here. We pay to feed illegals over here. We pay to house illegals over here. Now, we are having to take them back. We are for immigration, but the right way.

All in all, this package, combined with economic growth unleashed by the America First agenda, can ensure it will provide a deficit-neutral outcome, including seven times the amount of cuts that were initially unveiled. For every dollar that Republicans surpass the goal of spending cuts, there will be another dollar in tax cuts.

I am proud to support this budget that finally implements fiscal and budgetary constraints on Congress. It is the first step to unlocking the reconciliation process ahead of us.

Previously, under Democrats' failed leadership, which we had 4 years of, nonsense welfare programs ate at the budget, allotting billions for mindless spending.

The American people have had enough, which is why we are in the new age of the golden age.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for allowing me to speak and for putting this argument up.

Mr. Chair, I rise in full support of the House budget resolution. I thank Mr. Arrington for the yeoman's work he has done. He stood tall and he stood strong.

For those who are watching on TV and for those listening, we have gotten a steady diet of the same old, worn-out tactics: rich, poor, divinity politics, taking food from hungry children. They haven't used granny is going over the cliff yet, but I assume that is coming.

My question to my good friends on the other side is: Where were they the last 4 years? Where were they? We have got a steady diet of high inflation. We have got a steady diet of 15 million illegals coming into this country, using every public school, every hospital, not being a citizen, draining the payroll, and draining the economy of America.

What about the empathy for the poor, unaccompanied children who came over here and are in sex trades, if they are still living, many of them, well over 400,000 children? What about the inflation at every level? Where were you the last 4 years?

With house prices, where were you? Interest rates, you were nowhere to be found. Where were your solutions? You didn't have any because we have got two worldviews. You think taxes paid by Americans is your money to spend like you want.

What Elon Musk and Donald Trump are doing is identifying the waste. Let the American people judge. Seventy-seven million Americans judged on who they thought could lead this country, and it wasn't an inept President who couldn't give a press conference if he had to or read a thank-you card. That is who you put up with for 4 years.

The past is the judge of the future. I would love to have $5 trillion in cuts on this bill.

Mr. Chair, we have got more to go. This is the first step. The journey starts with the first step. We are going to fight, and we are going to stop the policies that have bankrupted this country, that you have put up with for the past 4 years. Time is up. It is time for a new day.