Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize and congratulate Ed Kenealy on his retirement at the end of this year from Liberty Mutual, where he serves as Executive Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, after more than two decades with the company.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Ed for many years. With his great sense of humor and dedication to his profession, he has earned a strong reputation as a knowledgeable and invaluable resource for Liberty Mutual and his community. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Vanderbilt Law School, Ed joined Liberty Mutual in 2005 and has held many senior positions, including Senior Vice President for Liberty International and Chief Public Affairs Officer. In these prestigious roles, he has been an effective advocate for Liberty Mutual and his industry. In addition, his work with many other organizations, especially the New England Council and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, has greatly benefited his community and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a whole. In particular, Ed has been a dedicated advocate for and participant in the Pan-Mass Challenge, an annual bike- a-thon that brings cyclists across Massachusetts to raise money for cancer treatment and research.

Mr. Speaker, I want to join Ed's wife, Deborah, his children, Diana and Andrew, and all his friends, family, and colleagues in celebrating his tremendous career. On behalf of the United States of America, I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to join a grateful Chicopee community in mourning the loss of a true giant in the City of Chicopee, Ernest N. ``Ernie'' Laflamme, Jr.

Often referred to as the ``Dean'' of Chicopee, Ernie affectionately earned this distinction after faithfully serving the city for more than five decades, spanning 12 mayoral administrations and serving as both Assessor and then as Treasurer. A dedicated public servant, Ernie understood that holding public office is a privilege and that earning the trust of the people you serve should never be taken for granted. For years, Ernie was a constant presence in City Hall for residents and public servants alike, serving as a trusted source of wisdom, institutional knowledge, and friendship.

Beyond his work in public service, Ernie was a devout Catholic and a steadfast believer in giving back to his community. From mentoring young people through the Boy Scouts and supporting Sunshine Village, to his involvement with the Knights of Columbus and the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, and his unrelenting support for our veterans, there is not a corner of the city that has not benefited from Ernie's efforts. While the list of charitable causes is too numerous to name, one thing remained constant: Ernie lived a life defined by service to others. Few have given more of themselves to the community he cared for so deeply and felt privileged to call home.

While his passing leaves a profound void in the city, I have no doubt that Ernie's legacy will live on not only through the generations of public servants he inspired, but through his children, grandchildren, and the generations of Laflammes who will carry forward the values of faith, family, and service that guided his life.

I thank Ernie's family for sharing Ernie with us for all these years. The City of Chicopee and all of western Massachusetts are better off because of Ernie's extraordinary life of service. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the extraordinary life of Ernest N. Laflamme, Jr., and extending our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the entire Chicopee community.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize and congratulate Dennis Lopata on his retirement as Executive Director of Life Care Center of Wilbraham after nearly two decades of service.

Dennis has dedicated his entire career to caring for the most vulnerable in our society. A proud graduate of Minnechaug High School, Dennis graduated with a degree in Healthcare Administration from Worcester State University before receiving his Master's degree from Western New England College. He started his career as the Vice President of Support Services at Holden Hospital and then as Assistant Hospital Administrator for Springfield Municipal Hospital. He transitioned to senior living in 1992 as the Executive Director of Farren Care Center before serving as the Executive Director of LaChance Center in Fitchburg for ten years.

I have visited Life Care Center of Wilbraham on numerous occasions. As many of us know, moving a loved one to a long-term care facility can be a very traumatic experience. His compassion and attention to the residents and their families were evident from the moment they met him. One example of his concern for others came in the aftermath of the tornadoes that ravaged the area surrounding his building. Dennis spent the night at the facility, taking admissions by flashlights and reassuring residents and associates alike. It was this type of commitment that earned him the Chairman's Award, the highest honor bestowed on an associate by Life Care.

Dennis has been a strong health care leader, and his commitment to service to the community has spanned over 40 years. He serves as the President for the Board of Directors of the Country Club of Wilbraham, the ERC5 Chamber of Commerce, and the Gardner Rotary Club.

I thank his children, Nicolas, Nathan, and Abigail, and his wife and high school sweetheart, Sharon Nowak, who passed away in 2002, for sharing Dennis with the thousands of individuals and families whose lives were forever changed by his selflessness and lifelong devotion to caring for others.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Dennis all the best on his well-earned retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 225th anniversary of Crane Currency of Dalton, Massachusetts, a remarkable milestone for one of the oldest companies not only in the Commonwealth, but in the United States.

For more than two centuries, Crane has embodied the ingenuity and craftsmanship that have long defined western Massachusetts, while making contributions felt across the Nation and around the world. The firm's paper has backed the integrity of U.S. currency since 1879, and their advancements in security technology continue to protect American financial systems well into the 21st century. This legacy of excellence and innovation was not forged overnight; it was built in the Berkshires by western Massachusetts workers, generation after generation.

The Crane family's imprint on the country and the Commonwealth extends well beyond papermaking. Murray Crane, who served as Governor of Massachusetts and later as a United States Senator, was a towering figure in New England politics. An advisor to Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William H. Taft, and a formative mentor to a young Calvin Coolidge. The same character that has defined the Crane family in public life--steady, principled, and deeply rooted in this region--has continued to define their company for these 225 years.

Today, Crane marks this milestone at the Crane Museum of Papermaking in Dalton,

which is rather fitting, given that this is the same community where their story began. Their commemoration coincides with our nation's 250th anniversary, a fitting reminder that Crane's history and our nation's history are deeply and forever intertwined.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join the U.S. Treasurer and Crane Currency in celebrating this momentous occasion. I congratulate the Crane family and their tremendous workforce on 225 years of driving innovation, cementing their legacy in Berkshire County and the nation. I have no doubt that this legacy will endure for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life and legacy of Benjamin Swan, Sr., a son of the Civil Rights Movement, a champion of our great Commonwealth, and one of the most consequential figures western Massachusetts has ever produced.

Born in 1933, Ben spent the next 92 years proving that one person, committed to justice and rooted in community, can change the arc of a city. From the marches of the 1960s, where he proudly stood alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to the great halls of the Massachusetts State House, where he served the people of Springfield for more than two decades, Ben Swan never stopped pushing and never stopped believing that this country could live up to its great promise.

When Ben came to Springfield, he made it his own. He led the Greater Springfield NAACP. He championed desegregation in schools. He fought for police reform. He stood up for the homeless, the working poor, and every constituent who walked through his door or stopped him on the street. He served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1995 to 2017, and during that time, he became not only a good legislator but also a mentor. Elected officials across this region trace their path to public service back to a conversation with Ben Swan. He gave people the courage to run, the wisdom to serve, and the living example of how to do it with grace.

Springfield named a street for him. Springfield named a school for him. Those are extraordinary honors, and yet no honor will ever adequately reflect his legacy. The truest monument to Ben is the generations of leaders he inspired and the constituents whose lives he forever changed.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in recognizing the extraordinary life and service of Benjamin Swan, Sr. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. Ben Swan gave everything he had to this community, and it is this community that will carry his legacy forward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a great business and charitable leader from New England, Mr. William R. Berkley, to celebrate his life and extraordinary achievements. Tragically, Bill died suddenly from a heart attack.

His accomplishments in business are undeniable but somewhat beneath the radar as he eschewed the spotlight unless it was to further some greater purpose. His success in business allowed him to ``pay it forward'' in many ways, including board leadership of several educational and charitable organizations and generous giving through a family foundation, as described more fully below. He is a strong believer in the American Dream and wants to foster it for others as best he can. He recently shared his private collection of rare documents in an exhibit entitled ``The Declaration of Independence: Long Trail to Liberty'' at NYU's Grey Art Museum and was in the process of creating a museum in New York City to celebrate American history and opportunity.

Bill founded his company W.R. Berkley Corporation nearly 60 years ago. Since that time, the company, which is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, has grown from a small investment management firm into one of the largest commercial lines property and casualty (P&C) insurers in the United States. Comprising nearly sixty specialty insurance businesses and employing over 8500 people worldwide, the company is a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500 with gross written premiums exceeding $10 billion.

The company was largely a reflection of Bill, as he was affectionately known. The company's driving purpose is to provide customers ``peace of mind'' and its core tenet is striving ``to do the right thing.'' Bill strongly believed that the integration of service, integrity and fairness in the company culture was central to building trust and loyalty among the company's customers, partners, and employees.

This strong sense of purpose, determination and drive was forged in Bill's childhood largely out of necessity in response to a tragic event. When Bill was eleven, his father was killed when the company plane he was on crashed. Determined not to burden his mother and to help out financially, Bill started selling Austin biscuits first in his apartment complex and later to the owner of the local grocery store. Impressed by the young man, the store owner soon offered Bill a job. As Bill recalled the experience, ``it was there that I learned to work hard and longer than anyone else in the market. I wanted to learn all I could about the business and soon I was giving the owner advice that would improve his operations. Mentally, I pretended I owned the store, which made me take responsibility for all I did.''

Bill also started a paper route and learned how to invest the proceeds from these jobs from a neighbor who was a stockbroker. Still, he did not have enough money to afford to go to the University of Pennsylvania, his first choice. Fortunately, he was offered a full scholarship to attend NYU, which he quickly accepted. Bill often referred to that as his ``big break.'' Bill excelled there, graduating in three years with a double major in statistics and finance.

He subsequently received an MBA from Harvard Business School, which he largely paid for with the proceeds of selling a large paper route he had started while at NYU. At Harvard, Bill once again exhibited his extraordinary business acumen, starting and running a $2 million investment fund out of an apartment with a classmate, Paul Dean. Berkley, Dean & Company quickly grew to managing $10 million in assets.

At this point, another event helped shape Bill's world view and business ethos. While at

Harvard, he had interned and later worked full time at Fidelity Management Research Company until he completed his MBA. While he was offered a permanent position at Fidelity upon graduation, he knew he wanted to start his own business. Ned Johnson, the then chair at Fidelity, initially offered a $25, 000 investment in Bill's new company. However, Fidelity's advisors effectively nixed the new investment. This could have crushed Bill's dream of starting a new business. Fortunately, Ned Johnson decided to keep his commitment and gave Bill the money as a consulting fee. Bill later said, ``This was a huge lesson for me. From then on, I've known the importance of keeping your word and honoring your commitments.''

Bill spent the next 45 years building, leading, and growing W.R. Berkley into a leading provider of P&C insurance globally. Ten years ago, he relinquished the reins as CEO to his son Rob Berkley, but he remained the Executive Chairman of the company until his death and the company still bears his imprint and influence. Even after turning 80, Bill continued to go in early every morning because ``I just find it exciting'' and ``I want to improve the company every day.''

Rob says that his father was ``always encouraging his colleagues to think outside of the box and not to accept the status quo.''

And Bill also never lost sight from where he came and the forces and lessons that led to his success, looking to ``pay it forward'' often. Bill and his wife Marjorie, through their family foundation, have focused their philanthropy on three primary areas: education, health and environmental issues. For example, the family's foundation recently gave a ``transformative gift'' to expand the Georgetown University School of Nursing, a natural intersection of their interest in education and health, designed to help address the Nation's shortage of nurses.

Bill also gave back with his time by serving on numerous corporate boards, providing leadership, advice, and support. He served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Georgetown University, where he helped create the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, devoted to fostering inter-religious dIalogue with a goal of improving global cultural understanding. He also was a former Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the University of Connecticut and former Chairman of Achievement First, a group of charter schools operating in the Northeast, serving over 15,000 inner-city children. And he was an Emeritus member of the Board of Directors of the National Parks Conservation Association, after serving on the Board for many years.

But most of all, Bill gave back to NYU--the school he credited with providing him the opportunity for a free education that supported his success. Most notably, he had recently retired as Chairman of the New York University Board of Trustees. He also served in several other board leadership capacities at NYU over three decades, including at the NYU Stern School of Business and the Langone Medical Center. Marjorie and him made several large gifts to the school's Leonard N. Stern School of Business. These efforts were focused on expanding access to education through scholarships, reflectIng their belief in helping talented young people achieve their potential. ``I see education as giving you the framework to understand how everything works,'' Bill explained, ``It doesn't solve your problems, but it gives you something to build on. When combined with hard work and perseverance through challenging times, success is usually the outcome.''

Over the years, Bill received many awards for his business, civic and philanthropic activities, including most recently the Horatio Alger Award in 2024 ``bestowed upon exceptional leaders who have triumphed over adversity to achieve greatness.''

Bill exemplified how to lead a life guided by deep, constant purpose and fueled by optimism, determination, and industry. He built a company that is highly respected and an established leader in the insurance industry, as well as changed lives by providing charitable leadership and compassionate giving.

Mr. Speaker, I honor Bill's legacy and recognize his achievements as a global entrepreneur, corporate and charitable leader, and philanthropist. I am deeply saddened by his sudden passing and offer my sympathies to his wife Marjorie and his children and grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with our colleagues from Massachusetts to pay tribute to the late Congressman and Chairman Barney Frank, who passed away 2 days ago at the age of 86.

I spoke with Barney recently, and I asked him how he was doing. He said he was going blind, he couldn't walk, and his heart was failing, but other than that, he was on top of his game.

He faithfully served the people of Massachusetts in the Fourth Congressional District for more than three decades, and his constituents could not have asked for a stronger voice representing them in this House.

He was a competent legislator, from time to time an irascible personality, always a man of good wit and humor, and a superb legislator. He would perhaps put that at the top.

His legislative achievements were too numerous to list. He was a trailblazer for the gay community, a champion of civil rights, and a fierce advocate for expanding access to affordable housing and economic opportunities for America's working families.

As chairman of the Financial Services Committee, Barney ushered in change during one of the most tumultuous periods in our history. Also, as a piece of advice for Members of this Chamber, he mastered the most arcane details of complicated policy. It was not about just using your thumbs, it was about convincing people of the merit of your argument.

When you look at Dodd-Frank, it was praised widely by Republicans and Democrats across the financial community as well as those who served in this House and the Senate at the time.

For those who knew Barney, it was likely the case that they also knew quickly what Barney thought of them. Never afraid to speak his mind, he was an effective legislator who understood the importance of principled negotiation and the reality that lasting progress often requires both conviction and compromise. He was not afraid of holding his convictions, and he was not afraid of a compromise when he could declare victory. In times of great challenge, his quick wit and keen sense of humor served him well in his work, providing a much-needed sense of levity.

There are many stories that Jim McGovern and I spoke of that we can never tell publicly, but he had a great piece of advice for all Members of Congress because Members of Congress tend to say: Let's have another study. Barney said: Anytime a Member of Congress asks for a study, they should be required to pass a written test within 6 months of their study.

For those of us in the delegation, we had the privilege of calling him many things--colleague, mentor, confidant--but it was an even greater privilege to call him a friend. Massachusetts and the Nation are better off because of our friend, Barney Frank.

To Jim Ready and his family, we want to wish our best at this very difficult time. We have lost a giant of legislative life and a very loyal member of this institution and a very important alum.

I ask that the Chamber now rise to join us in a moment of silence in memory of Chairman and Congressman Barney Frank.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an exceptional milestone for an institution in Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District: the 175th anniversary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. For generations, MassMutual has played a vital role in the financial security of millions of Americans and the economic strength of western and central Massachusetts.

Founded on May 15, 1851, in Springfield, Massachusetts, where it remains headquartered today, MassMutual has stood for nearly two centuries as a pillar of stability and integrity, maintaining a steadfast and deep commitment to the communities it serves. From its earliest days, the company has embraced an enduring mission: to help people secure their future and protect the ones they love.

For 175 years, MassMutual has been a consistent source of strength in moments of change, challenge, and celebration. They have supported American families through defining periods such as the Great Depression and the COVID-19 pandemic, helping communities endure and recover.

Beyond its core business, MassMutual has demonstrated a strong commitment to community investment and civic responsibility. Through initiatives such as the MassMutual Foundation, the company has supported education, workforce development, and nonprofit organizations across the Commonwealth and throughout the country.

Institutions like MassMutual remind us of the enduring value of trust, responsibility, and service. Their legacy is measured not only in years, but in the lives strengthened through financial security and opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating MassMutual on 175 years of excellence and recognizing its continued contributions to our communities and our economy. I wish the company and its employees continued success in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for the time.

Mr. Speaker, I led the negotiation on USMCA, and 195 Republicans voted for USMCA and 197 Democrats voted for USMCA. It was a bipartisan effort.

Tariffs, as threatened or imposed, can have an outcome, but not when we look at Brazil and say that we don't like the result of the Presidential election and that we are going to impose 50 percent tariffs, or that we are going to close a bridge as it goes to Canada, like Canada is an enemy. I have not met anybody in America who was ever mad at Canada for anything. They have been a great friend, great ally, and a great neighbor.

Let's have a tariff on NATO because of Greenland. Let's have a tariff on South Korea because of who they talk to in an international arena. Let's impose tariffs on our NATO allies or on European Union because we don't like this or that. We won't negotiate. We will just arbitrarily impose tariffs.

Mr. Speaker, do you know what the most ironic thing is in this debate? Heretofore, I have never met a Republican in Washington who was in favor of tariffs.

The party of Ronald Reagan embracing these tariffs is unheard of. The party of George Bush, Sr., embracing tariffs, part of their existence was to break down trade barriers everywhere. If you want to target a tariff based upon a particular product, gotcha. That is understood, but not the way that these tariffs are being imposed. The ranking member is on the right path.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of a pillar in a western Massachusetts community and a fixture in Berkshire County, my dear friend Bill Sturgeon.

Born to a firefighter and a nurse from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Bill graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1966 before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1969. He proudly served our country during the Vietnam war and was awarded the Bronze Star for his heroic achievements.

Bill continued that service upon his return home, working as a police officer in both the Lanesborough, Massachusetts, and Pittsfield, Massachusetts, police departments.

In 2008, Bill hosted his first radio show at WBRK radio, embarking on a remarkable journey to becoming one of the most iconic voices in the Berkshire community history. As a self-described Kennedy Democrat, Bill hosted guests from all across the political spectrum and from all walks of life on WTBR's ``Morning Drive.'' He welcomed debate that was respectful, substantive, and grounded in a genuine desire to inform rather than inflame.

I can say with all confidence that he is the only reporter whom I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with who started the interview with me by saying: Hey there, handsome. Needless to say, Bill Sturgeon is truly one of a kind.

Mr. Speaker, the American people are forever grateful to Bill Sturgeon for his service to our Nation, and the people of Berkshire County are forever grateful to him for being part of their morning drive.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate a remarkable milestone in western Massachusetts broadcasting and educational history: the 65th anniversary season of As Schools Match Wits, an award-winning high school academic quiz show produced by New England Public Media and Westfield State University. To the best of our knowledge, As Schools Match Wits, known affectionately throughout the region as ASMW, is the longest-running, continually broadcast television program in Massachusetts, and quite possibly in all of New England.

Founded in 1961 by Leonard J. Collamore and first aired on WWLP-TV, ASMW quickly became a treasured institution in western Massachusetts. For 46 seasons, it provided a platform for students to showcase their academic talents and brought communities together around a shared celebration of learning. When rising production costs threatened the program's future in 2006, the people of western Massachusetts made their voices heard. Their outpouring of support inspired Russell Peotter of WGBY-TV and Dr. Elizabeth Preston of Westfield State University to join forces and save the show, ensuring that this beloved tradition would continue for future generations.

In an extraordinary collaborative effort, WGBY and the Westfield State University Department of Communication assembled a dedicated team of producers, faculty, and technical staff who worked tirelessly to rebuild the set, reconnect with participating schools, develop new production schedules, and train students. Their commitment ensured that the program never missed a season. Since 2007, ASMW has aired every Saturday evening from January through June on NEPM/WGBY-TV, welcoming schools from across western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut to compete in a spirited test of academic excellence.

What sets ASMW apart is its deep educational mission. The questions are aligned with Massachusetts and Connecticut high school curriculum standards and vetted by Westfield State University faculty. Undergraduate students from the University's Department of Communication serve as the production crew, gaining invaluable hands-on experience in broadcast television under the guidance of seasoned professionals. Many of these students have gone on to successful careers in media, working at major outlets including the NFL Network, NBC Boston, WBZ-TV, CBS News Texas, the Dan Patrick Show, and WGGB-TV.

At the heart of ASMW's longevity is a core group of dedicated professionals who have shepherded the program for nearly two decades. Executive Producers Mark St. Jean of Westfield State University and Tony Dunne of NEPM/WGBY have been with the show since its transition in 2006, as has Director Eric Jones, who began working on the program as a freshman at WSU and now returns each year despite his national-level career. Host Beth Ward, an award-winning journalist, has brought her talent and warmth to the program since 2009. Production Manager Alex Simisky, a former student crew member himself, now oversees the University's TV studios and ensures the smooth operation of each season.

Despite the evolution of media and the challenges facing traditional broadcast television, ASMW remains a beloved and enduring institution. It is now a generational program, with parents and grandparents proudly watching their children and grandchildren compete on the same stage where they once stood. Each year, the championship match becomes a regional event, covered by local media and celebrated in communities across western Massachusetts.

Mr. Speaker, As Schools Match Wits is more than a television show. It is a celebration of learning, a training ground for future media professionals, and a cherished tradition that has strengthened the fabric of western Massachusetts for more than six decades. I extend my deepest congratulations to New England Public Media, Westfield State University, and the countless educators, students, producers, and supporters who have sustained this remarkable program. May ASMW continue to inspire and uplift students for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinguished service and extraordinary career of Colonel David L. ``Moon'' Halasi- Kun, who has honorably served our Nation for more than twenty-five years and most recently as the Wing Commander of the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Massachusetts.

Colonel Halasi-Kun's career is a testament to dedication, leadership, and excellence in service. Commissioned from the United States Air Force Academy in 1998, he went on to graduate from the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program in 2000. Over the course of his career, he has accumulated more than 3,150 flight hours in the F-15 Eagle and other aircraft, and has participated in combat and support missions in Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, and ATLANTIC RESOLVE.

After a decade of active duty, Colonel Halasi-Kun joined the Massachusetts Air National Guard in 2008, where he has served with distinction for the past fifteen years. Rising through the ranks, he has held numerous leadership positions, including Vice Commander of the 104th Fighter Wing, before assuming command in 2022. In this role, he was responsible for ensuring that more than 1,000 military and civilian personnel were mission-ready to defend our homeland and support expeditionary deployments around the globe. Most notably, Colonel Halasi-Kun has upheld the stellar reputation that has become associated with Barnes, positioning the base to be selected as the preferred location to host a new fleet of F-35A aircraft. This decision solidified Barnes' place in the western Massachusetts community for decades to come.

Colonel Halasi-Kun's service has been recognized with some of the military's highest honors, including the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, and the Aerial Achievement Medal. His professional achievements are matched by his academic accomplishments, having earned advanced degrees in Military Operational Art and Science as well as National Resource Strategy.

On September 30, 2025, Colonel Halasi-Kun completed his final flight in the F-15C Eagle, marking both the end of his own flying career and the conclusion of the F-15 mission at Barnes Air National Guard Base. In a fitting tribute, he led a four-ship formation on a two-hour mission over the Atlantic, a ``Lunar Flight'' named in honor of his call sign, ``Moon.'' Upon his return, he was greeted by family, friends, and fellow airmen who celebrated his remarkable career and enduring legacy.

Mr. Speaker, Colonel Halasi-Kun embodies the very best of our armed forces: courage, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to duty. His leadership has left an indelible mark on the 104th Fighter Wing, and his service has brought great pride to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to our Nation.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Colonel David ``Moon'' Halasi-Kun for his decades of service and sacrifice. We extend our deepest gratitude to him, his wife Gretchen, and his son Luke for their steadfast support throughout his career. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of airmen as the 104th transitions to its next chapter with the arrival of the F-35s.

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

Mr. Speaker, this argument is about universal access. For years, the Republican leadership in this institution has attempted to avert this very moment. For us this is not to be about spiking the football. This is not to be about an end-zone dance. This is about to declare a major victory for the American people.

Despite what I have heard, they have used every maneuver and procedure to prevent the very debate that we are going to have for the next hour. All these years later, they never even had a plan or an alternative.

We can finally choose families, and they can join us today in extending the ACA tax credits and save healthcare for millions of members of the American family. How easily and quickly they did a massive tax cut for the wealthiest amongst us while subsequently arguing that they could deny average men and women an opportunity for health insurance.

So here we are all these years later, as one who helped to write the Affordable Care Act, the ACA is still standing. We will continue to improve it every single year. When I consider now the uninsured enrollment in America is down to 6 percent, it is thanks to the ACA.

If Congress did not do what we are about to do in the next hour, a family of four making $130,000 would see their marketplace premium go from $921 to $1,992. That would be an 18.4 percent increase. Our enhanced credits make sure that nobody would pay more than 8.5 percent of their income for coverage.

Now, Republicans think that people can afford increased premiums by 37 percent, and that is what they are proposing today. They said 2 weeks ago that they had a healthcare plan that they wrote on Friday night. As I noted at the time, it was held together by bubble gum and Elmer's Glue. By the way, Democrats never even got to see it. If they had a healthcare plan alternative, they should have shown it to us.

Let me say this, Mr. Speaker. This is a good day for the American family. This is an important consideration for this institution. Despite repeated denials and efforts to thwart this very moment, in the next hour, my colleagues are going to do for the American family what they said they would do, and that is to extend these tax credits for the ACA.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark), the Democratic minority whip, who can stand at that microphone and say the following: Every child in Massachusetts has health insurance and 97 percent of the adults in Massachusetts are covered because of the ObamaCare plan.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries), the Democratic leader, whose tactful leadership has brought us to this moment.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi). There is no finer leader or person who was more determined to help bring us to this moment and whose fortitude helped to give us the ACA than Speaker Emerita Pelosi.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford).

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the ranking member of the Committee on Education and Workforce.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Gomez).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Underwood).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Salinas).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Krishnamoorthi).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

May I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is too bad that we had to play this out to the anxiety and consternation of the American people. Think of what this might be like if you didn't know a month ago whether or not your children were going to have health insurance. Think of the anguish that you might feel proceeding into the holidays while not knowing whether or not that child would be able to complete the doctor's appointment that you had made for them because you didn't have health insurance.

I didn't hear the other side complaining about keeping 26-year-olds on their parents' health insurance. How about the idea that, in the ACA, we were able to abolish preexisting conditions being routinely used to deny the opportunity to access even primary care for millions and millions of Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I call attention to this because I have watched over these years how the ACA has not only become more popular, but the American people have come to expect the benefits of the ACA.

This argument for those of us who were here and participated at the time was not really complex at all. The argument was that we would proceed on the basis of the notion of universal access and that you wouldn't have to worry that if you went to the emergency room, you somehow might be turned away because you had not been able to pay another bill.

We don't get a chance on this Earth to predict when we are going to get sick. Those are the basic actuarial realities of what insurance is about. By way of example, we don't get to buy homeowners' insurance after the house has burned down. We don't get to buy life insurance after we die.

The idea of what we did here was to spread the notion of risk, an entirely reasonable consequence, authored by former President Obama and, by the way, the steadfast determination at the time of Speaker Pelosi.

This was negotiated across the board with all members of the healthcare system, and we came up with a reasonable solution that we continue to build upon.

Mr. Speaker, I will point out a couple of pretty important statistics: 4 years straight of record enrollment in the Affordable Care Act, and 24.3 million Americans have now signed up.

That is what we had in mind. When you look back at these enhanced premium tax credits, we keep hearing the other side say that there are billionaires and millionaires who are driving the benefit. JCT has said that nobody over $500,000 is getting this benefit. We are open to these conversations as we go forward, as well. Yet, only 38 percent of their tax cuts inure to the benefit of people at the lower end of the economic spectrum.

By ending these enhanced tax credits, we will stop the Republican assault on the ACA. They have repeatedly said that they want to work with us, but there has been no effort on the Republican side to work with us on expanding and extending these tax credits.

There has been no concerted effort from our Republican colleagues to really put on a piece of legislation, a tax bill, that stands up under the magnifying glass of critical analysis. It is patchwork. It is announced every time we get near some cliff in the debate that somehow they have a healthcare plan. We haven't seen it yet.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to close by saying the same words that I opened with: This is a most significant day. This is a happy day for the American people.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize and honor Mr. Michael Keane on his retirement after 30 years of dedicated service to the United States House of Representatives. For three decades, Michael has been a steadfast presence within the Chief Administrative Office, and those of us who have had the privilege of working alongside him know just how deeply he has contributed to the strength and continuity of this institution.

Michael's journey to the House began with a deep appreciation for American history, earning both his bachelor's and master's degrees from California State University, Northridge. That grounding in history was evident in the pride he took in serving this institution, an institution he understood not just as a workplace, but as a living part of our Nation's democratic story.

From his earliest days as a Customer Account Counselor in Office Systems Management, Michael distinguished himself through his professionalism, his patience, and his commitment to helping others. His work ethic and reliability earned him a series of promotions, culminating in leadership roles in the Immediate Office of Logistics and Support, and later in Workflow Management. In each position, he brought clarity, steadiness, and a remarkable ability to solve problems before they became crises.

Michael played a key role in implementing major systems that improved the efficiency of House operations. He was also part of the first group of Office Coordinators, helping Member offices navigate services with greater ease. In his role managing Workflow Management, he strengthened communication between Logistics and Furnishings and became a trusted guide for departing Members navigating the close of their service.

Beyond the technical expertise and institutional knowledge, what stands out most about Michael is his character. Over the past 30 years, he has been a calm and reassuring presence through some of the most challenging moments in modem congressional history, including 9/11, the anthrax attacks, the pandemic, numerous transitions of Congress, and multiple changes in House leadership. His steady hand and quiet confidence helped keep this institution functioning when it mattered most.

As he enters retirement, Michael looks forward to spending more time with his children, his daughter Siobhan and his sons Rory and Colin, and embracing new opportunities and adventures. Knowing Michael, he will bring the same dedication and good humor to this next chapter that he brought to his decades of service here.

On behalf of the entire House community, I extend my deepest gratitude to Michael Keane. His contributions have strengthened this institution, supported countless Members and staff, and upheld the dignity of public service. We wish him many years of happiness, fulfillment, and well-earned rest in retirement.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Republican bill was put together with bubble gum and Elmer's glue last Friday night. This isn't a plan. It sounds like their argument that 300-year-olds are receiving Social Security benefits.

Families are staring at massive premium hikes, and now, thanks to four Republicans, we can force a vote. When you listen to the argument earlier from the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), he said that Republicans never had a chance to vote on the Affordable Care Act. This morning, we want to give you a chance.

Speaker Johnson could end this crisis and bring the bill up. Instead, they are wasting time on this dusty bill that will increase the number of uninsured Americans, and that is a fact. People don't need healthcare that costs more and covers less. To stave off this crisis, this bipartisan discharge petition is a workable path forward, and over the course of the next few minutes, we intend to tell you that you can hear why.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries), the minority leader, who has done a terrific job on managing this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford).

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

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

Mr. Speaker, my constituent company, Merriam-Webster, declared this week that the word of the year is ``slop,'' and it is appropriate today.

This bill won't lower costs. Without the ACA tax credits, costs are going to skyrocket for the American people. That is a bombshell report. They are undermining protections and forcing people into junk plans.

The only path forward is Leader Jeffries' discharge petition. It is a 3-year extension, clear and clean, bipartisan.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Speaker Johnson to bring this legislation up, and I yield back the balance of my time.