Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7022) to provide for the transmission of emergency alerts by satellite, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, H.R. 7022, the Mystic Alerts Act, led by Representative Pfluger.

While we work to increase cell phone connectivity across the country, there are and may always be certain areas of this country that do not have access to that connectivity.

That can be a problem in times of natural disasters or other emergencies. If you don't have a connection, you may not be able to receive a wireless emergency alert or other emergency notifications. Satellite technology is beginning to bridge that gap with our

cell phones, and it could bring a huge benefit for public safety.

This legislation would kick-start the process for mobile service providers to utilize satellite connectivity to send alert messages in areas that may not have access to terrestrial cell network coverage.

This legislation has strong bipartisan support. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter), my good friend.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia for her support of this bill. I, too, encourage all Members to vote for H.R. 7022 for immediate passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1681) to require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to establish an interagency strike force to ensure that certain Federal land management agencies, including the organizational units of such agencies, prioritize the review of requests for communications use authorizations, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on the bill.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1681, the Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act, sponsored by Representatives Evans and Craig.

This legislation establishes an interagency strike force to help prioritize permitting reviews for deploying broadband on Federal lands.

Broadband has become an essential part of everyday life. We need broadband for work, to stay connected with loved ones, and even for healthcare and education. However, too many Americans still lack access to broadband. Thus, Congress has provided billions of dollars to ensure that every American gets connected.

Deploying on Federal lands is a critical part of closing the digital divide. Many unserved communities are near Federal lands, and thus broadband providers must transverse these lands to reach these unserved homes and businesses.

Unfortunately, deploying broadband on Federal lands can be burdensome, particularly when it comes to the permitting process. Providers have testified that this complicated process moves slowly, and they are often left in the dark on the status of their applications. As a result, unserved communities are left without the broadband they need as providers wait for agencies to approve their permits.

We need to reform the broadband permitting process. Not only do we need to streamline how we review permits, we need to ensure the agencies that manage Federal lands prioritize these reviews. H.R. 1681, the Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act, will help ensure this happens.

H.R. 1681 directs the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to create an interagency strike force that includes the head of each Federal land management agency to ensure that they are prioritizing the review of broadband-permitting applications. In addition to holding periodic calls, the strike force will establish goals for the review of the requests, and monitor and hold each agency accountable for these goals.

This strike force is necessary to expedite the permitting process so that every American has access to broadband.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, I thank the sponsors, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Evans) to speak on the bill.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan) for her support of this important legislation. I, too, urge a ``yes'' vote on this important bill, H.R. 1681, for immediate approval.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1343) to require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to submit to Congress a plan for the Assistant Secretary to track the acceptance, processing, and disposal of certain Form 299s, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1343, the Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act, sponsored by Representatives Pfluger and Soto.

This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to develop a plan for tracking the broadband permitting application on Federal lands.

Broadband is essential to participate in everyday activities. Most Americans rely on their broadband connection for their work, healthcare, education, and more.

Congress has provided billions of dollars to close the digital divide. Indeed, NTIA is in the process of administering the BEAD Program to connect every unserved and underserved American.

Too often, broadband deployment is delayed or prevented due to unnecessary red tape in the form of burdensome permitting requirements. Federal agencies are some of the biggest culprits behind this red tape, delaying the deployment of broadband to the communities that most need it.

The process of application and approval for some of these permits has, unfortunately, become duplicative, ineffective, and time- consuming. Worse, there is no transparency in this process.

Opaque Federal permitting review processes leave applicants in the dark on whether their application is complete, where it is in the review process, and when they can expect a final decision. This uncertainty is not good for the planning of projects.

The Federal Broadband Deployment Tracking Act addresses these concerns by requiring NTIA to develop a plan to improve the tracking of Federal broadband permit applications. This plan would include a process to give applicants transparency into the status of their reviews, which would improve the speed and disposition of applications. This is essential to provide clarity into the Federal permitting process.

This is an important moment in time, and we must do all that we can to ensure that every American can access reliable broadband.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I thank the sponsors for their work on this bill.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia for her support for H.R. 1343, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5200) to direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and to make improvements to network outage reporting, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, H.R. 5200, the Emergency Reporting Act, led by Representative Matsui.

The reliability and resiliency of our emergency communications infrastructure are paramount. This legislation would direct the FCC to hold hearings and issue reports related to 911 outages after natural disasters and to make recommendations to improve outage reporting, bolster resiliency, and enhance coordination with State and local emergency officials. This will help make our communications systems stronger in the face of natural disasters.

Madam Speaker, this legislation has strong bipartisan support. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I thank Ms. Matsui and my colleague from Virginia for their support of this bill. In closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5201) to direct the Federal Communications Commission to publish a report on implementation of the Kari's Law Act of 2017, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material in the Record on the bill.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, H.R. 5201, Kari's Law Reporting Act, led by Representative Matsui.

Kari's Law, enacted in 2018, was named in honor of Kari Hunt, who was killed in a motel room in Marshall, Texas, in 2013. Ms. Hunt's 9-year- old daughter tried to call 911 for help four times from the motel room phone, but the call did not go through because the phone system required dialing 9 for an outbound call before dialing 911.

The law requires multiline telephone systems, such as those in offices, campuses, and hotels, to allow direct 911 dialing without extra digits when a 911 call is made. This legislation would require the FCC to issue a report within 180 days to determine the extent to which multiline telephone system manufacturers are complying with Kari's Law Act of 2017. Requiring these systems in large buildings or campuses will help save lives in case of an emergency.

This legislation has strong bipartisan support. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their support of this bill and Ms. Matsui for her work on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S.

98) to require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a vetting process for prospective applicants for high-cost universal service program funding.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 98, the Rural Broadband Protection Act. The House version of this bill, led by Representative Houchin, passed the House by voice vote last year.

The Federal Communications Commission's Universal Service Fund provides funding to support the deployment and operation of broadband networks in our rural communities. Although most recipients of this support fulfill their deployment obligations, there have been cases in the past where commitments were unmet.

The Rural Broadband Protection Act requires the FCC to establish a process for upfront vetting of broadband providers seeking USF funds to ensure they are qualified to uphold their obligations. It also directs the FCC to set penalties for those providers that do not build out where they promised.

These new steps will ensure that USF support only goes to qualified providers and that those providers follow through on their commitments to serve rural Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Houchin for her leadership on this bill and encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Houchin).

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their support. In closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my sincerest congratulations to an esteemed champion, Rory McIlroy, on his remarkable victory at the 2026 Masters Golf Tournament.

Each year, during the first full week of April, golf fans, professionals, and patrons from across the world travel to Georgia's 12th District and the Augusta National Golf Club for a tradition unlike any other.

Once again, this year's historic tournament reminded the world why Augusta stands as the true pinnacle of championship golf. With determination and grit, Rory McIlroy secured his second straight green jacket, a feat only three of golf's all-time greats have accomplished.

The story behind Rory's historic victory is not one of usual stature. Last year, overcoming an 11-year major championship drought, Rory completed the career Grand Slam at Augusta, only to go with back-to- back championships this year. His resilience provides a powerful message to the next generation: Success belongs to those who persevere.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate and thank Chairman Fred Ridley, members and staff of Augusta National, and volunteers for presenting another outstanding competition where the greats like Rory McIlroy can make history.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from Alabama, for yielding the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6398, the RED Tape Act. Under current law, as we have heard here today, the EPA is required to review and comment on the environmental impacts of Federal projects from other Federal agencies.

Perhaps this would make sense if the EPA wasn't already involved in the initial environmental review and development of the environmental impact statement for Federal projects. What we have here is another, as we said, duplicative and inefficient government process that for decades has delayed development, slowed economic growth, and only hurt American families and businesses in making it more unaffordable for the American people.

Furthermore, in the 30 years since Congress enacted section 309 of the Clean Air Act, agencies have developed their own expertise in preparing environmental impact statements. That is why the Supreme Court ruled that EPA's separate review and comment on broader environmental impacts of proposed Federal actions are no longer appropriate.

I come from the construction industry. I understand how unpredictable timelines and Federal red tape can increase costs and negatively impact job creators. Let me be clear: The RED Tape Act in no way undercuts the environmental review of Federal projects. In no way does it remove EPA's expertise from the process.

It simply streamlines the Federal review process by eliminating duplicative requirements. It seems that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are just fundamentally opposed to efficiency and a sense of urgency.

This legislation is a commonsense solution that benefits job creators and the communities we represent. It makes life more affordable for the American people, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6398.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and celebrate the long- awaited reopening of Augusta, Georgia's premier Municipal Golf Course-- otherwise known as ``the Patch,'' which was recently renovated with the help of golf legends Tom Fazio, Beau Welling, and Tiger Woods--three world-class golf course architects.

``The Patch'' has been ingrained into the fabric of our local community since 1928. In the early 1900s, the popularity of the game of golf was quickly on the rise in Augusta, and it was the establishment of ``the Patch'' that made the game accessible for locals and visitors of all ages and backgrounds--fostering growth of the game for future generations. In 1999, ground was broken on the construction of a new First Tee of Augusta facility which still operates at ``the Patch'' today.

This longstanding mission is one that our community continues to embrace--growing the game of golf and the values it instills in all who play. Together, ``the Patch,'' Masters Tournament Charities, Augusta Technical College, the First Tee of Augusta, and the City of Augusta have all collaborated to create some of the best public golf facilities in the country--contributing to Augusta's known reputation as the crown jewel of this sport.

Beyond the game of golf, ``the Patch'' will serve as a catalyst for community renewal through job training at Augusta Tech's agronomy center. It will help rescue underserved youth through the First Tee of Augusta, and as it did in its early days, it will continue to offer a community clubhouse and gathering place for neighbors to enjoy.

My wife Robin and I are proud supporters of this transformational initiative and look forward to its positive impact on our community, the game of golf, and the next generation. We congratulate Chairman Fred Ridley, Members and Staff of Augusta National Golf Club, Mayor Garnett Johnson, the Augusta Commission, and Randy Hatcher, outgoing Chairman of the Augusta Technical College Foundation, for their tireless work to make this project a reality.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the long-awaited reopening of Augusta, Georgia's, premier municipal golf course, otherwise known as The Patch, which was recently renovated with the help of golf legends Tom Fazio, Beau Welling, and Tiger Woods.

The Patch has been engrained into the fabric of our local community since 1928. In the early 1900s, the popularity of golf was quickly on the rise in Augusta, and it was the establishment of The Patch that made the game accessible for locals and visitors of all ages and backgrounds.

This is a mission that our community continues to embrace today-- growing the game of golf and the values it instills in those who play. Beyond the game of golf, The Patch will serve as a catalyst for community renewal through job training at Augusta Tech's agronomy center. It will help rescue underserved youth through the First Tee of Augusta initiative and offer a community clubhouse for neighbors to enjoy.

Robin and I are proud supporters of this initiative. We congratulate Chairman Fred Ridley; members and staff of the Augusta National Golf Club; Mayor Garnett Johnson and our commissioners; and Randy Hatcher, outgoing chairman of the Augusta Technical College Foundation for their tireless work to make this project a reality.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Agriculture Week. In my home State of Georgia and in Georgia's 12th District, who I represent, agriculture remains our number one industry.

During this special week and every week, I recognize and celebrate the farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers who keep America strong, clothed, and fed. Their hard work, innovation, and dedication helps to sustain our community and provide the food and fiber that we rely on every day.

As the son of a farmer and having grown up on our family farm in Columbia County, I know how important it is to ensure that future generations can pick up that mantle and become agricultural leaders.

That is why, in the Working Families Tax Cut Act, House Republicans included a provision that saved over 6,000 family-owned farms in Georgia-12 from an increased death tax. This means more farms stay in the hands of Georgia farmers and not the Federal Government.

This week, let's take a moment to thank those who work in acres and not hours.

Happy National Agriculture Week.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Guthrie for yielding the time and for his support of my bill, the Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act.

Mr. Speaker, I will set the stage on exactly why this bill is necessary. In 1975, Congress established the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, or EPCA, to increase American energy production, encourage efficient energy use, and bolster national security.

Under EPCA, the Department of Energy sets efficiency standards for 60 product categories. These standards must be cost-effective, significantly save energy, and be technologically feasible.

However, under the Biden administration, the EPCA language was persistently misinterpreted to impose more stringent standards on the use of conventional home appliances and force the costly rush-to-green agenda on the American people in their outright war on the fossil fuel industry.

All of this was done with the stroke of a pen and threatened the affordability and availability of reliable appliances that Americans rely on every day. I can tell you firsthand. I was in my district last week. My constituents in the 12th District of Georgia do not need the Federal Government to tell them which household appliances will best meet the needs of their families, period.

One example is that I have a small business in my district, and they have warehouses and whatnot that they rent. The owner of that small business explained that he has a 5-year-old HVAC unit, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. He had a problem with it, and the contractor came out and said that they had a little problem. The unit is 5 years old, and he can't get the part to fix it.

Mr. Speaker, I will tell you the end of the story. He has to replace the entire unit, and it is going to cost three times as much as it cost 5 years ago. Are you telling me that this is going to save money? You have to be kidding.

The second example is the gas stove. They want to do away with our gas stoves. They said that you can't cook with gas anymore, and there was such an uproar that we didn't hear about that anymore.

In the third example, I have a little place up here that is about 1,400 square feet, and the unit went out. Of course, it couldn't keep it warm anyway because it is an electric heat pump, mandated by this city, and I have a gas line right in front of my house. I told the contractor that I want to put in gas heat, like I have back home in Georgia. He said that you can't do it.

A heat pump will not work below 32 degrees. Plus, you have a total electrical system when the heat pump shuts down.

Why are we running short of electricity? Because they aimed everything at electricity. There was a war on our gas industry, or fossil fuel industry, and that is the very industry that reduced our carbon footprint by 1,400 tons. The nearest nation to us is 200 tons.

Mr. Speaker, they are trying to put the very people who put us in this position out of business.

The Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act is a necessary measure to prevent future administrations, like the past one, from issuing burdensome standards on household appliances that would drive up costs and reduce availability. It is that simple.

The naysayers, or those who will vote in opposition to this bill today, will stand here and tell you that this bill isn't necessary. They will question

why this is what we are voting on this week. To that, I say that they can thank the previous administration.

The egregious appliance standards like those issued under President Biden's Department of Energy have caused homeowners to spend 34 percent more on appliances than they did 15 years ago, while also having to replace them at a faster rate, like the story I told about my constituent. Even more, these standards were neither economically justifiable nor significantly more efficient.

I would challenge anyone in this Chamber to find someone who wants the Federal Government to tilt the scales on what appliances they can and cannot buy while also increasing costs and reducing reliability.

Mr. Speaker, no amount of fear-mongering on energy efficiency and climate standards will justify the 4-year war waged on domestic energy, the use of natural gas, and consumer choice under the Biden-Harris Presidency. From gas stoves, refrigerators, and freezers to washers, dryers, dishwashers, and air-conditioners, no household appliance was off-limits in their pursuit of the green new scam.

We cannot allow that to happen again, and I have been proud to work closely with House Republicans this last year to right the ship and undo the many regulatory burdens that have caused the cost of living to skyrocket.

That is why we are here today: to protect consumer choice, lower costs, and ensure that American families have the freedom to decide what suits the needs of their families.

Mr. Speaker, I am thankful to Energy and Commerce Committee Chairmen Guthrie and Latta for their support of this bill, House Republican leadership for bringing it to the floor, and all of my colleagues who have offered their support. I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 4626.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 67.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 51.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding his time, for his tireless work on behalf of American workers, and specifically for his support of the legislation before us today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2988, the Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act, legislation I introduced earlier this year to ensure hardworking Americans do not have their retirement savings jeopardized by politically motivated mismanagement. What I am hearing is that, I think, this bill fixes everything that the other side has been talking about as far as free markets and capitalism.

For those listening at home, it is important to understand how we got here. In 2022, the Biden administration heavy-handedly put the retirement security of over 150 million Americans at risk by issuing a deeply flawed rule to enable retirement plan fiduciaries to consider or choose investments based on environmental, social, and governance, or ESG, factors. That is not free market. That is not capitalism.

It is proven that ESG factors often charge steeper fees, carry higher risks, have lower returns, and are well-known underperformers. That is precisely why this rule garnered bipartisan, bicameral disapproval in the form of a Congressional Review Act resolution that passed both the House and Senate.

However, the Biden-Harris administration vetoed the resolution, choosing to prioritize leftwing environmental and social issues ahead of retirees' financial security.

As chairman of the HELP Subcommittee, I remain committed to protecting the retirement savings of workers, retirees, and their families. The Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act would codify that retirement plan sponsors must make investment decisions solely based on economic factors and financial returns.

Additionally, the bill states that the decision to exercise a shareholder right is subject to the purchase and loyalty duties under ERISA. It states that proxies held by ERISA plans must be voted in the economic interests of the plan, not used to advance radical policies and favors to crony capitalists.

The bill declares that race, color, religion, sex, or national origin may not be taken into consideration when selecting a fiduciary, counsel, employee, or service provider of an ERISA plan.

Lastly, it implements a notice requirement on defined contribution plans, explaining the difference between choosing from investments selected by ERISA fiduciaries and choosing from investments through a brokerage window.

Mr. Speaker, I think most would agree that advancing a political agenda at the expense of retirement savings is wrong. Let's be clear: Americans invest to secure a brighter future for themselves and their families, not to bankroll Democrats' radical initiatives and pet projects and take care of their crony capitalists.

Retirement plan sponsors have a duty to prioritize financial returns, ensuring Americans' hard-earned savings are invested in a sensible manner. The Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act delivers a significant win to retirees across the Nation, and I strongly urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support its passage.

I thank my staff for their diligent work on this bill. I thank Chairman Walberg for his support throughout the committee process and Leader Scalise and Speaker Johnson for bringing H.R. 2988 to the House floor.