Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Carl William ``Will'' Rush's bravery to save an American flag from burning during the anti-Israel protests at Union Station.

On Wednesday, July 25th, several anti-Israel protests erupted around Washington D.C. in reaction to Prime Minister Netanyahu's address to Congress. Outside of Union Station, protesters vandalized the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain with pro-Hamas graffiti and profanity. Additionally, American flags were lowered and replaced with Palestinian flags. Once the American flag was replaced, the crowd doused it in lighter fluid and set it on fire. During the chaos, Will grabbed the American flag from the ground and was then chased by a large group of people. Will's courage to stand up for the American flag was an incredible display of patriotism and bravery.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing Will's actions during these disruptive and violent protests. I hope that his courage will inspire other Americans to stand up for their flag and country. May God bless Will and his family in all their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Critical Mineral Consistency Act. This measure is an essential step forward to secure our supply chains, and in so doing to protect our national security and economic competitiveness.

Today, critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and graphite are the building blocks of everything from advanced weapons systems to consumer electronics. Every advanced economy depends on these resources, but the challenge we face is that these minerals are in limited supply and overwhelmingly sourced from China.

Our dependence on the Chinese Communist Party for these materials puts our energy independence, technological leadership, and national security at risk. China has deliberately developed its control over these supply chains to build leverage against Western economies. It has been developing these capacities for decades, and it is already using it.

China placed export controls on gallium, germanium, and graphite just last year, and it announced new controls on antimony in August. They will continue to put us at risk unless we act.

Currently, the United States Geological Survey and Department of Energy each maintain separate lists of critical minerals leading to inconsistency in policy and program funding. These lists used different standards to determine what made a mineral or material critical, and this misalignment led to crucial elements like copper being listed by one agency while being ignored by the other.

This bill is a simple but significant step forward to streamline interagency coordination, improve efficiency, and ensure that Federal efforts to stockpile, recycle, and develop alternative supplies of these minerals are focused on the same priorities.

We must ensure that our Nation has the resources it needs to remain a global leader in defense, energy, and innovation. We cannot be at the mercy of China that uses forced labor and destroys environments around the world. My colleagues would like for China to continue to use forced labor. They would like for us to continue to see them increase the production of copper. They would like to see us continue to advocate for human rights violations and using forced labor and also to make sure, too, that they are destroying environments.

Thank you to the folks on the other side of the aisle for your stand on human rights, not so much.

Mr. Speaker, I was unexpectedly held up and missed two roll call votes.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 456; and YEA on Roll Call No. 457.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the contributions of ITA International LLC of Newport News, Virginia to the nation through their transition of Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) developed technology to government and commercial use.

Their approach is unique in that, first, they use commercial off the shelf products for the front- and back-end of the tool with the SBIR- developed analytic algorithms ``in the middle''. This approach significantly reduces the cost required to deliver solutions by leveraging existing government software licenses integrated with SBIR- developed algorithms. Secondly, rather than providing a piece of software, they marry their data analytic algorithms with subject matter experts with profound understanding to provide unsurpassed service, that ITA refers to as ``technology enabled professional services,'' to their customers. Finally, they have a structured process for applying these algorithms, a proprietary approach based on agile development that ensures continuous interaction with the customer and iterative improvement of the tools and services they provide.

ITA provides a shining example of the exact intent of the SBIR program. ITA leveraged federally funded research in Phase I and Phase II to develop data analytic algorithms and then applied those algorithms to solve government and industry problems in Phase III through innovative services. While their focus has been on the Department of Defense, customers across the federal government and in industry are seeing the benefit of the technology enabled professional services they provide,

One example is how ITA has perfected and extended a SBIR tool (LOGCOP) using SBIR Phase III contracts over the years to provide advanced data analytic and artificial intelligence techniques or decision support tools. ITA continues to develop one of the resulting tools, called the Availability Management System (AMS), for the Navy's Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center to better plan and execute surface ship maintenance periods. This tool has allowed the Navy to avoid hundreds of additional ship maintenance delay-days, improving readiness and diverting hundreds of millions of dollars to other critical purposes for a government investment a small fraction of that. AMS is being evaluated for broader use and integration into existing Navy decision support tools.

On behalf of the 1st district of Virginia, I thank ITA for its service to our Nation, and I look forward to hearing about their future accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor Ms. Tamara W. Henderson, the Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command G8 (Resource Management) Director of Finance and Accounting and Financial Management Officer, who is retiring after 42 years in Civilian Federal Service.

Ms. Henderson earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Management from Longwood University. Following her time at Longwood, she went on to earn her Master of Business Administration in Public Administration from Old Dominion University. Ms. Henderson has spent her entire career under the TRADOC Command at both Ft. Monroe and Ft. Eustis. She gained valuable experience in installation Finance as a student trainee in the Fellowship Program, held various accounting positions, and served as TRADOC G8's Supervisory Systems Accountant prior to her assignment as Director.

As Director, she provided oversight in fielding, sustainment, training, and help desk support for the Army's financial systems for over 1600 end users across the command in the execution of a $5 billion annual operating budget. Ms. Henderson also directed the TRADOC Risk Management and Internal Control Program. She ensured sound fiscal compliance and safeguarded government resources against fraud, waste, and misuse as manager of the Anti-deficiency Act prevention/reporting program.

Ms. Henderson holds a Level III DoD Financial Management Certification. She has earned many significant awards and honors throughout her 42-year career, including 2 Civilian Service Achievement Medals and The American Society of Military Comptrollers Award for Meritorious Performance in Accounting and Finance. She also received a Letter of Appreciation from the Secretary of the Army.

Our great nation is not able to function properly without the work of people like Tamara Henderson. Few people have dedicated their entire career to Civilian Federal Service, and it is my great pleasure to offer my own congratulations for Ms. Henderson on the happy occasion of her retirement after 42 years of service to the United States. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing the dedicated career of Tamara Henderson.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Colonel Kenny Cushing's honorable service to this Nation.

Colonel Kenny Cushing retired from our United States Air Force on June 1, 2024, after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 1996 and serving over 20 years on active duty, the Reserves, and in the Air National Guard. During his career, Colonel Cushing achieved many accolades and impacted our Nation in many ways. Kenny was a distinguished graduate from many of his Air Force programs to include being the Top Graduate from his intelligence officer school class and a distinguished graduate from the USAF Weapons School, the Air Force's ``Top Gun''.

Colonel Cushing served in increasing assignments of responsibility, to include multiple

deployments, throughout his career. He concluded his career as the senior military officer assigned to the new Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) at the Department of Homeland Security. Handpicked by the Department of Defense during the initial creation of CISA by President Trump, Colonel Cushing led critical interagency coordination of national cybersecurity plans. During COVID, he led collaboration efforts between agencies, ensuring smooth flow of information, and informed vaccine distribution decisions. Colonel Cushing was the Commander of the Cyber Coordination Element for the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security for historic President of the United States elections in 2020, laying the groundwork for successful elections protection. His talent and impact moved us years ahead in mission assurance, intelligence exchange, and cyber teaming.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing Colonel Cushing's outstanding service. May God bless Kenny in all his future endeavors.

Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Chair, this bill comes at a really crucial time for our Nation. Along with many of my colleagues that were at the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D-day invasion in Normandy, France, we should all be reminded of the sacrifice that we ask of each of our servicemembers as they work hard every day to protect our Nation.

This bill puts a primary and bipartisan focus on the quality of life for our servicemembers and their families. It includes a 19.5 percent pay raise for our junior enlisted.

The bill also fully funds military housing, which is critically important these days. This bill also requires that servicemembers be promoted on their abilities, not on contrived bureaucratic initiatives.

For these reasons, it is not surprising that a multitude of key military organizations, including Blue Star Families, Military Officers Association of America, and the National Military Family Association all support this bill.

This bill also provides meaningful reform on the Joint Strike Fighter program and supports necessary future capabilities like Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft and the ballistic missile submarine in the Columbia-class. Those things are all critical.

It is not surprising that this bill was reported from committee on a resounding bipartisan vote of 57-1. Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith should be rightly congratulated for delivering this bipartisan bill to the floor today.

Additionally, I congratulate my colleague and friend, Ranking Member Don Norcross. We worked on the most contentious issues together, and our product was an impressive bipartisan subcommittee mark.

Finally, I thank the entire subcommittee staff, including Dave Sienicki, Heath Bope, Michael Kirlin, Max Huntley, Jay Vallario, and Brooke Alred for their particular and intensive effort and support on this bill.

Mr. Chair, it is simple to vote against any bill offered here in the House. Voting no is easy, but if you vote against this bill, you are voting against the military servicemembers who provide our Nation the want and will to sacrifice their lives on behalf of this Nation, to preserve the liberties and freedoms that are the foundation of this Republic.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 207.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Connie Plum who spent 41 years as a phenomenal educator for King William High School and to congratulate her on a well-deserved retirement.

As a teacher, Connie dedicated her career to ensuring her students were civically engaged by organizing field trips to Washington D.C. to tour the Capitol. It is clear from the many honors she received just how impactful and loved as a teacher she truly was. Connie was voted King William High School Teacher of the Year three times, honored for Hardy County (WV) Teacher of the Year, and semi-finalist for WV Teacher of the Year. Despite all these awards, Connie will tell you that her single most important accomplishment was helping ``her kids'' become better citizens.

Connie has set the bar high for teachers everywhere and for that, I thank her. For the positive impact she had on her students, Connie will be dearly missed in the King William County Public School district.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in celebrating the outstanding career of Connie Plum and congratulating her on retirement. May God bless her as she steps into this new chapter of her life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the dedicated service of General Lester L. Lyles, United States Air Force, (ret.) to his country, to the mission of our armed forces, and to the people of this great Nation. General Lyles is a true leader whose impact has left an indelible mark on America's defense and space sectors, and the security and prosperity of our great Nation

The General has an educational background steeped in engineering and a distinguished career that has spanned more than 35 years in the U.S. Air Force. He began his academic journey just up the road from this very chamber--at Howard University--earning a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 1968 followed by his Master of Science in mechanical/nuclear engineering from New Mexico State University in 1969. His academic pursuits continued to include graduating from prestigious institutions including the Defense Systems Management College in 1980, the Armed Forces Staff College in 1981 and the National War College in 1985. In recognition of his achievements, General Lyles acquired honorary Doctor of Law degrees from New Mexico State University in 2002 and Urbana University in 2009.

General Lyles officially entered the U.S. military after commencement in 1968 as a graduate of the Air Force ROTC program. Throughout his tenure, General Lyles held various assignments and a series of high- ranking positions, including Commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center, Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, Vice Chief of Staff of the Headquarters of the U.S. Air Force, and Commander of the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command.

Notably, General Lyles led the Space Launch Recovery Program following the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and later directed the Strategic Defense Initiative under President Ronald Reagan. His strategic vision and dedication played a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of our nation's aerospace and defense landscape.

Retiring from the military in 2003, General Lyles continued to exemplify his passion for service by transitioning into the world of consulting for both the private and public sectors. General Lyles is currently an executive board member at defense and aerospace contractor KBR, a trustee of Analytic Services, and a managing partner at Four Seasons Ventures, LLC. General Lyles' accomplishments are further underscored by his status as a member of the Defense Science Board, the International Security Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of State, and the President's Intelligence Advisory Board in the White House.

His commitment to community service is equally admirable. General Lyles has been a steadfast member of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum board, where he was recently honored, and a critical leader of the National Space Council Users' Advisory Group. In the Commonwealth, he's been a recognized leader in Virginia Humanities, the Virginia Academy of Science, Technology and Medicine and the Partnership for Public Service.

Over the course of his illustrious career, General Lyles has earned numerous accolades, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster. In 1990, he was named Astronautics Engineer of the Year by the National Space Club (NSC) and later received the Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award for outstanding contributions to military equal opportunity policies and programs from the NAACP in 1994. General Lyles was named Black Engineer of the Year/ Lifetime Achievement in 2003 and received the General Thomas D. White Award for distinguished service in national security from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2012. He was elected as a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 2022 and received the Astronautics Engineering Award from the Huntsville Chapter of the NSC just last year.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself, the citizens of the Virginia Commonwealth and, indeed, the American people, please join me in a heartfelt ``thank you'' to General Lyles, whose enduring contributions to the United States of America and its missions continue to influence aerospace, defense, and space communities to this day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a lifelong hunter and recreational fisherman in support of my bill, H.R. 615, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act.

Mr. Speaker, our hunters and anglers are really the backbone of this Nation. They are the contributors that put a tremendous amount of resources into protecting the resources that we all enjoy. Why would we want to restrict their access?

America is blessed with an abundance of natural resources. These refuges belong to the American people. Why wouldn't we want them to use them to the maximum utility for everybody, not just for a small group that decides that they want to go to court?

The Trump administration opened up 2.3 million acres of the refuge system for the owners of the system. That makes some sense, doesn't it? In response, anti-fishing and hunting groups sued, claiming lead ammunition and tackle would negatively impact endangered species in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Certainly, there are limited instances where one can show an association there, but not carte blanche. We wouldn't just say we are going to close the whole thing down because of some isolated incidents.

In 2022, the Biden administration reached a settlement and pretty much said they were going to go forward with the lead ban for fishing tackle and ammunition.

For those who said it is not a big deal because other materials can be substituted at kind of the same price, they are people who have never gone to hunt and fish before and don't know what the heck they are talking about. If you take a lead sinker that you are going to now replace with tungsten, you have to know by common sense tungsten is going to cost significantly more than lead.

Additionally, you have families suffering through Bidenomics, suffering from higher fuel prices when they go to the pump today and are paying almost $4 a gallon, when they are paying more for a loaf of bread and a dozen eggs. Now, you say, by the way, we are going to have government charge you more for something that can be avoided.

Then, my colleagues say Members are making it difficult for the Feds to regulate. Isn't that our job? Shouldn't we make sure our Federal Government is doing its due diligence in regulating? No, we want to have a side that says: We want more costs to the American people. We don't even want them to enjoy their pastimes. We want them to suffer at the pump. We want them to suffer at the grocery store. Also, now we want to make them suffer by not being able to enjoy the lands that belong to them.

How ironic is that? Add more suffering on more suffering on more suffering. Lord forbid, we don't want to make it difficult for government to regulate.

Where are we? This is an alternate universe.

We want to make sure that we are ensuring that these lands are accessible to the people who own them. These are sportsmen that put a tremendous amount of money into the system. The Duck Stamp Act, the Pittman-Robertson Act, and the Dingell-Johnson Act put millions and millions of dollars into the system every year. Hundreds of anglers help protect these assets. They protect the natural resources on these public lands.

I want to make sure that we are able to support them, make sure that we don't add to the cost of them being able to enjoy those lands. This bill ensures that Federal agencies have to do their due diligence.

It doesn't stop them from limiting lead use on these properties, but it ensures that they have to use the science. They have to demonstrate, in these instances, in these specific situations, that they have the science behind limiting lead use, not just carte blanche bans.

I want to make sure the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture have to do their due diligence to show that there is indeed a scientific purpose behind these lead restrictions. We want to make sure we are effectively managing our lands and our natural resources in ways that keep in mind the American citizen.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the career of Mr. Bruce Busler who is retiring after 14 years of civil service as the director of the Joint Deployment Process and Analysis Center at United States Transportation Command.

Bruce is a once-in-a-generation leader who has made a transformational impact on the Defense Transportation System and the Department of Defense at large. He shaped programs necessary for mobility capabilities such as airlift, sealift and surface transport to support the national defense strategy.

In his efforts to support the Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise, Mr. Busler spearheaded operational analysis and decision- making initiatives through harnessing the power of data for the Joint Force. These efforts through the Enterprise Data Science initiative enhanced modeling and simulation capabilities to garner effectiveness, efficiency, and synchronization globally.

Bruce is a strategic thinker who can convey complex concepts into readily understood terms for senior leaders to forge consensus for action while also leading a diverse organization across multiple commands. His executive leadership can be distilled down as a visionary data architect leveraging ``big data'' analysis to persuasively advance mobility capability needs in a collaborative manner to meet national requirements for global transportation with high-impact results.

Bruce's accomplishments are countless, but for the Congress, he led both the 2018 and 2020 NDAA directed mobility studies evaluating the capabilities critical to deploying and sustaining U.S. military forces at optimal levels. Throughout these efforts, he meticulously mapped out the requirements needed to deploy, and redeploy our military and requirements for a prolonged recapitalization effort to revitalize an aging sealift fleet in support of our National Defense. Additionally, he linked critical wartime patient movement operations into an end-to- end airlift cycle ensuring Critical Care Air Transport Teams were available when needed to treat our most precious assets, our military personnel and their families. Bruce also delivered a first-of-its-kind fuel assessment study focusing on the fuel distribution challenges within the Indo-Pacific region. Finally, for only the third time in its history, based on Bruce's predictive analytics and

modeling, in 2021 U.S. Transportation Command activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet to augment the Afghan refugee evacuation, the largest non-combatant evacuation operation in U.S. history rescuing 124,000 refugees in just 14 days.

In addition to his 27 honorable years served in the Air Force as a colonel and command pilot with over 3,800 flight hours, Bruce set the standard for mastery of the Defense Transportation System. His ability to deploy data to anticipate the changing strategic environment while grappling with resource priorities has been key to identifying and resolving mobility enterprise challenges. Bruce is a true leader in transportation. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in thanking Mr. Bruce Busler for over 41 years of dedicated and faithful service to our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Teresa Darlene McDowney, who passed away on Thursday, February 22, 2024. She was born on July 15, 1971.

She was employed with the King George Sheriff's Office as an Animal Control Officer from 2013 to 2020 and was employed with the Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office at the time of her passing. While with the Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office, she served as the Animal Shelter Manager, Animal Control Officer, and Animal Advocate. In every position, Teresa was a dedicated worker. Even when she was not working with the Sheriff's Office, she would often answer text messages about dangerous dogs in the middle of the night and help the community with animal related matters.

Teresa was often described as a sweet and kind lady, often assisting her family, friends, and the community. While Teresa was a genuinely kind and sweet natured person, she was also very straightforward-- leaving little room for misinterpretation. If Teresa said it, she meant it. She was a protector of her family and what was right.

Teresa leaves to cherish her precious memory, her husband, Kevin McDowney of Colonial Beach, VA, and son, Nathaniel Pittman of Williamsburg, VA.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in celebrating the life of Teresa McDowney. May God bless her family and her community during this time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Captain Charlie ``Griff'' Griffin.

I grew up there, working on the Outer Banks in the fishing community. I remember Griff vividly.

Griff was a personality. Griff was bigger than life. He loved fishing. He loved the fishing community. He loved everything about what was going on there on the Outer Banks.

I remember his infectious laugh. I remember his voice on the radio, as you see here, saying: ``Got him on.''

Griff was indeed a friend to all in the fishing community, and he will be sorely missed.

He leaves behind a community of fishermen whose lives were touched by his kind soul and his kind words. We looked at him as a friend and mentor.

I pray that God brings peace to his loved ones. I know his love for his son, Jake, and his love for his dogs, including Leila, who was tragically lost on the same day as Griff.

We know it is a difficult time for folks in the fishing community there in the Outer Banks, but we know that his life will live on forever. He will be remembered and cherished.

Rest in peace, Griff.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Joe Bonamassa, a celebrated blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter, for his tireless efforts in preserving and promoting the blues genre. Through the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation (KTBA), Bonamassa has become a beacon of hope for aspiring musicians, educators, and enthusiasts alike. Our nation recognizes Joe Bonamassa's contributions to the blues community, the mission and impact of the KTBA Foundation, and the significance of his legacy in keeping the blues alive for generations to come.

Joe Bonamassa is a renowned figure in the world of blues music, revered for his exceptional talent as a guitarist and his unwavering dedication to the preservation of the genre. He is seen by many as the best guitarist of his generation. In addition to his prolific career as a recording artist and performer, Bonamassa is the founder of the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to supporting music education and preserving the rich heritage of the blues.

Joe Bonamassa's love affair with the blues began at a young age, inspired by the music of legends like B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. With his prodigious talent and soulful playing style, Bonamassa quickly established himself as one of the preeminent blues guitarists of his generation. His extensive discography, which spans over two decades, showcases his mastery of the genre and his ability to breathe new life into classic blues songs.

Beyond his achievements as a performer, Bonamassa has been a passionate advocate for the blues community. He has used his platform to raise awareness about the importance of preserving this uniquely American art form and has worked tirelessly to ensure its continued relevance in the modern music landscape. Through his music, Bonamassa pays homage to the blues tradition while also pushing the boundaries of the genre, attracting new audiences and inspiring future generations of musicians.

In 2011, Joe Bonamassa founded the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation with the mission of providing resources and support to music education programs and aspiring musicians. The foundation offers scholarships, instrument donations, and grants to schools and organizations that are dedicated to teaching and preserving the blues. Through these initiatives, KTBA aims to empower young musicians and ensure that the blues remains a vibrant and thriving art form for years to come.

Since its inception, the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation has made a significant impact on the blues community, funding music programs in schools across the country and providing instruments to aspiring musicians who may not have had access otherwise. In addition to its financial support, KTBA also hosts events, workshops, and educational programs that celebrate the blues and foster a sense of community among musicians and fans.

Joe Bonamassa's legacy extends far beyond his accomplishments as a musician. Through his advocacy work with the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, he has become a champion for the blues, ensuring that its rich legacy endures for future generations. His passion, talent, and generosity have earned him the respect and admiration of fans and fellow musicians alike, cementing his status as one of the genre's most influential figures.

As we celebrate Joe Bonamassa and his contributions to the blues community, we are reminded of the power of music to unite, inspire, and uplift. Through his music and his philanthropy, Bonamassa has touched the lives of countless individuals and left an indelible mark on the world of blues music. As we look to the future, we are confident that his legacy will continue to shine brightly, keeping the blues alive for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, Joe Bonamassa's dedication to the blues and his efforts with the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation have had a profound impact on the music community. Through his music, advocacy, and philanthropy, Bonamassa has helped to preserve the legacy of the blues while also ensuring its continued relevance in the 21st century. As we honor his contributions, we are reminded of the importance of supporting music education and nurturing the next generation of blues musicians. Joe Bonamassa's legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire and uplift for years to come.