Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, starting a small business is never easy. Whether it is a family opening a restaurant, a contractor trying to grow their company, or an entrepreneur launching a new product, success takes hard work, access to capital, and the right support.

For many Native entrepreneurs, the barriers can be even higher. A good idea shouldn't have a smaller chance of succeeding simply because it is in Indian Country.

Too often, Native businessowners face challenges that make it harder to get their businesses off the ground--from limited access to financing and investment, to unreliable broadband service, to the long distances many businesses must travel to reach customers, suppliers, and markets.

That means great business ideas that could create jobs and strengthen a community might be less likely to get the support and access to those necessary needs to succeed.

It is not just a loss for Tribal communities. This can be a loss for our entire economy. Native-owned businesses

employ more than 300,000 people across the entire country. They create jobs. They drive economic growth, and they help build stronger communities. They deserve the same opportunities to succeed as other small business owners in America.

That is why I introduced the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act. This bipartisan bill strengthens the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Native American Affairs by establishing it in law and ensuring that Native entrepreneurs have a permanent advocate within the SBA, no matter who controls the White House.

The bill creates an assistant administrator to lead the office, to coordinate resources, and to help make sure that Tribal entrepreneurs can access the lending programs, the business counseling, and the contracting opportunities that already exist within the SBA.

Just as importantly, it creates accountability by requiring regular reports to Congress about how these efforts are working in Indian Country. This is a practical and bipartisan step that is going to help entrepreneurs start businesses, create jobs, and contribute to their local economies.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Jake Ellzey, Kelly Morrison, and Eli Crane for partnering with me on this legislation. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill and to support the entrepreneurs, workers, and communities that it is going to benefit.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Johnson County Community College Cavaliers baseball team, which just won the Division 1 Junior College World Series national championship game for the first time in program history. As a JCCC alum, it is my pleasure to congratulate the team on this incredible accomplishment.

This well-deserved victory marked the finale of an already-historic season. The Cavaliers ended with a 67-3 record, which included a 41- game winning streak. As if that is not impressive enough, the team hit 219 home runs--a college baseball record across every level.

This past JCCC Cavaliers baseball season represents all the great ways we benefit from sports--instilling pride in our community, inspiring young people to set high goals, and offering new opportunities. In fact, the team expects more than 20 players to sign with Division I programs for next season.

Once again, I congratulate the JCCC Cavaliers baseball team and, on behalf of the Johnson County community and beyond, I thank them for such an exciting season. Go Cavaliers.

Mr. Speaker, later this week, the FIFA World Cup will kick off here in the United States, and I could not be more excited for Kansas City to welcome the world.

As the founder of the Congressional FIFA World Cup 2026 Caucus, I have had the opportunity to see firsthand just how much work has gone into preparing for this moment.

Today, I thank everyone who helped to make this possible. From local leaders and small businesses to first responders, transit workers, volunteers, and organizers, countless people have spent years preparing for these next 5 weeks.

The matches are going to bring excitement, visitors, and economic opportunity to the Kansas City metro area, but the impact will not end there. It is not going to end when the final whistle blows. The investments we have made in infrastructure, transportation, safety, and community development are things that are going to benefit Kansas City and our surrounding communities for generations to come.

This is a chance to showcase what makes our community so special: our hospitality, our culture, our barbecue, our love of sports, and our ability to come together and accomplish really big things.

The world is coming. Kansas City is ready. It is going to be an incredible celebration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the anniversary of the East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation's founding. For 60 years now, ECKAN has worked tirelessly to support the stability, health, and engagement of individuals and families across East Central Kansas.

Established on May 6, 1966, ECKAN is one of eight community action agencies in Kansas. Since its founding, ECKAN has been driven by a simple vision--showing our neighbors in East Central Kansas that their community cares.

While this philosophy has always manifested itself in addressing poverty, ECKAN has never shied away from evolving. Originally operated under a traditional service-delivery model, ECKAN has shifted to a collaborative, inclusive approach focused on shared purpose and collective impact.

Since 1966, the success of ECKAN and the services it provides has continued to expand. Serving a 16-county region including Kansas' Third District, ECKAN's Head Start and Early Head Start programs promote school readiness, family health, and childcare partnerships. ECKAN also operates nine county community centers and a regional food recovery warehouse, offering emergency assistance, food and supply distributions, housing vouchers, and more. ECKAN also operates programs that reduce energy costs for eligible households, administer Housing Choice Vouchers, and manage affordable rental units.

For 60 years, ECKAN has helped increase access to resources, improve housing stability, and reduce energy burdens for lower-income families. The importance of the organization's work cannot be overstated, and I look forward to seeing the great strides that ECKAN and the people it serves continue to make.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Plaza 1907 located in Ottawa, Kansas, in the district I have the honor of representing. Plaza 1907 is celebrating its 119th anniversary, opening its current doors on May 22, 1907, as the oldest purpose-built movie theater in the world. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Plaza 1907 is a critical part of the lifeblood of the Ottawa and Franklin County communities.

In the early 1900s, Ottawa citizens saw their first moving picture-- the ten-minute film The Great Train Robbery from 1903--at a local street fair. This inspired the founding of Plaza 1907 as the Bijou Theater, where patrons watched early silent films from France like Bad Mother and A Voyage Around a Star. When it first opened, the two-screen theater played 12 shows each day and tickets cost patrons five cents each. In those early days, the theater offered live music alongside these silent films before the first talking picture in 1927.

Today, Plaza 1907 remains an important piece of Kansas and American history. Kansans and visitors alike can enjoy new films and Classic Movie Mondays along with a memorabilia museum amongst the charm of Ottawa, Kansas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support this bill allowing for the year-round sale of E15.

For years, I have worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, farmers, fuel producers, and through multiple administrations to push for year-round E15 because this is one of the clearest bipartisan ways we can help lower costs for families while supporting American agriculture and energy production.

Back home in Kansas, families are making tough choices every single day, whether it is filling up their gas tank, paying rent, buying groceries, or covering the cost of childcare. You name it, they are making tough choices. Right now, with gas prices averaging more than $4 a gallon in Kansas, people are feeling the pressure everywhere they go.

Just the other day, I was at a gas station in Kansas where the fuel with E15 was 15 cents cheaper than regular unleaded. I don't know about y'all, but my mom will drive across town for a 6-cent difference. That makes a huge difference, 15 cents a gallon. It might not sound like much to some folks out here in Washington, but for folks who are at home, driving to work, taking kids to school, those savings can add up really quickly.

We already know that E15 works. We have had summer E15 for years, and it has consistently helped lower prices at the pump.

Families shouldn't lose access to cheaper fuel options just because the calendar changes. We need year-round E15. It matters not just for consumers of gasoline but also for Kansas agriculture.

I really want to give a shout-out to the folks at East Kansas Agri- Energy in Garnett. They are an ethanol producer in my district. They are helping turn Kansas-grown corn into fuel that powers our country.

Right now, the farm economy is the toughest it has been in years. Producers are dealing with rising costs and shrinking margins, and uncertainty is coming at them from every single direction. Frankly, this administration's chaotic economic policies and reckless approach to tariffs are making things worse and harder.

Kansas has lost 700 farms this year. Think about that. These are folks who are working hard, doing everything right, and still wondering whether they are going to be able to keep going another year.

Expanding year-round E15 creates a stronger and more reliable market for what our farmers grow. At a time of global instability and conflict around the world, that really matters because E15 is made with homegrown ingredients produced by American farmers, not imported from other countries overseas. That strengthens our energy independence and our national security while helping lower costs for everyday Americans here at home. This should not be controversial.

Instead of getting this done quickly, though, we have seen unnecessary delays from Republican leadership, and this is all happening while families continue to pay higher prices.

People back home don't care about political games. They care about whether they can afford to fill up their tank and get to work. This is common sense and bipartisan. We are talking about a solution that is going to help drivers, farmers, rural communities, and consumers alike.

I thank my colleagues from both sides of the aisle--Representatives Nikki Budzinski, Angie Craig, Dusty Johnson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Adrian Smith--for joining in this bipartisan effort.

Let's stop stalling. Let's lower costs now. Let's support our farmers, strengthen American energy, and deliver real relief for the people we represent.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in somber recognition that May 21, 2026, will mark one year since the tragic and senseless killing of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

Sarah grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas, a community where I have the honor of serving in Congress. She graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School and the University of Kansas. She was a devoted member of Congregation B'nai Jehudah and was dedicated to fostering understanding and connection not only between Israel and the United States, but between Israel and the Palestinian people. Her partner, Yaron, shared that commitment.

In the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack, Sarah advocated for the release of Israeli hostages and worked closely with survivors who had experienced gender and sexual based violence. Those who knew Sarah say that her gentle, calm, and compassionate disposition made her the perfect fit for such a difficult role.

Yaron, an employee with the Embassy of Israel, worked to forge stronger ties between Israel and its neighbors in the Middle East. Yaron's loved ones say that he always had a smile on his face and a welcoming presence.

We must continue Sarah and Yaron's legacy of peacebuilding and stand strong against increasing threats of antisemitism--recommitting ourselves to a world where no one fears for their safety just because of who they are. Antisemitism has no place in our communities, and we all must all stand up against the hatred and bigotry that threaten to divide us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish former Senator Pat Roberts a very happy 90th birthday.

For decades, Senator Roberts showed up for Kansas, first as a marine, and then for our rural communities as chairman of both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees. When he was elected to the Senate in 1996, he promised that ``when Kansas spoke, Washington would listen.''

Mr. Speaker, no matter your political party, that kind of commitment is something that we should all respect and emulate.

Personally, I have appreciated the guidance he has shared with me over the years, especially on the farm bill. He understands still today that agriculture isn't just part of our State's economy, it is in our blood.

His mentorship is a reminder that even in a place like D.C., we can still come together, share stories, and learn from one another.

Today, we celebrate a Kansan who spent a lifetime working on our behalf.

Happy 90th birthday, Senator Roberts, and I thank you for all of your service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bipartisan ALERT Act.

Last year, 67 lives were lost in a tragic midair collision of a flight from my home State of Kansas to Washington, D.C.

Those 67 people were parents, children, and friends. Their families' lives changed in an instant. In the weeks that followed, I met with those families. I listened and made a commitment to turn their grief into action.

This bipartisan bill reflects that work. It takes commonsense steps to make our skies safer, modernizing collision avoidance technology, strengthening training, and closing dangerous communications gaps.

It also acts on the National Transportation Safety Board recommendations, turning lessons learned into real action.

We cannot bring those 67 people back, but we can honor them by preventing this from happening ever again.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``yes'' and, after the passage of this bill, work together on a final, fully thought-out bill that ensures safety measures are efficiently implemented. The families deserve nothing less.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate March as Youth Art Month in Kansas. Youth Art Month exists to honor our student artists and recognize the value of art education, especially for our children.

In 1961, the Art & Creative Materials Institute created Children's Art Month as an event to emphasize the value of visual art education. In 1969, the celebration expanded to include secondary school students, and Children's Art Month officially became known as Youth Art Month. Youth Art Month is now celebrated across the Nation with art contests, exhibits, and special activities.

Annually in Kansas, every art teacher in the state is eligible to submit one student's artwork from their school to be showcased in the Kansas Youth Art Month exhibit at the Topeka and Shawnee County Library. Nationwide, a student from each state designs a Youth Art Month flag to represent their state at the National Art Education Association's Convention. This year's celebration to recognize these artists is set for March 28, 2026. This annual celebration is full of fun art activities, art exhibits, and certificates and prizes.

Youth Art Month exists to increase community understanding, interest, and participation in art and art education. Year round, Kansas art teachers strive to expand art programs in schools and provide opportunities for more students to explore their artistic creativity. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to these educators, and to the Kansas Art Education Association for organizing Kansas' Youth Art Month so that we can formally celebrate these educators and their students.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in somber recognition that January 29,

2026, will mark one year since the tragic collision of American Eagle Flight 5342 and U.S. Army callsign PAT 25.

On that night one year ago, American Airlines Flight 5342, flying from Wichita, Kansas to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, collided with a UH-60 Army Black Hawk helicopter while on final approach to runway 33 at DCA. There were no survivors and 67 innocent lives were lost--60 passengers, 4 flight crew, and 3 Army soldiers. They were our neighbors, our coworkers, and our loved ones.

For Kansas, this tragedy hit especially close to home. Wichita is the Air Capital of the World, and countless Kansas families have deep ties to aviation--whether through work, training, or innovation. The loss of this flight was not an abstract headline in our state; it was felt deeply in our communities, at kitchen tables, and in workplaces across Kansas.

While folks across the country embraced the stark reminder that we must never take our time with loved ones for granted, this event also underscored the vital need to enhance our Nation's aviation safety.

While nothing can be done to undo this tragedy or bring back those lost on January 29, 2025, we can do everything in our power, working across the aisle, to prevent this from ever happening again. I look forward to working with my colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, to address these issues and keep our skies safe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in regret that on Roll Call No. 32, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 5763, I mistakenly voted NAY when I intended to vote YEA.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the students of Lenexa Hills Elementary School for designing the ornaments now proudly representing Kansas at the site of the National Christmas Tree.

Each year since 1923, President's Park in Washington, D.C. has hosted the National Christmas Tree, surrounded by trees representing each U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia. Those trees feature one-of-a-kind, student-crafted ornaments that reflect the unique characteristics of the state they call home.

This year, the students of Lenexa Hills put their creativity and Kansas pride on full display--designing colorful ornaments with beautiful visuals of sunflowers, bison, western meadowlarks, sprawling grasslands, and more of the wonderful things that make Kansas so special.

I thank the students of Lenexa Hills Elementary for this exceptional representation of our home state. I'm so proud to showcase the talent of our kids to the rest of the country. To quote the Kansas State motto: ``To the stars through difficulties--Ad Astra Per Aspera.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the career of Mr. David Warm, the executive director for the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC).

Economist John Kenneth Galbraith once wrote, ``All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: It was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time.''

As Executive Director of MARC for the past 35 years, Mr. Warm has confronted the major challenges of the Kansas City region time and time again. From emergency management to environmental protection, early education to aging services, and transportation to local government cooperative services, Mr. Warm has worked tirelessly with a servant's heart and a singular focus on the mission ahead.

Mr. Warm is retiring after 35 distinguished years as MARC's Executive Director. Under his leadership, MARC has earned a reputation for innovative work and has become a vital organization for the development of 119 cities and nine counties in the Kansas City area.

Prior to Mr. Warm's tenure at MARC, he worked for the city of Kansas City, Missouri, and later, the city administrator's office for the City of Liberty, Missouri, eventually leading the office. Mr. Warm also serves on the boards of several area nonprofits focused on health care, community development, and education, including the Hall Family Foundation.

He has been honored with many awards. After becoming a fellow in the National Academy of Public Administration, Mr. Warm also received the Walter Scheiber Leadership Award from the National Association of Regional Councils. In 2012, he received the Professional of the Year award from Nonprofit Connect, and in 2020, he was honored with the Kansas Citian of the Year award by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

Those who have worked with Mr. Warm describe him as a practical, humble, and exemplary leader who has had a positive and critical impact on the region. He is known for his dedicated service and devotion to the Kansas City region and has been an invaluable asset to my office. Mr. Warm has proactively provided my office with valuable knowledge and has been an esteemed contributor to my many roundtables addressing various issues or concerns within the community. His support, not only for my office but also for other public servants, has always been in the interest of doing what is best for the region, and we will greatly miss his unique insight.

Please join me in wholeheartedly congratulating Mr. Warm on his illustrious career and profound impact on the Kansas City region. I wish Mr. Warm a well-deserved and prosperous retirement alongside his family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Ernest L. ``Ernie'' Stevens, Jr. Ernie was a fierce and loyal advocate for Indian country who dedicated his life to advancing tribal sovereignty and protecting tribal rights through his advocacy.

Ernie was an active leader among his tribe and community, the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. Ernie most notably served as the Chairman for the Indian Gaming Association for more than two decades and demonstrated his unwavering commitment to tribal communities across the country through his policy contributions and his advancements to Indian gaming.

Ernie was a mentor, a passionate community leader, and a friend to all. He will be remembered for his countless contributions and commitments kept to Indian country. He will be deeply missed.