Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solemn tribute to Frederick W. Smith, the founder of FedEx and a visionary business and civic leader who revolutionized global commerce. Mr. Smith passed away on Saturday at the age of 80. Mr. Smith took an idea for express package delivery that he wrote about in a 1965 college term paper and turned it into a multinational corporation worth billions, employing more than 500,000 people at 2,000 locations worldwide. Mr. Smith's father, James Frederick Smith, the founder of the Toddle House restaurant chain and the Dixie Greyhound bus line, died when he was 4 and he and his brother, Richard, were raised by their mother. Mr. Smith attended Yale University, where he was a fraternity brother of future president George W. Bush. He later served as a Marine officer and platoon leader in Vietnam, where he received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. Mr. Smith founded Federal Express in 1971 in Little Rock, Arkansas, and moved it to his hometown of Memphis in 1973, where it grew exponentially through acquisitions. A visionary leader who never forgot his roots, Mr. Smith became a dedicated civic booster, helping bring the NBA's Grizzlies to Memphis where they play at the FedEx Forum and supporting the FedEx-St. Jude Championship charity golf tournament since 2009. Mr. Smith was a relentlessly loyal supporter of the University of Memphis, from the FedEx Institute of Technology to the athletic programs and his personal commitment to refurbishing Liberty Stadium, the home of the football Tigers. He was also a strong supporter of the Memphis Zoo, bringing pandas from China aboard a FedEx plane, and supporting the Teton Trek exhibit which displays nature photography taken by his late daughter, Woodland Smith Rice, who passed in 2005. Mr. Smith was a legendary business leader who often testified before Congress as a representative of the Business Roundtable.

I extend my profound condolences to Mr. Smith's wife, Diane Davis Smith, and nine children: Laurie, Stacey, Richard, Kathleen, Molly, Arthur, Rachel, Samantha and Buchanan; his brother, Richard Gary Smith; and granchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and his first wife, Linda Grisham, as well as friends and the extended FedEx community around the world. His drive, intellect, wise counsel

and integrity made him one of the greatest businessmen of his generation. He led a remarkable life, and he will be greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Memphis' Interstate Bar-B-Que co-founder Barbara Neely who passed on June 16 at the age of 86. Mrs. Neely started the barbecue restaurant empire in 1979 with her husband, Jim, and was its public face, greeting customers from the front counter while her husband worked the pits in the kitchen. For 45 years, she would arrive at the restaurant at 5 a.m. every morning. The restaurant they founded became a Memphis institution and a tourist attraction, especially after Jim's nephew, Patrick, starred in the Food Network reality cooking show ``Down Home with the Neelys,'' which ran from 2008 to 2014. Born Barbara Jean Frison, Barbara went to Manassas High School then relocated to New Orleans, where she met Jim, an Air Force veteran who left Memphis after high school. The first Interstate was founded the year they were married on Christmas Day, 1979, in Las Vegas. There are now Neely's restaurants at the original South Third Street location, on Winchester Road in Memphis, on Stateline Road in Southaven, Mississippi and a Memphis-style barbecue restaurant, Jay Bee's, in Gardena, California. Mrs. Neely put Memphis moist pit barbecue and chopped pork sandwiches on the map. I extend my condolences to her husband, Jim, her extended family, and her many devoted customers. Hers was a life well-lived.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to appear here.

In Memphis, one of our great leaders in the State of Tennessee, in the United States of America, and the world, in fact, was Frederick W. Smith, Jr.

Fred Smith died suddenly this past weekend. He was 80 years old.

Fred Smith started a business called FedEx, the largest air cargo system in the world. He started it with an idea that he came up with at Yale University and made it a paper. The paper didn't get a very good grade, but the people of the world judged it as A-plus, and everything about Fred Smith was A-plus.

He was just a regular, decent human being and a good guy. He was always available. He never made you think he was a big titan of business or a leader of industry in the world. He was just somebody who was interested in what you had to talk to him about, and he would offer his advice.

In Memphis, he did have his hand in just about everything. Our basketball arena, FedExForum, has made the city the home of an NBA team. That is because of Fred Smith. Our college football team plays in Liberty Stadium. He has pledged $50 million to improve that stadium and bring it up to higher standards. We have a golf tournament that is the FedEx St. Jude Golf Classic.

He had his hand in every good thing in Memphis from education, zoos, and the civil rights museum. It is a big loss to Memphis. It is a big loss to Tennesseans. It is a big loss to Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. DesJarlais and Mr. Burchett for joining me up here. I ask everyone to stand for a moment of silence in the memory of Frederick W. Smith, Jr., a life well lived.

Mr. Speaker, if there was fraud, there would be arrests. There is not fraud. There have not been arrests. They are depending on the word of Mr. Musk, who took out a chain saw from the President of Argentina and waved it around, a chain saw. He took a chain saw to the budget, not a scalpel.

If my colleagues want to improve something, improve it. Mr. Speaker, regarding the Kennedy Center, if they want to improve it, they want ``Hee Haw,'' have ``Hee Haw,'' but don't get rid of the Kennedy Center.

There will be people who will die. This bill is good for Russia and China and undertakers because it is going to have people dying. Bill Gates said this is the richest man in the world, Musk, taking advantage of and killing the poorest children in the world. They are not going to be getting PEPFAR programs created by George Bush. They are not going to get the sustenance they need which is rotting in ships right now.

Don't end it, mend it. This is a terrible bill. This is Musk's bill on drugs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a wonderful artist, educator and delightful friend Veda Louise Reed, who passed on June 3rd at the age of 91. Ms. Reed was born in Oklahoma but moved to Memphis in 1952 and attended the Memphis Academy of Art (later known as the Memphis College of Art) where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1956. Her classmates included artists Dolph Smith and Henry Easterwood. She was appointed registrar of the Academy of Art that same year. Ms. Reed studied landscape painting in Britain and began exhibiting her work in 1957, both in Memphis and at the Morris Gallery in New York, where they were reviewed by The New York Times and other arts publications.

Through the years. she worked mainly in oil on canvas and exhibited paintings at Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College), the Brooks Memorial Art Gallery (now the Brooks Museum of Art), the Alice Bingham Galleries, the Bingham Kurts Gallery and the David Lusk Gallery, all in Memphis; in Atlanta; in Little Rock; and at the Boatman Gallery in New York. At the Memphis College of Art, she taught several art forms including painting, drawing, design, fabric design, still life, and landscapes. I have three of her paintings, including one of a sunrise that I wake up to in my Washington condominium. Years ago, she and I were paired in designing a Mark Rothko-like painting at a Brooks Museum event for a charity. She retired as a senior faculty member in 1995 when she was named professor emeritus. During her tenure, her fellow faculty members included Dorothy Sturm, Burton Callicott and Ted Faiers. Her final exhibit at the David Lusk Gallery opened in January 2024.

Ms. Reed brought beauty to our world and inspired hundreds of student artists. She led a life of accomplishment and will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, my plane was delayed in arriving to Washington, D.C. on June 9, 2025, and I was unable to vote on H.R. 2035, the American Cargo for American Ships Act--Roll Call 157. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA.

For the vote on H. Res. 488 Denouncing the antisemitic terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado--Roll Call 158, it was my intention to vote NAY, but I inadvertently voted yes when rushing to the chamber thinking it was still the first vote. I do not support this resolution as it exploits the horrible incident that took place in Boulder Colorado on June 2, 2025, where makeshift firebombs were thrown at a crowd hosting an event raising awareness about hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza. The resolution also falsely criticizes sanctuary cities and praises Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents. These issues distract from the important message of condemning antisemitism and the domestic terrorism that occurred in Boulder.

Mr. Speaker, my father was a physician. One of the main things he was taught in medical school--and I think it is part of the Hippocratic oath--is do no harm.

Our budgets are doing a great deal of harm to our healthcare system.

The Association of Medical Colleges came out with a statement yesterday that our healthcare is in existential crisis because of the cuts to research and the cuts to graduate medical education; that our medical schools will suffer; and the number of doctors that are produced will suffer. That is not even to mention the problems immediately to people from taking away their Medicaid, taking away their ACA, and taking away that healthcare.

Do no harm. This bill is a big, deadly bill. People will die because of it because we are not putting money in the

NIH that does the research to protect us from the diseases that kill us such as cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, heart disease, and diabetes. The NIH is our Department of Defense. Francis Collins did a great job. He left it in good hands. Let's keep ourselves safe. Do no harm.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Idlewild Elementary School Chess Team champions, and their coach Mark Beatty, on their impressive run of successes this year. The 15-member team won the 2025 Henry D. Sabine State Scholastic Team Chess Tournament in both the kindergarten through third grade and kindergarten through fifth grade categories. The wins qualified them for a trip to Orlando, Florida, earlier this month to compete in the National Elementary Championship hosted by the U.S. Chess Federation. Beatty founded the Idlewild team in 2013. He also coached chess teams at Grahamwood Elementary, White Station Middle School and White Station High School where his teams have won 45 state team titles. Idlewood, my elementary school alma mater and the only school in Tennessee to receive the Top Magnet School of Excellence designation, also sent teams to the national chess tournaments in 2024 and 2023. This proud tradition puts Idlewild on a short list of the Nation's best elementary schools and its students deserve our encouragement and respect. They are certainly living up to their motto: ``Children First, Excellence Always!''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Memphis Central High School Jazz Band and Band Director Ollie Liddell for winning First Place Honors at the 30th Annual ``Essentially Ellington Competition and Festival'' at Lincoln Center in New York City on Sunday, May 11. The band was one of 127 that applied this year, competing with bands from all over the world including Japan and Spain, and was one of the 30 bands--some trained at music magnet schools or with private tutors--invited to New York. The Central High students advanced to the semifinal level where 10 were selected and then was one of the top three bands to play. Dr. Liddell has been the band's director for the past 13 years, often spending 12-hour days in the band room to give students the practice time they need--especially since many can't play in their apartment complexes or transport heavy instruments home. Overall, the band won the Best Band honors and awards for outstanding trumpet section, outstanding trombone section, outstanding rhythm section, outstanding alto saxophone soloist for student Jackson Hankins, outstanding trumpet soloist for Kingston Grandberry and outstanding trombone soloist for Marqese Cobb. The Memphis Central Jazz Band was selected to compete at ``Essentially Ellington'' in 2020 and 2021, but the competition was held virtually, so the students did not have the opportunity to travel to New York. In an interview with The Daily Memphian columnist Geoff Calkins in January, Liddell explained that many of his students arrive at the band room with no prior knowledge of jazz. He added: ``The City of Memphis is why I do what I do.'' Over the years, the numbers in the Central jazz band jumped from about 80 to the current 187. The festival in New York concluded with a concert at the Metropolitan Opera House featuring the top student ensembles and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra directed by Wynton Marsalis. Memphis is home to many talented musicians, and Central's band members have now earned international recognition--a testament to the hard work of the students and Dr. Liddell.

Mr. Speaker, President Trump was offered this $400 million airplane. He said he thought it was a ``nice gesture.''

A nice gesture is when somebody passes the salt and pepper. That is a nice gesture.

A nice gesture is when somebody says, ``Good morning. Have a nice day.'' That is a nice gesture.

A nice gesture is when a gentleman pulls a chair out for a lady to sit down. That is a nice gesture.

To take a $400 million airplane from Qatar as the plane of the United States of America's President is cheap, demeaning, and harmful to our country that has always flown high as the finest nation on this Earth. It is also graft and corruption.

Mr. Speaker, the emperor wears no clothes.

Madam Speaker, I watched the President's interview on ``Meet the Press'' yesterday. I was shocked at the lack of understanding that the man has of his job.

He takes an oath to protect, preserve, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and he says he is not sure if the Fifth Amendment is applicable to people in this country and is not sure if he will stand up and protect the Constitution. This is unfathomable.

Then, he comes up and tells us he wants to have a parade that will cost over $90 million on his birthday, which happens to coincide with Flag Day and the birth of the United States Army, neither of which have ever merited a parade in the past--$90 million with airplanes, tanks, and troops to appease a man's ego, to let him think for a while that he is Genghis Khan or Napoleon.

He is not Genghis Khan. He is not Napoleon. He is not the Pope. He is the President of the United States, who works for us, the American people.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, Georgia has long been a great friend to the United States. I went to Georgia for their election when they elected the Georgian Dream ticket about 12 years ago, but the Georgian Dream party has turned into the Georgian nightmare.

In America, Dr. King had a dream, and that dream still lives. Yet, the dream in Georgia, the country, is no longer alive and is pulling that country closer to our adversaries.

The illegitimate Georgian Dream party led by Ivanishvili rigged the October 2024 election, and they truly did rig it in that situation. It has been facing mass protests ever since. Every Sunday, there are mass protests in Georgia protesting deprivation of freedoms and liberties.

The Georgian Dream has orchestrated crackdowns on citizens, including banning the freedom of speech and assembly in Georgia, using violence against protesters, and abusing the court process to wrongfully imprison and charge protesters.

The Georgian people have protested for over 150 consecutive days and are still protesting today, especially on Sundays. They are calling for free and fair elections and the release of political prisoners.

The United States has long supported freedom in Georgia and now is no different. The MEGOBARI Act is an expression of that support.

As ranking member of the Helsinki Commission, I am proud to be the lead Democrat on the MEGOBARI bill along with my friend, Representative

Joe Wilson.

This Act will evaluate all Georgian Dream officials for sanctions. If they are found to have undermined Georgian democracy or engaged in corruption, they will be sanctioned.

It also creates a report on Russian intelligence assets in Georgia and Russia-China cooperation undermining Georgian sovereignty. What is going on is basically a revolution where Ivanishvili, who runs the party and has investments in Russia, is trying to bring them closer to Russia and Putin.

Lastly, the bill envisions a stronger U.S.-Georgia relationship once Georgia returns to its traditional Euro-Atlantic path mandated in its own constitution and demanded by its people.

Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Joe Wilson and the other co- leads of this important legislation, Congressman Veasey and Congressman Hudson, and I urge its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I was quarantining after testing positive for COVID-19 and was unable to vote on April 28 through May 1, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted Nay on the following bills:

Providing for consideration of the joint resolutions H.J. Res. 60, H.J. Res. 78, H.J. Res. 87, H.J. Res. 88, and H.J. Res. 89--Roll Call No. 105;

Providing for consideration of the joint resolutions H.J. Res. 60, H.J. Res. 78, H.J. Res. 87, H.J. Res. 88, and H.J. Res. 89--Roll Call No. 106;

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Park Service relating to ``Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: Motor Vehicles''-- Roll Call No. 110;

Congressional disapproval, of the rule submitted by the EPA relating to ``CA Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Heavy- Duty Vehicle and Engine Em Warranty and Maintenance Provisions; Advanced Clean Trucks; Zero Em Airport Shuttle; Zero-Em Power Train Cert.; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision''--Roll Call No. 111;

Congressional disapproval, of the rule submitted by the EPA relating to ``California State Motor Vehicle and Engine and Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; The `Omnibus' Low NOX Regulation; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision''--Roll Call No. 112;

Congressional disapproval, of the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service relating to ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Distinct Population Segment of the Longfin Smelt''--Roll Call No. 113; and

Congressional disapproval, of the rule submitted by the EPA relating to ``California State Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Advanced Clean Cars II; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision''--Roll Call No. 114.

I would have voted Yea on the following bills:

Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act--Roll Call No. 103;

TAKE IT DOWN Act--Roll Call No. 104;

TICKET Act--Roll Call No. 107;

Youth Poisoning Protection Act--Roll Call No. 108; and

Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act--Roll Call No. 109.

Mr. Speaker, this is about the billionaires. It is not about the middle class. It is not about a budget deficit because the majority wouldn't have to give the money to the billionaires if my colleagues on the other side of the aisle gave it to decreasing the deficit.

This is the party that is trying to kill Social Security through the DOGE boys, who are cutting out services for people who use the phone to deal with their Social Security and eliminating employees from Social Security. The majority is trying to kill Social Security. That is who it is, and Republicans want to help the billionaires and hurt the folks who live on Social Security.

Madam Speaker, this budget is about the millionaires, the trillionaires, the people earning over $400,000 a year, and giving them a $4 trillion tax cut over the next 10 years. It is not about working people. It is about hurting working people, hurting the poor, hurting people with disabilities, and hurting children.

What this Congress is looking at doing, because of Musk and Trump and the Republican colleagues here that I share this floor with, is cutting programs that help the public.

In October, Elon Musk incorporated United States of America, Inc., in Texas. What that means is it shows his mentality. He thinks he owns this government. He has bought it. He has been given it. He doesn't care about anybody else. He is the only stockholder.

America is not a stockholder. Americans are the people who give him the money to give it to the trillionaires and billionaires who were first in President Trump's inaugural crowd. They were first in the crowd. They are first in his mind. They are first in his heart. They are his people.