Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Mr. Cole, for giving me this time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 9770, the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2027, in hopes that it is not necessary. If we were to complete our work as the Framers had intended and outlined for us, we wouldn't be standing here today.

This is an insurance policy. This ensures that, assuming we don't finish our work by the end of September, by the end of this fiscal year, our government will be held harmless. Who could argue an insurance policy that holds a government harmless when we begin a new fiscal year?

Under the leadership of Mr. Cole, the House Appropriations Committee, as you just heard, has advanced all 12 bills out of committee. We have done our job well before the end of the fiscal year. Three of these full-year funding bills have already cleared the floor and are ready for action in the Senate.

That is sizeable progress toward our goal of restoring regular order in this appropriations process. I am exceedingly proud of the work my colleagues and I have done in crafting responsible bills that rightsize the discretionary side of our budget, but I am also pragmatic.

I am aware of the political realities that lie before us right now, and the very fact is that we have a job to do, and time is running out on us. Too often, Mr. Speaker, we wait until the eleventh hour to create some kind of a process by which we can avoid a real catastrophe, gambling with the functions of government that people depend on.

H.R. 9770 is a clean solution to extend government funding until December 4, ensuring zero disruptions to the operations of programs like SNAP, like WIC, the National Flood Insurance Program, disaster relief fund, and scores of other programs.

It is no secret that I am not a fan of CRs. No self-respecting appropriator would ever embrace a CR. My preference has always been to fulfill our Article I responsibility before the deadline, following through on the job that the American people sent us to Washington to do. Passing this CR is a much better alternative than to threaten the government shutdown at the expense of the American people.

This CR does not prevent us from continuing our work on full-year fiscal year 2027 appropriations. Instead, it provides a runway to work with our Senate counterparts and iron out a final agreement, all while preventing the abyss of uncertainty created by a lapse in appropriations.

Mr. Speaker, for 43 days, a stalemate in Congress caused an unnecessary and costly government shutdown as political games took priority over our constitutional responsibility. The shutdown impacted many services and programs that our constituents count on. It crippled biomedical research, upended infrastructure projects, and risked our national security.

As chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I can speak directly to the impact it had on agencies within our jurisdiction. Prior to the shutdown, the FAA was already falling short of its controller staffing targets. The shutdown exacerbated that problem.

Without the promise of a paycheck, many of these air traffic controllers opted to take other employment opportunities instead of doing the job that the American people needed them to do. The results were canceled or delayed flights and ground stops at airports across the Nation.

By the end of the shutdown, Mr. Speaker, 6 million people had been affected, not to mention the estimated costs incurred by the U.S. travel sector of $150 million a day.

This is just one of many examples of the catastrophic consequences of a government shutdown. What we are doing

today is offering this insurance policy to see that that doesn't happen again.

We have a binary choice later today on this bill. You are either going to vote for continuing the appropriations that fund the discretionary side of government till December 4, or you will be in the column voting to shut the government down. I think it is a pretty simple, no-brainer kind of vote.

I encourage my colleagues--including my friend, the ranking member, Ms. DeLauro from Connecticut--to vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2026 men's outdoor track and field national champions, the Arkansas Razorbacks, led by their head coach, Doug Case.

The Hogs brought home the national title after 4 days of competition at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

From start to finish, these men exemplified what it means to be a Razorback. They brought grit, energy, and an unwavering determination to the competition. They fought until the very last event to secure that title.

Throughout the meet, Arkansas rose to the top, seizing key opportunities to

score points in field events, sprints, and middle-distance events.

In the field, Scottie Vines, a Colorado native, brought an impressive performance in the high jump. He cleared five consecutive bars, ending at 7 feet 4\1/2\ inches. Juriad Hughes put out a set of career-best marks in the long jump. Building on that momentum was Ernest Cheruiyot in the 10,000. Keeping the Hogs on the leaderboard were powerhouse performances by Tyrice Taylor and Rivaldo Marshall in the 800 and Jelani Watkins in the 100. Bringing the victory home was TJ Tomlyanovich, Devyn Wright, Zander Cruzan, and Jordan Pierre in the 4 by 400.

This type of elite performance doesn't happen by chance. It happens as a direct result of the dedication and discipline that are refined in long hours on the track and in the weight room. It is a product of excellence in every practice, down to every drill, every rep. It also happens because of exceptional leadership.

I want to extend my special congratulations to Doug Case, who in his first year, Mr. Speaker, as head coach, has led these men to four titles: two in the SEC and two national championships in indoor and outdoor track. This accomplishment is unprecedented and is a feat not achieved by any first-year head coach in over four decades.

Mr. Speaker, I can't forget Doug's wife, and his number one cheerleader, Chris Case, for her support of this championship program.

I should also recognize assistant coaches Rob Jarvis, Cale Wallace, Brandon Battle, Steven Strobis, and Danny Green. Their contributions should not go unnoticed.

This year's victory builds on the generational legacy of track-and- field dominance at the University of Arkansas. The 2026 title in outdoors was the 11th NCAA outdoor championship for our Hogs and the 53rd national championship for track and field programs overall.

Mr. Speaker, this win isn't just a trophy. It is a testament to the hard work of every athlete and every coach this season. I look forward to celebrating the team's future accomplishments and watching this momentum carried into the next school year.

Coach Case has set a very high bar in his first season as our head coach. I look forward to the future under his leadership.

Wooo. Pig. Sooie. Go Hogs.

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, June 14, our Nation will celebrate Flag Day. It was on that date in 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress, that our Nation adopted Old Glory as the flag of the United States. It was, and is, the single-most recognizable symbol of the great American experiment and has endured through our Nation's greatest triumphs and its greatest hardships.

From the Revolutionary War to the World Wars, from the age of space exploration to the fight for civil rights, the Stars and Stripes has stood as a symbol of American courage and resolve. It is worn by those who serve their country in uniform, and it has been draped over the coffins of those who sacrificed their lives for what it represents.

Yet, Congress, the constitutional body charged with making our Nation's laws, does not have the legal authority to decide how our most sacred symbol, the flag, should be protected.

We have seen folks burn and desecrate the flag, an act that shows deep contempt for those who know and understand what this flag symbolizes. But Congress can take the first step to restore its authority and the American people's First Amendment right to demand its protection.

That is why I have proposed a constitutional amendment returning to Congress that power to prohibit the physical desecration of the American flag. This issue was once debated, legislated, and settled through the democratic process, but it has been untouchable for nearly four decades following a decision by the Supreme Court.

That decision overturned laws in 48 out of 50 States that protected our flag from desecration. If the American people remain united in their commitment to protect our Nation's flag, Congress should do its part.

Mr. Speaker, this is a historic year. It is our Nation's 250th anniversary. I can't think of a better year for Congress to step up in the spirit of self-governance and make an effort to give our flag the protection it deserves.

On this Flag Day, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reflect on what the Stars and Stripes means to them and to join me in restoring Congress' constitutional authority to protect it in accordance with the will of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize a business in my district celebrating its 100th birthday this month.

Harris Baking Company of Rogers, Arkansas, began operations back in 1926 under the leadership of Earl A. Harris. During the Great Depression, the bakery team produced up to 250 loaves each day and sold them for a mere ten cents a loaf. Mr. Harris, grateful for his employees, made sure during that difficult time that none of those employees missed a check.

He expanded it in 1937 and upped the daily production to 1,200 loaves a day, and, in 1950, a slicing and wrapping operation was added.

Earl Harris died in 1959, but the legacy of his company ensued. With serious competition from national brands, a group of independent grocers purchased the bakery from the Harris family, the first to be owned by independent retailers in the United States.

By 1978, Harris Baking Company was producing 1 million loaves a year, and by the time it celebrated its 60th anniversary, it boasted 100 employees producing 75,000 units a day, a $250 million impact on the local economy.

Today, the company has 180 employees and distributes more than 30 million loaves annually. Deliveries occur three times a week in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri. It is not just about the bottom line. Harris Baking Company routinely helps with disaster relief when our citizens are suffering a hardship.

Mr. Speaker, the book of Matthew says: ``Give us this day our daily bread.'' Harris Baking Company of Rogers, Arkansas, has been delivering this basic food staple now for 100 years.

Congratulations to this outstanding company, and here is to another century of quality service.

Mr. Chair, I thank my friend, Judge Carter, and the ranking member, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, for giving us an example of what true bipartisanship looks like. I mean, to get a bill out of committee on a unanimous vote, as a fellow cardinal, I am a bit envious. I am not near naive enough to believe that my T-HUD bill is going to enjoy the same fate, but congratulations to them.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this MILCON-VA bill. It is a good day for the House, Mr. Chairman, and an even better day for the American people because we are considering the first full year FY27 appropriations bill in the month of May. Good for us.

This is what a return to regular order should look like. This is how the annual appropriations process is supposed to work. Committee members from both parties debating, negotiating, and working in good faith to fund bills on time and responsibly.

We wouldn't be here today without the leadership of our overall chairman, Tom Cole, and his ranker, Rosa DeLauro. Their dedication and commitment to re-engineering this process

is paving the way for the House to pass all 12 full-year funding bills for fiscal year `26 and to do it on time. I sure hope the Senate is listening to this debate.

There is some unfinished business, and we will roll up our sleeves, and we will get this work done.

House appropriators have advanced five full-year funding bills through committee. This is a credit to the hard work, discipline, and bipartisanship of our committee.

Mr. Chairman, the bill I speak in support of today, the FY27 MILCON- VA bill, is a good bill, and I know it is going to go through the process here on the floor, and I hope the outcome is that we can get it finished, get it approved, and get it to the Senate. Its passage will set our military and veterans up for success while also sustaining our momentum to fulfill Congress' Article I responsibility on time.

Let's get a ``yes'' vote out of this thing. Congratulations to both of you.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the consolidated appropriations package before the House today.

Passage of this legislation means that Congress will have provided full-year funding to more than 90 percent of the Federal Government. This marks an important departure from the unfortunate norm in which Congress too often fails to meet its Article I responsibility.

There are many highlights worth noting in this package.

In providing for the common defense, this legislation strategically increases funding to ensure that our military continues to be the most lethal in the world, while also ensuring that our allies have the tools they need to help us defend democracy.

The package also makes investments in biomedical research and small business development. Together, these measures and more support a more prosperous America.

Madam Speaker, as chairman of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, my division of this legislation cuts back unfocused spending and reduces bureaucratic bloat.

Before I get into specifics, let me thank my Subcommittee Ranking Member Jim Clyburn for his partnership. He has been a great friend, and he has been an invaluable asset and partner through this process. I appreciate his dedication to crafting this division of the bill and to advancing the entire package.

The T-HUD division invests in what matters to the American people: economic growth, safe and efficient mobility, and housing affordability.

We prioritize aviation safety by allocating over $22 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration. These dollars will fully fund air traffic control operations and enable the hiring of 2,500 new controllers. It will jump-start the modernization of outdated facilities and equipment, strengthening the safety and reliability of our national airspace system.

We provide more than $64 billion for highways, taking care to send the overwhelming majority of these dollars back to the States because it is at the State level where the best decisions are made, not here in Washington.

We also provide funding to address our Nation's shortage of safe and available truck parking. America's truckers work tirelessly to keep our grocery stores stocked, our packages delivered, and our supply chains moving. Ensuring they have a safe place to park between long drives is common sense, and this bill delivers on that promise.

At the same time, we preserve housing assistance for the most vulnerable, such as youth aging out of our Nation's foster care system, while promoting affordability through flexible, locally driven programs that allow communities to expand housing supply without the micromanagement of the Federal Government.

It does all these things while saving millions of hard-earned American taxpayer dollars.

I thank my subcommittee staff: Avery, Andrew, Doug, and Mary Beth for their hard work and diligence. They have been indispensable throughout this process. Please know that I am deeply grateful to have each one of them on my team.

Madam Speaker, I am going to take that 30 seconds and brag on this guy right here, Tom Cole. He has reengineered, somewhat reinvented a lost appropriations process, and I am eternally grateful. I know I speak for the American people in thanking Mr. Cole for his leadership.

I thank my colleagues for this bipartisanship that has been exhibited by this package. A ``yes'' vote today takes us one step closer to restoring the confidence that the American people should have in this Congress.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of the consolidated appropriations package before the House today.

With this legislation, we are a step closer to completing full-year appropriations that rightsize our priorities with updated funding levels.

As chair the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee, I would like to highlight that division of this package.

Before I do, Madam Chair, I want to say something about my friend, Jim Clyburn. He is my friend. Though we sometimes differ in our political beliefs, friendship transcends politics.

Jim's words this morning on the floor inspire me. I am grateful.

Madam Chair, the Transportation division is a deliberate shift away from bloated bureaucracy and unfocused spending and back toward the core responsibilities of the Federal Government.

This agreement supports the President's America First agenda by cutting waste, eliminating unnecessary and underperforming programs, and codifying reforms that significantly reduce the size and scope of the Federal bureaucracy across all agencies.

The bill refocuses taxpayer dollars on priorities that matter to the American people: safety, mobility, economic growth, and housing affordability.

We make aviation safety a top priority by providing $22.2 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration, fully funding air traffic control, hiring 2,500 new controllers, and modernizing outdated facilities and equipment to ensure the safety and reliability of our national airspace system.

We invest more than $64 billion in highways, with the overwhelming majority sent directly to the States by formula because we know that it is the States, not Washington, that are best positioned to deliver roads and bridges that improve safety, strengthen freight movement, and support local economies.

The bill also addresses longstanding safety challenges including truck parking and motor carrier enforcement.

At the same time, we preserve housing assistance for the most vulnerable, while promoting affordability through flexible, locally driven programs that allow communities to expand housing supply without the micromanagement of the Federal Government.

We protect seniors, people with disabilities, and families facing homelessness, while ensuring that these programs are managed responsibly. We don't just throw money at programs. We make sure that they are responsibly managed.

Just as importantly, this bill exercises strong oversight by eliminating funding for failed and mismanaged projects like California High-Speed Rail, reducing transit programs, and rightsizing staffing levels at HUD and the Department of Transportation, all without compromising safety or mission effectiveness.

While I am extremely proud of the Transportation division, I would be remiss if I didn't express my strong support for other divisions of the package, notably providing for the common defense, a constitutional imperative. This legislation strategically increases funding to ensure our military continues to be the most lethal in the world.

It supports programs like the F-35 FMS mission at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and the E-7 Wedgetail, both of which ensure our military and allies have the capabilities they need to deter threats across the globe. Of course, we have a well-deserved pay raise for our servicemembers.

This bill does what Congress should have been doing all along. It prioritizes national security and the men and women who voluntarily take the oath to defend it.

This legislation also makes investments in biomedical research. We don't create cures or develop medical breakthroughs. No, that is not our job, but we can implement policies here in Washington that provide the resources needed to support our experts.

Moreover, this agreement provides the fiscal discipline and commonsense investments that are not mutually exclusive. It cuts what doesn't work, funds what does, and delivers real results for the taxpayers.

Madam Chair, finally, I will say this about Tom Cole. He has re- engineered the appropriations process. I am eternally grateful. We have strayed away from our fundamental duty of funding the government. In his desire to make sure that the appropriations process is honored and effective, Tom Cole made sure that we arrived at this moment. I am grateful.

Madam Chair, before I close, let me say, as most of my colleagues know and as Mr. Clyburn pointed out, my presence here today in the face of a terrible, personal hardship--the loss of my wife of over 41 years--I hope is indicative of the importance of completing the work on behalf of the American people.

Madam Chair, that is our job. I am grateful for the outpouring of support from Members from both sides of this aisle, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent and unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 34 and AYE on Roll Call No. 35.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent and unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 36, YEA on Roll Call No. 37, and YEA on Roll Call No. 38.

Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably absent and unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 32 and YEA on Roll Call No. 33.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent and unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 29, NAY on Roll Call No. 30, and YEA on Roll Call No. 31.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Walberg for this opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, the Tipped Employee Protection Act, which clarifies the definition of a tipped employee, providing long-term certainty for the service industry and, ultimately, protecting tipped employees' right to earn a living, a good living.

Mr. Speaker, our local service industry businesses, like the family- owned restaurant down the street, both reflect and shape the culture in each of our communities.

These establishments aren't just places to enjoy a good meal. They are where we foster and grow relationships. From catching up with friends to shaking hands on new business to marking some of life's biggest accomplishments--birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and promotions. Where do we do this? We do this down at the local restaurant.

Many eateries like the ones I just described make their home in my own area of northwest Arkansas. Some of my favorites include Neal's Cafe in Springdale. By the way, I should give credit to its owner, Micah Neal, for helping provide the inspiration for the legislation that we are talking about here today. Another place is Herman's, an iconic rib house in Fayetteville.

Mr. Speaker, I could go on and on, naming some of my area's most popular restaurants. What do they have in common? To begin with they have great food, but it is the hardworking people behind the counter or taking your table order who truly make these businesses landmarks in our communities. We all have them.

The bill I stand here in support of today, Mr. Speaker, is about protecting these workers. Restaurants, most of which are small businesses, operate on very thin margins. The tip credit system is the foundation on which these small businesses operate.

The tip credit, or the tipped wage, has been part of the Fair Labor Standards Act for decades. It allows employers to pay tipped workers a base wage with tips--handsome tips, in many cases--making up the rest of those workers' earnings.

This system empowers tipped employees to maximize their earning potential. In fact, research shows that servers at full-service restaurants earn over twice--let me say it again, earn over twice--the Federal minimum wage. According to the National Restaurant Association, tipped servers nationally make a median income of $27 an hour, with the highest paid workers in the $41 an hour range.

The tip credit also offers flexibility for operators to invest in their businesses and staff. Without it, restaurant operators would be forced to make some very tough decisions, such as raising prices on their customers or reducing workers' hours, maybe even cutting jobs altogether.

Unfortunately, regulatory overreach has put the tipped credit system at risk, creating uncertainty for restaurant operators. Different administrations have issued conflicting rules and guidance, producing a regulatory roller coaster for restaurant owners and their staff. This instability makes it difficult for owners and operators to make long- term business plans. Antiworker efforts that chip away at the tipped wage altogether interfere with employees' hard-earned paychecks and livelihoods.

My bill, Mr. Speaker, the Tipped Employee Protection Act, provides a commonsense solution. It puts an end to hurtful regulatory confusion and litigation. It preserves the tipped wage and protections in the Fair Labor Standards Act. It provides clarity and simplicity in categorizing workers as tipped employees. It seeks to maintain a consistent regulatory environment.

To put it simply, my legislation will protect the hard-earned paychecks of tipped employees across the country and right at home in my Third District of Arkansas, the people who work day in and day out to put food on the tables of your favorite restaurant, as well as on their own kitchen tables at home.

This bill, Mr. Speaker, is how we deliver bigger paychecks to our constituents back home.

One other thing, Mr. Speaker. If you ever find yourself in Springdale, Arkansas, at Neal's Cafe, order some apple salad. You will thank me later.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I urge its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent and unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 13, YEA on Roll Call No. 14, and YEA on Roll Call No. 15.

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent and unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 12.

Mr. Speaker, I also offer my personal thanks and congratulations to my dear friend, Steny Hoyer, on the announcement that he has made today. We wish him the very best.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great friend and fellow northwest Arkansan, Doug McMillon, who steps away at the end of this month from a 12-year run as chief executive officer of Fortune 1, Walmart, in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Doug's is a story of incredible American success. Much like the company he has led, his journey started with humble beginnings.

At 16, Doug's family moved from Jonesboro, Arkansas, to Bentonville. The eldest of three children, Doug was a guard on the Bentonville High School Tigers basketball team. I had the privilege of watching him play high school sports with no way of knowing where his dreams and ambitions would take him.

He began his career at Walmart as an hourly associate in 1984, picking orders and unloading trailers in the warehouse. He attended the University of Arkansas and worked part time at the Bank of Bentonville. Later, he enrolled in the MBA program at the University of Tulsa.

He later became an assistant manager at Walmart Store 894 in Tulsa, and that launched a career with the Nation's leading retailer, with promotions to CEO of Sam's Club in 2005, Walmart International in 2009, and finally CEO of the entire enterprise in 2014.

With a market cap of $195 billion, under his tenure Walmart's value has increased by more than 350 percent and a current market cap of around $900 billion. His leadership in the company's digitization and strong e-commerce platforms was a major shift for the company from that as a brick-and-mortar company to an omnichannel retailer.

Supply chain automation in warehouses and major pay increases for hourly associates were instrumental in his visionary leadership and success.

Mr. Speaker, I could speak volumes about Doug McMillon's legacy. Suffice it to say, his quiet and patient demeanor, his bold and innovative leadership, and his commitment to the shareholders and associates of Walmart make him one of America's true success stories, and not only that, but his spirit of charity and funding opportunities for young entrepreneurs and in healthcare for fellow citizens.

I am proud of what he has accomplished and the inspiration he has given to thousands of people who have had the privilege of serving under his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I know Doug McMillon well enough to know that he would be embarrassed by all of this fuss that we are making about him. That is who he is, but this tribute is well deserved. Few among us have lived the American Dream like he has, and what a difference he has made.

Mr. Speaker, I say to Doug and Shelley: Well done. I know I speak for a lot of people. I thank him for his example of selfless service and his commitment to helping his fellow man. Godspeed and may he enjoy a well-earned retirement.