Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the Fauquier High School class of 2025.

Last month, the 301 graduates and their families gathered at the packed Jiffy Lube Live to celebrate this milestone.

This senior class has a lot to be proud of, including beating their teachers in the students versus faculty basketball game.

The graduates excelled not only in the classroom but also on the field and in their ability to persevere through challenges. Whether they are heading into the workforce, trade school, college, or embarking on their service at institutions like the Air Force Academy or Virginia Military Institute, the values of hard work and determination that they learned as a Falcon will always be with them.

I congratulate the class of 2025 at Fauquier High School.

Recognizing Rappahannock County High School Class of 2025

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the Rappahannock County High School class of 2025.

This year's graduating class is a remarkable group of students, including future firefighters, servicemembers, college and trade school students, and workers ready to contribute across many sectors.

In their time at Rappahannock County High School, they have achieved a lot of great things, including bringing home a Class 1 State title for the women's basketball team and winning a Scholastic Bowl regional championship. Whether on the field, in the classroom, in the drama club, or as part of one of Rappahannock County High School's bands, I know they will carry the lessons they have learned as a Panther to whatever comes next.

I congratulate the class of 2025.

Recognizing Kettle Run High School Class of 2025

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 287 graduates in Kettle Run High School class of 2025.

The graduates, as Cougars, have balanced life as students, teammates, and coworkers, and through it all they have learned the value of perseverance. They have excelled across a wide range of fields: In band, in chorus, and in orchestra, on the stage and in the art room. They brought home a golf State championship and led the football team all the way to the State championship game.

They left their mark on Kettle Run, and I look forward to watching all that they will accomplish in the future.

I congratulate the class of 2025 of Kettle Run High School.

Recognizing Liberty High School Class of 2025

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 347 graduates of Liberty High School's class of 2025.

The graduates, as Eagles, have achieved so much and, most importantly, have learned how to tackle whatever challenges come next.

As their principal said to them:

You are bold, you are brilliant, and roughly a third of you

are bilingual. And you are all just enough unhinged to change

the world.

Whether their next stop is college, trade school, the workforce, or the military, I can't wait to see what their future has in store, and I look forward to watching them change the world. The graduates should always remember that once an Eagle, always an Eagle.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Liberty High School class of 2025.

Effects of Tariffs in Virginia

Mr. Speaker, in his inauguration address, President Trump declared that America was entering a golden age, a new chapter of economic prosperity.

For Virginians, and millions across the country, that promise remains unfulfilled. Instead of prosperity, Americans are facing economic hardship and uncertainty.

This administration's steep tariffs are taking a real toll here in Virginia.

I heard from a constituent, like the one who started his own small business selling action figures. After a lot of success selling preorders of the action figures, his business is now facing budget shortfalls because they don't know what the tariffs on China will be from month to month. They don't want to raise prices on customers, but the tariffs have made it impossible to plan for his business and for his future.

They are not alone. Businesses, small and large, are feeling the pain all across the Commonwealth. They are unable to plan, unable to predict what this administration is going to do, and in many cases unable to keep their employees, or keep their doors open in some cases. This uncertainty is weighing on a lot of families as well. According to one poll, 59 percent of Virginians expect to face financial difficulty in the years ahead. This doesn't sound like the golden age. It sounds like fool's gold.

Merit-Based Hiring

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of merit-based hiring, especially in the Federal Government, because this administration, which has talked a lot about the evils of diversity and fired veterans left and right, is now focusing its hiring efforts exclusively on one thing, blind loyalty to the President. It is like DEI for MAGA.

According to a recent memo from the Office of Personnel Management, all of the civil servant applicants will now be required to answer a series of questions explaining which of the President's executive orders are their favorites and how they will advance the President's pet projects.

Now, to be fair, there are other countries that do similar loyalty tests, like North Korea, the former Soviet Union, and Iran, just to name a few, but those are authoritarian regimes. That seems to be this administration's model.

I ask instead that everyone should swear loyalty to this country and not to the President, and instead of spying on Federal workers and contractors and firing ones who aren't the most blindly loyal that the best are chosen, the brightest, the most qualified people to serve our Nation, to keep us healthy, safe, and secure.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Patriot High School class of 2025.

This year's graduating class is a remarkable group of students, including 405 students who are continuing their studies in college, 24 who are attending trade schools, 19 who are planning to serve in the military, and 32 who are heading straight into the workforce.

In their time at Patriot High School, this class achieved so many great things, including receiving $14.8 million in scholarship offers and winning their eighth straight basketball district championship.

Mr. Speaker, I know that the class of 2025, whether it is in the basketball gym, class, mock trial, or on stage, will carry their lessons learned during their time at Patriot High School in whatever they do next.

I congratulate the class of 2025, and they should not forget to thank their parents and teachers, as well.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Brentsville High School class of 2025 in Prince William County. I was honored to join the graduates at their ceremony this past weekend.

Whether on the athletic field, in band performances and concerts, or in the classroom, each of the graduates has contributed to a Tiger legacy that will be remembered. As they step into the next chapter of their lives, I hope they carry on the spirit and pride of Brentsville.

I am very excited. I know many of the parents were so excited and so proud.

I thank the graduates for all that they have done, and I am sure that they will thank their teachers and parents, as well.

I congratulate the Brentsville High School class of 2025.

Congratulating Osbourn Park High School Class of 2025

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and congratulate the graduates of Osbourn Park High School's class of 2025 in Manassas, Virginia.

The graduates have taken on challenges and risen to the occasion, whether on the basketball court with the girls' State champions, in the classroom with so many of them, 40 percent, getting a graduation GPA of 3.5 and higher, and even on the stage or elsewhere, and many are going on to either serve our country in the military or in trade schools and apprenticeships.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the graduates, again, on all their achievements.

To the entire class of 2025 at Osbourn Park High School: Once a Yellow Jacket, always a Yellow Jacket.

I look forward to seeing all that they accomplish.

Celebrating Achievements of Battlefield High School Class of 2025

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the achievements of Battlefield High School's class of 2025 in Prince William County.

I was honored to be there this past week to celebrate the 555 Bobcats, who packed Eagle Bank Arena with a lot of proud parents and teachers.

I was really blown away by all of their accomplishments. Almost 70 percent of the students will be attending a 4-year college, and 20 percent will be attending a 2-year college. Others are joining the workforce, trade schools, apprenticeships, and even the military.

I congratulate, again, the Battlefield High School class of 2025. I am looking forward to seeing all that they accomplish.

Honoring Gainesville High School Class of 2025

Mr. Speaker, today, I also rise to honor and congratulate the graduates of Gainesville High School's class of 2025.

To the graduates, as they become Cardinal alumni and take the big step into their future endeavors, they can remember the lessons that they have learned: how to be a leader, how to care for the community, and how to leave each place better than where they found it.

These lessons will stick with them as they embark on their next journey. They all have taken on the challenges in every aspect of their high school career, whether it is on the football field, in the classroom, or on the stage, and overcome all these challenges.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Gainesville High School class of 2025 graduates. I am excited to see the future and what it has in store for them.

Congratulating Manassas Park High School Class of 2025

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor and congratulate the graduates of Manassas Park High School's class of 2025 from the city of Manassas Park.

I was honored to be there to celebrate on the football field with them. I am glad it didn't rain on us.

The graduates have faced the pressures of growing up in an ever- changing world, and they have done so with determination and heart. That says a great deal about who they are and even more about who they will become.

Many of the parents were so proud, and the teachers, as well. They had big smiles on their faces.

I look forward to seeing all that the graduates accomplish.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate, again, the Manassas Park High School's class of 2025. I believe in their potential, and I look forward to seeing what they will accomplish.

Inductees of the Loudoun Coalition on Women and Girls' Hall of Fame

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the seven newest inductees of the Loudoun Coalition on Women and Girls' Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame recognizes women whose leadership, advocacy, and achievements have contributed to a stronger and more prosperous community.

Here are the newest inductees:

Rae Mitchell, who devoted nearly three decades to improving education in Loudoun, Fairfax, and Newport News Public Schools;

Kim Tapper, who directed numerous music and dance performances while incorporating movement therapy to support mental health;

Crystal Lily-Wheeler, who dedicated countless hours to community service while also serving on the board of National Capital Treatment & Recovery;

Danielle Nadler, who focused on fostering academic success at Loudoun County Schools and staff through the Loudoun Education Foundation;

Breana Turner, who advocates for Black women's health and research solutions to health inequities;

Jennifer Montgomery, who led efforts to combat food insecurity and created a simplified system coordinating human services; and

Finally, Lisa Jones who amplified domestic violence survivors' voices, organized trainings, and connected survivors with resources and support. Lisa has done an amazing job.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate each and every one of the honorees and express my deep thanks to these women for enriching the lives of our community, including the next generation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate BAPS Charities and the BAPS Temple in Chantilly for hosting its annual walkathon at One Loudoun in Ashburn.

The walk, which I was proud to join, was a huge success and raised money for Mobile Hope which serves at-risk youth in Loudoun County. BAPS Charities is a global charity, active across the country and in nine other countries, and its efforts are volunteer-led.

BAPS Charities aims to express a spirit of selfless service through five key areas: health awareness, educational services, humanitarian relief, environmental protection and preservation, and community empowerment. Events and walks like the one this past week happen all over the country and make a huge difference.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate BAPS Charities on a great event and all of its great work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the Department of Homeland Security's termination of temporary protected status for Afghans. TPS has provided a lifeline to Afghans who supported U.S. national security efforts and risked their lives to support our missions.

We offered them protection here because when allies stand with us, we have a responsibility to stand with them. This principle is a national security imperative. It helps build trust and helps build more allies. That trust gets undermined when we turn our back on those who protected us.

Now, with the termination of TPS, we are sending our Army's allies back to the Taliban. These individuals and families were given just weeks to make an impossible choice: face deportation to return to Afghanistan under Taliban control where they will likely be suffering or even die.

Many of these families live in our community here in Virginia.

Take the story of a former captain in the Afghan National Army. He worked with the U.S. military, and his brother was shot by the Taliban. His entire family now fears for their lives. Abandoning Afghans now not only turns our back on those who risked their lives to protect us but puts our current and future global partnerships on the line.

We have an incredible Afghan-American community in Virginia, and we have to stand up for them and stand up for the Afghans who have come here and who served us there.

I urge the administration to reverse course.

Celebrating Rajdhani Mandir

Mr. Speaker, from celebrating holidays to hosting community events, the Rajdhani Mandir temple is a cornerstone of the Hindu community in our region.

This year, we will mark an important milestone of the temple's 25- year anniversary, years of bringing people together at events, festivals like Holi, Diwali, and Navratri, and for children's programming, too, including regular Sunday classes.

The temple also puts out programs for seniors and does incredible philanthropic work to provide food and resources to our community.

I am honored to celebrate this milestone with the temple this weekend. I congratulate the Rajdhani Mandir temple on a successful 25 years, and I am looking forward to the next 25 years of work.

Congratulating Stone Hill Middle School Students

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the students of Stone Hill Middle School, in Ashburn, Virginia: Avee, Neil, Vibhav, and Aarav; and their teacher, Pardeep, for placing third in the National Space Sustainability Competition.

This competition allows students to address the need for sustainable practices in space by developing an engineering solution, creating a business plan, and submitting a video pitch for consideration.

Their project, the Orbital Ecosystem Engineers, was pitched as an aerospace technology company to manage and remove space debris, which is a big problem right now. The technology used includes satellites, drones, and AI to find the best route to locate debris and the focus of the power of the Sun's rays to destroy the debris.

I am eager to see what our students continue to do with their company in the future, and I wish them the best of luck in tackling sustainability in space.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the more than 28,000 farms that engage in agritourism across the country, 1,500 of which are in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Agritourism, for those who don't know, is exactly what it sounds like. We are bringing tourists to farms or agricultural venues and offering experiences related to farming, rural life, and food.

From wineries like Stone Tower in Leesburg, farm breweries like Wheatland Spring in Waterford, you-picks like Great Country Farms in Bluemont, and llama and alpaca farms like Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch in Purcellville, agritourism offers growing opportunities for farms to diversify their revenues, connect with our communities, and become more resilient.

Agritourism isn't just a trend or fad. It is an economic imperative for many farmers.

In Virginia alone, agriculture is our number one industry, but the majority of farmers are not full-time farmers. They need ways to pay for taxes and maintenance of their land, and agritourism has helped families across Virginia do just that.

This isn't just happening in Virginia. Agritourism is now a billion- dollar industry across the country, and it keeps growing. It is revitalizing local, rural, and small-town workforces. The tourist dollars are also expanding hotels, restaurants, and businesses nearby.

These farms also offer unique educational and recreational opportunities for children and families and help connect the public to our food systems. That is what I love about agritourism. It is a win- win for everyone. Farmers get to share their work and support their farm, and visitors learn about where their food comes from, who grows the flowers they send on Mother's Day, and so much more.

This year, my family picked tulips from Burnside Farms in Nokesville. We ate strawberries at the Strawberry Festival this past weekend at Wegmeyer Farms in Lincoln. We visited Cox Farms for their delicious cider donuts.

For many farmers, there is a lot of uncertainty about Federal resources available to them and where they should go to ask questions about agritourism. Since agritourism is a form of nontraditional farming, the Federal Government simply hasn't done much to help the industry, which is why I am proud to work with Congressman Newhouse to introduce the bipartisan AGRITOURISM Act, which will ignite the industry and provide a one-stop shop of resources like grants, loans, and technical assistance for farmers who want to participate in agritourism.

These resources will attract private investment not only in agritourism but also support tourism and hospitality industries in rural areas, which will keep our farms and rural communities strong, resilient, and thriving.

I also plan to relaunch the bipartisan Agritourism Caucus with Congressman David Rouzer to highlight the progress of this industry and how we can continue to promote it. This was first championed by my predecessor, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to sign on to this bill and join the caucus when we relaunch it so that we can champion agritourism for farmers and rural communities across America.

Effects of Moody's Downgrade

Mr. Speaker, Moody's, a credit rating firm, downgraded America's credit rating this past weekend. What does this mean? It is like when your credit score goes down. It will make it more expensive for a country to borrow money, and the interest rate on our $36 trillion debt will go up.

How much do we spend on interest right now? In 2024, we paid $892 billion in interest payments. That is 13 percent of our budget. That is more money than we spent on law enforcement, education, science, and transportation combined.

Now, it is going to get worse because this one big, beautiful bill coming up is going to explode the deficit so we can give tax cuts to billionaires and the largest corporations while also slashing Medicaid, food assistance, and

other programs American families depend on.

There is no fiscal responsibility in this bill, and this bill will add $5 trillion to the Federal debt.

This credit downgrade should be a warning to reverse course. Instead, we seem to be heading straight for fiscal disaster, and we need to stand up to this.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize National Police Week, which was this past week. We celebrated it by supporting and honoring the brave law enforcement officers who serve our communities across the country and the great work that organizations do to support them.

That includes Federal law enforcement, like the U.S. Capitol Police, who keep the entire Capitol Hill complex safe, and law enforcement personnel in my community, including the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office, the Fairfax County Police Department and Sheriff's Office, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, the Prince William County Police Department, the Rappahannock County Sheriff's Office, the Manassas and Manassas Park Police Departments, and the Haymarket, Leesburg, Middleburg, Purcellville, and Warrenton Police Departments. In addition, there are the airport, Metro, university, and State law enforcement officers, who help protect our community.

It takes all of them to keep us safe. I thank all of those departments for all they do.

This is also a time to honor law enforcement that we have lost, officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

Earlier this year, the Commonwealth of Virginia mourned the loss of Officers Girvin and Reese. Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Every year, an average of 57 police officers are killed by suspects. Far too many--at least 184 public safety officers--die by suicide each year.

As we honor and remember the servicemembers we have lost, we must continue our commitment to support law enforcement officers and their families.

This month, I visited the Boulder Crest Foundation's headquarters in my district. They do critical work to support the post-traumatic growth of law enforcement officers, ensuring that those who protect us have access to help. I am proud to support Boulder Crest with a budget request to help them further develop their peer-led mental wellness training program tailored to support law enforcement officers.

As we recognize National Police Week, let's honor the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers. Together, let's continue the work of building a safer, stronger, and more prosperous community with them.

congratulating winners of 2025 leesburg business awards

Madam Speaker, I also rise to congratulate the winners of the 2025 Leesburg Business Awards. These businesses have gone above and beyond to serve and benefit our community.

The winner of the Arts and Cultural Award was BENEFIT, a nonprofit of musicians and community leaders who donate the proceeds of their events to local charities.

Pawsitivity Pet Services received the Community Ambassador Award for volunteering their time and resources to cultivate a positive image of Leesburg.

The George C. Marshall Award was given to the owners of Cowbell Kitchen for their dedication to community service and partnership with Love, KK to reduce food insecurity. The food there is great, as well.

Wonder Childhood Discovery received both the New Business Award as well as the People's Choice Award for promoting early childhood development. My kids are big fans of them, as well.

Finally, the Nonprofit Award went to the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties for their grants and partnerships that help improve the quality of life in our community. We were actually honored to visit them both this past year as well as the year before.

I congratulate the Leesburg Business Award nominees and winners. I thank them for all they do for our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Willing Warriors and the upcoming 10-year anniversary of the Warrior Retreat.

Willing Warriors is an organization in Haymarket, Virginia, that supports wounded, ill, and injured servicemembers. They provide cost- free, nonmedical respite stays in a supportive environment.

Since opening in 2015, they have hosted over 2,800 Warriors and family members, where they can escape hospital settings to relax, rejuvenate, and reconnect with their families and support networks.

Through vital partnerships with Walter Reed, Fort Belvoir, and countless community organizations, their impact stretches far beyond the retreat's 37 peaceful acres.

Their newest addition, the PenFed Grand Lodge, offers group stays, resiliency training, and PTSD counseling.

I commend the Willing Warriors for their dedication to those who have sacrificed for our Nation. Congratulations on 10 years of the Warrior Retreat.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the ANCHOR Act. The U.S. Academic Research Fleet, the ARF, is made up of an impressive array of marine research assets and even more impressive than this fleet is the invaluable research that it conducts.

This diverse fleet is managed and operated by a diverse group that includes the NSF, the Office of Naval Research, Federal research laboratories, and U.S. universities.

These fleets have unique cyberinfrastructure and networking challenges and vulnerabilities. This bill would require assessment of equipment and personnel costs and time requirements needed to upgrade the fleet and develop a proposal for funding these upgrades.

The House already passed this bill by a voice vote last Congress, and I hope it will do so again. This technological struggle has been a real detriment and had a real impact on these fleets.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsor of this bill as well as Ms. Stevens, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter dated January 30, 2024, titled: ``Institutional Support for U.S. Academic Research Fleet Cyber Infrastructure.''

January 30, 2024.

Institutional Support for U.S. Academic Research Fleet Cyber

Infrastructure

The U.S. Academic Research Fleet (ARF) is critical in the

exploration and understanding of our planet. The ARF consists

of 17 oceangoing research vessels that serve multiple federal

agencies, coordinated under

the auspices of the University-National Oceanographic

Laboratory System (UNOLS). These ships are fundamentally

important to America's global research objectives, and

conduct federally-sponsored basic research addressing urgent

societal issues involving human health and safety, offshore

energy and resources, national security, ocean hazards,

biological and physical ocean processes, and all scientific

endeavors requiring observations at sea.

As directors, deans, and presidents of academic

institutions with students, faculty, and staff that use ARF

oceanographic research vessels we urge Congress to ensure the

ARF has ongoing support to enable satellite communications,

shoreside and shipboard digital infrastructure, and technical

support for the safe, secure, and effective operation of our

research vessels.

As globally-ranging laboratories that operate in the most

remote areas of the world, research vessels face unique

challenges in providing capable networking and require

specialized infrastructure. Scientists and their sensors must

communicate in real-time with others on board, as well as

with scientists, services and devices in the cloud or on

shoreside networks. 21st century oceanographic science and

vessel operations require mission-critical

cyberinfrastructure to meet operational objectives and enable

scientific innovation in seagoing research.

Additionally, as U.S. strategic assets increasingly become

targets for cyberattacks (including the ARF), robust cyber-

infrastructure is critical. The sensitive research conducted

on these ships ensures the nation remains a world leader in

innovation and national security, and foreign competitors,

such as China, are seeking opportunities to acquire it via

offensive cyber operations.

Our analysis indicates that ARF funding must be increased

$53M annually (roughly 50% over existing levels) to support

capabilities required for robust, performant and secure

networking. Our assessment is rooted in findings by the JASON

advisory group study (2021), which was commissioned by NSF to

evaluate and make recommendations regarding the ability of

NSF's major facilities to provide high-quality data to the

research community while mitigating cybersecurity threats.

The ARF is unique among large facilities because of its

geographical diversity, mobility, global reach, and

distributed administration. These factors all contribute to

the scope of resources required to meet research needs.

Sincerely,

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences

College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences/Oregon

State University

College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences/University of

Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University

Large Lakes Observatory, University of Minnesota Duluth

Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium

Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth

Science/University of Miami

School of Ocean, Earth, Science and Technology/University

of Hawai'i

Scripps Institution of Oceanography/UC San Diego

University of Rhode Island--Graduate School of Oceanography

University of Washington--School of Oceanography

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Mr. Fong and Ms. Stevens for their leadership on this bill. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1223, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Clean Energy Demonstration Transparency Act, as well.

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, as mentioned, established a first-of-its-kind Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, and this new office was tasked with coordinating the Department of Energy's large-scale clean energy technology development. This office is now managing more than $25 billion in funding to help scale emerging energy technologies that will help us tackle our most pressing climate challenges and achieve net-zero emissions as quickly as possible.

Last October, one of the initiatives supported by the office awarded $1.1 million to a Virginia company, Roanoke Cement Company. They are working on a project for the use of clays to minimize the use of carbon-intensive components in cement production. This project has the potential to decrease carbon intensity of cement production by around 83 percent. Cement production is responsible for 2 percent of energy- related CO2 emissions in the United States, so an 83 percent reduction in cement carbon intensity is very valuable.

This bipartisan bill authorizes simple and streamlined reporting requirements on the activities of the office, and it is a great transparency bill.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Carey) as well as the gentleman from New York (Mr. Riley) for their work on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1453, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of Nihaal Grandhi, a brother, son, and student from Loudon County who tragically passed away in an accident over the weekend.

At just 19 years old, Nihaal was a proud graduate of Rock Ridge High School and a freshman at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. He was known for his joyful smile and ability to inspire a sense of community wherever he went.

As a volleyball team captain and a STEM competition coach, Nihaal was always attuned to the needs of those he led. Whether mentoring a teammate

through a difficult challenge or calmly navigating high-stakes competitions, he knew when to guide or be a reassuring presence.

Above all, he was a man of deep principles and kindness.

Mr. Speaker, I and so many in my community are sending prayers to his family and friends and all who had the privilege to know him.

May he rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Stevens and all the Members here today who stand up for science and innovation.

This is a matter of profound significance for many Americans. It is a matter of life or death, whether they realize it or not.

It is the responsibility of this body to be stewards of our country's future and leave this country better than how we found it. That means recognizing the pivotal role of science and innovation for the people, as well as the funding, and how it plays a role in making our country great now and in the future.

Standing up for science is more important than ever right now because the reality is this administration has declared a war on science with DOGE, funding cuts, firing contractors, firing scientists and innovators, and trying to chase others out.

For decades, America has been a leader in science and innovation, but this leadership is not our country's birthright. It has been earned over the years through an unwavering commitment to science and innovation.

Make no mistake, our adversaries are watching closely the work we are doing and everything that is happening right now. They want to undermine and replace our leadership in science and innovation. We are at risk of being outrun on AI, quantum, and so many other critical technologies and innovations.

Instead of helping us maintain our global leadership, this administration is slashing funding to our science agencies and firing Federal scientists. The President is proposing a $4.9 billion cut to the National Science Foundation. That is on top of over $1 billion in grant funding that this administration has already terminated. At least $100 million in grant funding was cut from universities just in my State of Virginia alone.

Investments in science and innovation have fueled our economy and started entire industries, given us healthcare breakthroughs, fortified our national defense, and reinforced our leadership in the world.

Make no mistake, these firings and cuts to science and innovation will hurt every single American. They will make us less safe, less healthy, and less prosperous.

I have the honor of representing in northern Virginia one of the most scientifically advanced communities in the country and many of the folks who have been cut, fired, or have seen their funding subject to these cuts. They have seen harassment, intimidation, and firings. They are losing the ability to help Americans stay safe and healthy.

What is happening is that there is a brain drain of science and technology innovators in our country because of these cuts. One of my constituents is a graduate student in astrophysics. She

is pretty smart. Their research funding is at risk of being cut right now. Folks like her are wondering whether they should stay in the science field.

These cuts are destroying our Nation's pipeline of scientists, technologists, and innovators.

A teacher from my district has been dismayed that the President plans to cut the NASA budget by 24 percent. This will end educational programs that get students excited about the sciences. Do we want to go to Mars? Who is going to take us there? It is going to need the ingenuity and expertise of the American people.

The cuts are not just limited to NASA and the National Science Foundation. They are cutting healthcare research, as well.

A woman in my district said her son has a disease for which NIH was researching a cure. Mr. Speaker, with recent cuts, you can kiss that cure good-bye right now or any hope of her son getting that cure.

Right now, there are so many cuts that we are not solving the problems in healthcare that we need to, to keep our country healthy.

For another woman, her son had congenital blindness, and NIH was searching for a cure for that. That funding is on the chopping block, as well, and also the people who are doing that research.

Another biomedical researcher in the district said it perfectly when he said that the NIH, FDA, CDC, and NSF are making discoveries now that will be the foundation for solutions needed in the years and decades ahead.

We won't even know what we missed with some of these cuts. We won't know what innovations we could have made but for these cuts.

I want to end by saying that I am pretty sure these firings and cuts to science and research aren't about waste, fraud, and abuse or government efficiency. If they were and if this administration actually cared about efficiency, they would know that funding to science, technology, and innovation doubles or triples the investment back in economic activity, not to mention all the lives that research saves and all the people who are kept healthy and safe by this research.

This does not have to be partisan. This does not have to be controversial in any way. Mr. Speaker, I call on all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand up for science, research, and innovation because standing up for science means standing up for the health, safety, and prosperity of every American.

Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Stevens for yielding, and I will keep it very short.

A study a few weeks ago said that a 25 percent reduction in public support of science and research would correlate to a 3.8 percent drop in economic output. That is the same as the Great Recession. That is how bad it would be.

Protecting science funding is not just about labs or some agencies. It is about preserving hope for families across the country. These cuts are bad for our economy, small businesses, parents, children, teachers, patients, you name it. Our country cannot afford these massive cuts to science and innovation.

We must reject these cuts and stand up for the health, safety, and prosperity of every American.

Mr. Speaker, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and there are so many groups in Virginia that do incredible work for our community in this space.

One I want to recognize today is Loudoun Serenity House which champions affordable, peer-based services for people living with mental health conditions or who are on the road to recovery from substance abuse.

Serenity House started as a shared dream of two sisters, Melissa and Rachel Hinton, and they established their first recovery house in October of 2020. It has since expanded to serve so many people in our community.

This past weekend, I had the honor of joining them for their annual 5K race. I didn't run, but I did shoot the starting gun. Most importantly, we raised a lot of money, and it was a beautiful day.

We must remember that nearly one in four American adults live with mental health conditions, yet the majority do not receive the care they need. Peer-based programs have been really successful. They are a very affordable way of getting that care.

Happy Mental Health Awareness Month to everyone, and I am grateful for groups like Loudoun Serenity House.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the month of May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Virginia is home to a dynamic and growing AANHPI community, a community that across the country and in Virginia contributes in every field, including business, education, science, technology, and, of course, government.

Many leaders in our community emigrated from Asian countries in pursuit of the American Dream, like my family. Their stories and success are a testament to the founding ideals of our country.

Mr. Speaker, I wish a happy AANHPI Month to everyone.

Mr. Speaker, I also rise today to recognize the month of May as National Cancer Research Month.

Every day, 5,000 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer. More than 1,600 will die from it every day.

Now more than ever, we must support our dedicated scientists and doctors across the country who work to treat and care for patients.

I urge everyone to support robust funding for medical research for cancer so we can find a cure and stop the cuts to cancer research.

Mr. Speaker, I wish a happy National Cancer Research Month to everyone.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the grand opening of the Tree of Life's new Ashburn location.

This nonprofit provides critical services to our community, including weekly meals and grocery deliveries; ESOL classes and job search assistance; free clothing and transitional housing support; and free health education, vaccine clinics, and activities for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Their opening, which I believe was this morning, is a combined Ashburn location, which was once the Sterling and Leesburg locations. It will now be centralized in Ashburn, which means the services will be easier to access. It will also be closer to my house, which is great.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate and thank the Tree of Life and nonprofits across our region for the critical work that they do to serve those in need.