Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today still in shock and saddened at the political assassination of Charlie Kirk. There is no place for political violence in our country, and it is antithetical to who we are as Americans.

The beauty of our Nation and the First Amendment is that anyone from anywhere has the right to express their beliefs, engage in dialogue, and disagree peacefully. That is the heart of our democracy. We need to get back to embracing that dialogue.

Charlie often said that when we stop talking, that is when violence happens. I don't want to live in a society where we don't talk to people we disagree with and resort to violence. Leadership is never easy, but it falls on us to lead the way by carrying on the mission that Charlie lived for of open debate in a free society in the greatest nation that the world has ever known.

When al-Qaida terrorists attacked our Nation 24 years ago, they had one goal--to destroy America. They didn't see us as Democrats or Republicans, red States or blue States. They just saw Americans, one nation under God, and their goal was to destroy us. When we lose sight of seeing the humanity in our fellow Americans who think differently than us and convince ourselves they are the enemy instead of our neighbor, we are feeding into the very thing our adversaries want, and destroy our great country from within. We are better than this.

America is the greatest country in the world. All 340 million of us have different perspectives, values, and beliefs. I can't count how many issues I disagree with my colleagues across the aisle on, yet we know we can disagree without turning to violence. Charlie Kirk was an example of this. He did things the right way, having healthy debates with people who saw differently than him and sparking a movement that transformed an entire generation. Charlie believed in the promise of America, and his life's work

was making sure we lived up to that promise.

Audrey and I continue to pray for Charlie's wife, Erika, who has two beautiful young children, and his family, friends, and supporters. Last week, President Trump invited the Nation to commit to praying for the country for 1 hour a week ahead of our 250th birthday. I would encourage us to accept that challenge. It is hard to hate someone when you pray with them and for them regularly.

One of the greatest blessings of this job is that I get to know and spend time with Kansans all across the Big First District, and because of that, I know that we are better than this. America is still the greatest country in the world, and I am hopeful that we will all take the opportunity to follow Charlie's example by engaging on the issues with our neighbors and living up to the promise of our great country.

Return to Regular Order

Mr. Speaker, today our national debt stands at $37 trillion. For years, elected officials from both sides of the aisle have come to Washington ringing the alarm on our national debt, and rightly so. The only problem is, often they get to the Nation's Capital, and there is little to no appetite to make hard decisions to get our spending in check.

At the start of President Trump's historic second term earlier this year, he did the unthinkable. He paused Federal spending, went line by line through the Federal budget, and seriously evaluated how we are spending our tax dollars. For some people in this town, it was heartburn. However, Mr. Speaker, Kansans in the Big First District welcomed this fiscal sanity.

The reality is, our national debt is unsustainable. If every single household was to contribute and bring our debt to zero, we would each be responsible for $289,000. Consider that the average mortgage in America is about $245,000. No one in this body would allow a loved one to make continuously poor financial decisions like this. Why do we do it with our government?

House Republicans have been clear that we would like to return to regular order, pass 12 individual appropriations bills, and get our spending under control. Despite this reality, the consensus among too many in Washington is that they would rather see President Trump fail than work together to fund the government responsibly. It is frustrating, and rather than coming to the table to work together, they prefer to grandstand to try to score some political points.

We are better than this, Mr. Speaker. I urge my Democratic colleagues to come to the table, return to regular order, and let's get our fiscal house back in order.

Mr. Speaker, this week, thousands of Kansans across our State will travel to the Big First District to partake in the annual tradition of the Kansas State Fair.

I had the privilege to travel to Hutchinson this weekend for the fair. My wife, Audrey, and the kids will be there tomorrow, and there is truly nothing like it.

Typically, Congress is not in session during the first week of the fair, and I am able to spend a few more days there with my fellow Kansans. While I am saddened that I couldn't stay longer this year, I want to take a moment on the House floor to recognize the significance of this tradition and the people who make it possible.

The Kansas State Fair is one of the crown jewels of our State. For more than a century, families have made the trip to Hutchinson every September to celebrate agriculture, spend time together, and showcase the very best of our State. It is a place where urban and rural Kansans alike come together, where grandparents bring their grandchildren to see livestock shows, enjoy funnel cakes and candy apples, ride the Ferris wheel, and come together to honor agriculture as the backbone of our economy and culture. The State Fair is truly a reflection of who we are as Kansans.

In Kansas, agriculture is more than an occupation. It is a calling, a calling that is the heartbeat of the Big First District. The fair celebrates that and honors the men and women who devote their lives to feeding, fueling, and clothing the world.

From livestock shows to crop displays, the fair is a reminder of the faith, work ethic, and service that define our communities. It is also a place where we invest in the next generation by highlighting the accomplishments of FFA and 4-H students who will carry our agricultural tradition forward and emerge as future leaders of agriculture in our great State.

On Saturday, I had the privilege of announcing the annual legislative showmanship competition alongside Mary McCurry, the chairwoman of the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation board. This event is unlike anything else in the country. It gives lawmakers the opportunity to learn directly from Kansas FFA and 4-H students about how to show livestock and, more importantly, about the commitment and dedication it takes to care for those animals. These young people are the future leaders of agriculture, and I was inspired by their passion and knowledge.

I would also like to acknowledge Mary Kane with Kansas FFA and Ann Sankey with the Kansas State Fair Foundation board for putting on a great event again this year.

I congratulate this year's winners, and I am grateful for everyone who made the event possible.

I also had the opportunity to hear from our State's farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers and our industry leaders on Saturday morning. We reflected on how Congress delivered big wins for Kansas agriculture this summer through the working families tax cuts, but we still have more work to do.

Kansas farmers and ranchers still need a fiscally conservative 5-year farm bill that addresses the needs of today, not just those of 2018. My House Agriculture Committee colleagues and I are working hard to deliver a farm bill 2.0 to further support the men and women who show up every single day with the determination to feed, fuel, and clothe the world.

Mr. Speaker, the Kansas State Fair is about more than rides, exhibits, and shows. It is about honoring the Kansas families and traditions that make agriculture strong and investing in the next generation to maintain that leadership tomorrow. Kansans are proud of this tradition, and I am proud to represent Hutchinson and the Big First District, home of the Kansas State Fair, here in the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, over the August in-district work period, I had the privilege of meeting with Kansans all across our district, from Salina to Great Bend, Hutch to WaKeeney, Hoxie to Jetmore, Hays to Hill City.

It is the honor of my life to represent the Big First District of Kansas in Congress, and I was grateful to spend time with Kansans while I was able to be home. For the fifth year in a row, I visited all 60 counties in the Big First District, and I had the chance to hear about the impacts the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will make on our families and communities.

As I visited companies and families across the Big First District, stop after stop, my fellow Kansans expressed their appreciation for the wins the bill delivered for Kansas families. They are relieved that we were able to prevent the largest tax hike in American history for working- and middle-class families. They are grateful to have a Congress and White House that embrace pro-family policies and our commitments to doubling the child tax credit and expanding 529 education savings accounts. These are commonsense policies that promote and strengthen families across the Nation, and they are yet another promise made and promise kept.

Small business owners and family farms shared how monumental our legislation is for their families. We were able to make the 199A small- business deduction permanent, allowing agricultural and small business families to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. Farm families were relieved that they no longer have to fear being forced to sell land when they lose a loved one. By expanding the death tax exemption, we brought the tax code in line with today's farm economy and allowed more farm families to keep their operations in the family. This is life- changing for millions of families across the country and throughout the Big First District.

Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers were also grateful that our legislation restored a decades-old standard that exempts the value of assets found on family farms and small businesses from being assessed as part of a family's net worth.

Over the past few years, net farm income has decreased by nearly 25 percent. When young people from these families are applying for higher education financial aid, the assets tied up in the family farm or the small business should not count against them.

Our bill makes their lives easier, not harder, by leveling the playing field for these students and families while protecting the American Dream for every student, regardless of their parents' careers.

Our farmers were also deeply grateful for the commonsense provisions that ensure our tax incentives benefit American-grown products and American farmers, not foreign producers. By extending the 45Z tax credit and limiting eligibility to domestic feedstocks, this majority delivered long-term certainty for American agriculture.

Kansas farmers started the year needing a new farm bill that meets the needs of today and not 6 years ago. Last year, Congressional Democrats held farm country hostage and chose to play political games rather than work with congressional Republicans to pass a new 5-year farm bill.

In the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, our Republican majority answered rural America's call by updating reference prices, doubling investments into crucial trade promotion programs like MAP and FMD, and expanding crop insurance. These are all commonsense policies that allow our farmers to feed, fuel, and clothe the world without the fear of losing everything because of a bad crop year. This legislation was life- changing for the agricultural families in my district.

Mr. Speaker, our work is cut out for us in the weeks ahead. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has shown what this majority can do for the country, and we ought to build on that momentum by passing policies that promote safety in American communities, continue to strengthen American agriculture, and steward American taxpayer dollars responsibly while cutting wasteful spending. I look forward to working with this majority to deliver on these promises. I am excited to see all that we can do in the next 4 months.

Madam Speaker, America's borders are the safest they have been in decades. Simply put, President Trump is the border security President, and no narrative from the national media or leftwing talking heads can change that.

Border security was the number one issue on the campaign trail and is one of the main reasons that 77 million Americans elected him as President--promises made, promises kept.

It is hard to believe that, in just 6 short months, President Trump has reversed 4 years of disastrous open-border failures from the previous administration. For 4 years, President Biden and Vice President Harris told the country over and over again that they simply did not have the authority or the ability to secure the border. The reality is that this could not have been further from the truth.

President Trump has shown that the only thing we needed all along was a President who was not afraid to actually enforce the law.

The facts speak for themselves. During the month of June, U.S. Customs and Border Protection saw the lowest number of encounters ever on our borders nationwide. Apprehensions along the border reached a new historic low on June 28, when CBP had the lowest number of apprehensions in a single day in agency history.

Under the previous administration, 27,766 illegal migrants were paroled and released into the country in June alone. Madam Speaker, 1 year later, zero migrants were paroled into the country--again, promises made, promises kept.

This leadership is exactly what Americans voted for this past November, and House Republicans are united in equipping the President to continue securing our borders for good.

In our One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we gave our law enforcement agencies the tools and resources they need to help secure the border. We allocated more than $46 billion to finish President Trump's border wall and ensure that our borders have a physical barrier to keep bad actors out. We invested in the CBP workforce, equipping the agency to hire more personnel to keep our borders secure and enforce the law.

House Republicans invested in state-of-the-art border technology to stop the trafficking of drugs and humans across our border and to finally bring

the fentanyl crisis to an end. This deadly drug has taken the lives of thousands of innocent Americans and made every State a border State--no more.

America remains the land of opportunity that attracts millions of individuals around the world each year. A few months ago, I had the privilege of speaking at a naturalization ceremony for brand-new American citizens who took their oath to the United States and officially became fellow citizens. I was inspired by each of their journeys in becoming Americans and couldn't help but feel blessed to have been born in a land that so many people seek to call their home. At the same time, my heart felt for them.

Of the 168 people who became Americans that day, some of them underwent a multiyear-long process to come here legally. Instead of rewarding their efforts, they watched for 4 years as a President and an administration that were asleep at the wheel allowed our immigration laws to be abused and taken advantage of month after month as millions jumped the line by coming here illegally. I am so glad that America overwhelmingly rejected that nonsense.

Today, our country is more secure and safe than it has been in nearly half a decade. It turns out that common sense works after all, and I am grateful for an administration that chooses common sense over caving to radical, far-left activists.

I thank President Trump for upholding his commitment to making America safe again and securing our border--promises made, promises kept.

Mr. Speaker, in honor of the Nation's 249th birthday, House Republicans delivered the largest tax cut in our Nation's history for middle- and working-class families, strengthened the farm safety net, and voted to get our country back on track.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act gave a lifeline to the agricultural community by updating reference prices, expanding crop insurance, and saving millions of family farms from the death tax. The relief was long overdue. We are grateful, but the work doesn't stop there.

It is past time for Congress to pass a fiscally conservative 5-year farm bill, including support for agricultural research and development. We have seen the devastating impact disease outbreaks can have with the HPAI virus, and now we must continue to take steps to prevent the New World screwworm from reaching our borders.

The Big First District is home to crown jewels of the animal health corridor, where world-renowned research happens, positioning the United States to focus on disease prevention rather than outbreak control after the fact.

By investing in agricultural research, we strengthen our food supply chain and, in turn, our national security, all while providing the best and most effective return on taxpayer dollars.

We cannot afford to put our food security at risk by not prioritizing adequate investments in animal health research when we pass the next iteration of the farm bill. I urge this body to get this right.

Mr. Speaker, thanks to the leadership of President Trump, America and the world are safer today than we were a week ago. Iran, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, is no longer on the verge of obtaining a nuclear weapon. They have agreed to a ceasefire with Israel. President Trump is fulfilling his campaign promise of promises made, promises kept to make America safe again.

America wants peace through strength, and that is what President Trump is committed to. For far too long, administrations in Washington, D.C., have created red lines that were crossed without consequence, agreed to deals with Iran that the regime disregarded, and concerned themselves more with appeasement than with protecting American interests.

President Trump took a different approach. For months, President Trump has urged Iran to make a deal. He has been clear. There is no world where Iran, whose leadership chants ``Death to Israel, death to America'' will be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon ever. This is not up for debate.

President Trump is restoring America's leadership on the world stage and fighting tirelessly to keep Americans safe, both at home and abroad. This past week, President Trump showed that he is not willing to let America be strung along or taken advantage of.

After Iran refused to accept a deal and continued to wreak havoc in the region through its proxy organizations, President Trump carried out targeted, strategic strikes to prevent the pending threat of Iran's nuclear enrichment program.

He was also clear: Attacks on U.S. Forces will not be tolerated, and there will be grave consequences for such action. This is what leadership looks like, and I applaud President Trump for putting America first.

Audrey and I are grateful that our brave servicemen and -women were not harmed in the strikes, and I continue to pray for the safety of our troops and Americans in the region. The world is safer today because of President Trump, and we pray that the Lord would continue to give him wisdom and discernment as he leads our Nation and continues to work on bringing down tensions in the Middle East.

God bless President Trump, God bless our troops, and God bless our great country.

One Big, Beautiful Bill's Economic Relief

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the work our Republican majorities are putting in to deliver American families the largest tax cut in American history. This process hasn't been easy by any means, but it is worth every single debate we are having to get it over the finish line. If we fail to get this bill passed and on President Trump's desk, then middle- and working-class families will be the ones who pay the price.

Some of my Democrat colleagues continue to lie about what our bill does. Mr. Speaker, the truth is that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act eliminates taxes on tips and on overtime pay. It lowers taxes on Social Security benefits and expands the child tax credit for working-class families.

Our bill helps keep American family farms afloat by eliminating the death tax for most, saving 2 million family farms. The family farmers and ranchers in my district are hardworking men and women who are up and moving by sunrise and working well past sundown, ensuring they can feed, clothe, and fuel the world. Their pride doesn't come from large bank accounts, it comes from answering a call that requires hard labor and lots of sacrifices to feed their neighbors. It isn't glamorous, but it is essential, and they need commonsense policies like the ones in the one big, beautiful bill to ensure their businesses can stay afloat and that their families won't lose their inheritance because Uncle Sam is trying to bankrupt them.

If Congress fails to get this bill across the finish line, the average Kansas family will see a tax hike of $2,200 this January. I understand for some it may not seem like a lot of money, but for the men and women across the Big First District, $2,200 makes a big difference. It is no secret to anyone who serves in this Chamber that over the last few years the country navigated record levels of inflation brought on by excessive Federal government spending. As input and everyday costs skyrocketed across the country, working-and middle- class families were the ones who bore the brunt. They are long overdue for some relief, and the one big, beautiful bill gives them the relief that they so desperately need.

In a few short weeks, this body will have a chance to show what we stand for. For most of my Democrat colleagues, I know they don't want to give President Trump a win, but surely they can work with him on behalf of working-class families. They are either for the largest tax cuts for middle- and working-class families in American history or they are against them.

Whose side will they be on?

Mr. Speaker, after decades of pledging Never Again, we are watching the vile presence of anti-Semitism rear its ugly head once again.

First, the unthinkable happened 2 weeks ago here in the streets of the Nation's Capital when two staffers from the Israeli Embassy, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were brutally murdered. Sarah was one of our own: a Kansan, a native of Overland Park, and a proud graduate of the University of Kansas who cared deeply about the shared human dignity of all people.

Then, just days ago, at a peaceful pro-Israel demonstration in Colorado, a Hamas sympathizer threw Molotov cocktails into a crowd and injured more than a dozen people while yelling: ``Free Palestine.''

Audrey and I are deeply grieved by these senseless anti-Semitic terror attacks, and we continue to lift up the victims, their families, and their loved ones in prayer.

Now is not the time to waver in our commitment to Israel or the protection of the humanity of our Jewish neighbors here and around the world. Now is the time to rededicate ourselves to the God-given right to live in peace and safety of Jewish people both in Israel and across the globe. We must condemn terrorism. We must condemn anti-Semitism, and we must call it out for what it is: pure evil.

Our support of Israel must never ever waver, and our response to anti-Semitism must always be clear and immediate.

America Wins Again

Mr. Speaker, over the Memorial Day recess, Rasmussen found that a majority of Americans say that the country is on the right track. Under President Trump, America keeps winning again and again. Promises made, promises kept.

Mr. Speaker, 77 million Americans trusted President Trump to restore common sense to our Nation's Capital by bringing down everyday costs, reining in our Federal spending, lowering taxes, rolling back burdensome regulations, strengthening our Nation's border security, and getting our fiscal house back in order. President Trump has already begun delivering on that mandate, and Congress is helping him to advance this agenda.

Just a few days ago here in this Chamber, House Republicans voted to deliver the largest tax cut in American history. We made long-overdue investments in our Nation's border security by funding the completion of the border wall, investing in modern technologies to assist in the interception of drug and human smuggling, and increased detention capacity for Immigration and Customs Enforcement as they work to deport violent criminals and gang members who are in this country illegally.

Our bill supports American farmers, ranchers, and ag producers like those in the Big First District of Kansas who want to see the farm safety net strengthened by expanding crop insurance and updating reference prices.

We permanently expanded the death tax exemption, saving 2 million family farms and saving those families more than $10 billion.

We supported President Trump and Secretary Duffy's request to make much-needed investments in the Federal Aviation Administration to modernize our air traffic control technology and infrastructure and uphold the gold standard of American aviation.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act strengthens our social safety net while better stewarding the tax dollars of hardworking Americans.

Americans are generous people, but we cannot allow the government to abuse that generosity. Programs like Medicaid and SNAP were intended for the most vulnerable populations in our country: pregnant women, single parents with kids too young for school, low-income Americans, disabled individuals, and the elderly.

Over the years, these programs have been exploited and expanded beyond their initial intent, causing the cost of these programs to skyrocket exponentially. If taxpaying Americans can get up every day and go to work, why shouldn't we ask the same thing of those who benefit from that generosity.

Our bill requires able-bodied adults without kids too young for school to work or volunteer at least 20 hours a week. This includes volunteering at a food pantry, a local church, or giving back to their community.

It is disheartening that so many of my Democratic colleagues would prefer to lie about what our bill does and limit Americans to a permanent destination of government assistance rather than empowering them to return to the ladder of opportunity. This is not the American Dream.

I am hopeful that the Senate will move quickly to get it over the finish line and onto the President's desk. The country cannot afford to get this bill wrong, and I trust that every single Republican is committed to getting it to the President as soon as possible and helping America win yet again.

Mr. Speaker, this past November, the country voted overwhelmingly to send Republican majorities to the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and put President Donald Trump back in the White House. That mandate made it clear that the American people were ready to get the country back on track. We wanted less government spending, more secure borders, and we wanted to see the 2017 tax cuts made permanent to prevent tax hikes on every American. The majority cannot take that mandate for granted, and this week we have the opportunity to give the country what they voted for.

Our one big, beautiful bill is exactly what voters want. It delivers the largest tax cut for middle- and working-class families in decades. It cuts taxes on tips and overtime, allowing American workers to keep more of their hard-earned money. It increases the child tax credit, which helps offset some of the costs of raising a family. It extends and expands the 199A business tax deduction, which will help incentivize investment across the country and spur economic growth. Our bill is the most proworker, profamily legislation Congress has seen in a generation.

The one big, beautiful bill will secure the border once and for all and make America safe again. The border was the number one issue on the campaign trail, and President Trump and his administration have made historic efforts to remove bad actors here illegally and make our country safe again. Illegal

border crossings have plummeted, but Congress needs to act to ensure the proven policies of President Trump are codified and continued for generations to come. Our bill makes historic investments in our border security by ensuring we can finish the border wall, stop the trafficking of fentanyl, and give our Border Patrol agents the resources that they need.

Our bill invests in our national security by ensuring our defense systems are prepared to handle 21st century threats. It invests in cutting-edge technology that our warfighters and our military needs for its readiness. This package invests in modernizing our Nation's air traffic control systems and cuts wasteful spending in the Green New Deal pet projects that only benefit far-left activists, all while strengthening the safety net for those who are the most vulnerable Americans and our Nation's agriculture community at the same time. It cuts wasteful, fraudulent, and abusive spending and gets able-bodied adults back on the ladder of opportunity while giving them a fair shot at the American Dream.

I am pleased with all we have been able to accomplish in this one big, beautiful bill, and now it is time to get it over the finish line. It is frustrating that some of my Democratic colleagues hate President Trump so much that they refuse to work with him even when it means securing a more prosperous future for America. Instead, they have chosen to lie again.

The lie that they tell us is that by making tax cuts permanent, Congress is taking money from working-class and low-income families to give tax cuts to the rich. The facts show that this is the farthest thing from the truth. President Biden's own Treasury Department reported that the average person would see a 2.2 percent tax cut if the Trump tax cuts were extended. According to the Tax Foundation, the bottom 50 percent of earners in the country saw their average Federal tax rate fall by 15 percent when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act took effect. On the other hand, the top 1 percent of earners only saw a decrease of about 5 percent during that same period. Some of my colleagues across the aisle may want to force a tax hike on the vast majority of American families next January, but, please, let's just be honest about it.

Some of my Democrat colleagues have been clear that they are anti- Trump. I would like to ask, then what are they for? The truth is they are here to fight for future tax hikes, foreign energy reliance, wasteful spending, government dependence, and a future of America last.

On the other hand, Kansans from the Big First sent me here to fight for working families, tax cuts, energy dominance, the military, American agriculture, and the American Dream, a future of America first. That is what I am focused on doing, along with President Trump, and that is what the one big, beautiful bill is all about.

I am looking forward to supporting our bill when it comes to the floor for a full vote and delivering on the mandate the country gave us on November 5, 2024. We can't afford to miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the House Agriculture Committee marked up our portion of the one big, beautiful bill to deliver on the mandate the country gave us on November 5, 2024. In total, we saved American taxpayers more than $295 billion and made long overdue investments to support the farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers of the Big First and all of rural America. I am very proud of all that we were able to accomplish.

However, Mr. Speaker, I have been gravely disappointed in how some of my Democrat colleagues have continued to blatantly lie about our legislation throughout this process. Rather than work together to get our fiscal house back in order and ensure programs like Medicaid and SNAP are on a sustainable path, they have chosen to misrepresent and oppose everything we are working toward.

As the fifth generation to grow up and work on my family farm, I understand the weight and pride our Nation's farmers have in feeding, clothing, and fueling the world. Not a single Member in this body wants to see people go hungry, and I am personally offended by these lies.

We want families to be able to put food on their tables. The difference is, Mr. Speaker, we want these programs to actually serve the most vulnerable communities for generations to come: the single mom taking care of kids too young to be in school, the disabled, and the elderly, not the person who wants the government to foot their bill while they sit at home.

Why would we willingly jeopardize the benefits of vulnerable Americans for someone who is perfectly capable of making an honest income but isn't willing to join the workforce?

These programs were meant to be a bridge to a better life. They were intended to help Americans who fell on hard times and needed a helping hand, but today my Democrat colleagues are defending them as a final destination. That is not right, Mr. Speaker, and it is anti-American.

Even former President Biden once said: The culture of welfare must be replaced with the culture of work. The culture of dependence must be replaced with the culture of self-sufficiency and personal responsibility. The culture of permanence must no longer be a way of life.

This used to be a bipartisan agreement we could all rally around.

I sincerely ask my Democrat colleagues: What has changed?

We live in the greatest country in the world, where anyone from anywhere can come here legally, make an honest living, and pursue the American Dream. That is what House Republicans are fighting for.

It is unfortunate that the other side would rather see programs that were meant to help the neediest Americans continue to be riddled with fraud and abuse, intentionally mismanaged, and undermined all for the sake of scoring political points.

House Republicans are committed to ensuring our programs help the most vulnerable Americans, slashing wasteful, fraudulent, and abusive spending, and preventing American families from seeing a $2,200 tax increase next January. That is what this is all about, and that is what 77 million Americans endorsed last November.

I am disappointed that not a single Democrat has been willing to work with us, but I feel confident that this majority, along with the Senate and President Trump, will deliver for the country.

National Police Week

Mr. Speaker, this week, the Nation has come together to celebrate National Police Week. It is a time to honor the brave men and women who wear the badge and put their lives on the line every single day to protect our families and our communities.

In the Big First and across the country, law enforcement officers run towards danger when many would run away. They wake up every day with a calling to uphold the rule of law, serve their neighbors, and keep their communities safe. Yet, too often, they are met with hostility and policies from Washington that make their job harder and put their safety at risk.

Let me be clear. I unapologetically stand with the men and women in blue. I will always oppose any effort to defund, demoralize, or dismantle the law enforcement agencies that keep our streets safe. These men and women put their lives on the line every day to make our communities stronger, safer, and more secure, and we should all be grateful.

I express my deepest gratitude to the police officers, Customs and Border Patrol agents, detectives, State troopers, sheriffs, investigators, correction officers, drug enforcement agents, and U.S. marshals who have dedicated their careers to serving their communities. Today and every day we recognize their sacrifice and honor in all that they do to serve our great Nation.

America is grateful for all that they do, and I am grateful for them.

Mr. Speaker, the Big First District of Kansas is home to more than 20,000 small businesses who employ over 80 percent of working adults in my district. These small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Their stories, defined by sacrifice, hard work, and determination, serve as a reminder of what the American Dream is all about: that anyone, from anywhere, can come to the U.S. the right way, work hard, make an honest living, and succeed. That is what it is all about.

Many of the small businesses I represent are family owned and operated. As the fifth generation to grow up on my family farm and feedyard in western Kansas, I understand the immense sense of pride and gratitude that comes with growing up around a family business. It is much more than a 9 to 5; it is a personal investment of endless hours to see a dream come to life. When that dream gets off the ground, families give it their all to keep it afloat. They take pride in serving their neighbors and leaving their communities better than they found them. Our Federal policies ought to help them do just that.

Since I came to Congress, I have worked nonstop to make this a reality. Every year, I have introduced legislation to preserve stepped- up basis and to stop far-left Democrats' farm killer tax. For decades, stepped-up basis has protected families from being forced to pay capital gains taxes on inherited assets.

President Biden tried his best to remove this provision, which would have resulted in the destruction of family farms across my district and around the country. I have always and will continue to oppose any effort to impose new taxes on small, family-owned businesses, period.

I have fought to protect similar exemptions for students from family farms and small businesses. Last year, new FAFSA provisions altered the Federal formula for student aid, counting assets in small businesses and family farms as part of the family's net worth. My Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act seeks to correct this flaw and to level the playing field for students who come from these families.

When these students are applying for higher education financial aid, assets tied up in a small business should not count against them. As their families work tirelessly to make an honest living and serve their neighbors, we should make it easier for them to succeed and pass on these businesses to the next generation.

My bill evens the playing field and protects the American Dream for every student. I was proud to see it included in the bill that the House Education and Workforce Committee marked up last week.

Congress should also roll back burdensome regulations that further handcuff our small businesses in an already challenging environment. For the last 4 years, our small business owners navigated regulation after regulation imposed by the Biden administration. President Biden attempted to regulate every aspect of small business owners' livelihoods if they didn't fall in line with his Green New Deal agenda.

Small business owners, already struggling with sky-high inflation, begged Washington, D.C., for less regulation and more freedom to just make a living. The Republican majority has spent the last 4 months rolling back these regulations. That is what our small business owners want and that is what they deserve.

Most importantly, Mr. Speaker, over the last few months, this body will work to further support small business owners by extending the 2017 tax cuts. These historic tax cuts by President Trump during his first term ushered in an economic boom that benefited America's small businesses and the communities they serve. We have a duty to bring back the growing economy and to ensure that family businesses that are the backbone of our country can thrive again.

If we fail to extend the Trump tax cuts, small businesses will see their tax rates nearly double, harming local economies and Main Street. This financial burden would limit small businesses' ability to grow and force some to reduce the size of their staffs or even close their doors entirely. America can't afford to leave these men and women out to dry.

During this National Small Business Week, we thank the hardworking men and women who make up the more than 33 million small businesses across our great Nation, employing nearly 62 million Americans, and equipping them to feed their families, put a roof over their heads, and clothes on their backs. I look forward to working with my colleagues in this body to see America's small business community thrive once again.

Mr. Speaker, if our small businesses fail, America fails, and the world cannot afford that. I recognize that over these next few weeks we will have very difficult conversations on the best way to extend these cuts and enact President Trump's agenda, but they are conversations worth having.

Mr. Speaker, America is counting on us.

Madam Speaker, since President Trump was sworn in, illegal crossings have plummeted at our southern border.

This past February saw the lowest level of illegal crossings ever recorded in our Nation's history, down 94 percent from February 2024 and 96 percent from the all-time high under the Biden administration. Along the Del Rio Sector of the border, there was a 98.8 percent decrease in apprehensions compared to the highest day under President Biden.

For 4 years, President Biden and radical progressive activists tried to blame President Trump and congressional Republicans for the crisis at the Nation's border. It turns out the only thing we needed all along was a President who doesn't run from common sense and isn't afraid to enforce the law. Thankfully, President Trump is not afraid.

Just last week, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced that the Department of Homeland Security, DHS, will resume construction of President Trump's border wall. Border Patrol agents have told us again and again that a physical barrier on our southern border is a key deterrent to the trafficking of humans and illicit drugs by the Mexican cartels across our southern border. Yet, on day one of his Presidency, President Biden stopped construction of the border wall. President Trump is gladly reversing this madness and making our border secure.

President Biden's failed leadership continuously put innocent American lives at risk as nearly 400 individuals whose names appeared on the terrorist watch list attempted to enter the country and gang members from MS-13 and Tren de Aragua invaded the interior of the U.S.

Some of these monsters took the lives of innocent Americans, like Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray. While President Biden barely expressed empathy for the lives he put at risk, President Trump took action, deporting these violent criminals and gang members from the start of his Presidency.

On November 5, 2024, 77 million Americans, including myself, voted to restore commonsense border policies to our Nation's Capital. The President is providing that common sense, and I am deeply grateful to have his strong leadership back in the White House.

I thank President Trump for standing for our country and securing our border. Promises made, promises kept.

Honoring Craig Beam

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of an American patriot, Craig Beam. I congratulate Craig on his well-deserved retirement from the U.S. Marshals Service.

When most Americans hear of a fugitive on the run, their natural instinct is to protect their loved ones within and avoid coming across the wanted criminal at all costs. Craig's approach to protecting his family and loved ones is a little different. When danger or bad actors present themselves to our communities, Craig has run toward them and worked swiftly with his fellow marshals to remove these criminals from the streets.

In August 1993, a convicted marijuana grower walked into the Frank Carlson Federal Building in Topeka, Kansas, for his sentencing. What was a normal day in Topeka suddenly turned into gunfire and tragedy as the convict's car and his person were covered with explosives and pipe bombs.

As building staff hid in fear, Craig and his fellow law enforcement agents put their fear aside to get innocent civilians to safety. In all, five Kansans were injured that day, and a court officer, Gene Goldsberry, was tragically killed. Deputy Marshal Beam and three of his fellow marshals were recognized for their heroism with the Director's Distinguished Service Award.

Serving in law enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service is a selfless calling, and for the last 34 years, Craig Beam has done it effortlessly. Not many people openly run toward danger and put their safety at risk for the sake of their communities, but for Craig, it is second nature.

I thank Craig for his selflessness and for 34 years of dedication to keep Kansas safe. I congratulate Craig on his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, on November 5, 2024, America endorsed the greatest political comeback in modern history by electing President Trump the 47th President of the United States. The country rejected the chaos sowed by the Biden-Harris administration for the past 4 years and voted for the candidate that could lead our country and make America strong again. On day one, President Trump, alongside the Republican majorities in the House and Senate, moved full steam ahead to deliver on the country's mandate, and we are committed to upholding the promises made to America.

Last night, I joined Members of this body to hear President Trump's first joint address in this very room to the Nation since he was sworn in for a second term. President Trump's vision and direction for the country could not be more clear, and I applaud him for keeping the promises that he made to the American people.

President Trump has worked to make America secure and competitive again. We are leading on the world stage and actually establishing peace through strength. Our border is secure again, and President Trump is making it clear to the drug cartels and bad actors that if they enter the United States illegally, they will be deported. During his first full month in office, there were only 8,326 apprehensions at our Nation's borders. Compare that to President Biden's failed leadership where 8,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended in one day. It is amazing. Deploying common sense and actually enforcing the law goes a long way.

House Republicans passed legislation like the Laken Riley Act and the Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act that protect American citizens. That is what Americans overwhelmingly voted for in this past election, and the work has only just begun.

Last week, House Republicans took a crucial first step to unlock the process to advance President Trump's full legislative agenda. This Republican majority will not stop fighting until the President's agenda is in place. That means rooting out wasteful, fraudulent, and abusive spending. That means responsibly stewarding the American tax dollar and putting those dollars in places that they can see a return. That means investing in our national security and protecting the safety of our fellow Americans. It means extending

the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and preventing American families from seeing a 22 percent tax hike next year.

As the President stated last night and in his inauguration address, the golden age of America is just beginning. I have never been more thankful to have a President who isn't afraid to keep his promises to the American people and to fight tooth and nail to put American Families first. I thank President Trump for his leadership. I look forward to working with him and his administration to deliver policies that deliver for American families and usher in a new era of American greatness.

Farewell to Riley Pagett

Mr. Speaker, the Big First District of Kansas is the third largest ag-producing district in the country. Agriculture is the key component of our DNA, and it is in our blood. It is a lifeline for many of the communities I represent. When I was elected to Congress, I knew that I needed a team who understood Kansas agriculture and who would fight relentlessly for the farmers, ranchers, and ag producers in my district.

The Lord provided abundantly by introducing me and my chief of staff to Riley Pagett. Riley grew up in Woodward, Oklahoma, but he was born in the Big First District in Liberal, Kansas. Growing up on his family's farm and ranch, Riley's leadership skills developed early on. He was involved in FFA, serving as a State officer for Oklahoma and eventually as the national president of the organization.

After graduating from Oklahoma State, Riley moved to Washington, D.C., to work for then-Chairman Lucas on the House Agriculture Committee. There he was part of the 2014 farm bill and later spent a few months with Senator Lankford before serving as the director of advocacy and government relations for the national FFA organization.

He would go on to serve in the first Trump administration as the chief of staff of USDA's Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement for almost 2 years before joining my team as my agriculture staffer, legislative director, and deputy chief of staff.

Riley has excelled in these roles and has been a key player in helping me establish the Congressional FFA Caucus, craft sound food and farm policy, and fight for Kansas priorities in the next farm bill. Those who know Riley know that that just scratches the surface of who he is.

Riley is an incredible friend, a loyal advocate and mentor for his teammates and colleagues, a proud son, a champion for agriculture, a caring father to his kids, Blakely and Ford, a loving husband to his wife, Lauren, and most importantly a man with a deep love for the Lord.

Next week, Riley will start a new endeavor in the second Trump administration at USDA. There are few words to describe how much he will be missed at 344 Cannon and the Big First, but Audrey and I cannot be more proud of him or grateful for his service to our district and to the team.

Team Mann will be praying over this next chapter for him and Lauren and cheering him on every step of the way. I thank Riley for his service. Godspeed.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 153) expressing condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims of the crash of American Eagle Flight 5342 and PAT 25, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on H. Res. 153.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 153, which expresses condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims of the crash of American Flight 5342 and PAT 25.

This is a bipartisan resolution to honor the 67 lives that were lost during the tragic collision that occurred over the Potomac River on January 29, 2025.

January 29 is typically a day of celebration in Kansas. From Manhattan to Goodland, Topeka to Liberal, Kansas City to Dodge City, Kansans come together to celebrate the rich history of Kansas and the anniversary of our statehood.

January 29, 2025, changed the meaning of this day for Kansas and for the country forever. The world lost 67 bright, innocent lives that day, and I speak for all Americans when I say that this is a day that we will never ever forget.

When we celebrate Kansas Day in years to come, we will also feel the nudging of the somber emotions aroused by this tragic accident. We will remember our fellow Americans whose lives were tragically lost: farmers, parents, professors, college students with bright futures taken from us far too soon.

For more than a century, the United States has led the world in aviation safety and innovation. Wichita has been known as the Air Capital of the World for more than a century due to our historic ties to aviation history. Although tragic accidents like these are rare, none of us are strangers to the hazards involved in man's pursuit of flight.

We must continue to strive to learn as much as we can about this accident so that it never ever happens again.

H. Res. 153 also lauds the heroism displayed by the many local, State, and Federal officials who sprang into action to perform recovery efforts. These men and women are heroes who demonstrated tremendous respect for the fallen, working in cold temperatures and icy waters for several days.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this legislation and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes), my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).

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

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

Mr. Speaker, there is still a lot to uncover about this accident, and we are confident that the NTSB is reviewing the evidence so that we can learn from this accident to prevent future loss of life.

As we express our deepest condolences and prayers, we join our beloved Kansas and Nation in mourning the lives lost. Psalms 34:18 reminds us: ``The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.''

We lift up the loved ones of the 67 lost souls and rest in the knowledge that no matter the circumstances we are facing, God is always with us.

Kansas is the heartbeat of the country, and our State motto reminds us that we will persevere together through this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, by adopting this measure, we honor the memory of these victims and ensure that they will never be forgotten. I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, January 29 is typically a day of celebration in Kansas. From Manhattan to Goodland, Topeka to Liberal, Kansas City to Dodge City, Kansans come together to celebrate the rich history of Kansas and to celebrate the anniversary of our statehood.

January 29, 2025, changed the meaning of this day for Kansans forever. The entire world stood in disbelief as we watched a tragedy unfold in the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 out of Wichita and a U.S. Army helicopter. The world lost 67 bright, innocent souls that day, and I speak for all Kansans when I say that this is a day that we will never forget.

When we celebrate our statehood in years to come, we will also feel the nudging of the somber emotions aroused by last month's accident. We will remember our fellow Kansans whose lives were tragically lost. They were farmers, parents, professors, college students with bright futures, all taken from us far too soon.

Audrey and I continue to grieve, and we are praying for the victims and their families. We express our deepest gratitude to the efforts of local, State, and Federal law enforcement officers and first responders. It is our prayer that God would continue to provide comfort to their families, communities, and loved ones.

There will be a lot to uncover in the days ahead. For now, we join Wichita, our beloved Kansas, and the Nation in mourning the lives lost.

Psalms 34:18 states: ``The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.''

God is near us.

Kansas is the heartbeat of the country. As our State motto reminds us, we will persevere together through this difficult time.

Farewell to Laura Francis

Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of Laura Francis, an American

patriot, a selfless neighbor, and a great friend.

Since 2018, Laura has served as the chair of the Kansas Republican Party's Big First District. Over the last 6 years, Laura oversaw the helm of a historic chapter of the Kansas GOP's First Congressional District.

Laura led our district in a historic election of delegates to secure President Trump's nomination. She rigorously defended our Nation's motto from being erased from law enforcement vehicles, fought to protect our children and their parents' ability to choose an education that is right for them, and grew our conservative base that will reverberate through Kansas politics for many years to come.

Somewhere in the middle of her historic term, she fell in love with her husband, Drew. On the same day as their first date, they attended an event that I hosted in my district in Garden City. They shared a phone call with President Trump that day, and the rest of their love story is history.

Laura and Drew married nearly 2 years later.

Laura is a fierce and loyal leader, but she is an even brighter neighbor, law enforcement community member, friend, mom, wife, and follower of Jesus.

Kansas is the pilot light of the country, and I can attest that the pilot light burns stronger and brighter because of Laura.

I thank Laura for her commitment and dedication to our congressional district, State, and Nation. It is so deeply appreciated.

Mr. Speaker, with the inauguration of Donald J. Trump, it is a new day in America. On November 5, 2024, 77 million Kansans and Americans gave Washington, D.C., a mandate to restore commonsense solutions to the Nation's Capital and to get our country back on track. We heard America loud and clear and look forward to delivering on that mandate.

Our constitutional rights are not up for grabs. Sadly, our rights are under relentless attack from the ever-growing Federal Government. The right to life, to bear arms, and even the freedom of speech have become top targets for radical activists. Americans are not interested in sacrificing our freedoms, and I will never stop fighting to uphold and defend these rights.

With President Trump back in the White House and Republican majorities in the House and Senate, Americans' rights are safe and protected. I will bring more Kansas values and commonsense solutions to our Nation's Capital.

Gone are the days of the Biden administration's burdensome regulations that handcuffed Kansans across the Big First District. From their Green New Deal regulatory agenda to their refusal to work with congressional Republicans to pass commonsense legislation, it seemed that Washington Democrats were more interested in scoring political points than actually helping Americans.

The Biden administration's failed policies ushered 16 million illegal immigrants into the country with no proper vetting or background checks. They spent billions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars trying to implement an electric vehicle mandate that the majority of Americans are not interested in. They oversaw the catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan with no remorse for its failures.

There is a reason that President Trump and a Republican Congress are trusted more on issues like border security, the economy, and lowering crime. I will work day in and day out to advance President Trump's agenda and commonsense solutions which reflect our Kansas values in the Nation's Capital, not an out-of-touch agenda that picks winners and losers.

I hear and agree with Kansans when they say Congress needs to get our fiscal House in order and make this government efficient again. Today, our national debt exceeds $36 trillion. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that our current rate of Federal spending is unsustainable.

If the entire country decided to pitch in and tackle our debt today, every American household would need to contribute almost $273,000 to bring our balance to zero. Compare that price tag with the average mortgage in the United States, which is about $245,000. This level of spending is not normal. We must get serious about reducing Federal spending and putting taxpayer dollars in places where we can see a return.

As a Member of the Congressional Delivering Outstanding Government Efficiency Caucus, or DOGE, I will work with President Trump to eliminate wasteful spending and roll back burdensome, overreaching regulations that have made life harder for everyday Americans. The Federal Government should make life easier for Americans or get out of the way, period.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, we need to restore the American Dream. As a fifth-generation Kansan, I take the American Dream seriously. For five generations, my family has farmed, fed cattle, and been involved in our western Kansas community.

Today, the American Dream feels more out of reach than it ever has. By making the Trump tax cuts permanent, though, Congress has an opportunity to usher in a new era of economic prosperity and growth for the country.

If Congress fails to extend those tax cuts, Kansans could see a tax hike of $2,000 next January. That is the last thing we need after navigating 4 years of record levels of inflation.

Congress must return to helping Americans thrive and stop playing political games with their livelihoods. Our government of, by, and for the people has a duty to help Americans succeed, not make life harder.

The agriculture community alone faces so much uncertainty as it works to feed, fuel, and clothe the world. They, too, had a mandate and told us to stop holding them hostage to political games and deliver a 5-year farm bill that provides certainty.

I will work with anyone to pass a fiscally conservative 5-year farm bill that gives our farmers, ranchers, and agriculture producers the certainty they deserve.

I look forward to working with President Trump to delivering on this mandate in the 119th Congress. I do not serve in Congress to be a caretaker in the slow demise of America. I serve to fight to make it a country that we can all be proud of, while ensuring that our brightest days are yet to come.