Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colter Lumley who on January 22 earned the rank of Eagle Scout. I had the honor to watch Colter from a young boy get involved in his community and do things that mattered, not just for his community but for the State of Montana.

Colter hails from Emigrant, Montana, and can now count himself among the 11 other boys who have achieved the honor since Troop 551 began in 1984. Those who know him best attest to Colter's humility and work ethic, saying that all he does is rise in the morning and put forth more effort and hard work before noon than most his age do in a full day.

His Eagle Scout project was to replace a retaining wall at the fire department in Gardiner, Montana. He arranged the preconstruction meetings, organized the delivery of the supplies, and was even able to get a price reduction to save money. He then rallied his football team and his troop to replace the wall, completing the job in 20 hours and placing over 600 cinder blocks.

Colter has made his country and his State proud. We thank Colter for setting an example for his peers and his community, and we congratulate him on this great achievement.

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

Montana has many mottos, official and unofficial: The Last Best Place, Big Sky Country, the Treasure State. This last one recognizes the rich natural resources we have in the great State of Montana right underneath our feet.

Up until recently, Biden's anti-American policies have allowed foreign actors to dominate mineral markets, and this has stifled domestic energy production to the detriment of Western States like Montana.

I had the opportunity to return home last week, and I heard about these issues firsthand from miners across the Second District. In fact, I probably spent more time below ground than I did above it. Actually, I really enjoyed that.

I am going to talk first about Stillwater County. In Stillwater County, the miners of the Sibanye-Stillwater Mine are hard at work producing the only platinum and palladium that is mined in America. Years of feckless trade policy on the part of the Biden administration has allowed malign foreign actors like Russia to flood commodities markets, crippling smaller producers like Sibanye-Stillwater.

Russia, which represents more than a third of the market, has been subsidizing and dumping these critical minerals, causing artificially low commodity prices.

This resulted in the layoff of approximately 700 hardworking miners just last year as the negative effect from dumping has not only affected the commodity price, but it has made it so that the commodity price is below the actual cost to extract it. The ripple effects are still being felt throughout my district.

This is why Montana's congressional delegation is stepping up. I stand shoulder to shoulder with Congressman Zinke and Senators Daines and Sheehy. We introduced the Stop Russian Market Manipulation Act. This bans imports of critical minerals from Russia.

We are creating a competitive market for U.S. mineral producers not driven down by dumping from foreign actors and extending a vital lifeline to operations like Stillwater. This not only allows these mines to support their work forces, but this also drives the local economy, my State economy, and is also a factor in the security of the United States of America.

Our bill encourages domestic production, decreases reliance on foreign minerals, shores up supply chains, and significantly bolsters national security, all while dealing a critical blow to Putin's war machine. These factors combine to make a real difference in the lives of hardworking Montanans who rely on these jobs to make ends meet.

Signal Peak Mine, in Musselshell County, has faced a similar reality after years of regulatory foot-dragging and America-last energy policy threatened Montana's only underground coal mining operation.

I spoke with miners who expressed concern about Signal Peak's future amidst permitting uncertainty and resource unavailability. My Crow Revenue Act eliminates this uncertainty by facilitating a critical land transfer that unlocks access to minable Federal coal while providing the Crow Tribe with a piece of the revenue. With bicameral support, I am confident we will get this bill across the finish line for our Tribal communities and our State economy. More importantly, this is another step in ensuring American energy dominance.

In closing, let me make one thing abundantly clear: There is a new sheriff in town. None of these efforts would stand a chance of becoming law without this administration. President Trump has taken swift executive action to declare a national energy emergency, reopened exploration on Federal lands and waters, appointed an all-star Cabinet with the likes of Secretary Wright and Secretary Burgum to streamline permitting and unleash American energy.

This is why I am hopeful for projects like Black Butte Copper near White Sulphur Springs that are committed to unlocking the Treasure State's resources and driving rural economic development, all in a responsible manner. I can't wait to see what these next 4 years bring for my State and others like it. Let us not squander this opportunity and work together to make American mining great again.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Thelma Baker. Thelma is what one might call a local legend, both in Missoula County where she made her home and across the Treasure State.

To some, she was known as the owner and proprietor of the Thunderbird and Canyon Motels, to others a great-great-grandmother. Those are two greats for the folks keeping track at home.

The Thelma I knew was a tireless advocate for conservative causes, who lived a life of dedicated service to her community, to her State, and to her country. She was a voting member of the Montana electoral college since 2000 and was actively involved with local organizations like the University of Montana Grizzly Athletic Association, Copper Connections, and the Missoula Chamber of Commerce.

Thelma lived the life of a model citizen, and generations of Montanans will be better off for her devotion to civic engagement and community involvement.

May her memory be a blessing.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my predecessor, Matt Rosendale, for his years of public service to this House of Representatives and to the people of Montana.

Like me, Congressman Rosendale served as Montana State auditor and commissioner of securities and insurance before making his journey to the Nation's Capital.

Congressman Rosendale was one of Washington's fiercest advocates for fiscal conservatism, border security, and the rights of the unborn. He never shied away from doing what he thought was right nor speaking up for what he believed in.

I wish Congressman Rosendale and his wife, Jean, all the best in their years ahead, and I thank him for his service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Peter Ankney in honor of his promotion in the United States Marine Corps to colonel. I had the distinct privilege of being able to attend Colonel Ankney's promotion last weekend in his hometown of Colstrip, Montana.

I could go on and on about the values of leadership, honor, or service when describing Peter, but the word that came to my mind at Colonel Ankney's promotion was ``community.''

The city hall in Colstrip was packed as the people of Rosebud County came together to honor one of their own. Montana is among the top States in veterans per capita of people with patriotism and service coursing through our veins.

I know that I speak for all of us when I say that I am proud to have a man like Colonel Ankney representing our State in uniform. I thank him for his service to our great Nation. He made us proud, bringing honor to himself, his family, his community, our State, and to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Montana State University Bobcat rodeo team as they prepare to participate in the 2025 Presidential inaugural parade.

The inclusion of a collegiate rodeo team in the inaugural parade is a historic first and a unique representation of our culture and the way of life as Montanans.

I am thrilled that these talented ropers and riders will get the chance to experience all that our Nation's Capital has to offer during such an exciting time for our country.

This effort would not have been possible without the collective support of the State, the MSU community, university leadership, namely Bobcat Rodeo Coaches Kyle Whitaker and Savanna Bolich, and MSU President Waded Cruzado.

I highlight the advocacy of my colleague, First District Congressman Ryan Zinke, whose support helped get this initiative across the finish line.

Heather and I cannot wait to join our fellow Montanans cheering the team on as they take to Pennsylvania Avenue on Monday and make their way toward the White House.

Go Cats. I know they will make Montana proud.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the first responders of Montana's Second Congressional District who are sacrificing time and treasure to combat the ongoing wildfires in southern California.

Firefighters from Columbus and Red Lodge are joining groups like the Billings Flying Service and other crews and individuals from across the State to help those in need.

I applaud the leadership of these groups, including Columbus Fire Rescue Chief Rich Cowger and Red Lodge Fire Rescue Chief Tom Kuntz for setting an example of service before self.

During my time as a combat search and rescue enlisted aviator in the U.S. Air Force, we had a motto: These things we do, that others may live.

Mr. Speaker, these men and women exemplify that motto, so I ask that you join me in praying for and honoring these brave Montanans who have traveled far and wide and put themselves in harm's way to protect the lives and property of their fellow Americans.

God bless and Godspeed to these heroes.

Mr. Speaker, House Republicans have hit the ground running in the 119th Congress.

Last week, we considered bills to hold accountable illegal aliens who break our laws and defend U.S. national sovereignty against a rogue international judicial body.

This week is about protecting the women in all of our lives. I am a father to two wonderful daughters and a husband to my amazing wife, Heather. Never in a million years did I think that one day I would need to take the floor of the United States House of Representatives to defend their right to compete in athletic competitions without unfair competition from biological males or to denounce acts of violence perpetrated against them as

wrong and deserving of punishment, but here I stand.

Just yesterday, we passed H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. This bill ensures fair competition in women and girls' sports by rightfully defining gender based on reproductive biology and genetics and prohibiting males identifying as women from competing in federally funded sporting competitions.

I was proud to add my support to this critical legislation, and I look forward to voting for a second bill, the Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act, on the House floor tomorrow.

H.R. 30 will ensure that illegal aliens who have been convicted of or admit to committing sex offenses or domestic violence can be deported by closing a loophole in existing law.

Needless to say, the fact that we need to consider legislation of this kind is ludicrous. Simple truths that we once took for granted are under assault from ideological corners of our Nation that do not represent the vast majority of Americans and certainly not the vast majority of Montanans.

When America overwhelmingly elected Donald Trump to be our next President, they gave Republicans a clear mandate to reverse course on the progressive policies threatening the safety and well-being of our daughters, nieces, granddaughters, and sisters. This week Democrats have a chance to show us whose side they are on. I know where I stand.