Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, for Californians who are losing more and more of their paychecks to taxes, taxes that too often fund Gavin Newsom's endless boondoggles, real relief isn't just welcome. It is overdue.

Thanks to President Trump, Chairman Smith, and House Republicans, that relief is here. On July 4, 2025, we delivered the largest working families tax cut in American history. The result is no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, the child tax credit boosted to $2,200 per child and made permanent, taxes on Social Security slashed, and a $1,000 Trump tax account for every newborn American.

It also means expanding opportunity through the Federal education tax credit scholarship program so that parents can choose the best education for their child.

There is relief for farmers, small businesses, and manufacturers.

There is now more investment happening in California. We are already seeing the results.

Thanks to this historic legislation, average tax refunds are nearing $4,000 this year, over 15 percent higher than 2024. That is real money that families can use for gas, groceries, or invest in their child's future.

At the end of the day, it is simple: You earned your money. You deserve to keep it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1128, Expressing the Support of the House of Representatives for the Department of Homeland Security.

As lawmakers, we have a fundamental obligation to govern responsibly and to protect our communities from emerging threats, both foreign and domestic.

Twice on this very House floor, we passed a bipartisan funding package for the Department of Homeland Security. However, Senate Democrats have chosen to walk away from that bipartisan, bicameral deal, threatening operations that ensure the safety and security of American communities from our transportation systems to our cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, and emergency response capabilities.

Today marks 41 days since Democrats made the reckless decision to shut down the Department of Homeland Security. A prolonged government shutdown undermines our national security, creates financial hardship for Homeland Security workers and their families, and leaves critical emergency response and preparedness efforts at risk.

Yet again, dedicated public servants, like TSA security officers, Coast Guard civilian personnel, FEMA personnel, and cybersecurity teams, are working without the certainty of their next paycheck, while others have been furloughed. That is why my colleagues and I on this side of the aisle have consistently voted to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to hear directly from frontline security agencies about the negative impact that this shutdown has had on their missions and workforce. As TSA's Deputy Administrator shared: ``What I am hearing from our workforce is that what is happening to them is nothing short of cruel.''

Mr. Speaker, it is dangerous for Democrats to keep weakening our national security posture for their own political gain, especially amid a heightened threat environment. Every day this shutdown continues, our Nation's security is put at greater risk, and the men and women who protect us are further sidelined.

The 260,000 Americans employed by DHS should be focused on their no- fail mission to keep our country safe, not worrying about how they will pay their bills, rent, and groceries, or find another job in order to do so. Every agency tasked with America's homeland security needs to be operating at full strength right now.

Today, I reaffirm my commitment to public safety and those who are sworn to uphold it. I urge my colleagues across the aisle to come to their senses, immediately reopen the Department of Homeland Security, and end the shutdown immediately.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Save Our Sequoias Act. I thank Chairman Westerman for his leadership and collaboration.

I introduced this legislation with my California colleague Representative Scott Peters to safeguard our remaining giant Sequoia groves, the most in my district, by cutting red tape and restoring resilience to our forests.

Giant sequoias, the world's largest trees, are only naturally found in 70 groves across 37,000 acres in California.

Unfortunately, over the last century, fire suppression practices and forest mismanagement have led to a dangerous buildup of fuels, which, in combination with increasingly intense wildfires, has caused the unparalleled destruction of these iconic trees.

In the last 5 years alone, there has been a nearly 20 percent loss of our giant sequoias. That is not to mention that at its current pace it would take the U.S. Forest Service 52 years to treat just the 19 most at-risk giant sequoia groves.

Our giant sequoias are a true national treasure. We cannot afford to let burdensome regulations prevent us from safeguarding them.

My bipartisan bill would enhance interagency coordination between State, Federal, and Tribal partners, accelerate forest restoration efforts, and provide important science-based resources to land managers to protect these ancient trees from further destruction.

The world's only giant sequoia groves provide critical economic, scientific, and cultural benefits for our local Tribes, researchers, and our communities. Speeding up fuels reductions and wildfire mitigation practices in these remaining groves will boost the resilience of our forests and protect these giants for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the 29 Members from both sides of the aisle who cosponsored this bill, as well as the staff on the House Committee on Natural Resources for helping to pass this important bipartisan bill, which would ensure California's remaining sequoias endure for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary career of Bradley Flick, who, after nearly four decades of service advancing American aviation and aerospace innovation at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, will retire this month.

Brad began his career in 1986 at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, then called the Dryden Flight Research Center, as a flight systems engineer, helping lead research flights and experimental programs, such as the F/A-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV) project, that pushed the boundaries of aeronautics and strengthened our Nation's leadership in aerospace technology. Over the years, he served as mission controller on approximately 100 HARV research flights. Brad rose through the ranks as an engineer, chief engineer, and research leader, ultimately serving as Director of NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center--the Nation's premier civilian flight research institution.

Known by his colleagues as a compassionate leader, Brad helped guide groundbreaking efforts in sustainable aviation and next-generation flight research. Under his leadership, Armstrong Flight Research Center advanced technologies that are shaping the future of flight--from NASA's all-electric experimental aircraft to research into quiet supersonic aviation that could transform how Americans travel.

Brad often reflected on the legacy of those who came before him, noting that today's researchers are ``riding on the shoulders of legendary flight pioneers'' who made discoveries at Armstrong Flight Research Center over the last 75 years. With that perspective, he led his team with humility, purpose, and a deep belief that the next great aviation breakthrough was still waiting to be discovered.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to congratulate Brad Flick on his retirement and thank him for his decades of service to our Nation, to the aerospace community, and to the enduring spirit of American innovation that lives in the Aerospace Valley.

Mr. Speaker, last month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan funding package for the Department of Homeland Security. It is regrettable that Senate Democrats chose to abandon a bipartisan and bicameral deal on full-year DHS funding, jeopardizing our safety and security here at home.

Today, we face growing threats as our Nation encounters the real danger posed by the Iranian regime, as well as other adversaries around the world. It is critical that we ensure the agencies tasked with protecting our Nation are fully operational, are at full strength, and have the resources needed to neutralize any potential threats to our homeland.

As congressional Democrats continue to play partisan games, they are weakening our cybersecurity operations,

disrupting critical intelligence sharing, and forcing over 250,000 public servants supporting our national security to go without pay. This includes critical personnel from TSA, who work every day to prevent terror attacks, and from FEMA, who support our communities in the wake of disasters.

This is the second time in the past 4 months that TSA workers are working without pay. During the last shutdown, TSA saw increased rates of unscheduled absences and localized spikes in wait times, which are expected again during the shutdown as spring travel begins to rise.

In my home State of California, we continue preparations to host major international events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins this coming June, followed by the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. The World Cup will be the largest sporting event in history, with upward of 5 million international fans traveling to the United States.

The safety and success of these global events hinge on DHS' ability to maintain mission readiness. The longer this partial shutdown continues, the weaker our ability to prepare for these events becomes. To delay any longer is to risk the lives of countless Americans and millions of international visitors alike.

This week, the House will vote once again to reopen DHS and reaffirm its commitment to public safety. I urge my colleagues across the aisle to join us in voting to reopen the Department of Homeland Security so it can get back to its core mission of safeguarding American communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 95th birthday of Billie Jo Medders and to recognize her lifetime of steadfast service to the Bakersfield community.

Born on March 8, 1931, in Indianola, Mississippi, Billie Jo graduated from Indianola High School, where her interest in civic life first took shape. As a senior, she was selected as a delegate to Mississippi Girls' State and was elected lieutenant governor, an experience sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary that foreshadowed a lifetime of engagement in public affairs. She went on to attend Delta State University in Cleveland, where she met her husband, Clarence Medders, and began a lifelong partnership rooted in service.

In 1956, Billie Jo and Clarence relocated to Bakersfield, joining the Bakersfield City School District and making our community their permanent home. Together, they raised their daughters, Emily and Pamela, while investing deeply in the civic and educational life of Kern County. Clarence devoted 44 years to education as a teacher, counselor, and principal. Billie Jo also served the district for 13 years as a school secretary.

As Billie Jo's family took root in Bakersfield, so too did her public service. She joined Assemblyman Thomas's staff as a part-time aide and, following his election to Congress, continued in his Bakersfield office as a caseworker and eventually director of constituent services. Over the course of 29 years, she assisted countless constituents in navigating complex federal agencies, exemplifying the vital role district offices play in responsive government.

I worked directly with Billie Jo for many years as a field representative in the district I now have the honor of representing in Congress. During that time, she demonstrated that constituent services is about serving people with diligence, integrity, and respect. She made clear that every issue--from veterans' benefits to immigration casework to small business assistance--deserved urgency, careful attention, and professionalism. That standard continues to guide how I approach the responsibilities of this office and how I serve California's 20th Congressional District today.

In addition to her government service, Billie Jo remained engaged in the broader nonprofit and civic community. Her decades of involvement have strengthened local institutions and reflected her enduring commitment to Bakersfield's families and seniors. In recognition of that commitment, she was recently honored by Family-to-Family Mentoring, a division of Garden Pathways, Inc., with the ``Heart for Bakersfield'' award--an apt description of her life's work. Today, she enjoys time with her seven grandchildren, along with traveling, reading, gathering with friends, and adding to her well-known elephant collection.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Billie Jo Medders for her decades of service and for the example she continues to set in our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Irmadine ``Irma'' Carson of Bakersfield, California, who passed away on January 9, 2026, after a lifetime of service to our community in the Central Valley.

Born on June 24, 1935, to Booker T. Jenkins, Sr., and Benny Mae Jenkins, Ms. Carson moved with her family from St. Louis, Missouri, to Bakersfield in 1953. In 1955, she married Earnest Carson, and together they raised three daughters: Sharon, Karen (Patty), and Camille. Years later, she also became the grandmother of Chris, Jason, and Leslie, taking great pride in her growing family of grandchildren and great- grandchildren.

Ms. Carson dedicated her life to being a public servant and made a distinguished career as a trailblazer who supported her community. In 1959, Ms. Carson became the first Black woman employed at Bakersfield City Hall. She later joined the Bakersfield Police Department as its first Black female officer and went on to become the department's first Black female detective and a patrol sergeant until her retirement in 1989.

While working, Ms. Carson earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from California State University, Bakersfield, in 1978. The next year, she was elected to the Bakersfield City School District Board of Education, where she served for 15 years and focused on strengthening educational outcomes for local students.

In 1994, Ms. Carson was elected to the Bakersfield City Council, becoming the first Black woman to serve in that role. For 16 years, she represented Ward 1 in southeast Bakersfield, concentrating on housing, neighborhood development, youth services, and economic stability.

After retiring from law enforcement, Ms. Carson continued her work as Executive Director of the Ebony Counseling Center, expanding programs addressing addiction recovery, public health education, and family support throughout Kern County.

Ms. Carson is remembered as a devoted mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, and mentor whose influence continues through the people and institutions she served. She is survived by her sisters, Cecile Chavis and Dolores Chavis, as well as extended family and longtime friends.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the memory of Irmadine Carson and her lasting contributions to Bakersfield and the Central Valley.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6945, the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act.

Across our Nation, more than 2,700 pregnancy centers serve nearly 2 million women and families each year. I have seen firsthand my local pregnancy centers in California and the services they provide offering diapers, baby clothes, prenatal education, ultrasounds, housing referrals, and additional real, compassionate support during life's most vulnerable moments.

These services are valued at over $450 million annually and help families choose stability, self-sufficiency, and hope.

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program was created to strengthen families, reduce dependency, and ensure children can be cared for in their own homes.

Pregnancy resource centers, especially in rural communities, clearly advance those goals. However, under the Biden administration, a proposed rule was issued that singled out pregnancy centers and preemptively suggested State spending on these organizations would no longer be allowable.

The Biden rule was never finalized, but there is a need to make sure future administrations do not pursue similar actions. H.R. 6945 ensures fairness. It clarifies that States may continue partnering with pregnancy centers without political interference now and in the future.

Mr. Speaker, this bill stands for mothers, children, and families, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of my friend and colleague, Doug LaMalfa.

Doug was a steadfast champion of rural California and for the issues that matter most to millions of Americans across the West, starting in the California legislature to the Halls of Congress.

He fought for water storage and forest management. He fought for energy abundance. He fought for the farmer. He fought for common sense.

I had the privilege of serving alongside him on the Committee for Transportation and Infrastructure and as a fellow member of the Western Caucus during his time as chairman. He would always greet me with a big smile by the nickname ``The Fongressman.''

Over the years, I was fortunate to be mentored by Doug. He was a great role model and friend. His guidance, leadership, and example left a lasting impact on me and on so many others who had the honor of working with him.

Doug will be remembered for his deep love for his family, his faith and core principles, his unwavering dedication to his community, his humility, and his enduring legacy as a leader and lawmaker.

I am personally grateful for his mentorship and know he will be profoundly missed by all who knew him.

I certainly will vow to honor Doug's memory by continuing to champion the values that we both share that unite California's Central Valley to the rural communities like Doug's in northern California.

I will continue fighting for rural priorities in Congress just as Doug did.

Amanda and I are praying for his wife, Jill; his family and loved ones; and his staff during this difficult time. His absence leaves a void that will never truly be filled.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3109, the REFINER Act.

This legislation is critical to unleashing our energy potential, lowering costs for hardworking families, and protecting our national security.

U.S. refineries are vital to our energy ecosystem. They convert crude oil into fuels and countless products, ranging from shoes and plastics to cell phones, computers, solar panels, medical devices, and even space suits. They make gasoline and diesel for our cars and trucks, and they make jet fuel for our planes.

Yet, over the past few years, our refining capacity has declined due to burdensome Federal and State policies.

I know this bitter reality all too well in my home State of California.

From 2020 to 2022, we lost more than 1 million barrels of production capacity per day, and refinery closures are projected to slash that capacity by 20 percent over the next year. Twenty percent of our refining capacity is going to disappear overnight.

Since 2018, over 360 energy companies have left California. Oil production has dropped by 47 million barrels over the past 5 years, and foreign imports now account for over 60 percent of our crude supply in California.

Californians pay nearly $5 a gallon. In fact, Californians are paying the highest gas and electricity prices in the Nation, thanks to Governor Gavin Newsom's radical-left failed energy policies. California has an affordability crisis that Governor Gavin Newsom created, but this crisis also goes well beyond the pump.

As California fuel production declines, it jeopardizes our national security and undermines our military readiness, as multiple strategic military bases rely on California fuel. With threats from our foreign adversaries, like China, only continuing to grow, we cannot risk leaving our defenses weakened.

The REFINER Act is common sense. It will help identify ways to expand refining capacity, protect our energy infrastructure, and strengthen our national security.

Mr. Speaker, we must act now to restore American energy dominance, secure affordable fuel for families, and protect our Nation's military defense. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3109.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleague, Representative David G. Valadao, to honor Joe Sill of Shafter, California, on his recognition as the 2025 Kern County Cattleman of the Year.

Born in 1946 to Frank and Claire Clerou Sill, Joe was raised in a family whose roots run deep in Kern County agriculture. From an early age, he worked alongside his brothers, Mike and Tim, his sister, Trish, and many cousins in the family's potato shed in Shafter, where his parents instilled in him a strong work ethic and lifelong respect for honest labor. By age 14, Joe was driving feed trucks and caring for cattle at the Sill Properties feedlot, an experience that would spark his enduring passion for the cattle industry.

Joe graduated from Games Memorial High School in 1965, then attended the New Mexico Military Institute, where he played football and ran track before continuing his studies at Fresno State University. There, he joined the rodeo team and Kappa Sigma fraternity, graduating in 1970 with a degree in Agricultural Business Management. After college, Joe spent time working in Hawaii and later as a cowboy for Camp and Mebane Cattle Company, balancing hard work with his love of the outdoors.

Joe's spirit of adventure took him abroad to Australia in 1971, where he helped rancher Dick Stone establish his first feedlot and worked in the sheep and horse industries. Upon returning home to Kern County, Joe rejoined Sill Properties, managing cattle ranches in the Cuyama Valley in partnership with his future father-in-law, Jean Garcin. He also gained valuable experience at O.K. Meat Packing Company in Los Angeles, learning the packing and purchasing sides of the livestock business.

In 1979, Joe married the love of his life, Vicki Garcin, and together they made their home in Shafter, raising three children: Joseph, Danielle, and Dominic. As manager of the Sill Properties feedlot and several cattle ranches, Joe oversaw operations across California, Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona, ensuring the continued success of a family legacy built over generations.

After retiring from Sill Properties in 2018, Joe remained active in the family's enterprises by serving on numerous boards. He and Vicki also founded J & V Sill Cattle Company with their three children, a venture that has become Joe's greatest joy. Today, he continues to share his deep knowledge and love of the ranching lifestyle with his eight grandchildren, who represent the next generation of Kern County cattlemen and women.

Mr. Speaker, Representative Valadao and I, ask our colleagues to join us in congratulating Joe Sill on being named the 2025 Kern County Cattleman of the Year, and in celebrating his lasting contributions to Kern County's proud agricultural heritage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Walter Grainger, a lifelong resident of Bakersfield, California, who passed away on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at the age of 99.

In May 1944, just weeks after graduating from Kern County Union High School, later renamed Bakersfield High School, Walter enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served honorably during World War II. He and his four brothers together wore our Nation's uniform in defense of freedom.

After the conclusion of his military service, Walter dedicated his life to education and community. He taught at Bakersfield High School, Shafter High School, and North High School, where he chaired the Industrial Arts Department, before later working as a safety consultant for the school district. Beyond the classroom, Walter was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and faithful member of First United Methodist Church.

Even in his nineties, Walter continued to serve. He was instrumental in the design and construction of the Kern County World War II Veterans Memorial at Jastro Park. His vision and leadership helped shape one of the most beautiful veterans memorials in the West. Today, that memorial stands as a lasting tribute to all who served, including Walter and his brothers, whose names are engraved in granite for generations to see.

Walter was a deeply respected member of the community, and when he spoke, people listened. He lived his life with humility, service, and quiet strength. His legacy is found not only in the memorial he helped build, but in the family he loved, the students he taught, and the community he served.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the remarkable life of Walter Grainger. May his memory serve as an inspiration to all of us, and may his family take comfort in knowing the profound and enduring impact he had on Bakersfield, Kern County, and our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague Congressman David Valadao to honor Jenny Holtermann, a fourth- generation California farmer, water advocate, and strong communicator who has worked tirelessly to preserve family farming, elevate women's voices in agriculture, and strengthen the connection between growers and consumers. As she steps down as President of the Kern County Farm Bureau, we have no doubt her leadership and service will continue to influence the Central Valley and its farming community.

Jenny was born and raised on her family's almond and walnut farm in Chico, California.

She earned a degree in Agricultural Business Marketing with a minor in Fruit Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where she met her husband, Tim. After graduation, they moved to the Central Valley to continue their families' farming legacies.

Since marrying in 2010, Jenny and Tim have farmed almonds in Wasco and Shafter, instilling the values of hard work, stewardship, and love of the land in their children. Before her advocacy work, Jenny spent five years in agricultural sales and later became a freelance writer, using her platform to connect farmers with consumers. Known as ``Almond Girl Jenny,'' she has shared stories as a blogger, social media content creator, and freelance writer, strengthening the public connection to agriculture.

Jenny's leadership began early when she helped revitalize the Kern Young Farmers & Ranchers in 2011, serving as Chair for two years, and later as California YF&R State Chair in 2018. She has been a Kern County Farm Bureau Board member since 2011, serving in multiple leadership roles, and has represented Kern and Kings counties on the California Farm Bureau Board since 2018. Beyond Farm Bureau, Jenny's service extends to the Almond Board of California Leadership Program, the Wasco Planning Commission, and California Women for Agriculture. She also brings a wealth of knowledge in water management and currently serves as Executive Director for multiple water agencies.

In 2020, Jenny and Tim launched a direct-to-consumer almond business, sharing their family farm and farm-fresh almonds with households across the country while continuing daily farm life with their young family.

Mr. Speaker, Congressman David Valadao and I invite our colleagues to join us in recognizing Jenny Holtermann for her dedication to family farming, leadership in agriculture, and service to her community, which have left a lasting mark on Kern County and the broader agricultural industry. Her years of service and commitment to agriculture have strengthened the Farm Bureau and inspired meaningful progress throughout the agricultural community. We wish her continued success as she moves forward from her role at the Kern County Farm Bureau.

Madam Chair, I rise today in support of my amendments 390, 737, and 745, which would deliver vital resources to the military installations of California's 20th Congressional District, their personnel, and surrounding communities.

These critical provisions would ensure our servicemembers and their civilian counterparts have the resources they need for success. Specifically, my amendments will improve healthcare access for Navy personnel at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, strengthen the readiness of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, and the Air Force Test Center, including Edwards Air Force Base.

At China Lake, the local community hospital, which serves both the Ridgecrest community and base personnel, is facing significant challenges. My first amendment would direct the Department of Defense to assess the healthcare resources available to our Navy personnel at the base and provide recommendations to improve them.

My second amendment focuses on strengthening the largest component of China Lake, the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division. It would direct the Secretary of the Navy to review the challenges NAWCWD is facing and report back to Congress on how they are working to address them.

My third amendment supports Edwards Air Force Base by extending an existing provision for several more years, helping to further strengthen the base's vital mission. With new technology like the B-21, our Nation's newest bomber, it is critical Edwards Air Force Base has the tools to test these modern technologies so they can be utilized by our warfighters.

I am proud of the incredible men and women, both civilian and military, who provide our military with the best technology to keep our Nation safe.

I urge my colleagues to support these amendments which would ensure China Lake and Edwards Air Force Base have the resources they need to continue their critical work of research, development, testing, and evaluation of our latest military technology.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and celebrate the exceptional interns who have devoted their summer to serving the people of California's 20th Congressional District. From my offices in Washington, D.C., and Bakersfield, California these students have exhibited maturity well beyond their years, offering their time, talents, and energy to support my work in meaningful ways. Their contributions have been a powerful reminder of the potential and promise embodied by the next generation. At a time when many young Americans are contemplating their role in civic life, these interns chose to engage directly with purpose and passion.

As all the summer Congressional internships come to a close, I want to express my deepest gratitude to Nikhil Bawa for his contributions to my Washington, D.C. office. His hard work has been instrumental to my team's efforts, and I am confident that the experiences and lessons he has gained will guide him toward continued success in his future endeavors in public service. I look forward to seeing where his path leads, and I hope that path includes a continued dedication to serving others.