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13Expenditure Reports Concerning Official Foreign Travel
Daily Digest
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced
25 public bills, H.R. 5078- 5102; and 5 resolutions, H.J. Res. 118; and H. Res. 668-671, were introduced.
Pages H3756-57
Reports Filed
There were no reports filed today. Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Bice to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
Page H3719
Recess
The House recessed at 12:42 p.m. and reconvened at 2 p.m.
Pages H3724-25
Committee Resignation
Read a letter from Representative Higgins (LA) wherein he resigned from the Committee on Homeland Security.
Page H3725
Recess
The House recessed at 2:09 p.m. and reconvened at 4:06 p.m.
Pages H3725-26
Recess
The House recessed at 5:23 p.m. and reconvened at 6:30 p.m.
Pages H3740-41
Suspensions
The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures: International Traffic in Arms Regulations Licensing Reform Act: H.R. 4215, to require the Secretary of State to promulgate expedited and fixed timelines for the decision-making process to license the export of certain defense articles and defense services;
Pages H3726-27
FMS-Only List Review Act
H.R. 4216, amended, to direct the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to carry out a review of the list of defense articles and services required to be transferred under the foreign military sales program as opposed to direct commercial sale (FMS-Only List), by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 395 yeas to 20 nays, Roll No. 219;
Page H3741
Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025
H.R. 747, amended, to impose sanctions with respect to Chinese producers of synthetic opioids and opioid precursors, to hold Chinese officials accountable for the spread of illicit fentanyl, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 407 yeas to 4 nays, Roll No. 220;
Pages H3728-31, H3741-42
Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025
H.R. 2643, amended, to require the Secretary of State to submit an annual report to Congress regarding the ties between criminal gangs and political and economic elites in Haiti and impose sanctions on political and economic elites involved in such criminal activities;
Pages H3731-33
Undersea Cable Control Act
H.R. 2503, to require the development of a strategy to eliminate the availability to foreign adversaries of goods and technologies capable of supporting undersea cables;
Pages H3733-34
Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations Act
H.R. 4490, amended, to amend the International Organizations Immunities Act to extend diplomatic privileges and immunities to certain additional international and regional organizations;
Pages H3734-36
Agreed to amend the title so as to read
``To amend the International Organizations Immunities Act to extend privileges and immunities to certain additional international and regional organizations, and for other purposes'';
Page H3736
AUKUS Reform for Military Optimization and Review Act
H.R. 4233, to modify provisions relating to defense trade and cooperation among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States; and
Pages H3736-38
Uyghur Policy Act of 2025
H.R. 2635, to support the human rights of Uyghurs and members of other minority groups residing primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and safeguard their distinct identity.
Pages H3738-40
Privileged Resolution: Intent to Offer
Representative Higgins (LA) announced his intent to offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 539) censuring Representative LaMonica McIver and removing her from the Committee on Homeland Security.
Pages H3742-43
Discharge Petition
Representative Massie presented to the clerk a motion to discharge the Committee on Rules from the consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 4581) entitled, a resolution providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 185) to advance responsible policies (Discharge Petition No. 9). Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H3741 and H3741-42. Adjournment: The House met at 12 p.m. and adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Every speech and line is the Congressional Record's own text, read from GovInfo. Speakers are matched to members by GPO's own metadata. Referandom places each turn on the Clerk's video by matching its words: 119 of 179 spoken turns were found. Turns without a time are still listed; they just can't seek.
Morning-Hour Debate
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of January 3, 2025, the Chair will now recognize Members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning-hour debate.
The Chair will alternate recognition between the parties, with time equally allocated between the parties and each Member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip limited to 5 minutes, but in no event shall debate continue beyond 1:50 p.m.
Madam Speaker, it is no secret that our Nation's most critical supply chains are almost fully reliant on foreign nations, and our pharmaceutical supply chain is no different.
Approximately 10 percent of the active pharmaceutical ingredients required for domestic prescription drug manufacturing comes from foreign supplies.
Simply stated, the prescription drugs that save the lives of millions of Americans every year are at severe risk. American patients cannot be reliant on countries like China for these lifesaving medications.
I am proud to see that President Trump is taking this seriously by issuing an executive order that ensures that our Nation has a 6-month supply of the critical active ingredients needed to make these lifesaving medicines.
Bringing production back to the U.S. is not enough to fix our supply chain. With this executive action, President Trump will also ensure that America has the ingredients needed to domestically manufacture these medicines.
American patients rely on these medicines each and every day, and I applaud President Trump for taking this significant action.
Madam Speaker, last Friday, I was proud to join a joint resolution to make September 12 the national day of the Bible.
When the United States Congress met in Philadelphia in 1782, it approved a 1,400-page version of the Bible published by Robert Aitken. This Bible became known as the Bible of the Revolution.
This joint resolution will formally designate September 12 as the day of the Bible to honor the first complete English-language Bible that was produced in America. This is a historic moment.
This resolution also encourages our schools and other institutions to observe this day and focus on the Bible's significance to our Nation's history and our Nation's future.
Our Nation was founded on the ideals of freedom, including religious freedom. Those who founded this land were fleeing religious persecution. The Bible of the Revolution serves as a reminder of the resilience that set our Nation on a path toward freedom as one nation under God.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the West Suburban 12-under softball team of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for winning the Little League Softball World Series.
West Suburban compiled a record of 20-2 this summer and ended the season on a 15-game winning streak. In their five wins during the World Series, West Suburban outscored their opposition 15-1.
In the championship game, West Suburban defeated the central region champion, Floyds Knobs of Indiana, 1-0. More than 1 million people watched as West Suburban captured that victory. This makes the 2025 championship the most watched Little League Softball World Series game ever.
West Suburban's success is a tribute to the outstanding leadership of the coaches, the tremendous talents of the players, and the enduring support of family and community.
I congratulate Manager Lester Gaunt, Coach Rick Baxter, Coach Rick Bills, and players Mallory Bailor, Aubrey Baxter, Reagan Bills, Sadie Divido, Kennedy Fees, Camilla Gaunt, Adalyn Hines, Mara Keefe, Kendal Schilling, Leilah Schilling-Mansour, Haley Shepherd, and Nevaeh Worthington.
Madam Speaker, on behalf of everyone in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District, I congratulate the players and coaches of West Suburban for an incredible achievement and offer my best wishes for continued success.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Metz family of Perry County, Pennsylvania, for receiving the designation of bicentennial farm from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
A bicentennial farm is a farm that has been owned by the same family for at least 200 consecutive years, has a
Richard Metz, Jr.'s newly designated bicentennial farm was founded in 1825 by Johann Metz, his third great-grandfather. After more than 150 years of family farm lineage, Richard Metz took ownership in 1996.
Today, the original 110 acres exist and grow soybeans, corn, and hay.
Madam Speaker, I offer my sincere congratulations to Richard Metz and his family for continuing this rich history of agriculture in Pennsylvania.
Madam Speaker, after an extraordinarily lengthy recess that Speaker Johnson ordered at the third week of July, Congress is finally back in session with a huge to-do list.
If there was any benefit in terms of having Members back home, though, it was an opportunity to go out and listen to what is on people's minds. Townhall meetings and community gatherings offer, again, Members of Congress a chance to listen to people in terms of what they care about the most.
I had a number of those events, in Mansfield, Colchester, and Old Saybrook, Connecticut, with very packed rooms. The issue that was of most concern was H.R. 1, what President Trump calls the one big, beautiful bill.
While Congress was away, the Congressional Budget Office had a chance to finally zero in on final numbers in terms of the impact of H.R. 1, the one big, beautiful bill.
It was being written over and over again and changing up until the final minutes, but they finally got some clarity. What they determined was that the number of people who will lose their health insurance coverage because of H.R. 1 is 10 million, 7.5 million people on Medicaid and another 2 million people who get their insurance through private health plans on the exchange.
They also calculated the debt impact in terms of H.R. 1 because of the massive giveaway to billionaires and the top 1 percent of this country. They determined that the bill is going to add $3.4 trillion to America's deficits between 2025 and 2034.
The debt service on that additional debt is an additional $718 billion. That is just pure interest. It has no value in terms of services or programs that actually help the American people.
Because of that debt figure, the bill triggered another law called paygo, the pay-as-you-go law, which was passed in the 1990s to put pressure on Congress not to pass legislation with that big of a deficit impact. Unfortunately, the majority ignored the paygo rule.
What CBO told us on August 15 is that will trigger automatic cuts to other programs. That is the way the paygo law was designed to create some deterrent on Congress from excessive deficit spending.
Madam Speaker, the Medicare program, the program that helps people over the age of 65, will take the hit of 4 percent across the board. It will be a $45 billion paygo cut because of this measure.
In addition to those numbers, we are also hearing from the groups who are going to be impacted. Madam Speaker, in this morning's Connecticut press, there is a story titled: ``What worries CT hospital leaders about Trump's Big Beautiful Bill.''
Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the article from the CT Mirror.
What Worries CT Hospital Leaders about Trump's Big Beautiful Bill
Madam Speaker, again, this journalist went out and interviewed hospitals across the State. This included urban, rural, and suburban hospitals. What all of them are reporting is that the hit of $1 trillion of Medicaid is going to ripple through the system and cause impact for everybody who relies on those critical services.
Daniel Keenan from Trinity Health Of New England, Saint Francis Hospital of Hartford is one of their big members. I was born there a number of years ago. He stated: ``The impact goes far beyond those who lose coverage. Our entire health system and every community we serve will feel the effects. Reduced services, longer wait times, staff reductions, and potential closure of programs and facilities.
``Keenan pointed to emergency rooms as an example. When people don't have coverage, they turn to emergency departments for basic care, resulting in crowding, service delays and staffing issues that impact the entire system.''
That affects everyone, and it will spill over into other people's employment-based insurance premiums, which the article goes through in great detail.
Madam Speaker, President Trump the other day said he actually doesn't think he wants to call the bill the One Big Beautiful Bill Act anymore. As he said, it was good for getting it approved, but it is not really good for explaining it to people. People have figured out enough in terms of deficit impact, taking away people's health insurance coverage, and the impact on services, particularly in the hospital sector, which they warned us about before the bill was passed. Yet, the majority and the White House turned a deaf ear.
We have a lot of work to do when we get back into town, starting tonight. Again, what would be nice is if all of the Members who had townhalls--and I know Republicans heard about this as well as Democrats--recognized that this bill is not the Ten Commandments.
Madam Speaker, we have the ability and the legal authority to make changes and listen to the people who are warning us that it is actually going to harm the American people, and there is nothing beautiful about it.
Madam Speaker, it is great to be back in our Nation's Capital, especially now that President Trump has cleaned up Washington and made this city safer for all residents and visitors.
Madam Speaker, there is no place like home, and it is really hard to leave Iowa. August was an incredible month, working across Iowa's First District. I went corner to corner, visiting all 20 counties. I met with manufacturers, farmers, hospital leaders, nonprofits, issue advocacy groups, emergency services, law enforcement, county supervisors, and small businesses. They all highlighted the wins we have delivered, which is the largest tax cut in history for working- and middle-class Americans.
Madam Speaker, there is a 20 percent tax cut for small businesses, permanent relief from the death tax for family farms, historic investments in trade schools, and manufacturing provisions that keep jobs and innovation in America.
I was proud to lead a Made in America Manufacturing Tour with stops at Cemen Tech, Vermeer, and SSAB to showcase how these progrowth policies are driving investment and creating jobs in Iowa.
I also held roundtables with hospitals, EMS, and small businesses to discuss lowering costs, cutting red tape, and ensuring our communities remain strong.
Of course, I joined thousands of Iowans at the great Iowa State Fair, celebrating our traditions, supporting agriculture, and talking with families about the issues that matter most. August was not a break. It was a work period filled with results.
Under President Trump's leadership, we are cutting taxes, bringing jobs back, unleashing American energy, securing our borders, and restoring America's strength. I am proud of the progress we made, and I am committed to working for Iowa and our great Nation.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University of Iowa's Department of Physics and Astronomy for their critical role on the NASA TRACERS mission.
On July 23, 2025, the Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites, also known as TRACERS, was successfully sent up from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This innovative mission is being led by David Miles, a professor at the University of Iowa.
I had the honor of touring the TRACERS lab at the University of Iowa. I saw the impressive work being carried out by Professor Miles and his team. Aboard the rocket are two twin satellites that will be used to study how the solar wind's energy enters space and how the Sun transfers energy and mass throughout the solar system. They will also study how Earth's magnetic shield protects our planet from the effects of space weather.
I am proud of the team that is home to such groundbreaking work and innovation. I congratulate Professor Miles and the TRACERS team on a successful launch. Go Hawks.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life of my aunt, Colleta ``Lettie'' Louise Hardebeck, who passed away August 16 at the age of 102.
Her celebration of life is tomorrow on September 3. I won't be able to be there because we are here in session.
Lettie was the energy and the adventurer of our family. She was born in 1923 to German immigrants in Simi Valley, California. She grew up on the family farm which was taken over by eminent domain for Interstate 5. She helped harvest oranges and walnuts.
After high school, she moved to Los Angeles where she worked for Prudential Life Insurance; rode the Red Bus with her sister, my Aunt Ellie; and met her husband, Bob, a Coast Guard sailor. They married in 1947 and raised four children together.
Lettie's life was marked by devotion to her family, to her Catholic faith, and to her community. She helped raise four children: Cathi, Larry, Jim, and Bobby. She also helped raise her grandson, Joey. She remained active in her church. Even at 100 years old, she was still attending Mass in person.
She loved the outdoors and adventure. She hiked Yosemite in her nineties, took her family camping in national parks, and even went sledding with her grandchildren in her eighties. She traveled widely, but she returned to the joy of family.
Because we were in the military, we didn't get to be with Aunt Lettie very much, but we remember her energy, her spirit, her love, her compassion, her adventurism, and her love for her youngest brother, Freddy, my dad.
Madam Speaker, though I am sorry I won't be there with Aunt Lettie and her family tomorrow, we remember Aunt Lettie in our thoughts and our prayers.
Madam Speaker, I also wish my sister-in-law, Susan Branthoover, a very happy birthday. Happy birthday, Susan.
Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and a bit of sadness that I rise today to say goodbye for now and thank you to my dear friend, and one of Congress' greatest champions for our public lands, Mr. David Brooks, who officially retires this week.
Over the last 38 years, David has served as an exceptional leader in the United States Senate and House, serving over the last 36\1/2\ years as counsel to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. He is the longest tenured ENR counsel in history, working for eight different Senate chairs and ranking members and one House Member.
During this time, David has worked on bills protecting nearly 25 million acres of public lands, 25 million acres of wilderness, national parks, monuments, wild and scenic rivers, heritage areas, national recreation areas, and trails.
He helped to write, negotiate, and pass one of the largest conservation bills in modern history with the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act. He helped to create permanent and mandatory funding for The Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has protected public lands across the country.
During his service, he helped craft 10 of the largest and most significant public land and water packages in decades, including helping to pass hundreds of individual bills and creating nearly 50 new national park units and 17 million acres of new national wilderness.
As counsel to two New Mexico Senators, he also helped to protect the Valles Caldera, Organ Mountains, and Columbine-Hondo Wilderness and many other efforts to protect the lands and waters of our State.
As you can see, Madam Speaker, the impact of David's work speaks for itself. To any American who has stood in wonderment and awe of our Nation's public lands and most special places, behind the ever- contested efforts to protect these lands, year in and year out, has stood the humble and steadfast work of David Brooks.
For those of us who know David as I do, Madam Speaker, as a mentor, as a friend, and as a teacher, you know more than anything he would hate this speech. In fact, I am amazed that he is even here today in this Chamber to be recognized for his service. That is because the David we know and love has spent his entire career at his desk writing and negotiating bills, meeting constituents, working with Members, mentoring staff, and, yes, spinning the occasional tale or two.
For anyone who has visited that hub, or tornado, of activity, you know what I am talking about. David's office has always been a meeting place for debate, big ideas, tough conversations, and getting things done.
For those of us who have had the pleasure of working directly with David, we know him as a kind and wise teacher, mentor, and guide. This too will be his legacy of his time here in Congress, and for that we are forever grateful.
He will also be known as a true Tucsonan, who never lost his connection and roots to his hometown of Tucson, Arizona.
A hometown hero in his own right, David began his political career in high school volunteering for another Tucson icon, the great Congressman Raul Grijalva, cutting his teeth as a high school volunteer for one of Mr. Grijalva's school board campaigns in which Congressman Grijalva became the city's first Chicano school board members in history.
After graduating from the University of Arizona, David came to Washington in 1987 to work for the great Congressman Morris K. Udall where he worked in the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, now known as the House Natural Resources Committee.
Like Mo Udall and Raul Grijalva, whom he worked for, two of our greatest public lands champions, David leaves the Hill with exceptional service and an unmatched record in protecting our Nation's public lands.
If it is not already clear, Tucson has a lot to be proud of, which is why we are so grateful that some of Mr. Grijalva's former staff, staff from the House Natural Resources and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and conservation organizations working across the country, have joined us here today. We certainly know that John and Carol, his parents back home, and his wife, Celeste, and son, Ben, who are here with us today, are deeply proud as well.
Above all else, we are going to miss David Brooks and his constant presence on the Hill. For so many of us David has been a rock, a friend, and a person whose loyalty, kindness, and decency stands out in a place where it is hard to come by.
David Brooks is a one of a kind, an American classic, and a Tucson hero. We congratulate him on his new retirement.
Madam Speaker, I rise today because democracy is under assault in my home State. California politicians, led by the Governor, are throwing a grenade at our Constitution in order to strip power from voters and seize it for themselves. This fraud on our electorate compels action by Congress to protect the representative form of government that citizens of every State are due.
That is why today I am calling for a prompt vote on H. Res. 4889.
On three separate occasions, California voters have deliberately chosen to remove politicians from the process of drawing the lines for legislative districts. Voters have empowered an independent citizens redistricting commission to set the boundaries of representation so that free and fair elections, not political manipulation, are the motive force in our democracy.
This principle is so important and so vital to safeguarding democracy that the citizens commission is enshrined in our State constitution along with a number of principles to guide redistricting:
Redistricting occurs once per decade after the Census.
The legislature is barred from participating.
The members of the citizens commission may not run for public office.
Districts are to be drawn in an open process based on extensive public input.
Boundaries are to be set based on neutral criteria like keeping communities together.
District lines cannot be influenced by partisan considerations or drawn to favor or disfavor any incumbent or candidate.
In one fell swoop, Gavin Newsom is blowing up all of these constitutional principles. His unprecedented mid-decade gerrymander tears up the map created by our citizens commission, replacing it with one drawn behind closed doors and adopted by politicians. It is one designed with explicitly partisan
Do the voters want this? Do Californians want to overturn everything they had previously voted for? Emphatically they do not.
Polling shows that two-thirds of voters, an overwhelming majority of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, favor keeping the commission. This would seem to be a problem for Governor Newsom, as his plan to push the commission aside requires voter approval.
To overcome this problem, to produce an artifact of voter approval for a proposition our voters strongly oppose, the Governor has resorted to two strategies: disenfranchising voters and defrauding them.
First, the Governor has called a sudden, impromptu, off-year, low- turnout special election, asking a partial electorate to overturn the will of our full electorate. To further suppress voter participation, he has thrown election rules out the window in a hyper-accelerated timeline unlike anything our State has ever seen, meaning fewer polling places, fewer notifications to voters, and at least at first a digital- only voter guide.
Second, the Governor is committing outright fraud on the ballot itself, describing the proposition in terms designed to fool voters into thinking ``yes'' is ``no'' and ``no'' is ``yes.''
To justify all of this, to clothe naked political self-interest in some kind of principle, the Governor and his enablers have treated us to one absurd paradox after another. We are told that another State is doing something so bad and so sinister that we should do it too. We are told that banishing an independent redistricting commission somehow supports independent redistricting. We are told that we should fight fire with fire, even if that means the whole world burns.
This perversion of Federal elections simply cannot be tolerated by the United States Congress. We have a duty to protect the rights of voters in selecting their Representatives in this body, and we have the authority to do so under the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Pursuant to that authority, I have introduced H. Res. 4889 to protect the congressional map drawn by California's citizens commission and to preserve the map of every State until the next Census.
This measure has bipartisan support. It will prevent a chaotic redistricting war from breaking out across America. It will allow us to focus on the real issues facing our country.
Today, I am calling on Speaker Mike Johnson to bring this measure to a vote on the House floor.
Gerrymandering is a plague on our democracy wherever it occurs. That is why I have also called for a bipartisan commission to end the practice once and for all.
While almost everyone agrees political division has become a serious problem in this country, it is especially harmful when we can't agree on the basic rules of the road. We need to find common ground when it comes to the basic parameters for our politics. We can then disagree vigorously within those parameters on matters of policy and our vision for the country. That is what democracy is about.
Madam Speaker, I have just come back from our district work period in northeast Ohio, and let me tell you, Madam Speaker, there is nothing better than being home being in our churches, in our union halls, and our community centers listening to the people I serve.
Let me tell you what I heard, Madam Speaker. It was crystal clear. People are getting squeezed.
Groceries--a very old fashioned word--are too expensive. Gas is too expensive. Housing is way too expensive, and Trump's chaos and corruption are making it all worse.
I heard how tariffs are jacking up prices, crushing small businesses, and threatening workers. I heard how the one big, ugly bill is about to make utility bills, student loans, and grocery costs skyrocket, all to give the richest Americans more tax breaks.
I heard how the President's cancellation of community safety funding will make our neighborhoods less safe, and I heard how his attacks on unions at the VA and FEMA will ripple right into the private sector, hurting working men and women everywhere.
Donald Trump's latest stunt, firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, is illegal, reckless, and a straight-up power grab designed to give him control of the Fed and raise costs for families.
An independent Federal Reserve is the bedrock of American prosperity. If you undermine it, retirement savings vanish, mortgage rates climb, and life gets more expensive for everyone.
Madam Speaker, this is bigger than economics. This is about freedom. Take a look around our country. We have military patrols in American cities, political investigations of the President's critics, mass detentions without due process, Federal agents hidden behind masks, museums ordered to rewrite history, the government bullying private companies and universities, and banners of the President's face that would even make Kim Jong-un blush.
This is a toxic agenda, and the President knows it. That is why he is changing the rules in the middle of the game. Need I remind you, 4 years ago, he demanded Georgia find him votes? Now, he is demanding red States find him more seats in Congress.
All this for what? So Donald Trump can enrich himself and his billionaire allies while everyday, hardworking Americans pay the bill.
I just have to ask, Madam Speaker: Where are the so-called constitutional conservatives? Will even one of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle find the courage to stand up? Have they not learned that cowering before this man only works until he decides you are expendable?
It may be easy to look away when people are without welfare status, when they suffer, or when people you don't like are targeted, fired, or erased. It may be easy when the victims live in places like Cleveland, Chicago, or Washington, but be clear: It never ends there.
As a Black woman, I know who the cruel and oppressive executive orders and policies punish first, but I also know this: Once it starts, everyone is punished.
This is the moment to defend our economy, to defend our Constitution, and to defend our freedoms and elections.
Madam Speaker, let me close with this. Last week, President Trump said: I have the right to do anything I want to do. I am the President of the United States.
He said it and laid it on the table in plain sight for all of us to see. He wants no checks, no balances, not from the courts, not from Congress, and not from the voters.
It is time to wake up, America, before it is too late.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President of the United States.
Madam Speaker, today marks 80 years since the Empire of Japan unconditionally surrendered to General Douglas MacArthur and Allied forces aboard the USS Missouri.
On this anniversary of V-J Day, it is fitting that we pause to remember not only the end of history's deadliest conflict but also the peace secured by the courage and sacrifice of the Greatest Generation, a legacy that still shapes our world today.
More than 16 million Americans served, including 195,000 from the State of Arkansas.
We remain forever grateful to the Allied war effort leadership, to the men and women who served down range in the Pacific, Europe, North Africa, and beyond, and to those on the home front who taught our kids and fueled the arsenal of democracy.
Our generation salutes the Greatest Generation for the defeat of fascism
Madam Speaker, one of those Pacific vets is my friend Floyd Brantley of Conway, Arkansas, a proud American who answered his country's call not once but three different times.
Floyd first enlisted in the Navy in 1943, serving as a hospital corpsman with the 1st Marine Division in the Russell Islands and New Guinea. After the war, he went on to Baylor University, joined the Air Force ROTC, and later served as a transport officer in Busan, South Korea, during the Korean conflict.
Most men would have considered that a full measure of service, but two decades later, during the Vietnam era, Floyd once again put on the uniform, this time in the Air National Guard, giving another 10 years to his country. He retired as a colonel.
As Floyd approaches a century of life, I have never met a more active, positive person. In all, Colonel Brantley devoted more than 23 years to the defense of our Nation. He is a shining example of service above self, and I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring him today.
Madam Speaker, on this 80th commemoration of V- J Day, I recognize the remarkable service of Mr. John Mass, a proud veteran of World War II, the Korean conflict, and the Vietnam war.
Like so many of his generation, John answered the call to serve, devoting over 26 years to the defense of our country. He began his service in 1943 with the U.S. Army Air Corps and concluded with his honorable retirement from the United States Air Force in 1969.
Over that distinguished career, Mr. Mass served in posts worldwide, including the Philippines, Guam, Thailand, Greenland, Germany, and bases across the United States, where he contributed to the safety and effectiveness of airborne operations.
Now, at 97 years old, Mr. Mass' record of service stands as an enduring testament to duty, sacrifice, and patriotism. I honor his extraordinary contributions to his country.
Madam Speaker, on this anniversary of V-J Day, I rise to recognize Mary Fine.
Mary Fine turned 100 years old this past March 12. I rise today to honor not only this incredible milestone in her life but her service to our country.
Ms. Fine was a member of the Women's Army Corps and served our country during America's most difficult tests of the Second World War.
From 1942 to 1978, the Women's Army Corps offered opportunities for women to serve in the armed and uniformed services. WACs, as its members were called, served in a variety of roles, including as mechanics, medical professionals, photographers, and clerks. As for Mary, she served as a phone operator and translator.
Women like Mary were integral to our victory, as they worked tirelessly to support men on the front line and ensure the American war machine operated at peak efficiency.
Madam Speaker, I congratulate Ms. Fine on her birthday and thank her for her service.
Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 20th Anniversary of the USS Razorback SS 394 being docked on the banks of the Arkansas River in North Little Rock.
During World War II, the Balao-class submarine completed five war patrols in the Pacific, sinking multiple Japanese vessels, capturing enemy prisoners, and rescuing downed American airmen, even being present in the Tokyo Bay for the Japanese surrender.
By the time she was decommissioned in 1970 the Razorback had earned five battle stars for its service during World War II, four stars for Vietnam, and two awards of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
In 2004 she was towed up the Arkansas River and opened to the public on Memorial Day in 2005 to her permanent home in Arkansas's Second District.
Since then, the USS Razorback has become a part of Arkansas history. A place where schools from across the state come to learn about history.
Please join me in celebrating the 20th Anniversary of this historic Arkansas landmark.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the pending issue of Social Security.
Madam Speaker, for you and the people in the audience, it might come as a shock that Social Security has not been adjusted in more than 54 years.
What do I mean by that? Some would argue that Social Security was adjusted in 1982 under Tip O'Neill, Ronald Reagan, and Bob Dole. Indeed, it was addressed, but Ronald Reagan wanted to privatize Social Security. Bob Dole, a Senate Republican, said no, that this is too important a program. They agreed that what they would do was to keep the program intact, under the assistance of Tip O'Neill, but they raised the age. That sounds like a reasonable compromise until you realize that for every year you raise the age, that is a 7 percent cut in benefits. In essence, back in 1982, there was a 14 percent cut in benefits.
Today, we have a comprehensive proposal with regard to Social Security to help everybody across the board, including a 2 percent overall increase in Social Security--again, something that hasn't been done since Richard Nixon was President of the United States.
We also want to make sure that no one receives a below-poverty-level check from Social Security. Currently, more than 5 million of our fellow Americans--most, Madam Speaker, you will find interesting, are women--primarily because they were the caregivers and providers at home and, when they were in the workforce, were making less than their male counterparts. No matter how you look at it, it is unfair and unjust.
Social Security is the Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly, and it is also the number one antipoverty program for children.
Madam Speaker, more veterans rely on Social Security disability than they do the VA. Yet, Congress has not acted.
This is not anything that can be done through executive order or anything that is before the Supreme Court. What all Americans should be demanding is that their Congress not only pay attention but act.
Democrats have a proposal that does just that. It expands coverage across the board. It makes sure that no one can retire into poverty, like more than 5 million current Americans do. It also makes sure that we provide a cost-of-living increase that will benefit everybody.
Where do they spend that money, Madam Speaker? They spend it right back in the congressional districts where they live. They put it right back into buying groceries and going to the pharmacies; paying to heat and cool their homes; paying their rent, bills, mortgages; and putting gasoline into their automobiles. That all helps the American economy.
During this time of inflation, it is not understandable why a Republican-controlled House and Senate will not take up Social Security as the main issue facing the American people, including the best step forward during these times of inflation. Where do people spend that check: right back in the communities that they live in. That is the most important thing.
Madam Speaker, that is why I come to the floor today: to make sure that we are acting on Social Security and to make sure that all Americans understand how vital and important this is. We can no longer afford to kick this can down the road. Kicking the can down the road doesn't help anyone out in your district, in my district, and in the 435 districts across this Nation. Quite the contrary, it will help everyone out.
This is not about being a Democrat or a Republican or an Independent. This is about Americans, again, demonstrating the brilliance of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and what they had in mind to get us out of the Great Depression.
We are still hanging on from the recession of 2008 and 2009. If people say it can't happen again, they are wrong. It can.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Sergeant John Danneker of Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Sergeant Danneker served as a waist gunner for the 565th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group during World War II.
On June 20, 1944, his bomber crashed into the Baltic Sea off the coast of Denmark. Sergeant Danneker was initially declared nonrecoverable after investigations into the crash were unable to locate the crewmen.
In 2019, Danish divers alerted the Royal Danish Navy of a World War II-era aircraft wreckage in the general area of where Sergeant Danneker's aircraft went down.
From May 2024 to June 2024, the Royal Danish Navy, the Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, and their partners were able to recover the remains from the aircraft.
On December 10, 2024, Sergeant Danneker was positively identified through DNA analysis.
Last week, on August 26, Sergeant Danneker was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
Mr. Speaker, we must never stop searching for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. I am grateful to all involved for bringing Sergeant Danneker home.
Mr. Speaker, the success by President Donald Trump for peace and prosperity in the Middle East is being implemented by American patriot Ambassador Tom Barrack as I witnessed firsthand last week in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
Our bipartisan, bicameral delegation, led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, visited with inspiring leaders like King Abdullah in Amman, President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, and President Joseph Aoun in Beirut.
Jordan is appreciated as a prosperous, longtime American ally. Syria is advancing to include all communities and religions into a unified nation. With dictator Assad fleeing to Moscow, President Trump promotes ``give Syria a chance.'' Lebanon is fulfilling its pledge to disarm Hezbollah by year-end. Ambassador Barrack is successfully isolating Iran as Iran chants ``death to Israel, death to America.''
In conclusion, God bless our troops as the global war on terrorism continues. Trump is reinstituting existing laws to protect American families with peace through strength, revealing war criminal Putin lies, insulting Trump and mocking Trump, murdering Ukrainian civilians with rocket attacks as he conducts lovely conversations.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with immense pride to honor San Angelo, Texas, native and commander of the 449th Aviation Support Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Jordan Boyd, as well as two extraordinary National Guard units: the 108th Assault Helicopter Battalion in Austin and the 149th General Support Helicopter Battalion in San Antonio.
These units are extraordinary. On the morning of July Fourth, as floodwaters devastated central and west Texas, these two units immediately jumped into action and have not stopped since. Knowing many of the stranded children were present at that time, these crews pushed themselves to every imaginable limit, flying through adverse weather to reach Camp Mystic and the entire Guadalupe River. Their daring efforts saved 366 lives that day and reunited hundreds of families.
Mr. Speaker, I thank not just the pilots but also the maintainers and support personnel and all of the people in the Texas National Guard that have shown immense heroism over the past few months. I can't thank them enough for their heroic efforts.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4215) to require the Secretary of State to promulgate expedited and fixed timelines for the decision-making process to license the export of certain defense articles and defense services, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Washington?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I introduced the International Traffic in Arms Regulations Licensing Reform Act to improve licensing timelines and processes for direct commercial defense sales.
America's foreign defense sales program is notorious for its slow timelines and opaque process. This lack of clarity about how foreign partners are prioritized causes frustration and confusion among our most important partners and allies. This inefficiency and murkiness force our partners to consider turning to other countries to source their capabilities.
The U.S. is currently the partner of choice for foreign arms sales, but that status is in jeopardy due to internal delays and unnecessary bureaucratic red tape.
The direct commercial sales process presents a more efficient, expedient pathway for our allies and partners to purchase U.S. technology. Direct commercial sales are the future of American defense sales. Direct commercial sales skyrocketed last year and are quickly outpacing other forms of defense sales.
If our direct commercial sales program is going to continue to grow, more must be done to streamline direct commercial sales and incentivize even faster timelines.
This legislation would codify President Trump's April 9 executive order to establish a list of priority partners for certain defense sales and would create a timebound process for approving direct commercial sales cases.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support our defense industrial base and support this commonsense bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4215. This bill would institute clearer timeframes for the licensing decisions made by the State Department for direct sales of defense items by private firms to foreign buyers.
While large systems, such as aircraft, ships, tanks, and missiles, are principally provided via the foreign military sales, or FMS, process, a number of important items, such as small arms, vehicles, radars, and other equipment, are transferred via direct commercial sales.
These items are often vital for our partners and allies to replenish their military stocks and defensive capabilities. While the vast majority of these sales are processed and licensed in an expeditious manner, foreign partners often seek greater speed and clarity regarding the process.
This bill simply institutes reasonable timeframes of up to 60 days for a licensing decision to be made. This does not preordain an outcome. The State Department can still either return such licenses for adjustment or modification due to additional revisions or controls determined necessary or reject the requested license outright.
In short, while I have strong concerns about the arms sales and security assistance policies of the Trump administration, I support efforts to provide our allies and partners with improved timelines and processing for defense articles that they need for our shared national security goals.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purposes of closing.
Mr. Speaker, the time period limitations on direct foreign commercial sales set forth in this bill will, in fact, provide greater clarity for our allies and a more rapid delivery of necessary items to our partners around the world. Moreover, the bill does so without undermining congressional oversight or predetermining any decisions.
Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, we must do everything we can to improve our foreign defense sales process to ensure American competitiveness and equip our allies with the highest quality defense materials.
I am proud to sponsor this legislation to streamline the direct commercial sales process, and I urge my colleagues to join me in support of it. This legislation makes America safer and our economy wealthier.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4215.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4216) to direct the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to carry out a review of the list of defense articles and services required to be transferred under the foreign military sales program as opposed to direct commercial sale (FMS-Only List), as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Washington?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation to improve the foreign military sales process.
When our partners and allies choose to procure U.S.-origin defense articles or services, they have a choice to purchase items via either the foreign military sales process or the direct commercial sales process.
While foreign military sales are often the path of choice due to the robust, total-package approach, direct commercial sales are preferable in many cases, as it is faster and a more nimble process than foreign military sales.
However, the State Department maintains an out-of-date list of defense articles that may only be purchased via foreign military sales. This list is meant to only include the most sensitive technologies that would pose a risk to U.S. competitiveness or national security if these technologies fell into the wrong hands.
However, its outdated nature ends up creating the very problem that it seeks to avoid. U.S. competitiveness is limited, as our partners choose to turn to other sources for technologies that are too slow to procure from the U.S.
President Trump's April 9 executive order mandated that the State Department review and update the foreign military sales-only list.
This legislation would codify that requirement and go one step further by requiring an annual review of the list. This legislation would also enhance congressional reporting requirements to ensure that Congress has oversight over any changes to the list.
This much-needed legislation is a key part of reforming our foreign defense sales process to ensure that the United States maintains its competitiveness and remains the global partner of choice for procurement of defense technology.
Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Foreign Arms Sales Task Force, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4216. This bill directs the Department of State to conduct an annual review in consultation with the Department of Defense of what weapons and technologies can be moved from the FMS-only list to be eligible for direct commercial sales.
It also requires helpful reporting to Congress on the process and evaluation of these changes. Importantly, it does not modify or undermine Congress' oversight or visibility into the proposed arms transfers.
The context behind this bill is very important. Our country provides defense articles and services to our allies and partners via foreign military sales, often abbreviated to ``FMS.'' U.S. FMS cases offer a unique approach, which include not only the most capable military platforms to our friends but what historically has been known as the total-package approach.
This refers to the fact that the United States, via FMS sales, provides not only the military hardware itself, but a total package that includes training, repairs, and maintenance support, as well as capacity building for that nation's military.
Our adversaries, quite simply, do not and often cannot provide both such exquisite technologies but also the whole suite of support that comes with them. The advanced technology, as well as the total-package approach and our diplomatic influence, values, and position sets us apart.
While FMS transfers are fit for many cases and situations, some foreign partners have sought to expand their defense purchases via greater direct commercial sales from U.S. firms. While these steps need to be taken carefully, the review required by this bill is a smart step in the right direction which I support.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, President Trump made it clear: Put American jobs first, and cut the Washington red tape. I am proud to say that my bill delivers by turning the President's executive order into law and investing in American workers.
The Made-in-America Defense Act strengthens domestic manufacturing. It supports our allies, and it advances our national security, all by cutting through the Washington bureaucracy that too often slows us down.
Here is the bottom line: This bill will produce more jobs for our tradesmen and boost manufacturing in South Carolina and across the Nation.
For South Carolina's Third District, it means good jobs for welders, machinists, and engineers. It means new orders coming into counties like Anderson, Greenwood, Newberry, and Oconee, and many other hardworking blue-color communities all across the Nation.
Importantly, it means America's best equipment reaching our allies faster than ever before.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing, but I will be very brief.
This legislation provides a useful directive while maintaining congressional prerogatives and oversight over armed sales. I hope that all of my colleagues will join me and support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, reforming America's foreign defense sales is a top priority of this administration. We must do our part to codify the improvements initiated by President Trump. I am proud to support this legislation to improve the foreign defense system, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4216, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 747) to impose sanctions with respect to Chinese producers of synthetic opioids and opioid precursors, to hold Chinese officials accountable for the spread of illicit fentanyl, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Washington?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of Representative Barr's Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025.
Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45. It is killing over 70,000 Americans a year, and it is flooding into our communities with deadly force.
We know where it is coming from. The vast majority of illegal fentanyl in the U.S. originates in China. Chinese labs manufacture the chemicals. Chinese traffickers supply the cartels, and American families pay the price in lives lost.
This bill holds the Chinese Communist Party accountable. It gives our government stronger tools to sanction Chinese entities involved in the fentanyl trade and puts pressure on the CCP to shut down the labs that fuel this crisis.
It is time to treat this for what it is: a national security threat.
The Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act sends a clear message: The United States will not sit back while foreign actors profit from American pain.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 747, as amended.
The opioid crisis has claimed too many lives. We have seen some real progress the last few years in part because of domestic and international policies put in place by President Biden, including getting President Xi to do more to stop fentanyl precursors from reaching our shores. Of course, the issue is far from solved.
This bill will strengthen sanctions on major Chinese producers of fentanyl and those who aid and abet opioid traffickers. If you are knowingly sending deadly chemicals to American citizens, you absolutely must be sanctioned, and I would encourage President Trump and Secretary Bessent to focus more on this issue.
That said, we cannot sanction our way out of the fentanyl crisis. Sanctions are an important tool, but cooperation is essential. If we want countries to limit the fentanyl precursor exports and prevent these substances from entering our communities, we need the active partnership of law enforcement in nations like China and Mexico.
This is just a simple fact. Tough talk has its place, but effective diplomacy and law enforcement cooperation are indispensable.
Let me be clear. Use of military force is not a viable solution.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Representative Barr, for his advocacy on this important issue. Congress works on behalf of the American people best when we work together, and Mr. Barr and I worked together on several issues in this Congress. Both sides worked in good faith to get this bill done last Congress and again here today.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Washington State and Chairman Mast for supporting the legislation. I thank my friend, the ranking member, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks), for his bipartisan support, as well.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 747, the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act.
The fentanyl crisis is one of the most significant threats to our country and continues to plague families and neighbors across the United States.
My home State of Kentucky, sadly, has been ravaged by the fentanyl crisis.
Drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45, and fentanyl is responsible for nearly 70 percent of these deaths.
Last year, the DEA seized more than 60 million fentanyl-laced fake pills in the United States and almost 8,000 pounds of fentanyl power equal to more than 380 million lethal doses of fentanyl.
As of last month, the 2025 seizures of fentanyl equate to over 232 million deadly doses and 70,000 of our fellow Americans succumbed to this poison. In 2024, over 1,400 Kentuckians lost their lives to a drug overdose, including fentanyl.
Unfortunately, this scourge has spread with the help of our greatest strategic adversary, the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party.
As a member of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, we conducted an investigation, and that investigation in the last Congress established that the PRC Government, under the control of the Chinese Communist Party, directly subsidizes the manufacturing and export of illicit fentanyl materials and other synthetic narcotics through tax rebates.
Many of these substances are illegal under the PRC's own laws and have no known legal use worldwide. Like its export tax rebates for legitimate goods, the CCP's subsidies of illegal drugs incentivize international synthetic drug sales from the People's Republic of China, and the CCP never disclosed this program.
In addition, the select committee found that the CCP gave monetary grants and awards to companies openly trafficking illicit fentanyl materials and other synthetic narcotics. There are even examples of some of these companies enjoying site visits from provincial PRC Government officials, who complimented them for their impact on the provincial economy.
The CCP holds an ownership interest in several PRC companies tied to drug trafficking, including a PRC Government prison connected to human rights abuses, owning a drug trafficking chemical company, and a publicly traded PRC company hosting thousands of instances of open drug trafficking on its sites.
The PRC failed to prosecute fentanyl and precursor manufacturers. Rather than investigating drug traffickers, the Government of the PRC security services have not cooperated with U.S. law enforcement and have even notified targets of U.S. investigations when they receive requests for assistance.
The PRC allows for the open sale of fentanyl precursors and other illicit materials on the extensively monitored and controlled PRC internet. A review of just seven e-commerce sites found over 31,000 instances of PRC companies selling illicit chemicals with obvious ties to drug trafficking. Undercover communications with PRC drug trafficking companies revealed an eagerness to engage in clearly illicit drug
We know that China has historically been and remains the primary source of fentanyl in global circulation through the production of these precursor chemicals and outsourcing the final production to cartel labs in Mexico. That is why it is paramount that Congress pass my legislation that is being considered here today, the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act.
My bill amends the Fentanyl Sanctions Act to expand the definition of ``foreign opioid trafficker'' to include certain Chinese entities and government officials that fail to take steps to prevent opioid trafficking, subjecting them to sanctions. The bill also requires the President to determine whether the heads of the National Narcotics Control Commission, the Ministry of Public Security, the General Administration of Customs, and the National Medical Products Administration of the Government of the PRC are foreign opioid traffickers.
We must attack the production of fentanyl by targeting the source of precursors in China.
Chinese producers of synthetic opioids and opioid precursors and senior government and Chinese political officials' culpability does not end when their precursor products land in Mexico or illegally cross our southern border. We must look at every step of fentanyl's deadly supply chain and hold our adversaries accountable.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025 is not just about policy. It is about saving American lives. We must hold China accountable for its role in this deadly epidemic. Congress must take a stand against the poison devastating our communities.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 747, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2643) to require the Secretary of State to submit an annual report to Congress regarding the ties between criminal gangs and political and economic elites in Haiti and impose sanctions on political and economic elites involved in such criminal activities, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Washington?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I support H.R. 2643, the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act, introduced by Ranking Member Meeks, because it advances a clear bipartisan goal: exposing and sanctioning the corrupt political and economic elites in Haiti who have fueled the country's ongoing gang crisis.
This is not just about Haiti. It is about protecting U.S. national security. The chaos in Port-au-Prince is creating regional instability. Haitians are fleeing the island, using criminal networks to traffic them and others to our southern border. These actors threaten the safety of the Haitian people and the interests of the United States.
To its credit, the Trump administration responded swiftly. Within days of taking office, it approved nearly $41 million to support the Haitian National Police and the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission. It also issued a humanitarian waiver to keep emergency relief flowing.
This bill complements those efforts by requiring the State Department to identify and report on individual gangs tied to gang activity and to impose sanctions on those responsible. It targets the enablers of violence and provides Congress with the information needed to act decisively.
Meanwhile, the administration is prioritizing stronger oversight of U.S. foreign assistance to Haiti, an essential effort to ensure taxpayer funds are not misused. By identifying and sanctioning corrupt actors, this bill helps ensure that U.S. aid does not end up in the hands of those fueling the instability. It reinforces the broader objective of holding accountable the networks behind Haiti's collapse.
I appreciate the bipartisan leadership on this legislation and recognize its importance in confronting the crisis head-on.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of H.R. 2643.
This legislation would require the State Department to develop a report detailing the ties between the political and economic elite in Haiti and the criminal gangs that have run roughshod over the majority of the capital.
Each day, the situation in Haiti gets worse. Approximately 1.3 million Haitians, including more than 700,000 children, have now been forced out of their homes by gang violence. Just since last October, gangs have killed more than 5,600 innocent Haitians.
Gang activity is no longer confined to the outskirts of Port-au- Prince, expanding into cities once free from violence. Gangs, able to outgun the Haitian National Police, continue to launch heavily armed attacks on ports, highways, critical infrastructure, police stations, courthouses, prisons, hospitals, businesses, and neighborhoods. They have committed gruesome massacres against senior citizens and, for more than a year now, have dictated Haiti's security and political tempo.
Not everyone in Haiti has suffered at the hands of gangs. Members of the political and economic elite who have enabled, armed, and benefited from the unrest in Haiti are also to blame for the ongoing crises.
Should the State Department find criminal collusion between members of Haiti's political and economic elite and
Mr. Speaker, we ignore the ongoing crisis in Haiti at our own peril. We have a duty to make sure that we identify and hold accountable those who perpetuate chaos.
I thank my colleagues for working in a bipartisan manner because this is the right thing to do, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan measure.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing.
Mr. Speaker, we cannot allow the criminal gangs in Haiti and those powerful political and economic elites who have enabled and empowered them to inflict violence and chaos on Haiti with impunity. Impunity must stop.
The people of Haiti must believe that they have the opportunity to chart a path to a secure, stable, and democratic future and that gangs will not be allowed to rule and dictate the reality on the ground.
The people of Haiti are waiting. They want to hear our voices and to know that those who are committing the crimes or have enabled them to be committed cannot just continue to go back and forth from Haiti to the United States and move around with impunity. This will send a message to them that they will be held accountable for what and how they are destroying the lives, livelihoods, and opportunities for the hardworking people of Haiti.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this bill and encourage my colleagues to support it, as well.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Meeks for this fine piece of legislation and appreciate his bipartisan spirit.
I urge my colleagues to pass the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act and make clear that the United States will expose and hold accountable those who fund, enable, and profit from gang violence in Haiti. It will shine a light on the criminal networks undermining regional stability and ensure there are consequences for those who collude with them.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2643, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2503) to require the development of a strategy to eliminate the availability to foreign adversaries of goods and technologies capable of supporting undersea cables, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Washington?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Representative Kean's Undersea Cable Control Act.
Over 99 percent of the world's data that crosses the oceans travels through the fiber-optic cables that sit on the sea floor. This bill requires the U.S. to develop and execute a strategy to protect this critical infrastructure.
America's adversaries are working around the clock to control these communication chokepoints. Chinese companies like HMN Technologies, formerly known as Huawei Marine Networks, are estimated to be building or repairing about a quarter of the world's undersea cables. There have been documented instances of the Chinese manipulating and spying on these networks, with internet traffic being rerouted through China.
Mr. Speaker, it is important that we identify what the Chinese Communist Party needs to deploy undersea cables so that we can ensure only America and its allies lead in the development and maintenance of this technology.
I urge my colleagues to support Representative Kean's fine bill to begin this process of protecting this critical and vulnerable infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2503.
Communication systems and access to the internet are highly dependent on undersea cables. Ninety-nine percent of intercontinental data travels via undersea fiber-optic cables on the ocean floor.
It goes without saying that control and manufacture of these cables matter not just for economic development but will matter in any conflict.
The United States, with allies and partners, must maintain strategic independence and should seek to become the primary source of this critical infrastructure. This bill will force the Bureau of Industry and Security to provide a study along these lines, which is long overdue.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2503, the Undersea Cable Control Act.
Undersea cables have long been an integral part of America's transcontinental communication and data transmission. The Undersea Cable Control Act is a crucial, bipartisan piece of legislation designed to protect U.S. national security and ensure continued U.S. technological leadership.
By limiting our foreign adversaries' access to undersea cabling infrastructure, we can protect U.S. leadership from the influence of adversarial governments, like the Chinese Communist Party.
I think we can all agree, regardless of which side of the aisle we stand on, that there is a need to ensure technologies critical to America's telecommunications infrastructure do not end up in the wrong hands.
Undersea cables carry approximately 99 percent of transoceanic digital traffic, enabling $10 trillion in daily financial transactions and contributing hundreds of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy every year.
Mr. Speaker, undersea cable infrastructure has become the digital background for the modern global economy. Recent attacks on the transcontinental cable have exposed vulnerabilities in the framework.
However, this bill directs Congress and the State Department to develop a strategy to eliminate adversarial access to the key technologies used in undersea cables. This strengthens our export controls, requires transparency and public reporting, and promotes collaboration with our allies abroad to ensure our standards and infrastructure are secure.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Mast of the House Foreign Affairs Committee for authoring this bill during the 118th Congress. I am honored to continue the legacy he began.
Mr. Speaker, I support this bill on undersea cables and believe it is a smart step to develop a strategy for American economic statecraft in this important area.
Mr. Speaker, the Undersea Cable Control Act will ensure America, not the Chinese Communist Party, is connecting the globe with critical undersea cable infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2503.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4490) to amend the International Organizations Immunities Act to extend diplomatic privileges and immunities to certain additional international and regional organizations, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Washington?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the PARTNER Act, a forward-looking measure that strengthens America's ties with the international organizations shaping the global order at a moment when international competition is sharper than ever.
This legislation gives our Nation the ability to fully engage with influential regional and international bodies such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Caribbean Community, and the African Union by extending to them the same diplomatic privileges afforded under the International Organizations Immunities Act.
In doing so, we signal not only respect for their importance but also our determination to work alongside them as equal partners in tackling shared challenges.
From advancing security and prosperity to fostering innovation and confronting global health threats, these organizations are central to addressing pressing issues that do not stop at our borders.
If the United States is to lead effectively in this century, we cannot remain on the sidelines. We must be present in the rooms where decisions are being made, ready to cooperate and ready to lead. This bill ensures our diplomats and institutions are equipped to do exactly that.
I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the PARTNER Act and reaffirming America's commitment to principled and enduring international leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the PARTNER Act. This is a bipartisan bill, supported by colleagues on both sides of the aisle, that strengthens American diplomacy, science, and leadership in the world.
The PARTNER Act does something very simple but very important. It extends basic legal protections, known as privileges and immunities, to several key international organizations that the United States works closely with but that, until now, have lacked the same recognition that we give to other multilateral institutions.
Let me explain why this is very important.
These legal protections are not special favors. They are the standard tools that allow international organizations to do their work effectively and independently. They protect institutions from lawsuits, taxation, or other interference that could disrupt their missions, while still ensuring that individuals remain accountable for their own private actions.
They are reciprocal. Just as American diplomats and officials enjoy these protections when we serve in international organizations abroad, we extend them to our partners here in the United States. It is the basic infrastructure of diplomacy.
Why is this bill important right now?
First, our strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific. ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is central to U.S. engagement in Asia. Recognizing its diplomatic status here in the United States shows our commitment to the region's future and to working with our Asian partners on equal footing.
Second, the Western Hemisphere, of which we are a part, is obviously incredibly important to the United States. CARICOM, the Caribbean Community, plays a crucial role in democratic governance, regional security, and disaster preparedness. Extending privileges and immunities supports CARICOM as a unified voice for the Caribbean and strengthens U.S. ties to a region where influence should be felt through real and consistent engagement.
Third, science and technology leadership. CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is one of the world's premier scientific organizations. It is partnering with United States researchers on the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, a $3 billion project based right here in United States. This is some of the most important and cutting-edge physics research in the world that will, hopefully, allow us to better understand the universe.
By extending privileges and immunities to CERN, we can speed up the timeline for this groundbreaking work, control costs, and ensure that American scientists remain at the forefront of the discovery.
Fourth, our Pacific and African partners. This bill authorizes the President to extend protections to the Pacific Islands Forum, a vital regional body in the South Pacific where small island nations are on the front lines of climate change and facing significant diplomatic overtures by China.
The bill fixes a gap in U.S. law by ensuring the African Union's observer
Taken together, these provisions make clear that the United States values our partnerships and will invest in multilateral cooperation that advances our interests and our American values.
Mr. Speaker, Congress has extended privileges and immunities before to the European Union, to the African Union, and, of course, to the United Nations and the Organization of American States. This bill simply applies the same standard to other organizations that the United States works with every single day.
At a time when our competitors are working overtime to expand their influence in Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Africa we cannot afford to sit back.
The PARTNER Act is a concrete step to strengthen U.S. leadership, deepen our alliances, and keep America the center of global diplomacy and science.
I thank all of my colleagues, Democrat and Republican, for their leadership and for their work on this bill. This bill has broad bipartisan support. It is good for American diplomacy, good for American science, and good for American leadership in the world.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the PARTNER Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative Baumgartner, for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4490, the PARTNER Act. This bill represents a bold and necessary commitment to strengthening America's engagement with our allies and partner organizations worldwide by granting tailored immunities and privileges.
Of note is the inclusion of provisions from the PARTNER Act with the ASEAN Act and the Pacific Partnership Act, which together elevate U.S. cooperation with our Indo-Pacific allies.
The Indo-Pacific is home to over one-half of the world's population, vital trade routes, and rapidly growing economies and markets. It is a region that I hold as a key priority as chair of the East Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee due to its significance to national security and economic prosperity.
Meanwhile, the region also faces significant challenges, including rising geopolitical tensions, maritime disputes, and growing coercion from bad actors seeking to undermine a rules-based order.
This bill is long overdue and sends a strong message that the United States will stand shoulder to shoulder with our friends, including our Indo-Pacific partners, from the Philippines to Palau, to promote a free, open, and prosperous region.
This bill is not just about diplomatic immunities; it is about American leadership on the global stage.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to co-lead this bill with Representative Castro, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Castro and Representative Kim for their leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4490, the PARTNER Act. This legislation represents an important step forward in our country's ability to collaborate with our international partners. In particular, this legislation contains the text of our Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act which simplifies our scientific collaboration with CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research.
As a physicist, I spent more than two decades working with colleagues from around the globe at Fermilab in Illinois where international scientific collaboration allowed us to better understand each other and the universe that we are embedded in.
CERN already partners with several of our national laboratories, including Argonne National Lab and Fermi National Lab in the 11th District of Illinois that I represent.
In particular, this bill will allow for closer collaboration with CERN on the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, also known as DUNE, an international flagship experiment.
DUNE will help us to discover more about the nature of subatomic particles known as neutrinos, which could help us understand fundamental questions about the origins of matter and the beginnings of the universe. It will also search for previously undetected modes of proton decay, the subject for which I received my Ph.D. thesis many moons ago.
This legislation will allow CERN to send its scientists who have been working on the DUNE project to assist in person as these experiments come online.
One of the most exciting things about the DUNE project is we don't know what it will discover. When we built our proton decay detector many moons ago, we did not know that 160,000 years ago a star blew up, one supernova, in the greater Magellanic cloud, and for 160,000 years the flash of light from that stellar explosion and the burst of neutrinos traveled toward the Earth. It arrived in 1987 when the astronomers saw the flash of light and we saw the burst of neutrinos in our underground detector, so we learned an incredible thing about these stellar explosions.
It is this sort of thing that brings you, me, and other young people into science. I thank Ranking Member Castro, as well as Representative Dusty Johnson of the great State of South Dakota, who worked with me over the last few years to ensure the success of this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan effort is an important step in solidifying our partnership with CERN and maintaining our Nation's role as a leader in scientific research.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Representative Castro and Representative Kim, for introducing this important bill. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4490, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend the International Organizations Immunities Act to extend privileges and immunities to certain additional international and regional organizations, and for other purposes.''.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4233) to modify provisions relating to defense trade and cooperation among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Washington?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation to improve implementation of the AUKUS partnership.
The AUKUS partnership is a groundbreaking defense partnership between the United States, the U.K., and Australia, created with the intention of keeping a free and open Indo-Pacific and strengthening defense trade between the U.S. and our closest allies.
The AUKUS partnership presents a unique opportunity for the U.S. to strengthen our relationships with our AUKUS partners, ensure interoperability with our most important allies in any future conflict, and promote innovation in defense technology.
While Congress codified the AUKUS partnership last year, AUKUS has faced numerous challenges in its implementation due to bureaucratic red tape. Since its implementation, we have worked closely with our foreign partners and the Trump administration to discuss the challenges AUKUS Pillar II has faced.
This legislation addresses these challenges and will ensure that the AUKUS partnership is implemented according to the original intent of the partner countries, allowing the U.S. defense industry and our allies to take full advantage of the benefits of this agreement.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4233. The AUKUS Agreement established by the Biden administration was a historic accomplishment, and Congress has played an important and constructive role in laying the legislative foundation for closer cooperation between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
With this latest legislative effort, Representatives Kim and Dean are continuing and furthering that legacy and promoting a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
AUKUS is an important way to bolster our alliance structure in East Asia and the Pacific and do what we do best as a nation: work with our allies toward a common cause, in this case, a free and open Indo- Pacific.
The AUKUS agreement accomplishes these ends by providing Australia with additional submarine training and technology in Pillar I, as well as knitting together cooperative defense research and development efforts between Australia, the United States, and the U.K. in Pillar II.
This bill builds on important, bipartisan provisions agreed to in the fiscal year '24 NDAA which set the foundation for AUKUS and provides minor technical improvements, as well.
Principally, it clarifies and enshrines the ability for AUKUS partners to reexport and retransfer defense material and technology within the AUKUS construct and through established and secured channels.
The bill also provides other technical fixes and clarifications to the already strong bipartisan AUKUS foundational text which continues to serve all three AUKUS countries.
As the Trump administration conducts its belated review of AUKUS, many of us here in Congress on both sides of the aisle look forward to seeing AUKUS continue forward. This bill is a helpful contribution to its shared goals.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my colleague, Representative Baumgartner, for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my bill, H.R. 4233, the AUKUS Reform for Military Optimization and Review Act, or the ARMOR Act.
The ARMOR Act strengthens defense collaboration and trade among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which make up the AUKUS trilateral security partnership.
Since its inception in 2021, AUKUS has been key to our collective defense strategy, promoting cooperation on cutting-edge technologies like nuclear-powered submarines, artificial intelligence, and hypersonic systems.
Unfortunately, outdated export controls and bureaucratic hurdles currently hinder the efficient sharing of critical defense technologies among our trusted partners.
H.R. 4233 addresses these challenges by facilitating quicker, more secure transfers of defense materials while preserving critical protections for sensitive technologies.
Specifically, it expands the expedited licensing to include retransfers, removes the congressional notification requirement on certain AUKUS transfers, requires a report on implementation of expedited review for export licenses, and requires an annual review of the Excluded Technology List to ensure the list is relevant and aligned with AUKUS goals.
The Indo-Pacific faces growing challenges, and the unholy alliance is growing more brazen and aggressive. This
Time is of the essence. We need to expedite the AUKUS partners' access to markets and make sure this defense pact is working as intended.
Bureaucratic delays to the AUKUS agreement undermine our ability to counter threats and to maintain technological and defense superiority.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill to send a strong message to our adversaries and friends alike that the United States is serious about preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific with our allies.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the Foreign Arms Sales Task Force co-chairs, Representatives Zinke and Dean, for leading this bill with me.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4233, the ARMOR Act, legislation that I was proud to work on with Representative Kim and Representative Zinke.
AUKUS was a historic initiative launched under the Biden administration. It is an example of the collective strengths of the United States, Australia, and the U.K. It exemplifies our commitment to working as allies, as partners, to positively contribute to defense security around the world, including leveraging our shared capabilities to shape a free and open Indo-Pacific and to counter the rising threat that China poses.
I recently returned from a bipartisan, bicameral codel to Australia and the Indo-Pacific, and all were eager to build on the AUKUS framework.
This legislation will strengthen the AUKUS collaboration and joint operability. It clarifies that re-exports and retransfers within the geographic territory of the United States, the U.K., and Australia are permitted under the previously exempted defense trade provisions.
Importantly, it also preserves Congress' oversight authority and continues to ensure the protection of the most sensitive technologies that underpin our security.
I am grateful to have worked with Representative Kim on this bipartisan effort to support our allies and bolster our shared defense.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, as well.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing.
I applaud the sponsor and cosponsors of the bill for their work on this legislation. We should be working more closely together with allies who share our values. That is the central idea behind the AUKUS agreement and the driving principle of this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, the AUKUS partnership is foundational to our global defense strategy. We must ensure it is implemented as it was intended.
I am proud to support this legislation to improve existing AUKUS law, and I urge my colleagues to join me.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4233.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2635) to support the human rights of Uyghurs and members of other minority groups residing primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and safeguard their distinct identity, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Washington?
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in strong support of Representative Young Kim's Uyghur Policy Act of 2025.
The Chinese Communist Party continues to commit genocide against the Uyghur people in Xinjiang. Over 1 million Uyghurs are held in mass detention camps, where they face torture, forced labor, constant surveillance, and forced sterilization. This is not just about abuse. It is a systematic campaign of genocide.
The Uyghur Policy Act of 2025 pushes back. It directs the Secretary of State to prioritize support for the Uyghurs and other persecuted groups and to work with allies to pressure China to close these camps.
It also urges U.S. leadership at the United Nations to ensure China's human rights abuses are not ignored or silenced.
America must lead with moral clarity. We must stand for human rights and against genocide.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2635 to support the human rights of Uyghurs, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I am a proud supporter of Representative Kim's Uyghur Policy Act of 2025. The House Foreign Affairs Committee has played an important leadership role in pushing for the protection of Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang in the face of genocide and forced labor, as my colleague mentioned.
In the last few years, the Congress and the House Foreign Affairs Committee have prioritized this issue, including marking up and enacting the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, thanks in large part to Representative Jim McGovern and Speaker Emerita Pelosi's leadership, but our work is far from done because Beijing's oppression continues.
The legislation before us today is a strong, bipartisan bill. I hope it sends a clear signal to the Trump administration about Congress' intent. So far, the administration has cut congressionally authorized programs that support human rights in China, including initiatives empowering Chinese and Uyghur-related diaspora groups to combat transnational repression and defend religious freedom.
Despite the fact that Radio Free Asia helped break the story about China's program of detention, reeducation, and forced labor, this administration is trying to close Radio Free Asia as we speak. It has shut down the only independent Uyghur language service in the entire world.
I thank Representative Kim and Representative Bera for their leadership on this bill and hope this administration reverses course. These cuts aid the CCP, not the victims of their abuse or the American people.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative Baumgartner, for yielding and for managing the floor today.
I rise in strong support of my bill, H.R. 2635, the Uyghur Policy Act of 2025.
The Uyghur Policy Act of 2025 comes at a very important time. The Chinese Communist Party continues to deny its genocide against the Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities. We know that forced sterilization, forced labor, brainwashing, and torture are rampant in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Despite exposure of the CCP's crimes, Xi Jinping is doubling down. A civil society investigation uncovered that the CCP's harassment and forced transfer of Uyghur workers is more pervasive than previously thought, with individuals relocated over 2,000 miles away from the Uyghur region.
Meanwhile, Uyghur human rights advocates and family members of detainees are intimidated and harassed by the CCP's transnational repression and espionage campaigns abroad. The fact that this happens here on U.S. soil is unacceptable and threatens our homeland.
The Uyghur Policy Act directs the Secretary of State to lead all United States Government policies and programs that support Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It counteracts transnational repression against the Uyghur diaspora and creates reporting mechanisms for Uyghur victims.
It also works to expose and disrupt Beijing's state-sponsored forced labor programs that exploit Uyghurs in order to dominate vital industries. This includes the cotton industry, where more than 20 percent of the world's cotton is a product of Uyghur forced labor. We need to make sure that our economy is not subsidized by the CCP's human rights abuses.
The United States must show through words and through actions that we will have Uyghurs' backs in their fight against the CCP's tyranny. We must leverage U.S. soft power, garner international support for Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities, and equip the State Department with the tools that it needs to effectively fight against Xi Jinping's genocidal campaign.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative Ami Bera, for leading this bipartisan legislation with me, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purposes of closing.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to champion the protection of Uyghurs as a Member of Congress. Yet, let me point out someone who is also a fierce champion of the Uyghurs, perhaps their strongest supporter across the Capitol, and that is our current Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Then-Senator Rubio gave an important speech in the Senate to get the Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act over the finish line just a few years ago in 2021. Yet, now, as Secretary, he has overseen drastic cuts to religious freedom and human rights programming that helps the Uyghurs.
I hope that this bill augurs a return to Senator Rubio, rather than what is a disheartening and nonstrategic policy that we have seen from the State Department today.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this legislation and encourage my colleagues to do so, as well, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in passing the Uyghur Policy Act of 2025 to increase awareness and advocacy for Uyghurs. We cannot be silent in the face of genocide.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2635.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4216) to direct the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to carry out a review of the list of defense articles and services required to be transferred under the foreign military sales program as opposed to direct commercial sale (FMS-Only List), as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 395, nays 20, not voting 15, as follows:
Ms. BALINT and Mr. GARCIA of Illinois changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 747) to impose sanctions with respect to Chinese producers of synthetic opioids and opioid precursors, to hold Chinese officials accountable for the spread of illicit fentanyl, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baumgartner) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
This is a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 407, nays 4, not voting 19, as follows:
So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote today due to an important personal matter. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 219 and YEA on Roll Call No. 220.
Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent in the House chamber today to accompany my son for his first day of school. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 219 and YEA on Roll Call No. 220.
Today, we honor two beautiful souls. An 8 year old and 10 year old lost their lives to senseless gun violence at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis last week.
My heart is shattered for all the families impacted by this horrific tragedy. The horror that children, educators, and parishioners went through while they were praying should not have happened.
I am incredibly grateful to our brave first responders who saved countless lives by their heroism and swift action.
As our Minneapolis community continues to grieve, we must stand united to prevent another tragedy from occurring ever again.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in a moment of silence.
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)1 of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intention to present a question of privilege to the House. The form and resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 539. Censuring Representative LaMonica McIver and removing her from the Committee on Homeland Security.
Whereas, on May 9, 2025, Representative McIver took part in an incident at the Delaney Hall Federal Immigration Facility located in Newark, New Jersey;
Whereas Representative LaMonica McIver of New Jersey, as a result of her actions on May 9, 2025, has been charged in a three-count indictment by a Federal grand jury for assaulting, resisting, impeding, and interfering with Federal officers;
Whereas Representative McIver is alleged to have challenged guidance from a Federal officer regarding access to the secure immigration detention facility;
Whereas Representative McIver is alleged to have interfered with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officials from making an arrest of an unauthorized visitor;
Whereas Representative McIver is alleged to have ``slammed her forearm into the body'' and ``restrain'' an HSI officer by ``forcibly grabbing him'';
Whereas Representative McIver is alleged to have further interfered with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deportation Officer engaged in the performance of his official duties;
Whereas body camera and other video evidence support the allegations made within the Federal indictment;
Whereas such actions constitute a violation of section 111(a)(1) of title 18, United States Code, relating to assaulting, resisting, impeding, and interfering with a Federal officer;
Whereas clause 1 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives provides, ``A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House shall behave at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House.'';
Whereas such actions of a Member of the House of Representatives do not reflect creditably on the House; and
Whereas Representative McIver's continued service on the Committee on Homeland Security, which is charged with oversight of Federal immigration enforcement and other national security matters, would represent a significant conflict of interest: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
Section 1. Censure of Representative LaMonica McIver:
Representative LaMonica McIver--
(1) is censured;
(2) shall forthwith present herself in the well of the House of Representatives for the pronouncement of censure; and
(3) is censured with the public reading of this resolution by the Speaker.
Sec. 2. Removal from Committee on Homeland Security:
The following named Member be, and is hereby, removed from the following standing committee of the House of Representatives:
Committee on Homeland Security: Mrs. McIver.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under rule IX, a resolution offered from the floor by a Member other than the majority leader or the minority leader as a question of the privileges of the House has immediate precedence only at a time designated by the Chair within 2 legislative days after the resolution is properly noticed.
Pending that designation, the form of the resolution noticed by the gentleman from Louisiana will appear in the Record at this point.
The Chair will not at this point determine whether the resolution constitutes a question of privilege. That determination will be made at the time designated for consideration of the resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Desmond ``Desi'' Patrick Flaherty of Stony Point who passed away last week at the age of 86.
Born in the Bronx, Desi dedicated his life to service, spending 20 years with the NYPD's 44th Precinct, where he helped found the 44 Forever Club. He spent more than 50 years driving a schoolbus with Haverstraw Transit, safely carrying generations of children to school.
He coached Stony Point Little League for 25 years. He was an active member of the Rockland County Shields, the North Rockland Social Club, and his parish, St. Gregory Barbarigo.
Above all, Desi was a family man. He leaves behind his wife, Eleanor, with whom he shared 63 years. He also leaves behind 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.
He was a proud North Rocklander whose legacy will live on in his family and in all the lives he touched. May Desi's memory always be a blessing to his family and to the North Rockland community.
Mr. Speaker, it is wildfire season in Oregon, and the Trump administration is making it harder for fire crews to do their jobs. I met with them, some of whom voted for the President. They told me that the funding cuts are a problem, and they don't have the resources they need.
Now this administration is pulling people off the front lines of wildfires to conduct immigration enforcement? Give me a break.
Mr. Speaker, 5 years ago, the Labor Day fires killed nine people and destroyed thousands of homes in Oregon. Central Oregon is currently fighting the Flat fire. Thanks to the hard work of our fire crews, it is now at 52 percent containment.
Mr. Speaker, now is not the time to make life harder on our firefighters. This administration needs to stop the foolishness. I don't mess around with the safety of my constituents and neither should the President.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Army Sergeant Michael Verardo, a true American hero who passed away last week following a 15-year battle with injuries from his deployment in Afghanistan.
Michael served his country with distinction as a proud infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division. He survived devastating injuries from IED explosions that claimed one of his legs and left him with countless other seen and unseen injuries, resulting in over 120 surgeries and hours and hours of therapy.
Michael's life was not simply defined by his courage but also by the love that he had for his dear wife, Sarah, and their three precious daughters.
Mr. Speaker, his legacy will continue to empower thousands upon thousands of wounded veterans with hope as they live full lives back here at home. Michael's life is a powerful reminder that freedom is not free, and it comes at a cost.
Mr. Speaker, back-to-school season should be a time of excitement, a time when families pick out backpacks, meet teachers, and look ahead to a year of learning and growth.
However, for the Merlos family, a Portland family, homeowners, businessowners, and vital members of our community, this school year begins in fear and heartbreak.
Jackie Merlos and her four U.S. citizen children were detained by Customs and Border Protection and held for 2 weeks in a windowless cell without access to legal counsel.
After public outcry and a temporary restraining order from a judge, these U.S. citizen children were released from detention, but now they have been separated from their parents who remain in ICE custody.
Let's be clear. This cruelty is not accidental. It is family separation by another name, and it is doing nothing to make our communities safer.
As a mother, a physician, and a lawmaker, I will not stay silent. We need an immigration system rooted in dignity and justice, not fear.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of Theron Darieng, Sr.
For 90 years, Theron lived with faith, service, and love at the heart of all he did. Born and raised in Bryan County, he proudly served our Nation in the U.S. Air Force.
Theron dedicated decades to Richmond Hill as a city council member, a public works supervisor, and a volunteer fireman. His steady leadership and tireless service helped shape the community we know today.
Yet his greatest impact went beyond titles or positions. He was remembered most for his kindness, his generosity, and his willingness to lend a helping hand.
He was a devoted husband to Janine, a loving father and grandfather, and a guiding light in the First Baptist Church. He leaves behind a legacy of integrity and devotion that will endure for generations.
May we honor him by carrying forward his example of faith, service, and love.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary life and legacy of Mary Perry, who sadly passed away in August.
She left a mark on our community that will live for generations to come, first through her role as the president of the Wendell-Wake NAACP for decades and later when she made history as the first African- American chair of the Wake County Democratic Party.
From the civil rights movement to today's struggles for fairness in education, healthcare, housing, and voting, she led our community through many fights for justice and equality.
She faced threats while standing up to Jim Crow, fought against restrictive
Mary Perry's story is one of perseverance and courage. We will proudly carry her legacy with us in the challenges ahead.
Mr. Speaker, in my northern California district in Glenn County, there is a water district called the Orland Project. It was built to capture and store water, yet outdated Federal laws tie our hands on how it can be used.
Right now, those supplies can only be transferred to the Central Valley if the Governor declares a drought emergency. That restriction makes no sense as water isn't as flexibly used as it could be.
In most years, surplus water is sitting behind a Federal dam while farms just down the road are short and our aquifers are getting pumped harder and harder to make up the difference from the surface water.
If we don't start pulling down these Federal roadblocks, then more water will keep going to waste just running out to the sea and not being used.
My legislation, the Orland Project Water Management Act, is a simple fix. It allows that water to be moved whenever it is available, not just during emergencies or when the Governor feels like it. There is no new construction and no extra costs, just smarter use of what we already have.
It is really, in terms of government, a no-brainer bill that supports agriculture, protects groundwater, and improves reliability.
Why don't we build in the flexibility to move the water where it is needed instead of just wasting it out to the ocean.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Marc Fisher, a constituent of mine who has spent more than 35 years leading our Jewish community in Cincinnati.
For the past 13 years, Marc has served as CEO of the Mayerson JCC. He has worked incredibly hard for the community in which he grew up, and because of his leadership, the J has thrived. Membership grew. Early childhood and senior programs expanded, and partnerships flourished. During the pandemic, the J was a reliable source of strength and connection.
That is what Marc brought to this work: a true effort to make sure everyone could find a place in our community.
He will retire at the end of the year, but the impact he has had will last for a very long time.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Marc for all he has done for the Mayerson JCC and for all of southwest Ohio.
Mr. Speaker, President Trump has called on several Republican Governors to redistrict congressional districts no matter what the cost to fairness, voter inclusion, or proper geographic representation.
If his big, beautiful, ugly bill and its related policies were so popular, then he wouldn't need to do this. Cutting Medicaid for rural hospitals and food programs for the needy isn't so popular after all. His irrational tariff policies are backfiring. If his backtracking on environmental progress, threats to Social Security and VA benefits weren't creating a grassroots pushback, then this wouldn't be necessary. The unpopularity of his policies should lose him the tightfisted control of this House.
Mr. Speaker, we cannot box following the Marquess of Queensberry rules of fair and impartial districting while the World Wrestling Federation rules allow you to hit your opponent over the head with a chair.
This is a desperate power grab by a President whose agenda has failed the American people. We cannot let gerrymandering silence voters. Democracy demands fairness, and we must fight for it.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Hari Vadlamudi, a husband, dad, and beloved member of the Loudoun County community who tragically passed away in July.
Hari was deeply respected through his professional work in the IT field and through his service. He was the treasurer of HealUSA, a nonprofit organization that supports thousands of underprivileged children in India.
He was known by many as a proud volleyball dad. He was always the loudest one in the Broad Run High School gym cheering on his daughters.
Hari had a reputation for always going above and beyond for his family, friends, and community. Hari Vadlamudi's memory will live on and leave a lasting impact on all those who were lucky to know him.
Mr. Speaker, I want to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Ignacio Gonzalez, whom we lovingly called Ziggy, a beloved son of Detroit.
Ziggy was a proud veteran and dedicated educator. He lived a remarkable life of 94 years.
Born in 1930, Ziggy served in the United States Air Force before returning home to raise a family and dedicate his life to teaching and coaching.
As a beloved educator at Western International High School, Mr. G inspired countless students with his humor, wisdom, and unshakeable belief in their potential.
Ziggy was also the heart and soul of Clark Park, where he got the name Mr. Clark Park, and built hockey and baseball programs that gave young people a place to play and belong.
His love of family, sports, community, and music, especially jazz, reflected the very best of Detroit.
The 12th Congressional District extends our love to his wife and loved ones as we celebrate his life and commitment to carrying forward his legacy.
Mr. Speaker, last week, I joined our Maui ``ohana''; ``family,'' law enforcement, and officials from across Hawaii as we bid farewell to Suzanne O, a beloved member of the Maui Police Department, who was killed in the line of duty, the first for our department in 26 years.
Raised in American Samoa and a graduate of Farrington High School, Officer O hoped to be a role model for other Pacific Islander girls, and she was. One of those girls, her niece Oleya, spoke at her memorial, calling her aunty ``my favorite, beautiful police officer'' and asking her to visit her in her dreams.
Officer O was a proud member of the MPD Honor Guard, and she received a certificate of merit for her heroic efforts during the Maui wildfires.
In a final act of ``aloha''; ``love and fellowship,'' 911 dispatchers issued a special broadcast across all channels: ``She embodied skill, tenacity, courage, and compassion in all she did. We are all better for having known her. Employee number: 30881; Call sign: One-Alpha-30; Officer: Suzanne O; end of watch: August 15, 2025.''
As Officer O watches over us now from above, we will do our very best to serve, live, and lead like she did.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Lisa Cook. She is a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. I rise to support her because there is an attempt to fire her if she does not retire or resign.
This attempt that has been made is because the President of the United States wants to take over the Federal Reserve. This is our central bank with responsibility for determining the interest rates, short-term interest rates.
We cannot allow the President of the United States to own, dictate, and tell the Federal Reserve what they can and cannot do. If he gets rid of Lisa Cook, he will have control of the central bank.
What he will do is insist on interest rates going down, but what people do not understand is this will cause inflation to rise.
This President has interfered with law firms and sued them. He has interfered with our educational institutions, threatening their funding if they do not do what they are told.
This now is a wannabe what? Taking over the central bank in order to determine the entire economy.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me and support Lisa Cook and Chair Powell at the central bank.
Mr. Speaker, my highest priority remains connecting with constituents. I traveled to all 22 counties in NC-01, making over 40 stops and holding over 70 events in August. We hosted seven listening sessions to hear from our constituents, connecting with so many voices in our communities. It was insightful.
Many constituents voiced concerns about H.R. 1 and its potential impact on healthcare delivery, especially in our rural areas.
Serious discussions took place regarding the future of Martin General Hospital as a vital rural emergency hospital and the need for a farm bill.
We wrapped up a productive August welcoming students back to school. I feel genuinely honored to bring the voices of the residents of eastern North Carolina back to Washington, D.C.
Mr. Speaker, I rise for the 34th time to call on the Trump administration to restore lifesaving food aid for malnourished children.
As a reminder, in January, the Trump administration stopped funding for emergency food aid that had been appropriated by Congress. Since then, despite saying all the right things, that the funding is going to be restored, that the shipments are going to start again, they continue to drag their feet.
Edesia Nutrition, in my district, manufactures some of that food aid designed to help starving children get back to health. After 8 months, thousands of boxes are still sitting in a warehouse in Rhode Island instead of getting to kids who are starving to death.
Now, the administration finally awarded a contract a few weeks ago, after 8 months of delays, but the company has still not been told where to ship to.
Where is the urgency? Children are dying. Step after step, the administration has dragged its feet in restarting the program that they cut off back in January.
I will keep speaking out every day until the administration honors its word. Ship the product. Save lives.
Mr. Speaker, release the Epstein files. The American people deserve the truth. The President promised the release of the Epstein files, and yet very rich and powerful interests are still working to bury them.
Who are they protecting? Are they protecting the Washington elite, the billionaires, the politicians, the establishment class that think they are above the law? Maybe they are even protecting the President himself?
We won't know for sure unless and until the President honors his promise to release the entirety of the files immediately.
No one is above the law, not the rich, not the well connected, not those who abuse the vulnerable and hide behind their privilege.
The victims deserve justice. Our citizenry deserves transparency. Our democracy demands accountability. Every day these files remain hidden is another day the elites laugh at the American people.
I call on the Trump administration and its Department of Justice to release all the Epstein files unaltered.
I call on each of my colleagues to not shield the powerful. Shine the light on the truth. That is the least we owe the violated victims and the very least we owe our Nation: Truth. Release the files.
Mr. Speaker, what Members of the Democratic Caucus are doing to my right is signing a discharge petition to release the Epstein files.
They need to be released because the American public wants to see them. The fact that so many people in power don't want them released says there is something there that smells.
What smells is the fact that children, girls, were raped and sexually abused. The people who did it don't want it revealed to the American public.
We need to be open and transparent. If there are perverts among the leadership, they need to be exposed, because the American people do not respect that and will not respect anybody that engaged in that kind of conduct.
Mr. Speaker, I am going to sign the petition. I hope everybody signs the petition, and we get an unredacted copy of the files.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. McCormick) as cosponsor from H. Res. 547. A mistake was made in terms of names.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Indiana?
Mr. Speaker, House Republicans take the floor today to share the stories of hardworking Americans who will benefit from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
All of us spent the August district work period speaking with our constituents. At least, on the Republican side, we actually spoke to our constituents. We heard countless stories about how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act actually delivers wins for them: bigger paychecks, more jobs, safer communities, and a whole lot more.
Today's Special Order hour will focus on them, the American people. I will use this hour to highlight their stories. From Michiganders in the Ninth District to the coast of California, every corner of America benefits from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. That is exactly what we will hear today.
It is a privilege to kick things off and share some incredible stories of what is happening back home in Michigan's Ninth District as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Over the past month, I have had the privilege of meeting with the people who truly drive our economy and strengthen our communities: our small businesses, our manufacturers, defense companies, farmers, and hardworking Michiganders. From shop floors at Allied UV assembly lines to AJG Aerospace in Clarkston, I heard directly from manufacturers who are expanding--and I will say it again--expanding production and hiring more workers, thanks to the R&D tax savings that we enacted.
I visited with small business owners like Lance Hollweg, whose family owned Armada Grain Company, and they have owned it for generations. Small business owners like Lance are the backbone of Main Street and will now be able to grow their companies and further support their employees.
I met with defense companies like Ascent Aerospace in Macomb, Michigan. Thanks to our $150 billion generational investment in national security, Ascent will ensure that our men and women in uniform have the tools that they need to protect our country and keep us safe.
Lastly, I spent time over the work period with family farms and family farmers, where the next generation of Michigan farmers can carry on the tradition of actually feeding America, thanks to the permanent death tax relief.
At each stop, I heard the same message: Washington needs to get out of the way and let hardworking Americans do what they do best. That is why I have been so proud to champion the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
This legislation cuts red tape and gives families, farmers, and job creators more freedom to succeed. The stories and feedback brought back from my district aren't just conversations; they are the reason that I am fighting every day for commonsense policies that actually put people before politics. Michigan families deserve solutions that make life easier, not harder. In the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that is exactly what we are delivering.
Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Arrington), chairman of the Budget Committee and my friend.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman and our fearless Conference chair from Michigan for her leadership.
Mr. Speaker, make no mistake: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a big and beautiful win for the American people.
It is big because it delivers the largest tax cuts for families and small businesses; the greatest single investment in border security and national defense; the most significant commitment to unlocking America's energy resources; and the largest reduction in mandatory spending in the history of the United States by twofold.
It is beautiful, Mr. Speaker, because of the tangible benefits these policies will provide to our fellow Americans.
During the month of August, like many of the Members here, I crisscrossed over 1,000 miles in my district in west Texas, and the refrain I heard in one community after another was simple: Thank you. Thank you for supporting our President. Thank you for delivering on our mandate. Thank you for fighting for our Nation's future.
Mr. Speaker, in Scurry County, we heard how deregulation and historic tax cuts will reignite their economy and put money back into their pockets.
In Terry County, they were grateful for our stewardship of their hard-earned tax dollars as we cut $1.5 trillion in woke and wasteful spending.
In Lynn County, we talked about strengthening rural healthcare through the $50 billion rural healthcare fund; cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse that has plagued Medicaid; and restoring the dignity of work through long overdue and generational welfare reform.
In Parmer County, I was proud to report that the bill permanently locks in low taxes for working families; provides additional tax relief for seniors; and protects generational family farms, family-run oil and gas companies, and other family-owned businesses with enhanced death tax relief.
In Shackelford and Hockley Counties, folks said that it is about time that we put a stop to Biden's war on energy so that we can lower energy prices for working people; so that we can strengthen our energy security; and so that we can unleash not just American energy dominance, but American prosperity for our children and children's children.
In Haskell County, we talked about how the bill's generational investment in national security will help secure our southern border, strengthen our military, and restore America's leadership in the world.
The other message I heard over and over was this: Keep pressing forward, unrelenting, undeterred, and unapologetic, to advance the America First agenda.
My response, Mr. Speaker: Yes, ma'am. Yes, sir, as sure as the Sun rises, we are just getting started.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
Nearly 2 months ago, Republicans in Congress worked alongside President Trump to deliver on our promises and pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a historic win for our country, unleashing American energy, promoting innovation, protecting our Federal healthcare programs for our most vulnerable citizens, and delivering historic tax cuts for families.
As chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, one of my top priorities is ensuring that America has the energy needed to win the race for AI against China and power our future.
I am proud to report that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act unleashes American energy dominance through strategic investments and eliminating wasteful subsidies. Our bill begins to refill our dangerously low Strategic Petroleum Reserve and creates new investments to generate reliable energy that will secure our grid and power AI.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also spurs technological innovation by renewing American wireless leadership through spectrum auction authority that protects national security and generates $85 billion of new revenue for the Federal Government.
For months, there has been a campaign of fear-mongering and misinformation about the bill's impact on our most vulnerable. For Americans who rely on Medicaid, the truth is that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act restores integrity back into our Federal healthcare programs by ensuring that ineligible recipients do not cut the line in front of those in most need. In fact, since its passage, we have already seen countless examples of waste, fraud, and abuse in our government-run healthcare programs.
Just last week, the Congressional Budget Office found that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act removes 2.1 billion ineligible individuals from the ACA marketplace coverage, with 1.2 million of those being unauthorized immigrants or noncitizens.
CBO also found that 5.3 million able-bodied, unemployed adults covered by Medicaid will now have to work in order to continue receiving their fully subsidized healthcare. The vast majority of Americans agree that Medicaid should be a safety net, not a long-term entitlement for those who are able to work but choose not to.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act strengthens and secures Medicaid for expectant mothers, children, low-income seniors, and people with disabilities.
Without passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the average family in my district would have faced a 25 percent tax increase next year. Our bill prevented that tax hike by making permanent the 2017 Trump tax cuts and built upon it.
Let's talk about individuals. The individual who lives on their Social Security will have more money in their pocket because they won't have to pay taxes on that--we exempt taxes--or the waitress in Glasgow, Kentucky, who won't have to pay taxes on her tips; or the farmers in Owensboro who will be able to pass their family land down to their family because of the death tax exemption that we made permanent.
We also talked to individuals who have family members in nursing homes, and we know that we strengthened the nursing homes that came to
These tax cuts aren't talk. These efforts aren't talk. They will grow our economy. Our legislation provides much-needed tax cuts for working families, unleashes American energy, supports innovation, and safeguards healthcare for Americans who need it most.
I was glad to see this bill signed into law, and I am glad it had a positive effect on the people who I represent.
Madam Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for her leadership.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the many ways that Texans, hardworking families, and small business owners across America are benefiting from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
This is one of the most profamily, prosmall business, proworker legislation ever signed into law. As a small business owner myself and chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, I understand firsthand how policies coming out of Washington, D.C., can directly impact the day-to-day lives of Americans, particularly small business owners.
Over the August work period, I met with constituents, small businesses, elected officials, and local leaders to hear how this historic legislation has impacted their daily lives.
When I traveled across my district and the country, meeting with hardworking families and entrepreneurs, they are not concerned with Washington politics. They are focused on keeping the lights on and putting food on the table.
President Trump and House Republicans are fulfilling the mandate given by the American people to restore economic prosperity, support small businesses, secure our border, unleash American energy, invest in rural America, and the list goes on.
This legislation cuts taxes on hardworking Americans, lowers energy costs, brings jobs home, cuts wasteful spending, and puts Main Street first.
These are not just talking points. These are real results for the American people. When you give money back to the people, it is a return on investment. I will always fight to provide certainty for the future and to put more money back into your pockets as we step into the golden age in America. In God we trust.
Madam Speaker, I thank Chairwoman McClain for the opportunity to speak in this Special Order hour.
When I was back home for a big portion of August, Madam Speaker, I had a great opportunity to spend time with small business owners and individuals trying to understand the difference between an invest America Trump account versus a 529 and going through a lot of these details.
I kept hearing something from a lot of folks. I get that this seems like a good thing to always have lower taxes, but it is going to create a whole bunch of debt, right?
I love getting that question because I am able to talk them through some of the specifics. While I may not be great talking about tax policy in a rah-rah situation, when you get to actually explain a few basic concepts to people, you see that folks actually get what we are talking about. Not the bill of goods they are being sold, but when you look at what happens with the concept of inversion. When a U.S. multinational company can choose to co-op with a foreign entity to be able to find a lower tax domicile, lowering their overall tax liability, they can do that. That happens, and they end up paying tax revenue to foreign countries.
Let's just say what you saw prior to 2017 when Republicans did the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, you had a tax rate of foreign drive and tangible income at approximately 16 percent effective rate, but let's say in Ireland, it was 13 percent. A company could easily set up their entire tax base for that portion of their business in Ireland and pay 13 percent where the U.S. sees no revenue.
If we lower that tax rate to 13 percent just to become competitive, we don't even have to beat other nations' tax rates. When we lowered that to 13 percent just to be competitive, those companies started to flee back to America, and we got more revenue.
I will talk to folks and say, when you make taxes competitive, we will actually grow our U.S. tax revenue. That is not adding deficit. When you see people actually grasp that concept, it is fascinating to be able to say, of course, I would rather people be paying taxes in the U.S. as opposed to a foreign nation. Now, the foreign country doesn't love that when we do it.
If we put things on par, companies will almost, in every circumstance, choose to do business in the U.S. and we get more revenue. It is a win-win, and it is not what you are being lied to about.
This is good, sound, competitive tax policy that will strengthen our Nation, grow our revenue, and make it easier for business to compete.
Madam Speaker, after meeting with farmers, ranchers, small businesses, teachers, students, and community leaders across Utah's Fourth District, I am here to report the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a win for Utahns.
In Manti, I met with small business owners at a Sanpete County Chamber of Commerce to talk about what this bill means to Main Street. From making the small business tax deductions permanent to doubling expensing for equipment, this bill gives Utah entrepreneurs the freedom to grow, hire, and thrive.
Over 70,000 small businesses stand to benefit. With our Rural Advisory Council, I heard directly from Utah farmers and ranchers, the backbone of our State. The bill raises the death tax exemption, protects family farms, and strengthens food security for generations to come.
In Fairview, I heard from rural Utahns who rely on affordable energy to power their homes, farms, and businesses, and they are tired of red tape.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act streamlines permitting, unleashes Utah's energy potential, and helps providers deliver.
From Payson to West Jordan to Murray, I visited Utah manufacturers to see firsthand how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act supports manufacturers by doubling expensing and boosting investment and made-in-America production.
For working families, the results are just as clear. The typical Utah family with two kids will take home close to $12,000 more under this law. It is real tax relief for groceries, gas, savings, and peace of mind.
For the first time, we are on the path to permanent school choice. This bill empowers parents, not bureaucrats; funds students, not systems; and ends the ZIP Code lottery.
It even helps families build for the future, establishing newborn investment accounts to grow generational wealth from day one.
The American Dream is alive and well in Utah, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is how we keep it that way.
Madam Speaker, I thank our Conference chair for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to talk about the work we did during our August work period, and the many opportunities I had to meet with small businesses throughout the district to talk about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but I will highlight one of those businesses.
It is in the heart of the 12th District of Georgia in Bulloch County, home to Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia, the largest university in my district.
Just a few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting a family-owned barbecue restaurant named Dolan's Bar-B-Q where I met the owner, Mary Beth, and had a great conversation about her business, some of her challenges, and how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will help address some of those challenges.
Among the many things we discussed were specifically the no tax on tips and no tax on overtime provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Being that
On average, Americans could receive up to $1,300 more from no taxes on their tipped income. Imagine what this means to Mary Beth's employees. We also discussed no tax on overtime. To quote Mary Beth: During busy times like football season, we work a lot of overtime because we are just so busy. We do a lot of catering during football season so that helps give our team a lot of opportunity to get more hours.
Again, this is additional income for her team and she is hopeful this will help retain more permanent employees. I am so thankful to Mary Beth and all the other small businesses for welcoming me, and I look forward to visiting Dolan's Bar-B-Q again and enjoying a delicious barbecue sandwich.
Madam Speaker, during the month of August, I spent time in Ohio's Second Congressional District, talking with countless Ohioans about their priorities, touring family-owned businesses, and hearing from local farmers, manufacturers, and defense companies about the issues most important to them.
The thing I heard from constituents is how grateful they are that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will help them stay in business, keep money in their pockets, and reinvigorate our local economies.
Small business owners operating shops on our Main Streets told me how the 199A tax credit will help them afford to stay in business so they can maintain their presence in our communities.
When I went to eat lunch at a local family restaurant, I talked with the waitresses about how much money they will be able to take home now that they are not being taxed on their tips.
When I talked with farmers, they expressed how the expanded funding for agriculture trade programs and investment in crop insurance will give them peace of mind about staying in business for years to come.
For Will Minshall, a young farmer in Pickaway County, Ohio, whose family farm is hitting 200 years in operation next year, the increased death tax exemption means it will be easier for his family to pass the farm on to him and future generations. With family farms making up 96 percent of all farms in my district, this is huge news for countless farming families in southern Ohio.
Through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, President Trump and Republicans are investing in American manufacturing and American jobs. I see the direct impact of this through Anduril's up-and-coming manufacturing facility in southern Ohio, which will provide thousands of well-paying jobs to Ohioans while keeping America a leader in aerospace, innovation, and defense manufacturing.
Finally, when touring Valero Energy, I heard excitement about the future now that President Trump is unleashing the American energy sector.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is paving the way for economic prosperity, and Ohio families are reaping the benefits. I was proud to support it and will continue advocating for the needs of Buckeye families in Congress.
Madam Speaker, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that we passed is wholly focused on unleashing growth for Main Street, empowering expansion of advanced manufacturing, and delivering the skilled job opportunities that will enrich people with valued learning trades that help build American innovation, technology, and infrastructure.
In north Texas, we are in a perfect position to lead this new era of American growth. Our businesses and our workforce are ready to take advantage of these opportunities. Whether they are in energy, advanced manufacturing, law enforcement, education, or technology, north Texas has something for everyone.
That is why our 2025 North Texas Job Fair was the biggest one yet and a true example of the kind of opportunity and growth that we are delivering through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
This year, we were joined by 35,000 job seekers who were able to connect with over 500 employers who were looking to fill more than 30,000 jobs across industries that are vital to our local economy.
One great example is the U.S. Border Patrol, as they are now expanding their workforce and hiring new agents as a direct result of our One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This will mean stronger borders, safer Texas communities, and definitely greater peace of mind for our families.
America's future is shining brighter than ever. With the economic policies of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to lower costs, increase wages, and expand job opportunities, I know America's industrial engine will be unleashed to deliver a breadth of career empowerment not seen at any time in our Nation's history.
Madam Speaker, with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we delivered on President Trump's domestic agenda and provided the largest tax cut in American history. That is because, as Republicans, we believe this money belongs to hardworking Americans, not to Washington bureaucrats.
I couldn't be prouder of this Conference and the Trump administration for working together in the interests of American citizens across our Nation. Together, we delivered no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, a doubled child tax credit, relief for our seniors, and so much more.
In Georgia, families will keep an additional $3,000 of their own money in 2026 thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Republicans are putting food back on the table. Georgia's citizens are now able to afford several more weeks of groceries because of tax cuts.
This Conference and the Trump administration are working for American citizens, and it has been truly life-changing for many people.
This August, I had the chance to get boots on the ground and see firsthand the impact of this bill on hardworking Georgians. Just the other week, I was eating at a Georgia restaurant, and I asked my server how no tax on tips would impact her life. Do you know what she told me? She said she can finally start saving for her daughter's college education without worrying whether she can still afford groceries at the end of the month.
She is not alone. I have asked others in the tip and overtime industry similar questions. I have also talked with folks who don't follow politics closely, as well as those who identify as Democrats. Every single time, they are pleasantly surprised to learn how much this bill helps because, for the last 2 months, Democrats have been flooding the airwaves with lies about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act because they are embarrassed they couldn't vote for it. Do you know why they couldn't vote for it? It was purely out of hatred for President Donald J. Trump.
Democrats voted against the middle class, while Republicans voted for it. Democrats voted against the American Dream, while we fought and will continue to fight to protect it.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is an investment in America's families, America's workers, and America's future. We are lifting up the middle class, restoring fairness, and proving once again that, under Republican leadership, the American Dream is alive and well.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for having us tonight to talk about this important issue.
Over the August district work period, I traveled throughout coastal Virginia and heard directly from the people I represent: servicemembers, shipyard workers, working families, and aerospace leaders. I saw firsthand how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is already beginning to shape our future here at home.
At a TRICARE roundtable, I met with hospitals, small clinics, and providers who serve our military community. Families told me how critical it
I also visited the Curtiss-Wright service center in Chesapeake, where skilled workers support our Navy's nuclear fleet. Their work is a reminder that America's shipbuilding strength begins with the men and women of our industrial base. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act invests more than $29 billion in shipbuilding and another $25 billion in advanced weapons and munitions. These funds will help sustain high- skilled jobs across Hampton Roads and guarantee our Navy remains the strongest in the world.
At Naval Station Norfolk, I heard from commanders and sailors about the importance of readiness and from military families about the daily challenges of housing, childcare, and the costs of moving.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes historic investments in quality of life for our servicemembers, providing over $7.5 billion this year for modernization of military housing, including $1 billion for unaccompanied housing across the services, $230 million for the Marine Corps Barracks 2030 initiative, tuition assistance, childcare, and housing allowance supplements, and an extension of temporary lodging expenses from 14 to 21 days to ease the burden of PCS moves. These are not abstract numbers. They are real solutions for the families who sacrifice so much to serve our great Nation.
Finally, I traveled to Wallops Island in my district to visit the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, where Virginia is playing a vital role in America's return to the Moon and preparation for Mars. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides nearly $10 billion for NASA, supporting Artemis missions, the International Space Station, and new launch infrastructure. These investments will directly benefit Wallops, strengthen our space economy, and inspire the next generation of aerospace leaders here in Virginia.
Mr. Speaker, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act restores American strength at sea, revitalizes our industrial base, improves quality of life for military families, and secures our future in space. I am proud to have supported this historic legislation, and I will keep working to make sure coastal Virginia sees the full benefit of what we accomplished.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the already tremendous impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
During the August work period, I traveled across all 11 counties in my district, hitting over 40 stops, meeting with Hoosiers where they live and work.
I heard from Chuck at Allie's Cafe, who shared about how limiting tax on tips puts more money directly into workers' pockets.
I spoke with Camping World and other companies about how the Made in America provision and immediate expensing strengthened American manufacturing jobs.
I joined law enforcement officers at a drug enforcement roundtable to discuss how this bill invests billions of dollars in border security to stem the flow of fentanyl into our communities.
I celebrated 100 years of egg production with Creighton Brothers, a century of hard work and family enterprise.
That is just a fraction of the stories I encountered.
Each day on the road, I was reminded that the strength of Indiana and America lies in our people, families, farmers, workers, and small businesses. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was written for them and because of them.
Together, we are proving that when we keep government out of the way, Americans can keep more of what they earn, and there is no limit to what we can achieve.
Mr. Speaker, this microphone isn't picking up that well, but I thank the gentlewoman for this opportunity.
I had a really hard time deciding what to talk about tonight because there are so many great things about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Should I talk about student loan reform and the impact that is going to have on driving down the costs of education and minimizing the amount of loan debt that people have when they graduate from college, or investments in the air traffic control system? Maybe we should talk about the death tax increases and how we doubled the value that businessowners and farmers can pass down to the next generation after they have already paid tax on all of that income before they invested it, or I could talk about farm bill investments or bonus depreciation. There are so many amazing things about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that it is hard to keep track of them, and it is hard to decide what to lead with.
Today, I am going to talk about something that I think has been largely overlooked, and that is the lowering of the taxes on interest on car loans for American-made cars.
I recently had the chance to visit with Dan McGee. This is Dan right here. He is the general manager of M.J. McGuire Auto Dealership and also a farmer in Rugby, North Dakota.
With the One Big Beautiful Bill Act now law, Americans can take advantage of a new interest deduction when purchasing an American-made vehicle. This provision can really help small-town car dealers like M.J. McGuire.
For a family buying a $50,000 vehicle, Dan explained to me what this would mean. He said the interest in just the first year might run about $3,500. Under this new law, that interest is now deductible, a huge savings for hardworking American families.
This isn't just relief for companies or big corporations, like many of the Democrats are claiming. It is for everyday North Dakotans and everyday Americans across the Nation.
Dan also pointed out the broader benefits in the bill, like the expansion of the 199A small-business deduction, tax relief that allows entrepreneurs like him to reinvest in their businesses, or raising the death tax exemption so farmers like him can grow and pass on their land to the next generation.
Dan said it best: There are so many good things in this bill that it is hard to keep track of them all.
That is what this law is all about: real, practical help for hardworking Americans.
Madam Speaker, I rise to highlight the important benefits the One Big Beautiful Bill Act delivered to Utah's businesses and workers.
Madam Speaker, we had the opportunity to be in our districts for the past month, and I had the privilege of meeting with my constituents in Utah's Third District. At the end of this district work period, I participated in a business-focused event with members of the Salt Lake Chamber to discuss the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and other industry- related issues.
During this event, I was able to hear directly from local businessowners and stakeholders about how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and other Federal policies are impacting businesses in my district. What I heard was clear: Businesses want certainty. They want competitiveness. They want opportunity. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act delivers all three.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes permanent the section 199A passthrough deduction, giving small businesses a 20 percent tax break. For the 69,000 eligible firms in Utah, this means long-term stability and provides them with a foundation to thrive.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also protects about 72,000 full-time jobs in Utah over the next 4 years relative to if the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act had been allowed to expire.
Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, said: ``This vital legislation provides crucial long-term certainty for Utah's businesses and families. Making these progrowth provisions permanent empowers businesses to continue investing, innovating, and creating jobs,
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is also critical to innovative national security-focused companies in Utah, such as Northrop Grumman and Vector, which I had the opportunity to tour during the August work period.
Northrop manufactures the five-segment solid rocket boosters for NASA's Space Launch System in Utah. They are currently developing next- generation rocket boosters, which will power us to the Moon and Mars. Thanks to the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, NASA will receive $4.1 billion for the Space Launch System for the Artemis IV and V missions. That investment will support Utah jobs and power new American advancement in space.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also supports a strong national defense by investing in America's UAS industrial base to boost U.S. drone capabilities. In my district, companies like Vector, a veteran- owned drone manufacturer, are leading that charge, developing technologies to strengthen the warfighter, secure our supply chain, and drive 21st century innovation here at home. I am glad the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will help support these capabilities and ensure America, not China, sets the standard in this critical field.
In voting for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, House Republicans voted to power economic growth by boosting local production, supporting small businesses, and strengthening America's national security. I enjoyed discussing these issues with the Salt Lake Chamber and other groups while in my beautiful State of Utah last month.
Madam Speaker, you have just heard a number of stories from House Republicans about how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will benefit their constituents, but you don't have to take our word for it. These stories come directly from the Americans who actually stand to benefit the most.
Whether you are a manufacturing worker in Pennsylvania, a Border Patrol agent in Arizona, or a server in rural America, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act delivers for all Americans. We spent the August district work period hearing from them, the people.
Many stories have been written about how the House Republicans were selling the bill, but the truth is, the bill sells itself.
Every Michigander I spoke with is excited. They are excited for no tax on tips, tax relief for seniors, the end of the death tax, and provisions to help small businesses create jobs and grow the local economies.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act truly puts the American person first.
Now, here is the interesting fact. Instead of joining us to put every American first, I want to remind everybody--and you need to ask this question--every single Democrat voted to raise taxes on hardworking Americans. Every single Democrat voted to raise taxes on every American. Think about that. We don't hear them talk about that.
Madam Speaker, we need to hold them accountable to that vote because Democrats want to raise our taxes.
Madam Speaker, our work does not end with this historic legislation. House Republicans will continue to work to deliver for the American people. As we return to Washington, we are more determined than ever to continue our work to enact commonsense policies that benefit all Americans.
In the days, weeks, and months ahead, I can assure my colleagues more stories of the benefits of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will be heard. The fear-mongering from the Democrats is just going to have to stop. We are excited to share their stories. Madam Speaker, do you know what? The American people are excited to share their stories, too.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.
The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 8 o'clock and 20 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.
