Rick Allen

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 98, the Rural Broadband Protection Act. The House version of this bill, led by Representative Houchin, passed the House by voice vote last year. The Federal Communications Commission's Universal Service Fund provides funding to support the deployment and operation of broadband networks in our rural communities. Although most recipients of this support fulfill their deployment obligations, there have been cases in the past where commitments were unmet. The Rural Broadband Protection Act requires the FCC to establish a process for upfront vetting of broadband providers seeking USF funds to ensure they are qualified to uphold their obligations. It also directs the FCC to set penalties for those providers that do not build out where they promised. These new steps will ensure that USF support only goes to qualified providers and that those providers follow through on their commitments to serve rural Americans. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Houchin for her leadership on this bill and encourage my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Houchin).

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their support. In closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from Alabama, for yielding the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6398, the RED Tape Act. Under current law, as we have heard here today, the EPA is required to review and comment on the environmental impacts of Federal projects from other Federal agencies. Perhaps this would make sense if the EPA wasn't already involved in the initial environmental review and development of the environmental impact statement for Federal projects. What we have here is another, as we said, duplicative and inefficient government process that for decades has delayed development, slowed economic growth, and only hurt American families and businesses in making it more unaffordable for the American people. Furthermore, in the 30 years since Congress enacted section 309 of the Clean Air Act, agencies have developed their own expertise in preparing environmental impact statements. That is why the Supreme Court ruled that EPA's separate review and comment on broader environmental impacts of proposed Federal actions are no longer appropriate. I come from the construction industry. I understand how unpredictable timelines and Federal red tape can increase costs and negatively impact job creators. Let me be clear: The RED Tape Act in no way undercuts the environmental review of Federal projects. In no way does it remove EPA's expertise from the process. It simply streamlines the Federal review process by eliminating duplicative requirements. It seems that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are just fundamentally opposed to efficiency and a sense of urgency. This legislation is a commonsense solution that benefits job creators and the communities we represent. It makes life more affordable for the American people, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6398.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and celebrate the long- awaited reopening of Augusta, Georgia's premier Municipal Golf Course-- otherwise known as ``the Patch,'' which was recently renovated with the help of golf legends Tom Fazio, Beau Welling, and Tiger Woods--three world-class golf course architects. ``The Patch'' has been ingrained into the fabric of our local community since 1928. In the early 1900s, the popularity of the game of golf was quickly on the rise in Augusta, and it was the establishment of ``the Patch'' that made the game accessible for locals and visitors of all ages and backgrounds--fostering growth of the game for future generations. In 1999, ground was broken on the construction of a new First Tee of Augusta facility which still operates at ``the Patch'' today. This longstanding mission is one that our community continues to embrace--growing the game of golf and the values it instills in all who play. Together, ``the Patch,'' Masters Tournament Charities, Augusta Technical College, the First Tee of Augusta, and the City of Augusta have all collaborated to create some of the best public golf facilities in the country--contributing to Augusta's known reputation as the crown jewel of this sport. Beyond the game of golf, ``the Patch'' will serve as a catalyst for community renewal through job training at Augusta Tech's agronomy center. It will help rescue underserved youth through the First Tee of Augusta, and as it did in its early days, it will continue to offer a community clubhouse and gathering place for neighbors to enjoy. My wife Robin and I are proud supporters of this transformational initiative and look forward to its positive impact on our community, the game of golf, and the next generation. We congratulate Chairman Fred Ridley, Members and Staff of Augusta National Golf Club, Mayor Garnett Johnson, the Augusta Commission, and Randy Hatcher, outgoing Chairman of the Augusta Technical College Foundation, for their tireless work to make this project a reality.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the long-awaited reopening of Augusta, Georgia's, premier municipal golf course, otherwise known as The Patch, which was recently renovated with the help of golf legends Tom Fazio, Beau Welling, and Tiger Woods. The Patch has been engrained into the fabric of our local community since 1928. In the early 1900s, the popularity of golf was quickly on the rise in Augusta, and it was the establishment of The Patch that made the game accessible for locals and visitors of all ages and backgrounds. This is a mission that our community continues to embrace today-- growing the game of golf and the values it instills in those who play. Beyond the game of golf, The Patch will serve as a catalyst for community renewal through job training at Augusta Tech's agronomy center. It will help rescue underserved youth through the First Tee of Augusta initiative and offer a community clubhouse for neighbors to enjoy. Robin and I are proud supporters of this initiative. We congratulate Chairman Fred Ridley; members and staff of the Augusta National Golf Club; Mayor Garnett Johnson and our commissioners; and Randy Hatcher, outgoing chairman of the Augusta Technical College Foundation for their tireless work to make this project a reality.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Agriculture Week. In my home State of Georgia and in Georgia's 12th District, who I represent, agriculture remains our number one industry. During this special week and every week, I recognize and celebrate the farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers who keep America strong, clothed, and fed. Their hard work, innovation, and dedication helps to sustain our community and provide the food and fiber that we rely on every day. As the son of a farmer and having grown up on our family farm in Columbia County, I know how important it is to ensure that future generations can pick up that mantle and become agricultural leaders. That is why, in the Working Families Tax Cut Act, House Republicans included a provision that saved over 6,000 family-owned farms in Georgia-12 from an increased death tax. This means more farms stay in the hands of Georgia farmers and not the Federal Government. This week, let's take a moment to thank those who work in acres and not hours. Happy National Agriculture Week.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Guthrie for yielding the time and for his support of my bill, the Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act. Mr. Speaker, I will set the stage on exactly why this bill is necessary. In 1975, Congress established the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, or EPCA, to increase American energy production, encourage efficient energy use, and bolster national security. Under EPCA, the Department of Energy sets efficiency standards for 60 product categories. These standards must be cost-effective, significantly save energy, and be technologically feasible. However, under the Biden administration, the EPCA language was persistently misinterpreted to impose more stringent standards on the use of conventional home appliances and force the costly rush-to-green agenda on the American people in their outright war on the fossil fuel industry. All of this was done with the stroke of a pen and threatened the affordability and availability of reliable appliances that Americans rely on every day. I can tell you firsthand. I was in my district last week. My constituents in the 12th District of Georgia do not need the Federal Government to tell them which household appliances will best meet the needs of their families, period. One example is that I have a small business in my district, and they have warehouses and whatnot that they rent. The owner of that small business explained that he has a 5-year-old HVAC unit, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. He had a problem with it, and the contractor came out and said that they had a little problem. The unit is 5 years old, and he can't get the part to fix it. Mr. Speaker, I will tell you the end of the story. He has to replace the entire unit, and it is going to cost three times as much as it cost 5 years ago. Are you telling me that this is going to save money? You have to be kidding. The second example is the gas stove. They want to do away with our gas stoves. They said that you can't cook with gas anymore, and there was such an uproar that we didn't hear about that anymore. In the third example, I have a little place up here that is about 1,400 square feet, and the unit went out. Of course, it couldn't keep it warm anyway because it is an electric heat pump, mandated by this city, and I have a gas line right in front of my house. I told the contractor that I want to put in gas heat, like I have back home in Georgia. He said that you can't do it. A heat pump will not work below 32 degrees. Plus, you have a total electrical system when the heat pump shuts down. Why are we running short of electricity? Because they aimed everything at electricity. There was a war on our gas industry, or fossil fuel industry, and that is the very industry that reduced our carbon footprint by 1,400 tons. The nearest nation to us is 200 tons. Mr. Speaker, they are trying to put the very people who put us in this position out of business. The Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act is a necessary measure to prevent future administrations, like the past one, from issuing burdensome standards on household appliances that would drive up costs and reduce availability. It is that simple. The naysayers, or those who will vote in opposition to this bill today, will stand here and tell you that this bill isn't necessary. They will question why this is what we are voting on this week. To that, I say that they can thank the previous administration. The egregious appliance standards like those issued under President Biden's Department of Energy have caused homeowners to spend 34 percent more on appliances than they did 15 years ago, while also having to replace them at a faster rate, like the story I told about my constituent. Even more, these standards were neither economically justifiable nor significantly more efficient. I would challenge anyone in this Chamber to find someone who wants the Federal Government to tilt the scales on what appliances they can and cannot buy while also increasing costs and reducing reliability. Mr. Speaker, no amount of fear-mongering on energy efficiency and climate standards will justify the 4-year war waged on domestic energy, the use of natural gas, and consumer choice under the Biden-Harris Presidency. From gas stoves, refrigerators, and freezers to washers, dryers, dishwashers, and air-conditioners, no household appliance was off-limits in their pursuit of the green new scam. We cannot allow that to happen again, and I have been proud to work closely with House Republicans this last year to right the ship and undo the many regulatory burdens that have caused the cost of living to skyrocket. That is why we are here today: to protect consumer choice, lower costs, and ensure that American families have the freedom to decide what suits the needs of their families. Mr. Speaker, I am thankful to Energy and Commerce Committee Chairmen Guthrie and Latta for their support of this bill, House Republican leadership for bringing it to the floor, and all of my colleagues who have offered their support. I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 4626.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 67.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 51.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding his time, for his tireless work on behalf of American workers, and specifically for his support of the legislation before us today. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2988, the Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act, legislation I introduced earlier this year to ensure hardworking Americans do not have their retirement savings jeopardized by politically motivated mismanagement. What I am hearing is that, I think, this bill fixes everything that the other side has been talking about as far as free markets and capitalism. For those listening at home, it is important to understand how we got here. In 2022, the Biden administration heavy-handedly put the retirement security of over 150 million Americans at risk by issuing a deeply flawed rule to enable retirement plan fiduciaries to consider or choose investments based on environmental, social, and governance, or ESG, factors. That is not free market. That is not capitalism. It is proven that ESG factors often charge steeper fees, carry higher risks, have lower returns, and are well-known underperformers. That is precisely why this rule garnered bipartisan, bicameral disapproval in the form of a Congressional Review Act resolution that passed both the House and Senate. However, the Biden-Harris administration vetoed the resolution, choosing to prioritize leftwing environmental and social issues ahead of retirees' financial security. As chairman of the HELP Subcommittee, I remain committed to protecting the retirement savings of workers, retirees, and their families. The Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act would codify that retirement plan sponsors must make investment decisions solely based on economic factors and financial returns. Additionally, the bill states that the decision to exercise a shareholder right is subject to the purchase and loyalty duties under ERISA. It states that proxies held by ERISA plans must be voted in the economic interests of the plan, not used to advance radical policies and favors to crony capitalists. The bill declares that race, color, religion, sex, or national origin may not be taken into consideration when selecting a fiduciary, counsel, employee, or service provider of an ERISA plan. Lastly, it implements a notice requirement on defined contribution plans, explaining the difference between choosing from investments selected by ERISA fiduciaries and choosing from investments through a brokerage window. Mr. Speaker, I think most would agree that advancing a political agenda at the expense of retirement savings is wrong. Let's be clear: Americans invest to secure a brighter future for themselves and their families, not to bankroll Democrats' radical initiatives and pet projects and take care of their crony capitalists. Retirement plan sponsors have a duty to prioritize financial returns, ensuring Americans' hard-earned savings are invested in a sensible manner. The Protecting Prudent Investment of Retirement Savings Act delivers a significant win to retirees across the Nation, and I strongly urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support its passage. I thank my staff for their diligent work on this bill. I thank Chairman Walberg for his support throughout the committee process and Leader Scalise and Speaker Johnson for bringing H.R. 2988 to the House floor.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. I thank my friend from Ohio for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5184, the Affordable HOMES Act. Mr. Speaker, for many years, including when I first got started in my career in the construction industry, buying and owning a home was reachable and a significant achievement for American workers. In fact, just 6 years ago it was achievable, but unfortunately, in today's economic conditions, many young Americans are realizing that the dream of homeownership has become just that: a dream. This all happened in the 4 years of the Biden-Harris administration. In fact, if you were born after 1982 in this country, you had never seen inflation before. It created high interest rates. Simply, these people don't know what they are talking about. Like I said, I come from the business world. I lived through these last 4 years, and it has been devastating to this country. What we are trying to do here is turn the tide. For example, in the State of Georgia, the average home is valued at over $320,000. Just 6 years ago, you could buy that home for $250,000. It is just simply out of reach for countless young families. Under current law, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Energy have the authority to set energy efficiency standards for manufactured homes. Authorizing two Federal agencies to accomplish the same goal only serves to create conflicting standards and confusion, overcomplicating the regulatory process for builders, and making it more difficult to construct and ultimately purchase affordable homes. We are listening to the housing industry. Mr. Speaker, with my over 40 years of experience in the construction industry, I can tell you firsthand just how overbearing and expensive and burdensome Federal regulations can be. Let's listen to the American people. Let's listen to the people that build these homes.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, the Affordable HOMES Act, offered by my friend Representative Houchin, is a commonsense bill that removes duplicative housing regulations and will decrease housing costs in America. Specifically, it eliminates DOE's authority to issue energy standards for manufactured houses while maintaining HUD's full regulatory authority. In doing so, we will streamline the standard-setting process, which will lower the cost of manufactured housing. We should be able to agree in Congress that we need to take this action to address rising costs. I strongly urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 5184.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3616, the Reliable Power Act, of which I am a proud cosponsor. My home State of Georgia has been named the number one State to do business in for 12 consecutive years, making it a popular destination for new manufacturing facilities and data centers. While I join Georgians in welcoming these economic drivers to our State, it also presents increased demand for our grid that we must address. We know electricity demand is expected to grow significantly over the next several years, which means this body has a duty to ensure our constituents have a dependable grid that meets the needs of hardworking families. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, both the Obama and Biden-Harris administrations were guilty of using the EPA to promote radical policy designed to drive out baseload generation in favor of wind and solar, which simply cannot assure adequate grid reliability. It increases the risk of rolling blackouts. H.R. 3616 will correct that very problem by improving Federal rulemaking to ensure that future regulations impacting power generation will not harm electricity reliability, especially in already vulnerable regions. Under this bill, if FERC finds that a proposed rule will have a significant impact on reliability, the rule cannot be finalized. That is about as commonsense as it gets. Mr. Speaker, the United States has an abundant energy supply. The question we must ask ourselves is not if we have enough energy resources but can we produce energy at the necessary levels to meet the growing demand? The Reliable Power Act will help us do just that, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 3616.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Latta for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3668, the Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act offered by Chairman Hudson. My Energy and Commerce Committee colleagues and I have been hard at work this year, crafting commonsense legislative solutions to improve our burdensome Federal permitting process. The bill before us today is just one example. Due to unclear review processes and a lack of coordination amongst government agencies, pipeline infrastructure approvals in this country have been significantly delayed in many cases, often resulting in insufficient infrastructure to transport our clean natural gas. The result is an electric grid that is less reliable and increased utility prices for hardworking Americans. While natural gas demand is expected to reach an all-time high, accounting for more than 40 percent of electric generation in the U.S. next year, this is clearly a pressing issue that must be addressed immediately. H.R. 3668 is the answer. This legislation bolsters FERC's rule as the lead agency in the natural gas pipeline review process, empowering them to oversee communication between agencies and streamline pipeline reviews and approvals so Americans can access the energy they need on a daily basis. Mr. Speaker, the build-out of interstate natural gas pipeline infrastructure is essential to ensuring domestic energy can be transported efficiently and meet growing electricity demands. H.R. 3668 should be an easy ``yes'' vote for Members on both sides of the aisle.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1949, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act, and I thank Representative Pfluger for his leadership on this bill. In January of last year, former President Joe Biden unveiled the latest of many attacks on our domestic energy capabilities when he announced an indefinite pause on all pending approvals of liquefied natural gas exports, or LNG. This certainly made the Russians happy, and Europe could have used some help with their energy demand. Not only was this decision completely unnecessary, but it was also economically and strategically dangerous. Under both Democratic and Republican administrations, DOE has consistently found that U.S. LNG exports serve the public interest, contributing positive economic benefits and strengthening energy security for the American people. Even more, recent studies confirmed that increased American LNG exports do not significantly raise global emissions. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Clean natural gas is a major reason why the United States has significantly reduced emissions. Thankfully, we now have a Commander in Chief who understands the importance of embracing an all-of-the-above energy strategy and unleashing the production and export of clean, affordable, and reliable American LNG. In the first days of this administration, the President signed an executive order reversing President Biden's LNG pause, an important step in reclaiming global energy dominance and lowering costs across the board. It is shocking to me that House Democrats will run to the news cameras and clamor about the cost of living while they also offered their full support for reckless anti-domestic energy policies from the Biden administration that caused prices to skyrocket in the first place. I mean, look at the price of gasoline at the pump 2 years ago. Look at the price of gasoline at the pump today. That is all you have to do. The reason that energy prices are spiking is because input costs are spiking.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I am hopeful that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will join us in passing H.R. 1949, which amends the Natural Gas Act to repeal all restrictions on the import and export of natural gas, effectively overturning the Biden-Harris administration's attempt to undermine U.S. domestic energy production. Removing unnecessary export controls on LNG will strengthen the domestic economy and increase the energy security of the U.S. and our allies. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 1949.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, our chairman, for yielding this time. I rise today in support of H.R. 3062, the Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act. Mr. Speaker, our hardworking energy developers need a clear framework to expand America's energy footprint, not more bureaucracy and uncertainty. My colleague talked about energy prices. Well, just look at the gas pump. I mean, the gas pump is down substantially. Here is the problem: With your baseload energy production, the past administration threw it into total chaos because we know that baseload is the only way that we can reliably produce the electricity and the demand in the future that we are going to need to expand this economy. I mean, we are in a race in AI with China. We have to produce more electricity. There was a war on baseload electricity, an absolute war. These people did not know if they were going to survive this war. Here is the deal: If you don't provide more baseload, your price is going to go up. We have to grow baseload in this country. The only way to reduce energy prices is competition and more energy. Every Member in this Chamber and the American people have witnessed the drastic consequence of this antidomestic energy policy championed by the previous administration, which led to record-high gas prices, severe job loss, and dependence on foreign oil. We have to fix this. We have a solution. You have got to fix these problems. I mean, I am really tired of having to fix all the problems that they created. We have got to do this if we are going to survive this thing. Under this House majority and administration, it is just no longer the American way. We promised the American people energy dominance. We had that just 6 years ago. Can you imagine? We were energy dominant. We set the price of a barrel of oil just 6 years ago. What happened? The bill before us today is a necessary, much-needed solution to ensure in the future we do not face the brunt of reckless executive actions like the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline. We have already heard about the horrible results of that, including the amount of money that was put forward, and now the developer is not going forward. That project would have provided a safe and reliable way to transport energy resources between the United States and our neighbor to the north, Canada. It would have created tens of thousands of jobs, as my colleague earlier said, strengthening our energy security and generating billions of revenue to boost economic growth. Don't listen to this chatter out here. Talk to the folks in the energy business. Let's give this back to the people in the energy business. They know how to produce energy. They are in business to produce energy. They know we have to have baseload. I am for all-in energy. Let's do it all. I think every one of us, we have to have more energy. All of this progress that we made was cut short by the stroke of a pen just 4 years ago, leading the developer to abandon the XL pipeline, as I mentioned earlier. We cannot allow that to happen again. H.R. 3062 would require the President to receive congressional approval before revoking any previously issued permits related to the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of oil or natural gas pipelines. We cannot let an administration put us in this position ever again. It would also streamline the permitting process for projects that connect U.S. energy resources with international markets, establishing a clear regulatory framework so energy developers can tackle projects with confidence and certainty. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have supported the Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act in the Energy and Commerce Committee and look forward to getting it passed by the full House. I strongly urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. 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 Statesboro is a large college town, Mary Beth informed me that 95 percent of her staff are college students, young people simply looking to earn pocket money while they pursue their degrees. 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.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Augusta radio host Austin Rhodes on the recent announcement that he will be inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame. For over 30 years, Austin has been a consistent and dependable voice as the host of the ``Austin Rhodes Show'' on WGAC, making it one of Georgia's longest running weekday drive-time talk shows. Nearly 3 years ago, I stood before this body to recognize Austin's 30th year anniversary in broadcasting, and it is my honor to stand here once again to mark yet another achievement in his long career. During my time in Congress, I have had the pleasure of joining Austin's show on many occasions to discuss key issues impacting our Nation and the CSRA. I will always appreciate Austin's flexibility, willingness to have important conversations, and most of all his ability to tell it like he sees it. I congratulate Austin on this well-deserved honor. I have no doubt that he will continue to be our afternoon voice on the airways for many years to come.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my constituent, Wyatt Spaulding, upon his acceptance to the United States Military Academy at West Point. As a future cadet, he will be joining the ranks of the world's most fearsome fighting force--the United States Army--guided by duty, honor, and country. The service and sacrifice of America's military personnel have safeguarded our Nation since its inception, defending our way of life from Lexington to Normandy. And throughout our history, American soldiers have demonstrated tremendous courage and strength, beating back tyranny to the ends of the earth. I was glad to sponsor Wyatt's nomination, and I am confident that his talents will distinguish him among his peers both during his time at West Point and thereafter. I congratulate Wyatt. I know that he will make this Nation proud.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my constituent, Tyrone Miller, upon his acceptance to the United States Military Academy at West Point. As a future cadet, he will be joining the ranks of the world's most fearsome fighting force--the United States Army--guided by duty, honor, and country. The service and sacrifice of America's military personnel have safeguarded our Nation since its inception, defending our way of life from Lexington to Normandy. And throughout our history, American soldiers have demonstrated tremendous courage and strength, beating back tyranny to the ends of the earth. I was glad to sponsor Tyrone's nomination, and I am confident that his talents will distinguish him among his peers both during his time at West Point and thereafter. I congratulate Tyrone. I know that he will make this Nation proud.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my constituent, Jack Godbee, upon his acceptance to the United States Naval Academy. As a future midshipman, he will be joining the ranks of the world's most elite naval force, guided by the motto: ``Semper Fortis'' The service and sacrifice of America's military personnel have safeguarded our Nation since its inception, defending our way of life from Lexington to Normandy. And throughout our history, American servicemembers have demonstrated tremendous courage and strength, beating back tyranny to the ends of the earth. I was glad to sponsor Jack's nomination, and I am confident that his talents will distinguish him among his peers during his time at the Academy and thereafter. I congratulate Jack. I know that he will make this Nation proud.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my constituent, John Epps, upon his acceptance to the United States Air Force Academy. As a future cadet, he will be joining the ranks of the world's most fearsome fighting force, the United States Air Force. Guided by the motto ``Aim High. . . . Fly-Fight-Win'' the U.S. Air Force is the world's preeminent force in air, space, and cyberspace. Throughout our history, American Airmen have demonstrated tremendous courage and strength, beating back tyranny to the ends of the earth. I was honored to sponsor John's nomination, and I am confident that his talents will distinguish him among his peers both during his time at Air Force Academy and thereafter. I congratulate John. I know that he will make this Nation proud.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my constituent, Kai Agyemang, upon his acceptance to the United States Air Force Academy. As a future cadet, he will be joining the ranks of the world's most fearsome fighting force, the United States Air Force. Guided by the motto ``Aim High . . . Fly-Fight-Win'' the U.S. Air Force is the world's preeminent force in air, space, and cyberspace. Throughout our history, American Airmen have demonstrated tremendous courage and strength, beating back tyranny to the ends of the earth. I was honored to sponsor Kai's nomination, and I am confident that his talents will distinguish him among his peers both during his time at Air Force Academy and thereafter. I congratulate Kai. I know that he will make this Nation proud.