Lauren Boebert

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of amendment No. 2. America's military service academies have a clear and important mission: to educate, train, and prepare the next generation of officers who will lead our Armed Forces. Admission to these institutions is highly competitive, and every available appointment represents a significant investment by the American taxpayer. This amendment ensures that those limited opportunities are reserved for American citizens who are preparing to serve our country in uniform. Our first responsibility must be to young Americans who are willing to swear an oath to the Constitution and commit themselves to the defense of this Nation. Our service academies should remain focused on producing American military leaders for the American Armed Forces. I urge my colleagues to support amendment No. 2. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer amendment No. 2 as the designee for Mr. Roy.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, as was stated, this war was two decades. I don't believe the commission needs two decades to complete its work. Mr. Chairman, I urge support of my colleagues for this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of amendment No. 1. This amendment strikes section 1213 of the bill, which would delay the deadline for the Afghanistan War Commission's final report. Instead, it maintains the reporting deadline already established in current law. The American people, our veterans, Gold Star families, and all who served in Afghanistan deserve timely answers. Congress created this commission to examine two decades of war, learn from our successes and failures, and ensure those lessons are not forgotten. Delaying that work only postpones the accountability and transparency that the commission was created to provide. This amendment does not change the commission's mission. It does not alter its responsibilities. It simply ensures that the work Congress has already directed is completed on the timeline we originally required. We owe it to those who served, those who sacrificed, and the American people to keep this important effort on track. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support amendment No. 1, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy), and I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of fiscal responsibility and protecting Americans from foreign adversaries. President Trump's domestic policy is defined by his commitment to rid the Federal Government of waste, fraud, and abuse. It is time that Congress followed through on the President's promise. Last year, the Fulbright Program cost the American taxpayers nearly $300 million, set to be repeated in next year's State Department budget. My amendment returns these funds to the pockets of hardworking American taxpayers. The President's FY27 budget proposed an 80-percent cut to the Fulbright Program and for good reason. For years, the Fulbright Program acted as a taxpayer-funded handout for trans fanatic, Green New Deal activists and agents of foreign powers seeking to undermine the United States of America. While the President confronted Fulbright's board of directors about this injustice of their leftist bias, they resigned rather than face the truth. Every year, nearly 5,000 foreign applicants receive a Fulbright Scholarship. These recipients include citizens of countries with very close ties to adversaries, such as Russia, China, and North Korea, a known pathway for agents of foreign powers to enter the United States and spy on us. This is an unacceptable risk to the American people and our national security. The Fulbright Program is a bad deal for the American people, and my amendment restores fiscal responsibility and keeps our great Nation safe. For the good of our country and responsibility to every American taxpayer, we must act to end this harmful and wasteful program. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have said my piece. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 232, I mistakenly voted Yea when I intended to vote Nay.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8312, the Fraud Prevention and Accountability Act. The American people expect their government to be a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars, yet every year, the Federal Government loses hundreds of billions of dollars to fraud, waste, and abuse of our hard-earned money. While the Federal Government provides families, workers, and businesses with the support they need, several COVID-era spending programs exposed serious weaknesses in our ability to prevent fraud. Once those dollars were lost, it has proven to be nearly impossible to recover them. This bill shifts the Federal Government from a reactive stance to a proactive one. Instead of focusing primarily on recovering funds after they have been stolen, it prioritizes preventing fraud before taxpayer dollars are ever stolen. Through better coordination, stronger oversight, and improved safeguards, this bill helps ensure Federal programs are protected from abuse. At a time when our Nation is almost $40 trillion in debt, every dollar matters. The American people work far too hard, sacrifice far too much, and wait far too long for their paychecks to watch them be sacrificed to bureaucratic incompetence. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Madam Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 8464, the Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act. This legislation is a commonsense, taxpayer-first bill that finally puts an end to the reckless pay-and-chase scam that has drained billions from hardworking American families. For too long, the Washington bureaucracy has operated like an open checkbook for fraudsters. They cut the checks first, ask the questions later while American taxpayers foot the bill for waste, abuse, and outright theft. We have seen it in State administered social services where millions vanished into pockets of criminals. Enough is enough. H.R. 8464 empowers Federal agencies and the Department of the Treasury to pause, condition, or segment suspicious payments before the money flies out the door. It uses objective fraud risk indicators from the Do Not Pay system and requires any action to be narrow, temporary, and focused solely on verifying eligibility. No more blank checks and no more playing defense after fraud has already happened. I believe in fiscal responsibility, government accountability, and protecting every hard-earned dollar from the American people. This bill delivers exactly that. It shifts the focus from recovery to prevention, saving billions and ensuring benefits go to eligible Americans, not scammers and fraud rings. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand with taxpayers, stand against waste and fraud, and vote ``yes'' on H.R. 8464.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris) for his leadership on the Committee on Appropriations' Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. Mr. Chair, I rise in favor of this en bloc package that includes five of my amendments. In Colorado's Fourth Congressional District, agriculture is the lifeblood of our communities. I represent thousands of hardworking farmers and ranchers who are raising livestock, growing wheat, corn, millet, and other vital crops that feed our Nation and power their local economies. My amendments do not increase spending by a single dollar. They redirect $10 million in existing funds from administrative offices and back-office bureaucracies to important programs in the USDA that will help our farmers, ranchers, landowners, and rural communities. My amendments redirect additional resources for rural utility services and rural development programs in rural communities to help strengthen infrastructure and economic opportunity. One of my amendments redirects funding to the Farm Service Agency, which works directly with producers to administer farm programs, disaster assistance, and conservation initiatives. I am also redirecting funding to the Natural Resources Conservation Service operations. Mr. Chair, I urge everyone to support these important amendments.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1041, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act. Our veterans answered the call when this Nation needed them most. They fought to defend the very Constitution that guarantees every American the right to keep and bear arms. I thank every veteran for their sacrifice. We see them. We honor them, and we have got their backs. How do we repay our Nation's heroes? Right now, bureaucratic overreach allows the VA to strip away a veteran's constitutional right just because they ask for help managing their benefits. If you use a fiduciary, the system flags you. It is wrong, and it ends now. Chairman Bost's commonsense bill stops the VA from automatically feeding veterans' names into the background check system. It protects the Second Amendment rights of the men and women who fought for ours. The radical left loves to say they support the troops until it is time to actually protect their constitutional rights. The Second Amendment is not optional, and our veterans have the right to exercise it fully. No more treating men and women who defended this country like second-class citizens. We will restore and protect the constitutional freedoms of our veterans and every American. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 1041. Honor our warriors by restoring their rights. God bless our veterans.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 40th anniversary of the Hughes amendment which is a stark reminder of how Congress has repeatedly infringed upon the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. Today, I introduced the Freedom From Taxes Act. This important legislation fully repeals the remaining excise taxes on machine guns and destructive devices under the National Firearms Act and eliminates the special occupational tax on Federal firearms licenses. Building on the strong progress we achieved in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, this legislation completely zeros out the final NFA taxes, reducing the annual burden from $1,000 to $0 for importers and manufacturers, and from $500 to $0 for dealers. It also ends the burdensome special occupational tax that has been weighing down small businesses and manufacturers across America's firearms industries for far too long. I want to thank the Gun Owners of America and the National Rifle Association for supporting this bill and defending our always under- siege Second Amendment. The government has no business penalizing law-abiding citizens who are simply exercising their God-given Second Amendment rights. By removing these unfair taxes, we are providing meaningful relief to hardworking gun owners, hardworking manufacturers, and small businesses that form this industry.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life, service, and extraordinary legacy of Arthur Eugene Griffith, a proud Coloradan, devoted man of faith, accomplished engineer, champion swimmer, loving husband and father, and one of the most respected public servants in Douglas County history. Art passed away peacefully at his home in Aurora, Colorado, on May 1, 2026, after a courageous six-year battle with cancer. Through every challenge he faced, he demonstrated remarkable strength, unwavering faith, and a servant's heart that inspired everyone around him. Born in Boulder, Colorado, on January 10, 1959, Art dedicated his life to his family, his faith, and serving others. He was a steadfast follower of Jesus Christ who sought not simply to speak about his faith, but to live it out every day through compassion, humility, kindness, and love for others. Those who knew Art understood that his life reflected the values he cherished most deeply. Above all else, Art loved his family. He was a devoted husband to his beloved wife Laurie for 42 wonderful years, a proud father to Kristin, John, Samuel, and David, and an adoring ``Papa'' to his grandchildren, who brought him immense joy throughout his life. Family gatherings, church fellowship, and time spent with loved ones were at the center of Art's world. Art also left an extraordinary and lasting mark on Colorado through nearly 30 years of distinguished public service as Douglas County's Transportation Capital Improvement Program Manager. Throughout his career, he led many of the county's most significant transportation infrastructure initiatives from early planning and design through construction completion, helping transform mobility and strengthen communities across the south Denver region. Art exemplified public service through his tireless advocacy, collaborative leadership, technical expertise, and unwavering commitment to the citizens of Douglas County and the State of Colorado. He advanced major regional transportation projects that millions of Coloradans rely on today, including the I-25 Gap Project from Castle Rock to Monument Hill, the C-470 expansion through Highlands Ranch, improvements along U.S. Highway 85 in northwest Douglas County, and the I-25 and Crystal Valley Parkway interchange in Castle Rock. In addition to these major regional projects, Art helped construct and improve countless roadways of countywide importance, including County Line Road, Chambers Road, Hilltop Road, and RidgeGate Parkway. He also championed bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements, including the grade- separated trail overpasses along the C-470 Trail in Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree, improving both safety and quality of life for families throughout the region. Art was widely respected as a trusted advisor, consensus builder, skilled communicator, advocate for transportation funding, and mentor to many both personally and professionally. His work will continue benefiting Colorado families and communities for generations to come. In recognition of his enduring contributions and legacy of service, a portion of U.S. Highway 85 from Mile Marker 198 through Mile Marker 201 is being dedicated as the ``Art Griffith Memorial Highway.'' This designation serves as a lasting tribute not only to Art's contributions to transportation infrastructure and public service, but also as a reminder of the profound difference one dedicated public servant can make in the lives of countless others. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Art was also an extraordinary athlete. He earned numerous national swimming titles, competed as a member of the USA National Team, and was inducted into the University of Minnesota Hall of Fame for his achievements in the pool. Yet despite these remarkable accomplishments, those closest to him will remember him most for his humility, gentle spirit, dry sense of humor, integrity, and the genuine care he showed toward everyone he met. Art Griffith lived a life grounded in faith, family, service, and love. He leaves behind a legacy of treasured relationships and an example of quiet strength and grace that will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing him. My prayers are with Laurie, his children and grandchildren, and all of Art's family and friends during this difficult time. Colorado is stronger, safer, and better because Art Griffith called it home, and his legacy will endure for generations. May he rest in eternal peace.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Protective Service and its brave law enforcement officers for their essential role in protecting Federal facilities and the homeland. FPS law enforcement officers are on the front lines, defending Federal properties and the people who work in and visit them. I appreciate the sacrifices our FPS law enforcement officers make every day to protect Federal facilities and ensure the safety of Federal employees and visitors. Their dedication and commitment to safeguarding our Nation's critical infrastructure often go unnoticed, and their professionalism, courage, and selflessness are crucial to our homeland security. In my home State of Colorado, the fentanyl epidemic has devastated communities and stolen thousands of lives. FPS officers serve as a critical shield that is essential to intercepting fentanyl trafficking networks and stopping this weapon of mass destruction from reaching our families and neighborhoods. During National Police Week especially I am proud to introduce this resolution to honor the FPS, to recognize their service, to promote greater awareness for their important work, and to show our unwavering support for their vital mission. This resolution recognizes and appreciates the dedication of FPS law enforcement officers and extends gratitude to them and their families for their sacrifice and service, honors the memories of those who have fallen in the line of duty, and encourages continued collaboration.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of our House Natural Resources Committee and the ranking member of our committee for all the work that has been put in on this legislation. I also thank my colleagues in the Senate for their work on this important bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of today's veto override to ensure my bill, H.R. 131, becomes law. In December of last year, this commonsense, bipartisan, and bicameral bill passed both the House and Senate unanimously. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that my bill will not result in a measurable increase to Federal spending. H.R. 131, the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act, will help small rural communities in southeast Colorado finally complete a Federal water project that was authorized in 1962 under the Kennedy administration. Radium, uranium, and other naturally occurring elements are found in the surface and groundwater of southeastern Colorado, and the water quality is problematic year-round because of its salinity, selenium, sulfate, hardness, and manganese levels. The Bureau of Reclamation has found that these contamination levels are so severe that local communities could see the costs of their drinking water triple without this legislation. Contrary to what the veto message states, my bill does not authorize any additional Federal funding. It simply modifies the repayment terms for small rural communities in my district so they are able to afford their 35 percent cost share of the project that they are statutorily obligated to repay. After the project broke ground, inflation took place. Costs doubled under the previous administration. The price tag of this project doubled due to construction and labor costs. Once completed, the Arkansas Valley Conduit will provide 7,500 acre- feet of water per year to as many as 50,000 Coloradans across 40 different communities in Pueblo, Otero, Bent, Kiowa, Prowers, Crowley, and Baca Counties. I boldly remind my colleagues here today that this project broke ground during the first Trump administration in 2020 due to major investments from the Trump-led Bureau of Reclamation and the State of Colorado. From 1962 until 2020, only $24 million had been invested in this project. In 2020, President Trump and his team, his administration, did the right thing, continuing with their commitment to improve Western water infrastructure. He more than doubled the Federal investments in this project with $28 million going toward it. The State of Colorado then invested over $100 million in this project. Former Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt personally attended the groundbreaking of the AVC and retweeted: ``For nearly 60 years, Colorado's leaders have worked to move the Arkansas Valley Conduit forward.'' The Trump administration got it done. A press release from the Department of the Interior announcing the groundbreaking reads: ``Western water supply reliability and infrastructure investments has been a priority for President Trump and his administration.'' This bill makes good on not only a 60-year plus commitment without wasting hundreds of millions of dollars in State and local and Federal investments, but it also makes good on President Trump's commitment to rural communities, to Western water issues. President Trump's commitment to Western water supply and reliability will be upheld, and the Arkansas Valley Conduit will finally be completed. We were able to get this bill passed and sent to the White House the right way, the way that I have fought for since I have been in Congress. This is a piece of legislation that has gone through committee, has been negotiated, has been debated, has gone back and forth between both Chambers, and we were able to pass this single- subject legislation all the way through with unanimous support in this body and in the Senate. It is something I am very, very proud of, and it is past time that we finally fulfill the promise that the Federal Government made to the communities I represent in Colorado. I urge my colleagues to support this override to finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 10, I mistakenly voted YEA when I intended to vote NAY.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for helping to lead on this issue. I thank my colleague, Representative Tom Tiffany, who has also been instrumental in this piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, Colorado is at the center of our Nation for wolf battles. That is why Congressman Tom Tiffany and I introduced H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act. My bill delists the gray wolf from the Federal Endangered Species List and returns the issue of wolf management to the States and Tribal wildlife agencies. This doesn't mean that wolves will not be managed. It just means that the Federal Government will step aside, and we will have proper State management. I think we believe in federalism here and the Tenth Amendment and trust our States to do the right thing. Leftists want to eliminate hunting, lock up our lands, further restrict gun rights, and pander to the interests of extreme environmentalists who don't understand our rural way of life. In 2020, in Colorado, Denver and Boulder voted to reintroduce gray wolves west of the Continental Divide. This ballot-box biology has led Colorado to rush through the importation of Canadian gray wolves and has set them loose in our State, despite numerous protests and questions about the legality of this dysfunctional and chaotic approach, putting predators over people. These predators do not obey arbitrary boundaries. Sure, Colorado may say that they will be introduced west of the Continental Divide, but that doesn't keep them west, and that doesn't necessarily keep them in Colorado, either, as we have seen. Importing foreign predators into our State has received pushback from our Tribes, energy operators, and our farmers and ranchers. ESA restrictions prohibit ranchers and pet owners from protecting their livestock and pets, as ranchers who shoot at, injure, or kill protected wolves that are stalking sheep or cattle face potential prosecution. Unfortunately, wolves, again, don't see State lines. They don't know the difference between State, Federal, Tribal, or private land. It is in their nature to travel great distances in pursuit of prey, whether that is deer, elk, sheep, cattle, or even our pets. It has been well documented that wolves don't only hunt to satisfy their hunger. They also hunt for sport. In March of this year, one of the Canadian wolves attacked and killed a working cattle dog in Jackson County, Colorado, neighboring one of the counties I represent in my district. Last year, a gray wolf from the Great Lakes region was found over 1,000 miles away in Elbert County, east of the Continental Divide, in Colorado's Fourth District, which I represent. Colorado's agricultural producers have lost $580,000 in just one year from wolves already introduced. We should listen to our farmers and ranchers and finally delist the gray wolf. Gray wolves were first listed under the ESA in 1967. That was 58 years ago. Since then, delisting the gray wolves has been supported by the Obama, Trump, and even Biden administrations. In November 2020, scientists and nonpartisan career employees at the Department of the Interior once again found gray wolves were fully recovered and once again issued a rule that returned management of the gray wolf populations to State and Tribal wildlife agencies, as it should be. Unfortunately, frivolous litigation was filed by environmental extremists, and an activist California judge pandered to them by vacating the 2020 rule and unilaterally relisting the gray wolf by judicial fiat. Mr. Speaker, the science is crystal clear on this issue: Gray wolves should no longer be on the Endangered Species List. We can no longer put farmers, ranchers, and even our pets in harm's way by using taxpayer dollars to protect a species that has been fully recovered. It is time for the Federal Government to get out of the way and allow the State and Tribal wildlife agencies to manage this species. Again, just as my colleague on the other side of the aisle agrees, this is an Endangered Species Act success story. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of my bill.

Mr. BOEBERT

Mr. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs) for honoring our friend, Charlie Kirk. Mr. Speaker, it has truly been a troubling week. This has been a very tough time for all of us, especially for Erika Kirk, Charlie's children, and the family at Turning Point USA. The legacy that Charlie has left behind is truly remarkable. Charlie is leaving a legacy that we will all continue to carry on and move forward with. It is a legacy of faith, of freedom, of love, and of our constitutional values: to have civil conversations and disagreements. It is interesting that my friend died doing what he loved most. He died hearing people, loving people, and giving them the opportunity to speak their thoughts. He literally gave people his platform. We are honoring the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk, a courageous American patriot whose unwavering faith and love for Jesus inspired millions.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, Charlie's deep love for Jesus guided his actions, evident in his daily Scripture study and fearless proclamation of the Gospel. His assassination was a tragic loss, but his legacy endures, calling us to speak truth with courage and stand firm in faith. Mr. Speaker, we love Charlie. We stand with Erika, and we congratulate her on her new position. May many more come to know the love of God and Jesus as their Lord through this heinous act.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Objection.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Comer and the free State of Florida's next Governor, Byron Donalds, for introducing this bill. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4922, the D.C. CRIMES Act, which is sponsored by Congressman Donalds. This critical legislation is a direct response to the failed pro-crime policies that have turned our Nation's Capital into a war zone. Under failing leftist policies, Washington, D.C., has seen an epidemic of violence: carjackings surging 300 percent, homicides ravaging communities, and young thugs, some as old as 24, treated as juveniles, slapped with lenient sentences below mandatory minimums. It endangers young families and small businesses struggling in this crime-ridden city. Innocent residents live in fear, while criminals roam free, mocking the rule of law. H.R. 4922 cuts through this madness. It ensures adults face adult consequences. It repeals judges' abilities to dodge mandatory minimums for youth crimes. Crucially, it blocks the D.C. Council from gutting sentencing laws, reclaiming Congress' constitutional oversight over this Federal District, as it should be. As President Trump declared in his March 2025 executive order, if D.C. won't act, we must, restoring order, beauty, and safety to our Capital. This bill isn't about politics. It is about protecting lives. Republicans are delivering real reform, tougher accountability, transparent juvenile crime data via a public website, and a safer D.C. for all. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join us and pass H.R. 4922 now to make America and this District safe again.