Gus Bilirakis

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Mr. Paul Russo, a dedicated public servant, on his upcoming retirement. For the past forty years, Mr. Russo has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of our Nation's heroes through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Since 2018, he has been employed as the Director of the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System. In this capacity, Mr. Russo has overseen the delivery of healthcare for more than 130,000 Veterans in Florida. In addition to running the main hospital, Mr. Russo has managed eight outpatient clinics, supervised 4,500 employees and managed an annual operating budget of more than $1 billion. Mr. Russo also served as Director of the Miami VA Healthcare System for six years and at the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina for two years. Mr. Russo is a recipient of numerous awards for distinguished service. He has also served on many boards and committees within the Department of Veterans Affairs and external to the agency. It is clear that Mr. Russo has made a profoundly positive impact on the lives of many Veterans, and I am grateful for his service.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. It has been great working with him all these years, and I appreciate him very much. I rise in strong support of H.R. 3391, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0. I am proud to be a co-lead on this bipartisan piece of legislation with my friend and colleague, Representative Jennifer Wexton, who does an outstanding job on these issues. Again, she is retiring at the end of this Congress, and we are going to miss her. She did such wonderful work, particularly on the Parkinson's bill, and we are going to get it across the finish line. I am grateful for her leadership on this particular bill, as well, to reauthorize the Kids First Pediatric Research Initiative at the National Institutes of Health. Our bill will continue the critical work being done to conduct biomedical research and discover new insights into pediatric conditions such as childhood cancers. The Kids First program has helped facilitate a better understanding of shared genetic pathways between childhood cancers, birth defects, and other pediatric conditions, and H.R. 3391 ensures that this research will continue for another 5 years. Further, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act requires coordination of all Federal efforts related to pediatric cancer research, as well as a report detailing current federally funded programs and initiatives and all advancements made thus far, and there have been several advancements. We all agree that these scientific discoveries could help unlock the key to developing future treatments and cures for our most vulnerable patients--our kids who suffer from pediatric cancers and rare diseases. We must continue to fight the battle against kids' cancers, both inside and outside the Federal Government. I urge my colleagues to support our bill, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American, Rear Admiral Earl ``Buddy'' Yates, Jr., who passed away peacefully on September 13, 2021, at the age of 97. A graduate of Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, NC, Admiral Yates was admitted to the United States Naval Academy at the outset of World War II. He was commissioned from the Academy in 1943 at the age of 19 and was immediately assigned to the USS Dyson where his squadron received a Presidential Unit Citation for their actions during the Solomon Islands campaign in the Pacific Theater. After the war and throughout the 1950s, Admiral Yates served as a Naval Aviator in Executive Officer roles before being assigned to the Department of the Navy in Washington. In 1965, he was selected for his first command of the USS Raleigh where he was awarded a Legion of Merit for his service. In 1967, Admiral Yates assumed what would become a lifelong duty for him when he was named Prospective Commanding Officer of USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) while the aircraft carrier was completed at Newport News Shipyard in Virginia. He served as the ship's first commander upon commissioning, leading her through assignments with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean until 1969. Before his retirement in 1974, Admiral Yates served in more senior roles with the Navy including Assistant Chief of Staff for the Pacific Fleet. While taking on other assignments with the Navy before his retirement, Admiral Yates was never far from the crew of CVA-67. As new commanding officers took the helm of the ship before it was decommissioned in 2007, Buddy was always available to support them. To the crew who served with him and the many who sailed on CVA-67 after his time in command, Admiral Yates was a friend and mentor who worked hard to unify them all behind a common mission. Throughout the construction of the new USS John F. Kennedy, CVN-79 that is expected to begin operations in 2025, Admiral Yates was quick to work closely with the new prospective commanders in building continuity between the two ships. He attended both the keel laying of CVN-79 in 2015 and the ship's christening in 2019. Together with the veterans of CVN-67, they formed a motto to carry CVN-79 around the world: ``Two Ships, One JFK Family''. Throughout his life, Buddy was never far from friends and was blessed with a beautiful family. After he passed away in 2021, he joined his wife of 63 years, Lucy, in burial at the United Slates Naval Academy Cemetery. Buddy and Lucy had 5 children together, and many grandchildren whom they cherished. On December 23, 2023, his family, the retired crew of CVA-67, and the sailors of CVN-79 honored the centennial birthday of Admiral Yates. Admiral Yates leaves behind a legacy of service to others and of unwavering patriotism to our great Nation. May the memory of this distinguished American and his many years of service to our Nation be eternal.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn Biden's disastrous energy policies that have hurt consumers with skyrocketing costs and jeopardized national security. On day one, he launched a war on American energy by killing the Keystone pipeline. Most recently, he announced a pause on all pending natural gas permits and that he would no longer hold court-ordered offshore gas lease sales. These shortsighted decisions embolden adversaries in their aggression toward American allies who rely on U.S. energy. Mr. Speaker, we must support commonsense measures, like those contained in the Lower Energy Costs Act, to restore American energy dominance, lower costs for consumers, and protect our national security.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 485, the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act, which would ban the use of the quality-adjusted life years metric in our Federal health programs. I thank Chair Rodgers for her leadership on this issue and her staunch advocacy for American patients, no matter their background. The use of QALYs when determining coverage and payment policies in healthcare at its core devalues the lives of patients with disabilities and chronic conditions. As co-chair of the Rare Disease Caucus, I am concerned about how the use of QALY metric impacts payment decisions for chronic rare disorder patients, potentially making it more difficult for them to get access to lifesaving treatments. We can't have that. I am also concerned about how this metric could be used by bureaucrats to make decisions that discriminate against our Nation's disabled veterans, our heroes. These lives have value and should not be discriminated against when determining the cost-effectiveness of treatments, plain and simple. Pricing measurements and discriminatory methodologies such as QALYs have been condemned by the National Council on Disability. Even the Affordable Care Act contained a narrow ban of this metric, and I guess into Medicare, and I am disappointed that the Democrats have decided to turn their back on individuals with preexisting conditions like they have here today. Let's ban this metric and support H.R. 485, which has been endorsed by the National Down Syndrome Society. Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, and more than 100 other disability and patient advocacy groups. That speaks volumes, as far as I am concerned. I thank the chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee for putting this forward, and let's pass it today.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Ethan Paprzycki on being named Civilian Employee of the Year for the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO). The term ``hero'' gets used too often, in my opinion. It is said that ``True heroism is remarkably sober and very undramatic. For, it is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but rather the urge to serve others at whatever cost.'' I could not agree more with this assessment. The heroism that is displayed daily by our first responders and the support teams that facilitate their efforts is both inspirational and aspirational for us all. So few among us answer the call to serve, yet it is the selfless sacrifice of those few who do that keeps our entire community safe. By all accounts, Mr. Paprzycki has dedicated his career to serving others, highlighted by his three-year tenure as an Information Technology (IT) Support Technician with the CCSO. He has exhibited unwavering dedication and commitment to the improvement of the IT Department, which is critical to the team's operational success. Specifically, he has been recognized for his invaluable contributions to ensure a smooth transition to a new report management system and his tireless work to implement a new, electronic version of the Marcy's Law form with training for the entire team. It is the daily efforts of support team members, Mr. Paprzycki, who enable our law enforcement officers to meet the needs of the communities they serve. His peers, commanding officers and the community-at-large have recognized that Mr. Paprzycki routinely goes above and beyond and have noted that his strong work ethic is an asset to the entire organization. I appreciate his exceptional dedication, relentless determination, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Dr. Joyce, for organizing this Special Order on the Biden administration's indefinite de facto ban on LNG exports. While this is a clear election year stunt by President Biden, the real policy impacts will be profound, unfortunately, putting the national security of the U.S. and our allies at risk, increasing global greenhouse emissions, and unduly jeopardizing American economic prosperity. What a shame. Perhaps the greatest winner of the LNG permitting pause is Russia and its maligned allies and coconspirators. Even before its invasion of Ukraine, Russia weaponized its natural gas exports to extract concessions that undermine the rules-based international order. In response, the United States provided our allies and the world a much-needed check against those threats to democracy, to reliable and accessible energy, but no more. President Biden is abandoning our allies, and choosing to enrich despotic regimes, such as Russia and Iran. This decision will also decrease available alternatives to less clean forms of energy. Many countries were relying on American LNG to help in their green transition. Instead, the Biden administration will leave countries like Germany, India, and Japan all needing to reopen previously shuttered, high-emission power plants. China, a major LNG importer, is already building new high-emission power plants, and President Biden's decision will only encourage that trend, unfortunately. Finally, this decision will cost Floridians jobs. Florida is a growing LNG exporter, and the President's pause will see significant economic benefit and opportunity evaporate due to a political stunt. No common sense. Mr. Speaker, America and its allies deserve better.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Michele Hart on being named Communications Officer of the Year for the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO). The term ``hero'' gets used too often, in my opinion. It is said that ``True heroism is remarkably sober and very undramatic. For, it is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but rather the urge to serve others at whatever cost.'' I could not agree more with this assessment. The heroism that is displayed daily by our first responders is both inspirational and aspirational for us all. So few among us answer the call to serve, yet it is the selfless sacrifice of those few who do that keeps our entire community safe. By all accounts, Ms. Hart has dedicated her life to serving others, highlighted by her seven-year tenure with the CCSO which has included progressive responsibility as she was promoted from Communications Officer to Communications Officer In Charge, and then to Communications Supervisor before accepting her current role as Quality Assurance and Training Specialist. She has exhibited unwavering dedication and commitment to the improvement of the Communications Division, which is critical to the operational success of the entire law enforcement team. She has been recognized for consistently supporting new employees by researching and implementing enhanced training platforms to maximize effectiveness and efficiency. She also took a leadership role in converting the Department's communication program to a more modernized, digital format. By obtaining her Quality Assurance Certification in the Priority Dispatch Protocol programs, Ms. Hart expanded the capacity of her team and highlighted her willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done. It is the daily efforts of support team members, like Ms. Hart, who enable our law enforcement officers to meet the needs of the community. Her peers, commanding officers and the community-at-large have recognized that Ms. Hart routinely goes above and beyond the call of duty to promote public safety and to support her team, even in the most difficult of circumstances. The impact of her efforts have left a lasting imprint on the lives of those she serves.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Major Crimes Unit Detective Roscoe Watts on being named Deputy of the Year for the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. The term ``hero'' gets used too often. However, it is said that ``True heroism is remarkably sober and very undramatic. For, if is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but rather the urge to serve others at whatever cost.'' I could not agree more with this assessment. The heroism that is displayed daily by our men and women in uniform is both inspirational and aspirational for us all. So few among us answer the call to serve, yet it is the selfless sacrifice of those few who do that keeps our entire community safe. By all accounts, Detective Watts has dedicated his entire life to serving others, highlighted by his eleven-year tenure with the Citrus County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) where he currently serves as a Major Crimes Detective and prior to that, as an Airborne Forward Observer, in the United States Army. However, he also dedicates his personal time to making our community a better place and helping to improve the lives of countless neighbors through his volunteerism with several charitable causes, including: the Citrus Abuse Shelter Association (CASA), the Key Training Center and within his church. Detective Watts stands out in a sea of shining stars, as evidenced by the many accolades he's received during his distinguished career, such as: the Director's Award from Star & Shield Group, two Life Saving Awards, multiple Medals of Commendation, Citrus County Best of the Best LEO for 2021 & 2022 and most recently as CCSO Law Enforcement Officer of the year for 2023. His peers, his commanding officers and the community-at-large have recognized that Detective Watts routinely goes above and beyond the call of duty to promote public safety and to pursue both justice and closure for victims of crime and their families. The impact of his efforts has left a lasting imprint on the lives of those he serves. Today, I thank Detective Watts for his exceptional dedication, relentless determination, and unwavering commitment to excellence. His tenacity in the face of adversity is recognized and much appreciated.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise because December marked the highest number of illegal immigrant encounters in history with 331 persons on the terror watch list entering the country since President Biden took office. President Biden falsely claims that he needs Congress to act to give him the authority to take control over the border. Let me be perfectly clear: President Biden has the authority to close the border today. He can simply direct his staff to enforce existing laws and reverse the 61 executive actions he has taken to worsen the border crisis since coming to office. I will continue using every single tool at my disposal, including the power of the purse, to force President Biden to enact meaningful border security reform, such as the provisions we passed in H.R. 2. Any action short of securing our border leaves our Nation in peril and our citizens in jeopardy.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the PanCyprian Association of Florida's 2024 Person of the Year, Savas Tsivicos. A native from Cyprus, Mr. Tsivicos currently serves as Supreme President of AHEPA, the largest Hellenic-American organization in the country which has just celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. I'm proud to call myself an AHEPAN, a devoted member of the Tarpon Springs, George Washington Chapter No. 16. As the longest-standing Hellenic-American organization, AHEPA has helped to assimilate and educate Greek immigrants, like my grandparents, as they arrived in America. AHEPA has a lot to be proud of--its good works have elevated the stature of American citizens of Greek ancestry since its first convention in Atlanta in 1923. AHEPA has served as a beacon of all that is true and good about our culture. As a member of Congress, I have come to rely upon AHEPA's advice and counsel on a variety of issues, especially as it relates to my work as Co-Chair of the Hellenic Caucus and Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance. Together, we have worked to strengthen U.S. relations with Greece and Cyprus, secure religious freedom and protection for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and promote solutions for Cyprus. With Mr. Tsivicos at the helm, AHEPA has continued to lead on the world stage calling out the intransigence of Turkey's President Erdogan. It has joined in the fight to prevent the sale of F-16s and F-16 modernization kits to Turkey. And, I am confident, that he will lead AHEPA to continue its work as an important partner in the charge to ensure the United States stands firm in its commitment to defend Greece against Turkish aggression. Domestically, AHEPA concluded an eight-year campaign that donated 20,000 gallons of milk to assist victims of the Flint Water Crisis and helped neighbors recover from the East Palestine train derailment through a $7,500 donation; surpassed $1 million to sponsor over 100 service dogs to help veterans who suffer from PTSD, collectively awarded millions of dollars in scholarships annually; and is set to begin work on two new affordable senior housing communities sponsored by chapters in Des Moines and South Bend. I subscribe to the old Greek proverb that a society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit. The AHEPA pioneers who more than 100 years ago had a vision of eradicating bigotry and discriminination by promoting the ancient Hellenic ideals of education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, family and individual excellence to encourage a more perfect society are beaming with pride from above. The fruits of their vision and their labor continue to prosper because of the efforts from those, like Mr. Tsivicos, who carry forth the mission throughout our country. Again, congratulation to the entire organization and to Mr. Tsivicos on leading AHEPA to have another productive year. I wish him continued success and many more years of fruitful educational, philanthropic, and civic endeavors.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Kiwanis Club of Dade City as it celebrates its 100th anniversary this week. Service is at the heart of every Kiwanis club, with Kiwanis members participating in over 150,000 service projects, devoting more than six million hours of service and raising nearly $100 million every year in communities around the globe. The Kiwanis Club of Dade City is especially impactful. Under the skillful leadership of President Kristia Dimarakis, the Kiwanis Club of Dade City has made immeasurable contributions to the community. In addition to raising funds to support countless local charities and organizations, the Club sponsors a program to-help children receive eyeglasses in partnership with the local schools and eye doctors. Kiwanis of Dade City also helps facilitate clothing drives and keeps the local food pantry stocked for children in need. The lives of residents throughout Pasco County have been improved because of this group's philanthropic approach to making a difference to the lives of others.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring awareness to the fact that January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Human trafficking erodes personal dignity and destroys the moral fabric of our society. Sadly, it is the fastest growing illicit trade in the world, with an estimated 40.3 million people living as slaves worldwide. In this day and age, it is easy to think of human trafficking as a problem that happens elsewhere, but sadly, the U.S. accounts for almost 52 percent of global human trafficking, with the sex trafficking of minors accounting for the largest percentage. Unfortunately, this problem has been exacerbated by the Biden administration's weak border policies, which criminal cartels are exploiting. Obviously, we need to secure the border immediately and hold traffickers accountable. During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we must reaffirm our unwavering commitment to eradicate this crime against humanity and to support victims of this horrific crime.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, first of all, the reason the Lord brought us here today was to do good things, and that is why our constituents elect us--to do good things and work together for our constituents and, of course, for our wonderful country. I thank Jennifer Wexton, my colleague, for really helping me with this. We could not have done this without our bipartisan support, and I appreciate the gentlewoman (Ms. Wexton) so very much. I want to thank my staff and the committee staff for not giving up and being resilient in getting this done in a timely fashion. We urge the Senate to do the same. I want to also salute some family members: my sister-in-law, Maria, who took care of my brother Emmanuel for so many years. He took care of everyone in our community really as an old-fashioned family doctor and called patients every night to make sure that they were okay. He worried about us on a regular basis, the family, and never really cared about himself. God bless him for what he has done for our community and, again, for this bill. I also thank my nieces, Evelyn and Stella; and my lovely, wonderful wife for taking care of my mother-in-law for so many years. This is quite an accomplishment. Again, we couldn't do it without Representative Tonko, Representative Anna Eshoo, Ranking Member Pallone and, of course, Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who has been wonderful. Mr. Speaker, I urge unanimous support for this wonderful bill that will do so much. I thank Michael J. Fox for his help. He has done so much. We will find a cure. I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this particular vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, we will find a cure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Fulcher).

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 2365, the newly titled Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson's Act, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. First, I thank Chair Rodgers for her support of this bill and passing it out of markup last week unanimously by a vote of 47-0. I am also grateful to my good friend and co-lead on this bill, Representative Paul Tonko, for his support and for working with me on this particular piece of legislation. Mr. Tonko has been a true partner in this effort to provide hope for patients living with Parkinson's disease, and I commend him for his advocacy on behalf of the community. Mr. Speaker, in that spirit, The Michael J. Fox Foundation has been a champion for this mission to fund research for better treatments and cures for over 23 years. Michael J. Fox has been able to use his own diagnosis and celebrity status to channel over $1 billion to translational research. We have a letter of endorsement from his foundation and 30 other Parkinson's and neurological advocacy groups and organizations. I truly could not thank them enough for their support and grassroots efforts on this particular bill. H.R. 2365 is no-cost legislation--I want to repeat, no-cost legislation--that will unite experts from government and the private sector to develop a national Parkinson's project with the goal of preventing, treating, and ultimately curing Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's affects almost 1 million Americans nationwide, and it is the fastest growing neurological disease with no cure available, unfortunately. It costs our healthcare system over $52 billion annually, and that number is projected to increase over the next decade to $80 billion. We must do all we can to change that trajectory. Sadly, many of my close family members are among those who have been diagnosed with this horrific disease. This year, in particular, has been very difficult for my family. I lost my brother, Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis, to Parkinson's disease in May. As a primary care physician, my brother cared for his community and his family. He really did. I am so thankful that my friend and colleague, Anna Eshoo--she is a godsend--suggested we rename the title of the bill after him in his honor. I thank her for her strong support on this bill. My brother was an outstanding individual. In my opinion, he was a saint. May his memory be eternal. Further, my mother-in-law, Theodora Lialios, also passed away just this past October after her yearslong battle with the disease. She was a strong and wonderful woman. My uncle also had a diagnosis and passed away a few years ago. My father, Congressman Mike Bilirakis, who was chairman of the Health Subcommittee under the Energy and Commerce Committee--Peter worked with him--was diagnosed just recently. This is for my dad and all of my constituents. Given these personal connections, I have made it a mission to enact legislation that will help Parkinson's patients around the country. H.R. 2365 is the first step in that direction. Thankfully, we have been able to come together in a bipartisan fashion to move this bill forward. I am hopeful we will get broad, bipartisan support in the House today. Mr. Speaker, this could also not come at a more critical time. Earlier this year, researchers were able to newly discover a Parkinson's biomarker that will help reveal pathologies and provide better understanding in research and development efforts. I truly believe we are on the brink of new breakthroughs for treatments and cures and that one day we will completely eradicate this dreadful disease. We must be proactive. We cannot afford to wait any longer. This national Parkinson's project will provide an integrated strategy to support and coordinate research efforts, collaborate to prevent duplication, encourage development of safe and effective treatments, and review the impact on patients and their caregivers and families. Mr. Speaker, with passage of this bill, HHS will be tasked with the creation of a new advisory council comprising of experts in the field across the Federal Government in every related agency, combined with non-Federal members. This is how you do it, a public and private partnership. There will be non-Federal appointed members represented by the patient advocates, specialist providers, clinicians, and researchers working in the Parkinson's space. This advisory council will focus its efforts on an annual report to the Secretary and to Congress with an evaluation of the current efforts to prevent, treat, and cure Parkinson's once and for all. It will also provide recommendations for ways to reduce the escalating burden of this disease on patients, families, and caregivers. It will provide recommendations on ways to reduce costs and improve health outcomes and quality of care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and our Nation's true American heroes, our veterans, and better research the underlying causes of this terrible disease. Lastly, H.R. 2365 will incorporate other neurodegenerative Parkinson's-related diseases, including the rare disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, PSP. PSP is an extremely aggressive disease that progresses rapidly, with life expectancy of 6 to 9 years after diagnosis. It has no known cure or cause. Like Parkinson's, we can change that if we act now. Mr. Speaker, I was so saddened to learn that our friend and House colleague, Jennifer Wexton, was diagnosed with PSP. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family. Her bravery is to be commended for continuing in Congress on behalf of her constituents while battling this horrific disease. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Wexton for her bipartisan support. She did so much. I couldn't do this without her. We are absolutely honored to be able to add her name to the title of this legislation, as well. In the end, there has never been a better time to move forward with H.R. 2365, the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson's Act. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, for helping put this bill on the suspension calendar this week. We really appreciate accelerating the process. It is a no-brainer. We have to cure this disease as soon as possible. We need to save lives, and quality of life is so very important, as well. Let's do the right thing for the Parkinson's community by getting this bill through the House floor to the Senate and enacted into law as soon as possible. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2365, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. 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 in the Record on the bill.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2365) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a national project to prevent and cure Parkinson's, to be known as the National Parkinson's Project, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true American hero, Mr. William Edward Monfort, on his 107th birthday. Mr. Monfort, a Floridian and a revered member of our greatest generation, has led a life marked by exceptional service and resilience. As a young man, he enlisted in the Navy and served with valor and distinction during World War II. Aboard the USS Claxton and in the Destroyer Squadron 23, Mr, Monfort played a crucial role as a Chief Radioman, ensuring critical communications during some of the most pivotal battles of the Pacific Theater, including Pearl Harbor, Midway, and Okinawa. After the war, Mr. Monfort continued to serve his community in profound ways. He co-founded Angels Unaware, a pioneering organization in Tampa Bay that provides care for individuals with developmental disabilities. We thank Mr. Monfort for his exemplary contribution to our country, and wish him a happy 107th birthday. May his story continue to inspire us all.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. I hear from my constituents on a regular basis that the cost of healthcare is too high, and it remains a burden for everyday Americans who are struggling to get by. This bipartisan package led by Chair Rodgers, who I appreciate so much, finally looks to turn the tide of these high costs by injecting much-needed transparency and accountability into our healthcare system. This includes updating CMS' price transparency rules so they actually work effectively for patients. It ensures we better understand and reduce consolidation among hospitals, insurers, and PBMs alike. This also includes my bill with Representative DeGette to reauthorize the Special Diabetes Program for 2 years with increased funding, all while reducing the deficit by $750 million. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this transformative package.