James Baird

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Jack Billman, an invaluable member of our Greencastle community. Jack has been married to his wife, Joan, for over 50 years, and they have three children and three grandchildren. Jack and Joan Billman founded the Greencastle Defenders of Liberty in 2009, which brought in many Hoosiers and connected the people of Putnam County with their elected officials at the State and local levels to discuss current issues and solutions. Jack believes that an informed and active citizenry is very necessary to keep America free and productive. Prior to his extensive community involvement, Jack Billman was an Army veteran, enlisting in the U.S. Army straight out of high school. He also had a career as a commercial pilot. I am immensely grateful to Jack for his service to our country and the United States Army, as well as his service to and involvement with the community of Putnam County. Honoring Norman Voyles

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Norman Voyles, Sr., who recently passed away at the age of 87. He led a life that emphasized his love for farming and his outstanding service to his community. Norman Voyles was a graduate of Martinsville High School in Indiana and served in the Indiana National Guard for 6 years. Norman Voyles also held many roles in local government, further underscoring his commitment to serving his country. He served as a Morgan County commissioner, and he later took on roles on the Morgan County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Morgan County Farm Bureau Co-op, and as president of the Morgan County Farm Bureau. Most importantly, Norman was a loving husband and father to three sons. I am praying for the comfort of his family during this difficult time. May Norman rest in peace. Honoring Warren Macy

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dr. Warren Macy, who has been a physician and an active member of the Greencastle, Indiana, community for over 50 years. He received his bachelor's degree and completed his medical school at Indiana University before opening his own practice in Putnam County. Last year, he received the 2024 Doc Hollywood Award at the Indiana Rural Health Association annual conference for his outstanding service and care to Hoosiers in rural communities. Dr. Macy is also a devoted husband to his wife, Connie, and they have three children and two grandchildren. I thank Dr. Warren Macy for his service to Greencastle and for the invaluable medical care he has provided to our community for decades. Congratulating Yuri Kubo

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Yuri Kubo, a graduate of Purdue University and a native Hoosier who was 1 of just 10 candidates chosen for NASA's latest astronaut class. Yuri Kubo earned his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering in 2008 and his master's degree in electrical and computer engineering in 2015. These 10 outstanding astronauts were selected from a group of approximately 8,000 other candidates. Yuri Kubo and the other nine individuals face 2 years of training before they are eligible for future planned missions to the International Space Station and the Moon. NASA is even looking at a mission to Mars. I congratulate Yuri and the full 2025 astronaut class. They will make Purdue University, Indiana, and the country proud. Congratulating Megan Johnson on 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Megan Johnson, a fourth grade teacher at Central Elementary School in Plainfield, Indiana, who was named the 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year by the Indiana Department of Education. Megan Johnson has over 18 years of experience in upper elementary classrooms and is passionate about her students having the foundational literacy skills needed to thrive through project-based learning. According to the Indiana Secretary of Education, Megan Johnson has made it her mission to improve outcomes for her students, and she prepares her students to succeed far beyond the four walls of her classroom. Mrs. Johnson has also completed 80 hours of professional development in the science of reading, earning the State's early literacy endorsement. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Megan Johnson on this wonderful achievement, and I thank her for all she does to educate and empower the children in Plainfield.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bruce E. McKee, a constituent from Morgan County who served our country as a member of the United States Air Force from 1979 to 1986, including serving overseas in Korea. Bruce McKee has demonstrated outstanding service by supporting veterans in our Morgan County communities. Bruce founded the Indiana Spirit of '45, focused on remembering veterans of the Greatest Generation. In December of 2012, McKee and the Indiana Spirit of '45 started Taps on the Square to honor fallen veterans and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Taps on the Square continues, rain or shine, in downtown Martinsville. McKee also works with the Battle Buddies group to support veterans struggling with reentering civilian life or PTSD. As a veteran myself, I am grateful for the work Bruce is doing to support fellow veterans and servicemembers in our district.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support my amendment to direct the Department of Defense to begin evaluating pulse laser capabilities and to brief Congress within 90 days on its feasibility against drone swarms in the near term and missile threats in the medium term. Drone swarms and hypersonic weapons are advancing rapidly, overwhelming traditional defenses. Kinetic interceptors are costly, and continuous-wave lasers require long engagement times. Pulsed lasers offer an opportunity and a breakthrough, delivering multi-gigawatt bursts that can neutralize drones instantly and engage multiple targets rapidly, making defense more affordable and scalable. Pulsed lasers have advanced rapidly in recent years, building on the same industrial and scientific foundation as existing directed-energy systems but with greater efficiency and lethality. The purpose of this amendment is not to deploy this technology immediately but to ensure the Department of Defense has a pathway to mature, test, and integrate this promising technology. Pulsed lasers are complementary to existing missile defense programs. Kinetic systems remain essential for some threats, but magazine depth and cost limit them. Pulsed lasers provide a scaleable, lower-cost layer that extends the effectiveness of the entire air and missile defense portfolio. My amendment directs the U.S. Secretary of Defense to stay ahead of the adversaries and modernize our layered defenses and assess our potential pulse layer capabilities. I greatly appreciate the inclusion of my amendment in the en bloc. I ask my colleagues to support my amendment.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Chuck Conner who officially retired on Monday, July 14, after serving as a national agriculture leader since 1997. A Benton County native and graduate of Purdue University, Chuck Conner served as the president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives for over 16 years. From 1997 to 2001, he served as president of the Corn Refiners Association. He also has a storied career in public service as Deputy Secretary and Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture under President George W. Bush. Chuck Conner continued his public service as an adviser to U.S. Senator Richard Lugar from Indiana for 17 years. We are grateful for his decades of service and work to benefit our great agricultural industry. I wish him all the best as he embarks on retirement. Honoring Kent and Isabella Chism

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kent and Isabella Chism, two outstanding Hoosiers. Kent is a fifth-generation family farmer in Indiana who focuses on growing corn and soybeans. His wife, Isabella, currently serves as the American Farm Bureau Federation's Women's Leadership Committee chair, and is the former second vice president of the Indiana Farm Bureau. The Chisms are internationally recognized for their hard work and dedication to promoting America's great agricultural industry. Their family farm has also been a home for workshops, farm visits, and open houses. The Chisms recently received the 2025 Indiana Master Farmers award for their work advocating for agriculture. Indiana's agricultural industry is better off thanks to the Chisms, who have used their experiences to be prominent voices for agriculture at the State, local, and national levels. I am grateful for their work that has certainly benefited Indiana and our farmers. American Energy is Dominant Again

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes American energy dominant again by resuming leasing for domestic energy production. This includes onshore and offshore oil and gas leases as well as coal leases. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act strengthens grid reliability and invests in building key energy and critical minerals infrastructure through the Energy Dominance Financing program. This legislation also finally repeals the Green New Deal subsidies from the Democrats' so-called Inflation Reduction Act, such as the tax credit giveaway for expensive, unreliable electric vehicles. This historic bill also restores our energy security by starting to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which was drained under the previous administration. This big, beautiful bill is a historic win for America's great energy sector that will help reduce energy costs for hardworking families in my district and across the Nation.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will strengthen and protect Medicaid for those who need it the most. This legislation focuses on eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse that have historically plagued this system, ensuring that resources are used efficiently and effectively. Contrary to the misinformation spreading, there are roughly 1.4 million illegal immigrants who are receiving Medicaid, crowding out benefits meant for American citizens. What is more, this bill invests billions of dollars in long-term care for seniors and people with disabilities by establishing a new pathway for States to offer community-based services. This will help preserve Medicaid for the most vulnerable populations who rely on it: pregnant mothers, children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities and low- income families.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding. Mr. Speaker, on July Fourth, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law. This historic legislation delivered the largest tax cuts to working-and middle-class Americans in U.S. history and will revitalize rural America. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made permanent the 199A small business tax credit, providing certainty to small businesses and ensuring Main Street can thrive. This legislation also saves 2 million family farms, including over 6,800 family farms in my district, from facing a death tax increase. This will protect the generational transfer of family farms. This bill also cuts down on the waste, fraud, and abuse in our Federal agencies that have made it harder and more expensive for our American people. This bill is a win for our farmers, small businesses, and Americans in every income bracket.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to cast two votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 162, H.R. 2096, and YEA on Roll Call No. 163, H.R. 884.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding to me. Madam Speaker, every single day, our brave men and women in blue leave their families not knowing if they will return home. During National Police Week, we pause to show our gratitude for our law enforcement officers and recognize the sacrifices that they make every single day to keep our communities safe. Today, I particularly recognize Fred Fislar from the Hendricks County Sheriff's Office and Brandon Schreiber from the Newton County Sheriff's Office, two constituents of mine who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty in 2024. Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten. To the law enforcement officers across the State of Indiana, I thank them for their unwavering courage, dedication, and service to our communities. I also thank the families of our law enforcement officers. Their strength, resilience, and sacrifices should also be honored and appreciated. Let this week serve as a reminder that we should always back the blue. Additional Recognitions for National Police Week

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 129.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor McCutcheon High School's Mavericks Robotics team, which won the 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship. The Mavericks Robotics team competed against 3,700 teams from around the world just to clinch a spot in the world championship. Only 600 of those teams made the cut, and this robotics team won it all. These talented students from McCutcheon High School dedicated 17 to 20 hours a week designing, building, and marketing their robot. Each of the students on the Mavericks Robotics team played a vital role in their global victory, from designing aspects of the robot, computer programming, crafting the physical build of the robot, or helping raise money for the project. These brilliant students should be proud of this truly outstanding accomplishment. I congratulate the world champion McCutcheon Mavericks Robotics team. Recognizing Sergeant Rodney Jenkins

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Sergeant Rodney Jenkins, a dedicated public servant who devoted over two decades to law enforcement in Montgomery County, Indiana. At 19, Rodney became one of the first full-time male dispatchers at the Montgomery County Communications Center, and his career only flourished from there. In 1998, Rodney Jenkins was hired as a jail officer and reserve deputy with Montgomery County Sheriff's office. In 2000, he was hired as a road deputy, and 9 years later, he was promoted to sergeant. His leadership, coupled with his dedication to both administrative and field duties, showcases his true passion for law enforcement and community service. We are grateful for Sergeant Jenkins' exceptional service to our community, and I am proud to congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement. Retirement of Dr. Karen Plaut

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Karen Plaut, the executive vice president for research at Purdue University who recently announced she will retire on June 30 of this year. Dr. Plaut has a truly impressive career. Dr. Plaut attended the University of Vermont, received her master's from Pennsylvania State University, and received her Ph.D. in animal science from Cornell University. She held a fellowship at the National Cancer Institute at NIH and led breast cancer research at the University of Vermont. Dr. Plaut then joined NASA and served as the lead scientist for the International Space Station Biological Research Project, working with engineers to build life science habitats for zero gravity. Dr. Plaut joined Purdue University in 2010 and became executive vice president in 2023. I wish Dr. Plaut the best of luck and congratulate her on her well- earned retirement. Recognizing Dr. John Scamahorn

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor fellow Boilermaker Dr. John Scamahorn. Dr. Scamahorn earned his degree in veterinary medicine from Purdue University in 1972 and has spent his career supporting veterinarians at the local, State, and national levels. Dr. Scamahorn runs the Animal Medical Clinic in Greencastle, Indiana. He also helped found the Indiana Animal Health Foundation, which helps fund scholarships and service animals. He also has contributed significant time to 4-H members. He received the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2001 and the American Veterinary Medical Association Meritorious Service Award in 2022, which recognizes a veterinarian who has brought honor and distinction to the veterinary profession. Indiana is proud to be the home for Dr. Scamahorn, and I thank him for his exceptional service to veterinarians and our communities. Recognizing Jinsie Bingham

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Jinsie Bingham, a trailblazing broadcaster and lifelong Greencastle, Indiana, resident. She even graduated from DePauw University, located in Greencastle, in 1956. Her broadcasting career started when she joined the local radio station WJNZ, formerly known as WXTA, as the sales manager in 1969. In 1977, Jinsie Bingham became the first woman in Indiana to own and operate a commercial radio station. She ran WJNZ, which is now known as WREB and serves Greencastle to this day. In 1996, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indiana Chapter of American Women in Radio and Television. Jinsie Bingham retired from broadcasting in 1994 but continues to be active in the Greencastle community to this day. She is also known as the unofficial historian for the area. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to know Jinsie Bingham, and I thank her for her decades of service to Greencastle.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for giving me this opportunity to speak. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.J. Res. 75. Once again, I join my House colleagues in working to overturn another last-minute, so-called energy efficiency standard from the previous administration. In reality, the Biden administration imposed standards that are nearly impossible for commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturers to meet. According to estimates from the Biden Department of Energy, the final rule will cost approximately $8 billion. This will be borne by those purchasing equipment, many of whom are small businesses. The payback period for certain commercial refrigeration equipment under these standards is up to 93.9 years. That is right, nearly 94 years. To make matters worse, the Department of Energy's test procedures do not align with real-world conditions. The DOE's estimate of the CRE door openings in an hour often undercounts the real number of door openings. This means the appliance's interior temperature may rise above safe food-storage conditions, jeopardizing food safety. Once again, the left's pro-Big Government, Green New Deal agenda harms the little guy. The Biden Department of Energy implemented a policy that threatens small businesses, harms consumers, and drives up costs, even as many Americans continue to struggle under the long-term effects of the Biden administration's inflationary economic policies. That ends now. I am proud to join my House Republican colleagues in standing up for America's consumers and small business owners across the country. With this bill, we are continuing to deliver on the mandate of the American people to cut burdensome red tape and ensure American consumers and small businesses can thrive. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this underlying bill.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, the Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act seeks to improve the quality of STEM education in America. This bill will allow us to modernize math curricula and improve K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. While this bill directs the National Science Foundation to grant awards to educational institutions, it does not award any new funding. As we look at reining in the out-of-control government spending and bureaucracy, we must work with the resources we already have. As an animal scientist, I understand the life-changing effects STEM education can have when it comes to our livestock, creating innovative, more effective farming techniques, our food quality, and ultimately our Nation's well-being. Proper STEM education has an invaluable impact on American innovation. It equips our students--our future workforce--to tackle the challenges of our modern digital economy. Modernizing STEM education also has wide-ranging impacts on our national security. The United States' ability to create cutting-edge technologies has been vital to defeating our adversaries, especially as our adversary, Communist China, continues to make huge investments in STEM to try and out-compete the U.S. Beating China and maintaining our global competitive edge begins with strengthening STEM education in K-12 schools. That is why I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation to ensure that the United States continues to dominate when it comes to STEM education.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Department of Energy and National Science Foundation Interagency Research Act, and I thank Congresswoman Haley Stevens for working with me on this bipartisan bill. The Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation are vehicles for some of our nation's cutting-edge scientific research. Combined, these agencies tackle the modern challenges of physics, quantum information sciences, Artificial Intelligence, and beyond. However, there is no clear directive for these organizations to work together. This LegisLation explicitly directs the Secretary of Energy and the Director of the NSF to coordinate their activities to accelerate research and unlock new opportunities. Operating in a silo is never the best practice when it comes to conducting scientific research, especially as our country looks to maximize the use of Americans' taxpayer dollars AND bolster our science and technology sectors to combat the growing threat of the Chinese Communist Party. With this bill, the Department of Energy and the NSF can maximize their impact through coordination and leveraging each other's investments in research and development. The United States has earned its reputation as a world leader in scientific research and innovation, and now more than ever, we must reinforce critical partnerships that promote these advancements. As we face increased competition from Communist China, we must ensure WE lead the world in research and development, including in areas like Artificial Intelligence, so that our country--not Communist China-- continues to set the rules of the road. Thank you again to Congresswoman Stevens for working with me on this commonsense, bipartisan approach that empowers American innovation. This legislation unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023, and I hope we see this bill across the finish line this Congress.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Arizona for this Special Order. Mr. Speaker, under the Biden administration, our borders were wide open with record numbers of illegal immigrants and deadly drugs flooding across our border. Under President Biden, every single State became a border State including Indiana. These include dangerous criminals with ties to gangs such as the Tren de Aragua and MS-13, who have committed horrific crimes and vicious attacks against innocent Americans. Last year, an illegal immigrant with ties to MS-13 stabbed a teenage girl in the hand at a baseball game in Lowell, Indiana. After an extensive search, the culprit was found and arrested. I thank law enforcement officers for their hard work to find and arrest this criminal. Under President Trump, we have swiftly returned to commonsense border policies, and illegal border crossings have plunged to a record low. In January 2025, there were 61,465 illegal border crossings, down from 176,000 in January '24. Just last month, illegal crossings at our southern border plummeted to the lowest level on record. President Trump has sent a message loud and clear that the border is closed, and his strong border security policies are working. House Republicans are working with the President to implement his agenda to secure our border and keep Americans safe.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Nick Bostic, a former pizza delivery man who saved five sisters from a burning house. Just after midnight, July 11, 2022, Bostic was driving nearby when he saw the house in flames. Bostic entered the home, where he found an 18- year-old woman, a toddler, and two 13-year-olds outside the upstairs bedroom. He led them out of the house before running back inside to rescue the 6-year-old girl. For his actions, Nick Bostic received the Carnegie Medal, given to American and Canadian citizens who put themselves in extreme danger while saving and attempting to save the lives of others. It is North America's highest honor for civilian heroism. The entire Lafayette community is grateful for his courageous actions to save the lives of these young girls. Congratulating Brownsburg Bulldogs on Their IHSAA 6A Victory