Ken Calvert

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ellzey).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time on en bloc No. 3.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 580, I offer amendments en bloc, as the designee to Chairman Cole.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, these are noncontroversial amendments and supported by both sides. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I support en bloc No. 4, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 580, as the designee of Mr. Cole, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, these are noncontroversial amendments that are supported by both sides. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I encourage Members to support en bloc No. 5, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 580, as the designee of Mr. Cole, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, these are noncontroversial amendments supported by both sides. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Harris).

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I encourage Members to vote ``yes'' on en bloc No. 6, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 580, I offer amendments en bloc as the designee of Mr. Cole.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, these are noncontroversial amendments, and they are supported by both sides. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. today.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Kiya Batmanglidj on the occasion of his retirement from Federal service. Over the past 21 years, Kiya has honorably served the United States in both military and civilian service. Kiya started his career in public service as an Army noncommissioned officer, serving as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division from 1986 to 1989. He was also voluntarily recalled to active duty in support of Operation Desert Shield. For the last ten years, Kiya has served on the House Appropriations Committee. He started with the Surveys and Investigations (S&I) staff where he served as the branch chief for the defense portfolio. He then served briefly on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee working the VA portfolio before transitioning to the Defense Subcommittee in 2018. On the Defense Subcommittee, while in the House Minority, Kiya managed the Army, Defense Wide, and Defense Health accounts. When the Republicans assumed the House Majority, Kiya oversaw the Military Personnel account and the international security cooperation accounts. Kiya considers his greatest Committee accomplishment to be securing the funding for a 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted personnel starting in 2025, the largest increase in over 40 years. Kiya's contributions to America's warfighters will endure long after his tenure in the House of Representatives comes to a close, and I know he will continue to do great work to advance our national defense. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing and commending Kiya for his service to our country. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding me time. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the fiscal year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. It is fitting that the appropriations bill to come to the House floor this year is one that fulfills our highest priorities, honoring our commitments to those who have served and are currently serving in the United States military. This bill delivers on our promises by fully funding veterans' healthcare programs and fully funding veterans' benefits and VA programs. This bill addresses critical infrastructure needs for our men and women in uniform. To address deficiencies in military barracks identified by GAO and others, the bill includes a $75 million increase. There is also a $75 million increase for child development centers on military bases to improve the quality of life of many military families. In closing, I thank my colleague Judge Carter for crafting a bill that keeps our promises to the veterans and our troops. Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to support this important bill.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to approve my bipartisan legislation, H.R. 252, the Secure Our Ports Act. This bill is designed to strengthen our national security by prohibiting foreign adversaries from owning and operating critical infrastructure in the United States. China's influence and access to critical infrastructure around the world continues to grow. Some reports indicate China owns or operates ports and terminals at nearly 100 locations in over 50 countries. Last year, the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party issued a report highlighting its national security concerns over the influence of critical port infrastructure by Chinese-owned enterprise. More recently, the Defense Department included a number of Chinese shipping firms to a list of companies it identifies as military in nature. America's ports are essential gateways for trade and commerce which provide the foundation of our economy as well as our national security. Allowing foreign adversaries like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran to own and operate port infrastructure would threaten that very foundation and creates a serious liability. Congress must take action and protect this vital infrastructure by passing the Secure Our Ports Act. In closing, I thank my California colleague, John Garamendi, for cosponsoring this bill and making the bipartisan effort as well as Carlos Gimenez of Florida. I also thank the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, my friend Sam Graves, for steering this bill through the Committee. America's ports are vital to our economic and national security, and I urge all my colleagues to approve this bill.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Matthew Bower on the occasion of his retirement from Federal service. Over the past 22 years, Matt has honorably served the United States in both the executive and legislative branches. His service to our Nation culminates in an exemplary and dedicated fashion as a professional staff member for the United States House of Representatives, Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense. Matt's road to Federal service began with completion of his undergraduate degree at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York, where he majored in Economics with a minor in Finance. Matt worked for three years as a private sector accountant and financial analyst before joining the Department of Homeland Security in 2003 where, as a section chief and preparedness officer, Matt was charged with interpreting complex program policies and associated congressional language, identifying problem areas, and developing effective solutions. Little did Matt know that one day he would be on the other side of the coin, drafting impactful provisions and making recommendations that directly affect departmental policies. Matt would continue to rise through the ranks at the Department of Homeland Security, achieving the duties of branch chief of risk analysis and strategic initiatives, with impact on over $3 billion dollars in preparedness grant funding. It was at this point, in 2015, that Matt's career would intersect with the Committee on Appropriations. As a well-respected analyst, Matt earned an opportunity to detail onto the staff of the Subcommittee for Homeland Security, chaired at the time by my good friend Judge Carter. Matt's accounts included the United States Secret Service, the United States Coast Guard, and the Office of Intelligence and Analysis. These are some of the most critical agencies overseen by the Homeland Subcommittee, and it is no surprise that Matt stood out for his ability to perform expert oversight and provide the chairman and clerk with sage advice and recommendations. Matt's abilities caught the eye of the Defense Subcommittee chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, and Matt's return to the Department of Homeland Security was short-lived. In 2016, Matt brought his discerning eye and unflappable demeanor to the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, where he would stay until the end of his service to our Nation. In his decade of service to the Committee, Matt has personally overseen some of the most significant and complex parts of the defense appropriations bill, including: the Department of Defense's military personnel and operation and maintenance accounts, which alone comprised nearly half of the bill, or more during the Global War on Terror years; the Defense Health Program, which provides critical funds to care for servicemembers and their families; and several other accounts where funds are executed for everything from demilitarizing chemical weapons to addressing unexploded ordnance at current and former military sites. However, Matt's last legacy on the Defense Subcommittee will be his years of oversight of the United States Army procurement and research, development, test and evaluations accounts. As the lead staffer on Army issues, Matt had a direct hand in the Army's transformation from a counterterrorism-focused force, to one fielding capabilities to support the Joint force in a new era of strategic competition with near peer adversaries. This included the development and procurement of systems such as the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, the Next Generation Squad Weapon, the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon, and numerous upgrades to existing systems such as the Abrams tank system enhancement packages. I personally appreciated his recommendations on how the Subcommittee should proceed with the development and acquisition of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System or IVAS, an augmented reality headset. Matt's assessment ensured that the Congress retained its power of the purse and held the Army accountable for fielding a capable system. Over the last 10 years, Matt has consistently proved to be a tremendous source of knowledge to the chairs of the Subcommittee on both sides of the aisle, the numerous defense clerks, and his staff colleagues alike. I am grateful for his counsel as the Subcommittee navigated a challenging period for the defense and security of our Nation. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing and commending Matt for his service to our country and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. CALVERT

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and thank Jessica Millan Patterson, who is stepping down as the Chairwoman of the California Republican Party, after serving in that role since 2019. Jessica has been a true leader in the Golden State and served as an effective advocate for the Republican Party. Prior to her election as Chairwoman, Jessica held staff positions with the California Republican Party, Republican National Committee, and statewide and national candidates for more than two decades, including leadership positions for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and Senator John McCain. Jessica then co-founded and served as CEO of California Trailblazers, a candidate recruitment and training organization modeled after the national Young Guns program. In 2019, Jessica was elected as Chairwoman of the California Republican Party. In that role Jessica made diverse community engagement a priority, recruiting and supporting candidates who reflect the districts they hoped to serve. She brought the Republican Party to communities, where it may have never been before to engage voters about the party's mission and learn about the issues that matter most to residents. After an historic 2020 election cycle in which Republicans picked up House seats in California, Jessica was re-elected for a second term in 2021 and a third and final term in the spring of 2023. Under her leadership, Republicans also picked up California seats in 2022, that helped secure a Republican House majority. Jessica clearly possesses a passionate belief in shaping a brighter future for California and a dedication to the Republican Party she has served so faithfully. On behalf of the entire California Republican House Delegation, I want to express my heartfelt thanks and praise for Jessica's significant contributions. I wish Jessica and her family the very best in the years to come.