James Comer

Mr. COMER

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Honorable Gene Dodaro, the Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Mr. Dodaro will complete his term as the Nation's eighth Comptroller General at the end of 2025. This year will conclude Mr. Dodaro's distinguished 52-year career at GAO, Congress' nonpartisan investigative arm. For over more than five decades, Mr. Dodaro has worked tirelessly to help safeguard American taxpayers from fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, and to strengthen efficiency and effectiveness of Federal programs. Mr. Dodaro directed the first-ever audit of the Federal Government's consolidated financial statements in the 1990s. This was a landmark effort that underscored the need for better financial management and accountability governmentwide. Throughout his career, Mr. Dodaro has testified before Congress more than 200 times and has played a pivotal role in advancing major reforms. These reforms include the Government Performance and Results Act, the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act, the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act, the Fraud Reduction and Data Analytics Act, and various other governmentwide improper payments and financial integrity reforms. Under his leadership, GAO estimated its work has produced more than $1.2 trillion in financial benefits for the American people and driven tens of thousands of improvements in Federal operations and programs. Having spent more than half his career as either the Comptroller General or GAO's Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Dodaro has shaped the GAO into the institution that Congress depends on every single day. He strengthened the agency's science, technology, and cybersecurity expertise, ensuring GAO remains well positioned to oversee Federal investments in these emerging and rapidly evolving fields. Under his stewardship, GAO's High Risk List and duplication reports became an essential roadmap for congressional oversight and reform. The Oversight Committee has relied upon this expertise to enhance its monitoring of agencies' progress toward addressing Federal IT acquisition reforms, preventing improper payments and fraud, and the Department of Defense's financial management practices, among other efforts. Mr. Dodaro embodies GAO's values of nonpartisanship, objectivity, reliability, and professionalism. He is deeply respected across the government and the oversight community for his integrity, candor, and dedication. His knowledge of Federal programs and operations has made him one of the most trusted and sought-after witnesses before Congress. Time and time again, he has impressed Members with his ability to explain complex issues, often without a single note in front of him. Yet, despite his immense expertise, he remains one of the most humble public servants. Mr. Dodaro's leadership has also inspired a culture of excellence within GAO. The agency has consistently ranked among the best places to work in the Federal Government throughout his tenure as Comptroller General. This is a reflection of the loyalty and admiration he has earned from the GAO workforce. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Gene Dodaro, who truly defines what it means to be a public servant. For more than half a century, he has helped Congress fulfill its constitutional responsibilities with integrity, honor, and steadfast commitment to the American people. On behalf of Congress, I thank Mr. Dodaro for his remarkable service to our Nation. Congratulating Boyle County High School Rebels

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize the Boyle County Rebels, a football powerhouse in Kentucky's First Congressional District, upon winning the Class 4A State championship, marking their fifth straight title in the last 6 years. This remarkable accomplishment is a testament to the program's hard work, discipline, and excellence, both on and off the field. Under the leadership of Coach Justin Haddix, the Class 4A Coach of the Year, and standout player, Seneca Driver, the Class 4A Player of the Year, the Rebels overcame an early-season setback to finish strong and capture another State title. Their perseverance and focus exemplify the spirit of champions. I congratulate the players, coaches, faculty, and supporters of Boyle County High School on this extraordinary milestone. The Rebels have built a legacy of excellence that continues to inspire pride and unity throughout the Boyle County community.

Mr. COMER

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I oppose this motion, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COMER

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 1276, to remove restrictions from a parcel of land in Paducah, Kentucky. It is an honor to serve the people of Paducah and McCracken County in Congress. One of their community's most impactful institutions, the Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club has been a cornerstone of support and opportunity for local youth for over 60 years. The club is located on land currently owned by the city of Paducah, which has held the property since 2012. For over 60 years, the Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club has been a force for good in Paducah and has had a positive impact on thousands of children who have come through its doors. Today, the club is facing unprecedented demand. More than 100 children are currently on the waiting list due to space constraints in the existing facility. Unfortunately, lingering Federal interest in the property dating back to the city's involvement in the Federal Lands to Parks Program decades ago has impeded progress on an exciting renovation project for the local Boys & Girls Club. Despite strong local support from the city of Paducah and community members, this Federal restriction has hampered efforts to raise funds and begin the renovation process. H.R. 1276 is a straightforward, commonsense bill that would lift this outdated restriction and allow the city to fully transfer the land to the Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club. There is no time to waste in making this commonsense fix to enable this project to move forward. I was proud to collaborate with the city of Paducah, the National Park Service, and local stakeholders to develop a legislative solution to this issue. It ensures that the Federal Government's unnecessary involvement no longer stands in the way of progress for the children of Paducah and McCracken County. I thank Senator Paul for introducing the Senate companion bill, S. 601, and Senator McConnell for being an original cosponsor of that legislation. I look forward to working with them to get this bill across the finish line and onto President Trump's desk. I also thank Chairman Westerman for his support and I urge passage of H.R. 1276.

Mr. COMER

Mr. COMER. Madam Speaker, I have taken to the floor today to respond to Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries calling me a ``stone-cold liar'' during a press conference defending the recent discovery of Democrats' communication with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. I bring with me something that he and many of his fellow Democrats-- Democrats like Jamie Raskin, Jasmine Crockett, and Stacey Plaskett-- apparently detest, which is a thing called evidence. Tuesday, I gave a speech on the House floor detailing my House Oversight Committee's good work to date on our Epstein investigation. After all, Hakeem Jeffries, the Democrats in Congress, and their allies in the corporate media have been demanding a full release of the Epstein documents for months, including all the documents from the Epstein estate. Without hesitation, I subpoenaed all of the Jeffrey Epstein estate documents because I, as well as my Republican colleagues on the House Oversight Committee, want to know what really happened. We want to know what went on and who was involved in these unspeakable crimes. We want justice for the survivors. That is why we are doing this investigation. The House Oversight Committee obtained over 30,000 pages of documents from the estate. Unlike the Democrats, who only released 10 of those over 30,000 pages of documents, Republicans on the House Oversight Committee released every single document on the website for the American people to see. Democrats and many in the media were anxiously clutching their pearls in anticipation of potential dirt on President Trump. In the end, after full transparency by the Republicans on the Oversight Committee, there was nothing new about the President's former relationship with Epstein and certainly nothing scandalous. We did find two sitting Democrat Members of Congress had communication with Epstein. First, it has been highly reported and debated about Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett texting during an Oversight Committee hearing with Jeffrey Epstein, while trying to conspire with him to hurt or embarrass Donald Trump. According to Jamie Raskin, that was okay because Mr. Epstein was her constituent. How embarrassing a rationale is that? The second communication was this email right here where Hakeem Jeffries' campaign reached out directly to Jeffrey Epstein, soliciting campaign dollars for the ``Brooklyn Barack.'' Now, whereas Jamie Raskin explained Plaskett's communication with Epstein as simply responding to a constituent, Hakeem Jeffries had a very different response when asked about it by the media. He denied its existence. Hakeem Jeffries said Comer is a stone-cold liar. Then he reverted to calling me names for the second week in a row. Let's read it to make sure. It is to Jeffrey Epstein. That is the real Jeffrey Epstein, not Jasmine Crockett's Jeffrey Epstein. This is the real Jeffrey Epstein. It is from Hakeem Jeffries' campaign. Dear Jeffrey, we are thrilled that we are working with Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, one of the rising stars of the New York delegation, sometimes referred to as ``Brooklyn's Barack.'' Hakeem is committed to electing a Democrat majority in 2014 and is encouraging his friends to participate in the DCCC fundraising dinner with President Obama and Hakeem Jeffries. It ends with a number for Jeffrey Epstein to call to go to the dinner and ``get an opportunity to get to know Hakeem better.'' Here is the evidence. The email speaks for itself. The only stone- cold liar in this debate is Hakeem Jeffries. Madam Speaker, I ask Mr. Minority Leader to take a deep breath, chill out, stop lying, stop with the juvenile name calling, and own up to the fact that his campaign solicited campaign cash from Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr. COMER

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 879, I call up the bill (H.R. 5214) to require mandatory pretrial and post conviction detention for crimes of violence and dangerous crimes and require mandatory cash bail for certain offenses that pose a threat to public safety or order in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, cashless bail allows dangerous and violent criminals on our streets. For far too long, dangerous criminals have been allowed to roam the streets of Washington, D.C., posing a threat to the general public. Progressive, activist judges are currently allowed to release criminals to D.C.'s streets with only a promise that they will not reoffend and will return to court for their trial date. The District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act would take away a judge's ability to release these violent criminals. It would require judges to hold anyone charged with a violent crime before trial, and it would impose cash bail or bail bonds on anyone charged with a range of public safety or law-and-order offenses. This is a smart and long overdue reform that rectifies the ill- conceived policies currently enacted in the District. I urge all of my colleagues to support this commonsense public safety bill, and I thank Representative Stefanik for her leadership on this issue and the National Fraternal Order of Police for their support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, just to respond to our new colleague here who hasn't worked in Congress very long, this bill passed constitutional muster with the House Legislative Counsel, CRS, and various outside stakeholders. None of our Democrat colleagues brought up these concerns during the markup. Let me say this. For those of us who have worked here in Washington, D.C., for a decade, we are very aware of the crime, the repeat offenders, and the juvenile crime rates in Washington, D.C., so we are taking action to try to make our Capital City a safer place. That is why I strongly support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I remind the gentlewoman that we believe on this side of the aisle that lowering the crime rate is a big issue. It is a priority for the American people. The gentlewoman from New Mexico mentioned the government shutdown. I would like to remind the gentlewoman from New Mexico that she voted to shut the government down. Then, she had an opportunity 43 days later to reopen the government, and she voted against reopening the government. That is something that I think she must have mistakenly omitted from her remarks. Again, we support every measure that can be done to reduce crime and to get criminals that have committed crimes and keep them in jail. They deserve due process, but we can't continue this trend in these cities, especially the Capital City, of letting violent criminals out back on the streets. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5214 will ensure that violent offenders remain off of the streets of D.C. while awaiting their trial and that those charged with public safety or order offenses will face further deterrence from committing such crimes through the reinstatement of required cash bail and bail bonds. Overall, D.C. residents, workers, and visitors to our Nation's Capital should feel safe, and it remains the constitutional duty of Congress to reform Washington, D.C.'s laws when necessary to do so. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation to bring law and order to D.C. by ensuring that dangerous criminals will not re-offend before their trial date. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COMER

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 879, I call up the bill (H.R. 5107) to repeal the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022 enacted by the District of Columbia Council, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I support the CLEAN DC Act, which repeals the majority of D.C.'s so-called Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Act of 2022. By repealing this antipolice law, we will make our Nation's Capital safer. We will also restore the integrity of and faith in the law enforcement of the District of Columbia. For instance, this law stripped law enforcement officers of many tools needed to execute their duties safely and without fear of retribution, as well as limited their options in situations of life or death. It also created new opportunities for antipolice activists to harass law enforcement officers and added many undue burdens and requirements to officers in the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. In 2023, both the House and Senate sought to nullify this law by passing a joint resolution of disapproval. Unfortunately, this resolution was vetoed by then-President Biden. The CLEAN DC Act would largely repeal D.C.'s antipolice law and ensure that law enforcement officers have the tools to keep visitors and residents safe. D.C. law enforcement officers, who put their lives on the line every day for our community, must have the capabilities to do their jobs as they are trained to do. By addressing the retention and recruitment crisis gripping D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department, Congress can do its part in helping to boost the number of crime fighters this city desperately needs to keep violent criminals off of the streets. I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde) for leading this effort in this Congress, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde), the sponsor of this bill.

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

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, Congress has a constitutional duty to ensure the District of Columbia is safe and secure. I urge my colleagues to support this critical police reform bill that has the strong support of the National Fraternal Order of Police. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COMER

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the House Oversight Committee, I have always believed that sunshine is the best disinfectant. For years, the American people have demanded transparency about Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's horrific crimes and about the Federal Government's failure to protect the victims. The House Oversight Committee is conducting a thorough review of the Federal Government's investigation into Epstein. Our work goes far beyond the legislation before us today. We are committed to accountability, transparency, and justice for the American people and for the survivors of these appalling crimes. To date, the Oversight Committee has released more than 65,000 pages of documents, issued 13 subpoenas, and conducted interviews with two key witnesses, both of whom were Republicans. The Trump administration has provided us with Department of Justice materials and access to suspicious activity reports. Unfortunately, throughout this investigation, Democrats have chosen to manufacture yet another anti-Trump hoax instead of pursuing justice. They have mischaracterized witness testimony and selectively released documents, complete with targeted redactions in an effort to smear President Trump. For example, former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr, who oversaw the 2019 Epstein investigation, stated clearly under oath that the prosecution team found no evidence that President Trump committed wrongdoing. Despite this simple and straightforward fact, Ranking Member Robert Garcia moments after that deposition, tiptoed out and publicly claimed that ``Barr could not clear Trump of wrongdoing.'' That was a lie, and we have the transcript to prove it. I invite the media to read the transcript. When the Oversight Committee interviewed former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Alex Acosta, Democrats whipped themselves into a frenzy trying to manufacture a ``gotcha'' moment, but they failed. Mr. Acosta dismantled the Democrats' narrative. His testimony confirmed there was no contact between President Trump and Mr. Acosta and no connection between President Trump in the Epstein case. Next, Democrats resorted to selective leaks and doctored documents to mislead the American people. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Republicans have posted 65,000 pages of documents we have received to date. Democrats, by contrast, have released fewer than one dozen. In their latest selective leak, Democrats released just 3 of the 23,000 pages of documents from the Epstein estate, and they made redactions to two of those emails that changed both the context and meaning of the three pages they released. When CNN called them out for their deceptive redactions, Representatives Stansbury and Crockett tried to blame Republicans for their own edits, for the Democrat Committee on Oversight and Government Reform edits. After Democrats released only 3 emails, Republicans released over 23,000 pages. What did Democrats say in response when we released every single document that we got? They claimed full transparency was meant to ``disorient'' or ``distract'' from their manufactured narrative. These are the same Democrats who chanted ``release the files'' every day--until the files contradict the story they want to tell. That is the definition of hypocrisy. In contrast, full transparency exposed how Epstein appears to be TDS Patient Zero. The emails reveal that a journalist coached Epstein to blackmail then-Presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, the files also show that a House Democrat colluded with Epstein during the 2019 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing with a discredited witness with a vendetta against President Trump. Unsurprisingly, Democrats have been silent about their colleague's coordination with Epstein. Another email shows Democrat fundraisers invited Epstein to an event or to meet privately with Hakeem Jeffries as part of their 2013 effort to win a majority. Hakeem Jeffries' campaign solicited money from Jeffrey Epstein. That is what we found in the last document batch. The files underscore why former President Bill Clinton must appear for his deposition. We have subpoenaed him. To date, the Democrats have done nothing to help us secure his appearance. I support full transparency. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will continue to work to get the truth to the American people and to get justice for the victims. That is our goal of this investigation.

Mr. COMER

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend Mayor Kevin Cotton of Madisonville, Kentucky, who was recently honored as the 2025 Elected City Official of the Year by the Kentucky League of Cities. Mayor Cotton's exemplary leadership, dedication, and service to his community have left an indelible mark on the city of Madisonville and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Selected from nominations all across the State, Mayor Cotton stood out for his innovative, hands-on approach and tireless commitment to making a positive difference. He received a record 12 nominations, many from city staff, who praised his unwavering dedication and lifelong commitment to the city. His peers and colleagues see him as a humble leader whose focus on Madisonville's growth and success goes far beyond the expectations of his role. In addition to this remarkable honor, Mayor Cotton was recognized for his 4 years of dedicated service as a member of the Kentucky League of Cities Executive Board and was presented with a copy of the Athenian Oath in recognition of his commitment. On behalf of Kentucky's First Congressional District, I join with Mayor Cotton's family, friends, and citizens of Madisonville in celebrating his outstanding leadership and dedication.

Mr. COMER

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 707, I call up the bill (H.R. 5125) to amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to terminate the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 5125, the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Reform Act. This legislation aligns with the appointment of D.C. judges with the constitutional process for appointing members of the Federal judiciary. This bill preserves the President's authority to nominate, with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate, anyone deemed appropriate to sit on the D.C. court. The current system, where the President is restricted to nominating only those candidates put forward by the D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission, inappropriately limits the President's authority. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Representative from Texas (Mr. Sessions) for his leadership on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this effort, and I reserve the balance of my time.