Ron Estes

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Mann for managing the floor time on this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 153, a resolution honoring the victims of Flight 5342 and Black Hawk PAT 25 and offering condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones. First, I offer my own condolences, prayers, and support to those who are mourning the loss of a loved one. While it has been a little more than a month since this tragic incident, there are still no words to adequately express the heartbreak we all feel at their loss and no words that can properly console them. I pray that, in time, God would give them and all those impacted a peace that would surpass all understanding. Just as we stand with those suffering now in their time of loss, we will continue to stand with them as we continue to understand what happened on that tragic night of January 29. I hope the answers that are uncovered will help bring some closure to those grieving and help ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again. Mr. Speaker, as we honor the 67 lives cut short by this accident, I also thank the countless first responders who rushed to the scene to first try to rescue and then recover those aboard Flight 5342 and PAT 25. Thanks to their tireless and selfless efforts, the bodies of all 67 victims have been recovered. Additionally, I extend thanks to the staff of Wichita's Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and to the greater Wichita community, where Flight 5342 originated, for their efforts to embrace and lift up those impacted by that crash. In towns and cities across the Nation and the world, countless other communities have banded together to similarly show support to the members of their community who lost a loved one on that tragic night. It is in each home, school, workplace, and community where each of the 67 victims was known and loved that they will continue to be remembered, celebrated, and honored. As we have learned more about the individual passengers aboard the plane, as well as the pilots and flight crew of Flight 5342 and the crew of the Black Hawk, we have come to know how much they meant to the people around them and how much they will be missed. We commit to honoring their memory by doing the best we can to carry out a thorough investigation and make whatever changes are deemed necessary. I am grateful to the National Transportation Safety Board, the FAA, the Army, and all the other involved agencies for the swift progress they have made thus far and for the work they are committed to carrying out. I also extend my thanks to Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves for his help in bringing this resolution to the floor and to all the Members who have offered their support during this time. The devastating plane crash coincided with Kansas Day, the day our State was founded 164 years ago. It is typically a day of recognizing the State's heritage and when schoolchildren across the State learn Kansas facts and symbols. Beyond the sunflower, western meadowlark, and ``Home on the Range,'' our State is known for something else not found in a textbook or school worksheet: our compassion and care for one another. Kansas is a special place to call home. After a tragedy like what happened on January 29, we not only grieve with the families and friends we know, but we grieve for all those who lost their lives that evening. More than a month has passed since the events of January 29, but that is a date that will be forever etched in the minds and hearts of the American people. As their Representatives in Congress and the Representative of the Air Capital of the World, we come together today to offer our sincerest condolences to each person who is grieving the loss of a loved one and to honor the victims of Flight 5342 and PAT 25. Mr. Speaker, may they rest in peace.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the exceptional service of Kansan Carl Harris, the 2024 chairman of the National Association of Home Builders. For more than four decades, Carl has made an outsized impact on the residential construction industry and communities across Kansas through his work as cofounder and president of the Carl Harris Company and managing partner of Harris Homes. Most recently, he completed his term as the 2024 chairman of the National Association of Home Builders, where he has been relentless in advocating for policies that strengthen the construction workforce and help make homeownership, a key tenet of the American Dream, possible. Generous in sharing his time and talent, Carl served as president of the Wichita Area Builders Association and the Kansas Building Industry Association and in numerous roles in local governments in Newton. In addition, he has promoted workforce development initiatives and outreach to high schoolers to introduce them to opportunities in the construction trades. It is my honor to thank Carl for his dedicated career and wish him all the best with his next step.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support for starting the process to pass one big, beautiful bill for America. For 4 years, Americans suffered from an open border, crippling inflation, massive Federal spending, and burdensome regulations. On top of that, we are on the verge of increased taxes for families, workers, and small businesses if we fail to act. Our mandate is to restore and secure our Nation, both physically and financially. It is critical that we pass a bill that enables us to address all of these priorities, including an extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. In my home State, Kansans will see an average of a $2,200 increase in their taxes if we don't act now and we allow the Trump tax cuts to expire. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle have made false claims that this budget resolution will cut Social Security. As chairman of the Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, I emphasize with the strongest terms possible that this budget resolution does not do a single thing to cut Social Security. In fact, Social Security cannot be amended in the budget reconciliation process. The Byrd rule prevents the consideration of any reconciliation measure in the Senate that changes the Social Security program. Mr. Chair, I support today's budget resolution as a next step in advancing America First policies.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, tonight we are gathered on the House floor to honor the men and women who tragically lost their lives on January 29. Together, we represent the districts and States impacted by the heartbreaking crash of Flight 5342 and a United States Army Black Hawk helicopter. American Eagle Flight 5342 left my hometown of Wichita, Kansas, at 5:22 p.m. with 60 passengers and 4 crew members on board. They were young skaters, a rural Kansas couple, a college student, a group of friends returning from an annual hunting trip, and so many others who were taking a routine flight from the Air Capital to our Nation's Capital. Their lives came to a tragic end within view of the DCA runway when a collision occurred with a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River. As we know, all 64 passengers and 3 Army soldiers perished. As we mourn the loss of these 67 individuals, there are truly no words to adequately describe the heartbreak we feel. We grieve with the families and friends they left behind and pray for those in our districts who are still in shock at the loss of their loved ones. Together, we commit to finding answers and to working to ensure another tragedy like this doesn't happen again. In homes, churches, and community gatherings across the country, Americans have paused to honor the 67 souls who perished last week. Tonight, on this first meeting of the full House since the tragedy, we will do the same. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House observe a moment of silence to remember the lives lost and the families and friends left behind.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Karma Mason on her induction into Wichita State University's Shocker Sports Hall of Fame. This award was presented to Karma in honor of her contribution to the Wichita State University Championship Bowling Team from 1975 to 1978. Her exceptional talent and leadership proved instrumental to her team's success as she led them to the first national collegiate championship, culminating in three national championship teams over the course of her time at WSU. Karma is a highly accomplished bowler with an outstanding record. Some of her impressive bowling achievements include a 196 average tournament score and a high tournament score of 279. She demonstrated leadership, hard work and dedication to the sport as team captain and anchor bowler for three years straight, proving integral to her team's success. Karma's recent Hall of Fame recognition is just one of her many accolades throughout her long and successful career, and she continues to make Kansas proud. On behalf of the people of the Fourth Congressional District of Kansas, I congratulate Karma.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100th birthday of Connie Palacioz, an American patriot and Wichita's very own ``Rosie the Riveter.'' Shortly after graduating high school in 1943, Connie volunteered to support our nation during World War II. Several family members were serving in the military, and she felt it was her duty as an American to contribute to the war effort as well. Connie left her job as a laundress and joined Boeing's B-29 Superfortress assembly line in Wichita, Kansas. Starting at 50 cents an hour, she eventually doubled her wage, a testament to her hard work and dedication. In her role, she supported the production of the nose sections for the aircraft, manufacturing four sections each day. With the help of her partner, Jerri Warden, Connie contributed to the assembly of 1,644 B-29 bombers throughout the war, including one nicknamed ``Doc.'' In 2000, Connie was reunited with ``Doc,'' which had been recovered from the Mojave Desert after decades of exposure to the elements. Remarkably, one of the pieces of the plane found in excellent condition was the nose section that Connie helped build nearly 60 years prior. Connie became a vital part of the restoration team, volunteering three days a week for sixteen years until the aircraft was fully restored, taking to the sky again in 2016. At the age of 97, Connie was honored as the inaugural member of the Kansas Women's Hall of Fame in Aviation. Today, I would like to once again honor her for a lifetime of service to our country. I thank Connie.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 509. Stated against:

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of a commonsense bill that should receive unanimous support in the Chamber today, H.R. 9495, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act. Our discussion today is against the backdrop of the atrocious attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists more than 1 year ago, and while nearly 6,000 miles away from our Nation's Capital, seven Americans, three of whom are presumed dead, are still held captive by Hamas. Mr. Speaker, I know this bill won't bring them home, but it does two critical things to prevent support of terrorists and to provide some relief when our brothers and sisters do arrive back on U.S. soil. First, it ends the tax-exempt status of organizations that support terrorist groups like Hamas. This is a no-brainer. We shouldn't reward organizations that provide resources to terrorists or other terrorist- supporting organizations. It is unconscionable to think that organizations supporting the savages who are holding Americans hostage would be in the same tax category as the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and local churches throughout Kansas. The United States shouldn't be giving any incentive for organizations to be helpful to terrorists, period. Second, the bill addresses a lingering issue for survivors and their families when they do return home: harassment from the IRS. The Americans held hostage in Gaza and elsewhere throughout the globe have suffered enough and don't need their own government pursuing back taxes and fines upon their homecoming. Current law prevents the IRS from having the authority to extend relief beyond a single year. This is insufficient. The policies in this bill are commonsense and bring some measure of relief to our fellow Americans who are suffering under terrorist restraint, and I urge all Members to vote in favor of this bill.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Friends University Singing Quakers for a century of vocal excellence. The Singing Quakers have proven to be a premier choral group that has taken their talents across the country, including our nation's capital, and even around the world. They have entertained Kansans locally with annual home concerts, Christmas candlelight concerts and Symphony of Spring. The many men and women who have performed with this prestigious group should be commended for their incredible talent, dedication to musical greatness, camaraderie and character. The Friends University Singing Quakers represent their institution and our region well. I also want to recognize the phenomenal leadership of the Singing Quakers' directors, including current director Dr. Rayvon T.J. Moore, recent director Dr. Mark Bartel and longtime director Dr. Cecil Riney. They have elevated choral music in Kansas and are well-respected far beyond the Sunflower State. As they gather this weekend to celebrate and perform, I want to thank the alumni and current performers of the Friends University Singing Quakers for providing our region with exceptional choral music for 100 years.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Western Cattle Trail. The entrepreneurial cattlemen who blazed this new path across the frontier exemplified the American spirit of adventure and freedom. In the wake of the Civil War, longhorn cattle were running free in Texas, while cities and towns on the East Coast demanded more beef than ever to feed their growing populations. Young cowboys called drovers rode to gather the wild cattle and move them hundreds of miles across the wilderness to northern railroads to meet the demands. Their destinations were railhead towns such as Newton, Wichita, and Caldwell in my district. In 1874, these cowboys pioneered a new route. It became known as the Western Trail, located west of the existing Shawnee and Chisholm Trails. Cowboys on horseback moved longhorn cattle along the trail through Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and north to Canada. Over the next several decades, millions of heads of cattle were herded up the trail by these enterprising young Americans. In addition to providing beef for a growing nation, the Western Trail played a crucial role in moving much-needed breeding stock to ranches in the northern plains and carrying essential meat supplies to Native American tribes across the west. The trail's significant impact on the national economy underscores the importance of cattle routes in the development and history of the United States. In November, the Western Cattle Trail Association, along with the International Chisholm Trail Association, will be commemorating the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Western Trail. Historians, authors, artists, and friends of the Western Trail will gather in Kansas to honor and commemorate the cowboys who made those drives and overcame the dangers of the frontier to deliver their herds to the rest of the country. In so doing, these cowboys became recognized worldwide as symbols of American courage, strength, freedom, and independence. I proudly join those honoring them and this historic milestone in our history.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Aerospace Week. For more than a century, American aerospace trailblazers have propelled the United States to the forefront of global innovation in critical sectors--national defense, safe and reliable transportation, sustainability, advanced manufacturing, and space exploration. National Aerospace Week recognizes the vital role that aerospace organizations and workers play in advancing our nation's security, economy, and technological leadership. The aerospace industry continues to surge to new heights. In 2023 alone, American aerospace and defense generated an astounding $955 billion in total sales across the value chain--from small mom-and-pop businesses to the largest equipment manufacturers. These businesses support more than 2.2 million highly skilled workers across the country, with nearly half of these jobs coming from the supply chain sector. And Americans want to work in aerospace and defense. Not just because the average income is 50 percent above the national average, but because they identify and connect with the industry's mission and its contributions to the United States. With a footprint in every single state, including in my state of Kansas--home to the Air Capital of the World--the aerospace and defense workforce is the backbone of our economy, contributing $425 billion to the U.S. GDP last year. The importance of aerospace and defense cannot be overstated. As a close partner with the U.S. military, the industry is a cornerstone of our national security and a critical component of our asymmetric advantage over our adversaries. It is a key tenet of our national defense strategy, equipping our courageous men and women in uniform with the most advanced and effective systems in the world to deter and, if necessary, fight and win wars. Because of the ingenuity and resilience of American innovators, our military is the best in the world. We are also the global leader in new technologies in aerospace and air transport--technoiogies that are highly sought-after across the globe. This includes the fastest, safest, most efficient jets; new technologies like advanced air mobility that will enable Americans to get to wherever they want to go--including, eventually, space; and sustainable innovations that will help us be good stewards of our natural resources for generations to come. The diverse and innovative nature of the businesses that make up the A&D supply chain keeps America on the cutting edge of an ever-evolving global market. Simply put, the world wants what American aerospace is innovating--we are the gold standard. As we celebrate National Aerospace Week, let us look to the future, where this industry continues to inspire and drive change that will shape the world for generations to come.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Colonel Garrett Fisher, who will assume command of the United States Air Force 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Fisher grew up in Burrton, Kansas, before accepting an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in 1997 from former 4th District Congressman Todd Tiahrt He graduated in 2001 and was commissioned as a C-17 pilot. Since then, he has achieved over 4,000 flight hours in the T-37B, T-1A, T-6A, C-37A, and C-17A aircraft. Throughout Colonel Fisher's career, he has demonstrated the importance of a strong character and work ethic, laudable core values, and commitment to his country. He has selflessly served across the United States and world, from Hawaii to Washington D.C. to Europe and the Middle East. Colonel Fisher's schooling has taken him across the country as well, furthering his education at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, St. Louis University, the Air Force Research Institute, and most recently, the National War College. He is the recipient of several major awards and decorations, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and more. I am grateful to Colonel Fisher for his service and sacrifices and look forward to seeing this Kansan excel as Commander of the 15th Wing. The 15th Wing has a long history in service to the United States, dating back to World War II and the war in the Pacific. Today, the 15th Wing is a critical component to projecting combat power across the United States Indo-Pacific Command. While this assignment comes with great responsibility, I am confident Colonel Fisher will gracefully step into this new role and make Kansas and our country proud. Again, congratulations to Colonel Garrett Fisher as he assumes command of the 15th Wing.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for the following Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Roll Call No. 177. On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass as Amended, H.R. 719, The Information Quality Assurance Act, I would have voted YEA; and Roll Call No. 178. On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, H.R. 7525, the Special District Grant Accessibility Act, I would have voted YEA.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for his tireless work on this tax package that we are about to pass. American families and small businesses are in desperate need of economic relief. High costs of goods and services and burdensome regulations have strained pocketbooks and the economy, and Americans need a break. The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act provides the win we need. This bill includes a provision that I have been advocating for--the immediate R&D expensing. Without this, we have seen the growth rate of R&D spending slow, and since three-quarters of R&D spending is on wages and salaries, R&D amortization is primarily a jobs issue. Countless Kansas small businesses expressed their grave concern about this expired provision. I am glad we are taking a positive step to restore immediate R&D expenses.

Mr. ESTES

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman participating and highlighting how important it is in the Congressman's district and the impact on that part of the country in Texas. Wichita, where I am from, is known as the Air Capital of the World for its pioneering role in the early days in American aviation. Today, in south central Kansas, it is brimming with companies continuing to push the limits of the aerospace industry, including in general and commercial aviation, but also space, defense, and unmanned aircraft systems. All of these new advances in Kansas that developers, engineers, and manufacturers want require technology, and they require research and development, but these innovators tell me that the incentive just isn't there. Knowing that they have to amortize their R&D costs prohibits them from pursuing these technological advances. Let's change that by restoring immediate R&D expensing. As I mentioned earlier, R&D expensing is primarily a jobs issue, and, without an incentive for home-grown R&D, the U.S. loses out on creating new jobs. As the R&D Coalition says, for every $1 billion of U.S. R&D spending, 17,000 jobs earning $1.4 billion are supported in the United States. They also note that, if the R&D amortization policy is not reversed, the United States stands to lose 410,000 jobs, $57.5 billion in labor income, and $71 billion in R&D spending over the next year, and it is going to make America less competitive on the world stage. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Members who shared their experiences and what we have heard from districts all across the country on this very important issue. As we have discussed here tonight, R&D expensing legislation is critical for our job creators, innovators, and everyday Americans. The health of our economy depends on us passing this bipartisan, commonsense legislation. The legislation has broad support from Members in 43 States and both parties. As I said in my opening remarks and in the op-ed last month, the time to address R&D amortization may have been at the end of 2021, but with the start of the new tax-filing season a few weeks away, the next best time is now. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, it is great that we have so many people from so many different districts talking about issues that are important to them and seeing the wide impact across the country. Mr. Speaker, I recognize for 2 minutes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Moran), another member of the Texas delegation, and a good friend of mine.

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. De La Cruz).

Mr. ESTES. I thank the gentleman for speaking about some of the important impacts on businesses within his district.

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Yakym), who has shown great interest in being engaged in this issue of how do we actually reinstate the R&D immediate expensing.

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore). It is important to talk about these very important issues. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining.

Mr. ESTES. I thank the gentleman. It is so important that the gentleman has taken such an active interest. I now recognize for 2 minutes the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Strong), a friend of mine, and a good guy.

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Kustoff. It is so important, as he highlighted, to have innovation and to support that so that we can have good economic growth. That is a key thing that has always helped America over the long term. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore), the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference and a fellow member serving on the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I am glad Mrs. Miller highlighted the impact on small businesses because that is one of the things that sometimes we think about, business provisions that affect large businesses, but small businesses are greatly affected as well by some of these provisions just because of being able to manage their cash flow. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Kustoff), another good friend of mine who is also on the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Hern highlighted that it is so important for us to have a strong America. It means we need to have a strong economy and good-paying jobs for workers, which means we need to have these provisions that make things work and make the economy grow. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Miller), a member of the Ways and Means Committee and a good friend of mine.

Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, it is a new year, and the House is already busy tackling issues important to Americans. Something that should be high on our list is advancing legislation that will benefit our economy, U.S. innovators, and American workers--and that is immediate R&D expensing. Tonight my colleagues and I want to talk about how this critical provision encourages research and development in the United States, and, in turn, helps fuel job growth and keeps manufacturing inside our borders. Recognizing this, for nearly 70 years the tax code allowed businesses to fully deduct their R&D expenses in the same year in which they were incurred. However, since the beginning of 2022, businesses have been required to spread out, or amortize, R&D expenses over 5 years for domestic R&D or 15 years for foreign R&D. As you can see on this graph, since amortization took place, the growth rate of R&D spending has slowed dramatically from 6.6 percent on average over the previous 6 years to less than one half of 1 percent over the last 12 months. This slump in U.S. R&D investment is hurting the American economy at a time when rising inflation is hurting workers and holding back job creators. As companies spend far less on R&D, the sector is down by more than 14,000 jobs. Three-quarters of research and development spending is on salaries and wages, making R&D amortization primarily a jobs issue. On the other hand, our main competitor, China, has seen its R&D investment increase by 400 percent in just two decades. While the United States' share of global R&D investment in 2019 had dropped to 30 percent, China's share had moved up to 24 percent--in fact, up from 15 percent in 2009, a jump of nearly 10 percentage points in 10 years. They achieved this impressive growth by implementing the deduction of 200 percent on eligible R&D investments. Without action, the United States will fall even further behind. But we have the solution, and it is backed by Members in 43 States and from both sides of the aisle. On tax day of this year, I reintroduced H.R. 2673, the American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act. This bipartisan bill corrects the R&D amortization issue and will spur homegrown research and development. And we know that where R&D occurs, jobs and economic opportunities follow. Mr. Speaker, the American Innovation and R&D Competitive Business Act has 212 cosponsors in addition to myself and a lead Democrat. Those are nearly evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. It is the 17th most cosponsored piece of legislation in this Congress. Tonight, my colleagues are going to help me share the decisive difference it would make for workers and innovators in each of their districts. As I wrote in an op-ed in December, the best time to address R&D amortization was at the end of 2021. The best next time is now. We need to pass R&D immediate expensing for the American people and our U.S. economy. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Arrington), the chair of the Budget Committee and my good friend.