Sam Graves

Mr. GRAVES

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 137 designates the House Press Gallery as the Frederick Douglass Press Gallery. Frederick Douglass came to Washington, D.C., in 1870 to become editor of the New National Era paper, which chronicled the progress of African Americans in the United States. He became the first African-American member of the press gallery from 1871 to 1875. In 2007, he was honored with a plaque and painting in the House Press Gallery. This resolution today will officially name the House Press Gallery after him. I thank the gentleman from Florida, Representative Donalds, for his leadership on this bipartisan resolution. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the legislation and reserve balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H. Res. 137.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 137) designating the House Press Gallery, Rooms H- 315, H-316, H-317, H-318, and H-319 in the United States Capitol, as the ``Frederick Douglass Press Gallery'', as amended.

Mr. GRAVES

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act which fulfills President Trump's agenda by securing our border, keeping taxes low for families and job creators, and restoring the Nation's energy dominance in cutting waste, fraud, and abuse. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's portion of today's legislation combines critical investments in border security, national defense, and modernization of America's air traffic control system, while eliminating wasteful spending and other deficit reduction measures. Specifically, this bill addresses long-overdue needs of the United States Coast Guard, which for over two decades has received less than half of the capital investment necessary to effectively carry out its critical missions. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee included more than $21 billion to recapitalize Coast Guard assets, including the acquisition of cutters, aircraft, polar icebreakers, along with the facilities needed to support them. In light of serious operational and financial challenges facing the FAA, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee provided a $12.5 billion downpayment for finally modernizing our outdated air traffic control infrastructure. Finally, the bill addresses the chronic shortfall in the highway trust fund by instituting a $250 annual fee on electric vehicles and $100 on hybrid vehicles, ensuring that all drivers contribute their fair share to maintaining our roads and bridges. In this measure, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee prioritized core Federal responsibilities, which included national defense, transportation safety, and infrastructure modernization, while also responsibly offsetting these investments with cuts to wasteful spending. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.

Mr. GRAVES

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize a dedicated constituent of Missouri's Sixth Congressional District: Mr. Tony Reinhart. Tony is celebrating his thirtieth year with Ford Motor Company, a remarkable professional milestone. Tony's three decades of devoted service is an exceptional achievement that reflects his deep commitment, expertise, and enduring leadership within one of America's most iconic corporations. Throughout his tenure, Tony has held various critical roles. He currently serves as Ford Motor Company's Head of State, Local and Stakeholder Government Affairs. In this vital capacity, he leads a team to navigate the complex systems of state and local governments in order to strengthen the American auto industry. However, Tony's influence extends well beyond his role with Ford Motor Company. He serves as Vice Chair of the Ford Civic Action Fund, a member of the Executive Committee of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, and former Chairman of the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association. These underscore his significant contributions to shaping the automotive landscape and public policy for the industry. Tony's service extends deep into the community. He has served in many roles in the Sixth Congressional District of Missouri and the Northland of Kansas City, Missouri, as he has worked to make it a better place to live and work. He serves on the Board of Directors for both the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce and Liberty Economic Development Corporation. He is the President of the Northland CAPS Board of Directors. He is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Kansas City Zoo and sits on the Advisory Council of the North Kansas City Hospital. He is the Past Chair Advisor for the Clay County Economic Development Council. His service and commitment to our community is deep and the impact is tremendous. As a native of Lexington, Missouri, and a proud graduate of Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, Tony's roots are firmly planted in our state, and we are incredibly proud to count him a Missourian. I am proud to call him a friend. A strong American auto industry means a strong American economy. We live and breathe that in Missouri. Ford's Kansas City Assembly plant makes the best-selling vehicle in America, creating jobs not only at the plant, but at dealerships, suppliers, and other parts of the community. Tony's work at Ford helps the company invest in local communities and make an impact both in Missouri and across the country. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me and the people of Missouri's Sixth Congressional District in congratulating Tony Reinhart on his incredible professional milestone. I am proud to represent Tony in the United States House of Representatives and wish him continued success in his career.

Mr. GRAVES

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to honor the life of a special constituent. Dick Elmer King, of Saint Catherine, Missouri, passed away on March 25, 2025. He was born on March 9, 1938, the son of Gird Lester and Josephine Marie (Groetecke) King in Copemish, Michigan. He married Dorothy Joann Gaston on May 19, 1969, in Miami, Oklahoma. She preceded him in death on October 28, 2021. Dick dedicated his life to service. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served from 1956 to 1964, and served in Morocco, Tripoli, North Africa, Zaragoza, Spain, and Oklahoma. From 1993 to 1997, he was the Eastern District Commissioner in Linn County, Missouri. Then, he served as the Presiding Commissioner of Linn County from 2008 to the present. He was a member of the Brookfield VFW Post No. 4557, Brookfield American Legion Post No. 182, and Marceline Masonic Lodge Post No. 481. Dick was active in the Ararat Shriners Hospital and the Macon Flywheel Association. Dick is survived by his seven children, sixteen grandchildren, thirty-five great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing a life well- lived, and in thanking Mr. Dick King for his service to his country and community. I am proud to represent Mr. King in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. GRAVES

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I missed a series of votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 84 and YEA on Roll Call No. 85. personal explanation

Mr. GRAVES

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize Mary Miller, who is retiring after more than four decades of distinguished service as a well-respected and remarkable advocate for the general aviation industry. Mary's forty-four-year career in general aviation has been spent mostly on the ground supporting those who do fly. Those contributions to her industry have been recognized by the high honors of the industry's ``Distinguished Service'' award and its ``Distinguished Stateswoman in Aviation'' award. Mary's contributions are aptly described as ``the wise, trusted relational bridge to many and varied aspects of the aviation community.'' The bridges Mary has built have been used for decades by industry leaders, government officials, and organizations to refine policy aims, regulatory enforcement, and market conditions in which the general aviation industry and her specific company operate. On any given day, her functional activities could be as diverse as FAA Temporary Flight Restrictions, novel electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) certifications, promoting new sustainable fuels, right down to real-time advice to a pilot at a distant Signature Aviation base on how to unsnag a challenge clearing customs. For so many years, we have seen Mary on the bustling ramps at Super Bowls, Oshkosh, Tarkio, presidential inaugurations, and other major general aviation events. However, from my conversations with Mary, her effort to restore activity to the barren general aviation ramp at Reagan Washington National after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 gave her the most satisfaction. Politely but stubbornly, she refused to accept the notion that 9/11 would permanently close the Nation's capital airport to general aviation landings. Eventually, that seven-year effort of Mary and her many colleagues led to the airport's successful reopening through the DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP). Mary has been an unfailingly genuine, wise, and shrewd contributor to the interests of the general aviation community and a friend to all. As Mary prepares to retire from Signature Aviation, I wish her well in all her endeavors and thank her for her service to the aviation community and the Nation. I am confident she will continue to be an influential advocate for General Aviation (GA).

Mr. GRAVES

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the House's fiscal year 2025 budget resolution, which is a critical step needed to unlock a reconciliation bill that is going to help secure our border and revitalize our military. It is going to unleash American energy independence and extend tax cuts for American families and small businesses. Simply put, this budget delivers on all of President Trump's America First agenda by prioritizing the economic and national security of hardworking Americans. Failure to act on this budget resolution, our House Republican budget, risks trillions in tax increases on Missouri farmers, small businesses, and families. Mr. Chairman, as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am pleased to see that the budget directs an investment of $100 billion for our national defense after years of underinvestment. As chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, we are ready to do our part to produce a bill that fulfills President Trump's border security agenda by providing funding for the United States Coast Guard for drug and migrant interdiction. The Coast Guard has been underfunded for years. However, this administration recognizes that the Coast Guard is the workhorse when it comes to securing our maritime border. I am grateful for the President's focus on providing robust resources to the service to do even more, and I know that the men and women in the Coast Guard are very much up to the task. Despite delivering these robust investments, this budget still requires the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to generate at least $10 billion in savings overall. Committee Republicans have been hard at work to make sure that we are prepared to support the Coast Guard while also being good stewards of taxpayer dollars by responsibly offsetting our investments. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this budget resolution.

Mr. GRAVES

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I missed a series of votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 28 and YEA on Roll Call No. 29.

Mr. GRAVES

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

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 192 provides the necessary transparency for Amtrak. This legislation passed the House last Congress under suspension of the rules by voice vote, and I look forward to it passing again today. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer), the bill's sponsor.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 192 was introduced by Representative Rouzer, and I am very proud to be a cosponsor on this bill. The bill is intended to ensure that annual bonuses awarded to Amtrak's top executives are made public at the beginning of every calendar year. Amtrak relies heavily on government subsidies, and during more than 50 years of existence, it has never made a profit. Nonetheless, Amtrak executives have been awarded generous six-figure bonuses despite financial losses and service issues. The disclosure of such huge payouts rightfully outrages the public and members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. This bill is a strong step toward transparency and accountability for Amtrak executives and Amtrak's board of directors, which awards the bonuses. I very much appreciate the gentleman from North Carolina Representative Rouzer's work on this legislation, and I would urge adoption by the House. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 192.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 192) to amend title 49, United States Code, to require Amtrak to include information on base pay and bonus compensation of certain Amtrak executives, and for other purposes.

Mr. GRAVES

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 144 is a commonsense bill. It is going to increase transparency at the TVA, and it is going to ensure that the Transportation Committee conducts appropriate oversight over the agency's actions. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 144, the Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency Act. This legislation simply reinstates an annual reporting requirement for the Tennessee Valley Authority to disclose to Congress the salaries for upper-level management. I thank Representatives Cohen and Burchett for their bipartisan work on this legislation, which passed this Chamber in March of last year under suspension of the rules by a voice vote. This bill continues years of work to make the TVA more transparent for its customers and the communities that it serves. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H.R. 144, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 144.

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 144) to provide that the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995 does not apply to certain reports required to be submitted by the Tennessee Valley Authority, and for other purposes.

Mr. GRAVES

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

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

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in 2012, the Securities and Exchange Commission violated Federal law by signing a lease for 1.4 million square feet that cost taxpayers over $566 million. Investigations conducted by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as well as SEC's inspector general, found that the SEC had exceeded its authority with this lease. Investigations also found that the SEC had a history of mismanaging its leasing authority. Recent actions taken by the SEC seem to indicate that the agency has not learned from the past. This is why I urge support of H.R. 189, which would revoke the SEC's leasing authority for general office space and bring them in line with current leasing practices through the General Services Administration. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.