Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

Ms. PEREZ

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, while there are many ways to litigate many of the votes, the question at hand is: What gives my colleague the right to represent a community? It is the choice of his voters. Nothing gives him the right to choose his successor. We cannot walk down this path. When we stand and say that everything around us is bad, it risks us conforming to that wrongness and orienting our policy around it. This is a false choice to say that I can either attack here or I can attack here. We can pursue wherever we disagree. We also have to call a spade a spade, and that is what this is about. This is about accountability. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, we are not called to do anything more than walk with humility, to love justice, and to work diligently. Chuy has worked diligently. Nothing in that legitimizes the choice to choose a successor or to support gathering over 2,500 signatures. It does not legitimize waiting for days when he knew that he was not going to run for reelection and ensuring that his chief of staff would be his successor. That is not the path our country can stand on. A country that refuses to acknowledge wrongdoing when it happens has got bad things in store for it. I humbly ask my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Ms. PEREZ

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I seek recognition to give notice of my intent to raise a question of the privileges of the House. The form of the resolution is as follows: Whereas, on October 27, 2025, Representative Chuy Garcia filed nominating petitions to be on the Democratic primary ballot in March 2026; Whereas, on November 5, 2025, on the last day of filing, Representative Garcia's chief of staff, Patty Garcia, submitted her own paperwork to enter the Democratic primary; Whereas, on November 6, after the filing deadline, Representative Garcia confirmed that he would not be seeking another term in 2026 and would be withdrawing his nominating petitions; Whereas, Representative Garcia's chief of staff was the only Democrat who filed to run in the primary at the direction of Representative Garcia, undermining the process of a free and fair election; Whereas, Representative Garcia's actions are beneath the dignity of his office and incompatible with the spirit of the Constitution: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives disapproves of the behavior of the Representative from Illinois (Mr. Garcia).

Ms. PEREZ

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I unfortunately missed a vote today. I intended to vote YEA on Roll Call 281.

Ms. PEREZ

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the city of Centralia's 150th anniversary. My grandpa still talks with a glint in his eye about saving up milk bottle caps during the war to go watch movies at the Centralia Fox Theatre. Centralia is what we all dream of as the center of the country. Though not perfect, it is honest, vibrant, and furiously proud of its heritage. There is a correct ordering of pride based on real skill and deep neighborliness. We have a relationship to our land and water of stewardship and necessity, not just exploitation or recreation. If my colleagues haven't made it, there is an excellent shop class and State-winning athletics. Their community college is one of the longest in existence in our State with some of the brightest and kindest students I have met. The Mexican food at La Tarasca is unrivaled. We stand in gratitude to all the folks who have put their life's work into stewarding this incredible community and town, ensuring and modeling for the country what is worth fighting for and fighting over. Honoring SkillsUSA

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, many of us mourn the cultural shift in our country toward an identity that is oriented around what we can buy and flash on social media. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with deep pride in the 90 students representing 15 high schools in my district who placed in the statewide SkillsUSA competition. These are young people who believe and manifest deep cultural regard for making things, doing things, and being captains of their own ship. My husband actually placed in auto tech for SkillsUSA in high school in Oregon. It is still one of his proudest life accomplishments, and I know it will be for many of these students, too. I believe that every child who works hard should have the opportunity to be the smartest kid in their school at some point in the day. I applaud SkillsUSA for ensuring that kids who are gifted in the trades, whether it is carpentry, baking, robotics, or my favorite, auto tech, have the chance to be proud of who they are and have their skills recognized and honored. We congratulate everyone who placed in Washington State's SkillsUSA competition. I am so proud of them. I know the community is, too. Their work is central to the reinvigoration of economic self-determination and agency in America. Celebrating Centralia Police Department's Chief for a Day Roman Wagner

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Roman Wagner, a 6- year-old from Adina with leukemia, who became Centralia Police Department's Chief for a Day. There are 18 law enforcement agencies who take part in Chief for a Day, which honors the bravery, resilience, and spirit of kids who are living with chronic diseases and illnesses. I know that good kids don't come from nowhere and that it is long work to raise a fighter who believes in public service. I thank law enforcement agencies who have advanced the long work of building safe and strong communities. To Roman, I hope the power doesn't go to his head. I hope he doesn't actually go to the playground and arrest his big brother at school. Whether he chooses to pursue a career as a zookeeper or a police officer, I want him to know he is valued and that some of our bravest civil servants stand with him wherever life leads him. Honoring National Junior High Finals Rodeo Participants Brooklynn Bell and Jace Harris

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two teens from southwest Washington who recently competed in the National Junior High Finals Rodeo. Brooklynn Bell, a 14-year-old from Rainier, finished in second place for breakaway roping. Bell, along with her horse, Shirley, became the first roper from Washington State to place in the top two in the last 10 years. Jace Harris, from Tenino, also competed in the tie-down roping, team roping, and goat tying. The two of them teamed up for ribbon roping. If Jace and Brooklynn need to rope a goat, there are plenty of them here in D.C. to practice on. We welcome them anytime. We are so proud of them for their relationship to their animals, for their pride and pursuit of durable skills, for their tenacity, and for keeping our heritage and relationship to land and animals one of intimacy and necessity and not purely recreation. We are so proud of them and applaud them for their work. We look forward to seeing what is next for both of them.

Ms. PEREZ

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I unfortunately missed votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 191, YEA on Roll Call No. 192, and YEA on Roll Call No. 193.

Ms. PEREZ

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I unfortunately missed the vote today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 185. Stated against:

Ms. PEREZ

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my profound and deep gratitude to the Kelso Police Department, the FBI, and Columbia County Sheriff's Office. On May 19, the FBI Portland field office was given a tip that there was a potential threat to the Three Rivers Crossing, a mall located in my district in Kelso. An investigation was immediately launched in coordination with local partners, and law enforcement was able to identify the teenage suspect the next day. During the investigation, law enforcement had discovered the suspect had shared heinous, detailed plans for a mass shooting in online chat rooms and had the intent and means to carry out a horrific attack. People rarely get thanked for the fires they prevent, the disasters they forestall, and the wreck that doesn't happen. I think it is incredibly important that we pause and recognize the skill, dedication, intelligence, and the bravery that these officers and law enforcement agents exemplified in preventing what would have been a horrifying event. We are grateful for the families that weren't torn apart, the pain that wasn't caused, and the lives that weren't wrecked. We are so grateful for the work and the diligence they represent every day, and we thank them for their dedication and work. It is also important that we spend time understanding what the root causes of this evil are: the rot of isolation, the impotence of rage, the mental illness, the corrosion of social networks, and how we have gotten to this point where we are. To each officer who worked to keep southwest Washington safe, from the bottom of my heart, I thank them. Families are together today because of their work. Thurston County Nazis

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a recent arrest made by the Thurston County Sheriff's Office in my district. On June 1, two men illegally gained access to Joint Base Lewis- McChord in Pierce County. Once inside, they broke into a U.S. Army Ranger operational facility, where they were discovered. After assaulting the man who found them with both a hammer and a knife, they fled with about $14,000 worth of stolen military equipment and weapons. After an extensive investigation to identify the two assailants, the Army Criminal Investigation Division reached out to the Thurston County Sheriff's Office for assistance in executing an arrest warrant. The FBI SWAT team who executed the arrest in Lacey, Washington, found 35 weapons, including rifles and a machine gun, as well as a large amount of Nazi paraphernalia in every room of that home. Both suspects were actively involved in Nazi white nationalist efforts. Mr. Speaker, thanks to the quick work of the Thurston County Sheriff's Office, the Army, and the FBI, these two dangerous men were identified and taken into custody. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Thurston County Sheriff's Office for keeping Washington safe.

Ms. PEREZ

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National Police Week to recognize the local law enforcement officers of southwest Washington who work around the clock to protect our community. During my time in Congress, I have made it a priority to do ride- alongs and roundtables with local law enforcement and other first responders across the district to see firsthand their work and dedication. These men and women don't have the luxury to view the fentanyl crisis in academic or sanitized terms. They see it in its most brutal, human scale. I have also had the opportunity to see how we are training and supporting the next generation of officers. In August of last year, I toured the new law enforcement training center located in Clark County in my district. One of the first questions I asked the room was how many of them had children under the age of 5, and about half the room raised their hand. This makes sense, right, because they are at the beginning of their careers. Before this new regional training center opened, these recruits would have to travel across the State, away from their families, for 5 months to complete the basic law enforcement training academy course. Now they can train closer to home, which is a game changer for recruits with new families. The work done by law enforcement is exhausting and dangerous, yet absolutely critical. I am committed to ensuring Congress does its part to support our law enforcement partners, but it can't stop with Congress. Law enforcement officers and their families make huge sacrifices to serve our communities and often feel like their work isn't respected or is intentionally vilified by some. You cannot substitute respect with another Federal grant or program or initiative. We need a cultural shift that values and respects the sacrifices these officers and their families make. Mr. Speaker, I thank sincerely all of our law enforcement officers, their spouses, their families, and the communities that support them in this incredibly patriotic and challenging calling. I assure them that their work does not go unappreciated. Recognizing Corrections Officers

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National Police Week to recognize corrections officers who have one of the most difficult and stressful roles in our law enforcement. I made it a priority to tour jails in my district, and the corrections officers I have met are patriotic professionals who perform an unseen and often thankless job under incredibly stressful circumstances. When I asked these COs what their priorities are, how can I be useful, the first five times I asked the question, they kept telling me what their detainees need, what would make life better for their detainees. Every day corrections officers see firsthand the starkest crises of our society. They deal with the most violent offenders, our most difficult mental health challenges, inmates who have been caught up in the national fentanyl crisis, and people who have generally fallen through the cracks of society. Every day they do the hard and necessary work that makes our judicial system function and receive little to no respect or gratitude from society. It should not surprise anyone, given all this, that they have a suicide rate seven times higher than the general population and an average life expectancy of only 59 years. This is an indictment against our country. Mr. Speaker, we must do more to support and recognize the role that corrections officers play in our communities. I, therefore, rise today to recognize and thank our corrections officers across my district for the difficult work they do and urge Congress and policymakers not to forget these law enforcement heroes. Recognizing Skamania County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National Police Week to recognize the work that the Skamania County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team does in my community. Skamania County is home to the Columbia River Gorge, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and Mount St. Helens. Though the population of our rural county is only about 12,000, the natural beauty of my home county attracts recreational visitors from across the world. Being in search and rescue is an unpredictable role, where you could get called to locate hikers who misread the map or relied on their phone or dig people out from an avalanche. Thus far, 2025 has been a record-setting year for search and rescue missions, with a 550 percent increase. Skamania Search and Rescue this year alone has saved an elderly woman with dementia who got lost wandering off the trail and a family with an infant who got stuck in the snow off-roading. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Skamania County Sheriff's Search and Rescue team for their dedication to ensure both residents and visitors of Skamania County are able to recreate safely in our beautiful country. Honoring Vancouver Police Officer Nick Copley

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National Police Week to recognize Vancouver Police Officer Nick Copley. In addition to his service as a police officer, Nick Copley also served in the United States Navy. When Officer Copley was deployed to Afghanistan, he was one of the two crane operators in his battalion. In this role, he was tasked with going to the areas where the Taliban had been pushed out, and his team would work to replace barriers with permanent concrete barriers around the base perimeter. During his deployment, Officer Copley flew an American flag above a former Taliban base and flew that same flag from the base on September 11, 2010, and then brought it home with him. Three years later, on September 25, 2013, Officer Copley had the same American flag flown over the USS Arizona Memorial when he was stationed at Pearl Harbor. Now a distinguished Naval officer, Officer Copley is retiring from the Navy. To recognize his service to this country, it is my honor to have that same American flag that he flew over the base in Afghanistan and Pearl Harbor flown over the U.S. Capitol. I thank Officer Copley for dedicating himself to a career of service and representing what it means to serve his country and his community. I look forward to his continued service as a member of the Vancouver Police Department.

Ms. PEREZ

Ms. PEREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the career and recognize the retirement of Skamania County Commissioner Tom Lannen. Tom wasn't born here, but he got here as fast as he could. He is internationally famous in Washington State, serving as the chair of the Washington State Association of Counties' Timber Caucus. Tom pioneered the use of ``the stick,'' a yardstick that visually demonstrates the fact that our county, Skamania County, has only 1.8 percent of our acreage which can generate tax revenue. Tom won't let his Federal Representatives forget how much Skamania County needs their mills to produce timber, the Secure Rural Schools program to keep our schools open, and economic development opportunities to ensure that communities thrive. Madam Speaker, I thank Tom for his mentorship and leadership and for spending time working on behalf of things that matter, our community. I hope he enjoys his retirement with Sophia and wish him the very best. Ballot Box Fire

Ms. PEREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the fire that was set to a ballot box in my district on October 28. We still don't know who did this, but we know who did not do this. Real patriots don't torch each other's ballots. It was an attack on our democracy and our rule of law. The fire destroyed hundreds of ballots. Although our incredible election workers tried to recover as many votes as possible and contact those whose ballots were partially burned, many votes were lost. If people want to live in a society where ballots are burned, they can move there. My community will not stand for this spineless, shameful, and unpatriotic BS. I thank our first responders for dealing with this fire in such a timely and efficient manner. Ballot recovery would not have been possible if it were not for them. Another thank-you goes to those who stood guard at the local ballot boxes 24/7 following the fire, a precaution that never should have been necessary in the first place. I promise to all of southwest Washington that I will always fight against political violence and protect our sacred right to vote in our communities. Dennis Weber Retirement

Ms. PEREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dennis Weber on his upcoming retirement from the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners after serving as commissioner for 12 years and in the public sector for 40 years. Dennis has spent his career being a pillar for our community. He spent many years as a social studies teacher before transitioning to roles in public office. He has been an excellent advocate with the Spirit Lake/Toutle-Cowlitz River Collaborative to help protect downstream communities, project collaboration, and good, accessible data. I have been privileged to work with Dennis over the years. When I helped reintroduce the National Landslide Preparedness Act, Dennis helped to provide testimony from Cowlitz County. Dennis Weber has shown time and again what it means to be a public servant. He has always worked to ensure his community gets the resources and support they need. His priority has always been for the betterment of his hometown, and that has been evident in every chapter of his career. I thank Dennis for all he has done for southwest Washington. I hope retirement treats him well. Christmas Trees

Ms. PEREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a beloved holiday tradition and an important part of my district's culture: Christmas trees. My district produces the second-most number of Christmas trees in the country. Coming from a family of loggers myself, I know firsthand how important it is to be a steward of the land, to depend on it, not just as a terrarium, but as part of your culture. Our support and value for the forest products that come from our woods is engrained in our ethos. For generations, Washingtonians have used our trees to build and furnish their homes. The holiday season offers us a unique opportunity to display and decorate the trees that we are so proud of. This holiday season, I encourage everybody to go out and visit a Christmas tree farm. Better yet, go into the woods, get a permit, cut down a tree yourself. This is not the time to be supporting petroleum-based Christmas trees, but our own homegrown trees that support our economy and our culture. Congratulating Sharon Pesut on her Retirement

Ms. PEREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Sharon Pesut on her retirement as executive director at Partners in Careers, also known as PIC. PIC is a nonprofit organization that connects jobseekers with workforce training and opportunities with local businesses and community members. PIC aims to assist low-income parents, domestic violence survivors, homeless veterans, and others get a second chance at a career. PIC has been a huge asset to our local Ukrainian community, helping refugees and immigrants secure job opportunities. Sharon has led PIC for 13 years where she has helped to expand youth and veteran programs throughout her community. Recently, Sharon, along with her partners at PIC, were honored as the Community Partner of the Year at the Washington Workforce Association Conference. I thank Sharon for all of the work she has done for our community. I wish her all the very best in her retirement.

Ms. PEREZ

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I unfortunately missed votes today due to a family emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 492.

Ms. PEREZ

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I unfortunately missed votes today due to a family emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 484, YEA on Roll Call No. 485, YEA on Roll Call No. 486, NAY on Roll Call No. 487, YEA on Roll Call No. 488, NAY on Roll Call No. 489, NAY on Roll Call No. 490, and NAY on Roll Call No. 491.

Ms. PEREZ

Ms. PEREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mayor Rob Gordon of Bucoda, who passed away this June after a 7-month battle with stomach cancer. Rob Gordon was born in Centralia, Washington, and remained a lifelong, loyal resident of southwest Washington. He was elected mayor of Bucoda, a town of about 580 people, in May of 2021, and served as its mayor until his passing. Before and during his tenure as mayor, Rob was the assistant chief of the Bucoda Fire Department where he had been serving as a firefighter since he was 16 years old. In addition to his decades of public service, Mayor Gordon also worked for his family's company, which he co-owned with his brother, driving dump trucks and log trucks. Outside of work, he enjoyed raising cattle on his family farm, collecting old International Tractors, and he passed down his love of fixing stuff to his children, Jakob and Anna. It is fitting to rename this post office after Rob, a place where rural neighbors convene and routine and profound work is done quietly, diligently, and honorably. Honor, diligence, and community were all qualities that Rob exemplified. On behalf of Rob's family, his fellow firefighters, and friends across Bucoda and southwest Washington, and with the support of the Bucoda Town Council and Thurston County Board of Commissioners, it is my privilege to lead this bill to honor Rob's life of service. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to its being signed into law. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill.