Brandon Gill

Mr. GILL of Texas

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, which would rename a post office in Rockford, Illinois, for Jay P. Larson. Mr. Larson worked as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 25 years. Serving with enthusiasm and commitment, known for his joy and warmheartedness, Jay Larson was tragically killed in a mass stabbing spree in March 2024 while delivering the mail. Mr. Larson is survived by his mother, seven siblings, 10 nieces and nephews, and many friends. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my House colleagues to support this bill naming a post office for Jay P. Larson who served his community with distinction as a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GILL of Texas

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2175) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 130 South Patterson Avenue in Santa Barbara, California, as the ``Brigadier General Frederick R. Lopez Post Office Building''.

Mr. GILL of Texas. 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 on this measure.

Mr. GILL of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, which would rename a post office in Santa Barbara, California, for Brigadier General Frederick R. Lopez. Brigadier General Frederick Lopez served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 31 years, both in Active Duty and in the Marine Corps Reserve. As a result of his service, he has been awarded numerous decorations and medals. Beyond his military service, Lopez served 7 years for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company as a flight test engineer and 29 years for Raytheon as an electronic warfare engineer and director of engineering. Lopez has been an active member for his community, serving on the board of directors at the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation in Santa Barbara and has served with the National Academies of Science and Engineering. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my House colleagues to support this bill, naming the post office for Brigadier General Frederick Lopez, a highly decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GILL of Texas

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1372) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 300 Macedonia Lane in Knoxville, Tennessee, as the ``Reverend Harold Middlebrook Post Office Building''.

Mr. GILL of Texas. 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 on this measure.

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, which would rename a post office in Knoxville, Tennessee, for Reverend Harold Middlebrook. Reverend Middlebrook played a crucial role in the civil rights movement during the sanitation workers strike in Memphis and later founded the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission in Knoxville. Reverend Middlebrook was president of the Bolivar Human Development Corporation, an adviser to the Hardeman County Bi-Racial Commission, coordinator of the Hardeman County Political Action Commission, and an advisory board member of the Tennessee Public Service Commission. Reverend Middlebrook was a loving father to his three children, two of whom followed his footsteps to work in public service. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my House colleagues to support this bill naming a post office for an honored community member, Reverend Harold Middlebrook. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GILL of Texas

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is great to hear from Ms. Ocasio- Cortez, the new leader of the Democratic Party. Unfortunately, we didn't get to hear from Mr. Zohran Mamdani, their other leader. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to vote this evening to reopen the Federal Government. For 40 days the Democrats shut our government down to pursue unrealistic policy proposals that they know the American people do not want. Mr. Speaker, the American people do not want healthcare for illegal aliens. They do not want our tax dollars funding leftwing media outlets. They do not want to drive up our debt $1.5 trillion as part of a short-term continuing resolution. Mr. Speaker, the last 40 days have been nothing but pure political nihilism. I am glad this nightmare is over so we can get back to work on behalf of the American people.

Mr. GILL of Texas

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to present to you the Global Medical Response (GMR) Stars of Life award recipients for 2025. A proud member of the American Ambulance Association (AAA), GMR is a leader in emergency medical services across the country--providing care to communities and residents of all walks of life. The AAA created the Stars of Life program to celebrate the contributions of ambulance professionals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in service to their communities and the EMS profession. By honoring the contributions of these heroes, the Stars of Life program also highlights the critical role EMS plays in our healthcare infrastructure. The opportunities to save lives--whether it's someone who suffered a cardiac arrest following a motor vehicle incident in Evansville, Indiana, or a 12-day old infant who stopped breathing in Clackamas, Oregon--are the situations for which EMS professionals train and prepare. But we should also honor the everyday professionalism, skill, and commitment to doing what is right for the patient that is at the forefront of everything emergency medical responders do, both on duty and off. By putting their own lives on the line every time they answer the call for help, EMS professionals are heroes in their local communities, even if some are too humble to see themselves that way. I thank all first responders for answering the call and I thank the 2025 GMR Stars of Life award recipients for providing care to the world at a moment's notice. I include in the Record the following Global Medical Response's 2025 Stars of Life Award Recipients: Carlos Bautista, Base Aviation Manager, Fixed Wing Pilot, EagleMed, Dodge City, Kansas; Chris Crawford, Paramedic, Field Training Officer, American Medical Response, Portland, Oregon; Nathanael Day, Flight Nurse, Paramedic, EagleMed, Dodge City, Kansas; Rudy Drago, Dispatch Lead, AMR River Medical, Lake Havasu City, Arizona; Aaron Durette, Paramedic, Field Training Officer, American Medical Response, West Hartford, Connecticut; Arianne Emling, Flight Nurse, Base Clinical Lead, Air Evac Lifeteam, Marion, Illinois; Jimi Estrada-Velazquez, Paramedic, American Medical Response, Riverside, California; Marc Flores, Flight Paramedic, Air Evac Lifeteam, Abilene, Texas; Kenny Glimmee, Flight Paramedic, REACH Air Medical Services, Alpine, California; Aaron Goodloe, Paramedic, American Medical Response, Kansas City, Kansas; Dylan Graves, Lead Paramedic, Field Training Officer, Clackamas County, Oregon; Terry Gray, EMT, Crew Chief, American Medical Response, Seattle, Washington; Julie Humes, Flight Nurse, Air Evac Lifeteam, Macomb, Illinois; Joseph Ketcham, Paramedic Supervisor, MedicWest, Las Vegas, Nevada; PJ Lowe, Advanced EMT, American Medical Response, Jackson; Mississippi; Matt Magiera, Paramedic, Medstar EMS, Summerdale, Alabama; Beau McFarlin, Flight Paramedic, Air Evac Lifeteam, Marion, Illinois; Alexander Megquier, Paramedic, American Medical Response, West Hartford, Connecticut; Douglas Milks, Paramedic, American Medical Response, Buffalo, New York; Magen Morris, Paramedic, Special Events Administrative Supervisor, MedicWest, Las Vegas, Nevada; Holly Nasello, Paramedic, Life Line, Prescott, Arizona; Trey Phillips, Flight Nurse, Paramedic, Air Evac Lifeteam, Snellville, Georgia; Rick Pringle, Paramedic, Field Training Office, AMR Temple EMS, Temple, Texas; Julie Purick, Critical Care Paramedic, American Medical Response, Rochester, New York; LeAnn Riley, Emergency Dispatcher, 911 Call Taker, American Medical Response, Modesto, California; Ryan Rizen, Clinical Education Manager, American Medical Response, Evansville, Indiana; Samantha Sabol, Paramedic, Field Training Officer, AMR Temple EMS, Temple, Texas; Missy Satterfield, Flight Nurse, Paramedic, Air Evac Lifeteam, Abilene, Texas; Morgan Stanley, EMT, American Medical Response, Independence, Missouri; Talitha Crowe, EMT, AMR Temple EMS, Temple, Texas; Dustin Wilson, Paramedic, American Medical Response, Stockton, California; and Brannen Zilka, Paramedic, American Medical Response, Concord, California.

Mr. GILL of Texas

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Washington, D.C., is the Capital of the United States. It should reflect the glory, the beauty, and the grandeur of the most powerful civilization that has ever existed on the face of the Earth. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, that is not the case under Democrat rule. Under Democrat rule, especially in our Nation's Capital, we are forced to live under the cloud of anarcho-tyranny where criminals roam free and law-abiding families live in fear. Mr. Speaker, under President Trump's leadership, Republicans are restoring law and order to cities that have been virtually abandoned by the left. That is why I introduced the District of Columbia Juvenile Sentencing Reform Act. It will make sure violent criminals are treated like violent criminals, no matter what their age. Mr. Speaker, in 2021, Uber Eats driver Mohammad Anwar was murdered in D.C. during a carjacking by two teenage girls. One of the criminals was 15 years old. She was convicted of felony murder, and she was given a maximum sentence under D.C. law. She will be free when she turns 21 years old. That is 6 years for murder. That is 6 years for taking a father away from his family. This bill ensures that that travesty of justice never happens again. Mr. Speaker, the reality of crime in D.C. is bleak. D.C.'s homicide rate in 2024 was 27.3 per 100,000. That is the fourth highest in our Nation. The first 6 months of 2025 alone, juveniles in D.C. were arrested 900 times. Many of those arrests were for repeat violent offenders. Around 200 juveniles arrested for violent crimes in 2024 had prior violent crime arrests. Mr. Speaker, this isn't rehabilitation. This is a revolving door of crime that the left has created in this city. Meanwhile, the D.C. Council passed reforms to weaken policing and reduce penalties for carjacking and robbery. As a matter of policy, they are choosing criminals over innocent Americans. Mr. Speaker, we hear from the other side of the aisle that locking up criminals by some weird and bizarre logic increases crime. The reality, which we all know because it is self-evident, is that when a criminal is in jail, by definition, they are not committing crimes on our streets and not terrorizing innocent Americans. We are told that if we care about public safety, we shouldn't put criminals in prison. Mr. Speaker, this is insane. They know it. The American people know it. If we want to live in a law-abiding society, we have to get these violent and ruthless offenders off of our streets. That is what Republicans are doing, and that is what Democrats on the other side of the aisle are fighting right now. Mr. Speaker, this legislation lowers the age for transfer to adult court from 16 to 14 for the most heinous crimes. We are talking about murder, first-degree sexual assault, armed robbery, and burglary. It expands the cases that can be tried by the U.S. Attorney's Office, ensuring that woke, weird prosecutors like D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb can't let violent offenders slip through the cracks. It sends a simple message. Democrats may tolerate crime, but Republicans do not. Mr. Speaker, every American should be able to walk down our streets without fear of being murdered or raped or having their car broken into. Every parent should be able to put their child to bed without wondering if their home is going to be broken into.

Mr. GILL of Texas. This bill restores order and common sense to the laws of our Nation's Capital. The American people and every visitor in D.C., as well, deserve nothing less.

Mr. GILL of Texas

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, tonight is the culmination of months of work from House Republicans to defund leftwing state-sponsored media outlets like NPR. During that process, we got to bring in leadership from these outlets like the CEO of NPR, Katherine Maher, to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. I got to ask her about a lot of her past public statements. It turns out she has a prolific Twitter history. She has written extensively about every single major woke buzzword that you can think of, Mr. Speaker, including ``the ravages of late-stage capitalism,'' ``structural privilege,'' and her own ``cis White mobility privilege.'' Mr. Speaker, most Americans, including myself, didn't know what that meant until reading this. She wrote about the ``politics of representation,'' and, of course, ``toxic masculinity.'' She also wrote about herself, about one of her major pet peeves, which is whenever she goes on an airplane and finds out that the demographics are ``usually > 80% male, usually white.'' Mr. Speaker, that is flagrantly racist. She has written about how: ``I do wish Hillary''--meaning Hillary Clinton--``wouldn't use the language of `boy and girl'--it's erasing language for non-binary people.'' Mr. Speaker, this is the person running the outlet the other side of the aisle wants our tax dollars to subsidize. Of course, she has written extensively about race, about how America is ``addicted to white supremacy,'' how she grew up ``feeling superior'' because she is White, how ``America begins in black plunder and white democracy.'' Mr. Speaker, this is directly from her own Twitter account. Mr. Speaker, nonpartisan news outlets are not run by lunatics like this. Republicans are done using the power that voters give us to fund Democrat media machines. We are playing to win now.

Mr. GILL of Texas

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Texas Hill Country is well-known as one of the most beautiful regions in the State and it just witnessed one of the most horrific disasters in our State's history. I saw it last week myself when we went down to Kerrville, and you could see homes gone and roads shattered and families broken. I met first responders who pulled neighbors from waters that just destroyed lives. I heard the stories like that of Jeff Ramsey and his wife, Tanya, two constituents from Texas-26. They were Texans, and they were parents trapped in their camper at Hill Country Campground as the flood swallowed everything around them. In those final moments, Jeff picked up his phone and he said good-bye to his kids. ``Hey, buddy, I love you so much. I think this is it for us. Tell Rache-y I love her.'' Mr. Speaker, what do you say to that? What do you say to a son who lost his father or to a daughter who only has her father's final words? What we are going to say is that we will never forget them. That we will honor every life lost, including Jeff, Tanya, and every other life taken by those unforgiving waters. We will honor and remember the young girls and staff at Camp Mystic and the vacationing families enjoying their Independence Day weekend. This flood stole lives and stories and futures and Texans. Today, we mourn them and we honor them and we will remember them. We will carry their names and their stories, but we also thank the first responders who jumped into this mess in dangerous conditions and who are still working to clean up the flood. I think, in particular, of our colleague Congressman Morgan Luttrell, who is out working right now, as well as Mr. Roy who has been working around the clock for his district over the past 2 weeks. Mr. Speaker, God bless Kerrville, God bless Texas, and God bless the U.S.

Mr. GILL of Texas

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend Mr. Ray Fletcher of Cooke County, Texas, for a lifetime of devoted service to our nation, The Great State of Texas, and his local community. Mr. Fletcher first answered the call to serve when he joined the United States Air Force in 1981, where he trained and served as a Nuclear Weapons Specialist. Over the course of an honorable 22-year military career, he rose to the rank of Senior Master Sergeant, exemplifying leadership, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the security of our country. He retired from active duty in 2003, but his public service was far from over. Immediately upon retirement, Mr. Fletcher began his second career in direct service to the people of Cooke County as the Emergency Manager and Fire Marshal. In this role, which he held for an additional 22 years, he became a cornerstone of public safety and emergency preparedness in North Texas. Mr. Fletcher led Cooke County through seven federally declared disasters, investigated over 400 fires, and oversaw numerous other critical incidents that required his seasoned judgment and calm leadership. Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Fletcher was instrumental in coordinating the Individual Safe Room Grant Program, a vital initiative that led to the installation of 425 storm shelters across Cooke County. His foresight and dedication undoubtedly made Cooke County a safer place for all who call it home. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ray Fletcher's contributions to his country and community reflect the very best of American values. I am proud to represent such a distinguished citizen in the 26th Congressional District of Texas. On behalf of a grateful community, I thank him for his selfless service and wish him continued happiness in his well- earned retirement.

Mr. GILL of Texas

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, if FOX News or talk radio or any other conservative media outlet came to me and asked us if we should provide them with taxpayer-funded handouts, I would say no, and I believe that most of my colleagues would as well. I certainly think that far-left propaganda outlets like NPR should be defunded. Remember, this is an outlet that believes writing articles about fat phobia and queer animals constitutes serious journalism. They have the right to say whatever they want to, but they do not have the right to our tax dollars. To my colleagues who say that this is only a small part of our budget, I would ask them what, outside of border security and national defense, would they like to cut from our budget? They have never seen a foreign country they don't want to shower with our tax dollars or an illegal alien that they don't want to give welfare to. This is a logical first step to get our finances under control. I urge my colleagues to vote for this rescissions bill.

Mr. GILL of Texas

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to Democrats trying to give voting rights to illegal aliens. Mr. Speaker, once again, Democrats are taking the 20 percent side on another 80-20 issue. The American people do not want illegal aliens voting. They shouldn't be here to begin with. They have no claim on our resources. They certainly should not influence our political system in any respect. Mr. Speaker, every single one of them needs to be deported. Thankfully, we have a President who is actually doing that. For so long, Democrats have called conservatives conspiracy theorists. They have slandered us for saying that the Democratic playbook, which they themselves have articulated, is to open up our borders to ultimately provide amnesty, a path to citizenship, and voting rights to illegal aliens. Mr. Speaker, they are doing that right now. That is exactly what they are doing, and they are fighting for it. Allowing illegal aliens to vote is not only grotesquely unjust, but it waters down the meaning of citizenship for American citizens who are here. Mr. Speaker, our government should represent our people, American citizens. Illegal aliens have no right to vote. They shouldn't be voting, and they need to be deported.

Mr. GILL of Texas

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, China has state-sponsored media. North Korea has state-sponsored media. The United States does not need taxpayer-funded propaganda. Mr. Speaker, we have the opportunity this week to rescind a billion dollars that is in the pipeline right now for NPR and PBS, two outlets that routinely spew anti-American and anti-Christian propaganda. They sow racial division in this country, and they promote weird, woke values that most Americans find disgusting. Mr. Speaker, this is something that we have talked about for a long time, and finally, we have a President who is serious about rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse from the Federal Government. This is the perfect place to start. Let's pass this rescission bill. Let's end taxpayer-funded propaganda. Let's take our country back.

Mr. GILL of Texas

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, so much of what we have heard tonight from the other side of the aisle is nothing but shrill and hysterical calumny from a political party who have nothing to offer the American people but confiscatory taxes, open borders, and men in women's sports. They talk about cruelty, Mr. Speaker. I will tell you what is cruel: Cruelty is deliberately facilitating the mass importation of millions of illegal aliens, many of whom are murdering and raping and pillaging our people on our soil. Mr. Speaker, this bill will fund border security. It will fund ICE, and it will fund the largest deportation operation in American history. Mr. Speaker, we are taking our country back. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Mr. GILL of Texas

Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a tremendous honor for the heart of Texas' 26th Congressional District, Flower Mound, Texas, named the best place to live in America. My family and I are blessed to call it home. The distinction didn't come from luck. It came from leadership, vision, and a community where hometown charm meets national excellence. In Flower Mound, top-tier schools set the standard, green spaces stretch for miles, and small businesses like Flurry's Market + Provisions bring neighbors together. It is a town where families plant roots, where freedom is felt, and where opportunity isn't just a promise; it is a way of life. At the heart of Texas-26, Flower Mound shows what happens when faith, family, and hard work form the foundation of a community. I congratulate the local leaders whose dedication made this recognition possible. Flower Mound isn't just the best place to live in America, it is proof that the American Dream lives right here in north Texas.