Barry Loudermilk

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Kiwanis Club of Marietta and its 9/11 Field of Flags Memorial at Kennesaw Mountain National BattlefIeld Park, as our Nation marks the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. First organized by the Kiwanis Club of Marietta in 2002, the Field of Flags has become a solemn tradition of remembrance in our community. This year marks the sixth installation of the memorial, with 2,977 American flags placed on the grounds of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, each representing an individual life lost on September 11, 2001. The memorial is made possible through the efforts of members of the community who gather to carry and place the flags. On September 11, 2026, the Kiwanis Club will hold its 25th Anniversary Memorial Service, during which the names of all 2,977 victims will be read aloud. The flags will remain on display through September 19 as a continuing tribute to those whose lives were taken. For more than two decades, the Field of Flags has brought the Marietta community together to reflect upon the values of service, sacrifice, and unity. This tradition seeks to ensure that younger generations understand the significance of September 11, 2001 and remember the men, women, and children who were lost, as well as the courage demonstrated by first responders, servicemembers, and private citizens throughout our Nation. Chartered in 1930, the Kiwanis Club of Marietta has a longstanding tradition of service to children, families, and the broader community. I commend its members, volunteers, community partners, and all those whose continued support has sustained the Field of Flags and preserved this important tradition of remembrance. In further recognition of this solemn anniversary, an American flag was flown over the United States Capitol on September 11, 2026, at my request, in honor of the 2,977 lives lost on September 11, 2001, and in recognition of the Kiwanis Club of Marietta's 9/11 Field of Flags Memorial at Kennesaw Mountain National BattlefIeld Park. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the memory of the 2,977 lives lost on September 11, 2001, and in recognizing the Kiwanis Club of Marietta for its enduring commitment to ensuring that our community and our Nation never forget.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and honor Mr. Richard Philip Stroud, Sr., of Georgia, as he calebrated his 100th birthday on September 9, 2026. It is without question that Mr. Stroud has led an extraordinary life, one that is a testament to service, hard work, profound Christian faith, and devotion to family. Over the course of a century, he has answered his Nation's call in the United States Navy, contributed to some of our Nation's most important aviation programs, raised a family, and built a multi-generational legacy. Richard was born on September 9, 1926, on a farm in Bonham, Texas, the eldest son of Coy and Lucille Stroud. His love and passion for the skies began when, as a boy, a Piper Cub airplane landed near his home. After some flight instruction, he made his first solo flight. That momentous occasion would set the course for the rest of his life. In 1944, with World War II raging across the globe, Richard joined the United States Navy, standing alongside thousands of other servicemembers prepared to defend our country and the freedoms we hold dear. At only 17 years old, Richard qualified for the Navy's flight training program. With the changing needs of the war effort, however, he was instead trained as a machine gunner for the SB2C Helldiver bomber. Sent to Memphis, Tennessee for training, Richard distinguished himself immediately, finishing first in his class and becoming the first sailor in his class to strike all 300 clay targets during his final shooting test. After the Allied victory, Richard continued his naval training, graduating from flight school and earning his wings as a naval aviator in Corpus Christi, Texas. In June of 1950, when war broke out in the Korean Peninsula, Richard once more answered his Nation's call, serving on an aircraft carrier, participating in patrol operations, and flying numerous missions for more than two years. He accumulated over 500 landings, including one during a Category-4 hurricane, and piloted aircraft, such as the SNJ Texan, the UC-45 Expeditor, the R4D Skytrain, R6D Liftmaster, F6F Hellcat, F4U Corsair, and the TBM Avenger. After seven years of active duty, Richard served in the United States Naval Reserve for another ten years. In 1952, he began what would be a 62-year career as an aeronautical engineer with Lockheed Aircraft Company in Marietta, Georgia, serving first as a senior design engineer and later as supervisor of the check group, where he oversaw 296 checkers and 40 secretaries, at the height of the C-5 program. Over the course of his career, Richard contributed to aircraft programs including the B-29 Superfortress, B-47 Stratojet, C-130 Hercules, C-141 Starlifter, C-5, P-3, S-3, F-22, and F-35. His work helped sustain American military aviation across the world. Richard retired in 2015 at the age of 88, completing a career that stretched from the aircraft of the Second World War era to some of the most advanced military aircraft yet produced. Richard's legacy extends far beyond his military and professional accomplishments. In 1950, he married Dorothy Montgomery Larkins, with whom he raised four children, Phil, Ann, Mark, and Dana. After settling in Marietta, Georgia, the family became deeply involved at Roswell Street Baptist Church, where their Christian faith remained central to their family life. Following Dorothy's passing in 1971, Richard married Letha and welcomed her four children, Sharon, Andy, Myra, and Penny, into his family. In the decades since, his family has grown to include grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, a 100 birthday is itself an extraordinary milestone, but in Richard Stroud's case, it serves as an example of a life lived in the service of others. From a young boy on a Texas farm fascinated by the sight of an airplane, to a sailor and naval aviator serving his country in times of war, to an aeronautical engineer whose life's work propelled innovation in American aviation for more than 60 years, Richard's life embodies the very best of what it is to be an American. It is therefore my great privilege to recognize Mr. Richard Philip Stroud, Sr. on the occasion of his 100th birthday. I join his family, his friends, and all those whose lives he has touched, in celebrating this remarkable milestone and I thank him for a lifetime of faithful service to his family, his community, and the United States of America. May God continue to bless Richard and his family, and may his example of faith, duty, and perseverance continue to inspire generations.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Committee for his hard work on this and for including several of my provisions in this bill that is designed for the small guy. I obviously rise in support of H.R. 6955 not only because it is a good bill, but also because I recognize the need to rightsize Federal regulations and gain more transparency into the financial regulatory process. For too long, Federal financial regulators have taken this one-size- fits-all approach. If we applied that same status to ourselves, then let's just issue every Member of Congress one suit of clothes so that we all wear the same suit of clothes. Now, we wouldn't accept that because we would only have clothes to fit the largest Member of Congress. What we are saying is that is what we have in the financial services industry right now. We need to tailor the regulations to fit the business model of the business, especially the small business. That is why I am proud that my TAILOR Act has been included in this package. I can't stress enough the importance of the TAILOR Act because it is for the little guy. It is important because it requires all future regulations to be tailored to the risk of the regulated institution. It rewards institutions that adopt sound risk management practices with fewer regulations and punishes those who take an unhealthy amount of risk. I also wish to highlight my New BANK Act, which requires Federal financial regulators to publish annual reports on applications received for creating new financial institutions. These reports will help give critical insights to the current de novo chartering process and how Congress can reduce complexities and redundancies in the system. To conclude, Mr. Speaker, I believe this legislative package with my bills included is much more aligned with the goal of a safe and sound financial system that works for all the American people, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee for bringing this bill to the floor. As the Representative of Georgia `s 11th Congressional District and a veteran of the United States Air Force, I proudly rise today in support of H.R. 5362 to name the Department of Veterans Affairs multispecialty clinic in Marietta, Georgia, as the Colonel Michael H. Boyce Department of Veterans Affairs Multispecialty Clinic. As he was to many, Mike Boyce was a friend of mine, who unfortunately passed away in 2022. Mike took his duties to our country and our community seriously. Like a true patriot, Mike spent much of his life in service to his community, State, and Nation. Throughout his service in the Marine Corps and later in elected office as the chairman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, Mike was a tireless advocate for the health and welfare of our Active-Duty servicemen and veterans. Mike worked to ensure our servicemembers had the tools to succeed and was instrumental in establishing the Cobb County VA Clinic, which remains a vital resource for those who served our country. Mr. Speaker, recognizing Colonel Boyce through this legislation is a fitting tribute to an American hero whose service and advocacy inspired so many, including myself. I greatly appreciate his wife, Judy, for continuing his incredible legacy.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of S.A. White Oil Company, a family-owned business in Marietta, Georgia, that has been a cornerstone of Georgia for a century. S.A. White Oil Company, founded in 1926 by Samuel Alfred White, has played an important role in keeping Georgia's economy moving for the past century. They have supported construction, healthcare, municipalities, emergency services, and more while also supplying fuel to dozens of locally owned businesses through partnerships with nationally recognized brands. Today, the company's impact extends far beyond fuel, as under the leadership of Kim Gresh and through the oil company's hard work, they have donated to improve the lives of people across Georgia while upholding their family-oriented culture. S.A. White Oil Company's fight against homelessness, domestic violence, food insecurity, and other critical social challenges facing our people today is a testament to their commitment to community. On behalf of Georgia's 11th Congressional District and the U.S. House of Representatives, I commend S.A. White Oil Company for their service, innovation, and philanthropy and congratulate them on their 100th anniversary of service.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a friend and former member of my congressional staff, Mr. John Bart Mitcham, on his milestone birthday and for his service to Georgia's 11th Congressional District, the State of Georgia, and the United States of America. Mr. Bart Mitcham was born on December 24, 1945, in Ada, Oklahoma, to John and Virginia Mitcham. Bart's parents both served in the United States Navy during World War II, with his father serving as a naval aviator on the USS Hornet during some of the most critical moments in the Pacific theater. Bart knew from an early age that he wanted to serve his country as a naval aviator. So eager to learn to fly, Bart washed aircraft in exchange for 1 hour of flight time while he was in high school. He also served as a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol, the civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Bart attended Tyler Junior College on a music scholarship, where he played in the school's band and performed at high-profile events, including the Cotton Bowl, as well as Dallas Cowboys games. He later transferred to the University of Oklahoma, Edmond, where he graduated in 1968, commissioning as an ensign in the United States Navy. Fulfilling his lifelong dream to become a naval aviator like his father, Bart began naval flight training and, upon graduation, was assigned to Naval Air Station Dallas, where he flew the storied F-4 Phantom. Bart was then transferred to the USS Enterprise, where he flew combat missions in Vietnam. He later served at the Defense Intelligence Agency and as a commanding officer at Naval Air Station Atlanta before retiring at the rank of captain in 1994, almost 26 years of service. Bart is not only recognized for his exemplary service to our country as a veteran, but he is also recognized as a man of numerous talents and passions. Bart attained a law degree from Woodrow Wilson Law School, attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and earned a master of divinity from Andersonville Seminary. He operated a real estate appraisal business while pastoring churches. During his service in the United States Navy, Bart studied several martial arts disciplines before achieving a seventh-degree black belt. He then taught martial arts and self-defense classes, developed his own self-defense technique, and was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Wanting to use his expertise, training, and talents to continue to serve others, Bart became a licensed private investigator and an executive protection agent. As his reputation expanded, Bart opened his own agency and began teaching and facilitating classes in private investigation and executive protection. For a time, he served as a member of the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies. Due to Bart's vast experience and reputation, he became part of my staff when I entered Congress. He was our veteran engagement liaison and the security director for several years. He was an excellent choice for this role, reaching out to help fellow veterans as well as helping to ensure the safety and security of myself and our staff. Bart continued his legacy of community service by taking on the role of an associate magistrate judge for Bartow County, Georgia. Throughout his exemplary career of service to others above self, Bart has touched countless lives across our country. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives, the people of Georgia's 11th Congressional District, I wish my friend, Bart Mitcham, a wonderful 80th birthday and extend my sincerest gratitude for his lifetime of service. May God bless him, and I wish him a happy birthday.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Michael George Stocker, who passed away peacefully on December 11, 2025. Michael was a captain in the U.S. Air Force, and a navigator on the B52 aircraft, serving in Vietnam. Michael was born on July 6, 1941, in Mount Vernon, Indiana, and lived his life with a passion for Jesus and a love for his family and Kentucky Basketball. Michael went to high school at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology with the hopes of pursuing priesthood. Michael would then go on to serve in the U.S. Air Force as a Navigator-Bombardier on B52's, while getting a Doctorate in education. Michael was known for his service with the Pro-Life Airplanes navigation, and his favorite B52's. Michael was preceded in death by his loving wife Marilyn, who passed away on November 27, 2025. Michael and Marilyn leave behind a legacy of love and dedication for their family and will be remembered by the hearts and hands of those they touched. Michael and Marilyn are survived by their daughters, granddaughters, and great-grandchildren.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, the Kennesaw State University football team brought home the Conference USA title in just their second year competing at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Owls achieved this feat just 1 year after only a two-win season, displaying a remarkable turnaround. Kennesaw State University has made the 11th District and the State of Georgia immensely proud, and we are excited to have the Conference USA Football Championship trophy in Cobb County for the first time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the university leadership, players, staff, and head coach Jerry Mack on an incredible season and a hard-fought win. We wish them the best of luck in their upcoming bowl game.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Chair, our Armed Forces face an ever-evolving landscape of warfare demanding servicemembers who are capable of high performance under extreme operational stress, yet we face a readiness crisis. Suicide rates remain high. One in four servicemembers suffer from PTSD, and over 40 percent meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder. Meanwhile, access to mental health support remains limited, especially in key military regions. Recognizing the need to address this reality is a step in the right direction, but we can and must do more to equip our military personnel to continue being the finest fighting force in the history of the world. My amendment will provide for wearable technology research that addresses these very issues by monitoring and improving stress response and cognitive performance in real time. This real-time resilience optimization for military readiness tool could track fatigue, deliver tailored solutions for the wearer, and integrate with military health systems all while keeping data secure. Adopting this amendment provides a targeted solution to the challenges we face and ensures that American warfighters remain the most prepared, most adaptable, and most resilient force on Earth. Mr. Chair, I urge Members to support this amendment.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Major General Melissa Coburn for her service to the 22nd Air Force at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia. Major General Coburn commissioned through the United States Air Force Academy in 1992 and served eleven years on active duty, before transitioning to the Air Force Reserve in February 2003. During her service, Major General Coburn has more than 6,000 flight hours in the T-37, T-38, C-141B, C-123, KC-135, C-17A, C-40, C-130H/J, including 279 combat hours in support of operations in Hungary, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Major General Coburn has been a close partner in improving our Nation's tactical air mobility operations capability through recapitalization of the Air Force Reserve's C-130 inventory. She has heavily invested in servicemember quality of life improvements throughout her command, especially at Dobbins Air Reserve Base. With more than 12,000 Reserve Airmen and 59 unit-equipped aircraft, her leadership of the 22nd Air Force has directly contributed to our Nation's security through aerial spray, fire suppression, weather reconnaissance, tactical airlift and airdrop and aeromedical evacuation. As Major General Coburn continues her service to the United States upon her departure from Dobbins Air Reserve Base and the 22nd Air Force, it has been a pleasure working closely with her to benefit our servicemembers. I congratulate Major General Coburn on her Change of Command and look forward to working with her again soon in the years to come.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an incredible individual who is a true pillar of the community, Mrs. Pam Younker, and congratulate her on her retirement from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. The daughter of a United States Marine, Pam is a longtime advocate for our military, as well as our local community, and our children. Pam has spent more than a decade with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, caring for families in their time of greatest need. A rock of her community, Pam was recognized in 2018 with the Marietta Citizen of the Year Award, and again in 2024 with the Len Gilbert Award for her advocacy for Dobbins Air Reserve Base and Clay National Guard Center. Pam served as Chair of the Honorary Commanders Association, a Cobb County Chamber of Commerce program connecting community leaders with military commanders. She remains committed to our nation's military, serving on the Military Appreciation Luncheon Committee, chairing Armed Forces Day for Leadership Cobb, co-chairing the Team Dobbins Committee, and is a Civic Leader for Air Force Reserve Command. Pam regularly organizes deployment send-offs, welcome-home events, and Veterans Day parades, among other events, and has been crucial in preventing the historic Dobbins Chapel's demolition, securing its relocation to the Clay National Guard Center. It is my honor to have worked closely with Pam Younker through the years, and an even greater privilege to call her a friend. I congratulate Pam on her well-deserved retirement and know she will continue serving her Cobb County community in the years to come.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise this late evening to discuss and inform the American people about a very important moment in the history of the United States. Now, as Members of Congress, we have a very important job to do here. We have a lot of responsibility, but one of those responsibilities, Mr. Speaker, is to seek the truth, especially in our investigative roles, and report the truth. We also have a job of correcting the record and calling attention to a false narrative that, quite frankly, has been peddled on the American people for the last 2 years. Now, in January of 2023, Speaker Kevin McCarthy asked me to take on a huge task, and that was to chair the first ever Subcommittee of Oversight on the Committee on House Administration. The task that he asked me to take on was to investigate the events of January 6 as well as to investigate the actions of the January 6th Select Committee. I agreed to take on this investigation under the condition that I was provided the resources, the staff, and the funding that I needed to conduct an appropriate investigation and that I was given the freedom to pursue the truth without any political bias and thus report that evidence and that truth to the American people. My mission was simple: Conduct a real investigation, seek out and report unaltered evidence--that is important, unaltered evidence--and let the facts speak for themselves, and ultimately let the American people draw the conclusion based on the evidence on the facts. It is our duty to provide full transparency to the American people, and that is something that has lacked a lot in our government, especially in the past several years, but as we sought the truth of what led to January 6, what happened on January 6, what transpired on January 6, it wasn't to dispel any fact of what happened. Yes, there was violence. Yes, there was violence in this building. There was violence that happened around the Capitol, as the videos and other evidence shows. However, the reports that we have received, especially the select committee's report is significantly flawed in their facts. From the very beginning my subcommittee faced obstacles that were left by the January 6th Select Committee. As the House rules required, the select committee was to preserve all records that were used and acquired during their investigation, but soon after starting my task in this investigation, we realized that there was a significant amount of evidence that we did not have. There were documents, videos, certain evidence, or transcripts that had either been sent to other agencies within the executive branch or in some cases deleted--we had to hire a forensics team to recover that information--or there were certain videos of transcribed interviews that everyone on the committee admits actually existed, but no one seems to know what happened to those. Regardless of the obstacles that we faced, we continued on with our investigation, which we spent about an entire year obtaining the information that was not archived by the select committee. A lot of this information, as we found out, did not support the narrative of the report that the select committee submitted to Congress. My suspicion is that because that information that was deleted or hidden or sent off did not support their report is probably why they did not retain that information. However, we continued on our investigation, looking at certain aspects of what happened, including the security failure here in this building, which was one of the primary tasks of the January 6th Select Committee, but yet when you look at the report, there appears to be nothing about the security failure here at the Capitol. That was one of our first tasks: What led to the security failure here at the Capitol? What about the pipe bombs? Looking at the pipe bombs, the tremendous failures that we saw through multiple agencies of law enforcement. There was a failure to contain the area where the pipe bombs were. The Secret Service had an advance team because Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris was going to be at the DCCC. The agent advancing it walked by a pipe bomb twice with a bomb dog and never alerted on it. We also looked into the mysterious gallows that were erected, but we also spent a lot of time on the operation and preparedness of the U.S. Capitol Police and the mutual aid expected by other agencies here to support them. What I want to talk about here tonight is one of the mutual aid partners that should have been here at the Capitol on January 6, and that is the D.C. National Guard. There were two significant delays in the National Guard coming to the Capitol. The first delay was the request that was made by Chief Sund-- multiple requests on the days leading up to January 6. Chief Steven Sund was the Chief of the Capitol Police. He knew from the size of the crowds that were expected that he would need additional assistance. COVID was happening at that time, so we weren't at full force in the Capitol Police because we had several officers who were out because of being quarantined due to COVID. Chief Sund anticipated he would need extra support, so he requested the National Guard in the days leading up to January 6. Under the law at that time, the request had to be made by the Capitol Police Board. Under the Constitution, the President can't just send the National Guard to the Capitol without a request. Otherwise, he could send over the military to take over Congress if they didn't like what was going on. There had to be a request. That official request did not come until late in the afternoon, about 2:30 in the afternoon, well after the Capitol had been breached. Once shots had been fired at the Capitol, the final request was approved for the National Guard. Chief Sund had made several requests during that day, which those had all been turned down for one reason or another through leadership. However, once shots were fired in the Capitol, even leadership determined maybe we do need help here, so an official request was made to the D.C. National Guard to be deployed to the Capitol. Let me put things in perspective. The outer perimeter on the west front of the Capitol was breached by rioters at 12:53. That is 7 minutes to 1:00. President Trump was still speaking at the Ellipse at that time when the outer barriers were breached. It wasn't until 5 hours later that the National Guard arrived. We do know that there was an initial delay here, but at around 2:30 in the afternoon, the official request was made to the Pentagon. After that request was made at 2:30, it was still almost 4 hours before the National Guard arrived. Just like our National Guard in our States, the D.C. National Guard, one of their predominant roles is civil unrest. In fact, they are known as the Guardians of the Capitol, the Capitol Guardians. They had been used many times in the past to help quell riots and civil unrest or even act as a deterrent. The D.C. National Guard, you would think, well, yeah, they have to be called in, they have to be mustered in, so maybe that was the delay. Maybe once the order was given, it was going to get all the guardsmen in and get them ready. The Governor of the State of Georgia, Brian Kemp, has used the National Guard to help suppress riots. During the BLM riots in 2020, he called out our National Guard. The National Guard does fall under the authority of the Governor, but here in D.C., because we are not a State, that authority falls under the President of the United States. However, by law, the President can then delegate that authority to the Department of Defense. With that chain of command, we found out in our investigation that delegation of authority was done in the days leading up to January 6. As I will get into in just a little bit, the evidence that we have uncovered is that days before January 6, President Trump had already delegated the authority to deploy the National Guard and had the National Guard ready for deployment. In fact, on that day, the National Guard was less than 2 miles away from this Capitol, ready with their riot gear, ready to deploy to the Capitol--not only during the 4-hour delay, but they were there from earlier that morning. Why? Because President Trump had already ordered the National Guard to be ready because of the size of the number of people who were coming to Washington, D.C. He wanted to make sure that everyone was safe and that it was peaceful. The D.C. National Guard is the only military organization within the Department of Defense over which the President of the United States has direct and immediate command authority. As I have said, the President's command authority gets delegated to the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Defense has further delegated operational control of the D.C. National Guard to the Secretary of the Army. So it goes the President, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Army. On January 6, 2021, the D.C. National Guard reported to the Secretary of the Army, Ryan McCarthy. On January 5, Secretary McCarthy took it upon himself to place an unprecedented restriction on the D.C. National Guard to prevent any movement to the Capitol without his explicit permission. What that memo said is basically: If the President himself calls you, General Walker, the Commander of the D.C. National Guard, you can't move without my authority, the Secretary of the Army. If the Secretary of Defense tells you to deploy, you can't go without my authority. This tied the hands of the National Guard and placed sole tactical operational command of their movements in the hands of Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy. As I said earlier, the breach of the outer perimeter happened at 12:53, 7 minutes till 1. As we are seeing the Capitol being overrun at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, the National Guard is less than 2 miles from here, with riot gear, ready to deploy, and buses ready to go. The President had already ordered days in advance the National Guard to be readied, but senior Pentagon leaders ignored President Trump's directive to, as President Trump said in sworn testimony by Pentagon leaders, ``make sure it is a safe event.'' Instead, they focused on optics as the Capitol was being breached. In fact, the Director of the Army Staff, Lieutenant General Walter Piatt, later would say, ``Was optics a concern for us as we prepared to use soldiers downtown in Washington, D.C.? Absolutely.'' As optics concerns were being discussed, and Secretary McCarthy claimed that he was ``developing a plan'' during this delay--after this order was given, he is developing a plan--the D.C. National Guard was ready to move less than 2 miles from here during that crucial time. To put things in perspective, at 2:30, the request was made by the Capitol Police Board. At 3 o'clock, the Secretary of Defense told the Secretary of the Army, Ryan McCarthy, to deploy the National Guard. That was just a few minutes after 3 p.m. Because it was almost 6 p.m. before the National Guard arrived here at the Capitol, Secretary McCarthy stated that he was working on a concept of operations, that he had developed a CONOPS, but he never communicated with the Capitol police or D.C. National Guard during that time period that he was developing this concept of operations. What is more, the National Guard already had a plan. This isn't the first time that they have done this, or as they say in Texas, this wasn't their first rodeo. Many times in the past, they had been deployed to the Capitol, the National Mall area, and around the Nation's Capital to help keep the peace. In fact, the Metropolitan Police Department was already using some National Guard forces for traffic control that day. Secretary McCarthy, as you can see in this poster, was well aware of the National Guard as he had observed training operations. He was well aware of their concept of operations, that they knew what they were doing, that they had trained for events like this. Basically, when you are being used to supplement law enforcement, the operations plan is get yourself to the Capitol, report to the Capitol Police, get sworn in, and then do whatever the chief of police tells you to do. It is that simple, the concept of operations. What concerns me is even though the National Guard trained for civil disturbance missions over and over again, which McCarthy was aware of, the question is: Did he use the CONOPS as a delay tactic because he knew what they were capable of doing? In fact, over 2 hours were wasted to allegedly develop a plan, and to this day, a plan has never been produced. If they were working on a concept of operations plan, where is it? It was never communicated to the National Guard even once they were given the orders to deploy. As we started looking into the reason for the delay, we found out that the Department of Defense inspector general was also looking into this delay. In fact, they had already produced a report, and their report laid the blame of the delay on the D.C. National Guard. We had some whistleblowers who actually were senior officers in the D.C. National Guard who started coming to my committee and telling us: The IG report is wrong. It is flawed. That is not what happened. We were ready to go. We were purposefully delayed. We started digging into this, and we kept digging and digging until we were able to obtain all the evidence that the DOD IG used in their report. I can tell you here, Mr. Speaker, I still don't know how they came up with their report saying that the National Guard was the purpose of the delay when it was clearly that senior officials in the Department of Defense purposefully delayed the National Guard from coming to the Capitol that day. We will dig a little further into that evidence here in a few moments. Two hours were wasted as, literally, there was a death outside the west front of the Capitol during the time that the National Guard could have been here had they been deployed. When that 2-hour delay started at 3:04, Secretary of Defense Miller provided verbal approval to Secretary McCarthy for immediate deployment to the Capitol. At 3:04, he told the Secretary of the Army to deploy to the Capitol. Numerous eyewitnesses confirmed that Miller gave this order, including Secretary McCarthy himself. He testified: Yes, I got that order. After Miller gave this order and while the D.C. National Guard sat ready to respond, Secretary McCarthy occupied himself by allegedly coming up with a CONOPS plan, as we discussed, and drafting talking points for a national press conference with the D.C. Mayor. At that time, no one was communicating with the D.C. National Guard, which was sitting less than 2 miles from here ready to deploy. No one was communicating while they were watching on television what was happening at the Capitol and were eager to get over here to help. During that time of making talking points for a press conference and supposedly developing an operations plan, Members were being evacuated from this very Chamber as people were pounding on the back door and breaking glass trying to get in. While rioters breached the Capitol, McCarthy never once called the Commander of the D.C. National Guard, who is Major General Walker. He said that Major General Walker testified that he never received any communication during that time period or any communication at all from Secretary McCarthy, who did not relay Secretary of Defense Miller's order for immediate deployment of the National Guard to the Capitol. General Walker ultimately received the order to deploy at 5:08 p.m. Now, remember, the Secretary of Defense tells the Secretary of the Army at 3:04 to immediately deploy the National Guard. The National Guard doesn't receive the order until 5:08 p.m., well after law enforcement from neighboring States and jurisdictions had already came and helped quell the riots. This is unacceptable in my opinion. Now, Secretary McCarthy was asked specifically about his actions following Secretary Miller's 3 or 4 p.m. order by the select committee and multiple Senate committees investigating this, as well as the Department of Defense IG. When asked by the DOD IG in March of 2021, Secretary McCarthy stated that one of his staff conveyed the order to deploy the D.C. National Guard within minutes of Miller's verbal order. So Secretary McCarthy is saying, yes, within minutes of getting the order, I conveyed that information to the D.C. National Guard. However, the DOD IG report alleged that McCarthy personally conveyed this order to deploy within minutes without explanation or providing evidence to support his assertion. Major General Walker, the commander of the D.C. National Guard, has consistently refuted that order that was relayed supposedly at 3:04 p.m. He never received any communication from the Secretary of the Army. Almost a year later, in testimony to the select committee, McCarthy testifies that he completed his CONOPS around 4:35 p.m. and called Secretary of Defense Miller and received his approval. However, that CONOPS has never emerged. It wasn't in any of the Department of Defense IG's report or their evidence, Select Committee on January 6th evidence, and we have found no evidence of that CONOPS plan. In his testimony to the select committee when asked about the 4:35 p.m. call, McCarthy finally admitted that he never spoke directly to Major General Walker at 4:35, even though it had been testified that he had. Instead, Secretary McCarthy changed his story and told the select committee that a member of his staff who had the authority to speak as Secretary of the Army was communicating with the D.C. National Guard on his behalf on January 6. Now, this revision to his previous version of the events is significant. The individual McCarthy claimed made this call on his behalf testified to the DOD IG that it was Secretary McCarthy who conveyed the order at 4:35 p.m. Now, let me pause here. The conflicting testimony raises serious doubts about the actions of the numerous senior DOD officials failing to follow direct orders resulting in the delayed deployment of the D.C. National Guard. The only reason that Congress is now aware of these significant conflicting versions of events is because of the courageous D.C. National Guardsmen who testified in front of my subcommittee and because my subcommittee has forced the DOD IG to produce the witness interviews revealing these conflicting versions of events, which I now share publicly. These have been made public. They can be seen by anyone, all the testimony that was used by the DOD IG. As Secretary McCarthy's story changed, it started actually to align more with Major General Walker's testimony. Again, he was the commander of the D.C. National Guard. At a March 2021 Senate hearing, General Walker testified that the DOD IG--actually, the DOD IG report alleged that in this congressional testimony General Walker mischaracterized, and his testimony was untrue without any evidence to support an allegation that General Walker committed perjury. Basically, General Walker's testimony didn't align with the DOD IG's report, so they claimed that his testimony was perjurious to the Senate. Now, to make matters worse, while the violence and chaos continued to unfold at the Capitol, Pentagon officials deceivingly told congressional Democrat leadership on a phone call that the D.C. National Guard was on the way. So during this entire 2\1/2\-hour delay of getting the D.C. National Guard going, no one had communicated with General Walker at all. He is sitting less than 2 miles from here with the D.C. National Guard with riot gear ready to come and help quell the riots here. No one is communicating during this entire time. Secretary McCarthy told Democrat leadership that the National Guard was on the way. HBO footage that was obtained by my subcommittee shows that at 3:18 p.m. Secretary McCarthy told Speaker Pelosi that he never blocked the deployment of the National Guard; instead, he first needed to get approval from Secretary Miller. That was at 3:18 p.m. Secretary Miller had already told Secretary McCarthy to deploy at 3:04. McCarthy then assured Speaker Pelosi: We have the green light. We are moving. However, no one had communicated to General Walker to move until after 5:00 p.m. The Pentagon mislead congressional leadership into thinking help was on the way at 3:18, when they knew for a fact it was not. Remember, Secretary McCarthy at this time had still not communicated Secretary of Defense Miller's 3:04 deployment to the D.C. National Guard. A full 2 hours would pass before the deployment order was actually communicated to the D.C. National Guard. The order was eventually communicated by a different McCarthy aide and not by McCarthy himself. So on January 5, McCarthy revised the chain of command to deploy the D.C. National Guard. He informed General Walker: You cannot go unless I specifically authorize you to go. Yet, he had not communicated with him at any time on January 6 as they were waiting to deploy. In these vital hours, General Walker tried to contact Secretary McCarthy, but his calls kept going straight to voicemail. I want to reemphasize; the D.C. National Guard was ordered to be ready to deploy on January 6 on January the 3rd by an order from President Trump. That order was confirmed in testimony--if you can put up the other poster again--by General Milley himself who testified that in a phone call with the Commander in Chief, President Trump, he told Secretary Miller that POTUS said, hey, I don't care if you use the National Guard or soldiers, Active-Duty soldiers, do whatever you have to do, just make sure it is safe. This was the testimony by General Milley testifying that, yes, on January 3, days before January 6, Trump had already delegated authority to deployment. So the reports that we heard that Trump could have just sent the National Guard or Trump just should have picked up the phone and told them to go, he had already done his duty as Commander in Chief. Now, I want to talk a little bit about the DOD IG report because, as I said earlier, we have investigated the same evidence that the DOD IG did, and we came up with a totally different conclusion based on the evidence and the facts that we found in the sworn testimony that there was a purposeful delay by the Department of Defense to deploy the D.C. National Guard. The then-Army chief of staff's testimony revealed confusion regarding certain entries in the Army's timeline, but an individual within Secretary McCarthy's inner circle--this was not included in the DOD IG's report. So what has happened is we have got people within the Pentagon testifying one thing to Congress and another thing to the DOD IG in their sworn testimony. A witness who was with McCarthy on that day testified that the D.C. National Guard did not get specific instructions from the Army until after 5:00 p.m. The DOD IG report acknowledged this inconsistency but still maintained in its report that McCarthy himself conveyed the order at 3:05. The DOD IG reports that the order was given at 3:05 to General Walker and General Walker just did not deploy. Even though all of the testimony in the sworn affidavits or the sworn depositions and transcribed interviews all say that that communication never happened, but the DOD IG still reports that it does. I do know that one DOD IG investigator claimed to Major General Walker that getting to the bottom of why was not in their lane. The DOD IG is telling General Walker that it is not in our lane to figure out why you weren't communicated to. They went on to say that they don't judge operational decisions. The IG only looks at whether a law was broken or a policy was violated, but those are operational decisions. That is fine, except for why does your report say that it was the D.C. National Guard that failed to deploy when it was clear through all the records that there was a purposeful delay within the DOD? As a result of my investigation, it is clear that the Pentagon DOD IG deliberately attempted to cover up the actions of certain DOD officials that day. DOD IG was tasked with evaluating the Department of Defense's response on January 6; however, the Department of Defense Office of the Secretary of Defense began exerting its influence in order to manipulate the report to protect senior DOD officials who failed President Trump on that day and failed Congress. As we have seen quite often, the coverup is worse than the crime itself. Although the Department of Defense IG touts its independence and ability to produce unbiased reports, the evidence obtained by my subcommittee shows that the former IG produced a flawed report with many inaccuracies that violate investigative standards. The Department of Defense IG failed to interview key personnel, specifically the D.C. National Guard personnel with firsthand knowledge, and failed to conduct complete interviews focused on facts instead of seeking witnesses to affirm the Pentagon's predetermined narrative. As part of the coverup, the IG report invented phone calls between senior leaders that never occurred where both parties allegedly on the call denied that it ever took place. These are people who testified to the DOD IG that they never made those calls, but yet the report reflects that they did. Worst of all, the IG report chose to protect Pentagon leadership at the expense of members of the National Guard, our volunteer men and women who were ready and waiting less than 2 miles from this Capitol with their riot gear ready to come and help Chief Sund. The subcommittee has been seeking the truth despite efforts of the Department of Defense to obstruct and hide the evidence. However, we have been able to bring this to light to the American people thanks to the hard work by the committee staff and our investigators who were relentless in working to get all of this evidence from the Department of Defense. As a result of my subcommittee's work, this Congress and the American people know the truth now. President Trump directed senior Pentagon leadership to keep January 6 peaceful and safe, including the National Guard, if needed. General Milley was no fan of President Trump, that is known, but he testified under oath that, yes, President Trump did order the National Guard to be readied and ready for deployment on January 6. That is clear and unrefuted. It was specific individuals at Pentagon who failed to properly execute on this directive from the Commander in Chief. What is most concerning to me is that these revelations come from the Department of Defense's Inspector General's witness interviews. This isn't something we are making up. This is within the evidence that the Department of Defense acquired themselves that doesn't match up with their report. However, we have now made these public so the American people can draw their own conclusions of what happened. The DOD IG report absolved the Pentagon and DOD senior leadership of any failures on January 6. It even specifically found that there was ``no delay.'' This conclusion is inconsistent with the evidence in the possession of the DOD IG; therefore, the report is fundamentally flawed. We are asking the DOD IG to reissue their report based on the evidence. I give a lot of credit to the whistleblowers of the D.C. National Guard. In April of 2024 we were approached by National Guard who came forward as whistleblowers risking their own careers. They came forward to ensure that the truth was made known. Four of them even testified in a public hearing of the truth of what happened on that fateful day. After months of negotiation with the DOD Inspector General and the Pentagon, our subcommittee was able to obtain and publish never-before- seen DOD IG transcripts previously withheld by the Biden-Harris administration. Mr. Speaker, let me just give you some highlights of what we have found, and then I will wrap up as the hour is getting late. We have senior military officials, civilian and Active Duty, who said under oath their mission was to delay the National Guard deployed to the Capitol. We have some who said: I wanted to make sure that the National Guard never arrived at the Capitol because of the optics. Yet, had they been here, lives could have been saved. They wanted to do their job. They were less than 2 miles away ready to deploy, but no one was communicating that order to them. The very leaders who were responsible for the security of the Capitol on January 6 used a select committee to cast their well-deserved black eye on to someone else, the same thing that happened with the DOD IG. Instead of looking at the truth, we need to make sure that we come out of this looking good. The Capitol guardians have faced a complete leadership turnover, and we hope that we can go forward with some legislation to ensure that the D.C. National Guard is trained and ready to deploy as they were then, but we also need to make sure that when they are needed that they are sent and that they are not purposely held back. Let me conclude with this thought: the evidence clearly shows, and the American people can go out on the website, and they can see all these sworn testimonies, they can see quotes by DOD officials concerned about the optics of National Guardsmen being at the Capitol while the Capitol is being breached violently. If, as some believe, that January 6 was an insurrection on this institution, then purposely delaying the D.C. National Guard from coming to help quell the insurrection was, in fact, participating. When you had the ability to send the forces to stop it, and you refused to do it because you didn't like the optics, then we need to take a serious look at this. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the time here this evening. We will continue to look into the truth of what happened on that day in an unbiased way and report that. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. 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 the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4790, the Prioritizing Economic Growth Over Woke Policies Act. Not only is this bill important to restoring sound financial practices within the financial services sector, it includes two provisions that originated from legislation I introduced in this Congress. The most significant is my bill, H.R. 4823, the American Financial Institution Regulatory Sovereignty and Transparency Act of 2023, better known as the American FIRST Act. The short title is an apt description of the bill's aim: to put American interests first in bank supervision and remove misguided political influence from our banking system. The American FIRST Act has three important key elements: First, it removes undue political influence from banking regulations. In recent years, Mr. Speaker, we have seen bank policy used by regulators to further their political interests, not for what is best for banks or their customers. Bank regulators have proposed sweeping supervisory changes without critically evaluating the models they use to forecast climate-related financial risk. When nonbinding FSOC proposals are written into binding regulation, they deserve a high degree of scrutiny from lawmakers. The truth is that the banking system shouldn't be a race to fill supervisory roles with partisan loyalists. It should be about safeguarding the financial system with a sober eye for objectivity. Hastily pushing through regulations without a thorough economic analysis can have significant unintended consequences, especially on the average consumer. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, aggressive climate regulations like those proposed by FSOC could have catastrophic effects on our energy sector. Small businesses and families in energy-producing States could face higher energy costs and reduced credit access. My provisions in this bill will ensure that any regulatory action proposed by FSOC, or the executive branch undergoes a full review process so that the public better understands the trade-offs that they are making. My colleagues across the aisle call these reporting requirements hoops that regulators will be forced to jump through, but in reality, they are arguing against increased transparency and good governance in banking regulation. Second, it ensures that bank regulators fall under U.S. authority. Bank supervisors at the Federal Reserve, FDIC, OCC, and others have consistently put the interest of large foreign banks ahead of our own. These policies aren't just abstract. They have significant implications for the stability of our financial system and for American competitiveness abroad. For example, on May 22, 2022, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, a European-based, international organization, lowered transnational footprint standards for the largest European banks, which disadvantaged U.S. banks of the same size. Federal Reserve officials actually endorsed the changes, which put American banks and their borrowers at a significant disadvantage. My bill addresses this problem by requiring U.S. financial regulators to periodically report on how they engage with their foreign counterparts. It also requires them to conduct a robust analysis before implementing any rule to conform with the recommendations of an international body. Specifically, it mandates that they conduct a thorough economic analysis, projecting the effects on credit markets, employment, and the broader economy before implementing any rules originating from a foreign nongovernment organization. Third, it depoliticizes Federal Reserve supervision. The American FIRST Act calls for the elimination of the vice chairman for supervision at the Federal Reserve. This role was intended to centralize supervisory power within the Fed, but it has added another layer of complexity. Last year we experienced a significant banking crisis on the Fed's watch, which is hardly evidence that the system is more stable with another powerful bureaucrat in the mix. At worst, the position has unnecessarily politicized bank supervision allowing unchecked partisan bureaucrats to channel credit away from politically disfavored sectors. Finally, I would also like to highlight another provision in this bill, previously introduced as H.R. 4649. This provision would require transparency from America's largest asset managers when voting the shares entrusted to them. These large firms have historically relied on external proxy advisory firms to guide how they vote the shares they manage for other investors. Some of these proxy firms are actually foreign owned and managed entities which do not have the soundness of the U.S. economy as their primary interest. This bill would require these large firms to disclose how often they vote in line with proxy advisory firms and to ensure that their votes are in the best interests of their shareholders. Once again, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for transparency and good governance and vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4790.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for this moment. Mr. Speaker, I think back to that day. At noon, when we gathered in this Chamber, I sat right over here in the front row. Speaker Paul Ryan went to the podium, and as was said already, he said that an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. As I look around the Chamber, not much has changed from that day to today. The carpet is the same. The chairs are the same. Some of the people are the same, but none of us who were on the field that day are the same. It has had an impact on all of us. As you just heard Coach Williams tell his story, Mr. Speaker, we all have the same story but different perspectives. Some of it is that, physically, we were in different locations, as I was in a different location than Representative Wenstrup, who was in a different location than our coach, but we all experienced the same thing. One thing that you will hear, Mr. Speaker, that is consistent are the miracles that happened that day. One of the things that this has had an impact on me, as we have all dealt with some level of traumatic stress afterward, but this has built my faith. Hebrews 11:1 says that ``faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.'' None of us saw angels on the field deflecting bullets that day. None of us were there when an angel spoke to the groundskeeper the night before and impressed upon him to lock the gate on the third-base side of that field. Had he not called a groundskeeper at 9 o'clock the evening before our practice and had not chain-locked that gate, that shooter would have gotten on the field, and it would have been a different story. We didn't see the angels conducting the miracles, but the evidence was there. I was standing at home plate. I had just put on a batting helmet, and I was waiting on my turn to step into the batter's box and take some live pitching. Rodney Davis was there ahead of us, and he was hitting. As I was standing there, I heard the distinct sound of the report of a firearm. Now, where I live in Georgia, that is not unusual. When I am working in the backyard, I hear shots all the time of people sighting in their rifles, doing target practicing. I didn't think much about it at the moment, but then I realized I am not at home in Georgia, but I am in Alexandria, Virginia. Why am I hearing a gunshot? The next sound I heard was our third baseman, Trent Kelly, holler: ``He's got a gun. Run.'' At that moment, I started running up the first baseline. Many of my colleagues, as you heard, went into the dugout, but, as one of the veterans, immediately my training kicked in, and I thought: This is not a great place to go in case the shooter gets on the field. However, to get off the field would expose me longer, but I decided to head past the dugout and go out the gate. As I am running, I see the ground erupting on each side of me, and I realized that the shooter was targeting me at that moment. As I reached the gate, I turned to go out of the field, and I heard the sound of a round hitting the fence post next to me. Right outside the gate, about 20 feet outside the gate, is a wooden shed. My training started coming back to me: When you are under assault, seek concealment. Find the aggressor. If you have a means to fight back, fight back. If not, plan an escape route and get to safety. Those things were running through my mind. I saw the shed. I went behind the shed, but I couldn't see where the shooter was because he was down the first baseline. I needed to get to where I could see the shooter. As I rounded the corner of the shed where I am looking back down toward the backstop, that is when I saw one of their staff members, Matt Mika, walk around the other side of the shed, already covered in blood, and lay down next to the Capitol Police SUV. At that moment, I realized: I can't escape now. I have a colleague who is down. I have to stay and help him. I jumped up and started to run to him when Brian Kelly, another staff member who had gone around the side of the shed with me, hollered: ``Barry, get down. Get down.'' As I went down to my knees, I heard the sound of a bullet go right past my head and hit the shed next to me. I didn't realize it, but the shooter had come around the back of the backstop and had targeted where I was and Brian Kelly. As I went down, I saw David Bailey and Crystal Griner come around the back of the SUV, both of them trying to engage with the shooter. Within a couple of moments, the shooter came around the backstop, was next to a concrete building, and started shooting underneath the SUV. One of the rounds hit Crystal Griner in the ankle, and I saw her immediately go down. David Bailey then would walk out and expose himself so the shooter would turn and start targeting him to give us an opportunity to hopefully get to Matt Mika and Crystal Griner. However, every time we would start to try to move up to help them, he would turn and start shooting back at us again. What seemed like an eternity, the gunfire was going over and over again. Bullets would run the ground right next to us, but we stayed there. Brian Kelly and I stayed there because I wasn't going to leave Matt alone. Finally, I saw David Bailey's pants flutter, and he started to limp, and I realized he had just taken a round in the leg. As we found out later, he had actually taken some shrapnel where a bullet ricocheted off of a car's wheel. I realized that, if David Bailey goes down, the shooter is coming directly to us. Within a few moments, we heard another distinct sound of a different type of firearm. The Alexandria Police had arrived, but, as I stood there and I looked, David Bailey fully exposed himself as the shooter came around the other side of this concrete building and was standing there shooting at David Bailey as he was returning fire saying: ``Drop the weapon. Drop the weapon. Drop the weapon.'' It was about that moment the Alexandria Police then took down the shooter. My immediate reaction was to go to Matt Mika and help him. With a gaping hole in his chest, I thought I could do more damage than good trying to put pressure on it, but I knew one thing I could do: I could pray for him. I laid my hands on Matt, and we prayed. I don't remember what I said that day. Then I realized the SUV has to have a medical kit in it, so I asked Crystal Griner: ``Do you have a medical bag?'' She said: ``Yes. It's in the back.'' I got up, and I ran around. By the time I pulled the medical bag out, I was astonished. When I came back around the SUV, the paramedics were already there with Matt Mika. I was surprised they were there that fast. I didn't realize Steve Scalise had been shot at that moment, but I looked, and there was a crowd gathered out on the field, and someone told me he was there. I ran out to the field, and I dropped the bag off to Brad and the others who were on the field. I looked, and I don't know how he got there, but David Bailey was there checking on Steve Scalise. He still didn't realize he had been hit in the leg, and he was trying to walk off the field by himself, so I helped David walk off the field. That was one of the most memorable moments. As others have said, if it had not been for the heroism of David Bailey and Crystal Griner, we would not be here today. If it wasn't for the brotherhood and the camaraderie of all of us supporting each other, things would be a lot different here today, as well. I think it is interesting that we are discussing this just a few days after the 80th anniversary of D-day. My father was a medic in World War II, and he landed at D-day. One of the things that he used to tell me as child was: ``Friends who share a foxhole are brothers for life.'' There is a bond between all of us here that cannot be broken and cannot be shaken. Did that day change me? Yes. I had the choice to let it negatively affect me or to positively affect my future. I chose the positive. Look for the positive. Make positive change. I believe that we have done that. We are stronger because of it. I think we are wiser for it, but we are also more dedicated to one another to see each other through these things. Regardless of when some of us leave this great institution, we will never spiritually leave one another. God bless all of you and thank you.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from Alabama for the honor of participating in this moment. As many here have done, I have been to the beaches of Normandy and stood on Omaha Beach. On the 75th anniversary of the landing of D-Day, I was one of those selected to represent the United States there. As I stood on the beach alone, thinking, I realized that that sand I was standing on held the DNA of American patriots who fought that day to preserve liberty for all of us and to stop oppression and aggression. It was especially meaningful to me because my father was one of those who landed in Normandy on D-Day. He was a medic in the United States Army. No one fought alone that day, no single service fought alone. It took the Navy to deliver many of the soldiers to the shores of Omaha Beach, and my father was one of those who boarded an amphibious landing craft that took him to the beach. I would love to stand here today and read one of the letters that my father wrote to his sweetheart, who eventually became my mother, but his letters were lost in a flood many years ago in their home in Walhalla, South Carolina. Today, I want to read the letter from Tracy Sugarman, who was a lieutenant in the Navy. He was assigned to the amphibious squadron and was one of those who, alongside his colleagues who served in the Army, landed on Omaha Beach. What is interesting about Mr. Sugarman is he was one of those who was considered an old man. He was 23 years old. He was married. He had a young wife. The letter that I am going to read to you today is the letter that he sent to his wife. It reads: My darling Junie, hope this gets out to you. It will be the last word from me for a long time, but don't worry, angel, I will get in touch with you the first chance I get. Believe me, darling, I am feeling wonderfully well and absolutely squared away for anything that may come my way. For this wonderful peace of mind, I have to thank you, Junie. I am intending to spend the rest of my life thanking you. Take care of yourself for me, sweetheart. Please call folks and tell them I am fine but can't write them. Hope to heavens this gets out. Bye for a little while, angel. Remember, I love you with all my heart always. Keep that chin up and your head high and keep that gleam always. Love to all. Fortunately, Tracy Sugarman was one of those who did return and was able to continue to live his life in freedom thanks to the sacrifice of those who gave their last full measure of devotion on those sandy beaches in Normandy. God bless this country and God bless the memories of all of those who served that day.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of H. Res. 1126 and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 57.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for taking this moment to recognize the life of Laken Hope Riley. Mr. Speaker, parents and communities across the State of Georgia are extremely shocked, heartbroken, and outraged about the murder of Laken Hope Riley. She was only 22 years old. She had a lot of life before her, but we should also focus mostly on the life and the legacy that she lived in her short time here. She was a nursing student from Woodstock, Georgia, but her tragic death has devastated our community and sent shock waves across the State. Our prayers are with Laken's family and friends as they begin to navigate this tremendously difficult time. It is clear from her parents that Laken was a special young lady who went out of her way to make everyone feel special and part of her family. She was a gifted and exemplary student, a talented athlete, and the light of her family and community. Her parents describe her character and her loving nature this way: She knew when to listen. She knew when to speak. She knew when to give you some tough love, and she knew when you needed a hug. She will forever be our loving oldest daughter and the best big sister and role model a parent could ask for. We will not rest until we ensure justice for her and her family. Colleagues, will you please join in a moment of silence for Laken Hope Riley, a wonderful young woman taken from her family and this world much too soon.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of someone who I believe is one of the best staff members in this institution--Mr. Tim Monahan. I first met Tim a few years ago during his tenure with the Committee on House Administration. As with me, Tim has left a lasting impression on many here in Congress. Anyone who has ever met Tim probably remembers their first impression of the Gettysburg neighbor who some refer to as a grizzly with a Philly charm. As you get to know Tim, you learn just how steadfast, generous, and kind he really is. He is the kind of person who can handle anything that is thrown his way, whether it be big feelings, awkward moments, and even the most outlandish member requests. Tim first started on the Hill at the Office of the CAO during Speaker Boehner's years where he learned the nuts and bolts of our institution. Later serving on the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, Tim deepened his institutional relationship while ensuring his work was for the greater benefit of the House. He joined ranking member Rodney Davis at the Committee on House Administration at the beginning of the 116th Congress where his natural leadership skills quickly stood out, and he was soon appointed staff director for the committee. In 2023, Tim took over the House operations for Speaker Kevin McCarthy where he remained a steady hand during several unprecedented moments, including staying on through the transitions of Speaker pro tempore McHenry and now-Speaker Mike Johnson. So much could be said about Tim's dedication to our institution and the people working here. I could talk about his vital role in reopening the House post-pandemic, his conflict resolution skills, his role in the first House filibuster, his helping Congressman Davis carry Representative Wright to safety on January 6, 2021, staffing a historic 15 rounds of votes for the Speaker of the House, his mentorship and leadership for the past 15 years, or his deep, resolute patriotism. Tim possesses an honor and respect for the halls of Congress that is admired by many. He gets to know and cares about all of those who work within its walls and works hard to ensure that our Capitol remains a functional beacon of our constitutional Republic. Tim's legacy in the House will be his strong character and his servant leadership. Everyone who knows Tim is better for it. As he prepares to leave the House, our institution is better, thanks to his service. Tim, we wish you all the best in this next chapter of your life. Hopefully your departure from the House will allow more time with your lovely wife, Marissa; your baby daughter, Marian; and your puppy, Bella. Some of the staffers you have worked with have had some parting wishes for you. We hope the soup is plentiful in the next cafeteria, the nuts are absent, and that you have more time to listen to JLo and dream of Tiger Woods' comebacks. Please, they said, if you ever try the grocery store sushi, Pringles, and kombucha combo again, please don't share. To me, Tim has been not only a great member of the House staff, but he has been a close confidante and a good friend. He has been instrumental in helping me with some of the greatest moments in my tenure as a Member of Congress, but he has also helped me through some of the most difficult times. Tim Monahan is the gold standard of this institution, and more should aspire to be like him. Tim, we will miss you. God bless you.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dr. Robert ``Bob'' Poston, the esteemed founder of Vet to Vet, a nonprofit organization comprising over 1,500 members dedicated to supporting veterans in claiming the benefits they have rightfully earned. Dr. Bob's remarkable contributions warrant acknowledgment and sincere appreciation. Dr. Bob Poston, a native of Cartersville, Georgia, enlisted in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Flourishing in the military, Dr. Bob seized every educational opportunity; and, after ascending to the rank of Sergeant, accepted a commission, ultimately retiring as a Major. His two tours in Vietnam earned him accolades and awards, including the Bronze Star for bravery. Bob was also awarded two Purple Hearts, as he still bears the physical reminders of his sacrifices, with bullets embedded from a sniper's rifle. Among Dr. Bob's myriad of accomplishments, he was a former president, and remains an active member, of the Gideon's, conducts weekly meetings at Young Street Baptist Church to aid those grappling with PTSD, spousal abuse, or drug addiction, and leads a jailhouse ministry on weekends, as well as currently serving as the President of the Vet to Vet organization. I have known Dr. Bob for many years and can personally attest to the fact that he consistently serves his country and community, and it is my pleasure to have this opportunity to express my gratitude for his transformative impact on Bartow County and our entire community. On behalf of the citizens of Bartow County and Georgia's 11th Congressional District, I offer my heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Bob Poston for his unyielding dedication to his fellow veterans, and his community and country.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. W. Kerry Armstrong, Chairman of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), for skillfully shepherding the ARC forward as its chairman for the past ten years. Kerry will conclude his chairmanship at the end of this year, and I know the other members of the Georgia Congressional Delegation, who represent the greater Atlanta region, will join me in thanking Kerry for his dedicated service on the ARC Board, which will continue even as he departs the chairmanship. The ARC plays an invaluable role in the health of the Atlanta region. Under Kerry's leadership, my colleagues and I have worked successfully with the ARC on numerous initiatives important to the region, including delivering Older Americans Act services, workforce development, regional transportation planning, and homeland security. However, when it comes to Kerry and the ARC leadership, there is perhaps no issue as singularly important as the protection and preservation of our state's water supply. In this very critical area, the ARC's work is unrivaled. Kerry Armstrong came to Atlanta over thirty years ago, attracted by the beauty of the region, and I dare say, of his wife, Wendy, whom he met there. Kerry has pursued a successful career in real estate development and finance; and over time has served in numerous public- private roles, including chairing notable community improvement districts (CIDs) in the region. As Kerry turns the page on this chapter in his life, I want to congratulate him, Wendy, their daughter Jenny, and her husband Ben, and let Kerry know how much we value him and count on him for advice and support. The Atlanta region is richer for his efforts. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens takes up the gavel this January, as incoming Chair; and he will be fortunate to be working alongside ARC Executive Director Anna Roach, whose selection Kerry spearheaded. On behalf of the citizens in the Atlanta region, we thank Kerry for his guiding hand at the ARC, his dedication to our communities, and his service to the great state of Georgia.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Georgia for yielding the time and for setting up this time to honor the life of Rosalynn Carter. I am a native Georgian. I grew up in Georgia. The town I grew up in is represented by my good friend Mr. Scott. Where I live now is in north Georgia, in the northern part of the State, and right behind my house as a cemetery where the graves date back to before the Civil War. There are some even as far back as the late 1700s. I like to walk through that cemetery and think about the history that is there. As you go to each one of the tombstones there, in most cases, you have a birth date and a date of death, but in between those are the dash. As I tell my children, it is not the date you were born that matters nor the date that you die, but it is what you did in that dash that matters. The Carters have left an impact on the State of Georgia that has personally impacted me. I remember as Jimmy Carter was the 76th Governor of Georgia and Rosalynn was the First Lady. As has been said here, she was a champion of mental health issues. I was a young Cub Scout who actually was on a field trip to visit the Governor's mansion in the State of Georgia in the early 1970s. As a young Cub Scout, I still remember today walking up the steps of the Governor's mansion, and I was met at the front door by Governor Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter. I still remember what a sweet demeanor she had as she welcomed us into her home, the home of the Governor of the State of Georgia. I also remember that as I stretched my hand out and shook her hand, as I pulled it away, she placed in my hand a bag of peanuts. If you go to any of the offices in Georgia today, you will find bags of peanuts in our offices. Every time I see a bag of peanuts, I reflect back as a young Cub Scout having a bag of peanuts placed in my hand by Rosalynn Carter. I didn't realize that that legacy would continue on as I served in the State Senate. In Georgia, I served with their grandson, Jason Carter. Although he was on the other side of the aisle, we became good friends, and we worked closely together. We joked about our political differences, but we focused on the things that we agreed upon, and there were many. In fact, when I won my first election for Congress, one of the first calls of congratulation I received was from the Carter family. The interaction with the Carters did not end there. Just a few years ago, I was working on a piece of legislation called the BUILD Act. The BUILD Act was to reduce government regulation when it comes to zero interest mortgages by charity groups such as Habitat for Humanity. When we were working on this bill in the Financial Services Committee, we reached out to the Carters who helped us with this very important piece of legislation, putting partisanship aside with their hearts still upon doing everything that they can to help the people of Georgia and help the people of this country. They reached out and helped us move along this bipartisan piece of legislation, which, by the way, was the very last piece of legislation that was signed into law by the previous President, Mr. Donald Trump. This is what Rosalynn Carter's dash was about. It was about the people. It was about leaving an impression upon a young Cub Scout that really lasted a lifetime and was an inspiration to me and is still an inspiration going forward. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Georgia for taking this time to honor Mrs. Carter.