Morgan McGarvey

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dairy Kastle, a beloved Louisville institution, and in celebration of its fiftieth anniversary. From its origins as a modest walk-up counter converted from a gas station, Dairy Kastle has been a fixture of Louisville summers for five decades. Generations of Louisvillians have grown up on its soft serve ice cream and ``flurries,'' and the same kids who lined up around the block for ice cream four decades ago, now bring their own children and grandchildren to enjoy snacks and treats from that same curious little building. Dairy Kastle remains, at heart, a family-owned neighborhood spot. It is exactly the kind of small, independent business that gives a neighborhood its character, a family enterprise that has earned its customers' loyalty one cone and one chili dog at a time. Dairy Kastle has weathered decades of changing times, a pandemic, and the ordinary churn of small business in America without losing what makes it special: it's a place where the line moves quickly, the service is friendly, and the prices stay within reach of a working family's budget. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dairy Kastle's fifty years of service and in wishing its owners, Kevin and Daniela Trice, continued success for many summers to come.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Chairman, there is a great scene in the movie ``Jurassic Park'' where the scientist says: You guys are so preoccupied with whether you could, you forgot to ask whether you should. I think the Republicans have been so preoccupied with counting votes to see if they can do the President's bidding that they have forgotten to ask whether they should. First, they brought a budget bill to the floor of this House that took away people's healthcare and food so they could give billionaires and corporations the largest permanent tax break in American history. Next, President Trump said: I need $70 billion more for the ICE agents acting as my personal police force. They are going around and using kids as bait, ripping apart families, murdering American citizens on the streets of our country. Republicans said: Fine, we will do that. Now, Trump wants another $95 billion for his forever war in the Middle East. Mr. Chairman, 18 Americans are dead. There is a 19-year- old coming home in a coffin this week, never to spend another holiday or birthday with her family. Everything from gas to groceries has gone up, and America is less safe because of it. But Republicans say: Absolutely, no problem. We will do it. Is there anything Trump wants that Republicans will say no to? I think the answer is no. Democrats offered commonsense amendments that said let's lower the cost of healthcare, let's lower the cost of goods, and let's end corruption. Republican Members said no to all of them. I even offered an amendment that said you can't use $400 million of taxpayer money to build your ballroom vanity project. What did Republicans say? Fine with us. We will do it because we can. But should you? No.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lynn Romans on the occasion of her 70th birthday and to recognize her lifetime of public service, personal sacrifice, and extraordinary devotion to others. Lynn grew up in Trimble County, Kentucky, a small rural community located between Louisville and Cincinnati. Her parents, lssac and Fredia Romans, provided for Lynn and her two brothers by working blue collar factory jobs. After graduating high school, she attended God's Bible School and College in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences. She and her husband went on to pastor churches across the Commonwealth, serving communities in Flemingsburg, Frankfort, Maysville, and Louisville, where they raised their two children. Lynn's life was forever changed in 2003 when her twenty-four-year-old son, Sergeant Darrin Potter, was killed in action while serving in Iraq, becoming the first Kentucky National Guard combat casualty since the Vietnam War. As a Gold Star Mother, Lynn has carried an unimaginable loss with grace, courage, and purpose. Because Lynn is a truly special human being, she turned sorrow into service, dedicating herself to helping other Gold Star families, veterans, servicemembers, and military families understand that they are seen, valued, and never alone. For more than 31 years, Lynn served with the American Red Cross, including as a Program Specialist for Service to the Armed Forces. She has also been deeply active with American Gold Star Mothers and the Woody Williams Foundation, educating others about the meaning of the Gold Star and the sacrifices it represents. You cannot attend a military event in Kentucky without meeting someone who knows Lynn-- someone she has helped, comforted, picnicked with, paraded with, or served alongside. For the past two years, Lynn has continued that service as a Green and Gold Fellow in our district office. At a time when she more than earned the right to be sipping sweet tea on a balmy beach and enjoying retirement, Lynn chose instead to work full time on behalf of Kentucky veterans and their families. VA casework is challenging, but Lynn always tackles it with her unending patience, warmth, bubbly humor and--of course--a great pair of high heels. Her signature expression, ``Oh my lands'' has become an office favorite. Lynn is a proud Mimi to two beloved grandchildren, a woman of faith, a devoted public servant, and a gift to our Commonwealth and our country. We are honored to call her our colleague, and even more honored to call her our friend. I wish Lynn a happy 70th birthday.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. McGARVEY. Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in voting for the motion to recommit.

Mr. McGARVEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 8464. This bill lets the President take away money from anything or anyone he doesn't like, as long as he thinks it is merely at risk for fraud. We have seen what he thinks is fraud. Last year, Donald Trump froze $9 million intended for Serve Kentucky. Congress set aside that money for housing, hunger relief, education, and disaster relief in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The White House called that money waste and fraud. I have seen Serve Kentucky's work firsthand. President Trump might not like a program that brings food to seniors or new books to kids, but that doesn't make it fraud. We know this President uses his power to punish those he does not like. He has done it before. He will do it again. I agree with my Republican colleagues: No one wants waste or fraud from our taxpayer dollars. Congress must take a hard look at waste and fraud in our government. Let's start with Donald Trump's ballroom. The President destroyed the White House and then said: Let me build a gaudy, billion-dollar ballroom that looks like it should hold slot machines, not State dinners. He has been soliciting donations left and right from billionaires, tech and tobacco companies, defense contractors, and dozens more individuals and companies that do business with and profit from the Federal Government and your tax dollars. The American people, all of us, deserve to know who and how much they are paying for access to President Trump. For this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee. If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill. My amendment would prevent this bill from taking effect until the White House provides a list of every person who has donated to the White House ballroom. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of this amendment into the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, we have to stop saying this is about $70 billion for ICE. This is about $240 billion for ICE. Republicans gave ICE $170 billion last July, and in less than 1 year, they want to give them $70 billion more. That is more for ICE this year than Russia is spending on its military, and they are currently at war. $240 billion for honest to God storm troopers, masked, armed agents kidnapping people off the street, murdering U.S. citizens, separating families, and detaining children. We shouldn't give them another dollar. We cannot give them another $70 billion, but if you are so willing to spend it, imagine the good we could do with that kind of money. We could make people's lives better by giving free school breakfast and lunch for every kid in America or free childcare for every American family with a kid under 5. We could bring back the healthcare tax credits that Republicans killed because they were too expensive for 3 more years, but since feeding kids and fixing healthcare apparently aren't your thing, maybe we can agree on veterans. You guys say you care about our veterans, then let's do something about it. For $70 billion, we could end veteran homelessness forever, probably seven times over. In fact, I offered an amendment to this bill that does just that. Actually, with $70 billion, we could end homelessness in America. That is just one example. There is so much good we could do with this money and just about anything would be better than giving it to ICE. Vote ``no.''

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor St. Stephen Baptist Church of Louisville, Kentucky. This year St. Stephen will be celebrating its 100th anniversary as a congregation. Mr. Speaker, 100 years is an incredible milestone for any person or organization, but St. Stephen's century of service in Kentucky is one that deserves special recognition. The Book of Matthew tells us that a church can exist wherever two or three gather in His name. Well, 100 years ago, in 1926, it wasn't much more than that, as 14 faithful believers gathered in a borrowed basement and started what has now become the largest Black church in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It is a wonderful church. The music is fantastic. The congregation is warm and welcoming. I have recently heard another pastor say that if there is a Mount Rushmore of preachers, Dr. Kevin W. Cosby is on it. Amen. I want my colleagues here to know that St. Stephen has never just been a place to gather and worship. As Dr. Cosby wrote in his book ``Getting to the Promised Land,'' the Black church cannot exist solely as a place where the community goes to experience a Sunday respite from the pressing burden of our people's history and present. As the preeminent institution for ADOS, Black churches in America must fill their sanctuaries with exhortations to carry out the sort of justice work that will relieve us of that burden. Not only does it have a proud legacy of service and activism, St. Stephen is an undeniable bedrock of Black education in our Commonwealth and in our country. Yes, the church offers educational programming, and at several points throughout its history, it has chosen to build an educational building or a family life center instead of merely expanding the size of its worship space. But nowhere is the church's commitment to education more evident than its relationship with Simmons University. Going back to its beginnings, St. Stephen's first pastor, Reverend B.J. Miller, who led the church for 44 years, was a young Simmons University student. Founded in 1879 by formerly enslaved Baptists, Simmons quickly became a national leader and was only one of two HBCUs in the country with both a medical school and a law school, educating Black lawyers, doctors, teachers, and ministers who went on to lead the civil rights movement just decades later. Reverend Miller himself helped integrate the Southern Seminary and played a vital role in the push for equal rights in Louisville. Now, here is where things get really interesting. In 1930, the Great Depression, combined with discriminatory policies, forced Simmons to foreclose on its campus. A cornerstone of Black education and a premier institution of higher learning was seemingly gone forever. I think there are lots of ways to have faith, but one of the ways to have faith is to understand that God has a redemptive plan for us and our world. We don't get to know the details. It might not always be easy. But as the Proverbs tell us, if you trust in the Lord with all your heart, he will make the path straight. Reverend Miller, who was that Simmons University student, was eventually succeeded by his grandson, Dr. Kevin W. Cosby, who was just 20 years old when he took over the church in 1979. Yes, together, the two of them have shepherded this congregation for 91 of its 100 years. When Dr. Cosby took over, it was already an amazing church. He took it to new heights. In 1997, he made a very brave decision, maybe even a divine decision, to resurrect the proud tradition of education and purchase the former campus of Simmons College, a decision solely responsible for the rebirth, restoration, and revitalization of the premier Black college that is once again Simmons College of Kentucky. When Simmons regained accreditation, it was recognized as the Nation's 107th HBCU in 2015, the last HBCU in America. It was the most remarkable comeback in the history of higher education. Next year, the comeback continues as Simmons College once again becomes Simmons University. None of this success has been accidental or inevitable. It is because of a faithful congregation, a family dedicated to service, and a good and gracious God. What an amazing story. May God continue to bless this church, this college, and this community. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues here to join me in congratulating St. Stephen today and wishing them a second century that is even better than the first.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, nothing matches the pageantry and excitement of the Kentucky Derby. For 2 weeks, Louisvillians prepare for the most exciting 2 minutes in sports, and this year's derby was one of the best yet. As the horses rounded the fourth turn, 23-1 long shot Golden Tempo came from the back of the pack, ridden by Jose Ortiz, to finish first, charging into the record books and the history books in the process because Golden Tempo wasn't the only one to beat the odds this derby. In fact, when he crossed the finish line, trainer Cherie DeVaux officially became the first woman trainer to ever win the Kentucky Derby. Think about this: 152 derbies; 2,053 horses have made it to the starting gates; only 18 of them have been trained by women; and, now, 1 is in the winner's circle. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Cherie on behalf of all Louisvillians, Kentuckians, and horse boys and girls the world over. I thank her and wish her the best of luck in this year's Belmont.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this Republican budget. Last year, my Republican colleagues forced through a budget that gave ICE over $80 billion. Let's put that in perspective: Last year, ICE got more than double the amount that they got during the entirety of Trump's first Presidency, but somehow that is not enough. Now, they are trying to push through another $70 billion with no reforms, no accountability, no strings attached, nothing. That is $70 billion in taxpayer dollars for an agency responsible for kidnapping people off the street, murdering U.S. citizens, separating families, detaining children, and breaking down doors without warrants. That is $70 billion in taxpayer dollars for masked, armed, and untrained agents who don't answer to anyone; $70 billion in taxpayer dollars for a campaign of terror directed at our own neighbors, while the rest of the country struggles to feed their families, pay rent, go to the doctor, and keep the lights on. I am so tired of hearing that we don't have enough money for our schools and hospitals, no money to make sure that our veterans are taken care of, no money to make sure that everyone has a roof over their head, and no money for healthcare. I mean, just a couple of weeks ago, we were told that we don't even have the money to make sure that pregnant women can have fruits and vegetables. Yet, the second that Trump needs more money to bankroll his own personal police force, Republicans in Congress can move mountains. For ICE, we have $70 billion. For everyone else, nothing. This is intentional. It is a choice, and it is the wrong one.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, it is hard to believe, but it has been 3 years now since my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, was forever changed by the mass shooting at Old National Bank on the Monday morning after Easter. It has been 3 years since we lost Josh Barrick; Deana Eckert; Juliana Farmer; Jim Tutt; and my good friend Tommy Elliott. Mr. Speaker, 3 years have passed, and it is still shocking. It still hurts. We are still grieving. I still haven't found the words to heal those wounds, but I want to read what Tommy's wife, Maryanne, courageously shared after this tragedy: ``May I continue to receive the gifts of grief to help heal my heart. ``May it offer me clarity, help me realize what matters and what doesn't, and then let the rest go. ``May I honor the unsolved questions and mysteries of life, the cracks; and look for the light that shines through them.'' May we all.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act. The term ``GOAT'' gets thrown around a lot these days. In fact, my middle school son came home recently asking us to buy him a pair of GOAT sweatpants. There is a movie that just came out produced by Steph Curry called ``GOAT.'' But in Louisville, Kentucky, we know that there is only one Greatest of All Time: Muhammad Ali. His three world titles, his gold medals, his footwork, his showmanship and charisma, they made him an icon inside the ring. His work outside the ring, which is arguably more impressive, cemented that legacy. He was the GOAT. Ali often said that he was: the onliest boxer in history who people asked questions like a Senator. It is only fitting that Congress named the bill in his honor when they set out to reform the boxing industry. We do so again today as we consider further reforms. The first Ali acts in 1996 and 2000 secured significant reforms for boxers--guaranteeing transparency, protecting fighter safety, trying to erect a firewall between promoters and managers--but American boxing remains fractured and favors the interests of sanctioners and promoters over the fighters themselves. I think that is why a boxing landscape that produced eight heavyweight gold medalists in the 10 Olympics between 1952 and 1988 has not produced a single one since. Today's bill is a step in the right direction, and I will vote ``yes.'' But like Ranking Member Scott and Representative Omar, I believe there is more work to do on this bill before it gets to the President's desk. Boxing lifted Cassius Clay from Smoketown and gave Muhammad Ali to the world. That is a legacy worth fighting for. I thank my colleagues and my dear friend Lonnie Ali who continues to fight for boxers and for her late husband's legacy.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize David Neville, owner of Capstone Farms in Kentucky, for receiving the prestigious 2026 Citizen Diplomat Award. On 258 acres of land in Northern Kentucky, David has built not just a farm, but a laboratory of ingenuity. Through hydroponic and aquaponic growing systems, sustainable land management practices like using goats to clear brush, and a deep commitment to mentorship, he is helping pave the way for Kentucky farmers and farmers worldwide to build stronger, more resilient farms. His work reflects the creativity and resourcefulness that define the American spirit and helps keep our farming economy strong, innovative, and ready for the challenges ahead. David embodies the spirit of hospitality that Kentuckians everywhere extend to our neighbors. David has opened his farm to more than 450 participants in the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program from over 100 countries to learn from his practices and spark ideas they can carry back home. Kentucky is proud to call Mr. Neville one of our own, and I am honored to recognize his remarkable contributions to our home and the world. I once again congratulate him on receiving the Citizen Diplomat Award and wish him the best in his future work.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, Congress is deciding whether to fund an agency that has already shown us how it wants to spend taxpayers' money. When Republicans gave ICE a blank check last year, ICE used it to kill American citizens. ICE now wants 2 more weeks' worth of money, no strings attached, to keep their campaign of terror running smoothly. Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks? Renee Good and Alex Pretti were murdered just 2 weeks apart. During those 2 weeks, 5-year-old Liam Ramos was used as bait and detained, and three more people died in ICE custody during those same 2 weeks. Mr. Speaker, I don't want to be back at this podium in 2 weeks with a longer list of names. I urge my colleagues to consider what we are wagering at this point. Are we going to give ICE 2 more weeks to invade U.S. cities in exchange for a pinky promise that we will talk about reforms? Forgive me if I don't believe that this President is negotiating in good faith. He is not.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, today I speak out of grave concern for my neighbors in Louisville, in Minneapolis, across the country, and for my colleagues here in Washington who somehow continue to excuse, dismiss, and ignore the atrocities that ICE exhibits each day. Mr. Speaker, do not look away. Watch as people in the freest country on Earth get dragged from their cars down the street by masked men. Watch as parents are pinned to the ground in the pick-up line outside their kids' schools. Watch as Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, is killed in front of her wife. Watch, because looking away will not absolve you from the violence and atrocities made possible when you voted to hand over taxpayer money to fund this government's campaign of terror. Mr. Speaker, every single day you look away from what this President is doing is another day that our neighbors face unimaginable cruelty at the hands of their own government. Mr. Speaker, do not look away.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I was regrettably unable to vote on Roll Call No. 321. Had I been able to vote, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 321.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, this isn't an abstract issue. I am hearing every single day from constituents who are too afraid to go to the grocery store, to go to school, to go to church, and to go to work. I am hearing from nonprofits that are already stretched too thin while feeding our hungry neighbors and are facing even more demand now that Trump is targeting food assistance and breadwinners are being snatched off of the street. This is the impact of the Trump administration's cruelty, a yearlong tirade against immigrants in this country that has blown way past just targeting violent criminals. At home in Louisville, we don't have national troops in our backyard or ICE performing public raids, but it is the quiet, steady increase in arrests and profiling and detentions that has been devastating to our community. So many Louisvilleans, regardless of status, are afraid of being profiled, attacked, or violently detained just because of how they look. Masked agents are targeting parents in the pickup lines of their school. They are dragging mothers out of their cars. They are smashing windows to arrest old men, separating families in the middle of the night, and zip tying children. They are using immigration hearings and check-ins as setups and defying court orders, and then our neighbors are being shipped off to countries where they have never even been. They are being held in detention centers with unspeakable, inhumane conditions with no due process, no access to attorneys, and no path forward. This is not immigration policy. This is cruelty for the sake of cruelty and political theater with real-life consequences. Indiscriminate arrests do not make anyone safer. Masked agents with assault rifles and zero accountability don't give anyone peace of mind. This cruelty doesn't serve anyone. This isn't just happening in cities that you see on your TV screens. As we have heard tonight, this is happening everywhere. Mr. Speaker, to my colleagues across the aisle whose districts run on the backs of immigrant labor, whose neighbors are just as scared as mine, who are noticeably silent on this issue, where are you? Why aren't you protecting your constituents? Why aren't you fighting for the people who you represent because what you allow your government to do to someone else, they will one day do to you. Speak up.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, on November 4, Louisville was rocked when a UPS cargo plane taking off from Louisville's Muhammad Ali International Airport bound for Honolulu, Hawaii, crashed shortly after takeoff. Mr. Speaker, 38,000 gallons of jet fuel erupted. A normal Tuesday sunset all of a sudden turned Louisville's skies into an apocalypse. Jet-black smoke swirled overhead as fear enveloped our entire city. People were sheltered in place everywhere. Debris and ash were falling for miles. There was an anxiety as families and loved ones were waiting for the worst news. As the smoke cleared, we found out that we lost 14 of our neighbors. Today, I want to honor those victims of the UPS plane crash. Their names, including the crew on the plane: Captain Dana Diamond, Captain Richard Wartenberg, and First Officer Lee Truitt. We also lost 11 people on the ground that day: Angela Anderson; Carlos Fernandez; Louisnes ``Lou'' Fedon and his 3-year-old granddaughter, Kimberly Asa, who was with him at the time; Trinadette ``Trina'' Chavez; Tony Crain; John Loucks; John Spray; Matthew Sweets; Ella Petty Whorton; and Megan Washburn. Our prayers continue to be with all of them. As tragic as this day was, we also saw the best in people in Louisville, and our first responders did not shy away from this. You can train for it, but you can't ever be ready for a tragedy like this. It was said of this inferno that it was hotter than anything you can imagine and raining oil, but our firefighters rushed into the scene. The first on the scene was the Okolona Fire Department, but fire departments from all over joined them: the Louisville Fire Department, the Airport Authority Fire Department, the Shively Fire Department, the Anchorage-Middletown Fire, St. Matthews Fire, Fern Creek Fire, Jeffersontown Fire, Fairdale Fire, PRP Fire, Shepherdsville Fire, Zoneton Fire, and even Fayette County, Lexington Fire, came to assist. Our police officers also rushed to the scene: Louisville Metro P.D.; the Airport Authority P.D.; Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; Audubon Park Police, who operate in the shadow of the airport daily; Middletown Police; St. Matthews Police; the University of Louisville Police; and Alcohol Beverage Control. We also received EMS responders from Louisville Metro, Anchorage- Middletown, St. Matthews, Fern Creek, Jeffersontown, Okolona, PRP, and Bullitt County. Among other first responders who immediately jumped into action were the Kentucky Air National Guard Fire and Emergency Services, the Kentucky Air National Guard 41st Civil Support Team, the Metropolitan Sewer District, the Louisville Metro Emergency Management System, American Synthetic Rubber Emergency Response, and the National Weather Service. Our local and State partners also all came together. Mayor Craig Greenberg and his entire team from the Louisville Metro Government were incredible. Our Governor, Andy Beshear, and all the State emergency personnel rushed into action, including our Federal delegation, everyone. It doesn't matter, Democrat or Republican, where you are from, everyone came together because this is what we do in Louisville, and this is what we do in Kentucky. We come together. We help people. We help our neighbors when we see they are in need. Long after the television cameras are gone and this story fades from the daily news, our community will still be hurting, but we will still be helping each other, lifting each other up, wrapping our arms around each other, there for each other today and every day going forward. That is what we do in Louisville, and that is how we help those impacted. Mr. Speaker, I give praise for our first responders. I give prayers and love to everyone impacted.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago tonight, our community of Louisville, our State of Kentucky, was absolutely rocked when a cargo plane taking off from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport bound for Hawaii crashed. Mr. Speaker, 38,000 gallons of jet fuel exploded in our community in a scene that can only be described as apocalyptic. All three crew lost their lives, as well as 11 people on the ground. Mr. Speaker, 14 of our neighbors, 14 of our community, gone. The first responders were incredibly brave, rushing headfirst into the inferno to save everything they could. Our community, our State, our delegation, we did what Louisvillians and Kentuckians do and lifted each other up as best as possible. Tonight, we want to express our gratitude for those who went headfirst into that danger, for those who lifted each other up, and we want to offer a moment of silence for the 14 people who lost their lives.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the Okolona Fire Protection District for their bravery and heroism in response to the tragic crash of UPS Airlines Flight 2976 in Louisville, Kentucky. On Tuesday, November 4th, a cargo jet bound for Hawaii crashed moments after takeoff. Unable to gain altitude, the jet went down just beyond the airfield, erupting into flames as hundreds of thousands of pounds of jet fuel ignited. The resulting fire engulfed an area the size of nine football fields, and the thick, black plume of smoke could be seen from anywhere in the city. I have lived in Louisville my whole life and could never have imagined seeing something like this. For a moment, Louisville looked apocalyptic--it was heartbreaking. But in these trying times, we saw the best of our community. Within minutes, Okolona firefighters were there, the first on site, confronting a scene of unimaginable destruction with discipline and resolve. In this moment, they showed that heroism is not found in comfort--it is revealed in crisis. They chose duty over fear. Their rapid, coordinated response contained the flames, protected nearby homes, and stopped the disaster from spreading. Their courage in horrific circumstances saved lives and protected hundreds of families from losing their homes to the inferno. Louisville is safer because of the men and women of Okolona Fire and the more than twenty departments who came from across the city and the Commonwealth to assist. Their bravery and selflessness reflect their deep love for this community and stand as a testament to what it means to serve. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring these brave first responders for their extraordinary service and sacrifice.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary life and centennial milestone of Geraldine ``Bubby'' Litvin Shaffer, who celebrates her 100th birthday on October 28, 2025. Born in 1925, Geraldine has lived a life centered on faith, service, and love for her family. Together with her beloved husband, Louis Shlomo Leib Litvin, she raised five children, and today, she is the proud grandmother to over 100 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including Jewish leaders in America, Cyprus, and Israel. Geraldine's devotion to her family is equaled only by her commitment to her community. In Boston, she distinguished herself as both an entrepreneur and education activist. While running a shoe store, she also headed the board of a Jewish school, working tirelessly for its success. In recent years, she has made her home in Kentucky, where she became a matriarch for her entire community. Known for her kindness and generosity, she volunteers her time and reaches out to all with warmth and care. She is a dedicated student of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, and is a devout Jew and incredibly proud American. Mr. Speaker, Geraldine ``Bubby'' Litvin Shaffer's century of life stands as a remarkable testament to her resilience, faith, and love for others. I ask my esteemed colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to please join me in celebrating her 100th birthday and wishing her continued joy surrounded by family and community.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. This is my first time to publicly congratulate him on the House floor on assuming the chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee. What I can tell you about Mr. Guthrie, having known him for a long time, is he has always acted and led with civility, kindness, and respect, going all the way back to the time in the State Senate in Kentucky. I have never served a day of my life in the majority. It might go without saying I was sort of hoping that Mr. Pallone would be the chairman this year. But if the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee can't sit on this side of the House, I am certainly glad it is a gentleman from Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill not just because it is a waste of our time. It is also a wasted opportunity to, for once, do something for coal miners instead of coal companies. As Ranking Member Pallone said, the President has already reestablished the National Coal Council. It is a waste of our time to focus on something that already exists just days before the government runs out of funding and mere weeks before people receive notice of their health insurance premiums going up by thousands of dollars next year, unless the House Republicans extend healthcare tax credits for working families. Most importantly, it is a wasted opportunity to spend 1 hour of precious floor time in service of Republicans' obsession with removing coal from the ground while doing nothing for the men and women who work the mines. The House has not spent 1 minute debating an increase in black lung benefits. Current levels are totally inadequate to cover the cost of living for miners with black lung or their survivors after their death. The House has not spent 1 minute on improving the long-term solvency of the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. The House has not spent 1 minute on the Trump administration's efforts to delay the life- and limb-saving proximity and silica dust rules. These are delays which the United Mine Workers of America president has called ``a death sentence for more miners.'' The House has not spent 1 single minute on stopping Trump's cuts to the Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health's black lung research programs, or black lung screenings. These are cuts that are taking place at a moment when this disease is killing coal miners at the highest rates this century. The Republicans have made clear that they are for coal, but I am for the men and women who mine the coal: the coal miners. We must do better for them. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the legacy and remarkable life of a Louisville hometown hero, Dixie Demuth, who fought for equality for women in Kentucky and left a permanent mark on our city and commonwealth. Born in 1917 in the famous Samuels House in Samuels, Kentucky, Dixie moved to Louisville with her mother in 1933 at the height of the Great Depression. From an early age, she worked in restaurants and bars, learning the trade in popular downtown spots until she opened her own place on 5th Street in Louisville. She called it Dixie's Elbow Room. Although Dixie was allowed to own and run a bar, a two-hundred-year-old Kentucky law prohibited women from working as bartenders or even sitting at bars. Dixie decided that just wasn't right, and, in 1968, she hired her very first woman bartender and served a woman seated at her bar--her own adult daughter, in fact. The Kentucky Alcohol Beverage Control Board came down hard and fast, incensed not only that she was breaking the law but also that she openly advertised her rulebreaking in the hope that other bar owners would join her fight, but no one did. Though the ABC shut her down and took her liquor license, Dixie did not give up the fight. Found guilty of violating the antiquated state law, Dixie appealed her sentence and brought her case to the Kentucky Court of Appeals, who decided in her favor in 1972, calling the law ``invidious and arbitrary.'' Her quiet revolution behind the counter became a landmark victory for women's rights in the commonwealth and across the country. At 100 years old, when asked why she decided to take her bold stand, Dixie remembered: ``I said this is ridiculous, I'm going to change that, so I did.'' Dixie died in 2020 at the age of 102, but her legacy lives on. In 2023, she was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, which recognizes sacrifice and determination in the bourbon industry. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg recently unveiled a new historical marker, part of the Louisville Metro Historical Marker Program, placed where her bar once stood, ensuring that future generations will learn about Dixie's fight and victory. As a co-chair of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus, and as a proud son of Louisville, I am grateful for the path Dixie paved for the bourbon industry and the many women who work in it. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the life and legacy of Dixie Demuth, as well as to celebrate the unveiling of the historical marker that enshrines her in our city's history.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize an extraordinary American patriot, Sergeant Major Troy E. Black, United States Marine Corps, on the occasion of his retirement following a distinguished 37-year career in faithful service to our Nation. Sergeant Major Black's journey began in Louisville, Kentucky, where the values of duty, discipline, and perseverance were instilled early in his life. In July 1988, he answered the call to serve and reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. There, he began a journey that would span nearly four decades and see him rise to the highest enlisted ranks in the Marine Corps and in our Armed Forces. After completing infantry school and earning his military occupational specialty as an 0331-Machine Gunner, Sergeant Major Black trained at Marine Security Force School before deploying aboard the USS Forrestal (CV-59) in support of Operation Just Cause. He deployed again in 1990 with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines to Kuwait during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. From the beginning, Sergeant Major Black distinguished himself not only through valor in combat but also as a dedicated mentor and leader. He served as a two-time drill instructor at Parris Island, ultimately rising to the roles of Senior Drill Instructor, Drill Instructor School Instructor, and Drill Master of the Recruit Training Regiment. It was there, fittingly at the very birthplace of Marine transformation, that he met his wife Stacie, herself a proud Marine who would later retire as a First Sergeant. Following the tragic attacks on our Nation on September 11, 2001, Sergeant Major Black deployed repeatedly to the frontlines of the Global War on Terror. With the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, he completed two combat deployments to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and later, with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, he deployed twice more to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In one unforgettable moment of heroism, Sergeant Major Black ran through uncleared territory to rescue a wounded Marine struck by an IED. For this act of extraordinary courage under fire, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat ``V'', a testament to his unwavering commitment to those he led. His exceptional leadership culminated in his appointment as the 19th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, the highest enlisted position in that service, and subsequently as the 5th Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the most senior enlisted position in the entire U.S. Armed Forces. Over the course of nearly four decades, Sergeant Major Black's work has had an immeasurable impact on our Joint Forces servicemembers and the civilian employees of the Department of Defense. His dedication to the mission, to the men and women and then families who accomplish it, and his tireless efforts to lead from the front, have contributed to the safety and security of all Americans. Today, his legacy lives on through the Black family, with their daughter, Corporal Are'wynn Black, following in her parents' footsteps in the Marine Corps. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I offer my deepest thanks and best wishes to Sergeant Major Troy Black, to 1st Sergeant Major Stacie Black, and to their entire family as they begin this well-earned new chapter.

Mr. McGARVEY

Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sergeant Major Troy Black as he retires from a distinguished 37-year career in defense of our Nation. Sergeant Major Black was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, before joining the Marine Corps in 1988, rising to become the 19th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, the highest-ranking enlisted Marine. In 2010, he earned a Bronze Star with Combat V after running through dangerous territory to reach a fellow Marine who had been struck by an IED. He most recently served as the senior enlisted adviser to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest ranking enlisted position in all of our Armed Forces. On behalf of all Kentuckians, we thank Sergeant Major Black for his bravery, his patriotism, and his service. He has made Louisville and our entire country proud.