Richard Neal

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer).

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu).

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene).

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell).

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez).

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson).

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson).

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi). There is no finer leader or person who was more determined to help bring us to this moment and whose fortitude helped to give us the ACA than Speaker Emerita Pelosi.

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries), the Democratic leader, whose tactful leadership has brought us to this moment.

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark), the Democratic minority whip, who can stand at that microphone and say the following: Every child in Massachusetts has health insurance and 97 percent of the adults in Massachusetts are covered because of the ObamaCare plan.

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this argument is about universal access. For years, the Republican leadership in this institution has attempted to avert this very moment. For us this is not to be about spiking the football. This is not to be about an end-zone dance. This is about to declare a major victory for the American people. Despite what I have heard, they have used every maneuver and procedure to prevent the very debate that we are going to have for the next hour. All these years later, they never even had a plan or an alternative. We can finally choose families, and they can join us today in extending the ACA tax credits and save healthcare for millions of members of the American family. How easily and quickly they did a massive tax cut for the wealthiest amongst us while subsequently arguing that they could deny average men and women an opportunity for health insurance. So here we are all these years later, as one who helped to write the Affordable Care Act, the ACA is still standing. We will continue to improve it every single year. When I consider now the uninsured enrollment in America is down to 6 percent, it is thanks to the ACA. If Congress did not do what we are about to do in the next hour, a family of four making $130,000 would see their marketplace premium go from $921 to $1,992. That would be an 18.4 percent increase. Our enhanced credits make sure that nobody would pay more than 8.5 percent of their income for coverage. Now, Republicans think that people can afford increased premiums by 37 percent, and that is what they are proposing today. They said 2 weeks ago that they had a healthcare plan that they wrote on Friday night. As I noted at the time, it was held together by bubble gum and Elmer's Glue. By the way, Democrats never even got to see it. If they had a healthcare plan alternative, they should have shown it to us. Let me say this, Mr. Speaker. This is a good day for the American family. This is an important consideration for this institution. Despite repeated denials and efforts to thwart this very moment, in the next hour, my colleagues are going to do for the American family what they said they would do, and that is to extend these tax credits for the ACA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinguished service and extraordinary career of Colonel David L. ``Moon'' Halasi- Kun, who has honorably served our Nation for more than twenty-five years and most recently as the Wing Commander of the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Massachusetts. Colonel Halasi-Kun's career is a testament to dedication, leadership, and excellence in service. Commissioned from the United States Air Force Academy in 1998, he went on to graduate from the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program in 2000. Over the course of his career, he has accumulated more than 3,150 flight hours in the F-15 Eagle and other aircraft, and has participated in combat and support missions in Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, and ATLANTIC RESOLVE. After a decade of active duty, Colonel Halasi-Kun joined the Massachusetts Air National Guard in 2008, where he has served with distinction for the past fifteen years. Rising through the ranks, he has held numerous leadership positions, including Vice Commander of the 104th Fighter Wing, before assuming command in 2022. In this role, he was responsible for ensuring that more than 1,000 military and civilian personnel were mission-ready to defend our homeland and support expeditionary deployments around the globe. Most notably, Colonel Halasi-Kun has upheld the stellar reputation that has become associated with Barnes, positioning the base to be selected as the preferred location to host a new fleet of F-35A aircraft. This decision solidified Barnes' place in the western Massachusetts community for decades to come. Colonel Halasi-Kun's service has been recognized with some of the military's highest honors, including the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, and the Aerial Achievement Medal. His professional achievements are matched by his academic accomplishments, having earned advanced degrees in Military Operational Art and Science as well as National Resource Strategy. On September 30, 2025, Colonel Halasi-Kun completed his final flight in the F-15C Eagle, marking both the end of his own flying career and the conclusion of the F-15 mission at Barnes Air National Guard Base. In a fitting tribute, he led a four-ship formation on a two-hour mission over the Atlantic, a ``Lunar Flight'' named in honor of his call sign, ``Moon.'' Upon his return, he was greeted by family, friends, and fellow airmen who celebrated his remarkable career and enduring legacy. Mr. Speaker, Colonel Halasi-Kun embodies the very best of our armed forces: courage, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to duty. His leadership has left an indelible mark on the 104th Fighter Wing, and his service has brought great pride to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to our Nation. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Colonel David ``Moon'' Halasi-Kun for his decades of service and sacrifice. We extend our deepest gratitude to him, his wife Gretchen, and his son Luke for their steadfast support throughout his career. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of airmen as the 104th transitions to its next chapter with the arrival of the F-35s.

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize and honor Mr. Michael Keane on his retirement after 30 years of dedicated service to the United States House of Representatives. For three decades, Michael has been a steadfast presence within the Chief Administrative Office, and those of us who have had the privilege of working alongside him know just how deeply he has contributed to the strength and continuity of this institution. Michael's journey to the House began with a deep appreciation for American history, earning both his bachelor's and master's degrees from California State University, Northridge. That grounding in history was evident in the pride he took in serving this institution, an institution he understood not just as a workplace, but as a living part of our Nation's democratic story. From his earliest days as a Customer Account Counselor in Office Systems Management, Michael distinguished himself through his professionalism, his patience, and his commitment to helping others. His work ethic and reliability earned him a series of promotions, culminating in leadership roles in the Immediate Office of Logistics and Support, and later in Workflow Management. In each position, he brought clarity, steadiness, and a remarkable ability to solve problems before they became crises. Michael played a key role in implementing major systems that improved the efficiency of House operations. He was also part of the first group of Office Coordinators, helping Member offices navigate services with greater ease. In his role managing Workflow Management, he strengthened communication between Logistics and Furnishings and became a trusted guide for departing Members navigating the close of their service. Beyond the technical expertise and institutional knowledge, what stands out most about Michael is his character. Over the past 30 years, he has been a calm and reassuring presence through some of the most challenging moments in modem congressional history, including 9/11, the anthrax attacks, the pandemic, numerous transitions of Congress, and multiple changes in House leadership. His steady hand and quiet confidence helped keep this institution functioning when it mattered most. As he enters retirement, Michael looks forward to spending more time with his children, his daughter Siobhan and his sons Rory and Colin, and embracing new opportunities and adventures. Knowing Michael, he will bring the same dedication and good humor to this next chapter that he brought to his decades of service here. On behalf of the entire House community, I extend my deepest gratitude to Michael Keane. His contributions have strengthened this institution, supported countless Members and staff, and upheld the dignity of public service. We wish him many years of happiness, fulfillment, and well-earned rest in retirement.

Mr. NEAL

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Republican bill was put together with bubble gum and Elmer's glue last Friday night. This isn't a plan. It sounds like their argument that 300-year-olds are receiving Social Security benefits. Families are staring at massive premium hikes, and now, thanks to four Republicans, we can force a vote. When you listen to the argument earlier from the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), he said that Republicans never had a chance to vote on the Affordable Care Act. This morning, we want to give you a chance. Speaker Johnson could end this crisis and bring the bill up. Instead, they are wasting time on this dusty bill that will increase the number of uninsured Americans, and that is a fact. People don't need healthcare that costs more and covers less. To stave off this crisis, this bipartisan discharge petition is a workable path forward, and over the course of the next few minutes, we intend to tell you that you can hear why. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson).

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson).

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell).

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu).

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries), the minority leader, who has done a terrific job on managing this legislation.

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer).

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider).