William Timmons

Mr. TIMMONS

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Austin ``Zade'' Abdelnabi, a United States Marine and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer whose life was tragically taken in the line of duty on August 4, 2026. Zade was a proud son of Upstate South Carolina, raised in the Greer and Greenville area and a graduate of Blue Ridge High School. Before answering the call to serve our Nation as a United States Marine, he spent his early years in the community he called home. His commitment to service would continue beyond his military career, leading him to join the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in 2023, where he dedicated himself to protecting and serving the community. Although Zade served the people of Nevada, South Carolina was always home. His roots remained firmly planted in the Upstate, where much of his family still resides. The community that helped shape the man he became continued to be an important part of his story, and his loss has been deeply felt in both South Carolina and Nevada. Zade embodied the values of honor, courage, integrity, and sacrifice. Through his service in the United States Marine Corps and his work in law enforcement, he demonstrated a commitment to something greater than himself. He answered the call to serve his country as a Marine and continued that calling as a police officer, placing himself in the service of others until his final watch. On August 4, 2026, Zade was killed in the line of duty while protecting the community he faithfully served. His loss is deeply felt by his fellow officers, those who served alongside him in the Marine Corps, his loved ones, and the Greenville community he called home. The outpouring of love and support from across South Carolina and beyond stands as a testament to the impact of his life and service. Zade is survived by his wife, Sage Abdelnabi; his father, Ghaleb Abdelnabi; his mother, Amy Harvey; his stepmother, Sana Masoud; his brother, Daniel (Ryan) Abdelnabi; and his sister, Janae Koury. His family now carries the weight of an unimaginable loss. Behind the uniform was a husband, son, brother, and friend whose life meant far more than the titles he held or the duties he performed. Zade will be remembered not only for his service to our Nation and his sacrifice in protecting the public, but for the life he lived and the people he loved. His dedication to duty, devotion to his family, and willingness to serve others leaves behind a legacy worthy of recognition. Mr. Speaker, I ask that Austin ``Zade'' Abdelnabi and his contributions to our Nation and the communities he served be entered into the Record for posterity.

Mr. TIMMONS

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 4437, the Supervisory Modifications for Appropriate Risk-based Testing Act, also known as the SMART Act. I am proud to partner with Representative Foster on this bipartisan legislation to provide targeted, risk-based regulatory relief for well-managed and well-capitalized financial institutions with assets under $6 billion. The SMART Act modernizes the examination process for qualifying institutions by allowing full scope onsite examinations every other cycle, alternating with more limited reviews focused on key risk areas. The bill also allows certain examinations, including safety and soundness, consumer compliance, and cybersecurity reviews to be conducted concurrently, reducing the burden of multiple overlapping examinations. This is a practical, commonsense approach that improves regulatory efficiency while preserving strong oversight and consumer protections. The SMART Act is built on a principle familiar in other regulated industries, including the restaurant sector, where institutions with a strong track record and demonstrated compliance benefit from a more streamlined oversight process. This legislation applies that same principle to financial supervision by recognizing that not all institutions present the same level of risk, and our regulatory framework should reflect that reality. At the same time, regulators would retain full authority to conduct additional examinations whenever necessary. Institutions with recent enforcement actions or major changes in control would not qualify for this streamlined process. Smaller financial institutions are essential to local economies, helping finance small businesses, first homes, and community development projects across the country. This bill gives them greater capacity to serve their customers and communities while maintaining the strong safeguards that consumers expect and deserve. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bipartisan legislation that promotes efficiency and smarter regulation.

Mr. TIMMONS

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a very special milestone in South Carolina's Fourth Congressional District, the 150th anniversary of Greer. Founded in 1876 along a railroad line connecting Greenville and Spartanburg, Greer began as a small depot town built on opportunity and hard work. Over the years, it has grown into a thriving community and a key driver of economic growth in the upstate. Today, Greer is home to hardworking families, small businesses, and world-class industry. But what truly defines this city is its people, neighbors, who take pride in where they live and invest in its future every day. The yearlong Greer150 celebration is a chance to honor that history, bring the community together, and look ahead to what comes next. As the Congressman representing this great city and home to our district office, I am proud to celebrate Greer's legacy and its bright future. To the people of Greer, I congratulate them on 150 years. The best is yet to come.

Mr. TIMMONS

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I missed the first vote of the first series today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 71.

Mr. TIMMONS

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6329) to ensure that Federal agencies rely on the best reasonably available scientific, technical, demographic, economic, and statistical information and evidence to develop, issue or inform the public of the nature and bases of Federal agency rules and guidance, and for other purposes.

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6329, the Information Quality Assurance Act of 2025. Historically, thousands of Federal regulations have been imposed each year as an added burden on the American public. The Code of Federal Regulations, in which these rules are housed, spans 243 volumes that contain over 180,000 single-spaced pages. Agency guidance explaining these regulations to the public likely spans millions more pages. If we must have rules imposed by Federal regulatory agencies, we should, at the very least, ensure that regulatory agencies rely on the best available information. Unfortunately, agencies frequently do not rely on the best available information to create their regulations. Year after year, the Federal courts are clogged with litigation brought by regulated parties who point out that Federal agencies have acted based on flawed information. Over the years, Congress has tried to improve this situation. In 2000, Congress enacted the Information Quality Act, which charged the Office of Management and Budget and each Federal agency to adopt guidelines to ensure agencies relied on high-quality information. In 2015, Congress enacted the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act, expanding on the Information Quality Act to further ensure agencies use high-quality information in their program administration. Still, year after year, disputes arise over whether regulators are basing their decisions on the best-quality information available. Every year, courts strike down agency rules that do not rely on adequate information. The Information Quality Assurance Act takes several major but straightforward steps to solve that problem. For the first time, it requires that the information which agencies use to form their rules and guidance be the best reasonably available information. It also includes several additional terms to make sure agencies are finally held to that standard. This legislation will improve the quality of agency decisionmaking, improve the acceptability of new rules and guidance, and avoid the need for many disputes over agencies' use of information to go to court. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and thank Representative Lisa McClain for her reintroduction of this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. McClain).

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this bill. It is a simple, commonsense measure that is sure to improve the quality of Federal rulemaking for our constituents. In the 118th Congress, a similar version of this legislation passed the House on an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 377-4. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in support of this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. TIMMONS

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5235) to amend title 41, United States Code, to prohibit minimum educational requirements for proposed contractor personnel in certain contract solicitations, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5235, the Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act, which reins in unnecessary degree requirements in Federal contracting. The Federal Government relies heavily on contract employees. Many jobs in fields like IT and building construction are available through nondegree pathways such as apprenticeships and boot camps. That is why private-sector employers have pared back degree requirements for hiring in recent years. Unfortunately, Federal solicitations sometimes include requirements mandating that individuals who perform the work hold certain education credentials. We should not prohibit those with the right technical skills from performing Federal contract work just because they lack a traditional degree. The companies who employ them, those that offer apprenticeships and engage in skills-based hiring, should be encouraged to compete for government contracts, not be excluded from competition. This bill helps ensure that Federal contractors are able to hire who they want to hire without additional red tape by prohibiting contract officers from stipulating education and experience requirements in contracts, unless the contracting officer can justify in writing that they are necessary to meet the needs of the agency. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I thank Ms. Mace, the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, for her work on this important reform. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from South Carolina (Ms. Mace).

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this bill. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, which puts merit back into Federal contracts. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIMMONS

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5810) to provide for mandatory training for Federal Government supervisors and the assessment of management competencies, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the American public relies on Federal supervisors to lead a workforce that provides high-quality customer service and faithful execution of the law. These expectations and standards require a level of professionalism that can be improved by strengthening relevant education offerings available to Federal supervisors. My bill would do just that, by bolstering existing requirements in Federal law governing Federal workforce training. Various reports and memos from agencies such as the GAO, Office of Personnel Management, and the Merit Systems Protection Board indicate a need to improve relevant educational opportunities for Federal supervisors. The Federal Supervisor Education Act, a bipartisan bill dating back to the 114th Congress, articulates and executes best practices in relation to Federal supervisory training, including how to effectively manage employees with unacceptable performance. These are basic, nonpartisan concepts that are generally available to private-sector business supervisors and, if implemented, would advance the interests of good government and strengthen the Federal workforce on behalf of the American taxpayer. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I also thank the House Oversight Committee for unanimously supporting my legislation in a recent markup. Given the bill's advancement of good-government principles, I urge my colleagues to vote for this long overdue legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIMMONS

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5457) to improve the visibility, accountability, and oversight of agency software asset management practices, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. TIMMONS. 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 materials on this measure.

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, Federal agencies spend billions of dollars a year on software licenses without a full understanding of what they are purchasing and how it compares to what they are already paying for. The result is wasteful spending on duplicative or unnecessary software licenses. H.R. 5457 requires Federal agencies to take an inventory of their software licenses to better understand how it is used, who uses it, and how many licenses go unused. The bill will also provide Congress with better insights into how our Federal agencies purchase and use software. The text we are considering today is identical to the text we passed out of the House by voice vote last Congress. This bill improves government software purchasing without unduly limiting the procurement options of Federal agencies. It requires each agency to better manage its software and develop a plan for addressing any costly, unnecessary licenses. This will reduce wasteful spending and improve government efficiency. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Brown for bringing this important legislation back to this Congress. I also thank Mr. Fallon and Ms. Mace for their early and continued support of this bill. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation that will reduce wasteful spending and improve government efficiency. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIMMONS

Mr. TIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise for my bill, H.R. 4431, the Improving Capital Allocation for Newcomers Act, also known as the ICAN Act. I am proud to partner with my colleague Representative Brittany Pettersen on this bipartisan legislation that expands access to venture capital far beyond our Nation's traditional financial hubs. H.R. 4431 updates the qualifying venture capital fund exemption by raising the capital cap from $10 million to $50 million and by increasing the allowable number of investors from 250 to 500. These updates allow venture funds to raise more capital from more individuals. This will support the growth of startups located outside of Silicon Valley and other major financial centers. Today, nearly half of the United States' venture funding goes into companies in California alone, and more than 70 percent is concentrated in only four States. Meanwhile, many entrepreneurs in other regions struggle to secure critical Series A funding, which limits their ability to grow and attract later-stage investments. Mr. Speaker, an entrepreneur in Spartanburg, South Carolina, deserves the same access to capital as an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. This bill democratizes venture capital by enabling more Americans to invest in their own communities, drive innovation, and create good-paying jobs. It is about expanding opportunity and fostering economic growth in regions that are much in need. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation and to help ensure that investors and entrepreneurs in every one of our districts have a fair and level playing field.