Tim Walberg

Mr. WALBERG

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

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, we can all agree that our Nation's workers deserve to be compensated fairly. H.R. 2312, the Tipped Employee Protection Act, meaningfully updates the Fair Labor Standards Act to ensure tipped workers can take home what they earn, and small businesses are not micromanaged by Federal regulators. Too often, the political whims of Washington have hurt tipped workers. Their earnings have been hurt instead of boosting them. H.R. 2312 puts an end to this and shields workers from the misguided actions of unelected bureaucrats. I am proud of the work my Republican colleagues and I have done this Congress to implement policies like no tax on tips that let working Americans and tipped workers keep more of what they make. I urge my colleagues to support the Tipped Employee Protection Act and help put more money back into American families' pockets. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALBERG

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

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, as the Member who represents one-half of NEPA's original author's district, I rise in strong support of the SPEED Act. This bipartisan, commonsense legislation will streamline our permitting process, making it faster, more predictable, and more accountable. Currently, our broken permitting process delays critical energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing projects for years. This not only hurts workers but raises costs for hardworking families and makes us more dependent on foreign countries, including our adversaries. In Michigan, we need access to reliable energy to meet our growing demands, increase affordability, and help us compete. However, these essential projects can't move forward if our permitting process is holding us back. The SPEED Act addresses these issues by streamlining reviews, setting clear timelines, and improving coordination across agencies. Mr. Chair, this legislation helps us build again in this country, from energy projects to manufacturing facilities. America is entering a golden age of energy dominance thanks to President Trump's policies and the Working Families Tax Cuts that Republicans passed earlier this year. The SPEED Act builds on this progress by cutting bureaucratic red tape, bringing back good-paying jobs and revitalizing our infrastructure and energy sectors. We must restore common sense to our permitting process so we can unleash American energy and lower costs for hardworking Michiganders. For all those reasons, Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' Michigan will thank you.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, as I travel across Michigan's Fifth District, I have heard from many Michiganders who are thrilled about the economic relief that House Republicans are providing. Earlier this year, we passed the working families tax cut legislation, which is profamily, proworker, and pro-Michigan. This historic legislation empowers families by preventing residents of Michigan's Fifth District from facing a 27 percent tax hike and increasing take-home pay by up to $11,700. In addition, the legislation increases the child tax credit, strengthens paid family leave, and establishes savings accounts for newborns, allowing families to invest in their child's future from birth. House Republicans have accomplished so much this year, but we are only just getting started.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6703. Because of the unaffordable care act, healthcare costs are out-of- control, and small businesses and the families that they employ are paying the price. The unaffordable care act drove premiums up and added red tape forcing many small employers to drop coverage or stop offering it altogether. Now my Democrat colleagues want to extend enhanced benefits that they couldn't get their own party to support for more than 3 years when they passed them. They made this problem, and now they want us to fix it by doing the same thing that has extended this problem. They want our family, friends, and neighbors to suffer further pain as opposed to joining us and fixing the problem as opposed to extending it. My bill, the Association Health Plans Act, allows small businesses and self-employed Americans to band together, like large companies, to lower costs and deliver high-quality coverage. The CBO report today estimates that this could cover more than 200,000 previously uninsured Americans and attract 700,000 people annually to association health plans. Complementing this, the Self-Insurance Protection Act, authored by Representative Bob Onder, shields small businesses from regulatory overreach while expanding affordable healthcare options. Together, these measures, included in the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, cut red tape, protect choice, and lower costs. I plead with my Democrat colleagues to join us in bringing about a remedy to our healthcare system which is broken because of the unaffordable care act. They broke it, but please join us to fix it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens), who is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Kiley), who is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Onder).

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.

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

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

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

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

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, most Americans rely on employer-provided healthcare, but government-driven costs are making that coverage more expensive every year. Families are paying more, and small businesses are struggling to keep up with the mandates and the red tape. Americans deserve affordable, high-quality coverage that puts decisions back where they belong with workers, families, and employers, not the Federal Government. Bottom line, the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act empowers workers and job creators and makes healthcare more affordable for everyday Americans. By the way, perchance you want to keep the unaffordable care act for yourself, you still can. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, it is my special privilege to recognize Mark Rodgers as he retires after a meaningful and fulfilling career in public service. Mark's remarkable career, which includes senior leadership roles across government at the federal and state levels, stands as a testament to his principled leadership and unwavering commitment to improving the policies that shape America's modern workforce. As Deputy Staff Director of the U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce, a committee that I am now proud to chair, he played a pivotal role in shaping workforce policy and overseeing critical reforms in some of the most complex areas of law. His service at both the U.S. Department of Labor and the Office of Personnel Management further underscores his impact. At the state level, Mark also served with distinction as Deputy Secretary for Labor and Management Relations at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, where he simultaneously served as a senior advisor on labor-management and labor-political issues. In this role, Mark demonstrated his exceptional ability to bridge the worlds of government, labor, and management, while fostering constructive and solutions-oriented relationships. Mark's experience also extends beyond traditional government service. As Vice President of Industry Relations for the Motor Freight Carriers Association, he represented management as the lead labor negotiator in the LTL trucking industry, earning respect for his professionalism, dedication, and command of labor-management relations. Most recently, Mark served as the founder and president of MWR Consulting, guiding clients through the complexities of federal legislative and regulatory policy with clarity and strategic insight. His work reflects not only his deep technical knowledge, but also his genuine understanding of how policy affects real people. Mark's contributions have left an indelible mark on workforce policy. May others know of my high regard for Mark and my best wishes for a happy and fulfilling retirement.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, it is my special privilege to recognize Renae Shircliff of Hillsdale as the Veteran of the Month for December and honor her for her distinguished service to our great Nation. After graduating high school in 1984, Renae enlisted in the United States Army, serving proudly as an Army Specialist 4th Class, 63 Hotel Tank Mechanic and duty driver for her Commanding Officer. Her excellence and commitment were recognized early in her career, earning her the Army Achievement Medal for her service in Stuttgart, Germany. Even after leaving active duty, Renae never stopped serving; she simply shifted her focus to ensuring that her fellow veterans received the care, benefits, and respect they deserved. In 2013, Renae joined the Hillsdale County Veterans Affairs Office, and by 2018, she had risen to Director and Veterans Service Officer, a role in which she became a driving force for change and advocacy. Her dedication earned her prestigious recognition, including the 2016 Pat Ford Award from Hillsdale College and the Leo Leggett Award from the American Legion in both 2017 and 2023. Under her leadership, Hillsdale County veterans collectively received more than $32 million in VA benefits in both 2022 and 2023, and an additional $17 million in 2024. These benefits were pivotal in ensuring our veterans receive the care they deserve and improving the quality of life for their families. Renae has personally guided countless veterans through the process of securing the benefits they have so rightfully earned, providing both expertise and compassion. Renae Shircliff is truly a cornerstone of the veteran community. I am honored to share her story today, and I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the accomplishments of this remarkable veteran and public servant.

Mr. WALBERG

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 284) to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act.

Mr. WALBERG. 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 S. 284.