Robert Wittman

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the importance of studying the implementation of automated software tools that will improve and expedite the organ donation referral process. The United States has one of the best organ donation and transplantation systems in the world. Still, over 100,000 Americans remain on the national waitlist for an organ transplant. Just one organ donor can save as many as eight lives, which is why we must ensure the process for identifying and evaluating potential deceased organ donors is as efficient and accurate as possible. Hospitals are currently required to notify their collaborating organ procurement organization (OPO) of all imminent patient deaths in a timely manner to ensure they can maximize the number of organs recovered for transplant. The standard practice of hospital staff manually identifying patients to refer to donation, and then manually notifying OPOs of those patients, is not only time consuming and burdensome for busy hospital staff but increases the likelihood of human error missing a potential donor. Today, automated electronic deceased organ donor referral systems exist at a select few hospitals. These systems automate the donor referral process, allowing hospital staff more time to focus on direct patient care, minimizing the risk of human error, and potentially increasing the number of organs available for transplant. I am proud to have introduced the bipartisan Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act to help remove barriers to the national adoption of automated electronic organ donor referrals in health systems so we can give hope to patients waiting for the gift of life. The Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act would authorize a voluntary study of the current use of automated electronic deceased organ donor referral technology across the Nation. This study will allow us to identify the best practices for the use of such technology and develop informed recommendations for its broad adoption. The following organizations support the Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act: United Network for Organ Sharing, Association of Organ Procurement Organizations, National Kidney Foundation, American Kidney Fund, Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, American Society of Transplantation, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Liver Foundation, American Nephrology Nurses Association, North American Transplant Coordinators Association, American Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, American Association of Kidney Patients, Waitlist Zero, Kidney Transplant Collaborative, LifeNet Health, Gift of Life Donor Program, Gift of Hope, Infinite Legacy, Association of Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation, Transplant Families, LifeCenter Northwest, Life Connection of Ohio, Lifebanc, HonorBridge, One Legacy, New Jersey Sharing Network, Lifesharing Donate Life Organization, LifeGift, LifeQuest Organ Recovery Services, and Lifeline of Ohio. I would like to thank the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) for being a steadfast partner on this critical issue. UNOS is a mission- driven non-profit that has led the United States' Organ Procurement and Transplant Network for nearly 40 years. UNOS employees have a significant and consistent impact on the Greater Richmond Region area, and I am proud to have so many passionate constituents in my district who work every day to support our Nation's organ donation and transplant system. UNOS continues to lead efforts to improve the system, including advocating for the importance of automated electronic deceased donor referrals. I thank them for their work to promote the gift of life through organ donation and transplantation. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask that you rise with me to honor the work being done to advance the automatic organ donor referral programs across the Nation.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 300th anniversary of the King William County Courthouse, which stands as the oldest courthouse building in continuous use in the United States. The King William County Courthouse was constructed in 1725 and was the heart of local self-government and much of the social, economic, and communal life of King William County. The Courthouse was used during the colonial period to elect members of the House of Burgesses, and it served as the designated polling place when the governor deemed other elections were necessary. During the early stages of the American Revolution, local patriots forming the county committee convened in the King William County Courthouse, where Carter Braxton, committee chair and future signer of the Declaration of Independence, received the news of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The King William County Courthouse is considered the best preserved of the Commonwealth's remaining colonial court buildings. The building was listed in the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1959, the Virginia Landmarks Register on November 5, 1968, and the National Register of Historic Places on October 1, 1969. The King William County Historical Museum and the King William Virginia 250 Planning Committee will hold a celebration on April 12, 2025, commemorating the 300th anniversary of the historic King William County Courthouse. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask that you rise with me in honoring The King William County Courthouse on the anniversary of 300 years of continuous use.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Will Sroka and his service and contributions to Virginia's First District and the Nation. Will earned his bachelor's degree from the reigning NCAA college football champions Ohio State University, where he majored in sociology. Will then held internship positions at a public affairs firm and in the office of former Congressman Pat Tiberi and then served as a Constituent Aide in the Ohio House of Representatives before starting his career on Capitol Hill. Will joined my office as a Legislative Assistant after working for former Congressman Bob Gibbs, a member from his home state of Ohio, for five years. Will soon became my Legislative Director and has led my legislative team with distinction for the past 18 months. As my Legislative Director, Will spearheaded numerous legislative efforts that delivered tangible results to the constituents of my district, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the country. Will worked to pass the America's Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024, which was signed into law on December 23, 2024. He also led on the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act, securing 150 bipartisan cosponsors and ushering the bill through the Committee on Ways and Means. Will served as a mentor and leader for my legislative staff and the entire office, sharing his expertise and experience with the rest of my team. His counsel and guidance have shaped my staff into the most effective and successful team on Capitol Hill. I would like to thank Will for his many contributions and dedicated service over the last two years. He has been an invaluable member of my team, and I wish him the best of luck as he moves on to the next chapter of his professional career at Ernst & Young. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing Will Sroka for his service to Virginia's First District and the Nation.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 38. Stated against:

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life of Shirley Kenneth Jones, a cherished member of our community who sadly passed away on January 3, 2025. Shirley was an extraordinary individual whose life exemplified the values of hard work, service and compassion. Shirley was a passionate member of the Mattaponi Baptist Church and served in many positions at the church. He was an avid carpenter and built the home when he and his loving wife of 36 years, Roberta Seward Jones, lived. Shirley was active with the Ruritans, the Mattaponi Crime Solvers, raised money for veterans in need of support, and the King and Queen County Republican Party. Shirley loved all his animals and raised peacocks on his property. Shirley's commitment to the local community left an indelible mark on our district and beyond. Shirley will be remembered not only for his accomplishments but also his kindness, humility, and unwavering dedication to family, friends, and neighbors. Shirley's efforts as an advocate for community programs have left a legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come. In addition to Shirley's professional achievements, he was deeply devoted to his family. He is survived by his children, grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. As we remember Shirley Kenneth Jones today, let us honor his life by carrying forward Shirley's values and aspirations. Shirley's memory will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in extending our deepest condolences to Shirley's family, friends, and all who were touched by his remarkable life. May they find comfort in knowing that Shirley's legacy will live on in the lives he impacted.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the extraordinary achievements and contributions of Major Mansfield, a cherished member of our community and a native son to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Through Major's exceptional dedication and unwavering commitment to service and community, he has made an indelible impact on the lives of countless individuals. Major has devoted his energies to the Mechanicsville Tea Party (MTP) since the organization was founded in 2004 and served in all leadership positions on the MTP. With Major's direct participation in our cherished electoral process, he assisted individuals seeking public office and once elected, Major would hold them accountable to the U.S. Constitution. When it comes to elections, Major held that all citizens have a duty to actively participate in their government. This included voting, holding office, and engaging in public discourse. Major understands this active involvement as essential to safeguarding liberty and preventing tyranny. In his private life, Major worked for Mars Candy for twenty-five years and Campbell's Soup for ten years. Major never missed a day of work. He played college football at the University of Richmond and rebuilt two churches. Major graduated Army Ranger School and was in the Army Reserves for seven years. Major leaves a lasting impression on everyone who has had the privilege of working with or knowing him. His efforts exemplify the very best of what it means to be a citizen of the Virginia Commonwealth and this great Nation. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize Major Mansfield for his lifetime of service and dedication. His legacy serves as an inspiration to all of us and a reminder of the profound difference one person can make in the lives of others. On behalf of the people of Virginia's First District, I extend my deepest gratitude and admiration to Major Mansfield and wish he and his family continued success in all future endeavors.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge support for my bill, H.R. 207, the Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue Act, also known as the SHARKED Act. As a lifelong recreational fisherman, I am particularly passionate about this bill. Picture this: A charter boat fisherman takes an excited group of anglers 90 miles off the coast in hopes of reeling in a bluefin tuna, tarpon, or other big game species. One of the individuals hooks the first fish and starts to fight to reel it in, but before the fish ever gets to the boat, sharks have bitten and eaten the fish. This phenomenon is called depredation, which occurs when sharks interfere with fishing activities. It is essentially a massive impact on the coastal recreational fishing industry, especially the charter industry. Shark depredation is accepted as a natural part of fishing, but it has become a widespread issue in our waters and has increased rapidly in recent years. During the House Natural Resources Committee hearing for the SHARKED Act last year, we heard from experts discussing the impact of this phenomenon. According to the American Sportfishing Association, 52.4 million people went fishing in the United States in 2023, supporting 826,000 jobs and contributing $129 billion to the economy. The American Sportfishing Association also found that 87 percent of charter guides surveyed said they experienced depredations with clients, resulting in negative impacts on their business. Anglers are losing their catch and tackle to sharks at alarming rates, and they are understandably becoming increasingly frustrated by it. I introduced the SHARKED Act to study this issue and evaluate how we can improve sportfishing conditions for anglers while protecting sharks. This bill establishes a fishery management task force to focus on identifying research opportunities, recommending management strategies, and developing educational materials for fishermen. The task force's membership would be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce and include representatives from the Regional Fishery Management Councils, marine fisheries commissions, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and State fish and wildlife agencies, as well as folks who enjoy recreational fishing. This legislation will help fishermen and -women understand which species of sharks have higher rates of depredation and where you are most likely to run into that species. It will also serve as the first major step in improving communication and coordination among fisheries managers in addressing shark depredation nationwide. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 207.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership, and I thank him for yielding, and I thank the ranking member, too, for the incredible work that they have done in a bipartisan way. As this year ends, we face a tired and turbulent world in dire need of leadership, vision, and strength. However, Americans should celebrate that there is good reason to be hopeful about the future. Russian forces are debilitated, and an elimination of the Syrian dictatorship dealt a blow to Iranian influence in the Middle East, a crucial win for our ally Israel. Nevertheless, make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, our national security pacing threat remains China and their drive to challenge the world order, a world order that is the bedrock of our economic prosperity and has not in any way, shape, or form waned. We can't afford to project weakness. We must not tolerate China's rising aggression. This bill refocuses our national security priorities while taking care of our servicemembers. For example, the NDAA expands the Pacific deterrence initiative and expands prohibitions on Department of Defense contracting with Chinese civil-military companies. It retains needed aircraft needed to deter potential Chinese conflict. It also accelerates urgent reform in the Joint Strike Fighter program to drive efficiencies, and it provides a generational 14.5 percent pay increase for our military's junior enlisted. I am pleased with these outcomes. They are imperative to maintaining an operationally effective and strategically relevant force. I also thank Ranking Member Don Norcross, who has been an incredible leader. We have worked in a bipartisan way. He is a great teammate in these efforts and equally values our goals to deter future conflict. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I believe in the old Roman adage: Pray for peace, and prepare for war. It is as relevant today as it was almost 2,000 years ago. I intend therefore to support the National Defense Authorization Act, and I believe its passage is essential to our national security. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Rogers for his leadership in delivering this bill.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mr. Steve Yeakel, who is retiring as President and CEO of the Virginia Association of Community Banks (VACB) after 13 years of distinguished service to Virginia's community banking industry. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Yeakel has been an unwavering advocate for Virginia's community banks, which serve as the economic backbone of our local communities. Under his leadership, VACB has grown to represent more than 100 community banks and vendor partners, providing essential financial services to families and businesses across the great Commonwealth of Virginia. Mr. Yeakel's commitment to excellence was recognized by his peers when he received the 2021 CEO Award of Excellence by from the Virginia Society of Association Executives. His leadership style, emphasizing relationship-building and collaborative problem-solving, has strengthened the voice of community banking in both Richmond and Washington. During his stewardship, VACB successfully navigated serious challenges in the industry, from regulatory changes to technological transformation. Mr. Yeakel has been able to achieve such impressive accomplishments particularly due to his ability to foster productive dialogue between VACB members and Congressional delegations over the years. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing Mr. Yeakel's significant contributions to Virginia's banking industry and the communities it serves. His legacy of leadership, advocacy, and service will continue to benefit Virginians for years to come. I wish him and his family all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas for his leadership on the committee and for his efforts to make sure that the America's Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act comes before this body and ultimately gets signed into law. The act is better known as the ACE Reauthorization Act, and ace it definitely is. It is the ace that we need in our hand to make sure we are there on the side of our natural resources across this Nation. This pivotal piece of legislation signifies our commitment to preserving the natural beauty of our great Nation while promoting sustainable practices for future generations. As a lifelong outdoorsman, I am committed to ensuring all Americans have the opportunity to get out and enjoy the outdoors, from the Pacific Ocean to our wonderful national treasure, the Chesapeake Bay. This legislation, which has been amended to contain my House Natural Resources-passed companion language, provides authorization for some of the most effective conservation programs in the history of this Nation. This bill would reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, which protects waterfowl, fish, and wildlife resources across this Nation and, most importantly, preserves critical wetland habitat, which is disappearing at an alarming rate. It supports local economies that depend on outdoor recreation, tourism, and agriculture. It also preserves American traditions, such as hunting, fishing, bird-watching, family farming, and cattle ranching. Mr. Speaker, this is one of the most successful public-private partnerships in the history of this Nation. This program leverages more than $2 of private money to $1 of public money. All of these dollars come from sportsmen, whether it is through buying a duck stamp to go hunt waterfowl or just to enjoy doing bird watching, which we know our colleague from Virginia enjoys quite a bit of. It is incredibly impactful for this Nation to understand that also, on the public side, these dollars from duck stamps are matched with sportsmen who are passionate about these resources, whether it is the waterfowl, the shore birds, or the wetland habitats, and organizations like Ducks Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl. Those organizations work tirelessly to raise these dollars, and all of these go to preserving that critical habitat. We know today in our Nation these wetland habitats are disappearing at an alarming rate. Our ability to set aside these lands in our national wetlands inventory through our National Wildlife Refuge System is incredible. We use all kinds of tools to do that. Whether it is through purchase of the property or whether it is through purchase of development rights, conservation easements, they are really effective tools to make sure we preserve this critical habitat. The other part of the ACE Reauthorization Act is reauthorizing the National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships Act. We know our States do a wonderful job of focusing on critical fish habitat and working to preserve those. This bill allows them to do even more with Federal partners to make sure they are working in unison with local governments and local organizations to do even more to preserve that critical habitat. Also, as co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force, I know how crucial it is to protect our national treasure, the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is not only the largest estuary in the United States but also a critical ecosystem that supports diverse wildlife and provides economic benefits to millions of Americans. In fact, I would argue many folks here in the Washington, D.C., area on a daily basis enjoy the wonderful natural resources from the Chesapeake Bay. If you go to a restaurant and happen to order a crab cake or an oyster, it most likely came from the Chesapeake Bay. I am proud that this bill also reauthorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program, a successful Federal and State partnership that coordinates efforts to reduce pollution in the bay. Mr. Speaker, if there is a poster child for a Federal role under the Constitution, it is the Chesapeake Bay Program because it truly is an interstate program. It is about getting all the States to work together to make sure we are in unison in improving water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. This is, indeed, that constitutional direction on interstate cooperation that is allowed under the Constitution to achieve what is critical not just to this Nation but also to our natural resources. The Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Act is also a critical part of this. It supports efforts to improve the conditions of habitats and enhance public access to the bay and its rivers. We know what an incredibly important economic engine the Chesapeake Bay is. This enhances the ability for folks to enjoy the Chesapeake Bay, to learn more about it, and to have those opportunities there that not only create richness in life for the people who enjoy the bay but also for the communities that seek their livelihood from the bay. The Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense Act, another part of the ACE Reauthorization Act, helps local entities rehabilitate fish and wildlife habitats throughout the bay watershed.

Mr. WITTMAN. This ACE Reauthorization Act is truly a testament to our commitment to future generations and to the treasure of the natural resources that this Nation has at its avail. It ensures that our children and grandchildren will inherit a world that is as rich in biodiversity and natural beauty as the one we cherish today. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support America's Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act.

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas for yielding me time again. It is incredibly valuable, I think, for folks across the Nation to understand that America's Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act is really one of those efforts where we take a lot of separate bills which by themselves do a lot of good, and we bring them together to do even a greater good. With that, we also are able to look at how these programs relate to each other. Our effort at this level is to make sure that we coordinate and that we look at how do we utilize resources. These bills are critically important because it is not just about utilizing Federal resources. In fact, I would argue, with these bills it is actually more about leveraging the opportunities and the resources we have at the State and local levels because these bills are incredibly important to localities across the Nation. They are incredibly important to the experience that we all have as Americans in enjoying these natural resources. That is why the ACE Reauthorization Act, I think, has such far-reaching impacts on our Nation. It is great that today we can come together in a bipartisan way and say we are in favor of this. This is one of the places where we know working together we can get things done that are in the best interests of our communities and the best interests of our States and Commonwealths across the Nation. We understand, too, that as much as sometimes people focus on the things that we disagree on, there are some pretty significant things that we agree on. Today is one of those days where we look at this, and we say these bills are all about a greater good. They are really about enhancing the quality of life in our communities. They are about achieving things that we look to do in common with each other. We look for the private sector to leverage the dollars that are there, people that want to participate in these programs that have really been shown to be a success across the spectrum through the years and that leverage resources. We look today at the challenges we face in the Nation about a deficit in resources that come in versus the resources that go out. This is one of those programs where it really is a success story about how we take a small amount of Federal dollars that come from sportsmen that voluntarily pay for these dollars, and they leverage it with private dollars. What a great example of a successful program.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Carl William ``Will'' Rush's bravery to save an American flag from burning during the anti-Israel protests at Union Station. On Wednesday, July 25th, several anti-Israel protests erupted around Washington D.C. in reaction to Prime Minister Netanyahu's address to Congress. Outside of Union Station, protesters vandalized the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain with pro-Hamas graffiti and profanity. Additionally, American flags were lowered and replaced with Palestinian flags. Once the American flag was replaced, the crowd doused it in lighter fluid and set it on fire. During the chaos, Will grabbed the American flag from the ground and was then chased by a large group of people. Will's courage to stand up for the American flag was an incredible display of patriotism and bravery. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing Will's actions during these disruptive and violent protests. I hope that his courage will inspire other Americans to stand up for their flag and country. May God bless Will and his family in all their future endeavors.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Critical Mineral Consistency Act. This measure is an essential step forward to secure our supply chains, and in so doing to protect our national security and economic competitiveness. Today, critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and graphite are the building blocks of everything from advanced weapons systems to consumer electronics. Every advanced economy depends on these resources, but the challenge we face is that these minerals are in limited supply and overwhelmingly sourced from China. Our dependence on the Chinese Communist Party for these materials puts our energy independence, technological leadership, and national security at risk. China has deliberately developed its control over these supply chains to build leverage against Western economies. It has been developing these capacities for decades, and it is already using it. China placed export controls on gallium, germanium, and graphite just last year, and it announced new controls on antimony in August. They will continue to put us at risk unless we act. Currently, the United States Geological Survey and Department of Energy each maintain separate lists of critical minerals leading to inconsistency in policy and program funding. These lists used different standards to determine what made a mineral or material critical, and this misalignment led to crucial elements like copper being listed by one agency while being ignored by the other. This bill is a simple but significant step forward to streamline interagency coordination, improve efficiency, and ensure that Federal efforts to stockpile, recycle, and develop alternative supplies of these minerals are focused on the same priorities. We must ensure that our Nation has the resources it needs to remain a global leader in defense, energy, and innovation. We cannot be at the mercy of China that uses forced labor and destroys environments around the world. My colleagues would like for China to continue to use forced labor. They would like for us to continue to see them increase the production of copper. They would like to see us continue to advocate for human rights violations and using forced labor and also to make sure, too, that they are destroying environments. Thank you to the folks on the other side of the aisle for your stand on human rights, not so much.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I was unexpectedly held up and missed two roll call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 456; and YEA on Roll Call No. 457.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the contributions of ITA International LLC of Newport News, Virginia to the nation through their transition of Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) developed technology to government and commercial use. Their approach is unique in that, first, they use commercial off the shelf products for the front- and back-end of the tool with the SBIR- developed analytic algorithms ``in the middle''. This approach significantly reduces the cost required to deliver solutions by leveraging existing government software licenses integrated with SBIR- developed algorithms. Secondly, rather than providing a piece of software, they marry their data analytic algorithms with subject matter experts with profound understanding to provide unsurpassed service, that ITA refers to as ``technology enabled professional services,'' to their customers. Finally, they have a structured process for applying these algorithms, a proprietary approach based on agile development that ensures continuous interaction with the customer and iterative improvement of the tools and services they provide. ITA provides a shining example of the exact intent of the SBIR program. ITA leveraged federally funded research in Phase I and Phase II to develop data analytic algorithms and then applied those algorithms to solve government and industry problems in Phase III through innovative services. While their focus has been on the Department of Defense, customers across the federal government and in industry are seeing the benefit of the technology enabled professional services they provide, One example is how ITA has perfected and extended a SBIR tool (LOGCOP) using SBIR Phase III contracts over the years to provide advanced data analytic and artificial intelligence techniques or decision support tools. ITA continues to develop one of the resulting tools, called the Availability Management System (AMS), for the Navy's Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center to better plan and execute surface ship maintenance periods. This tool has allowed the Navy to avoid hundreds of additional ship maintenance delay-days, improving readiness and diverting hundreds of millions of dollars to other critical purposes for a government investment a small fraction of that. AMS is being evaluated for broader use and integration into existing Navy decision support tools. On behalf of the 1st district of Virginia, I thank ITA for its service to our Nation, and I look forward to hearing about their future accomplishments.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor Ms. Tamara W. Henderson, the Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command G8 (Resource Management) Director of Finance and Accounting and Financial Management Officer, who is retiring after 42 years in Civilian Federal Service. Ms. Henderson earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Management from Longwood University. Following her time at Longwood, she went on to earn her Master of Business Administration in Public Administration from Old Dominion University. Ms. Henderson has spent her entire career under the TRADOC Command at both Ft. Monroe and Ft. Eustis. She gained valuable experience in installation Finance as a student trainee in the Fellowship Program, held various accounting positions, and served as TRADOC G8's Supervisory Systems Accountant prior to her assignment as Director. As Director, she provided oversight in fielding, sustainment, training, and help desk support for the Army's financial systems for over 1600 end users across the command in the execution of a $5 billion annual operating budget. Ms. Henderson also directed the TRADOC Risk Management and Internal Control Program. She ensured sound fiscal compliance and safeguarded government resources against fraud, waste, and misuse as manager of the Anti-deficiency Act prevention/reporting program. Ms. Henderson holds a Level III DoD Financial Management Certification. She has earned many significant awards and honors throughout her 42-year career, including 2 Civilian Service Achievement Medals and The American Society of Military Comptrollers Award for Meritorious Performance in Accounting and Finance. She also received a Letter of Appreciation from the Secretary of the Army. Our great nation is not able to function properly without the work of people like Tamara Henderson. Few people have dedicated their entire career to Civilian Federal Service, and it is my great pleasure to offer my own congratulations for Ms. Henderson on the happy occasion of her retirement after 42 years of service to the United States. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing the dedicated career of Tamara Henderson.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Colonel Kenny Cushing's honorable service to this Nation. Colonel Kenny Cushing retired from our United States Air Force on June 1, 2024, after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 1996 and serving over 20 years on active duty, the Reserves, and in the Air National Guard. During his career, Colonel Cushing achieved many accolades and impacted our Nation in many ways. Kenny was a distinguished graduate from many of his Air Force programs to include being the Top Graduate from his intelligence officer school class and a distinguished graduate from the USAF Weapons School, the Air Force's ``Top Gun''. Colonel Cushing served in increasing assignments of responsibility, to include multiple deployments, throughout his career. He concluded his career as the senior military officer assigned to the new Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) at the Department of Homeland Security. Handpicked by the Department of Defense during the initial creation of CISA by President Trump, Colonel Cushing led critical interagency coordination of national cybersecurity plans. During COVID, he led collaboration efforts between agencies, ensuring smooth flow of information, and informed vaccine distribution decisions. Colonel Cushing was the Commander of the Cyber Coordination Element for the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security for historic President of the United States elections in 2020, laying the groundwork for successful elections protection. His talent and impact moved us years ahead in mission assurance, intelligence exchange, and cyber teaming. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing Colonel Cushing's outstanding service. May God bless Kenny in all his future endeavors.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Chair, this bill comes at a really crucial time for our Nation. Along with many of my colleagues that were at the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D-day invasion in Normandy, France, we should all be reminded of the sacrifice that we ask of each of our servicemembers as they work hard every day to protect our Nation. This bill puts a primary and bipartisan focus on the quality of life for our servicemembers and their families. It includes a 19.5 percent pay raise for our junior enlisted. The bill also fully funds military housing, which is critically important these days. This bill also requires that servicemembers be promoted on their abilities, not on contrived bureaucratic initiatives. For these reasons, it is not surprising that a multitude of key military organizations, including Blue Star Families, Military Officers Association of America, and the National Military Family Association all support this bill. This bill also provides meaningful reform on the Joint Strike Fighter program and supports necessary future capabilities like Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft and the ballistic missile submarine in the Columbia-class. Those things are all critical. It is not surprising that this bill was reported from committee on a resounding bipartisan vote of 57-1. Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith should be rightly congratulated for delivering this bipartisan bill to the floor today. Additionally, I congratulate my colleague and friend, Ranking Member Don Norcross. We worked on the most contentious issues together, and our product was an impressive bipartisan subcommittee mark. Finally, I thank the entire subcommittee staff, including Dave Sienicki, Heath Bope, Michael Kirlin, Max Huntley, Jay Vallario, and Brooke Alred for their particular and intensive effort and support on this bill. Mr. Chair, it is simple to vote against any bill offered here in the House. Voting no is easy, but if you vote against this bill, you are voting against the military servicemembers who provide our Nation the want and will to sacrifice their lives on behalf of this Nation, to preserve the liberties and freedoms that are the foundation of this Republic.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 207.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Connie Plum who spent 41 years as a phenomenal educator for King William High School and to congratulate her on a well-deserved retirement. As a teacher, Connie dedicated her career to ensuring her students were civically engaged by organizing field trips to Washington D.C. to tour the Capitol. It is clear from the many honors she received just how impactful and loved as a teacher she truly was. Connie was voted King William High School Teacher of the Year three times, honored for Hardy County (WV) Teacher of the Year, and semi-finalist for WV Teacher of the Year. Despite all these awards, Connie will tell you that her single most important accomplishment was helping ``her kids'' become better citizens. Connie has set the bar high for teachers everywhere and for that, I thank her. For the positive impact she had on her students, Connie will be dearly missed in the King William County Public School district. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in celebrating the outstanding career of Connie Plum and congratulating her on retirement. May God bless her as she steps into this new chapter of her life.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the dedicated service of General Lester L. Lyles, United States Air Force, (ret.) to his country, to the mission of our armed forces, and to the people of this great Nation. General Lyles is a true leader whose impact has left an indelible mark on America's defense and space sectors, and the security and prosperity of our great Nation The General has an educational background steeped in engineering and a distinguished career that has spanned more than 35 years in the U.S. Air Force. He began his academic journey just up the road from this very chamber--at Howard University--earning a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 1968 followed by his Master of Science in mechanical/nuclear engineering from New Mexico State University in 1969. His academic pursuits continued to include graduating from prestigious institutions including the Defense Systems Management College in 1980, the Armed Forces Staff College in 1981 and the National War College in 1985. In recognition of his achievements, General Lyles acquired honorary Doctor of Law degrees from New Mexico State University in 2002 and Urbana University in 2009. General Lyles officially entered the U.S. military after commencement in 1968 as a graduate of the Air Force ROTC program. Throughout his tenure, General Lyles held various assignments and a series of high- ranking positions, including Commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center, Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, Vice Chief of Staff of the Headquarters of the U.S. Air Force, and Commander of the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command. Notably, General Lyles led the Space Launch Recovery Program following the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and later directed the Strategic Defense Initiative under President Ronald Reagan. His strategic vision and dedication played a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of our nation's aerospace and defense landscape. Retiring from the military in 2003, General Lyles continued to exemplify his passion for service by transitioning into the world of consulting for both the private and public sectors. General Lyles is currently an executive board member at defense and aerospace contractor KBR, a trustee of Analytic Services, and a managing partner at Four Seasons Ventures, LLC. General Lyles' accomplishments are further underscored by his status as a member of the Defense Science Board, the International Security Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of State, and the President's Intelligence Advisory Board in the White House. His commitment to community service is equally admirable. General Lyles has been a steadfast member of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum board, where he was recently honored, and a critical leader of the National Space Council Users' Advisory Group. In the Commonwealth, he's been a recognized leader in Virginia Humanities, the Virginia Academy of Science, Technology and Medicine and the Partnership for Public Service. Over the course of his illustrious career, General Lyles has earned numerous accolades, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster. In 1990, he was named Astronautics Engineer of the Year by the National Space Club (NSC) and later received the Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award for outstanding contributions to military equal opportunity policies and programs from the NAACP in 1994. General Lyles was named Black Engineer of the Year/ Lifetime Achievement in 2003 and received the General Thomas D. White Award for distinguished service in national security from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2012. He was elected as a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 2022 and received the Astronautics Engineering Award from the Huntsville Chapter of the NSC just last year. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself, the citizens of the Virginia Commonwealth and, indeed, the American people, please join me in a heartfelt ``thank you'' to General Lyles, whose enduring contributions to the United States of America and its missions continue to influence aerospace, defense, and space communities to this day.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a lifelong hunter and recreational fisherman in support of my bill, H.R. 615, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act. Mr. Speaker, our hunters and anglers are really the backbone of this Nation. They are the contributors that put a tremendous amount of resources into protecting the resources that we all enjoy. Why would we want to restrict their access? America is blessed with an abundance of natural resources. These refuges belong to the American people. Why wouldn't we want them to use them to the maximum utility for everybody, not just for a small group that decides that they want to go to court? The Trump administration opened up 2.3 million acres of the refuge system for the owners of the system. That makes some sense, doesn't it? In response, anti-fishing and hunting groups sued, claiming lead ammunition and tackle would negatively impact endangered species in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Certainly, there are limited instances where one can show an association there, but not carte blanche. We wouldn't just say we are going to close the whole thing down because of some isolated incidents. In 2022, the Biden administration reached a settlement and pretty much said they were going to go forward with the lead ban for fishing tackle and ammunition. For those who said it is not a big deal because other materials can be substituted at kind of the same price, they are people who have never gone to hunt and fish before and don't know what the heck they are talking about. If you take a lead sinker that you are going to now replace with tungsten, you have to know by common sense tungsten is going to cost significantly more than lead. Additionally, you have families suffering through Bidenomics, suffering from higher fuel prices when they go to the pump today and are paying almost $4 a gallon, when they are paying more for a loaf of bread and a dozen eggs. Now, you say, by the way, we are going to have government charge you more for something that can be avoided. Then, my colleagues say Members are making it difficult for the Feds to regulate. Isn't that our job? Shouldn't we make sure our Federal Government is doing its due diligence in regulating? No, we want to have a side that says: We want more costs to the American people. We don't even want them to enjoy their pastimes. We want them to suffer at the pump. We want them to suffer at the grocery store. Also, now we want to make them suffer by not being able to enjoy the lands that belong to them. How ironic is that? Add more suffering on more suffering on more suffering. Lord forbid, we don't want to make it difficult for government to regulate. Where are we? This is an alternate universe. We want to make sure that we are ensuring that these lands are accessible to the people who own them. These are sportsmen that put a tremendous amount of money into the system. The Duck Stamp Act, the Pittman-Robertson Act, and the Dingell-Johnson Act put millions and millions of dollars into the system every year. Hundreds of anglers help protect these assets. They protect the natural resources on these public lands. I want to make sure that we are able to support them, make sure that we don't add to the cost of them being able to enjoy those lands. This bill ensures that Federal agencies have to do their due diligence.

Mr. WITTMAN. It doesn't stop them from limiting lead use on these properties, but it ensures that they have to use the science. They have to demonstrate, in these instances, in these specific situations, that they have the science behind limiting lead use, not just carte blanche bans.

Mr. WITTMAN. I want to make sure the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture have to do their due diligence to show that there is indeed a scientific purpose behind these lead restrictions. We want to make sure we are effectively managing our lands and our natural resources in ways that keep in mind the American citizen.