George Whitesides

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, we stand at an hour of profound peril, yet this Chamber contemplates premature retreat. All of October is already reserved for recess. Now, majority leadership is weighing the addition of 2 or even 3 more recess weeks in September, turning an already extended 5 weeks of absence into as much as 8 weeks of abdication. Calamity does not pause for campaigns. Abroad, the war in Iran burns hotter by the hour. At home, millions face canceled care, punishing tariffs add thousands to family bills, and our national debt mounts. From the West's wildfires to flooding and a fall full of hurricanes, natural disasters demand not our departure but our duty. Mr. Speaker, we were elected not to flee friction but to forge solutions. Let us reject retreat, remain at our posts for September, and do the work for the American people.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleague in solemn remembrance today, standing here on behalf of the Edwards Air Force Base community and all those across the Nation who feel this loss so profoundly. The eight crewmembers who lost their lives last week were heroes. They were performing work that was essential for the national security of our great country, work that is deeply woven into the fabric and history of the Antelope Valley. Our prayers are with their families, friends, and loved ones.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call for the reauthorization of the Community Oriented Policing Services Program, better known as the COPS Program, an effort I am proud to lead alongside my colleagues Representatives Harder and Rutherford. During National Police Week, we recognize the officers who protect our communities every day. When we talk about law enforcement, we aren't just talking about a badge or a uniform. We are talking about our neighbors. The COPS Program is vital because it helps ensure that local departments have the officers and the resources that they need. By providing funding for hiring, this program helps departments build stronger relationships and respond more effectively to local needs. It also allows officers to build trust in the communities they serve and be a familiar presence in neighborhood meetings, schools, and local events. Our local officers give their all because these are their homes too, and it is our duty to ensure they have the resources and the personnel they need to do their jobs effectively. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan reauthorization. Let's support the officers who work every day to keep us safe.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, before I came to Congress, I led NASA as chief of staff under President Obama. I believed then, as I believe now, that NASA represents the best of us and the best of America. We were reminded of its ability to inspire just weeks ago with the triumph of Artemis II. The sheer historic weight of sending humans around the Moon for the first time stopped our country in its tracks as we watched four brave astronauts take flight. The crew made history on multiple fronts as the most diverse to travel beyond low Earth orbit and by going further into space than anyone had ever been before. Yet, just days after their launch, the President proposed a massive cut to NASA's budget, including slashing NASA's science division, which helps us detect wildfires in our district, fight climate change, and advance innovation. They tried this last year, and we successfully fought back, making sure that NASA funding levels remained steady. We can, and we will do it again. Artemis II didn't happen overnight. It required decades of investment, hard work, and the belief that America can still reach for the stars. We must reaffirm our commitment to this essential work.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great pilot and an even greater human being, Mike Melvill, who passed away last week at the age of 85. Mike was a pioneer whose courage and skill helped open the final frontier. In 2004, the world watched in awe as he piloted SpaceShipOne into space, not once, but twice. In doing so, he earned the first FAA Commercial Space Astronaut Wings and became the first person to travel into space aboard a privately-developed spacecraft. While the world knew him as a legendary test pilot, I saw firsthand that he was also a man of deep human decency and profound kindness. Behind every record-breaking flight was a beautiful lifelong partnership. Mike and his wife, Sally, shared a wonderfully happy marriage that began as childhood sweethearts in South Africa and carried them through the early days of Mojave past the edge of space. Mike was as humble as he was talented. He opened up space for everyone. Mr. Speaker, I offer my deepest condolences to Sally and the Melvill family, and I wish Mike blue skies and tailwinds.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the heartbreaking and inspiring story of the Santa Clarita Lady Flyers, a 12-under hockey team that plays in my district. While on the way to the Western Girls Hockey League playoffs, a snowplow collided head-on with one of their team vans, injuring five players and killing Manny Lorenzana. We remember Manny as a loving dad to Brody, an excellent partner to April, and a talented tattoo artist. After such a tragic event, the team rallied together and made the decision all on their own to play on for Manny and for their injured teammates. Amazingly, in the face of hardship that came far too early for those so young, the Santa Clarita Flyers ended up taking home the championship after a nail-biting final that ended 1-0 in overtime. Here is what I want this amazing team and their families to know: The entire Santa Clarita community has their back, and we are deeply proud of them. I can't wait to cheer them all on at the next home game next season.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember Donald Leroy ``Cool'' Kuehl, a proud United States Army World War II Veteran, whose life was defined by service, courage, and deep love of country. Born in 1925 in Long Beach, California, Don answered our Nation's call during one of the most consequential moments in history. He served as a radio operator, one of the Army's most dangerous and essential roles, and in 1943, as a Tech 5th Grade with the 347th Field Artillery Battalion of the 91st Infantry Division, known as the Wild West Division in Italy. He contributed to the Allied victory that preserved freedom for future generations. As we mourn Don's passing, we give thanks for a life well lived, guided by wisdom, love, and an enduring belief in living in the moment. He shared 62 years of marriage with his high school sweetheart, Virginia, whose love and companionship remained central to his life until her passing. Don's final year was enriched by his participation in Coffee4Vets breakfasts, where he spent his remaining days sharing time, stories, and camaraderie with fellow Veterans, including other World War II Veterans. There, I was honored to join in celebrating Don's 100th birthday, a joyous occasion, last February. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. May we always honor Don Kuehl's service, cherish his legacy, and remember a life well lived in service to the United States of America.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, every time I talk with constituents, I hear the same thing: Life is getting more and more expensive. People are worried about making rent, paying for groceries, and dealing with gas prices that keep on climbing. In just the past couple of weeks, we have received more proof of what our constituents are telling us. According to a recent report, California families saw their costs go up by more than $2,000 in 2025 due to inflation. That breaks down to $482 more going toward housing, like rent or a mortgage, and another $581 toward transportation costs, from buying a car to repairs and gas. For food, families are paying even more because of the grocery tariffs from this administration. One trip through your local Stater Bros. or Vons is enough to feel the pinch. In 2025, families paid $76 more for ground coffee, $71 more for ground beef, and $51 more for eggs than they did in 2024. Simply put, our economy is not serving hardworking families and the basic promises of the American Dream, like homeownership or putting a child through college, are harder and harder to reach. Government works best when it is grounded in the needs of the people that it serves. Our constituents have been clear about what they sent us here to do, what they sent us here to fight for. We must stay focused on policies that make life more affordable. We are here to improve people's lives, and that responsibility should guide everything we do. I will continue to fight every day to lower costs and keep the American Dream alive and within reach.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Madam Speaker, this week marks the first anniversary of the southern California wildfires that took lives, devastated communities, and left families across our region displaced. We are lucky that the damage was not worse, and that is only because of the wildland firefighters who run toward danger and risk their lives for all of us. For decades, these heroes were prohibited from wearing respiratory protection, even as the science made clear that wildfire smoke causes lasting lung damage and is linked to more than a dozen cancers. Firefighters' life expectancy is now nearly 10 years shorter than the average American. That is unacceptable. The Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act changes that. It directs our Federal land agencies to develop and require respiratory protection when smoke exposure becomes dangerous. Protecting our firefighters' lungs should not be controversial. This bill ensures that those who protect us are finally protected themselves.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the story of someone from my district who I know personally. Her name is Mia Tretta. In 2019, as a 15-year-old freshman at Saugus High School, Mia was shot in the stomach during a horrific attack that took the life of her best friend. She survived, endured surgeries, and fought to reclaim her life, eventually earning her way into Brown University. This past weekend, the nightmare returned. While studying for finals in her dorm, Mia was forced to shelter in place as a shooter roamed the Brown campus. She told reporters no one should ever have to go through one shooting, let alone two. We are failing our children. It is a national disgrace that a student in America can survive a high school shooting, only to face another one before graduating college. We cannot accept this as normal. Mr. Speaker, we need commonsense gun safety legislation now, reforms supported by the vast majority of Americans, to end this epidemic. Mia and her generation deserve to study in peace, not fear.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call for the immediate reestablishment of funding for PEPFAR and our public health support for poor countries. I do so with a heavy heart, holding in my hand three documents that every Member of this body should read. One is a legal brief filed just days ago by Physicians for Human Rights. Another is a devastating new investigation released by ProPublica. The third is a status report on PEPFAR from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Taken together, these documents paint a picture of moral abdication that should keep every single one of us awake at night. I want to talk about the data in these reports, Mr. Speaker, but first I need to speak from a place that goes beyond policy. I need to speak with you as a Christian. Scripture teaches us that our responsibilities to one another are not limited by borders. In the Gospel of Luke, we are told: ``From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.'' The United States has been entrusted with much. We are the wealthiest, most powerful Nation on Earth. With that blessing comes a profound responsibility to the least of these. Today, we are failing that responsibility in a profoundly immoral way. The legal brief I hold warns that the dismantling of our public health support for poor countries is causing irreversible losses. It estimates that the shutdown of USAID assistance has already cost 600,000 people to die, two-thirds of them children. The numbers can be numbing, Mr. Speaker, so let me tell you about the people behind these numbers as detailed in this new ProPublica investigation. While political appointees in Washington were literally celebrating these budget cuts with a sheet cake in a conference room, a 38-year-old man named Tor Top was in a canoe in South Sudan. He was paddling desperately trying to get his sick mother to a hospital 8 hours away. Why was he in that canoe? Because the local clinic, funded by U.S. humanitarian aid and run by Christian missionaries, had been forced to close its doors. The IV bags needed to treat cholera cost just 62 cents, but because we cut that funding, his mother died in that canoe halfway to help. ProPublica tells us about Rebecca Nyariaka, a 28-year-old mother living in a refugee camp. Cuts to these vital programs had stopped the sanitation services that kept the camp clean. Overflowing latrines spread disease. Rebecca died of cholera just days after giving birth to a son she named ``God is with us.'' It is not just cholera. Look at the KFF report on PEPFAR. PEPFAR is not a partisan project. It was created by President George W. Bush in 2003. It is perhaps the single greatest humanitarian achievement in modern history, credited with saving 26 million lives. The report shows that the current administration's stop work order has frozen payments and services. They have canceled 86 percent of all awards for this assistance. The result: We are losing thousands of HIV health workers in Kenya, Malawi, and South Africa. The KFF report warns that ending this funding could result in 565,000 new HIV infections over the next 10 years in sub-Saharan Africa alone. We are undoing decades of progress. We are actively allowing a plague to return. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, doctors are reporting that without USAID, they cannot even release Mpox vaccines that are currently locked in storage rooms. In Uganda, babies are being born HIV positive again after years of near elimination of mother-to-child transmission. Some might ask: Is this our problem? To that I answer with the words of my faith: We are our brother's keeper. To my colleagues who prefer a strategic argument, I say this: These diseases don't respect borders. The legal brief explicitly warns that infectious disease knows no borders. When we stop treating tuberculosis or cholera abroad, we allow outbreaks to grow until they threaten us here at home. Our American global health surveillance was the reason the 2004 Ebola outbreak was contained, with only eleven cases ever reaching U.S. soil. We are dismantling the very fire alarm system that protects our own house. Mr. Speaker, we are losing twice. We are losing our moral standing, and we are losing our physical security. Taxpayers will pay once for the dismantled programs, and then they will pay again, much more dearly, when these preventable crises reach our shores. We cannot be the nation that celebrates savings with cake while mothers die in canoes for lack of a 62-cent IV bag. I urge this body to reverse course. We must reestablish funding for PEPFAR. We must restore our lifesaving public health support for poor countries. Let us do it because it is the smart thing to do for our safety. But more importantly let us do it because it is the right thing to do. Let us not be the generation that walked away when we had the power to save millions of lives.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor the life of my dear friend, Chad Kampbell. Chad wasn't just a devoted father, a husband, and an admired community leader--he was a cornerstone of the Santa Clarita Valley. He and his wife Michelle, who have been close friends for several years, were deeply involved in our community. Chad was a former president of the Democratic Alliance for Action of Santa Clarita Valley, an active member of the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats, and someone whose commitment to service ran deep. One of his friends described him perfectly: ``He was someone who truly grounded those around him. The kind of person who would help you cut through the noise, find your center, and remember why you do the work in the first place.'' That was Chad. A source of wisdom and calm, always there when you needed him. He lived in Stevenson Ranch with his wife Michelle and their daughter Brigette. And while no words can ease the pain of this loss, I hope his family knows just how deeply loved and appreciated Chad was by all of us. Chad was the kind of guy who would get there early to help set up an event, and then he would be breaking down the tables and chairs afterwards. He was a talented designer and photographer. He knew how to communicate, and he used that skill for the benefit of businesses and causes close to his heart. Chad was known for his booming voice. For many new activists getting involved, their introduction to civic engagement was seeing Chad kick- off a meeting or rally before taking the time to greet them and every person there, always with a big smile and an infectious laugh. He embodied the truth, that the greatest title of responsibility in any democracy is that of citizen. Chad was a rock of principle. He was committed to making his community, his state and his country better. And month after month, year after year, he did the work. He and Michelle profoundly changed the Santa Clarita Valley for the better, and his impact will never be forgotten. Chad gave so much of himself to this community because he believed in people and in the power of showing up. His absence leaves a real void, but his spirit lives on in the work he championed and the friendships he built. May we honor him not just in words, but in how we carry ourselves--with compassion, humility, and a commitment to something greater than ourselves. Mr. Speaker, I want to close by thanking my summer interns. You cannot help but be inspired by our future, if you spend some time with the many great interns who work on Capitol Hill. They work hard, they do important work interacting with constituents, and their passion and inspiration must be recognized. I'm grateful to our team and I wish them the very best for their futures.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor the life of my dear friend, Chad Kampbell. Chad wasn't just a devoted father, devoted husband, and an admired community leader, he was the cornerstone of the Santa Clarita Valley. He and his wife, Michelle, who have been close friends for several years, were deeply involved in our community. Chad was a former president of the Democratic Alliance for Action of Santa Clarita, an active member of the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats, and someone whose commitment to service ran deep. One of his friends described Chad perfectly: He was someone who truly grounded those around him, the kind of person who would help you cut through the noise, find your center, and remember why you did the work in the first place. That was Chad, a source of wisdom and calm, always there when you needed him. He lived in Stevenson Ranch with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Bridgette. While no words can ease the pain of their loss, I hope his family knows how deeply loved and appreciated Chad was. Chad was the kind of guy who would get there early to help set up an event and then stay late breaking down the tables and chairs afterwards. He was a talented designer and photographer. He knew how to communicate, and he used that skill for the benefit of businesses and causes close to his heart. He was known for his booming voice. For many new activists getting involved, their introduction to civic engagement was seeing Chad kick off a meeting or a rally before taking the time to greet them and every other person there, always with a big smile and an infectious grin. He embodied the truth that the greatest title of responsibility in any democracy is that of citizen. Chad was a rock of principle. He was committed to making his community, his State, and his country better. Month after month, year after year, he did the work. He and Michelle profoundly changed the Santa Clarita Valley for the better and his impact will never be forgotten. Chad gave so much of himself to this community because he believed in people and the power of showing up. His absence leaves a real void, but his spirit lives on in the work he championed and the friendships he built. May we honor him not just in words but in how we carry ourselves with compassion, with humility, and a commitment to something greater than ourselves. Thanking my Summer Interns

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, I close by thanking my summer interns, some of whom are here today. You cannot help but be inspired about the future of our country if you spend some time with the many great young people who work here on Capitol Hill. They work hard. They do crucial work interacting with our constituents, and their passion and inspiration must be recognized. As a new Member, I am deeply inspired by the idea that people would come and work with us in our office. I am so grateful to our team, and I wish them the very best for their futures.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with my colleagues in the California delegation to mourn the loss of three heroic sheriff's deputies who were tragically killed last week while serving in the Arson Explosives Detail of the Special Enforcement Bureau, the largest loss of life in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department since 1857. Together, they gave 74 years of distinguished service to Los Angeles County. Detective William Osborn joined the department in 1992. He worked as a detective for over a decade before taking on a new role as an emergency vehicle operations center instructor in 2016. He became an arson and explosive investigator in 2019, and finally gave back as a mentor to new investigators. He is survived by his six children and his wife. Detective Victor Lemus joined the department in 2003, became a K9 handler in 2017 and an arson investigator last year. He received commendations for his ability to mentor and train fellow deputies as well as notable arrests involving career criminals. He is survived by his wife and three daughters. He also has three sisters who work in the department. Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund joined the department in 2006 and became an arson and explosive investigator in 2022. He was known as an outstanding field training officer who was professional and articulate. He is survived by his wife and seven children and was a proud resident of the Santa Clarita Valley in my home district. Their loss is a sobering reminder of the risks these heroes take every single day. Their families, colleagues, and loved ones are grieving the unimaginable. Today, we stand with them in solidarity, in sorrow, and in gratitude. Let us now join together in a moment of silence to honor their service, their sacrifice, and their memory.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to amend the rule to make in order the amendment at the desk that protects against any cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to sound the alarm on the impending closure of the Quartz Hill Post Office and who knows how many other contract postal units across the country. On June 1, Stan Boylan, a veteran and the owner of the Quartz Hill Post Office, received a written termination notice informing him that his post office was scheduled to close. My family loves the Quartz Hill Post Office. My wife was devastated to hear this news. We are not alone. It has been a staple of our community for over 70 years and services tens of thousands of my constituents. I say we do not know the scale of closures because, even after I submitted an inquiry to the Acting Postmaster General, we have not yet been given a straight answer. What we do know is that the White House has been trying to absorb this historically independent agency and has given DOGE the green light to cut USPS staff and gut services. Let me be clear. The United States Postal Service does not use taxpayers dollars for operating costs. Reducing post office locations will lead to slower service, longer wait times, and delays in receiving packages, medications, and other necessary deliveries. I urge the Postmaster General to reverse the decision to terminate the Quartz Hill Post Office contract.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Stevens for yielding. Mr. Speaker, my name is George Whitesides, and I represent California's 27th Congressional District. Before I was a Member of Congress, I served as the Chief of Staff of NASA and later as the CEO of an aerospace company that created hundreds of well-paying jobs in the Antelope Valley. I have a degree in remote sensing with GIS. I grew up in a science family. My dad is a chemist and a professor. I have worked on new and innovative ways to tackle our wildfire crisis, a growing threat that the people I represent know all too well. I know from firsthand experience that the United States is home to the smartest, most hardworking, and most impressive minds of our time who have dedicated their lives to helping families across the country fight deadly diseases, predict and prevent natural disasters before they hit, and mount a challenge against our foreign rivals like China. However, we can't continue this important work without our scientific institutions. Recently, our biggest scientific agencies have come under a full- scale attack with the administration's proposed budget effectively annihilating the very science that keeps us safe. Programs that previously had broad, bipartisan support, such as the Army Corps of Engineers water infrastructure fund, EPA's drinking water and clean water funds for States, forestry operations, energy utility assistance for low-income households, science and technology programs, and agricultural support are all on the chopping block. At NASA, satellites that allow us to understand weather patterns, monitor our changing climate, and track fires as they move and spread are at risk of being deorbited. Employees in my home district who work at NASA Armstrong and JPL have no idea what their futures hold. NOAA, an organization that helps families across the country prepare for natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes, is being gutted from the ground up. The NIH, which works on groundbreaking cures for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, and heart disease, has supplied significantly fewer grants and awards to scientists than in previous administrations, effectively halting our work on critical medical advances. From February to April, the administration terminated nearly 700 grants across 24 NIH institutes and centers focused on subjects such as aging, cancer, child health, diabetes, mental health, and neurological disorders. We are not only losing the promise of progress and cures and climate technology, we are losing critical data that allow us to better understand the world we live in and respond to growing threats that we face, both foreign and domestic. That is why today I led my colleagues with similar scientific backgrounds to let the administration know exactly what will happen to our Nation if they gut these science agencies. A letter was sent to the President drawing on our diverse backgrounds and constituencies to let him know exactly why science is a good investment for the future of our children and for our country. Make no mistake, we can always be better and more efficient, and these are ideals that we should all strive for. These are ideals that Americans fairly demand from their government, and we should all be working toward that challenge. When I helped lead NASA for President Obama, we constantly iterated and improved our existing systems because we knew how important it was to stretch the taxpayer dollar as far as it can go. Taking a sledgehammer and a chain saw to entire institutions that allow us to stay safe and also remain competitive on the global scale is not only unwise, it is dangerous. The bottom line is that science is an incredible investment for jobs today and for the future of our country. I am going to keep fighting for the families across my district who need NASA satellites to know if their houses are going to be safe from fires, for seniors who need medical advancements to live long and healthy lives, and for red States and blue States that will be hit by tornadoes and hurricanes in the months and years to come. I am here to stand up for families in my district and across the country who will be less safe and more at risk as a result of these cuts. I am here as an innovator and entrepreneur to stand up for science.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, my name is George Whitesides, and I represent California's 27th Congressional District. Just 3 days after I was sworn in to Congress to serve my first term this year, wildfires broke out across southern California, forcing 200,000 people to evacuate, burning over 57,000 acres of land, damaging or destroying 18,000 homes, and taking the lives of 30 individuals. Two weeks later, the Hughes fire erupted in my own district near Castaic, right near where this picture behind me was taken. It forced over 30,000 people to evacuate. Compared to most, we were relatively lucky. Given wind conditions and the brave work of our firefighters, many of whom were employed by the U.S. Forest Service, the fire was quickly contained. As southern California began to emerge from the devastation and focus on rebuilding, firefighters and other fire service workers with the U.S. Forest Service were abruptly terminated by the Trump administration. Days or weeks after saving our lives, they were left out to dry with no explanation. One of these employees in my own district was Jasmin Dominguez, a GIS technician, who literally mapped out the fires as they spread. I brought Jasmin as my guest to the State of the Union where we talked about how difficult it would be for local fire chiefs to control the fires without the maps that she provided. Now, we are preparing to go into another bad fire season. People are scared. If you look at the conditions on the ground in the American West, they are very concerning. Fire scientists are concerned. Firefighters are concerned. Between the January fires and the extreme dryness that we have experienced this winter, we are poised to experience earlier and more intense wildfires than before. The worst thing that we could do for our communities that have already suffered so much is to reduce our capacity to fight and contain these fires when, not if, they occur. The unconscionable and, frankly, offensive decision to terminate our Forest Service workers will make us less safe and more vulnerable to the natural disasters that we are guaranteed to experience. The administration may claim that firefighters were exempt from their cuts, but we know this is not true. I am in constant communication with Federal wildfire community members, and here is what they tell me. Their grants have been frozen; existing agreements with the Federal Government, frozen; purchasing cards that they use to buy lifesaving equipment, frozen. Hiring for fire season is often cyclical, meaning the Trump administration's earlier decision to freeze Federal hiring left even our local fire stations understaffed and unprepared for the fire season that has already started. For the safety of the families and the individuals across all of our districts, and for the brave work that so many of these Forest Service employees do every day, we must speak out against these unfair terminations. To every Forest Service worker who is laid off and for everyone preparing to undergo even more of these so-called reductions in workforce, know that we hear you, are with you, and are fighting for you.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mauro Reza, a Vietnam War veteran from Palmdale, California, whose service and sacrifice exemplify the highest ideals of patriotism and dedication to our Nation. Mr. Reza was selected as this year's Boots on the Ground Alliance's Veteran of the Year, an honor his life and service absolutely merit. Born and raised in Whittier, Mauro was inspired by his uncle, a Korean War veteran, to continue his family's proud tradition of military service. Answering the call of duty, he enlisted in the United States Army in November 1966 and served with distinction as a UH-1C helicopter gunship pilot in the 175th Assault Helicopter Unit's 3rd Platoon Mavericks during one of the most challenging conflicts in American history. From August 1967 to June 1970, Mauro bravely took to the skies, engaging in aerial combat operations where skill and courage were paramount to mission success and the safety of his fellow soldiers. After years of valiant service, Mauro transitioned out of military life, recognizing the profound impact of his experiences in Vietnam. Yet, his legacy endures--not only through his military contributions but also in the example he sets for future generations about duty, resilience, and honor. It is with great respect and admiration that I recognize Mauro Reza for his selfless service to our country. His story is a testament to the courage of those who have fought for our freedoms, and I urge my colleagues to join me in expressing our gratitude for his dedication.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to share the story of two Federal scientists who, in their own words, were fired by President Trump. I am a biologist and was a postdoctoral researcher at the EPA Office of Research and Development. Most of my research focused on clean water and human health, such as drinking water, recreational water, and efforts to prevent pollution. My research projects included the impact that wildfires have on drinking water quality. My work is not political, and my career should never have been politicized. This was my dream job. Another scientist, in their own words, said: I was a biologist for the U.S. Geological Survey. I conducted wildfire and fuels-related research in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, working closely with park managers to improve the fuel management plan. Science is the foundation of American leadership and security. These firings must be reversed.

Mr. WHITESIDES

Mr. WHITESIDES. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a minute to talk about the events of this week and to rise on behalf of law enforcement in this country. I know that people across my district and across the country are deeply concerned about the personal data being exposed in an act of extreme government overreach. We are doing everything we can to put a stop to it. We are pursuing legislation that will stop it, and we will also work on legal avenues to prevent this and other unlawful executive actions taken by this administration. I also want to take a moment to talk about the recent attacks against the FBI and brave law enforcement officials who defended our Capitol on January 6 from a violent insurrection. In just the past 2 weeks, violent criminals were released from prison and have been making direct threats against public safety officers who helped put them away. These law enforcement officers have now been asked to step away from their actual jobs to take surveys and loyalty tests to the current President. That is not how we should treat our law enforcement, our FBI, or anyone who has put their own safety at risk to protect all of us. We must all step up in this historic moment to be on the record for law enforcement.