What Derek Schmidt said, and what was done

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a devoted public servant, educator, and proud Kansan, my friend, Bob Tomlinson, who passed away in February 2025 at his home in Kansas.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am grateful that the House last week approved the FY27 agriculture appropriations bill, the second FY27 appropriations bill brought to the floor under regular order.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Utah for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National Police Week to honor the brave men and women in law enforcement who put on the badge every day and stand between safety and danger.”

“United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any territory or possession of the United States.''. (b) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall amend part 20 of title 28, Code of Federal Regulations, as necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.”

“Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment, No. 43, which would direct the secretaries of agriculture and health and human services to enter into a memorandum of understanding to conduct collaborative research related to increasing the domestic production of crops that can be used to produce natural food colors.”

“Thank you for your leadership on this issue and for your attention to the operational and economic considerations facing both U.S. agriculture and food manufacturers. We stand ready to serve as a resource as this effort moves forward and strongly encourage the House of Representatives to adopt your amendment.”

“Mr. Speaker, 20 years ago this spring, there was a Cinderella moment in southeast Kansas. The Iola High School girls' basketball team, known as the Fillies, won the 2006 Kansas State High School Activities Association Class 4A State basketball championship.”

“Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to add my voice to those thanking our colleague from Missouri for her leadership on this work. It has been a pleasure to work with her and with our colleagues on the other side.”

“Mr. Speaker, on our watch, we prosecuted parents, we prosecuted grandparents, we prosecuted ministers, and we prosecuted coaches. Mr. Speaker, the only evidence you have is what that child can testify to in front of a bunch of strangers in a jury box, a judge in a dark robe, and people in our adversarial system because you rarely have physical evidence in these cases.”

“Madam Speaker, our colleagues on the other side think that if they just talk about enough other things long enough, the clock will run out and that the American people will forget the disaster that the policies of the prior administration created not just on our border but throughout our communities in this country for the prior 4 years.”

“Here is the kicker: It wasn't his first time in the country. It wasn't his first crime in our country. In 2004, he was convicted in California of making a terrorist threat.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I rise in support of the rule and urge this body to adopt it. It is the next necessary step for us to proceed to consideration and ultimately adoption of the National Defense Authorization Act for the 65th year in a row.”

“Representative of the Second District of Kansas where I represent, among others, those associated with Fort Leavenworth, with Fort Riley, with Forbes Field, the 190th Air Refueling Wing, and other important military assets.”

“Mr. Speaker, I was absent from the house to attend the funeral of Kansas City, Kansas, Police Officer Hunter Simoncic, who was killed in the line of duty last month.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of fellow lifelong Kansan, John Brewster ``J.B.'' Hodgdon, who passed away on June 13, 2025. J.B. was born on October 16, 1936, to Bruce and Amy Hodgdon in Kansas City, Kansas.”

“Whereas Congress has played a central role in recognizing ``Jewish American Heritage Month'' since the House of Representatives and Senate passed resolutions in 2005 and 2006, respectively, urging the President to proclaim the national observation of a month recognizing the Jewish- American community; Whereas, since 2006, Presidents Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden have all issued proclamations for ``Jewish American Heritage Month'', which celebrates Jewish Americans and encourages all people of the United States to learn more about Jewish heritage and the contributions of Jewish people throughout the history of the United States; Whereas, since Hamas' deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, antisemitism in the United States has reached record highs with incidents targeting Jews and those who are perceived as Jewish; Whereas, according to the American Jewish Committee, 77 percent of American Jews say they feel less safe as a Jewish person in the United States because of the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks; Whereas, according to the American Jewish Committee, almost 70 percent of Jewish adults report experiencing antisemitism online, including on social media; Whereas, according to Hillel International, 83 percent of Jewish college students have experienced or witnessed some form of antisemitism since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel; Whereas one of the most effective ways to combat antisemitism and hate is through education and awareness of the contributions Jewish Americans have made to the United States through the arts, entertainment, science and technology, military, government, business, culinary traditions, and other fields; Whereas there are many Jewish American inventors that have impacted the everyday lives of Americans for the better; Whereas Irving Naxon invented and patented the slow cooker, taking inspiration from Jewish cooking traditions in Europe; Whereas Sylvan Goldman invented the shopping cart; Whereas Evelyn Berezin invented the first true word- processing computer and automated airline reservation system; Whereas Ralph Baer invented the ``Brown Box'', a prototype for the first multiplayer, multiprogram video game system; Whereas Ruth Handler founded the toy company Mattel and invented the Barbie doll; Whereas Emile Berliner invented the gramophone record and the microphone that became part of the first Bell telephone; Whereas Edwin Land invented the Polaroid instant camera; Whereas Hedy Lamarr invented the concept of ``frequency hopping'' which made possible a wide range of wireless communications technologies, including Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth; and Whereas, to counter the rise of antisemitism, it is critical to increase awareness of Jewish-American contributions to the success of America: Now, therefore, be it: Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) calls on elected officials, faith leaders, and civil society leaders to condemn and counter all acts of antisemitism; (2) calls on the executive branch and State and local leaders to educate the public on the contributions of the Jewish-American community and uplift Jewish stories and voices; and (3) takes all possible steps to ensure the safety, security, and dignity of American Jews in all aspects of their lives, including the workplace, college and university campuses, synagogues, and at home.”

“Mr. Speaker, we have another colleague on our side who now seeks recognition. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Fine).”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished ranking member for his argument and advocacy today. I would just point out to the body that while my distinguished colleague speaks with his usual passion on many subjects, the only subject before us today is whether or not this body is going to pass, to enact, to approve H.R. 2243, the LEOSA Reform Act.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to join my colleagues tonight in recognition of National Small Business Week, and actually, all the parts we have talked about are connected.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for bringing us this important piece of legislation. I haven't been here very long in this body, but I have learned something, and it is amplified today.”