What James R. Walkinshaw said, and what was done

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the opening of Skyview High School in Herndon, Virginia, and to congratulate the students, educators, staff, families, and community members who will make up its inaugural school community.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and celebrate the 100th birthday of my constituent, Mrs. Norma Wilson Gregory. Norma was born on August 2, 1926, and grew up in Kansas City, Missouri.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jamie Bain Hedges upon her retirement as General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Fairfax Water after 37 years of dedicated service to Northern Virginia.”

“Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of Amendment No. 309 to the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act. My amendment would establish a pilot program to enable the Department of Defense (DoD) to more efficiently deploy modern cybersecurity solutions by accelerating the security verification of solutions that have already received FedRAMP High certification.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of John Patrick Dwyer, a devoted husband, father, Navy veteran, labor advocate, and longtime community leader whose service and dedication left a lasting impact on Northern Virginia and all who knew him.”

“John was also a dedicated supporter of civic engagement and public service. For many years, he remained actively involved in local political and community organizations, believing deeply in the importance of participation in our democratic process and in giving back to the community he loved.”

“Mr. Chairman, America's strength in the world has never been that we are perfect. It is that, unlike our adversaries, we have consistently aspired to lead by example and with our values.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the English Empowerment Center (EEC) and to honor the volunteers, instructors, students, community partners, and others who will be recognized at the 64th EEC Recognition Ceremony.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the South Lakes High School Freshmen Girls and Boys Basketball teams for their remarkable achievements during the 2025 to 2026 basketball season.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month and to reaffirm our shared commitment to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and providing compassionate support for those affected by mental health challenges.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mt. Olive Baptist Church of Centreville as it celebrates its annual Youth and Young Adult Day and honors the graduates of the 2025 to 2026 academic year.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Michael Cherry, a constituent from Springfield, Virginia, upon joining the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, widely regarded as one of the most celebrated dance companies in the world.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Claire Kim for her role as President of the Korean-American Next Generation Council. As President of the Korean American Next Generation Council, Claire Kim has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to civic engagement, cultural advocacy, and the development of the next generation of community leaders.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 35th Anniversary of the Sully District, the westernmost supervisor district in Fairfax County, Virginia, which includes communities such as Centreville, Chantilly, Oak Hill, Oakton, and surrounding neighborhoods.”

“Oversight Committee Republicans are once again relitigating a fraud scheme that is being aggressively investigated and prosecuted by federal and state authorities. Rather than advancing meaningful oversight, this inquiry singles out Minnesota for political purposes while ignoring comparable fraud in other states.”

“Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker. Another significant incident of fraud that isn't mentioned in the resolution, and that we haven't mentioned yet today, took place in the State of Texas, where the Attorney General, Ken Paxton, was indicted for securities fraud, and he had to pay $300,000 in restitution and perform community service to avoid potential jail time.”

“Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the gentleman: Would you be willing to ask Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to come before our committee to talk about fraud in Texas?”

“Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time. It doesn't sound like we are going to bring any other Governors or State officials before the committee. As I noted, Governor Walz was with us for many, many hours, but no other Governors have come before us.”

“Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey. A mistrial was declared in that case. A White House statement credited Menendez with supporting clemency for Melgen, who was a donor to Democratic politicians and a longtime friend of the Cuban-American New Jersey senator.”

“While oversight Democrats will oppose this partisan resolution, we are going to continue to support legislation and continue to work in a bipartisan way to combat financial fraud and improper payments, protect the privacy of sensitive taxpayer information, toughen Federal ethics laws, and hold fraudsters accountable, especially those that have been pardoned by President Trump.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the robotics teams from The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia, for their outstanding performance at the Virginia VEX V5 Robotics Competition State Championship.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Public Service Week and to honor the dedicated public servants of the Social Security Administration Reston Field Office who tirelessly serve Virginia's 11th Congressional District each day.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding member of our Northern Virginia community, Kurt Rose, on the occasion of being named the 2026 Citizen of the Year by the Rotary Club of Herndon-Reston.”

“His work in advancing childhood literacy, supporting local nonprofits, and fostering community partnerships embodies the very spirit of this award. Through both his professional endeavors and volunteer service, he has set a standard of leadership that continues to inspire those around him.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the recipients of the 2026 Fairfax County Student Peace Awards. The Fairfax County Student Peace Awards began with one high school in 2006 to encourage high school aged students to think about peace as both a means and an end, and to recognize young people who work as peacemakers.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2026 recipients of the Fairfax County Special Education PTA Awards, an annual tradition that honors the extraordinary educators, students, staff, and community members who champion inclusion and excellence in special education across Fairfax County Public Schools.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Workhouse Arts Center and celebrate the annual Workhouse Ball, an event that highlights the importance of the arts and the lasting impact the Workhouse has had on Northern Virginia.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 60th anniversary of the Vienna Community Center, a historic and enduring gathering place that has served the Town of Vienna and Northern Virginia for generations.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievement of the Fairfax Connector maintenance team and to congratulate them on securing first place at the 2026 Virginia State Bus Roadeo.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Jose Manuel Pizarro Matos upon his retirement from the United States Army after 37 years of distinguished service to our Nation.”

“Madam Speaker, I am reclaiming my time. Madam Speaker, I will just give one agency, Social Security, an agency that has been under assault by this administration. It is estimated that 10,000 times a year, Social Security falsely declares somebody dead.”

“The American people, all of us, deserve to know who and how much they are paying for access to President Trump. For this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee.”

“Madam Speaker, as I have said today, preventing fraud should be a priority for all of us, but this bill gives the Department of the Treasury far too much arbitrary authority to prevent critical Federal assistance from reaching Americans in need in a timely manner.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2025 recipients of the Best of Braddock Awards, an annual tradition in Virginia's 11th Congressional District that celebrates the residents, volunteers, public servants, students, and organizations who strengthen the Braddock District of Fairfax County through extraordinary service and civic leadership.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize April 2026 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month and to reaffirm our shared commitment to protecting children, supporting families, and strengthening communities across our nation.”

“Center play a vital role in this work. SafeSpot partners with law enforcement, child protective services, and other community organizations to support children and families navigating the trauma of abuse.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bob Budoff for his dedicated service as Board President of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington and to thank him for his longstanding commitment to strengthening our community through civic engagement, public service, and interfaith collaboration.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Falun Dafa Month and to acknowledge the contributions of Falun Dafa practitioners in communities across Virginia and throughout the United States.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 2026 recipients of the Northern Virginia Leadership Awards presented by Leadership Fairfax. Leadership Fairfax is a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to inspire, connect, develop, and engage the next generation of leaders in Northern Virginia, so that they are prepared to serve and strengthen our community.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the recipients of the 2026 Annual Privilege Awards, presented by the Bernie L. Bates Foundation, an organization dedicated to strengthening communities across Fairfax County through education, mentorship, and service.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable milestone in our Northern Virginia community, the 75th anniversary of Vienna Little League. For seventy-five years, Vienna Little League has served as a cornerstone of youth development in the Town of Vienna, providing generations of children with the opportunity to learn the game of baseball while building character, confidence, and lifelong friendships.”

“Vienna Little League has played an essential role in shaping young lives both on and off the field. Through its commitment to teamwork, sportsmanship, and perseverance, the league has instilled values that extend far beyond the game itself.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Alfiero Raniero Giamberardino, whose dedication to his craft, his family, and his community left a lasting impact on all who knew him.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of John W. Peterson, a dedicated conservation leader whose lifelong commitment to protecting our Nation's soil and water resources left a lasting impact on Virginia and communities across the country.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Keesha Jackson-Muir on her upcoming retirement after 29 years of dedicated service as a Fairfax County Public Schools Educator. Principal Keesha Jackson-Muir has dedicated nearly three decades of her career to Fairfax County Public Schools, serving students, families, and educators with distinction and unwavering commitment to educational excellence.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize this week as Taiwanese American Heritage Week and to celebrate the many contributions Taiwanese Americans have made to our communities and our Nation.”

“Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the bipartisan amendments en bloc, which includes my amendment to address air quality for our veterans and the Federal employees who care for them.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, a man whose work has quietly shaped how this institution understands itself for more than three decades. Chuck Conlon is retiring after 31 years with CQ House Action Reports.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of John W. Peterson, a dedicated conservation leader whose lifelong commitment to protecting our Nation's soil and water resources left a lasting impact on Virginia and communities across the country.”

“Mr. Speaker, I hear my friends on the other side often talking about the constitutional authority that this Congress has to legislate with respect to the District of Columbia, and I would make two points.”

“With respect to the crime data manipulation, as the gentleman noted, last year the Republicans on the Oversight Committee investigated alleged crime data manipulation in D.C. By the way, it is the same crime data that today they and President Trump celebrate as he claims to have eliminated violent crime in the District of Columbia.”

“Let's do our job in this Congress and work together to bring down costs for the American people. Let the Mayor of the District of Columbia and the District council do their jobs.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the South Lakes High School Freshmen Girls and Boys Basketball teams for their remarkable achievements during the 2025-2026 basketball season.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose President Trump's illegal, unconstitutional, and reckless war in Iran. We are 5 days in, and we have lost six brave American servicemembers, and thousands of Americans are stranded abroad.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the National Court Reporters Association's 2026 Court Reporting and Captioning Week, observed each February to honor the dedicated professionals who preserve accurate and impartial records of court proceedings across our Nation.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Elliot Meyer, my constituent who tragically passed away on December 6 at the age of 32. While his time with us was far too short, he leaves behind an incredible legacy characterized by kindness and a drive to public service.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend Chabad Lubavitch of Northern Virginia on the occasion of its annual Main Street Grand Gelt Drop, a cherished community tradition that marks the beginning of Hanukkah and brings together families, neighbors, and visitors from across Northern Virginia.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Aimee Vosper on the occasion of her retirement from the Fairfax County Park Authority and to commend her for more than a decade of distinguished service to the residents of Fairfax County as Park Authority Deputy Director for Planning and Development and Chief of Business Development.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Protect America's Workforce Act. In my community, Mr. Speaker, public service is a way of life. More than 80,000 of my neighbors work directly for the Federal Government.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill. Codifying the so-called Red Tape Hotline, an anonymous inbox, the contents of which, as the ranking member articulated, we know virtually nothing about, will do nothing to help small businesses.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Omicron Kappa Kappa Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. for its Achievement Week and Honorees. Since 1925, Achievement Week has been an annual, internationally mandated program of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Capital One and its exceptional contributions to our Nation's veterans, service members, and military families. As one of Northern Virginia's largest employers, Capital One has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to supporting those who serve and those who stand beside them.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Kerrie Wilson on her upcoming retirement after nearly 25 years of dedicated service as the CEO of Cornerstones in Reston, Virginia.”

“Ms. Wilson became CEO of Cornerstones in 2001 after a distinguished career at the American Cancer Society, where she focused on cancer prevention for medically underserved communities and ultimately served as the organization's national vice president for government relations.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the recipients of the 2025 Stephen A. McLaughlin Fairfax County Champions of Character Awards. Since 2001, these awards have been presented to athletes, coaches, and parents in our region who exemplify the tenets of teamwork, leadership, good sportsmanship, and community service during athletic competitions.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Mr. Paul Gilbert on his upcoming retirement after two decades of extraordinary leadership as Executive Director of NOVA Parks. Mr. Gilbert has transformed our park system into a vibrant, inclusive network of outdoor spaces that serve more than 2 million residents across Northern Virginia.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Officer Howard ``Howie'' Liebengood for his tremendous service to our Nation as a U.S. Capitol Police officer on January 6, 2021.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the Korean Bell Garden, a symbol of peace, cultural heritage, and enduring friendship between the Republic of Korea and the United States.”

“Their joint effort brought forth a lasting tribute to the values we hold dear: freedom, opportunity, and harmony. Central to this garden stands the Bell of Peace and Harmony, cast in Korea and installed to honor the spirit of unity and the shared commitment to democratic ideals that bind our two nations.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize three outstanding honorees whose leadership, dedication, and compassion were celebrated at the 2025 SPARCLE Awards Celebration Gala, hosted by Specially Adapted Resource Centers (SPARC), an organization that plays an indispensable role in supporting young adults with severe and multiple disabilities in Northern Virginia.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 5214, which erodes the self-governance of the District of Columbia. Mr. Speaker, 2 months ago, I was a local government official not far from here, in Fairfax County.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation to repeal a last-minute, dead-of-night provision added to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act that green-lights eight Republican Senators to raid the Treasury and reward themselves with millions of taxpayer dollars because they were investigated for their involvement in the 2021 insurrection.”

“Mr. Speaker, for years, we have watched dangerous conspiracies like Pizzagate and QAnon shape our political landscape. They helped fuel the rise of President Trump and were built on baseless claims about secret pedophile rings, while the real documented case of child sex trafficking involving Jeffrey Epstein remains shrouded in secrecy because President Trump refuses to release the files.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lt. Colonel Jabar Shabazz, who is retiring after 31 years of faithful service to our Nation, culminating in his service as lieutenant colonel, the highest rank in the Sheriff's Office, immediately below Sheriff.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the First Baptist Church of Merrifield on the occasion of the 155th anniversary of its sanctuary. For more than a century and a half, First Baptist Church of Merrifield has served as a cornerstone of faith, service, and community for the Northern Virginia region.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing October as National Spine Health Awareness Month. In the U.S., 100 million people suffer from neck or back conditions every year according to the CDC.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, observed each October to honor the invaluable contributions of people with disabilities to the workforce and to reaffirm our commitment to expand their participation in the future.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Hickory Farms. Established in 1975, Hickory Farms is a community made up of 198 single-family homes in the Braddock District.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the honorees of the 2025 Elly Doyle Park Service Awards. These awards, sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Authority Board in cooperation with the Fairfax County Park Foundation Board, recognize individuals and organizations for their extraordinary contributions to our environment and public park system.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Northern Virginia community that came together this past weekend for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Out of the Darkness Fairfax Walk at the Mosaic District.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Community Residences Inc. on the occasion of their 50th anniversary. For half a century, this remarkable organization has stood at the forefront of the movement to expand opportunity, ensure dignity, and promote independence for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Northern Virginia.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Korean American Association of the Washington Metropolitan Area (KAAW) and its President, Steve Lee, on the occasion of the 22nd KORUS Festival.”

“Mr. Speaker, across America, hardworking people are struggling to pay their bills. This includes housing, groceries, healthcare, and more. Hundreds of thousands of jobs have been cut due to the DOGE policies.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise with profound gratitude and humility as I begin my service on behalf of Virginia's 11th District. As a lifelong Northern Virginian, I am honored by the trust my community has placed in me.”