What John J. McGuire III said, and what was done

“Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for their leadership. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this historic National Defense Authorization Act. In the Navy, we used to say: The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.”

“Mr. Speaker, imagine riding 40 miles through dark Virginia woods to save the American Revolution. In June 1781, militia Captain Jack Jouett did just that, galloping from Louisa County in the Fifth District to Monticello, also in the Fifth District, to warn Governor Thomas Jefferson of an impending British capture.”

“Mr. Speaker, Virginia's Fifth can tell one remarkable founding story through four names. Thomas Jefferson gave the Nation its words in the Declaration of Independence and served as Virginia's wartime Governor and our third President.”

“Mr. Speaker, Virginia's Fifth Congressional District began with Thomas Jefferson. He gave independence its voice as the principal author of the Declaration, then helped secure liberty again through the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and the founding of the University of Virginia.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize journalistic excellence in Virginia's Fifth Congressional District. This year, news anchor Noreen Turyn will retire after 36 years at ABC 13 in Lynchburg, Virginia.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Patriot Industries of Louisa County, Virginia, for being named the Small Business Administration's Virginia Manufacturer of the Year. Founded in 2010 by Tom and Sarah Click in a modest 1,000-square-foot facility, Patriot Industries has grown into a leading manufacturer of electrical infrastructure products, operating three U.S.-based facilities and employing nearly 100 Americans.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the centennial anniversary of E.W. Thomas Grocery Store and DMV in Fluvanna County in Virginia's Fifth Congressional District. Since their founding, this family-owned store has withstood the test of time.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7084, the Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026. I am a proud cosponsor of this vital piece of legislation, and I thank my colleague, Chairman Pfluger from Texas, for his leadership on this matter.”

“Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to recognize and celebrate the historic 125th anniversary of Sweet Briar College in Amherst County of Virginia's Fifth Congressional District. Founded in 1901 by Indiana Fletcher Williams, Sweet Briar has spent more than a century preparing women to lead with integrity, resilience, and purpose in critical roles throughout America's workforce.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor athletic excellence in Virginia's Fifth Congressional District. The University of Virginia women's swimming and diving team captured their seventh consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference Swimming and Diving Championship and their 22nd conference title overall.”

“Mr. Speaker, I hope that my colleagues, my friends on the other side, will consider the priority of the safety of American citizens in D.C. and the rest of the country, and keep the city that represents our great Nation safe and beautiful.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my bill, H.R. 6365, the Wintergreen Emergency Egress Act. Wintergreen, Virginia, is a popular tourist destination located in my district.”

“For over 25 years, and working with five other Members of Congress, the Wintergreen community has fought to complete an emergency evacuation route. The town of Wintergreen has already constructed all portions of the road that are not on Federal land.”

“Mr. Speaker, Charlottesville Hyperbarics has become a frontline in the fight for veterans suffering from the invisible wounds of war. They recently launched the Hyperbaric Wellness Foundation and have partnered with the HOW Foundation to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy to veterans battling PTSD or other traumatic brain injury.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Edith Younger Edmunds of Halifax County, an artist who uses her quilts to celebrate African-American history. At 100 years old, Edmunds is still making quilts, a passion she discovered at the young age of 7, and is still using the same sewing machine she had since 1954.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy and life of Timothy C. Hess, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, who passed away peacefully on November 26, 2025.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize a great achievement by a student in Virginia's Fifth District, one that honors both his college and his country. Ryan Sigsbee, a junior at Hampden-Sydney College, won gold while representing the United States in Panama at the World Union of Karate- Do Federations' Latin American Open Tournament this fall.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Liberty University women's soccer team on their 3-0 victory over the Missouri State Bears to claim the 2025 Conference USA Women's Soccer Championship.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 50th anniversary of a great company in my district. Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago, Bill Yancey founded HI-TEST Laboratories to test naval equipment and ships to make sure they can survive shock and vibration.”

“Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment, H.R. 3638, which adds essential language to address the threat posed by foreign entities of concern seeking to disrupt supply chains and undermine United States leadership in artificial intelligence development.”

“Mr. Chair, talking about DOGE is a thinly veiled attempt to score political points by changing the topic of the conversation from this amendment, which protects our national security from foreign entities of concern, and turning it into something political.”

“Mr. Chairman, in closing, this is a commonsense amendment. The United States is in a race with the Chinese Communist Party to be the global leader in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence and other capabilities such as quantum computers.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary achievement in high school athletics by Benedictine College Preparatory School located within Goochland County. They have made program history by capturing its third consecutive VISAA Division I State Championship defeating Trinity Episcopal 20-0.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an extraordinary achievement in high school athletics. Benedictine College Preparatory School, located within Goochland County, has made program history by capturing its third consecutive VISAA Division I State Championship, defeating Trinity Episcopal 20-0.”

“Defensively, the Cadets were nothing short of dominant, ultimately leading to their championship win. Benedictine forced five turnovers, including a critical interception by Malachi Mingo that helped seal the shutout.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Charlie Kirk. The country is heartbroken. As everyone knows, Charlie Kirk was assassinated last week for his beliefs of faith, family, and freedom.”

“Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for their leadership and vision during this process. Mr. Chair, this year's National Defense Authorization Act represents a significant step toward achieving President Trump's vision of peace through strength.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, this one big, beautiful bill delivers the American people the promises of President Trump's America First agenda and prevents the largest single tax hike on the middle class in history.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 692nd Tank Destroyer Battalion for their service in World War II. Their accomplishments cannot be overstated. The 692nd Tank Destroyer Battalion endured 195 consecutive days of combat across Europe in the fall of 1944 through the spring of 1945.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the groundbreaking of Seneca Commerce Park in Campbell County, Virginia, which I attended on Wednesday, April 15. This is the largest project the Economic Development Authority of Campbell County has taken on in over a decade.”

“I thank my friend, the gentleman from Texas, for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and the three bills it provides consideration for.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a good and selfless neighbor in Virginia's Fifth Congressional District, my friend, Rick Grizzell, from Goochland County, Virginia. After Hurricane Helene swept through the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia last year, Virginians across the Commonwealth answered the call.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Gail Acampora from Prospect, Virginia. I am lucky enough to call Gail a close friend of mine. She has always been interested in politics and is an avid supporter of President Trump.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a fellow veteran and champion for students in the Goochland and Richmond community, the president of the Benedictine Schools of Richmond, Jesse Grapes.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember the life of Paul Jackson from Victoria, Virginia. On March 15, Paul's life was tragically cut short while doing what he loved, flying his helicopter.”

“Mr. Speaker, we have some amazing people in Virginia's Fifth Congressional District that spend their life helping others. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish happy birthday to the president of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce, Anne Moore- Sparks, who celebrated her birthday on March 1.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Gleaning For The World, a Christian-based nonprofit in my district, Virginia-05, that helps people recover from disasters. Mr. Speaker, they have distributed over 100 million pounds of humanitarian aid around the globe.”

“Mr. Speaker, southwest Virginia, in Congressman Morgan Griffith's district, has been hit hard by storms over and over again in the past few months, including Hurricane Helene. I visited Damascus in October, where I cooked and served food for first responders with my team for the victims of Hurricane Helene.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about an important milestone in my congressional career. Last week, I introduced my first bill as a Member of this body.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the award-winning TV anchor, Mark Spain. On December 18, central Virginia lost a friend in WSET ABC 13 News anchor Mark Spain after a battle with pancreatic cancer.”

“Mr. Speaker, today I rise today to honor an amazing person, Frances Mae West Byers from Bumpass, Virginia, in my district, Virginia's Fifth Congressional District. Mrs. Byers was born on January 25, 1915, in Hanover County, where my family is from, in the district, and she just celebrated her 110th birthday on January 25, 2025.”

“In 1932, she married John Franklin Byers and became the proud matriarch of a lineage that now spans six generations. Her family's dedication to service is evident with three sons in the military.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the March for Life. Life is a miracle, and it must be protected. I have this small camouflage backpack I have carried in the general assembly for 7 years and now in Congress with a small baby sock to remind us of our most vulnerable.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. It can happen anywhere, and it can impact anyone, regardless of race, religion, or creed.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the Representative of Virginia's Fifth Congressional District. I am honored to serve nearly 800,000 Virginians. Virginia, thousands of miles from the border, is a border State.”