What Mark Alford said, and what was done

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Steil for his dedicated hard work on getting this bill to the floor. It wasn't easy. Mr. Speaker, public service is a privilege.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true Kansas City legend, John Wathan, whose lifelong dedication to the Kansas City Royals has now earned him a well-deserved place in the Royals Hall of Fame.”

“Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Diaz-Balart and Ranking Member Frankel for their hard work on putting this bill together. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this fiscal year 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs funding bill.”

“Madam Chair, I thank Representative Harris for his leadership as the subcommittee chair of this great committee, and our ranking member, Mr. Bishop. They are two fine gentlemen who have shepherded this bill through.”

“Mr. Chairman, I thank Judge Carter and Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz for their leadership on this. Mr. Chairman, I tell you what. It is a very rare moment to come on the House floor where we have a committee that has voted unanimously for a bill, and I compliment our leaders for getting this done.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and brother in Christ, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, for yielding. Mr. Speaker, as a little boy from Baytown, Texas, I never thought I would be here on the House floor talking about God Almighty.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Tyler Kemp, owner and CEO of MK Machining, on being named the 2026 Missouri Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S.”

“SEC. 5. STATEMENT OF APPROPRIATIONS. The following sums in this Act are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026.”

“Sec. 404. The Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers is authorized to distribute funds to Federal law enforcement agencies for expenses incurred participating in training accreditation.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and commemorate the extraordinary life and legacy of Minnie Mae Talbott, a remarkable Missourian whose story reflects courage, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to public service.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize a remarkable Missouri business leader and true American success story--Mr. Don Laffoon of Raytown, Missouri--as he begins a well-earned retirement. Don is the longtime President and CEO, and now Chairman of the Board, of Electrical Corporation of America, a Raytown-based company that has grown into a nationally respected contractor operating in more than 40 states, as well as Mexico and Canada.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary American, Alverta Harvey Nichols Hargis, whose legacy represents the very best of our Nation. In 1943, during World War II, Alverta answered the call to serve.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I feel as if I need to start with an apology to the minority leader. I wrongly laughed out loud when I heard him say in the well of the floor of the House of Representatives: ``Yes, we will always support securing the border--today, tomorrow, and forever.'' It was an uncontrollable laugh.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of our AI for Main Street Act. I thank Chairman Williams for his leadership. I also thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle.”

“Mr. Chairman, today we are voting on a two-bill appropriations package that funds Financial Services and our National Security and State Department. This bill keeps the government running, protects America, and respects the taxpayer.”

“Mr. Speaker, for too many American families, the American Dream seems further out of reach each and every year, especially when it comes to owning a home. Do my colleagues know that housing is the number one monthly expense for most families?”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank our chair for his leadership and the ranking member for her leadership, as well. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2965, the Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act of 2025.”

“Mr. Speaker, my blood pressure is up right now. I cannot believe what I just heard on the House floor, the ranking member of this distinguished committee denouncing Trump but will not denounce socialism on the House floor of the U.S.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps, an institution championing courage, discipline, and devotion to duty. For two and a half centuries, Marines have stood on the front lines of freedom, defending our Nation's ideals at home and abroad with unwavering honor.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Cole and our ranking member for their leadership as we move toward regular order in the appropriations process. I appreciate the ranking member's passion because of this issue, but we are not here today, Mr.”

“Mr. Speaker, I highlight a special place in Camdenton, Missouri, in the Fourth Congressional District of Missouri: The Funky Buffalo Coffee House and Trading Company, a weird name, but a great place.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, I am honored to recognize our September Veteran of the Month: Mr. Dale Karst. Dale proudly served in the United States Air Force, entering service on September 16, 1966.”

“Vietnam to meet his newborn child and embracing his wife again, a moment he wasn't sure he would ever see. Today, Dale and his wife, Patty, enjoy time with their grandchildren and working on projects together.”

“Madam Speaker, today we honor a true American patriot, Master Sergeant Robert William Swank as our August Veteran of the Month. He was born in Wichita, Kansas, and reared in Fort Scott.”

“Madam Speaker, today we are proud to honor Anne's Acres, a generational family farm in Lincoln, Missouri, in the Fourth District as our July Small Business of the Month.”

“Madam Speaker, today I rise today to honor Dan & Jerry's Greenhouses, a small business gem in Harrisonville, Missouri, in the Fourth District, our August Small Business of the Month.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize our July Veteran of the Month, Edward Eugene Holmes. He was a proud Missourian and a resident of the Missouri Veterans Home, and I got a chance to meet him this past winter.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. Foxx) for her work on this. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and in strong support of H.R. 1, President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

“Finally, this bill includes a plethora of harmful poison pill riders. It once again prohibits the VA from implementing its interim final rule to protect a woman's right to abortion and counseling.”

“Mr. Speaker, if you are packing up your car, booking a flight, or planning a trip this summer, you have probably noticed that things feel a little bit better this year, a little bit smoother, and much more affordable.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today with immense pride for the brave airmen of Missouri's own 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base in my district, who executed decisive, strategic strikes against the Iranian regime under the leadership of President Donald J.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life of Ms. Sarah Milgrim and to strongly condemn the horrific and heinous anti-Semitic acts of violence like this one around America.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our June Veteran of the Month, a new veteran, Colonel Keith J. Butler. Colonel Butler enlisted in the Air Force in 1991 and was selected for an Air Force ROTC scholarship in 1997.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our June Small Business of the Month, In Full Bloom. In Full Bloom is a flower shop just off the square in Centralia, Missouri, in my district.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the big, beautiful bill. We have done our part here in the U.S. House. It is time for the good folks across the hallway there in the U.S.”

“Mr. Speaker, we now have a chance to deliver real, lasting change for the American people. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is not just a promise that we as House Republicans and President Trump made.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the winners of our 2025 Fourth Congressional District speech competition for the great State of Missouri. This is our second year to do this.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Missouri's Fourth Congressional District May Small Business of the Month, Alewel's Country Meats. What better month to highlight this amazing small business than National Beef Month?”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our May Veteran of the Month, Mr. Rick Fullerton of Independence, Missouri. He is a World War II vet and lives at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg in our district.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Rhode Island, and I am honored to follow my friend from Kansas City, Reverend Emanuel Cleaver. Mr. Speaker, I agree with him.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am proud to announce our winners today for our second annual Missouri's Fourth Congressional District speech competition for 2025. This is something we started last year here in this very Chamber, and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to maybe adopt this in their district to try to re-instill patriotism into our great Nation.”

“Kit was a true statesman and a mentor to many, including myself. He represented the highest ideal of public service. Having served for more than 40 years, including as Missouri's youngest-ever Governor and later as United States Senator, Kit's impact can be felt all over Missouri and across America.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John M. Foster of Harrisonville, Missouri, as our April Veteran of the Month. A proud son of Cass County, John served 9 years in the Active Army Reserve with the 4th Squadron of the 4th Cavalry Division of the 102nd Infantry Division, earning the rank of sergeant first class.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an iconic Fourth District small business, our Small Business of the Month, Pete & Jake's Hot Rod Parts of Peculiar, Missouri.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a heroic resident of Missouri's Fourth Congressional District, Mr. Danny Wells. Mr. Wells is a team leader for the public works department in the city of Peculiar.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding American and our March Veteran of the Month, Lieutenant Commander Greg Cowan, United States Navy, Retired, from Lebanon, Missouri, in Laclede County.”

“Boutique, located in the historic district of Fayette, Missouri, as Missouri's Fourth Congressional District March Small Business of the Month. Owned by Cana Conrow, Gold Apple Boutique is a shining example of entrepreneurial spirit and community dedication.”

“Mr. Speaker, I will just preface my remarks by saying how much respect I have for the ranking member and her passionate arguments. Although we don't agree, I respect her highly.”

“Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor our February Veteran of the Month, Randall E. Watson. Randall is a retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 4, or CW4, and human resources officer with more than 24 years of service.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor our February Small Business of the Month, Thai House, in Lebanon, Missouri. In 2009, Chutiwan Kingnak Tracy met her husband, Michael Tracy, and left her home in Thailand to begin her journey to live out the American Dream.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say happy birthday to my mother, Carolyn Sue Adams Alford. It is her 86th birthday today. My mother was a schoolbus driver, an executive assistant at Exxon USA, a mother of four boys, and a Sweet Adeline with always a song in her heart and great advice for her four boys.”

“Madam Speaker, today, I rise with an extremely important declaration about the Kansas City Chiefs. I am honored today to be wearing the red blazer that I made for the late, great Tony DiPardo, the bandleader for the Kansas City Chiefs for many years.”

“Madam Speaker, today, I rise to honor our January Veteran of the Month, Michael ``Mike'' Tracy. Mike entered the Air Force Delayed Entry program in 1975 where he reported to basic training, Air Force leadership school, and Air Force Security Police School at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.”

“Madam Speaker, today, I rise to honor our January small business of the month, Janine's Flowers. This fantastic business in Camdenton has been serving the lake area with floral artistry through weddings, proms, first dates, and so many other special occasions.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong and unwavering support for protecting women, protecting women's sports, and passing H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise to honor our December Veteran of the Month, Major Jamie Melchert, who was born in Sedalia, Missouri. Major Melchert enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1998 and completed two combat tours, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.”