What Sarah Elfreth said, and what was done

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a friend, Jefferson Holland, poet laureate of Annapolis and a modern-day Chesapeake troubadour. Anyone fortunate enough to know Jeff knows that he is a pillar of our community who has dedicated his life to capturing and sharing the essence of the Chesapeake Bay through song, story, and poetry.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Severn School sailing team. This spring, these students made history by becoming the first team ever to win both the Baker and the Mallory National Championships in the same season, but these victories did not come easily.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendy Winters. Eight years ago, on June 28, 2018, a gunman killed these five members of our hometown newspaper, the Capital Gazette.”

“Madam Speaker, ahead of the 82nd anniversary of D-day this Saturday, I rise to honor a distinguished Marylander, Sergeant John Polyniak, a Ranger of the 29th Division, 116th Infantry, Company C, one of the first units to land on Omaha Beach.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today supporting Congressmen Deluzio and Nehls' bipartisan Railroad Retirement Fairness Act. This legislation eliminates outdated provisions of Federal law that unfairly reduce railroad retirement payments for certain retirees and spouses who continue to work in non-railroad jobs after retirement.”

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1352 would designate the General George C. Marshall House in Leesburg, Virginia, as an affiliated area of the National Park System. This is a fitting tribute to a man who left an enduring mark on our national and, dare I say it, world history.”

“Mr. Chair, I rise in support of amendment No. 12 included in this en bloc package and thank the committee for their hard work. For over 180 years, the United States Naval Academy has educated and trained our Nation's finest sailors, marines, and even some Members of Congress.”

“Madam Speaker, if I could, this is the last of a marathon of bills. I think the breadth of the bills we saw today are a testament to this committee, from protecting sequoias in California to addressing invasive blue catfish in the Chesapeake to supporting national parks in Mississippi, Missouri, and Arizona to the bill before us now.”

“Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical piece of legislation. I thank the gentleman from Arizona for helping out today and using the word ``riparian'' on the House floor.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6380, offered by my colleague, Representative Ciscomani of Arizona, which would redesignate the Chiricahua National Monument as the Chiricahua National Park.”

“Madam Speaker, I thank the sponsor of the bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this exciting legislation to create America's next national park. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2196, offered by my colleague, Representative Hudson of North Carolina, which provides the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation with a straightforward extension to establish the National Emergency Medical Services Memorial right here in Washington, D.C.”

“Allowing a philanthropic partner to have exclusive after-hours access to park facilities will be a unique arrangement within the National Park System. I thank the majority for working with us to ensure it includes the right checks and balances.”

“Madam Speaker, in closing, I, again, commend my colleague from Utah. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1665, the DIGITAL Applications Act, sponsored by my colleagues, Representative Cammack and Representative Matsui, which would promote accessibility and transparency in the permitting process for communications use authorizations.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4284, the Small Cemetery Conveyance Act, introduced by the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Leger Fernandez). Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4284 amends the Small Tract Act of 1983 to allow States, local governments, federally recognized Tribes, and land-grant mercedes to request small conveyances of cemetery land.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Billy Keyes, a friend and a beloved Annapolitan, who we lost last week at the age of 104. Mr. Keyes was a World War II veteran, police officer, public school teacher, artist, proud Alpha man, husband, father, and devoted community member.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 90th birthday of Ellen O. Moyer, one of Annapolis's most beloved and influential public servants. A graduate of Penn State University and the first and only woman ever elected Mayor of Annapolis, Ellen set a lasting example of leadership and integrity for young women looking to serve their community.”

“Mr. Speaker, we are taking up time on the floor today because, from coast to coast, I guarantee that we are all hearing the same message from our constituents: The cost of living is just too high.”

“Mr. Chair, 2.8 million acres of farmland protected; 35,000 miles of fish passages opened; nearly 1,500 new public water access sites established; upgrades to every large wastewater treatment plant in the watershed to improve water quality; and the largest oyster reef restoration in the world: These are just five of the biggest wins in the last 43 years of the landmark Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise here today on behalf of the 2026 National School Counselor of the Year, Ms. Danielle Crankfield of Annapolis. Ms. Crankfield of Crofton High School in Anne Arundel County is the first Marylander to earn this national distinction for going above and beyond and inspiring young minds.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1949, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act. Mr. Speaker, I asked for 2 minutes. I only need seven words: We should not be fueling our adversaries.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give voice to an issue that has gone unaddressed for far too long, and it is one this body must take up before it is too late and lives are lost.”

“Madam Chair, House Natural Resources Committee Democrats strongly oppose Biggs amendment No. 29, which seeks to weaken the Department of Defense's work to preserve habitats crucial for military readiness and recovering vulnerable species.”

“Madam Chair, I will close by reiterating that the Department of Defense has not now nor ever before requested this language. Over 20 of my Republican colleagues recognize this very real truth, having voted against this exact language and understanding that responsible conservation and strong national defense go hand in hand.”

“Mr. Speaker, on May 30, Severna Park and Maryland's Third Congressional District lost one of our youngest members of our community, Hugh Nie. Hugh was not even 18 months old when he died of sudden, unexplained death in childhood, or SUDC.”

“Madam Chair, I thank Ranking Member Smith and Chairman Rogers for their leadership and sincere and deep commitment to collaboration. As a freshman and new member to this committee, I was thrilled to see that collaboration and bipartisan commitment throughout the 9-month NDAA process, and there are good things in this bill, as we have heard.”

“Madam Speaker, on March 13, the Department of Defense issued new guidance: Military health clinics overseas would no longer provide rape test kits to American civilian workers and contractors serving alongside our servicemembers abroad.”

“Mr. Speaker, last month, Maryland lost a son, brother, grandson, teammate, mentor, and friend, Darren Foxwell, far too early. Darren grew up playing Little League and working as a camp counselor at the YMCA.”

“At just 18, he was already described by his peers as kind when no one was watching and with maturity and wisdom beyond his years. Yet, on an early Tuesday morning in June, the world lost Darren in a tragic car accident.”

“Mr. Speaker, 7 years ago, on June 28, 2018, a gunman who should never have been able to purchase a firearm, walked into the Capital Gazette and killed five members of our hometown newspaper: Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendi Winters.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Eric Amick as he prepares for retirement after more than 23 years of service to the U.S. House of Representatives. Eric was born in Cumberland, Maryland.”

“Mr. Speaker, 1.4 million meals have been lost at local food banks across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., because of the shortsighted funding cuts to the Department of Agriculture.”

“Mr. Speaker, local law enforcement officers bravely and tirelessly work to protect our communities day in and day out. The situations that these law enforcement officers encounter put them, as we all know, at an increased risk of developing mental health disorders, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety.”

“Instead of addressing this very real public health crisis that our Nation's youth face, the Trump administration has issued a budget proposal that seeks to eliminate funding for specialized crisis services for LGBTQ+ youth.”

“Mr. Speaker, I stand here on the House floor as an American proudly and profoundly shaped by the wonder and joy of public television. Mister Rogers taught us how to be a good neighbor.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to this administration's devastating cuts to FEMA's BRIC program, otherwise known as the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grants. Towns like Crisfield in Maryland, Baltimore, and dozens of communities across this Nation, rely on this funding to ward off the very real and very devastating effects of flooding.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Mark Falkenhan, a Baltimore County volunteer firefighter and Secret Service agent who perished on the third floor of an apartment building in 2011.”

“Under the banner of government efficiency and the claim to reduce waste, DOGE has fired three of the five investigators, which means longer wait times for our first responders who deserve answers as to how their brothers and sisters died in the line of duty and, critically, what changes need to be made to prevent such a death moving forward.”

“Mr. Speaker, Commander Janie L. Mines was the first African-American woman to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1980. Commander Kristine Holderied, a Howard County native, was the first woman to graduate as valedictorian not only from the Naval Academy but from any service academy, in 1984.”

“Mr. Speaker, as a proud gentlewoman from Maryland, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Frank Turner, a distinguished educator and public servant whom we lost earlier this year.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to S.J. Res. 11. As has been said, historic artifacts serve as evidence of ancient civilizations. They teach us about the development of science, trade, transportation, and culture.”

“Mr. Speaker, 44,000 civil servants--hardworking, qualified, passionate public servants--call Maryland's Third Congressional District home. In the last week, thousands have reached out to my office. They were concerned, anxious, and wondering if their government actually values the work they do on behalf of the American people.”