Mark Alford · TranslatePolitics.com

House of Representatives

Agoa Extension Act

2026-09-01

“I don't want the government to shut down. A shut down is bad. It hurt people before. I want a short funding bill to keep the government open. This bill will fund many programs. It will avoid a shut down before the election. I want full funding bills. I don't want last year's shut down to happen again. I want to avoid a shut down. I want to protect the government funding. We need to pass full funding bills. We need to avoid a shut down.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro for their hard work in this endeavor. Mr. Speaker, here we are again. I rise in strong support of this continuing resolution. Last year, Senate Democrats manufactured a 42-day shutdown that punished troops, farmers, veterans, and working families. Airports were backed up and paychecks froze. Rural hospitals and local law enforcement felt the hit, and Missouri families paid the price for Washington games. We will not let that happen again. This clean, short-term continuing resolution keeps the government open through early December. It pays our troops. It funds the Department of Veterans Affairs. It keeps SNAP and WIC operating for Missouri mothers and children. It sustains USDA programs our farmers and ranchers depend on. It funds disaster relief and surface transportation. It does not load the bill with poison pills that invite another crisis right before the American people vote. House Republicans have already done the hard work. They have moved the appropriations bills. They have restored regular order. They fought for fiscal discipline and for real investments in rural America, including more than $20 million that was secured for Missouri's Fourth Congressional District in infrastructure, rural health, agriculture research, and public safety. Mr. Speaker, a continuing resolution is not the finish line. Full- year bills are the finish line, but a shutdown is not a strategy. It is an abdication. It is a political stunt dressed up as principle. The other side had a chance last year to help us fund the government, but they chose leverage instead. They chose chaos instead. Yes, Mr. Speaker, the American people remember that. Today, we choose competence and to keep the lights on. We protect the progress already made. We give appropriators the time to finish our full-year bills without holding servicemembers, farmers, and seniors hostage. You see, Missourians did not send me here to shut the government down for talking points. The American people sent us here to fund the government, to cut the waste, to secure the country, and get results. That is why, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution to keep the government open and then finish the appropriations work the Constitution actually requires of us here in Congress.

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House of Representatives

Stop Insider Trading Act

2026-07-22

“I want to look good. I will not trade stocks. It is wrong to profit from my work here. Do the right thing. Pass this bill. People don't trust us. That is bad.”

Official Congressional Record

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. It is not a pathway to personal profit. Yet, too many Americans look at us here in Congress and wonder if that line has been blurred, not proven, not assumed, but simply questioned. That question alone is a problem. Mr. Speaker, that is because when lawmakers consistently outperform Wall Street, then people start asking questions. They start doubting. They stop trusting in us. For example, Mr. Speaker, there is even a Member here in our body who entered Congress years ago with a net worth in the thousands, and yet now has a net worth of well more than $200 million. That is exactly why this matters, Mr. Speaker. When I came to Congress, I made it quite clear: We should not be trading individual stocks while we are making decisions that shape our economy. That is why I introduced the PELOSI Act to draw a bright, unmistakable line, no stock trading, no gray area, and no doubt, to be above the appearance of impropriety as Chairman Steil said. The very legislation we are debating today from my friend, Chairman Steil, advances that same principle. It says that if you have the privilege of serving in this body and serving your constituents, Mr. Speaker, then you don't get to personally profit from the markets that you help influence. This isn't complicated. The American people shouldn't have to wonder if their Representative is working for them or watching their stock portfolio on their phones here on the House Chamber. Let's remove that doubt. Let's restore trust to this body. Let's raise the standard of each and every one of us here in this body today. If I wanted to, I could have made a lot of money in the last 3\1/2\ years I was here trading stock and probably would be able to afford an apartment somewhere in D.C. However, I don't, and like a lot of Members who don't trade stocks, I sleep on my couch in my office. Do you know what, Mr. Speaker? I sleep well. I sleep well knowing that I am doing the right thing. In closing, I grew up in the Church of Christ down in Baytown, Texas. I worked for a while in West Palm Beach. There was a preacher there named Dan Jenkins who used to say all the time: It is always right to do right. It is always wrong to do wrong. It is never right to do wrong, and it is never wrong to do right. Mr. Speaker, this bill is the right thing to do, not just for the American people, but for our body to restore trust to us.

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House of Representatives

Adjournment from Thursday, July 16, 2026, to Saturday, July 18, 2026, and Adjournment from Saturday, July 18, 2026, to Monday, July 20, 2026

2026-07-16

“I want the House to take a break until Saturday. Then we will work in the morning. We should have a debate at noon. Regular business starts at 2 p.m.”

House of Representatives

Recognizing John Wathan on His Induction into Royals Hall of Fame

2026-07-16

“A man played baseball. He did many things for one team. He is in the Hall of Fame. His city is happy for him.”

Official Congressional Record

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. For more than five decades in baseball, and an incredible 47 years with one organization, John Wathan has done it all: catcher, first baseman, outfielder, manager, coach, broadcaster, and scout. You name it, he has done it. His impact on the game and on Kansas City is simply unmatched. He was there for some of the most defining moments in Royals history, including the club's first World Series in 1985. Long after his playing days, he continued to shape generations of players and strengthen the organization he proudly called home. They called him The Duke, but what truly set John Wathan apart was not just his talent. It was his loyalty, his love, and his humility. The city of Kansas City is 100 percent behind him. This honor is more than overdue. It is a testament to a lifelong commitment to the game, to the city, and to our community. Mr. Speaker, legends aren't just defined by what they achieve but how they are serving others. John Wathan's legacy will continue to inspire for generations to come. We are so proud to congratulate The Duke and his family on this incredible honor.

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House of Representatives

National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027

2026-07-15

“I like this bill. It spends less money than last year. It puts America first. It has more oversight of taxpayer dollars. I don't want taxpayer money spent on woke projects in other countries. I want the money to stay in America. It should support our defense and industry. When we spend abroad, it should help our allies like Israel and Taiwan. This bill is about security and accountability. That's why I support it.”

Official Congressional Record

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. We are talking about security through responsibility today. This is a bill that does something that Washington doesn't always do: It spends less, and it prioritizes more. It cuts spending by $2.6 billion, compared to last year, while putting American interests and national security first. It also demands fiscal responsibility. It strengthens oversight of taxpayer dollars, especially, with new accountability for grant programs, to make sure that taxpayer dollars are not spent on woke projects, like a transgender opera in Colombia. Mr. Chairman, this legislation also makes a simple promise to the American people: If American taxpayers are footing the bill, then more of that money should stay right here in America. It is pretty simple. It should stay in America to support our defense, to support our industrial base, and to strengthen Made in America procurement. When we do spend abroad, it should serve American interests, supporting our allies like Israel and Taiwan. This bill, Mr. Chairman, is about security. It is about accountability, and it is about putting America first. That is why I strongly urge its support.

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