James Gallagher

“I want to honor the life of 11-year-old Rylee Rose Belza, who died of cancer. I ask the House to join me in praying for her family.”

“Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor the life of Rylee Rose Belza, a beloved 11-year-old from Marysville who entered into eternity with her Savior on July 8. Rylee was the cherished daughter of Dom and Julia Belza and a loving sister whose joy filled her family’s life. Our hearts are with Dom and Julia. I have seen the deep faith, amazing grace, and love that has been guiding the Belza family during this painful time. Rylee was a bright light. She loved her family, her friends, softball, and fishing. Her church and her faith in the Lord were central to her life. The picture that really stuck with me at her memorial was Rylee worshiping with arms stretched wide even as she was battling cancer. She carried joy into every room and made people laugh. She consistently placed herself behind others. She had a beautiful voice, and she loved to sing ``The Star-Spangled Banner.’’ She wanted to be the President. She told her classmates as much, and, Mr. Speaker, I bet you she would have been. The Yuba-Sutter community has responded with compassion, love, and prayer for the Belza family. Today, I ask the House to join me in praying for Rylee’s family and every person her life touched. Rylee’s life was far too short, but her outsized legacy will remain with her family and her community for many years to come.”

“I want to recognize a nonprofit that helps families build and buy their own homes in northern California. Democratic state leaders have made housing too expensive by adding costly rules and fees. I support bills in Congress to make buying a home affordable for working families, and California leaders should stop driving housing costs up.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Community Housing Improvement Program, or CHIP for short, a nonprofit that is helping working families achieve the American Dream of homeownership across the north State. I recently visited the community of Orland Park Estates housing project in Glenn County, where eight families received keys to homes they helped build with their own hands. These families put in the work. Sacramento should try doing the same. Instead, Governor Gavin Newsom and Democratic politicians have passed costly mandates and excessive fees that keep driving up the price of building a home. It is now a median price of $900,000. California has an affordability crisis because Sacramento keeps making everything less affordable. As a member of the Congressional Real Estate Caucus and a member of the majority, I have been able to support the More Homes on the Market Act, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, and the Uplifting First-Time Homebuyers Act. Together, these bills tackle the housing crisis and make homeownership more affordable for working families, just like those eight families in Orland who now have keys to a new home. CHIP proves that the American Dream is still alive in the north State. These families worked hard for their homes. They earned their keys. The least Sacramento can do is stop making those dreams more expensive.”

“I am asking to take over as the main sponsor of two bills originally introduced by Representative LaMalfa, so I can add cosponsors and have them reprinted.”

“Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 1420 and H.R. 4970, bills originally introduced by Representative LaMalfa of California, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Downing). Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from California? There was no objection.”