[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 5, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H983-H984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            AMERICA IS BACK

  (Mr. Mann of Kansas was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, on November 5, 2024, America endorsed the 
greatest political comeback in modern history by electing President 
Trump the 47th President of the United States. The country rejected the 
chaos sowed by the Biden-Harris administration for the past 4 years and 
voted for the candidate that could lead our country and make America 
strong again. On day one, President Trump, alongside the Republican 
majorities in the House and Senate, moved full steam ahead to deliver 
on the country's mandate, and we are committed to upholding the 
promises made to America.
  Last night, I joined Members of this body to hear President Trump's 
first joint address in this very room to the Nation since he was sworn 
in for a second term. President Trump's vision and direction for the 
country could not be more clear, and I applaud him for keeping the 
promises that he made to the American people.
  President Trump has worked to make America secure and competitive 
again. We are leading on the world stage and actually establishing 
peace through strength. Our border is secure again, and President Trump 
is making it clear to the drug cartels and bad actors that if they 
enter the United States illegally, they will be deported. During his 
first full month in office, there were only 8,326 apprehensions at our 
Nation's borders. Compare that to President Biden's failed leadership 
where 8,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended in one day. It is 
amazing. Deploying common sense and actually enforcing the law goes a 
long way.
  House Republicans passed legislation like the Laken Riley Act and the 
Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act that protect American 
citizens. That is what Americans overwhelmingly voted for in this past 
election, and the work has only just begun.
  Last week, House Republicans took a crucial first step to unlock the 
process to advance President Trump's full legislative agenda. This 
Republican majority will not stop fighting until the President's agenda 
is in place. That means rooting out wasteful, fraudulent, and abusive 
spending. That means responsibly stewarding the American tax dollar and 
putting those dollars in places that they can see a return. That means 
investing in our national security and protecting the safety of our 
fellow Americans. It means extending

[[Page H984]]

the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and preventing American families from 
seeing a 22 percent tax hike next year.
  As the President stated last night and in his inauguration address, 
the golden age of America is just beginning. I have never been more 
thankful to have a President who isn't afraid to keep his promises to 
the American people and to fight tooth and nail to put American 
Families first. I thank President Trump for his leadership. I look 
forward to working with him and his administration to deliver policies 
that deliver for American families and usher in a new era of American 
greatness.


                        Farewell to Riley Pagett

  Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, the Big First District of Kansas is the third 
largest ag-producing district in the country. Agriculture is the key 
component of our DNA, and it is in our blood. It is a lifeline for many 
of the communities I represent. When I was elected to Congress, I knew 
that I needed a team who understood Kansas agriculture and who would 
fight relentlessly for the farmers, ranchers, and ag producers in my 
district.
  The Lord provided abundantly by introducing me and my chief of staff 
to Riley Pagett. Riley grew up in Woodward, Oklahoma, but he was born 
in the Big First District in Liberal, Kansas. Growing up on his 
family's farm and ranch, Riley's leadership skills developed early on. 
He was involved in FFA, serving as a State officer for Oklahoma and 
eventually as the national president of the organization.
  After graduating from Oklahoma State, Riley moved to Washington, 
D.C., to work for then-Chairman Lucas on the House Agriculture 
Committee. There he was part of the 2014 farm bill and later spent a 
few months with Senator Lankford before serving as the director of 
advocacy and government relations for the national FFA organization.
  He would go on to serve in the first Trump administration as the 
chief of staff of USDA's Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement 
for almost 2 years before joining my team as my agriculture staffer, 
legislative director, and deputy chief of staff.
  Riley has excelled in these roles and has been a key player in 
helping me establish the Congressional FFA Caucus, craft sound food and 
farm policy, and fight for Kansas priorities in the next farm bill. 
Those who know Riley know that that just scratches the surface of who 
he is.
  Riley is an incredible friend, a loyal advocate and mentor for his 
teammates and colleagues, a proud son, a champion for agriculture, a 
caring father to his kids, Blakely and Ford, a loving husband to his 
wife, Lauren, and most importantly a man with a deep love for the Lord.

  Next week, Riley will start a new endeavor in the second Trump 
administration at USDA. There are few words to describe how much he 
will be missed at 344 Cannon and the Big First, but Audrey and I cannot 
be more proud of him or grateful for his service to our district and to 
the team.
  Team Mann will be praying over this next chapter for him and Lauren 
and cheering him on every step of the way. I thank Riley for his 
service. Godspeed.

                          ____________________