[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 25, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H2926-H2927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TAKING A STEP TOWARD TRUE ENERGY DOMINANCE

  (Mr. Alford of Missouri was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. ALFORD. 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, that is not luck. That is because Congress is working to 
pass President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and it is already 
making a difference in our summer travel plans.
  Mr. Speaker, hardworking American families deserve the freedom to 
fuel up without pinching pennies, and Trump's bill gets us one step 
closer to true energy dominance.
  One of the biggest costs to families hitting the road this summer is 
the price at the pump. That is why we fought hard to include an 
important provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that cuts red 
tape on domestic energy production. It reopens Federal lands for 
drilling and streamlines refinery regulations.
  Mr. Speaker, it is simple: When America produces more energy, we pay 
less at the pump. That means that we don't have to beg foreign 
dictators for oil.
  In fact, experts are already predicting a decline in gas prices as we 
move through the summer months. Usually, they go up because the summer 
fuels are more expensive. Because of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we 
have the freedom to make more summer family memories without breaking 
the bank.
  It is not just about driving, either. If you have flown lately, you 
have probably experienced the delays, cancelations, and chaos plaguing 
America's airlines and our airports.

                              {time}  1015

  President Trump's big, beautiful bill tackles this head-on by 
investing in modern air traffic control technology, expanding staffing 
pipelines, and overhauling the bureaucratic logjam that has kept our 
skies grounded for way too long.
  Mr. Speaker, thanks to President Trump, America will begin 
streamlining hiring for air traffic controllers, improving FAA 
coordination, and bringing our aviation infrastructure

[[Page H2927]]

into the 21st century where it belongs. That means smoother trips for 
everyone just in time for peak summer travel season.
  This bill is exactly the kind of commonsense, America First 
legislation that I came to Congress to support. It is proof that when 
we put American small businesses, our families, and our travelers 
first, we can make real progress.
  Whether you are headed out to one of my favorite spots, Lake of the 
Ozarks, in my district, if you are flying to visit family, or just 
filling up the tank for the weekend, know this: Your summer will be 
easier because we are passing the President's One Big Beautiful Bill 
Act.


        Honoring the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base

  Mr. ALFORD. 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. Trump.
  I also will take a moment to honor the other heroes who are part of 
this historic operation. Pilots from the Air National Guard's 131st 
Bomb Wing, also at Whiteman, made up 50 percent of the flyers alongside 
the 509. The operation, maintenance, and the support personnel also 
contributed significantly to the experience in planning, preparation, 
and execution.
  Just this past weekend, the world saw, once again, what American 
resolve looks like when we are paired with unmatched precision and 
capability. B-2s launched from Whiteman and executed a long-range 
strike against Iran in Operation Midnight Hammer.
  This is one of the best examples of integration of total force that 
has come from Whiteman Air Force Base in recent times. Operation 
Midnight Hammer is a vivid example of what our long-range strike 
capabilities are all about: strategic reach, rapid response, and 
incredible deterrence.
  Let me be clear, Mr. Speaker, these were not just strikes, they were 
a message to the world. It is a message to every rogue regime that 
threatens American lives and our global stability that when President 
Trump draws a red line, he means it. This is what peace through 
strength looks like.
  We are all reminded, once again, that under President Trump, America 
does not bend to tyrants or terrorists. We confront evil. We prove our 
dominance on the world stage, and we ensure that regimes like Iran's 
will never get their hands on a nuclear weapon.
  Let me say one thing for the Ayatollah. He now has a choice. This is 
a time for choosing whether he wants peace or chaos, prosperity or 
poverty, isolation from the rest of the Arab world or integration to 
make the Middle East great again.
  God bless the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings. God bless our airmen and 
women at Whiteman Air Force Base, and God bless Donald J. Trump, our 
President.

                          ____________________