[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 110 (Thursday, June 26, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   PAYING TRIBUTE TO KIYA BATMANGLIDJ

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 26, 2025

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Kiya 
Batmanglidj on the occasion of his retirement from Federal service. 
Over the past 21 years, Kiya has honorably served the United States in 
both military and civilian service.
  Kiya started his career in public service as an Army noncommissioned 
officer, serving as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division from 
1986 to 1989. He was also voluntarily recalled to active duty in 
support of Operation Desert Shield.
  For the last ten years, Kiya has served on the House Appropriations 
Committee. He started with the Surveys and Investigations (S&I) staff 
where he served as the branch chief for the defense portfolio. He then 
served briefly on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs 
Subcommittee working the VA portfolio before transitioning to the 
Defense Subcommittee in 2018.
  On the Defense Subcommittee, while in the House Minority, Kiya 
managed the Army, Defense Wide, and Defense Health accounts. When the 
Republicans assumed the House Majority, Kiya oversaw the Military 
Personnel account and the international security cooperation accounts.
  Kiya considers his greatest Committee accomplishment to be securing 
the funding for a 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted personnel 
starting in 2025, the largest increase in over 40 years.
  Kiya's contributions to America's warfighters will endure long after 
his tenure in the House of Representatives comes to a close, and I know 
he will continue to do great work to advance our national defense. On 
behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing 
and commending Kiya for his service to our country. We wish him all the 
best in his future endeavors.

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