[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H143-H144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               FOLLOWING THROUGH ON AMERICANS' PRIORITIES

  (Mr. Mann of Kansas was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, as we begin the second session of the 119th 
Congress, we should take a moment to reset our focus and remember why 
we are here. A new year and a new session bring new opportunities, but 
the mission remains the same. Kansans sent me to Washington, D.C., to 
deliver results for the people of the Big First District, and that is 
what I will continue to do.
  The Big First is home to farmers and ranchers who get up before the 
sun and work until the job is done. It is home to small business owners 
and families who balance budgets, meet payroll, and expect the same 
discipline from the Federal Government. Kansans are practical people 
who believe in hard work, common sense, and accountability. We don't 
want excuses. We expect results.
  After President Trump's first term, the Biden administration 
inherited near-record lows in inflation and an agricultural trade 
surplus of $6 billion. After 4 years of failed Democratic policies, we 
were left with a 21.5 percent increase in prices and an agricultural 
trade deficit of $40 billion.
  When a ship runs into an iceberg, it takes time to turn the ship 
around, Mr. Speaker. You need to bail the water, repair the planks, and 
restart the engine before you can fully correct course. Fortunately, 
thanks to the leadership of President Trump and congressional 
Republicans, we are back on track and moving away from the iceberg that 
was President Biden's administration.
  Over the course of the first session of this Congress, we made 
important progress for Kansans. We pushed back against burdensome 
regulations that drive up costs for Main Street. We worked to 
strengthen American energy production so families can afford to heat 
their homes and fuel their vehicles. We advanced policies that support 
agricultural producers and rural communities and restored the rule of 
law at our border. Most importantly, we cut taxes for working families, 
giving the average Kansan $2,200 more per year in take-home pay 
beginning this month.
  That work matters, and I am proud of the progress we have made, but 
after the damage done by the previous administration, there is much 
more work to do. That is what this second session must be about.
  For Kansans, this starts with agriculture. Farmers have been facing 
higher input costs, tighter margins, and growing uncertainty since 
2021. They need predictability, risk management tools, and a strong 
farm safety net. Completing a farm bill that reflects the realities on 
the ground is vitally important, and I will continue pushing for a 
fiscally conservative, 5-year farm bill that reflects the priorities of 
our producers who feed, fuel, and clothe the world.

  While real wages are rising and inflation is nearing a 5-year low, 
there is more to be done to lower costs for families and small 
businesses. Washington regulations often hit Americans hardest in rural 
communities like the ones I represent. Commonsense regulatory relief is 
not about cutting corners. It is about letting people work, grow, and 
innovate without unnecessary government interference.
  Energy is another area where House Republicans are working hard for 
the good of our Nation. Kansans support an all-of-the-above energy 
strategy that prioritizes American oil, gas, biofuels, and renewables. 
This approach supports good-paying jobs, strengthens our economy, and 
keeps prices affordable. Green New Deal policies that pick winners and 
losers or ignore rural realities do not work in places like the Big 
First of Kansas, and this Congress has a responsibility to pursue 
solutions grounded in reality, not ideology.
  Finally, Congress needs to ensure that we continue good stewardship 
of hard-earned taxpayer dollars. Families in Kansas must make tough 
choices every day, and they expect their government to do the same. 
Last year, we rescinded $9.4 billion in waste, fraud, and abuse found 
in Federal programs, such as funding for Iraqi ``Sesame Street,'' 
electric buses in Rwanda, and LGBTQ programs in Uganda. Fiscal 
responsibility is not optional. It is a basic obligation that House 
Republicans are focused on each and every day in the 119th Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, the second session of this Congress is not about 
starting

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over. It is about following through. Kansans sent me here to stay 
focused on results, not political noise. I will continue working to 
make sure this body delivers real outcomes for the Big First District 
of Kansas and keeps its promises to the people whom we serve.

                          ____________________