[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 30, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4332-H4333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE LIVES OF JACOB HULL AND ROBERT JOHNSON

  (Mr. Gallagher of California was recognized to address the House for 
5 minutes.)
  Mr. GALLAGHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to two of my 
constituents who tragically lost their lives in a senseless act of gun 
violence at a public library in Chico, in the heart of my district.
  Libraries are places of learning and community, spaces where 
families, children, and neighbors come together. Last week, that sense 
of safety was shattered by unimaginable violence.
  I take this time to honor Jacob Hull and Robert Johnson and offer my 
deepest condolences to the families, friends, and community who are 
devastated and forever changed by this tragedy.
  Jacob, or ``Cody'' as he was known, had taken someone he cared for 
deeply, a close friend's 8-year-old daughter, with him for a visit to 
the library. He gave his life that day to protect hers by shielding her 
from the attacker in an act of extraordinary courage and selflessness. 
Because of his actions, she was able to escape, flee to safety, and 
reunite with her family.
  Jacob Hull is a hero.
  Robert spent 30 years as a resident of Orland, California, where he 
spent a career in the ag industry before retiring. He was beloved by 
his family, who fondly referred to him as Uncle Robert.
  Robert found great joy in spending time at that Chico library, which 
his family described as his favorite place in the world. It was a place 
of comfort, of learning, and peace, where he could indulge in his 
passion for reading. Reading was the passion that remained with him 
throughout his life.
  Robert was a quiet strength.
  Both Robert and Jacob were beloved members of the greater Chico and 
Butte County community, whose absence will be deeply felt, and it 
leaves a void that cannot be replaced.
  Members of the Chico community have already banded together to raise 
money in support of the devastated families of both victims. Two 
memorial funds for Cody and Robert have been started by the North 
Valley Community Foundation, and donations can be made on the North 
Valley Community Foundation's website at www.nvcf.org.
 I also extend my gratitude to the librarians, the bystanders, and the 
first responders who selflessly rushed to the scene to provide aid 
during this horrific crime.

  I commend Chief Aldridge and his amazing officers of the Chico Police 
Department, who responded to this incident within 4 minutes. Their 
excellent training was on full display, and they quickly apprehended 
the suspect. Their heroism undoubtedly saved lives that day. We are 
grateful to them, and we salute them, the thin blue line that protects 
our community each and every day.
  No words will ease the deep pain and suffering our community is 
feeling, but I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the memories 
of Jacob Hull and Robert Johnson and in praying for justice and healing 
for their families and our community in the difficult weeks and months 
ahead.


                        California's Fiscal Bust

  Mr. GALLAGHER. Mr. Speaker, a new fiscal year starts off in 
California, and we have a fiscal bust that could cost us vital wildfire 
funding.
  The cap-and-tax system doesn't raise enough money this year. Under a 
terrible deal struck between Gavin Newsom and a select group of 
politicians, money meant for wildfire prevention may be lost because it 
was put into last place under this deal; and the high-speed rail, a 
project that hasn't built a single mile of track, was put in first 
place, along with legislative projects for a select group of 
legislators: $125 million for transit passes, $25 million for a UC 
Climate Research Center.
  One curious one: $85 million of our taxpayer funding to go to some 
entity chosen by the legislature to explore climate innovation and 
solutions for the future--where is it going? No one really knows, but 
what we do know is that wildfire funding could very well be slashed 
under this terrible deal.
  Even worse, our CAL FIRE firefighters' budget could be slashed if we 
do not reach a deal that comes to putting wildfire prevention and 
wildfire suppression first in our State.
  I rise to call out this terrible and atrocious deal, and I demand 
that my former colleagues in the State legislature put wildfire first. 
I demand that they put victims first after they have been through so 
much horror over these many years in California, wildfire after 
wildfire. Put them first by making sure that that funding is there.
  We can do our jobs here in the U.S. Congress, as well, by passing our 
Fix Our Forests Act, which is now on the Senate side. We need to make 
sure that we get that through so that we can increase the pace and 
scale of removing dangerous fuels.

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