[captioning made possible by th, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. The chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. The clerk the speakers rooms. Washington, d. C. May 1, 2024. I hereby appoint the honorable erin h houchin to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. Signed, mike johnson, speaker of the house of representatives. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the order of the house of january 9, 2024, the chair will now recognize members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour debate. The chair will alternate recognition between the parties with time equally allocated between the parties and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and the nye mortgage whip minority whip limited to five minutes. But in no van shall debate no event shall debate continue beyond 11 50 a. M. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from california for five minutes. Mr. Valadao madam speaker, californias in its second consecutive wet year. Every major reservoir in our state is above a 15year average and our snow pack in the sierras is at more than 100 of average for this time of year. These conditions should mean that our farmers and communities are finally getting the water deliveries that they desperately need after years of drought. Sadly, thats not the case. Central Valley Project contractors rely on meaningful allocations from the bureau of reclamation for their yearly planning, including the type of crops theyll plant and when. Despite these favorable conditions, our south of delta farmers were still not allocated 100 of the water they contract and pay for from this year for this year from reclamation. In february, our south of delta farmers were allocated just 15 of their contracted supply. In march, these numbers were updated to 35 . Just last week these allocations were bumped to 40 , a mere 5 increase with no real explanation or transparency on the Decision Making process. A 5 increase is insufficient for our family farms and drown stream communities who rely on down stream communities who rely on these to grow the food that feeds the world. California grows a quarter of our nations food so these allocations are critical to the fate of our nations food supply. I urge reclamation to significantly increase the allocations for south of delta water contractors so our communities can meet the nations food supply needs. Food security is National Security and our ability to grow food for the nation will not survive without reliable water supply for south of delta agriculture. Thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair now recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Davis, for five minutes. Mr. Davis madam speaker, it breaks my heart to share that something just doesnt seem quite right speaking without first hearing the voice of the gentleman from new jersey, the honorable Donald Milford Payne jr. No matter how soon you would come to do a oneminute speech, donald payne was always first. I never figured out how he somehow beat everyone to the chamber all the time. No matter how many oneminute speeches the rest of us did, donald would always do more. One time our friend, mr. Joe neguse from colorado, suggested that i had done more oneminutes than mr. Payne. Why did he do that . Donald quickly corrected him. The name donald means ruler or king. Indeed, donald was the oneminute king. Many days we sat together, he would review his notes, going over what he was going to say, waiting to hear those words, for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition recognition . Donald would then gently walk to the podium with his ipad in hand. Although he mostly said what he needed to in one minute, occasionally getting the gavel, madam speaker, i must use a fiveminute time period today because one minute would not do mr. Payne justice. Donald was not only a styling and colorful individual, but he also brightened the house with his presence. He brightened us with his bow ties, he brightened us with his glasses. He brightened us even with his matching socks. He brightened us by using his voice as an instrument to speak up for the people of new englands 10th new englands 10th congressional new jerseys 10th Congressional District. Thats why he consistently received the john r. Lewis award for his advocacy as captured right here. Look at him. Hes happy, hes at peace, hes living the dream. Hes on cloud nine. Hes at peace. We also had a special connection because there are a fair number of People Living in new jersey who are actually from North Carolina. We had many memorable conversations about mutual friends between votes, while sitting in the first and second seat, waiting for oneminutes. New jersey, pleas please know that North Carolina stands with you. Donald payne was an encourager. And his last words to me were, youre a good plan and i want to help you. He said, take care and ill see you soon. And little did i know that that would be our last conversation. His life and legacy deeply inspired all of us and i will always cherish the moments we spent together. Donalds father, he served in the peoples house for about 35 years. And were deeply grateful for their service. When his father passed, donald assumed office, he once said, im following a legacy and im not backing away from that. He didnt back away from that. He continued his fathers legacy, he continued to set a legacy for his three children and children across the country. And he continued the legacy by making america better. My heart goes out to his wife, beatrice, and the payne family. And i extend to you my deecht condolences my deepest condolences. And to new jerseys 10th Congressional District. The flowers that now rest in the seat donald often occupied reflect his inner beauty and radiance. Madam speaker, donalds last floor speech, interestingly, was on housing, out of all issues. What a way to end. What a way to remind us all that there is a house of many mansions. Donald, thank you for showing us humility, showing us neatness, showing us kindness, brightening this institution and using your voice to advocate for the American People. Farewell, my friend. And, yes, i look forward to seeing you soon. You will always be remembered and we miss you dearly. I end today with the last words donald payne spoke and shared on the floor on march 22. He ended his final oneminute speech this way. And with that, mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields. The chair recognizes the gentleman from tennessee, mr. Kustoff, for five minutes. Mr. Kustoff thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to pay tribute to a west tennessee native and a true american patriot, the 73rd adjutant general of tennessee, Jackie Daniel dan wood. Major general dan wood passed away peacefully at his home in tennessee on april 12. Dan, as he was known, was born on maple street in lexington, tennessee. He attended Lexington City School and Lexington High School where he enjoyed playing basketball. In 1961 dan wood answered the call to serve our nation and enlisted in the United States army. And then shortly thereafter, he deployed to vietnam and bravely answered his call to duty. Upon his return home, dan enlisted in the Tennessee ArmyNational Guard. He completed officer candidate school at the Tennessee Military Academy and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1966. General wood went on to serve as commander of the fourth battalion, the 117th infantry, the 30th separate armored brigade and then in 1995 dan wood was named as adjutant general by my friend and a former member of the house of representatives, the late governor don sunclift. General wood held this position until his retirement in july of 2022. He oversaw numerous deployments of soldiers and airmen overseas. He ushered the National Guard into the 21st century. And he coordinated the tennessee National Guards response to the september 11 terrorist attacks. Neral dan wood served in the military for more than 40 years and is a proud fourth generation citizen of Henderson County and a fifth generation tennessean. We mourn a son of tennessee but we also celebrate a true american hero. Our thoughts and prayers remain with his wife of 62 years, janice, his son, stewart, his daughter, amy, and three grandchildren. Dan wood taught us all what it means to serve your country and to dedicate your life to preserving freedom for generations of americans. We truly miss him. And with that, mr. Saker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields. The chair recognizes e gentlewoman from alabama, ms. Sewell, for five minutes. Ms. Sewell mr. Speaker, i rise today to honor the extraordinary career and achievements of Lieutenant General a. C roper. The first africanamerican three star geral in the u. S. Army reserve. As he celebrates his retirement from 41 years of service in the United States army. Lieutenant general ropers extraordinary career began after he was commissioned in 1983 as a student at the university of alabama at birmingham. He has an ex tensive military an ex tensive military education and an ex tensive military ed extensive military education. Throughout his exemplary career, Lieutenant General roper moved quickly up the ranks and broke down barriers for africanamericans serving in the armed forces. On may 14, 2021, he made history as the first africanamerican to become a threestar general in the u. S. Army reserve. Most recently, he served as Deputy Commander of the u. S. Northern command and Vice Commander of the u. S. Element f north American AerospaceDefense Command at Peterson Air Force base in colorado. He has received numerous awards and decorations. I got to know Lieutenant General roper during his time as the chief of police for Birmingham Police department. I was immediately impressed by his firm, yet compassionate, leadership style that commanded the respect of his fellow officers and endeared him to the birmingham community. Lieutenant general ropers reputation has always been one of great purpose and great passion. Hes an honorable man guided by an abiding faith in god and a love of country. On behalf of a grateful nation, i ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the retirement of Lieutenant General a. C. Roper after 33 years in Law Enforcement and 41 years of military service. Mr. Speaker, i rise to honor the awardwinning Small Business owners in alabamas seventh Congressional District. As we celebrate this week, national Small Business week. Ms. Jackie smith is a proud owner and operator of a coffee shop in reflections in our hometown of selma, alabama. After leaving her job in 2011, jackie bravely took on the risk of opening up her own Small Business, turning the site that once was a segregated diner into a beautiful coffee shop in the heart of downtown selma. For 13 years, the coffee shop has provided a place for community to come together, learn about selmas history and eat some great food. Like any business owner, jackie has had her fair share of hardships. After the tornado of january 12, 2023, we saw her resilience and thanks to an investment by the s. B. A. , she was able to open her doors and continue the coffee shops great legacy. And in fact she opened up another business, reflections. This week her extraordinary entrepreneurship earned her the National Recognition as a Small Business administrations 2024 phoenix award winner for outstanding Disaster Recovery efforts. We congratulate her on her Outstanding Achievements. Today we also recognize s. B. A. s 2024 Small Business persons of the year in alabama. That was sanaa, timothy, and robert of Transformation Partners llc in tuscaloosa, alabama. Beginning in the year 2000 as a statewide training provider, her firm has grown tremendously over the past two decades. Today they serve numerous clients in the field of higher education, government, military, Corporate America covering Consulting Services and Employee Development programming. Transformation partners was hit hard by covid19 pandemic but once again thanks to the assistance of the s. B. A. The firm remained operational and weathered the storm. Now the efforts have earned them National Recognition of s. B. A. s 2024 national Small Businesspersons of the year for alabama. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the outstanding entrepreneurship in alabamas seventh Congressional District. Congratulations to all of our winners. We wish you much success in the years ahead. Thank you. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields. The chair recognizes the gentleman from tennessee, mr. Rose, for five minutes. Mr. Rose mr. Speaker, i rise to honor the incredible life of rebecca dawn foster. Rebecca was many things to many people. A beloved daughter, sister, w wife, mother, and most recently grandmother. Above all else, rebecca was an amazing human being and devoted christian who did everything to serve others and leave this world better than she found it. Rebecca was my friend. Rebecca was born on september 30, 1968 to wesley and fay neal, a native of tennessee, she graduated from clerk range high school where she competed on the 1983, 1984, and 1985 Girls Basketball state championship teams. And she would tell you if she was here they came that close to winning again in 1986. Memories of those wins spark joy throughout her entire life. Rebecca earned a bachelor of science in nursing and later a master of science in nursing info mattics from tennessee technological university. She had a distinguished 29year career in health care. Most recently in the role of chief nursing officer for cumberland medical center. In 2019 she graciously agreed to take on a new occupation, focused on constituent care rather than patient care as my district director for tennessees sixth Congressional District. Her dedication to service lives on through her family. Rebecca took enormous pride in her husband who serves as mayor of cumberland county, tennessee. Her daughter, brook, who followed in her footsteps in nursing, and her son, who is a sworn Police Officer for the city of crossfield. Shes also survived by her beloved granddaughter, aca write, rebecca took such joy from being with her. She is survived by parents wesley and fay neal. Sister sharon reagan, motherinlaw and soninlaw. Rebecca had a lifelong passion for singing. She served as music director at Oak Hill Baptist Church for nearly 15 years n fact, the sunday before her passing rebecca was on stage with her daughter singing her heart out and worshiping the lord with the help of the pulpit to keep her balance. There are simply few among us as special as rebecca dawn foster. She was first diagnosed with cancer in 2023. During the difficult period that followed, many around her were fearful, but she chose to be faithful. Despite the intense treatments, she underwent and sometimes painful side effects that she endured, she continued to work as she was able and did so with the smile with a smile on her face. If you talked to rebecca any time since last july, you were much more likely to find her smiling and showing pictures of her gracious precious little granddaughter than talking about her health battle. Her optimism lulled many of us into believing that there was many years ahead that we would get to enjoy our relationships with rebecca. The day before her passing, rebecca shared a page from her prayer devotional on social media. It was titled, unafraid. And based on the book of hebrew, chapter 13, versus five and six, which reads in part, i will never leave you. I will always be by your side. Rebecca never questioned the presence of the lord. She lived a full life as a result. She knew gods plan for her was not to live in fear but to live in faith and to love others while she was here. Rebecca knew each day and the good things in it are blessings from the lord above. She kept cheerful faith throughout her painful health struggle. Last week she went home to have and received her eternal reward. Glory be to god for Rebecca Foster who came into our lives and with her talents and vivacious spirit, left us forever changed for the better. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields. The chair recognizes the gentlewoman from michigan, ms. Slotkin, for five minutes. Ms. Slotkin thank you, mr.