Johnson, Mike RSS Articles

House Republicans Stand Up for America’s Veterans

Thu, 21 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — This week, House Republicans passed two pieces of legislation supporting America’s veterans: the Veterans 2^nd amendment Protection Act – authored by Chairman Mike Bost, and the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act – authored by Rep. Tom Barrett.

“Every member of Congress is keenly aware that American strength and freedom are not free; they’re paid for and secured by the selfless sacrifice of our military personnel and their families,” Speaker Johnson said. “As Memorial Day approaches, this week, House Republicans advanced two pieces of legislation which will safeguard the constitutional rights of American veterans and deliver meaningful relief to Gold Star families. It’s our duty to support the men and women who put their lives on the line for our freedom, and I commend Chairman Bost and Rep. Barrett for their leadership in support of America’s veterans.”

“As our nation observes Memorial Day next week, it was a privilege to pass two vitally important veterans’ bills out of the House this week. Both the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act, as well as the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, will make a real difference in veterans’ lives. The one percent – the men and women who raise their right hand to defend life and liberty for Americans they will never know – are who both these bills are for,” Chairman Bost said. “The first bill, H.R. 6047, raises the VA benefits for severely disabled veterans and their families who live with the visible wounds of military service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, as well as the Gold Star families of our nation’s fallen heroes. These American families would never ask for anything, but our nation owes them a debt that can never fully be repaid. H.R. 6047 takes a step forward to do that for the first time in over 20 years. I want to thank both the Briley and Edmundson families, as well as our veteran service organization community, for their tireless advocacy on this landmark bill,” Chairman Bost continued. “The second bill, H.R. 1041, ends a government overreach that – for far too long – has wrongfully targeted veterans and infringed on the rights granted to every single American citizen by the Constitution. This bill has been a longstanding priority for me both as a veteran, and as a sportsman, and I am proud to see it through. I am disappointed that a number of our Democrat colleagues chose politics over veteran families this week, but the American people should trust that House Republicans will continue to steer the ship and deliver results on the promises we have made to the men and women we proudly serve. I hope the Senate will pass these good bills as soon as possible.”

“Our nation can never fully repay the debt we owe to the heroes and families who have served and sacrificed for our freedom,” Rep. Barrett said. “But passing my bipartisan legislation today is further proof that we will never stop trying. The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act will finally deliver a long-overdue increase in financial support for catastrophically injured veterans and the loved ones of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. I worked hard with my colleagues to get this bill done and am proud it includes another one of my bills to help more service members and veterans achieve the American Dream of homeownership. These benefit expansions will help our veterans and military families who have given so much for our nation.”

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Speaker Johnson: House Housing Affordability Bill Will Increase Supply, Lower the Cost of Housing for Working Families

Wed, 20 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — This morning, at the House Republican Leadership press conference, Speaker Johnson highlighted House Republicans’ bipartisan efforts to lower the cost of housing for working families, support America’s veterans, and ensure immigration enforcement and border security are funded for the remainder of President Trump’s term. Speaker Johnson also highlighted Democrats’ refusal to support the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum unless biological men are included.

“It's going to increase the supply and it's going to make it easier for local banks to deploy capital in their own communities. And all those things are going to help with the cost of living, help with affordability,” Speaker Johnson said. “It's going be a big thing for the people. The House and Senate remained closely aligned on getting the best possible product to the President's desk. And we'll do that in very short order.”

Watch Speaker Johnson’s remarks here.

On Budget Reconciliation 2.0:

Republicans are still on track to complete the reconciliation process on time by the June 1 deadline that we set. Leader Scalise talked about that. We're going to fully fund immigration enforcement and border security and our reconciliation bill. Again, it's worthy of note. That is rather a shocking proposition. The Democrats don't want to have anything to do. Think of it. They don't want to give $1, one penny, to border enforcement, border security, and immigration enforcement. So sadly, we've got to do that ourselves. We don't yet know exactly what form that bill will take because it's still going through the parliamentary process there and working through the committees and the floor vote. But we'll process it as soon as we get it, and we're anxiously awaiting it in the House. We expect that it’s going to happen here by Thursday. That's the hope.

On House Republican legislation to support America’s veterans:

And we give credit where credit's due. And I want to thank our Republican House Chairman Mike Bost and Representative Tom Barrett, who worked on these two bills that will safeguard the constitutional rights of American veterans and deliver meaningful relief to Gold Star families at a time when the world faces grave threats, not the least of which include Iran – the largest state sponsor of terror. Every one of us is keenly aware that American strength and freedom are not free. And they're paid for by the selfless service of military personnel who serve our nation every single day. And we're reminded of that fact. We're going to pause to remember those and their families, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We benefit from their heroic work every day. And we should never take that for granted.

On Democrats prioritizing transgender men over biological women:

Nicole and others have done a lot of good faith work for years on this. 230 bipartisan co-sponsors is the actual number right now. But suddenly, in spite of that, Democrats are all backing out. And you heard Leader Scalise talk about this. It's just an incredible thing. Why are they backing out? Simply because the bill reinforces an objective truth that a museum for women – get ready – should showcase only women. Okay? That's the concept that got them all riled up. Here's the language of the commonsense amendment that was added to the bill that made all the Democrats run for the hills. “The museum shall be dedicated to preserving, researching and presenting the history, achievements and lived experiences of biological women in the United States.”

The addition of the word biological made then all run for the hills. I mean, if that's controversial in Democratic Party, we’re in serious trouble. The party that purports to support women, demanding that the museum include biological men. The Democrats may be okay ceding control of their party to the most radical Far-Left people in the country. But Republicans are not going to be any part of that. We're not going to stand for it and neither are the overwhelming majority of Americans who still believe in common sense

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House Passes Transformational Housing Affordability Legislation to Help Restore American Dream for Working Families

Wed, 20 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson released the following statement after an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the House voted to pass H. Res. 1299, an amended version of the Senate-passed 21^st Century ROAD to Housing Act.

“The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is transformational legislation that will immediately address the housing affordability problem and bring the American Dream back within reach for millions of young and working American families. This bill delivers on our promise to reduce restrictive regulations, increase the housing supply, limit institutional investing in the housing market, and drive down the price of homes nationwide.

“Chairman Hill, Ranking Member Waters, and the entire House Financial Services Committee did exceptional work to achieve a bipartisan product that delivers the housing policy President Trump has called for and that voters demand. We are grateful that a strong, bipartisan majority of the House voted to pass this legislation today, and we urge the Senate to swiftly do the same.”

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Speaker Johnson Leads Nation in Prayer of Rededication

Mon, 18 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — Yesterday at Rededicate 250, Speaker Johnson led thousands gathered on the National Mall in a prayer of rededication, acknowledging God’s providence over the past 250 years and seeking His blessing for the next 250.

Watch Speaker Johnson’s full remarks here.

Below are Speaker Johnson’s remarks as delivered:

“Thank you so much, my friends. It is such a blessing to welcome you all here to the nation's capital. My humble assignment here today is to bring us straight to the Lord in a prayer of rededication. Would you join me in that?

Our Heavenly Father, we thank you. Thank you so much for this great day that you've given us here, as we remember that your mighty hand has been upon our nation since the very beginning.

Since Christopher Columbus set sail in the New World, since the settlers at Jamestown planted the cross at Cape Henry, and since the pilgrims at Plymouth made a covenant to give you the glory, in all that time, you guided us at every pivotal moment. And when our forefathers took up the great cause of American independence, they turned to you in steadfast prayer.

On this very day, two and a half centuries ago, the Second Continental Congress gathered in Philadelphia. Facing imminent battle and almost certain death, our Founders held a decisive day of what they called ‘humiliation, fasting and prayer.’ They did that to humble themselves and to seek your guidance at the dawn of their fight for freedom.

Just weeks later, Lord, on July 4th, 1776, you gave 56 patriots the courage and the conviction to sign their names to the Declaration of Independence, forming 13 distant and disparate colonies into a new nation, which would become by your mercy and grace, the freest, most successful, most benevolent nation in the history of the world.

In those early days, you safeguarded George Washington and his ragtag army as they defeated the mightiest of empires. And you gave our fathers the wisdom and faith to establish this new nation premised on the biblical and foundational principle that all men are created equal and free before you. Through your divine providence, our Founders acknowledged and boldly proclaimed the self-evident truth that every single person is created in your image, and that we are endowed by you, our Creator, with our inalienable rights to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Lord, we know that that Declaration, which has been recognized as our nation's creed, has also been the inspiration for the single greatest force for peace and justice and human flourishing. It set in motion a chain of events that altered the very course of human history, and today as we seek to fulfill its true meaning, those self-evident truths still guide our nation and still call us to honor and cherish and protect the dignity of every human life.

Lord, today, our people gather once again in your name. We have humbled ourselves before you. We acknowledge that the miracle of our founding, and the countless miracles that have followed, are your doing. We remember that we owe our nation – every victory, every hero, every good deed she has brought forth – to you, Almighty God.

Amid a bloody civil war, you gave Abraham Lincoln the vision and the fortitude to ignite a ‘new birth of freedom.’ And in the turbulent years that followed you, you offered us healing and restoration, calling us even then, to the better angels of our nature.

When our allies in Europe fell prey to the dark shadow of fascism, you equipped our greatest generation with the strength to defend and liberate Western Civilization. You filled the sojourners of the civil rights movement with your spirit as they challenged their generation to live up to the promises enshrined in the Declaration. In the 20th century, you gave brave leaders like President Ronald Reagan, the courage and heart to speak boldly to the promise of God-given liberty and the emptiness of godless Soviet tyranny.

At the dawn of a new century when terrorists struck our homeland on September 11th, you gave 44 heroes on Flight 93 your divine courage to thwart that murderous attack. You drove out fear out of the hearts of rescuers and first responders who ran upstairs and into fires to help those in need. And in the years that followed, as we cleared the ashes and debris, you healed our broken hearts and you revealed again, the fierce, unbreakable spirit of the American people.

Every day since, over each of our 250 years, America has been a land of hope and liberty, a place of miracles, and the ‘light and glory’ of all nations because of you.

Now as we approach the 250th anniversary of American Independence, we face a new set of challenges in a new era. In recent years, we've seen sinister ideologies sow confusion and discord among our people. We've witnessed attacks on our history, on our heroes, and on the cherished moral and spiritual identity of this great nation. These voices insist to the young and impressionable that our story – the American story – is one of oppression and hypocrisy and failure, and that this story can only be understood through the lens of our sins. But Father, we reject that. We rebuke it in your name.

Those voices have sought to distort the self-evident truth that we know so well, and that our founders boldly proclaim in the Declaration: that our rights do not derive from the government, they come from you, our Creator and Heavenly Father.

Lord, just as we humbly sought out your guidance in past trials, we are doing it here again today. We turn to you once again to save us from these afflictions, to deliver us from the forces of evil oppression and justice and tyranny – both within our borders and beyond our shores – and Lord, never let us be separated from your mercy and your love.

We pray, Lord, that you continue to bless our President with the wisdom and prudence and strength to govern our nation in accordance with your will. We pray that you guide our lawmakers, that you walk with us and grant us the moral clarity to rise above partisan differences, and give us the wisdom and humility to serve selflessly and sacrificially.

Lord, protect our servicemembers, our law enforcement officers, our first responders, all those who risk their own lives daily as they administer justice and preserve the peace in our communities in accordance with your word.

Help all our faith leaders and pastors and priests to be faithful in their calling and successful in their ministries to shine your light of hope and salvation across our land. We pray too that you will safeguard all houses of worship, that they remain sanctuaries of prayer and peace.

Give every American parent the grace they need to raise and protect the next generation of freedom-loving children. Father, we pray for marriages across this land. That husbands and wives have the patience to love one another in all the days of their lives. Heal the wounds of broken hearts God, and the battles that we do not see.

Lord, we ask that you equip our educators with the knowledge to teach the truth, for they will shape the next generation of government and leaders. Be with our physicians and our nurses and our healthcare workers, and give comfort to the sick and to those on Heaven's door.

We pray that you bestow upon all Americans a renewed love of country, hope for the future, and faith in your everlasting mercy and grace.

Father, we pray for mercy upon our land, mercy upon us for our mistakes. Forgive us of our sins individually and collectively and help us devote ourselves with a renewed piety and patriotism to the eternal truths of your word and to the enduring principles of the Declaration you blessed us with.

Above all Lord, grant us the courage in your favor to preserve this Republic. Instill within us, the same devotion that compelled 56 men to pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to this grand experiment in self-governance. The same devotion of patriots like Patrick Henry, for whom liberty was worth any price. The same devotion of President Abraham Lincoln, who at Gettysburg charged his countrymen to rededicate themselves to the unfinished work of our fathers. Lord, today we pray that you grant us that same devotion to these United States.

Give us courage and make us worthy of all those who devoted and sacrificed their lives so that a government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the Earth, almighty God.

We ask that you hear these solemn petitions just as we in the beginning dedicated this land to your most holy name today. Here Lord, in this 250th year of American Independence, we hereby rededicate the United States of America as ‘One Nation, Under God.’

Look upon us with favor upon your country as we celebrate this momentous anniversary and let your Holy Spirit descend upon this land so that future generations will look back at this day, in this present age, and once again, see your providential hand at work. I ask this today, Lord, I pray it and I believe it, in your holy name, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

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House Republicans Fully Fund Veterans Health Care Programs and Support Military Families

Fri, 15 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson released the following statement after the House approved H.R. 8469, the FY27 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

“This legislation builds on House Republicans’ commitment to supporting veterans, American soldiers, and military families, and represents the beginning of our regular order appropriations process for FY27.

“Thanks to the great work of the House Appropriations Committee, this legislation fully funds veterans’ health care and benefits, invests billions of dollars in capital and infrastructure improvements at VA medical facilities nationwide, and continues to fund critically important mental health and suicide prevention programs for American veterans.

This legislation also supports military families – the unsung heroes who keep the home fires burning while our servicemembers are away serving our country.

“We owe a large debt of gratitude to America’s men and women in uniform, and this legislation reflects House Republicans commitment to our servicemembers, their families, and their wellbeing. Congress will always look out for the men and women who voluntarily took up arms to defend our nation.”

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Speaker Johnson: There is Not a Single Democrat Who Believes Border Security or Immigration Enforcement Should Exist

Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — This morning, at the House Republican Leadership press conference, Speaker Johnson addressed Republicans’ reconciliation bill to fund border security and immigration enforcement and discussed Democrats’ failed scheme to gerrymander along racial lines. Speaker Johnson also highlighted House Republicans’ honoring fallen law enforcement officers during National Police Week.

“Look at the California Governor’s race. Nearly all those Democrats, including a former House Democrat and a Biden Cabinet Secretary, proudly said ‘yes’ when they were asked if they supported providing healthcare to illegal aliens. We’re supposed to believe this is a serious political party?” Speaker Johnson asked. “Democrats are chomping at the bit to regain power, reopen our borders, and allow violent, criminal illegal aliens to continue to roam our streets. And we’re not going to let them. So, we’re eager to quickly finish this reconciliation process and get this bill to President Trump’s desk.”

Watch Speaker Johnson’s remarks here.

On Republicans’ reconciliation bill to fund ICE/CBP:

Before Republicans returned to work in our districts last week, we ended the majority of the shameful record-long Democrat Department of Homeland Security shutdown. And I'm happy to report that we are right on schedule to finish the process and get our reconciliation bill to the President's desk by the June 1 deadline. We will fully fund both border security and immigration enforcement for the balance of President Trump's term, and we're going to do this for two reasons. Number one, obviously maintaining border security and deporting dangerous criminal legal aliens is the baseline that the American people demand and deserve. They told us that in the last election cycle, and they say it all the time, every day since. We do not have a country, if we do not have borders, that's just the bottom line. I'm grateful every day that America once again has a President who understands that.

The second reason is it's very sad and shocking fact. And, it's almost unbelievable to say this, but there's not a single Democrat in Congress, House or Senate, who believes that border security and immigration enforcement should exist. They do not believe that we should fund those at the federal level. It's a stunning statement, but it is true. And it's proven time and time again by their word and by their votes, they prove to you what they're about. I think everybody needs to keep that in mind.

Look at the California's Governor's race. I mean, what a spectacle. Nearly all the Democrats, including a former House Democrat and a Biden Cabinet Secretary proudly said ‘yes’ when they were asked the simple question if they support providing healthcare to illegal aliens. We're supposed to believe this is a serious political party right now? I mean, Democrats are chomping at the bit to regain power and reopen our borders and allow violent, criminal illegal aliens to continue to roam our streets. These are facts. This is not political talking points. This is what they are and what they're about. And we're not going to let them do that. So we're eager to quickly finish this reconciliation process and get this bill to the President's desk.

On National Police Week:

Americans are honoring the courage and the dedication and the sacrifice of law enforcement officers, and they well deserve that sadly. We mourn the men and women who have lost their lives in a line of duty for the safety and protection of our neighbors. And we owe our law enforcement officers everything because they sacrifice everything to stand guard against evil and protect in all these communities around our great country. When law enforcement officers put on their uniform and they lace up their boots every morning, they just don't have a guarantee that they're going to return after that last shift.

As I mentioned, we had 111 [fallen officers] for this year alone, and it's something that we have to keep in mind all the time. One law enforcement death is too many, but we've received welcome news this year. This is one bright spot: the amount of law enforcement deaths in the line of duty dropped 25% from 2024 to 2025. And that's the lowest number of law enforcement line of duty deaths since 1943. So we're very thankful for that. And it matters who's in charge. Elections have consequences, and if you have elected officials, legislatures, and a Congress that supports those in law enforcement, then it assists with these statistics. That's an objective fact and it's a direct correlation to public policy. Republicans are going continue to pursue legislation that makes officers safer and will also continue to advance transformational policies like No Tax on Overtime, as you heard, which tens of thousands of law enforcement officers and their families have already benefited from and they’re telling us about it when we go home.

On the Democrats’ failed scheme to gerrymander along racial lines:

In the Callais case at the US Supreme Court, the court restored a simple but profound truth. Yes, the Constitution protects every American equally. And that's a very important concept for us to maintain. This is another fact. Democrats spent decades trying to engineer electoral maps that divided Americans. And this decision from the Supreme Court hopefully ends that terrible practice once and for all. We find it amusing that Democrats are suddenly concerned about fair Congressional representation, they say. And I challenge those Democrats to raise those concerns with the Republican Congressmen from Massachusetts, Connecticut, or Rhode Island. They’ll have a hard time doing that, of course, because Democrats have gerrymandered Republicans completely out of those states.

And in Virginia last week, the Virginia Supreme Court, of course, affirmed what Republicans believed from the very beginning. We fought hard to win that ballot initiative and we invested there. But ultimately, we knew that was a hastily drawn gerrymandered that was unconstitutional. It’s a power grab. And thankfully the courts restoring and upholding the rule of law, did the right thing there. Democrats, by the way, put all their chips in the middle on that one. You saw it. And they burned through countless goodwill with the people of the state of Virginia and elsewhere. Democrats nationwide, they spent more than $65 million and they even had Barack Obama cutting ads and robocall, and it wasn't enough because it was such a crazy overreach. And it was all in pursuit of an unconstitutional scheme to dilute the power of Republicans of Virginia. And fortunately, the plan failed spectacularly. They got a lot to answer for. Their press conference this week ought to be interesting. Look, this decision doesn't change our posture for one minute. Republicans are laser focused. We don’t look to the right or the left, we charge straight forward.

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Speaker Johnson Leads Candlelight Vigil in Honor of Fallen Officers

Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — During National Police Week, Speaker Johnson hosted a candlelight vigil on the steps of the U.S. Capitol today to honor fallen police officers and commemorate their service to our local communities. Speaker Johnson was joined by Rep. John Rutherford, families of fallen officers, and House Members.

“To the families of those fallen heroes and those who continue to stand guard in our communities: we have your back. We'll continue to advance policies here that support law enforcement and bring justice to those who seek to harm officers,” Speaker Johnson said.

Watch Speaker Johnson’s remarks here.

Below are Speaker Johnson’s remarks as delivered:

Good evening, everyone. We want to thank you all for being here on this very somber occasion. Why are we gathered here this evening? Well, the Scripture tells us to give honor where honor is due, and today we're here to honor the service and the sacrifice of America's law enforcement personnel. We are here because every American who lives in freedom and safety has a duty to remember the story of those who provide it for us. That story—the story of American law enforcement—is one of honor and duty sacrifice, and it deserves to be told and repeated again and again at this moment in our country and its history.

It's not lost on anyone that we're living through some troubling times. In the last few months, just the last few months we've seen yet another attempt on the President's life. We've seen repeated attacks on synagogues and churches. We've seen horrific, heartbreaking tragedies like the one that struck my own hometown in Shreveport, Louisiana just several weeks ago, and took the lives of eight innocent young children. One act of unspeakable violence. There is a battle right now between good and evil, and we all feel it.

And in spite of the darkness, every American town and city is undeniably safer and stronger because of that thin blue line. We owe our nation's law enforcement everything because they sacrifice everything to stand guard against evil and protect all of our communities. I come from a first responder family myself, and I understand the sacrifice personally. My dad was a firefighter and nearly lost his life to severe burns that left him permanently disabled for the next 32 years of his life. That sacrifice, the sacrifice that our first responders make, is one that is born by their entire family, and we can never forget the burden that they carry.

I'm reminded today of Officer Marc Brock, an extraordinary young man, a police officer from Vivian, Louisiana in my district. In November, Officer Brock was tragically killed in the line of duty while serving a warrant. He was just 25 years old, but he touched countless lives through his service to our community and through his volunteer work. And he leaves behind Kambreigh, his beautiful fiancé, and a family who loved him immensely. I was honored to host Kambreigh and Officer Brock's mother, Shirley, as my guests for the State of the Union this year. Officer Brock's death is a somber reminder of the tremendous risks our law enforcement officers take every single day.

Joining us today here is another proud law enforcement family represented by Linsey Timmins and her daughter, who you'll hear from shortly. Officer Tyler Timmins served in the Pontoon Beach Police Department just outside of St. Louis. While responding to a suspected stolen vehicle on October 26, 2021, Tyler was ambushed and killed by a repeat felon in an illegal possession of a weapon. Today, he leaves behind his lovely wife, Linsey and their daughter Chloe. Tyler made the ultimate sacrifice, and today we honor his selfless service and the service of more than 23,000 fallen officers who have laid down their lives in the line of duty.

To the families of those fallen heroes and those who continue to stand guard in our communities: we have your back. We'll continue to advance policies here that support law enforcement and bring justice to those who seek to harm officers.

While even one officer killed in the line of duty is too many, we are thankful to report that law enforcement deaths hit an 80-year-low in 2025. That represents a 25% decrease from 2024 to 2025. We're working to make our streets safer for American families, and we will continue to support the men and women who are on the front lines of cleaning them up. Our pledge is to support you in word and deed, and we will work hard to ensure that those who are tragically no longer with us are never forgotten.

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Speaker Johnson Announces 2026 Congressional Art Competition Winners

Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — Today, Speaker Johnson announces the winners of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for Louisiana’s Fourth Congressional District.

“A Moment at Cypress Black Bayou” by Maycie Howard

2026 Congressional Art Competition Winners:

1^st Place: “A Moment at Cypress Black Bayou” by Maycie Howard, Airline High School
2^nd Place: “Shining Streets of Louisiana” by Lydia Vaughan, Summerfield High School
3^rd Place: “Monarch of the Marsh” by Christiyana Washington, Airline High School
4^th Place: “Natural Beauty” by Tori Airhart, Anacoco High School

“Shining Streets of Louisiana” by Lydia Vaughan

“Monarch of the Marsh” by Christiyana Washington

“Natural Beauty” by Tori Airhart

The Congressional Art Competition is a nationwide, visual art contest for high school students, in which one piece of artwork from each congressional district is chosen by a panel of judges to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year. The second, third, and fourth place selections will be proudly displayed in Speaker Johnson’s congressional offices.

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Speaker Johnson at the National Day of Prayer: America is a Praying Nation

Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — This morning, Speaker Johnson delivered remarks in Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol to celebrate the National Day of Prayer, an annual day of observance designated by the United States Congress in 1952.

“As you pray for our country today, we thank God for His acts of salvation and provision and deliverance,” Speaker Johnson said. “Let's also pray that we may have the strength, just as our Founders did, to hand the baton of faith and freedom onto the next generation that follows us, a generation that cherishes liberty and proclaims proudly what is right and good and true."

Watch Speaker Johnson’s full remarks here.

Speaker Johnson’s remarks as delivered:

Prayer's been a part of our DNA since the very beginning, as you know. So, it's fitting that we do this formal tradition, established by Congress at the height of the Cold War. And it reaffirms something that's so important that really goes to the heart of who we are as Americans: We are a praying nation. We always have been. It truly is part of who we are. We know that prayer is where the impossible happens. We know it's where we find solace and stay anchored in our faith, even through challenges and even through the storms, and that is indeed how we have endured. It's fitting that we're here in beautiful Statuary Hall, which, as you all know, was the original House Chamber.

It's fitting that as you walk around the Capitol here, and we're so happy to welcome you today that you'll see vestiges, reminders, of the deep religious heritage of our country. You'll see reminders of our deep Judeo-Christian traditions, our foundations, our biblical foundations. That's what makes America unique and extraordinary.

Just about a hundred feet or so from here, if you went through the Rotunda and took a left, you would go down the hallway where my office is. The Speaker's Office on one side, on the other side is the Senate Majority Leader's Office, and right in the middle of that is a chapel. It was erected about the same time, built and established there about the same time as the National Day of Prayer became a formal piece of our law. And as you walk in there—many of you have been in there before and invite you to go visit it—your eyes will be drawn up to this beautiful original stained-glass piece. It's one of a kind. I think it's the most beautiful I've ever seen, and in that stained glass right in the center is depicted the father of our country, George Washington, and he is humbled before the Lord down on one knee. And he's praying and the words surrounding him from Psalm 16:1, and it says, “Preserve me, oh God, for in thee do I put my trust, preserve me.” That's what we still echo today. And of course, that passage of scripture is a restatement of our national motto: In God we trust.

And by the way, if you come with us to the House Chamber, the current House Chamber, you'll see that Congress also many years back also during the height of the Cold War decided to engrave permanently the national motto right above the head of the Speaker of the House and the rostrum as a permanent reminder. In fact, it says in the visitor's guide to the House Chamber, somewhere about on page 21, it says what that was for and it says, ‘Congress put that there as a rebuke to the Soviets because their philosophy.' They did it during the height of the Cold War.

Communism, Marxism, socialism began with the premise that there is no God. Congress wanted to make sure that all future generations understood that is not who we are. And these are reminders that they were there long before the practice of public prayer was formally enshrined in the law. It was before we did all that it was immortalized in the hearts of the American people and in the Founders of our very nation. It wasn't just George Washington. From the first harvest at Plymouth, to the bloodstained battlefields at Bunker Hill, to the whispered prayers of pioneers who are moving westward, the long arc of American history has been charted by the prayers of God-fearing people, God-fearing American citizens.

This 75th annual National Day of Prayer comes at a unique time in the history of our country. Of course, we're also celebrating the 250th anniversary of this grand experiment in self-governance. For Americans of faith, it's a time for us to come together and to pray for our nation, of course. And so, it is so fitting that we do this right now.

It's also a time to reflect on the great moral inheritance of which every American citizen, across every generation has been the humble recipient. That inheritance goes back to the very idea upon which our nation was founded. We boldly proclaimed the self-evident truth that our rights do not come from government. They come from God himself, that He is the one that has endowed us with our inalienable rights. That among those of the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, Right there in the second paragraph in the nation's birth certificate, it summarizes our national statement of faith. The Founders made that bold declaration, and that was the foundation that that made us become the most free, most successful, most powerful, most benevolent nation in the history of the planet. It's not even close.

Our Founders did their best to set up our nation in accordance with His guidelines and principles and my friends. That is why God has blessed America for 250 years. But the faith of our Founders didn't just shape the character of our civic institutions. It steeled the American spirit, and it strengthened the fabric of our public life through our highest highs and our lowest lows. So it's only natural that today we reflect on this experiment in liberty and how best to maintain it, how to keep this grand experiment in self-governance, how to keep the republic, and we follow our Founders and we seek his guidance, God's guidance through the words of scripture and the invocation of prayer.

The theme of this year's National Day of Prayer is not rhetorical. It says, ‘Tell of God's glory among the nations, His good deeds to all people.’ As Americans of faith, we see that as our responsibility. We can never know what tomorrow brings, of course, but God calls us to be faithful and to proclaim his good deeds. And on this grand anniversary in particular, we have a great opportunity. We should use this the entire year as a teachable moment to pass along to the next generation of Americans who we are, what we're about, and way why we are this great country.

So, as you pray for our country today, we thank God for His acts of salvation and provision and deliverance. Let's also pray that we may have the strength just as our Founders did, to hand the baton of faith and freedom onto the next generation that follows us, a generation that cherishes liberty and proclaims proudly what is right and good and true. Thank you for being here.

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Speaker Johnson: Despite Our Historically Small Majority, House Republicans Continue to Deliver

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson delivered remarks today after House Republicans ended the Democrat DHS shutdown and passed a budget resolution to fund immigration enforcement and border security for 3 years – preventing future Democrat attempts to reopen the border and halt the removal of criminal illegal immigrants. House Republicans also this week passed legislation to reauthorize FISA Sec. 702 and the Farm Bill – for the first time in 8 years – to deliver relief and certainty for rural America.

“Ultimately, the sad and actually shocking truth is there's not a Democrat in the House or the Senate that believes border security and immigration enforcement should exist at all,” Speaker Johnson said. “By word and deed, Democrats have made clear their desire to defund both of those critical functions of our government.”

Watch Speaker Johnson’s full remarks here.

Below are Speaker Johnson’s remarks as delivered:

I'm really glad to tell you that House Republicans pulled together and delivered some major pieces of legislation and huge priorities for the country in the last few days. Let me give you a couple of examples.

We passed the Farm Bill, as you know, a major achievement, delivering real relief and certainty for our rural America and for all Americans. But this is the first time Congress has done that since 2018. Been quite a while, but we got it done. We've also made certain that the House is going to be able to have an up or down vote on the date certain on the E15 issue, which is, you know, is a big priority for a lot of our members here in the Chamber.

And most importantly, of all the things we got done this week, we've got the budget resolution passed. This is very, very important because that will ensure that border security and immigration enforcement will continue today and well into the future.

Despite Democrat attempts to reopen our border and protect criminal illegal aliens from removal, the net result of passing our reconciliation bill is that ICE and CBP are funded for three years. And Democrats got absolutely nothing for their political charade and shenanigans out of that.

We repeatedly offered in good faith – I want to point out and remind everybody – to negotiate on funding these agencies. Ultimately, the sad and actually shocking truth is there's not a Democrat in the House or the Senate that believes border security and immigration enforcement should exist at all. By word and deed, Democrats have made clear their desire to defund both of those critical functions of our government.

We also passed the FISA reauthorization to ensure that the Administration is armed with the best possible intelligence to continue eliminating terrorists and defending our homeland. We pray that the Senate can now pass our FISA bill as quickly as possible, and, you know, they're deliberating over that right now.

Now, I just want to say this. Sometimes the process around here is cumbersome; that's the way this works. But in spite of our razor thin, historically small majority, House Republicans continue to deliver for the American people. We’ll continue to do that for the remainder of the year, and that is a large reason why we are going to win the midterms so that the grownups can stay in charge here.

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