IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE HONORABLE DOUG LaMALFA

On 2026-01-08, Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA-4) delivered a floor speech titled "IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE HONORABLE DOUG LaMALFA" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment, trade policy.

IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE HONORABLE DOUG LaMALFA

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026)] [House] [Pages H231-H238] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE HONORABLE DOUG LaMALFA (Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Mr. Moore of Utah was recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.) General Leave Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Utah? There was no objection. Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I am saddened and honored at the same time to be able to host, alongside my California colleagues, a special hour dedicated to the memory of Congressman Doug LaMalfa from California. As I looked at some of my notes here of the amazing things that he had accomplished and who he was, I realized that we are going to hear that over the next hour. The thing that my team and I were reflecting on earlier today, and all I wanted to share as we kick off this memorial to an amazing man, was that, as vice chair, I get to, every week, host an evening of floor time for my colleagues on a myriad of topics. Doug LaMalfa was here every single time. Every time we needed him to be here, he was here, but he was here whether we asked him or not. Most times, he was the only one. Yet tonight, when I asked my colleagues if they wanted to share a message on Doug, the reverse: It is a packed house. That is all I wanted to share, to think about the legacy that he has left and the importance that he has to so many of our colleagues. He was always here for me, and we are all here today for his family. They are hopefully able to take some comfort and solace in his memory as we share this. We have a lot of folks who want to share a message, and we are going to kick it right off. I am just going to go around the room and start calling on people as we move forward. We are going to first hear, of course, from the California delegation. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert). Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, the sudden passing of our close friend and colleague, Doug LaMalfa, has caused both shock and sadness throughout the entire House of Representatives. We lost a friend and a colleague. His northern Californian constituents lost their tireless advocate in the House. Most tragically, his family lost a husband, a father, and a grandfather. Doug was a proud family man. He and his wife, Jill, have four beautiful children. He just recently became a grandfather. Doug was a fourth-generation rice farmer and a contributor to our State's important role of producing the food that sustains America. His experience as a farmer provided the foundation for his future as a legislator, both in Sacramento and here in Washington, D.C. Mr. Speaker, it comes as no surprise that in 2024, Doug was unanimously elected to serve as the chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, one of the largest congressional membership groups on Capitol Hill, focusing on rural policy and issues that affect the West and beyond. Doug left an indelible mark on this institution and the people whom he got to know along the way. For those who knew him, they understood his unique love of nicknames, movie quotes, and NASCAR. They understood his dislike of food waste, smartphones, and ketchup on hot dogs. Doug's sense of humor, collegial manner, and expertise will be sorely missed. While he is no longer with us, Doug's significant contributions to agricultural and rural policies will endure long after his passing. I will very much miss my friend and my colleague. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Jill; the entire LaMalfa family; his friends; and his staff. God bless you, Doug. Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock), a distinguished colleague and very close friend of Mr. LaMalfa. Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, the Romans had a saying: ``Time is fleeting, remember death''; ``Tempus fugit, memento mori.'' It reminds us that life is not a gift. It is just a loan, and when it comes due, all that matters is what we have given to others. Doug LaMalfa was the kindest and most sincere person I have encountered in more than 40 years of public service. He passionately defended the working men and women of the rural community where he was born and raised and grew up, but he always did it with a good-natured smile and a quiet, respectful manner. Just 3 weeks ago, on December 15, I took my seat on an early Washington-bound flight from Sacramento, about eight rows behind Doug. When I looked up, he was standing there in the aisle with an outstretched hand. He leaned over, and he quietly said to me: Tom, I know this is a hard day for you, and I want you to know that my prayers are with you and Lori. You see, that was the fourth anniversary of my dear wife Lori's death, and how he knew that, remembered it, and offered such warm comfort on such a cold morning tells you what a truly caring and wonderful man he was. And now he is gone, for time is fleeting. Yet, death can't take the kindnesses and memories that he gave us all, or the wisdom, common sense, and achievements that he gave our country. Our Nation, our State, and our community have all suffered an irreplaceable loss, and rural America has lost its most tireless and effective advocate. Most of all, we have lost a good man, a very good man. To his family, I can only say that you are not alone in your grief. Your community and your country grieve with you. [[Page H232]] Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Valadao). Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my dear friend, fellow farmer, and colleague, Congressman Doug LaMalfa. I have known Doug for about 16 years, going back to our time together in the State legislature. From day one, his commitment to the people of northern California, especially those in agricultural communities, was clear. In Congress, Doug was one of the fiercest advocates for wildfire mitigation, disaster recovery, California water issues, and farmers and ranchers who keep this country fed. As chairman of the Western Caucus, he fought tirelessly for domestic energy production, public land access, and rural communities that way too often get overlooked. Beyond his lasting legacy as a public official, Doug was my friend. We served together in the State legislature, and one year, on my birthday, he stopped by my office, not with a card but with a bag of rice and just a little Post-it Note that said: Happy birthday. I brought that bag home, gave it to my mom, and she made Portuguese rice pudding for him, and I brought it back. The next week, he brought me another bag of rice, and still to this day brought up that he wanted more. Doug just had one of those senses of humor that you loved. Doug was a friend to all and someone you could always count on for leadership, loyalty, and just a good laugh. He will be deeply missed in the Halls of Congress. My prayers are with his wife, Jill, his children, and all of his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, this is going to be a special hour, thanks to the gentleman from California. Mr. Speaker, I yield time to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim). Mrs. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a very heavy heart to honor our colleague Doug LaMalfa. Doug was larger than life, but what I will remember most is how he lived big in the small moments with warmth, attention to detail, and genuine kindness. Doug was the only Member of Congress who ever called me by my Korean name, Kim Young Oak. He didn't have to remember it. He never needed to do that, but that small, thoughtful gesture meant the world to me and spoke volumes about who Doug was. {time} 1800 Doug was a strong, conservative leader who served with a deep love for our country and brought the heartland to Washington, not the other way around. As a fourth-generation rice farmer, he never forgot who he worked for--farmers, families, and rural communities who were too often ignored by Washington. He will be missed. We will all miss him. My heart is with his family, his staff, and all who are mourning this tremendous loss. Mr. MOORE of Utah. (English translation of the statements made in Korean is as follows:) Young Oak Kim Sister Thank you! You did well! You did well! Gim Yeong-ok uiwon-nim Gamsahamnida Sugohasyeosseumnida Sugohasyeosseumnida Take that, Doug. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Obernolte). Mr. OBERNOLTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise with an incredibly heavy heart to honor the life of my friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Doug was one of the most effective Members of this Chamber. He was deeply passionate about issues that affected his constituents in northern California. As most of the Members of this Chamber know, we all have little silos where people come to us for advice. I always could count on Doug to give me the straight scoop on anything related to water, agriculture, or rural America. That is why we elected him as the chairman of the Western Caucus 2 years ago, and he did a phenomenal job in that role. I will miss his service there. I will also miss the man that he was. He was an incredibly decent man, a man of exceptionally high moral character. Everyone that knew Doug would remark on his authenticity. When you met Doug, what you saw is what you got. He was a man of deep kindness, never had a cruel or unkind word for anyone in the years that I knew him. He was a man of incredible humility, and anyone in this Chamber knows that we could use some more of that in her