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Floor Speech

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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.

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