Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Black History Month with a tribute to an amazing Black man named Harry Hoosier.

If you're from Indiana, you've likely faced the age-old question:

``So, what exactly is a Hoosier?''

Of course, we've heard theories. Richmond resident John Finley's poem ``The Hoosier's Nest''--originally spelled ``Hoosher''--is often attributed as the first mention of this distinctly Indiana term. The word also appears in the ``Carrier's Address'' of the Indiana Democrat on January 3, 1832. Yet another theory is that pioneer settlers would respond, ``Who's yere?'' to a knock on the door.

But one of the most interesting theories is one you may not have heard: the story of Harry Hoosier.

Harry Hoosier, sometimes spelled Harry Hosier, was described by Booker T. Washington as ``the first Black American Methodist preacher in the United States.'' Born enslaved around 1750, Harry Hoosier was sold to a plantation near Baltimore, where he became a talented religious orator who traveled throughout the Appalachian frontier, according to Fisk University Professor William D. Piersen.

Harry Hoosier's story is one of resilience and success. Despite being illiterate, Mr. Hoosier's message was heard far and wide, and he became one of the best-known and greatest preachers of his time. According to a recent bill in the Indiana Statehouse, ``many of Harry Hoosier's followers brought their Methodist beliefs and Hoosier nickname to Indiana in the decades before and after Indiana was granted statehood in 1816.''

With his great influence, it is believed that Mr. Hoosier's followers became known as Hoosiers, followers who were also part of a growing number of Methodists beginning to question the practice of slavery. With a Black leader as an example, these 18th Century ``Hoosiers'' may have honed the principles we understand as ``Hoosier Hospitality'' today--the belief in kindness, equality, and respect.

Until recently, I had never heard the story of Harry Hoosier, despite attending school in Indiana and surrounded by strong, Black leaders and family members throughout my lifetime. But Harry Hoosier confirms what we already knew: Black history has always been American history, and Black history has always been Hoosier history. From oral traditions passed down from generation to generation, to the legacy of legends like Madam C.J. Walker, Mari Evans, Major Taylor, Wes Montgomery, the Jackson 5 and Babyface, Black Hoosiers have always been part of our state's story.

Bringing this story into the light gives us a better understanding of the vast, diverse history of our great state. And during Black History Month, there is no better time to learn our history and to celebrate it.

While there are many partisan arguments surrounding education-- including recent political stunts falsely claiming that Black studies has no educational value--Harry Hoosier's story is slowly making its way into our modern consciousness in a bipartisan way. In 2016, the Indiana Bicentennial Commission endorsed the ``Harry Hoosier Project,'' an effort to share the story of the man who lives on in our conversations every day. This year, Indiana State Representative J.D. Prescott, a Republican, introduced House Bill 1143 recognizing Harry Hoosier as our state's namesake. Unfortunately, this bill did not make it to the floor for a vote--but I hope Harry Hoosier's story inspires others to begin to unwrap more forgotten or neglected stories.

History--the way we tell it, the way we analyze it, and the ways we pass it on to future generations--is always evolving. Our stories have always existed. But these stories need to be shared with everyone, and they need to be recognized as a vital part of American history too.

Harry Hoosier lived centuries ago. We can't speak to him or even know as many details about his life as we may want to. But his existence, the stories we have of him, are what define our past and shape our future.

Black history is about joy. It's about survival, resilience, and it's about success. Above all, it needs to be shared.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to reintroduce this resolution with my colleague, Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina. Our resolution supports the designation of Rare Disease Day on the last day of February. I am pleased that this resolution has been endorsed by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) and am thankful for their leadership on these critical issues over many years.

Nearly one in ten Americans live with one or more of the roughly 7,000 known rare diseases. More than half of those struggling with rare diseases--defined as affecting less than 200,000 people--are children. Sadly, many rare diseases and conditions are serious, life-threatening, and lack effective treatments. These are not just statistics: I am sure most of us know at least one family member or friend who has been affected by or struggled with the unique challenges of rare diseases.

Moreover, as we observe Black History Month, it's important to know that African Americans and other minorities are especially vulnerable to rare diseases, including Sickle Cell Anemia and Sarcoidosis. These diseases and conditions--including Thalassemia and Hereditary ATTR (hATTR) amyloidosis--disproportionately affect African Americans. Despite these unique obstacles, African Americans have an inspiring tradition of both combatting rare diseases and improving medical science.

One great example is Dr. Charles Drew, an African American scientist who helped found the modern ``blood bank,'' which helped dramatically expand blood transfusions. A faculty member at Howard University, Dr. Drew's pioneering work in blood transfusions took place against the backdrop of segregation and discrimination. During his time overseeing the Red Cross's blood plasma donation program, Dr. Drew was prohibited from donating his own blood because of the color of his skin. Despite these obstacles, Dr. Drew's work improved the practice of blood transfusions, which is now a lifeline for many individuals struggling today with rare diseases. The examples of Dr. Drew and countless other researchers, physicians, nurses, activists, and patients underscore the importance of bringing additional awareness to rare diseases.

Despite the many challenges, some progress has been made. More work needs to be done to bring attention to the needs of those who struggle with rare diseases, and to celebrate their courage. That's why Rep. Hudson and I are reintroducing this important resolution. Each year, many individuals with rare diseases and their loved ones celebrate Rare Disease Day to share their stories and educate communities of researchers, health professionals, governments, and community organizations about how rare diseases affect them.

More than 100 countries observe Rare Disease Day. Our resolution expresses support for the designation of the last day of this month as Rare Disease Day. Congress should recognize this work and improve our efforts to address the challenges facing the rare disease patient community.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join us in supporting Rare Disease Day's designation on the last day of February to better champion people with rare diseases. I urge the House to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, today I am reintroducing the Food Deserts Act of 2023 to help fight hunger and food insecurity in communities across the country.

As we end Black History Month, I'd like to focus on the problem of food insecurity and how it disproportionately hurts Black and Brown families.

I want to share just one example. In June of 2017, Marsh Supermarkets grocery stores announced the closure of many stores throughout the Midwest. Many of these stores were in my district. Many families lacked a car or reliable public transportation to the nearest grocery alternative, often over a mile away. Today, thousands of my constituents are still struggling to find the food they need, with many forced to rely on fast-food restaurants and convenience stores.

These options are neither healthy nor affordable.

Sadly, this situation is not unique. Over 29 million people, almost 10 percent of the U.S. population, live without ready access to affordable, nutritious food, and over 2 million people have no transportation to get to their nearest store. Many have seen their local stores close during the pandemic. Others lost access years ago and now face the severe long-term impacts of obesity, diabetes, malnutrition, and other diet-related ailments.

Unfortunately, residents in these low-income areas tend to spend less on groceries, leaving little financial incentive for traditional grocery chains to make costly investments for new locations.

In the world's wealthiest country, nutritious food should be an expectation, not a luxury. That is why I am reintroducing the Food Deserts Act, which creates new avenues to fund stores in underserved communities. This bill will create USDA-funded, state-operated revolving funds that will issue low-interest loans for the operation of grocery stores in food deserts. The bill ensures that recipients of these loans, including for-profit, non-profit, and municipal entities, can provide affordable, healthy food, including fresh produce and staples like milk, bread, and meat. It will also ensure that USDA professionals are available to

provide technical assistance to recipients who need it.

Access to healthy food is something that most of us take for granted. But despite our own experiences, we must remember that millions of our constituents struggle daily to feed their families. With this market- driven approach, I aim to complement existing federal programs and efforts nationwide by ensuring a stable lending stream for struggling grocery stores and sustainable access to food for communities in need.

Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to support this vital bill.

Mr. Speaker, as we kick off the start of Black History Month, I am proud to reintroduce legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Muhammad Ali in recognition of his contributions to our Nation. l believe it is long past time to recognize this American civil rights activist and sporting legend with Congress' highest honor. Sadly, we were unable to act swiftly enough to honor him prior to his passing at age 74 in 2016, so that is why I am asking my colleagues to join me now in honoring an American hero. Over the course of his illustrious career, Muhammad Ali produced some of our Nation's most lasting and impactful sports memories. From winning a Gold Medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics, to lighting the Olympic torch at the 1996 Summer Olympics, his influence as an athlete and a humanitarian spanned over 50 years.

Despite having been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the 1980s, Ali devoted his life to charitable endeavors. Ali, and his wife Lonnie were founding directors of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and Movement Disorders Clinic in Phoenix, AZ and helped raise over $50 million for Parkinson's research. In addition to helping families cope with illness, Ali led efforts to provide meals for the hungry and helped countless organizations such as the Make-A-Wish-Foundation and the Special Olympics.

Muhammad Ali's humanitarian efforts went beyond his charitable activities in the United States. In 1990 Muhammad Ali travelled to the Middle East to seek the release of American and British hostages who were being held as human shields in the first Gulf War. After his intervention, 15 hostages were freed. Thanks to his devotion to diplomatic causes and racial harmony, Ali was the recipient of many accolades, including being chosen as a ``U.N. Messenger of Peace'' in 1998 and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 from President Bush.

Through his unyielding dedication to his sport and to struggling populations around the world, Muhammad Ali still serves an example of service and self-sacrifice for generations of Americans. The Congressional Gold Medal is a fitting commemoration of his life and work, for which he is deservingly known as ``the Greatest.''

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing one of our Nation's most lasting and influential figures by signing on to this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to reintroduce the Students Helping Young Students Act. This important legislation will invest in college students who support and mentor K-12 students at after-school activities. This legislation will make a meaningful difference in the lives of all Hoosier students, and young Americans across the country, by ensuring that college students can be compensated for the critical work of mentoring and supporting their younger counterparts. I would like to thank my Senate Colleague, Senator Cory Booker, for leading the companion of this important legislation.

It is an honor to represent students of all ages in Indiana's Seventh District. I am continually impressed by the many college students in my district and across the country that, in addition to their studies, help mentor and support K-12 students in after-school programs. These college students, by serving as powerful examples and mentors, continue to inspire my colleagues and I about the importance of peer mentorship opportunities. This includes the crucial role of work-study programs in helping students finance their postsecondary education.

Several examples in Indiana underscore the importance of supporting mentorship programs, both to the mentee and the mentor. The influence and investment from a mentor can improve younger student lives and outcomes. Their stories are common: in fact, at-risk youth that have a mentor are 55 percent more likely to attend college. Moreover, at-risk youth that have a mentor are 52 percent less likely to skip a day of school and 46 percent less likely to use drugs. Mentoring also increases community engagement, as at-risk students are 78 percent more likely to volunteer in their community and are 130 percent more likely to hold a leadership role in clubs or teams with a mentor in their lives. Mentoring not only helps students stay away from drugs and violence, but also live healthier lives and improve school performance. Mentees participating in mentorship programs have also performed higher on the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress (ISTEP) tests.

Because of these unmistakable benefits, Congress must do more to support these after-school programs and their student mentors. Although after-school mentorship programs often intersect with students' courses of study and benefit the community, after-school activities are not currently considered a community service under the Federal Work-Study program. This means that college students cannot rely on compensation from Federal Work-Study for their participation in after-school activities.

The Federal Work-Study program has helped support undergraduate and graduate students, who have exhibited financial need, find part-time jobs. The Federal Work-Study program employs hundreds of thousands of undergraduate and graduate students. Across all higher education, 7 in 10 college students work at least 15 hours per week to help cover their tuition, and 1 in 4 work more than 35 hours a week. While mentorship's benefits are clear, the absence of after-school activities from consideration as work-study programs causes students with financial need to more often pursue other opportunities. This means that many students are unable to serve in mentorship roles, even if it aligns with their course of study, for financial reasons. This dynamic exacerbates the widening mentoring gap, which includes the over 9 million young people without a mentor outside their family to support their growth and education.

As a result, more work needs to be done to help compensate students who choose to serve their communities by mentoring younger students. That is why the Students Helping Young Students Act is so important. This bill incorporates work at after-school programs into the Federal Work-Study Program under community service by making participation in these programs eligible for federal funds. In short, this bill allows college students to access Federal Work-Study funds for their participation in after-school activities.

Through the Students Helping Young Students Act, after-school mentoring programs will count as community service under the Federal Work-Study program. Students can be compensated for their work, including time spent in training and travel, directly related to the program. This will allow any student who wishes to serve in their community to participate in mentorship activities, regardless of their financial background. As a result, the Students Helping Young Students Act will also help close the mentoring gap and ensure that younger students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, have the support they need to succeed and reach their goals.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill to ensure that Federal Work-Study students are compensated for their mentorship efforts. It is important that Congress supports these students in their pursuit to serve our communities. I urge the House to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, as we mark National Mentoring Month, I am proud to reintroduce legislation to the Transition-To-Success Mentoring Act to help local education agencies prepare at-risk students for the transition from middle school to high school. I would like to thank MENTOR for their endorsement of this bill and Senator Booker for his leadership on this legislation in the Senate.

I have had many mentors at every stage of my life, whether it was my theatre teacher in school who encouraged me to be who l am and elevated the confidence in myself to pursue sports, or my grandmother who raised me and a reason I find myself following her large footsteps. Mentors are important at every stage in life and especially at a young age. Our children need to foster these mentor/mentee relationships to look up to someone bigger than themselves.

The Transition-To-Success Mentoring Act would establish a grant program for school-based mentoring programs targeted at helping at-risk middle school students transition from middle to high school. Under my legislation, participating students would develop and execute a formalized plan for success in high school and beyond, and be supported by a school faculty member or volunteer from the community known as a ``Success Coach.''

Middle school is a uniquely challenging time for students and ensuring a smooth transition from middle to high school is critical to their long-term success. School-based mentoring is innovative supplement to the traditional learning that takes place in the classroom, providing underserved and at-risk students with attention and support to keep them engaged in school. This legislation is a small step towards providing some of the most vulnerable students with individual attention to help cross the bridge towards high school, college, and career.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing the need for mentors for our children by signing on to this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In addition to critical resources for our defense programs and our service members, this bill also includes two critical bills from the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Don Young Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2022, and the Water Resources Development Act of 2022. This bill also includes the Intelligence Authorization Act, including my new requirements to address the threat of hypersonic weapons.

The underlying bill also includes my amendment authorizing an increase in funding to fight pancreatic cancer, which sadly claimed the lives of our beloved colleagues John Lewis and Alcee Hastings. The $5 million dollar increase will help develop better and earlier detection of pancreatic cancer, which will help save lives.

Another provision included in this bill is my amendment to the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, which improves access to benefits, and provides injured firefighters or their families more time to file documentation for assistance claims.

These are all important provisions, but I'd like to take a few moments now to highlight the long-overdue changes to safety requirements for passenger vessels.

The Coast Guard Reauthorization Act will increase maritime safety and efficiency, including my Duck Boat Safety Improvement Act, which is now Section 11502 in the NDAA. I am especially grateful to Chairman DeFazio for working with me over several years to develop this language, which will finally address the persistent problems with unsafe vessels, and including my Duck Boat Safety Improvement Act in today's NDAA.

My Duck Boat Safety requirements will finally implement safety regulations for amphibious passenger vessels, particularly those known as Duck Boats. These safety recommendations were made by federal agencies to address repeated problems associated with Duck Boats that have resulted in far too many injuries and fatalities that may have been prevented.

I learned about these problems when my constituents in Indianapolis, the Coleman family, were involved in a horrible Duck Boat accident on July 19, 2018 in Branson, Missouri. Tia Coleman was one of only two survivors from her family of 11, losing her husband Glenn, and her children Reece (nine years old), Evan (seven years old), and Arya (one year old). Tia's 13-year-old nephew, Donovan Coleman, was the other surviving family member, losing his mother Angela, his younger brother Maxwell (two years old), his uncles Ervin (76 years old) and Butch (70 years old), and his aunt Belinda (69 years old). Boarding a Duck Boat on Table Rock Lake started out as a fun outing for family members, but it turned into an unspeakable tragedy when the boat capsized and sank. Seventeen of the 31 passengers on board were killed.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and U.S. Coast Guard have separately investigated the incident and Congress must act now. We know from past incidents that more can and should be done to make these vessels safer. Since 1999, more than 40 people have died in Duck Boats accidents, the vast majority of them from drowning when the vessel sinks. In 2002, the NTSB issued recommendations to improve the safety of these vessels in flooding or sinking situations, but little has been done to implement those measures--until today.

Duck Boats are hybrid vehicles that can travel on roadways and waterways, so the safety measures must be updated for both land and waterborne operations.

The Duck Boat Safety Improvement Act will require vessel operators to implement common-sense boating safety measures, including:

Improving reserve buoyancy and watertight compartmentalization to prevent sinking,

Requiring more monitoring and adherence to severe weather alerts and warnings,

Requiring release of road safety seatbelts when Duck Boats become waterborne,

Requiring stronger crew safety training and certification,

Removing or reconfigure canopies and window coverings for waterborne operations,

Requiring personal flotation devices for waterborne operations,

Requiring installation of better bilge pumps and alarms,

Installing underwater LED lights that activate automatically in emergencies, and

Complying with other Coast Guard boating safety requirements.

These changes will help save lives and prevent future tragedies.

I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting today's bill to make common-sense corrections to the persistent safety problems facing Duck Boats. If we act today, we can help ensure that no other family has to suffer

the kind of tragedy faced by my constituents on Table Rock Lake.

I urge the House to support these safety provisions, and all of the reauthorizations in this year's NDAA.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to introduce the Justice for Shireen Act today. I thank my House and Senate colleagues that joined me to call on the FBI and State Department, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and Director of National Intelligence, to submit a report to Congress on the death of American-Palestinian Journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh. I send my deep condolences to the Abu Akleh family for this terrible killing and stand with them to demand justice and accountability.

Shireen Abu Akleh, an American-Palestinian journalist, was killed on May 11, 2022. She was killed wearing a clearly marked press vest

on assignment, reporting on a military raid which took place in the occupied city of Jenin. In May, I led a letter, signed by 58 Members of Congress, to the FBI and State Department calling for an independent and open investigation led by her home country, the United States and 24 Senators have echoed this request. It has been six months since we have sent this letter. Today, I continue to call for answers into the death of Shireen Abu Akleh.

As an American, Ms. Abu Akleh was entitled to the full protections afforded to U.S. citizens living abroad. As Members of Congress, we need to uphold the values that our Nation was founded on, including human rights, equality for all, and freedom of speech. As Members of Congress, we have a duty to protect Americans reporting abroad. An Israeli investigation has concluded, finding that it was indeed an Israel Solider that shot Ms. Abu Akleh in her line of duty. It is the responsibility of the U.S. to learn all the unanswered questions leading up to, during and after the fatal shot that killed Ms. Abu Akleh. Additionally, this bill requires an identification of any United States defense materials or services that were implicated in the death of Ms. Abu Akleh. No U.S. weapons and military services by the U.S. should be used to kill Americans on foreign soil. American taxpayers should not be paying for any violation of human rights abroad.

Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in calling for justice and accountability for Shireen Abu Akleh.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Indiana, the Honorable Rudy Yakym III, be permitted to take the oath of office today.

His certificate of election has not yet arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to his election.

Madam Speaker, as the dean of the Indiana delegation, I am honored to welcome the newest Hoosier to serve here in the people's House, Congressman Rudy Yakym.

Before his election last week, he worked as a vice president at a commercial real estate firm and, most recently, as a director of growth initiatives at an Indiana logistics and supply chain company. He was also nominated by former Governor Mike Pence to serve on the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission.

Our new colleague will be representing Indiana's Second Congressional District, and he is supported by his wife, Sallyann, and their three children.

I welcome the Congressman to the House and look forward to working with him to advance Hoosier values.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Yakym).

Madam Speaker, today I am reintroducing the Food Deserts Act of 2022 to help fight hunger and food insecurity in communities across the country.

I'd like to share just one example. In June of 2017, Marsh Supermarkets grocery stores announced the closure of many stores throughout the Midwest. Many of these stores were in my district where many families lack a car or reliable public transportation to get to the nearest grocery alternative, often located over a mile away. Today, thousands of my constituents are still struggling to find the food they need, with many forced to rely on fast-food restaurants and convenience stores.

These options are neither healthy nor affordable.

Sadly, this situation is not unique. Over 29 million people, almost 10 percent of the U.S. population, live without ready access to affordable, nutritious food and over 2 million people have no transportation to get to their nearest store. Many have seen their local stores close during the pandemic. Others lost access years ago and are now facing the serious long-term impacts of obesity, diabetes, malnutrition, and other diet-related ailments.

Unfortunately, residents in these low-income areas tend to spend less on groceries, leaving little financial incentive for traditional grocery chains to make costly investments for new locations.

In the wealthiest country on Earth, nutritious food should be an expectation, not a luxury. That is why I am reintroducing the Food Deserts Act, which creates new avenues to fund stores in underserved communities. This bill will create USDA-funded, State-operated revolving funds that will issue low-interest loans for the operation of grocery stores in food deserts. The bill ensures that recipients of these loans, including for-profit, non-profit

and municipal entities, can provide affordable, healthy food, including fresh produce and staples like milk, bread, and meat. It will also ensure that USDA professionals are available to provide technical assistance to recipients who need it.

Access to healthy food is something that most of us take for granted. But despite our own experiences, we need to remember that millions of our constituents are struggling every day to feed their families. With this market-driven approach, I hope to complement existing Federal programs and efforts around the country by ensuring a stable lending stream for struggling grocery stores and sustainable access to food for communities in need.

Madam Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise to re-introduce a bipartisan resolution recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Poppy Day on the Friday before Memorial Day, with Congresswoman Spartz.

The importance of this day cannot be overstated. This bipartisan National Poppy Day Resolution recognizes the sacrifices of America's veterans and fallen service members.

In the last several decades, Memorial Day has become synonymous with the start of summer, and not as it was intended as a time to mourn and remember the U.S. military personnel who have fought and died while serving in the United States armed forces. While the United States has great respect for those who serve in the Armed Forces, we often focus on the living veterans. There are many parents, spouses, siblings, and children who still mourn their fallen service member.

Yes, there are ceremonies to remember those we have lost, such as the ones at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, at the Pentagon, and small ones at National Cemeteries. However, as a Nation we no longer take the time to remember those who have shed blood in the name of freedom.

The poppy flower has long been a marker of respect and a way to raise awareness and support for members of our nation's veteran communities, servicemembers and their families, and the families of those who died in service to their country. Poppy Day is widely recognized by America's allies, especially in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, and Ukraine, but is less recognized here at home.

The red-flowered corn poppy became forever linked to soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice on the battlefields of World War I, as result of the poem ``In Flanders Fields.'' The poem, written by a Canadian soldier actively serving on the front-lines of WWI to honor his fellow soldiers killed in battle, reads:

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow, between the crosses,

row on row

Around the world, the red-flowered corn poppy continues to serve as the living symbol of the blood shed by those who served and is worn as a gesture of gratitude and recognition of the sacrifices people have made in service to their country. Many nations incorporate the poppy into their Veterans or Remembrance Day ceremonies.

In the United States, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars first called attention in the 1920s to the importance of the poppy flower in honoring the fallen. They continue to distribute poppies and promote the importance of a National Poppy Day on the Friday before Memorial Day and Veterans Day, raising money for disabled veterans.

With wider recognition of National Poppy Day and wearing a red poppy, we honor every servicemember who has died in the name of liberty, freedom, and democracy. Additionally this provides us the opportunity to thank their families, veterans, and current service members for our freedom now and for generations to come. In the words of American Moina Michael:

And now the Torch and Poppy Red, We wear in honor of our

dead. Fear not that ye have died for naught; We'll teach the

lesson that ye wrought

Our Resolution would begin on May 26, 2023. We should honor past and current members of the Armed Forces of the United States and their families. We should encourage all citizens, residents, and visitors of the United States to join in observing ``National Poppy Day.'' Wearing a red poppy the Friday before Memorial day--and through the weekend--is a simple declaration of our admiration for and thanks to those individuals who shed blood to preserve freedom.

In this body we have people who have served and those who have lost. At the very least we should honor them.

We invite all Members of Congress to wear their poppy red, support the goals and ideals of National Poppy Day on May 26, 2023 and every year after, to pay tribute to those who have sacrificed for our country--both living and dead. I also invite all of my colleagues to join me in sponsoring this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, in closing, this bipartisan bill will correct the FAA's unacceptably lax oversight of foreign aeronautical repair stations that work on U.S. airline fleets and help increase the safety of our global aviation system.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3482) to establish the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation, as amended.

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 H.R. 3482, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, today is bittersweet. I am glad that my bill is finally being considered on the House floor after working on this bill for over two sessions, but unfortunately, my partner on this bill is not here to join me, Representative Don Young of Alaska, the former chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the former dean of this House. Mr. Speaker, his work and support were invaluable in helping us get this bill to the floor.

This National Center for the Advancement of Aviation Act is both bipartisan and bicameral. I am pleased that so many members of our Transportation and Infrastructure Committee are sponsors of the bill, including Subcommittee on Aviation Chair Larsen, as well as my colleagues in the other body, Senators Duckworth and Inhofe.

Our committee has worked for years to make American skies the safest in the world and to strengthen the industry workforce to maintain the highest standards of aviation excellence.

This bill supports and promotes collaboration among civil, commercial, and military aviation sectors to address the demands and challenges of ensuring a safe and vibrant national aviation system through research, education, and training.

Too often in the past, Mr. Speaker, innovation and lessons learned in various aviation sectors have not been shared in a collaborative or even a timely manner, especially considering rapid developments in new technology. My bill helps to break down these silos across commercial aviation, general aviation, and military aviation sectors. This will not only improve safety and best practices, Mr. Speaker, but it will also expand opportunities for those interested in more diverse aviation workforces.

For the young and not so young, from those just starting out to those with experience who want to move into other types of aviation work, the national center will focus on four key areas with an emphasis on aviation workforce development.

Firstly, it will support education efforts and provide resources to curriculum developers, so educators at all levels have the tools and training to educate the next generation of aviation professionals.

Secondly, the national center will provide a forum to leverage and share expertise amongst industry sectors, including the improvement of existing high school curriculum to develop and deploy a workforce of pilots, aerospace engineers, unmanned aircraft systems operators, aviation maintenance technicians, or other aviation maintenance professionals needed in the coming decades.

Finally, it will support symposiums and conferences to facilitate collaboration across the industry and develop future advancements for the aviation and aerospace community. This legislation will also allow the FAA to focus on safety, certification, and air traffic operations.

Mr. Speaker, the aviation and aerospace industry supports over 11 million jobs and contributes more than $1.6 trillion per year to our national economy.

Nearly 200 organizations, including schools, airports, airlines, manufacturers, unions, and other entities involved in aviation and aerospace, have expressed strong support for this wonderful legislation. It will address the demands and challenges our aviation and aerospace industry face today and tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure,

Washington DC, September 27, 2022.

Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson,

Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairwoman Johnson: I write to you concerning H.R.

3482, the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation Act

of 2022, which was introduced on May 21, 2021, and solely

referred to the Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure.

I appreciate you agreeing to withdraw your request for a

sequential referral of H.R. 3482 so that the bill may be

considered expeditiously. I acknowledge that forgoing your

referral claim now does not waive the right to jurisdictional

claims in the future on subject matter contained in this bill

or similar legislation. Further, I will appropriately consult

and involve the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

as the bill moves forward on issues that fall within your

Rule X jurisdiction.

Finally, I will include a copy of our letter exchange in

the committee report and in the Congressional Record when the

bill is considered on the floor.

Thank you again for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Peter A. DeFazio,

Chair.

Mr. Speaker, this bill will help to address the workforce challenges facing U.S. aviation today and prepare our workforce for the opportunities of the future.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bipartisan legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 5641) to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to increase the threshold for

eligibility for assistance under sections 403, 406, 407, and 502 of such Act, and for other purposes.

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 H.R. 5641.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5641. This legislation will expedite the approval process for small projects applying for aid through FEMA's public assistance program, a program that helps communities remove debris, implement emergency protective measures, and repair damage to public infrastructure.

The House has already passed this once with overwhelming support, and the amendment we are considering today would solely add a reporting requirement to the language we previously supported.

Also, in the time since we first passed this bill, the Biden administration has updated the small project threshold to $1 million via rulemaking. The $1 million threshold, Mr. Speaker, is currently expediting the post-disaster recovery process, cutting unnecessary red tape and helping communities get back on their feet.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, this legislation supports FEMA's role and codifies that the qualifying small project threshold will be $1 million.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.