Floor Statements

Madam 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 have had many mentors at every stage of my life, whether it was my theatre teacher in school who encouraged me to be who I am and elevated the confidence in myself to pursue sports, or my grandmother who raised me, and who was the reason I find myself following her large footsteps in public service. Mentors are important at every stage in life and especially at a young age. We should help children 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 an 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.

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

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Mike Epps, who will be filming his next Netflix comedy special in his hometown of Indianapolis and will also be inducted into the Madam Walker Legacy Center Walk of Fame on November 20, 2021.

Mike was born in Indianapolis to parents Mary Reed and Tommie Epps, and raised in our great city. Mike began performing comedy as a teenager. After achieving success in standup comedy, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to pursue a career in comedy at the Comedy Act Theater.

At 21 years old, Mike moved to New York City where he became a sensation in the underground Black comedy scene. Mike's career continued to prosper, performing in two HBO Def Comedy Jam broadcasts and appearing in the movie ``Strays'' in 1997 and the television series ``The Sopranos'' in 1999.

After New York, Mike's rise to fame took him to Los Angeles, where he landed a role in Ice Cube's movie ``Next Friday.'' His acting career gained momentum, appearing in films such as ``Dr. Dolittle 2 ,'' ``All About the Benjamins'' and ``The Fighting Temptations,'' to name just a few.

Mike has used his platform to support our city and give back to others. In 2012, he served as the ``Super Bowl Ambassador'' to Indianapolis. In addition, his generous contributions to the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation for the Arts in Georgia has helped provide opportunities for young people wishing to follow in his footsteps.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mike Epps. Our community is proud of his success and deeply grateful for his dedicated philanthropic and mentorship efforts, which are making a positive impact in the lives of countless young people across the country.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a bipartisan resolution today with my colleagues, Representatives Eshoo, McKinley, and McClain. Our resolution raises awareness about pancreatic cancer and the importance of increased Congressional funding for research by expressing support for the designation of the month of November 2021 as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. I am grateful for Representatives Eshoo, McKinley, and McClain's leadership in helping to combat pancreatic cancer.

Recently, pancreatic cancer has killed three American icons: Congressman John Lewis, Congressman Alcee Hastings, and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Accurately described as a silent killer, this disease does not have an early detection test, so unfortunately, by year's end, pancreatic cancer will have killed an estimated 47,050 Americans and is the third largest cause of cancer-related death in our country. As COVID-19 continues to rob us of our fellow Americans, pancreatic cancer continues to devastate thousands of American families and communities. In my home state of Indiana, nearly 1,000 Hoosiers will be killed by pancreatic cancer by year's end, and almost 2,000 Hoosiers will be newly diagnosed with this terrible disease. Nationwide, an additional 60,430 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year.

These horrific statistics highlight how few tools exist to detect this disease and, as a result, the immense pain and suffering it causes. Alarmingly, pancreatic cancer still has no early detection test to quickly and accurately determine the presence of this cancer. As a result, it is very difficult to detect this cancer before it has advanced to later--and more deadly--stages. Tragically, 72 percent of pancreatic cancer patients live less than one year following their diagnosis. This was the case for our colleague, Congressman John Lewis, who was killed by pancreatic cancer less than a year following his diagnosis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted how longstanding health disparities and lack of access to care results in disproportionate numbers of infections and deaths from this virus in communities of color. Sadly, the same is true with pancreatic cancer. The incidence rate for pancreatic cancer among Black Americans is twenty percent higher than that of any other racial demographic and the death rate is seventeen percent higher for Black men than for white men. In this way, the lack of pancreatic cancer early detection research accelerates the racial inequities in our health care system, with devastating consequences for minorities.

To help detect pancreatic cancer earlier and to help address racial inequities, the 117th Congress has a unique opportunity to make historic investments in pancreatic cancer research at the Department of Defense (DoD). Congress can do this by increasing funding to pancreatic cancer research. Within this research funding, DoD should include early detection research as a major funding priority to help more patients detect this deadly disease early. In fact, if diagnosed early, the 5- year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients is above 80 percent. Current pancreatic cancer research funding remains at a fraction of the level that our fellow Americans struggling with this disease deserve. That's why it is so critical that we raise awareness about how deadly and destructive this cancer is to our American family, and why increasing pancreatic cancer research is critical to lowering this disease's deadliness.

Moreover, at a time when our country is having a national conversation about the deep disparities in access to health care for Black and Brown people during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress must do everything within our power to improve health outcomes through research and treatment, and that includes pancreatic cancer. And in order to ensure that we improve outcomes, we need to raise awareness with the American public and our colleagues in Congress about just how deadly this cancer is and why we need to find early detection tools, effective treatments and reduce this disease's disproportionate impact on communities of color.

I urge my colleagues in the House to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDDA) and my bipartisan amendment which authorizes an increase of five million dollars for a pancreatic cancer early detection initiative (EDI) at the Department of Defense (DoD). I thank my colleagues, Rep. Eshoo and Rep. McKinley, for their support and leadership on this issue. Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all major cancers--in large part due to lack of research in early detection. I believe we all agree that the patients, families, friends and loved ones suffering from this disease deserve greater support.

My amendment will provide critical funding needed for more research and an early detection initiative (EDI) under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) at DoD. I am pleased that the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee has already appropriated fifteen million dollars for general pancreatic cancer research funding in this year's funding legislation. While encouraging, we need to continue doing more.

This issue has hit painfully close to home recently, as America lost giants to pancreatic cancer. Rep. John Lewis, our civil rights hero, passed away from pancreatic cancer only seven months after receiving his diagnosis. My good friend and colleague, Rep. Alcee Hastings, also passed from pancreatic cancer earlier this year. And, Americans lost a fighter for voting rights and women's protection, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, to this deadly disease. We have lost too many loved ones and must do everything we can to save lives. It is unacceptable that, despite being the third leading cause of cancer-related death in our country, pancreatic cancer still does not have a dedicated early detection initiative. In fact, the lack of research in ways to detect pancreatic cancer early has led to devastating consequences: sixty-six percent of patients live less than one year following their diagnosis.

If diagnosed early, the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients is above eighty percent. However, if pancreatic cancer is detected late, the five-year survival rate drops to less than five percent. By failing to support our nation's researchers with the means to find new ways to detect pancreatic cancer early, we are leaving America's pancreatic cancer patients with few ways to detect this disease in time to extend the quality and duration of their lives.

It's important to note that persistent health care inequities and disparities for communities of color compound the devastation of pancreatic cancer and the effects of lack of early detection research. Unfortunately, Black people are more likely than their fellow Americans to get pancreatic cancer. In fact, the incidence rate for pancreatic cancer among Black Americans is twenty percent higher than any other racial demographic. This disease is more deadly for us: the pancreatic cancer death rate is seventeen percent higher for Black men than white men. Significant evidence demonstrates that these disproportionate levels of

pancreatic cancer are in large part rooted in disparities in health care and access to tests and diagnostics. As a result, the lack of pancreatic cancer early detection research accelerates the racial unfairness in our health care system, with devastating consequences for minorities.

At a time when our country is having a national conversation about the deep disparities in access to health care for Black and Brown people during a global pandemic, Congress must do everything within our power to improve health outcomes through research and treatment. Providing dedicated funding for early detection research at DoD will help fill a critical gap in our pancreatic cancer research and will help address the pancreatic cancer disparities for communities of color.

I urge the House to support this amendment.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to commemorate the centennial of Frederick Douglass Park in Indianapolis. This historic park honors the memory and legacy of legendary abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Located in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood on the east side of Indianapolis and maintained by the City of Indianapolis's parks department, the Frederick Douglass Park has been an integral part of our city for generations by bringing our community together.

The park's history reflects America's civil rights journey. It opened in 1921 in the Jim Crow era to serve Black citizens, as they were excluded or intimidated from visiting other recreational spaces in Indianapolis. Black Hoosiers embraced the park, organizing and advocating for its maintenance and improvement. Frederick Douglass Park is well known for its role in cultivating Black golfers, and it has hosted professionals such as Ted Rhodes, Charlie Sifford and Tiger Woods. Today, it is visited and appreciated by Hoosiers of many different backgrounds.

Frederick Douglass Park continues to play an important role in Indianapolis, and in celebration of its 100 years, our community is planning a series of events including a golf-tournament, festival, and movie night. The City of Indianapolis will additionally announce a

$19.5 million investment into Frederick Douglass Park, updating it for its second century through the construction of a new family center that includes educational, fitness, and community spaces.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this incredible park and its rich history in my district.

Madam Speaker, I thank the Congressional Black Caucus for giving us a leader, a hero, a visionary, a general, and a true public servant in Chairwoman Joyce Beatty, a fellow Midwesterner.

Madam Speaker, when I see people like Congresswoman Beatty, it motivates me in the spirit of my grandmother, in the spirit of Fannie Lou Hamer, in the spirit of Harriet Tubman, in the spirit of Sojourner Truth. That fearlessness, that boldness, that commitment to liberation in freeing us from physical shackles along with mental shackles.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to join my great colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus tonight in support of the INVEST Act, a bill that we marked up over 18 hours in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Madam Speaker, now this is one of the greenest bills to ever come to the floor. It provides strong support for sustainable infrastructure, green infrastructure, and green transit.

The INVEST Act also addresses critical water projects for clean drinking water and wastewater projects, priorities that are long overdue after the racial injustices discovered in the Flint water crisis.

The INVEST Act includes strong job creation provisions for minority contractors and transportation professionals that will help spur Black generational success and wealth.

We also know that access to reliable transportation is a civil rights priority. It is critical to economic and educational opportunities.

This bill makes big investments to cut carbon emissions. For electric vehicle technologies, it expands EV charging stations and networks across our country by investing $4 billion in charging infrastructure, helping the U.S. shift to the next generation of clean vehicles. I am especially proud of the EV charging stations approved in the bill for Indianapolis, which has one of the first green bus rapid transit systems.

This bill also dedicates $8.3 billion for activities targeted to reduce carbon pollution and provides $6.2 billion for mitigation and resiliency improvements. It also advances the development and utilization of green construction materials.

It makes our roads safer with a great boost to smart road technologies and roadway safety programs, plus record levels of investment in walking and cycling infrastructure, complete streets planning and smarter road design, and safe routes to schools.

This bill also strengthens passenger rail service, as Mr. Clyburn mentioned. At my request, our staff request, there were provisions included to improve rail safety by addressing highway-rail grade crossing needs, as well as addressing trespasser and suicide fatalities and eliminating gaps in railroad safety.

This bill also creates a Federal blocked crossing program to collect data and enforce a 10-minute blocked crossing limit. This is a huge win for the problems we have faced in Indianapolis and other places as well.

Madam Speaker, the INVEST Act is a long-overdue bill, and I urge my colleagues to help us in passing this monumental piece of legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce a bill that will address intelligence gaps and sharpen our focus on transnational white supremacist extremist threats. Specifically, this bill will improve our federal intelligence agencies and prioritize the white supremacist extremist threat, including its ties to international groups. This bill builds on previous work done by a number of congressional committees, including the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence's Intelligence Authorizations (IAA) over the past few years.

As the Chairman of the Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and Counterproliferation (C3) Subcommittee on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I am proud to strengthen our earlier provisions in the IAA and introduce this new bill. I am also extremely grateful for the collaborative efforts and support of Chairman Adam Schiff--who joins me as an original cosponsor of this bill, and whose work was invaluable in developing this legislation for introduction today.

This bill mandates that the National Counterterrorism Center-- alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security--explore and analyze more completely the ideology and objectives driving white supremacist groups with transnational connections, including their leadership and operational structure. Currently, the United States government too often and too heavily relies on outside research organizations for detailed analysis of white supremacist extremists. It is imperative that United States government's intelligence agencies and subordinate organizations perform the high-level analysis needed to best utilize existing data, add additional data that may be missing, and ensure this is done on a national level. The new assessments required by this bill will allow lawmakers and the public to more completely understand the full scope of the transnational threat and will help foster a sustained examination of its international impact well into the future.

As a former law enforcement professional, I have warned my colleagues for a number of years that the threat of white supremacist extremist organizations has been growing worse. Today, this problem is the top terror threat to American lives, and the United States Government needs to take actions that reflect this heightened priority, especially since the January 6th insurrection and home-grown attack on the U.S. Capitol. While there has been improvement under the Biden Administration, plus increased Congressional efforts, the Intelligence Community continues to place a priority on the international terror groups and their offenses, while ignoring the domestic terror threats. While some were taken by surprise by domestic terrorists that blew up the federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995, we should never again be caught by surprise--especially when we have the ability and the duty

to prevent future attacks with stronger intelligence assessments.

I strongly believe this bill will complement and enhance the recently announced Department of Justice strategy to combat the domestic terror and domestic violent extremism threats, so I urge all my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this bill.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor former Marion County Sheriff Frank Anderson for 60 years of service in law enforcement.

Frank's life-long dedication to public service began in 1956 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating from Shortridge High School. Shortly after joining the Marion County Sheriff's Office in 1961, Frank moved to the U.S. Marshals Service where he quickly rose through the ranks. He played a vital role in the creation and direction of the Federal Witness Protection Program. In 1977, he was appointed as U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Indiana where he served until 1981 and again from 1994 to 2001. Frank's successful handling of the government seizure of the Indianapolis Baptist Temple earned him the Martin J. Burke Award in 2001, a recognition awarded to the most outstanding marshal in the Nation.

In 2003, Frank made history when elected the first Black sheriff in Marion County; he served in this role for eight years. Frank was a trailblazer for diversity and inclusion in our community and across the State of Indiana. He will forever be remembered for the ``Stop and Think'' program where he provided youth participants his personal phone number to call before they made a wrong decision.

Frank dedicated his life to service. He led with his heart and persevered through the many challenges that came his way. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Frank Anderson.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to introduce legislation to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Federal Protective Service (FPS) in recognition of their service to our Nation. After passing the Capitol security bill in this chamber earlier this week, it is only natural that we highlight the work of our protection agencies and their commitment to the Federal workforce. As a former law enforcement officer, I understand the pivotal role of security today more than ever. Following the U.S. Capitol attacks on January 6, we witnessed firsthand how important it is to have law enforcement agencies like FPS to protect our federal facilities and workforce.

For half a century, FPS has served and protected the American people and government business with honor, integrity, and commitment. Since its inception in 1971, FPS has contributed to the protection of people and property in the Federal Government by identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities through risk assessments, law enforcement, intelligence analysis, and security measures. Two major acts of terror against the United States have shaped FPS to anticipate emerging threats more effectively: the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995, and the terror attacks on September 11. Today, FPS provides the Department of Homeland Security Secretary with a highly trained, nationwide force that can support needs in countering emerging or existing threats and terrorism, within the boundaries of our Nation and territories. It is also responsible for protecting over 9,000 facilities and more than 1.4 million people who work, visit, or conduct business at these facilities each day.

FPS has shown that it is a leader within the law enforcement and protection community. It is their work and dedication that brings us closer to the vision of a Federal workforce and workplace that is safe, secure, and resilient moving forward.

Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing one of our nation's most critical federal agencies.

Madam Speaker, I rise to re-introduce a resolution recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Poppy Day, May 28. The importance of this day cannot be overstated. It's a day full of respect and remembrance for servicemembers who sacrificed so much for our Nation. The poppy flower has long been a marker of respect and a way to raise awarerness and support for members of our Nation's veterans communities, servicemembers, and their families. On May 28, we share our respect for their work on behalf of our country by acknowledging the poppy flower's symbolism, and by recognizing their sacrifices--all by donning our ``poppy red.''

The red-flowered corn poppy became symbolic as a living representation of the brave soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice on the fields of battle in World War I. Since that time, the red of the poppy flower--itself a symbol of the blood shed by those who have served--has been worn as a gesture of gratitude and recognition of others' respective sacrifices for their country, in different theaters of war.

In the United States, The American Legion--and the entire American Legion Family--first called attention in 1920 to the symbolic importance of the poppy flower. At that time, near the end of the war, red-flowered corn poppies were especially linked to the poem In Flanders Fields, which reads:

``In Flanders Fields the poppies blow, between the crosses, row on row''

This reference, evoking images of the poppies that sprang up in the churned-up earth of newly dug soldiers' graves in parts of Belgium and France following World War I, encapsulates the symbolic importance of National Poppy Day.

I am proud to have partnered with The American Legion on this bill as their headquarters is in Indianapolis, in my district, and we invite all Members of Congress to wear their poppy red, support the goal and ideals of National Poppy Day on May 28, and pay tribute to those who have sacrificed for our country. I also invite all of my colleagues to join me in sponsoring this resolution.

Madam Speaker, today I join my colleagues, Rep. Don Young of Alaska, Chairman Emeritus of the Transportation Committee, and Rep. Rick Larsen, Chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, in re-introducing the bipartisan and bicameral National Center for the Advancement of Aviation Act of 2021. 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.

Our legislation, the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation (NCAA) would support and promote collaboration amongst civil, commercial, and military aviation sectors to address the demands and challenges associated with ensuring a safe and vibrant national aviation system through research, education, and training.

Too often in the past, innovation and lessons learned in various aviation sectors has not been shared in a collaboratively or timely manner, especially considering rapid developments in new technology. Our bill helps break down silos across commercial aviation, general aviation and military aviation sectors that will not only improve safety and best practices, but also expand opportunities for those interested in the aviation workforce--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 would focus on four key areas with an emphasis on aviation workforce development. First, it would 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.

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

Third, it would serve as a central repository for economic and safety data research and analysis allowing a comprehensive perspective of industry information that would improve safety for all stakeholders.

Finally, it would support symposiums and conferences to facilitate collaboration across the industry and develop future advancements for the aviation and aerospace community.

This legislation would also allow the FAA to focus on safety, certification, and air traffic operations.

The national center would be funded by using a small percentage of the interest accrued annually on the taxes and fees collected from users of our aviation system and deposited into the aviation trust fund. In other words,

no general fund taxpayer dollars would be used to support this national center.

Our aviation and aerospace industry supports over 11 million jobs and contributes more than $1.6 trillion per year to the national economy. More than 130 organizations including schools, airports, airlines, manufacturers, unions, and other entities involved in aviation and aerospace have expressed strong support for this legislation. The list of organizations supporting this legislation are as follows:

AAR Corp; ACI Jet; Aeronautical Repair Station Association;

Aerospace Center of Excellence; Aerospace Maintenance

Council; Air Care Alliance; Air Line Pilots Association,

International; Air Medical Operators Association; Air

Wisconsin Airlines; Airbus; Aircraft Electronics Association;

Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association; Aircraft Owners and

Pilots Association; Airlines for America; Alabama General

Aviation Alliance; Alaska Airlines; Alaska Airmen

Association; Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation; Alliance for

Aviation Across America; Allied Pilots Association.

American Airlines; American Bonanza Society; American

Yankee Association; Arizona Airports Association; Arizona

Flight Training Working group; Arizona Pilots Association;

Arizona Safety Advisory Group; Arkansas General Aviation

Association; Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems

International; Association of California Airports; Atlas Air

Worldwide; Aviation Council of Pennsylvania; Aviation

Technician Education Council; California Pilots Association;

Cape Air; Cargo Airline Association; Cessna Flyer

Association; Choose Aerospace, Inc.; Citation Jet Pilots,

Inc.; Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations.

Colorado Aviation Business Association; Commemorative Air

Force; Community and Airport Partnership for Safe Operations;

CommutAir; Compass Airlines; Delta Air Lines; Delta State

University; EAA Type Club Coalition; EAA Warbirds of America;

East Central Ohio Pilots Association; East Hampton Aviation

Association; Empire Airlines; Endeavor Air; Envoy Air; EVAC,

the Emergency Volunteers Air Corps; Experimental Aircraft

Association; ExpressJet Airlines; FAST; FedEx Express;

Flight School Association of North America.

Flying Knights Flying Club; Flying Physicians Association;

Friends of Linden Airport; Fullerton Airport Pilots

Association; General Aviation Council of Hawaii; General

Aviation Manufacturers Association; Glasair Aircraft Owners

Association; GoJet Airlines; Hawaiian Airlines; Helicopter

Association International; Horizon Air; International Air

Transport Association; International Council of Air Shows,

Inc.; Iowa Aviation Association; Kentucky Aviation

Association; Kimmel Aviation Insurance; Ladd Gardner Aviation

Insurance, Inc.; Lancair Owners and Builders Organization;

Lewis University Airport; LIFT Academy.

Long Island Business Aviation Association; Los Alamos

Airport; Louisiana Airport Managers and Associates; Maine

Aeronautics Association; Maine Aviation Business Association;

Massachusetts Airport Management Association; Michigan

Business Aviation Association; Minnesota Pilots Association;

Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association; Mississippi

Agricultural Association; Montana Pilots Association; Mooney

Summit, Inc.; National Agricultural Aviation Association;

National Air Traffic Controllers Association; National Air

Transportation Association; National Association of State

Aviation Officials; National Business Aviation Association;

National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education NetJets;

NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots; New Hampshire

Pilots Association; New Jersey Aviation Association.

New Mexico Airport Manager's Association; New York Aviation

Management Association; North American Trainer Association;

Ohio Regional Business Aviation Association; Oklahoma

Aeronautics Commission; Oklahoma Airport Operators

Association; Oklahoma Pilots Association; Oregon Pilots

Association; Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals;

Palo Alto Airport Association; Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum;

Petaluma Area Pilots Association; Piedmont Airlines; Piper

Flyer Association; Plane and Pilot News; Professional

Aviation Maintenance Association; PSA Airlines; Pure White

Smoke Oil, Inc.; Recreational Aviation Foundation; Red Star

Pilots Association; Regional Airline Association; Republic

Airways; Rhode Island Pilots Association.

San Carlos Pilots Association; San Diego Christian College;

Seaplane Pilots Association; South Carolina Aviation

Association; South Dakota Pilots Association; Southwest

Airlines; Southwest Airlines Pilots Association; Start

Skydiving, Inc.; Sturdivant Brothers Flying Service; T-34

Mentor Association; The Boeing Company; The Museum of Flight,

Seattle, Washington; Trans States Airlines; U.S. Contract

Tower Association; U.S. Parachute Association; United

Airlines; UPS; Veterans Airlift Command; Virginia Aviation

Business Association; Washington Pilots Association;

Washington Seaplane Pilots Association; Women in Aviation

International; Zerowait, Inc.

Madam Speaker, this legislation will address the demands and challenges our aviation and aerospace industry face today and tomorrow. I strongly encourage my colleagues to join us in cosponsoring the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation Act of 2021.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to introduce legislation to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Federal Protective Service (FPS) in recognition of their service to our Nation. After passing the Capitol security bill in this Chamber earlier this week, it is only natural that we highlight the work of our protection agencies and their commitment to the Federal workforce. As a former law enforcement officer, I understand the pivotal role of security today more than ever. Following the U.S. Capitol attacks on January 6, we witnessed firsthand how important it is to have law enforcement agencies like FPS to protect our Federal facilities and workforce.

For half a century, FPS has served and protected the American people and government business with honor, integrity, and commitment. Since its inception in 1971, FPS has contributed to the protection of people and property in the Federal Government by identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities through risk assessments, law enforent, intelligence analysis, and security measures. Two major acts of terror against the United States have shaped FPS to anticipate emerging threats more effectively: the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995, and the terror attacks on September 11. Today, FPS provides the Department of Homeland Security Secretary with a highly trained, nationwide force that can support needs in countering emerging or existing threats and terrorism, within the boundaries of our Nation and territories. It is also responsible for protecting over 9,000 facilities and more than 1.4 million people who work, visit, or conduct business at these facilities each day.

FPS has shown that it is a leader within the law enforcement and protection community. It is their work and dedication that brings us closer to the vision of a Federal workforce and workplace that is safe, secure, and resilient moving forward.

Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing one of our Nation's most critical Federal agencies.

Madam Speaker, today I am pleased to re- introduce the Young Americans Financial Literacy Act. Financial literacy is critical to ensuring future financial responsibility. Studies have shown that 88 percent of Americans believe finance education should be taught in schools and 92 percent of K-12 teachers believe that financial education should be taught in school, but only 12 percent of teachers actually teach the subject. Yet, according to a 2020 survey, less than half of States require high school students to take a personal finance course, and less than 17 percent of high school students were required to take a semester-long personal finance course.

I believe that Congress has an opportunity and a responsibility to address the pressing needs of individuals faced with the loss of their financial stability and the challenges of economic uncertainty. This should include financial literacy education reform and long-term solutions to prevent future personal financial disasters. Research- based financial literacy education programs are needed to reach individuals at all ages and socioeconomic levels, particularly those facing unique and challenging financial situations, such as high school graduates entering the workforce, soon-to-be and recent college graduates and young families, and to address the unique needs of military personnel and their families. High school and college students who are exposed to cumulative financial education show an increase in financial knowledge, which in turn drives increasingly responsible behavior as they become young adults.

According to the Government Accountability Office, giving Americans the information they need to make effective financial decisions can be key to their well-being and to the country's economic health. The global financial crisis, when many borrowers failed to fully understand the risks associated with certain financial products, and currently, the economic hardships presented by the sudden disruptions caused by the spread of COVID-19, underscore the need to improve individuals' financial literacy and empower all Americans to make informed financial decisions. This is especially true for young people as they are earning their first paychecks, securing student aid, and establishing their financial independence. Therefore, focusing economic education and financial literacy efforts and best practices for young people between the ages of 8 to 24 is of utmost importance.

I believe America should be leading the world with the best-educated students who will drive our economic innovation and success, so please join me in cosponsoring the Young Americans Financial Literacy Act. This act:

Establishes a grant program in the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection to develop and implement financial literacy programs for young people ages 8 to 24,

Incentivizes the development of partnerships between institutions of higher education, local educational agencies, nonprofit organizations, and financial institutions to develop programs aimed at young Americans in different phases of their life;

Ensures the development of evidence-based instructional material that is geared towards targeted groups and addresses unique life situations, including bankruptcy, foreclosure, student loans, credit card misuse; and

Conducts ongoing assessment and accountability of the program over the short- and long-term to ensure that grant money achieves the greatest impact.

I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting the Young Americans Financial Literacy Act.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in remembrance of Hurley Goodall, former Indiana State legislator, civil rights icon, and one of the founding members of the Indiana Democratic African American Caucus, who passed away on May 12, 2021.

Hurley was a lifelong resident of Indiana, who spent his life dedicated to community service and fighting for the rights of others. He was a graduate of Muncie Central High School before serving two years in the United States Army.

As Muncie's first African-American firefighter in 1958, Hurley began to forge a trail for young African-Americans. Hurley continued to serve his community, as the first African-American to be elected to the City of Muncie's school board in 1970. He then served seven terms in the Indiana General Assembly, where he helped to establish the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus.

Hurley believed in setting an example for young men and women, and helping them succeed. He established a scholarship program, with his wife, Fredine, to support up and coming leaders to continue their education at a local community college.

Hurley is survived by his son Fredrick; his nephew, Robert; as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering Hurley Goodall and honor his remarkable achievements throughout his full life.

Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce a bill to honor the 100th anniversary of the creation of Wonder Bread at Taggert Baking Company in Indianapolis, Indiana. This bicameral and bipartisan resolution recognizes that this storied company, with deep Indiana roots and its iconic Wonder Bread product, made lasting impacts on American life and showcase the best of Hoosier values.

With hard work and a pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps story, the Taggart Brothers' creation of Wonder Bread in Indianapolis jumpstarted an innovation in commercial baking that touched American lives from the Midwest heartlands to our nation's coasts. Americans from all walks of life know Wonder Bread, and just as many enjoyed childhood memories with this iconic product and lunchbox favorite.

Indianapolis has long been a haven for hard-working entrepreneurs with big ideas--from Madam CJ Walker to the current generation of visionaries. That Wonder Bread can tout Hoosier roots, is yet another example of our state's industrial and entrepreneurial spirit. I am honored to join many of my House colleagues who represent Indiana and Senator Braun, on the Senate side, in celebrating this legacy through our resolution commemorating and honoring the 100th Anniversary of the creation of Wonder Bread.

I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.