Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the cost estimate prepared by the Congressional Budget Office for H.R. 5633, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Transparency Act. The cost estimate was not available at the time of the Committee report filing.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, February 10, 2022.

Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 5633, the

Department of Homeland Security Inspector General

Transparency Act.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Lindsay

Wylie.

Sincerely,

Phillip L. Swagel,

Director.

Enclosure.

H.R. 5633--Department of Homeland Security Inspector General

Transparency Act

As reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security on January 21,

2022

------------------------------------------------------------------------

By fiscal year, millions of

dollars--

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of a remarkable individual, Curtis Hayes Muhammad.

Curtis Hayes Muhammad spent his entire life participating in various struggles for human rights and civil rights. His activism began in the fall of 1961. Only 18 years old, he was one of five young people from McComb, Mississippi, brave enough to respond to Bob Moses's call to begin direct action and community organizing there. He was a key member of SNCC's dangerous and groundbreaking efforts all over Mississippi throughout the sixties. Jailed many times for civil rights work, Curtis kept the principles of bottom up organizing learned from Moses and Ella Baker as the guiding foundation to subsequent efforts of union and community organizing and struggles for African Liberation. These beliefs in a cooperative society and bottom up organizing led by poor and dark-skinned people have been embraced by many contemporary movements for social justice today.

Curtis's early life experiences made him responsive to these movement ideals. He grew up in a family of sharecroppers in Chisolm Mission, Mississippi who had joined with 26 other sharecropping families and purchased a plot of land which they worked together. Raised by his grandmother, a midwife, he was taught principles of black independence and strength. Learning that his father had to flee Mississippi after killing several Ku Klux Klansmen in a gun fight, Curtis was determined to find ways to fight against Mississippi segregationists. He began preaching as a child and was encouraged by his grandmother that he had an important role to play in the liberation of black people.

Curtis's post-civil rights activism included helping to organize the 1963 Chicago School Boycott when 225,000 students walked out demanding an end to racial segregation and the disparate treatment of Black students. He was an organizer for the New Politics Convention that ran Dr. Benjamin Spock and Dick Gregory in the 1968 presidential election as third-party candidates. Curtis helped establish a radical Black bookstore in Washington, D.C. and helped create an early version of a Community Supported Agriculture project, bringing produce from Black farmers in the South to northern progressive communities in D.C. and NYC. He also worked on housing issues for poor people with the Harlem Reclamation Project which urged homeless people to take over abandoned brownstones and rehabilitate them, and thus extract ownership from the City. In Jersey City, NJ, following the same model, he assisted in the handing over of more than 60 brownstones to poor folks.

Later he worked as a union organizer for Unite in Monroe, LA. He successfully organized several dozen locals, mostly of Black women garment workers, using the Ella Baker model of organizing. As a result, the organized workers sometimes made decisions independent of and criticized by national union leaders such as calling for and enacting wildcat strikes. He went on with the now federated Unite-HERE to New Orleans organizing hotel and restaurant workers there and mentoring young folks in Union Summer. He also joined local New Orleans community members in Community Labor United, which worked on improving public education in New Orleans as the laboratory for a national Quality Education as a Civil Right Campaign.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life, legacy, and service of Mr. Curtis Hayes Muhammad.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable hero, Maggie Wade.

Maggie has remained at the same station where she was first hired as a senior at Mississippi College. She is the 89th member of her extended family to attend Jackson State University. She is the oldest of seven children. Maggie was planning to go to law school; she wanted to be a corporate attorney. She never intended to be in television because everything that she learned was preparing her for a law career.

Maggie landed an interview with Randy Bell at Miss 103/WDJX. She was hired for the position as a weekend News Anchor/Radio Announcer. She was also in school full time at Mississippi College. While working at WDJX/Miss 103, a weekend weather opening became available at WLBT. She was introduced to Woodie Assaf at WLBT and went through the interview process for the position.

She received the job at WLBT, and this has been her employment since then. She fell in love with the media and the power of the media to bring change. Maggie gives all glory to God and speaks about how God had this planned for her. The first assignment for Maggie was at the University of Mississippi Medical Center inside the Children's Hospital. She was in love with the children and the support from her colleague.

Maggie's favorite quote is from Maya Angelou, ``People may forget what you did, they may forget what you said, but they'll never forget how you made them feel.'' She uses this quote because when you can do a story, when you can cover an event, no matter what that event is, and it touches the heart of people, you've done a good job.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life, legacy, and service of Ms. Maggie Wade.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of a remarkable individual, Ethel B. Toy Gordon.

Ethel was born February 11, 1925, in Holmes County to Daniel and Leola Brown Toy. Ethel, at the age of 96, was called to her heavenly resting place on Wednesday, January 28, 2022, in her home of Greenwood, MS. At an early age she professed her faith in Jesus Christ. Ethel joined Meeks AME Church in Cruger, MS.

Ethel was influenced by her family to be a loving and caring woman. She always gave her time to others. Ethel married James Gordon in 1944, to that union 13 children were born. She later joined Gordon Chapel MB Church until moving to Greenwood, MS.

In 2018, Ethel joined Providence MB Church until she passed away. She believed in family, and she always shared her childhood stories. It was never a dull moment and always great laughs and good meals. Ethel wanted everyone to love each other because love was one of the many morals that were instilled in her.

Ethel was a God-fearing woman. One of her favorite sayings was ``If it had not been for the Lord on my side, I wouldn't be nothing nor would I have nothing.'' She was a blessed woman of God, who was full of life and joy. After the sudden passing of her husband, she was left with ten children to raise. By the Grace of God, they never needed nor wanted for anything. She was a woman to be admired and praised. Ethel B. received everything she deserved until her departure.

Ethel B. Toy Gordon was proceeded in death by her loving parents: Daniel and Leola Toy, her husband James Gordon, brothers Louis Toy, Jonas Toy, three sisters Dorothy Toy, Mattie Toy Martin, Viola Toy Montgomery, two sons Arthur Gordon and Eddie Gordon, two daughters Charlene Cooper and Trufilia Hayes, one grandson Billy Gordon. Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her family and friends. On today she leaves loving memories to the 13 children, 8 daughters, 5 sons, 1 God son, 32 grandchildren, 50 great grand- children, 8 great great grandchildren, two sisters, and one brother.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life, legacy, and service of Mrs. Ethel B. Toy Gordon.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to join with Speaker Pelosi and my Democratic colleagues in support of the ``America COMPETES Act''--legislation that holds the promise of preserving America's place as a global economic leader for generations to come.

Enactment of this comprehensive and strategic package of largely bipartisan measures would enhance America's competitiveness on the world economic stage and our security.

This package includes bipartisan legislation advanced by the Committee on Homeland Security that spurs scientific and technological innovation and, at the same time, reduces our dependence on foreign countries by creating incentives for more U.S. manufacturing of critical goods and technology.

The ``America COMPETES Act'' includes legislation offered by my colleague on the Homeland Security Committee, Representative Correa, which passed the House last November. The ``Homeland Procurement Reform Act,'' or ``HOPR Act,'' requires the Department of Homeland Security use least one-third of the funds obligated for uniforms or gear, like vital personal protective equipment, to purchase goods manufactured or supplied by American small businesses to the maximum extent possible.

These provisions would boost domestic sourcing of vital homeland security equipment and supplies, create new opportunities for small businesses, and improve supply chain security.

The vice chair of the Homeland Security Committee, Representative Torres, has also focused on supply chain security. His ``DHS Software Supply Chain Risk Management Act'' is included in the homeland security division of this measure.

This legislation directs DHS to issue Department-wide guidance to improve visibility into the supply chain for software purchased from new and existing contractors. As the lead Federal agency for cybersecurity, it is important that DHS lead by example in aggressively protecting its own networks.

Similarly, Representative Guest's ``Unmanned Aerial Security Act'' ensures the integrity of DHS data by preventing DHS from operating, financing, or procuring unmanned aircraft systems that are manufactured in certain foreign countries that are identified as foreign adversaries by the intelligence community.

Finally, the homeland security division of this measure also includes Representative McEachin's ``Department of Homeland Security Mentor- Protege Program Act,'' which would help build and sustain a reliable pool of small business vendors that could compete for DHS contracts. This program encourages big businesses to help small businesses build their capacity to compete for government contracts, which is incredibly important for woman-, veteran-, and minority-owned firms.

The ``America COMPETES Act'' strengthens our economy, creates good jobs--including good union jobs--and delivers for American families.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate my dear friend, Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, the chair of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee for shepherding this complex bill through the legislative process. I am so pleased we are acting expeditiously on this measure and look forward to working with my partners here and in the Senate to turbo-charge our economy by getting this package signed into law.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of a remarkable individual basketball champion, Lusia ``Lucy'' Harris Stewart.

Lucy was born February 10, 1955, in Minter City, Mississippi to Ethel and Willie Harris. Lucy, at the age of 66, was called to her heavenly resting place on Wednesday, January 18, 2022, at Greenwood-Leflore Hospital in Greenwood, MS.

From her humble beginnings in rural Leflore County, Lucy, along with her eleven siblings, were raised on a system of integrity premised on the tenets of love, kindness and compassion imparted by their parents who instilled a central moral compass that echoed the heart of the Good Samaritan and core ethical values encompassed in the importance of work, family, community, and the love of God.

A graduate of Amanda Elzy High School in Greenwood, MS, Lucy received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in health, physical education, and recreation in 1977, a master's degree in education in 1984 and an honorary doctorate degree in 2014--all from Delta State University. Lucy still owns a plethora of Lady Statesmen basketball records and has the honor of holding another distinction: at the 1976 Olympics, Lucy scored the first points ever recorded in an Olympic women's basketball game. Lucy changed the face of women's basketball. Opponents called her unstoppable but even that barely described her approach to the game.

To this date, Lucy is still Delta State's career record holder in points (2,891) and rebounds (1,662) and averaged 25.9 points and 14.5 rebounds per game in 115 career games played. Lucy shot an astonishing 63.3 percent from the field in her illustrious collegiate career.

She holds the distinction as being the first female, collegiate player inducted in the National Basketball Hall of Fame (1992) and is a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (1999). She is also a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame (1990) and the Delta State Sports Hall of Fame (1983). Lucy collected Kodak All-American honors in 1975, 1976, and 1977, and was the Mississippi Sportsperson of the Year in 1976. She became the first and only woman drafted by the NBA, when the New Orleans Jazz selected her in the 1977 draft.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life, legacy, and service of Mrs. Lusia ``Lucy'' Harris Stewart.

Madam Speaker, I join with my fellow committee chairs in thanking the House Office of the Legislative Counsel for their incredible work during the First Session of the 117th Congress. They have produced landmark legislation amid some of the most challenging working conditions Congress has ever known.

In just the First Session of the 117th Congress, attorneys within the House Office of the Legislative Counsel have provided steadfast guidance on not just the ``American Rescue Plan Act,'' the ``For the People Act,'' the ``Build Back Better Act,'' or the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022,'' but also more than 7,000 measures introduced in the House.

My fellow committee chairs and I have joined in a letter thanking the office, led by Wade Ballou, which I include in the Record along with a roster of the entire HOLC staff.

Congress of the United States,

Washington, DC, December 16, 2021.

E. Wade Ballou, Jr.,

House Legislative Counsel, Office of the Legislative Counsel,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Ballou: The committee chairs of the House of

Representatives would like to express our profound thanks to

you and the entire staff of the House Office of the

Legislative Counsel (HOLC) for your extraordinary work during

the First Session of the 117th Congress.

Since its authorization more than a century ago, HOLC has

offered professional, nonpartisan, and confidential advice on

drafting legislation to all Members and committees of the

House. Few Congresses in that time have been as legislatively

active and demanding as the 117th. Amid a pandemic, your

talented and patriotic non-partisan staff has helped our

committees and all Member offices draft more than 7,000

pieces of legislation. The body of work produced by HOLC

includes some of the most broadly significant and

transformational measures our Nation has ever seen, which

include the ``American Rescue Plan Act,'' the ``For the

People Act,'' the ``Build Back Better Act,'' and the

``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022,''

as well as additional measures that were significant

priorities for each of our committees.

What follows are committee-specific statements of

appreciation of your counsels' expert work, which together

with the names of the HOLC attorneys and staff whose work we

acknowledge here, will be included in the Congressional

Record:

Committee on Agriculture

The Committee on Agriculture would like to thank the non-

partisan staff at the House Office of the Legislative Counsel

for their extraordinary work supporting our committee's

legislative priorities. We are grateful for the invaluable

legal and legislative drafting expertise of HOLC's

agriculture and nutrition attorneys: Michelle Vanek, Kathryn

Swiss, James Grossman, Kakuti Lin, and Jean Harmann. Their

expertise, professionalism, and tireless commitment to public

service has been key to our committee's work, including the

agriculture components of the American Rescue Plan Act and

the Build Back Better Act, as well as the 10 bipartisan

measures that this committee favorably reported or

successfully advanced to the House floor this session of

Congress. These efforts could not have been accomplished

without HOLC and its dedicated nonpartisan staff.

David Scott,

Chairman, Committee on Agriculture.

Committee on Appropriations

On behalf of the Committee on Appropriations, I would like

to recognize and express our deep appreciation for the House

Office of

the Legislative Counsel. We thank the Office's attorneys and

staff for their dedication to public service, for their

professionalism and expertise, and for their indispensable

contributions and service to the House of Representatives. We

are especially grateful for the assistance of Wade Ballou,

Noah Wofsy, Tom Cassidy, Kalyani Parthasarathy, and Donalene

Roberts and the Office of the Legislative Counsel team for

providing the support necessary for the Committee to craft

appropriations bills.

Rosa L. DeLauro,

Chair, Committee on Appropriations.

Committee on Armed Services

The Committee on Armed Services is very grateful for the

tremendous contributions of the House Office of the

Legislative Counsel to the committee's legislative efforts,

especially the HOLC's prodigious contributions to the

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. The

committee commends Hadley Ross, Tony Sciascia, Thomas

Anderson, Tom Cassidy, Ken Cox, Mathew Eckstein, Brendan

Gallagher, Brenna Marie Gautam, Greg Kostka, Keith Nemeth,

Kalyani Parthasarathy, Veena Srinivasa, and Mark Synnes of

the HOLC's amazing defense group and Karen Anderson, Marshall

Barksdale, Hallet Brazelton, Jordyn Coad, Lisa Daly, Michael

Sribinder, Billy Wilson, Noah Wofsy, and everyone on the

indispensable HOLC team for sharing their critical expertise

and their extraordinary devotion to public service with the

committee.

Adam Smith,

Chair, Committee on Armed Services.

Committee on the Budget

The Committee on the Budget is extremely grateful for the

entire hardworking, non-partisan staff of the HOLC that

worked on the American Rescue Plan Act as well as the Build

Back Better Act. Budget Reconciliation is, necessarily, a

multicommittee and a multi-counsel effort, and our committee

appreciates the complexity of this task and all of your

staffs contributions. This effort was ably led by the

talented, hardworking, and relentlessly cheerful team of Tom

Cassidy and Parker Johnson. Their work over weekends, early

mornings, and late at night was invaluable.

John Yarmuth,

Chair, Committee on the Budget.

Select Committee on the Climate Crisis

The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis greatly

appreciates the invaluable guidance and advice provided by

the House Office of the Legislative Counsel (HOLC). One

constant in climate forward legislation across jurisdictions,

is the thorough, professional and essential work of the HOLC.

While we are not a traditional legislative committee, our

role in helping the House and the standing committees tackle

the climate crisis head-on requires innovative, cross-cutting

policy that is not always easily translated into legislative

text. HOLC's drafting the bills passed by the House this

Congress has already led, and will continue to lead, to

immeasurable improvements to the lives of so many across this

country, especially as it relates to the climate crisis. We

extend our gratitude to the entire HOLC staff and wish you a

restful holiday season.

Kathy Castor,

Chair, Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.

Committee on Education and Labor

The House Office of the Legislative Counsel (HOLC) has been

invaluable to the work of the Education and Labor Committee

this year. Thanks to the dedication and patience of HOLC's

expert staff, the Committee was able to include historic

relief for students, workers, and families through both the

American Rescue Plan and the Build Back Better Act.

Additionally, HOLC provided round-the-clock support

throughout the year to ensure the Committee advanced key

legislative priorities for the American people, including

legislation to strengthen workers' collective bargaining

rights, prevent child abuse and neglect, and address

workplace discrimination. The Committee would like to give

special thanks to Wade Ballou, Anna Shpak, Justin Gross,

Brenna Culliton, Susan Fleishman, Brendan Gallagher, Karl

Hagnauer, Jean Harmann, Paul Kubicki, Molly Lothamer,

Donalene Roberts, Adam Schilt, Jessica Shapiro, Kathryn

Swiss, and Adrienne Thomas.

Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott,

Chairman, Committee on Education

and Labor.

Committee on Energy and Commerce

The nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Counsel has

played a critical role in the work of the Committee on Energy

and Commerce this year, including efforts to address the

COVID-19 pandemic, make prescription drugs more affordable,

invest in efforts to modernize the nation's infrastructure,

and combat the climate crisis. Such work required your staff

to dedicate many late nights, early mornings, and weekends.

While that work took place out of the public view's, your

superb drafting and technical expertise was vital to the

passage of legislation that responds to the needs of the

American people. For that, the Committee is extremely

grateful. In particular, I would like to thank those who have

contributed directly to the Committee's work: Warren Burke,

Casey Ebner, Karl Hagnauer, Alison Hartwich, Kakuti Lin,

Chris Osborne, Adam Schilt, Brandon Senger, Jessica Shapiro,

Adrienne Thomas, Michelle Vanek, and Sally Walker.

Frank Pallone, Jr.,

Chairman, Committee on

Energy and Commerce.

Committee on Financial Services

As Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee, I

am grateful for the tireless work and counsel that your staff

provided our Committee during the First Session of the 117th

Congress. Specifically, I'd like to thank Paul Callen,

Marshall Barksdale, Veena Srinivasa, Sarah Rens Zavislan,

Kathryn Swiss, Jim Grossman, and Lauren Anderson, all of whom

worked with my Committee staff throughout the session. They

helped prepare many pieces of legislation for our hearings

and markups and worked into the dead of night to draft key

pieces of legislation in our jurisdiction. Notably, they were

essential in ensuring the housing provisions in the Build

Back Better Act, our amendments to the National Defense

Authorization Act for FY 2022, and the Financial Services

pieces of the American Rescue Plan were ready for inclusion

and carefully written. Additionally, they assisted my staff

in preparing several critical pieces of housing legislation,

including ``The Housing is infrastructure Act,'' ``The Ending

Homelessness Act,'' ``The Down-payment Toward Equity Act,''

and the ``Expediting Assistance to Renters and Landlords

Act.''

They were also instrumental in turning the Committee's

policy into a reality, using their unparalleled knowledge of

consumer protection law on legislation such as the

``Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act,''

legislation to regulate America's largest banks and improve

credit reporting.

Once again, I want to thank everyone for their work on

these key pieces of legislation over the past year, and I

look forward to their continued work with us in the upcoming

year.

Maxine Waters,

Chairwoman, Committee on

Financial Services.

Committee on Foreign Affairs

The House Foreign Affairs Committee would like to express

our deepest gratitude to the House Office of the Legislative

Counsel, especially to Mark Synnes, Mathew Eckstein and

Kalyani Parthasarathy and their clerks. Their talent,

commitment and mastery of foreign affairs statutes have

resulted in over 75 measures passed by the Committee this

year. I want to particularly thank them for the work on the

State Department Authorization Act and the EAGLE Act. The

work by this team has given the United States Congress a

voice in serious matters of security, peace, development,

human rights and democracy abroad. Countless individuals and

countries have benefited from their work supporting the House

Foreign Affairs Committee, which has enabled America to lead

and build lasting relationships around the globe. We salute

all of the Office of the Legislative Counsel for a job well

done and look forward to our continued work together.

Gregory W. Meeks,

Chair, Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Committee on Homeland Security

The Committee on Homeland Security has benefitted greatly

from the excellent work of several counsels, but we would

specifically acknowledge the contributions of three senior

attorneys that provided invaluable counsel, Mat Eckstein,

Hadley Ross, and Tom Cassidy. With the support of the

talented HOLC team, the Committee has successfully advanced

30 measures to the House floor under suspension of the rules

and the ``National Commission to Investigate the January 6

Attack on the United States Complex Act'' (H.R. 3233) under a

rule. In addition to the homeland security components of the

``Build Back Better Act'' and the ``National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022,'' the HOLC team

provided the Committee with expert advice on other important

priorities, such as the ``Rights for the TSA Workforce Act of

2021'' (H.R. 903), the ``DHS Reform Act of 2021'' (H.R.

4357), the ``State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act''

(H.R. 3138), and the ``Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical

Infrastructure Act of 2021'' (H.R. 5440), to name just a few.

Bennie G. Thompson,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security.

Committee on House Administration

As Chairperson of the Committee on House Administration, I

extend the sincere gratitude of our Committee's Members and

staff for the exceptional work of the House Office of the

Legislative Counsel. Among other issues, our committee's

jurisdictional responsibilities include oversight of federal

elections. The talented HOLC team has provided invaluable

technical assistance in our drafting of and contributions to

major legislation to strengthen our democracy and provide

access to the franchise for all Americans, including the

``For the People Act,'' the ``John R. Lewis Voting Rights

Advancement Act,'' and other important measures. In addition,

HOLC staff provide significant assistance when we consider

measures related to the internal procedures and priorities of

the daily operations of the institution, including

legislative branch agencies and offices that provide vital

services to Members, staff, and the public. Among the many

experts on the HOLC staff who provide invaluable assistance

to Members and committees every day, from the perspective of

the Committee on House Administration, we take this

opportunity to thank and recognize in particular Wade Ballou,

Noah Wofsy, and Parker Johnson. I have seen firsthand how

their technical expertise improves the work of all Members,

in turn, improving the work

we perform for our constituents. We are grateful for their

outstanding public service.

Zoe Lofgren,

Chairperson, Committee on

House Administration.

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Drafting legislation can be a complex, demanding, and

technical enterprise; drafting intelligence legislation can

be especially so. Yet time and again, attorneys from the

House Office of the Legislative Counsel (``HOLC'') have

provided expert assistance to the House Permanent Select

Committee on Intelligence (``HPSCI'')--at all hours and on

the tightest of deadlines. Their efforts have run the gamut

of intelligence and related subject matter, from foreign

interference in U.S. elections, to human rights, to

cybersecurity, to counterintelligence, and to the protection

of Intelligence Community whistleblowers. Whatever the

subject or the project, HOLC lawyers consistently have been

extraordinary.

HPSCI wishes, in particular, to recognize the tremendous

contributions by Tony Sciascia and Brenna Marie Gautam--who

have been vital to the drafting of the Intelligence

Authorization Act, including under the extreme conditions

imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The enormity of their

contribution cannot be overstated. HPSCI is deeply grateful.

Adam B. Schiff,

Chairman, Permanent Select

Committee on Intelligence.

Committee on Judiciary

The Committee on the Judiciary is very grateful for the

expertise, professionalism, and patience of our House Office

of the Legislative Counsel (HOLC) colleagues. We deeply

appreciate the work of Hallet Brazelton, Megan Chasnoff,

Ebony Holder, and Allison Gilley, the HOLC team that has

worked so well with us this year to draft and report a steady

stream of legislation on such issues as criminal justice,

civil rights, and bankruptcy reform. Because antitrust reform

has been a focus this year, we are also grateful for Jean

Harmann's expert assistance. Finally, we express our sincere

thanks to Susan Fleishman for working with us on immigration

legislation, especially the immigration language included in

the Build Back Better Act.

Jerrold Nadler,

Chairman, Committee on Judiciary.

Committee on Natural Resources

The Committee on Natural Resources owes much of its success

to the dedicated staff at the HOLC. Under the leadership and

expert guidance of Lisa Daly and her team members, Brandon

Senger, Michael Sribinder, Kathryn Swiss, and Billy Wilson,

the Committee on Natural Resources has successfully ordered

to be reported 63 bills and passed 30 bills under suspension

of the rules.

During the first session of the 117th Congress, Daly and

her team provided invaluable subject matter expertise and

drafting assistance for House passage of the Committee's

historic, nearly $20 billion-dollar, reconciliation measure

included in the ``Build Back Better Act'', the ``Protecting

America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act'' (H.R. 803), and

several measures for the betterment for the Indigenous

Peoples of the United States. HOLC's efforts, often requested

through late nights and weekends, were integral to the

passage of legislative measures that will benefit the

American people and our environment for years to come.

Raul M. Grijalva,

Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.

Committee on Oversight and Reform

The staff of the House Office of the Legislative Counsel

has provided the Committee on Oversight and Reform excellent

service throughout the strenuous first session of the 117th

Congress. From the American Rescue Plan, to Postal Service

Reform, the Build Back Better Act, and D.C. Statehood, the

expertise, guidance, and drafting services of HOLC,

especially Tom Cassidy, Sally Walker, Casey Ebner, and Noah

Wofsy, have been invaluable. The hard work and dedication of

all the attorneys at HOLC is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Carolyn B. Maloney,

Chairwoman, Committee on

Oversight and Reform.

Committee on Rules

Each week, the House Rules Committee relies on the

expertise of the talented staff at the House Office of the

Legislative Counsel to move legislation to the House floor.

Quite simply, we couldn't do it without you. On behalf of the

Members and staff of the Rules Committee, I write to thank

each and every attorney and staff person at HOLC for their

dedicated service to the House of Representatives. We call

upon you late at night, early in the morning, on weekends,

and every time in between to produce legislative text that

will help the lives of people across the country. You've

drafted thousands of amendments and revisions that enable the

voices of Members across the Congress--Democratic and

Republican alike--to be heard. Sometimes, we need this text

at a moment's notice, and you never fail to deliver. In

particular, I'd like to thank Wade Ballou for his incredible

leadership of HOLC, as well as Noah Wofsy and Bob Weinhagen

who have worked over multiple holidays to help our committee

finalize rules packages at the start of the past two

Congresses.

James P. McGovern,

Chairman, House Committee on Rules.

Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is grateful

for the incredibly hard work of the House Office of the

Legislative Counsel during the 117th Congress. This has been

a very active year for the Committee, with comprehensive

authorizations of most of the major research agencies in

addition to the complex and difficult work associated with

the Build Back Better Act. Through all this legislative

activity, the counsels and staff of the Office of the

Legislative Counsel have been integral players in advancing

the Committee's work. Quite literally, the Committee's

legislative work would not have been possible without HOLC's

dedicated staff. Frequently this session, this work included

long nights and weekends working with Committee staff on

legislation. In spite of these difficult hours and

circumstances, the staff and counsels of the HOLC have always

engaged with the Committee with the utmost professionalism.

Paul Kubicki, Justin Gross, and Donalene Roberts have all

assisted the Committee during the 117th Congress, and their

hard work is very much appreciated.

Eddie Bernice Johnson,

Chairwoman, Committee on Science,

Space, and Technology.

Committee on Small Business

The non-partisan staff at the House Office of the

Legislative Counsel provide invaluable services fundamental

to the work of the House Small Business Committee. Veena

Srinivasa and Thomas Anderson are dedicated public servants

with a work ethic rarely matched on Capitol Hill. Throughout

the COVID crisis, our committee has sped to provide relief to

struggling small businesses. As my staff and I worked late

nights and early mornings to meet the urgency of the moment,

Veena and Tom have always been there to lend their sharp

legal minds to our legislative efforts. Our office knows them

as consummate experts in small business law, among many

others such as government procurement and financial services.

Their work with our committee's legislation, in addition to

other major bills like the National Defense Authorization Act

highlights their dedication to this institution and our

country. Lastly, I'd like to thank Wade Ballou for his

leadership of this critical office. HOLC is a vital component

in the legislative process. Without their services, Congress

would be much less efficient in fulfilling our duties to the

American people.

Nydia M. Velazquez,

Chairwoman, Committee on Small Business.

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

The non-partisan staff of the House Office of the

Legislative Counsel have provided the Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure with expert legislative

drafting and guidance over the years. Their hard work has

been essential to the Committee's contributions this Congress

to major pieces of legislation including the American Rescue

Plan Act and the Build Back Better Act, as well as the INVEST

in America Act, a five year surface transportation

reauthorization that passed the House in July. We'd like to

extend particular thanks to Karen Anderson, Robert Casturo,

Jordyn Coad, and Kakuti Lin, who worked extensively with the

Committee during the 117th Congress. We appreciate the

dedication, attention to detail, and professionalism of the

entire HOLC staff.

Peter A. DeFazio,

Chair, Committee on Transportation

and Infrastructure.

Committee on Veterans' Affairs

The Committee on Veterans' Affairs is grateful to the

dedicated staff of HOLC for their invaluable work during the

first session of the 117th Congress. The Committee has a

significant legislative agenda each year and could not

accomplish its work on behalf of veterans without the

outstanding work of Hadley Ross, Tony Sciascia, Ken Cox, and

Brenna Marie Gautam. The Committee is particularly fortunate

to be able to collaborate with counsels who are well-versed

on veterans matters and Title 38. The Committee is grateful

for the work of our HOLC counsels--through many redrafts and

late nights--on the ``American Rescue Plan Act'' and the

``Build Back Better Act of 2021''. We are deeply appreciative

of Hadley and Tony's willingness to attend bicameral meetings

to bring their expertise to thorny legislative drafting

issues.

The HOLC team assisted the Committee in developing

legislation in support of military toxic exposure

presumptions, burial benefits, and other disability benefit

program enhancements this year, like the ``Mark O'Brien VA

Clothing Allowance Improvement Act''. The Committee would

like to specifically thank Tony Sciascia and Brenna Marie

Gautam for their efforts in developing the Committee's

comprehensive military toxic exposure package. The ``Honoring

our PACT Act'' would not be possible without the support and

hard work of these individuals. The HOLC team was excellent

in drafting the ``Responsible Education Mitigating Options

and Technical Extensions (REMOTE) Act''. Their due diligence

means 50,000 veterans will have housing during their next

school term. It also means many School Certifying Officials

will be able to do their job better, and finally it will save

the jobs of hundreds of educational employees from schools

around the nation. The Committee is also grateful to the HOLC

team for its work on technology-related legislation, to

include the ``VA Electronic Health Record

Transparency Act of 2021'' and the ``Demographic Data

Collection Improvement Act.'' Finally, the HOLC team has been

incredibly responsive and collegial in drafting multiple

pieces of legislation on mental health and research, to

include the ``STRONG Veterans Act'' and the ``VA VIPER Act of

2021''.

Mark Takano,

Chairman, House Committee on

Veterans' Affairs.

Committee on Ways and Means

Over the last year, the Office of the Legislative Counsel

has worked alongside the staff of the House Committee on Ways

and Means as we undertook the herculean task of moving both

the American Rescue Plan and Build Back Better Act through

the committee and on to the House floor. This process has

been anything but straightforward and has required late

nights, last minute drafting sessions, and even work through

holidays and weekends. Throughout, this learned band of

legislative counsels with deep expertise across the varied

jurisdiction of the Committee has provided expert advice and

drafting assistance. Their unfaltering commitment to their

craft and continued professionalism under extraordinary

pressure distinguish them as true public servants. The

Committee on Ways and Means thanks you and the following

members of your staff for tireless work on behalf of the

American people: James Grossman, Jessica Shapiro, Scott

Probst, Henry Christrup, Mark Synnes, Justin Gross, Paul

Kubicki, Megan Hawkins, Michael Sribinder, Adam Schilt,

Adrienne Thomas, Karl Hagnauer, Kalyani Parathasarathy.

Richard E. Neal,

Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means.

House Office of the Legislative Counsel, 117th Congress

Ashley Anderson

Karen Anderson

Lauren Anderson

Tom Anderson

Wade Ballou

Marshall Bellsdale

Debby Birch

Joe Birch

Hallet Brazelton

Warren Burke

Paul Callen

Tom Cassidy

Rob Casturo

Megan Chasnoff

Henry Christrup

Jordyn Coad

Ken Cox

Mairead Crotty

Brenna Culliton

Brian Cunningham

Lisa Daly

Rachel Davis

Tom Dillon

Monique Ducksworth

Casey Ebner

Mat Eckstein

Susan Fleishman

Brendan Gallagher

Rosemary Gallagher

Brenna Marie Gautam

Allison Gilley

Justin Gross

Jim Grossman

Karl Hagnauer

Jean Harmann

Alison Hartwich

Kevin Hauff

Megan Hawkins

Ebony Holder

Parker Johnson

Miekl Joyner

Mike Kim

Rebecca Kim

Toni King

Greg Kostka

Paul Kubicki

Kakuti Lin

Matt Loggie

Molly Lothamer

Luke Mansfield

Preble Marmion

Nancy McNeillie

Kelly Meryweather

Tom Meryweather

Carroll Neale

Keith Nemeth

Chris Osborne

Kalyani Parthasarathy

Angelina Plater

Scott Probst

Elonda Rich

Donalene Roberts

Hadley Ross

Hank Savage

Adam Schilt

Tony Sciascia

Brandon Senger

Jessica Shapiro

Anna Shpak

Michael Sribinder

Veena Srinivasa

Craig Sterkx

Alex Swindle

Kathryn Swiss

Mark Synnes

Peter Szwec

Alex Thierer

Adrienne Thomas

David Topper

Michelle Vanek

Sally Walker

Billy Wilson

Noah Wofsy

Sarah Rens Zavislan

Madam Speaker, by direction of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, I call up the report (H. Rept. 117-216) and accompanying resolution recommending that the House of Representatives find Mark Randall Meadows in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with a subpoena duly issued by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.

Madam Speaker, by direction of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 851) recommending that the House of Representatives find Mark Randall Meadows in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with a subpoena duly issued by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Madam Speaker, it is regrettable that we are back on the floor considering another criminal contempt referral, but our former colleague, Mr. Meadows, has left us no choice.

The select committee is investigating an attack on our democracy, and it is essential that witnesses cooperate with our investigation to get answers. The law requires them to do so. And when a witness defies the law, that amounts to more than obstructing our investigation, it is an attack on the rule of law.

In September, the select committee subpoenaed Mr. Meadows for records and testimony because we believed he had information relevant to our investigation.

For weeks, we went back and forth with Mr. Meadows, through his lawyer, to try to get cooperation. We extended his initial deposition date to November 12. When the date came, he hadn't produced any documents, and he didn't show up. Throughout this time, Mr. Meadows and his representatives made a lot of noise about executive privilege and so-called absolute immunity; the idea that people who serve or served in certain senior roles are completely exempt from testifying before Congress.

Now, let's be clear. Courts have rejected absolute immunity at every opportunity, and the Justice Department has never authored an opinion that would support the sort of claim Mr. Meadows had made about his unofficial conduct. And we have lots of questions for Mr. Meadows about the unofficial conduct. And as for executive privilege, President Biden has chosen not to invoke it as far as Mr. Meadows is concerned.

So Mr. Meadows was obligated to comply with our subpoena and appear at a deposition. When he didn't, we were prepared at that point to move ahead with contempt proceedings. But at the same time, Madam Speaker, out of an abundance of fairness, we gave Mr. Meadows a final chance to cooperate.

When he faced the possibility of contempt a few weeks ago, he finally decided, in part, to do the right thing and start providing information. He turned over roughly 9,000 pages of records that he himself said couldn't be covered by any claim of privilege. He also said he would appear at a deposition with the select committee, which we scheduled for December 8.

This is key. In an investigation like ours, when you produce records, you are expected to come in and answer questions about those records. And because not even Mr. Meadows was asserting any privilege claim over these records, there is no possible justification for wholesale refusing to answer questions about them.

But that is what he did. He told us the day before his deposition-- the same day his book was published--that he would no longer cooperate with our investigation, and that he wasn't coming in to be interviewed.

Put all the other arguments aside. This isn't about any sort of privilege or immunity. This is about Mr. Meadows refusing to comply with a subpoena to discuss the records he himself turned over. Now he is hiding behind excuses.

And at the end of the day, it is a simple proposition: If you are making excuses to avoid cooperating with our investigations, you are making excuses to hide the truth from the American people about what happened on January 6. You are making excuses as part of a coverup. And if you echo these excuses, if you base your arguments on these excuses, if you adopt these excuses as your own to explain why you will not take action, then you are part of that coverup, too.

I want my colleagues to think long and hard about that; because as the select committee has made clear in the last day and will continue to make clear, there was a steady stream of communication between certain Members of Congress and Mr. Meadows about matters central to our investigation.

We have questions about those communications. We will pursue those questions. And we won't let the facts be buried by a coverup.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished majority leader of the House.

Madam Speaker, just for the record, the gentleman from Ohio is aware of congressional oversight prerogatives. When Mr. Meadows was a member and later chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, he himself demanded testimony from senior executive branch officials and chided those who failed to cooperate with congressional oversight.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), the distinguished chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Luria), a distinguished member of the select committee, as well as the Committees on Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Veterans' Affairs.

Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close after the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Cheney) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Banks).

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

I thank my colleague from Wyoming for supporting this effort of the committee. She has been a wonderful member of the committee, and I look forward to continuing the relationship.

I thank my colleagues who presented on the majority side today who made a clear case of why Mr. Meadows' defiance is unacceptable.

I take no joy in having to ask this House to make this referral. Mr. Meadows served here with us for 7 years, but that doesn't excuse his conduct. If anything, he should know better.

It is disappointing that he put himself in this category with a small handful of uncooperative witnesses who are drawing out a lot of attention hiding behind every privilege you can think of trying to slow down and slow-walk this process. We want to hear from them all.

But we have heard from more than 300 witnesses. Just this week, three significant individuals have already come in and spoken with us on the record. As you have heard, last night and today, we have made some significant findings. This investigation is moving ahead swiftly, but even with all that cooperation, we need to send a clear message that this sort of defiance of the rule of law cannot stand.

We need to hear from Mr. Meadows, and his refusal to appear is plain and simple contempt.

I ask all Members to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5314, the ``Protecting Our Democracy Act,'' spearheaded by my friend and colleague on the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, Adam Schiff.

This bill bolsters congressional oversight authority and the important powers vested in Congress by Article I of the Constitution. It also includes a host of other good-government measures to make our entire government more ethical and more accountable to the people we serve.

As chairman of both the Committee on Homeland Security and the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, I know firsthand how important congressional oversight is to our legislative process. And I have seen how dedicated the forces aligned against representative democracy are.

Protecting our democracy is protecting our homeland, and protecting our homeland means protecting our democracy.

I am particularly supportive of title IV of this bill, which amends the United States Code to reaffirm the House's right to enforce its subpoenas through civil suits in Federal court. The title would also expedite consideration of those suits in the courts and enhance penalties for noncompliance with congressional subpoenas.

While I firmly believe the House already possesses the ability to seek civil enforcement of its subpoenas, some recent court decisions have questioned it. This bill leaves no room for such doubt.

Almost a century ago, the U.S. Supreme Court said that Congress needs information to govern wisely and effectively, and it must often seek out others--often by compulsion--to obtain it. To effectively exercise our legislative duties, the Constitution implicitly grants enforcing processes.

Madam Speaker, this bill furthers our ability as legislators to do our job wisely and effectively. I encourage my colleagues to join me in voting for the ``Protecting Our Democracy Act.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable community servant, Mr. Leroy Ware.

Leroy Ware is the youngest of eleven children, born April 14, 1954 to Mr. Granville and Mrs. Myrtle Ware in the Browning Community. Leroy attended and graduated from Amanda Elzy High School. He was an honor student while still participating in the football program at school and helping the family cultivate and harvest crops.

After graduating from high school, Leroy attended Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi, and studied Business Administration. He participated in the Co-Op Program at Mississippi Valley State University and was assigned to Warner Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia. There, he trained to be a systems analyst. Leroy was later employed by the first African American Tax Assessor/Collector of Leflore County.

Leroy worked as a deputy assessor from 1985 until 1999. He then, successfully vied for and won the elected title of Tax Assessor in 1999. He still competently holds that position.

Leroy is married to Mrs. Earlean Davidson Ware. They have three children, Stephanie Davidson, Stephen Davidson, and Krystal Austin. Leroy has lived by the lessons taught to him by his father: ``Family is everything; You don't fight family; and, Always be there to lend a helping hand.''

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Leroy Ware for his dedication and tenacity to serving his community and desire to be an example for all.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant, Adeola ``Abraham'' Olagbegi from Jackson, Mississippi.

After a successful bone marrow transplant in November 2020, Adeola Olagbegi was given a chance to Make-A-Wish. Instead of wanting something a typical 13-year-old fighting cancer may ask for, he used his wish to start something bigger than himself

Mr. Olagbegi chose to use his wish to feed the homeless for a year in his hometown, Jackson, MS. Before being diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia, a rare and life-threatening blood disorder, Mr. Olagbegi and his family looked forward to feeding the homeless every third Saturday in every month. This service to the community is known as ``Abraham's Table.'' ``It was always a good thing to do, and that's what I grew up doing that, so I go back to my roots to do what I was taught to do.''

``I am a person of hope, so when you come against a big mountain, you have to remember you have a big God.'' Mr. Olagbegi is a living testimony that if you pour out good unto God's people, God will turn around and bless you beyond measure.

After 10 months of ``Abraham's Table'', Mr. Olagbegi hopes to turn his wish into a nonprofit organization that will continue to impact the City of Jackson for the better. Since the beginning of Abraham's Table, Mr. Olagbegi has fed over hundreds of homeless citizens.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Adeola ``Abraham'' Olagbegi for his dedication to serve the homeless for years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a tenacious and ambitious young lady, Sydney Noel Burks.

Sydney is a Sophomore at Hinds Community College-Utica Campus majoring in Chemistry/Pre-Pharmacy. She was a May 2020 graduate of Park Place Christian Academy (PPCA), where she graduated as a Highest Honor graduate with a 4.0 GPA. During her time at PPCA, she was inducted into the National Honor Society and served as Secretary of the Beta Club.

Sydney also believes in giving back to the community and helping those who are less fortunate. Her service and leadership have not only given her experiences she will cherish for a lifetime but has also enabled her to become an advocate for others and to promote issues that are of importance. Some of the community service events she was involved in during high school and continue to be involved includes the following:

We Will Go--Organized community closet and assisted the neighbors with bagging groceries and clothing and picked up trash and debris around the city;

Stewpot--Assisted with packing and serving lunches;

Feed the Need--Worked as a team member to pack and bag food to later be shipped to those who are food insecure;

Feed the Hungry--Talked to, prayed with, and assisted with serving lunch to those who were hungry in Poindexter Park;

Operation Christmas Child (Shoebox Processing Center in Texas)-- Worked with a team to pack shoeboxes and ensure that the items in the shoeboxes met the safety requirements to be shipped to the children who needed them; and

The Little Lighthouse--Worked with special needs children by assisting teachers with primary lessons, feeding the children lunch, and supervising recess. Also assisted with creating `Thank You' cards for their 5K race.

During Sydney's tenure at Hinds Community College-Utica Campus, she has maintained a cumulative 4.0 grade point average, and has been named a President's Scholar. She is currently a member of the Yearbook and Robotics Clubs. Sydney is a STEM student and is a member of the Louis Stokes Mississippi Alliance for Minority Participation. In addition, Sydney is a Mississippi INBRE (Idea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence) Scholar. Mississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) is a network of colleges and universities, designed to build a biomedical research infrastructure in Mississippi. The mission is to reach out to Mississippians in order to improve health throughout the state and to engage talented researchers and students in biomedical research projects that will increase the state's research competitiveness as well as impact the health of citizens of Mississippi.

As an INBRE scholar, she had the opportunity to be an intern with My Brother's Keeper. She presented the outcomes of her work entitled, ``Potential Mistrust of the COVID-19 Vaccine Among African-Americans in Mississippi,'' during the Mississippi Health Disparities Annual Conference 2021 in Biloxi, MS. Also, she is the Mississippi-Louisiana Vice-President of Phi Theta Kappa International College Honor Society. Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) recognizes the academic achievement of college students and provides opportunities for its members to grow as scholars and leaders.

Recently, Sydney was named as one of the Historically Black College and University Scholars.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. Sydney Noel Burks for the outstanding work and accomplishments she has made thus far.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Yarmuth for his steadfast commitment to shepherding this landmark legislation to the floor.

I am honored to join with my colleagues, just days after President Biden signed a sorely needed and long-awaited infrastructure package that will rebuild the Nation's deteriorating roads and bridges to consider the ``Build Back Better Act.''

Madam Speaker, the magnitude of what we are doing here is really compelling.

Twenty-eight years ago, I came to Congress to advocate for the interests of my friends and neighbors who, after decades of struggle, deserve a more fair and equitable economy that fuels prosperity and job growth in our communities well into the future.

That is just what H.R. 5376 will do.

I could not be prouder to be a part of this Democratic majority as we come together, with a sense of urgency, to deliver for the people while tackling climate change and other challenges that put our communities at risk.

I am particularly appreciative that the bill invests $1.5 billion in the Department of Homeland Security to provide crucial resources to three challenges confronting the Nation: cybersecurity; domestic terrorism and other threats to houses of worship and non-profits; and reducing the Department of Homeland Security's carbon footprint.

The homeland security title of this bill provides $100 million in new funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which helps DHS take necessary action to help secure churches, synagogues, mosques, and other nonprofits from domestic terrorism and other threats.

It has been just 3 years since the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history, when 11 lives were lost in a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The funding the House provides today can help prevent such a tragedy from happening again.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a statement in support of this additional funding from the Jewish Federations of America.

It also invests in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to help State and local governments develop secure and resilient critical infrastructure networks by, among other things, accelerating State and local governments' transition to the (dot) gov domain and increasing capacity to hire network defenders.

Finally, the homeland security title provides $900 million in strategic investments to help the department reduce its carbon footprint and mitigate the ongoing effects of climate change that have a direct impact on our national security.

Once again, I thank Chairman Yarmuth for his leadership along with Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, and my fellow committee chairs for their months of hard work to produce this once-in-a-generation legislation which includes so many important investments in our homeland security.

For these reasons, I urge passage of H.R. 5376 and look forward to swift action on this package by the Senate so that it can be signed by President Biden and begin to improve the lives of my constituents in the Second District of Mississippi and beyond.

[From The Jewish Federations of North America, Oct. 28, 2021]

Jewish Federations Express Gratitude for Additional Security Funding

Jewish Federations Express their gratitude to House

Homeland Security Chair Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Senate

Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee Chair Gary

Peters (D-MI) for helping to secure an additional $100

million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) in

the Homeland Security portion of the reconciliation package.

``Communities can only flourish when their security needs

are met. The inclusion of an additional $100 million for the

Nonprofit Security Grant Program will save lives, help keep

Jewish and other communities safe, and allow them to

flourish'' said Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO of the

Jewish Federations of North America.

``Just yesterday, we commemorated three years since the

Tree of Life massacre in Pittsburgh, the worst violent

anitsemitic attack in the nation's history. Additional

funding to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program will not only

help secure synagogues, but houses of worship and nonprofits

of every stripe across the nation that face threats at a time

of increased violent extremism,'' he added.

The NSGP provides grants to nonprofits to help fund

security measures such as inspection and screening systems,

physical barriers, and development of emergency preparedness

plans.

This year, as hate crimes spiked and houses of worship were

increasingly targeted, the NSGP was able to fund fewer than

half of all applicants.

Fingerhut advocated for increasing NSGP funds at a Senate

HSGAC hearing on violent extremism this Summer.

Homeland Security Appropriations bills in both chambers

propose leaving NSGP funding flat at $180 million, as overall

proposed funding levels remain unchanged.

Federations' advocacy for further government investment in

community safety measures is part of the public-private

partnership envisioned in the historic LiveSecure campaign,

which is raising $54 million in philanthropic dollars to

spread the security umbrella to every Jewish community across

the country and help fortify Jewish communal institutions.

Jewish Federations also thank Senate Majority Leader

Charles Schumer (D-NY) for his leadership on this program,

and the perennial champions Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY),

Rob Portman (R-OH), and Reps. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and John

Katko (R-NY) for supporting NSGP funding. We look forward to

continuing to work with them to increase annual funding for

the program through the appropriations process.

Madam Speaker, I join with the Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, John Katko, and Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee Chairwoman Bonnie Watson Coleman and Ranking Member Carlos Gimenez, to mark tomorrow's 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Transportation Security Administration.

Following the devastating attacks of September 11, 2001, Federal authorities undertook the massive effort to safeguard and defend our national transportation system. In the past two decades, TSA has implemented advanced security technologies, responded to new and ever- changing threats, and protected the lives of billions of passengers from around the country and across the globe. Today, even amid the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic, Transportation Security Officers, Federal Air Marshals, Transportation Security Inspectors, and other TSA employees continue to serve on the front lines and protect the lives of passengers and the security of cargo traveling by air, sea, road, and rail.

I include in the Record the text of a resolution recognizing the service and sacrifices of TSA's employees and officers on the 20th anniversary of TSA's establishment.

Resolution

Recognizing the service and sacrifices of the

Transportation Security Administration's employees and

officers on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the

establishment of TSA and the role TSA's employees and

officers play in keeping our Nation secure.

Whereas November 19, 2021, marks the 20th anniversary of

the enactment of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act

(Public Law 107-71), which amended title 49, United States

Code, to establish the Transportation Security Administration

(TSA);

Whereas the TSA was established following the September 11,

2001, terrorist attacks, with the mission to secure

transportation systems and restore confidence in air travel;

Whereas for 20 years TSA employees and officers have

bravely served on the front lines keeping our skies and the

traveling public safe, even in the face of targeted attacks

such as that which took the life of Officer Gerardo

Hernandez;

Whereas the TSA has remained on the front lines at our

Nation's airports throughout the COVID-19 pandemic;

Whereas the TSA has had over 10,000 employees test positive

for COVID-19, with 32 TSA employees having lost their lives

from March 2020 through October 2021;

Whereas since its establishment, TSA employees and officers

have endeavored to improve security domestically and

internationally, across all modes of transportation, against

a wide range of evolving physical and cyber threats; and

Whereas Americans will continue to look to TSA to be

vigilant in the face of known and emerging threats: Now,

therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) recognizes--

(A) the service and sacrifices of the TSA's employees and

officers on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the

establishment of TSA; and

(B) the role TSA's employees and officers play in keeping

our Nation secure; and

(2) encourages all Americans to observe TSA's 20th

anniversary with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the rule and the underlying legislation.

President Biden has a bold vision for getting our country back on track after a devastating pandemic and years of policies that ignored the struggles of so many Americans.

What we are doing here today is about making government work for working people.

The Committee on Homeland Security, which I lead, has used this historic opportunity to make significant long-term investments in three areas: cybersecurity; the protection of houses of worship and nonprofits from domestic terrorism and other threats; and reducing the Department of Homeland Security's environmental footprint. These are three critical challenges confronting our Nation and my constituents in Mississippi today.

Last week, we marked 3 years since the deadliest attack on a Jewish community in United States history when a mass shooting took 11 lives in a Pittsburgh synagogue.

Today, through the homeland security title of this act, we will be able to give $100 million in new funding to help protect our houses of worship.

This act also includes targeted funding to bolster the Nation's cybersecurity posture in significant ways. With the $500 million included there, we can do just that.

Finally, we include $900 million in strategic investment to help DHS reduce its carbon footprint. Such investments have far-reaching and direct impacts on our national security.

I thank Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth and Speaker Pelosi for their months of hard work and for prioritizing homeland security in this transformational legislation.