Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Madelyn (Maddy) Bernau. A native of Waterford, Wisconsin, Maddy competed for Team USA at the 2020 Olympics held this year in Tokyo. Maddy was a member of Team USA's Shooting Team and competed in the women's trap and mixed team trap shooting. At 23 years old, Maddy became the first Wisconsinite to win an Olympic trapshooting medal on July 31, 2021.

Maddy's training, skill, and strong composure helped her secure a bronze medal during the mixed trap shooting competition. Maddy and her teammate Brian Burrows were up against strong competition from the Slovakian team. The match came down to a shoot-off between the Americans and the Slovakians. A miss by the Slovakians gave Maddy the window of opportunity she needed to win the shoot-off. Seizing the opportunity, Maddy pulled the trigger and hit the target, securing the Olympic bronze medal for her team and for America.

Shooting clay targets is something Maddy has been perfecting since the age of 12. At Waterford High School, Maddy was a standout. She would go on to attend Martin Methodist College in Tennessee where she would compete in trap shooting at the collegiate level and earn a degree in biology and biomedical sciences. In June of 2018, Maddy won her first international competition as a member of the USA Shooting Team, securing a gold medal in the women's trap at the International Junior Grand Prix in Porpetto, Italy. In March of 2020, Maddy earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic trap shooting team. Her goal of representing the United States on the Olympic stage would become a reality.

Maddy represented the United States and Southeast Wisconsin with honor. She made both her country and community proud with her composure, talents, and determination, While this is her first Olympic medal, Maddy already has her sights set on the next target, the 2024 Olympics. I know southeast Wisconsin will be backing her 100%.

Maddy's hard work and determination throughout the years led to this historic success. I was proud to watch Maddy represent Wisconsin and the United States on the world stage.

On behalf of Wisconsin's First Congressional District, I would like to congratulate Maddy on her tremendous accomplishment and wish her the best of luck.

Madam Speaker, bolstering our infrastructure against cyberattacks and ransomware attacks is an issue that concerns every American. It is not Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative.

As we have seen from the recent Colonial Pipeline hack and the shutdown of the world's largest beef supplier, JBS, there are alarming cybersecurity weaknesses in America's critical infrastructure.

Immediate action must be taken to protect America's infrastructure against our adversaries. That is why we must pass my amendment to the surface transportation bill.

My proposal is simple. It is focused. It does not grow the size of the Federal Government.

My amendment requires the GAO, the Government Accountability Office, to study the vulnerabilities within our transportation system to combat cyberattacks.

This study will show us and accurately allow us to plan, invest, and put forth policies that address our susceptibilities to future threats.

I thank my colleagues from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania for joining me in this effort, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this act.

American families' access to affordable loans depends on ensuring financial institutions have accurate credit history and can collect debts.

The bill undermines both of those core requirements of our financial system. By making it harder for lenders to learn about borrowers and collect these unpaid loans, the bill will actually end up reducing access to credit and increasing prices. Let me repeat that. It is actually going to end up reducing access to credit and is going to increase prices.

In other words, the bill before us today will actually hurt the very people it is intended to help. I think that is a really critical point here. By actually implementing this bill, what we are going to do is see higher prices, make it more difficult for individuals to obtain loans, and actually hurt those people that this bill is intended to help.

I want more American families to have responsible access to the loans they need to be able to achieve their dreams.

As anyone who has bought a home or a car or started a small business knows, access to affordable credit can be a critical lifeline.

But, unfortunately, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and in this bill in particular, they think that sometimes they know best. This bill, as a result, will actually hurt American families, it will hurt small businesses, and it will hurt the financial stability of our financial system. I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise during National Police Week to honor the men and women of the law enforcement community and to condemn the ongoing attacks of those members of our law enforcement community.

In particular, to Wisconsin's law enforcement community, I say: Thank you.

The past year has been particularly tough on our law enforcement officers. Just outside the State Capitol of Wisconsin in Madison is the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial.

Last year, this memorial was vandalized. A criminal took a sledgehammer to the granite, which is etched with the names of the men and women who died in the line of duty protecting our communities.

Last week, six more heroes had their names added to the law enforcement memorial, but the ceremony was interrupted by antipolice protestors. During the prayer, protestors yelled that the deaths of these officers, whose names were being etched into the memorial, were not a sacrifice.

Antipolice protestors held up signs with hateful words and disrupted a solemn ceremony with vile chants. It was disgusting to see the absolute lack of respect and the display of hatred and complete ignorance.

Contrary to the antipolice protestors at the ceremony, these officers are heroes. They died protecting us. They died protecting our communities.

Let me tell you about just one of them. Officer John Hetland was one of the names added to the Wisconsin memorial this year. He was a 24- year veteran of the Racine Police Department. Officer Hetland was a hero. He made a commitment to serve and protect our communities, whether on or off duty. When a local business was being robbed at gunpoint, Officer Hetland attempted to stop the suspect. Officer Hetland was murdered. He was shot in the chest by this criminal. He died protecting our community.

We have seen antipolice rhetoric go too far. After riots broke out in Kenosha, officers from Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Rock, Waukesha, and Milwaukee Counties and across the State of Wisconsin put their lives on the line to defend Kenosha and protect the people in our communities.

I will never forget hearing those same vulgar chants when criminals attacked officers in the streets of Kenosha. As fires were being set throughout the city, I remember watching officers duck as Molotov cocktails were being thrown at them, as water bottles filled with concrete were being thrown at them and hurled in their direction. Even as an officer was struck in the head by a brick and knocked unconscious, the criminals cheered. That is unbelievable. That is heartbreaking.

Violence towards our police officers is something our Nation cannot tolerate. We should collectively speak out against the attacks on our police and against the calls to defund the police. We should be supporting our men and women in law enforcement.

To the members of the law enforcement community, I want you to know this: The people of Wisconsin's First Congressional District say: Thank you; thank you for keeping us safe.

Madam Speaker, we must protect voting integrity. The bill before us today, H.R. 1, nationalizes our elections. It imposes poorly drafted, unconstitutional mandates on States. The bill weakens critical voter integrity provisions. Let me explain.

Madam Speaker, first, the bill guts voter ID protections. For example, in Wisconsin, a State with strong voter ID laws, this law would allow an individual to vote without an ID by simply providing a sworn statement. That is it.

Are there other areas where we would allow individuals to avoid our laws so easily? Could you board an airplane by simply providing a statement as to who you are? The purpose of this provision is to weaken the integrity of our elections.

Madam Speaker, wait, there is more. This bill legalizes ballot harvesting. In Wisconsin, we saw a clerk in Madison conduct ballot collections in broad daylight. This bill would legalize ballot harvesting nationwide. The purpose of this provision is to weaken the integrity of our elections.

Madam Speaker, if that is not bad enough, just wait. There is more. This bill will allow Federal funding of congressional campaigns. It would give government money to fund politicians' reelection campaigns. It would give government money to buy negative TV ads. I am not sure about all my colleagues in this House, but I can tell you that not once has an individual told me that the problem with our elections is there is just not enough money.

Madam Speaker, we need to strengthen our election system. We need to protect the integrity of our elections. This bill nationalizes our elections, weakens voter integrity, is an affront to the First Amendment, and is a poor use of government money.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this bill,

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer), my colleague.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Armstrong), my colleague and good friend.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), my colleague.

Madam Speaker, although I do not support the underlying bill, H.R. 1, these five amendments brought before us improve what is otherwise a bad bill. I think these studies would be helpful, in particular, to our servicemembers.

And we recognize the unique position the State of North Dakota has in our system.

Madam Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on the en bloc, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Tiffany), my colleague and good friend.

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Murphy), who is my colleague and good friend.

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from North Carolina.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Catherine ``Cathy'' Wagner of Burlington. Cathy was born and raised in Southeast Wisconsin and dedicated her career to serving our Racine County community. Growing up on the family farm, Cathy developed strong values and a hard work ethic that would remain with her throughout her life. Cathy graduated from Burlington High School and later joined the ranks of Rochester Volunteer Fire Company and enrolled at Gateway Technical College to study firefighting and police work.

Cathy Wagner was a dedicated public servant. She served a combined 31 years for the Rochester and Burlington Town Fire Departments. She was a firefighter, an EMT, and became Assistant Chief of the Rochester Volunteer Fire Company. Cathy instilled this passion to service in her two children, who are involved in the Rochester Fire Company.

When her son was born with spina bifida, Cathy enrolled in nursing school to learn how she could better care for him and would go on to obtain a master's degree in nursing. For years, she worked as a registered nurse in hospital rooms where she was able to follow her passion of caring for others.

Cathy passed away on February 2, 2021. She is remembered by her family, colleagues, and friends for her generosity, empathy, and service. Cathy was a valued member of our community and inspiration to many. She is remembered by colleagues at the Rochester Fire Company or being ``the heart and soul'' of the department.

Racine County will be forever grateful for Cathy's dedication to public service. Cathy's work to make our community a better place will always be remembered. On behalf of Wisconsin's First Congressional District, I offer my sincere condolences and prayers to Cathy's children, family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. She will be missed by many, but her passion for service and positive impact on those she met will continue to inspire us all.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support my bill today, the Expanding Investment in Small Business Act.

Small businesses and entrepreneurs are vital to our economy. More than 60 percent of new jobs are created by small businesses, and almost half of our private-sector workforce is employed by firms with fewer than 500 employees.

Small businesses are also an engine for innovation. According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses account for an outsized percentage of patents granted in the most innovative industries.

I see this ingenuity in Wisconsin in Racine, Janesville, Kenosha, and everywhere in-between. Entrepreneurs and startups create good-paying jobs for workers.

It is important that we continue giving job creators the ability to invest in our communities. But in order to grow, hire, and invest in innovation, small businesses need access to capital.

Unfortunately, rules and regulations have made it harder for companies to gain access to capital, made it harder for them to go public, and made it harder for them to stay public. This hurts small companies, and this hurts the broader economy.

In particular, this hurts American workers and their retirement security. Just under half of all households are invested in mutual funds. Many Americans are invested in these funds through 401(k)'s and pension plans. Their retirement security depends upon the ability to invest in a diverse set of growing, innovative companies.

Our rules, though, are burdensome. They shrink the number of publicly traded companies, either by deterring companies from going public or by encouraging them to stay private. In doing so, they limit the opportunities for Americans saving for retirement.

Members of both parties and a wide range of stakeholders and experts have identified the existing mutual fund rules as an area for potential improvement. I thank my colleague, Congressman Gonzalez from Texas, for joining me in this across-the-aisle effort to support this bill.

This isn't a new idea, but until now, it hasn't gotten done. I am glad to see bipartisan support for taking this important step forward to improving our capital markets.

The Expanding Investment in Small Business Act directs the SEC to consider whether existing mutual fund rules make it harder for small and emerging companies to raise money, so they can grow and invest.

Under the Investment Company Act, a diversified mutual fund may not own more than 10 percent of an issuer's outstanding securities. As mutual funds have grown both in number and in size, they become an important source of

capital, in particular for small businesses.

A substantial mutual fund investment in a small-cap company can easily exceed the 10 percent cap. This likely deters mutual fund investments into growing and innovative companies.

My bill asks the SEC to consider four key items: one, how many mutual funds are currently affected by the 10 percent cap; two, how the investing preferences of diversified mutual funds have shifted over time with respect to smaller companies; three, the potential impact of a change in the 10 percent threshold; and, four, the ability of diversified funds to manage liquidity risk.

This information is necessary so that we can continue to work in a nonpartisan manner to ensure that small businesses have access to capital, so they can grow and invest.

Smart, targeted reforms can give us more vibrant capital markets; growing, innovative small businesses; better outcomes for American investors; and, ultimately, a stronger economy.

I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues toward this goal. I thank Chair Waters and Ranking Member McHenry for their support of this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

This bill is an important step forward toward a stronger economy, more dynamic small businesses, and more jobs for American workers.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 3401, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment. This bipartisan bill passed the Senate with 84 votes and could be sent to the President's desk for his signature today.

Madam Speaker, today, our Racine community honors the life and service of Racine Police Officer John Hetland.

On June 17, Officer Hetland was killed while trying to stop an armed robbery in Racine. Even when off-duty, Officer Hetland did not waver to act.

Officer Hetland served the Racine community for 24 years as a police officer. Born in Racine, he attended the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee to study criminal justice.

Those who knew Officer Hetland described him as a compassionate, brave man. A great baseball player. A loving father of two and devoted husband. A protector of our community.

But to our Racine community, Officer Hetland will always be regarded as a hero.

This tragedy is a solemn reminder of the sacrifices members of law enforcement make every day to protect us.

My prayers are with the Hetland family, friends, and the entire law enforcement community grieving this loss.

We will never forget Officer Hetland.

Mr. Chair, I will start by thanking Chairman Quigley and Ranking Member Graves for including this amendment in the en bloc.

I rise today to urge support for my amendment considered en bloc. This amendment expresses congressional support for the important work of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission, known as FLEC.

FLEC's mission is to improve financial literacy and help Americans make good financial choices. This is an important task, especially for at-risk groups such as minority communities, rural Americans, and other historically disadvantaged groups. FLEC should continue to support efforts to improve financial literacy in our communities.

As a member of the Financial Services Committee, I closely follow the rapid transformation of the financial sector. Thanks to innovation and smart regulatory reforms, more people now have access to mortgages, personal and business loans, retirement products, and other financial services. If we want all Americans to succeed and thrive in today's growing economy, we must support efforts to provide education on how to make smart financial decisions.

Mr. Chair, this amendment reinforces Congress' commitment to financial literacy, especially for at-risk communities, and I urge support for this en bloc amendment.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to ensure that the VA suicide prevention programs are adequately funded. This budget-neutral amendment provides $1 million to those programs.

Every day, we lose 22 veterans to suicide. These are American heroes--fathers, husbands, wives, sons, and daughters--valued members of our community. We must support our veterans and fight for them as they fought for us. They will not go through this battle alone.

June is PTSD Awareness Month. We must stand together, Democrats and Republicans, to ensure that our veterans get the help that they need.

This amendment is about supporting veterans and ensuring that they have access to mental healthcare resources. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Madam Speaker, this week, my southeast Wisconsin community lost two heroes: Racine Police Officer John Hetland and Milwaukee Police Officer Kou Her.

Officer Hetland, a 24-year veteran of the Racine Police Department, was shot and killed while off duty, trying to stop an armed robbery.

Officer Her, a 2-year veteran of the Milwaukee Police Department, was killed on his way home from a shift as a speeding car crashed into him.

These men are heroes. They will always be remembered for their service.

This is a solemn reminder of the sacrifices members of our law enforcement make every day to protect our communities.

My prayers are with the families and friends of the officers and the entire law enforcement community grieving for these heroes.

Madam Chair, I thank my colleague from Nebraska and my colleague, Mr. Bishop, for including this amendment in the en bloc.

I rise to support my amendment to support our dairy industry. I have visited farms across southeast Wisconsin, and time and time again, farmers have explained to me the challenges they have with consistently low milk prices.

That is why we need this amendment, so we can continue to invest in business development within the dairy industry and encourage new markets for our farmers.

This amendment provides $1.5 million to support our Nation's dairy industry in a budget neutral way.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support our dairy industry, to support our farmers, and to support this amendment.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has a duty to the American people.

Congress established the Bureau almost a decade ago to protect consumers from abuse and empower people to make good financial choices, regardless of who the President is. That is a very important responsibility. With that in mind, Chairwoman Waters is right to call attention to the governance of the CFPB.

CFPB actions and interpretations can vary significantly from one administration to another, and because the CFPB is unaccountable, there isn't much Congress can do about it. In fact, the Bureau was built to be unaccountable and unresponsive, and this has given its Directors free rein to take actions that many of us do not support.

There are many ideas on both sides of the aisle on how best to reform the CFPB, and this is something Congress should consider soon.

Today, I have an amendment. My amendment sets aside the politically charged findings in the bill and takes us one step closer to transparency and accountability.

Some of these findings target former Acting Director Mick Mulvaney by name. One disparages Mulvaney by referencing a political article that includes a critical quote from an anonymous source. Another criticizes him for

rearranging the initials of the CFPB. Let me repeat that: Another criticizes him for rearranging the initials of the CFPB. Only in Washington.

My amendment strikes all of this unhelpful rhetoric and replaces it with a requirement that the Comptroller General conduct an independent study focused on three key questions: One, is the CFPB meeting its obligations efficiently and effectively? Two, how prevalent are discriminatory lending practices? Three, are the workplace rights of CFPB staff respected?

The Comptroller General's findings can then help to inform our continued efforts to oversee and reform the Bureau to make it work better for all Americans.

Protecting consumers, examining the prevalence of discrimination, and protecting workplace rights should not be controversial. Ensuring effectiveness and transparent governance should not be a source of partisan disagreement.

I understand that the chairwoman is unhappy with the way the CFPB is governed. So am I. Anyone who has read about the past abuses at this unaccountable agency should have concerns about the structure that enables this bad behavior to exist in the first place.

Today's amendment recognizes that Congress has a responsibility to ensure that the Bureau is fulfilling its mission, and that independent audit, not political rhetoric, is the best way to move toward this goal.

The American people deserve an unbiased look at what the Bureau does right and what it does wrong so we can find common ground on the best way to protect consumers.

I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, may I inquire how much time is remaining on my side.

Madam Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry).

Madam Chair, I think the most important part here is that the findings are the political rhetoric that we are looking to remove. This town has far too much political rhetoric.

I am willing to work with my colleague to make this unaccountable entity accountable to Congress in the first place. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

I am opposed to the bill in its current form.

Madam Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill. It will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended.

Madam Speaker, the Dodd-Frank Act created the Consumer Financial Civil Penalty Fund, into which the Bureau deposits civil penalties it collects from wrongdoers.

Civil penalties should be used exclusively to make victims of financial consumer crimes whole. We should track down actual victims of fraud. However, current law allows the Bureau to use this account as a slush fund.

We should give the money back to the victims.

This motion would put an end to the CFPB slush fund. This motion requires the CFPB to do the right thing: Give the money to the victims.

The CFPB's ability to take away penalty funds and use them in unaccountable ways is unparalleled among financial regulators.

Where does this money go?

Both the Government Accountability Office and the Federal Reserve's Inspector General, which oversees the CFPB, found that the CFPB lacks internal procedures. The CFPB lacks accountability. The CFPB lacks transparency.

Where does this money go?

Let's put an end to the slush fund at the Bureau. Let's redirect where this money belongs. Let's give the money to the victims.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this motion to recommit.

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

Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, today we celebrate an important moment in our Nation's history: 100 years ago, today, Clifford Randall, the Representative from the First District of Wisconsin, left his office like all of his colleagues in the House, walked to this very Chamber, and cast his vote in favor of women's suffrage.

The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote. Today we commemorate that vote.

Wisconsin was a leader in the women's suffrage movement. In fact, Wisconsin was the first State to ratify the 19th Amendment.

I am wearing a yellow rose today just as the supporters of women's rights did a century ago.

As we commemorate the 19th Amendment, let's focus on how we can work together to support women and ensure that future generations will never forget that historic vote.