Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8326.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8326, the Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act.

The decennial Census is a critical part of our democratic system. In fact, it is required by the Constitution. The results of the Census determine the distribution of over $1.5 trillion in Federal funds, apportionment of the House of Representatives and State legislative districts, and public and private sector investments.

It is critical that the Census count is complete, fair, and accurate. The Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act will help make sure that it is.

This bill is informed by the Oversight Committee's multi-year investigation into political interference by the previous administration during the 2020 Census, including the effort to add a citizenship question despite strong opposition from expert statisticians and demographers at the Census Bureau.

In fact, the Census Bureau's top data scientist warned that the citizenship question ``harms the quality of the Census count.''

The Supreme Court ruled in favor with the Democrats and ultimately stepped in to block the citizenship question, ruling that the rationale for adding it to the Census ``seems to have been contrived.''

The previous administration took other steps that risked undermining the independent, nonpartisan nature of the Census. They appointed an unprecedented eight political appointees where there were previously only three, and they tried to rush the processing of the Census data, despite repeated warnings from career staff that this would compromise the integrity of the Census count.

Partisan manipulation of the Census is simply wrong. My bill would protect the Census and ensure this cannot happen again, regardless of which party is in power.

We are considering this legislation at a critical time. While the 2030 Census is years away, the design and planning began at the Bureau even before the 2020 numbers were released.

As our Nation's largest peacetime mobilization, the Census requires detailed and thorough planning. However, even the best plans face challenges in the field, and the 2020 Census faced unprecedented obstacles.

In the runup to the 2020 Census, the Bureau was consistently denied the appropriations--the funding that it needed--to execute its operational plans. Among other impacts, this uncertainty forced cutbacks in outreach to communities that are considered hard to reach.

The coronavirus pandemic forced the Census Bureau to suspend field operations at the most critical time; and most damaging, the previous administration demanded a last-minute, untested question on citizenship, and installed a record number of political appointees with unclear duties to get that done.

This legislation would vest key decision-making authority over the Census in the appropriate Senate-confirmed official, the Census Director. It would limit the number of political appointees within the Bureau to no more than four, which is consistent with historical precedent.

This bill would also require that new Census questions be thoroughly researched and analyzed, certified by the Secretary of Commerce, evaluated by the GAO, and shared with Congress before being added to the Census questionnaire.

This bill will also increase transparency and support long-term planning by requiring the Bureau to submit its projected 5-year budget estimates to both the President and Congress.

Finally, the bill codifies existing advisory committees charged with engaging with hard-to-count communities and advancing best practices in the field of data science. It also establishes an advisory committee aimed directly at ensuring the 2030 Census is successful.

I am proud that my bill has the support of four former directors of the Census Bureau, who served under administrations led by both Democrats and Republicans. These former directors have 15 years of experience serving

as Census Directors supporting five decennial Censuses.

In a statement, they commended the bill's objective and said that it ``protects the independence and integrity of the scientific mission of the Census Bureau.'' These former directors concluded, ``trust in our Nation's official data is essential to the democracy and the economy, and this legislation will undergird'' and build that trust.

Mr. Chair, I include their statements in the Record as well as an editorial from ``The Washington Post'' titled: ``The Trump Administration's Assault on the Census Must Not Happen Again,'' along with two additional editorials, and a letter from Population Association of America and Association of Population Centers.

Mr. Chair, this editorial concluded, ``The Trump administration's assault on the integrity of the Census should be an urgent warning. Too much rests on the decennial count to allow it to be exploited for partisan gain.''

Statement by Form U.S. Census Bureau Directors--July 12, 2022

In Support of House Legislation ``Ensuring a Fair and & Accurate Census

Act''

We applaud the legislation introduced this week by the

Chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Rep.

Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) that we believe will help preserve

and protect the independence and integrity of the scientific

mission at the U.S. Census Bureau.

Having helped to plan, execute or lead five decennial

censuses serving nine Presidents of both parties, and having

closely observed the 2020 Decennial process, we strongly feel

the reforms in the ``Ensuring a Fair and & Accurate Census

Act'' would help build greater trust and confidence in the

essential data the Census Bureau supplies to the nation.

Collectively, the provisions of this bill strengthen the

professional roles of career scientists, provide greater

transparency into methods and processes across the 130 Census

surveys and censuses, and enhance Congressional oversight

over Bureau functions.

Trust in the nation's official data is essential to the

democracy and the economy, and this legislation will

undergird that trust.

Vincent Barabba,

(1973-76 & 1979-81).

Robert Groves,

(2009-2012).

Kenneth Prewitt,

(1998-2001).

John Thompson,

(2013-2017).

Mr. Chair, this bill is sensible and is driven by facts uncovered in our investigation and input from both civil rights groups and professionals at the Census Bureau.

We must have a full, fair, and accurate Census count so that every American can have faith that they and their communities are receiving the representation and the services that they deserve. To do that, we need a nonpartisan, expert-driven Census Bureau. This bill is a strong first step to meet that goal.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations for the Oversight Committee.

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

Mr. Chairman, this bill does not address Congressional apportionment. It is about making the Census fair and accurate.

Nevertheless, our Census count has never been limited based on citizenship and there is no doubt that doing so would violate the Constitution. The 14th Amendment says seats in Congress are based on the whole number of persons in each State. Persons, not citizens.

Last Congress, I chaired a hearing with four former Census directors who served under both Democrats and Republicans. All four agreed that excluding undocumented immigrants from the apportionment count violated the Constitution. That is also the position taken by previous administrations, including under Republican Presidents.

In fact, my committee recently uncovered a draft internal legal memo from the Trump administration about the citizenship question. That memo admitted that using citizenship data to exclude immigrants from the apportionment counts would violate, ``over 200 years of precedent.'' That damning language was removed from the final memo used to push the citizenship question.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis).

Mr. Chairman, I have no more speakers on the underlying bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.

I stress the urgency and importance of this legislation. The United States Census Bureau is a foundational institution and one that we must take all necessary steps to protect.

The Census is for all people and should count every person. Efforts to politicize the Bureau have real consequences that can reduce response rates and thereby lessen the representation and resources available to communities.

I thank my colleagues for speaking in support of this bill, the former directors and advocates that have lent their support, and I encourage us all to vote in favor of ensuring a fair and accurate Census count.

No matter the party affiliation, every one of us has an interest in providing our best services to our constituents.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 8326 and the underlying amendments, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as chair of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, I rise in strong, strong support of the Inflation Reduction Act.

My committee conducted a 3-year investigation of prescription drug prices. Our findings overwhelmingly support the need for this bill's reforms to curb the drug industry's outrageous pricing practices and make prescription drugs more affordable for patients and taxpayers.

These reforms include empowering Medicare to negotiate prices for certain drugs, a step that is long overdue.

My committee's investigation into the fossil fuel industry showed that Big Oil is refusing to take adequate steps to cut emissions, even though burning fossil fuels is a primary driver of the climate crisis. This bill will finally bring down emissions from fossil fuels, helping our environment.

I am proud to have championed other provisions in the bill, including a historic investment of $3 billion to electrify the Postal Service delivery fleet. This will replace tens of thousands of gas-guzzling trucks with clean, electric vehicles, helping our environment.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to cast my vote for the Inflation Reduction Act today.

Mr. Speaker, as Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, I rise in support of the Inflation Reduction Act.

My Committee conducted a three-year investigation of prescription drug pricing. Our findings overwhelmingly support the need for this bill's reforms to curb the drug industry's outrageous pricing practices and make prescription drugs more affordable for patients and taxpayers.

These reforms include empowering Medicare to negotiate prices for certain drugs, a step that is long overdue.

My Committee's investigation into the fossil fuel industry showed that Big Oil is refusing to take adequate steps to cut emissions, even though burning fossil fuels is a primary driver of the climate crisis.

This bill will finally bring down emissions from fossil fuels.

I'm also proud to have championed other provisions in this bill, including a historic investment of $3 billion to electrify the Postal Service delivery fleet. This will replace tens of thousands of gas- guzzling trucks with clean electric vehicles.

I am honored to cast my vote for the Inflation Reduction Act today.

Madam Speaker, I want to highlight the long-overdue reforms contained in this legislation to make lifesaving medicine affordable for the millions of Medicare beneficiaries in this country.

First, it will cap copayments for insulin products at $35 per month. My Committee's investigation found that, since the 1990s, insulin manufacturers have been raising the price of this life-saving medicine, despite no improvements to the drug, while making record profits. This price gouging has harmed Americans, and capping out-of-pocket costs is an important step to reducing insulin costs for seniors and people with disabilities.

The Inflation Reduction Act is also an incredible step forward in our efforts to protect Americans from being overburdened with high out-of- pocket costs and healthcare-related expenses. For the first time, it would limit a beneficiary's out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs covered by Medicare Part D to $2,000 a year. My Committee's investigation found that drug companies' price increases have imposed thousands of dollars in annual out-of-pocket costs on patients, especially for drugs that treat cancer or chronic conditions. This annual cap will provide much-needed financial protection, especially for the millions of beneficiaries who take high price drugs for cancer, rare diseases, or chronic conditions.

Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act will make health insurance coverage more affordable for millions of Americans by extending key Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits through 2025, building on the important progress made by the American Rescue Plan signed into law last March. By providing tax credits for millions of consumers purchasing coverage through an ACA marketplace, the American Rescue Plan expanded access to health insurance and made it significantly more affordable.

Since passage of the American Rescue Plan, four out of five consumers were able to find an ACA marketplace plan for $10 or less per month. These savings allowed nearly 6 million new consumers to sign up for marketplace coverage during the first year of the Biden-Harris Administration. This year, a record 14.5 million consumers have signed up for marketplace coverage, and the national uninsured rate recently reached a record low of 8.0 percent. The Inflation Reduction Act extends these critical benefits for millions of Americans, and continues our work to ensure that all people in this country have access to health insurance coverage.

As Chairwoman, I was also proud to include $50 million dollars in the Inflation Reduction Act to ensure that the economic and environmental benefits of funding across the Inflation Reduction Act are spread equitably. For decades, low-income communities and communities of color have suffered from chronic underinvestment while being forced to suffer the most severe health and economic impacts of pollution and climate change.

We won't stand for that any longer. The Inflation Reduction Act will lower costs, create better-paying jobs, and build healthier, more sustainable communities. With my Committee's oversight funding included, we can make sure these benefits are being spread fairly and that clean energy investments support environmental justice communities that need them the most.

Finally, my Committee worked to include almost a billion dollars to support for the deployment of emerging sustainable technologies to reduce emissions while also saving taxpayer dollars. This good government provision will support innovation to drive down the cost of clean energy solutions, which is better for consumers and better for our children's future.

This is all accomplished alongside inflation-fighting measures that will cut the nation's deficit by a historic $300 billion without raising taxes on small businesses or on a single person or family in the middle class. The Inflation Reduction Act closes loopholes that have allowed billionaire corporations to avoid paying their minimum fair share of income tax.

Thanks to this transformative legislation and today's historic vote, those days are behind us, and better days of a more fair and prosperous nation are ahead. It is an honor to send this legislation to the President's desk.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price) as cosponsor of H.R. 7769, the Helicopter Safety and Noise Management Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the CHIPS and Science Act, a historic bill that should have strong bipartisan support because it will lower costs for American families and restore American leadership in industries that are critical to our economic and national security.

This bill is a strong response to countries like China that aim to threaten our industrial base, supply chains, intellectual property, and technology security.

This bill will help ensure that America cannot be threatened and will no longer accept the outsourcing of critical industries.

We took an important step to address this in the President's infrastructure act, which included an important measure I championed to ensure personal protective equipment is made in America. Never again will New York health workers be forced to wear trash bags to protect themselves from a deadly pandemic because China was blocking shipments of personal protective equipment.

The CHIPS and Science Act ensures we are making it in America, creating 100,000 good-paying jobs to manufacture critical semiconductor components right here in the U.S. employing Americans.

It also turbocharges our research and development investment and workforce to ensure America is leading in next-generation innovations.

I am so proud of the work of the Oversight and Reform Committee to support this legislation and proud to cast my vote for it today.

Madam Speaker, there is no democracy if women do not have control over their own bodies, including reproductive healthcare.

Twenty-seven days ago, an extremist majority on the Supreme Court fulfilled the Republican Party's decades-old goal of overturning Roe v. Wade. Next on the chopping block is marriage equality and contraception.

Make no mistake, these rightwing extremists are not pro-life but pro- government controlling the bodies of women and girls. Their goal is to ban abortion in this country.

Today, the House will pass Congresswoman Manning's Right to Contraception Act, which would codify the right to access birth control into Federal law. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill immediately so that people have the freedom to make their own decisions about their futures.

We will not go back. Pass this bill. It is fundamental to democracy.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Elaine M. Walsh, Ph.D., for her outstanding community advocacy as she departs Manhattan Community Board 8 (CB8) after a quarter century of dedicated leadership and service.

Dr. Walsh first began her long history of community engagement during her time at Fordham University's Graduate School of Social Service, where she earned a Master of Social Work. She began her career as a social worker in New York City, becoming the director of senior citizen crime prevention for the New York City Department for the Aging and the director of elderly services at the Office of Victim Services.

Dr. Walsh has served as Director of the Public Service Scholar Program (PSSP) at Hunter College since 1986 after joining the university as an Associate Professor of Urban Affairs. The PSSP works to improve the city by preparing talented undergraduate students for careers in the public and non-profit sectors. The program also aims to increase representation of women, minority-group members and immigrants in leadership positions. Under Dr. Walsh's supervision, over 700 of the program's scholars have contributed more than 500,000 hours in service to communities throughout New York City.

Dr. Walsh served as a member of CB8 for 25 years and co-chaired the CB8 Zoning and Development Committee. During her tenure, Dr. Walsh was a constant advocate for her community, particularly in regard to environmental concerns and infrastructure. During her time as a member, Dr. Walsh worked to support policies and programs that increased accessibility to city services for both businesses and individuals and served as the conscience of the Board in her consistent, forceful advocacy for the needs of under privileged New Yorkers.

Dr. Walsh serves as President of the East 86th Street Association, which she helped to establish in 2004. The Association seeks to ``improve the quality of life along the East 86th Street corridor by conducting research, education, and advocacy projects'' while facilitating community dialogue to encourage civic participation and foster neighborhood pride. Under the leadership of Dr. Walsh, the East 86th Street Association has worked on many projects which have greatly improved residents' quality of life.

Dr. Walsh has previously received awards including the New York City Chapter's ``NASW Leadership Award'', the NYC Public Advocate ``Advocate's Award'', Fordham University's ``Alumni Award'', the Manhattan Borough President's ``Women's Leadership Award'', the NYC Comptroller's Award ``Outstanding Irish Educator in Social Policy and Leadership'', the Our Town newspaper's OTTY award for her continued leadership and advocacy in the East 86th Street Association, and was named one of the 2013 New York State Senate's ``Women of Distinction''.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of Dr. Elaine M. Walsh. Her dedication and leadership have helped cultivate a better, more lively community for the residents of Roosevelt Island and Manhattan's Upper East Side. Dr. Walsh's service and commitment to improving the lives of New Yorkers will leave a lasting impact on her community and our city.

Madam Speaker, I rise to convey my good wishes to the organizers of this year's Egyptian Heritage Day Festival in Astoria, Queens. Thanks in part to the efforts of dedicated groups such as theirs, New York City is one of the world's great cultural melting pots.

The Egyptian community has long been a pillar of New York City's vibrant immigrant landscape and events like the Egyptian Heritage Day Festival highlight the essential role that Egyptians and all cultural groups play in shaping the fabric of our great city and country.

I have the privilege of representing Little Egypt in Congress, and I have seen firsthand the beauty and strength of this community. Whether it is with authentic Egyptian restaurants, small businesses or community events, Little Egypt and our city's Egyptian community play a key role in making New York City the multicultural capital of the world.

Egyptian Americans have made significant contributions to our country in the fields of science, arts, sports or entertainment. Ahmed Zewail was the first Egyptian to be awarded a Nobel Prize in a scientific field. He studied in and taught at our nation's finest institutions and was nominated by President Obama to serve on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Mohamed Atalla is often described as a pioneer of semiconductors and electronics. He was awarded the Benjamin Franklin medal in physics and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Rami Malek has starred in several award-winning films and in 2018 he became the first actor of Egyptian heritage to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Bohemian Rhapsody. Michael Mina, is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and now heads the Mina Group, a network of 40 restaurants worldwide.

As these examples illustrate, Egyptian Americans have played a crucial part in our country's scientific, cultural, and artistic accomplishments. Their talents, hard work and dedication help make our country a global beacon of opportunity and discovery.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the organizers of this festival and celebrating the enormous contributions that Egyptian-Americans have made to our country.

Mr. Speaker, between Florida's ``don't say gay or trans'' legislation and Alabama's ban on gender- affirming care for transgender youth, LGBTQ+ rights in this country are under attack.

Unfortunately, these attacks are not just limited to the States. Just 25 days ago, a rightwing majority overturned Roe v. Wade and indicated that contraception and marriage equality are likely next.

That is why I was so pleased that the House passed the Respect for Marriage Act today, which would repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act and ensure that marriage equality is protected across our country.

I have always been a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. In 1986, I introduced the first domestic partnership legislation in New York State history while I was on the city council. We need to do everything we can to protect these fundamental rights.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in great thanks for this House's passage of the Pallone-Pappas amendment to the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. I was pleased to co-lead this amendment alongside Representatives Pappas, Pallone, my fellow Hellenic Caucus Co-Chair Gus Bilirakis, and many others.

Madam Speaker, 1973 Roe is decided. From that day forward, Republicans have been desperate to overturn it. Twenty-one days ago, a rightwing majority on the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Make no mistake, these rightwing extremists are not pro-life, but pro-controlling the bodies of women, girls, and anyone who can become pregnant.

Abortion is now illegal in 16 States, and anti-abortion legislators are following suit, threatening to make abortion inaccessible for roughly 33 million women across America. And they are not done. Republicans have been clear they will not stop until abortion is banned nationwide.

Later today, the House will pass an updated version of the Women's Health Protection Act, which would establish a Federal statutory right to abortion. The Senate must follow suit and abolish the filibuster, and we must secure pro-choice majorities in the House and Senate. Our lives depend upon it.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Sindhi Sufi people in Pakistan, and against the unconscionable human rights atrocities that have been inflicted upon them for years.

There is perhaps nowhere in the world more important for the United States to battle extremism with public diplomacy than Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state where numerous extremists over the years have unfortunately sought refuge from justice. Pakistan's third largest province of Sindh is a place of particular concern, where members of the local Sindhi community find themselves subject to intense and unfair government scrutiny.

Sindhi persons have also been notably absent from the high echelons of Pakistan's government. As of 2022, there has not been a single Sindhi speaking judge on the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Of deepest concern however are the many instances of human rights abuses against the community, including exceptional jail times for trumped up crimes of ``blasphemy'', beatings, harassment, and forced disappearances. In 2017 alone, many activists, budding politicians, teachers, and students were forcibly disappeared by authorities. The Center for Research and Security Studies based in Pakistan has reported nearly 1,500 accusations and cases of blasphemy. Out of these 18 women and 71 men have been killed extrajudicially between 1947 and 2021.

I was made aware of one such case by my constituents: the life sentence handed down to one man, Notan Lal, the principal of a private school and member of Pakistan's Hindu minority who was accused of speaking blasphemously about the Prophet Muhammad. For this supposed infraction against the common good, he was arrested in 2019 and ultimately sentenced in February 2022 to 25 years in prison. No one should ever have to face a life in prison on such trumped-up charges.

There is a silver lining however, as Congress continues to hear the cries for help from the Sindhi community, we are answering with greater efforts to recognize and promote their importance. Sindh Caucus Co- Chair Representative Brad Sherman and I were especially grateful to see that our Caucus' efforts to see Voice of America promote additional material and resources in the Sindhi language. Nearly 14 percent of Pakistanis--over 30 million people--speak Sindhi, but there has unfortunately never been significant material in the language from VOA until now. With this new material, it will become easier to reach out to the Sindhi community in Pakistan, and for them to reach out into the world in turn.

The people of Pakistan--especially those in the Sindhi community-- deserve respect for their human rights, regardless of creed or conviction. I urge my colleagues to continue to speak out for the Sindhi community in Pakistan and ensure that their human rights are respected.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Cecelia ``Cece'' King, on the occasion of her appointment as a John Robert Lewis (JRL) Scholar by The Faith & Politics Institute (FPI) in recognition of her civic engagement and desire to create effective social change.

Ms. King was born in New York, New York and attended Riverdale Country School. During her time in high school, Ms. King was appointed as a voting member on Manhattan Community Board 8. She sat on the Land Use, Small Business, and Youth, Education, and Libraries Committees, and was a constant advocate for her community. During her junior year, Ms. King spent a semester at the School for Ethics and Global Leadership in Washington, D.C.

Ms. King now studies Arabic and Geography as a student at Dartmouth College, where she continues her dedication to social equity. Ms. King has been an active member of the Coalition for Immigration Reform and Equality at Dartmouth and the Sexual Violence Prevention Project. As a major in Geography, Ms. King has studied global movements and displacements, and together with her fellow students, some of whom were refugees themselves, formed the Dartmouth Displaced Students and Scholars Initiative, which aims to support displaced students on campus.

Outside of her education, Ms. King continues her service. She has worked as an interpreter for asylum seekers through legal clinics in New York and Texas, created a documentary film about the challenges COVID-19 posed to artists, and is a founding-member of

Curious Cardinals, an e-learning startup that develops personalized learning models for students.

The FPI has recognized Ms. King's dedication by selecting her as one of their 2022 JRL Scholars. Each year, the FPI selects 20 civic-minded student leaders through a competitive application process. The JRL Scholars & Fellows Program is designed for undergraduate scholars and graduate student fellows to examine Lewis's nonviolent philosophy from a historical perspective; define its principles and strategies; and identify their applicability to modern times and movements, current issues, and everyday life. The JRL Scholars & Fellows will become a nationwide network of emerging leaders who will be inspired to create positive societal change from the revolutionary nonviolent perspective that was employed with success in the Civil Rights Movement.

As a JRL scholar, Ms. King will focus her scholarship project on issues surrounding immigration. Inspired by her grandmother's immigration story as a daughter of Holocaust survivors, Ms. King is driven to share stories of displacement and advocate for immigrant and refugee support and solidarity.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the accomplishments of Cecelia King. Her dedication and leadership have served not only her community but have guided her to be an effective social changemaker. Ms. King carries these esteemed values as she joins the next generation of leaders of our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7337) to require the Archivist of the United States to submit a plan to Congress to eliminate the records backlog at the National Personnel Records Center, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, the Access for Veterans to Records Act would address the serious backlog of requests for veterans' records currently pending at the National Personnel Records Center, or NPRC, which is part of the National Archives and Records Administration. This bill has received bipartisan support, and I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, including Ranking Member Comer and Representative Fred Keller, who have cosponsored this legislation, along with a number of other Members.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the NPRC has accumulated a backlog of veterans' records requests, which reached a peak of 603,000 during March of 2022.

Veterans and their families need these records to access critical services, including housing and healthcare.

Many of these records are only available as paper documents. That limitation, combined with limited building operations and a reduced workforce to protect NPRC employees during the coronavirus pandemic, have been the primary cause of this backlog.

The NPRC has made some progress to reduce the backlog. As of February 28, the NPRC workforce has returned to full capacity at its facility in St. Louis, Missouri. NPRC also added overtime shifts on weekends and some holidays. However, the backlog, which currently stands at 515,000 records requests, remains significant and can only be remedied with legislative intervention.

This bill has two components. First, it requires National Archives to provide the Oversight and Reform Committee with a detailed plan and target timeframes to eliminate the backlog and strategies to prevent a future records requests backlog. This includes submitting biannual status updates on the backlog and maintaining staffing levels to meet the goal of responding to 90 percent of requests in 20 days or less.

Second, the bill would authorize $60 million for NARA to make upgrades to its information technology infrastructure. The upgrades are necessary for NARA to improve its ability to digitize documents and to prevent future backlogs.

The committee has already voted to approve $60 million for National Archives in an amendment offered by Representative Keller to another bill.

Congress must take action to help our veterans, many of whom put their lives on hold waiting for records from the NPRC. I urge my colleagues to support the veterans by supporting this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly), the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 7337, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7535) to encourage the migration of Federal Government information technology systems to quantum-resistant cryptography, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. 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.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 7535, the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act.

Today, the processes we use to encrypt data are incredibly reliable and can keep sensitive data secure from unauthorized users during storage or transmission. But tomorrow, that may no longer be the case.

Researchers around the world are accelerating advances toward quantum computing, which refers to the application of quantum physics to computers. This will allow the computers of tomorrow to perform calculations many magnitudes faster and more powerfully than they do today.

While quantum computers have the potential to provide considerable benefits to society through unimaginable innovation, they could also equip our adversaries with the ability to break the best encryptions available today.

Capabilities of this magnitude are estimated to be a decade or more away, but China and other adversaries are expected to begin stealing sensitive encrypted data much sooner with the intent of unlocking it when they have the ability to do so. It is essential that the Federal Government prepare for this inevitability now while we still have time to protect data that is critical to our national and economic security.

The process of migrating all Federal IT systems to post-quantum cryptography will be complex and costly, but putting the right steps in place now will help us stay at the forefront of this frontier.

I applaud Representative Ro Khanna, as well as Representatives Nancy Mace and Gerry Connolly, for introducing this thoughtful bipartisan bill to establish this process.

Within a year of enactment, the bill would require the Office of Management and Budget to submit a report to Congress containing a strategy for addressing the risk posed by quantum computing, the funding needed to secure Federal information technology systems from quantum computing threats, and a review of related coordination efforts. This will allow time for assessment of this strategy before the National Institute of Standards and Technology issues its post- quantum cryptographic standards, which are expected in 2024.

OMB would then be required to prioritize and designate Federal IT systems for migration to post-quantum cryptography using those standards and to submit an annual report to Congress on progress toward transitioning Federal agencies to the new standards.

The bill has been carefully aligned with the national security memorandum released by the Biden-Harris administration in May, which made important strides to advance U.S. leadership in quantum computing by strengthening collaboration and partnerships with private-sector leaders, securing critical capabilities, and making strategic investments.

I am grateful to Representative Ro Khanna for leading on this important issue and setting an ambitious but achievable framework to both maximize the benefits and minimize the threats of quantum computing for the U.S.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Khanna).

Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman from Pennsylvania has no further speakers, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 7535, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7331) to require the Comptroller General of the United States to provide certain information with respect to unimplemented priority recommendations as part of the Comptroller General's annual reporting to Congress, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in strong support of H.R. 7331, the Improving Government for America's Taxpayers Act, which was introduced by Representatives Derek Kilmer and William Timmons, chair and vice chair of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. I thank Ranking Member Comer, and Representatives Connolly, Mace, Krishnamoorthi, Norman, Porter, and Norton for cosponsoring this bill.

This is an important bipartisan bill that would help improve the implementation of recommendations made to Congress by the Government Accountability Office. GAO's work for Congress is invaluable and helps us to ensure a more effective and efficient government in serving the people and the needs of the American people.

The bill would direct GAO to consolidate recommendations to Congress in one succinct report. It would also direct GAO to identify any additional oversight actions Congress should take to assist agencies in implementing their open priority recommendations. Implementing GAO's recommendations to agencies and Congress would help improve government efficiency and save taxpayers' dollars.

As we seek greater transparency and accountability within our Federal Government, I appreciate the bipartisan approach that Chair Kilmer and Vice Chair Timmons have taken on this bill. I commend my colleagues, Senator Portman and Senator Peters, for supporting this bill in the Senate.

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

Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman from Pennsylvania does not have any further speakers, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 7331, and I yield back the balance of my time.