Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the life of Anatoly Dwigun, who passed away on February 24, 2022, at the age of 76.

Mr. Dwigun was born in Germany on October 28, 1945. His two parents and three siblings immigrated to the United States in 1955 when he was ten years old. A true exemplar of American patriotism, Mr. Dwigun joined the U.S. Army in 1968, just shortly after earning his American citizenship. His remarkable service in Vietnam as a helicopter mechanic and door gunner led to him receiving several honors: including the Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the New York State Conspicuous Services Cross Award. In a demonstration of humility, Mr. Dwigun declined to accept the Purple Heart; in his own words, stating he was not ``as worthy of that honor, as those who lost their lives''. Following Vietnam, Mr. Dwigun proudly worked as an engineer and spent considerable time enjoying the outdoors. He was precise and caring in all his actions, best exemplified by his superb vehicle-maintenance abilities and immaculate yard work.

Mr. Dwigun's humility was constantly reflected during his marriage to his loving wife, Janice. The two shared countless happy memories not only with each other, but also their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Many of his most cherished times were during family gatherings and shared meals. To summarize, Mr. Dwigun's memory lives on through his family and his country.

Madam Speaker, please join me celebrating Mr. Dwigun's life and in honoring his life's work and all his achievements.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and celebrate the 80th birthday of Alan Dewart, a business and civic leader in our community.

Alan has been an entrepreneur and real estate developer for his entire professional life. Alan's impact on the revitalization of the city of Buffalo is unparalleled.

During the dark economic times of the 1980s when the city was experiencing a mass exodus of people, businesses, and hope, Alan was a pioneer who reinvested and revitalized a section of downtown Buffalo, taking vacant and derelict buildings in Buffalo's theater district and transforming it into a vibrant city center consisting of apartments, restaurants, and music/entertainment venues, infusing life and vibrancy back into a historically significant section of our city.

Alan's pioneering work sowed the seeds of future developers and future projects to bring downtown Buffalo back to life.

I interned for Alan Dewart as a college student and through him developed a passion for urban revitalization. He is a friend and a mentor, and I thank him for all he has done for me and all he has done for our city.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mike Long, one of our State's greatest political leaders.

Mr. Long served as chairman of the New York State Conservative Party for three decades.

An article in the New York Post that was recently written called Mike a working-class champion, and that he was. From the beginning of his career in politics, he believed Conservatives and Republicans must focus on what matters for working-class Americans. Mike's beliefs were as correct today as they were nearly 60 years ago when he began his career in public service.

I remember speaking with Mike for the first time when I was going to run for a special election for the New York State Senate several decades ago now. At that time, we were talking about his family, and Mike's son had just been in a near-fatal accident, run over by a New York City bus while he was riding a bicycle. His son Matt broke numerous bones and had countless surgeries as a result. But like his father, he had incredible grit and determination, and he not only recovered but continued to compete in triathlons and Ironman competitions.

Mike lived out his conservative principles. He was married to his wife, Eileen, for 59 years and had nine children, as was mentioned, and countless numbers of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Our State and Nation are a better place due to Mike Long's service and commitment to his principles.

May he rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the life of Albert J. Rinow, Sr., who passed away on May 2, 2022, at the age of 96.

Mr. Rinow worked at Trico for 43 years, all the while serving in the Lancaster Fire Department. Mr. Rinow joined the Lancaster Fire Department in 1950 with the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company and joined the Citizens Hose Company in 1954. For his service, in 2001 and 2006, Mr. Rinow was awarded the Lancaster Fire Department Firefighter of the Year Award. From 2003 through 2017 Mr. Rinow served as the Lancaster Fire Department Chaplain, and in 2017, Mr. Rinow attained life membership status in the Lancaster Fire Department, after 67 years of active service. For all his noble work with the Lancaster Fire Department, Mr. Rinow was also named to the Erie County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Wall of Honor.

At the age of 20, Mr. Rinow married Shirley Pearles at Sacred Heart Church in Bowmansville, NY. Together, Mr. and Mrs. Rinow had six children: Judith; David; Daniel; Patricia; Albert, Jr.; and Nancy. Additionally, Mr. Rinow had 15 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and a great-great grandchild named Georgia. Of note, Mr. Rinow's son Daniel and his grandson Marc are 3rd and 4th generation firefighters with the Lancaster Fire Department.

Mr. Rinow was also a man of faith and active in his church. Mr. Rinow worked as the cemetery director for St. Mary's Cemetery and served as a Eucharistic minister for the church. In his free time, Mr. Rinow also was a basketball coach, and enjoyed fishing.

Madam Speaker, please join me in mourning Mr. Rinow's passing, and in honoring his life's work and all his achievements.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and commemorate the lives lost this past weekend in Buffalo, New York.

Katherine ``Kat'' Massey--72

Pearl Young--77

Roberta Drury--32

Ruth Whitfield--86

Geraldine Talley--62

Celestine Chaney--65

Heyward Patterson--67

Andre Mackniel--53

Margus Morrison--52

Aaron Salter--55

Madam Speaker, these are the names and the ages of the 0O people who were brutally and senselessly murdered in my hometown of Buffalo, New York. I rise to record their names in these hallowed Chambers.

I stand here in solidarity for their deaths and for the suffering that their families and friends are enduring right now. I have thought of little else since this carnage occurred on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Buffalo.

The murderer--whom I will not give the satisfaction of saying his name--targeted this grocery store and this neighborhood because it was heavily populated with African Americans. As our sheriff, stated, this was a racially motivated act and this was a hate crime.

I do not have the honor of representing this community in Congress, but I have represented it previously. I served for many years on the Buffalo Board of Education and frequented this area, there are many of our schools in close proximity. Through my service on the Buffalo Board of Education, I came to know Katherine ``Kat'' Massey who was one of the victims. Kat was a tireless advocate for Buffalo's children and her impact to her community will be felt for generations.

I grew up in Buffalo. Buffalo is a great place for many reasons-- beautiful architecture, the shores of Lake Erie and the Niagara River, its bucolic neighborhoods all contribute--but what makes our community so very special is the people. Kind, warm, fun, with a priority on family, friends and community. That is, in my mind, what makes Buffalo the spectacularly special place it is.

These 10 represented some of the best of Buffalo, and we mourn their tragic loss.

I will conclude by saying this: our city is right now in the national spotlight. The politicians and the media have their sights set here due to this vile and horrific tragedy. But predictably and inevitably the national attention will fade, and it will be our community's task to heal and it's my great hope that we come together in this healing process. I hope we unify, and we do not succumb to division and polarization. In honor of those lost, in our healing we become a stronger and more loving community.

I conclude by quoting a sign someone put in a front yard in our community that says: ``I love you. You're probably thinking, you don't even know me. But if people can hate for no reason, I can love.''

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment, which would be of great benefit to adult learners across this country, and especially in my home State of New York.

New York State has had issues over the last several years in distributing these funds promptly. Independent programs typically operate on very thin budgets, so any delay in funding puts their operations in jeopardy.

My amendment would ensure States are held accountable for distributing funding promptly by requiring the States to provide a timeline for distributing grants and contracts for adult basic education in the Unified State Plan, and specifying that funds must be distributed in a timely manner.

The typical adult learner benefiting from title II funding is either an individual who was not able to access a K-12 education as a child or is a recent immigrant.

Last September, I visited one of the adult education programs in my district, Literacy West New York, and I walked away very impressed by the adult learners there. Life certainly has not been easy for them, but that hasn't stopped them from pressing on and working to improve their lives.

It is important we make sure that the resources promised to our Nation's adult learners, and the programs that support them, are available.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mr. William Lorenz, Jr.'s devotion to our Western New York communities.

Mr. Lorenz was born and raised in Buffalo, New York and has lived there his entire life. After high school, Mr. Lorenz attended Canisius College and graduated with a degree in political science and a classics minor. Mr. Lorenz was also member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity at Canisius College, and after completing his undergraduate studies, Mr. Lorenz attended the University at Buffalo School of Law, where he graduated with an intellectual property concentration. Since graduating from law school, Mr. Lorenz has worked in the legal field, currently serving as a Senior Associate for the Mura Law Group.

Mr. Lorenz has been volunteering in our Western New York communities for several years. He has raised thousands of dollars for various charities including the Mental Health Association of Erie County, Compeer of Greater Buffalo, Mercy Flight, Inc., and Hearts for the Homeless. Mr. Lorenz has also donated his time and expertise as a litigator by teaching and coaching the Canisius College Mock Trial Team.

In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Lorenz volunteered at social distancing parades for children with special needs, collected donations at food and blood drives, and delivered groceries to those unable to get groceries for themselves.

While selflessly volunteering at these events, Mr. Lorenz found that there was a food shortage emergency in Western New York. After this realization, he partnered with FeedMore WNY to organize the first-ever Superhero Food Drive and he is now recognized as ``Buffalo's Best Batman.'' Through Mr. Lorenz's efforts, the Superhero Food Drive collected over 1,300 pounds of non-perishable donations in a single day. These donations were critical to helping those in need within our Western New York communities.

I thank Mr. Lorenz for his commitment to community service and his dedication to our Western New York communities, and I believe that Mr. Lorenz exemplifies what it means to be a Western New Yorker.

Madam Speaker, please join me in thanking Mr. Lorenz for service to our communities and in honoring the positive impact he has made and continues to have on New York's 27th Congressional District.

Madam Speaker, today, on Holocaust Remembrance Day, I honor the life of Gerda Weissmann Klein, who passed away on April 3.

Gerda was born in Poland in May 1925 and was only a teenager when her homeland was invaded by the Nazis. In 1942, she was sent to the Gross- Rosen camp system.

In 1945, Gerda was taken on a 3-month death march through Czechoslovakia. Luckily, the failed ignition of an incendiary device saved Gerda and 120 other women, who were liberated soon after.

After the war, Gerda immigrated to western New York, my home, to raise her family, and she traveled the country sharing her story. Gerda's first book, ``All But My Life,'' told her story and was adapted into an Oscar-winning documentary called ``One Survivor Remembers.''

Gerda has received numerous honors and awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Gerda also spoke before the United Nations General Assembly on the first International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Gerda is survived by 3 children, 8 grandchildren, and 18 great- grandchildren. May her memory be a blessing to us all.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 471, the PAUSE Act, to protect all Americans from Biden's border crisis.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Hamburg Village Mayor Thomas J. Moses, Sr. in honor of his retirement and decades of service to his community. It's been an honor to represent the Village of Hamburg for a decade now, as Erie County Clerk, the New York State Senate, and now in Congress. All that time having the great honor to work with and get to know this truly good man and model public servant.

Mayor Moses was born on April 1, 1947 and began serving the Village of Hamburg at the age of 11, when he volunteered at the playground. He graduated from Saints Peter & Paul and Hamburg High School in 1966, then attended Erie Community College. He was later hired by the Village and went on to serve as Recreation Supervisor for 32 years.

Mayor Moses has worked to improve the lives of village residents by developing and improving Hamburg's parks and playgrounds, as well as by overseeing renovations to village assets like the Village Swim Center.

Mayor Moses has always believed in volunteerism and community service. He was one of the founders of the Hamburg High School EMT program and is a member and past president of the Hamburg Volunteer Fire Department. He also served as Assistant Village Disaster Coordinator. Mayor Moses has served on numerous committees and boards, all with a focus on improving the aesthetics, services, opportunities, and educational offerings in the Village.

During his 16 years of service as Hamburg Village Mayor, Mayor Moses oversaw the transformation of the Village of Hamburg with the Route 62 project that has drawn recognition from across the country. He has worked tirelessly to make the community he calls home a special place to live, and his leadership has made a significant impact on the Village of Hamburg.

Mayor Moses has been married to his wife, Mary Lou Leyda, for 54 years. They have two sons, Tom Jr., and Tim, 6 grandkids, and 3 great- grandkids.

Mayor Moses represents the very idea of public service and passion for his community is unmatched. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mayor Moses on his retirement, in thanking him for service, in wishing him a happy 75th birthday, and in honoring the positive impact he has had on the Village of Hamburg.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Joyce for holding this very important event today.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the millions of Americans who are facing pain at the pump and around the Nation. On his first day in office, President Biden signaled to the world that American energy independence was no longer a priority. He canceled the Keystone XL pipeline on day one. He made regulatory changes to make new domestic production incredibly punitive. He put a moratorium on all new drilling on Federal lands.

The President's actions set the high prices we are seeing today in motion. Long before Russia invaded Ukraine, Americans were getting squeezed by the inflationary tax caused by careless and unrealistic policymaking. In fact, the national average for a gallon of gasoline had risen over a dollar in the year before Russia took this malign action.

International events have sent prices higher in the past week, but the administration cannot hide from the fact that their policies have amplified this financial crisis. The solution to this crisis is clear-- American production and energy independence are the best protections we have at our disposal.

The President must reverse the course of his administration immediately and allow the full force of the U.S. energy industry to be unleashed in Americans' time of need.

Banning Russian oil imports out of principle is one thing, but it rings of hypocrisy when the administration turns around and immediately begins negotiating with vile dictators in Iran and Venezuela. The solution is no better there, and simply expands our dependence on hostile foreign nations for our economic and national security.

Madam Speaker, perhaps the administration does not want to admit their early anti-energy moves were wrong, but American energy and financial security cannot hinge on the egos of the President and his staff.

It is time to get out of the way of American production, allow our producers to increase capacity, and deliver affordable energy to the American people free from malign influence. Our future prosperity and national security depends on it.

Madam Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 1440.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize World War II Veteran John Long for his 95th Birthday and his service to our Nation.

At the end of his senior year in high school in June 1945, John Long was drafted into the United States Army. He was sent to Camp Wheeler in Macon, Georgia for basic infantry training, and it was there that he and his fellow young recruits learned that they were being trained in preparation for the invasion of Japan.

These young infantrymen were being trained with the knowledge and understanding that a major military invasion was being planned that would likely lead to tremendous U.S. sacrifices of more than a million casualties. Ultimately, President Harry S. Truman was unwilling to sacrifice so many American lives and changed the course of history by ordering the first nuclear bomb dropped on Japan.

After the Japanese surrender, Dr. Long's First Infantry Division was sent to Germany to serve in the Army of Occupation, allowing long serving service members to return home. Grateful that his life was spared, Dr. Long returned home after his service with a deep sense of gratitude and pride and earned his Doctor of Chiropractic under the G.I. Bill.

Dr. Long has always held a strong commitment to his fellow veterans and community service. He is a life member of many veterans' organizations and has been recognized on countless occasions for his service to the community.

Turning 95 years old, today, on January 18, 2022, Dr. Long looks back on his dual careers as both a chiropractor and dedicated public servant with great pride and a deep and abiding affection for his country and his community.

Dr. Long is a true American patriot and the 27th Congressional District of New York is deeply grateful for his service and wishes him a happy 95th birthday.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and honor the 100th birthday of Ms. Elsie Hartmann.

Ms. Hartmann was born in Dansville, New York, on January 9, 1922, to Ray and Ruth Finch. As a child, she was adventurous, loved the outdoors, and was a proud member of the Girl Scouts. Ms. Hartmann graduated from Dansville High School in 1939 and served as Senior Class Treasurer alongside her future husband Austin ``Mush'' Hartmann, who was Senior Class President.

After high school, Ms. Hartmann attended Cortland Normal School for one year as a Physical Education major, and then enrolled at the Rochester Business Institute and graduated with a certificate in Secretarial Science. After graduating, Ms. Hartmann accepted a job as a clerk in the Methods and Tool Design department at Gleason Works, a machine shop in Rochester, New York.

In 1943, Ms. Hartmann left Gleason Works and enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps and was part of the second group of women to enlist with the U.S. Marine Corps. Ms. Hartmann joined the Marine Corps to become a mechanic, but because of Ms. Hartmann's secretarial background, she was sent to Arlington, Virginia, to work at the headquarters of the U.S. Marine Corps. At the end of WWII, Ms. Hartmann was discharged with the rank of Sergeant, and in 1946 she married her high school sweetheart, Mush Hartmann.

Ms. Hartmann enjoys the simple things of life, bird watching and flower gardening, and is happiest when her house is filled with family. As the proud matriarch of her large family, which is comprised of 6 children, 13 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren, she attends as many of their events as possible, including high school and military graduations, school performances and sporting events. Ms. Hartmann still lives at the Hartmann Homestead, which has been in her family for over 170 years.

Ms. Hartmann is very talented both artistically and musically. She still sings in her church choir and plays the hand bells. At various times in her life, Ms. Hartmann played the violin, piano, flute, tap- danced, was involved in various singing groups, and participated in community theatre. Ms. Hartmann's calligraphy work can be seen throughout Dansville and West Sparta, including on the wall of the Clara Barton Chapter 1 Museum, and at the Dansville Presbyterian Church in their Memorial Book and on the inside front cover of every hymnal that is used today. In 2012, a flag-size banner that Ms. Hartmann hand- lettered, was taken up to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro by a Dansville native.

Ms. Hartmann has always remained involved with her local community. Ms. Hartmann is the oldest and longest serving member and choir member of the Dansville Presbyterian Church, and is a long-time member of the West Sparta Historical Society. In 2004, Ms. Hartmann and her husband Mush were chosen as Livingston County Senior Citizens of the Year. In 2014, Ms. Hartmann had the honor of participating in Rochester Honor Flight mission No. 35 and that same year, was chosen as the honorary Grand Marshal of West Sparta's Old-Fashioned Day celebration.

Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Ms. Elsie Hartmann for her service to our country and in celebrating her 100th birthday.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard for a long and dedicated career in law enforcement and public service.

Sheriff Howard's career has spanned over four decades, including 24 years with the New York State Police, where he reached the rank of Staff Inspector, the fourth highest rank in an agency comprised of over 4,000 employees. In 1998, Sheriff Howard was appointed Erie County Undersheriff, and served in that role until he became Sheriff on January 1, 2005 due to the resignation of the previous Erie County Sheriff. Sheriff Howard was elected for his first full four-year term in 2005, and was re-elected in 2009, 2013, and 2017. Sheriff Howard is also the longest-serving Erie County Sheriff since 1821, when the post was established--a testament to his dedication to serving Erie Country, and the positive impact he has had on the county. Sheriff Howard also currently serves as the co-chair of Homeland Security Zone 15.

Sheriff Howard is a true law and order Sheriff, and he has demonstrated his heroism and commitment to his community throughout his career. Among Sheriff Howard's many notable awards, he has received the Superintendent's Unit Citation Award, the Hero's Award of the 100 Club of Buffalo, the Erie County Law Enforcement Award, the Judges and Police Conference Outstanding Law Enforcement Award, the Attorney General's Award, and the Brummer Award, which is highest award given in the New York State Police. Sheriff Howard has also received a New York State Legislative Proclamation in honor of his work.

Sheriff Howard graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2000 and has a master's degree in Criminal Justice from SUNY Albany. In addition to his tireless work protecting the community, Sheriff Howard has prioritized educating the next generation of law enforcement officers-- teaching at both the New York

State Police Academy and the Rochester Institute of Technology.

After a long and remarkable career in law enforcement, Sheriff Howard is leaving his post to pursue a new opportunity as the Supervisor of the Town of Wales. Words cannot express the debt of gratitude the people of Erie County owe to Sheriff Howard for his decades of work taking dangerous criminals off the street, rescuing those in danger, and improving every community he has touched.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Sheriff Howard on his retirement, in thanking him for service, and in honoring the positive impact he has had on Erie County.