Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the so- called Build Back Better agenda. President Biden campaigned as a moderate problem-solver, but has governed as a radical progressive.

Under nearly a year of Democrat control in Washington, we have witnessed devastating consequences, stifling inflation, massive labor shortages, a supply chain crisis, and devastation at our southern border.

Instead of stepping back and working with Republicans to address the real-life issues American families are facing, President Biden and the Democrats are pressing ahead with the most radical legislative agenda in my lifetime.

Here is what the bill does: raises taxes on Illinois farmers, middle- income workers, and small businesses, while subsidizing the wealthiest individuals on the coasts; encourages the IRS to snoop on average Illinoisan's bank accounts; and pushes us to the brink of becoming a welfare state.

Moreover, this bill is not paid for, as the Democrats claim, and will only bankrupt our children and grandchildren. This so-called Build Back Better agenda is a bad deal for Illinois and American families, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Family Caregiver Month.

More than 95 percent of individuals with dementia also have one or more chronic conditions. Individuals with dementia rely heavily on their family members or other caregivers to provide time, transportation, and other health services, which can be economically and emotionally challenging for a family.

In Illinois alone, we have over 381,000 caregivers for people living with dementia, and 53.5 percent of them have their own chronic health conditions.

During National Family Caregiver Month, it is important to recognize the dedication and sacrifice that families and caregivers provide for their loved ones.

My legislation, the Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer's Act, provides additional support to dementia patients and caregivers. The bill would direct the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to implement a dementia care model to test comprehensive care management services and would make a big impact on the lives of people living with dementia and their caregivers.

As I travel throughout Illinois, dementia care and Alzheimer's advocates continue to share their caregiving stories with me. Mr. Speaker, I ask for support of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Tom Cavanagh of Springfield, Illinois, who passed away this past weekend.

Tom had decades-long service to Springfield and to Sangamon County. Tom was known as a loyal friend and a consistent advocate for taxpayers. Tom spent three decades in public service, serving four terms as Sangamon County treasurer and also county auditor, as Capital Township supervisor of assessments, and on the Springfield Park District board of trustees.

Tom's years of dedicated service in support of Springfield and Sangamon County culminated in his recognition as the Illinois County Official of the Year in 2018, when he was serving as treasurer.

Everyone who had the pleasure of knowing Tom knew him for his great sense of humor and commitment to the community he served. Tom always had a knack for finding a way to provide better services at a lower cost for Sangamon and Springfield residents.

Tom will be missed by our Springfield community, but his legacy will carry on through the work he did to better Sangamon County.

As central Illinois continues to mourn Tom's loss, my thoughts and prayers remain with his family and loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Minnesota for yielding and Mr. Ferguson for leading this effort.

If the previous question is defeated, we will amend the rule and immediately consider H.R. 5586, the Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act.

This legislation would prohibit the Treasury Department and the IRS from implementing any new financial account surveillance regimes. This is a direct response to this administration's invasive proposal that would require financial institutions to report transaction data on every American's bank account that meets their proposed threshold.

I am deeply skeptical of the need for this dangerous expansion of IRS oversight and believe it to be a significant risk to individual privacy. The Democrats are leading the American people to believe that this is needed to target wealthy tax cheats and to help close the tax gap. Unfortunately, this proposal, even with a $10,000 threshold, would subject Americans at every rung of the economic ladder to these onerous reporting requirements. This includes middle-class families, small business owners, and farmers.

Even with proposed carve-outs, this proposal would turn local banks into IRS reporting units, which is not only incredibly burdensome but also costly. I have already been hearing from local bankers in Morton and Liberty, Illinois, and throughout my district who are deeply concerned about how this proposal will encourage their customers to empty out their bank accounts, further exacerbating the unbanked-banked divide.

In a letter dated September 29, 2021, the Department of the Treasury cited that the IRS experiences 1.4 billion cyberattacks a year. I don't know a single American who would like to have their personal data reported to a system that is highly targeted by hackers and foreign adversaries. In addition, the IRS' track record for leaking personal information raises serious questions about their ability to implement a program of this scale.

I am proud to join my friend, Congressman Ferguson, in his effort to protect Americans' privacy, and I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question.

Madam Speaker, today, I would like to observe the month of October as Hindu Heritage Month. The month of October serves as a time for Hindu communities across the country to join together and celebrate their culture and its diverse spiritual traditions. Hindu Heritage Month is a celebration of the Hindu faithful that hold services in 32 states across 91 congressional districts, including the devoted and faithful Hindu community of the 18th Congressional District of Illinois.

Communities of faith have long served as beacons of hope, sharing their beliefs, and supporting their communities through service. The vibrant Hindu-American community is no different and I am proud to support the examples of service in the 18th Congressional District by my constituents.

The United States is a deeply faithful Nation, and I am proud to support the celebration of October as Hindu Heritage Month. May this month bring awareness in recognizing and acknowledging the contributions made by Hindu-Americans and increase awareness and understanding of the Hindu-American community.

Madam Speaker, I was absent due to a delay coming to the floor. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 238.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Cyril L. Leuelling of Morton, Illinois, who passed away on May 19, 2021, at the age of 98.

Cyril Leuelling, born on June 26, 1922, in Dawson, Illinois, and graduated from Ball Township High School in 1941. In 1942, he was called to serve his nation and was drafted for World War II. After his training, Cyril was deployed to England to serve with the 359th Regiment, 90th Infantry Division.

Cyril achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant and was responsible for the lives of 40 soldiers. In addition to serving in D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, Cyril and his men contributed to the operation which led to the liberation of the Flossenburg concentration camp in Germany. On September 28, 1944, in Metz, France, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for saving a fellow soldier's life and then awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he sustained in combat. He returned home to central Illinois after 19 months at war.

Cyril was featured in a World War II Exhibit at the Museum of World Treasures in Wichita, KS. He attended and was interviewed for the Veteran's History Project at the dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington,D.C. Cyril is also in the June 2002 issue of National Geographic ``The Untold Stories of D-Day''. He was a long-time member of the American Legion.

Cyril lived a life of full accomplishments, but most importantly, he will be remembered for his love and commitment to his wonderful family. On April 21, 1947, Cyril married Abigail ``Abbie'' Prater in Riverton, IL. They were blessed with four children, Nancy, Janet, Ronald, and Diane, 10 grandchildren, and 16 greatgrandchildren. After retiring from his distinguished 38-year-career at Caterpillar Inc., Cyril and Abbie spent most of their time traveling and visiting family all over the country. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years on April 18, 2015. Cyril's fondest memories in life were ones spent with his family and his love and pride for them was boundless.

I want to offer my condolences to the Leuelling family and the people of Morton on the loss of a great man. Cyril left a lasting impact on those who had the pleasure of knowing him. May his memory be eternal.

Madam Speaker, I would like to honor and congratulate Brian Wagner on his retirement as National Association of Postal Supervisors President.

Brian has dedicated forty-three years to the betterment of the Postal Service. His incredible career began in Peoria, IL, in 1978. Twelve years later, Brian worked his way up to the role of Delivery & Retail Analyst and joined the National Association of Postal Supervisors (NAPS). After entering the USPS Management Trainee Program, Brian attained the role of Customer Relations Coordinator for the Peoria area. He retired from this role in 2015, marking the end of his exceptional tenure serving the Peoria area in the Postal Service.

Like his work for the Postal Service, Brian's involvement with NAPS highlights a robust effort to represent and assist his fellow postal workers. During his time at NAPS, Brian was President of Heart of IL Branch 255, Illinois State Area Vice President, and NAPS Secretary/ Treasurer. He also served on the Executive Board as Central Region Vice President. Brian was elected NAPS National President in 2016 and reelected in 2018, a testament to his lifelong commitment to and advocacy for the Postal Service and its employees.

I want to express the utmost gratitude to Brian. I am certain that my fellow Peorians feel the same pride and respect towards him that I do. His career serves as an example of how to honorably serve the public. He has undoubtedly improved the lives of Peorians and Americans more broadly. Most importantly, Brian accomplished all this while being a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Congratulations Brian, and I wish you happiness and relaxation in retirement.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Junior Kool of Eureka, Illinois,

and Vermeer Midwest for celebrating the 50th anniversary as an outstanding company in the central Illinois area.

Vermeer Midwest first opened its doors in 1971. Founder Junior Kool, raised with hardworking American values, successfully expanded his business across four states with ten distinct locations. Providing excellent service and ample charitable donations of money, time, and people, Junior's legacy will have a lasting impact on the area.

Vermeer Midwest is known throughout Central Illinois not only for their quality underground and environmental equipment but also for the lasting relationships they develop with their customers. Junior and his wife Beverly are fondly recognized for their pure commitment to customer service and seeing their consumers through to success. Never are they hesitant to complete the job or get their boots dirty, and as their motto says, ``It's simply how business is done.''

The Greater Peoria area has benefited from Vermeer Midwest's goodwill and generosity since they first opened. I extend my sincere congratulations to Vermeer Midwest, Junior Kool, and all of the hard- working staff for a successful fifty years. I wish their family and company a successful future.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Burgess for yielding and Dr. Wenstrup for leading this effort.

If the previous question is defeated, we will amend the rule to immediately consider S. 1867, the COVID-19 Origin Act of 2021. This legislation, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent, is simple. If passed, the bill would require the Biden administration's Director of National Intelligence to declassify intelligence information related to any potential links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology, also known as the Wuhan lab, and the origins of COVID-19 in order to better prepare for and avoid future pandemics.

Let's remember the devastating effect that this pandemic has had in this country with over 600,000 deaths and 4 million deaths worldwide.

In May, Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee released an interim report outlining the growing evidence of a possible lab leak of the COVID-19 virus.

Here are the facts. Number one, we know, based on numerous reports, that the researchers at the Wuhan lab fell sick with COVID-related symptoms in the fall of 2019. Number two, we also know that there was active engagement by the Chinese military at the Wuhan lab. And, number three, we know that the Chinese Government has continued to hinder efforts for data collection and transparency in this investigation. Essentially, Mr. Speaker, they have been nontransparent and noncooperative.

The bottom line is, the American people deserve a full accounting of the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in shutting down our economy, massive deaths across the world, and millions out of work.

Mr. Speaker, how can we prevent a future pandemic if we don't know the genesis of this one?

This vote today will help answer those questions and get to the origins of the pandemic. I am proud to join my friend, Congressman Wenstrup, in this effort for transparency, and I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question.

Madam Speaker, I would like to honor and recognize Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople on the historic 30th Anniversary of his election on October 22, 1991, and his elevation on November 2, 1991, as the 270th Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was born in the village of Zeytinli on the island of Imbros to Christos and Merope Archontonis. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew belongs to the historically indigenous Rum people, descendants of the Eastern Roman Empire/Byzantine Empire Greek community in Turkey.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is recognized in the United States and abroad as a leader in the quest for world peace, greater religious understanding, and respect for the Earth's environment. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is the spiritual leader of nearly 300,000,000 Orthodox Christians around the world and millions of Orthodox Christians in the United States, with a significant population here in Illinois and the City of Chicago.

On his first official visit to the United States in 1997, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew received the Congressional Gold Medal, presented by the United States on behalf of Congress in recognition of his outstanding and enduring contributions to religious understanding and peace. His Holiness was recognized by the United States in a manner reserved for a very small number of world leaders.

I am grateful for all the good that His All Holiness does for Americans and those around the world. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew serves as a reminder to us all that the positive efforts of just one person can be beneficial to countless lives of others.

Madam Speaker, I was delayed arriving to the House floor and missed the first vote in the day's vote series.

Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 138.

Mr. Speaker, last year, I was proud to serve on the House China Task Force with a number of my Republican colleagues. Over six months through engagement and consultation with national security and trade officials, foreign policy experts, the business community, and government officials, we compiled and unveiled a comprehensive report with more than 400 policy recommendations for how to address the existential challenges posed by China.

Addressing the challenges posed by China will be one of the greatest issues Congress and our country face in the decades to come. As we confront these issues, bipartisan work is needed. The China Task Force report provides a roadmap with specific policy ideas and goals regarding how the U.S. can better combat the threat of the Chinese Communist Party. Two-thirds of the legislative recommendations are bipartisan; and, overall, more than one-quarter of the recommendations have already become law or have been implemented by the prior Trump administration.

As members of the Ways and Means Committee, we authored important provisions of the report that will help return American intellectual property and critical supply chains to the United States. We also included legislation to reform and strengthen the World Trade Organization to level the playing field for American trade.

Mr. Speaker, to preserve and grow national economic security, we need to act. I ask everyone to read the report and work with us to get this done in a bipartisan way.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Frederick Walton Allen of Peoria, Illinois, who passed away on January 24, 2021, at the age of 97.

Fred Allen, born on June 10, 1923, in Ripon, Wisconsin, had a long and distinguished career as a plaintiff's attorney. A self-made businessman, Fred built his law firm in Peoria around respect and integrity, virtues admired by both his clients and community. These priorities helped him become the first downstate Illinois lawyer to win a $1 million award for a client and become a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an elite national group limited to plaintiff's attorneys who had won seven-figure awards.

Fred lived a full life and his accomplishments were not limited to his legal career. As a young man, his studies were halted early due to the start of WWII. Mr. Allen enlisted on December 7, 1942, exactly one year after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and became a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces. After his military service, he signed a contract as a pitcher with a minor league affiliate for the Cleveland Indians. In 1949 when Fred graduated from Law School at Northwestern University, he immediately took the ``rocket train'' to Peoria where he applied for his first job at a firm. He continually served others through countless years of membership at the Elks Club, the American Legion, the Country Club of Peoria, and the First United Methodist Church of Peoria. He loved central Illinois and made many quiet contributions to better the lives of those in his community.

Fred will also be remembered for his love and commitment to his wonderful family. He was preceded in death by his wife Tilley, who said Fred's love and devotion to her throughout their 66 years of marriage were beyond measure. He was blessed with three daughters, Diane, Rita, and Laura, 7 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. Fred's fondest memories in life were ones spent with his family and his love and pride for them were boundless.

I want to offer my condolences to the Allen family and the people of Peoria on the loss of a great man. Fred left a lasting impact on those who had the pleasure of knowing him. May his memory be eternal.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Democrats so-called COVID relief bill.

Congress' focus should be specifically dialed in on crushing this virus, creating jobs, and getting our economy back open.

Unfortunately, this package falls well short.

As we battled the COVID pandemic over the last year, the economic stress placed on communities that I represent in central and west- central Illinois has been immense.

Congress acted five times in a bipartisan way over the last year, creating over $3.7 trillion to help keep businesses and workers afloat and support the healthcare community, all of which we supported.

As of today, more than $1 trillion of those budgetary resources is still available, including money for State and local governments, small businesses, and schools.

Congress can do more to support the economic recovery from COVID, but our efforts must be targeted.

We cannot spend our way out of this crisis.

In Illinois, we have seen the negative impact of the tax-and-spend agenda that put our State on the path to economic disaster.

The proposed stimulus plan by the Biden administration will impose new, burdensome costs, regulations, and rules on small businesses, making the recovery even more difficult.

It is disheartening that, following calls for unity in his inauguration, President Biden's first major legislative agenda item was partisan and specifically designed not to allow Republican input.

Instead of rewarding fiscally irresponsible States with huge bailouts, Congress should work to incentivize growth, focus on job creation and vaccine distribution.

To generate a strong economy, we need to get government out of the way, open our communities, and enable Americans to thrive.