Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor and congratulate Scott Wheeler on his retirement from Midwest Communications' Peoria stations after 46 years in the industry.

Scott Wheeler was hired as a radio personality and promotions director by the Top-40 radio station KZ93-FM in 1987. During his career, he worked as a director of production, promotions, programming, and operations. Wheeler also held the positions of Morning Show Host, Brand Manager, and Air Personality. In 1997, he launched Big Oldies 93.3 which received the top ratings throughout its 10-year duration.

During his time as a radio personality, Scott Wheeler has been recognized with numerous accolades for his exemplary professional performance. He was recognized as one of Radio Ink Magazine's ``Top Ten Best Small Market Program Directors in America'' from 1999 until 2003. Wheeler was known for his tremendous contributions to the radio community, as well as his success at CHR KZ93 and Big Oldies 93.3.

Scott Wheeler has always been committed to his work and his community. It is my privilege to congratulate him on his accomplished career as a radio personality. We have all been blessed to have Scott Wheeler on our radio. The City of Peoria is a better place because of his airtime presence.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the primary sponsor of H.R. 1402, a bill originally introduced by Representative Higgins of New York, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Madam Speaker, I had to miss votes today to travel back to Illinois. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 218.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of National Police Week, a week we set aside to thank more than 800,000 police officers who put on the badge and risk their lives to protect our communities.

We thank them for their brave service. Our police officers play an essential role in our community, working to keep us safe, upholding the rule of law, and responding to emergencies.

Illinois is home to many upstanding, honorable, courageous, and self- sacrificing police officers, including Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria and the village of Durand Police Chief Michael Reiman, who are on this poster.

Mr. Speaker, we also take the time to mourn the loss of our fallen officers whose lives were lost in the line of duty. On average, one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 61 hours. We must never forget their sacrifice.

Lastly, I thank the law enforcement support network--their families, parents, wives, husbands, and children--for the sacrifices they make when their loved ones serve as police officers.

At a time when our law enforcement is constantly under attack, Congress must continue to stand with the police and back the blue.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank the gentleman for his leadership on this bill.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7888, the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act.

Over the past year, I have led the Intelligence Committee task force on FISA reauthorization, working with my colleagues to find commonsense reforms to the processes under section 702 to create a balance between protecting national security and preserving constitutional liberties afforded to all U.S. persons.

It is important to state at the outset that section 702 is used only to target bad actors overseas and our adversaries who are not protected under the Fourth Amendment. It is not used to surveil or target Americans.

Throughout our process, we regularly engage with national security leaders, former Trump administration officials, and our colleagues both on the Judiciary Committee and throughout the Conference.

This bill before us makes targeted, meaningful changes to FISA and section 702 without upending the statute in a way that will lead to unintended consequences resulting in the United States being less safe.

Prior to coming to Congress, I served as an assistant U.S. attorney and chief terrorism prosecutor. I witnessed firsthand the valuable use of FISA. Section 702 is a critical tool that helps the IC defend the United States against the malign actors we worry about daily, and the value of what 702 has done for our country over the last 15-plus years is immense.

I will mention four existential things that have happened in the last 9 years: the taking out of bin Laden; the assassination of Soleimani, the Iranian leader, by President Trump; the taking out of al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS; and last year, the taking out of al-Zawahiri. The use of 702 in all of those cases was definitive in the taking out of those terrorists.

I also say, with this bill, it institutes the largest reform of the FBI in a generation. It makes the necessary changes to prevent potential bad actors from improperly utilizing FISA from anything other than its intended use, protecting Americans from foreign threats.

Particularly, in this day and age, with China, what is going on in the Middle East, and the nonenforcement at our southern border, it is now more important than ever that we have a vibrant, robust 702 in place.

Lastly, I include in the Record a letter from Mike Pompeo, John Ratcliffe, Devin Nunes, William Barr, and Robert O'Brien, former Trump administration officials that worked in national security, where they specifically support our bill and express grave concerns about the warrant amendment that will be brought up today.

December 7, 2023.

Hon. Mike Johnson,

Speaker, House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Mr. Speaker, As former officials who have either worked for

or with the Intelligence Community, we write today with

serious concerns that a critical tool to keep Americans safe

will cease to be available to the men and women who protect

the United States each day.

At the end of this month, Section 702 of the Foreign

Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) will sunset. This is one

of the most critical tools the Intelligence Community has at

its disposal. Section 702 must be reauthorized and, as

evidenced by the FBI's prior flagrant abuses, FISA must also

be reformed. Those reforms should focus on concrete

improvements--including congressional oversight of and access

to FISA Court transcripts--rather than a warrant requirement

that may not achieve its intended objectives and could hinder

current national security efforts.

We urge you to support the House Permanent Select Committee

on Intelligence's bipartisan bill sponsored by Chairman Mike

Turner and Ranking Member Jim Himes.

Respectfully,

Mike Pompeo,

Former Secretary of State, Former Director of the Central

Intelligence Agency.

William Barr,

Former Attorney General of the United States.

John Ratcliffe,

Former Director of National Intelligence.

Robert O'Brien,

Former National Security Advisor to the President.

Devin Nunes,

Former Chairman, House Permanent Select Committee on

Intelligence.

Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on the warrant amendment and a ``yes'' vote on our underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge Chairman Westerman for his leadership on the Committee on Natural Resources. I am honored to be here today.

I rise today, Mr. Speaker, in strong support of my bill, H.R. 6233, the Community Reclamation Partnerships Act. This legislation, which previously passed the House in the 115th Congress, will help address the complex legal and funding-related challenges for abandoned mines that we have across Illinois and the Nation.

The Community Reclamation Partnerships Act amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to enable States to partner with nongovernmental entities to reclaim

abandoned mine sites and facilitate acid mine drainage cleanup across the country.

Nongovernmental entities, such as Trout Unlimited, have recognized the need for reclamation in coal communities and are willing to contribute their resources and expertise to address this problem.

Unfortunately, liability and regulatory concerns have discouraged them from partnering with the States on reclamation projects. This legislation enables NGO participation in State reclamation programs by minimizing undeserved liability and codifying proven practices established by State reclamation agencies.

This legislation also addresses a frequent problem that States experience in addressing water pollution at abandoned mine land sites. States must choose between risking noncompliance under the Clean Water Act or foregoing acid mine drainage abatement projects altogether.

Some States, for instance, like Pennsylvania, have successfully addressed this problem by establishing their own guidelines for the treatment of water pollution at abandoned mine land sites. These State- specific strategies have resulted in successful water treatment projects and a significant reduction in acid mine drainage.

Currently, State reclamation activities have been funded solely by fees levied on the coal industry over the past four decades. These fees have resulted in the reclamation of approximately $4 billion of abandoned mine land liabilities. However, according to the Department of the Interior and EPA, the estimated remediation costs exceeds $15 billion. The cost of reclaiming these sites will continue to strain State resources in the coming decades, and the condition of these sites will only worsen over time.

In short, this bill empowers State and local community leaders who want to assist in abandoned mine cleanup efforts so that future development can occur in these areas. No group should be punished for wanting to help their community in a responsible way.

H.R. 6233 brings more resources to bear on this considerable challenge. I urge adoption of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for negotiating this good, monumental tax bill.

I particularly want to highlight the inclusion of two affordable housing provisions in the bill. They are provisions that stem from my bill, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, which has garnered the support of 212 cosponsors in the House equally divided between Republicans and Democrats.

We are facing an affordable housing crisis in this country, and strengthening the low-income housing tax credit, LIHTC, established by Ronald Reagan is key in this and will be very successful to bridging the gap to more affordable housing in this country.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this very good tax bill.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor and congratulate Mark Tresnowski on his retirement following an exceptional legal career.

An accomplished and highly respected attorney, Mark served as a founding member of the American Investment Council. Upon his retirement from Madison Dearborn and his term of leadership of the Council, I recognize Mark for his service to the Council, his professional contributions, and his support to his community.

Mark has dedicated much of his career to helping people achieve their personal and professional dreams. Throughout his distinguished career, he has served as a mentor to countless attorneys who have valued his wisdom, work ethic, and experienced perspective. He also serves as a faculty member in the Practicing Law Institute seminars and has published articles in Venture Capital Journal, Buyouts, and the M&A Lawyer.

Mark is also very involved in his local community and is a leader in supporting children and their families as a trustee of Children's Home & Aid in Chicago, Illinois. Mark exemplifies the values of dedication and leadership.

I want to express the utmost gratitude to Mark. I am certain that my fellow Illinoisans feel the same pride and respect towards him that I do. Congratulations Mark, and best wishes for a happy and relaxing retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Jim DeRose on his retirement as Bradley University's Men's Soccer Coach after 28 successful seasons.

Beginning his career in 1996 at the age of 28 as the youngest coach in NCAA Division I men's soccer, Jim quickly emerged as a dominant figure in the soccer community. Jim guided the Braves to the regular- season Missouri Valley Conference title in 1998, followed by the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2000. Under Jim's leadership, Bradley's soccer program reached new heights and resulted in a 2007 run to the NCAA Elite Eight, where Jim was chosen as the Soccer America National Coach of the Year.

Jim's record speaks volumes of his commitment and dedication to the game. During his tenure as head coach, Bradley held a 267-227-66 record with seven NCAA tournament appearances, the highest for any coach in Bradley University Athletics history. Jim finishes his career as the second-winningest coach in Missouri Valley Conference soccer history and coached the only four-year all-Americans in MVC men's soccer history.

In addition to his accomplishments on the pitch, the accomplishments of his players in the classroom and post-graduation are a testament to his ability to grow his players into successful young men. Six former assistant coaches have gone on to become NCAA Division I head coaches, sixteen players have been selected for all-American academic awards, and nine have been selected in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

Jim has been an integral part of growing the game of soccer throughout central Illinois and his legacy will last for years to come. It is my privilege to congratulate Jim DeRose on his retirement after 28 years with Bradley University Men's Soccer and wish him, his wife Robin, and his two children, Raleigh and J.R., all the best.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Jim DeRose on his retirement as Bradley University's men's soccer coach after 28 successful seasons.

Beginning his career in 1996 at the age of 28, and as the youngest coach in NCAA Division 1 men's soccer, Jim quickly emerged as a dominant figure in college soccer.

Under Jim's leadership, Bradley's soccer program reached new heights and resulted in a 2007 run to the NCAA Elite Eight, where Jim was chosen as the National Coach of the Year.

During his tenure as head coach, Jim held the record of 267 wins, 227 losses, and 66 ties, with seven NCAA tournament appearances, the highest of any coach in Bradley University athletics history.

In addition to his accomplishments on the pitch, the success of his players in the classroom and postgraduation are a testament to his ability to grow his players into successful young men.

Jim has been an integral part of the growing game of soccer throughout central Illinois and in college soccer, and his legacy will last for years to come.

It is my privilege to congratulate Coach Jim DeRose on his retirement after 28 years with Bradley University. We wish him, his wife, Robin, and his two children, Raleigh and J.R., all the best.

Madam Speaker, I had to miss votes today due to travel from Illinois to Washington. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 599 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 600.

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, I had to miss votes today to travel back to Illinois. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 593, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 594, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 595, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 596, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 597, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 598.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I would like to honor and congratulate Gary Kroeschen on his retirement as Marshall County Board Chairman.

Gary Kroeschen has devoted almost two decades to serving the people of Marshall County. From his early efforts as a Bennington Township Board trustee and Toluca Park District trustee, Gary established himself as a strong advocate for the people with a keen eye for the future. In 2007 he was appointed to the Marshall County Board, a position he would go on to be elected to five times. It was on the Marshall County Board that Gary would demonstrate his strong leadership skills and fiscal conservatism. His peers elected him as Chairman of the Board in 2012. Under his leadership, Marshall County was able to navigate the challenges of the COVID pandemic. Citizens and constituents lauded Gary's twenty-four hour a day availability. As a fiscal watchdog, Gary pushed for an expansion of the County's efforts to secure grants for modernization projects, including but not limited to the Marshall County Courthouse parking lot.

In addition to serving the people of Marshall County as an elected official. Gary thrived as a small business owner. Under his leadership, Kroeschen Plumbing and Heating Inc. in Toluca was lauded for its outstanding customer service and reliability. Much like he treats his constituents, employees were treated like members of his family.

I want to express the utmost gratitude to Gary for his two decades of public service. He is the epitome of a great public servant and his absence on the Marshall County Board will be felt for years to come. Gary has left a legacy which will live on for decades for those who follow him in service to Marshall County. I wish Gary the best as he begins his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor a remarkable company, Etnyre. Etnyre is a familyowned business which manufactures road equipment in Oregon, Illinois. After many years of successful product innovation and superior customer service, Etnyre is celebrating their 125th anniversary.

Founded in 1898, ED Etnyre & Co was established by Edward Daniel to produce thresher tanks and water tanks. Over the years, ED Etnyre & Co expanded to manufacture road equipment including the bituminous distributor and street flusher that were utilized by our Army, Navy, and Air Force in World War II. In the 1950's, Etnyre expanded to a new location where they continue to operate today as a family-owned business employing four hundred individuals. These individuals, called members, work hard to support, and serve Etnyre's mission, values, and the surrounding region's vitality.

Etnyre has a lengthy history of contributing to the betterment of their community and others in the area. In 2018, the Etnyre Foundation was established. The goal of the Etnyre Foundation is to give back to communities that have contributed to Etnyre's success by providing grants to organizations in the Etnyre International Footprint. The Etnyre Foundation has provided $300,000 in grants since 2018.

I commend Etnyre for their innovative product development, community philanthropy, and successful company growth in Illinois. I extend my sincere congratulations to Etnyre for a successful 125 years in business, and I wish them continued success.

Mr. Chair, I am proud to represent over 8,000 Lebanese- American families in my district in Illinois who care deeply about our U.S. national security.

The longstanding U.S. military investment in the independent Lebanese Armed Forces, known as the LAF, has worked to support U.S. security interests in the greater Middle East for over 15 years.

As the co-chair of the U.S.-Lebanon Friendship Caucus, we work closely with the brave men and women in the U.S. military to ensure robust and stringent oversight of the U.S. investment into the LAF and any other U.S. foreign military funding abroad.

The stability of the LAF is important not only to the security of Lebanon, but also to their neighboring countries, and the United States.

The LAF works to prevent the furtherance of terrorist and extremist groups like Hezbollah and ISIS in the region. It fights against weapons, drugs, and human smuggling, and maintains stability in a country that is a ripe target for terrorists and malign actors.

I agree with my colleagues that we must be stewards of taxpayer money and reduce wasteful government spending. However, we must also support successful policies that continue to return on our investment in protecting the long-term U.S. security interests here at home. That investment in the LAF has helped to promote U.S. interests in the greater Middle East and in Lebanon.

Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment.