Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my Chief of Staff, Emma Youngquist, for her work on behalf of every constituent in Minnesota's Third Congressional District. At the end of my term, Emma will officially depart this office to serve as the Chief of Staff at Second Harvest Heartland and I could not be more proud or grateful for her service.

Emma was born and raised in Minnesota's Third Congressional District. She graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She has years of government and political experience, including operational, outreach, and casework roles within Senator Amy Klobuchar's office. She joined my office in January of 2019 as Director of Constituent Advocacy before serving as District Director and later Chief of Staff.

Emma has been a capable and supportive leader during a time when relentless curveballs were pitched at our Nation, our state, and our team. Emma's quiet, contemplative decision making keeps us grounded and on track. Emma is a comprehensive and creative problem solver. She is the embodiment of cooler heads prevailing.

Emma makes our entire staff feel seen and supported. She knows when to push and when to nurture, and every member of our team has grown as people and professionals under her steady leadership. Emma has stepped up and filled big shoes on our team, building on the successes and styles of leaders who came before her while making each role uniquely her own. Listening is Emma's superpower. Her ability to work with distinctly different personalities and perspectives, whether among her colleagues or her constituents, is second to none. Emma is a leader who genuinely cares about her team. She is someone you want in your corner, she is fiercely smart, caring, and always shows up for her team no matter the circumstance.

The people of Minnesota's Third Congressional District were lucky to have her dedication and leadership, and she will be dearly missed. However, I'm extraordinarily happy that she will continue to serve the Nation and the people of Minnesota in her new capacity at Second Harvest Heartland. I wish Emma all the best in her future endeavors and thank her for six years of faithful service to this Nation in this office--and many more to come.

Mr. Speaker, I inadvertently voted NAY on Roll Call No. 458. I intended to vote YEA. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 458.

Mr. Speaker, I inadvertently voted NAY on Roll Call No. 429. I intended to vote YEA.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my former Chief of Staff, Tim Bertocci, for his work on behalf of every constituent in Minnesota's Third Congressional District. In May, Tim departed my office for a new opportunity serving as the Director of External Affairs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, and I could not be more proud or grateful for his service.

Tim has an impressive and extensive background in public service and leadership. He began his career after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned as an Armor officer. During his nine years of military service, Tim served in various leadership positions, to include serving in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom III. Tim also earned a Master of Arts degree from the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University in 2008. He has worked in various roles including the Senior Operations Advisor for the Joint IED Defeat Organization and as a Foreign Service Officer in Havana, Cuba.

Tim's experience and relationships on the Hill from his time working in former Congressman Tim Walz' Office were invaluable as we stood up an office and built a team of bright, motivated, and radically hospitable public servants. He helped lead us all through a series of unexpected and unprecedented events. On top of his duties as Chief, he also served as an instructor at the United States Naval Academy where he taught a class on irregular warfare in the Political Science Department.

Staff members of our office past and present all proclaim that Tim is the true embodiment of a servant leader. A trusted advisor and confidant, Tim always put the needs of the team before himself. He even used a tiny, converted bathroom as an office instead of the large office normally dedicated to the Chief, to allow staff to have a dedicated space they could hold meetings in. For Tim, success is never about individual accomplishments or prestige, but instead about those around him reaching their highest potential individually and collectively.

Tim set a culture of camaraderie and support across the team, always prepared with a shout out or well timed, supportive gif in the Teams chat. He had an unparalleled ability to create compromise and identify a novel path forward after taking into careful consideration all the options. Though he rarely mentioned it, his record of military service brought a much-needed perspective and calm confidence to our team. Even in the most difficult congressional moments--it was clear Tim had lived through much worse. Tim's humility and expertise were unmatched during those difficult times.

The people of Minnesota's Third Congressional District were lucky to have Tim's dedication, leadership and unwavering commitment, and he will be dearly missed. However, I'm extraordinarily happy that he will continue to serve the nation at the U.S. Department of Defense. I wish Tim all the best in his future endeavors and thank him dearly for his 23 years of public service to this Nation--and many more to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my Constituent Advocate, David Chernack, for his work on behalf of every constituent in Minnesota's Third Congressional District. At the end of April, David departed my office for a new opportunity to serve as the Immigration Constituent Advocate in the Office of Rep. Angie Craig, and I could not be more proud or grateful for his service.

Hailing from California, David came to Minnesota for college at the University of Minnesota. While in college, David got hooked on Minnesota politics and spent time interning for Senator Amy Klobuchar and Governor Tim Walz before graduating and joining our office.

The constituents of Minnesota's Third District were fortunate to be served by David who always went the extra mile to help a constituent in need. David's ability to treat each individual as if they were his top priority has impressed our entire office. In under a year, he held two job titles- Staff Assistant and Hospitality Director and most recently, Constituent Advocate- and brought intellectual rigor, tireless dedication, and trademark quirkiness to each role. Our fondest memories include his drives to random parking lots to shepherd lost constituents to our office, lunches consisting of three variations of simple carbs with no protein or produce in sight, and expressions of undying gratitude when given even the smallest treat.

The people of Minnesota's Third Congressional District were lucky to have his dedication and leadership, and he will be dearly missed. However, I'm extraordinarily happy that he will continue to do this work and serve the Nation and the people of Minnesota's Second Congressional District. I wish David all the best in his future endeavors and thank him for a year of faithful service to this Nation-- and many more to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my Legislative Assistant, Jessica Larsen, for her work on behalf of every constituent in Minnesota's Third Congressional

District. Jessica has departed my office for a new opportunity serving as Legislative Aide in the Office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and I could not be more proud or grateful for her service.

From her birthplace in Bellshill, Scotland to the basketball court at Minnetonka High School and on to the halls of the United States Congress, Jess has proven herself a force to be reckoned with. In the spirit of a Minnetonka Skipper, Jess set sail across the pond to attend Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. After graduating with First Class Honours, she returned stateside to serve her home district with compassion and dedication.

Jess joined the office as a Staff and Executive Assistant, imparting her infectious joy on every colleague and constituent that walked through the front door. Her intelligence, kindness, and Radical Hospitality touched everyone she met and inspired the staffers who would follow in her footsteps. It wasn't before long that Jess grew into a widely respected and highly competent Legislative Assistant whose passion for helping others made her a role model for the entire team. Constituents came into their conversations with Jess eager to meet a DC staffer with deep ties to the district. They consistently left blown away by her empathy and policy acumen for the most pressing issues facing our country and Minnesota's Third Congressional District.

Jess worked tirelessly to make U.S. Department of Agriculture programs more equitable for Black and Brown farmers, provide adult sized changing tables in airports to ease travel for people with disabilities, and preserve Minnesota's Boundary Waters as an oasis uninhibited by harmful mining practices. She is a fierce advocate who has an unparalleled ability to treat the issue at hand with the utmost importance. The office will not be the same without her insight, diligence, warm smile, and occasional sarcasm. We look forward to working for Jess some day in the not-too-distant future.

The people of Minnesota's Third Congressional District were lucky to have her expertise and leadership, and she will be dearly missed. However, I'm extraordinarily happy that this expertise will continue to serve the nation and the people of Massachusetts. I wish Jessica all the best in her future endeavors and thank her for two years of faithful service to this nation--and many more to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Dave Richardson, United States Navy, the 2024 recipient of the United States Naval Academy Military Professor Teaching Excellence Award.

This award, initiated in 2014, is bestowed biennially in even- numbered academic years upon a military faculty member at the Naval Academy whose contributions to the academic, professional, and moral development of midshipmen reflect the highest principles of excellence in education. Eligible faculty are those military faculty members who have exhibited continued excellence in teaching and sustained contributions to the intellectual professional development of midshipmen.

A third generation Navy Sailor, Dave is currently a Permanent Military Professor and academic Department Chair of the Political Science Department at the United States Naval Academy. He has achieved excellence at every echelon of academia: graduating with merit from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1995, with his M.S. in Leadership from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2000, with distinction from the Naval War College in 2007, and finally with his Ph.D from The George Washington University in 2018. Prior to his selection as a Permanent Military Professor, he earned a noteworthy reputation as a career Surface Warfare Officer of the highest caliber, culminating with his service as the 10th Commanding Officer of the USS Porter (DDG-78) out of Norfolk,

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 141.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my Press Secretary, Taylor Deacon, for her work on behalf of every constituent in Minnesota's Third Congressional District. This week, Taylor will depart my office for a new opportunity serving as Deputy Communications Director and Press Secretary in the Office of Rep. Don Davis, and I could not be more proud or grateful for her service.

A Michigan native, Taylor's Midwest work ethic shines through in everything she does. From earning a Girl Scout Gold Award to graduating Magna Cum Laude from Elon University, her grit was as evident early in life as it is now on Capitol Hill.

As my Press Secretary, Taylor served as a trusted advisor and liaison to the media, using her sharp communications skills to articulate the accomplishments of our office and forge productive relationships with members of the press. Taylor brought a combination of passion, zeal, and enthusiasm to whatever task she was assigned. Her communications instincts, honed by work experience in the private and public sectors, are top notch, and I couldn't ask for a better companion to dash to an interview during a busy week.

Taylor Deacon has a rare combination of wit and patience that helps her maneuver whatever press landscape came her way. An invaluable member of my team, Taylor brought humor to a job that can often feel heavy and remained unflappable in tough situations. Her colleagues on the legislative team will always remember her skill at turning dry bill text into punchy press releases and consistently being game for a little wordplay on even the most arcane topics. Taylor has explained the difference between official and political work enough in the past year to last a lifetime and still has a bright smile for everyone she encounters. Her charm and grace--as well as her sarcasm--will be deeply missed by her colleagues.

The people of Minnesota's Third Congressional District were lucky to have her expertise and leadership, and she will be dearly missed. However, I'm extraordinarily happy that this expertise will continue to serve the Nation and the people of North Carolina's First Congressional District. I wish Taylor all the best in her future endeavors and thank her for three years of faithful service to this Nation--and many more to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Karen Hosler, a distinguished Baltimore Sun correspondent whose beats included Congress and the White House. Karen died on February 1 of this year, and it is an understatement to say that Karen lived life to its absolute fullest during her 75 years on this earth.

Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to meet Karen, but I wish that I had. Those that worked with and knew her said, ``Karen always brightened up a room with her cheerfulness, her wonderful laughter, her joy for life and her deep commitment to first-rate journalism done the right way . . . She loved reporting on politics, be it Annapolis city government, the governor and General Assembly or the White House and Congress.

Ms. Hosler earned a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1970 from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she was on the staff of The Diamondback, the campus newspaper. After college, she got her start right here in Congress working as a press aide to U.S. Senator Charles Mathias and then began covering politics for The Bowie Blade and Prince George's News. She then joined the staff in the early 1970s of what was then known as The Evening Capital in Annapolis, where she covered government, including the General Assembly and Anne Arundel County elections.

Those that knew her in the newsroom describe her as ``. . . sassy, brassy and bold . . . She had the perfect reporter's combination of skepticism of what the government officials she was covering was telling her and empathy for the people she covered . . . She asked the questions that got right to the heart of things.''

She then joined The Arundel Sun in 1977, and then went back to Annapolis, where she covered politics and state government. From 1980 to 1983, she was the paper's state political reporter and from 1983 to 1988 its Maryland correspondent.

In 1988, she was named White House correspondent where she covered the administrations of Presidents Ronald W. Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

In 2002, my colleague, Representative Steny Hoyer, included in the Congressional Record that Ms. Hosler was ``always a tough interrogator of a politician. She asked the hard questions that we didn't always like to answer, but she always got it out of us. She took her responsibility as a reporter very seriously and her readers were better off for it.''

As if her professional accomplishments were not enough, Karen completed 12 marathons including the Boston, New York and Marine Corps marathons and brought her love of running to Washington. In fact, she even ran with President Bill Clinton and described the President as ``a whole lot faster than he looks.''

In 1993, Karen became the congressional correspondent for The Sun until 1998, and its deputy Washington bureau chief from 1999 until 2002.

From 2008 until retiring in 2020, she was a WYPR talk show host, reporter and assignment editor.

She was even the subject of a PBS special, which was based on a very personal piece written by Karen.

In these times of political turmoil, it was inspiring to read Karen's story and see what it means to live a life well lived. Fair winds and following seas to Karen, and may her memory be a blessing to her husband and United States Naval Academy adjunct professor, Alan Friedman, and her brother, Richard Argy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my Director of Casework, Decontee Sawyer, for her work on behalf of every constituent in Minnesota's Third Congressional District. This week, Decontee will depart my office for a new opportunity serving as Rep. Angie Craig's Casework Director, and I could not be more proud or grateful for her service.

As Director of Casework, Decontee masterfully led my casework operations and team of caseworkers, working tirelessly for our constituents. Decontee has always gone above and beyond to advocate for constituents, lending her expertise to a wide range of cases and crises. As a true servant-leader on the front lines, she restored Americans' faith in government one passport, immigration case, tax return, and VA benefit at a time.

A St. Cloud State University graduate, Decontee was an organizer on my first campaign in 2018, before joining my congressional staff as a Constituent Advocate. Her impressive success in that role and dedication to service led me to promote her to Director of Casework in 2023. From the beginning of her time with my office, Decontee demonstrated her commitment to our ethos that ``Representation Begins with Listening'' by connecting casework to policymaking. When Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status was about to expire for the Liberian community, Decontee worked with our legislative team to introduce the bipartisan Protect Our Liberian Community Act. She and our team worked diligently on this issue until a pathway to citizenship for Liberians on DED was included in the NDAA that passed at the end of my first year in office.

Decontee has been our office ethos of ``Radical Hospitality'' personified for the past five years. She has been the heart of our casework team since our office opened--a role that allowed her to seamlessly blend her professional experiences as a mental health professional and community organizer. No case has ever proven too big or too small for Decontee; she treats every constituent with an expert blend of professionalism and compassion. She has put her effortless way of connecting with people to work building authentic connections with communities throughout Minnesota's Third District.

Decontee's positive energy, radiant smile, enthusiasm for trivia, and inclination to dance after receiving good news on behalf of a constituent will be deeply missed by her colleagues. She has been a leader in our office, never afraid to share what is on her mind and stand up for her beliefs. Decontee knows the importance of bringing joy into work that can often feel heavy. She encourages team members to have fun in their jobs and celebrate hard-fought wins, and she demonstrates genuine care for her colleagues' wellbeing.

The people of Minnesota's Third Congressional District were lucky to have her expertise and leadership, and she will be dearly missed. However, I'm extraordinarily happy that this expertise will continue to serve the nation and the people of Minnesota's Second Congressional District. I wish Decontee all the best in her future endeavors and thank her for her five years of faithful service to this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my Legislative Director, Raymond ``Trey'' Webster III, for his work done on behalf of every constituent in Minnesota's Third Congressional District. This week, Trey will depart my office for new opportunities with Rep. Susie Lee as her Legislative Director, and I could not be prouder or more grateful for his service.

As Legislative Director, Trey brought an incredible work ethic and commitment to his job, earning his spot as an honorary Minnesotan in the process. He led our legislative team with intelligence, humor, and compassion, and we will miss him greatly as he embarks on his new adventure.

A University of South Carolina and Georgetown Law graduate, Trey first came to our office in 2021 as my Legislative Counsel leading efforts in public safety, civil rights, civil liberties, and democracy preservation. A shining example of Trey's brilliant work and true adherence to our ethos that ``Representation Begins with Listening,'' came a few short months after he started. Through a series of meetings, Trey listened to local public safety stakeholders and national experts and then turned that listening into action as he wrote the Pathways to Policing Act, a bill based on a Minnesota program to ensure the recruitment of high-quality police officers across the country.

When our Legislative Director role came open in 2022, it was obvious who the correct choice should be to fill it. Right away, Trey exhibited true servant leadership and put the needs of his team above his own. He went out of his way to help staffers new to the legislative process and was endlessly patient, making his colleagues believe there was no such thing as a bad question. Trey's empathy was an asset to the office and our constituents, whether he was skillfully managing the Community Project Funding process or pushing forward district-driven legislation. As one of my staffers said, ``Trey is thoughtful and exceptionally kind. He is always willing to go above and beyond to help others on the team. He explains even the most complicated of subjects in a way that brings people along without making them feel silly for asking.''

The people of Minnesota's Third Congressional District were lucky to have his expertise and leadership, and he will be dearly missed. However, I'm extraordinarily happy that this expertise will continue to serve the Nation and the people of Nevada's Third Congressional District. I wish Trey all the best in his future endeavors and thank him for his three years of faithful service to this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my condolences to the family of Steven J. Rodvold, a lover of family, community, and photography, who passed away on October 27, 2023.

Steve was born on June 14, 1953, in Crosby, North Dakota. He spent his childhood in Fortuna and Crosby, during which he met lifelong friends, including his wife, Jeanine.

Steve valued education: after high school, he attended the North Dakota State College of Science, earned his journeymen's license, and completed a B.A. in Business Administration-Management from Minot State University, graduating summa cum laude.

In all aspects of his life, Steve was a people person. He found his career in human resources and generously gave his time as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, a Boy Scout cub den leader, and a volunteer at the Grean Plain Food Bank, among other community organizations.

Steve loved his family dearly. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jeanine, their sons Zach (Emily) and Alex (Sara), and their grandchildren, as well as siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Zach carried on Steve's legacy of giving back, serving as my District Chief of Staff for four years.

Steve's love of his family was apparent in his actions, as well as his words: on his Linkedln profile, he proudly designated for himself the job title of ``Grandpa'' for the years following his retirement. As part of this important position, Steve declared himself to be an expert at ``relaxing, reading, walking/hiking, biking, kayaking, putzing around the garage, traveling, watching movies, and whatever the hell else I feel like doing.''

Steve liked to see the good in the world, especially the beauty around him. He supported and was involved in local arts institutions. As a photographer, he captured natural beauty, from sunsets over the Badlands to the changing of the seasons. As with his other pursuits, Steve did not keep his passion to himself, actively participating in the Fargo Moorhead Camera Club.

Steve lived a fulfilled life, and the lessons of it--to give something to community, take pleasure in loved ones, and remain in awe of the beauty in the people and places around us--will certainly continue to serve as a model for those whose lives he touched. May his memory be a blessing and live on through all who knew and loved him.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.J. Res. 74, which terminates the national emergency pertaining to actions and policies that threaten the very tenuous diplomatic progress that we have achieved in Yemen.

Active American diplomacy has supported a very fragile U.N.-mediated truce, but lifting the national emergency prematurely would undermine the nascent progress that has been made over the past several years.

Sanctions are leverage. If the United States Government unilaterally, and without receiving anything in return, grants amnesty to Yemeni figures seeking to undermine the country's fragile cease-fire, we would potentially be enabling even more conflict.

The list of individuals sanctioned under the Yemen executive order is quite short, but let's take a look at some.

Mansur al-Sa'adi is a Houthi commander of Yemen's Naval and Coastal Defense Forces. He led attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea and smuggled Iranian weapons to Yemen.

Ahmed Ali Saleh is the son of former dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh. President Obama sanctioned Saleh, as he played a critical role in destabilizing the country in 2014 and 2015, and is still seeking to reignite his family's legacy of ruling the country.

Now, I could go on, but the individuals currently sanctioned under the Yemen emergency executive order are on the sanctions list for a reason. They have violated human rights and acted against American national interests, including abducting locally employed staff at the United States Embassy in Yemen.

I am a strong supporter of using diplomacy over military force to bring about a stable, long-term peace in Yemen, but let's be clear. We must use every diplomatic tool at our disposal to bring about that result. Throwing out one of the most powerful weapons in that diplomatic arsenal, economic sanctions, will not result in peace. Rather, it is much more likely to cascade Yemen into more chaos and more violence.

That is why I oppose this resolution and urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, let me say I share the sentiment of the gentleman from Arizona about engaging Congress more regularly on these issues. I would like to see Congress reassert itself on issues of foreign affairs. I think we can actually all agree on that.

However, the notion of terminating these executive orders only to return assets to terrorists and some of the worst malign actors in the world strikes me as a real threat to the United States of America, counter to the principles of Democrats and Republicans.

That is why, for the reasons that I stated in my opening remarks, I believe a termination of this national emergency will actively undermine our diplomatic efforts and further destabilize Yemen.

We cannot and must not allow people who seek to undermine Yemen and the Gulf to obtain funds that would allow them to accomplish those very ends. That is why I have opposed H.J. Res. 74, and I encourage all of my colleagues to do the same.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.J. Res. 71.

As a Gold Star son who lost his father in the Vietnam war, I understand firsthand the human cost of war. I also know my colleague from Arizona (Mr. Crane) knows that cost, as well, as a veteran of our armed services, and I honor that.

That is why, since I came to Congress, I have worked in a bipartisan fashion to repeal and replace the 2001 AUMF and have consistently supported the repeal of the 2002 Iraq war AUMF, as well. I wish we had been able to get that legislation through the Senate last Congress, but I remain hopeful that we can do so this year.

All of this is to say that I do not have a hawkish position on Iraq, but sanctions and military force are not the same thing. Again, sanctions and military force are not the same thing. Terminating the national emergency with respect to Iraq would trigger the immediate release of currently sanctioned assets of persons who the U.S. Government has determined are a threat to Iraq's stability and reform efforts, including terrorists and others who have committed acts of terrible violence.

This is not an exaggeration. Numerous Shia militia fighters and ISIS terrorists are sanctioned under the Iraq program. The Iraq executive order is reviewed every year. Perhaps it is not a surprise that the Bush administration renewed it annually, and also the Obama administration, even though President Obama formally ended the Iraq war in 2011 and ran for President in part based on his opposition to it.

The Trump administration also renewed the EO every year. Despite President Biden professing his full support of repealing the 2002 AUMF, the Biden administration also has sought to continue the Iraq sanctions program.

As Members can see from successive renewals and the ongoing situation in Iraq, these sanctions target groups and individuals that continue to operate against U.S. interests in Iraq and the region and are closely monitored on an ongoing basis.

We do not want terrorists to access funds to kill civilians and destabilize Iraq or the region, let alone target Americans overseas. It is important for our national security for these sanctions to remain in place, and I strongly urge Members of this body on both sides of the aisle to forcefully and in a bipartisan manner oppose this resolution.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, my argument is very simple: We cannot and we must not allow terrorists to obtain assets that could help them perpetuate attacks against their government, against civilians, or against Americans.

I strongly oppose H.J. Res. 71, and I urge all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same.

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