Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the University of Michigan's new President Santa J. Ono. Today, March 7, 2023, President Ono will be officially inaugurated as the 15th President of the University of Michigan.

The proud son of Japanese immigrants, President Ono was born in Canada and raised in Maryland. President Ono is a highly respected vision researcher who was educated

at the University of Chicago and McGill University, before spreading knowledge as a professor at Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University, and University College London. As a trusted expert on higher education and mental health, he has advised stakeholders in both the public and private sectors throughout his career. His influence can be felt in academia and healthcare across this country and throughout Canada.

President Ono has deep experience working in the higher education sector. Whether serving as chair of the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities, on the board of directors of the Universities Canada and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, or as past chair of Research Universities of British Columbia, he has constantly sought opportunities to educate and mentor a new generation of aspiring researchers, scientists, and doctors.

Within his first few days at The University of Michigan, President Ono has made a commitment to being available and meeting with students, faculty, and campus unions. President Ono wants to strengthen trust in the University with an emphasis on ethics and transparency. Additionally, President Ono has set out to improve the mental health programs on campus. In honest conversations and TED Talks, President Ono has been open about his mental health experiences and how his personal story guides his commitment to building access to mental health care. With his extensive experience and a strong commitment to students, President Ono will help the University of Michigan continue on the bright path ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the University of Michigan's newest President Santa J. Ono. I join with his family, friends, and colleagues in extending my best wishes to him for the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize former Congressman Fred Upton and his contributions to philanthropies throughout Michigan and across the country as he receives a well- deserved honor from the Council on Michigan Foundations this evening. Congressman Upton served his community for 36 years in the House of Representatives, and his significant contributions to our community are worthy of commendation.

Congressman Upton was born in St. Joseph, Michigan, and is a graduate of the University of Michigan. He first ran for office in 1986, and never once wavered in his commitment to the people he served. Known simply as Fred to everyone who has ever met him, he has always brought people together, and he has been one of my best friends for longer than either of us care to remember. To him, `bipartisan' and `compromise' are not forbidden words. Fred knows well that if we are going to deliver real solutions for the American people, we need to come together and listen to all perspectives, no matter how complicated the issue may be. It is because of that thinking, that he was able to get so much done in Congress.

Raised by a family with deep roots in their community, Fred spends day and night thinking of ways to support his neighbors. His family helped launch the Berrien Community Foundation as well as the Frederick S. Upton Foundation a few years later and has contributed tens of millions to charitable causes. These efforts include the creation of the Stephen E. Upton Love Your Community Endowment, which provides grants of at least $50,000 every year to local non-profit organizations supporting needs in their community. Though we lost Stephen last year, his impact will carry on through his loving wife of 71 years, Elizabeth, and his children, who like Fred, are always seeking opportunities to do the most good in his memory.

That family commitment to community always guided Fred's work in Congress. He introduced the Strength and Partnership Act of 2022 to strengthen the relationship between nonprofits and the federal government. He would spend hours on the phone or in his neighborhood talking to his constituents about how he could help them. Fred was never too busy to lend an ear or a shoulder to a neighbor in need. And even as he has retired from Congress, he will still be out in his community finding ways to serve anyone and everyone who needs a little help.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring former Congressman Fred Upton. We are grateful for his time spent serving the citizens of Southwest Michigan. I join with his family, friends, and colleagues in extending my best wishes to him for the future.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition of H.R. 185.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport is a leading international hub with over 1,100 flights daily to and from four continents. Every year, the airport welcomes more than 36 million passengers from across the world.

Southeast Michigan was hit hard by the coronavirus, and orders like the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for global travelers entering the United States helped mitigate its further spread into our communities.

Our nation is entering a new phase of our recovery, but COVID-19 remains a real public health threat. The emergence of new variants globally continues to put our own nation at risk.

That's why legislation we are considering today is misguided. These decisions must be rooted in science and made by our Nation's leading public health experts, not politicians.

We know the best way to defeat this pandemic is for people within the United States and around the world to get vaccinated, and this legislation is contrary to this goal.

I urge all my colleagues to oppose this measure,

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Charles Simpson on the occasion of his retirement from the Dearborn Fire Department after almost 25 years of service to the City of Dearborn, Michigan. His significant service to our community is worthy of commendation.

Captain Simpson joined the Dearborn Fire Department in 1998 and that same year received the Fire Chief Life Saving Award. He consistently moved up the ranks of the Department, being promoted to Fire Engineer in 2007, Lieutenant in 2012, and finally Captain in 2017. Captain Simpson's dedication to duty is evident in earning a Perfect Attendance award 3 times in his career, as well as completing the Rope Rescue Operations training in 2016. Over the course of his extensive career, Captain Simpson has been the recipient of countless awards for excellence in service including the Fire Chief Life Saving Award, Fire Chief Unit Commendation, multiple Meritorious Company Commendations, Fire Chief Company Citation, and the John D. Dingell Medal of Freedom Memorial Commendation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Captain Charles Simpson for his exemplary 25 years of service. He has selflessly served the City of Dearborn in his role as a Captain of the Fire Department and has been steadfastly dedicated to the safety of our community. I join with Captain Simpson's family, friends, and colleagues in extending my best wishes to him in retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Arianne Slay of Ann Arbor, Michigan, on the occasion of her investiture as a judge of the 22nd Circuit Court of

Washtenaw County. Having won the faith and trust of her fellow citizens in our most recent elections, Arianne is set to be a fantastic addition to the 22nd Circuit Court. Her contributions to Washtenaw County and the city of Ann Arbor are worthy of commendation.

Arianne is a native of Ann Arbor, having graduated from Pioneer High School. Raised by two municipal employees, a love of community and dedication to her city was imbued in her from the very beginning. Though she left us for a while to study at Michigan State University in East Lansing, she came back to us with a bachelor's and juris doctor degree, ready to get to work.

Arianne began her career of service in 2005 when she joined Community Corrections as a program manager. After years of dedication, she reached the position of Washtenaw County Prosecuting Attorney. For the last 5 years, Arianne has served as a Deputy City Attorney for the city of Ann Arbor where she worked on municipal matters and criminal justice reform.

Arianne is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Washtenaw County Bar Association. She is also a member of the Woman Lawyers Association of Michigan, Black Woman Lawyers of Michigan, and the NAACP--Ann Arbor Chapter. Prior to taking the bench, she was also the co-chair of the Bias Awareness Committee of the Washtenaw County Bar Association.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring Judge Arianne Slay on the occasion of her investiture to Washtenaw County's 22nd Circuit Court. While on the bench, she will ensure that members of our community of all races, genders, religions, and sexual orientations will have equal access to our judicial system. This is a culmination of her hard work and dedication to her community, and I wish her the best as she takes on this new role.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and legacy of Bobby Silverstein. a devoted public servant who made monumental progress advancing disability rights. Over the span of a career serving both chambers of Congress, Bobby worked behind the scenes to deliver countless wins for the disability community. Notably, he played a pivotal role in the development and enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act during his time serving as staff director and chief counsel for Senator Harkin's Disability Policy Subcommittee.

Every person deserves to live and age with dignity, and this was a principal Bobby committed himself to every day. Bobby will be remembered for his compassion, track record of success, and passion for giving a voice to those who feel forgotten, and these sentiments are shared by his colleague and friend, Peter Thomas, who spoke at Bobby's memorial service. In honor of Bobby, I include in the Record Peter's speech.

Remarks of Peter W. Thomas at Bobby Silverstein's Memorial Service

Like the bright sun on this crisp fall afternoon, Bobby

Silverstein shines his light on us today.

Good afternoon. I'm Peter Thomas, Managing Partner of

Powers law firm in Washington, DC.

If the measure of a person's life is the number who mourn

his or her passing, then Bobby Silverstein knocked life out

of the park.

There are no words to express the depth of loss we all

feel. I usually take Bobby's lead and try to speak

diplomatically, rather than bluntly. but you can't sugarcoat

this. Bobby's untimely passing is a dagger. It's a gut punch

that will be felt for a long time to come.

But we would not have learned from Bobby if we did not

focus on the positive. The impact his life had on so many.

The love he spread throughout his life and the fact that we

are all better off for knowing him.

As we approach Thanksgiving, let us recognize those who can

be thankful for Bobby Silverstein and all he did to improve

the lives of people with disabilities:

1. If you have a child with an intellectual or

developmental disability (IDD), think about thanking Bobby.

2. If someone you know needed special education and an

individualized education plan (IEP), think about thanking

Bobby.

3. If you can access public services and transportation

despite your disability, think about thanking Bobby.

4. If you are employed as a person with a disability, Bobby

probably deserves your thanks.

5. If you benefitted from research on rehabilitation,

disability, and independent living, thank Bobby Silverstein.

6. If you are relying on this interpreter or using closed

captioning on this livestream, Bobby played a role and is

worthy of thanks.

7. I could go on, but the magnitude of the positive impact

Bobby had on our lives is truly astounding.

Bobby was my partner at Powers' health care and disability

practice for the past 15 years. What an honor and privilege

it is to have shared his space on this earth; to have shared

a front-row seat in his work on behalf of the people he

devoted his professional life to; individuals with

disabilities.

I first met Bobby in 1989 while I was in law school trying

to pass legislation to establish a prosthetics research

program to help people with limb loss, like myself. Bobby was

working for Senator Tom Harkin's Disability Policy

Subcommittee as staff director and chief counsel. I was no

one, and I was very nervous.

Bobby was gracious but serious and direct. He told me the

Claude Pepper Act for Amputees, as the bill was known, had

little chance of passing because it was ``not integrated into

the disability policy framework.'' That probably sounds

familiar to some of you but I scratched my head. He said he

could not be supportive of legislation to help amputees alone

at the exclusion of others with disabilities in similar

circumstances.

Long story short, in the end, and with much help from

Bobby, the bill enacted into law the following year created

the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research

(NCMRR) at NIH. The center's mission is medical

rehabilitation research writ large, but the law includes

specific mention of prosthetics research and development. The

center has been a major funder of prosthetics research for

over 30 years which, of course, accomplished the original

goal of the Claude Pepper bill but did it in a way that was,

in fact, integrated into the disability policy framework.

I learned a great deal from that experience that I have put

to use throughout my career, and in life. I know many others

who have had the same experience when they came into Bobby's

orbit.

In fact, one of Bobby's most blessed gifts was to those who

sought his guidance. Bobby was an exceptional mentor to those

with and

without disabilities. I am so grateful that the health care

associates and young professionals in my firm got the

opportunity to hear from Bobby just one week before he passed

away.

Bobby presented virtually to the Powers health care group

on the ``Art of Negotiation'' and imparted years of wisdom on

the younger members of the Powers Team. Bobby was his old

self, methodically presenting his well-prepared remarks,

highlighting his points with examples of bill negotiations

from his Senate days, and laying out his process which relied

heavily on preparation.

I took a look at some of Bobby's binders over the past few

days and could not believe what I saw. Well-organized,

tabbed, color-coded, and dog-eared for sure, but each page is

full of comments in the margins, underlined words, double

underlines, circled words, pencil, pen highlighter, sticky

notes, stars, exclamation points! Double explanation points!!

He sucked the pulp off those pages. It was an exercise in

aggressive reading!

His dedication, passion, and clarity of focus left me awe-

struck. Those were not the work papers of a casual lawyer.

Bobby was no 9-to-5er. He was most fulfilled after a full

weekend of work, producing a 12-page, single-spaced memo and

seeking review and substantive comment; before 12:00 Noon on

Monday.

Bobby was the consummate professional who lived and

breathed disability policy. As he said many times, Bobby

considered his work to be his therapy, even in his final

hours.

His list of accomplishments is remarkable: The Wharton

School at the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown

University Law Center, cutting his teeth at a public interest

law firm, House committee staff, Senate Disability Policy

Chief Counsel and Staff Director, Director of the Center for

the Study and Advancement of Disability Policy, and mediator

for the U.S. Appellate Court in Washington, DC--all before

settling into the last 15 years of his career at Powers law.

His awards are too numerous to mention. While he accepted

them graciously, his beloved wife Lynne tells me that he

housed them in his closet. And that's really all you need to

know about Bobby Silverstein.

Bobby never sought the limelight. He never craved credit.

They say ``Success has many parents and failure is an

orphan.'' There are many who can legitimately claim playing a

key role in enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act

(ADA) of 1990, some of whom will speak after me, but Bobby

went out of his way to stay behind-the-scenes: To do the

heavy lifting; the principled negotiation; always with a goal

of getting to ``yes.'' And his track record demonstrates his

effectiveness: Twenty federal laws impacting people with

disabilities, all bipartisan and all based on consensus. It

is an incredible legacy to leave behind.

In the past few days, I have heard from literally hundreds

of Bobby's colleagues and friends expressing their

sentiments:

1. A genuine, kind, and humble man

2. An endless fountain of good humor and optimism

3. One of a kind; he has no equal

4. Such a force and a relentless advocate

5. Uncompromising defender of what is right and true

6. Thorough and analytical yet thoughtful and compassionate

7. A selfless mentor to anyone in need of guidance

8. A visionary, yet practical

9. Tough but warm, and always the voice of reason Case in

point: When Bobby told a room full of leaders that their

theory was ``preposterous''--We were all thinking it, but he

was the only one brave enough to say it!

10. A giant in the disability community

For me personally, I will miss Bobby painfully in our

internal policy debates, our advocacy on behalf of people

with disabilities, and on our weekly Legislative Practice

calls. But mostly, I will just miss my friend.

Bobby was the most positive person I have ever known and I

will always be grateful for the time we spent together. For

that, let me say thank you, Bobby. Thank you so very much.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Lucas for yielding.

Ranking Member Lucas, I thank you for all of your hard work on this. I agree with you. The scientific process should be respected and used to inform and direct policymaking to effectively protect human health and our environment.

While it may take time to continue to develop the science around many of the lesser known PFAS compounds, a great deal of science has already been completed and known for years on the most notorious PFAS compounds.

With respect to this bill, the PFAS Act would help protect the health and safety of firefighters, emergency responders, and the communities they serve from these harmful chemicals by developing guidance--not bans--for firefighters and other emergency response personnel on training, education programs, and best practices to protect them from exposure to harmful PFAS and to prevent its release into the environment.

Emergency response teams are frequently exposed to harmful PFAS in firefighting foams and personal protective equipment as they work to keep their communities safe. It is important that we act on behalf of our first responders to mitigate their exposure to these harmful PFAS chemicals and prevent environmental releases while the scientific work must continue, and we gain a full understanding of the effects of all PFAS compounds.

Again, I thank Ranking Member Lucas for continuing to work with us on this important legislation. We wouldn't be here without the gentleman today. It will make a meaningful difference for long-term first responders, their families, and the communities they serve.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 231, the Protecting Firefighters From Adverse Substances Act, or the PFAS Act.

I am proud to stand here today in support of this important bipartisan legislation to protect our first responders from forever chemicals, which I am co-leading with my friend and colleague, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick.

This is a significant bill that has already passed the Senate with unanimous consent and bipartisan support thanks to the leadership of Senator Gary Peters.

The PFAS Act would simply direct the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other Federal agencies to provide important guidance for Federal, State, and local firefighters on training and best practices to reduce, limit, and prevent exposure to PFAS from firefighting foam and turnout gear, as well as provide resources that identify alternatives for firefighting tools and equipment that do not contain harmful PFAS.

Today, by supporting this bill, the House can continue to take bold action, once again, to address the PFAS crisis--this time to protect our firefighters.

Forever chemicals are an urgent threat to public health and, specifically, our firefighters who are on the front line. Emergency response teams

are frequently exposed to harmful PFAS in firefighting foams and personal protective equipment as they work to keep our communities safe.

These manmade chemicals--but specifically the two most notoriously harmful chemicals, PFOA and PFOS--are extremely persistent in the environment, as well, as a result of its use during fire training exercises and real-world emergency response situations. PFAS chemicals are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. These chemicals have been linked to harmful human health effects, including cancer, reproductive and developmental harms, and weaken immune systems.

Nearly every American has some level of PFAS coursing through their blood today.

This important bill is supported by the International Association of Fire Fighters, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Volunteer Fire Council, and first responders all across this country.

We must get this important, commonsense, and bipartisan legislation to the President's desk without delay to protect our firefighters and the communities they serve.

Finally, I thank leadership for bringing the PFAS Act to the floor under suspension today. I express a special thanks to Chair Eddie Bernice Johnson and Ranking Member Frank Lucas--who has really worked with me closely on this--and each of their staff for continuing to work with me to advance this critically important bill to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this PFAS Act. This is an important bipartisan and meaningful bill to protect the health and safety of our first responders from harmful PFAS in the line of duty.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the very distinguished chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, who understands so many of these issues.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 7903, legislation to designate the VA clinic in Canton, Michigan, as the Major General Oliver Dillard VA Outpatient Clinic.

I thank my colleague, Haley Stevens, for her leadership and for listening to all the veterans and getting this piece of legislation to the floor today. She has listened to them. We will shortly share this facility. It will be in my district, but the veterans will live in both of our districts.

The recent opening of a new community-based outpatient clinic in Canton reaffirms our commitment to Michigan veterans so that they can access the care and support that they need closer to home. It will serve many veterans in southeast Michigan.

This legislation would rename the Canton CBOC in honor of Major General Oliver W. Dillard, a veteran and a trailblazer who served the Nation for 34 years.

After being drafted to Germany to serve in World War II, Major General Dillard went on to be the first Black officer to graduate from the National War College. Throughout his esteemed career, he earned nine military awards and two civilian medals.

Major General Dillard retired from military service in 1980 and resided in Canton, Michigan, until he passed. The veterans themselves from this community and beyond wanted this center to be named after him.

I am so proud to have worked on this important bipartisan legislation with my colleague, Representative Stevens. I urge all of my colleagues to support it.

My colleague and I were there when it had the soft opening. If you could have seen his family and his colleagues, the veterans he served with, with tears in their eyes, you would know why this has meaning.

I thank the Michigan delegation for supporting this effort, and I thank leadership for advancing this to the floor.

Naming the Canton clinic after Major General Dillard means his story and life will continue to inspire generations to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 30th anniversary of the Estee Lauder Companies' Breast Cancer Campaign, a co-founder of pink ribbon. Their years of service to breast cancer research, treatment, and screening are worthy of commendation.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women. According to the CDC, about 264,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women and about 2,400 in men every year in the United States. Nearly 42,000 women and 500 men in the U.S. die each year from breast cancer. Unfortunately, incidences of breast cancer disproportionately affect Black and Hispanic women.

Over the course of the past three decades, the Estee Lauder Companies' Breast Cancer Campaign has become a pillar in the breast cancer community. From funding critical medical resources, services, and centers for those impacted by breast cancer, the program continues to actively seek out opportunities to help individuals connect with life-saving screenings and mammograms. They are at the forefront of this effort, advancing the conversations on the importance of breast health education and early detection by facilitating discussions between the breast cancer community, medical experts, and key leaders.

Three decades ago, breast cancer was a taboo topic. For people experiencing the difficulties of a breast cancer diagnosis and undergoing treatment, there was little discussion and understating of what care was needed for them. The pink ribbon changed all that. It brought breast cancer to the public eye and allowed for further public discussion. The now iconic pink ribbon was introduced to be a visual representation of this empowerment, it symbolizes strength, unity, and hope. Millions of survivors and their advocates wear this today.

The Estee Lauder Companies' Breast Cancer Campaign has funded more than $108 million for lifesaving global research, education, and medical services, including $86 million funding medical research grants through the Breast Cancer Research Foundation that fuels research across the entire spectrum of the disease. Their work has been critical in getting us one step closer to our shared goal of a breast cancer- free world.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Estee Lauder Companies' Breast Cancer Campaign. We are grateful for their decades of impactful work and wish the campaign continued success in the years ahead.

Madam Speaker, as Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, I rise today to recognize an individual that has made significant contributions to our nation's fish and wildlife conservation efforts, as well as America's longstanding outdoor traditions. This individual is also the inaugural recipient of an award named after members of this body that have made lasting and significant contributions to our nation's outdoor heritage.

Robert ``Bob'' Model was born in Greenwich, Connecticut in 1942 to Faith Rockefeller Model and Belgian Jean Model. Model attended The Browning School in New York and then graduated from Elon College in Elon, North Carolina in 1967. Bob and his wife, Mona, now live in Cody, Wyoming where he is a rancher, outfitter, and businessman, as well as a hunter, conservationist, philanthropist, and active participant in wildlife conservation.

Bob has long been a champion of private lands in sustaining our public wildlife resources and of the need to improve sportsman and landowner relations. On his Mooncrest Ranch, Bob has actively worked to enhance wildlife habitat on both private and public lands. In an ongoing partnership with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Shoshone National Forest, Bob has successfully grown a non-migratory elk herd in the Rattlesnake Mountain and Trout Creek Basin area from 250 elk to well over 2,000 since the mid 1970s. The herd is maintaining their population in very difficult circumstances, including wildfires and drought. In addition, the Mooncrest Ranch provides several hundred days annually of free public access for big game hunting.

While Bob is an excellent steward of the land, his most noteworthy contributions to wildlife conservation in Wyoming and throughout the country are in the public policy arena at the national level. Bob is a member, past president, and chairman of the Boone and Crockett Club. During Bob's tenure as president, he was a leader in re-establishing the Club's historic role as one of the premiere conservation organizations promoting hunter ethics and advancing national policy on wildlife conservation and hunting heritage. As a well-read historian, Bob understands, believes, practices, and even preaches the conservation

philosophy of Theodore Roosevelt and George Bird Grinnell who were founders of the Boone and Crockett Club. As a Boone and Crockett member, Bob has personally provided major support for Boone and Crockett endowed professorships at the University of Montana, Oregon State University, and Texas A&M. Bob has also been an advocate for professional wildlife management with a long tenure on the Board of Directors for the Wildlife Management Institute, including a stint as Chairman. He was a founder and past chairman of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP) which is a coalition of over forty of America's most respected hunter/conservation organizations that meet to discuss and take action on the most important conservation issues facing our country. The AWCP has developed and forwarded a conservation vision to the Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden Administrations and works actively with administration officials to implement the necessary policy revisions.

During the George W. Bush Administration, Bob was a member and chairman of the Sporting Conservation Council and served as a member of the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council during the Obama Administration. Bob is also a founder and board member of the National Conservation Leadership Institute in Shepherdstown, WV, a joint endeavor between state and federal wildlife agencies, private conservation organizations, and natural resource industry to provide world-class leadership training to the next generation of conservation executives.

Bob has also been instrumental in the founding and growth of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, the largest bipartisan, bicameral caucus in the United States Congress, bringing together members with professed support for hunting, fishing, and professional wildlife management. Since the Caucus's founding in 1988, Bob has remained active and involved through his support of numerous Caucus initiatives and his many contributions to the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, including his nearly two decades of service on the Foundation Board of Directors, including a term as Chairman of the Board.

In recognition of Mr. Model's service to conservation--both on-the ground and in the policy arena--Mr. Model has been chosen as the inaugural recipient of the Dingell-Young Sportsmen's Legacy Award, a fitting tribute to an individual whose life has epitomized dedication to America's outdoor heritage.

Named in recognition of the Dingell family--Congressmen John D. Dingell, Sr. and my husband, John D. Dingell, Jr.--and my good friend, the late Congressman Don Young, the Dingell-Young Sportsmen's Legacy Award is a fitting tribute for Mr. Model. Each day as Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, I think about the award's namesake patrons. Like them, Mr. Model's contributions were built upon a commitment to never allowing partisan politics to cloud his love of the great outdoors and his commitment to the time-honored traditions of hunting and fishing.

In closing, I want to thank Mr. Model for his many contributions to America's outdoor heritage and congratulate him for the well-deserved recognition as the first ever recipient of the Dingell-Young Sportsmen's Legacy Award.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ford Motor Company's luxury vehicle division Lincoln on the occasion of their 100th Anniversary. Their century of success is worthy of commendation.

In 1922, Henry Ford's son Edsel Ford bought the Lincoln Motor Company headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, with the goal of manufacturing luxury cars. Throughout the years, the Lincoln Motor Company has grown to become one of the top luxury vehicle brands. Lincoln's cars are nationally recognized for their elegance and have been the car of choice for many prominent figures such as President Calvin Coolidge and several other United States Presidents. The first to debut features such as center-opening coach doors, electric gauges, keyless entry, and symphonic chimes, Lincoln's new innovations have made a significant impact on the automotive industry.

To celebrate their 100 years of success, Lincoln is launching a year- long collection of events worldwide. As part of their celebration, Lincoln's cars will also be featured at the 71st Pebble Beach Concours d' Elegance in California, where the brand's iconic designs dating back to 1922 will be put on public display, and they will unveil their vision for their second century of operation. Looking ahead to a cleaner future, Lincoln is also reimagining their brand in the 21st century by shifting their focus toward vehicle electrification and service connections. By 2030, Lincoln plans to have a fully electric global portfolio supported by their new zero-emission Lincoln Star Concept.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Lincoln as they celebrate 100 years of excellence. We are grateful for their decades of service to our community, and wish Lincoln continued success in the years ahead.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Inflation Reduction Act. This landmark package is finally on the House floor after over a year of hard work and rolling up our sleeves.

This bill will serve all Americans by bringing down energy and health costs, reversing inflation, reducing the deficit, cleaning up our environment, and sparking a new, clean energy economy. It is responsibly paid for, and middle-class families will not see any increased taxes.

This is a defining moment for tackling the climate crisis. This bold legislation represents the single largest investment in clean energy, environmental justice, and climate actions in American history, including the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and increased investments in both the ATVM loan program, and the Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grant program, based on legislation I helped write.

The automotive industry is fully committed to going electric. While this legislation may pose some challenges in the short term, it will strengthen the long-term trajectory of the automotive industry, our domestic supply chains, and American manufacturing.

It is bringing jobs home, strengthening our supply chain, and reducing our dependency on foreign manufacturing.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Inflation Reduction Act we are considering today and would like to speak specifically to the inclusion of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which is based on important legislation I authored to address the climate crisis.

The Inflation Reduction Act appropriates $27 billion to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finance climate specific projects that will reduce carbon emissions, which will be dispensed through the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Fund. The GHG Reduction Fund is the product of more than 13 years of legislative effort by numerous members of the House and Senate and provides resources to fulfill the vision and mission of this legislative effort to capitalize a national climate bank that will support a swift transition to an equitable, clean-energy economy,

In the House, the GHG Reduction Fund is based on H.R. 806, the Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator Act. I introduced this important legislation to provide the maximum funding possible to and capitalize a single independent, non-profit national financing institution (``NNFI'')--the first ever national green bank--that would in turn make its financial and technical resources available to communities across the country. It is our hope, as the administration implements the GHG Reduction Fund, it will consider the benefits and structure of the Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator Act.

It is our hope the Environmental Protection Agency would make awards through the GHG Reduction Fund to capitalize a single NNFI, as intended under the Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator Act, and for that NNFI to use that capitalization funding to leverage private investment in amounts several times greater than the initial public investment. Once capitalized, the bill requires the entity to make direct investments into qualified projects at the national, regional, state, and local levels and, importantly, to make indirect investments into such projects by providing financial and technical assistance to an open, inclusive, and ever-expanding network of state and local nonprofit financial institutions--including existing and newly established green banks and community development finance institutions--that are committed to making investments in the products that will compose the clean power platform on which the economy must run.

The GHG Reduction Fund makes an historic investment into low income and disadvantaged communities as well, mandating that at least 40 percent of the over $20 billion be used to benefit qualified projects and the financing entities that support qualified projects within these communities, but we expect that the full investment in these communities will be far larger through leverage and investments from the remainder of the Fund.

The GHG Reduction Fund, and the American people, would benefit most and achieve its purpose most effectively through the capitalization of a single independent NNFI, as originally intended in the Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator Act. A single independent NNFI will not be limited by any jurisdictional boundary--no community is beyond its reach. Therefore, the NNFI approach could directly invest in qualified projects anywhere in the United States that would otherwise lack funding. In addition, the NNFI approach can indirectly invest in any community by providing the funding and technical assistance necessary to establish new financial institutions and further capitalize and strengthen existing ones. The NNFI would grow a diverse, open, and inclusive network of state and local green banks and other mission driven financing entities.

Capitalizing a single independent NNFI at scale, through the GHG Reduction Fund, would also enable public investment to be leveraged more efficiently which, in turn, drives much greater private capital investment in qualified projects, whether at the national, regional, state, or local level. And the Inflation Reduction Act requires the entity to ``retain, manage, recycle, and monetize all repayments and other revenue'' generated using the capitalization grant. We count on EPA to assure that the NNFI will be subject to the appropriate regulations and requirements that would apply to similar non-profit institutions that have been capitalized with federal or nonfederal dollars. At the same time, the relationship between EPA and the single independent nonprofit national financing institution should be designed to preserve its operational flexibility and ability to respond quickly to market conditions to execute with the speed that the climate crisis demands.

Finally, the Inflation Reduction Act sets a 180-day period for EPA to complete all these steps: establish the GHG Reduction Fund, issue a grant solicitation, award capitalization grants, and disburse the funds. These aggressive deadlines were established because the GHG Reduction Fund cannot achieve its purpose unless the full amount of funds appropriated to this program are put into use through a NNFI approach immediately. Disbursing all the funds within 180 days though a single independent NNFI, as originally intended under the Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator Act will ensure that we can expeditiously address the urgent threat of catastrophic climate change, in an equitable manner, on day 181. A swift disbursement of the maximum funding amount possible will allow the climate bank to leverage more private financing--thereby ensuring our public investment has a far reaching impact.

The impacts of climate change have created an emergency situation that poses a substantial danger to the health and safety of the American public, and the award and disbursement of the maximum amount of funds appropriated to the GHG Reduction Fund cannot be delayed. We recognize that the timeline will require EPA, at every step in the grant process, to evaluate approaches that can reduce the amount of time that it would otherwise take to complete that step--and it is our intention that EPA will utilize all legally-authorized strategies that are necessary to ensure the full amount of the funding is disbursed on time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Ypsilanti Senior Center for the 60th anniversary of their founding. Their decades of service to the Ypsilanti community are worthy of commendation.

Since December of 1962, the Ypsilanti Senior Center has been providing crucial services to the seniors in our community like opportunities for safe and structured recreation, lunches to order, as well as education in technology. The Center also provides a place in the community for friendship, socializing, and networking. With all that it provides, the Center has truly become a home away from home for our seniors.

Under the leadership of Director Monica Prince, the Ypsilanti Senior Center was able to continue its important work during the depths of the pandemic. They switched over to a frozen meal pickup, maintaining a service that is essential to those who cannot provide for themselves. Partnering with our Washtenaw Community College, fitness classes were taken online to make sure that our seniors could continue to access them. Despite being isolated, our seniors were able to maintain that feeling of community that the Senior Center provides.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Ypsilanti Senior Center for 6 decades of exemplary service to the seniors in the Ypsilanti community. I extend my gratitude to all the workers and volunteers that have provided comfort and joy to those who laid the foundation for future generations to grow and prosper.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Elina Zilberberg, a resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan, for her 25 years of service with the Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County. Her contributions to our community are worthy of commendation.

Born in Baku, Azerbaijan in the former Soviet Union, Elina immigrated to the Detroit area with her parents as a refugee in 1979. This experience sparked a deep interest in refugee advocacy, leading Elina to begin her career as a resettlement case worker in Metro Detroit after earning a B.A. in Business Administration from Wayne State University. In the years since, Elina has dedicated her professional career to supporting others as they navigate the same challenging journey her family experienced decades ago.

From her humble beginnings as JFS's first employee in October 1997, Elina has become a pillar of the organization. She now serves as their Chief Operating Officer and is involved in coordinating employment services, the English as a Second Language program, and transportation services. As COO, she oversees HR, facilities management, as well as purchasing. Her leadership has been instrumental to the enormous growth that JFS of Washtenaw County has experienced over the last 25 years.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues today to join me in celebrating Elina Zilberberg. I join with our community to thank her for her tireless work in helping other families prosper and achieve the American Dream. I am proud to honor her work and the impact she has made on our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and legacy of Weston Vivian. His contributions to the Ann Arbor community and the nation are worthy of commendation.

Weston was born in Newfoundland in 1924, but grew up in Rhode Island after moving to the United States at the age of five. He enlisted in the Navy V-12 College Training Program, which enabled him to earn his bachelor's degree and master's degree in electrical engineering. After attending Union College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, his education culminated with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1959. While working toward his Ph.D., Weston was involved in many tech start-ups as well as research and lecturing at the University of Michigan. He was also the Chairman of the Ann Arbor City Democratic Committee from 1959 to 1961.

After establishing himself as a dedicated leader within the Ann Arbor community, Weston was the first professional engineer elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1964. Throughout his term, Weston immersed himself in several landmark movements. In February 1965, he traveled to Selma, Alabama with a congressional delegation to meet with Martin Luther King, Jr. Even in just one term, he worked closely with my husband, John Dingell, to pass the Voting Rights Act and the Social Security Amendments, eventually leading to the creation of Medicare and Medicaid.

Weston will be remembered as a dedicated public servant who committed his life to making Michigan a better place. Even after leaving Congress, Weston remained active in bettering his community. He volunteered his time working to advance science and technology, served as a faculty member at the University of Michigan, and served on the Michigan Transportation Commission from 1978 to 1987. He routinely participated in the Ann Arbor Independence Day Parade and Ann Arbor Art Fair, and he spent his free time sailing across the Great Lakes. After moving out of his house and into a senior living center in 2011, his home was converted into the Ann Arbor Area Nature Preserve office--a testament to his appreciation of our great outdoors.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the life of Weston Vivian and extending my heartfelt condolences to his surviving family. I am proud to honor his legacy as a talented educator, scientist, and devoted public servant.