Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1664) to authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1664, introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Veasey), would authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish a monument in the District of Columbia commemorating the extraordinary acts of valor, selfless service, and sacrifice displayed by the Medal of Honor recipients.

The Medal of Honor is our country's highest military decoration, and since its creation during the Civil War, the medal has been awarded to more than 3,500 members of the armed services.

This bill would honor the unparalleled bravery and sacrifices of Medal of Honor recipients and ensure that the medal's values of courage, sacrifice, patriotism, citizenship, integrity, and commitment are shared for generations to come.

I would like to thank Representative Veasey for his leadership on this important legislation and urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Veasey).

Mr. Speaker, my colleague said it well. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2365) to extend the authority for the establishment of a commemorative work in honor of Gold Star Families, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2365, introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kim), would extend the authorization for the establishment of a commemorative work to Gold Star Mother Families until January 2, 2027.

The Gold Star Mothers Family National Monument would honor the mothers and families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service of our Nation.

The Gold Star is a widely recognized tradition that dates back to World War I when families would display service flags bearing a blue star for each family member serving abroad and a gold star for each family member who had been lost in combat.

Although this commemorative work was originally authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2013, the authorization expired in January 2020. In November 2015, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved a location for the memorial on the National Park Service property west of the Arlington National Cemetery visitor center.

Following that approval, the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission has engaged in consultation with the Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation regarding the memorial's design.

This bill would build on these efforts by extending the authorization needed to establish the monument. While we can never truly repay the debt that America owes to our Gold Star Mothers and their families, H.R. 2365 would bring us closer toward fully honoring the sacrifices that they have made.

I would like to thank Representative Kim for introducing this important legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and the Gold Star families, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2497) to establish the Amache National Historic Site in the State of Colorado as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2497, the Amache National Historic Site Act, introduced by the chair of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, my colleague from Colorado, Representative Joe Neguse.

H.R. 2497 would establish the Amache imprisonment site in southeast Colorado as a national historic site to ensure permanent protections and provide for the interpretation of the Amache site of Japanese- American incarceration.

Following the United States' entry into World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order forcibly removing more than 120,000 people, primarily of Japanese descent, to 10 remote military-style prisons across the Nation.

The Granada Relocation Center, commonly known as Amache, was one of those 10 centers and was the only one located in the State of Colorado. Although Amache was the smallest of the relocation centers, it became the tenth largest city in Colorado with more than 10,000 people passing through the camp between 1942 and 1945, nearly two-thirds of whom were American citizens.

Most had never been to Japan and most were given a week or less to leave their homes and dispose of everything they owned, everything they had worked hard to build up for themselves. This unjustifiable, horrific, and unconstitutional incarceration of Japanese Americans is, without doubt, one of the darkest chapters in our country's history.

And while these incarceration sites no longer hold prisoners, many of the wrongfully imprisoned are still with us today, even as anti-Asian rhetoric continues to permeate our country. As we continue to reckon with our Nation's painful legacy of systemic racism, it is critical that we honor and share the stories of those who came before us. It is vital that we remember and learn from their fights against injustice and for equity.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2497, and join me in working to ensure that we remember this dark time in our Nation's history so we may honor those who lived it, share their stories, and continue to heal as a country. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4300) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to make free National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes available to members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4300, the Alexander Lofgren Veterans in Parks (VIP) Act introduced by my colleague Representative Miller-Meeks from Iowa.

This bill would provide free annual America the Beautiful Passes to current military servicemembers and free lifetime America the Beautiful Passes to veterans and members of Gold Star families, ensuring that those who have sacrificed so much in the service of our Nation are able to access our national parks and public lands at no cost.

Anyone who has visited America's public lands understands the significant mental and physical health benefits of getting outside and connecting with nature. It is time that we ensure our military servicemembers, veterans, and Gold Star families are able to access these beloved places at no cost.

Although the annual America the Beautiful Pass became free for veterans and Gold Star families in 2020, the change for veterans has never been codified in law.

While we will never be able to repay the debt owed to them for their service and their sacrifice, H.R. 4300 will ensure that this benefit is protected in perpetuity and that all of our American heroes are able to recreate and find comfort and solace on the lands that they fought so hard to protect.

I would like to thank Representative Miller-Meeks for her service and for her work on this important legislation, including working with Committee on Natural Resources chair, Mr. Grijalva, to rename the bill in honor of Alexander Lofgren.

Alexander Lofgren served for 4 years in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer, including a deployment to Afghanistan. Afterwards, he served in Chair Grijalva's office as part of the Wounded Warrior Fellowship Program, handling issues and constituent casework concerning veterans' health and benefits.

As a congressional staffer and veteran, Mr. Lofgren was a great proponent for his community, veterans, and our Nation's public lands, often encouraging returning veterans to reconnect with nature to heal.

Tragically, his life was lost during a recent outing in Death Valley National Park. Our hearts go out to his family. Renaming this legislation after Mr. Lofgren is a fitting tribute to his legacy and service to our Nation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague from Iowa for her leadership on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 325) to amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, S. 325, introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, provides a 2-year extension for the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children to publish its report and make policy recommendations for Federal, State, and Tribal programs that serve Native children.

Native children experience severe health and socioeconomic disparities compared to all other racial and ethnic groups in the United States due to the cycles of intergenerational trauma. It is the Federal Government's trust responsibility to provide for the health and well-being of Native children. However, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed much of the Commission's essential work.

Passage of S. 325 will grant the Commission an extension of time and ensure that the report best addresses the needs of Native children through much-needed expertise and cultural wisdom.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished Senator from Alaska, Senator Murkowski, for introducing and championing this critically important legislation, as well as my dear friend and Committee on Natural Resources colleague, Don Young, for leading the House companion bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 325, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I, again, thank the leadership of the dean of the House, Mr. Young, on this, and Senator Murkowski for the Native children.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for being such a strong leader and getting us to where we are today.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here in support of this very important piece of bipartisan legislation, which I am leading with my good friend and colleague, Representative Fred Upton.

This is a meaningful bill that is the product of good bipartisan work by the Energy and Commerce Committee. It passed the House with strong bipartisan support in the last Congress, and it is an example that bipartisanship does exist on Capitol Hill. This bill embodies it, and today's vote will once again validate that.

PFAS chemicals are an urgent threat to public health. This class of manmade chemicals is extremely persistent in the environment and has long been linked with adverse health effects, including cancer.

These chemicals were birthed out of the Manhattan Project, and, now, nearly every American, almost every American, has PFAS coursing through their blood after generations of use of these drugs in our modern society.

The EPA has understood the risks posed by PFAS since 1998. The Defense Department has understood the risks since the 1970s. The FDA has understood the risks since the 1960s. And industry has known about the dangers for decades.

But we still do not have a strong Federal policy to combat these forever chemicals, which are a crisis. We have yet to set a national drinking water standard for PFAS that our water utilities need to meet. We have yet to designate them as hazardous substances under Superfund to jump-start cleanup. We have yet to regulate industrial discharges of PFAS into our water and our air. And we have yet to establish simple labeling that PFAS is in a product to allow consumers to protect themselves.

This can all change if we pass the PFAS Action Act.

According to the Environmental Working Group, over 200 million Americans are drinking water now contaminated with PFAS, and we are finding more and more contamination regularly. Just today, the Environmental Working Group reported that PFAS have been detected in 2,800 communities, including 2,411 drinking water systems, and at 328 military installations nationwide.

Listen to me: The Pentagon is not going to prioritize cleanup of these military sites until these chemicals are listed as the hazardous substances that they are.

I want to be clear: I love my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, but there is nothing in this bill that would ban PFAS used in drugs, medical devices, or PPE. It will not ban masks.

I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill. It is time we protect Americans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 25th anniversary of the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance, a non-profit based in Taylor, Michigan. Their over two decades of service and dedication to southeast Michigan's workers, businesses, and to the local community is worthy of commendation.

Since its founding in 1996, The Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) has helped countless Michigan residents find jobs each year. Through their partnership with local employers, hosting of job fairs and talent development programs, SEMCA has given thousands of job seekers the skills they need to succeed. Their youth programs and career planning tools have helped prepare the next generation for successful careers, and their veterans programs have ensured that those who served our country can find employment when their service is over and return home to Michigan. SEMCA has helped dozens of local businesses fill employment vacancies and has stimulated business development and encouraged entrepreneurship in our community.

SEMCA has provided Michigan residents with the skills and training they need to succeed in an ever-changing world. Those who come to SEMCA for support leave possessing the training and knowledge needed for them to get employed and begin their journey towards a lifelong career to benefit not only themselves, but their whole family. SEMCA's work has had a positive impact on the lives of thousands of Michiganders and has contributed to the economic rejuvenation of southeast Michigan, in the 12th district and beyond.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance. We are grateful for their impactful work and wish SEMCA continued success in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3003, the Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2021.

The policy choices of today will have lasting effects on the global 5G technology development of tomorrow.

This bipartisan bill, which I co-led with my fellow 5G Caucus co- chairs, Representatives Walberg, Kuster, and Johnson, would solidify United States leadership in 5G technology by encouraging interagency coordination, technical assistance, and stakeholder participation in international standard setting bodies.

We must take concrete steps to lower barriers to entry for U.S. companies and promote American competitiveness in this space.

This legislation will ensure the United States remains at the forefront of innovation in this evolving frontier by playing a central role in setting international wireless standards in emerging technologies. This approach has dramatic ramifications for our global competitiveness, 5G deployment, and our national security.

I strongly urge all my colleagues to support this important bill.

Madam Speaker, this past weekend and early this week, the people of Michigan's southeast area in the Twelfth District have experienced devastating floods. More than 7 inches fell on my hometown of Dearborn in a few hours.

But it is not new for Michiganians. We keep experiencing these once- in-a-lifetime storms every year. But that doesn't make it any different when your basements are flooded, family photos are ruined, carpets are soaked, cars can't operate, water is not running, and the power is out.

We have to do something. Our Nation's infrastructure is crumbling, and the American people deserve better.

We need to invest in our infrastructure to make communities more resilient to the impacts of the climate crisis.

On Saturday, I sent a letter to the President urging immediate FEMA assistance to our communities. I have asked the Army Corps of Engineers to begin a study to tell us what we have to do.

My constituents are dealing with so much damage and are in immediate need of essential resources. We are focused on doing everything we can to coordinate with all to help our communities. We just wish we could send the West some of our water.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding, and I share the bipartisan happiness at seeing his smiling face and good health back.

I rise in support of the rule and the underlying bill, H.R. 3684, the INVEST in America Act.

We need to invest in the infrastructure of the future, not the past. This surface transportation reauthorization legislation, along with the important package of water infrastructure and assistance outlined in this bill will make a meaningful and bold difference in the lives of Americans.

I am proud to have authored a number of provisions in this bill, but at the moment I want to specifically address the water package that is in the bill, thanks to the tireless work of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Water is a human right that no one should be denied. In this pandemic, the very first instructions before we ever wore masks, we told people to wash your hands. Yet, so many Americans didn't have access to water because the water had been turned off. Imagine living in this pandemic and not having sanitary conditions--water in a running bathroom.

This bill includes legislation that I have authored with Representatives Tlaib and Blunt Rochester, the Water Debt Relief Act, that establishes a $4 billion residential emergency relief program through EPA for public water systems to forgive any debt incurred by struggling households since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many are in our frontline communities. It would also prevent water systems from cutting off any of these households from clean water. People have a right to be able to wash their hands.

Additionally, it includes bipartisan legislation that I have co-led with Representatives Blunt Rochester, Katko, and Tlaib that would establish a permanent, long-term water assistance program to address the growing water debt crisis we have.

I thank the leadership of Chairman DeFazio and Chairman Pallone, and I urge my colleagues to support this.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Elliott's Bakery located in Trenton, Michigan, on the occasion of their 90th anniversary. Their decades spent as a mainstay of the Trenton community is worthy of commendation.

Established in 1931 by Mr. Waldo Elliott, Elliott's Bakery has been a Trenton staple for nine decades. Mr. Elliott, a Northville, Michigan native, spent 12 years in the bakery business before deciding to expand. After considering six locations, he found Trenton to be the perfect home for the new Elliott's Bakery. At the time of its founding, Trenton was a thriving residential community in need of a bakery for its residents. Elliott's was exactly what the neighborhood needed. The bakery was later owned by the Bill and Violetta Vidojevski family, who added their own special recipes to the menu.

Despite the changes in ownership, the recipes and quality of their baked goods have maintained their excellence. The current owners, Bradley and Kristine Davidson, have been committed to keeping the bakery's traditional recipes alive. Originally, the bakery provided a variety of breads and later became well-known for their desserts. The bakery's most popular items today include their Long John donuts and the raspberry-currant and butter bud cookies. Throughout their nine decades in the Trenton community, Elliott's Bakery has maintained their reputation for serving up delicious, high-quality donuts, cookies, pies, and other treats.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the 90th anniversary of Elliott's Bakery in Trenton, Michigan. Please join me in congratulating Elliott's Bakery on nine fantastic decades of business and in wishing them the best of luck in the years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Brigadier General Robert Raisch of Lathrup Village, Michigan. His lifetime of service to both Michigan and our country is worthy of commendation.

General Raisch was born December 8, 1929 in Detroit, Michigan. Following his graduation from Cranbrook High School, he attended Duke University where he majored in mechanical engineering. In 1951, Raisch was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps Reserve and began pilot training in preparation for service in the Korean War. While assigned to Marine Fighting Squadron 224 during the conflict, Raisch flew the F-9F ``Panther'' alongside fellow marines John Glenn and Ted Williams. For his heroism, Raisch was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses. In 1965, Raisch entered the ready reserve and held several key positions across the state of Michigan including Commander, Selfridge Air National Guard Base (SANGB) in Harrison Township. He retired in 1980 after nearly three decades in uniform and founded the Supersine Company, a sign manufacturing business that he would operate for more than fifty years.

As a Detroiter, Raisch was active in his community--mounting the Spirit of Detroit statue, serving as a Distinguished Clown in the Thanksgiving Parade (a role he would also take on in the Macy's Day Parade in New York City), and supporting numerous charities. His love of animals inspired him to create the Restore the Horse Foundation, which played a key role in re-establishing the Detroit Mounted Police. Raisch was a true Michigander and a proud summer resident of Mackinac Island where he directed local plays and took part in countless community events. Beloved by his family, Raisch would always point to his children Robert, Elizabeth, Laura, and Julie as his greatest achievements and his wife Susan of 67 years as his greatest love.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Brigadier General Robert Raisch. He was a bright and shining light in our community and all who knew him can attest to his selflessness, patriotism, and unwavering wit. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Loretta Cannon on the occasion of her retirement after nearly 43 years of service to the Downriver Community Conference. Her significant contributions to the Downriver community are worthy of commendation.

Ms. Cannon began working for the Downriver Community Conference in 1980, as a Switchboard Operator at the Superior Street site in Wyandotte, where she worked directly with the Conference's Employment & Training Program. Since then, she has remained a valuable employee of the Conference, serving as Administrative Assistant in the Economic Development and Brownfield Development Programs, with her latest role in the Workforce Program. A true testament to her perseverance, she earned her bachelor's degree while working full time at the Conference.

Known to coworkers and friends as someone with a warm heart and generous spirit, Ms. Cannon has always been there to help friends, family, colleagues, and even complete

strangers. Along with Paula Boase, she collected warm clothing and blankets for the homeless and hand delivered these items to those in need. With a steadfast faith and a love of family guiding her, she is a pillar of strength to all who know her. To her family at home and to her ``DCC Family'' at work, she is truly irreplaceable.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Loretta Cannon for an exemplary 4 decades of dedicated public service. She has effectively served the Downriver community and the State of Michigan in her many roles with the Downriver Community Conference. I join with Loretta's family, friends, and colleagues in extending my best wishes to her in retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize former Michigan Representative Paul Mitchell. He served Michigan's 10th District from 2017 until his retirement at the beginning of this year. After being diagnosed with Stage IV renal cancer this month, he recently underwent multiple surgeries in addition to starting immunotherapy treatment. Even though my heart hurts for Paul and his family, I know he is courageous and brave, and I know he will fight through this illness.

Representative Mitchell served on numerous committees, including on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Committee on Armed Services. As a member of Congress, Representative Mitchell was a champion for Michigan's families and small businesses, as well as a strong advocate for our armed forces and strengthening our national security.

As a colleague and a friend, Representative Mitchell has always been a man of principle and has been committed to working with others for the betterment of this nation. He's crossed party lines to work on police reform and joined the bipartisan fight to keep Michigan's Great Lakes safe and clean for all. In his last term as a Member of Congress, he notably stood up for democracy during the 2020 election even when it was an unpopular position for him to take. His bravery will be a part of his legacy.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking former Representative Paul Mitchell for his leadership and service. I join the entire Michigan delegation in sending our colleague Paul Mitchell and his family strength and love as he begins treatment and conveying our many thanks to the team at Henry Ford Health System for their continued care.

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

Captain McKeever began his career in public service as a United States Marine stationed at 29 Palms, California and later was stationed across the state of Michigan. After transferring to the Marine Corps Reserve, Captain McKeever became a member of the Dearborn Fire Department in August 1995. He continued to serve in both military and civilian firefighting capacities until 2017 when he retired from the Ohio Air National Guard with the rank of Master Sergeant.

Captain McKeever joined the Dearborn Fire Department in 1995 and was promoted to Fire Lieutenant in 2007. On June 5, 2012 he was promoted to the role of Captain. A committed leader always willing to go the extra mile for his team, he is a graduate of the Eastern Michigan University School of Fire Staff and Command. Over the course of his extensive career, Captain McKeever has been the recipient of countless awards for excellence in service including the Fire Chief Life Saving Award, Fire Officer of the Year, multiple Meritorious Company Commendations, and a 2019 Certificate of Special Recognition,

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Captain Paul McKeever for his exemplary 25 years of service. He has effectively and selflessly served the City of Dearborn in his role as Chief of the Fire Department and has been steadfastly dedicated to the safety of our community. I join with Captain McKeever's family including his wife Meryl and children Paul, Ian, Liam, Grace, and Emma, friends, and colleagues in extending my best wishes to him in retirement.