Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of First Sergeant Wallace Green, Jr.

Mr. Green joined the United States Marine Corps on January 10, 1947 and served for 22 years until August 31, 1968. During the Korea Conflict he served from May 1952 to June 1953 with B Co. 1st Bn. 1st Mar. Div as a section leader in the Machine gun Platoon. FMF Rein. On July 7, 1953, he married the love of his life, Mildred Simpson. In March 1965, he served in Vietnam with C Co. 1st Bn. 3rd MAR. 3RD Mar. Div. as 1st platoon leader.

After his service in Vietnam, he was assigned to 2nd Marine Air Wing as a counselor for those confined in the Base Brig. Once he was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant, he was reassigned as the Non- Commissioned Officers School, First Sergeant. Then in April of 1967 he received orders to O.C.S. Basic School as the First Sergeant of Company E in Quantico, Va. At the end of the training period, he stayed at MCB Quantico as the First Sergeant. of Hq. Co. Service Bn. until his retirement in August of 1968.

Upon retirement, Mr. Green joined the Postal Service as a clerk and enrolled into Tidewater Community College's Portsmouth, Virginia Campus. After graduating, he transferred to Old Dominion University and received a B.S. in Elementary Education and Special Education. Soon after, in February of 1974, Norfolk Public School hired him as teacher. He later attended the University of George Washington, where he received a Master of Art Degree in Education in 1978. In 1991 he received a Master of Divinity Degree from Richmond Virginia Seminary, and in 1995 he retired from the Norfolk Public Schools after 21 years of faithful service to his community.

Mr. Green was a devoted Christian and served as a bible school teacher at his church for many years. Mr. Green considered his son, Kendall Green, as one of his greatest achievements in life.

A Montford Point Marine, Mr. Green became one of the first Black Marines in the country, putting his life on the line during a time of immense racial strife, division, and war. He received the Congressional Gold Medal when Montford Point Marines were awarded the honor in 2012.

Mr. Green is an American hero. His selflessness, perseverance, and commitment to serving others will continue to inspire generations across the country. The United States and Coastal Virginia are better off because of First Sergeant Green, and we will miss him dearly.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Leo Virginius Williams, Jr.

Born on April 14, 1926, to the late Bessie and Leo V. Williams, Sr., Leo Williams was a Norfolk native and a 1943 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School. He was also a 1951 graduate of Norfolk Division of Virginia State College, a 1953 graduate of Virginia State University, and a 1963 graduate of the University of Virginia.

Mr. Williams served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946 as a Pharmacist Mate Third Class before beginning college. He was among the first African Americans in the U.S. Navy to serve in the Medical Corps and among the first African Americans to receive a graduate degree from the University of Virginia.

Following his graduation from Virginia State University, Mr. Williams began his career as an educator teaching math and business at Ruffner Middle School. He also served as the principal at Titustown, Robert E. Lee, and Oceanair Elementary Schools. Robert E. Lee was one of the first integrated schools for staff members in 1963, and Oceanair Elementary School was one of the first to have an African American principal. Leo's calm spirit and commitment to educating our students demonstrated a level of excellence quickly noted by the community and his superiors.

From 1967 to 1969, Mr. Williams served as the Assistant Director of the Norfolk Model Cities Program as a representative from the Norfolk School Board. He was promoted to Assistant Director of Pupil Personnel in Norfolk Public Schools (NPS). With this promotion, he became the first African American to serve on the Urban Assistance Incentive Fund Advisory Committee appointed by Former Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr. In 1971, Mr. Williams became the Director of Pupil Personnel for the Norfolk School Board. He was also the first African American to serve in this role and was appointed to serve on the Urban Assistance Incentive Fund Advisory Committee by Former Governor Linwood Holton.

Mr. Williams retired in 1995 with more than 40 years of service to NPS. In 1998, he became an adjunct professor at Norfolk State University, where he taught school law and school community relations at the graduate level. In 2010, he returned to Norfolk Public Schools, where he remained until 2016. He retired again in 2016 at the tender age of 90 after years of service to our community.

Mr. Williams' commitment to our children and improving our education system is inspiring. I am proud to honor and recognize his leadership and legacy. Coastal Virginia is a better place because of him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as we approach the conclusion of the 117th Congress and as I near the end of my service in this esteemed body.

As I reflect on the multitude of challenges this Nation and the world has faced over these 4 short years and those that lie ahead, I thank my colleagues and our leadership for the seriousness and dedication with which they have tackled these challenging issues.

I thank my staff in Washington who are here and those in our three district offices for their tireless dedication to the people of Virginia's Second District. They have assisted so many who needed a helping hand--everyone from farmers to shipbuilders across coastal Virginia.

I thank my family: my husband, Robert, and my daughter, Violet. I couldn't have been here and served the district and the people of Virginia without them.

I also want to acknowledge the strength and the bond of the class of 2018. They have been amazing colleagues and true friends, and I know that they will continue to be leaders and focus on improving our country for the next generation.

We entered Congress under a partial government shutdown which was a legacy of a protracted battle of how to fund security at our southern border--a 35-day lapse in government funding. It was the longest in our history. On my first weekend in office I visited a pop-up food bank for members of our Coast Guard where the local community rallied around our Coast Guard families who were starting the new year without a paycheck. This was a story of our community stepping in to care for one another, which is so common, and something that I heard repeatedly across these 4 years in every corner of our district.

But there are also stories of how the distraction caused by political theater and political division can lead to unnecessary hardship. As we approach a looming deadline this year to fund our government, we should not let these divisions or rhetoric stand in the way of performing our fundamental role as Congress.

On May 31, 2019--a day that remains etched in the memory of Virginia Beach--I saw the devastation caused by the first of two mass shootings that roiled our community. That day, 12 innocent victims left home for work before the Memorial Day weekend--a time they looked forward to spending with their families at barbecues and the beaches--yet instead their lives were senselessly stolen by a shooter who entered the municipal center and indiscriminately opened fire.

Again, just weeks ago on the eve of Thanksgiving, a shooter opened fire in a local Chesapeake Walmart where shoppers were grabbing their last-minute items for a holiday meal. This time our community lost six more precious lives who would not join their families at the holiday table. Among these losses was a 16-year-old boy. This Congress has taken small measures to prevent these types of tragic events in our community and yours, Mr. Speaker, but as I depart, I implore my colleagues to continue to do more.

The first time I stood in this very place to speak on the floor of the House, I rose as a Jewish woman to speak out against anti-Semitism which has seen a rapid and alarming rise and has even reared its head among our colleagues in this body in the form of claims of dual loyalty towards those who show support for Israel--our strongest ally in the Middle East. I look back on that first speech I made as a Member of Congress and am even more concerned today about the rising frequency and pervasiveness of anti-Semitism. I implore my colleagues to continue their quest to root out this scourge of vile and pernicious anti- Semitism.

In that first speech, I mentioned my oath to support and defend the Constitution. But little did I know that 2 short years later, I would witness an attempt by our own President and his allies to subvert the Constitution and summon a mob to disrupt the counting of electoral votes of a free and fair election.

On that day, January 6, 2021, lives were lost, these hallowed Halls were desecrated, and the strength of our democracy was tested. I have been humbled to participate in uncovering facts about that dark day in our Nation's history. I thank Chairman Thompson, Vice-Chair Cheney, my colleagues, and the staff of the January 6 Committee for standing on the side of democracy.

I am proud of the work we have done over the last two Congresses to support our veterans and their families. My Gold Star families tax relief legislation eased the burden on children of those killed in combat or deceased from service-connected disabilities. I thank President Biden for making veterans' toxic exposure a priority. We passed the largest increase in access to veterans' benefits in our lifetime through the PACT Act, which included my COVENANT Act to provide healthcare to burn pit veterans.

The threats we face as a nation continue to grow as we witness Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, Iran's persistent pursuit of a nuclear weapon, and the rise of China threatening our maritime and national security. As we have heard in testimony, China is likely to attempt to take Taiwan by force in the next 5 years. This is our most pressing national security concern.

The action or inaction that we take in standing up to China in this moment will determine whose values will rule the remainder of the 21st century--the United States' and our allies' or the Chinese Communist Party.

That is why as I depart I urge my colleagues to take this threat seriously and to fulfill the constitutional task of Article I, Section 8, to provide and maintain a Navy. If we fail to remain the predominant maritime power in the Pacific, frankly, nothing else that we do here in this Congress will matter if we don't get this right.

God bless you.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this year's National Defense Authorization Act. This is a product of bipartisan work, from all across Congress, and especially within our Armed Services Committee.

It is a historic investment in our defense. It makes a strong step forward in our important priorities within the Pacific, for some of our most challenging areas of the world, the investments in the Pacific; the continuing assistance to Ukraine; as well as making advancements in shipbuilding and preventing the decommissioning of some ships and platforms that remain relevant in this very challenging time.

We can and should continue to do more in the future, and I trust my colleagues to make those investments as we move forward.

As I wrap up my term here on the Armed Services Committee and in the House, I thank the committee staff on both sides of the aisle, as well as my staff in my congressional office and district office, for their unrelenting focus on the issues that are covered in the NDAA. I am proud to say that we had 23 items in this year's bill that provide significant, tangible results for our national defense, for the Navy, and for the Hampton Roads region.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7846, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2022.

With inflation and rising costs impacting Americans across the country, we must continue to ensure that the needs of our disabled veterans and their families are being met.

For the past 4 years, I have been proud to introduce and pass bipartisan cost-of-living adjustments to increase compensation and benefits for our disabled veterans. As chair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee and author of this bipartisan legislation, I am, once again, honored to present this year's annual veterans' cost-of-living adjustment legislation to the floor.

The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2022 would, once again, recognize that VA-related compensation requires adjustment in the same way that Social Security benefits are updated to meet the cost-of-living realities. This includes disability compensation, clothing allowance, and dependency and indemnity compensation payments.

Our veterans service organizations understand the realities that many of

our veterans and military families face to make ends meet and the importance of this cost-of-living adjustment. As the Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW, puts it: ``This would provide a guarantee to veterans and survivors that their payments will always be aligned to counteract inflation.''

In our current economic climate, veterans in my district and across the country have many of the same economic concerns as every one of us. Veterans are not immune from concerns about putting food on the table and their ability to adequately provide for a comfortable and sustainable life for themselves and their families.

As a veteran myself, I understand firsthand the concerns faced by our Active Duty servicemembers and our veterans as they balance professional responsibilities with the necessities of home life. Every bit helps, and this is especially true for those who have lost a loved one in the course of their service or as a result of a service- connected injury or illness.

Dependency and indemnity compensation provided at a sustainable rate ensures economic fluctuations are not an additional burden for a survivor already managing difficult days without their veteran by their side.

With the high costs of disability care, childcare, and other costs, it is vital that we continue to provide benefits that meet the financial demands faced by veterans and their families on a day-to-day basis.

This cost-of-living increase provided by my legislation would bolster beneficiaries against today's price fluctuations and provides relief to our disabled veterans and many military families.

The COLA Act of 2022 is recognition of the need to ensure that those receiving VA compensation are always supported. This is responsible, commonsense, bipartisan legislation and proof of the good that can come from both parties working together. Our veterans and their families deserve no less.

I thank Ranking Member Nehls for being a cosponsor of this year's legislation and also full committee Ranking Member Bost, who worked with me for 2 years on this legislation and in previous years, as well. I thank Chairman Takano for his reliable support and leadership for our veterans, their families, and adequate disability compensation.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage full support of H.R. 7846.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Honoring our PACT Act. As we near final passage of this historic and comprehensive legislation to address toxic exposures afflicting veterans across several generations, it has been a privilege to lay the groundwork for this endeavor as chair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.

Many pieces of legislation that have passed through our jurisdiction are on their way to being included in this package and becoming law. In particular, I am honored to have introduced the COVENANT Act, a cornerstone of the PACT Act.

This bill is best known for providing access to care for those veterans exposed to burn pits and many others who have struggled too long to receive care for health conditions caused by burn pits and other toxic exposures. To put it simply, this bill will see that 3.5 million veterans are eligible for Priority Group 6 VA healthcare. It concedes exposure to airborne hazards and recognizes 23 new airborne hazard-related conditions as presumptively service-connected.

When signed into law, I don't think I would be wrong in saying that this is possibly the largest increase in access to veterans healthcare that any of us have seen in our lifetimes. This legislation will assist many of our fellow servicemembers and veterans who have suffered for too long.

The PACT Act has been a long time coming, but today the House is prepared to send this essential veterans assistance package back to the Senate and, ultimately, to the President's desk. We are finally recognizing the true cost of war for all who deployed in defense of our Nation.

I thank Chairman Takano for his unwavering leadership through this process, as well as my fellow Members on and off the committee for their important contributions to this historic legislation.

Lastly, I thank the veterans, the survivors, and the veterans service organizations, VSOs, who have made their voices heard. This is for you.

I wholeheartedly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Honoring our PACT Act.

Mr. Speaker, Congress must continue to supply the finest fighting force in the world with the funding, equipment, resources, and support they need, and I am proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do just that.

The FY23 NDAA represents a bipartisan effort to support our Active- Duty personnel with a 4.6 percent pay raise and invest in the critical capabilities that our Armed Forces need to defend our Nation and our interests abroad.

This year's NDAA also includes my request to increase defense spending by $37 billion, including at least $7.4 billion to combat inflation, more than $4 billion for ship procurement, over $1.6 billion in research and development funding, and over $500 million for security assistance to Ukraine.

At a time when we face growing threats from China, this bill provides needed funding for 13 new battle force

ships, including two Virginia-class submarines, three guided-missile destroyers, two guided-missile frigates, and one landing platform dock. This sends a strong message to our allies and our enemies and ensures that we have the resources to counter the threats we face from China, Iran, and Russia.

Additionally, the NDAA includes several of my amendments to directly address access to mental health care and suicide prevention and improve the quality of life for sailors during complex refueling overhauls, many of which were learned from lessons aboard the USS George Washington.

While I am proud of the bipartisan effort we have made so far, there is still more work that needs to be done. I hope that the final version of the NDAA will include my bill, the Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act, which will eliminate the disparity that TRICARE dependents face when compared to those on private health insurance.

The bipartisan progress we have made in this year's NDAA will grow our Navy, strengthen our military, and give a well-deserved pay raise to our Armed Forces. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support our military, and I look forward to negotiating with the Senate on the final top-line number.

I thank the chair and the ranking member for their support in these efforts, especially in growing and strengthening our Navy and our entire Armed Forces.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize our brave servicemembers and allies that fought in the Battle of Ormoc Bay during World War II. One of the fiercest battles of the war, Ormoc Bay proved pivotal in the Pacific and the liberation of the Philippines.

By October 1944, the tide in the Pacific had begun to shift in favor of the United States and our allies. Recognizing the strategic importance of the Philippines, soldiers from the U.S. Sixth Anny landed on Leyte Island.

The Battle of Ormoc Bay was pivotal in the liberation of the Philippines and began on November 11 when U.S. 3rd Fleet Commander Admiral William Halsey ordered an air attack on two resupply convoys approaching the bay, followed by mine sweepers Pursuit and Revenge and Destroyer Squadron 22 entering Ormoc Bay.

The battle had a significant impact on Ormoc. The port suffered significant damage,

and casualties mounted. As the fighting intensified, Filipino community leaders worked to save lives and countless civilians evacuated from the area with many families sheltering in the mountains.

In a push to gain control of the port at Ormoc, on December 7 infantry regiments of the 77th Division conducted an amphibious landing 3 miles south of Ormoc. In the most intense aerial battle of the Leyte Campaign, allied aircraft dropped 97,000 pounds of munitions on enemy shipping sinking several ships. Over 75 vessels of the Ormoc Attack Group came under constant and intense kamikaze attack. The destroyers Ward and Mahan were lost in the engagement with several other ships badly damaged. The Battle of Ormoc Bay was the only naval engagement during the war where the enemy brought every type of weapon to bear against the Allies.

The Battle of Ormoc Bay brought terrible destruction and incalculable loss of life. Countless individuals risked their lives to free a nation with thousands making the ultimate sacrifice. Before being able to celebrate the liberation of the Philippines, many Filipinos bravely fought for freedom and suffered tremendous loss throughout the war.

Madam Speaker, we are once again honored to remember all those who sacrificed in the liberation of the Philippines. Their dedication paved the way to victory in the Pacific and provides us an example to which we all strive to live up to. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing these outstanding heroes.

Mr. Speaker, as a mother myself, I rise today in support of the Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act, a bipartisan bill that would ensure every medical facility managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs contains a lactation space.

Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler joined me in introducing this bill in 2021, and I thank her for her leadership on this issue. This is an issue where Congress has worked together in a bipartisan manner, and we know that more work like this needs to be done.

In 2019, the Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act was signed into law. That legislation required public buildings containing public restrooms to also provide a hygienic space, other than a restroom, for mothers to express milk, not only for employees, but for members of the public as well.

Today, there are 90 VA facilities across the country with designated nursing rooms, but today these spaces are for employees of the VA only, not veteran mothers as well.

The bipartisan Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act expands access to clean, safe, and convenient lactation spaces for all VA medical facilities throughout the country for women who have served our Nation and our military families.

My legislation requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that every medical facility managed by the VA contains a lactation space which is a hygienic place, other than a restroom, is shielded from view, is accessible to disabled individuals as well, contains a chair and a working surface, and is available for use by female veterans, employees of the Department, and members of the public.

Congress must do more to support our veteran mothers and the Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act will improve the quality of life for many of the women who have served our Nation and our military families, while they are accessing VA facilities.

I am grateful for the overwhelming support from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for this important issue, and I advise my colleagues to advance this legislation favorably and ensure that the resources are available for every woman who visits VA facilities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the survivors of military sexual trauma, or MST, who struggle to access the medical care, mental health services, and the compensation that they deserve.

Sexual assault in the military continues to be a pervasive issue. These assaults are often unreported and can culminate in post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and even suicide.

When a veteran has the courage to report the impact of that trauma to the VA, it is essential that we treat these claims with the utmost empathy, compassion, and concern.

For many veterans, submitting the claim means opening themselves up. For those who have not filed a report while in the military, this is the first opportunity for their experience to be acknowledged. And far too often, MST survivors encounter bureaucratic processes when filing their claims through the VA, which can be re-traumatizing, and further delays access to critical healthcare and mental healthcare services.

My bill is one in a series of bills drafted to improve the veteran's experience during the MST claims process. It would require the VA to provide guidance to help veterans understand what mental health resources and other supports are in place and available to support them as they go through the claims process.

By ensuring veterans who file an MST-related claim are given information on the Veterans Crisis Line, how to make appointments with mental healthcare providers, and connect them with VHA MST coordinators, we empower veterans to access the network of trauma- informed care that the VHA provides.

For veterans who already have access to the VHA system of care, my bill would, with the veteran's consent, allow for relevant healthcare providers

to be notified when a veteran in their care has filed an MST claim, has an examination related to the MST claim, or been notified of a decision or a determination. This notification can be especially helpful when a claim has been denied or the decision is lower than the veteran feels is warranted.

We must ensure that survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military are treated respectfully and receive proper care at all stages of the process, including mental healthcare services.

It is especially critical in light of the August 2021 VA Office of Inspector General report which showed that claims were still being inappropriately denied. Thus, ``veteran survivors of military sexual trauma remain at risk of not receiving the VA benefits to which they are entitled and experiencing additional distress when claims are improperly handled or denied.''

That is why I introduced the MST Claims Coordinator Act, to improve communication and coordination in the claims process between the Veterans Benefits Administration and the Veterans Health Administration.

As a 20-year Navy veteran, I am proud to have worked with my colleagues in a bipartisan fashion to introduce this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support its final passage.

Mr. Speaker, a critical element of strengthening our nation's cybersecurity is ensuring the Federal government employs the best and the brightest with the most advanced cybersecurity skills.

Whether at CISA, our intelligence agencies, our military, or at other departments across the Federal government, cybersecurity professionals play an essential role in keeping our nation safe, and we must prioritize their recruitment, development, and retention.

Unfortunately, it has been challenging to compete with the private sector for cyber talent, so we must look to creative ways to strengthen the Federal cyber workforce.

The President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition is one innovative part of that effort.

Organized by CISA, this annual cybersecurity competition brings together cybersecurity professionals, both civilian and military, from across the Federal government to compete in a series of challenges that test a wide range of cybersecurity skills.

My legislation would authorize this competition to ensure it remains part of our Federal cyber workforce strategy and grants CISA the necessary authorities to fully carry out the program.

Importantly, it addresses legal barriers that have prevented CISA from directly providing cash prizes to winning teams and individuals that work in other departments or agencies.

H.R. 6824 specifically authorizes CISA to confer cash prizes to the winners, many of whom are in the military, for their achievement.

By passing this legislation, we demonstrate our commitment to further developing a competitive and highly skilled Federal cybersecurity workforce.

I thank Representatives Connolly and Garbarino for cosponsoring this bill, and Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Katko for their support for authorizing this important program.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan bill and look forward to working with them to get it enacted into law.

Madam Speaker, I have come to the floor many times over the last 3 years and discussed the oath of office. The oath to protect and defend our Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.

Every Member of this body swore that oath, and it is the same oath that our President and military officers, including those like Mr. Banks, swear in service to our Nation.

That is service.

When an American enlists or commissions in our Armed Forces, or when someone takes elected office, or even a senior position in the executive branch, they do so to serve the American people.

Mr. Scavino and Mr. Navarro had the duty to serve the American people. Unfortunately, they instead chose to serve the interests of one man, who sought to advance his own agenda at the peril of American democracy.

They now have the duty to respond to the subpoenas of this committee, but they have apparently decided that they are above the law.

The American people deserve the truth about the attack that attempted to prevent the peaceful transition of power, and the committee is united in our duty to investigate.

This committee has conducted over 800 voluntary depositions and interviews, with more scheduled, including witnesses who worked in the previous administration and even close family members of the former President.

The committee has received nearly 90,000 documents pertaining to January 6, and we followed up over 435 tips received through the committee's tip line.

Hundreds of witnesses have voluntarily come forward and cooperated with our investigation, but Mr. Scavino and Mr. Navarro have refused to do their part.

They have been given every opportunity to come forward, yet they have attempted to obstruct the pursuit of justice and to stonewall the committee's work and conceal the truth, despite both publicly acknowledging their roles in promoting election fraud conspiracies and counseling the former President on changing the outcome of the election.

Mr. Meadows, and today Mr. Scavino and Mr. Navarro, my question remains: What are you covering up, and who are you covering for?

Their failure to answer that question about January 6 is disregarding the law, and they should be held accountable. That is why I will vote, and I will urge my colleagues to vote to hold Mr. Navarro and Mr. Scavino in contempt of Congress.

Madam Speaker, I come from a coastal district in Virginia, and the responsibilities and duties of the Coast Guard are integral to our everyday activities.

While I will vote to support the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act for all these reasons, I must express my concerns with language that was added to the bill in committee that makes significant modifications to crewing aboard the important and unique vessels that do the work lifting turbines on our growing and important offshore wind farms including a new project in development off the coast of Virginia.

This provision assumes that the United States presently has a sufficient number of vessels and mariners to perform this work. But as a recent report from DoE just states, we need 3-5 of these vessels and hundreds of skilled workers but unfortunately we currently lack them.

The proposed crewing changes--which go into effect immediately--would block the progress Virginia and other states along the Atlantic coast are making to produce clean energy and reduce the negative impacts of climate change.

I'm willing to continue working with the Members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on a reliable crewing scheme that protects our national interests while ensuring that vital energy work can be done. This is not the right time to make this immediate and drastic change in the law.

Mr. Speaker, as a 20-year veteran myself, it is an honor to stand before you today. I would say that the urgency of what our veterans are facing should not be lost on this body: Autoimmune disorders, cancer, chronic disease, respiratory issues, infertility, and organ failure are just a few in a lengthy list of conditions associated with toxins during military service.

Why should our veterans, who risked their lives on the battlefield, now have to battle for their healthcare when they return home?

There should be no question of our commitment to the veterans who voluntarily served our Nation without hesitation. This body should not hesitate to pass this legislation, the Honoring our PACT Act. I am proud to serve a district that has such a strong military and veteran presence.

Nearly one out of every six people in Virginia's Second Congressional District is a veteran and even more of their family members. Many of those veterans come from the Gulf war era, with 42 percent of them having served in the post-9/11 era. My presence at this podium today reconfirms my unwavering commitment to all of our constituents who depend on the passage of this legislation to get the healthcare that they deserve from toxic exposure.

Let me be clear. Veterans have earned the right to accessible VA healthcare. As such, the choice is clear that we need to pass the Honoring our PACT Act. Our work on this vital legislation has been bipartisan, and it incorporates two bills that I have introduced: The COVENANT Act, which recognized the toxic exposure of so many of our veterans and established their eligibility for healthcare. Furthermore, we have introduced in this legislation a provision that brings the VA healthcare notifications into the 21st century, allowing the Secretary of the VA to notify our veterans of their disability determinations electronically, something that is long overdue and has been coordinated with and requested by the Secretary of the VA.

Let me say again that as a 20-year veteran myself, I support this legislation, and I want to get this healthcare to all those veterans who served and those who desperately need it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Bertram Donald Aaron. Known by friends and loved ones as Bert, Mr. Aaron was a staple in the Hampton Roads area and leaves a long-lasting impact on our community.

Born in 1922 in Newport News, Bert was the eldest son of Harry and Lillian Aaron. He attained the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army in the Pacific theater during World War II. Following the war, Bert worked as an Aeronautical Research Scientist at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, now NASA. He then worked as an engineer for the U.S. Army Signal Corps where he received the Commanders Medal for his service to national defense.

Named Daily Press Citizen of the Year for his support of local charities and the Virginia Symphony, Bert's lasting contributions to our community are a testament to his enduring passion for the performing arts. He worked tirelessly to maintain the Greater Williamsburg Virginia Symphony Society, serving on the Board of the Symphony for 25 years and chairing the Williamsburg Area Arts Commission. Additionally, Bert was a fierce advocate for breast cancer research, organizing and chairing the first Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation Symposium on state-of-the-art medicine for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

I am grateful for Bert's philanthropic spirit and his outstanding contributions to our community. It saddens me to hear of Bert's passing, and I send my deepest condolences to his family and friends.