Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 479.

Stated against:

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 466.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 466.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I listened to this debate and heard so many things that are simply misunderstandings or maybe just intentionally telling things that aren't true.

When I was growing up, my mom used to ask me: ``Is it going to take an act of Congress for you to clean your room?'' She would say it all the time. ``Is it going to take an act of Congress for you to clean your room?'' I didn't know what she meant because I thought my room was pretty clean.

What she meant is: Is it going to take the Earth, wind, stars, and mountains all moving in order for you to act?

Mr. Speaker, this has been 40 years of treating people differently, discriminating against a certain set of workers.

These are police officers, teachers, firefighters, and other public servants. Mr. Speaker, I worked side by side with these folks. They are not people who are overpaid. They are not people who are underworked.

Think about the crime issue, the defund the police issue, the safety of our communities. Police officers are integral to our State. They are integral to our Nation. We need to treat them fairly, respectfully. That means not treating them differently and discriminating against them and their benefits.

Teachers are the ones who train the next generation. Firefighters-- who are you going to call when your house is on fire? These are the very people whose benefits we are cutting.

Mr. Speaker, I have heard people sit here and say the solvency of this Social Security trust fund is going to move forward 6 months with this bill. Mr. Speaker, the solvency has been delayed years because you have stolen from these people. Do you not understand math? This number right here--the Congressional Budget Office, $195 billion--do you know what that number is? That is the number that you are going to be stealing from these same public servants over the next 10 years if you don't fix this.

Mr. Speaker, we can sit here and talk about all of these numbers and math. Here is the reality. Probably somewhere between $600 billion and $700 billion in Social Security benefits from police officers, teachers, firefighters, and other public servants has been stolen. If we don't pass this, the Congressional Budget Office says we are going to steal another $995 billion.

An interesting nugget that was in the Congressional Budget Office's evaluation is they also said if we actually pass this law, we are going to save money on social welfare programs because we are going to lift people out of poverty. They will no longer be dependent upon our social welfare programs.

Mr. Speaker, we can't keep doing this. I heard people talking about penalizing people and taxes and all of that stuff. Let me tell you what is happening. There is a group of people right now that effectively is paying a higher tax than anyone else. That is what is happening. It is the reason why the Social Security trust fund is going to remain solvent for years longer. It is unfair. It is unjust.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to say it again. This is a community of people who cannot afford this. This is a community of people who are some of the hardest working folks in our community, and they have been stolen from for 40 years.

Mr. Speaker, very simply, here is the scenario. Let's say that Chairman Smith and I were both security guards. We were paid the same amount of money over the same period of time. After 20 years, I say that I am out. I go back and help raise a family. Chairman Smith goes on to become a sheriff's deputy. He does it for 10 years.

When we retire on the same exact date, my Social Security benefits may be $1,500 to $1,800 more. Why? We paid the same amount for same period of time into the Social Security trust fund.

Mr. Speaker, look, there are folks who have tried to throw up other legislation and say that these other alternatives are the right way to go. There is one bill in this Congress that has a majority of Republicans and a majority of Democrats. I don't know the number right now. I know that, recently, it was the most cosponsored bill in all of Congress. With over 12,000 bills introduced, it was the most cosponsored bill.

Mr. Speaker, do you know what? We didn't go through the regular committee process. I do want to thank Chairman Smith for working with us. Do you know what we did? We had a hearing in Louisiana. We had a hearing in Washington, D.C. We negotiated for months, trying to get there. We couldn't.

Mr. Speaker, there is one package that has the support of the majority of Republicans and the majority of Democrats that will fix this once and for all. How in the world are we trying to beat up on the bill that is the most cosponsored bill in Congress?

My friend, Mr. Larson, was talking about the divisiveness, the polarization. My gosh, we have finally come together on something.

Mr. Speaker, let's pass this bill. Let's show America that we can do what is right and what is just. Let's make sure this bill gets through the Senate and to the President's desk and that it doesn't take another 40 years to do what is right.

Mr. Speaker, this bill has been amazing. I will say it again. At one point it has been the most cosponsored bill in Congress, 330 cosponsors. This bill has a majority of the majority.

There is one Social Security fix bill that has a majority of the majority as cosponsors. There is one bill that has the Speaker of the House as a cosponsor that fixes this. There is one bill that has the majority leader of the House as a cosponsor that fixes this. There is one bill that will truly solve this problem after 40 years of stealing from police officers, from teachers, from firefighters, and others, and it is H.R. 82.

Now, Mr. Speaker, at home a lot of people are probably confused, and, quite frankly, a lot of Members of Congress are probably confused.

Why are there two different bills that we are voting on today?

I will be very clear: One bill, H.R. 82, actually fixes the problem. I appreciate the efforts of my friend from Texas working to try to solve this. The bill doesn't do it.

Let me just give you one little story, one little anecdote, to make it clear.

Today, Mr. Speaker, if you have a police officer killed in the line of duty, that widow, that spouse, gets zero in spousal benefits in Social Security. If we pass the other bill that was introduced that was suddenly thrown up and put on the agenda, if we pass that legislation, that spouse will continue to get nothing. The widow of a police officer killed in the line of duty, the spousal benefits will still be zero.

According to all of the groups that are out there supporting this legislation that are identified on this poster here, the other bill, H.R. 5342, would actually benefit 1 million and result in cuts to 14 million retirees.

Let me say it another way. You vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5342, you are voting to cut Social Security benefits. If you want to go home and explain that, have at it. There is one bill that solves the problem.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Congresswoman Spanberger, for being a great partner. I thank Logan De La Barre-Hays, Shaun, Ben, Mark, and Maggie Ayrea, and the staff folks for being so helpful. While the chairman and I were unable to get to an agreement, a consensus on this, I thank Chairman Smith for his tireless efforts to fix this.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I want to say it one more time. There is one bill--one bill--that has the support of police officers, teachers, firefighters, and all the other retirees. I urge support for H.R. 82.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support from the Federal-Postal Coalition, the Fraternal Order of Police, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, NARFE, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the American Federation of Government Employees.

Federal-Postal Coalition,

November 12, 2024.

Dear Representative: As Chair of the Federal-Postal

Coalition, an organization of over thirty labor unions and

management associations representing the interests of current

and retired federal and postal employees, I urge you to vote

in favor of H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, when

it is brought up on suspension.

As you are aware, the Social Security Fairness Act would

repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall

Elimination Provision (WEP). These policies from the 1970s

unfairly target the earned Social Security benefits of our

nation's public servants, including a substantial portion of

our country's federal retirees.

GPO and WEP reduce the hard-earned retirement benefits from

public sector employees at the federal, state and local

levels whose work is not covered by Social Security. GPO

targets and reduces spousal and survival Social Security

benefits, which disproportionately impacts widows and

widowers. Currently, widow's benefits are reduced by $2 for

every $3 earned if the widow is eligible for a pension based

on a public sector job that was not covered by Social

Security. WEP can result in a monthly Social Security benefit

as much as $512 1ess than under the regular benefit formula,

drastically reducing the amount of fixed income for a retiree

to live on.

Repeal of these provisions is long overdue. Social Security

is a critical source of income for our nation's retirees, but

we have allowed needless discrimination against retired

public servants for far too long. These individuals paid

Social Security taxes in connection with covered work (e.g.,

in the private sector), earning their Social Security

benefits. Yet because they chose careers in public service

and earned a pension through that service, their earned

Social Security benefits are significantly reduced--or even

eliminated. These penalties discourage public service and

hamper the retirement security of those with long careers

benefiting this nation.

Now it is time for the House to take action to address

these longstanding inequities and vote yes on H.R. 82.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Katie Maddocks,

Federal-Postal Coalition Chair.

Mr. Speaker, all of these groups are supporting this bill and urging a ``no'' vote on the other bill, H.R. 5342.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the commitment and service of Brigadier General Cindy H. Haygood and her 36 years of service to the Louisiana National Guard. Brigadier General Haygood first joined the National Guard in 1988 and was commissioned in 1994 through the State Officer Candidate School of the Louisiana Army National Guard. Throughout her involvement in the Louisiana National Guard, Brigadier General Haygood has never shied away from an opportunity to serve. Brigadier General Haygood not only assisted in mobilization efforts for four major military operations, but she also simultaneously served as the Deputy Director of the Louisiana Military Department and the Assistant Adjutant General.

BG Haygood was also a trusted member of our state and local community, and she was on speed dial during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, Brigadier General Haygood assisted many agencies in crisis management planning, and under her leadership the Louisiana National Guard was able to save lives and ensure public safety in Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, Louisiana and our Nation have benefitted from Brigadier General Haygood's contributions, and we, along with her family, Bill, Madeline, and Lauren, are grateful for everything she has done. I thank Brigadier General Haygood.

Mr. Speaker, Hurricane Francine preparation, response, and recovery efforts require my presence in south Louisiana, causing me to miss the vote series today. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 416 and YEA on Roll Call No. 417.

Personal Explanation

Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 406.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee for yielding me time.

This legislation funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It funds efforts like resiliency in my home State of Louisiana. It funds hurricane protection. It funds flood control. It floods cultural restoration projects.

One project in particular I thank the chairman for highlighting that is included in this legislation is the Morganza to the Gulf project. This hurricane protection project in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes is for a community that has imposed a property tax on themselves. It has imposed a sales tax on themselves to help fund this project. They pulled together over $1 billion in funds, and this bill finally starts bringing more dollars to the table, partnering with the locals to ensure that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can fund this community, can fund this important project.

Here is the reality, Mr. Chairman: We can either spend millions now building this project, or we can spend billions later picking up the pieces in the aftermath of a disaster, in the aftermath of a hurricane.

This bill also, importantly, funds projects like the Upper Barataria project in Upper St. Charles and Lafourche Parishes on up to Ascension. It funds the Houma navigation channel and other critical projects for our community.

It also funds the nuclear triad. As President Reagan said, peace through strength ensures that we have the strength here in America.

This legislation ensures that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, our oil reserve, that is now at some of the lowest levels in history is actually returned to appropriate levels.

Lastly, Mr. Chairman, in regard to the previous speaker's comments, I remind the American public our Nation

under the last 17 years has reduced emissions more than the next six or seven emissions-reducing countries combined. We have led the world in reducing emissions.

Do you know what, Mr. Chairman?

This wasn't done because of government. It was done because of entrepreneurs and because of innovators. That is how we have led the world. During this time, as we reduced emissions, for every 1 ton we reduced, China has increased by 5 tons.

I thank the staff of the subcommittee, including Angie Giancarlo and the rest of the team, for their help in this legislation. I thank Chairman Fleischmann for his leadership.

Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 363.

Stated against:

Mr. Speaker, in this environment where Congress is sitting here fighting over everything, I take just a minute to reflect on this legislation.

Every 2 years under Chairman Graves' leadership, we have seen this bill come up. This is a critical bill. It is everything from resilience, flood protection, in my home State hurricane protection, restoring our coastal wetlands, ensuring economic competitiveness of the ports all around the United States.

This is critical legislation, and this is a rare opportunity where Republicans and Democrats are coming together to make the right decisions.

I thank Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Larsen. I thank my good friend Congresswoman Napolitano. I wish her the best with all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and keep going.

I thank my friend David Rouzer for all his work on this and of course the Ryans and all the staff who have put in countless hours.

From my home State of Louisiana, this is about our future. It is about resilience. It is about our ports and waterways. For example, in this legislation we have important legislation for the Morganza to the Gulf project ensuring the recognition of credit for the important work that the locals have done on that one.

Mr. Speaker, I thank all the folks involved, and I urge adoption of the legislation.

Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 237.

Amendment No. 10 Offered by Mr. Crane

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alabama for organizing this.

Madam Speaker, I am going to read from the journal of Sidney Montz, who served as a lieutenant in Company D of the 8th Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division of the United States Army.

The 4th Division was one of the five divisions that struck Utah and Omaha beaches on June 6, 1944, D-day. He was born in Louisiana in 1914 and served as an ROTC corporal at LSU. He enlisted in the Army in August 1942 and became a lieutenant.

Montz was 29 years old on D-day, which was his first combat. He kept a diary from May 15, 1944, until July 31, 1944. The diary was donated by Montz' son to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans along with a trunk of personal belongings from his time in the European Theater during World War II.

Madam Speaker, before I start, I am going to make note that the diary makes mention of the LCVP, which is the landing craft vehicle personnel, otherwise known as the Higgins craft, tens of thousands of which were built in Louisiana and often credited as being a game changer for the D-Day landing.

May 16 through June 1. Took things easy, drew equipment,

time off to Torquay, took a few short marches to keep in

shape. A few days before June 1, we were briefed, shown maps,

and sand table of where we were going. Everything in good

shape. I was executive officer but will take 81 millimeter.

Wittenberger does not know mortar. Officers in company:

Buckles, Woodruff, Wittenberger, Levy, Buckalew, Olson,

Executive Montz, CO Samson.

June 2. Left camp at 10:20 for Torquay, got an LCVP to go

to ship (the S.S. Dickman). On ship life was okay.

June 4. Too busy to go to church--making final

preparation--heard we sail today for landing tomorrow--

weather very bad so thing is called off. Spent most of the

night in lounge, drinking coffee and listening to radio.

Heard of the fall of Rome. In bed by 0200.

June 5. Heard we sail at 1300, General Ike message read

over the loudspeaker after we sailed. Told D-Day June 6, H-

hour 0630. We anchor at 0200 June 6 and get in LCVP. Checked

all equipment that was already in LCVP. Men in good shape and

ready to go. Told that 10,500 planes would be in operation,

6,000 bombers. Did not know anything except we land on Utah

Beach Red and Green with 12,000 paratroopers landing H-4

inland. Messed around, shooting bull and kidding each other.

Channel pretty rough. Men will be fed at 2200, officers at

2400.

June 6, D-Day. 2400: Eating a good meal, may be the last

boat team. Sea very rough. Started loading one, went down to

compartment with my men about 0230, went over side, down net,

and it was really tough.

Took off to rendezvous area, had a tough time finding it,

made it okay. Started circling, finally the other boats came

in. Planes lit up the beaches, AA fire starting, flares

dropping, beautiful sight, but it scares the hell out of you.

All hell broke loose from the beach, some boats hit by 88. We

are near beach and 88 opened up on the boat on our right and

almost hit us. Some boats hit land mines. Lucky we landed

because much more we would have sunk. Water still rough.

Jumped out in waist-deep water, about 500 or 600 yards from

seawall, the longest I have ever seen in my life. MG, mortar,

and artillery fire around us. Finally in shallow water and

able to run, had to miss all types of obstacles in and out

the water. Picked up six rounds of 81-millimeter ammo on the

way. It seemed as though we would never reach the seawall.

Men being blown up and hit all around me. You could hear them

scream. It was horrible. Finally hit seawall, stopped to get

a blow and bearing. General Roosevelt walking around telling

everyone to clear the beach or they would get killed. Rockets

hit the third section. Injured: Lieutenants Levy, Arps,

Singer, Cole, Sergeant Hasting. Killed: Corporals Herr,

Brandt, and Wadja.

Time to move or they will kill us all. General Roosevelt

gave me lots of courage. Under small arms and artillery fire.

Navy left us 1000 yards too far left and the left outfit

caught hell. Moved in very fast, every house and tree loaded

with men. They fired at you from all directions. Very hard to

see them as they use smokeless powder. Will get on to them

soon, then they will catch hell.

Madam Speaker, I just urge all Americans to remember the incredible sacrifice of so many before us that allowed us to have this amazing Nation. I thank my friend from Alabama.

Madam Speaker, I will clearly communicate to the folks at home what it is that we are doing here. What we are doing is, we are talking about passing a law that prohibits citizens of foreign countries from voting in elections in D.C.

It prohibits people that are here illegally from voting in elections. It prohibits spies from China from voting in elections. It prohibits people who are here from Russia that have wishes of ill will on the United States from voting in the elections in D.C.

Now, I have heard my friends on the other side say that this would disenfranchise voters in Washington.

Let's think through that for just a minute. If you are allowing people that are not citizens of Washington, that are not citizens of the United States to vote here, you are diluting the vote of the people that are citizens of this city. You are diluting it. Which policy disenfranchises? It is absurd to hear people make these allegations.

Now, let's talk about some of the people that largely agree with what we are saying. The mayor didn't sign this. Even the Mayor of Washington, D.C., didn't sign this because she knows that this is outrageous. The Washington Post, that I wouldn't argue is a bastion of conservative thought, even said that ``voting is a foundational right of citizenship.''

Madam Speaker, I have heard my friends on the other side argue or allege that we are meddling. We are meddling.

Madam Speaker, there is this pesky little document that we take an oath to called the Constitution and, of course, I say that in jest. In the Constitution, it says: Congress is granted exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over Washington. We are doing exactly what we took an oath to do.

Let's summarize. If you want Chinese spies, if you want people who are here

illegally that also can vote in their actual home country, then you would vote ``no.'' You would say no, we want the status quo. We want spies to vote. We want Russian Embassy employees to vote. We want people who are here illegally to vote. That is fine. You vote ``no.'' However, if you think that D.C. residents, that their vote should actually count for local elections, then you vote ``yes.''

Now, my friends are going to say: What about voting in Federal elections? I am sorry for anybody who moved here and found out by surprise that that is not how it works because this was established originally as a Federal District distinguishing it from the States.

I am sorry if folks just woke up and realized that, or maybe after they bought their house.

Madam Speaker, it is unbelievable that we are even here having to debate this, once again, about whether it is appropriate for people who are citizens of foreign countries, people who are here illegally, people who can vote for Vladimir Putin would also get to vote for the Mayor of D.C.

It is unbelievable that people in this body who represent hundreds of thousands of citizens of this country believe that that is the appropriate path.

Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a man who selflessly served his alma mater for more than 50 years. Coach Pete Boudreaux, Catholic High School track coach, teacher, guidance counselor, and legend, is a member of the Catholic High School Class of 1959. After a stint in the Army and an SEC Championship-worthy track career at LSU, Coach Boudreaux returned to his alma mater to begin his service career. Over his career, Coach Boudreaux brought home 52 state championships between cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. He is the first man to be inducted into both the Catholic High School and St. Joseph's Academy High School Athletic Halls of Fame and is also a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Beyond his legendary coaching career, Coach Boudreaux is a man who passionately worked to get the most out of his students. Some of the constants in Coach Boudreaux's approach are to work to prepare his students for the future and mold them into good people. Coach Boudreaux's ability to evolve and contribute to the lives of young men over the course of generations is unparalleled, and Catholic High has been fortunate to have such a dedicated teacher, guidance counselor, and coach. As a former sprinter under ``Coach Boo,'' I join thousands of Catholic High graduates in wishing him a huge congratulations on his retirement and go Bears.

Madam Speaker, we passed a bill out of the House in July of last year in a strong bipartisan manner, a vote of 351-69, despite the fact that we have been in this incredibly challenging and polarizing Congress. We came together because of the importance of this legislation, and since 2018, the last time we did an FAA bill, we have seen profound changes in the aviation industry.

For example, in 2018, there were approximately 100,000 remote pilot certificates that had been issued by the FAA. Today, there are nearly four times that many at 400,000.

In all of 2018, there were 33 commercial space launches that were licensed by the FAA. This year alone so far, in the first 4 or 5 months, there have already been 47.

For the first time in nearly 20 years, we have had a national ground stop, and just weeks ago, we had a facility incident where there were ground stops at three of the Nation's largest airports.

We have seen profound changes in the aviation industry over the last 6 years. This bill brings fundamental solutions into areas like aviation safety that is so critical, ensuring that we have an entire title on innovation, looking at unmanned systems, and advanced air mobility ensuring that general aviation is treated in a way that is appropriate and integrating to the airspace and efficient. We are ensuring that we have the workforce that is needed, not for yesterday's aviation industry, but truly for tomorrow's.

This bill reorganizes the FAA in a way that recognizes newer technologies, the need for the FAA to move faster, to move more seamlessly. It reauthorizes the National Transportation Safety Board to ensure that we learn from mistakes and failures and, most importantly, Mr. Speaker, this bill focuses on the passenger experience ensuring that that curb-to-curb experience is a good one.

I think it is important to make note that over the last 6 years, we have had one new commercial aircraft that has been certificated by the FAA. International competitiveness on aircraft design and manufacturing is becoming more competitive globally.

This bill will bring the FAA out of the 20th century and allow us to lead globally in the 2030s and beyond.

For the State of Louisiana, the bill offers an opportunity to compete for Department of Transportation investment opportunities in new forms of aviation and resilience. It also advances the use of drones and new forms of aviation for activities such as emergency response, infrastructure inspections, and supporting the offshore energy industry.

The bill takes each of the challenges facing aviation in the U.S. and provides forward-looking paths for the FAA to better serve the public today and into the next decade.

We took a deep dive into the authorities and processes of the FAA to reorganize and streamline them, breaking down the silos that prevent the FAA from utilizing its own internal expertise to make decisions.

We included the first-ever standalone title for aviation technologies to provide certainty to industry, prodding to the FAA to allow drones and advanced air mobility to move beyond research projects into commercially scaled-up programs.

We built upon the NEPA reforms of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and included the most extensive airport environmental streamlining reforms of the past two decades.

We deliver on our promise, as noted, to improve upon the passenger experience.

Mr. Speaker, nearly 28 percent of adults have never stepped foot on a plane. We have got to make sure that that experience is a positive experience, especially for those young families traveling with kids. Everything from parking in the parking lots, all the way through security, checking in bags, concessions, loading planes, getting off planes, and recollecting their bags, this bill focuses on that entire experience.

Mr. Speaker, I talked about how we have been dealing with this for nearly a year, and all of the legwork that went into it probably took another 18 months before that.

There were a number of people who have put countless hours and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into this legislation.

I thank the people who made this bill happen, including: Hunter Presti, Laney Copeland, Julie Devine, Andrew Giacini, Will Moore, Corey Sites, our friend Chris, and our own aviation staffer, Maggie Ayrea.

I also thank the Democratic staff: Brian Bell, Adam Weiss, Liz Forro, Alex Menardy, and Michael Hudspith.

Staff directors, Jack Ruddy and Kathy Dedrick, also deserve thanks. This also couldn't have happened without our good friends, Steve Cohen and Rick Larsen. Finally, Mr. Speaker, no one has more expertise in this Congress than the aviation guru, our full committee chairman, Sam Graves.

This bill is truly transformational.