Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and the graduates of the 151st Recruit Class. As they prepare to join the ranks of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, I encourage the six graduates to reflect on the history of the department and the contributions and dedication of the brave men and women who have served before them to protect our community.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department's 151st Recruit School consisted of a thorough eight-week scenario and refresher course for prior experienced and certified firefighters/EMT's.

These recruits have the distinct honor of joining one of the best Fire and Rescue Departments in the United States. The efforts of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department have been recognized across this country. Members from the Department serve on the elite VA Task Force 1, which is among the first units called to disaster zones to provide search and rescue support. Members of that Task Force were recognized by the International Association of Fire Chiefs with the Benjamin Franklin Award for Valor as a result of their efforts in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck Nepal in 2015.

They also saw extensive work in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as part of disaster relief and rescue efforts in the aftermaths of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

Fairfax County is fortunate to have such excellent ambassadors for our community and I commend them for all that they have done to protect lives and property not only here in Fairfax County, but around the world. As the newest members of the Fire and Rescue Department, the 151st Recruit Class graduates join the department as integral parts of our community's emergency response and public safety team. I am confident that this graduating class will serve the residents of Fairfax County with honor and distinction. It is my great honor to include in the Record the names of the 151st Recruit Class:

Lucas Gray

Ivanovich Lesefka

Michael Loblanco

Michael Such

Hunter Talbot

Benjamin Wilson

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the newest members of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. I thank them for their service to their community and to all members of the Fire and Rescue Department, past and present, I say: ``Stay safe.''

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the recipients of the Fairfax Federation of Citizens Associations 2019 Citizen of the Year Awards.

The Federation is a coalition of civic and homeowners associations who work together to promote and support initiatives that will benefit all, Each year, the Federation honors individuals for their extraordinary contributions to our community. It is my honor to include in the Record the following individuals:

Lisa Sales has been a tireless advocate in our community focusing on advancing civil rights, fighting against violence, and prohibiting discrimination. Her community activities recently have led to several key accomplishments, Lisa worked closely with county officials and other community volunteers to identify a property along Richmond Highway that could be used to establish a new domestic violence shelter, resulting the opening of Artemis House. Lisa was a critical player to ensure Virginia's Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Lisa also serves on the Fairfax County Commission for Women.

Dorothy Keenan has worked with older adults for over 45 years and has spent her career planning and providing classes, programs and workshops.

Holly Seibold is an incredible example of how one citizen can identify a community need and organize to fill it.

Sharon Bulova was reelected as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on November 5, 2015. Sharon believes an informed and engaged community is a well-served constituency.

John Cook served on the Board of Supervisors, representing the Braddock District from 2009 to 2019, working to reform Fairfax's criminal justice system and reduce the use of force in the area's policing.

Kathy Hudgins served on the Board of Supervisors for twenty years, where she has championed affordable housing and advocated tirelessly for the Hunter Mill District.

Linda Smyth has dedicated over a decade of her life to fighting for Providence District as their Supervisor. She has been called the county's leading expert on zoning, and has never stopped working to ensure her community's needs are met.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking these incredible individuals and in congratulating them on being honored by the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens' Associations. Civic engagement is the foundation of a healthy community, and Fairfax County residents enjoy an exceptional quality of life due in part to the efforts of these individuals. The contributions and leadership of these honorees have been a great benefit to our community and truly merit our highest praise.

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and the graduates of the 149th Class. As they prepare to join the ranks of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, I encourage the 30 graduates to reflect on the history of the department and the contributions and dedication of the brave men and women who have served before them to protect our community.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department's Recruit School consists of an extensive and demanding 26-week program. In addition to two weeks of orientation, recruits completed nine weeks of EMT training and fourteen weeks of fire suppression training; Upon graduation, these recruits will be certified at the level of Firefighter 1/11 by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs.

These recruits have the distinct honor of joining one of the best Fire and Rescue Departments in the United States. The efforts of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department have been recognized across this country. Members from the Department serve on the elite VA Task Force 1, which is among the first units called to disaster zones to provide search and rescue support. Members of that Task Force were recognized by the International Association of Fire Chiefs with the Benjamin Franklin Award for Valor as a result of their efforts in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck Nepal in 2015.

Fairfax County is fortunate to have such excellent ambassadors for our community and I commend them for all that they have done to protect lives and property not only here in Fairfax County, but around the world. As the newest members of the Fire and Rescue Department, the 149th Recruit Class graduates join the department as integral parts of our community's emergency response and public safety team. I am confident that this graduating class will serve the residents of Fairfax County with honor and distinction. It is my great honor to include in the Record the names of the 149th Recruit Class.

Mohamed Ahmed

Patrick Alden

Jayquan Anderson

Andrew Bryant Jr.

Zachery Buttenshaw

Nicolas Cicero

Alexander Clark

Matthew Clark

Alexander Cope

David Danielson

Justin Efaw

Rickardo Evans

Kassandra Haakansson

Ashley Heck

Marcin Ligocki

Tyler Lomax

Rachel Long

Shannon Martin

Johnathan Matrone

Cameron Mazhari

JohnPaul McGurk

Frank Merritt

Kent Miller

Caleb Mitchell

Matthew Mullins

Patrick O'Connor

Von Powell

Shane Scott

Matthew Smalley

Dominique Wallace

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the newest members of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. I thank them for their service to their community and to all members of the Fire and Rescue Department, past and present, I say: ``Stay safe.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 20th Anniversary of the Fairfax County Park Foundation.

The Fairfax County Park Foundation has channeled the generosity of others into projects that benefit the entirety of Fairfax County.

The Foundation has provided an avenue for many members of our community to give back in a tangible way. As the former Chairman of Fairfax County, and now as a Congressman, I understand that nonprofits are vital to meeting the needs of our communities that our local and federal government cannot. Fortunately, for the past 20 years, the Park Foundation has helped to fill some of those gaps in funding for a host of park projects throughout the County.

The Foundation has played a role in many of the district's most meaningful events. From funding the 4-H Carnival in Frying Pan Park to cleaning the watershed at Hidden Oaks, their work has been admired by thousands of families. They collected contributions for open space preservation as well, adding to the tens of thousands of acres of parkland in the County. Each year, the Foundation's PACT scholarships allow children in supportive housing to attend summer camps, and it sponsors programs throughout the school year to bring STEM education to local students.

Every year, the Foundation highlights community members and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to parks by presenting them with the Eakin Philanthropy Award. Congratulations to this year's awardees:

Individual Award: Wayne, Angela, and the Valis Family

Organization Award: Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home and Fairfax Memorial Park

Friends Group/Park Volunteer Team Award: Friends of Colvin Mill

Easy access to parks, green spaces, and recreation areas is critical to our wellbeing. From improving the health and wellness of residents to creating a healthier physical environment, parks are vital to the future of America. I commend the Park Foundation for two decades of progress and service. I encourage all of you to join me in thanking the Park Foundation staff for many amazing years of work. We're looking forward to the next twenty years.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Fairfax County Park Foundation for their 20th anniversary. Their efforts provide immeasurable benefits to their fellow neighbors and serve as a reminder of why Fairfax County remains such a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the recipients of the 2022 Prince William County Human Rights Commission Awards.

On January 15, 1993, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) implemented the Human Rights Ordinance which formally established the Prince William County Human Rights Commission. Two years prior, the BOCS had formed the Human Rights Study Committee to explore the needs of a community that was growing in population and diversity. After an exhaustive effort that included numerous committee meetings and public hearings, the study found that many residents of Prince William County felt that the county needed a human rights ordinance and an agency to enforce it in order to ensure that every resident is treated fairly.

The Human Rights Commission seeks to eliminate discrimination through civil and human rights law enforcement and to establish equal opportunity for all persons within the county through advocacy and education. The Human Rights Ordinance prohibits discriminatory practices based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, marital status, or disability, as well as in the consideration of employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and credit, in Prince William County. The Commission receives and investigates complaints filed by any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against.

In celebration of Universal Human Rights Day, the Human Rights Commission recognizes individuals and organizations that promote the principles of human rights in Prince William County. It is my honor to include in the Record the recipients of the 2022 Prince William County Human Rights Commission Awards:

Carried to Full Term; Frank Washington and the Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare; Prince William County Police Department; Tummy Yum Yum; Yaqub Zargarpur; Omicron Zeta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the recipients of the 2022 Prince William County Human Rights Commission Awards. Theses honorees dedicate themselves to the residents of Prince William County and through their work, they make sure that all residents, including the most vulnerable in our society, are being looked out for. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to these honorees for their efforts to safeguard our most basic rights and remind us of our common humanity. Let us use their example to rededicate ourselves to the fight against inequity and injustice.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) and their continued dedication to the elimination of impaired driving and underage drinking in the Washington metropolitan area.

WRAP is a public-private partnership that works with law enforcement, community stakeholders, and advocacy groups in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Through educational and innovative public programs, WRAP is credited with keeping Washington area alcohol related death rates consistently below the national average. Programs and resources include Youth Outreach, Adult Outreach, and Public Education programs designed to educate students and the general public on the dangers of alcohol and drugs, particularly driving while under the influence. Through the WRAP Holiday SoberRide program, individuals who are impaired can request a free cab ride home. In 1982, the year that WRAP was founded, 26,173 people in the United States lost their lives in alcohol-related car accidents; 60 percent of all traffic fatalities involved drunk driving. Due to the tireless efforts of WRAP, other organizations such as MADD and SADD, local and state police, and enforcement of more stringent anti-drunk driving laws, alcohol-related traffic fatalities decreased to 9,878. But WRAP has worked tirelessly to ensure these statistics weren't repeated. WRAP also reached the ``80,000-served'' level of total ridership for WRAP's SoberRide program and nearly tripling SoberRide's annual ridership between 2016 and 2019.

Since 1997, WRAP has sponsored an annual Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony to honor local law enforcement professionals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in the fight against drunk driving. It is my honor to include in the Record the following names of the 2021 Law Enforcement Award of Excellence recipients:

Corporal Steven Mather--The Town of Herndon Police Department.

Officer William J. Ward--Prince William County Police Department.

Officer Ryan Corrigan--United States Capitol Police.

Officer Alexander Rodriguez--Arlington County Police Department

Officer Sean Poveda--Arlington County Police Department.

PFC Bryce A. Cooper--City of Falls Church Police Department.

Deputy Tyler Giles--Loudoun County Sheriffs Office.

Sergeant Wilber Alvarez--Prince George's County Police Department.

District Officer Margodane Vanriel--Metropolitan Police Department.

Trooper Carlos Alejo--Virginia Department of State Police.

Corporal Stephen Mann--Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

Master Police Officer Steve Faett--Fairfax County Police Department.

Sergeant Patrick Keep--Montgomery County Maryland Department of Police.

PFC Zachary Davis--City of Fairfax Police Department.

Officer Jordan Hunneyman--Alexandria Police Department.

Trooper Logan Speak--Maryland State Police.

Officer Benjamin R. Tomasiello--United States Park Police.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Washington Regional Alcohol Program and the 2021 Law Enforcement Award of Excellence recipients. Their efforts provide immeasurable benefits to their

fellow neighbors and serve as a reminder of why Fairfax County remains such a great place to live.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Fairfax County History Commission on the occasion of the 17th Annual Fairfax County History Conference.

Since 1969, the Fairfax County History Commission has worked to identify, document, record and preserve the history of our region. Few areas in the country are as rich in history as ours. Indeed, the history of this region is the history of our country. The History Conference provides an opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year and to recognize our neighbors who have made significant contributions to preserving and promoting our local history. Through the dedicated efforts of the History Commission and its many volunteers, we are assured that our history will not be lost and will be available for future generations.

This year, two of these dedicated individuals are being honored for their commitment to the preservation and education of history. I am proud to include in the Record their names:

Ms. Maura Keaney for her tireless efforts to inspire the next generation of historians. As a School-based Technology Specialist at Laurel Ridge Elementary School in Fairfax County, Ms. Keaney utilizes online research methods and crosses disciplinary boundaries to explore quantitative analysis of how to publicly document and celebrate history. Ms. Keaney has taught her students to think critically and quantitatively, examining the people and events being commemorated and who and what might have been left out of the narrative for too long. Ms. Keaney's dedication to the promotion and preservation of history is only surpassed by her dedication to her students.

Mr. Jeff Clark for his decades of work capturing and exhibiting Fairfax County's history. Mr. Clark has worked for the Fairfax County Public School system (FCPS) as the Video Producer and Director of Communication and Community Relations for the past 21 years. In his role, Mr. Clark has been able to produce multimedia content that tells the storied history of our county. He is considered to be the ``official historian'' of the FCPS and never hesitates to go the extra mile when it comes to preserving and showcasing Fairfax County's history and its impact on the country.

I commend the Fairfax County History Commission for helping to ensure that the abundance of history that is available to our community will be preserved far into the future.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating all the honorees and thanking the Fairfax County History Commission for the important work they do for the Northern Virginia community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career of Prince William County Assistant Police Chief Dawn Harman and to congratulate her on her retirement following 30 years of dedicated service to county residents.

The Prince William County Police Department was founded on July 1, 1970 and serves as the primary law enforcement agency for the county and the towns of Dumfries, Occoquan, Haymarket, and Quantico. At the time of its founding, the Department had a staff of 52 which included police officers, commanders, dispatchers, and secretaries, with an operating budget of $750,000. Today, the Department has grown to nearly 1,000 individuals with an annual operating budget of $116 million.

Major Dawn Harman is a life-long resident of Prince William County and graduated from Garfield High School. She graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor's degree in Animal and Veterinary Science, she was hired by the Police Department as a Deputy Animal Warden in September 1991, and then promoted as a Police Officer in January 1994.

Throughout her 30-year career with the Police Department, Major Harman served in numerous assignments including animal control, patrol operations, crime prevention, accreditation, and support services. She rose quickly through the ranks due to her exemplary leadership and commitment to improving the agency. She served as the Director of the Animal Control Bureau and the Western District Commander before being promoted to the rank of Major in September 2014. She holds the distinction of being the first female Assistant Chief in the Department's history.

Through her time as an Assistant Chief, Major Harman worked on several capital improvement programs including the planning

and construction of a new Animal Services Center and the expansion of the Public Safety Training Center. While serving her community, she also obtained a Master of Public Administration from George Mason University, where she has served as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Criminology, Law, and Society.

Throughout her career, Major Harman has made a positive impact in every assignment she has held, always looking for ways to improve the Department's ability to provide quality services to the community. Her professionalism and commitment to service have left a lasting impact on the police department and the citizens of Prince William County. Major Harman made it a priority throughout her career to mentor and develop the next generation of leaders ensuring the continued success of the department.

Her husband Mark is a retired member of the Police Department as well, and they have four children who were all born and raised in Prince William County. Two of her sons are also members of the Police Department, carrying on Dawn and Mark's legacy of public service.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending the 30- year career of Assistant Police Chief Dawn Harman with the Prince William County Police Department and thanking her for her tireless service to our community. I wish Major Dawn Harman and her family continued happiness and success in all things.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the distinguished chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and my friend, the distinguished ranking member.

Today is a test for liberal democracy all over the world, and particularly for us as Americans because today we witness the cost in blood, sweat, and tears in the fight for freedom that liberal democracy represents and provides: The simple desire of another people to have what we have and that all too often we take for granted, the desire to be a free people, under no one's shadow, under no one's yoke, and they are willing to put their bodies on the line to fight for that simple principle.

Weak punditry all too often has cast the opinion that liberal democracy is on the decline. Well, not in Ukraine and not here. And not with our allies and not at the United Nations. Because the scales have fallen from eyes. The threat is real, and so are the stakes.

All of us today must be Ukrainian. All of us must join that fight. All of us must understand that freedom, liberal democracy are resilient but also fragile. They must always be perfected but also defended.

This resolution today is not just about an expression of congressional solidarity. It is a recommitment by this body in the principles that founded this Nation that another people are fighting for to gain today.

I urge passage and proudly support this effort.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Maloney for her leadership, as well as Ranking Member Comer. I am also proud as an original cosponsor of this bill and as the chairman of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over postal issues.

This bill contains provisions that, when taken together, will right the course of the Postal Service, returning it to solvency and removing undue burdens that have mired it in debt for 16 years.

Much of the blame for the Postal Service's financial struggle rests squarely here in Congress. In 2003, Congress enacted the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, requiring the Postal Service to make annual, exorbitant prepayments into its retiree health benefits fund, a requirement required of no other entity in the United States. These payments kept the Postal Service from profitability for years, since 2006.

To be sure, this prepayment is not the only issue plaguing the Postal Service's financial posture in an increasingly online and digital society. But as the ranking member indicated, what this bill does do is takes care of that red ink that we are responsible for and puts the Postal Service in a position to buy time to develop a 21st century business model that will work and will continue to serve the American people.

We owe a debt of gratitude to postal workers who have, every day during this pandemic, served every household and every business in America on time and reliably, in terms of providing that lifeline and that one constant in our lives that we depend on.

This bill is going to shore that up and buttress that. It represents a bipartisan compromise that is long overdue, and I salute the leadership of our committee, our chairwoman and our ranking member, in being able to forge that bipartisan coalition that allows us to address this issue today in a meaningful way and to pass this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of Amendment No. 48, an important contribution to the America COMPETES Act that will strengthen our supply chains and boost American economic competitiveness.

I was proud to introduce Amendment No. 48 earlier this Congress as bipartisan legislation entitled the ``Partner with Korea Act'' with Representative Young Kim of California, the vice ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia and Nonproliferation and one of the first Korean American women to serve in Congress.

I am proud to lead this effort with Representative Young Kim as well as Senators Blunt and Hirono, who have introduced companion legislation on the Senate Side.

The Partner with Korea Act, legislation that has garnered 48 bipartisan cosponsors here in the House, would create an allotment of 15,000 E-4 highly skilled work visas for Korean nationals with specialized education and expertise, provided that potential employers can ensure the visa holders are not hired for positions that American workers could fill.

South Korea is an essential American ally, and as our seventh largest trading partner, it plays a crucial role in our nation's continued economic success and national security in Asia.

Better access to skilled visas will support the rapidly growing Korean investments in the United States--and the creation of thousands of high-paying, high-skilled manufacturing jobs across the country.

This amendment will enhance our economic cooperation with a key ally in the Inda-Pacific, increase domestic production of semiconductors, fix supply chains, and most importantly create American jobs.

South Korea investments in the American economy are increasing and according to the Department of Commerce. After the signing of the U.S.- Korea Free Trade Agreement, the stock of U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in South Korea grew from $28.2 billion to $39.1 billion, while South Korean FDI in the United States more than tripled growing from $19.9 billion to $61.8 billion.

In May 2021, four major Korean companies--Hyundai, LG, SK, and Samsung--announced plans to invest $39.4 billion in the United States. This is nearly double the inbound foreign direct investment (FDI) from Korea between 2017 and 2019.

In September 2021, SK Innovation and Ford announced a partnership to build two manufacturing ``mega-sites'' to produce next generation electric F-series trucks and batteries, together pledging $11.4 billion. In November, SK announced it planned to invest $52 billion in the United States, creating over 10,000 jobs by 2030.

Late last year, Samsung announced that it had selected Taylor, Texas, as the site of a new $17 billion semiconductor fab, creating over 2,000 jobs.

Just last month, LG Energy Solution and General Motors announced their own $2.6 billion partnership for yet another battery cell manufacturing facility, which is expected to create another 1,700 jobs. High-skilled, temporary visas will be critical to getting these operations off the ground.

When companies install proprietary equipment, they often send engineers and other specialists to help plan, design, install, and ultimately train new workers on complex manufacturing equipment-- leaving the long-term operation to newly-trained American workers.

Electric vehicle batteries and semiconductors are two critical supply chains, and Korean investments mean that more of these goods will be made in America, by American workers.

This is not a new program. The United States already has this same provision with every other trade agreement partner except for Korea. But none of these countries come close to Korea when it comes to the level of inbound foreign direct investment.

Amendment No. 48 ensures that high-skilled, non-immigrant workers from Korea can support these inbound investments and the growth of critical industries in the United States.

Madam Speaker, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was Korea that shipped us personal protective equipment that saved American lives. With deep economic ties and friendship, the U.S.-Korea alliance, forged in blood, is absolutely vital to securing the success of America's workers, businesses and economy at home--to position America to compete--and win--in the IndoPacific and on the world stage.

I urge my colleagues to support Amendment No. 48.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this bill that sends a clear signal about United States policy with respect to discrimination, especially violent, murderous discrimination against a whole class of people because of their ethnicity and/or religion.

But the significance of this bill is much more profound; it moves us forward in terms of our self-definition as Americans.

Our history is pockmarked with violent discrimination against groups that ``got in the way.'' Groups that challenged us to improve on the prevailing self-definition at the time.

From Native Americans who were dehumanized, Chinese Americans denied citizenship and naturalization as a group in our immigration laws, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Irish-Catholics discriminated against by Abolitionists.

The intent of this bill goes to our self-definition as a nation, something every generation must revisit.

By enshrining this in our State Department as a priority policy, that will be propounded with other nations, we make ourselves better too. We live up to our ideals as a people.

I hope we rise above the partisan temptations to score points at the expense of a whole class of people, at the expense of people all around the world who we have never met but count on us to do the right thing on their behalf.

This bill is important for those people who can't find their own voice, because they have been denied it, but let's use ours on their behalf. It will save lives and it will improve our own sense of identity, who we are, what it means to be American.

Madam Speaker, I thank my friend, the distinguished chairwoman of the Oversight and Reform Committee for yielding.

We just heard obfuscation on the floor of the House hoping that people watching will be distracted from the purpose of this bill, which is to counter the systematic voter suppression that is occurring in Republican-controlled States all over America.

Instead of enshrining the right to vote and enabling it, Republicans want to suppress it, they want to narrow it, they want to make it harder for you to vote. Because that is how they win elections, apparently.

This bill, the Protecting Our Democracy Act, led by Mr. Schiff would counter that, would enshrine and protect that sacred franchise, which is what America was founded to be.

I also want to highlight an amendment to the bill I provided. On October 21, President Trump signed Executive Order No. 13957 to undermine the merit system protection of our Federal workforce by requiring agency heads to reclassify policy-determining, policymaking, or policy-advocating positions.

At OMB, the Office of Management and Budget, this meant 80 percent of its workforce could suddenly be fired or eligible to be fired by the executive.

The Preventing a Patronage System Act preserves congressional prerogative by freezing that executive branch ability to unilaterally remove classes of Federal employees and restore the civil service as a nonpartisan entity.

I'm proud to support and cosponsor this bill. I urge its passage.

Madam Speaker, I thank my friend, Mr. McGovern, for yielding.

Madam Speaker, when I served in local government, I helped to write and pass 14 consecutive budgets. If I learned one thing from that process, it is that budgets are statements of values. When Republicans last used the budget reconciliation process, it was to pass a $2 trillion tax giveaway to the wealthy. Before that, they used it to rip healthcare away from more than 20 million Americans. They stated their values loudly and clearly.

Well, here are our values in this bill. We value working Americans, and are using reconciliation to cut their taxes; not the rich. We value American children and parents, and are using reconciliation drastically to lower childcare costs, provide paid family leave, and guarantee access to preschool. We value the health and well-being of the American people, and are using reconciliation to expand access to vital health services, especially our seniors. And we value our environment, and are using reconciliation to make the single largest investment in the fight against climate change in history.

These are our values. This is how we build back a better America, not only for the rich and well-connected, but for all Americans.

Madam Speaker, I urge the passage of this important investment in our future.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the volunteers of the Shepherd's Center of Northern Virginia and to thank them for their many contributions to the Northern Virginia community.

Organized in 1997, the formally named Shepherd's Center of Oakton- Vienna (SCOV) is a nonprofit that provides services to help older adults continue living independently, and it offers programs that supply opportunities for enrichment, learning, and socialization.

Each year, over 250 volunteers support older residents who want to both age in place in their homes and stay engaged in social activities. Services are available free of charge to anyone age 50 or older who resides in the local community.

In the past few years, the Shepherd's Center has greatly expanded their geographical footprint. After seeing a rising need in Reston and Herndon for free transportation services for seniors, the original Shepherd's Center of Oakton-Vienna expanded their service area. Earlier this year that expansion continued as the Shepherd's Center expanded to include the former territory covered by the Shepherd's Center of Great Falls, creating one unified Shepherd's Center of Northern Virginia.

As the Shepherd's Center has grown, they have been able to share their vision with even more older adults in our communities which has been more important than ever. The commitment to a world without loneliness has a whole new meaning as we have navigated this pandemic with social distancing and quarantining. The Shepherd's Center's innovation and dedication to our community has been invaluable, especially during this past year and a half.

The services and programs offered by the Shepherd's Center help to ensure that our seniors stay connected to the community through the promotion of active lifestyles, ongoing social integration, and availability of resources for older residents to use their experience, training, and skills in significant roles in society.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing the Shepherd's Center of Northern Virginia for its work to enable older adults in our community to age in place and enjoy their golden years with dignity and independence. I thank the many volunteers who generously dedicate their time and efforts to the welfare of our neighbors. The value of their contributions cannot be overstated and are deserving of our highest praise.