Floor Statements

Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.

I thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for their leadership in bringing this critical piece of bipartisan legislation for our national security of our Nation to the floor for the 64th consecutive year.

This bill continues to provide resources and capabilities to counter our Nation's number one threat: China. The Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee portions of the bill accomplish this by ensuring the Defense Intelligence Enterprise, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and our Special Operations Forces have the tools required to execute the Department's efforts in strategic competition and in countering malign Chinese actions.

There is more work to be done, though. This bill is far from perfect and requires compromises from both sides, but it is an overwhelmingly bipartisan bill that supports our servicemembers and their families by including the recommendations of the Quality of Life Panel to include a 19.5 percent pay raise for our junior enlisted and a 4.5 percent pay raise for all other servicemembers.

More importantly, it provides our servicemembers with the resources to accomplish the task our Nation asks of them. This is a critically important bill and essential to our national security, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, last year, the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa), my close friend and colleague, and I offered an amendment urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a large-scale study into psychedelic-assisted therapies to treat PTSD. I am happy to say that amendment was approved unanimously.

It was 6 months after this show of congressional support that the Veterans Administration announced that it would be funding significant research into psychedelic therapies for the first time in more than four decades.

While it is extremely promising that these treatments are coming, with FDA final approval expected sometime in August, one of the largest barriers to the initial implementation and future success is the availability of qualified and well-trained mental health professionals within VA.

Psychedelic-assisted therapies generally involve multiple therapists at a time and several multi-hour sessions to complete.

My amendment is simple. It expresses support for the recently announced VA-led research and encourages VA to prioritize the proactive training of therapists to successfully administer these new therapies.

As we saw last year, demonstrating clear congressional approval for these innovative efforts can motivate real action within the Federal bureaucracy. We owe it to our veterans to do everything we can in support of these breakthrough therapies.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa).

Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. Chairman, psychedelic-assisted therapies have the potential to be the first genuine advancement in the treatment of veterans' mental health in decades. It is essential that the VA continue their efforts to research these compounds and do everything they can to ensure that they have trained therapists and that those trained therapists are ready to meet the need to provide these new breakthrough treatments once they receive FDA approval.

Mr. Chair, again, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, this amendment would urge the Veterans Administration to make a decision on incorporating MDMA-assisted therapy into their formulary within 180 days of FDA approval. This is based on legislation by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden), which the Committee on Veterans' Affairs approved last month.

As we speak, the FDA's Scientific Advisory Committee is meeting to evaluate the phase 3 studies into this therapy, and full approval will likely come in early August.

I have had the opportunity to personally meet with many of the researchers involved in this study and the veterans whose lives have been forever changed by these therapies. That experience made the potential of this treatment clear to me, and many of the veterans told me that they would not be alive today if it were not for this therapy.

Any bureaucratic red tape that delays potential formulary inclusion could cost the lives of veterans currently suffering from PTSD. This amendment does not push VA to make a decision one way or another. It merely calls for them to act quickly in making a formulary decision.

Mr. Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa).

Mr. Chairman, I close by expressing my disappointment and frustration with the language that was included--or rather was not included in the committee's report accompanying this bill.

Despite strong support for useful and proactive language related to psychedelic therapies, including from members within the Appropriations Committee, the report only includes an indirect reference and encourages VA to monitor the results of privately funded research. It does not recognize the fact that VA is already pursuing their own research, and it takes no steps to prepare the VA for FDA approval, which may come in a couple of months.

Those who risk their lives in defense of our country deserve happy and fulfilling lives, and we have the responsibility to ensure that the VA is ready and able to assist them in this endeavor.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Gerrish Township Chief of Police, Brian A. Hill, for his forty-two years of service in law enforcement and wish him the best in his much-deserved retirement.

Chief Brian Hill attended Kirtland Community College from 1980 to 1982 where he earned an Associate's Degree in the Applied Science of Police Administration. Upon graduation from college in May of 1982, Chief Hill was hired by the Gerrish Township Police Department as a Road Patrol Officer.

His contribution to the Gerrish Township Police Department has led him to receive 7 Departmental Commendations/Citations for excellent investigative work as well as a Life-Saving Award for the use of a Department Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to save a heart attack victim. For his unwavering courage and work ethic, Chief Hill received a promotion to Sergeant in 1994.

As a Sergeant in 2004, he was appointed to serve as Co-Chair of the Roscommon County COOR Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Chief Hill was then promoted from Sergeant to the office of Chief of Police on September 9, 2006.

For his exemplary leadership and service, Chief Hill was awarded the ``Crime Fighter Award'' in 2013 by the Fight Crime, Invest in Kids, Michigan organization for his role in fighting for Early Child Education appropriations from both Washington D.C. and our State Capital.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Gerrish Township Police Chief, Brian A. Hill, for his four-plus decades of service and wish him well in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the Director of Cheboygan County Veterans Services, Sara Cunningham. Sara's role in assisting Veterans and their families in obtaining county, state, and federal benefits to which they are entitled has been monumental for our servicemembers and their loved ones.

Sara served the country in the United States Coast Guard from 1999 to 2004. She was stationed in Texas and New Jersey during her five years of military service. She came to the Cheboygan area when her husband was transferred to the United States Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw in 2014. She has worked in the Cheboygan County Veterans Services Office since December 2015 and also serves as the treasurer and secretary for the Veterans Memorial Park Committee.

In April 2022, Sara was recognized as the Hometown Hero of the Year by the Cheboygan County Veterans Subcommittee for everything she has done for local veterans. She was the first person to receive this honor for her exemplary work and humble service. Sara has also been the recipient of numerous statements of support and heartfelt appreciation from multiple Veterans and their families for the sacrifices she makes every day to serve those heroes.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the Director of Cheboygan County Veterans Services, Sara Cunningham for all her hard work and efforts on behalf of Veterans. Sara is an outstanding example of the ripple effect of positivity that one individual can start for a community and a grateful Nation and I wish her the best in all of her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 60th reunion of the West Branch High School Class of 1964 and honor the 134th anniversary of the West Branch High School Alumni Association.

Sixty years ago, the West Branch High School Class of 1964 graduated with 88 students who went on to lead by example through their knowledge, skills, sacrifices, and perseverance. Our community takes immense pride in the West branch class of '64, as we salute and pay tribute to the military Veterans for their brave and honorable service to our Nation. During the Vietnam era and beyond, 50 percent of the male graduates from the class of '64 went on to serve in the United States military.

Accomplishments shared by the West Branch High School Class of 1964 attest to the lasting, positive impact that educators made on their lives and to the strength of friendships that have endured for decades, leaving a legacy that Michiganders across the 1st District can be proud of. I also recognize the West Branch High School Alumni Association on the occasion of its 134th anniversary, underscoring the dedicated leadership and significant efforts that have been made to keep the Alumni Association active and vital, long after the school closed 55 years ago.

I'm confident that the legacy of the school will continue to live on through ``The Orioles Forever West Branch High School Alumni Endowment Fund,'' established in 2006 to perpetually provide scholarships to graduating seniors from the West Branch--Rose City Schools who are continuing their education.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize and celebrate the 60th reunion of the West Branch High School Class of 1964, as well as the 134th anniversary of the West Branch High School Alumni Association. I wish everyone the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Ross Freeman for his historic contributions to the Scientific and Technological communities

One of the UP's very own, Mr. Freeman grew up on a farm near Engadine. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1969 and received his master's degree from the University of Illinois in 1971.

Mr. Freeman invented the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a computer chip which revolutionized programming as we know it. The FPGA created what came to be known as ``open gates,'' which allowed engineers brand new reprogramming capabilities to adapt to changing standards and specifications and make last second changes to designs.

Mr. Freeman further revolutionized the tech industry with his unique hypotheses and worked to make those customizable chips affordable for everyone.

His incredible life was unfortunately cut short at the age of 41, not long after his vision for the future began taking shape. However, his contributions to society are immense and will be remembered by proud Yoopers all across our great state.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Ross Freeman for his contributions to both the Scientific Community and our Nation as a whole.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from northern Minnesota for yielding. We share a lot of commonalities, and one is our love of the outdoors and of our national treasures.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in favor today of H.R. 3195, the Superior National Forest Restoration Act. For those of us in the North Woods of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, mining is a core part of our history, economies, and way of life. From the long heritage of copper country in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the millions of tons of iron ore that come from Minnesota each year, it is a treasure.

The abundant resources in our region are now more important than ever with sources of nickel, cobalt, titanium, and now even helium being discovered and poised to play a huge role in the growth of renewable energy technologies and mineral independence.

At the same time, those of us in the Great Lakes region are fiercely protective of our forests, waters, and wilderness, which is why I am a proud supporter of programs like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.

It is the job of the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service to properly balance responsible resource extraction with the protection of our natural treasures.

Instead of balance, the Biden administration pushed a 20-year ban on mining on more than 200,000 acres of land entirely outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This decision ignored a very simple truth: Environmental conservation and utilization of our natural resources are not mutually exclusive.

Projects should be approved or disapproved based on their individual merits and risks after proper environmental reviews are completed, not just banned wholesale. This abrupt cancellation also goes directly against the Biden administration's efforts to secure domestic supply lines for critical minerals that go into solar panels, batteries, and other renewable energy infrastructure.

The United States cannot lead the world in clean energy while at the same time being reliant on the minerals produced by countries with absolutely no regard for environmental standards like China and Russia.

This reliance on foreign adversaries for our domestic mineral manufacturing and energy supply lines also poses significant risk to our national security. We are blessed to have abundant natural resources within our borders, and we have the responsibility to protect the environment while we secure America's mineral and energy independence into the future.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 112.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I am here today to offer my amendment to

Mr. Chair, explicitly maintaining protections that prevent oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes will provide certainty for the millions of Americans who call the region home while we work to improve Federal permitting.

Mr. Chair, once again, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I sadly rise today in support of H.R. 7511, the Laken Riley Act, and to honor the namesake of this legislation.

Laken Hope Riley was a beautiful soul taken too soon from her loving family by an illegal migrant who was detained and then released back into our country in 2022.

As a young nursing student, Laken brought joy to everyone around her as she pursued her passion of helping people. She had so much potential and so much life to live. My prayers are with her family as they mourn the loss of her light in this world.

If not for our open borders and catch and release protocols, Laken, and many other innocent Americans who were murdered by illegal immigrants, would be alive today. It is time to secure our border and end these destructive policies now.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7511 and to continue fighting to ensure no other family has to bury their child due to Biden's preventable crisis.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Commander David T. St. Aubin for his 25 years of dedicated service to the United States Navy and our Nation. I'd also like to congratulate him on his retirement as Commander of Navy Patrol Squadron Four Zero.

Commander St. Aubin, a Negaunee native, enlisted in the United States Navy in 1999 and completed Nuclear Power School and prototype in 2001. Commander St. Aubin later graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2005, receiving his Wings of Gold in 2007 upon his graduation from flight training. He would later receive his first assignment with Patrol Squadron Four Five in Jacksonville, Florida.

Before joining Patrol Squadron Four Zero, Commander St. Aubin served in multiple duty stations all over the globe. He has deployed with the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Fleets as well as the J3 Directorate at the Pentagon and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Finally, in 2021 he was selected for command of Patrol Squadron Four Zero.

Commander St. Aubin has diligently served as the Commanding Officer of Patrol Squadron Four Zero for the past two years. Standing by the squadron mantra, ``Laging Handa,--Always Ready'', Commander St. Aubin proudly served as the 73rd Commander of Squadron VP-40. From his time in service, Commander St. Aubin's personal awards include: the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to thank Commander David T. St. Aubin for his 25 years of service and for his retirement. I wish the Commander a well-deserved retirement and all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, Chief Patrick Parker grew up in Petoskey, Michigan as the oldest of 11 children and carried with him from a young age a sense of duty and responsibility. In high school, Chief Parker played football for the Petoskey Northmen, was a Proud Eagle Scout of Troop 7, and graduated in 1979. Chief Parker then attended North Central Michigan College where he earned an Associate's Degree an later received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Lake Superior State College.

Chief Parker started his fire service career in 1983 as a volunteer and morphed into a part-paid/on-call firefighter and EMT. He filled many roles such as Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain, and Battalion Chief; and in 2004, he was promoted to the rank of full-time Deputy Chief. On January 1, 2006, Parker became the Chief of the Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department, encouraging his members to foster an atmosphere where everyone is empowered to give their best and live up to the credo: Omnis Cedo Domus--Everyone Goes Home.

Additionally, Chief Parker is involved professionally in the Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs Board, Northern Michigan Fire Chiefs Association Board, Grand Traverse County Local Emergency Planning Committee, Local Planning Team and 911 Advisory Board. Chief Parker is the founding member of MI-Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Division 3701, which at the time of its founding included all of Region-7. He is the chairperson of the MABAS-Michigan Special Operations Work Group, the State's Urban Search and Rescue Team, overseeing Michigan Task Force-1. Chief Parker was Michigan's representative to the Great Lakes Division (GLD) of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), and he currently is the immediate past president of the GLD.

Always looking for new ways to help his community, Chief Parker is involved with many local boards and committees, serving as the President of the American Red Cross--Northern Michigan, Camps and Services member of the Rotary Club of Traverse City, board member of the Rotary Camps & Services with the Knights of Columbus No. 9979, and board member of the Michigan Crossroads Council--Boy Scouts of America. He is the founding member and President of the Grand Traverse Region First Responder Alliance, a 501(c)(3) organization founded to find solutions to the unmet needs of the region's first responders.

Chief Parker is also a dedicated husband, enjoying 39 years of marriage to his wife Michelle and their 3 golden retrievers. In his spare time, he is known for being an avid hiker, hunter, and Great Lakes boater, and he enjoys camping and snowmobiling in the wintertime.

Mr. Speaker, it's my honor to congratulate Chief Patrick Parker on an exemplary career and legacy of giving back to his community. I thank him for his humble service and wish him and his family the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Technical Sergeant Frank L. Pifher for his dedicated and humble service to our Nation in the United States Army.

Frank, a Flint, Michigan, native answered our Nation's call and enlisted in United States Armed Forces in 1952. Frank served honorably in the Korean War in 1953 with the Armored Cavalry, seeing combat as a Tank Commander and spending 11 months overseas. He earned the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, the Good Conduct Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal in gallant service to his country.

After returning stateside, Frank was stationed at Camp Carson in Colorado, where he was honorably discharged from the Army on May 5th, 1954. While overseas, Frank had frequently written to a pen pal, who was serving as a wartime nurse back in Michigan. Upon his separation from the military, Frank married his beloved pen pal, Mary Lou. In their 70 years of marriage, they had four children--Tim, Janet, Rebecca and James. Rebecca and James went on to serve honorably in the Marine Corps themselves. In addition to their children, Frank and Mary Lou were blessed with five grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren. The Pifhers currently reside in Tuscarora Township where they have lived for 34 years.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank Technical Sergeant Frank L. Pifher for his exemplary service to the United States of America. Our gratitude extends to him not only for his courage and humility, but also for his legacy of service that he has passed down to his children and their children. May God bless Frank and his family.

Mr. Speaker, the last Secretary of Homeland Security appointed by a Democratic President once described a border crisis as more than 1,000 Border Patrol encounters per day. In December last year, we averaged nearly 10 times that number.

Perhaps most worryingly, 2023 saw a record-setting 860,000, just a little bit shy of a million got-aways, border crossers who were detected but who were never apprehended. That is nearly a million potential felons, cartel members, terrorists, and drug traffickers freely allowed into our country and currently residing in our communities and our neighborhoods.

This crisis has been aided and abetted through the unprecedented dereliction of duty of Secretary Mayorkas. As the House Homeland Security Committee has uncovered, Mayorkas has repeatedly violated, subverted, and simply ignored multiple laws set forth by Congress that he swore an oath to uphold, all while ignoring court orders and lying to Congress and the American people.

The evidence of his wrongdoings is damning. His abuse of power goes well beyond simple bureaucratic incompetence. His actions, which have put our Nation at extreme risk, cannot go unanswered.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.