Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7528) to amend section 206 of the E-Government Act of 2002 to improve the integrity and management of mass comments and computer- generated comments in the regulatory review process, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Every American deserves the opportunity to participate in our political system, which includes sharing their views on agency rulemaking.

Agencies are required to provide an opportunity to participate in rulemaking by submitting written views or data on draft rules.

Recent advances have expanded the ability for the public to comment on proposed rules electronically. However, agencies may struggle to manage computer-generated or mass comments.

H.R. 7528, the Comment Integrity and Management Act, provides additional support to agencies navigating these new challenges by allowing them the flexibility necessary to manage electronic comments.

The bill requires agencies to verify that any comment submitted electronically has been submitted by an actual human. The bill also provides agencies with additional authorities to assist in processing and analyzing mass comments submitted electronically.

It requires agencies to identify, to the extent practicable, if the comment is a mass comment and indicate this identification on any publicly available copy of the comment.

This bill also requires agencies to establish and make public any policies

they have regarding how they will handle computer-generated and mass comments in the rulemaking process.

Further, this legislation requires the Office of Management and Budget to issue implementing guidance to agencies and requires the Government Accountability Office to submit a report to Congress.

It is time that our Federal agencies adapt their processes to accommodate the latest technologies.

I thank Representative Clay Higgins for his idea and work in developing this forward-thinking legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins).

In closing, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7528 helps ensure every American is heard and not drowned out by an influx of computer- generated comments.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7527), to direct the United States Postal Service to issue regulations requiring Postal Service employees and contractors to report to the Postal Service traffic crashes involving vehicles carrying mail that result in injury or death, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7527, which requires U.S. Postal Service employees and contractors to report traffic crashes that result in injury or death to the Postal Service.

Last year, The Wall Street Journal published an article alleging that the Postal Service contracted with low-cost trucking companies that did not follow highway safety regulations. They also reported that postal contractors have been involved in car crashes that have killed 79 people in the last 3 years.

To conduct oversight of this important topic, Congress needs to be informed. The Mail Traffic Deaths Reporting Act requires the Postal Service to report to Congress any traffic crashes that result in injury or death.

Under the bill, Postal Service employees and contractors will have 3 days to report a traffic accident to the Postal Service. These reports will include, at minimum, the date, time, location, nature of the crash, information identifying the contractor, and number of injuries and fatalities. The Postal Service will maintain a comprehensive internal digital database of this information.

The Postal Service is also required to compile a publicly available report summarizing annual stats related to injuries and deaths from traffic accidents.

I thank Representative Connolly and House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer for bringing this necessary legislation to the consideration of the House.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, the Postal Service is tasked with the challenging job of providing fast, reliable mail service nationwide. While they do so, their safety should be prioritized.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this commonsense bill that increases transparency into the Postal Service's safety record to improve public safety throughout our Nation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7525) to require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance to agencies requiring special districts to be recognized as local government for the purpose of Federal financial assistance determinations.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7525, which establishes a definition in law for special districts and clarifies that special districts are eligible to receive Federal financial assistance.

Many Americans receive essential services through special districts, units of local government authorized under State law to deliver specific services to communities. There are approximately 35,000 special districts across the country in every single State.

Some examples of special districts are ambulance service districts, drainage districts, emergency service boards, and flood control districts, to name a few. These special districts provide critical services to mostly rural communities across the Nation.

The Office of Management and Budget already recognizes special districts as units of local government, similar to townships or villages, yet special districts often struggle to compete for or access Federal funding.

The Special District Grant Accessibility Act works to solve this problem and ensures that special districts are on equal footing with other units of local government. This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance to Federal agencies, emphasizing how special districts should be recognized as a unit of local government.

This legislation is supported by the National Special Districts Coalition.

I thank Representative Fallon and Representative Pettersen for their work on this important bipartisan bill, which impacts nearly every congressional district in our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Fallon), my friend.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill to emphasize that special districts are eligible for Federal financial assistance.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2073) to amend title 31, United States Code, to require agencies to include a list of outdated or duplicative reporting requirements in annual budget justifications, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, every year numerous laws require Federal agencies to produce thousands of reports, with a single report costing tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars.

While many reports help inform Congress and the public, some are outdated or duplicative.

With nearly 100 agencies issuing annual reports as required under law, there is a great opportunity for cost savings and improving government efficiency by addressing outdated reports.

Agencies are already required to compile lists of the reports they generate, but this information is not included in an agency's annual budget document which Congress scrutinizes on an annual basis.

The Eliminate the Useless Reports Act requires each agency to identify and reduce the frequency of duplicative or outdated reports in its regular budget justification documents.

This bill would increase government efficiency and save taxpayer dollars by eliminating unnecessary reports.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Robert Garcia and Grothman for their leadership on this issue and Budget Committee Chairman Arrington for

his collaboration with the House Oversight Committee for advancing this bill today.

I encourage my colleagues to support this bipartisan commonsense bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill that will increase government efficiency, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7524) to amend title 40, United States Code, to require the submission of reports on certain information technology services funds to Congress before expenditures may be made, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7524, the GSA Technology Accountability Act.

The General Services Administration's Technology and Transformation Services, or TTS, manages several Federal technology projects and initiatives.

These projects and initiatives are mostly funded through two funds-- the Citizen Services Fund and the Acquisition Services Fund.

There is little transparency, however, into how money from these funds is allocated and what TTS is doing with its resources.

This bill requires the administrator of GSA to submit an annual report to Congress regarding each program funded by the Citizen Services Fund and some programs funded by the Acquisition Services Fund.

This annual report will include information about funded programs, projects and initiatives, and reimbursements associated with each program.

This bill provides much-needed transparency into TTS programs and technology-related projects.

I thank Representative Pete Sessions, chairman of the House Oversight Committee Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce, and Representative Gerry Connolly for their work on this legislation.

I encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense bill to increase transparency and provide additional oversight of taxpayer dollars, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions), my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense bill to increase transparency and provide additional oversight of taxpayer dollars.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 272) to amend title 31, United

States Code, to authorize transportation for Government astronauts returning from space between their residence and various locations, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 272, the ASTRO Act.

First of all, let's give respect for the name ASTRO Act. As far as the names of bills go, that ranks way up there as far as the ones I have seen, so high compliments.

This will streamline a burdensome administrative process regarding government-provided transportation for astronauts returning from space flight. When astronauts return from space travel, NASA provides them with home-to-work transportation so that the agency can monitor, evaluate, diagnose, and provide these brave men and women with medical treatment until they are medically cleared to drive.

Under existing statute, NASA's authorization of this transportation for the astronauts must include concurrent reports to Congress with details about the authorized transportation. Reporting in this manner can be challenging to NASA as it can make it difficult to maintain up- to-date authorizations as crewmembers are replaced or reassigned to different missions.

The ASTRO Act will amend current law to enable NASA to authorize the use of official transportation between residence and worksite without such unworkable reporting requirements. However, the bill maintains appropriate congressional transparency by requiring NASA to provide Congress with an annual report on its use of this new authorization.

I thank the sponsor of the bill, Congressman Babin, for his work. I also thank the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for its bipartisan support of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).

Mr. Speaker, while it may sound like a mundane problem, the underlying need for this bill is anything but that. We owe it to these courageous men and women who leave behind families and friends to spend months in space to cut through the red tape and take care of them upon their return.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XVII, during consideration of H.R. 3354, Representative Wexton of Virginia be permitted to use a medical assistive communication device while under recognition.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3354) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 220 North Hatcher Avenue in Purcellville, Virginia, as the ``Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Post Office Building''.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, which would name a post office in Purcellville, Virginia, for former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Secretary Albright was born in Prague in 1937 and immigrated to the United States with her family in 1948.

In 1993, President Clinton appointed her Ambassador to the United Nations, a position in which she served until her appointment as Secretary of State in 1996, the first woman to be appointed to that position and the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. Government at that time.

For 50 years, Secretary Albright resided in Loudoun County, where this post office is located.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill honoring an American leader. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7423) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 103 Benedette Street in Rayville, Louisiana, as the ``Luke Letlow Post Office Building''.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, which would name a post office in Rayville, Louisiana, for Congressman-elect Luke Letlow.

Letlow was a native Louisianan who attended Louisiana Tech University, where he was a member of the Louisiana Tech College Republicans and the Louisiana Federation of College Republicans.

As a young college graduate, Letlow was a staff member for former Congressmen John Cooksey and Ralph Abraham as well as Governor Bobby Jindal.

In 2020, Letlow launched a successful bid for Louisiana's Fifth Congressional District seat. He was set to be sworn in to the United States House of Representatives on January 3, 2021. Sadly, he passed away from complications due to COVID-19 on December 29, 2020.

I support naming a post office in memory of Congressman-elect Letlow, and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

I would say on a personal note that I consider it a loss to me and to my colleagues to not have the opportunity to serve with Mr. Letlow. We would have been sworn in to Congress on the exact same day.

I am grateful, however, to get to serve alongside his wife, Julia, and to get to experience him through her memories of him, and their two beautiful children, Jeremiah and Jacqueline.

I am honored to have the opportunity to manage the Republican time on this bill today, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Louisiana (Ms. Letlow).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), our majority leader.

Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor and privilege to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson), the Speaker of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for his comments. I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, which rightly honors the life and legacy of a great man, Congressman-elect Luke Letlow.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of renaming the VA outpatient clinic in Kansas City, Kansas, after Captain Elwin ``Al'' Shopteese.

Captain Shopteese was born and raised in Mayetta, Kansas, and was a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. Upon graduating high school, he enlisted in the Kansas National Guard and served as part of Company E, 137th Infantry Regiment.

He deployed to Europe during World War II and fought in both the invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. Captain Shopteese received the

Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his service and selfless sacrifice to our Nation.

After returning to Kansas following the Korean war, Captain Shopteese served as a Tribal council member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and helped create the Indian Community Alcoholism Resources Expeditors Recovery Home.

Captain Shopteese's profound legacy of service to our country and to the Native American community will live on for generations to come. I am proud to join my fellow Kansans in introducing legislation to rename the clinic after this American hero and a member of the Greatest Generation.

Honoring the Life of Ken Brock

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of Ken Brock, a dear friend of mine and a pillar in the southeast Kansas community.

Ken graduated from Fort Scott High School and served in the Kansas Army National Guard before founding Names and Numbers, a business that published easy-to-use local phone books. Ken grew Names and Numbers with his wife, Debbie, into one of the leading independent directory companies in the country.

In addition to being a successful entrepreneur and major job creator, Ken was passionate about strengthening our communities and bringing new economic development to the region. He served as the chairman of the Highway 69 Association and successfully led the charge to expand Highway 69 to a four-lane route from Kansas City to Pittsburg. Ken was also active on the Pittsburg State University campus, serving on numerous boards and advisory committees.

Growing up in southeast Kansas, I know firsthand the profound impact Ken had on our region. Ken was a joyful person, a dedicated person, always putting his family, community, and country ahead of himself. He is someone you would have wanted on your side, and I was glad that he was on mine.

It has been an honor to get to know him and his family over the years, and I am grateful for all that he has done. Ken Brock passed away this past December, but his legacy of faith, family, and community will not be forgotten.

Celebrating the Life of Senator Bob Marshall

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of State Senator Bob Marshall, who passed away this past September.

Bob Marshall attended the University of Kansas, where he became a four-sport letterman and played basketball alongside the legendary Wilt Chamberlain. He was a tremendous athlete and a tremendous competitor, something I learned firsthand.

Upon graduating KU, Senator Marshall was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps and flew vital reconnaissance missions during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He left active duty in 1965 and became a commercial airline pilot for the next 33 years before switching gears and taking on the role as athletic director at Fort Scott Community College.

Bob was elected to the Kansas State Senate in 2009, where he served on the transportation, economic development, education, and local government committees, securing crucial funding for universities across our State.

Senator Marshall worked tirelessly to strengthen our communities and serve hardworking Kansas families. I am honored to have the opportunity to have gotten to know him. He will be greatly missed in Kansas.

Congratulating Randy Linck on His Retirement

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate senior investigator Randy Linck on his retirement from the Brown County Sheriff's Office.

Randy dedicated more than four decades to protecting Kansas families in the Brown County community, making him the longest serving law enforcement officer in county history. He started his law enforcement career as a reserve deputy and eventually served as deputy investigator and undersheriff.

In addition to his work as a law enforcement officer, Randy was an EMT for the Brown County Rescue Squad and the county emergency preparedness coordinator.

I am grateful for Senior Investigator Linck's 40 years of service and sacrifice to northeast Kansas. I wish him and his family the best in his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my appreciation for the men and women at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

These Americans work tirelessly to provide the fullest possible accounting for the 81,000 servicemembers who remain missing from past conflicts.

Earlier this year, scientists from the DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as chest radiograph comparisons, to positively identify the remains of United States Army Air Forces Staff Sergeant Wesley ``Bub'' Leon Jones.

Staff Sergeant Jones was killed in action during Operation Tidal Wave when his B-24 bomber was shot down by enemy forces over Romania in 1943. His remains have been unidentified for more than 80 years.

Thanks to the DPAA, World War II veteran and proud Kansan Wesley Jones has finally returned home to Wichita and was laid to rest on Saturday.

I am grateful for the historians, anthropologists, technicians, doctors, and scientists at the DPAA who are fighting every day to bring our heroes home.

leading with strength

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the greatest threat currently facing the United States of America: the Chinese Communist Party.

Communist China, led by President Xi, is buying up American farmland, stealing our intellectual property, investing in our educational institutions, and spying on our most critical military installations. Make no mistake, the time of trusting and welcoming China into the global system is over.

Pushing back against CCP aggression is not partisan. I am proud that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle came together to create the bipartisan Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party to counter President Xi's efforts to undermine American leadership.

It is vital that we put forward solutions to end our economic dependence on China, bring our jobs and supply chains back home to the United States, and make certain that our military is equipped to defend American interests and sovereignty.

The Chinese Communist Party is knocking at our doorstep, and this threat is becoming more urgent every single day.

It is crucial that President Biden starts leading with strength on the world stage to ensure the United States of America remains a beacon of freedom and hope for millions of people around the world.

paying tribute to kansan miners and big brutus

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of southeast Kansas' most treasured monuments, Big Brutus.

Standing 16 stories tall and weighing 11 million pounds, Big Brutus is the largest electric shovel of its kind. The colossal machine is a towering landmark on the otherwise flatland of West Mineral, Kansas. Here is a handmade wooden replica constructed by John Johnson.

From 1963 to 1974, Big Brutus was in use for coal strip mining. In a day's work, Big Brutus could work at a speed of 0.22 miles per hour and lift 150 tons of coal in a bucket. This efficiency was revolutionary for its time and dramatically increased the success of coal mining in the region.

The immortalization of this monument emphasizes the significance of Big Brutus in the development of engineering, but most importantly, it stands as a testament to southeast Kansas and the strength and fortitude of the people who live there.

As Big Brutus celebrates its 60th year, I commemorate the generations of miners in southeast Kansas for their hard work and dedication.

celebrating the chase county courthouse sesquicentennial

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the sesquicentennial year of the Chase County Courthouse, the oldest operational courthouse in Kansas.

The courthouse's construction began in 1871 and was completed in 1873. Each

year, visitors from across the country visit the Chase County Courthouse to admire its architectural design, stonework, and spiral staircase.

Standing 113 feet tall, this iconic structure can be seen from many vantage points across the county and most prominently in the heart of downtown Cottonwood Falls.

Unmatched in durability and design, the courthouse remains a living tribute to its builders and the Flint Hills pioneers who envisioned a courthouse that would stand and be of service to its residents for well over a century.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the county commissioners, members of the committee, and the entire Chase County community as they prepare to celebrate 150 years of their historic courthouse.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in appreciation for a member of my staff for her dedicated service to the people of Kansas. Monet Straub has been an invaluable member of my team since she joined my staff in 2017 when I was still serving as State Treasurer. Monet has worked tirelessly as my Deputy District Director for the past 2\1/2\ years--helping thousands of Kansans from across the Second Congressional District navigate our federal agencies through high- quality and reliable constituent services.

From organizing the Topeka office to running Mobile office hours, Monet's dedication, patience, and hard work have been vital in ensuring the success of our district operation. Most importantly, Monet always put our constituents first and Kansans knew they could count on her to get the job done. I am grateful for Monet's positive attitude and dedication to service over these past 6 years. I wish her the very best and look forward to seeing her excel in her new endeavors.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act.

For the past 2 years, the Biden administration has done everything in their power to make it harder to produce energy here in the United States. Within the first 24 hours of being sworn into office, President Biden took executive action to kill the Keystone XL Pipeline project and ban new drilling on Federal lands.

When prices began to rise because of these misguided policies, the White House sold off our emergency oil supply and looked to Iran, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia to increase production instead of turning to energy producers right here in America.

Just a few years ago, our Nation was energy independent. Now, we are relying on our adversaries for our most critical energy resources. As a result, families across America have faced record-high prices at the pump and soaring utility costs. It is time for a new direction.

The Lower Energy Costs Act maximizes production of reliable, American-made energy by streamlining the permitting process, investing in energy infrastructure in the United States, and reversing burdensome and costly regulations put in place by the Biden administration.

President Biden's commitment to Green New Deal policies not only puts our national security at risk, but also threatens our way of life in Kansas. The energy sector in my home State employs more than 150,000 hardworking Kansans, provides more than $3 billion in family income, and delivers over $1.5 billion in State and local tax revenue.

This legislation will protect our energy security, grow our economy, and create good-paying jobs in our communities. House Republicans promised the American people that we would take action to put our Nation back on the path toward energy independence and lower gas and electricity prices for hardworking families.

The Lower Energy Costs Act is a crucial step in making good on that commitment, and I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in appreciation for a member of my staff for her dedicated service to the people of Kansas. From day one of my first term in Congress, Marisa Burleson has served the Second Congressional District as Director of Operations in Washington, D.C., with commitment and distinction.

Marisa's knowledge, hard work, diligence, and grit have ensured my office is serving Kansans to the best of our ability. She lent her experience to help first organize the office, has consistently exceeded the expectations of constituents and colleagues, and has continuously solved seemingly unsolvable scheduling conflicts. Marisa is a fervid Texan, but we have been proud to have her and will continue to be proud to have her as an honorary Kansan and look forward to seeing her excel in her new endeavors.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6824, the President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act.

Mr. Speaker, you merely have to turn on the news to hear about the latest ransomware problem that continues to vex our country. According to research funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, there is a deficit of almost half a million cybersecurity employees in the U.S. Now more than ever, it is critical that the Federal Government provide cybersecurity education and pathways to Federal employment and make Federal retention of this limited skill set a priority.

One very important effort is underpinned by the President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act. CISA launched the first President's Cup Cybersecurity Act in 2019, as a national cybersecurity competition for both individuals and teams, aiming to identify, challenge, and reward the best cybersecurity talent in the Federal workforce.

This bill grants CISA the authority to fully implement the cybersecurity competition with certain parameters and provide prizes to winning individuals and teams. By codifying the cybersecurity competition, we further incentivize a skilled cybersecurity workforce. We also signal that Congress is committed to addressing Federal cybersecurity recruitment and retention challenges.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 6824, and I yield back the balance of my time.