Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 97, I call up the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 26) disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022, and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of Representative Clyde's H.J. Res. 26, a resolution disapproving the District of Columbia's Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022.

There is a crime crisis in America's Capital City. According to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, carjackings in the District have increased by 90 percent compared to this time last year. Total property crime is up 31 percent, and homicides are up 29 percent. In fact, D.C. is currently on track to have the most homicides since 1995.

But the radical D.C. Council has chosen to prioritize legislation that will turn this crime crisis into a catastrophe. The D.C. Council's progressive soft-on-crime legislation eliminates almost all the mandatory minimum sentencing requirements for violent crimes, and it drastically reduces the maximum penalties allowable to the courts. These changes further embolden criminals to run rampant throughout the District of Columbia.

The act also grants the right to a jury trial for most misdemeanor offenses. The D.C. court system is already overloaded. This change will burden the D.C. court system even more, reducing the resources devoted to hearing cases for serious felony offenses.

The D.C. Council's legislation is eroding an individual's right to a fair and speedy trial granted them through our Constitution.

All Americans should feel safe in their Capital City, but they don't because of D.C. Democrats' leniency toward criminals at the expense of Americans' safety.

Ensuring public safety and addressing crime is a cornerstone of the House Republicans' policy agenda. In November of last year, Americans voted for a new majority in the House--a new majority that will address crime head-on to ensure a nation that is safe.

This D.C. Council legislation is a brazen rejection of law and order. Ignoring the high rates of criminality in the District and doubling down on leniency for society's violent criminals is a dereliction of duty. This terrible policy will impact anyone who sets foot in the District of Columbia, including residents, the commuting workforce, Federal Government officials, foreign dignitaries, and Americans visiting their Nation's Capital.

If the D.C. Council wants to continue to skirt its responsibility to the people, then they will have to answer to this Congress.

It should be noted that we in Congress are not alone. The D.C. Police Union, representing 3,500 members, and the National Fraternal Order of Police are strongly in favor of H.J. Res. 26 stating in a recent letter to Congress that the D.C. act ``will embolden criminals, dramatically increase crime and violence, and render police officers in the District of Columbia virtually powerless to adequately police the city and keep its residents and visitors safe.''

This resolution is also endorsed by the National Association of Police Organizations representing over 241,000 law enforcement officials across America and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.

Additionally, on January 4, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser took the extraordinary step of vetoing this legislation, calling the proposals controversial and stating that the act does not make the District of Columbia safer.

Mayor Bowser's bold executive veto sent a strong message that the policy proposals of this bill are simply unworkable and unsafe for the District. There may not be much Mayor Bowser and I have agreed on in the past, but today we are on the same page.

Mr. Speaker, I call on my colleagues to join me in supporting Mr. Clyde's resolution disapproving of the D.C. Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022. We must ensure these terrible criminal code reforms are not put into place.

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

Mr. Speaker, it appears my Democratic colleagues would rather disregard their statutory responsibility in the Home Rule Act. How convenient to pick and choose when to do their duty.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde) who is the sponsor of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the Speaker of the House.

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

I feel compelled to respond. These resolutions have been called paternalistic. However, the last time Congress passed a joint resolution of disapproval was all the way back in 1990, my senior year in high school--I am 50 years old, Mr. Speaker--over 30 years ago.

Congress does not act upon D.C. legislation unless it is absolutely necessary, and that is what we are faced with today.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lawler).

Mr. Speaker, I am pretty sure we haven't had a carjacking in my congressional district in several years. If someone thought about carjacking a vehicle in my district, it probably wouldn't end well for them. I don't think this has anything to do with this important bill in a city that has been ravaged with crime and carjackings every day.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. D'Esposito).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record four letters of support for this resolution, letters from the D.C. Police Union, National Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations, and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.

DC Police Union,

Washington, DC, February 6, 2023.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Speaker McCarthy: I am writing as Chairman of the

Fraternal Order of Police, Metropolitan Police Department

Labor Committee, D.C. Police Union (``D.C. Police Union'')

and on behalf of the nearly 3,500 members of the D.C. Police

Union regarding in support of the disapproval resolution

regarding a dangerous law that the D.C. Council has passed

that will embolden criminals, dramatically increase crime,

and render police officers in the District powerless to

adequately police the City.

On January 17, 2023, the D.C. Council overrode Mayor Muriel

Bowser's veto of the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 (the

``RCCA''). The RCCA eliminates mandatory minimum sentences

for all crimes, drastically reduces the maximum penalties for

crimes such as carjacking, and eliminates accomplice

liability for felony murder. The provisions in this bill will

create lawlessness, prevent police from holding criminals

accountable, and increase the number of officers who leave

the department.

The RCCA Eliminates Mandatory Minimum Sentences and Dramatically

Reduces Statutory Maximum Sentences

The RCCA eliminates all mandatory minimum sentences in the

District and dramatically reduces the statutory maximum

sentence which may be imposed for nearly all crimes. This

reckless legislation brings the District into uncharted and

dangerous territory. Indeed, the Council has conceded that

``no U.S. jurisdiction has entirely eliminated mandatory

minimums.'' Despite this, the Council has persisted in its

irresponsible encouragement of lawlessness in the District.

The RCCA promotes crime by eliminating the certainty of

punishment for offenders through the elimination of mandatory

minimums while simultaneously stripping judges of the ability

to impose a punishment that matches the severity of the

offense through the dramatic reduction in statutory maximums.

Elimination of Accomplice Liability for Felony Murder Prosecutions

Section 22A-2201 of the RRCA eliminates accomplice

liability for felony murder prosecutions in the District.

Accomplice liability for felony murder is critical in

establishing liability across multiple perpetrators when

evidence is otherwise unable to prove which perpetrator

committed the ``lethal act.'' By eliminating accomplice

liability, the RCCA ensures that police and prosecutors will

be unable to hold the most violent and dangerous criminals

accountable.

Reduction in Penalties for Carjacking

The RCCA dramatically decreases the penalties for

carjackings, despite the fact that carjackings have spiked in

the District over the past two years. The RCCA endangers

District residents and encourages lawlessness by reducing the

penalties for carjacking offenses. Doing so also removes a

critical degree of discretion from judges who, previously,

were given proper latitude to craft a punishment that fit the

severity of the crime.

Requirement of MPD Officers to Undergo an Indeterminate Amount of

Extensive Training

The sweeping changes to the criminal code in the RCCA will

require D.C. police officers to receive extensive training

and learn and entirely new criminal code in the District. The

extensive retraining and overtime that will be required comes

at a time when the number of officers in the District is at

historical lows as a result of anti-police legislation passed

by the Council. The RCCA will undoubtedly take a further toll

of D.C. police officers and accelerate the current exodus of

officers from the District.

This anti-police, pro-crime law will create a mass exodus

of police officers from the District and will unquestionably

make the District of Columbia more dangerous for citizens who

live in the District, individuals who work in the District,

and tourists that travel to the District. As a result, the

D.C. Police Union strongly urges the House Oversight and

Accountability Committee to take all action necessary to

prevent this reckless legislation from becoming law.

Respectfully,

Greggory Pemberton,

Chairman, D.C. Police Union.

The D.C. Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022 is irresponsible. It is dangerous. It is playing with the livelihoods of all who live in or visit D.C. by gutting the local justice system and allowing emboldened criminals to remain on the streets.

This Congress must swiftly exercise its constitutional role concerning the District of Columbia and reject this misguided legislation from going into effect.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to unite in support of law and order and support this necessary resolution of disapproval.

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 75, I call up the bill (H.R. 139) to require Executive agencies to submit to Congress a study of the impacts of expanded telework and remote work by agency employees during the COVID-19 pandemic and a plan for the agency's future use of telework and remote work, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 139, the Stopping Home Office Work's Unproductive Problems Act, or the SHOW UP Act.

This legislation is urgent. The Federal workforce needs to get back to work. Federal agencies are falling short of their missions. They are not carrying out their duties. They are failing the American people.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the Federal workforce stayed home. They relied on telework because they could, but as the rest of America went back to work in person, many Federal workers did not.

The American people have suffered as a result. They have waited for months for their tax refunds from the IRS. They have waited for months for the Social Security Administration to answer their questions and provide them benefits.

Our veterans have even waited for months to get their medical records from the National Archives. The National Archives is responsible for maintaining medical records for our veterans, but our veterans could not get access to these records because the National Archives staff were at home.

This is unacceptable, and it should be downright embarrassing to these agencies.

The American people have struggled with high inflation, scarce goods, prolonged and disruptive lockdowns, and other hardships. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has showered Federal workers with perks and pay increases all while working from home, but Federal employees not being in the workplace hurt the Federal Government's ability to achieve its missions and deliver vital programs.

House Republicans have fought hard to find out just how expanded telework has decreased agencies' ability to deliver services to our constituents. We have tried to get this information from the Biden administration, but to no avail.

During the last Congress, as the House Oversight and Reform Committee ranking member, I wrote to the administration, requesting information on Federal workforce return-to-work policies. The Biden administration failed to provide adequate responses to our inquiries. Instead, it kept expanded telework policies in place long after the pandemic was over, and it used its expanded telework policies not to help our constituents but to help recruit new employees to the Federal Government.

The Federal workforce already enjoys many perks not enjoyed by the private sector, including unparalleled job stability, healthy retirement benefits, and reliable pay-growth expectations. One would have thought that, as the pandemic wound down, Federal workers would have returned to their offices just as private-sector workers across the Nation did. That is not the case.

According to the Office of Personnel Management's most recent report on telework, 47 percent of Federal workers teleworked routinely or situationally in fiscal year 2021. That was a 2 percent increase over fiscal year 2020, the year in which the pandemic struck.

According to a Federal Times report this past October, just one in three Federal workers had returned to their office full time in 2022.

Just last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that a new study by Cushman & Wakefield found only 5 percent of the prepandemic workforce returned to work in federally leased buildings in Washington, D.C., in October and November.

The Federal Government's abuse of telework has gotten so bad that Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has called on President Biden to suspend the telework policies for Federal workers or turn over Federal buildings in D.C. for conversion to affordable housing.

The current OPM Director has stated that Federal employees are actually getting transfers to agencies where they can telework more-- not so they can serve our constituents and the American citizenry the best.

The SHOW UP Act offers a much-needed solution to the problem of Federal agencies and Federal employees putting their own comfort before our constituents' needs.

It requires Federal agencies to immediately return to prepandemic levels of telework. This ensures that from the day of enactment, priority number one for the Federal workforce will be prompt and effective service to our constituents, not increasing the perks for an already privileged Federal bureaucracy.

The SHOW UP Act also requires a governmentwide review of pandemic-era teleworking policies. This will help Congress see how much expanded telework either improved or harmed agency-by-agency effectiveness, costs, and network security across our vast Federal Government.

The bill would prevent the Biden administration from locking in higher levels of telework until Congress receives detailed plans on how mission performance would be impacted.

If the agencies' plans show increased telework would substantially improve agency performance, lower agency costs, ensure agency network security, and better disperse Federal employees across the Nation, then increased telework can then be considered as an option, but not until increased telework has been proven to better serve our constituents and the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this vital legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Fallon).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Donalds).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Boebert).

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Arrington).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further Members to debate. I am prepared to close whenever the gentleman is prepared. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

This legislation asks every Member to answer a simple question: Do you put the needs of your constituents first, or do you put the preferences of Federal bureaucrats first?

We know that expanded telework during the COVID-19 pandemic harmed agency service to our constituents across multiple vital agencies. Instead of fixing those problems and making sure they never happen again if increased telework needs to continue in certain cases, the Biden administration is just blindly doubling down on Federal telework across the board--not to improve service to our constituents, but to dangle a shiny perk in front of existing Federal workers and prospective new Federal hires.

My bill ensures that a new expectation is set for our Federal Government's workforce: that you need to return to your agencies and get the job done for the American people.

Federal telework should only be utilized when it has been proven to improve agency performance, lower agency costs, ensure agency network security, and better disperse the Federal workforce across the Nation.

In the meantime, it requires Federal agencies to reimplement pre- pandemic policies, which were working just fine.

Under this bill, we will know that, whether we have increased Federal telework or not, it will only be to ensure that Federal agencies and their employees provide the best quality of service to our constituents and our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this much-needed bill, and 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. 159) to implement merit-based reforms to the civil service hiring system that replace degree-based hiring with skills- and competency- based hiring, 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, Congress is charged with overseeing the executive branch. This includes overseeing the general management and operations of government agencies.

For the success of our government's missions and Federal programs, we must have a competent and skilled workforce to deliver services to the American people, defend our Nation, and execute the laws passed by Congress. However, agencies lack the tools to identify and hire the best candidates to fill these positions.

The problem is that hiring for the Federal civil service has over- relied on the paper credentials and self-administered job proficiency assessments of candidates. The reintroduced Chance to Compete Act of 2023 ensures agencies use objective, skills-based assessments to evaluate job candidates.

The private sector already uses such structured interviews, knowledge tests, and writing samples for the hiring process. It is time for the Federal Government to do so as well.

Agencies should be able to hire professionals that can do the work, and there are many ways to build the right kind of professional expertise. H.R. 159 represents one of those rare bipartisan legislative reforms that targets a specific problem, implements tested solutions, and reflects private-sector best practices.

The bill codifies and improves upon the policy initiatives begun in the Trump administration and which the Biden administration is continuing to implement.

I thank the chairwoman of the Committee on Education and Workforce, Dr. Virginia Foxx, who is also a senior member of the House Oversight Committee, and Congressman Gerry Connolly for working quickly to ready this bipartisan bill.

I also thank Representative Ro Khanna for, again, supporting this bill that will help us modernize our government.

I hope that our Senate colleagues can swiftly advance this important legislation so that it can be signed into law this year.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).

Mr. Speaker, this is a commonsense bill aimed at hiring applicants for Federal positions based on whether they have the relevant skills to do the job. The American people deserve nothing less from their Federal Government.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and 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. 300) to amend chapter 3 of title 5, United States Code, to require the publication of settlement agreements, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam 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. 300, the Settlement Agreement Information Database Act.

Transparency and public participation are vital to ensure the public's continued trust in our government. Federal agencies frequently use settlement agreements to resolve litigation without going through lengthy public trials. However, it is impossible for Congress and the public to determine the impact these settlement agreements have on State and local governments and private-sector entities because they must continue to follow the agency requirements these agreements mandate.

Such secret negotiations and agreements essentially prevent the public from participating in important policy decisions.

These Federal settlements agreements impose a tremendous burden. They are often difficult to see and hard to understand.

Further, State and local governments, industry stakeholders, and taxpayers can be directly affected by the settlements for years, yet they can't provide input. This legislation seeks to correct that problem.

The Settlement Agreement Information Database Act, or SAID Act, requires Federal agencies to submit information regarding consent decrees and settlement agreements to a public electronic database.

This public resource, to be overseen by the Office of Management and Budget, will include dates, payments, attorney's fees awards, and a list of State and local governments and other entities impacted by each settlement.

Currently, agencies release information about settlements at their discretion and will only publicize the facts that reflect favorably upon the agency. Furthermore, the terms of the settlement agreements are often deemed confidential.

Under the requirements of the SAID Act, if an agency believes that information regarding an agreement should remain confidential, the agency head must publish an explanation of why it is confidential. This will increase transparency and shine a much-needed light on agency settlement agreements.

I thank my Committee on Oversight and Accountability colleagues Gary Palmer and Gerry Connolly for preparing this important legislation for consideration today.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Palmer).

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

Mr. Speaker, I am happy we could expedite the Settlement Agreement Information Database Act's consideration today.

This Chamber has passed the SAID Act with broad support three separate times, in the 115th, 116th, and 117th Congresses. It is time the Senate acted on this important legislation.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Captain Thomas F. Mantell Jr., of Simpson County, Kentucky, who was killed while serving in the Kentucky Air National Guard on January 7, 1948.

Earlier that day, an unidentified flying object was reported in several locations in Kentucky and Ohio. Despite the dangerous nature of the mission, Captain Mantell heroically pursued the object and paid the ultimate sacrifice while in pursuit. His death was the first of the Kentucky Air National Guard.

Captain Mantell also served as a decorated officer in the Army Air Corps, flying missions over Normandy and on D-day. For his service during World War II, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism.

In the years since Captain Mantell's untimely death, the people of Simpson County have kept his memory alive. A memorial was dedicated in his honor in 2001, and commemorations to mark the 75th anniversary will take place this year. I join the people of Simpson County in remembrance and gratitude for his bravery while carrying out his final mission.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the creation of the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.

The Federal Government exists to serve the American people, administer the law impartially, and protect our cherished freedoms enshrined in the Constitution.

However, some unelected, unaccountable Federal bureaucrats have abused their positions of power. The other side of the aisle likes to talk about ``threats to democracy,'' but they refuse to do any congressional oversight as the Federal Government weaponized its authority, influence, and power to target American groups and citizens based on their political and ideological views.

Just yesterday, we learned that classified documents from Joe Biden's time

as Vice President were stashed in an unsecured closet. The National Archives knew about these documents several months ago, before the election, but the American people were just informed yesterday, thanks to some investigative reporting.

Meanwhile, the FBI conducted a raid on former President Trump's Mar- a-Lago residence for the same violation. Why has President Biden, who has repeatedly kept classified materials in an unsecured location for years, never faced a raid? Is it because we have a two-tier system of justice?

The left also continues to push for an expanded IRS, even though the agency has a history of targeting conservative political groups. They have pushed for more audits of middle-class Americans instead of better customer service. In another example, at President Biden's direction, the Department of Homeland Security formed a dystopian disinformation board tasked with policing American speech online.

While this board has been disbanded, we continue to learn more almost every day about how the Biden administration pressures big tech to censor and oppress Americans' views online that are contrary to their political narrative.

The Biden administration's Justice Department also actively targeted parents concerned about woke curricula in their children's schools and labeled many as domestic terrorists. The American people have made it clear that they want accountability for these abuses.

Mr. Speaker, we cannot delay accountability any longer. We need to get to work now. We must expose the abuses committed by the unelected, unaccountable Federal bureaucracy and enact solutions to prevent similar abuses from happening in the future.

I look forward, as chairman of the House Oversight Committee, to work closely with this new select committee.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Mayor Steve Austin of Henderson, Kentucky, who is retiring at the end of the year after serving three terms.

Mayor Austin is a lifelong resident of Henderson. He is a graduate of Holy Name High School and Henderson Community College before he continued his education at Evansville College and at Harvard School of Business regional campus sessions.

Before being elected Mayor, he worked at Henderson's local newspaper, ``The Gleaner,'' for more than four decades, covering a wide range of topics before serving as publisher for 22 years.

I have had the privilege of getting to know Mayor Austin well over the years. While his time as Mayor may be coming to an end, I am confident his dedication and service to Henderson will continue for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 1-year anniversary of the devastating tornadoes that struck my district.

On December 10 and 11, 2021, communities from Fulton to Taylor County endured a fierce, long-track tornado that leveled numerous communities. The damage sustained during the relentless storm was unimaginable, and our prayers are still with the families who lost loved ones.

In the aftermath of this disaster, Kentuckians across the Commonwealth came together to offer help, provide support, and deliver aid when many needed it most.

As the communities continue to rebuild and recover, I want to recognize the local servant leaders and citizens who are helping get our communities back on their feet. As we continue to move forward, I am inspired by their courageous efforts to restore our local communities.

Serving the people of Kentucky's First Congressional District is an honor, and my office remains committed to assisting their recovery efforts in every way.

Dawson Springs Tornado Relief Effort

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the selfless efforts of local Kentuckians who served their community in a time of need.

Todd Marshall, Larry Cavanah, Kent Workman, Zach Willett, Paulette Gray,

Brandon Godbey, Tamara Rice, Abby Garrett, and Gabe Workman answered the call to aid their fellow Kentuckians after the devastating tornado on December 10, 2021.

With their assistance, Dawson Springs Independent school was transformed overnight into the Dawson Springs tornado relief center. As the community began to rebuild and recover, thousands walked through the school's front doors in need of aid.

This group of Kentuckians dedicated their time to help sort over 29,000 pounds of clothing, prepare warm meals each day, and provide families with a Christmas by converting classrooms into departments for women's clothing, men's clothing, baby equipment, and toys.

On behalf of Kentucky's First Congressional District, I express my heartfelt thanks to this group of extraordinary administrators, staff, faculty, and students. Their compassion for our communities did not go unnoticed.

Honoring Judge John Phelps Upon His Retirement

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Judge John Phelps on his retirement as judge executive of Cumberland County, Kentucky.

A native of Cumberland County, John has dedicated his life to bettering his local community and State. After graduating from Cumberland County High School, John married his high school sweetheart, Leslie, and raised a family of four children and four grandchildren in his hometown of Burkesville.

In addition to being a dedicated family man, John served south central Kentucky in various ways throughout his career, including as a well-respected loan officer and realtor before becoming Cumberland County judge executive in 2011.

For over a decade, John served his constituents with honor and humility. In 2020, he was elected president of the Kentucky County Judge/Executive Association. In this role, he led the association in helping judge executives work together to solve common issues and improve their local governments.

I am proud to have worked with Judge John Phelps throughout his career and wish him the very best in a well-deserved retirement.

Honoring Judge Wade White on His Retirement

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor Judge Wade White of Lyon County, Kentucky, who is retiring at the end of the year.

Judge White's dedication to the community has not gone unnoticed. He was first elected to the position in 2010 and then reelected in 2014 and 2018.

In recognition of his service, Judge White has received multiple awards as Lyon County judge executive, including the Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful group's Kentucky Elected Official Ripple Effect award.

He was also inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 2016 and 2018.

Before taking on his responsibilities as judge executive, he worked for 14 years in several roles for State Farm and Progressive Insurance companies. In fact, President Biden nominated Judge White to serve on the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors in June of this year.

Judge White has been a passionate advocate for issues impacting our local communities, including Land Between the Lakes, rural broadband access, and our effort to rid local waterways of Asian carp.

When people say the squeaky wheel gets the grease, as the Congressman for Lyon County over the past 6 years, I can tell you that Judge White is the squeaky wheel.

On behalf of Kentucky's First Congressional District, I thank Judge White for his dedicated service to improving our communities.

Honoring Judge Hollis Alexander Upon His Retirement

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor Judge Executive Hollis Alexander of Trigg County, Kentucky, who is retiring at the end of the year.

Judge Alexander has been a leader and public servant in Trigg County and Cadiz for over three decades.

He has served in various capacities, including working for the Cadiz Fire and Police Departments, the Trigg County Ambulance Service and Sheriff's Office, and the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force.

Before serving in his current position, Judge Alexander was the chief of the Cadiz Police Department for 16 years, from 1996 to 2012. After being appointed Trigg County judge in 2012, he was reelected in 2014 and 2018.

Judge Alexander has been a vocal advocate for Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area and important issues concerning rural Kentucky.

On behalf of Kentucky's First Congressional District, I thank Judge Alexander for his commitment to and passion for improving our communities.

Recognizing Bart Rowland Upon His Retirement

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my good friend, Bart Rowland, upon his retirement from the Kentucky House of Representatives.

Bart served Monroe, Cumberland, Metcalfe, Green, Hart, and Hardin Counties as their voice in Frankfort for 10 years.

Bart was a very well-respected member of the Kentucky General Assembly who quickly rose the ranks to become chairman of the Kentucky House Banking and Insurance Committee. As chairman, Bart passed many bills that improved the entire financial services industry in Kentucky.

Bart was elected for the first time in 2012 during a special election, which happened as a result of his predecessor being elected Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture. Mr. Speaker, I was Bart's predecessor, and I can say with confidence that the people of my home area never had a better State representative than Bart Rowland.

Bart and his wife, Jerri, and their three kids reside in Tompkinsville, Kentucky. On behalf of everyone who Bart has represented so well over the past decade, I wish him and his family the very best in the next chapter of their lives.

Role of House Oversight and Reform Committee

Mr. Speaker, I would like to discuss an issue today that has been in the news a lot over the last few weeks, and it pertains to the role of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. God willing, January 3, I will take command as chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee.

My goal, as I have said to just about every media outlet that has asked about it, I want to bring the House Oversight and Reform Committee back to its original intent. The intent of the House Oversight and Reform Committee is to eliminate waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in the Federal Government, and I believe when we look around in the Federal Government, we see a whole lot of waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement.

When asked about my priorities as the next chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, I want to talk about my first priority, and that is to get the backs of the taxpayers of the United States of America.

Just in the name of COVID, over the past 3 years, Mr. Speaker, so that spans two administrations, this body has been reckless in its spending in the name of COVID. When you look at all the stimulus bills, all the stimulus programs, all the giveaways, those dollar amounts run into the trillions of dollars.

Now, we can talk about all the money and go down line by line, and we will see a lot of success stories. Take the PPP loan program, for example. There are some great success stories in there. I don't think anyone in this body, regardless of their ideology, regardless of whether we are rural, urban, suburban, whatever, wouldn't argue that, during COVID, there were industries that suffered far worse than other industries.

For example, anything in the tourism or travel industry, obviously, was devastated, whether they be the airline companies, whether they be hotels, whether they be anything pertaining to leisure travel. The PPP loan program was a lifesaver for many of those businesses.

When we had the very brief debate on the PPP loan program, the goal was to help businesses keep people working during the government shutdown by supplementing and subsidizing their payrolls, which was noble because if you look at it, the government was going to pay for it one way or the other, either in the form of PPP loans or in the form of unemployment insurance.

So, we had to step up in this body. But, like this body does time after time after time, there were not sufficient guardrails on that program. We have stories coming in every day by various media outlets, by various investigative reporters, by various oversight mainly and almost exclusively by Republican committees in this body that will show that there were fraudulent businesses that didn't even exist that got millions and millions of dollars alone.

We will find that there were businesses that had record years during COVID. They never missed a beat. They never had a layoff. They had record years. They got millions and millions of dollars.

We even read just this week how many law firms in America that never missed a beat during COVID got huge PPP loans. We even read that Hunter Biden's former law firm got over $10 million in PPP loans despite never missing a beat.

So, in this congressional body, in this House of Representatives, who in the majority has been providing oversight over the PPP loan program? It has not been the House Oversight and Reform Committee.

We have been investigating the Washington Commanders. We have been investigating what the world would look like if the United States passed the Equal Rights Amendment. We have had bills on white supremacy. We have had bills on abortion.

What we haven't had bills on is oversight.

During the prior 2 years when the House flipped the last time and the Democrats took the majority in the House Oversight Committee, there were dozens and dozens of high-level Trump cabinet secretaries and appointees that testified before the House Oversight Committee. Dozens and dozens. I want to say in the upper thirties.

Fast forward to the last 2 years of the Biden administration. Do you know how many cabinet secretaries and undersecretaries have testified in front of the House Oversight Committee?

Zero. Zero. That is going to change on January 3.

Back to COVID, which is what I want to have as the first hearing of the Oversight Committee. We have had programs that have gone unchecked. We have made mistakes in this body, like this body always does, especially when we rush bills, and we don't read bills and we must pass bills.

Then you look at the unemployment insurance extension. Most of these programs were administered by the States. But the States were getting money and mandates from the Federal Government.

And now guess what we are learning, Mr. Speaker?

We are learning that there were hundreds of thousands of fraudulent unemployment claims, maybe millions. It is estimated that as many as 25 percent of all the extended unemployment that this body continued to approve went by the way of fraud; many to foreign countries.

Who has been looking into that in the House of Representatives over the past year and a half?

Not the House Oversight Committee. I haven't seen a committee in here that has been checking into that. So that is going to be our role.

Then you look at the stimulus money. The hospitals. I love hospitals. I have 29 hospitals in my Congressional District; I would say as many as anybody in this body. Hospitals received a lot of money. The list goes on and on and on. State and local money.

We had jurisdiction on the House Oversight Committee. $350 billion with no guardrails. That is what we kept saying, no guardrails on the State and local money.

Who has been looking into that?

Not the House Oversight Committee. But that is going to change on January 3.

So we have a lot of challenges in our quest to get the backs of the American taxpayers. We want to identify waste. We want to identify fraud. We want to identify abuse. We want to hold people accountable for abuse and fraud.

We would love to try to claw some of this money back. And in some instances Secret Service with some of the fraud has been able to claw some of the money back that was spent fraudulently in the name of

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Dr. Tony Brannon on his well-deserved retirement.

Dr. Brannon grew up on a small family farm and at an early age began to participate in the Future Farmers of America events. His dedication to the FFA program and agricultural community would only grow.

He completed a bachelor's degree in agricultural education from Murray State in 1981, a master's degree in 1982, and a Ph.D. at Oklahoma State University in 1988.

Dr. Brannon's heart never left Murray State, though. Legend has it he even wrote in soap on his bathroom mirror ``MSU'' as a reminder of his goal to come back to Murray State.

He returned to Murray State as a faculty member in agricultural education and mechanization. In 2005, he was named the dean of the School of Agriculture. For nearly 35 years, he has molded a generation of new agricultural leaders in Kentucky.

As many gather to celebrate Dr. Brannon's retirement, I thank him for his commitment to the MSU community, service to the Kentucky FFA Foundation, and unwavering passion for helping thousands of students achieve their dreams.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the PAST Act. This legislation attempts to eliminate the Walking Horse industry, which is prominent in my congressional district. The vast majority of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry is located in Tennessee and Kentucky.

The Tennessee Walking Horse is the most inspected horse in the world under current law, with both pre-show and post-competition inspections performed by both USDA inspectors and horse industry organization inspectors. The PAST Act eliminates the industry inspection entities and replaces them with new employees of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Justice Department, increasing bureaucracy and cost to the taxpayer.

The PAST Act is not widely supported by the horse industry. In fact, the vast majority of the active Tennessee Walking Horse industry stakeholders in my district oppose this bill and instead support Representative Scott DesJarlais' commonsense reforms and modernization of the Horse Protection Act contained in H.R. 6341, of which I am a cosponsor.

This bill fails to promote objective, science-based inspections. I oppose the PAST Act and how it will lead to the hiring of more government bureaucrats while failing to protect the horse industry from biased inspections. I encourage my fellow Members to vote against this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, if this bill sounds familiar to Members, there is good reason for that. Once again, the House of Representatives is debating a bipartisan bill to secure Federal agency use of modern cloud computing services.

However, this time we are doing it as H.R. 8956, the Federal Secure Cloud Improvement and Jobs Act. Formerly named the FedRAMP Authorization Act, this was the first bill the House passed this Congress, as H.R. 21, on January 5, 2021.

We also passed the same legislation as part of this year's House version of the National Defense Authorization Act.

This is such an important issue that we are here again to send an improved bill back to the Senate for final passage.

Cybersecurity and technology modernization are both vital issues to ensure this government runs efficiently, effectively, and safely. We need this legislation to address the continued onslaught of cyberattacks that have compromised both the private and public sectors' critical information systems.

Cloud computing is an important innovation.

It allows users to tap into extra resources to meet spikes in demand, like what agencies saw when trying to deliver COVID-relief assistance.

It also allows them to access modernized applications without the need for them to also invest in their own data storage equipment.

While cloud computing is the norm in the private sector, we still need to encourage agencies to adopt this technology when it makes sense. We also must ensure cloud computing services are secure. That is where the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program comes in.

FedRAMP, run by the General Services Administration, is the main Federal program focused on helping agencies procure secure cloud computing systems. It provides a consistent process to ensure agencies know a given cloud service meets Federal cybersecurity standards. It also provides clarity for vendors, so they understand the requirements to ensure their products are secure enough for Federal agency use.

Shifting to the cloud is more cost effective, allows for better citizen services and mission-based solutions, and provides more responsive technology capabilities overall. These improved efficiencies have led to significant cost savings.

At the end of fiscal year 2021, the GSA estimated that over the FedRAMP program's 10-year lifespan, it had helped agencies avoid $716 million in individual security review costs. So while agencies are not required to buy FedRAMP-approved services, it makes sense to encourage them to do so.

After passing the earlier version, H.R. 21, the Senate also made changes that improved the bill we are considering today.

Such updates include striking the unnecessary authorization of $20 million in appropriations and requiring better oversight of the industry costs associated with becoming FedRAMP certified. This will help ensure both small and large businesses can participate in the program.

In addition, this version also seeks to identify and avoid bottlenecks that slow approval. It also takes steps to secure the software supply chain from threats by foreign bad actors, the likely source of the 2020 SolarWinds attack that targeted numerous private sector companies and Federal agencies.

Codifying this successful program into law is an important step towards encouraging Federal agencies to take full advantage of this program and all the security benefits it offers.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, protecting our public's valuable information is something we can all agree on. I hope we can continue to do our job and work together on improving the Federal Government cybersecurity and adoption of modern technology.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to express sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Suthammanont. I appreciate the underlying intent of this legislation: To ensure the safety of Federal workers.

I also appreciate how this version of the bill has been improved from the prior versions the House has considered.

Thankfully, there are no longer vaccine requirements for Federal workers in the bill, and the bill is now future-looking, no longer tied specifically to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nevertheless, it makes sense to be prepared for any future public health emergencies. While the safety of the Federal workers is important, so is mission accomplishment and customer service.

In considering this new version, Committee on Oversight and Reform Republicans ensured the plans this bill requires would be made through the lens of continuity of operations. That is, continuing to provide Americans the services they need, regardless of the situation.

I am pleased to see my colleagues, Representative Jody Hice's amendment receive full support in the Committee on Oversight and Reform last week and be incorporated into the bill we are considering today.

H.R. 8466 now ensures that the next time America faces a public health emergency, Federal agencies will be required to balance their workforce safety measures with plans to accomplish their missions while minimizing impacts to customer service. Agencies will be required to make these plans public for Inspector General review and congressional scrutiny.

Americans who rely on Federal agency services, such as our veterans, should never again be forgotten when their government sends its workforce home.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Connolly for working with Mr. Hice to improve the bill, and I encourage my colleagues to support the bill.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, it is important that Federal agencies plan and prepare for future infectious disease outbreaks and do so in a transparent manner.

This bill is much improved and now also focuses on maintaining Federal agency services to the American people through a potential future public health emergency. Federal agencies exist to serve the American people. This is true during national public health emergencies, also.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, the End Human Trafficking in Government Contracts Act ensures that Federal agencies are not paying for or participating in human trafficking or human sex trafficking through grants or contracts. This is a particular concern for overseas contracts in which some unscrupulous companies may take advantage of vulnerable third-country workers.

Congress has acted before to address this problem. Unfortunately, both the Government Accountability Office and the Department of Defense Inspector General have found that trafficking by contractors and grantees continues. This bill moves to send a clear message: Trafficking will not be tolerated.

Under current law, agencies are already required to refer allegations of human or sex trafficking to the Inspector General for investigation. If found to be true, that agency has a number of options to deal with the situation, but this bill requires all substantiated cases be reported to the agency's suspension and debarment official.

In the contracting world, this is serious business. After due process, a contractor could be prohibited from receiving future government contracts or other government benefits. This bill ensures all current or would-be grantees or contractors take all measures necessary to stop human or sex trafficking.

Finally, the bill directs the Office of Management and Budget to report on enforcement of the laws so we in Congress could conduct the necessary oversight.

I thank Senators James Lankford and Joni Ernst for sending this important bill to the House for final passage in Congress today.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and for the President to sign S. 3470 into law.

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

Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. Not a single dime of taxpayer money should ever flow to anyone engaged in human or sex trafficking activities. This bill is an important step toward ensuring responsible stewardship of taxpayer money.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, artificial intelligence, or AI, is a term that applies to a wide variety of technologies. AI plays a role in applications to simplify our everyday lives by performing complex tasks.

Navigation apps, online banking apps, spam filters, and even asking Siri or Alexa who won the Presidents Cup in North Carolina this weekend all employ various types of AI technology. The Federal Government also uses AI to improve government services and efficiency.

While there are multiple executive orders and initiatives promoting the use of AI across the government, to date there has not been a collective effort to train Federal workers who identify, buy, and manage artificial intelligence capabilities.

The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, established in the fiscal year 2019 NDAA, has called for the Federal workforce to be better trained on artificial intelligence.

Mr. Speaker, when you consider the technology race against nations like China, the stakes are very high. In fact, the commission noted in its final report that the competition for government adoption of artificial intelligence technologies will not be won by the side with the best technology, it will be won by the side with the best, most diverse, and tech-savvy talent.

The Artificial Intelligence Training for the Acquisition Workforce Act establishes a government-wide training program for Federal workers responsible for AI program management and acquisition. This training will help ensure the consistent and safe procurement and use of AI products across the Federal Government.

Those purchasing and using AI systems in Federal agency missions and programs need to understand the limits of the technology's capabilities and the risks posed by potential misuse. The American taxpayers deserve nothing less.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Chairwoman Maloney working with me on the House companion bill for this legislation. I am pleased to be an original cosponsor. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker I have no further speakers.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, artificial intelligence is proving to be a game-changing technology for nearly every sector of our economy. For instance, artificial intelligence helps farmers efficiently grow crops, scientists develop new materials, and weather forecasters predict hurricanes more accurately.

In the Federal Government, the Social Security Administration uses AI to determine benefit claims. Artificial Intelligence Training for the Acquisition Workforce Act will be invaluable to the Federal approach to artificial intelligence.

Mr. Speaker, I, once again, encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, Congress is charged with overseeing the general management and operations of government agencies. For the success of each Federal program, we must have a competent and skilled workforce to deliver services to the American people, defend our Nation, and execute the laws passed by Congress. However, agencies currently lack the tools to identify and hire the best candidates to fill the broad types of job positions supporting the Federal Government's various missions and programs.

The problem is that hiring for the Federal civil service has over- relied on the paper credentials and self-administered job proficiency assessments of candidates.

The Chance to Compete Act makes sure agencies use objective, skills- based assessments to evaluate job candidates. The private sector already uses such structured interviews, knowledge tests, and writing samples for the hiring process. It is time for the Federal Government to do so, as well.

Agencies should be able to hire professionals that can do the work, and there are many ways to build the right kind of professional expertise.

H.R. 6967 represents one of those rare, bipartisan legislative reforms that targets a specific problem, implements tested solutions, and reflects private-sector best practices. The bill codifies and improves upon policy initiatives begun in the Trump administration which the Biden administration is continuing to implement.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Maloney and Government Operations Subcommittee Chairman Gerry Connolly for working diligently with the bill's cosponsor, Congressman Jody Hice, to strengthen this bipartisan bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Ro Khanna, Virginia Foxx, and Kweisi Mfume for their support. We hope that our Senate colleagues can rapidly advance this important legislation so it can be signed into law this year, and I urge my colleagues to support this smart reform bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Hice), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Government Operations.

Mr. Speaker, this is a commonsense bill aimed at hiring applicants for Federal positions based on whether they have the relevant skills to do the job. The American people deserve nothing less from their Federal Government.

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