Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lieutenant Todd Smither of the Frankfort Police Department for being awarded the 2024 Medal of Valor for his bravery demonstrated while responding to a critical situation within Franklin County.

During a high-risk pursuit with an armed suspect who had barricaded himself in a vehicle following a multi-jurisdictional pursuit, Lieutenant Smither demonstrated excellent leadership by quickly developing and implementing a tactical plan to resolve the situation effectively. Additionally, along with Sergeant Presley, they worked to de-escalate a potentially lethal situation successfully.

Under Lieutenant Smither's directions, his fellow officers were able to provide adequate support, which led to safeguarding human life. His actions and exceptional teamwork skills allowed for a peaceful resolution for all involved.

Lieutenant Smither voluntarily performed extraordinary acts of bravery. His actions went above and beyond and have made him deserving of this fine honor. I am confident that Lieutenant Smither will continue to serve as an exemplary role model for law enforcement officers across the 1st Congressional District and the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Officer Byron Redmon of the Frankfort Police Department on being awarded the 2024 Medal of Valor for his bravery demonstrated while responding to a critical situation within Franklin County.

During a high-risk pursuit with an armed suspect who had barricaded himself in a vehicle following a multi-jurisdictional pursuit, Officer Redmon provided critical tactical support throughout the duration of the event, allowing for a synchronized response that led to the suspect's safe apprehension.

Throughout this critical situation, Officer Redmon provided crucial support contributing to the resolution. His actions and exceptional teamwork skills allowed for a peaceful resolution for all involved.

Officer Redmon voluntarily performed extraordinary acts of bravery. His actions went above and beyond and have made him deserving of this fine honor. I am confident that

Officer Redmon will continue to serve as an exemplary role model for law enforcement officers across the 1st Congressional District and the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Officer Andrew Humphries of the Frankfort Police Department on being awarded the 2024 Medal of Valor for his bravery demonstrated while responding to a critical situation within Franklin County.

During a high-risk pursuit with an armed suspect who had barricaded himself in a vehicle following a multi-jurisdictional pursuit, Officer Humphries, responding to Lieutenant Smither's direction, approached the barricaded vehicle and successfully deployed chemical munitions, forcing the suspect to exit.

Officer Humphries demonstrated excellent courage and tactical precision through his response. He played a vital role in ensuring this potentially lethal situation was resolved successfully.

Officer Humphries voluntarily performed extraordinary acts of bravery. His actions went above and beyond and have made him deserving of this fine honor. I am confident that Officer Humphries will continue to serve as an exemplary role model for law enforcement officers across the 1st Congressional District and the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sergeant Jonathan Presley of the Frankfort Police Department for being awarded the 2024 Medal of Valor for his bravery demonstrated while responding to a critical situation within Franklin County.

During a high-risk pursuit with an armed suspect who had barricaded himself in a vehicle following a multi-jurisdictional pursuit, Sergeant Presley demonstrated excellent courage and tactical precision through his coordinated response with Lieutenant Smither to de-escalate a potentially lethal situation successfully.

Throughout this critical situation, Sergeant Presley successfully disarmed the subject. His actions and exceptional teamwork skills allowed a peaceful resolution for all involved.

Sergeant Presley voluntarily performed extraordinary acts of bravery. His actions went above and have made him deserving of this fine honor. I am confident that Sergeant Presley will continue to serve as an exemplary role model for law enforcement officers across the 1st Congressional District and the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Officer Logan Sutton of the Frankfort Police Department on being awarded the 2024 Medal of Valor for his bravery demonstrated while responding to a critical situation within Franklin County.

Without regard for his own safety, Officer Sutton played a crucial role in successfully resolving a life-threatening situation. Through his actions and support in the face of clear and obvious peril, Officer Sutton exemplified the highest standards of law enforcement professionalism and demonstrated extraordinary commitment to preserving human life.

His teamwork and decisive intervention reflected greatly upon himself and upheld the finest traditions of the Frankfort Police Department. Officer Sutton has earned the respect and support of Franklin County. Officer Sutton voluntarily performed extraordinary acts of bravery. His actions went above and have made him deserving of this fine honor. I am confident that Officer Sutton will continue to serve as an exemplary role model for law enforcement officers across the 1st Congressional District and the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Officer Anthony Catania of the Frankfort Police Department, who was named the 2024 Officer of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes his exceptional commitment to the safety and well-being of our community.

Officer Catania exemplifies the core values of courage, respect, integrity, service, commitment, and loyalty. His bravery in crisis situations has not only safeguarded our community but also inspired his peers. He consistently treats all individuals with dignity, fostering trust between the police department and citizens. Integrity is fundamental to Officer Catania's service; he upholds ethical conduct even when unobserved. His dedication extends beyond law enforcement through community engagement and mentorship. Additionally, his pursuit of professional growth enhances both his skills and the effectiveness of the Frankfort Police Department.

Officer Catania's years of exemplary service make him a deserving choice for this honor. I am proud to recognize him as the 2024 Office of the Year. I am confident that Officer Anthony Catania will continue to serve as a role model for law enforcement officers across the 1st Congressional District and the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Anikka Gillispie of the Frankfort Police Department for being named 2024 Telecommunicator of the Year in recognition of her exceptional service and unwavering commitment to public safety.

Telecommunicators are the critical first point of contact during emergencies, serving as lifelines that connect people in crisis with the essential help they need. Their role demands extraordinary skills: rapid decision-making, emotional intelligence, and the ability to remain calm under intense pressure. Ms. Gillispie has exemplified these qualities and more, demonstrating exceptional performance beyond standard expectations.

Ms. Gillispie's dedication to her role has not only ensured the efficient dispatch of emergency responders but has also provided crucial support to citizens during their most vulnerable moments. The Telecommunicator of the Year award celebrates not just professional excellence but also the compassion and resilience required in this demanding field.

Ms. Gillispie's outstanding service to the Frankfort Police Department and the community at large makes her the perfect choice for Telecommunicator of the Year. I am confident she will continue to serve as an exemplary role model for telecommunicators across the 1st Congressional District and the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Russell County, Kentucky, on celebrating its bicentennial. Russell County is an integral part of Kentucky's 1st Congressional District that is full of rich history and wonderful people. Russell County and its communities have been a special part of Central Kentucky for two centuries.

Russell County was established in 1825 from parts of Adair, Cumberland, and Wayne counties as the 81st county in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Russell County is proudly home to Lake Cumberland and Wolf Creek Dam. These attractions have brought tremendous tourism opportunities and are a major economic driver in the 1st Congressional District

As we commemorate this bicentennial, I want to thank the citizens of Russell County for their patriotism and community pride. I am proud to represent the good people of Russell County in Congress, and I look forward to seeing even more prosperous years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my good friend, Mr. Hal B. Goode of Washington County, on his well-deserved retirement as the executive director of the Central Kentucky Community Action Council.

Hal will be retiring after an extraordinary 6\1/2\ years of incredible leadership, where he has expanded vital community service outreach across multiple Kentucky counties, including many in the First Congressional District of Kentucky.

Under his direction, Hal has spearheaded numerous achievements, including opening two new Head Start facilities in my district, in Springfield and Lebanon.

The success of the Central Kentucky Community Action Council is a testament to Hal's belief that their service to those in need is a hand up, not a handout.

His ability to develop relationships with local communities has laid a strong foundation for the CKCAC's future progress.

I thank Hal for his dedication to central Kentucky and wish him nothing but the best in a well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8841) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 114 Center Street East in Roseau, Minnesota, as the ``Floyd B. Olson Post Office''.

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 rename a post office located in Minnesota to honor Floyd Olson.

Floyd B. Olson was born in Roseau, Minnesota, and served in the U.S. Army for 2 years following his high school graduation. He began working at the Roseau post office as a clerk in 1963 and was appointed postmaster in 1966. Floyd passed away on December 26, 2017, at the age of 86.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Mrs. Fischbach).

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my House colleagues to support this bill honoring Floyd B. Olson, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1695) to improve the visibility, accountability, and oversight of agency software asset management practices, 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 this bill, the Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act.

Federal agencies spend billions of dollars a year on software licenses without a full understanding of what they are purchasing and how it compares to what they are already paying for. The result is wasteful spending on duplicative and unnecessary software licenses.

This legislation will provide Congress better insight into how our Federal agencies purchase and use software and will improve government software purchasing without unduly limiting the procurement options of Federal agencies.

H.R. 1695 requires an agency to better manage its software and develop a plan for addressing any costly, unnecessary licenses. This will reduce wasteful spending and improve government efficiency.

I thank Representatives Cartwright, Fallon, and Mace for working to ensure this legislation appropriately achieves its goals.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9598) to amend the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act to reauthorize such Office, 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 this bill, the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act.

We have a drug overdose crisis in this country. It is unacceptable and intolerable. In 2019, roughly 70,000 people in the United States died of an overdose. In 2021, that number rose to over 106,000, and in 2022, to over 111,000 deaths.

In 2023, overdose deaths remained over 100,000 with 107,000 Americans dying of an overdose. Overdose deaths remain near record highs. This is an ongoing, deadly national emergency that affects every community in our Nation.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy, or ONDCP, was established in the Executive Office of the President with the specific mission to coordinate the government-wide resources to combat the loss of life and human misery caused by illicit narcotics and overdoses.

This bill, the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2024, will reauthorize ONDCP and two critical grant programs the office administers at current spending levels for the next 7 years.

Specifically, the bill will reauthorize the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, which helps local law enforcement coordinate efforts to take down drug traffickers, and the Drug Free Communities Program, which works in communities across the country to prevent young people from ever trying drugs in the first place.

I commend the great Americans who work hard to get results through the Drug Free Communities coalitions. We listen to these coalitions and ensure that the grant limitation for local communities was increased from $125,000 to $150,000 and gave the ONDCP Director the ability to award up to two additional grants to eligible coalitions rather than the previous limit of one.

I thank Congressman John Duarte of California and Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin of Michigan for their efforts to reauthorize HIDTA. Key elements of this bipartisan bill, H.R. 7185, have been incorporated into this reauthorization bill to ensure that HIDTA resources are used to combat fentanyl, including granting the Attorney General the authority to temporarily reassign U.S. attorneys to prioritize fentanyl trafficking.

I am sure that every single member of this committee and every Member of this Congress knows constituents and their families who have been tragically impacted by illicit narcotics, especially synthetic opioids like fentanyl. No drug has affected our communities more in recent years than fentanyl.

The DEA has assessed that virtually all of the deadly fentanyl found in the United States is mass-produced by transnational criminal organizations in Mexico using precursor chemicals sourced from China and then smuggled into the United States across the southwest border.

This bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to assess how an increase in encounters at the southwest border affects DHS' ability to prevent the unlawful entry of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States.

It also directs the ONDCP Director to coordinate with the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and State to ensure that the appropriate agencies are properly resourced to ensure that traffickers of illicit drugs are held accountable under title 8 immigration authorities.

I thank Congresswoman Gonzalez-Colon of Puerto Rico and Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands for their work on H.R. 920, and ensuring that the Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy is codified in this reauthorization package ensuring that ONDCP will properly assess the threat of drug trafficking into the United States through the Caribbean.

I thank Ranking Member Raskin and his staff for working with us to make this important bill a reality over the past year.

H.R. 9598 represents an important reauthorization effort in the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability's legislative jurisdiction. I also thank the chairs and ranking members of the Energy and Commerce Committee and House Judiciary Committee and their professional staff for closely coordinating on our shared jurisdiction within this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill so we can keep the U.S. Government's collective resources focused on addressing the national drug crisis in our great country.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Mrs. Gonzalez-Colon).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Duarte).

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this very important legislation, 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. 8717) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 20 West Main Street in Santaquin, Utah, as the ``SGT Bill Hooser Post Office Building''.

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 this bill, which would rename a post office located in Utah to honor Sergeant Hooser.

Sergeant Hooser served as a law enforcement officer in Utah, where he was promoted up the ranks and proudly served as corporal, detective, and sergeant.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens).

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8919) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 151 Highway 74 South in Peachtree City, Georgia, as the ``SFC Shawn McCloskey Post Office''.

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 this bill that would rename a post office in Georgia for Sergeant First Class Shawn P. McCloskey.

In response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, McCloskey enlisted in the Army after his graduation from North Cobb High School. On September 16, 2009,

McCloskey was conducting a mounted patrol in Afghanistan when his vehicle was fatally struck by an improvised explosive device, an IED.

I support naming a post office in memory of Sergeant First Class McCloskey, and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

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

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

Before I yield, I might add to what Mr. Raskin said. There was also a bill that the minority party had that didn't get all the delegation in his home State of Maryland, but we passed that bill through the committee as well.

I understand what his argument is, but again, both post offices were, I think, of the utmost importance to the sponsors and the majority of each State's delegation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Ferguson), who will be greatly missed upon his retirement from this great body.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill honoring Sergeant First Class Shawn McCloskey, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9600) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 119 Main Street in Plains, Georgia, as the ``Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Post Office''.

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 suspension.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill which would rename a post office in Plains, Georgia, for Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.

Jimmy Carter married Rosalynn Carter in 1946. Jimmy Carter served as the Governor of Georgia until 1974 before serving as President of the United States from 1977 to 1981.

During their time in the White House, Mrs. Carter worked tirelessly to assist refugees escaping Cambodia's genocide and was a strong proponent for mental health.

I might add, Mr. Speaker, I may not have agreed with all of President Carter's policies. From a historical standpoint, I was a very young boy when he was President. I have always been a fan of the Carter family, their great Christianity and their great support for Habitat for Humanity, and I believe that President Carter will go down in history as one of the greatest former Presidents in the United States of America.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill to designate a post office for Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, two people who lived a purpose-driven life that is a model for Americans. They have done a lot for the community of Plains, Georgia, as well as all across America and the world for that matter.

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

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