Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, last month, I had the honor of attending Ian McKinney's Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Ian began his scouting experience as a Tiger Cub and after many years and transformative experiences, has now earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Throughout the years, Ian has gained valuable knowledge and useful skills, made possible by his participation in the merit badge program and his steady involvement with the troop. To achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, Ian developed and built a community educational garden to enrich his school's STEM program, leaving a lasting impact on fellow and future classmates.

Ian's dedication to the Scouts has been admirable and he should be proud of all that he has achieved with them. God Bless Ian McKinney and God Bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, it is my honor and pleasure to extend my personal congratulations to an exceptional healthcare executive, Ms. Lori Herndon, on her recent retirement as President and CEO of AtlantiCare. Throughout her exceptional forty-year career, which began as a critical care nurse on the healthcare frontlines, Ms. Herndon, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to strategic growth, operations, and development. Since 2016, Ms. Herndon, has led a team of over 6,000 AtlantiCare staff, providers, and volunteers serving the community in more than 100 locations in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, and Ocean counties of southern New Jersey. Ms. Herndon's focus on listening to patients, a critical aspect of her role as a bedside nurse, has become a hallmark of her leadership. Under Ms. Herndon's visionary leadership, ARMC received Magnet designation for the fifth time, one of only thirty-five Magnet-designated organizations to do so out of 608. In 2022, US News & World Report recognized ARMC as the sixth best hospital in New Jersey. Her work at AtlantiCare has garnered state-wide and national recognition, with Ms. Herndon, recently named one of Modern Healthcare's 100 most influential leaders. The year prior, Herndon, was named one of NJBIZ's Best fifty Women in Business. In January 2022, Ms. Herndon was appointed as chair of the New Jersey Hospital Association, where she has worked to protect healthcare workers, redesign care delivery and develop the workforce. I extend my heartfelt gratitude and best wishes to Ms. Lori Herndon, on her retirement after an outstanding career spanning more than four decades. God Bless Lori Herndon, and God Bless our United States of America.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, this Month, I had the honor of attending Nathan Amey's Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Nathan first joined the Scouts as a Tiger Cub in the first grade and immediately embraced the true tenets of scouting. He quickly emerged as a natural leader to all and embodied the characteristics of the Scout Law. Nathan is someone his troop can count on and is constantly thinking of ways to improve the scouting experience for his troop. Whenever the Senior Patrol Leader is unable to attend, Nathan is the first person the scouts turn to for guidance. His Eagle Scout Project was based on his reverence for the American flag as he built a flag retirement pit area for the American Legion Post 524. Outside of scouting, he participates in countless activities such as playing the cello and piano, participating on his school's tennis team, is an active member in Model United Nations and French club and so much more; all while maintaining his academic standing of Distinguished honors. Nathan is now a sophomore at Ocean City High School and continues to excel in all facets of his life. Nathan should be proud of his achievements in the Scouts, and I wish him all the best in his promising future. God Bless Nathan, and God Bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, this May, I had the pleasure of attending the Knights of Columbus ceremony at St. Joseph's Church to honor dedicated members of our community. These individuals have made a profound impact on our South Jersey community through their passion, their resilience, and their unwavering commitment to making our community a better place. I honor Sister Thomas Marie as our Educator of the Year, Flora Morris as our Female Student of the Year, Nicholas Catanoso as our Male Student of the Year, Joseph LaRosa as the recipient of the Shield Award, Thomas Owings as our Senior Citizen of the Year, the Keefer Family as our Family of the Year, Abby Powell as our Citizen of the Year, and Father Perry Cherubini as our Knight of the Year. I express our deepest gratitude to these exceptional individuals for their selfless service and dedication. Let us not only honor them but also draw inspiration from their remarkable examples. Their efforts remind us that each one of us has the power to make a difference and that our collective actions can shape a brighter future for our community. God Bless these outstanding community members, and God Bless our United States of America.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, last month, it was an honor to celebrate Miguel Santos' achievement of his Eagle Scout ceremony. Miguel joined the Scouts as a Tiger Scout and, along with his brothers, has completed the journey to Eagel Scout. This journey was a transformative one for Miguel, teaching him lessons like the importance of leadership, the significance of comradery, and the value of service. For his Eagle Scout Project, he rehabilitated a structure at Saint Joesph's Cemetery in Woolwich in South Jersey and made it into a meditative prayer space for those to enjoy and find solitude. Along with his project, he dedicated a lot of his time to the Church, resulting in him completing all four Pillars of Faith and earning the four Catholic Scouting Awards. Miguel plans to take the lessons that he has learned with the Scouts and apply them to his future studies of filmmaking and design at Rutgers University in Camden. I am incredibly proud of Miguel for all his achievements in the Scouts and I know he has a bright future ahead of him. God Bless Miguel Santos and God Bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, it is with great pride that I congratulate John Siciliano for his retirement from the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority after Twenty Seven and a half years of service. His career with GWTIDA began in 1995 as CFO and he quickly proved himself a force to be reckoned with in the travel and tourism industry. He soon after became Executive Director and CFO in 1997. During his tenure, he played a crucial role in developing the 260,000 square foot, Seventy million Dollar Wildwoods Convention Center, which has become a major economic catalyst, hosting over one hundred forty five events annually and generating more than fifty million dollars in revenue a year. Under John's guidance, GWTIDA nurtured a culture of excellence, leading to an average employee longevity of seventeen years. John's dedication and advocacy have been pivotal in the resurgence of the Wildwoods as a top family vacation destination. Some of his professional achievements include but are not limited to the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce Golden Whelk Tourism Award, the Tourism Excellence Award by the New Jersey Tourism Industry, and many more. John consistently pursues innovative strategies to keep the Wildwoods at the forefront of the travel and tourism industry. His positive impact to the community extends outside of his work with the GWTIDA as he shifts his focus to helping children in the area maintain good grades through the Kiwanis BUG program. His good work has culminated into an enriched community, and it reflects the type of man that John is. I thank John for his for dedication to South Jersey and to GWTIDA, and I hope he enjoys his retirement. God Bless John Siciliano and God Bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, this June, I had the pleasure of celebrating Jacob Gilchrist's achievements with the Scouts. Jacob joined the Scouts as a Tjger Cub and after years of hard work and dedication, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Through earning merit badges, participating in outdoor adventures, and developing his leadership skills, Jacob has gained valuable knowledge that he will carry with him for the rest of his life. For his Eagle Scout Service Project, Jacob renovated and repaired a local World War Two monument in his local community. Jacob's service does not go unnoticed, and I applaud him for his hard work and dedication for improving our South Jersey community. I congratulate Jacob and I wish him all the best. God Bless Jacob Gilchrist and God Bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, this past June, it was my privilege to attend Rubem Santos' Eagle Scout Ceremony. As soon as Rubem joined the Scouts, it was his dream to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. Now, as this dream comes to fruition, it is my privilege to recognize the time and energy he has dedicated to the Scouts. Throughout his scouting journey, he has collected thirty one merit badges and three Catholic Scouting Awards. For his project to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, he built Barn Owl Boxes for Woodstown Borough, South Jersey, for the purpose of providing a safe nesting environment for Barn Owls and encouraging the growth of their population. Outside of his involvement with the Scouts, he was a committed member of the South Jersey Robotics Team, the Lunatecs, who helped to develop a custom mold for an adaptive swim fin for veteran amputees. He is constantly searching for solutions, and this drives his passion to study Civil Engineering in the future. Rubem should be proud of his accomplishments, and it is my honor to celebrate him. God Bless Rubem Santos and God Bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, it is my honor and privilege to commemorate the induction of Ralph Contini as the National President of UNICO National. Ralph, an exceptional leader with fourty years of dedicated service to UNICO at all levels, currently serves as its Executive Vice President and Chairman of the UNICO National Columbus Day Committee. Throughout his tenure, he has been recognized for his unwavering commitment and received prestigious awards, including the Dr. Anthony P. Vastola Gold Medal Award and the Outstanding District Governor Award. Born and raised in Italy, Ralph's deep connection to Italian heritage has shaped his remarkable journey. Beyond UNICO, Ralph actively participates in several Italian American organizations, holding esteemed positions such as Treasurer/Executive Director at the Tri-State Italian American Congress and serving on the Board of Trustees for The Columbians. His dedication was further recognized with the honorable title of Cavaliere by the President of the Republic of Italy. As District Governor of New Jersey Districts Six and Seven, Ralph received the ``Outstanding'' and ``Distinguished'' UNICO National District Governor Awards, recognizing his outstanding leadership and dedicated efforts in managing the chapters within each district. Today, as the proud owner of Ralph A. Contini, CPA, LLC in Paramus, he provides top-tier accounting, tax, consulting, and financial planning services. Now residing Hackensack with his family, Ralph finds joy and fulfillment in his family life and values the support they provide as he continues to make a meaningful impact to their community. His legacy as an outstanding leader and advocate Italian heritage stands as a testament to his deep commitment and passion to the cause. Congratulations to Ralph for his induction as National President at UNICO and I thank him for his dedication to his community. God Bless Ralph Contini and God Bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, today I celebrate the accomplishments of Noah Wertzberger and his recent achievement of the rank of Eagle Scout. Noah embarked on his scouting journey as a K-cub during his kindergarten years. Throughout his scouting experience, he remained actively involved and just recently completed his Eagle Project in October. His project involved the removal of two Osprey nests situated on the Great Egg Harbor Watershed. Once those were removed, he constructed and installed replacement Osprey Nests with the help of the Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association. Noah is extremely grateful for Troop Seventy-Nine and the Boy Scouts for imparting invaluable lessons and fostering friendships. After achieving the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout, he now serves as an assistant scoutmaster, providing ongoing assistance to the Troop. In the upcoming fall, he will be attending Seton Hall University. Noah should be incredibly proud of his accomplishments, and I know he has a bright future ahead of him. God Bless Noah Wertzberger and God Bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, today I celebrate the accomplishments of Noah Quinton Brown and his recent achievement of the rank of Eagle Scout. Noah began scouting at the age of five, following in the footsteps of four generations of family before him. Now, having reached the highest rank in scouting, we celebrate his achievements. During his time in the Scouts, Noah has participated in countless fundraising and community service activities along with many different camping and hiking adventures. In July of 2022, Noah completed a 60- mile Trek at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico where he achieved the Boy Scout 50 miler award. For his Eagle Scout Project, he built benches, a water station, and rehabilitated a pavilion for use by spectators at cycling events put on by Camp Edge in Alloway, South Jersey. His remains active in the scouts with his current position of Junior Assistant Scoutmaster at Troop 60 in Daretown, South Jersey. Noah is now a junior at Woodstown High School, consistently earning his way on to the

Honor Roll. Outside of scouting, he is an athlete on his school's Varsity Track and Field team and a volunteer at his church, all while maintaining a job at a local farm. Along with his Eagle Scout award, Noah will be presented with the Bronze and Gold palms for his remarkable leadership and his willingness to accept responsibility. I am incredibly proud of Noah for all his accomplishments in the Scouts and I know he has a bright future ahead of him. God Bless Noah and God Bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Johnson for his leadership. Mr. Johnson is focused. He is an individual who is bringing this whole body forward, and I look forward to working with him continually on these issues.

There is a saying, we all know it, the truth shall set you free. The accusations made against the Bidens more than require an investigation. These accusations have painted a picture of corruption, bribery, and shameful behavior unbecoming of our executive branch.

Let's talk about them a little bit.

Bank records obtained by the Oversight Committee reveal almost $20 million in payments directed to Biden's associates and family.

These aren't Republican talking points. These aren't Jeff Van Drew talking points. This is the reality of what we have already found.

Over 150 transactions involving the Bidens have been flagged as ``suspicious activity.'' That is not only by the banks, but also the Treasury Department.

President Biden himself participated in phone calls with his son, Hunter--it is a fact--effectively acting as the merchandise that was being sold by his son, Hunter, who was the salesman. They closed deals, and we want to know what they are about: calls that led to the funneling of millions of dollars to Hunter and other Biden family members and Hunter's associates.

The list goes on and on and on. I am only touching the surface. This is more than enough to garner the extra powers granted from an impeachment inquiry. Our goal is to get to the truth.

As I said in the beginning of this conversation, the truth shall set you free. If there is nothing for them to worry about, they should welcome an impeachment inquiry. They should welcome producing the records, and they should welcome producing the statements. It is just the truth that we want.

We have a mission, a duty, and a responsibility. Our duty is to restore the American people's faith in our institutions. Our mission is to reaffirm that no one person, no one group is ever above the law in the United States of America.

This inquiry will move forward, with full transparency and steadfast resolve. If there is nothing here to hide, there is nothing here to worry about. If the allegations are confirmed, there will be, and needs to be justice.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 111) to require each agency, in providing notice of a rulemaking, to include a link to a 100-word plain language summary of the proposed rule.

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 S. 111.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 111, the Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act of 2023.

We have already spent a lot of time in this Congress exposing the problems of the administrative state. Agencies impose rules on the American people that lack popular support and would never get through the House and Senate to become law.

One of the major problems is that agencies are less transparent and have much less accountability than we do here in Congress.

The Administrative Procedure Act requires agencies to make certain disclosures when they propose those rules. Some of these explanations can be dense and bureaucratic and may not always help Americans quickly grasp what agencies plan to do.

This bill is a commonsense approach to increasing agency transparency and accountability. It requires agencies to provide a link to a plain language summary of 100 words or less for proposed rules.

This requirement is a simple, easy way to help the American people better understand what the rules are that agencies may impose. I urge Members to support this bill. It is good, it is strong, it is simple, and it is bipartisan.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reiterate my strong support for S. 111, the Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act.

The rules that agencies impose have real-world consequences. Americans should be easily able to understand what a proposed rule does. Instead, they are often left trying to interpret pages of technical and bureaucratic jargon.

This bill is a simple measure that will make Americans' lives easier.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members 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 ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I feel like a broken record talking about the invasion of our southern border over and over again, but it continues to get worse day by day.

When we have a President and an administration that do not take the crisis seriously, someone has to talk about it. We need to talk about it. We need to speak about it until we get it fixed.

From day one, Joe Biden has completely and utterly neglected his duties as President of the United States to enforce our rule of law and protect the national security of our great Nation. It is truly shameful.

From day one, Joe Biden abandoned strong and effective border policies put in place by President Trump that had our border nearly totally under control.

From day one, Joe Biden and his administration created this crisis. This is a crisis of their own doing, and Democrats have no one to blame other than themselves as to why thousands of illegal migrants come to our border daily. Ironically, some of them actually wear Biden T- shirts.

To make the border crisis even worse, and it is hard to believe that you could make it even worse, the radical Democrats are now using elementary and secondary schools to house these illegal immigrants. It is shameful.

There is absolutely no way to know the backgrounds of the individuals, yet Democrats find it appropriate to provide shelter for these migrants in children's gyms, auditoriums, and school spaces. Why do Democrats continue to put our children at risk?

As if trying to indoctrinate our children in the classroom isn't enough, as if it is not enough to see what they are doing in trying to affect the relationship of parents and their children in the school when parents are concerned about education, God knows how long they will be sheltered at these school campuses.

Democrats show time and time again they are not committed to protecting the American public and that they care more about the illusion of appearing compassionate when in reality they are neither compassionate nor competent.

Democrats cry that it is a political stunt when 40 migrants get flown to a sanctuary city or their luxury vacation island, yet when our border States and towns are overrun by this engineered crisis, there is no concern on their part. It is completely okay. It is okay for you. It just isn't okay for us.

It is also okay to Democrats that migrants are being held in places where there are virtually no bathrooms or sanitation facilities--so much for compassion, so much for caring, so much for the good of the country. This is hypocrisy at an astronomical level.

Unlike Democrats, Republicans are committed to protecting your children and will be voting this week to highlight and condemn this insanity. Once again, we will fight the fight.

Enough is enough. It is time to protect our children. It is time to take our country back.

I thank my fellow colleagues for being here tonight.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Obernolte).

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Obernolte for his concern and his commitment to our veterans and his concern and commitment to all those who serve our country.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Rose).

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Rose for his care and love for our children, both born and unborn.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller- Meeks), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mrs. Miller-Meeks for the work she does and the difference that she makes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa), my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Mr. LaMalfa's focus on what is a very important issue and it is a fairness issue. I appreciate the time and trouble he put into that. Well done.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Langworthy), my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Langworthy for his focus on this. I spoke about it earlier. We need to talk about it over and over and over again until we have policies that make sure our American people are number one and are safe.

Certainly, we can have immigration but in a legal and appropriate way. Our President has been shameful in this.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that concludes my Special Order, and I yield back the balance of my time.