Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I regret that I could not be present for the vote on H.R. 3012--North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2023. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 474.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to note the strong relationship between the United States and Kazakhstan and to recognize Kazakhstan's Republic Day.

Republic Day commemorates Kazakhstan's declaration of sovereignty on October 25, 1990. This pivotal moment paved the way for Kazakhstan's eventual independence from the Soviet Union and symbolizes the nation's enduring commitment to self-determination, prosperity, and peace.

Over the past 3 decades, Kazakhstan has transformed into a thriving nation with a strong economy, a growing international presence, and a robust partnership with the United States.

The relationship between Kazakhstan and the United States is rooted in shared values of democracy, economic growth, and mutual respect. As we celebrate Kazakhstan's achievements, we reaffirm our commitment to working together in addressing global challenges and promoting peace, security, and economic development.

In 2023, President Biden met with the Presidents of Kazakhstan and four other Central Asian nations at the inaugural C5+1 Summit during the United Nations General Assembly. Since its inception in 2015, the C5+1 platform has strengthened U.S.-Central Asia cooperation, advancing shared goals of regional security, economic resilience, and sustainable development.

The U S and Kazakhstan remain committed to accelerating regional cooperation and connectivity. This includes expanding trade routes, such as the Trans-Caspian Trade Route, and fostering a more favorable business environment for U.S. private sector trade and investment in Central Asia.

Kazakhstan remains one of the United States' most reliable and trusted partners, both regionally and globally, particularly as an active member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This long-standing partnership highlights the importance of advancing efforts to establish Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR), ensuring that Kazakhstan's economic growth is fully acknowledged and supported within the global marketplace.

As we look to the future, the United States and Kazakhstan are poised to deepen their partnership through continued dialogue, trade, and collaboration on shared goals.

Together, we are committed to fostering peace, security, and prosperity, not only in Central Asia but globally.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate this opportunity. I think we have seen why we are here today. It is because in the past decade, America has witnessed firsthand the devastation, the death, and the massive destruction from wildfires.

In my home State of California, this year alone, wildfires have burned almost 1 million acres. That is just one-fourth of the acres that burned back in 2020.

In my congressional district along the coast of California, we have endured some of the most extreme wildfires in our Nation's history in the Los Padres National Forest, Santa Cruz Mountains, and the Big Sur coastline.

Now, unfortunately, 80 percent of wildfires are caused by humans. What really makes us vulnerable to these extreme fires in this time of extreme weather and, yes, in this time of extreme climate change, is that we are doing what we can to fight the fires, but we just aren't doing enough to prevent the fires.

Decades of dereliction when it comes to doing anything to manage wildlands is a persistent cause of why the Western United States is so susceptible to the devastating conflagrations we are experiencing.

That is why we need to do something, anything, when it comes to the management of our forests and to be proactive when it comes to protecting our wetlands and the lives and livelihoods of those who live in the wildland-urban interface.

The Fix Our Forests Act is a big step in the right direction to restore the health of forests, to bolster their resiliency, and, yes, to reduce the threat of wildfires.

This legislation would allow all levels of government to play their part with community wildfire risk reduction programs, a national Fireshed Center, and, yes, to fix our flawed permitting system, not by getting rid of NEPA but with the flexibility necessary so that those on the ground can implement prevention projects, manage our forests, and therefore protect our forests.

Another key part of this legislation would also expand and encourage the use of prescribed burns in fireshed areas that would not only help prevent fires, it would help my congressional district keep on track with our management plan.

As wildfire seasons have turned into wildfire years, we have learned our lesson and have done an excellent job fighting fires, but now it is time we must do something to prevent wildfires.

Madam Chair, I regret that I could not be present for the vote on Biggs Amendment No. 4 to H.R. 8752. Had I been present, I would have voted No on Roll Call No. 285.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor Major Benjamin Jones' impressive record of service to our country. Ben was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and attended high school at Clayton High School in North Carolina. He attended North Carolina State University and received his commission as an Armor Officer through Officer Candidate School in 2010.

Major Jones has served on active duty for just over ten years. He has served as a Reconnaissance Platoon Leader within 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii. He commanded two Cavalry Troops within 1st Armored Division in Texas. After command, he served as an exercise planner for Joint Modernization Command, within Army Futures Command. He also has an operational deployment to Kuwait in 2017 as a Troop Commander. Prior to his current assignment in the Army House Liaison Division as a Legislative Liaison, Major Jones served as the Defense Fellow/Military Legislative Liaison for Representative Filemon Vela of Texas' 34th Congressional District.

As a Legislative Liaison, Ben was the face of the Army for 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, with direct influence over 10 states spanning 85 individual members. Ben built, promoted, and facilitated lines of communication between Congress and the Army that were instrumental in maintaining the relationship between the executive and legislative branches. Through his ability to clearly define the Army's message and help navigate the needs of Congress to provide essential oversight requirements, Ben has had a lasting and outsized impact on the government and the nation's ability to respond to global threats, ensure the military modernizes, and maintains readiness at the highest level.

In June, Major Jones will be attending the National Intelligence University as he continues his career as a strategic intelligence officer continuing his post graduate studies and continues to honorably serve our great Nation. I wish Ben, his wife Lauren, and his two children Colin and Harper, the best of luck in their future endeavors and their continued dedication to this great country.

Mr. Speaker, obviously, I thank Representative Foster for yielding me this time. I also thank Chairman McHenry for that very comprehensive and exact description of

this piece of legislation and his kind words.

Mr. Speaker, I do rise today, as well, to support the Everett Alvarez, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act. This legislation would award the Congressional Gold Medal to retired United States Naval Commander Everett Alvarez, Jr., who was the first aviator captured in the Vietnam war, but also the second longest-serving prisoner of war in the history of our Nation.

A native son of Salinas, California, in Monterey County, Everett Alvarez has made immense contributions to our country.

While growing up, he always wanted to be in the U.S. Navy. As a kid in an immigrant family, surrounded by other immigrant families in his neighborhood, he was instilled with that sense of service, that attitude that he should always give back to the country that gave he and his family so much opportunity.

He attended Santa Clara University where he earned a degree in electrical engineering and remains a lifetime member of the board of fellows.

While he was at SCU, Alvarez would stare at the naval jets flying over campus that were going in and out of the nearby Navy base at Moffett Airfield in Mountain View.

Right before he graduated in 1960, he took, and he passed the exams to join the Navy and train as a pilot. While in the Navy, Alvarez was assigned and trained to fly the A-4 Skyhawk fighter-bomber jets. In May 1964, Lieutenant JG Alvarez was assigned to the USS Constellation, which was off the coast of Vietnam, otherwise known as Yankee Station.

For the first few months, Alvarez carried out numerous missions over Laos, Cambodia, and parts of northern Vietnam; however, his first combat mission was the day after the Gulf of Tonkin incident, which also turned out to be his last mission.

On August 5, 1964, during Operation Pierce Arrow, Lieutenant JG Alvarez was sent on a mission to target and take out torpedo boat bases in north Vietnam. However, right as he got to the coast of north Vietnam, his A-4 Skyhawk was hit by enemy fire. He immediately tried to gain altitude, but quickly realized he couldn't.

Everett worked hard to get his plane out to the ocean and made one final radio transmission to his wingmen just before he bailed out into Ha Long Bay in which he said: I will see you guys later.

Unbeknownst to all, Everett wouldn't see freedom for the next 8 years and 6 months, or the next 3,113 days.

Now, for the first part of his captivity, Everett was in solitary confinement for 13 months, mainly because the U.S. hadn't started the formal bombing campaign against the north Vietnamese, but, at that time, the north Vietnamese were unprepared for prisoners of war, so for his first 6 months in captivity, the enemy didn't know what to do with him. They kept him in a local jail, treating him like a local criminal.

As time went on, though, the enemy constantly interrogated him, demanding he tell them about U.S. intentions and operations. Everett refused and subsequently was put into a 7-by-7-foot cell.

As tough as that period was, Everett will tell you that his toughest time was from 1965 to 1969, 4 years, when he and other POWs were constantly pressured and used as propaganda, including being beaten and marched through the streets. His torture included a rifle butt to the left side of Alvarez's face that dislocated his jaw and still causes him difficulty today.

He suffered numerous other injuries at the hands of his captors, including ones that required surgeries later in his life to both his arms and his back. Much of Everett Alvarez's captivity was spent at the Hoa Lo Prison, otherwise known as the Hanoi Hilton, where conditions were absolutely horrific.

During those years, Everett was confined to a room that was about 10 feet by 12 feet and was given nothing but a straw mat and a bag filled with straw that was supposed to be a pillow.

They starved him so much that Everett's weight fell to just over 100 pounds, even though his normal weight was 170 pounds. Although, he was physically weak, Mr. Speaker, having endured starvation, isolation, and torture, Everett Alvarez remained strong.

He said that the POWs took care of one another by communicating with each other and tapping on prison walls. Everett personally and regularly inspired and encouraged his fellow POWs to return with honor by not cooperating with the enemy and staying loyal to the United States of America.

On January 12, 1973, we know that U.S.' involvement with the Vietnam war ended with the signing of the Paris Peace Accords and soon after, on February 12, Everett Alvarez was released from captivity.

Upon arrival at the U.S. airbase in the Philippines, he greeted the Navy Admiral awaiting him with: Lieutenant JG Alvarez reporting back, sir.

After his release and hospitalization, Alvarez resumed his naval service. He even graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, with a degree in operations research and systems analysis.

On June 30, 1980, Commander Alvarez retired from the Navy, completing a 20-year naval career. During his service, Commander Alvarez earned the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, and the Prisoner of War Medal.

After leaving the Navy, Alvarez continued to give back by serving his country. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as a Deputy Director of the Peace Corps and Deputy Administrator of the Veterans Administration.

In an article with Stars and Stripes, Everett Alvarez was asked, despite the nightmare of being a POW for the second longest amount of time in our Nation's history, what allowed him to realize that he is the American Dream?

Mr. Speaker, his response was that I am nothing special. I am just one of the guys that had to do what we had to do, and that is how we did it. We just took one day at a time.

Mr. Speaker, he may think that he is nothing special, but what he did in captivity as the second longest-serving POW in our Nation's history and what he has done for our country is not just special; it is unfathomable, and it is absolutely amazing. His service to our Nation, his sacrifice as a POW, his strength, and his symbol as an American for Americans deserves the highest honor that Congress can bestow, a Congressional Gold Medal.

I am honored to be the author of this bill, and I am also proud that 300 Members of this Chamber cosponsored this legislation, demonstrating how deserving Commander Alvarez is of this recognition. I am also honored that Senator Padilla is the sponsor of this legislation in the Senate, and I look forward to working with him and his Senate colleagues in order to obtain the appropriate amount of support so that this bill passes out of the U.S. Senate and makes it to the President's desk for signature into law.

For now, I urge all of my congressional colleagues to support the Everett Alvarez, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act to honor Everett Alvarez, an American and an example of what we stand for as Americans.

Madam Speaker, today is the 100th anniversary of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk's iconic roller coaster, the Giant Dipper.

This amazing roller coaster opened on this day in 1924 and took only 47 days to construct, making it the fourth oldest roller coaster in the United States and one of the 10 oldest roller coasters in the world.

Despite its age, it still packs a punch. Starting off by racing through a pitch-black mine shaft of a tunnel, then popping outside and clinking and clacking up a steep incline. After reaching its peak point, the coaster plunges straight down and provides a ride that races up and down its wooden brace tracks, lifting you up and down out of your seats.

Just like any good roller coaster, it is a ride that can turn your stomach. No matter how you feel, the Giant Dipper is exhilarating. It is exciting, and it is just plain fun.

It is no wonder that more than 68 million people have taken this thrill ride. It is no wonder that the Giant Dipper is recognized as a National Historic Landmark.

Happy 100th birthday to this famed roller coaster, and congratulations to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. I honor the Giant Dipper for providing a fun and exciting ride that has provided generations of families with fun and fulfilling memories.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize the Monterey High School Boys' Basketball Team for winning the 2024 Division 4 California State championship.

The Toreadors are the second basketball team ever from Monterey County

to win a State title, and, Mr. Speaker, this one was special.

Throughout their season, the Toreadors were determined to be victorious. However, after winning their league title, they actually lost in the sectional playoffs.

Nevertheless, due to their overall performance during the year, the Toreadors were given an at-large invitation to the State playoffs and the 14th seed.

Although they weren't happy with that ranking, they were thrilled with the opportunity to show that they were better than that and played with a huge chip on their shoulders.

They beat the third seed. They beat the sixth seed. They beat the second seed. They beat the fourth seed, and, yes, eventually, the Monterey High Toreadors beat the number one seed to capture the State championship.

It is historic wins like that, it is teams like this, and it is the attitude that they had that defines determination.

Congratulations to Coach Daniels and the determined Toreadors for their historic victory and for making California's 19th Congressional District very proud.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a century of agricultural excellence by The California Artichoke & Vegetable Growers Corporation dba Ocean Mist Farms.

In 1924, four Italian immigrant families founded The California Artichoke & Vegetable Growers Corporation in Castroville, California. In the beginning, they only grew artichokes, broccoli, and brussels sprouts. Later in the second half of the 20th century, they expanded their growing operations to include cauliflower, cardoon, fennel, iceberg lettuce, leeks, and a variety of specialty vegetables, making them one of the premiere vegetable growers in the Salinas Valley.

Then in 1995, The California Artichoke & Vegetable Growers Corporation started doing business as Ocean Mist Farms, a name they continue to use today. With their new name, Ocean Mist Farms started growing organic artichokes and other organic produce while expanding to Southern California to provide fresh produce year-round.

I recognize Ocean Mist Farms for their numerous contributions to the fresh produce and agriculture industry, for being an exceptional employer by creating jobs for thousands of people over the years, cultivating environments where people could learn and grow, and for their philanthropy and service in the community.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of California's 19th District, I commemorate Ocean Mist Farms, formerly known as The California Artichoke & Vegetable Growers Corporation, for their success as the largest grower- shipper of fresh artichokes in North America, and for their outstanding leadership in the industry and community over the past century.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for that argument. I also rise in support of the Extending Limits of U.S. Customs Waters Act. H.R. 529, authored and introduced by my good friend Mike Waltz, would extend the customs waters of the United States from 12 to 24 nautical miles, a change that would expand the coastal area in which Customs and Border Patrol's Air and Marine Operations can exercise their law enforcement authority to combat smuggling of illegal narcotics; to stem the flow of human trafficking; and, yes, to secure our borders.

CBP's Air and Marine Operations, or as I will refer to them, AMO, plays an important role in preventing the unlawful entry by sea of goods and people into our Nation, as Chairman Smith indicated. Our coastal domain is over 95,000 miles long. It is an area that is more open and maneuverable than air and land, and thus, it is more vulnerable to being penetrated by transnational criminal organizations.

The issue, though, is that the current law prevents AMO from stopping those smugglers or exercising its law enforcement authorities more than 12 nautical miles from shore, even though, as you heard, the contiguous waters of the United States extend out to 24 nautical miles.

What we have seen is that the transnational criminal organizations are taking advantage of that situation, taking advantage of this limitation, which is demonstrated by the numbers, including that in 2022, 82 percent of drug seizures by AMO, including 702 pounds of fentanyl, occurred in the maritime environment.

Now, beyond stopping illegal narcotics, AMO has the authority to intercept vessels that are smuggling people on the sea which, unfortunately, as we have seen, has become one of the most dangerous ways to enter into any country. AMO does its best and has a duty to prevent the loss of life and discouraging this deadly form of migration by rescuing those trapped aboard dangerous vessels.

Many of the vessels used to smuggle people these days are often not built for the waters they are on, nor are they equipped for the long journey or bouts of bad weather. The U.S. Coast Guard reports that just about every vessel they encounter is constructed haphazardly with improvised materials and with absolutely no concern for the people on board.

Moreover, Mr. Speaker, smugglers often overload their vessels to maximize profits, which risks capsizing and the loss of life. When AMO encounters migrants on suspicious vehicles, these operations often turn into rescues, with many on board being sick, severely dehydrated, injured, or even overboard in the water.

Fortunately, AMO doesn't just stop vessels. AMO personnel are trained and equipped to care for the people on board and rescue those who are overboard. Many AMO personnel are trained as emergency medical technicians, EMTs, and all of the agents are trained first responders. Moreover, AMO vessels are equipped with specialized trauma and first aid kits and ladders to help rescue people from the water.

Mr. Speaker, by increasing the customs waters from 12 nautical miles to 24, we are giving AMO more opportunity to rescue people, to save lives, to respond to suspected vehicles, and, yes, even set up interdictions farther away from shore and safely away from law-abiding boaters.

The expansion of the area that AMO operates in will help them better do their job to stop vessels that are trafficking drugs and humans and protect the people that are on board those vessels. That is why I support this legislation that passed unanimously out of the Ways and Means Committee back in November.

I encourage all of my colleagues to do the same because by supporting this legislation, we would not only help support the mission of AMO to stop illegal narcotics and human trafficking, but we would be helping secure our Nation's borders. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, as you have heard, this legislation has full bipartisan support of the Ways and Means Committee and beyond, and support from CBP's Air and Marine Operations.

It is critical that we give AMO the authorities it needs to effectively combat transnational criminal organizations. Extending customs waters to 24 nautical miles would allow AMO to exercise its law enforcement authority and both protect human life and our communities by helping AMO secure our borders.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to once again recognize the National Day of Silence, a day when students and allies, especially in California's 19th Congressional District, speak up for the LGBTQ community by taking a vow of silence. By remaining silent for an entire day, they are highlighting the many challenges faced by our LGBTQ youth.

One student who is taking part is Sion from Delta High School in Aptos, California. Sion told me that one's statement doesn't have to be loud to be impactful. Instead, the National Day of Silence is powerful because it highlights not only the difficulties in discrimination but also the resiliency and solidarity of the LGBTQ community.

Sion believes that this day proves that yelling and outrage are not necessarily the only way to be heard and reminds us and reinforces our shared dreams of a world where love knows no bounds.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Sion and others for taking part in the National Day of Silence. Their willingness to be quiet for one day recognizes all of those with the will to speak up every day for the LGBTQ community.

Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. It includes tax credits for childcare, immediate expensing for small business R&D, tax- free settlement for natural disasters and, yes, more affordable housing. This is a good bill, not just for my district, but for our country and our country's faith in Congress' ability to actually affect the lives and livelihoods of all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Palma High School Chieftains football team who recently won the California 4-A State championship.

While Palma High is no longer a part of my 19th Congressional District--I thank the redistricting commission--the Chieftains are definitely part of my memories. As a proud Carmel High Padre football player, I played against Palma all 4 years of my high school career, and, yes, I lost to Palma all 4 years.

Mr. Speaker, Palma is what you call a powerhouse when it comes to sports, especially in football, but they have never won a State championship until this year.

At the beginning of this season, it didn't even look like they were going to win sectionals as they started off going 0 and 5.

Nevertheless, typical Palma, led by Head Coach Jeff Carnazo, they always work hard, they always play smart, and, inevitably, they always win as they did over Mission Oaks High School in the State championship

I congratulate Palma President, Chris Dalman, whom I played against back in high school, and who went on to play with the San Francisco 49ers and win a Super Bowl.

I congratulate the parents, the students, and, of course, the Chieftain football team on their State championship. They not only made the central coast proud, they made this former Padre very proud.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a very pressing issue that not only have we heard about throughout our country but especially in the 19th Congressional District of California, which I represent. It is the decreasing amount of reimbursement rates to Medicare providers. It is an issue, unfortunately, that threatens the care for many senior citizens that I represent.

Now, as the proud Representative of California-19, it is a place where the cost of living, unfortunately, can be pretty high--not just for families, not just for workers, but for doctors, as well.

We in the 19th are already facing challenges when it comes to keeping enough medical providers around to care for our seniors. It is actually a problem throughout California where not only is the cost of living too high, but also Medicare reimbursements are way too low.

Mr. Speaker, 76 percent of California physicians report that Medicare no longer covers their cost to provide care. That puts more than 6.5 million Californians enrolled in Medicare at risk as many primary care doctors are not even taking new part B patients.

A key driver of this is how Medicare isn't reimbursing physicians enough. This past year, Medicare expenses rose 4.6 percent. In the past two decades, payments to providers have declined 26 percent while costs to providers have risen 47 percent, according to the AMA.

What is worse is that when CMS updates payment rates for billing codes under part B, that creates many unsustainable cuts for too many providers and leads to way too many scheduled decreases to Medicare physician reimbursement.

Because of that, we are seeing physicians take on fewer Medicare patients, and we all know what that means--that there are more seniors with fewer healthcare options.

Now, fortunately, thanks to the leadership of Mr. Murphy and other Members of Congress who have come together in a bipartisan fashion for a temporary fix, this legislation would provide an offset for the cuts to providers so that our providers keep getting reimbursed appropriately, so that we can keep providers in our communities, and so that providers can keep serving the needs of seniors.

I am proud to work with Representative Murphy on the Ways and Means Committee for this straightforward fix to this problem, but this Congress needs to act with urgency, as these cuts have already taken effect.

Ultimately, we need a long-term solution to this issue by ensuring that Medicare reimbursement is keeping up with inflation and that the system is streamlined so physicians can continue to care for their patients.

We can't underestimate how Medicare plays an essential role in the health of senior citizens. That is why Congress must ensure that in order for it to continue to be that cornerstone of healthcare, we must provide our providers with the proper reimbursement so that our seniors can get proper healthcare.

I appreciate Mr. Murphy's leadership on this, and I look forward to working with many of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do our job by making sure the Federal Government works for our constituents by ensuring that Medicare always allows our providers to care for our senior citizens.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5862, the Global Trade Specialist Act. It is legislation that I am proud to have co-led with my friend and fellow Californian, Representative Steel.

It is a bill that would allow Customs and Border Protection to fulfill the position of global trade specialist, which would help facilitate and further our Nation's trade by giving CBP the flexibility to flow with the future of international trade.

As we know well, Customs and Border Protection has an important role to play when it comes to supporting trade. That is why CBP should also have the proper authority to modernize their staffing as the trade environment evolves.

Currently, CBP's Office of International Trade has several distinct but separate trade positions. This includes jobs such as import specialists, international trade analysts, management and program analysts, trade economists, auditors, attorneys, and so forth. These jobs do help CBP execute and enforce U.S. trade laws and ultimately protect our American economy, but there is a position missing, and that is a global trade specialist.

CBP has created such a position, but it doesn't have the flexibility, nor does it have the legal authority to hire for this position. Our legislation would give CBP that needed authority and so much more.

The global trade specialist position would allow CBP to realign and reshape the workforce in response to the evolving trade environment. It would be able to do this because the position also would better utilize and focus existing resources and Customs' revenue functions. It would give CBP more flexibility to modernize its trade workforce, to retain its employees, and to build its institutional knowledge. It would equip trade employees to more effectively execute trade enforcement and compliance operations. It would increase professional development opportunities.

Ultimately, by making trade facilitation jobs more attractive and rewarding rather than bureaucratic and boring, this legislation would enhance CBP's responsibility to recruit and retain staff and meet the mandated staffing levels as set forth in the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

In the formulation of this bipartisan legislation, I am not only proud to have worked with my fellow Ways and Means and California colleague, Mrs. Steel, but it was built from provisions that were included in both the House's America COMPETES Act and the Senate's United States Innovation and Competition Act.

We also have incorporated feedback from CBP to ensure that this provision would work as intended and made additional changes at the request of Office and Personnel Management.

Lastly, this legislation is supported by the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents CBP workers.

Due to its broad support, this legislation passed unanimously at that Ways and Means Committee markup last November. I thank Chairman Adrian Smith and, of course, Ranking Member Neal for supporting this bipartisan bill that is the product of good-faith collaboration.

It is a bill, Mr. Speaker, that will allow CBP employees to go beyond a bureaucratic role and actually allow CBP to be creative, to be flexible, and to be forward-thinking when it comes to the ebbs and flows and the future of trade.

That is why I worked on this legislation, that is why I fully support its passage, and I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Global Trade Specialist Act.

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

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

In closing, as you have heard, Mr. Speaker, this legislation has broad bipartisan support and support from the CBP. It really is critical that we modernize our trade administration as our trade environment is changing faster than ever. CBP's staffing model must evolve, and Congress must do its part to facilitate that evolution.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, to send this to the Senate and ultimately to the President's desk for signature into law.

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