Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a great environmental champion from southeastern Connecticut whom we lost recently, Mr. E. Zell Steever, V. A fierce advocate for climate resilience and sustainability policy, Zell spent his career in ecology and biology, serving as Director of Water and Related Resources at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, along with other roles in water resources protection and management at agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Interior, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His decade-spanning support for environmental conservation and dedication to robust civic participation has been instrumental in the great strides our State has taken to realize a sustainable, climate-resilient future.

Zell began life with his family in Noank, Connecticut, where he settled after graduating from the University of Connecticut. He attended graduate school at Connecticut College, studying the local coastal salt march ecosystem and building a repository of evidence of the importance of healthy wetlands to fisheries, one of southeastern Connecticut's mainstay professions. In his free time, Zell was frequently seen sailing up and down the Long Island Sound, designing and renovating homes, and building Aleutian kayaks.

Zell's impact has reached far beyond the limits of Eastern Connecticut, as he held multiple national level positions. He advised President Nixon as a staff member of the President's Council on Environmental Equality. In

1993 he was selected for the 1992 delegation to the UN Earth Summit where he led negotiations on five chapters of Agenda 21 on behalf of the United States. He continued his high-stakes environmental work and advocacy until his retirement in 2004. Luckily for Eastern Connecticut, Zell's retirement was only in name. He continued his tireless work in Groton town committees including the Town Council's Climate Change and Sustainable Community Task Force, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee, and the Utility Drinking Water Quality Management Plan.

Zell was tirelessly active in municipal efforts to prepare for climate change, serving the community with groups such as the Groton Energy Efficiency and Conservation Commission and the advisory board for the Groton Utility Drinking Water Quality Management. One of Zell's most ambitious local efforts focused on the expansion of the area's commuter rail service, Shoreline East. His vision included extending the existing rail line from New London to Westerly, Rhode Island, making a route from New London to Norwich, and creating new stations in Groton and Stonington. He worked tirelessly to bring together stakeholders from across the region, creating a coalition of advocates with environmentalism and equity at the heart of its mission. Zell was at the forefront of this burgeoning expansion effort, leveraging his decades of experience in government and conservation to successfully push for legislation that called for an Eastern Connecticut Rail and Transit Feasibility Study, which was finalized and published in later 2023. This study will be instrumental in the further development of widely available and accessible rail in southeastern Connecticut, for which we have Zell to thank.

I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in honoring Zell Steever's service and spirit. His loss is felt deeply across the state and Nation. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, two sons, John and Scott, two stepsons, Jonathan and Gabriel, six grandchildren, and his brother Sanford. His resolute mission to protect the planet we call home and his devoted service to his communities will serve as a lasting legacy in the hearts and minds of Connecticut's future environmentalists and conservationists as they continue the work he dedicated his life to.

Mr. Speaker, last night, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in an overwhelming majority, 376-16, to pass H.R. 7659, the Coast Guard Authorization Act.

This critical measure, which Congress approves every 2 years, authorizes Coast Guard procurement programs, such as Coast Guard shipbuilding, which is so necessary in terms of carrying out the Coast Guard's mission both at home and overseas, and also makes prudent adjustments to shoreside infrastructure, including the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, which is located in my district in New London, Connecticut.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, in 2023, the press discovered that there was an investigation that the Coast Guard internally conducted over a number of years, tracking and identifying an unacceptable and really outrageous amount of sexual harassment and even sexual abuse that was happening on the campus. The report, which the new Commandant, Admiral Fagan, did release publicly, describes a totally unacceptable situation, which this Coast Guard authorization bill does address.

Specifically, the bill includes H.R. 5249, the Coast Guard Academy Safe-to-

Report Parity Act, which I introduced with a bipartisan coalition, that requires the Coast Guard to prescribe a safe-to-report policy to protect personnel who report incidents of sexual assault or sexual harassment from being punished for minor offenses, which may hinder them reporting acts which they were victims of.

In February of this year, the Commandant, Admiral Fagan, directed the Coast Guard to establish this policy through administrative action. Our bill, which we passed last night, will actually codify the policy and make it part of the Federal U.S. Code and bring parity for the Coast Guard with the Department of Defense and its service academies, which have had this law in effect for the last 5 years.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, many victims of sexual assault hesitated to report because they feared repercussions for minor collateral misconduct. In fact, a recent Coast Guard workplace gender relations survey found that 25 percent of the female victims who chose not to report their sexual assaults were concerned that they might get in trouble for something else that they did.

This bill will firmly and finally eliminate a barrier to reporting sexual assault and harassment, taking fear of repercussions off the table.

Again, I thank Admiral Lisa Fagan for her outstanding leadership and for working diligently with me, my office, and other Members of Congress to craft this crucial policy. I also thank Chairs Graves and Webster and Ranking Members Larsen and Carbajal for their work in passing the Coast Guard authorization out of committee and bringing it to the floor last night for a successful vote.

Again, I urge my colleagues in the Senate to quickly craft their version of the bill and make sure that we codify these protections for outstanding young cadets who are going to be the future leaders of the Coast Guard for decades and decades to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Indo- Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act.

This bill makes critical investments to integrated deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, fulfills the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's unfunded priorities, and uplifts the U.S. submarine industrial base in support of the trilateral AUKUS security agreement.

Its $3.3 billion investment in submarines will both expand the production capacity of the Virginia and Columbia class programs and provide the Navy with resources to get more attack submarines out of maintenance delays and into the fleet. This supplemental was crafted last fall in tandem with House and Senate passage of AUKUS authorities.

It will turbocharge AUKUS with real capital and match the Australian Government's commitment to invest $3 billion into the U.S. industrial base.

The supplemental, along with continued procurement of two Virginia subs per year, will ensure that our Navy has sufficient inventory to sell three subs to Australia in the early 2030s, as the agreement calls for.

I salute Mr. Cole and Ms. DeLauro for their steadfast leadership in bringing this measure to the floor so that our Nation will renew its role that Franklin Roosevelt described as the arsenal of democracy. I urge passage.

Mr. Speaker, later today on April 18, three Australian submariners are slated to graduate from the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton. They are the first three submariners from Australia under the AUKUS security agreement who are gaining proficiency to operate a nuclear-powered submarine--again, a first for both countries.

After graduating from this course, they will be headed to Naval Station Pearl Harbor for assignment to United States Virginia-class submarines, and this, again, marks another first where they will be the first-ever Australian naval personnel assigned a U.S. Navy vessel.

Over the next 12 months, 100 more Australian Navy personnel will continue in this pipeline to implement the AUKUS agreement, which is one of the smartest collaborations between the U.S., the U.K., and Australia to uplift their submarine capacity to work together for the three nations and rebalance the deteriorating security environment in the Indo-Pacific. I congratulate them all, or as they would say in Australian, good on ya.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a long time, career first responder from Eastern Connecticut, Chief Anthony ``Tony'' Saccone. Chief Saccone has diligently served and protected his hometown, Ledyard Connecticut, specifically Ledyard's village of Gales Ferry. On Saturday April 13, 2024, Tony will be honored at a retirement celebration by his family, department colleagues and friends, recognizing his talented, faithful adherence to duty.

Chief Saccone was born and raised in Greenbush N.Y. where he attended and graduated Watervliet High School. He was brought up in a large, loving family by his father who

worked as a lineman, and his mother who stayed home to care for Tony and his six siblings. After graduation he volunteered to serve his country in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to serve on a destroyer based at Norfolk, VA. After an honorable discharge, he pursued further education and acquired an associate degree in Fire Science and Technology. He married his wife, Noreen, in 1987 and moved to Ledyard where they raised four children. His time in the naval service and his training in fire science, led Tony to pursue a career as a firefighter at the Submarine Base fire department. Unsurprisingly, he took to the task, and he continued to work at the Submarine Base as a firefighter for over 20 years. Mr. Speaker, the mission of the subbase department is very specialized, given the highly complex and value of A large fleet of fast attack submarines homeported there. Tony handled that portfolio with highest degree of professionalism and proficiency it required. Not one to settle for just that task, Saccone took it upon himself to take a second job at the Gales Ferry Fire Company, where he also excelled and has since tirelessly served his community up to this day.

Chief Saccone's involvement in both fire departments extended beyond the details of his job description. He rapidly accelerated through the ranks and became the Fire Captain at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base and Chief of the Gales Ferry Fire Company. His leadership skills are exhibited in his character; as Captain and Chief of these departments, he prioritized mutual trust, respect, and communication between him and the crews. He led by example, expecting the same excellence of his team as of himself. His organizational skill proved to be an asset when Chief Saccone managed a $250,000 budget for Gales Ferry and balanced it each year since beginning his position as Chief in 2008. It is through the leadership of Saccone that Gales Ferry and the Submarine Base Fire crews can provide high quality service to their communities.

As a natural leader, Chief Saccone recognized his potential to extend his service to his community and town from a political position. He was voted to the Ledyard Town Council, where he fearlessly advocated for the community as a whole and the Gales Ferry Fire Department. I had the honor to get to know Chief Saccone when he and I, from 2011 to 2021, worked together to advance the bipartisan Fire Police Fairness Act. Through his tireless advocacy alongside my office, Chief Saccone witnessed the signing of this bill by President Biden on November 18, 2021 at the White House in Washington, DC. From 2017 to 2018, Chief Saccone and I began that legislative journey to extend police officers' death benefits to fire police officers. This legislation will ensure all firefighters' families get federal survivor benefits after serious injury or fatality. His passion and knowledge of the challenges first responders face were essential to secure successful passage of this law--even in the midst of a highly polarized Congress. This was a resounding bipartisan victory that reflected Americans' endless support for first responders.

It was also a pleasure and honor for Chief Saccone to accompany me at President Biden's State of the Union Address in 2022. He is the true example of a selfless leader, someone who expects nothing more of others than the best, while expecting even more from himself. He raises others, is a team player, and an individual of incalculable quality. Chief Saccone's involvement in his community and country reflects his commitment to American democratic values For the sake of America, I hope that citizens see Chief Saccone's story and continue his legacy as unswaying champions of American democracy. Chief Saccone's newly found free-time will undoubtedly be dedicated towards his wife Noreen; four children, Anthony Jr., Julia, Lucas, and Emilie; and his children's respective families. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Chief Saccone's career.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the longstanding organization, Connecticut Humanities. Connecticut Humanities is a nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, which strengthens the country's identity through extending grants to humanities-focused institutions that serve the American public. Libraries, historical societies, and museums are just some of the various recipients of these grants. CT Humanities extends residents extensive access to learning materials that divulge the deep roots of Connecticut culture and history.

For the past fifty years, CT Humanities has championed literature, arts, and history across the state. Cultural institutions throughout the state have been both empowered to thrive and extended crucial lifelines by the organization's passionate and helpful staff and its programming that has been carefully curated to meet the needs of Connecticut's humanities community. Throughout the COVID-19 public health crisis, CT Humanities worked resolutely to ensure that cultural organizations were connected to relief efforts, such as funding from the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act. In my district, the nonprofit, New London Landmarks, which works to preserve the buildings, neighborhoods and parks that embody the City's history, used this vital financial assistance to maintain access for the community to interact with rich art and history while responsibly navigating the pandemic. Countless similar organizations in every corner of Connecticut were buoyed by CT Humanities throughout this devastating time and are still standing today because of its steadfast support. As a History major during my college days at Tufts University, I particularly appreciate CT Humanities dedicated work to tell our state's incredible history through our schools, symposiums, and social media. Its ``This Day in Connecticut History'' social media campaign is a service I greatly enjoy.

Looking beyond its capable and rapid response to organizations in the throes of crisis since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, CT Humanities has spent decades tirelessly stewarding the nonprofit cultural sector and inviting Connecticut's communities to take part in its abundant offerings. Between July 2019 and December 2022, CT Humanities hosted over 7.3 million visitors through in-person, virtual, and PreK-12 education visits. Moreover, CT Humanities supports 56,000 jobs within the Connecticut cultural sector. Through its work we are reminded of not only the cultural and historical necessity of a robust humanities network, but also of the immense economic value. Access to culture is a necessary component in creating vibrant, exciting communities to both live and work in, and CT Humanities has worked since its inception to ensure that cultural institutions have a place in the economic conversation. Throughout the years CT Humanities has supported humanities organizations in all 169 Connecticut towns, playing an indispensable role in the preservation and prosperity of our state's history and culture.

For the past fifty years, Connecticut residents have experienced Connecticut Humanities dedication to connecting people and ideas. Citizens not only gain exposure to the experiences of others, but also see themselves and their own histories reflected in these programs. In turn, residents of Connecticut feel empowered and inclined to participate and invest in our communities, preserving this sense of shared identity and connecting us to cultural stories from Connecticut and beyond. Access to these cultural resources allows us to walk in others' footsteps, gaining an empathy and sense of history that is crucial to the success of our democracy. Thanks to Connecticut Humanities, diverse cultural education in our state is thriving and continues to break new ground, building upon Connecticut's storied cultural identity to encourage curiosity and understanding for all.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Scott for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bipartisan A Stronger Workforce for America Act, which makes critical improvements to America's job training laws that will close the skills gap, strengthen the relationship between employers and the local labor market, and put more Americans on the pathway to successful careers.

I congratulate Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member Scott for their bipartisan collaboration to bring this bill to the floor, defying all the negative conventional wisdom about this place because this is a really critical program at a time when our U.S. economy has 9 million job openings.

My district in eastern Connecticut is the fastest growing labor market in our State and the second fastest in New England. The Federal job training program that we are discussing here today has been a huge contributor to that growth.

Back in 2015, I hosted then-Labor Secretary Tom Perez at Electric Boat's shipyard to meet with our local WIOA workforce board to discuss the looming need for shipbuilding skills to meet the sharply increased demand by the U.S. Navy for submarine construction.

Mr. Speaker, 5 months later, in September 2015, the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative program was launched using a $6 million WIOA grant by the U.S. Department of Labor. Since its establishment in 2016, nearly 3,500 workers in eastern Connecticut have been hired from the WIOA-funded pipeline to high-quality careers in the Electric Boat shipyard.

As you can see from this chart, Mr. Speaker, starting in 2016, there has been steady growth. There was a little dip during COVID, but last year, 945 graduates from their pre-apprenticeship program left the WIOA classes to begin their careers in the metal trades.

Because of this highly successful training pipeline, EB has had the workforce to meet the growing build rate that it continues to this day. Two months ago, EB announced that their target for 2024 is to hire 5,300 workers to, again, meet the needs for the Virginia program and the Columbia program.

Mr. Speaker, we need pre-apprenticeship programs like the manufacturing pipeline to fill those 9 million job openings in the U.S. economy. This bill will do just that by, number one, ensuring that more WIOA dollars are going directly to upskilling workers and on-the-job learning, streamlining the eligible training provider list to ensure that they are delivering good outcomes and are aligned with the skill and hiring needs of employers, and strengthening the workforce education programs at community colleges to make sure that they align with in-demand jobs by emphasizing programs with industry partnerships, providing more flexibility to one-stop operators to expand access to support services for trainees who need assistance during these 8-week classes for electricians, 10 weeks for welders, with transportation, childcare, or other essentials to ensure that they can successfully focus on their curriculum and complete their job training program.

Mr. Speaker, this is not just a program for young adults. It is also a program that helps workers of all ages.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the American Association of Retired Persons in support of this legislation, H.R. 6655, A Stronger Workforce for America Act.

Mr. Speaker, again, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, which, at this moment in our economy, is so critically needed.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues to rise today in strong support of the Missing Children's Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2023. This bill is the Senate companion to H.R. 5224, which I co-led with the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bean), a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee.

This bipartisan legislation renews the Missing Children's Assistance Act and makes critical updates to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, NCMEC, to find missing children, reduce child exploitation, and prevent child victimization.

Since Congress first authorized the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children through the MCAA in 1984, NCMEC has assisted in over 400,000 cases to successfully recover missing children. In 2022 alone, NCMEC assisted law enforcement, families, and child welfare agencies with 27,644 cases of missing children who were recovered.

Again, NCMEC operates critical programs to help these children, including a 24-hour toll-free hotline, a cyber tip line to report suspected child exploitation, and a forensic science unit to help find long-term missing children.

NCMEC is also essential to combat child abuse and exploitation online, which is growing at an exponential rate, as we heard from my colleagues on the floor a few minutes ago.

Unfortunately, the Missing Children's Assistance Act and the authorization of NCMEC expired at the end of fiscal year 2023. Letting the authorization for NCMEC continue to lapse will put the safety of children at risk, which is particularly troubling as there has been a disturbing and exponential increase in reports of child abuse and exploitation, particularly online.

As we have heard from Chairwoman Foxx, the bill doesn't just merely reauthorize the law. It also introduces updates and improvements to allow NCMEC to perform its duty with higher efficiency.

Mr. Speaker, NCMEC has made a big impact on the State of Connecticut. I know that because my wife, Audrey Courtney, is a pediatric nurse practitioner at Connecticut Children's Hospital, working in its child protection unit. That unit provides highly skilled medical help to victims of child abuse and assists law enforcement in the apprehension, arrest, and prosecution of perpetrators. NCMEC is instrumental to her work and the work of her highly skilled and diligent colleagues.

Hopefully, Mr. Speaker, someday we will reach a time when there is no need for NCMEC. Unfortunately, we are not there today in 2024. Therefore, it is our solemn duty to America's vulnerable children to move forward and pass this bill. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Thomas ``Tommy'' Clapsadle, Jr. of Waterford, Connecticut who is retiring this month as Chief of the Naval Submarine Base Fire Department after 35 years of service. Thomas's outstanding leadership has helped the US Naval Submarine Base maintain its high standard of safety for decades. His commitment to take care of those around him and make his community a better place will be sincerely missed.

Growing up next to the Goshen Fire Department in Waterford, Thomas was destined to have a long career as a firefighter. Thomas became the first 15-year-old junior member in the department, drawn to a career helping others. After getting his firefighting and Emergency Medical Technician certification in 1989, Thomas was hired by the Naval Submarine Base Fire Department where he has been ever since.

Thomas has remained a devoted protector of the submarine base, serving 35 years in many different roles. When he started, Thomas was immediately recognized for his attention to detail and caring disposition and he was promoted several times. Thomas became a driver at 23 years old and was soon promoted to captain only a few years later in 1995.

Thomas's impressive work ethic and leadership qualities set him up for success as captain. In this role, he was responsible for presenting a collaborative firefighter safety standard to the Groton Fire Officers Association. Here, Thomas helped build a specialized Firefighter Assist and Search Team (FAST) to facilitate a response in case a firefighter becomes trapped or disoriented in the line of duty. In 2008, at 38 years old, Thomas was promoted again to District Fire Chief, the role he retires from this month after 16 years. It was not just Thomas's extensive experience that prompted these promotions, but also his incredible leadership and genuine concern for the safety, well-being, and quality of life of firefighters, sailors, and families.

Thomas has always been willing to share his extensive knowledge of fire safety, particularly in the highly specialized mission in the submarine domain, with other firefighters in Connecticut, building professional community partnerships wherever possible.

In 2012, his unique skills were put to the test when the Naval Submarine Base Fire Department helped respond to combat the devastating USS Miami fire in the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. Thomas immediately jumped into action and had to use his quick thinking for a plan to keep the submarine base protected while 12 of their own went to assist with the fire in Maine. The Naval base firefighters drove through the night to Portsmouth and successfully suppressed the raging fire that destroyed the USS Miami, a Los Angeles Class Attack Submarine. Afterwards, Thomas made a point to work with local fire departments to train them to respond to a submarine fire in the case of an incident like the one in Maine.

Mr. Speaker, as the Congressman for southeastern Connecticut, a region that has rightfully earned the title ``Submarine Capital of the World,'' I had the opportunity to work with him on issues dealing with the number of billets allowed by the Navy to staff the base firehouse. He was extremely knowledgeable, organized, and persistent in his efforts to get more positions approved by the Navy, which has made progress, but still requires steadfast advocacy for the wellbeing of his team. It was an honor to support his work that was always focused on the team he led.

In his free time, Thomas can be found on the water. Raised on the Long Island Sound in Waterford, he grew up fishing with his parents and found a love for captaining his own fishing ship. Thomas commissioned the M&M, a boat named for his sons Michael and Mitchell, to run a small business helping others enjoy a pastime he loves.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to represent leaders in the community like Mr. Clapsadle. Thomas's dedication to the Naval Submarine Base Fire Department has been guided by his goal to leave the fire department and its members in better shape than he found them. Thomas's departure will certainly leave large shoes to fill as he transitions into retirement with his wife Bobbette to spend more time with his sons Michael and Mitchell, stepchildren Danielle and Dominic, and two grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in congratulating Thomas Clapsadle, Jr. on a well-earned retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the distinguished career and public service of Police Chief John Kelley from the town of Vernon, Connecticut that is drawing to an honorable end on March 22, 2024. Chief Kelley's devotion to duty in the U.S. Army Reserve and the Vernon Police Department focused on defending our nation and ensuring public safety has always been about caring for and serving others. As a resident of Vernon for over forty years, I have had the privilege to personally witness the positive impact he has had on our town, which is deep and meaningful.

A Vernon native, Chief Kelly grew up in a family whose patriarch Robert Kelley served in town fire service for 42 years, 21 of which as Fire Chief. I also knew Bob Kelley and worked with him on fire department issues during my time as town attorney and state representative. Bob was a true gentleman who led his department by example, a trait that his son followed, with great success. John Kelley attended Vernon schools and graduated from Rockville High School. After high school, he then enrolled at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, where he studied Criminal Justice and Sociology, which obviously signaled the direction he would follow later in life. After graduation his journey of public service began. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve, where he honorably served for 6 years.

Chief Kelley began his career in public safety when he was hired by his hometown police department on January 29, 1996. His diligent work resulted in a cascade of training awards and frequent promotions. He excelled in all aspects of his work. For example, he received the Samuel J. Luciano award for graduating first in his class and the TFC Allan J. Tuskowski award for overall excellence in training. In his career he took on a vast expanse of roles, including serving as a Patrol Division, a K-9 handler, Detective Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain of the Vernon Police Department, all before 2015. Additionally, he graduated from the FBI National Academy (273rd session) and the Command Training Series, Executive Development program at Roger Williams University.

Given the respect and high regard he earned through the ranks of the Police department, he was the ideal candidate for Chief of Police upon the retirement of his predecessor, Chief James Kenny. As Chief, Kelley made major contributions to the improvement of the Police Department. He oversaw the implementation of technological advancements, the upgrade of body and dash cameras, upgraded duty handguns and rifles, formed a peer support team, and played a key role in the POSTC accreditation assessment. He was so proactive that the POSTC accreditation was accomplished over two years ahead of schedule. Chief Kelley uniquely understands the value of teamwork in public service. Most recently in his tenure, Chief Kelley implemented hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 Federal American Rescue Plan dollars in Vernon PD projects, increasing the town's emergency response capability and upgrading its technology.

Not only did Chief Kelley dedicate immense portions of his time and effort to helping his town, but he also equipped these individuals with the tools and resources to help themselves in times of need. As Kelley put it himself, ``The Vernon Police Department is committed to excellence and the delivery of professional police services while providing its members with the equipment and training needed to successfully complete the mission''. He educated many community members and in turn increased their self-sufficiency in moments of need. The impact of Chief Kelley's career will live on for many years after his departure. His legacy will instill a confident and prepared police force that will carry out its mission to foster a safe community that he and his family supported throughout many decades.

Although John Kelley is retiring from his role as Police Chief on March 22, 2024, his involvement in the region will continue as he transitions to working as an armed school security officer in Ellington Public Schools on March 25. Not one to be idle, Mr. Kelley has allotted himself a mere three days of rest between retirement and the return to work. From his experience and education, one can easily see Chief Kelley's promising future as a school security officer. His pleasant demeanor and commitment to the wellbeing of other Vernon residents will surely inspire the future generations of Americans to follow in his footsteps. It will be an honor to continue to serve alongside John Kelley in his new role, protecting and educating Northeastern Connecticut students who benefit from his example of how to treat other individuals with respect and achieve academic success.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize and immortalize the career and accomplishments of John Kelley. From the U.S. Army Reserve to the Vernon Police Department, to his future role as an armed school security officer in Ellington, Chief Kelley has always put his life on the line for the safety of others. He is a reliable and amiable individual whose devotion to his community shines through in every aspect of his being. One may hope that his humility and thoughtfulness are emulated by future generations of Americans. As Chief Kelley caps off 28 years of consummate service to Vernon, we should acknowledge his wife, Kellie, and daughters Grace and Abby. I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in commending and thanking John Kelley for his endless service to the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today on March 11, 35 days away from April 15, the tax filing deadline for 2024.

This is certainly not a joyful or happy event, but it is important to acknowledge that the IRS recently reported that 85 percent of Americans pay their taxes on time.

For most others, extensions are requested due to paperwork delays, illness, or other exigencies, which is proof that the vast majority of Americans understand their civic and legal duty to file a return.

Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago, the IRS announced an astonishing new initiative to chase down 125,000 high-income individuals who--get this--have failed to even file a tax return since 2017.

That is right, 125,000 cases have been opened on individuals with income over $400,000 per year that filed no returns in the last 6 years--25,000 of those cases involved individuals with incomes of over $1 million per year.

It is hard to believe that anyone with that level of income would have the chutzpah to refuse to file a return and think they would get away with it. In fact, the IRS has reported that in all these cases, they received third-party information, such as W-2 forms from employers and 1099 forms from financial institutions that clearly indicate these people received income in these ranges but never filed their own return, and, of course, never paid the legally required tax.

How is it possible that such flagrant, arrogant behavior went unnoticed, you might ask? It is because Congress, most notably Republican majorities in Congress, for decades have willfully starved the IRS of staff and technology to track such freeloaders.

Here is the record: From 1994 to 2021, the workforce of the IRS has been cut by Republicans in Washington by one-third. At the same time, America's population has grown by one-third.

As a result of defunding the IRS, the IRS has been able to file its nonfiler program only sporadically since 2016. Because of this, tax cheats have gotten bolder and more brazen.

The good news, as the IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel reported 2 weeks ago, because of the Inflation Reduction Act which passed in the last Democratic-controlled Congress without a single Republican vote, the IRS now has more staff and technology to pursue such blatant tax cheats.

Werfel estimates that this nonfiler initiative alone is focused on financial activity of more than $100 billion.

Since this effort started 2 weeks ago, it is unclear exactly how much tax and penalty will be recovered, but given that the failure to file penalties of 5 percent per month on tax owed, conservative estimates are hundreds of millions of dollars will be recovered for past years and even more for future compliance.

I want to be clear. This effort is not auditing the content of taxpayer returns. These are cases of high-income earners who had the gall to not even file a return.

Mr. Speaker, this behavior is an insult to hardworking fellow Americans who obey the law and fulfill their civic duty, and at the end of the day bear the financial costs of this despicable misconduct.

Speaking of the middle class, Werfel made it clear that this new auditing effort on nonfilers is aimed at high-income tax cheats. That is in accordance with a Treasury directive by Secretary Janet Yellen that there would be no new enhanced IRS auditing on middle-class Americans. That makes sense.

The National Bureau of Economic Research estimates that audits aimed at the top 10 percent of Americans generate $12 of revenue for every $1 spent. That proportion declines dramatically with lower income filers.

It is a good thing that the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act is now at least partially restoring IRS's capacity to ensure that all of the rich actually file their returns and pay their fair share of taxes. It is a good thing that Democrats have blocked Republicans' efforts to once again cripple IRS's funding over the last year and a half.

Independent analysts such as the Congressional Budget Office have confirmed that this effort to track down scofflaws will actually cut the deficit. Indeed, the IRS announced that the Inflation Reduction Act effort will bring in 561 billion new dollars from 2024 to 2034.

For the 85 percent of Americans who work hard and play by the rules-- teachers, cops, nurses, factory workers, office workers, retirees, military servicemembers, to name just a few--who pay their taxes with each paycheck, making sure that the wealthy file their returns and pay, too, is fundamental to a fair and just society.

The Inflation Reduction Act is doing exactly that.

Mr. Speaker, so as this April 15 approaches, the message is now clear for the well-to-do delinquents: The free ride is over. You have to obey the law and file your return just like everyone else. This is not too much to ask. No more freeloaders.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of Mr. Donald ``Don'' J. Maguda of Rockville, Connecticut. Aged 90, Donald passed peacefully on December 9, 2023, surrounded by family. Donald was a leader in his community and embraced a love for helping others that he held dear throughout his life.

Born July 11, 1933, to Joseph Maguda and Stella Taylor in New Britain, Connecticut. Donald purposed his life toward protecting his community and leading with compassion. He graduated from Rockville High School, immediately after which he began a long and rewarding career as a fireman. Donald began his service with the Snipsic Hook and Ladder Company. Here, Donald was identified as a born leader and rose through the ranks of the Rockville Fire Department. In 1967, Donald's attention to detail and devotion to his work was rewarded when he became Chief of the department.

As Chief, Donald used his leadership to coordinate and oversee the consolidation of the Rockville Fire Deparlment and Vernon Fire District into the Town of Vernon Fire Department. After the merger, Donald served as Fire Chief of the newly formed Vernon Fire Department in 1980, still leaving time for his other passion, running his business, Maguda's Woodworking Shop. After decades of leadership with the fire department, in 1986 Donald transitioned to the role of Town of Vernon Fire Marshal until his retirement in 2002, concluding a remarkable nearly 50-year career during which he never lost a firefighter in the line of duty.

Equipped with extensive knowledge in his field and a desire to share that knowledge with anyone who needed it, it is no surprise that Donald was a member of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association and the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association. Donald presented to numerous groups and individuals for better fire education and community involvement.

Donald's work ethic and dedication to his community rubbed off on his son David, who followed in his footsteps to serve as a firefighter for 42 years--most of which he spent serving under his father.

In addition to this incredible work as a firefighter, Donald spent innumerable hours giving back to his community in other ways as well. In the 1960s, he was integral in starting ``Toys for Tots'' in Vernon, assisting children and families during the holidays and ``Christmas in April.'' Mr. Speaker, as a citizen of the town of Vernon who held elective office over the years, I had the privilege to know Don and see up close his intelligence, kindness, and unstinting devotion to duty. Our town was so blessed to know Don and to have his positive, critical contribution that saved lives and protected property.

In his free time, Donald spent time with his family, those most important to him. They enjoyed taking vacations and cruises. Donald could also be found landscaping, woodworking, playing golf, and playing cards with friends and family.

Though we mourn this incredible loss, we can find solace in knowing that Donald's memory and legacy will live on through his family and the countless number of individuals who knew him. Donald is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Gabrielle, his son David and his wife Michelle, his daughter Donna and her husband Jeffrey, and countless nieces and nephews. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to know and represent constituents as purposeful in their work as Donald. As we memorialize Donald's faithful service. I ask that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to Donald Maguda.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the inspiring life and noble career of a lifelong Connecticut resident and patriot, Mr. Benjamin ``Ben'' Cooper. A member of America's ``Greatest Generation'' who honorably served in the U.S. Armed Forces in World War II, Mr. Cooper witnessed the unspeakable horror of mass casualties and genocide that occurred in the European theater. Rather than suppressing this experience, he made it a mission to share the unspeakable tragedies he witnessed on the frontlines of the War. He transformed his experience into lessons for high school students and taught kindness and empathy for others. His service and lessons have inspired many generations of American citizens to care for each other with the same sincerity and dedication seen in Mr. Cooper himself.

Born in 1921 to Max and Fannie Cooper, Ben is a lifelong resident of West Hartford, Connecticut. Ben attended Hall High School and graduated in 1940. After attending George Washington University for one year, he returned to Connecticut in 1941 and worked at Colt Arms Factory in Hartford. Despite not having officially joined the military yet, Ben contributed to the war effort through his testing of guns for the Colt Company. Come 1942, Ben had been drafted into the U.S. Army as a combat medic in the 45th Infantry Division. Soon after his drafting, Ben met his wife of 65 years, Dorothy, and they married on July 14, 1944, in a Maine synagogue shortly before he was deployed to serve in the European theater. Ben's selfless nature manifested through his becoming a medic, starting a long legacy of sacrifice and consummate service to those in need. Through his service, Ben served as a shining beacon in an all- enveloping sea of darkness. His service safeguarded the life and liberty of his fellow citizens and the peoples across Europe.

Unforgettably, the U.S. Army 45th Infantry helped liberate Dachau concentration camp in 1945. Alongside his fellow soldiers, Ben bore witness to the deplorable condition of the victims of the concentration camp. Darkness and inhumanity enveloped Dachau. The scent of incinerated flesh hung heavily on the camp's air, and its prisoners stood in front of their liberators emaciated, so weak that any attempt at nourishment was rejected by their broken bodies. The extent of these crimes against humanity and decency left Ben speechless and traumatized. He would not speak of the camp or war experiences for decades to come.

In 1990, Ben began to share his wartime experiences. Through an interview with a Torrington High School history teacher, Ben was able to open up about his personal history. This interview served as the genesis of

Ben's new mission: to teach America's future generations of the impact of prejudice and bigotry, and to promote kindness and compassion. He spoke at many high schools, including Simsbury and Hall, about his wartime experiences. His lessons always included advocacy for kindness. He brought historical events from textbooks to life through his lived memories. Ben hoped that teaching this part of history would ensure that it would never be repeated.

In 2010, Ben met Henny Simon, a liberated victim of the Nazi concentration camps. Until her death in 2017, the two visited high schools in Connecticut and taught classes on WWII. Students across Connecticut gained valuable insight on how precious a thing our liberties and rights are, and how fiercely they need to be defended. The pair were offered to include their experiences in a documentary titled ``In Times of War.'' Fortunately, their stories have been immortalized through their lessons and the documentary and countless news articles.

Mr. Speaker, even in the darkest hour of our civilization, courageous truth tellers like Ben Cooper refuse to be silenced by fear or indifference. Ben's impact on our nation's citizens is immeasurable, and scores of young citizens will remember his stories and examples. Regrettably understanding the savagery of Nazi barbarism is of critical importance in the world we live in today. Our country should honor Ben's gentle kindness and conviction that touched thousands of fellow Americans. I ask that my colleagues join me in immortalizing Ben's story.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of one of Connecticut's great leaders in our state's legal profession and government who sadly passed

recently, Mr. Martin ``Bo'' Byran Burke. A true gentleman, Bo represented thousands of clients, guiding them expertly through legal difficulty and, at times, crisis. The positive impact he made on countless individuals, families, and small businesses is incalculable. He also enthusiastically participated in politics and government out of both a sense of civic duty and his abiding devotion to our democracy and constitution.

Born in 1940 to Edmond and Francis Burke, Bo was a true son of New England. His passion for his community and region defined his life's choices. After graduating from Colgate University with a Bachelor's in English, Bo continued his studies as he pursued a Juris Doctor from Albany School of Law. Although Bo's first foray into law was in New York State, he soon returned to his home state, passing the Connecticut Bar Exam in 1968.

Bo's career as a lawyer was long, eventful, and widely respected. His work ethic was unparalleled, and he was modest about his accomplishments. His small-town practice in Vernon, Connecticut was always centered on representing people, not large institutional clients. Today that model might be viewed by some as out of date, but Bo knew that such representation is at the heart of the oath he took when he was admitted to the bar. Bo was also committed to improving the profession. Bo served on the Connecticut Judicial Review Council, the Connecticut Law Revision Commission, and the Committee on Government Administration and Policy and the Governor's Commission on Judicial Reform. He additionally wrote for numerous law journals, such as the Connecticut Law Journal and the Connecticut Bar Journal. Bo opened his own practice in Vernon where he had immeasurable success. He focused on law, Title XIX, special needs, trusts, veterans' benefits, probate, and real estate. He took upon immense responsibilities as he briefed and argued over 12 reported appellate cases. Bo was understood by those around him to be a wise and trustworthy lawyer due to his extensive experience and mastery of the law.

Bo applied his vast knowledge of law and government to an amazingly accomplished one term in the Connecticut General Assembly. In 1974 he ran and won the 56th Assembly seat, representing Vernon. In his single term, he took on the incredibly important and difficult task of writing our state's freedom of information act. Opening state and local government to the press and public was extremely challenging. Yet, because of his diligent, talented ability to shape the bill and win consensus, the measure passed and was signed into law by Governor Ella Grasso. That law has withstood the test of time and still provides sunlight on the processes of government which is essential to a healthy democracy. After his two years of representation for the constituents of district 56, he decided to redirect his focus from elective office back to his law practice and town government. He transitioned to positions within the towns of Vernon and Rockville. For many years, he served both as Town Attorney and Assistant Town Attorney of Vernon. Bo endlessly served his town and state and was a champion of protecting democracy.

As someone who understood the opportunities created from receiving advanced education, Bo took it upon himself to improve and advocate for education with his town. Of course, a big reason for his interest was his long and beautiful marriage to his talented wife Ellen, who taught hundreds and hundreds of children in the Vernon Public Schools. He served as counsel on the Vernon Education Foundation to being a member and Chairman on the Board of Trustees at the Rockville Public Library. Between Bo and Ellen, Vernon's education standards remained high, which is part of the reason two schools received blue ribbon awards from the U.S. Department of Education, something which is a great source of pride in Vernon.

Bo's career was one element of his multifaceted and exciting life. Since the mid-60s, he had been a continuous vacationer in Maine. For much of this time, he owned a camp on Flying Pond in Vienna, Maine. The days spent in Maine were calm and relaxing and gave Bo breaks from his demanding career as a lawyer.

It has been a great honor to personally know Bo. I met him when I was a young lawyer in Vernon many years ago and had the benefit of practicing law in the same community for many years. His example of strong advocacy and common-sense willingness to find common ground to settle disputes still resonates with me to this day. In 1986, I ran for the same seat he held in the general assembly and with his help, I was fortunate enough to prevail. He was always willing to provide counsel and advice which I deeply appreciated. Twenty years later he supported my election to the U.S. Congress, which was so special and meaningful to me.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to immortalize him today. He has been a great inspiration not just for me, but for his family, community, and beyond. His loss is deeply felt by his family members, including his wife, Ellen Schopfer Burke; his sons, Matthew, Jonathan, Andrew, and Sullivan Burke, and their wives; his sister, Susan Evans Burke, and his cousin Mary Jane Dempsey. He will also be missed by the community at large, which has seen many improvements directly due to Bo's efforts and deep commitment to others. His deep and nuanced understanding of the law assisted many constituents in defending their rights as American citizens. I am grateful to know that Bo's legacy will carry on within and beyond my district, as others follow in his footsteps.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an incredible milestone reached by Raymond Tremblay of Vernon, Connecticut, who turns 100 years old on February 14, 2024. Raymond is the epitome of a patriotic, service-oriented American and continues to live a full life.

Born on February 14, 1924, to Yvonne and Emile Tremblay in Berlin, New Hampshire, Raymond has been a devoted American, dedicating his life and work to bettering our country.

Raymond's life trajectory changed with our Nation's entry into the Second World War following the attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1943, he heeded the call of his Nation to serve the United States in World War II. Raymond was drafted into the Infantry and sent to train in North Carolina. There he spent time honing his skills, preparing to be deployed at a moment's notice. The Army Air Force, during a visit to the base for recruitment of new airmen and engineers, recognized Raymond's talent and commitment to the war effort and immediately approved his transfer to that branch of the service.

Now newly baptized as an airman, Raymond traveled to Texas to train as a flight engineer on a B-17 aircraft. His attention to detail and devotion to his obligations led to a promotion to the rank of Sergeant. Although never sent to fight in the European or Pacific theaters, Raymond was always ready to go wherever he was needed, a symbol of his devotion to his country.

After his service in the Air Force, Raymond used his newly acquired aviation knowledge to contribute to a leading company in the aerospace industry. After the war concluded and he was discharged, Raymond returned home to Connecticut and found employment within the experimental and testing division at Pratt and Whitney where he could continue to support its mission with his skills and passion for working with aircraft. Pratt and Whitney Aircraft was instrumental in developing jet engines in the Cold War era that made a decisive difference in protecting our allies and the U.S. homeland. Until his retirement in 1982, Raymond was a part of that effort which our Nation should never forget.

During this time at Pratt and Whitney, Raymond also married his hometown sweetheart and the love of his life, Lillian. Together they moved to Vernon, Connecticut in 1957. In Vernon, Raymond fulfilled his life-long dream of settling down and owning his own home, a place he and his wife raised their family in and lived for over 60 years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues please join me in wishing Raymond a happy 100th birthday and recognizing him as the outstanding citizen he has distinguished himself as. I consider myself fortunate to represent constituents of such quality as Raymond. It is my honor to cement the incredible and continuing story of Raymond Tremblay. We wish Raymond a joyous birthday and many more years of happiness.