Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Small State and Rural Rescue Act. I thank my friends, Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves, for their efforts to bring this bill to the floor today.

My constituents in central New York are all too familiar with the significant challenges that come with accessing Federal aid in the wake of a disaster.

Rural communities along Lake Ontario's southern shore in my district have seen historic flooding in recent years, and in the aftermath, local authorities have struggled to navigate the complex bureaucratic malaise which is the Federal disaster declaration process.

Similarly, across the country, rural communities and relatively small States are forced to grapple with red tape and often struggle to demonstrate the severe localized impact of these disasters. In these instances, FEMA's Small State and Rural Advocate plays a critical role in helping underserved communities access disaster relief.

The Small State and Rural Advocate's office is intended to help ensure fair access to FEMA assistance for all disaster-impacted areas, and it is essential that Congress reinforce its role in facilitating the delivery of essential aid.

That is why I was proud to introduce the Small State and Rural Rescue Act alongside Chairwoman Titus and Representatives Gimenez, Pappas, Guest, and Delgado--a bipartisan bunch.

This legislation takes important steps to expand and codify the responsibilities of FEMA's Small State and Rural Advocate when it comes to helping State and local officials respond to a disaster. Additionally, this legislation directs GAO to conduct a review of how FEMA mobilizes individual assistance to disaster zones, an essential part of the disaster relief process.

Legislation like this will go a long way in providing support for the rural communities and small States that many of us represent. This is especially important for any of my colleagues on this side of the aisle who may be concerned about their districts not receiving a fair share or an equitable share of the Federal disaster aid programs they pay into.

Mr. Speaker, the Small State and Rural Rescue Act is about fairness for rural communities. I firmly believe we should pass it into law, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 7211.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Carol Martineau Baldwin, who passed away on May 26, 2022, at the age of 92.

Carol was a beloved member of the central New York community and a devoted philanthropist.

A Syracuse native, Carol met her husband, Alexander Baldwin, while attending Syracuse University. They were married in 1954 and had six children.

The family lived in Long Island, where Alexander taught at Massapequa High School until his death from lung cancer in 1983. Carol moved back to Syracuse and, in 1990, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She nearly lost her battle with breast cancer but overcame it following a double mastectomy.

Following this experience, she dedicated her life to helping others fight breast cancer. In 1996, she founded the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund on the campus of SUNY Stony Brook. Five years later, in conjunction with SUNY Upstate Medical University, the Carol M. Baldwin Fund of Central New York was established in Syracuse.

To date, the Baldwin fund has provided more than 60 grants to support research programs and has spurred nearly $24 million in additional grant funding. The fund supports numerous programs, including studies of contributing factors to breast cancer, education of medical professionals and the general public, and studies of the outcomes of detection and treatment on patients and families.

Outside of her philanthropic work, Carol has been a prominent fixture in our community, and many in her family are dear friends to my wife, Robin, and me.

For the last two decades, breast cancer patients in central New York and throughout the country have benefited from the steadfast commitment of Carol Baldwin.

Carol is survived by her six children, 25 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. While she will be dearly missed in our community, central New Yorkers will continue to honor her legacy.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring the life and legacy of Carol Martineau Baldwin. May she rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of President Kathleen `Casey' Crabill, who will retire following the 2022 academic year after 9 years with Onondaga Community College and 45 years in higher education. A dedicated educator, throughout her career President Crabill demonstrated a profound commitment to scholarship.

Originally from East Greenbush, New York, President Crabill graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts in English from Skidmore College. Later, she earned a Master's of Science in English as a Second Language and a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the State University of New York at Albany.

After finishing school, President Crabill began her career as an English teacher in 1977. While teaching, she held several top posts at colleges across the country, including serving as division chair for Academic Development and Learning Support at Dundalk Community College in Dundalk, Maryland, and as acting president and dean of Learning and Student Development at Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson, Connecticut. Later she served as president of the College of the Redwoods in Eureka, California, and as president of Raritan Valley Community College in North Branch, New Jersey.

In 2013, President Crabill took the reins at Onondaga Community College, becoming its eighth president. During her tenure, President Crabill reconfigured Onondaga Community College's degree and certificate programs into eight schools based on academic focus. This move greatly enhanced student collaboration. President Crabill also launched programs to assist underserved students, including the `Box of Books' program, which provides students with books at a low, flat fee, and the `OCC Advantage' program, which allows students from six local school districts to attend Onondaga Community College tuition-free. Impressively, President Crabill also successfully shepherded the college through the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic by overseeing the transition to virtual classes and creating new degree and certificate programs that responded to evolving industry demands.

Over the years, I have also had the distinct pleasure of partnering with President Crabill. Together, we have worked to make higher education more accessible and affordable, brought greater awareness to cybersecurity threats, and improved the lives of local students.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing the career of President Kathleen `Casey' Crabill. I wish President Crabill the best in her retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor New York District Kiwanis Club Governor, James M. Mancuso. As a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club, James has committed himself to philanthropic pursuits that have improved the lives of people across New York State.

Since its founding in 1915, members of the Kiwanis Club have devoted themselves to public service, focusing on initiatives that work for the betterment of their communities. Leaders like James are the heart and soul of the Kiwanis Club, and the reason this organization has been so successful for over a century.

James Mancuso joined the Kiwanis Club in 2002 and immediately took to its mission of improving the world one child and one community at a time. James has served two terms as a Lieutenant Governor of the Long Island South Central Division and president of the East Meadow Club. He has also chaired committees on International Leadership, Youth Protection, and the Kiwanis International Children's Fund for the New York District. In October of 2021, James was promoted to New York District Kiwanis Club Governor, where he has continued his exemplary advocacy and volunteerism across New York State.

As a member of the Kiwanis Club, James has led numerous projects, most notably, building a Garden of Hope with the Kiwanis Club of East Meadow in partnership with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD), and Nassau County. The garden included a sculpture depicting the aftermath of a drunk driving accident to encourage local residents not to get behind the wheel while impaired. He has also held many fundraisers that have benefited projects to get more infants vaccinated.

For his work, James has earned the Anton J. Kaiser Award, recognition from the New York District's Pediatric Lyme Disease Foundation, and an IBM Volunteers Gold Award Level for Volunteerism and Community Service.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring the contributions of James M. Mancuso. A devoted volunteer and committed member of the Kiwanis Club, James has empowered members of his community through his philanthropic efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 903, the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act of 2022.

Let me be clear: I strongly and emphatically support increasing funding for the frontline TSA workforce. I strongly support funding for them. They have been severely underpaid for far too long.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, there is a blue-ribbon panel that came out, that my colleague referenced, that recommended against moving them to the title 5 workforce. That blue-ribbon panel, to correct the Record, included the chief human capital officer for the Department of Homeland Security under former President Obama. One of the top men at the Department of Homeland Security for President Obama was part of a blue- ribbon panel that recommended against that.

Even with that recommendation, I am so sick and tired of these frontline workers not getting their proper pay that I was willing to move title 5 funding for them. This bill doesn't do that. This bill goes far beyond that.

Bureaucrats that are sitting in offices nowhere near the front lines, that are not exposed to COVID on a daily basis, that aren't fishing live, loaded guns out of handbags, and subject to all kinds of abuse by the traveling public, are going to get title 5 status, and they get paid a hell of a lot more.

Why? Why do we need that? That is a question, and that is a problem I have with this bill.

The men and women protecting America's transportation systems every day deserve to be compensated fairly for the critical security mission they fulfill.

Unfortunately, despite robust efforts to improve this legislation in markup, and limited to the terms I articulated, my fellow committee members and I on the Republican side were not granted the adoption of a single proposed amendment.

Among the improvements we suggested were quite simply an amendment to limit the scope of the bill exclusively to the frontline TSA workforce, the men and women who really need better pay, rather than already high- paid TSA headquarter personnel.

I am telling you on the record today, if the bill was limited to just them, I would support it. Why do we have to make it for everyone else? 60,000 people. Why? It makes no sense.

Our proposed amendments also sought to grant increased pay directly to the front line, without the need for cumbersome and costly bureaucratic conversion to title 5.

Uncharacteristically, the message from the majority was clear: Take it or leave it. That is very uncharacteristic, because the chairman and I enjoy a very good working relationship. For that reason, though, I am unable to support the legislation in its current form.

With that said, however, I do hope to work in a bipartisan manner to secure much-needed funding increases for TSA in order to lift pay and benefits for the frontline screener workforce as well as procure cutting-edge technologies to address evolving threats to aviation security.

I am pleased to see dedicated funding for significant screener pay increases in this year's budget request to Congress. I stand ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to engage our colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee in an effort to secure funding for transportation security officer pay.

I include in the Record a letter to our friends and colleagues on the Appropriations Committee outlining just that.

Congress of the United States,

Washington, DC, May 12, 2022.

Hon. Lucille Roybal-Allard,

Chair, Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Committee on

Appropriations, Washington, DC.

Hon. Chuck Fleischmann,

Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Committee

on Appropriations, Washington, DC.

Dear Chair Roybal-Allard and Ranking Member Fleischmann:

Thank you for your continued work to support the mission of

the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and protect our

Nation from a litany of evolving threats. As the House

considers H.R. 903, the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act of

2022, I wanted to follow up on my previous letter dated April

28, 2022, related to homeland security funding priorities.

The FY23 President's Budget requests funding for increased

pay for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

front-line workforce. As I've said many times during my years

in Congress, TSA has not paid these dedicated employees a

salary that is commensurate to the security they're providing

to the traveling public.

Additionally, I have long raised concerns that TSA has not

fully utilized the flexibility that Congress provided in the

Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA, Public Law

107-71). The bipartisan Blue-Ribbon Panel on Human Capital

Service Delivery found that the TSA Administrator currently

has the flexibility under ATSA to pay employees more than he

could if the agency was moved to title 5, U.S. Code. This is

an issue of funding, not authority.

The cost to the taxpayer of funding a major overhaul of

TSA's entire personnel system, converting the agency to the

General Schedule, and hiring hundreds of new employees to

manage and negotiate these changes is far greater than the

cost of simply giving the frontline workforce a well-deserved

pay increase. As it currently stands, H.R. 903 creates a

massive and unfunded mandate that could jeopardize other

homeland security priorities such as border security and

cybersecurity if enacted as written.

I encourage you to consider including funding in the FY23

Homeland Security Appropriations Bill to increase the pay of

the TSA front-line workforce. TSA plays a fundamental role in

protecting the traveling public and facilitating the safe

flow of commerce throughout the country.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

John Katko,

Member of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, the vice ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, Representative Guest, for his leadership on this issue.

I also thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for engaging in conversations, even when we disagree on policy. But here I really feel that the bill in its current form will go over to the Senate, and it will be dead on arrival. That serves nobody. No one wins in that, and certainly the frontline workers don't win.

If we could get a more bipartisan bill, with a lot more of us that want to be on this and want to help the frontline workers, I think we would have a better product and we could put more pressure on the Senate to do their job.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the previous question and in support of the immediate consideration of legislation introduced by Leader McCarthy and House Republicans to defund and prohibit the activities of the Biden administration's Disinformation Governance Board at the Department of Homeland Security. That is right: It is called the Disinformation Governance Board.

The notion that this ill-conceived effort will improve Americans' trust in their government is fundamentally absurd. In fact, it is just the latest example of how this administration, and specifically leadership at the Department of Homeland Security, remains grossly out of touch with what issues matter most to the American people.

At a time when the border is in a state of crisis and more Americans than ever before are being fatally poisoned with fentanyl, everyone in this room and in this country would be wise to take note that this, a Disinformation Governance Board, is what your Department of Homeland Security is focused on.

Are they focused on combating the drug cartels and human traffickers that are profiting from the chaos at our southwest border? Apparently not.

Are they focused on improving our economic security and resilience against unprecedented threats from China, Russia, and others? It doesn't seem like it.

Madam Speaker, as ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, I witnessed firsthand the consistent lack of transparency demonstrated by Secretary Mayorkas and the Department of Homeland Security when faced with congressional oversight and legitimate requests for information on the department's mission.

Why on Earth would we trust the same department to now unilaterally expand their mission and decide for us, the public, what is or is not the truth? Why has the Department of Homeland Security been unable or unwilling to answer basic questions as to the functions, remit, or charter of this board when asked by Congress?

If the Biden administration was serious about making the board apolitical, as they claim they are, why have they opted to appoint known partisan operatives as its executive director and co-chairs? In fact, it is reported that the named executive director herself has promoted now-debunked claims on social media. Think about that. The person that they claim to be the executive director is now the one that has in the past herself engaged in disinformation. That is pretty ironic.

I ask you, Madam Speaker, and my colleagues across the aisle, where is the accountability for this misguided operation? With this vote, we have the opportunity to send a clear message: This administration should focus on restoring our national security, not making itself the arbiter of truth and speech. This is America, this isn't a Communist country.

Madam Speaker, I missed the vote on Roll Call No. 108 on April 4, 2022. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 108.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the previous question and in support of H.R. 471, the Protecting Americans from Unnecessary Spread upon Entry from COVID-19 Act, the PAUSE Act.

This week, I joined Leader McCarthy and several of my colleagues at a meeting with the National Border Patrol Council, representatives of 18,000 members of the Border Patrol, to discuss the crisis at the southern border.

Just as we predicted, the number of daily border encounters has been trending dramatically upward since

President Biden took office in 2021. The administration has created an untenable situation from which it may take several years, at a minimum, to recover.

The irresponsible decision to roll back Title 42, the Public Health and Welfare authority; the halting of border wall construction; the lack of support for frontline law enforcement personnel; the undermining of the Migrant Protection Protocols; and the total absence of a long-term border security plan of any sort have only made matters worse.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is now seeing over 7,000 encounters daily, and the Department of Homeland Security is said to be bracing for a significant mass influx of nearly 18,000 migrants daily when title 42 ends. That is absolutely an untenable situation.

As the U.S. finally gets a handle on managing the spread of new variants and moves steadily toward a post-pandemic recovery, now is not the time to end the use of title 42 and jeopardize all that progress, especially as numerous countries continue to struggle with the rapid spread of COVID-19 and strengthening variants.

The very purpose of title 42 is to prevent the introduction of dangerous communicable diseases into American communities. We should be doubling down on protecting our communities and economy from these threats, not weakening them.

Our border security and immigration system cannot handle any more pull factors, as the Biden administration has proven unwilling to secure our southern border. As we are witnessing, the administration continues to strip every tool for managing the border crisis away from frontline law enforcement.

Mr. Speaker, transnational criminal organizations and drug cartels are taking full advantage by highlighting the weak border security posture of the administration while profiting from this crisis. The administration continues to roll back commonsense border security measures, thereby feeding into a false narrative for would-be migrants and encouraging them to come to the United States to seek asylum.

Many migrants who make this dangerous journey to the United States will not be eligible under the Federal law for asylum, forcing them to seek other ways to enter the United States.

We know for a fact that cartels control who crosses the U.S.-Mexico border. They charge migrants exorbitant fees knowing that some will never be able to repay, leading many of the migrants with only one option: to work off their fees.

Mr. Speaker, this work often leads them into a trafficking situation here in the United States.

Drugs, such as fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other fentanyl-laced drugs, are pouring across the southern border and destroying our communities and ending the lives of thousands of Americans every year. This year alone, for the first time, more than 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses. That is directly related to the border. It has to stop.

I appreciate the focus of my colleagues on this critical homeland security issue, especially my colleague from New Mexico, who knows firsthand the impact the border crisis is having on our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the homeland security legislation being considered on the floor today.

Specifically, I would like to acknowledge the two Republican-led bills.

First, H.R. 4209, the DHS Illicit Cross-Border Tunnel Defense Act sponsored by my good friend and colleague, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism, Representative Pfluger. This important piece of legislation is critical to addressing the rampant challenge of illicit cross-border tunnels used by cartels to traffic people, drugs, and other illicit commodities into the United States. Make no mistake: we must take action to address the crisis levels of fentanyl flowing into our communities.

So far this year, Customs and Border Patrol has seized enough fentanyl to kill 2.4 billion people. Let me say that again. They have seized enough fentanyl to kill 2.4 billion people, or the entire U.S. population, seven times over. Enabling frontline law enforcement to detect and mitigate the use of these tunnels by passing this legislation is an important step we can take to secure the border.

I would also like to thank my other good friend, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Meijer) who leads the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability for introducing H.R. 4476, the DHS Trade and Economic Security Council Act.

The COVID 19 pandemic uncovered many weaknesses in our supply chains. This first became apparent in the early days of the pandemic when the United States struggled to get such basic things as personal protective equipment. More recently, larger issues have surfaced among multiple industries as they struggle to meet demand due to supply chain issues. These issues are so large and profound that they very much impact our national security.

This measure codifies two recommendations made by the Homeland Security Advisory Council on how we can strengthen our Nation's economic security while at the same time combating the growing influence of China on the United States economy.

I commend my colleague, Representative Meijer, for introducing this bill, and I am very proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation. As COVID-19 has galvanized bipartisan concerns about the Nation's economic security, now is the time to act.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support both of these important pieces of legislation.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5615, the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act.

The DHS Urban Area Security Initiative provides critical funding to high-risk urban areas. Since UASI funding is risk-based, there are urban areas that develop and support certain counterterrorism capabilities using the grant funding but don't remain on the high-risk list and therefore don't consistently receive funding every year.

This legislation simply directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit to Congress a plan to make Federal assistance available for at least 3 consecutive fiscal years to certain urban areas that did not receive funding under UASI.

This plan will inform Congress about the needs and concerns of certain urban areas that may not consistently receive such funding.

I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 5615, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5616, the DHS Basic Training Accreditation Improvement Act of 2021.

This legislation requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress on an annual basis on the accreditation status for each basic training program within the Department. It also requires congressional notification within 30 days of a lapse of accreditation for any Department basic training program.

This legislation will help bring needed congressional oversight to DHS basic training programs by ensuring that DHS is transparent about any accreditation shortcomings and properly addresses them.

Madam Speaker, I urge members to join me in supporting H.R. 5616, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge Members to support this bill, I think it is a good bill, and I commend my friend for bringing it to the floor.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5681, the Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act.

This bill authorizes adjustments to the job classifications of officers assigned to the Homeland Security Investigations unit operating in the Tohono O'odham Nation, also known as the Shadow Wolves.

The Shadow Wolves are the Department of Homeland Security's only tracking unit that is entirely composed of Native Americans. The Shadow Wolves were established by congressional mandate in 1974 to combat rampant smuggling that was occurring from Mexico into the United States through the Tohono O'odham Nation.

For the past 40 years, the Shadow Wolves have been patrolling a 76- mile stretch of the border, utilizing a combination of high-tech equipment and the traditional art of tracking passed down from generation to generation on the Nation.

The Shadow Wolves take their name from the way the unit operates, like a wolf pack, relying mostly on their ability to track. They use a technique called cutting for sign, which closely observes and analyzes any physical evidence left by smugglers. I was fortunate enough to personally observe this impressive technique during my visit to Arizona last year.

The Shadow Wolves' professionalism, skill, dedication, and presence have proven critical for border security and are essential in building Tribal stakeholder trust and engagement.

And for an elite unit, their operations couldn't be more impressive. Between 2010 and 2020, Shadow Wolves' efforts led to 437 criminal arrests, and the seizure of over 117,000 pounds of narcotics, 45 weapons, 251 vehicles, and over $800,000 in U.S. currency.

In recent years, the Shadow Wolves' mission has evolved from tracking into more investigative work. Unfortunately, the current hiring authority for the Shadow Wolves' program does not allow current Shadow Wolves to be reclassified at the appropriate level for investigative work, even if they have all the prerequisite experience.

Further, this lack of authority has led to pay inequities and limited upward mobility for current Shadow Wolves officers. Without the passage of this critical legislation, the entire Shadow Wolves program is at risk of becoming nonoperational as current officers retire.

My bill, the Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act, allows current Shadow Wolves to be reclassified as GS-1811 special agents upon the successful completion of training. It also addresses pay equity for current Shadow Wolves and allows new Native American applicants to be added to the unit.

This bill also requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a strategy to retain existing Shadow Wolves and expand comparable units along the international land borders both north and south of our country with the approval of appropriate Tribal governments.

Every day, the Shadow Wolves carry out a difficult and dangerous mission under increasingly challenging circumstances. Every day, they report for duty and help secure the border across arduous desert terrain and rugged mountainous areas.

Today is the day that we in Congress honor their efforts and modernize the Shadow Wolves program. Passage of this legislation will provide long-term viability for a truly unique and necessary border security program and a pathway for future Native American applicants.

This act has strong bipartisan support in the House and the Senate, as well as support from the Department of Homeland Security and, of course, the Tohono O'odham Nation.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a resolution from the Tohono O'odham Nation Legislative Council in support of the Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act.

Resolution of the Tohono O'odham Legislative Council

supporting federal legislation to reclassify homeland security

investigations tactical officers ``shadow wolves'' as special agents

Whereas, the Constitution of the Tohono O'odham Nation

vests the Legislative Council with the authority to

``promote, protect and provide for public health, peace,

morals, education and general welfare of the Tohono O'odham

Nation and its members'' and to ``consult with the Congress

of the United States and appropriate federal agencies

regarding federal activities that affect the Tohono O'odham

Nation . . .'' (Constitution, Article VI, Section 1(c)(2) and

Section 1(j)); and

Whereas, the Tohono O'odham Nation (``Nation'') is a

federally recognized Indian tribe located on approximately

4,500 square miles in southern Arizona, with approximately 65

miles of its border on the International Boundary with

Mexico; and

Whereas, over many years, the Nation has cooperated with

the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to stem the flow of

narcotics and undocumented immigrants while maintaining the

Nation's opposition to a physical wall (Resolution No. 17-

053); and

Whereas, since 1974, the Nation has allowed the U.S.

Customs Service to staff a facility in Sells, and in return

the U.S. Customs Service employed up to 25 Native Americans

as Customs Patrol Officers; and

Whereas, around 1985, the U.S. Customs Service organized

these Native American Customs Patrol Officers into a select

unit which came to be known as the ``Shadow Wolves,'' which

utilized the unique knowledge and skill of Native Americans

to track and interdict smugglers crossing the lands of the

Nation; and

Whereas, the Shadow Wolves have gained an international

reputation as a small but highly effective interdiction unit

of the U.S. Customs Service; and

Whereas, U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema is proposing a bill to

authorize the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs

Enforcement to reclassify the members of the Shadow Wolves

unit from tactical officers to special agents; and

Whereas, this reclassification could improve the pay scale

for Shadow Wolves, improve their ability to enforce

immigration and customs laws, and better investigate and

track cross-border illegal activity; and

Whereas, the Nation's chairperson, Border Security

Delegation, Appropriations and Domestic Affairs Committees

have reviewed the legislation and recommend support.

Now, therefore, be it Resolved that the Tohono O'odham

Legislative Council supports federal legislation to

reclassify Homeland Security Investigations Tactical Officers

``Shadow Wolves'' as special agents.

The foregoing Resolution was passed by the Tohono O'odham

Legislative Council on the 06th day of MARCH, 2020 at a

meeting at which a quorum was present with a vote of 3,175.7

FOR; -0- AGAINST; -0- NOT VOTING; and [02] ABSENT, pursuant

to the powers vested in the Council by Article VI, Section

l(c)(2) and (j) of the Constitution of the Tohono O'odham

Nation, adopted by the Tohono O'odham Nation on January 18,

1986; and approved by the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary--

Indian Affairs (Operations) on March 6, 1986, pursuant to

Section 16 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat.984).

Tohono O'Odham Legislative Council:

Timothy Joaquin,

Legislative Chairman, 6 day of March, 2020.

Attest:

Evonne Wilson,

Legislative Secretary, 6 day of March, 2020.

Said Resolution was submitted for approval to the office of

the Chairman of the Tohono O'odham Nation on the 6 day of

March, 2020 at 4:54 o'clock, p.m., pursuant to the provisions

of Section 5 of Article VII of the Constitution and will

become effective upon his approval or upon his failure to

either approve or disapprove it within 48 hours of submittal.

Tohono O'Odham Legislative Council:

Timothy Joaquin,

Legislative Chairman, on the 06 day of March, 2020 at 5:22

o'clock, p.m.

Ned Norris, Jr., Chairman, Tohono O'odham Nation.

Returned to the Legislative Secretary on the 6 day of March,

2020, at 5:32 o'c1ock, p.m.

Evonne Wilson,

Legislative Secretary.

Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this critical legislation in support of our Native American friends and partners.

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

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

I rise today in support of S. 658, the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act. This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to work with the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium to help prepare for and respond to cybersecurity risks at the national, State, and local levels.

I applaud Senator Cornyn for his steadfast dedication to this most important piece of legislation. Now more than ever, our State and local communities must be prepared to prevent, detect, and mitigate cyber threats. Unfortunately, many of us have had constituent businesses, schools, and hospitals, among others, that have been impacted by persistent and evolving cyber threats.

This legislation will help provide training, exercises, technical assistance, and other important resources to State and local governments, critical infrastructure, and industry partners.

I thank Senator Cornyn for his work on this important bill. I urge Members to join me in supporting S. 658, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of John Nolan, a dedicated police investigator and beloved father and husband, who passed away on December 24, 2021.

John Nolan was a cherished member of the Central New York community, who attended Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School as well as Bishop Ludden High School. John was a classmate of mine at Bishop Ludden and we remained friends. From an early age, John aspired to be a Syracuse Police Officer and fulfilled his childhood dream after graduating from the Police Academy in 1986.

With the Syracuse Police Department, John Nolan served with the Syracuse Police SWAT/Hostage-Crisis Negotiation Team, the Criminal Investigations Division, Investigations Bureau, and Cold Case Investigation Unit. He also devoted much of his time to mentoring the next generation of police officers, holding positions at the Syracuse Police Academy and serving as a guest lecturer at local universities and colleges. Following his retirement from the Syracuse Police Department, John continued his passion for investigative work by joining the Onondaga County District Attorney's office as a case investigator.

As a former organized prosecutor, I had the pleasure of working alongside John Nolan. John was a consummate professional and had a dogged determination for justice. For his work, John received a number of awards including the 1991 Syracuse Post 41 American Legion Police Officer of the Year, the 2001 Post-Standard Award, the 2002 and 2003 CNYCOP Law Enforcement Commendations, the 2004 PBA President's Award, the 2007 and 2016 Meritorious Service Awards, and the 2018 District Attorney's Distinguished Service Award.

Outside of his career in law enforcement, John was an engaged member of his community and a devoted husband to Patricia and father to Delaney. John championed an active lifestyle as an avid golfer, runner, and annual competitor at the Syracuse Mountain Goat Run, missing only one in over 35 years to attend his daughter's first communion.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in honoring the life of John Nolan. A beloved member of Syracuse's law enforcement community, John will truly be missed. I ask my colleagues to keep him and his family in mind as we remember the contributions of this public servant.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Sheriff Barry Virts, who retired December 31, 2021 after 44 years with the Wayne County Sheriff's Department. A dedicated public servant, Sheriff Virts demonstrated a profound commitment to public safety throughout his career.

Sherriff Virts is a lifelong resident of the Town of Rose in Wayne County, New York and graduate of North Rose-Wolcott High School. He earned an Associate's degree from Erie Community College and began his career in law enforcement in 1977 as a corrections officer for the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Sherriff Virts was quickly promoted to road patrol deputy a year later, sergeant in 1985, and criminal investigations lieutenant in 1988. In 1999, he began overseeing the Wayne County jail as Chief Deputy.

Following ten years with the jail division, in 2009 Sherriff Virts was elected Sheriff of Wayne County. At the outset of his term, Sheriff Virts placed a significant emphasis on improving support for victims and collaboration between various police departments. For his work, Sheriff Virts has received local honors and served on over thirteen community and advisory boards including the Wayne County Criminal Justice Council, Wayne County Jail Advisory, Victim Resource Center, Wayne County Diversity Task Force, Wayne County Pretrial Youth and Adult Diversion. He also served on the Council on Alcoholism & Other Addictions, Wayne County Fire Chief's Association, and the Wayne County Housing Consortium.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing the career of Sheriff Barry Virts and his commitment to public safety. I wish Sheriff Virts the best in his retirement.