Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the victory of the Onondaga Thunder Boys' Ice Hockey Team in the U14 Tier 3 New York State Championship on March 5, 2017. The Onondaga Thunder defeated White Plains by a score of 5-1 in the title game. With this win, the Onondaga Thunder took home the state title for the second time in three years.

Members of the state championship team include Jordan Joslyn, Brackton Bowler, Tanner Burns, Kaleb Benedict, Brett Collier, Zach Delaney, Ben Hammond, Josh Kuchinski, Tyler Murray, Brad O'Neil, Derek Shumaker, Luke Pinkney, and Dominick Tutino. The team is coached by Greg Burns and assistants Greg Murray and Tom Joslyn.

I am honored to recognize the teamwork displayed by the Onondaga Thunder and to congratulate the members of the team, their families, and the coaching staff. This is a historic win for Central New York and I am confident that the positive experiences from the 2017 season will yield continued success in both athletics and academics.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the victory of the Skaneateles Girls Varsity Ice Hockey Team in the 2017 New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championship on February 11, 2017. The Skaneateles Lakers defeated Orchard Park by a score of 5-1 for their second state title.

The Lakers, who never trailed a game and had nine shutouts, finished out a perfect season with a 19-0 record. They scored 109 goals this past season, while only getting scored on 13 times. Members of the undefeated state championship team include Sophie Kush, Alison Weiss, Maria McLean, Johna Halko, Lauren Jones, Kat Lindgren, Katie Halko, Emily Cox, Grace Schnorr, Abby Kuhns, Cecily Kawejsza, Katrina Harter, Anne Rubel, Megan Teachout, Heather Tanzella, Jessica Smith, Sophia Burns, Ioanna Christou, Grace Kush, Campbell Torrey, and Caroline Corbett. The team is coached by Andy Rozak.

Not only did the Lakers play hard this season, but they studied hard as well. The Lakers were also a New York State Scholar Athlete team due to their academic accomplishments.

I am honored to recognize the teamwork displayed by the Skaneateles Lakers and to congratulate the members of the team, their families, the coaching staff, and teachers at Skaneateles High School. This is a historic win for Central New York and I am confident that the positive experiences from the 2017 season will yield continued success in both athletics and academics.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the esteemed career of Roger Shalala following 50 years of dedicated service to the Elbridge Volunteer Fire Company in Elbridge, New York.

On December 6, 1966, Mr. Shalala joined the Elbridge Volunteer Fire Company to serve his community. He served as the Department's President during 1968 and then maintained a 24 year tenure as Secretary, where he gained a wealth of knowledge of the Department's history and background. As such, Mr. Shalala has become known as the resident historian of the Elbridge Volunteer Fire Company.

During his time serving the Elbridge Volunteer Fire Company, Mr. Shalala's passion for serving his community has never faltered. He regularly volunteers at events to benefit the Department, including parades, fundraisers, pancake breakfasts, and chicken and biscuit dinners.

It is my honor to recognize Roger Shalala's 50 years of devoted service to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the victory of the Westhill Senior High School Boys' Basketball Team in the New York State Public High School Association Class B Championship on March 18, 2017. The Westhill Warriors defeated the Canton Golden Bears by a score of 80-62 for their fifth state title.

The Warriors, ranked number one in their class, finished the season 25-1. The team had four players who scored double digits in the title game, including senior Kemeren Jackson with 22 points, juniors Sean Dadey and Owen Matukas with 15 points each, and junior John Geer with 11 points. Members of the state championship team include Jackson, Dadey, Matukas, Geer, as well as seniors Braedon Elmer and Antonio Scrimale, juniors Holden Carroll, Corey Frassica, Chris Holt, Jordan Marcano, and EJ Zawadzki, sophomores Charlie Bolesh and Michael Laszlo, freshmen Zechariah Brown, and Dan Washburn. The team is coached by Kevin King.

I am honored to recognize Coach Kevin King on his fifth state title in program history and to honor the teamwork displayed by the Westhill Warriors in earning the Class B Championship. I congratulate the members of the team, their families, the coaching staff, and teachers at Westhill Senior High School. This is a historic win for Central New York and I am confident that the positive experiences from the 2017 season will yield continued success in both athletics and academics.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the victory of the Jamesville-DeWitt Girls' Basketball Team in the New York State Public High School Association Class A Championship on March 18, 2017. The Jamesville-DeWitt Red Rams defeated the Pittsford-Mendon Vikings by a score of 48-46 to win the state title for the second year in a row.

The Red Rams' victory over the undefeated and number one-ranked Vikings was a close game, but the tournament's most outstanding player Meg Hair scored 12 points and senior Julia Kelner scored 11 points to secure the title. Members of the state championship team include Hair, Kelner, as well as senior Angela Bussone, juniors Jamie Boeheim and Kasey Vaughan, freshmen Sydney Baker, Paige Keeler, Maya Leslie, Gabby Stickle, Andrea Sumida, and eighth graders Momoka LaClair and Tracey Edison. The team is coached by Rob Siechen.

I am honored to recognize the teamwork displayed by the Jamesville- Dewitt Red Rams and to congratulate the members of the team, their families, the coaching staff, and teachers at Jamesville-Dewitt High School. This is a historic win for Central New York and I am confident that the positive experiences from the 2017 season will yield continued success in both athletics and academics.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 876) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to reform programs of the Transportation Security Administration, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 876, the Aviation Employee Screening and Security Enhancement Act of 2017, which seeks to implement findings from a multiyear investigation into the insider threat facing our Nation's airports. This bipartisan legislation will help mitigate an increasingly disturbing threat to safety of the traveling public.

Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security, it is my duty to understand and respond to the ever-changing threat landscape facing our Nation's aviation sector, which is a critical component to both America's economic and national security. In February of this year, we released a telling report on airport insider threats, which painted a disturbing picture of security vulnerabilities and gaps in screening and access controls at airports across the country. Just 3 days after the release of our report, news broke of a massive drug smuggling ring between Puerto Rico and the continental United States involving both TSA and airport employees. This network of criminals exploited their access to secure areas of airports to smuggle an astounding 20 tons--or $100 million worth--of cocaine into the United States and into our own communities.

Another concerning example uncovered in our investigation throughout last Congress was when an airport employee offered to smuggle explosives on a passenger aircraft. Luckily, this individual was caught in a drug trafficking ring by the FBI and was arrested. However, we have seen multiple examples of aviation workers with access to secure areas of airports being involved in serious criminal activities, including terror plotting, after being radicalized.

We cannot allow these lapses in security to continue placing the traveling public at risk, and we must continue to work together like my brother across the aisle, Mr. Payne, with our partners in security in the aviation sector and at the Transportation Security Administration. After a number of insider threat-related attacks at airports overseas, along with plots here in the United States, it is essential that we act on this legislation.

This bill, if enacted, will enhance employee vetting requirements, improve procedures governing the way airports issue security credentials, and reform TSA's employee screening operations to be more targeted and effective. It will also provide policymakers with critical, previously unavailable data relating to the cost and feasibility of providing full employee screening at all domestic airports.

The insider threat is real, and it is our duty to ensure the Federal Government is taking every step possible to keep the traveling public safe.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the ranking member of the subcommittee, my friend and colleague, Mrs. Watson Coleman, for her shared leadership on this issue. I would also like to thank the chairman of the full committee, Mr. McCaul, for shepherding this legislation through the committee.

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

House of Representatives,

Committee on Ways and Means,

Washington, DC, April 25, 2017.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman McCaul: I am writing with respect to H.R.

876, the ``Aviation Employee Screening and Security

Enhancement Act of 2017.'' This bill contains provisions

within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and

Means.

The Committee on Ways and Means will not seek a sequential

referral on H.R. 876 so that it may proceed expeditiously to

the House floor for consideration. This is done with the

understanding that the jurisdictional interests of the

Committee on Ways and Means over this and similar legislation

are in no way diminished or altered. In addition, the

Committee reserves the right to seek conferees on H.R. 876

and requests your support when such a request is made.

I would appreciate your response confirming this

understanding with respect to H.R. 876 and ask that a copy of

our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the

Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the

House floor.

Sincerely,

Kevin Brady,

Chairman.

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

Mr. Speaker, I echo the sentiment of my colleague, Mr. Payne. He is spot on in his discussion about the vulnerabilities that have been highlighted overseas that can easily come our way if we don't act on this bill. I applaud his comments and thank him for those.

This issue is critical to the safety of traveling Americans. We must act today to close every known security gap.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Margaret L. Williams Developmental Evaluation Center of the Upstate Medical Center Golisano Children's Hospital for its World Autism Awareness Day event on April 2nd.

This year marks the third year that the Center has worked with the Central New York community to light up notable Downtown Syracuse buildings in blue to highlight the beginning of April as World Autism Month.

Light it Up Blue is a unique, global campaign to increase understanding and acceptance of autism. Thousands of iconic landmarks, buildings, and community centers nationwide ``Light it Up Blue'' in support of individuals living with autism and to help promote understanding and acceptance of autism.

While there is no known cause or cure for autism, increased awareness of the multiple types of autism spectrum disorder enables families to seek early and proper treatment.

I commend the Margaret L. Williams Developmental Evaluation Center of the Upstate Medical Center Golisano Children's Hospital for its efforts to support and enhance autism awareness in Central New York.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1309) to streamline the office and term of the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House to support H.R. 1309, the TSA Administrator Modernization Act of 2017.

TSA was created within the Department of Transportation in 2001 to address the security vulnerabilities that were exposed in the attacks of 9/11. At that time, the administrator was given a 5-year term. However, when TSA and its functions transferred to the Department of Homeland Security a year later, the 5-year term officially terminated by statute.

Many of the issues and bureaucratic challenges that TSA faces today stem from a lack of consistent leadership at the top. Since I came to Congress in January 2015, TSA has had no less than five different individual administrators, both as appointees and as acting administrators. This is a staggering number in such a brief period of time.

A revolving door of leadership has further exacerbated the numerous problems that plague this young agency. It is unacceptable that this has gone on for more than a decade. The American people deserve better, and that is why we are here today with this bill.

This bill addresses these issues by reestablishing the administrator's position, level, and 5-year term, just as Congress originally intended when it created TSA in the wake of 9/11. Additionally, this bill updates Federal statute to reflect current policy by clarifying TSA's proper role within the Department of Homeland Security.

While this is only one step in addressing the many challenges at TSA, this legislation will provide for more consistent leadership at such a critical security agency.

Ensuring the effectiveness of Federal agencies and the security of the American people is a bipartisan task, and one of which I am happy to be part of. I commend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for coming together to support this bill. This is exactly what the American people expect from us.

I especially want to thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson for moving this bill swiftly through committee to the floor today. I also thank Congresswoman Rice, who is supporting this bill as well.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of

Representatives,

Washington, DC, March 13, 2017.

Hon. Michael T. McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman McCaul: I write concerning H.R. 1309, the

``TSA Administrator Modernization Act of 2017.'' This

legislation includes matters that fall within the Rule X

jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure.

In order to expedite Floor consideration of H.R. 1309, the

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will forgo

action on this bill. However, this is conditional on our

mutual understanding that forgoing consideration of the bill

does not prejudice the Committee with respect to the

appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional

claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or

similar legislation that fall within the Committee's Rule X

jurisdiction. I request you urge the Speaker to name members

of the Committee to any conference committee named to

consider such provisions.

Please place a copy of this letter and your response

acknowledging our jurisdictional interest in the

Congressional Record during House Floor consideration of the

bill. I look forward to working with the Committee on

Homeland Security as the bill moves through the legislative

process.

Sincerely,

Bill Shuster,

Chairman.

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

I want to recognize Congresswoman Rice's comments. I thought they were excellent, and not just because they were nice for me.

Her comments about Admiral Neffenger, in particular, were very poignant because he was doing a great job at TSA and he was only there 2

years. What he did in 2 years really made a big difference in the trajectory of that agency. Much like other Federal agencies that are empowered to do very important things, like the FBI who has a long-term tenure, I think the same thing needs to be done here.

Admiral Neffenger and people like him should be in control of the agency for extended periods of time because then, and only then, can we make the true changes that we are going to need.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Rotary District 7150 of Central New York as it hosts Rotary International President-Elect Ian Riseley of Australia.

This weekend, Rotary International President-Elect Riseley will address incoming club presidents at the Multi-District President-Elect Training Seminar and People of Action Dinner in my district in Syracuse, New York. I am proud to see local members of Rotary District 7150 of Central New York honored during this, the centennial of the Rotary International Foundation.

Rotary International is home to more than 35,000 clubs worldwide, including 43 clubs in District 7150 of Central New York. The Rotary's mission of ``service above self'' is exemplified in our local Rotary Clubs' work assisting veterans in need, recognizing the hard work and success of high school students, restoring our prized parks and waterways, and partnering with local food pantries to reduce hunger throughout the 24th District.

With over 1,200 Rotary members locally, Central New York is a better place because of the work these individuals do for our community. I applaud the members of Rotary District 7150 of Central New York for their service, fellowship, and passion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 45th anniversary of the Camillus Erie Canal Park in my hometown of Camillus, New York.

Established in 1972, the Camillus Erie Canal Park is part of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in Upstate New York. It is maintained and operated by an entirely volunteer group dedicated to preserving and restoring the historic Erie Canal in the Town of Camillus.

The Camillus Erie Canal Park offers Central New Yorkers, tourists, and students from across New York State over 10 miles of historic walkways, boat rides along the Erie Canal, and museums showcasing the history of the canal.

Critical to the preservation of this historic site, members of the Camillus Erie Canal Society and many hardworking volunteers in our community worked to restore the 1842 Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct at the Camillus Erie Canal Park. This is the only restored navigable aqueduct in New York State and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Sites.

The Erie Canal stretches from Albany to Buffalo and has played a pivotal role in the socioeconomic development of New York State and our country. This corridor, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, was recently designated a National Historical Landmark.

I am proud to recognize the 45th anniversary of the Camillus Erie Canal Park, as well as the Camillus Erie Canal Society for the incredible work they do to preserve the cultural heritage of the Erie Canal in Central New York.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a young man from my district, Patrick Lowery Coggins. Pat recently passed away at the young age of 27 after a courageous and lifelong battle with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Despite the challenges he faced, Pat lived a full and inspirational life, graduating from high school and college and then returning home to work in communications for the Syracuse Chiefs AAA baseball team.

I had the distinct honor and privilege of meeting Pat when he and his Central New York United teammates won the National Power Wheelchair Soccer Tournament in 2015. Pat and his teammates were incredible advocates for increased opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

And I might add that I got in one of those power wheelchairs and tried to do what Pat did playing soccer, and it was not easy. So I commend him for his skill in that regard as well.

Pat was beloved by his family, friends, coworkers, and so many in our community. He made a lasting and positive impact on all who knew and loved him.

In Pat's memory, and for all of those who suffer from rare and incurable diseases, we must continue to invest in research, treatments, and cures.

Rest in peace, Pat.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against domestic violence and sexual abuse. As a former Federal prosecutor for 20 years, I have seen firsthand how domestic violence affects people of all ages, races, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner. We must work together to end this abuse.

Central New York is home to Vera House, an organization that works to prevent and respond to domestic and sexual abuse. Yesterday, Vera House kicked off its 23rd Annual White Ribbon Campaign in central New York. This campaign raises awareness for the need to put an end to domestic violence and sexual abuse.

This month, thousands of central New Yorkers will be wearing a white ribbon like I have on today, or a white wristband, to stand in solidarity against domestic and sexual violence.

I urge my House colleagues to join me in wearing a white ribbon to demonstrate a personal pledge to work towards preventing violence against men, women, and children.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 1 p.m. tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Syracuse University basketball coach Jim Boeheim upon the occasion of his 1,000th win this past Saturday over the mighty Virginia Cavaliers.

Coach Boeheim has dedicated over 40 years of his life to Syracuse University, and he and his wife, Juli, are known locally for their outstanding generosity and philanthropy.

While central New York happily celebrated Coach Boeheim's 1,000th win this past weekend, the occasion was not recognized by the NCAA due to arbitrarily harsh sanctions that followed an 8-year investigation that eliminated scholarship opportunities for students and that vacated Coach Boeheim of 108 wins.

While we cannot stand for impropriety in collegiate athletics, we must have transparency, consistency, and fairness from the NCAA--an organization that is charged with promoting higher education opportunities and protecting the welfare of students. That is why I have and will continue to champion bipartisan legislation in the House to reform the NCAA and bring accountability and due process to this organization. There is no denying that Jim Boeheim was the coach for 1,000 basketball wins at Syracuse University, and the NCAA should recognize that fact.

Our community celebrates and congratulates Coach Boeheim for this tremendous achievement, and it is my high honor to recognize him here today.

Congratulations, Coach--and Go Orange.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 526) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish in the Department of Homeland Security a board to coordinate and integrate departmental intelligence, activities, and policy related to counterterrorism, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, nearly 16 years after September 11th, our country continues to face the persistent threat of terrorism. From ISIS to al Qaeda, radical groups continue to target the United States and our way of life. Last year alone, we saw more than 131 plots by ISIS alone against the West.

As terrorists continue to evolve, this body must ensure that the security measures in place to protect the United States and its citizens adapt to meet these threats.

Faced with the most dangerous threat environment since 9/11, the Department of Homeland Security needs to continue to focus on its core mission of protecting Americans from these threats in an increasingly expeditious manner. I am proud that this body is working to continue to strengthen our national security by debating the bill before us today.

H.R. 526, the Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act of 2017, will help integrate intelligence, operations, and policy decisions to ensure the Department of Homeland Security remains adaptable, while eliminating waste and duplication. This same bill was introduced last year and passed the House by overwhelming majority.

Mr. Speaker, with open investigations in all 50 States and more than 119 arrests, this body must continue to take action to protect our homeland. Further, these threats will likely expand as foreign fighters flee places like Raqqa and Mosul.

Mr. Speaker, the world is witnessing the greatest convergence of radical Islamic threats in its history. More than 40,000 jihadists fighters, many of whom came from the West, have traveled to

the battlefield in Syria and Iraq. With this threat environment in mind, I have introduced H.R. 526.

Initially established at the end of 2010, the Counterterrorism Advisory Board brings together the Department of Homeland Security's top echelon counterterrorism decisionmakers to quickly respond to threats.

While my colleagues and I were conducting the bipartisan Task Force on Combating Terrorists and Foreign Fighter Travel, we found that the Counterterrorism Advisory Board, or CTAB as it is referred to, had neither been codified nor had its charter kept pace with evolving terrorist threats.

That is why we need to pass this bill: to ensure that DHS is effectively integrating intelligence, operations, and policy to better compile and understand threat information to successfully fight terrorism.

This legislation formally establishes the CTAB in law and makes it the Department's central coordination body for counterterrorism activities.

The bill also updates the Board's charter to effectively respond to tomorrow's challenges and requires the Secretary to appoint a coordinator for counterterrorism to oversee the Board's activities.

Additionally, this legislation requires the CTAB to advise the Secretary of Homeland Security on the issuance of terrorism alerts, ensuring that top counterterrorism intelligence officials play a key role in developing these critical notices and providing them to the public.

Finally, this bill ensures continued congressional oversight by requiring DHS to report on the status and activities of the CTAB so that they can be certain it is meeting its mandate.

I thank Chairman McCaul from the Homeland Security Committee for appointing me to lead the bipartisan Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel last year. This task force produced 32 key findings and more than 50 recommendations, one of which serves as a basis of the legislation before us today.

I am proud to say we have now acted legislatively on more than half of the task force's findings, largely thanks to the hard work of the members of the task force and their willingness to work across the aisle in a bipartisan manner.

I also thank Mr. Thompson, my colleague in the minority, for working in a bipartisan manner on this and many other bills that we have before us today.

I will end by urging my colleagues to support this measure.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I urge Members to support this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.