Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friend and colleague on the Homeland Security Committee for holding this important Special Order to let law enforcement officers all over the United States know this simple truth: We support you, and we have your back.

For over 20 years, I served as an organized crime prosecutor on the Federal level, focusing on narcotics, gang, and corruption prosecutions, among many others, in central New York, along the southwest border, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, all over the United States, and all over the world.

I worked alongside incredible men and women in law enforcement every day. They are some of the most courageous and selfless people I know, and they put their lives on the line to protect our communities.

The officers I have worked with were assaulted. They were shot. Some were killed. Yet, time and time again, the officers showed up every day to do their jobs and dispatch their duties with honor and dignity, despite not being paid anywhere near what they should.

Unfortunately, our brothers and sisters in law enforcement are hurting right now. Violence against law enforcement officers has become a troubling pattern across the United States, culminating most recently in violent shooting deaths of officers in New York City and Houston. Sadly, this violence is part of an upward national trend.

According to the National Fraternal Order of Police, in 2021, there were 346 officers shot in the line of duty, and 103 were ambush-style attacks, which increased 115 percent over the prior year. Tragically, 73 officers were killed. According to the data from the FBI, this accounts for a 50 percent increase.

These grim statistics represent the highest number of law enforcement who were intentionally killed since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.

As ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee and chair of the American Security Task Force, I have heard directly from law enforcement officers about the challenges police departments face as crimes continue to rise. I have traveled across the country where the effects of the defund the police and go against the police movements are at their worst.

In New York City, for example, the department was cut by close to $1 billion in 2020. In 2021, it broke the State record for annual homicides. They cut cops. They cut shifts. They passed laws in New York State that made it very difficult for officers to do their jobs and made it very easy for violent criminals to get back on the streets.

In Portland, Oregon, a center for the defund the police movement, homicides are up 530 percent. That was because they cut their police department by 10 percent and eliminated the violent crime unit. Of course, that is going to happen. The increase in crime, coupled with recruitment and retention problems, will only compound the crime problems this country is currently facing.

Instead of vilifying police, let's figure out how to make police departments better by investing in them. How can you possibly retrain police when you defund them? How can you implement new policies and get officers ready for those new policies when you cut their funding? It doesn't work.

Today, we are facing troubling new challenges. Our law enforcement officers are being asked to do more with less, and it is putting their lives at risk. In addition to their crime-fighting responsibilities, our officers are on the front lines, facing the threat of terrorism and an unprecedented opioid epidemic.

Homeland security is being degraded because defunded police and vilified police departments do not have sufficient resources for counterterrorism operations.

It takes courage to wear a badge. It takes even more courage to respond to an emergency, to engage a suspect, to walk down a dark alley, or to confront a terrorist. For law enforcement, that is part of their job every single day.

My committee and the task force are proud to stand with law enforcement as they continue to do this honorable work. I will always have their backs, and they will always have my thanks and admiration.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the generosity of Ralph Rotella, owner of Discount Shoe Repair in Syracuse and driving force behind Ralphy's Rescue Mission Shoe Drive.

In 2010, Ralph Rotella was inspired to start Ralphy's Rescue Mission Shoe Drive after seeing a homeless person outside of his shop, walking in the cold with their toe sticking out. He made the decision to provide that person with a pair of usable shoes. From that day, Ralph began annually collecting, repairing, and donating shoes to the Syracuse Rescue Mission to help more people in-need.

In Ralph's first year of operating the Shoe Drive, he donated less than 100 pairs of shoes. Each year since then, he has steadily expanded his operation, and in 2020, donated 23,187 pairs of shoes--one of the largest donations the Rescue Mission has ever received.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring Ralph Rotella for his determined efforts to aid underserved members of our Central New York community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Marc Pietropaoli and the Victory Sports Medicine team of Skaneateles, New York, for performing the first fully FDA approved Bridge-Enhanced ACL Restoration (BEAR) Surgery in the United States.

Across the United States, ACL tears have reached alarming rates. According to a 21-year study conducted by a team of doctors at the Mayo Clinic, 100,000 to 200,000 Americans will suffer an ACL tears in a given year. Previously, ACL tears had to be addressed through ACL reconstruction, which can be

traumatic to the joint. This successful BEAR Surgery paves the way for improved outcomes, as it is expected to decrease the risk of re-injury and injuries to the opposite knee, feelings of post-recovery abnormality, and arthritis caused by the ACL injury.

In Central New York, Dr. Marc Pietropaoli and the Victory Sports Medicine are on the cutting edge of orthopedic procedures. The successful BEAR procedure is among a long list of achievements this team has had and represents a new era of repairing ACL tears.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing Dr. Marc Pietropaoli and the Victory Sports Medicine team for performing the first fully FDA approved BEAR Surgery in the United States.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life of Perry Mastrocola, a dedicated public servant, a gifted attorney and educator, and a devoted and loving husband and father who passed away in early October.

Perry served our nation for more than 27 years as both a Federal Special Agent and a Federal Prosecutor. During his distinguished career, Perry served as a special agent with the IRS Criminal Investigation division and later in supervisory roles in IRS offices in Cleveland and Charlotte. Perry had extensive experience investigating criminal tax offenses, money laundering violations, health care fraud, bank secrecy act matters, and other complex financial crimes. He retired as the Special Agent in Charge of the IRS office in Charlotte.

Following his service in the Federal Government, Perry worked as a Senior Investigator and Analyst for U.S. Bank's Investigation and Enhanced Due Diligence departments. There, he was responsible for leading sophisticated internal bank investigations and preparing recommendations in cases involving fraud or other unusual circumstances. He later joined Flannery Georgalis, a leading litigation firm in Charlotte, as a Partner.

Perry was multi-lingual and because of his unique and dynamic language capabilities, he worked with Italian and Mexican authorities on many important money laundering investigations. He also taught Anti- Money Laundering classes to Mexican law enforcement officers and was a keynote speaker in numerous Anti-Money Laundering and Bank Secrecy seminars for finance and law enforcement representatives around the country. Perry also taught undergraduate law classes at his undergraduate alma mater, Baldwin-Wallace University, for 14 years.

Perry was a huge Ohio football fan, actively supporting a variety of teams from the Baldwin-Wallace Yellow Jackets to the Cleveland Browns. And he spent countless hours coaching sports teams for his sons, Vincent and Gabriel--because what mattered most to Perry was his family and especially his loving wife of 27 years, Kelly.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in remembering Perry Mastrocola, honoring his many years of service to our country, and keeping both he and his family in our thoughts and prayers.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the career of Chief Master Sergeant Bruce A. Fong who will retire from the United States Air Force on December 18, 2021, after more than 31 years of military service.

Chief Fong is a native of Central New York and a graduate of Whitesboro Senior High School. He also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Information Systems from Columbia College of Missouri, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Chief Fong entered the active-duty Air Force under the delayed enlistment program in December 1979 and attended basic military training in July 1980 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Following Basic Military Training, he went on to technical training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas to become an Air Cargo Specialist.

In September 1980 Chief Fong, then Airman Basic, was assigned to the 603rd Military Airlift Support Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. He worked in the ramp services section where he was responsible for the on/off-loading of cargo on military and civilian aircraft such as the Boeing 747, the Lockheed Martin C-5 Galaxy, C-141A/B Starlifter, C-130 Hercules, the McDonnell Douglas C-9 Nightingale, and the KC-1O Extender. Chief Fong became phase two qualified on the C-130 and C-141, which provided the ability to service the aircraft without the supervision of a loadmaster. During his time at Kadena Air Base, Chief Fong was involved many times in an extraordinarily successful joint service deployment exercise ``Team Spirit'' supervising the loading operations of military aircraft, often working with untrained Air Force and Marine Corps load crews.

After two and a half years in Okinawa, Chief Fong had a permanent change of station to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, where he was assigned to the 436th Aerial Port Squadron. He worked in the special handling section and was responsible for the timely and accurate inventory of critical cargo using the Aerial Port Documentation and Management System. Chief Fong also participated in the NATO exercise ``Bright Star,'' where he spent time in Cairo Egypt assisting the 436th Airlift Control Element in the on/off-loading of sixty aircraft and officially recognized for his effort by the Airlift Control Element commander.

After a 10-year break in service Chief Fong joined the I 74th Fighter Wing, New York Air National Guard in February 1996 as a Drill Status Guardsmen. He was assigned to the 174th Logistics Readiness Squadron as a Traffic Management Specialist.

In October 1998, Chief Fong was hired as a full-time military technician with the 174th Communications Flight. In his lengthy career within the organization, he held positions as a network administrator, network infrastructure technician, network control center supervisor, operations superintendent, and the finally as the Chief Enlisted Manager. As Chief Enlisted Manager, he was responsible for the training, readiness, and morale of all assigned enlisted personnel in support of combat and domestic operations. Chief Fong's other successful accomplishments include implementation of the following systems: Electronic Management Tracking System; Defense Biometric Identification System, and the Electronic Technical Order Distribution System, many of these accomplishments were firsts for the 174th Fighter Wing, the Air National Guard, and the United States Air Force. Chief Fong's other successes included installs and significant upgrades to the following base communications infrastructure and systems: Gigabit- Ethernet, Base Wireless Access, Base Area Network Modernization, NetApp Mass Storage, Network Control Center--Virtualization, Base Mass Notification System, and the Common Access Card, all told, totaling in the millions of dollars.

In March of 2000, Chief Fong deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. Following the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks on New York City, Chief Fong played an integral part providing back-end communications support during Operation NOBLE EAGLE, when the 174th Fighter Wing was tasked to fly Combat Air Patrol missions over New York City. In November of 2006, he deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. At the height of the COVID pandemic, Chief Fong served as a Liaison Officer between the Air Force and Army for four and a half months. He provided logistical support to the New York State Military Joint Task Force, which was the command-and-control hub for all Central New York.

Throughout his career with the 174th Attack Wing, one of Chief Fong's crowning achievements and proudest moments has been serving as a Ceremonial Guardsmen with 174th Attack Wing's Base Honor Guard. During his time with the Base Honor Guard, he performed well over seven hundred active-duty, retiree, and veteran funerals, as well as participating in parades and other details supporting the base and community. This often involved working holidays, weekends, and traveling throughout 23 New York State counties, covering over 23,324 square miles.

For his 31 years of service Chief Fong has earned numerous decorations which include: the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters; the Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters; the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster; and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. His military unit awards include: the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with combat ``V'' device and five oak leaf clusters. His military campaign and service awards include: the National Defense Service Medal; the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with 7 oak leaf clusters; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal; Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border; the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with five oak leaf clusters; the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver hour glass and bronze mobilization ``M'' device; the Professional Military Education Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters; the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon; and the Air Force Training Ribbon.

Chief Fong is married to Cynthia Kellar; has two children, Andrew and Jessica; and three grandchildren, Noah, Brooklynn, and Grayson. He is an avid photographer, trained in martial arts, and has flown solo in a Cessna 152, 182 and a Piper warrior in pursuit of a private pilot's license. Chief Fong is proud of his service to his country and looking forward to retirement and his next adventure.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in recognizing Chief Master Sergeant Bruce A. Fong for his three decades of honorable service. I wish Chief Fong the best in his retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the renowned 37-year career of NewsChannel 9 anchor Dan Cummings.

For nearly four decades, Dan Cummings has been one of the most trusted names in local news and has earned a well-deserved reputation for his integrity and investigative prowess.

A native of Cayuga County, Dan Cummings grew up in central New York and got his start in journalism working at local radio stations. In 1984, Dan Cummings joined the NewsChannel 9 team and, in 2008, began anchoring the morning news. Notably, Dan was the driving force behind ``Newsmakers,'' a weekly public affairs program.

In these prominent roles, Dan Cummings has been celebrated for his ability to conduct smart, original reporting and communicate even the most difficult stories in a calm and straightforward manner.

I have known Dan Cummings for many years. I can unequivocally say he is one of the most fair and genuine news professionals and is an extremely generous man who is actively involved in multiple charities.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring Dan Cummings for an incredible

career in broadcast journalism and wishing him the best in his retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York as the college celebrates its 75th Anniversary. Since its founding, Le Moyne College has provided students with a renowned Jesuit education, preparing thousands of young men and women to reach great successes and live generously.

True to the intellectual and religious tradition it was founded on, for over seven decades Le Moyne has provided its undergraduate students and graduate students with a well-rounded, liberal arts education. Equipped with a Le Moyne education, alumni from the college have become leaders across a wide range of sectors including business, medicine, government, and the arts and sciences. Today, Le Moyne has grown dramatically. It greatly expanded its academic programs and has a sprawling campus that boasts five academic buildings and 15 residential buildings, as well as a chapel, library, performing arts center, Jesuit residence, plaza and athletic facilities.

While the school has remained committed to its core values, Le Moyne has always prided itself on being a trailblazer for progress. At the time of its founding in 1946, Le Moyne was the first Jesuit college in the United States to open as a coeducational institutional. And in 2014, Linda LeMura was named the college's 14th president, making her the first female layperson to lead a Jesuit institution in the United States. Under her leadership, President LeMura has raised the college's profile, prioritized inclusivity, and worked to foster an environment where Le Moyne students and faculty can learn and grow. Notably, during the pandemic, President LeMura took an unusual step to limit the spread of COVID-19 amongst the school's population and highlight the importance of being a thoughtful steward of the community by moving into a neighborhood popular with students living off-campus. For several months, LeMura became a friendly face in the neighborhood. She greeted students living nearby on her daily walks, helped them keep their lawns free of trash and debris, and reprimanded those holding gatherings that could spread the virus.

In 2016, the college adopted the slogan `Greatness Meets Goodness' to highlight the college's lasting commitment to helping students reach heights in their career, while emphasizing the importance of integrity and compassion for all people. Le Moyne consistently encourages students to put Jesuit values in action by providing volunteer opportunities within Central New York and around the world, and harboring extensive networks at local nonprofits, shelters, kitchens, and schools. In 2020, Le Moyne launched its Erie 21 program, which helps veterans, immigrants, refugees, the underemployed and unemployed obtain internships and software development jobs with local employers by providing students with technical and computer coding skills. The impact Le Moyne students have had in our Central New York community and around the world is both far-reaching and impactful. It is exemplified by alumni like Jeanette Epps, the first Black female astronaut to serve as a crewmember on the International Space Station, who is conducting research that will benefit all of mankind. And Andrew Lunetta, who found his passion helping homeless individuals and families in Central New York while at Le Moyne, and has since founded Tiny Home For Good, a nonprofit that builds safe and affordable housing for those less fortunate.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring the 75th Anniversary of Le Moyne College. Over the past 75 years, the College has prepared thousands of students to become successful leaders in their careers and carry themselves with integrity. Le Moyne has been a cherished part of our community and I'm excited to see what the future holds for the college.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 15th Anniversary of SRCTec, a manufacturing and lifecycle management firm in Central New York that has developed and built some of the most groundbreaking technologies to solve defense, environmental, and intelligence problems.

In its 15 years of operation, SRCTec has developed and manufactured high-quality, award-winning electromechanical products that have strengthened our nation's defense. The company holds the prestigious title of Tier 1 supplier to the U.S. Army and has received the Army's Top Ten Inventions Award for its stellar work to develop the CREW Duke system, which prevents remote detonation of improvised explosive devices. SRCTec also received the Army's Top Ten Inventions Award for its Lightweight Counter-Mortar Radio, which provides continuous surveillance of rocket, artillery, and mortar threats to American troops.

Aside from SRCTec's commitment to quality manufacturing, the firm is also an active part

of the Central New York community and has received numerous awards for corporate citizenship. SRCTec received the Partners for Education & Business Special Recognition Award for its work to engage local students and encourage them to pursue STEM field studies. SRCTec has also received the United Way of Central New York's Spirit of Caring Awards several times for its charitable giving and leadership development programs.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing the 15th Anniversary of SRCTec. Since its founding, the company has made tremendous contributions to Central New York and worked to improve our country's defenses through its visionary manufacturing products.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the celebrated career of Wayne Mahar as he prepares to retire after 36 years of weather forecasting in central New York.

Wayne is one of the most recognizable and trusted weather forecasters in central New York. When planning a hike, barbecue, tailgate, or family outing, central New Yorkers have relied on Wayne to share the weather for nearly four decades.

Originally from Brunswick, Maine, Wayne Mahar began his career working for the National Weather Service. From there, he founded Precision Weather Service, a private weather consulting firm that builds forecasts for major events like the Major League Baseball All- Star Game, the Super Bowl, and red carpet events.

In 1985 Wayne joined the CNY, Central New York, broadcast team in Syracuse, becoming the first full-time meteorologist in central New York. Here he brought a new level of seriousness to the profession by utilizing computer models and hard science to make his forecasts. Through this approach Wayne became known for accuracy, reliability, and his outdoor broadcasts from the CNY Central Weather Deck.

An expert on severe weather events, Wayne was also there to deliver critical, lifesaving information to families during some of the most historic weather events in central New York, including the great blizzard of 1993 and the 1998 Labor Day storm.

Outside of forecasting, Wayne has been a prominent fixture in our community. He is an avid hockey player, hosts regular workshops for young, aspiring meteorologists, and in 2008 he founded the Priscilla Mahar Animal Welfare Foundation. The nonprofit organization was named after his late mother and champions animal welfare causes, raising over a quarter of a million dollars for local animal rescues.

For nearly four decades, families like mine have turned to Wayne Mahar when we want to know if there will be sun, rain, sleet, or just another day of lake-effect snow. While he will be dearly missed on our televisions, central New Yorkers can rest assured they will continue to see him.

When he is not spending time with his children and grandchildren, Wayne has promised he will remain an active part of our community. Personally, I am glad to hear that because I still have not had the opportunity yet to putter a few pucks at him while he stands in the hockey goal, but I am going to do that before too long.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring Wayne Mahar for an incredible career in weather forecasting and wishing him the best in his well-deserved retirement.

Madam Speaker, I missed the vote on Roll Call No. 344 on November 2, 2021. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 344. Additionally, I missed the vote on Roll Call No. 351 on November 2, 2021. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 351.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 150th Anniversary of Hueber Breuer, a legacy construction firm in Central New York that has developed and built some of the most impactful projects in the region.

Since its founding in 1872, Hueber Breuer has remained a family-run business and is currently led by its fifth and sixth generations. Today, it is the largest, continuously operating, family-owned construction and contracting firm in Central New York.

In its 150 years of operation, Hueber Breuer has played a key role in developing the City of Syracuse and Central New York. The company has helped build and restore many of the landmarks that define our skylines, such as the Landmark Theater, the Franklin Center, the Samaritan Center, and the Exposition Center at the New York State Fairgrounds. For the firm's stellar work. Hueber Breuer has received numerous awards including the Associated General Contractors of New York Safety Award, the American General Contractors Build New York Award, and the Preservation Association of Central New York Award of Merit.

Aside from its construction projects, Hueber Breuer also aims to revitalize Central New York through philanthropic endeavors. These endeavors include an annual Community Volunteer Day, in which the company's employees volunteer for charitable organizations in the region.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House to join me in recognizing the upcoming 150th Anniversary of Hueber Breuer. Since its founding, the company has made tremendous contributions on Central New York through its visionary construction projects and dedication to the community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the career of Senior Master Sergeant D. Ginger Gersbacher, who retired from the United States Air Force (USAF) on July 29, 2021 after more than 29 years of military service.

A native of Central New York and graduate of C.W. Baker High School and the State University of New York at Morrisville, Sergeant Gersbacher enlisted into the New York Air National Guard in June 1992. After completing basic training as well as technical school training as an Instrument and Flight Control Systems Specialist, she returned to Syracuse in January 1993 to serve in the 174th Attack Wing. Within the unit, Sergeant Gersbacher served as an Avionics Technician with the Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and later accepted a part time position in the Maintenance Operations Center. While serving in these positions, Sergeant Gersbacher also returned to school to complete a Baccalaureate Degree in Computer Science from Columbia College, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Later, Sergeant Gersbacher was deployed and supported combat missions, participating in Operation Provide Comfort, Operation Northern Watch, and Operation Southern Watch. Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, she volunteered for active duty and served with the 174th Attack Wing of the New York Air National Guard during Operation Noble Eagle, flying air patrol missions over New York City. Later, Sergeant Gersbacher reassigned as a maintenance analyst and was deployed three more times from 2006 to 2008, participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2014, Sergeant Gersbacher established the Inspector General Office of Inspections within the 174th Attack Wing at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, and maintained her position in the Inspector General's Office until her retirement.

For her service, Sergeant Gersbacher has earned numerous awards including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in recognizing Senior Master Sergeant Ginger Gersbacher for her nearly three decades of honorable service. I wish Sergeant Gersbacher the best in her retirement.

Madam Speaker, I missed the vote on Roll Call No. 319 on October 20, 2021. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 319. Additionally, I missed the vote on Roll Call No. 324 on October 20, 2021. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 324.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to join the Manufacturing Association of Central New York (MACNY) in recognizing the month of October as Manufacturing Month. This month serves to highlight the manufacturing industry's significant contributions to Central New York and our nation, while encouraging young people to pursue opportunities in manufacturing.

Importantly, in my district in Central New York, the Manufacturing Association of Central New York and its members are significant job creators for our region and drivers of the economy. Collectively, the organization is made up of over 300 businesses, which employ over 50,000 workers. It's not an understatement to say our regional economy depends on the Manufacturing Association of Central New York and its members.

Beyond Central New York, manufacturing has a rich history in the United States. Manufacturing grew our economy, built the middle class, and helped us modernize. This industry was an important part of our past, and should be a part of our future. That's why today, it's increasingly important to celebrate the manufacturing industry, educate young people about careers in manufacturing, and expand educational opportunities to ensure highly-skilled positions are filled.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me during the month of October in recognizing Manufacturing Month as well as the great contributions of the Manufacturing Association of Central New York.

Madam Speaker, I rise today because it is time to cut through the noise and recognize the opportunity at hand.

Last month, the Senate passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act with the support of 19 Republican Senators, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Since then, I have heard the loudest voices in the room say a lot about this bill, except for calling it what it is, a once-in-a-generation investment in our Nation's physical infrastructure.

For myself and so many others, a bill like this is the reason we came to Congress.

We have heard from the mom or dad who hit a pothole and had to pay out of pocket to fix the family car.

We have seen our children struggle and fall behind in school without reliable internet access.

Our communities are the ones where basic access to clean drinking water has been jeopardized by aging pipes.

Our workers and businesses are the ones calling for investments that will help them compete on the world stage.

So, the question is: What will we, as Members of Congress, do about it?

Will we allow blatant partisanship on both sides of the aisle to stand in the way of legislation that is objectively good for the American people?

Will we ignore the very real crisis that is facing infrastructure systems in communities like the one I represent in central New York?

Will we simply disregard the pleas from the most significant labor and business advocates in the country?

I, for one, will not. I strongly support the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and I urge the Speaker to bring the bill to the floor as a standalone vote today.

This long-overdue legislation delivers comprehensive investment in our roads and bridges, ports and waterways, clean water systems, broadband networks, electrical grids, and airports.

The bill takes essential steps to streamline Federal permitting processes and undertakes the crucial work of improving the resiliency of our hard infrastructure.

Critically, this legislation includes responsible pay-fors in addition to its $550 billion in new spending for physical infrastructure. The CBO estimates that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will have a 33 percent return on investment because of the economic benefits of long-term infrastructure projects. Experts from the American Enterprise Institute have argued that spending under this legislation would not contribute to inflation because the spending would be spread out over a decade and focus on improving long-term productivity.

To be sure, no legislation is perfect, but this measure is the product of an honest, good faith, and bipartisan effort to reach consensus and deliver for our constituents. I know that because I have spent many years working with my colleagues in the Problem Solvers Caucus to reach this moment.

Since 2017, our group has worked on a framework that would move the ball forward on infrastructure and present real policy solutions for the challenges we face.

In presenting our work to a bipartisan group of Governors, Senators, and Members of the House in Annapolis, Maryland, earlier this year, we helped lay the framework for the bipartisan infrastructure bill the House is now considering.

I am grateful to all of my colleagues who worked on this, and I sincerely hope that this work will not have been done in vain. I hope that we can see through the cloud of misinformation and partisan efforts to hold this bill hostage. I hope my colleagues will look at this bill objectively, on its own merits, and consider the benefits that it holds for the communities they represent.

I would also remind my colleagues who are unsure of where they will fall this one simple thing: The world is watching.

Our Nation's adversaries, like the Chinese Communist Party, would like nothing more than to see this body yield to partisan interests and refuse to invest in its own people. These adversaries would cheer our decision to ignore the crises of the past year and decide not to invest in cybersecurity for our infrastructure assets. They would be relieved if we continue a status quo that erases our economy's competitive edge and allows malign actors to gain the upper hand.

Simply put, with this bill, Congress is taking a critical step in deciding who will build the future. I will back a future built by American workers, ensuring opportunities for American families and American businesses.

I sincerely hope my colleagues will put down their swords just this once--just this once--and join me.