Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Jeffrey B. Senft, a man dedicated to the Dutchess County community who was beloved by all who knew him. Jeffrey recently passed away on October 25, 2023, at the age of 71.

Jeffrey was the Founder, CEO, and President of S&O Construction Services, Inc., based in Pleasant Valley, NY. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Utica College of Syracuse University before starting a career in construction. He worked at several firms while developing the expertise that led to him founding

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor SUNY Cortland's football team for winning its first-ever national championship.

In a thrilling showdown at the 50th Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the Red Dragons defeated the previously unbeaten and top-ranked North Central College by a narrow 38-37.

This victory marks the culmination of a phenomenal season where Cortland's junior quarterback, Zac Boyes, showcased brilliance with 349 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, and 123 rushing yards.

The championship game, a showcase of two prolific offenses, unfolded in dramatic fashion, featuring three lead changes and three ties. In the closing moments, North Central sought a comeback, narrowing Cortland's lead to 38-37, with a 60-yard pass, but the Red Dragons held firm, stopping the two-point conversion and securing the win.

This triumph is not just a win for the team, but a testament to their resilience defeating a program that held a 29-game winning streak and defending the Division III national champions. Cortland's journey through the playoffs, with five consecutive wins against top 25 opponents, underscores their exceptional prowess.

As we applaud this victory, we also acknowledge the broader significance. This is the first New York school to reach the Division III title game since 1991.

In a season that saw them ranked 11th nationally, the Red Dragons soared to unparalleled heights, achieving their 26th team title overall. Today let's recognize and celebrate their hard work, dedication, and indomitable spirit that defines champions.

On behalf of the people of the 19th Congressional District, congratulations to SUNY Cortland on this historic and well-deserved win. May their success inspire future generations to strive for greatness on and off the field.

Honoring the Life and Legacy of Jim Dunham

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a cherished member of our community, Mr. Jim Dunham of Kinderhook, New York.

Jim passed away on December 18, leaving behind a legacy of selfless dedication and a profound impact on the Kinderhook community. Jim's early life was shaped by the support of his family, and he went on to become an exemplary son, husband, father, and grandfather.

A devoted public servant, Jim volunteered for over five decades, ultimately serving as a village trustee and mayor. This summer, Dunham Park in the village square was named in his honor, recognizing his extensive service and lasting impact.

Jim's commitment to family, community, and public service extended to his roles in the Kinderhook Reformed Church, as a volunteer firefighter, and a Little League coach. An avid baseball fan, he found joy rooting for Cleveland and his hometown Kinderhook Robins.

In addition to his civic contributions, Jim earned a B.S. in civil engineering and had a 35-year distinguished career with the New York State Department of Transportation.

Today, as we express our condolences to Jim's family and friends, let us also

celebrate the life of a man whose humility, sincerity, kindness, and love for his community were the hallmarks of his character.

May Jim rest in peace, and may his memory inspire us all to serve.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Vestal, New York as the source of the 2023 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The Norway Spruce that lights up Rockefeller Center was donated by the McGinley family and brought joy to countless visitors to the Big Apple this holiday season.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is an iconic part of New York City during the holiday season. This year, Upstate New York was able to contribute to the joy of countless visitors by being the source of the beautiful tree illuminated by 50,000 lights and topped with a Swarovski crystal star.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing Vestal, New York and the McGinley family as the source of the 2023 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Paul Czajka. the six-term District Attorney of Columbia County, New York. Paul is retiring after 35 years in elected office in service to the Columbia County community.

Paul was first elected as Columbia County District Attorney in 1988, serving until 1994, when he then became a county court judge. In 2011, he left the bench and again ran for Columbia County District Attorney, reclaiming his old office in 2012 and serving until present. Paul's time in public service has been characterized by integrity, competence, and commitment to the people of Columbia County and his contributions will not be forgotten. I wish him nothing but the best in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing the career of Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka, a hardworking and dedicated public servant with an unwavering commitment to justice and keeping Upstate New Yorkers safe.

Mr. Chair, I am proud to cosponsor the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, and I urge my colleagues to support its adoption.

After over 10 years of schools having to comply with a nonsensical ban, I am excited to work on this bill to provide full-favor, nutrient- dense milk to kids once again. Parents and physicians have known the benefits of milk for generations. Nearly 70 percent of milk consumed at home is whole or 2 percent because it actually tastes good. It is packed with vitamins, and, most importantly, kids actually love it. I know my four do.

Full-fat milk gives parents alternatives to soda that their kids actually want to drink, but kids have been barred--strangely barred-- from having their favorite milk choices in schools.

The result has been a decline in milk consumption in schools, and when kids are drinking less milk, they are losing out on nutrients that are critical for their healthy development.

Milk is the top source of protein, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D for kids. It provides seven of the 14 nutrients the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends for brain development.

The bottom line is that limiting milk in schools reduces consumption of essential nutrients, pushes kids towards sugary alternatives, and has led to less healthy kids.

As the Representative for hundreds of family-owned dairy farms in New York, and as a parent to four kids, I have one special interest: the health standard of the kids growing up in our communities.

I am excited to take this long overdue action to repeal a ridiculous ban. I am grateful to Chairman Thompson for his leadership to get the full-fat milk back in schools.

Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to vote for this bipartisan bill.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, the DETERRENT Act is an important bill. It seeks to hold colleges, universities, and foreign actors accountable while providing the transparency necessary into any influence foreign countries are attempting to exert onto our Nation's students and academic institutions through new disclosure requirements. This bill could not be more timely.

My amendment will clarify that ties to a designated terrorist organizations, such as Hamas, must be disclosed when receiving funds from a foreign group or individual.

In light of the disgustingly callous and vile pro-Hamas demonstration seen on college campuses across the country, including, sadly, even in my own district, this amendment is more important than ever.

Mr. Chair, I will remark that after comments made by college and university presidents in my colleague, Dr. Foxx from North Carolina's, committee hearing, those comments were so horribly dishonest, disturbing, and, quite frankly, dangerous.

This amendment and the necessary exclamation point it sends is necessary.

The public deserves to know the source of foreign money being poured into our universities, especially if these sources have any ties to terrorist groups and organizations like Hamas.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to adopt the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, there is adequate capacity for colleges and universities across this country to identify the source of funds such as this.

In fact, we know all too often that there are individuals even working within the Federal Government who have ties and have associated themselves with actions of Hamas. We have the technology to do so. And simply expecting that universities do their due diligence and then disclose to the American people, students, and supporters of those universities is certainly not a bar too great for them to meet.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Tioga Central and Waverly High School football teams. They are making history.

This is the first time two football teams from upstate Tioga County, New York, are competing simultaneously in State title games.

Tioga football's resounding 63-16 victory in the semifinals marks their third consecutive State title game appearance.

With 39 consecutive wins, they are not only chasing a third straight State championship but also their fourth title since 2015.

Just as remarkably, Waverly football's dominant win of 42-0 in the semifinals earned them a spot in the Class C State final for the first time in school history.

This historic moment is a testament to the dedication of our student athletes, the guidance of their coaches, and the unwavering support of our community.

I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in congratulating these young athletes, their coaches, their families, and the entire Tioga County community.

Dear God, Mr. Speaker, my future former colleague is divorced from reality. He has manufactured his entire life to defraud the voters of his district of an honest choice for a Member of Congress.

He has lied to donors and to colleagues, taking advantage of election law, using campaign funds to personally benefit himself, and he has defamed not only his office but the institution itself.

I was not elected, nor any of us, to defend a precedent. I was elected to defend the United States Constitution. My colleague, in the most truthful thing he said today, said, we don't want to be compared to him. My colleague is damn right. I do not want to be compared to him.

The voters that sent me here expect an independent voice, expect us to use the rules of the House, and expect us to stand up for the very decency and laws of this country in protecting the Constitution.

He has lost the right to serve in this House, and I will vote to expel him.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership and yielding for this important bill. I also extend my appreciation to the ranking member, my colleague from the great State of New York, for her ongoing support. I am proud to speak to this bill this afternoon.

Small businesses know that, all too often, more than perhaps any other in this country, when it comes to Federal regulations and the Federal Government, the left hand not only doesn't know what the right hand is doing but the left hand doesn't know there is a right hand. Because of that, it creates a great deal of burden and confusion for small businesses.

My bill, H.R. 4668, the POST IT Act, is an important step to make it easier for small business owners to comply with Federal regulations that might otherwise be difficult for them to locate in the first place and then to understand.

I am grateful to Ms. Scholten for working together with me on this bill.

This bipartisan legislation simply requires Federal agencies to post follow-up guidance on the SBA's Office of the National Ombudsman's website for any regulation that will have a significant impact on small businesses.

While there are official guidance documents that are released when rules are initially finalized, over time, agencies often release additional materials related to compliance. This leads to updated policy statements and technical clarifications that ultimately lead to a labyrinth of regulatory confusion and oversight by enforcement.

The POST IT Act ensures these updates will be housed in a centralized location so small business owners can worry less about abiding by government regulations and focus more on running their businesses, employing our neighbors, and investing in our communities.

There are over 33 million small businesses in the United States of America, which, as we all know and celebrate often, serve as the backbone of the American economy.

The thousands of small businesses I represent in upstate New York are vitally important to our communities, supporting local services through their taxes paid, supporting employees and their families, and making an honest living for themselves.

If Federal agencies are going to create new regulations for small businesses to comply with, we should seek to make it easier for them to understand and follow those rules, to relieve them of that burden so they are not further burdened with confusing requirements. This commonsense bipartisan legislation will help small businesses avoid unnecessary headaches.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Ms. Scholten, for her leadership on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Barry R. Feirstein and the memory of Holly Peyton Good Feirstein, who both worked to create the `Pay it Forward' campaign which has positively impacted the lives of those in the autism community by raising over $97,000 for the Anderson Center for Autism. Barry is also the 2023 recipient of the V.V. Anderson Community Service Award that recognizes his outstanding contributions to helping those living with autism.

Barry is a graduate of Brooklyn College and Harvard Business School. He was a two-term Chairman of Brooklyn College where he worked tirelessly to create the Barry R. Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, one of the few remaining film schools in a working studio.

Barry spent his career as founder of Feirstein Capital Management where he concentrated his efforts to help others make solid financial investments. He is currently on the Weill Cornell Deans Council and the Board of Autism Speaks. His contributions to local communities in New York, through both the `Pay it Forward' campaign and the Barry R. Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, will not be soon forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing Barry R. Feirstein being honored with the 2023 V.V. Anderson Community Service Award. This award is a fitting honor for the profound difference he and Holly Peyton Good Feirstein have made in the lives of those with autism through their `Pay it Forward' campaign.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Lula ``Mae'' Parker-Harris, a pillar of the Dutchess County community who was beloved by all who knew her. Mae recently passed away on August 27, 2023, at the age of 79.

Mae attended public schools and was educated at Dutchess Community College. She spent her career at various organizations including Dutchess Community Day Care Center, Wassaic Developmental Center, and Astor Head Start.

Mae was known throughout the community for her selflessness and integrity. A devoted member of the Smith Metropolitan AME Zion Church, she was committed to civil activism, social responsibility, and equity and equality in and around her community. Her contributions to Poughkeepsie, NY and Dutchess County will endure for generations to come, and she will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing the life of Lula Mae Parker-Harris, a remarkable woman who made a lasting difference in her community.

Mr. Chairman, let me highlight three amendments within the en bloc that are particular to communities in districts like mine.

First, financial literacy is critically important, particularly in rural communities like the ones I represent in upstate New York. The best path forward for someone to achieve independence is obviously hard work and good financial decisionmaking.

Amendment No. 1 encourages the Department of the Treasury to continue to invest in financial literacy initiatives for students and, in particular, reach young people in rural communities like those in upstate New York.

I was shocked, Mr. Chairman, upon becoming a Member of Congress, that there are constituents within many districts across the country, in particular in upstate New York, who were not receiving actual mail delivery. I know this is perhaps not unique to my district. However, with thousands of individuals who have moved into upstate New York, the Catskill region communities, the post office has yet to acknowledge their very existence, whether it is simply offering them a physical mailing address or delivering their mail.

Amendment No. 71 that I have submitted would address this glaring oversight and, quite frankly, incompetence within Sullivan County in upstate New York in my district, where the United States Postal Service has completely ignored these constituents and where thousands of them are not yet able to receive mail.

Therefore, this amendment highlights the need that the American taxpayer should be entitled to the constitutionally recognized delivery of mail service.

Lastly, amendment No. 23 addresses for senior citizens spam calls and targeted fraud cases. The FTC data shows that consumers lost an estimated $8.8 billion to scams in 2022. My amendment encourages the FTC to coordinate with other agencies like the DOJ and the FCC to ensure our data is protected and seniors are not victims.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States, CFIUS, is the chief body responsible for monitoring foreign financial influence in our Nation and the national security risk it poses.

My amendment would direct CFIUS to evaluate the rising threat of U.S. agricultural operations owned by adversarial nations.

Food security is national security, and recent reports have indicated a disturbing trend of increased ownership of farm operations by entities with ties to the Chinese and Russian Governments, which is alarming and dangerous.

Whether it is actual farmland or advanced agribusinesses, adversarial control over these entities provides adversaries the opportunity to spy on our military assets, steal revolutionary ag technology and research, and undermine the United States food system.

This issue has garnered bipartisan support on the Agriculture Committee because it is essential for the protection of American agriculture and for the protection of our family farms.

CFIUS could be a critical tool in better evaluating this risk and improving our response to this threat.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to adopt this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, sending a powerful message to our adversaries that America's food security is our national security is important and critical.

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

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, with hours to go before the potential shutdown of this Federal Government, we are posed with a single question:

Vote ``yes'' to continue to provide services and support to our military, to our defense, to our communities, to law enforcement; or vote ``no'' and shut the government down? That is the question.

Being told, by the way, for years during the pandemic with the government shut down that somehow people should just sort of fend for themselves; being told for years how great that was, we have an opportunity in this very moment to confront what is a real crisis for real people.

Keep the government functioning, continue to focus on appropriations, drive down Federal spending, but meet the needs and the expectations of the American people today.

Vote ``yes'' to keep the government open. Vote ``no'' to shut the government down. I, on behalf of my constituents, will be voting ``yes'' to keep this government functioning.

Mr. Speaker, having listened for 45 minutes, I am amazed and confused as to what exactly my colleagues across the aisle thought we were doing in this very moment.

In just moments, we have the opportunity to avert a Federal Government shutdown. It is a responsibility that we have to ensure that the people who work for this Federal Government have the support and the backing of those who employ them. It is critically important to the men and women who serve and sacrifice across the globe that they know that we have their backs. It is critically important that those in law enforcement, emergency response, and those all across this country know that in this moment we vote ``yes'' to keep this government functioning.

Mr. Speaker, after pouring trillions of dollars into the American economy, after ignoring the crisis at our southern border, after closing schools and forcing kids to learn from home, after denying life-affirming services to young people with disabilities, we have been lectured about how great these last 2 years have been for the American people.

We have, in this very moment, the ability to avert a government shutdown and, at the same time, finally take some responsibility for reckless, wasteful Federal spending.

There is no excuse to pick the pockets of hardworking American families who are already overburdened because of inflation, the high cost of gas, the high cost of groceries, the inability to access or find a job, and running up their credit cards.

We have the ability now to avert a government shutdown, control Federal spending, and secure the border, an open border that is taking too many American children's lives because of fentanyl and destroying communities all across this country.

The mayor of New York is saying the President has ignored his call and that inaction at the border is destroying the city of New York. We have, in this very moment, the ability to avert a shutdown, respect American taxpayers, and secure the American borders.