Floor Statements

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent that the request for a recorded vote on amendment No. 154 be withdrawn to the end that the amendment stands disposed of by the earlier voice vote thereon.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize September as National Suicide Prevention Month.

The mental health of our Nation and mental health crisis remains the greatest public health crisis of our lifetime. In 2022 alone, we lost 50,000 Americans to death by suicide.

Among younger populations, that statistic is even more alarming. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 14, and the third leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24.

No community, no family, no neighborhood is immune, and addressing this crisis requires bold and persistent bipartisan efforts from Congress, State, and local leaders.

We have made great strides in increasing access by rolling out the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and making other investments in mental health programs. However, there is significantly more to be done.

We have to continue to raise awareness, reduce the stigma, address and ensure anyone who needs help is able to get the treatment and the care they deserve, regardless of neighborhood, ZIP Code, or community.

Mr. Speaker, this is the public health crisis of our lifetime, and we must rise to the challenge.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of Joan Kaplan Davidson, a philanthropist and champion of conservation in New York State who recently passed away at the age of 96.

Joan spent her life advocating for the restoration and conservation of New York's treasures and her legacy is one of vision and action. She served as the leader of the J.M. Kaplan Fund, as the New York State Commissioner of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, and gave her time to countless non-profit boards and committees. I had the pleasure of working alongside her to designate the Hudson River as New York's first Heritage River and to work to advance numerous local waterfront development plans and historic preservation projects. Joan chose to make a profound impact through the power of small, decisive actions, and her work has inspired me and countless others.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring the enduring legacy of Joan Kaplan Davidson, a woman who made a profound difference in the Hudson River Valley and New York State.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Homer Fire Department in Cortland County, New York.

The Homer Fire Department was established on April 10, 1873 as part of the Village of Homer. Since then, the all-volunteer department has worked tirelessly to protect the citizens of Homer and has served as a backbone of their community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing the Homer Fire Department on their 150th anniversary. It is my sincere privilege to honor all the volunteer firefighters who have kept Homer safe since 1873 and continue to do so today.

Mr. Speaker, I missed the vote because I was meeting with constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 379.

Madam Chair, I will speak briefly to two amendments that were included in the MILCON appropriations bill.

Specifically, one, amendment 24 ensures the funding for Veterans Health Administration, it ensures that we are dedicated to assisting veterans with disabilities and those with mental health and substance abuse challenges. Of course, as a Nation, we owe a great deal of gratitude to these men and women, and regardless of whether these are emotional or physical scars, this amendment ensures that we continue to provide appropriate access.

Additionally, amendment 25 ensures funding for the VA electronic health records which, of course, is critically important to our veterans, that we continue to modernize the system to help transitioning veterans access and receive top-quality care at VA facilities.

At the same time, we need to ensure the safety and effectiveness of updating this program. The VA and Congress must work in lockstep to create a system that better serves our veterans and taxpayers.

Madam Chair, I thank my colleagues for consideration of these amendments.

Mr. Chairman, I extend my thanks and appreciation to Chairman Sam Graves, the Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Garret Graves, and Ranking Member Larsen for bringing together, through hearings, countless meetings, and 2 days of markup, a tremendous bipartisan piece of legislation meant to improve American aviation and grow American jobs.

I am grateful that there are nine of my legislative priorities found within the bill, and I will identify just a couple.

The Access and Dignity for All People Who Travel Act, which I was proud to lead, ensures those with disabilities who need special accommodations will receive them. Too often, those with disabilities and their special accommodations are ignored. This bill will ensure that right is protected.

Another bill that is included is the Future of Aviation Act, which allows public airports that receive AIP funds to use those moneys on infrastructure for the use of advanced air mobility, including eVTOLs, electric aircraft charging, and further building out airport infrastructure.

The future of aviation is upon us, and aviation, as we know, is quickly evolving. Having overseen one of New York's busiest general airports and now representing several regional airports within my district, advanced air mobility will help reconnect rural communities, reinvigorate tourism, improve ease of movement from rural to urban areas, and enhance quicker transportation of goods and people.

Lastly, I will mention the AIR Act. This bill raises the grant funding for workforce development programs for pilots, aircraft mechanics, and more. This reauthorization bill includes $45 million a year for these grants, a major increase to the current funding level, and will ensure the next generation of workers in the aviation industry are well prepared.

Mr. Chair, for this and many other reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. It is a great example of the bipartisan work that can be achieved here, and I am grateful to Chairman Graves for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, let me first clarify. I live in the State of New York where Mayor Eric Adams and the city of New York decided to declare itself a sanctuary city. It opened its arms to individuals from across the globe.

The city of New York decided to transport individuals--treating them not as human souls but simply as property--to be displaced to upstate counties. There is no screening. There is no criminal background check. In many cases, there is no monitoring or any coordination between the city of New York and those other communities, communities that made no such decision, no such choice.

Earlier, my colleague across the aisle suggested that the Governors who engage in similar activities should simply coordinate and communicate with those other cities. Well, how about the city of New York communicating and coordinating with the rest of the communities?

My colleague suggested that Governors should merely turn their attention to the President and simply ask for assistance. Ironically, Mayor Eric Adams made exactly that request and was met with deafening silence.

My colleague across the aisle suggested that this is a manufactured crisis. It is a humanitarian crisis at our border that too many of my colleagues in power, by the way, for several years chose not to pay attention to. The President ignored the situation, and now communities across the country are faced with a humanitarian crisis.

I am sponsoring the bill not because I don't care about the souls. I spent 12 years locating and identifying real shelters for individuals, unaccompanied minors.

I sponsored the bill because families and communities in New York State and in New York City know their schools are not empty. These are centers of education, academics, and athletics. During the summer months, these are the places, by the way, that single moms send their children to get the services and support they need. Lunches are provided.

For kids like my own, therapies for those with disabilities are provided. For 2\1/2\ years, we turned our back on those very children. These families are frightened, upset, and agitated by a government that doesn't pay attention to the concerns they have and instead displaces their children when the city of New York and the President and the White House have the capacity to address this problem where it exists.

Mr. Speaker, I was intending to speak on a number of provisions within the FAA reauthorization, and I would like to try to get to just two.

Within this FAA reauthorization bill, the Access and Dignity for All People Who Travel Act, which I lead, ensures those with disabilities who need special seating accommodations receive them. Too often, those with disabilities are ignored. This bill rectifies that.

Another bill within the FAA reauthorization is the Future of Aviation Act.

Mr. Speaker, this allows public airports that received funding to use the additional funding for the use of advanced air mobility, including eVTOLs and electrical aircraft charging, and additional building out of their infrastructure.

Lastly, the bill includes AAM that will help reconnect rural communities, reinvigorating tourism, improving ease of movement, and connecting rural communities to regional airports.

Mr. Speaker, I was here earlier today, and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle--and I heard it again repeated just moments ago--were talking a lot about what this bill isn't. I am very familiar with what this bill is not.

It isn't a fix to IDEA, although children like my own living with disabilities would love for us to effectively engage in that.

This isn't a bill about ensuring vocational training, yet we want vocational training.

This isn't a bill about other aspects of education.

It is about one basic thing: Our schools are not to be used for shelters.

We wouldn't be here today, nor would I be compelled to present this legislation, were it not for a failure of this Federal Government--by the way, I acknowledge it is for generations. This administration is not taking seriously the crisis at our border, a true humanitarian crisis.

Earlier today, I heard my colleagues on the other side of the aisle argue that Governors across this country shouldn't be in the business of moving undocumented immigrants from one State to another State.

While I might share, and I do, from a very compassionate perspective--I spent 12 years as a local elected leader responsible for finding housing and shelter for unaccompanied minors. It was my job to take those individuals seeking asylum and find them locations, all in accordance with Federal law, shelters established under Federal law for the purposes of caring for people.

We would not be here today, nor would this bill be even necessary, were it not for the reality that the city of New York made a choice. The city of New York made a decision to be a welcoming, sanctuary city and, by definition, welcomed individuals from around the world, irrespective of their status.

Then, when they were confronted with this very real crisis that the White House and the Federal Government have ignored, the city of New York chose to declare that schools within New York City could be used as shelters.

In one elementary school in Brooklyn, the gymnasium was being prepared to house migrants during the school year while children were in class. This led to after-school activities, including sports, being canceled. Additionally, in New York, Governor Kathy Hochul announced plans to house as many as 1,500 migrants at three different State universities in Albany, Buffalo, and Stony Brook.

We wouldn't be in this position if the city of New York worked effectively to address the crisis within the city.

Additionally, I heard earlier today that Governors from other States should have simply asked the President for financial help. Well, the same is true in the case of Eric Adams. He, in fact, did ask the President and the Federal Government for emergency action and additional financial assistance to contain the crisis within the city of New York and not export it to other parts of the State, and he was met with deafening silence.

This is a crisis of significance, and I respect, truly respect, this desire to be a compassionate people, but it is not compassionate. It is not compassionate to displace schoolchildren or to close down schools and convert them into shelters. Earlier today, I was told that that never would happen while students were there.

Well, schools during the summer months and entering into fall all across this country are used as centers of community. In some of the most vulnerable neighborhoods in America, gymnasiums are used for after-school and summer activities, athletics. The cafeteria is used for nutrition and school lunches and breakfasts, all there to meet the needs of needy families.

For children like my own, schools across this country in the summer months are used to provide therapies and services to those with intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities.

I understand what this bill is not, and based on my 30 years of experience in public office, it is not meant to be cruel to anyone. There are families in neighborhoods and parents and single moms and dads in urban centers all across this country who just want the school used for their children. They want their government to take responsibility for their actions, whether it is a city that welcomes people from around the world or the Federal Government responsible for containing and addressing this humanitarian crisis where it begins, at our borders.

Like all the other families across this country, I simply ask that Congress state this very clearly. This isn't about defunding anyone. This is about making clear that schools are for a single purpose, centers of community, education, and opportunity for our neighbors. They are not shelters. That

is what this bill affirms, a very basic sentiment.

It is one that I confront, no matter how many words others try to put in our mouths, from a very compassionate perspective. Our kids have already lost too much, and schools should be used for the purpose of educating and empowering kids in our neighborhoods.

Mr. Chairman, I rise both in appreciation and support of my amendment included in the en bloc, which will require a study to identify potential vulnerabilities in U.S. military systems and infrastructure that could be exploited by adversarial AI applications used by China, Russia, and other adversaries.

Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for his leadership in this House and for supporting a number of amendments that were included and adopted yesterday.

These amendments will support military families and their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, ensure the DOD guarantees full access and coverage to life-saving opioid overdose reversal drugs, and requires our Nation's biodefense strategy, along with helping the Army meet its goals to modernize aircraft and more.

Mr. Chair, I extend my appreciation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Frank Suits who passed

away on June 22nd of this year. Frank was a devoted father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and husband who will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Frank will long be remembered for the many meaningful contributions he made to his business and community. He successfully ran the Suite- Kote Corporation for many years while also serving on the Homer School Board and many other Homer-based community programs.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring the memory of Frank Suits. While we mourn his passing, we celebrate his life and the legacy he leaves behind. May his life and memory always be a blessing.

Mr. Speaker, I missed the vote because I was attending a prior personal family obligation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 285 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 286.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

Madam Chair, I appreciate the opportunity this afternoon to speak on my

amendment to the underlying bill, which, as we know, does help to unlock the growth and prosperity of our Nation's small businesses and their employees.

My amendment is simple and straightforward. It will ensure that small businesses and employers, particularly those in rural communities across the country, are made aware of tax-advantaged flexible health insurance benefits. Employers, especially in the rural areas like the ones I represent in upstate New York, should have the tools to provide their employees with various options to lower their healthcare costs and to access quality care.

As a member of the House Committee on Small Business, I know the unique challenges businesses in rural communities and those businessowners and employees face every day. With a comprehensive focus on rural areas, we can help ensure that all businesses, regardless of their ZIP Code, have equal opportunity to provide affordable, high- quality healthcare benefits.

Madam Chair, I appreciate the opportunity to speak to this amendment. I urge its consideration, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).

Madam Chair, this amendment, as a reminder to my colleagues across the aisle, is simply meant to broaden access and educate small business owners all across this country as to the benefits that are available to them to access affordable, quality healthcare.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Letizia Tagliafierro who passed away on May 23rd of this year. Letizia was a devoted public servant and native of Saugerties, New York, who will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Letizia will long be remembered for her dedication to public service. Throughout her career, she worked tirelessly for the people of New York in the NY State Assembly, Erie County District Attorney's Office, and as NYS Inspector General.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring the memory of Letizia Tagliafierro. While we mourn her passing, we celebrate her life and the legacy she leaves behind. May her life and memory always be a blessing.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Brent Gawron who passed away suddenly on May 14th of this year. Brent was a devoted father, husband, and Fire Chief of North Chatham, New York. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Brent will long be remembered for his contributions to the town of North Chatham. A true leader, he spent his life serving his community. Together with his wife, Erinn, he built a strong and loving family.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring the memory of Brent Gawron. While we mourn his passing, we celebrate his life and the legacy he leaves behind. May his life and memory always be a blessing.