Floor Statements

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7777, the Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Training Act.

In policy discussions following recent cyber incidents, like SolarWinds and Colonial Pipeline, one constant area of concern to Congress and our cyber defenders, like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, CISA, has been improving the Nation's workforce pipeline for cybersecurity and other STEM-related fields.

As the interconnectivity of our daily lives continues to grow, the estimated worldwide cost of cybercrime has risen to $6 trillion annually. Despite this alarming and growing threat, some estimates say that the cybersecurity workforce is currently short about 1 to 3 million qualified professionals.

A recent Center for Strategic and International Studies, CSIS, study of IT decisionmakers across eight countries found that 82 percent of employers report a shortage of cybersecurity skills, and 71 percent believe this talent gap causes direct and measurable damage to their organization.

Federal agencies have been working to bridge the gap in skills required to prepare a future cyber workforce.

CISA is collaborating closely with organizations like the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST, to identify cyber knowledge deficits on a sector-by-sector basis. One example is the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education framework, which serves as a useful precursor for directing Federal resources into education and research priorities.

H.R. 7777 would require that CISA provide resources for the purpose of training cyber operators that are fluent across multiple segments of the cyber domain, not only information technology but also operational technology, like manufacturing systems and industrial control systems, which are commonplace within critical infrastructure sectors and are increasingly exposed to cyber risk.

We must continue to do all we can to improve our Nation's cyber posture and focus on policy that can help make our government and private sector critical infrastructure operations more resilient and prepared for future events.

Madam Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 7777, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7174, the National Computer Forensics Institute Reauthorization Act.

Our Nation is facing an increase in cyber threats stemming from multiple angles. These range from critical infrastructure vulnerabilities to child exploitation online.

Previous cyberattacks have highlighted the need for preventive measures and law enforcement support at every level, including Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial.

Many recent attacks and exploited vulnerabilities have severely impacted the American people and economy. Adding to this, with the ongoing war in Ukraine, the intelligence community is warning of a heightened cyber threat from Russia.

The National Computer Forensics Institute in Hoover, Alabama, is operated by the United States Secret Service. NCFI provides essential education and training to State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges on how to mitigate, detect, and respond to cyber threats.

Since opening in 2008, NCFI has continuously worked to equip its students with the necessary tools and knowledge needed to prevent cybercrime.

Now, more than ever, as we are facing cyberattacks from malicious actors like Russia, China, and Iran, in addition to other criminal behavior online like child pornography, bolstering cyber training and tools for our law enforcement partners is imperative.

Congress officially authorized the NCFI for 5 years in 2017. This bill reauthorizes NCFI for 10 years and updates its mission, function, and curriculum.

In addition, the bill requires an annual report on NCFI's impact and activities, a requirements analysis for its potential expansion, and a process to receive feedback from participating jurisdictions.

Cybersecurity has never been more important to homeland security, and it is pivotal that we train our State and local law enforcement to address this threat and other online nefarious activities head-on.

Madam Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 7174, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5274, the Prevent Exposure to Narcotics and Toxics Act, introduced by my friend and colleague, David Joyce.

This bill addresses the important issue of protecting our frontline Customs and Border Protection personnel from the dangerous and illicit drugs they encounter every day.

This is especially important as the situation at our southern border continues to worsen by the day under this administration. In fiscal year 2021, Customs and Border Protection officers and agents seized more than 914,000 pounds of illicit narcotics, and so far this fiscal year, CBP is on track to seize a similar amount of illegal drugs.

Unfortunately, in 2019, the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General issued a report that found CBP personnel were not adequately protected and were at greater risk of secondary exposure while handling illicit drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine.

CBP frontline personnel often work in challenging and dangerous environments as they risk exposure to these illicit drugs via inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, and contact with needles.

H.R. 5274 will require the CBP Commissioner to issue containment devices, which are critical tools that provide protection against secondary exposure to fentanyl and other chemicals to help protect our frontline officers and agents.

Madam Speaker, I strongly encourage all Members to support this bill to protect our dedicated frontline law enforcement at the border, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Joyce).

Madam Speaker, certainly, H.R. 5274 is a small step that we can take in managing the crisis at our southern border, in addition to emphasizing border security. I thank Representative Joyce for his very astute observation that our law enforcement is at risk and for his bill to help protect those who protect and serve us.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Bost for yielding me time to speak.

I rise today to express my support for S. 2533, the Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act. I am proud to co- lead the House companion of this important legislation with Congresswoman Brownley. I also thank Senators Tester and Boozman for their work in passing this bill.

As a doctor and as a 24-year female veteran, I understand just how significant access to mammogram screenings can be. The VA has estimated that among the women enrolled in VA healthcare, about 700 female veterans are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and the percentage of female veterans is only going to increase.

This bill will ensure that female veterans have the best access to high-quality care, especially for female veterans that live in rural areas who are disabled and who are paralyzed. This bill will also create a 3-year pilot program to provide telemammography screenings to female veterans and will upgrade the VA mammography imaging to three- dimensional breast imaging for VA hospitals. In addition, this bill will expand partnerships for care, research, and clinical trials with the NIH National Cancer Institute and the DOD.

Today, as a doctor and a former director of public health, I am proudly voting in support of the bipartisan and bicameral MAMMO for Veterans Act. This bill will enhance mammography and telemammography screenings, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of S. 2533, Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act. I look forward to a strong bipartisan vote today and sending this bill to the President to become law.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Bost for yielding me time to speak.

I rise today to express my support for S. 2102, the Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas SERVICE Act. I was proud to introduce the House companion of this important bipartisan piece of legislation with Congresswoman Brownley. I thank Senators Boozman and Wyden for their work in passing this bill.

The importance of this bill is that the United States Preventative Health Service indicates mammography at an annual level after age 40, and our veterans who have risked their lives and their health in service to our country are exposed to toxins and burn pits and need treatment and screening to prevent long-term health issues and at an earlier time period. Female veterans are especially at risk for several types of cancer, especially breast cancer. Female veterans are at a 20 to 40 percent higher risk of breast cancer, and female veterans who have been exposed to toxic exposure are at an even higher risk.

As a doctor, I understand just how lifesaving early mammogram screenings can be. I have always told my patients that early detection is the key to successfully treating all types of cancer. This bill will allow for an earlier mammography screening for female veterans who served in locations with toxic exposure.

This bill is in honor of Dr. and Marine Corps veteran Kate Hendricks Thomas, who unfortunately passed away in April due to stage IV breast

cancer. Dr. Thomas advocated for earlier mammography screenings for female veterans that were exposed to toxic exposure.

The bipartisan and bicameral SERVICE Act will give female veterans access to more screenings to stay ahead of this terrible disease. Today, as a 24-year Army veteran, I am proudly voting in support of this bill to protect and save the lives of our female veterans.

I urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of S. 2102, the Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas SERVICE Act. I look forward to a strong bipartisan vote today and sending this bill to the President to become law.

Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

Madam Speaker, following the pandemic, the Nation's workforce needs have drastically changed, and we need a workforce development system that helps prepare American workers for the job opportunities of today and tomorrow, not those of the past.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is intended to help unemployed and underemployed workers get the necessary skills to succeed in America's modern economy.

Unfortunately, the majority's proposed reauthorization lacks the necessary reforms to help America's workers.

Our Republican proposal, on the other hand, would modernize the program to make sure it is employer-driven, which will help America's economy become stronger for decades to come.

Our plan puts taxpayer dollars to work where they need it most: helping jobseekers get the skills they need to close the skills gap and get back to work.

It does this by bringing more competition into the provider marketplace, which expands the pool of skills development providers that meet employers' needs and gives more choice to American workers, ensuring States and localities can use WIOA funds to survey employers to get a better understanding of the skills that are most in demand and respond accordingly.

Additionally, the Republican proposal adapts WIOA to the changing economic landscape. America has just come through a pandemic. During that time, businesses, employers, and workers shifted to remote work and changing circumstances. Our skills development and education programs should adapt to changing circumstances as well. Our plan encourages workforce boards to provide services virtually, which streamlines WIOA and eliminates administrative costs and overhead.

Republicans also ensure online skills development providers can be included in skills development services, expanding the number of providers who can address the needs that American workers face.

The Republican alternative also levels the playing field and encourages innovation by ensuring that WIOA does not favor registered apprenticeships over more innovative apprenticeship models that can address the needs of more employers. This will keep America's labor force at the cutting edge of global competition.

Competition drives better results. Through pay-for-performance funding, our substitute encourages programs with a proven track record of successfully helping American workers succeed. Our proposal measures programs based on real outcomes and gives States and localities more flexibility in how they can improve those outcomes.

We also increase transparency by making the process for creating job performance metrics available to the American public.

Finally, the Republican plan brings greater accountability to the Department of Labor's Job Corps program and its Reentry Employment Opportunities program.

Let's start with Job Corps. Job Corps is a popular program, and for many students, Job Corps is their last hope. There are important reforms we can enact to ensure that Job Corps is working better for students who need it most. Our bill would help Job Corps-eligible students get technical and career education from community colleges, which would give this program much-needed innovation and better outcomes.

The Job Corps program in Ottumwa, Iowa, in my district, is a wonderful example of how to do exactly this and is the right way to perform that program.

It would also do more to keep Job Corps participants safe. Centers would be required to report whenever any concerning incidents occur, ensuring proper oversight of this program.

We also bring greater accountability to the Reentry Employment Opportunities program so we can build on President Trump's historic criminal justice reform and use this program to help formerly incarcerated Americans establish firm economic foundations for their new lives.

These are commonsense reforms that will help American employers and jobseekers. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Madam Speaker, we have had an opportunity to work together on WIOA, but unfortunately, my colleagues in the majority are more concerned about maintaining the status quo and placating favored stakeholders.

What American workers and employers need is a workforce system that prioritizes them over special interests, and the Republican alternative would do that.

I urge my colleagues to help us pass an alternative proposal that works for America, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Charter School Week.

National Charter School Week is a time to recognize that every student

should have access to high-quality education. It is also a time to celebrate the educators who work tirelessly to make sure that that happens.

Every family should have the ability to choose the best education that fits the needs of their child, regardless of ZIP Code. Charter schools are an important part of school choice.

Last year, I joined Senator Tim Scott to introduce the CHOICE Act. This commonsense bill would provide families with greater options with regard to their children's education.

When I left home to go to college at the age of 16, I did so to pursue the best educational opportunities available. I believe that students should always have the opportunity to succeed, no matter where they live, and I will always fight for them.

I would also like to take a moment to wish a happy birthday to my sister.

Happy birthday, Mariette.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of some outstanding students in my district.

Recently, the Principles of Engineering Class at Pella High School won the high school division of the Build Iowa's Future Design Challenge. This design challenge asks students to create innovative projects to improve their community.

Pella is the home of some global, worldwide excellent manufacturing facilities, such as Pella windows and Vermeer manufacturing, so the students drew inspiration from their own hometown.

The class designed an advanced manufacturing lab to be created at the Career Academy of Pella to provide experiences and opportunities for students looking to pursue a career in manufacturing.

Congratulations to Isaac, Crista, Jack, Stephen, Kaysar, Emmalee, Grace, Wyatt, and Jackson on the win. I am thrilled to acknowledge these high school students and to see them introduce innovative solutions to the growing field of manufacturing, and I am excited to see these students become leaders of tomorrow.

Recognizing Sarah Watson

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sarah Watson.

Sarah is a University of Iowa graduate, where she was editor of the student-run newspaper, The Daily Iowan. Sarah took her talents to Quad- City Times following graduation where she reports on politics and elections.

During Sarah's time at Quad-City Times, she has reported on pertinent veterans' issues and the full breakdown of legislation introduced at the local, State, and Federal levels.

Sarah's commitment to journalism has not gone unnoticed. Recently, Sarah was awarded the Jay P. Wagner Prize for Young Journalists by the Iowa Newspaper Association. This award is dedicated to the late Jay P. Wagner, an Iowa newspaper reporter and editor who had a passion for encouraging young reporters to report on local communities. This award is awarded to journalists 30 years old or younger who display a deep passion and love for Iowa and its people.

I can think of no person more deserving of this award than Sarah. Her drive to inform the community on issues and topics in their government is unmatched, and I am proud to have journalists like her reporting on issues in my district.

Happy Birthday to Joseph and Matthew Martino

Madam Speaker, I would also like to take a minute to recognize the birthday of my nephews, Joseph and Matthew Martino.

Happy birthday to Joseph and Matthew.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of a small business in Iowa's Second District.

Jefferson County Ciderworks of Fairfield recently won four awards at the annual New York International Cider Competition. This competition featured over 300 different ciders from around the world and was judged by industry professionals.

Jefferson County Ciderworks finished the competition with four medals, including being named the Iowa Cider Producer of the Year. Four additional ciders were awarded medals in the modern, fruit, and spiced cider categories.

I applaud Jefferson County Ciderworks for proudly representing Iowa on the international stage and wish them the best in the Great Lakes International Cider and Perry competition later this year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of an engineer from my district.

Yarelis Hernandez of Clinton was recently recognized by the National Association of Manufacturers with the Women in Manufacturing STEP Ahead Awards. This award is awarded to women who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the manufacturing field.

Diversity is a passion of Yarelis' as she serves on LyondellBasell's Diversity, Equity, and Leadership Council striving to implement diversity in the workforce.

In the community, Yarelis also sits on the local economic board leading development between schools and corporations to create jobs for Iowa students. Yarelis volunteers in the local Introduce a Girl to Engineering program, which is a mentorship for girls interested in STEM careers.

Yarelis' dedication to promoting diversity and STEM for young girls is why she is worthy of receiving such a prestigious award. I am so proud to represent distinguished women like Yarelis and cannot wait to see her continued impact in the district.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the ongoing crisis on our border with Mexico.

Last week, the CDC announced they would officially rescind their title 42 order on May 23. Title 42 is an important tool for DHS to help mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Title 42 health restrictions should be in place until we have border security. Given the number of crossings we are seeing, we are far from having a secure border.

CBP is encountering more than 5,500 migrants daily. Some reports indicate that there could be upward of 18,000 migrants per day encountered when title 42 is lifted next month. To put this in perspective, President Obama's Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, stated in his tenure that 1,000 apprehensions a day would be considered a bad day.

Over a year ago, I introduced my first piece of legislation, the REACT Act, which would require DHS to test all migrants illegally crossing our border for COVID-19.

It is time to work in a bipartisan manner to secure our border; halt illegal drugs and human trafficking; support law enforcement; and ensure the safety of all of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me time to speak on this critical issue.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can take up H.R. 6858, the American Energy Independence from Russia Act. This commonsense legislation introduced by Representatives McMorris Rodgers and Westerman would require President Biden to submit an energy security plan to Congress to evaluate U.S. oil and natural gas imports, identify importing countries that pose an energy security risk to America, and encourage domestic production of oil and natural gas to offset imports from Russia.

In fact, in contrast to our colleague's statement, Iowa is a leader in renewable energy. Fifty percent of our energy comes from renewable sources. We even pay restaurants for their unused and old cooking oil. We are an energy exporter, and it is all done without a government mandate. All of the oil imported from Russia could be offset by ethanol made from corn in Iowa.

In order for the U.S. to become energy independent and secure, we must have an all-of-the-above energy policy. We must unleash our natural resources and produce our own clean, efficient energy here at home to ensure low energy prices and promote American jobs in our communities.

Rather than promoting policies that hamper U.S. energy production and ceding security to adversarial nations like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, we should promote exploration here at home and unleash our potential. We must ensure that the current ban on Russian energy is sustainable by prioritizing U.S. energy production, including biofuels.

Just last week, the President released a budget proposal that included $45 billion on new taxes on domestic energy production. This comes on top of other disastrous decisions over the past year and a half such as those that halt the Keystone XL pipeline and the current delay over the 5-year program for offshore energy leasing in the Gulf of Mexico. These policies are not working for hardworking American families and businesses who are dealing with high inflation and skyrocketing gas prices.

The American Independence from Russia Act would immediately approve the Keystone XL pipeline, remove restrictions on U.S. LNG exports, restart oil and gas leasing on Federal lands and waters, and protect energy and mineral development. These are key steps we can take to promote U.S. energy security, and we must take action now.

For this reason, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question. Support H.R. 6858 to make America energy independent and secure by voting ``no'' on the previous question.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the memory and legacy of a glass-shattering athlete from Iowa's Second Congressional District.

Frederick ``Duke'' Slater's passion for football began when his family moved to Clinton, Iowa, where Duke started playing football at Clinton High.

Duke went on to receive his education at the University of Iowa, where he won a national championship in 1921 and was named an All- American. An incredible athlete, Duke also competed for the Hawkeyes' track and field team, placing third in the hammer throw and fourth in the discus while helping Iowa win the 1921 national title.

When Duke joined the NFL's Rock Island Independents, he became the first Black lineman in NFL history. He went on to become a five-time first-team All-Pro selection, retiring after 10 great years.

Following his retirement, Duke was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951 and was posthumously selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. Last year, the University of Iowa announced that the field at Kinnick Stadium would now be known as Slater Field in honor of Duke.

I am pleased to hear that the local community is planning to erect a statue of Duke at Clinton High School. Duke is the embodiment of hard work and overcoming obstacles, and I cannot wait to see that statue in person.

Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Gohmert for yielding to me.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of an incredible athlete from Iowa's Second District.

Kevin McKee of Davenport recently finished competing in the Beijing 2020 Paralympics, where he won a gold medal in sled hockey. Kevin has proudly represented the United States for over a decade, winning gold medals in the last three Paralympics.

Kevin has always had a passion for sports, playing tennis in high school and wheelchair basketball in college. However, Kevin soon realized his passion for sled hockey in 2020 when he started playing on the sled hockey club team with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

Beginning in 1960, the Paralympic Games are held every 4 years and feature a wide range of athletes with different physical abilities, including impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of motion, limb deficiency, leg length difference, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, vision impairment, and intellectual impairment. The

Paralympics are held almost immediately following the respective Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

Paralympians like Kevin show all of us that with hard work, dedication, and the drive to succeed, anything is possible.

Congratulations, Kevin, on an outstanding performance. I look forward to cheering you on in the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak on an issue that has directly impacted businesses and farmers across Iowa's Second Congressional District.

The last few years have been challenging for all of us. Manufacturing has been hit hard, with rising costs and supply chain disruptions impacting numerous sectors of our economy.

Although much of life has returned to normal since the pandemic began, the slow movement of goods through our economy is creating major headaches for American families. Empty

shelves are becoming all too common at stores, goods from overseas are being delayed by weeks or even months, contributing to higher shelf prices, and we are facing an unprecedented supply chain crisis.

Even though the administration and the Transportation Secretary don't seem to know what to do about supply chain problems, our companies in Iowa do. In Iowa, agricultural producers are also feeling the crunch with their capacity for goods being hampered by a combination of surging demand for containerized shipping and a massive backlog at our Nation's ports. This inefficiency has downstream effects on commodity prices, hurting farmers and ranchers across the country.

As global competition has increased, control over our supply chain has fallen into the hands of fewer and fewer countries, most notably China. Such geographic concentration of supply chains has left many U.S. companies vulnerable to disruption, something we are now acutely experiencing.

Vermeer Corporation in Pella has been working overtime to produce their famous yellow iron at a record pace despite supply chain issues. Vermeer has even gone above and beyond during this difficult time, working to help out their customers and partners. Last fall, a group of Vermeer team members, working at a supplier in Minnesota, worked for 6 weeks at their own cost away from their families to make the harnesses necessary to keep that beautiful yellow iron moving out the doors. Vermeer did whatever was necessary to keep their job done despite the supply chain challenges they were facing.

Kent Corporation, headquartered in Muscatine, is a family-owned corporation that manufactures several food and beverage products. They have faced supply chain issues similar to all companies, but working mainly with agricultural products, impairment in their industry adds on to the difficulties our agriculture producers and farmers face every day. All the while, our farmers continue to deal with increased input costs.

CNH Industrial, located in Burlington, their biggest facility by square footage in the United States, also faced supply chain issues.

During our visit, we heard firsthand about their difficulty getting essential parts for their equipment, but their employees innovated and started producing the much-needed stabilizer bar on their backhoes. It was not felt that this little part could be produced in the United States. It was being imported from Brazil. They designed, cut, and welded in 2 weeks in order to meet their customers' needs. The industry did not think it could be done here in the United States. It was inspiring to see what the people of Iowa are capable of doing during these difficult times, but these visits showed me how much of an impact the supply chain disruptions have on everyone throughout southeastern Iowa.

Lomont Molding in Mt. Pleasant does custom plastic design and molding for HVAC and agriculture businesses, concrete accessories for roads and buildings, and chemicals with a market that reaches every corner of the world. Plastic shortages have led them to use cast-off plastic, and now 99 percent of their regrind is reformulated and placed in their products. They also purchased a corrugator machine to make their own cardboard boxes and dividers for shipping. By reducing imports from foreign companies, their customers have more reliability and dependability.

Delays in deliveries have forced manufacturers across the country to resort to unorthodox and expedited methods of getting critical supplies. All these companies have adapted and improvised and demonstrate the critical need for reliance on home-grown products and solutions by in-house innovation or on-shoring. Pretending the supply chain crisis doesn't exist isn't going to make it magically go away. It isn't just a high-class problem. This should not be a partisan issue. Let's get to work and deliver real results that support businesses and farmers across the country.

I would also like to wish a happy birthday to my good friend, Ashlee.