Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a man from my district whose legacy of serving his community will continue to resonate for generations.

Last Monday, Jim Van Engelenhoven, a former Iowa State representative from Mahaska County, passed away.

Jim began his career in public service by serving in Iowa's Air National Guard. In 1993, Jim was elected to Mahaska County's Board of Supervisors, where he served until 1998, and then began his run as an Iowa State representative.

Jim was loved by many in the Mahaska County community and across the State of Iowa for his compassion and his willingness to go the extra mile to serve his community.

My heart and prayers go out to Jim's wife, Carol; his son, Jeff; and the rest of his loved ones. May he rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me the time on this critical issue. I would say to the gentleman from Massachusetts that I am also giving him the opportunity to urge all of our colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can take up the bill, H.R. 1897, the REACT Act.

My commonsense legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security to test all migrants illegally crossing our border who they plan to release into our communities for COVID-19.

I have traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border twice this year. On both trips, I have spoken with the brave men and women serving in Customs and Border Protection and also the physicians who are stationed there. I saw the crisis they are facing firsthand. I believe that it is our Congressional responsibility to address this crisis and support our officers.

Earlier this month, the DHS Office of Inspector General called for the Department to improve COVID-19 detection and prevention measures at the U.S.-Mexico border amid record-setting migrant arrivals. I even inquired of Secretary Mayorkas in a hearing whether or not testing was being done, and he alluded and gave the allusion that there was testing. However, to quote directly from the report, ``CBP does not conduct COVID-19 for migrants who enter CBP custody and is not required to do so.''

The report further stated that: ``We recommended DHS reassess its COVID-19 response framework to identify areas for improvement to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 while balancing its primary mission of securing the border.''

Currently, everyone legally entering the United States by plane is required to display a negative test for COVID-19. Why aren't we requiring this of those who come here illegally?

Numerous public health officials--and I am one--have stated that the failure of the U.S. authorities to test adult migrants for the coronavirus in jam-packed border processing centers is creating a potential for new transmissions, including among migrants who may have arrived healthy at America's door.

The administration has correctly recognized the need to test individuals arriving from Afghanistan--and not only are they tested, they are vaccinated for

COVID-19 and other childhood illnesses--but it does not seem to understand the importance of doing the same to those crossing our border illegally.

In August, more than 208,000 migrants were encountered along the southwest border. This means each day, approximately 6,700 individuals were encountered. To put this in perspective, President Obama's Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, stated in his tenure that 1,000 apprehensions a day was considered a bad day. We are at more than six times that now, and on top of that, we continue to face a global pandemic.

I applaud the work being done by the CBP agents and officers working around the clock to keep this country safe and healthy. I will also do whatever I can to support their work.

We recently watched a debacle unfold in Del Rio, Texas, where we have learned that DHS did not test any of approximately 15,000 migrants who camped out under the Del Rio Bridge, many of whom who came from South America where they are experiencing the lambda variant. We now know that around 12,000 of these individuals were released into the United States.

Right now, the majority is preparing a reckless multi-trillion-dollar tax-and-spend package. None of the money in that legislation would go to CBP, despite the DHS Inspector General clearly stating that CBP officials do not have the necessary resources to conduct testing.

If the majority already wants to spend trillions upon trillions, why not include money to support CBP and testing for COVID-19?

The current lack of testing at our border is completely unacceptable and irresponsible. It puts the health and safety of CBP border communities, migrants, and all Americans at risk. The current lack of testing is unacceptable.

Madam Speaker, for this reason, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support my legislation, the REACT Act, by voting ``no'' on the previous question.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an individual from my district for his work to keep both Iowans and Americans healthy.

Alan Johnson, a professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Iowa, has been selected for the 2021 Excellence Award for Hypertension Research by the American Heart Association's Council on Hypertension.

This award by the American Heart Association is given to members of the scientific community who have had a major impact in research that has contributed to better understanding the causes and effects of hypertension.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common cardiovascular condition that affects millions of Americans a year and is a major contributor of both strokes and heart attacks.

I am proud of Professor Johnson for his decades of research into the effects, causes, and treatments of this condition, and I congratulate him for earning this prestigious award.

Thank You to Stead Family Children's Hospital Staff and Volunteers

Mr. Speaker, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and I would like to take a moment to thank my district for their work in treating and researching childhood cancer.

A staple to my district and to the Iowa City community is the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, located right across the street from Kinnick Stadium. You all might know it well from the ``wave,'' one of college football's greatest traditions.

The Stead Family Children's Hospital specializes in treating pediatric patients, winning several awards for their specialties in not only pediatric cancer but also orthopedics and cardiology, among others.

Our gratitude for helping these children extends beyond the staff of Stead Family Children's Hospital. Many University of Iowa students and members of the Iowa City community use their free time to volunteer just to brighten a child's day.

Thank you to the men and women in Iowa who are working to treat and research childhood cancer and to those who use their time to comfort children who are currently battling it, a disease no child or parent should face alone.

Hills Elementary School Wins Award

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the importance of childhood education and how a school in my district is taking extra strides to ensure their students' success.

At Hills Elementary School in Hills, Iowa, one out of four students are in the process of learning English as their second language. This is far higher than the average rate in Iowa being 12 percent.

Though many might see this language disparity as a barrier to student achievement, this year, Hills Elementary was selected as one of 325 schools to win a National Blue Ribbon School Award from the U.S. Department of Education, with 81 percent of students at the school showing improvement in their academics.

Beginning in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon School Award has been used to recognize American schools for their academic excellence.

I couldn't be prouder of both the students and faculty at Hills Elementary,

and I wish the best for them as they continue their journey of academic achievement.

I would also like to take a moment to wish a happy belated birthday to my legislative assistant, Kendyl Willox, and a happy belated birthday to my good friend and colleague, enthusiastically, the gentleman from Long Island, Representative Andrew Garbarino.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a group of Good Samaritans who recently brought Iowa nice to Louisiana.

Earlier this month, the New Sharon Fire Department of Mahaska County joined dozens of recovery teams from across the Nation to perform disaster relief efforts and assist in search and rescue operations in Louisiana after Hurricane Ida.

Thanks to the generosity of the New Sharon and Mahaska County community, the New Sharon Fire Department has aided in recovery efforts both in the Hawkeye State and elsewhere across the country for 16 years.

In 2018 the New Sharon Fire Department assisted local Texas recovery teams in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, and last year they traveled to help local communities that were devastated by Hurricanes Laura and Sally.

I thank the New Sharon Fire Department and the citizens of Mahaska County for answering the call to serve and being incredible examples of the generosity and selflessness of Iowans.

The Generosity of the Quad Cities Bicycle Club

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share an Iowa nice story about looking out for one of our own.

Joseph Stewart, a resident of Bettendorf in Scott County, relied on his bicycle for years to make his 3-mile roundtrip commute to work every single day, but after his bicycle broke, the time of his daily commute doubled. For over a month after losing his only means of transportation, Joe would walk in between the highway and the railroad tracks to make it to work, not missing a single day of work. This is when Quad Cities Bicycle Club member Kathy Storm noticed Joe walking with a big smile on his face despite his circumstances.

The Quad City Bicycle Club is known for their generosity, with members donating bikes to share their love of cycling with other members of the community.

After getting to talking, Kathy learned Joe's situation and later showed up to his place of employment with a big surprise--a new bike that was donated by the club.

It is stories like these that make us smile and inspire others to help their own neighbors. And this is just one small example of why Iowa is the best place to live, work, play, and raise a family.

Iron Dome Funding

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the importance of the United States continuing to support our allies, specifically Israel.

Israel has long been a key strategic ally for the United States. Our relationship is mutually beneficial, and it is important that we work to support them whenever we can. That means fully funding the Iron Dome missile defense system must be a top priority of this Chamber.

The Iron Dome is a mobile all-weather air defense system designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells whose trajectory would take them to an Israeli populated area. This system is purely defensive and designed to protect civilians. Innocent bystanders of all ethnicities, nationalities, and faiths rely on the Iron Dome for safety and protection.

When terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah fire thousands of rockets into Israel, as they did earlier this year, the Iron Dome system quickly destroyed them and saved countless lives. Unfortunately, the majority wants to play games with this vital program. Earlier this week, the funding for the Iron Dome was stripped from the majority's continuing resolution amid protests from progressive Members.

For years, the United States has consistently funded the Iron Dome on a strong bipartisan basis to help Israel defend itself from rocket attacks from terrorist organizations. There has never been a situation where military aid for Israel was held up because of objections from Members of Congress. It is disgraceful that the majority would remove the $1 billion in funding for the Iron Dome to appease the far left that seems to have taken over their agenda. Not funding the Iron Dome puts lives at risk for absolutely no reason. While I appreciate the majority introducing

standalone legislation to fully fund the system, it should not have come to this to ensure the safety of our allies.

After a summer that saw 2 weeks of fighting between Israel and Palestine, it is beyond clear to me that we must support Israel. Israel has long been a U.S. ally in a region marked by decades of conflict and turmoil. They are a strong democracy and share our views on many issues.

I am proud to say what many in the majority will not, that I firmly stand in support of Israel and continuing to build our partnership for years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the crisis along our southwest border during the ongoing public health emergency.

Last year, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General released a report titled ``DHS Needs to Enhance Its COVID-19 Response at the Southwest Border.'' The DHS OIG findings highlight what Republicans have been saying for 7 months, that U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not conduct COVID-19 testing for migrants who enter CBP custody and is not required to do so.

Further, the report notes that without stronger COVID-19 prevention measures in place, DHS is putting its workforce, support staff, border communities, and all communities and migrants at greater risk of contracting the virus.

It is our responsibility in Congress to ensure that our frontline workforce, including the brave men and women of CBP, who put their lives on the line daily, are adequately protected.

More than 6 months ago, I introduced my first piece of legislation, the REACT Act, which would require the Department of Homeland Security to test all migrants illegally crossing our border who they plan to release into our communities. In March, I offered to bring the REACT Act to the floor for a vote, but it was rejected by the majority.

Simultaneously, we are seeing the majority prepare to spend $3.5 trillion, mortgaging our children's and grandchildren's futures.

Let's be clear that none of the money in this tax-and-spend package would go to CBP. This is while the DHS OIG heard from CBP officials that they do not have the necessary resources to conduct COVID-19 testing. Yet, many on the other side remain unconcerned about the lack of testing along our southern border.

In August, more than 208,000 migrants were encountered along the southwest border. This means each day

approximately 6,700 individuals were encountered.

To put this in perspective, President Obama's Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, stated in his tenure that 1,000 apprehensions a day was considered a bad day. We are more than six times that now, and on top of it, we face a global pandemic.

We are currently watching a debacle unfold in Del Rio, Texas, where this weekend alone there were estimated to be approximately 15,000 migrants crossing the Rio Grande. This surge is overwhelming an already overburdened system, and the agents and officers of CBP need Congress to focus on this crisis.

While it is promising that CBP will be surging resources to the area, it remains extremely worrisome to me that, as the OIG found, CBP is not required to test these migrants. And I understand there is also a measles outbreak at Fort Bliss.

Moreover, we will continue to see the border crisis of varying scales until we institute policies that will deter illegal immigration.

Programs such as the Migrant Protection Protocols and Title 42 health restrictions should be utilized to stem the flow of illegal migration and help keep our communities safe during the pandemic.

Notably, the DHS OIG report also states that the ``erosion of Title 42 authority has had a significant negative impact on CBP's COVID-19 mitigation measures and creates increased risk.''

I encourage this administration to continue to implement these health restrictions for migrants crossing illegally, especially while we see new variants emerging.

As the former director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, I know we must ensure that any individuals the Biden administration insists on releasing into our communities do not have COVID-19 or other infectious diseases. In fact, the Biden administration is recognizing the need for COVID-19 testing and vaccinations for another group of individuals, those who are being paroled in from Afghanistan.

I cannot comprehend how we can vaccinate those individuals for not only COVID-19 but also measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and any other age-appropriate vaccinations that are required by the CDC but not those coming across our border illegally.

It is clear that this administration is creating a double standard not only for U.S. citizens and migrants but also for individuals they are bringing into this country.

If I may, I will also add a boisterous happy birthday to my husband, Curt.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of a beloved member of the Davis County community. Last Wednesday, Hall of Fame Davis County coach Dennis Anderson passed away after a battle struggling with stage IV terminal cancer.

Dennis Anderson began his career in Davis County athletics in 1968 when he started as a physical education teacher and varsity track coach. Under his 50 years of leadership, Mr. Anderson coached 22 State champions and was named Regional Coach of the Year in 1979, 1980, and 1992 before being hired as the school's athletic director.

After his retirement from Davis County Schools in 2000, Mr. Anderson spent 7 years as a zone chief at Iowa State track meets and was named Southeast Director of the Iowa Track Officials Association.

Thank you, Dennis, for your longtime service to the Davis County community and for making Iowa a better place through being a mentor and role model for Iowa men and women.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak on the ongoing disaster in Afghanistan.

As a Vietnam-era veteran, I have seen the outcome of a poorly executed withdrawal, with tragic images of our allies hanging off of aircraft.

The scene that unfolded at Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul last week is a betrayal to the American military, American citizens, our Afghan partners who aided American troops in the global war on terrorism, and the Afghan people.

The catastrophe that we have seen over the last few weeks was completely avoidable. We have watched as the Taliban quickly took control of the country, released terrorists from prison, and began implementing sharia law on those we left behind.

Just as important, we will have less safety of our homeland, and it will have lasting repercussions.

Madam Speaker, one of the most basic things you learn in the military is to never give your enemy the upper hand. We gave the Taliban the upper hand when we broadcast our withdrawal plans to the world but not to our allies and our coalition partners. The arbitrary and symbolic timeline the administration gave to get our troops out is during the peak of the fighting season.

The administration needs to take full responsibility for this debacle. They are making the decisions and need to be held accountable for those decisions. The President said that the buck stops with him, but he has continued to point fingers and blame others.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, the ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee, Representative Westerman, both for yielding and also for all of his diligent efforts in helping us pass the Alexander Lofgren VIP Act.

Madam Speaker, our Nation is in crisis. Right now, over half of Iowa is experiencing a moderate to extreme drought. This dire situation is mirrored around the country, with thousands of counties across the West experiencing historic drought conditions. This situation has a widespread impact on our way of life.

For my constituents, it means our farmers and ranchers must fight even harder to make ends meet after this pandemic.

As drought conditions worsen, so does the cost of irrigation. Less water means less yield, less in their pockets at the end of the day, and less in the ground for the next year.

For our fellow Americans out West, not only does this drought harm farmers and ranchers, but the real threat of wildfires is made dramatically worse by the lack of moisture.

Madam Speaker, this is shameful and avoidable. The government cannot make it rain, but it can and should plan for the future. Republicans have consistently advocated for increased water storage and regulatory streamlining, which would help conserve water for the dry years. These measures have been largely opposed by our Democrat colleagues.

Now, as we move into August experiencing another major drought season, this majority and this administration have no plan, no solution, and have taken no action to prepare for the next drought season.

Madam Speaker, not only is there no plan, but this current administration is actively making it more difficult for Iowans to access the water they need.

During his confirmation hearing, EPA Administrator Michael Regan

stated that the Biden administration doesn't ``have any intention of going back to the original Obama WOTUS.''

Unfortunately, on June 9, the EPA announced its intention to revise the definition of the waters of the United States once again and reopen the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. This decision is misguided and undoes the good work and progress achieved by the Trump administration.

I have spoken with Iowans dozens of times about the issues created by the 2015 WOTUS rule. WOTUS hurts American farmers, ranchers, landowners, homebuilders, businesses, and just the average, ordinary property owner. It has caused confusion and hindered economic development.

By reopening this rule, the Biden administration once again threatens economic development and creates uncertainty for rural America.

Madam Speaker, creating this uncertainty, especially during this drought crisis, is a mistake. We should uphold the Navigable Waters Protection Rule and ensure that all Americans have straightforward access to the water they need to thrive and especially to survive.

Thank you to the ranking member of the Committee on Natural Resources, Representative Westerman, for organizing today's Special Order to highlight this ongoing crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can take up H.R. 471, the PAUSE Act, which was introduced by my colleague and friend, Representative Yvette Herrell. As a physician and former Director of Public Health for the State of Iowa, I am proud to cosponsor this legislation, and I believe we must bring this to the floor today.

This legislation would prohibit the Federal Government from ceasing or lessening the implementation of COVID-19 border health provisions until the COVID-19 public health emergency is no longer in effect, both at the Federal level and all 50 States.

At the start of the pandemic last year, through the Centers for Disease Control, President Trump implemented Title 42 border health restrictions. These commonsense restrictions ensure that people crossing our northern and southern border do not present a public health risk to our country. President Biden, to his credit, had left some of these restrictions in place as our country works to eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic, until now.

Now, the Biden administration is considering eliminating Title 42 border health restrictions and allowing individuals who pose a health risk to enter into our country.

This comes in the same week where the President is considering requiring Federal employees to be vaccinated because of the delta variant, and this comes a day after this Chamber is reimplementing a mask policy due to rising cases of COVID-19 across the country, and the Senate is not.

Mr. Speaker, the President is rightfully concerned about the rising number of COVID cases across the country, the vast majority of which are among the unvaccinated. While the President and I have different ideas on the best way to stop this virus, it is clear we all want Americans to be safe and healthy from this virus.

Yet, while this administration is considering more COVID restrictions for American citizens on one hand, it is planning to loosen restrictions on migrants at the border on the other. This has opened our borders to an unparalleled surge that is not diminishing and is also risking bringing north the lambda variant, just as the Texas House Democrats brought north the delta variant.

This administration is considering ending Title 42 restrictions in the middle of a public health crisis at our southern border. Last week, reports indicated that the number of migrants who tested positive for COVID-19 in the Rio Grande Valley sector has increased by 900 percent. Last month alone, over 188,000 migrants were encountered at the border, and 105,000 of those were turned away under Title 42 restrictions.

If we are going to eradicate COVID, we cannot afford to repeal Title 42. Lifting these restrictions would threaten the health and safety of U.S. citizens and could lead to higher levels of migration. Our Border Patrol agents and CBP officers are already dealing with migration surges, they support the continuance of Title 42, and we must ensure that they have the tools and processes needed to protect themselves and our country. This includes the ability to process migrants under Title 42 health restrictions until the public health emergency ends.

Additionally, testing for COVID-19 should be done at all airports or other ports of entry.

Eliminating Title 42 would only exacerbate the current administration's crisis at our southern border and likely lead to an increased public health crisis. Failure to either close the border or continue Title 42 puts all American lives at risk, both vaccinated and unvaccinated.

I urge Americans to get vaccinated so we can eradicate this virus.

I urge the President not to repeal Title 42 restrictions.

And I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can bring the PAUSE Act to the floor and keep Title 42 border health restrictions in place until the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a young woman in my district who has become an inspiration to women and athletes everywhere.

Erin Kerkhoff, a University of Northern Iowa sophomore and track star from Solon High School, earned a position on Team USA for the Paralympics in Tokyo.

Kerkhoff, who has 20/400 vision due to optic nerve degeneration in both eyes is ranked fifth in the world in the 400-meter dash after achieving a personal record of 58.23 seconds in the qualifying trials earlier this month, finishing second overall in both the 400- and 100- meter dashes.

The Second District and the State of Iowa are lucky to be represented by stellar athletes like Erin, Thomas Gilman, and Kenny Bednarek competing in this year's summer Olympics.

I could not be prouder to represent these three in Congress. Good luck Erin, Thomas, and Kenny, and bring home the gold.

Last week, I wished my sister Mari-Eleanor Martino a happy birthday, and this week I would like to extend a happy birthday to her husband, Ralph Martino. Happy birthday, Ralph, and we are delighted to have you in the family.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee, and I thank Representative Westerman for yielding me time to speak.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 4300, the Alexander Lofgren Veterans in Parks Act. I was so proud to introduce this overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation with a fellow veteran, Congressman Gallego.

Our commonsense legislation would give our servicemembers, veterans, and Gold Star families free passes to all of our beautiful national parks and Federal lands for life. This is a reasonable piece of legislation that will support those who sacrifice so much for our liberties.

Our Nation is blessed to have some of the most beautiful national parks and public lands. Each year, millions of Americans access the more than 2,000 Federal recreation areas, including national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges. This includes some of the Nation's most iconic national treasures, from Acadia National Park in Maine and the Dry Tortugas in Florida to the Redwood National and State Parks forest in California and the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska.

In 2020, the America the Beautiful annual pass became free for veterans and Gold Star families. However, this change for veterans has never been put into law and could be undone in future years.

My bill protects these veteran passes by codifying them into law and making them lifetime passes instead of annual passes that would have to be re-sent every year. Making these passes lifetime instead of annual also makes the job of the Park Service easier and ensures our veterans have full access to the benefits they so richly deserve.

Finally, my legislation also creates annual passes for current servicemembers, which can be converted into lifetime passes once they retire.

From sea to shining sea, we are a Nation of incredible beauty and biodiversity. Congress recognizes the mental and physical health benefits of outdoor recreation for current servicemembers and veterans. In fact, I think at our hearing, there was not a dry eye when Captain John Paluska spoke on behalf of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, as a 24-year Army veteran, I understand the sacrifices made by our military and their loved ones and believe that we must do whatever we can to honor these VIPs. My bill provides these Americans with free access to the land they have sacrificed to defend.

Our national parks are there for all of us. Getting outside into nature and enjoying our beautiful country provides an outlet and escape with mental and physical benefits. No one is more worthy of experiencing open access to these incredible places than the men and women who have fought to keep us free and the families who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Unfortunately, it is all too easy to pay lip service to the military's sacrifice but then not follow through with action to recognize their service. We can never fully repay our veterans for their service and their sacrifice, but we want to show our gratitude by giving them lifetime access to America's most beautiful landscapes.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join in supporting my commonsense bill, H.R. 4300, the Alexander Lofgren Veterans in Parks Act.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me time to speak.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of Senator John Kennedy's Dispose of Unused Medications and Prescription Opioids Act, S. 957, or the DUMP Opioids Act.

Earlier this year, President Trump signed the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act into law. Under this law, the VA is required to set up prescription drop boxes on VA campuses so that veterans can safely dispose of unused and excess controlled substance medications. The DUMP Opioids Act directs the Secretary of the VA to designate periods during which anyone, not just veterans, may dispose of unused medications at VA facilities.

In April, I partnered with Congressman David Trone to introduce the House companion to Senator Kennedy's bill, and I am proud to see this bill before the House today.

As a doctor, I have seen firsthand the challenges created by opioid addiction and abuse. The opioid epidemic has hit every corner of the United States, and all of us know someone who has been harmed by addiction.

The DUMP Opioids Act is a simple expansion of current law that will give more Americans access to safe opioid disposal sites. Congress must work in a bipartisan manner and give our constituents the tools they need to tackle this head-on.

America has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic for years, especially over this past year during the pandemic, as illustrated by my colleague from Illinois. Iowa is no exception.

With opioid-related deaths up 35 percent in Iowa over the last year, we need to be more focused than ever on our efforts to both treat and prevent addiction. As a physician, I am proud to do my part to help combat this crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Senator Kennedy for his work with this bill, and I urge all of my colleagues to support S. 957, the DUMP Opioids Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the issue of vaccinations, vaccine hesitancy, and the rising rates of the COVID-19 delta variant.

For the last few months, I have traveled across my district administering vaccines to Iowans. It has been a pleasure to see my constituents and the entire country have a renewed sense of freedom and begin to return to normal.

But fully engaged living is threatened by the delta variant, which is causing increased hospitalizations and death, especially among those unvaccinated. Those vaccinated have a much milder course of disease.

It is miraculous to have three safe and effective vaccines for COVID- 19 so rapidly. However, this speed of development may give some Americans pause. Therefore, it is critical to emphasize that no safety shortcuts were taken and reassure our constituents that they are safe and effective.

Decades of research informed the development of these breakthrough vaccines, and millions have been vaccinated with tremendously low risk. Given the rise in the delta variant, I would once again encourage everyone to get a vaccine as soon as possible so that we continue our path to normalcy and not go back to lockdowns and mask mandates.

This vaccine is how we get back to normal and get our lives back. If you have questions or concerns, please talk to your doctor.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this time to wish the youngest of 10 in our family, Mari-Eleanor Martino, a happy birthday.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a young man in my district who will represent Iowa on the world stage.

Thomas Gilman, a University of Iowa alumni, has qualified for the U.S. Olympic team for freestyle wrestling and will be competing in this summer's Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, later this month.

As a former Hawkeye, Thomas was a force to be reckoned with in the 125-pound weight division, finishing his career in Iowa City with an impressive record of 107-12 and a Big Ten Conference title. He was also named the Outstanding Wrestler of the 2017 Midlands Championships.

His other athletic accomplishments include a silver medal at the World Wrestling Championships in Paris in 2017 and another silver medal at the U.S. National Championships in Las Vegas in 2019.

I wish Thomas the best of luck as he goes on to represent the great State of Iowa and the United States in the Olympic Games. Bring home the gold.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 3263, the DHS Medical Countermeasures Act.

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc all over the world, causing countless deaths, both from COVID and from unexpected causes unrelated to COVID, businesses shuttering, job loss, and our everyday way of life almost coming to a halt. While I am pleased that the United States is heading back to normalcy with three excellent and widely available vaccines, we cannot forget the great struggles that we encountered just last year.

Every day, countless Americans put their lives on the line for others, including the men and women in the Department of Homeland Security. Throughout the pandemic, the agencies and officers at CBP continued to protect our borders; TSA officers secured our transportation system; and representatives from FEMA, who took a lead role in the government's response to the pandemic, still had to deploy when disaster struck in other areas.

My bill, the DHS Medical Countermeasures Act, supports the DHS workforce and Department mission continuity by requiring the Secretary to establish a medical countermeasures program to protect employees and working animals in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosives attack; naturally occurring disease outbreak; or pandemic.

This legislation requires the chief medical officer of the Department to maintain a stockpile of medical countermeasures and to develop Department-wide standards for storage, security, placement, dispensing, supply diversity, and documentation of countermeasures.

This bill requires the establishment of a medical countermeasures working group comprised of representatives from relevant Department components and offices to ensure medical countermeasure standards are maintained and guidance is consistent.

Finally, the bill requires the chief medical officer to develop an integrated logistics support plan for medical countermeasures that includes a methodology for determining types and quantities of countermeasures, inventory tracking, and a replenishment plan for existing stockpiles.

Mr. Speaker, as a doctor, former director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, and military veteran, I can assure you I know full well the necessity of medical countermeasures for treatment, diagnosis, and maintaining the safety of our community.

The Department of Homeland Security has over 240,000 employees tasked with jobs ranging from border and aviation security to emergency response and cybersecurity, with one common goal: keeping America safe. It is imperative that materials and processes are put in place to protect the safety and welfare of employees and to

ensure effective pandemic and disaster planning and response for mission continuity.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this commonsense bill, H.R. 3263.