Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow for morning-hour debate and 11 a.m. for legislative business.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor CW5 Benjamin S. Arps for his remarkable military service and valorous leadership in the War on Terror, and to congratulate him on a well- deserved retirement.

A native of Woodbine, Iowa, CW5 Arps enlisted in the Army in June 1997, marking the beginning of a singularly impressive career of service. After completing One Station Unit Training at Fort Knox, he graduated as a 19D Cavalry Scout. His first assignment was with the 5th Squadron, 15th Cavalry Regiment, where he distinguished himself as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle gunner and instructor. In July 2001, he graduated from the Warrant Officer Flight Training Program at Fort Rucker and was assigned to Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment at Aviano Airbase, Italy. While in Italy, he served as a UH60 Pilot in Command, Unit Trainer, Tactical Operations officer, and Operations Officers.

In January 2005, CW5 Arps answered the call to serve that few will answer. He successfully assessed for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), the most elite special operations night- operating aviation force in the world. Upon his graduation from Officer Green Platoon in February 2006, he was assigned to Delta Company, Task Force, 1st Battalion, 160th SOAR (ABN) at Fort Campbell. Through rigorous preparation, training, and testing, he achieved Fully Mission Qualified and Flight Lead status, and lead as the D Co. Safety Officer and the 1-160th SOAR (ABN) Safety Officer. From November 2014 to January 2017, CW5 Arps served as the 160th SOAR (ABN) Regiment Recruiting Director. Accepting the next challenge in his career, he was assigned to 2nd Battalion where he served as Regiment Flight Lead, ultimately rising to be the Battalion Senior Warrant Officer. He served as the senior warrant officer for the second battalion for a number of years, multiple combat assignments, many of them classified, and all of them at great risk to his life.

Recognizing CW5 Arps' leadership, he was selected by the US Army Special Operations Command to become the 8th Regiment Command Chief Warrant Officer for the 160th SOAR (ABN). In that position, Command Chief Warrant Officer Arps led every warrant officer assigned to the 160th SOAR, the world's premiere special operations aviation regiment.

After indicating to the Command his intent to retire, CW5 Arps was asked to stay in service for another position. There, he stood up a brand-new office designed to assist special operations aviators transitioning to civilian service. Without hesitation, he said ``yes'' to becoming the first Officer in Charge for the 160th SOAR (ABN) EXFIL Transition Program.

His 26 year-career has been marked by uncommon valor, honor, and a dedication to excellence on and off the battlefield. He deployed thirty times in support of the Global War on Terror and in several other sensitive, often classified, overseas contingency operations. In all his service, he fulfilled the Night Stalker Creed's mission-focus: to safeguard the honor and prestige of the United States.

CW5 Arps's permanent awards and decorations are numerous and worth recounting: the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), Air Medal (Numeral 8), Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (3 CS), Iraq Campaign Medal (4 CS), Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Overseas Ribbon (Numeral 2), NATO Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Meritorious Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, Air Force Meritorious Unit Award, Combat Action Badge, and Master Aviator Badge.

CW5 Arps' career exemplifies servant-leadership, a drive to learn, and a relentless pursuit of excellence that should be venerated and emulated by all Americans. No matter what was thrown at him, he always put the mission and his soldiers first. He led with great strength and quiet resolve, commanded high respect, and put his life on the line for his country, his wife of 24 years, and his two children.

We honor his excellence, dedication, fidelity, and courage. As Philippians 4:8 instructs us, ``Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.'' It is for this reason that we commend and honor CW5 Arps today.

Few answer the call to serve their country, and fewer still serve with as much distinction and honor as CW5 Arps. His service will never be forgotten, and I am proud to represent him and his family in Congress. On behalf of the United States Congress, the American people, and as a fellow Night Stalker, I heartily thank CW5 Arps for his long and distinguished career in service to our great Nation, and I congratulate him on his retirement from military service. Night Stalkers Don't Quit.

Madam Speaker, I come to the House floor today with a heavy and grieving heart for my home State of Tennessee. No one should ever have to endure what the Covenant School community has gone through.

I know that my colleagues here today understand how difficult the situation is, and your prayers for our community are deeply appreciated as we mourn this senseless loss of life.

I want to take a moment to remember the victims of this horrible attack: three schoolchildren, William Kinney, Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, all age 9; and three staff members, Cynthia Peak, a substitute teacher, Mike Hill, a custodian, and Covenant School Headmaster Katherine Koonce.

All the lives were precious.

Mike Hill, for example, worked for the Covenant School for 15 years. He not only served the school and the church, but he learned every student's name. He was the father of seven children.

Cynthia Peak was a beloved wife and mother.

Dr. Katherine Koonce was a dedicated and passionate educator, who always put children first.

Words cannot describe how hard it is to lose children, three precious 9-year-old children, one of whom was the daughter of the lead pastor of the Covenant Presbyterian Church. These children never had a chance to grow up, and my heart is completely broken for these families. I cannot imagine.

Nothing can be said to dull the pain of this tragedy. Tennesseans, and Americans worldwide, are praying and grieving with this Covenant community.

Madam Speaker, I also commend all the first responders that were on the scene and the medical professionals that treated victims at Vanderbilt Medical Center.

I especially commend the five Metro Nashville Police officers who arrived at the school first. These men ran toward the sound of the gunfire instead of away from it. Their bravery absolutely saved lives.

The two officers that shot and killed, with a gun, the shooter, Officers Rex Engelbert and Michael Collazo, are heroes. They did not hesitate, and because of their quick response, lives were saved.

Though unspeakable grief holds Nashville in its grasp, I honor the incredible heroism of Metro Nashville's first responders. Instinct and courage took over in the face of evil and fear. I join Tennesseans in expressing my sincere gratitude for their quick response.

The outpouring of love means the world to the Covenant community and all Tennesseans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Desert Storm and Battle of Mogadishu veteran, John Magness, for his service to our country and to mourn his recent passing.

Mr. Magness and I graduated from West Point together in 1986, after which he served 9 years in the United States Army. His early aviator years were spent with the 4th Squadron, 2nd Armored Calvary Regiment where he was charged with conducting border surveillance in his Cobra gunship along 454 miles of the Iron Curtain after which he spent 4 years with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, proudly wearing the Night Stalkers name and supporting units like the Navy SEALs and Army Rangers.

After time spent as a consultant for the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Magness dedicated his time and talent to developing and enriching our communities through his work with Hillwood Development Company.

Where Air Force bases lay vacant and unused, such as Norton Air Force Base, Mr. Magness saw opportunity for flourishing. His efforts led to the commercial and industrial development of the San Bernardino base, now boasting of millions of square feet around the base. Fifteen years after he started this project, the development had contributed over $2.3 billion for the surrounding community.

On May 18, 2010, Colonel John McHugh, another West Point class of 1986 grad and dear friend of Mr. Magness was killed in action in Kabul, Afghanistan, by a suicide bomber. As a result of his tragic passing and his legacy, the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund was created by the West Point class of 1986 to help Colonel McHugh's family.

The fund's mission quickly expanded to serve as many families as possible, giving back to those who gave their all. The fund honors military service and sacrifice by providing scholarships to veterans and military family members, especially to the children of fallen servicemembers. It has awarded over $30 million in scholarship funds since 2014 and supports 4,500 Johnny Mac scholars attending schools across this country.

Having been a close friend of Colonel McHugh and a dedicated supporter of veterans, servicemembers, and their families, Mr. Magness dedicated himself to the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund. To raise money and awareness, Mr. Magness undertook the Aconcagua Challenge expedition, tackling the largest mountain outside of Asia located in Argentina.

Undeterred by the 22,837-foot climb and exemplifying the West Point class of 1986 motto, ``courage never quits,'' Mr. Magness summited the mountain after 10 days of climbing, even after two of his three-man team had to cease the climb for medical reasons.

Having conquered the mountain and accomplishing his mission, Mr. Magness succumbed to ensuing medical complications and passed away in the early morning hours of February 5, 2023.

Night Stalkers don't quit even after leaving the military service for the private sector. Mr. Magness was a fierce supporter of the organization's mission and the personification of former President Teddy Roosevelt's ``The Man in the Arena,'' the man stained by ``dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly . . . who spends himself in a worthy cause.'' Mr. Magness died with his boots on serving his country and its heroes.

Mr. Magness is survived by his wife, Angie, and their two children, Chelsea Shelburne and John Michael Magness, Jr. He was also a very proud grandfather of his 2-year-old grandson, Rhett.

His family, friends, and colleagues all describe him as a man of strong Christian faith, a patriot, a loving father, a grandfather, a husband, a soldier, a hero, a servant leader, and a friend. Mr. Magness, or Magger as he was known by his friends, exemplified these characteristics and more, all the while serving the community that he loved so well.

In both his life and in his death, Mr. Magness modeled service for all those around him. I was blessed to have

known him through our shared time at West Point and as a fellow Night Stalker, and I know he is greatly missed by his family and friends.

John was buried at West Point yesterday, March 27, 2023, where he rests in peace having completed his mission on Earth.

I will finish with the last stanza of the West Point alma mater:

And when our work is done,

Our course on Earth is run,

May it be said, well done

Be thou at peace.

E'er may the line of gray

Increase from day to day

Live, serve, and die, we pray,

West Point, for thee.

Well done, John.

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

Mr. Chair, our Nation's critical infrastructure and cybersecurity are increasingly under attack by malicious actors who seek to extort and do harm to the American people.

Hospitals, financial institutions, utilities, and government agencies are all popular targets, but cyberattacks are now targeting the next generation of Americans, K-12 students.

While the total number of cyberattacks on K-12 schools is unknown, recent reports have indicated that ransomware attacks on K-12 schools increased between 2020 and 2022.

Local and State officials report that loss of learning following a cyberattack can range from 3 days to 3 weeks, and recovery time can take anywhere from 2 to 9 months. Officials also reported monetary losses to school districts ranging from $50,000 to $1 million due to expenses from a cyber incident.

Cyberattacks often result in the disclosure and theft of students' personal information. In a 2020 report, the GAO found that such information compromised included students grades, their Social Security numbers, and medical information.

In December 2021, a vendor for Chicago Public Schools was a victim of a ransomware attack in which more than 500,000 students' and staff members' personal information was disclosed. The data included the students' names, schools, dates of birth, gender, school identification numbers, State student identification numbers, and course information from previous school years. One study found that between 2018 and 2021, roughly 3 million students were impacted by ransomware attacks.

Parents who entrust their students' information to public institutions have the right to know when that information is compromised. We must do the work to ensure these attacks are not successful and that malicious actors are brought to justice.

Parents need to know when their students' personal information has been compromised so they can take the necessary steps to protect them. Transparency is essential to protecting the privacy of students.

We need schools that are both transparent and accountable to parents. Parents shouldn't be stonewalled when asking for information about their child's personal records. The FBI should focus on investigating these cyber incidents and informing parents on the irreparable harm done to their children's cybersecurity rather than monitoring their parents' free speech and shutting down parent involvement.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to put parents before politics and support this amendment.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kyle Klein for his distinguished career in service to the House Committee on Homeland Security and the United States Congress.

A graduate of Liberty University, Kyle started his career as an intern for the House Committee on Homeland Security. Through his hard work and determination, he worked his way up the Committee's ranks, from Professional Staff Member to a Subcommittee Staff Director, and finally as the Committee Staff Director.

Kyle is a dedicated public servant and policy expert with deep knowledge of the Department of Homeland Security's functions and policies. Through over a decade of service at the Committee, he has served under five different chairmen or ranking members. His leadership has helped focus our Committee on the top priorities at hand: the crisis at our southern border, the increasing threats to our Nation's cybersecurity, and the critical need to reform and reauthorize the Department of Homeland Security.

Kyle has developed great working relationships with Members and staff across the aisle. Additionally, Kyle was instrumental in this transition as Republicans took the House Majority and the Committee on Homeland Security gained a new Chairman.

Kyle has our deepest gratitude, and I am confident he will continue to distinguish himself in his future endeavors. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I commend Kyle for his diligent service and wish him well in all his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Christopher Hagan Mathis for his admirable service to the people of Tennessee's Seventh Congressional District.

Hagan first joined my team in May 2019 as a district intern while studying for his degree in Finance and Political Science at the University of Alabama. His diligence and his commitment to service made him standout among his peers, making him a natural fit for the position of personal aide.

The transition from Tennessee's State Senate to the United States House of Representatives is no easy task, but Hagan was instrumental in ensuring that it was as smooth as possible. As a body man, a driver, and a personal aide, Hagan ensured I was always where I needed to be while also providing critical research support for my team. Upon his graduation in May 2020, Hagan joined my district team full-time as a Staff Assistant.

While I have many duties as a Representative of Tennessee, my most basic responsibility and privilege is meeting face-to-face with my constituents. Learning their names and stories, fielding their questions and concerns, and representing their interests in Washington is my singular mission. The pandemic made 2020 and the years following it a turbulent and challenging period, but Hagan's commitment to serving the constituents of Tennessee's Seventh Congressional District never wavered. A Tennessean himself, he fully embraced my mission and proved himself to be a reliable and steady hand that I could count on. Through COVID-19, floods, tornadoes, and other natural disasters, and through town halls and district meetings, Hagan escorted me on numerous trips over countless miles. Many congressional staffers are acquainted with long days and late nights, but few know them better than Hagan.

Hagan's service to the constituents of Tennessee's Seventh Congressional District cannot be overstated; the impact of the countless face-to-face meetings and events that Hagan helped facilitate is incalculable. He was the man I relied on to connect me to my constituents, to ensure that our mission was carried out. While I am sad to see him go, I know he has a bright future in store. On behalf of the United States Congress and a grateful constituency, I thank Hagan Mathis for his honorable service to Tennesseans and I wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Quilts of Valor Foundation (QOVF) for its service to our Nation's servicemembers and veterans.

The Foundation began in 2003 by the inspiration of Catherine Roberts of Delaware, whose son was serving in Iraq. Tormented at the thought of a soldier sitting on his lonely cot in despair, Ms. Roberts enlisted the service of her local quilt guild to make quilts for Walter Reed Military Medical Center.

Since 2003, QOVF has expanded to over 10,000 volunteer members in over 600 groups nationwide, recently awarding its 350,000th Quilt of Valor. These quilts are made of the finest materials and designs, with each being appraised at a value between $600-$1,400. These quilts, however, are not charity quilts--they are ceremoniously bestowed awards earned by servicemembers and veterans for their commitment and sacrifices.

While the estimated impact to the economy is $10,000,000 per year, the real benefits of these quilts cannot be quantified. Ms. Roberts' vision of providing comfort sends an unequivocal message to our Nation's servicemembers and veterans: ``Thank you for your service, sacrifice, and valor in serving our nation.'' One such veteran, John Rowdy Oxley--a Vietnam-era veteran--served at the Battle of Ap Bac and suffered from extreme PTSD. Now a Board Member of QOVF, John says that his receipt of a Quilt of Valor turned his life around. QOVF boasts of many such testimonies of lives changed by this simple, yet profoundly impactful gift.

QOVF has partnered with American Gold Star Mothers, Authentically American, the National Grange, Wreaths Across America, JDX Racing, the Vietnam War Commemoration, and has a Platinum Rating by GuideStar.

QOVF's contribution to our Nation cannot be overstated. Through the vision provided by Ms. Roberts to wrap the lonely soldier on a cot in a quilt, and through the tireless efforts of the Foundation and its many members, our servicemembers and veterans experience hope and healing. On behalf of the United States Congress, and as a veteran myself, I congratulate the Quilts of Valor Foundation on reaching 335,000 servicemembers and veterans and thank them for their indispensable service to our country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and accomplishments of Dr. Christa Martin of Columbia, Tennessee.

Christa Martin exemplifies the volunteer spirit. She was born and raised in Maury County and continues to serve the community she cherishes so deeply. Growing up on a farm instilled in Dr. Martin the three main focuses of her life: education, public service, and faith. Through her humble beginnings, Dr. Martin said she learned from her surroundings, ``the farm . . . the road . . . and the community,'' and believes, ``you didn't have to have letters behind your name to be educated.''

Through various chapters of learning, Dr. Martin has never stalled in her intellectual journey. She graduated from Columbia State Community College in 1975 with a degree in Data Processing. A year later, she received a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems from Middle Tennessee State University. She then received a doctorate of Higher Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

Dr. Martin not only earned her degrees from these institutions, but also chose to give back. From 1979 to 2003, she worked in the Computer Science Department at Columbia State Community College. Since 2003, Dr. Martin has worked in a promoted role as an Assistant to the President, specializing in Access and Diversity.

Dr. Martin has also served her community well. She served on the Columbia City Council for over 22 years and is finishing her last term as the Vice Mayor of Columbia, where she is the first African American female to hold that position. Dr. Martin also serves on the Board of Directors for Columbia Power & Water, Blood Assurance, and Public Entity Partners. She serves non-profit organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of South-Central Tennessee, Columbia Miracle League, Maury County NAACP, and many more.

Dr. Martin continues to be involved at New Smyrna Cumberland Presbyterian Church as a teacher, missionary, clerk, elder, and choir member.

Dr. Martin is a pillar of the community who is dedicated to leaving it a better place than she found it. Her life shows how passion and commitment can create a causal chain that benefits whole cities, counties, and, indeed, the state. I ask my colleagues to join me in acknowledging this great American's unwavering devotion toward education, her community, and her faith.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize County Executive Jessie Wallace for his distinguished career in service to the people of Humphreys County, Tennessee.

Mr. Wallace was born to Harris Edwin Wallace and Sara Jane Pewitt Wallace in McEwen, Tennessee. Being born and raised with his three brothers in Humphreys County, he was truly connected to the community and well-situated for public service.

Prior to his tenure as the County Executive, Mr. Wallace rose through the ranks of the Humphreys County Telephone Company/TDS Telecom, starting as a technician and later becoming the West Tennessee District Manager. He worked hard for the Company for 36 years, proving himself to be a diligent and reliable worker.

His hard work and exemplary career did not go unnoticed. In 1998, he was elected by his community to represent the 4th District on the Humphreys County Commission. He served ten of his twelve years of commendable service on the commission as the Chairman of the Public Works and Safety Committee, which ensured that the County was a safe place for families and businesses to thrive.

Following his service on the Commission, Mr. Wallace was elected as the Humphreys County Executive in 2010. Having won the trust of his community, he was tasked with the duty leading the County toward greater prosperity and a higher quality of life, which he worked hard to achieve. In the space of only eight years, Mr. Wallace's leadership took the unemployment rate of 10.5 percent down to only 3.8 percent.

Having a vast array of skills, a drive for excellence, and a strong work ethic, Mr. Wallace wore many hats during his time as County Executive. He served as Vice Chairman of the Workforce Essentials Board of Directors and the Middle Tennessee Mayors' Caucus, and also as a member on the board of directors for the Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative and MLConnect. He served on many other boards, councils, and corporations, sacrificing his time for the good of all Tennesseans.

Few have worked as hard and tirelessly as Mr. Wallace, and fewer still as public servants. His tenure as County Executive, however, was not without hardships. Mr. Wallace led the County through devastating floods in 2019 and 2021, which caused irreversible damage to the property and lives of Humphreys County constituents. In the recent 2021 flood, the County lost 20 precious lives.

But through his steadfast leadership and hard work, the County is recovering and rebuilding, and Mr. Wallace has ensured that the County is in a better place now than when he was born into it. He is an exemplar of public service, commitment, and capable leadership, so it is fitting that we honor him as he concludes his long career of service. On behalf of the United States Congress, I congratulate County Executive Jessie Wallace on the occasion of his retirement and thank him for his service to the people of Humphreys County and to all of Tennessee.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mayor Jim Durrett for his distinguished career in service to the people of Montgomery County, Tennessee.

Mayor Durrett is truly a man of Montgomery County. It is there that he was born and raised, there that he and his wife raised their 3 children, there that he attends church, and there that he lives today. Both of his parents were public servants in the County; his father served 26 years on the Clarksville City Council and his mother worked the election polls for as long as he could remember. Public service is in his blood.

He began his career early in life, shoveling asphalt for the City of Clarksville while attending Clarksville High School. He attended Austin Peay State University in Montgomery County, and upon graduation, he started work full-time for the City of Clarksville. He served as the Director of Streets for 20 years, later becoming Chief of Staff for the City.

Mayor Durrett was elected by the people of Montgomery County in August 2014, though it was not an easy first term. Within months of his election, Hemlock Semiconductor announced they were pulling out their $1.2 billion facility--a sharp blow to the community. Within one year of this notice, however, and after much hard work by Mayor Durrett and his team, Google announced their plans to move to Montgomery County. Since then, LG, Shinhung, and Pantos have all joined Google.

His tenure as Mayor has undoubtedly improved the lives of Montgomery County residents. From projects such as the Downtown Commons, a public field in the middle of downtown Clarksville, to the ongoing F&M Bank Arena, Mayor Durrett's vision for the County is coming alive. From just 2019 to today, Mayor Durrett's efforts have added or announced 6,700 new jobs in the County, amounting to $2 billion in capital investment.

As a veteran myself, I am especially grateful for Mayor Durrett's leadership in support of our servicemembers. Montgomery County has a large population of servicemembers and veterans, due to the location of Fort Campbell. Under his leadership, the County was 1 of only 7 communities worldwide to be recognized with an Army Community Partnership Award.

Mayor Durrett embodies what it means to be a servant-leader in one's community. Through over 31 years of public service, and 8 years as County Mayor, Jim Durrett's career is an example to us all. It is fitting that we honor him as he concludes a long and effective career. On behalf of the United States Congress, I congratulate Mayor Durrett on the occasion of his retirement and thank him for his service to the people of Montgomery County.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to amendment No. 137.

Unlimited quantities of food and medicine are already permitted in Cuba, yet this egregious amendment would allow the financing of agricultural exports to the island. The Cuban regime controls 100 percent--a single company controls all agricultural imports. It is owned by the military. It is controlled by the enforcers of the Communist regime.

Tens of thousands of Cubans tried to protest just 1 year ago, and thousands of them are in prison. Children are imprisoned by this Communist regime.

The current regime controls all the imports. If you give money to the regime, Mr. Chair, they keep the money. They don't trickle it down to the people.

They are a current state sponsor of terrorism and a close ally of Putin's Russia, the Maduro regime in Venezuela, the terrorist state of Iran, and

terrorist groups such as FARC and ELN. They are currently participating in a military exercise in Venezuela led by the Russians.

Again, just 1 year ago, thousands of Cubans protested in the streets in every province in Cuba demanding libertad--freedom. Hundreds of them remain in prison, including children, as I said, for daring to speak freely. Yet, today, Congress is debating whether to provide financing to their captors.

A vote against this amendment is a pro-freedom, pro-America, and pro- human rights vote, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this flagrantly unconstitutional gun control act. This bill is yet another attack on our God-given rights to self-defense.

For instance, the bill would provide taxpayer dollars for State-level gun confiscations without due process.

We constantly hear this constant theme from the left on how you can't be pro-life and pro-gun, which I think is poignant to point out today. For those who say you can't be pro-life and pro-gun, why did you send billions of dollars of guns to Ukraine to help them save their lives against the Russians?

You sent billions of dollars of guns over there so that our soldiers wouldn't have to go over there and fight a war to save their lives. Guns save lives, or you wouldn't have been sending the money over there.

Our Founding Father, George Mason, who wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights on which our Constitution's Bill of Rights is based, once said: To disarm the people is the most effectual way to enslave them.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of General

Joseph M. Martin to the United States Army and the American people.

General Joseph M. Martin has served our nation honorably for over thirty-five years. A native of Dearborn, Michigan, General Martin graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1986 and commissioned as an Armor officer. General Martin successfully led and commanded soldiers during peacetime and combat at all levels of leadership including platoon, company, battalion, brigade, and division.

General Martin's record of exemplary combat leadership includes Bravo Company, 4th Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment, 1st Infantry Division during Operation Desert Storm, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Infantry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division in Northwest Baghdad, Iraq, and the 1st Infantry Division in Operation Inherent Resolve. General Martin also commanded the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command during the Battle of Mosul, leading a multi-national force retaking the city from Islamic State militants over a seven-month long fight. In total, General Martin has led soldiers on a total of five combat deployments to Iraq across different conflicts and considers himself to always be a ``Big Red One'' soldier from his many years in America's 1st Division.

General Martin is not just an exceptional combat leader, but has also dedicated years to developing soldiers and the Army's future leaders. Serving first as an observer controller and later as the commanding general of the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California, General Martin trained and certified Army units in a highly realistic combat training environment that replicated the type of battlefield seen by U.S. soldiers over the last thirty years. He has also served as an instructor at the U.S. Armor Center, training officers and developing policy and procedures to increase warfighting proficiency. As the Army's Vice Chief of Staff, General Martin has focused on the Army's modernization efforts, building capabilities for future conflicts during a critical time for our national security.

General Martin and his family have also served their communities throughout his distinguished career. He was recognized by the University of Louisville, where he earned a Master of Education in Occupational Training and Development in 1997, as their Alumnus of the Year for 2021.

General Martin's lifetime of service and leadership to his fellow soldiers is commendable, speaking not only to his patriotism, but also to his selfless character. The Army is more prepared to face the strategic threats to our national security today because of his decades of dedication to the mission. The American people owe him a debt of gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, it is frustrating to hear the political games being played, when a piece of legislation isn't really about what it is intended to be about or what the title says that it is.

My colleague, whom I have respect for, and have watched him argue cogently on some issues, is actually incorrect on this. Suggesting that because I voted ``no'' on this bill I somehow don't support NATO, it is really, quite frankly, absurd.

I remember being in Iraq in 2003 when British SAS soldiers were wounded, and my Tier One task force went in, and we pulled those guys off the battlefield wounded. I took care of them in the back of the helicopter. I am fully supportive of NATO.

Quite frankly, it angers me that the suggestion because I voted on a piece of legislation that had a clause in it that didn't make sense to me that I am somehow not supportive of NATO. No one has been more supportive of NATO.

Yes, many of us voted ``no'' on that bill, but it was because it created this extra body to discuss democracy when we are at war trying to save a democracy.

How about we focus NATO on what is going on in Ukraine and not forming some new discussion group about democracy?

So, yeah, several of us voted no. But I assure you, Mr. Speaker, and my colleague from Maryland, that has nothing to do with a lack of support for NATO. Because when I was on that battlefield helping that British SAS warrior and they are supporting us, I didn't see a lot of other people who might be pointing a finger at us for not supporting NATO on that battlefield that day. There was nobody in this room in that helicopter flying into Baghdad with me.