Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Lilly Loise Culp Hogan. Lilly lived a life of adventure and at age 103 was the oldest veteran at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi. She was born on February 5, 1920, in Obion County, Tennessee, Lilly was the second youngest child of eleven children.

Growing up during the Great Depression, Lilly learned the value of hard work by making clothes for all the children at home. She made her own patterns and designed her own clothing. Lilly had many siblings to look up to and who were a part of her life. Attending the local one- room schoolhouse, Lilly was taught by her older sister Zora. Lilly loved math and was always competing with her classmates for the best grades. When she finished the eighth grade, Lilly attended high school at the local Dixie School. Having no car, Lilly and her brother Fred would walk to school every day, except on the rare day when her father would allow them to ride the horse. Fred and Lilly would stable the horse in the barn attached to the school while they did their studies. In 1938 Lilly graduated as valedictorian and Fred graduated with her the same year as salutatorian.

After high school, Lilly wanted to attend college, but her family did not have the resources, so she started working. Lilly and her sister Kitty rented an apartment close to Union City, Tennessee, and together they worked at a nearby shirt factory. While working at the shirt factory, her landlord introduced Lilly to her cousin, Reed Hogan. Reed was on leave from the U.S. Navy.

After Reed was sent back overseas on duty, Lilly was bored of the shirt factory and her life in Tennessee. On the lookout for more adventure, she moved to Wisconsin to join her brother Calvin learning the trade of photography. Lilly learned how to take photos, print them, and colorize the photos. With a new job and a new life, Lilly began to find her place in the world. While in Wisconsin, Lilly and Reed were constantly exchanging letters.

As Lilly worked in the photography shop, many men and women would come in to take pictures for their Navy identification cards. Lilly saw them coming in with their nice Navy uniforms day-in and day-out. Feeling adventurous, Lilly decided to join the Navy, too. With her photography skills, she enlisted with the goal of becoming a war photographer. Encouraged by her brother to join, Lilly went off on a new adventure in Washington. D.C

During the process of joining the Navy, it became clear that Lilly excelled at math and was pulled from the photography route and placed in a decoding role. Lilly had no idea what the future held, but she underwent investigation for a top security clearance.

In Washington, D.C., the Pentagon had not been completed, and Lilly worked in an underground facility nearby. Lilly decoded enemy messages in Naval Intelligence. Her work was important to the war, and she knew it. She worked around the clock taking messages and typing them on a card to be slid into what was a very primitive and early version of the modern computer.

In 1944, Reed came home wounded and made his way to Washington, D.C., to find Lilly. They were married on March 16, 1944, not many days after Reed returned.

When the war ended, Lilly and Reed used the G.I. Bill to go to college. They attended the University of Tennessee together and both majored in business--Lilly in business education and Reed in business administration. Lilly and Reed were in some of the same classes and would compete against each other for the best grades. Lilly and Reed had four children--Mary Beth, Reed Jr., Jeannie, and Kim--and made their home in Mississippi.

Later in life, Lilly moved into the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi. Keeping with her adventurous spirit, Lilly stayed at the facility while residents cleared out during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 stating she had never seen a hurricane. The water rose to the third story, and Lilly and several of the other residents had to be rescued.

Lilly's life legacy of adventure, courage, and bravery lives on in her four children, seven grandchildren, and fifteen great- grandchildren. I am proud to honor the life of a woman who made an impact not just during World War II but throughout her entire life.

Mr. Speaker, George Santos has built his persona, his personal and his political life, on a foundation of lies. Many of those lies are well-documented. We know that Mr. Santos lied about his education, both graduate and postgraduate, claiming that he attended universities where he was never enrolled and claiming that he obtained degrees that he did not earn.

We know that Mr. Santos lied about his employment when he claimed that he worked for two prestigious financial institutions, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs.

We know that Mr. Santos lied about his religious faith when he said he was Jewish and then later, when called out, said he meant to say he was Jew-ish.

We know Mr. Santos lied when he said that he had four employees who were killed in a mass shooting in Florida.

Nonetheless, Mr. Speaker, those lies, while troubling, did not justify his removal from this body. However, these and other misleading statements reflect directly on Mr. Santos' credibility.

In May, Mr. Speaker, George Santos said that he looked forward to seeing the ethics process play out and that if the committee finds reason to remove him, then that is the process.

Today, Mr. Speaker, George Santos would have you believe that the process that he endorsed in May is fatally flawed and that he, instead, is the subject of a political witch hunt.

Mr. Santos has described the report issued by the Ethics Committee as slanderous. He said that if there was a single ounce of ethics in the Ethics Committee then they would not have released the biased report. He referred to the report as a political hit piece.

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind you that in March of this year, George Santos promised to fully cooperate with the ethics investigation. Just weeks ago, Mr. Santos said: I have been very cooperative since the investigation started, and I have no plans to change that.

Nonetheless, Mr. Speaker, the record of the investigation reveals otherwise. The report of the Ethics Committee noted these things, Mr. Speaker: first, that Mr. Santos failed to submit a written response to the allegations filed by his fellow Members; that Mr. Santos failed to provide many of the documents requested by the investigative subcommittee; that when given an opportunity to provide a statement under oath that Mr. Santos declined to do so; and that when asked to voluntarily testify, Mr. Santos refused.

The committee learned through his counsel that if the investigative subcommittee were to subpoena Mr. Santos that he would plead the Fifth Amendment and not give any testimony for fear that it may incriminate him.

So while Mr. Santos has failed to speak with the committee, Mr. Speaker, he has spoken freely to the media. Just this past weekend, he was participating in a 3-hour X Livestream Podcast with Monica Matthews.

In that 3-hour interview, he said:

I have made it very clear, I am not running for reelection,

not because this was a damning report. I am not running for

reelection because I don't want to work with a bunch of

hypocrites. It is gross. I have colleagues who are more

worried about getting drunk every night with the next

lobbyist that they are going to screw and pretend none of us

know what is going on, and sell off the American people, not

show up to vote because they are too hungover or whatever the

reason is or not show up to vote at all and just give their

card out like candy for someone else to vote for them.

He went on to say regarding the Ethics report:

It is flawed. It was designed to smear me. It was designed

to force me from my seat. That was the intention of the

report. This wasn't a finding of fact.

So, Mr. Speaker, I want to talk a few minutes about the report of the investigative subcommittee and the report of the Ethics Committee and the work that they did over an 8-month period. I will tell you that the findings of the committee were shocking.

We know that the Ethics Committee authorized 37 subpoenas, they issued 43 requests for information, they interviewed 40 witnesses, they reviewed 172,000 pages of documents, and they issued a 56-page investigation report.

In addition to this 56-page investigation report, Mr. Speaker, these are the exhibits that they attached to the investigative report. The 50-plus page report goes into great detail, and it paints a picture of the fraud committed by Mr. Santos. In many cases it also tracks the allegations for which Mr. Santos has been indicted in the Eastern District of New York.

Mr. Speaker, if you look at the language of the report, the language of the report says, the investigative subcommittee revealed a complex web of unlawful activity involving Representative Santos' campaign, personal, and business finances.

It says that Representative Santos sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal profit.

The report says that he blatantly stole from his campaign and that he deceived donors into providing what they thought were contributions to his campaign, but they were, in fact, payments for his personal benefit.

The report goes on to say that he reported fictitious loans to his political committees to induce donors and party committees to make further contributions to his campaign.

Then later the report said that despite Santos' efforts to blame his former treasurer for the numerous campaign violations, the ISC's record demonstrates that Representative Santos knowingly and actively participated in the misconduct.

Mr. Speaker, through records that were subpoenaed by the Ethics Committee, we learned that Mr. Santos spent campaign-related funds on personal rent, on personal credit card payments, and on ATM withdrawals. We know that he made luxury designer purchases at at least two high-end stores, that he spent money on payments made at OnlyFans, and that Mr. Santos spent almost $3,000 on Botox treatments, in addition to questionable expenses involving travel expenses for trips to Atlantic City; Las Vegas, Nevada; and The Hamptons.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to this, there was additional fraud that was uncovered and contained in this report issued by the Ethics Committee.

The Ethics Committee found in 2020 that bank records indicate that Mr. Santos was repaid over $29,000 for fictitious loans that he never made to his campaign.

The report goes on to say that in 2021 he falsely reported loaning his campaign $580,000, and he falsely reported loaning an additional $25,000 to his leadership PAC.

The report goes on to document that the committee found, according to bank records, that Mr. Santos transferred $200,000 from RedStone Strategies and they were found to be an unregistered super PAC controlled by Mr. Santos, and that he transferred in 2022 alone over $200,000 into his personal account.

Mr. Speaker, I know that some Members of this body have expressed concern about due process. They believe that Mr. Santos was not given due process, therefore that this should not go forward.

Mr. Speaker, I want to address the argument of due process. Mr. Speaker, you are well aware that due process was referred to in the Fifth and 14th Amendments. In the Fifth Amendment it says no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

We know the 14th Amendment then applies the Fifth Amendment to the States where it says no State shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

Then as you are also well aware, Mr. Speaker, the Sixth Amendment talks about criminal proceedings and the rights that attach to a criminal proceeding.

Mr. Speaker, we are not here today on a criminal proceeding. The rights of the Sixth Amendment do not apply, but due process under the Fifth and 14th Amendments do apply here at these proceedings, and so it is important to talk about due process.

The due process that is contained in the Fifth and 14th Amendments, if you study due process, Mr. Speaker, you will know that there are two subsections; two components, if you will; two legs upon which due process must stand.

That first subsection, that first leg, is substantive due process.

What is substantive due process?

Substantive due process asks this question: Is there a right to bring the action in question?

Mr. Speaker, I say that there is. We know that that right exists because that right is found in the United States Constitution. The expulsion clause, which is found in Article I, Section 5, Clause 2 of the United States Constitution says this, Mr. Speaker: Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of a two-thirds vote, expel a Member.

So, Mr. Speaker, I tell you that as it relates to substantive due process, clearly substantive due process applies in this case. Nonetheless, that second leg of the stool of due process, is procedural due process.

Procedural due process is a process that governs the fairness of the proceedings.

There are three primary requirements, three primary tenets of procedural due process.

Those requirements are, first, was adequate notice given?

Mr. Speaker, I hold in this case that adequate notice was given. Adequate notice was given by the fact that the investigative subcommittee notified Mr. Santos in February that the investigation was going to be ongoing. It actually had contact with him and his office well before that in January shortly after he was sworn in.

I would argue that Mr. Santos had notice of this hearing because the motion was filed 2 weeks ago, the resolution was filed to expel him from this body. So, clearly, Mr. Santos has been given proper notice.

The second requirement of due process says: Did Mr. Santos have an opportunity to be heard?

Mr. Speaker, I will tell you that he has had an opportunity to be heard. He had an opportunity repeatedly to be heard by the Ethics Committee. He had the opportunity to submit a written statement, but he refused to do so. He had an opportunity to submit a statement under oath. He refused to do so. He had an opportunity to come in and testify, and he declined to do so.

Even when faced with a subpoena, he was planning to come in before the Ethics Committee and exercise his Fifth Amendment right not to testify.

So, Mr. Speaker, I hold that he has had ample opportunity to be heard by the investigative subcommittee, and he has been, once again, presented the opportunity here today, before this body and before the American people, he has the opportunity today to rebut the findings of the Ethics Committee. He has the opportunity to point out any errors or omissions that he claims are in the report.

So, clearly, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Santos has had the opportunity to be heard.

Then finally, the third and final point is the opportunity to have a fair tribunal. We are following the Constitution which says that the body of other elected Members, this body as a whole, must be the body that conducts a vote in this case.

So, Mr. Speaker, I want to remind you of a statement I earlier referenced, that statement made by Mr. Santos in May, that statement where he said that he looked forward to seeing the ethics process play out and that if the Ethics Committee finds a reason to remove him, then that is the process.

Mr. Speaker, the Ethics Committee found substantial evidence--this is language taken directly from the report: Substantial evidence that Representative Santos knowingly caused his campaign to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission.

The Investigative Subcommittee found substantial evidence that he used campaign funds for personal purposes. It found substantial evidence that he engaged in fraudulent conduct in connections with RedStone Strategies, LLC. It found substantial evidence that Mr. Santos did knowingly and willfully engage in violations of the Ethics and Government Act.

Mr. Speaker, I ask in accordance with Article I, Section 5, Clause 2 of the United States Constitution, that all Members vote to support the expulsion of Representative Santos.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of William C. ``Bill'' Wade. Bill Wade passed away on September 29, 2023, in Gulfport, Mississippi, at 74 years old. He was a dedicated family man and friend.

Bill was a committed member of Bear Creek Baptist Church and served as a deacon for many years. His faith was important to him, and the members of Bear Creek were well served under his leadership.

Bill retired from education in 2013. He taught school at Louisville Municipal School District and made a difference in the lives of many students throughout his teaching career. Serving as a principal at the Kosciusko Public School, Bill led the school and eventually the school district as superintendent of education. He also worked in the Union Public School District and the Polk County School District in Tennessee as superintendent of education.

Bill's legacy in education continued after his retirement when he co- founded Performance Based Education Company, LLC, which helps students maintain achievement progress by adding capacity and working with school districts to improve their student achievement. Bill worked as the vice president, contract manager, marketing specialist, and program developer.

Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to memorialize the life and legacy of William Wade. Bill has made an impact on the lives of students throughout Mississippi and Tennessee. His impact will be felt for generations to come. His loss will be felt by all those who have been under his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Larry W. Swales, a vital member of our community in Rankin County, Mississippi. Currently serving our community as the Chancery Clerk of Rankin County since 2008, Mr. Swales is the only person to serve as president of both the Mississippi Association of Supervisors and Mississippi Chancery Clerks Association.

Mr. Larry Swales has been a vital part of his community for many years starting with his membership since 1977 at the St. Mark's United Methodist Church. He has served as a lay delegate to the United Methodist Church Annual Conference and as an usher, as well as on various church committees through the years.

Mr. Swales is a dedicated Hinds Community College alumnus. Having graduated from Hinds Community College, he was the alumnus of the year in 1998, served on the foundation board, and was named one of the 100 people most passionate about Hinds Community College. Throughout his time, he has served in various other capacities at Hinds, including as a member of the Rankin Alumni Association and as President of the alumni association; and since 2023 he has served on the board of trustees.

As a Veteran of the United States Navy, Mr, Swales is a proud American. He has volunteered with the fire department and the Mississippi State Fire Academy in various roles, saving lives and gaining certificates in EMS, basic firefighting, and a certificate of appreciation for his role in aiding the people of Webster County in recovering from a courthouse fire.

His service continues with the Rankin County American Cancer Society, Rankin County Heart Association, Rankin County Rotary Club, Northwest Rankin High School Football Chain Gang, and other various organizations throughout Rankin County. In 2021 he was named the Citizen of the Year by the Junior Auxiliary of Rankin County.

While his community is important to him, more important is his relationship with his family. He has been married for 53 years to Linda and is the father of Josh Swales and Megan Rushing. Larry is also the loving grandfather of five grandchildren: Jackson, Aiden, Jake, Baker, and Remy.

Mr. Swales' service spans many years and many organizations, and I am proud to recognize his service in Rankin County and the state of Mississippi as he prepares to retire from public office.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Donna High Adams. Donna passed away on September 10, 2023, surrounded by family and friends. Having been born in Rockland County, New York, on January 29, 1959, she moved to Columbus, Mississippi in 1975. In 1977, Donna graduated from Heritage Academy and attended the University of Mississippi. She graduated from the Mississippi University for Women in 1982. After graduation in 1982, she married Boyce Elkin Adams of Gulfport. Together they raised three children whom Donna called their ``thrilling three.'' In 1992, her husband, Boyce, founded BankTEL Systems. With the support of Donna, they grew the business into a leading financial software company. Donna will be remembered for her love of others through endless thoughtfulness, generosity, joy of celebrations, and kindness. She was always willing to share her gifts with others through her service. Donna leaves behind a loving family, six adoring grandchildren, and friends who will cherish her legacy. She was an active member of the Junior Auxiliary of Columbus and was involved with Delta Gamma Fraternity. Donna made an impact on everyone she met and made the world a brighter place.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Douglas William Shanks. ``Coach'' Shanks passed away on September 4, 2023. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Doug was born in Soso, Mississippi, to Fred and Frances Shanks of Taylorsville. He grew up in Gulfport and Jackson, graduating from Provine High School. He attended Mississippi State University and later graduated from Liberty University.

Beginning in his twenties, Doug was involved in politics in Jackson, becoming the first Republican Commissioner for the city of Jackson in 1973. He was instrumental in the rise of the Mississippi Republican Party in the 1970s and helped to lead Republican causes throughout Jackson.

As City Commissioner he oversaw the fire department, police department, and sanitation. Doug also was an important figure for the continuation of racial reconciliation in Jackson and across Mississippi through his work as Commissioner by bringing on many African Americans to work in different City departments.

Shanks was also instrumental in bringing the Mets to Jackson and helped to establish Smith-Wills Stadium. Even greater than Doug's love of politics was his love and passion for baseball. Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame baseball coach Hill Denson said of Shanks, ``Doug loved baseball and he lived it. Mississippi baseball is a whole lot better because of Doug Shanks.'' Doug coached baseball at every level, coaching high school, Babe Ruth, Connie Mack and American Legion ball. As the head coach of Hartfield Academy, Doug won 3 MAIS baseball championships. Doug was also the first white head baseball coach in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Doug coached Mississippi Valley State University for 15 years and won 5 SWAC championships.

Doug will be missed by his family, friends and players whose lives he touched during his time with us. The state of Mississippi and the lives of many athletes, family members, and loved ones whom Doug impacted are forever changed. I am honored to recognize the life and legacy of Doug Shanks. I ask that my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives join me in recognizing Doug Shanks' tremendous contributions to his community, state, and Nation.

Mr. Speaker, on July 30, 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law an act of Congress establishing the Small Business Administration (SBA) with the purpose of promoting and supporting small businesses across the United States of America. Since its founding, the SBA has stood as a pillar of support for America's entrepreneurs. Today, we recognize the SBA's invaluable contributions to empowering entrepreneurs; fostering economic opportunity and innovation; and building a vibrant and resilient economy for all Americans.

Over the past seven decades, the SBA has implemented groundbreaking programs and innovative lending initiatives that have helped entrepreneurs transform the economic landscape of our nation. By recognizing these achievements, we honor the SBA' s commitment to fostering economic opportunity and supporting the indomitable spirit of our small business owners.

America is a Nation of progress, and small businesses are vital to spurring the competition and the innovations that drive our economy. The SBA plays a vital role in fostering entrepreneurship.

The SBA has been instrumental in providing access to capital for entrepreneurs who faced obstacles in securing traditional financing. SBA launched the 8(a) Business Development Program which provides support, mentorship, and access to government contracts for socially and economically disadvantaged small business owners. This program opened the doors of opportunity for minority-owned businesses, creating a more inclusive economic landscape.

Recognizing the extraordinary contributions that American women make to our economy, the SBA established the Office of Women's Business Ownership, empowering women entrepreneurs and women-owned small businesses to thrive.

In times of crisis, the SBA plays a crucial role in disaster recovery, providing low-interest disaster loans to businesses and homeowners impacted by natural disasters.

During the unprecedented challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic, the SBA played a pivotal role in keeping our economy afloat with its administration of critical relief programs. The Paycheck Protection Program, COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant helped small businesses keep the lights on, safeguarded millions of jobs, preserved livelihoods, and ensured the survival of American enterprise.

Please join me in honoring the Small Business Administration's legacy by continuing to support and uplift our Nation's small businesses.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 4366, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY 2024.

I am proud that this legislation fully funds programs to care for our Nation's heroes, and it ensures that our military infrastructure needs are met to address critical national security priorities. This bill focuses on the important work of these agencies while also preventing the radical woke policies of the Biden administration from distracting these departments from their primary responsibilities.

A recent example of these policies can be seen in my home State of Mississippi, where a VA facility chose to replace an American flag with an LGBTQ Pride flag.

The mission of the VA is to fulfill President Lincoln's promise, a promise to care for those who have served in our Nation's military, their families, their caregivers, and their survivors. The work and the message of the VA should not be divisive but, rather, respectful toward our veterans and consistent with the purpose for which the VA was created.

I am grateful that language is included in the bill to ensure that the only flags flown over VA facilities or national cemeteries are government, military, or POW/MIA flags.

Mr. Chair, I am proud to support this bill. We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude, not a political message.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4470) to extend the authorization of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program of the Department of Homeland Security, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4470.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4470, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program, also known as CFATS, which is the only Federal program that focuses on security at facilities with chemicals of interest. The authority for this program expires in just 2 days.

While Congress continues to look at improvements and changes with feedback from industry, it is imperative that we reauthorize the program to remain in place to continue to provide stability to the chemical facility industry.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lee) for her work leading this initiative. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4470, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the great State of Florida (Ms. Lee).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the great State of Texas (Mr. Pfluger).

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from the great State of Ohio (Mr. Johnson).

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Ohio.

Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I, once again, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4407 and to quickly move this legislation to the Senate.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1501) to prohibit the Secretary of Homeland Security from operating or procuring certain foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1501.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1501. It is imperative that the Department of Homeland Security is equipped to protect the Nation against all threats. This protection includes ensuring that the unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, that DHS uses and buys are not made in foreign countries that do not align with our interests, countries like China.

DHS requires the dominant, air domain capabilities that drones provide to accomplish many of its land and maritime missions. DHS uses drones for everything from surveilling the border to the Coast Guard National Security Cutter's operational need for a persistent airborne surveillance capability. Utilizing drones is a cost-effective way to cover large areas of the homeland.

However, many of the commercial drones used in the United States are manufactured in China, which dominates the United States' market. Of the top 10 drone manufacturers that supply the United States market, a single Chinese manufacturer towers over the others with nearly 77 percent of market share.

Because of this threat, several other Departments, such as Commerce and Interior, have taken actions to ground their drone fleets until the threat to U.S. Government data can be determined.

DHS has also issued warnings in recent years about Chinese-made drones, specifically citing concerns that they may be sending sensitive data to their manufacturers in China where it can then be assessed by the Chinese Government.

Our colleagues in the Senate share our concerns. In fact, Senator Rick Scott and Mark Warner have introduced similar legislation to ban the purchase and use of these drones across the Federal Government, not just at DHS.

Given the role drones have in protecting homeland security, it is more important than ever to require DHS to assess its drone fleets. Once DHS has identified the extent of the problem, we can then work with the Department to find a suitable solution.

This bill would require DHS to provide a threat assessment report to Congress on whether the agency has analyzed the threat of its drones that are manufactured in covered countries. It would also require that they report the number of these drones the department has in operation and the extent to which the information gathered by these drones may be a threat to the homeland or economic security of the United States.

Second, the bill would prohibit DHS from buying or using drones made in a covered foreign country going forward.

I am proud to say that this bill was passed out of the House Homeland Security Committee in a bipartisan fashion.

I thank my friend and colleague, Chairman Green, for being an original cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation and Congressman Cuellar for being a cosponsor of this bill. I am grateful that this body passed this measure in a bipartisan fashion last Congress, and I am optimistic that we will be able to do so again today.

Madam Speaker, with China looming as a growing threat on the horizon, maintaining our homeland security is of the utmost importance. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1501, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I, again, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1501, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3254) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a process to review applications for certain grants to purchase equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed any applicable national voluntary consensus standards, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on H.R. 3254.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3254, the First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act. It is a great piece of commonsense legislation that will put in place a better process for our first responders to access FEMA grants to purchase new equipment.

I commend my colleague across the aisle, Mr. Payne, for his work on this legislation and supporting first responders. H.R. 3254 passed unanimously out of committee in May, and I urge my colleagues to support its final passage on the floor today.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues in both the House and the Senate to support this legislation, H.R. 3254, which would support our first responders, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kelle Strickland, who is retiring after 20 years of service to the House of Representatives.

Kelle is currently serving as my counsel on the Committee on Ethics and has spent two decades providing invaluable advice to Members and staff.

A native Alabamian, Kelle started her career on the Hill as an intern. She was quickly recognized as a leader and served for 6 years as the legislative director to former Congressman Jo Bonner. She served 5 years as chief of staff to Congressman Michael Burgess, 3 years as chief of staff in the Office of House Sergeant at Arms, and the last several years in her role as counsel to the ranking member and later chairman of the House Committee of Ethics.

I could not have been able to make the transition into my role at the Committee on Ethics without Kelle's guidance. She has served as a wealth of institutional knowledge and a trusted adviser to me since last August.

Kelle's presence in the House will be missed, but she will not go far. Kelle will continue to be a resource to the institution at the helm of the Congressional Institute, where she will undoubtedly enjoy continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to join me in congratulating Kelle and thanking her for her many years of service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Sergeant Major John A. Thomas. Sergeant Major Thomas began his career in 1985 after completing both his basic and individual trainings. Over a 38-year career, Sergeant Major Thomas has served this great Nation to ensure the safety of American citizens and to provide support for military personnel.

Sergeant Major Thomas's decorated career includes being deployed to Egypt in support of the Multi-national Forces and Observers, to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and his emergency rapid response participation in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Ida. Sergeant Major Thomas has received accolades for his service in overseas campaigns fighting terrorism and for his decisive actions in the line of duty.

On behalf of Mississippi's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I thank Sergeant Major John A. Thomas for his service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Chief of the Reservoir Fire Protection District, Scott Berry. Chief Berry is a second-generation fire fighter who began his career as a volunteer at the Reservoir Fire Protection District. Over a 34-year career, Chief Berry has remained loyal to the same fire district and has led firefighters in the Reservoir District since 1996.

For his exceptional leadership, Chief Berry was elected as the President of the Mississippi Fire Chiefs Association in 2012 and was selected as Mississippi Fire Chief of the Year in 2022. Chief Berry has also contributed to the wellbeing of his community--serving as Chairman of the Mississippi Burn Camp for Kids and a CPR/First Aid Instructor. Outside of his community service activities, Chief Berry spends his time as a dedicated husband to his wife, Christy Lane, and loving father to his 2 daughters, Sarah and Rachel.

On behalf of Mississippi's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I thank Chief Berry for his service to his community and state.

Mr. Speaker, Scripture tells us ``Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.''

Our peacemakers make up the thin blue line that protects our communities from crime, and they dedicate their lives to defending innocent citizens from those who seek to do harm. It is of the utmost importance that we honor the men and women of law enforcement and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in this noble pursuit.

Former President Ronald Reagan once said: ``There can be no more noble vocation than the protection of one's fellow citizens. . . . No single group is more fully committed to the well-being of their fellow Americans and to the faithful discharge of duty than our law enforcement personnel.''

Law enforcement lives by a creed, to serve and protect. In the performance of their duties, danger is a routine part of their job, and we, on occasion, lose valiant men and women.

This legislation recognizes by name the 556 officers, 224 who were killed in the line of duty in 2022, and 332 others whose stories were lost until now.

Within this list are nine brave Mississippians who lost their lives in service to their communities, including Meridian Police Officer Kennis Winston Croom, who was killed in the line of duty in June of last year while responding to a domestic violence call.

Officer Croom and 555 other officers are brave heroes who laid down their lives to protect those they served.

Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

It is legislation that would acknowledge that police officers and law enforcement personnel, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, should be remembered and honored.

It expresses unwavering support for law enforcement officers, and it recognizes the law enforcement community for their continual unseen acts of sacrifice and heroism. It expresses condolences to the loved ones of each of the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice to their fellow man and gave their lives in the line of duty.

May God bless our peacemakers, and we ask His protection on them as they protect us.