Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5074) to authorize cyber incident response teams at the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the DHS Cyber Incident Response Teams Act.

Before I discuss the bill, however, I would like to say a few words about the recent bombings in my hometown of Austin. In the past month, there have been a total of four bombings that have killed two people and injured four others. These are heinous, hateful acts on innocent Americans, and they will not be tolerated.

I know the people of Austin very well, and they will not be intimidated. I urge everyone back home to take caution and heed the warnings of local law enforcement. We will find whoever is responsible for these bombings and bring them to justice.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to now address the bill I have introduced and the threats confronting our cybersecurity.

As technology advances, more and more people are relying on their computers, iPads, and smartphones for both personal and professional use. In short, Mr. Speaker, everyone is a target.

But our enemies do not just attack individuals and their devices. They also put America's critical infrastructure sectors in their crosshairs, endangering all aspects of civilian life. These sectors include our financial services, healthcare systems, dams, and our energy production, among others. All of them play a vital role in making America work, and each one is vulnerable to an attack.

Last week, the FBI and DHS reported that Russian hackers had engineered a series of cyber attacks against American and European nuclear power plants and electric systems. Crippling or shutting down our power plants would have catastrophic effects.

We also know that Russia tried to undermine the credibility of our democratic system in the 2016 elections and are likely to try again in 2018. Strengthening our cyber election security needs to be a bipartisan priority.

Russia is not the only perpetrator of these kinds of attacks. Between 2011 and 2013, Iranian hackers attacked dozens of U.S. banks and even tried to shut down a dam in New York.

In 2015, we learned that Chinese hackers gained access to the private information of 80 million members and employees of Anthem healthcare. The Chinese also stole 22 million security clearances, including my own, from OPM. This attack allowed them to obtain highly sensitive personal data, including fingerprints and Social Security numbers. These continual onslaughts are part of a greater cyber war being carried out against the United States, even as I stand here and speak.

Unfortunately, it doesn't stop there. Our adversaries have weaponized technology and are using it to engage in espionage and to steal our intellectual property. This costs our economy hundreds of billions of dollars each year. In fact, former NSA Director, General Keith Alexander, described this theft as the ``greatest transfer of wealth in history.''

We must do more to stop these attacks. That is why I have prioritized the cybersecurity mission of DHS as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. Through CISA, the previous bill which passed the House in December, we are elevating and making operational the Department's cybersecurity and infrastructure protection missions.

As part of the landmark DHS reauthorization, which passed the House in July, the Department will be required to provide volunteer assistance to State and local election officials upon request. These were important bipartisan steps, but we need to do more.

The legislation before us today codifies and enhances the cyber incident response times at DHS. These teams shall provide, upon request, assistance to asset owners and operators following cyber incidents, including with election infrastructure.

These teams may also include cybersecurity specialists from the private sector to provide outside expertise, which is a new, innovative breakthrough. By fostering this new collaboration between government and private sector, we can harness our talent and maximize our efforts to stay one step ahead of our enemies.

This innovative approach serves as a force multiplier to enhance our cybersecurity workforce. Being able to utilize a great number of experts will strengthen our efforts to protect our cyber networks. My bill provides DHS with that necessary capability.

The American people deserve to know that we are making every effort to strengthen our cybersecurity. This bill helps us achieve that goal, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, this is a hugely important issue. I think cyber often gets overlooked when we look at kinetic threats of nuclear missiles coming out of North Korea, which is obviously a huge threat to the United States and its allies. But in cyberspace, we are at war, as well, with countries like Russia and China and Iran and North Korea, the Russian meddling in the elections. We can't sit idly by and let that happen again in 2018.

I think this is, as Mr. Thompson stated, a very bipartisan issue that we need to work together on against our foreign adversaries that every day are trying to undermine us, stealing intellectual property, espionage, or bringing down things in a cyber warfare attack. It is not the future of warfare; it is warfare here and now.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following cost estimate for H.R. 4581, the Screening and Vetting Passenger Exchange Act of 2017, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, February 12, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of

Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4581, the

Screening and Vetting Passenger Exchange Act of 2017.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark

Grabowicz.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall,

Director.

Enclosure.

H.R. 4581--Screening and Vetting Passenger Exchange Act of 2017

As passed by the House of Representatives on January 9, 2018

H.R. 4581 would require the Department of Homeland Security

(DHS) to develop effective practices for screening certain

people entering the United States through the review of

information provided by those travelers. The act would direct

DHS to share those practices with certain other countries.

DHS is currently carrying out activities similar to those

that would be required by the act; thus, CBO estimates that

implementing H.R. 4581 would not significantly affect

spending by DHS.

Enacting H.R. 4581 would not affect direct spending or

revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4581 would not increase

net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.

H.R. 4581 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz.

The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy

Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 4555, the DHS Interagency Counterterrorism Task Force Act of 2017, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, January 26, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4555, the DHS

Interagency Counterterrorism Task Force Act of 2017.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark

Grabowicz.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall, Director.

Enclosure.

H.R. 4555--DHS Interagency Counterterrorism Task Force Act of 2017

As passed by the House of Representatives on January 9, 2018

H.R. 4555 would authorize Customs and Border Protection in

the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assign personnel

to participate in overseas interagency task forces to combat

the threat of terrorism. DHS is currently carrying out

activities similar to those that would be authorized by the

act; thus, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4555 would

not significantly affect spending by DHS.

Enacting H.R. 4555 would not affect direct spending or

revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4555 would not increase

net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.

H.R. 4555 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz.

The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy

Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 4578, the Counter Terrorist Network Act, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, January 26, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4578, the

Counter Terrorist Network Act.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark

Grabowicz.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall, Director.

Enclosure.

H.R. 4578--Counter Terrorist Network Act

As passed by the House of Representatives on January 11, 2018

H.R. 4578 would authorize Customs and Border Protection in

the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assign personnel

to other agencies to support partnerships for sharing global

information to enhance border security. The act also would

direct DHS to collaborate with other agencies to combat

foreign terrorist organizations. DHS is currently carrying

out activities similar to those that would be required by the

act; thus, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4578 would

not significantly affect spending by DHS.

Enacting H.R. 4578 would not affect direct spending or

revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4578 would not increase

net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.

H.R. 4578 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz.

The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy

Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 4433, the Securing Department of Homeland Security Firearms Act

of 2017, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, January 26, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4433, the

Securing DHS Firearms Act of 2017.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark

Grabowicz.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall, Director.

Enclosure.

H.R. 4433--Securing DHS Firearms Act of 2017

As passed by the House of Representatives on January 9, 2018

H.R. 4433 would require the Department of Homeland Security

(DHS) to improve the security and accountability for firearms

and other sensitive assets controlled by the department (such

as badges worn by certain DHS personnel). The department is

currently carrying out activities similar to those that would

be required by the act; thus, CBO estimates that implementing

H.R. 4433 would not significantly affect DHS spending.

Enacting H.R. 4433 would not affect direct spending or

revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4433 would not increase

net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.

H.R. 4433 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz.

The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy

Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate H.R. 4564, the Post-Caliphate Threat Assessment Act of 2017, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

Congressional Budget Office,

U.S. Congress,

Washington, DC, January 18, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4564, the Post-

Caliphate Threat Assessment Act of 2017.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark

Grabowicz.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall, Director.

Enclosure.

H.R. 4564--Post-Caliphate Threat Assessment Act of 2017

As passed by the House of Representatives on January 9, 2018

H.R. 4564 would require the Department of Homeland Security

(DHS) to prepare a threat assessment related to the current

activities of foreign terrorist fighters, including

information on the travel patterns and countries of origin

for such persons. The act would require DHS, within 180 days

of enactment, to report to the Congress on the results of the

assessment. Using information from DHS, CBO estimates that

implementing the act's provisions would cost less than

$500,000; such spending would be subject to the availability

of appropriated funds.

Enacting H.R. 4564 would not affect direct spending or

revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4564 would not increase

net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.

H.R. 4564 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz.

The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy

Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 4567, the DHS Overseas Personnel Enhancement Act of 2017, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, January 18, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4567, the DHS

Overseas Personnel Enhancement Act of 2017.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark

Grabowicz.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall.

Enclosure.

H.R. 4567--DHS Overseas Personnel Enhancement Act of 2017

As passed by the House of Representatives on January 10, 2018

H.R. 4567 would require the Department of Homeland Security

(DHS) to devise a plan to improve the effectiveness of DHS

personnel who are stationed at foreign locations. The act

also wou1d require DHS--about twice a year over the next four

years--to provide briefings to the Congress on department

personnel with primary duties outside the United States.

Using information from DHS, CBO estimates that implementing

the act's provisions would cost less than $500,000 annually;

such spending would be subject to the availability of

appropriated funds.

Enacting H.R. 4567 would not affect direct spending or

revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4567 would not increase

net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.

H.R. 4567 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz.

The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy

Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, to the United States, and to recognize the strong and growing relationship between our two countries.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Kazakhstan became an independent nation, and the United States was the first country to recognize it. Since then, over the last 26 years, Kazakhstan and the United States have built a strategic partnership based on mutual trust, commitment, and genuine friendship in order to advance our bilateral political, military and economic goals.

Over the years, a major pillar of our strategic partnership has been built on a shared interest in nuclear non-proliferation and security. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan inherited the fourth largest nuclear stockpile in the world-roughly 1,410 nuclear warheads. Through President Nazarbayev's leadership, and in conjunction with the United States, Kazakhstan renounced its arsenal, became a non- nuclear state, and continues to be a leader in nuclear security.

Further, the economic ties between our two countries continue to expand, particularly in areas such as energy and investment. This is evident through our work to implement WTO obligations and improve the investment climate. In 2016, bilateral trade with Kazakhstan grew to $1.9 billion (a 117 percent increase from 2015), supporting more than 7,000 U.S. jobs. Just last year, the USA Pavilion at Kazakhstan's International Expo showcased the successful collaboration between our two countries and paved the way for future joint projects and partnerships.

Lastly, as the Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, I am proud of the close partnership our two nations have forged on efforts to promote peace and stability around the world. I am particularly appreciative of the role Kazakhstan has played in support of United States counter-terrorism efforts following the unforgettable attack on our homeland on September 11, 2001. President Nazarbayev's dedication to working with the United States to defeat terrorism and extremism around the world is sincerely appreciated, and critical to our success.

As a testament to our long history of friendship and advancement of mutual priorities, I look forward to increasing the collaboration between our two countries in the years to come. Kazakhstan remains one of our most reliable and trusted partners throughout the world, and I am eager to watch our relationship grow in the future.

Mr. Speaker, the following cost estimate for H.R. 4553, the Terrorist Screening and Targeting Review Act of 2017, prepared by the Congressional Budget Office was not made available to the Committee at the time of filing of the legislative report by the Committee Homeland Security.

Congressional Budget Office,

U.S. Congress,

Washington, DC, January 18, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4553, the

Terrorist Screening and Targeting Review Act of 2017.

If you wish further details on this estimates, we will be

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew

Pickford.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall, Director.

Enclosure.

H.R. 4553--Terrorist Screening and Targeting Review Act of 2017

As reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security on January 9,

2018

H.R. 4553 would direct the Government Accountability Office

(GAO) to conduct a review of the National Targeting Center in

the Department of Homeland Security and the Terrorist

Screening Center in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The

review would cover the authorization, funding; management,

and operation of the centers, and it would be completed

within a year of enactment.

Considering the cost of recent GAO work involving those

centers and the level of effort for similar homeland security

reports, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost

$1 million over the 2018-2019 period, assuming the

availability of appropriated funds. Enacting the bill would

not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-

you-go procedures do not apply.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4553 would not increase

direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four

consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.

H.R. 4553 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew

Pickford. The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss,

Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Cyber Diplomacy Act, and I want to thank Chairman Royce and Eliot Engel for their strong work on this very important issue.

As chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I have passed numerous bills to strengthen our cyber operations to defend the American people and the homeland. Now, I am pleased to see that we are doing the same at the State Department.

As we have seen, rapid technological advancements have increased our dependence on computer networks. With this growing dependence comes exposure to the myriad vulnerabilities and threats from cybercriminals and hackers but also nation states who continue to launch malicious attacks against us.

Currently, as the chairman stated, there are no real international norms or standards to follow when it comes to cybersecurity. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, I believe that Congress must put forth responsible policies to keep pace--protecting our systems, our critical infrastructure, and American citizens' information and privacy.

This legislation helps ensure the open, reliable, and secure use of the internet by establishing the Office of Cyber Issues within the Department of State, headed by an ambassador responsible for advancing U.S. national security and foreign policy interests on cybersecurity and issues of internet freedom around the globe.

This legislation also requires the Secretary of State to produce a strategy on cyberspace to guide U.S. policy.

Lastly, it requires the State Department to add a section to its annual report on human rights detailing governments'--such as Iran, Russia, and China--silence of their opposition through internet censorship.

Mr. Speaker, I stand proud to be with my colleagues in the House in a bipartisan fashion to propose solutions to these very grave challenges that face the United States and the world.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 4708) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue Department of Homeland Security-wide guidance and develop training programs as part of the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office regarding H.R. 4559. The cost estimate was not available at the time of the filing of the Committee report.

U.S. Congress,

Congressional Budget Office,

Washington, DC, January 9, 2018.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has

prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4559, the Global

Aviation System Security Reform Act of 2017.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be

pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Megan

Carroll.

Sincerely,

Keith Hall.

Enclosure.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Screening and Vetting Passenger Exchange Act. I want to thank Congressman Fitzpatrick for bringing this important legislation. The United States is currently experiencing one of the highest terror threat environments since 9/11.

Despite crushing the caliphate in Iraq and Syria, ISIS continues to demonstrate its capability to inspire attacks on the West, including in the homeland. The two terror attacks in New York City late last year are stark reminders of this reality and the threat facing the United States. Given the nature of this evolving threat, I established a task force on denying terrorists entry into the United States last year and I appointed Representative Mike Gallagher to head up the effort.

I would like to thank all of the members of the task force for their hard work in making this effort a success. I charged this task force with examining how terrorists might infiltrate the homeland, identifying challenges with current U.S. Government information sharing and vetting procedures, and reviewing the screening agencies' structure and bureaucracy.

After completing its review, the task force issued a report outlining its findings and providing seven recommendations designed to address the identified gaps. These recommendations were the basis for several of the bills we are considering today. As evidenced by the recent spate of attacks, there is a large population of radicalized individuals in Europe who are willing to commit violence in the name of terrorist groups like ISIS. We must remain vigilant and cannot forget many of these individuals are just one flight away from the United States.

Given the seriousness of this threat, we must do more at home and abroad to screen and vet people seeking to enter the United States. The bills we are considering today will enhance our capabilities by improving information sharing and promoting efficiencies in the screening and vetting process, helping ensure the homeland is the best secured against terrorist infiltration.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this resolution condemning the Iranian regime's crackdown on legitimate protests and to show the world that America stands with the Iranian people who want peace, prosperity, and freedom.

For many years, we have known the regime in Iran has fueled radicalism and violence across the Middle East as the world's leading state sponsor of terror. But over the last few weeks, we have seen the brutal tactics Iran's leaders are willing to take to silence protesters who are fed up with extremism, corruption, and incompetence coming from their capital. The protesters deserve to have their voices heard without fear of retaliation.

Today, Iranians are not citizens who are free to choose their own destinies. They are subject to a fanatical dictatorship that fears the people it rules by denying their freedoms.

Sadly, the Obama administration believed that the Ayatollah and his radical clerics would be willing partners for peace, naively rewarding them with billions of dollars in sanction relief. It is clear, however, that, since the signing of the flawed Iran deal, the regime's behavior has only gotten worse by continuing its support for terror groups like Hezbollah and its backing of Houthi rebels in Yemen, all in pursuit of establishing a Shia crescent.

Fortunately, the current administration and this Congress will not be so easily fooled or complicit in their foreign adventurism. Leaders of rogue states will say whatever they must to bring unearned concessions from great powers.

But if it is real change that is desired, we must apply more pressure. We cannot trust a country's government to be peaceful with other nations if it resorts to violence against its own people it is supposed to protect.

That is why I will soon introduce legislation that requires the Trump administration to determine whether senior members of the Government of Iran are responsible or complicit in human rights abuses, corruption, or censorship.

Mr. Speaker, the bill also calls out the Iranian regime's practice of taking American citizens and other foreign nationals hostage, and lays out several steps the administration should take in conjunction with our allies to put an end to this practice.

A time will come when the tyrants of Tehran are held accountable for their actions. After many decades of authoritarian rule, Iranians deserve to be free. When democracy finally does flourish in Iran, the people will remember who stood by their side.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an integral part of my communications team, Renn Osborne. Renn proved to be a valuable asset and a dedicated team player who helped articulate the mission of the Homeland Security Committee and our Members. He first served as an intern in the Committee's press office, then as a Press Assistant, and finally rising to the position of Deputy Press Secretary.

Renn effortlessly juggled print media requests with the daily challenges of the Committee's fast-paced press office. His sound judgment, quick action, and strong political acumen helped shape the Committee's message development. Renn was crucial in communicating the Committee's actions to help protect the American people.

His abilities were on display at the 53rd United States-Mexico Interparliamentary Group Meeting in Mexico City this past summer. The meeting transpired at a pivotal time, and Renn's efforts were key in communicating the close historic, economic, and cultural bonds that have been forged as a result of the U.S.-Mexico relationship over the past 192 years.

I am pleased that Renn has continued his public service on Capitol Hill as the speechwriter for Senator Rob Portman. I look forward to seeing him continue to grow and develop as a wordsmith and as a communicator who is happy to serve his fellow citizens.