Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to co-lead H.R. 8844 with my colleagues, Congressman Evans, Congresswoman Newman, and Congresswoman Kim.

I also thank Chairwoman Velazquez and Ranking Member Luetkemeyer for their support on this bill.

It is good to see Republicans and Democrats working in a bipartisan fashion on the Small Business Committee. When we can come to an agreement, the American people benefit.

H.R. 8844 would reauthorize the State Trade Expansion Program for 4 fiscal years. STEP provides financial awards to States to assist small businesses with export development.

To demonstrate the importance of this program, I would like to highlight an example of a business that has benefited from the STEP program in my district.

Paraclipse Systems, LLC, based in Columbus, Nebraska, manufacturers-- of all things--nonintrusive fly--as in the insect--control products that you can install in your home.

With a $10,000 investment, Paraclipse was able to expand its sales and create 14 jobs.

STEP leverages Federal resources to ensure small businesses across the country can compete in the global marketplace.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be a co-lead of this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, during new Member orientation with the freshman class, which I now claim, we were addressed by the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

She shared with us the history of her post and that, in 1789, the Clerk of the House of Representatives was named as the second officer following the Speaker of this storied institution.

Mr. Speaker, I have the great privilege today to rise and congratulate one of the Nation's longest-serving clerks of a State legislature in America's history.

Just like yesterday, when we were impressed with the history of this institution, it goes without saying that institutions like this are sacred because of the work of the nonpartisan staff, the people who pay attention to the parliamentary procedure, the quiet ones that sit next to the loud ones, the clerks of the United States State legislatures and this body.

Mr. Patrick O'Donnell lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, and he has had a distinguished career as clerk of the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature. In 1977, he became the assistant clerk. He became the clerk in 1978.

Patrick has a record of defending the legislature as a unique institution in our United States. He believes in the process and has championed the vision of Nebraska voters when the voters changed to a unicameral back in 1937.

As a former speaker of the Nebraska Unicameral, he taught me and hundreds of other legislators what a powerful and important role our branch of government should play in leading this Nation and our States.

The Founders of this country envisioned the legislative branch as the most powerful branch of government. It was clear their intent was that the people directly elected in their districts should decide where the money is spent and the policies to be enforced.

After 44 years on the job, Mr. Patrick O'Donnell is retiring now as the longest-serving clerk among his contemporaries in State legislatures across this Nation. Only a couple of past clerks have longer recorded tenures.

It is my privilege and honor on this floor to recognize a clerk that has gone above and beyond for the people of his State and been a resource to clerks and legislators throughout the United States during his 44-year tenure.

On behalf of the First District of Nebraska, congratulations and best wishes on your retirement, Mr. Clerk, Mr. Patrick O'Donnell of Nebraska.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of America's first radio stations, WJAG-AM, licensed to Norfolk, Nebraska. It is celebrating 100 years this year.

In 1922, radio pioneer Gene Huse established WJAG as one of the first radio stations west of the Mississippi River.

The station became and remains an important part of everyday life for Nebraskans. Gene Huse realized that most people did not own a radio, so he printed instructions in his local newspaper on how to build one. Many more went to the movie theater or the fire station to hear play- by-play of the World Series, dance to music, and receive agricultural news.

Today, his grandson, Bill Huse, continues the tradition of service. WJAG has been owned by the same family since its start in 1922. The station is an American original.

On behalf of the First District of Nebraska, I congratulate WJAG on 100 years of service and wish those at the station another 100 years of success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the SBIR and STTR Extension Act of 2022.

I thank Chair Velazquez and Ranking Member Luetkemeyer for their work in a bipartisan fashion. I also thank Senators Ernst and Cardin for what they have done for this legislation. I am pleased that this bill has been brought to the floor in an expedited fashion.

The Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Extension Act is an important piece of legislation, and the changes this bill brings to these programs are urgently needed.

For those who are not familiar, the Small Business Innovation Research program was created in 1982. The program was intended to spur American innovation and harness ingenuity by increasing small business engagement in federally funded research and development.

More recently, however, the Chinese Government has been manipulating this program. A report from the Department of Defense in April 2021 revealed some of the tactics China has used to this end.

The DOD revealed instances where companies were created, received SBIR grants, and then the founders mysteriously dissolved the company. Upon further investigation, it became clear that these companies were either recruited to China or were formed with the intent of returning to China from the start.

Either way, the result was the same: The American taxpayers funded projects that were stolen by the Chinese Government. This was simply an unacceptable status quo.

This bill fixes those problems. It implements strong safeguards against the influence of China or other foreign actors, and it creates new reporting requirements for these programs that will ensure taxpayer dollars are properly used.

This bill also brings the SBIR back to its original purpose: to spur innovation and unlock the ingenuity of American small businesses.

With these changes to the program, we can make sure the SBIR and STTR are stronger and more accessible for entrepreneurs in Nebraska and across the country.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to wish Ken Stinson from Omaha, Nebraska, a happy 80th birthday.

A Notre Dame grad, a degree in civil engineering, two tours in Vietnam, a master's degree in civil engineering from Stanford, he had a wonderful career with Peter Kiewit Sons in Omaha, one of the Nation's largest general contractors.

He is an accomplished engineer credited with the McHenry Tube Tunnel in the Baltimore Harbor, which more than 43 million vehicles pass through annually.

He and his wife, Ann, live in Omaha with six children. He has changed lives in the State of Nebraska through his public service and through his philanthropy. Nebraska and America are a better place because of it.

On behalf of the people of the First District of Nebraska, all Nebraskans, and our Nation, a very happy birthday to Ken Stinson.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the legacy of Chief Master Sergeant James M. McCoy of Omaha. Recognizing his life of service, both public and private, the United States lost an outstanding leader and, certainly, Nebraska lost a friend.

Born in Creston, Iowa, he entered the Air Force at 18 years old in 1951. In 1979, he was named the sixth chief master sergeant of the United States Air Force. Whether as an instructor or part of a major command, he was an exceptional person, eventually being named one of the 12 Outstanding Airmen during his assignment with the Pacific Air Forces.

My district is home to Offutt Air Force Base, a pillar in our U.S. strategic defense. In 2007, its Airman Leadership School was named for McCoy, and in 2016, he was inducted into the Strategic Air Command Hall of Fame. Just recently, in 2021, the Air Force Association awarded McCoy its Lifetime Achievement Award in the school now bearing his name.

On behalf of the First District of Nebraska, I thank him and his family for his great service to his community and his Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be here.

I would like to recognize my wife, Mandy, and my two boys, Brendan and Blake, both future Cornhusker linebackers. Their support and hard work have made this day possible.

My mom passed away in January, and today would have been her 79th birthday. Although she is a Democrat, I know she was smiling from Heaven as I took my oath tonight.

When the people of Nebraska's First Congressional District woke up this morning, they simply wanted to know that their elected officials and leaders were working to solve problems, create opportunities for their children, and make sure our homeland is safe.

In that spirit, with a deep sense of abiding love for our country, I look forward to working with all of you to find solutions to America's toughest problems.

I pledge to be honest, work for the betterment of our country, and conduct myself in such a way that I honor this institution, the people's House.