Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an often overlooked segment of our Nation's legal profession: rural lawyers.

Across the First District and in communities throughout our State, rural lawyers represent the very best of the profession: selfless service and meaningful local impact.

Today, I recognize the outstanding career of Shane Placek of Fremont. While Shane practices in a range of areas, he has earned particular respect among his peers for his work in domestic law. Shane's skill and tenacity are deeply appreciated by his clients and respected by judges, and even the counsel on the other side appreciates him. His thorough preparation, professionalism, and record of success demonstrate his unwavering dedication to families navigating difficult times.

A proud son of Fremont, Shane returned to his hometown after earning his J.D. from the University of Minnesota, choosing to serve the very community that shaped him.

It is a privilege to recognize Shane's distinguished career, which reflects the hard work, integrity, and grit that define rural lawyers across our State.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lee Polikov, the longtime county attorney for Sarpy County, Nebraska.

Lee is a graduate of Omaha Westside High School. He later earned his bachelor's and J.D. from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Along the way, he was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

He was eventually appointed to become the Sarpy County Attorney, after serving as a deputy in the sheriff's office. Through the years, he has managed a team of about 100 staff as he has worked to maintain the integrity of the county attorney's office and keep people safe.

This year, Lee decided not to run for reelection.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Lee for his work leading the Sarpy County Attorney's Office and for serving the people of Sarpy County through the years.

Best wishes on his retirement, and I am sure tonight, like we all are, he will enjoy watching the Big Red defeat the Hawkeyes in the Sweet 16.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the selfless service of our brave men and women in uniform during Operation Epic Fury and to honor the life of one of Nebraska's own, Sergeant First Class Noah Tietjens of Bellevue, Nebraska.

Earlier this month, Sergeant Tietjens lost his life while supporting Operation Epic Fury.

Continuing a proud family tradition of military service, he began his career in 2006. Through the years, Sergeant Tietjens earned numerous awards for his leadership and courage, including the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, and more.

From his time managing a local Hardee's to his patriotic service in our Armed Forces, Sergeant Tietjens left a lasting impact on all who knew him.

I know Nebraskans from across the State are grieving alongside the Tietjens family. We are praying for his wife, Shelly, and their son, Dylan.

Sergeant Tietjens' service and sacrifice will forever be a testament to his heroic decision to answer the call to serve our country.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Hill; Ranking Member Waters; and my counterpart on the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee, Ranking Member Cleaver, for all of their work on this package.

This is how Congress is supposed to work. We all worked hard to bring forth a bipartisan housing bill that addresses housing affordability. The Housing for the 21st Century Act cuts costs, slashes red tape, and will increase housing supply.

There is no question that the legislation before us is a historic rewriting of our housing laws to bring our housing market into the 21st century.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the median annual existing home price in 2024 was up 69 percent relative to 1995, and that figure is adjusted for inflation. The realtors also have data showing that the median age of a first-time home buyer is 40 years old. This is an absolutely astounding figure.

Some estimates put the gap between housing supply and demand at about 3.85 million units, while other estimates show it to be 5 million units. This housing affordability challenge affects everyone, from young people saving up for their first home, to middle-class workers who are working as hard as they can to provide for their family and are just trying to make the rent.

There is no silver bullet for fixing this problem, but I think that this bill, this legislation, includes a range of meaningful housing reforms that will add to housing supply and ultimately decrease housing costs.

I will take a moment to highlight a few provisions that I think will make a difference. Section 104 and 105 of the bill works to rightsize the environmental reviews on both HUD and USDA housing projects to properly reflect their impact on the environment. This legislation ensures that these environmental reviews are properly tailored to the real impact of a project going forward, and this change will ensure that more housing projects break ground on time and on budget.

Section 201 includes reform of the HOME Investment Partnerships, the largest block grant program at HUD dedicated to building affordable housing. This bill would change HOME by slashing environmental reviews, easing labor cost burdens like the ones created by section 3 HUD requirements, and providing greater flexibility for cities and towns across the country to use HOME dollars to promote homeownership.

Section 301 makes important changes for manufactured housing. I give a special thanks to Congressman John Rose and his extremely important bill that would remove the requirement that a manufactured home be built with a chassis. That saves money. That one change is going to enable a significant growth for manufactured housing, and it will reduce the cost of manufactured homes.

Finally, title 6 of this bill adds meaningful community banking reforms to this legislation. It eases the burdens for de novo banks so that new banks can get off the ground. It tailors regulatory requirements for the smallest community banks, and it reforms the bank resolution process.

Mr. Speaker, the bottom line is that the Housing for the 21st Century Act is a comprehensive, bipartisan housing reform package that will increase housing supply, slash government regulations that keep housing costs high, and unleash our community banking sector.

Mr. Speaker, I thank everybody who worked on this bill, especially the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver), Chairman Hill, and Ranking Member Waters.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a pillar of Nebraska broadcasting, Gary Sadlemyer, who, after nearly five decades behind the microphone at KFAB News Radio, has officially retired.

Since first stepping into KFAB's studio in 1976, Gary's signature voice has been trusted by generations of listeners.

From morning news to Nebraska football broadcasts, Gary's professionalism, wit, and warmth made him not just a radio host, but a friend to his audiences.

Gary's commitment to excellence earned him induction into the Nebraska Broadcasters Association's Hall of Fame in 2011. Simply put: Gary's impact on the people of Nebraska will endure long after his final sign-off.

As he steps into this next chapter, Gary will enjoy more time with his kids and grandkids.

Today, I join Nebraskans everywhere in thanking Gary Sadlemyer for his decades of commitment to our state as a superb broadcaster and I wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize a key figure of Nebraska journalism and cornerstone of KETV's newsroom, Rob McCartney.

Over 40 years covering the Nebraska-Iowa area, Rob became a trusted, reliable voice for generations of Nebraskans. After 33 years at KETV, Rob's impact on our state's media landscape is nothing short of significant.

The breadth of Rob's career was reaffirmed when he recently accepted the Nebraska Broadcasters Association's award for Best Election Coverage on behalf of KETV.

Whether reporting on our Huskers, traveling with the Nebraska National Guard overseas, or sharing the inspiring recovery of an Omaha police officer, Rob's dedication to journalism built an incredible legacy.

While his final broadcast was a bittersweet moment for Nebraska, the broadcast journalist who guided us through triumphs and trials finally now has more time with his family. I congratulate Rob on an extraordinary career. Happy retirement.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a great Nebraskan who passed way last year, Loran Schmit.

Loran's life of remarkable public service began with humble roots on his family's farm, shaping his deep understanding of rural life and inspiring his bold vision for Nebraska's future. Loran's leadership and vision were instrumental in developing our state's great ethanol industry--helping strengthen our ag economy for generations.

First elected to the Unicameral in 1969, Loran devoted nearly 25 years to serving our state. Among his many accomplishments, Loran helped create what would become the Nebraska Ethanol Board, an institution that continues to drive innovation in our ag economy.

Known as an advocate for agriculture and biofuels, Loran remained devoted to these causes with an unwavering sense of purpose. His presence will be deeply missed.

Our hearts and our prayers are with his family as we celebrate a life of service and lasting impact.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Papillion, Nebraska's, Mayor David Black, as a paragon of public service and remarkable stewardship.

Through more than two decades of service to the people of Papillion,

Mayor Black helped to guide the city into the thriving economic hub that it is today. This month, he announced that he will not seek reelection, which will conclude 17\1/2\ years as mayor and nearly 5 additional years of serving the city in other roles.

Mayor Black leaves behind a strong foundation built on partnership with an exceptional professional staff and the business community.

Decades of engagement and community outreach have produced clear results, attracting firms like Google and Facebook to expand to Papillion.

He will be deeply missed by the people of Papillion, and I am hopeful he will continue public service down the road. Mayor Black has more than earned the opportunity to spend additional time with his family once his final term in office concludes.

Papillion, Mr. Speaker, is a special place, with Mayor Black's legacy being built yet another example of that truth. I thank Mayor Black for his outstanding public service.

Ben Sasse Never Stops Fighting

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse.

Ben is a Nebraskan, a native, and a Fremonter. He lives in the First Congressional District. Early in his career, he served as chief of staff for a previous member of the same district.

Last month, Ben announced that he had been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. This news stunned me, and, quite frankly, it stunned the world.

Ever since Ben has stepped back from public life following his time in the Senate and at the University of Florida, his intellect and voice have continued to influence conversation across the country.

From education to healthcare and beyond, he has shaped debates in higher ed, politics, journalism, and more through the years. Ben did this all at a young age. Even though he has a very public profile, he and his wife, Melissa, have built a vibrant family. All of this made the cancer diagnosis seem almost unthinkable.

While this is hard news for all of us to hear, we know this isn't the end of the story. Ben has a lot of fight left in him, and as he has joked himself: ``He is not dead yet.''

From the people of the First District and across Nebraska, Mr. Speaker, may Ben know that we are praying for him. We are with him, with Melissa, and his kids. I know he won't back down from this fight.

Mr. Speaker, first I thank the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Houchin), my friend, for her leadership on this very important issue. It has been an absolute pleasure working with her on this bill, which makes manufactured housing less expensive and more accessible to Americans.

I also serve as the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee chairman with the Financial Services Committee. Our Committee has jurisdiction over the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is responsible and should be solely responsible for manufactured housing codes.

Manufactured homes are more affordable than site-built and even modular homes, in part because they are built to one single Federal code. Regulatory streamlining isn't just a bonus for manufactured housing; it is at the core of what makes these homes cost effective.

That is why this legislation is so important. Inviting a second regulator into the business of manufactured housing codes really undermines a key value proposition for manufactured housing.

Since legislation passed in 2007 mandating the Department of Energy establish energy efficiency standards for manufactured homes, the Department of Energy has struggled to effectively craft and implement these standards.

They released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in 2010, and it took them 6 years to propose draft standards in 2016. The final standards were released 15 years after enactment in 2022, but then the Department of Energy delayed implementation of the rule because they were unsure of how they would even enforce the rule. We are now approaching 19 years since enactment, and the Department of Energy is still behind schedule.

Unfortunately, the actual content of the final rule is also problematic. The Department of Energy has been sued for this rulemaking for both failing to coordinate with HUD, which was mandated in the statute, and failing to adequately consider costs.

The Department of Energy even admitted in their final rule that their analysis has not ``included any potential associated costs of testing, compliance, or enforcement'' of the mandate.

That is downright embarrassing from an agency tasked with taking cost into account when implementing these standards.

Suffice it to say, the Department of Energy's entry into manufactured housing standards has not gone very well. Their standards are a decade behind schedule, and their rulemaking would significantly increase the costs of these homes. This bill fixes the problem. It puts HUD back in charge of manufactured housing standards, including those related to energy efficiency while still giving the opportunity for HUD to look into this.

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

Mr. Chair, I strongly support the INVEST Act, and I commend Congresswoman Ann Wagner and Congressman Greg Meeks for their hard work on this bipartisan project. This is how Congress is supposed to work.

The INVEST Act will expand access to capital for startups and small businesses, create new pathways for retail investors, and provide greater opportunity to more Americans. One bill in this package I will highlight is the Equal Opportunity for All Investors Act, a bill I lead with Congressman Cleo Fields, Congresswoman Sarah McBride, and Congressman Mike Lawler.

The Equal Opportunity for All Investors Act would expand the accredited investor definition to include individuals that are certified through an exam written by the SEC and administered by FINRA. Accredited investors are individuals that are allowed to participate in investment opportunities that are not generally available to the broader public, like private offerings.

Most current pathways to become an accredited investor are based upon wealth and income. This bill opens up a new pathway, allowing for investors' knowledge to be the determining factor in whether they are able to become an accredited investor.

The examination created by this bill is meant to strike a balance between rigorously testing for sophistication and not being set to such a difficult standard that even an intelligent investor could not pass it.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the INVEST Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV for expanding public access to Congress by carrying C-SPAN, C- SPAN2, and C-SPAN3 beginning next week.

For 46 years, C-SPAN's respected nonprofit service has offered Americans unfiltered, gavel-to-gavel coverage of their government in action. However, millions of streaming households were left without this vital window into the debates and decisions which shape our Nation.

By adding the C-SPAN networks, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV are making a strong and, I hope, enduring commitment to public service, transparency, and civic engagement. They now join cable and satellite providers like Comcast, Charter, Cox, DirecTV, and Dish in supporting a treasured service that strengthens accountability and confidence in our democratic systems.

This is a big win for the American people. Full access will help inform the public, no matter how they choose to watch.

Mr. Speaker, I thank YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV for their important decision.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to celebrate Ken Siemek on his retirement as 10/11's severe weather center chief meteorologist. For over 40 years, Ken has informed Nebraskans with vital, sometimes even lifesaving weather updates.

Since joining 10/11 in 1981, he quickly became synonymous with the trust and reliability across the Lincoln market. He was an ever-steady presence on the newscasts and on the air.

From warning families of severe storms to sharing forecasts with the news of a sunnier tomorrow, Ken's calm, steady voice resonated deeply across the Lincoln media market. His legacy of excellence and dedication will continue to inspire future generations of broadcasters across Nebraska. Through the years, Ken Siemek was the calm before the storm.

Mr. Speaker, I join everyone from Lincoln to Imperial in thanking him for his decades of dedication and wishing him the very best in retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a true pillar of the Norfolk community, Jerry Landkamer, on his recent election as one of five National Vice Commanders of the American Legion.

A proud Legionnaire since 1975, Landkamer has been a cornerstone of Post 16 in Norfolk. He has served at every level--post, county, district, and area--with unmatched dedication to representing our veteran community.

From legislative advocacy in Washington to youth programs like Cornhusker Boys State, Landkamer's commitment to service has never wavered.

His work on national committees including--Americanism, Homeland Security, and Veterans Preference--demonstrates his steadfast commitment to our veterans and Nation.

Jerry Landkamer embodies the very spirit and service of the American Legion. I'm honored to recognize his election to National Vice Commander and know his family and community share in the same pride of this well-earned achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as Constitution Day approaches.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk is a watershed moment for free speech. Charlie made a name for himself exercising his First Amendment rights. He was shot answering a question from a liberal influencer.

His assassination sends a message that if you disagree on the wrong issues, you might end up paying for it, even with your life.

Regardless of politics, Americans don't want a country where people are shot for their views.

Freedom of speech is under serious threat. From gender ideology to race, the far left has weaponized political correctness, punishing dissenters with social and professional consequences.

If we want the First Amendment to survive this moment, we must restore respect for the rule of law and confront the factors fueling division.

Charlie Kirk was reaching out to the other side when he died, and to honor his legacy, we should do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Hill and Ranking Member Waters for their support. I also thank my co-lead on this bill, Congressman Cleo Fields, for all of his work.

The Equal Opportunity for All Investors Act would expand the accredited investor definition to include individuals that are certified through an exam written by the SEC and administered by FINRA.

Accredited investors are individuals that are allowed to participate in investment opportunities that are not generally available to the broader public, like private offerings.

Most current pathways to becoming an accredited investor are based on your balance sheet, your wealth, and your income. This bill changes and opens up a brand-new pathway allowing for investors' knowledge to be the determining factor in whether they are able to become an accredited investor.

In my view, wealth alone is not a particularly strong judge of whether someone should be an accredited investor or not. A better one is whether someone has the knowledge to accurately weigh the benefits and risks of private offerings.

In 2020, the SEC started allowing professional investors with credentials like a Series 65 or a Series 7 to become accredited investors. This was a very helpful step forward, but licensing requirements for brokers and investment advisers go beyond what is needed to properly weigh the risks of private offerings for an individual's personal finances.

Following the principle that merit, not just wealth, should guide who can become an accredited investor, an exam specifically written to determine the sophistication of investors is a natural next step.

The examination created by this bill is meant to strike the right balance between rigorously testing for sophistication and not being set to such a difficult standard that even an intelligent investor could not pass it.

This bill is a commonsense, bipartisan product that will expand opportunity in our capital markets. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.