Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the life of a remarkable man: Mr. Eugene ``Jack'' Kraszewski. A WWII veteran, father, grandfather, and friend, Jack has dedicated his impressive life to serving the United States and his community.

Jack was born on April 15, 1924, grew up on his family farm, and attended school in Pulaski, Wisconsin. However, Jack did not finish high school as he was drafted into the Army at the age of 18 before graduation. Jack was quickly sent off from small town Pulaski to Fort Hulen, Texas, for basic training. At basic training he was extremely successful where he studied and eventually became part of an anti- aircraft unit. After basic training he went on to be deployed and stationed all throughout Europe including Scotland, England, France, Belgium, and Germany. From March of 1943 to February of 1946, Jack valiantly served our country during the height of the tensions of World War II. Jack was even present on D-Day at the Invasion of Normandy, one of the largest amphibious invasions in modern warfare history. All the way from Northeast Wisconsin, Jack was on the front lines of the most notorious invasions in United States military history. I extend my sincere appreciation and thanks to Jack for his unwavering service and commitment to the United States of America.

Following his discharge from the military, Jack returned home and married the love of his life, Marjorie Stender, on October 11, 1958. Jack and Marjorie enjoyed nearly 60 years together and would grow their family, welcoming their two daughters, Anne, and Ruth.

Mr. Speaker, I once again extend my sincere thanks for Jack for his unwavering service and dedication to the United States. He truly embodies all that it means to be part of the Greatest Generation. Our Nation is safer because of his selfless commitment and service. I urge members of this body to join me in honoring Mr. Eugene ``Jack'' Kraszewski in recognition of his service. Mr. Kraszewski is deserving of the highest degree of recognition.

Mr. Speaker, last year, my efforts to ensure foreign adversaries can't control American social media applications was declared dead, and TikTok's lobbyists were celebrating. Today, I'm proud to say its on the path to passing the Senate and headed to the President's desk. The CCP's last ditch attempts to destroy the bill and me personally failed.

And though I didn't expect to have to prioritize my family and leave Congress early, I'll confess this is how I always wanted to go out. On top, with the select committee at the height of its influence, having just passed the most consequential bill of my career, perhaps the most consequential bill of this Congress, and having just completed two historic investigations. And with FISA and these national security supplemental across the finish line, this Congress has completed its most important homework, for which the Speaker deserves enormous credit.

I firmly believe the Speaker has emerged on the other side of this stronger and a statesman. Any Motion to Vacate will fail, the Republican majority will grow as three special election seats get filled in the coming weeks, and what remains of this Congress will involve bipartisan oversight and legislation. And though I will be stepping away from politics, I think after this week my Republican colleagues will have a strong case to make come November, that they held the line for freedom at home and abroad.

It's typical at moments such as these to say ``I have no regrets.'' This is true legislatively and professionally. I accomplished my mission and got to chair the most significant committee in the 118th congress. Yet I have a lingering personal regret. I wish I had devoted more time to building personal relationships with my colleagues. Our time here is frenetic: filled with overlapping committee hearings and constant fundraising events. It's hard to carve out time just to get to know your colleagues, to understand their background and motivation, and thereby develop trust.

Where I was able to do that, with Senator Angus King my co-chair on the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, and with Raja Krishnamoorthi on the China committee, it produced the biggest legislative successes of my 8 years. Put differently, my effectiveness as Congressman wasn't primarily a function of intellect or op-ed writing prowess and certainly not fundraising, it was a direct result of forging friendships across our caucus and maybe more importantly across the aisle.

So if there's a lesson in that for my successor or any of my colleagues it's after a grueling day of a thousand meetings, still make the effort to get that beer with a member you don't know that well. Drink more, tweet less. Get to know your colleagues in real life before trashing them on social media. At the end of the day, Republicans and Democrats, we're all Americans, citizens of the greatest country in the history of the world. Even on our worst day the world is looking to us for leadership. God bless America.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a local Green Bay celebrity and Jeopardy champion, Dr. Ben Chan.

In the Spring of 2023, Ben captured the attention of Jeopardy viewers nationwide. He went on a nine-game winning streak and won more than $250,000 on the trivia show. While he was competing, the fans were charmed by his positive attitude; oftentimes, he could be seen ``raising-the-roof,'' and he always placed an exclamation point after his name. He shared stories about his dogs, Ruthie and Chester, who he plans on spending a portion of his winnings on. Although Ben's winning streak ended over a controversial rule, he was invited back to compete in the Tournament of Champions. Ultimately, Ben has won over $350,000 on Jeopardy.

While Ben has an extensive fan-base nationwide, some of his most loyal fans reside in his hometown of Green Bay. Ben is an assistant professor of philosophy at St. Norbert College in De Pere. The college community continues to embrace Ben and his success on Jeopardy. When he is not on campus, Ben can be found greeting fans in the community. Recently, he hosted public watch parties for his appearances on Tournament of Champions. Wisconsinites flocked to local restaurants and breweries to cheer him on. In addition to these events, Ben uses his platform to promote Northeast Wisconsin organizations. Appleton's Minor League Baseball Team, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, invited Ben to throw out the first pitch last summer. He even had the opportunity to shoot the famous Bratzooka cannon, which launches brats into the stands. When he competed in the Tournament of Champions, he highlighted one of Green Bay's main attractions, Bay Beach Amusement Park.

Mr. Speaker, I offer my sincerest congratulations to Dr. Ben Chan. He is a trivia genius who is making monumental impacts in the Green Bay community. I, along with many Wisconsinites, will miss seeing Ben compete on the show. I look forward to seeing what Ben accomplishes next.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

It is fitting, at least for me, that we are debating this today because one of the very first bills I got passed as a freshman Member of Congress working across the aisle with my fellow classmate, Representative Suozzi, was the Sanctioning the Use of Civilians As Defenseless Shields Act, which first created the authority for the President to sanction Hamas and Hezbollah for their use of human shields.

I remember at the time talking about this barbaric practice. I was met with shock and surprise.

Unfortunately, in the wake of October 7, the entire world has seen the lengths that these terrorist groups will go to in order to advance their genocidal cause, using innocent women and children as human shields. The fact that this may be one of the last bills I get passed in Congress is fitting.

As I alluded to, there is nothing new about this despicable practice, which Hamas has perfected, of using civilians and hostages as human shields. They have been doing it for decades, placing innocents in harm's way. They have been unmasked in recent months for the world to see.

Rocket launchers, weapons caches, and terrorist fighters are found in or near civilian population centers, including sites like schools and mosques, to deliberately limit the Israeli military from striking Hamas targets or, if they do, to incur the condemnation of the world against them in order to limit their effectiveness going forward.

Our condemnation of this heinous war crime is not enough. We must use the full weight of American sanctions to curtail this practice and encourage like-minded countries to combat it, as well.

This bipartisan bill does just that. As the ranking member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs talked about so eloquently, we extend the sunset of that authority, which dates back to 2018, from 2023 to 2030. It includes updates to ensure this is used to punish terrorists. Importantly, it gives the chairmen and ranking members of several congressional committees the power to require a written response from the President with a determination of whether a foreign person meets the criteria for sanctions and the President's justification for imposing or not imposing sanctions.

Additionally, it requires mandatory sanctions on Palestinian Islamic Jihad members who use human shields and supports constructive efforts to combat human shields by requiring the Department of Defense to submit a report to Congress on efforts to equip our allies to counter the use of human shields across the globe.

Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Meeks for their leadership of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and for their support of this bill during the markup.

I am also grateful for Congressman Sherman's partnership in this effort to renew and update these important sanctions.

Again, I think back to where I was 8 years ago as a freshman Member talking about what was then a very niche and poorly understood issue. Unfortunately, because of the barbarism on display, because of Hamas' actions in attacking and killing innocent Israelis, now the entire world has seen this barbaric practice up close. It is time for us to act.

I draw great optimism from the fact that even in this, with everything we have going on in Congress, Republicans and Democrats can come together on something this common sense to stand with our allies and stand firmly against our enemies.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary leadership and contributions of Nicole Van Helden in safeguarding the land and water resources of Wisconsin's Eighth Congressional District.

Throughout her career, Nicole has excelled at bringing partners together to produce results through shared conservation efforts. She played a key role in the growth of Save the Bay, an initiative to reduce the amount of sediment and nutrients leaving rural landscapes and entering tributaries. By facilitating conversations with leaders in a variety of sectors, Save the Bay hosted conversations on solutions to improve water quality and improve soil health. Nicole's leadership, vision, and ability to engage diverse groups were key to expanding Save the Bay's scope and objectives, identifying needs and gaps, and applying strategies to improve and expand conservation farming practices. Since 2015, Nicole has volunteered numerous hours planning and facilitating meetings for Save the Bay.

Nicole has been involved in land conservation for her entire professional career. Shortly after receiving her Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Biological Aspects of Conservation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she joined The Nature Conservancy. Over the past 25 years, she has continued to rise in the ranks at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) starting as assistant of land stewardship and land protection all the way to her current role as TNC's Director of Land Conservation. In this role, she leads conservation staff, projects, and partnerships focused on conserving and improving Wisconsin's resilient landscapes. This includes overseeing TNC's land protection and management work in Wisconsin and forging cooperative relationships with partners from various backgrounds. Her most recent projects include the evaluation of natural lands for inclusion as a National Estuarine Research Reserve, constructed treatment wetlands to capture agricultural runoff, stream and wetland restorations, improved fish passage for migratory Great Lakes fish, and priority-setting tools for conservation actions in the Green Bay watershed. During her career she also played a key role in the protection of St. Martin Island, which is now part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Nicole has clearly been a leader in multiple facets of her career. From being a founding co-chair of the Green Bay Conservation Partners to chairing the Site Evaluation Committee for the Bay of Green Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. She is also active in her sons' Boy Scouts troop and volunteers on the Park, Recreation, and Forestry Committee for the Town of Ledgeview.

Highly respected throughout the conservation community in my district and across Wisconsin, Nicole's extensive institutional knowledge has been an invaluable resource to me during my term in office, and her can-do spirit is an inspiration to all who know her.

It has been my great privilege to work with Nicole during my term in Congress. I thank her for giving generously of her time and talents to advance the Save the Bay initiative, and I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding her unfailing dedication as a champion of conservation.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Services Plus for celebrating its 40th anniversary. The Green Bay company is a shining example of hard work, dedication, and community leadership.

Services Plus was founded, and continues today, as a contract manufacturer and packager of consumer tissue products. Their current partners are some of the largest consumer products goods companies and distributors in the world, most of whom have been longterm partners. Through their ideation, quick execution, flexibility, and ability to create value for their customers, the company has flourished into a nationally renowned and respected industry leader.

Marvin Schumacher left retirement in 1984 to establish Services Plus after a long career as President and founding member of Warehouse Specialists. Marvin's vision for Services Plus prioritized collaboration and customer service with a focus on close relationships with customers and the Green Bay community. Rejecting the idea of developing their own brand, they instead focus on maintaining customer- owned assets and solving a customer's problems. Marvin's values have guided the company's journey to 40 years of sustained success and growth.

Marvin's two oldest sons, Mike and Tom, joined his new mission, learning the ins and outs of the industry from their father. In the 1990s, Marvin retired, this time for good, selling his shares to Mike and Tom. The two brothers carried on their father's legacy at Services Plus until they too retired in 2015; developing a new leadership team led by Services Plus President, Tad Campana. Though no longer at the center of daily operations, the Schumacher family's values and dedication to customer service continue to guide the company forward. Presently, under Tad Campana's leadership, the company plans to be the preferred choice of Outsourced Contract Manufacturing and Outsourced Innovation for consumer tissue products. The continued success of Services Plus would not be possible without talented leadership and hard work from all team members.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Services Plus as they celebrate their 40th anniversary. Through Marvin's vision, his sons' persistence, and Tad's leadership today, the company has found remarkable success and become a cornerstone of our community. It's an honor to witness their journey and to see the impact they've made on Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin, and our country. I wish Services Plus continued prosperity and success in the next 40 years.

Mr. Speaker, TikTok is a threat to our national security because it is owned by ByteDance, which does the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party. We know this because ByteDance leadership says so and because Chinese law requires it.

This bill, therefore, would force TikTok to break up with the Chinese Communist Party. It does not apply to American companies. It only applies to companies subject to the control of foreign adversaries defined by Congress. It says nothing about election interference and cannot be turned against any American social media platform.

It does not impact websites in general. The only impacted sites are those associated with foreign adversary apps, such as TikTok.com.

It can never be used to penalize individuals. The text explicitly prohibits that.

It cannot be used to censor speech. It takes no position at all on the content of speech, only foreign adversary control, foreign adversary control of what is becoming the dominant news platform for Americans under 30.

Mr. Speaker, this is a commonsense measure to protect our national security, and I urge my colleagues to support this critical bipartisan legislation.

Madam Speaker, I had to remain home in Green Bay, Wisconsin to attend to a family matter and was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 79 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 80.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the life and legacy of a remarkable man, Mr. Robert ``Bob'' Wirth.

Bob was born on October 2, 1932, and grew up in Shiocton before his family moved to their family farm in Hortonville. Beginning in high school, Bob was involved in many extra-curricular activities such as football and basketball. Bob demonstrated incredible leadership and talent resulting in him being named team captain for both football and basketball. Following high school, Bob was drafted into the Army and served at Fort Lewis in Tacoma. Washington. I commend Bob for his service and dedication to the United States.

On March 2, 1957, Bob married the love of his life, Marlene Rollmann. Throughout their life together, they enjoyed years of happiness and welcomed five children: Barb, Kelli, John, Mark, and Ricky. Bob was so proud of each of these children and was thrilled as their family grew. Family was always of utmost importance to Bob, and he was blessed to have 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

When Bob wasn't spending time with his growing family, he enjoyed many hobbies. Bob cherished each opportunity to join family and friends exploring the outdoors. He especially loved their annual deer hunts and snowmobiling trips. Bob's kindness and friendship will be missed by many that were blessed to know him.

Mr. Speaker, I honor the life and legacy of Mr. Robert Wirth and thank him for his years of service and dedication to the United States. My sincere thoughts and prayers go out to his wife of 67 years, Marlene, and his entire family during this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a young Wisconsinite I have had the pleasure of meeting with throughout my time in Congress, Ms. Adel Schneider.

At nine months old, Adel was diagnosed with a severe dairy allergy. This diagnosis transformed the Schneider family's daily life. Oftentimes, Adel had to be careful with cake at birthday celebrations or at holiday events, where a main focus is food. While this could have been isolating, Adel was inspired by her allergy; she began raising awareness in her hometown of Appleton.

Adel and her mother, Kara, are seen on local television, sporting events and at schools in Northeast Wisconsin, fundraising and informing others about food allergies. Adel has been successful in her fundraising efforts, raising over $50,000 for FARE, a non-profit that promotes food allergy awareness and research. In 2018, Adel was the recipient of the FARE Teen Achievement Award following her involvement in the annual Milwaukee Food Allergy Heroes Walk. In 2020, the Schneider family donated allergy-friendly food to Paul's Pantry in Green Bay after receiving a grant from FARE. She has partnered with Appleton's Minor League Baseball team, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, to share information with the community on food-allergies. She is a Red Sneakers for Oakley Ambassador, where she creates social media content centered on food allergy awareness. Most recently, Adel ran her annual Teal Halloween Skate, which is a community Halloween event that provides allergy-safe treats.

As Adel became more vocal in the community, her advocacy spread to Congress. I first met Adel in 2020 to discuss the FASTER Act, which requires food companies to include sesame as an allergen on their labels. After successfully passing this legislation, I have continued to meet with Adel to discuss future legislation on food allergies. Most recently, Adel and I discussed the ADINA Act, a bill I introduced in 2023. This legislation would require pharmaceutical companies to be more transparent about their allergy risks on drug labels. I always look forward to meeting with Adel and hearing about her community events in Northeast Wisconsin. I value her perspective and commend the work she is doing on food-allergy awareness.

Adel has inspired many, including myself, with her advocacy for individuals with food allergies. I take comfort in knowing there are young citizens stepping up in their communities. Adel has a long list of accomplishments, and I look forward to watching her accomplish even more.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Mr. Rob Zerjav for being named the 2023 Baseball America (BA) Minor League Baseball Executive of the Year.

A native of Green Bay, Rob began his career in 1997 as an unpaid intern with the team. During this time, his work ethic and love for the team became clear, and in the years following, Rob joined the full-time staff as a group sales representative. After two years in this position, Rob was promoted to Director of Baseball Operations and then to Vice President of Operations. Following the 2002 season, Rob was named Team President and General Manager, and in 2020, Rob purchased the team and stadium with partners Craig Dickman and Brad Raaths. This purchase made Appleton baseball club history as it became the first- ever private ownership group.

Throughout his years with the Timber Rattlers, Rob has remained focused on the organization's success and lived the organization's mission of ``creating the best entertainment experience in Wisconsin so that every guest walks away with a smile and the desire to return.'' I applaud Rob for his dedication and thank him for his years of service to the organization and community.

It is clear that Rob's leadership and skills have played a critical role in the success of the Timber Rattlers. Since Rob assumed the role of General Manager, the Timber Rattlers have been recognized for many different achievements. In 2012, the team received the Larry MacPhail Award, Minor League Baseball's highest award in promotional excellence. The team was also recognized for its success in 2005, 2018, and 2019 when it received the Midwest League President's Award. As Rob marks his 28th year in Minor League Baseball, I wish him many more successful seasons and thank him for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Rob Zerjav for being named the 2023 Baseball America Minor League Baseball Executive of the Year. Rob's unwavering service and commitment to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and Northeast Wisconsin deserves the highest degree of recognition.

Mr. Speaker, I returned home to Green Bay, WI and was unable to participate in Roll Call Nos. 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 44; YEA on Roll Call No. 45; YEA on Roll Call No. 46; YEA on Roll Call No. 47; YEA on Roll Call No. 48; and YEA on Roll Call No. 49.

Mr. Speaker, I returned home to Green Bay, WI to avoid dangerous travel ahead of the powerful snowstorm affecting the Midwest.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 9, and YEA on Roll Call No. 10.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life and legacy of a remarkable man, Mr, Gary Brynjulfson.

Gary was born on February 25, 1947, in Black River Falls, WI to parents Leonard and Mae Brynjulfson. At just 20 years old in 1967. Gary courageously signed the dotted line to join the United States Army where he served for two years before he was honorably discharged in 1969. During his time in the Army, Gary earned several commendations such as the Purple Heart, Expert (81mm Mortar) Sharpshooter (Rifle) Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, and the National Defense Service Medal Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Following his time in the service, Gary met the love of his life, Ethelyn ``Lynn'' Jensen, and the two were married on May 27, 1978. As the years went by, Gary and Lynn welcomed two children, a daughter, Camille, and son, Scott. As Gary's family continued to expand, he and his wife enjoyed traveling to see his grandchildren: Tabitha, Evan, Harper, and Mabel, participate in various activities.

Gary was a family and community-focused man in all aspects of his life. After his time in the military, Gary became heavily involved in the community and was one of the top advocates for local veterans. A member of VFW Post 2778, Gary was a member of the honor guard, and became the President of Vets & Friends, an organization that serves free breakfast every Friday and free lunch on Saturdays for veterans throughout the community. I was honored to meet Gary at their breakfasts numerous times, and I am grateful for his leadership and commend him for his lifelong dedication to his country and community.

Gary's kindness and thoughtfulness will surely be missed by his friends, family, and the entire community. A husband, father, veteran, business leader, advocate, and friend --Gary touched many lives throughout Northeast Wisconsin. I commend Gary for his commitment and unwavering service to the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, the people of Northeast Wisconsin extend their sincere thanks to Mr. Gary Brynjulfson for his extraordinary service to this country and community. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to all the lives he touched. I offer my sincere condolences to Gary's wife, Lynn, and their entire family during this time. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to all the lives he touched.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 5th anniversary of 313 Dodge.

313 Dodge in Kaukauna opened its doors in 2018 and is a staple of Kaukauna that offers a creative and unique menu for everyone to enjoy. Located at 313 Dodge Street, the location holds historical significance as it was originally a home built in 1883 before being fully repurposed and renovated.

Throughout the years, 313 Dodge has grown dramatically and I applaud local Kaukauna-natives and owners Kyle and Janel Megna for their continued success. They have become well known for their delicious drinks and tasty food items featured on their menu. Over the years, 313 Dodge has increased their customers' experience by hosting events for all to enjoy, such as live entertainment, Food Truck Tuesdays, and their walk-up window service. Recently, 313 Dodge crafted the world's largest old-fashioned flight that included 104 glasses of hand muddled brandy old fashioneds. For five years, 313 Dodge has been committed to offering outstanding customer service and is a wonderful business for people in Kaukauna and throughout Northeast Wisconsin to enjoy.

Given their successful business operation and emphasis on customer service, 313 Dodge has been recognized by local organizations, evident from the fact that Kyle and Janel were the recipients of the 2022 Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Heart of the Valley Chamber. I commend the entire 313 Dodge team for their commitment to customer service and wish them nothing but the best for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize 313 Dodge in Kaukauna on their 5th Anniversary. I extend my sincerest congratulations to Kyle and Janel Megna and the entire 313 Dodge team on this milestone and wish them years of continued success.