Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I stand before this Chamber today in strong support of this bipartisan defense bill that will help protect this country and take care of the young men and women who sacrifice for our freedom on a daily basis.

We got a lot of good things done in this year's process. We have an $858 billion top line, an increase of $45 billion over President Biden's defense budget request. We continue to support and improve the lives of our servicemembers and military families by authorizing a military basic pay raise of 4.6 percent. We also have $500 million for additional housing allowances to counteract the skyrocketing cost of rent.

I also support the repeal of DOD's COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

We have a number of provisions looking at improving mental health services for servicemembers and their families.

The conference agreement also reinforces that parents of children attending DOD schools have the right to review curriculum, instructional materials, and disciplinary policies.

Also critically important is ensuring that our professional military education is geared toward warfighting.

I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier), our chair, for her work with me on looking into the state of our professional military education enterprise and for all the work that we have done together over the last 2 years.

I will end by thanking the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), as well, for his remarkable service. We worked together on the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. As I like to say, Jim was sounding the alarm about cyberspace before it was cool. He is a remarkable intellectual leader in that regard.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the Notre Dame Academy Boys Cross Country Team for winning their first Division 2 State Championship Title.

On Saturday, October 29th, the Notre Dame Boys Cross Country Team traveled to the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids to compete in the 2022 Wisconsin State Cross Country Championships. After an incredible season by both the Boys and Girls teams the Boys successfully secured the state title.

This state title is a remarkable achievement as the team has secured runner-up finishes in three of the last four seasons. Following a season full of hard work and determination, the Boys Cross Country Team has achieved greatness and will be remembered by the Green Bay community for years to come. Led by Isaac Nowak, who took fourth place and Joseph Stumpf, who took twentieth overall in the race this team was able to surpass the previous runner-up finishes. With the help of great runners Braeden Tilot, Joseph Hunt, Jackson Fogarty, Bryce Hawley, and Federrico Auricchio they were able to accomplish their goal of a State Title. I commend them all for an outstanding performance at the state championships.

Achieving the title of State Champion is a testament to the hard work and dedication that the coaches and athletes display every day of the season. Finishing at State with 81 points to secure the win, the Notre Dame Boys Cross Country team has shown consistent improvement and I wish them nothing but the best in seasons to come.

I extend my sincerest congratulations to Head Coach Gard and the entire Notre Dame Cross Country team for this outstanding accomplishment. It is my honor to recognize these young men and I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding their unwavering commitment and dedication to their sport.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a remarkable man, John Kassner, Jr.

Born in 1925, John was the second oldest son in a family of 13, having three brothers and nine sisters. Moving to Manitowoc, Wisconsin at a very young age, John became known as a remarkable high school athlete and was involved in countless organizations, like the High School Dance Club. During John's senior year in high school, he answered the call to serve his country and enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II. During his military service, John volunteered to become a paratrooper in the heralded 101st Airborne Division. On John's 19th birthday, he and his fellow soldiers parachuted into France behind German lines to evaluate strategic locations prior to the Allied invasion. I commend John for his commitment and selfless service to the United States of America.

Following John's career in the military, he moved back to the United States with the love of his life, Joan, to begin their life together. John began his business career as a door-to-door vacuum salesman, and eventually obtained his real-estate license and began his own brokerage company. Given John's knowledge and dedication to the industry, he soon became a leader among his peers. In the mid-1970's, John was elected President of the Brown County Home Builders Association. In the years to come, given John's success within the industry, he would become the State President of the Wisconsin Home Builders Association and Director of the National Home Builders Association. I commend John for his life- long dedication to his community and country and I offer my sincere condolences to his family during this time.

Madam Speaker, the people of Northeast Wisconsin thank John Kassner, Jr. for his extraordinary commitment and service to his country. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to all of the lives he touched.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 50th anniversary of Wisconsin Plastics Inc., a second-generation family business in Ashwaubenon.

Founded in 1972 in Wisconsin, the business came from humble beginnings when Jim Christensen, Sr. purchased a small plating shop. Throughout its 50 years of operation, the business transformed from producing injection-molded plastic components with a handful of employees to a workforce of nearly 270 employees today. Wisconsin Plastics has become known for their renowned customer service with the ability to take the desires of consumers and bring them into production realities. I commend Wisconsin Plastics for their continued growth and success for the past 50 years.

In the half-century since the company's inception, Jim Christensen and the entire Wisconsin Plastics team have been committed to the expansion and future of the business. In order to keep up with industry demands, Wisconsin Plastics will double its current 65,000 square foot manufacturing plant with a 70,000 square foot expansion. The company plans to use this additional space for more injection molding machines and component assembly spaces. With this addition, Wisconsin Plastics will use automated and robotic production systems to enhance their existing operations to best serve their devoted customers. I applaud the company's continued efforts to adapt to industry demands.

Wisconsin Plastics is a company that has taken pride in the importance of innovation. For 20 years, the company has utilized 3D printing machines that have become a core

piece of their operation. Wisconsin Plastics is a great example of consistent improvement and growth. Their production of key components of Wisconsin industries speaks to their immense value to the State of Wisconsin. From providing parts for the defense aviation industry to the healthcare industry, Wisconsin Plastics helps keep Wisconsin running and is a true credit to Northeast Wisconsin and the United States of America.

I invite all Members of this body to join me in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Wisconsin Plastics, Inc. I extend my sincerest congratulations to founder Jim Christensen, Sr., current president Jim Christensen, and the entire Wisconsin Plastics team on this outstanding milestone. I wish them lasting success for years to come.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 150th anniversary of Kimberly-Clark, a manufacturing and multinational corporation founded in 1872.

Founded in Neenah, Wisconsin, by John Kimberly, Havilah Babcock, Charles Clark, and Franklyn Shattuck, the company's first business was operating paper mills. Over the years, the company became known for its innovation and expansion, and proved to be a top competitor in the industry. In the 1950s, with booming success Kimberly-Clark expanded internationally, opening countless operations across the globe. All throughout this period of expansion, the company continued to operate by the founders' core values of quality, service, and fair dealing. I commend Kimberly Clark's revolutionary manufacturing capabilities and their continued dedication to their work.

For the past 150 years, Kimberly-Clark has understood the basic needs of people by producing essential personal care products. Kimberly- Clark's emphasis on innovation has evolved into one of the most successful stories of product development. Kimberly-Clark's creative passion has led to the invention of five of their eight major consumer product categories: facial tissues, paper towels, toilet paper on a roll, feminine pads, and disposable training pants. Through decades of expansion, Kimberly-Clark has countless well-known brands such as Andrex, Cottonelle, Depend, Huggies, Kleenex, Poise, Pentitude, Scott, and U by Kotex, that are a key part of life for people in more than 175 countries. I applaud Kimberly-Clark for their continued growth and success in the industry.

Since the inception of Kimberly-Clark, they have embraced the importance of authenticity, accountability, care, and innovation. Operating under their Code of Conduct, the team at Kimberly-Clark have committed themselves to making positive contributions to the people they serve around the world. I extend my sincere thanks to Kimberly- Clark for their exceptional work and continued growth over the past 150 years.

Kimberly-Clark has been a pillar of the Fox Cities for generations, and I thank them for their work to continue providing good paying, stable jobs for Northeast Wisconsinites in the Fox Valley.

I invite all Members of this body to join me in celebrating the 150th anniversary of Kimberly-Clark. I offer my sincerest congratulations to the entire Kimberly-Clark team and wish them lasting success for the future.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in recognition of Mr. Dan Van Boxtel for winning the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence award.

Mr. Van Boxtel, an automotive technology teacher at Kaukauna High School in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, has been recognized for his excellence in teaching by receiving the award and a $50,000 prize. The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence award was created to recognize high school trades teachers throughout the United States for their knowledge and excellence in education. Since 2017, the program has awarded more than 100 public high school teachers and their schools with the resources to support and expand skilled trades education. By winning this award, it is evident that Mr. Van Boxtel has dedicated his time to ensuring our future generations have the skills needed to be successful and contribute to their communities. I commend Mr. Van Boxtel for his expertise in automotive technology and his unwavering commitment to the students of Kaukauna High School.

The 2022 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence award received over 750 applications from all 50 states. The process of receiving the award included three rounds of judging, responses to questions, and a series of video learning modules designed to draw from a teacher's personal experience in achieving excellence in the classroom. I applaud Mr. Van Boxtel for highlighting the importance and dignity of the skilled trades that will lead his students to numerous opportunities in the workforce and beyond.

In Mr. Van Boxtel's career at Kaukauna he has consistently provided students with the highest quality education in skilled trades. In his nearly two decades of service to Kaukauna he has truly left a lasting impact on the community. Through his critical automotive technology classes, he has generated career ready students prepared to enter a skilled trade shortly after graduation.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Van Boxtel for receiving the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence award. Mr. Van Boxtel has been a wonderful advocate for the trades and is a true credit to Kaukauna High School and Northeast Wisconsin.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 30th anniversary of JR Machine, a contract manufacturing company in Shawano,

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Schreiber Foods on achieving the Guinness World Records title for the largest macaroni and cheese.

The company's achievement was part of the 50th anniversary celebration of their production plant in Logan, Utah. It took the Schreiber Foods team 3 hours and 26 minutes to cook the recipe, finishing with a super-sized macaroni and cheese weighing in at 2,151 kg. They invited the public to eat the thousands of servings of the mac 'n cheese and partnered with a local food pantry to donate the remaining food. For over 30 years, Schreiber Foods has shared their delicious dairy products with consumers across the globe. Founded in 1945, Schreiber foods began as a small cheese production plant, located in an old brewery building in Green Bay, WI. Since its founding, they have grown to become one of the largest privately held dairy production companies in the world, with more than 30 locations spread across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Through their expansion, Schreiber Foods has also become one of the leading suppliers of cheese to fast-food restaurant chains, supplying cheese slices to 17 of the top 20 hamburger chains.

Although Schreiber Foods has come a long way from its modest beginnings, their commitment to integrity and quality products hasn't been left behind. From day one, the company followed the ``16 ounces to the pound'' philosophy, stating that one pound of cheese would weigh no more, and no less than 16 oz. Today, Schreiber still uses ``16 ounces to the pound'' as a basis for two characteristics of their company: unquestionable integrity and an ongoing commitment to quality. I commend Schreiber Foods for their commitment to customer satisfaction that has led to their continued success for over 30 years.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate Schreiber Foods on achieving the Guinness World Records title for the largest macaroni and cheese and for their ongoing commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the life and legacy of an outstanding public servant, Officer Dominic Hall. A military veteran and police officer with the Appleton Police Department, Officer Hall dedicated his life to serving his Nation and our Northeast Wisconsin community. Officer Hall was committed to serving the United States and Northeast Wisconsin through many different roles. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after graduating from Xavier High School and was active duty from 2008 to 2012. He then reenlisted in the Army National Guard where he continued serving until 2018. His dedication and commitment to his country has been memorialized by countless recognitions received during his career, including the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars, the Bronze Star, USN Meritorious Unit Commendation, USMC Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and more. It is evident through his years of impeccable service that Officer Hall's dedication to his nation and community never wavered. I am incredibly grateful for his selfless and dedicated service.

Officer Hall continued to serve his community by joining the Police Department in the City of Appleton in 2017. Since 2017, he protected his friends and neighbors and was recognized by receiving the Appleton Police Department Commander's Commendation for apprehension of a homicide suspect, and the Appleton Police Department Life Saving Award. Officer Hall's exemplary character and thoughtfulness will certainly be missed by many throughout the City of Appleton and Northeast Wisconsin.

Throughout Officer Hall's fight with cancer that began in 2021 he continued to shine a light in our community. His battle with cancer brought together his church community at St. Pius X Parish frequently praying for healing. I am confident Officer Hall inspired many throughout our community with his fighting spirit.

Madam Speaker, today the people of Northeast Wisconsin thank Officer Dominic Hall for his extraordinary devotion to his community. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Jacole, his two children, and all the people who were touched by his life.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Deer Run Dairy for receiving national recognition for their comprehensive approach to sustainability.

The farm's recognition is part of the 11th Annual U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards from the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. These awards aim to recognize dairy farms, businesses and collaborative partnerships that demonstrate a strong commitment to continuous improvement in the area of sustainability, as well as a commitment to informing others on the advancing approaches to dairy sustainability.

Deer Run Dairy originated in 1984, when the Ducat family purchased the property along with 70 cows. Step-by-step, they worked to expand the farm and eventually combined their operation with that of Dale Bogart, who shared similar goals. The Ducats and Bogart spent three years searching for the ideal space to combine their operations and grow. In 2007 they did just that; and in the Fall of 2008, they started milking 750 cows at Deer Run Dairy. Today, they milk approximately 1,650 cows and manage 2,500 acres, along with being a leading advocate for sustainability in the dairy community.

Deer Run Dairy faces unique challenges related to having shallow soil and being in close proximity to Lake Michigan. The Dairy has met these challenges through implementing conservation farming practices that build healthy soils and protect waterways. One example of this is their firm belief in the use of cover crops, in which they achieved their goal to seed 100 percent of their cropland by the fall of 2021.

Through the use of an anaerobic digester, they also reduce pathogens in manure by a thousandfold. The digester produces useful byproducts, such as animal bedding and nutrient-rich fertilizer, and was also converted to produce renewable natural gas for the transportation market. Additionally, they use minimal antibiotics, conduct feeding trials to reduce methane gas production in the rumen of their cows, cross-ventilate their barns with

fans that conserve energy; and they host field days to show off these practices in action and share the benefits of sustainability. As a demonstration farm within the Door and Kewaunee Demonstration Farm Network and leader in the Peninsula Pride Farms producer-led group, the farm hosts field days to exhibit these practices in action and share the benefits of sustainability.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor to congratulate Deer Run Dairy on receiving the Dairy Sustainability Award and for all their efforts in advancing sustainable agriculture.

Madam Speaker, I am back home in Green Bay, Wisconsin, awaiting the birth of my second child and was unable to participate in rollcall numbers 418, 419, and 420. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 418, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 419, and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 420.

Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress

Amodei (Keller)

Axne (Wexton)

Babin (Tenney)

Bacon (Stauber)

Baird (Mooney)

Barr (Guthrie)

Barragan (Blunt Rochester)

Bass (Kuster)

Bentz (Fitzgerald)

Bera (Beyer)

Bonamici (Beyer)

Bost (Mooney)

Brooks (Moore (AL))

Brownley (Kuster)

Buchanan (Franklin, C. Scott)

Bucshon (Banks)

Budd (Donalds)

Bush (Bowman)

Calvert (Valadao)

Cardenas (Correa)

Carter (TX) (Weber (TX))

Cawthorn (Donalds)

Cherfilus-McCormick (Takano)

Cicilline (Foster)

Cohen (Beyer)

Comer (Guthrie)

Connolly (Beyer)

Conway (Valadao)

Cooper (Blunt Rochester)

Crawford (Fleischmann)

Crist (Soto)

Curtis (Stewart)

DeFazio (Pallone)

DeGette (Perlmutter)

DeLauro (Courtney)

DeSaulnier (Perlmutter)

DesJarlais (Fleischmann)

Deutch (Rice (NY))

Diaz-Balart (Salazar)

Doggett (Takano)

Doyle, Michael F. (Bowman)

Duncan (Johnson (LA))

Dunn (Cammack)

Escobar (Garcia (TX))

Fallon (Johnson (LA))

Flores (Pfluger)

Frankel, Lois (Kuster)

Gaetz (Johnson (LA))

Garbarino (Fleischmann)

Gibbs (Balderson)

Gomez (Correa)

Gonzales, Tony (Gimenez)

Good (Donalds)

Gooden (Weber (TX))

Gosar

(Reschenthaler)

Gottheimer (Neguse)

Granger (Weber (TX))

Graves (MO) (Guthrie)

Green (TN) (Fleischmann)

Harder (CA) (Beyer)

Harris (Mooney)

Hartzler (Tenney)

Herrell (Donalds)

Herrera Beutler (Stewart)

Huffman (Beyer)

Jackson (Burgess)

Jacobs (NY) (Fleischmann)

Johnson (GA) (Pallone)

Johnson (SD)

(Reschenthaler)

Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)

Joyce (PA) (Keller)

Kahele (Correa)

Keating (Pappas)

Kelly (IL) (Blunt Rochester)

Kilmer (Strickland)

Kim (CA) (Mooney)

Kinzinger (Gonzalez (OH))

Kirkpatrick (Pallone)

Krishnamoorthi (Neguse)

LaHood

(Reschenthaler)

LaMalfa (Fleischmann)

Lamborn (Fleischmann)

Langevin (Lynch)

Lawrence (Stevens)

Lawson (FL) (Soto)

Leger Fernandez (Correa)

Lesko (Fleischmann)

Letlow (Tenney)

Levin (MI) (Correa)

Lieu (Takano)

Lucas (Cammack)

Luetkemeyer (Weber (TX))

Mace (Mooney)

Manning (Wexton)

Matsui (Eshoo)

McBath (Blunt Rochester)

McEachin (Beyer)

McHenry (Cammack)

McNerney (Correa)

Meijer (Stauber)

Meng (Kuster)

Meuser (Weber (TX))

Miller (WV) (Mooney)

Miller-Meeks (Mooney)

Moore (UT) (Stewart)

Moore (WI) (Beyer)

Moulton (Correa)

Napolitano (Correa)

Nehls

(Reschenthaler)

Norman (Donalds)

Ocasio-Cortez (Bowman)

Omar (Bowman)

Owens (Donalds)

Palazzo (Fleischmann)

Panetta (Correa)

Payne (Pallone)

Phillips (Pappas)

Pingree (Kuster)

Porter (Wexton)

Pressley (Bowman)

Price (NC) (Butterfield)

Rice (SC) (Gonzalez (OH))

Rodgers (WA) (Bilirakis)

Rogers (KY)

(Reschenthaler)

Roybal-Allard (Correa)

Rush (Blunt Rochester)

Sanchez (Perlmutter)

Sarbanes

(Ruppersberger)

Schakowsky (Bowman)

Sherman (Beyer)

Sires (Pallone)

Smith (NJ) (Kelly (PA))

Smith (WA) (Courtney)

Steel (Mooney)

Steube (Franklin, C. Scott)

Suozzi (Perlmutter)

Swalwell (Stevens)

Taylor (Burgess)

Thompson (PA) (Keller)

Thompson (CA) (Eshoo)

Timmons (Donalds)

Titus (Pallone)

Tlaib (Dingell)

Tonko (Pallone)

Torres (NY) (Strickland)

Trahan (Lynch)

Trone (Beyer)

Van Drew (Tenney)

Van Duyne (Tenney)

Vargas (Takano)

Wagner (Guthrie)

Walberg (Bergman)

Waltz (Franklin, C. Scott)

Watson Coleman (Bowman)

Welch (Pallone)

Wenstrup (Guthrie)

Wilson (FL) (Soto)

Wilson (SC) (Johnson (LA))

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor an outstanding public servant, Michael Brown. Mike has spent much of the last decade dedicated to highlighting the resurgence of a technology race in the era of great power competition. His actions have made him a standout in the industry and enables our security.

Mike draws from the idea that the entrepreneurial American spirit is what has led our nation to technological leadership. As a Presidential Innovation Fellow, Mike was one of the first in the national security space to take a hard look at the illegal technology transfer instigated by adversarial actors around the world. Mike co-authored a report that evaluated adversarial investments in emerging technology to access the crown jewels of U.S. innovation. This report not only highlights the threats posed to the U.S. military's supply chains, cybersecurity, and our nation's technological edge, but it also provided the intellectual underpinnings for the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) of 2018.

Further, as the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit, Mike led a major effort to counter adversarial technology transfer. The National Security Innovation Capital (NSIC) initiative is a new U.S. Department of Defense program charged with addressing the shortfall of private investment from trusted sources in technology startups developing dual- use hardware technologies--those which have both commercial and military applications. I was proud to work with Mike on this effort to reduce technical risk while attracting trusted private investments that might have otherwise sat on the sidelines.

As Mike returns to private life, it is my honor to recognize him for his contributions to national security. I invite all members of this body to join me in commending his spirit of service and thanking him for his many years and acts as a public servant protecting our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues in strong support of this bipartisan defense bill that we successfully voted out of the committee just 3 weeks ago.

The chairman and the ranking member mentioned some of the most important provisions in the bill, not only the overall top-line number, which represents a $37 billion increase over President Biden's request, but also a 4.6 percent pay raise, a 2.4 percent pay bonus for enlisted personnel to counteract the effects of inflation on low-income military families, the $500 million additional housing allowance to counteract the skyrocketing cost of rent on military families, as well as an additional $750 million to reduce the cost of food and other necessities for our servicemembers.

I think it is worth understanding why this is important, not only just in light of our overall duty to take care of our men and women in uniform at a critical time, but we also have a looming recruiting crisis on our hands.

I am very concerned about the inability of any of the services to meet their recruiting goals, and we are going to have to spend a lot of time thinking about that problem and how we fix it before we proactively lower standards because, at the end of the day, notwithstanding any advance in technology, it all comes down to the men and women who volunteer and risk their lives to defend this country.

It is about the warfighter. That is where we need to stay focused. It is also why I am proud that this bill includes many reforms to the professional military education process, with the intent of regaining our focus on warfighting so that our war colleges teach how to fight and win our Nation's wars.

This is a critical time for U.S. national security. Our enemies are on the march, and we are being asked to hold the line. It is absolutely critical that Congress stays focused on the defense of this country and does not allow the defense of this country to be politicized in the way other issues have, which is why I so very much appreciate the work of the chairman and the ranking member in setting that bipartisan tone, and I am very proud to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

A few things that don't make sense to me: One, on a bipartisan basis in committee, we included report language in this year's bill that tasked the Navy with reporting to us on how they can make the LCS more combat-capable in the Indo-Pacific, doing things from gearbox repairs, sustainment options, lethality upgrades, to putting an NSM on these ships to make it into a very capable platform.

Why would we not allow them to come back with that plan as opposed to proactively cutting Navy force structure?

Furthermore, my colleagues will argue that the Navy doesn't want these ships. Well, the Navy is cutting these ships as part of a divest- to-invest strategy because it has to budget against a FYDP that is far lower than what Congress is set to resource. So with a higher top line, the Navy can afford additional force structure. It is our job to exercise our constitutional oversight responsibility and add both the budget and force structure the Navy needs.

Furthermore, the Navy's ship building plan, such as it exists, that was presented to us, was a joke. The Navy is proposing to bottom out the size of the fleet to 280 ships in 2027, the worst possible moment when the window of maximum danger peaks in the Pacific. We should not blindly accept that plan. We have been playing this Lucy and Charlie Brown football game with the Navy since I came into Congress 6 years ago.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. The amendment would inject the D.C. mayor into the Title 32 chain of command. As a result, the President would be required to ask for the consent of the mayor to employ the D.C. Guard for Federal missions.

Not only would this set a harmful precedent for command and control of the National Guard units below the level of a Governor, it would create a series of dilemmas in the event that the D.C. mayor and the President disagree on the deployment of the Guard.

For example, if the mayor declined to give consent, the President would have to order members of the D.C. Guard to active duty, request the consent of a Governor to deploy members of their Guard units to D.C., or deploy Active-Duty servicemembers to D.C.

All of these options would come with their own distinct tradeoffs and potential for delay in the event of a crisis. Giving the D.C. mayor authority over the National Guard would only delay response time and create new areas of friction that we don't need.

It is not hard to see why members of the Armed Services Committee rejected this amendment on a bipartisan basis during the markup last month, so I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde).

Mr. Speaker, a few comments.

I mean, the fact that the House, in partisan fashion, has passed the D.C. statehood bill I think has no bearing on this because, of course, according to the Constitution, there is another Chamber that would have to weigh in for a bill to become a law.

Until such a time as that becomes a reality, this amendment makes no sense and puts that very big cart before the horse.

As my colleague from Georgia so eloquently reminded us, we should be in the business of adhering to the Constitution, not seeking to create end-runs around it.

Furthermore, the gentlewoman's earlier objection that we already have a process for a consultation, and, therefore, my objections aren't warranted, ignores the basic fact that with this amendment, we are setting a new precedent.

As the gentleman from Georgia clearly laid out, we are lowering the bar below the level of Governor and effectively giving a mayor the authorities that a Governor has right now.

That is not the same consultation process that exists at present. That is a new glitch in the matrix, one that should be avoided right now.

Mr. Speaker, I maintain my strong opposition to this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Madam Speaker, first, let me say at the outset that I very much appreciate the way the chairwoman and I have been able to work together on the issue of military education in general. But I have to oppose this amendment.

International Military Education and Training, or IMET, is a vital pillar of our national security. In recent years, Ukrainian servicemembers have benefited from IMET to enhance their combat readiness and lethality.

As we have seen in the aftermath of Putin's invasion of Ukraine, security partnerships like IMET can help make the difference between life and death and the ability of our allies and partners to withstand foreign aggression.

Since 2014, in fact, the U.S. military has played a key role in boosting Ukrainian military capabilities, training alongside them, providing Ukraine with critical weapons and munitions, enabling its reserve component, and more. Our security focus, however, was laser- focused on enhancing Ukraine's ability to defend itself against the Russian invasion.

My concern is that the amendment would broaden the scope of IMET and end up watering down the results for both the United States and for our security partners. Promoting human rights, including the rights of women, is a well-established goal of U.S. foreign and development policy. I don't deny that. Instruction on gender roles, female opportunity, and narrowing gaps between men and women should, however, not be a part of the U.S. military's mandate when it comes to teaching allied and partner nations the art of war.

As I said earlier tonight, all of our instruction for warfighting needs to be focused on the actual fighting of wars, which will, in turn, allow us to deter wars.

This is not to discount the importance of other issues, but the military is simply not the right tool for advancing this objective. As former Obama administration official Rosa Brooks notes in her book, ``How Everything Became War and the Military Became Everything,'' the military has in recent years taken on missions that depart from its core responsibility of fighting and winning the Nation's wars.

My concern is this amendment would exacerbate this trend, so, therefore, I oppose this amendment.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I certainly don't deny the fact that having women in the military is a huge asset, as the gentlewoman said. I have served in the Marine Corps with women I greatly admire, to whom I am greatly indebted.

I just think we have to strike the right balance here between widening the aperture for our military education, our training programs, such that they get distracted from the core focus on warfighting, as well as foisting some of our own requirements and the higher standards that the United States sets on some of our allied partners.

I appreciate the gentlewoman's argument, but I remain in firm opposition to this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing the amendment.

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

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 25th anniversary of Tech4, a design and engineer control systems company, in De Pere.

This business came from humble beginnings when a group of engineers came together on July 8, 1997, to build an automation company that both clients and employees could trust and believe in. The vision of four engineers and their marketing employee came to fruition after identifying a gap in the automation industry. As the business continued to grow, Tech4 continued to live by its founding mission of providing high-quality service and by utilizing a people-first mindset that is the key to the success of each individual project. I commend the founders of Tech4 and their team members for their continued service and dedication to their work.

For the past 25 years, Tech4 has provided services to nearly 400 by improving their manufacturing business through implementing renowned automation and power system solutions. Regardless of the size of the project, the lasting success of Tech4 comes from each employee treating every project as if it was their own. Tech4 has seen significant growth over the past 25 years. Beginning with a team of only 5 employees to nearly 30 has forced Tech4 to add on a second building. Through the expansion of different departments, including its salesforce, Tech4 has remained unchanged in its goal to create successful solutions and to serve industrial manufacturers. I applaud Tech4 for its exceptional work, continued growth, and success for the past 25 years.

Since the beginning, Tech4 has placed an importance on giving back to its employees and to the community. Tech4 began sponsoring the YMCA Chili Cookoff and has continued to be a great supporter of the Green Bay area and surrounding communities. Tech4 employees span from a wide range of backgrounds, from scout leaders to VEX robotics judges, but they come together in their passion to give back to their communities.

I invite all members of this body to join me in celebrating the 25th anniversary of Tech4. I extend my sincere congratulations to the Tech4 team on this outstanding milestone and wish them lasting success for the next 25 years and beyond.