Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Chair, I thank our esteemed ranking member for his leadership.

I am here to speak in strong opposition to the entire bill, but I do have to say: To see folks who have never worn the uniform on this House floor try to fight culture-war BS when we are in the middle of an actual war is a grave, grave disservice to those in uniform.

My opposition to this bill is deeply personal. It is personal to me. Having served 27 months in combat in Iraq, I watched us double down on a losing strategy year after year while my friends and fellow soldiers, many of whose names are on this memorial bracelet I wear, fought and died.

It is personal to the now 18 families who lost their loved ones in this reckless war in Iran--sons, daughters, husbands, wives, somebody's whole world. It is personal to the hundreds more wounded, many carrying injuries that will last their entire lives from this war.

It is personal to the American people, people who are working hard, doing everything that they are asked, while watching the cost of their gas, their groceries, and their utility bills skyrocket; watching the President and Hegseth spend over $100 billion of their hard-earned taxpayer dollars while they continue to flail and fail.

Now they are trying to ask for another $1.5 trillion of my constituents'--our constituents' taxpayer dollars to double down on this reckless, ill-conceived war.

This is a straight-up betrayal from a President, by the way, who promised to end wars, not start wars; a President who has never spent a single day in uniform but is more than willing to send other people's kids to fight in his wars; a President who is now blatantly disregarding the widely held will of the American people and the bipartisan view of this Congress as recognizing the successful passage of a War Powers Resolution by escalating this war rather than winding it down. We can't let that happen.

On behalf of all of our constituents, on behalf of the American people, we have to stop throwing good money after bad. We have to stop repeating the mistakes of the forever wars that my generation fought and served in.

That is why I have been fighting to include my No Funds for Iran War Act in this NDAA, to make sure we don't spend a single penny more on this reckless forever war in the Middle East; to make sure we are investing here at home to lower housing costs, lower grocery costs, lower utility costs, and lower healthcare costs. That is what the American people want. That is what I am fighting for, and that is what my colleagues here are fighting for.

Unfortunately, Mr. Chair, since the majority has refused to include my provision in this bill, I do plan to offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Chair, I include in the Record the text of my amendment.

At the end of subtitle A of title XVII, insert the

following:

Mr. Chair, truly, especially to my colleagues of both parties who have worn the uniform of this country, it is foundational and enshrined in our Constitution that it is this body that has say, not a single, unitary executive, to send us to war.

This legislation is common sense and bipartisan. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time.

Mr. Speaker, we face a fundamental question here: Who makes the decision to send our most precious resource, our young men and women in uniform, into harm's way? Is it a five-time draft dodger who has called them suckers and losers, or is it the American people with us as their voices?

Mr. Speaker, I was on the receiving end of this same chicken-hawk bs for 27 months in combat in Iraq, and I don't need to be lectured by my colleagues. We all know how that went: thousands of American lives lost; trillions of dollars spent not on one, but two forever wars over the last 20-plus years that we should not have started in the first place; and, most importantly, no honest conversation with the American people about what would be required, what blood and treasure would be spilled halfway across the world.

Now, we are seeing it all play out again. History doesn't repeat, but it certainly rhymes. We in this room had the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State come to Congress before the end of this calendar year and blatantly lie to our faces and, more importantly, lie to the American people. Why? Because they know it isn't right or popular.

The last thing, Mr. Speaker, the American people want is another regime change war, a forever war for oil. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and to not repeat history.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to Washington, D.C. as he receives the Templeton Prize for his lifetime of work curating harmony between science and faith.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew not only serves as the spiritual leader to the upwards of 300 million Orthodox Christians around the globe, he serves as a model for us all, having dedicated his life to peacemaking, environmental advocacy and conservation, and facilitating inter-faith dialogue around the globe.

Leading the Church since 1991, His All-Holiness has shepherded our world through tumultuous shifts in national borders, been instrumental in orchestrating peace between adversaries, and facilitated harmony between religions. Throughout his tenure, he has remained on the forefront of meeting the rising challenges our global community is facing. Be it climate change, wars, violations of human rights, His All-Holiness is undaunted and unwavering in his commitment to alleviating suffering and championing justice.

During this chaotic time in our world, and especially our Nation, the Ecumenical Patriarch's presence in our capital is particularly meaningful and serves as a reminder to us all how to lead with compassion and courage, how to minister to our communities with empathy, and how to live with moral fortitude.

His ability to unify, to guide anyone and everyone to set aside differences and divisions and treat each other as equals is deeply inspiring and is what we should all strive for. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew's impact on our world is immeasurable, boundless, and magnified all the more through the countless people he has inspired.

It is a great honor to add my voice to the many, including the Greek Orthodox Christians at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Kingston, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Newburgh, Kimisis tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church in Poughkeepsie, and across the Hudson Valley, thanking him for his leadership in our world, his zeal for environmentalism and social harmony, and his commitment to uplifting the dignity of every person of every faith and nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Cornwall Cleanup Crew for their commitment to environmental preservation and education in the town of Cornwall and across the Hudson Valley of New York State.

Since 2023, this grassroots group has worked with community members to clean up litter and illegal dumping around the town and educate the public on the importance of conservation and environmental protection.

Started by a high school student and a group of community members, within its first year, the organization amassed a team of more than 1,500 volunteers, managing to clear over 10,000 tons of litter and illegally dumped material in Cornwall.

Cornwall Cleanup Crew has become a popular community service opportunity for students, including at The Storm King School and Cornwall High School, whose students both contribute to the cleanup efforts and learn about the importance of environmental protection.

Finally, after a multiyear, lengthy process, the Cornwall Cleanup Crew has earned their official 501(c)(3) nonprofit certification, allowing them to expand their important environmental work into other communities in Orange County and across the Hudson Valley.

I have been out there with this crew and seen them work in the cold and the heat. Their relentless efforts to combat littering and to really bring our community together in a positive way while doing so is a truly commendable pillar of selfless service.

On behalf of our entire community, I thank them and join in celebrating this certification that will allow them to continue to expand on their important work.

congratulating zoe mesuch

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate recent Wallkill High School graduate Zoe Mesuch on concluding a truly remarkable high school basketball career and on her appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where she is now undergoing her summer training.

I was proud to nominate Zoe to represent the Hudson Valley at the Naval Academy in this year's newest class. With more than 2,000 career points, Zoe has been named Daily Freeman Player of the Year 3 years in a row, a record for the award.

This year, Zoe was also named Player of the Year by the New York Basketball Coaches Association and was selected as a top player in the Mid-Hudson Athletic League's American Conference by all the league's coaches.

Zoe is known by her teammates, coaches, teachers, and family as an exceptionally hard worker and team player. These are assets that will be of great service to her and our country as she now serves in the military.

Zoe plans to continue her basketball career at the Naval Academy, where she will also study oceanography in pursuit of becoming a surface warfare officer.

I must tell Zoe, as I think she knows, that I am an Army fan, so I can't say that I will be rooting for her team in the Patriot League this year. Yet, our entire Hudson Valley is rooting for her, and we cannot wait to see all that she will accomplish.

recognizing elder jim childs

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Elder Jim Childs, a pillar of our Kingston community, for his decades of service to St. Clara's Church, to his and my home city of Kingston, and to families across the Hudson Valley.

Elder Childs was born and raised in Kingston, New York, the very community that he continues to serve to this day. He graduated from Kingston High School, my alma mater, before beginning his career working for IBM. He worked initially as a mail clerk and took every opportunity to advance his education and training, further his knowledge, and move up within the company.

Additionally, a fellow Army veteran, Elder Childs served his country in uniform while also deepening his faith and love of fellow man, a lesson that would stay with him throughout his life.

When Elder Childs was first appointed pastor of St. Clara's Church of God in Christ in Kingston in 1969, he admitted that he didn't know if he was ready. Yet, he was called to serve his community, which he has done faithfully for the past 56 years.

In 1961, he married Dorothy Neal, and the two of them welcomed four children, Paula, Cynthia, James, and Timothy, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

This year, Elder Childs was rightfully promoted to superintendent, and he will continue to serve the Kingston community in an even greater capacity than before.

I thank Elder Childs for his continued dedication to and love of our neighbors and neighborhoods. I thank him personally for his mentorship and advice to me in serving in this position. I congratulate him on his recent promotion and a lifetime of service to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. David Greenwood, a beloved member of our Hudson Valley community, who passed away recently at his home in Millbrook, New York.

A lifelong lover of the arts, David graduated from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo with an art history degree before pursuing his master's back at home at SUNY New Paltz where he was ultimately named an outstanding alumnus.

He and his wife, Nan, married in his ancestral home in Yorkshire in 1974 while David was working as an art history teacher. He was later named supervisor of the entire K-12 arts program, a position which he held until his retirement in 2004.

Coming back home to our community in the Hudson Valley, he contributed so much to so many. One of David's proudest accomplishments was an annual calendar project in Millbrook, celebrating the town's people, places, and events throughout history, which in 2022 earned him the Edmund J. Winslow Local Government Historian Award of Excellence.

Our community is a better place because of the years of service and spirit that David Greenwood brought to the Hudson Valley. We thank David, and our thoughts are with his family.

Congratulating Maureen Halahan

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a true public servant, Maureen Halahan, on her retirement from leadership of the Orange County Partnership.

As CEO of the partnership for 24 years, Maureen has been a leader in helping to grow and diversify our entire Hudson Valley economy. For over two decades, Maureen has helped small and medium businessowners in Orange County finance, grow, and staff their businesses to the immense benefit of our entire Hudson Valley community.

From major infrastructure projects, transformative economic development projects creating hundreds and thousands of jobs, investing in our workforce, and mentoring the rising next generation of business leaders, Maureen's impact has been tremendous.

To me, Maureen has been such a counselor and adviser on important economic development and community issues. While we will miss Maureen greatly, we wish her all the best as she moves into this next chapter. We look forward to continuing to foster our relationship with the partnership's new CEO, Mr. Conor Eckert.

Maureen's service to our community made a tremendous impact. We thank her and are forever grateful.

Recognizing James Gagliano

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. James Gagliano, a friend, a fellow West Point graduate, a veteran, and a true public servant to the Hudson Valley and to our Nation.

Most recently as mayor of the village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, James put his decades of experience in the military and law enforcement community to use in protecting his own community. In particular, he proudly served 25 years in the FBI and protected our State and our Nation.

As a Representative for the Hudson Valley, I can personally attest to the fact that having good, smart, dedicated, patriotic, locally elected officials, regardless of political party, truly makes all the difference when it comes to getting stuff done and delivering for our community.

That was always the case with Mayor Gagliano, a tireless partner in making our community more affordable, safe, and free. We partnered closely on bringing funding, and ultimately executing critical water and infrastructure projects, public safety projects, and first responder and EMS investment.

He was always the first with a smile and a joke. Even though we don't agree about baseball teams, I think we agree on pretty much everything else, and I appreciate his leadership. Everyone in his community and in the Hudson Valley knows that Cornwall is a better place following his leadership as mayor of the village.

While we wish him the best in his new chapter, I will truly miss working with him and marching in the Fourth of July parade with him. I am sure I will see him at Army football games soon.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Deluzio, for his leadership on this and for bringing this group together to remind us that as Americans who love this country, we need that strong, muscular economic patriotism to serve my constituents in my district, which is the Hudson Valley of New York State, and across this country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I love this country. I believe it is the greatest country in the history of the world. I believe it is worth fighting for, and we must fight for it now.

I also believe when you see something that isn't working, Mr. Speaker, you stand up and you do everything in your power to fix it.

Our country and our party are at a crossroads. It is up to us, the people who have the incredible honor to stand on the floor of the United States House of Representatives in this Chamber, to forge the path forward.

Unlike some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, I won't try to deny the outcome of the election in November 2024.

Too many Americans felt Democrats had become the party of the elites and had stopped meeting people where they are, not understanding the pain that they are feeling in their lives and their families at their kitchen tables when they get up go to work and come home exhausted at night.

Democrats need to learn from their mistakes. This moment is not ideological. It is about who fights for the people and who fights for the elites.

I believe first and foremost that if you are using labels like ``moderate'' or ``progressive,'' you are missing the entire point. I gave former President Biden hell for failing to secure our border. I think that is a nonpartisan issue. That doesn't make me a moderate. I campaigned with my colleague AOC against big corporations screwing over my constituents and polluting the Hudson River in my district. That doesn't make me a progressive.

If the last election made anything clear, it is high costs and economic pain are first and foremost on our constituents' minds.

Donald Trump promised to help with that. He has not unequivocally. In fact, everything he has done in office has helped his billionaire cronies, who, by the way, gave hundreds of millions of dollars to his campaign at the expense of families like the ones that I represent in my district across the Hudson Valley.

Trump's failure to bring down costs is handing Democrats the answer on a silver platter. Our response cannot stop at Donald Trump who works for the wealthy though, which is true. It must go further.

Donald Trump works for the wealthy, and Democrats work and fight for you, the working class and middle class of this country, the economic patriots of the United States of America.

Just over a year ago, I stood on this very floor and ultimately successfully

called on the CEO of a local utility monopoly in my district which had been screwing over my constituents, robbing them blind, literally emptying their dwindling savings accounts due to a failure of their billing practices. I called on that CEO to resign, and he was held accountable, and he did. That company ultimately paid $62 million back to my constituents in the form of accountability.

Now, Optum, the healthcare company, which is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, the single largest health insurer in our country and really one of only three companies in the United States of America that controls the entire healthcare market has been buying up medical practices across my district.

Just a few weeks ago, I launched a community inquiry. Thousands of my constituents and my neighbors and friends who have been hurt by Optum have responded detailing horrific stories of declining healthcare quality, erroneous billing, and we are continuing to gather this evidence, the voices of the people, the American people, and to ultimately hold this big corporation who has been making record- breaking profits quarter after quarter accountable.

Here is another example. For months, broadcast companies, big telecoms in New York were in a deadlock fight over streaming rights that left over a million New Yorkers, paying customers, staring at blank screens trying to watch sports games to take their mind off of all the pressures in their lives. Knicks fans and Rangers fans who paid couldn't see games. As one of those fans, I was mad as hell that I had paid and couldn't watch a game while a multibillion-dollar corporation kept raking in more profits and didn't seem to care at all about their paying customers.

Thankfully, under pressure, that blackout has ended, and we are now demanding Optimum, the telecom, the main perpetrator of this, pay back the customers who were harmed.

I have also introduced something called the Stop Sports Blackout Act so if this ever happens again, there won't be a question that a company has to pay and give customers the refunds for games they couldn't watch.

Whether in their utility bills, their healthcare bills, or just trying to watch a sports game, that is putting money back in people's pockets when pressure is so high, and that matters.

In closing, there is so much power now in the voices of our communities, but only if we, their elected Representatives, listen and act and elevate it. That is economic patriotism.

I am proud that as a Democrat our party stands with law enforcement and police officers, stands with small businesses, stands with veterans, stands with hardworking families, with nurses, teachers, and truck drivers. Democrats stand with our constituents, whether they voted for us or not, and, yes, we stand against Donald Trump and his harmful policies, but we stand for so, so much more.

A group of patriots unyielding and unwavering in their dedication to fighting for the people and against anyone who would do them harm, that is the Democratic Party that I am proud to be a part of, and that is our path out of this moment.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 38.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the photographer Tania Barricklo on her retirement from our local hometown newspaper, the newspaper I read growing up as a child, the Daily Freeman, where her truly breathtaking work brought the pages to life for 25 years.

Tania has a wondrous ability to distill the essence of the Hudson Valley into every frame. In a single image, she captures entire motions and emotions that transport viewers back to the original scene itself.

Through her work, she has immortalized moments big and small, from documenting high-profile events that will go down in our community's history books to preserving the game-winning shot for the local high school athletes to hold dear for the rest of their lives.

Tania is a staple in our community, an unwavering and reliable presence.

She and her photographs will be forever intertwined with Kingston and Ulster County's history, and I thank her personally and on behalf of our entire community for her invaluable contributions to the lives of Kingstonians' past, present, and future.

I wish her the absolute best in her retirement and hope to see her very soon on the streets of our great community.

Thanking John Lipscomb

Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank a true pillar of the Hudson Valley community, John Lipscomb, for his decades of fierce advocacy for our environment and cherished Hudson River, as he retires from his role as Riverkeeper's vice president of advocacy and chief patrol boat captain.

John has been sailing the Hudson River since his childhood, and his dedication to its care and rehabilitation runs deeper than the depths of the river itself.

Throughout his career, John has sailed infinite miles on that river, taken thousands of water samples to inform and advance cleanup efforts, and, through his work on documentaries, has introduced thousands of others near and far to what we know in the Hudson Valley about our river. It is of vital importance, and we have an obligation to its keeping and preservation for future generations.

I wish John the absolute best. He is more than deserving of a restful retirement, but I don't expect to see him sitting back anytime soon. I am heartened knowing that his passion will not fade, and the Hudson River will continue to see him going up and down its shores.

Honoring Martha Strever

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor New York State's longest serving teacher, the inspiring Martha Strever, now in her 64th year teaching math to middle school students in the Hudson Valley.

Martha is the teacher every parent wants for their child. She is rooted solely in uplifting the lives of students and empowering them through limitless learning.

Born and raised in Hyde Park, she brought her zeal for teaching to the Red Hook Central School District in 1961 and hasn't slowed down for a minute since.

Her impact knows no bounds. She has molded thousands of students--in some cases, three generations of students from the same family--into high-achieving academics and exemplary Hudson Valley citizens, who have in turn passed the lessons from their beloved Ms. Strever on to countless others.

In fact, 30 years ago, she taught a young woman in her math class who is now the principal of that school and actually her boss.

Martha Strever is a true treasure of the Hudson Valley, and I thank her for her profound service to our community for 63 years past and for more to come. She says she has no plans to leave the classroom anytime soon.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and thank the brave fire crews who are battling the outbreak of wildfires that are currently devastating the Hudson Valley, centered in Greenwood Lake, Warwick, parts of western Ulster County, and have now spread into New Jersey, as well.

Undaunted by the great personal peril they are facing, these heroes are willingly putting their own lives on the line to protect our neighbors and our communities.

Each and every member of our fire and emergency response crews is saving lives, and I thank them. Their every action has spared families and property from heartbreak. They are preserving our Hudson Valley as our cherished home. I thank them for their unparalleled selflessness.

I also thank Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and his entire fire services and emergency management team for their around-the-clock, 24/7 work in regard to protecting the safety of our community.

We have also seen an outpouring of support from throughout the entire region across multiple States. Firefighters traveling in from across the Northeast see our community in need and are answering the call to help.

They are putting their own lives at risk to protect communities that aren't even their own communities.

I recognize the profound service, sacrifice, and life of one of those very heroes.

Dariel Vasquez was an 18-year-old State Parks aide from neighboring Ramapo in Rockland County who just a few days ago laid down his own life at the age of 18 to protect our Greenwood Lake community from the catastrophic fire raging in Sterling Forest.

Dariel was truly the best of what the Hudson Valley is: hardworking, genuine, compassionate, and a reliable shoulder to lean on for anyone and everyone who needed one. He was widely known throughout the region for his prowess and power on the baseball field as the captain of his high school baseball team. He was even more widely known for the limitless friendship and brotherhood he extended to every person he met.

I join the entire Hudson Valley in mourning the tragic loss of such a young, bright life. I send my deepest condolences to his family and friends and my thanks. We are forever indebted to him in our community for his unwavering bravery and heroism.

To all those in our community who are facing unimaginable loss, the Hudson Valley takes care of each other, leans on each other, and carries each other through anything. This has been true for centuries of our history, it remains true today, and I am confident it will be true for many more to come.

My thoughts are with those facing such loss and with our fire crews who still at this moment throughout all last night and into this morning are putting their lives on the line while wildfires are still raging.

Honoring the Memory of John Lodge Stoneman

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of World War I veteran John Lodge Stoneman who was finally given a proper burial at our brand new Ulster County Veterans Cemetery last Thursday, November 7, more than 62 years after his passing.

In 1917, John courageously answered his Nation's call to service as the U.S. entered the Great War. He put his life on the line for years, and our Nation and our community owe him a debt of gratitude we can never repay.

His legacy deserves the absolute highest place of reverence and honor, but, unfortunately, his remains for over 61 years had remained unclaimed since his passing in 1962. Through tireless efforts, Wiltwyck Cemetery volunteer Kathy Wade pieced together the story of John's entire life. I am so grateful that my office and team were able to help assist her in obtaining his military records so he could finally receive, decades later, the honorable burial he was long overdue.

I thank Kathy and the countless other community members who made it their mission to lay Mr. Stoneman in his final resting place, especially our great Ulster County Veteran Services Agency, our Ulster County Sheriff's Department, the Patriot Guard Riders, the VFW, and The American Legion, who all worked together from across our community.

Thanks to their work, John Lodge Stoneman will now rest alongside his fellow heroes and ensure his place in American history is recognized for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an extraordinary milestone in clean energy innovation achieved by Amogy, a trailblazing company in the sustainable energy sector. On September 22nd, Amogy successfully demonstrated the world's first carbon-free, ammonia- powered maritime vessel on Rondout Creek and the Hudson River, located in my district in New York.

This achievement reflects Amogy's commitment to addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time--reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime industry. The successful voyage of this vessel marks a historic step forward in the global push to transition to cleaner energy solutions, and it serves as a beacon of what can be achieved when we leverage groundbreaking technology for the good of our planet.

Amogy's innovation lies in its advanced ammonia-to-power platform, which enables the use of ammonia as a renewable, carbon-free fuel. This vessel's demonstration is a tangible example of how we can reimagine existing industries--such as shipping--and move toward a more sustainable future.

Not only is this accomplishment a testament to the technical prowess of the engineers, scientists, and visionaries at Amogy, but it also represents a significant moment for environmental policy and industrial decarbonization. By replacing fossil fuels with alternative, cleaner energy sources like ammonia, we can dramatically reduce emissions in sectors that have historically been difficult to decarbonize.

I would like to commend the entire team at Amogy for their pursuit of innovation and sustainability. Their dedication to pushing the boundaries of clean energy is a vital contribution to the fight against climate change. I would also like to recognize that this historic demonstration took place at Feeney Shipyard, in Kingston, New York, which has long been a hub of maritime activity in the Hudson Valley.

I congratulate Amogy on this monumental achievement and look forward to witnessing the continued advancements the company will bring to the clean energy landscape. It is through the efforts of companies like Amogy that we will continue to make strides toward a more sustainable and resilient future.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent from votes today due to circumstances beyond my control. The roll call votes I missed included the MTR on H.R. 3724, passage of H.R. 3724, the MTR on H.R. 4790, and passage of H.R. 4790. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 432, ``nay'' on Roll Call No. 433, ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 434, and ``nay'' on Roll Call No. 435.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Colonel Suzanne C. Nielsen, Professor and Head of the Department of Social Sciences at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

She graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in the class of 1991 with a B.S. in political science. She holds a master's degree from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and is an alumna of the National War College. She also has a Ph.D. in political science from Harvard University. Colonel Nielsen serves on the governing council of the Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Upon commissioning, Colonel Nielsen moved to Augsburg, Germany, where she served as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Operations Officer for the 204th MI Battalion, 66th MI Brigade. She then went on to serve in many roles in the United States Military, both at home and abroad, from 1995 to 2009, including serving in Korea and Iraq. Her career at West Point began in 1999 as an Instructor and Assistant Professor with the Department of Social Sciences. Colonel Nielsen assumed the role of Professor and Deputy Head of the Department of Social Sciences at West Point in 2013 and became the head of the department in 2016, where she has served since.

Colonel Nielsen has written six books, including her most recent American National Security, published by Johns Hopkins University Press in 2018. Over her distinguished 34-year career, Colonel Nielsen has proven herself to be a superb Soldier, an inspirational leader, and an outstanding educator. As the Head of the Department of Social Sciences for the past eight years, Colonel Nielsen's leadership has positioned the department to provide a 21st-century outlook for cadets, faculty, staff, and the Army.

Colonel Nielsen's unwavering dedication to duty and her lifelong impact on the careers of faculty members and future Army officers have contributed immeasurably to the Department of Social Sciences and the United States Military Academy. I commend Colonel Nielsen for her life- long service and wish her all the best as she transitions to civilian life and continues to serve in new ways.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Josayne Anderson-Tejera, for receiving the President's Volunteer Service Award, an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to recognize the invaluable contributions of volunteers in our Nation. Over the course of her career, Josayne has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to making a difference in her community, specifically in the areas of civil rights and women's advocacy.

Josayne was driven to a career in public service after she lost a close friend to domestic violence. Coupled with her own experiences surviving domestic violence, she has since dedicated her life to speaking out against domestic and sexual violence. In 2004, she founded the Love Quest Foundation, an organization that seeks to provide a safe space for young adults and survivors of domestic violence to learn healthy relationship habits and heal from trauma. Over the past 2 decades, the Love Quest Foundation has transformed the lives of countless young people and survivors across Dutchess County.

In addition to her work with her foundation, Ms. Anderson-Tetera has served as Dutchess County's Equal Opportunity and Inclusion Officer since 2020. In her position, Josayne is charged with maintaining and improving the County's commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Previously, she worked for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision where she conducted investigations which aimed to prevent discrimination, misconduct, and assaults in the workplace. She has also served as: Financial Secretary and recruitment presenter for the New York State Minorities in Criminal Justice, Board Member for Life Flows Through Every Body, and Fellow for CEO Action for Racial Equity.

I commend Josayne's impressive contributions to the Hudson Valley. Through her work, she has undoubtedly made a positive impact on the lives of countless men and women, The President's Volunteer Service Award is a formal acknowledgment of the hundreds of hours she has devoted to improving her community, but I want to take this opportunity to attest to the immeasurable contributions that she has selflessly made to Dutchess County and to our state.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a pillar of our New Paltz community, Police Chief Robert Lucchesi, as he retires after over three decades serving our community on the force.

Chief Lucchesi is everything a community could want in a leader: He brought a zeal for service to every moment spent in uniform, a devotion to neighbors and strangers alike, and the profound ability to constantly reflect on how his team could better protect, serve, uplift, and empower our community.

He set the standard and built a culture based on trust not only in his department, but throughout our entire region by serving on the Police Chiefs Association of Ulster County and Mid-Hudson Chiefs of Police Association.

Chief Lucchesi has more than earned a relaxing retirement, but that is not who he is. Fully grounded in a life of service, he is already back in public service sitting on the New Paltz Zoning Board of Appeals, serving as a volunteer firefighter, and in his spare time, somehow, coaching youth sports in New Paltz and our community.

Mr. Speaker, it has been an honor to serve and work with Chief Lucchesi. On behalf of our entire community, I thank him for his decades of service past, present, and future.