Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Mr. Arrington. I wish I had a witty sports rejoinder from Michigan to Texas, but I utterly lack that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the deeply troubling state of our Nation's finances. As Mr. Arrington has pointed out, at this moment, the U.S. public debt stands at nearly $31 trillion or 122 percent of our Gross Domestic Product. Total debt service on this as of August of this year was $677 billion, which is more than we spent on national defense in the 2017 fiscal year.

To put it another way, this current administration, despite all of this, does not seem worried. In fact, they are enacting policies that will only grow and exacerbate this problem.

This administration, with the assistance of the Senate and House counterparts, passed both the American Rescue Plan and the oxymoronically named Inflation Reduction Act through reconciliation with absolutely zero communication across the aisle.

Still, not satisfied with what they have been able to spend on a strictly partisan basis in Congress, the administration has arrogated to itself sweeping fiscal powers under a national emergency which it continues to extend, not because the actual emergency persists, as the President has mentioned that the pandemic is over, but because they need the money. And that is what the administration has chosen to do.

Our question is: With these emergency powers, what is their goal?

It is engineering one of the largest upward transfers of wealth in the Nation's history. It is spending $400 billion--that is almost 2 percent of GDP--to pay down the loans of those who attended college.

It is important to keep in mind in the United States, the median household income of a college graduate is over $100,000, significantly higher than the median income of the American taxpayer, and nearly twice the median household income of a family in my district.

Why are they doing this? Have college graduates been disproportionately affected by this pandemic?

No, quite the opposite.

College grads have done relatively well compared to the rest of the country, many of whom could Zoom into work. They had the option of working remotely. They were not laid off en masse.

The reason the Biden administration is choosing to do this is because it is what the Democratic Party does. They use control of the ever- growing State to tax their enemies and pay their friends.

President Biden, facing a historically unpopular moment, has a base that is apathetic because he has failed to deliver the unrealizable promises that he made.

So the answer? A 2 percent of GDP gift to drive them to the polls. It is that simple.

After all this, there will still be losses, but once again, we will achieve nothing. And once again, we will have a bill that we will foot for decades to come.

We must put an end to this type of governing.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the anniversary of Grand Rapids' own Gerald R. Ford Federal Building and United States Courthouse, which for 50 years has been emblematic to the people of West Michigan as a stronghold of service, integrity, and trust.

Originally opened to the public in September of 1972, the Grand Rapids Federal Building carried no name. At that time, the possibility of a federal building being named after our then-5th District Representative Ford crossed the minds of few, let alone the future 38th President of the United States. It wasn't until 1975, under H.R. 11897, that a bipartisan effort spearheaded by the 93rd Congress to rename the building after him was presented to President Ford himself.

Displaying the humility that his legacy reflects time and time again, especially today, President Ford vetoed H.R. 11897, citing that it would be ``improper'' to approve legislation that places his name on a federal building. ``This,'' he argued, ``is a precedent I do not wish to establish.'' President Ford continued in his memorandum that ``office buildings which house the functions of Government should not be used as monuments to Federal officials, but rather as workshops for the people's business.''

Not long after Ford's brief--but impactful--time in office came to a close, President Jimmy Carter signed into law Senate Resolution 385, which officially named the office and courthouse in honor of his predecessor. President Ford built a towering legacy of devoting his will to the people who offered him and his wife, Betty, their trust after a difficult period in our history where uncertainty and deception nearly redefined our national identity.

Over the past 50 years, the office has been home to many tenants belonging to all branches of government. I am proud to share this space with my colleague in the U.S. Senate, Senator Gary Peters, with distinguished jurists, and with the many honest and endearing employees who have devoted their careers to ensuring that the office can successfully serve as a welcoming place of leadership and order. I am grateful to the law enforcement officers who have sacrificed their time to protect the federal business which is necessary to the success of our community.

Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor not only to have been a tenant of the space, but to take this time to recognize the history and all- around good work of those who are instrumental in leading our Nation from the local level on up.

Madam Speaker, I thank our ranking member, Mr. Lucas, for yielding me time and for his continued leadership on the Science, Space and Technology Committee.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 7289, the Federal PFAS Research Evaluation Act, is a bipartisan bill that offers both reasonable and pragmatic action on PFAS. I was proud to introduce it with the gentlewoman from Texas (Mrs. Fletcher), my colleague and friend.

PFAS chemicals, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, can be found in nonstick pans, firefighting foam, food packaging, medical devices, and many other everyday products.

There are hundreds of PFAS compounds, and the makeup of these forever chemicals makes them difficult to break down in nature. But given the sheer number of compounds and the complexity of each, there is much we still do not know about the chemicals, including where they might have been used.

In my home State of Michigan, it is estimated there could be as many as 11,300 potential sites where PFAS may have been used.

The response to PFAS requires a balanced approach, and I do not believe we should have to pick between encouraging economic growth or protecting human health and the environment.

We need to ensure that any potential regulation is based on strong and science-based evidence, and that is where H.R. 7289 will play a critical role. With this bill, we will learn more about both the human health and environmental effects of PFAS. The bill includes the health effects related to exposure and toxicity of PFAS, as well as the effects of PFAS on the environment, including the extent of PFAS contamination, treatment, but also alternatives.

The studies that the bill authorizes will be conducted by our leading National Academies, widely regarded as the most prestigious and accurate institutions for objective scientific evidence.

Once completed, these studies will provide us with a clearer picture of Federal research related to PFAS, and we will be able to better understand both the extent of problems and where the Federal research enterprise can best assist in seeking solutions. With such information, we can take meaningful steps toward eliminating PFAS contamination because we will know exactly how and where it exists in our world today.

The first step toward solving any problem is understanding exactly what you are facing. H.R. 7289 offers this commonsense solution to support PFAS research, our understanding of contamination, and how the chemicals behave.

Again, I thank my colleague on the Science, Space and Technology Committee, Representative Lizzie Fletcher, for introducing this legislation and working with me to amend it in a bipartisan manner before coming to the floor.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act.

We have an urgent moral obligation to take care of the men and women who have served and sacrificed in uniform to defend our Nation. I have seen the impacts of burn pit and toxic exposure hazards firsthand both as a U.S. Army soldier in Iraq and also as somebody who has served alongside others in the Veterans' Affairs Committee and who have constituents today who are suffering from those ailments.

This comprehensive, bipartisan package will expand VA coverage; and to those 3.45 million toxic-exposed veterans, provide the VA additional resources so it can better care for our veterans and also create the framework for establishing future toxic exposure-related presumptions of service connection so we don't have to go through this again.

I am especially proud that a bill I introduced last year with my colleague from Michigan, Congresswoman Slotkin, the Veterans Burn Pit Exposure Recognition Act, was included in this final package.

Madam Speaker, I look forward to supporting final passage of this bill, and I encourage all my colleagues to ensure its swift passage. With this bill, we will make good on the promises we made to our Nation's servicemembers and veterans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize West Michigan's own Grand Valley State University Vice President Matthew E. McLogan, who for nearly 35 years has delivered unparalleled leadership and expertise to our region's academic communities.

Originally hired in 1987, he is the longest serving executive officer in university history. Prior to his time at GVSU, Matt was a fixture in broadcast news and served honorably as Michigan's former Public Service Commissioner. He took the exceptional skillset he built in these professions and brought it to GVSU.

When Matt joined Grand Valley and became a Laker, the school's lone campus was home to just 8,000 students. Now, as of 2022, the Laker community has grown nearly threefold, boasting over 23,000 students across five locations. The university's technological centers, libraries, and resources are now the envy of competing institutions at home in West Michigan and across the Nation.

Having served through the previous four of five university presidents, Matt facilitated and witnessed firsthand Grand Valley State University's historic expansion. For years, he has been essential to the success of Grand Valley's executive leadership, playing a crucial role in government and alumni relations, the school's marketing programs, and as secretary to the Board of Trustees.

Matt maintains responsibility for some of the institution's most memorable accomplishments: the university's presence on Grand Rapids' famous Medical Mile, the school's unprecedented expansion, and game- changing additions requiring public support. Matt is known widely throughout our community as one of West Michigan's best promoters and academic professionals.

Largely due to the leadership and expertise of Vice President McLogan, Grand Valley State University is poised to continue unprecedented growth for many years to come. Matt has brought great fortune to the Lakers, and there is no doubt that the successes of his leadership have made a lasting impact on our community.

Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to take this time to recognize the accomplishments of this distinguished leader. I applaud Matt for his decades of selfless leadership and service to the Grand Valley community and can say with great certainty that his accomplishments will not soon be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize west Michigan's own Grand Valley State University Vice President Matthew E. McLogan, who for nearly 35 years has delivered unparalleled leadership and expertise to our region's academic communities.

Originally hired in 1987--I won't mention that that is the year before I was born--he is the longest serving executive officer in university history.

Prior to his time at GVSU, Matt was a fixture in broadcast news and served honorably as Michigan's former public service commissioner with a booming baritone voice that many of us recognize.

He took the exceptional skill set that he had built in these professions and brought it to Grand Valley State University. When Matt joined GVSU and became a Laker, the school's lone campus was home to just 8,000 students. As of 2022, the Laker community has grown threefold, boasting over 23,000 students across five locations. Their technological centers, libraries, and resources are the envy of competing universities at home in west Michigan and across the Nation.

Having served through the previous four of five university presidents, Matt facilitated and witnessed firsthand Grand Valley State University's historic expansion. For years, he has been essential to the success of Grand Valley's executive leadership, playing a crucial role in government and alumni relations and the school's marketing programs and as secretary to the board of trustees.

Matt maintains responsibility for some of the institution's memorable accomplishments: the university's presence on our famous Medical Mile in Grand Rapids, the school's unprecedented expansion, and game- changing additions requiring public support.

Matt is known widely throughout the community as one of west Michigan's best boosters and academic professionals.

It is largely thanks to the leadership and expertise of Vice President McLogan that GVSU is poised to continue unprecedented growth for years to come. Matt has brought great fortune to the Lakers, and there is no doubt that the successes of his leadership have made a lasting impact on our community.

Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to take this time to recognize his accomplishments. I applaud Matt for his decades of selfless leadership and service to the Grand Valley State University community. I can say with great certainty that his accomplishments will not soon be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga), my colleague and friend from the Second District.

Madam Speaker, I thank my dear friend from Texas for yielding.

When I was in middle school, we had a textbook for U.S. Government, and it showed our debt. The line went up and the line went down over administrations. It spiked in World War II. It was coming down in the nineties. This is the debt, mind you, not the deficit, the debt. There was a little dotted line anticipating we would have the debt fully paid off by, I think, 2002.

Now, some things got in the way around the turn of the millennium, and that number has spiked. Now, we are at those World War II highs.

As many of my colleagues have alluded to, this is a bipartisan affliction. Deficit spending knows no party preference. But the idea that, in just a few short years, we tripled that debt--well, added 50 percent, went from $20 trillion to $30 trillion, $5 trillion of that in the last 2 years alone.

We were facing the COVID-19 pandemic. Those were dark and frightening days, and this body reacted swiftly, reacted in good faith. Yet, the good faith became a good excuse to just keep spending, keep spending, keep going. That catches up.

The inflation that we are experiencing right now has many fathers. You have the challenges of unwinding over a decade of quantitative easing, and that money printer just rolling on and on.

We have the American Rescue Plan, which many of us in this body, probably many of us here behind me tonight, were warning about the inflationary impacts that were dismissed at the time, except for a few brave economists on the left. Larry Summers was pointing that out, but we just kept going.

Now, the American people, the consumers, are feeling that impact. They see it every time they drive past the gas station.

I just filled up my gas tank. For the first time, it cost me over $100. That has never been the case. I know many who have more than a 20-gallon tank are experiencing that even worse.

The question on behalf of constituents we talk to is: What are you going to do? What are you going to do in Congress about this?

The challenge is inflation, debt spending. These are challenging issues, right? You can't put the genie back in the bottle. I mean, maybe we could accelerate the creation of a time machine and go back and show what occurred and what the consequences were of those policies, come back into this body to February 2021 with the American Rescue Plan, or even go back to when that middle school textbook I had was written, showing the dangers.

But just in the time I have been here, our cost to service the debt, that 10-year Treasury bond, has tripled in terms of what this impact will be on us fiscally.

We talk about the budgets that we pass, that spending. That is only a third of how much money is going out the door.

I applaud my colleagues who are working on the TRUST Act and other efforts to just come to some bipartisan consensus because this will be something that impacts all generations.

I am acutely aware of that, looking at young families and the burden this is putting on them, and just how much that debt very rapidly is going to be a long-term drag on our fiscal growth, on our economic vitality that underpins our standing in the world and our position as a superpower.

If we don't get that house in order and get it in order fast, and start laying down the groundwork--it doesn't have to be bold right away. It will need to be bold eventually. But, by golly, we need to start heading down that right path and that right path soon.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7077, the Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act, which is an important piece of bipartisan legislation to support the U.S. Fire Administration.

I was honored to join my colleague we just heard from, Mr. Ritchie Torres, in introducing this bill, spurred from a terrible and heartbreaking tragedy in his district in New York.

That fire in the Bronx apartment building left us with many questions. Upon further examination, it became clear that there is currently a lack of coordination between the Federal U.S. Fire Administration and other State and local authorities. In fact, the U.S. Fire Administration does not have the authority to conduct on-site investigations of major fires. As a result, our State and local authorities are limited in their capabilities to investigate major fires.

The U.S. Fire Administration's expertise can and should be used to the fullest extent, in coordination with all existing authorities responsible for fire investigations.

That is why H.R. 7077 is so important. It simply addresses the existing coordination gap between Federal, State, and local authorities. It allows the U.S. Fire Administration to send investigators, including safety specialists, fire protection engineers, codes and standards experts, and fire training specialists to the site of a major fire so that these experts can then work on the ground with their State and local authorities to determine causes, examine building failures, provide answers to those affected by the fires, and establish lessons learned so similar tragedies can be prevented in the future.

The tragedy we saw in the Bronx was heartbreaking and should never have happened. We need answers, and we also need to ensure that something like this does not happen again. It is past time to allow the experts at all levels, Federal, State, and local, to coordinate and help us achieve this goal. This bill has received support from fire departments across the country, including my hometown of Grand Rapids, with our Grand Rapids Fire Department offering its support.

I thank my colleague, Mr. Torres, without whom this wouldn't have happened, Ms. Stevens, and Mr. Gonzalez for their work on this bill, as well as my dear colleague, Mrs. Bice, for her work.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7372, the Protecting Semiconductor Supply Chain Materials from Authoritarians Act.

This bill, which I helped introduce with Representative Titus, is an incredibly timely bill and focuses on two of the most pressing issues today: the war in Ukraine and our semiconductor supply chain shortages.

Over the past 2 years, we have seen unprecedented challenges to our supply chain. The current war in Ukraine has exacerbated each and every one of these challenges, threatening our supply of critical minerals, including the supply for semiconductors.

From cell phones and cars to medical devices, we all know the integral role that semiconductors play in our everyday lives. My home State of Michigan knows all too well the challenges that the semiconductor shortage have created for our economy. A threat to our supply chains is a matter of both economic and national security, and we need a robust and coordinated response to any threats to our semiconductor supply chain. This bill offers just that.

By establishing a working group focused specifically on the threats to our semiconductor supply chain as a result of Putin's illegal war of aggression in Ukraine, we can ensure that all available resources and expertise are being used to examine how our critical mineral supply is affected by the ongoing war. This legislation also examines how we can bolster our supply of critical minerals, as well as how we in Congress can offer legislative solutions to help support and strengthen our supply chains.

We know now that our global supply chain is at a critical juncture, and if it can be disrupted for semiconductors, the threats will be endless to our economic and national security. This legislation allows us to take meaningful steps to identify how the ongoing war threatens the chain and what we can do to shore up our supply domestically.

I want to thank the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) for leading this effort, and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Asset Seizure for Ukraine Reconstruction Act, which I was proud to help introduce with my colleague, Congressman Malinowski.

This bill sends a strong and clear message of support to the Ukrainian people and a clear message to Putin and his cronies that their ill-gotten assets are no longer welcome in the United States.

The Asset Seizure for Ukraine Reconstruction Act encourages the administration to take necessary steps allowed by the Constitution and existing laws to seize Russian assets valued over $2 million and repurpose them towards post-conflict reconstruction and humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.

It also includes my amendment that aims to expand sanctions on members of Russia's Parliament who took the reckless and illegal vote to recognize two breakaway states in the Donbas and authorize Putin to use military force in Ukraine.

Although the Biden administration sanctioned 328 duma members who voted on February 15 for a resolution calling on Putin to recognize the Ukrainian breakaway states, the so-called Luhansk People's Republic and Donetsk People's Republic, it has still not imposed similar sanctions on the remaining duma members and the 154 members of the Federation Council who voted just one week later to authorize Putin's senseless war in Ukraine.

These Russian politicians, as well as the oligarchs who so comfortably store their assets on U.S. territory, play a role in Putin's illegal war, and they all deserve to be punished. Our bill ensures that they do not escape accountability for their complicity in the atrocities against Ukraine, which has left thousands of civilians dead, and many millions displaced.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this critical and urgent bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4476, the DHS Trade and Economic Security Council Act.

The importance of our Nation's economic security cannot be overstated. For our country, economic security means peace and stability. It means the ability to be entrepreneurs and to freely produce and consume goods and services. For each of us as individuals, it means a secure livelihood, safe communities for our children to grow up in, and opportunities to build new institutions and contribute to society.

The level of economic security that we enjoy depends largely on the flow of goods, services, and information across our borders.

Over the past few years, we have seen this flow interrupted significantly. Our supply chains were challenged and, at times, overwhelmed. Unfortunately, these challenges are likely to continue and increase because of the dependencies we have built on hostile nations, including our overwhelming trade with China.

Vladimir Putin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is just another reminder of the global dependency on

Russian energy production and the devastating national security consequences of being economically dependent on our adversaries.

The threats to our economic security are numerous and growing and cannot be overstated. The peace and prosperity of our country is at risk.

We saw the first inklings of this threat at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when the U.S. could not find enough personal protective equipment for its hospitals and medical providers, and China threatened our security by imposing export restrictions on masks and ventilator components, preventing U.S. companies from getting the deliveries they needed from their own subsidiaries.

This was just the tip of the iceberg. We know that China is working hard to expand its global economic reach in a variety of ways.

A report by the DHS Homeland Security Advisory Council correctly stated that: ``DHS has no choice but to play a larger role in economic security issues. It is charged with preparing for all manner of crises . . . from major hurricanes to terrorist attacks.''

The report also highlighted the threat that China poses, and it stated that these new, long-term threats are economic, and the new weapons are trade deals, technological innovation, and critical supply chain dependencies.

The U.S.-China strategic competition is increasingly driven by who controls these underlying systems and the rules by which we advance our economic interests. We cannot allow ourselves to be behind the curve in the next national or global disaster. We need to get ahead of it.

To that end, the report made two recommendations on how the Department can combat China's influence while also contributing to our economic security.

First, the report concluded that to keep the civilian side of our economy functioning in a time of crisis, Congress should institutionalize a politically appointed official to conduct day-to-day policy coordination and who resides within the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans. This bill codifies such an assistant secretary position in that office.

Second, the report recommended that DHS institutionalize a council that would identify concentrated economic risks, set priorities, and coordinate enterprise-wide action on economic security matters. This bill follows that recommendation by establishing the DHS Trade and Economic Security Council while also defining its roles and responsibilities.

Codifying these important facets of the Department is a critical step to ensuring our economic security. The work that this council and the assistant secretary will do is critically important to the Nation's response and resilience to the next unforeseen global crisis.

It is crucial that DHS lean into its unique position as the only executive agency that deals with both the national security and economic prosperity of the Nation and lead the United States Government as the preeminent economic security agency in the decades to come.

I am proud to have led this important and timely effort. I thank my friend and colleague, Ranking Member Katko, for being an original cosponsor, and I also thank Representatives Luria, Delgado, and Slotkin, in particular, for reaching across the aisle.

Economic security is truly homeland security. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Madam Speaker, this week, we bid farewell to Senator Bob Dole, a great leader with not only an incredible political mind, but more importantly, an unwavering dedication to public service. He was not only a dedicated war hero who exemplified the very best of what it means to be an American, but also someone who set an example for others with a commitment to pragmatism, bipartisanship, and governing in the best interest of the American people.

After being wounded in combat, Bob Dole recuperated in my district, in west Michigan, at the former Battle Creek Sanitarium, pressed into wartime service as the Percy Jones Army Hospital. That facility no longer exists in that form, and I am proud to say today, it is the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center, a long-lasting testament to not only his wartime service but also his connection to west Michigan, where, as my colleague, Mr. LaTurner, mentioned, his survival was questioned and his recuperation was long and lengthy, but also where he built friendships and ties, especially with Mr. Inouye, that would go on to last for over a half century.

During those nearly three decades that he spent in the United States Senate, Senator Dole was a voice for the veteran community. His career- long efforts to help the men and women who served in uniform culminated in office with the Veterans' Benefit Improvement Act of 1996.

He also did not forget, even after he left office, that he had attended college on the GI Bill in the post-World War II period. He helped a young upstart organization that I volunteered with called Student Veterans of America, and many others, who campaigned for and passed the post-9/11 GI Bill so that our generation of veterans could receive the same educational benefits that he had.

He made tangible improvements to the lives of our veterans through focusing on substance. Throughout his career, he never lost sight of the job that he was sent here to do. His service is an example of how government can truly function and serve when we are committed to prioritizing results over politics.

Tonight, my wife, Gabrielle, and I extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Senator Elizabeth Dole, and all of those who grieve Senator Dole's passing. His memory and legacy will live on in the contributions he made to our Republic.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor our nation's veterans and help shine a light on the struggles they continue to face after returning home from their service in uniform. I want to thank my colleague from Michigan for giving us this opportunity to speak here today.

With Veterans Day just around the corner, it is important that all Americans take time to reflect on the sacrifices these courageous men and women, and their families, have made for the United States. This is a solemn occasion when we come together as a country to appreciate the selfless service and celebrate the bravery of these heroes.

I have had many conversations with veterans in my district about the challenges they continue to face once they have returned home. Many have been longstanding for generations: the physical and emotional wounds

of combat, obstacles in accessing VA care and benefits, and debilitating health conditions resulting from exposure to burn pits and other toxic hazards.

But recently, there has been an increased call to address other, less talked about challenges, including the mental health impacts of processing what we all witnessed in Afghanistan over the last few months.

I am proud to have joined my colleagues in leading several bipartisan pieces of legislation to help address some of these challenges, but there is much more to be done. We have an urgent moral obligation to take care of the men and women who have served and sacrificed to defend our nation, and I am committed to continuing this crucial work with my colleagues here in Congress.

Today, I want to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to all of our nation's veterans, and I encourage all Americans to reach out to veterans in their life and let them know that they are valued and that they are not alone. We will never forget those who have answered the call to serve this country in uniform, and we honor them all here today.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today in support of H.R. 5142 introduced by my colleague, Lisa McClain from Michigan.

This bill would posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to the U.S. servicemembers killed during the final week of the Afghanistan evacuation.

On August 26, 2021, 13 American servicemembers were killed in a brutal suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport, marking one of the deadliest days for U.S. forces in Afghanistan in the past 20 years.

These selfless and brave Americans were put into an impossible situation, but their commitment to that mission never wavered.

They epitomized what it means to be a hero. They knew about the heightened threat that they faced. They knew the risks, but they stayed at those gates to keep them open, each second buying time for more lives to be saved.

The chaos of those days in Kabul and the perilous situation our servicemembers and diplomats faced cannot be overstated. We owe an extraordinary debt of gratitude for the sacrifice that they should have never been forced to have made.

Every American should take pride in the heroism that Americans on the ground displayed in our final days in Afghanistan, but every American should also demand accountability from those senior officials whose decisions put our servicemembers in a position that required such heroic acts.

Today, we honor the 13 lives lost and keep their families and all who loved them in our prayers. Theirs is the epitome of selfless service, and a grateful Nation honors them here today.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Michigan for introducing this important legislation, and I urge the support of my colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Allies Act. It is our moral obligation to honor the promises we made to our Afghan allies and ensure that those who risked their lives for the U.S. mission are safely relocated, but it is patently clear that the Special Immigrant Visa program, as it currently exists, is not up to the task. Staffing shortages and bureaucratic hurdles have resulted in years-long delays in the process and a backlog of over 18,000 applications.

The Allies Act will help speed up the process by streamlining duplicative procedures and removing unnecessary requirements, while maintaining the necessary security and vetting procedures. It also expands eligibility for those who are unfairly left out of the program, most critically, surviving spouses and children of applicants who died or were killed by the Taliban before visa approval.

Mr. Speaker, I am encouraged by the recent news of the plans to begin evacuating some of these Afghan interpreters, but make no mistake, there is much more to be done. We have a responsibility to ensure that those who risked their lives serving alongside U.S. and coalition forces are both swiftly evacuated and given a path to safety.

This bill is a significant step toward that goal and will help ensure that America lives up to the promises made to those brave individuals and their families. I am proud to support this bill, and I call on all of my colleagues to do so today. I urge passage.