Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to an outstanding student from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. I am pleased to announce that Michael Kinzel of Bowling Green, Ohio, has been offered an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Michael's offer of appointment permits him to attend the United States Air Force Academy

this fall with the incoming Class of 2028. Attending one of our Nation's military academies offers the opportunity to serve our country, and receive a world-class education. At the same time, these young men and women undertake one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives.

Michael brings a tremendous amount of leadership, service, and dedication to the incoming Class of 2028. While attending Bowling Green High School, he participated in National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, and was on the honor roll. Throughout high school, Michael was involved in wrestling, earning his varsity letter. After high school, he attended the Northwestern Preparatory School.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Michael Kinzel on his offer of appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Our service academies offer the finest military training and education available, and I am positive that Michael will excel during his career at the Air Force Academy. I ask my colleagues to join me in extending their best wishes to him as he begins his service to our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to an outstanding student from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. I am pleased to announce that Jake Wood of Perrysburg, Ohio, has been offered an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Jake's offer of appointment permits him to attend the United States Air Force Academy this fall with the incoming Class of 2028. Attending one of our Nation's military academies offers the opportunity to serve our country and receive a world-class education. At the same time, these young men and women undertake one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives.

Jake brings a tremendous amount of leadership, service, and dedication to the incoming Class of 2028. While attending Perrysburg High School, he participated in National Honor Society, Spirit Club, Boy Scouts, and was on the honor role. Throughout high school, Jake was involved in wrestling, earning his varsity letter. I am confident that he will carry the lessons of his student and athletic leadership to the Air Force Academy.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Jake Wood on his offer of appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Our service academies offer the finest military training and education available, and I am positive that Jake will excel during his career at the Air Force Academy. I ask my colleagues to join me in extending their best wishes to him as he begins his service to our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to an outstanding student from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. I am pleased to announce that Carter Altstaetter of Celina, Ohio, has been offered an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Carter's offer of appointment permits him to attend the United States Naval Academy this fall with the incoming Class of 2028. Attending one of our Nation's military academies not only offers the opportunity to serve our country, but also guarantees a world-class education while undertaking one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives.

Carter brings a tremendous amount of leadership, service, and dedication to the incoming Class of 2028. While attending Celina High School, he participated in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, and was on the honor role. Throughout high school, Carter was involved in football, basketball, and baseball, earning his varsity letter in all three. I am confident that he will carry the lessons of his student and athletic leadership to the Naval Academy.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Carter Altstaetter on his offer of appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Our service academies offer the finest military training and education available, and I am positive that Carter will excel during his career at the Naval Academy. I ask my colleagues to join me in extending their best wishes to him as he begins his service to our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Bicentennial of Seneca County, Ohio. The values of the pioneers and settlers who overcame the challenges faced during the early years of the county's history have persisted throughout the past 200 years. The hard work and spirit shown by generations of county residents have made Seneca County an outstanding example of American ingenuity.

Native American tribes inhabited Seneca County before Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas. Initially, these tribes were the mound builders. but they were followed later by the Seneca and Wyandot tribes. European settlers arrived in the region after General William Henry Harrison established Fort Ball in 1813. In 1824, the Ohio Legislature enacted legislation creating Seneca County and named it after the original tribes that inhabited the area.

In the 1830s, agriculture spurred commercial activity throughout the county. With the construction of the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad, the county began to build its economy and population. Currently, the county encompasses roughly 553 square miles and has a population of over 55,000. The county is an asset to the great State of Ohio through its many contributions in the fields of manufacturing and agriculture.

Mr. Speaker, by remembering the 200th Anniversary of Seneca County, community members recognize the outstanding achievements, maintain the pioneer attitude, and strive to better their county through the principles on which it was founded. I thank and congratulate Seneca County on this significant milestone.

Mr. Speaker, the CEO of TikTok appeared before the Energy and Commerce Committee and admitted to me during questioning that ByteDance has access to U.S. user data.

This should be an alarm to every TikTok user. There is no reason why the Chinese Communist Party should be in control of an app that can access information on a user's phone. Moreover, because companies who are owned or linked to the Chinese Communist Party are forced to comply with their laws, ByteDance and its employees are taking orders from this Communist regime.

This is not a ban, but it provides Communist China-controlled ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, a choice. If ByteDance divests their ownership of TikTok, then TikTok would be available to its U.S. users.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a great deal of pride that I rise to pay a very special tribute to an outstanding high school diver in Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. Isabella Pfeil, a senior at Avon Lake High School, has ably represented her school on her way to achieving her first Division I State Diving Title. Isabella overcame the challenges posed by intense competition in her effort to win the Division I One-Meter Dive State Championship.

In pursuing the State Championship, Isabella defeated her opponent in the finals of the one-meter dive classification. Her hard work and dedication in achieving this accomplishment is truly outstanding. She has accomplished an impressive season record, bringing pride to her school and community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying special tribute to Isabella Pfeil of Avon Lake High School. On behalf of the people of the Fifth Congressional District of Ohio, I am proud to recognize this great achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3385) to direct the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to submit to Congress a report containing an assessment of the value, cost, and feasibility of developing a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous United States, the United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3385. This bill would direct the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to assess the value, cost, and feasibility of developing a trans- Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the United States, the Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria.

A trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable could provide national security benefits to the United States, making this an important issue to study.

I thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands and the gentleman from Idaho's First District for leading on this important legislation. I also thank the ranking member of the full committee, the gentleman from New Jersey, for his willingness to work with Republicans on this legislation in a bipartisan way through regular order in the committee process.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3385, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, again to highlight, H.R. 3385, as stated in the bill, the report shall include an assessment of the digital security, the national security, and the economic opportunities associated with a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable. This is again essential for our security.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 3385, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3277, the Energy Emergency Leadership Act, which is an important step in ensuring America's electrical grid is secure.

The Energy Emergency Leadership Act requires the Department of Energy to establish a new Assistant Secretary position that has dedicated focus on preparing and responding to physical attacks and cyberattacks on the grid.

As co-chair of the bipartisan Grid Innovation Caucus, I am encouraged that we have this opportunity to highlight the great bipartisan work emerging from the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Dedicated leadership and coordination are necessary for ensuring security. Our electrical grid is fundamental to our everyday lives, and protecting the grid from both cyber and physical attacks is a cause that deserves our full attention.

It is too easy to take for granted the reliability of our power grid and the stability and safety it provides for us every single day. Without this infrastructure, we would not be able to stay connected with loved ones, heat and light our homes, or engage in everyday commerce that keeps our economy moving and workers employed.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan and the gentlewoman from Delaware for leading this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Energy Emergency Leadership Act to strengthen the resilience of our power grids, fortify the United States' national security, and protect American families.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2787) to authorize the Federal Communications Commission to process applications for spectrum licenses from applicants who were successful bidders in an auction before the authority of the Commission to conduct auctions expired on March 9, 2023.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material in the Record on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2787, the 5G SALE Act, which will help restore trust in our Nation's wireless technology ecosystem and enable faster mobile broadband service for millions of Americans nearly overnight.

The 5G SALE Act would deliver on our promise to provide access to our airways for those who successfully won a license at auction before March 9, 2023. These licenses have been locked up since the expiration of the Federal Communications Commission's auction authority earlier this year.

While I will continue to work with my colleagues on a long-term solution to reauthorize auction authority, today's legislation is a positive step to ensuring that the FCC can finalize the review and award licenses to companies whose checks have already cleared the Treasury.

The 5G SALE Act will ensure that those relying on advanced mobile broadband services, especially our veterans who access VA telehealth services, will benefit from American investment in these technologies.

I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce), my good friend representing the 13th District.

Mr. Speaker, as the minority has said, we need more spectrum, not less, and we have to win the race for 5G.

We have seen, over time, as I have spoken with people across the country for years, it was like the United States was way ahead in 5G, but as time went by, then all of a sudden, we were just a little bit ahead or maybe we were even. If we are going to win this race, we have to have 5G out there. It is absolutely essential.

During COVID, some of the things that happened have already been mentioned--telehealth services, the business side, education.

For families to stay connected, it is absolutely essential that we have more broadband out there, not less.

We need to keep our promise to those that won these auctions that these airways will be available to them.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a member of my staff, Mike Davin, who will be leaving our office this week.

Hailing originally from Philadelphia, Mike has dedicated his career to public service. Mike has worked on behalf of the people of Ohio's Fifth District for the past ten years, where he moved up through the ranks from Intern to Legislative Director. He has worked tirelessly to advance common-sense energy policies, recognize deserving veterans, and streamline government regulations.

Recently, Mike was a critical part in ensuring members of the U.S. Army's 720th Military Police Battalion who served our nation in the Vietnam War received a Bronze Star for their service. As Legislative Director, Mike has instilled a sense of comradery in the office, showcasing the positive impact of working together.

Mike is a loving father and husband, and I know that as he enters this next chapter in his career, he will have the love of his family supporting him along the way.

I am eternally grateful for Mike's work on behalf of the District and our Nation, and I wish him and his family the best.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate a dedicated educator and public servant, Mayor Gregory J. Zilka, who will be retiring after twelve years as Mayor of the City of Avon Lake. Over the course of his career, Mayor Zilka's commitment and leadership to Avon Lake has shaped it into the city it is today.

Prior to serving as Mayor of Avon Lake, Mayor Zilka worked as a social studies teacher at Avon Lake High School for thirty-five years. In 1985, he was appointed to the Avon Lake City Council where he served for twenty-six years, fourteen of which he served as President.

Mayor Zilka was first elected mayor in 2012. Since then, he has performed over 200 weddings, applied for and received $4,000,000 in grants on behalf of the city, oversaw the construction of 600 new single-family dwellings, and saw the population of Avon Lake grow by over 3,000 people. Mayor Zilka also saw Avon Lake through many complicated issues, including the potential closing of the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant. In the end, the company remained open and announced a $1.5 billion expansion. To help Avon Lake gain more access to Lake Erie, the Mayor oversaw the closing of Avon Lake Power Plant which had dominated the shoreline and skyline for 100 years. Mayor Zilka has also helped organize and participated in Avon Lake's year-long Bicentennial celebrations which brought about the first beer festival as well as other events for Avon Lake's citizens.

Mayor Zilka has also been an active volunteer throughout his entire life. In his early 20's, he served in the Peace Corps, where he met his wife of forty-five years. For the past fourteen years, he has been active within the Lorain County Office on Aging's Home Delivered Meals program. Additionally, he volunteers weekly for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Lorain County and has served on the board of trustees for organizations including the Lorain County Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ADAS), Cleveland State Leadership Academy, and the Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital Advisory Council, among many others.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying special tribute to Mayor Gregory J. Zilka of Avon Lake, Ohio. On behalf of the people of the Fifth Congressional District of Ohio, I recognize the dedication and leadership that Mayor Zilka has shown through his service to his community. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and remember the life of a dedicated veteran upon his induction into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. Donald James Keehan, who sadly passed away last year, has been inducted posthumously after his years of service and contributions to his community and Ohio.

Donald's leadership both in and out of uniform was exemplary, whether it was through his service to our nation in the Korean War or as founder and CEO of globally recognized Advanced Polymer Coatings. His work as an entrepreneur in the polymers and resins industry included numerous patents and the development of multiple companies that employed many Ohioans.

It was Donald's philanthropic work with youth and military families that established him as a community leader when it came to support for military families, military transition issues, and the broader Northeast Ohio veterans' community. He was instrumental in providing housing for wounded warriors with his rental properties in northeast Ohio. He was also a tremendous mentor to both the professional business community and to the youth of the area.

Passionate about philanthropy, Donald supported education by providing more than one million dollars to St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio, where he served as a trustee, for students to study innovative engineering and entrepreneurship. He also supported and helped grow Young Men's Chance for Change whose mission is to help inner-city young men achieve better lives and opportunities.

Donald's life also revolved around his family. He was married to his wife, Arlene, for 63 years. During that time, they raised six children and became grandparents and then great-grandparents.

Mr. Speaker, I ask our colleagues to join me in paying special tribute to the life and service of Donald James Keehan. On behalf of the people of the Fifth Congressional District of Ohio, I recognize the devotion and compassion that Donald had for his family, community, and Nation. I applaud the special acknowledgment that accompanies his induction into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Mr. John Mullins of Ottawa, Ohio, who has been named Putnam County Veteran of the Year. Every year, the Putnam County Veterans Service Commission recognizes a veteran from their county who has been honorably discharged, embodies the spirit of professional excellence, and has significant off-duty community service. After reviewing all the nominees, Mr. Mullins was selected for the honor.

Mr. Mullins first entered the U.S. Armed Forces in 1980 and served in the U.S. Air Force. After leaving the Air Force in 1992, Mr. Mullins continued serving his community by joining the Ottawa Police Department. He served the City of Ottawa for twenty-five years as part of the police department, while also spending time as a volunteer firefighter for the Ottawa Fire Department. After leaving the police department, Mr. Mullins went on to become a deputy sheriff for the Putnam County Sheriffs Office where he is currently serving.

Outside of his public service career, Mr. Mullins has been involved in the VFW, AmVets, and many other organizations that help raise awareness and fund veteran programs. He has helped with the POW/MIA programs for Putnam County while also organizing Ottawa Honor Guard for funerals and other events. Wherever it is possible to help a veteran in need, Mr. Mullins has dedicated his time to do so.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying special tribute to Mr. John Mullins of Ottawa, Ohio, on his selection as the Putnam County Veteran of the Year. On behalf of the people of the Fifth Congressional District of Ohio, I wish John all the best in his future endeavors and thank him for service to Putnam County and our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Owens Community College's Findlay Campus in Findlay, Ohio. Throughout the years, Owens has been a comprehensive community college providing educational opportunities and training to the residents of our communities. The hard work and spirit shown by generations of students and faculty have made Owens an outstanding educational institution.

Originally, Owens Community College was founded in 1965 in Wood County. The college was name after Michael J. Owens, a Toledo-based inventor of automated glass bottle-making technology. In 1983 Owens opened their Findlay Campus which occupies more than 60 acres. With their new campus, Owens was able to expand its coverage and continue to provide education to students from all walks of life. Currently, Owens's service district includes Lucas, Wood, Hancock, and parts of Ottawa counties.

Owens Community College offers more than 160 programs and certificates to its students who are preparing for a career, retraining for a new career, seeking professional development, or obtaining credits to transfer to a 4-year college or university. Their dedicated faculty members bring industry knowledge, information, and ideas into the classroom to provide students with a better understanding, how studies will translate into careers. Outside the classroom, students can experience an enriching campus life through student activities, clubs and organizations, athletics, and volunteer activities.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying special tribute to Owens Community College and its students, faculty, and administration on this remarkable occasion. By celebrating the 40th anniversary, community members and Ohio residents recognize Owens's contribution to its students and the surrounding communities. Congratulations to Owens Community College on this significant milestone.

Mr. Speaker, I thank our chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee for yielding.

I rise in support of H.R. 1435, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, which is legislation I co-led.

California's Air Resources Board has made the decision to ban the sale of new internal combustion engines by the year 2035. This action was a major component in the State's radical climate agenda that is being forced on their citizens.

Normally, the actions of one State would not require a Federal response; however, in this case, California's actions extend far beyond their State's borders and will have consequences for all Americans. This is because 17 other States follow California's standards, representing 40 percent of the Nation's car market.

When Congress first set up this process, it never intended for California to be able to dictate to the rest of the country what types of vehicles they can purchase. Instead, Congress wanted to give California additional tools to combat smog levels.

To make matters worse, California has not clearly considered the impact these actions will have on the Nation's electric grid. As officials from the DOE and FERC confirmed to me this week, we are going to need more power, not less power, in this country to meet consumer demand. If California's Governor is already calling on his residents to conserve energy now to avoid blackouts and brownouts, how in the world will the grid be able to handle the load with millions of additional electric cars?

Additionally, the Biden administration is doing nothing to address the problem of accessing all the rare earth minerals that we need to manufacture an all-EV fleet. These materials are controlled by Communist China who will stand to reap the windfall of these policies.

H.R. 1435 is a commonsense bill because it institutes a check on any State that seeks to exploit the Clean Air Act. The American people are the better arbiters of what vehicles will serve their families' needs, not bureaucrats with political agendas.

Let me be clear: This legislation does not prevent California from being able to retain a waiver from the U.S. EPA to combat their smog issues, which was the original intent of the Clean Air Act.

I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation.