Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Nurses Week, a celebration to acknowledge our nurses for their unwavering courage, hard work and dedication. Our frontline heroes have been at the forefront of this global pandemic, and their sacrifice is well- deserving of recognition.

For many healthcare workers, this past year has been the toughest challenge of their career. Despite these unprecedent obstacles, they have continued to show bravery and selflessness by risking their own health to provide patients with the utmost care.

Along with the fear of the unknown and the rigorous work schedule, our frontline line workers have made huge personal sacrifices as well. Despite living with the fear of contracting COVID-19 themselves or potentially bringing the virus home to their loved ones; these healthcare workers still manage to do their jobs and protect our communities.

In celebration of National Nurses Week, I encourage everyone to take the time to thank our nurses for choosing selflessness over self- preservation and rising to the challenge of COVID-19. Therefore, Madam Speaker, I ask that you rise with me to celebrate National Nurses Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my good friend, Congressman Bobby Scott, on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University on April 15, 2021.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual Virginian whose career represents the highest values of public service and citizenship, and who has made a substantial contribution to the good of the Commonwealth.

Congressman Bobby Scott is incredibly deserving of this recognition and award. He has spent more than four decades in public service, serving in the Virginia General Assembly for 15 years prior to being elected, and now serving Virginia's Third District in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he has been since 1992.

It is my honor to serve the Commonwealth of Virginia with a servant leader like Bobby Scott. We share the same desire to work tirelessly for Virginians and to advocate for the needs of the Commonwealth.

Please join me in congratulating Bobby Scott on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award and in thanking him for his dedicated service on behalf of all Virginians.

Madam Speaker, I was inadvertently recorded voting aye on rollcall no. 106 and intended to vote nay.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Liberty Day, a celebration of our rights and liberties as Americans which are rooted in the cherished documents that gave birth to our nation, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution. Today, March 16th, marks the 270th birthday of the Father of our Constitution, James Madison, making this year's Liberty Day particularly noteworthy.

In 2000, Congress passed a resolution that Liberty Day should be celebrated each year as a remembrance of both the freedom that Americans were given in the Declaration of Independence and the extraordinary rights and liberties that Americans were given in their Constitution. The American experiment is unique in history, creating a republic of people united by a set of values, not by blood or land. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness bind Americans together, not our race or ethnicity.

In addition to serving as the Fourth President of the United States, James Madison was crucial to the formation of our country. President Madison authored the Virginia Plan, the model and basis for the United States Constitution. Later, during the 1st Congress of the United States, President Madison introduced the Bill of Rights, whereupon the first ten amendments of the Constitution were adopted. His other contributions, such as authoring many of the Federalist Papers, also deserve our recognition. Due to his essential role in the creation of our nation, Congress designated March 16th, Madison's birthday, as Liberty Day.

In celebration of Liberty Day, I would encourage all Americans to read, learn, and discuss the Constitution with their friends and

family. After doing so consider contacting your Representative, Senators, and President to share your views. All elected officials, whether they serve at the federal, state, or local level, should look to the Constitution as they go about their duty of governing this great nation.

The revered documents that gave birth to our nation always deserve our celebration, but the 270th birthday of James Madison makes today especially significant. To mark this historic occasion, I encourage Americans to take today to learn about our nation's history and its founding documents. Therefore, Madam Speaker, I ask that you rise with me to celebrate Liberty Day.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Erika Dyer, and her dedicated service to Virginia's First Congressional District. After eight months with my D.C. office, Erika will be leaving this week to pursue a new position.

Erika has been an invaluable asset to my D.C. Staff, serving as my Communications Director. Erika joined the team during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she was immediately committed to delivering timely and understandable information and resources to constituents in Virginia's First Congressional District. Erika is extremely talented and hard- working and is consistently finding new and innovative ways to effectively communicate with constituents. Erika is also a friend to all and is always willing to be a resource for other staff.

Therefore, Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Erika for her hard work and dedication not only to the office, but to all constituents in Virginia's First District. Erika has a bright future ahead and I wish her the best in her career.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Rev. Dr. Barbara Cain for her service as the Moderator of the Northern Neck Baptist Association, Inc. Founded in 1877, the NNBA now serves 31 churches across the Northern Neck of Virginia. Dr. Cain has led this organization since 2018, and it has benefited greatly from her leadership.

As Moderator, Dr. Cain established NNBA Committees on Land Acquisition and Social Justice. Additionally, she worked tirelessly with the Baptist General Convention of Virginia and the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention. Under Dr. Cain's leadership, NNBA also received a grant for its Tutorial Advocacy Program. Dr. Cain's impressive dedication and leadership guided NNBA throughout both the COVID-19 pandemic and a time of unrest in the community.

A former teacher, Dr. Cain found her calling in ministry. She is the founder and pastor of Abiding Faith Baptist Church in Kilmarnock, VA. Previously, Dr. Cain served as president of both the Northumberland and the Lancaster Ministerial Associations. In her free time, Dr. Cain enjoys salt-water fishing and spending time with her eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, I am thankful for Dr. Cain's service to both the Northern Neck Baptist Association, Inc., and the entire Northern Neck community. Her sacrifice, commitment, and dedication are truly extraordinary, and it is my honor to recognize Rev. Dr. Barbara Cain today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of designating the week of March 28, 2021, through April 3, 2021, as National Small Business Workplace Solutions Week. While small businesses are always deserving of our support and recognition, this is particularly true during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The workplace solutions industry is comprised of small businesses across all 50 states. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security deemed workplace solutions businesses essential as they assisted hospitals, nursing homes, schools, law enforcement, and local governments. Additionally, the workplace solutions industry provided critical support to businesses which were forced to move from in-person office to home offices. The industry's work with both the public and private sectors proved to be crucial.

Like other small businesses, the workplace solutions industry has struggled over the course of the pandemic. The industry is grateful for PPP loans and the other federal assistance it has received, but recovery is still slow. Many small businesses face the prospect of closing their doors for good unless the economic picture continues to improve. Times have been tough for small businesses, but we can finally see a bright future beginning to peak over the horizon. The Congressional Budget Office projects over 4 percent GDP growth this year. In other words, our economy is ready to come roaring back as soon as we beat the pandemic.

Therefore, Madam Speaker, I ask that you rise with me in support of the workplace solutions industry. The resolution to designate March 28, 2021 through April 3, 2021, as National Small Business Workplace Solutions Week is a signal of support for this recovering industry and small businesses across the United States. Finally, I want to thank America's small businesses for their dedication and sacrifice during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I wish them God's blessings as they continue to serve the American people.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jacob Miller for his service to Virginia's First Congressional District. Since joining my D.C. Staff in June 2019, Jacob has served a crucial role on my communications team. Jacob's dedication to delivering timely and helpful information to constituents is commendable and I am thankful for his tireless efforts for Virginia's First District.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, my office has made it a priority to send constituents the most up to date information on COVID- 19 resources and relief. Jacob has been at the forefront of that effort since the very beginning. Jacob's thoughtfulness and strong work ethic has directly impacted constituents in Virginia's First District. Whether it was about CDC guidelines, information on testing, local and federal resources, all the way up to the most recent vaccine information, Jacob was a leader in providing this crucial information to constituents

Jacob has a strong passion for history, a passion we both share. He is a gifted writer that sets him apart in the way he communicates to others. He has a notable ability to deliver complex information in a timely and understandable manner. Jacob is also a friend to all--he was always quick to help others in the office when needed and lend his thoughtful insight to any given task. Jacob has contributed to the office and my staff in a significant way, and he will be greatly missed.

Therefore, Madam Speaker, I ask that you rise with me today to recognize Jacob Miller and his dedication to the constituents of Virginia's First District. Jacob has bright future, and I wish him the best of luck on his future journey and career.

Madam Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I rise today in honor of Tripp Hogg, who recently passed away. Tripp will be profoundly missed by his family, friends, and community, but his memory will live on for many years to come.

Tripp was born on January 15, 1969, in Richmond, Virginia. He attended Lee Davis Highschool, where he graduated in 1987. Tripp graduated from East Carolina University in 1991, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and the President of his Senior Class. Upon graduation from ECU, Tripp entered the Real Estate business in 1991 and joined his family's business, ERA Woody Hogg & Associates.

Tripp has three children, Oakleigh, Delaney, and Elle Hogg; as well as three stepchildren, Mary Beth, Mandy, and Josh Ratchford. Tripp is also survived by his beloved wife, Kathie White Hogg; his sister, Elizabeth Hogg; and his brother, Jonathan Hogg; as well as his father, O Woodland ``Woody'' Hogg, Jr. (Pamela Hogg); and his mother, Susan U. Hogg.

Tripp was an extraordinarily caring person who loved his family dearly, as well as his community, Commonwealth, and our Nation. I fondly remember the conversations we would have when we saw each other in the home improvement stores in the Mechanicsville area. He always began our conversations asking me how I was doing. I had the honor of hosting Tripp and his family on a personally guided tour of the U.S. Capitol and I will treasure that memory forever.

Tripp was always very active in his community, church, and profession. He consistently ranked in the top 1 percent of all salespeople both locally and nationally. Tripp was also an avid fisherman and loved everything with salt water. Tripp's passion for service to those around him will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. I pray that God may bring peace to Tripp's friends and family as they grieve his loss, and that they may be comforted and reminded of their fond memories of Tripp during this time. Therefore, Madam Speaker, I ask that you rise with me today in remembrance of and to honor the life of Tripp Hogg.

Madam Speaker, it is with deep sadness but great respect that I take this time to remember Marinette F. ``Mari'' Barb of Williamsburg, VA. Mari passed away on January 20, 2021 after more than a century of life. Mari bravely served the United States for many years, and her life after service was equally memorable and noteworthy.

Mari was born on September 16, 1919 in a small town in the south of France. Two decades later, she joined the French Underground when her home country was occupied by Nazi Germany. During this time, Mari worked with the O.S.S., the predecessor of the CIA. Mari constantly risked her life, helping Allied soldiers and airmen who found themselves behind enemy lines. Using forged Algerian identification papers, Mari saved the lives of countless soldiers by smuggling them back to Allied territory.

Immediately after the war, Mari met her husband, James, while he was in France with the U.S. Army. She moved to the United States with Jim and was made an American citizen by an Act of Congress. A career in intelligence took Mari and Jim to the Pacific Island of Saipan, on two tours in Vietnam, and took Mari to Hong Kong for an extended stay. Mari and Jim made frequent returns to Camp Peary in Williamsburg between overseas assignments.

Once they retired, Mari and Jim moved to Williamsburg, VA permanently. There they became staples of the community, frequenting trivia nights and live music venues. In addition to retiring from work, Mari retired from cooking, so Mari and Jim could always be found at one of their favorite restaurants. Mari is survived by three sisters and many family members spread across both France and the United States. Madam Speaker, I ask you rise with me in memory of Marinette F. Barb. She will be profoundly missed, but her memory lives on in her friends and family.

Madam Speaker, today I wish to honor a great American and steadfast public servant. James Wiley Deck is leaving the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) after having served in critically important roles of increasing responsibility over the last four years. A polished leader and expert communicator, Wiley worked tirelessly throughout his time at DOT to keep the public safe on our nation's roadways while helping to build the infrastructure needed to accommodate the future of American transportation.

Wiley joined DOT in 2017 as the Director of Government Relations for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). While in this role, he served as the principal advisor to the FMCSA Administrator with respect to legislative affairs, Congressional relations, and all policy matters affecting Federal, state and local governments, as well as public and private interest groups. His innate ability to collaborate with a variety of government stakeholders led to multiple legislative successes--including the securing of $100 million in autonomous vehicle research and development funding for DOT.

In 2019, Wiley transitioned to the Office of the Secretary, where he served as Senior Policy Advisor to Secretary Elaine L. Chao. In that role, he served as the principal strategic advisor to the DOT Secretary on issues pertaining not only to the FMCSA, but to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Office of Drug and Alcohol

Policy and Compliance (ODAPC). He served as the Department's representative on the White House COVID-19 Supply Chain Task Force and the White House Food Supply Chain Policy Coordinating Committee, where he helped shape the Federal response to the pandemic. He also led the Department's efforts to create the National Freight Strategic Plan to guide strategic Federal initiatives for multimodal investments to reduce congestion and improve intermodal connectivity.

In 2020, Secretary Chao asked Wiley to lead FMCSA. As Acting Administrator of a Federal agency with a $680 million budget and nearly 1200 employees, Wiley led the implementation efforts on two significant regulatory reform efforts: Hours of Service and the Definition of Agricultural Commodities, two issues which are of vital importance to my Congressional District. More importantly, however, he diligently worked with Congress to secure $30 million in Federal funding for a new Large Truck Crash Causal Factors Study. The last comprehensive large truck crash causation study provided the DOT, and safety research community, valuable insight into the factors which contribute to crashes involving at least one commercial motor vehicle, but the data was collected nearly 20 years ago. A new updated study--one that accounts for the changes in technology, vehicle safety, driver behavior and roadway design over the last two decades--is sorely needed and will serve as Wiley's lasting legacy in the Department.

Prior to transitioning to DOT, Wiley served for 22 years on the staff of my friend and the former Chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, Congressman John L. Mica of Florida, the last six as his Chief of Staff. He is also a proud graduate of the University of Central Florida, although I would remind the Speaker that the last time UCF played my alma mater, Virginia Tech, in football was August 31, 2003, and Virginia Tech won 49-28.

Wiley, his wife, Elizabeth, and their two children, Emilia and Enslie, live in Stafford, VA.

Madam Speaker, I am thankful for Wiley's leadership, dedication to public service throughout his 26-year career in the Federal government and his work on issues of vital importance to the economic vibrance of our great nation.

Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chair, I would like to point out that there have been multiple studies done on this.

In 2014, the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy pointed out the negative impacts that low-enriched uranium would have on the capability of the Navy.

In 2016, another report, and I remind the folks here in the Chamber that this report was specific about saying the negative impacts that low-enriched uranium will have on the capability of our United States Navy.

In 2018, letters from both the Director of Naval Reactors, Admiral Caldwell, and from the Secretary of the Navy, Richard Spencer, all stated the negative impact that low-enriched uranium would have on the capability of the Navy.

We look, too, at the dollars that are being proposed to offset this. The $20 million reduction in the National Nuclear Security Administration would reduce salaries in that area by 15 percent.

According to NNSA, this reduction would likely require a reduction in force to achieve this staffing level. They will let people go if this money is transferred to another study, a study that has been done multiple times in the past with the same outcomes, that this would have a harmful effect on the National Nuclear Security Administration.

They also say that the amendment would negate recently implemented improvements in oversight and accountability and slow down the execution of critical nuclear security and safety programs.

It would also affect weapons modernization and nuclear nonproliferation efforts. The same thing the gentleman from Rhode Island said that this bill is meant to address, it actually takes money away from the efforts that NNSA is putting forward.

It also would inhibit physical security, cybersecurity, and environmental remediation programs.

Not only has this study been done multiple times, but it would take money away from the critical elements that are being proposed that this study would seek to find out. Again, the conclusions have already been reached. The impact of LEU on the Nation's naval capability has already been identified.

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

Mr. Chair, I remind the gentleman from Rhode Island that this is the National Defense Authorization Act. It is not another appropriations bill. This is specific to the use of these dollars here for these purposes specifically.

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Luria).

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

Mr. Chair, in conclusion, I want to point to the 2016 report that assessed that additional refuelings would increase Navy fleet operating costs by several billion dollars a year.

Mr. Chair, as we are looking to rebuild the Navy, that means ships that will not get built. That will mean less operating capability. That will mean ships that need to be at dock for longer periods of time for maintenance and for refueling.

A larger submarine reactor core, which is what DOD says would be needed for LEU, requires a larger submarine, and it makes those submarines less capable and less efficient.

It also requires massive redesigns, so it interrupts existing submarine construction programs.

All of those things have significant impacts on the capability of the Navy.

Take the Virginia-class submarine reactor, which operates on a 33- year ship expectancy. That would cut that by one-third, which means it would have to come back and be refueled again.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to refer to my amendment, No. 403, involving the Cable Ship Program.

I know that there have been some issues pointed out concerning coastal commerce, and I look forward to working through those issues as the bill gets to conference.

Mr. Chair, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney).

Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the ongoing challenges facing our domestic industrial base, specifically the shipbuilding industry, and I want to urge my colleagues to consider the tough realities facing our nation and its ability to produce ships for both military missions and commercial applications in the future.

One of the key points of contention between Republicans and Democrats on the NDAA concerns the authorization level or topline for this legislation in Fiscal Year 2020. I want to highlight the state of the shipbuilding industrial base as a case study for an increased top-line.

We currently have 290 deployable battle force ships in our Navy, with a plan to get us to 355 ships as soon as possible. This was codified by the SHIPS Act that I sponsored in 2017 with Sen. Wicker which was included in that year's National Defense Authorization Act.

Consider that, over time, our national capacity to build ships has continued to decline and the remaining shipyards and suppliers are increasingly at risk. We have lost dozens of shipyards and tens of thousands of suppliers over the last 15 years, which makes it even more compelling that we do all we can to support the shipyards and suppliers that remain.

In 2018, in response to a Presidential Executive Order, the Department of Defense submitted a report entitled ``Assessing and Strengthening the Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base and Supply Chain Resiliency of the United States''.

Quoting from the report, ``The shipbuilding industrial base is a national asset and absolutely vital to America's ability to build and sustain the Naval fleet. The Navy is focused on improving the health of the industrial base to meet its requirement of a 355 ship fleet with a long range plan anchored by industrial stability. The analysis performed in response to the Executive Order identified five underlying risks: dependency on single/sole source suppliers, capacity shortfalls, lack of competition, lack of workforce skills, and unstable demand.''

So you can see, Madam Speaker, that there are clearly significant challenges facing our Navy and our nation's ability to produce warships in the future. Single/sole source suppliers, capacity shortfalls, loss of competition, lack of workforce skills and unpredictable demand are all hampering our nation's ability to build its future fleet. This is not a new issue but I'm afraid that the problems confronting our industrial base are only getting worse.

So what has Congress done and what should be done going forward?

We have made significant investments throughout our Navy's future fleet, including funds for our aircraft carrier fleet and a single contract awarded earlier this year for procurement of both CVN 80 and CVN 81, the 3rd and 4th Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers. I'm proud to have led the effort in this House to provide the necessary authorization for this contract to be awarded--this contract will save $4 billion compared to buying these ships individually and sends exactly the right message to all involved that we are serious about building more ships in this country.

We have provided consistent funding and support for our nation's submarine programs, and 2019 marks the 9th consecutive year that 2 Virginia-class Submarines have been procured via the annual authorization/appropriations process. The legislation we are considering today authorizes a 3rd Virginia-class Submarine to be procured in fiscal year 2020 as we have heard on numerous occasions about the attack submarine force structure shortfall facing our Navy. In 2028 for example, there is a forecast level of 42 attack submarines against a stated requirement for 66 submarines.

On the Columbia ballistic missile submarine program, Congress has been steadfast in its support of the Department of Defense's No. 1 acquisition priority. Partly as a result, next year when our nation procures the first boat in the Columbia class it will have the highest percentage of design completed for a first of class ship in recent memory.

Congress has provided multiple years of Supplier Development funding for our nuclear shipbuilding programs with additional planned investment. I look forward to hearing from the Navy about these investments and how they will be helping to shore up certain parts of our nuclear shipbuilding industrial base.

Congress has also been extremely supportive for amphibious warships, with congressional authorization and funding underway since Fiscal Year 2013 to enable our Navy to move between the San Antonio Flight I and the San Antonio Flight II class of LPDs. In fact, Congress has led the Navy with successive authorization and appropriation of LPD 28, LPD 29, and LPD 30 since Fiscal Year 2015 alone. In Fiscal Year 2019, both the LHA program and the LPD Flight II program received $350 million in advance procurement toward the construction of LHA 9 and LPD 31, respectively. Unfortunately, our amphibious force remains below the stated requirement of 38 ships and the Pentagon and Navy have not moved out with the timely execution of these FY 19 funds, critical for our supplier base. This bill takes a step in the right direction and authorizes LPD-31 and the incremental funding to support this critical asset. Congress has done its job and now it's time for the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy to do their job and get these funds on contract. Our shipbuilding industrial base is ready, the shipyards are ready--it's time to get going and move out.

On surface combatants, Congress has been extraordinarily supportive of the Navy's DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer program with 2 successive Multiyear Procurements executed since the program restarted almost a decade ago. The DDG 51 program, unfortunately, experienced a program lapse of several years as Navy stopped, then restarted production after a several year hiatus--the supplier base atrophied and went elsewhere, causing the government to work and reconstitute our nation's ability to build Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The program has returned to some level of stability today, and these multiyear procurements have saved taxpayers billions of dollars when compared to annually procuring 1-2 ships each year. As a result, the Navy is now requesting procurement of up to 3 DDG 51 class ships in a given fiscal year--these ships are the workhorses of our fleet and they are needed worldwide.

Next year, the Navy will award a contract for design and construction of a next-generation Frigate. This ship is critical to the future fleet but it is also essential for the health and sustainment of our fragile domestic industrial base. I applaud the Navy's acquisition approach which included a significant period for concept design and refinement to be followed by a robust competition detail design and construction for this next class of warship. I want the best ship with the best value to be our next Frigate, but I also want the Pentagon to recognize that it must take a holistic approach to shipbuilding and its stewardship of the shipbuilding industrial base. We saw the problems created by Navy stopping and starting DDG 51 production and I am mindful of not making the same mistake twice with this upcoming acquisition. Our industrial base is fragile--decisions made on one program will have cascading effects on multiple programs underway within Navy shipbuilding.

In closing, Madam Speaker, Congress continues to exercise its constitutional mandate to provide and maintain a Navy. There have been a series of congressional investments made over the last several years which demonstrates our commitment to building a robust future fleet. I call on the Pentagon and Navy leadership to recognize this commitment and make future decisions consistent with our goal of a larger more lethal Navy with a robust and viable industrial base.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member for yielding.

Mr. Chair, I have supported every National Defense Authorization Act since I arrived in Congress 11 years ago.

Unfortunately, in its current form, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2500, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.

This bill does a number of good things. Notably, it includes an authorization of 11 ships, it reaffirms congressional support for midlife refueling of the USS John C. Stennis, it robustly supports the merchant marine with the reauthorization of the Maritime Security Program, and it provides for a new tanker security program that our services need.

In summary, the bill did a good job with the resources that were provided.

However, due to the decrement of $15 billion from the President's budget request, the bill imposed the limitations on low-yield nuclear weapons, restrictions on the President's request to secure the border, and an entirely avoidable failure to adequately restrict the 9/11 detainees. All of these issues led me to oppose final passage of the NDAA in committee.

In the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, the reduction of $15 billion will lead to delay in the construction of the next Ford- class aircraft carrier by 1 year, eliminate a replenishment ship, reduce the Navy's innovation by limiting development of unmanned surface vessels, and restrict critical development of anti-mine warfare programs.

Additionally, this top-line reduction limited our subcommittee's flexibility to address critical shortfalls in amphibious ships and weapons. Simply put, we can do better.

While I am concerned about the entirety of this current bill, I am not concerned about the bipartisan nature of our subcommittee. I want to specifically thank Chairman Courtney and his team for their extraordinary effort and their leadership toward a bipartisan subcommittee mark. He did extraordinary work reaching across the aisle and getting everybody's thoughts and ideas about what should be in the subcommittee mark, something that should also be part of every continuing effort subsequently. I have no doubt in his support for our national security, and I appreciate his dedication and passion for this effort.

In the end, I am hopeful that our amendment debate in the following days will serve to make our bill a stronger, bipartisan bill. But in its current form, I urge my colleagues to oppose final passage.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize Sergeant First Class Johnathan D. Hoggatt for his military service.

Sergeant First Class Hoggatt enlisted into military service as an Infantryman at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1998. He served in numerous infantry leadership positions from Fire Team Leader to Infantry Platoon Sergeant. His last assignment was as the Battalion S2/S3-Air and Ranger Instructor at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion. He is currently an Operations NCOIC with Easy Squadron, Asymmetric Warfare Group.

His assignments include A Co, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, Illinois National Guard (Mattoon, Illinois); HHC, 6th Ranger Training Battalion (Eglin AFB, FL); 1 Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division (Fort Carson, CO); and numerous Virginia National Guard Units. He has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, where he served diligently and with honor to uphold and protect the freedoms this nation provides.

SFC Hoggatt's military education includes Senior Leaders Course, Joint Fire Power Course, Joint Air Operations Command and Control Course, Military Free-Fall Basic Course, Battle Staff Course, Pathfinder Course, Tactical Certification Course, Jumpmaster Course, Basic Instructor Course, Emergency Medical Technician Course, Ranger School and Basic Airborne Course.

SFC Hoggatt has earned the Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Ranger Tab, Military Free-Fall Badge, Combat Infantryman's Badge, and several other awards and decorations. SFC Hoggatt holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently working on a Masters of Arts in Biomedical Science from Liberty University.

Madam Speaker, please join me in celebrating the courage displayed and sacrifice made by Sergeant First Class Hoggatt during his time in our nation's armed forces. Our gratitude to Sergeant First Class Hoggatt and all our other servicemen and women cannot be expressed enough.