Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5444 . . . the Taxpayer First Act . . . which would reform the IRS to focus on serving the taxpayers instead of the federal government.

This commonsense approach should be just that. However, under the previous administration, we saw how the IRS was weaponized against certain citizens and groups. This is unacceptable and the American people deserve better.

This bill would require the IRS to focus on customer service by improving the dispute resolution process within the agency; requiring the IRS to maintain the free file program; ensuring the IRS notifies taxpayers when they are conducting an audit; and requiring the IRS to submit plans to improve customer service and efficiency to Congress.

These reforms will make sure taxpayers are respected and treated fairly by the IRS. As President Reagan famously said, ``The most terrifying words in the English language are: `I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' '' That's a scary prospect but should not keep us from working to make government more accessible and customer friendly.

This bill would refocus the mission of the IRS to actually help taxpayers, instead of only target and punish them.

As a former state treasurer of Kansas, I understand the importance of being a good steward of taxpayer's hard-earned money. This bill works to accomplish that goal and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5445, the 21st Century IRS Act, which would modernize the IRS, making it safer and more accessible to taxpayers.

It seems appropriate to discuss this bill on what has turned into the second tax day of 2018, after the IRS faced disruptive technical issues during yesterday's filing deadline. These glitches are a clear reminder of why we need to modernize the IRS.

Today, many taxpayers use their smartphones to pay bills, conduct business, and order pizza. Banks, businesses, and others in the private sector have continued to meet the demand of our tech-savvy citizens and have provided them with first-class service.

In addition to convenience and access, Americans deserve to have their identity protected when interacting with the public and private sector, whether that is offline or online. The IRS should be no different. That is why I am pleased this bill includes language about cybersecurity, identity theft, and information technology upgrades. Outdated systems from the 1960s are not the best way to protect the information of millions of Americans who interact with the IRS each year.

This tax day was the last day taxpayers had to file using an antiquated Tax Code. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation so that taxpayers no longer have to file using antiquated and unsecure technology.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 2, proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

This proposal comes at a critical time for our country. Years of unchecked spending have led to massive deficits. At the same time, threats at home and abroad, crumbling infrastructure, and natural disasters have forced the government to do more. These two parallel situations require tough decisionmaking, but that is what the American people expect us to do.

As I talk to constituents in my district, one of the issues they continually ask about is the ballooning Federal debt that will be passed on to their kids and grandkids.

Hardworking Kansans have to balance their checkbook every month. I served as Kansas State Treasurer where we also had to balance our budget for the State of Kansas. I don't think there is any reason that the Federal Government should get a pass. That is why I am proud to support this resolution, which requires the government to spend within its means.

During the past year, we have accomplished a lot to help families across America. Cutting regulations and passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act have helped get government out of the way and our economy growing. Workers are seeing bonuses and larger paychecks. Companies are reinvesting in America. This growth has allowed us to make significant investments in our military, disaster relief, agriculture, and other areas important to Kansans.

However, to build on this progress, we need time to implement policies that will protect future generations from crippling debt. This proposal is a great start and long overdue.

Let me be clear: this is not a silver bullet. Balancing our budget and reducing our debt will require reforming our entitlement programs and prioritizing our spending. I also believe it will require recisions to the budget, and today I call on the President and the Congress to implement those spending cuts which would work towards our goal of fiscal responsibility and stability. This amendment and recisions are a needed start to that difficult, yet immensely important, task before us. The future of our country depends on it, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4176) to strengthen air cargo security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4176, the Air Cargo Security Improvement Act of 2018.

The Transportation Security Administration is responsible for securing all modes of transportation, and implicit in this responsibility is the security of air cargo. Air cargo represents more that 35 percent of global trade by value, which translates to approximately $6.8 trillion worth of goods annually.

Given the impact that air cargo has on the U.S. and global economy, it is not surprising that this sector remains an appealing target for terrorists. Several incidents have demonstrated that terrorists may seek to target U.S.-bound shipments by exploiting weaknesses in air cargo security overseas.

In 2010, explosive devices concealed in packages bound for the United States from Yemen went undetected by initial screenings. Authorities indicated that the explosives were probably intended to detonate mid- flight over a U.S. city.

More recently, in July 2017, bomb-making materials were transported undetected from Turkey to Australia in an air cargo shipment.

H.R. 4176, the Air Cargo Security Improvement Act of 2018, is a timely and necessary step towards a more secure and resilient industry.

This legislation establishes an air cargo security division within the TSA to carry out all air cargo security policy and stakeholder engagement. Unlike the TSA's operational role in passenger screening at checkpoints, the TSA functions in an oversight and regulatory capacity with respect to air cargo screening.

Initiatives like the Certified Cargo Screening Program and the Known Shipper Management System enable the TSA to leverage key partnerships with manufacturers, shippers, freight forwarders, passenger airlines, and all cargo airlines to meet the 100 percent screening mandate of all freight on passenger aircraft.

H.R. 4176 requires the review of the Certified Cargo Screening Program and the Known Shipper Program to ensure that applicable regulations enhance program effectiveness. These initiatives are aided by cargo screening technologies designed to meet the logistical demands of the industry.

H.R. 4176 requires the TSA Administrator to conduct a feasibility study and a subsequent pilot program on expanding the use of computed tomography--CT--and other emerging technologies for air cargo screening.

Through October 2017, air cargo activity increased more than 10 percent from 2016 levels, the largest year-over-year growth in more than a decade, with the largest growth seen among international shipments to and from the United States.

In coordination with the cargo industry, the Customs and Border Protection--CBP--and the TSA have been pilot testing a risk-based approach to vet air cargo shipments known as the Air Cargo Advanced Screening system, with an emphasis on improving inspections on overseas shipments. Accordingly, H.R. 4176 requires the full deployment of ACAS for inbound international air cargo.

The Air Cargo Security Improvement Act of 2018 is a sensible and progressive solution that will help to modernize the security of air cargo shipments and operations while ensuring the flow of commerce.

I thank the ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Thompson, for advancing this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support this common sense piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5099) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish in the Department of Homeland Security a fusion center technical assistance program.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 5099, the Enhancing DHS' Fusion Center Technical Assistance Program Act.

Today, the Nation is facing a complex and evolving threat. Terrorist attacks, like the New York City vehicle attack and the Pulse nightclub shooting, have been carried out by individuals inspired by ISIS and other terrorist organizations. These type of lone wolf attacks appear to be the new normal.

This means that now, more than ever, it is imperative that we have strong preventive activities in place, including intelligence and information sharing.

Since 9/11, States and major urban areas established fusion centers to build up the preventive activities by creating an avenue for greater collaboration between Federal, State, and local governments with regards to terrorism and information sharing.

These State and locally owned fusion centers have largely evolved from terrorist-focused centers to all-crimes, all-hazard centers working on a range of relevant Homeland Security issues, including cybersecurity.

I was able to see the work of one of these fusion centers firsthand when I visited my home State's fusion center, the Kansas Intelligence Fusion Center--KIFC--earlier this year. I was very impressed with their operation. I want to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security is fully supporting this center and the other 78 fusion centers across the United States.

That is why I was troubled to hear about a key fusion center resource in the DHS not living up to its potential.

In 2009, the DHS created a fusion center technical assistance program to provide fusion centers with assistance on a range of topics, including suspicious activity reporting and other relevant trainings. However, based on the findings from the committee's recent fusion center report and my meetings with fusion center personnel, this program is not meeting the needs of the National Network of Fusion Centers.

This is why I introduced H.R. 5099, the Enhancing DHS' Fusion Center Technical Assistance Program Act. This bill provides formal authorization for the DHS fusion center technical assistance program and a clear set of directives on the services to be provided by the program, including assistance related to available grant funding and DHS terrorism prevention programs, as well as intelligence and information sharing.

The bill expands the role of the program to include being a repository of best practices relevant to fusion center activities, including cybersecurity. This is a commonsense bill that should help strengthen the Nation's ability to prevent and protect against terrorist attacks and other Homeland Security relevant events.

Earlier this month, this legislation was passed out of the Committee on Homeland Security by a voice vote. I would like to thank Chairman McCaul and Mr. Gallagher for cosponsoring this legislation. I urge all my colleagues to support this bill.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the ranking member for his support on this legislation. I would once again urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4227) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to examine what actions the Department of Homeland Security is undertaking to combat the threat of vehicular terrorism, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4227, the Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act, introduced by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta).

H.R. 4227 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to examine the threat of vehicular terrorism and develop a strategy to improve DHS support for the efforts of emergency responders and the private sector to prevent, mitigate, and respond to such a threat.

Terror groups, including ISIS and al-Qaida, have urged supporters to carry out attacks in their home countries using any means necessary, including vehicle ramming. Terrorists and inspired homegrown extremists have heeded this directive and have carried out vehicle-based attacks in the past several years, including in France, England, Spain, Ohio, and, most recently, New York City.

The majority of prevention, mitigation, and response activities related to vehicle attacks are carried out by first responders and the private sector. DHS has existing resources and programs that can be better utilized to prepare frontline personnel in local communities to address this threat. This includes guidance related to the use of existing grant programs, increased information sharing, promoting suspicious activity reporting, increasing available exercises and training programs, dedicated research and development targeting mitigation measures, and utilizing critical infrastructure protection programs for vehicle ramming prevention.

H.R. 4227, the Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act, requires the Secretary to develop a plan on how to improve and increase those capabilities. This bill passed by voice vote in the Committee on Homeland Security in early March.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Latta for his work on this important measure, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta), the sponsor of the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Ranking Member Thompson.

I once again urge my fellow colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, many Americans who are charged with managing Social Security benefits for their elderly parents or for their children struggle to make the system work. I have heard stories from my communities in Kansas of the burdensome process that can be involved with the representative payee program.

That is why I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4547, the Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018. This important bipartisan piece of legislation reduces the burdens on families by eliminating the requirement to file an annual payee accounting form for spouses and for parents who live with their children.

In addition, the bill protects the most vulnerable beneficiaries through improved information sharing between the Social Security Administration and their respective States' adult protective services, such as KDADS in Kansas.

This will help identify whether a beneficiary is in foster care, reassess whether the payee is appropriate, and ensure the beneficiaries are provided for. The Social Security Administration has a great responsibility to ensure that Americans who need help managing their Social Security benefits get that help.

I would like to thank Chairman Johnson and Ranking Member Larson for putting this bill together that will strengthen the representative payee program so that it better protects beneficiaries and reduces burdensome government paperwork that rarely provides any real value to families. Too many Americans are counting on the Social Security Administration to get this right.

Mr. Speaker, I was not present for Roll Call vote No. 45, a recorded vote on a motion to suspend the rules and pass S. 534. Had I been present, I would have voted Yea.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 45.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Smith for hosting this Special Order on the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade to remember the devastating impact on children and women, and to celebrate the sanctity of all human life.

Each and every life is precious, a unique gift with intrinsic value. Furthermore, science is clear that, at just 16 weeks old, a baby's body is fully formed and has fingerprints, and a baby can even make facial expressions.

Mr. Speaker, I have been blessed with three incredible children, each one of them unique with their own special personalities, talents, and dreams. As a father, I am excited to see what impact they will have on the world. Each of them will contribute to society and bring a unique perspective to the world that only they can.

As we approach the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I am reminded that in the past 45 years there have been over 60 million fewer individuals in the country today because of abortions. That is 60 million fewer people living the American Dream, starting families, farming in Kansas, or going to medical school to save lives. Their fate was determined before they even had a chance to show the world their talents.

In my home State of Kansas, I am thankful for the countless volunteers who assist with educational programs and outreach to ensure that we are becoming a society that values life, even before a child is born.

For many years, my wife and I have been involved with Kansans for Life and have been blessed to work with so many tireless advocates for life. Hundreds of these volunteers are coming here this week for the March for Life.

With 63 percent of Americans now supporting abortion bans after 20 weeks--that is 5 months--I think we are seeing an incredible pro-life generation. This gives me hope, Mr. Speaker, and I am ready to see what kind of impact these unborn children will have on our world.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4578) to authorize certain counter terrorist networks activities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4578, the Counter Terrorist Network Act.

The fine men and women in uniform at U.S. Customs and Border Protection are tasked with an incredibly important mission. Every day, they protect our Nation from transnational criminal organizations, human traffickers, and terrorists who wish to exploit vulnerabilities at our Nation's borders.

To execute this critical mission, the CBP has developed a cadre of subject matter experts that are well versed in counternetwork operations. These experts work tirelessly at our Nation's seaports, airports, and land border crossings, honing their skills, stopping the flow of illicit goods and people, and creating actionable intelligence.

Given the fact that the CBP is uniquely positioned on our Nation's front line, it would seem expected that members of the CBP would have the authority to participate in counternetwork activities that target terrorists and transnational threats, both domestically and internationally.

However, this is not the case. Currently, the CBP lacks the statutory authority to assign CBP personnel to specialized counternetwork details and liaison assignments with a national security focus.

H.R. 4578 seeks to mitigate this deficiency by giving the Commissioner of the CBP the statutory authority to assign personnel to these specialized task forces and collaborate with appropriate Federal, State, local, and Tribal entities to enhance border security operations that focus on disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations and foreign terrorist networks.

By granting this authority to the Commissioner, the CBP's collaborative efforts will result in enhanced information sharing and an increase in intelligence-driven enforcement operations.

Lastly, H.R. 4578 requires the Commissioner to provide a report to Congress within 6 months of enactment, substantially describing the ongoing efforts to defeat threats posed by transnational criminal and foreign terrorist groups.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee Ranking Member Vela for introducing this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the law enforcement community and to vote in favor of this important legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I, once again, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4578, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4559) to conduct a global aviation security review, 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 to include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Katko for his leadership on this important piece of legislation.

It is essential that we continue to improve aviation security in order to stay ahead of the evolving threat posed by Islamist terrorists. It is clear that terrorists around the world remain intent on attacking aircraft.

That is why over the past year the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration have worked to raise the global level of aviation security. One area of potential improvement is through working to increase security at overseas last point of departure airports.

In October, I joined a bipartisan delegation of congressional members from the House Homeland Security Committee to several of the largest last point of departure airports, including Amman, Jordan; and Frankfurt, Germany. We examined current threats to aviation security and got to look at how our foreign partners have worked to stay ahead of all the potential threats.

This legislation seeks to improve global aviation security standards by directing the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to conduct a comprehensive review of aviation security implementation and challenges across the global aviation system. This legislation will help improve coordination and outreach, both within the United States Government and with foreign partners regarding improvements to aviation security.

It makes sense for our security agencies to work with our foreign allies who are facing the same security threat that we face. This legislation will help the DHS locate and implement best practices, which are being used overseas. The fight to protect travelers isn't one that we face alone in America, and this threat isn't going to dissipate anytime soon. That is why this legislation is focused on ensuring that our agencies build partnerships and can learn from our foreign partners.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. One of the things that we are seeing today, in an increasingly dangerous world, is how do we face these threats and work together. This bill is intended to help work to be more efficient across not just America but with our allies in making our aviation travel more safe and secure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3202) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report on cyber vulnerability disclosures, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3202, the Cyber Vulnerability Disclosure Reporting Act.

It is hard to find an electronic device today that doesn't connect to the internet. From smartphones to alarm clocks, everything is part of the Internet of Things. Americans can do everything, from personal banking to unlocking the front door, with the palm of their hands.

As the world has become increasingly interconnected, vulnerabilities in computer code underlying these devices and the applications they run can often expose the average American to exploitation by hackers, criminals, and even bad actors from nation states.

As more and more critical and personal information is being stored on the internet and more industrial systems are being operated autonomously, it is vital that we are able to plug the holes in vulnerable technology.

It seems like every day we read about another data breach that could have been prevented if only the company had known about a vulnerability in the product or network, occurrences such as the WannCry ransomware that affected hundreds of thousands of computers in more than 150 countries, and the recently reported meltdown that could affect millions of personal computers throughout the world. That is why, in this world of ever-increasing intrusions, we must do our best to make sure our computer systems are as invulnerable to attack as possible.

The Department of Homeland Security was given the authority by the Cybersecurity Act of 2015 to improve cybersecurity in the United States through enhanced sharing of information about cybersecurity threats.

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 allows the Secretary to coordinate with industry to develop departmental policies and procedures for coordinating the disclosure of cyber vulnerabilities as described in the Vulnerabilities Equities Policy and Process published by the White House on November 15, 2016. This disclosure is important, as it highlights vulnerabilities and allows the public and private sector to work to prevent and mitigate cyber threats.

H.R. 3202, the Cyber Vulnerability Disclosure Reporting Act, is an important tool, in that it requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report to Congress on their policies and procedures for disclosing vulnerabilities.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support this bill. With an ever-increasing reliance on technology today, we need to make sure that it is secure and safe for us to use and that the vulnerabilities are addressed so that we can maintain a safe and secure environment.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3759) to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a Family Caregiving Strategy, 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 on H.R. 3759.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 3759, the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage Family Caregivers Act of 2017, otherwise known as the RAISE Family Caregivers Act.

Mr. Speaker, not all Americans have the luxury of complete independence. They may struggle to dress themselves, manage their retirement, or take their medications adequately. When we think of these instances, we may think mostly of seniors, but that is not always the case. Veterans, Americans

with physical and mental disabilities, wounded warriors, and even children with medical conditions rely on a family caregiver to help them live their daily lives.

Though they may have physical or functional limitations or an illness or chronic health condition that impedes their ability to fully care for themselves, many are able to remain safe and comfortable in their homes due to the important role of the family caregiver.

Nationwide, there are roughly 40 million family caregivers who provide physical and emotional care for parents, spouses, children, and other loved ones in need of assistance. These caregivers are unsung heroes who devote both their time and resources to the day-to-day activities that are necessary to provide a disabled loved one with care.

These activities may be to drive their loved ones to doctor appointments, provide them with meals, assist in the management of their finances, and administer at-home nursing and care so that their loved ones may continue to live at home.

Taking on the role of a family caregiver is a deeply personal decision, characterized by selflessness and compassion for a relative in need. It is estimated that, on average, the Nation's caregivers dedicate about 18 hours each week to carrying out their caregiver tasks, while almost a third provide over 60 hours a week of care. These activities provide an annual economic value of $470 billion each year.

About 60 percent of caregivers have full- or part-time jobs in addition to their caregiving roles, leaving them to juggle their caregiving obligations with their work hours and their personal and family time.

The RAISE Family Caregivers Act will direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a Family Caregiving Advisory Council to make recommendations regarding best practices on recognizing and supporting family caregivers. The council will include members from the public and private sectors, family caregivers, elderly Americans and people living with disabilities, State and local officials, and healthcare providers. The Secretary will then publish the council's findings so that the family caregivers may be equipped with the information that they need to be successful in their roles.

The council will provide information about streamlining Federal and State activities to maximize efficiency, and it will preserve the integrity of family rights and person-centered care. This is an opportunity to help improve the quality of life of millions of Americans who both provide and receive familial care.

One important provision of the RAISE Family Caregivers Act ensures that the Secretary of Health and Human Services is prohibited from mandating best practices or expanding the Federal authority in any way.

Additionally, the bill does not authorize any additional funds for the formation of the council and, after 3 years, the council and its related activities will sunset.

The RAISE Family Caregivers Act is an important step we can take to recognize the essential role of family caregivers and share important information so that they can better care for others. This legislation fulfills a bipartisan recommendation of the Federal Commission on Long- Term Care. The Senate passed this bill earlier this year by unanimous consent, and the House of Representatives now has the opportunity to have this bill signed into law.

I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation so that family caregivers are recognized for the important role they play in our communities.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Harper).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remainder of my time.

Mr. Speaker, before I came to Congress in April, I served as the Kansas State treasurer. In that role, I had the opportunity to implement the ABLE Act, which was legislation that was passed here in the last few years.

Talking with a lot of parents, as they were abled and concerned about how do they care for their disabled children, led to the creation of the ABLE Act. During that process, we also talked with a lot of other caregivers who cared for maybe senior citizens, maybe adult children who were in their home, and wanted to make sure that that burden that they faced in providing that family care was ameliorated and supported in any way that it could be.

The RAISE Family Caregivers Act will help recognize the essential role of family caregivers and share important information so that they may better care for others.

This legislation fulfills a bipartisanship recommendation from the Commission on Long-Term Care, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 3759.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 95) expressing support for the use of public-private partnerships to bring computer science education to more K-12 classrooms, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 95.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 95, expressing support for the use of public-private partnerships to bring computer science education to more K-12 classrooms.

Mr. Speaker, science, technology, engineering, and math education, known collectively as STEM education, all play a critical role in how we educate and prepare the next generation of America's workforce.

Many of our Nation's most successful business leaders and entrepreneurs place an emphasis on modern coding and computer skills. These skills are a result of a STEM education.

As an engineer who worked for many years in the private sector, I would like to emphasize the need for more of our students to be equipped with backgrounds in STEM.

The American economy and workforce have undergone a rapid transformation, thanks to the rise of technology, and its role in America's future is only going to increase.

As advancement continues, it is critical that the country's students are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to compete at the global level. These skills can be gained through the expansion of K-12 STEM education.

America has long been a pioneer of innovation in medicine, energy, agriculture, and other new technologies. We take pride in our ability to cultivate, innovate, and change the world for the better as new trends in every corner of the economy require a workforce equipped to meet those demands. However, if we do not adequately prepare our future scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and computer scientists, other countries will outpace us. We cannot allow this.

Of all the projected new jobs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematic fields, computing is estimated to make up two-thirds of those positions. At the present, there are over 500,000 unfilled computing jobs nationwide, and those numbers are projected to grow at twice the rate of other jobs.

In my district in Kansas, we need students to learn STEM in order to fill new jobs in advanced manufacturing.

When Congress passed landmark legislation earlier this year to strengthen career and technical education, or CTE, it sent a clear message to students and employers that Members of the House of Representatives recognize the growing skills gap in this country, and we are committed to improving alignment with in-demand jobs so that the 6 million job openings nationwide may be filled with students equipped with the necessary tools to make our workforce even stronger.

Congress has once again had the opportunity to help close the skills gap by launching more American students into fulfilling STEM careers. These careers are not only in high demand, but they are also high skilled and among the highest paying jobs for new graduates.

Students who enter this field are not only helping to close the skills gap in our country, but they are setting themselves up for a lifetime of meaningful work and personal fulfillment. In fact, 9 in 10 parents want their children to study computer science, but less than half--only 40 percent--of schools teach the subject. Low-income students and students hailing from small towns and rural communities are especially at a disadvantage. Their schools are much less likely to offer computer science courses than schools in urban areas and those that serve middle class students.

A ZIP Code and economic data does not determine whether a child will need to excel in computer science, and it should not determine whether that child receives computer science education. We need coders and computer scientists from a wealth of backgrounds to build the most capable and robust workforce in the world.

Encouraging public-private partnerships to bring computer science education to more K-12 classrooms nationwide is a commonsense solution to develop STEM education around the country.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will support this resolution to encourage efforts to provide more students access to these important skills so that they are prepared to join our Nation's workforce.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Fleischmann).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Taylor).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remainder of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, we try to endeavor to look at how do we prepare students and young adults for their career and look at ways to prepare them not just from starting with an engineering degree or a technical degree at college, but actually making sure that in their K-12 education they are better prepared as well.

As an engineer, I saw this firsthand how my education through high school and into college helped prepare me for the career that I had in the private sector before I went into the public service role. We see this continuously with the importance of having a trained workforce ready to work in our industries.

In my district, Wichita is known as the Air Capital of the World, and the one thing that I hear over and over again from aerospace companies is there is a shortage of trained, skilled workforce ready to work.

STEM education plays such a critical role in terms of how we educate and prepare the next generation of America's workforce, and so we need to encourage public and private partnerships in order to increase computer science education in K-12 classrooms. It is just a commonsense solution to try to increase STEM education in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H. Con. Res. 95, and I yield back the balance of my time.