Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, last Friday a student brought a gun into Olathe East High School. By noon, three people, an assistant principal, a school resource officer, and a student were on their way to the Overland Park Regional Medical Center with gunshot wounds.

Students hid in classrooms sending texts that every parent dreads receiving: Someone is shooting inside the school. Thanks to the actions of Officer Erik Clark and the assistant principal Kaleb Stoppel, those parents were able to reunite with their students safely on Friday afternoon.

We are all grateful and hoping for their full recovery. I know I am not alone in thinking that things could have been much worse were it not for their intervention.

I would also like to commend the Olathe Police Department, fire department, and Johnson County MED-ACT for their exemplary response. Thank you for helping keep our community safe. These are the headlines that every American is tired of reading, that everyone fears will come to their doorstep.

We must step up mental health support in schools--not just in the aftermath of trauma, but permanently. I stand with every parent, educator, student, and Kansan who has come together to call for commonsense gun safety. We have to be brave enough to put our kids' lives first.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). For decades, the EPSCoR program has been instrumental in supporting groundbreaking research and development in states that don't receive a majority of federal science funding. 28 states and territories benefit from this program, including my home state of Kansas.

Nationwide, EPSCoR has inspired a generation of STEM professionals and created new opportunities for student researchers to succeed. Through its most recent award, the Kansas EPSCoR program has been researching microbiomes in our water, plants, and soil to enable more sustainable food production and lasting ecosystem protections. This federal funding has also allowed recipients to launch an internship program, a summer course for high school teachers, and more. From the University of Kansas to Haskell Indian Nations University, students and faculty that benefit from EPSCoR will help ensure that the United States leads well into the future when it comes to science, sustainability, and life-saving research.

As the House and Senate consider legislation to make our nation more competitive, bolster our supply chains, and boost domestic manufacturing, I urge the inclusion of robust funding for the EPSCoR program. In 2020, EPSCoR states received just $190 million in federal funding--only two percent of the NSF's budget. Increasing dedicated EPSCoR funding to 20 percent of the NSF's budget, along with the large investments in research and development we are considering, will spur innovation in underserved communities without sacrificing support to states that have historically received high amounts of federal science funding.

Student researchers in Kansas and other smaller states have so much to offer. I urge my colleagues to continue supporting them, their work, and the EPSCoR program with increased dedicated funding in the America COMPETES Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as we consider legislation to strengthen supply chains and to stand up for our small businesses. For years, we have been too reliant on goods made in other countries.

The pandemic has exacerbated and exposed that reality. We have seen shortages from personal protective equipment to ventilators and semiconductor chips. Those supply chain weaknesses continue to contribute to rising prices and inflation.

We should be making more in America. We have many small businesses in Kansas and across the country that are willing and able to step up to the plate.

As we take up the America COMPETES Act this week, legislation drafted with both parties and aimed at creating jobs, addressing inflation, and strengthening American manufacturing, it is absolutely essential that we include small and medium manufacturers in our consideration.

In my district, the Kansas Third, we have businesses who pivoted their entire production lines to fill gaps in our medical supply chains, helping protect frontline healthcare workers amid significant shortages in personal protective equipment early in the pandemic. At that time, nurses and hospital staff were having to reuse masks and gowns, putting themselves at incredible risk.

We were slowed by our reliance on foreign-made supplies, and here we had small businesses that were ready to help if we had just given them a chance.

The America COMPETES Act includes a program to build a stable and adaptable supply chain for our national stockpile, one that is flexible enough to react in emergency situations without completely breaking down, as it did before. As we work to build that flexibility, it would be a mistake to shut out the producers we have right here at home.

My amendment is going to ensure that when we are restocking and restructuring our strategic national stockpile that we are working with a range of businesses. It would require that smaller manufacturers get a seat at the table, not just big corporations, because I can tell you from experience that they stand ready to pitch in, ready to train and employ our workers. It is our job to ensure they get the chance to do just that.

The America COMPETES Act is a major opportunity to deal in our domestic industries and workers. It is an opportunity to address root causes of inflation and bring down our costs long term, one particularly important example being incentives for domestic semiconductor manufacturing. And it is an opportunity for us to invest in

our global standing, putting our workers, farmers, manufacturers, and businesses on a level playing field with countries like China and other nations.

I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment and to support small manufacturers.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to engage with my colleague, Representative Rick Larsen, the Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation.

I thank Representative Larsen for his hard work to ensure that aviation priorities were included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. I am concerned about the many ground-based air traffic management systems that are now operating well beyond their planned service life. This includes the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) network of more than 2,700 navigation and landing systems located at more than 1,500 sites in all 50 states. For the last 20 years, the FAA has been systematically dedicated to the implementation of NextGen to enable more efficient flight operations in the National Airspace System. During this period, investment has shifted away from legacy ground-based air traffic control infrastructure. It is important for us all to recognize that aging electronic systems cannot be sustained indefinitely. I am concerned that accelerating rates of component failures combined with parts obsolescence creates a risk of field failures that would threaten aviation safety and the flying public.

I am pleased that Division J, Title VIII of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides $5 billion over 5 years for the FAA's Facilities and Equipment account. Included in this amount is funding to address investment and modernization shortfalls in ground-based aviation infrastructure, including landing and navigational aids. These systems are critical to maintaining safety in the national airspace and providing operational resiliency.

Representative Larsen, I am glad that the bill reflects our shared priorities of providing more funding to the FAA's Facilities and Equipment budget and I want to be certain that a proportionate amount is spent on modernization of crucial infrastructure, such as lighting and landing systems. Is it your understanding that this is consistent with the intent of the committee? Can we continue to work to ensure that the U.S. Department of Transportation's 2022 spend plan reflects these congressional priorities?

Madam Speaker, it is with profound sadness that I rise today to honor the memory of former Congressman Dennis Moore, who passed away November 2, 2021 at the age of 75. His long career in public service has left an extraordinary legacy that inspired many, including myself. My heart is with his family, his friends, and the community that he leaves behind.

As we mourn his loss, I'm reminded of the first time I met the Moores in person. I brought with me the pocket U.S. Constitution that I had carried with me all through law school--a pocket Constitution with an official label from the Office of Congressman Dennis Moore. After a good laugh about how on Earth I had managed to hold on to it all those years, he offered to sign my copy and gave me advice on my campaign. For his humor, his thoughtfulness, his dedication to public service (and his guitar playing skills), he will be missed.

Dennis was born in Anthony, Kansas on November 8, 1945 and he attended high school in Wichita. He continued his education in Kansas and received his bachelors' degree in Lawrence at the University of Kansas and was awarded his J.D. from the Washburn University School of Law.

Even before serving as Congressman, Dennis demonstrated a lifelong commitment to service at a local and national level. He was a captain in the United States Army intelligence corps and served in the United States Army Reserve from 1970 to 1973. He also served as Johnson County District Attorney for over a decade. While he was District Attorney, he never lost a jury trial he argued and was instrumental in the founding of SafeHome, a refuge for battered women. In the late 90s, Dennis was elected to the Board of Trustees of Johnson County Community College.

In 1998, after more than two decades of service in other roles, Dennis threw his hat in the ring to serve the Third District of Kansas in Congress. Although the Third District had not elected a Democrat for over 40 years before that, Dennis won the election against a Republican incumbent with over 52 percent of the vote. Then he won again in 2000, becoming the first Democrat since 1914 to win reelection in the Third District of Kansas. For over a decade, Dennis served in Congress, known for civility and a strong presence in the communities he served. He retired from Congress in 2011 after completing his sixth term.

Dennis served as a Member of Congress during a uniquely fraught period between 1999 and 2011, during which Congress worked to respond to difficult national traumas such as the financial crisis of 2008. Even as Congress and the nation became increasingly polarized during this period, Dennis prioritized civility and bipartisanship to find solutions that would help average Americans. As Chair of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on the House Financial Services Committee, Dennis held hearings on the impact of the 2008 financial crisis across the country. He also helped to produce the final version of the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 to respond to the financial crisis and to help America recover.

Dennis had a traditional, common-sense approach to politics and worked hard to build consensus both within his party and across the aisle. When he first took office, Dennis was a member of a bipartisan group called the Center Aisle Caucus where Republicans and Democrats would come together at least once a month to improve cooperation and communication between the two parties. Within his party, he was a proud member of both the Blue Dog Coalition and the New Democrat Coalition, both of which focused on fiscal responsibility and promoting economic growth. Even though he was a pillar of centrism in Congress, he was never afraid to stand up for his values such as supporting women's reproductive rights and championing environmental activism at a time when climate denial was high.

During his tenure as Representative, Dennis sought common-sense solutions on a number of issues that impacted his constituents. These issues included but were not limited to delivering tax relief for middle class families, addressing global warming, and investing in local needs such as transportation, flood control infrastructure, and social services. Among his many accomplishments in Congress, Dennis said that he was most proud of leading successful efforts to improve benefits for our military during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

After leaving Capitol Hill in 2012, Dennis continued to work as an advocate for causes close to his heart, such as increased funding for Alzheimer's research, education, and support. He came back to the Hill in 2014 to provide personal testimony on the burden that Alzheimer's can place on the health care system, families, and the federal budget. In that hearing, Dennis expressed a belief in a Congress that could come together and solve problems. ``I really think we need to find those areas where we can and should find agreement,'' he said. ``Good people on both sides work together, and there truly are good people on both sides.'' His optimism, practicality, and hope for bipartisanship were all trademarks of the leader that he was.

Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring the life of former Congressman Dennis Moore. Dennis was a dedicated, gracious, and principled leader who will be remembered for his service to the Third District and the state of Kansas. To say he left big shoes to fill is an understatement--he leaves a legacy of fighting tirelessly for what is good and right and decent for the people he represented.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It would bring billions of dollars to much-needed infrastructure projects in my home State, from bridges to broadband, and it does so without raising taxes on people who make less than $400,000 a year.

As I have said before, this bill is not absolutely perfect, but it is absolutely necessary. It is a product of compromise. That is, at the end of the day, what legislating often means.

In the district I represent, this bill has received a remarkable amount of support, including everyone from labor unions to local chambers of commerce to climate groups. They are joined by national organizations like the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and hundreds of labor and trade associations.

I urge my colleagues to listen to their communities who are calling for these investments and not to give in to the Washington machine that so often turns shared bipartisan goals into political games.

This bill reminds me of the last time that we saw this level of investment in America's infrastructure, when President Eisenhower, who was from Kansas, recognized an opportunity to rebuild the economy and create jobs through infrastructure. We were then, as we are today, in a challenging time defined by a national crisis and economic difficulty.

I believe, as Eisenhower did, that infrastructure is key to building long-term economic growth. At the end of the day, infrastructure is made up of many everyday systems that connect us to one another and broaden opportunities.

If we don't invest in the health of those systems, whether it is the safety of highways like U.S. 69 in the district I get to represent, or access to high-speed internet in areas across Kansas, both urban and rural, we pay the price, and it is not just in the ways we might think.

We feel the impact of past decades of underinvestment in infrastructure, in our economy, in our educational systems, in the health of our kids, and in the health of our planet.

That is why this bill is absolutely necessary because infrastructure touches so many parts of our lives and the lives of our future generations. This bipartisan bill boosts American competitiveness, tackles climate change, and advances equity now and into the future. It is projected to create 2 million jobs per year for the next decade, with fair wage requirements written into the text.

Independent studies have shown that the investments in this bill will have multiplier effects on the economy, improving productivity and boosting economic output without increasing inflation. This infrastructure bill is large, but so is the problem.

There are immediate infrastructure needs, from roads and bridges to public transit and rail, waterways, and airports. All of these need attention. This bill will undoubtedly bring the Federal funding needed to address those issues here in the near term, and it makes significant progress toward longer-term goals, like replacing lead pipes so that every child can have access to clean drinking water or promoting Buy American provisions that create good-paying jobs for both construction and production of materials or modernizing our electric grid to prevent blackouts, like the ones we saw in Kansas and those we saw in Texas earlier this year.

For people sitting in traffic on U.S. 69 or waiting for the bus in Wyandotte County or wondering why that one road floods every single year no matter how many times we fix it, this cannot wait. Not to mention, if we fail to act, critical surface transportation authorizations are going to run out by Friday.

I urge my colleagues to set aside gamesmanship and not see this as an opportunity for political points but instead an opportunity to deliver for our communities, the opportunity that our communities have been asking for us to deliver on.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask that you all join me in wishing Burdett Loomis a speedy recovery.

You may not know Bird, unless you took a political science class at the University of Kansas anytime in the last 40 years, in which case he was probably your favorite professor. Or maybe you would know him from his decades as the KU Washington Semester coordinator, helping students gain real-world experience at various organizations and congressional offices here in D.C.

Regular followers of Kansas politics and government will, of course, know him for his insight, wit, and frequent interviews and columns in the local news.

He is an irreplaceable member of our community whose contributions are too numerous for me to list in my short time here. He has been a trusted friend and adviser to many Kansas officials over the years, and I am personally grateful for his guidance throughout my time in Congress and his unconditional dedication to the State of Kansas and the well-being of its democracy.

Bird has a huge community wishing him well. From students to Senators and so many in between, we look forward to seeing you soon and are keeping you in our thoughts.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bubba Starling for earning a silver medal as part of the United States national baseball team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. With every inning, he demonstrated his determination, passion, and love of baseball. I am proud to say that a local Kansan was a part of this very special team.

Mr. Starling began his athletic career in Gardner, Kansas as a multi- sport standout athlete. Through baseball, he found his professional calling and, after being ranked in 2011 as the number I baseball recruit in the nation, was selected fifth overall in the Major League Baseball draft by his hometown team, the Kansas City Royals.

Given Mr. Starling's history of athletic achievement, it is no surprise that he would excel on the world's biggest stage as a part of the United States Olympic baseball team. Considering the special circumstances of these Olympics, it is even more impressive how Mr. Starling and his teammates rose to win the silver medal. Their perseverance through the pandemic was a beacon of hope in difficult times for our country and the world. I commend their resilience and demonstration of athletic excellence.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Bubba Starling on his silver medal in the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the INVEST in America Act.

This comprehensive bill builds our economy back better than before, creates good-paying jobs, and tackles climate change.

In the Kansas Third, there is a particular highway that has been a priority since my predecessor's predecessor. It is the busiest four- lane road in the State, experiencing increased crashes and constant congestion.

Folks in our district disagree on plenty, but not this. U.S. 69 must be addressed.

I am now the vice chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the first Kansan to serve on the committee in a decade. I am proud to say this bill puts us one step closer to bringing home the Federal investment necessary to reduce congestion, increase safety, and attract economic development.

It also includes two provisions I introduced on resiliency and responsible financing, saving taxpayer money and bringing smart investments home.

For the people sitting in traffic, waiting for the bus in Wyandotte County, or wondering why that one road floods every year no matter how many times we fix it, this cannot wait. If we fail to act, these authorizations will run out by October.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the INVEST in America Act to create jobs and propel our infrastructure into the modern era.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 508, I rise to offer amendments en bloc No. 5.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this en bloc amendment, which provides for the consideration of 25 individual amendments to address both drinking and wastewater infrastructure concerns.

Mr. Speaker, these amendments make several improvements to the underlying legislation, including increasing Federal investment in failing or insufficient septic systems, which is a pervasive water quality and human health challenge facing many of our rural and economically disadvantaged communities, including those from Oregon, Alabama, and New York;

Addressing emerging pollution concerns, including so-called flushable wipes that are clogging our Nation's sewers, and the discharge of plastic pellets into our waste stream;

Addressing several local water quality challenges, including transboundary sewage flows that have adversely affected the San Diego region, the inadequate wastewater infrastructure in the U.S.-Mexico border region, and the legacy radiological contamination of Coldwater Creek in St. Louis, Missouri;

Clarifying audit and reporting requirements for EPA's Green Project Reserve; and

Focusing additional attention on potential discrimination and civil rights violations in water infrastructure funding so we can ensure these programs equitably help all communities address their long-term wastewater concerns.

Each of these amendments further strengthens the ability of this bill to address the water and wastewater infrastructure needs of this Nation in a way that protects public health and our environment; creates well- paying jobs here in the United States; and addresses the historic water infrastructure challenges that is facing our rural, small, and economically disadvantaged communities.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the members for working with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce to improve this bill and urge passage of this en bloc amendment.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Ms. Bush).

Mr. Speaker, I wish to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman from Texas an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stevens).

No, I do not, Mr. Speaker, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support these amendments en bloc, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, in honor of Building Safety Month, I am pleased to recognize the importance of safety in the built environment and the dedication of the

members of the International Code Council (ICC) to their roles in protecting our communities.

With natural disasters only expected to increase in frequency and severity, building codes include important safeguards to protect the public from tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, ice and snowstorms, wildland fires, and earthquakes. Last November, FEMA released, ``Building Codes Save: A Nationwide Study'' and found that implementing modern building codes could save $600 billion in disaster spending by 2060. This further confirmed findings from the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) that show adopting modern model building codes save $11 for every $1 invested through earthquake, flood, and wind mitigation benefits, with a $4 to $1 wildfire mitigation benefit. These benefits represent avoided casualties, property damage, business interruptions, and insurance costs, and are enjoyed by all building stakeholders--from developers, titleholders, and lenders, to tenants and communities.

Vulnerable and underserved populations are most affected by increases in utility costs, and they often have the most to lose in the event of a disaster or health emergency. Building codes establish minimum requirements that ensure safe, resilient, and energy efficient schools, childcare and healthcare facilities, housing, and places of employment.

Year round, building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, plumbers, builders, tradespeople, laborers, and others in the construction industry work to ensure the safe construction of buildings though the use of model building codes. The dedicated members of the International Code Council, a national standards developing organization, come together with local, state and federal officials to develop voluntary consensus codes that protect us in the buildings where we worship, live, work, learn, and play. The International Codes, the most widely adopted building safety and fire prevention codes in the nation, are used by most U.S. cities and counties and in all 50 states, including the State of Kansas. I commend Johnson County, which makes up a large portion of my district, for recently adopting the 2018 International Codes.

During the pandemic, building and fire prevention departments' essential work has ensured that healthcare centers are structurally sound and capable of withstanding natural disasters, and that temporary healthcare facilities providing medical surge capacity are built and maintained to protect occupant safety. These officials enforce state, local, and federal regulations that require adequate ventilation and sanitization. More broadly, code officials protect the health and welfare of building occupants to prevent dangerous sanitary, air quality, structural, or electrical hazards.

In a Presidential Proclamation designating May 2021 as Building Safety Month, President Biden stated, ``Investing in our infrastructure and adopting and implementing modem building codes are the most effective mitigation measures communities can undertake.'' Building Safety Month was sponsored by the International Code Council to remind the public about the critical role of our communities' code officials in assuring us safe, efficient, and livable buildings. This year's Building Safety Month theme was, ``Prevent, Prepare, Protect. Building Codes Save'' and it encouraged all of us to raise awareness of the importance of safe and resilient construction, fire prevention, sanitation, disaster mitigation, and new technologies in the construction industry.

Madam Speaker, please join me in thanking International Code Council Board President Greg Wheeler, as well as ICC's Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, the International Code Council leadership, and ICC's Members and staff for recognizing Building Safety Month.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize William ``Bill'' Ebel, City Manager of Overland Park for his exemplary professional accomplishments. Mr. Ebel has been recognized by the American Public Works Association's as one of their ``Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year''.

Mr. Ebel has lived a life committed to public service. Before serving as city manager of Overland Park, Kansas, Mr. Ebel graduated from West Point and served for 21 years in the United States Army. He continued pursuing an interest in public service through his graduate studies in public administration and civil engineering.

In over a decade of public service as city manager, Mr. Ebel has prioritized solutions and innovation. He championed the Indian Creek Flood Control Project which solved flooding issues, created development opportunities, and demonstrated his commitment to building partnerships between the public and private sectors. This commitment to public- private partnerships has allowed Mr. Ebel to explore innovative financing solutions to fund development and infrastructure improvements. This is just a small glimpse into a lifetime of work that has led to this professional achievement.

One of the most rewarding parts of representing the Kansas Third District is hearing about the exemplary service and accomplishments of my fellow Kansans. Mr. Ebel is certainly no exception and I commend him for his dedication to our state and to our country.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1490) to amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to improve the loan guaranty program, enhance the ability of small manufacturers to access affordable capital, and for other purposes.

Madam 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 the measure under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the bill before us today, H.R. 1490, the 504 Modernization and Small Manufacturer Enhancement Act of 2021.

504 loans are an important SBA capital access product, allowing small businesses to affordably purchase machinery and equipment, acquire real estate, or take on other fixed asset costs.

The loan has a three-party structure where an SBA-backed 504 lender provides 40 percent of the financing, a third-party lender provides 50 percent of the financing, and a small business borrower provides 10 percent. This unique structure has helped thousands of entrepreneurs expand their businesses and hire more employees, especially businesses with significant fixed costs.

Last Congress, the Committee on Small Business's Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations held a hearing to review the current status of the 504 loan program. We heard from a panel of 504 lenders who reported concerns with the loan closing process, specifically that closing delays have caused loans to fall through and businesses to lose out on affordable financing.

To that end, Ms. Craig put forth a strong proposal to streamline the 504 loan closing process and make compliance easier for CDCs, borrowers, and third-party lenders, who are essential to the 504 loan structure.

Two of the provisions of that bill, which passed unanimously through our committee and the House, were also included in the Economic Aid Act that was enacted in December.

The version of the bill before us today is identical to the version we passed last Congress, but for those provisions included in the Economic Aid Act.

The changes under consideration today continue to address the issues we have heard in our engagement with 504 lenders and their borrowers in our districts, and I am pleased we are taking a vote on them today.

These include increasing the maximum loan size for small manufacturers from $5.5 million to $6.5 million and easing the job retention or creation requirement for them, which helps make 504 loans easier to access.

We should be doing everything that we can to make navigating and utilizing this program as simple as possible. As a member of the Small Business Committee, I am committed to helping our small businesses and manufacturers weather this current crisis and to helping Main Street come back even stronger.

It is why I fought to secure $10 billion for the Defense Production Act in the American Rescue Plan Act to ramp up domestic production of PPE and other critical supplies. It is also why I introduced the SUPPLIES Act, which would promote the manufacturing of PPE and medical supplies by small businesses here in the U.S. I am proud to be a cosponsor of the bill to help small businesses and manufacturers so they can help us.

I want to thank the gentlewoman from Minnesota and the gentlewoman from California for their hard work, and I applaud their efforts to make bipartisan improvements to this valuable program.

I recommend a ``yes'' vote to all my colleagues in the House.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Craig).

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, the SBA's 504 loan program has made a significant impact on our Main Streets in its 62-year history.

In addition to partnering with banks to extend affordable fixed-asset capital, most CDCs in the program are also actively involved in promoting local economic development, especially for underserved business communities.

I am proud of the opportunity we have today to continue supporting the work of CDCs. I want to applaud the work by the gentlewoman from Minnesota, the gentlewoman from California, and their bipartisan effort on the 504 program.

I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1482) to amend the Small Business Act to enhance the Office of Credit Risk Management, to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to issue rules relating to environmental obligations of certified development companies, and for other purposes.

Madam 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 the measure under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the bill before us today, H.R. 1482, the 504 Credit Risk Management Improvement Act, which clarifies the oversight role of the SBA's Office of Credit Risk Management in respect to CDCs.

To improve oversight of the SBA business loan programs, including the 7(a) and 504 loan programs, the agency established the Office of Credit Risk Management--OCRM--within the Office of Capital Access. OCRM conducts periodic reviews of SBA lenders to ensure they are complying with program requirements.

In 2018, Congress passed bipartisan legislation to codify the office and gave it the tools it needs to conduct proper oversight and hold noncompliant lenders accountable.

It was our intent to boost the office's enforcement powers to help minimize the likelihood that business loan programs would face losses and reduce the need for Congress to appropriate funds.

I should point out that these programs are designed to operate at zero subsidy, meaning they come at no cost to the taxpayer, and we intend to keep it that way.

I am pleased that the gentleman from North Carolina, along with the gentlewoman from Minnesota, worked together to bring this bill to life last Congress. This bill clarifies OCRM's oversight role and shifts loan closing file review responsibilities to the office and, in turn, keeps the program running at a zero subsidy. I applaud their bipartisanship and, more importantly, their commitment to America's small businesses.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I am prepared to close.

Madam Speaker, in its 62-year history, the SBA's 504 loan program has helped thousands of entrepreneurs acquire heavy machinery and equipment, expand to more locations, and hire workers. It has long been a strong-performing SBA program and has enjoyed consistent bipartisanship support.

We must continue to take all steps needed to preserve the integrity of the 504 program and ensure it will be an option for the next generation of entrepreneurs. Passing the bill before us today will help us do so.

I thank Mr. Bishop and Ms. Craig for their hard work and collaboration in bringing this bill to the floor today. I also thank Mr. Luetkemeyer for his leadership today and his unwavering commitment to our Nation's 30 million small businesses.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the importance of the $31 billion allocated to tribal governments under the American Rescue Plan (ARP), which includes a critical investment of $20 billion for direct relief for the 574 federally recognized tribal nations across the United States.

As you know, this funding is a lifeline to Native communities, who have suffered the most devastating and disproportionate impact of the public health and economic crises of the COVID-19 pandemic. This $20 billion fund is critical for tribal governments to address the economic losses and health disparities that were left unaddressed through funding dedicated under the CARES Act, and I applaud your leadership to prioritize tribal nations in the ARP since the federal government's trust responsibility has largely been ignored throughout history.

In an effort to strengthen the intended goal of investing these funds into Indian Country, I first and foremost would like to stress that the federal government's trust responsibility to our tribal nations is of upmost importance. It is absolutely essential that in its implementation of the American Rescue Plan Act and in its distribution of funding allocations, the Department of the Treasury fully and properly consults with tribal leaders across the country, as required by law. Additionally, in my conversations with tribal leaders over the last year, I have heard three main concerns about relief fund allocations for Native communities that are addressed in turn below.

First, I respectfully suggest clarification of the ARP language of Section 9901, indicating how the $19 of the $20 billion direct relief for tribal governments is to be allocated by Treasury to ensure economic recovery funds can be used in a flexible manner, which was left unaddressed under the CARES Act. The availability of flexible spending is of grave importance since tribal governments faced significant impacts from COVID-19 and, as a result, lost critical government revenue. It is estimated that tribal nations sustained 35 percent revenue loss in 2020 since they lack traditional tax bases enjoyed by state and local governments. Thus, tribal enterprise revenues supply a majority of funding for basic government services to make up for these losses.

As it stands, the language in this bill allows the Department of the Treasury to implement this Fund such that tribes are able to meet their individual and unique needs, whether it be addressing employment costs, providing health care or education, or investing in much-needed infrastructure. That flexibility is owed as a measure of tribal sovereignty, and I will work with the Department of the Treasury to ensure that the bill is implemented as such.

Second, the Department of the Treasury must conduct robust tribal consultation with tribal nations to determine the most effective and fair ways of measuring tribal population figures. Again, this issue was left largely unaddressed under the language of the CARES Act, and the past administration's decision to utilize the Indian Housing Block Grant formula for its tribal population calculation resulted in inaccurate funding distributions across the country. I urge the Department to ask tribal governments to submit comments on their preferred population metrics, and actually take those comments into account in an effort to strengthen our government-to-government relationship with tribal nations.

Finally, Congress's intent for the tribal set-aside in the Fund is to provide an equitable allocation between economic and population-based factors. The Department of the Treasury must provide a strong baseline of support for all tribal governments, ensuring that no tribes are excluded from these funds, in addition to considerations for revenue losses and cost increases.

I thank the Speaker for the opportunity to speak to this historic investment in Indian County, and for continued work to uphold the Federal trust responsibility to the 574 federally recognized tribal nations in the United States. I look forward to working with the Department of the Treasury on swift implementation of this landmark legislation.

Madam Speaker, I'd like to thank my colleague, Chairman Richard Neal for his tireless work on the Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act of 2021 and for providing retirement income security for pension recipients in endangered, critical or critical and declining status multiemployer pension plans.

In Kansas, thousands of retirees currently receive pensions through the Central States Plan and they face a crisis--a severe reduction in retirement income through no fault of their own.

Without the direct relief provided in this legislation, the Central States Pension Fund would have become insolvent in 2026 and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation would have to reduce 360,000 participants' pensions to pennies. This is unacceptable. As Chairman Neal is all too aware, many of the participants of Central States are frontline workers who have served our country tirelessly and fearlessly in the face of the pandemic.

The present structure of these plans is unsustainable and in need of reform.

Without modernization of these plans and addressing employer liabilities, I am concerned that multiemployer pension plans and their retirees will certainly face similar circumstances in the future and require additional federal funds. This much needed relief to the plans is designed to forestall insolvency leaving important work that must follow. I believe we must seize this opportunity to reform these plans and take insolvency off the table.

I understand the Chairman is committed to working with me to modernize and strengthen multiemployer pension plans with the intent of bringing a reform package to the floor in this Congress. Could the Chairman confirm that is the case?