Floor Statements

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, in the interest of investor protection, my amendment would prevent H.R. 2799 from taking effect unless the Securities and Exchange Commission certifies to Congress that this misguided legislation will not increase the amount of fraud in our financial system.

Importantly, this certification would be based on SEC consultation with our State securities regulators.

As ranking member of the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion, I am strongly supportive of reducing barriers to capital market participation in a manner that maximizes investor protection, regulatory oversight, and responsible capital formation. Unfortunately, this bill removes basic protections and promotes reckless deregulation at the expense of all three.

Not surprisingly, our State securities regulators are overwhelmingly opposed to the so-called Expanding Access to Capital Act because it would preempt critical State laws that are in place to protect retail investors against fraud and other financial misconduct.

In my own State of Massachusetts, our longtime Secretary of the Commonwealth and chief securities regulator, Bill Galvin, reports this bill would significantly undermine the State's ability to regulate financial middlemen such as finders and private placement brokers and that these financial intermediaries regularly promote private investments that are both high risk and nonliquid.

By providing these individuals with a virtual safe harbor from registration and other important investor protection requirements, H.R. 2799 will weaken oversight and enforcement in this area. According to Secretary Galvin, finders will be ``invisible to regulators and market observers until problems arise.''

The Massachusetts Securities Division has, in fact, commenced several recent enforcement actions related to finder misconduct, including the solicitation of fraudulent promissory notes to further a Ponzi scheme and the use of scam investment tactics to raise small business capital for businesses that never materialized. These schemes have cost Massachusetts investors millions of dollars.

Similarly, the North American Securities Administrators Association, which is on the front line of investor protections across our country, strongly opposes this legislation on the grounds that it would make it impossible for State securities regulators to promote responsible capital formation and protect investors in the States.

Under existing investor protection statutes and registration requirements, regulators are able to directly engage with small business owners and entrepreneurs to educate them on responsible options for raising capital, help them avoid compliance mistakes, and deter fraud that will harm investors and businesses alike.

The bill before us, however, would undermine these efforts by obscuring finders and other middlemen from the lines of sight of State and Federal regulatory authorities.

Moreover, bad actors are increasingly peddling cryptocurrency asset securities. In the wake of the abrupt collapse of FTX and the conviction of its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, for stealing nearly $10 billion in customer funds, we are well aware of the volatility of the cryptocurrency sector and its susceptibility to financial fraud. We should be strengthening transparency and accountability in the private securities markets rather than facilitating reckless financial behavior.

Madam Chair, our capital markets are the envy of the world, specifically because of the robust State and Federal regulatory regimes that function to protect investors and promote confidence in capital formation.

H.R. 2799 will dismantle this framework. That is precisely why a variety of consumer and investor protection advocates also strongly oppose the bill, including the Consumer Federation of America, Americans for Financial Reform, and Public Citizen. They report

that an alarming proportion of the individuals who act as financial middlemen already have numerous red flags on their records, presenting an elevated risk of fraud to investors.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense investor protection amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.

Very briefly, Madam Chair, I would just add that in this bill there are several preemption provisions that prevent State regulators from actually doing their jobs, and that is problematic. They are, in many cases, elected officials. They are not unelected officials. Their responsibility is to protect investors, and they have done a good job in all 50 States.

So, again, Madam Chair, for all the reasons I previously stated, I ask Members on both sides of the aisle to please support this commonsense amendment.

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

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on National Security, I rise to remind the House Republican leadership that actions speak louder than words when it comes to national security and America's defense of democracy and human rights worldwide.

In reference to the current migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, Speaker Johnson has repeatedly stated that ``our national security begins at our border.''

He has indicated that border policy would be the Republican hill to die on. He even insisted that the House would

not act on a foreign aid package unless it included substantive provisions to enhance border security, his ``top priority.''

However, the actions taken by the House Republican leadership do not live up to those words. Three weeks ago, a bipartisan coalition in the U.S. Senate negotiated a national security agreement that proposed the most significant reforms in decades, introducing new emergency border authorities, including granting the President the ability to close the border under certain circumstances, anti-fentanyl and anti-human trafficking provisions, and resources to enhance security at the southern border.

President Biden indicated a willingness to sign the compromise agreement, when passed. Instead, at the direction of former President Trump, Speaker Johnson declared the bill dead on arrival in the House before he even received the final text.

Mr. Speaker, Congress should debate and amend, when necessary, and pass a commonsense border security and immigration bill to end the crisis at our border and regain control of our border.

Similarly, following Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022, the House Republican leadership released the following statement:

They said, ``We stand in complete solidarity with the innocent Ukrainian people and vow to continue to support them as they defend themselves from Putin's unprovoked onslaught.''

The Speaker personally echoed those commitments during his meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in the Capitol last December.

However, after the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan foreign aid package that includes over $60 billion in assistance to support the Ukrainian military and people, a bill which also included provisions for $14 billion in aid to Israel and nearly $10 billion in humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, Ukraine, and other populations affected by conflict, the Speaker once again declared the bill dead on arrival.

Upon his election to the speakership, Speaker Johnson pledged that the House Republican Conference, and I am going to give you a quote, ``And we will restore sanity to a government desperately in need of it.'' That could not be further from the truth.

As evidenced by another looming government shutdown, this Republican majority remains mired in internal party dysfunction and legislative chaos to the great detriment of U.S. national security, our international partners, and the American people.

We are now one day away from a partial shutdown that would disrupt critical Federal programs, including veterans' outreach services, air traffic control training, food assistance for low-income families, and an estimated 200,000 military families who now rely upon WIC to alleviate food insecurity--according to the National Military Family Association.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the House Republican leadership to set politics and partisanship aside and work with Members on both sides of the aisle to immediately address these critical priorities.

We also have an opportunity to urge the United States Treasury to take control of the $300 billion in Russian assets that are in the possession and custody of U.S. and EU banks. Take that $300 billion and give it to Ukraine so they can fight for their freedom and feed their people.

Madam Speaker, as a member of the House Subcommittee on National Security, the Border and Foreign Affairs, I rise in strong support of emergency aid for our Democratic ally and partner and for the people of Ukraine, now entering the third year of their fight for freedom and democracy in the face of the brutal invasion launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2022.

This morning, the United States Senate passed a bipartisan foreign aid package that included vital Ukraine assistance by a wide vote of 70-29.

In stark contrast to this bipartisan effort, the House Republican leadership continues to fall in line behind former President Trump, refusing to act swiftly on Ukraine funding on purely partisan political grounds.

Regrettably, Speaker Johnson has already dismissed the Senate bill as a status quo measure.

Madam Speaker, this is a missed opportunity. Members of this House should have the right to vote on a package of Ukraine funding, Israel funding, and greater security funding for our southern border.

On the issue of Ukraine funding in particular, this political impasse comes at the great expense of U.S. national security, international peace, and the freedom of the Ukrainian people.

It also follows repeated warnings from the Biden administration that the failure to enact additional aid will kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield. It will allow Putin, an autocratic dictator, to prevail and simply pave the way for a Russian military victory.

Even the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee recently reported that with the Ukrainian armed forces now desperately rationing munitions, ``We have to get this done. . . . If we do not move, this will be abandoning Ukraine.''

The Ukrainian people deserve better. They are valiantly defending their country against relentless campaigns of state-sponsored terrorism that the United Nations reports has killed more than 10,000 and injured nearly 20,000 Ukrainian civilians.

The war has also forcibly displaced an estimated 10 million people, including 6.3 million people, Ukrainian refugees, who have fled to neighboring countries.

With Putin vowing to continue this unlawful war until Russia achieves its nationalist and imperialist objectives, I strongly urge my Republican colleagues to abandon their misguided and dangerous deference to Donald Trump.

At a campaign rally this past weekend, the current standard-bearer of the Republican Party actually stated that if one of our 31 NATO allies did not meet their defense spending goals, he would not protect them as President of the United States in honoring our obligations to NATO.

In fact, he said he would encourage Russia `` . . . to do whatever the hell they want.'' He would treat the surrender of millions of Ukrainian people as a transaction.

We must instead be guided by our own founding Democratic principles, enduring defense of freedom and human rights around the world.

Indeed, the House Republican leadership would also be wise to recall their own longstanding commitment to a strong national defense and embrace American global leadership as a bulwark against expansionist schemes undertaken by brutal dictatorships.

The Ukrainian people deserve better. They are defending their country against a relentless campaign of state-sponsored terrorism that the United States reports has killed more than 10,000 people.

`` . . . people are at last free to determine their own destiny,'' said Ronald Reagan, who also demanded of Putin's President, Mr. Gorbachev, ``Tear down this wall.'' He was a defender of a free and democratic Europe.

I recently returned from a bipartisan delegation to Ukraine where I met with President Zelenskyy and examined the security and humanitarian situation on the ground. There is zero evidence that the Government of Ukraine is directing resources anywhere but toward its singular goal of preserving Ukrainian sovereignty and independence.

I urge my colleagues to support additional aid for Ukraine.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I do want to point out that 130 countries right now, 90 percent of the world's central banks, are studying and doing research on digital currencies, and, in particular, government-backed digital currencies.

This amendment would prevent the United States from researching an area that 130 countries are right now researching. It would put us very far back at the end of the pack.

Mr. Chairman, as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 4664, the Financial Services appropriations bill and the misguided amendment that would essentially prevent our government from exploring and researching a government-issued central bank digital currency.

This year witnessed the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and other U.S. midsize banks holding a combined $500 billion in assets, an institutional banking crisis requiring decisive action by the FDIC, Treasury, and the Federal Reserve to protect American investors and the U.S. economy.

We are also in the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic demise of the crypto market following the abrupt implosion of FTX, Celsius, BlockFi, and other crypto companies.

Just this week, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was convicted of seven counts of financial fraud and conspiracy after he stole up to $14 billion from FTX customers and investors.

Yet, in this climate that demands regulatory oversight and thorough understanding of this market, this appropriations bill actually guts funding for critical agencies that serve to protect American investors, including the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Moreover, to the great detriment of U.S. global economic leadership, the amendment under consideration would prevent the Treasury from even examining a government-backed central bank digital currency.

As I said, Mr. Chairman, more than 130 countries and 90 percent of the world's central banks are exploring their own government-backed digital currencies.

We should not be suppressing innovative approaches without fully evaluating its benefits and the risks to the American public.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this bill and the amendment that would impede commonsense regulation and research and innovation.

Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to rise today in celebration of my dear friend, Judith Ann O'Brien Fowkes of Braintree, Massachusetts, in recognition of her 60th birthday. I want to commend her for her tireless dedication to educating and inspiring hundreds of students in the Archdiocese of Boston for more than thirty years.

Born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territory, Canada on June 14, 1963, to Kevin O'Brien and Patricia Bowser O'Brien, Judith graduated from Charles P. Allen High School in Bedford, Nova Scotia in 1981, before pursuing and earning a Teacher's License from Nova Scotia Teachers College in Truro, Nova Scotia in 1984. One year later, Judith received her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Mt. St. Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

After completing her education in Canada, Judith arrived in the United States in 1987, and began her teaching career for the Archdiocese of Boston in the fall of that same year. Inspired and driven to always continue learning, Judith earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from Emmanuel College in Boston, Massachusetts in 2002. Furthermore, Judith continued her call to education by serving on the faculties of St. Brigid School in South Boston, the Sacred Heart School in Weymouth, and is currently serving as an aide at the St. Brendan School in Dorchester.

Through her countless examples of compassion and selfless service, she has inspired many of her former students to become life-long learners and educators themselves. Many of her former students have gone on to pursue careers in public service, serving as police officers, firefighters, and government officials.

Judith has enriched the lives of her family, friends, and all who know her. Her quick and warm smile, her kindness, her compassion, and sense of humor are impossible to dodge. Judith's sincere empathy and care for each of her students over the years is immeasurable.

Judith resides in Braintree, Massachusetts with her adoring co- captain and husband of 32 years, Robert, who served as District Director in my office.

Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to take the floor of the House today to congratulate Judith on her 60th birthday and to thank her for her over thirty years of dedicated service in the Commonwealth. I urge my colleagues to join with me, and with Judith's family and friends in recognizing Judith's dedicated career in education.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Francis Xavier Bellotti, in recognition of his 100th birthday and with the deepest appreciation for his courageous service to our Nation during World War II and his many contributions to Massachusetts' legal and political communities.

Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Mr. Bellotti graduated from The English High School in 1942 before enlisting in the United States Navy's elite Scouts and Raiders--the Navy's first special warfare unit and a progenitor of today's Navy SEALs. Mr. Bellotti led his squad valiantly across multiple theaters in World War II and was decorated for his service in Europe and the Pacific.

Mr. Bellotti's earned his bachelor's degree from Tufts University in 1947 and graduated from Boston College Law School in 1952. He quickly became a prominent and respected attorney, practicing at every level of the state and federal judicial system.

Mr. Bellotti's career in public service began on January 3, 1963, when he became the 61st Lieutenant Governor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He then served three terms as Massachusetts' Attorney General, from 1975 to 1987, during which time he transformed the Office of the Attorney General, fostering a culture of transparency, professionalism, and nonpartisanship. In 1981, the National Association of Attorneys General unanimously voted Mr. Bellotti the most outstanding attorney general in the country.

After his departure from elective office, Mr. Bellotti returned to the law, where he has remained a steadfast advocate for justice and democracy.

In his personal life, Mr. Bellotti is a proud father of 12 children and more than twice as many grandchildren. His beloved wife, Margarita ``Maggie'' Bellotti, passed away on December 26, 2022. She is remembered as the ``driving force'' in Mr. Bellotti's life and a powerful victim advocate in her own right.

Mr. Speaker, Francis Xavier Bellotti's legacy is clearly one of service--to country, community, and principle. Over the years, Mr. Bellotti has received countless accolades for his good work. In 2011, Boston College Law School aptly named its public service loan repayment assistance and forgiveness program in his honor. In 2012, the District Court of East Norfolk--where Mr. Bellotti first practiced--was renamed the Francis X. Bellotti Courthouse. And, in 2017, the United States Navy awarded Mr. Bellotti a trident badge plaque for his leadership as a member of the Scouts and Raiders.

Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct privilege to join Mr. Bellotti's family and friends in recognizing his 100th birthday and to thank him for his service on behalf of a grateful Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in memory of a dedicated and exceptional American patriot, Robert A. ``Muz'' Murray.

Born on September 2, 1935, Robert was a beloved native of South Boston and a resident of Quincy and Hull.

As a middle-school student at St. Brigid School, 12-year-old Robert entered a congressional essay contest entitled, ``America, What it means to me,''--sponsored by Speaker John McCormack of Boston. Fittingly, Robert's impassioned and patriotic entry on the ideals and struggles embodied by our Nation earned the honor of first place--along with a special invitation for Robert to join President Harry Truman for lunch at the White House.

In the enduring spirit of his essay, Robert dedicated each day of his 87 years to personifying the principles and values that he held dear as an American. Inspired by our shared commitment to liberty, democracy, and humanity, Robert devoted his life in service to his country, his community, and his family. As a veteran of the United States Army and a devoted husband, father of three, and grandfather of five, Robert also instilled service and dedication in all that knew him.

Robert Murray passed away peacefully on December 23, 2022. It was at his funeral mass that his 1947 essay was read publicly for the first time, as the closing words offered by his youngest daughter, Erin. Include in the Record Mr. Murray's essay.

America, What it Means to Me

To me, America means homeland. It means my country blessed

beyond all countries with the beauty and natural resources,

with its inland seas and coursing rivers, teeming with food;

its towering mountains, piled high with the riches of the

earth; its fertile fields yielding harvest that might feed

the world; its cities and towns all throbbing with human life

and industry. America means all this but it means much more,

much more than the country's materials wealth and power.

To me, America means the land of liberty--a land whose

democracy, whose ideals of religion, freedom and equality

make it pre-eminent among the nations of the earth. In this

land, my homeland, the land of liberty, every man has the

ownership of himself. He is free to enjoy the results of his

labors, to declare the convictions of his mind, to share in

the making of its laws, and in selecting the rulers of the

nation.

America is the land of the free, where every man, no matter

how lowly, is a free man in the free country, free to enjoy

all its rights and liberties.

To me, America means the struggles, the sufferings, and the

sacrifices, which paid the price of these liberties I enjoy.

It is symbolized by the flag I love--the red, white and

blue flag; its rich red for American patriots' blood; the

white for America's high ideals and purposes; its blue for

the boundless hopes America awakes in humanity. That is what

American means to me.

Mr. Speaker, may Robert Murray's words serve as a great reminder of who we are as a Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in proud recognition of Sheila Meyers, in honor of her distinguished service to the United States Postal Service, the United States Congress, and the American people.

A third-generation postal employee, Sheila began her illustrious postal career in 1979 as a Multi-Position Letter Machine Clerk in Seattle, Washington and subsequently ascended to critical positions in Customer Service, Mailing Requirements, Human Resources, Labor Relations, and ultimately, Government Relations--over 42 remarkable years of public service. Her enduring commitment to serving and advocating in support of our most trusted government institution and its dedicated workforce of more than 650,000 employees stands as a shining testament to the fundamental mission of the Postal Service to ``provide postal services to bind the Nation together'' and provide ``prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas''-- in every American community.

As a longstanding member of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, I can certainly attest to the breadth of experience, knowledge, integrity, and talent that Sheila brought to her position as the Postal Service's principal committee liaison during our consideration of postal reform legislation across several Congresses. To her great credit, both Democratic and Republican Members regularly received substantive agency briefings that significantly informed our understanding of Postal Service operations, services, infrastructure, and finances. I remain grateful for the consideration and insight that Sheila always extended to my office, and I am proud to have relied on her expertise as I joined bipartisan committee leaders in developing and enacting H.R.3076, the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022.

While Sheila may have retired from the Postal Service on April 29, 2022, I am quite certain that her more than four decades of dedication and hard work will be reflected and endure in the agency's service to the American people going forward.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate Sheila on her exceptional career with the United States Postal Service and wish her a happy and blessed retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Michael Taylor of South Boston, who is retiring after a 50-year career in education, government, and human services: A lifelong resident of Boston, Michael has spent his career leading community, city-wide and governmental organizations, and institutions.

Michael's long career in the fields of education, government and human services began with his first assignment as a Community Organizer in the D Street Housing Development followed by his role as Administrative Coordinator at the Condon Community School and culminating in his retirement this past June as President of the Urban College of Boston (UCB).

Michael took on the responsibility as President of UCB at a time when the College was in great financial distress and on the verge of closing. Over the course of his nearly ten-year tenure, Michael built strategic partnerships with businesses and government and community organizations which solidified UCB as an effective and responsive minority serving institution. As President, Michael successfully advocated for the elimination of all student debt through 2021 and at no time during his presidency was tuition raised, helping many students afford their education without the burden of student loans. He also launched a first in the country initiative in which UCB students could become certified clinical research coordinators.

Michael himself graduated from Boston State College before receiving a Master's in Education from Harvard University. Michael served in the administrations of three of Boston's Mayors--Kevin White, Raymond Flynn, and Thomas Menino. Michael also developed a strong partnership with Mayor Martin Walsh which resulted in the development of a new and dynamic UCB campus. Michael is known for his willingness to offer counsel and his efforts to afford opportunities to anyone interested in government and community service. His passion has always been to help others and to better his community.

Michael's love of his community is only exceeded by his love for his family and friends. The son of Irish immigrant parents, Robert and Dora Taylor, Michael grew up in South Boston with his seven siblings: Martha, Doretta, Thomas, Colleen, Roberta, Mark, and Maureen. Michael and his wife Janet are the proud parents of their daughter Sara Taylor, who now resides in North Carolina. Michael is also proud of the role he played in the raising of his stepson Daniel Harlow and his nephew Thomas Taylor.

Although Michael is retiring after five decades in education, government and human services, his impact on the people of the City of Boston will last far longer.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to congratulate Mr. Michael Taylor on his retirement. I join his family and friends in celebrating his many contributions to the City of Boston. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing his many decades of public service.

Mr. Speaker, as a 50-year member of the Massachusetts Building Trades, as former president of the Ironworkers Local 7 in Boston, and as a proud member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure here in Congress, I rise in support of and in acknowledgement of the success and benefits to our States, cities, and towns, of President Biden's transformational Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, better known as the bipartisan infrastructure law.

Signed by President Biden this past November, this landmark legislation continues to provide critical investments in our Nation's infrastructure and transportation systems, including $550 billion in new funding to repair and modernize America's roads, bridges, public transit systems, passenger and freight rail ports, airports, high-speed internet, and water systems.

Importantly, the bipartisan infrastructure law also stands as a testament to what we can accomplish together on behalf of the American people when we set aside partisanship and divisiveness in favor of collaboration toward addressing the most urgent needs of the American people.

In my own State of Massachusetts, the Eighth Congressional District that I represent, we are already putting historic Federal funding delivered by the bipartisan infrastructure law into use.

We have older infrastructure in Massachusetts, especially the city of Boston, the city of Brockton, and the city of Quincy. Over $8.5 billion will be allocated to Massachusetts to support that infrastructure, to rebuild it over the next 5 years.

In fact, this year alone, $2 billion in new Federal funding has been announced for our State to date, including more than $1.7 billion identified for

key transportation and infrastructure projects.

Considering that 472 of our State bridges and more than 1,100 miles of Massachusetts highway has been declared deficient or in poor condition, this funding will not only be used for structural repairs, but also will serve to reinforce our coastal infrastructure against the devastating impacts of climate change.

Our State has already received nearly $190 million in bipartisan infrastructure law funding this year to support lead pipe replacement and other clean and safe water improvements. This funding will be critical to some of our older historic cities, like the city of Brockton, that struggle with toxic chemicals in their water supply.

As it does in all 50 States, the bipartisan infrastructure law has already allocated approximately $534 million this year for Massachusetts to improve our public transportation systems. This funding could not be timelier for the residents of Massachusetts in view of the ongoing safety incidents, operating deficiencies, personnel shortages, and service reductions at the MBTA, one of the oldest transit systems in the country.

Earlier this year, we also broke ground at a new electric bus maintenance facility in Quincy, Massachusetts, that will serve to accommodate a modern electric fleet of MBTA buses and alleviate the carbon footprint of our public transportation that exacerbates the incidence of asthma and respiratory disease.

Just this month, our State delegation joined President Biden at Boston Logan Airport to recognize the $62 million in bipartisan infrastructure law funding that will be used to modernize and increase the climate resilience of our international terminal and its surrounding roadways. That project is expected to create almost 6,000 jobs.

Mr. Speaker, the bipartisan infrastructure law is supporting similar projects and job creation across this great country to the enormous benefit of the American people. It is also, I remind my colleagues, a worthwhile example of what Democrats and Republicans can do here in Congress when we work together.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Waters for her leadership on this and for helping us to get this bill on the floor.

As the proud sponsor of H.R. 310, I rise in strong support of this legislation to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to four heroic Americans killed in the September 11, 2012, terrorist attack against the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya: U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens; U.S. Navy SEAL and CIA security contractor, Glen Doherty; U.S. Navy SEAL and CIA contractor, Tyrone Woods; and U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant, Sean Smith.

At the outset, I would like to thank Chairwoman Waters, Ranking Member McHenry, and Mrs. Wagner of the Financial Services Committee for their bipartisan work in support of H.R. 310. I would also like to recognize the invaluable contributions that were made by our late chairman of the Oversight and Reform Committee, Elijah Cummings. He made contributions to the legislation and to our additional effort to secure full death benefits for the Doherty family of Massachusetts.

Importantly, the advancement of this bill would not be possible without the support of all the family members as well as pro bono counsel from K&L Gates and other stakeholders whose relentless advocacy on behalf of our four fallen heroes is reflective of their sacrifice on behalf of our Nation.

In my home State of Massachusetts, I would like to particularly recognize Mrs. Barbara Doherty and Ms. Kate Quigley, the devoted mother and sister respectively of Navy SEAL Glen Doherty of Winchester, Massachusetts.

I would also like to thank Amy Carnevale and Dennis Porter, two attorneys from K&L Gates, for their steadfast legal support and counsel to guide this legislation, as well as my dear friend, Dan Rea of WBZ News Radio who amplified the story about these four heroes and our efforts over the past 9 years, notably during a time of deep division in this country.

I would like to recognize and thank the nearly 300 bipartisan Members--Democrat, Republican, and Independents--who have joined me to cosponsor this legislation and enable this consideration on the House floor, including my lead Republican cosponsor of H.R. 310, Representative Brian Mast of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, since the American Revolution, Congress has commissioned and bestowed its highest civilian honor--the Congressional Gold Medal, in recognition of distinguished acts of bravery, leadership, and achievement that leave an enduring impact on our American history.

As chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, I firmly believe that there is no legacy more lasting and profound than the bravery and sacrifice of those who have stood in defense of our Nation. In view of the approaching 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack against the U.S. Consulate, the nearby classified annex, and personnel in Benghazi, Libya, it is more than fitting that we bestow the Congressional Gold Medal on these four fallen American heroes who bravely defended our compound and dedicated their lives to patriotic service on behalf of the United States of America.

For over 20 years, Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens served our Nation in the Foreign Service. From his first assignment as a consular and economic officer in Saudi Arabia to his last diplomatic mission in Libya, Ambassador Stevens reflected a genuine commitment to building bridges with our Middle Eastern and North African partners and advancing our most cherished democratic ideals.

During their decades of service as elite U.S. Navy SEALs with tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflict zones, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods perpetually exemplified the

Navy SEAL motto: ``The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday.'' Their continued service as overseas security personnel responsible for the safety of American diplomatic officials was maintained with the highest standards of military excellence.

As a former ground radio maintenance specialist in the U.S. Air Force and a State Department officer, Sean Smith served our Nation with honor and distinction throughout multiple deployments that included Iraq, South Africa, Oman, and Libya.

Mr. Speaker, the commissioning of the Congressional Gold Medal in honor of these four exceptional Americans will appropriately recognize their heroism, bravery, and sacrifice on behalf of a grateful Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 310. Again, I thank Chairwoman Waters for her valued support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of En Bloc 5 to H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which includes my two final amendments to this legislation. These additional provisions will strengthen how we enforce U.S. sanctions and provide the Congress with vital information about the China-Afghan economic relationship.

Amendment No. 561 establishes the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Exchange within OFAC. This voluntary public-private partnership would advance information sharing between law enforcement agencies, national security agencies, financial institutions, and OFAC. It would facilitate sanctions administration and enforcement that target foreign countries and regimes, terrorists, international narcotics traffickers, and other threats to national security, foreign policy, or the U.S. economy. This collaboration will allow for U.S. economic and trade sanctions to be better administered and enforced, and, ultimately, make them more effective.

Amendment No. 562 would require the Secretary of the Treasury to brief the Congress on the identification and analysis of Chinese economic, commercial, and financial connections to Afghanistan which fuel both Chinese and Taliban interests, to include illicit financial networks involved in narcotics trafficking, illicit financial transactions, official corruption, natural resources exploitation, and terrorist networks. Earlier this year, China, among other nations, pledged to deepen its economic and trade ties with Afghanistan through the so-called ``Tunxi Initiative.'' However, China has a history of seeking to increase its influence through development and economic assistance that completely ignores, or even undermines, rule of law, independent civil society, and protection of human rights. After all that the United States has invested and sacrificed in Afghanistan, it is vital that Congress understand the extent of China's connections, and intentions, in Afghanistan so we can respond accordingly.

Once again I would like to express my sincerest thanks to Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, Ranking Member Mike Rogers, and their staffs for including my amendments in this last En Bloc. I would urge all my colleagues to vote in favor of this final En Bloc.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of en bloc amendment number one to H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.

This en bloc amendment includes Lynch amendment number 82 which requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to reimburse our service members and veterans who expended personal funds to evacuate their former translators, interpreters, security contractors, pilots, and other Afghan allies out of the country. In developing this plan, the Secretary would be required to lay out clear eligibility criteria, and to consult with the Secretaries of State and Veterans' Affairs as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations with expertise in supporting the evacuation of our Afghan allies.

Mr. Speaker, it has been nearly one year since the U.S. officially withdrew its forces and diplomatic corps from Afghanistan. In that time, countless military and veteran volunteers have worked tirelessly to evacuate their Afghan colleagues and bring them to safety. These dedicated Americans have often spent significant personal funds, including maxing out credit cards and exhausting military pensions and life savings, to try to save the lives of those who fought and sacrificed alongside our forces, and who now face mortal danger under the Taliban regime. This amendment

honors the dedication of these brave Americans who have shown an unwavering loyalty to those Afghans who worked with us.

I would like to extend my thanks to Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, Ranking Member Mike Rogers, and their staffs for including my amendment in this en bloc and would urge my colleagues on both sides to support it.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of en bloc amendment number two to H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which includes three Lynch amendments that ill strengthen our capacity to find our missing service members, increase contracting transparency, and protect veterans from financial fraud.

Amendment No. 235 is a bipartisan amendment that will support the mission of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). I would like to thank my Republican colleague Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska for joining me in cosponsoring this important amendment that simply clarifies DOD authority with regard to the resources it may use to fulfill its mission. Currently, the DPAA may accept gifts such as personal property, services, and funds to expand its capabilities and bring more of our missing service members home, but not solicit them. Under this amendment DPAA may seek out these additional resources as well. We make a promise to every brave American that we send into combat not to forget them, and we must do everything to ensure that the agency tasked with finding them has access to all the means possible to be able to do so.

Amendment No. 236 reauthorizes the Commission on Wartime Contracting to conduct oversight of U.S. contracting and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and other areas of contingency operations. This Commission has a proven track record of helping reduce waste and fraud in overseas operations contracting. A similar past commission, during its prior iteration from 2008 to 2011, found between $31 billion and $60 billion in U.S. taxpayer funds that were lost due to contract waste, fraud, and abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan. At a time in which all Americans are worried about the state of our economy, their family finances, and what the future may hold, it is vital that we examine how our rebuilding and contract funds were used, and how we can spend more effectively and transparently in the future.

Finally, Madam Speaker, amendment No. 237 would require the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to establish an Interagency Task Force on Financial Fraud to identify, prevent, and combat financial fraud targeting service members, veterans, and military families. Service members, veterans, and their families are nearly 40 percent more likely to lose money to scams and fraud than the civilian population, and four out of five service members and veterans report they have been targeted by scams directly related to their military service or benefits. In total, service members and veterans reported financial losses of $267 million resulting from scams or fraud in 2021. Earlier today, I chaired a hearing in the National Security Subcommittee that examined this very issue. This task force is a necessary first step to understand what makes our military, veterans and their families so vulnerable, what can be done to better protect them, and how we can help make whole those who have been victimized.

I would like to once again extend my thanks to Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, Ranking Member Mike Rogers, and their staffs for including my amendments in this en bloc amendment and would urge all my colleagues to support it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mr. Peter Bonitatibus, who is retiring after a tireless 35-year-long career in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' system of higher education. Born in Quincy, Peter has resided in Whitman for the last 20 years with his wife Margaret and their children Sheila, Danny, Justin, and Mary.

Peter is proud to have spent his entire career working with many outstanding police officers, faculty, and staff in several of Massachusetts's finest public institutions of higher learning. Before his retirement, he was considered the key person for all things technological for the University of Massachusetts Boston's Division of Student Affairs. The group includes over 300 part and full-time employees that encompass Police, General Medicine, Counseling, student care, Housing, Activities, Leadership programs, Multicultural Affairs, and student hunger and housing security matters.

Peter is a tireless advocate on behalf of the people he worked with, often going the extra mile to ensure the health and safety of his beloved community. His incredible attention to detail and technical skill have led his colleagues to dub him the ``Mr. Spock'' of UMass Boston. A badge he wears with honor, as he is a great fan of Star Trek.

Peter began his career in 1986 as a police officer at Framingham State College. He then worked at Bridgewater State College and finally served at UMass Boston, where he was elevated to Sergeant and then hired as UMass Boston's Director of Student Affairs Technology Services. During his career until his recent retirement, Peter has been recognized as a national leader in the security technology profession and served as the Education Chair for the Boston Chapter of ASIS International.

A dedicated family man, Peter and his wife Margaret raised their four beloved children in Whitman. Through his example, his children now work in public service and law enforcement and continue Peter's legacy of giving back to the community and a life of serving others.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Peter's service, thank him, and wish him well in retirement.