Floor Statements

Madam Chair, these last 2 weeks have been historic for financial innovation in Congress. Adoption of SAB 121, the resolution by both Chambers, and bipartisan passage of the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act just yesterday, shows that digital asset policy is no longer a back-burner issue in Congress. It is now front and center, and we are just getting started.

The policies we have recently debated and adopted are in response to an administration that has failed to provide the clarity and guidance the budding digital asset industry in the United States has been begging for.

Because of their failures, Congress has voted to reverse incoherent regulation and establish new standards that will allow our economy to move deeper into the 21st century economy.

Today, we continue these efforts to once again do what this administration has failed to do, and I am proud to have my legislation, the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act, on the floor for a vote.

This bill was the first anti-central bank digital currency legislative effort introduced in the United States, and for the past two Congresses, I have worked with my colleagues to update, improve, and grow support for it.

The bill is simple. It halts the efforts of this administrative state under President Biden from issuing a financial surveillance tool that, if not done correctly, will fundamentally alter the lives of every American.

Unlike decentralized cryptocurrencies, a CBDC is a digital form of sovereign currency that is designed, issued, and monitored by the Federal Government.

It is government controlled, programmable money that, if it is not designed to emulate cash, could give the Federal Government the ability to surveil and restrict Americans' transactions and monitor every aspect of their daily lives.

This is not hyperbole. We have already seen examples of governments developing these types of tools and using them to weaponize their financial systems against their citizens.

In China, the Communist Party employs a CBDC that can be used to monitor citizens' spending habits. Closer to home in the Western Hemisphere, the Canadian Government demonstrated the power of Federal financial surveillance and control when it froze the bank accounts of hundreds of truckers protesting the COVID vaccine mandate in 2022.

It is naive to believe that your government won't weaponize the tools it has to control you, so it shouldn't come as any surprise that the appetite for financial surveillance can be an attractive proposition right here at home.

In 2023, the White House issued an executive order placing an ``urgency'' on CBDC research and development, and the agency reports to that executive order have made it clear that the Biden administration is not only itching to create a CBDC, but they are interested in developing and deploying one, potentially undermining the privacy rights of every one of our citizens. Congress can't allow this to happen.

My bill ensures the United States digital currency policy remains in the hands of the American people, not the administrative state, so that any development of digital money will reflect our American values of privacy, individual sovereignty, and free market competitiveness.

This legislation affirms that if the Federal Government seeks to create a digital version of the U.S. dollar, they can only do that with the explicit authorization of Congress. It doesn't stop them. They can do that, but they have got to get authorization from Congress, and they have got to make it open, permissionless, and private. Whatever is ultimately developed must emulate the core tenets of cash.

Simply put: any digital currency issued by the government, again, must be open, permissionless, and private. It cannot be used in the way the Chinese have deployed their digital yuan to build social credit scores on their citizens based on their purchases and their behavior. These types of tools cannot exist in a free society like ours, and we should only accept a digital currency that is consistent with our values, American values.

This is what the future global digital economy needs. If not open, permissionless, and private, like cash, a CBDC is nothing more than a CCP-style surveillance tool that will ultimately be used to oppress our American way of life.

If China embraces it, you know it is something worth standing against.

We can and will continue to launch our economy deeper into the digital age without jeopardizing who we are as Americans, and this bill is designed to ensure that that happens.

I thank the 165 Members of Congress who have joined as cosponsors of my legislation, in addition to Chairman McHenry, Chairman Hill, Chairman Davidson, and the many others on both sides of the political aisle who have worked tirelessly with me and my team to make sure we keep the United States the beacon of innovation and global economic strength without undermining what makes our Nation so special.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Chair, today we have an opportunity to determine whether the next iteration of the internet will be designed by Americans or if it will, instead, reflect the values of some other nation. FIT21 gives us that opportunity and unlocks a larger conversation beyond innovation.

This bill is about national security. It is about consumer protection. It is about global competitiveness. It is about shaping what the future global digital economy looks like and how it functions.

Currently, all online transactions are intermediated, but as we move deeper into the digital age, digital assets are key to decentralizing the internet so Americans can transact directly with each other, no intermediary needed.

Without crypto, we don't have this ability, and I think giving Americans the choice to do business through an intermediary or directly with each other is important. Having that choice will fundamentally alter the digital economy, unlocking new opportunities for Americans and individuals across the world in ways we haven't even begun to contemplate.

However, this Congress can no longer stand by as regulators squander this opportunity right within our grasp. This administration has demonstrated they simply are not willing to allow the digital asset industry to innovate in the United States. For every legal inconsistency or regulatory hurdle they produce, instead of coherent and informed guidance, they drive American digital asset users into less safe jurisdictions.

Mr. Chair, this is why FIT21 is significant. It sets clear and consistent rules for American innovators. Among the many important provisions in this bill is my Securities Clarity Act, bipartisan language tailored specifically to digital assets that provides the legal flexibility for a digital asset project to transition from centralization to decentralization.

This transition is critical to the future of the peer-to-peer digital economy. I thank the chairmen and my friends on the other side of the aisle for working with me to incorporate this section into the bill today. Their work on this extensive framework will allow Americans to, once again, lead the way.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a man whose service and leadership have left a lasting mark on everyone he's worked with throughout his career. Brian Newman is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of UPS, he recently announced he will depart in June after having served the company for five pivotal years.

The United Parcel Service, commonly referred to as UPS, operates in over 200 countries and territories, with 500,000 employees globally, including nearly 7,000 in the state of Minnesota. Each day, 22.3 million packages and documents make their way through the UPS network.

Hockey players thrive under pressure, rely on their teammates, and appreciate the rewards of hard work, dedication, focus and discipline. Brian, a fellow ice hockey player and fan, embodies the hockey ethic.

Brian began his career in 1990 as an investment banker working for PaineWebber in New York City. He then spent 26 years with PepsiCo and served in a variety of finance leadership roles spanning Europe, Asia, and North and South America. He also served as Executive Vice-President for PepsiCo's Global Operations and as Chief Strategy Officer.

During his five-year tenure as UPS's Chief Financial Officer, Brian navigated the company through some challenging situations. Under his leadership, Brian delivered results that supported employees, customers and communities. His list of accomplishments during just five years with UPS is impactful, and his leadership through the COVID-l9 pandemic cannot be overstated. He has left an indelible mark on UPS's people.

Brian is an effective executive and financial expert, always ensuring his people, investors and shareholders understand the complexities of UPS's financial standing. He is a trusted advisor to his peers, a leader for UPS employees around the world, and a member of UPS's executive leadership team. Brian embodies UPS's purpose statement of moving our world forward by delivering what matters.

Brian also serves on the board of Colgate-Palmolive as well as his alma mater, Georgetown University and Delbarton School. A native of New Jersey, he still considers the tri-state area his home.

I know Brian will be missed by all who had the opportunity to work with him throughout his impressive career. His positive impact on UPS will continue to be felt for years to come. We all wish Brian, his wife, Lynne, and their children, Kendall, Shay, Conor and Finley, the best as they begin the journey ahead of them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the exceptional service and dedication of Sherburne County Veterans Service Officer, Bruce Price.

Throughout his career, Bruce has exemplified the highest levels of selflessness and commitment when working with our veterans. His 24 years of active-duty service in the U.S. Army, combined with his years of service at the county, state, and federal level, demonstrates his true dedication to our country.

Over the past 9 years, Bruce has served as the Veterans Service Officer for Sherburne. In this role, he has worked tirelessly on behalf of our veterans and their families, helping to ensure they receive the benefits and care they have earned. Through this role, Bruce worked with my office to participate in our Veterans' Resource Fair in Elk River in March 2024. Despite it being the worst day of winter in 2024, Bruce showed up to support the 20 veterans who attended. His compassion and advocacy have made a lasting impact on the lives of countless veterans in our community.

Bruce and his team go above and beyond for our veterans. Every year, see 3,000 individuals and field more than 20,000 calls from veterans having trouble or seeking resources. Bruce is a hero, thankfully that fact was recognized by the International City/County Management with the Life, Well Run Community Hero Award for his outstanding service to others.

He has been an incredible friend to the veterans and military families of Sherburne County and to our office. While his service will be missed by all of us, we are deeply grateful for his contributions to our Nation and our veteran community.

I thank Bruce for his service to his fellow veterans and their families, the State of Minnesota, and our Nation. We wish him the best in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated public servant, Sherburne County Auditor-Treasurer Diane Arnold. After 34 years of service to the county, the last 17 of which as Auditor- Teasurer, Diane is retiring this July.

Throughout her tenure as Auditor-Treasurer, Diane has overseen financial operations in Sherburne County, ensuring the responsible and efficient management of taxpayer funds. Diane's dedication to transparency and accountability has earned her the respect and trust of her coworkers and constituents.

In her role as County Auditor/Treasurer, Diane managed the county's investments and checking account, administered elections, issued driver's licenses and collected and computed taxes for individuals throughout Sherburne County.

Her achievements extend beyond her official role as Sherburne County Auditor-Treasurer. Diane is a World Champion and Reserve World Champion with her horses and is an active member of the Sherburne County community.

We would like to thank Diane for the profound impact she has had on Sherburne County and hope she enjoys her well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Superior National Forest Restoration Act.

For the last 3 years, the domestic mining industry in Minnesota and around the country has been under assault. Mining supports good-paying jobs, and it is critical to our economy and national security. However, rather than putting Minnesota miners to work, those opposing this legislation would rather rely on China and Russia to supply our critical materials making us less secure and causing greater environmental harm.

This bill strengthens Minnesota's economy while promoting a safe and clean energy supply. I thank Congressman Stauber for his relentless work on this issue, and I urge all of my colleagues to support his bill.

Mr. Speaker, one of the greatest hockey coaches of all time, Herb Brooks, once said: ``Let me start with issuing you a challenge: Be better than you are. Set a goal that seems unattainable, and when you reach that goal, set another one even higher.''

I can think of few people who have consistently risen to that challenge better than our floor director, David Planning.

As the head of our whip operation for the last 1\1/2\ years, David has played an integral part in making sure our House Republican majority delivers on our agenda for the American people, and with the slimmest majority in history, who only controls barely one-half of one- third of the government, making sure we get our priorities across the finish line is no easy feat.

However, in large part, thanks to David's grit, professionalism, and insatiable desire to win, House Republicans have been able to pass signature pieces of legislation that much larger majorities could not.

Nevertheless, it is not just David's fierce competitiveness that makes him great. It is the intentional relationships he has created with people across every sector of our Conference. It is the steadiness he exudes no matter how high the stakes, and it is his positivity that not only makes him a winner, but makes him an incredible teammate.

Competitor, winner, teammate--those are the words that come to mind when I think about David Planning. Although we are quite sad for him to leave us as he moves on to another career opportunity at the end of the month, I have no doubt that those characteristics will continue to carry him far.

David, thank you for your service, not just to our office, but for our entire House Republican Conference. Thank you for your steadfast commitment to our commonsense conservative agenda. Thank you for giving up so many nights, weekends, and holidays to make sure that our Conference is successful in our mission to counteract Joe Biden and the Democrats' failed agenda.

Mr. Speaker, most importantly, I thank him for his friendship and the incredible memories that we are going to have from the last 15 months. May he never stop setting and reaching his goals. We cannot wait to see how he excels outside the Halls of Congress, and we wish him nothing but the best in his next chapter.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Andrew Heger, who was recently sworn in as the Chief of the Chanhassen Fire Department.

Andrew began his career as a firefighter in 2001 in his hometown of Victoria, and after 15 years of service to the department became the city's first full-time fire chief. But after more than two decades of service with the Victoria Fire Department, Chief Heger was ready for a new challenge.

When he got the offer to serve as the Chief of the Chanhassen Fire Department, Andrew jumped at the opportunity. Chief Heger was officially sworn in as Chief earlier this month and will be leading a crew of 26 paid-on-call and 10 full-time firefighters.

Being a firefighter isn't just a job, it's a calling. It's about being there for people when they need help the most, whether it's a fire, a medical emergency, or just lending a helping hand.

For over two decades, Chief Heger has served communities in Carver County with dedication and bravery. Chanhassen is fortunate to have such a qualified and experienced leader at the helm of its fire department. I have every confidence that Chief Heger will continue to build upon the department's strong foundation and work to ensure the safety of the Chanhassen community for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Paul Elmstrand.

Paul, an officer with the Burnsville Police Department, was killed earlier this month in the line of duty alongside Officer Matthew Ruge and firefighter-paramedic Adam Finseth.

Paul lived in Chaska, but his story began in Isanti County. As senior class president and a member of the law enforcement club, he impressed his classmates with his strong character of ethical integrity, his generosity, and his sense of humor.

Among those classmates was his wife, Cindy, who he met in kindergarten and began dating in high school. Together, they shared two children, a 2-year-old and a 5-month-old.

At 27 years old, his life was cut tragically short. Paul, Matthew, and Adam were killed trying to save seven children barricaded in a Burnsville home with an armed man, an act of heroism and sacrifice beyond measure.

We were privileged to have Paul as a member of our community and as a neighbor and a friend. To Cindy and his children and all who loved him, Paul will never be forgotten, nor will Matthew or Adam.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 11.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Stella Huso ahead of her upcoming milestone birthday. January 8 marks Stella's 105th birthday, making her the oldest Gold Star Mother on record. Stella's story is one of resilience, patriotism, and unwavering dedication to her family and country.

Born in 1919, Stella has seen more than most of us can imagine, from the Great Depression and World War II to the Cuban Missile Crisis and Apollo 11 mission. Through it all, Stella has remained a pillar of strength for her family and community and channeled her energy into activism.

After losing her son Wayde to an enemy artillery shell in Vietnam, Stella became a relentless advocate for our Nation's veterans and their families. She has offered solace and support to countless military families in their darkest moments.

Stella has been a dedicated community activist in her hometown of Big Lake. She taught Sunday School at her church, and eventually became the Sunday School Superintendent. Stella was also involved in local politics and served as caucus convener for the Big Lake area.

Stella is a true patriot. She has written letters to the editor advocating for respect of our nation's flag and the Pledge of Allegiance and remains one of the most active members of the Big Lake and Buffalo American Legion Auxiliaries.

As she marks her 105th birthday, let us celebrate Stella and her incredible life. We hope that her activism and strength will inspire generations of Minnesotans yet to come.

Mr. Speaker, no one has worked harder to help House Republicans win back the majority and deliver on our conservative, commonsense agenda than Kevin McCarthy.

As the son of a firefighter, Kevin learned the values of grit, determination, and courage early in life. Throughout his years here in Washington as a Congressman, whip, majority leader, and our 55th Speaker of the House, it was those values that made

him one of the most fierce fighters for Republican priorities ever.

I had the privilege of serving on Kevin's leadership team this Congress. I have seen him work tirelessly to ensure House Republicans delivered on our promises to the American people. I have seen him listen to and work with Members across every sector of our Conference to bring forward viable solutions. I have seen him do the right thing, no matter the cost. He truly believes in the greatness of this country and this institution.

I will be brutally honest. I usually am. It was hard to watch as things played out the way they did. Kevin McCarthy did not deserve any of that treatment, but no matter what, he has always risen above the fold, handled every situation with grace, and put whatever is in the best interests of America first.

I thank Kevin for his leadership. It has been an honor to serve alongside him. Jacquie and I are rooting for him always, and we wish him nothing but the best in whatever comes next.

Mr. Speaker, I missed votes on Monday, December 11, 2023.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 707; YEA on Roll Call No. 708; and YEA on Roll Call No. 709.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor U.S. Air Force Major Jeff Hoernemann of Andover, Minnesota. Jeff lost his life last week along with seven other airmen during a routine training mission off the coast of Japan. He was just 32 years old.

Throughout his life, Jeff had a competitive spirit and was uniquely disciplined. A graduate of Andover High School, Jeff broke school and conference records in the indoor 800 meters and the 4 x 800-meter relay.

As a teenager, he won a $15,000 scholarship with an essay describing his careful budgeting to purchase a bike for triathlons.

After competing in cross country and earning a degree in mechanical engineering from North Dakota State University, Jeff entered the Air Force. In 2016, he became a pilot after completing Columbus Air Force Base's Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training class.

Jeff dedicated his life to service and made the ultimate sacrifice. Today, across the city of Andover, the State of Minnesota, and this country, we honor his life and preserve his memory. Our prayers are with Jeff's wife, Jess; his parents, Thomas and Catherine; and his brother, Jared.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dan Glessing, who was recently re-elected as President of the Minnesota Farm Bureau.

Dan is a leader in the agriculture community. Since he was first elected in November 2021, Dan has been a steadfast advocate for Minnesota farmers and ranchers and has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities they face. Dan also serves as a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors, where he has brought national attention to Minnesota agriculture.

Under Dan's leadership, the Minnesota Farm Bureau has grown in both strength and influence. He has built key partnerships between Minnesota's farmers, the Farm Bureau, and others including leaders in our nation's capital, to ensure that our state's producers have the resources they need to succeed. His input is invaluable, especially as we craft this year's farm bill.

As a dairy and crop farmer in Wright County and a lifelong member of the Minnesota Farm Bureau, Dan and the Glessing family have been strong voices in support of our local producers and the future of agriculture in Minnesota. While Dan leads the farmers of today, his wife, Seena, is working to educate the next generation of agriculture producers as a teacher in the Howard Lake, Waverly, Winstead school district. After having the opportunity to visit the Glessing farm and meet Dan and Seena, I can confidently say that the Minnesota agriculture community is in excellent hands under their leadership.

We are grateful for Dan's service to the Minnesota Farm Bureau and to agriculture producers across the state. I am confident that he will continue to be a strong voice for our farmers and ranchers for years to come.