Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Chris Walsh, who tragically lost his long fight against cancer on January 24, 2022. Chris was a dear friend to all, a devoted husband, a father to two beautiful young girls, a Cal State Fullerton graduate, and hardworking public servant who served the 74th Assembly District of California in Assemblyman Matt Harper's office, the city of Irvine in Councilman Mike Carroll's office, and most recently California's 39th District in my Placentia district office.

While we remain heartbroken that he was taken from us way too soon, all of us who had the pleasure of knowing him remain inspired by his courage, persistence, and integrity in the face of the worst adversity.

I first met Chris when he was a young, impressive, and ambitious young man interning at the office of Congressman Ed Royce, who I was working for at the time. At the age of 25, he found out that he was diagnosed with a terminal cancer and was told by doctors that perhaps he would maybe have only 2 months to live.

This is daunting news for anyone to hear. However, instead of letting this change the course of his life, he took charge and defied the odds over the next several years, having a productive career, meeting his beautiful wife, Amanda, and having two girls.

Chris was gracious to everyone and lit up every room with his kindness, sense of humor, and charisma. He was always willing to pitch in and help out our team, his friends, and loved ones. He made all of us work harder and brought out the best versions of each of us every day. Without Chris, I would not be here in Congress nor would I be the person that I am today.

Chris would often spend his evenings after work cheering on our Anaheim Angels, and I am comforted in knowing that his loved ones, including his wife, Amanda, and daughters, Amelia and Madeline, will have their guardian angel watching over and protecting them.

Amanda, you know that Chris loved you with all his heart, mind, and soul until he took his last breath. You were the light of his life, and he enjoyed talking about you and your beautiful two girls that you created together. You were his everything, and I want to thank you for loving him the way you did, giving him unconditional love.

Crystal and Mike, as a parent and mom, I feel your pain and the sadness of losing a son. And to Katherine, I am sorry that you lost the only sibling that you had. I want you to know that Chris was not just someone who worked for me. I, too, loved him like my own son.

Crystal, I remember you telling me that minutes after Chris passed how you were holding his hand and praying to God to show you some signs that he would be fine, and you thought you saw Chris smile. Yes, I believe that was a true sign that Chris was smiling because he has arrived at the gate of Heaven, and he is now resting comfortably in the arms of Jesus.

My heart remains with the Walsh family, friends, and relatives as we continue to mourn a life that was taken from us too soon. We are grateful for the positive influence that Chris had on so many of us while he lived a full and productive life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my community in celebrating Lunar New Year.

Madam Speaker, 2022 is the year of the Tiger, which represents, strength, passion, bravery, and courage. These are qualities we have seen in our communities every day.

While this past year brought new challenges, I know through the strength and drive of the Tiger, we will face these challenges head-on. And as someone who was born in the year of the Tiger and as a proud Tiger mom, my hope is to embody this courage and persistence every day as I fight for communities to receive the proper services and support that we need to come back stronger than ever.

In Congress, I will continue to promote policies to help Americans succeed and achieve their dream.

Happy New Year.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my esteemed colleague from Minnesota for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the rule and the underlying legislation, the so-called America COMPETES Act.

I have worked tirelessly with my colleagues to produce thoughtful, bipartisan STEM bills that could have been considered through a committee conference tomorrow. Instead of working on a comprehensive and bipartisan strategy to counter the CCP, Speaker Pelosi released a bill that was written behind closed doors less than a week ago that is nearly 3,000 pages and mentions, as you have heard over and over from my colleagues, the words ``coral reefs'' more than the word ``China.''

The bill also puts $8 billion in a U.N. climate slush fund that we have zero oversight over and that China has already taken $100 million from.

The CCP's goal is to become the world's top economic superpower by the year 2025 and has made clear that their goal is to surpass the United States in science and technology. The reality is that they are winning. They are outspending us on research and development. They are producing more STEM graduates than us. And by 2025, they will graduate twice as many STEM Ph.D.s as we do.

The way to ensure future United States leadership and counter China is by working together, not by ramming partisan bills through Congress.

The CCP is watching us. Speaker Pelosi's concedes act plays right into our adversaries' hands.

Madam Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote.

Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Johnson for yielding.

Madam Speaker, 1 year ago, I joined several of my colleagues-- especially the freshman Republican colleagues--in a letter to President Biden showing our willingness to work with him on behalf of the American people and to bridge the partisan gridlock, because our President's success is our Nation's success.

While I am proud that 1 year later I have been able to get 12 bipartisan bills out of the House and four signed into law, I am disappointed that the policies from the Biden administration encourage more division, more Federal spending, and more crises hurting American workers, families, and small businesses as we continue through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Inflation is at a 40-year high, driving up prices everywhere from the grocery store to prices at the gas pump. We have record high numbers of migrants and illicit drugs at our southern border

straining our resources and empowering drug cartels. Our disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers, and we still have left the lives of Americans and our allies and military arsenal in the hands of the Taliban.

In the latest edition of partisan politics last week, one of my bipartisan bills was taken over and instead became over 700 pages of nationalizing elections and letting public funds be used for political campaigns.

I will keep working through this gridlock, sticking to my conservative policies and principles and fighting back against Big Government and big spending policies.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5746, the NASA Enhanced Use Leasing Extension Act. This is a bipartisan bill I was proud to colead with Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chair Beyer, Ranking Member Babin, and Representative Troy Carter.

H.R. 5746 would allow NASA to continue leasing any underutilized, non-excess property owned by the Federal Government to private-sector entities, State and local governments, academic institutions, and other agencies involved in the research, development, and deployment of space innovation.

We need an all-hands-on-deck approach to help the U.S. lead the global space race for innovation and the development of new technologies, and this legislation aims to do exactly that. I am proud to support H.R. 5746, those on the front lines of space innovation, and aerospace manufacturers in southern California that create the tools for the United States to continue reaching new heights.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5746.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Johnson for yielding, and I thank him for his passion to address the supply shipping crisis that we are facing in our Nation today.

I, too, rise today in strong support of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021. This is a bipartisan bill I was proud to cosponsor that would help address the container ship bottlenecks at the San Pedro Complex, which includes the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in southern California near my district, California's 39th Congressional District.

While this bill is not a silver bullet to resolving all of our supply chain issues like major labor shortages and warehouses overcapacity, it does take meaningful steps to address uncompetitive practices by some ocean carriers.

H.R. 4996 provides the Federal Maritime Commission with more tools to address practices that discriminate against U.S. exporters, importers, truckers, and other players in our supply chain.

Bottlenecks at the San Pedro Complex continue to cause supply disruptions that are raising prices for workers, families, and small businesses and hurts the ability of our manufacturers and farmers to export goods overseas.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4996.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to join the Chino Hills community of the 39th District in California in celebrating its 30th birthday and honoring its rich history, natural beauty, and wonderful people.

From Chino Hills State Park to excellent schools and a vibrant small business community, Chino Hills is a great place to live and visit.

We honor our community's past; we recognize the more than 82,000 residents contributing to our history, culture, and economy each day; and we commit to working together to ensure Chino Hills continues to prosper for future generations.

I am honored to represent Chino Hills in Congress and will do all I can to ensure our community continues to thrive for many generations to come.

Happy birthday, Chino Hills.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our 13 fallen servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of Americans and allies in Afghanistan at the Kabul Airport at the end of August.

These brave men and women, including southern California marines Lance Corporal Dylan Merola, Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, and Corporal Hunter Lopez, were young--many in their twenties--and incredibly brave. They valiantly put their lives on the line for others. Their courage and heroism in the face of danger will never be forgotten.

I am proud that the House of Representatives came together to honor their memory and posthumously award these fallen heroes a well-deserved Congressional Gold Medal.

Mr. Speaker, we remember their names and their stories always, and we continue to rally with our new Gold Star families.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Ranking Member Luetkemeyer and Chairwoman Velazquez for their leadership in bringing these bipartisan pieces of legislation to the House floor for votes today.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 3462, the SBA Cyber Awareness Act. This is a bill I have had the pleasure to co-lead with my colleague, Representative Jason Crow of Colorado, to improve the Small Business Administration's transparency and alert mechanisms when a cyberattack or intrusion takes place.

Under the legislation, the SBA will be required to conduct an annual assessment of IT equipment and cybersecurity capabilities and provide Congress with a detailed account of any cybersecurity risk of SBA equipment that was primarily manufactured in the People's Republic of China. Additionally, under this bill, the legislation directs the SBA Administrator to notify Congress and small businesses of a cyberattack within 30 days after the SBA decides that it was subject to a cyber hack.

Fifty percent of small businesses with 500 or less employees say it is very likely that they will experience a cyberattack in the next 12 months, and 1 in 4 are experiencing more cyberattacks compared to a year ago. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the SBA handled a record number of loans and services to help small businesses in need. With that came a higher number of sensitive personal and business information that was handled by the Federal Government.

We must ensure entrepreneurs and small business owners have the confidence that the SBA has the IT capabilities and tools to keep their information safe from cyberattacks. This bill, H.R. 3462, is an important step in doing just that.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 3462.

Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Luetkemeyer for yielding and arranging this very timely Special Order to discuss how taxes, increasing prices, and the reduced workforce pool are impacting our Main Street USA, which is the true backbone of our economy.

I represent California's 39th Congressional District, which lays in the tri-county area of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties. I have the pleasure to represent one of the most diverse districts in the country that has a very vigorous entrepreneurial spirit. Unfortunately, it has been trampled down by unclear guidelines on lockdowns, increased red tape, labor shortages, high inflation, and, now, a supply chain crisis.

Mr. Luetkemeyer knows very well that a big threat is looming in the horizon in the form of increased taxes and burdensome regulations through the partisan reconciliation process.

Instead of working with us to tackle the issues impacting small business owners and workers, this administration and this House majority are looking to add more fuel to the fire with fiscal expansionary measures at a time when economic analysts say that we could see inflation above 3 percent well into 2022. This is a run on inflation not seen since the early 1990s.

In my home State of California, parts of the State recorded their highest average gas prices ever last Friday. Some places are recording close to $6 per gallon. This is all taking place when some of our colleagues in the majority are calling for a total domestic ban on gas and oil production, which would undeniably increase prices for all goods and services.

To add insult to injury, California recently released its jobs report showing the highest unemployment rate in the Nation, and unemployment claims keep increasing.

So let's ask ourselves: Why is California seeing an uptick in unemployment claims when NFIB is reporting over half of small businesses have job openings they cannot fill? Why is California seeing a record number of job creators leaving to establish their businesses in other States? The answer is very simple. Many are tired of Sacramento punishing entrepreneurial ventures through some of the highest taxes in the country and burdensome regulations.

Let's learn from the mistakes enacted in California and instead work to empower entrepreneurs, job creators, and Main Street. Let's get back to the path of prosperity, where we are not punishing success, and we make it easier for individuals and families to establish small businesses and serve the communities that we all love.

I want to thank, again, Ranking Member Luetkemeyer for his leadership on our Small Business Committee and for being a fearless advocate for Main Street USA and entrepreneurs all across the country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember our 13 fallen servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of Americans and our allies in Afghanistan.

These brave men and women--including southern California marines Lance Corporal Dylan Merola, Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, and Corporal Hunter Lopez--were young, many in their 20s and incredibly brave, valiantly putting their lives on the line for others.

Their valiant efforts, courage, and heroism in the face of danger will never be forgotten.

We remember their names and their stories always, and we rally with our new Gold Star families.

My heart is also with our wounded soldiers, including Marine Corporal David Nick Traylor from La Habra in my 39th Congressional District. Thankfully, he is safe and is in good care. I am praying for safety for them and their loved ones.

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

I rise in support of the bill to amend the Fentanyl Sanctions Act. Across our Nation, Americans are increasingly becoming exposed to the impact of the illicit distribution of fentanyl. Our local news is reporting on another overdose caused by a lethal dose of illicit fentanyl with increased frequency. This synthetic opioid is making its toxic presence known in our communities.

Fentanyl is similar to morphine but almost 100 times more potent. It is manufactured at a low cost in labs overseas, primarily in China. It is then smuggled into the United States through Mexico.

In cases of overdose, the individual is not aware that it contains a lethal dose until it is too late.

This body recognizes that the People's Republic of China is failing to effectively regulate and implement illicit trafficking of fentanyl.

In December 2019, we called for the establishment of the Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking. Specifically, this Commission was designed to work with the executive branch in developing a consensus on a strategic approach to combating the flow of synthetic opioids into the United States.

The underlying bill recognizes the importance of this Commission and the work that is still needed.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, as noted, the battle we wage against the illicit distribution of fentanyl is ongoing. Extending the time allows the Commission to provide us a better understanding of the challenges we face and includes a strategy to address it. The valuable work of this Commission is critical to addressing this poison in our Nation.

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

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

I rise today in support of the War Crimes Rewards Expansion Act.

Sadly, we live in a world where crimes against humanity still occur. We have seen three declared genocides in just the last 20 years: in Darfur in 2004, by ISIS in 2016, and the one in Xinjiang that was formally declared by Secretary Mike Pompeo before he left office earlier this year.

We have, of course, also seen the horrific ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya in Burma. We have seen atrocities committed by Assad against his own people in Syria.

But bringing the criminals behind these massacres to justice can be difficult. That is why, 35 years ago, we enacted the State Department rewards program. It authorizes the Secretary of State to offer rewards for the arrest or conviction of some of the most dangerous people in the world.

Originally written to be used against international terrorists, this successful program has since been expanded to include drug traffickers, war criminals, and perpetrators of genocide.

As the world changes and as international criminals evolve, we need to make sure this important program evolves with them.

That is why I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the War Crimes Rewards Expansion Act. This bill makes clear that these rewards are not just meant to support international tribunals. They can also be used to bring these dangerous criminals to justice here in the United States under United States law.

I want to thank the author of the bill, the gentlewoman from North Carolina, Dr. Virginia Foxx, for her work on this bill.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Libya Stabilization Act.

After years of civil war and violence, there are finally glimmers of optimism in Libya. Elections are scheduled for December. We hope these elections will help Libya continue on the path to democracy.

Unfortunately, as we have seen many times in this conflict, there is still the possibility that spoilers could upend this peace process.

We need to incentivize all parties to embrace a productive political track to establish stable governance in Libya and end the violence. That is the purpose of the legislation before us today.

Under this bill, if individuals are threatening the peace, security, and stability of Libya, they will be subject to sanctions.

Throughout this conflict, violent militias and foreign actors have threatened Libya and its citizens.

Russia is using the chaos in Libya to its advantage. As AFRICOM publicized last year, Russia deployed high-performance fighter aircraft to Libya.

Through this bill, we are turning up the pressure to ensure that Russia and other unhelpful foreign actors withdraw from Libya and to incentivize Libyan actors to support the emerging political process and a peaceful future for the people of Libya.

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

Madam Speaker, in closing, I want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) for their leadership on this bill, and I urge all Members to support this legislation.

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