Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Mr. Joe Sutton and Mr. Robert Marling, two long term friends who have emulated the important values of true friendship.

They will always cherish their friendly bets, usually paid in full in the form of 1 dollar bills, for their countless rounds of golf. And even more so, they will cherish the everlasting memories that they've formed together over the years.

Through their friendship, Robert and Joe are both found to be philanthropic spirited and humble individuals, stewards of their communities, and serve as role models for many.

Robert is smart, kindhearted, community-minded, and a great entrepreneur and mentor. He has been a major supporter of the American Heart Association, United Way, and dozens of other major charities.

Joe proudly served in the U.S. Army and retired at the rank of Colonel. During his time in the Army, he held numerous command assignments in armor and aviation, served 2 tours of duty in the Pentagon and was an Army Ranger. Joe authored a children's book and has donated the proceeds from the book to ``Children at Risk'' focused on fighting child trafficking. It is my sincerest hope that their friendship continues to be a role model for others to see and learn from. In the world we find ourselves living in today, I can think of nothing better than to celebrate friends that truly last a lifetime.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8665, the National Archives and Records Administration Modernization Act, offered by Mr. Khanna and myself.

The National Archives and Records Administration plays an important role in securing our Nation's history for future generations.

This simple legislation updates Archive's authoring law to ensure that the Archivist is not referred to solely as a male.

This makes sense, since our current Acting Archivist, Debra Wall, is a female.

To date, there have been three female Archivists, yet there are several instances where title 44 still refers to the Archivist as a man.

Although the code, as written, does not preclude a woman from serving as the Archivist, these changes would update outdated language in title 44 and modernize our Federal code to make it more uniform across the board.

Replacing this outdated language in our Federal code is the very least we can do to acknowledge the valuable contributions of thousands who have worked at NARA since its creation in 1934--and the thousands more who will work there in the years to come.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan, straightforward correction of the law, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, as we wind down the 117th Congress, I am glad to be here supporting final passage of the Quantum Computer Cybersecurity Preparedness Act, a bipartisan bill the House sent to the Senate just this past July.

After the Senate made technical, perfecting edits, we are here today to consider sending H.R. 7535 to the President.

As an emerging technology, quantum computing holds great promise and potential peril for our Nation.

While the technology continues to rapidly develop with potential to improve computing capabilities for American research in the economy, there is a clear risk that foreign adversaries, like China, will be using this technology for malicious purposes.

One such risk is that our foreign adversaries may use the first quantum computers to unlock data that has already been stolen from U.S. Federal agencies.

Current data encryption methods are nearly impossible to decrypt with today's computing capabilities.

However, mature quantum computing systems could unlock our most sensitive information. This is a clear national security threat.

The Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act will require a government-wide strategy to better secure valuable government data.

While the Federal Government already has initiatives underway to address these emerging threats--such as a recent Presidential national security directive--H.R. 7535 makes this a clear congressional priority.

Advancing a strategic approach to evaluating quantum computing risks to Federal IT and network cybersecurity is important given the significant potential risk to our public-sector data.

Madam Speaker, I thank my House Oversight Committee colleagues, Representatives Ro Khanna and Nancy

Mace, for their work on this important bill.

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

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from South Carolina (Ms. Mace).

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill that addresses an emerging national security issue, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5349, which honors J.I. Washington III, a significant figure within the South Carolina Democratic Party.

J.I. advocated for more equitable participation and leadership for Black American politicians. He also had a crucial role in moving Black Americans into the political arena in Orangeburg County, and many in the county and State viewed Mr. Washington as the glue that held the different factions of the party together.

Outside of politics, he was known for his poultry farm and his work on the South Carolina State University board of trustees and in the

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5949, which honors Judge James Perez, the first Latino judge appointed in Orange County, California.

Judge Perez grew up in Orange County, where he attended Santa Ana High School and worked in the tomato fields until he was drafted into World War II.

During the war, he served in the Army Air Corps as a technical sergeant.

After the war, he enrolled at the University of Southern California and received a bachelor's degree and a law degree.

In December 1966, he was appointed judge of the Orange County Municipal Court. Nine years later, he was elevated to the Orange County Superior Court. He remained on the superior court for 11 years until 1987.

Judge Perez dedicated his life to the law and his community, and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill honoring a local public servant and a World War II veteran.

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

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

Madam Speaker, this bill simply changes the address of the Marilyn Monroe Post Office in Van Nuys, California, which Congress named in 2019.

Marilyn Monroe grew up in Van Nuys and attended Van Nuys High School. The neighborhood held a special place in her heart. She said it was a source of joy and allowed her to escape from her turbulent childhood, so it is appropriate that a post office there be named for her.

I encourage my colleagues to support this bill honoring an American icon, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, Esteban E. Torres was a Korean war veteran, antipoverty activist, and Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 1999. He was introduced to politics after becoming involved in the local branch of the United Auto Workers union.

When he was elected to the U.S. House, he was assigned to the Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs and the Committee on Small Business. He also later served on the Committee on Appropriations.

As a former autoworker with ties to the Hispanic community, Mr. Torres is credited with having served a key role in crafting the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada. He passed away on January 25, 2022.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7873, which honors all servicemembers and veterans who reside in the District of Columbia.

There are approximately 31,000 veterans who currently live in the District and more than 200,000 D.C. residents who have served in the military since World War I.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill honoring American patriots from the Nation's capital city, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7988, which honors Corporal Hunter Lopez.

Corporal Lopez was born in Palm Springs, California, to parents who were employed by the Riverside County Sheriff. He grew up to join the U.S. Marine Corps.

His first 3 years were spent with the Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Company A, 5th Platoon. His fourth and final year in the Marines was spent with the 2nd Battalion 1st Marine Division, Golf Company, 1st Platoon, 3rd Squad.

It was just last year, while serving with the 2nd Battalion, that Corporal Lopez was involved in Operation Allies Refuge, which involved the evacuation of 120,000 of our fellow Americans, allies, and Afghans from Afghanistan.

On August 26, 2021, Corporal Lopez was stationed at the Kabul airport, where crowds were growing increasingly desperate. Corporal Lopez spotted two young girls trapped under the weight of a fleeing crowd, about to be crushed. He helped pull the two girls to safety right as a bomb exploded at Abbey Gate.

Corporal Lopez and 12 other servicemembers were tragically killed that day.

I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this bill honoring a war hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for those abroad who yearned to enjoy the freedoms and liberty we all cherish in America.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7519, which honors Dr. Ezra S. Parke, the former postmaster of Bloomfield Township, Michigan.

Dr. Parke was an early resident of Bloomfield Township, moving there in 1822, and serving as the area's first local postmaster, from 1824 until 1836. Simultaneously, he served as Bloomfield Township's first clerk, a position he maintained until 1844.

It is fitting that a post office be named for Dr. Parke, a dedicated local public servant. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 8026, which honors Charles W. Lindberg, a highly decorated Marine Corps corporal who fought in World War II and raised the first American flag over Iwo Jima.

Most people are unaware that there were actually two American flags raised at Iwo Jima. The famous Associated Press photo that we are all familiar with, the picture that is depicted at the Marine Corps War Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, was actually the second flag raised.

Corporal Lindberg raised the first flag alongside five other marines on the morning of February 23, 1945, after fighting their way up Mount Suribachi.

Corporal Lindberg spent decades explaining that his patrol, not the patrol shown in the famous Associated Press photo, raised the American flag over the island.

After World War II, Corporal Lindberg was awarded a Purple Heart.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill honoring an American war hero. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8226, which honors Officer Leo Pavlak, who was killed during a robbery in South St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1933.

He had been escorting two employees for Stockyards National Bank as they went to the train station to pick up

their payroll, which had been shipped from a Minneapolis bank. After collecting the payroll, they were ambushed, and Officer Pavlak was shot in the face and died instantly.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill honoring a local law enforcement hero, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 9074, which honors Richard Milanovich, Chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

The son of a Native American mother and Serbian father, Chairman Milanovich grew up in Palm Springs, California, living in a shack and receiving food stamps.

From 1960 to 1963, Milanovich served as an infantryman in the United States Army and later returned to join the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Tribal Council in 1978 in Riverside County, California.

In 1984, he was elected chairman of the Band, a position he would serve in for the next 30 years. Because of his leadership and vision, the Agua Caliente Band became the most prosperous group of Native Americans in the United States and made significant contributions to the Palm Springs area.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8622, which honors Chief Rudolph ``Rudy'' Banuelos, a true public servant.

He served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II and then joined the U.S. Postal Service for 20 years in the community of King City, California.

He was the local postmaster for 9 years where this post office will be named after him. Chief Banuelos passed away on November 1, 2021. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill honoring a local public servant and World War II veteran.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill honoring a local public servant and World War II veteran.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7082, which honors Jesus Antonio Collazos, a former U.S. Postal Service employee.

Mr. Collazos immigrated to the United States from Colombia in 1978 with hopes of making the American Dream a reality.

Jesus had a 25-year career with the Postal Service, most of which was spent at a post office near D.C. in Arlington, Virginia.

He made a good impression early on in his career and was offered a leadership position. However, he ultimately turned down the position, continuing his work as a letter carrier because he preferred to spend his time outdoors and foster relationships with the people on his delivery route.

It is fitting that the post office on George Mason Drive in Arlington, Virginia, be renamed for Mr. Collazos.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill honoring a dedicated local public servant, and I yield back the balance of my time.