Gus Bilirakis

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service of one of my constituents, Captain John Ehnis, of the Citrus County Fire Department. Captain Ehnis's dedication to recruiting and training the best and brightest new hires is a testament to his passion for cultivating and inspiring future generations of firefighters. He has also fostered a positive culture among both new and existing employees--a commendable feat that helps set this amazing team apart from other departments throughout the nation. Captain Ehnis sets a high standard for professionalism, serving as a role model for others in the department. Because of his daily contributions, the entire team's effectiveness and morale has dramatically improved. These are just a few examples of the hard work, dedication, eagerness to help, and servant leadership that Captain Ehnis exhibits every day when he goes to work. Captain Ehnis is a shining example of what it means to be a Citrus County First Responder. His work ethic should be a benchmark for which other first responders should strive to attain. It is evident that Captain Ehnis has made a profoundly positive impact on our community and is qualified to be recognized as a First Responder of the Year for Florida's 12th Congressional District.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service of one of my constituents, Firefighter/Paramedic Patrick Dudkiewicz, of the Pasco County Fire Department. On May 25, 2023, and again on June 1, 2023, while off-duty and working out at a local CrossFit gym, Firefighter Paramedic Patrick Dudkiewicz sprang into action to provide lifesaving care to two individuals experiencing cardiac arrest. Firefighter/Paramedic Dudkiewicz performed Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and applied an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). In each instance, he successfully obtained Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) prior to the arrival of Fire Rescue. These actions not only saved the lives of two community members, but also serve as a testament to the dedication, professionalism, and readiness of Firefighter/Paramedic Patrick Dudkiewicz. Firefighter/ Paramedic Patrick Dudkiewicz's actions highlight the importance of hands-only CPR, a simple yet effective technique that can be the difference between life and death in the event of cardiac arrest. His actions also serve as a powerful reminder of the critical role that first responders play in our communities and the lives that they save every day. These are just two examples of the hard work, dedication, eagerness to help, and servant leadership that Firefighter/Paramedic Dudkiewicz exhibits every day when he goes to work. He is a shining example of what it means to be a Pasco County First Responder. His work ethic should be a benchmark for which other first responders should strive to attain. It is evident that Firefighter/Paramedic Dudkiewicz has made a profoundly positive impact on our community and is qualified to be recognized as a First Responder of the Year for Florida's 12th Congressional District.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service of one of my constituents, Firefighter/Paramedic Steven Matthew ``Steve'' Markford, of the Hernando County Fire Department. Firefighter/Paramedic Markford was selected for this honor by his peers because he has made many significant contributions to the Department during the past year. Furthermore, throughout his 12-year tenure with the Department, he has demonstrated superior abilities when responding to a wide variety of emergency incidents. Because of his steady leadership, impressive skill and relentless mentorship of new recruits, Firefighter/Paramedic Markford has advanced to his current rank of Driver-Engineer. These are just a few examples of the hard work, dedication, eagerness to help, and servant leadership that Firefighter/Paramedic Markford exhibits every day when he goes to work. He is a shining example of what it means to be a Hernando County First Responder. His work ethic should be a benchmark for which other first responders should strive to attain. It is evident that Firefighter/Paramedic Markford has made a profoundly positive impact on our community and is qualified to be recognized as a First Responder of the Year for Florida's 12th Congressional District.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service of one of my constituents, Telecommunicator John Mann, of the Port Richey Police Department. Telecommunicator Mann is a highly dedicated employee who on many occasions has referred to the Port Richey Police Department employees as his family. Telecommunicator Mann has reported to work on numerous occasions, barely able to walk without a cane when a lesser person would stay home. Not unlike other law enforcement agencies around the country, the Port Richey Police Department has experienced a shortage of qualified personnel to fill vacancies. This puts a strain on existing personnel, but Telecommunicator Mann has helped ease that burden by stepping up to the plate whenever possible. He has covered the shifts of fellow telecommunicators when they are ill, or when the department otherwise requires coverage. His selflessness and dedication to the safety of the officers on the road have outweighed his medical issues in too many instances. As U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, he embraces the notion of service above self and this is truly evident in his interactions with others. He takes care of his law enforcement family and they are tremendously grateful for his continued efforts to keep our community safe. These are just a few examples of the hard work, dedication, eagerness to help, and servant leadership that Telecommunicator Mann exhibits every day when he goes to work. He is a shining example of what it means to be a Port Richey First Responder. His work ethic should be a benchmark for which other first responders should strive to attain. It is evident that Telecommunicator Mann has made a profoundly positive impact on our community and is qualified to be recognized as a First Responder of the Year for Florida's 12th Congressional District.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service of one of my constituents, Communications Officer Michael Whitaker, of the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. On Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, Officer Whitaker was working in the Communication Section as an Intake Operator when a constituent called 911 to advise that his 3- month-old daughter, Harmonie, was choking and could not breath. After de-escalating the parent and helping him become calm enough to follow instructions, Officer Whitaker proceeded to provide lifesaving instructions on how to clear the baby's airway. The father followed all the instructions and was able to clear her airway. With Harmonie able to breathe fresh oxygen again, EMS arrived on scene and transported her to a nearby hospital for observation. Thanks to Officer Whitaker's swift actions, professionalism, and composure, Baby Harmonie is doing great today. This is just one example of the hard work, dedication, eagerness to help, and servant leadership that Communications Officer Whitaker exhibits every day when he goes to work. Officer Whitaker is a shining example of what it means to be a Citrus County First Responder. His work ethic should be a benchmark for which other first responders should strive to attain. It is evident that Officer Whitaker has made a profoundly positive impact on our community and is qualified to be recognized as a First Responder of the Year for Florida's 12th Congressional District.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I again encourage a ``yes'' vote on this particular piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the unique contributions of one of my constituents, Jimmie Lee Rodgers who serves as a volunteer Board Member for the local non-profit, Brooksville Main Street. These outstanding volunteers put in hundreds of hours while running their businesses and organizations. They have all come together for a common cause--to serve the community by bringing much-loved events to downtown Brooksville. Each of these board members have servant hearts, and their dedication and commitment to our community is impressive. Part of what makes our country so great is the willingness of ordinary Americans to go above and beyond to selflessly give back to others. Volunteerism is one of the cornerstones of our society and part of the fabric that unites us. It is clear that Mr. Rodgers and his fellow board members have made a profoundly positive impact on our community, and I am grateful for his service.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I express my support for H.R. 4814, the Consumer Safety Technology Act led by Representatives Soto, Burgess, Trahan, and Guthrie. It should be no surprise, Mr. Speaker, that the global race for economic dominance today is centered around technology, specifically around emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and blockchain. Throughout this Congress, the Energy and Commerce Committee, led by our chairwoman, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and our ranking member, Mr. Pallone, has examined ways that the U.S. can continue to lead in the development and deployment of such technologies. In our subcommittee, we have discussed the need to ensure America leads the world and wins this critical competition, particularly against our adversaries, in this case, China, in every field. This legislation will complement other initiatives we are undertaking. If enacted, H.R. 4814 would ensure our consumer protection agencies stay up to date with emerging technologies and would encourage the use of emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain in support of product safety and consumer protection. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their work on this particular piece of legislation, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 4814. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4814) to direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish a pilot program to explore the use of artificial intelligence in support of the mission of the Commission and to direct the Secretary of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission to study and report on the use of blockchain technology and digital tokens, respectively, as amended.

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

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

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service and patriotism of one of my constituents, Ernest Scango. Mr. Scango was born on January 8, 1923 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was drafted into the United States Army on March 5, 1943. After training at Fort Benning, Ernest joined the 551st Paratroop Infantry Battalion. As a Parachutist and Rifleman, Ernest participated in the major battles taking place in France. He took part in Operation Dragoon which was designed to secure the southern coast of France and the critical Mediterranean ports while forcing the Germans to open a second front while facing the D-Day invasion in Normandy under Operation Overlord. Then, he subsequently redeployed and took part in the Ardennes Offensive and Rhineland campaigns which were critical to ending war in Europe. Today, Mr. Scango lives in Homosassa, Florida where he just celebrated his 102nd birthday. This month, he is receiving the distinguished insignia of ``Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur'' (``Knight in the Legion of Honor'') from the French government. As a Member of the Greatest Generation, Mr. Scango and his fellow brothers and sisters-in-arms demonstrated incredible bravery and skill as they fought to save the world from the evils of Nazism, hatred, and genocide. We all owe this hero a debt of gratitude that can never fully be repaid. Today and always, we remember his patriotism and courageous actions. We must honor his service and sacrifice by continuing to protect the sacred values of freedom he fought so hard to defend.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the unique contributions of one of my constituents, Barry Meindl, who serves as a volunteer Board Member for the local non-profit, Brooksville Main Street. These outstanding volunteers put in hundreds of hours while running their businesses and organizations. They have all come together for a common cause- to serve the community by bringing much-loved events to downtown Brooksville. Each of these board members have servant hearts, and their dedication and commitment to our community is impressive. Barry is always the first one to arrive and the last to leave. He has the most amazing heart and compassion for this community. He astounds me with his boundless energy. Part of what makes our country so great is the willingness of ordinary Americans to go above and beyond to selflessly give back to others. Volunteerism is one of the cornerstones of our society and part of the fabric that unites us. It is clear that Mr. Meindl and his fellow board members have made a profoundly positive impact on our community, and I am grateful for his service.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the unique contributions of one of my constituents, Mandy Dixon, who serves as a volunteer Board Member for the local non-profit, Brooksville Main Street. These outstanding volunteers put in hundreds of hours while running their businesses and organizations. They have all come together for a common cause--to serve the community by bringing much-loved events to downtown Brooksville. Each of these board members have servant hearts, and their dedication and commitment to our community is impressive. Part of what makes our country so great is the willingness of ordinary Americans to go above and beyond to selflessly give back to others. Volunteerism is one of the cornerstones of our society and part of the fabric that unites us. It is clear that Ms. Dixon and her fellow board members have made a profoundly positive impact on our community, and I am grateful for her service.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today, I am honored to speak in support of my bipartisan bill, H.R. 3950, the Transparency In Charges for Key Events Ticketing Act, or the TICKET Act. Mr. Speaker, I thank my bipartisan co-lead on this particular piece of legislation, the ranking member of the subcommittee, Ms. Jan Schakowsky, from the great State of Illinois. We have had true collaboration and partnership on this initiative, and I am grateful that we are able to move this bipartisan initiative forward. I thank the staff, too, on both sides. They did an incredible job on this particular piece of legislation, and it really is needed. H.R. 3950 addresses price transparency in the live event ticketing marketplace, which has long been plagued by hidden and confusing fees tacked on at the end of the checkout process. It would require ticket issuers, including issuers on the secondary market, for live events to clearly and conspicuously disclose at the beginning of the transaction, and throughout the ticket purchasing process, the total ticket price for the event and an itemized list of the base ticket price and each fee associated with the total price. It is as simple as that. It is not a lot to ask for. Further, this upfront pricing requirement includes the total ticket price in any advertisements or other marketing activities. The TICKET Act also incorporates H.R. 6568, the Speculative Ticketing Oversight and Prohibition Act, or the STOP Act, led by Representatives Armstrong and Blunt Rochester. This additional language will hold bad actors accountable for ripping off and defrauding consumers through the sale of fake tickets that they do not possess, referred to as speculative tickets. It also prevents bad actors from using deceptive ticketing websites or fake URLs. No fan should be caught left with nowhere to turn when they have been sold a fake ticket that they thought they had purchased from a website selling tickets only to find out that the website is a scam and the ticket does not exist at all. This bill also provides fans with refunds if the event is canceled or postponed and requires the FTC to study the enforcement of the BOTS Act and hurdles that law enforcement may have when going after bad actors that use fake ticket purchasing bots, which are already illegal. It is important that the House passes this particular legislation, and I hope the Senate will approve this without delay, as this bill will have an immediate impact on providing market transparency and enhancing the event ticketing experience for consumers. As Americans look to attend summer outings, this will provide an enforcement mechanism for fake and deceptive websites claiming to be selling legitimate event tickets. Mr. Speaker, I thank all the stakeholders for working with us and for their input on this initiative, and I thank the staff, as well. I know that we have struck a key balance between both sides of the aisle to protect consumers and, ultimately, pass the most consequential ticketing reform in years. We have to get it through the Senate, as well. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to pass this particular piece of legislation on behalf of their constituents who may buy a birthday present for a child and think they have budgeted enough money for that, whether it is a baseball game, football game, or any type of a concert, what have you, and, lo and behold, they are surprised that they don't have the funds because of these overcharges or whatever you want to call them. Hidden fees is what they are. Let's pass this bill and make sure that our families have the opportunity to take their children, their spouses, or their friends to these wonderful events that take place in our country. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on this bill.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I am just proud that I played a small role in passing this legislation. Obviously, I am the sponsor, but we had Mr. Pascrell from New Jersey and every time I went around to the Democratic side to talk about particular bills, he would grab me and talk to me about the BOSS and SWIFT ACT. Mr. Pascrell actually made a good bill better, and we appreciate him so very much. Again, without Chair Rodgers, Ranking Member Pallone, and the ranking member of the subcommittee, my partner, Ms. Schakowsky, this never would have gotten done. Our constituents will benefit from this. You know what, this is a great example of how Congress should intervene. Again, we passed it out of the House. We have got to lobby the Senate to get this done as soon as possible. I want to thank the staff. We couldn't do it without the staff, that is for sure, on both sides of the aisle working out the details. Energy and Commerce is famous for working together and protecting our consumers. Madam Speaker, I urge passage of this particular bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1797) to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to promulgate a consumer product safety standard with respect to rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in micromobility devices, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on this particular bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the unique contributions of one of my constituents, Jody Young, who serves as a volunteer Board Member for the local non-profit, Brooksville Main Street. These outstanding volunteers put in hundreds of hours while running their businesses and organizations. They have all come together for a common cause--to serve the community by bringing much-loved events to downtown Brooksville. Each of these board members have servant hearts, and their dedication and commitment to our community is impressive. Part of what makes our country so great is the willingness of ordinary Americans to go above and beyond to selflessly give back to others. Volunteerism is one of the cornerstones of our society and part of the fabric that unites us. It is clear that Ms. Young and her fellow board members have made a profoundly positive impact on our community, and I am grateful for her service.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

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

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the service and patriotism of one of my constituents, Martell Swain, Jr. (Master Sergeant Retired), who enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17 in 1961. MSgT Swain's early training in the Army was in Infantry. In 1963, he was assigned to a unit that eventually became the famous Air Calvary Division. A year later, the status of his entire Brigade was changed to Airborne. All troops were required to become Paratroopers to remain with this unit. It was during this time he was promoted to Sergeant. In July of 1965 the entire Division was ordered to Vietnam by our President. This was the first Division to go to Vietnam as a unit. It was not the last. Serving two tours in Vietnam, Sergeant Swain was involved in extremely heavy combat, earning the coveted Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star with ``V'' for Valor, Meritorious Service Medal, numerous Air Medals, 2 Army Commendation Medals, 2 Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Vietnamese Civil Action Honor Medal, 2 Presidential Unit Citations, and other awards and medals. Despite the fact that MSgT Swain never earned his high school diploma, he participated in many educational opportunities available through the military and became an instructor for Red Eye Air Defense Missile Systems and Anti-Tank Systems. Sergeant First Class Swain attended Drill Instructor School and served in that capacity for three years in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. His last assignment was as a Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor at Syracuse University, preparing Cadets for active duty as officers in the United States Army. While there, he was promoted to Master Sergeant. MSgT retired after 23 years of faithful service. In 2022 Master Sergeant (Retired) Swain was honored by the National Infantry Association with induction into the Order of Saint Maurice in the rank of Centurion. MSgT Swain will be presented with an honorary high school diploma from a high school in Citrus County this year. With immense gratitude, we congratulate him on this important honor and thank him for his many years of distinguished service to our country.