Jim Banks

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, this amendment would prohibit the use of funds to discriminate on the basis of race and ethnicity in admissions to the military service academies. Currently, all of the military service academies use race and ethnicity as selection criteria for admissions. Not only is this a violation of the Constitution, as recently affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, but it is a violation of the military's longstanding meritocratic principles. The military service academies are elite universities that train and educate the future leaders of our armed services. We need the best and the brightest, the most fit cadets and midshipmen, regardless of their skin color and ethnicity. To consider immutable characteristics like race and ethnicity is blatantly discriminatory. For our national security, we must uphold the ideals of our country and put hard work, dedication, and service above all. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast), a real American hero.

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is simple. It ensures our military service academies are in line with the Supreme Court's recent decision on the unconstitutionality of race-based affirmative action, and it strives to uphold the ideals of meritocracy, which is nowhere more important than in the United States military. Mr. Chair, I urge all Members to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for yielding and for his incredible leadership in doing everything he can to support our troops and to keep America safe and secure. That is why I stand here, Mr. Chairman, before you today in strong support of this bipartisan defense bill that was voted out of committee less than 3 weeks ago. This bill includes Member priorities focused on taking care of our servicemembers and their families to ensure that they are prepared to carry out, without distraction, any mission that they are called upon to execute. The NDAA continues to support and improve the lives of those who sacrifice for our country on a daily basis by supporting a military basic pay raise of 5.2 percent, authorizing a budgetary change to reduce the 5 percent out-of-pocket housing costs for our servicemembers, and excluding the housing allowance from household income for the purposes of eligibility for the basic needs allowance. This bill authorizes the establishment of the Space National Guard and sets a new personnel management benchmark with the creation of an innovative personnel management system for the Space Force. The NDAA also formalizes policy that all military accessions, assignments, selections, or promotions must adhere to merit-based principles and that none may be based on favoritism, nepotism, or quotas, and definitely not politics. Mr. Chairman, this is an outstanding bipartisan bill dedicated to our servicemembers, their families, and retirees, and gives them the tools and support they need and deserve and have earned to execute our Nation's security strategy.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Christopher Lee Juillerat and to commend the inspiring work done by his mother, Theresa Juillerat, in light of Chris's passing. Three years ago this week on May 12, 2020, at just 23 years old, Chris lost his life to fentanyl poisoning. A graduate of North Side High School in Fort Wayne where he played baseball, he was survived by his young son, Jaxon, and many other family members and friends who miss him dearly. In the years since, Theresa has been tireless in her efforts to educate other parents and youth about the dangers of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. This is so important, as fentanyl has devastated so many other families across Northeast Indiana and the Nation. In Psalm 147:3, Scripture tells us of the Lord, ``He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.'' In the wake of her own loss, Theresa has dedicated her life to saving families from enduring the same. This is a testament to Chris's life and to the selfless service of his mother, Theresa, to save the lives of others. Please join me in praying for the Juillerat family and for all families who've lost a loved one to the fentanyl crisis.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of SFC Alan Conrad, JROTC Army Instructor at Concordia Lutheran High School, who is retiring at the end of the school year. Sergeant Conrad has been the Army Instructor at Concordia Lutheran for a remarkable 29 years. In this role, he's helped fulfill the mission of the Army's JROTC program: ``To Motivate Young People to be Better Citizens.'' For nearly 30 years, his commitment to students has helped shape new generations of leaders. Prior to his career al Concordia, Sergeant Conrad was active duty in the Army. As a Communication SGT, Conrad was assigned to Special Forces Detachment Alpha where he deployed several times to Central and Latin America between 1983 and 1986 as part of the military's efforts to monitor and arrest the flow of illegal drugs to the United States. SFC Conrad's service also included multiple deployments to the U.S.- Mexico border to work with the U.S. Border Patrol's BORTAC unit, whose mission is to neutralize terror threats to the American homeland. With 15 years of active service in the Army, Conrad earned numerous awards and decorations, including the Master Parachutists' Badge, Special Forces Tab, and the Special Forces `S' Identifier. Civilian awards he earned include the Department of the Army Commander's Award for Civilian Service, Independent Colleges of Indiana ``Realizing the Dream'' Award and the WKJG TV Teacher Award. I wish him the very best as he begins a new chapter of his life. I'm proud to present this official congressional document to him as a token of gratitude on behalf of all of Congress for his service to our community and country. Men like Conrad make our country great, and for him we are most grateful.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the birth and baptism of Briana Juliet Goldberg. Born to Adam and Rebecca on February 10, weighing 7 pounds and 4 ounces, Briana now prepares to be born again on Sunday, May 7 at Saint Lawrence Roman Catholic Church into the death and life of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Saint Paul writes in the Book of Romans chapter 6 verses 3 and 4, ``Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.'' I join Adam, Rebecca, and the communion of saints in celebrating this saving flood and washing away of sin, and gift of new life by the Holy Spirit. We hear as Nicodemus did, to whom Jesus said in the third chapter of the Gospel of John: ``Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'' This stands as testament to the love that Adam and Rebecca, her sisters Sophie and Elizabeth, and that God Himself has for Briana by giving to her life in this world and the next. As Jesus commanded His disciples in the Book of John, chapter 13 verse 34, ``A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as l have loved you, that you also love one another.'' (John 13:34)

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Indiana State Master Trooper James R. Bailey, who was killed in the line of duty last Friday, March 3. A native of Auburn, Indiana, Bailey was a decorated, nearly 16-year veteran of the Indiana State Police force who was named Trooper of the Year for District 12 in 2012 and earned the combat ``Action Award'' in 2021. But Bailey's spiritedness and sense of duty wasn't confined to his squad car. In 2010, Bailey was off-duty and leaving lunch from a restaurant with his wife when an 87-year-old man collapsed in the parking lot. He and his wife Amy, a nurse, rendered CPR and saved the man's life. Three times, he was diagnosed with cancer. Three times, he beat it. ``I'm pretty stubborn.'' Bailey said. ``You have two options. One is to go into a corner and pout. The second is to fight and be stubborn.'' That's who James Bailey was: A public servant dedicated to the last, and a warrior whose triumphs he insisted be understated. In response to being called a hero, Trooper Bailey demurred, ``It's what we do, it's what we are trained to do, and that's why we get into this profession.'' But I want to be very clear, especially to his children, Joseph and Sophia: Their dad was a hero. That is how he will be remembered. We will never forget his service and sacrifice to Northeast Indiana. God bless the Bailey family and God bless all law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day to keep our families and communities safe.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Master Trooper James Bailey. He was killed in the line of duty 1 week ago today. Trooper Bailey, a native of Auburn, Indiana, was a decorated, 16-year veteran of the Indiana State police. He was a warrior. He beat cancer three times. In 2010, Trooper Bailey was off-duty and leaving lunch with his wife when an 87-year-old man collapsed in the parking lot. Trooper Bailey and his wife Amy, a nurse, began CPR and saved this man's life. While many people called them heroes, Trooper Bailey simply said: It is what we do, it is what we are trained to do, and that is why we get into this profession. That is who James Bailey was: a humble and dedicated public servant. But I want to be very clear, especially to his children, Joseph and Sophia: Your dad was a hero, and that is how he will be remembered. We will never forget his service and his sacrifice to northeast Indiana. God bless the Bailey family. God bless all of the law enforcement officers who risk their lives every single day to keep our families and our communities safe.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding, and I appreciate his leadership on all issues related to our veterans in this great country. I appreciate the comments from the ranking member, as well, and his leadership of this committee over the last few years, too. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is simple. It closes an unintentional loophole in the law that hurts many of our Nation's veterans. It would equalize the treatment of servicemembers and veterans who paid into the Montgomery GI Bill, or the MGIB, but later used the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Presently, veterans may choose between the MGIB and the Post-9/11 GI Bill, both of which help pay for their education. The MGIB requires a $100 monthly fee for the first 12 months of Active Duty. The quirk is that $1,200 is then refunded to servicemembers only as an attachment to their housing allowance. For veterans who do not receive a housing allowance from the VA, they also haven't been receiving the $1,200 that they are entitled to. This is a complicated issue that no one ever intended to happen, but this bill closes the loophole by directing the VA to make the repayment before the servicemember exhausts their education assistance. I appreciate the support for the bill. I hope that the people's House will pass it today so that we can fix this unintentional problem and do something important to help our veterans.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Tom Minnery, who passed away on Christmas Eve. Tom will be remembered most for his devotion to family and to God. As one of the greatest champions of family values our country has ever known, I am proud to have called him a friend. In 1987, Tom co-founded Citizen magazine with Dr. James Dobson, a publication dedicated to educating and encouraging Christians to become more engaged citizens. Tom cited Proverbs 11:11 in his very first column, ``The good influence of godly citizens causes a city to prosper, but the moral decay of the wicked drives it downhill.'' Tom also founded and became senior vice president of Focus on the Family's department of Government and Public Policy. He positioned himself in this role as a leading voice for family values in our nation's most important conversations. This colored his founding of Citizenlink--now Family Policy Alliance--in October 2013, in which he served as CEO and president until his retirement in 2017. Even in retirement, he remained an active pro-family policy advocate. He was a beloved member of his church, where he served as an elder, and was the recipient of several awards from local civic and church groups. He is survived by his wife, Deb, their 3 children and 7 grandchildren. This document stands as a testament to Tom's life and legacy, which so profoundly touched the lives of so many people. I pray his family finds comfort and peace, knowing they will be reunited with him again one day in the heavenly mansion in which he now resides with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of John Elliott of Warsaw, Indiana, who passed away this month. John was a cherished member of the Warsaw community who devoted decades of his life to civic and community service. John was a longtime, successful banker who retired from 1st Source Bank in Warsaw but is mostly remembered for his numerous roles in the community outside of work. John's contributions range from involvement with the Baker Youth Club, Indiana Right to Life, and the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club, in which he attended over 2,392 meetings with perfect attendance. He played an instrumental role in bringing bands such as the Marine, Penn State, Oklahoma State, and his alma mater, Ohio State University bands to Warsaw, Indiana. John was a key supporter of athletics at Warsaw Community High School and Grace College, where he sponsored and hosted many of the teams that came for the Grace College basketball toumarnents. As a respected and accomplished soccer referee, he was at one point responsible for placing all soccer referees in the state of Indiana. John is remembered as a selfless individual who was always ready to get involved to help others and his community, which he loved dearly. In the wake of his passing, I wish his wife Elaine, their children and grandchildren, peace, and comfort. Though he is no longer with us, his spirit and example live on for us to strive to emulate every day.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Tom Minnery, who passed away on Christmas Eve. Tom will be remembered most for his devotion to his family and to God. As one of the greatest champions of family values our country has ever known, I am proud to have called him a friend. In 1987, Tom co-founded Citizen magazine with Dr. James Dobson, a publication dedicated to educating and encouraging Christians to become more engaged citizens. Tom cited Proverbs 11:11 in his very first column, `The good influence of godly citizens causes a city to prosper, but the moral decay of the wicked drives it downhill.' Tom also founded and became senior vice president of Focus on the Family's department of Government and Public Policy. He positioned himself in this role as a leading voice for family values in our nation's most important conversations. This colored his founding of Citizenlink--now Family Policy Alliance--in October 2013, in which he served as CEO and president until his retirement in 2017. In retirement, he and his wife Deb prioritized spending time with their three children and seven grandchildren, even as they remained active pro-family policy advocates. Tom was a beloved member of his church--where he served as an elder--and was the recipient of several awards from local civic and church groups. This document stands as a testament to Tom's life and legacy, which so profoundly touched the lives of so many people. I pray his family finds comfort and peace, knowing they will be reunited with him again one day in the heavenly mansion in which he now resides with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, Mark Souder, 72, went to be with the Lord on Monday, September 26, 2022. He was born July 18, 1950 in Fort Wayne, Ind. to Edward and Irma (Fahling) Souder. Mark grew up in Grabill, the area where his great-great-grandfather settled in 1848. He graduated from Leo HS (1968), Indiana University at Fort Wayne (1972), and the Graduate School of Business at Notre Dame (1974). He also received honorary doctorates from Tri-State University, the Indiana Institute of Technology and the University of St. Francis. Mark married Diane Zimmer of South Bend at the Bremen Apostolic Christian Church on July 28, 1974. Their first home was in Edina, Minn. where Mark had taken a job as the marketing manager for Gabberts Furniture. In 1976, he returned to his family business. Upon his return he was recruited by Dan Quayle and played a key role in his upset victory for Congress that year. In 1980, he assisted Dan Coats in succeeding Quayle in Congress. After Mark's father died in 1981 and the furniture store closed in 1983, the Souder family moved to Washington D.C. for him to serve as the Republican Staff Director on the House Committee on Children, Youth and Families. In 1988, Souder switched to the Senate with Coats, serving as his legislative director until mid-1993 when he moved back to Indiana. Souder was hired by Thom Blake as Vice-President of Manufacturing of Our Country Home of Grabill. Emmanuel Community Church has been their family church since 1993. In the fall of 1994, Souder was elected to Congress. He was elected to seven more terms, becoming the second- longest serving congressman in history representing the Fort Wayne region. Souder focused heavily on fighting for the core industrial jobs of the region as well as local interests such as saving the Veteran's Hospital and the Air Base. He served on three committees and seven subcommittees each term. He was the point person in the House on illegal narcotics, and co-founded the bi-partisan National Parks Caucus. A major accomplishment was introducing and passing the National Lighthouse Preservation Program, which had the National Park Service manage the transfer of hundreds of lighthouses from the Coast Guard to non-profit organizations to preserve access to the public. After Congress, he wrote regularly for Howey Politics Indiana, as well as in national books and publications on baseball and politics. His last book project was co-authoring Television in Fort Wayne, 1953-2018. Mark was passionate about his Lord, family, and country. He was a voracious reader of the Bible, history, politics, and sports. He adored his grandchildren and spent countless hours sharing experiences with them while teaching valuable life lessons. For being such a strong and courageous leader, he had a very kind and generous heart. When he crossed the state line, every time he would sing the song, ``Back Home Again in Indiana''. Souder is survived by his wife and best friend of 48 years, Diane; and children, Brooke (Jeff) Lyons of Fort Wayne, Nathan (Sarah) Souder of Grand Junction, Colo., and Zach Souder of Albuquerque, N.M.; as well as grandchildren, Grant Lyons, Reagan Lyons, Elias Souder and Ethan Souder.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, yesterday, many of us celebrated the life of Jackie Walorski at the funeral in her district. Today, we honor her life on the floor of the House of Representatives, where she served for nearly a decade. Jackie was a giant in Indiana politics, and she had a giant impact here in this institution, as well. Her lifetime of public service will be long-remembered, from her time on the mission field in Romania, to her time at the Indiana Statehouse, to the time that she spent serving our Nation here with all of us. She embodied public service and putting others before herself. Her legacy, fighting for the unborn, for our veterans, and for the poor and disabled, is a legacy that we will honor here for a long time to come. We also honor the lives of Zachery Potts and Emma Thomson, two staffers who should remind all of us of the sacrifices that our staffs make to serve each of us in our important roles. I also want to say to the family of Edith Schmucker, who was involved in this tragedy as well, that we honor her life, the life of your loved ones, as well. Tragedies like this one remind us of how fleeting and fragile our lives really are. But Jackie's life reminds us that we should live it to the fullest, just as she did, and that is how we can honor her best.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, our Constitution is clear: The President is the Commander in Chief. Sidestepping the President and violating the chain of command is a grave crime. According to Bob Woodward's book ``Peril,'' General Mark Milley directed senior military officials not to follow the President's orders, unless General Milley approved them first. When I asked General Milley about ``Peril'' at an Armed Services hearing, he claimed he hadn't read it. Senator Chuck Grassley and I sent a letter to General Milley asking him to verify or refute the book's claims. He hasn't responded. I am calling on General Milley to set the record straight. General Milley is accused of secretly seizing the President's military powers. That is the most serious crime. If he is innocent, he has a duty to say so.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding and for his leadership, and I thank the chairman for his commitment to bipartisanship as well. I believe this NDAA is a true testament to that. I rise today in support of H.R. 7900, the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2023 because our investments in modernization and innovation are more important than ever. Our adversaries are focused on our defeat, on and off the battlefield. China is pouring money into research and development of emerging technologies, recruiting top scientists, and stealing intellectual property to gain a tactical edge. This NDAA pushes the Department to accelerate innovation and strengthen its cyber posture, both of which are critical to maintaining superiority in this era of great power competition. I am proud of the work that my subcommittee has accomplished, the Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems Subcommittee, along with Chairman Langevin, throughout this bill. Our commitment to work together, I believe, is shown in the input that we have both worked across the aisle to include in this year's NDAA. We included provisions to improve opportunities for early-career scientists to work with DARPA. This NDAA authorizes great work that the Defense Innovation Unit is doing to field commercial technology by doubling its funding, and it expands the critical work being done in biotechnology and batteries. We bolstered and strengthened the Department's information security systems and gave Cyber Command the tools that it needs to succeed. As the ranking member of the Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems Subcommittee, I support this bill fully and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 1735.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member for her leadership. Today I stand in opposition to H.R. 5129 because it removes longstanding religious protections for community service providers that receive funds through the community service block grant program. Religious providers all around the country provide food for the hungry, healthcare and hospice programs for the terminally ill, and educational opportunities for the less fortunate. This partisan bill will likely prevent certain religious groups from engaging in charity, simply because of what motivates their charity. In 2019, the community action agencies partnered with more than 19,000 faith-based organizations around the country. In Indiana, the funds reached 335,000 Hoosiers by providing health services, housing aid, education help, income improvement, and more. If charitable choice language is removed from this bill, religious organizations may be forced to choose between serving their community and honoring their sincerely held faith beliefs. That means more Hoosiers in need. It is shameful to cut religious protections from such an impactful program. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose the bill as it will mean less charity tomorrow for all Americans. We must defend our religious freedom, and this bill is a direct attack on it.

Mr. BANKS

Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I hope this is the last time that we do this. Just last week, we watched members of the January 6th Select Committee criticize the DOJ for not jailing their political opponents fast enough. Now the committee is trying to refer two more of President Trump's advisers to the DOJ for criminal prosecution. The same DOJ, by the way, that has slandered concerned parents as domestic terrorists; a DOJ overseen by a President who said President Trump should be prosecuted. So let's be clear, we aren't voting today to rename a post office. So, please, let's be honest with ourselves. A vote to hold Dan Scavino and Peter Navarro in contempt of Congress is a vote to put them in jail for a year. Neither of these men deserve this. The party line isn't a good enough excuse today. Disliking their politics isn't an excuse. Mr. Scavino has two boys. He is a good dad. He doesn't deserve this. His boys definitely don't deserve this. So before we vote today, I have got to ask, could anyone here explain to those boys why their dad deserves to be behind bars for a year? Mr. Scavino grew up in a working-class family in New York City. He is a former caddy who worked his way up to the White House through hard work and determination. Mr. Scavino lived the American Dream. Now, thanks to the select committee, he is living an authoritarian nightmare. The select committee will say that it is Mr. Scavino's fault for refusing to cooperate. That is simply not true. Mr. Scavino asked time and again for the committee to follow the rule of law and provide him with a narrow and specific legislative purpose for the information that they were seeking. He asked, ``How is what you want from me pertinent to your investigation?'' And they refused to explain. But remember what they said last week. The January 6th Committee must enforce its subpoenas. But contempt is not enforcement; it is punishment. Contempt won't get the committee any information. Only the court can do that. But they don't want to go to the judiciary. They don't want neutral arbitration. They want political punishment. The select committee has never been interested in factfinding. In fact, Jim Jordan and I were both blocked from sitting on the committee because we promised to fully investigate the security failure at the Capitol. The Democrat leaders don't want that. They claim they blocked us for being too partisan. Meanwhile, the committee's lead staffer signed his name to a false letter calling the Hunter Biden laptop Russian disinformation. Apparently, lying to undermine democracy is a key qualification for employment of this committee. If the January 6th Committee gets its way, Congress will have referred four former Trump officials for prosecution in under 6 months, another record for the 117th Congress. The select committee aims to do two things: silence legitimate questions about the breakdown of security at the Capitol and punish their political opponents. It is that simple. Dan Scavino is accused of listening to his boss, the former Commander in Chief, who told him to ``invoke all applicable privileges and immunities.'' Today's vote is not about wrongdoing, and it isn't about anybody's character, no matter what they say. Today's vote is about the character of this House. It is about abusing the seat of our democracy to attack American democracy. The question is, do we live in a country where you can go to jail for working for the wrong politician? Would you want to live in that country? The question is, will you help create that country? Because I think we have had a pretty good thing going for the last 240 years, and that is exactly why I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this resolution today. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gaetz).

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Jackson).

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Armstrong).

Mr. BANKS. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis.)