Jack Bergman

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the 100th anniversary of the first Native American in the Winter Olympics, Clarence ``Taffy'' Abel. Over the last century, Taffy's accomplishments have inspired countless people across this nation and the world. Clarence ``Taffy'' Abel was born on May 28, 1900, in Sault Ste. Marie as part of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians. He received the nickname ``Taffy'' on the hockey rink for his attempts to sneak taffy during class. He spent many summers as a teenager working on the USS Clover, visiting ports such as Duluth, delivering supplies to local communities. Following his high school years, he joined the United States National Hockey Team for the first Winter Olympics in 1924. There he became the first Native American to participate in the winter games. He was recognized by his fellow athletes for his patriotism and leadership, helping him become captain of his team and the first person to represent the United States at the Winter Olympics by carrying the flag during the opening ceremonies. Taffy and the U.S. National Hockey Team led a successful tournament run that landed them a silver medal at the conclusion of the Olympics. Following his time with U.S. Hockey, Taffy went on to lead a successful professional career. After playing for the St. Paul Hockey Club for three seasons in the USAHA, he moved to the Minneapolis Millers where he helped win the CHL title in 1926. Following that title victory, Taffy was recruited by legendary NHL owner, Conn Smythe, to play on the New York Rangers and then later with the Chicago Blackhawks. There he became the first American to become a regular NHL player in a sport that had up until then been overwhelmingly played by Canadians. During his eight-year NHL career, Taffy went on to win two Stanley Cups and was thought of by many of his peers as the best left defenseman in the league. At the conclusion of his career, he played a total of 16 seasons of amateur and professional hockey, received an Olympic silver medal, won two Stanley Cups, and played a total of 333 games in the NHL. Madam Speaker, on behalf of Michigan's First Congressional District, I ask you to join me in honoring the 100th anniversary of the first Native American in the Winter Olympics, Clarence ``Taffy'' Abel. His historic accomplishments are memorialized in the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame and the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Taffy's legacy continues to inspire future generations across Michigan, the United States, and the world.

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Senior Captain Mike Green for 46 years of service to his community with his work with the Beaver Island Boat Company. Through his steadfast commitment to transporting the public safely and consistently across Lake Michigan, he has become an indispensable part of Northern Michigan. Mike began his career with the Beaver Island Boat Company (BIBC) as a deckhand in 1975 when he was only 18 years old. He started out alongside his father before eventually taking over the helm himself--a role he has held for 46 years since. Mike's work has been critical for Northern Michigan over the years in facilitating travel to and from Beaver Island for goods, services, and visitors. BIBC operates nine months out of the year, and Mike himself runs over 150 trips annually to ensure customers and cargo make it safely to their destination. For nearly half a century, Mike has served the public and our community with kindness, professionalism, and compassion. We will miss him at the helm, but we are excited about what his next voyage will be. The example he set as Senior Captain of the Beaver Island Boat Company inspires us all and will continue to do so for future successors of the position. Madam Speaker, it's my honor to congratulate Senior Captain Mike Green on his career. Michiganders can take great pride in knowing the First District is home to such a driven leader. On behalf of my constituents, I wish Mike all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, a week after my visit to the border to meet with agents on the ground and survey the situation with my own eyes, I am here to report some unsurprising news. There is still a growing crisis at our Nation's southern border. I saw firsthand how President Biden has ceded--not in farming, but given up--ceded control of the southern border to the cartels. Thankfully, Texas Governor Abbott has stepped up to enforce the law, but Federal border agents continue to lack critical federally provided resources. From halting construction of the wall and resisting the remain in Mexico policy, to releasing illegals into our interior and pursuing mass amnesty, this President and Democrats in Congress have incentivized a long-term border surge that will forever change our Nation. I urge my colleagues to reverse these America-last policies, secure the border, and uphold law and order in the face of this current administration's refusal to do so.

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Bost for yielding me the time. I am always proud to stand on this floor and talk about the men and women who serve our country. And it is our country. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition today to H.R. 1836, the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2021. And it kind of saddens me that I have to rise in opposition because while this bill, well-intentioned, is unfortunately potentially prone to unintended consequences on the overall readiness of our Armed Forces, Active Reserve and Guard. But first I must note that these issues could have been brought to light earlier had this piece of legislation gone through regular order, received proper consideration across all the normal things that we historically have done. It received no legislative hearings, foregoing the opportunity to receive input from key stakeholders, veteran service organizations, new committee members on both sides of the aisle, and even the Biden administration. Without that engagement, we are just left with a bill that in its current form, which would count guard and reservists Federal Active- Duty service days towards GI eligibility, including for training. And there is a very subtle difference. In fact, it is a very exact difference in law between Active Duty for training and Active Duty. I spent much of my 40-year Marine Corps career in the Reserve component. And in fact, a little known part of my bio, my first 2 years off of Active Duty in the Marine Corps, I spent 2 years as a member of the Rhode Island National Guard. So not only Active component, Reserve component, but also a guardsman as well. And my final assignment for 4\1/2\ years, I had the blessing and the opportunity to command the Marine Corps Reserve, roughly 100,000 folks in 183 sites across the country at a time when we are deploying them at never-before-seen rates. I will always stand by the unwavering service and sacrifice given by the men and women in the Reserve component and the National Guard. This bill, however, may unintentionally become an obstacle to the recruitment and retention efforts of our Active component military. We are in a time, and have been for over 40 years, of an all-recruited force on all levels.

Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, even as Governors offer non-GI Bill education benefits to their Guard, the parity with Active-Duty Forces that this bill is seeking for the Guard and Reserves, again, could impact our Active-Duty military, which we need to be ready at all times, considering today's global threats. Today, more than 4 years after my colleagues and I passed into law an unprecedented GI Bill expansion to allow any veteran to use these GI Bill benefits without restriction of time, so they are good to go for as long as they live, I still believe there are many ways we can work responsibly to expand these benefits. For these reasons, I will be voting in favor of my friend and colleague Mr. Moore's benefit expansion amendment to ensure guard and reservists accrue GI Bill eligibility during any and all Federal Active-Duty days that are not training days. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose the bill and support the Moore amendment.

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, on this the 80th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, it is only right to honor a marine who served in the South Pacific. I rise today to honor the life and legacy of fellow Michigander and U.S. Marine Raymond Heise. On Thursday, November 18, Ray passed away after nearly a century of service to his community and to our Nation. I met Ray back in June 2016 when we exchanged personal stories of our time in the Corps. At only 19 years of age, he enlisted and joined the Marine Corps during World War II. He truly made a difference, both in the South Pacific and in Michigan. The commitment and courage that he and so many others displayed during that time is unmatched. As Admiral Nimitz famously said of those Marines involved in our victory on Iwo Jima: ``Uncommon valor was a common virtue.'' Ray will be remembered for his caring and calming personality toward anyone who had the opportunity to meet him. I encourage my colleagues to join me in remembering the life and selfless service of Raymond Heise, United States marine. May God rest his soul and comfort his family.

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of all Americans who feel that they are being abandoned by the current administration. I share this sentiment. To be clear, President Biden is the President of now leaving you behind. He will leave you behind in Afghanistan. He will leave your job behind if you don't comply with his mandates. He will leave our borders behind in favor of illegal immigrants. He will leave our economy behind for China to surpass. He plain old leads from behind. I propose we leave President Biden's dangerous policies behind before our children's futures are ultimately destroyed. It is time for our leaders to put America first by securing our border, keeping our Nation's promises to veterans and overseas allies, and in ending the senseless Washington spending addiction.

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, in Michigan's First District, we are hunkering down for the usual long but beautiful winter season. We enjoy it, and we prepare for it. This year, that preparation is much more complicated. The supply chain crisis, labor shortages, and inflation have made our gas and groceries that much more expensive at a time when we can't necessarily afford it at that working-family level. In my district, we are truly feeling the negative impacts of this administration's failed policies. The White House and congressional Democrats seem to be living in a different reality, telling us that the President's agenda ``will not add to inflationary pressure.'' Mr. Speaker, the real risk here would be passing the Democrat's multitrillion-dollar tax and spend package. My colleagues in the House seem to be turning a blind eye to what Americans are actually experiencing. Make no mistake, spending trillions, while punishing the middle class and job creators, will make inflation worse. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to oppose this legislation.

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 4626, as amended, the Department of Veterans Affairs Assessment by Independent Measures Act, or AIM Act. When it comes to bureaucracies, I have never believed that maintaining the status quo is an acceptable path forward. In fact, it is an impossible path forward. The world is constantly in a state of change. The way American men and women defend freedom around the world, and the way those same men and women seek care when they come home, is constantly changing as well. The VA healthcare system must change, too, or it will never fulfill its obligations to all of our veterans. That is where the AIM Act comes in. The AIM Act would require an independent assessment of the operations and management of the VA healthcare system once every decade, beginning in 2025. The independent assessment framework in the AIM Act is modeled after the independent assessment that was required in the Choice Act, which was signed into law in 2014 following the nationwide VA access and accountability crisis that saw some veterans literally dying on VA facilities' waiting lists. That independent assessment was completed in 2015, and the findings and recommendations it contained directly underpinned many of the necessary improvements that have occurred in the VA healthcare system since then. The AIM Act would ensure that this successful model is not a one-and- done but instead regularly recurs to ensure that the VA keeps improving for veterans long into the future. I am grateful for the support the AIM Act has received from veterans service organizations, particularly the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Wounded Warrior Project, and the Minority Veterans of America. I am also grateful for the bipartisan support the AIM Act received in the Veterans' Affairs Committee. I thank all of my colleagues for that. I hope that there will be a similar show of bipartisan support for the bill today. My fellow veterans have earned it.

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the 95th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps Reserve Association. The work of the USMCRA over nearly a century has been critical in ensuring the common defense of our country and assisting in the readiness of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves for future conflict. The United States Naval and Marine Corps Reserves were established through the Naval Appropriations Act on August 29, 1916. Ten years later, the USMCRA was formed to ensure the readiness of Reserve Forces and promote the interests of the United States Marine Corps and United States Marine Corps Reserves. Since then, the USMCRA has constantly worked to help preserve the safety of our country and the wellbeing of those whom defend it. As a Retired Lt. General and the former Commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and Marine Forces North, I deeply understand the importance of strong and battle-ready reserves units and will continue to support their mission here in Congress. The work of the USMCRA and the impact of their advocacy on behalf of our servicemembers, Veterans, and their families cannot be overstated. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to recognize the United States Marine Corps Reserve Association for 95 years of service to our country. I look forward to assisting in fulfilling their mission to support our Servicemen and women. Please join me in congratulating the USMCRA for this historic achievement.

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the 100th anniversary of American Legion Post 92 for their century of service to veterans, their families, and our communities. Through their tireless work, exceptional leadership, and steadfast selflessness, Post 92 has become an indispensable part of the Upper Peninsula and the State of Michigan. Post 92 was created in 1919 in Victoria, Michigan, following the national charter of the American Legion by Congress. The post was formed to establish a local organization to bring fellow Yooper Veterans together within the U.P. Two years later, the Legion moved to Rockland, Michigan, where they have been headquartered ever since with the mission of defending the U.S. Constitution and honoring our men and women in uniform, amongst many other goals. Over the last century, the American Legion has grown to two million members with over thirteen thousand posts nationwide. Post 92's work has significantly improved the lives of countless Veterans and their families, and their dedication cannot be overstated. Madam Speaker, it's my honor to recognize American Legion Post 92 for a century of service to the veterans and communities of the Upper Peninsula. Michiganders can take great pride in knowing the First District is home to such devoted organizations and citizens. On behalf of my constituents, I wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the life of George LaBlonde, who passed away recently after a lifetime of service. Through his extreme dedication to the public good, George became an indispensable part of the Upper Peninsula, the State of Michigan, and the United States of America. A native Yooper, George was born in Ironwood, Michigan, on October 17, 1938. He was raised in Ironwood and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1956. With a deep-rooted drive to serve others, George furthered his education at the Michigan College of Mining and Technology in 1960 while also earning a commission as a Second Lieutenant with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He went on to attend several other prestigious institutions including Purdue University, the U.S. Army War College, the Department of Defense Language Institute, the Army Command and General Staff College, and completed numerous other specialized courses. In addition to his impressive and comprehensive military education, George's 30 years of service earned him several honors and decorations including the Legion of Merit Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with ``V'' device, the Parachute Badge, amongst many others. As a retired Marine myself, I greatly appreciate the longtime devotion George gave to our Nation. George passed away on October 29, 2021. His steadfast care and friendly nature towards all members of his community will surely leave a lasting mark on those who had the opportunity to know him. He is missed dearly by his family and friends, and his legacy will undoubtedly live on for generations to come. George's tireless dedication to public service touched the lives of countless Michiganders, and the impact of his work cannot be overstated. Madam Speaker, on behalf of Michigan's First Congressional District, I ask you to join me in honoring the life of George LaBlonde. His legacy will forever live on in his family and in the many lives he bettered through his service.

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Kiel Atanasoff for receiving the Patriot Award by the Department of Defense. Through his exceptional leadership and steadfast devotion to workers and servicemembers at Krist Oil Company, Kiel has become an indispensable part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Patriot Award is presented to supervisors and employers across the country who display exceptional support towards servicemembers in their workforce. In recognition of his exceptional leadership and devotion to his colleagues, fellow employee and Guardsman David Froland nominated Kiel for this distinguished award. This is in response to Kiel's continued support to Mr. Froland when he was deployed to Washington, D.C., earlier this year with the U.S. National Guard. A longtime U.P. company, Krist Oil has continued to exemplify the gold standard of support for our military members and communities. As a veteran myself, I greatly appreciate the dedication they give to both our active and retired Servicemembers. Madam Speaker, it's my honor to congratulate Kiel Atanasoff for receiving the Patriot Award. Michiganders can take great pride in knowing the First District is home to such a selfless leader. On behalf of my constituents, I wish Kiel all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the life of William ``Bill'' Mouser, who passed away recently after a lifetime of service to his fellow Michiganders. Through his constant dedication, tenacity, and leadership, Bill became an essential part of the Northern Michigan community. William Mouser was born in Hastings, Michigan, on September 10, 1950, and graduated from Lake Wood High School in Lake Odessa in 1968. He furthered his education at Lansing Community College where he met his future wife, Shirley Jean Peters, who he married in 1972. With a drive to serve his local community, Bill spent much of his retirement as a part-time facilities manager in Garfield Township and served on numerous local boards including the Grand Traverse County Road Commission, the Green Lake Township Planning and Zoning Committee, and the Grand Traverse County Parks and Recreation Commission. Bill's passing is a significant loss to our community, and he is missed dearly by his family and friends. Mr. Mouser's tireless devotion to the public good touched the lives of many Michiganders, and the impact of his work cannot be overstated. Madam Speaker, on behalf of Michigan's First Congressional District, I ask you to join me in honoring the life of William ``Bill'' Mouser. He will be forever remembered for the many lives he bettered throughout his life.

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, it's my honor to recognize Graveraet Elementary School of Marquette, Michigan, for being selected as a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Through their dedication to their students and the local community, Graveraet Elementary has become an indispensable part of the Upper Peninsula and the State of Michigan. For 39 years, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has set out to recognize the exceptional efforts of schools around the U.S. who symbolize the gold standard for teaching and learning. Through their longtime devotion to education and academics, Graveraet Elementary School continues to go above and beyond for their students and perfectly exemplifies Yooper values on the national stage. To help their community adapt to a modernizing society, Graveraet invested in Chromebook and iPad programs that bring crucial technology to all of their students regardless of their background. The school also offers several other critical programs such as One School One Book, which organizes assemblies and luncheons each month with the Principal. Graveraet and their staffs tireless commitment has positively changed the lives of countless families and students. The impact of their work cannot be overstated. Madam Speaker, it's my honor to congratulate the Marquette community and Graveraet Elementary School for being named a National Blue Ribbon School. With the many difficulties our schools have faced this past year, their dedicated service has created a positive and caring environment for their students to thrive in. On behalf of my constituents, I wish Graveraet Elementary School all the best in its future endeavors.

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Biden Department of Justice attack on our parents who advocate for their children to our local school boards. These efforts undermine the very foundation of our public schools. That is what they do. We have recently seen an unprecedented level of local civic engagement allowing parents, teachers, and government officials to navigate our pandemic recovery and promote accountability in the classroom. However, this administration has responded by using scare tactics to prevent any criticism from parents against biased policies. Parents don't want their children's educational development stunted by mask mandates or corrupted by critical race theory. What parents do want is a say in their children's educational futures without being threatened for exercising their First Amendment rights. The Attorney General must immediately withdraw this memorandum. I will continue fighting for a mom's or dad's right to make their opinion heard because that is the America our parents and students deserve.

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, I was unexpectedly detained during vote proceedings. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 348. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Axne (Spanberger) Barragan (Gallego) Bowman (Tlaib) Brown (Mfume) Cardenas (Gomez) Cohen (Beyer) Crist (Castor (FL)) Davids (KS) (Cleaver) DeFazio (Blumenauer) Deutch (Rice (NY)) Doggett (Raskin) Fletcher (Escobar) Gaetz (Greene (GA)) Gonzalez, Vicente (Gomez) Hagedorn (Carl) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Larsen (WA) (Connolly) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Meng (Jeffries) Morelle (Rice (NY)) Norcross (Pallone) Ocasio-Cortez (Garcia (IL)) Palazzo (Fleischmann) Payne (Pallone) Pingree (Kuster) Rush (Underwood) Schiff (Thompson (CA)) Sires (Pallone) Smucker (Joyce (PA)) Speier (Scanlon) Steube (Franklin, C. Scott) Strickland (Jeffries) Swalwell (Gomez) Thompson (MS) (Butterfield) Thompson (PA) (Reschenthaler) Titus (Connolly) Trone (Beyer) Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

Mr. BERGMAN

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, I am proud and honored to host today's Special Order in light of Veterans Day being just around the corner on November 11. Here in D.C. and back home in Michigan, I stay closely connected with all my fellow veterans, and I can tell you this: From the Afghanistan debacle to lingering backlogs at the VA, it has not been an easy year for veterans and their families. But I want to remind you all, veterans, you are not alone. We are here with you; we are listening; and we are working through the difficult times to get things done. You are going to hear today from many of my colleagues who not only share this feeling but want to remind you that we are working every day on your behalf, not for any political reason but because we strive to thank you and honor you for your service to our Nation. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost), who is my friend, colleague, and fellow marine.

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Bost for his comments, and I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), my friend and colleague and fellow Air Force veteran.

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield to my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly).

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, I am proud to yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce), my friend.

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman, and I accept that for all the veterans who served, especially the marines. Now, it is my honor to yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer), my friend and colleague.

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert), my friend and Army veteran.

Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller).