Gerald Connolly

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable career of Lieutenant Colonel Dan Wagner upon his retirement from the United States Army after 20 years of selfless service to our Nation. Lt. Col Dan Wagner has made immeasurable contributions in service to our great Nation. Lt. Col Wagner was spurred to action by the tragic events of September 11, 2001 and joined the Army shortly thereafter. He has since had an exemplary military career. Over the course of his service, his assignments included three years of tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and other areas with both conventional and special operations units. Prior to his retirement this summer, he served as a legislative liaison for U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in Washington, D.C. Lt. Col Wagner focused on developing and executing legislative strategies to secure support for a $12 billion budget, including appropriations and authorizations for Joint Special Operations, Special Mission Units, and Intelligence. On behalf of special operators for operational and programmatic issues of Congressional interest, Lt. Col Wagner coordinated with several offices in the Department of Defense, including the Offices of the Secretary of Defense, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Department of Defense Special Access Programs Coordination Office, and Geographic Combat Commanders. Using his extensive experience with the inner workings of the Pentagon, Geographic Combatant Commands, and the National Security Council, Lt. Col Wagner served as a senior representative for USSOCOM to the Central Intelligence Agency on national security and counterterrorism issues. He worked to revamp policies both global and internal, as well as to coordinate de-confliction and synchronization efforts. Lt. Col Wagner served on the Army Staff in Legislative Affairs where he maintained the intelligence portfolio for the Secretary of the Army. He also served in the personal office of Rep. Mike Rogers, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Prior to joining the Army, Lt. Col Wagner was a small business owner in Southeastern Ohio. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from DePaul University and a Masters in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University. Additionally, Lt. Col Wagner completed the Manage Mentor Program for Business, Management and Marketing at Harvard University. Lt. Col Wagner is a passionate and selfless leader who has devoted his career to ensuring military operators receive the intelligence and support they need to keep our Nation safe. Madam Speaker, I ask that my fellow colleagues please join me in thanking Lt. Col Wagner and his family for their service as they enter the next chapter of their lives.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize a dedicated group of men and women in Northern Virginia, the Lords and Ladies of Fairfax. Every year, each member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors selects two people from his or her district who have demonstrated outstanding volunteer service, heroism, or othel exceptional commitments and contributions to our community. Since the program's inception in 1984, approximately 720 individuals have earned the honor of being named a Lord or Lady Fairfax by his or her representative on the Board of Supewisors. This year. the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will recognize those individuals who have made tremendous impacts through their support of our public schools, parks. youth sports leagues, arts community, public safety. and human service programs. It is nearly impossible to fully describe the diversity of accomplishments of the honorees. Their efforts contribute greatly to the quality of life for the residents of Fairfax County and are worthy of our praise and sincere appreciation. It is my honor to include in the Record the names of the 2022 Lords and Ladies Fairfax: At-Large: Lady Nelfred Tilly Blanding and Lord Robert Pizzano, Jr. Braddock District: Lady Diane Hoffman and Lord Jim Hickey Dranesville District: Lady Lisa Merkel and Lord Steven Bloom Hunter Mill District: Lady Raba Alwan Letteri and Lord Kurt Rose Franconia District: Lady Juana Cruz and Lord Edward D. Joseph Mason District: Lady Honorable Penney Azcarate and Lord Eduardo ``Eddy'' Azcarate Mount Vernon District: Lady Maria Severa Pangelinan and Lord Jeff Gauger Providence District: Lady Robbie Snow and Lord Rafael L. Marin Springfield District: Lady Caroline Sieber and Lord Sam Gray Sully District: Lady Malini Puli and Lord Sekhar Puli Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending and expressing our gratitude to these men and women who volunteer their time and energy on behalf of our community. Their efforts, which are deserving of our highest praise, provide immeasurable benefits to their fellow residents and serve as a reminder of why Fairfax County remains such a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2022 Prince William County Arts Council's Seefeldt Awardees. These Awards for Arts Excellence were established nearly two decades ago in honor of Kathleen Kenna Seefeldt, a former Chairwoman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. These awards recognize and celebrate the artists, art organizations, volunteers, educators, and businesses that build upon the foundation in which Ms. Seefeldt's legacy of supporting the cultural arts. Kathleen Seefeldt moved to Prince William County in 1970 and her deep love for her newfound community inspired her to run for office. She was elected to the Board and served as the Occoquan District Supervisor for fifteen years before being elected the first at-large chair of the Board in 1991. Her two terms as chair led to Prince William County's economic and cultural growth, and her emphasis on incorporating the arts has helped Prince William become the thriving community it is today. This honorary award in her name celebrates the many artistic achievements in Prince William County. This year's honorees have done tremendous work to continue Kathleen Seefeldt's legacy. These awardees have tirelessly dedicated themselves to the promotion and expansion of the artistic elements that make Prince William County so special. It is my honor to include in the Record the following names of the 2022 Prince William County Arts Council's Seefeldt Award Recipients: Lynn Godino, Outstanding Volunteer in the Arts Lukman Ahmad, Outstanding Patron of the Arts James Villani, Outstanding Individual Artist Manassas Ballet Theatre, Outstanding Arts Organization Prince William Living, Outstanding Business Supporter of the Arts Dr. Laura Cherry, Outstanding Arts Educator This celebration is also of particular significance in that it also serves as the 30th anniversary of the Prince Williams County Arts Council's founding. For three decades now, the Arts Council has celebrated the artistic accomplishments of our community. Their work has kept Prince William County a wonderful place to live and work, and has attracted artistic talent from all over, helping expand our diverse community. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the 2022 Prince William County Arts Council's Seefeldt Awardees. These talented, expressive, and dedicated individuals have committed themselves to the preservation of an admirable legacy and have made their community more beautiful at every turn along the way.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Colonel Peter J. Weina, PhD, MD, FACP, FIDSA upon his retirement from the Office of Research Protections at the Defense Health Agency. Colonel Weina has served for 45 years in various federal capacities, and his dedicated service will be sorely missed. Colonel Weina joined the United States Army right out of high school and completed both a bachelor's and a master's degree in zoology at the University of Wisconsin Madison. As a second lieutenant, he completed a Ph.D. in pathology and parasitology, also at UW Madison. After four years at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), he entered medical school at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. Mr. Weirla then completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Tripler Army Medical Center and a fellowship in infectious diseases at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Colonel Weina, a board-certified doctor in both internal medicine and infectious diseases, also holds a Certificate of Knowledge in clinical tropical medicine and travelers' health. From his time as Chief of Pharmacology at WRAIR and subsequently as Director of Viral Diseases, to his fellowships with the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, Colonel Weina has proven himself a competent leader and a measured presence in the medical field. Over his illustrious career, Colonel Weina has published over 70 articles in peer-reviewed journals, five chapters in books, and two books of his own. He has worked to expand the availability and licensure of intravenous Artesunate, the first new anti-malarial drug since the advent of quinine over 300 years ago. In 2020, this life- saving treatment was licensed by the Food and Drug Administration. Colonel Weina formerly headed the only College of American Pathologists-accredited leishmania diagnostics laboratory in the world. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Federal CDC Silo Buster's Collaborative Award of Excellence in 2008, the Colonel George W. Hunter III Certificate in 2011, and the Bronze Star for Service. Colonel Weina's accolades extend far beyond these, as many have recognized his courage, passion, and dedication to bettering his community. He has combined the opportunity to serve his country with the chance to advance our medical knowledge and capabilities, and our nation is better off for his efforts. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Colonal Peter J. Weina for his 45 years of service to the United States. His contributions to our Nation are innumerable and his impact has been felt by countless Americans. He has been an inspiration and a mentor to the next generation of health professionals, and I wish him the best in his retirement and may happiness and success find him in all future endeavors.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of the thousands of Sewa International USA employees to assist underserved communities around the world throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. Sewa International USA was founded in 2003 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity organization. Comprised of 43 chapters with more than 5,000 volunteers across the country, Sewa workers take inspiration from the Hindu principles of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam--meaning ``the whole world is one family''--and Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah--meaning ''may all be happy.'' These complementary outlooks have driven volunteers to serve humanity in times of distress. This service takes many forms. Sewa volunteers work with local communities to coordinate developmental projects and mobilize partners, donors, and on-the-ground volunteers to make meaningful changes in the face of disaster. Sewa has organized volunteer service in the wake of 30 disasters over the last two decades, including the recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and the California wildfires in 2019 and 2020. Internationally, they have assisted after some of the world's greatest crises in recent memory, from Haiti's 2012 earthquake to Pakistan's 2013 flooding to the evacuation efforts from ongoing war in Ukraine. As Russia's invasion of Ukraine rages on, Sewa International volunteers are conducting massive evacuation efforts to help thousands of students escape the violence. Their erroneous network has been invaluable in the last few years, providing $15 million worth of food, PPE, and medical supplies to those in need. Regardless of the type of crisis, Sewa International always finds meaningful ways to help. Without regard for race, religion, gender. sexual orientation, or nationality, Sewa International USA has done tremendous work to ameliorate the effects of some of the world's greatest disasters. Hundreds of thousands of people benefit from their work every year, and I am proud to represent some of these volunteers in Congress. These volunteers work tirelessly across the globe to aid those who are most vulnerable, and it is no surprise that they are one of the seven key trusted partners of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the extraordinary service of Sewa International USA and their thousands of volunteers. Their work over the last two decades has been invaluable in recovery efforts around the globe, and reminds us all to take every opportunity we have to assist those around us. I wish them every continued success in their efforts to bring our one family closer together and promote happiness for all.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 2022 recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Woman in Sales Leadership Award, the IES Member of the Year, the Rising Sales Star Award, and the Sales Speaker of the Year presented by the Institute for Excellence in Sales & Business Development (IES). IES was created to foster excellence in business sales and development practices to help sales professionals and organizations maximize their efforts. IES conducts a variety of workshops and programs to provide the tools necessary to advance the careers and growth of those who attend. Each year, IES recognizes individuals, teams, and organizations throughout the United States who demonstrate exemplary performance through leadership, risk taking, innovation, vision, and customer development. The Sales Excellence awards seek to promote corporate and organizational sales excellence by recognizing leaders in Enterprise Sales. The recipient of the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award is Mr. Dave Rey, the President of Sales for the Global Public Sector at Salesforce. Over his nine-year career with Salesforce, he has driven the company's continued growth and facilitated public sector business across the continent. He has decades of experience supporting the public sector, and his expertise has been invaluable in performing much of our nation's best work. Ms. Jennifer Chronis, Senior Vice President of Public Sector at Verizon, is the recipient of this year's Woman in Sales Leadership Award. She has led a team of professionals to work with Verizon's federal, ,state, local, education, and public safety partners to deliver innovative technology solutions and services, including the Verizon Frontline platform for first responders. The 2022 IES Member of the Year is sales consultant and author Mr. Vince Burruano. He has worked to recruit, coach, develop, and lead sales professionals across multiple industries, most recently as the Vice President of Sales for the Commercial Division of JK Moving Services. His experience in challenging paradigms has led to his trusted reputation, and his customer-centric approach sets a famously high bar. Ms. Lauryn Scott is the recipient of the Jay Nussbaum Rising Sales Star Award due to her work as a dynamic sales leader at Cvent, providing software solutions at every stage of an event. Her growth mindset has contributed to the success of her account managers, with many exceeding annual quotas. Lauryn believes that anyone can sell if they are willing to learn, and I am proud of her accomplishments. Lee Salz is the 2022 IES Sales Speaker of the Year. He has written two books, the most recent of which has become a bestseller. His inspirational story of finding a need in his community and meeting it perfectly embodies what it means to be an entrepreneur. He understands the value in what he sells, and shares that understanding with his community to ensure that everyone's needs are met. He teaches others how to differentiate themselves from those around them, celebrating individual identities and accommodating unmet needs. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dave Rey, Jennifer Chronis, Vince Burruano, Lauryn Scott, and Lee Salz for their exceptional dedication and leadership within the business community. Their dedication to bettering themselves, their organizations, and their communities has made the 11th District of Virginia better.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the work of Dr. Robert Eichorn who is retiring after two decades of work as an educator. While a Prince William County Principal, Dr. Eichorn's dedicated service has led Independence Nontraditional School to be named the first ever model school by the National Alternative Education Association. His work to meet the needs of an often underserved community has made education and achievement more accessible to Virginia's youth. Dr. Eichorn has pushed to reimagine education for students, instructors, and the broader Prince William community. He is a fierce advocate for the socioeconomically disadvantaged children of Virginia and has implemented a learner-centric curriculum to meet the needs of the individual. Dr. Eichorn has been an advocate and practitioner for over thirty years, and his efforts have been crucial in the fight for educational equity. For years, Dr. Eichorn has served as the principal at Independence Nontraditional School, which serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The school provides a full curriculum, including music, foreign language, Advanced Placement, and engineering courses. The school also offers internships within their career and technical education trades programs. The primary focus at Independence is to meet the individual needs of every student with tailored instruction. For those who may need a little extra assistance or a second chance, Independence Nontraditional School offers the resources that disadvantaged young people need to achieve their fullest potential. Dr. Eichorn has been the recipient of multiple awards for his tireless efforts. He was named Prince William County Schools' 2017-18 Principal of the Year. In 2020, the National Association of Secondary School Principals named him a Digital Principal of the Year for his leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic. He shepherded navigated his school as they implemented new technologies to expand access to students and to maintain a semblance of normalcy throughout unprecedented hardship. As the first model school highlighted by the National Alternative Education Association, Independence has illuminated the successes made possible when our educators strive to develop integrity, ingenuity, and intellect in every student. With the right resources, we must hope to recruit more educators who exemplify the dedication and talent that Dr. Eichorn has demonstrated. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dr. Robert Eichorn for his unwavering dedication to the young people of Prince William County. He has made every effort to ensure that all children have access to the resources they need for a rich and promising education. His students and colleagues alike have expressed their sincere appreciation for his tremendous service. Dr. Eichner has truly lived up to the Prince William County Public Schools motto, ``Providing a World-Class Education.'' I wish him the best in his retirement and thank him for the service he provided our community.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize a leading figure in the practice of community and economic development, Mr. Paul Webster. Mr. Webster serves as the Director of the Financial Management Division in the Office of Community Planning and Development for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Mr. Webster's commitment to public service is unparalleled, his five-decade-long career focused on creating resilient communities, suitable living environments, and economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income persons and families. Mr. Webster joined the Department in 1972 and has served as Director since 1983. In this role, Mr. Webster oversees the Section 108 loan guarantee program, a transformational program and resource for low- income communities, including funding for critical economic development projects and facilitation of affordable housing solutions that would otherwise not be possible. He spearheaded the expansion of the Section 108 program. Over the course of his career, Mr. Webster has overseen an unprecedented 2,000 loan guarantee commitments with a total value close to $10 billion. These numbers underscore his work to provide the much-needed resources that revitalize American communities and ensure everyone has a chance to succeed. Mr. Webster also championed legislation that established the Economic Development Initiative (EDI), which provided grant funds to support and enhance the use of Section 108 loan guarantees and the subsequent Brownfields EDI to help address environmental cleanup efforts, returning contaminated property to sustainable use. His expertise also extended to long-term disaster recovery work and neighborhood stabilization activities targeted at addressing the effects of abandoned and foreclosed housing. He is one of the leading experts on financial management and is happy to provide guidance and advice to individuals, organizations, and federal, state, and local partners for the Department. Equally important, Mr. Webster has been and continues to be a mentor to the next generation of community development and financial management professionals, reflected in the esteem of his colleagues, staff, and external partners. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring this remarkable public servant, whose expertise, tenacity, and creativity in economic and community development has helped to transform hundreds of communities for the better. Paul Webster has tirelessly dedicated himself to making life better for countless Americans. I hope his continuing legacy inspires us all to renew our commitments to serving our communities.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the recipients of the annual Best of Braddock Awards. These awards are the result of collaborative work between the Braddock District Council and Braddock District Supervisor and are presented to individuals and organizations whose extraordinary efforts make our community a better place. I have been proud to represent this community since my days as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The level of civic engagement celebrated by these awards is a testament to the community spirit of the Braddock District. I have often said that civic engagement is a key indicator of a healthy community, and tonight's event proves that Braddock District continues to be one of the healthiest communities in all of Northern Virginia. I extend my congratulations to all of tonight's honorees and commend them for their efforts to make our region one of the best places in the country to live, work, and raise a family. It is my honor to include in the Record the following recipients of the 2022 Best of Braddock Awards: Organization or Club Making a Difference Holy Spirit Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, for their work supporting some of the most vulnerable populations in our communities. SevaTruck, for their tireless efforts to provide hundreds of children with nutritious food after school. Neighborhood Beautification, Enhancement, or Community-Building Effort Amy Gould, for her efforts to organize and host large-scale clean up events alongside Americana Drive, rain or shine. Friends of Royal Lake (FORL), for their mission to preserve Royal Lake and its surrounding parks' ecosystems. Most ``Can-Do'' Public Employee John Berlin, for his 24 years of service to Fairfax County and the Fairfax County Park Authority. Honorable Mention: Melissa Adams, for her exceptional dedication to her fourth-grade class at Canterbury Woods Elementary School. Young Person of the Year Pedro Leonardo Herrera Santiago, for his commitment to learning and helping others. Lucas Bickford, for his initiative in starting Villa Neighborhood Cleanup, an effort that has kept Braddock Beautiful. Citizen of the Year Brian Bishop, for his leadership and activism as president of the Little Run Civic Association. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 2022 Best of Braddock honorees for their tremendous contributions to Northern Virginia. We are a better place for them.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the distinguished career of my constituent, Ms. Ann Dunning, who has served the Town of Vienna, Virginia for 50 years. For her decades of comforting and welcoming patients at Mitchell Eye Institute, a local ophthalmologist's office, Ms. Dunning received the inaugural Town of Vienna Outstanding Service Award from Mayor Linda Colbert in a ceremony on Monday, September 26, in a celebration that included generations of her patients. This honor was initiated by the Mayor and the Town Business Liaison Committee to recognize the individuals in local businesses who have gone above and beyond to better their community. Ms. Dunning's dedication for five decades has earned her the respect, admiration, and trust of her patients and colleagues. Dr. John Mitchell, the lead ophthalmologist who nominated Ms. Dunning for this award, noted that she has made her patients ``feel secure with a continuity of care she has provided them throughout the years.'' It is no surprise that patients regularly request appointments on days when Ms. Dunning will be working. Ann Dunning's lifelong dedication to her patients is not only the mark of a passionate individual, but of a community member who recognizes the profound impact we can have on one another in everyday interactions. In her capacity as a medical practitioner, she could have easily adopted a routine that did not account for the feelings of those seeking care. Instead, Ms. Dunning puts people first. It is exactly this care and kindness that has made her an iconic fixture in the community. I hope that her lessons of gentleness and service will inspire further generations to find ways to make others feel welcome, wherever they may be. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Ann Dunning for her 50 years providing ophthalmologic diagnostic service to the Town of Vienna. From her measured demeanor and kind words to her boundless perseverance and dedication to service, Ms. Dunning has illuminated herself as an example to all of us of the comfort we can provide by the smallest actions. I am proud to represent such an upstanding and compassionate citizen in Congress, and I wish her the best in all her future endeavors.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the National Spine Health Foundation on its 20th anniversary. In 2019, according to the Center for Disease Control, about 39 percent of the U.S. population suffered from chronic neck or back pain. Those numbers increased to 44.8 percent in adults below the federal poverty level. Back pain is also the number one cause of missed workdays, the leading cause of job-related disability and pain in the U.S., and the most common non-cancer related reason for an opioid prescription in the U.S. It is no small wonder that spine problems caused by inactivity and neglect during the COVID pandemic have resulted in increased opioid use for pain. The National Spine Health Foundation is the only national patient- centered non-profit dedicated to helping patients overcome debilitating spinal conditions and take back their lives. During the past 20 years, the Foundation has developed award winning patient education, advocacy, and research to give patients the tools they need to make informed decisions about their spine health and navigate their own treatment journeys with confidence. It has been well documented that better- informed patients have better outcomes. Knowledge is powerful medicine. The Foundation's Medical and Scientific Board includes 50 of the top spine specialists in the nation. These spine specialists provide their insight, knowledge, and expertise to help patients understand their options so they can make informed decisions concerning their spine wellness, problem prevention, and surgical and non-surgical treatments. The Foundation has proven their commitment to spine health research. Patient-reported outcomes have been part of the NSHF fabric since its inception. As they are deeply invested in supporting evidence-based healthcare decision-making, it is important that they take part in finding this evidence. Their trademarked cloud-based `Spine-online' research tool enables them to conduct multi-center studies and partner with research teams both in the U.S. and internationally, including active studies on robotic surgery, enhanced surgical recovery, augmented reality, stern cell therapy, and more. Madam Speaker, in the U.S. and globally, musculoskeletal conditions affect more people than any other condition. I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the National Spine Health Foundation's 20- year commitment to all those individuals who suffer from spine and back issues.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 35th Anniversary of the Fairfax Pets on Wheels program. This program aims to bring joy to our long term assisted living residents through therapy pet visits. Since 1987, all-volunteer Fairfax Pets on Wheels (FPOW) has been licking loneliness by carrying out their mission to provide companionship and improved quality of life to residents of Fairfax area nursing homes and assisted living facilities through regular pet visitation by trained volunteers and their approved pets. Sponsored by the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging and approved by the American Kennel Club as a therapy dog group, FPOW's trained people and pet teams share the power of the human-animal bond through thousands of hours of pet therapy visits every year. They have facilitated pet visitations through a network of more than 300 volunteers, and currently provide visitation to residents in ten facilities. Their dedicated volunteers donated over 8,000 hours of pet visitation just last year. Pet visitation is proven to have a calming effect. Regular visits by volunteer and pet teams help reduce anxiety, relieve depression, lower blood pressure, encourage communication, and increase socialization. Touching animals helps chase away loneliness and withdrawal and encourages a meaningful connection to happier times. Throughout the pandemic, many of us have had to isolate to keep our communities safe, and this left many older adults without social interaction or company. We were seeing this take a toll on the mental and physical health of our senior population as they were forced to quarantine for weeks on end. As we are starting to return to normalcy, the visits from furry friends are a great way for our elderly community to lift their spirits. FPOW volunteers and their pet partners make a difference every day by sharing the unconditional love of a pet to help improve someone's life. In return, human volunteers get to spend more time with their pets and make new friends. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the Fairfax Pets on Wheels program. Volunteers of this organization dedicate themselves to the senior residents of Fairfax County make sure that all residents, including some of the most vulnerable in our society, are being looked out for. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to this organization for their work to support our aging adults in this community.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Dulles Chapter 1241 on its 50th anniversary. The Northern Virginia region is home to tens of thousands of federal employees and many retirees who have chosen to stay in the region. Throughout their careers, these dedicated civil servants have given their time and effort to serve their fellow Americans, and NARFE has consistently provided them with coordinated support. Founded in 1921, NARFE is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the earned pay, retirement, and health care benefits of federal employees and retirees as well as their spouses and survivors. Dulles Chapter 1241 is one of more than 1600 NARFE chapters nationwide. The Charter for Chapter 1241 was issued June 21, 1972. At that time, there were 9 members. Today, the Chapter membership has grown to approximately 350 members with another 400 national members in the Dulles jurisdiction. Chapter members have had a strong voice in many national and local legislative issues affecting federal retirees, senior citizens, and the public at large. In 2015, following the dissolution of the Leesburg Chapter, the Dulles Chapter welcomed many of these federal employees and retirees into their ranks with open arms. Chapter 1241 has worked from their founding to represent federal employees, but also to better their community. This chapter has supported Alzheimer's research for many years through regular drawings, the ``Red Pot'' for monthly donations, and the Alzheimer's Christmas Challenge. Additionally, the Dulles chapter has sponsored several food drives for Fairfax County food pantries, collecting resources for those who have been hit the hardest by misfortune. Throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Dulles Chapter has seen its share of hardship, but these federal employees have still banded together to ensure that everyone's needs are met. Over the years, members have also participated in health and community fairs, auto shows, and other outreach activities. Additionally, many members have been active leaders in the Virginia Federation of NARFE. These accomplished federal employees have earned the attention and praise of numerous bodies, from Virginia state legislators to NARFE national leaders, as well as travel, medical, insurance, tax, and law enforcement experts. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Dulles Chapter 1241 for 50 years of dedicated service to Northern Virginia's federal employees. These individuals are the lifeblood of our federal government, and I am grateful for their service and proud to represent such outstanding individuals. I wish them the best for their anniversary, and continued success in future endeavors.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the lifetime of service that Joan and Donald Sacarob have dedicated to Hadassah, a non- profit organization that seeks to expand women's rights and their leadership capacity. Hadassah embodies Jewish values to advance health equity, fight antisemitism, and equip women with the tools they need to make a difference in their communities. Hadassah's mission is to provide education, advocacy, and youth development opportunities to enhance the lives of those in their community. Their work extends to the Hadassah Medical Organization to research cutting-edge medical procedures and provide first-rate care for those who need it. To these ends, they connect and empower Jewish women to lead by example. The organization traces its origins back to the extraordinary public service of Henrietta Szold, who dedicated her life to ameliorating disease and starvation that were disproportionately affecting Jewish people. She founded youth villages to house Jewish children who fled their homelands as Nazi troops invaded Eastern Europe. Her legacy of care has rippled outward for over a century. Hadassah was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for their work to offer world-class medical care to all, regardless of race, ethnicity, or national origin, following their commitment to building a bridge to peace through medicine. For 50 consecutive years, Joan Sacarob has served Hadassah with national portfolios focused on advocacy and philanthropy. Her husband Donald has served as the National Associate Vice President of Hadassah, the men's branch of the organization. For decades, these 2 hardworking philanthropists and activists have committed themselves to the betterment of the Northern Virginia and Greater Washington Metropolitan Area Jewish communities. Joan was a pivotal figure in the development of the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, and her friends and colleagues recognize her as a passionate and resilient force. She served for 20 years on the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington and was honored for her distinguished service on the board in 2006. Her advocacy work has not dwindled since then, and I am honored to know such a fierce advocate for equity. Joan and Donald have earned the respect and recognition of their peers. Their work has been instrumental in advancing the causes of health equity, women's leadership, and access to much needed resources. I wish them every success and comfort as they continue their work. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Joan and Donald Sacarob for their exceptional dedication and leadership within our community.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize ArtsFairfax and the recipients of the 2022 Arts Awards. These awards recognize the extraordinary contributions of artists, arts organizations, individuals, and businesses in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church that support the arts in our community. Founded in 1964, the formally named Arts Council of Fairfax County, Inc. is a non-profit organization designated as Fairfax County's local arts agency. Today, ArtsFairfax operates programs and initiatives that include grant opportunities, arts advocacy, education, and professional development opportunities for artists and arts organizations. As the arts community has continued to rebuild after many artists and organizations had to cancel programs and events during the height of the pandemic, ArtsFairfax awarded over $538,838 in County, public, and private funds through competitive grants and awards to arts organizations and individual artists in FY2021. ArtsFairfax's resiliency and adaptability allowed the organization to continue meeting the needs of the arts community during these unprecedented times. The Arts Awards honors supporters of the arts in 4 categories: the Jinx Hazel Arts Award, the Arts Achievement Award, the Arts Innovation Award, and the Arts Philanthropy Award. It is my honor to include in the Record the following names of the 2022 Arts Awards Recipients: The 2022 Jinx Hazel Arts Award, ArtsFairfax's premier award recognizing an individual or organization whose vision and commitment has helped shape the cultural life of Fairfax County, will be presented to Capital One Hall. The 2022 Arts Achievement Award will be presented to Mark Brutsche for his outstanding career achievement and lasting contributions to the community. The 2022 Arts Innovation Award will be presented to Fall for the Book for their implementation of inventive approaches to their art form that have uniquely engaged audiences in the arts. The 2022 Arts Philanthropy Award will be presented to Gary and Tina Mather for their commitment to making the arts the cornerstone of their philanthropic portfolio. I also want to recognize the 2022-2024 Fairfax Poet Laureate, Danielle Badra, as she builds awareness and appreciation of poetry throughout Fairfax County. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the recipients of the 2022 Arts Awards and recognizing the visionaries, leaders, and supporters who help to make our Northern Virginia communities rich with cultural opportunities.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Fairfax County History Commission on the occasion of the 18th Annual Fairfax County History Conference. Since 1969, the Fairfax County History Commission has worked to identify, document, record and preserve the history of our region. There are few areas in the country that are as rich in history as our area is. The History Conference provides an opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year while recognizing our neighbors who have made significant contributions to preserving and promoting our local history. Through the dedicated efforts of the History Commission and its many volunteers, we are assured that our history will not be lost and will be available for future generations. This year, a number of dedicated individuals are being honored for their commitment to the preservation and education of history. I am proud to include in the Record their names: Mike Salmon and Ean Eschenburg for their work to promote and preserve the history of Fairfax County through video historic documentary production. One of their first productions, entitled ``The Gravel Pits: Before There Was a Kingstowne,'' takes the viewer from today's busy, attractive residential and commercial area of Kingstowne to the days when it was a semi-abandoned concrete plant known as the Leehigh Cement Company. Debbie Robison for her 11 years of service on the Fairfax County History Commission, including 2 years as the Commission's Chairperson. Her in-depth knowledge of Fairfax County and surrounding jurisdictions is beyond compare. She has been first and foremost a life-long promoter of the history and preservation of Fairfax County's history. George Mason University Capstone Computer Science Program 2021 graduates, Akbur Asuri, Steve Cheuko, Brian Do, Fernando Galarza, Roman Patrick, and Samuel Pitch, for creating the Fairfax County African American History Inventory Database. The project included the labor, research and design to create a user friendly and future oriented data base, referenced as the African American Historic Inventory. I commend the Fairfax County History Commission for helping to ensure that the abundance of history that is available to our community will be preserved far into the future. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating all the honorees and thanking the Fairfax County History Commission for the important work they do for the Northern Virginia community.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Lamb Center for 30 years of dedication and service to some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Founded in 1992, the Lamb Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping those in our community who are suffering from the effects of poverty. This help takes many forms. The Lamb Center is as a daytime drop-in shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness in Fairfax, Virginia. They provide a variety of services without cost to the individuals in need, including breakfast, lunch, showers, laundry service, case management, and more. The facility in Fairfax City is fitted with medical offices to provide health care services and referrals for the unhoused and uninsured. People can also receive pro bono restorative dental services on site. Not only does the Lamb Center cover necessities like food, clothing, and hygiene, but they work to get people back on their feet and into permanent housing. One vital part of that is finding employment. Through their City Jobs program, the Lamb Center partners with the City of Fairfax and Fairfax County to create employment opportunities for individuals that meet these individuals where they are and empower them to reach their full employment potential. The program pays $10 an hour for working 4 hours 2 days a week. The goal of the program is to help people graduate to a full-time or part time job in conjunction with housing opportunities. For someone experiencing homelessness, knowing you are part of a community that cares and will give you the assistance necessary to get back on your feet can help ease the burden of your plight. In a county as economically prosperous as Fairfax County, it can be easy to forget there are still citizens who go without the most basic necessities. Organizations like the Lamb Center are helping to make sure that we bring everyone to the table and providing all with a path towards economic success and independence. During my tenure as chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, we developed a 10 year plan to prevent and end homelessness. Due to the efforts of the Lamb Center and many other similar public-private partnerships working to meet everyone's needs, we have seen homelessness in Fairfax County decline by 35 percent since 2008. Madam Speaker, I extend my congratulations to Cathy Liverman, chairman of the Board, and Tara Ruszkowski, the Executive Director, as well as all the members of the Board, staff, and volunteers who have contributed their time, energy, and resources to the Lamb Center over the last 30 years. Their support is part of why Fairfax County remains 1 of the best places in the country in which to live, work, and raise a family, and I commend them all for their service to our community. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Lamb Center on this tremendous anniversary.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney), the distinguished chairwoman of the committee and my friend, and I thank the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer), the distinguished ranking member and my friend for bringing this bill to the floor. With respect to Mr. Comer's comments, I just say, ``Hear, hear.'' He has succinctly explained both the process and the importance of this bill. This is the sixth time the House will have passed this bill in some form. The Senate has yet to ever consider it on the floor. As Mr. Comer indicated, the time has now come for the Senate to accept a bill that has been worked out with the Senate in terms of the language so that we can get this important piece of Federal IT into law. This bill would create a statutory framework for the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, known as FedRAMP, originally established administratively back in 2011. This bill will codify FedRAMP and was the very first bill, as Mr. Comer indicated, to pass the House in the 117th Congress. It passed, I believe, unanimously. If once again passed, this will be, as I said, I believe, the sixth time we have considered it here in the House of Representatives. FedRAMP is a standardized approach that brings our government in line with our increasingly digital world to continually certify and assess the security of cloud computing technologies used across the Federal Government. FedRAMP seeks to reduce the redundancies of Federal cloud migration by creating a ``certify once, reuse many times'' model for cloud products and services that provide cost-effective, risk-based approaches to cloud adoption. FedRAMP saw a 50 percent increase in agencies reusing authorized cloud products in 2020. This bill codifies FedRAMP and addresses many of the concerns raised by government and industry stakeholders in terms of both the time and cost associated with certification. The text reduces duplication of security assessments and other obstacles to agency adoption of cloud products by establishing a presumption of adequacy for cloud technologies that have already received FedRAMP certification, so companies aren't reinventing the wheel and spending millions of dollars they don't need to. I support a strong cybersecurity framework that ensures whatever tool we use to support the infrastructure of our Federal critical systems is safe and secure. Again, referenced by Mr. Comer. However, those who have already diligently passed scrupulous security assessments shouldn't have to start from scratch, and this bill addresses that. For more than 5 years, I have worked with administrations, both Democratic and Republican, Members on the other side of the aisle, industry stakeholders, and my friends in the U.S. Senate to ensure the legislative text makes needed improvements to the FedRAMP program and gives the program flexibility to grow and adapt to myriad future changes. Since the coronavirus pandemic, the demand for cloud services has risen by 85 percent. Accordingly, FedRAMP use skyrocketed and enabled the government to continue working securely during the government's large-scale movement to telework. In the first 4 years of FedRAMP, the program had only authorized 20 cloud service offerings, but by 2021 it had authorized 240. Today, there are over 280 cloud service providers to the U.S. Government participating in FedRAMP, and about 30 percent of FedRAMP authorized CSPs are small businesses. Over 180 agencies participate in FedRAMP and have initiated more than 3,000 agency reuses of authorized products. Today, the Agency Liaison Program, which provides FedRAMP authorization, education, and training currently has 155 liaisons with 82 different Federal Government departments participating. Ultimately, this program strives to have at least one representative from each Federal agency tied to the security authorization who can communicate to key stakeholders about their agency's internal processes as well as FedRAMP requirements. The bill supports a critical need to support multistakeholder communication and keep our Nation's information secure in cloud environments. Enabling the efficient and secure procurement of cloud computing technology is an important part of Federal IT modernization. Codifying FedRAMP into law is very important because right now it exists as an orphan only by an executive action. I thank the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer), the ranking member of the Oversight and Reform Committee, for being a steadfast partner, and I thank our chairwoman for her leadership.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairwoman of our committee for yielding, and I thank Mr. Comer, the ranking member, and Mr. Hice, the ranking member of Government Operations Subcommittee, for their support and collaboration on an improved H.R. 8466, the Suthammanont Healthy Workforce Act of 2022. On May 26, 2022, Chai Suthammanont, my constituent, a kitchen staff worker at a childcare facility at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, died from coronavirus-related complications. Chai was a loving father and husband and a proud naturalized American. Chai was known for his kindness and his patience. He had a unique handshake he shared with many of the kids at the childcare facility where he worked. His death was a tragedy felt by so many. Confusion and uncertainty emerged as two of the largest contributing factors to Chai's death. The Federal Government did not yet have any protocols in place--or guidance, for that matter--intended to protect him and others. We are emerging from the pandemic, but new strains of infectious diseases and other potential health emergencies demand that the Federal Government prepare to adapt and continue operations and the mission across many challenges. Our government must embrace lessons learned from the pandemic; some of them learned through tragic losses such as Chai's. Federal agencies must place the health and safety of Federal employees at the forefront of their plans and operations while continuing to provide vital services to the public, ensuring continuity of operations. Since the beginning of the pandemic, our subcommittee has held three hearings focused on the future of Federal work, which include prioritizing the health and safety of our workforce. Some simple truths emerged during these deliberations. One, our Federal workforce is comprised of dedicated civil servants who didn't stop delivering mail, serving veterans, approving and distributing vaccines, and ensuring businesses received essential financial assistance. Two, the Federal workforce needs agencies to invest in proper information technology, training, and protective equipment before another public health crisis occurs. Three, agencies need clearly communicated, publicly available policies and guidance that let their employees and the public know how to ensure a safe and healthy continuity of operations. Last year, this committee marked up a previous version of the bill that covered the COVID-19 pandemic. This new bill prepares the Federal workforce, as the distinguished ranking member indicated, for the potential nationwide public health emergencies of tomorrow. The bill requires each Federal agency to establish a plan to describe public health protocols, including, but not limited to, testing, identification, notification of individuals who may have been exposed to the pathogen; cleaning; occupancy limits; use of personal protective equipment; protections for employees whose work requires them to travel offsite; and ensuring the continuity of operations for the agency. The bill would also require each agency's Office of Inspector General to report on the extent each agency has, in fact, implemented the plan and the Government Accountability Office to report on the lessons learned from the pandemic. This bill is endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, the National Federation of Federal Employees, the National Treasury Employees Union, the Professional Managers Association, the Senior Executives Association, among many other organizations. Federal employees are a great asset for our Nation. We must work to ensure their well-being and protection in difficult times such as these. Mr. Speaker, I again thank the chairwoman, who is the original cosponsor of this legislation, as well as my colleagues, especially Mr. Comer and Mr. Hice, for making this a strong bipartisan effort. Mr. Speaker, I particularly salute Chai's widow, Christina, for her continued efforts in honoring her late husband's memory.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, President Trump's schedule F would send our Nation back to 1881 when President Garfield was shot by a man who believed the support of the President should have earned him a political partisan position in the Federal Government. Congress passed the Pendleton Act in 1883, 2 years later, to a move away from that patronage system, and it has been in place ever since. As President Theodore Roosevelt said, ``The worst enemies of the Republic are the demagogue and corruptionist. The spoils-monger and spoils-seeker invariably breed the bribe-taker and the bribes-giver, the embezzler of public funds and the corrupter of voters.'' A good Republican President. Acumen, not political fealty, must define our civil service. Mr. Speaker, I have so many groups that have endorsed this bill and many, many Members that have, as well. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a list of organizations that endorse H.R. 302. House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Reform, Washington, DC, September 14, 2022. Ms. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Ms. Johnson: Below is a list of organizations that have endorsed H.R. 302: 1. American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). 2. National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU). 3. The Partnership for Public Service. 4. National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE). 5. International Federal of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE). 6. National Weather Service Employees Organization (NWSEO). 7. Patent Office Professional Association (POPA). 8. United Power Trades Organization (UPTO). 9. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). 10. International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute. 11. Civil Leadership Education and Research Initiative. 12. Project Blueprint. 13. American Society for Public Administration (ASPA). 14. National Association of Retired and Federal Employees (NARFE). 15. Professional Managers Association. 16. Public Citizen. 17. Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA). 18. International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). 19. International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW). 20. National Association of Government Employees (NAGE). 21. Service Employees International Union (SEIU). 22. Professional Aviation Safety Specialists. 23. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees. 24. American Foreign Service Association. 25. FAA Managers Association. 26. Laborers' International Union of North America. 27. National Air Traffic Controllers Association. 28. National Association of U.S. Attorneys. 29. National Association of Federal Veterinarians. 30. National Council of Social Security Management Associations. 31. National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU). 32. National Weather Service Employees Organization. 33. Patent Office Professional Association. 34. Federal Managers Association (FMA). Sincerely, Gerald E. Connolly, Chairman, Subcommittee on Government Operations, House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the chairwoman of the full committee, for yielding. I have to say, when he cites that our Founders never envisioned a large government, that is true--there were 13 colonies that became 13 States. I will remind my friend from Kentucky, neither did they ever envision the State of Kentucky. As a matter of fact, what is now Kentucky was claimed and owned by my home State, Virginia. So there are a lot of things that weren't envisioned back in the 1780s that we have to deal with in the 21st century. That is what we are doing here today. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to discuss and advocate for the Preventing Patronage System Act, H.R. 302. Our Federal workforce--the crown jewel of our Federal Government, especially during a pandemic--is comprised of roughly 2 million Federal employees hired on the basis of their acumen, their skill, and their dedication. They work each day for the American people--serving in myriad capacities to improve the Nation and America's posture abroad. These impartial civil servants deliver mail; provide medical care to veterans; help families in the wake of hurricanes and deadly fires; design websites that facilitate access to lifesaving payments like Social Security, unemployment insurance, and tax returns; and they build telescopes that make us rethink what is possible and what kind of universe there is to be explored. This bill, H.R. 302, would ensure that Congress controls when and how to change the very nature of our invaluable civil service. It simply returns power to the legislative branch. The Preventing Patronage System Act would protect merit-system principles in our civil service by limiting Federal employee reclassifications to the five excepted service schedules in use prior to fiscal year 2021. It doesn't preclude a President from requesting authorization from Congress to create a new one, but it requires it. It restores the balance. Since the creation of the civil service in 1883, administrations have established an excepted service schedule only five times. These excepted service categories are created for positions that require unique hiring or operating rules, such as positions of a short-term political nature or positions in remote areas, or in instances in which there is a critical hiring need. On October 21, 2020, then-President Trump signed Executive Order No. 13957 unilaterally attempting to create a new one, schedule F, in the excepted service. This executive order, according to a coalition of good government groups--I have got 34 of them endorsing this bill-- could expose Federal employees to politically partisan motivated hiring and firing. As drafted by that former President, schedule F would require agency heads to reclassify policy-determining, policymaking, or policy- advocating positions to a newly created schedule F. This action removes the due process rights and civil service protections of employees moved into that schedule. Despite President Biden's rescinding of the schedule F, Axios recently reported that former President Trump continues to develop a unilateral plan to seize the reins of Federal Government and reclassify up to 50,000 Federal civil servants, who are now part of the civil service, and they would lose their protection and their merit-based promotion. Blind loyalty and ideological purity tests should never determine who we trust with securing our Nation's borders, fortifying Federal IT systems, caring for seniors and veterans, fighting public health threats, or responding to natural disasters. As one former Federal human resource expert said: Do we really think a government of political hacks and sycophants is in the best interests of the American people? Do we think making government more partisan will make it more trusted by the people? The non-partisan Partnership for Public Service stated: ``Endangering the skilled employees at the core of our government . . . would harm the delivery of crucial services to the American people.'' Schedule F is a national security issue--and an issue that affects delivery of essential services and resources to every family and every business in this country. H.R. 302 reinforces the legislative prerogative. It requires any attempt to create a new excepted service to have explicit congressional authorization. It is bipartisan and it has 16 cosponsors, including three of my friends on the other side of the aisle. Changing the nature and operations of the civil service is rare, important, and should require express congressional participation through legislation.

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record two articles: an editorial in the Washington Post endorsing this bill and delineating the issue, and an article in Newsweek doing the same. [From the Washington Post, Aug. 29, 2022] Opinion: Congress Must Prevent Another Trumpian Attempt To Purge the Government (By the Editorial Board) It might sound like an innocuous change to the structure of the federal workforce: creating a category of employee, known as ``Schedule F,'' for positions related to ``policy- determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating.'' Yet, this change threatens to politicize the underappreciated ranks of those who keep the country's government running--the nation's professional civil service. President Donald Trump created the Schedule F designation by executive order near the end of his term, just ahead of the 2020 election. The order would have removed long-held protections from tens of thousands of career bureaucrats, making them easier to dismiss. That would give the president vast powers to reshape the federal government at will--and could politicize positions long treated as nonpartisan and merit-based. The Trump administration attempted unsuccessfully to rush through the change before the end of its term, and, upon taking office, President Biden immediately rescinded the order. But, according to a troubling recent report from Axios's Jonathan Swan, Mr. Trump and his associates plan to quickly reinstate Schedule F if he is elected in 2024, using it to fire career employees and replace them with loyalists. Other potential GOP presidential hopefuls have also indicated they would consider targeting the federal workforce. The federal bureaucracy is a behemoth that includes approximately 2 million employees in myriad roles, working to keep the government operating. In 2020, the Trump administration justified its Schedule F executive order by suggesting that it would make it easier for supervisors to remove poor performers. No doubt there are ways to reform evaluation and dismissal processes so they are more nimble and responsive. But much of our government's expertise rests with civil servants. A system that sees more people enter and leave federal agencies with the political churn would be less knowledgeable and efficient. It would also eliminate one of the major appeals of federal jobs: the understanding that there will be some measure of stability even when there are changes in administrations. If potential employees feel like they could be fired with little cause or recourse, fewer capable people will seek out these positions. That would only harm the wide range of government services on which Americans rely. Democrats have introduced legislation that would forestall such a possibility. The Preventing a Patronage System Act, sponsored by Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.), would block positions from being classified outside the existing system unless Congress consents to it. Mr. Connolly subsequently sponsored this as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, and it passed the House last month. Six Democratic senators, led by Sen. Tim Kaine (Va.), have introduced companion legislation that would do the same thing. These measures would uphold protections for federal workers and reduce opportunities for patronage-based hiring in the future. Populist politicians point to the ``deep state'' as the root of America's ills. In fact, what they cast as a threat-- a professional, merit-based, experienced civil service--is one of the country's greatest assets.

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the chairwoman of the committee, for yielding. I must say, the innuendos, the negative characterization, the smears, if not slanders, launched against Federal employees in general on the floor today would come as news, unwelcome news, to the almost quarter of a million Federal employees in Kentucky, Georgia, and Texas. Almost 10 percent of the entire Federal workforce live in those three States. The amendment just offered is a direct assault on our Federal workforce and would completely gut the bill in front of us. It grew from the Trump administration's efforts to turn our expert civil service into a collection of cronies. This amendment invites the crony clown car into the Federal Government. My concern is not hypothetical. In September of 2019, then-President Trump circled areas of Alabama with a Sharpie that he claimed were dangerously in the path of a hurricane, Hurricane Dorian. That prognostication was contrary to what expert civil servants, not swamp creatures, at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found. Luckily, the civil servants in NOAA's Birmingham, Alabama, office tweeted out Mr. Trump's error. While ``#Sharpiegate'' made a funny hashtag on Twitter, the aftermath could have been catastrophic and cost lives. What if FEMA deployed in the wrong region? What if millions of taxpayer dollars had been wasted, sending Federal help where it was not needed? What if families in the storm's path were left stranded because our Federal workforce kowtowed to the permanent marker whims of the then-President. I am not the only one sounding this alarm. Thirty-four professional associations, good government organizations, think tanks, and nonprofits, have endorsed this bill. From the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, hardly a politicized group: The impact of schedule F and any similar effort to inject political patronage, cronyism, and corruption into the Federal Government would not only be felt by Federal employees; it would harm working people, our economy, the public interest, and the legitimacy of our democracy. From the National Association of United States Attorneys: If a President can unilaterally reclassify employees and strip them of their protections, there is no longer a safeguard against political interference. This is not the system of justice our Nation should support. From the National Federation of Federal Employees: Political operatives or ordinary criminals will be able to threaten the careers of Federal workers with impunity, jeopardizing the collective mission of the United States. This includes employees in Federal law enforcement, national security, and national defense, among others. Hardly swamp creatures. From the Nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service: Endangering the skilled employees at the core of our government would not only further erode the critically low levels of trust in government but would harm the delivery of crucial services to the American people, especially in a pandemic.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chair, I thank the distinguished chairwoman of our committee for yielding time. I hardly think President Donald Trump drained the swamp. He filled it with alligators. I rise today in support of H.R. 2988, the Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act. I am committed to protecting, supporting, and empowering our 2.1 million civil servants to use their acumen and expertise to do what is right for the country. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, I am intimately familiar with how whistleblowers and the inspector general community protect our government's most valuable asset, the Federal workforce. The Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act would bolster whistleblower protections, ensure due process and equitable relief, and expand protections for more Federal employees. The bill clarifies that no one may interfere with a Federal employee's right to provide information to Congress, including the President of the United States. During the Trump Presidency, we saw repeated and consistent efforts to silence and retaliate against brave whistleblowers. In May, the Department of Defense IG found that Trump loyalists retaliated against Colonel Yevgeny Vindman, who bravely reported that President Trump had an unlawful phone call with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Even in the wake of a damning impeachment trial, and in full view of the public, Mr. Trump felt emboldened to attack Active Duty servicemembers who had the courage and common sense to expose that extortion. Federal employees must feel safe and supported when rooting out waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption. We must celebrate expertise and adherence to principles of law, transparency, and deliberation that serve as the foundation of our democratic system. We must protect public servants and defend the Federal merit system against partisan interference. I thank the chair of the Oversight Committee, Mrs. Maloney, for sponsoring this bill and for always lifting up the subcommittee's work on whistleblowers and inspectors general.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 8326, the Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act. When Democrats took majority in the House in 2018, I was asked what our top oversight projects were going to be. When I said, among them, the Census, it elicited surprise and even some laughs. The Census is a huge dataset that underpins whether we fairly represent Americans and how we spend the entire Federal budget. The Trump administration and its partisan Census Bureau undermined this critical task in March of 2018 when it planned to add a citizenship question to the Census that would have violated the Constitution and reduced response rates, and they knew it. I joined my colleague and friend, the late Chairman Elijah Cummings, in leading the fight against this question. I then partnered with Chairwoman Maloney to block the Trump administration from cutting off the Census deadline early and excluding undocumented immigrants from the Census count. Our committee's dogged oversight work prevented these illegal and immoral attempts to subvert our very democracy as enshrined in the Constitution. However, we need permanent reforms to ensure that no matter the President or political environment, the Census remains apolitical. That is why we must support this act. This bill requires the Secretary of Commerce to certify that any new questions on the decennial Census must meet best practices standards, and it caps the Census Bureau at three political appointees, eliminating a President's ability to flood the Bureau with his acolytes and loyalists. Congress must bolster the Census Bureau now, so we are prepared for a fair and accurate 2030 Census. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairwoman Maloney for her leadership and for sponsoring this bill.