Anthony D'Esposito

Mr. D'ESPOSITO

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative McClintock for introducing H.R. 6678, the Consequences for Social Security Fraud Act. The underlying bill would create a ground of inadmissibility and deportation for criminal illegal immigrants who have been convicted of Social Security fraud. I am proud to offer this important amendment that I hope will go one step further in holding individuals accountable for trying to defraud the American government and the American people. My amendment expands the bill to ensure that any illegal migrant who has been convicted of, or admits to having committed, a crime involving fraud in regard to certain COVID-19 loans and grants is also inadmissible and deportable. Some of the programs included are the Paycheck Protection Program loans, Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants, and Shuttered Venue Operators Grants. These programs were intended to allow Americans to weather the storm through the pandemic, not for illegal immigrants to use for their own personal benefit or nefarious purposes. During the pandemic, we witnessed beloved small businesses along our main streets close and saw many families struggle. Many of these important programs ran out of money and were unable to help all those who applied. Those who attempted to defraud these programs took taxpayer money away from Americans in need and should be penalized. In November, the House passed a bipartisan bill to prohibit individuals convicted of financial misconduct with respect to these same COVID-19 loans from receiving financial assistance from the Small Business Administration. The SBA Inspector General estimated that more than $200 billion of the roughly $1.2 trillion in pandemic loans were distributed to potentially fraudulent actors. I want to repeat those numbers. More than $200 billion of the roughly $1.2 trillion in pandemic loans were distributed to potentially fraudulent actors. That is nearly one-fifth of all Small Business Administration funds. We must continue to advance legislation that will protect taxpayers' money and penalize those who commit fraud, especially those in our country illegally. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense, pro-American amendment. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I find it almost comical that we are being lectured by my friend from New York who was just talking about consequences. The consequences that we are facing here in this country are actually twofold. First, we are facing the consequences of the disastrous open borders that President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas have allowed here in the United States of America. Secondly, closer to home, when we are talking about murderers and rapists, my friend from New York is part of the political party that leads New York City, that has rogue DAs who have decided not to hold those accountable who have committed crimes. We are talking about the State of New York, where the Governor, the Assembly, and the State Senate, have put cashless bail and criminal justice reform into place that have actually given criminals more rights than law-abiding citizens. I think, today, what we are focused on is holding those accountable who are defrauding the United States of America, people who come to this country illegally and have not only committed Social Security fraud but also taken money from COVID-19 funding and used it to their advantage; therefore, taking it away from good, hardworking Americans and businessowners. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to salute a good friend, a gentleman with one of the biggest hearts I have ever met. Doc McGann was a piece of the very community that I grew up in back home on Long Island in a small village called Island Park. Back home in Island Park, one of the beacons of our community is our local firehouse, and Doc McGann served that fire department for 72 years. He served as chief of our department from 1963 to 1964 and had the opportunity to serve every rank in that department. Even in his elder years, he was a calm voice, someone who gave the younger members advice on how to serve their community. He was active in our Church of Sacred Heart. He was the executive leader of the Island Park, Lido, Point Lookout Republican Committee. In that capacity, in 1980, he was one of the architects that sent an unknown guy from a small village of 6,000 people by the name of Alfonse D'Amato to the United States Senate. Mr. Speaker, 42 years later, he helped send another guy from a village of 6,000 to the United States House of Representatives, that being me. He was married to his lovely wife, Gerri, for 66 years. He leaves behind four children: Danny, Kevin, Kerrie, and Jackie. He is the proud grandfather and great-grandfather of beautiful children. Today, I salute Doc McGann. When he died just less than a month ago, a piece of Island Park died with him. Recognizing Brian Sullivan on His Retirement

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Brian Sullivan, the president of the Nassau County Correction Officers Benevolent Association. After a long and storied career in the Nassau County Sheriff's Department, Mr. Sullivan has retired, leaving behind a legacy of excellence. Brian Sullivan was appointed as a correction officer in Nassau County in 1988, marking the beginning of over 35 years of service. Brian Sullivan worked his way through the ranks of the department, ultimately achieving the rank of captain in 2022. Throughout his time in corrections, Brian Sullivan served in a multitude of positions, including the Behavioral Management Unit, which comprised some of the most dangerous inmates in custody in our county. In addition to safeguarding the public from violent offenders, Brian demonstrated his leadership among colleagues and was elected in 2002 to serve as a delegate of his union. As he did in his uniformed career, Brian rose through the ranks of the union, having been elected first as a delegate, twice as the union's first vice president, and then twice as president of the organization. In his tenure as union leader, he was wildly successful and managed to help pass several laws at the State level to protect pensions and death benefits for Nassau County corrections officers. Brian's work both safeguarding the people of Nassau County and advocating for his brother and sister correction officers is worthy of great praise. I am honored to recognize the incredible career of my Nassau neighbor and friend. Mr. Speaker, I wish Brian Sullivan the best in this next chapter, and I know he will continue being a selfless community servant wherever life takes him. I wish him the best of luck in his retirement.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, I think that it is very clear that this bill, H.R. 3224, is not a partisan issue. It is one that the American people will benefit from in order to keep this great homeland safe. Mr. Speaker, I, again, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3224, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3224) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to extend the authorization of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3224.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 3224, the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Extension Act of 2023. Authorized in 2018, the mission of the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office is to enable its operational partners at the Federal, State, and local levels to prevent the use of WMDs against the United States of America and to promote readiness for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. At the Federal level, CWMD works with the United States Customs and Border Protection to acquire radiation portal monitors that scan cargo at U.S. ports of entry, as well as works with the U.S. Coast Guard to procure personal radiation detectors. At the local level, the CWMD Office achieves its mission of supporting State, local, Tribal, and territorial partners through funding, equipment, and expertise. In my home State of New York and in many other States across this great country, the CWMD Office operates the Securing the Cities program, which helps build regional capabilities to detect, analyze, and report nuclear and other radioactive materials. My bill, the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Extension Act of 2023, will extend the sunset clause to ensure that the vital work of the CWMD Office continues. Additionally, my legislation takes meaningful steps to address some longstanding challenges the office has faced, such as dwindling employee morale, and requires the Assistant Secretary for the CWMD Office to submit a report to Congress on how the office will continuously improve morale and employee engagement within the office. Further, my bill requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a review of the CWMD Office's coordination with stakeholders and efforts to provide the programs and activities that carry out the office's mission, among other items. From aviation and border security to emergency response and cybersecurity, the Department of Homeland Security has one common mission, Mr. Speaker, and that is to keep America safe. The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office facilitates its mission by ensuring that operational partners have the tools and support needed to safeguard the United States of America against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. Although we hope that we never ever see the day when one of our adversaries deploys a weapon of mass destruction against this great Nation, we cannot neglect the ever-present threat of terrorism that continues to exist today. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this commonsense bill, H.R. 3224, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we are here this afternoon at a point that none of us wanted to ever be at. The Ethics Committee of the House of Representatives has filed their report, which revealed a complex web of illegal activities that involved Representative George Santos' campaign, his personal finances, and business finances. Santos tried to exploit every aspect of his candidacy for personal financial gain. Records subpoenaed by the Committee on Ethics show that Congressman Santos stole from his campaign by deceiving donors into providing contributions that were actually payments for his personal benefit. Santos also reported fictitious loans to his political committees to induce donors in party committees to contribute more to his campaign, keeping the elaborate scheme moving forward. George Santos is a liar; in fact, he has admitted to many of them. He has used his position of public trust to personally benefit himself from day one. Santos now faces 23 criminal charges in connection with his long list of misdeeds. We have already seen two former Santos staffers, including his former treasurer, plead guilty to Federal charges in connection with Santos' corrupt campaign. Despite blaming others, including his former treasurer for the numerous campaign violations, all signs point toward Mr. Santos that he knowingly and actively participated in a widespread misconduct of his campaign. In fact, the Ethics Committee records demonstrate this to a tee. George Santos has continuously said that he has not received his due process. I ask my colleagues: If we do not take the Ethics Committee and their results seriously, then why even have the committee in the first place? Through the ISC investigation, Santos has been awarded due process, and has been provided ample opportunity to be heard during both the investigation by the House Committee on Ethics and throughout the expulsion process. Even after being offered multiple opportunities to present his side of the story, Mr. Santos refused to engage with the Ethics Committee in good faith and refused to cooperate with those tasked with leading the investigation. The ISC report notes that he failed to submit a written response to the allegations. He failed to provide numerous documents requested. He refused to testify voluntarily. He failed to provide a statement under oath. Santos also informed the committee that if he was subpoenaed, he would plead the Fifth Amendment. We continually hear that the expulsion of Congressman Santos would set a new precedent. Mr. Speaker, it would. To my colleagues that have said that it would start a new precedent and to those that are here with us in this institution in this great Chamber today that are arguing about precedent, I would simply say this: The American people expect us to do the right thing. The American people are watching for us to do the right thing. Mr. Speaker, if we have an opportunity in this great institution to start a new precedent, one that means we hold Members of the House of Representatives to a higher standard, I am pretty confident that the American people would applaud that. I am pretty confident that the American people expect that. Mr. Speaker, I hope tomorrow in this great Chamber we set that precedent. I hope we set a precedent that we, as Members of America's oldest institution, are held to a higher standard. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to a question of the privileges of the House and offer the resolution that was previously noticed.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I am not sure how a predetermined outcome happens from a committee reviewing 170,000 pages of documents, numerous subpoenas, and weeks and months of investigation. I am not sure how a predetermined outcome is generated from that. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Guest), who is the chairman of the House Ethics Committee.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild), the ranking member of the Ethics Committee.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I fully respect my friend from Louisiana and have much love for him. I want to reassure: No one is cheering for this Ethics report. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaLota), a fellow Long Islander and friend.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Robert Garcia).

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Molinaro).

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lawler).

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. May I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 15 seconds to my friend from Ohio (Mr. Miller).

Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.