A. Ferguson

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Bishop, for those kind words. That was much appreciated. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1480, the Beagle Brigade Act of 2023. I was proud to join Representative Bishop in introducing the Beagle Brigade Act, which would provide permanent authorization for the National Detector Dog Training Center located in Newnan, Georgia. The Beagle Brigade Act would permanently authorize the training center to ensure that America's food supply stays protected from potentially devastating foreign pests and diseases. The National Detector Dog Training Center in Georgia's Third Congressional District does important work to properly train detector dogs to sniff out prohibited agricultural items in domestic and international trade. I also thank Senator Joni Ernst and Senator Raphael Warnock from Georgia for their work on the Senate companion bill, S. 759. The bipartisan, bicameral effort in support of this legislation was important, and I look forward to the Beagle Brigade Act becoming law.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable Georgian, Mr. John W. Mixon. Mr. John has made almost an immeasurable impact on the State of Georgia. After graduating from the University of Georgia, Mr. John went to work in the timber industry for the Great Southern Paper Company and then worked for the Georgia Forestry Commission. For the next 34 years, John Mixon played the leading role in turning Georgia into the number one State in America for forestry. His work was both visionary and comprehensive. Starting as a technician and rising to the director of the commission, he worked tirelessly toward his goal of making the Georgia forest industry into what it is today. He started the Reforestation Commission that was responsible for planting a world record 600,000 acres of pine trees. He established Georgia's first forestry museum, an educational forest, and the Georgia Tree Coalition, which planted thousands of trees in the 1996 Olympic venues throughout the State. John served and held leadership positions in numerous professional and civic organizations and received the Soil Conservationist of the Year award from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Mr. Speaker, perhaps the highest recognition of his professional contribution was receiving the Wise Owl Award from the Georgia Forestry Association. This significant achievement was well earned and deserved. As a result of Mr. John Mixon's vision and hard work, literally thousands of Georgians work in the timber industry, and the industry has massively impacted the economic well-being of Georgia. Just as importantly, Georgia's environment is better off, and the timber industry is environmentally sustainable. We all owe Mr. John Mixon a debt of gratitude for making our world a much better place.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 8919, which designates the United States Post Office in Peachtree City, Georgia, as the Sergeant First Class Shawn McCloskey Post Office. After working in construction since graduating from North Cobb High School, Sergeant First Class McCloskey enlisted in the Army in response to 9/11. Sergeant First Class McCloskey was killed in action on September 16, 2009. It was during his third deployment in Afghanistan when an IED struck his vehicle. He was conducting a mounted patrol in the Afghan city of Ghur Ghuri in support of operations while serving with Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group. Mr. Speaker, Sergeant First Class McCloskey earned the title of Green Beret as a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Deployment Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Special Operations Diver Supervisor Badge, and the Special Forces Tab. Sergeant First Class McCloskey left behind his wife, Jessica; his two children, Katie and Collin; as well as his parents, Patrick and Kathryn; and many other friends and family. Although this Nation can never fully repay Sergeant First Class McCloskey for making the ultimate sacrifice, renaming this post office is a solemn tribute to his courageous service and ultimate sacrifice.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained off of the House floor. Therefore, I was unable to cast my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 452; YEA on Roll Call No. 451; NAY on Roll Call No. 453; YEA on Roll Call No. 454; YEA on Roll Call No. 450; YEA on Roll Call No. 455; and YEA on Roll Call No. 449.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his support, and I thank Mr. Larson for his engagement on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3784, a bill I introduced called the Improving Social Security's Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act. In 2021, roughly 1.5 million children were the victims of identity fraud. That is 1 in nearly 50 children. The numbers are staggering. Now, I as chairman, along with Ranking Member Larson, held a subcommittee hearing to discuss ways the Social Security Administration could responsibly do more to protect America's Social Security numbers from identity theft. The hearing also highlighted the government's failure to help individuals whose Social Security numbers had been compromised. During the hearing, we heard from Mrs. Hayward, who testified her family had been forced to navigate the Social Security Administration's bureaucratic maze to protect her daughter's financial future. Mr. Speaker, she told the subcommittee that after giving birth to her third child, she promptly submitted the proper paperwork for a new birth certificate and a Social Security card. While the birth certificate arrived without issue, the Social Security card did not. By the time her daughter was 7 weeks old, and having not received the card, she grew concerned and contacted the Social Security Administration about the fact that the website said that it had been sent and received when, in fact, it had not. She initially assumed the card might have been misplaced, but after thoroughly checking her mail and contacting the Social Security Administration, she learned that the card had been issued but not received. The Social Security Administration advised patience, but concerns about identity theft were dismissed. When she requested information about whether the card had been received or issued, she was simply told she could apply for a replacement card, but not a new number, nor could she get the old number directly. Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Hayward eventually went to the Social Security office. She stated that other employees provided inconsistent information, dismissed the need for a new number, and even suggested that a remedy was contacting the post office to locate the missing card. It was only after she sought help from her U.S. Senator that they were able to request a new card. When a replacement card finally arrived, the original card was still unaccounted for and potentially compromised. The process to monitor and protect her daughter's identity was really much too cumbersome and stressful, and having to re-explain the situation to multiple Social Security Administration employees about navigating this complex system and the issues that she had faced is simply unacceptable. Preventing identity theft must be a top priority, yet Mrs. Hayward's family and countless others across the Nation have faced serious bureaucratic obstacles that extend the time that fraudsters have to misuse the personal information of their victims. This underscores the need for a system that proactively prevents identity theft and provides clear, consistent support for American families. Mr. Speaker, my bill addresses this by streamlining the process to a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration so that they can get their issues resolved more efficiently. I am proud to offer this bill along with my colleague, Mr. Larson, and ask that Members support this bill.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Madam Speaker, on Roll Call No. 355, I mistakenly voted NAY when I intended to vote YEA. personal explanation Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I was unable to attend votes due to a doctor's appointment. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 354, H.J. Res. 165, and NAY on Roll Call No. 355, H.J. Res. 109.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Florida just characterized the child tax credit piece of this bill, which is something that President Trump signed into law, as giving people who are here illegally a check. I hate to see that mischaracterization from my colleague from Florida about President Trump's signature bill.

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this piece of legislation. I do not worry one single bit about making sure that American business is more competitive on the global stage. Making sure that our businesses are competitive through research and development and then having the capital to turn those ideas into a product and then turn those products into jobs here in America is something that we should be doing. Staying competitive against our adversaries on the global stage is something that we should be doing. This is not about giving businesses a tax break. This is about investing in America and American jobs. Moreover, the complete mischaracterization about the child tax credit is the most intellectually dishonest conversation that I have heard on this floor in a very long time. This is about making sure that people who work and their families have the ability to get ahead. Let me tell you something, Mr. Speaker, we all believe on this side of the aisle that you should work in order to receive Federal benefits. That is something that this bill does, and I think it is important.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of my constituents, Sergeant William Jerome Rivers of Carrollton, Georgia. Originally from New Jersey, he enlisted in the Army Reserves in 2011 and moved to the great State of Georgia in 2015, and he loved the great State of Georgia. He completed a rotation in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He was highly decorated. He was a good friend, hard worker, and very dedicated. Today, we rise to recognize that his sacrifice will never be forgotten, and we rise to express our deepest prayers and sympathies for his beloved Darlene and his son, William, Jr. May we continue to support the lives of our servicemembers.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the career opportunities and economic contributions international automakers operating in my home state of Georgia have made to the state and local community. Auto workers from KIA and Hyundai that build vehicles in Georgia have come to Washington, D.C., advocating for policies that enable their employers to continue investing in their communities and American operations. These hard-working men and women are sharing their stories with us--how their jobs are more important than ever as our Nation rises to meet the challenges of a 21st century economy--and how American workers employed by international automakers are driving growth and innovation. But that leadership takes investment in American workers. Last year's economic impact report from Autos Drive America found that, nationwide, international automakers employ more than 156,000 Americans, with two- thirds of those jobs in manufacturing. In Georgia, these companies employ more than 6,000 Georgians across 30 facilities, in jobs like production, engineering, technical training, and many other career areas. In fact, 45 percent of all cars and trucks made in the United States today are built by international automakers, who have increased their U.S. production by more than 85 percent in the last 25 years alone. Mr. Speaker, as we recognized Manufacturing Month in October, let's ensure we are doing all we can in this Chamber to enable international automakers to continue to invest in the United States and create 8,888 careers in automotive manufacturing that has changed the lives and communities of those in my state.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the unmet need in rare disease. Less than 5 percent of rare diseases have a Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment. For families affected by many of these diseases that lack such treatments, the suffering is exponential. Fortunately, advances in biomedical research based on the human genome is creating hope for millions of Americans affected by life-threatening genetic disorders. Gene therapy, which in many instances are single treatment course interventions, is now a reality to either satisfy this unmet need or improve the standard of care for conditions that have had treatment options. Since 2019, FDA has approved gene therapies for spinal muscular atrophy, biallelic RPE65 mutation-associated retinal dystrophy, cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, beta thalassemia, hemophilia A and B, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Estimates suggest that FDA is likely to approve another 20 gene therapies for rare genetic disorders by 2030. Georgia is playing a leading role in this rapid innovation as well as its ultimate access. For example, Emory University Hospital in Atlanta is a clinical trial site for a sickle cell disease gene therapy that is currently under review for marketing authorization at FDA, as well as gene therapies for Fabry disease, phenylketonuria, and hemophilia. The Hemophilia of Georgia Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders at Emory will be a site for the administration of the most recently FDA- approved gene therapy. ROCTAVIAN, which is indicated for adults with severe hemophilia A, is an outpatient infusion in which a functioning factor VIII gene is transferred to the patient's liver to allow for the patient to produce normal levels of factor VIII on their own. Prior to this treatment option, severe hemophilia A patients exclusively required prophylactic disease management, which is extraordinarily expensive and currently consists of infusions of blood clotting factors three times per week or weekly injections of monoclonal antibodies. This gene therapy is expected to significantly reduce this burden, improve health outcomes, and save millions of dollars per patient. As a member of the GOP Doctors Caucus, I am concerned that payors, particularly Medicaid plans, may hide behind flawed coverage criteria recommended by state pharmacy and therapeutics committees or drug use review boards because of the cost of gene therapy. That simply should not be the case. Patients must have access to this innovation. Indeed, if a medical professional prescribes a medicine for an individual patient and attests to its medical necessity for such individual, all payors, including Medicaid, should pay for it without subjecting it to step therapy or placing any other restriction relating to the use or prescribing of such drug, unless such requirements or limitations are specified in the ``Indication and Usage'' section of its label. With Georgia recently establishing a rare disease advisory council (RDAC), it is my hope that the patients, caregivers, clinicians, scientists, and officials comprising the council will be able to appropriately ensure this access by influencing Medicaid drug coverage policies, among other important objectives regarding rare disease family needs. The ``medical necessity'' of a rare disease therapy should be determined by the prescriber, not the state Medicaid plan. Timely access to prescribed therapies for these patients is consistent with the mission of Georgia's RDAC and should also be a goal for us in Congress, especially considering the unmet need already affecting the community. Timely access to therapy is especially critical in rapidly progressing, fatal pediatric disorders, such as cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, Batten disease, cystic fibrosis, Hunter syndrome, metachromatic leukodystrophy, Sanfilippo syndrome, and spinal muscular atrophy type 1, conditions that have a limited treatment window, such as achondroplasia, or diseases with painful, life-threatening episodes, such as sickle cell disease, epidermolysis bullosa, and hereditary angioedema. For several of these conditions, FDA either recently approved its first medicine, or are soon expected to approve its first medicine, so access to this innovation without delay must be a priority. Access to medicine is the lynchpin to driving continued innovation. Without clear pathways to access, the investment in transformative therapies for rare disorders will erode. Complex, fatal genetic disorders with low prevalence will become less attractive for biopharmaceutical engagement if payors continue to limit access and Congress continues to pursue anti-innovation price controls. We must come together to explore solutions that promote access to innovation.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kathy Burns, a remarkable veteran who has dedicated herself to serving and supporting our military and their families. Following her marriage to Mike Burns in 1981, Kathy and Mike attended the Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA. During her 26 years of service, Kathy completed assignments in Fort Leavenworth, KS and the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA, where Mike attended two Army courses. Because Kathy and Mike served at Fort Benning for a total of five tours and eleven years, when it came time to retire from active duty, Kathy and Mike decided to retire in Columbus, GA. Throughout their military journey, Kathy consistently volunteered to lead and support her husband's family support groups which provide guidance and mentorship to junior spouses and families. Her contributions were instrumental in unit readiness and the well-being of countless families in many military instillations. Kathy's impact extended beyond the military realm. She made it her goal to bridge the gap between the Army and the civilian community, serving on the boards of the Springer Opera House and Wynn House, among other community organizations. Throughout her 42-year marriage, while balancing multiple jobs and raising her son John, Kathy remained an unwavering role model for other Army spouses. Her positive impact on hundreds of Army spouses and families lives cannot be overstated. Mr. Speaker, her selfless actions have provided an amazing resource to our local families and beyond and we are extremely grateful for her dedication to our Nation's Army.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Madam Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 3799, the CHOICE Arrangement Act. According to research by NFIB, small businesses have ranked the cost of health insurance as their number one problem for 32 straight years. Republicans are spearheading innovative health care solutions to bring down health care costs for small businesses. The CHOICE Arrangement Act does a great job giving employers more choices and flexibility in how they help provide health coverage for their employees, without Washington being involved. In 2019, the Trump Administration finalized rules that allow employers to establish ``Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements'' for their employees. These ICHRAs are employer-funded arrangements that employees can use to purchase their own health insurance plan in the individual market and pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses. The CHOICE Arrangement Act appropriately codifies these regulations, ensuring that this option will remain available. While employers of all sizes may find this approach of interest, it is particularly important as a means for small employers to offer health coverage for employees and their families without having to manage a complex health insurance plan and with more predictable costs. The different health insurance choices available, such as CHOICE Arrangements, Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangements, or the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit, are unknown to 70 percent of small businesses. This measure would ensure that those businesses be notified about these options' availability and their tax advantages so that they can decide how best to serve their employees' health care preferences. These arrangements also help facilitate coverage portability, because employees can continue their individual health Insurance plan if they change jobs. The current regulations also allow the flexibility for employers to offer to employees both an ICHRA and excepted benefit coverage, such as dental or vision coverage. I am pleased this bill will preserve the same option to have both CHOICE Arrangements and these other benefits. The CHOICE Arrangement Act includes other provisions similarly designed to assist small employers and their employees with respect to health coverage options. I urge support for this important measure to provide options for American workers and families.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, on his upcoming visit to Washington, D.C. The relationship between the United States and India is a strategic and global partnership that's guided by shared interests and strong political will on both sides. It is built on mutual respect for democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. This partnership is crucial for fostering peace, prosperity, and stability around the globe--especially in the Indo-Pacific region. In 2022, India celebrated 75 years of independence and marked the anniversary of the United States--India diplomatic relations. Our partnership has made significant progress in the last few years and India continues to be a strategic trading partner of the United States. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee which has jurisdiction over trade policy, I look forward to continuing to work on growing this important global partnership. I thank Prime Minister Modi for hsis continued leadership, and I hope he has a prodctive visit.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the passing of my dear friend and former colleague, Mayor Bill Stankiewicz. Mayor Bill was a staple of Troup County, and he was loved by everyone. Bill served his community as the city manager, a two-term mayor, and through his involvement on a number of boards, including the LaGrange- Troup County Chamber of Commerce, the Racial Trustbuilding Initiative, and the Joint Development Authority Board. He was an extremely dedicated public servant, and he took great pride in doing the tough work to improve his community. As mayor, he worked to reestablish the city's finances during a period of instability, and he proudly worked to relocate and renovate city hall in Hogansville. When I was the mayor of West Point, I had the privilege of working with Bill on many projects for the greater good of our county and our cities. He was a pleasure to be around. My heart goes out to his wife, Mary, and the entire Troup County family. Bill will forever be remembered and honored for his invaluable service to his community and to this Nation. He will be sorely missed.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, Chief Lou Dekmar, from LaGrange, Georgia, on his well-deserved retirement. For 50 years, Chief Dekmar has protected and defended our communities as a law enforcement officer. He has long been a hero in the community, protecting the lives of citizens as well as fellow officers. Serving nearly 30 years as police chief in LaGrange, Georgia, Chief Dekmar's unwavering dedication to ensuring that the folks of Troup County stayed safe and secure was second to none. Chief Dekmar embodies the true heart of a leader and his work to heal the community and establish racial reconciliation in the city were just a few of the many accomplishments he had throughout his decorated career. Mr. Speaker, I thank him for his unbelievable devotion to serving the people of Georgia and congratulate him on a well-earned retirement.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mike and Gwen Gaddy. The Gaddy family are local celebrities in Fayetteville due to their giant Christmas light display they've done annually since 1988. Not only does this display on Sandy Creek Road bring joy to the community--being a free and fun drive through for all to enjoy--but it is also for a great cause. Every year, they raise money for the March of Dimes along with providing a drop-off area for Toys for Tots donations. The March of Dimes donations began in 2012 in honor of their grandson Brady, who passed away as an infant. Since 2012, they have raised more than $160,000 for the charity. The toys donated at their Toys for Tots location equate to more than 2,500 toys, and as much as 23 percent of the toys donated in Fayette County some years. The Gaddy family has never taken any money from the public to keep the display running or to offset their expensive power bill--everything donated goes to charity. Madam Speaker, their selfless actions have made them a staple in our local community, and we're extremely grateful for everything they do to bring joy to folks around the holiday season.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to stand here to honor our dear friend, Jackie Walorski, and her tireless efforts on this piece of legislation, the Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022. This legislation is important because it really does provide needed services to our most vulnerable. Just in the State of Georgia, this program produced over 20,000 home visits and really had an impact on families with early development, mental health, substance abuse, and a lot of other things that some incredible nurses did. This program is being reauthorized with some much-needed reforms in it. There is going to be stability in the program. Jackie fought hard to make sure that this program was based on evidence so the dollars will go where they work. I am honored to be here today to support this legislation, but more importantly, I am here to honor our dear friend, Jackie Walorski.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend, and a selfless public servant, State Representative Randy Nix of LaGrange, Georgia. Representative Nix was born in Holtville, Alabama. He attended local schools and graduated from Troy State University with a degree in business. Following graduation, Randy served as a chaplain's assistant in the U.S. Army Reserve for five years. He went on to serve seven years in the Alabama Air National Guard, where his final assignment was a role as the weapons system officer flying the RF4-C Phantom aircraft. He was honorably discharged with the rank of captain. Representative Nix also had a successful career in the financial services industry. He is currently a pastor at the Hillcrest United Methodist Church in LaGrange. Along with his service to the district in the Georgia General Assembly, Randy is very active in the local community. He previously served as president of both the Boys and Girls Club of West Georgia and the West Georgia Technical College Foundation Board, and is currently a Rotarian. As Representative Nix approaches his retirement, I would like to recognize the sixteen years of unwavering service he has provided to the citizens of District 69. Serving his community is his passion, and his retirement is hard earned and well deserved. May God continue to bless Representative Nix and his wife, Debra, and their children, Julie and Jess, in the years to come.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time. Clearly, we see some of these important issues differently. Just sticking to the main question of proxy voting and why Members of Congress should not show up to do their job. American businesses are. We can campaign in person. Certainly voting in person seems reasonable to me. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the caucus chair, for his time today and for setting the schedule, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time. The President ended the pandemic, declared that it was over. If that is the case, shouldn't we be going back to normal, Mr. Speaker? Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time.

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time. We are failing miserably in American energy independence, with the rise of home heating costs and fuel. We see what has happened to our neighbors in the European Union. We see the rising costs. Certainly, Americans are worried about that, the rising cost of rent, the out-of- control inflation, the excessive government spending. I mean, we have that. But more importantly, we have our communities that are less safe because of the crisis at the border. The fentanyl crisis that is hitting every single community. I don't know that we have been leading. I want to, Mr. Speaker, go back to the specifics of the question that was asked here in terms of leading by showing up to work. I want to see if there is any kind of rational reason why we shouldn't show up in person to work. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I think America expects Congress to lead, and we are seeing, again, across the Nation, people get back to their lives, get back to normal. Certainly, there are many safe precautions that have been taken. But clearly, showing up to work is something that Americans expect Congress to do, and I just cannot think of a reason why Members of this body--while we get on airplanes and fly back and forth to our districts every week. I see so many of our Members on both sides of the aisle attending events and speaking at various functions and, certainly, they are not campaigning remotely. I can't think of a reason why we wouldn't do away with proxy voting and show up here in the people's House in person. Mr. Speaker, I would love to see if my colleague from New York has any insight into that.

Mr. FERGUSON. One final thing. Leader Hoyer made an announcement this summer that we were going to try to close votes in a timely fashion. As we have just seen, it is virtually impossible to do it with proxy voting because these four votes took almost 2 hours to complete. Given that the business community is getting back to normal, we are seeing workers return to work. We are seeing businesses return to normal operations, and given that the President proclaimed that the pandemic is over, does the gentleman also expect to end proxy voting next week when the current covered period ends?