Scott Fitzgerald

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and celebrate the life of Steve Hepp, who passed away after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Steve dedicated almost his entire life to public service. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after he graduated from high school, where he served proudly from 1972 until 1976. This was just the beginning of his lifetime of dedicated public service. Steve continued to serve the Watertown community in southeastern Wisconsin in plentiful and meaningful ways on numerous city committees. But I would be remiss if I didn't mention what he is remembered most fondly for, and that is being a small businessman, and the Silver Eagle Saloon, which remains in Watertown and is operated by his family. I invite the Watertown community to raise a glass to celebrate the life and legacy of Steve Hepp for his resolute patriotism, his unparalleled contributions to those around him, and his undying love for his wife Sue, his daughters Shae and Summer, and his grandchildren Carlos and Jocelyn. Madam Speaker, I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family and to anyone who called Steve their friend. He will be sorely missed.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, I want to just remind everybody, no matter what side of the bill you are on, there is a huge trust issue going on in America right now. People do not trust the system, and that is everyone's problem. If you think a centralized election bill to move the power to Washington, D.C., and put it in the hands of Congress and the courts is going to help, you are wrong. They don't trust us and they don't trust the courts. A decentralized system is what has worked in America. So make sure that after you support this legislation, you go back and you meet with the town clerk that runs the elections, the county clerks, the parish clerks, the municipal clerks, and yes, the State legislatures. I notice the State legislatures are taking a real beating here today. Pre-clearance expansion. Is that a can of worms that this body really wants to open up? Printed ballots. Photo ID. Now we are going to mandate polling places, election timelines, primary mechanics, who can be a poll worker. These are all things that are included in H.R. 4. I just want to make sure the public is aware of that. We are now taking the power away from the people and placing it right here in Washington, D.C., in Congress and in the courts exclusively.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about a recent trip to McAllen, Texas, where I had the opportunity to tour the southern border. What stuck out to me most was hearing from border agents about the sheer volume of fentanyl that is being seized right now. In fact, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported that 1,053 pounds of fentanyl was seized at the southwest border in June alone. That is more than the last three Junes combined. Following my trip, I introduced an amendment at a Judiciary Committee markup to ensure that penalties are maintained for criminals convicted of fentanyl possession. This amendment should have been a slam dunk, but it was not adopted. I question or challenge my colleagues who voted against this. We must find a way of stopping the flow of fentanyl. However, I suspect because most do not want to confront this issue at the border, that they are not going to address this issue. In the absence of action, there is going to be no winners on this issue, only families who continue to grapple with the consequences firsthand.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stand for life and to speak about the removal of the Hyde amendment from President Biden's budget. The President's decision to remove this lifesaving measure from his budget was disappointing, as this provision has been in every budget since its enactment in 1980. H.R. 18, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, would correct this misguided omission from the President's budget for codifying the Hyde amendment into Federal law, preventing taxpayer dollars from funding abortions. In no circumstance should any American be forced to go against their conscience and publicly fund abortions with their tax dollars. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration on H.R. 18, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1187. This legislation would impose unnecessary and expensive compliance costs on publicly traded companies. Publicly traded companies are already subject to extensive disclosures regarding various risk factors under Federal law. These existing disclosures must already reflect material climate change information, such as compliance with greenhouse gas emissions and carbon offsets. I am concerned this bill would do little to provide information on how climate change would affect a particular investment, but would instead be used by activist shareholders with no real duty to a company or its shareholders to impose progressive political views on that company. The burden of these costs would fall largely on smaller public companies with fewer resources. The burden of these costs would, again, I think, put this entire issue off in a different direction than where it should be. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the bill. It would only benefit large incumbent corporations while others may avoid going public altogether, limiting their growth.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory and celebrate the life of Don L. Taylor, a lifelong resident of Wisconsin and a friend, who peacefully passed away at age 88 on April 16, 2021, surrounded by his family. Don was active in many civic and service organizations and wore many hats throughout his lifetime. He served honorably as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was a longtime member and past president of the Waukesha Rotary Club. He spent his leisure time writing historical fiction set in Waukesha. He also had many other interests and, as many Wisconsinites do, Don enjoyed many trips to his family cabin up north in Wisconsin. Don was a staple in the Waukesha community due to his involvement in the Waukesha State Bank. Don succeeded his father, Carl, as president and CEO of the Waukesha State Bank, a role he held for 25 years, from 1969 to 1994. Don is credited with modernizing the operations of the bank and computerizing operations in 1968, one of the first banks to do so. In 2004 Don's son, Ty Taylor, became the third generation of the family to serve as president of the bank. Don will also be remembered for his deep involvement in politics. He served as chairman of the Waukesha County Republican Party for 30 years, from 1979 to 1989, and again from 1993 to 2013. Don was one of the early pioneers in Waukesha to help grow the conservative movement, and his efforts cannot be understated for their lasting impact today. Don was recognized for his organizing capabilities by being selected to chair and co-chair President Ronald Reagan's 1968, 1980, and 1984 Wisconsin campaigns. Above all else, Don Taylor was first and foremost a man of faith. He was a devoted Christian who lived his values through his everyday work and his family life. Don is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Carol. He is also survived by children Wendy, Scott, Jenifer, and Ty; 10 grandchildren; four great- grandchildren; and his sister, Velma Geraldson. On behalf of Wisconsin's Fifth Congressional District, it is my privilege to celebrate the life and legacy of Don L. Taylor for his unparalleled contributions and impact on our community. I offer my heartfelt condolences to Don's family and those who were lucky to call him a friend.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk briefly on a topic that has come up numerous times already this morning. I just attended a meeting of the Small Business Committee in which we had an extensive discussion as well. If you remember back when the CARES package was moving through Congress, there were a number of legislators who identified that an issue was being created that didn't need to necessarily be created, and that was additional dollars being set aside for those who would find themselves unemployed. As a former State legislator in Wisconsin, I had kind of gone through a process back in 2008 and 2009, which basically was an unemployment insurance fund--and I would underscore the idea insurance--that was in the red. It was as a result of the number of unemployment claims that were being made in my State. There was a nonpartisan commission that had been created to kind of oversee this process, without getting too far into the details. It had worked, where there had been some give and take. Employers and those who represented employers knew that there would be X amount of dollars taken out of everyone's payroll that would supplement or pay for the premiums associated with unemployment, and the system worked. But when the uptick came as a result of the economy sputtering at the time, it went into the red. It is just a reminder, I think, of what we find ourselves kind of in the midst of right now. As I said, some earlier speakers referenced this. We have this $300-a-week bonus that so many people are calling it right now. And I get it; I am not trying to be too judgmental on people who actually find themselves in that position. But what we are hearing from employers is that, as a result of the new dollars being in that unemployment system, it is doing two things. The first thing it is doing is obviously putting the regular private- sector market that employers are typically used to, and it is forcing them to kind of either increase wages to the point where it doesn't work for them. It just won't work for their small business model. They can't afford it and still be able to put out goods and services. The other thing it does, though, is it keeps people on unemployment. So what we are experiencing in our State--and I think I am hearing that other States are experiencing the same thing, and I think we are up to 19 different States right now--Governors have made a decision to pull back on the $300 a week. It is certainly cratering these unemployment insurance pots again. They can't keep up with it. So I am here today to just tell the constituents of Wisconsin and, really, nationwide, as we see State by State and the economy kind of moves in one direction, that there has to be a change. It is not even a partisan issue. Something has to give here in the short term, and I would certainly hope that President Biden would take a deeper look at this. I think the House and the Senate should actually move in a direction where there would be some type of reduction in these benefits very soon. I am very worried about this whole idea that there are a number of individuals out there right now who, I think, find themselves in a position where, you know, they are going to wait. They are just going to wait. They are going to wait for September to come, they are going to wait for October to come before they really start to reengage. The other thing in Wisconsin and other States that exists, when you are on unemployment insurance, you had to go out and look for a job. You know, you had to talk to employers and you had to develop your soft skills, which means, you know, making sure you are ready for work and you get to work on time. I am a little concerned that the pandemic has had a direct effect on that as well. Madam Speaker, I just wanted to be here this morning to highlight these issues again. I would like to work with the other side of the aisle and I would like to work with the President to make sure that we can find a way of reversing what I think is a path that is really going to jeopardize our entire nationwide economy.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory and celebrate the life of Mrs. Michelle Sanford, a resident of Pewaukee, Wisconsin who passed away at the age of 52 on April 19, 2021 after a courageous battle with cancer. Michelle will be remembered for her spirited and uplifting energy that she brought into every corner of her life. To her colleagues at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, where she worked for more than 20 years, Michelle's infectious laughter and smile will be missed. As will her energy that she brought to every project no matter how big or small, or close or far. Michelle started her career as a secretary at AEM, and quickly grew to become an integral leader of the AEM exhibitions and operations team. She oversaw operations for AEM's many trade shows, and she traveled the globe to support international exhibitions in China, India, and Russia, among other places. Michelle enjoyed her time with family and giving back to her community. She volunteered at many organizations but notably volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin. Michelle served on their board and as a direct volunteer. On behalf of Wisconsin's 5th Congressional District, it is my privilege to celebrate the life and legacy of Michelle Sanford for her outstanding contributions to our community. I offer my heartfelt condolences to Michelle's family, including her loving husband Donald, her mother Claire, and her many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends she is survived by

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my disappointment with H.R. 2630. What is happening down at our southern border is actually a crisis, and it is multiplying a crisis that has plagued this country for many years, and that is the opioid epidemic. Customs and Border Patrol agents have seized more than 4,900 pounds of fentanyl during the first 5 months of fiscal year 2021, already surpassing the total from last year. Mexican cartels are increasingly responsible for producing the supply of fentanyl into the U.S. market. China, we forget about China. China remains a key source of supply for the chemicals that the Mexican cartels are using to produce the fentanyl; all of this being smuggled into the U.S. through our western States. Madam Speaker, I introduced, along with Senator Johnson, the SOFA Act to permanently designate fentanyl as a schedule I drug, closing a loophole in current law that makes it difficult to prosecute crimes involving some synthetic opioids. The GAO report released last week on class-wide scheduling of fentanyl-related substances found fewer law enforcement encounters with fentanyl, and reduced incentives for cartels to circumvent the law through new and existing fentanyl substances. While I plan to support this bill--I think everybody will--a 5-month extension is not nearly long enough. I urge Democrats to come back to the table to find a solution that will permanently keep fentanyl as a schedule I drug.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 7. This bill is a solution in search of a problem, and it does nothing to help employees. In reality, the bill would only boost paychecks for trial lawyers and not workers. H.R. 7 places unworkable, burdensome restrictions on employers, and also poses a threat to worker privacy. Even more, this bill would kill the Christmas bonus by effectively prohibiting employers from paying end-of-the-year bonuses to their employees. This hardly seems fair to an employee, despite the title of the bill. Republicans tried to strengthen the bill during the committee markup. My colleague, Ms. Stefanik, offered an amendment that would have made commonsense improvements to the text, but that amendment was rejected by the Democrats. I urge a ``no'' vote on the bill. We should not allow trial lawyers and burdensome restrictions to kill the Christmas bonus under the false guise of fairness.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1487. Unlike large businesses with access to debt and equity markets, small businesses rely on commercial banking to fund their operations. Should a creditworthy small business be unable to obtain a conventional business loan, the Small Business Administration can help the small business by offering access to capital through the microloan program. The microloan program allows nonprofit intermediaries to make loans of up to $50,000 to small businesses, along with technical assistance. The program has grown from approving $52 million in loans in 2015 to over $80 million in 2019. Despite this growth, the SBA produces minimal statistics that are needed to evaluate a government guarantee loan program. This commonsense legislation will require the SBA to produce an annual report detailing additional information about microloans that have defaulted and the number of loans provided to rural areas. We owe it to Americans to conduct basic oversight to protect their taxpayer dollars while expanding opportunities for rural small businesses to grow and innovate. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill to ensure small businesses hit hard by the pandemic have robust access to capital, regardless of their size and location.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Hustisford Falcons High School boys' basketball team for their record breaking and historic win at the Division 5 state championship earlier this month. The Falcons convincingly delivered the program's first-ever state championship title. They kicked it off with a 26-5 run over the game's opening 13 minutes and cruised to a 69-35 victory at the final buzzer. When all was said and done, the Falcons finished the game with 11 blocks against the Macks, setting a new record, and finished the entire tournament with 15 blocked shots, breaking yet another state tournament record. This is a game that is sure to go down in the program's history books, each player should be very proud of themselves. Hustisford is my very own alma mater and I'm proud of these young men on their victory. I applaud Coach Hopfinger and the entire team for bringing home the first-ever gold ball to add to the school's trophy case. This team has overcome many obstacles in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they persevered and brought home impressive hardware to show for it. Congratulations to the Falcons for their hard work all season. This achievement is well deserved.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ernie Robert Yanke of Pewaukee, Wisconsin to celebrate his 100th Birthday. Mr. Yanke has lived a profoundly honorable life and lives up to the title of the Greatest Generation. His life's work deserves recognition and reflection as we mark this important milestone. Mr. Yanke is a World War II veteran, father, husband, and beloved friend to many. He is best known for is tolerance, compassion, and optimism, although life was not always easy for him. Growing up, Mr. Yanke had very little; he was born to German immigrants in New Britain, Connecticut and moved from one crowded dwelling to another and often stood in long food lines for government issued cheese. Mr. Yanke often felt he escaped accidental death through sheer luck, but he credits the Army with saving his life. During his time serving in the Army, Mr. Yanke led a decorated military career, rising to the rank of staff sergeant. He was part of the 76th Division in Patton's Third Army and was involved in the battle to rescue the besieged U.S. forces in the Battle of the Bulge. He recalls his hands freezing to the handle of a machine gun he manned atop a truck, firing all night to stave off the enemy. He was among the first troops to enter a concentration camp to provide relief to those held there. While in the Army, Mr. Yanke first met his wife Eileen Quillin at a USO dance. The minute he saw her, he told her he was coming back after the war to marry her. He did exactly that. Together, Mr. and Mrs. Yanke raised a wonderful family of four children in Wisconsin. Following his retirement, Mr. Yanke and Eileen spent the 25 years in Port Charlotte, FL, and traveled all over the world. Today, he has two daughters, four adult grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews as well as friends of all ages who he considers family. As he celebrates his 100th birthday, Mr. Yanke is still a picture of health and demonstrating the core traits the Army taught him. Every day, you can find him doing his daily'' 1,000 reps'' with his 1.51b weights. I join Mr. Yanke's family in celebrating the 100th birthday of this remarkable man.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Wauwatosa East High School boys' basketball team for winning the Division 1 state championship earlier this month. What started as a nail biter with the Red Raiders trailing the Papermakers 27-26 at the half, ended with a triumphant turnaround by the Wauwatosa East team on their way to a 62-44 victory. The Red Raiders shot an impressive 71 percent from the floor in the second half and finished at 55 percent for the game. This marks the Red Raiders fourth state championship win in the program's 17th tournament appearance and their first appearance in the tournament since 2008. I applaud Coach Arndorfer and the entire team for a terrific season. This team overcame many obstacles in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they persevered and brought home the win. Congratulations to the Red Raiders, or as they call themselves, the ``band of brothers.'' This achievement is well-deserved.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Pewaukee Pirates High School boys' basketball team for winning the Division 2 state championship earlier this month. In the state championship game, the Pirates played incredibly well, never once trailing in the contest as they raced out of the gate with an eight-point lead. They hit shot after shot as they built on their lead. The Pirates closed the first half with an impressive 12-0 run on their way to a 54-37 win. This remarkable victory is the Pewaukee team's first state championship win and their second appearance in the tournament. I applaud Coach Burkemper and the entire team for their first state championship title. This team has overcome many obstacles in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they persevered and brought home impressive hardware to show for it. Congratulations to the Pirates for their hard work all season. This achievement is well-deserved.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 88.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 682, the Reopen Schools Act, to get our kids out from behind screens and back in the classroom.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 842. This bill would be the most drastic change to labor law this country has seen in the past 80 years. It would severely upend labor laws and change long-established precedents at the behest of Democrats and their Big Labor donors and at the expense of hardworking Americans. This bill would take away the flexibility of workers to choose their own work hours, place onerous burdens on small business, restrict the ability of employers to seek labor relations advice, and violate workers' privacy by giving labor organizations access to their contact information without consent. This bill would also undermine the ability of States to choose their own labor laws by striking down the right-to-work laws of 27 States. As a member of the Wisconsin Senate, I authored the right-to-work bill that became law. I can attest firsthand to what the consequences would be if these laws were struck down. Striking down State right-to-work laws would force millions of workers to pay dues to labor unions without any say about how their money was spent. I offered an amendment to this bill that would prevent union dues from being used for political purposes. It is yet to be seen whether Democrats will support union bosses or hardworking Americans.

Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, this amendment that I authored would prohibit labor organizations from using union dues and fees collected from workers for non-collective bargaining purposes without the written consent of the employee. No employee should be forced to subsidize political positions they disagree with at the cost of employment. According to the Center for Union Facts, 43 percent of union households voted Republican, yet 86 percent of the union political support went to Democrat candidates in 2016. Clearly, there is a strong difference of opinion between union bosses and union members on the best pathway forward, but union bosses continue to spend their members' money with little accountability. Workers across Wisconsin and this country pay annual union dues to labor organizations in exchange for representation, not to line the pockets of the politicians. This amendment would stop unions from sending workers' hard-earned money into a black hole and ensure that the voices of workers are being heard. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment. Employees nationwide deserve to have a say in how their money is spent.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1280 and defunding the police. When vandalism and violence plagued cities across the country last summer, our law enforcement officers were the thin blue line protecting us. The violence reached communities from New York City to Portland. It even hit places in my district, and we saw our local law enforcement act heroically. Unfortunately, as both the son and father of law enforcement officials, this bill is a step in the wrong direction. The bill substantially reduces due process for police officers, restricts access to needed equipment, and makes it more difficult to get critical funding. Our law enforcement officers need more funding, not less. More funding will help our officers get additional training to deescalate conflicts and get more equipment to keep all parties safe. Instead of focusing on how we can help the police build trust in the communities, this bill focuses on how we can take from the police. Clearly, the bill is designed to satisfy those that seek to defund and dismantle the police. None of this bill serves to build trust between law enforcement and their communities. Like every occupation, law enforcement has bad apples that must be held accountable.

Mr. FITZGERALD

Mr. FITZGERALD. Madam Speaker, I rise in objection to H.R. 1, the so- called For the People Act. Contrary to the title, the bill puts politicians ahead of the American people and codifies nationwide election changes made last year that shook the faith of Americans in the integrity of our elections. When Americans vote, they put faith in the idea that our system of government gives them a voice in our democracy. If this faith is betrayed and Americans become skeptical of their vote, the trust our system is built upon collapses, and they do not want it to collapse. The bill would take us down this very path of losing trust by taking constitutionally granted authority out of the hands of the States and local officials and destroying the safeguards of election integrity. For example, not only would this bill do nothing to address ballot harvesting, but it would take the practice nationwide. We have seen the irregularities created by this practice and how ballot harvesting allows manipulation and intimidation in several elections across this country. In the 2020 election, this happened in Wisconsin, where ballot harvesting is not supposed to be permitted. In those instances, voter registration and absentee ballots were completed and collected in unsecured outdoor areas prior to the date allowed under State law. I am also proud to have implemented strong voter ID laws during my time in the Wisconsin Legislature. Unfortunately, over the past year, I saw those protections steamrolled under the guise of the pandemic, allowing over 200,000 voters to submit a ballot without showing an ID. This bill would permanently open the floodgates by forcing States to allow individuals to vote without an ID simply by signing a statement, effectively banning State voter ID laws.

Mr. FITZGERALD. As elected officials, we have a duty to maintain the faith of our voters in the integrity of our elections. Madam Speaker, for these reasons, I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill.