Mike Flood

Mr. FLOOD

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address Russia's ongoing efforts to conquer portions of Ukraine. While additional American financial support for Ukraine is on hold right now, it is imperative we remember why America has supplied military aid. This isn't merely a territorial dispute. This is a repeated attempt by an imperialist Russia to build an ethnic empire. You don't have to take my word for it. Vladimir Putin has compared himself to Tsar Peter the Great. For 21 years, Peter the Great waged the Great Northern War to defeat Sweden. His victory coincided with the beginning of the Russian Empire in 1721. Today, Putin doesn't just want portions of Ukraine, he wants to end the post-World War II order that has underpinned freedom and economic prosperity in Europe and beyond. While America shouldn't be on the hook to fund the everyday operations of Ukraine's Government, it is imperative that we give the Ukrainians the arms they need to beat back the reincarnation of what Reagan called the evil empire.

Mr. FLOOD

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my sincere gratitude to my hometown mayor, Josh Moenning, of Norfolk, Nebraska. After almost 12 years as mayor, he has decided to retire at the end of his term. During his tenure, Mayor Moenning saw Norfolk through dozens of projects that made our city a more desirable place for families and young people. Mayor Moenning said his time as mayor centered around three things: enhanced quality of life, improved infrastructure and city services, and economic growth. He accomplished those three objectives and more by renovating Johnson Park, revitalizing a wide variety of businesses and housing developments, and expanding infrastructure. Mayor Moenning took the city's ideas and needs, and he put them into action. Because of his service to our community, Norfolk is an even better place to live, work, and raise a family than it was 12 years ago. On behalf of the city of Norfolk in the First Congressional District, I extend our appreciation to Mayor Moenning for his leadership over the past 12 years. In Honor of Angie Muhleisen

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Angie Muhleisen. For the better part of three decades, Angie has led Union Bank & Trust of Lincoln. She has recently announced she is stepping down as CEO. When Angie started at Union Bank, it was a $50 million financial institution. Through the years, she has helped grow it into an $8 billion organization with over 1,000 teammates. From Lincoln's Inspire Woman of the Year to the Chamber's Burnham Yates Citizenship Award, Angie's leadership has earned significant recognition from community organizations. Even as she steps away from her role as CEO, her heart for service isn't slowing down. She recently became the board chair for the University of Nebraska Foundation. She also serves on the board of Assurity and is involved in numerous other organizations. Angie's greatest legacy is her family. Her son Jason is stepping into the role as CEO and will do an outstanding job building on her work. Best wishes to Angie on this next chapter. School Choice Week

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight National School Choice Week. School choice allows parents and children to choose the school that best fits their needs. Whether it is a public school, a private school, a home school, or a hybrid of these options, parents have a right to direct the upbringing and education of their kids. Last year, Nebraska passed its first school choice law, helping more families and kids to pick a school that best fits their needs, but there is still more we can do. Here at the Federal level, I am a proud cosponsor of Congressman Adrian Smith's Educational Choice for Children Act, which would bolster school choice across the Nation. This legislation would help more kids from low-income households access the education of their choice. I urge my colleagues to pass this. Back home in Nebraska, our legislature has been working to fund students, not systems. I am excited to see how they build on their school choice success. Keep up the great work. Housing Week

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight housing week, as declared by me, in Nebraska. A recent survey by Lending Tree found that 94 percent of Americans identified owning a house as part of the American Dream, but just over half of those `` . . . who don't own a home say they're worried they never will.'' Next week, I will address a Workforce Housing Summit hosted by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce. If we want to keep the American Dream alive, we must address the high cost of housing, help more Americans save for a downpayment, and break through other barriers. We must also take care of the housing stock in our communities. Later next week, I will be hosting a housing improvement meeting in Clarkson. This meeting will help brief community members about programs that can help weatherize and improve existing homes. Next week will be full of small, but important, steps toward addressing this shortage. While there is no silver bullet, through the work of local, State, and Federal partners, we can help more Americans find the home of their dreams. 100-Plus Days of Israel-Hamas War

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, it has been more than 100 days since Hamas launched a vicious war against Israel, committing inhumane acts of violence. Since October 7, Israel has worked to eliminate Hamas in response to their horrific killing and torture of over 1,000 innocent people. Right now, there are still more than 100 hostages being held by Hamas, including as many as six Americans. Over the last few months, we have witnessed numerous protests across the country sympathizing with Hamas, which is nothing short of shocking. The messages of these protesters is often at odds with supporting the only democracy in the Middle East, and they do not reflect our Nation's values. Let me be clear. America does not negotiate with terrorists, and we support the right of Israel to exist. America will continue to stand with Israel as they work to end Hamas and free every single hostage. We will not back down. May God bless the continued friendship between Israel and America.

Mr. FLOOD

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, time and time again, we see President Biden picking winners and losers in the marketplace to force a radical climate agenda on the American people. In his 2020 campaign, President Biden claimed a Buy America policy. The first year of his Presidency included lots of posturing on the virtues of American-made products, yet when push comes to shove, the President has made it clear that if given a choice between buying American and pushing an activist climate agenda fueled by EV batteries made in China, he sides with the woke environmentalists over American workers. If the Biden administration is going to distort the energy market with its Green New Deal and all of its subsidies, one would hope that they would at least fund the products made here in the United States. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this resolution to stop the Biden administration from crippling not only our domestic energy production but also our American manufacturing economy.

Mr. FLOOD

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, as National Law Enforcement Day approaches, I rise today to salute our men and women who keep our communities safe each and every day. It wasn't long ago that law enforcement was almost universally respected in America. The blue uniform was a symbol not just of law and order but also of community peace and harmony. Policemen and policewomen belonged among the most trusted community members, alongside nurses, teachers, firefighters, and postal workers. However, something happened in 2020. Antipolice riots erupted in communities across the country. Places like Seattle, Minneapolis, and Chicago were besieged by violence. Violent protestors set up a law enforcement-free zone in Seattle known as CHAZ. Civil unrest in Minneapolis led to one-half billion dollars' worth of damage while city leadership failed to keep order after George Floyd's death. Folks looked at the Magnificent Mile in Chicago while the world watched America burn. Nevertheless, this destruction wasn't tolerated in Nebraska. When disorder erupted in two of our major cities, then-Governor Pete Ricketts cracked down. He deployed State patrol and National Guard members to assist communities and protected businesses and homeowners. Since the national unrest in 2020, Nebraska has doubled down on our commitment to supporting our men and women in blue. While some States have repealed traditional protections for law enforcement, Nebraska has maintained qualified immunity. This is critical to ensuring law enforcement officers can do their jobs without the threat of frivolous lawsuits or complaints. Last year, before I came to Congress, I was the proud cosponsor of the Law Enforcement Attraction and Retention Act in the Nebraska legislature. This bill provides a variety of cash incentives for individual officers to help law enforcement agencies retain their workforce. It received almost unanimous approval from that body. This year--and I want to double down on this--the legislature in Nebraska passed the First Responder Recruitment and Retention Act. It covers 100 percent of tuition for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and their children who want to get a college degree from a community college or a State college or university. We are the first State in the Nation to give police officers, their families, and their children free college, recognizing that what they do is important and that it is needed. If someone is living in one of those places where law enforcement is under attack, I want them to look at Nebraska. Look at what we can do for them and their family. We have a variety of opportunities available in law enforcement. The Nebraska State Patrol is the finest statewide agency in the Nation led by an outstanding colonel, John Bolduc. Our two biggest cities have fantastic large agencies that provide lots of opportunities to advance. If someone likes to hunt, we can help them there, too. We have lots of opportunities in smaller agencies, mid-size communities, a plethora of opportunity. There is truly an opportunity in Nebraska for every law enforcement officer, and it comes with a low cost of living and competitive salaries. Our communities need police officers. Rural communities need police officers. We are doing what we can in Nebraska to make it as attractive to people across the country as humanly possible. As we honor our peace officers on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, I invite anyone working in the profession to consider my great State as they think about their career and what is best for their family and know that Nebraskans support them. We salute their work; we wish them all the best as they continue to protect communities and the good life across our country. May God bless our law enforcement, and may God bless the United States of America.

Mr. FLOOD

Mr. FLOOD. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S.J. Res. 32 providing congressional disapproval of the CFPB's Small Business Collection Rule. I am a businessman myself, and I am proud to say that I have made a payroll every 2 weeks since I was 24 years old. I will tell you what happens in a situation like this. I am also a borrower. I am a borrower of small community banks across the State of Nebraska. If you pass something like this, if you go from 7 statutory data points to 81 data points, I am going to have to pay an accountant to sit down and sift through all of our business data to put this together for my bank, my lender, and hope that I get it right so that on the next bank exam, they are not calling me wanting a whole bunch more information. That is the real cost to small business. That is the real cost to businesses in this Nation. That is what people in this town forget. It is small businesses. It is small-town employers that make this country run, that make the money work, so that people can wake up and have cash in their pocket. I will say this: If you go from 7 points to 81 points, this is just another example where the CFPB has expanded the scope of the rule as far as possible.

Mr. FLOOD

Mr. FLOOD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the success of Governor Jim Pillen in Nebraska to help reduce property and income taxes while expanding educational opportunities across our State. Less than a year ago, Governor Pillen took office as Nebraska experienced historic levels of tax revenue. His first budget poured billions of dollars into property tax relief, helping alleviate Nebraska's high property taxes. He cut income taxes and sped up the total repeal of Social Security taxes. He also increased the amount of funding the State provides for special education and created an education future fund which committed $1 billion to help Nebraska's schools. Along the way, he made history by bringing school choice to Nebraska by establishing a scholarship tax credit to help families access more educational opportunities. This is really just a snapshot of what Governor Pillen had accomplished in less than 12 months, and there is more to come. Madam Speaker, I congratulate Governor Pillen on his great work.

Mr. FLOOD

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Stanton High School football team for winning the first State football championship in their school's history. The Mustangs hail from Stanton, Nebraska, a town of less than 2,000 people in Nebraska's First Congressional District. The Mustangs, with a roster of 29 players, went undefeated in their 2023 season and finished it off by winning State at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. This was Stanton's first State appearance in almost two decades. With two Mustang touchdowns within 13 seconds in the fourth quarter, the 8-man team pulled off a comeback for the Stanton history books. The team dedicated this season to their late coach, Patric Brechbill, who passed away just weeks before the season started. The boys said they knew he was with them through every tough play. Congratulations to the Mustangs' players and coaches. They have made their hometown proud and Coach Brechbill very proud.

Mr. FLOOD

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate West Point implement on a half-century of doing business. Fifty years ago, Buddy Ternus, Francis Sand, and Erv Eisenmenger started this business that has grown significantly and evolved to meet the needs of the community through the years. Today, Erv and his sons Scott and Chad run West Point Implement as a family business. Over the past five decades, the business has expanded to include West Point Design and EIS, Mfg. One of the keys to their success has been their commitment ``to stay alert to change, and to lead the way for our employees and our customers toward being the best in the business of production agriculture.'' Cuming County, which is home to West Point Implement, has over 360,000 acres of farmland and is one of the top counties for cattle in Nebraska. Consequently, West Point Implement has played a pivotal part in helping the ag economy grow in Cuming County in its years of business. Congratulations to West Point Implement and the Eisenmenger family on reaching this milestone--here's to the next fifty years.

Mr. FLOOD

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 610, I mistakenly voted no when I intended to vote aye.

Mr. FLOOD

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to address the growing threat of Delta 8 across communities in Nebraska. For anyone who may not be following this issue yet, Delta 8 is a variant of THC and is derived from cannabis. Today, retailers across Nebraska are selling THC-laced products aimed at kids. For example, a retailer in Madison County has allegedly been selling gummies containing 200 times the level of THC needed to send a kid to the hospital. Delta 8 products are made to look like common types of candy or snacks to appeal to children. I am glad Nebraska is cracking down on Delta 8, which are illegal even in States that have legalized recreational marijuana. Attorney General Mike Hilgers has filed complaints in 10 counties across Nebraska as he works to confront this challenge. I commend him and others across the country who are taking action to stop the threat of Delta 8 that is hurting our children. Mr. Speaker, I encourage everyone watching to visit AGO.Nebraska.gov to learn more. Saluting Nebraska State Treasurer Tom Briese

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the service of newly- appointed Nebraska State Treasurer Tom Briese. For almost 7 years, Tom honorably served the people of District 41 in the unicameral. I sat next to him on our State's revenue committee. During those years, he fought hard to reform the State's high property taxes and school funding formula. Over the course of time in the legislature, he worked with both Governor Ricketts and Governor Pillen to deliver historic tax relief. Earlier this year, Governor Pillen announced that he would appoint Senator Briese to fill a vacancy in the role of State treasurer. Tom brings with him a wealth of experience in working with the legislature and State senators to shape public policy. He leads an office that manages the State's college savings plan and unclaimed property programs while watching over the State's resources. I know Tom will do an outstanding job in his new role and I wish him all the best as he takes on this new challenge. Mr. Speaker, I wish the treasurer best wishes in the years ahead. Congratulating Hampton Enterprises on 75 Years of Business

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Hampton Enterprises on 75 years of business. The late Joe Hampton opened the real estate and construction company in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1948 when he was just 22 years old. Throughout the past 75 years, Hampton has constructed everything from houses to offices to the Pinnacle Bank Arena. Hampton has an impressive and extensive list of arenas, schools, and offices, and with all of these buildings comes numerous tenants and customers. One tenant has been renting office space from Hampton for nearly 40 years. He says they offer a complete spectrum of services. Hampton prides themselves on maintaining their core values of integrity, quality, work ethic, relationships, and stewardship, which is likely why they have found so much success. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Nebraska's First Congressional District, I congratulate Hampton Enterprises on 75 years. Biden-Xi Meeting

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the upcoming meeting between President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping. President Biden and President Xi are expected to meet later this month during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. Leading Biden Cabinet members have been meeting with high-level officials from the Chinese Communist Party in recent months. The focus of these meetings has been framed as ``engagement.'' While that might sound nice, the Biden administration's approach has weakened America's position in relation to China. The CCP respects strength, and America must project it if we are going to succeed in this new era of competition. If President Biden wants to find success in this policy area, he needs to be willing to communicate clear principles around national security, trade, and human rights as he meets with their President. Failure to do this will only mean America's ability to compete against China will fade away. Mr. Speaker, I wish President Biden all the best as he takes on this challenge. I hope he is up to it. Recognizing Beckenhauer Construction on 145 Years in Business.

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Beckenhauer Construction of Norfolk, Nebraska, on 145 years in business. Since 1878, Beckenhauer has built everything from churches to schools to hospitals and community projects built around the good life. Today, it is still a family business being run by the fourth and fifth generations. They have been involved in the Box Butte General Hospital and the Boone County health clinic. The University of Nebraska had them renovate the UNL Barkley Memorial Center in Lincoln just last year. Beckenhauer Construction's reach extends beyond Nebraska. They recently broke ground on a new law enforcement center in Clay County, South Dakota. The Beckenhauer commitment is to hold the standards of quality, reliability, integrity, safety, and honesty to provide unparalleled service to their clients. That is why they are likely to grow for another 145 years and beyond. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Beckenhauer Construction and wish them the best in the years to come.

Mr. FLOOD

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 560.

Mr. FLOOD

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address America's immigration crisis. For 29 months, encounters with illegal immigrants have been higher than the highest month in the Trump years. While Washington Democrats continue to ignore the crisis, House Republicans continue to do everything we can in our power to enforce them. Earlier this year, we passed H.R. 2, also known as the Secure the Border Act. This bill helps finish the border wall, stops the Biden administration's open-border policies, and increases Border Patrol staffing. This legislation awaits consideration in a Democratic-controlled Senate. It cannot wait any longer. It is time for the Senate to take action. We cannot allow the Biden administration to dismantle the border wall. We cannot allow Secretary Mayorkas to circumvent or dismantle the successful remain in Mexico policy. We cannot continue to allow illegal immigrants to stream across our border illegally without regard for our national security. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the Senate to come together and support a commonsense plan like H.R. 2 to stem the humanitarian crisis on our southern border.

Mr. FLOOD

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor manufacturers across the First District of Nebraska. Manufacturing is Nebraska's largest industry. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, manufacturing accounts for 11.81 percent of the total output in Nebraska, employing 9.8 percent of our workforce. Across the First District, these manufacturers are creating jobs. Nucor in Norfolk, Nebraska, produced 33.6 million tons of steel over the last 50 years. Plattsmouth is home to the first creatine manufacturer in the United States. Blazer Athletic fabricates sports equipment in Columbus. Kawasaki makes train cars in Lincoln that ship to Washington, D.C., and New York City. You should also know that Fremont is producing rotisserie chickens and other products for Costco stores across North America. On behalf of the people of Nebraska's First Congressional District, I extend our sincere thanks to all the manufacturers that are helping make our communities a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Keep up the great work. Congratulating Northeast Community College on Its 50th Anniversary

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Northeast Community College as they celebrate their 50th anniversary. Our community college system plays a critical role in educating the next generation of Nebraska's workforce, and Northeast Community College is leading the way. The college started with six buildings on its main campus on the edge of Norfolk in 1973. Today, it boasts campuses in South Sioux City, West Point, Norfolk, and O'Neill. Under the leadership of President Leah Barrett, the college has been making moves. A $22 million investment at the Acklie Family College Farm is setting the college up to become a leader in veterinary technology. In the spring, Northeast announced the launch of a new agriculture- diesel mechanic apprenticeship program. This fall, the college broke ground on a new facility in South Sioux City to add welding booths and a CDL training building. On behalf of the people of Nebraska's First Congressional District, I extend our sincere congratulations to Northeast Community College on five great decades. Marking 90th Anniversary of Columbus Sales Pavilion

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Columbus Sales Pavilion as they celebrate their 90th anniversary. Founded by M.H. Vanburg in 1933, it is now owned by a fourth- generation family. In a day and age when people switch jobs frequently, the sales pavilion has a local and loyal workforce with some employees boasting over 30 years with their team. Nebraska is the beef State, and sale barns like the Columbus Sales Pavilion are not only critical to our community, but they are also at the heart of our ag community. I recently visited the Columbus Sales Pavilion during an auction. I can tell you that the sales pavilion is more than a market. It is a place of connection and community for producers across the area. This doesn't happen by accident. It happens because the owners have made it their stated mission to make Columbus a better place. On behalf of the people of Nebraska's First Congressional District, I extend our sincere congratulations to the Columbus Sales Pavilion on 90 great years. Celebrating 100 Years of Memorial Stadium

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of the most iconic places in Nebraska: Memorial Stadium. This fall, the Huskers are celebrating 100 years of the stadium. Through these gates pass the greatest fans in college football. That has been proven for the last century. On game days, Memorial Stadium becomes the third largest city in Nebraska, with more than 90,000 fans gathering at every home game. Since 1962, we have sold out every single game. That is 390 consecutive sellouts. The love for Husker athletics was shown once again at Memorial Stadium just weeks ago when 92,003 fans attended a Husker volleyball match on Osborne Field, setting a world record for the most attended women's sporting event. Some of the greatest college football coaches of all time have called plays at Memorial Stadium, like former Congressman Tom Osborne and Bob Devaney. This season begins with the Matt Rhule era, and he got his first win in the stadium last week. Congratulations to the university. Go Big Red. Recognizing Bellevue Women's Club

Mr. FLOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish the Bellevue Women's Club a happy anniversary as they approach 100 years in service. In 1924, the Bellevue Women's Club began serving their community. By 1929, they were already taking on big projects like helping start the first Bellevue library and the city's first swimming pool. Through their 100 years, this nonprofit has contributed their time and money to some of Sarpy County's most significant organizations and events, like the Arrows to Aerospace Parade, Habitat for Humanity, and the Ronald McDonald House. Their club members' support for a wide array of organizations in Sarpy County is unmatched as they give back through the senior community center, Books for Babies, and the Bellevue Food Pantry. The scope of their work through the years is very impressive. On behalf of Nebraska's First Congressional District, congratulations to the Bellevue Women's Club on their first century, and here is to the next.