Bill Huizenga

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, but I, too, would like to thank my friend, Mr. Scott from Georgia, for working with Representative Meeks to bring this to the forefront. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1679) to amend the Expedited Funds Availability Act to clarify the application of that Act to American Samoa, as amended.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials in the Record on H.R. 1679, as amended, currently under consideration.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to also thank my colleague, Delegate Faleomavaega, for introducing this bill. This bill makes a technical change to clarify that the Expedited Funds Availability Act applies to banks located in American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as the other 50 States and contiguous States. It was an inadvertent error that these territories were not included in this act. This legislation remedies this error. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, with that, I would just like, again, to congratulate Delegate Faleomavaega for his leadership on this, and I am glad that we could get this done. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Daniel Krueger and his commendable service to Michigan's Western District as Ottawa County Clerk. Daniel Krueger, the longest serving county clerk in the state, has served as the Ottawa County Clerk for over 35 years. During this time Daniel Krueger has proudly served the people of Ottawa County, as well as all of West Michigan. Daniel Krueger received his Bachelor's in History from Hope College in Holland, Michigan. He then went on to receive his Masters Degree from Michigan State University. In 1978, Daniel Krueger was appointed to serve as the Ottawa County Clerk, and in 2012, he was elected as the Ottawa County Clerk and Register of Deeds. He is a member of the Michigan Association of County Clerks, and he has been on the legislative committee serving as chair and co-chair since 1990. He was also appointed to the board of the Michigan Association of Registers of Deeds in 2013 where he continues to serve. Throughout his career, Daniel Krueger has worked to improve and enhance the efficiency of the county clerk's office. Beginning in 1980, Mr. Krueger initiated the computerization of court processes, and in 2006 he began the process of digitalizing all of the county court records. He has continued to work toward a paperless court process with electronic transmittal of records between county court offices, electronic certification of court documents, and online jury processes. For his efforts in promoting efficiency and the education of others, Mr. Krueger has been selected as County Clerk of the Year, and was selected as the Michigan State University Continuing Education's Clerk of the Year. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Daniel Krueger for his service to Ottawa County and the Western District.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Honorable James D. Gregg and his commendable service to Michigan's Western District as a bankruptcy judge. Judge Gregg served Michigan's Western District as a United States bankruptcy judge for 27 years. Further, his service to the state has been a long time commitment, as he has worked for Michigan communities for over 30 years. After graduating from Wayne State University with his Juris Doctor, Judge Gregg chose to remain in Michigan to practice. He served as a partner of Varnum, Riddering, and Schmidt & Howlett in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1987, Judge Gregg was designated in The Best Lawyers in America. From 1995 to 2003, Judge Gregg worked with the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, ultimately serving as the organizations president from 2002-2003. Throughout his career, Judge Gregg has been committed to educating students and practitioners about bankruptcy law. From 1994-1997, Judge Gregg served as an adjunct professor and taught bankruptcy law courses at The Thomas Cooley Law School. He has also been an education chair, a speaker, or a panelist at more than one hundred and fifty educational seminars for bar associations and professional organizations throughout the United States. In 2013, the Bankruptcy Section of the Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Michigan inaugurated the ``James D. Gregg Bankruptcy Education Award'' to be given out to members of the local bar or bench who have done outstanding work to further the education among bankruptcy practitioners in the district. While Judge Gregg will no longer sit on the bench, he still plans to continue teaching bankruptcy law.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Madam Speaker, we know a lack of normalcy and barriers to participation in sort of age-appropriate activities increases vulnerability of trafficking, homelessness, and other negative outcomes that kids that are in foster care experience. This bill--and I appreciate the authors of this bill--would ensure that youth and foster care can participate in more age-appropriate activities and they are going to be better connected with their communities and their friends and less vulnerable, therefore, to becoming victims of sex trafficking. In all this nastiness, negativity, and ugliness, I get to talk about a little ray of hope, though, as well. Bethany Christian Services, which is located in west Michigan and has operations in my district, is an example of an effective child welfare organization that dramatically improves outcomes for children in foster care. Bethany comes alongside families who will walk with these kids at this time of crisis and welcome them unconditionally into their loving, caring homes. It is also an organizational model that has proven successful. Foster parents work with staff from community agencies toward identified goals for the children in their care, empowering these foster parents to dramatically improve outcomes for those kids that are in their care. I thank the author of this, who is going to give this same opportunity to all foster children.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 1209, a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the brave airmen known as the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders for outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and service to the United States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo, introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson). This bill authorizes the minting and award of a single gold medal, collectively, in honor of the mission that was one of the catalysts of Allied Powers' victory in the Pacific in World War II. After its award, the medal would be given to the National Museum of the United States Air Force, where it will be displayed with other Doolittle Raid memorabilia, including the famed ``Doolittle Goblets,'' and be available for loan as appropriate. Mr. Speaker, the valor of the 80 men we now call the Doolittle Raiders is beyond most people's imagination. They all volunteered for an extremely hazardous--some would say impossible--mission, as if flying huge bombers during the war wasn't already extremely hazardous, and when a major element of their mission was jeopardized, they went ahead with the raid anyway, knowing it would drastically increase the chances that they would be either killed or captured. Under the command of the tough and visionary Colonel James Doolittle, these men from the 17th Bombardment Group--medium size--ended up flying the first ever mission in which medium bombers took off from a carrier in combat conditions. Because the USS Hornet had been discovered by the enemy, the raiders ended up taking off for a mission that, at 670 miles, was at least 100 miles longer than had been predicted and planned for--enough further to virtually guarantee they would crash land or be forced down in the sea or in Japanese-controlled China rather than on Allied airstrips deeper into China. Mr. Speaker, that is what happened. Two died in crashes, and of the eight captured, three were executed and a fourth died of disease. But considering the daring nature of their mission and the morale-booster it was for the U.S. soldiers and civilians, that 70 returned to the United States is a miracle. Importantly, the raids on April 18, 1942, proved to the Japanese that their homeland was vulnerable to attack, which led to the recall of several top fighter squadrons for homeland defense and prompted other repositioning of Japanese assets that many believe led to the crushing American victory in the Battle of Midway in early June of that year, just 6 months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Mr. Speaker, the men who risked--and lost--their lives in the Doolittle Raid are legendary heroes, and the raid itself is one of the premier military exploits of our still young Nation. This medal is well-earned and long overdue. The bill has 309 cosponsors in the House, and a companion bill introduced by Senator Brown of Ohio had 78 cosponsors when it passed the other body in November. I ask for unanimous approval of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague from Texas for sharing that history. I too share, I think, in the surprise that my colleague from Massachusetts expressed, which is that this hasn't been done already-- it certainly should have been--whether it was Jimmy Stewart, who starred in a famous movie back in the day--the whole notion of launching these B-25 Mitchells off the deck was so new, and what would be a simple commute today maxed out the capabilities of these airplanes, and it was very important. With that, Mr. Speaker, I do ask that we pass this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials for the Record on H.R. 1209, currently under consideration.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1209) to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the ``Doolittle Tokyo Raiders'', for outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and service to the United States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to join all my colleagues in thanking our colleague from Texas for underscoring this important legislation and for his service. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), the House's ace and the author of this legislation.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today, there has been a lot of recognition about those who have served our country, so I rise in support of H.R. 685, the American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act, introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Johnson). This bill authorizes the minting and award of a single gold medal in recognition of the American fighter aces' heroic military service and defense of our country's freedom, which has spanned the history of aviation warfare. Once awarded, the medal will be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it will be available for display or loan, as appropriate. Mr. Speaker, this country has had many military heroes in its history, men and women who have fought valiantly and who have often died in the process to defend freedom around the world. All are heroes, but none has captured the imagination more than the American fighter ace, flying usually alone, directly at the enemy. Each of us knows the story of one or more aces, but probably few know the stories of more than a couple of them. I think most people would be surprised to know that there are more than 1,500 of the more than 60,000 U.S. combat pilots who have achieved ace status by destroying five or more enemy aircraft in combat. What even fewer know is that not all of these pilots flew for the U.S., even as they flew in the defense of U.S. ideals. Some flew in the British Royal Air Force, in the Canadian Royal Air Force, and in the French Lafayette Escadrille in World War I before the U.S. entered the war. American aces flew in the Spanish Civil War, in the Sino-Japanese War, in the Arab-Israeli War; and in echoing the recent tensions in Ukraine, one American fighter collected his victories while flying for the White Russian Air Force against the Red Air Force just after World War I. Mr. Speaker, the stories of America's fighter aces are full of the kind of courage and sacrifice we all think of as emblematic of our country. It would be easy for me to tell a few of those tales, but I think the story of the fighter aces and of fighter pilots in general can best be told by the man who will be my side's next speaker--the author of this bill, Mr. Johnson of Texas. As I am sure all of the Members of this Chamber know, Mr. Johnson is a decorated fighter pilot from both the Korean and Vietnam wars, who spent several years in a North Vietnamese prison after being shot down on his 25th mission. After noting that this bill is now sponsored by 312 Members of the House and that a Senate version passed on March 26 with 81 cosponsors, I urge the bill's immediate passage. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials for the Record on H.R. 685, as amended, currently under consideration.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 685) to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the American Fighter Aces, collectively, in recognition of their heroic military service and defense of our country's freedom throughout the history of aviation warfare, as amended.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman McCaul for his work on this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of S. 309, a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the Civil Air Patrol, introduced by the gentleman from Iowa, Mr. Harkin. This bill authorizes the minting and award of a single gold medal in honor of their outstanding and largely unrecognized work. The medal would be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it would be available for display or loan, as appropriate. The unpaid volunteer members of the Civil Air Patrol during World War II provided extraordinary humanitarian and combat services during a critical time of need for the Nation. The CAP, as it was known, was established initially as a part of the Office of Civil Defense, by American citizens, on December 1 of 1941-- one week short of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor--out of the desire of civil airmen and the country to be mobilized with their personal equipment in the defense of the country. During the war, CAP members used their own aircraft to perform a myriad of essential tasks for the military and the country as a whole within the United States, including for attacks on enemy submarines off the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States. From the beginning, CAP leaders urged the military to use its services to patrol coastal waters, but it was met with great resistance because of the nonmilitary status of CAP civilian pilots. Finally, in response to the ever-increasing submarine attacks, the Tanker Committee of the Petroleum Industry War Council urged the Navy Department and the War Department to consider the use of the CAP to help patrol the sea lanes off the coasts of the United States. While the Navy initially rejected this suggestion, the Army decided it had merit, and the Civil Air Patrol's coastal patrol began in March of 1942. Eventually, 21 bases, ranging from Bar Harbor, Maine, to Brownsville, Texas, were set up for the CAP to patrol the Atlantic and gulf coasts, with 40,000 volunteers eventually participating. Their initial purpose was to spot submarines, report their positions to the military, and force them to dive below the service, which limited their operating speed and maneuverability and reduced their ability to detect and attack shipping, because their attacks against unguarded merchant shipping were conducted while the submarines were surfaced. Immediately, it became apparent that there were opportunities for these CAP pilots to attack the submarines, such as in Florida, when they came across a submarine which had stranded itself on a sandbar. Finally, after several instances when the military could not respond in a timely manner, the decision was made by the military to arm the CAP aircraft with 50- and 100-pound bombs and to arm some larger twin- engine aircraft with 325-pound depth charges. The arming of the CAP aircraft dramatically changed the mission for these civilian aircrews, and it resulted in more than 57 attacks on enemy submarines. At the conclusion of the 18-month coastal patrol, the heroic CAP aircrews would be credited with the following: two submarines damaged or destroyed; 57 submarines attacked; 82 bombs dropped against those submarines; 173 radio reports of submarine positions, with a number of credited assists for kills made by military units; 86,685 total missions flown; and over 244,000 total flight hours and 24 million miles flown. This extraordinary national service set the stage for the postwar CAP to become a valuable nonprofit, public service organization, chartered by Congress and designated the auxiliary of the United States Air Force that provides essential emergency, operational, and public services to communities, States, the Federal Government, and the military. Mr. Speaker, this honor is richly deserved. Senator Harkin has pursued this effort for several Congresses, and this bill passed the other body exactly a year ago, with 81 cosponsors. The House version, introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), has 353 cosponsors, so I ask for the immediate approval of this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials for the Record on S. 309, currently under consideration.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 309) to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the Civil Air Patrol.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my friend sharing that story and personalizing it. I had a chance to tour much of Europe and Eastern Europe back when I was in school, and seeing the devastation that hit cities like St. Petersburg and Leningrad; Warsaw, which was completely leveled; Prague; Budapest; Berlin, it is amazing that there was really almost anything that was preserved. I think we are better for it as a world and as a culture to have that. With that, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Granger).