John Katko

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Syracuse University Men's Soccer team for winning its first NCAA Division I National Championship on December 12, 2022. Syracuse defeated the Indiana University Hoosiers in a thrilling national championship match, which ended with The Orange prevailing in a penalty kick shootout. The championship capped off an astonishing nineteen-win season, the best in school history. It also marks the 80th national championship in Syracuse Athletics history. I am honored to extend my congratulations to the entire Syracuse Orange Men's Soccer team including Head Coach Ian McIntyre, Associate Head Coach Jukka Masalin, and Assistant Coach Sean Lawlor. Our entire Central New York community is so proud. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing the Syracuse University Men's Soccer team on the first of many national championships.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, after 8 years of service, in gratitude for this body and the people of central New York who have entrusted me to represent them in Congress since 2015. When I first ran for Congress, I left a job that I absolutely loved as a Federal prosecutor, trying cases involving organized crime, murder, political corruption, drug trafficking, and every manner of awful crime you can imagine. As a prosecutor, politics never mattered to me. I worked alongside public servants every day who sought to bring justice to victims of crime. We were united in our mission to make our community a better place. I brought this similar approach to Congress, and I dare say it has worked. I am proud of the work we have done over the past 8 years--and when I say ``we,'' I am talking about myself, my staff, and my colleagues--to solve serious problems and unite people across this great land. I focused on unifying issues, and I regularly introduced bills with Democratic cosponsors. In fact, almost every bill I introduced, I would not introduce until I had a Democratic lead on that bill. I broke with my own party time and again when it was in the best interests of central New York and America. I remained an active member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, and I am proud to have led and grown the Republican Governance Group to become a very powerful and moderate voice in the Republican Party. I am proud today to give this speech while some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are saying good-bye, as well. We did a lot of good things together, and I am very proud of them, and I am proud to call them my friends. I am proud of this approach to governing, and I am honored to have consistently ranked among the most bipartisan and effective Members in all of Congress. That is not me ranking it or my friends; that is an independent group. It yielded the passage of nearly 100 bills in my name and the enactment of laws by Presidents from both parties. Most importantly, I was able to work across party lines time and again to deliver results for central New York. We delivered a bipartisan infrastructure package and secured historic investments for domestic semiconductor manufacturing that has now brought a manufacturer to central New York that is going to invest $100 billion in central New York. Stunning. We lowered taxes for the middle class. We began work on addressing the opioid epidemic and mental health crisis. We worked on efforts to strengthen cybersecurity, improve airport and transportation security, and protect our homeland. In the past year alone, we brought home nearly $9 million in funding for initiatives that will improve the quality of life across our district. Of course, this has not been a one-man operation. I could not have had these successes without a tremendous amount of support. I have been blessed with family, friends, health, and the most loving and patient wife you could possibly imagine, Robin. I have been supported by an incredible staff, some of whom I see here today. I am so glad they are here. I have been supported by staff members who faithfully served central New York and diligently worked on the House Homeland Security Committee, as well, to make our Nation safer. Four times, my constituents in Onondaga, Cayuga, Wayne, and Oswego Counties elected me to be their voice in Congress, and they have consistently provided me with valuable and, oftentimes, very frank input. They have guided my decisions, to say the least. These constituents are not just Republicans, and they are not just Democrats, and they are not just Independents, but they are all of my constituents. I profoundly understood that. I am eternally grateful for their input. Serving central New York has been an honor that I can't possibly tell you. Finally, as my time in Congress comes to an end, I urge my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, to consider the impact of working across the aisle as they seek to address the many challenges ahead. Throughout my 8 years in Congress, I have consistently drawn inspiration from the relationship between two diametrically opposed political giants from the 1980s, Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill. They were able to compromise and make progress on issues today that seem unfathomable: tax reform, tax cuts, immigration reform, and Social Security reform. Imagine trying to do that today in this divided House. They did it not because of personal or political gain. They did it because of love for their country. We should all be instructed by that. While Congress is seemingly more divided than ever, our inability to find common ground is making us less competitive on the world stage, less prosperous, and is getting in the way of solving big problems. We were all sent here by our constituents to put the work in and to better our districts. When there are only fights and no bipartisan cooperation, it is our constituents, not us, who suffer. Please remember that. I made working across the aisle a priority during my 8 years in the House, and I can leave here knowing I achieved real results, along with my great team. I worked every day to make my district in central New York and this country better. So, for the last time, Mr. Speaker, as a Member of the United States House of Representatives, I yield back.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the generosity of Ralph Rotella, owner of Discount Shoe Repair in Syracuse and driving force behind Ralphy's Rescue Mission Shoe Drive. In 2010, Ralph Rotella was inspired to start Ralphy's Rescue Mission Shoe Drive after seeing a homeless person outside of his shop, walking in the cold with their toe sticking out. He made the decision to provide that person with a pair of usable shoes. From that day, Ralph began annually collecting, repairing, and donating shoes to the Syracuse Rescue Mission to help more people in-need. In Ralph's first year of operating the Shoe Drive, he donated less than 100 pairs of shoes. Each year since then, he has steadily expanded his operation, and in 2021, donated 37,370 pairs of shoes--one of the largest donations the Rescue Mission has ever received. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring Ralph Rotella for his determined efforts to aid underserved members of our Central New York community.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I was recorded as ``yes'', but I intended to vote ``nay'' on rollcall No. 474. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Bacon (Hartzler) Beatty (Cicilline) Bergman (Moolenaar) Bilirakis (Fleischmann) Boyle, Brendan F. (Beyer) Brooks (Fleischmann) Brown (MD) (Trone) Brownley (Pingree) Buchanan (Bucshon) Budd (McHenry) Bustos (Pingree) Carter (TX) (Weber (TX)) Cawthorn (Gohmert) Cherfilus-McCormick (Neguse) Chu (Beyer) Conway (LaMalfa) Crawford (Fleischmann) Cuellar (Correa) Demings (Dean) Diaz-Balart (Reschenthaler) Donalds (Cammack) Doyle, Michael F. (Pallone) Dunn (Cammack) Gimenez (Malliotakis) Gonzalez, Vicente (Correa) Gosar (Weber (TX)) Herrera Beutler (Meijer) Houlahan (Wexton) Jacobs (NY) (Sempolinski) Jayapal (Cicilline) Johnson (TX) (Stevens) Kirkpatrick (Pallone) Lawson (FL) (Stevens) Leger Fernandez (Cicilline) Lynch (Trahan) Mace (Smucker) Mast (Waltz) McEachin (Beyer) Meng (Escobar) Mfume (Beyer) Murphy (FL) (Peters) Newman (Beyer) Ocasio-Cortez (Neguse) Payne (Pallone) Pfluger (Ellzey) Porter (Neguse) Pressley (Trahan) Rice (NY) (Morelle) Rice (SC) (Meijer) Ryan (OH) (Correa) Salazar (Waltz) Sewell (Cicilline) Sherman (Garamendi) Sherrill (Pallone) Sires (Pallone) Soto (Escobar) Speier (Garcia (TX)) Steel (Obernolte) Steube (Reschenthaler) Timmons (Duncan) Vargas (Garamendi) Wilson (FL) (Cicilline) Wilson (SC) (Norman)

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Malnutrition Awareness Week. According to the Department of Agriculture, 33.8 million Americans struggle with food insecurity, and in my district in Central New York, nearly one in seven children are food-insecure. We have to do more to keep food on the table for American families and address the root causes of malnutrition. That's why in Congress, I have been proud to support crucial federal nutrition programs like SNAP, which millions of Americans rely on, and have been a consistent advocate for the Meals on Wheels program. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing Malnutrition Awareness Week and I urge continued work on efforts to combat food insecurity in America.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Suicide Awareness Month. For families deeply affected by suicide like my own--this issue is very personal. When I came to Congress, I decided to turn grief into a purpose by co-chairing the bipartisan Mental Health Caucus. I have worked with my colleagues to author and pass legislation to expand pediatric mental health care, effectively implement the new 988 suicide lifeline, and reduce the shortage of mental health professionals, but there is still much more to be done. Stigma surrounding mental illness still persists in the country big time. We are just beginning to understand the pandemic's true impact on behavioral health. If we are to make meaningful progress to reduce suicide, we need to focus on areas that produce the most in the least amount of time. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, along with a growing segment of the medical community, has recognized the need to expand suicide risk screenings within our healthcare community systems. By having more patients receive these screenings, healthcare professionals can better identify and treat at-risk individuals. Madam Speaker, suicide prevention is an issue near and dear to my heart, and I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in this important, lifesaving work.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 3157, the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act. This legislation's journey to the House floor began in my office 3 years ago and was born out of a conversation with Interfaith Works of Central New York, a nonprofit in my district. Interfaith Works serves the Central New York community by working to resettle individuals and families that have fled unimaginable hardship, seeking opportunity and prosperity legally, legally, in the United States. As advocates from the organization with firsthand experience described, Interfaith's resettlement efforts consistently encounter a troubling trend; underemployment or unemployment among individuals that come to America with professional degrees and certifications from other countries. This phenomenon, often referred to as ``brain waste,'' impacts individuals with skills and experiences in a wide range of in-demand fields, and it is by no means isolated to Central New York. A study by the Migration Policy Institute estimated that 2 million immigrants and refugees with college degrees have been relegated to low-wage jobs or left unemployed in the U.S., with 60 percent of these individuals holding credentials in the healthcare sector. On an annual basis, this untapped talent is estimated to cost nearly $40 billion in uncollected wages and over $10 billion in unrealized tax receipts. Simply put, these are individuals who came to our country through the proper channels--and I can't stress that enough--who want to contribute to our economy, and who are now facing significant obstacles in seeking employment through no fault of their own. Most concerningly, the underutilization of their skills comes in the midst of a nationwide workforce crisis, when our economy needs their contributions more than nearly any point in my lifetime. So, what is Congress going to do about it? I am proud to say that the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act takes a significant first step in addressing brain waste and enabling millions of individuals who are already legally present in the United States to participate fully in our economy. This bill would seek to identify the underlying factors that contribute to brain waste by directing the Department of Labor to study existing barriers and issue recommendations to help combat them. Critically, the narrowly tailored consensus approach taken by this legislation has already received strong bipartisan support, with the legislation passing in the Senate by unanimous consent earlier this year. The Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act also has significant support nationwide and has been endorsed by over 200 workforce development groups and community organizations. I thank Representatives Crow, Fitzpatrick, and Gottheimer for joining me in introducing the House version of this bill in a bipartisan manner, as well as Senators Klobuchar and Cornyn for their work to move this legislation through the Senate. I also thank the hundreds of national advocates who have worked tirelessly to raise awareness surrounding this brain waste and to build support for this commonsense legislation. This bill is about upholding the American Dream and unlocking opportunities for millions of workers, and I urge all my colleagues to join me in voting to send it to the President's desk.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues in the New York Congressional delegation in formally welcoming Congressman Joe Sempolinski as the new Representative for New York's 23rd Congressional District. As someone who grew up in the Painted Post area and is currently raising a family in Canisteo, Joe is well-suited to represent New Yorkers from across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions in Congress. Beyond his local roots, Joe has a long history of public service to this region, and his record speaks for itself. After earning degrees from both Georgetown University and Yale, Joe took a position as district director for Congressman Tom Reed so he could serve the community where he grew up. In addition to his years of work with Congressman Reed, Joe's commitment to service has kept him personally involved in Steuben County politics and ultimately led to his decision to run for Congress. With his demonstrated record of service, I am confident that Congressman Sempolinski will be a strong Representative for the families of New York's 23rd Congressional District. I am proud to welcome him as a colleague, and, along with the rest of the New York delegation, to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Joe, his wife, Angie, and two beautiful daughters up in the balcony. Madam Speaker, I yield the remainder of my time to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sempolinski).

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from New York, the Honorable Joseph Sempolinski, be permitted to take the oath of office today. His certificate of election has not arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to his election.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Lucas for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the CHIPS Plus Act. This legislation has the potential to bring transformational investments to my district in central New York and will take long overdue steps to shore up our domestic supply chain for semiconductors. Significantly, this measure has the support of pillars from the previous administration on national security and economic matters: Mike Pompeo, former Secretary of State, supports it. Wilbur Ross, former Secretary of Commerce, supports it. Mark Esper, former Secretary of Defense, supports it. Robert Lighthizer, former U.S. Trade Representative, supports it. And Robert O'Brien, former National Security Adviser, supports it. That is impactful to me, and it should be impactful to all Americans. All of these former administration officials recognize the inherent danger of ceding ground on technological development to the malign Chinese Communist Party; and like me, I am sure none of these officials will support the partisan reconciliation package the Democrats are cooking up to raise taxes. We can't control that. We are not in the majority. This is a separate bill, and we need to focus on what we are voting on today, not tomorrow, not next week, not next month. It is vital that we pass this, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting CHIPS Plus. I will note this in closing: Whatever we invest in today we will get back many times more by the private investment and all the economic growth it is going to spur.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Michael Long, who passed away on July 24, 2022. Mike was a beloved member of the New York Conservative Party, a mentor to many, including myself, a dear friend, and a champion for New Yorkers. A Brooklyn native, Mike developed a love for his home State and his country at a young age. Mike's sense of public duty led him to serve his country in the United States Marine Corps. Following that service, he began his decades-long career in politics. In 1981, he was elected to serve as a Brooklyn at-large representative on the New York City Council. In 1988, Mike became the chair of the New York Conservative Party, a post that he retained until 2019. It was in this capacity that I got to know Mike and got to know Mike well. The overriding thing I got from Mike was his sense of fairness, his sense of decency, his commitment to the cause, and endeavoring to make sure that the Conservative Party had a big tent, not a small, restrictive one. The Conservative Party and all New York Republicans will miss Mike's guidance and his integrity. Outside of politics, Mike was a devoted husband to his wife, Eileen, and father to their nine children. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring the life and legacy of Michael Long. May he rest in peace.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the comments of my colleagues, Ms. Waters and Mr. Hill, and I adopt those comments as well. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 1842, the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act. It is an honor and privilege to speak in support of this bill, which comes to the floor just over 200 years from the time of Harriet Tubman's birth. Across this country and around the world, Harriet Tubman is remembered as an icon of freedom and an agent of change. After her escape from slavery and work as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman resided in Auburn, New York, for several years--right down the road from her friend and mentor, William Seward. Her former home has become a cherished site in central New York, and I have been proud to represent the Harriet Tubman Home and work with its caretaker since I came to Congress. Today's vote represents one of the most significant steps forward in strengthening Federal recognition of the Harriet Tubman Home since its designation as a national park in 2017. Specifically, I am pleased that the coins issued under this legislation bearing Harriet Tubman's likeness and symbolizing her legacy will directly benefit preservation and education efforts at the Tubman Home in Auburn for years to come. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Meeks for joining me in introducing the House version of this bill, as well as Senators Portman and Rosen for their successful efforts to unanimously pass this legislation in the Senate earlier this year. Madam Speaker, I look forward to sending this bill to the President's desk for signature, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of honoring a truly great American hero who was tough as nails. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to follow the recommendation from Mr. Katko and support H.R. 1842, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, after being cleared of any criminal wrongdoing, not a single top Democrat, including the President or anyone within his administration, including Secretary Mayorkas, has acknowledged that their knee-jerk comments were wrong and unfair, and it destroyed the lives of those officers. To make matters worse, Border Patrol agents are leaving in record numbers due to low morale, an impossible mission, and no support from this administration. The constant vilifying of the Border Patrol and law enforcement has got to stop. This is not what agents signed up for. They deserve better. They deserve our support, and, by God, they are going to get it. Mr. Guest's resolution sets the record straight and acknowledges our responsibility to support law enforcement. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to defeat the previous question so we can take this measure up and provide these brave men and women who risk their lives every single day with the support they deserve.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the previous question so we can immediately consider H. Res. 1255 led by my good friend and colleague Michael Guest, the vice ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security. Let's be clear: The situation at the southwest border is absolutely unsustainable. Since President Biden took office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has had more than 3 million encounters at the southwest border. That is 3 million. That is an incredibly unbelievable record. Yet, despite doing their best in impossible conditions, Border Patrol agents continue to be vilified by this President and others in the party. This is exemplified by the response from the Biden administration and Congressional Democrats when unsubstantiated claims were made against Border Patrol agents responding to tens of thousands of migrants that attempted to illegally cross the border in Del Rio, Texas, in September of last year. Without any investigation, any opportunity to review evidence, or any semblance of due process, here is what was said about our brave law enforcement officers as they simply tried to deal with the untenable situation at the border created by this administration. Let's start with President Biden: It was horrible to see people treated like they were. Horses nearly running them over. And people being strapped. It's outrageous. I promise you, these people will pay. Vice President Harris: This has invoked some of the worst moments in our history, where that kind of behavior has been used against the indigenous people of our country. It has been used against African Americans during times of slavery. Secretary Mayorkas: I was horrified by what I saw. The pictures I observed troubled me profoundly. One cannot weaponize a horse to attack a child. That is unacceptable. Finally, Speaker Pelosi: Reports of the mistreatment of Haitian migrants fleeing from violence and devastation from natural disasters are deeply troubling, including the inappropriate use of what appears to be whips by Border Patrol officers on horseback to intimidate migrants. Jumping to conclusions and casting dispersions against our law enforcement officers without any forethought is unconscionable. It is a fundamental tenet of what I did as a Federal prosecutor for 20 years, that you never reach a conclusion and seek to prove it. You let the facts take you where they do. They didn't do that on this occasion. They reached a conclusion and sought to prove it. After months of an extensive investigation that was promised within weeks, Customs and Border Protection's own Office of Professional Responsibility published a report in July that concluded there is no evidence--none--no evidence that Border Patrol agents struck, intentionally or otherwise, any migrants with their reins from their horses. There were no whips, there were no reins used as whips, no one was struck, and absolutely no one was strapped, as the President alleged.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life of Bernard J. Mahoney, a dedicated and longtime public servant, a gifted attorney and businessman, and a devoted and loving husband and father who passed away on July 19, 2022. Bernie was a beloved member of the Central New York community and served in the Syracuse Common Council and in the New York State Assembly. He attended Saint Anthony's School, Christian Brothers Academy, and graduated from Le Moyne College. He attended Syracuse University College of Law and practiced law at the Mackenzie Law Firm. He also was employed by IBM and used that experience to start Niagara Computer Sales, Inc. Bernie also served his country in the U.S. Army at Ladd Army Airfield in Fairbanks, Alaska. Bernie won his bid to serve in the Syracuse Common Council as Councilor-at-large in 1977 and served ten years in that seat. He returned to the Council in 1990 as a Representative for the 3rd District. Bernie won a seat in the New York State Assembly in 1994 and served two terms. His daughter, Joanie Mahoney, followed in his footsteps and served on the Syracuse Common Council and as County Executive for Onondaga County. Bernie Mahoney was a fixture in Central New York politics, a friend to all who knew him, and a public servant in the truest sense. He instilled these values in his daughter, as they both cared deeply for the community they served and were both trusted confidants and dear friends of my family. Outside of his work, Bernie was a devoted father, grandfather, and active member of Most Holy Rosary Church. In celebration of his proud Irish heritage, Bernie and his daughter, Joanie served as co-Grand Marshalls of the 2019 Syracuse Saint Patrick's Day Parade. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joanne, their 9 children, and 17 grandchildren. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in remembering Bernard J. Mahoney, honoring his many years of selfless public service, and to keep him and his family in mind as we remember his many contributions to the Central New York community.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, the mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is broad and diverse. The more than 60,000 men and women of CBP protect our borders at and between our ports of entry. They protect Americans against terrorists and the instruments of terror. They enforce our laws and help boost our economic security and prosperity by facilitating trade and travel. While the roles they play each day may differ, the men and women of CBP share one common goal: to keep our country a safe, secure, and resilient place where the American way of life can thrive. They provide selfless service to our country, and they do so with honor and distinction under an ever-present and evolving threat. I wish to pay tribute to the agents, officers and employees who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our Nation by honoring 37 courageous men and women of CBP who have died in the line of duty. Today we commemorate these brave men and women, celebrate their lives, and offer their families and loved ones our continued support. They have earned the respect and appreciation of a grateful nation. I include in the Record a list of these agents and officers: Wolf Valmond, CBP Officer Trainee; End of Watch: December 15, 2019. Juan Ollervidez III, CBP Agriculture Specialist; End of Watch: December 16, 2020. Denis Jasper Wells, Facility Operations Specialist; End of Watch: December 17, 2020. Andrew R. Bouchard, CBP Officer; End of Watch: December 19, 2020. Troy A. Adkins, CBP Officer; End of Watch: December 31, 2020. Byron Shields, CBP Officer; End of Watch: January 20, 2021. Beverly Good, Director of Field Operations; End of Watch: January 28, 2021. Robert Allan Mayer Jr., Special Agent; End of Watch: January 30, 2021. Rudy Morales Jr., Maintenance Mechanic; End of Watch: February 5, 2021. Cesar Sibonga, CBP Officer; End of Watch: February 7, 2021. Genaro Guerrero, CBP Officer; End of Watch: February 15, 2021. Carlos C. Mendoza, CBP Officer; End of Watch: February 24, 2021. Crispin San Jose, CBP Officer; End of Watch: March 9, 2021. Alejandro Flores-Banuelos, Border Patrol Agent; End of Watch: March 15, 2021. Christopher Shane Simpkins, Border Patrol Agent; End of Watch: April 12, 2021. Freddie Vasquez, Border Patrol Agent; End of Watch: May 8, 2021. Juan M. Urrutia, Border Patrol Agent; End of Watch: May 28, 2021. Ruben Facio, CBP Officer; End of Watch: July 17, 2021. Edgardo Acosta-Feliciano, Border Patrol Agent; End of Watch: July 31, 2021. Daniel P. Cox, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent; End of Watch: July 31, 2021. Ricardo Zarate, Border Patrol Agent; End of Watch: August 16, 2021. Yokemia L. Conyers, CBP Officer; End of Watch: August 18, 2021. Monica J. Riola, CBP Officer; End of Watch: August 20, 2021. Erik J. Skelton, CBP Officer; End of Watch: August 24, 2021. Chad E. McBroom, Border Patrol Agent; End of Watch: August 29, 2021. Francisco V. Tomas, CBP Technician; End of Watch: September 1, 2021. David B. Saavedra, CBP Officer; End of Watch: September 2, 2021. Luis H. Dominguez, Border Patrol Agent; End of Watch: September 23, 2021. David B. Ramirez, Border Patrol Agent; End of Watch: September 26, 2021. Alfredo M. Ibarra, Border Patrol Agent; End of Watch: September 27, 2021. Victor Donate, CBP Officer; End of Watch: October 7, 2021. David H. Gray, Enforcement Analysis Specialist; End of Watch: October 8, 2021. Rafael G. Sanchez, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent; End of Watch: October 24, 2021. Mathew L. Lyons, Port Director; End of Watch: October 28, 2021. Anibal ``Tony'' Perez, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent; End of Watch: November 5, 2021. Martin Barrios, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent; End of Watch: November 29, 2021. Salvador Martinez Jr., Border Patrol Agent; End of Watch: November 30, 2021.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Small State and Rural Rescue Act. I thank my friends, Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves, for their efforts to bring this bill to the floor today. My constituents in central New York are all too familiar with the significant challenges that come with accessing Federal aid in the wake of a disaster. Rural communities along Lake Ontario's southern shore in my district have seen historic flooding in recent years, and in the aftermath, local authorities have struggled to navigate the complex bureaucratic malaise which is the Federal disaster declaration process. Similarly, across the country, rural communities and relatively small States are forced to grapple with red tape and often struggle to demonstrate the severe localized impact of these disasters. In these instances, FEMA's Small State and Rural Advocate plays a critical role in helping underserved communities access disaster relief. The Small State and Rural Advocate's office is intended to help ensure fair access to FEMA assistance for all disaster-impacted areas, and it is essential that Congress reinforce its role in facilitating the delivery of essential aid. That is why I was proud to introduce the Small State and Rural Rescue Act alongside Chairwoman Titus and Representatives Gimenez, Pappas, Guest, and Delgado--a bipartisan bunch. This legislation takes important steps to expand and codify the responsibilities of FEMA's Small State and Rural Advocate when it comes to helping State and local officials respond to a disaster. Additionally, this legislation directs GAO to conduct a review of how FEMA mobilizes individual assistance to disaster zones, an essential part of the disaster relief process. Legislation like this will go a long way in providing support for the rural communities and small States that many of us represent. This is especially important for any of my colleagues on this side of the aisle who may be concerned about their districts not receiving a fair share or an equitable share of the Federal disaster aid programs they pay into. Mr. Speaker, the Small State and Rural Rescue Act is about fairness for rural communities. I firmly believe we should pass it into law, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 7211.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Carol Martineau Baldwin, who passed away on May 26, 2022, at the age of 92. Carol was a beloved member of the central New York community and a devoted philanthropist. A Syracuse native, Carol met her husband, Alexander Baldwin, while attending Syracuse University. They were married in 1954 and had six children. The family lived in Long Island, where Alexander taught at Massapequa High School until his death from lung cancer in 1983. Carol moved back to Syracuse and, in 1990, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She nearly lost her battle with breast cancer but overcame it following a double mastectomy. Following this experience, she dedicated her life to helping others fight breast cancer. In 1996, she founded the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund on the campus of SUNY Stony Brook. Five years later, in conjunction with SUNY Upstate Medical University, the Carol M. Baldwin Fund of Central New York was established in Syracuse. To date, the Baldwin fund has provided more than 60 grants to support research programs and has spurred nearly $24 million in additional grant funding. The fund supports numerous programs, including studies of contributing factors to breast cancer, education of medical professionals and the general public, and studies of the outcomes of detection and treatment on patients and families. Outside of her philanthropic work, Carol has been a prominent fixture in our community, and many in her family are dear friends to my wife, Robin, and me. For the last two decades, breast cancer patients in central New York and throughout the country have benefited from the steadfast commitment of Carol Baldwin. Carol is survived by her six children, 25 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. While she will be dearly missed in our community, central New Yorkers will continue to honor her legacy. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring the life and legacy of Carol Martineau Baldwin. May she rest in peace.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor New York District Kiwanis Club Governor, James M. Mancuso. As a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club, James has committed himself to philanthropic pursuits that have improved the lives of people across New York State. Since its founding in 1915, members of the Kiwanis Club have devoted themselves to public service, focusing on initiatives that work for the betterment of their communities. Leaders like James are the heart and soul of the Kiwanis Club, and the reason this organization has been so successful for over a century. James Mancuso joined the Kiwanis Club in 2002 and immediately took to its mission of improving the world one child and one community at a time. James has served two terms as a Lieutenant Governor of the Long Island South Central Division and president of the East Meadow Club. He has also chaired committees on International Leadership, Youth Protection, and the Kiwanis International Children's Fund for the New York District. In October of 2021, James was promoted to New York District Kiwanis Club Governor, where he has continued his exemplary advocacy and volunteerism across New York State. As a member of the Kiwanis Club, James has led numerous projects, most notably, building a Garden of Hope with the Kiwanis Club of East Meadow in partnership with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD), and Nassau County. The garden included a sculpture depicting the aftermath of a drunk driving accident to encourage local residents not to get behind the wheel while impaired. He has also held many fundraisers that have benefited projects to get more infants vaccinated. For his work, James has earned the Anton J. Kaiser Award, recognition from the New York District's Pediatric Lyme Disease Foundation, and an IBM Volunteers Gold Award Level for Volunteerism and Community Service. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring the contributions of James M. Mancuso. A devoted volunteer and committed member of the Kiwanis Club, James has empowered members of his community through his philanthropic efforts.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of President Kathleen `Casey' Crabill, who will retire following the 2022 academic year after 9 years with Onondaga Community College and 45 years in higher education. A dedicated educator, throughout her career President Crabill demonstrated a profound commitment to scholarship. Originally from East Greenbush, New York, President Crabill graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts in English from Skidmore College. Later, she earned a Master's of Science in English as a Second Language and a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the State University of New York at Albany. After finishing school, President Crabill began her career as an English teacher in 1977. While teaching, she held several top posts at colleges across the country, including serving as division chair for Academic Development and Learning Support at Dundalk Community College in Dundalk, Maryland, and as acting president and dean of Learning and Student Development at Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson, Connecticut. Later she served as president of the College of the Redwoods in Eureka, California, and as president of Raritan Valley Community College in North Branch, New Jersey. In 2013, President Crabill took the reins at Onondaga Community College, becoming its eighth president. During her tenure, President Crabill reconfigured Onondaga Community College's degree and certificate programs into eight schools based on academic focus. This move greatly enhanced student collaboration. President Crabill also launched programs to assist underserved students, including the `Box of Books' program, which provides students with books at a low, flat fee, and the `OCC Advantage' program, which allows students from six local school districts to attend Onondaga Community College tuition-free. Impressively, President Crabill also successfully shepherded the college through the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic by overseeing the transition to virtual classes and creating new degree and certificate programs that responded to evolving industry demands. Over the years, I have also had the distinct pleasure of partnering with President Crabill. Together, we have worked to make higher education more accessible and affordable, brought greater awareness to cybersecurity threats, and improved the lives of local students. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in recognizing the career of President Kathleen `Casey' Crabill. I wish President Crabill the best in her retirement.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, the vice ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, Representative Guest, for his leadership on this issue. I also thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for engaging in conversations, even when we disagree on policy. But here I really feel that the bill in its current form will go over to the Senate, and it will be dead on arrival. That serves nobody. No one wins in that, and certainly the frontline workers don't win. If we could get a more bipartisan bill, with a lot more of us that want to be on this and want to help the frontline workers, I think we would have a better product and we could put more pressure on the Senate to do their job.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 903, the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act of 2022. Let me be clear: I strongly and emphatically support increasing funding for the frontline TSA workforce. I strongly support funding for them. They have been severely underpaid for far too long. In fact, Mr. Speaker, there is a blue-ribbon panel that came out, that my colleague referenced, that recommended against moving them to the title 5 workforce. That blue-ribbon panel, to correct the Record, included the chief human capital officer for the Department of Homeland Security under former President Obama. One of the top men at the Department of Homeland Security for President Obama was part of a blue- ribbon panel that recommended against that. Even with that recommendation, I am so sick and tired of these frontline workers not getting their proper pay that I was willing to move title 5 funding for them. This bill doesn't do that. This bill goes far beyond that. Bureaucrats that are sitting in offices nowhere near the front lines, that are not exposed to COVID on a daily basis, that aren't fishing live, loaded guns out of handbags, and subject to all kinds of abuse by the traveling public, are going to get title 5 status, and they get paid a hell of a lot more. Why? Why do we need that? That is a question, and that is a problem I have with this bill. The men and women protecting America's transportation systems every day deserve to be compensated fairly for the critical security mission they fulfill. Unfortunately, despite robust efforts to improve this legislation in markup, and limited to the terms I articulated, my fellow committee members and I on the Republican side were not granted the adoption of a single proposed amendment. Among the improvements we suggested were quite simply an amendment to limit the scope of the bill exclusively to the frontline TSA workforce, the men and women who really need better pay, rather than already high- paid TSA headquarter personnel. I am telling you on the record today, if the bill was limited to just them, I would support it. Why do we have to make it for everyone else? 60,000 people. Why? It makes no sense. Our proposed amendments also sought to grant increased pay directly to the front line, without the need for cumbersome and costly bureaucratic conversion to title 5. Uncharacteristically, the message from the majority was clear: Take it or leave it. That is very uncharacteristic, because the chairman and I enjoy a very good working relationship. For that reason, though, I am unable to support the legislation in its current form. With that said, however, I do hope to work in a bipartisan manner to secure much-needed funding increases for TSA in order to lift pay and benefits for the frontline screener workforce as well as procure cutting-edge technologies to address evolving threats to aviation security. I am pleased to see dedicated funding for significant screener pay increases in this year's budget request to Congress. I stand ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to engage our colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee in an effort to secure funding for transportation security officer pay. I include in the Record a letter to our friends and colleagues on the Appropriations Committee outlining just that. Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, May 12, 2022. Hon. Lucille Roybal-Allard, Chair, Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Committee on Appropriations, Washington, DC. Hon. Chuck Fleischmann, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Committee on Appropriations, Washington, DC. Dear Chair Roybal-Allard and Ranking Member Fleischmann: Thank you for your continued work to support the mission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and protect our Nation from a litany of evolving threats. As the House considers H.R. 903, the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act of 2022, I wanted to follow up on my previous letter dated April 28, 2022, related to homeland security funding priorities. The FY23 President's Budget requests funding for increased pay for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) front-line workforce. As I've said many times during my years in Congress, TSA has not paid these dedicated employees a salary that is commensurate to the security they're providing to the traveling public. Additionally, I have long raised concerns that TSA has not fully utilized the flexibility that Congress provided in the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA, Public Law 107-71). The bipartisan Blue-Ribbon Panel on Human Capital Service Delivery found that the TSA Administrator currently has the flexibility under ATSA to pay employees more than he could if the agency was moved to title 5, U.S. Code. This is an issue of funding, not authority. The cost to the taxpayer of funding a major overhaul of TSA's entire personnel system, converting the agency to the General Schedule, and hiring hundreds of new employees to manage and negotiate these changes is far greater than the cost of simply giving the frontline workforce a well-deserved pay increase. As it currently stands, H.R. 903 creates a massive and unfunded mandate that could jeopardize other homeland security priorities such as border security and cybersecurity if enacted as written. I encourage you to consider including funding in the FY23 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill to increase the pay of the TSA front-line workforce. TSA plays a fundamental role in protecting the traveling public and facilitating the safe flow of commerce throughout the country. Thank you for your time and consideration of this request. Sincerely, John Katko, Member of Congress.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the previous question and in support of the immediate consideration of legislation introduced by Leader McCarthy and House Republicans to defund and prohibit the activities of the Biden administration's Disinformation Governance Board at the Department of Homeland Security. That is right: It is called the Disinformation Governance Board. The notion that this ill-conceived effort will improve Americans' trust in their government is fundamentally absurd. In fact, it is just the latest example of how this administration, and specifically leadership at the Department of Homeland Security, remains grossly out of touch with what issues matter most to the American people. At a time when the border is in a state of crisis and more Americans than ever before are being fatally poisoned with fentanyl, everyone in this room and in this country would be wise to take note that this, a Disinformation Governance Board, is what your Department of Homeland Security is focused on. Are they focused on combating the drug cartels and human traffickers that are profiting from the chaos at our southwest border? Apparently not. Are they focused on improving our economic security and resilience against unprecedented threats from China, Russia, and others? It doesn't seem like it. Madam Speaker, as ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, I witnessed firsthand the consistent lack of transparency demonstrated by Secretary Mayorkas and the Department of Homeland Security when faced with congressional oversight and legitimate requests for information on the department's mission. Why on Earth would we trust the same department to now unilaterally expand their mission and decide for us, the public, what is or is not the truth? Why has the Department of Homeland Security been unable or unwilling to answer basic questions as to the functions, remit, or charter of this board when asked by Congress? If the Biden administration was serious about making the board apolitical, as they claim they are, why have they opted to appoint known partisan operatives as its executive director and co-chairs? In fact, it is reported that the named executive director herself has promoted now-debunked claims on social media. Think about that. The person that they claim to be the executive director is now the one that has in the past herself engaged in disinformation. That is pretty ironic. I ask you, Madam Speaker, and my colleagues across the aisle, where is the accountability for this misguided operation? With this vote, we have the opportunity to send a clear message: This administration should focus on restoring our national security, not making itself the arbiter of truth and speech. This is America, this isn't a Communist country.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I missed the vote on Roll Call No. 108 on April 4, 2022. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 108.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the previous question and in support of H.R. 471, the Protecting Americans from Unnecessary Spread upon Entry from COVID-19 Act, the PAUSE Act. This week, I joined Leader McCarthy and several of my colleagues at a meeting with the National Border Patrol Council, representatives of 18,000 members of the Border Patrol, to discuss the crisis at the southern border. Just as we predicted, the number of daily border encounters has been trending dramatically upward since President Biden took office in 2021. The administration has created an untenable situation from which it may take several years, at a minimum, to recover. The irresponsible decision to roll back Title 42, the Public Health and Welfare authority; the halting of border wall construction; the lack of support for frontline law enforcement personnel; the undermining of the Migrant Protection Protocols; and the total absence of a long-term border security plan of any sort have only made matters worse. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is now seeing over 7,000 encounters daily, and the Department of Homeland Security is said to be bracing for a significant mass influx of nearly 18,000 migrants daily when title 42 ends. That is absolutely an untenable situation. As the U.S. finally gets a handle on managing the spread of new variants and moves steadily toward a post-pandemic recovery, now is not the time to end the use of title 42 and jeopardize all that progress, especially as numerous countries continue to struggle with the rapid spread of COVID-19 and strengthening variants. The very purpose of title 42 is to prevent the introduction of dangerous communicable diseases into American communities. We should be doubling down on protecting our communities and economy from these threats, not weakening them. Our border security and immigration system cannot handle any more pull factors, as the Biden administration has proven unwilling to secure our southern border. As we are witnessing, the administration continues to strip every tool for managing the border crisis away from frontline law enforcement.