John Katko

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, once again, I urge Members to support H.R. 5065. Before I yield back the balance of my time, I want to note what Ms. Jackson Lee said earlier in her statement, and that is the Committee on Homeland Security does work very well together. Generally, it is a very bipartisan committee working for the common good of keeping this country safe. This is a small example of the cooperation we have on a daily basis. I am proud to be a part of it, proud to work with my colleagues, Mr. Richmond and Ms. Jackson Lee, from the other side of the aisle. I will continue to do that for the good of the country. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act is commonsense legislation introduced by the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Herrera Beutler). This bill codifies into law a current policy of the TSA to allow formula, breast milk, and juice through airport screening checkpoints. Although the 3-1-1 liquids rule was put in place to respond to a very real and critical threat to aviation, we must ensure that these restrictions do not interfere with a woman's ability to feed her child. As a father, a husband, and a brother of five sisters, I know the challenges of providing care to babies; and I know that this challenge is particularly great for traveling mothers who are breastfeeding their children. This bill would greatly alleviate the restrictions relating to breast milk and allow families to go through checkpoints, with babies, quickly. This bill also gives parents one less thing to worry about on the way to the airport and ensures that the frontline officers at the airport checkpoints receive the proper training on implementing this important exception to a security regulation. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5065. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5065) to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to notify air carriers and security screening personnel of the Transportation Security Administration of such Administration's guidelines regarding permitting baby formula, breast milk, and juice on airplanes, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers. If the gentleman from Louisiana has no other speakers, I am prepared to close once the gentleman does. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Herrera Beutler), the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, Fort Ontario has stood on the shores of Lake Ontario in Oswego, New York, since 1755. For the past 63 years, the fort has been preserved as a New York State Historic Site, serving as a cultural and historic landmark for Oswego County and the entire region. I am proud to stand here today in support of this legislation which would take the crucial step towards ensuring this historic site receives the national recognition it deserves. The Fort Ontario Study Act would commission a special resource study of Fort Ontario to evaluate the site's national significance and determine the suitability of its designation as a part of the National Park System. The history of Fort Ontario is truly unique within the National Park System and within our Nation as a whole. The fort has been involved in nearly every major American war from the French and Indian War to World War II. From 1944 to 1946, under a declaration by President Franklin Roosevelt, the fort served as the Nation's only emergency refugee camp, providing shelter to over 900 refugees who fled the Holocaust--a truly unique designation. The site now hosts the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum, which preserves the stories of these refugees, the tragedies they faced, and, eventually, the freedom and safety they gained right here in the United States. Fort Ontario has become an important tourist attraction in central New York, drawing visitors from across the State, the country, and, indeed, throughout the world. Preserving this location as a national park will not only better preserve the history of the fort, but there will also be the potential to grow tourism and boost our regional economy. I am very honored to introduce this legislation that recognizes the important history of the fort and to credit this important step to the local champions who have worked tirelessly to preserve the history of the site, including the Friends of Fort Ontario, Paul Lear with New York State Parks, the board of the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum--a great group of individuals--and the many volunteers who give their time to this cause. I want to thank fellow New York Representatives, Congressman Hanna and Congresswoman Slaughter, who have worked with me in the House to support this effort, as well as the chairman of the committee for working to move this important legislation. I ask all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize K-9 Officer Aron and his handler, Deputy Matthew Sloan, of the Cayuga County Sheriffs Department, for their valiant actions in quickly apprehending and securing a high risk suspect who fled police on June 9, 2016. The fleeing suspect had attempted to evade police, but thanks to K-9 Officer Aron's fearless and efficient actions, Deputy Sloan was able to apprehend the suspect, and no officers were hurt while working to stop the suspect. K-9 Officer Aron and Deputy Sloan deserve to be properly recognized for their heroic actions and I am honored to pay tribute to them for their brave efforts that led to a safe ending of situation that could have quickly escalated. Each and every day K-9 Officer Aron and Deputy Sloan work tirelessly together to protect our community and I am honored to recognize their work. I would also like to recognize all K-9 Officers and their handlers for the extraordinary work they do across the 24th District. K-9 Officers approach every situation, no matter how dangerous with complete and total confidence and fearlessness to protect their human partners. K-9 Officers are an asset to all law enforcement and I am proud to recognize them for their service.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 26th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Twenty-six years ago this month, this landmark legislation was put into effect to eliminate discrimination against individuals with disabilities. This month, organizations and advocacy groups across my district in central New York are coordinating events to recognize this milestone and the significance of the ADA to so many in our community. In my district, ARISE--the designated independent living center for Cayuga, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties--is vital to our local efforts to ensure that people of all abilities live fully integrated and self- directed lives. ARISE provides an array of services to assist central New Yorkers, including my brother-in-law, with disabilities and to help ensure that our local communities are inclusive for people of all abilities. While the ADA has been in law for 26 years now, our work in Congress continues today. I am a proud cosponsor of the IDEA Full Funding Act to help remove barriers for children with disabilities and to expand special education services. And I will continue to be supportive of efforts in the House to ensure people with all abilities are provided opportunities and independence.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my concerns about the Obama administration's plans to restore regular air service to Cuba. Just 2 weeks ago, I was scheduled to go on a congressional delegation to Cuba to examine the security measures at Cuba's 10 international airports to ensure the safety and security of Americans flying to Cuba. This trip was necessitated by stonewalling tactics used by administration officials when asked about security at Cuba's airports during a recent Transportation Security Subcommittee hearing. However, the Cuban Government denied my visa as well as visas of every single member of the delegation. Because of that, I have serious concerns, as do my colleagues, about the capabilities of Cuba's airport screening equipment and procedures, how Cuban airport workers are vetted, whether or not Federal air marshals will even be allowed to fly missions on American planes to and from Cuba, and many other questions. As the chairman of the Transportation Security Subcommittee, I believe it is my duty to do everything in my power to secure the security of the traveling American public, and I take that seriously. That is why I have introduced H.R. 5728, legislation to stop the administration from moving forward with flights to Cuba until these security concerns are adequately addressed. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this important piece of legislation.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, this bill provides needed stability for our nation's aviation programs, while giving lawmakers the time to come to a longer term FAA authorization. The House has previously passed a number of needed aviation security bills that I have sponsored, and I'm pleased that three of those bills are included in this legislation. These provisions include the TSA PreCheck Expansion Act, the Checkpoint Optimization and Efficiency Act, and my SAFE GATES legislation. Together, these provisions will increase the number of travelers receiving expedited security screening, reduce airports wait times by making commonsense reforms to the way TSA operates, and enhance the security at overseas airports with direct flights to the United States. The result will be greater efficiency, enhanced safety, and a reformed TSA that is better prepared to protect our transportation infrastructure. In these trying times in which America faces a formidable threat from terrorists at home and abroad, it is critical that we act to secure our aviation sector from threats and mitigate attacks like those in Istanbul and Brussels. Along with these attacks on airports, we have seen three--potentially four--passenger aircraft bombed by terrorists in recent months. Passing this legislation will help guard against such attacks against U.S.- bound aircraft. I appreciate the tireless work of Chairman Shuster and Chairman Thune in shepherding this critical extension of FAA's authority. I thank them and Chairman McCaul for advocating for my security provisions to be included.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the esteemed career of Sergeant John Savage, who served 30 years with the City of Syracuse Police Department. Sergeant Savage was appointed to the Syracuse Police Department on June 28, 1986 and served commendably in various units within the Department until his retirement in June of 2016. Sergeant Savage served honorably as an officer from June of 1986 and earned the rank of Sergeant in June of 1995. As a result of his excellent service throughout his 30 years of service, he received 2 Divisional Commendations, 3 Bureau Commendations, 5 Departmental Commendations, 2 Unit Citations, the John Dillon Award in 2011, the Timothy Laun Award in 2016, as well as several letters of appreciation. During my time as a federal prosecutor I had the opportunity to serve with Sergeant Savage as part of the Syracuse Gang Violence Task Force. Sergeant Savage was an early leader of the Task Force and his work helped to drastically reduce the gang presence in some of our community's most violent neighborhoods. For 30 years, Sergeant Savage served with great dignity, loyalty and devotion to our community. He has truly helped to make the City of Syracuse a better, safer place for its citizens. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with such a great man and I wish him the very best in his retirement.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, July 6th, 2016, I was not in attendance in the House during the first series of votes due to family obligations outside of the District of Columbia. I wish to state my position on a piece of legislation that received consideration on the House floor yesterday. The House voted on the ``Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis'' Act. This legislation was introduced by my friend, Rep. Tim Murphy, and I have strongly supported this bill since its introduction. The bill will make much needed reforms to the way our nation administers its mental health programs, and will authorize a number of grant programs to improve mental healthcare in our country. Tens of millions of Americans suffer from some kind of mental illness, and far too many of them suffer in silence. I believe we must take urgent action to increase our nation's capacity to treat mental illness, to defeat the stigma that is all too often attached to mental health treatment, and to get help to those who need it. This bill will be a crucial part of this effort, and were I present for its consideration on the floor, I would have enthusiastically supported it.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the esteemed career of Detective Joseph Smola, who served over 28 years with the City of Syracuse Police Department. Detective Smola was appointed to the Syracuse Police Department on September 16, 1985, and served commendably in various units within the Department until his retirement in March of 2014. As a result of his excellent service throughout his 28 years of service, he received two Divisional Commendations, twelve Bureau Commendations, twelve Departmental Commendations, The Meritorious Service Award in 2004, as well as several letters of appreciation. During my time as a federal prosecutor I had the opportunity to serve with Detective Smola as part of the Syracuse Gang Violence Task Force. Detective Smola was an integral part of this effort for more than a decade and his work helped to drastically reduce the gang presence in some of our community's most violent neighborhoods. For over 28 years, Detective Smola served with great dignity, loyalty and devotion to our community. He has truly helped to make the City of Syracuse a better, safer place for its citizens.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize K-9 Officer Dara and her handler, Officer Andrew Kalet, of the City of Auburn Police Department, for their valiant actions in quickly apprehending and securing a dangerous and high risk suspect who fled police on February 26, 2013. The fleeing suspect had attempted to dispose of valuable evidence, but thanks to K-9 Officer Dara's fearless and efficient actions, officers were able to recover this evidence, and no officers were hurt while working to apprehend the suspect. Though K-9 Officer Dara is now retired, her actions secured the safety of everyone involved in a volatile situation and she deserves to be properly recognized for her heroic actions. I am honored to pay tribute to K-9 Officer Dara and Officer Andrew Kalet for their brave actions that led to a safe ending of a tense situation. I would also like to recognize all K-9 Officers and their handlers for the extraordinary work they do each and every day. K-9 Officers approach every situation, no matter how dangerous with complete and total confidence and fearlessness to protect their human partners. K-9 Officers are an asset to all law enforcement and I am proud to recognize them for their service.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Trooper Shaun Smith of the New York State Police. On Thursday, June 2, 2016, Trooper Smith saved the life of a 12-year old child. On June 2, Trooper Smith, who was off-duty at the time, was swimming laps at the Norwest Family YMCA in Lysander, New York, when he noticed a 12-year old suddenly go into cardiac arrest and fall underneath the water. With the help of the 12-year old's friend, Trooper Smith pulled the boy out of the water and immediately began administering CPR. Shortly after, a lifeguard assisted in applying an AED to the 12-year old boy. Trooper Smith was also assisted by a registered nurse and a respiratory therapist who happened to be in the area during the event. I am honored to recognize Trooper Smith for his heroic actions on June 2, 2016. The 12-year old boy is now fully recovered thanks to his brave actions. Trooper Smith's efforts in this situation exemplify the dedication of the New York State Police. I want to thank Trooper Smith and all New York State Police officers for their bravery and commitment to serving our communities.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Deputy Craig Pagnotti of the Wayne County Sheriff's Department. On Saturday, May 28, 2016, Deputy Pagnotti apprehended two different suspects, each on a separate felony charge, over the course of the day. On May 28, around 9:00 a.m., Deputy Pagnotti responded to a domestic complaint in Lyons, New York. Upon arrival, the suspect, who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, fled the scene on foot. Without hesitation, Deputy Pagnotti pursued and apprehended the suspect, pulling a tendon in his arm while taking the suspect into custody. Deputy Pagnotti was admitted to the hospital, where he received a cast for his injured arm. Shortly after being discharged from the hospital, Deputy Pagnotti continued with his shift and pulled over a vehicle for speeding, just outside of Arcadia, New York. After Deputy Pagnotti discovered drugs in the vehicle, the suspect fled on foot, striking the Deputy in the face and arm. Shortly after the suspect was apprehended, Deputy Pagnotti was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken left arm. I am honored to recognize Deputy Pagnotti for his heroic actions on May 28, 2016. Deputy Pagnotti's efforts in this situation exemplify the commitment and dedication of the Wayne County Sheriff's Department. I want to thank Deputy Pagnotti and all those serving in law enforcement in Wayne County and throughout the 24th District.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the centennial of the Farm Credit System. The Farm Credit System was established by Congress through the Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916 which was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson. Next month will mark the centennial of this vital network. I was pleased to cosponsor House Resolution 591, introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway and Ranking Member Collin Peterson--commending the cooperative owners and employees of the Farm Credit System for their important contributions over the last century. Congress designed the Farm Credit System as a network of cooperatives that would be able to respond to the needs of farmers and rural communities. My district covers an important agricultural area in Central New York. The 24th District of New York is home to some of the most productive fruit, vegetable, dairy and diversified farms in the state. According to the census of agriculture, Cayuga County ranks second in the state and Wayne County ranks fifth in terms of the value of agricultural production. Farms in my district are served by Farm Credit East, which has over $4 billion in loan commitments to its nearly 9,000 customers in New York. As part of its centennial celebration, Farm Credit sponsored the Fresh Perspectives program to identify 100 leaders that are making a difference in rural America. Leaders were nominated in 10 different categories. From the top 100 list, a top honoree in each category was selected. I'm proud to say that Christine Fesko, of Skaneateles, NY was selected as the top honoree in the category of Agriculture Education and Community Impact. In addition to running a 600 cow dairy farm with her family, Chris operates the Discovery Center where children, who wouldn't otherwise be able to see a working farm, can learn about agriculture. She has also produced a series of award-winning educational videos to teach children about agriculture and modern farming practices. She was elected to the Farm Credit East board of directors where she served from 2003 to 2016. As the Farm Credit System celebrates its centennial, I want to recognize farmers like Chris who have made this cooperative system strong as it begins its next 100 years.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, our Nation has experienced a tragedy for sure. This past weekend's terrorist attack in Orlando is just the latest in an increasingly long list of homegrown violent extremist attacks. Our Nation is not only grieving the loss of 49 innocent people, but is also facing the reality of having witnessed the most deadly terrorist attack in the U.S. since 9/11. I am concerned about ISIS' persistence in inflicting harm to all those who disagree with their ideology. Authorities are investigating over 800 ISIS-linked cases and have discovered 89 plots against the West, including 25 in the United States, and the list is growing year after year. This body has been investigating radical extremism since I came to this Chamber 18 months ago. I was fortunate and honored to lead the bipartisan Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel, which highlighted many of the vulnerabilities which came to light in Orlando, Chattanooga, Garland, and San Bernardino. The nature of the task force shows that domestic radicalization has been on the rise. The issue is not a partisan issue. It is an American issue. Omar Mateen's cowardly actions are a stark reminder of the resilience of the enemy we face today. However, this Chamber, with the leadership of Speaker Ryan and Chairman McCaul, has put forth solutions. The bill before us today encapsulates several ideas that my peers and I have worked on for months that outline ways to improve our counterterrorism efforts here at home. Included in this bill is a provision which authorizes the Counterterrorism Advisory Board, which is modeled after a bill introduced earlier this year in Congress, H.R. 4407. This section specifically codifies the administrative body that would integrate intelligence, operations, and policy components so our law enforcement and intelligence partners can coordinate actions more effectively and expeditiously; in short, getting them talking together better, getting them working together better, getting them sharing information together better, and getting better chances of stopping these acts from happening. This bill provides flexibility in the board's charter to ensure the continued ability to encounter tomorrow's threats. Finally, I would like to end by thanking Speaker Ryan and Chairman McCaul for their continued leadership on this issue. My heart goes out to the victims and families of Sunday's tragic attacks in Orlando.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an important milestone in my congressional district: the bicentennial of the Auburn Citizen. Two hundred years ago today, this daily publication began serving the people of Cayuga County by providing news and community announcements. Born in 1816 as the Auburn Gazette, this community newspaper has been known by many names over the years. In an editorial placed this past weekend, publisher Rob Forcey noted that the Auburn Citizen began publishing just 40 years after the birth of our country. The history of accomplished journalists at this publication includes William Dapping, a community hero who was awarded the very first special Pulitzer in 1930 for his esteemed work in covering the bloody 1929 Auburn State Prison riots. Today, the Citizen has evolved to cover a wide area of central New York, with web-based access to local and national news, weather, and community events. What is more, the publication has expanded into western Onondaga County, with the Skaneateles Journal and West Onondaga County Journal. Congratulations again to this community-based publication on two centuries of being the voice of the Auburn community.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life of Marine Corps Captain Jeffrey Kuss, a pilot with the Navy's elite Blue Angels flying squadron, who tragically lost his life in a fatal crash just over 1 week ago. This week is the first-ever Navy Week in Syracuse, New York, in my district, which is marked by a series of local outreach efforts that are focused on translating the mission of the U.S. Navy to our community. The week was expected to culminate with a performance of the Blue Angels at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport Airshow. Tragically, Marine Corps Captain Jeff Kuss, a married father of two young children, was killed when his jet crashed 2 miles from a runway near Nashville, Tennessee. Captain Kuss, a native of Durango, Colorado, devoted his life to serving our country as a U.S. marine--joining the Blue Angels in September of 2014. At 32 years old, he had accumulated more than 1,400 flight hours and 175 carrier-arrested landings. His decorations include the Strike/Flight Air Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various personal and unit awards. While the Syracuse Airshow will go on without the Blue Angels this weekend, our community is deeply saddened by the loss of this fallen pilot, and the show will celebrate and pay tribute to his life. As Captain Kuss' family and the Blue Angels team grieve this tremendous loss, this weekend, central New York will remember and honor his life and service to our great Nation. Semper Fi Marine.

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 269, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. KATKO

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. The threats facing our Nation's aviation system are constantly changing and adapting. For this reason, TSA's mission is not only difficult, but critical to the national security of the United States and the safety of traveling Americans. I, again, wish to thank all of the bipartisan cosponsors of this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Joyce).

Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. We have all seen, heard about, or even experienced for ourselves the recent crisis of wait times at TSA checkpoints at airports across this great Nation. With record passenger volumes, inefficient staffing models, and collaboration challenges with airports and airlines, the TSA has found itself stretched way too thin. The fact of the matter is that security effectiveness and efficiency are not mutually exclusive. Now that the summer holiday season is upon us, it is imperative that we move to alleviate the nightmarish scenarios that have been playing out at airports across the United States in recent months. Passengers should not be missing flights due to long security lines when they are arriving to the airport 2 hours prior to their flights. Similarly, airports should not be approaching an operational ground stop related to TSA checkpoint lines. Also, they should not be having to sleep overnight on cots, in airports, because of TSA snafus. The House has already passed important legislation to expand TSA PreCheck, which is still awaiting passage in the Senate. Getting more passengers enrolled in PreCheck is essential to security and efficiency by identifying low-risk travelers and expediting them through screening. Today, we have the opportunity to act again and swiftly. When I came to Congress, I made a commitment to my constituents to tackle problems head-on and get things done. A few weeks ago, my colleagues and I had convened representatives from airports and airlines from across this country to discuss this wait time crisis and to hear directly from them what they think needs to be done to help. The message was consistent, and it was loud: the TSA needs to collaborate with individual airlines and airport authorities to coordinate sufficient staffing levels on a local basis. We heard their message. This bill will require the TSA to maximize all of its available resources and give airports, airlines, and labor organizations a seat at the table to ensure those resources are being utilized and allocated in the most effective and efficient manner. The Checkpoint Optimization and Efficiency Act will make a meaningful impact in shortening the burdensome security wait times being experienced by Americans who travel through airports across this country. It is critical that Congress act to swiftly get this bill to the President's desk. Specifically, this legislation redeploys TSA assets, such as behavior detection officers, of which there are 3,000, and K-9 teams so that more personnel are made available to perform screening functions. Further, the bill grants additional flexibility to local TSA supervisors in order to empower them to make decisions on an airport- by-airport basis, rather than a top-down approach from TSA headquarters. This bill will also direct the TSA to undergo a comprehensive workforce assessment and report to Congress to ensure that the agency is deploying personnel in the most risk-based manner. The TSA must also share its staffing practices with airport operators, airlines, and labor organizations in order to enhance the coordination between peak travel times, flight schedules, and TSA checkpoint staffing. Mr. Speaker, this wait time crisis is an issue that touches airports across this great country, and a swift response to problems like this is what the American people sent us here to accomplish. This legislation implements commonsense practices while preventing a one- size-fits-all approach to aviation security. Above all, the bill explicitly states that security is paramount and that wait times should not be prioritized at the expense of effective security screening. I thank the chairman of the full committee, Mr. McCaul, for his strong support of this legislation and for ensuring that it was a top priority for the committee. Additionally, I thank Ranking Member Rice and Representative Keating for their bipartisan support on this bill. I also thank the ranking minority member on the Homeland Security Committee, my colleague who works with us hand in hand again and again on these matters, Mr. Thompson. We are here, before Congress, passing yet another bill in a bipartisan manner. This is what Congress is supposed to do, and I thank Mr. Thompson for his support. I also express thanks to each of the bill's cosponsors for recognizing the importance of this issue. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.