Mariannette Miller-Meeks

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a young woman from my district for making University of Iowa and Big Ten sports history. Recently, University of Iowa field hockey star Anthe Nijziel was awarded both Big Ten Co-Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the Hawkeyes to an impressive 16-1 regular season. Though each of these honors are an impressive feat on their own, Anthe has raised the bar, becoming the first Iowa student athlete to win both awards in the same season and the third person in Big Ten history to win the Player of the Year title in more than one season. I congratulate the entire Iowa field hockey team for a great season, and Head Coach Lisa Cellucci, who was unanimously named Big Ten Coach of the Year after being awarded Co-Coach of the Year last season. Congratulations to Anthe, Coach Cellucci, and the rest of the Iowa field hockey team, and good luck as you head into the Big Ten tournament.

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a group of young women who have made history in a small town in my district. Last week, the Solon High School Girls Cross Country team defied the odds at the 3A Iowa State championship and brought home their first girls cross country title after upsetting last year's champion, Ballard High School. Led by top ten finishers, Kayla Young and Emma Bock, every Solon Spartan finished in the top 54 in a crowded 133-member field, earning a total score of 77 points. Congratulations to Kayla Young, Emma Bock, Anna Quillin, Meghan O'Neill, Mara Duster, Gracie Federspiel, and Kaia Holtkamp. This is a great achievement for both Solon and the Second District, and I could not be prouder to represent all of these young women in Congress.

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I was unable to be present in Washington, D.C. to vote on Monday, November 1, 2021. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call no. 340, and YEA on Roll Call no. 341.

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a group of people from my hometown of Ottumwa for taking part in a great event for an even greater cause. On October 23, 37 teams, comprised of 170 participants, took part in the 2021 Walk to End Alzheimer's in my hometown of Ottumwa. The annual walk, led by the Alzheimer's Association, is held in over 600 communities across the United States to raise funds for research and to raise awareness for the disease that over 5.8 million Americans currently live with, as did my mother prior to her death. This year, I am proud to announce that the Walk to End Alzheimer's in Ottumwa has raised $27,636 thus far, with donations still coming in, exceeding their initial goal of $26,000. Thank you to the residents of Ottumwa and the over 600 communities across the United States who have stepped up and stepped forward to put an end to this debilitating disease.

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a veteran to recognize an amazing achievement of a fellow servicewoman in Iowa. Last month, Private First Class Taylor Patterson, a student at Iowa State University, became the first female enlisted infantry soldier in the Iowa National Guard after being the first Iowa woman to complete the rigorous 22-week training program at Fort Benning, Georgia. Five years ago, the United States Army began to allow women to serve in combat positions given that they can pass the same base physical requirement for all combat personnel. Through determination and the support of her family and team at Fort Benning, Private First Class Patterson blazed a trail for generations of Iowa women. For over 183 years, the Iowa National Guard has been an excellent example of service above self by always answering their call to duty. Whether it is assisting communities in disaster relief efforts, like we saw with last year's derecho in Iowa, or being deployed to Afghanistan this year to aid in the refugee crisis, Iowa's National Guard has always gone above and beyond in their service to our State and our country. Congratulations to Private First Class Patterson for her service and for being a trailblazer for women everywhere.

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, small business owner, and a dear friend to many in my hometown of Ottumwa. On October 20, Doris Wilz passed away at the age of 93. Born and raised in Ottumwa, Doris was known by many as being the one who always went above and beyond for the betterment of the community. As a young widow, Doris met Karl Wilz, a small business owner and also recently widowed with four small children, the youngest of which was around three. They got married, and Doris went forward to help him conduct two small businesses in two towns 30 miles apart. Whether it was through serving customers at one of the family's small businesses or volunteering at Ottumwa Regional Health Center, comforting patients and making cookies for the families at McCreery Cancer Center, Doris always loved to put a smile on the face of others. But when asked what her greatest passion in life was, Doris would say her four children, 12 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Doris' gentle smile, melodious laugh, and encouragement meant so much to so many and drew people to her, including myself, and I am honored she considered me a friend. Madam Speaker, I thank Doris for contributing to our community, and I will keep her, her family, and her loved ones in my prayers.

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I thank Dr. Foxx for yielding me time to speak on this important issue. As a mother and a physician, I understand the tremendous value that nursing an infant brings both to the mother and the child. As the director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, I attended conferences and spoke on the need to encourage mothers to consider breastfeeding and the benefits of breastfeeding, be they nutritional, immunological, or the tremendous bond that occurs through breastfeeding. It is also why, despite being a working mother who was doing a general surgery internship and ophthalmology residency, I breast-fed both of my children. Because I was a working mother, that included expressing breast milk by pumping. I understand and I am supportive of the collaboration between employers and nursing mothers to have a private place to do so at their place of employment. I recognize that H.R. 3110 is trying to address this issue and provide accommodations for nursing mothers, which I wholeheartedly support, however, I feel the bill needs improvement. As it stands, H.R. 3110 puts a one-size-fits-all treatment of nursing accommodations for different businesses and industries. The bill also puts excessive penalties for minor or technical violations of the nursing-accommodation requirements in the Fair Labor Standards Act. These unreasonable penalties, combined with compliance challenges posed by the mandate, will lead to costly and protracted lawsuits because of their adversarial nature. The result will be delayed accommodations for working mothers. Rather than a collaborative arrangement between an employer and a nursing mother employee, this bill is punitive in nature. To address laws and H.R. 3110 and build on current law protections for nursing mothers, I submitted my bill, H.R. 4297, the Supporting Working Mothers Act, to the Rules Committee as an amendment. My bill is based on legislation introduced in a previous Congress by the sponsor of the bill we are debating today. Unfortunately, the majority refused to allow my amendment to even be debated on the floor. My amendment represents a workable, feasible, and reasonable approach to the Fair Labor Standards Act nursing-accommodation requirements. First, my amendment would have modified current law by providing coverage to white collar executive, administrative, and professional employees, while also maintaining current law coverage of hourly employees. My bill also preserved the 50-employee undue hardship exemption threshold as a safeguard for small businesses. These provisions would ensure coverage for over 80 percent of the women who are not currently covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act nursing-accommodation requirement. The bill we are debating today, H.R. 3110, significantly increases the penalties for employer violations that are required for breastfeeding accommodations, regardless of attempts at compliance. These penalties are disproportionate to the technical and unintentional Fair Labor Standards Act violations which could occur under this bill. My amendment would have preserved the authority of the Secretary of Labor to provide injunctive relief to address shortcomings and accommodations and assessable monetary penalties for repeat violations. However--and this is critical--my amendment also includes a provision establishing a collaborative process for employees and employers to create and improve accommodations in a timely fashion without relying on time consuming and expensive lawsuits. Because workplaces are not one size fits all, it is critical that legislation on nursing accommodations provide clear requirements that are adaptable to many kinds of workplaces, so that employers understand their obligations and are able to comply. Again, given my strong support of breastfeeding, pumping, and storing of breast milk, I am very disappointed that my amendment was not ruled in order by the majority and that Congress did not take this opportunity to address the flaws in H.R. 3110.

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss an issue that has become a national crisis and that must be immediately addressed. Serving in the Army for 24 years as both a nurse and a physician, from the Vietnam era to the first Gulf War, I have seen many of my fellow veterans suffer from anxiety, depression, survivor's guilt, and PTSD. Many veterans are still living with those scars, and without proper care and treatment, mental health crises can make everyday life a struggle or even life-threatening for them or their families. Yesterday, I partnered with my fellow veterans, Congressman Ruben Gallego, a corporal in the Marine Corps, Senator Joni Ernst, a fellow veteran and a fellow Army lieutenant colonel, and Senator Mark Kelly, a captain in the Navy, to introduce the Save Our Servicemembers Act. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation would direct the Pentagon to evaluate the effectiveness of their suicide prevention efforts and to improve its data collection, reduce bureaucratic duplication, and strengthen collaboration between its offices. I am heartbroken at the continued rise in suicides in the veteran community and our military communities. It is no secret that our servicemembers often face invisible challenges when they return to civilian life, and we need to do a better job addressing their needs and the needs of their families. We need to look into all of our mental health and suicide prevention programs to better service our heroes, and I am proud to partner with an incredible group of veterans in Congress on this legislation. To our servicemembers and our veterans, I want you to know that you are not alone and there are people who care and are trained to help you in any mental health crisis you might face. I encourage everyone to check in on your family and your friends because sometimes the deepest wounds are the ones that we cannot see. Mourning the Loss of State Trooper Ted Benda

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tragic loss of one of Iowa's heroes. Yesterday, October 20, Iowa State Trooper Ted Benda passed away from injuries sustained during a crash while responding to a call for help to detain a wanted suspect in Clayton County. Over his 16-year public safety career, Trooper Benda served with honor and courage each and every day. Trooper Benda began his public safety career with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation in 2005. He later moved to the Special Enforcement Operations Bureau, and finally, to the Iowa State Patrol, admirably serving communities in Northeast Iowa. It is days like this when we are reminded of the sacrifices so many of our law enforcement officers make every day. I am proud to say that I was always ready to support them and do whatever I could in Congress to ensure that they are properly funded, trained, and equipped. Trooper Benda was a hero, not just in his community, but to all of Iowa. His years of dedication and service will never be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with Trooper Benda's wife, Holly, their four young children, all of his loved ones, and the entire Iowa State Patrol family.

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the recent success of a high school football team in Iowa's Second District. For the first time in 31 years, the Clarke Community High School Indians are headed to the playoffs. The team finished the regular season with a 5-and-3 record, which is also a first in 31 years. Although their season had plenty of ups and downs, the team persevered and worked hard to make their community proud. They will be traveling up to Williamsburg, Iowa, tomorrow, October 22, to take on the Raiders in the first round of the playoffs. I am confident that Clarke will make the Second District proud. Congratulations to Coach Quinlan and his staff, and all the players, and the entire Clarke County community on their success, and good luck tomorrow night. Save our Servicemembers

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a teacher from my district who recently received a prestigious Iowa award for her work to inspire the next generation. Last week, Sara Russell, who has been teaching social studies for nearly 20 years at Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf, was awarded the Department of Education's 2022 Teacher of the Year Award by Governor Kim Reynolds. The Iowa Teacher of the Year Award was established in 1958 to recognize educators who go above and beyond to motivate and inspire students to achieve at their highest levels. Sara was selected for this award for her leadership in helping students build life skills while also being a mentor for new teachers in the Pleasant Valley School District. Mr. Speaker, I thank Sara and all educators who work to inspire the next generation of American leaders and make Iowa the best place to learn, live, work, and raise a family. Recognizing Eric Vander Velden

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to share a story about educators in my district literally going the extra mile to ensure their students' success. For the last few months, the Newton School District in Jasper County has reported a shortage of bus drivers, leaving many parents and students uncertain about how they would be able to make it to school each morning. In a rural area, our bus transportation to school is extremely important. With the importance of education and safety in mind, Eric Vander Velden, a physical education teacher in the Newton School District, answered the call for help by driving a school bus when needed. This is part of a larger effort by the Newton staff, in concert with parents, to do whatever they can to help their students succeed. It is stories like these that remind us that our teachers are the backbone of this country, and I couldn't be more confident in our future, knowing that the next generation is in their capable hands.

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As a physician, and also as a member of our society and country and the female gender, we are all familiar with the amazing work the Komen Foundation and Komen Race for the Cure have done to raise awareness, education, and research in breast cancer. I would like to take the time to recognize an extraordinary group in my district that has found a creative way to help underserved women in the Ottumwa community receive annual mammogram screenings and breast ultrasounds. Founded in 2011 by two-time breast cancer survivor and River Hills Community Health Center nurse Laurie Hornback, Bras for a Cause is an annual fundraising event held in Hedrick, Iowa, where donated and decorated bras are modeled by local firefighters and auctioned off. Over the past 10 years, the event has raised a total of $174,000 to help women receive breast cancer screenings or treatment. This year, Bras for a Cause raised a total of $27,000, and they will be donating $15,000 to help Ottumwa women receive breast cancer screenings at River Hills Community Health Center in Ottumwa. Additionally, a portion of the remaining funds was donated to the Mahaska Health Partnership, while the rest is being saved to help women currently diagnosed with breast cancer undergo treatment. Mr. Speaker, I thank Laurie and Bras for a Cause for coming together to put on this fantastic event and for their service to our community. Recognizing Sara Russell, Iowa Teacher of the Year

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of an exceptional healthcare professional in my district. Recently, Dr. Stuart Weinstein, the Ignacio V. Ponseti chair and professor of orthopaedic surgery and professor of pediatrics at the University of Iowa, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Scoliosis Research Society for his incredible work studying pediatric spinal deformity. Since joining the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Iowa in 1976, Stu has worked to make our community and the whole world a better place. Stu has published over 250 scientific articles in some of the most well-known and prestigious peer-reviewed journals. His research has focused on spinal deformity in children and the natural history and long-term outcome of pediatric musculoskeletal disorders. Listing and discussing all of Stu's accomplishments would take much longer than one minute, so I will close by saying how grateful I am to have people like Stu living in Iowa's Second District. I also tell anyone I meet that Iowa is the best place to live, work, and raise a family. With outstanding citizens like Stu, we will continue to hold that title. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to extend my enthusiasm with a happy birthday to our colleague from California, the Honorable Young Kim. Happy birthday to Young.

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a man from my district whose legacy of serving his community will continue to resonate for generations. Last Monday, Jim Van Engelenhoven, a former Iowa State representative from Mahaska County, passed away. Jim began his career in public service by serving in Iowa's Air National Guard. In 1993, Jim was elected to Mahaska County's Board of Supervisors, where he served until 1998, and then began his run as an Iowa State representative. Jim was loved by many in the Mahaska County community and across the State of Iowa for his compassion and his willingness to go the extra mile to serve his community. My heart and prayers go out to Jim's wife, Carol; his son, Jeff; and the rest of his loved ones. May he rest in peace.

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me the time on this critical issue. I would say to the gentleman from Massachusetts that I am also giving him the opportunity to urge all of our colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can take up the bill, H.R. 1897, the REACT Act. My commonsense legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security to test all migrants illegally crossing our border who they plan to release into our communities for COVID-19. I have traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border twice this year. On both trips, I have spoken with the brave men and women serving in Customs and Border Protection and also the physicians who are stationed there. I saw the crisis they are facing firsthand. I believe that it is our Congressional responsibility to address this crisis and support our officers. Earlier this month, the DHS Office of Inspector General called for the Department to improve COVID-19 detection and prevention measures at the U.S.-Mexico border amid record-setting migrant arrivals. I even inquired of Secretary Mayorkas in a hearing whether or not testing was being done, and he alluded and gave the allusion that there was testing. However, to quote directly from the report, ``CBP does not conduct COVID-19 for migrants who enter CBP custody and is not required to do so.'' The report further stated that: ``We recommended DHS reassess its COVID-19 response framework to identify areas for improvement to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 while balancing its primary mission of securing the border.'' Currently, everyone legally entering the United States by plane is required to display a negative test for COVID-19. Why aren't we requiring this of those who come here illegally? Numerous public health officials--and I am one--have stated that the failure of the U.S. authorities to test adult migrants for the coronavirus in jam-packed border processing centers is creating a potential for new transmissions, including among migrants who may have arrived healthy at America's door. The administration has correctly recognized the need to test individuals arriving from Afghanistan--and not only are they tested, they are vaccinated for COVID-19 and other childhood illnesses--but it does not seem to understand the importance of doing the same to those crossing our border illegally. In August, more than 208,000 migrants were encountered along the southwest border. This means each day, approximately 6,700 individuals were encountered. To put this in perspective, President Obama's Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, stated in his tenure that 1,000 apprehensions a day was considered a bad day. We are at more than six times that now, and on top of that, we continue to face a global pandemic. I applaud the work being done by the CBP agents and officers working around the clock to keep this country safe and healthy. I will also do whatever I can to support their work. We recently watched a debacle unfold in Del Rio, Texas, where we have learned that DHS did not test any of approximately 15,000 migrants who camped out under the Del Rio Bridge, many of whom who came from South America where they are experiencing the lambda variant. We now know that around 12,000 of these individuals were released into the United States. Right now, the majority is preparing a reckless multi-trillion-dollar tax-and-spend package. None of the money in that legislation would go to CBP, despite the DHS Inspector General clearly stating that CBP officials do not have the necessary resources to conduct testing. If the majority already wants to spend trillions upon trillions, why not include money to support CBP and testing for COVID-19? The current lack of testing at our border is completely unacceptable and irresponsible. It puts the health and safety of CBP border communities, migrants, and all Americans at risk. The current lack of testing is unacceptable. Madam Speaker, for this reason, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support my legislation, the REACT Act, by voting ``no'' on the previous question.

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and I would like to take a moment to thank my district for their work in treating and researching childhood cancer. A staple to my district and to the Iowa City community is the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, located right across the street from Kinnick Stadium. You all might know it well from the ``wave,'' one of college football's greatest traditions. The Stead Family Children's Hospital specializes in treating pediatric patients, winning several awards for their specialties in not only pediatric cancer but also orthopedics and cardiology, among others. Our gratitude for helping these children extends beyond the staff of Stead Family Children's Hospital. Many University of Iowa students and members of the Iowa City community use their free time to volunteer just to brighten a child's day. Thank you to the men and women in Iowa who are working to treat and research childhood cancer and to those who use their time to comfort children who are currently battling it, a disease no child or parent should face alone. Hills Elementary School Wins Award

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an individual from my district for his work to keep both Iowans and Americans healthy. Alan Johnson, a professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Iowa, has been selected for the 2021 Excellence Award for Hypertension Research by the American Heart Association's Council on Hypertension. This award by the American Heart Association is given to members of the scientific community who have had a major impact in research that has contributed to better understanding the causes and effects of hypertension. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common cardiovascular condition that affects millions of Americans a year and is a major contributor of both strokes and heart attacks. I am proud of Professor Johnson for his decades of research into the effects, causes, and treatments of this condition, and I congratulate him for earning this prestigious award. Thank You to Stead Family Children's Hospital Staff and Volunteers

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the importance of childhood education and how a school in my district is taking extra strides to ensure their students' success. At Hills Elementary School in Hills, Iowa, one out of four students are in the process of learning English as their second language. This is far higher than the average rate in Iowa being 12 percent. Though many might see this language disparity as a barrier to student achievement, this year, Hills Elementary was selected as one of 325 schools to win a National Blue Ribbon School Award from the U.S. Department of Education, with 81 percent of students at the school showing improvement in their academics. Beginning in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon School Award has been used to recognize American schools for their academic excellence. I couldn't be prouder of both the students and faculty at Hills Elementary, and I wish the best for them as they continue their journey of academic achievement. I would also like to take a moment to wish a happy belated birthday to my legislative assistant, Kendyl Willox, and a happy belated birthday to my good friend and colleague, enthusiastically, the gentleman from Long Island, Representative Andrew Garbarino.

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share an Iowa nice story about looking out for one of our own. Joseph Stewart, a resident of Bettendorf in Scott County, relied on his bicycle for years to make his 3-mile roundtrip commute to work every single day, but after his bicycle broke, the time of his daily commute doubled. For over a month after losing his only means of transportation, Joe would walk in between the highway and the railroad tracks to make it to work, not missing a single day of work. This is when Quad Cities Bicycle Club member Kathy Storm noticed Joe walking with a big smile on his face despite his circumstances. The Quad City Bicycle Club is known for their generosity, with members donating bikes to share their love of cycling with other members of the community. After getting to talking, Kathy learned Joe's situation and later showed up to his place of employment with a big surprise--a new bike that was donated by the club. It is stories like these that make us smile and inspire others to help their own neighbors. And this is just one small example of why Iowa is the best place to live, work, play, and raise a family. Iron Dome Funding

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a group of Good Samaritans who recently brought Iowa nice to Louisiana. Earlier this month, the New Sharon Fire Department of Mahaska County joined dozens of recovery teams from across the Nation to perform disaster relief efforts and assist in search and rescue operations in Louisiana after Hurricane Ida. Thanks to the generosity of the New Sharon and Mahaska County community, the New Sharon Fire Department has aided in recovery efforts both in the Hawkeye State and elsewhere across the country for 16 years. In 2018 the New Sharon Fire Department assisted local Texas recovery teams in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, and last year they traveled to help local communities that were devastated by Hurricanes Laura and Sally. I thank the New Sharon Fire Department and the citizens of Mahaska County for answering the call to serve and being incredible examples of the generosity and selflessness of Iowans. The Generosity of the Quad Cities Bicycle Club

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the importance of the United States continuing to support our allies, specifically Israel. Israel has long been a key strategic ally for the United States. Our relationship is mutually beneficial, and it is important that we work to support them whenever we can. That means fully funding the Iron Dome missile defense system must be a top priority of this Chamber. The Iron Dome is a mobile all-weather air defense system designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells whose trajectory would take them to an Israeli populated area. This system is purely defensive and designed to protect civilians. Innocent bystanders of all ethnicities, nationalities, and faiths rely on the Iron Dome for safety and protection. When terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah fire thousands of rockets into Israel, as they did earlier this year, the Iron Dome system quickly destroyed them and saved countless lives. Unfortunately, the majority wants to play games with this vital program. Earlier this week, the funding for the Iron Dome was stripped from the majority's continuing resolution amid protests from progressive Members. For years, the United States has consistently funded the Iron Dome on a strong bipartisan basis to help Israel defend itself from rocket attacks from terrorist organizations. There has never been a situation where military aid for Israel was held up because of objections from Members of Congress. It is disgraceful that the majority would remove the $1 billion in funding for the Iron Dome to appease the far left that seems to have taken over their agenda. Not funding the Iron Dome puts lives at risk for absolutely no reason. While I appreciate the majority introducing standalone legislation to fully fund the system, it should not have come to this to ensure the safety of our allies. After a summer that saw 2 weeks of fighting between Israel and Palestine, it is beyond clear to me that we must support Israel. Israel has long been a U.S. ally in a region marked by decades of conflict and turmoil. They are a strong democracy and share our views on many issues. I am proud to say what many in the majority will not, that I firmly stand in support of Israel and continuing to build our partnership for years to come.

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the crisis along our southwest border during the ongoing public health emergency. Last year, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General released a report titled ``DHS Needs to Enhance Its COVID-19 Response at the Southwest Border.'' The DHS OIG findings highlight what Republicans have been saying for 7 months, that U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not conduct COVID-19 testing for migrants who enter CBP custody and is not required to do so. Further, the report notes that without stronger COVID-19 prevention measures in place, DHS is putting its workforce, support staff, border communities, and all communities and migrants at greater risk of contracting the virus. It is our responsibility in Congress to ensure that our frontline workforce, including the brave men and women of CBP, who put their lives on the line daily, are adequately protected. More than 6 months ago, I introduced my first piece of legislation, the REACT Act, which would require the Department of Homeland Security to test all migrants illegally crossing our border who they plan to release into our communities. In March, I offered to bring the REACT Act to the floor for a vote, but it was rejected by the majority. Simultaneously, we are seeing the majority prepare to spend $3.5 trillion, mortgaging our children's and grandchildren's futures. Let's be clear that none of the money in this tax-and-spend package would go to CBP. This is while the DHS OIG heard from CBP officials that they do not have the necessary resources to conduct COVID-19 testing. Yet, many on the other side remain unconcerned about the lack of testing along our southern border. In August, more than 208,000 migrants were encountered along the southwest border. This means each day approximately 6,700 individuals were encountered. To put this in perspective, President Obama's Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, stated in his tenure that 1,000 apprehensions a day was considered a bad day. We are more than six times that now, and on top of it, we face a global pandemic. We are currently watching a debacle unfold in Del Rio, Texas, where this weekend alone there were estimated to be approximately 15,000 migrants crossing the Rio Grande. This surge is overwhelming an already overburdened system, and the agents and officers of CBP need Congress to focus on this crisis. While it is promising that CBP will be surging resources to the area, it remains extremely worrisome to me that, as the OIG found, CBP is not required to test these migrants. And I understand there is also a measles outbreak at Fort Bliss. Moreover, we will continue to see the border crisis of varying scales until we institute policies that will deter illegal immigration. Programs such as the Migrant Protection Protocols and Title 42 health restrictions should be utilized to stem the flow of illegal migration and help keep our communities safe during the pandemic. Notably, the DHS OIG report also states that the ``erosion of Title 42 authority has had a significant negative impact on CBP's COVID-19 mitigation measures and creates increased risk.'' I encourage this administration to continue to implement these health restrictions for migrants crossing illegally, especially while we see new variants emerging. As the former director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, I know we must ensure that any individuals the Biden administration insists on releasing into our communities do not have COVID-19 or other infectious diseases. In fact, the Biden administration is recognizing the need for COVID-19 testing and vaccinations for another group of individuals, those who are being paroled in from Afghanistan. I cannot comprehend how we can vaccinate those individuals for not only COVID-19 but also measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and any other age-appropriate vaccinations that are required by the CDC but not those coming across our border illegally. It is clear that this administration is creating a double standard not only for U.S. citizens and migrants but also for individuals they are bringing into this country. If I may, I will also add a boisterous happy birthday to my husband, Curt.

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of a beloved member of the Davis County community. Last Wednesday, Hall of Fame Davis County coach Dennis Anderson passed away after a battle struggling with stage IV terminal cancer. Dennis Anderson began his career in Davis County athletics in 1968 when he started as a physical education teacher and varsity track coach. Under his 50 years of leadership, Mr. Anderson coached 22 State champions and was named Regional Coach of the Year in 1979, 1980, and 1992 before being hired as the school's athletic director. After his retirement from Davis County Schools in 2000, Mr. Anderson spent 7 years as a zone chief at Iowa State track meets and was named Southeast Director of the Iowa Track Officials Association. Thank you, Dennis, for your longtime service to the Davis County community and for making Iowa a better place through being a mentor and role model for Iowa men and women.

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak on the ongoing disaster in Afghanistan. As a Vietnam-era veteran, I have seen the outcome of a poorly executed withdrawal, with tragic images of our allies hanging off of aircraft. The scene that unfolded at Hamid Karzai Airport in Kabul last week is a betrayal to the American military, American citizens, our Afghan partners who aided American troops in the global war on terrorism, and the Afghan people. The catastrophe that we have seen over the last few weeks was completely avoidable. We have watched as the Taliban quickly took control of the country, released terrorists from prison, and began implementing sharia law on those we left behind. Just as important, we will have less safety of our homeland, and it will have lasting repercussions. Madam Speaker, one of the most basic things you learn in the military is to never give your enemy the upper hand. We gave the Taliban the upper hand when we broadcast our withdrawal plans to the world but not to our allies and our coalition partners. The arbitrary and symbolic timeline the administration gave to get our troops out is during the peak of the fighting season. The administration needs to take full responsibility for this debacle. They are making the decisions and need to be held accountable for those decisions. The President said that the buck stops with him, but he has continued to point fingers and blame others.