Ryan Mackenzie

Mr. MACKENZIE

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on behalf of the people of the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, to honor the memory of the 29 victims who lost their lives in a tragic plane crash on November 8, 1961, including fourteen young men from Bethlehem. These young soldiers, most just out of high school, were on their way to basic training at Fort Jackson when their flight went down outside Richmond, Virginia. In an instant, families lost sons and brothers. Our community lost neighbors, classmates, and friends. And our Nation lost young patriots preparing to serve in defense of freedom during one of the darkest chapters of the Cold War. In the aftermath, their sacrifice led to reforms in military air transport standards--changes that have saved countless lives in the decades since. What was once a devastating loss became a catalyst for increased accountability and safety. Today, a monument in Bethlehem stands as a reminder of the price these families paid and the values these young men embodied: service, duty, and love of country. May we never forget their names, their courage, or the community that still feels their absence more than sixty years later. And may their memory continue to inspire gratitude and resolve in all of us who benefit from the freedoms they never had the chance to fully experience. We remember them and include their names in the Record: Albert W. Andreas, Robert S. Bedics, Barry A. Brandt, Donald F. Doyle, Thomas D. Gasda, Richard W. Jones, Joseph J. Kobli, Stephen M. Kobli, Leroy Kranch, Jr., Thomas A. Motko, Michael Placotaris, Albert J. Rice, John D. Schuler, and Charles D. Yeakel.

Mr. MACKENZIE

Mr. MACKENZIE. Madam Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 2212, the DHS Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program and Law Enforcement Support Act. Next year, our Nation will mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As we approach this solemn milestone, it is important that we reflect on the progress we have made in preventing attacks, as well as the areas where we can continue to improve. Countless Americans work every day across numerous agencies to keep our citizens safe from potential threats. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the intelligence community was strengthened and its ranks were bolstered. Because of their work, and the courage of our veterans and servicemembers, our Nation has been spared from similar attacks. We thank all of those who serve our Nation, both as civilians and servicemembers, in the fight to secure our homeland. Despite this success, we remain vigilant in the face of continuing threats against our country. That means continuing to analyze our tactics, refine our strategies, and ensure that critical information is efficiently shared between agencies. Information silos are not unique to the intelligence community, but the need to overcome them is more acute. The consequences are far greater if there are problems that arise. The intelligence community's ability to detect and prevent attacks against our homeland depends on coordinated and efficient information flows. We expect smooth interaction and joint maneuvers from our Nation's warfighters, and we depend upon the same thing across all components of our intelligence community. However, this coordination can be improved. In 2017, the inspectors general of the Intelligence Community, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice all completed a report that noted the DHS intelligence enterprise was not as effective and as valuable as it could be. This was attributed, in part, to a lack of unity throughout the DHS intelligence enterprise. For the intelligence community, the stakes could not be higher. Our Nation's security depends on streamlined coordination across agencies. That is why this bill ensures that the intelligence components of DHS are fully integrated within joint duty programs across the broader intelligence community. This allows intelligence analysts at DHS to sharpen their knowledge and expertise by spending time across different agencies. These benefits are similar to what many Americans have experienced throughout private industry. As a one-time board member for the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Board and as Republican chair of the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee, I got to see how innovative ideas like these can improve workplaces. Gaining experience and making contacts across departments can enhance the efficiency and morale of the organization, helping them to achieve their objectives. Rotational programs can take employees out of their respective bubbles, helping them see the big picture of the organization and the important roles that are played by employees in other areas. These same principles and strategies can certainly be translated into the homeland security space, where wider knowledge and institutional connections mean stronger security. By giving DHS staff the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills from throughout the department, we give the intelligence community a leg up in the fight to protect our Nation. It is time for Congress to codify DHS' Intelligence Rotational Assignment program and ensure that our intelligence community has the breadth of experience necessary to tackle the threats of tomorrow.

Mr. MACKENZIE

Mr. MACKENZIE. Madam Chair, I rise in support of this amendment by my colleague from Pennsylvania that increases funding by $30 million for procurement of the Army's heavy dump trucks and offsets it with a $30 million reduction to future tactical unmanned aircraft system development. While that development remains important, the Army's heavy dump trucks are critical to current operational needs. These trucks are manufactured by companies like Mack Defense in Allentown, Pennsylvania. I have had the opportunity to tour that facility and see firsthand how this facility provides well-paying jobs in our community while at the same time reinforcing the strength of our Nation's defense industrial base. This amendment delivers the tactical vehicles our troops rely on that are built by a critical manufacturer right in the Lehigh Valley. Madam Chair, I am proud to cosponsor this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting its passage.

Mr. MACKENZIE

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, the world once again witnessed a shocking act of terrorism committed against innocent civilians in Syria. Those who attended Sunday mass at the Mar Elias Church were not combatants. They were members of the community who sought to live in peace and rebuild from war. They were members of our community who had endured unimaginable suffering and faced an uncertain future with faith and hope. In the shadow of relentless terror and violence, it takes enormous courage to do many of the things that we take for granted. We can take inspiration from those who face down the cowardly perpetrators of destruction with faith and hope as they work to rebuild their nation. I join the Greater Lehigh Valley Syrian community in praying for the victims of this attack and for peace to return to Syria. May God bless all of those who stand up in the face of terror and violence.

Mr. MACKENZIE

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two exceptional students from the greater Lehigh Valley, Adam Wyatt and Ria Gandotra, recipients of the 2025 Congressional Award Gold Medal, the highest honor Congress can bestow upon a civilian youth. Adam, a student at Nazareth Area High School and an Eagle Scout, has used the program to build leadership skills, service, and discipline. From studying Russian and leading his family on a 19-day European tour to interviewing local veterans, he has taken on challenges that show real initiative and follow-through. Ria, a student at Moravian Academy, volunteered at a camp for children with special needs, worked to better herself academically, played on her school's tennis team, and planned a family trip to Toronto. Her work reflects both compassion and determination and a clear commitment to personal and civic growth. Adam and Ria exemplify the values of service, perseverance, and personal development. I am proud to recognize their achievements and the positive impact they have had on their local community as young leaders in the greater Lehigh Valley.

Mr. MACKENZIE

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, over the last 4 years, every American has felt the pain of inflation, and this financial strain has hit working families particularly hard. Large price increases set back millions of parents, forcing them to dig into their savings and even go into debt sometimes just to pay their bills. That is why, as a part of budget reconciliation, Congress passed legislative language to permanently increase the child tax credit, index it to inflation, and add a $500 increase, bringing the total tax credit to $2,500. Changes to the tax code, including expanding the child tax credit, will help save the average family more than $1,300 a year. It is time to deliver real tax relief for working families that they so desperately need. I call on my colleagues in the Senate to protect these provisions and make sure that working families are being helped and, after 4 years of rising costs, finally deliver parents the relief that they deserve.

Mr. MACKENZIE

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Heather Davenport, USOA Ms. Pennsylvania, and founder of We Are Strong LLC, a nonprofit committed to breaking the cycle of domestic abuse and offering hope to those affected. Since earning her title in November, she has volunteered at food banks, supported pediatric cancer families, honored veterans, and raised awareness about domestic violence throughout the State. She has used her role as USOA Ms. Pennsylvania to represent our community with compassion and purpose. Heather, a proud resident of the Greater Lehigh Valley and a mother of five, has used her platform to give a voice to those who are often overlooked and to strengthen the support systems for individuals facing abuse. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate her and thank her for the incredible work that she is doing. Her nonprofit, We Are Strong, is a traveling domestic violence clinic that provides essential resources such as housing, clothing, and emotional support to individuals in need throughout the State. This work is urgently needed. In Pennsylvania alone, more than 100 victims lost their lives to domestic violence last year, and nationally, one in four women experience severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. I appreciate the work that Heather has done and want to continue to extend heartfelt gratitude for all of her work.

Mr. MACKENZIE

Mr. MACKENZIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support my bill, H.R. 1800, the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2025. Mr. Speaker, at a time when our country is working to achieve peace and de-escalate military conflict in multiple locations around the world, we must remain vigilant about the ongoing threats posed by some of our long-term adversaries. Iran has a well-established record of destabilizing the Middle East and threatening its neighbors. The Government of Iran is manufacturing weapons, including drones, acquiring conventional weapons through malign actors, and supporting those actors around the world by funneling weapons and financial support. They do it through their terrorist proxy network throughout the Middle East. These actions directly threaten U.S. personnel and our allies in the region. Iran-backed militias have killed and injured U.S. troops stationed on bases in the Middle East, including an attack on a U.S. base in Jordan on January 28, 2024, which killed three American soldiers and injured dozens more. We also know that Iran is continuing to enrich uranium and manufacture long-range missiles which together pose an unprecedented threat to regional stability. As the current administration works to achieve the total dismantlement of Iran's nuclear program, it is critical that we give them the tools that they need in order to enforce their policy of maximum pressure. In order to achieve peace and stability in the region, we have to remind Tehran that they will not be able to grow, prosper, or effectively do business until they end their nuclear ambitions and stop supporting terrorism. Today's legislation achieves that by empowering our administration during negotiations and putting Iran on notice. This bill removes the sunset clause from the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, making it permanent law. The original act mandates sanctions on individuals and entities involved in Iran's energy sector in its efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction. By eliminating the expiration date, we ensure that these sanctions remain a steadfast component of our national security strategy. The Iran Sanctions Act has been a cornerstone in our efforts to deter Iran's malign activities, and this legislation will show our clear resolve on that issue. We must send this message: The United States will not tolerate Iran's support of terrorism, its pursuit of nuclear weapons, or its support for attacks on international vessels and American servicemembers. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this vital legislation. By voting for the Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 and solidifying it, we affirm our resolve to confront Iran's threats and protect America's interests and allies.

Mr. MACKENZIE

Mr. MACKENZIE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, two of the most important issues confronting our citizens today are the state of our economy and also the safety in our local communities. My focus while serving as an elected Member of Congress will be to address those two issues and the mess that we have been handed over the past 4 years from the Biden administration. Over those last 4 years and preceding that, there were decisions made by State and local elected officials which have made our country less safe and our communities at home in a vulnerable situation. Madam Speaker, I rise today as a member of the Homeland Security Committee to speak about the safety of our Lehigh Valley community and how the actions of one local elected official, Northampton's county executive, exemplified the negative impact that radical policy decisions can have on the safety of our law enforcement officers and the safety of our entire community. In March 2020, 5 years ago, the Northampton County executive issued an order prohibiting county law enforcement from cooperating with ICE unless ICE acquired arrest warrants before working to capture criminal illegal immigrants. Recently, the dangerous results of this policy were put on clear display in our local community and placed law enforcement and the general public in greater danger. Over the last 4 years, our Nation has witnessed an unprecedented surge of illegal immigration. Under Joe Biden's administration, over 2 million illegal immigrants crossed the border each year, burdening communities nationwide. As of July 21, 2024, ICE reported that there were over 100,000 nondetained illegal immigrants with convictions, including homicide, assault, rape, and robbery. In Pennsylvania alone, illegal immigration is costing taxpayers over $300 million for police and corrections, but this isn't just a statistical problem. In our community of Lehigh Valley, 2 weeks ago, ICE agents arrested Luis Gualdron-Gualdron outside of the Northampton County Prison, which is situated within the Seventh District of Pennsylvania, which I have been elected to represent. According to ICE, the U.S. Border Patrol arrested Gualdron near Brownsville, Texas, in December of 2023 for illegally entering the United States. He was served the next day with a notice to appear before an immigration judge. He made his way all the way to our local community 5 months later, and he was arrested in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on charges of indecent assault against a minor. In cases where individuals have entered our country illegally and then broken an additional law, the public has a right to expect that our local officials will cooperate fully with the Federal authorities. Unfortunately, that was not the case in this situation. The county executive's order caused ICE to be forced to arrest this dangerous predator outside of the prison. There was no ability for a proper hand off to take place. There is no need to just take my word that this was a dangerous situation. My office has spoken to ICE, and they explained that allowing this predator to leave the prison, rather than be arrested while already detained, greatly increased the possibility for escape from capture as this prisoner would have been free on the streets. It also increases the danger to those law enforcement individuals who have to make an arrest in an uncontrolled environment, and it puts the public in greater danger as this predator has a greater chance of escaping justice. Thankfully, ICE officers were successful in staking out the prison and arresting Gualdron, but that took them off of the streets, took away valuable law enforcement time, put them in greater jeopardy, and put our community in greater jeopardy. They shouldn't have been put in that situation but for that executive order from the Northampton County executive back in 2020. Madam Speaker, this is simply unacceptable. At a time when our country is reeling from the consequences of 4 years of open borders, we also have to deal with these situations in our local communities. We are making ICE jump through hoops to deport criminals who assault children, and it definitely shouldn't be happening right here in a community that is flagged as a trafficking hub. We know the problems. We are aware of the problems. We should be working with our Federal law enforcement agencies to make sure that these predators are off the streets. The law-abiding residents of the Lehigh Valley and our entire country and community should never have to wonder whether criminal illegal immigrants will escape justice due to the challenges that have been created by our own elected officials. The American people have made their position crystal clear on this. Madam Speaker, 80 percent of Americans oppose the concept of sanctuary cities, and 83 percent support deporting illegal immigrants who have committed violent crimes. Let me repeat that. There are 83 percent of individuals who support deporting illegal immigrants who have committed violent crimes. At the same time, we have a local elected official following through on the executive order that he signed back in 2020, making it such that our Federal law enforcement agents can't do their job and deport this violent criminal who has made his way all the way to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, this is simply unacceptable, and it is time for a change. I am calling on the leaders of our local communities and this Northampton County executive to fully rescind that executive order, which is standing in the way of law enforcement doing their job. Anything less is an admission on his part that he is going to stand with violent criminals and against our law enforcement. That is what it is. The public has spoken, and 83 percent of people want these violent criminals deported; yet, we have one person in Northampton County standing in their way. I encourage that individual to change his mind, rescind that executive order which is inhibiting our law enforcement from doing their jobs, which is leaving them less safe and leaving our community more vulnerable, and ultimately leaving our country in a disastrous position. This is the very least that we can do to ensure the safety of our residents. As the elected Congressman from Pennsylvania's Seventh Congressional District, I am going to continue to fight for all of our residents, every single one of them, to make sure that they are safe every single day of the week. Madam Speaker, I appreciate and thank, again, the gentleman from Utah for this opportunity to address the Chamber this evening.