Dan Newhouse

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of two outstanding cultural leaders in Washington State. First, I want to thank Mr. Mike LaPlant. For years Mike has been a fierce champion of agriculture in Washington, serving as the president of the Washington State Farm Bureau since 2011. Washington State is home to one of the most robust and vibrant agricultural industries in the country. With over 300 different crops and virtually every type of livestock raised in our State, the hardworking men and women who make the industry run face challenges as diverse as they are. That is why it is so important that they have solid, experienced, and servant-minded people working to raise their voices. Not only has Mike been a strong advocate for the industry in Washington State and beyond, but he has been a valuable partner in my work on behalf of the farmers, ranchers, and growers in my district. He has my thanks for his years of leadership and my best wishes for the next chapter in his life. I also recently had the opportunity to meet with Mike's successor as Farm Bureau president, Rosella Mosby. Rosella, like Mike, will be an effective voice for Washington State agriculture. I look forward to a continued partnership with the bureau under her leadership. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all central Washingtonians, I say congratulations to Rosella and thank you to Mike. Honoring the Career of Chief Ken Hohenberg

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of one of my constituents, longtime chief of the Kennewick Police Department, Ken Hohenberg, and to congratulate him on concluding 40 years of service to his badge and to his community. Chief Hohenberg is the city of Kennewick's longest serving employee, having joined the force in 1978. Back then, Kennewick had just over 20,000 residents. Although the town has changed a lot over the years and now has over 80,000 people, Chief Hohenberg's commitment to protecting his community has never wavered. Through good times and bad, economic downturns, and social unrest, Chief Hohenberg has spent the last four decades putting himself in harm's way for the good of his friends and neighbors. We owe a debt of gratitude to all men and women who don a badge and a uniform. Chief Hohenberg stands out as a shining example of what it means to serve and protect. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of central Washington, I extend my sincere gratitude and best wishes to Chief Hohenberg. Thank you for your service, Chief. Honoring Congressional Award Winner Cara Elzie

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate one of my constituents, Cara Elzie of Yakima, on earning the Congressional Award silver medal. Cara served her community, spending over 420 hours with the 4-H group called Youth Advocates for Health which engages with young people to teach the importance of healthy living. Cara's efforts helped reach over 1,500 young people in Yakima County through various events. She committed herself to personal development, spending more than 300 hours learning about journalism through her work as a journalist and photographer for the Yakima Herald-Republic's Unleashed program. Cara also improved her musical talents by practicing the guitar and piano for over 750 hours. She dedicated herself to personal fitness by working on her goals for more than 450 hours, with an emphasis on yoga. Finally, Cara completed five expeditions, traveling to new places as far away and diverse as Boston, Scotland, London, Spain, and Italy. In each location she learned about history and immersed herself in different cultures. Mr. Speaker, I commend Cara for all her hard work. I congratulate her on this remarkable achievement and wish her the very best of luck in her future endeavors. She truly represents the best of our region and is a source of hope for the future. Honoring Congressional App Challenge Winners

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the accomplishments of three of my young constituents: Andrew Modine, Torin Rauch, and Tyler Iverson of the West Valley Innovation Center. These three students won the 2021 Central Washington Congressional App Challenge with their app, Beating Heart Health, which aims to promote teen health and wellness by offering tools to practice and improve mindfulness and healthy sleep habits. On Monday, I got to see the West Valley Skills Center where Andrew, Torin, and Tyler developed their winning app. I am very pleased to see the work going on. Cultivating robust STEM education opportunities for our students is critical to ensuring the United States remains a competitive leader in the global economy. The app challenge is one way we can foster a passion for STEM among our young people and help them become the innovators and industry leaders of tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Andrew, Torin, and Tyler on their achievement and offer my thanks to West Valley educators for all of their hard work.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. You always have trouble with that.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Davis for yielding, and I thank him very much for organizing this Special Order honoring Vicki here on the House floor. It truly is something that she deserves because this institution of Congress, she held it in high regard, as you know. So it is an honor for me to be able to stand here and honor her and honor her life. I call her a friend, Victoria Lynn ``Vicki'' Sands Dixon. I only had the pleasure of knowing her, I think, for about the last 5 years, but I have to tell you, it soon became clear after meeting Vicki that she is one of those people that you could really call an angel on Earth. She treated her friends just like family, and honestly, she would do anything for her friends. As you mentioned, Vicki was a really close friend of my wife, Joan-- she is going to kill me for saying this--for over 42 years. In fact, Vicki was even the maid of honor at our wedding. That is how close she was to us. Vicki was considerate and thoughtful, gracious and funny, generous to a fault, and always the first to lend a helping hand. I can't tell you how many times Vicki, not even being asked, came to the rescue. One time, Joan and I had just moved into a new house in the middle of winter, and the gas hadn't been turned on yet. We couldn't get the gas company to respond. Vicki, before the end of the night, when the house temperature got down into the 40s, we had no less than six little heaters trying to keep that house warm. That is the kind of person she was. Vicki was always there to help. I know you have heard from some of our friends tonight, and there are so many people that would agree with them that Vicki truly was a friend, but she was more than that, too. Vicki was a dedicated American. Vicki was faithful to her country, certainly proud of her party, proud of her home State of Illinois, and, as you heard, a devoted public servant. It truly is a loss as we lose Vicki, but if there is anyone that I can think of, anyone worthy of moving on to a better place, it is her. Vicki was an example of the engaged and selfless citizen that we really all should try to emulate. I know Vicki's family and her community continue to be blessed by her memory. May Vicki rest in peace with her beloved Bob Michel.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my sincere gratitude, and the gratitude of all Central Washingtonians, to Detective Sergeant James A. Raebel, and to congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement. During his more than forty years of service with the Pasco Police Department, Det. Sgt. Raebel has truly embodied what it means to ``serve and protect'', working as a K-9 handler, an undercover narcotics officer, a detective, and a sergeant. Because of his work, the Pasco community truly was safer. Without dedicated public servants like Det. Sgt. Raebel, our Republic, which is sustained by a system of law and order, and our very way of life could not endure. I wish Det. Sgt. Raebel the very best as he enters this next chapter of his life. I commend him on a lifetime of service to his friends, family, and neighbors, and on behalf of all Central Washingtonians, I thank him for his service.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, our country is in a time of crisis. President Biden's policies have broken our supply chain; caused nationwide shortages and delays; and now, President Biden is holding the workers who keep our country running hostage through his vaccine mandates, further threatening our economic stability. Federal employees throughout central Washington who operate and protect critical facilities are facing termination over what should be a personal medical decision. They don't deserve to be fired. That is why I introduced the Exemptions for Critical Workers Act, to ensure these critical workers, who kept our industries functioning long before a vaccine was available to them, can make the health decision that is right for them while continuing their important work. Just this week, three Federal courts halted the administration's mandate in certain parts of the country for healthcare workers and Federal contractors. Clearly, these mandates are unconstitutional. I stand with the men and women who were asked to stand on the front lines for our sake, and I urge my colleagues to support my legislation.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of one of my constituents, Robert Larson, and congratulate him on his retirement. For 27 years, Bob served as commissioner of the Port of Benton and has dedicated himself to serving his neighbors and his community. Thanks to Bob's efforts, the U.S. Navy and the Port of Benton were able to partner to bring a section of the USS Triton submarine to Richland in honor of veterans who served in Navy submarines. From strengthening local supply chains to preserving the history of the Hanford Site and so much more, Bob's contributions to the Port of Benton, the greater Tri-Cities, the State of Washington, and our country are a true testament to his spirit of service. As a lifelong Washingtonian, on behalf of the people of the Fourth Congressional District, I extend my heartfelt thanks to Bob for his decades of public service and wish him all the best in retirement.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt about it, we are in a time of crisis largely fueled by the Democratic Party and President Biden's policies. Store shelves are increasingly empty, the cost of basic goods is soaring, supply chains are failing, ports are backlogged, and government restrictions on domestic energy have driven the price of gasoline to 7-year highs. Who is it that foots the bill for these progressive policies? I will tell you, it is hardworking American families. Rather than address the underlying causes of scarcity by bolstering American production and enhancing our Nation's energy independence, the Biden administration has worsened the situation with their dictatorial policies and mandates, most recently in the form of an executive order requiring all Federal employees and contractors be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 22 and December 8, respectively. The alternative? Termination. This mandate goes too far and has become a model for Democratic Governors across the country--including my own State of Washington's Governor Inslee--who are using it to justify their own drastic actions and impose similar State-level mandates. Now, in addition to the hundreds of State emergency personnel who are already out of work, threatening the safety of our communities, central Washington also has hundreds of Federal workers and contractors who are facing termination. American businesses have been struggling enough to find workers, fill production shifts, and deliver goods. President Biden's one-size-fits- all vaccine mandate will further hammer our small businesses, driving up prices, slowing down deliveries, and exacerbating supply chain problems. First responders and frontline healthcare workers are also being fired for not complying with COVID-19 vaccine mandates. In the State of Washington, we have seen hundreds of our brave law enforcement officers forced to choose between vaccination and doing their jobs. Leaving our communities, which are facing rising crime rates, unprotected is not going to increase anyone's safety. Hospitals and health clinics are experiencing staffing shortages as well. The remaining employees are then overworked to compensate, leading to burnout and increased staff turnover. Leaving our hospitals understaffed is not going to help our communities overcome this public health crisis. President Biden's deadline for the vaccine mandate brushes right up against the peak holiday season. Since cargo distribution companies are already battling unprecedented labor shortages, this mandate is likely to wreak havoc on the global supply chain when it is stressed the most, during the holidays. Leaving our tables empty and the space under our Christmas trees bare is not going to improve morale. But why is President Biden perpetuating a permanent state of emergency? The only answer that comes to mind is that he is more concerned about expanding governmental control than the safety and stability of our workforce or the protection of our individual rights. Not only does this mandate go against our inalienable rights protected in the Constitution, but it ignores the fact that natural immunity also provides protection against infection from the virus. In fact, other countries have adopted policies upholding this as a valid, science-based exemption from vaccine requirements. The mandate also doesn't allow workers to opt out through frequent COVID testing, as many private businesses have chosen to do. Federal employees who have opted not to receive the vaccine because they have natural immunity developed after recovering from the virus do not deserve to be fired, especially when those same men and women have worked tirelessly to keep our communities safe and healthy before there was even a vaccine available. These men and women, who have been on the front lines since the beginning of the pandemic and risking their families' health and safety to ensure our Federal and State projects continued and that our communities remained protected, deserve our respect, not our condemnation. But the President has doubled down on his policies, stating that he absolutely thinks police officers and emergency responders should be fired if they do not comply with this mandate. That is why I introduced the Options Over Terminations Act. This legislation would provide an exemption to the Federal COVID-19 mandate for any Federal employee or contractor who provides proof of COVID-19 antibodies. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support my legislation and provide our workers with a smart, science-based alternative to President Biden's vaccine mandate.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate the newly- elected national FFA president, Cole Baerlocher, who hails from the great State of Washington. Cole, a native of Colfax, is now honored with this tremendous opportunity to represent our State and our entire Nation. For more than 90 years, FFA has provided students with premier leadership training through agricultural education and advocacy. As a former FFA member myself, I can attest that my experience not only helped shape my career as a farmer, but helped prepare me to represent the Fourth District of Washington in Congress. Throughout his year of service to FFA, Cole and his fellow national officers will lead workshops and conferences across the country, cultivate relationships with national agriculture leaders, and help set policies that will guide the future of FFA. Cole: Washington's entire agricultural community is proud to have you representing us, and we look forward to following your journey on behalf our Nation's producers. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to please join me in congratulating our national FFA officers.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, this week we learned that either President Biden ignored the advice of his top military advisers and lied to shift the blame for his disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal or that those advisers lied to Congress under oath. General McKenzie and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Milley both informed the Senate and House Armed Services Committees that they recommended to President Biden that we keep 2,500 troops in Afghanistan. Yet President Biden has adamantly claimed that he never received such advice. Americans have been abandoned, left to the mercy of a terrorist regime that wants to destroy Western culture and institutionalize widespread and systemic gender apartheid. Our military weapons and equipment have been turned over to our adversaries for their use against us. And our President continues to negotiate with terrorists after our servicemen and -women have been murdered. Every last American must make it home. Anything less is inexcusable and a dereliction of his sworn oath. The President's lack of leadership is not only failing us abroad, but it is also threatening our safety here at home. Just this year more than 1.3 million people have illegally crossed our border, including known terrorists. An open southern border threatens our national security and the safety of all Americans, and I hope we can all agree that we must do something to stop this disturbing trend. The President has a duty to act. Our Federal Government must enforce our Nation's immigration laws, reimplement successful policies from the Trump administration, and commit further support for our Border Patrol agents and our Customs enforcement officers. That is why I signed on to a resolution calling for the President to fully enforce our immigration laws in light of the current surge at the border and the ongoing self-created border crisis. Lastly, the President and his far-left Democrats are racking up debt that Americans cannot afford, exacerbating the current inflationary crisis that we are facing. The proposed $4.3 trillion tax-and-spending spree is a continuation of the Biden administration's reckless policies that have created an unstable outlook for our economy, for our Nation's future, and for the next generation of Americans. Not only does this package unravel the progress we have made to encourage work and raise wages, but it increases the national debt by up to $17 trillion, putting our national security further at risk. The Speaker and the far left are wildly spending tax dollars on their socialist priorities, while increasing taxes on small businesses, on family farms, and by raising the corporate tax to a rate higher than Canada, higher than Italy, higher than the U.K., and even higher than Communist China, which we know will directly hurt job growth and wage growth for men and women across our communities. Our economy is already running at the highest rate of inflation in 13 years. To recklessly increase our spending is fiscally irresponsible and downright dangerous. As Senator Manchin even said, it is truly the definition of fiscal insanity. Madam Speaker, it is clear to me, just as I know it is clear to my constituents, the President, time and time again, is failing to display the leadership America needs and deserves. He must uphold the promises he made to the American people, and I call on him, I ask him to put an end to the era of crisis that we are now under. National Hispanic Heritage Month

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, today I rise in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month and the histories, cultures, and contributions of Latino and Hispanic Americans throughout the United States. Growing up in Sunnyside, Washington, I have witnessed firsthand how Hispanic Americans contribute to our communities through entrepreneurship, military service, and cultural diversity. They are our friends, our family, our neighbors, and our coworkers. They are small-business owners, doctors, police officers, and soldiers. In central Washington and across the country, we are proud of our Hispanic friends and neighbors who prove that the American Dream is alive and well. Because of them, we are a stronger, more diverse, prosperous society. Today I ask my colleagues, join me in honoring our Hispanic-American neighbors and in recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, today, of all days, amidst the ongoing flurry of dysfunction, Democrat leader Chuck Schumer is inserting a vote to confirm Tracy Stone-Manning as director of the Bureau of Land Management through the United States Senate, hidden from the view and the attention of local communities. For months, my Western Caucus colleagues and I have been pleading with our Senate colleagues to listen to the voices of those who have spoken up of Ms. Stone-Manning's radical views, her violations of several Federal laws, and her collusion with ecoterrorists. Ms. Stone-Manning is simply, clearly, and patently unfit to hold this office. Even several Obama administration officials, including his BLM director, agree. Let me be clear, a vote for Tracy Stone-Manning is a vote against farmers, ranchers, our public land users, and our rural communities throughout the West. This is a shameful display of hyperpartisanship. The Senate should reject her nomination and recognize that rural America deserves better.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Pennsylvania for having this really important conversation. Madam Speaker, since day one, President Biden has made his priorities abundantly clear to the American people: Keystone XL pipeline? Canceled. Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline? Approved. Domestic oil and gas protection on Federal lands? Canceled. Increased Russian and OPEC oil production? Approved. If this picture still isn't black and white enough, allow me to clarify further. President Biden and his administration continue to support and promote foreign energy development and foreign jobs, while quite literally canceling American energy development and eliminating good-paying American jobs. These actions have led to higher energy prices, increased costs of goods and services, and--most egregiously--greater reliance on foreign countries. As stockpiles of natural gas continue to deplete, world leaders, including President Biden, are going to have to answer the call for increased fuel demand, especially as winter gets closer. As the chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a member of the House Energy Action Team, I have worked with all our Members, as well as our partners, to highlight the impacts of President Biden's decisions and what they have done to our rural communities across the country: from decreased public school funding to forcing small businesses to close their doors. Earlier this month, our colleagues from across the aisle, who serve on the House Committee on Natural Resources all voted to ban onshore as well as offshore oil and natural gas production. They seem to forget that the fees that are generated by these activities go straight into the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which those very same Members voted to support last Congress. It makes no sense. The U.S. is the greatest country in the world, and we have the ability, once again, to achieve energy independence, provide affordable and reliable energy for our citizens, as well as supporting our allies. We just need our leaders to have these priorities as well. Our President should support American jobs, not Russian jobs; he should support lower gas prices, not higher gas prices; he should support American energy dominance, not foreign energy production and reliance. Madam Speaker, I would encourage all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and in the White House, to reassess their priorities, support policies that help the American people, and not hinder them. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Joyce, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to speak on a very important issue for the American people.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise to express support for the designation of the week of September 19 through September 25, 2021 as ``Gold Star Families Remembrance Week.''

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to a citizen of the great State of Washington, to share her story and to, once again, urge my colleagues to make it a priority for this Congress to end the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women. Ruthie Kindness, a native woman of the city of Parkland, turned 31 just last month. Unfortunately, for her family and her loved ones, they spent her birthday just as they have over the last 10 years, without Ruthie, with no idea where she is, or even if she is alive. Ruthie disappeared on February 7, 2011. For over a decade, her family has gone without answers, and little progress has been made in the investigation. Ruthie's story is unacceptably commonplace for our tribal communities. She is one of nearly 6,000 women, Madam Speaker, that we know of who have been a victim of this crisis. Native American and Alaska Native women face a murder rate that is 10 times higher than the national average. Many of their cases go unresolved for years or even decades, as with Ruthie's case. We made critically important strides in addressing the crisis when President Trump signed Savannah's Act and the Not Invisible Act into law just last year. But Ruthie and the thousands of women whose cases remain unresolved underscore that our work here is not yet finished. The life of Ruthie Kindness matters. Her family's grief matters. The hole left in her community by her disappearance, that matters. Finding answers for them, delivering justice for Ruthie, and ending this threat for indigenous women once and for all, that matters. I call on each and every Member of this body to join me in renewing our commitment to our Native communities, and to delivering a lasting solution to protect these women from the disproportionate rates of violence that they suffer. If anyone has any information about Ruthie's disappearance, please call the Auburn Police Department at (253) 931-3080. Together, we can deliver justice for Ruthie and for the thousands of indigenous women who have been victims to this crisis.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Westerman for partnering with the Western Caucus to try to bring some attention to this really critical issue for our States out West and for all of our communities. So thank you very much. Water. It is perhaps our most vital resource in the American West, and unfortunately all of our States and our communities know all too well what the impacts are of severe drought and water shortages. With over 90 percent of the West in a catastrophic drought, the Biden administration and House Democrats have truly failed to act. As chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, I represent Members whose districts, like my own, are literally running out of water, water that is used to produce food to feed the world or to generate clean and renewable energy, water used to nourish our lands and our environment, water to cook and clean and to drink. We can no longer sit idly by as this historic drought ravages our communities. In April, the Biden administration announced the formation of an interagency working group tasked with finding solutions to address the drought that plagues the West. This working group, led by the Departments of Interior and Agriculture, has yet to provide clear objectives or produce any sort of plan. Earlier this month, members of the Western Caucus and Republicans from the House Natural Resources Committee sent a letter to the administration calling on them to provide to us the solutions and the ideas that they have for relief from the drought's impacts. As of this date they have not delivered. So as drought conditions become more common, we must find modern solutions. For over 30 years--well before my election to Congress--as a farmer in the Yakima Valley, as a State legislator, and as director of the Department of Agriculture for the State of Washington, I have worked in partnership with State, local, Tribal, and national leaders to bring forth collaborative solutions that improve water storage and delivery in my home State of Washington. I am proud of that work, but we have much to do. As we continue developing and deploying water conservation efforts, certainly there is more work that needs to be done. We must find short- term as well as long-term solutions to address this issue that threatens our economies and our environment and truly our way of life. Drought is not a partisan issue, and I urge the administration and my colleagues, my Democratic colleagues from the other side of the aisle to acknowledge the West's urgent needs and to work with us to provide actual relief, not just talk to our communities who truly are struggling. I thank Mr. Westerman of the Natural Resources Committee for drawing attention to this critical issue, for shedding some light on it, and, hopefully, by educating more people as to the seriousness of this critical issue we can truly make some progress in bringing some solutions forward that will help people all through the Western United States.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Honorable Sid Morrison on a lifetime of selfless public service. Sid recently retired as the chair of Energy Northwest Executive Board, having dedicated 20 years to supporting northwest public power. And that was only the latest chapter in a storied career spanning seven decades. Embodying the spirit and commitment of the Greatest Generation, Sid served in the U.S. Army, spent 14 years in the Washington legislature, and was elected to six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Central Washington, before being appointed as Washington's Secretary of Transportation. A lifelong Washingtonian, Sid has long been a role model in the Evergreen State, and the recently-dedicated Morrison Energy Center in Richland will serve as tribute to his innovative spirit and enduring legacy. A man of humility, compassion, and conviction, it is my honor to call Sid a mentor and a friend. I ask the House to join me in congratulating our former colleague on a most-distinguished career and deserved retirement.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of one of my constituents, Joyce Mulliken of Ephrata. Joyce Mulliken was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She will be dearly missed by her husband of 57 years, Mike, their son Dan, and her entire community. A loyal and dedicated public servant, Joyce served in the Washington State House of Representatives representing Grant, Kittitas, and Yakima counties. After serving four terms in the State House, Joyce then served as a Washington State Senator in 2003, dutifully representing her beloved community. In 2006, Joyce was appointed to the Growth Management Hearings Board, where she worked with citizens, communities, and the private sector to coordinate and plan growth so our state could continue to prosper while protecting our quality of life. After her time as an elected official, she continued to lend her knowledge and insights on legislation with elected officials, even as recently as the 2021 session. We owe a great debt to Joyce for her continued leadership and integrity, and she leaves a remarkable and admirable legacy behind her. May we all aspire to replicate her continued willingness to be mentor and a friend throughout her life. May her family and her community continue to be blessed by her memory. Rest in Peace, my friend.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, it is always unconstitutional for government to restrict the rights of law-abiding gun owners, but to do so in the midst of a crisis is especially unconscionable. Unfortunately, Governors across the country, including Washington's Jay Inslee, has used the COVID-19 pandemic as justification to disregard the Founders' intent to preserve this right, excluding those in the firearms industry from essential worker designations. Denying Federal firearms licensees the ability to operate under essential worker designations not only infringes on the Second Amendment rights of Americans, but also recklessly ties the hands of our law enforcement officers who require access to these tools to ensure the safety of our communities. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 establishes guidelines for States regarding who should constitute critical infrastructure workers in the event of a natural disaster, an act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have often referred to these individuals as ``essential workers.'' Likewise, the USA Patriot Act defines critical infrastructure as systems and assets so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such system and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters. The Founders were clear in their drafting of the Second Amendment that the right to bear arms is necessary to the security of a free State. In other words, the Second Amendment is essential to our system of government. While essential worker designations have been arbitrarily decided and enforced from the outset, forcibly shutting the doors of those who enabled Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights is obviously motivated by a radical anti-gun agenda. There is no question that the firearms industry is vital to the security of the American people. The rights of Americans, including the rights to keep and bear arms, are no less essential during a state of emergency. In fact, the right to defend one's self and one's home is most essential during a state of emergency. States of emergency merit our heightened vigilance to protect against unnecessary and unconstitutional government outreach. In 2020, Americans sought to exercise their Second Amendment right so they could have peace of mind during a turbulent time. As demand rose, Americans faced delays due to the unconstitutional shutdowns imposed by Governors across the country. That is why I introduced the Second Amendment is Essential Act. This legislation protects law-abiding citizens' ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights and prevents future anti-gun restrictions that restrict lawful access to firearms in times of emergency. This act will classify, by law, the firearms industry as a critical infrastructure sector and those it employs as essential workers by amending the Homeland Security Act of 2002, and the USA Patriot Act of 2001. Firearms manufacturers and dealers should not be forcibly closed by government in a time when demand for their products is high, and law-abiding citizens should never have any of their constitutional rights restricted. This legislation will ensure the Second Amendment can be freely enjoyed by Americans when they need it most: in times of crisis. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation and ensuring that the constitutional rights of our fellow Americans are protected.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Brad Sawatzke, who is retiring as CEO of Energy Northwest. A leader to his core, Brad has been an invaluable member of the Tri- Cities community and has led Energy Northwest into the future with vision, enthusiasm, and determination. I had the pleasure to know Brad, and his impressive resume merits recognition. To earn money during college, Brad began his nuclear career as a janitor, and over four decades his hard work resulted in numerous leadership positions. Brad now retires at the pinnacle of his industry. What could better embody the American Dream than a career where grit and merit are so rightly rewarded? During his tenure, Columbia Generating Station became one of the top- performing nuclear plants in the country, and the company is leading in clean energy innovation by spearheading the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies. I thank Brad and his wife, Kim, for their many contributions to Washington State, and I wish them the best in this new, well-earned chapter of their lives.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, The Second Amendment Is Essential Act will classify, by law, the firearms industry as a ``critical infrastructure sector'' and those it employs as ``essential workers'' by amending the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the USA Patriot Act of 2001. The changes define any business or employees who manufacture or deal firearms and ammunition as critical infrastructure for the purposes of federal guidance to States during an emergency. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 directed the Administrator of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish guidelines for States regarding who should constitute ``critical infrastructure workers'' in the event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, these individuals have often been referred to as ``essential workers.'' Similarly, the USA Patriot Act defined ``critical infrastructure'' as ``systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters.'' Americans' rights, including the right to keep and bear arms, are no less essential during a state of emergency. In fact, the right to defend one's self and one's home is most essential during a state of emergency. Furthermore, states of emergency merit heightened vigilance to protect against unnecessary and unconstitutional government outreach. In 2020, gun sales increased by 64 percent as Americans sought to exercise their Second Amendment rights so they could have peace of mind during a turbulent time. Firearms manufacturers and dealers should not be forced by government to close in a time when demand for their products is through the roof. This legislation will ensure that the Second Amendment can be freely enjoyed by Americans when they need it most: in times of crisis.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, before I begin, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the topic of my Special Order.