John Rutherford

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the 2016 Emergency Medical Services Provider of the Year, Craig Wright. Mr. Wright currently works at the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay Fire Department, where he exhibits his heroism and humility on a daily basis. His individual actions have had positive and substantial impacts on the residents of Kings Bay. Mr. Wright attributes his success to the unity experienced among him and his co-workers in the fire department, stating that nothing he ``did individually can't be contributed to the whole team.'' The resulting feeling of family between the Kings Bay fire fighters yielded a Fire Department of the Year award, for the fifth year in a row. Again, Mr. Wright and all of the fire fighters emphasized their camaraderie and loyalty as the keys to their success. Mr. Speaker, I applaud Craig Wright for his service to the Kings Bay Fire Department and to his fellow fire fighters. His commitment has strengthened the community and all of its members

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, Senior Airman Lacey Miller's recognition stems from her dedication to her country. Airman Miller bravely enlisted into the United States Air Force Reserves in February 2012. While she was in the reserves, she was attending Materiel Management School. Upon completion of technical training, she was assigned to the 911th Airlift Wing in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. She was then assigned to the Logistics Readiness Squadron supporting the C-130 Hercules aircraft mission set. After a year of serving the squadron, she transitioned to her current position in the Florida National Guard as a Materiel Management Journeyman assigned to the 290th Joint Communications Support Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base. Airman Miller has deployed in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel where she was assigned as a logistics liaison for nine forward operating bases in Afghanistan areas of responsibility, directly supporting Special Operations Forces in combat operations. Airman Miller can be described as a leader--considerate, courageous, and compassionate. At a young age, Lacey took part in helping her community, as a volunteer at a Young Life Group where she mentored troubled youth. She also cares profoundly for her planet and traveled to Sweden to promote eco-friendly farming. In the fall, Senior Airman Miller will be attending the University of Florida pursuing a bachelor's degree in forestry. Airman Lacey Miller is a phenomenal example of service and sacrifice. She is truly deserving of the recognition that the United States Air Force has bestowed on her as Airman of the Year and we thank her for her service to our great nation.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the 2016 Emergency Medical Services Provider of the Year, Craig Wright. Mr. Wright currently works at the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay Fire Department, where he exhibits his heroism and humility on a daily basis. His individual actions have had positive and substantial impacts on the residents of Kings Bay. Mr. Wright attributes his success to the unity experienced among him and his co-workers in the fire department, stating that nothing he ``did individually can't be contributed to the whole team.'' The resulting feeling of family between the Kings Bay fire fighters yielded a Fire Department of the Year award, for the fifth year in a row. Again, Mr. Wright and all of the fire fighters emphasized their camaraderie and loyalty as the keys to their success. Mr. Speaker, I applaud Craig Wright for his service to the Kings Bay Fire Department and to his fellow fire fighters. His commitment has strengthened the community and all of its members.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Mr. Alexander Pozin, a World War II veteran, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday. Alexander Pozin was born on May 1st, 1917, in Odessa, Ukraine. That same year in Russia, the Communist Revolution took place, leaving the Pozin family in a state of poverty. After working many different jobs to provide for his family, Pozin graduated from law school in 1939, and went on to become a successful lawyer. However, in June of 1944, Pozin was called to serve in the Russian Army as a fighter and bomber pilot in the 210th Division of the Soviet Air Force. By the end of the war, Pozin had reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and had earned 18 medals from the Soviet government. Following his career in the military, Mr. Pozin moved to the United States. He became a professor at Stenson University, where he specialized in Slavic languages. Today, Mr. Pozin is a resident of St. Augustine, Florida. Here, his philanthropic endeavors have had a valuable and visible impact on the St. Augustine community. He has volunteered with Learn to Read St. Johns County, and the Council on Aging's Senior Center in St. Augustine. It is within these organizations that Mr. Pozin has connected with other individuals who weathered the storm of World War II, and shared his heroic and inspiring story. Mr. Speaker, I applaud Mr. Alexander Pozin for his service in World War II, and for his commitment to philanthropy and his community.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today also in strong support of H.R. 3218, the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017. When our brave men and women put on the uniform to protect our Nation, we have a sacred responsibility to provide them and their families with certain opportunities in repayment for their services and sacrifice. As a new generation of servicemembers are returning from the battlefield, we as a nation have needed to reevaluate how we better help our veterans succeed back home. This important legislation is an example of how that success for veterans can be achieved. As a result of the hard work of many veteran service organizations, the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, and countless veteran advocates, H.R. 3218 makes many important reforms to the GI Bill to improve veterans' access to education. One reform that I would like to highlight is a provision that I introduced as a stand-alone piece of legislation earlier this year called the Julian Woods Yellow Ribbon Program Expansion Act. Madam Speaker, under current law, dependents and surviving spouses of those killed in action who attend college on the Fry Scholarship are not eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon Program helps to cover the cost of schools with tuition above the level of what the GI Bill covers. Since the dependents and spouses of those killed in action are not currently eligible for this program, they are, in fact, limited in their educational opportunities. I thank the committee, Chairman Roe, and Ranking Member Walz for including my bill in this legislation, and it is just one of many reforms that this package makes. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues' support.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of Marine Sergeant Joseph Murray, who paid the ultimate sacrifice on July 12, 2017, when a KC-130 military transport plane crashed in the Mississippi Delta. Sergeant Murray had lived in Jacksonville, Florida, since he was 10 years old and was a military dependent whose father was in the Navy for over 20 years. He was a Sandalwood High School graduate in the class of 2009, and joined the Marines that same year. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Sergeant Murray was promoted three times in the first 3 years he was in the Marine Corps, and he was very proud of his two deployments to Afghanistan. He told his father he wanted to be a grunt instead of an intelligence officer because ``that is the hardest thing to do.'' He died as a member of a special operations team, where his closest friends were the fellow marines who served next to him. Sergeant Murray was a proud husband and father, with four children: a 5-year-old son, a 3-year-old daughter, and 1-year-old twin boys. He met his wife, Gayle, the same year he joined the military, and he was a family man who loved to serve others. Gayle said that he would do anything for his family and loved to play his guitar for them. She said: ``What he wanted most in the world, besides his family's happiness, was to destroy evil on Earth.'' His father, Terry, stated the only thing stronger than his commitment to his family was his commitment to his church. In fact, he was known to hum praise and worship songs when he was on patrol, and his fellow servicemembers looked to him as a faith leader. A fellow marine mentioned: ``When Joseph stopped that humming and singing praises, they took the safeties off their weapons because they thought something was up. All was well when Joseph was with them.'' His father said: ``The city of Jacksonville should be very proud to have had his son come from here.'' I can attest today for the citizens of northeast Florida that we are very proud, very proud and honored to have had Sergeant Murray defending our freedoms. Sergeant Murray's dedication to his faith, family, and nation will always be remembered. May God bless and keep you and your family. Semper fi, Sergeant Murray.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the great community stewardship of Mr. Clarence Gooden, recently retired president of the CSX Railroad. In 2003, Mr. Speaker, I was newly elected sheriff of the city of Jacksonville, Florida, and my wife, Pat, and I were invited to a Christmas dinner hosted by Mr. Clarence Gooden and his wife, Corkie. It was during my discussions surrounding my new position as sheriff that I shared with Clarence and his wife how drug dealers had taken over Mallison Park, which in years past was actually the crown jewel of parks in the city of Jacksonville. I explained to them how the park manager had been severely battered by drug dealers, and though we had made several arrests in the park, the dealers continued to return, and the children were being denied the use of this great park. Mr. Speaker, I also shared with him a campaign promise that I had made to help at-risk youth through an expansion of an intervention program called the Police Athletic League into areas such as Mallison Park, which would offer at-risk youth sports programs, after-school tutoring, food, and personal hygiene, all provided by specialized officers trained in intervention. Clarence asked me the cost of such an expansion, and I informed him it would be close to $100,000 to refurbish and move programs into Mallison Park. He immediately responded, Mr. Speaker, that he would raise those funds by April. I reminded him it was already the end of December, but he and Corkie assured me that they would meet an April deadline. Incredibly, Clarence devised a plan for what became known as the CSX Charity Train Ride, which entailed a fundraiser that gave contributors an amazing train ride with dinner and entertainment. The event was a first-class success, and Clarence had raised all the funds necessary to refurbish Mallison Park and move the Police Athletic League into those new facilities. Their efforts led to an over 40 percent drop in violent crime within a 1-mile radius of Mallison Park. Over the years, the CSX Charity Train Ride grew into one of the largest single charity events in northeast Florida, and it continued to add additional charity recipients every year. Mr. Speaker, Clarence and Corkie, with the assistance of Mrs. Rosemary Thigpen, have raised, to date, over $4 million for over 10 local charities. Last year alone, they raised over $400,000 for charities, including Angelwood, the Police Athletic League, and the American Heart Association, just to name a few. Not only does he have a huge heart for the community, but he never lost his concern for others as he worked his way up throughout his career. Mr. Speaker, Clarence actually began as a laborer at Seaboard Coastline Railroad before it became CSX, and he worked his way up the ranks to the president's office of a tier one railroad. He recently retired from CSX, and I know he will continue to have passion for others. I appreciate his dedication to the citizens of northeast Florida. I am sure I echo the thoughts of all when I wish him and Corkie continued good health and happiness in both his retirement and all of their future endeavors. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to seeing Mr. Gooden soon and presenting him with this coin as a token of the tremendous appreciation from all of those in the Fourth District whose lives Mr. Gooden, Mrs. Gooden, and CSX have touched. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2283. According to the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, after 6 straight years of decline, DHS improved by 3 percentage points in 2016, from 53 percent in 2015 to 56 percent. However, since its inception, DHS has consistently reported low employee job satisfaction and today remains last out of large agencies in employee satisfaction. According to the FEVS, the Department slightly improved its overall response rate to about 50 percent in 2016. Former Secretary Jeh Johnson attributed much of the success to the Department's employee engagement steering committee and efforts he and other leaders have made in strengthening employee morale and engagement. H.R. 2283 seeks to codify many of these efforts. The purpose of H.R. 2283 is to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to improve morale within the Department of Homeland Security workforce by conferring new responsibilities to the Chief Human Capital Officer, establishing an employee engagement steering committee, requiring action plans, and authorizing an annual employee award program. The security of our homeland depends on focused, efficient, and dedicated individuals who feel confident and empowered in the workplace. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Thompson for introducing this legislation and for working in such a bipartisan manner on it. I urge all my colleagues to support this commonsense, thoughtful legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2283, as amended. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2283) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to improve morale within the Department of Homeland Security workforce by conferring new responsibilities to the Chief Human Capital Officer, establishing an employee engagement steering committee, requiring action plans, and authorizing an annual employee award program, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. RUTHERFORD

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

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2190) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security to make certain improvements in managing the Department's real property portfolio, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2190, the Streamlining DHS Overhead Act. Despite being the Nation's third largest Federal department, the Department of Homeland Security continues to struggle with challenges from its integration of 22 different Federal departments and agencies. One example of these challenges is the Department's management of its real estate portfolio. DHS pays $2 billion a year to occupy more than 100 million square feet of space. Weak internal oversight and a lack of property management processes have further intensified the problem. Collaboration and coordination is important in these instances, and doing nothing has led to a footprint larger than what DHS needs to carry out its mission. This legislation directly addresses these challenges by mandating the development of regional real property strategies that focus on consolidating leases, where appropriate, to the mission. It also gives the Under Secretary for Management oversight tools to ensure DHS property is being managed efficiently. Another important part of this legislation is its outlining of responsibilities for the Chief Facilities and Logistics Officer to achieve cost savings. As we have seen from the 2-year majority staff investigation, increased accountability and promoting efficiency is needed so DHS can more effectively use its resources to focus on its mission of securing the homeland while also saving taxpayer funds. Improving the Department's operation and promoting efficiencies within its real property portfolio is an issue that both sides of the aisle and the Department should be able to work together on. H.R. 2190 is commonsense legislation. I urge my colleagues' support. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2190, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, ``As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder. . . .'' Mr. Speaker, that is the first paragraph of the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics that every law enforcement officer across this country swears to upon their becoming a law enforcement officer and accepting that badge. I can tell you, yesterday, during the horrible event that took place, Officers Bailey and Griner with the Capitol Hill Police performed their duties above and beyond the expected. Mr. Speaker, I just want to take this opportunity on behalf of law enforcement officers across America to thank them for doing their job with such outstanding bravery and courage. I also want to let the Scalise family and the Mika family know that they are in our prayers. We pray for their speedy recovery. God bless.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 1094, the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017. As we have all seen from various reports and news stories, increased accountability at the VA is long, long overdue. For far too long, the leadership in the Department of Veterans Affairs has been unable to make firing decisions that would be common sense in any other setting. The VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act gives the Secretary the authority to fire the bad actors and creates a removal process that is more in line with the private sector. It also gives the Secretary the ability to punish poor performers by recouping bonuses and relocation expenses. We must ensure that employees who fail to do their jobs are not rewarded but are, instead, held accountable. Another part of this legislation is the enhanced protection for whistleblowers. These are employees who are doing the right thing and advocating for our veterans. They should not be faced with retribution by their leadership. One of the most important jobs of this Congress is working to improve the lives of our Nation's veterans. When our fellow Americans bravely put on the uniform and serve, we must ensure that that sacrifice does not go unnoticed. In my time serving on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have seen how Congress and the leadership of the VA, in partnership with veterans service organizations, are working to create the culture of service and accountability that our veterans truly deserve. As Secretary Shulkin has often said, the VA needs changing, and I believe this bill is a huge step in that direction. I would like to thank Chairman Roe for his leadership, and Senator Rubio. This issue is crucial to the 150,000 veteran men and women of northeast Florida, and I thank them for their leadership, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule providing for the consideration of H.R. 2213, the Anti-Border Corruption and Reauthorization Act of 2017. As someone who has spent their entire career and adult life in law enforcement, I know full well the importance of being able to hire quality men and women to provide for the security of our communities and our Nation at large. H.R. 2213 simply provides the Border Patrol and U.S. Customs a tool in their hiring toolkit to expedite the hiring of those who have already held some of our Nation's highest positions of public trust and who have already undergone the most thorough vetting available. It allows Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers who have served in good standing for more than 3 years and who have undergone a polygraph exam to be eligible to have their CBP preemployment polygraph waived in order to expedite their hiring. As a former sheriff who mandated--I mandated preemployment polygraphs in my own department. I have full confidence in thoroughness of the vetting conducted by State and local law enforcement agencies prior to hiring an officer. Those exams do not need to be duplicated by CBP in order to hire a prospective officer or agent who has already been vetted by their local department and has a proven track record of performance. If CBP finds derogatory information on an applicant whose polygraph has been waived, then they still have the authority to conduct their standard CBP polygraph to determine whether that applicant should, in fact, be hired. This bill does not lower standards. I want to say that again. This bill does not lower standards. It merely takes a commonsense approach to hiring by giving CBP the option not to duplicate a polygraph exam already completed by a highly qualified applicant's previous law enforcement agency. I represent the Port of Jacksonville, which moved 82 tons of cargo last year and is one of only 16 ports of call authorized to move military cargo through our national security operations. It is absolutely vital that U.S. Customs and Border Protection are able to hire enough quality officers to maintain the flow of commerce.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be here this evening with my friend, Sheriff Dave Reichert, and all of my colleagues who stand with our law enforcement officers, their families, and their communities for this National Police Week. It is a time where we come together as a country to recognize the sacrifices our police officers make for us every time they put on that uniform. Last week I had the privilege of attending the Nassau County Sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Memorial Service in Florida, where we recognized those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. And in a very special way, we honored the life of Officer Eric James Oliver, who was killed in the line of duty on November 22, 2016. Officer Oliver died doing what he loved, protecting and serving his community. Before he joined the sheriff's office, Officer Oliver served our Nation in the United States Navy. But his most important job, Mr. Speaker, was being the loving father to his 6-year-old daughter, Shelby. Tonight I commend the many sacrifices made by each and every law enforcement officer in Florida's Fourth District, but this year we give special recognition to Officer Eric Oliver and the great loss felt by his family, his Nassau County Sheriff's Office colleagues, and our entire northeast Florida community. Tonight I also want to honor in a special way two Department of Homeland Security officers who lost their lives in service to their country. First, I rise to honor Special Agent Jeremy Scott McGuire. Scott served with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, assigned to the National Security Investigations Division at the Homeland Security Investigations office in New Orleans, Louisiana. On January 25, 2016, Special Agent Scott McGuire lost his life while on special assignment in Miami, Florida. In his final assignment, he was conducting investigations to identify, disrupt, and dismantle transnational criminal enterprises and terrorist organizations that threatened the security of the United States. He is survived by his wife, Suzy, and son, Finn. Special Agent McGuire earned an extensive list of awards and accolades in recognition of his academic accomplishments, and his investigative successes. In fact, posthumously, Scott received the HIS national award for top illicit drug trade investigator of 2016. Special Agent McGuire left behind the greatest legacy a man can live. He was truly a man of distinction and a man of devotion to not only his work, but also to his family and friends, and he lives on as a hero. Second, I rise to honor fallen Officer Brian Beliso, a U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement officer assigned to the Fugitive Operations Unit at the Enforcement and Removal Operations office in San Francisco. Officer Beliso began his work with ICE in 2007. Very early in his career, Brian distinguished himself as a charismatic leader and a dedicated employee who always went above and beyond in all of his duties. In his final assignment, Officer Beliso conducted field operations to locate at-large criminal and fugitive aliens who are in violation of our Nation's immigration laws. He was directly responsible for prosecutions of numerous criminal aliens who illegally reentered the country following their deportation. On June 8, 2016, Officer Beliso died in the line of duty. Not only was Brian greatly respected by his colleagues and superiors, he was also known for his selfless service to his family and community. He was a beloved husband and father. He is survived by his wife, Christina, and their three children, Noah, Sophia, and Bella. Mr. Speaker, law enforcement is a noble profession, and it is a noble profession not only because these men and women serve, but because they serve with self-sacrifice. Officer Oliver, Officer Beliso, and Special Agent McGuire laid their lives on the altar of freedom, and we must never forget them and the many other men and women who have lost their lives so that we may experience the safety and freedoms that we enjoy today. On behalf of a very grateful nation, we thank them for their noble service and we honor them for their duty and sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I didn't mention two other officers. I had the great honor for 12 years of being sheriff of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office in Jacksonville, Florida. During my tenure, I was deeply saddened to bury two of my officers who died in the line of duty. They were Officer Scott Bell, who gave his life in service in 2007, and Officer Christopher Kane in 2008. I say again, on behalf of a very grateful nation, we thank them for their noble service, and we honor them for their duty and sacrifice.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing an extraordinary leader, Mr. Henri Landwirth, for the incredible impact he has had on countless individuals not only in Jacksonville but also across the country. Born March 7, 1927, in Belgium, Henri Landwirth, along with his family, was arrested for being Jewish. He spent five years in a concentration camp and survived the Holocaust. At 18, Henri immigrated to the United States with only a Torah and a little money. Soon after his arrival, he joined the United States Army and served during the Korean War. Following his military service, Landwirth used his G.I. benefits to take a course in hotel management and began work in a New York City hotel. He used every opportunity to work hard and advance through every job in the business and eventually moved to Florida to own his own hotel. He enjoyed a successful career in the hotel industry and became a philanthropist starting the Fanny Landwirth Foundation in 1985 in memory of his mother. The mission of the Fanny Landwirth Foundation is ``to enrich, educate and empower underserved children and families'' by supporting basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing and education. A trip to Jacksonville's Sulzbacher Center for the homeless and his memory of having no clothes when he was incarcerated at Auschwitz led him to found Dignity U Wear, which to date has provided over 9 million pieces of clothing valued at over $160 million to those in need. Henri once said, ``From the darkness of concentration camps grew many compassionate courageous and generous souls.'' Henri Landwirth's vision to become a courageous and generous soul has been proven true in the thousands of people he's helped over the years. His unwavering commitment and dedication to his community is immeasurable. Mr. Speaker, I applaud Henri Landwirth for his strong leadership and unyielding commitment to philanthropy and our community.

Mr. RUTHERFORD

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

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

Mr. RUTHERFORD

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1353) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require certain additional information to be submitted to Congress regarding the strategic 5-year technology investment plan of the Transportation Security Administration.

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material in the Record.

Mr. RUTHERFORD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1353, the Transparency in Technological Acquisitions Act of 2017. I commend the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice) for introducing this very important bill. Over the course of the last Congress, the Transportation and Protective Security Subcommittee conducted rigorous oversight of TSA's technology and equipment acquisition process, and they found it fraught with waste and inefficiencies. The committee also found that TSA fails to effectively communicate its procurement needs with the private sector. Our government relies upon private sector innovation to develop security technologies. However, that innovation comes with a price tag, and we cannot reasonably expect the private sector to spend millions of dollars in research and development of new emerging technologies without greater transparency and communication, both with the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security, as to exactly what their future needs and technology investments will be in the future. This bill will provide greater transparency into TSA's acquisition plan, allowing for industry to better meet emerging needs, and enable better congressional oversight. I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.