Elise Stefanik

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor The Strand Theatre on the occasion of its Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. At nearly a century old, the Strand theatre has been a staple of the Hudson River community since the 1920s. It has played host to the evolving nature of entertainment since that time. First being used as a Vaudeville theatre, it evolved with the times to start featuring films. Over the years, the Strand fell into disrepair. However, Hudson River Music Hall Productions stepped in and has just finished a full renovation and modernization project to bring the Strand back to its former glory. On behalf of New York's 21st district, I want to congratulate Hudson River Music Hall Productions and all those who worked so hard to revive this historic venue. Historic places like the Strand connect us with our history while we chart our own paths forward. I look forward to seeing its renewed role as a centerpiece of the Hudson Falls community and to the new memories being created there.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Saranac Laboratory for being designated a Milestones in Microbiology site by the Society for Microbiology. I am proud to represent a district that has made such historic impacts on science and medicine. Saranac Lake is host to many important historical sites including the Saranac Laboratory. Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau was a physician operating out of New York City when he contracted tuberculosis. He found that the climate in the North Country significantly improved his health so he moved to Saranac Lake, where he established the Adirondack Cottage Sanitarium at Saranac Lake for treatment of tuberculosis. Dr. Trudeau used his own home to study tuberculosis until it was burned down by some of the equipment. With his partners, Trudeau immediately began planning a state of the art laboratory to continue his work. Saranac Laboratory was finished in 1894 and was the only lab in the country specifically designed to study tuberculosis. Experiments were conducted there until its closure in 1935. After changing hands several times, Historic Saranac Lake faithfully restored it and opened it to the public as a museum in 2009. On behalf of New York's 21st Congressional District, I want to thank the Historic Saranac Lake Board of Directors for their hard work. Their success in preserving the rich history of Saranac Lake has led to this well-deserved recognition. As we look back on and celebrate the achievements of previous generations, I encourage everyone to support the North Country's next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Army Pfc. Nathan P. Brown, who was tragically killed on Easter Sunday, April 11, 2004, when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his Humvee in Samarra, Iraq, about 60 miles north of Baghdad, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Nathan was a lifelong resident of South Glens Falls, New York. He enlisted in the New York Army National Guard immediately after graduating from South Glens Falls High School in 2002, in the aftermath of 9/11. Nathan was posthumously awarded The Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and the New York Medal of Valor for his bravery. Friends and family of Nathan remember him as a generous and positive person, a brave soldier, and a beloved member of the community. Next week, he will be inducted into The South Glens Falls Bulldog Pride Hall of Fame, in recognition of his sacrifice and commitment. This honor is a testament to Nathan's selfless pride for his country. Nathan gave the ultimate sacrifice, and for that we all owe him a debt of gratitude. I am proud to stand and honor Army Pfc. Nathan P. Brown, a beloved member of the South Glens Falls Community, and a shining example of those who give their lives to protect our country and its interests. Please join me in recognizing Nathan Brown for his service, and in honor of his legacy.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the new memorial park in the town of Saratoga dedicated to the historic surrender of British General Burgoyne to American General Gates on October 17, 1777. 242 Years ago, the first and second battles of Saratoga marked a crucial turning point in the American Revolutionary War. The courage and effectiveness of American troops during the battles broke the British Army's air of invincibility and led to the Franco-American alliance that proved crucial to winning the war. Today, that famous battle is memorialized in the rotunda of the Capitol with the famous painting by John Trumbull depicting General Burgoyne surrendering his sword to General Gates. That image was used to create a bronze relief that is displayed at the new memorial park. Many historians rank The Battle of Saratoga as one of the most consequential battles in history and I am glad to see this recognition for the heroism and sacrifices made that day. On behalf of New York's 21st Congressional District, I want to thank The Friends of Saratoga Battlefield, Open Space Institute, the Hudson- Hoosic Partnership and Saratoga National Historical Park for their hard work making this memorial a reality. It is crucial that we honor the achievements and sacrifices of those Americans who came before us as we chart our path forward. I look forward to this memorial serving as a space for all Americans to come and reflect on our history while we contemplate the future.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Town of Lewis, the Veterans Park Committee, American Legion Post 1319 and the many volunteers who coordinated to make this new veteran's park a reality. The park was proposed in 2014 and since then, many groups have come together to help accomplish this project. The American Legion Post 1319 helped compile the list of veterans from Lewis that participated in each war that the United States has been involved in since the Revolution. Those names were then etched into brass plaques that will be the focal point of the park. The entire community came together to assist with the construction, fundraising and planning, with local businesses also contributing to the effort. This is a perfect example of the community spirit that makes the North Country so special. On behalf of New York's 21st Congressional District, I want to thank all those who contributed to this amazing effort to honor our veterans. I look forward to this park being a place where future generations can come and reflect on the service and sacrifice that has kept our nation safe.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Jennie Adsit on the occasion of her retirement from the Jefferson County Board of Legislators. Jennie was first elected to the County Board of Supervisors in 1977. She has served on the board of legislators since its inception in 1996 until 1999 and then from 2006 to the present. During her tenure on the board, she has served as the Chair of the Finance and Rules Committee from 1996 through 1997 and served on the committee a total of sixteen years. Additionally, she served as the Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee between 2002 and 2003 and has served on that committee since 2006. She has also been a member of the Planning and Development Committee and is currently a member of the General Services Committee. In all of these roles, Jennie has consistently worked to better the lives of her fellow residents of Jefferson County. On behalf of New York's 21st Congressional District, I want to thank Jennie for her lifetime of dedicated public service. She has made a lasting positive impact on Jefferson County and the North Country as a whole. I wish her well on this next chapter in her life.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Quaker Springs Methodist Church on their 175th Anniversary. This historic church has been a cornerstone of the Quaker Springs community for generations. While the exact date that the original church was constructed is unknown, the incorporation of the Methodist Church in Quaker Springs occurred in November of 1843. The trustees of the church began constructing a new church shortly thereafter, nearby the original, on land purchased in 1842 for fifty dollars. Even today, the great, great grandchildren of some of the original congregation still worship there regularly. The deeply historic and tightly woven fabric of our communities is what makes the North Country so unique and special. On behalf of New York's 21st Congressional District, I want to congratulate the trustees and congregation of Quaker Springs Methodist Church for reaching another historic milestone. I wish them well and look forward to their continued success.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I missed one vote on September 24, 2019 as I was hosting the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation in my congressional district. Had I been present, I would have voted yea on Roll Call No. 541.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Farmer's Daughters' Drive-In for 50 years of business in Saratoga Springs, NY. Farmer's Daughters' was founded in 1969 by Mr. Eddie Winslow and was run by his daughter Glenda Clausen and her husband Tom until 2006. It was then that Annette Osher bought the community staple. Ms. Osher has kept the community favorite alive and well. Small businesses like Farmer's Daughters' form the backbone of our North Country communities. They generate employment and job creation, while driving investment. Beyond that, small businesses become a part of the social fabric that makes our communities unique. Most small businesses survive fewer than five years so the 50th anniversary of a business is a momentous achievement. On behalf of New York's 21st Congressional District, I want to congratulate Annette Osher for reaching to this milestone. Annette is a great example of the entrepreneurial and community spirit that defines New York's 21st District. I look forward to her continued success.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Downtown Florist on their 15th anniversary serving the Town of Massena. Downtown Florist was founded in 2005 by Patty and Kenny Wells. With their vision, they transformed a long-vacant gas station into a community staple. Small businesses like Downtown Florist are the backbone of the North Country's economy. They generate the majority of employment and job creation, while driving investment in our local communities. However, most small businesses do not make it longer than five years. For that reason, the 15th anniversary of a business is an achievement worth celebrating. On behalf of New York's 21st Congressional District, I want to congratulate Patty and Kenny Wells for reaching this impressive milestone. They are a great example of the entrepreneurial spirit that defines New York's 21st district. I look forward to their continued success.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Telescope Casual Furnishings for receiving the 2019 Manufacturer Leadership Award from the International Casual Furnishings Association. Telescope Casual Furniture was started in 1903 under the name the Telescope Cot Bed & Novelty Company. They started in New York City making cots and campstools with ``telescoping'' legs; which is where they derived their name. In 1921, they began moving operations into Granville, New York, in the heart of the North Country. Today, their entire operation is in Granville, housed in a one million square foot manufacturing facility and employing hundreds of workers. Businesses like Telescope Manufacturing are the backbone of the North Country economy. They provide good, high skill jobs producing products that are in demand across the country and around the world. On behalf of New York's 21st Congressional District, I want to join the International Casual Furnishings Association in congratulating Telescope Casual Furnishings for receiving this award. They are a great example of the entrepreneurial spirit that defines the North Country. I look forward to their continued success.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Kesselring Naval Propulsion Site in West Milton, NY for receiving the Town Heritage Award on the occasion of its 70th anniversary. The Kesselring Naval Propulsion Site was founded in 1948 and began operations in 1955. Previously known as the West Milton site, it was renamed the Kenneth A. Kesselring Site in 1968. Despite being established to serve as a testing location for liquid-metal cooled power breeder reactors, the site's focus changed to the testing of propulsion plants through the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. Over the next four decades, several generations of power plants were successfully tested at Kesselring before being deployed onto submarines like the USS Ohio. Today, the Kesselring Naval Propulsion Site serves as a training site for Nuclear Reactor Operators. Kesselring allows for trainees to have a hands-on experience to better prepare them for operating these complex systems. Kesselring has trained over 50,000 sailors since 1955. On behalf of New York's 21st congressional district, I want to join The Saratoga County History Roundtable in honoring the Kesselring Naval Propulsion site and the Town of Milton on this historic occasion. I also want to thank the leadership team at Kesselring and the service members who have trained there for their dedicated service. I look forward to the continued success of the Kesselring Naval Propulsion site training future generations of sailors and submariners.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Village of Copenhagen on its 150th Anniversary. I am proud to represent a district that is so steeped in history and I want to congratulate every resident of Copenhagen on this occasion. The Village of Copenhagen grew around the Munger's Mills on the banks of the Deer River starting in 1801. The Village grew up within the Town of Denmark and received its name in protest of the British bombardment of Copenhagen that year; however, the Village of Copenhagen would not be incorporated until 1869. Copenhagen is home to many historically significant sites including the Pinckney Corners Cemetery, founded in 1810, where the bodies of veterans from the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 are located. On behalf of New York's 21st Congressional District, I want to congratulate Mayor Clarke and every resident of Copenhagen on this historic occasion. As we look back on and celebrate the decades and centuries behind us, I encourage everyone to also look forward to our bright future ahead.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of one of the North Country's most successful small business owners, John Nemjo. John demonstrated his entrepreneurial spirit when he opened Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company in 1993. Back then, he ran the company out of an abandoned, 700 square foot pizza shop in the heart of the Adirondack State Park with just a couple seasonal employees and a budget of a few thousand dollars. In the decades since, John has grown his company into a fixture of the Adirondack business community. He now operates a thriving business out of six locations with over 15,000 square feet in combined retail space. Instead of a handful of seasonal employees, John now has 53 year-round employees. Adirondack Bank acknowledged John's achievements with a 2018 Small Business Excellence Award. Small business owners like John Nemjo benefit our communities in so many ways. They employ local residents and contribute to the dynamism and vibrancy of our economy. On behalf of New York's 21st Congressional District, I want to congratulate him for this well-deserved recognition and thank him for his contribution to our community.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, the hallowed halls of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, welcomed six inductees last weekend. In 80 years, baseball has honored 232 players as the best of the best. Only about 1 percent of the 19,500 who played the game are enshrined here. As a proud New Yorker, I can say the hall includes 60 Yankees, and the bronze busts of Bronx Bomber behemoths include Ruth, Berra, Gehrig, Mantle, DiMaggio, Jackson, and more. I rise today to honor Mariano Rivera, the first unanimous inductee into the Hall of Fame. Mo, the Sandman, wore the Yankee pinstripes with honor, pride, humility, and dignity for 19 seasons. On the field, number 42 was a 13- time All-Star and won five World Series championships with the Yankees, including being named MVP in 1999. Mo racked up a record 672 saves. His cutter is legendary. He amassed 1,173 strikeouts and had a postseason ERA of 0.7, allowing only 11 runs in 96 appearances, fewer postseason runs than the number of people who have walked the Moon. Mo was the very definition of ``automatic,'' as he was so often described. Mariano is a man of faith and recognized the importance of family support through good times and struggles. He is a mentor, a teacher, and demonstrates quiet leadership that is far too scarce today. Mr. Speaker, as a young boy in Panama, Mariano used a homemade glove of cardboard, tape, and netting. He had holes in his cleats when he tried out for the Yankees. Through grit, hard work, and dogged determination, Mo achieved the very pinnacle of greatness in America's greatest game. He is the embodiment of the American Dream. Mr. Speaker, I say to Mr. Sandman: Here's to you. I tip my cap.

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the life of Randy Preston, Wilmington Town supervisor, former chairman of the Essex County Board of Supervisors, former volunteer firefighter, former fire chief, and fierce advocate for Essex County and the Adirondack region. After a long, courageous fight with an aggressive brain tumor, Randy, sadly, passed away on July 18. He was 60 years old. He was a bipartisan leader on behalf of Essex County. He voted for the interests of the people, was beholden to no one, and let no one deter him. He was, undoubtedly, a champion for those he represented. Randy's missions and advocacies for the Adirondack region were innumerable. He was passionate about lowering our tax burden and ensuring we had ample funding for lifesaving emergency medical services. He was known not only for his staunch advocacy but for his sense of humor, his unapologetic convictions, and his willingness to shoot straight and be honest with people, whether a Governor or a Congresswoman. He was quick to tell me when he thought a policy was right for his community and just as quick to tell me when he thought a policy was wrong. Mr. Speaker, I express my deepest sympathies to Randy's wife, Michelle, and his entire family. It is a sincere honor to enter Randy Preston's memory and achievements into the Congressional Record. Honoring Mariano Rivera, First Unanimous Inductee into Baseball Hall of Fame

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Marylou Whitney, the ``Queen of Saratoga,'' who, sadly, passed away on July 19 at the age of 93. Marylou embodied the spirit of a revitalized Saratoga. She was graceful, classic, sparkling, full of joy, and truly one of a kind. Most of all, she loved her community and gave so much of herself to it. She had a passion for horse racing and was a fixture of the Saratoga Race Course. She hosted a yearly racing season ball for many decades, where proceeds benefited track workers and local organizations like Saratoga Hospital. She was active and involved in philanthropy until her last months. Her generosity, energy, and compassion were unmatched. She was the founder of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the National Museum of Dance. Marylou often called Saratoga one of her favorite homes, and those of us in the community are unsurprised by this. It is a community like no other, and Marylou made it better for all of us. Her deep commitment will leave a mark on Saratoga for generations to come. I want to express my sincere condolences to Marylou's husband, John Hendrickson, and her entire family. I consider it an honor to have known Marylou Whitney and an honor to speak her memory into the Congressional Record. She will be missed. Honoring Adirondack's Randy Preston

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Glenn Gillespie for his 20 years of service organizing the Clinton County Fair. After 20 years and on the 71st anniversary, this year marks the last time Glenn will be heading the event after recently announcing his retirement. The Clinton County Fair has been a mainstay of the community since 1948 with generations of North Country residents attending the fair each year. Whether it be the rides, the music, or the animals, the fair has something for everybody and has been a celebration that has bonded our communities for generations. Thanks to Glenn's vision and passion, the fair has grown in attendance every year and expanded the list of attractions. During his tenure, Glenn introduced the Plattsburgh Bluegrass Festival to the fairgrounds and brought in booster clubs from local schools. Glenn's accomplishments extend statewide having served as a representative to the state convention of fairs during his tenure and serving as- president of all state fairs in 2008. In 2016, Glenn's contributions were recognized when the New York State Agricultural Fair Association named a stage on the fairground in his honor. Glenn Gillespie has left a permanent mark on the Clinton County Fair and the North Country at large. His accomplishments have strengthened our community and brought joy to countless North Country residents. On behalf of New York's 21st Congressional District, I want to thank Glenn and wish him and his family the best as they move into this new chapter in their lives.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Chair, I am proud to rise in support of this year's Intelligence Authorization Act. After the recent partisan NDAA debate and vote, it is an accomplishment that this committee came together to produce a bipartisan bill that supports our intelligence community and provides the warfighter with the intelligence support needed to protect the United States and our allies. I am particularly pleased that this bill contains the Counterintelligence Accountability Act that I introduced earlier this year that I wanted to take a moment to highlight for the American public. This bill amends the National Security Act by requiring the FBI to provide quarterly counterintelligence briefings to the congressional intelligence committees, which is not only necessary for us to conduct meaningful oversight over the FBI's counterintelligence operations, but also provides the American people with the comfort that the FBI is subject to the same types of scrutiny as other intelligence agencies. Importantly, this bill also mandates that the FBI notify the congressional intelligence committees when the FBI has a counterintelligence investigation open related to a CI risk to an election or campaign for Federal office. Given former FBI Director Comey's testimony in 2017, I am still deeply concerned that the FBI failed to provide notification to the congressional intelligence committees regarding the investigation opened into the Trump campaign in 2016 until well after the election. This bill ensures that Congress is kept fully and currently informed of these types of counterintelligence activities. This is good, accountable governance. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the chair and ranking member's support in adding my legislation into this bill and urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on final passage.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today with the 10th Mountain Division, the Thousand Island Park Foundation, and the rest of New York's 21st District to recognize the life and service of Senator Robert ``Bob'' Dole. In 1942, during the height of World War II, Senator Dole was stationed with the 10th Mountain Division. During his deployment to Italy, he was wounded by machinegun fire and received a Purple Heart for his courageous actions. Senator Dole's introduction to public office began in 1950 with the Kansas State House of Representatives. After serving one term, he went on to spend the next eight years as the Russell County State Attorney. In 1960, he ran successfully for the U.S. House of Representatives where he served for nearly a decade before running for the U.S. Senate. Senator Dole served in this capacity for three decades, holding numerous leadership positions including Chair of the Republican National Committee, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and Senate Minority Leader. Senator Dole was immensely respected by his colleagues on both sides of the isle. He always negotiated in good faith for the good of his constituents and served his country honorably his entire career. He continues to inspire young Americans to serve their country and pursue public office. I applaud the Jefferson County Legislature for passing a resolution declaring July 20th ``Senator Bob Dole Day''. Senator Dole is certainly a deserving recipient of this recognition and I know that I speak for all of New York's 21st District in thanking Senator Dole for his selfless service to our country and contribution to our national polity.

Ms. STEFANIK

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Chair, in closing, again, I think it is important to note that as a matter of practice on the ground, we want zero civilian casualties, not only for law of war and ethical reasons but because our troops are often there to work alongside and protect civilian populations, so any unnecessary force creates additional enemies. One civilian casualty is one too many. But this amendment is unnecessary because there are already considerable policies in place and reporting that occurs to minimize any and all civilian casualties. This amendment is also unnecessary because there is, in addition, substantial and continued coordination that occurs between the DOD and the State Department, starting at the country team level and extending back to the Pentagon and Foggy Bottom, which also includes coordination with the National Security Council and the intelligence community. Again, we don't want to give up our jurisdiction on the House Armed Services Committee when we are talking about military operations and knowing that our troops do anything and everything they can to ensure there are zero civilian casualties. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Chairman, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me start off by being very clear on this issue: Our military forces aim for zero civilian casualties--zero--and one civilian casualty during a military operation is one too many. No one understands this better than our men and women in uniform who go through extreme efforts to continually avoid civilian casualties, and no committee understands this better than the House Armed Services Committee. So this amendment that we are discussing now is one of several that we have seen this year that unnecessarily expand and increase reporting on civilian casualties and allegations of civilian casualties caused by our men and women in uniform. I am disappointed that, once again, the majority chose to give up Defense Committee jurisdiction to another outside committee. So this amendment would, in effect, give an outside committee additional reporting on what amounts to ongoing and current military operations. To date, this has been the exclusive jurisdiction of the Defense Committee's. In fact, the civilian casualty frameworks that we are discussing today were put in place in previous NDAAs under the previous Republican majority on a bipartisan basis. We tried to work in additional edits to this amendment, given the importance of this issue, but those edits were refused by the majority, which is why we are debating this today. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.