Thomas Tiffany

Mr. TIFFANY

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, TPS was never intended to be the Hotel California that allows illegal aliens to enter any time but they may never leave. It is time to put the t back in TPS and close this permanent administrative amnesty loophole. I ask for a ``no'' vote on this bill.

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, isn't it interesting that we are here debating TPS for Haiti today? It is interesting because the t in TPS stands for ``temporary.'' It has never been intended as a rolling, multigenerational amnesty program. Yet, that is exactly what it has become: an amnesty program. In fact, during the 4 years of the Biden-Harris administration, this tool was used to extend de facto amnesty to more than 1 million aliens who entered this country without a visa. If this bill is passed, which was originally declared by President Obama in 2010, it will be extended yet again, this time through the end of the decade. That is 20 years. That does not sound temporary. Yet, it isn't just Haiti. Every Democrat administration has abused TPS. There are currently 1.5 million aliens from a dozen countries present in the United States under TPS designations, some of which began decades ago. Somalia's TPS was first extended during the administration of George H.W. Bush in 1991, back when Paula Abdul and Bryan Adams topped the Billboard Top 40 charts. It remains in place yet today, thanks to an activist judge. President Clinton gave TPS to Hondurans in 1999, when Microsoft had just replaced General Electric as America's most valuable company and gas was 92 cents a gallon. That designation lasted more than a quarter century and was only terminated last year after a lengthy court battle. President Clinton's successor, George W. Bush, granted TPS to nationals of El Salvador in 2001, a full year before the BlackBerry smartphone would hit store shelves. That designation also continues, despite the fact that El Salvador's tourism ministry openly promotes posh, all-inclusive, luxury resorts and boasts one of the lowest homicide rates in our hemisphere. This is absurd.

Mr. TIFFANY

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Merrill, Wisconsin, on its 150th anniversary. First organized by families of German immigrants in a meeting on April 24, 1876, services were held in a public schoolhouse in the town of Jenny, Wisconsin, which later became Merrill. St. John Evangelical has had two subsequent structures within Merrill and, since 1953, has worshipped within a beautiful stone edifice at 1104 East 3rd Street. During its first years, it shared a pastor with neighboring churches and finally called on its first pastor, Reverend Paul Luecke, on August 5, 1883. Today, the members of St. John are proud of their continued provision of a daycare facility and an educational resource for their community in a parochial school. During several decades of its existence, German was the church's primary language. With the close of World War I, the congregation had transitioned to holding its services primarily in English. For continuing its work of proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ through 150 years, it is my great pleasure to honor St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Merrill today before the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. TIFFANY

Mr. TIFFANY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jack Link of Link Snacks, Incorporated, on his induction into the Wisconsin Manufacturing Hall of Fame. Born and raised in Minong, Wisconsin, Mr. Link learned the fundamentals of meat processing at an early age in his family's butcher shop. By the mid-1980s, after the family meatpacking business closed, Jack identified an opportunity to improve the quality and consistency of meat snacks available in the marketplace. These efforts led to the creation of Jack Link's Beef Jerky. What started as a small Wisconsin operation has now grown into the world's largest manufacturer of jerky in the world. Through it all, the company has remained 100 percent family owned. Jack Link's induction into the Wisconsin Manufacturing Hall of Fame is a well-earned recognition of a man who built a manufacturing powerhouse while staying true to Wisconsin ingenuity and values. Jack has also been a strong supporter of education in the Northwoods, contributing to the Northwood Foundation and funding Jack Link's Aquatic and Activity Center. The center provides the Minong area with its first space for swimming, fitness, and youth programming. Madam Speaker, I thank Jack Link for strengthening America and Wisconsin's manufacturing, and offer congratulations to Jack, Mary Jo, and the entire Link family on this honor.

Mr. TIFFANY

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Paralympic athletes from Wisconsin's Seventh District on earning the prestigious honor of competing as part of Team USA in the upcoming Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games starting this Friday, February 6. Liam Cunningham of River Falls is competing in sled hockey. Dan Rose of Tomah and Matt Thums of Ogema are both competing in wheelchair curling. They overcame tremendous obstacles and hardships to earn their position with Team USA. They are role models to young athletes everywhere, proving that with resilience and determination, Mr. Speaker, you can achieve any goal you set your mind to. Keep up the hard work and good luck. Make Wisconsin proud.

Mr. TIFFANY

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, in order to maintain our rural way of life, the wolf needs to be delisted. It is past time to return management to the States. This is a legislative fix we can do. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' I urge the United States Senate to pass this bill when it comes over to them.

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, I suggest to the gentlewoman from Michigan, if she wants to do a ride-along with me and deliver wolves to Madison, Wisconsin, part of their previous range, I would be happy to do that if she would join in that process. I just want to address one thing in regards to the gentlewoman from Oregon. We have got really good news, what she talked about in regards to inflation. I urge her to watch CNN this morning with the inflation numbers that have come out that are the lowest since 2021. That is good news, as we end 2025, and it is really good news as we go into 2026 that the Pet and Livestock Protection Act is going to pass out of the House of Representatives today. Federal protections were established a couple decades ago, and there are hundreds of wolves in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. Now, there are over 4,000 wolves. Talk about inflation. It has hit the wolf population. Also, if you go back to 2015, 26 of the most eminent wildlife biologists in the upper Midwest urged these judges to delist the wolf, take them off the Endangered Species Act, because the wolf is recovered as the data has shown. Populations have been bouncing back and forth between being listed and delisted, and this bill provides a permanent solution, returning the population management back to the States. As everyone in Wisconsin knows, this is something we have seen far too often, most recently when the judge in Oakland, California, vacated the 2020 delisting rule and unilaterally put it back on the ESA list by judicial fiat. Wisconsinites know best when it comes to managing Wisconsin's wolf population, and it is long past time that we empowered Wisconsinites to be able to manage the gray wolf population once again. The chairman handled it in a very positive manner. This is a recovery success under the Endangered Species Act. This is the graphic representation of what is happening, the carnage that is happening across our States, in rural areas, where pets and livestock are being slaughtered because the wolf is not being managed. If you talk to any sportsman, they will tell you the wolf belongs on the landscape, but when you do not manage a wildlife population, this is what happens, the slaughter continues of people's pets and livestock. Gray wolf delisting has been supported by four Presidents. Even the Biden administration's Fish and Wildlife Service asked the Federal appeals court last fall to reinstate the rule. The gray wolf has been the latest recovery success, with significant populations in the Rocky Mountains and western Great Lakes. There is something else we should all remember. When a species is removed from the ESA list, it is something we should celebrate. From farmers to pet owners to sportsmen and -women, delisting the gray wolf is of paramount importance to rural America.

Mr. TIFFANY

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3937) to provide for the conveyance of certain Federal land in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3937, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Wabeno Economic Development Act. This bill will expedite the conveyance of 14 acres from the Forest Service to Tony's Wabeno Redi-Mix, LLC, for fair market value. Tony's is a small ready-mix company that has supplied the surrounding community with concrete for more than 25 years. The company's concrete has been used to build homes, fire and rescue buildings, shops, offices, and even barns for local farmers. Tony's first began working with the Forest Service on a land exchange proposal more than 8 years ago. However, the agency made it clear the project was not a priority and lacked the resources to complete it. Wabeno is located in Forest County, where roughly 50 percent of the land is federally owned and only about 10 percent of the land is fully taxable, so there is limited private land available for small business expansion. We often talk up here about how important infrastructure is. Here is a small business that helps infrastructure projects throughout northern Wisconsin. This is a prime example of a business that helps build America. Without this parcel, Tony's Redi-Mix will run out of the necessary aggregates it needs to produce concrete in about the next 2 years. This bill will keep this important business in operation and, with it, the 17 hardworking people it currently employs. Wabeno is a small town with a population of just over 1,100 people. Mr. Speaker, 17 jobs may not seem like a big deal to people from the big cities, but I can assure my colleagues the jobs and economic benefits provided by this small business are critically important to this rural community. This important conveyance will provide much-needed economic growth and jobs for people in Wabeno and Forest County. It has strong local support, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' to make sure Tony's Wabeno Redi-Mix stays in business for years to come. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, July 17, 2025. Hon. Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter confirms our mutual understanding regarding H.R. 3937, the ``Wabeno Economic Development Act.'' Thank you for collaborating with the Committee on Agriculture on the matters within our jurisdiction. The Committee on Agriculture will forego any further consideration of this bill. However, by foregoing consideration at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over any subject matter contained in this or similar legislation. The Committee on Agriculture also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees, should it become necessary, and ask that you support such a request. We would appreciate a response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 3937 and request a copy of our letters on this matter be published in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration. Sincerely, Glenn ``GT'' Thompson, Chairman.

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) for her support in regard to this for the last two sessions of the Natural Resources Committee and getting this to the floor and for her help in accomplishing this. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, this is a straightforward bill that supports rural jobs, strengthens local economies, and improves how we manage our Federal lands. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3937 today. Again, I hope the Senate moves quickly to advance this important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. TIFFANY

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1917) to establish the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1917, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1917, the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act of 2025, sponsored by my colleague from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell). According to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the Tribal, commercial, and recreational fisheries in the five Great Lakes are home to 177 species of fish, including 139 native species. These Tribal, commercial, and recreational fisheries have an annual economic value exceeding $7 billion and support over 75,000 jobs. One of the greatest challenges facing the Great Lakes is the threat of invasive species, such as the sea lamprey and Asian carp. To counter these invasive species, Tribal, Federal, and State agencies introduce hatchery-raised fish to encourage the recovery of native species. For example, in 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 10 hatcheries that support the Great Lakes region introduced more than 4.7 million hatchery fish into the five Great Lakes. To gather data on the success of hatchery fish, wildlife managers tag large numbers of these fish through a practice known as mass marking. This practice enables them to easily distinguish between hatchery fish and wild fish populations. In addition to tagging hatchery fish, this program also plays a vital role in aiding cooperative fisheries management decisions with States and Tribes by producing data on the health of the fishery. The Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act was administratively established in 2010 and continues to receive appropriations despite never being authorized by Congress. H.R. 1917 would provide formal congressional authorization for this existing program, thereby increasing the opportunity for congressional oversight over the program. Importantly, by providing a statutory authorization, it would better enable the Committee on Natural Resources to make substantive changes to how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers the program, should changes be necessary. Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, the Great Lakes are both an ecological and economic engine for our Nation. It is our duty as Members of Congress to safeguard them for future generations, and H.R. 1917 is a step forward in that process. I thank Representatives Dingell, Walberg, and Huizenga for their efforts on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, once again, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. TIFFANY

Mr. TIFFANY. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. TIFFANY. Madam Chair, my amendment would prohibit the Department of Defense from creating, procuring, or displaying any map which depicts Taiwan as a part of the territory of the People's Republic of China. The House approved a similar amendment as part of the State Department appropriations bill last Congress, and today's amendment would simply extend this policy to the Department of Defense. This is not a controversial amendment since all of us know that Taiwan is not, nor has it ever been, part of Communist China, even for a single day. The people of Taiwan elect their own leaders, deploy their own armed forces, conduct their own foreign policy, and maintain their own trade agreements with other countries. By every measure, Taiwan is a sovereign, democratic, and independent nation, and any claims to the contrary are simply false. Since the 1970s, America's so-called One China policy has acknowledged Beijing's unsubstantiated claims over Taiwan. This is an antiquated and dishonest policy, and it is one that we should abandon. While my amendment will not end that misguided policy, it will at least require that the maps that we use reflect a simple reality: China is China. Taiwan is Taiwan. Madam Chair, I ask for a ``yes'' vote on my honest maps amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIFFANY. Madam Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).

Mr. TIFFANY. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs).

Mr. TIFFANY. Madam Chair, I will close by saying that I appreciate the consistency by the gentlewoman from Minnesota because she said the same thing a couple of years ago. Yet, this body was excluded back in 1979 when the One China policy was implemented by President Carter, and it is up to this body to make sure that it claims its rightful place in foreign policy when we have an issue like this before us. The gentlewoman talks about the spirit of this amendment. This amendment is issued in the spirit of freedom, and that is all that Taiwan is looking for, to defend its freedom, and it should be able to do it. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIFFANY

Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the high school athletes from Wisconsin's Seventh District who competed in the State championships during the 2025 spring sports season. During the individual State boys' golf tournament, Drake Card of Hudson and Tucker Johnson of Neillsville took home the Division One and Division Three State titles, respectively. For girls' track and field, Maci Heise, Ciara Hartman, Elletta Uddin, Kelly Fern, and Iszy Sonnentag took home titles in their individual events, while the Cameron and Bloomer girls' relay teams won first place in their respective relays. On the same day, the Marathon High School boys' track team took first overall, going against 50 teams. Additionally, boys' track and field athletes Samuel Hebert, Lucas Hansen, Gage Mika, Brady Thompson, Taylor Karcz, Ashton Clark, Kyle Schreiner, and Chris Marcell won titles in their individual events, while the Marathon boys' relay team took home first place in the 4-by- 400 relay. I congratulate each of these State champions and their coaches. Keep up the hard work, and enjoy your summer.