Peter Visclosky

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for yielding and her kind remarks. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues support H.R. 133. The Defense portion of this bill continues to focus on the well-being and morale of those in uniform. For example, the bill provides an additional $116 million for upgrades to childcare facilities and directs the military services to present innovative ideas to address the serious backlog for childcare. However, I must also share my concerns over DOD and its lack of compliance with many congressionally directed reporting requirements. For example, last year, the committee directed the Department to submit a report on its contracts for advertising services with socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses. The report was 5 months late. The Department has also habitually redirected funding in contravention of congressional intent. One DOD official referred to these transfers of billions of dollars as anomalies. I refer to them as habitual abuses. I hope in the future it will recognize Congress' constitutional prerogatives. Mr. Speaker, finally, since it was mentioned, this will be my last floor statement after nearly 44 years of working in the House. I want to thank all of the wonderful staff who have made what successes we have enjoyed possible. I also want to thank my parents, John and Helen Visclosky, and my sister, Annamarie Visclosky, who believed in me when I was an unemployed, young former staffer and made my incredible life journey possible.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Rebecca Leggieri, Clerk of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, who will be retiring at the end of this year after more than 24 years of service to our country. Becky was born in Schenectady, New York, and went to St. Lawrence University on a ROTC scholarship. She joined the Army as a Quartermaster officer and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Ms. Leggieri first came to the House as an Army Fellow for Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick of Michigan in 2009. Rep. Kilpatrick was a member of the Subcommittee, and during her fellowship Becky met the committee staff and learned the mechanics of the appropriations process. The Committee, recognizing her talent, hired Rebecca in 2010. She began serving on the Defense Subcommittee in the minority. In that capacity, she needed to be versed on every facet of a vast and complex bill that encompasses hundreds of thousands of people and every issue ranging from day care to the delivery systems for nuclear weapons. This year's bill amounts to nearly $700 billion and it impacts our nation's security and that of our planet. Becky's skills and her life experiences were all she needed to make the right decisions. In 2015, Becky Leggieri became the Subcommittee's Minority Staff Director and has worked by my side for the past five years to ensure oversight of the Department of Defense and numerous intelligence agencies. She balanced competing priorities from administrations, Members of Congress, labor. industry, state and local governments, and citizen interest groups. Her honesty, knowledge of the issues, and willingness to listen allowed her to develop legislation in which the many parties involved felt a sense of shared ownership in its enactment. Becky Leggieri is a person of scrupulous ethics and is possessed of a sterling intellect and nimble mind, an innate political shrewdness, and poise under pressure. Most importantly, she used these talents in the service of her country and this institution to ensure that the Committee and House's constitutional prerogatives were respected and protected. Her steady hand will be sorely missed. I know Ms. Leggieri's husband, John, and her children, Olivia and Gabriel, are so very proud of her, as are we all. I wish Becky every happiness and success in her future endeavors.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, it is with great respect and admiration that I commend several remarkable leaders who have been honored as the Northwest Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame Class of 2020. This year's inductees include Edward Garza, Nick Popovich, Dr. Edward Williams, and Janice Wilson. Additionally, Cimcor was presented with the Enterprise of the Year Award. Edward Garza is the president and owner of El Popular, Inc., which holds the distinction of being the oldest Mexican-owned business in the state of Indiana. Edward is the third generation of the Garza family to carry on the Mexican food corporation, which was started by his grandfather, Vincente Garza, in 1925, in East Chicago, Indiana. In 2001, Edward purchased the company and downsized the product line to four items: chorizo, mole paste, mole powder, and chocolate. While the business remains in East Chicago, Edward opened a second facility in Valparaiso. Under his leadership, El Popular has thrived and is looking forward to many years of continued success. Edward also gives much of his time to various charitable organizations including the Valparaiso YMCA, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Northwest Indiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Nick Popovich is the founder and president of Sage-Popovich, a global aviation and asset management firm located in Valparaiso and includes a hangar at the Gary/Chicago International Airport. The company, founded in 1979, has repossessed over 1,800 planes and helicopters throughout the years. Danger and risk are a part of the job, and Nick has seen his fair share. In 1986, he was seized by Haitian troops and spent seven days in prison after trying to repossess a plane for a bank in Port-au- Prince. Over many years, Nick continued to grow his business and adding services including consulting, asset management, expert witnessing, and part sales. In addition, the company is a licensed appraisal firm that does valuation for over 200 organizations. Sage-Popovich is currently expanding into Michigan, managing private planes for corporations and individual owners. The company gives back to the community in many ways including the transport of wounded combat veterans to medical facilities or to reunite them with their units. Sage-Popovich also sponsors scholarships for aviation and criminal justice students. Dr. Edward Williams has been a pillar of the community of Northwest Indiana for many years. He is the president of OptiFormance Consulting Services, LLC. Working with people on personal development and customer service, Dr. Williams enjoys helping people reach their potential. Unofficially, he started his consulting business in 1988, providing services within churches, schools, and non-profits, before establishing the business as a formal entity in 1999. Dr. Williams is passionate about mentoring young people, and through his business and charitable endeavors, he has served as an inspiration to the youth of our community. He gives his time and support to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana, serving as a board member for over thirty years and two terms as board president. In addition, he is involved with the Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana and the Laini Fluellen Charities for breast cancer initiatives, among others. Janice Wilson is the founder and retired CEO of NorthShore Health Centers. NorthShore was founded in 1995 in a high school as a clinic for teenagers, providing medical services while the students continued their studies. It has grown over the years to eight health centers and includes a dental clinic and behavioral health services, as well as three teen clinics throughout Northwest Indiana. The flagship clinic in Portage is now named in honor of Janice Wilson, and today, NorthShore serves more than 50,000 patients each year in Porter, Lake, and LaPorte counties. The organization continues its fundamental mission of serving the uninsured and underinsured. David Hall is the current CEO of North Shore, while Jan remains a consultant for the business. For her outstanding contributions to healthcare in Northwest Indiana, Janice has been named Citizen of the Year by the Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce, and she is truly deserving of each and every honor bestowed upon her. The recipient of the Enterprise of the Year Award is Cimcor, a global cybersecurity company located in Merrillville, Indiana. The company was founded by CEO Robert E. Johnson III and provides CimTrak software, offering intrusion detection and real-time remediation for their client's information technology systems and files. Some of Cimcor's reputable clients include NASA, the Chicago Stock Exchange, the United States Air Force, Cornell University, Nikon, and Zoom, among many others. Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, Zoom has been imperative for families, businesses, schools, and government entities. Cimcor has provided security and compliance software to these organizations, proving to be a tremendous asset during these trying times. In addition to the United States, Cimcor serves twenty-seven countries in Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Due to the outstanding leadership and employees at Cimcor who continue to innovate and develop new technologies, the organization continues to grow and expand worldwide. Madam Speaker, I ask you and my other colleagues to join me in commending these dedicated leaders and organizations upon their induction into the Northwest Indiana Business and Industry Hall of Fame. They are truly deserving of this honor, and for their exceptional leadership and dedication to the region and beyond, each of them are worthy of the highest praise.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the chairwoman of the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Subcommittee.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the chairwoman of the Energy and Water Subcommittee.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I simply ask our colleagues to support the continuing resolution, and I, too, yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time on our side, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who is the majority leader.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I see Ms. Granger, who is the ranking member on the full committee, might be seeking recognition, so I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I do have requests for time, but no one is here, so I reserve the balance of my time at this moment.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, obviously, we are here to consider a continuing resolution to allow the Federal Government to continue its operations, H.R. 8337. At the outset of my remarks, I do want to thank the staff of the Appropriations Committee for all of their diligent work in some very difficult negotiations to bring us to this moment. People tend not to appreciate their good work. This is a terrible way to govern the United States of America. I regret that I believe most of my colleagues here feel that a continuing resolution does no damage. It does serious damage to the agencies, to the budgeting process, and to fiscal discipline. We should be having consideration today of 12 conference reports 8 days away from the beginning of the next fiscal year. The committee has completed consideration of all 12 appropriations bills. This body has passed 10 of them. Unfortunately, the other body has not acted at all. This resolution would take us to December 11. I would point out there are anomalies in this continuing resolution. The majority have been submitted and requested by the Office of Management and Budget. Additionally, there are some other anomalies where there were no government expenses to continue in 2020; for example, possible transition of cost; additionally, authorization legislation to continue programs which might expire on September 30, again, with the agreement of the authorizing committees. Some Members are upset at this moment that items have not been included, but negotiations have taken place in good faith. We have an agreement, and I would ask for this body's support of the legislation. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8337) making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2021, and for other purposes.

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 8337, currently under consideration.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to honor Colonel Aaron W. Reisinger, Commander and District Engineer of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)--Chicago District. Throughout his command, Colonel Reisinger's dedication and steadfast leadership has proven worthy of the highest praise. Colonel Reisinger will relinquish his command to Colonel Paul B. Culberson at a change of command ceremony on September 18, 2020, in Chicago, Illinois. In 1994, Colonel Reisinger graduated from the United States Military Academy with a degree in mechanical engineering. He went on to earn a master's degree in engineer management from the University of Missouri at Rolla and a master's degree in public policy from Georgetown University. In addition, he is a distinguished graduate of the United States Naval War College where he earned a master's degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. Colonel Reisinger's lifetime of service to the United States Army and to the citizens of our great country is to be highly commended. The Colonel served as a platoon leader and executive officer in the 14th Engineer Battalion from 1994 to 1998. From 2000 to 2002, he was a company commander in the 299th Engineer Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas. Later, from 2012 to 2014, Colonel Reisinger commanded the 84th Engineer Battalion at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. In addition, he has served as a trainer at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California, an action officer for the Joint Staff, Plans and Strategy within the Deputy Directorate for the War on Terrorism, as military transition team chief within an Iraqi infantry battalion, operations officer in the 65th Engineer Battalion and 130th Engineer Brigade, and chief of operations for the 8th Theater Sustainment Command. He also completed two combat deployments to Iraq and one operational deployment in the South Pacific. For his distinguished service, Colonel Reisinger is the recipient of two Bronze Star Medals, three Meritorious Service Medals, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, one Joint Service Achievement Medal, five Army Achievement Medals, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and multiple Iraq campaign stars. Colonel Reisinger assumed command of the USACE-Chicago District in 2017. During his time as District Commander in Chicago, his leadership has played an integral role in the agency's accomplishments, most notably in Northwest Indiana. In partnership with local municipalities, the USACE implemented more than $14 million in stormwater and sanitary sewer infrastructure projects designed to improve water quality throughout the region and ultimately improve the quality of life and place in these communities. Colonel Reisinger's command saw the completion of the Little Calumet River Flood Control and Recreation Project, protecting residents from the devastating effects of flooding and providing the opportunity for increased economic development. Dredging continues within the Indiana Harbor Ship Canal to remove contaminated sediment and to restore its navigable depth, benefitting local industry as the improvements within the canal allow industrial users to increase efficacy in shipping along the Great Lakes. As our country continues to grapple with the uncertainty and strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, I would be remiss for not praising Colonel Reisinger for his dedicated effort this spring to coordinate the large- scale operation to convert Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center into an alternative care facility. Finally, I would like to offer my deep appreciation for his efforts, alongside officials at the Division and HQ, to successfully complete the realignment and expansion of Chicago District in the last few months, ensuring continued mission stability and the long-term partnership between the Corps and our local communities. These projects and others stand testament to Colonel Reisinger's commitment to the USACE's mission to work with its partners to energize the nation's economy through its civil works projects and to respond to the toughest challenges. I am grateful for his generosity of spirit, his meticulous work ethic, and his dedicated life of service. Madam Speaker, Colonel Reisinger has selflessly served his country and his fellow Americans, and he has been unwavering in his leadership and commitment to our great country. I respectfully ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in honoring Colonel Aaron W. Reisinger for his exceptional service to the United States and for his outstanding command of the United States Army Corps of Engineers-- Chicago District.

Mr. VISCLOSKY

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Ocasio-Cortez.)

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Norcross).

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Schrier).

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin).

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McNerney).

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin).

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Gottheimer).

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Schrier).

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta).

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. Spanberger).

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Loebsack).