Jefferson Van Drew

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, today, I am recognizing the men and women of Delta Company, 114th Infantry Regiment from Woodstown, South Jersey. As they embark on their deployment, I want to thank them for their sacrifice to serve the people of New Jersey and the United States of America. The men and women from Delta Company who have come before them have left a great legacy for them to follow. Going back to the 1860s, their predecessors played a vital part in ending the American Civil War, contributing to the Confederate States surrender at Appomattox, ending the war, ending slavery, and reuniting our great country. Since then, Delta Company has served in both World Wars, the Global War on Terrorism, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. As they prepare for their deployment, I hope they remember the great men and women who have come before them and be proud that they are carrying on that invaluable tradition. Godspeed and God bless Delta Company, and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the K9 Hurricane's Heroes for all the work they have done providing service to our nation's four legged heroes. Through the years, we have seen working dogs bring criminals to justice and serving alongside our servicemembers in uniform keeping our country safe. In 2014, secret service canine Hurricane stopped an intruder on the White House lawn and was awarded the Medal of Valor for it. Shortly after, K9 Hurricane's Heroes was established sponsoring 140 retired working dogs from the United States Secret Service, police departments, all five of our armed service branches and other government institutions. This organization makes sure that their service isn't forgotten and gets them the help they need to live long, happy lives after retirement. I thank them for helping our service dog heroes and keep up the great work. God bless K9 Hurricane's Heroes and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure to present Petty Officer Second Class Ann Petronaci with the Quilt of Valor in Little Egg Harbor Township, South Jersey. Ann valiantly served our country for seven years in the United States Navy as a Radio woman, playing a crucial role transmitting and receiving radio signals both onshore and at sea. The Radio woman was one of the most important roles in the U.S. military, as the success of missions heavily relied on effective communication between units. At the time, radio technology was extraordinarily hard to maintain due to the limited advancements that we now have today. Despite this, Ann persevered and made sure that the units she served with received the necessary communication needed to complete missions across the globe. She spent a big part of her time away from her family, spending time stationed on military bases in Spain and Germany, but Petty Officer Second Class Petronaci honorably served her time and was discharged in 1982. I want to thank Ann for her distinguished years of service to our country. God bless Ann and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I recently had the honor of having a flag flown over the United States Capitol for the re-dedication of the Fourth Degree St. Vincent Pallotti, Assembly 680 of the Knights of Columbus for their new location in Hammonton, South Jersey. For nearly 150 years, the Knights of Columbus have been a beacon of true brotherly love by showing God's power in men of the Catholic faith. St. Vincent boasts of having the fourth degree, the most prestigious members of the order, all of them obtaining the title of ``Sir Knight.'' It is the highest degree and extension of the third with the primary objective being to ``foster the spirit of patriotism and to encourage active Catholic Citizenship''. I salute the men of the Fourth Degree at St. Vincent Pallotti, Assembly 680 on doing an exemplary job of serving God through the Catholic faith and being outstanding patriots to our great Nation. May God bless Fourth Degree St. Vincent Pallotti Assembly 680 and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I had the great honor of attending the Eagle Scout ceremony for an extraordinary young man in Kyler Campsmith. Kyler comes from a legacy of Eagle Scouts in his family and has been involved in scouts since the first grade. Since that time, he has been involved in a variety of leadership roles to include patrol leader, senior patrol, and troop guide where he displayed his gift for teaching by being exceptionally patient with the younger scouts. For his eagle scout project, Kyler demonstrated his love for God by building a Gaga ball pit for the youth ministry for Wellspring Church of which he is a member and plays guitar for the worship team. Kyler is also a tremendous athlete playing both varsity basketball and baseball at the Pilgrim Academy in Mays Landing, South Jersey where he will graduate from in June. He works exceptionally hard outside of boy scouts working as a lifeguard and will continue to work at the Ocean City Waterpark this summer until he begins pursuing his dream. He has always dreamed of becoming an electrical line worker and once he graduates from the Pilgrim Academy, he will begin the path toward achieving it. I have no doubt that Kyler will be successful in whatever endeavor he decides to pursue and will continue to be an invaluable member of his community. God bless Kyler Campsmith and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I want to remember Jaci Bobbitt, an incredible resident of South Jersey and a great friend of mine. Jaci lived a remarkable life, starting in Portsmouth, Ohio before attending West Virginia University, where she met her husband, John. Her vibrant personality kept her social calendar full, allowing her to enjoy quality time with family members and beloved friends. Her and John both shared a passion for music; she was a fantastic dancer, specializing in the jitterbug, fox trot and the waltz. Jaci was a tremendously involved member of her community, volunteering and running numerous organizations throughout the years. Some of those include Chairperson of the Candy Striper Committee at the Memorial Hospital of Salem County, Charter member and Secretary of Boots and Saddles Riding Club, and Leader of two winning State Horse Bowl Championships. She received multiple awards for her dedication including the Woman of Achievement Award and the prestigious Crystal Rose Award from the Salem Chamber of Commerce. As a long-time member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Pennsville, South Jersey, she continually nurtured, studied and grew her faith. I will miss seeing Jaci at the Salem County Fair, but I take comfort knowing she is with our Lord in Heaven. God bless Jaci and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, it was my honor to present the Quilt of Valor to Army veteran Sergeant Francis McArdle, in recognition of his great service to our country. Sgt. McArdle gave three years of his life to the United States by serving in the U.S. Army during one of the toughest times of American history, the Vietnam War. He served his country in a multitude of ways, first beginning with a special designation as a Forward Observer to the 101st Airborne Division with the 527th Artillery Unit. He then served as Communications Sergeant for Battery Company of the 527th Artillery before finishing his enlistment with the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division. Not everyone answers the call to defend our freedom, particularly during such a turbulent time for our country. Sgt. McArdle was one of those rare patriots that did, and it was my great honor that I was able to present him with the Quilt of Valor. May God bless Sgt. McArdle and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, it was my honor to pay tribute to Sergeant Andrew ``Tim'' Kiniry, a 102-year-old U.S. Army veteran who served his country gallantly on the shores of Normandy during World War II. Sergeant Kiniry performed one of the most courageous duties a solider can do by volunteering as a medic right on the front lines of one of America's bloodiest battles. Not only did he charge bravely into battle with his unit, but he also simultaneously treated his fellow soldiers for injuries while under fire. Army medics were often the primary target on the battlefield, marked by the Red Cross for protection, but it ultimately led to increased fire by the Nazis. Tim, however, carried out his duties with bravery, applying tourniquets, bandaging wounds, and helping evacuate casualties to hospitals. This past year, he returned to Normandy to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day and pay homage to all the fallen heroes. In the years following the war, Tim has devoted much of his time educating the youth of the atrocities that war brings, and he loves to remind me of the great quote ``Lest we forget.'' I thank Tim for all he has done for the United States. God bless Sergeant ``Tim'' and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Chair, I haven't seen any decision or anything that says that it is unconstitutional. I do not agree. I urge people to vote for my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Chair, I rise today in favor of my amendment, No. 63, which would reduce the salary of Director Shah of the Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office to $1. Director Shah receives the allocation of grants and loans for clean energy initiatives funded through both the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, so it particularly disturbs me. As this administration continues to prioritize dubious green initiatives, American energy prices have gone up, not down, our strategic reserves have been depleted, and reliable energy sources are being overlooked in favor of less reliable energy sources. Mr. Shah has played a critical role in that decline and he has hurt America. Beyond his advocacy for the Green New Deal, Mr. Shah's conflict of interest and questionable business practices are deeply troubling. Let me explain. Mr. Shah was the president of Generate Capital. He provided a $100 million loan to Plug Power, a company that develops hydrogen fuel cells. Later, as director of the Loan Programs Office, Mr. Shah proceeded to give Plug Power a $1.66 billion loan guarantee, but this came from the Department of Energy, our tax dollars. Mr. Chair, it came from your tax dollars and the tax dollars of Americans. In 2023, Plug Power proceeded to report over $1.3 billion in losses. This raises serious concerns about Mr. Shah's ability to conduct proper risk assessment and the decisionmaking process that he has as director, as well as concerns over his potential undue influence and favoritism within the loan process for companies he has relationships with. Again, that is what Americans are tired of. They are tired of the good old boy system. They are tired of money going to people that are connected. Mr. Shah also approved a $3 billion partial loan guarantee to a company we have heard of: Sunnova. It is a solar company with a history of questionable and aggressive sales tactics and some ethical issues, including pressuring vulnerable customers into expensive, long-term contracts that they didn't want or need. It highlights another example of Mr. Shah's questionable financial oversight ability, but it also breaches the public trust when such companies receive billions upon billions of dollars that are taxpayer dollars. Mr. Shah has also admitted under oath--and I want everybody to listen to this one; he said it under oath--he attended paid conferences where he got paid where applicants to the Loan Programs Office were present, and they paid to be there to hear Mr. Shah speak. We have got to wonder about that one. It raises serious pay-to-play concerns and is another example of his potential conflict of interest playing a role where he allocates loans as the director. In light of these serious concerns, it is imperative that we take decisive action to restore public trust in government. We work for the public. They don't work for us. We have got to punish bad behavior, and this administration does not. By passing my amendment, which reduces his salary to $1, Congress will send a clear message that ethical lapses are not tolerated, and conflicts of interest are not tolerated and will not be accepted. Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Chair, just quickly to wrap it up, we are less energy independent now than we were 4 years ago. I agree we should look at nuclear, look at carbon capture, look at all these things, but don't make us more dependent on other countries. The wind turbines they want to build in our beautiful oceans are going to make us more dependent on energy from foreign countries. What we are forcing on the American public with the EVs, the electric vehicles, will make us more dependent on China. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in favor of my amendment No. 62. It would prohibit funds from being used for the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations within the Department of Energy. I know that sounds like a wonderful title and Members think what could be wrong with that. I am going to explain, Mr. Chairman, what is wrong with it. This Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations is going to have an equitable energy transition. Let's talk in real words about what that means. It means that Americans who don't want this are going to be forced to have this transition, and they are going to be forced into spending their taxpayer dollars for it. I will point out what Americans are tired of. They are tired of being told what to do by politicians and those in certain positions of power. I think we forget sometimes that Americans don't work for us. The politicians, the Members of Congress, the Members of the Senate, and the President of the United States work for them. So often, we forget that. What does this all mean, what this Department does, this group of people who supposedly know so much? It means less reliable energy. It means continued higher energy prices. It means less energy independence. Many of the technologies that this office uses and advocates for rely on countries, particularly China, a country with a track record of human rights violations, such as what goes on in Congo. Mr. Chair, I want everybody to listen to this. That is where modern-day slavery is in effect, forcing hundreds of thousands of Africans to work in subhuman conditions in order to mine the cobalt needed for electric vehicles. How wrong is that? While we are driving around in our fancy electric vehicles, mostly wealthier folks, these people are scratching the dirt, trying to just survive, and we think that is a good thing. That is not the American way. It is also important to note, even if my colleagues do believe in it, that America has these resources and is quite blessed with rare earth minerals. This administration continues to prevent our ability to actually mine them, so we depend on China more than ever. Members couldn't make this stuff up. Members can't believe it, but it is true. It forces us to purchase from China. It is unfair, unethical, and, I would maintain, un-American to continue forcing to pay this money, to continue forcing taxpayers to subsidize it, to continue forcing Americans to have this shoved down their throats when they don't want it. We need to end the subsidization of clean energy in this form. Let the marketplace take effect. Let's have the competition. Let's see if nuclear is the best. Let's see if we can really build and supply more solar panels in the United States of America but not rely on other countries. Eliminating offices like these is a step in the right direction. It is the right thing to do for so many reasons. I have just outlined a few of them. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Chair, I respect my colleague, Mr. Fleischmann, tremendously. It is one of those few times we will have to agree to disagree, but I think it is so important that we make a statement here. There are some good things that office does, but they do so many things that we don't agree with. This is the conundrum that we always find ourselves in in Congress. In order to get a modicum of good things done, we have to vote for the whole package and the whole thing moves forward, and so many of those initiatives are not good, and that is the problem here. Let's do this right. I believe in nuclear. I believe solar can have a role. I don't believe wind can do well, especially out in the ocean, but the point is, let the marketplace of ideas be the ones that dictate what we should do here. This office does so much that it shouldn't do, yet we are told we have to vote for this because they do a few things we agree with. I respectfully disagree. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Chair, I rise today in favor of my amendment No. 64. This amendment would increase funding at the Department of Energy to enhance the security of existing electrical transformers from both physical and cyber threats. Few parts of our Nation's infrastructure are more critical to everyday life and national security than our electrical grid, and it is under an alarming increase in threats over the past several years, as we all know. In 2022 alone, a decade-high surge in attacks occurred with 101 incidents being reported in August alone. While some of these instances amounted to petty vandalism, some of the threats were serious. They were real. They were coordinated efforts to cause widespread power outages to all of our American citizens. One such effort in Moore County, North Carolina, left nearly 50,000 people without power after two Duke Energy substations were shot at. In 2023, extremists plotted to attack multiple energy substations in Maryland with the goal of literally destroying Baltimore. In Michigan, this year alone, 14 different incidents of gunshot damage to transformers, regulators, and other electrical equipment have occurred. These are clearly not isolated incidents, Mr. Chair, but rather a concerning and growing trend across the United States of America. Perpetrators of these attacks have been part of extremist groups, including neo-Nazi groups, and have admitted to seeking to sow unrest and disrupt our infrastructure system to destroy and create anarchy in our country. While States have begun to act on this issue, it is far past time our Federal Government got involved, ensuring that these critical pieces of infrastructure are secured from all types of threats. This amendment seeks to build off existing efforts by increasing funding to go toward advancing security measures, increasing our efforts to better detect, deter, and to respond to these attacks. This is not just a matter of infrastructure improvement. It is an investment in our Nation's security and the well-being of our citizens. I don't even have to say this, but I will. Electricity is a modern necessity of life. Mr. Chair, this is what the American people want us to do. This is what our job is supposed to be, to make sure that we are safe and secure. This amendment is a vital step toward protecting it from threats, both domestic and abroad, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the gentlewoman's remarks. However, I respectfully disagree. We are moving from one account, which is basically forcing people to accept something that they do not want and have clearly said that does not help America. I also respectfully will disagree with her that we are not showing American leadership. Maybe it is Chinese leadership or foreign countries leadership. We are not energy independent now. We were. We can be unbelievably energy independent. We can export energy and not only fossil fuels. Americans lead. Americans are great. Americans have the ability to ensure that our country is number one. There is nothing wrong with American exceptionalism and being the best and doing the most. This is part of it. We have to make sure that we do what really truly helps the American public, which is to make sure that we are safe and secure and not forcing them to accept something that is going to be very expensive and cause us to rely on foreign countries more than we ever have in our American history of entrepreneurship and exceptionalism. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, some things never change. I woke up today and thanked God the sky was blue. There was traffic, lots of traffic, in Washington, D.C., and once again, Democrats are trying to take away appliances from hardworking Americans. They want to take away the things that hardworking Americans do want and shove on hardworking Americans the things they don't want. This government's out-of-control spending by Democrats has already made everyone's life hell. Americans can hardly afford to stock their refrigerators with food, and now Democrats want to take the damn refrigerator away, as well. The state of this country's energy infrastructure is already alarming. Gas prices are above $3.50 a gallon. Our electrical grid, sorry to say, still remains vulnerable to cyberattacks. We are draining our strategic stockpiles and relying on foreign sources for energy. These are serious national concerns. Yet, what is President Biden and the Department of Energy focused on? Taking away the basic appliances that Americans want. Terrorists are crossing our borders daily, China continues to grow more emboldened, and violent crime continues to plague our streets, but if you didn't know any better, if you thought about it, you would think that refrigerators and dishwashers and stoves were the greatest enemies of the United States of America. Maybe they are in the eyes of our Democratic colleagues. Let's focus on the real threats this country faces. Democrats continue their war on the American consumer in the name of some Green New Deal agenda. If enacted, these supposed energy efficiency standards by the DOE would increase costs for every single American and would take more than a decade to pay back those costs. It is not going to stop climate change. If the left were serious about climate change, they would be better served focusing on nuclear energy and modular power plants. They would be better focusing on any other means to save energy other than taking it away from the American public, sort of like solar panels. They make sense. The kitchen is for the family, for memories, for gatherings, for good times. It is not time to have these folks meddling in your lives to further micromanage their families. Let's leave the appliance decisions, the appliances that men and women want to buy in this country--it is a basic principle--to those who use them, not to those who wish once again to overregulate them and force things down their throats they just don't want. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support these bills.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, there is a lot one could say about this man. He is truly emblematic and represents what we call the Greatest Generation, those men and women from World War II who stood up for us, who fought for us, who built so much of this country in so many ways. Carlton Hand was a representative of that, somebody who was willing to go to war to stand up for freedom all around the world. Our men and women in the United States of America have bled their lives out, have sacrificed their lives all across the globe, and we saved Europe. It was because of individuals like him in Italy, who, at every level, fought so hard, saved lives, endangering his life over and over again in order to ensure that we prevailed and had victory. He took down German soldiers. He retrieved live hand grenades. There are so many stories one could tell about him. The bottom line is there are too many medals for me to list here, the Silver Star among many, many others. He was a great man, and much of his family still lives right in south Jersey in one of my many counties that I cover called Cape May County. We are proud of him. We are proud of what he represents. We are proud of the sacrifices he made. He is truly a great American, and it will be great to see this post office named after this individual hero.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I would find it difficult to find someone else who would be more appropriate in having this post office named after him than Dr. White. He is a great man. Under really difficult and trying circumstances, he became a physician, and he took care of so many people in that role as well, but it wasn't enough just for him to succeed and become a physician. He also decided that he wanted to get involved in banking and help people, especially African Americans, to be successful, to have successful businesses, to be able to move forward, to be able to compete. He wanted to teach them, and did, how to bank and be a part of what was the banking administration and services. That still wasn't enough for him. He founded a town in the great State of New Jersey in the southern part of the State known as Whitesboro. The entire town is named after him because of the good work that he did and because of what he accomplished. That town today is a successful, thriving town, part of Middle Township in Cape May County, New Jersey. It still wasn't enough for Dr. White. He became a Member of Congress and was the last African-American Member of Congress until the mid-20th century. When one thinks of somebody who represents American exceptionalism and Americanism, someone who was willing to work so hard to make sure that he could continue to be a role model for what he wanted to achieve and what he wanted to do, not for himself, but for the community, for everyone, regardless of whomever they were and wherever they came from, they may think of him. He was a great man. Mr. Speaker, it is time that this post office be named after him to be part of the town that is named after him. It is only appropriate. He is worthy.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, in what other country than Joe Biden's America can illegal immigrants waltz over an unsecure border? In what other country can an illegal immigrant get immediate housing, free food, legal counseling, and free educational subsidies? In what other country can illegal immigrants get free flights and bus rides and transportation to the city or the town of their choosing? There is none that I know of. There is none that most Americans would know of. No country in the world would be stupid enough to allow so many unknown people, with unknown desires, with unknown intentions, to cross their border. Why is our country the only one dumb enough to offer incentive after incentive to the millions of illegal immigrants pouring over our border every single year? To truly understand what is happening here, we have to see the big picture, and then we will realize the border policy that we have now isn't about bad policy or dumb policy. In fact, the policy is working exactly as the orchestrators want it to work. The left knows they can flood this country with millions of people. If the left can promise those millions of people that the Democrats are the party that will feed them, will house them, will transport them, will educate them for free on the American taxpayer's back and that Republicans will take that away, then the Democrats can use the millions of illegal immigrants as political pawns to increase their power. It is shameless. It is wrong. It is un-American. For years, conservatives have warned about this. We have warned about the left attempting to allow illegals to vote in elections, but it was made fun of. It was a joke. It would never happen. It was labeled, in fact, as a conspiracy theory. Yet, here we are. Here we are today. D.C., our Nation's own Capital, allowing illegal immigrants to vote in its local elections. Yesterday's conspiracy, yesterday's conspiracy is today's reality. I strongly support H.R. 192 to prohibit noncitizens from voting in elections here in D.C. This is a dangerous and bad precedent and an un- American attempt at gaining power, and it needs to be stopped here and it needs to be stopped now. We have to stand up. If we allow illegal immigrants to vote in elections now, Madam Speaker, how long is it going to be before we are back on this floor attempting to stop a State from allowing illegal immigrants to vote in our Federal elections? American elections should be voted on by American citizens.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 219.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 1822.