Jefferson Van Drew

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favor of the HOPR Act, H.R. 2915. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Mr. Correa, for his continued leadership on this issue to help bolster our domestic supply chains. This bill requires that, to the maximum extent possible, at least one-third of the funds obligated for the procurement of the Department of Homeland Security uniforms and gear covered by the HOPR Act be used to purchase goods manufactured by entities that qualify as United States small businesses. Additionally, this bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a study of the adequacy of uniform allowances provided to Department frontline personnel to determine what improvements can be made to current uniform allowances, including increasing allowances. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 2915, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 5652, the DHS Acquisition Review Board Act of 2021. The Department of Homeland Security invests billions of dollars each year in its major acquisitions. These programs include buying IT systems to help secure our border, Coast Guard cutters to increase marine safety, and tools to help TSA screen travelers more efficiently. These acquisitions, and others, enable the Department to execute its many critical missions. In fiscal year 2021 alone, DHS planned to spend more than $7 billion on its major acquisition programs, and ultimately, the Department plans to spend more than $200 billion over the programs' entire life cycles. However, the Government Accountability Office, GAO, and the DHS Office of the Inspector General, OIG, have reported on the longstanding challenges DHS faces in managing its major acquisition programs, which began with the inception of the Department and continue to this day. For example, in January 2021, GAO reported that of the 24 major acquisition programs it audited, 10 had been in breach of their cost or scheduled goals, or both, at some point during fiscal year 2020. Also, in 2018, the OIG reported that DHS components have an ongoing tendency to acquire systems before they adequately define their requirements or develop performance measures. We cannot allow this to continue. Given these challenges and the significant level of DHS investment in these programs, it is important for Congress to ensure that the proper oversight structures are in place. That is exactly what this bill intends to do. This bill amends the Homeland Security Act to include the DHS Acquisition Review Board, which has already been formed by the Department. The bill outlines specific responsibilities and parameters for the Board, which it exercises today, including its membership and how often the Board should meet, such as at certain key points in the programs' life cycles. The Board is held at the Department level and is chaired by the acquisition decision authority--normally, the Under Secretary for Management or a designee--and consists of individuals who manage DHS' mission objectives, resources, and contracts. The Board's primary oversight role is to review major acquisition programs for proper management, oversight, accountability, and alignment with the Department's strategic functions. The Board keeps acquisition programs accountable to the Department, Congress, and the American taxpayer, most importantly, by doing the following. First, it ensures that the Department considers tradeoffs between cost, schedule, and performance before approving a program to proceed to the next phase of acquisition. Second, it determines whether programs are using acquisition best practices. Third, it requires senior DHS leaders to review the programs' progress and see that the program requirements are being met as they should. This bill also requires the Board to document the actions and the decisions that it makes, including rationale for its decisions, which are then submitted to the Committee on Homeland Security in the House and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in the Senate. In conclusion, this bill simply proposes to codify better oversight, management, and accountability of the Department's acquisitions. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Demings, for reaching across the aisle and cosponsoring this commonsense bill with me. I also thank Ranking Member Katko and Representatives Garbarino, Higgins, and Miller-Meeks for cosponsoring this bill as well. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5652, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for H.R. 5574, the TRANSLATE Act. According to the United States Census Bureau, approximately 67 million U.S. residents speak a language other than English at home. This legislation requires TSA to ensure that its communications materials in airports are in the primary languages of individuals who travel through and work in our country's airports. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, October is Italian Heritage month, a time to celebrate the wonderful culture and contributions of the Italian community. I had the honor and pleasure of attending the long- standing Italian Festival tradition in Wildwood, New Jersey. Wildwood's Italian Festival is a time-honored tradition where music, food, fun and culture of the Italian heritage collide for an experience unlike any other. I thank them again for inviting me to the festival, and I look forward to being there next year. God bless Sons of Italy, and God bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, October is Italian Heritage Month, a time where we celebrate the culture and contributions of our beautiful Italian American community. Hammonton, South Jersey is famous not only for their blueberries, but their deep Italian roots and heritage too. Recently had the honor of attending Hammonton's annual Columbus Day event, where the Sons of Italy recognize a local family that has had an impact on the community. The Sons of Italy in Hammonton do their utmost to preserve the Italian culture, heritage, and history that is so special to the community. It was a privilege to present them with a Congressional Proclamation, in recognition of their dedication to the Hammonton Community, and on such a special day for Italian Americans. I thank them for the work their organization does, not just for the Italian community, but for every Hammontonian. God Bless Sons of Italy, and God Bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, Vineland, New Jersey's Planning Board approved a $17 million project which will benefit the senior community in Cumberland. Our seniors are the bedrock of our communities, not only in South Jersey, but the entire nation. It is necessary that we care and protect them, just as they did for us. Developer, Hans Lampart, and the Vineland Planning Board are doing just that with their redevelopment project. Their project will give seniors the opportunity to live independently and affordably in high-rise style apartments. On behalf of the senior community, I thank Hans, and wish him good luck as he moves forward with this project. God Bless Newcomb Senior Apartments, and God Bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, please recognize a dedicated and strong advocate for those who have been affected by domestic violence and sexual abuse. Juanita Battle of West Cape May passed away on October 7, 2021. She was a hero to many, and her legacy will live on with all of those who had the pleasure of knowing her. Juanita was the proud founder of Cape May County's Coalition Against Rape and Abuse. Her Coalition provides counsel, support, and advocates for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. She touched the hearts of many thousands of people during her forty-seven years of service, and she will live on in their hearts forever. Juanita truly was a pillar of strength in the Cape May Community and may she rest in peace. God Bless Juanita, and God Bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, Doctor Eric Thomas and his team at Sunshine Dentistry have been serving the residents of Cape May County with cutting edge dentistry for a long time. They consistently provide quality and expert care for the residents of Cape May County. As a dentist, a visit to the dentist is not necessarily fun. However, Doctor Thomas and his team have mastered the formula for providing a pleasant and comfortable experience for their patients. Their passion for their profession and dedication to their patients have not gone unnoticed. Congratulations to Eric on the new location, and best of luck always. God bless Sunshine Dentistry, and God bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last month, I had the pleasure of presenting Nick Cripps with his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Nick was born and raised in Wildwood, South Jersey with his parents and two siblings. While playing youth sports, he became a Webelos at Glenwood Avenue Elementary School. Once Nick became of eligible age, he joined Boy Scout Troop 75 and eventually obtained his Eagle Scout. For his Eagle Scout project, he sand blasted and power washed the 4,200 square foot ceiling of the fire house engine room of the Wildwood Fire Department Headquarters. For this project, Nick demonstrated leadership by serving as the project manager. His project made the fire engine room safer for everyone who walks through the fire house. This young man should be proud of his accomplishments and it was my honor to have had the opportunity to recognize him for his service to the South Jersey community. God Bless Nick, and God Bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, the Miss America Pageant began in Atlantic City and was held there until 2018. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the pageant, and once again South Jersey will be represented. Alyssa Sullivan, the current Miss New Jersey, will be competing in the Miss America 2021 competition. Alyssa is a lifelong resident of Cape May County Court House and graduated from Rowan University in 2021. Alyssa currently works in the news industry at PHL17. Her social impact initiative, Peer Challenge Commit 2 Character, educates teenagers on the dangers of risk-taking behaviors and their ability to derail their futures. She speaks to young people about how to lead a healthy lifestyle surrounded by positivity and people who raise them higher. Alyssa should be incredibly proud of her hard work and accomplishments. I wish her the best of luck in December. God Bless Alyssa, and God Bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, in 1946, the South Millville Gun Club was founded in South Jersey. For the past 75 years, the club has served as a place for its members and their families to gather, hunt, celebrate, and enjoy the outdoors. The South Millville Gun Club has been a member of the New Jersey Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs since 1959 and an esteemed NRA member since 1969. This club has been a significant part of the South Jersey community for almost four decades. The club hosts various events like their Super Bowl Wing and Rib Sale and their famous Ham and Oyster Dinner. Congratulations to the South Millville Gun Club on their recent proclamation, which recognizes the past 75 years, and the next 75 years to come. God Bless the South Millville Gun Club, and God Bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, in August, I had the pleasure of attending the Fisherman Memorial ceremony in Gardner's Basin in Atlantic City. The Fisherman Memorial memorializes local South Jersey individuals who have been lost at sea, including veterans and Coastguardsman. This ceremony started the year after three men, Ed ``Hacksaw'' Peterson, Steve Hayes and Jeff Giannini, were lost at sea while traveling on a boat in August of 1999. Now, the ceremony is held every August on or near the anniversary of when the Hacksaw Crew went missing. May all the individuals that have been honored at the ceremony rest in peace. God Bless those lost at sea, and God Bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Minnie Callender. Minnie was raised in South Carolina with her eleven siblings. She later moved to New York to pursue her college education and earned two Master's degrees in education and school administration. While also raising four children, she worked as an excellent English teacher and school principal. Minnie now volunteers in Middle Township as the Chair of the Township's Senior Citizen Advisory Council, where she spearheaded a plan for voter education seminars to assist seniors and other residents. She also stays active in the local chapter of the AARP and her congregation, Christ Gospel Church, where she leads a weekly bible study. God Bless Minnie and God Bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, this month, I had the pleasure of presenting Andrew Martucci with his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. After Andrew noticed that the sign in front of his local church was eroding and in danger of damage, he decided to build a retaining wall for the soil as his Eagle Scout Project. In addition to the wall, Andrew constructed a garden around the perimeter of the sign to help retain the soil. Andrew's Eagle Scout Project makes both his church and his community proud. This young man should be proud of his accomplishments and it was my honor to have had the opportunity to recognize him for his service to the South Jersey community. God Bless Andrew and God Bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, since their charter, the American Legion Post 352 at Somers Point has been supporting Veterans from all branches of the armed forces throughout South Jersey. One of the fastest-growing programs offered by the American Legion is the Legion Riders. The Legion Riders' mission is to enhance the well-being of America's veterans, their families, our military, and our communities by their devotion to mutual helpfulness. This group rides their bikes to raise money for organizations such as VA hospitals, Veterans Relief, military funerals, and other veteran events. The Legion Riders honor the veterans of South Jersey and pay their respect for all past military sacrifices through these bike rides. God Bless the Legion Riders and God Bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize a small congregation in Galloway, South Jersey--Church by the Bay. Church-by- the-Bay is led by Pastor Lou Strugala and what this small congregation has accomplished in a short period of time is extraordinary. Pastor Lou, you have not only been a leader at the church community--Pastor Lou has been a leader for the entire community. The Church-by-the-Bay congregation and Pastor Lou exemplify the meaning of servant leadership, and stewardship. Pastor Lou adheres to his church's mission of, ``taking God's love outside the walls and into the community.'' Pastor Lou and his congregation worships God by serving the most vulnerable in the community. God bless Pastor Lou, God bless the congregation, and God bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, last week, I had the pleasure of attending Jacob Schaad, Jr.'s 100th birthday party. Jacob started his career in journalism as a copy boy while in the US Army Air Corps in 1939 and during World War II. After his time in the military, he became a newspaperman for the Cape May County Gazette. Over the years, Jacob's writing has appeared in many publications, including the Philadelphia Bulletin, The Inquirer, The Press of Atlantic City, and The Gazette. As well as being a veteran journalist, Jacob also wrote and published books, and is currently working on another book, which will be a tribute to doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals. Jacob now lives with his son, Mark, in the Del Haven section of Middle Township. God Bless Jacob and God Bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, this month, I had the pleasure of presenting Sidney Patterson with his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. For his Eagle Scout Project, Sidney constructed a dual compost bin and garden area that will provide vegetables to Veterans who utilize Enphront's services. As well as providing vegetables to Veterans, this garden area will also donate the extra produce to the local Food Bank. This young man should be proud of his accomplishments and it was my honor to have the opportunity to recognize his dedication to the South Jersey community. God Bless Sidney and God Bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, this month, I had the pleasure of presenting Nate Costantino with his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Nate had noticed the Gilda's Club organization in Northfield lacked a recreational area for the youth who utilized the building. For his Eagle Scout Project, Nate addressed this issue and constructed a playground area in the back of the Gilda's Club building. This playground will be enjoyed by Northfield residents for years to come. This young man should be proud of his accomplishments and it was my honor to have had the opportunity to recognize him for his service to the South Jersey community. God Bless Nate and God Bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, our small business community in South Jersey was heavily impacted by the global pandemic, just as many other small businesses were across the nation. However, one local business serving Cape May County made it through the pandemic and has recently expanded with a second location. Jeff and Courtney Wallace, owners of Box-It Fitness, continue to spread health and wellness across Cape May County. Box-It Fitness offers a diverse selection of boxing and fitness classes every day. Congratulations to Jeff and Courtney on the grand opening of the second Box-It Fitness location. God bless Jeff and Courtney and God bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, this month, I had the pleasure of presenting Zachary Whiteley with his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. One day, Zachary noticed that the entry way to Christ Episcopal Church's community meeting room was crowded with books and other items. So, with this in mind, for his Eagle Scout Project he decided to organize and renovate the entryway. Zachary made the entryway more welcoming by discarding of all the clutter, removing the bookshelves, and painting the area. This young man should be proud of his accomplishments and it was my honor to have the opportunity to recognize him for his service to both his church community and the entire South Jersey community. God Bless Zachary and God Bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, we, in South Jersey, cherish our active military and veteran community. Their sacrifices do not go unnoticed, and their continued work is forever appreciated. Veterans, like Joseph Hannagan, Jr., embody the principle of Semper Fidelis. He has dedicated the last 10 years of his life to serving veterans in Salem County. Semper Fidelis means ``always faithful,'' and Joseph has been nothing but faithful to the Military and Veteran community. Congratulations, Joseph, on becoming Salem County's Distinguished Citizen, he certainly deserves it. God bless Joseph and God bless America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, as we rapidly approach the upcoming holiday season, which is the busiest time of year for many American families and for many industries, I am, we all are, greatly concerned about the state of our country. Gas prices are the highest we have seen in nearly a decade, forcing families to contemplate if they can afford to travel for the holidays. Worse yet, those wishing to travel further are worried that their flights may be canceled at the last minute because there aren't even enough pilots to fly the planes. Those who have saved their hard-earned money for months to buy their loved ones something special for Christmas worry that their delivery will be stuck at our backed-up ports. Make no mistake, all of these crises happening at once are not a coincidence. They are the result of failed Biden administration policies and a rejection, a whole-out rejection of the longstanding values that always made our America great. Authoritarian vaccine mandates on many vital industries have led to labor shortages on a massive scale. Overtaxation on small businesses and their owners through an increase in the individual tax rate threaten more than 130,000 jobs in an already struggling job market. Overbearing red tape in this socialist reconciliation bill threatens to raise penalties on businesses by over 500 percent and will lead to more small businesses going bankrupt, something we have already seen far too much of over the last 2 years. This is not what America wants. We are already struggling to sustain a valuable and available workforce. Democrats' overregulation on our businesses and government handouts are leading to a cradle-to-grave welfare state, crippling our country's ability to recover from the pandemic and once again thrive as the strongest nation on Earth. And it is all coming to a head. It is all coming to a head this holiday season. We cannot continue to weaken American businesses. We cannot continue to weaken American supply chains. We cannot continue to weaken the American Dream. We cannot continue to weaken the greatest nation on the face of the Earth: America. We are the greatest country there has ever been and ever will be. Why is the left trying so hard, so desperately to destroy that greatness? We must get Americans back to work, and we must support policies that allow our businesses to flourish and not wither away. It is the basis of America. I will continue to fight alongside my colleagues to ensure that these bad, destructive policies and their decades-long consequences are prevented. We will continue to fight for good policy that opens our country back up, that gets our people back to work, that makes us strong and puts America back to the forefront of the world stage.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to most of the traditions that we South Jerseyans enjoy, but now we're back, we're on track, and we're moving forward. The Little Miss Ocean City Pageant was able to make its long-awaited comeback this summer, and in typical South Jersey fashion, history was made. Prior to the pandemic, Antonella Di Antonio was crowned Little Miss Ocean City, but this year, in perfect comeback fashion, Antonella had the privilege of crowing her successor, her younger sister, Arianna. This isn't the first time that sisters won the coveted Little Miss Ocean City title, however, this is the first time, in the history of the O.C pageant that one sister crowned the other. I want to congratulate both of them for making history, both in their community and in South Jersey as well. Congratulations to Arianna Di Antonio for being crowned this year's Little Miss Ocean City, a stellar accomplishment of which she should be proud. God Bless both of them and all the contestants of the Little Miss Ocean City Pageant, and God Bless America.