Ann Wagner

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of the Battle of the Bulge and the courage of the American troops who fought there. This Saturday, January 25, marks the 80th Anniversary of this historic Allied victory. 41 days, Mr. Speaker. For 41 days, our soldiers stood guard in much colder weather than we have experienced this week in Washington or back in my home State of Missouri. For 41 days, these men, many still teenagers, fought from snow- covered foxholes when death and defeat looked imminent. For 41 days, they saw their brothers, thousands of miles from home, succumb to hypothermia, bullets, bombs, and artillery. For 41 days, over seven hundred thousand Allied troops, short on equipment, ammunition, and warm clothes, experienced warfare that they would never forget. For 41 days, these heroes fought and won a battle that would fundamentally change the course of human history. As we've all shivered through the freezing temperatures this month, it's impossible to imagine what must have gone through the minds of our soldiers hunkered down in the Ardennes. The anguish and sacrifices these brave men endured will never be truly understood, but will never, ever, be forgotten. It will not be forgotten by the liberated people of Western Europe, and certainly not by the American people these soldiers gave their lives defending. Earlier today, the Embassies of Belgium and Luxembourg hosted a wreath-laying ceremony at the Battle of the Bulge Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery. I want to thank these Nations for organizing this moving tribute to those who held the line for freedom over tyranny. But most importantly, it is my distinct honor to pay respects to the victors of the greatest land battle in the history of the United States Army. We are, and forever will be, grateful for your heroism.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Roy, my friend from Texas, for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in very strong support of H.R. 21, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, legislation that I have been blessed and honored to lead since 2019. Today, thanks to the Herculean efforts of the pro-life movement, the American people have finally regained the power back from the courts to decide how to protect the most vulnerable among us. However, Congress has a clear role to play when it comes to protecting newborn infants, babies who have been delivered alive and are experiencing their first moments in the world. All children should be welcomed with joy and wonder, no matter the circumstances of their birth. Yet, too many of these little ones are denied the medical care that they need to survive and thrive simply because they are unwanted. This commonsense legislation will require healthcare providers to administer the same level of care to babies who survive abortions that they would to any other child born at the same gestational age. That is it. Mr. Speaker, I believe that life is a miracle and children are a blessing. As a proud grandmother of four with a fifth coming any day now--hang in there, Julia--I have watched my own children grow into wonderful, loving parents. I have had the joy of experiencing the world through their eyes, the eyes of my grandchildren. It breaks my heart to think of the infants who were denied the opportunity to share their light with us and were instead deemed unwanted and left to die. We must remember today that children are not the only victims of born-alive abortions. Mothers, fathers, families, and whole communities all suffer deeply from the loss of a child. Mr. Speaker, we must act with compassion to protect each little one and give women a strong support system as they navigate the miracles and challenges of motherhood. This bill will save real lives, and it will give survivors a precious chance to build a future. This is a historic time with a pro-life House, a pro-life Senate, and a pro-life administration. I am so proud that one of our first acts in the House this Congress will be ensuring that every single baby born in the United States receives lifesaving medical care at their most vulnerable moment. I express my gratitude to the co-leads of this bill, Representative Cammack and Majority Leader Scalise, to the leadership of this Congress, and especially to the multitude of champions for life across the country, for their tireless work in support of the unborn. Finally, I implore my Democratic colleagues to put aside politics and stand in support of lifesaving care for these innocent newborns as they did when it passed the House in 2015, in 2018, and, yet again, in 2022. Mr. Speaker, I urge every Member of the House to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 21, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was not present for roll call votes on January 13, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 8 and YEA on Roll Call No. 9.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was not present for roll call votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 7. Stated against:

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was not present for roll call votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 501. Stated against:

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I missed Roll Call votes on December 5, 2024. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 485 and YEA on Roll Call No. 486.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I missed Roll Call votes on September 23, 2024, to attend the Memorial service of Senior Community Liaison, Jaci Winship. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 440; YEA on Roll Call No. 441; and YEA on Roll Call No. 442.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and congratulate him on this compilation of 20 fantastic bills that were favorably reported out of Financial Services. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this package, which includes a bill of mine, H.R. 4662, the Corporate Governance Examination Act. Too often, politically or socially motivated shareholders' proposals cause investors to shoulder increased and unnecessary costs. My legislation will examine whether the proposal process has become unnecessarily politicized and help ensure these proposals don't deter future investors or endanger current investors. This important legislation would require the SEC to conduct comprehensive studies on shareholders' proposals, proxy advisory firms, and proxy process. These studies will address key problems in politically and socially motivated proposals, such as financial incentives and obligations of involved parties, the impact on long-term retail investors, the influence of proxy advisory firms, and the costs incurred by companies in response to shareholders' proposals. These studies will provide data-driven insights to enhance shareholders' value and promote transparent corporate governance practices. I thank the Members who have bills in this package today for their incredible work toward upholding our capitalist society and urge my colleagues to support this package.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Jaci Winship. My team and I are absolutely devastated that Jaci Winship, our Senior Community Liaison, passed away this week. Over the past decade, Jaci has faithfully served the people of Missouri's 2nd District with compassion and dedication. She has been a core part of the team from the very beginning, and her passion for her work shined through in all she did. Jaci's commitment to helping the most vulnerable truly made our community better each and every day. She was a leader in our fight against human trafficking and in helping victims of domestic violence. Local advocates and community leaders knew they could count on her when they needed help at all hours of the day. She had an innate desire to help others and foster a stronger, more creative, and more hardworking next generation of students. She worked with high school students and art teachers as the head of our Congressional Art Competition, she championed emerging leaders in the tech space during the Congressional App Challenge, and she was a tireless advocate for students serving our Nation in United States Service Academies. The future is bright in Missouri thanks to Jaci's work pushing students to work even harder and break out of their comfort zones. Jaci served in numerous positions throughout the Missouri Republican Party. Whether she was working on a campaign for office or leading an issue-related organization, her passion inspired others to excellence. Called by her unwavering faith to Jesus Christ, Jaci was a staunch defender of the unborn and an activist in the pro-life community. She was a champion of Israel and the Jewish community here in St. Louis where she made numerous friends and touched countless lives through her advocacy. Jaci was a fighter for those in need, a deeply caring coworker, and a loving mother. My heart breaks knowing she is no longer with us. She made us all better people and we will be forever grateful to have known her.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 409.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 7151, the Export Control Enforcement and Enhancement Act. The People's Republic of China is bent on supplanting the U.S. economically and militarily. To do so, it seeks to turn our strengths against us, using American ingenuity to fuel its own dangerous and nefarious ambitions. The U.S. export control regime is an important tool that helps us guard against China's outright theft of the achievements of America's brilliant entrepreneurs, inventors, and thinkers. Export controls are also a powerful tool against adversaries like Iran and Russia, adversaries that rely on access to ill-gotten foreign technology to support their violent and destabilizing agendas. China, Iran, and Russia have formed a new axis of evil to attack our national security interests and help each other circumvent U.S. export controls. They have created a massive network designed to maintain the flow of controlled Western technologies to dictatorships like Russia, Iran, and North Korea, with China at the center. To disrupt and destroy this web of evasion, vigilantly updating and enforcing our export controls is more important today, Mr. Speaker, than ever before. However, America is losing the fight to keep our most sensitive technologies out of enemy hands. Advanced American tech is being used to advance China's hypersonic weapons program. It was found in the spy balloon that China sent over the continental U.S. last year, including directly over my home in St. Louis, Missouri, that collected data on our most sensitive military installations. It is turning up in Iranian drones and Russian military equipment. In short, wherever our national security interests are at greatest risk, whether in People's Liberation Army laboratories or the military facilities of Iran and its proxies, our adversaries are exploiting vulnerabilities in our export control regime and using American products to gain an advantage. The current export control regime is simply too slow and cumbersome to prevent Chinese and other companies from accessing sensitive technologies that can be used to give our adversaries a military edge. My legislation on the floor today will give the Departments of State, Defense, and Energy greater ability to propose changes to the entity list, a roster of foreign companies, research institutions, and individuals who pose a serious national security risk to the United States and who are prohibited from purchasing sensitive American products. Mr. Speaker, State, Defense, and Energy have deep expertise in the current threat landscape, and we should use that expertise to make sure that the entity list is comprehensive and accurate, and the bill makes sure that their recommendations are acted on rather than languishing in red tape by setting a 30-day clock to address proposed changes. These reforms, Mr. Speaker, will make our export control regime agile and airtight, and they will give the United States the tools to fight back when our adversaries try to cheat the system. I thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Meeks for working with me on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge each of my colleagues to support this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7151) to amend the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to provide for expedited consideration of proposals for additions to, removals from, or other modifications with respect to entities on the Entity List, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. In closing, we must act decisively to ensure that our export controls are robust, effective, timely, and adaptive to the threats that we face in today's world. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this bipartisan piece of legislation, H.R. 7151, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman very, very much for engaging me in this colloquy and for his work on this very important piece of legislation. Last year's National Defense Authorization Act, which passed on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis, expressed serious concern that our Nation's tactical fighter capacity is not sufficient to meet combatant commander warfighting requirements. Yet, the Air Force is proposing the premature closure of one of the United States' two major fighter manufacturing lines, the F-15EX. The F-15EX is a critical asset, particularly for the National Guard. The National Guard's unfunded priorities list included a request for additional EX production. If this line shuts down in the fiscal year 2025, as proposed in the President's budget, the U.S. will be down to a single tactical aviation manufacturing line, and this is unacceptably risky. Over 44 Members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats, supported the additional funding to keep the important F-15EX program going. I understand that top-line constraints this year present tough challenges, Mr. Chairman, but this manufacturing line is in my home State of Missouri, and it is a strategic asset and a national security imperative. May I have your commitment, sir, to work with me on the issue as the process continues?

Mrs. WAGNER. I thank the chairman for agreeing to work with me on this critically important issue and for his leadership on this legislation and in so many other important things that come before this body.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Chair, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. I have an amendment, Madam Chair, in this en bloc. I rise today in support of my amendment which would provide a fully offset and fully paid for 67 percent funding increase for investigations of forced child labor. Madam Chairman, as a direct result of the Biden administration's refusal to properly enforce the law, there is a humanitarian catastrophe underway at our southern border. Since President Biden took office, 10 million illegal migrants have flooded our borders, including 8 million encountered by Border Patrol, 1.7 million got-aways, and some 500,000 unaccompanied children. By law, the Biden administration is required to ensure these unaccompanied minors are protected from human trafficking. Instead, the administration has been essentially giving these children away with zero regard for their safety. It has been exposed that the Biden administration completely lost track of some 85,000 children, ignored countless warnings that these children were being trafficked, and fired employees for speaking out. There are even instances where the administration gave these children to adults without simply checking or vetting if the adult had even abused children or had a relationship with them in the past. Madam Chairman, this level of neglect and callousness is unspeakable, and we must ensure the Department of Homeland Security has the resources necessary to investigate each and every case. Madam Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and the entire en bloc.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for once again working so hard to put together a national defense authorization that we can all be proud of to secure our common defense. As co-chair of the bipartisan and bicameral Abraham Accords Caucus, I rise in support of Mr. Panetta's and my amendment No. 102, which establishes an exchange program for U.S. and Middle Eastern experts on AI, cyber, counterterrorism, air defense, and more. The U.S.-Israel relationship is the linchpin of Middle Eastern security. The stability and prosperity our partnership brings to the region convinced Arab nations to take the courageous and unprecedented step of normalizing relations with Israel. China, Russia, and Iran, the new axis of evil, see this achievement as a threat. They want to undo the Abraham Accords, and they will plunge the region into further chaos to do so. We cannot let this happen. For a peaceful, prosperous future for the region, Israel and its friends must draw closer together. The U.S. must strengthen ties between Arab partners and Israel. This amendment builds on the success of the DEFEND and MARITIME Acts, important laws that our caucus championed which kick-started cooperation between the United States, Israel, and our Middle Eastern partners on maritime, security, and air missile defense. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support amendment No. 102.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for his courtesy in yielding to me. I rise in support of my bipartisan amendment, which supports critical relief for certain defense contractors who faced crippling cost overruns due to inflation. As so many of us have heard from our families across our districts, the administration's harmful inflation is cutting deep into constituents' pocketbooks. Many American businesses working on projects, which are critical to U.S. national security, are facing the same staggering price increases. Because of the importance of their work to our safety and security, local employers, like those working on the National Geospatial Agency project in St. Louis, were forced to pay steep, unanticipated price increases in order to meet the projects' original deadlines. I am proud of the St. Louis area companies and workers who made tough sacrifices while doing their part to safeguard our national security and keep construction of the new NGA West headquarters on track. These economic disruptions and runaway price increases threaten to trigger a crisis that could significantly weaken our defense industrial base. Twice, on a bipartisan basis, Congress has narrowly authorized the Department of Defense to provide extraordinary relief for these companies in order to preserve a healthy and competitive defense industrial base, but that funding has never been appropriated. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on my amendment supporting necessary and carefully tailored relief that will stabilize our defense industrial base.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was not present for roll call votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 233 and YEA on Roll Call No. 234. personal explanation

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on the House to immediately take up S. 3853, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act. Missourians are terrified that radioactive waste is poisoning our communities. These innocent victims of the U.S. nuclear weapons program are relying on Congress for restitution. I am outraged Senate and House negotiators left this urgently needed legislation out of the spending package. Mr. Speaker, time is of the essence. RECA expires in less than 3 months, and that is the existing law which excludes St. Louis. Just extending the law won't help my constituents dying of cancer. Passing S. 3853 will. We need to use every opportunity to sign this bill into law. That means scheduling a suspension vote as soon as possible. Mr. Speaker, I am calling on the House to vote on the bill immediately. The health of my constituents depends on it.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mills), the author of this bill.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6306) to amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to prohibit the acquisition or lease of a consular or diplomatic post built or owned by an entity beneficially owned by the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I again thank Congressman Mills for his leadership in fixing this national security vulnerability. I also thank Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Meeks, and our Committee on Foreign Affairs colleagues for bringing this critical, bipartisan bill to the floor. This legislation will ensure that our diplomatic buildings overseas do not fall victim to the active, ongoing surveillance and espionage efforts of the Chinese Communist Party. Mr. Speaker, I urge unanimous support for H.R. 6306, and I yield back the balance of my time.