Ann Wagner

Mrs. WAGNER

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

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2225, the Access to Small Business Investor Capital Act. I thank Congressman Sherman and the bipartisan cosponsors for their work on this bill. This is a narrowly tailored fix to a longstanding problem that is hurting business development companies, or BDCs, which Congress originally created to help small and midsized businesses access capital. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the SEC rule called Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, or AFFE, requires funds that invest in BDCs to count the BDC internal expenses as part of their own expense ratio. The result is a higher reported cost, even though those fees aren't actually paid by the investor. This has led many funds to avoid BDCs altogether, and it has kept BDCs out of key investment indexes. That means fewer dollars flowing to small businesses on Main Street. H.R. 2225 fixes this. It allows funds to exclude expenses related to BDCs from their AFFE calculation, while still disclosing their investment in BDCs. This improves both accuracy and transparency. This is a smart and bipartisan solution that removes an intended barrier to capital formation without reducing investor protections. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, in closing, this is a smart and bipartisan solution that removes an unintended barrier to capital formation without reducing investor protections. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2225, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3394) to amend the Securities Act of 1933 to codify certain qualifications of individuals as accredited investors for purposes of the securities laws, 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 bill.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3394, the Fair Investment Opportunities for Professional Experts Act. I thank our Financial Services Committee chairman, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), for his leadership on this bipartisan legislation. For decades, the SEC's accredited investor definition has served as a gatekeeper to private investment opportunities, relying almost entirely on income and net worth thresholds. This approach has excluded millions of Americans who may not meet those financial metrics but have the education, licenses, or professional experiences to make informed investment decisions. H.R. 3394 modernizes that definition. It directs the SEC to expand eligibility to individuals who hold certain professional certifications, relevant degrees, or job experience, criteria that actually reflect financial sophistication. This change is long overdue. It will unlock capital for small businesses, broaden investor participation, and better align our rules with how Americans build expertise and manage risk in today's economy. The bill maintains investor protections, while removing arbitrary barriers that have held back individual investors and early-stage entrepreneurs alike. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense reform, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), who is the chairman of the Financial Services Committee and the author of this bill.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Haridopolos).

Mrs. WAGNER. In closing, Mr. Speaker, the Fair Investment Opportunities for Professional Experts Act maintains investor protections while removing arbitrary barriers that have held back individual investors and early-stage entrepreneurs alike. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3394, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3301) to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to specify certain registration statement contents for emerging growth companies, to permit issuers to file draft registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission for confidential review, 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 bill.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3301, the ELEVATE Act, and thank Congressman Nunn for his leadership on this forward- looking and bipartisan bill. One of the key successes of the JOBS Act of 2012 was the creation of emerging growth companies, or EGCs, small and midsized firms given tailored disclosure requirements to encourage them to go public. These companies are a major source of innovation, job creation, and economic growth. Today, over 90 percent of initial public offerings are filed by EGCs, but when an EGC spins off part of its business to create a new public company, that spinoff does not currently get the same treatment, despite originating from a company already recognized as an emerging growth company. H.R. 3301 fixes this inconsistency. It ensures that spinoffs from EGCs are allowed to provide 2 years of audited financials, just like when a standard EGC goes public. This helps reduce redundant compliance costs while maintaining full investor protections. This is a smart and targeted update to our securities laws. It honors the original intent of the JOBS Act: to make it easier, not harder, for innovative companies to enter the public markets. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support Mr. Nunn's ELEVATE Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nunn), my friend.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Nunn's ELEVATE Act is a smart, targeted update to our securities law. I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 3301, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3381) to amend the Securities Act of 1933 to expand the ability to use testing the waters and confidential draft registration submissions, 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 bill.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 3381, the Encouraging Public Offerings Act. This legislation builds on the success of the JOBS Act by making it easier for companies of all sizes to go public while maintaining the transparency and investor protections our markets depend on. H.R. 3381 allows any company, not just emerging growth companies, to test the waters by gauging investor interest before or after filing with the SEC. It also ensures that an issuer can submit a confidential draft registration statement before making it public, giving companies more flexibility and clarity as they prepare to go public. These tools, Mr. Speaker, testing the waters and confidential filings, have proven valuable since the JOBS Act, especially for smaller companies navigating the complexities of going public. My bill makes them available to all issuers with consistent timelines tied to when a registration statement becomes effective, not when a road show begins. This bill is about giving growing businesses the confidence to enter the public markets and helping them reach new investors, expand operations, and create jobs across our country. I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and my Democratic cosponsor, Mr. Meeks, for supporting these efforts to modernize our capital markets. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this bipartisan bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, few people in Missouri politics have had more of a positive influence on our state and the Nation than Senator Kit Bond. A true statesman seemingly from a bygone era in today's divisive world, Kit Bond devoted his life to public service, working with others to find the best ways to lift up Missouri and the nation, to make it a better place for those he was so honored to serve. He was a cheerful warrior who always had an encouraging word and a smile on his face, even in challenging times. After leaving elected office, Kit continued to advocate for our state and the policies he fought for throughout his career. My happiest phone calls in recent memory were from Kit and Linda inviting Ray and me to dinner. Sharing stories about Missouri politics, both past and present, spanning three decades, was always the highlight of the evening, and something I will miss dearly. At a time when it was hard for women to break into politics, Kit was a forward-thinking visionary who worked to promote and advance the careers of many women entering public service. I was so honored to serve as Missouri Republican Party Chairman alongside Kit's incomparable female Chief of Staff Julie Dammann and Speaker of the House Catherine Hanaway, advancing strong conservative policies that benefitted our state. Ray and I are heartbroken to hear of his passing and our prayers are with his wife Linda, who took such incredible care of him and supported him always, as well as his son, Sam, and the entire Bond family. Kit was a dear friend, a mentor, and I would not be where I am today were it not for his friendship, advice and support. I will miss him every day.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was not present for Roll Call votes on May 19, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 132, and YEA on Roll Call No. 133.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 122.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 1512, the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act. Mr. Speaker, it is undeniable that the People's Republic of China is the single gravest threat to our national security. It is undeniable that China has increased its destabilizing military activities in the Pacific. It is undeniable that China has its sights set on the full- scale invasion of Taiwan. The United States must not waver in our deterrence of this threat and our support for this nation. Just last month, the commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command testified to Congress that China escalated military pressure against Taiwan by 300 percent last year. Commander Paparo explicitly warned that these ``aggressive maneuvers around Taiwan are not just exercises. They are dress rehearsals for forced unification.'' It is imperative that the full weight of the United States stands firmly and publicly against these provocations. For decades, our Nation employed a strategy of opacity, restricting our formal engagement with Taiwan to avoid upsetting or insulting the Chinese Communist Party. In 2020, this body enacted the Taiwan Assurance Act, and the first Trump administration moved decisively to implement this new policy by declaring all self-imposed restrictions null and void. Unfortunately, the Biden administration waffled and rolled back many of these diplomatic standards. Under my legislation, all administrations, now and into the future, will be required to periodically update these regulations, specifically with the goal of deepening and expanding U.S.-Taiwan relations. We must stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners in the Pacific to deter the Chinese threat. I am proud to say that enacting this legislation, the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, will be a decisive step forward to ensuring peace through strength. Mr. Speaker, I close by acknowledging my close friend and co-lead of this legislation, Congressman Gerry Connolly, for his work on this legislation. Congressman Connolly is a respected voice of authority on this issue and a tireless champion for the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. It has been an absolute honor to work with the Congressman on this legislation and so many other issues. Mr. Speaker, Gerry and his entire family remain in our prayers.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was not present for the following Roll Call Vote on March 10, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 63.