Brad Wenstrup

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, imagine winning a war for a country that didn't yet exist and had no government. That was our beginning. What our Founders did have was freedom-loving people who believed that our rights come from God. There were 13 independent Colonies that united for a common purpose to form the United States of America. Eventually, they formed three branches of government: the executive, judicial, and legislative. Here we are in this beautiful Chamber right now. Growing up, I watched ``Superman,'' and each show began with the motto: Fighting for ``truth, justice, and the American way.'' I bought in, and I truly believe that most of America does, as well. At a young age, I knew that I wanted to be a doctor. I didn't imagine that that would lead to military and legislative careers as well. That is my version of the American Dream, I suppose. I have loved every chapter, not knowing that they all would overlap, and, on occasion, God would put me right where I could serve best. Sometimes he would perform miracles: Long live Majority Leader Steve Scalise, an American hero. When one chapter ends, another chapter begins. With the priorities of God, family, and country in mind, I will return home to further elevate my roles as husband, father, coach, and provider, while God, family, and country are all still priorities. I cherish all the great Americans who I have served with along the way. Thanks for keeping me company. I have been blessed. My wife, Monica; and my children, Brad and Sophia, are my blessings, as well. Farewell for now. God bless all of you, and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the incredible football season of the 2024 Ironton Tigers, capping it off with a 28-17 victory over Liberty Center in the Division 5 State Championship. This is Ironton High School's third state title and their first in thirty- five years. Finishing the season with a fifteen and one record, the Tigers outscored their opponents by nearly six hundred points throughout the season as they dominated teams from Southern Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Led by Senior quarterback, Brayden Schreck, and Senior wide receiver, Shaun Terry, the duo combined for twenty-three receiving touchdowns, more than half of Schreck's season total of thirty-seven. Terry finished the season with more than 1,500 yards, ranking him in the top twenty-five nationally for reception yards. I am so proud of the Ironton Tigers' phenomenal season, and I am even more proud of how they distinguished themselves with a victory in the state final. The Ironton School District's motto is ``To Teach, To Nurture, To Serve'' and now they can add ``To Win'' to the list as well. Congratulations to all of the Ironton community and especially to the coaches and athletes that made this victory possible.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the incredible achievement of Tim Massa, Chief People Officer and Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Labor Relations at The Kroger Co., and his induction as a Fellow into the National Academy of Human Resources (NAHR). Since its creation in 1992, the NAHR has only recognized 195 individuals for their leadership, innovation, and service to the human resources profession. Tim's induction is a testament to his incredible leadership in and commitment to the profession. Between his 21-year tenure with Proctor and Gamble and his 14-year career at Kroger, Tim has demonstrated unparalleled leadership development and employee engagement throughout his career. As Chief People Officer at Kroger, Tim leads critical HR and labor relations functions, which have set the standard for the culture at Kroger and throughout the Country. Not only has Tim committed more than thirty years to two stalwart Cincinnati companies, but his commitment to civic engagement, which includes serving on the boards of the Cincinnati Zoo, the City of Cincinnati Workforce Innovation Center, and the American Health Policy Institute, has benefited all Cincinnatians and underscores his belief in the power of good leadership. Tim Massa's induction into the NAHR is a recognition of his tireless and his ability to lead change. As Chairwoman of the NAHR Tracy Keogh said, ``Members of the 2024 Class of Fellows have been acknowledged by their peers as reaching the highest level of achievement in the Human Resources profession.'' Tim Massa embodies this standard of excellence and has consistently demonstrated vision in driving transformative initiatives. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Tim Massa on this extraordinary achievement. His work has not only elevated Kroger and Cincinnati but has also made a lasting impact on the human resources field, exemplifying the very best of leadership, integrity, and service.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share the life of Ohio Second District native and Major League Baseball star, Al Oliver of Portsmouth, Ohio. Born in 1946, Al learned from a young age what it means to be a leader. After his mother passed away when he was 11, he took on the incredible responsibility of caring for his two younger siblings. A standout baseball and basketball player at Portsmouth High School, he would later sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates at just 17 years old and would make his major league debut just 3 years later. Oliver's career lasted 18 years including stops with seven baseball teams. Most notably, Oliver was part of the September 1, 1971, Pirates lineup that featured the first all-Black lineup in Major League Baseball history. That 1971 team would later go on to win the World Series. In 1986, Oliver retired as a seven-time all-star, a three-time Silver Slugger, and World Series champion. Much like the story of our Nation, Oliver's is a story of overcoming challenges. Al Oliver's story of fighting through adverse odds is an example to our Nation's children in America, through hard work, and perseverance, one can accomplish anything they set their mind to. Al Oliver did that. We thank Al Oliver. A grateful Nation salutes him. Play ball.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the successes of Chieftain Elementary School in Logan, Ohio, as they were recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2024. I have had the privilege of visiting the Logan-Hocking school district and the compassion and care the teachers, staff, and administrators, have for their students always stands out. They are committed not just to the academic success of their students, but also to caring deeply about the well-being of each and every one of their students. They are invested in the success of their students because they know it will result in the success of their community. A happy and healthy student is a student who is ready to succeed. I want to thank the talented teachers and staff for their dedication to Ohio's youth and I commend Chieftain Elementary on this incredible recognition.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. I rise today in support of H.R. 3800, the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act. I am proud to lead this bill with my colleague Earl Blumenauer. As a physician, I have seen firsthand the impact that chronic disease is having on patients. Six in ten Americans live with at least one chronic disease. According to the CDC, approximately 90 percent of the United States' healthcare spending is attributed to managing and treating patients with chronic diseases and mental health conditions. Clearly, we must take action to help Americans living with chronic disease better manage and treat their conditions. This bill would give employers who offer high-deductible health plans the option to cover 14 chronic care management medical services before an individual reaches their deductible. In doing this, this bill allows employers the flexibility that helps incentivize their employees to adhere to services that help manage their chronic condition and keep them healthier. This is a win-win-win. It is a win for the patient, a win for the employer, and a win for our Nation, where we manage healthy patients and keep them healthy so that they will be able to go to work and live a full life. Surveys show that when you offer employers the opportunity to expand predeductible services, they see the value in doing so and choose to give their employees that very opportunity. Every American deserves to live a healthy life or as healthy as possible considering their health situation. This bill would help Americans do just that, by better managing and treating chronic conditions that affect so many of our fellow citizens. Patients are served well when their disease is treated before it progresses and gets worse. When patients with chronic disease can access care sooner, they can stay healthier longer. A healthy nation is a strong nation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 1432, the VSO Equal Tax Treatment Act, or the VETT Act. The VETT Act is a commonsense, bipartisan bill, which I have been proud to lead since 2018. As a veteran myself, I know firsthand how these organizations offer vital support and a sense of community to Americans who wore our Nation's uniform and sacrificed so much for our country. All veterans deserve our support and gratitude, regardless of the period in which they served. Yet, under the current tax code, veterans service organizations whose membership consist of less than 90 percent wartime veterans are prohibited from accepting tax-deductible donations. This disadvantages the VSOs that serve a broad membership of both wartime and nonwartime veterans, and forces them to choose between the significant benefit of being able to accept tax-deductible donations for serving the 2.4 million veterans who do not meet the definition of wartime veterans. It is long past time that we fix this antiquated provision in the tax code by updating the definition of charitable contributions so that it includes congressionally chartered veterans service organizations. The VETT Act would do exactly that, ending an unfair tax on Americans who donate to these deserving VSOs. This legislation is supported by a host of VSOs, including AMVETS, The American Legion, Fleet Reserve Association, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Military Order of the World Wars, Non Commissioned Officers Association, U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association, and TREA: The Enlisted Association. I thank my partner on this bill, Representative Jimmy Panetta, who has been a tremendous advocate for veterans in Congress and who I have been proud to work with on this bill and other legislation, especially concerning veterans. I would be remiss if I didn't share my appreciation for our former colleague, Representative Ron Kind, who was the Democrat lead on this bill in previous Congresses. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bill and fix this error in the tax code for the benefit of our veteran community.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Madam Speaker, I go back with Bill before I was on the Ways and Means Committee. My mom is all Italian, so I got involved with the other dagos here in Congress and would go to the Italian events. That is where I got to meet this feisty gentleman who was all Italian. We were very proud of our Italian heritage, as you could tell. Here is a guy that, as I got to know him, was one of those you just couldn't take down. It didn't help that his colleagues kept having his ninetieth birthday for, like, 10 years when he wasn't 90 yet. I thought he was older than he was when I first got to know him, but he was up there. He was up there. I figured by that age--this guy, he just keeps on going-- I mean, he must be immune to everything at this time. Certainly, we were all shocked and saddened when we lost Bill Pascrell. I would hear him pontificating a lot of times, and the chair would often tell him his time had expired. He didn't hear it. If he did, he ignored it. He always had something to say. You could disagree with whatever he had to say out there, and sometimes you disagreed in the Chamber. Other times, though, you would get in the back and nothing was bitter. You had your conversation. That is why I considered him a true friend because you could disagree without any personal anger. That is one of the things I loved about him. No matter what the political difference, it could be discussed in the back room, for sure. We have a common love for our Italian heritage, for sure. I don't do it as much as my forefathers from Italy, but you talk with your hands, and you point with your fingers. I was glad I knew that when I first got on Ways and Means because he was doing that a lot. I took no offense to it because I got it. I know how it works. Both of us with our Italian heritage, I know that we are both more proud as Americans than anything else but proud of our heritage, as well. I want to tell a story. We didn't always disagree, right? We agreed a lot. I remember one time I had just stated something, and he followed me and said, I would like to associate myself with the words of the doctor from Ohio. I went up to him afterward, and I said, Bill, you just got me a primary. Thanks a lot. Anyway, I really considered him a true friend in agreement and in disagreement, proud to have served with this great American with a long history of being a great American, and as a proud Italian, I am glad to have served with this other Italian-American.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill with Mr. Krishnamoorthi, my friend, the BIOSECURE Act which passed the Oversight and Reform Committee by an overwhelming bipartisan support vote of 40-1. This legislation is a critical piece in our broader efforts this week to protect Americans, in this case, their personal health data, from the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese Communist Party does not get due process in America. The BIOSECURE Act will help protect the biologic data of American patients and make sure that their data does not fall into the hands of our adversaries. We do this by prohibiting Federal contracting with biotechnology companies of concern, companies and their subsidiaries that have overt and enduring ties with the CCP, or even using the equipment and services of these very companies. Our government has acted to keep the CCP out of our telecommunication networks and communication platforms. Now we must act to keep them away from our genomic and health data. China has publicly stated their desire to dominate the global biotechnology market by 2035. This is incredibly concerning given the Chinese Communist Party's national intelligence laws which require Chinese firms to share any requested data with the CCP. The existence of that law is enough to drive us forward with this bill because that law includes biotech companies that collect, test, and store American genomic data. That is why they are named. It is because that is the risk to the American people and our national security. This legislation affects companies like the Beijing Genomics Institute, known as BGI, a Chinese company that has collected DNA from millions around the world and used that data without consent for genomic projects conducted by the Chinese military. A 2021 Reuters report found DNA data collected from BGI's prenatal test on women outside China has also been stored in China's government- funded gene database. Another Chinese company, WuXi AppTec, has sponsored events with China's military, with IP reportedly stolen from the U.S., and jointly operated genetic collection sites with Chinese military. Further, as was mentioned before, the chairman of WuXi AppTec is a board member of WuXi Biologics and a known member of the CCP. He has publicly mentioned many times about the central role of the CCP in WuXi group activities. We have worked to ensure this bill provides an appropriate and workable offering for American companies and our government to decouple with CCP-aligned biotech firms. This is about protecting Americans from an adversary that will leave no stone unturned to get an upper hand over the United States of America and our people. Time and time again, these biotech companies have proven they are more than willing to do the bidding of the CCP. It is a proven relationship. We can't at the same time allow them to collect the private health information of millions of Americans. I spent 25 years as an Army physician and combat surgeon. I spent 10 years now on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Guess what? We don't bring our adversaries in for questioning. It doesn't work that way. As a matter of fact, I tried to do that, Mr. Speaker, on the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. I asked the Chinese Ambassador about certain scientists in China we would like to speak to. They didn't respond. It is time for Congress to take this step toward securing our national health security for every person in America, in every district of America. This is no joke, and it is just the start. It really needs to be just the start. My colleague said that he is not against this bill only because he has a company that wants to build in his district. I guess it must be one of his reasons. He said it is not the only reason. I applaud the bipartisan work of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party for their serious efforts, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the incredible life of Major Edward Arthur Burke, a Cincinnati native and D-day veteran who passed away on June 22 at the age of 104 years old. Major Burke attended my alma mater, St. Xavier High School. He went on to Xavier University and joined the ROTC program in 1938 after reading the news of Hitler's march through Europe. Upon graduating in 1942, he and his fellow officers were sent to Fort Knox to prepare for the historic D-day invasion. Hand-selected by General Patton to be commander of the 821st Tank Destroyer Battalion, Burke was sent on numerous missions behind enemy lines. He was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and the French Legion of Honor for his service in Europe. At St. Xavier High School, our goal is to be ``Men for Others,'' something Major Burke truly embodied. He was willing to put himself in harm's way, not just for the betterment of his men, but to protect freedom and give liberty an opportunity to thrive. His life is a testament to the sacrifices of his generation. As yet another member of our Nation's Greatest Generation has found eternal peace in Heaven, it is our job not only to remember their stories and the bravery they embodied, but to protect the rights and freedom that they fought so bravely to save.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of John Hemmings, III, who is retiring as Executive Director of the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission, what we in Southern Ohio know as the OVRDC, after committing 33 years of life and work to the Commission. Starting as a Regional Planner in 1991, John has held almost every position within the Commission, serving as Executive Director since 2008. During his time at the OVRDC, John lent his skills and talents to countless programs that helped revolutionize the Ohio River Valley, including a regional commission that coordinates a cross-governmental approach to improve the local community through infrastructure and economic development. As a Scioto County native, John's commitment to the region has led to critical improvements in the lives of so many Ohioans. Working with him to advance the dreams and lives of so many has truly been an honor.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the career of Gallipolis native and Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, Steve Lee. Steve truly understands what service to our nation means. Steve has never forgotten about our nation's veterans. In 2004, Steve helped found one of the USO's largest annual events: Cincinnati's Tribute to the Troops, which has raised millions of dollars to help support the important work USOs do for our veterans. As a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, Steve played a critical role in connecting local communities with the Army. Through meeting with local community members, liaisons help communicate the concerns of the public with the Secretary of the Army. Liaisons like Steve also play an important role in recruitment and retention, as he served as the face of the Army to the local community. As a veteran myself, I have seen firsthand the impact Steve has had on our community and I want to thank him for his tireless commitment to the over 40,000 veterans who reside in southern Ohio.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Palmer, and I thank all of my colleagues who participated in this event tonight. People ask me what my greatest memory of my time in Congress is. I tell people, it is the day that Steve Scalise walked back on this floor. It truly is. I thank those who are watching and listening tonight. I encourage people to read Steve's book. Maybe I shouldn't say this on the floor, I don't know, but it is a great book. It really sums up all the miracles of the day. It is called ``Back in the Game.'' Look, you have heard from a lot of people tonight very touching stories, sentimental to all of us, a lot of lessons learned, but it is pretty interesting if you listen to everybody, you recognize that we went to a baseball practice and, as a result, carved out our chapter in history and affirmed our faith in God. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I thank Roger for his words. I greatly appreciate them. Now, we will hear from Barry Loudermilk, who was there that day and was one of several who not only was there and survived but participated in helping others throughout that entire time. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk).

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, there clearly was a lot of divine intervention. We titled this event tonight: ``6/14/2017--A Day of Infamy in America.'' ``Infamy'' means an evil act, and it truly was that. I remember watching Jeff Duncan leave. I was out in the outfield, and I was thinking to myself: I usually have to leave early. Today I don't. I can stay longer. There were so many things that were divine intervention. I met the groundskeeper a couple months later. He said: ``I don't know why, but I locked the third-base gate the night before.'' If that gate was open, he could have walked right in. The fences are 20-feet high. People can't just hop the fence and get out. Thank goodness for Steve Scalise. He took a bullet for all of us. The first shot rang out. It hit a link in the fence right by the bullpen. It was our last practice, so our pitchers weren't in the bullpen. That was another divine intervention. Trent Kelly, a two-star general who did a couple tours overseas, was at third base, and he immediately cries out: ``There is a shooter,'' and everyone started to disperse. Along the way, everybody was trying to help one another. A young man, Matt Mika, was hit severely in the side of his chest and out the front of his chest. Steve went down, and he was crawling towards the outfield. Then he came to a stop, and there he lay. In the meantime, everyone else was running to try and get out on the first-base side, diving into the dugout, which served as a bunker, as the shooter eventually started shooting above the dugout. You can see the bullet holes there today. We were blessed that David and Crystal were there as well as the Alexandria Police ultimately. They were both hit, actually, but they were there and saved our lives. I had changed my mind. For some reason, after I had batting practice, I was on my way back to the outfield. I changed my mind and went down to the batting cage, which is outside the fence of the field on the first-base side. The shooter started on the third-base side. A shot rang out at about 7 o'clock in the morning. I got down on the ground. I served as a combat surgeon in Iraq. My instincts kicked in, and I am thinking: Who is doing the shooting? How many people are doing the shooting? God put me in a place where I could see the shooter, and I could see the Capitol Police. I could see where everyone was, including Steve. Thank God for that. I thank God for that. When they eventually took him down, I was able to run out to Steve. There were 136 rounds fired that day. Most people don't know that. This went on for a while. Most people think a guy came along and fired a shot. No, it was far more than that. When I got to Steve, I was able to recognize that he was hurt worse than people might have thought because he was bleeding internally. We were able to slow down his bleeding. The rest is history, and he was able to make it to the hospital. When he got to the hospital, he no longer had blood pressure, but they were able to save his life. A lot of miracles and a lot of sacrifices were made. I have always said it is kind of interesting that it happened around a baseball game because baseball is the only sport I know that has a play called a sacrifice where you give of yourself to advance another. I saw so many people on the field that day doing whatever they could to help those who were hit. Paul Ryan came on the floor that day and said: ``An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.'' I agree. We are fortunate to be here today, all of us. That is part of what we want to talk about today is how grateful we are to God for the divine intervention that occurred for so many as we tell our story. It could have been far worse. To think that if Steve Scalise wasn't there, there would have been no Capitol Police, and this man could have walked onto that field and killed up to 20 or 30 Members of Congress and staff, possibly changing the balance of power in the House of Representatives in one morning. I contend that is an insurrection. That is an insurrection, but we survived. We are grateful. We stand here today grateful, and we don't want this day to be pushed aside in the books of history. This is bigger than that. God was on our side. We did everything we could for each other on that day, and that is an important message that we want to share with Americans. Mr. Speaker, I would like to now introduce the manager of our baseball team--after a very successful stewardship of the baseball game last night. This is Representative Roger Williams of Texas, and I shared with him how someone last night before the game asked me, when this game comes around, do you think of the events of that day? I said that I think of the events of that day every day of my life. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams).

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I thank those that are here tonight to speak on the experience from that day. I thought it would be appropriate that we start with Mr. Duncan. Mr. Duncan was one of the first to leave practice that day, and he will share his experience at this time. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan).

Mr. WENSTRUP. Thank you very much, Barry. I am grateful for you bringing that bag of medical supplies from the Capitol Police van because there were things in there I needed, and we were able to put a clotting bandage on, use a better tourniquet than a belt, and we started supplying liquids to Steve to help sustain him. Also helping me right there was Mr. Gary Palmer. Next, we are going to hear from Mr. Palmer.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, there are things that we do in our lives each and every day that become so routine. There are things that become so rote as we go about them, and often that includes our Pledge of Allegiance. Tomorrow is Flag Day. As we pledge our loyalty to this flag, think about what she has stood for. Think about where she has been: from the home of Betsy Ross to the streets of Concord, to the fields of Gettysburg, to the rocks of Iwo Jima, to the tundra of Korea, to the jungles of Vietnam, and to the deserts of the Middle East. She has stood in our front yards. She has stood on the Moon. She has been sadly placed over coffins and proudly raised at the Olympics. She is posted on the sides of humanitarian aid packages. She flies through the air. She sails across the seas. She marches over the land. She has stood for freedom in places around the world until freedom could stand on its own two feet. Evildoers have feared her. Those in need have prayed for her arrival. She has always stood for exceptionalism, and for that, we do not apologize.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of Bob Pautke, Executive Director of LEAD Clermont Community Leadership Program in Clermont County, Ohio. Since 2012, Bob has dedicated his time to helping local small business owners and community leaders build their leadership skills to improve the economic vitality and quality of life in Clermont County. He touched the lives of hundreds of LEAD graduates throughout his time. While Bob's time with the LEAD Clermont Community Leadership Program is ending, Bob's dedication to the Clermont County community continues. He also volunteers with numerous programs throughout Ohio's Second District, including the Clermont County Boys and Girls Club and the Great Oaks Career Campuses Business Advisory Board. I know Bob's commitment to bettering Clermont County will continue, and I thank him for his tireless dedication to our community.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the incredible success of the St. Xavier High School swimming and diving team and to congratulate them on winning their 44th State championship. The dedication and hard work of these talented athletes is second to none, as they have claimed 24 of the last 26 State championships, 4 of the last 5, and 44 out of the last 54. The St. Xavier High School swimming and diving team, the Bombers, or Aqua Bombers as they are also known, won their most recent championship with a score of 302 points, beating out the runners-up by 73 points. The Bombers were led by Ohio Second District native Max Ward, who brought home first place finishes in the 100-meter butterfly and the 200-meter freestyle. As a member of the St. Xavier ``Long Blue Line'' and a swimmer alum, I want to congratulate the talented swimmers, divers, and coaches on this incredible feat. If they made it look easy, it was because it wasn't. Go Bombers.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 3738, the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration Act, or VEOTA Act. As a retired member of the U.S. Army Reserve and Iraq war veteran, I know how important it is to help our warfighters succeed in their transition to civilian life. Far too often, people think unjustly that veterans return from war defeated and with skills that aren't applicable to the civilian world. This could be no further from the truth and anything else I have ever heard. Our veterans are strong, dependable leaders and team players. Our commitment to programs that promote opportunity and success brings forth their abilities and potential. I believe our servicemembers should have a plan from the day that they enter the military to the day they transition out and beyond. We should care about their military and post-military careers. Our veterans are soldiers for life, as we say in the Army, and we need to put as much emphasis and attention on their success after service as we do during it. Currently, the Veterans Benefits Administration is responsible for all Department of Veterans Affairs benefits provided to veterans outside of healthcare and cemetery services. While there are many different benefits that the VBA provides, the bulk of staffing and resources have been, understandably, directed toward the administration of disability compensation and pension claims. This has resulted in a lack of attention on the administration of other VBA benefits, such as the Forever GI Bill, vocational rehabilitation, home loan benefits, and VA's portion of the Transition Assistance Program. We can't let these benefits fall by the wayside, especially those that empower veterans and help set them on the path to success in civilian life. By aligning transition, education, and employment programs in a fourth administration within the VA, this act will modernize the Department and ensure that these opportunity-focused programs get the high priority they deserve and the oversight they need to better serve our veterans. I thank Representative Levin for leading this legislation with me now for the third time. We have many Senators supporting us, as well. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today celebrate the brave first responders of the Pomeroy Fire Department in Meigs County, Ohio, as they are being honored as the Ohio Fire Department of the Year by the State Fire Marshall and the Ohio Department of Public Safety. The 30 members of the all-volunteer Pomeroy firefighting force have consistently demonstrated a level of training, preparedness, and dedication second to none. They've proven their commitment to excellence by pursuing advanced training, completing both in-service and multicompany training exercises, enhancing the force's efficiency, loss reduction, and ability to safeguard our community. I cannot say enough about how much Pomeroy's Fire Department has given back to Meigs County, serving well beyond their roles as first responders--leading food drives, educating the community on fire safety and prevention, and distributing smoke detectors, among many other contributions. I am pleased to honor the fine men and women of the Pomeroy firefighting force for their justly deserved recognition as the Ohio Fire Department of the Year. Their service makes our community, Pomeroy, Meigs County, and Ohio, a better place--and I could not be more proud. Congratulations to them on this well-deserved award.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor the life of former Hamilton County Auditor Brigid Kelly who lost her battle with cancer on March 26, 2024. Brigid lived an incredible life of service. She was a true public servant who focused on improving the lives of Ohio families. She worked to bridge the partisan divides and make a difference for our citizens, first as a Norwood city councilwoman, then as a State representative, and most recently as Hamilton County auditor. While serving as representative, Brigid dedicated herself to easing the burdens that young families face. In every role she served, she did that. Brigid gave of herself to put constituents first, champion their needs, and attempt to ensure their lives could be made better. Her well-earned reputation of sincere civility was known and respected by all. My prayers go out to all who knew and loved Brigid. The Cincinnati community, the State of Ohio, and our Nation mourn with her family and friends. May Brigid's memory continue to inspire us and future generations to serve our community with the same spirit of selfless service.

Mr. WENSTRUP

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chair, I want to just say what is true and what is not true. A query does not investigate a U.S. citizen. In many cases, it is acting on behalf of a U.S. citizen to keep them safe.

Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Chair, I certainly am a supporter of this underlying bill. This is a bipartisan product. It came out of the Intelligence Committee, and it came out of the Intelligence Committee when we realized a few years ago all the abuses that were taking place within our intelligence system. We knew we had to act. There had to be reforms, and there had to be criminal liability when people and their agencies are doing the wrong things. That wasn't in place, and for the last 2\1/2\ years, we have worked on this. We have worked on it in a bipartisan way not just with the Intelligence Committee but with the whole body. We opened this up to the entire body, Republican and Democrat, regardless of what committee a Member is on, and we worked together to craft a very good bill. This isn't just an Intelligence Committee bill. This is a House of Representatives bill. That is what we have brought forward. This bill ensures Americans' civil liberties are secure and that we have intelligence collection tools that we need to safeguard our country from foreign threats. The Constitution asked us to provide for our defense, which is what we are trying to do, and to work against all enemies, foreign and domestic, which is what we are trying to do. I want to set the record straight. It is already in statute that a warrant is required every single time the United States Government wants to investigate a U.S. person under FISA under section 702, but a warrant is not required to do a query to find out what we might need for probable cause to get a warrant. Now, this amendment wants to put a warrant on getting a query when time is of the essence. Mr. Chair, if Ali Khamenei is talking about you and we pick up that, then I want to know why he is talking about you. I want to do a query into the information we already have to see if anyone else is talking about you. Moreover, I want to find out if they are planning to assassinate you, Mr. Chair. I shouldn't need a warrant to try to find out if a foreign actor is trying to assassinate a U.S. citizen. I shouldn't need a warrant to find out if a foreign actor or terrorist is working with someone in the United States to harm other Americans, but if we want to investigate that person, then yes, we do. There is a lot of misinformation out there. American civil liberties are not being harmed. Mr. Chair, I will give you a hypothetical example, too. American citizen Bob Smith pops up in a FISA database. Some are saying that government can obtain or search Bob's emails, texts, and phone calls. That is not true. That is not true, but you can do a query to see if anyone else is talking about this person, and not just anyone else anywhere, but a foreign actor or a foreign terrorist whose information you already have.