[Pages H6073-H6075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 COMMEMORATING THE 30TH ANNUAL RED MASS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hunt). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 9, 2023, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 30th annual 
Red Mass of the St. Thomas More Society, which was held in Little Rock 
in October.
  The St. Thomas More Society is a nonprofit organization of lawyers 
and judges dedicated to honoring the life of St. Thomas More, the Lord 
High Chancellor of England, who opposed Henry VIII's separation from 
the Catholic Church.
  The Red Mass brings together lawyers, judges, and government 
officials to pray for the holy spirit's guidance over their work.
  At this year's mass, Reginald Rogers was honored as the 2024 St. 
Thomas More recipient, an award that recognizes Catholics in legal 
professions who demonstrate exemplary character.
  To my longtime friend from high school, Reggie, what a great 
recognition of his wonderful, caring approach to his professional and 
civic life.


               Recognizing Aircare's Pedestal Humidifier

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Aircare's Pedestal 
Humidifier, which was recently named the

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coolest thing made in Arkansas in 2024. Organized through a partnership 
between the Arkansas State Chamber and Arkansas Business News, this 
contest highlights the most innovative and noteworthy products 
manufactured in The Natural State.
  Nearly 16,000 votes were cast in a highly competitive final round, 
and the Pedestal Humidifier emerged as the champion from a field of 16 
products made by companies across our State. This product not only 
showcases Aircare's ingenuity but also reflects the broader excellence 
of Arkansas' manufacturing sector.
  I congratulate Aircare and all the visionary companies that 
contribute to our State's growing reputation for high quality, 
innovative products. I look forward to seeing more achievements from 
Arkansas businesses in the years ahead.


                        Recognizing Maddox Berry

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a remarkable young 
athlete from central Arkansas, Morrilton High School's standout 
quarterback, Maddox Berry.
  Maddox recently made Arkansas sports history by throwing a State 
record 11 touchdown passes in a single game, a feat that speaks to his 
skill, dedication, and poise under pressure.
  The game itself was an offensive clash, with Morrilton and Farmington 
combining for 153 points and 1,519 yards, nearly setting an all-time 
State record. Despite Morrilton's narrow 78 to 55 loss, Maddox's 
performance stands as one of Arkansas' all-time great athletic 
accomplishments.
  Maddox made central Arkansas proud, and we are all excited to see 
where his talents take him next.


                Recognizing Point Remove Brewing Company

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Point Remove Brewing 
Company, an outstanding Arkansas business that has become a staple of 
our State's craft brewing industry.
  Point Removed recently opened a new location in Russellville, 
furthering its impact on the local economy and the community. Based in 
Morrilton, Point Removed Brewing produced over 24,000 gallons of beer 
last year and partnered with Little Rock Central Moon Distributors to 
place its products throughout stores in The Natural State.
  Point Removed Brewing is more than just a brewery. They are also 
ambassadors for The Natural State because the beers that they make are 
named after Arkansas landmarks, like Long Pool and Petit Jean State 
Park. They proudly celebrate our heritage.
  As Point Removed Brewing opens this new location in Russellville, I 
hope they will continue to embody the entrepreneurial spirit that keeps 
our State growing.


                       Recognizing Hakeem Jordan

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a really brave, 
dedicated Arkansan, Hakeem Jordan.
  This extraordinary central Arkansan heroically rescued 26-year-old 
Jelani Proctor of North Little Rock following a tragic car accident.
  After witnessing the crash on Interstate 630, Hakeem immediately 
called 911. He ran to the site of the crash and rescued Jelani from his 
burning vehicle. He was treated at a Little Rock hospital, and is in 
stable condition.
  Unfortunately, Jelani's father, Conrad, did not survive the crash. 
Martha and I send our condolences to the entire Proctor family during 
this difficult time.
  Make no mistake, Hakeem's actions are nothing short of heroic. 
Without this incredible display of bravery and selflessness, Jelani 
would not be alive today. Central Arkansas stands better off because of 
our citizens like Hakeem.


                        Recognizing John Jumper

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate central Arkansan, 
John Jumper.
  John recently won the 2024 Noble Prize for chemistry. John graduated 
from Pulaski Academy in 2003, and is the youngest chemistry laureate in 
over 70 years.
  John and his research partners developed an AI model called 
AlphaFold2, which can predict the protein structure of nearly 200 
million proteins.
  Today, over 2 million people in 190 countries have used this 
technology to improve their understanding of proteins and their 
potential for antibiotic resistance and even decomposing plastic.
  John's tremendous scientific success serves as an inspiration to us 
all. I am proud of his achievement. What a role model for excellence 
for all of our students across our city, district, State, and the 
globe. To those chemistry students out there: Study hard.


                      Concerns From Small Business

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I have heard many concerns from small 
businesses across Arkansas and across the country about the Financial 
Crimes Enforcement Network, FinCEN's, new detrimental beneficial 
ownership reporting rule.

  As many of you may know, this rule is required by the Corporate 
Transparency Act, a law that I strongly opposed and fought against its 
basic design.
  As a former entrepreneur and small business owner, I understand the 
significance of this substantial new reporting requirement that forces 
small businesses to upload an individual ownership interest report into 
a new national database maintained at FinCEN, in my view, Mr. Speaker, 
potentially endangering the privacy of millions of American citizens.
  The worst part is that the Biden-Harris administration has failed to 
properly educate and inform small businesses and millions of others 
connected to small businesses about this new rule and the harsh 
penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and even 2 years in jail for 
failure to comply by submitting the form by January 1 of 2025. That is 
right, Mr. Speaker. This form is due January 1, 2025.
  Now, breaking news: Of the 322 million businesses in America that 
Treasury believes should be filing this new form, only 2 million have 
filled it out as of the first of October.
  Certified public accountants are eligible to help small businesses 
make the necessary filings on a company's behalf, but the issue is that 
many CPAs are reluctant to make the filings given the high threshold 
for accuracy and the potential civil and criminal penalties for a 
mistake.
  Further, in some States, filing such a form is considered the 
practice of law and therefore not covered by a CPA's liability 
insurance. This burdensome reporting requirement is due, as I noted, in 
just a few short weeks. That is why I am fighting against it in this 
House on this floor by using my position as vice chairman of the House 
Financial Services Committee to delay this new beneficial ownership 
reporting requirement, the penalties, and the due date.
  In August, I supported the Protect Small Business From Excessive 
Paperwork Act, which would extend the filing deadline by a full year to 
January 1 of 2026, buying small businesses more time to even understand 
this is a new rule they are required to follow, much less be educated 
about it and figure out what the least costly way is to comply with it.
  I also introduced my own bill, the Financial Privacy Act, to rein in 
the massive amount of personal financial information that FinCEN 
collects in the name of its anti-money laundering mission. That is an 
important mission, but this is a flawed methodology for fighting it.
  I stand tonight on the floor to create awareness about FinCEN's 
reporting requirement to the American people and deliver this crucial 
message that time is running out.
  Please know that the concerns of small business owners across the 
country are valid, they are heard, and I will continue to do everything 
I can, along with my colleagues here in the House, to push back against 
FinCEN's reporting requirement and that fast approaching deadline of 
January 1.


                 Tigran Gambaryan's Wrongful Detainment

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, after almost a year of being wrongfully 
detained by the Nigerian Government, Tigran Gambaryan is now home here 
in America with his family in Georgia where he should have been all 
along.
  Last February, Nigeria took Tigran into detention on money laundering 
and tax charges as leverage in Nigeria's goal of pressing Tigran's 
employer, Binance, into a relationship, a negotiation, a satisfaction 
of concerns that Nigeria had about Binance.

                              {time}  1930

  This deserves repeating, Mr. Speaker.

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  Nigeria arrested an American citizen with an American passport in 
Abuja on business and charged this American citizen with money 
laundering and tax evasion because the Government of Nigeria has a 
dispute with an international company, a crypto finance company called 
Binance.
  While I was traveling to west Africa over the summer with the House 
Intelligence Committee, I visited Tigran in Kuje prison where I saw 
firsthand his deteriorating health condition.
  Kuje prison, Mr. Speaker, is a tough place. It is where the Boko 
Haram terrorists were locked up and where there was a major Boko Haram 
attack and prison break. It is a tough place.
  During his detainment in Nigeria, Mr. Gambaryan suffered malaria, 
double pneumonia, and had a herniated disc.
  Mr. Speaker, Nigeria is considered a friend of the United States, yet 
their government's treatment of Tigran, who devoted his professional 
life to fighting money laundering and tax evasion as an agent of the 
U.S. IRS for over a decade, in my view, that treatment was unacceptable 
and shameful and not commiserate with a Nation that is on friendly 
partnership terms with our country.
  It was well past time for the Nigerians to drop the trumped-up 
charges of tax evasion and money laundering against Tigran Gambaryan 
personally, which they finally did, Mr. Speaker, last month. Let me be 
clear: Tigran should have never been wrongfully detained by the 
Nigerian Government in the first place.
  I thank my friends and colleagues on the House Foreign Affairs 
Committee, particularly Chairman Mike McCaul and Representative Rich 
McCormick who worked with me and led efforts to bring Tigran Gambaryan 
home to his wife and children for the holidays.
  I am thrilled to report to this House floor that he is home safely 
with his family in Georgia, in Representative McCormick's district, and 
he is on the road to health recovery.
  Mr. Speaker, let Tigran's case be heard, and let it be a clear 
example to the incoming Trump administration about how not to handle an 
American citizen who is wrongfully detained by our allies and friends.


                       Chevron Deference Reversal

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, recently, in recent months, the Federal courts 
have taken decisions that are rolling back what is termed the ``Chevron 
deference.'' This dates back to the 1980s and the 1984 Supreme Court 
case that basically said that if an independent Federal agency issued a 
rulemaking and published it in the Federal register and put it in final 
form, that in effect it had the rule of law, that it was in compliance 
effectively with our statutes here in the House; in other words, that 
it is deferring to the agency that it is in compliance with the Article 
I power here in the House.
  Recently, in recent years, several important cases of the Supreme 
Court are rolling that deference of 40 years ago back.
  In a post-Chevron deference world, I believe balance must be 
restored, primacy must be restored to the Article I powers given to 
this body and the Senate under the Constitution and end the activist 
regulatory agencies that have grown too large, too out of control, and 
been, in this administration, weaponized against the American people.
  This Chevron reversal did not automatically turn off the power of 
that administrative state, and it did not instantly empower Congress to 
be more directive of agency and Cabinet rulemakings.
  Mr. Speaker, while various interest groups must continue to bring 
lawsuits in this area where they believe congressional intent is not 
being followed, Congress must be proactive in identifying areas where 
we can tighten statutory language and make congressional intent crystal 
clear.
  I believe Congress needs to look at three big areas in this post-
Chevron deference universe. First, we need to strengthen the role of 
Congress and consider changes to the Administrative Procedures Act and 
the Congressional Review Act to require more collaboration between 
Congress and even the administration about making sure that they are 
clear that we have the authority to approve or disapprove regulations.
  In fact, Mr. Speaker, I think it would be good if the incoming Trump 
administration modeled good behavior here by actually, in every Federal 
rulemaking that a Cabinet agency or independent agency puts forward, 
they say they are in compliance with the intent of Congress, that they 
are following the statute and the statutory intent of Congress in 
designing that rulemaking.
  I believe agencies should do regular reviews of all of their 
regulations to ensure they are not outdated, they are necessary, and 
that they ensure that they are tailored to limit their compliance 
impact, cost, liability risk, and other burdens.

  I would encourage the Trump administration to work with Congress to 
where we can have the right kind of cost-benefit analysis on evaluating 
the true cost, both marginal and cumulative cost, of regulatory 
rulemakings.
  We must increase the transparency of how agency rulemakings are made. 
We must tailor specific statutes so that it is clear that Congress, 
Article I power, is in charge, our intent is clear, and that we are 
seeing that the Cabinet agencies and the independent agencies are 
following that intent.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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