Andrew R. Garbarino · TranslatePolitics.com

House of Representatives

Elo Realignment and Strategic Engagement Reform Act of 2026

2026-07-13

“I want this bill to pass. The government should spend money on this. I congratulate my friend on this good bill.”

“I want this bill to pass. It will reorganize a government office. That will cost money. I hope it makes things more efficient.”

Official Congressional Record

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 7574, the ELO Realignment and Strategic Engagement Reform Act of 2026. The Department of Homeland Security's Engagement, Liaison, and Outreach, or ELO, Office operates as a separate office within the Office of Intelligence and Analysis. Despite their similar functions, ELO operates separately from I&A's Partner Engagement directorate, which facilitates information flow and access for State, local, Tribal, and territorial partners. The ELO Realignment and Strategic Engagement Reform Act will require the DHS Secretary to develop a comprehensive plan to reorganize the ELO office and realign it with the work of I&A's Partner Engagement directorate to streamline operations and eliminate redundancies. This plan must specifically address ways to improve coordination with law enforcement agencies, centralize points of contact, and enhance information sharing. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Evans for his leadership. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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“I want to pass a bill to reorganize a government office. It will spend money on some things.”

House of Representatives

Measuring Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act

2026-07-13

“I want to thank my colleague for his work. I like this bill. I want other people to support it. I hope it passes.”

Official Congressional Record

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, I congratulate and thank Mr. Walkinshaw for his hard work on this bill. It is a great piece of legislation. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 8535, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Van Duyne). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Garbarino) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8535, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop performance metrics relating to the detection, deterrence, and seizure of illicit fentanyl, and for other purposes.''. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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“I want this bill to pass. Our government must measure how it is stopping fentanyl. Fentanyl is bad. It comes into our country. Our government must catch it. Our departments must talk to each other about catching fentanyl. A report said they don't talk enough. This bill will make them talk and measure.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8535, the Measuring Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act. This legislation requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop performance metrics relating to detection, deterrence, and seizure of illicit fentanyl for the Department of Homeland Security and each of its components. Additionally, this bill requires each relevant DHS component to share information related to the detection, deterrence, and seizure of fentanyl with each other, as well as identify any barriers to sharing information and data. The fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act required DHS to establish a program to collect data and develop measures to assess the effectiveness of efforts to detect and deter illicit fentanyl. It also required the Government Accountability Office to audit the program. A September 2025 GAO report analyzed the Department's efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking, with findings that DHS had not yet established the program, that CBP was not provided adequate information from across DHS components that would inform the program, and that DHS had not developed performance goals and metrics to track them. This legislation will support current DHS efforts to implement these requirements and combat the flow of illicit fentanyl into the United States. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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“I want to pass a bill. The government must measure how it is stopping fentanyl. The government must catch and seize fentanyl.”

House of Representatives

Major Non-Nato Ally Terror Threat Assessment Act

2026-07-13

“I want to cheer for a new Member's first bill. I want this bill to pass. That's all I have to say.”

“I want this bill to pass. It will make the government assess threats from terrorist groups in some countries. These countries are allies but not in NATO. The bill will give the government more oversight.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8168, the Major Non-NATO Ally Terror Threat Assessment Act. The Major Non-NATO Ally Terror Threat Assessment Act requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, to submit a report to Congress assessing terrorism threats from designated terrorist organizations operating in countries designated by the United States as a major non-NATO ally. Major non-NATO allies benefit from expedited procedures in the foreign military sales process, and this status also makes them desirable for foreign military financing. Major non-NATO allies are also eligible for enhanced defense research collaboration and the positioning of U.S. defense equipment. Over time, there has been inconsistent oversight of the major non- NATO allies program, and today there are situations where U.S. designated terrorist organizations are present or operating in countries that have also been designated major non-NATO allies. This legislation will strengthen oversight of the program to ensure the United States has an adequate threat picture when it comes to terrorist activity in designated major non-NATO allies. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Van Epps for his leadership and encourage my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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“I want to pass a bill to require an assessment of terrorism threats from certain countries. The government should do this assessment.”

House of Representatives

Improving Travel for American Families Act

2026-07-13

“I want the government to make airport security faster for families. We should test new screening lanes for kids under 12. Try it at busy airports with space for more lanes. This will make traveling with kids easier. I want you to vote yes on this bill.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8897, the Improving Travel for American Families Act. This bill allows the TSA Administrator to establish a 2-year pilot program to expedite access and implement alternative screening lanes for passengers and accompanying children under the age of 12. If established, this pilot program would be prioritized at airports with high volumes of family travelers, as well as at airports that have the space to accommodate additional screening lanes. This legislation will help ease the burdens families face when traveling with young children and improve the overall passenger experience. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Mackenzie for his leadership and urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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“I want this bill to pass so the government can claim it is helping families.”

House of Representatives

Weatherizing Infrastructure in the North and Terrorism Emergency Readiness Act of 2025

2026-07-13

“I like the bill. I want Congress to pass it. You should vote yes. I want to cheer for Buffalo Bills fans.”

“I want the government to do a terrorism exercise. It should be in cold weather. They must report to Congress what they learn. I brought this bill. I want Congress to pass it. I think it will help our country respond to terrorists in cold weather.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3106, the Weatherizing Infrastructure in the North and Terrorism Emergency Readiness Act of 2025. This legislation requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through appropriate offices and components of DHS to develop and conduct an exercise featuring the participation of Federal, State, local, Tribal, territorial agencies, and private-sector stakeholders focusing on a collective response to terrorism that includes the management of the cascading effects on critical infrastructure that results from the occurrence of a terrorist attack during an extreme cold weather event. DHS must then provide an after-action report to Congress consisting of initial findings, plans to incorporate any lessons learned into future DHS operations, and any proposed legislative changes informed by this exercise. This legislation will help strengthen the United States' ability to respond to terrorist threats, especially when they might coincide with extreme weather events. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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“I want to pass a bill to make the government do a terrorism exercise. It should be in cold weather. That's my bill.”

House of Representatives

One-Stop Pilot Program Extension Act

2026-07-13

“I want this bill to pass. I hope my colleagues will vote for it.”

“I want to extend a program that lets some passengers from foreign airports skip screening on their next flight in the U.S. This will make travel easier for them. I thank the chairman for his leadership. I want this bill to pass.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 9388, the One-Stop Pilot Program Extension Act. This legislation extends the one-stop security pilot program for an additional 4 years. The one-stop security pilot program is operated by TSA and aims to streamline travel for passengers returning to the United States from international travel who have domestic connections. Under the usual screening process, passengers coming from outside the United States undergo inspections by Customs and Border Protection, collect their checked bags, and exit the sterile area of the airport. Under the one-stop security screening process, passengers undergo security screening at their departure airport and fly to a one-stop participating airport where they are cleared by CBP, but they can be routed straight to the sterile area of the airport instead. In doing so, passengers are not required to reenter through TSA screening, as they have already been screened at their departure airport using the same standards and technologies required by TSA. If additional airports were to join this pilot program, passengers would be able to continue on their journey with greater ease and efficiency once they return to the United States. I thank Representative Gimenez, the chairman of our committee's Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee, for his leadership. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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“I want to extend a program that lets some passengers from foreign airports skip screening on their next flight in the U.S. Let's pass this bill.”

House of Representatives

Reimbursable Screening Services Program Extension Act of 2026

2026-07-13

“I want to extend a TSA pilot program. It screens passengers away from the main terminal. The TSA gets money from it. I want more places to use this program. It will run until 2031. My bill will help the TSA develop this program.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 9391, the Reimbursable Screening Services Program Extension Act of 2026. First established in 2019, the Reimbursable Screening Services Program is a pilot program that allows screening services to be conducted outside the primary passenger terminal screening area. This pilot program has helped provide TSA with reliable streams of revenue while at the same time maintaining a safe and efficient screening environment. This bill extends the Reimbursable Screening Services Program through fiscal year 2031 and increases the number of allowable participating entities from 8 to 14. The Reimbursable Screening Services Program Extension Act provides increased certainty for this pilot program to ensure it can continue to develop while Congress assesses its long-term viability. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New Jersey, Representative Pou, for cosponsoring this important legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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“I want to pass this bill to spend more money on the TSA.”

House of Representatives

Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Reporting Act of 2026

2026-07-13

“I want to cheer for a program that spends money in my district. I want more reports about spending money. I hope the reports say we should keep spending money. I thank my friend for making a bill to get those reports.”