Michael Lawler

“I am honoring Howard Pierson, who died at age 91. He served in the Army, played professional baseball, and spent over 30 years teaching and coaching college sports in our community. I send my condolences to his family.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Howard Pierson, a beloved lifelong resident of Nyack, who passed away peacefully at the end of July at the age of 91. For decades, Howard was a cherished member of our community, dedicating his life to his faith, family, and inspiring those around him. A graduate of Tappan Zee High School, he earned 13 varsity letters in four sports before playing baseball at Manhattan College and signing with the Philadelphia Phillies. After serving in the United States Army, Howard returned home and spent more than three decades educating and mentoring young people in Rockland County. At Rockland Community College, he taught, coached, and served as athletic director for 15 years. His golf teams won 21 conference championships, and in 1980, Howard became the first African American to win the Metropolitan Golf Association’s Amateur Championship. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Dorothea; his family; and all who knew and loved him. Mr. Speaker, may he rest in peace.”

“I want the House to pass this bill. Electricity already costs too much in New York. Huge data centers want to connect to our power grid, and they need a lot of electricity. Big companies should pay for the power upgrades they need, instead of passing those costs onto families and small businesses.”

“Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act. New York families and businesses face some of the highest electricity costs in the country. In February, the average residential electricity price in New York reached about 70 percent higher than the national average, and it is up 58 percent in the last 6 years. At the same time, data centers seeking to connect to New York’s electric grid are reportedly requesting more than 9,000 megawatts of additional electricity. Years of failed energy policies out of Albany, including shutting down nuclear, banning natural gas, blocking pipelines, and other crazy ideas, have already driven up costs for New Yorkers. We cannot afford to make the problem worse. As we work to bring new investments and jobs to New York and, indeed, America, we need to make sure that the costs of growth do not fall on the families and small businesses already struggling to pay their utility bills. That is why I support the Ratepayer Protection Act. This legislation simply establishes a basic principle of fairness. It is about making sure that the companies driving new demand for electricity are responsible for the costs associated with that demand. We are already seeing communities and policymakers grappling with how to manage the rapid growth of large-scale data centers and the demands that they place on our energy infrastructure. This is something that the Federal Government needs to work together on to create regulations and protect the people because we need a better approach. We need one that respects the role of local communities while ensuring that companies driving new demand are responsible for the costs that they create. We need a policy that looks ahead, builds the infrastructure we need, and protects ratepayers at the same time. I will continue working to ensure that New Yorkers have access to reliable and affordable energy while making sure that large energy users pay their fair share. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.”

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“I want to honor the life of John P. O'Malley, who recently passed away at age 73. He served for many years as a respected police detective in New York City and as a federal investigator, and he was devoted to his family.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of John P. O’Malley, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and respected law enforcement investigator, who passed away peacefully on July 16 at age 73. Born and raised in the Bronx, John spent more than 20 years with the New York City Police Department, becoming one of the Bronx’s most respected homicide detectives. Known for his integrity, professionalism, and investigative skill, he was widely regarded as a detective’s detective. After retiring from the NYPD, John continued his commitment to justice as an investigator with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, earning the respect of prosecutors, agents, and investigators alike. But above all, John was a devoted family man. He and his wife, Annie, built their life in Pearl River, where they raised their children. My thoughts and prayers are with Annie; his sons; and especially his beloved grandchildren, who were his pride and joy. John will be remembered for his honor, humility, humor, and unwavering dedication to his country, community, friends, and family. May he rest in peace.”

“I support this bill. It delays new fishing rules until 2035. This protects fishing jobs and gives scientists more time to find ways to protect whales without hurting fishermen.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 9436, the Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act. I want to thank Chairman Westerman for working with me to bring this bill to the floor, as well as my colleague from Maine who has fought tirelessly on behalf of his constituents, Jared Golden. In Maine alone, the lobster industry generates approximately $2 billion in economic activity each year and supports more than 17,500 jobs. Local industries like this one are a lifeline for families and communities that have been in business for generations. In New York, the fishing industry generates more than $2 billion in economic activity and supports over 10,000 jobs. For decades, the Northeast lobster and commercial fishing industries have faced growing regulatory pressure as Federal efforts to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale have unintentionally impacted fisheries. In 2022, this important industry faced the prospect of even more regulations that would have had devastating consequences on fishermen’s livelihoods and their local communities that depend on them. Congress responded by temporarily pausing the regulations and providing funding to improve North Atlantic whale research. That research is already producing better data, but more work remains. My bill would simply extend the current regulatory pause through 2035, giving the scientific community more than enough additional time to develop durable science-driven solutions that protect the North Atlantic right whale while ensuring American fishermen can continue to do their jobs. The Northeast lobster fishery is an important part of our coastal economy, supporting not only fishermen but also the processors, restaurants, and local businesses. Fishermen have spent years adapting to changing conservation requirements and implementing measures to reduce the risk of whale entanglements. They deserve regulatory stability and certainty rather than constantly shifting requirements that threaten their ability to operate and plan for the future. This legislation is about giving American fishermen the certainty they need to keep their businesses operating while also giving scientists and the industry the time to create innovative solutions to protect both the North Atlantic right whale and the future of Northeast fisheries. We all have industries back home that shape our communities. I am not from Maine, but I know the importance of local economies and the individual people who work hard for their families. I will always fight for small businesses and for the New Yorkers back home who show up every day to keep them going. This is a perfect example of bipartisanship and the willingness to work together for our constituents, for our communities, and to support commonsense legislation that protects the very people we were sent here to represent. I will also say that I refuse to be intimidated by the activists and organizations, like the NRDC, which is threatening to spend millions of dollars in political spending right now--”

“I want the House to pass this bill. It stops members of Congress from trading stocks. Lawmakers should not get rich from inside information while making the rules. This bill also requires voters to show a photo ID to vote, which keeps our elections safe.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7008, the Stop Insider Trading Act, to end stock trading by Members of Congress, because trust in our democracy cannot be a luxury item. It must be the everyday expectation of every American. For too long, the public has watched the headlines that read like a civic lesson gone wrong: elected officials buying and selling stocks in industries they regulate, profiting from information the public will never see. That is not merely unseemly, it is corrosive. It eats away at confidence in this institution, and confidence once lost is not easily rebuilt. Banning congressional stock trading is a simple proposition. If someone serves the public, they serve only the public. They don’t get to play the market with one hand while writing the rules with the other. They don’t get to benefit from the power the people have loaned them. This reform is about fairness--for the teacher saving for retirement, the nurse investing in her future, the small business owner trying to build something that lasts. They play by the rules. They deserve a Congress that does the same. Mr. Speaker, this is our chance to say clearly: Public service is a public trust. Let us honor it. The fact is this bill bans stock trading. And, yes, it requires photo ID, something 80 percent of Americans agree with. People just saw what came out yesterday by one of our former colleagues, the Governor of New Jersey, Mikie Sherrill, announcing that 6,600 non-U.S. citizens were added to the voter rolls in New Jersey and nearly 400 of them voted in the election. Voter ID ensures the sanctity of our elections and ensures confidence by the American people in our elections. Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that we pass this legislation, and the American people should watch how every single Member votes on this bill.”

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“I want to honor Ismael Quintana on his retirement. He served in the Army Reserve and has spent years helping local veterans get housing, food, and mental health support.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary veteran, public servant, and advocate, Ismael ``Izzy’’ Quintana, and to congratulate him on his well-earned retirement. After serving our Nation as a major in the United States Army Reserve, Izzy never stopped answering the call to serve. As the veteran outreach coordinator for BRIDGES PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Program (Vet to Vet), he has dedicated himself to helping veterans in crisis, connecting them with critical resources and ensuring they never face their struggles alone. Drawing on his military and law enforcement experience, Izzy has trained police recruits to respond to veterans in crisis while helping veterans find housing, navigate difficult circumstances, and access support. His volunteer work with The American Legion, his church’s food pantry, and other local organizations embodies what it truly means to put service above self. This year Izzy received the New York State Suicide Prevention Center Pair-Up Award. I am proud to recognize him as one of New York’s 17th District Veterans of the Year. Mr. Speaker, his selfless service is an example to us all. I thank Izzy for his extraordinary service to our veterans, community, and country. I wish my friend the very best in his retirement.”

“I am honoring Lauren Shields, who recently died at age 26. She had two organ transplants and spent her life working to help other people get transplants. I urge all Americans to register as organ donors.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary legacy and life of Lauren Shields, who recently passed away at just 26 years old. Lauren was the definition of a fighter. After receiving a lifesaving heart transplant as a child and a kidney transplant from her mother in 2020, she chose to dedicate her life to serving others. A proud graduate of Albertus Magnus High School and Dominican University, Lauren became a tireless advocate for organ donation, helping pass Lauren’s Law, which expanded New York’s organ donor registry, before serving as a community and government affairs liaison at LiveOnNY. I had the privilege of knowing Lauren. I was proud to call her a friend. Even in passing, Lauren gave hope to others as a tissue donor. Today, thousands of Americans are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Lauren’s legacy reminds us that one decision can save lives and give families more time. I urge all of my colleagues and all Americans to consider registering as organ donors. My deepest condolences go out to Lauren’s parents, Jeanne and David; her brother, Brandon; and all of her loved ones. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said: It is not length of life, but depth of life. In her short life, Lauren made the Hudson Valley and our country a better place. May she rest in peace.”