Ryan Mackenzie · TranslatePolitics.com

House of Representatives

Honoring James Robert Yaroszeufski

2026-07-21

“I want to honor a man in my district who farmed. He was good at farming for a long time and many people knew him. He died. I want his family to know I said nice things about him.”

“A man from my district named Bob served in the Army in Vietnam. He got some medals. I thank him for serving our country.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and sacrifice of Army veteran Robert ``Bob'' Green, Jr. Bob served honorably in the United States Army from 1969 until 1975, including two tours in Vietnam with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade. Over nearly 6 years of service, he rose to the rank of staff sergeant and answered our Nation's call during one of the most challenging periods in our history. His courage and dedication were recognized with numerous military honors, including the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal. These decorations reflect not only Bob's bravery in combat but also his steadfast commitment to serving his fellow soldiers and our country. On behalf of the people of the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, I thank Robert Green, Jr., for his courage, sacrifice, and his honorable service to the United States.

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“A man from my district served in the Navy in Vietnam. He was wounded and has scars. He talked to students about the war. He made a thing from old flags. I want to thank him and say he served with courage.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and sacrifice of Vietnam veteran Michael T. Matsko. Michael enlisted in the United States Navy in 1964 and deployed to Vietnam in 1968, during the Tet Offensive. Serving with the brown water Navy, he was wounded when his base at Quy Nhon came under attack. Despite suffering combat injuries that left him with retained shrapnel, he returned to duty and completed his deployment in service to our Nation. Like so many Vietnam veterans, Michael has carried the lasting effects of war long after returning home. Yet, he has remained committed to serving others by sharing his experience with students and community groups, helping future generations better understand the sacrifices made by those who served in Vietnam. Michael was also honored by his fellow veterans by creating a commemorative keepsake from recycled American flags, preserving their stories and ensuring their service is never forgotten. On behalf of the people of the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, I thank Michael Matsko for his courage, his service, and his continued dedication to preserving the legacy of America's veterans.

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“A man from my district served in the Army in Vietnam. He was wounded and got a Purple Heart and other medals. He is dead now. I want to thank him and say he served with courage.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and sacrifice of Army veteran James Robert Yaroszeufski. James served honorably in the United States Army during the Vietnam war. During his service, he was wounded in combat and awarded the Purple Heart in recognition of the sacrifices he made in defense of our Nation. His military record also includes the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Vietnam Campaign Medal. Like so many veterans of his generation, James answered our Nation's call during a difficult chapter in our history, serving with courage and honor. Although he passed away in 2015, his service and sacrifice deserve to be remembered. On behalf of the people of the Lehigh Valley and Poconos, I honor James Robert Yaroszeufski's legacy and thank him for his faithful service to the United States.

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House of Representatives

Putting Patients First by Strengthening Provider Accountability in Feca Act

2026-07-20

“I support this bill. The government should stop paying medical providers who are convicted of fraud. It can stop paying right away. But the government does not always do that. This bill will make sure it does. That is good. It will protect taxpayers. Cheating the system is bad. People should not do it. The bill will not make it harder for injured workers to get medical care. It only stops payments to fraudsters.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 8823, the Putting Patients First By Strengthening Provider Accountability in FECA Act, which I am leading alongside my colleague, Representative Omar. H.R. 8823 amends the FECA program, or the Federal Employees Compensation Act, to codify the Department of Labor's ability to suspend payments to medical care providers who have been convicted of fraud with respect to this program. Each year, the FECA program provides benefits to hundreds of thousands of injured Federal workers. This is their system, and they deserve for it to operate efficiently, reliably, and effectively. That requires us to establish commonsense protections against bad actors who would abuse FECA and rip off the Federal workers in the process. Throughout this year, we have heard numerous concerning reports of providers targeting Federal programs with fraudulent schemes, and FECA is no exception. As chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, I held a hearing in which we heard from those who testified about fraud costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, money that could have gone toward providing quality care to Federal workers who were injured. This is unacceptable. Every dollar that goes to a fraudulent provider is one less dollar going toward providing high-quality medical care to an injured Federal worker. That is why when a provider is convicted of fraud, the Department of Labor should have clear authority to shut down the flow of taxpayer dollars that was going into their pockets. Currently, DOL has the authority to suspend payments to medical providers who are convicted of fraudulent activity. This authority has not been codified and could be rescinded at any time. When it comes to protecting taxpayers and injured workers, our laws must be clear: No dollars should go to fraudulent providers now or at any point in the future. That is why H.R. 8823 gives DOL the permanent authority to block bad actors from hijacking the system that Federal workers rely on. H.R. 8823 does not aim to restrict access to medical care for our injured Federal employees. Instead, this bill helps ensure that care is only delivered by providers who meet clear standards of professional and ethical conduct. It is time that we give taxpayers and Federal workers the commonsense, bipartisan protections that they deserve. That is why I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

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House of Representatives

Improving Travel for American Families Act

2026-07-13

“I want this bill to pass. It will make airports a little less bad for parents with kids. We all voted for it in committee. I have kids. I know flying with them is hard. It's very stressful for parents to go through TSA with a lot of stuff and kids. This program will let TSA keep testing faster security lines for families. It won't change security rules. This is a small change that won't cost much and could help a little. Everyone should vote yes.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8897, the Improving Travel for American Families Act, which I am leading alongside my colleague, Representative Foushee. Americans everywhere understand that there are better, easier, and more efficient ways to manage safety screenings at our airports. That was made clear when this legislation was reported unanimously by the Committee on Homeland Security by a vote of 30-0. We are bringing both sides together to give families the more convenient air travel experience that they deserve. As the father of two young children, I know firsthand that family travel can be challenging. Parents often have to navigate crowded airports while juggling strollers, diaper bags, car seats, and more, all while taking their families through the large crowds and navigating long lines. Every parent is aware that the most stressful part of this process can be the TSA screening point. Families with an array of bags and bulky items pack into the same lanes as business travelers with a small carry-on. The resulting problems can create stress for parents and frustration for everyone else. That is why H.R. 8897 allows the TSA to establish a pilot program that builds on its existing Families on the Fly initiative, which identifies ways to make the security screening process easier for adults traveling with children 12 years of age and under. Through this initiative, the TSA is establishing dedicated lines reserved for families, giving them more space, time, and flexibility at security checkpoints. Because of this program, parents are able to move through screening more smoothly, children have a less stressful experience, and security lines operate more efficiently for everyone in the airport. Importantly, this legislation does not change TSA's screening requirements or security standards. It simply allows the agency to test practical, family friendly improvements while maintaining the same level of security that travelers expect. This is commonsense, bipartisan legislation that will help modernize travel experience for American families while improving efficiency at our Nation's airports. Mr. Speaker, I again thank Representative Foushee for her partnership in this legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 8897.

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