Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, September 22, 2021: Page E1010
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Page E1010 of the Congressional Record Extensions of Remarks for September 22, 2021, in interleaved columns. A tribute honors a young man named Max who enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating from Recruit Training, and is remembered by those who knew him in Berlin Heights for an uncommon heroism. Other text describes an interagency effort that would bring together law enforcement, military and financial intelligence resources to identify, target, disrupt and dismantle illicit financial networks. A Senate committee schedule lists hearings including one on the threat of worsening natural disasters.
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“Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, September 22, 2021: Page E1010.”
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E1010 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 22, 2021
independent, and fiercely loyal. Max’s talents his loss. We will honor his memory, and ex- nance Cell. This interagency effort would bring
could have taken him in whatever direction he press our deep, unending gratitude for his will- together law enforcement, military, and finan-
desired, and he did just that by enlisting in the ingness to serve America, and provide safety cial intelligence resources to identify, target,
U.S. Navy. and comfort to strangers in need. Max dem- disrupt, and dismantle illicit financial networks.
After graduating from Recruit Training in Illi- onstrated an uncommon heroism. For those Like the Commission on Wartime Con-
nois, Max was assigned to the 1st Marine who knew him at home in Berlin Heights, his tracting, the Afghanistan Threat Finance Cell
Regiment, 1st Marine Division out of Camp patriotism and valor are exactly what they ex- has also proven itself as an effective body: not
Pendleton, California. pected of him. long after its establishment in 2008, it was the
He would go on to work in the immunization God bless and hold closely Navy Corpsman first organization to reveal an interdependent
department at the Navy Hospital Guam, where Max Soviak. web of links between corrupt Afghan officials,
he endeared himself to the locals by becoming f criminals, drug traffickers, and insurgents.
a part of the local wrestling and martial arts Thanks to the efforts of the Threat Finance
community. NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- Cell, the Executive Branch took action to pur-
Max arrived in Afghanistan carrying with him TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 sue broad efforts to address and combat Af-
his devotion to serving others, as well as ex- --- ghan corruption.
SPEECH OF
tensive training in emergency medical tech- While the Afghanistan Threat Finance Cell
niques. HON. STEPHEN F. LYNCH ended in 2014, this effort remains just as im-
As a Corpsman and leader, Max was known OF MASSACHUSETTS portant, especially now that the U.S. no longer
as a ‘‘Doc, a specially trained Corpsman who IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES has an in-country military presence. The re-
provides both medical care to Marines in the newed Cell will serve a critical role in tracking
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
unit, and is also ready and able to engage in and disrupting the use of threat finance by in-
combat right alongside them. Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I rise in sup- surgent groups and other illicit actors, while
Docs are widely respected and possess an port of en bloc amendments #2 and #3 which augmenting the oversight work of regional fi-
unbreakable bond with the Marines alongside include three of my amendments that will im- nancial investigative units. Only by eliminating
whom they serve, owing to their responsibility prove transparency in our overseas contin- the sources of funding can we effectively take
of keeping the unit alive. gency contracts, make our sanctions regimes on the terrorists, drug traffickers, and other
Max’s duties extended beyond providing more effective, and strengthen our ability to criminal elements that continue to feed into
care and comfort to his unit. During his final combat illicit financing networks. the corruption and instability in Afghanistan.
days at Kabul airport, Max worked around the My first amendment, #252, reauthorizes the Inclusion of these amendments will strength-
clock to help evacuate Americans as well as Commission on Wartime Contracting which en congressional oversight and government
Afghan citizens, including very young children, will engage in vital oversight of our contracting transparency, as well as bolster the effective-
who faced a dangerous and uncertain future if and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq ness of our sanctions, and provide vital tools
they remained. and other areas where we conduct contin- with which to combat fraud, waste, and cor-
Just before the terrorist attack on the air- gency operations. ruption.
port, one of Max’s final duties was to provide This Commission has a proven track record I would like to thank Chairman SMITH and
comfort to the children in need. One young of helping us reduce waste and fraud in over- Ranking Member ROGERS for including these
boy in particular was brought through Abbey seas operations contracting. Indeed, in its three amendments in the two en bloc amend-
Gate and handed into the arms of Corpsman prior iteration, from 2008 to 2011, the Com- ments. I would urge all Members to support
Soviak to be looked after. mission found between $31 billion and $60 bil- the passage of these en blocs.
This final act of Corpsman Soviak, providing lion in U.S. taxpayer funds that were lost due
aid to those going through unprecedented to contract waste, fraud, and abuse in Iraq f
chaos, was a result of his extensive military and Afghanistan.
training. But more than that, it came from who Now that the U.S. has withdrawn from Af- SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Max Soviak was at his core. ghanistan after 20 years, and as we prepare Title IV of Senate Resolution 4,
A strong, smart, loving, decent person who to end our combat mission in Iraq by the end agreed to by the Senate of February 4,
made a decision, regardless of the uncertainty of this year—after 19 years of war—it would 1977, calls for establishment of a sys-
or danger he faced, to join the armed forces be irresponsible not to examine what came of tem for a computerized schedule of all
and serve his nation in her hour of need. the hundreds of billions in contract dollars meetings and hearings of Senate com-
The immensity of Max’s loss to his family, spent during these operations. mittees, subcommittees, joint commit-
friends, community, and our country, is as in- Amendment #253 comprises the language tees, and committees of conference.
calculable as it is heartbreaking. of two vital bills. The first is the Combating Il- This title requires all such committees
That a future as bright as his would never licit Finance Through Public-Private Partner- to notify the Office of the Senate Daily
come to pass causes a pain that will never ships Act, which would expand the mandate of Digest—designated by the Rules Com-
truly fade. the interagency supervisory team convened by mittee—of the time, place and purpose
But in the face of this unspeakable tragedy, the Department of the Treasury to examine of the meetings, when scheduled and
where only darkness and sadness seem to re- strategies to improve public-private partner- any cancellations or changes in the
side, we hope that those who knew him and ships to counter illicit finance by including meetings as they occur.
loved him most may take comfort and pride in sanctions evasion and other illicit financial ac- As an additional procedure along
the fact that their Max—their brother, son, and tivities. The amendment also contains the pro- with the computerization of this infor-
friend—did not die in vain. visions of the Strengthening Awareness of mation, the Office of the Senate Daily
Max’s courage and dedication touched the Sanctions Act, which would establish within Digest will prepare this information for
lives of countless Americans and Afghans, in- the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) a printing in the Extensions of Remarks
cluding a young boy who had lost everything. voluntary public-private information sharing section of the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
By standing up and answering the call to partnership among law enforcement agencies, on Monday and Wednesday of each
protect and defend innocent civilians, Max’s national security agencies, financial institu- week.
actions, and his life helped to ensure that tions, and OFAC, which will allow for a more Meetings scheduled for Thursday,
more than 120,000 people were able to reach effective administration and enforcement to September 23, 2021 may be found in the
safety after making their way through the better administer and enforce economic and Daily Digest of today’s RECORD.
gates where Max was stationed. trade sanctions.
The men, women, and children whose This illicit finance amendment will ensure MEETINGS SCHEDULED
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with REMARKS
names he will never know, but whose lives that the sanctions we impose are able to suc-
SEPTEMBER 28
were assured by his selflessness—will serve cessfully cut off the funding that allow bad ac-
as a symbol of his commitment until their final tors to continue to carry out terror attacks, traf- 9:30 a.m.
Committee on Armed Services
days. fic in drugs, humans, and weapons, pose To hold hearings to examine the conclu-
It will never be possible to repay the debt threats to the U.S. and our allies, and cause sion of military operations in Afghani-
America owes Corpsman Max Soviak or his instability around the world. stan and plans for future counterter-
family. He made the ultimate sacrifice, and his Finally, amendment #254 directs the Presi- rorism operations.
family and a grateful nation will forever mourn dent to re-establish the Afghanistan Threat Fi- SD–G50
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September 22, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1011
10 a.m. 2:30 p.m. Committee on the Judiciary
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Committee on Homeland Security and To hold hearings to examine Texas’s
Urban Affairs Governmental Affairs abortion law.
To hold hearings to examine CARES Act Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight SH–216
oversight of the Treasury and Federal To hold hearings to examine existing re- 2 p.m.
Reserve, focusing on supporting an eq- sources and innovations needed to re- Committee on Foreign Relations
uitable pandemic recovery. place legacy IT and save taxpayer dol- To hold hearings to examine the nomina-
SH–216/VTC lars.
tions of Atul Atmaram Gawande, of
SD–342/VTC
Committee on Energy and Natural Re- Massachusetts, to be an Assistant Ad-
Committee on the Judiciary
sources Subcommittee on the Constitution ministrator of the United States Agen-
To hold hearings to examine the admin- To hold hearings to examine toxic cy for International Development, and
istration of laws under the jurisdiction conservatorships, focusing on the need Claire D. Cronin, of Massachusetts, to
of the Federal Energy Regulatory Com- for reform. be Ambassador to Ireland, Virginia E.
mission. SD–226 Palmer, of Virginia, to be Ambassador
SD–366 SEPTEMBER 29 to the Republic of Ghana, and Howard
Committee on Foreign Relations A. Van Vranken, of California, to be
10 a.m.
To hold hearings to examine the nomina- Ambassador to the Republic of Bot-
Committee on Commerce, Science, and
tions of Jack A. Markell, of Delaware, Transportation swana, all of the Department of State.
to be Representative of the United To hold hearings to examine protecting VTC
States of America to the Organization consumer privacy. OCTOBER 6
for Economic Cooperation and Develop- SR–253 10 a.m.
ment, with the rank of Ambassador, Committee on Foreign Relations Committee on Environment and Public
and Mark Gitenstein, of Washington, To receive a closed briefing on Adminis- Works
to be Representative of the United tration efforts regarding energy secu-
To hold an oversight hearing to examine
States of America to the European rity, including Nord Stream 2.
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Union, with the rank and status of Am- SVC–217
Committee on Homeland Security and emergency response to Hurricane Ida.
bassador, both of the Department of
Governmental Affairs SD–406
State, and other pending nominations.
SD–106/VTC To hold hearings to examine the threat
of worsening natural disasters.
SD–342/VTC
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with REMARKS
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