[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 26, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H7079-H7080]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Baird) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, today I rise to address an issue plaguing 
my constituents, my fellow Hoosiers, and Americans across the country: 
catalytic converter thefts.

[[Page H7080]]

  From the outside looking in, catalytic converter theft may seem like 
a small problem, but law enforcement, auto dealers, and the growing 
number of victims of these crimes will tell you otherwise. In 
communities across the country, thieves are targeting families, 
schools, and businesses, disrupting transportation plans and leading 
drivers to shell out hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repair 
costs.
  For those of you who are unfamiliar with catalytic converters, this 
auto part is required to reduce the potency of toxic emissions from 
internal combustion engines and is usually made up of precious metals 
like platinum, rhodium, and palladium, which can be sold to scrap 
dealers for hundreds of dollars on the black market. The value of these 
materials, combined with a thief's ability to remove them from a car in 
a matter of seconds, makes them a prime target for criminals looking to 
earn cash with little risk.
  My bill takes a multipronged approach to tackling this epidemic and 
by including traceable identifying features on catalytic converters, 
addressing how parts are purchased, and strengthening enforceability of 
catalytic converter thefts. By creating a system where law enforcement 
can link stolen catalytic converters from their vehicles of origin, 
prohibit the purchase of disassembled catalytic converters, and codify 
catalytic converter thefts as criminal offenses with criminal 
penalties, it is my great hope that we can curb these costly thefts.
  I am deeply concerned about the costly impacts that these thefts have 
on Americans, especially at a time when American workers are taking 
home less and families are paying more for everything thanks to soaring 
inflation rates. I recognize the strain this has put on so many victims 
of this crime, and I want to do all I can to empower law enforcement so 
we can address this problem.
  Americans have enough to worry about. Spending their hard-earned 
paycheck to replace stolen car parts shouldn't be one of them.

                              {time}  1245

  I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have joined me 
in this effort to empower law enforcement and deter future theft by 
joining the PART Act. I believe that this widely bipartisan issue can 
be an easy win for Congress by offering a straightforward and impactful 
solution for law enforcement struggling to address these rampant crimes 
across the country. I hope you will join me in putting an end to this 
issue by supporting H.R. 6394, the PART Act.


            Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education

  Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about H.R. 3588. This 
is an important piece of legislation that I was proud to introduce with 
my friend from Pennsylvania, Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan.
  The Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act provides a 
much-needed solution to improving the quality of STEM education in 
America. This legislation advances mathematical instruction by 
incorporating modern tools and context, including data, statistics, and 
computation.
  Mathematical modeling is currently taught on a limited basis yet is 
the foundation for the important work our Nation is addressing within 
research, development, and technological innovation.
  In addition to being both a bipartisan and a bicameral piece of 
legislation, this bill has the support of several organizations, 
including the American Mathematical Society, and the Society for 
Industrial and Applied Mathematics; and I am proud to lead this effort 
in providing for the security of America's global competitive edge.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support this bill.

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