Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in August. Headquartered in my home district in LaGrange, Georgia, the association has solidified itself as the premier resource for growers in an area that is essential to Georgia's economy and prosperity.

By providing services such as education programs to maximize production, marketing opportunities to increase profits, and disaster management tools to handle natural disasters and other crises affecting the industry, the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association is without question a cornerstone of agriculture and a boon to specialty crop growers across the state.

Throughout the pandemic, the association has instituted a multitude of innovative solutions aimed toward helping its members and Georgia's specialty crop growers. They have also worked diligently with national organizations and congressional offices to secure relief aid through the Coronavirus Food and Assistance Program for those in need.

As the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association rounds out 25 years, I look forward to a bright future of continued strength and advocacy, and I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this association's great accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Mary Reed, a distinguished member of the Columbus, Georgia, community, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday.

Mary is part of the heartbeat of Columbus. Serving as the longtime Executive Secretary for the Rotary Club of Columbus, she prides herself on perfect attendance and leadership in helping others.

She is an accomplished woman of God, a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Earlier this month, in honor and recognition of her impact in the community, Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson proclaimed Friday, August 25th, 2021, as Mary Reed Day, a fitting tribute.

Madam Speaker, Mary Reed is a shining example of putting service above self, and our community is a better place thanks to her kindness and selflessness. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Mary a happy 100th birthday and thank her for her many years of service to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding woman of God, Mrs. Mary Sue Mixon. Mrs. Mixon will celebrate her retirement as a distinguished Sunday school teacher at the Mountain Gap Church in The Rock, Georgia.

Mary Sue Mixon is a native of Pike County, Georgia, and has taught Sunday school classes for adults, preteens, and primary classes for over 40 years. Beyond simply reading her weekly lessons to the fourth through sixth grade students, she has dedicated herself to sharing the full knowledge, love, and relationship she has with Christ, and has enabled countless others to walk with Him.

Mary Sue is a revered teacher and a humble community leader, but above all, she is a faithful servant of God. She has achieved so much in her life, but none of it would be possible without the grace of the Lord, and the love and support of her family.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today, along with the congregation of Mountain Gap Church, and the residents of Georgia's Third Congressional District, in extending our sincerest congratulations to Mary Sue Mixon on this joyous occasion.

Madam Speaker, I rise for the purpose of inquiring to the majority the schedule for the week to come.

I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Aguilar), my friend and colleague, the vice chair of the Democratic Caucus.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the majority for those remarks on the schedule.

I also want to take a minute to thank the leader, and others over there, for helping pass H.R. 2877, the Behavioral Intervention Guidelines Act. It is a really good bill that will go a long way in supporting school safety. I know there were many questions about it, and everybody worked to get it to a good spot. I would like to, again, extend my appreciation for all of the help from my Democratic colleagues.

Turning to the operations of the House, as the gentleman knows, the CDC has now lifted all mask and social distancing requirements. President Biden has lifted the mask requirements for the White House staff. But, amazingly, here in the House of Representatives, we still must wear the mask, stagger the vote times, have these long vote times. We should be going back to a 5-minute and a 2-minute schedule so we can do the work of the House.

When can we expect these restrictions to be lifted?

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California.

Madam Speaker, reclaiming my time.

We, as Americans, should all celebrate Operation Warp Speed and the work done by the administration to be able to do that and to follow through. We greatly appreciate the Biden administration's following up on the really great work of Operation Warp Speed and the Trump administration.

I yield to the gentleman.

Madam Speaker, reclaiming my time.

That is in direct contradiction to CDC guidelines.

And on top of that, will the gentleman explain how in the world you are going to get that information that every member of this body has been vaccinated without violating HIPAA laws?

Please. I would love an answer.

Reclaiming my time.

Of course, we would like all Americans to be vaccinated. But, again, you will never be able to understand or know how many Members are actually vaccinated unless you require them to give you that information. If you require them to give you that information, then the majority will be in violation of the HIPAA privacy laws.

How in the world can you violate the HIPAA privacy laws on this? What does that mean for future pandemics and future diseases?

There are laws in place that say that Members do not have to disclose their health information. And if the gentleman could please explain how you force a Member of this body to disclose their personal health information without violating HIPAA laws, I would love to hear that answer.

I yield to the gentleman.

Reclaiming my time.

So the President, the leader of the Democratic socialist movement right now here in America, has said that it is good enough for the White House, yet you are going to defer to the House physician over the President of the United States.

No.

My point is that there is so much inconsistency here. You will never, ever get to the point, Madam Speaker, that you will ever be able to get every Member to show some sort of vaccination card without violating the HIPAA privacy protections.

Again, I am listening to the rhetoric. It is a simple question: How do you compel Members of this body to disclose their private health information without violating HIPAA laws?

Not strategy. Not theoretical. How are you going to do that?

What provision in the law, in the HIPAA protections of an American's private information regarding their healthcare record, are you going to waive to compel Members of the House to show that they have been vaccinated?

I yield to my colleague from California.

Reclaiming my time.

I will wrap this topic up with a couple of observations.

Our colleagues across on the other side of the building are certainly following different guidelines than we are here. I think it is important to note that what the majority is doing here is that they are undermining the vaccination program. They are committing public health malpractice by saying, if you get the vaccine, it doesn't work.

What is the incentive to do this?

I am going to move on to the next topic. I believe we have beat this dead horse enough and there is no answer.

Please.

Could the gentleman answer one question: Is President Biden wrong? Or is Dr. Monahan wrong?

I yield to the gentleman from California.

I will say this before we move on to the next topic. It does appear that many of us are governed by different rules along the way.

So let's move on to one final thing.

As you know, this has been police reform week. I was happy to see that President Biden set the deadline for May 25 to sign a police reform bill. I was also extremely happy to see that Democrat leadership has dropped its request to eliminate qualified immunity. I thought that was a very strong statement and very positive.

As the majority whip said on May 9: I know what the perfect bill will be. We have proposed that. And I want to see good legislation. I know that sometimes you have to compromise. And if we don't get qualified immunity now, we can come back and try to get it later. But I don't want to see us throw out a good bill because we can't get a perfect bill, good legislative action.

Now, in order to get this bill done by the May 25--that is a fairly short timeline. I know that Representative Pete Stauber has a bill ready to go--a really good bill--that addresses the things in a very bipartisan way that I think we would like to see.

Based on the schedule that you laid out, do you anticipate that the majority would take up Mr. Stauber's bill so that we can meet President Biden's deadline of May 25?

I yield to the gentleman.

Reclaiming my time.

I implore the majority to put Mr. Stauber and Mr. Scott's bill onto the floor as soon as possible so that we can reach a bipartisan vote and consensus on this.

I just want to make one other observation here, knowing that it is police week. We have got men and women around this country--you and I, again, both as mayors, had the honor of being involved in that, seeing the sacrifice that they make, whether it is local police officers or deputies out patrolling our country roads in many parts of my district; the men and women of the Customs and Border Patrol Agency who are down there putting their lives on the line every single day to stop the grossness of human trafficking and the horrors of narcotic trafficking; or looking around this very building that we are in right now, looking at the men and women who have been here, that will continue to be here to serve us and protect us.

What I found very interesting about this week is that the silence from the majority is deafening. Not bringing a resolution to honor our men and women in law enforcement says an awful lot about how you feel.

And I will say this: I think the majority should come back in--and I think we would all agree to do this next week--to put a resolution on the floor to honor the men and women of law enforcement, because I can't imagine which group is not worthy of that.

I yield to the gentleman.

But, again, I want to go back to it, with the morale of the officers here in the Capitol as low as it is right now, the tremendous stresses that they are under, the staffing problems that they have, wondering whether or not this entire body at times has their back.

No, not yet. I think it is important that this body bring a resolution to the floor supporting the men and women in law enforcement around the Nation, but particularly right here in this Capitol. I will be the first one, along with the rest of my colleagues, to support that resolution.

And, so again, it is very simple. A lot of words. And I do appreciate the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Demings), for leading the Special Order. She certainly knows, as a former law enforcement officer and leader of a department, how tough that is. But, again, the silence here is deafening.

With that, Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable individual from my district, Colonel Ralph Puckett, a 94-year-old veteran who will soon receive the Nation's highest award, the Medal of Honor.

Colonel Puckett is a Georgia native and a graduate of West Point. Soon after graduating, he was deployed to fight in Korea in the 8th Army Ranger Company. In November of 1950, he heroically led his Ranger company on a freezing day at the Battle for Hill 205. His platoon was overcome by an onslaught of Chinese attackers and a barrage of artillery fire. Colonel Puckett sustained severe injuries during this attack.

Although his injuries incapacitated him, Colonel Puckett selflessly ordered Private First Class Billy G. Walls and Private First Class Davis L. Pollock to leave him on the battlefield. He could see the Chinese soldiers within yards of attacking his Rangers, but his comrades returned to carry him to safety, despite the danger.

Colonel Puckett went on to serve honorably in Colombia, Germany, and Vietnam until his retirement in 1971.

Though his Active Duty has ended, he continues to serve as Honorary Colonel of the 75th Ranger Regiment, and he still inspires young people in his community today.

Colonel Puckett was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame and received a Distinguished Service Cross for his actions at Hill 205, in addition to two Silver Stars, five Purple Hearts, various awards from Vietnam and Colombia, and a Distinguished Graduate Award from West Point. His bravery is a testament to his strength and patriotism, and he is an inspiration to the people of the Third District of Georgia, as well as our country.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Colonel Puckett and extending our sincere appreciation to him and all of our men and women in uniform. As a nation, we are forever grateful for their service and their sacrifice.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2877, the BIG Act.

Without question, we have all seen how the mental health issues in America have been growing, and they have been exacerbated by the COVID- 19 pandemic. The urgency to address this crisis has become more dire as we are seeing how fear, anxiety, financial problems, and particularly isolation have compounded these issues. We see this across the board but particularly with our young people.

We must tackle these issues head-on, and that is why I am honored to support the BIG Act.

This straightforward bill works to provide local communities and educational systems with the tools that they need to help identify mental health needs before it is too late.

As a healthcare provider, I can tell my colleagues that early intervention is vitally important, and putting teams together that recognize the needs and see the problems with students before it is too late is important. The last thing that we want to see our students go through is the process of dropping out of school because of issues or problems with behavior or with their classmates. Most importantly, we never want to see them do harm to themselves or to others.

This bill provides the resources and the best practices from around the country in one site where school districts and different organizations can come together to put together the programs that will work best for them.

Congress must step up to confront this challenge, but doing so successfully will require input from an awful lot of people. That is what this bill does.

This is a bipartisan, bicameral bill. It has widespread support from places like Texas A&M; as you mentioned, the University of California; and in my home district, Columbus State University. It has the support of mental health organizations, mental health providers, and other individuals across this country.

Together, we can and should increase the mental health well-being of our fellow Americans.

National Mental Health Awareness Month is going on, and it is so important that we act to improve access across our country to high- quality, evidence-based mental healthcare services. That is why I ask my colleagues to join in supporting the BIG Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. George Dillard, whose leadership and guidance have made him a valuable member of our Peachtree City community in the Third District of Georgia.

This is the second time that Dr. Dillard has joined me here in the Nation's Capitol to pray for the Members of the House of Representatives, and we are extremely grateful that he did just that.

George has been a vitally important part of the Third District for over 25 years since he and his family moved to Peachtree City to serve at the Peachtree City Christian Church, where he still serves to this day.

George has been married to his wife, Renee, since 1988. They have three children and one grandchild. George and his family live in Peachtree City, Georgia.

I commend Dr. Dillard for his commitment to our community and Nation. There is not a week that goes by where George isn't a visible and welcoming part of the Fayette County community.

The grace and love he has shown to his parishioners and his neighbors throughout his 24 years in Peachtree City are unparalleled, and I am truly honored to have Dr. Dillard here with me today as he prays for our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, if this unanimous consent cannot be entertained at this time, I encourage the Speaker and the majority leader to schedule immediate time for consideration of the Born-Alive bill so that we can stand up and protect the sanctity of life.

Madam Chair, on roll call no. 380, I mistakenly voted ``yes'' when I intended to vote ``no.''

Amendment No. 135 Offered by Mr. Duncan

Madam Chair, I mistakenly voted nay, when I meant to vote yea on Amendment No. 16, Roll Call No. 262. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 262.

Amendment No. 17 Offered by Danny K. Davis of Illinois

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Benny Tate, whose leadership and guidance have made him an incredibly valuable member of his community in Milner, Georgia, and our Third District.

Dr. Tate has been the senior pastor of Rock Springs Church in Milner for over 25 years. In that time, when it started as a church of just 60, it has now grown to a church of over 6,000.

Through this work, Dr. Tate has also shepherded the creation of several ministries, including the Rock Springs Medical Clinic, the Rock Springs Christian Academy, the Potter's House for Women, and Impact Christian Ministries for the homeless.

Benny has been married to his wife, Barbara, for over 30 years, and they have one daughter, Savannah Abigail, who is here with him today.

I want to commend Dr. Tate for his commitment to our community. There is not a week that goes by where he isn't a welcoming part of the Third District of Georgia.

The grace and love he has shown to his parishioners and neighbors throughout his 25 years in Milner is unparalleled, and I am truly honored to have Dr. Benny Tate here with us today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the passing of Mr. Dale Freeman. Mr. Dale Freeman was, simply put, the best teacher I ever had at any level of education. More than any other instructor, he taught me how to think independently and creatively. He taught me how to be disciplined in the basic foundations of writing and critical thinking. Having a solid foundation is essential to creativity because it provides a place to return to after exploring new ideas. Mr. Freeman truly loved learning and teaching. He cared deeply about his students and made them better equipped to handle the world around them. In fact, his work with students has given them the tools to shape the world around them. He was a compassionate person and I am grateful to have had him as an instructor. As we mark his passing here today, I wish his family healing in this season of loss

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Mr. Dale Freeman. Mr. Dale Freeman was simply the best teacher I had at any level of education. More than any other instructor, he taught me how to think independently and creatively. He taught me how to be disciplined in the basic foundations of writing and critical thinking. Having a solid foundation is essential to creativity because it provides a place to return to after exploring new ideas. Mr. Freeman truly loves learning and teaching. He cares deeply about his students and made them better equipped to handle the world around them. In fact, his work with students has given them the tools to shape the world around them. He is a compassionate person and I am so proud to have had him as an instructor.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Coweta County Sheriff Mike Yeager.

Sheriff Yeager has dedicated over 35 years in law enforcement to keeping his community safe and serving his neighbors, both on and off of the job.

In fact, it would take far longer than I have here tonight to list all of the many organizations--such as the Georgia and National Sheriff's Association, the Newnan-Coweta Public Safety Board, and the Boy Scouts--so many organizations that he has served to make his community and State a better place.

It is no understatement that Sheriff Yeager is a pillar of his community and a model public servant. It is a testament to his hard work that President Trump appointed him to be the U.S. marshal for the Northern District of Georgia. I cannot think of anyone who is better suited for this position.

We are awfully proud of Sheriff Yeager and his accomplishments, and I know that he will continue to serve his State and our Nation well.