Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, America's law enforcement officers are the best among us.

As we celebrate National Police Week this week, I am proud to join my colleagues and millions of Americans in saying thank you to the brave men and women who wear the badge.

Every day, law enforcement officers courageously save innocent lives, stop criminals, and help our communities. Yet tragically, since 1776, more than 26,000 police officers and sheriff's deputies have made the ultimate sacrifice, and in just the last 3 years alone, we have lost 1,397 officers in the line of duty. That is 26,000 too many.

Despite the countless sacrifices that our police officers and sheriff's deputies across the Nation make every day, the far left has pushed to defund the police for far too long, and our police and sheriff's officers have been under relentless attack.

With crime running rampant in communities across the country, defunding and demoralizing our law enforcement has only made communities less safe. Unfortunately, instead of taking action to give law enforcement more resources and support, liberal politicians have doubled down on soft-on-crime policies that have gotten us into this mess.

Despite this, local law enforcement officers in communities across Virginia's Sixth District and across our Nation go to work every day to protect each and every one of us, and we cannot convey our gratitude enough.

This week, House Republicans will be voting on a resolution that expresses our continued support for law enforcement officers and condemns the far left's efforts to defund the police.

We will also be voting on H.R. 2494, the POLICE Act, which will make assault on a law enforcement officer by an alien a deportable offense and important legislation that establishes a program for Federal law enforcement officers to purchase retired handguns at fair market value.

Mr. Speaker, House Republicans will continue to proudly back the brave men and women who wear the brown and the blue across America. As we honor National Police Week, I urge all of my colleagues to join us in support by passing these bills.

John Handley High School 100th Anniversary

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 100th anniversary of Winchester, Virginia's, own John Handley High School, an endowed public school located in the heart of Shenandoah Valley.

The school's funding was launched by an 1895 grant from Judge John Handley--hence the school mascot, the ``Judges,'' because of Handley's love of the town and its people that grew through his friends and acquaintances--and construction followed beginning in 1922.

Despite never having lived in Winchester, Judge Handley's generosity made it possible for generations of students to enhance their knowledge.

More importantly, it created an environment, a culture of support, and appreciation for public education.

With state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge academics, a dedicated athletic program, and an award-winning fine arts program, the John Handley High School truly sets itself apart. The school was even recently named the most beautiful high school in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Today, under the leadership of principal Susan Braithwaite, John Handley High School's thriving active student body and dedicated staff truly embody the meaning of Handley Pride.

Congratulations to John Handley High School and all the students, alumni, teachers, and staff, past and present, on this incredible milestone, and I wish the school another 100 years of success.

Debt Ceiling

Mr. Speaker, the greatest threat to America's economy is our debt crisis. Even according to former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Admiral Mike Mullen, the most significant threat to America's security is our national debt.

Our financial instability today has spiraled out of control because of President Biden and the Democrats' reckless spending to fund their radical agenda.

Now our Nation faces an unsustainable $31.7 trillion in debt.

Earlier last week, President Biden met with Speaker McCarthy and congressional leadership to discuss legislation to raise the debt ceiling, and to no one's surprise, Biden and Senate Democrats continued to avoid their responsibilities to negotiate.

House Republicans have already worked toward a deal by passing a sensible debt ceiling bill that will limit government spending, grow the economy, save taxpayer dollars, and protect vital benefits.

We have also done our job to stop the chaos at our southern border by passing H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act. The security of our border is inextricably linked to the fiscal security of our Nation.

A recent cost estimate of the Secure the Border Act by the Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that Federal taxpayers are spending tens of billions of dollars on benefits for illegal immigrants like health care, nutrition, and refundable child tax credits due to Biden's current border policies.

Taking into account costs at the State and local level, American taxpayers pay $182 billion annually for services and benefits to illegal immigrants.

At the end of the day, blank government checks got us into this debt crisis, and a no-strings-attached debt ceiling increase will only serve to push our already fragile economy off the fiscal cliff.

Mr. Speaker, it is time to act, and I urge the President to join us at the table.

Mr. Speaker, since his first day in office, President Biden has actively worked to weaken our southern border through radical open border policies that have resulted in the worst border crisis in our Nation's history, turning every community--including mine, the Sixth District of Virginia--into a border community.

Despite the President's and Secretary Mayorkas' desperate attempts to downplay the crisis and tell Americans to deal with it, the facts don't lie.

Under Biden's failed leadership, Border Patrol officials have encountered a record high of more than 5 million illegal immigrants at our southern border, and nearly 2 million of them have been released in the United States by the Department of Homeland Security. At the same time, over 1.5 million known got-aways have illegally crossed the border undetected.

From halting construction of the border wall to reinstituting Obama- era catch-and-release policies and deciding to halt title 42, President Biden has willingly and knowingly failed to protect the southern border and uphold the rule of law.

Now our Border Patrol is underresourced, our national security is jeopardized, and drug cartels are empowered to smuggle deadly fentanyl into our interior.

In fact, Virginia communities are being overrun. According to the Virginia Department of Health, in 2021, Virginia had a 15 percent increase in overdoses from 2020, with synthetic fentanyl being the leading cause of those 2,033 deaths.

This is an invasion, and it must be stopped. House Republicans know that border security is national security, which is why we have brought to the floor H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act.

The Judiciary Committee played a leading role in crafting this legislation, and I am proud of the work we have done to make this the strongest border security package that Congress has ever considered. However, we must get it enacted.

H.R. 2 will secure America's borders by improving the asylum system, deploying urgent resources to the southern and northern borders-- including walls, manpower, and technologies--and ending incentives for illegal immigration.

Mr. Speaker, innocent lives are at stake. Our Nation's sovereignty is at stake. We owe it to the American people to tackle Biden's disastrous border crisis. That starts with passing this legislation, and I urge every one of my colleagues to join us in supporting this bill to address this national crisis.

Congratulating State Champions Glenvar High School Boys Indoor Track

and Field Team

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Glenvar High School Boys Indoor Track and Field Team on winning the combined class \1/2\ State championship held at Liberty University.

The Glenvar Highlanders won the trophy at the 2-day meet with a score of 58 points, a 9-point victory over the runners-up.

Glenvar's senior Heath Bowker dominated the meet, winning the boys 500-meter dash in 1:08:20.

Highlanders Jackson Swanson, Zach Curfiss, Avone Noel, and Heath Bowker joined forces to win the 4x200 relay in 1:33:25.

Another Highlanders squad of Heath Bowker, Caeden Bowker, Colby Thompson, and Zach Curfiss won the 4x400 relay in 3:29:88.

Congratulations to all these athletes, including Marshall Berryman, Caeden Bowker, Zach Curfiss, Tyler Davis, Charlie Horrell, Bryce King, Nathaniel King, Aldin Smith, Colby Thompson, Aiden Woodie, Josh Woods, and seniors Heath Bowker, Avone Noel, Davis Norman, and Jackson Swanson.

The team is led by head coach Bekka Loder and assistant Madison Bourne.

Congratulations again to these athletes, parents, coaches, and staff on an incredible season and well-deserved victory.

Congratulating Northside High School State Championship Boys Basketball

Team

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Northside High School boys basketball team on winning the Virginia Class 3 Basketball State Championship held at the VCU Siegel Center.

The win marked the second basketball State championship in school history and the first since 2019.

Northside came out strong, leading by 17 in the first quarter. As the game entered the final minutes, Northside was down by 4, but this squad dug deep to come out with the trophy and pull out the 58-52 victory against Hopewell.

The Vikings' final push was led by double-digit scorers, Lawrence Cole, Cy Hardy, and Mykell Harvey, a trio that combined for the 53 of the Vikings' 58 points.

I extend congratulations to all the players, including Cy Hardy, Xavier Garrison, Nick Crawford, David Via, Mykell Harvey, Michael Pankey, Kai Logan, Jamareay Lavender, Javin Gibson, Will Smith, Kavon Brown, along with special recognition to seniors Ja'Chan Anthony, Lawrence Cole, Jayden Smith, Elijah Trigg. Congratulations also to the head coach, Billy Pope, and assistants Jake Paysour and Josh Malave.

Congratulations again to all the players, coaches, parents, and staff on a historic season.

Mr. Speaker, Joe Biden and House Democrats should listen to what former Speaker Nancy Pelosi had to say about debt ceiling negotiations back in 2019, according to The Washington Post: ``Pelosi, the California Democrat, said the idea of raising the debt ceiling on its own and not in conjunction with a budget agreement was not `acceptable to our Caucus' and, therefore, did not stand a chance of passage in the House of Representatives.''

Debt ceiling negotiations are nothing new. President Biden has a long history of engaging in and supporting negotiations over the debt limit, as do other House Democrats.

House Republicans are committed to a reasonable, responsible, and sensible solution to our Nation's debt crisis that would limit Washington's irresponsible spending, save taxpayer dollars, and grow the American economy.

President Biden and the extreme Democrats' inflationary spending spree has worked to increase our national debt to unsustainable levels, over $31.6 trillion, with annual deficits of $1.5 trillion.

While Joe Biden has no plan to avoid debt default, House Republicans are committed to sensible debt ceiling negotiations.

Congratulating Stuarts Draft FFA Team

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Stuarts Draft High School team for winning the Virginia State Future Farmers of America forestry championship at the Mountain Gateway Community College in Clifton Forge. These outstanding students exemplify leadership and are model representatives of the organization.

The forestry competition included being able to identify tree types and disorders, pinpoint wood products, as well as pass a knowledge exam and identify and navigate maps.

Led by Coach William Monroel, as well as advised by agriculture teacher Lindsey Baber, these champions include freshman Kelli Weaver and seniors Anna Grace Henderson, Will Monroe, and Steven Ramsey.

As Virginia's Sixth District is the number one agriculture district in the Commonwealth, I am always proud to see the next generation of agriculture leaders participating, excelling, and winning in competitions like this one.

Congratulations to the Stuarts Draft students, Coach Monroel, parents, and staff on this well-deserved victory.

Recognizing Clarke County High School Girls' Basketball Team

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Clarke County High School girls' basketball team for their Virginia Class 2 State championship victory. These impressive young ladies stepped up big and beat the defending State champs, Central High School of Wise County, 45-41, for their second State title in the program's history.

Junior guard Selene Good cemented the Eagles' lead by nailing a dramatic 3-pointer to put the team up by 5. In the final minutes, the Eagles knocked down 10 of 12 free throws that helped seal the victory.

These champions include: Selene Good, Kayia Williams, Emma Nelson, Devin Simmons-McDonald, Keira Rohrbach, Willow Oliver, Alainah McKavish, Bailey Beard, Hailey Evans, and Emily Emmart, led by head Coach Regina Downing and assistant Shadd McCaw.

Congratulations to all of these talented athletes, coaches, staff, and parents on this well-deserved State championship.

Mr. Speaker, last fall the American people voted for a Republican-led House majority to reverse course from the failures of the Pelosi-led House of the 117th Congress.

In just the first 100 days, House Republicans have kept our promises by passing the Parents Bill of Rights and the REIN IN Inflation Act, repealing funding for Biden's IRS army, and unleashing American energy with H.R. 1, while preserving our SPR and protecting it from China.

We have also restored the people's House back to its rightful owners and ensured our colleagues show up for work by ending proxy voting, held the government accountable, defended life, and forced the President to end the COVID National Emergency once and for all.

As a catalyst for these results and continued victories, we have secured the most transparent, open, and Member-driven rules package in the House's history.

Change has come to the people's House, and it is here to stay.

Mr. Speaker, Americans have been hit hard by the high fuel prices caused by the Biden administration's anti-energy policies.

Today, Virginia families are paying $3.30 a gallon at the pump for regular gasoline, over a dollar more than when President Biden took office. That is why we are bringing to the floor H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act. This legislation will reduce costs by increasing domestic energy production, cutting burdensome red tape, and reforming the permitting process.

Folks, it is evident that Joe Biden has waged war on America's energy independence. That war ends today.

House Republicans are working to put America back in the driver's seat of energy production by voting for the Lower Energy Costs Act so families can keep more of their hard-earned paychecks.

I urge every one of my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Salem High School forensics team for winning its 17th consecutive State championship.

The team won 5 of the 10 categories, while also finishing runner-up and third place in another 2 events. These champions include Kade Lakin and Grayson Mitchell for serious duo, Emma Snead for impromptu speaking, Ryan Long for original oratory, Connor Smythers for humorous interpretation, and Courtney Bowen for serious prose.

Ben Hathaway and Kyra Netting finished second in the humorous duo category, and Colton Easter placed third in the prose category.

Since becoming coach in 2001, Coach Mark Ingerson has instilled in the students to work for and help each other as a team, bolstering their success.

With public speaking skills, the future is bright for all of these students, no matter the path they choose.

Congratulations to the participants, parents, coaches, and staff for making this milestone possible.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for yielding me the time. It is true, the wasteful spending, the tax hikes, and the excessive regulations of the Biden administration are crushing working families and small businesses across this country.

In particular, I rise tonight in support of the House Joint Resolution to denounce Biden's overly ambitious rule proposed for changing the definition of the waters of the United States, also known as WOTUS.

You know, agriculture is the number one industry in Virginia, and the Sixth District is proud to be home to more than 8,000 farms.

Narrowly defined water regulation is key to ensure that Virginia's agriculture industry can succeed and local industries can thrive. Unfortunately, the disastrous EPA is working to regulate every pond and every puddle, every stream and small creek with their new WOTUS regulation.

This new rule is going to negatively impact the vital goods and services that farmers, ranchers, and small businesses provide to the Commonwealth and across the Nation.

I have heard from farmers and property owners up and down my district. One thing is clear: They do not want to be told how to use and regulate their land by Joe Biden's radical EPA.

Imposing this overly broad and burdensome regulation will grant Biden's bureaucrats more arbitrary control over our rural communities, saddling folks with costly red tape.

It is far past time that we rescind the administration's new WOTUS ruling and protect America's farmers from this gross overreach of government power.

I thank the gentleman again for organizing this evening's Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Winchester Rescue Mission on celebrating 50 years of caring for the homeless in our community.

In July of 1973, Morris Whitaker took out a $20,000 loan and bought a building to convert it into a homeless shelter for men, and the rescue mission was born.

Over a decade later, the rescue mission extensively expanded its operations to help more people in need, adding a commercial kitchen, and increasing the number of beds.

Most recently, the current CEO and executive director, Brandan Thomas, spearheaded the opening of a new four-bed shelter for women in a single-family home and purchased a separate building to add 15 more beds for displaced women.

Brandan now has plans to convert a former restaurant into a homeless shelter later this year on Valley Avenue in Winchester.

This new venture will offer even more services to help local residents without permanent housing address mental health and addiction issues, learn how to properly care for themselves, and find jobs and affordable housing.

Communities all over the country face the, at times, daunting task of caring for large numbers of homeless people, but under Brandan's leadership, and the four others who led prior, the Winchester Rescue Mission has proven that with compassion, commitment, and selfless love to folks who need it most, anything is possible.

Congratulations again to the Winchester Rescue Mission, and I wish them another 50 years of success.

Madam Speaker, last night President Biden gave his interpretation of the state of our Union, but after hearing his version, one thing is clear: our President lives in an alternative reality.

We all know the problems:

Crippling inflation and soaring interest rates, making it harder to save money and do business;

An open border with nearly 5 million illegal crossings since this administration took office;

A drug and crime crisis harming our communities; and

A more dangerous world with feckless leadership out of the White House, from a botched Afghanistan withdrawal to an emboldened CCP.

The fact is that Americans know the real state of our Union every time they buy groceries, put gas in their tanks, can't find baby formula or medications, or lose a loved one to the fentanyl pouring over our border.

That is why Americans elected House Republicans last November to bring change back to Washington.

We have already got to work by passing legislation to defund 87,000 IRS agents, establishing a select committee to compete with China, halting the COVID vaccine mandate for servicemembers, and ending the national emergency and fully reopening the Capitol to the American people.

We are just getting started. To use the words of President Biden: House Republicans plan to finish the job the right way for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and memory of Harvey Hotinger, who passed away recently at the age of 91.

Harvey was born in Kerrs Creek outside of Lexington in 1932 and grew up on the family farm that formed the roots of not only service to his own but also a life of service to his community and country.

After graduating from Virginia Tech with a focus on engineering, Hotinger joined the Army, specializing in missile systems. Following his military service, he began teaching algebra to high school students while also opening up a small business.

During his career and throughout retirement, Harvey also took pride in his garden, giving his friends and neighbors thousands of pounds of fruits and vegetables, as well as delicious honey, never straying far from the roots of his family farm.

He continued his service as he taught Sunday school to the youth of New Monmouth Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years. He also served the Kerrs Creek District on the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors for 4 years.

After a well-lived life, Harvey is survived by his wife, Rhunelle, and his children, stepchildren, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His dedication and commitment to his community represent the best the valley has to offer, and he will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Moran).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson), who is the chair of the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Fry).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Moran).

Amendment XVII:

``The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

``When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

``This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.''

Amendment XIX:

``The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

``Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.''

Amendment XX, Section 1:

``The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.''

Section 2:

``The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.''

Section 3:

``If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.''

Section 4:

``The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.''

Section 5:

``Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.''

Section 6:

``This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission.''

Amendment XXI, Section 1:

``The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.''

Section 2:

``The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.''

Section 3:

``This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.''

Amendment XXII, Section 1:

``No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.''

Section 2:

``This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.''

Amendment XXIII, Section 1:

``The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as Congress may direct:

``A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.''

Section 2:

``The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.''

Amendment XXIV, Section 1:

``The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.''

Section 2:

``The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.''

Amendment XXV, Section 1:

``In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.''

Section 2:

``Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.''

Section 3:

``Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.''

Section 4:

``Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President

shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

``Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty- eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.''

Amendment XXVII:

``No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.''

Mr. Speaker, that concludes the reading of the Constitution.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may revise and extend my remarks and include omitted material in the Record during the reading of the Constitution?

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stand in support of the House concurrent resolution to denounce socialism in all its forms.

For decades, the embrace of socialist ideas around the world has led to evil regimes denying their people of their fundamental human rights and subjecting them to imprisonment and abuse.

Countless Cubans, Venezuelans, Russians, Chinese, Cambodians, and Koreans have escaped from murderous regimes to come live a better life in America. They are all a true testament to the promise of the American Dream and the hope of prosperity.

These survivors are members of our family, our friends, and our neighbors, like Pablo Cuevas from Rockingham County.

Born and raised in Cuba, Pablo worked on his parents' farm, which was apparently dispossessed by the Marxists. Pablo fled Cuba in 1958 during the Cuban Revolution and resettled here in America. He served on the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors in my district for 30 years and continues to be a leader in our community.

Mr. Speaker, socialism has led to painful human tragedies such as starvation, torture, and mass murder, taking more than 100 million lives around the world.

As oppressive and violent regimes still exist today, this resolution reaffirms our support for freedom, democracy, and human rights. May we always ensure that dangerous socialist, un-American policies are never brought to pass here in our great country.

Woodstock Fire Department Celebrating 200th Anniversary

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 200th anniversary of the all-volunteer Woodstock Fire Department.

Tracing its history back to 1823, the department has served the Shenandoah Valley as one of the oldest departments in the Commonwealth and the Nation.

Today, the department has 40 active volunteers who selflessly risk their lives every day to ensure the safety of their neighbors and the preservation of the community.

The department is led by Captain Zach Hottel, a third-generation volunteer himself, and truly represents the spirit of service. Captain Hottel and the volunteers' dedication to serving others, who are sometimes experiencing the unimaginable, defines what it means to serve your neighbor. It is an example we should all strive to follow every day.

The Woodstock Fire Department is commemorating its founding of February 8, 1823, with a bicentennial birthday bash at the Woodstock fire station.

Congratulations again to the Woodstock Fire Department on this incredible milestone. I wish them another 200 years of success in serving the people of the Shenandoah Valley.

Madam Speaker, another month and another record, as the crisis at our southern border has gotten worse.

Under President Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas' watch, the Federal Government has completely ceded control of our border to Mexican drug cartels. Yet, time and time again, Secretary Mayorkas has repeatedly claimed that the border is secure. Well, the facts tell a different story.

Late last Friday, CBP reported that December 2022 had the highest number of illegal crossings at our southern border ever recorded--over 251,000 illegal migrant encounters in just 1 month.

In fiscal year 2022, we saw a record-breaking 98 people on the terrorist watch list attempt to cross the border. Since October, we are already on track to break that number, with 38 people caught trying to illegally come into the interior of our country.

How many more suspected terrorists have to cross over the border for this administration to take the crisis seriously?

CBP seized over 9,000 pounds of deadly fentanyl that the cartels attempted to smuggle across our border. That is enough to kill over 2 billion innocent lives.

Madam Speaker, it is far past time that we hold the Biden administration accountable for its complete dereliction of duty to secure our borders. That is why I am glad that, next week, Chairman Jordan and the House Judiciary Committee will be holding the first of many hearings on this crisis.

Secretary Mayorkas has completely abused his authority and ignored the United States' immigration laws. Questions are coming. I hope the Secretary clears his calendar because we have a lot, and I look forward to getting answers to those questions.

Congratulating Riverheads High School Football Team

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Augusta County's own Riverheads High School football team for winning the Virginia Class 1 State football championship this year. This was the Gladiators' 10th State title in the program's history.

A 21-7 halftime lead helped propel the team to a resounding 49-27 victory over George Wythe High School. Riverheads has now won a notable seven consecutive State titles, and junior running back Cayden Cook- Cash, who led the team with 282 rushing yards, said: ``People had doubted us. . . . I think we proved them wrong.'' Cayden and his teammates sure did that.

The Riverheads running game had been strong all season, which allowed the Gladiators to catch the George Wythe Maroons off guard with an impressive seven touchdowns, culminating in an all-around unstoppable offense.

When asked how it felt to take home the title once more, Head Coach Ray Norcross said: ``Our kids played hard and played well, and we did enough to win.''

Indeed, every State championship is earned, not given, and this squad certainly earned it, finishing out the season with a 12-1 record.

Congratulations to all the Riverheads players, coaches, staff, and fans on this incredible accomplishment.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her remarks.

I am a little bit confused, though, because it wasn't before 2002 when our previous Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Governor Ralph Northam, said on a radio show that if a baby was born alive that the baby would be made comfortable, that then a conversation would ensue between the doctor and the mother about whether or not and how to treat that baby; essentially saying, if you want to go ahead and kill your baby after it is born, go right ahead.

That type of attitude persists, continues. If there are laws that exist to prevent it--the Governor was not aware of them, I am not aware of them--that would apply in that situation.

That is why this legislation is so important, because contrary to House Democrats and the Biden administration, the American people overwhelmingly believe that babies who are born alive should be protected, that a baby born alive, even after an attempted abortion, should be afforded the same constitutional protections as every other American.

I am proud to support the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would require appropriate medical care for children who survive abortion procedures. It imposes strong criminal penalties for the failure to provide such care.

If a doctor like our former Governor, Dr. Northam, was engaging in the activities that he spoke about on that radio show, he would be subject to those same criminal penalties.

Protecting living and breathing babies outside the womb should not be a partisan issue, it should be one around which we all should unite.

I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Protecting America's Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act, which will work to unleash American energy dominance.

In an election-year gimmick, President Biden raided oil from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve, depleting it to its lowest level in decades and allowing it to be sold to a company affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party.

Selling off American oil to the Chinese Communist Party for its own strategic use poses a direct threat to our national security. The petroleum reserve is our insurance card. It is to be used to protect our great country during national emergencies or weather events. Depleting it is dangerous, and restocking it at higher prices is foolish.

Let's restore some sanity here. Protect America and end the foolish practice of sending oil to our enemies that would hate us for free.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to pass this important legislation this week to stop this reckless, America-last practice from happening again.

Congratulating the Alleghany High School Girls' Cross-Country Team

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Alleghany High School girls' cross-country team for winning their Class 2 State championship. This victory marks the first-ever Alleghany High School girls' team to win a State title.

By training hard, staying motivated, and keeping the pressure on, the Mountaineers left it all on the track, tallying a total of 65 points.

These talented athletes include Kiera Lowman, Gracie Barron, Macyn Cash, Meredith Minter, Lucy Nicely, Alivia Hoover, and Bryce Leitch.

Freshman Kiera Lowman blazed to the finish line with an impressive time of 18 minutes and 59 seconds, becoming the first-ever freshman to win the individual State title.

Two other top-10 finishes from Alleghany High School were Gracie Barron and Macyn Cash.

All of these young ladies are a true testament that with hard work and determination, you can achieve your dreams.

Congratulations again to the Mountaineers. Virginia's Sixth Congressional District is incredibly proud of your accomplishment.