Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I honor the courageous and selfless lives of two Tremonton-Garland police officers, Sergeant Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada, who were tragically killed in the line of duty on Sunday, August 17, 2025. These brave men put on their uniform each day aware of the risks involved, and today we honor the depth of their sacrifice.

Sergeant Lee Sorensen dedicated 17 years of his life to serving his community on the police force. His tireless commitment to the people around him has been recognized throughout the community, earning him and his wife Garland City's Wheelon Award for significantly impacting the city. He also received the Distinguished Service Award from the Tremonton Fire Department in February for his dedication, support, professionalism, and commitment to excellence in assisting fire and EMS units during incidents. When he wasn't providing critical support for fellow first responders, he was assisting the middle school resource officer and checking on the teenagers who loved to chat with him. Sergeant Sorensen was recently promoted to Sergeant and would have been sworn in today. Friday, August 22, 2025. He is remembered by his neighbors as humorous, kind, and a true hero. He is survived by his wife Lanette and their children.

Officer Eric Estrada devoted 8 of his 31 years of life to the police force serving the Logan, Box Elder, and North Park police departments before joining the Tremonton police force earlier this year. Although he was only with Tremonton for less than a year, he quickly formed a reputation and legacy of warmth and dedication. His favorite part of working in law enforcement was being on patrol, where he loved interacting directly with the people he served and engaging with the community. Officer Estrada is remembered as a dedicated father and husband, deeply loving and cherishing his family. He is survived by his wife Brittney and their two children.

Both Utah heroes were honored by thousands of people in a procession across Northern Utah earlier this week. It is through the service and sacrifice of honorable public servants such as Sergeant Sorensen and Officer Estrada that our communities, cities, and Nation can live safely.

I extend my deepest condolences to the loved ones, fellow officers, and entire community that feels this loss so profoundly. I am thankful to both Sergeant Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada, well as their families, for their sacrifice and the many years dedicated to the betterment and safety of their communities.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 217.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to address the floor this evening and to give that opportunity to some of my colleagues also, if their schedule permits.

We don't get enough opportunities to speak to the American people, and I don't get enough chances to speak to my constituents back home, particularly from the House floor. I think it is a unique opportunity that I will get to address a few things this evening.

I want to take a minute just to walk through, big picture, what we are accomplishing with this reconciliation bill titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and walk through some of the provisions.

I actually tried my hardest back in my district to let facts rule the day and not be governed and manipulated by a lot of rhetoric about this particular type of work.

I am going to take you back, Mr. Speaker, to my first election when I first decided to run for Congress. It was the end of January 2020. We had never heard of the term ``COVID'' before. We had seen a tax reform bill take place at the end of 2017 that people couldn't really wrap their heads around.

I was working for a consulting firm, and I remember talking to some of the partners at the firm. I was a principal at the time--actually, I was probably an engagement manager at the time.

I remember them saying: We are going to see a significant tax decrease. If this bill goes through, we are going to have a substantial amount of extra discretionary money. What are we going to do with it? This is going to be significant.

More so, many of our clients that we served were going to all of a sudden see some discretionary income that they would now be able to use and had to figure out what they were going to do.

This wasn't a client of ours, but in the aftermath of that bill, this is what I understand took place. When they had a corporate tax rate decrease, they have shown me their books, and the areas that they prioritized were to increase wages for their frontline workers. They said every single person at the firm got a pay increase. They grew real wage growth without massive inflation that takes place sometimes under a reconciliation bill.

I will point to the American Rescue Plan that took place when Democrats took control of the White House, House, and Senate. We saw the worst inflation we have seen in my lifetime under the guise of a COVID relief package.

That company, which had some tax pressure removed from their books, went straight to their employees. They created wage growth opportunities. The other thing was that they had extra discretionary income to take to their immediate community in which they worked and bought ambulances for the emergency response in the community.

This is the type of stuff that happened across the country post-2017 when you saw a significant economic boon in the U.S.

Years prior to 2017, you saw a lot of companies decide there were favorable tax rates elsewhere. Oftentimes, in countries in Europe-- there was a tax provision that was done in 2017 that is called FDII, an intangible income piece.

You can establish intellectual property overseas at a lower tax rate than what we were doing here in the U.S. We decided to make our rates in the U.S. competitive. That provision alone immediately stopped the term ``corporate inversion,'' where U.S. companies were taking their revenue to other countries. Instead, they decided that they have a more favorable rate here, so they will bring it back. Most multinational companies, most U.S.-based companies, a lot of times foreign companies, want to be based here.

All we did with that rate was to say that we are going to make that rate competitive. With that, they repatriated their money back to the

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from the Permian Basin.

Just to quickly recap, I love the concept that he juxtaposes to opportunities.

It is interesting that in our political environment, from 2017 to 2021 and 2025, we have seen the White House, House, and Senate flip completely three times. I think that is a little bit unprecedented. We mentioned there were times with Reagan where there was a sustained period of Democratic control of Congress but there were Republicans in the White House and vice versa.

To flip the White House, House, and Senate three times in the last 8 years is unprecedented. It gives us a unique opportunity, though.

Look at TCJA and ARPA. Look at the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and then go look at the American Rescue Plan Act. Created wage growth, no inflation. Those are consistent things that took place from TCJA when tax reform took place with Republicans.

The American Rescue Plan was stimulus spending masquerading as COVID relief spending. It was massive amounts of monetary policy added to the system. There is only one equation, and that is inflation.

Look at the difference between an inflationist and real wage growth. Those are the two things we have to compare.

This bill basically takes 2017 and says we have seen this work. Democrats looked at the tax policy in 2017, when they had the White House, House, and Senate. They said: We like the standard deduction. We like the increased child tax credit. We like the approach to getting U.S. companies to reinvest in America. We are not going to touch it.

They had an opportunity to change all the things that they say are so bad in this bill. They didn't touch any of the core tax policies from 2017 to today. They expire at the end of this year.

Republicans are going to go at it alone. We are going to make sure we extend this out. We are going to give companies and families some consistency. All we have to do is juxtapose those two bills--the TCJA and the American Rescue Plan--and make the decision based on that. That is as simple as it needs to be.

The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Arrington) likes to say a lot of things. He talks a lot. He is very verbose. When he mentions my leadership, I very much appreciate the sentiment. I have been watching and following him. He is my committee chair and has an extremely strong leadership in the conference.

I express my appreciation and downplay the fact that he is just blowing smoke there sometimes when he says it about me.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from North Dakota (Mrs. Fedorchak). I would like to get to some real substantive remarks now with my colleague.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from North Dakota for her remarks.

I appreciate my colleagues for participating this evening. This is something historic, and it is something monumental.

As I was talking about at the beginning of my remarks, when I first ran for Congress in January 2020, the entire conversation of every single candidate was: How do we go about extending and making permanent the tax reform that just took place in our country a few years prior and the juice that it created for our economy and the growth that it had that was raising the tide of all income levels?

That was the concept, and 4\1/2\ years later, I am sitting here on the committee particularly regarding the tax policy to be able to bring it up.

This is a unique and really special time. We are already engaging with the Senate to make sure this can adhere to and go through the Byrd rule, all the specifics of making this a reality.

This is an exciting moment. It will be monumental, and it will do so much good.

I have always said, as I have been involved in congressional policymaking, that we live in 2-year increments, but every CEO across the country has to live in 15-year increments. They have to see what is around the corner, and we are constantly putting people at an impasse because we just keep dealing with 2-year increments of what their policies are going to be.

We have to signal what the future holds with respect to tax policy, and there is nothing that would do more for sustained economic growth than this bill.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the time this evening and for my colleagues being here to share the message.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 6 o'clock and 23 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, again, it has been quite a week for the House Republicans with the long and late committee hearings as we move forward on our reconciliation package and deliver substantial wins for the American people. Like I mentioned, they were overnight, so anybody that might have got caught snoozing for a few seconds here or there, we don't want to be too hard on them since it was an all- nighter, and we are not in college anymore.

It is significant what we have accomplished. The Energy and Commerce Committee just finished up, and the House Ways and Means Committee earlier. We have got 11 or so committees that have contributed to the one big, beautiful bill, the reconciliation package. We want to see this thing get advanced as we continue to make it into law as the process plays out. We are going to move this conservative and effective agenda.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to be a part of this process and for the work my colleagues here are putting into this, as well.

In addition to the reconciliation work, House Republicans are honored to recognize Police Week and highlight the important work of our law enforcement officers that they do each day.

I just was walking through the Capitol rotunda, and I saw a few police officers here taking a tour of this special place. It is such a great opportunity for us to be able to celebrate the work that they do. They put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe. They support local programs, mentor our youth, and respond to crisis.

They are our trusted partners and neighbors, and House Republicans are continuing to pass legislation to support and equip our law enforcement officers to best serve our families and communities.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for joining me tonight to talk about these important topics.

To do that, I will kick it off right by yielding to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens), my good colleague and close friend from the great State of Utah.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from the greatest State in the country. I appreciate his willingness to be here to support this week and his message on this really important Police Week.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Scott Franklin), my good colleague and veteran, an all-around great legislator from the great State of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Crank), who is a new member this term. He took over for a good friend of mine. We have a very common district. I represent Hill Air Force Base, and he represents the Colorado Springs area, which we all know is where the Air Force Academy is located. With a lot of shared connection to the Colorado Springs area and his district in Colorado and Utah first, both being strong Air Force communities, I am thrilled to be working with such a great new member of the Conference.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado for his comments and anecdotes on his support for the police. It is very important.

I thank my colleagues for being here tonight to show their support for law enforcement and recognize the sacrifices that these officers and their families make on a daily basis.

National Police Week is a great opportunity to stop to thank our local police officers, but we really should be committing to do this throughout the year.

I started a little tradition. I actually did it on the walk over from the parking lot to the University of Utah Huntsman Center basketball game. There are always a few police officers there directing traffic for the few hours of that. I had four boys under the age of 10 at the time. I was trying to help get them out of their shell, talk to other adults, and be a little bit more engaging with folks. I have kind of forced this on them, and now they have taken it on their own. When we see a police officer, we walk up and look them in the eye, he or she, and say thank you.

I shared this with the local police force back home, and it is just one of those things that, as they do the big things for our community, we should be able to do the small things.

Teaching my boys to say thank you to police officers, the most basic, simple, fundamental elements of being a dad, in my opinion, shouldn't be a question of whether you do it. Watching them walk over to a complete stranger, but they are in uniform, and they look up at them in the eyes--they regularly don't look at folks in the eyes. It is always a little awkward for them to learn that interaction--and they just say, ``Thank you, Officer.'' It is a neat experience and something that I am glad I started.

The smallest thing is very much appreciated by those in our community who do the greatest and biggest things for us. We always feel they are one phone call away. They are ubiquitous in our community.

The police officers whom I serve, their chiefs and their leadership are some of the best in our community, and I could go county by county and talk about them. Their sacrifice is very much appreciated, and they do the good work that is needed in Utah.

I appreciate the gentleman from Colorado for highlighting the Capitol Police, as well as the D.C. Metropolitan Police, as we spend a lot of our time back here, as well. They do an exceptional and professional job.

They also beat us in the Congressional Football Game for Charity that we do each year. I am nursing an injury from the soccer charity game. I have turned 45 this year, and I think I have finally realized that I am no longer 18. This has been a very important lesson to learn. I am no longer invincible, and I need to act my age when it comes to some of these intramural types of sports.

The Capitol Police always play the Members of Congress in an annual charity match that goes to supporting some of their priorities, and since I have been in Congress, they have always beaten us. They are quite the athletes.

Over the last few weeks, we have been talking a lot about the big, beautiful bill, as it has been named. This morning, the Ways and Means Committee adjourned from our markup after 18 straight hours. We went through the night. Other committees did that as well. The Energy and Commerce Committee recently finished up, just a few hours ago.

I want to express how proud I am of the work that went into this, the countless amendments that the Democrats also put up to create an opportunity to dialogue, to create an opportunity to debate. That is important.

When we are in the minority, Republicans put up amendments to constant legislation that the Democrats are doing, and it does create opportunities for dialogue. I think once we go through that, there is obviously a lot of posturing and messaging going on, but there is real communication.

After a housing affordability amendment was put up--it ultimately failed, of course, as most of these things do; they are usually put up as posturing--I walked over to the gentleman from the Los Angeles area who put up the amendment and showed him some of the things that I am working on, some of the market-based solutions to this.

We have to find some real, sustainable fixes to housing affordability and making sure first-time home buyers have an opportunity to get in there. This created an opportunity for me to share with him what some of my stakeholders back home are doing. I set up meetings for these guys from Utah with HUD a little while ago.

It is a really neat opportunity to see these types of things happening off-camera. There is real collaboration going on. This is a moment. This bill, as we advance this, will be a reconciliation bill. Traditionally, in my recent memory, these have been majority-rule votes. The opposition party doesn't vote for these. These go on party lines. The vast majority of what is in this particular one, we actually have a lot of bipartisan support on it.

This tax bill that we are doing, the Energy and Commerce Committee is doing a lot of other things regarding their committee of jurisdiction. Candidly, this has taken several years in the making.

We have known that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is going to expire at the end of this year. We have an opportunity to reestablish and to make permanent where we can some of the really progrowth, positive provisions that come out of that piece of legislation.

Other areas of the tax code that have been adjusted or dialed, we are going to try some new things, only for a few years, though, to see how they work out. That is the nature of tax policy. The things that were put for a time limit from 2017 have, in my opinion, stood the test of time and been a strong proponent for progrowth tax policy. We are going to make those permanent in this bill.

There are other things that are going to be newer to the tax code, and we will try them out to see how it plays out in 4 years to give us time to be able to analyze and see how they are being effective and overall impact.

This is going to provide real relief to American families, workers, and businesses. The bill expands the child tax credit, provides critical tax breaks for small businesses and the working class, and makes America more competitive on the global stage. It also makes the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent, like I mentioned, preventing a massive tax hike that would otherwise happen at the end of this year.

This moment is why I worked hard on the Ways and Means Committee. I look forward to what we can accomplish as we move this through the process, through the Committee on the Budget, through the Committee on Rules, on to the House floor, over to the Senate, and, hopefully, signed by the President in relatively short order.

I am grateful that several provisions stemmed from legislation that my team and I have been pushing over the last several months, including a permanent increase to the child tax credit and additional support for families in the range of $500. Families are going to get a $2,500 tax credit with respect to their dependents.

It also makes the adoption tax credit partially refundable up to $5,000 to help children find permanent, loving families by removing income as a barrier to adoption. That is key.

The concept of refundability is a sticking point. Republicans constrained that a little bit more. Democrats want to overextend it. There is debate on where that sweet spot is.

We are making a significant portion of this adoption tax credit refundable and giving us an option for more American families to be able to choose adoption as an option. One of my siblings adopted all four of his children from infancy. It is tough. It is expensive.

There is a lot that goes into it just on the financial side, let alone the emotional side and everything associated with it. It is important to do, and we are doing some of that in this legislation.

We are also increasing the HSA contribution limit and cap for small business expensing, reinstating a temporary deduction for charitable contributions, and 529 accounts will now extend to include career training and credentialing.

We are providing income on tax-exempt status to servicemembers serving in dangerous regions, and we are renewing the successful Opportunity Zone program, which delivers an additional $100 billion of investment over the next decade for rural and distressed communities or both.

We are investing in education and creating new tax credits for individuals who contribute to scholarship organizations. I am also very passionate about teaching the next generation about the power and value of compounding interest and capitalism and how it can help them get ahead.

The money accounts for growth and advancement--again, a catchy tune here--being the MAGA accounts, will demonstrate to American youth the power of compounding interest and the possibilities that can come with investing.

Beginning on January 1, 2026, parents of children under 8 years old can open a MAGA investment account for their children. The government would seed accounts for newborns with a $1,000 Federal deposit.

These investment accounts would be eligible to receive contributions from family members, employers, nonprofits, and government entities. They will help set up the next generation for financial well-being--not even just well-being, but literacy on what this can actually do.

It is not just these individual accounts. If taught right and if we were able to educate properly on this and people can see it in their own lives, this will give them a chance to learn the value of this and that it affects every decision that they make.

Instead of spending a few extra dollars here, I could put it into savings, an interest-yielding account. What that does in the course of 10 years is far more beneficial than what that short-term gain would have been with that individual purchase. Those types of lessons can be learned when people have some stake in the game.

There are endless more provisions from this tax bill that I could share from our markup last night that will deliver on the Trump administration's and the congressional Republicans' priorities and make a lasting impact on the success of our children, workers, and businesses.

I look forward to watching these policies work through the reconciliation process and eventually becoming law.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to be joined by my colleagues this evening to talk about our progress on the reconciliation bill, as well as the importance of supporting our Main Street businesses during National Small Business Week.

I understand some of my colleagues have commitments, and I want to be respectful of their time. So I will have them start us off before I provide some of my own comments.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from North Dakota (Mrs. Fedorchak), a much improved Representative from the previous individual of the great State of North Dakota.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from North Dakota for her remarks.

I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Stutzman).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Indiana for his comments, and I appreciate his work. We share a lot of work together on the Budget Committee, and it has been a very active time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Hageman). Her State, quite possibly, may be the second-best State out there in the West, second to Utah, of course. I think we have that mantle pretty well locked up, but there are some other good ones in the running.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Wyoming for her comments, and I appreciate her being a part of the Special Order this evening.

Our last colleague who is going to address us this evening is a new Member from the great State of Kansas.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Schmidt), also an improvement to the previous Member. He is a good friend.

Mr. Speaker, that is smart.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Schmidt), who had excellent points. We all talk about small business. We all use it as a line and a bullet point, and we all say that we support them, and then where does the actual policy come in?

Those are incredibly important points to highlight that they are the lifeblood. We have data that suggests that Utah, which has an incredible economy, strong work ethic, low unemployment, good volunteerism across the board, is ranked high in the economic indicators for the country, and we are heavily tilted toward small business out of Utah. There aren't an enormous amount of global headquarters for big, multinational firms. It is a ton of small businesses. I thank the gentleman for highlighting that.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my other colleagues for being here to discuss the goings-on for this week. We have heard so much about the reconciliation process and the dangers of not getting this done. There is a real threat.

We are working under unique circumstances because there is a time limit set for the end of this year that, if we don't accomplish this piece of legislation, there is no other way to look at it except for the fact that taxes will increase on virtually every American family and business.

We desperately want to create good, strong, predictable tax policy so that our companies and our families can continue to thrive and continue to understand what their landscape is for them to compete and go and create more job growth and actually go and create more revenue for our Nation to become a wealthier nation. This is a priority for Republicans. It is a priority for House GOP leadership, the President, his administration, and we are neck deep in the process of getting this over the finish line.

This bill will deliver on our conservative agenda and make positive changes that we know that Americans want. From a more secure border to stronger domestic energy resources, to more efficient Federal programs, to a tax code that supports families and businesses, this is a once-in- a-generation moment, and I am grateful to be part of this effort on both the Committee on Ways and Means and the Budget Committee.

There is obviously a lot going into this and, on the Committee on Ways and Means, we are trying to find the sweet spot of many considerations at play. We need to ensure the provisions in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act aren't just extended but, where possible, made permanent.

If we don't act, we risk seeing critical policies roll back, such as the child tax credit, which goes back to just $1,000. It was $1,000 prior to 2017. Republicans doubled it. That reverts back to $1,000, and $1,000 in 2026, after the inflation that we have seen over the last 4 years in the previous administration, is a significantly different number than it would be from pre-2017.

While we can't solve the debt crisis with this bill alone, it will drive strong economic growth, bolster GDP--we know this because we have seen this--and it puts us in a better position to address our national deficits. This is probably the most substantive action that I have been a part of, and it has been an honor to have been right in the thick of it.

Over the last few weeks, several committees have passed bills aimed at saving hundreds of billions of dollars, and we are well on our way to making historic savings a reality. As we work through this, we are doing so with a clear focus on the needs of our economy, particularly on small businesses.

This week is Small Business Week, and I am recognizing the hard work of our small business owners as something that we can all support from both sides of the aisle. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, as I mentioned what it means to the State of Utah, and they are critical to every local community across this country.

In this role, I am grateful to get to know as many small business owners as possible and hear their concerns, understand their areas of growth, what their opportunities are, and, most importantly, what their challenges are.

Going back to the reconciliation package--and we are working on, particularly, the tax portion--we are looking to deliver positive results to our small businesses and craft policies that will allow them to thrive.

The 199A, small business, LLC, S corp, deduction from their qualified business expense, a 20 percent deduction, expires at the end of this year. That is a massive tax hike on small businesses, and this is oftentimes a category that gets overlooked because my colleagues talk about corporations and about high-net-worth individuals, but the small businesses are structured in a way that their ordinary income is taxed at what some of the highest income individuals of our society are taxed at.

These small businesses are taxed at a significantly high rate, oftentimes higher than other corporations. We need to make sure that 199A is extended and, if not just extended, made permanent. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made our small businesses more competitive, and we want to continue to pursue policies that provide regulatory relief, economic stability, and the ability to grow and create jobs.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues again for joining me tonight to talk about these important issues, and we will continue to dig into this in the weeks to come.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, again, yesterday marked 100 days since President Trump took office for the second time. It has been a whirlwind 100 days, to say the least, as his administration has taken swift action to reverse many of the Biden-era policies that I believe brought major challenges to American businesses and families.

From bringing the southwest border crossings to their lowest in history to ushering in critical private investments to our communities and boosting job growth, the Trump administration has wasted no time in reversing many of the wrongs of the last 4 years.

We have much to celebrate and highlight this evening. I appreciate my colleagues for taking time to reflect on these past 100 days and how House Republicans are joining the administration to implement a progrowth, profamily, conservative agenda that will deliver for Americans across the country.

I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Rose).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee. I always appreciate his consistent voice and willingness to support Special Order hour.

Again, there are many wins to focus on, and I can't emphasize this enough. President Trump was overwhelmingly elected in November to fix the border. I don't understand why Democrats couldn't see the horrific approach that they had to it.

It doesn't make any sense to me why they let that get as bad as it was, when it was fixable. We have seen the lowest numbers in history. It is common sense. I appreciate the focus on that one fundamental issue. Again, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of California (Mr. LaMalfa).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for his voice and participation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bean), our final, last but not least, speaker. With his energy level that he always brings to this place, you will understand why he is clearly not the least.

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Florida never disappoints, and I thank him for his remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I will briefly close with some of the comments I have made before.

President Trump in November, along with congressional majorities--the House majority stayed in Republican control. The Senate majority flipped to Republican. It was a clear show that we wanted to move past some of the policies that have been implemented, or not implemented, from the previous administration. I am proud as we look out at his first 100 days.

Again, to reiterate what has taken place with our southern border, enforcing very commonsense laws such as making sure that our parole authority is properly done, ending catch and release, and re- implementing the remain in Mexico policy. I think this gets missed from the conversation quite a bit. It is actually some of the most humane things we can do.

I still remember the 30-plus immigrants who were basically killed in the back of that truck in the San Antonio area. The only reason that that type of thing happens is because the cartels don't care for human life. The cartels that were running the border over the last 4 years do not care about the plight of an immigrant searching for a better life and a unique work opportunity.

They sell them a bill of goods. They literally sell them that bill of goods by making them pay thousands of dollars in the hope that once they get them across the border, then everything will be great for them. Then, they get stuck in a legal system that doesn't benefit them.

The most humane way to do it is to re-implement things like the remain in Mexico policy. The point I had always tried to continue to make was that a simple policy change would actually reduce border crossings significantly. When we do that, we take away the power that the cartels have. When the cartels are in power, human beings suffer. There is no other way to look at it.

Customs and Border Protection data from earlier this month show that Southwest border crossings are the lowest they have been in recorded history.

Think about that, Mr. Speaker. By the numbers, there were over 7,000 Southwest border crossings in March. That is still a high number, but over the last 4 years, the monthly average was over 150,000. It is astonishing.

This is something that has been delivered. I would appreciate any opportunity to codify this into law. I do not like ruling by executive order all the time. This is stuff we need to codify.

I hope that we can learn from the good experience with the Laken Riley Act and how our functioning Republic is supposed to work to get a piece of legislation done. This one had good, strong bipartisan support. The President signed it.

I know there is more that we could be doing on that so we don't have this constant back and forth in the future of our country. We have to get some predictability with this type of policy. Predictability is incredibly important, as well.

As I look ahead past the 101st days, I look ahead to one of the most important things to accomplish going forward, and that is a reconciliation piece of legislation. This discussion that has been very prominent here in the beltway is the talk of reconciliation. To put it in plain terms, this is just making sure that, at the end of this year, American families don't pay a significant increase in taxes.

In 2017, there was major tax reform done, and I think if you were to take a look at the specific elements of that bill, Mr. Speaker, you would find excitement and broad support for almost all of it.

The Republicans in 2017 doubled the standard deduction. Who does the

standard deduction support, and who does it help? It helps lower- and middle-income Americans, plain and simple. It increased the number of people who took the standard deduction and gave them the best tax benefit. It is the wealthy folks who itemize, for the most part. Right there, we are already targeting middle- and lower-income Americans.

The second piece is doubling the child tax credit. In 2017, Republicans doubled the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000. That is something that has been incredibly bipartisan. Democrats, in their own version of reconciliation, have enhanced that, as well.

I lead the Family First Act, which is another enhancement of the child tax credit, and I am looking forward to, hopefully, getting that passed through. That is another key win.

There are numerous business provisions that help. Real wage growth, economic activity, and strong GDP growth are helping.

Mr. Speaker, any time you have the White House, the House, and the Senate under one party, then people get a little bit chippy. They get a little bit partisan as we try to get significant pieces of legislation through. It is not going to be any different this time.

That was the case in 2017. I wasn't here then, but as I was sort of watching from the sidelines on these types of things, I get it.

Then, in 2021, the Democrats had the White House, the House, and the Senate. They did the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act, and they tried to do Build Back Better. Those were incredibly partisan approaches, which I firmly disagreed with, but that was the piece that took place at the time.

We have an opportunity going forward for these next few months to be able to deliver on something that is very important to every American family, and that is making sure that they have consistency in the tax code so there is not going to be a massive tax increase on American families next year. It is something I am proud to be working on, and I hope that we can celebrate it as a key piece of success as we look past this first 100 days of the administration. We are 4 months into our 119th Congress, and this is going to be a key piece.

Democrats will say over and over again that this is just a tax break for the billionaires. Mr. Speaker, when you cap SALT like the Republicans did, that only hurts wealthier folks. I hate to bring them that news. I believe it was Bernie Sanders who was criticized by The Washington Post--again, The Washington Post--by giving three or four Pinocchios when they say that these tax breaks that Republicans do just go to benefit the wealthy. That is The Washington Post saying to call it as it is. These are Pinocchios. These are complete lies that the tax policies that Republicans put forth actually strengthen and target the middle- and lower-income Americans.

We will say that over and over again. Unfortunately, my Democratic colleagues will say this is just going to benefit the billionaires.

I hope that, deep down, they would come to some realization that that is just a lie. Their own media is saying that it is just a lie. It is just one of those things that exist back here, and we are probably going to be dealing with that a lot for the next few months. The reality is this is good, strong tax policy that is going to benefit American families and workers.

In addition to some of the successes we have had over the last few months, this is something we have to be able to lock in and accomplish. I look forward to being a key part of that as we move forward.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, the last few weeks have been nonstop. The Trump administration and congressional Republicans have been advancing legislation and policies that put Americans first.

Just last week President Trump issued an executive order that puts decisions about our students' education back where it belongs, in the hands of parents and the States.

As the father of four young boys, I know firsthand that those closest to educating my children--the teachers, administrators, and special aides--are the ones who know what they need to get ahead academically and succeed.

Data shows that our current educational system is failing our students. Our outcomes are not where they need to be. Reading and math scores are not where they need to be, et cetera.

We have got plenty to focus on with this particular issue. I am right in the thick of it. My wife and I are very much in the thick of it. We could not be more grateful for the support that we have back home with our teachers. It has been probably one of the most positive things in our lives as we see those boys progress.

House Republicans are also continuing to assess our education system

this week by advancing the DETERRENT Act, to protect our higher education institutions from foreign influence by strengthening gift and contract disclosure requirements and potentially banning contracts from foreign entities of concern.

I applaud Michael Baumgartner, a new freshman out of Washington, for his work on this important bill.

We are also seeking to reverse harmful Biden-era energy regulations on essential home appliances, including refrigerators and freezers. Americans deserve the ability to purchase the appliances that best suit their families' functional and financial needs.

I am grateful to Congresswoman Stephanie Bice and Congressman Craig Goldman for taking the lead on this issue. I will speak more on these later.

This week, we are seeing great progress in getting our reconciliation package to the next step. The efforts seek to serve Americans better by securing our border, supporting our economy, bolstering domestic energy production, maintaining a pro-family and pro-growth Tax Code, and much, much more.

I thank each Member involved in these critical discussions for their work, and I thank my good friend from California (Mr. LaMalfa) for being here today to kick us off with his message.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from California for his message and for his willingness to always be here.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser).

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the message of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser). I think it is actually one of the most important things to be focusing on right now.

Mr. Speaker, I take a lot of questions from folks back home. Utah is a State that hits above their weight in academic outcomes. We have large families. This is a big, big deal for us.

The confusion of why would you dismantle the Department of Education, I will make sure I do my part, and I have spoken about this to a lot of constituents back home. One of the key aspects and the things that are important under title I is making sure that we have underfunded communities well represented.

My son is on an IEP. He is a 9-year-old in the third grade. He is on a specialized education plan that meets his needs. My wife painstakingly got us to the point of making sure that that was the right scenario for him.

We value the work that gets done here, and we want to see more resources pushed back to our State, who has largely led this effort. We have had meetings for our boy to be able to get into the situation where he is in a thriving third-grade class at a public school and where he has a little extra attention on things that he does well. He is reading well above a third-grade level, but he really struggles in other areas. He is on the autism spectrum.

The attention that our teachers, local administrators, and PTA have put into our boy, who is the pride of our life, we know that that will be cared for moving on. If we can move as much of those resources back into the decisionmakers' hands, we are going to have success here.

Mr. Speaker, I think we are going to look back at this point down the road and say that this was a key part of why we were able to better fund schools that are in tough communities, to better fund special education needs, and to make sure that we are still fulfilling all of the FAFSA and student loan requirements that we currently do.

Mr. Speaker, let's give this an option. If we are having such bad outcomes holistically, why not take a look and try to do something differently. We can't just keep doing the same thing.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's commentary on that issue, and I look forward to being a part of this change. I am actually very confident that, when Utah is given more opportunities in the space of education as we move more of those resources back to the State level, we will continue to thrive. I want to be a big part of it. I am sure my wife will be right there birddogging us to make sure that our son will have what he needs to also thrive in this environment. I look forward to that chance.

Mr. Speaker, I have been very encouraged this week to see the House and the Senate Republicans coming together to deliberate on our reconciliation package. We are trying to get this timeline going as quickly as possible. There is an enormous amount of good work that is going on in every committee with respect to this reconciliation package.

This is going to be a key factor to making sure that we maintain a progrowth and profamily tax policy amongst the other aspects of securing our border, bolstering our economy, supporting domestic energy production, promoting peace through strength, and making our government more efficient and effective.

This is the profamily and progrowth tax code that we are developing and have been developing since 2017, and we want to make sure that we don't see these provisions expire.

The number of inversions that took place before 2017 and the repatriation of companies and their operations has been pretty well underrecognized. When you make progrowth tax policy domestically, you encourage companies to repatriate those operations and their intellectual property, and you are able to actually raise revenues.

That is the big thing. If we want to raise the rate on taxes so we can claim we are raising revenues, if the outcome is to raise revenue, then every Democrat should be celebrating what took place in 2017.

What we are trying to make sure doesn't happen now is that those more antiquated international tax policies that encourage companies to put their intellectual property in Ireland and in other European countries or in other tax havens across the world, it encourages them to keep it there or put it there instead of investing back into America.

I wish my Democratic colleagues were more honest on this, because they know and they see the numbers, too. When you create a competitive environment, you are able to actually raise that revenue for the U.S. Companies want to invest here. If they have a competitive tax environment, they will always choose to be back in America.

Mr. Speaker, I worked very hard to get spots on the Committee on Ways and Means and Committee on the Budget. It has been an enormous amount of work getting us to this point, and the lion's share of that work is still up ahead. I wanted to be on those committees for this very moment because I knew that 2025 would be a major tax policy year. Known as the Super Bowl of tax colloquially, I believe that we have a real opportunity to extend tax policies that benefit hardworking Americans and that support families.

Let's remember that the child tax credit was $1,000 pre-2017, and Republicans doubled it without a single Democrat vote in 2017. We are going to go at this alone, it looks like, again, where we are trying to avoid the child tax credit from going back down to $1,000 at the end of this year if we don't get this tax bill done. We want to make sure that we reestablish as much as we possibly can and moving it forward.

I am one of the key leaders on this particular issue with the Family First Act and to making sure that we are supporting families and encouraging that type of positive environment. Strong families will lead to so much good in our communities. I don't want to demean the concept of a strong family, but it is one of the core aspects of having a strong economy.

There is a lot going on now and in the coming months. I am looking forward to seeing the Senate come together and getting us the parameters that they would like to see with respect to this tax package. We are working very close in hand with our Senate Committee on Finance and Senate leadership to be able to take a look to see what this reconciliation bill is ultimately going to pan out.

We recognize that it will be a partisan moment back here because we won't have any support from Democrats on these incredibly important progrowth and profamily tax policies. That is just the nature of this place, but we are working very hard to build this out and continue on the successes that we have had from 2017.

Mr. Speaker, the irony of this place is that all of those tax provisions could have been repealed in 2021 and 2022, when Democrats had the White House, House, and Senate. None of them were because Democrats recognized deep down that doubling the child tax credit, doubling the standard deduction, encouraging increased wage growth without the inflation that came from the American Rescue Plan, which we saw the Democrats enact in 2021, all of that positive economic growth is actually a very good solution.

I hate that this place ends up being so partisan in these moments of what we call the trifecta, when one party has the White House, House, and Senate. It is just the way that it is, but there is so much of this tax policy that both sides of the aisle share a common vision on.

We did an awesome bipartisan tax bill last year. I wish it would have been able to survive in the Senate, but it didn't. There is so much good that will come out of what we are going to extend here.

I shared a lot of this with my newsletter followers yesterday. I feel like, as congressional Republicans, we have the most momentum now that we have ever seen regarding our looming debt crisis.

A statistic I shared is that, for several decades, our Federal revenues have remained at approximately 17 percent of GDP. Over the last couple of decades, our expenditures have skyrocketed to 26 percent of GDP. In the early 2000s, our expenditures were approximately 17 percent to 18 percent.

The way I shared it was that I know it is sort of the old adage that we don't have a revenue problem, but we have a

spending problem. That is just what the data bears out. In years of tax reform, we have still been able to maintain 17 percent of GDP.

Remember that, in 2017, even though we reduced taxes in multiple areas, we have what is called broadened the base, which actually helped bring in more tax revenue. We have continually maintained that 17 percent of GDP, but our spending has gone from about 17 percent to 26 percent over the last 25 years.

You have to look at things with respect to GDP. That is why I always talk about debt to GDP and how we are at World War II levels while we have largely been in peacetime. We have to take advantage of this.

This is not going to be easy. This is not going to be overnight. Yet, with progrowth tax policy, which keeps our economy strong and keeps our GDP moving in the right direction, we have an opportunity to limit some of this spending. It is not going to be easy. I never intended for it to be.

Anytime you add to the budget, it is much easier. Trying to remove from the budget is much, much more difficult, as anybody could probably attest. Yet, it is something that has to be done, and I hope that we can continue to do it in the most thoughtful way possible. We have a really strong plan.

Our committees have been working on this for months and months to identify where the best opportunities for savings over the next 10-year budget cycle are. In doing so, we want to be able to change that trajectory of, like I said, 26 percent of GDP. It is far too high, and we have to recognize that data that has been a success for our Nation.

I am thankful to be on these two committees as we work toward a really difficult needle to thread in getting this policy done, but we are moving it along.

I thank all of my Senate colleagues who are equally working on this. This is ultimately why I am back here, is to make sure that this work is done in the most responsible way possible. As we navigate the reconciliation process over the next few months, I look forward to being able to celebrate some significant wins for our American families and our economy.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, last Monday marked a somber milestone. It was 500 days since the horrific attacks on October 7, 2022, when Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists launched the most harrowing assault on Israel and the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

We witnessed an unprecedented act of violence that shocked the world 500 days ago. We will never forget the 1,200 innocent lives Hamas murdered and the 240 civilians they took hostage that day, as well as those affected in the months following the October 7 attacks.

My House Republican colleagues and I are grateful to President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu for securing the recent ceasefire agreement which has led to Hamas releasing American and Israeli hostages. As we remember this day, we are more motivated than ever to stand with Israel and the Jewish people. I am grateful to my colleagues for joining me this evening to discuss this solemn anniversary.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson). I always appreciate his perspective on these foreign policy issues.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa.)

Supporting Our International Partners

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California, and I always appreciate his participation.

I thank the rest of my colleagues for being here tonight and taking time to speak on the horrific assault against our ally and the Jewish community.

On October 7, 2022, the world was shocked at the atrocities carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel and the Jewish community. Nearly 3,000 Hamas fighters crossed into Israel by land, air, and sea, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 Israeli and foreign hostages.

October 7 will forever be a turning point in history.

As we reflect on the events of that day and the 500 days that have followed, it is imperative that we also recognize the broader implications of this attack.

It was not just an assault on Israel. It was an attack on the American vision for a safe and secure Middle East, which was led, perpetuated, and financed by the Iranian regime.

The Hamas perpetrators not only set out to destroy the very existence of the State of Israel, but they sought something larger. They wanted to prevent a seismic shift in the region from taking place. I am, of course, referring to the early success of the Abraham Accords, negotiated by the first Trump administration, and the long-term goal of a Saudi-Israel peace and normalization agreement.

Iran and its terrorist proxy groups, like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, could not bear to see Israel accepted by its neighbors or folded into the community of nations where it rightly belongs. Instead, they chose to commit unspeakable acts of violence, rape, terror, and slaughter.

As we mark 500 days since the October 7 attack, we must also look at the ongoing suffering of those affected by this violence. There are countless families and individuals living with the scars of that day. It is our duty to honor their memory and ensure that attacks like this never happen again.

We must remain vigilant against the threats posed by extremist groups and continue to champion freedom and democracy around the world. We must also work to strengthen the Abraham Accords, push hard for Saudi- Israeli normalization, and ensure that Iran's plan to destabilize the Middle East fails. We have a plan. We have a vision for success in the region and now is not the time to take our foot off the gas pedal.

House Republicans will remain steadfast in maintaining a strong relationship with Israel to continue to ensure that freedom and democracy endure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Madam Speaker, the 119th Congress has been off to a great start with House Republicans delivering results for the American people.

This week, we are continuing our efforts to reverse the Biden administration's harmful policies and further protect our country from a dangerous, illegal border invasion.

Today, we passed Congressman Biggs' Midnight Rules Relief Act to amend the Congressional Review Act to allow Congress to disapprove of multiple rules through one joint resolution if rules were issued during the last year of a President's term in office.

House Republicans will also vote on Congressman Ciscomani's Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act, which holds accountable illegal immigrants who break our laws and engage in dangerous high-speed chases in our border communities.

I am grateful to my colleagues for joining me this evening to discuss these necessary pieces of legislation.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).

stopping regulators from taking away america's energy independence

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from California's persistence and willingness to be down here to help share the message.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Haridopolos), who is a new Member from Florida. I have on good authority from his freshman colleagues that he isn't a huge fan of the cold we are experiencing here in Washington, D.C.

Restoring Congressional Oversight of CFPB

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Haridopolos) for being part of our Special Order tonight.

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

Holding Traffickers and Illegal Immigrants Accountable

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Luttrell) for his comments.

A lot of times, with policies and things that go on back here, there are variations moving to rightwing policies and leftwing policies. There is not a more stark difference between what President Biden was doing at the border and allowing to have happen to what we are seeing now and the changes we are making. That highlights the simplicity of our messages.

We have to protect people's lives, and we are finally starting to do it, and it feels great. I think the American people are seeing that.

I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Luttrell) again for his comments.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the great Commonwealth of Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans), my good friend.

Celebrating the 100th Birthday of Felix ``Mo'' Maurizio

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the great Commonwealth of Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans).

Madam Speaker, I yield to the new Member from Pennsylvania (Mr. Mackenzie).

Economic State and Safety in Local Communities

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his remarks. It is great to have a new group, and Pennsylvania is well represented.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from North Dakota (Mrs. Fedorchak), the new and improved Representative.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from North Dakota. She has an authentic and sincere voice with actual expertise on all matters of energy. It is awesome to have the State very well represented.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), which apparently has an improved basketball team down there now. He is also somebody that is well deserved to be the new chairman of the Financial Services Committee.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas, and I appreciate his leadership.

I thank my colleagues, again, tonight for being here and for taking time to speak on these important pieces of legislation.

Under the Biden-Harris administration, Federal agencies expanded their power at an alarming rate, undermining the legislative authority granted to Congress by the Constitution.

I think if people truly understood how much of that was done during the Biden administration, there would be more appreciation--and it will take some time to understand what is going on, I know, but there will be more appreciation for trying to rightsize this, and that is a significant effort from the Trump administration.

I think it is important to see what had taken place, and I think from my perspective that you don't get anywhere else by being, you know, a Member of Congress, being involved in these issues on a day-to-day basis, you don't see the amount of rulemaking that is going on. You don't see the amount of expansion of the Federal Government.

People are lobbing that complaint or that criticism over to the Trump administration right now, and I get it because there is a lot of action and activity being done from the executive level, so the criticism can cut both ways, but the entire effort is to reduce the size of what Biden had expanded all this to. I just don't think people understand that nuance enough. That is why this process has to take place.

The Congressional Review Act of 1996 requires Congress to pass a separate joint resolution for each agency rule it seeks to disapprove, slowing Congress' ability to hold the administrative state accountable and block burdensome regulations.

That is the whole premise of why House Republicans just passed Congressman Biggs' Midnight Rules Relief Act to empower Congress to review and potentially disapprove of several regulations that Federal agencies may attempt to implement in the last days of an administration.

Again, we passed this, this actually affects a Republican administration, as well. This becomes law to try to hold the administration, regardless of the party, accountable.

This bill will equip Congress with the tools we need to reject the Biden-Harris administration's last-minute regulations, hold our government accountable, and protect our Nation's democratic values.

This bill reins in bureaucratic overreach, protects Americans from burdensome regulations, gives power back to the legislative branch, and ensures transparency in the legislative process.

We are also continuing our efforts to secure our borders and protect our communities.

Tomorrow, House Republicans will vote on the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act, introduced by Congressman Juan Ciscomani from Arizona. This bill will create new criminal offenses for operating a vehicle within 100 miles of the southern border while fleeing from Border Patrol agents or any law enforcement officer assisting the U.S. Border Patrol. This includes serious jail time and prohibition from ever receiving legal status in the United States.

This bill is in honor of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agent Raul Gonzalez, who, in 2022, died from injuries sustained in a crash while pursuing migrants who illegally crossed the Texas border.

This bill sends a message to traffickers, cartels, and other illegal immigrants that if they risk the lives of American citizens, we will hold them to the full extent of the law. House Republicans will not allow more Americans to die at the hands of illegal immigrants, and we are committed to ensuring the safety of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, with President Trump officially in the White House and the inauguration festivities behind us, House Republicans are hitting the ground running this week on critical bills to protect the most vulnerable among us and to respond to the devastating wildfires ravaging throughout southern California.

Just to capture what just happened maybe 30 minutes ago, in the House of Representatives, we just passed the final version of the Laken Riley Act, which is commonsense, immigration border security protocols that put the lives of Americans first.

It is so commonsense, I am going to highlight: There are two people, and primarily probably just one, that made this so we couldn't do this a year and a half ago when it should have been done in the 118th Congress.

We just had over a dozen Democrats in the Senate vote for this bill. We had numerous Democrats in the House also support this bill. What is the difference today versus 6, 8 months ago when we tried to pass this? It is Senator Schumer.

Senator Schumer, as the leader of the Senate, would not allow for this bill to come up. He told those 12 Democrats in the Senate, I am not going to give you a chance to actually vote for sensible border security about the life lost of a Georgian because of absolutely insane border falter from President Biden.

Chuck Schumer basically said to a big portion of his Democratic Senators: I am not going to give you a chance to vote on something sensible. The House sent it over to us. We are not going to vote on it.

One change was made. Senator John Thune was put in the leadership position where he, with Republican Senators, decided to bring this to the floor, and a dozen or so Senators came on board from the Democrat side and voted for something sensible.

I wish the American people would truly understand that that is why elections are so important. That is why you put conservative leadership over in the Senate coupled with what we are doing in the House to provide sensible legislation, not extreme legislation like when it gets highlighted.

Mr. Speaker, it is literally going to make a positive impact, and that is just the second day. President Trump now has something to sign and show the American people that he hears us and he is ready to go and move about this.

I commend the bipartisan group of individuals from the Democratic Party in the House and the Senate that were willing to sort of buck the trend and say let's do this. I am very excited about that. I make that point. Obviously, I am a little frustrated it took so much time. It should have been brought up under Senator Chuck Schumer when he was the majority leader. That is clearly not the way he is going to govern.

Who knows if President Trump would have signed it. If the Senate leaders are going to push, you can sometimes get something across the finish line in the White House, even in an opposing White House.

We got that done today. This week we are focusing on Congresswoman Wagner's Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, another very commonsense piece of legislation that protects the fundamental right to life by ensuring that babies who survive an attempted abortion receive the same medical care health providers would have administered to a fetus born at the same age.

If a baby survives an abortion, this bill says to that physician they have to administer the same healthcare treatments that they would in any other labor situation. This legislation also requires that healthcare providers transport the child to the hospital and report abortion violations to law enforcement.

As southern California continues to struggle with devastating wildfires, House Republicans are also supporting Chairman Westerman's Fix Our Forests Act which enhances resiliency after wildfires and reduces regulatory burdens that hinder active forest management.

I am grateful to my colleagues for joining me this evening to discuss these necessary pieces of legislation. I gladly yield to my colleague from Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for his passion. It is always appreciated.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the good gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to hearing more of his perspective on what is ravaging through his State. Our hearts go out to those affected. As we hear many conversations about the California wildfires, we constantly hear that concern for the human element of this and a sincere desire to find improvements in how we can support them now and address this going forward.

Mr. Speaker, I will quickly touch on it, as well. I anticipate there will be some clear bipartisan support on this. If we are looking at it through a lens of common sense, we should get an abundance of it.

I reflect back to Monday when President Trump, during his inaugural address, said we will be the party of common sense. It is something that I want to sincerely communicate as I wrap up here.

There are a lot of games that get played in Washington. There are a minority and a majority and a lot of back and forth that goes on. I have experienced both. I have experienced it all, from the White House switching, the Senate switching back and forth, and the House going back and forth.

There are a lot of games. There are a lot of times that the majority will put in a bill that has some poison pills in it for the minority, and it becomes an entire messaging bill, a party-line exercise.

I was subject to it for my first term. Not every bill from the majority was like that. I joined on, in a very bipartisan way, sometimes not even from the majority of my side.

You have to look at the policy. I have seen a sincere effort from us not to go down the poison pill route, just to get them to say they are going to vote against it and then we go out there in the public world and use it for campaign purposes.

This Fix Our Forests Act is such a sincere, commonsense approach from Chairman Westerman, who is a forester by trade. He has delved into this issue. He knows more about it than virtually anybody here in Congress. He can dive in and talk about how we can protect, preserve, and enhance our forest health, while also protecting our communities, by putting the type of forest breaks in there, controlled burns, things like that that have proven to be very successful.

My State goes through this all the time. We have seen devastation happen, and we have learned from it. That is all we are asking to do in this moment, is to take a look.

Honestly, I hope it ends up being a net positive. With all the destruction and the sadness that has gone on and the devastation in California right now, I hope it has captured the attention in all 50 of our States to recognize there are better ways to do this and that it is not a partisan exercise.

That is what we are trying to accomplish this week with Chairman Westerman's Fix Our Forests Act, a commonsense bill that works to prevent destructive wildfires, improve emergency response by providing new tools and advanced technology, and cut burdensome regulations and hinder active forest management.

I have served under Chairman Westerman on the Natural Resources Committee. He leads with a really sensible approach to solving problems. It is something we absolutely need more of back here.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues tonight for being here to help share the message of what we are trying to accomplish this week.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman and the ranking member for the time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Hershel ``Woody'' Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act. This bill, which passed the House unanimously during the 118th Congress, is the final legislative step to establish a location for a monument recognizing America's Medal of Honor recipients on The National Mall.

Of the estimated 40 million individuals who have served in the United States Armed Services, fewer than 4,000 have been awarded the Medal of Honor.

President Abraham Lincoln awarded the first Medals of Honor more than 160 years ago, and it is only fitting that this monument is located near the Lincoln Memorial on The National Mall.

This monument will serve as a reminder that freedom is not free, and it will inspire new generations of Americans to revere and support the brave men and women who we owe our freedom to.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 186 to give America's heroes and their families a monument for their sacrifices for our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Modernizing Access to Public Waters, or MAPWaters Act.

This legislation builds upon the success of my MAPLand Act, enacted in 2022, and MAP Army Corps language included in last year's Water Resources Development Act to ensure Americans can quickly see the public resources around them and spend more time recreating on the land and water they love.

The MAPWaters Act will improve the standardization, consolidation, and availability of information on the recreational opportunities on Federal waterways, allowing recreationalists in Utah and around the country with the most up-to-date information on what is available to them.

In addition to providing chances for families to experience the outdoors and instill a love of nature in new generations, recreational boating and fishing are major drivers of Utah's economy, contributing over $536 million in 2023.

As our love for the outdoors continues to grow, accessing these public treasures should be as easy as possible.

I thank my friends Mr. Panetta from California, Mr. Fulcher from Idaho, and Mrs. Dingell from Michigan, as well as our Senate companions, Senators Barrasso and King, for partnering with me on this effort. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 187.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, House Republicans are doubling down on our commitment to supporting and protecting the rights and safety of women and girls across the country. We are doing this by championing bills that fight back against unfair competition in sports and dangerous immigration policies.

Yesterday, we passed Congressman Steube's Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which is now on its way to the Senate. This legislation prevents biological males from competing in school athletic programs for women and girls by requiring that sex in athletic competition be determined by genetics at birth.

House Republicans are also supporting Congresswoman Mace's Violence Against Women By Illegal Aliens Act, which amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make illegal immigrants inadmissible and deportable from the United States if they are convicted of or have admitted to committing sex offense or domestic violence.

I am grateful to my colleagues for joining me this evening to discuss these important measures and our commitment to delivering for our daughters, sisters, nieces, and granddaughters.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for being willing to carve out time in their schedules to come down and share this message.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from North Dakota (Mrs. Fedorchak).

Mr. Speaker, North Dakota, like Utah, definitely hits above its weight, and the gentlewoman from North Dakota's presence is key on all of these particular issues.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Houchin), our Conference secretary.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa), who has been through the devastation that we are seeing there, and our hearts go out to those in California. His district has been hit by this several times, and I will say that hearing the stories and conversations he has from his district, it just puts it into perspective. This is tough stuff. He has been down this road before and has been a strong leader on communicating

what we need to do to keep it from continuing to happen.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California. Again, we continue to pray that the best outcomes possible will continue to happen for California.

Mr. Speaker, my next speaker from Montana (Mr. Downing) is a brand- new Member and our concluding speaker here today. We consider ourselves, as a Utahn and Montanan, the greatest portion of the country, wouldn't you say, out West? We have a lot to prove that.

The gentleman is a new Member but a very experienced, thoughtful, and strong Member that I look forward to working with. I thank him for being here.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Downing).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Montana. I appreciate all that we have been able to enact thus far.

Mr. Speaker, I close tonight and just thank my colleagues for being here tonight and for taking the time to speak on this important issue.

As I mentioned earlier, House Republicans are committed to advancing legislation that supports our women and girls and gives them a fair chance to excel in their athletic endeavors.

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act ensures biological males are unable to compete in female-designated sports, giving women and girls the opportunity to compete on a fair playing field by requiring schools to comply with the Title IX recognition of a person's genetics at birth. This bill withholds Federal funding from schools that facilitate athletic programs where biological men compete against biological women.

To be clear, this is not about disrespecting anyone. Everyone is worthy of dignity and respect. However, protecting women and girls from feeling uncomfortable in their locker rooms, sustaining major sports injuries because of unfair competition, or simply losing out on well- deserved athletic accolades because they are genetically unable to beat a male is not purely political effort. It is simply what is right.

This is a line that we must draw, and we know that Americans agree with this.

I have joked before about a couple of things. I have four boys. I wasn't blessed with a girl. We lament it every day. I do love those boys, though. I push them hard in sports.

I reflect on this about my nieces, and they are dynamite athletes and, candidly, can probably beat me in most of their assigned sports, such as tennis and soccer, across the board. That is what motivates me on this.

The amount of confidence that you get from sports is key. The ability to compete and play and enjoy this, above anything else, with all of the extra pressures that are placed on kids nowadays with social media pressure and everything, the concepts of teamwork that you learn, achieving something, getting better at something, and having the ability to say that you have a shot to win that competition cannot be beaten into my nieces.

They have to be able to say, with a level playing field, they can go win this, not because it is important to win that gold ribbon or this or that or win the track meet. It is because they need to know that the effort they put in can achieve something.

That is going to translate into a career, into anything that they get involved with where they have to accomplish something. It is not just about sports. It is a psychological element that we need to make sure exists.

Sports is such a key, important aspect for growth in people, and that is what we are trying to do here. Let's not make this a political endeavor. At least you won't ever get that from me and my office and the way we communicate about this.

Additionally, House Republicans this week are standing up for women's safety by bringing to the floor Congresswoman Mace's Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act to uphold the U.S. border laws and make illegal immigrants who have been convicted of or admitted to sex offenses or domestic violence inadmissible and deportable.

This bill is about closing critical gaps in our crimes. Last year, over 20,000 illegal immigrants were not detained for sexual assault. As of July, over 650,000 with criminal histories were on the ICE non- detained docket. This must change. This bill takes action to get these violent offenders off of our streets and make our communities safe again.

I am grateful for the work my Republican colleagues have done to push these bills forward. We are wasting no time to get some of the sensible legislation that we were able to get passed and went nowhere in the Senate in the last Congress, and we want to give the Senate an opportunity to vote on this again.

I sincerely believe there will be Democrats who see the sensible approach with this. We are also seeing it with the bill we passed last week, the Laken Riley Act.

Again, I thank Congressman Steube and Congresswoman Mace for their leadership on these critical issues. To my colleagues, again, I appreciate their willingness to spend some time down here today.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Republican Conference, I send to the desk a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.