Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 513.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters Act, or MAPWaters Act, which passed the Natural Resources Committee unanimously last month.

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

The MAPWaters Act will improve the standardization, consolidation, and availability of information on the recreational opportunities for Federal waterways, allowing recreationists in Utah and around the country to have 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.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta), the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Fulcher), and the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell), as well as our Senate companions, Senators Barrasso and King, for partnering with me on this effort.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6127.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9716) to amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office to provide baseline updates, and for other purposes.

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 H.R. 9716.

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

I rise today in support of my bill, the Increasing Baseline Updates Act.

I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi) for co-leading this effort.

The Increasing Baseline Updates Act would require CBO to produce at least two baseline updates per year, including at least one with economic data. Currently, under the Budget Act, CBO is required to publish its baseline before February 15 of each year, but a specific number of baseline updates is not statutorily required.

As a result, in recent years, CBO has not published updates to the baseline later in the calendar year. The last time CBO published a baseline update after July was in 2020, and the Office has not published three baseline updates in a calendar year since 2019.

By requiring these two additional baseline updates each year, the Increasing Baseline Updates Act will ensure Congress has updated information on the most relevant budget and economic figures to better inform the appropriations process and other legislative proposals we consider later in any given calendar year.

The bill also ensures CBO will receive the relevant technical data from the executive branch by February 1 of each year so CBO can complete their baseline in a timely manner.

I was proud that this bill unanimously passed the Budget Committee this past September, with the help of the ranking member from Pennsylvania.

During the 118th Congress, the Budget Committee has been laser focused on sounding the alarm about the threat posed to our Nation by the debt and deficit crisis in which we find ourselves. This has included bipartisan efforts with our Democratic colleagues on reforms to bolster improper payment accountability, improve the budget process, and shore up our long-term fiscal solvency.

Critical to our efforts to rein in the Federal debt and deficit is providing oversight of CBO to ensure this office is providing Congress the most accurate and timely information possible to inform legislative efforts.

There is a sincere desire in a bipartisan way to get after the fiscal state of this Nation, and we have seen several proposals emerge. Not all of them have passed, but a lot of them have been worked on together with my Democratic colleagues on the Budget Committee to accomplish things to improve this process. That is what the Increasing Baseline Updates Act aims to accomplish.

We know we have a lot more work to do. We are $36 trillion in debt, and we had a staggering $1.8 trillion deficit last fiscal year. We are paying more just to service the debt than on our national defense for the first time. It is unacceptable, and we must reverse our debt culture.

Madam Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the new Congress on efforts to grow the economy, cut spending, and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in the Federal Government. The Increasing Baseline Updates Act is a commonsense reform solidifying a total of three baseline updates per year to provide Congress with a better and more up-to-date sense of fiscal and economic developments, while paving the way for a return to regular order.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record letters and statements of support from various organizations and individuals as part of H.R. 9716. These include the Economic Policy Innovation Center and National Taxpayers Union Foundation.

Economic Policy Innovation Center,

December 10, 2024.

Hon. Jodey Arrington,

Chairman, Committee on the Budget,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Hon. Brendan Boyle,

Ranking Member, Committee on the Budget,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Chairman Arrington and Ranking Member Boyle: The

Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on

Taxation (JCT) serve Congress by providing non-partisan

analysis. To accomplish this mission, it is essential that

Congress and the public have faith in the methodology by

which the CBO and the JCT produce their estimates and

reports. An important way to improve trust in the

Congressional scorekeepers is by increasing transparency

through more frequent updates to the baseline and regular

releases of economic data.

H.R. 9716, the Increasing Baseline Updates Act, introduced

by Congressman Blake Moore (R-UT-01) would improve the CBO's

ability to access data from the Executive Branch. It would

also ensure Congress has updated information to use when

legislating.

The bill requires the CBO to submit to Congress at least

two updates to the budget and economic baseline each year.

The bill further stipulates that the President must submit

technical data necessary for the CBO's estimates to Congress

``on or before February 1 of each calendar year.''

The federal budget process must evolve to confront the

serious fiscal challenges of today and tomorrow. The proposed

bill ensures access to the accurate and timely information

necessary for lawmakers to do their work for the American

people.

We at EPIC applaud your work in improving the federal

budget process to enable Congress and the public to be better

informed about the true impact of legislation under

consideration.

Sincerely,

Paul Winfree, Ph.D,

President and CEO.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

As we close this debate, even if it might have been a little more abrupt, it doesn't take away from the impact of something like this. That is what happens in this place when we can strike a balance and find an opportunity to recognize both the ranking member and the chairman of the Budget Committee. That is where a lot of this work on budget reform has been done. It has taken countless discussions and getting to the right spot, and

that is the product that we have here today--sensible, reasonable reforms that are needed.

We are going to get an opportunity to hear from CBO more frequently as we try to continue to navigate this incredibly difficult fiscal situation that we are in. We are in a tough spot.

The Budget Committee held another hearing just this morning on this very subject. We have a responsibility to our constituents and our kids' generation to get our finances in check.

This bill will help Congress get back to regular order and ensure we have updated information and the most relevant budget data and economic figures as we continue to craft policy.

I once again thank the Committee for its unanimous support on this bill. In order to get to that unanimous support, Ranking Member Boyle has been a significant leader in doing that. I thank him and Mr. Suozzi for their efforts on this bill.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Utah for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 introduced by my colleague Representative Maloy from Utah.

Around the country, and particularly in the West, thousands of historic hardrock mines lay abandoned, posing risks to public health and the environment.

Many of these sites sit on the same public land on which we recreate and thoroughly enjoy. The leftover residues, chemicals, and harmful contaminants affect thousands of miles of streams and waterways, endangering wildlife and fish.

Clearly, there is a problem to be solved here. Too often in this body of Congress, we create more problems than actual solutions.

This bill is fundamentally different for the way that it tries to approach and address this issue that exists out in our communities.

This bill will accelerate remediation work by allowing Good Samaritan organizations and State agencies to voluntarily take action and clean up abandoned mines to protect water quality.

With the enactment of this bill, we will help ensure that these sites are restored and no longer pose risks to the public. A key word on that is ``voluntarily.'' If we get in the way of these Good Samaritan and State agencies to actually solve this issue, we will continue to have these problems going forward.

In Utah, we know the importance of being good stewards of our resources, and this legislation is vital to passing on our land to future generations.

I thank Congresswoman Maloy and her work on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in celebrating the time we got to spend with our colleague, Chairwoman McMorris Rodgers.

I can sum this up in one thought, and this is what I will take. The best part of this place is we get to interact with some of our colleagues and learn from others. What I will take going forward was what she exemplified, and that was being a well-rounded person.

When you talked to her, you could dive deep on all of the policy matters that go on in the Committee on Energy and Commerce. You could also dig in and learn about her experience leading the Republican Conference with her efforts on messaging.

More importantly, what she always loved to talk about was being a mother to amazing children, some of which I have had a chance to meet and been inspired by, as well. She and her husband have lived and will continue to live a life of service.

She is somebody who doesn't just talk about reading the Bible. She lives it. This is somebody who isn't narrowly focused on one aspect of life. She embraces a well-rounded way to live and touch as many people as possible, and that is what I will learn and continue to take from her example.

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, as we begin our brief Special Order tonight, just to kind of highlight some of the things going on, House Republicans are working very hard through the end of the 118th Congress to push several pieces of legislation that deliver results for Americans and reflect on our conservative agenda.

This week, we are championing bills that support our small businesses and protect our schools from communist propaganda. Across the country, small businesses are struggling with burdensome red tape and Federal regulations. This week, House Republicans are bringing to the floor Congressman Finstad's Prove It Act, which will support our small businesses by enhancing the integrity and transparency of our regulatory processes, reduce red tape, and drive our economy forward.

We have seen this over and over again. The American people decided in November that they wanted to push our economy toward the upward mobility that we need, and the key aspect of this is making sure that we have the proper regulatory reform in place.

This is one excessively burdensome area remaining from the current administration, and we look forward to taking a bill like this and driving it to its fate and getting things accomplished in the coming months.

We are also supporting Congresswoman Salazar's Crucial Communism Teaching Act to provide civic education curricula and educational materials for middle and high school students about the dangers of communism and totalitarianism.

I am grateful for my colleagues for joining me this evening to discuss these important measures.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague from Florida (Ms. Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa), to share with us some of the key things we are trying to accomplish here in the waning days of the 118th Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I will close as I reiterate, at the close of the 118th Congress--and what a historic Congress it has been-- we are trying to finish this out with doing some of the core things that are necessary.

We are working hard on making sure our defense capabilities are intact. That will be something that we are highlighting for the next coming weeks, ensuring that we have proper funding opportunities ahead as those deadlines loom.

This week, again, two very simple, pragmatic approaches--and these should be wildly bipartisan--to be able to create transparency into our regulatory process and make sure that we are teaching truth to our children of the history of what made our country so great and the enterprise that has been able to drive that upward mobility in 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 the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, it is great to be back in Washington, D.C., this week as the House Republicans set the stage for the 119th Congress with a unified front to tackle the most pressing issues that the American people face.

Americans from coast to coast are grappling with the consequences of the Biden-Harris administration, including high energy costs, crippling inflation, rising crime, burdensome regulations, and government overreach in schools and other institutions.

House Republicans are working together as a conference to craft legislation that tackles inflation, implements progrowth tax policies, cuts back on regulatory red tape, promotes family values, supports small businesses, secures our borders, and strengthens our position on the world stage.

During this lameduck period, we are hard at work advancing other key important pieces of legislation, specific pieces. This week, we put on the floor Congresswoman Claudia Tenney's Stop Terror Financing and Tax Penalty Act, which protects American citizens who are wrongfully detained or held captive abroad from late penalties from the IRS and revokes the tax-exempt status of nonprofits that provide financial or material support to terrorist groups like Hamas.

We have to listen to the American people when it comes to energy independence, a topic that we have spent the last 4 years trying to debate.

I think the people have spoken, and House Republicans are listening. They are advocating for policies that cut red tape and unleash our Nation's energy potential.

That is why we passed, earlier this week, Congressman Russ Fulcher's, who was just in the Chamber, Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act, the CLEAN Act, which requires the Interior Department to increase the frequency of geothermal lease sales from every 2 years to every year, hold a replacement sale if necessary, and create decision deadlines for geothermal drilling permit applications, therefore enhancing our geothermal energy output and domestic energy supply.

If you say that you want clean energy, if you say that you want other alternatives but continue to withhold the permitting and hold hostage the permitting process, then you truly do not want to create a solution.

We are done with this. Permitting reform is something that has to take place in our Nation. We have done a little bit of it in a bipartisan way, but if we can't look at something like this and say that this, to reduce the burden on permitting, is the most commonsense thing for geothermal potential, then nobody is being actually serious back here.

Let's get these things done.

I am grateful for my colleagues who are going to join us this evening to discuss this and many other measures that are pertinent to their districts. I am grateful for their commitment to delivering for the American people as we continue to look forward to next Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from the Commonwealth of Virginia (Mr. Cline).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks. We appreciate his followthrough in highlighting this key, important legislation.

There are, I think, 46 Americans who are wrongfully detained. They should not be going through these types of tax penalties. This is something that makes absolute sense.

I appreciate my next colleague who will address the Chamber.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee for his remarks. I always appreciate his involvement.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter) for our next address.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for his remarks. Utah has potential for some disasters, but nothing like the devastation they have seen, and our heart goes out to them.

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

Mr. Speaker, as always, I appreciate the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa) and his thoughtful, but yet frustratingly common voice on energy policy.

I thank my colleagues for being here tonight and taking the time to speak on some of these priorities the House Republicans are focused on as we look forward to the 119th Congress, Mr. Speaker.

As I mentioned earlier, House Republicans are pushing legislation to reform the United States tax code, to protect American hostages abroad, and support our domestic energy industry.

Currently, there are approximately 46 Americans wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad, and our tax code does not provide any relief beyond 1 year for detainees.

The Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act works to support Americans by preventing the IRS from charging late fees and penalties to U.S. citizens wrongfully detained abroad. This bill also revokes the tax-exempt status of U.S. nonprofit organizations that provide financial or material support to terrorist groups like Hamas.

This is the most commonsense legislation that we are going to see in the lameduck period, and I am hopeful to see this through the legislative process entirely as it passes the House.

Americans should not be penalized for being held hostage by adversaries abroad, and this bill is a necessary step toward ensuring detainees and hostages are able to focus on safely returning home and reuniting with their families.

This week, House Republicans successfully passed the Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act to require the Department of the Interior to increase the frequency of geothermal leases, the lease sales, from every 2 years to every year. It also includes holding a replacement sale, if necessary, and creates decision deadlines for geothermal drilling permit applications.

This bill emphasizes a robust energy policy that unleashes our Nation's energy potential, reduces reliance on foreign energy sources, and cuts back against onerous red tape that slows down energy production.

House Republicans know that we have a lot of work to do, and we are committed to using our constituents' voices as our guide as we reverse the Biden-Harris administration's failed policies and protect American citizens, restore American energy independence, and lower energy costs for American workers and their families.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to honor the exceptional accomplishments of Mr. Peter Jenks, who has recently been selected for the Top of Utah Military Affairs Committee's Western Big Hat Award. This award--first given to Admiral Chester Nimitz--recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service to their community. Anyone who knows Peter knows that there is no one more deserving of this award than he.

I know Peter best for his dedicated service to my constituents in Northern Utah, but his influence extends far beyond this narrow snapshot of his career. Peter has served Utah's First Congressional District for three decades, working as district director for three consecutive Members of Congress. In this role, he has been critical to the success of this office and Congressional District, especially in serving the needs of our servicemen and women at Hill Air Force Base.

Beyond work, Peter is consistently generous with his time. He is a current board member and former president of the Utah Defense Alliance where he leads efforts to engage state and local government and military and business leaders on defense and aerospace issues. He also serves Wolf Creek Foundation board, serving and supporting the families of deployed military members.

Peter has twice served as Honorary Commander at Hill Air Force Base, first with the 388th Fighter Wing and later with the 419th Fighter Wing and is universally loved by all who have worked with him. Those lucky enough to know him know there is no more loyal a friend nor selfless a mentor than Peter Jenks.

It is my honor to recognize Peter's accomplishment and service for Utah's First Congressional District and our Nation's service members. Utah and the United States are better because of his work and example. I thank Peter for his service and sacrifice throughout the years. He is a model of courage, selfless service, and altruism from whom we can all learn.

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

Madam Speaker, House Republicans are addressing the most important issues facing Americans across the country, and this week we will focus on crime.

Over the past 3 years, violent crime has surged under the Biden- Harris administration. Its soft-on-crime policies coupled with bail reform, open borders, and the defund the police movement has put every American in danger and threatened our Nation's security.

That is why House Republicans have brought to the floor the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act, to fight back against Democrats' woke agenda and give our law enforcement the tools they need to defend public safety in our communities.

Last week, House Republicans passed the Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act to ensure that illegal immigrants convicted of sex offenses or other crimes involving stalking, child abuse, and neglect are inadmissible or deportable from the United States.

This legislation now waits to be voted on on the Senate floor.

Republicans are the party of law and order, and we will continue to fight for the safety of our Nation's communities.

I am grateful to my colleagues for joining me this evening to talk about the importance of supporting our law enforcement and implementing robust crime policies.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Langworthy).

Honoring Richard Telford

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for his comments on such a dedicated public servant.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. James).

Congratulating 2024 West Point Graduates

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for his comments.

I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa) to address the House.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for his comments.

Madam Speaker, I will quickly reiterate that I appreciate my colleagues for not only tonight but the last several months in communicating some of the reality that we see on the ground.

Policy matters. Policy leads directly to good or bad outcomes back home in our districts. We need to be recognizing what is going to create better outcomes and, if we have made mistakes, be willing to own it and move forward and find better ways to address the issues that our Nation faces.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Hawaii for yielding. I really appreciate this opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise alongside a bipartisan group of colleagues to discuss our Nation's greatest threat: the unsustainable deficit and spiraling national debt.

I thank my friend, Congressman Case, for hosting this Special Order this evening and for his continued leadership on the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum.

Today, our gross national debt exceeds $35 trillion. Our budget deficit is expected to reach $1.9 trillion this year. Spending on interest payments just to service our debt will surpass what we spend on Medicare and national defense each, individually. This is the grave reality of our fiscal situation.

As we all know, this is not an easy issue, and it is a problem created by both parties. Durable and lasting solutions will likewise require bipartisan partnership to address these difficult budgetary realities.

I am grateful for groups like the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum, where Members who recognize the catastrophic threat posed by our fiscal state come together to elevate this issue and find commonsense solutions.

As a father of four boys, this issue is deeply personal to me. I want my sons' generation to have the same chance at the American Dream that previous generations have had.

Our national debt matters, and if we don't deal with it, our children and their children will bear the burden of higher inflation and interest costs, slower economic growth, and the national security risks associated with bloated Federal Government.

Utah, my State, is a model for responsible budgeting with a balanced budget every year and a consistent rainy-day fund. This is why, during my first term in Congress, I established a Debt and Deficit Task Force back home in Utah, comprised of leaders from across the State to create a framework of solutions for how elected officials should address our Nation's debt crisis with Utah's fiscally responsible values.

The four main pillars of our framework include growing the economy, saving and strengthening vital programs, focusing America's spending, and fixing Congress' budget process.

I know that several of my colleagues involved in the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum have recognized many of the same structural issues and are working hard to change the tide here in Washington.

As a member of the Budget Committee, I have been proud of the work we have done this Congress to raise the profile of our national debt and deficit crisis.

Earlier this year, the committee passed my Fiscal State of the Nation Act, which would require the nonpartisan Comptroller General to provide an annual update on the Nation's finances to a joint meeting of Congress and help the Nation understand the scope of the problem.

I applaud Chairman Jodey Arrington for leading the charge on a lot of important legislation and conversations that are making the dangers of our Federal debt crisis feel more real to the American people.

The committee also advanced a very important and significant bipartisan Fiscal Commission Act, crucial legislation led by Congressman Huizenga from Michigan and Congressman Peters from California.

The bill would establish a commission tasked with identifying policies to improve the fiscal situation in the medium term and attain a sustainable debt-to-GDP ratio over the longer term. The commission would operate in an open and transparent manner, and importantly, it provides for expedited consideration on the House and Senate floor. That is something we haven't always had in these similar types of approaches, that there would be expedited consideration to force a House and Senate floor vote.

While establishing a fiscal commission is critical in the short term, I know many of my colleagues would agree that we need to reform our budget process to help make sustainable budgeting possible.

To illustrate the scope of the budget process challenges, here are a few figures: Congress has not adopted a budget on time since 2003; Congress has not passed all appropriations on time since 1996; and the only time Congress has passed both the budget resolution and appropriations by the deadline was 1977.

The Budget Committee is working hard on budget process reform, and I know members of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum have ideas to revamp the process, as well.

A bipartisan bill I introduced with Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez to tackle this problem is the Comprehensive Congressional Budget Act, which would take the next step toward an effective and inclusive congressional budgeting process by including all spending and revenue in the budget process and requiring contributions from committees with direct spending or revenue jurisdiction.

I emphasize ``all spending'' because, as I listed off things where we have fallen short over the last 50 years, it is not even highlighting the most important aspect: We don't vote on more than 75 percent of our budget. All 435 of us and 100 Senators are responsible in our Article I duty for our Federal budget, and we vote on approximately 23 percent of that.

This Comprehensive Congressional Budget Act would force Congress to take into consideration the entirety of the budget, and it would give the committees the right responsibility. We would have to roll up our sleeves and actually have to deal with the entirety of the budget because the fact that we just vote on appropriations bills doesn't solve a single thing.

Next year will be an important year as we deal with major fiscal cliffs. Beyond the annual appropriations process, we will have to deal with the reinstatement of the debt limit in addition to trillions of dollars of tax expirations that will affect every American family.

Groups like the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum are incredibly valuable as we take on the challenges and opportunities ahead of us in 2025.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to continuing this important work.

Mr. Speaker, rest assured, House of Representatives, that the basketball trophy will be back in our Chamber for another year.

Congratulations to the Members of Congress for defeating the Downtown Lobbyists two nights ago. We took it to them.

The civil servants of our society took it to Downtown. A big congratulations to the Members of Congress for defeating them.

This is an awesome event that we do. It supports Hoops for Youth, a big charity that goes to help youth sports, along with many of the other sporting activities that we do.

Just to finish it off, I congratulate and particularly recognize our captain and this year's MVP, retiring Member Brad Wenstrup. Can we get a round of applause?

You may hear rumors from Downtown that it required Enes Freedom, formerly Enes Kanter of the NBA, to help our team win, but that is unsubstantiated. We could have beaten them on our own.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is always lovely to be lectured about democracy from the party that refused to certify the 2005 and 2017 elections. If this place didn't run on double standards, I don't know what fuel would be there. It is fascinating to literally hear this rhetoric. I am sorry to totally take you off point for just a moment, but, again, if the double standards didn't exist, there would be very little for this place to run on.

As we begin tonight's Special Order, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the 23rd anniversary of the attack on September 11, 2001.

Today, we remember a pivotal moment in our Nation's history and the profound loss our Nation endured, the courage we witnessed, and the resilience that we have shown as a Nation in the face of adversity. Nearly 3,000 lives were taken on 9/11 and countless families were forever changed.

Today, we honor the heroism of the law enforcement officers, servicemembers, firefighters, and medical professionals who answered the call of duty on that fateful day.

Today, we also recognize its lasting impact on our country's foreign policy and national security interests. The events of 9/11 revealed vulnerabilities in our national security apparatus and underscored the necessity for a robust and proactive approach to safeguarding our Nation.

Since the attacks, we have worked to rebuild our national security in a new period of great power competition with countries like China, Russia, and Iran, but since President Biden and Vice President Harris took office, their failed foreign policy of appeasement has diminished our standing on the world stage and emboldened our adversaries.

It goes without saying that strong foreign policy is the key to a strong nation. House Republicans are advancing several bills this week as part of our ``China Week'' that will bolster our national security and defend against our adversaries.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee also released their report on the Biden-Harris administration's failures during and after the catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan. I will speak more on that later.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for her remarks. Peace through strength, that is such a simple concept, and it has evaded us over the last few years.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lopez).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado for his remarks. He is an individual who has had a short time here and is respected in just a few short months. He has been one of the most studious and one of the most thoughtful Members that I have seen in my 3\1/2\ years, and I hope to be able to continue to find a way to serve with him. I am sincere about that, and I appreciate his heartfelt comments here tonight.

Again, I thank my colleagues for being here and taking time to speak on some of the most pressing issues facing our Nation.

Yesterday, Speaker Johnson posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the families of the servicemembers killed in a barbaric act of terrorism at the Kabul Airport in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021, including Staff Sergeant Taylor Hoover from Utah.

President Biden's decision to abandon Bagram Air Base and its equipment forced our troops into the impossible task of securing an urban airport while also conducting an impossibly complex humanitarian operation, all under an unreasonable timeframe and without coordination from our allies. The aftermath gave our enemies a window of opportunity of which they took full advantage. Three years later, the Taliban are in control of Afghanistan and are building stronger diplomatic ties to China, making deeper overtures to Iran, and they have enabled the resurgence of ISIS-K in their backyard.

I may be accused of regurgitating this information too much or we need to move on, and I still remember committing to a memorial service that a marine was lost from Utah to never forget and to always remember. That wasn't just a bad mistake. It had second, third, and fourth order consequences that we are going to be facing for decades to come.

President Biden has often said that our number one priority was to make sure that Afghanistan could never again be used as an operating base from which to plan terrorist attacks on the American homeland. The current situation, however, heavily indicates that we are failing in this objective.

I commend Chairman McCaul and his committee for their work on the report released this week that details key failures of the Biden-Harris administration during and after the catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan and its aftermath. Americans deserve answers for how this administration mishandled this crisis, and I am grateful for the committee's diligent work.

Additionally, we should all agree that the China challenge is not a partisan issue. Ensuring our competitiveness with China should unite lawmakers from both sides of aisle. This is the all-encompassing policy fight of our generation. It is not just a faraway foreign policy issue, but rather is one that directly impacts our economic prosperity and shapes the livelihoods of every American.

To that end, yesterday I joined Congressman Wenstrup, Congressman Pfluger, and Chairman Green in releasing a request for information to solicit feedback on policy solutions to strengthen and enhance domestic medical supply chains.

Congress has the responsibility to ensure the safety and security of our Nation and ensure our medical supply chains are free from dependency on foreign adversaries.

I am looking forward to working with my colleagues on this important issue and supporting my colleagues who have been sitting on the Select Committee on China and advancing valuable legislation out of this Chamber.

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

Mr. Speaker, due to a religious commitment, I was unable to vote on September 9, 2024. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 401, and YEA on Roll Call No. 402.

Madam Speaker, as a newer voice on the committee, I didn't even get to serve a full term with Mr. Pascrell, so I will be lighter on stories than others, but the amount of impact he had on me will carry on for my time in Congress.

I have no prepared remarks, and I can't think of a better way to honor Mr. Pascrell than to have no prepared remarks. I can't say whether or not he actually ever had prepared remarks. All I knew was that we were going to get yelled at.

I make a spotlight of a Member in my weekly newsletter. Oftentimes, I think the wrong Members don't get highlighted enough back here, and we don't get a chance for the people of the First District to know who in the world is back in Congress. We oftentimes only hear of certain folks that sort of dominate the airwaves.

In my newsletter, I wrote just a very brief spotlight when I learned of his passing, and it said: The only thing bigger than Bill's heart and his personality, and I guess I could add voice to that as well, but the only thing bigger than his personality and his heart was his sense of humor. It carried a lot of the way with us.

I know that we on the Republican side of the dais always appreciated his sense of humor, so much so that I would get caught in a vicious cycle every once in a while where he would--everything he did to me was always with a little bit of a tinge of humor. I can admit that now that he has passed on because I would have been scared to otherwise.

If he said something, I would have to chuckle, and then during the committee hearing he would yell at me for laughing, which only made me almost want to laugh more because I knew in 6 minutes when I saw him in the back room he would be one of my best friends back here. I knew that was the way he reacted.

It didn't mean he wasn't serious about his issues. It just means he cared about people's interactions and personalities. I always knew where to find him. I just thought about that. Of course, as I poked my head up and looked back in the area where he would always be sitting if I ever needed a quick chat, you see those flowers there. It was a neat thing.

Again, very, very little time, but what I do know that I think is important to recognize about this place, and what it needs more of--the gentleman from Connecticut addressed this just recently, you could tell he was his best friend. That was just mentioned about him, and I assumed that was always the case--but he went around to every one of us, making sure we were going to be at his birthday party. I can say now that he has passed on that I am so glad of the persistence of Mr. Larson to push us because I learned, and I got more of a take into his own life and the amount of service that he did and what he did for his community through that event, and I will always be appreciative of that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solemn recognition of an incredible community leader in northern Utah and a dear lifelong family friend, Mr. Richard Hendrickson.

Over the Fourth of July weekend, Richard and his daughter, Sally, passed away in a tragic vehicle accident close to home in Ogden Canyon.

Richard led a 36-year career in the outdoor products space. Starting as a welder at the age of 16 and rising to become the CEO and president of Lifetime Products, a uniquely American success story. ``From Rags to Richard,'' his colleagues would quip.

Not only was Richard a good friend but also a trusted adviser and supporter of my efforts in Congress. I am most grateful he accepted a voluntary role as a member of my Debt and Deficit Task Force based in Ogden, Utah. He would go out of his way to provide context on trade policy that affected American businesses. It was abundantly clear that his main professional focus was the livelihood of his employees and sustaining a positive culture at a very significant Utah-based company. He will leave a void that simply cannot be filled.

Above all, Richard was a truly genuine and kind man, treating his neighbors and his employees as his peers. In addition to his career and community involvement, Richard was a leader in his faith, serving the last 2 years as a stake president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His service reflected his commitment to his faith, family, and community.

His executive counterpart mentioned to me how busy Richard's schedule had become. They couldn't even find 2\1/2\ days to visit another facility, yet what was he doing on a Saturday afternoon? He was taking his kids boating.

On a more personal note, every time that my boys practice free throws going forward or we host a backyard barbecue, we will remember Richard and how his life's work was to build products meant to bring friends and families together.

I take comfort alongside his family--his wife, Julie, and his surviving children, Samuel, Lyssa, and Mollie--in knowing that Richard continues to look after and comfort Sally, and they will all be united again. I offer these words as a remembrance of his legacy.