Floor Statements

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 subject of my Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, during my time this evening, my colleagues and I will be shedding light on the Democrats' illegal attempt to include mass amnesty in their multi-trillion-dollar spending package, their so-called Build Back Better bill.

Frankly, this entire bill is a disaster. It will permanently cause labor shortages, crush small businesses, raise taxes, lower wages, and expand the very worst parts of our government.

As one of the chairs of the House Border Security Caucus, a Texan, and simply as an American, I am stunned that in the middle of the worst border security crisis we have ever faced, Senate Democrats are using the reconciliation process to try and grant mass amnesty to millions and millions of illegal aliens.

We are up against more crises than any American has ever seen, too many to even keep track of anymore. But, folks, this is the worst one of all. Our open borders and the President's dereliction of duty to secure our southern border will unquestionably affect every single American in this country, every single State, for generations to come. Let that sink in.

My friends, this isn't a talking point. It is a fact. History has shown us that amnesty erodes the integrity of our immigration system, and it breeds contempt for the law on all sides. We are seeing this happening and unfolding before our eyes in living color.

If we look back to 1986, which was the last time mass amnesty was granted, we have a clear view of what will happen if Biden and the Democrats push this plan through. Millions of jobs will be put at risk. We will see massive waves of new illegal immigration. It is happening as we speak. Our enemies will use this avenue to enter the United States and embed themselves into our society.

Listen closely: Our society, our country, our neighbors, us--America is at stake.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. McClintock.

That is so, so true. Arrests by Border Patrol are at the highest levels since 1986. Ask yourself, what happened in 1986, folks? Mass amnesty. This isn't coincidental. This is cause and effect.

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

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my good friend from Pennsylvania and thank him so much.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Good).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey).

Mr. Speaker, we are not against immigration. Most of us are the children of immigrants. My own daughter-in-law is a naturalized citizen. But we have to do it the right way, and that is exactly what we are here to do.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Tiffany).

Mr. Speaker, House Democrats actually rejected the Republican efforts to block amnesty for illegal aliens who are gang members or have gun charges or are sex offenders, as Mr. Tiffany just said, or who have multiple DUI offenses. That is lunacy. All you can say is it is lunacy.

I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Buddy Carter.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for his input.

I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Hern).

Well said. Thank you very much, Mr. Hern. I appreciated that.

I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller).

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mrs. Miller. We really appreciate that.

For those of you who don't know, one of the leaders of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing was legalized through the 1986 amnesty by falsely claiming that he was a seasonal worker. After receiving amnesty, he traveled back and forth to Afghanistan and Pakistan to receive terrorist training. There is no reason to believe that terrorists would not once again take full advantage of amnesty to hurt us.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman), the highest ranking military officer to serve in the House of Representatives.

MR. BERGMAN: Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas for yielding and for leading tonight's Special Order.

How do you apply an adequate objective to the shocking, clueless attempt to jam amnesty for eight million illegal immigrants into this Democrat-owned, Democrat-grown, Democrat-processed multitrillion-dollar reconciliation bill? Again, it is a complete sham.

I think it is clear to most Americans why illegal immigration is illegal--it kind of sounds like I am repeating words here, but it is still illegal--and why any nation and our Nation needs borders.

People aren't trying to break out of the United States of America. Let's be clear why we are the greatest country in the world. Because we built it. Nobody else did.

The Democrats running our country today, however, are defying logic and the rule of law.

They are hosting an open border policy on the front end while simultaneously proposing a mass legalization policy on the back end.

The amnesty policy before us is the opposite of a solution.

We need real solutions, like when we had a wall being built and border security policies that worked.

I am here tonight because we need to stop this illegal activity on the southern border and make sure it is not rewarded by this shameful sham bill.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate what the gentleman said.

While the exact number of the millions of illegal aliens potentially eligible for amnesty is very fluid, data shows that historically each immigrant to the United States sponsors an average of 3.45 additional family members for green cards. So theoretically, if the estimated 13 million illegal aliens currently here in the United States were given lawful status and sponsored green cards for three or four family members, 43 million--let me repeat that, 43 million--new immigrants would be coming in. This is astounding data.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, (Mr. Grothman). So true.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. McClain), my colleague.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman, (Mrs. McClain). I really appreciate it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Donalds), my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman (Mr. Donalds). I appreciate that very much.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Fitzgerald), my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Fitzgerald. I appreciate that.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew), my friend and colleague, and a dentist as well.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Van Drew. I appreciate it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs), my friend, and also fellow cochair of the House Border Security Caucus.

I thank my good friend from Arizona. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have left?

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friends for bringing attention to this unbelievably important issue. Every one of us, as well as my colleagues who couldn't be here tonight, could talk about this crisis for days. Since our time is limited, I want to close with this.

Our very existence as a democratic republic, as a nation, hangs in the balance. The overwhelming majority of Americans reject the idea of mass amnesty. The border crisis, including the abuse, assault, drug trafficking, abduction, danger, murder, fraud, and death that comes along with it will only get worse.

We cannot afford to risk the lives of migrants or Americans by granting a mass amnesty. We will continue to fight against this for as long as we need to.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Franklin Chang- Diaz for being selected as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2021 at Goldman Sachs's Builders + Innovators Summit in Healdsburg, California.

Selected as one of 100 entrepreneurs from a diverse range of groundbreaking industries. Dr. Chang-Diaz currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Rocket Company in Webster, TX. He spent 25 years as a decorated NASA astronaut, flying seven missions into space. When he retired from NASA in 2005, he founded the Ad Astra Rocket Company to continue the development of his invention, the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) engine.

The VASlMR engine is an advanced plasma space propulsion system that will revolutionize space travel. With VASIMR, a sustainable, efficient, and high-powered engine, we can stay longer and travel further in space. Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz and his company. Ad Astra, are transforming the trajectory of our space industry.

Using plasma physics to bring the advanced rocket technology to life, Ad Astra plans to commercialize the VASIMR engine by 2025 for the emerging in-space transportation market. The VASIMR engine's capabilities will vastly change how we think about space travel. Transit to Mars will be shorter by several months, enabling more robust human missions to the Red Planet and beyond.

Madam Speaker, I would like to honor Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz for his extraordinary achievements and leadership in the field of space transportation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and sacrifice of Sergeant Kaila Sullivan, a 16-year veteran of the Nassau Bay Police Department.

On December 10, 2019, Sergeant Kaila Sullivan was killed in the line of duty while assisting an arrest in the Clear Lake area. Her tragic death is a grim reminder that the job of a police officer protecting our streets can be dangerous and deadly, even on the most routine of days, and that our law enforcement officers deserve our gratitude and respect.

Her friends and colleagues remember Kaila as the ``rock'' of her police force, a hero, and a ``peace officer's peace officer.'' She was an enthusiastic advocate for victims of domestic violence and a natural leader revered by her community. She always strived to excel at her job as a police officer, and her long list of roles within the force reflects that; Sullivan served as a bike patrol instructor, a mental health officer, a field training officer, crime prevention specialist, and Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) instructor in addition to her duties as Sergeant.

But Kaila was not just a police officer. She was a devoted mother and loving wife, a friend to all, and quite the entertainer with ``the voice of an angel.'' She enjoyed playing the guitar, riding horses, and was often seen around town in her overhauled, monster truck-like pickup. She loved hiking, being outdoors, and spending time with her family, but most of all, people remember her being totally dedicated to the community she served.

Sergeant Kaila Sullivan was Nassau Bay Police Department's first death in the line of duty. Her loss continues to reverberate in the Nassau Bay community, as it will for many years.

Madam Speaker, I would like to honor Sergeant Kaila Sullivan and her family for her service. God bless Texas, Nassau Bay, and Sergeant Kaila Sullivan.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and neighbor for yielding.

I rise today in fierce opposition to H.R. 3755, the Women's Health Protection Act of 2021. The goal of this bill is not to protect the health of women, but rather, to remove all barriers standing in the way of murdering millions of innocent babies.

This deceptively-named legislation would be more accurately entitled the abortion on demand until birth act.

Once again, the Democrat Party has pathetically caved to the demands of the far left.

This bill will not only legalize abortion on demand for any reason, it will make it available at any time during the pregnancy.

By nullifying State regulations, this radical bill will eliminate any prohibitions on sex-selection abortions, late-term abortions, and abortions based on Down syndrome or another genetic diagnosis.

The Democrats know that their pro-abortion agenda does not align with the views of most Americans.

They know that when given a choice, more than 75 percent of Americans support some limitations on abortion.

Knowing this, it is too risky for them to leave the choice to the people and to the State legislatures that represent them. Instead, Democrats vote to impose their will at all costs.

We cannot, and I will not, remain silent while Democrats play abhorrent political games with the lives of our most vulnerable citizens. I will never stop fighting to protect the unborn and stand firm in my opposition to this heinous legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Tommy Weaver, a lifelong native of East Texas, who passed away recently at the age of 70.

On April 26, 1951, Tommy was born to Charlie ``CC'' Chester and Winnie Bell Weaver in Jasper, Texas. His father worked at Keller Industries, and his mother worked in the food

service department at Woodville ISD. Tommy was truly blessed to have one of the best cooks in Southeast Texas as his mother, and his meals were southern-style home-cooking for the whole family. Tommy loved the holidays, as it was a time when his family came together to enjoy his mother's meals and each other's company at the old home place.

While attending Kirby High School, Tommy was actively involved in sports, As a teenager, he developed a love of hunting. Tommy felt blessed to have been raised in East Texas, surrounded by nature and wildlife. On any given day, you could find him fishing in ``Dam B'', swimming in Wolf Creek lake, or chasing squirrels. Being the baby of the family, there was a never a dull moment and always plenty to do.

In 1973, Tommy graduated from Lamar University with a bachelor's in accounting. Shortly after, Tommy married the love of his life, Kathy Harriett Tolar. They started their lives together in Beaumont, TX, where he worked with Edgar and Kiker, CPAs. After a few years, Tommy and Kathy returned home to Woodville, where Tommy established his accounting firm, Weaver and Smith, CPAs. In 1987, he began working at Woodville ISD as the Assistant Superintendent of Finance, where he would spend the next 23 years before his retirement.

After he was retired, Tommy continued to do what he liked best: hunting, golfing, and watching his grandchildren play. He also enjoyed utilizing his financial expertise volunteering with numerous organizations such as First Baptist Church, Jacob's Ladder Learning Center, the Lions Club, and Allan Shivers Library. Additionally, Tommy served on the board of Tyler County Hospital and ultimately became Chairman.

Tommy made life-long friends over his 43 years of membership in the Woodville Lions Club, including honors such as: the Outstanding Lion of the Year, Long Time Service, Lifetime Membership in Texas Lions Camp, and the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. Tommy recently received a Certificate of Appreciation for his outstanding commitment and dedication to service, which was presented to his sons on his behalf.

Early in life, Tommy's mother instilled in him the love of his Lord and Savior, and as a young boy he attended Ebenezer Baptist Church. Tommy later led his family to become members of the First Baptist Church of Woodville, where he served as trustee and a deacon. Tommy thoroughly enjoyed his men's Sunday school class and occasionally filled in as the teacher, using his passion and thoughtfulness to deliver the weekly lesson.

Tommy's primary devotion throughout life was the growth and support of his family. He spent many years coaching his three boys in various sports. While not on the sports field, they could usually be found out enjoying nature with their father. Nothing brought Tommy more pleasure than taking his boys hunting and ``bringing home the meat.'' The time spent together in sports and outdoors is where Tommy instilled in his boys the same values and faith that guided him throughout his life. Tommy and Kathy were both blessed to have the privilege of watching their three boys grow to be leaders within their communities.

Tommy and Kathy both enjoyed traveling. One of their most memorable trips was to Athens, Greece, where they visited the Areopagus (Mars Hill) where Paul the Apostle gave his most famous message. Tommy especially enjoyed reading the books of the Bible written by Paul.

Tommy's greatest love was his family and seven grandchildren, who lovingly called him ``Pops.'' The beloved family dog, Toto, always knew when Pops was home and frequently landed in his lap for a cuddle. Tommy is remembered by his family as ``an oak tree . . . strong, mighty, and courageous.''

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie ``CC'' and Winnie Bell Weaver, and his sister Virginia Carruth. He is survived by his devoted wife of 46 years, Kathy Tolar Weaver of Doucette; sons, Travis and wife Jamie of Doucette, Ryan and wife Amanda of Lumberton, Lane and wife Amber of Kingwood; grandchildren, Reed, Laural, Tyler, Karson, Lathan, Lucas, and Blake; brothers, Charley and wife Diana of San Antonio, Kenneth and wife Charlotte of Woodville; sister, Barbara Wilson of Woodville, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

Madam Speaker, I would like to honor my friend Tommy Weaver for his many years of faithful service to his community. My thoughts and prayers remain with his family and friends during this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of L.D. ``Jack'' Griffin, who passed away on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at the age of 94.

On April 11, 1927, Jack was born in Monroe, Louisiana, to Sam and Alma Lee Mullican Griffin. He married Myra Collier, and they spent 68 years together. Jack and Myra were blessed with two children, Ky and Leeza.

Jack patriotically served our country in the United States Navy during World War II. He was a longtime resident of Tyler County and continued to faithfully serve his community as a member of the First Baptist Church of Woodville. Jack was also a part of the Magnolia Masonic Lodge No. 495 in Woodville. As a Mason, he attained the 32nd Degree, an honor bestowed for his outstanding service. He was also a member of the El Mina Shrine in Galveston, Texas.

Jack traveled the world as a pipeliner. His specialty was in water crossings. Jack skillfully engineered and constructed pipelines in Straits of Mackinac, the Puget Sound, the Straits of Gibraltar, and many places in between. Jack retired as Director of Field Services with Williams Companies based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Jack is remembered as one who loved his family and looked forward to being amused and entertained at their regular gatherings. In the words of Henry David Thoreau, he went confidently in the direction of his dreams, living a life more than he imagined. Even though he worked all over the world, he said of his beloved Woodville, ``It may not have been where I intended to go, but I think I ended up where I needed to be.''

Jack is survived by his wife, Myra Griffin of Woodville; son, Ky D. Griffin and wife Rhonda of Jasper; daughter, Leeza Blanchette and husband Jacques of Woodville; grandchildren, Blake Blanchette and wife Helen of Sinton, Megan Parmer and husband Randy of The Woodlands, Brent Blanchette of Woodville, Blaire Rogers and husband Dwight of North Palm Beach, Florida and Collier Griffin of Chicago, Illinois; great- grandchildren, Caroline, Libby, and Ellie Blanchette, Emerson Parmer, and Sutton, Quint, and Griffin Rogers; sisters-in-law, Carolyn Collier of Goldsboro, North Carolina and Judy Sheffield of Houston; nieces, Kim Nagypal and husband Bela of Woodville, Tammy Bohannon of Allen, and Cristi Connor and husband Paul of Houston. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Alma Griffin, and his brother-in-law Malcolm Collier.

Madam Speaker, I honor my friend Jack Griffin as one of the last members of the Greatest Generation. His faithful service to our country and his community will not be forgotten, and my heartfelt prayers remain with his family and friends during this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of James ``Jim'' Wiley Gainey, Jr., who passed away on Friday, August 27, 2021, at the age of 85. Jim was a longtime resident of Tyler County, and deeply respected by all who knew him.

Jim was born on July 19, 1936, in Houston, Texas to Evelyn and James Gainey. He was a U.S. Air Force serviceman stationed at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston when he and Lynette married. In 1964, they moved to Woodville and Jim went to work for his father-in-law, Leroy Davis, at Western Auto. Lynette and Jim were blessed with two daughters, Laura and Susan.

Jim served on numerous boards including but not limited to: serving as Past President of the Tyler County Chamber of Commerce; Past President of The Woodville Rotary Club; and a member of the Board of Trustees of The Woodville Independent School District. Jim was the recipient of the James E. Wheat Award which recognizes truly exceptional leaders. He unselfishly gave of his time and talents to the Tyler County Dogwood Festival, a festival that celebrates the traditions and beauty of East Texas.

In 1978, Jim pursued a new vocation, steadfastly serving as an R.N. He worked in both nursing and administration at the Tyler County Hospital. Jim also worked part-time at Woodville Health and Rehab which he felt was one of the most rewarding jobs he had ever had the privilege to perform. In 2020, he and Lynette moved to Beaumont to be closer to family.

Jim Gainey is remembered by his friends and family as ``A devoted husband, loving father, and perfect Papa. He will be remembered for his faithfulness to the Lord, his impassioned love for people, his selfless generosity, and fierce commitment to his family.''

Jim is survived by his wife, Lynette Davis Gainey, two daughters and their husbands, Laura and Byron Young of Beaumont, and Susan and Mike Ferguson of Austin, grandchildren Mark Young and wife Katie, Emily Valerio and husband Isaac, William Young, Leah Goertz and husband Ryne, Nathan Watts, and Benjamin Watts, great grandchildren James, Claire, Ellis, Abraham, and Charlotte. He is also survived by two brothers, Hugh Gainey and his wife Elaine Rogers, A.R. and Paul Gainey of Houston, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents James Wiley Gainey and Evelyn Gerrard Gainey, and his sister, Allison Gainey Stephens.

Madam Speaker, I would like to honor my friend, Jim Gainey, for his service to our country and for his many years of faithful service to our community. My thoughts and heartfelt prayers remain with his family and friends during this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas' Principal Chief, Herbert G. Johnson, Sr., who passed away on Monday, August 9, 2021, at the age of 79. He served honorably as the Tribe's Mikko Choba Skalaaba since January 1, 2020.

Chief Johnson was born on April 3, 1942, on the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas Indian Reservation, located just outside of Livingston, Texas. After graduating high school, he enrolled at Jacksonville College in Jacksonville, Texas, where he demonstrated his skills on the basketball court. In 1963, Mr. Johnson was selected as an All-American after setting the then all-time national record of scoring 67 points in a single game. Last year, Jacksonville College recognized him as a Distinguished Alumnus.

A member of the Beaver Clan, Chief Johnson served his community in various capacities over the years, including being twice elected to the Tribal Council and working as the Tribal Security Director for more than 21 years. On October 5, 2013, he was elected as the Tribe's Second Chief and remained in that position until being installed as Principal Chief following the passing of Chief Clem Sylestine, Mikko Colabe III, in 2019. In addition to his dedicated service to his tribe, Mr. Johnson sat on the Big Sandy ISD School Board for 48 years and was a faithful member of the Indian Presbyterian Church, serving as a devoted deacon and elder for many years.

Madam Speaker, today we remember the life and legacy of Herbert G. Johnson, Sr., and express our deep appreciation for his leadership as a proud member and Principal Chief of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. My heartfelt prayers remain with his family and tribe members during this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of World War II veteran, Eugene S. Kolupski, who was laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery today, July 26, 2021. Eugene was born on August 23, 1924, and passed away peacefully at his home in Encino, California, at the age of 94 on July 5, 2019.

During the Second World War, Eugene was a part of the 885th Heavy Bombardment Squadron of the United States Army Air Forces. He served in eight campaigns, including Northern France, Southern France, North Apennines, Po Valley, Balkans, Rome-Arno, Naples-Foggia, and the Rhineland. For his valiant military service, Eugene was awarded one Silver Star, three Bronze Stars, and a Presidential Distinguished Unit Emblem with an Oak Leaf Cluster, among other medals. Before he passed, he was also presented the French Legion of Honor Medal by the French Government, France's highest honor.

The 885th Heavy Bombardment Squadron, despite its name, never dropped a single bomb during the war. While under the command of the 15th Air Force, its missions were often top secret. They were often tasked with dropping Office of Strategic Service agents behind enemy territory and dispersing weapons and supplies to the French and Italian resistance. In preparation for the D-Day landings, the squadron placed agents behind enemy lines to obtain information on German installations and scout glider landing areas. They flew modified B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators that were painted black to better blend in during night missions. Since all of their operations were flown at unusually low altitudes, the 885th suffered some of the heaviest losses during the war.

Eugene is survived by his wife Delores (Taroni), his children, Thomas and his wife, Tamara, of Seabrook, Texas; Corinne Ginett and her husband, James, of Sodus Point, New York; Joseph of Encino, California; Ann Marie Porretta of Webster, New York, his seven grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.

Madam Speaker, I honor Eugene S. Kolupski as one of the last members of the Greatest Generation. His faithful service to our country will not be forgotten, and my heartfelt prayers remain with his family and friends.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Hyde amendment. For more than 40 years, Hyde enjoyed strong bipartisan support, with both Republicans and Democrats agreeing that Americans should never be forced to fund abortions with their hard-earned tax dollars.

However, President Biden and my Democrat colleagues have now decided to abolish this crucial protection. By eliminating the Hyde amendment from their budget, they have disregarded the conscience rights of all Americans and blatantly attacked the lives of the unborn.

As the father of five children and the grandfather of 17, I know just how precious life is, and I will never stop fighting to protect the Hyde amendment.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 18, and I ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman so much for having the Special Order on freedom, on liberty, on constitutionalism, and our God-given rights.

Thank you for what you have said there, Mr. Roy.

Madam Speaker, I am here tonight to highlight and amplify the miraculous events that have happened less than 100 miles from U.S. soil on the island of Cuba, news that, sadly, we haven't heard nearly enough about.

After more than 60 years of oppression, injustice, and fear under a Communist Party that enjoys opulent privileges while others struggle just to survive, Cubans took to the streets shouting: ``Liberty'' and ``Down with communism.''

And this wasn't just in Havana and the big cities. Renewed calls for freedom were all across small villages and towns in the Cuban countryside.

These brave protestors, many of them young people, knew their appeals would be met with violence. They understood that they would be putting themselves and their families at grave risk. They knew they would be labeled enemies of the state, enemies of the revolution, and they would be arrested or potentially even murdered.

Today, I would like to let each of my liberty-loving Cuban brothers and sisters out there know that we hear you. I commend your astounding courage, your thirst for freedom, and your desire for true justice in Cuba.

We, as Americans, have a moral responsibility to support these protests of Cuba's cruel Communist regime.

How can we continue to be ``the shining city upon a hill,'' as President Reagan once eloquently said, if we do not help those who are seeking the same divine right that our ancestors fought and died for in the Revolution, the same rights that our Heavenly Father intended for all people?

I think it is time for the reign of dictatorship and terror to come to an end and for freedom and for liberty to take their rightful place.

Madam Speaker, at this time, I cannot answer in the affirmative. I think our country is under grave attack, our liberties, our freedoms, our constitutional rights, the Bill of Rights, the very reasons that Samuel Adams and Dr. Joseph Warren, and all of those Founders, like John Hancock, who started the movement that culminated in the Revolutionary War and got us out from under the yoke of Great Britain.

I will say this: I think what we are seeing today is, quite frankly, a startling, unbelievable change of events that I never thought that I would see in my entire lifetime, the assault on our God-given rights that we are seeing today.

What Mr. Roy just said about drafting our daughters and what he just mentioned and listening to our friends across the aisle over there talking about the unfairness and the racism that is incumbent and inherently in our election processes, their solution would be an absolute violation of the U.S. Constitution.

I think it goes without saying that if you have to show an I.D. to get into the White House or to get a loan or to do anything, really, of any kind of nature as far as that is concerned, that we have to have the ability to ask for a photo I.D. to ascertain whether you are, indeed, that person that you are actually professing to be when you come in and cast that vote.

So we hear a lot of talk. But I will tell you, it is just talk. When you talk about freedom and liberties, we have to follow the Constitution and God's law. That is what it has to be.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my dear friend of more than 65 years, Lieutenant Colonel Wilbur L. ``W.L.'' Pate, Jr.

W.L. and I grew up together in Beaumont, Texas, where he was better known by his nickname, ``Bubba.'' We became close friends playing football together at Austin Junior High School, and eventually, my family moved across town, which, unfortunately, sent us to different high schools. I still remember the football game in 1965 when French High School--led by W.L. Pate at quarterback--dealt me and my team, Forest Park High School Trojans, a close loss.

The final score of 8-7 stung, but I couldn't help but be proud of the skill and sportsmanship demonstrated by W.L. and his French High Buffalos.

A year later, W.L. and I both ended up at Lamar University in Beaumont and served in the same unit in the Army Reserves, as well. In 1969, he was commissioned as an infantry officer, and in 1978, he graduated from Command and General Staff College.

After leaving the military as a lieutenant colonel in 1994, he dove into another form of public service--serving his community on Beaumont's City Council as mayor pro tempore, and on several boards, including the Beaumont Rotary Club, Better Business Bureau, the American Legion, Lamar Institute of Technology, and many more.

One of Bubba's most significant accomplishments was his advocacy for the late Babe Didrikson Zaharias to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Babe was from our hometown of Beaumont, Texas, and was a gold medal Olympian, and later, professional golfer, winning ten LPGA major tournaments. She is considered by many to be one of the world's greatest female athletes.

I was honored to attend the White House ceremony with W.L. when he

proudly accepted this award from President Trump on behalf of the Babe Zaharias Foundation in Beaumont, Texas. W.L. Pate was the very man who inspired me to run for Congress back when he nearly threw longtime incumbent Representative Jack Brooks into a runoff. Bubba certainly got Brooks' attention.

W.L. was a dear friend and a respected leader. My heart goes out to his loved ones, his daughters, Suzanne and Jennifer; fiancee, Sherrene; brother, Robert; sister, Pam; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. My prayers are with all of them.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Florida, a former mayor, for yielding. I am a former mayor myself.

Mr. Speaker, every single action that the Chinese Communist Party takes leaves me with no doubt that they are not friends of ours. For years, Beijing has stolen American intelligence, technology, and intellectual property in their relentless pursuit to supersede us as the number one superpower in the world.

So it should come as no surprise to anyone that more than a year after COVID-19 magically manifested itself and escaped China and took the world by storm, killing millions, we are still asking ourselves: How did it happen? Is there something that China is not telling us?

The simple answer is yes, there is plenty that the CCP is not telling us. We can't even begin to solve the question of how this happened until we start a formal investigation.

Unfortunately, it is not just the CCP who refuses to allow a transparent and thorough investigation into the pandemic's origins. It is also my colleagues across the aisle. After all, secrecy and diversion seem to be a standard practice for both the Democrat Party and Beijing.

Why are the Democrats refusing to allocate resources so that we can solve the problems and questions surrounding something this major?

They are perfectly happy to spend $1.9 billion of Americans' hard- earned tax dollars for security upgrades to the Capitol complex due to the events of January 6, where one person died, but cannot be bothered to spend a dime to investigate how 600,000 Americans died.

There is mounting evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic started in a Chinese laboratory and that the Chinese Communist Party covered it up.

Don't the more than 33 million Americans who have been infected with COVID and the loved ones of the more than 600,000 Americans who passed away from it deserve an explanation?

To blindly just believe that this global pandemic started from a bat in a wet market in the very same city where genetic analyses of coronaviruses are done at the Wuhan Institute of Virology without doing any sort of an investigation is a dereliction of our duty. It is inexcusable and downright ignorant.

This administration and this Congress must hold the Chinese Communist Party's feet to the fire and give us some answers. We deserve the truth.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for having this Special Order on such a crucial time in our history.

You don't have to look hard to see the devastation left behind from the wokeism movement currently plaguing our beloved country. Our schools and our universities, our esteemed and feared military, our government on every level, and our history itself are being contaminated by those pushing socialism and division under the guise of being morally woke.

Webster's dictionary defines the word ``woke'' as being ``aware of and actively attentive to imparted facts and issues, especially issues of racial and social justice.''

Well, I can tell you with absolute certainty that I am woke to the following:

First, I am woke to the fact that innocent men, women, and children across the country are being hurt and killed because of the left's call to defund the police around this Nation.

I am woke to the fact that Democrats are more than willing to spend your hard-earned tax dollars on housing and free handouts for illegal aliens, but cannot be bothered to care for our homeless and our veterans.

I am woke to the fact that the Critical Race Theory is racist in itself.

And, lastly, I am woke to the fact that painting America as a racist nation is wrong on every level and a slap in the face to those of every color, every ethnicity, and creed who courageously paid the ultimate sacrifice so Old Glory could wave boldly and freely for years to come. Now I am hearing calls from the far left and those who are woke to replace our beloved Old Glory.

Where has common sense gone?

If the left truly wants to discuss social justice, I encourage them to talk to the countless minority business owners who watch their life's work be looted and burned in front of their very eyes last year because of woke ideologies.

Go talk to the engineer who was fired and can't pay his bills now because President Biden has foolishly blocked the Keystone pipeline. Go talk to the migrant woman who was assaulted and raped during her trek to the southern border of the United States because Joe Biden and Kamala Harris told her to come here and invited her here.

I could go on, but here is the bottom line: If we don't stand firmly against this movement, America, whose mighty wings have fought to defeat evil tyrants, communism, and Nazism in order to lift freedom- loving people out of the hands of oppressors all over this world, could soon be a socialist dictatorship herself and completely unrecognizable to all who love her and fought for her and died for her. And a world without a free America is a dark world indeed.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Barbers Hill High School Eagles Baseball team for winning the 2021 Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) 5A High School Baseball State Championship. The Eagles Baseball team joins the Lady Eagles Softball team in clinching their first State Championship in school history. Barbers Hill is the first 5A High School, and only the seventh overall, in Texas history to win both State titles in the same season.

The Eagles finished the 2020-2021 season, with a record of 35 wins and eight losses. In the playoffs, Barbers Hill faced Manvel, Foster, Santa Fe, Lake Creek, Friendswood, and Amarillo before facing Hallsville for the State Championship. On June 12, 2021, the Eagles beat the Hallsville Bobcats by a score of two to one winning their first state title.

Raithen Malone, a senior pitcher, was named the State Tournament Most Valuable Player. Six Eagles were selected by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association to play on the Conference 5A All- Tournament Team: Raithen Malone, Brodey Williams, Simon Larranaga, Braden Jacobs, Jace Martinez, and Carson Garrett.

I would like to personally recognize each individual that contributed to this team's winning season. Players: Luke Sims, Carson Garrett, Trevor Bates, Cameron Cauley, Jace Martinez, Raithen Malone, Braden Jacobs, Will Buntin, Brent Holdren, Colin Schmadl, McKade Massengale, Kyle Isaacks, Kasyn Franco, Ernest Sanders, Josh Campbell, Brodey Williams, Logan Knichel, Hunter Mercer, Blaine Huntley, Colt Erickson, Alden Brookshire, Maddox Malone, Carson Dunham, Simon Larranaga, and Kaden Garcia. Head Coach: David Denny. Assistant Coaches: Darren Seymour, Chris Cauley, Josh Presnall, and Noel Garcia. Athletic Trainers: Gina Pace, Adam Carroll, and Ha Nguyen. Manager: Brennan McDonald. Statistician: Maddi Clary. Superintendent: Dr. Greg Poole. Athletic Director: Tom Westerberg. Principal: Rick Kana.

I wish each of these young men continued success in the classroom and athletics. Go Eagles.