Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise to oppose the previous question so we can immediately consider H.R. 8589.

We heard earlier our friends across the aisle say that understand this rule, which they could pretty much bring up any bill they so desire, they are going to address inflation.

Well, count me excited that my colleagues across the aisle are finally ready to address inflation; inflation brought upon all Americans by the reckless policies of Democratic one-party control; reckless policies of--starting--this administration by spending $1.9 trillion; reckless policies by refusing to unleash American energy. And Americans are paying the price for the reckless policies of Democrats here in Washington.

It is early in the morning. People are making their way here, up to the House floor, following a great victory by my Republicans in the Congressional baseball game last night--10-0, I may note.

But what is really playing out across America right now is people can't afford the things that their family needs. I was speaking to a woman the other day in south Milwaukee at a gas station, and I asked her how much it costs her to now fill up her car with gas. And she looked at me and she said, Bryan, I don't know because I have 40 bucks, and 40 bucks doesn't fill up my tank with gas.

I spoke to another woman who said, Bryan, I can't take my daughter out to dinner on Friday night for pizza because I can't afford it because costs keep going up.

Americans are suffering from runaway inflation from the reckless policies from one-party Democratic control. We have an open rule. The Democrats could bring up any bill today. They could bring up any bill.

Americans are getting clobbered, clobbered with runaway inflation; energy costs going through the roof. This woman in South Milwaukee can't afford to fill up her car with gas.

And what will we see in the bills brought up today? They will intend to distract, to change the subject. They want to talk about bills that already passed the House. They want to talk about bills that have nothing to do with inflation because they don't care about the woman in South Milwaukee who can't afford to fill up her car with gas. They don't care about the woman who can't afford to take her kids out to pizza on Friday nights.

And count me as darn surprised if we see legislation brought by the Democratic majority today that addresses the inflation crisis; that addresses the energy crisis.

Madam Speaker, they are going to send everybody in this institution home for more than a month with runaway inflation; interest rates going up so people can't afford to buy a house; an energy policy that refuses to unleash American energy so that this woman in South Milwaukee can't afford to fill up her car.

Republicans have answers to the challenges of the day. And I thank my colleague from Arkansas for his thoughtful bill that would be brought up if we defeat this previous question; that would actually put a check on the runaway bureaucratic process that we see. This one attacks the runaway process at the Securities and Exchange Commission, that should properly be named securities and environmental commission.

And my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, Madam Speaker, really like renaming things, so I suggest, while we redefine recession, we throw in redefining the SEC today.

People are getting clobbered. The bill by my colleague from Arkansas is a pretty thoughtful approach. It says, hey, instead of all this additional regulation, these costs that get passed on to consumers at the end of the day, maybe what we do is we focus on getting some economic growth back; bringing inflation down.

And so count me as excited if, under this rule--and again, the Democrats could bring any bill to the floor on the last day. Is that bill going to be something that substantively and meaningfully addresses inflation, addresses energy costs? Or are they going to bring up another topic to distract the American people from the crisis that is playing out across our country?

Count me as shocked if we see a bill that addresses inflation today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 10-year anniversary of the horrific attack at the Oak Creek Sikh Gurdwara on August 5, 2012. I rise to honor the memory of those we lost in that attack.

On August 5, 2012, a shooting took place at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, killing seven worshippers.

I also rise to honor Lieutenant Brian Murphy, who responded to the scene and was shot at 15 times at close range.

This senseless act of violence should have never occurred and, in particular, in a house of worship. Nonetheless, the Oak Creek community came together. The Sikh community responded with compassion and stayed true to the Sikh principle of Chardi Kala, translating to relentless optimism.

I join the Oak Creek community to remember and honor the victims of this tragedy.

Impact of Rising Prices

Madam Speaker, every day I am home in Wisconsin, I hear about the impact of rising prices and the impact that they are having on families' budgets. Wisconsin's families and seniors have continued to share their concerns with me about rising costs.

A 79-year-old woman in Janesville, Wisconsin, told me: Bryan, I drive less and am more careful about what I buy in the grocery store because I am on a fixed income.

A woman in Oak Creek said: Bryan, I am on a fixed income and with the increased cost of medication, groceries, and gas, it is difficult to stretch money until the next month's payment.

A 68-year-old woman from Kenosha, Wisconsin, said: Bryan, I am delaying my retirement. Food costs and energy costs are out of control.

Madam Speaker, we need to change course. It is time we unleash American energy, get spending under control, and address the issues American families are facing every day.

Protect Our Communities from Illicit Fentanyl

Madam Speaker, illicit fentanyl is devastating our communities. In Racine County last year, 68 people died from an illicit fentanyl overdose. In Kenosha County, 48 people died of an illicit fentanyl overdose death.

Illicit fentanyl is the leading cause of death for individuals aged 18 to 45. We must keep working to keep these drugs off our streets.

I am pleased to announce two of my amendments passed the House last week.

The first amendment will support funding to combat fentanyl from entering the country and strengthening border security. The second amendment will support funding for high intensity drug trafficking areas. This will be used to combat the increase in overdose deaths from fentanyl and related substances. These amendments are an important step in keeping these dangerous substances off our streets.

In order to stop the illicit fentanyl flow, we need to secure the border, fund law enforcement, and make fentanyl-related substances a permanent schedule I drug.

I encourage Congress to take the steps necessary to protect our communities from this illicit substance.

Children's Mental Health

Madam Speaker, the COVID-19 shutdowns exacerbated a worsening crisis in our country. What I am talking about is our children's mental health.

I recently sent a letter to the CDC regarding our youth's mental health. The CDC has not released data on suicide rates among children. Why?

The data on suicide rates in children is an important tool needed to strengthen our mental health infrastructure across our country.

As we approach the coming school year, this critical data will help us make informed decisions to support our children and improve their mental health. I urge the CDC to release this important data regarding our children's mental health.

Quality Healthcare for Veterans

Madam Speaker, I will discuss an issue impacting veterans in my district. I am continuing to hear stories from families in Wisconsin about the quality of care at the State-run Wisconsin Veterans Home in Union Grove.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in May that the State-run veterans home ranks among one of the worst State-run veterans homes in the entire country. This is unacceptable. The substandard care veterans have

suffered at the Union Grove facility is abhorrent and must be addressed immediately.

Two months ago, I asked for a Federal review of the State-run facility. Our veterans and their families should be receiving the highest-quality care at any facility in Wisconsin. The quality of care at that facility has long been a concern of mine.

It is abundantly clear that the veterans home at Union Grove has much larger issues than many imagined. We need to ensure our veterans are receiving the care they deserve. I continue to call on the Department of Veterans Affairs and CMS to provide a Federal review of the Union Grove Veterans Home.

Mr. Speaker, we are here at a point in time when prices are out of control. The American people are getting punched in the face by higher prices every day.

Gas is over $5 a gallon. The American people are paying hundreds of dollars more per month because prices are out of control. The Federal Reserve has a mandate to maintain price stability. The Federal Reserve is failing in that mandate. My colleagues across the aisle--the outgoing majority--continue to try to add another mandate to the Federal Reserve.

The Federal Reserve is failing on step one--price stability. Let's address price stability so people aren't getting clobbered every day by higher prices; so people aren't getting clobbered when they go to fill up their car with gas; clobbered when they go to the gas station; clobbered when they go to the grocery store to get groceries.

The outgoing majority wants to add another mandate to the Federal Reserve at a period of time when the Federal Reserve is failing in their current mandate. Nothing could be more illogical. We need to get prices under control.

We can do that by unleashing American energy and we can do that by controlling wasteful spending in Washington, D.C. This bill is misplaced. This bill moves us in another direction. Instead, we should be focusing on actually controlling costs.

Madam Speaker, today, I rise to thank and honor the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. On April 11, UW-Parkside hosted the Select Committee on the Economy for a hearing on education pathways to opportunity. I am grateful to UW-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford and the students and faculty who made this hearing possible.

It was truly an honor to host my Congressional colleagues in Southeast Wisconsin to discuss policies that help workers enter, re- enter and remain in the workforce. As we in Wisconsin all know, UW- Parkside, along with our other state and private trade schools, offer unlimited opportunities. UW-Parkside has worked with community stakeholders, including local businesses, to create innovative professional programs. These programs enable folks in our community to develop new skills and enter the careers of the future.

I am grateful to my colleagues, Chairman Himes and Congresswoman Moore, for joining me to learn and visit UW-Parkside to learn about the opportunities this university has to offer our community. Again, I thank UW-Parkside for their role in our very informative hearing.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to congratulate the Carthage College men's volleyball team. On April 23, the Carthage Firebirds won the NCAA Division III National Championship. The Firebirds played in a tough 16-team tournament to reach the top. They dominated their competition, beating Mount Union College, Dominican University, and Wentworth Institute of Technology all without losing a single set.

In the final, Carthage faced #1 ranked Springfield College and won, 3 sets to 1. The Firebirds succeeded in the regular season and the tournament. They earned a well-deserved championship--a remarkable accomplishment in its own right--but this is Carthage's second championship in as many years. The Firebirds defended their title and beat the top-ranked team in the country to do it. They played the championship at their home arena, where Carthage students and fans helped cheer the Firebirds to victory.

Congratulations to Coach JW Kieckhefer, the Firebirds team, and the entire Carthage College community on this achievement. Best of luck to the Firebirds' men's volleyball team on their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor the men and women of the Salem Lakes Fire Department.

As war has ravaged Ukraine, the firefighters in Salem Lakes, Wisconsin, took action. Led by volunteer firefighter Art Stypula, the Salem Lakes Fire Department organized a massive equipment drive. The effort involved fire departments throughout southeast Wisconsin and even the Chicago area.

Turnout gear and other locally collected lifesaving equipment was shipped to Poland to help Ukrainian firefighters do their job and keep people safe.

I am extremely proud of the Salem Lakes Fire Department and the firefighters for organizing desperately needed aid to the Ukrainian people.

I know that Wisconsinites and Americans across our country will join me in thanking them for their efforts. They came up with a creative way to help Ukraine in its fight for freedom.

Ukraine's firefighters and its people will be given important resources because of their charity and their compassion.

Thank you again to the men and women of the Salem Lakes Fire Department for their lifesaving work each and every day.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Danielle Bishop, a Burlington, Wisconsin, native serving our nation in the United States Army. Danielle enlisted in the United States Army after graduating from Burlington High School in 2001. Since joining the Armed Forces, she has served our nation proudly for over 20 years.

Danielle began her career of service as a military police officer, protecting her fellow soldiers. She joined the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division in 2007, where she furthered her experience and expertise in both law enforcement and military service.

When Danielle first joined the Army, she was unsure where her career path would lead. But she found something she excelled at, where she could serve and protect the country while doing the same for her fellow soldiers. Danielle has devoted her life to service for over two decades. Now, she will assume responsibility as the Command Sergeant Major of the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division. This is a tremendous honor, and one which demonstrates Danielle's accomplishments and dedication.

On, March 25, 2022, Danielle will be honored at Quantico for her outstanding achievements and commitment to service. On behalf of Wisconsin's First Congressional District, I want to thank Danielle for her leadership and service to our nation. We are safer because of Danielle's service.

Mr. Speaker, 64,000 Americans died from fentanyl and its analogs in a recent 12-month period. It is the leading cause of death in the United States for individuals aged 18 to 45. Fentanyl has killed more people aged 18 to 45 than car accidents, than suicide, than COVID. Again, it killed 64,000 Americans in a 12-month period.

I recently spoke to two parents who lost a child to fentanyl.

Congress must act.

What is fentanyl? Fentanyl and fentanyl analogs are synthetic opioids that have a real risk of abuse and dependence. It is an unusually dangerous and an unusually deadly drug, and many of the victims are not even aware they are taking it.

Where are the drugs coming from? This drug is often manufactured in high quantities in China and is pouring across our southern border. And it is getting worse.

Last year, fentanyl seizures across our southern border increased by over 1,000 percent. Border agents captured 588 pounds of this drug. To conceptualize that, that is enough to kill 133 million Americans.

I have been to the southern border, and I have spoken firsthand to the men and women of Border Protection about the increased drugs coming across our southern border.

We must secure our border. We cannot stand by and watch as Americans are killed by fentanyl and its analogs.

We should continue to be focused on limiting the flow of fentanyl coming into our country. We should be raising awareness of the lethal effects of fentanyl. We should be helping local law enforcement and our first responders work to address this crisis.

In 11 days, fentanyl analogs and related substances will no longer be a schedule I drug. The fentanyl analogs schedule I status expires on February 18, in 11 days.

Congress previously kicked the can down the road and temporarily extended fentanyl analogs as a schedule I drug last May, but that expires in 11 days.

If fentanyl analogs are not extended or made permanent soon, law enforcement officers will have a hand tied behind their back from stopping fentanyl from killing Americans.

Yet Speaker Pelosi continues to refuse to bring the HALT Act, critical legislation, to this floor to make scheduling permanent. We need to make scheduling fentanyl analogs permanent.

I call upon my fellow Members of Congress to help us end the fentanyl crisis.

Mr. Speaker, it may be a new year, but the Democrats are up to the same tricks, providing text of this legislation last night for a vote in the morning.

They want to gut key voter integrity provisions, and they want to bust the Senate's filibuster in the process to do it.

But I think it is important the American people understand some of the key and most egregious provisions in this bill. Let me just highlight the top four.

This bill guts voter ID laws. And the irony shouldn't be lost that these are the same Democrats that want you to show an ID and a vaccine card to be able to have dinner in cities like Washington, D.C., or New York.

This bill puts Federal dollars into politicians' reelection campaigns. I have heard a lot of complaints about elections in my time. I have never had one person tell me our elections don't have enough money.

This bill restricts States' ability to maintain their voter rolls, voter rolls that are essential so we know who is eligible to vote.

And this bill mandates that ballots can be counted 7 days after the end of the election, delaying the final results. Delaying the final results does not instill confidence in our elections.

Instead, by working to remove key voter integrity provisions in our elections, Americans will have less confidence in our elections. My priority is to make it easy to vote and hard to cheat. This bill fails that test, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Connecticut for yielding.

It is great to be joining him here on the House floor to share with our colleagues the important work that lies ahead for the Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth. Simply put, we will be exploring, questioning, and hearing potential ways to address economic challenges we are seeing across this country. We are, in fact, on a fact-finding mission as we search for policy solutions that create opportunity for every American.

Leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans saw progress. In 2019, the median household income grew by 6.8 percent, the largest increase ever recorded. Minority communities saw even greater growth: Blacks Hispanics, Asians, and women.

But coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, something has changed, which is why the work of this Select Committee is so timely. Labor force participation, both those seeking work and currently employed, are lows not seen since the Carter administration.

Across this country there is a growing disconnect between available jobs and workers ready to work. The government should be supporting and encouraging work and the dignity that comes with it.

Families across the country, from Kenosha to New York, San Francisco

to Orlando, are being hurt by rising prices. They feel it when they fill up their car's tank. They feel it at the grocery store. And they are scared they are going to feel it when they go Christmas shopping for their kids in a few weeks.

Inflation is a tax on every American, but it is devastating to low- income Americans.

Chairman Himes, I look forward to working with you to explore what we can do to empower workers to prosper and to expand opportunities for all families to succeed.

Madam Speaker, I think there is great opportunity as it relates to education and, in particular, workforce development. I think not lost on many of us, as we look out at the disconnect between workers and jobs available, there are over 10 million jobs available across America, yet we continue to have a disconnect between getting workers who are looking for work and the jobs that are available.

We saw in Lorain, like we see in southeast Wisconsin, signs looking for workers. As we walked into the hearing, I remarked that there were ``Help Wanted'' signs across the street, yet there were many people who were still unemployed.

Hopefully, we can look at the workforce development aspects of education in the United States to make sure that we are connecting workers with the jobs that are available.

Absolutely. We see this time and again in southeast Wisconsin. We see businesses that are shrinking hours to try to deal with and navigate through this challenging work environment.

I know we will be having a hearing coming up on automation, and I don't think it can be lost on us that many businesses are looking and the struggle to get workers back to work and the impact that may have on automation and future job growth in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, today Washington is once again kicking the can down the road. We are adding nearly $2 million in debt per minute.

What is this institution doing about it? Kicking the can down the road, while at the same time the Democrats across the aisle want to spend trillions more.

By borrowing another $480 billion, Speaker Pelosi and President Biden are simply kicking the can down the road. We can't continue to avoid our responsibilities and spend ourselves into oblivion.

Those across the aisle are not being honest with the American people who are going to have to ultimately pay for this.

This is not responsible. Prices for workers, families, and seniors continue to rise because of Washington's out-of-control spending. Yet, Washington refuses to take accountability for its spending problem.

Today's vote will simply kick the can down the road once again and fail to get our spending here in Washington under control.

I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill. We must stop the out- of-control spending in Washington.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the time of the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, the mishandled evacuation from Afghanistan was a tragic disaster. The fundamental misunderstanding of the situation on the ground, a faulty plan for withdrawal, and poor strategic decisionmaking in Washington put our troops in harm's way, leading to the abandonment of American citizens and the deaths of 13 brave American servicemembers, including critical injuries to two marines from the First Congressional District of Wisconsin.

My amendments to the national defense bill are directed at getting answers for our troops and the American people, and I ask my colleagues for their support.

My first amendment would require the Treasury Department to report to Congress on the current status of the U.S. and U.N. sanctions on the Taliban. We must look at the current gaps in our sanctions and ensure that the Taliban is not able to finance their takeover by profiting from the drug trade and rare earth minerals.

My second amendment would require the Treasury Department to regularly report to Congress on any sanctions waivers provided to allow transactions between financial institutions and targeted individuals.

In addition, my amendment requires the Treasury Department to list out foreign banks that conduct significant transactions for persons that have been sanctioned for human rights abuses or corruption.

My third amendment will hold Iran accountable. Iran has been emboldened. At a time when this administration is signaling that they intend to remove sanctions with Iran, we must ensure U.S. sanctions are enforced to prevent the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Congress must understand the full nature of Iran's power and undertake a full audit of how Iranian-backed groups in the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces took advantage of U.S. assistance given to the Iraqi Government in the anti-ISIS campaign.

Finally, I introduced an amendment with my colleague, Congresswoman Dean. Our bill improves intelligence coordination to combat the illicit financing of human trafficking.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support these amendments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor John Boie. A native of Milton, Wisconsin, John Boie competed for Team USA at the 2020 Paralympics held this year in Tokyo, Japan. John was a member of Team USA's Wheelchair Basketball and helped lead the team to a gold medal victory in a 64-60 win over Japan. John and his teammates secured a gold medal for the United States at the second straight Paralympics for Men's Wheelchair basketball.

During a preliminary game against Iran, John was the heart of Team USA's defensive effort turning 11 first half turnovers into 18 points. The win over Iran contributed to the team's 4-1 record in pool play allowing them to advance to the final knockout round at the 2020 Paralympics Games. The team demonstrated strong chemistry, bolstered by a common thread with five players having ties to UW-Whitewater, including John himself. Together, the team competed in a thrilling gold medal matchup with the United States defeating Japan 64-60 in a come from behind win after trailing during the third quarter. In addition to scoring four points for Team USA, John's strong defensive effort throughout the game helped the United States secure victory.

John's love for sports began at a young age. Despite suffering from an incomplete spinal cord injury after an accident involving a tractor, John continued to demonstrate a love for the game of basketball. John was introduced to wheelchair basketball after attending a wheelchair basketball summer camp at UW-Whitewater when he was eleven years old. John would go on to attend UW-Whitewater where he would become a three- time collegiate wheelchair basketball champion. John would go on to win a silver medal during the 2018 World Championships.

John represented the United States and Southeast Wisconsin with honor. He made both his country and community proud with his composure, talents, and determination. While this is his first gold medal, John's passion for success suggests that it won't be his last. I know Southeast Wisconsin will be backing him 100 percent in his future endeavors.

John's perseverance through adversity helped lead to this historic success. I was proud to watch John represent Wisconsin and the United States on the world stage. On behalf of Wisconsin's First Congressional District, I would like to congratulate John on his tremendous accomplishment and wish him the best of luck.

Madam Speaker, this House just passed a spending framework for $3.5 trillion in new government spending. And immediately following, what is next? A plan for a Federal Government takeover of elections.

H.R. 4 is focused on overturning the Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder and reinstituting Federal power over State election laws.

Preclearance was established in 1965 because there were blatant attempts to disenfranchise African Americans. We are not debating that today. We have made great progress since 1965.

What is the purpose of H.R. 4? H.R. 4 is a Federal power grab. This bill would gut voter ID laws across the country. The bill would allow the Biden Department of Justice to veto State voter ID laws.

In my home State of Wisconsin, some said commonsense voter ID laws would lower turnout. They were wrong. In 2020, Wisconsin had the fourth highest voter turnout in the country.

This bill would make it harder for States to maintain accurate voter rolls. Accurate voter rolls are essential for local election officials to accurately administer elections.

This bill is a Federal overreach. Instead of Federal overreach, let's get to work and make it easier to vote and hard to cheat.

Madam Speaker, I rise to sound the alarm of Bernie Sanders' and Speaker Pelosi's spending spree. Let's not forget that earlier this year Biden and Pelosi have already spent trillions of dollars. Speaker Pelosi has brought us back to Washington late in August, but not to address the crisis in Afghanistan.

No, she brought us back to push through another $4.5 trillion in new spending. If we printed that amount of money in bills, it would fill 50,000 semi-trailers. 50,000 semi-trailers of cash, that is what is before us. Who is ultimately going to pay for this? American families, American workers, American farmers, through higher taxes.

And as the cost of everything from school supplies to food to gas continue to go up, all of us will feel the pain of this wasteful spending spree through higher prices.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this wasteful spending plan.