Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the remarkable legacy of Annie Nickerson, a figure of profound significance in American history and a poignant symbol of sacrifice during World War I. Annie Nickerson holds the distinguished title of being the first Gold Star Mother of World War I, an honor that reflects both her personal loss and her role in a broader national story.

Annie's son, Alfred Nickerson, served valiantly in the U.S. Army and, tragically, lost his life in France during the Great War in 1918. His sacrifice, and that of many others like him, is memorialized through the Gold Star Mothers organization--a testament to the courage and resilience of families who have given their children in defense of our country. The Gold Star Mothers pin awarded to Annie Nickerson serves as a powerful symbol of her enduring strength and the ultimate sacrifice made by her family.

Established in 1928, the Gold Star Mothers organization has been dedicated to honoring and supporting those who have lost loved ones in military service. This organization stands as a beacon of remembrance and respect, celebrating the valor of these families and ensuing that their sacrifices are never forgotten. Annie Nickerson's role as the first Gold Star Mother of World War I is a critical part of this legacy, representing the profound impact of these families on our nation's history.

On September 28th, Niagara County will host a significant ceremony to honor and commemorate the contributions and sacrifices of Gold Star Mothers and their families. This event will serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by individuals like Annie Nickerson and her son, Alfred. It is a moment to reflect on the extraordinary courage of Gold Star Mothers throughout history and to celebrate their enduring legacy.

As we approach this ceremony, it is important to remember the sacrifices of those who have given so much for our freedom. Annie Nickerson's story is a testament to the strength and bravery of Gold Star Mothers, and her legacy continues to inspire and remind us of the true cost of freedom. Her memory serves as a powerful symbol of the countless families who have experienced similar loss and continue to honor their loved ones with dignity and grace.

I am honored to share this important reflection on Annie Nickerson's enduring legacy and the broader significance of the Gold Star Mothers. May we continue to honor and remember the sacrifices made by all Gold Star Families with the respect and gratitude they so deeply deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and remember the extraordinary life of Edward ``Ed'' D. Pettitt, Sr. Born on June 27, 1961, in Newfane, NY. Ed was a man of deep conviction and unwavering principles. Raised on his family's farm, Ed's early years were steeped in the values of hard work, independence, and a deep connection to the land. He was the beloved son of George and Marion Pettitt, who instilled in him a commitment to family and community that would guide him throughout his life,

A brilliant student, Ed graduated as valedictorian from Newfane High School in 1980. He then attended the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, graduating magna cum laude in 1986. His love of learning led him to further his education, obtaining a Master of Science in 1998, followed by a second Master's in Creative Studies from SUNY College at Buffalo in 2002.

Ed's professional career was marked by innovation and excellence. Over his 35-year tenure at Mahle (formerly Delphi Harrison Thermal Systems), he earned more than 20 patents and was inducted into the Delphi Automotive Systems Innovation Hall of Fame in 1997. His dedication to his work culminated in receiving the prestigious 2013 ``Boss'' Kettering Award, and he retired as a Product Engineering Manager in 2020.

However, Ed's legacy extends far beyond his professional achievements. He was a man deeply committed to First Principles Thinking--a philosophy that guided his approach to life, problem- solving, and civic engagement. Ed believed in the importance of returning to fundamental truths and using them as a foundation to build solutions, a method that influenced both his engineering work and his advocacy.

Central to Ed's belief system was the conviction that natural rights--those to life, liberty, and property--originated not from any earthly government, but from our Creator. He held that these rights were inalienable and that governments were instituted among men to protect them, not to grant them. This belief fueled his passionate advocacy for the Second Amendment, as he viewed the right to keep and bear arms as a fundamental protection of these God-given rights. To safeguard these principles, Ed founded the Second Amendment For Ever (SAfE) organization in Niagara County. He was a staunch defender of the rights of responsible gun owners, believing that public safety and personal security were interdependent, both sustained by the individual's right to self-defense. Ed's commitment to

this cause was rooted in his deepseated belief that the Second Amendment was essential to preserving all other freedoms.

Ed also championed the rights of farmers and the agricultural community in Niagara County. Recognizing the challenges faced by rural areas under the current political system, he was a vocal advocate for Rural Electoral Equity. He argued that rural communities were politically disenfranchised, with power disproportionately concentrated in urban centers like New York City. Ed believed this imbalance undermined the principles of a republic, where all regions should have an equal voice in governance.

His advocacy extended to challenging the 1964 Supreme Court ruling in ``Reynolds v. Sims,'' which mandated that Senate districts be apportioned based on population rather than by county. Ed contended that this ruling led to political gerrymandering that favored urban areas at the expense of rural communities, affecting key issues such as gun control, energy, land use, and criminal justice.

Ed's vision was to make Niagara County a leading example of how rural areas could assert their rights and push back against state overreach. He worked tirelessly to build coalitions with other counties, strengthen local government, and create barriers to state infringement. As part of his efforts to support the agricultural community, Ed helped form the Niagara County Agricultural Rights Advisory Panel, ensuring that the voices of local farmers were heard and their rights protected. His contributions to the community were recognized through several awards, including the 2018 Ken Burner Memorial Award and the 2022 Oliver Jones Memorial Award Sportsperson of the Year from the Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs, Inc.

Above all, Ed was a devoted family man. He married his high school sweetheart, Lisa (Bowers) Pettitt, in 1981, and together they raised four sons: Edward II, Jonathon, Michael, and Thomas. He was a loving grandfather to five grandchildren, with whom he shared his love of the outdoors, including fishing, camping, kayaking, and farming.

Edward D. Pettitt, Sr. will be remembered as a man of integrity, a fierce defender of constitutional rights, and a tireless advdcate for rural communities. His legacy lives on through his family, his community, and the many lives he touched with his unwavering commitment to freedom, justice, and the principles upon which this Nation was founded.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for clarifying some of those very important facts.

I rise in strong support of Congresswoman Carol Miller's H.R. 7980, the End Chinese Dominance of Electric Vehicles in America Act, which I was pleased to support when it passed out of the Ways and Means Committee this April.

The bill addresses a significant oversight in the implementation of electric vehicle subsidies under the so-called Inflation Reduction Act. Let's also call it the Green New Deal, as many Democrats called it before it was even passed and signed into law.

Carol Miller's bill, H.R. 7980, ensures that taxpayer dollars aren't used to subsidize the Chinese Communist Party, as they are in the Democrat's Green New Deal. The Biden-Harris administration failed in its implementation and opened the door for Chinese state enterprises to exploit these subsidies, undermining our national security and our economic interests all across the Nation.

The Treasury's lenient regulations enable individuals and companies with indirect ties to the Chinese Communist Party to access our taxpayer-funded subsidies meant for American innovation and jobs in American businesses.

This bill, Carol Miller's bill, closes two critical loopholes.

First, the billionaire loophole, which allows wealthy Chinese businessowners to benefit from U.S. tax credits if they invest in American EV projects, will be eliminated under Carol Miller's bill.

Second, the Chinese manufacturing loophole will be closed, stopping China and the Chinese Communist Party from using its dominance in the battery supply chain to qualify for electric vehicle credits.

By supporting this bill, we take an important step in safeguarding American manufacturers, closing loopholes that benefit our adversaries, and standing firm against the Chinese Communist Party's influence and ability to dominate the American market.

It is time for Congress to address the issues created by the Biden- Harris administration and keep American tax dollars out of the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this vital act to safeguard American taxpayers, American innovation, and workers in America and stand up for American innovation and technological independence.

Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 406.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 40th anniversary of the Sylvan Beach New York eatery Harpoon Eddie's, and to recognize the contributions of Edward Stewart, Jr., and his wife Leslie Stewart, posthumously, to the Oneida Lake community. Furthermore, I commend the work of Eddie and Leslie's son, Edward (Rick) Stewart, III and his wife Wendy Stewart, who have continued the tradition of excellence through their commitment to service and the community.

Eddie and Leslie Stewart were married on December 26, 1966, and founded Harpoon Eddie's in the summer of 1984. The Stewarts wished to expand Eddie's Restaurant, Inc., to include a separate location on the beachfront and thereby include the boating community. After years of success, they ultimately became co-owners and operators with their son, Rick. Harpoon Eddie's has remained a staple in the Oneida Lake community through the efforts of the Stewart family since its creation and continues to shine across generations.

Eddie and Leslie's contributions to the residents are reflective of their personal initiative and drive to give back, values which are still evident in their business even after their deaths in 2020 and 2021, respectively. These values are kept alive through the efforts of Rick and Wendy Stewart, who now have sole ownership of the restaurant and ensure that it will continue to serve the community just as it has for the past 40 years. I urge my colleagues to take the chance to visit the incredible beauty of Oneida Lake and to stop by this incredible family business. Those who visit are welcome like family under the amazing hospitality of the people.

It is my humble privilege to be part of the celebrations and traditions of the Sylvan Beach Community. Thank you to Rick and Wendy Stewart for their continued commitment to excellence and their loving memoriam of Edward Stewart, Jr. and Leslie Stewart.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 90th Anniversary of Eddie's Restaurant in Sylvan Beach, New York. Eddie Stewart, Sr. and his wife, Florence ``Fifi'' Stewart, opened Eddie's Restaurant in 1934 as a seasonal hot dog stand on the shore of Oneida Lake. At the time, the hot dog stand seated eight people on stools. Daily, the restaurant reaches maximum capacity of 250 people and offers delicious American and Italian cuisine to residents and visitors of Sylvan Beach.

Eddie's and Fifi's legacy spans five generations and is now owned by their grandson, Edward (Rick) Stewart, III. The previous owners to Rick (Edward III) Stewart were Edward Stewart, Jr. and Leslie Wolcott Stewart. The rest of the Eddie's Restaurant legacy lies in Rick (Edward III) and his wife, Wendy; their great-grandson, Edward IV and his wife, Madelyn; a soon to be born great-great-grandson, Eddie V; great- granddaughter, Emily; great-grandchildren, Daunte and Nevaeh; their granddaughter, Alison and her husband, Anthony; and great- grandchildren; Ava Santa and Ania.

Eddie's Restaurant prides themselves on using high-quality ingredients to create their delicious meals and provide fast and friendly service. Over the years, Eddie's has provided service to many public figures such as Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, George Foreman, Harry James, Liza Minnelli, and The Ink Spots. Eddie's welcomes all individuals with their familial hospitality. The freshest fish, homemade Meat and Marinara sauce, hand-rolled meatballs, Italian house dressing, homemade pie, and ice cream desserts all can be found at this incredible family owned business.

Recognizing a long-standing family-owned business for their dedication and diligence to enhancing their community is a highlight of this position in Congress. Ninety years and five generations of Eddie's Restaurant is a testament to the love they have for their business and community. Congratulations again on this amazing accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my congratulations and recognize the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company, which is celebrating 100 years of excellence. This outstanding achievement is marked by the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company's commitment to providing safe, efficient, and effective emergency services to the Ransomville Community and surrounding communities in Niagara County, New York.

The Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company is located in the hamlet of Ransomville in the Town of Porter, in Niagara County, New York. The fire company's stellar record of service began when it took on its first chartered members in March of 1924. At that time their first line of defense against fires was one hand drawn hose cart, which was popular among many departments in the early 1900s.

Today, the fire company's 53 members are tasked with protecting local schools, government buildings, and several farms and annually respond to over 600 calls. The members are not only limited to fighting fires, but they are also called upon to respond to motor vehicle accidents, hazardous material incidents, and medical emergencies.

Although times have changed for the members of the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company, the call to tirelessly safeguard the lives and property of citizens remains the same. These courageous volunteers leave their jobs, their hobbies, and their families at a moment's notice to respond to danger and I cannot thank them enough for that. The residents who are served by the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company can rest comfortably knowing they will receive the best possible assistance.

I am pleased to congratulate the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company for 100 years of protecting their community and recognize their continuing commitment to service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the astounding life of Dorothy Lawrence, who celebrates her 95th birthday this week.

Dorothy was born on July 29, 1929, along with her twin brother Dick, on the Borden Farm in Wallkill, NY. She is the youngest of five children and spent her childhood on Borden Farms in Wallkill and Earlville NY, which her father managed. In 1947, she graduated from Earlville High School. The following year, Dorothy earned a business certification from the Central City Business Institute in Syracuse, New York. She worked as a secretary until she married her beloved husband, John, in 1955.

Dorothy is a lifelong member of St. Malachy's Catholic Church in Sherburne, New York. Coming from a musical family, Dorothy has had a passion for singing all her life. When she was only four years old she and her twin brother sang ``Little Old Lady Passing By'' for a radio contest. In the 1960s, she helped found the Sherburne Community Chorus and was an active member until just recently. At the age of 95, Dorothy still enjoys music, attending local concerts whenever possible.

Currently, Dorothy still resides in the same house that she and her husband built in 1955. She is a loving mother to four children with whom she spends time with nearly every day. She has ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren who she loves dearly, and she keeps informed about her many nieces and nephews as well. Dorothy is one of four surviving members of her high school class, and she has remained in contact with each of her former classmates since they graduated together in 1947. Dorothy is known by her family, friends, and other members of her community for her delicious apple pie.

Dorothy Lawrence is an exceptional member of her community whose dedication and love for her family and community is truly inspiring. I am thrilled to recognize her for her many accomplishments and wish her a very happy 95th birthday.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment No. 91 to reduce the salary of Council on Environmental Quality, CEQ, Chair Brenda Mallory to $1.

Mr. Chair, I have spoken numerous times on this floor about the dangerous rule proposed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation Council, the FAR Council, titled: ``Federal Acquisition Regulation: Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-Related Financial Risk.''

This disastrous rule proposed by the FAR Council has numerous constitutional, national security, and practical concerns, none of which have been adequately addressed by the FAR Council. However, as part of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee's ongoing investigation into the basis for this rule, it was uncovered that the CEQ, which does not possess rulemaking abilities, pushed the FAR Council to implement its radical agenda and publish this rule.

First and foremost, this rule requires that all Federal contractors that do business worth more than $50 million with the Federal Government must disclose scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

This rule also seeks to require major Federal contractors to comply with the Paris climate accords, which have never even been ratified by the Senate.

The most objectionable part of this rule is the requirement that companies set climate targets and then have them validated by one specifically named company called Science Based Targets initiative, or SBTi. SBTi is a non-American, foreign, London-based company, which inherently carries national security concerns.

Under this rule, every major Federal contractor, including companies critical to our national security and our defense industrial base, would have to provide this foreign-owned company with information about all of their scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and then strategize on how to reduce them.

Despite the existence of numerous American-based companies that could fill the same role, the FAR Council and CEQ chose a foreign company as the sole source provider because SBTi is nothing but a front for Democratic donors and advocacy groups.

SBTi is owned by the We Mean Business Coalition, which is a project of the New Venture Fund, which is managed by the dark-money super-PAC known as Arabella Advisors. Arabella Advisors, for those who don't know, is the George Soros-funded leftwing advocacy group that funnels dark money into leftwing causes and candidates.

To summarize, the Biden administration has named a subsidiary of one of their top donors, a leftwing, dark-money organization, as the sole source provider for all climate target validating for all major Federal Government contractors.

During a hearing in the Science, Space, and Technology Committee on this rule, even the Democratic witness said that SBTi was a poor choice for this role, yet CEQ and the FAR Council forged ahead anyway.

No Federal bureaucrat should be mandating that companies funnel money into the Democrats' dark-money operations. This is the very definition of corruption.

As the head of CEQ, Brenda Mallory played an integral role in pushing for this rule. Her salary must be defunded.

I look forward to working with Chairman Lucas, Chairman Obernolte, and all of my colleagues on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee to expose the corruption behind this proposed rule and halt its finalization and implementation.

Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I rise to offer my amendment No. 92 to the Interior appropriations bill to prohibit funding for President Biden's Executive Order No. 14019, titled: ``Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting.''

This order requires Federal agencies to use their power, influence, resources, and Federal funding to enter into agreements with nongovernmental organizations to conduct voter registration and other mobilization activities.

Mr. Chair, this executive order is nothing but a blatant attempt to transform the Federal Government into a partisan get-out-the-vote machine for Democrats. The Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency should be completely nonpartisan and should not be using taxpayer funds and resources to actively engage in get-out-the-vote operations that have nothing to do with the departments' core missions, not to mention the obvious mission creep and Hatch Act violations that this activity triggers.

Mr. Chair, President Biden should not be weaponizing Federal agencies

and the Federal Government, using American taxpayer dollars to manipulate and steer our elections in a partisan manner.

Let me be clear. The Department of the Interior is actively carrying out Executive Order No. 14019. The Heritage Foundation has subpoenaed numerous documents and emails related to the Department of the Interior's implementation of this radical executive order, including this interim plan, which, for the record, is fully redacted. Mr. Chair, I wonder why the Department would fully redact this plan if it had nothing to hide.

As the cofounder and chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, it is my privilege to introduce this amendment to restore transparency and confidence in our democratic process while keeping partisan Federal bureaucrats and the swamp, literally, from deliberately tipping the balance at the ballot box.

I stand firmly behind the concept of one citizen, one vote, as enshrined in our Constitution. However, I do not support this blatantly partisan mobilization of the Federal Government for political purposes.

The funds appropriated in this bill should be used as intended, such as to protect public lands for hunting and fishing, not implementing a partisan get-out-the-vote initiative using Federal dollars and Federal employees.

Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, which will preserve election integrity and stop the Biden administration from transforming the Department of the Interior into a get-out-the-vote, partisan machine for the Democrats.

Let's make voting great again.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I respectfully disagree with my colleague's interpretation of this bill.

I can't think of anything worse than having people who are on an important mission working in the Department of the Interior or other agencies engage in partisan get-out-the-vote efforts, being at the polls, and helping people vote.

That is not their job. That is the job of the States. Each one of the States is required under law to make sure to administer our elections, to be sure that we have one citizen, one vote, and that we have free and fair elections and access to voting. That is not the job of the Federal Government. In fact, Federal employees are prohibited from this kind of illegal activity under the Hatch Act.

For that reason, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and prohibit our dollars and our employees from being forced to engage in partisanship at the ballot box instead of working on keeping our communities safe and keeping our environment free from some of the interference that we are seeing from the Biden administration.

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

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment No. 60 to reduce the salary of Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to $1.

Since taking office in January 2021, Secretary Granholm has violated the Hatch Act multiple times. She owned

Proterra stock while her boss, President Biden, repeatedly promoted the company. Her husband owned Ford stock while she personally promoted the company's work with official resources. She cashed in on millions of dollars after these illegal transactions and a failure to disclose obvious conflicts were revealed.

Most critically, she lied under oath to Congress, claiming that she did not own any individual stocks when, in fact, she did. Anyone disputing these charges should consult the following articles: Reuters, ``U.S. Energy Secretary Granholm violated ethics law, watchdog says''; CNN, ``Biden touts electric car company potentially worth millions for his Energy Secretary''; Washington Free Beacon, ``Energy [Secretary's] husband held stock in Ford as admin approved billions in electric vehicle subsidies''; and FOX News, ``Biden Energy Secretary Granholm admits false testimony about owning stocks.''

Secretary Granholm has also promoted the Biden administration's disastrous energy policies that are crippling our country and preventing us from maximizing our energy independence and the all-of- the-above strategy.

Energy security is national security, and Secretary Granholm is directly jeopardizing our national security and violating our laws under the Hatch Act.

Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in defunding Secretary Granholm's salary by voting for this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I heard the assertions made by my colleague. As I indicated, I cited actual news sources. The Secretary actually testified before Congress, and it was determined that she lied under oath.

Violating the Hatch Act is a crime under Federal statutes. It is time that Ms. Granholm either resign or we should reduce her salary. We have the right under Congress with our power of the purse to reduce her salary, and that is exactly what we are doing here under the Holman rule.

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

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer my amendment No. 61 to the Energy-Water Development appropriations bill to prohibit funding for President Biden's Executive Order No. 14019, titled: ``Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting.''

This executive order requires Federal agencies to use their power, influence, resources, and Federal funding to enter into agreements with nongovernmental agencies and organizations to conduct voter registration and other mobilization activities.

Mr. Chairman, this executive order is nothing more than a blatant attempt to transform the Federal Government into a partisan get-out- the-vote machine for Democrats.

The Department of Energy should be nonpartisan, and Federal agencies should not be using taxpayer funds to actively engage in get-out-the- vote operations that have nothing to do with the agencies' core missions, not to mention the obvious mission creep and Hatch Act violations this activity would trigger.

Mr. Chair, President Biden should not be using American taxpayer dollars to weaponize the Federal Government to manipulate and steer our election in a partisan manner. As the cofounder and chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, it is my privilege to introduce this amendment to restore transparency and confidence in our democratic process while keeping partisan Federal bureaucrats and the swamp from deliberately tipping the balance at the ballot box.

I stand firmly behind the concept of one citizen, one vote, as enshrined in our Constitution. However, I do not support this blatantly partisan mobilization of the Federal Government for political purposes. No citizen should have their vote diluted by Federal bureaucrats.

While our energy infrastructure and independence are at risk, and so many communities in our districts do not have safe, clean drinking water, the funds in this bill should be spent for the purpose they are appropriated, not implementing a partisan get-out-the-vote initiative.

Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, which will preserve election integrity and stop the Biden administration from transforming the people's government into a get- out-the-vote machine for partisan Democrats. Let's make voting great again.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, unfortunately, my colleague is not correct on this. The Biden administration put out Executive Order No. 14019 and tasked all Federal agencies, including all the agencies that are included in this appropriations bill, to get involved with third parties in order to get out the vote, moving away from providing the core missions we described that each of these agencies under their appropriated designations are required to perform under law.

They are not allowed to get engaged in political processes, a direct violation of the Hatch Act. That is why this bill is germane, and that is why I urge all of my colleagues to actually support this bill.

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

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Foxx for leading on this very important issue.

As a former athlete in high school, college, and beyond, I know the unparalleled opportunities that sports offer to women and girls.

Title IX and its mission to end discrimination against women in sports made so much of this possible for me and countless other women over the years.

Today, these opportunities for women and girls are under threat.

Joe Biden's Department of Education is requiring that schools allow biological males to participate in women's sports. This is fundamentally unfair. It deprives women and girls of what so many of us fought for decades to achieve: equal opportunity to train, compete, and excel in athletics.

Today, we take a stand in defense of women's sports and to stop this dangerous precedent.

This is why I am honored to be an original cosponsor of this Congressional Review Act to overturn the Biden administration's radical rule to allow biological men in women's sports.

The CRA will protect opportunities for women and girls to compete fairly on the athletic field. Without interference, the woke Biden agenda will continue further.

Mr. Speaker, as the co-chair and founder of the House Election Integrity Caucus, I rise in support of the SAVE Act, which will safeguard the right for every American citizen to vote. We must have proof of citizenship in order to vote.

Since President Biden took office, there have been over 9.7 million illegal immigrant encounters across our Nation, threatening our communities, our national security, and now the Democrats are attempting to undermine our elections. There are over 2 million so- called got-aways.

Many States, including New York, allow illegal immigrants to get registered to vote and also have driver's licenses. There is no requirement, they are on their honor, to prove whether or not they are actually citizens of this country.

Article II of the New York State Constitution sets forth in section 1: ``Every citizen shall be entitled to vote in every election.'' That is citizens.

In order to protect the sacred right to vote, we have one citizen, one vote in this country. Yet, Democrats oppose the SAVE Act because they want millions of illegal immigrants they allowed into our country to vote in order to undermine and manipulate the outcome of our elections.

This will undermine our sacred right to vote, the most profound expression of our self-governance.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Karen St. Hilaire, President of the New York American Legion Auxiliary, and her work with the Hope For The Warriors project.

Karen St. Hilaire is a 49-year member of the Mattydale American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 1832 in Onondaga County. She became a member through her father John Allen who served in World War Two. Her late husband Jerry Hilaire was also a Veteran in the Army who served in Vietnam.

Karen's leadership skill began as Unit President in 1999 progressing to County in 2008, and District in 2011. She has chaired the Community Service, Americanism, Leadership, Children and Youth, VA&R, Membership Committees, and as an Executive Board member.

Karen has been spending her year promoting and raising money for the ``Hope For The Warriors,'' Hope For The Warriors was founded by military families aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC in 2006 as they witnessed, firsthand, the effects war imparts on service members and their families. Hope For the Warriors believes those touched by military service can succeed at home by restoring their sense of self, family, and hope.

Nationally, Hope For The Warriors provides comprehensive support programs for service members, veterans, and military families that are focused on transition, health and wellness, peer engagement, and connections to community resources.

Hope For The Warriors understands the challenges, pride, and joy of being a military family. For today, tomorrow, and years to come, they will strive to meet the changing needs of service members and their families. Hope For The Warriors is a family, united by our shared conviction of honor and sacrifice. In Karen's personal life, she is active in her community as a retired Firefighter and currently elected Fire Commissioner for Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department. Karen is a retired Registered Nurse with a certification from American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

Karen has often sited that her greatest accomplishment is that she and her late husband Jerry have two daughters, Amy and Kristin, along with six grandchildren, Ariana, Emyrson, Ayva, Camryn, Brooklyn, and Dylan.

I am honored to share the admirable work that Mrs. Hilaire has devoted to helping care for our Veterans.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I rise to offer my amendment No. 163 to the Defense appropriations bill to prohibit funding for President Biden's executive order No. 14019 titled: ``Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting.''

This executive order requires Federal agencies to use their power, influence, resources, and Federal funding--taxpayer cash--to enter into agreements with nongovernmental organizations, third-party organizations, to conduct voter registration and other voter mobilization activities, including vote harvesting.

Mr. Chair, this executive order is nothing but a blatant attempt to transform the Federal Government into a partisan, get-out-the-vote machine for Democrats.

The Department of Defense should be completely nonpartisan and should not be using taxpayer funds to actively engage in get-out-the-vote operations that have nothing to do with the core mission of the Department of Defense, not to mention the obvious mission creep and Hatch Act violations this activity would trigger.

Mr. Chair, President Biden should not be weaponizing the Federal Government's spending using American taxpayer dollars to manipulate and steer our election in a partisan manner.

As the cofounder and the chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, it is my privilege to introduce this amendment to restore transparency and confidence in our Democratic process while keeping partisan Federal bureaucrats and the swamp, literally, from deliberately tipping the balance at the ballot box.

I stand firmly behind the concept of one citizen, one vote, as enshrined in our Constitution. However, I do not support this blatantly partisan mobilization of the Federal Government for political purposes, especially at such a critical time in the world.

The Department of Defense should be laser focused on the missions at hand and countering our adversaries such as the Chinese Communist Party, not implementing a partisan get-out-the-vote initiative.

Mr. Chair, I urge all my colleagues to support amendment, which will preserve election integrity, stop the Biden administration from transforming the Department of Defense into a get-out-the-vote partisan machine for the Democrats. Let's make voting great again.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, with all due respect, our Constitution clearly states the administration of elections is in the province of the States. It is not for the Federal Government to use Federal agencies to coordinate with third-party partisan groups using taxpayer dollars in order to get out the vote for Democrats.

The mission of our Department of Defense is to protect and secure our Nation, not to get the vote out. We encourage and want every member of the military who is an eligible citizen to vote in our elections.

We do not want our taxpayer dollars used in a partisan way for a vote harvesting scheme conceived by the Democrats and by this executive order.

First of all, this is mission creep. The Department of Defense has to focus on its very serious mission. This is germane. We are using taxpayer dollars and military members, people paid under the Department of Defense, to work on vote harvesting schemes, not on their mission of protecting the American people.

I encourage all of my colleagues to vote for this amendment and make voting great again and make our free and fair elections once again possible in the United States of America.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment to prohibit any funding to finalize, implement, or enforce the Federal Acquisition Regulation, known as FAR, Council's proposed Federal Acquisition Regulation: Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-Related Financial Risk rule.

Mr. Chair, this disastrous rule proposed by the FAR Council has numerous constitutional, national security, and practical concerns, none of which have been adequately addressed by the FAR Council nor the Council on Environmental Quality who have pushed for this rule.

First and foremost, this rule requires all Federal contractors that do more than $50 million worth of business with the Federal Government to disclose all scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

This rule also seeks to require major Federal contractors to comply with the Paris Climate Accords, which has never been ratified by the Senate.

The most objectionable part of this rule is the requirement that companies set climate targets and have them validated by one specifically named company called Science Based Targets Initiative, or SBTi. SBTi is a foreign entity based in London, which inherently carries national security concerns.

Under this rule, every major Federal contractor, including companies critical to our national security and our defense industrial base, would have to provide this foreign company with information about all of their scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and then strategize on how to reduce them.

Despite the existence of numerous American and U.S.-based companies that could fill the same role, the FAR Council and CEQ, Council on Environmental Quality, chose a foreign entity as the named sole-source provider.

Why? Because SBTi is nothing but a front for Democratic donors and advocacy groups. SBTi is owned by the We Mean Business Coalition, which is a project of a new venture fund, which is managed by none other than Arabella Advisors.

Arabella Advisors, for those who do not know, is the George Soros- funded leftwing advocacy group that funnels dark money to leftwing causes and candidates.

To summarize, the Biden administration has named a subsidiary of one of its top donors, a leftwing dark money organization, as the sole- source provider for all climate target validating for all major Federal contractors.

During a hearing in the Science, Space, and Technology Committee on this rule, even the Democrats' witness said that SBTi was a poor choice for this role, yet the Biden administration forged ahead anyway.

I look forward to continuing my work with Chairman Lucas, Chairman Obernolte, and all of my colleagues on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee to get to the bottom of this rule's creation and halt its implementation.

Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, with all due respect, the gentleman is wrong about this amendment. It simply states that the amendment defunds and causes us not to fund the implementation of this particular rule. It has nothing to do with climate change. It has nothing to do with any of those allegations he has just set forth in his prepared notes. It is all bluster.

This rule is about the fact that this is a sole-source contract. SBTi was incorporated after the rule was actually made. They were looking, trying to find a company that they could use that would get the answers they wanted. There is no choice for any American company. No U.S.-based company in this category has a choice. They must use this Arabella dark money super-PAC money umbrella that is funded by leftwing George Soros and all these organizations in order to get their contracts approved.

There isn't a choice. You can't go to anyone else. Even the Democrats in the Science, Space, and Technology Committee admitted there was no other choice. Here is a company created after the fact that they needed somewhere, somebody to validate what they wanted, not to determine what the actual science was. This isn't a debate about climate change. It is a debate about science and making sure that our companies have their secrets secured, that they are with American-based companies that we can provide oversight for, and that the Department of Defense can provide its oversight.

It is not about some kind of climate issue. It really doesn't address that at all. It really addresses national security concerns. It addresses the problem that we have a company that is foreign owned which is requiring American-based companies to disclose only to them, with no choice, a sole source.

This is not actually acceptable under DOD rules, and that is why we want this particular rule to be held up until we can get other options for our U.S.-based companies that ensure the security of the American people. This is a sad attempt at trying to politicize, again, the Department of Defense under the guise of some kind of climate rule.

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

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer my amendment No. 63 to prohibit funding for President Biden's Executive Order No. 14019 entitled: ``Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting.''

This executive order requires Federal agencies to use their power, their influence, their resources, and taxpayer cash to enter into agreements with partisan nongovernmental organizations, mostly left- leaning, to conduct voter registration and other mobilization activities.

Mr. Chairman, this executive order is nothing but a blatant attempt to transform the Federal Government into a partisan get-out-the-vote scheme for the Democrats. America's civil servants must be nonpartisan, and Federal agencies should not be using taxpayer funds to actively engage in get-out-the-vote operations that have nothing to do with agencies' core missions, not to mention the obvious mission creep and the Hatch Act violations that this activity would trigger.

Mr. Chair, President Biden should not be weaponizing the Federal Government using taxpayer dollars to manipulate and steer our elections in a partisan manner.

As the cofounder and chair of the Election Integrity Caucus, it is my privilege to introduce this amendment to restore transparency and confidence in our democratic process while keeping partisan Federal bureaucrats and the swamp from deliberately tipping the balance at the ballot box.

I stand firmly behind the concept of one citizen, one vote, as is enshrined in our Constitution. However, I do not support this blatantly partisan mobilization of the Federal Government for political purposes. No citizen should have their vote diluted by Federal bureaucrats.

Mr. Chairman, I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment, which will preserve election integrity and stop the Biden administration from transforming our people's government and our people's House into a get-out-the-vote machine for partisan Democrats.

Let's make voting great again.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, respectfully, the reason many people don't vote is they don't have trust in our system because they know it has been undermined, particularly after the pandemic election of 2020.

Also, it is inappropriate and unconstitutional for the Federal Government, particularly by an unconstitutional executive order, to intervene in the role that is set forth in our Constitution where States administer our elections, not the Federal Government on a partisan executive order and partisan bureaucrats using our tax dollars to sway elections for partisan reasons.

These groups that the so-called order is bringing forth are mostly Democratic. In fact, almost all are Democratic-leaning outside groups, third-party groups that should not be involved directly with our agencies. Our agencies are tasked with important missions that serve the American people. They should not be serving up votes for the Democratic Party.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I urge all my colleagues to vote for this amendment. We have to have free, fair, and private elections. It is what the Election Integrity Caucus has set out

to do and what we have been doing. We endeavor to make sure we can get every legal citizen to vote in every election. That is our mission. It is not to sway voters.

Voters need to feel confident that their votes are secure, that their votes are not manipulated, and their votes are not diluted. That is exactly what this amendment seeks to do, and that is what has undermined the trust that our citizens have in these elections.

Mr. Chair, for that reason, I urge all of my colleagues, including my Democratic colleagues, to vote in favor of this amendment to be sure that we have free, fair, and private elections.

Again, I must reiterate to Mr. Chair: Let's, for once, make voting great again.

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

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to introduce my amendment No. 64 to prohibit any funds from taxpayer dollars to pay the salary of, reinstate, or reemploy a gentleman named Robert Malley.

The Biden administration has made some of the worst appointments in modern history. The appointment of Rob Malley as the special envoy has to be among the worst. Even before joining the administration, Rob Malley has a storied history of legitimatizing the terrorist organization Hamas, also a U.S.-designated terrorist organization; has blamed Israel for Palestinian attacks; and has facilitated the disastrous 2015 Iran nuclear deal. This was all before he was even appointed by the Biden administration.

Despite this history, the Biden administration appointed Mr. Malley as the special envoy to the country of Iran. Not only did Mr. Malley tarnish the great work of previous envoys, like Brian Hook and Elliott Abrams, but Malley was working to circumvent U.S. law by striking a deal with Iran without disclosing this to Congress.

Under the INARA, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, any deals with Iran must be disclosed to Congress, whether written or not. However, Malley worked for years and, according to reports, reached an agreement on his own with Iran. Yet, still, nothing had been disclosed to Congress.

Over a year ago, in June of 2023, Malley was placed on unpaid leave due to investigation into his mishandling of classified information. This matter has been referred to the FBI for criminal investigation and prosecution.

Was Malley handing over State secrets to Iran? We still don't know, and the administration is refusing to update Congress. It has been a year, Mr. Chairman. Why has the administration continued to refuse to update Congress on this critically important national security investigation?

Alarmingly, a bombshell report revealed that three top aides to Malley were part of an Iranian Government network. That is right. The special envoy to Iran's self-appointed top aides were compromised Iranian assets. This is beyond incompetent. This is criminal, and it is the very definition of harming U.S. national security.

While Mr. Malley is still on unpaid leave, he cannot be allowed to return to his post under any circumstance. The employment of Rob Malley in the Federal Government, using our taxpayer dollars, is an active threat to the safety and the security of the United States.

Mr. Chair, for that reason, I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment is simple. The American people should not be forced to support a top-level government official who surrounded himself with compromised foreign assets from a designated state sponsor of terrorism.

If Members care about U.S. national security, support this amendment. If Members oppose a nuclear Iran and oppose the despotic Iranian regime, a government that tortures and murders its own citizens who are standing up and exhibiting free speech, then support this amendment. If Members oppose state sponsors of terrorism having premier access to U.S. Government officials, support this amendment.

I urge my colleagues to defund Rob Malley's salary completely and make it clear that the House stands against compromised foreign assets receiving taxpayer dollars.

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

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.