Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, the men and women from sea to shining sea that wear a badge have sworn an oath to the Constitution. That oath is not to a sheriff or a marshal or a chief, it is to the people of their community and deeper, the principles that have built our country.

We put on our badges and uniforms, and we say good-bye to our wives not knowing if we will return.

For many, many years on my way to night shift I would tell my wife I loved her, and she would hand me my little lunch. She would say: ``Come home safe.'' I would say: ``Don't worry about me, worry about the other guy.'' That was our little ritual, but the truth was we never knew if I was coming home.

Right now men and women across the country are having similar conversations and wearing a badge. Just know we love you and respect you. This body supports you.

Mr. Speaker, I am so honored to speak on behalf of the people of the country that we serve, the oath that we have sworn, and bid some words of adoration and respect for our brother and friend, Louie Gohmert.

I have described Louie as a living Founding Father. To those that have inquired as to whether I have known him, which from sea to shining sea, it is a common question as we travel in service to ``we the people,'' we are asked: ``Do you know this fellow? Do you know that lady?'' It is quite common to be asked: ``Do you know Louie Gohmert?'' I am honored to say yes.

Louie has represented not just the people of his district, and by extension the Nation that we love and have sworn to serve, but he has represented the foundational core principles that gave birth to our Nation.

In Matthew, the words of the Lord stated: ``Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.''

You, my brother Louie, should feel satisfied within your soul, good sir, because you have brought the very essence of pure principle and spirit to this great body. This Chamber shall forever resonate with your words and your love for God and country. I am honored to have worked with you, to call you brother and friend.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Long- Term Care Veterans Choice Act. The Department of Veterans Affairs has been running its medical foster homes initiative since the year 2000, and as of 2021, the Veterans Health Administration oversees about 600 medical foster home caregivers taking care of veterans in about 40 States.

Medical foster homes are private homes where a caregiver provides services to a small group of individuals who are unable to live without day-to-day assistance.

Currently, veterans enrolled in home-based primary care through the VA may elect to receive their care at medical foster homes. However, the VA does not cover the cost of medical foster homes for veterans that would otherwise be eligible for nursing home care through the VA. As has been noted by my colleagues, full nursing home traditional care is far more expensive than medical foster homes.

Veterans must pay for medical foster homes out of their pocket or through private insurance. This bill would fix that.

My bill would authorize the Secretary of the VA to enter into contracts and agreements for placement of up to 900 veterans a day in medical foster homes. These are veterans who are unable to live independently.

In addition, medical foster home caregivers would be required to pass a Federal background check and undergo VA screening. They would be required to participate in annual training, and they would have to permit the VA to make announced and unannounced home visits.

Finally, the VA would provide these veterans with full interdisciplinary home care that includes, physicians, nurses, rehabilitation therapists, medical healthcare providers, dietitians, and pharmacists.

My bill is supported by the American Legion, the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, and the Wounded Warrior Project.

In closing, I sincerely thank Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost for bringing this bill to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, when a natural disaster strikes across the country, be it a hurricane, a wildfire, or an earthquake, American families are displaced. It is very important that we do our best to streamline whatever assistance has been deemed appropriate in the wake of that disaster.

So when we see a bill that streamlines the disaster recovery process for FEMA, that provides for a universal application for Federal disaster assistance for individuals residing in the areas hit by a natural disaster so that universal application can be used by multiple agencies, it is all beneficial. When you see a bill that streamlines the ability to provide direct assistance to individuals and households, thereby eliminating some bureaucratic obstacles, and a bill that provides more flexibility to States, I strongly encourage the support of language like that in a legislative endeavor.

Whereas we may not agree with 100 percent of the language that is in a bill, it is our duty to measure the overall benefit for the citizens that we serve, and I rise in support.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Rita Jeanne Hebert Domingue of Lafayette, Louisiana, on 100 years of life. Jeanne, as she is known to loved ones, is a hardworking wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Jeanne was born in Parks, Louisiana on October 22, 1922. Her family moved to Lafayette in the late 1920s, where she attended Mount Carmel High School. After graduation, Jeanne continued her education at Southern Louisiana Institute and earned a degree in secretarial science in 1944.

After graduating, Jeanne went on to work for Lafayette Power Utilities for three years until Robert Louis Domingue returned from overseas duty during World War II. She and Robert were married in 1946 and went on to have five children: Ron, Rita, Michael, Garry, and Clare.

At age 45, after the birth of her youngest child, Jeanne began working as a receptionist for a urology clinic in Lafayette. She excelled, using her degree to transcribe medical records. She impressed the office with her skill and discipline, and she was even tasked with taking X-rays for the doctors. After six years, she retired to spend more time with her family.

Jeanne is a devout Catholic. She has lived a life characterized by devotion to her faith, family, and friends. She is a loving wife to her late husband Robert, a caring mother to her five children, and a doting grandmother to her eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of Louisiana's 3rd District, I honor Rita Jeanne Hebert Domingue for 100 years well lived. I wish her happiness and joy in the years to come. May God bless her and her loving friends and family.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman and I thank my colleagues.

I hope America is paying attention because we cannot continue to fund a government that appears to be determined to destroy our country from within.

We have millions of illegal aliens crossing our southern border. We have lost all operational control, the sovereignty of our Nation at the southern border.

They are asking for more money for COVID. Since March of 2020, we have spent $8 trillion just on COVID. That is $8,000 billion. You cannot convince me or any American across the country that our Nation has actually spent that money. We should have a full accounting of this money.

They want more money for Ukraine. We have already sent them about $70 billion.

Do you know how much Russia spends, my colleagues, every year, on their military, their entire budget?

I will answer the question. It is about $70 billion. We have given to Ukraine the entire budget for Russia for their military expenditures. We have no control over this money. We are not sending them any more money, not without a fight.

They want a CR passed, a continuing resolution, a short-term budget to keep the Federal Government operating until December. That is after the elections have ejected our colleagues across the aisle but before Republicans will be sworn into the majority on January 3. That is wrong on every level.

It is like identifying an arsonist, banishing them from your neighborhood, and giving them gasoline and matches on the way out. We cannot allow it. We stand strongly against it, but we don't have the votes.

America, there is not enough Republicans in the House of Representatives to stop this CR in the formula that the Democrats intend. We need Americans to communicate and stand strong. Align yourselves with the conservatives in the House of Representatives, like my colleagues here tonight, and help us fight the good fight to preserve our Republic.

I yield back to the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I would bring our focus on to our total national debt for a moment. As concerned American patriots, conservative constitutionalist men who love our country, we are discussing this continuing resolution, the temporary funding of the Federal Government that we stand against because of the process and the lack of appropriate regular order that reflects the failure of this body to perform regarding our budget responsibilities that were laid out clearly by our Founders.

Let's talk about our $31 trillion in debt.

It was 1980 in America before we had accumulated $1 trillion in debt. So in the first 200 years of our existence, America accumulated $1 trillion in debt. In the following 40 years, we have accumulated $30 trillion.

We are up $31 trillion in debt. If this body were to balance the budget and run a $1 billion surplus, it would require 31,000 years to address a $31 trillion debt.

Mr. Speaker, I say to my colleagues, 1 trillion is 1,000 billion.

No one here, nor across the Nation that we love and serve, believes we have 31,000 years to fix this thing. We must restore fiscal sanity to this body.

It is dangerous.

Mr. Speaker, I will tell my colleague what we can agree on in the hallowed Halls of this Chamber. We can and should agree that men of principle do not intend to build the future of our Republic upon backroom deals in the dark of night in the upper Chamber of our bicameral Congress, which is exactly what happened with this bill, which is why it is now strongly opposed by my colleagues in the Republican Party.

Everything we do here to advance the future of America should be based upon the core principles that gave birth to America.

Perhaps my colleague could agree with me upon that.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend tonight's vote due to a legal obligation in Louisiana. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 364.

Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress

Armstrong (Johnson (SD))

Barragan (Correa)

Bass (Correa)

Bowman (Evans)

Boyle, Brendan F. (Beyer)

Brown (MD) (Evans)

Brown (OH) (Stevens)

Carter (LA) (Jeffries)

Carter (TX) (Nehls)

Casten (Trone)

Castro (TX) (Correa)

Cawthorn (Gaetz)

Cherfilus-McCormick (Evans)

Cleaver (Davids (KS))

Crist (Wasserman Schultz)

Curtis (Moore (UT))

Demings (Kelly (IL))

DesJarlais (Fleischmann)

Deutch (Stevens)

Fallon (Green (TN))

Foster (Spanberger)

Frankel, Lois (Kuster)

Garbarino (Valadao)

Gosar (Gohmert)

Gottheimer (Spanberger)

Grijalva (Correa)

Higgins (NY) (Cicilline)

Houlahan (Spanberger)

Jacobs (NY) (Keller)

Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)

Kahele (Correa)

Khanna (Kim (NJ))

Kind (Beyer)

Kirkpatrick (Pallone)

LaTurner (Valadao)

Lawrence (Stevens)

Lawson (FL) (Evans)

Leger Fernandez (Correa)

Letlow (Tenney)

Lieu (Beyer)

Mann (Pfluger)

McEachin (Jeffries)

Meeks (Jeffries)

Meng (Kuster)

Miller (WV) (LaHood)

Moore (WI) (Beyer)

Moulton (Stevens)

Mrvan (Jeffries)

Newman (Beyer)

Pascrell (Pallone)

Payne (Pallone)

Pingree (Kuster)

Porter (Neguse)

Rush (Evans)

Salazar (Miller-Meeks)

Schiff (Beyer)

Sewell (Cicilline)

Sires (Pallone)

Smucker (Keller)

Suozzi (Correa)

Taylor (Van Duyne)

Torres (NY) (Strickland)

Trahan (Kuster)

Veasey (Kelly (IL))

Walorski (Fischbach)

Welch (Pallone)

Williams (GA) (Jeffries)

Wilson (FL) (Evans)

Wilson (SC) (Norman)

Yarmuth (Beyer)

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of Earl Paul King, Jr., a man of great distinction whom I was honored to serve.

Earl was born in Dublin, Texas, July 8, 1944. He attended school and played football

at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned a bachelor's degree.

After graduating, Earl settled in South Louisiana. In 1967, he founded King Trucking, Inc. near Morgan City, Louisiana. The business has provided professional trucking services for over 55 years. As a member of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, the St. Mary Industrial Group, and the American Petroleum Institute, Earl worked with local businessowners to advance the economic interests of St. Mary Parish.

He was committed to serving his State and community. Earl was a member of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, having been appointed by two Governors and having served as chairman for one year. He was a board member for the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival and was chosen as the festival's king in 2004.

Earl also gave back. He endowed the Earl King Scholarship at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and he was an active member of LSU's Tiger Athletic Foundation.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He loved his LSU Tigers, and above all, spending time with his family.

A beloved husband and father, Earl left this earthly existence and shed his mortal coil on April 13, 2022, at the age of 77.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of Louisiana's Third District, I honor the life of Earl Paul King, Jr. May he endure in our memories, and may God bless his loving friends and family.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 186.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the first graduating

class of Williams Scholar Academy in Abbeville, LA--the first public charter school in Vermilion Parish.

Five students have earned their place in the inaugural class. They are:

Tiranni Mechel Henderson

Trinity India Readom

Warkaylar Leona Johnson

RyanDrea Dexeanna Readom

Virtue Sanaa'h Davenport

These five students have worked hard to earn their diplomas. Tiranni, Trinity, Warkaylar, RyanDrea, and Virtue mark the beginning of what I hope is a long list of graduates. They will forever be a part of Williams Scholar Academy history and have set a standard of academic success for future students to follow.

I was honored to participate in the groundbreaking and prayer ceremony for Williams Scholar Academy in March of 2021. We had a beautiful and uplifting gathering. Citizens across the community came together with a shared mission to bring new educational opportunities to South Louisiana. We prayed for the success of the school and the young men and women that would be attending.

Today, we recognize an answered prayer--Williams Scholar Academy's first graduating class.

This is a monumental achievement, but it is only the beginning.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of Louisiana's 3rd District, I recognize Tiranni Mechel Henderson, Trinity India Readom, Warkaylar Leona Johnson, RyanDrea Dexeanna Readom, and Virtue Sanaa'h Davenport on their graduation. I wish each of them great success in their future endeavors, and I pray that Williams Scholar Academy will educate, serve, and graduate students for many years to come.

Madam Speaker, I was attending a funeral for a Thin Blue Line Brother and was unable to make it back to Washington in time to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 142, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 143, and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 144.

Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress

Barragan (Beyer)

Bourdeaux (Wexton)

Brown (MD) (Evans)

Brownley (Kuster)

Carter (LA) (Jeffries)

Carter (TX) (Babin)

Castro (TX) (Garcia (TX))

Cawthorn (Moore (AL))

Correa (Costa)

Cuellar (Garcia (TX))

Curtis (Moore (UT))

Delgado (Neguse)

DeSaulnier (Beyer)

Diaz-Balart (Cammack)

Doyle, Michael F. (Evans)

Gottheimer (Pallone)

Herrera Beutler (Katko)

Horsford (Evans)

Huffman (Neguse)

Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)

Kelly (IL) (Blunt Rochester)

Kim (CA) (Steel)

Kirkpatrick (Pallone)

Lamb (Pallone)

Langevin (Lynch)

Lawrence (Stevens)

Lawson (FL) (Soto)

Meng (Escobar)

Mfume (Evans)

Mooney (Miller (WV))

Moore (WI) (Beyer)

Ocasio-Cortez (Bowman)

Porter (Wexton)

Price (NC) (Ross)

Rush (Evans)

Ryan (Kaptur)

Scanlon (Garcia (TX))

Scott, David (Jeffries)

Sires (Pallone)

Speier (Escobar)

Suozzi (Beyer)

Thompson (MS) (Jeffries)

Tiffany (Fitzgerald)

Titus (Connolly)

Walorski (Wagner)

Wild (Evans)

Wilson (FL) (Neguse)

Wilson (SC) (Timmons)

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of my Thin Blue Line brother Nick Tullier.

Nick served his state and community honorably as a patrol deputy with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Department.

A member of the Thin Blue Line for nearly two decades, Nick Tullier was critically injured in the line of duty on July 17, 2016. While responding to a call in Baton Rouge, Nick and his fellow deputies were ambushed in a targeted attack against law enforcement.

Nick was shot three times. By all accounts, he was not supposed to live. He did.

Though paralyzed due to the injuries, Nick defied every expectation over the last 6 years.

He was a fighter. His spirit was strong, and he never gave up. Nick fought until the very end.

On May 5, 2022, Nick Tullier's watch ended. We all mourn his passing. However, we also celebrate Nick's life.

``Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.''--John 15:13 KJV

Nick was selfless and acted with love for his fellow man. He put his own life on the line to protect the community he had sworn to serve.

I am blessed to have known Nick and to have shared a few brief hours in the course of his journey. He is survived by his parents, his two sons, two brothers, and five nephews. They are all in our prayers.

Many times, I have prayed for Nick, for his family, and for healing. Our prayers are with them now in this time of mourning.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of the State of Louisiana, I pay tribute to the life, commitment, and sacrifice of Nick Tullier. May his legacy and his service to the Thin Blue Line never be forgotten.

Madam Speaker, I would like to honor three constituents of mine who were recently recognized as winners of the C- SPAN StudentCam documentary competition.

Jason Boudreaux, Jaleaha Joseph, and Shontenaisha Manuel, students at College Street Vocational Center in Lake Charles, LA, were chosen as first prize winners in the Central region. The students were tasked with explaining how the federal government impacts their daily lives, and they competed against thousands of other participants across the nation.

Jason, Jaleaha, and Shontenaisha's documentary, ``FEMA's Impact on Our Lives in Southwest Louisiana,'' was powerful and moving. The students highlighted the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Laura and Delta and shared their personal experiences with FEMA as their families sought to recover. Their stories and experiences are those shared by many families across Southwest Louisiana. However, despite the devastation to our community, the students also showcased the strength and resilience of Louisiana's citizenry.

I commend these students for their hard work, determination, and exemplary storytelling abilities.

They crafted a powerful narrative that told the story of Southwest Louisiana and thoughtfully explained FEMA's role in our recovery mission.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of Louisiana's 3rd District, I congratulate Jason Boudreaux, Jaleaha Joseph, and Shontenaisha Manuel on their achievements in the C-SPAN StudentCam documentary competition. I thank them for sharing their stories, and I wish each of them great success in the future.

Madam Speaker, I would like to honor a constituent of mine who was recently recognized with one of the highest honors in his industry.

Robert ``Bob'' Giles, Chairman and CEO of Giles Automotive in Lafayette, LA, was named the 2022 TIME Dealer of the Year during the National Automobile Dealers Association's awards ceremony in Las Vegas. This is the most prestigious honor that a franchised automobile dealer can receive.

The award celebrates franchised new car and truck dealers for exceptional business performance and outstanding community service. Mr. Giles was chosen among a field of 47 dealer nominees and was selected by a panel of judges from the Tauber Institute at the University of Michigan.

Mr. Giles is a second-generation automobile dealer owner, having followed his father who owned a Ford dealership in Denison, TX. After graduating from Texas A&M University in 1976, Mr. Giles joined his father's dealership and became sales manager at the age of 24. Today, thanks to his leadership, Giles Automotive now comprises five dealerships in two Louisiana cities, Lafayette and Opelousas, along with another dealership in El Paso, TX.

Giving back to the community has been one of Mr. Giles' foundational principles through the Giles Gives Back program, which assists local organizations like the Acadiana Community Heroes campaign. Mr. Giles also helped launch the Giles Essential Errand Running Service, which assists elderly and immunocompromised individuals with the delivery of essential goods, food, and pharmacy items.

Mr. Giles has also been actively involved in many other organizations including the Outreach Center, which provides shelter and support for homeless individuals in the Acadiana area. He has helped raise more than $500,000 to support the organization's efforts.

Mr. Giles was nominated for this award by Will Green, President of the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of Louisiana's 3rd District, I congratulate Mr. Bob Giles on being named the 2022 TIME Dealer of the Year. I thank him for his selfless work to support our local community, and I wish him and his family and team at Giles Automotive continued success and a prosperous future.