Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to introduce the senior pastor, Dr. Kevin Moore, this morning to offer the opening prayer of the United States House of Representatives 119th Congress.

Dr. Moore is my home pastor at Mount Zion Baptist Church. Mount Zion was founded in 1855 in the small community affectionately known as Monrovia. It is located a couple of miles north of Redstone Arsenal and Research Park.

Mount Zion has grown to over 2,500 members in the thriving Huntsville, Alabama, Rocket City, USA. Dr. Moore is a humble and kind leader. Our community is very blessed to have him lead our growing church.

Dr. Moore is married to Stephanie, and they have four children: Kevin James, David Moses, Liza Grace, and May Louise. I welcome Dr. Moore to the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 4864, a bill originally introduced by Representative Gaetz of Florida, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Rogers for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the National Defense Authorization Act and to thank Chairman Mike Rogers for his leadership.

The district I represent is home to ``Rocket City'' USA, Redstone Arsenal, hundreds of servicemembers, thousands of civilians, contractors, military retirees, and their families.

This year's NDAA supports the warfighter, counters aggression imposed by the CCP, Russia, and Iran, and authorizes a much-needed pay raise for our men and women in uniform, with a special focus on our junior enlisted servicemembers.

In the face of global instability and unprecedented threats, this year's NDAA furthers military readiness and increases lethality.

The U.S. has got to get our clip full, for everything from small arms to long-range missiles. To do this, we must provide stability and predictability to our organic and defense industrial base.

Mr. Speaker, America is ready to roll, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 9668, the SHIELD Against CCP Act.

We can all agree that the Chinese Communist Party poses a clear and present danger to America's democracy and homeland security.

The CCP exploits every possible avenue to undermine our national security, and the Biden-Harris administration's open southern border policy and soft-on-China policies have only aided our adversaries' ability to harm American interests.

Our immigration system is routinely exploited by the CCP through identity theft, immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processes, and unlawful border crossings. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data, in fiscal year 2021, there were 323 apprehensions of Chinese foreign nationals. Nearly 4 years of the Biden-Harris administration have ballooned that number to 64,000.

In addition to exploiting our immigration system, the CCP also engages in theft of U.S. intellectual property and technology, which comes at a significant cost to our economy. It is estimated that China's IP theft alone costs the average American family of four anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000 annually after taxes. It is critical that DHS do more to combat these complex threats both at home and abroad.

For these reasons, I introduced H.R. 9668, the SHIELD Against CCP Act. This legislation will require the Department of Homeland Security to establish a dedicated working group to counter threats posed to our homeland security by the Chinese Communist Party.

Specifically, it will require them to examine, assess, and report on DHS' efforts to counter the threats posed by the CCP. To ensure DHS is held accountable, H.R. 9668 also requires DHS to report annually to Congress.

It is our duty in Congress to ensure the safety and well-being of our great Nation, and we must not ignore the increasing aggression and influence of China on the global stage.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Green and all of the Members who have supported this legislation, and I urge all Members to join me in supporting this critically important piece of legislation to protect our national security and safeguard our interest.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 7177, which will improve the organization of the Federal courts in the Northern District of Alabama.

Specifically, this bill will ensure that Alabamians are assigned to the closest and most convenient Federal courthouse, which will eliminate unnecessary and burdensome travel expenses. This commonsense proposal, which was

approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States earlier this year, reflects how cases have been managed following courthouse closures for over 60-plus years since these boundaries were last amended.

The Judicial Conference said it best: H.R. 7177 supports the efficient administration of justice.

I thank the Members of the Alabama delegation who have joined me to support the efficient administration of justice in north Alabama. I urge all of our colleagues to join me in supporting this proposal.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this amendment and in support of the Army's continued investment in unmanned ground vehicle technology.

It is an Army priority to provide commanders on the ground with enhanced situational awareness and increased flexibility on the modern battlefield. This plus-up would take a step in the right direction to fill existing command and control capability gaps that would hinder our warfighter on the front lines.

I have been proud to support the provisions in this NDAA and Defense appropriations bills the past two cycles,

not only because of the work done in Huntsville, Alabama, but because this is addressing a critical national security need.

This is why I am here, to do what is best for national security.

Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Clerk be authorized to make technical corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 8070, to include corrections in spelling, punctuation, section and title numbering, cross-referencing, conforming amendments to the table of contents and short titles, and the insertion of appropriate headings.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding the Mexican Government's unprecedented interference in the lawful operation of Alabama-based Vulcan Materials Company.

Vulcan has maintained a presence in Quintana Roo, Mexico, since 1980, supporting thousands of American jobs and fostering both economic and infrastructure development in the U.S. and abroad.

This month marks the second year since the Mexican Government illegally invaded and shut down Vulcan's deep-water port in Mexico. Since then, Vulcan has faced increasing aggression and harassment by the Mexican Government, including President Lopez Obrador, threatening to unlawfully seize Vulcan's port and limestone quarry.

Mexico's actions not only jeopardize our bilateral relationship, but threaten U.S. jobs and infrastructure development. The Alabama delegation stands united behind Vulcan.

I call on the Mexican Government to immediately cease this brazen defiance of rule of law and end its unjust interference in the legitimate operations of American businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for his Special Order. The gentleman I am soon to recognize was raised in his district in California.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true American patriot, Grammy Award winner Lee Greenwood.

May 21 marked the 40th anniversary of his song ``God Bless the USA.'' This song has withstood the test of time and remains an anthem for Americans to proudly express their love of God and country.

``God Bless the USA'' is one of the most recognizable, patriotic songs in America, uniting people both in times of celebration, like the Fourth of July, and during some of our Nation's darkest hours, like 9/ 11.

Lee wrote ``God Bless the USA'' in 1983 and published it in 1984. Lee Greenwood has performed ``God Bless the USA'' for 10 American Presidents and traveled on 20 USO tours.

Not only is he a tireless entertainer, doing more than 160 concerts this year, but he also cares deeply about his family. He cares about America, our military, and our veterans. He is a supporter of Helping a Hero and has been a part of hundreds of welcome-home ceremonies for our brave and courageous wounded warriors.

I thank Grammy Award winner Lee Greenwood for his contribution to this great Nation.

I end by saying: God bless the USA.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Green for his support, as well as that of my colleagues who join me in introducing this legislation, H.R. 6174, the DHS Biodetection Improvement Act.

Threats from America's enemies have continued to evolve and become more complex. The anthrax attack of 2001 opened our eyes to a new threat landscape that includes acts of bioterrorism. In the wake of the 2001 attacks, the Department of Homeland Security established the BioWatch program, which monitors, collects, and tests air samples for biological agents likely to be used in a terrorist attack.

This technology is vital in protecting Americans against bioweapons, and we must have full confidence that it will deliver timely, accurate, and comprehensive information to our partners that operate this system.

As a first responder myself, I know the difference that early detection makes. This becomes more vital when responding to an act of bioterrorism, which could have catastrophic consequences.

We have worked across all levels of government to improve prevention, detection, and response capabilities, but there remains work to be done.

DHS has faced continuous challenges in developing and acquiring new technologies to move toward the next generation of national biodetection. This legislation would ensure that DHS is fully leveraging every tool and resource to accomplish this goal, to include utilizing the Department of Energy's national labs to develop new technologies related to biodefense, developing a plan to acquire existing technologies that can meet the Department's biodetection mission needs, conducting external evaluations to identify gaps and potential failure points, and reporting to Congress a defined plan for the future of biodetection.

As our adversaries watch on, we cannot afford to fall behind. America's security depends on it.

I was proud to introduce this legislation, the DHS Biodetection Improvement Act, to ensure DHS is prepared to protect Americans against bioweapons.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, today's legislation is about delivering accountability on behalf of the local and State leaders unable to bear the weight of thousands of illegal immigrants flooding their communities, hospitals, and schools; on behalf of the thousands of families who have lost loved ones at the hands of illegal immigrants; and on behalf of hundreds of Border Patrol agents stripped of their tools to do their job.

The situation at the border cannot continue. I have seen it firsthand during my trips to the southern border. Mayorkas' refusal to enforce the laws of our Nation has encouraged millions of illegal aliens from 160 different countries to cross the border. Over 85 percent of them are being released into the United States.

This is in clear violation of Federal immigration law. Failure to act is not an option. The yearlong investigation held by the committee confirmed what every American already knew to be true.

The actions that we will take today against Secretary Mayorkas are warranted and utterly urgent. Our country is under attack, and the Secretary of Homeland Security is working against America.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to act at this critical time.

I thank the gentleman from Kansas for yielding.

I rise to support the extension of critical provisions from President Trump's signature tax law, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This tax policy unleashes America's ingenuity and the full potential of the American economy. It helps individuals and families take home more pay each month. It supports American investments in research and development. It signals to our business community that America values and supports domestic innovation.

This tax policy is also necessary to stay ahead of global competitors. Small businesses in north Alabama directly benefit from research and development expensing. It allows them to reinvest in their products and people. It stimulates the economy, encourages investment, and creates jobs.

President Trump's legislation started an era of increased investment in the U.S. and produced an economy with record gains. If we fail to extend this critical tax provision, we fail American businesses.

I urge Congress to act and extend these provisions.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.

Madam Speaker, I commend Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for their leadership, and I thank both sides of the aisle for their vigorous debate while working together to create a bill that is focused on the defense and security of our Nation.

The NDAA passed through the House Armed Services Committee by a vote of 59-1. This shows that Republicans and Democrats can work together to solve our Nation's problems. This committee put national security first and set an example on how to bring a bipartisan bill to the United States House floor.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the fiscal year 2024 NDAA on behalf of our Nation and the American warfighter.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in honor of Lieutenant General Dan Karbler, commanding general of Army Space and Missile Defense Command and the Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, on his upcoming retirement.

When he took command at Redstone Arsenal, General Karbler shared a vision of a people-first team, providing unmatched expertise to support joint warfighting readiness across all domains. This vision has not only been achieved but set an example for what excellence looks like, with SMDC and JFCC IMD being named the best place to work in the Department of Defense for 2 years in a row.

Known for his candor, thoughtfulness, and humility, his legacy will live on much longer than his 36 years in Active-Duty service to the United States Army.

Mr. Speaker, I speak for many as I thank General Karbler and his wife, Leah; his dad, Tim; and his children, Lauren and Tim, for years of extraordinary service.

Mr. Speaker, I wish General Karbler a happy and restful retirement.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, I offer an amendment to H.R. 4820, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bill.

My amendment is simple. It expresses Congress' support for public housing authorities to conduct drug testing as a condition of receiving benefits.

My colleagues across the aisle will argue that the purpose of this amendment is to punish. I want to be clear: The purpose of this amendment is to protect. It is to protect taxpayer-funded resources and ensure that they are available for those who truly need them and are prepared to make positive contributions to society.

Drug testing would put drug abusers on notice and provide a clear incentive to get off of drugs and to work toward self-sufficiency.

Shouldn't that be something we all support?

We must have protections in place and tools to enforce them which discourage lifelong dependency and ensure these programs are used as they are intended, as a temporary safety net for our most vulnerable and needy, not a way of life for generations.

I am under no illusion that drug testing alone would solve all the problems of abuse and dependency that plague our welfare system. However, I do believe that any tool that helps to accomplish this goal should be fully leveraged and fully supported by Congress.

Drugs are absolutely ravaging our country. It can be seen in every community. In 2020, over 37 million Americans 12 years and older--think about it, 12 years and older--were illegal drug users.

As a first responder, I have seen the devastation and impact of drug abuse on individuals, their families, and our communities. We have a real drug problem on our hands in this country, and it is not getting any better with this administration's border policies which allow massive quantities of illicit drugs, including fentanyl, to pour into our country.

Not only would drug testing ensure the responsible use of taxpayer- funded benefits, it would also provide a valuable opportunity to identify drug users and connect them with existing resources to get the help that they need.

Voting against this amendment ignores the obligation we have to the American people to be responsible stewards of their hard-earned taxpayer money.

Voting for this amendment sends a clear message to each of our constituents: Protecting Federal resources for those who wish to improve their lives and break free from the cycle of dependency is a priority of Congress.

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