Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman McClain for her leadership.

Mr. Speaker, during President Trump's first term, we had progrowth policies, a progrowth economy, and tax revenue growth. Even after COVID, the Biden administration accelerated the deficit with unchecked spending, causing the deficit to double, which increased service on the debt from $400 billion in 2019 to nearly $1 trillion last year. That is why this package takes steps to rein in irresponsible agencies. Some have been taken over by ideologues doing things that are simply not in the interest of the American people.

Maybe USAID has done some good things, but they have also done many things that were totally inappropriate. Agencies like this need to be defunded or reformed. The American people aren't going to put up with it anymore.

To that end, why is the government still funding public television and radio when most people have hundreds of channels to get their news and information from and when these stations are some of the most partisan stations out there? Can you imagine, as was stated earlier, if a conservative station was funded? The left would have screamed, vilified, and exterminated it a long while ago.

Mr. Speaker, let's pass this rescissions package, codify President Trump's spending reductions into law, and save our country along the way.

Mr. Speaker, I thank our chairman, Chairman Williams, for his continued leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Democratic Member Mrs. McIver, in support of my bill, H.R. 1804, the 7(a) Loan Agent Oversight Act, which provides the Small Business Administration with the oversight capabilities to monitor its flagship loan program responsibly. This bipartisan legislation requires the SBA Office of Credit Risk Management to report on fraudulent loans made by a loan agent as well as the overall default rate on loans issued by those agents.

Loan agents are often the middlemen between the SBA, a 7(a) lender, and a small business. This legislation is necessary due to the increased role of loan agents in facilitating 7(a) loans to American small businesses.

The SBA inspector general reported that nearly one out of every seven loans involved a loan agent. Unfortunately, the inspector general also noted that there has been over $335 million in documented loan agent fraud. This, of course, needs to be corrected and changed, Mr. Speaker.

Additionally, my legislation requires the SBA to submit their findings to Congress, which allows us to conduct proper oversight of the 7(a) loan program, ensuring it remains a successful public-private partnership that helps small businesses thrive.

Though Administrator Loeffler is bringing a lot to this office and has reined in the Biden administration's weakening, frankly, of underwriting

standards in the 7(a) program, this bill advances good governance policies that will protect taxpayer dollars and uphold the program's record of success well beyond the next 4 years.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of my bill.

Mr. Speaker, we are here this late because our time has been wasted for the last 3 or 4 hours on the nonsense coming from the left.

We were elected to improve our country, to work with President Trump to improve our national security, and strengthen our economy. We were elected to bring fiscal sanity to an out-of-control budget, deliver on accountability, and lead the world toward peace. We were elected, frankly, to bring common sense so people start trusting our government again.

This big, beautiful bill is about caring about America. It is designed to strengthen our national security, fortify our now-secure border, which was turned into a disaster by the Democrats, responsibly grow our domestic energy supply, and create more opportunity for Americans.

It also gives small businesses the type of tax environment and certainty they need and deserve, not one where they are slammed by major tax increases which would occur by voting ``no'' on this bill.

Voting ``no'' on this bill will assure massive tax hikes and will continue the waste, abuse, and fraud that is just running rampant through our Federal Government.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is just the beginning. It sets the stage for making America as great as it should be.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Onder) for his leadership, and I also thank my good friend and colleague Congressman Rob Bresnahan for his participation and great work and support of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, this is National Police Week, and I rise in support of my legislation, H. Res. 364, the Gold Shield families resolution. Out of all of the priorities that we face in this Chamber, Mr. Speaker, none is more fundamental than ensuring public safety and protecting human life. It is the foundation for everything else--our economy, our freedoms, and our way of life--so the people on the front lines of that effort are our first responders.

Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, correctional officers, and dispatchers are the tip of the proverbial spear. They put themselves in danger, often on a regular basis, in order to keep the rest of us safe. They are the thin blue line, the thin gold line, and the thin red line that holds society together. They serve not for accolades but out of duty and honor.

Mr. Speaker, I know this personally. My father was a police officer and a detective, while my grandfather also was a firefighter. He was the captain of his house.

I remember clearly the risks that my father took every day he walked out the door. I remember well what it meant to be a police family, and I know the courage it takes not just for the officer but for the family members who stand behind them.

When the worst happens, when a first responder is lost in the line of duty, it is the family who bears the burden of that sacrifice for the long term. They are the ones picking up the pieces, mourning their loved ones, and carrying their legacy forward.

The term ``Gold Shield families'' is modeled after the Gold Star families, which honors the families of fallen military servicemembers. Gold Shield families are those whose loved ones wore a different kind of uniform and who served in our communities rather than abroad but whose sacrifice was no less significant.

The resolution simply acknowledges that reality, Mr. Speaker. It affirms that these families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty deserve the respect and support of the communities that they served. Their sacrifices and their struggles will not be forgotten, and our local communities must play their part to support nonprofit organizations that serve Gold Shield families during their time of grief and hardship.

H. Res. 364 encourages Gold Shield families to turn on these trusted groups for connection, care, and healing as they navigate life after loss. This resolution was inspired by one such organization, Camp Freedom in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. Their executive director, my good friend Matt Guedes, is in the Chamber with us tonight. He brought this idea forward, and I thank Matt very, very much for a great idea and for helping us see it through.

Mr. Speaker, Matt is a veteran and a passionate advocate for those who serve. He saw firsthand the need to give proper recognition to the families of fallen first responders, especially those who had once served our country in uniform and continued that service here at home.

Camp Freedom provides outdoor healing experiences for disabled veterans, first responders, and their families. Their mission is rooted in community, connection, and recovery. I thank Matt and all of his team for all that they do to support those who served our country.

To date, Camp Freedom has served more than 12,000 veterans', first responders', and servicemembers' families from across Pennsylvania and the country.

Mr. Speaker, I also recognize Bill Bachenberg, who founded Camp Freedom. His passion and vision have made Camp Freedom what it is today: a special place for many.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution is only two pages long, but its message is powerful. It recognizes these families. It thanks them and affirms that their sacrifices are worthy of our continued support.

This resolution has strong bipartisan backing, and I thank all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have joined as cosponsors.

During National Police Week, let me say this to every police officer, firefighter, EMT, dispatcher, and emergency responder: I thank them for their service. They are the thin gold line that separates us from chaos. They are the reason that our Constitution is more than words on paper.

Mr. Speaker, to every Gold Shield family, their loved one's service mattered. The sacrifice of their loved one will not be forgotten, and neither will theirs.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 364. Let's pass this resolution and give these families the recognition and community support that they have long deserved.

Mr. Speaker, it is very important that we here in the Chamber discuss the truths behind Medicaid and how we are working to save it.

However, today, right now, Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart to honor the life and service of a local hero from my district, Assistant Fire Chief Chip Chidester of the Harford Volunteer Fire Company in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

Sadly, Chip passed away on April 27 from complications stemming from injuries he sustained in an early March fight against a fire in his community.

Chip grew up in the firehouse, volunteering from a young age, alongside his father who had served as assistant chief. His early calling turned into a lifetime of service; 40 years with the department, Mr. Speaker, including 29 years as assistant chief.

Chip was a mentor to younger members, served on several truck teams, and was a trusted, steady presence in the firehouse and in the community.

To those who knew him, Chip never met a person who didn't become a friend, and once a friend, you were always a friend. Community members just describe him as one great guy.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Chip's wife of nearly 20 years, Barbara; to his entire family; and to the Harford Volunteer Fire Company.

Mr. Speaker, I thank them all for their service.

May God bless his soul.

Mr. Speaker, this week we recognize National Small Business Week and, with it, the incredible contributions of our many small business owners, workers, and entrepreneurs across Pennsylvania and the United States.

These individuals, Mr. Speaker, deserve more than recognition; they deserve our support and applause. Small businesses aren't just a line in an economic report; they are the lifeblood. They are the employers, the mentors, and the community leaders, and they are the ones giving to local charities and sponsoring youth sports, putting their names on the back of Little League jerseys in communities across our Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

We also recognize the critical role of our local chambers of commerce in assisting small businesses. Throughout Pennsylvania's Ninth Congressional District, we are blessed with some of the best chambers in Pennsylvania, if not the country.

Throughout my district and Pennsylvania, from Schuylkill County to Wyoming County, to the Susquehanna Valley to Lebanon, from Luzerne to Lycoming, these chambers are working every day to support job creators and bring small businesses together. They serve as a bridge between the private sector and government, and they help ensure that entrepreneurs have a voice. Their efforts deserve our thanks.

As someone who worked in small business, I understand the challenges entrepreneurs face, and while I was fortunate to help grow a small business into a larger business, I never lost that small business mindset. That mentality, grounded in what we call the WIT principle, Whatever It Takes, is built on hard work, results, teamwork, and customer service. It continues to guide my work here in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, that work, on behalf of small businesses, starts with regulatory relief. Small businesses don't have compliance departments or teams of lawyers. Every hour spent on paperwork is an hour not spent on growing their business.

That is why House Republicans and the Trump administration have taken important steps to roll back burdensome regulations that never should have applied to small employers in the first place. We fought to eliminate the Biden administration's imposed Beneficial Ownership Rule, which would have forced small businesses to submit sensitive ownership information to FinCEN, adding compliance burdens and creating legal risk with little benefit.

We pushed back against the CFPB's 1071 rule, which mandated that lenders collect and report demographic and financial data on small business loan applications, raising costs and potentially limiting access to capital.

To ensure we are hearing directly from those affected, the Small Business Administration has also now launched recently a red tape hotline, giving small business owners and manufacturers a direct channel to report excessive or unworkable Federal regulation so we can act on them. As a matter of fact, their hotline phone number at the SBA is 1-800-827-5722.

Beyond regulatory relief, we are advancing smart legislation to support growth and innovation. I introduced the Investing in All of America Act, which expands access to capital for small manufacturers and startups in economically underserved and rural areas by raising the leverage cap on small business investment companies.

My 7(a) Loan Agent Oversight Act improves transparency and accountability in the SBA's most widely used lending program by requiring annual reports on loan agent activity. This bill ensures Congress has the data needed to provide proper oversight, protect taxpayer dollars, and keep the program strong for small businesses that rely on it.

The Regulatory Review Improvement Act, which I also introduced, ensures that Federal agencies take into account the real-world impact of their rules on small businesses. It requires agencies to regularly review existing regulations already on the books and evaluate whether they should remain in place based upon their effect on small businesses. That and ensuring access to capital are some of our major focuses here in Congress.

Finally, through reconciliation--also known as the one big, beautiful bill--we are committed to extending the provisions of President Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which helped countless small businesses invest, expand, and hire.

Provisions like section 199A, bonus depreciation, and the R&D tax credit have had a direct, positive impact on small businesses. These provisions, and the broader income tax reductions, must be extended to maintain growth and protect jobs.

By voting for this plan, we are simply continuing the tax plan that stimulated the strongest economy in the past 50 to 100 years. A ``no'' vote on this plan is a ``no'' vote for small business. Anyone who says this reconciliation package doesn't help small businesses either doesn't understand it or is choosing to ignore what is in it. This legislation is progrowth, proinvestment and pro-small business.

Separate from the small business provisions, if the individual tax cuts are allowed to expire, the average Pennsylvania family, Mr. Speaker, will face a tax hike of over $2,500. If my Democratic colleagues oppose this bill, they are voting in favor of the largest tax increase on working families in American history, plain and simple.

Frankly, we need Pennsylvania's executive office and State agencies to get on board with this progrowth initiative, as well. Mr. Speaker, let's thank every entrepreneur, employer, team member, and small business for all they do to deliver for America.

Mr. Speaker, this morning, all 216 of my GOP colleagues, along with just four out of 212 Democrats, passed the SAVE Act, which is a bill that mandates proof of citizenship for those registering to vote.

I think most people think that is already required and mandated. Guess what. Even though it is in the Constitution and Federal law mandates that only citizens can vote, there are States that have systems in place that allow noncitizens to register. Guess what. They vote.

To address this problem, the SAVE Act also requires States to establish a program to remove noncitizens from their voter rolls. Just last month, even though Iowa did what it could to correct this problem, 277 noncitizens were on the voter rolls and 35 of them voted. That may not sound consequential, but there are races that are decided by less than that.

The votes against the SAVE Act today were nothing more than to allow noncitizens to vote in the United States of America. I think that falls into the category of the 80/20 position. All I know, Mr. Speaker, is a vote against the SAVE Act today was a vote against American citizens' voting rights.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, in order for us to deliver one big, beautiful reconciliation bill, one that extends the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, reins in regulations of wasteful spending, unleashes American energy, secures the border, curbs inflation, and restores American growth and competitiveness, we first must pass the budget resolution.

This resolution, Mr. Speaker, is no more than a bridge to reconciliation and to the golden era of the American economy. Frankly, what that bridge is made of really makes no difference, so long as we cross it. Delaying this vote in a symbolic protest only weakens our ability to act.

Every day we wait, we put our economy, our national security, and our momentum at risk.

The American people voted for bold action, Mr. Speaker, and President Trump and we in Congress intend to deliver.

The reconciliation process begins with this resolution. Let's not protest the bridge that gets us there. Let's cross it and achieve the results the American people expect from the Republican majority.

Let's pass this and deliver a new golden age in America.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Utah for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, the United States spends more money per student than any country in the world, yet among developed nations, we sadly rank near the bottom in educational outcomes.

Mr. Speaker, 70 percent of eighth graders, 70 percent, Mr. Speaker, aren't proficient in reading or math according to the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Believe it or not, and it gives me no joy to say this, there are reports that say 54 percent of Americans cannot read at a sixth-grade level. This is not just disappointing; this is indeed a national failure.

At this point, the Department of Education just doesn't need reform, it needs a complete overhaul.

In the last 5 years, the Department of Education has spent over $1 trillion with no measurable gains. Under President Biden its spending surged over 200 percent from $71 billion in 2019 to $268 billion last year.

At the same time, the Biden administration's love of excessive regulations imposed an additional 4.2 million hours of paperwork burdens on schools pulling teachers and administrators away from what matters most--the students.

President Reagan said back in 1982, and President Trump has recently echoed, that we need to turn the schools back to the States and to the local school districts. President Reagan rightly noted that `` . . . the decline and the quality of public education began when Federal aid became Federal interference.''

Fortunately, President Trump and Secretary McMahon are committed to returning control of education back to the States where it belongs and empowering parents, local leaders, and definitely teachers, but putting funding and decisionmaking back in the hands of States is just one piece of the puzzle.

If we truly want to improve student outcomes, we must embrace school choice and voucher programs, something my home State Governor's office in Pennsylvania still refuses to do.

School choice States have flourished. Florida, Indiana, Utah, and Ohio now rank among the best performing K-12 systems in the country. President Trump recognizes the importance of school choice, issuing an executive order directing the Department of Education to guide States on how to use Federal funds for K-12 scholarship programs.

It also instructs the Education Secretary to prioritize school choice when awarding discretionary grants. That is real leadership focused on students, not bureaucracy.

To that end, I am pleased to support H.R. 833, the Educational Choice for Children Act, which offers a Federal tax credit to encourage charitable donations toward scholarships that help families cover K-12 expenses, tuition, books, supplies, and more.

This bill is expected to benefit over 2 million students nationwide, opening the door to better opportunities whether in public, private, religious, or homeschool settings.

Unfortunately, forward-thinking solutions like this are not being considered in my home State of Pennsylvania where there are some families that feel trapped in a system that puts bureaucracy before students.

We cannot allow the status quo to be accepted.

School choice works, Mr. Speaker, and what are these politicians afraid of? I went to a public school, and I had some great teachers. My son went to public high school, and he had some great teachers, but not all of them were.

We need accountability. Parents and children must come first. Reforms are needed, not a year from now, not 5 years from now, but right now. This is critical. We are failing far too many young people.

Education is the foundation of a better life, a stronger economy, and a more advanced society, yet we continue allowing too many students to fall behind.

A child only gets one chance at a quality education. The time for change is now, and thankfully we have a President who puts students, families, and results first. President Trump and his administration will deliver for our students and for their futures.

The executive orders returning education authority to the States not only prioritizes school choice, it also ensures that vital services and benefits continue without disruption during the transition.

That is how we reform education the right way: by empowering parents, protecting students, and putting our educational life and results ahead of regulation.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Republican Conference, I send to the desk a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, here is some truth. Despite many false claims, the continuing resolution we just passed does not cut Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, or veterans benefits or any healthcare benefits at all.

In reality, the CR was almost entirely the Democrat's budget bill last year. The opposition today and their vote to shut down the government is a little perplexing.

Mr. Speaker, here is what this bill actually offers: it gives our troops a 10 percent raise; provides $6 billion for veterans' healthcare; invests $7.6 billion into WIC for women and infants; $425 million for food delivery programs for seniors, among other things.

Mr. Speaker, we are paying for it responsibly. We are repurposing $20 billion in excess funding from the attempt to increase the IRS by $80 billion last year, and we are redirecting $10 billion from the Commerce Department's slush fund, funds that were not used and need to be repurposed.

This CR sets the stage for a plan for a new golden era for our country, and I was pleased to support it.

Mr. Speaker, during the joint session Tuesday night, Republicans cheered for the vision, plan, and great future of America. We cheered for secure borders, wiping out fentanyl and human trafficking, and an energy policy that lowers fuel cost and inflation.

We cheered for our military, increased recruitment of young patriots, and readiness. We cheered for peace, world stability, and an America first economy, bringing a renaissance to U.S. technology, manufacturing, great-paying jobs, and the Made in the USA logo.

We cheered for the President's leadership in fighting waste, abuse, fraud, and corruption. We cheered for the vision of a new Golden Age, and Americans cheered with us.

We saw in the polls over 75 percent, nearly 80 percent, appreciated the optimistic, yet realistic outlook for our great country. We cheered for a child who overcame cancer, a family who suffered loss, and the brave who were knocked down but got back up, truly an American thing.

Unfortunately, not everyone cheered. Rather, there was seemingly opposition without a cause. That is not productive. It is counterproductive. America is an idea about hope; always will be; always was.

Mr. Speaker, America is worth cheering for.

Mr. Speaker, the budget resolution passed yesterday sets the stage for President Trump's one big, beautiful bill.

This bill is going to deliver dominant energy policy and border security, stopping human trafficking and the rampant drug flow that is occurring. This bill will continue the tax relief that gave us a great and strong economy. It is also providing savings to the American people by rooting out waste, abuse, and fraud.

Despite this, the media and the left want to malign this resolution, stating, for instance, that Medicaid is going to be reduced. That is absolutely not true. That is a false claim.

Let me say it from the not-so-cheap seats: No Medicaid or Medicare benefits will be reduced.

The only cuts will be to waste, abuse, fraud, and ineligibility in the system if found, which I believe 98 percent of Americans do support.

Look, we are overspending by nearly $2 trillion a year. Clearly, any business, any company, any family, any government with such a spending problem must make corrections, which is what we are doing and what President Trump said he would do upon being elected.

This resolution will help usher in the golden age in America, and I am very happy to be supportive of it.

Mr. Speaker, before President Trump was elected, there were an average of 3,430 illegal immigrant crossings per day. Today, under President Trump, that number has dropped 126 per day.

Despite this decrease, the threat from illegal immigration has not evaporated. H.R. 35, the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act, passed just a few minutes ago, gives law enforcement authorities the necessary tools to fully penalize criminals who intentionally evade border security agents.

Penalties include jail time and a permanent ban on obtaining legal status. This legislation does send a clear message to cartels and traffickers: If you endanger Americans lives, we will hold you accountable.

The American people have had enough. We will no longer tolerate lawlessness and policies that put criminals ahead of citizens. We won't stop fighting to secure our border, stop illegal drugs and human trafficking, and protecting our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my very good friend, Chairman Hill, for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, the China Exchange Rate Transparency Act, H.R. 692, a bipartisan bill supported by my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

This legislation directly confronts the People's Republic of China's very nebulous, opaque, and often manipulative practices in foreign exchange markets, including their policy of intentionally depreciating their own currency, which undercuts the competitiveness of U.S. exports in a random manner that is targeted based upon products in particular industries.

By mandating the U.S. Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund to use the voice and vote of the United States to advocate for increased exchange rate transparency from China, we are not just advocating for fairness; we are fighting for the integrity of the global economy in line with our own international trade goals. It is very reasonable.

During Treasury Secretary Bessent's nomination hearing, he explained that the United States can leverage foreign exchange rates to make U.S. exports more competitive; however, achieving this will require every country to abide by the same exchange rate standards. It is time we, in fact, confront China's persistent gaming of international norms. They have been playing by their own rules for too long, and it is detrimental to global economic fairness and stability.

This legislation is not about singling out China; it is about ensuring that all IMF members, including China, adhere to the rules they agreed to. China promised to maintain orderly exchange rate arrangements without manipulation. It is our job to hold them to that promise to ensure they do not continue to exploit the system to their advantage.

We are taking a firm no-nonsense approach to a complex issue, emphasizing our commitment to fair trade and a transparent economic system.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support the China Exchange Rate Transparency Act, H.R. 692, which did pass overwhelmingly last Congress by a vote of 379-1.

This legislation is a stand for accountability in international finance, fair trade practices, and the stability of a global economy.

It is very important, and now with the Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, this will be an added tool for somebody strong and tough like he to utilize to create this economic trade stability and fairness, particularly with China.