Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I once again thank Chairman Hill for his leadership. I do, as well, rise today in strong support of the Protect Small Businesses from Excessive Paperwork Act of 2025, H.R. 736, introduced by my colleague, Congressman Nunn.

Small businesses create jobs, drive innovation, support local communities, and really make the difference in communities. Unfortunately, the previous administration imposed many duplicative and costly regulations on small businesses simply to make it harder for them to survive. One of the latest and most egregious examples is the FinCEN beneficial ownership information reporting rule, which we are all very aware of at this point. This rule literally forces millions of small businesses that have less than 20 employees and under $5 million in revenue to file redundant, intrusive, and unnecessary reports to the Federal Government under the threat of very steep penalties of up to $10,000.

H.R. 736 rightfully delays the beneficial ownership reporting rule 1 year, to 2026, giving the Trump administration and the courts time to assess the proper path forward for small businesses. Actually, this reporting information can provide some usefulness as opposed to just a great burden.

Republicans received a mandate to cut the red tape and push back against unnecessary, punitive regulations--and we are going to do it-- that do more harm than good.

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Chairman Hill and Representative Nunn for prioritizing this much-needed relief for small businesses. Small businesses need our support, not our red tape and bureaucratic demands for unnecessary, nonsensical information.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Protecting Energy Production Act.

This bill is simple. It ensures that no President can unilaterally ban hydraulic fracturing by natural gas and oil, protecting one of America's most vital energy resources from being shut down by ideological policies.

I represent the Marcellus shale, one of the largest natural gas- producing regions in the world. Pennsylvania is leading the way in clean, affordable, and reliable energy production.

Mr. Speaker, natural gas and oil are essential to our way of life, powering our grid, our homes, our cars, our manufacturing facilities, and serving as raw materials for countless American-made goods.

Mr. Speaker, the entire world is fracking, but we do it best and cleanest here in the USA. The more natural gas we produce here at home, the cleaner the world will become. This bill is a serious economic, national security, and environmental vote. I urge my colleagues to vote for clean energy and for American economic and national security strength by supporting this legislation which we are voting on tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, this past week, House Republicans passed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which ensures that biological men cannot compete in women's and girls' sports. It makes sense to about 99 percent of America.

The idea that we even need a bill like this is disturbing in itself. Think about it. We are debating whether boys or men should compete against girls or women in athletics, all athletics.

When Title IX was enacted back in 1972, Mr. Speaker, it opened the doors for women and girls to have equal opportunities in sports. When Title IX was enacted back 1972, it opened the doors for women and girls to have equal opportunities in sports. It is worth repeating.

Before Title IX, women's sports were almost nonexistent, but since then, we have seen great progress. Women's sports have flourished, and we have seen amazing accomplishments in basketball, soccer, swimming, and so much more.

Athletes like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Simone Biles, and Lindsey Vonn are now household names, inspiring young girls everywhere.

Yet we have been faced with a narrow but loud group of activists and media who think it is acceptable for a 6-foot-4-inch biological male to compete against an average-sized, yet athletic, woman in sports.

Let's be clear, it is not acceptable. Also, it is not acceptable to force women to share a locker room with a biological man, forcing them to shower and change together.

This is not an overstatement, Mr. Speaker. It is happening, and it is traumatizing to women and girls to have a

man walking around naked in their locker room or spiking a volleyball full force into their face.

This failed ideological social experiment is disrupting the very fabric of what Title IX was designed to protect.

One example, without mentioning names, is a male swimmer, who was ranked 554th among male athletes, but became the top-ranked female swimmer in the women's category in the Nation.

We can go back to Caitlyn Jenner, who as Bruce Jenner competed in the Olympics and won the decathlon. As Caitlyn Jenner, she stated that if she would have transitioned earlier, she would have won every gold medal. Clearly, that is not fair.

This does not respect the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices made by female athletes.

This was a commonsense bill, and there was a right way and a wrong way to vote on it.

In my view, as I stated earlier, 99 percent of Americans agree that men and boys should not be competing in women's and girls' sports, which is why my Republican colleagues and I voted to pass this bill yesterday with only two Democrats voting along with us. That is kind of disturbing in itself.

Our Republican Conference will continue to stand with women throughout this Congress and advocate for the protection of their rights.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the agreement reached between the two houses, the incoming Trump White House and the Republican-led United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, CRs are not ideal. They are not preferred, but come the New Year, we will begin a new era of regular order. As well, I expect we will be working in a concerted manner for the next 4 years to, borrowing a phrase, ``Make America Great Again.''

As we are all aware, the vacuum of leadership from the current White House has been filled already by the incoming White House. The Trump DOGE team also proved to be consequential, Mr. Speaker, rooting out unnecessary provisions throughout this government-funding process, streamlining bloated legislation, and exposing it to the American people, which resulted in a better, leaner deal and a reduction of pages in the bill from 1,547 to 118, a huge reduction, all done in Trump time.

This legislation delivers responsible disaster relief, targets spending reductions, includes an agreement to address the debt ceiling, and avoids a government shutdown.

Our work will reflect the will of the people to carry out the America First agenda. We must deliver results to show the American people that we are serious about correcting the course of our Nation, and this bill is the first step in that direction.

Mr. Speaker, today I--I think we will--rise in strong support for the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, known as the NDAA.

The world, Mr. Speaker, is an increasingly dangerous place, and the threats we are facing continue to evolve. Over the past 4 years, we have witnessed Ukraine under siege, Taiwan under constant pressure from China, and on that fateful day, October 7, Israel was attacked-- devastated, massacred, brutalized--by Iran and its proxies, and they responded. We have also witnessed the persistent threat of terrorism, Mr. Speaker, in Africa and the drug cartels creating continued danger and death closer to home.

These are not just far-off challenges, Mr. Speaker. They directly impact our national security, economic stability around the world, and the safety of the American people.

This bill is about making the necessary investments to ensure that the United States remains the most powerful military in the world. It supports our troops and ensures they have the resources they need to carry out their missions safely and effectively. It provides for weapons upgrades, the development of cutting-edge technologies, and revitalization of the defense industrial base, ensuring our readiness to face all adversaries.

Too often, we hear stories of military families struggling to make ends meet, and that is simply unacceptable. This bill takes a stand for them, providing better pay and support so that no servicemember ever has to rely upon food stamps to feed their family.

Let's address those who oppose this bill because it doesn't include more social engineering or ideological experiments. The United States military is not a social engineering experiment. It

is a fighting force designed to protect our Nation and ensure global stability.

The American people as well should be confident that with Pete Hegseth, President Trump's pick for Secretary of Defense, at the helm we can trust that the Department of Defense will prioritize ending divisive ideologies and enhancing military readiness.

As well, there are some who argue we could cut more from defense spending. This bill represents a modest 1 percent increase over last year's budget, but it is a critical investment in our safety and future.

Do we need more efficiency measures? Yes, we DOGE.

Next year, with the new administration, we will make our defense spending leaner, sharper, and more effective and always putting America first.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is about prioritizing what truly matters: military readiness, modernization, and the security of the American people rather than a social and ideological agenda.

I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for this bill and in supporting our troops.

2025 NDAA Delivers Critical Resources

Mr. Speaker, supporting our servicemembers and their families is absolutely essential to ensuring our military readiness and ensuring the United States has the greatest fighting force in the world. That is why I and many are urging all our colleagues to support the NDAA, which we will be voting on tonight, which prioritizes the well-being of those who defend our freedom.

This bill delivers critical resources: improved housing through investments aimed at upgrading military facilities, better health coverage for servicemembers and their families, expanded accessibility of childcare and enhanced support for military spouses, including professional licensing portability programs.

It also authorizes a significant pay raise for servicemembers, with a 14.5 percent increase for junior enlisted personnel and a 4.5 percent for all other ranks. This will provide the recognition and compensation they have earned and deserve. As well, this legislation tackles pressing challenges facing our Nation, strengthens our southern border by allocating funding for advanced surveillance technology and additional personnel, counters rising aggression from China by supporting increased funding for Indo-Pacific defense initiatives, and reaffirms our unwavering commitment to Israel by authorizing continued funding for missile defense systems like the Iron Dome.

House Republicans are committed to cutting wasteful spending, slashing the so-called military bureaucracy, and standing with those who fight for our country. This NDAA reflects that commitment by ensuring our Armed Forces have the resources they need, whether on the front lines or here at home.

By passing this bill, we are making sure our military is prepared to meet today's challenges while safeguarding the freedoms of tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the strength of our economy, employing half of all Americans and driving prosperity across our communities and our country. We all know that.

Yet, these businesses are continually put under siege by an avalanche of Federal regulations. The Biden administration has imposed $1.5 trillion in regulatory costs and 326 million hours of paperwork on small businesses. That is hard to believe, but it is true. That is time and money that entrepreneurs should be spending to grow their businesses and, of course, create jobs.

That is why I strongly support the Prove It Act, which we will be voting on today. This legislation forces Federal agencies to analyze the true costs of their regulations and consider the direct and indirect burdens on small businesses, which is so very important.

It allows small businesses to challenge unfair rules, ensures greater transparency, and even exempts entrepreneurs from regulations if agencies fail to comply with these requirements.

Small businesses should be able to focus on expanding operations, hiring workers, and serving their customers, not navigating the Federal Government's continuous red tape.

The Prove It Act will empower businessowners, protect jobs, and restore common sense to our regulatory process. Let's defend the American entrepreneurial spirit by passing the Prove It Act and unleashing the full potential of every small business throughout our country and certainly throughout my State, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Stop Terror- Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act.

Ryan Corbett, who grew up in my district, has been held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan for 832 days. It is inconceivable that Americans like Ryan, who endure such brutal hardship, should come home only to face a tax bill or penalties from our government, but that is what the current law prescribes.

Our Tax Code offers Americans held hostage just 1 year of relief before late fees and interest begin to accrue. This bill ensures that those individuals can return home without the added burden of financial fallout, allowing them to rebuild their lives.

This legislation also strengthens our stance against terrorism by revoking tax-exempt status from U.S. nonprofits that provide financing to groups like Hamas. Just as captors holding American citizens should not receive a dime in American taxpayer aid, neither should terrorist sympathizers receive tax relief from our Federal Government.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the chairman of the subcommittee and a great leader in Financial Services, for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4790, the Prioritizing Economic Growth Over Woke Policies, as introduced by Mr. Huizenga.

This bill, Mr. Speaker, limits the disclosures that securities issuers must provide to the SEC, ensuring they only report information that is material to investors' decisionmaking.

H.R. 4790 also includes my bill, H.R. 4653, the Protecting U.S. Business Sovereignty Act.

My legislation defends American businesses from the overreach of foreign regulations like the EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which threatens U.S. businesses by imposing costly compliance

burdens on U.S. businesses for participating even in a minor way in the

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, a very fine gentleman and good friend by the name of Bill Rosado, who is a first-generation, very successful, and self-made Mexican-American entrepreneur in my district, recently said that allowing a free-for-all immigration system is in total violation of the law and unacceptable for most of us who came here legally.

Mr. Speaker, a free-for-all, out-of-control immigration system is exactly what the Biden-Harris administration and far too many in this House have delivered over the past 3\1/2\ years.

Mr. Speaker, 10 to 15 million-plus illegal crossings, drug cartels, human trafficking, migrant crime, and, yes, noncitizens registering to vote is an unmitigated disaster.

Nonetheless, the legislation we are considering here gives us an opportunity to address part of the problem by prohibiting noncitizens from voting while keeping our government running.

Mr. Speaker, while it is written in our Constitution that only U.S. citizens can vote, the SAVE Act attached to this continuing resolution prohibits bad actors from registering noncitizens and noncitizens from registering to vote and requires States to purge their voter rolls of all noncitizens, such as illegal immigrants.

To anyone considering opposing this bill, a ``no'' vote implies and states to the American people why the Biden administration has left the border open in the first place. It is for potentially more votes.

The American people want this bill to pass. They need this bill to pass. It will help, as well, restore confidence in our elections. Let's do the right thing on a bipartisan basis as we head towards this momentous election. We came here today to ensure that only U.S. citizens can register and vote in Federal elections.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass the SAVE Act, safeguard our elections, and fund our government.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Knoebels Amusement Park, a legendary family-based institution located in Elysburg, Pennsylvania.

Knoebels started from very humble beginnings in 1926. What began as a simple gathering place along a roaring creek has turned into a top amusement park in Pennsylvania and throughout the Northeast.

I especially want to recognize Mr. Dick Knoebel and the entire Knoebel family for their dedication to Pennsylvania and to making very happy and lasting memories for so many.

Knoebels recently earned two prestigious Golden Ticket awards from Amusement Today for best food and best wooden coaster, which I highly recommend, for the Phoenix.

These awards are the pinnacle of recognition in the amusement industry.

Knoebels is truly a place where families come together from around the country to create lasting, memories, and I was very, very happy to host my first annual constituent appreciation picnic at the park just this last month.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate the entire Knoebels family for making Pennsylvania the happiest place on Earth.

Mr. Speaker, Prime Minister Netanyahu's joint address yesterday sent a bipartisan message of patriotism, strength, and unity. It underscored our joint responsibility to uphold freedom, prosperity, and security for our citizens and the world.

On October 7, Israel was brutally attacked by Hamas. Babies were burned, women were raped, and people were murdered in the worst ways possible. Israel has the obligation to respond to these atrocities, ensuring Hamas is unable to perpetrate another attack on future generations of Israelis, which Hamas has promised to do.

In his address, Netanyahu praised the diplomatic progress achieved in the Middle East under the Trump administration as well as the Biden administration, the Abraham Accords chief among them.

The Prime Minister ended with a message of hope, hope that Israel and its partners can bring long-lasting peace to the region.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Prime Minister for his unifying message and will continue to stand strongly with Israel as they fight to defeat Hamas, ensure hostages are released, and return peace and stability to the Middle East.

As the Consul General of Israel said to me just recently in reference to the hostages, and in the words of Moses, who stands atop this House Chamber, ``Let my people go.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from Texas, very much for yielding time.

I rise today in support of H. Res. 1367, which forms a task force to address the shocking attack on President Trump. I thank my colleague, Mike Kelly, very much for bringing this resolution to the floor.

This attack tragically took the life of a brave Pennsylvanian, Corey Comperatore.

As an eyewitness to this event, along with my colleague, Mike Kelly, I stand here on behalf of the American people, especially Pennsylvanians, who deserve answers to critical questions about this tragedy.

Why was the building the gunman used allowed to be outside of the security perimeter? Why was there no Secret Service stationed on the roof? Why wasn't there a plan executed and a high sense of emergency and urgency taking place?

Director Cheatle's remarks the other day did nothing to inspire confidence or for us to believe that this situation is going to be corrected appropriately and in a high-priority manner.

Senseless political violence demands nothing else than a unified response from both Democrats and Republicans. We must come together and form a bipartisan task force to uncover the truth and provide answers.

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy and proud to support this legislation, H. Res. 1367, which aims to achieve just that.

Madam Speaker, I rise as well to express my deep sympathy, and yes, eulogize a great Pennsylvanian, Corey Comperatore. I too, with my colleague, Representative Kelly, attended the rally last Saturday. Of course, it started as any rally does. People were very enthused and looking forward to the remarks of former President Trump.

Madam Speaker, 7 or 8 minutes into the speech, the shots rang out, and many lives were changed forever. It was a tragic day that could have been worse, but for the Comperatore family, it was a tragedy that they will live with forever.

We are here this evening to honor the life, legacy, and ultimate sacrifice of Corey Comperatore. As was expressed, he was a quintessential family man, and as has been expressed, the best girl dad, as well as a dedicated public servant and true local hero.

As the Nation now knows, Corey's life was taken by the shooter, by the gunman, at the rally in Butler last Saturday. In his final moments, Corey gave his life while shielding his wife and daughter from the bullets as they rang out.

He exemplified unparalleled bravery, shielding his wife and daughter and protecting them in his last moments. His courageous act saved his loved ones from the gunfire and truly serves as a testament to his character and his dedication to others.

Corey Comperatore served his community with distinction for so many years, for decades, actually, particularly as a firefighter in Buffalo Township where he served as chief in the early 2000s.

In addition to his service as a firefighter, Corey was a 10-year veteran of the United States Army Reserves, demonstrating his commitment to our Nation and its values.

He will always be remembered by his family as a man whose life was guided by faith, saying Corey inspired those around him to live with purpose and grace. His passion for family, life, and service to others will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, Biden's border policy has resulted in well over 10 million illegal immigrants entering our country since he was sworn in.

This dangerous influx of illegal immigrants has created concerns about the integrity of our elections. Even though Federal law does state that only citizens can vote, it is still highly possible that illegal immigrants are registering to vote, particularly considering many States offer driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

Despite laws prohibiting individuals from illegally crossing our border, we know it is still happening by the millions. Clearly, laws aren't always followed, so we must take greater steps to ensure illegal immigrants aren't further skirting our laws by attempting to vote.

That is why, in an effort to safeguard our elections, House Republicans passed the SAVE Act, which prohibits illegal immigrants from voting in our elections, and only U.S. citizens can vote. This makes a lot of sense to the American people as it will require proof of American citizenship to register to vote in Federal elections.

A vote by someone here illegally, Mr. Speaker, counteracts a vote by an American citizen. The SAVE Act is about protecting our elections, and it is also about protecting the very foundation of our democratic constitutional Republic.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true pillar of my community, my friend, John L. Augustine, the recipient of the Leadership Northeast Distinguished Leadership Alumni Award.

Now serving as president and CEO of Penn's Northeast, John's service to northeastern Pennsylvania has extended over the past 25 years. Community leaders like John are essential in economic and industrial development in communities throughout Pennsylvania.

As president and CEO of Penn's Northeast, John has played a vital role in planning over 45 million square feet of new industrial development throughout our district, throughout our communities, which host over 350 businesses and employ more than 35,000 people.

I have known John for many years, and it is people like him who make communities thrive, expand job opportunities, and improve the quality of life.

John Augustine proves that you don't need to be in elected office to make communities better. I appreciate the service of all those who do just that.