Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend votes today due to airline flight delays. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 196 and YEA on Roll Call No. 197.

personal explanation

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chair, to my folks at home: Are you concerned about counterterrorism threats? I am, too.

FISA section 702 informed the planning for the February 2022 U.S. military operation that resulted in the death in Syria of Hajji `Abdallah, the leader of ISIS. That is one example.

Are you concerned about fentanyl? I am, too. We were able to leverage FISA section 702 intelligence to identify a foreign actor overseas who was supplying a pill press machine and other equipment to drug cartels in Mexico to help thwart that fentanyl threat.

Are you concerned about cyber threats? I am, too.

FISA section 702 played an important role in the U.S. Government's response to a cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline back in 2021 and other cyber threats that have taken place since then.

Are you concerned about threats to our troops? I am, too.

FISA section 702 has identified threats to U.S. troops and disrupted planned terrorist attacks on those troops overseas in places like the Middle East, a U.S. facility, specifically in the Middle East. Section 702 was used to monitor communications as those terrorists traveled to execute those plans.

We can't overstate the importance of 702, and I know you are concerned about the rights of the American people. I am, too.

I am an American, just like you are. That is why there already is a warrant requirement in place. We are protecting U.S. persons. We can't allow 702 to expire and expect that we are going to have good results at the end of the day.

Mr. Chair, I support section 702, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, today I stand to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Arkansas State University Red Wolves football team for their well-deserved selection to participate in the 2023 Camellia Bowl, where they will face Northern Illinois University.

Reflecting on the 2023 football season, there is every indication that the Red Wolves are poised for success in their upcoming clash with

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Black River Technical College on its 50th Anniversary as a two-year degree conferring institution serving the First Congressional District of Arkansas.

Since its founding, Black River Technical College has played a major role in the professional development of the citizens of Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri by offering a wide range of programs, such as associate degrees, technical certificates, certificates of proficiency, and adult and continuing education courses. Located on two campuses in Pocahontas and Paragould, Arkansas, with an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students, Black River Technical College has a vision to ``lead [the] community in learning and economic development.'' BRTC's staff and faculty members are engaged in our community and have truly made a difference in the lives of thousands of people in my part of the country. The First District is better because of their service.

Congratulations to Black River Technical College. I wish them many more years as a successful, integral member of the Northeast Arkansas community.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend votes today due to a previously scheduled family commitment. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 690 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 691.

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

Mr. Chair, we need to have a nationwide conversation about USDA's Farm Service Agency's staffing levels that have suffered as a result of COVID-19.

USDA operates over 2,000 FSA county offices around the country. Its mission is to serve all farmers, ranchers, and ag partners through the delivery of effective and efficient agricultural programs such as commodity support programs, farm ownership, operating, and emergency loans, disaster assistance, and other ad hoc disaster assistance programs.

One of the FSA's greatest strengths is its grassroots delivery system of farm programs to the agency's customers, meaning FSA's programs are delivered through an extensive network of county offices and local FSA employees.

Producer-elected county committees comprised of farmers in the local area are responsible for overseeing FSA programs and services delivered to the farming community.

This local oversight of farm programs enables FSA to maintain close relationships with farmers and ranchers, address their needs in a timely manner, preserve and improve the integrity of Federal farm programs, and provide production agriculture with the tools they need to produce the world's best ag products.

Unfortunately, the FSA county office footprint has been impacted by employee retirements and USDA's inability to attract high-level talent and onboard new employees.

Producers in my district continue to raise the lack of FSA staff as one of the main reasons for program delivery delays.

Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic made a bad situation worse at FSA, but the pandemic is over, and we must continue bringing our Federal, State, and local workforces back into the office and refill positions that were lost during the pandemic.

This also means putting an effective end to any offices that may still be operating on a closed or hybrid schedule related to COVID-19.

We cannot afford to have the FSA understaffed or teleworking, and thus unable to provide the expected level of customer service needed on the farm.

This is a disservice to farmers and producers everywhere. It is long past time we had a conversation about why we can't get farmers and ranchers the basic help they need.

I hear from farmers and ranchers all the time about how they still have problems contacting their local FSA offices and how they never receive a response, even after multiple inquiries.

That is not farm service. This amendment finally ends the COVID-19 pandemic in FSA offices, but it also highlights the need for the Department of Agriculture to focus on maintaining FSA's county office footprint and delivering farm programs.

I call on my colleagues to support my amendment in returning our FSA county agents to work and urge the Secretary of Agriculture to take action by adequately staffing FSA county offices.

I thank the chairman, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I am glad to hear the ranking member actually agrees with me. We can say that this is actually a good amendment because it contains language that sounds like he actually supports.

Madam Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent on July 17, 2023, due to a family matter. Had I been present, I would have voted YES on Roll Call No. 329 for S. 111, Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act, and YES for H.R. 1418, the Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2023, and YES on Roll Call No. 330 for H.R. 813, the Global Investment in American Jobs Act.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a leader in the American steel industry. Eileen Bradner, the senior director and counsel at Nucor, has worked for one of my district's most prominent employers since 2009. Her hard work advocating for the steel industry here in Washington helped grow jobs in Arkansas' First District and at Nucor facilities across the United States.

Before leading Nucor's Washington office, Eileen represented American manufacturers on international trade policy, litigation, and legislative matters for 21 years. Her legislative work included 8 years with Senator John Glenn, where she worked on foreign trade and antidumping policies.

Eileen dedicated her career to protecting American jobs and manufacturing, representing small and large companies alike. I am proud to call Eileen a friend. She will be dearly missed as she embarks on a well-earned retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a former Member of this body who served the people of the First District of Arkansas, Mr. Marion Berry, who passed away over the weekend following a long illness.

Congressman Berry was born in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and he grew up in the small Arkansas County town of Bayou Meto. The son of a rice farmer, Congressman Berry would work as a pharmacist and eventually in agriculture, which led to a career in public service caring for and advocating on behalf of those he worked around in the Arkansas Delta.

Congressman Berry worked alongside President Clinton in the White House and would eventually run for office, serving seven terms in Washington representing the First District of Arkansas where he was a member of the Appropriations Committee.

While his work in Washington was important to him, he worked tirelessly to draw attention to the people of the First District, especially those who lived in the delta.

Congressman Berry will always be known for his political wit and wisdom but will be remembered and respected for the service he provided to his community, constituents, and country in the House of Representatives.

Our delegation, our families, and so many across the State of Arkansas offer our condolences and prayers as we remember Congressman Berry and his family during this time of mourning and remembrance.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for a moment of silence.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership on this. Here we are again. We are here once again to speak against the Biden administration's new waters of the United States rule. This is a bridge too far. Since this issue last appeared on the House floor, a Federal judge blocked the rule, as the chairman mentioned, in 26 States.

It seems that even our judicial system is signaling this is a vast overstep of Federal jurisdiction. Yet, President Biden is insistent on pushing this resolution through. There are already State and local laws in place to protect our waterways, and these entities are much better equipped to oversee small, isolated bodies of water.

All this change does is create more red tape for farmers, ranchers, and landowners. What it does not do, it doesn't make our waterways any cleaner.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure and give the power back to the States.

I have an amendment at the desk made in order by the rule.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment is intended to further bipartisan efforts to streamline the environmental permitting process by applying one Federal decision to certain pipeline safety actions.

Agencies such as the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration can be required to undertake lengthy and burdensome Federal environmental reviews that can take several months, and often times, even years to complete.

As a result, essential safety and energy actions are stalled or sometimes completely stopped, which can limit our energy resources, limit our ability to be energy independent, and unnecessarily create scarcities, higher prices, and threats to the safety and health of our citizens.

This amendment represents just another step toward eliminating these problems. It sets reasonable goals for reviewing the environmental impacts of certain pipeline safety actions. Specifically, it limits the review time to 2 years, consolidates Federal reviews into one streamlined process and document, and removes unnecessary delays in making final agency decisions.

This amendment builds on bipartisan support and precedent for requiring agencies to undertake one Federal decision when reviewing the potential environmental impacts of the Federal action. Similar efforts have been signed into law, including for Federal reviews of highway projects as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Biden in 2021.

It is recognized that through one Federal decision, we can sensibly streamline energy and energy safety projects, including pipelines, without compromising environmental protections.

Mr. Chair, I urge support of my amendment and the underlying bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves), who is the chair of the Aviation Subcommittee on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Mr. Chairman, this important amendment simply builds off existing bipartisan efforts to sensibly streamline environmental reviews by applying one Federal decision to certain pipeline projects as my friend from Louisiana indicated.

At a time when our domestic energy independence is suffering and energy prices are increasing, we must look for ways to support our energy safety, infrastructure, and production.

This amendment represents one way of doing that. It does not remove or alter environmental protections, rather it merely streamlines the process and consolidates essential government agencies and decisionmaking under one Federal decision.

To reiterate what Mr. Graves said, it really defies explanation that my friend from the other side would oppose this, given the fact that he just voted for it in the Infrastructure Investment Act.

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

Madam Speaker, this bill is the beginning of transparency Americans deserve regarding COVID's entry into our Nation, a virus that has killed more than a million of our loved ones here at home and millions more across the world.

Our colleagues on the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic will piece together all the facts and share them with the public, including the role played by elements of our government and the media to try to discredit those who told the truth about COVID.

This bill is focused on safe disclosure of what our intelligence agencies have learned about the central role foreign actors had in the creation and spread of this deadly virus.

It is important that Americans and others across the globe learn about the Chinese Communist Party's coverup of COVID's origins at its Wuhan research facility, as well as the World Health Organization's subsequent role in suppressing this truth.

Until China and others who echo China's false narrative face accountability and consequences for that, we are just inviting the next coverup.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak against the Biden administration's extreme overreach with the confusing new waters of the United States rule published by the EPA. This rule removes protections put in place by the previous administration that would protect farmers, ranchers, and small business owners from potential fines and even jail time for carrying out common practices they have done for years.

The men and women who feed America should not have to apply for permits to simply remove debris from a ditch on their property or change the types of crops that they grow in a field. Yet, this is what people in my district in Arkansas and around the country will face under the new WOTUS rule.

To top it all off, this rule is unclear, forcing landowners to hire additional help just to ensure that they are complying with this ill- conceived rule.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand up to the EPA and vote to block this burdensome rule.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank my friend and colleague from Kentucky for his leadership on this bill.

I just want to remind everyone here today that the year is 2023, it is not 2020, and yet, many of our COVID policies are still based on numbers from almost 3 years ago.

This vaccine requirement for international travelers is a prime example. Countries all around the world realize this and are rolling back their own border restrictions.

I also point out that this vaccine requirement is not part of the emergency declarations that are scheduled to end in May.

This means that vaccine requirements could still stay in effect for an indefinite period of time. Come May, it is possible we won't even have a public health emergency at all.

We won't have a national emergency, but our friends and family from, say, for example, Canada would still have to show proof of vaccination when flying in to visit their relatives.

We don't even require our own citizens to be vaccinated or show a negative test, so why would we do that and create a different standard for folks that are visiting?

This only causes confusion for Americans who are told one minute they are safe and don't have to fear COVID-19, and yet, we continue these pandemic requirements.

I am here today to tell the American people that despite the mixed messages emanating from the White House, I believe we are safe, and in the words of President Biden, the pandemic is, in fact, over.

I am proud to cosponsor this commonsense bill, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 185.

Mr. Speaker, the pandemic is over.

At least that is what we were told by President Biden several months ago in a September interview. Yet here we are almost 5 months later, and the White House has failed to roll back the emergency declaration.

In fact, it wasn't until House Republicans scheduled a vote to do just that, to terminate that declaration, that President Biden announced that he would actually end it on May 11. What he really did was announce that he was giving our friends on the other side of the aisle a little bit of political cover to vote ``no'' on this bill. Instead, they would rather continue to watch the American economy suffer for an additional 3 months while we continue this unnecessary declaration of an emergency.

I am glad President Biden has followed House Republicans' lead on this, but why wait months?

We can vote to end it right now, today.

We have already let this measure drag on for nearly 3 years, signifying an egregious abuse of Presidential powers. These emergency powers have been used to harm our economy and exacerbate our supply chain problems, and the President is content to allow that to happen for another 3 months.

Our supply chain doesn't need this to continue anymore. It needs to end now. It is time for us to stop living in the past. Americans are ready to move forward. They are tired of hearing mixed messages that the pandemic is over but still seeing all of the consequences of these emergency declarations and implementing COVID regulations.

Let's finally deliver on this promise that the end isn't near; it is right here, right now.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the underlying resolution.