Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for leading the Special Order.

Madam Speaker, President Biden is devastating Pennsylvania families. One year into Joe Biden's Presidency, Pennsylvania voters are concerned about the highest inflation in over 39 years, decreasing real wages, and a supply chain in crisis.

Rising prices are causing families in Pennsylvania to shell out an average of $3,500 extra a year just to maintain their same standard of living. It is an inflation tax that disproportionately hurts lower income households.

The supply chain issue fueled by Joe Biden's inaction is affecting Pennsylvanians in every corner of the State. Even Vice President Kamala Harris admitted that these crises are ``a big issue for western Pennsylvania, throughout the Nation, and actually a global issue.''

Madam Speaker, Joe Biden and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf's policies are wreaking havoc on Pennsylvania families and on families across America. Their authoritarian mandates have created a labor shortage that is wreaking havoc on Pennsylvania's economy.

Pennsylvania is in the bottom half of States for the percentage of lost jobs recovered from the coronavirus pandemic. As of the latest Pennsylvania State unemployment report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Pennsylvania's unemployment rate was 5.4 percent. Forty States have an unemployment rate equal to or lower than Pennsylvania.

December's Consumer Price Index rose by 7 percent compared to last year. This is the largest annual increase in over 39 years. In the mid- Atlantic region, prices rose by 5.8 percent, and Pennsylvania families and workers are feeling the squeeze of inflation.

Madam Speaker, Pennsylvania families and families in this great Nation deserve better, and it is not like better is out of reach. What I just shared with you are the statistics provided by the government's own government agencies. It is just an honest evaluation of the failed policy of the Democrat Members of this Congress and of President Joe Biden.

Once again, American families and Pennsylvania families deserve better.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Forest County Sheriff Bob Wolfgang on his retirement.

Sheriff Wolfgang was first elected sheriff in 2001 and proceeded to spend two decades as the Forest County sheriff. In his work as sheriff, Bob aimed to engage the community and help people turn their lives around.

During his five terms, Sheriff Wolfgang and his office worked to overhaul conceal carry permits, improve security, and start several programs aimed to engage the county's youth.

From participating in ``Shop with a Cop'' to a Forest County Youth Field Day, Sheriff Wolfgang focused on working with children to improve relationships with police and the community. He also spent time raising awareness for scams targeting senior citizens.

Sheriff Wolfgang always focused on helping the community and being a positive role model for other officers and Forest County residents. His impact on all of our community cannot be overstated.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Sheriff Wolfgang for his dedication and service to Forest County and the region. May he enjoy his retirement. He deserves it.

Mr. Speaker, today marks the 1-year anniversary of President Biden's inauguration and 1 year under one- party rule.

And I ask: Is America better off? The answer is no.

Since President Biden took office, we have seen crisis after crisis.

We are facing an economic crisis. President Biden and the Democrats had the tools to bring our economy back to the prepandemic records of 2019. But instead, we have massive supply shortages, labor shortages, and an inflation rate that has reached a 40-year high.

Our country faces an energy crisis. We went from being energy independent to begging OPEC+ to produce more oil to offset the rising costs. This is because of anti-American energy policies enacted over the past year.

Mr. Speaker, the list goes on: an education crisis as our youth continue to face uncertainty in the classroom; a national security crisis as our presence on the world stage has been weakened and our southern border remains vulnerable; and a crime crisis following dangerous defund the police rhetoric.

Mr. Speaker, this is not the leadership America needs right now. In fact, it is far from it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today during this Special Order to reaffirm my commitment to protect and defend the sanctity of life.

From the moment I stepped foot into this Chamber in 2009, I submitted my promise to protect our most vulnerable, the unborn. In this Congress I have cosponsored 11 bills and signed on to eight letters relating to pro-life policies.

Our Founders enshrined in the Declaration of Independence three unalienable rights. The first is the right to life. Sadly, from the moment of the Roe v. Wade decision, the basic

right to life has been denied to more than 60 million unborn children. We don't know what those children would have grown up to do. Perhaps they would have cured cancer, found a solution to Alzheimer's. The possibilities are endless with the loss of those lives.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today with so many of my colleagues. We know that there is hope on the horizon. The life movement is strong, and I look forward to continuing to advocate on behalf of pro-life policies. It is my hope that one day those unalienable rights will extend to all Americans born and unborn. It is my prayer that this will be the last march for life with Roe v. Wade being the law of the land. When we march next year, it will be in celebration for what we have accomplished for the protection of the unborn.

Madam Speaker, House Democrats this past week passed a bill to nationalize elections. On a party-line vote Democrats, led by Speaker Pelosi, passed a bill nationalizing elections in an attempt to maintain power.

If ultimately enacted, this would consolidate power and control of all elections in the hands of Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic Party.

This bill is an attack on election integrity.

Their claims of voter suppression could not be further from the truth. The 2020 election had the highest turnout in 120 years.

A poll by Pew Research Center found that 94 percent of those asked said it was easy to vote. Thankfully there appears to be no path to get the votes needed to pass this danger to democracy bill in the Senate.

March for Life is a Celebration of Life

Madam Speaker, later this week, tens of thousands of Americans will travel to D.C. to take part in the 48th March for Life.

They will not be alone. Across the country, Americans will march to their State capitals in protest of the Roe v. Wade decision.

This march is a celebration of life. It is a march full of joy. It is inspiring, it is peaceful, and it is welcoming to all who wish to attend.

Today, it continues to be the largest annual human rights demonstration in the world. The goal is simple, to celebrate life with the hope that one day we live in a world where every life is celebrated, valued, and protected.

This year's theme is equality begins in the womb. As Jeanne Mancini, president of the March of Life said best, ``As our country continues to advance along the path to a more just society, we cannot ignore the discrimination that is taking place against vulnerable unborn babies. . . . ''

In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson penned three unalienable rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

As Members of Congress, it is our job to uphold those rights.

Since coming to Congress in 2009, I am proud to be a strong proponent of standing for life and giving a voice to the voiceless.

Many of my colleagues have introduced legislation to advance the pro- life cause. I am proud to cosponsor many of these bills, including the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, the Defund Planned Parenthood Act, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, the Sanctity of Human Life Act, the Protecting the Dignity of the Unborn Children Act, and the Life at Conception Act.

In addition, I proudly stand on this House floor advocating for these policies and thwarting any attacks on the unborn.

Madam Speaker, our country is at a turning point. Right now we are experiencing the most pro-abortion administration in our history.

For the first time in over four decades, Democrats removed the Hyde amendment from legislation. This amendment is a bipartisan agreement which prevents direct taxpayer funding of abortion and is supported by 77 percent of Americans.

As pro-abortion advocates continue to try to stifle one of our unalienable rights, I know this House will continue to work tirelessly at the Federal level to put the health and safety of women and children first.

As long as the cloud of abortion looms over our country, we must continue to be the shining light for those who cannot defend themselves.

Now I am proud of the brave women, men, and children who will travel to Washington this week.

We must always be a voice for the voiceless. And we must continue to build a culture that values life and respects mothers and their children.

Ahead of this year's march, I stand here and redouble my commitment to protecting the most vulnerable among us, the unborn.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Venango Area Chamber Citizen of the Year, Dr. David Wagner.

Dr. Wagner currently owns and operates the Wagner Family Eye Care in Seneca.

Dr. Wagner is a graduate of North Clarion High School, Gannon University, and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.

Dr. Wagner continues to be an active citizen of Venango County. He is dedicated to giving back not only in the area but around the world.

Dr. Wagner currently serves on the board for the Oil City Rotary Club and the Venango County Association for the Blind, in addition to being involved in his church, Second Presbyterian.

Despite staying busy, Dr. Wagner finds time to volunteer with other community groups, Mr. Speaker, and mentors young adults in the area.

Dr. Wagner continues his service outside of Venango by participating in Through God's Eyes and ZUMC to provide eye care to people in need throughout the world.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Dr. Wagner on this tremendous honor and thank him for his continued dedication to those of Venango County and around the world.

Madam Speaker, I am an avid outdoorsman. In November and December, if I have time, I tend to spend it out in the woods, deer hunting. This is a popular passion among many Pennsylvanians as well as Americans across our great country. Nothing beats those early mornings heading out to the woods in hopes you will return successful.

But our deer are currently threatened by chronic wasting disease. This is a contagious, neurological disease affecting deer, elk, and moose that is always fatal. CWD has been detected in 25 States and was first discovered in Pennsylvania deer nearly 10 years ago.

Working across the aisle, my colleagues and I introduced H.R. 5608, the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act, which unanimously passed out of the House Agriculture Committee.

By working closely with stakeholders, we developed a bill to take us one step closer to better understanding the genetic implications of the disease and developing policies best suited to solve the problem.

Specifically, this legislation authorizes $70 million to split evenly between CWD management and research efforts through USDA cooperative agreements.

The research funds are authorized to be spent on testing and detecting CWD in live cervids, noncervids, and the environment. Additionally, these funds are authorized for research of genetic resistance to chronic wasting disease, sustainable cervid harvest management practices, and any additional factors of local CWD emergence.

The management section authorizes funding for State or Tribal wildlife agencies and departments of agriculture based on various funding priorities, including the highest incidences of CWD, areas demonstrating greatest financial commitments to addressing CWD, efforts to develop CWD programs and policies, areas of greatest risk of being introduced to CWD, and areas responding to new outbreaks.

This bill also includes key education provisions in which USDA, State, and Tribal agencies are authorized to develop materials to inform the public on chronic wasting disease.

Last but certainly not least, H.R. 5608 directs USDA reviewal of the herd certification program within 18 months.

Madam Speaker, we need all hands on deck to help combat this disease, maintain a healthy deer population, and protect our beloved elk range-- certainly, our elk range in Pennsylvania, which is near and dear to me. It is imperative we better understand the transmission of, resistance to, and diagnosis of CWD.

I am really pleased that, in December, this House passed H.R. 5608 with strong bipartisan support, marking an important step in that direction. Today, we wait for the Senate to take up this time-sensitive bill. It is my belief our colleagues in the Senate recognize the urgency and the potential negative economic impacts of CWD if it continues to spread at this rate and work toward its passage.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the retirement of James S. Moulthrop, P.E., a western Pennsylvania native and long-time Pennsylvania Department of Transportation professional whose impact has traveled well beyond the Keystone State.

Jim was born and raised in DuBois, Pennsylvania. He worked for two decades as a registered professional engineer with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in various positions, including district and regional soils engineer, chief field materials control engineer, chief of the Materials and Testing Division, and director of highway maintenance.

His work in the pavement preservation industry has transcended his professional role at PennDOT, Koch Materials, and as executive director at FP2, Incorporated. He has also furthered transportation policy as chairman of the Transportation Research Board's Committee on Pavement Maintenance and on the Executive Committee of Road and Paving Materials.

Mr. Moulthrop has spent his career encouraging comprehensive pavement preservation practices as not only a cost-effective approach to maintaining and preserving our roads, which stretches the Federal budget, but also because they benefit drivers each and every day by improving the quality and safety of our roads.

Madam Speaker, I will conclude by recognizing the impact Mr. Moulthrop's career has had in increasing the awareness of the value and importance of pavement preservation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and States nationwide.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to address President Biden's COVID crisis.

Sadly, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the United States have reached record highs in the past week. Many Americans are having trouble finding COVID at-home tests and difficulties in scheduling a time to be tested with their healthcare provider.

What is President Biden's response?

In a recent COVID Zoom meeting with Governors, President Biden said: ``There is no Federal solution.''

Now, this mishandling of the pandemic is disappointing. Operation Warp Speed, developed under the previous administration, provided significant vaccines in record time. This initiative also established a robust distribution plan, innovative treatments, medical equipment, and ever-growing testing capacity.

Madam Speaker, in addition to this, our families are struggling to pay for everyday goods as inflation reaches a 40-year high. We are facing a self-inflicted economic crisis as this administration encourages our workforce to stay home. Our students continue to face uncertainty in their learning with last-minute school closures despite schools receiving ample COVID relief funding.

To distract from these failures, President Biden and congressional Democrats are trying to change the rules in the Senate to pass their Socialist agenda.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Lou Galliker, the longtime president of Galliker Dairy Company, who passed away in December surrounded by his family. He was 87 years old.

The Galliker Dairy Company is a third-generation, family-owned, regional dairy company headquartered in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, since 1914. Lou was chairman and president for more than half a century. He turned his family's dairy business into one of the largest enterprises in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic region.

Galliker Dairy distributes ice cream, milk, iced tea, and other beverages throughout several States.

Mr. Speaker, Lou was a giant of the dairy world who served as a board

member of the International Association of Ice Cream Manufacturers and as a president of the Quality Chekd independent dairy processors cooperative.

He was equally devoted to the Johnstown community, which he served in various capacities over the years. As president of the Chamber of Commerce and the greater Johnstown Jaycees and a board member of several other organizations, Lou was always committed to the region's success.

Lou Galliker was an incredible force for good in the Johnstown region, and he leaves a legacy that will be remembered for years to come. My prayers are with his family.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 106th Annual Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest indoor agriculture show under one roof in the country.

Each year, I have the privilege to tour the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, meet with commodity groups and industry leaders, and host a public listening session.

I thank those who joined me in 2022: Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation Members Congressman Keller and Congressman Meuser, and House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit, Ranking Member Michelle Fischbach--all strong allies of the agriculture community.

I also thank Pennsylvania's Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Redding, for his participation, and the farmers and ranchers and producers we visit with for sharing their concerns, voicing their questions, and more importantly, clothing and feeding our great Commonwealth, country, and world.

I know there is no experience that replaces the value of meeting with our producers face to face. The Pennsylvania Farm Show truly does bring together so many different people in the ag community on the local, State, and Federal level. It is an event like no other.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an ordinary citizen of Patton Township in Centre County, David Panko.

For the past 22 years, David served as president of the Patton Township Business Association. In his role as president, he built lasting relationships between the association, the community, and the Patton Township Police.

In 2002, David worked to establish the Patton Township Children's Safety Fair, a community event focused on building trust between residents and their police officers, firefighters, and EMS responders in Centre County.

David will be remembered as a leader who worked to make his community a better place. He rebuilt the organization into a group full of gracious and welcoming members.

Through David's leadership, the Patton Township Business Association has

continued to advance the commercial, industrial, and civic interests for the people of Patton Township.

I have had the privilege of working closely with David and the Patton Township Business Association as they advocated on behalf of small businesses in Patton Township and the Centre County region.

I thank David for his years of leadership and service to the organization, Patton Township, and Centre County. His contributions cannot be overstated, and his legacy will be remembered for years to come.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5290, to extend authority for the Department of Agriculture's Livestock Mandatory Reporting program.

Under the Livestock Mandatory Reporting program, or LMR, meatpackers across the country are required to report to the USDA the details of transactions involving the purchase of cattle, swine, and sheep, as well as transactions for the corresponding sales of certain beef, pork, and lamb products.

The USDA compiles and disseminates the information through hundreds of market reports each week, detailing price trends and supply and demand conditions. In turn, livestock industry participants, including farmers, ranchers, and feedlot operators, use the information to make informed marketing decisions.

The livestock markets have experienced significant price volatility leading up to and in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, cattle markets in particular. As I am sure many of you have heard from constituents at home, this uncertainty has led to cries from the countryside for significant market reforms and investigations into packer purchasing behavior.

As industry and Congress continue to grapple with the best approach to improving market transparency while avoiding unintended consequences, and as we await the results of ongoing investigations, it is imperative that farmers and ranchers maintain access to the market information already provided by LMR.

H.R. 5290 would do just that, providing much-needed certainty for the year ahead.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, the Livestock Mandatory Reporting program is really a necessary and significant tool for the agriculture industry, especially based on the disruptions that we experienced most recently in 2020.

I think American citizens are consciously aware of the difficulties and the potential difficulties with the food and agriculture supply chains and the difficulties that they experienced as they went to the grocery stores as they sought to feed their families, specifically during 2020 and in the wake of COVID-19. The Livestock Mandatory Reporting program is a tool that can help avoid that type of an issue.

This reauthorization, as the chairman said, is important. It gives us time to have a great debate and to look at how we increase transparency within the livestock industry.

I urge my colleagues to support this extension, this reauthorization, to give us time to make the necessary fixes and refinements in the future.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield the management of this bill to Mr. Johnson of South Dakota.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5609, the Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021.

As I am sure many of my colleagues have heard from their constituents back home, the differences between prices paid to producers for their live cattle, and those paid by consumers at the meat counter, have led to spirited debate about the transparency of the cattle markets in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A variety of hearings on the matter have amplified those concerns. These hearings and other related oversight have also made very clear the differing opinions on if and how they should be addressed legislatively.

There is a small, but vocal, faction in support of government mandates dictating thresholds of cattle to be purchased on the spot market. Frankly, such a proposal lacks broad industry support and, in my opinion, needs further review to ensure it would actually achieve its intended goals.

In fact, on two occasions now during this Congress, the House Agriculture Committee has heard from diverse groups of respected economists and industry stakeholders about the potential costs and unintended consequences of this sort of government intervention in the marketplace.

Giving these complex and compelling interests, I am thankful for Congressman Dusty Johnson's leadership in pursuit of what I view as a pragmatic middle ground with a broad cross-section of industry support.

If true market transparency is the goal, it seems to make sense that a cattle contract library could serve as part of the solution. The library would serve as a clearinghouse of information regarding the various contract provisions being utilized in a variety of marketing arrangements. Hopefully, access to this information would provide producers and feeders more insight into market transactions and ultimately give them more leverage in negotiating better terms for the sale of their cattle.

It may not be a silver bullet to all that ails the industry, but I certainly think H.R. 5609 marks a commonsense step in the right direction.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in support of this carefully crafted bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate and recognize Mary Ann Chavey for her retirement from Penn State University, my alma mater.

Mary Ann was hired by Penn State in April 1976 and has served the university with distinction for 45 years. She joined the Office of Government and Community Relations, OGCR, in 1996 and has served as executive assistant through two vice president transitions.

Penn State OGCR is the office elected officials contact to interact with the university's world-class scientific researchers and talented students as well as its senior leaders. Mary Ann always handled her duties with grace and professionalism. Her institutional memory and understanding of the university have been critical to serving Penn State's external stakeholders at the Federal, State, local, and Tribal governmental levels.

Mary Ann has been the glue that held OGCR together over the years. She has been a model and mentor to numerous staff and student interns. Her knowledge and expertise helped strengthen the OGCR team to advance the mission, vision, and goals of Penn State University.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking Mary Ann Chavey for her extraordinary service to Penn State University and a congratulations on her retirement.