Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize John Farr of DuBois, Pennsylvania.

John recently completed a 16-day, 898-mile bike ride to raise awareness and support for Habitat for Humanity of Clearfield County.

On October 4, he arrived in Washington, D.C., for a much-needed rest day before completing the final leg of his journey to Clearfield.

John started his cycling fundraising in 2001 when he signed up for a 2-day, 150-mile fundraiser sponsored by Habitat for Humanity New York. Since then, he has completed 20 excursions.

John has always been involved in his community, from tutoring students when he was in college to coaching sports. He enjoys giving back.

He joined Habitat for Humanity in 1994, originally donating monthly, to eventually joining the board and serving as president.

His cycling fundraisers have taken him across the United States and even across the Canadian border. His rides have led him to raise more than $150,000 for Habitat for Humanity.

Mr. Speaker, John's passion for helping others is admirable. Congratulations on completing this journey.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi) be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 4781.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with great disappointment as we await a vote on a secretive budget reconciliation package.

I am incredibly proud to serve as the Republican leader of the House Agriculture Committee, and it is an honor to work on behalf of the farmers, ranchers, and foresters who feed, clothe, and power our Nation. I am equally proud of the bipartisan work the House Committee on Agriculture has done on behalf of rural America.

Sadly, though, since the start of the 117th Congress, it seems the days of bipartisan, commonsense solutions are now few and far between. The most recent reconciliation process for the Agriculture Committee is especially concerning, if not utterly bizarre.

On Friday, September 10, my Republican colleagues and I participated in a 9.5-hour markup only for the committee Democrats to recess until the following Monday to gain the votes they needed to ram through an incomplete and unvetted budget reconciliation package to the tune of $66 billion.

Noticeably missing from the package was a whopping $28 billion--$6 billion more than the committee's instruction--in additional spending, left out due to the Democrats' ongoing problems with the Congressional Budget Office and the Byrd rule in the Senate.

During the markup, both Republican and Democrat members asked repeatedly when the committee would know more about the missing funds and whether the committee would be able to engage, review, and mark up the provisions. The committee's majority indicated the $28 billion would be added at a later stage.

This was a stunning admission and a departure from regular order for the House Agriculture Committee. This amount of money would traditionally demand dozens of public hearings, testimony from stakeholders, and rounds of technical assistance from USDA, all conducted by the committee of jurisdiction.

Unfortunately, that was not the case for this bill, a package that rivals

many titles of a 5-year farm bill in size and scope, I might add.

Now, I wish I could say I was surprised, but given how Republicans have been so brazenly ignored throughout the first reconciliation and this newest sham reconciliation, this dereliction of process has, sadly, become par for the course.

As for the $28 billion of missing mystery funds, members of our committee remain in the dark. Initial summaries leaked to the press by the stakeholder groups and Senate Democrats told one story. A draft leaked this week told a very different one, including what appears to be $34 billion beyond the Democrats' own instruction.

This past weekend, the Budget Committee spent time moving the total package forward, and now it looks as though the Democratic chairman of the Rules Committee gets to decide the fate of the Agriculture package.

This is absurd.

This sham of a process is an insult to the 201 years of the House Agriculture Committee's bipartisanship. I refuse to stand idly by as this committee is driven into the ground by a partisan process that leaves rural America behind.

Enough is enough, Madam Speaker. Congress is a circus, and Democrats in leadership are the ringleaders.

This process is an absolute farce, and it has only further devolved into chaos as the press, lobbyists, and the Democratic leadership aides know more about the policy than committees of jurisdiction. Leaked documents and secretive briefings should not be the way Washington does business.

Process aside, this is simply a bad bill, and it does next to nothing for rural America. It is shameful that in the nearly $100 billion of excess spending that claims to be for agriculture, there isn't one penny for the commodity safety net, crop insurance, broadband, or disaster assistance.

Madam Speaker, I could go on and on about how this bill fails rural America. Five minutes simply is not enough time. So, I will close with this: Democrats can either force this sham of a bill through and pat themselves on the back for explosive spending and lack of transparency, or we can start over and work together to put real solutions on the table for rural America.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Matric Group located in Venango County, Pennsylvania.

What originally started out as a hobby by two electrical engineers has now turned into a $60-plus million company with three locations across western Pennsylvania and more than 300 employees.

The Matric Group is celebrating a major milestone this year, 50 years of electronic manufacturing.

The electronics field is developing at lightning speed, and Matric Group has continued to adapt to the ever-growing changes. It is this angle of their businesses which drives them to success.

As customers discover outdated or obsolete components, Matric Group is there to help respin or redesign to keep their current products relevant.

For the past 50 years, Matric Group has been a strong cornerstone in our community. The commitment and determination of President Turner and the entire workforce is admirable.

Congratulations to Rick Turner and the rest of the Matric Group team. May you find success for another 50 years.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize September as National Recovery Month.

It is important that we draw attention to this special month as we continue to battle the ongoing addiction epidemic in our country.

For 32 years, National Recovery Month has continued to celebrate the gains made by those in recovery as well as promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices. It is also a time to focus on raising awareness and understanding of mental health and substance use disorders.

Over the past month, many of my colleagues have sported purple ribbons to show our support for those in recovery.

Currently, over 23 million Americans are in recovery from an addiction to drugs or alcohol. By recognizing National Recovery Month, we can highlight the strength of the recovery community and show support to our healthcare workers, first responders, friends, family, and community who support those in recovery.

Addiction to alcohol or other substances like opioids is an ongoing epidemic plaguing communities across the Nation. We know addiction does not discriminate. It can happen to anyone, regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status.

That is why this year's National Recovery Month theme is ``Recovery for Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community.''

As we continue to battle the addiction epidemic, we must highlight the work of organizations like Faces and Voices of Recovery that promote National Recovery Month and continue to provide resources to those in recovery as well as friends and family.

In my home State of Pennsylvania, there were more than 5,200 deaths due to drug overdoses this past year. These numbers continue to be highly alarming, and we must continue to work to combat this epidemic.

No one can tackle addiction on their own, and by recognizing National Recovery Month, we are showing there is light at the end of the tunnel, and with the right support, there is a road to recovery.

Throughout the month of September, Faces and Voices of Recovery encourages local communities to host events to highlight the services available for those in need.

Last week, Venango County Human Services celebrated National Recovery Month at Franklin's Bandstand Park. This event had family-friendly activities, where those who participated could win prizes, enjoy refreshments, and pin a ribbon on the recovery board. The event celebrated community members, first responders, healthcare workers, and others who support recovery. Local vendors were encouraged to set up tables to share information about their programs. The evening ended in a candlelight vigil, remembering those who had passed due to their addiction.

By engaging our local communities, we can continue to make recovery and those who support it possible. We can work together to change the way addiction and recovery are understood, to better support those who are struggling.

As September ends, let's continue to elevate the organizations that provide resources and support to those recovering from addiction.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the State College Area Meals on Wheels as they celebrate 50 years of service and 1.5 million meals delivered.

State College Meals on Wheels prepares and delivers meals to the elderly and those people living with disabilities within the State College school district.

What originally started as a small vision serving under 30 clients has now blossomed into eight separate delivery routes, averaging 250 clients a year.

When our world came to a halt during the COVID-19 pandemic, Meals on Wheels stepped up. The organization didn't miss a single delivery during the pandemic. They even picked up a few more clients who were adversely affected.

Like many, Meals on Wheels had to adapt to the pandemic. A key aspect of the meal delivery was the frequent in-person conversations with the clients. When COVID-19 prevented the face-to-face chatting, they changed their services to provide regular phone calls to catch up with their clients.

Madam Speaker, State College Meals on Wheels is a staple in our community, and I congratulate them on 50 years and 1.5 million meals delivered.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, we remembered the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. I rise today to remember the innocent lives that we lost.

At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 flew into tower one of the World Trade Center. Not long after, Flight 175 roared over lower Manhattan into tower two.

While Americans around the country were grappling with the events that had just transpired, a third plane, Flight 77, crashed into the Pentagon, the center of our Armed Forces and national defense.

In southwest Pennsylvania, the fourth flight, United 93, originally headed to San Francisco, was hijacked and made the abrupt turn toward Washington, D.C. But because of the brave passengers and crew members who attempted to take back the plane, it crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Now, I had the humbling opportunity to join over 450 family members of United Flight 93 passengers and crew members at the memorial site on the 20th anniversary of that tragic day. During the ceremony, we heard from Captain Kurtz, USS Somerset; Governor Wolf; Gordon Felt, brother of Edward Porter Felt, who perished in the crash; Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Vice President Kamala Harris; and former President George W. Bush.

The ceremony was a chance to reflect on the events of that fateful day and to honor the lives lost and the heroes that united us.

In the days, weeks, months, and now two decades that followed September 11, our country joined together to face the very evil which attempted to take us down.

We will forever be indebted to our servicemen and -women who joined the fight to protect our freedoms. We must remember the sacrifices made by our servicemembers and the first responders and their families every day since.

While today's world has grown no less dangerous, we, as Americans, are resilient. We will continue to fight the evil and terror that exists today, and we will continue to be a beacon of freedom to the world.

Let us reflect on the gift of life so tragically lost at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Let us honor the memory of every American who perished on that fateful day. Their legacies will be forever entwined with the strength and courage that define our great country.

We will never forget, not 20 years later, not ever. May God continue to watch over our first responders, our men and women in uniform, and all those who keep us safe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the Bureau of Prisons Reform Caucus and my thanks to Chairman Fred Keller.

Earlier today, I participated in a meeting discussing the important issues and the goals of the caucus, which are aimed at improving and enhancing the existing relationship between Congress and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This is done through increased communications, transparency, and efficiency.

Mr. Speaker, I represent two Federal prisons: Federal Correctional Institution Loretto, located in Loretto, Pennsylvania, and Federal Correctional Institution McKean, located in Lewis Run, Pennsylvania. It is critical Congress continues to support these hardworking men and women at these Federal institutions.

As a member of the Bureau of Prisons Reform Caucus, I will work to oversee the implementation of the programs laid out in our legislation.

From improving staffing conditions to implementing the First Step Act to expanding current technical educational opportunities for inmates as they look to find a better place in society, it is important we understand the actions taking place in our Federal prison system.

Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that this caucus continues to meet and improve the relationship between Congress and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Penn State University's Berkey Creamery on their 2021 award for Best Whole Chocolate Milk. It only seems fitting to announce this award today, on National Chocolate Milk Day.

The creamery took home this award on August 30 at the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest. And I can attest it is delicious.

Whole milk is the number one provider of nine essential nutrients as well as a great deal of long-term benefits. Millions of Americans nationwide enjoy it. In fact, 70 percent of milk consumed is flavored, with chocolate milk being the most popular. But milk consumption is declining, and due to misguided public policy, this nutritious beverage was removed from the National Lunch Program.

Earlier this year, my colleague, Mr. Antonio Delgado and I introduced the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. This legislation would provide our students with the nutrient-rich beverage by bringing flavored and unflavored whole milk back into the school cafeterias.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to celebrate today with a large glass of chocolate milk.

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, September 17, was POW/MIA Recognition Day. This important day is a time to remember the brave men and women who have yet to return home.

Currently, there are more than 80,000 American servicemembers who remain unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War, and the Gulf Wars.

Our servicemembers are the bravest among us. They answer the call to protect and defend our country in times of war and in times of peace. While many return home, some do not.

In May, I introduced the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Trade Agreement Resolution. This resolution urges our mutually beneficial trade agreements to include a commitment from trading partners to continue the search and recovery efforts of our Nation's missing servicemembers.

Mr. Speaker, in honor of POW/MIA Recognition Day, I urge my colleagues to join this resolution. We must uphold the eternal promise to our Armed Forces to always bring our men and women home.

In that spirit, I also want to say thank you to one of my alma maters, Penn State University, that in a stadium of about 110,000, they placed one seat that will never be filled until the last of all those who are missing will return home. That was dedicated in honor of Penn State graduate and Vietnam veteran, Major Louis Smith, who has yet to return home from that war.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Vern Squier as he celebrates his retirement as president and CEO of the Centre County Chamber of Business and Industry and the Centre County Industrial Development Corporation.

Vern's experience with chamber and economic development spans over two decades. He brought his knowledge and passion for small business to CBICC and CCIDC in 2011, where he served for a decade.

In his time with one of the largest countywide chambers of commerce in Pennsylvania, he worked diligently to move the organization forward.

Vern worked closely with Penn State University's leadership and utilized the output of graduates and staff to build job and wealth creation in the community and in our region.

While in his role as president and CEO, Vern guided CBICC and CCIDC to become the go-to organization for businesses in our community and the greater Centre County region.

I thank Vern for his service and dedication to Centre County. We wish him a fulfilling retirement. He has earned it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight during this Special Order to speak in opposition to H.R. 3755, the Women's Health Protection Act. It is misappropriately named, given the many unborn girls, women, and boys that will be murdered should this act be enacted.

Earlier this year I spoke on the floor defending the Hyde amendment as Democrats, for the first time in over four decades, decided to remove it from the fiscal year 2022 appropriations.

Tonight, I am back to fight for the rights of the unborn as Democrats attempt to push through another item of their radical pro-abortion agenda. This legislation is extreme. It would impose nationwide abortion on demand until birth laws making every State a late-term abortion State.

This bill would create a national standard to allow for abortions for any reason and at any stage of pregnancy. It would abolish virtually all past, present, and future pro-life State laws, ultimately overriding State laws that prevent discriminatory abortions based on the identity of the baby--of the yet-to-be-born child--and based on a baby's sex, race, or disability.

We should be putting forth legislation supporting a culture that values life and respects the health of mothers and children, born and unborn. We must always be a voice for the voiceless, and that is why I will continue to fight for the lives of the unborn.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for leading this Special Order. It is a righteous cause.

Madam Speaker, due to a constituent meeting, I was unable to cast my vote on July 29, 2021. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 253.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to remember former Senator Mike Enzi of Wyoming.

Senator Enzi was an exemplary statesman. Whether promoting a responsible budget as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee or fighting for Wyoming's energy sector, he was always putting Wyomingites first.

He was a dedicated public servant, having served two terms as mayor of Gillette, time in the Wyoming legislature, and four terms in the Senate.

Senator Enzi was a problem solver, always willing to work with others to get the job done. In his 24 years on Capitol Hill, he had more than 100 of his bills signed into law by four different U.S. Presidents.

He was a man of great faith and greater compassion. His kindhearted ways made an impact on every individual he met.

I had the privilege of traveling with Senator Enzi, a brother Eagle Scout, to numerous National Scout Jamborees.

Senator Enzi lived his life staying true to the Scouting principles of duty to God, duty to country, and service to others. He will be deeply missed.

My heartfelt sympathies go to Diana, the Enzi family, and his friends.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the alarming and growing crisis on our southern border.

Despite the rhetoric surrounding this issue, the reality is families and unaccompanied children are arriving at our southern border in greater numbers than in the past decades.

June of this year alone saw a 450 percent increase in border encounters compared to a year ago, and this fiscal year has seen more than 1.1 million illegal crossings.

Additionally, Customs and Border Protection have seized more fentanyl so far this year than in all of 2020, and high positivity rates of COVID-19 among illegal migrants threaten to undue much of the hard work our country has done in combating the pandemic.

The Biden border crisis is turning deadlier by the day.

This crisis is a direct result of the policies coming from the Biden- Harris administration.

When Vice President Harris finally visited the border last month, she claimed the administration has made progress, but the numbers don't lie, and with roughly 3,000 migrants crossing each day, little progress has been made.

I believe securing our borders is the first step in a broader discussion of much-needed comprehensive immigration reform.

Ensuring the safety of American citizens will allow us to address that and is the best chance for a prosperous future.