Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, if the Biden administration were a new TV show streaming on Netflix or HBO, it clearly would have been canceled after the end of the first season.

On this anniversary of Mr. Biden's failed first year, I call attention to the crisis at the Southwest border, a crisis which President Biden and the Democrats have continuously chosen to turn a blind eye to. In just 1 year, over 1.7 million illegal immigrants have been apprehended at the border--an all-time high.

President Trump spent 4 years fighting to secure our border by enacting policies to keep Americans--especially in our communities along the border--safe. After less than a month in office, President Biden revoked the Trump-era border policies and replaced them, Madam Speaker, with what?

Absolutely nothing.

In April, 3 months after Joe Biden took office and 2 months after these policies were rescinded, I made my seventh trip to the Southwest border. During that visit, I witnessed the most unstable conditions that I have seen since coming to Congress. I immediately called on President Biden then to reinstate the Trump-era policies that were working along our border.

Finally, just a few weeks ago in December, it was announced that President Biden planned to re-implement President Trump's Remain in Mexico policy. But, Madam Speaker, we need action, not talk. President Biden should visit the border and talk to the communities there. President Biden should fire his Homeland Security Secretary who is not getting the job done.

So in this first failed year, President Biden has neglected our Southwest border. That neglect is evident with deteriorating conditions, apprehensions at an all-time high, and record amounts of illegal drugs pouring across our open border and poisoning our families.

Americans deserve better. Americans deserve a secure border, and Americans deserve leadership.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lt. Colonel Floydridge Underwood's devotion to our nation and his commitment to serving the JROTC program.

Lt. Col. Underwood was born in Selma, Alabama and knew at the age of 7 that he wanted to serve in the armed forces. He enlisted in the Air Force immediately after high school.

He rose through the ranks and was promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel over the years. He served in the Air Force for 26 years serving through 22 different assignments.

During his time in the Air Force, he found himself leaning towards giving back to the community the knowledge he had acquired through his service.

Lt. Col. Underwood was selected to serve as the Commander for the JROTC program at Pine Bluff High School. He has served in this role for over 17 years.

During his time as the Commander for the Pine Bluff High School JROTC program, he inspired his cadets to follow this path and join the Armed Forces. More than 30 of his cadets have served in the Armed Forces.

Lt. Col. Underwood will be awarded with the 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Salute to Greatness Award.

In Selma, he grew up during the Civil Rights movement and took every opportunity to stay involved in the movement.

In March 1965, Lt. Col. Underwood, this son of Selma joined my friend, late Congressman John Lewis, in crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge enroute to Montgomery and into history.

Lt. Col. Underwood is a great example of an Arkansan who has dedicated his life to defending our Nation, educating our youth, and fighting for freedom of life and liberty.

Madam Speaker, I saw a political crossword puzzle this week. It asked for a six-letter word to describe President Biden's first year in office. So I thought, divisive? No, that is eight letters. Weak? No, that is four letters.

But the word is crises, Madam Speaker. From the crisis raging at our southern border to the economic crisis affecting Arkansans, small businesses, and Americans across the Nation, the Biden administration has continually failed to address these challenges head-on.

The border crisis isn't a seasonal problem, as argued. It is the direct result of repealing the Trump-era border policies and replacing them with absolutely nothing until recently.

Federal Reserve Chair Powell says, inflation isn't transitory, Madam Speaker. It continues to rise to a 40-year high. Americans are paying more for just about everything from gas to groceries.

Under President Trump, we saw increasing real wages. Under President Biden, we are seeing real wages decline, meaning our pay is decreasing when accounting for inflation.

Democrats' solution? Continuing to push their constant tax-and- spending spree. We need leadership, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the latest Consumer Price Index data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics just yesterday.

This new data shows a 7 percent annual increase in inflation--the largest 12-month increase since 1982. The last time inflation was this out of control, Michael Jackson had just released ``Thriller''. So from moonwalking to now sleepwalking with President Biden, we have continuously seen negative real wages, meaning that our pay is actually decreasing when you account for inflation.

The President's only idea is to print and spend more money. Gasoline is up 50 percent. Propane, kerosene, and firewood are up 34 percent; and beef, veal, and bacon are up 18 percent. Higher inflation is eroding the true purchasing power for all American families, and these record-breaking CPI numbers underestimate the real cost of inflation.

Americans need leadership that will prioritize getting our economy and our Nation back to its pre-pandemic performance.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee for yielding and, of course, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets, Mr. Sherman, for his leadership. On this side of the aisle, there is absolutely no debate that Mr. Sherman has the most passion on this topic as a certified public accountant and that his questions about improving this bill are unlimited.

I rise today in support of this effort, flawed as it might be, and support the Adjustable Interest Rate Act of 2021.

As the chairman of the subcommittee said, for decades, the London interbank market has been the institutional fixed income rate used by hundreds of market participants to benefit American families because that LIBOR rate has been a very competitive rate and facilitated securities being issued that facilitated in more houses being built for more families in America, a liquid market for our families' credit card debt, and important student loan debt.

So this rate is critically important, and it is a part of, also, the U.S. dollar, Mr. Speaker, being at the forefront of the global securities market.

As the ranking member on our Housing, Community Development, and Insurance Subcommittee, it was the go-to rate for mortgage-backed securities and for use of the government secondary mortgage market for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. I think the chairman has outlined the importance of this.

This bill deals with all those contracts that depended on that LIBOR

rate that just stubbornly don't have an alternative right now. As we approach the end of the quote for this important interest rate, there are contracts--the chair says some $16 trillion of bonds outstanding-- that need this replacement contractual rate.

This bill does not increase government. This bill does not increase regulatory power. This bill facilitates the private-sector bond market solving this tough, thorny issue for the stubborn minority of bond market transactions that we call these legacy issues.

Now, the gentleman from Michigan, the gentleman from California, and I have listened to and worked on this bill for years, and we thought the Federal Reserve and the regulators were going to solve this problem years ago. That is what they told us years ago.

But as those years have gone by, they found that they can't solve this problem in the regulatory agencies, and they have turned to Congress to legislate and craft a narrow fix to solve these tough contracts.

Mr. Speaker, that is why I am in favor of taking this action today. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle--this is a technical issue, and it is an eyes-glazed-over issue, but it affects all the families in our country. It affects the importance of the U.S. dollar in capital markets. When LIBOR concludes in June 2023, we don't want any gap, Mr. Speaker, in the ability to have those legacy contracts move forward.

I don't believe this is a bill that anyone should oppose. I think we all should support it. It has the support of the six regulatory agencies; it has the support of the financial industry; and it deals with reality.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend from Michigan for yielding me the time. I thank him for his work. Yes, this process was flawed, first in the hands of the regulators, and, secondly, I think it could have been far better in the majority, particularly as it relates to getting the views of the Ways and Means Committee and the Education and Labor Committee.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring awareness to the current mental health crisis.

My home state of Arkansas has one of the highest proportions of individuals with trauma and PTSD in the nation. The COVID crisis has increased the mental health needs of Arkansans and all Americans.

Last year in Arkansas we tragically lost 583 of our neighbors, friends, and family members to suicide. Many personally know the pain of what it is like to lose a person to suicide.

Suicide rates in Arkansas are above the American average. Simultaneously, Arkansas also has a higher rate of adults with mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression.

There are more resources now than ever to provide support for anyone who needs it. I am proud to have supported funding for these resources earlier this Congress, including funding for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Mental health can be a tough topic to speak about, but it shouldn't be.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Arkansas Coding Academy on their 5-year anniversary.

Since its foundation in 2016, the Arkansas Coding Academy has provided roughly 300 students with the tools and resources needed to succeed in the rapidly growing tech industry and programing opportunities across central Arkansas.

Individual courses typically last only four weeks, and the curriculum as a whole is typically completed in six to nine months.

Their annual Demo Day provided students with the opportunity to show off their final projects while also having the opportunity to be recruited by hiring managers.

The Arkansas Coding Academy develops skilled workers, and I am proud to have such an outstanding program in central Arkansas.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the companies ECOJOHN and Leather Brothers, recipients of the Governor's Award for Excellence in Global Trade.

This award recognizes companies that have experienced success in international markets and hold high standards of exporting excellence.

ECOJOHN is a manufacturing company from North Little Rock, specializing in wastewater management solutions.

Leather Brothers are third-generation leather workers from Conway who manufacture high quality pet products.

Both of these companies overcame adversity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and continued to succeed in a global market.

I am proud of our local companies, their success, and their impact on our global markets.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Gordon Rather and

his hard work with the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock. Currently, Gordon serves as the secretary of the Historic Arkansas Museum Commission. This year will mark Gordon's 50th year on the museum's board.

For half of those years, I have been fortunate to work alongside Gordon, an exceptional attorney and civic leader. He has devoted his adult life to preserving Arkansas' rich heritage for our kids.

I am proud to have served at his side in this worthy mission. I have seen firsthand the impact that he has made on our State and the legacy that he is preserving.

Congratulations, Gordon, on 50 years educating Arkansans about our rich history and preserving it for the next generation. I am thankful for your service.

Mr. Speaker, Washington, in fact, has a spending addiction. We doubled our spending last year to fight the pandemic, protect public health, and get the economy back open and protect jobs. On top of that, this spring, Democrats spent another $1.9 trillion on extra spending.

Now my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are further fueling this addiction and just can't take their foot off the gas. We are headed downhill with no brakes. They continue to push forward with what amounts to another $5.5 trillion tax-and-spending spree that is nothing more than a Trojan horse filled with tax hikes for American families and far-left, progressive priorities.

We need to abandon this reckless spending and come together in a bipartisan way and put together a commonsense 2022 budget plan before we burden our children and grandchildren with further debt.

Heating Bills Jump

Mr. Speaker, winter is right around the corner and households could see their heating bills jump 54 percent. While some of this can be attributed to our supply chain issues, the administration's spending addiction coupled with their anti-American energy policies aren't helping.

At every turn, the Biden administration has hindered domestic energy production. They halted construction on the Keystone XL pipeline, costing jobs in my home State of Arkansas and throughout the Midwest. They halted new oil and gas leasing on U.S. lands and waters, costing 1 million American jobs in the near term. Now they are pushing a heat- your-home tax in their tax-and-spending spree.

Mr. Speaker, the holidays are around the corner and Americans will unfortunately bear the burden of President Biden's ill-conceived, anti- American energy policies.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the administration to end their war on American jobs and our energy independence.

Recognizing 2021 Arkansas History Teacher of the Year Kristy Brasfield

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Kristy Brasfield, the 2021 Arkansas History Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Brasfield earned her bachelor and master's degree in education from Arkansas State University at Jonesboro and is currently working on her doctorate.

Currently, Mrs. Brasfield teaches U.S. history and English IV at the Joe T. Robinson High School in Pulaski County.

To those who know her, this award is no surprise. Her hard work and dedication have been previously rewarded, winning the 2019 Arkansas Council for Social Studies 9 through 12 Teacher of the Year and the 2016 Rotary Educator of the Year.

Mrs. Brasfield, on behalf of all the parents in central Arkansas, I thank you for your hard work, your dedication to your students, and congratulate you on this meaningful award.

Recognizing the Outstanding Achievement of Julia Gaffney

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievement of Julia Gaffney of Mayflower, Arkansas. This summer she won the bronze medal in the 400 meter freestyle and the bronze medal in the 100 meter backstroke at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Julia has been swimming competitively since 2015, and quickly has made a name for herself. This year was her first Paralympic appearance, and it was an awe-inspiring achievement.

Julia's path to being a Paralympic medalist was unlike any other. After a setback in this year's games, she said: I had to move on, and I am so happy that I was able to bounce back and earn a bronze for Team

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable accomplishment of Fuller & Son Hardware for marking 100 years of business in central Arkansas.

Fuller & Son Hardware originally started as a feed store operated by Walter ``Pop'' Fuller at the corner of 28th and Arch Streets in Little Rock in 1921.

Over the past 100 years, Fuller & Son Hardware has weathered the storm of change. They have expanded to include hardware and added five locations in central Arkansas. They are now launching an online shopping option. All that by remaining closed on Sundays. The founder said, ``Some money just costs too much.''

Congratulations on the centennial for Fuller & Son Hardware.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, and the chair for bringing this measure to the floor. But to paraphrase President Reagan, Well, there you go again.

Why are we here? This should have been in the CR, approved, or we should have had support for the ranking member's motion to recommit, but we are here for a supplemental appropriation for the Iron Dome.

I support it, but it is disgraceful that we have had to come back to the House floor to carry on this mission.

The Iron Dome is one of the most successful military and technology partnerships in world history. Earlier this year, the missile defense system, Iron Dome, saved countless lives, Mr. Speaker, of Israeli and Palestinian citizens from relentless attack.

In July I traveled to Israel with Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Meeks on the first U.S. congressional codel since the pandemic. Where was it? Our first visit, Jerusalem, to meet the new Israeli coalition government.

Despite a change in power and a new governing coalition between left and right, there is no space, Mr. Speaker, between the parties in Israel that the number one national security threat continues to be Iran.

And who funds that roaring rocket reign of terror flying into Israel from Hamas? Iran.

Mr. Speaker, we have historically in this body had strong bipartisan support for our friend, Israel. On our trip, our delegation, led by Chair Meeks, assured the Israeli Government that we have their back and that we would continue to fund Iron Dome. I thank him for his critical voice.

While this makeup vote restores the funding stripped by Democratic colleagues earlier this week, the concern I have is like the gentlewoman from Florida, those strong Democratic friends of Israel are continuing to be thrown under the bus on this House floor by the far left.

Mr. Speaker, I urge approval. I thank the Appropriations Committee.

Madam Speaker, yesterday at the United Nations General Assembly meeting, President Biden once again declared that he wants to ensure that Iran will never get a nuclear weapon on his watch. But he reiterated that his administration intends to do everything it can to get back into the discredited nuclear deal with Iran.

Now, Madam Speaker, this was his only reference directly about Iran in his remarks.

Today, I rise to remind my colleagues about the risks of this approach. Iran is the number one state sponsor of terrorism and the greatest threat against our ally, Israel, and to stability in the Middle East.

In July, I joined Chairman Meeks and traveled to Israel in the first Congressional codel since the new Israeli government has come into power.

Despite the change in power and the coalition between the left and right, there is no space between the parties, and the number one national security concern in Israel continues to be Iran.

And while Republicans and Democrats agree in principle that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon, in action, the flawed nuclear deal of the Obama administration did not end Iran's quest. It only delayed modestly the development of a nuclear weapon; development that continues, Madam Speaker.

This deal kicked the can down the road in exchange for a windfall to the Iranian mullahs and sanctions relief and pallets of cash delivered on a tarmac.

Further, President Trump's maximum pressure campaign of economic sanctions was working, and he took decisive action with his strike against former IRGC head, Solemani.

So, my friends, I am afraid that we will return to the Obama-era policy of paying cash for promises from the Iranian leadership that will never be kept.

Iran has blood on their hands, propping up Assad in Syria, the death of American troops in Iraq, and recently even blatantly attempting kidnapping in New York City.

As a result, I reintroduced my legislation, the Holding Iranian Leaders Accountable Act.

This bipartisan bill with my friend Mr. Lawson from Florida would make public the funds obtained in an illegal or corrupt manner by Iran's authoritarian leaders.

For more than four decades the people of Iran have lived under the brutal dictatorship of the Ayatollahs.

The government leadership and the heads of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have all profited, Madam Speaker, at the expense of the struggling Iranian people.

By combining publicly available information with U.S. intelligence that can be made public, this legislation will provide a valuable window into the wealth making of Iran's corrupt officials and limit their financial holdings which are used to support and sponsor terrorism.

However, since this administration is attempting to re-enter nuclear negotiations, we throw away a lot of leverage. This bill gives the U.S. Government and Iranian people knowledge by knowing how corrupt their leadership is.

Commemorating Erma Hendrix

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Little Rock City Director Erma Hendrix, who sadly passed away at the age of 91 on September 8.

Born and raised in Little Rock, Director Hendrix dedicated her life to public service. From serving as a nurse, to local government, to her philanthropic endeavors, she always put our community first.

Erma spent over 15 years representing her community as part of Little Rock City's Board of Directors representing Ward 1. Known for her passion, she spent her career fighting for racial equality and greater representation in city governance.

I value having the opportunity to work alongside Director Hendrix. I am grateful to have known her for so long and so favorably, and I know that the city of Little Rock is better for the service and work of Director Erma Hendrix. God rest her soul.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the committee and my ranking member for the world-class work on this NDAA package.

This package contains two of my amendments. First, my bipartisan bill, H.R. 3146, the SAVE Act, passed the House unanimously earlier this year, is included as an amendment. The SAVE Act builds on the good work of the Armed Services Committee to include important provisions to counter China by improving the U.S. supply chain independence and security.

Secondly, this en bloc includes my amendment to require the creation of an interagency strategy within the United States Government to disrupt and dismantle the production and trafficking of the drug Captagon that is being produced by the Syrian regime led by Assad.

In addition to regularly committing war crimes against his own people, the Assad regime is now becoming a narco-state.

The United States Government must do all it can to disrupt this industrial level of production of this drug currently taking place in Syria.

I thank my friends for their support of these amendments, and I urge support of this en bloc.

Madam Speaker, today I recognize International Overdose Awareness Day.

I speak not only as a Congressman, but as a father and husband who is working towards an end to overdose deaths and the heartache for the families and loved ones left behind.

To those who have a loved one struggling with a substance abuse disorder or who have lost a loved one to an overdose, I am sorry, and I share in the collective grief.

Like many in my home state of Arkansas and across the nation, my family and I have lost friends to overdoses.

I am listening and I understand the pain that you and your loved ones have experienced in losing someone to an overdose.

Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked to combat the opioid crisis, end overdose deaths, and end the stigma of overdose deaths and addiction.

I was the co-author of the bipartisan Fentanyl Sanctions Act, and I am proud that it was signed into law in December 2019 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

This law placed sanctions on drug manufacturers in China who knowingly provide synthetic opioids to traffickers, and it placed sanctions on transnational criminal organizations like those in Mexico who mix fentanyl with other drugs and traffic them into the United States.

And, importantly, it placed sanctions on financial institutions assisting those entities and individuals knowingly trafficking synthetic opioids.

Stopping the flow of fentanyl and synthetic opioids is critical to preventing addiction and overdoses, and through it we will save lives.

I appreciate the opportunity to mark International Overdose Awareness Day and thank the organizers of the event, the Parker Gill Foundation, in Little Rock that is bringing together loved ones and that continues this important fight in the memory of those lost.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue this fight.

Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 249.