Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 5661, the Continued State Flexibility To Assist Older Foster Youth Act.

America's most vulnerable foster youth face unique challenges even in normal times, and the COVID-19 pandemic created even more obstacles to overcome.

Nearly 20,000 youth age out of foster care every year. While the COVID pandemic has presented difficulties for all Americans, foster youth and former foster youth are particularly vulnerable, given that they are most likely to be without reliable adults and other kinds of supports in their lives.

The Continued State Flexibility To Assist Older Foster Youth Act would allow States to keep in place important flexibilities in the Chafee child welfare program so they can continue to support vulnerable foster youth in Indiana and across the country.

I am grateful to Chairman Davis for his continued partnership in building on our past reforms to help families thrive and this committee's tradition of bipartisan action to protect young people in our foster care system.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon).

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, in December, we worked together to take action to help foster youth through the pandemic so they could build a stronger, more stable future. That bill, called the Supporting Foster Youth Through the Pandemic Act, provided much-needed additional support for foster youth and families, at-risk pregnant women and mothers, and kinship caregivers, including grandparents.

Mr. Speaker, the bill included $400 million in funding to assist States in supporting foster youth transitioning to adulthood during the pandemic. That relief has provided a lifeline for thousands of youth to get back to school, back into jobs, and on the path of self- sufficiency.

As COVID-19 continues to spur instability, young people with experience in foster care still face significant challenges to meet their basic needs and to access critical funds and services.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 75 percent of these funds remain unobligated by States as of September 30, 2021, and States have another year to spend. In recognition of the needs of foster youth, this bill would extend those key programmatic flexibilities for another year.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support these vulnerable foster youth by voting for H.R. 5661, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the previous question. If we defeat the previous question, Republicans will amend the rule to include H.R. 5586, the Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act, legislation to prevent the IRS from snooping into Americans' personal financial accounts.

Under President Biden and Congressional Democrats' policies, American families continue to be squeezed by inflation at the gas pump, at the grocery store, and in their monthly energy bills. But this inflation squeeze isn't enough for them. Now, they want to monitor the average American's bank account. As part of Democrats' misguided tax-and- spending spree, they

have proposed new reporting requirements, from financial institutions to the IRS, regarding private account information.

This vast government overreach would turn financial institutions in my district into local outposts of the IRS, all with the sole purpose of reporting Hoosiers' personal financial account information back to the Government. Make no mistake, this will capture virtually every American, who will be subject to increased levels of IRS intrusion in their daily lives.

The IRS already has been challenged by the leak of thousands of documents, including sensitive taxpayer information. The collection of additional data would only exacerbate this problem and subject many Americans to the potential exposure of their personal information. Let's not forget, under the Obama administration, the IRS systematically targeted certain groups applying for tax-exempt status simply because of their political affiliation.

I hope that we can defeat the previous question to protect the privacy of all Americans and to ensure that the IRS won't be surveilling every financial transaction.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose the previous question.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3635, the Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act. A key lesson from the pandemic has been the absolute need to end our dependence on the Chinese Communist Party for the production of medicines, personal protective equipment, and other critical medical supplies.

Now more than ever, we know that secure and resilient supply chains are vital to the safety and success of the American people. It is so critical to focus on breaking our dependency on China and move domestic manufacturing of PPE products back home to the U.S.

Early on in the pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security concluded that China ``intentionally concealed the severity'' of this virus so they could hoard PPE by blocking exports and buying it up through its state-owned enterprises, a theory that has been confirmed time and time again.

In March of 2020, the New York Times reported that factories in China were not authorized to export masks, and all the while bought up much of the world's supply first. In February of last year, Chinese entrepreneurs and aid groups visited pharmacies in affluent countries and emerging markets, buying masks in bulk to send to China.

Similarly, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Greenland Group, a Chinese government-backed property giant, instructed its employees worldwide--even accountants and receptionists and their HR teams--to stop what they were doing and bulk buy as many medical supplies as they could in January and February of 2020.

It is quite simple. We must not trust the Chinese Communist Party. The bipartisan legislation before us today is a strong step in the right direction toward strengthening American manufacturing of PPE in Indiana and across the rest of the country.

Specifically, it includes the Medical Supplies for Pandemics Act I led with Congresswoman Dingell, that would enhance medical supply chain elasticity, improve the domestic production of PPE, and partner with private industry to refresh and replenish existing stocks of medical supplies.

Our legislation takes other important measures, such as supporting State efforts to expand and maintain our own stockpiles, improving maintenance of the national stockpile to ensure it is in good working order and allow the transfer of stockpile items nearing their expiration dates to other federal agencies.

To prepare for the next crisis and better protect frontline healthcare workers, we need to boost U.S. manufacturing of PPE and strengthen the Strategic National Stockpile.

Madam Speaker, I urge support, and I thank my colleagues.

Madam Speaker, while I voted for H.R. 4350, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, I would like to note that this authorization is imperfect. I remain opposed to the provision that would require young women to register with the Selective Service. The primary function for conscription under the Military Selective Service Act is to quickly replace front line fighters after sustaining casualties. I admire and support the women who have volunteered to serve in our Armed Forces, however, I remain opposed to the conscription of our daughters as it has the potential of hindering the country's combat readiness during a time of war. Selective Service shouldn't be a social experiment and our country isn't advancing women's equality by requiring them to be conscripted into combat during a time of war.

Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding.

In America, the condition of a child's birth doesn't determine the outcome of their life, for every single person, born or unborn, should have the opportunity to live the American Dream.

But this abortion on demand bill would destroy our country's future. Today, we are embarking on the biggest step backward in our Nation's history. This vote could be the most consequential vote that any of us take.

Today, the science is even more clear than it was in 1973, that a child in the womb is a living person. And yet, my colleagues on the other side remain obsessed with killing unborn babies in the name of female empowerment.

Many supporters of this bill, like me, call us pro-life Americans extreme. I have heard it already this morning.

But I have seen extreme. I have witnessed the cruelty of abortion and it is ugly.

In South Bend, Indiana, Dr. Ulrich Klopfer provided abortions for decades. When he died in 2019, his family found the medically preserved remains of 2,411 children hidden in his garage. That is 2,411 human babies preserved in formaldehyde in jars in his garage. It was national news for a week. This abortionist left a legacy of death and destruction. That is what extreme looks like.

Abortions sold as healthcare is a sickening violation of human dignity that Americans should not and cannot tolerate.

So I will ask this question: Will we allow this to happen again?

As a nation, we have an obligation to future generations to reject abortion on demand and to fight for life. I implore my colleagues here today, join me in opposing this bill and standing for life.

The truth is on our side, and, in the end, the truth is going to prevail.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of my fellow Hoosier, Corporal Humberto Sanchez. Alongside 12 of his brothers and sisters in arms, Corporal Sanchez died in the line of duty while helping to evacuate Americans and allies from Afghanistan.

This young Hoosier knew the risks of the mission and yet, he stood in the face of danger to help vulnerable children evacuate Abbey Gate at the Kabul airport. Instead of running from danger, he stayed at his post and finished the job before him.

Corporal Sanchez exemplified the greatest of the American spirit, a selfless willingness to lay down one's life to serve and protect. His service is the starkest reminder today that freedom is not free.

The American people are indebted to Corporal Sanchez, to each of the fallen, and to their families. We will never forget these heroes.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, this week the House is considering radical legislation that would unravel fundamental human rights and obliterate pro-life laws that are across our Nation.

The Democrats' effort to advance this abortion on demand piece of legislation across the Nation could be considered the most consequential legislation of my lifetime.

Much has changed since the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade in 1973. Four

decades later our medical capabilities and understanding is far better. And with incredible advancements in modern sonograms and imaging, there can be no doubt that a child in a womb is a living person deserving of life.

And yet in this moment we are about to embark on one of the biggest setbacks in our Nation's history.

Right now, this very moment as it ticks by, lives are on the line as every second goes by.

Some of this bill's supporters like to call pro-life Americans and our convictions extreme. Let me tell you in this House about extreme. I have seen extreme, and I am going to tell you about extreme.

At home in South Bend, Indiana, I saw an extreme abortionist. I saw what an extreme abortionist can do in one decade in several States that happened to be on the abortion train.

It is sickening beyond words what Dr. Ulrich ``George'' Klopfer did as he provided abortions in Indiana for decades. When he died in 2019, his family found the medically preserved remains of 2,411 children in formaldehyde bottles lining the walls in his garage. That is nearly 2,500 human beings.

Law enforcement officials believe that the remains were gathered from his so-called medical practices in Indiana between 2000 and 2003. Dr. Klopfer had countless victims, both unborn babies and mothers, and he represents a grotesque violation of human dignity.

This American society should not and cannot tolerate that. That is extreme.

The abortionist revealed a callous disregard for life. If that isn't extreme, ladies and gentlemen, I don't know what is.

Human life is precious, and every human life, every person deserves that dignity that we are fighting for tonight. We have an obligation to the next generation to oppose this extreme anti-life effort and to uphold the sanctity of life in this Nation.

I am proud to join with millions of pro-life Americans to oppose abortion on demand and to defend the right to life. Science is on our side. More importantly, ladies and gentlemen, the truth is on our side. Our enduring commitment to life will prevail.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Terry Tucker, who retired this summer after decades at the helm of Maple Leaf Farms in Leesburg, Indiana. Under his leadership, this family-owned business has become a top duck producer in North America, as well as a major center of economic growth and job creation in our community.

A lifelong Hoosier, Terry has firsthand experience with the many tasks required to run a busy duck farm. His history with Maple Leaf Farms began as a part-time job in high school when his tasks ranged from cleaning out duck barns to loading ducks for transport to processing plants.

While he was in college at Purdue University, Terry married Sandra Wentzel, the daughter of Maple Leaf Farms founder Donald Wentzel. After graduating with a degree in agriculture economics, Terry returned to the farm full time in 1963 and quickly demonstrated leadership and business acumen. He was named treasurer in 1966 and, after Donald's death, was promoted to executive vice president in 1968. As Maple Leaf Farms grew in both capacity and numbers, Terry's responsibilities continued to increase. In 1974, he was named chief executive officer, president, and chairman of the board of Maple Leaf Farms.

For more than 30 years, Terry strategically led Maple Leaf Farms and invested in its growth. Under his leadership, the Tucker Family expanded and modernized the farm's operations, including acquiring the United States' largest duck producer, C&D Foods of Wisconsin, constructing new biosecure facilities, and doubling the capacity of its Indiana duck processing plant.

In 2001, Terry stepped down as president of the company and turned this responsibility over to his sons, Scott and John, who serve as co- presidents for the company. Since then, he has remained incredibly active in Maple Leaf Farms as CEO and chairman of the board of directors, helping to lead this Indiana company into the 21st century.

In addition to his work at Maple Leaf Farms, Terry also has volunteered his time and expertise to invest in our region and the industry, serving on many boards, including Lakeland Financial Corporation, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Purdue Research Foundation, Liberty Mutual, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Indiana State Poultry Association, Poultry & Egg Institute of America, and the Indiana Institute of Agriculture, Food & Nutrition. In recognition of his accomplishments, Terry has been honored with many awards, including an Honorary Doctorate of Agriculture from Purdue University in 1995.

Terry and his wife, Sandra, have invested decades of hard work to our region, building a successful business and feeding American families. They are incredible leaders in our community and have made remarkable contributions to this vital industry.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of 2nd District Hoosiers, I want to thank Terry Tucker for his

exemplary leadership and commitment to Maple Leaf Farms, our region, and American families. As he embarks on a new chapter, I wish Terry and the Tucker Family continued good health, happiness, and success in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to once again stand for life and to prevent American taxpayers from paying for abortion services overseas. Americans should never be forced to fund abortions against their conscience, period.

I have long supported the Hyde amendment, which prohibits taxpayer funding from paying for abortions domestically. Yesterday, I proudly spoke in support of this key pro-life protection, which the Democrats stripped from these appropriations packages.

Now, Democrats are trying to force Americans to foot the bill for abortions abroad. For decades, the Helms amendment has prohibited abortion services from being included in our Nation's foreign aid.

Driven by a radical agenda, Democrats and the Biden administration have removed this longstanding, commonsense prohibition from the State and Foreign Operations bill on the floor today.

To make it clear, congressional Democrats and the Biden administration are trying to force the American taxpayer to fund abortions in foreign nations.

The facts are on our side. Seventy-seven percent of Americans oppose using taxpayer dollars for this purpose. It is deeply disappointing, but not surprising, that Democrats are continuing to attack our pro- life values and Americans' fundamental conscience rights.

Taxpayers in Indiana and around the country should never be forced to bankroll abortion services here at home, and we most certainly should not be forced to bankroll abortions abroad.

This is a dangerous path of destruction. I urge my colleagues to oppose the bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise to defend the dignity of life and the rights of pro-life Americans. We must protect taxpayers from being forced to fund abortion against their own conscience.

The Hyde amendment which prohibits taxpayer dollars for paying for abortion has had bipartisan consensus since 1976 and the majority of Americans still support it today. This pro-life protection has saved nearly 2.5 million lives.

Driven by a radical agenda, Democrats and the Biden administration have stripped this vital amendment from these appropriation packages. It is incredibly disappointing that Democrats want to force American taxpayers to bankroll the destruction of life.

I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 18, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which would make this prohibition the law of the land. Pro-life Americans must stand together to protect the most vulnerable among us. Lives are depending on us.

I urge my colleagues to oppose this rule and the underlying bill to prevent taxpayer funding from paying for abortions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to defend the unborn and protect taxpayers from being forced to fund abortions.

The Hyde amendment, which prohibits taxpayer dollars from paying for abortion, has enjoyed broad, bipartisan consensus since 1976, and a majority of Americans support it today. It is estimated to have saved nearly 2.5 million lives.

It saddens me that I now have to defend this commonsense provision from attacks by congressional Democrats and the Biden administration. Americans should not be forced to financially support the destruction of life.

That is why I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 18, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which would codify this vital prohibition into law.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 18, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate former Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson on her recent retirement and to thank her for many years of dedicated service to Hoosiers.

Throughout her years of public service, Connie has dedicated herself to moving Indiana forward. She was elected to the Indiana State Senate in 1996, and, in 2006, she became the first woman to serve as Senate Majority Floor Leader. In 2012, she was appointed to serve as Indiana's 61st Secretary of State. In these roles, she worked tirelessly to strengthen our communities and advance opportunities for future generations. Connie truly made our state a better place for Hoosiers to live, work, and thrive.

I am grateful to have worked with Connie on behalf of our state's businesses, workers, families, and voters. Her strong conservative values and Hoosier common sense have helped bring Indiana's businesses into the 21st century and ensured our elections remained free, fair, and secure. Her unmatched leadership, tenacity, and integrity, both in the Indiana Senate and as Secretary of State, have helped secure Indiana's status as an economic powerhouse. With a AAA credit rating, fiscally responsible budget, and low unemployment rate, our state is among the best places in the country to start and grow a business.

Governor Eric Holcomb has dubbed Connie ``Indiana's own Iron Lady,'' and I couldn't agree more. She is a true patriot with a servant's heart, and her passion for helping her fellow Hoosiers has always been clear. I have no doubt her legacy will last far into the future.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Indiana's 61st Secretary of State Connie Lawson for her lifelong commitment to serving our communities. On behalf of 2nd District Hoosiers, I wish her the best as she embarks on this next chapter in life.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for hosting this critical Special Order to discuss the ongoing impact of enhanced unemployment benefits on Main Street businesses, the American workforce, and our economic recovery.

Like many of my colleagues, I have seen ``help wanted'' signs all over my district. I have heard from local job creators about the difficulties they face in hiring workers they need just to stay open. Many have told me they can't even get people to show up for an interview.

Enhanced Federal unemployment benefits made sense last year as a way to keep those who lost a job and to reduce the economic impact of government-imposed business closures and stay-at-home orders. But now, we are facing a much different situation today.

Safe and effective vaccines are bringing us closer to defeating COVID-19. Employers have updated their facilities and operations so workers can safely return back to work. Businesses are fully operating.

Now is the time to reconnect unemployed workers with their jobs, but enhanced jobless benefits are discouraging Americans from returning to work, making it impossible for businesses to hire.

The Democrats' partisan $1.9 trillion spending bill extended supplemental unemployment benefits of $300 per week until September 6. At this level, nearly 40 percent of jobless Americans can make more on unemployment than they can by returning to work.

Main Street businesses shouldn't have to compete with the Federal Government for workers. In fact, they can't compete with the Federal Government for workers. The labor shortage currently is crushing small businesses, which are fighting to keep their businesses alive while coming out of a pandemic.

In late March, I hosted a virtual roundtable and heard from a Hoosier who owns a small insulation company. He told me: It has been quite the burden to have all these tools on hand and all these trucks in the driveway and to put people in the seats to get them to be able to drive to homes to provide insulation when nobody wants to come to work.

Just last week, we saw the undeniable impact of these misguided policies when the monthly jobs report showed hiring slowing to a crawl in April in this country, despite millions of job openings.

My biggest fear is that we will see permanent job loss across our economy as small businesses close their doors because they can't hire workers that they need.

But it is not too late to avoid this outcome. I recently joined Ways and Means Republican leader Kevin Brady in introducing the Reopening America by Supporting Workers and Businesses Act. Our bill would turn extra unemployment benefits into a back-to-work bonus that would incentivize these workers to come back to work instead of staying on unemployment. The legislation would also reinstate the Federal requirement that those receiving unemployment benefits be engaged in actively searching for a job.

The American people have faced unprecedented challenges since last spring. Now, safe and effective vaccines have given us renewed hope that we can defeat COVID-19, rebuild our economy, and return to normal life.

Let's not put our recovery at risk by pushing workers to the sidelines of this economy. Let's get Americans back to work, Main Street businesses back on their feet, and the American Dream back on track for every single American.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Geraldine O'Mara who will celebrate the milestone of her 95th birthday on April 4, 2021.

A New Yorker through and through, Geraldine was born in Queens and grew up in Sag Harbor and Steward Manor. One of 12 brothers and sisters, Geraldine has always held family as a guiding light and source of strength. Geraldine was married to the late Thomas J. O'Mara, a World War II veteran, and together they had three children, Sharon, James, and Michael. She has dedicated her life to being a role model for her children and giving them every opportunity to learn, grow, and find the path to success.

Coming from a large family, one of Geraldine's greatest blessings in life is spending time with her seven grandchildren and seven great- grandchildren. To this day, she enjoys reading scripture and tending to her garden, and is known for giving back to those in need and lifting others up with her strength.

Madam Speaker, people like Geraldine make our country a better place, and I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing her good health and many more birthdays.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor United States Air Force Colonel Larry H. Shaw on his highly decorated, 33-year career serving our nation, and to congratulate him on his retirement as commander of the 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom Air Reserve Base in Miami County, Indiana.

Colonel Shaw began his military career in 1988 after earning his commission from Reserve Officer Training School at the University of Nebraska, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He went on to accumulate more than 5,700 flight hours and deployed overseas for multiple operations. Colonel Shaw's years of leadership, pilot training, and mission development have ensured the nearly 1,900 military, civilian, and contractor personnel at Grissom have what they need to support the United States Air Force mission and defend our country.

Grissom Air Reserve Base is a source of pride for Hoosiers in our community. It is the largest employer in Miami County, and it is home to the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Since Colonel Shaw became commander in 2016, I have seen firsthand the positive impact of his dedication and commitment to excellence. I want to thank him for his outstanding initiative throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He has

gone above and beyond to ensure the brave men and women under his command remain safe and healthy. In addition, his innovative thinking has brought numerous economic development opportunities to northern Indiana, strengthening the communities surrounding Grissom Air Reserve Base.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Colonel Shaw's accomplishments through more than three decades of service in the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserve. On behalf of 2nd District Hoosiers, I am grateful for the incredible legacy he will leave behind, and I wish him all the best in the years to come.