Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, the Midlands of South Carolina this week celebrated the life of Dr. Kaushal Sinha on Sunday with a memorial service at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home in Lexington.

Dr. Sinha was born February 10, 1940, in Bande Vishunpur, India, the son of Srimati Indirawati Devi and Sri Puneet Sinha.

He and his beloved wife, Arunima, came to New York City with only $6 each in their pockets when they arrived. His first job in America was limited to cleaning medical equipment with his medical degree supplemented by being a night janitor.

From the humble background of a village without electricity, he became the first college graduate of the village, leading to becoming chief of the orthopedic department of Lexington Medical Center.

I was grateful to volunteer with Kaushal and Arunima to establish the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of South Carolina.

Dr. Sinha and the Indian-American community of over 4 million citizens reinforce, with the highest income per capita of any household of an ethnic group, that the American Dream is alive for persons who work hard to achieve based on their personal effort, not government dependency.

In conclusion, God bless our troops who successfully protected America for 20 years in the global war on terrorism as it continues moving from the safe haven of Afghanistan to America with Biden open borders for terrorists. It is sadly clear there will be more 9/11s across America imminent in our country.

Madam Speaker, sadly, under Biden, only 36 percent of voters said the American Dream is achievable--that is, if you work hard, you will get ahead, especially with equality and not being held back by forced equity sameness. This is according to a recent Wall Street Journal national opinion poll.

This gruesomely indicates it has been reduced from 53 percent 10 years ago to where it is now at 36 percent. Even ``CBS News'' reports with the failing Biden economy:

The typical American household must spend an additional $11,443 annually just to maintain the same standard of living they enjoyed in January of 2021.

That is before inflation even soared to 40-year highs.

Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, will continue to fight and push for legislation to reduce inflation and create jobs.

We send our sympathy and appreciation for the life of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who served with President Richard Nixon. He is beloved in South Carolina because he became a naturalized citizen in our State at Camp Croft in Spartanburg.

In conclusion, God bless our troops who successfully protected America for 20 years as the global war on terrorism continues moving from the Afghanistan safe haven to America with Biden open borders for terrorists. It is sadly clear that there will be more 9/11s across America imminent in our country.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to recognize the 2023 Army Congressional Fellow, Major Gustavo Caruso, for his service to the office of the Second Congressional District of South Carolina.

His yearlong service in Congress is ending, and Gus will be missed. He has been an indispensable contributor to legislative goals, including the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. He has been a valued team member for the military and veterans.

Gus has received deserved awards in his 14 years of service, including combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was deployed to the Poland-Ukraine border to face the murderous invasion of Ukraine by war criminal Putin.

Gus hails from Georgia, has a bachelor's degree from the University of Hawaii, and holds two graduate degrees. His next assignment will be at the Pentagon, where Gus will continue his promotion of peace through strength.

In conclusion, God bless our troops who have successfully protected America for 20 years as the global war on terrorism continues, moving from the Afghanistan safe haven to America. Senator Tommy Tuberville is correct that there will be 9/11 attacks ``every few days'' due to Biden's open borders for terrorists.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to recognize Mike Budney, Manager of the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site, on receiving a 2023 Presidential Rank Award (PRA).

The PRA is one of the highest awards bestowed upon career senior executives by the President of the United States for making extraordinary and lasting achievements for their respective agencies.

During his service at the Savannah River Site, Mike has overseen completion of the tank waste treatment system with the startup of the Salt Waste Processing Facility, spearheaded the Accelerated Basin De- inventory project, saving taxpayers billions of dollars, and broken ground on the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, a facility that will bring government, industry, and academia together to develop and share advanced manufacturing technologies.

Leading a workforce of over 12,000 government and contractor personnel to successfully accomplish these critical tasks demonstrates his commitment and service to this nation. This is in addition to his 29 years of service in the U.S. Navy, including commanding officer of the USS Emory S. Land and the USS Pennsylvania.

I am grateful to Mike for his service in helping to keep America strong and safe. Congratulations on receiving the Presidential Rank Award, an inspiration for what we can achieve as public servants.

Madam Speaker, I was grateful last weekend as chairman of the Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe to chair the American delegation for the Fall Meeting in Yerevan, Armenia.

Parliamentarians from nearly 50 countries were present with sessions led by OSCE Parliamentary Assembly president Pia Kauma of Finland.

Armenian Head of Delegation Sargis Khandanyan was a very successful host for the warm Armenian welcome. Sessions featured active participation of many productive points of view on corruption as a fundamental threat and respect for all people affected by conflict.

There was wide recognition the civilized world is sadly in conflict as it did not choose of dictators with rule of gun invading democracies with rule of law as war criminal Putin has invaded Ukraine and Iran puppet Hamas invading Israel.

It was impressive the dynamic economy of Armenia, 9 time zones and 6,441 miles from Washington. It was encouraging to meet National Assembly Deputy Ruben Rubinyan serving as special envoy on a normalization with Turkiye, America's valued NATO ally.

God bless Armenia. God bless America.

Mr. Speaker, the poor decisions of Biden and far-left Democrats are failing American families and destroying jobs.

According to an October poll, about two-thirds of Americans report rising household expenses. More than 70 percent described the national economy as poor.

A Bankrate survey shows that 50 percent of Americans say their financial situation is worse since Biden became President, as inflation has risen to a 40-year high, in contrast to President Donald Trump who created a record job environment.

Bidenomics is hurting American families. America has 6.5 million people who remain unemployed. Prices have risen 17 percent since Biden took office. Families are paying more than $700 per month to buy the same exact goods and services they did just 2 years ago, according to the chief economist at Moody's Analytics.

Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, will continue to fight to reduce inflation and create jobs.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, who successfully protected America for 20 years as the global war on terrorism continues moving from the Afghanistan safe haven to America with Biden open borders creating an imminent attack on American families.

Last night, on ``Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy'' on FOX News, Senator Tim Scott suspended his Republican Presidential campaign.

In his decision, the Senator said, ``I love America more today than I did on May 22. . . . I am suspending my campaign. I think the voters, who are the most remarkable people on the planet, have been really clear that they are telling me: Not now, Tim.''

He has served since 2011 as a Congressman and then followed as a Senator since 2013. Growing up in North Charleston with his inspiring mother, Frances, Tim Scott has two brothers: Ben, an Army Command sergeant major, and Earl, an Air Force colonel.

On Friday, to celebrate Diwali, I met with Consul General Ramesh Babu of India, where I recognized the three countries most attacked by terrorists are India, America, and Israel, with Israel tomorrow being appreciated with AIPAC a part of the rally fighting dictators, as is Ukraine fighting war criminal Putin.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, who successfully protected America for 20 years as the global war on terrorism continues moving from Afghanistan's safe haven to America with Biden's open borders.

Mr. Speaker, last month, Fox Business reported that Biden repeated his false campaign pledge that he would not raise taxes on Americans making below $400,000. Days afterwards, tax commissioner, Danny Werfel, was hiring 3,700 employees, which is insulting as higher income earners have returns carefully prepared by professional accountants, unlike Hunter Biden's evasions.

In direct conflict to Biden, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration said there is no way to identify taxpayers that meet the criteria of $400,000 or more.

According to Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform, the findings of the inspector general blew up the narrative, and the Democrats are knowingly lying.

In conclusion, God bless our troops who successfully protected America for 20 years as the global war on terrorism continues moving from the Afghanistan safe haven to America with Biden open borders and an attack here imminent.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Byron Thomas, a valued member of the congressional district office for winning a seat on the Cayce City Council. We are proud of him, and we know he will serve the public well.

Madam Speaker, last month the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget reported on the final Monthly Treasury Statement for 2023 by the Department of the Treasury.

The U.S. deficit totaled $2 trillion. This figure is double the deficit of 2022 and higher than the Congressional Budget Office projected in June.

Officially, the deficit grew $320 billion from 2022. As a share of the economy, the deficit was 7.5 percent of the gross domestic product. This is larger than at any time in American history outside of war, recession, or national emergency.

Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, will continue to fight to pass legislation to reduce the deficit helping American families.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, who successfully protected America for 20 years, as the global war on terrorism continues moving from the Afghanistan safe haven to America with Biden open borders.

The New York Post this week warns a 9/11 attack in America is imminent.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Congressman Rich McCormick's resolution of censure.

Enemies of civilization are gruesomely bold and clear on their murderous intentions. A heinously revealing declaration of their barbaric intentions by the Iranian puppet Hamas is detailed in the Hamas Covenant of August 18, 1988. In the midst of insane provisions is article 7: ``The Day of Judgment will not come about until Muslims fight the Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: `O Muslim, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him.'''

They are very clear. What they are talking about is death to Israel and then death to America.

The New York Post is correct in warning last week that we in America are subject to another 9/11 attack being imminent by such people.

The goal of Hamas puppets of Iran is to murder the Jews worldwide. It is fake news about caring for the Palestinian people. This is not about territory. Suffering by the Hamas-oppressed people of Gaza is solely Hamas dictated.

We know the duplicitous wording of ``from the river to the sea'' is nothing more than a call of mass murder to Jewish people and will then lead to mass murder in America.

Hamas, Houthis, and also Hezbollah are puppets of Iran with their intent, and we are actually in a war we did not choose between dictators with rule of gun attacking democracies with rule of law. This began with the war criminal Putin's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and led to the Hamas invasion of Israel on Putin's birthday, October 7.

Over 30 missile attacks have already seriously injured American troops who are serving in this war.

Bold and clear are the dictators with Putin's treatise of July 2021 that Ukraine does not exist; that the Chinese Communist Party that threatens the 24 million people of Taiwan, they don't exist; and Iran chants in English, ``death to Israel, death to America.''

It is sad to hear how the Iranian propaganda is being promoted by our media and colleges.

As the grateful father of four sons who have served in Iraq, Egypt, and Afghanistan, I appreciate the Israeli and Ukrainian troops for their courage.

Democracies will prevail by building peace through strength.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, what an extraordinary day that we have, the beginning of the speakership of Mike Johnson of Louisiana.

I hope everyone will see his acceptance speech last night. They need to look at that. It was a conservative, very clear voice calling for limited government, expanded freedom, and reduced regulations to provide for a strong America. It is such a positive message. He promised to be with the people, and he is so much with the people, he is sitting in the front row. No Speaker has ever sat in the front row. This is another first.

In addition to that, Speaker Mike Johnson is going to address Bidenomics, the most extraordinary inflation in 40 years, where American families have lost $7,000. He is going to stop the war on fossil fuels so that we have fuels and energy independence. He is going to be for a strong America, and that is how we are going to deter the dictators around the world who have invaded Ukraine, who have invaded Israel, who threaten the people of Taiwan.

America will be strong.

We will have a dynamic Speaker. We look forward to his leadership, and again, America is back on track.

Mr. Chairman, today I rise in opposition to this amendment by my good friend, Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi. I am grateful to see Chairman Fleischmann working with Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur as we oppose this amendment.

This is a time when the Chinese Communist Party is conducting the largest nuclear buildup in world history. War criminal Putin is invading Ukraine and threatens nuclear weapons. The dictatorship in Tehran is invading Israel; it is developing nuclear weapons while chanting, ``Death to Israel, Death to America.'' In defense, we should be modernizing America's nuclear arsenal.

We did not choose the war of dictators with the rule of gun who are invading democracies with rule of law, but we are in this. Ukraine has been invaded, Israel has been invaded, and they threaten Taiwan.

Plutonium pit production is among the most critical national security needs. As with every weapon, we must continue to invest in improvements to our nuclear inventory to achieve peace through strength in the tradition, as the chairman has so correctly said, of Ronald Reagan.

Sadly and incredibly, last night, BBC News broadcast a report: Russia has just rehearsed a massive nuclear strike capability. This was presented on Russian Putin's state TV last night as the defense minister reviewed with the war criminal Vladimir Putin of how current this is.

The United States currently has a statutory requirement of producing 80 plutonium pits per year, as close as we can to 2030. Of those 80, the Savannah River Site will be responsible for producing 50. As the only Member of Congress who has actually worked at the Savannah River Site, I know of the competence and capabilities of people at this site.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to support this bipartisan resolution, which has been offered by our chairman Mike McCaul and our ranking member Greg Meeks.

I was born with an appreciation for the people of Jewish faith. My birthplace of Charleston, South Carolina, at the time of the American Revolution had the largest Jewish population in the New World who had come here to escape oppression and to achieve freedom, which they achieved in America.

I am grateful today to be the chairman of the Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa, and Central Africa and co-chairman of the Israel Caucus.

Just 7 weeks ago today, I met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is so courageous and is serving there in Jerusalem.

I pledged then my support of Israel to defend itself from a nuclear Iran, which also includes, of course, support of Israel from the barbaric invasion of Hamas, the puppets of Iran who have conducted murder, killing hundreds of persons, 1,200 at least, and even possibly more that, indeed, are puppets of Iran to kill people in Israel.

Sadly, we are in a conflict we did not choose with dictators with rule of gun invading democracies with rule of law.

On October 7, which is the Israeli equivalent of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor, I was grateful to be attending the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Copenhagen, Denmark, where with Finland and Sweden, Western civilization has never been more united to defend Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

America's resolve for Israel I saw firsthand on May 14, 2018, leading a House delegation to fulfill President Donald Trump's opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem with the extraordinary Ambassador David Friedman.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues of both parties to support the resolution.

Mr. Chairman, the Energy and Water Appropriations bill is critical for national security, energy security, and creating jobs.

I congratulate Chairman Chuck Fleischmann for his extraordinary success in developing this legislation, which is so crucial to achieve peace through strength. I respect but disagree with Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur.

On passing H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, earlier this year, House Republicans have shown dedication to lead in a way that will secure America's energy independence. I am grateful for the strong actions taken to lower costs for families through deregulation. Biden's disastrous war on fossil fuels has helped war criminal Putin to finance his mass murder in Ukraine.

Increasing domestic energy production is the best way to combat the dangerous dependency on Chinese-made or -supplied electric vehicle batteries and solar panels that further enrich the Chinese Communist Party.

The green energy spending has been diverted into unsustainable boondoggles wasting taxpayers' money.

I appreciate that this legislation supports critical missions at the Savannah River Site, which I am grateful to represent. As the only Member of Congress who ever worked at the Savannah River Site, I know firsthand of its importance and dedicated personnel.

In South Carolina, nuclear energy has provided over 60 percent of the energy matrix, and I am grateful to Governor Henry McMaster, a champion for small modular reactors.

Mr. Chair, I urge passage of the bill.