Floor Statements

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for yielding.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of this bill and equally strong opposition to the amendment.

Simply put, this amendment ties the hands of our intelligence community, making all of us less safe. This amendment requires the IC to get a probable cause warrant to search a set of data that has legally been collected. Our intelligence community must have access to legally collected, pertinent information, and we should not be adding roadblocks.

As a former law enforcement officer, I strongly believe in the civil liberties of all Americans. I spent my life protecting them. However, this amendment does not provide any more protection to Americans. All this amendment does is gut 702, giving to terrorists, adversaries, and bad actors a major win.

Restricting access to already legally collected data makes us all less safe, and 702 is a vital piece of our security and must be preserved.

Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Pastor Terry and Reverend Cynthia Horn on celebrating their 50th anniversary of active children's ministry aimed at teaching good citizenship, along with biblical moral values.

Dr. Terry Horn, as you can see here beside me, is affectionately known as Uncle Sam, and he and his wife Cynthia began their ministry, as I said, 50 years ago to teach Christ's love, hope, and healing in poverty stricken areas. The Horns have brought the Gospel message to major cities throughout the United States before finally being called to relocate to Jacksonville in 2011. It is that time that I was sheriff in Jacksonville, Florida, and got to know their program well.

Their current organization, Metro City Kids, is a faith-based mission serving Jacksonville's inner-city children. Their efforts have had notable and tangible importance in our northeast Florida community. Metro City Kids works to connect children living in public-assisted housing to Christ and encourages them through weekly mentoring, Bible study, and prayer to live a Christian lifestyle. The Duval County's Sheriff Office, which I was sheriff, reported that juvenile crime in public housing areas where Metro City Kids operated saw a 40 percent reduction in their first 5 years of service. That was an amazing, amazing accomplishment.

Metro City Kids' impact on Jacksonville is far-reaching, and hundreds of children and families have been blessed by their dedication to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Pastor Terry Horn, ``Uncle Sam,'' and his wife, Reverend Cynthia Horn, for their ministry in the parts of our community that were most in need. Their investment in our next generation has made northeast Florida a safer, more loving place to live, and I thank them for that.

Congratulations to Ponte Vedra High School and Creekside High School

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the exemplary athletic achievement of the girls' soccer teams from Ponte Vedra High School and Creekside High School, both located in my district.

On Saturday, March 2, these two varsity teams became 2024 Florida High School Athletics Association State champions, following playoff wins at the Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand, Florida.

The Ponte Vedra Sharks won the Class 6A State championship against East Lake High School with a pair of second-half goals. Hadley Conway, Jenny Dearie, and Elle Anderson scored for the Sharks, earning them a 3-1 victory.

Over the course of the team's five playoff games, Ponte Vedra outscored their opponents 22-2. I have to mention

that this is the fourth State championship for Ponte Vedra's powerhouse soccer program since the school's inception in 2009, all under amazing Coach Dave Silverberg.

Now, the Creekside Knights triumphed over Boca Raton in the Class 7A league, also securing their spot as State champions. This is the second time in that program's history that the Knights have claimed the title, both in the past 3 years, again under amazing Coach Joe Soto's leadership. Goals from Chloe Iliff and Sarah Weisberg cemented the well-deserved 2-1 win that concluded their fantastic season.

Mr. Speaker, I am truly honored to congratulate the hardworking student athletes of Ponte Vedra and Creekside High Schools for their great achievements. I thank Coaches Silverberg and Soto, their parents, the entire Ponte Vedra and Creekside communities for supporting these champion athletes. Florida's Fifth Congressional District is truly proud to have such determined and dedicated students. I wish them the best in their continued endeavors, and I wish both of their programs great success.

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

Madam Speaker, today hundreds of thousands of children and adults all across America, including over 177,000 just from my State of Florida, live with digestive gastrointestinal liver or pancreatic disease or inherited metabolic disorders, commonly referred to as ``IMD,'' that actually inhibits their bodies from being able to process typical foods.

When left untreated, Madam Speaker, inherited metabolic disease or gastrointestinal conditions actually cause the body to fail to absorb nutrients, and the food can actually become toxic.

Without necessary nutrition, patients can face severe health risks, including unnecessary surgeries, hospitalizations, intellectual disabilities, or death.

Our health system must be structured to support proven treatments so that these patients can continue to live with these diseases.

I recently introduced legislation with Representative McGovern that would make medically necessary nutrition more easily accessible to patients across the Nation.

H.R. 6892, the Medical Nutrition Equity Act, builds on coverage Congress passed for TRICARE and would actually cover medically necessary food, vitamins, and individual amino acids for these Americans with digestive and inherited metabolic disorders and allow them to lead normal, healthy lives.

As co-chair of the Crohn's and Colitis Caucus where I advocate for these digestive disorders, I urge my colleagues to consider supporting this legislation as we work to pass it into law.

Holding Rule Breakers Accountable

Madam Speaker, as a former sheriff, I dedicated my life to holding rule breakers accountable, and I am here to tell you this morning that President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas are rule breakers.

Their inaction on securing the southern border is not a failed policy, Madam Speaker--it is their policy. For over a thousand days now they have refused to secure our southern border.

The House tried to intervene when we jointly passed H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, the strongest border security bill in history.

While Senator Schumer and President Biden refused to act on this bill, we continue to see record numbers of illegal immigrants at our border, increasing rates of fentanyl poisoning, and an uptick in our national security threats.

Senator Schumer and President Biden falsely claim that they need additional authority to fix this situation at the southern border. That is blatantly false.

If the President cared about truly securing the border, Madam Speaker, all he has to do is undo the 94 executive actions that he has taken since becoming President that have created this crisis at the southern border and support States like Texas and others in their efforts to secure their own borders, and he can sign H.R. 2 into law.

I am proud to join with Representative Hinson and my other colleagues in demanding that the President enforce our laws on the books today to immediately address this crisis at the border.

I have to say that the President's inaction is costing American lives and billions of dollars. For 3 years, Republicans have been the balefire to America that our southern border was in crisis--3 years.

It takes a Presidential election and the impeachment of the Homeland Security Secretary to actually get Democrats to finally admit that there is a crisis at our southern border. That should not be.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the St. Augustine Art Association's 100th birthday.

Founded on January 18, 1924, 100 years ago today, the St. Augustine Art Association has now become the 13th oldest continually operating art association here in the United States.

The association plays an integral role in preserving and promoting the artistic heritage of St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the continental United States and has been described as the epicenter of the local arts community.

The St. Augustine Art Association Art Center is open year round and is free to the public, welcoming over 10,000 visitors annually. The gallery hosts exhibitions, concerts, workshops, classes, lectures, and artwork from more than a thousand different artists of all backgrounds.

Thanks to the art center's involvement, these contemporary artists are able to keep St. Augustine's present day art colony alive and thriving.

The St. Augustine Art Association also provides outreach programs that serve several groups within the community, including the blind, local public school students, elder groups, and community businesses. These groups are all given access to the association's user-friendly gallery there in the heart of St. Augustine.

On behalf of Florida's Fifth Congressional District, I am proud to recognize the St. Augustine Art Association for its contributions to our community's local culture, history, and community. We wish them a happy 100th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate Fort Mose Historic State Park in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida.

Fort Mose, a national historic landmark, is the site of the first legally sanctioned free Black settlement in the United States.

In the 1600s, enslaved people in the British Carolinas made their way south to freedom in St. Augustine, which at that time was under Spanish rule.

Next week, the park, along with the Florida State Parks Foundation and community partners will break ground on a full-scale reconstruction of the original fort that once stood there.

You can see the updated renderings of the fort here beside me. It is really going to be an amazing site.

This project is the realization of decades of dreams, dedication, and hard work from hundreds of individuals who share a love for the Fort Mose history and rich, rich story.

Thanks to the partnership of the Florida State Parks Foundation, the Fort Mose Historical Society, and Florida State Parks, the fort will be completed this winter, and it is expected to draw visitors from around the world to northeast Florida.

The reconstructed Fort Mose will have lasting impacts for St. Johns County, our State, and our Nation for generations to come.

So congratulations from Florida's Fifth Congressional District, to, again, the Fort Mose Historic State Park, and to all who have been involved in bringing this amazing story to life.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Arizona for yielding.

As very well stated, Mr. Speaker, a little over 2\1/2\ years ago, the Republicans in this body were talking about a crisis at the southern border. The illegal immigrants that were pouring into this country had created a crisis.

Finally now, 3 years later almost, the Democrats across the aisle finally want to admit that there is a crisis, but they blame it on funding. We need more funding.

Well, Mr. Speaker, I am here to tell you, it is not a funding issue, it is a policy issue. We need to change our policy.

In May, House Republicans passed H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act. In 2023, we passed that bill. This robust border bill will require the Biden administration to complete the Trump-era border wall, increase the number of Border Patrol agents, reinstate the remain in Mexico policy, and remove all the incentives that are encouraging people to cross our border illegally.

Senator Schumer must bring H.R. 2 to the Senate floor for a vote. We need them to do their job over in the Senate. We need relief from this crisis.

Mr. Speaker, for the last 7\1/2\ months, that bill has been sitting, languishing in the Senate, with Democrats refusing to even negotiate the issues.

It is very clear now, 7 months after House Republicans passed that bill, that now the Democrats own the border crisis and the Democrats own the national disasters that will flow from this crisis.

In 7 months' time, over 1 million illegal immigrants have been encountered at our southern border. Make no mistake, the United States has been and will continue to be a nation of immigrants that welcomes people from around this world who love this land.

I have seen firsthand the death, destruction, disorder, and diseases that have been brought into our communities by the unvetted migration coming over our porous southern border.

Mr. Speaker, 2 years ago, a 24-year-old man, who HHS left unidentified, posed as a minor, was flown to my district, where he killed one of my constituents.

The Democrats own that. He was not the first criminal to enter as a criminal, and he won't be the last.

Even the leaders in New York, California, and other blue States are calling out for support as they deal with the influx of migrants into their cities. The Democrats own that.

Among the 2.4 million people that CBP encountered in FY 2023, 15,000 of them had criminal records, and 169 of them were on the terrorist watch list. Again, these are just the ones that we know about. The Democrats own that.

This humanitarian national crisis has stretched our immigration system to a breaking point. A nation without borders is not a nation.

Every day that President Biden and Senator Schumer ignore this crisis, our country becomes less safe. While the Senate has refused to negotiate and accept the major tenets of H.R. 2, CBP has intercepted 8,400 pounds of fentanyl at the southwest border.

The fentanyl pouring in over this border is killing our neighbors, friends, and families at an alarming rate. In just 2022, over 70,000 people died of fentanyl poisoning. The Democrats own that, too.

If we can't prove who is coming across the border, the default policy, according to Secretary Mayorkas, is to let them in. Don't know who they are, but come on in. That has to stop. The Democrats own that, too.

I implore Senator Schumer to bring H.R. 2 to the floor for a vote. The Democrats own this border crisis and the death and destruction it has and will cause in our country. The Democrats own that, too.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pride to honor five students from my district who were selected to perform at the 2023 National Youth Orchestra.

Each summer, Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute invites some of the brightest young musicians from across the country to travel the world in a free, multi-week training residency with world-class professional musicians.

The National Youth Orchestra participates in a platform to shine on a global stage. Today, I recognize five of the 2023 National Youth Orchestra participants from my district.

They are Beckett Miles from Jacksonville; Leila Warren from Ponte Vedra Beach; Nelson Keakopa from St. Johns County; and Luke Valian Malobay from Jacksonville; and Theodore ``TJ'' Shistle from Jacksonville.

Thanks to countless hours of practice, determination, and dedication, these students have participated in performances which have touched the hearts of audiences around the world and demonstrated an outstanding proficiency, grace, and commitment to excellence.

On behalf of Florida's Fifth Congressional District, congratulations to each of these young musicians for their contribution to the field of music performance, their passion for their craft, and their willingness to share their talent.

Mr. Speaker, our community is behind them as they go on to accomplish their future accolades.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bonnie Faye Haddock Jackson on the occasion of her upcoming 100th birthday.

Bonnie was born in Kings Ferry, Florida, to Louis and Mattie Henderson Haddock on November 26, 1923. Bonnie spent her life investing in our community.

Bonnie attended Eagle Academy in King's Ferry and Hilliard High School in Hilliard, Florida. She then met the love of her life, Fred Jackson, a U.S. Army officer, who served our Nation during World War

Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Madam Chair, we are going to use $100 million, to use the Senate's number, to influence what should be a local decisionmaking process on zoning for affordable housing.

We all support affordable housing. That is not really the issue. The issue is who is going to make the zoning decisions within each and every location and jurisdiction throughout this country. We don't believe that it should be the Federal Government imposing its will on local government in those zoning decisions. That should be up to the locals.

Madam Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, let me reiterate that Washington bureaucrats ought not be getting into the zoning business of local jurisdictions across the United States with $100 million to influence folks to make decisions that may not be in the best interests of those in the community.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Chair, the CDBG program is one of the few opportunities that the Federal Government has where we actually take taxpayer dollars and send them back to the State and local governments to use the way they see fit.

That is the reason I rise in opposition to this amendment. This will cut $13 million just from the State of Florida and a little over $4 million just from my district alone.

Madam Chair, having been in local government as a sheriff for 12 years, I can say that CDBG was a tremendous opportunity to help public safety in the way that our community needed assistance. It wasn't a mandate down from bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. It was an opportunity to take tax dollars, return them to the taxpayer, and allow their elected representatives to decide how best to use that money.

For that reason, I am opposed to the gentleman's amendment, and I ask all my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. Chairman, I just have to say that across the board 57 percent--and it does look like we are going above the 2023 numbers, but actually we had to start off with a cut of about $8 billion to fill a hole that was caused by last year's Democratic budget gimmicks and the disasters of the Biden economic plan.

We reduced wasteful spending funding across 19 different DOT and HUD grant programs. We have right-sized spending for transportation infrastructure. We have prioritized two things in this bill: transportation safety and housing assistance for vulnerable Americans. That is where the focus lies.

We have cut significantly from the 2023 numbers. Cutting this bill through indiscriminate across-the-board cuts really abdicates our responsibility to make sure that we are protecting the priorities of this Nation in transportation safety and housing for America's most vulnerable.

Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' on this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I am very supportive of this amendment. The gentlewoman has been leading on this topic for quite a while through the REINS Act. I have to tell you, Mr. Chairman, I think this is one of the two areas that most threaten our democracy right now, and that is rulemaking in executive orders that absolutely go around our Article I authority here in this body.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. I would love to see it in every bill that we pass in appropriations.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this amendment. Let me reiterate the point that was just made that this is such a break from the norm in the evaluation of these antitrust analyses going forward. DOJ has had that responsibility.

I particularly thank the gentleman for really staying on top of this. This is clearly an overreach by the Biden administration, and I thank the gentleman for that.

Mr. Chairman, I fully support the gentleman's amendment. In fact, in the underlying bill, we have included in section 126 a prohibition on the Department of Transportation from imposing requirements on State and local governments to prove emission reductions as a condition of receiving funds.

Nonetheless, the gentleman's amendment is even more comprehensive, which I support, because it would cover programs across this entire bill and several of the Biden executive orders that would harm our economy.

Mr. Chairman, I encourage all of our colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavailable and I missed the following Roll Call vote. Had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 542.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Aimee Befort for her tireless efforts to place children in reliable, safe, and loving homes.

In 2013, Aimee started her career in child welfare as a dependency case manager for the St. Johns County Family Integrity Program, which works with State and local partners to find safe homes for abused and neglected children.

After 2 years as a dependency case manager, Aimee transitioned into the role of adoption coordinator, where she works closely with case management staff to avoid prolonged foster care and expedite permanency through adoption.

Thanks to her determination and ongoing efforts to place children in secure homes, she has played a role in finalizing over 250 adoptions for more than 100 families.

Throughout my 40-year career in law enforcement, I have seen the difference individuals like Aimee can make in our community. Without Aimee's heart for our youth, these children would have lost the opportunity for a safe and joyful childhood.

For this reason, I was proud to nominate Aimee for this year's Congressional Angels in Adoption award. On behalf of Florida's Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, I extend a heartfelt congratulations to Aimee Befort.

Mr. Speaker, may God bless her and this calling, and may God bless the families that she serves.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to shed light on pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency, commonly known as PDCD.

This incurable and extremely rare mitochondrial metabolic condition, which manifests at birth, prohibits patients from properly transforming carbohydrates into energy, and instead turning them into lactic acid that causes painful seizures and developmental delays.

I recently met with Rick and Kim Higbee, a family in Jacksonville, Florida, who have experienced the challenges of PDCD firsthand. Their daughter, Harlow, pictured beside me, began to show signs of PDCD as an infant. As any parent knows, when there is something wrong with your child, you will move Heaven and Earth to get answers and provide for their care.

Sadly, since PDCD does not currently appear on infant screening lists, the Higbee family waited 9 painstakingly long months before they had a name for Harlow's condition and were able to begin treatment.

Thanks to the doctors, nurses, and specialists at UF Health in Jacksonville and her own fighting spirit, 3-year-old Harlow has defied the odds.

This week, World Mitochondrial Disease Week, I am proud to join the Higbee family and thousands of others in advocating for PDCD to be added to the infant screening list and for additional research funding to go toward finding a cure. Early detection and diagnosis can mean the difference between life and death for more than 15 million children.

On behalf of Florida's Fifth Congressional District, I am committed to ensuring that families in our community like the Higbees are supported in their fight to eradicate this condition.

God bless Harlow and all of our children living with PDCD.

Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from Texas for yielding.

Madam Speaker, today I stand before you proud as an American and the son of a Navy veteran. Throughout my life I had the opportunity to witness our servicemembers' unwavering commitment to this Nation.

I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of our all-volunteer force in the United States military.

In January 1973, the Department of Defense replaced mandatory service with an opportunity for brave men and women to voluntarily step up and serve.

Over 15 million proud Americans have served over the last five decades with more than 2 million voluntarily serving today. These American heroes epitomize patriotism through their courage, honor, and selflessness and represent the cornerstone of our military's unparalleled strength.

We may think of our military strength in regard to weapons systems and ships and aircraft, but, Madam Speaker, this does not highlight our biggest military advantage, which is our people.

We have the most professional military in the world with a clear command and control structure. As we face

recruiting challenges among the services, we must remind our younger generations of the honor to serve, protect, and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.

I have to tell you, I am very hopeful for our future when I think of the brave men and women who will join our all-volunteer force over the next 50 years.

I have to tell you, every Congress Member knows, as my good friend from Texas knows, one of the greatest privileges we have is to nominate young men and women to attend our military academies. I can tell you, those men and women give me great hope for the future of the United States military.

I thank all of those who volunteer, like Commander Jake Ellzey right here. Thank you for your service. I thank your friend Brian Ferguson, who I don't know, but I thank him for his service, and I thank him for working on that film. It is one of my favorites.

May God bless the United States and those who willingly defend it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 15th anniversary of Deutsche Bank in Jacksonville, Florida. Over the past 15 years, Deutsche Bank has played an integral role in supporting our region's thriving financial sector and community.

While Deutsche Bank's roots in America go back to 1872, their Jacksonville office began as a small operation in 2008 consisting of approximately 100 employees. Since then, the Jacksonville office has grown to become Deutsche Bank's second largest location in the Americas, employing approximately 2,400 talented individuals and generating significant local economic activity.

The Deutsche Bank Jacksonville office is a multi-functional site that generates new business and provides client and bank-wide support services with a significant presence and expertise in sales and trading, anti-financial crime, compliance, technology, cyber security services, client onboarding and operational support. In the last 15 years, the office has created thousands of jobs, financed local businesses, and supported many community causes such as public education, the arts, combating hunger, work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize and congratulate Deutsche Bank for 15 years of operation in Jacksonville. On behalf of Florida's 5th Congressional District, I wish Deutsche Bank Jacksonville and its staff continued success in their future endeavors.