Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this week the EPA inspector general reported that the EPA has failed to accurately report the use of $7 billion in 2022.

This jarring report is the clearest sign yet that the EPA is unable and unwilling to adequately serve the American people.

Under President Biden's leadership, this failure in accountability is what we have come to expect. No one is surprised.

Whether it is creating burdensome regulations on our Nation's coal- powered generation plants or constructing extreme methane rules for natural gas producers or attempting to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles, the EPA has repeatedly shown that it is unable to govern effectively.

The inspector general's report outlines how 99 percent of the EPA's total award-level outlays were not reported in fiscal year 2022.

If the EPA cannot adequately account for the taxpayer funds that it

distributes, how can it possibly be relied upon to effectively regulate our energy industry?

It is time to rein in the out-of-control EPA and hold the EPA accountable to the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the vice chairman for yielding to me.

Mr. Speaker, last week, I joined the largest congressional delegation in history to visit our southern border. What we saw is absolutely alarming. It is alarming to me personally and will be alarming to every American. We saw a Border Patrol station that has been under constant siege for months. We saw a community in Eagle Pass dealing with the strain of over 300,000 migrants crossing the border in the past 30 days. We saw an emboldened cartel that continues to smuggle drugs and human trafficking into every community in America.

Speaking to Border Patrol agents and local sheriffs, it is clear that President Biden's open border policies have led to this national security crisis.

In the past 3 years, we have seen the number of attempted entries by individuals on the terrorist watch list skyrocket to over 100 a year with 1.5 million got-aways reported by the Border Patrol. That number is surely larger. We have seen an increase in drug smuggling with substances like fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin entering our Nation at record levels.

Moreover, we have seen reports of public schools being used as holding facilities for migrants instead of being used for American students who are already suffering from historic learning losses after the COVID pandemic.

All of this amounts to a pattern of failure brought on by the Biden administration's refusal to address the border crisis head-on.

Half measures will not keep Americans safe. It is time for the Senate to pass H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, and begin working in good faith to protect our communities.

For far too long, my constituents have been poisoned by fentanyl analogs that are created in China, made into pills in Mexico, and brought into the United States through an open southern border.

It is time to enforce our laws. It is time to reinstate the remain in Mexico policy. It is time to give Border Patrol agents the tools and the resources that they need to protect our border and to protect the sovereignty of our country. It is time to secure our Nation.

Madam Speaker, today, we celebrate National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day to recognize and thank the 700,000 men and women who make up the thin blue line. In my district, these dedicated professionals work around the clock to protect and serve our communities.

It was President Ronald Reagan who said: ``Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid.''

From responding at a moment's notice to calls for help to executing high-risk warrants, we rely on our police officers, our sheriffs, and our troopers to keep us safe. An outstanding example of this work is police Chief Ron Camacho, who has been an exemplary leader for young officers in his department.

His message of mentorship, community policing, dignity, and respect have been instrumental in leading the Chambersburg Police Department, and I am grateful for his leadership.

On this National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, please join me in thanking the officers who have dedicated their lives to service. Their hard work, long hours, and personal sacrifices should never go unnoticed.

Mr. Speaker, since 2022, the Juniata College Eagles women's volleyball team has played 70 matches. During that time, they have lost only twice.

Today, I rise to congratulate the Juniata Eagles on winning their second consecutive NCAA Division III national championship.

Playing with technical skill, agility, and power, these young women have built a program that has stood the test of time, becoming a dominant force and drawing more attention to the sport of volleyball in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Last week, the Eagles showed that their hard work over the past 2 years was well worth it--defeating Hope International three sets to zero in the championship match.

Standing behind these incredible athletes is their dedicated coaching staff and mentors who have dedicated their expertise, guidance, and support to nurture these exceptional student athletes.

Coach Heather Pavlik and Assistant Coach Casey Dale have committed themselves to shaping not just skilled players but also well-rounded student athletes.

On behalf of all the people in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District, I congratulate the Juniata College Eagles under the leadership of President Jim Troha and wish them every continued success in the years to come.

Mr. Chair, I thank Dr. Foxx for yielding.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. As a doctor, I know the benefits of whole milk, and I know that whole milk can have benefits for Americans of all ages.

Whole milk is 96\1/2\ percent fat-free. According to a study that was conducted that lasted for more than 15 years and was published in The Lancet journal of medicine, individuals who consume more than two dairy products each day have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. There is lower morbidity associated with those who have whole milk and whole milk products in their diet.

The 13 essential nutrients that are found in milk are vital to the development of bones, muscles, and even brain tissue in our Nation's children.

By banning healthy milk products from our schools, misguided policies that were crafted and implemented by the Obama administration, that has led students to turn away from milk and dairy products and turn to highly caffeinated and sugary drinks. Those drinks have very little nutritional value.

Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District is home to the most number of dairy cows in our Commonwealth. Recently, I had the chance to visit Galliker's Dairy Company in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

For the past four generations, Galliker's has processed milk from 46 regional family dairy farms for retailers, grocery stores and schools across the Northeast.

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act will ensure that the whole and 2 percent milk processed at facilities like Galliker's will make its way into school lunchrooms across the country.

Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to vote for nutrition by supporting this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, in 2022, we saw the highest number of opioid overdose deaths in our Nation's history. These deaths are the result of soft-on-crime policies from the Biden administration that have failed to enforce strict penalties on the traffickers who continue to deal in fentanyl-laced drugs.

Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago, I received an email from Ray Cullen, a resident of Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Ray, along with his wife, Deb, had raised their children in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District. Ray told me a story about his son, Zach, who had been out with his friends. Zach was sold a combination of cocaine laced with fentanyl, a deadly poison that took Zach's life.

Zach was a victim of fentanyl poisoning that night. He didn't know that the drugs that he and his friends had purchased were laced with this deadly synthetic opioid.

Because of how lethal fentanyl is in small quantities, it has become the leading cause of death of Americans between the ages of 18 and 49 years.

Earlier this year, I was honored to be joined by Deb and Ray when the House passed the HALT Fentanyl Act. This legislation would permanently classify these drugs as schedule I narcotics and impose strict penalties for those who are caught trafficking these deadly poisons.

For far too long, we have seen fentanyl components manufactured in China and shipped to Mexico, where they are pressed into counterfeit pills and trafficked across our porous southern border.

Addressing these supply chains at every level must become a top priority for the Biden administration. Appeasing the Chinese Communist Party with halfhearted requests to ``cut back'' on the production of fentanyl is doing nothing to protect families in Pennsylvania. These half measures are doing nothing to support our border towns that continue to deal with the constant threat of cartel operations moving north into the United States while Border Patrol agents are overwhelmed with illegal immigrants.

We cannot afford to wait any longer to address the opioid crisis. It is time for the Senate to pass the HALT Fentanyl Act and finally take positive, concrete steps to stop the fentanyl poisoning deaths that have continued to occur throughout the United States.

During this holiday season, we remember families like the Cullens who have borne the brunt of these policy failures. We pray for them, and we hold them in our hearts as they prepare for another Christmas without a loved member of their family.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act is part of our commitment to supporting our patients, creating access to affordable medications, and making the healthcare process easier to access for literally all Americans.

Included in this legislation is my bill, the Strengthening Community Care Act, which would reauthorize support for community health centers. These centers are a vital source of care for over 30 million Americans and nearly 240,000 individuals in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District.

By reducing barriers like cost, lack of insurance, or distance, community health centers are able to provide high-quality treatment to the patients who need it the most: the patients who are underinsured or not insured at all.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, and I will be voting ``yes'' for this important piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan bill will grant the FCC temporary authority to issue over 7,500 licenses that have been stalled while the spectrum auction authority has lapsed. To address this issue, I am proud to be the sponsor of the 5G SALE Act, which was unanimously reported out of committee.

It has now been more than a year since Auction 108 was conducted by the FCC for these 2.5 gigahertz band licenses. During the auction, more than $400 million was raised by 63 bidders. Releasing these licenses will mean greater competition among providers and money funneled into our economy.

The 5G SALE Act would cut through bureaucratic red tape and help get more Americans connected to high-speed coverage than ever before. Especially in rural areas, where I represent, in Pennsylvania's south central and southwestern area, coverage can be scarce. Congress must work to ensure that students, patients, workers, and farmers all have access to 5G internet.

In places where seeing a medical specialist can mean a 2-hour drive, access to reliable 5G connection can be life-changing for a patient. These connections are invaluable also for our farmers, as they use precision farming to plant crops and harvest.

Access to the internet is vital for our students as they work to do their homework--their homework at home, not in the parking lot outside of a convenience store.

Recently, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology heard from Chair Rosenworcel that the FCC would devote the necessary resources and time to ensure that these licenses would be issued as quickly as possible once this legislation is enacted.

I am grateful for all the work that went into advancing this commonsense legislation to help connect more Americans than ever before.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, once again, we are seeing President Biden put Green New Deal priorities ahead of Pennsylvania families. By proposing to eliminate gas-powered cars from our roads, the Biden administration is attempting to fundamentally change how Americans drive.

The proposed rule from the EPA assumes that battery electric vehicles will make up 60 percent of new cars in 2030 and almost two-thirds by 2032. The basic facts show us that this assumption is simply wrong and that attempting to ban the sale of internal combustion engine cars, internal combustion engine trucks, and internal combustion engine SUVs that families in Pennsylvania rely on is dangerous.

This legislation is a vital part of stopping the Biden administration's far-left, Green New Deal agenda from being implemented.

In tandem with my legislation, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, the CARS Act would help to ensure that the Clean Air Act, which is a 51-year-old piece of legislation, is not manipulated to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles.

In the Energy and Commerce Committee, we have heard testimony from experts across the political spectrum, including members of the Biden administration, who say that transitioning to EVs would be costly and ineffective. Just this month, we heard from more than 4,000 car dealers, including 70 from Pennsylvania, who say that transitioning to battery vehicles would be a disaster for drivers across our country.

More than 95 percent of Americans use gas-powered vehicles. Demanding that they transition to battery electric vehicles in the next decade would be disastrous for our economy, unsustainable for our electric grid, and devastating to American families.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation and put a stop to President Biden's reckless use of agency rulemaking.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, our national debt eclipsed $33.8 trillion. This means that we have now crossed a dangerous new threshold of over $100,000 of debt for every man, woman, and child in the United States.

This rampant and wasteful spending has only been made worse by President Biden's reckless budgets that have led to soaring inflation and more pain for Pennsylvanians.

From canceling student loans to handing out cash reimbursements for electric vehicles, Joe Biden has shown that he is more worried about appeasing his far-left base than our financial well-being.

In the past year, the average family was forced to pay an additional $11,000 to cover the cost of just everyday goods.

It is time to cut spending and stop borrowing from China to pay for reckless liberal policies.

The trillions of dollars that we pay in interest on this debt does nothing to keep our Nation safe. It does nothing to fund Medicare. It does nothing to secure our open southern border.

It is time to pass a Federal budget that addresses our debt and puts an end to the mismanagement of our finances brought on by President Biden's Green New Deal initiatives.

Biden Administration Imposes Burdensome Regulations

Mr. Speaker, far too often, we have seen the Biden administration impose onto American energy producers burdensome regulations that only serve to drive up costs and limit production.

Instead of turning to power sources like natural gas, oil, or propane, President Biden has focused his attention on using taxpayer dollars to subsidize inadequate and unreliable projects like windmills and solar farms.

In places without gas pipelines, which have been difficult to build due to the President's own actions, power alternatives like propane can be a vital tool in order to keep refrigerators cold and our homes warm.

We have heard from experts who have testified to the dangers of potential rolling blackouts this winter as our grid struggles to meet demand without the aid of coal-fired plants that have been a cornerstone of our energy production literally for decades. As we look to confront these potential blackouts, it is critical that we utilize energy resources that are so abundant in Pennsylvania.

We cannot afford to waste any more time investing in Green New Deal initiatives. It is time to return to our baseload power and ensure that our families are protected from energy blackouts.

Madam Speaker, this September, the Biden administration paved the way for $6 billion in sanctioned funds to be accessed by the Iranian regime in exchange for the return of American hostages.

Authorizing this transfer puts us in an incredibly dangerous position and will only encourage Iran and other state sponsors of terrorism to kidnap more hostages in the future.

What we saw in the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan and what we are seeing, once again, is that President Biden has failed to manage our Nation's foreign policy.

This deal gives Iran access to more money to fund more terrorist activities, including support for regional proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah.

We know that the Iranian regime is highly skilled in sanctions evasion, and they will do everything they can to hide the true use of these funds.

One thing is for certain, this money would not be used for humanitarian purposes, as the Biden administration has claimed.

It is time to pass the No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act and freeze this money in Qatari banks where it is currently being held.

We cannot allow the Iranian regime to enrich itself and continue to funnel money into the hands of known terrorists.

Public Lands Shouldn't Be Used to House Illegal Immigrants

Madam Speaker, in the past week, the Tucson, Arizona, sector of our southern border has encountered over 2,000 illegal immigrants each and every day.

This crisis has pulled in Border Patrol resources, including highly trained BORTAC units to confront the surge of illegal immigrants from across the southwest.

This has left dangerous gaps in our border security for cartels to exploit, smuggling deadly drugs like cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl into the United States.

Now, after repealing Trump's remain in Mexico policy, the Biden administration is attempting to use public lands and national parks to house illegal immigrants.

This policy shift is a failure, and it is a failure that will continue to have immediate and negative consequences for so many American communities.

Places like the Gateway National Recreational area in New Jersey should not be used to house illegal immigrants who have been allowed by President Biden to remain in America for far too long.

Our communities cannot afford to continue down this treacherous path.

It is time for Congress to pass legislation that prevents our public lands from being used to support the crisis that President Biden has failed to address with our failed ability to maintain the sovereignty of our country by making sure that all of our borders are secure.

Mr. Speaker, today, our national debt stands at over $33 trillion, which is an increase of nearly $5 trillion since President Joe Biden took office.

By borrowing money from China to subsidize Green New Deal initiatives like windmills, solar panels, and electric vehicles, President Biden has failed to rein in spending and sent our national debt soaring to unprecedented levels.

As Congress looks to address next year's funding, it is clear that a change needs to be made and that cuts to government waste are needed in order to right the ship and restore sanity to our budget.

Right now, we are on an unsustainable trajectory that will put making interest payments on our debt the largest single line item in the Federal budget, surpassing Social Security, Medicare, and all other spending programs.

It is time to chart a new course and help return to fiscal solvency while supporting the priorities that matter the most, priorities like protecting seniors, funding our military, and securing our border.

Pennsylvania families and, in fact, all American families cannot afford President Biden's reckless spending, and I call on my colleagues to join me in working to pass a budget that is responsible and shows that Congress is working to be solid stewards of American taxpayer dollars.

Recognizing National Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Mr. Speaker, this November, as we recognize National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Congress must look to find new and innovative solutions to treat this terrible disease. Each year, lung cancer takes the lives of over 127,000 Americans, more than any other type of cancer in America.

Unfortunately, at a time when we should be looking for new innovation, the Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, has led to a slowdown in research and development of new drugs and therapies that could be critical to saving American lives.

New price controls, which were established by the IRA, create a system of disincentives for smaller, innovative drug manufacturers that are working to treat rare diseases, including cancer.

To address this issue, I have been joined by a bipartisan group of my colleagues to introduce the ORPHAN Cures Act. This legislation would amend the IRA to create a new exemption that would incentivize researchers to explore the development of new medications to treat rare diseases and cancers.

The clock is ticking, and now is the time for Congress to pass this bipartisan solution for our constituents and the patients who are currently battling cancer and other rare diseases.

Mr. Speaker, this Veterans Day, we recognize the 6 percent of Americans who have put on a uniform, raised their right hand, and sworn an oath to defend our Nation.

Now, after more than 20 years of war, it is time for us to follow the words of President Abraham Lincoln and ``to care for him who shall have borne the battle.''

Congress must recommit itself to standing for these men and women who have served our great country, making sure that physicians are recruited to serve at VA hospitals in rural areas and ensuring that the PACT Act is fully implemented to protect veterans who have been exposed to toxic chemicals.

Veterans Day holds a special meaning for the 50,000 veterans and their families who call Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District home. From deploying overseas to assisting with border security and disaster relief here at home, our Nation's servicemembers have been at the heart of operations that ultimately protect all Americans.

With more veterans than any other district in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District has a unique connection to those who have served in the Armed Forces.

This Veterans Day, let's all join in thanks for the soldiers, the sailors, the airmen, and marines who have fought and who have sacrificed to keep our Nation safe and our Nation free.

the world is falling apart under president biden

Mr. Speaker, this weekend, The New York Times quoted Spencer Weiss, a Pennsylvania electrician who said: ``The world is falling apart under Biden.''

As prices spiral out of control, as illegal immigrants continue to surge at our southern border, and adversaries like China and Iran spread their influence abroad, President Biden has failed to lead. President Biden has failed to keep Americans safe.

Instead of working across the aisle to fight inflation, Joe Biden has proposed billions in new spending. Instead of passing critical legislation like the Secure the Border Act, Joe Biden has welcomed illegal immigrants into towns and cities across our country. Instead of standing with Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East, Joe Biden has threatened to veto legislation that would resupply the Iron Dome and keep Israeli citizens safe from Hamas rockets.

Mr. Speaker, it is now more clear than ever that President Biden's policies have failed our families, failed our communities, and ultimately failed our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, last month, there were 269,735 attempted border crossings by illegal immigrants. The numbers don't lie. Joe Biden's open border policies have unleashed a crisis, making every State a border State.

I have been to our border and spoken to the agents on the ground who are currently working tirelessly to handle the humanitarian crisis and the national security crisis that continues to occur each day.

It is time for the Senate to pass the Secure the Border Act, which would force the Biden administration to restart construction of the border wall, increase the number of Border Patrol agents, end catch and release, and finally deploy the new technologies that our Border Patrol agents have requested in order to help secure our border.

Our communities cannot afford to wait any longer. It is time to fund our Border Patrol and ensure that our agents have the tools and the resources they need to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and the individuals who cross our border from the terrorist watch list. They are entering our Nation each and every day.

Mr. Speaker, at the Constitutional Convention in my home State in Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin called upon his fellow delegates to begin each day in prayer. He said: I know that my redeemer lives. And if a sparrow cannot fall without His notice, surely a nation cannot rise without His aid.

Since coming to Congress, Speaker Mike Johnson has embodied Benjamin Franklin's words, turning to prayer and to faith in God as he serves in the U.S. Congress.

Since first being elected, Speaker Johnson has been a tireless champion for conservative values, fighting for life, protecting our Constitution, and standing for the rule of law.

Now, as we move forward, it is clear that Speaker Johnson is the right choice to lead the House of Representatives at this critical time.

In the days before he was elected as Speaker, I had the opportunity to talk with Speaker Johnson about the challenges that we face in Pennsylvania. We discussed the fentanyl poisonings that have become the leading cause of death for young Americans. We discussed how energy prices are soaring and how families are worried about how they are going to be able to afford gas and food for their families. We discussed how so many Pennsylvanians are feeling the effects of President Biden's failed leadership. As we confront these issues, Speaker Johnson is ready to lead.

Together, let's work to defend our allies from Hamas terrorism, let's address the skyrocketing inflation that we face, and let's pass a budget that is worthy of the American people.

Returning to the Energy Under Our Feet

Mr. Speaker, as the leaves begin to fall from the trees, American families, businesses, and churches are confronted once again with the soaring prices of energy that will make it difficult to heat their homes, their businesses, and their places of worship this winter.

Instead of addressing this crisis and opening new oil and natural gas leases, which would help to address OPEC's cuts to oil production, President Biden has chosen to cut permits, create new bureaucracy, and enact policies that will only drive energy costs higher.

Simply, this is unacceptable. By working to impose Green New Deal tax incentives, the President has chosen to put his wealthy donors ahead of Pennsylvania families.

With energy prices now costing Americans over $3,000 more each year than when Joe Biden took office, it is clear that the President's failed policies are to blame for the skyrocketing price of gas, oil, and electricity.

It is time to rein in these runaway prices by returning to the energy that is underneath the feet of the constituents in central and western Pennsylvania.