Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, there is a reason that we hold our law enforcement, our firefighters, and our paramedics in such high esteem. It is because these men and women are called to protect human life.

As a doctor, I swore an oath to first do no harm, and to protect the sanctity of human life, working to care for those who are vulnerable.

Here in Congress, we also swore an oath to protect our country and to protect our citizens, and that means that we must all stand for life.

I am proud to stand for those who protect human life at all costs. I am proud to have cast my vote in favor of the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and the Senate must urgently take up this important piece of legislation to protect human life.

Mr. Speaker, we are all called to love children who are created in the image of God. This Nation must bind together and work to protect all of those, both born and unborn, and this Congress must always stand for human life.

National School Choice Week

Mr. Speaker, this week, we celebrate National School Choice Week, and recognize that parents have the right to choose the school that is best for their children.

For the past 3 years, we have seen lockdowns and curriculum that failed to provide American students with the education that they so desperately need and want. American 9 year-olds have now lost two decades of progress in math and reading after prolonged school shutdowns and closings.

It is clear that parents need to, once again, have a greater say in their children's education. To make sure that that happens, Congress must act to protect these parents by passing the Parents Bill of Rights.

Parents have the right to know what their children are being taught in school. Parents have the right to see their child's school budget and the spending. Parents have the right to protect their children's privacy and to ensure that their children are safe in school.

Congress must commit to passing legislation that puts students and parents first. Let's work to recover the education that was lost during the school shutdowns, and let's work to create a future that is built on freedom. Freedom for students, freedom for parents, and freedom for families.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I congratulate her on her historic leadership position.

Mr. Speaker, our Nation and our national security have always been tied to our ability to utilize the resources that we have right here in America to remain free.

The energy resources that are underneath the feet of my constituents were vital to the production and fueling of the tanks, the planes, and the ships that gave Americans the advantages that we needed to win World War II.

And now, the Chinese Communist Party threatens free nations with oppression.

The Biden administration has allowed our Strategic Petroleum Reserve to be sold to Chinese companies for political purposes. Instead of approving new leasing permits, Biden delayed new drilling projects and canceled on day one the Keystone XL pipeline.

Instead of incentivizing companies to use the resources that we have in Pennsylvania, Biden targeted American energy producers with new regulations that made natural gas and oil more expensive for American families.

Selling away our Strategic Petroleum Reserve for political gain has left our Nation less safe and our economy less secure.

Mr. Speaker, 950,000 barrels of American strategic petroleum to the Chinese Communist Party?

This boggles the American mind.

It is time to refill our strategic reserves. It is time to stop risking our national security to score cheap political points.

I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, this week, we will take historic steps to reverse the crises created by President Biden's administration and fulfill our Commitment to America.

For the past 2 years, the Biden administration has chosen to appease the radical left that continues to undermine American families. Now, it is time to turn the page. It is time to return to serving the American people.

Pennsylvania families need results. They do not need empty promises. That is why on day one we voted to stop IRS agents from going after small businesses who are simply trying to follow the law. That is why we will vote to keep American oil from being sold to the Chinese Communist Party. That is why we will vote to support our law enforcement and send the clearest message yet that Republicans will never allow the far left to defund the police. And we will vote to save the lives of unborn children by finally passing the Born Alive Survivors Protection Act.

These pieces of legislation are the beginning of enacting our Commitment to America. It is time to build an economy that is strong; it is time to fortify a Nation that is safe; and it is time to deliver a government that is accountable. That is our commitment to Pennsylvanian families. That is our Commitment to America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the growing threat posed to the American people by the influence of the Chinese Communist Party.

Let us be clear, the greatest influence, the greatest challenge that we face from an outside source today, is from the Chinese Communist Party. From intellectual property theft to deceptive trade practices, and the acquisition of farmland to the consolidation of the rare earth minerals industry, the Chinese Communist Party continues to pose challenges to America as we speak.

Americans are waking up to the threat. From combating global public health threats to defending our networks and equipping Americans to lead in global innovation, we must act now to confront the growing threat of the CCP.

Having served on the China Task Force, I was proud to work with my colleagues to address these challenges. Together, we delivered over 400 commonsense and workable solutions to

help address the challenges that we certainly recognize we face today.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we worked to shed light on the vulnerabilities of our medical supply chain. We worked to strengthen our national security, protect our American values, and secure our place in international leadership for years to come.

Now, it is time to continue that mission by creating the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the CCP. This select committee will finally give the threats posed by the CCP their due congressional attention and ensure that American innovation and American ingenuity continue to outpace the threats to global security and global stability that is perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, in recent years, we have seen the devastating toll of fentanyl and its analogs all across America. A drug that is cheap to manufacture and, unfortunately, incredibly potent, to the point that it is now the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 49; over three decades of life.

Since July, the seizure of fentanyl at our southern border has averaged 2,200 pounds a month, meaning that our Border Patrol agents are now confiscating more fentanyl in a single month than they did in the entirety of 2018.

These are not just statistics in a government report.

Last week, I spoke to the parents who had lost a son to an accidental overdose. A vibrant, intelligent college student who had a mixture of cocaine and fentanyl sold to him, and he lost his life.

As I speak today, the first responders, police officers, and coroners in Pennsylvania tell me stories about how potent these drugs have become and how a single dose of Narcan is often no longer enough medication to revive a person who is suffering from an overdose.

These drugs are increasing in potency and, unfortunately, in affordability as drug cartels in Mexico have begun to manufacture and sell these drugs for the cost of a cup of coffee.

The human cost of this epidemic has been staggering, and it is in our rural areas that constituents are suffering the most.

We must recommit ourselves to the unfinished work of addressing this crisis. We need to invest in our communities and give our police officers and medical professionals the tools that they need to save lives and protect our neighborhoods and communities.

Unless we in Congress act, the fentanyl analogues that have become so deadly will become legal on American streets in just 3 days. The clock is ticking.

Our constituents are counting on us to address this issue. They are counting on us to permanently ban fentanyl analogues that have claimed thousands of American lives.

We need to work together to address this issue and ban permanently the fentanyl analogues that have taken such a grave toll on all American communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an issue that will affect millions of Americans unless Congress acts.

Unless we prevent the Medicare reimbursement cut that is scheduled to go into effect, the doctors, hospitals, and healthcare providers who work each day to treat Medicare patients may be forced to eliminate services, furlough staff, and delay health initiatives.

These cuts will have the deepest impact on those patients who rely on Medicare to see their doctors.

At a time when our healthcare industry is already facing record burnout, we cannot afford to risk losing more doctors, nurses, and healthcare providers.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in fighting these potential cuts in order to protect American patients who rely on Medicare each and every day.

Madam Speaker, throughout his career, Fred Keller has had many titles.

He's been a CEO, State representative, Congressman, and deacon. But the title that I know Representative Keller is most proud of is ``grandfather.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and to thank a man whom I have had the privilege of calling a fellow legislator and a friend.

For the past 4 years, I have been proud to work alongside Representative Fred Keller. One of the great joys of my time in Congress has been joining alongside Fred Keller and other Members of Congress in a morning prayer group.

Through his actions and through his deeds, Representative Keller has set an example of what it meant to serve his constituents faithfully and with their best interests at heart.

Throughout his career, Fred has been a champion of conservative values, defending life, fighting for our students, and always working tirelessly to hold government accountable.

There has been no greater advocate for his district and no greater champion of liberty than Representative Fred Keller.

Madam Speaker, this body will miss having Representative Fred Keller among us in the 118th Congress.

In Remembrance of Kurt Keilhofer

Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Mapleton firefighter, Kurt Keilhofer, who was killed while serving the people of Huntingdon County on December 6, 2022.

A native son of Pennsylvania, Kurt dedicated his life to serving others, to serving his community. Aside from his work in agriculture, Kurt served not only as a firefighter, but also a member of the Mapleton Borough Council where he worked each day to put the needs of Mapleton residents first. He enjoyed camping, motorcycles, and spending time outdoors. More than any of this perhaps, Kurt also enjoyed time with his 15 grandchildren and his great-granddaughter, Aria.

We owe a debt of gratitude that we can never repay to Kurt, who gave his life while doing what firefighters do: protecting others each and every day that they serve us.

This year, 86 firefighters have lost their lives in the line of duty. This Christmas, please join me in saying a prayer for those families who will be missing a loved one who died in the service to their communities.

Mr. Speaker, as we recognize National Bible Week, we have the chance to reflect on the wisdom and guidance that the Holy Scripture provides to us as we seek to govern.

It was Benjamin Franklin who said: I know that my redeemer lives. And if a sparrow cannot fall without His knowing, surely an empire cannot rise without His aid.

We see evidence of God's love and providence in so many aspects of our American lives. From our military, who have kept our Nation safe, to the doctors and researchers who have developed lifesaving medicines and cures because they have the freedom to innovate, to the miners, rail workers, and manufacturers who have built a strong and prosperous country, and to the farmers and producers who till our soil and grow the food that we rely on, there is abundant evidence that we are truly a blessed Nation.

May God continue to bless these great United States of America.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to congratulate the Naval Submarine League on their upcoming 40th Annual Symposium, and to thank them for their diligent work to support the men and women of the Silent Service.

The Naval Submarine League was founded in 1982 as a non-profit organization for civilians, as well as active-duty, reserve, and retired military members who remain passionate about the importance of submarines for national security. Members work to promote education, awareness, and research to increase

the practical usage of submarines in today's world.

As we mark the 40th year of the League's existence. we are reminded of the incredible devotion and commitment of our sailors who ply the waters of the globe.

On behalf of the people of Pennsylvania's 13th District, I congratulate the Naval Submarine League on their accomplishments and efforts and join in celebration of their 40th symposium.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to congratulate the Juniata College Eagles women's volleyball team on winning the NCAA Division III national championship.

Playing with such grit, technical skill, and power, these young women were instrumental in creating 34 victories during the season.

Coach Pavlik believed that there are no shortcuts to success. Practice and hard work combined with respect for your opponent are the hallmark of what makes a team great. It was those values and a refusal to quit that allowed this team to come back to defeat Trinity College to win the national championship.

It is the Eagles' third national title, as they become one of just five women's volleyball programs to have won three national championships.

Equally as important as the team's success in volleyball is their success in the academic classroom. Juniata's commitment to academic excellence is a shining example of how student athletes can be supported both on and off the court.

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

Secure Our Borders

Mr. Speaker, it has been reported that a near-record number of migrants are flocking to our southern border as the title 42 remain in Mexico policy is set to expire.

Initial reports show that over 70,000 immigrants evaded apprehension just in the past month, the highest on record, according to preliminary data.

This surge in crossings is bringing a national security and humanitarian crisis to our border, even as the Biden administration refuses to provide additional funding to our Customs and Border Patrol agents.

Without that funding, without the tools, without the training and equipment our Border Patrol needs, our safety and security are at risk.

President Biden has never stepped foot at the southern border, and he has worsened and ignored our historic border crisis at each and every turn.

Now is not the time to end title 42. Now is not the time to leave our ports of entry vulnerable. And now is not the time to play political games with our national security.

Our borders are at risk, and the sovereignty of our country is maintained only with protecting our borders.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of S. 198, the Data Mapping to Save Moms' Lives Act, that mirrors legislation from Representatives Bilirakis and Butterfield. Their legislation passed the House by over 400 votes in April of this year.

Maternal mortality continues to affect moms and children across the United States. The Energy and Commerce Committee has worked in a bipartisan way to address this preventable issue, but unfortunately, challenges remain.

This legislation will build on existing tools of the Federal Communications Commission by incorporating publicly available data on maternal health outcomes into its Mapping Broadband Health in America tool. The FCC would be required to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine what maternal health outcomes to include.

I encourage all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 4052, the Early Hearing Detection and Invention Act, the companion legislation to H.R. 5561 sponsored by Energy and Commerce Committee members, Representatives Guthrie and Matsui.

S. 4052 is very similar to the legislation that passed the House 410- 17, and I hope in the upcoming vote it will receive even more ``yes'' votes.

Hearing loss in children continues to be all too prevalent in the United States. According to recent CDC data, almost 15 percent of children aged 6 to 19 experience either low- or high-frequency hearing loss in one or both ears.

The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program, administered through the CDC and the Health Resources and Services Agency, has helped providers to quickly identify babies and young children who are born deaf or hard of hearing, which has led to improved health outcomes and brought hope to so many families.

S. 4052 reauthorizes Federal support for these important statewide programs that help early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns, infants, and young children through 2027.

This bill will help redouble our efforts to truly open the world of communication to children who experiencing hearing loss.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1193, the Cardiovascular Advances and Opportunities Legacy Act, or the CAROL Act. I am excited that we are going to pass this legislation and send it to the President's desk.

Our friend and colleague, Representative Andy Barr, introduced the CAROL Act to honor his late wife who tragically passed away from an underlying condition known as mitral valve prolapse.

The bill authorizes grants administered by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to support research on valvular heart disease and convene subject matter experts to identify research opportunities to develop treatment guidelines for patients with valvular heart diseases. It also instructs the CDC to increase public awareness regarding symptoms of valvular heart disease and effective strategies for preventing sudden cardiac death.

Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for most demographic groups in the United States. Over 600,000 Americans die from heart disease each year. This is equal to one person every 36 seconds.

We know that early action is critical to surviving a heart condition. People need to know warning signs and symptoms, so we must identify the gaps in education and information sharing.

This bill also has been a model in terms of how legislation should be done. It was the subject of a hearing at the Energy and Commerce Committee, was voted on by the subcommittee and full committee, and then passed by the entire House. The Senate then also moved it through the committee process and made some improvements to the legislation in consultation with

House sponsors and the Energy and Commerce Committee. Last week, the Senate voted to send the updated legislation back here to the House.

This regular order process only improved this important legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my colleague from Kentucky (Mr. Barr).

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

Madam Speaker, last night, the temperature in my hometown of Altoona, Pennsylvania, was 28 degrees Fahrenheit.

As a harsh winter arrives, the Biden administration has failed to address the skyrocketing heating prices that are set to affect people across the entirety of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

In the past year, the price of fuel oil has risen 86 percent. This is the direct result of President Biden's decision to implement Green New Deal initiatives instead of using the energy that is under the feet of my constituents, the coal, the oil, the Marcellus shale, and the natural gas that are in Pennsylvania and that can help drive down the prices this winter.

It is time to enact commonsense permitting reforms. It is time to return to American energy dominance, instead of using taxpayer dollars to subsidize windmills and solar panels that fail to produce the baseload power that Americans want and, right now, facing winter, that Americans need.

Mr. Speaker, today, fourth-year medical students submitted their applications to residency programs across our country, preparing to enter the workforce as surgeons, specialists, and family doctors.

As these students begin the process of choosing the hospitals where they will work, I urge them to consider working in rural communities. Working in facilities that are struggling right now to recruit new physicians, and these new medical students--these new, highly-trained individuals--will be able to serve communities that desperately need them.

For too long, a lack of doctors has been a significant barrier to care for families in rural Pennsylvania. To address this critical shortage, I am proud to have created the Homegrown Healthcare Initiative, which pairs third- and fourth-year medical students with hospitals across Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District.

So far we have been able to place nearly 30 students in hospitals in Blair, Cambria, Fulton, and Franklin counties. It is time to ensure the students who were raised in rural communities return to these communities to live, to work, and to practice medicine.

To all of the medical students applying for residency today, good luck, and

I thank them for all the work that they will do on behalf of their patients.

out of control inflation

Mr. Speaker, today, we recognize the problems that we are facing with a country that has spiraling out of control inflation. We have an opportunity with the Republican Commitment to America, the commitment that the Republican Party has put forward, to make a Nation that is safe, to make a Nation that is accountable.

As Republicans, we have brought forth a four-part statement that will have the necessary oversight to control and have the citizens have the ability to have their voices heard.

The Commitment to America is the path forward throughout this spiraling inflation that is affecting each and every American today.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Americans to look at this valuable commitment that we as Republicans will bring forward.