Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for hosting this Special Order this evening.

The reconciliation package that my colleagues are pushing for may play well to focus groups in liberal cities, but in Pennsylvania, the energy policies being introduced in this legislation would be a death sentence for thousands of family-sustaining jobs.

It is clear that this administration is openly hostile to the energy industries that are critical in our State and that provide the baseload power that our Nation relies on.

At a time when gas prices just reached a 7-year high, this legislation would create new taxes on the oil and natural gas industries.

These regressive taxes would directly harm our middle-class citizens. They would harm the rural Americans who have to drive further distances and take longer commutes in order to get to work.

This administration claims these taxes would pay to support working families. That is false.

In reality, these taxes would pay to enact radical policies like creating green workforce tax credits that cost over $10 billion.

These taxes would pay to give kickbacks to liberal companies that promote the false solutions offered by the Green New Deal energy agenda.

Let's be clear: These taxes do not benefit the American people. This administration is willing to raise taxes on working Americans for the sake of their socialist energy policies.

This is not responsible government. It is not a government that is working to improve the quality of life for all citizens.

It is disappointing to see the administration lying about what this legislation does.

This bill would bankrupt our energy producers and send prices soaring even higher.

This legislation would not help to build our economy, it would not help to build our workforce, and it would not protect the American energy consumers.

The truth is simple: We cannot afford this legislation. We must vote against it.

I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for organizing this Special Order.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Penn- Mont Academy in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, as they celebrate their 60th year providing a Montessori education to the students of our community.

Penn-Mont Academy was founded in 1961 by Aline and Gerald Wolf, who founded the school in their home with a vision to create one of the first Montessori institutions in the United States.

Over the past 60 years, the school has worked to provide a creative and insightful education that molds independent and lifelong learners.

This school is important to my family and me; my wife, Dr. Alice Plummer Joyce, was one of school's first graduates.

I am incredibly grateful for the outstanding work that Penn-Mont Academy does in our community. From the Wolf's front porch to their current home in Hollidaysburg, the Penn-Mont Academy has offered generations of students the foundation they need to succeed.

The school's commitment to educating the children of Blair County is exceptional, and I look forward to their continued work to support and inspire our future leaders.

On behalf of the people of Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District, I congratulate the students, staff, and administration of Penn-Mont Academy on reaching this historic milestone and wish them every continued success in the years to come.

Madam Speaker, this week, liberals will attempt to ram through the most egregious spending package since the New Deal. By adding $3.5 trillion in new spending, their plan would not lift families up; it would keep families down.

By imposing liberals' hidden tax by inflation, by pumping billions of dollars into an economy that is already saturated from failed stimulus packages, my colleagues' actions will directly harm working Americans.

Raising taxes on middle-class families and small businesses is not the answer to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Forcing businesses to conform to new regulations won't get Americans back to work.

Now is the time to support our families. It is not the time to spend more money than it cost to win World War II. We need to put a stop to this reckless tax-and-spend spree, and we need

to get back to serving the American people.

Madam Speaker, I ask that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials.

Madam Speaker, we are here tonight as members of the House Energy Action Team to discuss the Biden administration's assault on American energy.

His policies have hurt our constituents, and tonight, members of the HEAT team will talk about how these actions continue to harm their districts. The last 9 months have painted a portrait of what the Biden administration's energy policies mean for our country.

Madam Speaker, it is not a pretty picture. As we speak, Biden's allies in Congress intend to pass their $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package, only making this situation worse.

Let's take the natural gas tax, for example. It will increase everyday Americans' bills by hundreds of dollars and destroy hundreds of thousands of American family-sustaining jobs. This will rob opportunity from the very communities that I represent in Pennsylvania and hundreds of towns just like this. And we will hear more about that this evening.

This tax is a solution in search of a problem, and it is creating that problem. The United States has led the world in reducing greenhouse emissions in the last two decades, and the energy industry is voluntarily reducing methane emissions.

Innovation is the ultimate answer to cutting emissions, and we cannot afford to stifle advancement. As a Nation, we cannot tax our way to a cleaner environment. And Americans are fed up with taxes. The biggest tax that our citizens are now facing is inflation. Across the board, prices are rising.

The energy sector is particularly worrisome with gas prices climbing 63 percent in my home State of Pennsylvania. This cost falls disproportionately on low-income Americans. It is not fair for them to foot the bill for the policy preferences of liberal coastal elites.

Let's take another example of the Biden administration's war on American industry. In their attempts to enact provisions of the Green New Deal, they have smothered American innovation. For years, our Nation has been at the cutting edge in nearly every sector of the economy. From cyberspace to advances in manufacturing, America has always stayed one step ahead of its competition. But that is starting to change.

American researchers and developers have always been able to count on the access to the resources needed to manufacture new pioneering products. But a rising China threatens that access.

Of the 35 essential minerals listed for the U.S. economic and national security, China is the top producer or top supplier of 23 of them. China controls the production of 80 percent of rare earth elements, 70 percent of graphite, almost 60 percent of lithium, and almost 60 percent of vanadium, and 36 percent of cobalt.

Products like batteries and semiconductors that are needed in the liberals' remaking of America require large amounts of these rare earth elements.

The good news is we have them, right here within our borders. The bad news is that under the Biden administration's burdensome regulations, companies are unable to mine these very elements that are under the ground that we stand on. We need to unshackle the American worker and allow businesses to extract these minerals so that we can make the products of the future right here at home instead of relying on foreign rivals.

As the last 9 months have clearly shown, these policies are not the right way forward. Congress must continue to embrace the bottom-up innovation that will result in leaps in efficiency far greater than any mandate--instead of expensive taxes that will take money out of working Americans' pockets.

We have a great group of colleagues here tonight from the House Energy Action Team to talk about how their communities are being affected by this administration.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Balderson).

Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Balderson.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for his candor.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett), my friend.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of Georgia (Mr. Carter).

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia, especially for raising the important point of the all-of-the- above approach to energy. But above all, we need to maintain the great jobs that comes from the fuels that are under our feet.

Madam Speaker, I would yield to the gentleman from the great State of Washington (Mr. Newhouse).

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from the State of Washington and chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus for his insights and for taking the time this evening to present those.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of Georgia (Mr. Allen), who is my friend and who is, more importantly, going to discuss the impacts in his State of Georgia.

Madam Speaker, I would like to point out how essential coal, oil, and natural gas pipelines are to my district in Pennsylvania. These are valuable resources that enhance our ability to provide low-cost energy to the American people. Yet President Biden's decision to cancel the Keystone XL project while allowing Russia to continue to export more and more natural gas puts our national security at risk.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller).

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his words specifically addressing the dismantling of energy independence.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of Arkansas (Mr. Westerman).

Madam Speaker, I think the gentleman from Arkansas has made incredible points we all should be listening to. He highlighted the important role that coal continues to play in supplying power to our electric grid. In Congress we need to remain committed to addressing the needs of the American people and ensure that they have safe, reliable, and affordable energy.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. LaTurner).

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kansas for his comments.

The energy needs and the resources available throughout our country are very significant, and as we move forward it is essential that government bureaucrats are not choosing the winners and the losers. The best energy producers should rise to the top.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the Commonwealth of Kentucky (Mr. Barr).

Madam Speaker, could you please clarify how much time I have remaining?

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), the whip of the minority team.

Madam Speaker, I thank the whip for his concise discussion about the assault on American energy and how that affects the working class communities throughout the United States.

Madam Speaker, I yield to my colleague from North Carolina (Mr. Cawthorn).

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman).

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for his concise and inspiring words.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger).

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for his remarks.

I want to thank all of the members of the House Energy Action Team for their work tonight and their commitment to the American people.

We have heard examples of how President Biden's disastrous policies are harmful to energy producers and to the consumers. We have seen examples of how these policies create overburdensome regulations that harm small businesses and stifle innovation.

I am proud to be working with my HEAT colleagues to push back against these disastrous policies.

Right now, the United States must embrace an all-of-the-above energy solution that will combine the needs of the consumers with the strengths of our producers.

What does that mean? It means embracing baseload power creators, including coal and natural gas produced from Marcellus Shale. These are critical components of Pennsylvania's energy industry.

On the first day in office, President Biden signed an executive order that suspended work on the needed Keystone XL pipeline.

In Pennsylvania, the natural gas and oil industry supports over 300,000 jobs, provides over $20 billion in wages, and contributes nearly $44.5 billion to our economy.

Between 2018 and 2019 alone, natural gas brought in over $450 million in revenue in our Commonwealth.

We have learned a lot tonight. We have learned the strong energy sector cannot and should not be negotiable. We recognize that energy security is clearly national security.

Madam Speaker, I thank you for allowing my colleagues and me to present this important information tonight to the United States Congress.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the remainder of my time.

Madam Speaker, as a physician, I took the Hippocratic oath to first do no harm. That means caring for the sick and protecting those who cannot protect themselves. That means fighting to protect the unborn.

Sadly, not all Members of Congress share that commitment. Right now, liberals in this body are attempting to repeal the Hyde amendment which prohibits tax dollars from funding abortions. Worse, they are attempting to legalize abortions on demand until the moment of birth. While science tells us that the unborn baby is a human life and deserves protection, our collective conscience should motivate us to protect these unborn children.

We owe it to the American people to defend the sanctity of life. We owe it to

them to protect the most vulnerable among us. As a doctor and as a legislator, I will always stand for life.

Strong American Military

Madam Speaker, as Congress prepares to consider the National Defense Authorization Act, our Nation continues to face national security threats abroad. I am proud that this legislation protects our military from the administration's reckless spending cuts that would have made Americans less safe. It also provides a 2.7 percent pay raise for our Nation's servicemembers and protects their right to personal expression.

This bill would allow our troops to make their own choice on whether to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. It would prohibit them from being dishonorably discharged for making their own healthcare decisions. Furthermore, this legislation would increase security on our southern border. It acknowledges the record number of illegal crossings which is truly a national security crisis.

With the threat of global terrorism on the rise, now is not the time to allow our borders to be more vulnerable. President Reagan once said that we maintain peace through our strength and that weakness only invites aggression.

Now is the time for a strong United States military. Now is the time for that peace through strength. And now is the time to pass the National Defense Authorization Act and to continue to protect each and every American.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Major General Christopher Donahue, the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division and the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan.

A native of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and as an officer in our Nation's special forces, General Donahue has devoted his life to the service of our Nation.

During the global war on terrorism, General Donohue has led soldiers in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He has always put his soldiers and their mission first. As the final soldier in Afghanistan, General Donahue showed his devotion to our Nation yet again.

This man is a leader, and our Nation is well-served with him commanding

our airborne division. I am grateful for General Donahue and for all of the brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who have served in Afghanistan. Their service has made our Nation more secure. No political decision can take away what their service has meant.

Madam Speaker, President Biden's failure to safely withdraw our troops from Afghanistan has resulted in American civilians being attacked in broad daylight on the streets of Kabul as they attempt to reach the airport.

As I speak today, Americans are being stranded behind enemy lines. Our top priority must be to bring them home safely. Now is not the time for taking vacations or giving canned remarks from the west wing.

Now is the time for American leadership, and President Biden has failed us in this regard. The evidence is clear, the fall of Afghanistan is Joe Biden's Saigon.

Today, my prayers are with the military that they have redeployed and are working to end this crisis. They are also with the American citizens who remain today stranded in Afghanistan.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Regina Williams on being named 2020 Historian of the Year by the Bedford County Historical Society.

Throughout the past year, Ms. Regina Williams has kept the history of Bedford County alive through her work to maintain social media pages dedicated to preserving our local history.

Her love of Bedford County goes beyond social media, as she has led hikes to the historical salt cave in Sweet Root Park, as well as the Imes Cemetery. She has also created education programs about Southampton Township for the Bedford County Leadership Group. Furthermore, Ms. Regina Williams has worked tirelessly to restore the Point Pleasant School in Southampton Township.

Ms. Regina Williams' work has greatly impacted the people of Bedford County for the better and her commitment to sharing our community's history is unmatched. On behalf of the 13th District of Pennsylvania, I congratulate Ms. Regina Williams on being named 2020 Historian of the Year and wish her continued success in her work to tell the story of Bedford County.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize David and Amy Snyder for being named 2019 Historians of the Year by the Bedford County Historical Society.

Throughout 2018, David and Amy Snyder worked diligently to preserve and protect the history and heritage of Bedford County through the renovation of the Loy Mansion.

The Snyder family first began their research project into the property's history in 2017, and their extensive diligence in researching the history of the mansion has led to a better understanding of the Loy Family, for whom the Village of Loy is named.

David and Amy Snyder's research into the history of the Loy Mansion has contributed to preserving the story of Bedford County for generations to come. I am grateful for their painstaking work to research our history and make that information accessible to the Bedford County Historical Society and our community's schools.

On behalf of the 13th District of Pennsylvania, I congratulate them on their achievement and wish them continued success as they work to preserve the history of Bedford County.

Madam Speaker, following months of disappointing jobs reports, rising inflation, and irresponsible messaging on how to combat the COVID-19 virus, the American people know that Democrat policies are to blame for the rising inflation that our Nation is facing.

Today, Americans are making less money than they were 1 year ago. With annualized real wages down nearly 4 percent, it is families, not politicians that are feeling the effects of President Biden's failed economic policies. Inflation, very simply, is taxation, and it has increased every month since President Biden has taken office.

While Democrats in Congress mocked concerns about rising inflation, we saw the effects that this crisis is having at the gas station and at the grocery store. Now, as experts warn that the effects of inflation may last longer than anticipated, President Biden has suggested flooding our economy with even more wasteful spending. Urging $100 bribes for individuals to get vaccinated and spending billions of dollars for social programs will not fix our broken economy.

The American people know that this is a failure, and they know that Democrat policy is to blame.

Madam Speaker, our Nation is facing a security crisis on our southern border.

As a record number of migrants are apprehended on American soil, we have seen a staggering increase in the amount of fentanyl that is being confiscated not only at ports of entry but also in the desert. So far this year, there have been over 1 million illegal crossings along our southern border.

Right now, liberals in Congress are attempting to obstruct the Department of Homeland Security from working to keep Americans safe. How many Americans have to be poisoned by fentanyl

before we stop the flow into our communities?

In Pennsylvania, over 5,000 people lost their lives in drug overdoses last year. We have seen fentanyl is easy to get, and it is fast to kill. We must put an end to the crisis and refuse any attempt to stop the Department of Homeland Security from enforcing our laws and ending this crisis on our southern border.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Colonel Gregory Gibbons on his appointment to command the Letterkenny Army Depot.

A New York native, Colonel Gibbons is a graduate of the Army War College, where he received a Master's in Strategic Studies.

His first military assignment was in 1997 as a platoon leader, and later executive officer of A Company, 123rd Main Support Battalion, 1st Armored Division, Germany. Upon completing his tour in Germany, Colonel Gibbons served at multiple posts, including Okinawa, Japan with the Special Operations Command, and in Istanbul, Turkey with the NATO Rapid Deployment Corps.

During his career, Colonel Gibbons has deployed to areas of critical interest for our national security around the globe including, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Throughout his time in the Army, Colonel Gibbons has led the soldiers under his command with honor and distinction. He is a recipient of the Bronze Star with Oak leaf cluster and has qualified as an Army Ranger after completing the grueling eight-week leadership course to earn his Ranger Tab.

I am grateful for Colonel Gibbons' service to defend our nation. On behalf of the people of Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District, I congratulate Colonel Gibbons on his appointment to lead the Letterkenny Depot, and I wish him, and the soldiers stationed at Letterkenny every continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to wish Miss Coralie Anne Bull a happy first birthday.

Coralie was born on July 24, 2020 at 5:59 p.m. in Mullica Hill, New Jersey. She is the firstborn child of Tyler Dietrich Bull and Kristina Debra Bull of Philadelphia. She is the first grandchild of Nancy and Fred Bull, and Monica and Phil Fanfarillo.

On behalf of the 13th District of Pennsylvania, I wish Coralie Anne Bull a happy first birthday and wish her all the best in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the nearly 2.5 million children whose lives have been saved by the Hyde amendment.

This landmark legislation has been a part of every budget in Congress that we have passed since 1976. Now, this amendment is threatened by liberals in Congress who want to force taxpayers to pay for abortions. This is wrong.

As a doctor, I know that the dignity of life is a fundamental truth. To turn our backs on this amendment would not only subvert the will of the American people, it will cost lives.

By eliminating the Hyde amendment, Democrats want to expand unlimited access to abortion services at taxpayers' expense. Any budget that we pass must include the Hyde amendment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Colonel Andrew ``Coby'' Short for his dedicated service to our country upon his retirement from the U.S. Army.

As Commander for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Pittsburgh District since July of 2018, Colonel Short has served for three years to improve the region's critical infrastructure. In addition to his service to the Pittsburgh District, Colonel Short was also appointed as the Border District Commander and tasked with directing a project that would focus on the construction of the U.S. Government's southwestern border.

Since he began his military career with a commission as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation from the U.S. Military Academy in 1997, Colonel Short has received numerous awards for his service, including the Bronze Star, the Combat Action Badge, and the Bronze Order of the De Fleury Medal, an award of the of the U.S. Army Engineer Association.

Colonel Short served the citizens of Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District as a member of our Military Service Academy Interview Board, where he vetted potential nominees to our nation's service academies. I am grateful for his work in this capacity to ensure the continued readiness of our nation's Armed Forces for years to come.

On behalf of Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District, I thank Colonel Short for his service, and I wish him continued success as he enters retirement.