Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, last week, the Chinese Communist Party ordered a trade embargo on the export of critical minerals to the United States, minerals like gallium, which is used in semiconductor manufacturing and also used in the development of medical and dental devices.

This embargo by the CCP is yet another warning and a wake-up call: We need to produce these critical materials right here in the U.S. It is time to increase our domestic supply chains and safeguard our productions against foreign interference.

These critical materials are used in the creation of everything from cell phones to the guidance systems used by our military. We cannot and should not allow the Chinese Communist Party to manipulate what products we are able to build here in America.

This is the time to act. Government red tape should not continue to hold up this necessary manufacturing.

Under President Trump's leadership in the new year, we must take decisive action to approve new permits that allow the production of critical minerals and rare earth elements that are so necessary for our economy.

Mr. Speaker, it has never been more critical that the United States lead the way on 5G innovation.

Not only would an expanded 5G network provide critical services and opportunities for Americans living in rural areas, but it would also provide the United States with the ability to continue leading the way on the development of wireless technology.

Allowing our adversaries to advance in future generations of wireless without us would erode our privacy, compromise the security of our networks, and lead to increased foreign influence in our communications.

The Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act would help the U.S. take the necessary steps to safeguard our technological advantages. By bringing key leaders and stakeholders to the table, this bill would encourage a unified approach to set standards for all 5G networks.

By standardizing our approach, we can help ensure a greater certainty for both the provider and consumer.

As we look ahead, reliable high-speed connectivity will be vital for students who are doing their homework, for businesses connecting with their customers, for farmers in the fields, and for patients using telemedicine to heal from home.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation and help ensure that our wireless technologies continue to expand and serve the needs of the American people.

Congratulating Juniata College Eagles Women's Volleyball Team

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate the Juniata College women's volleyball team on once again winning the NCAA Division III national championship and on their incredible achievement of winning 97 matches in a row.

This record number of consecutive wins is the result of determination. Under the leadership of Coach Heather Pavlik, the Juniata Eagles once again completed their season with a perfect 35-0 record.

Equally as important as the team's success in volleyball is their success in the classroom.

Juniata's commitment to academic excellence is an example of how student athletes can make incredible achievements both on and off the court.

On behalf of everyone in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District, I am proud to once again congratulate the women's volleyball team at Juniata on another outstanding season, and I look forward to their continued success.

Executive Overreach During Presidential Transition

Mr. Speaker, as the Biden administration comes to an end, we have seen continued attempts by the far left to enact major regulatory policies just as this administration is on its way out the door.

The American people have spoken and elected President Donald J. Trump to return to the White House. This is not the time for President Biden to take executive actions that provide student loan bailouts or implement Green New Deal policies.

If President Biden takes these executive actions at a time when the voters have made it clear that they are ready for change, we need to ensure that these rules are not permanent.

The Midnight Rules Relief Act would ensure that the American people are heard during a Presidential transition by allowing the Congressional Review Act to be used to overturn multiple Federal Rules in a single resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the Midnight Rules Relief Act to put a stop to President Biden's executive overreach.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of former Pennsylvania State Representative Jerry Stern, who passed away earlier this week.

For more than 20 years, Representative Stern served the people of Blair

and Bedford Counties in Harrisburg, where he was committed to addressing the issues that matter most to our communities.

During his time both as a member of Pennsylvania's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Committee on Children and Youth, Representative Jerry Stern poured himself into his work each and every day.

By building coalitions and passing legislation that supported our farmers and by advocating for children in the foster care system and working to ensure that they received the support and the care that they needed, Representative Jerry Stern showed his commitment to the people of central Pennsylvania.

Today, please join me in remembering the life of Representative Jerry Stern and offering condolences to his wife, Susan, and to his entire family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the officers of the Altoona Police Department for their professionalism, their bravery, and their quick response that led to the arrest and the capture of Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.

When a call came from the McDonald's restaurant on Plank Road in Altoona, Officers Tyler Frye and Joseph Detwiler immediately moved into action, working quickly to apprehend the suspect before he could flee. It was their questioning and their police work that ultimately led to his arrest, putting to rest a national manhunt.

With only 6 months on the job, Officer Tyler Frye's career is off to a significant start, and I am grateful to him and for all 66 officers of the Altoona Police Department that is led by Chief of Police, Joe Merrill.

While high-profile, this arrest is just a small part of the incredible work that these officers do each and every day to protect the community.

Whether it is patrolling our streets, working to stop the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into our communities, or doing outreach at our schools, the officers of the Altoona Police Department are a strong example of what is best about our community.

On behalf of everyone in Blair County and throughout Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District, I thank the officers of the Altoona Police Department for their commitment to protect and serve the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Penn State University's football team on reaching the first NCAA 12-team playoff.

With both a shutdown defense and an efficient offense that kept the ball moving all season long, the Nittany Lions have put themselves in a strong position to play for a national championship title next month.

While these students have done an incredible job on the field to reach this position, it is also important to remember their success in the classroom.

Over the past 10 years, Penn State University is one of only eight schools that has won at least 10 NCAA championships while concurrently achieving at least a 90 percent graduation rate for student athletes. Their commitment to excellence both on and off the field are an example for the thousands of students across Pennsylvania who look to our football team as role models.

On behalf of the Nittany Lions nation and across Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District, I congratulate the team on reaching the college football playoffs.

Remembering Gary Washington

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to remember the life of a friend, Gary Washington. Gary was a member of the Bedford County community who dedicated his life to serving others.

After graduating from Bedford High School in 1965, Gary's education and work took him away from central Pennsylvania until later in life when he returned to Bedford to cofound the Extended Family Program, which supports students who are having difficulty in school. The program, which Gary led for 16 years before his retirement, provides a lifeline to students who are struggling academically or at home.

Today, Gary is remembered by the students that he mentored throughout the Extended Family Program and those that he coached on the Bedford High School football team.

Later in life, Gary was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He and his wonderful wife, Mable, became strong advocates for both patients and patients' caregivers.

Throughout his life, Coach Washington was committed to helping others and ensuring that the students in Bedford County had the tools and the support that they needed in order to succeed.

On behalf of everyone in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District, we mourn the loss of Coach Gary Washington, and we pray for his family and for his friends and all of those who helped him throughout this journey in life.

National Medal of Honor Highway

Mr. Speaker, this week, as we commemorate both the 83rd anniversary of the attack at Pearl Harbor and the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, we are reminded of the incredible bravery and sacrifice made by our servicemembers.

The highest decoration that our Nation can bestow upon those who served in uniform is the Congressional Medal of Honor for acts of bravery at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.

This week, we have the chance to honor the soldiers, the sailors, the airmen, the marines, and the coast guardsmen who have received the Medal of Honor by designating U.S. State Route 20 as the National Medal of Honor Highway.

Stretching from Massachusetts Bay to the Oregon coastline, historic Route 20 is the longest highway in this great country, and it is fitting that this road be designated to honor the 3,516 Medal of Honor recipients who have fought to keep our Nation safe and our Nation free.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this important legislation to honor those servicemembers.

Mr. Speaker, across our country, students continue to face uncertainty caused by the delays in the Federal Student Aid system.

Unfortunately, the Biden administration's botched rollout of the FAFSA program this past school year left students not knowing whether they would receive aid.

Some students did not even know their financial aid status until after the start of the school year. Recently, I voted in favor of the FAFSA Deadline Act, which would ensure that FAFSA forms are made available by October 1 of each year, allowing students and their families and their schools the necessary time to complete, process, and receive those applications.

These delays impact students, both at flagship universities and at trade schools, leaving the students unsure of how they will afford the tuition in their chosen careers.

It is time for the Senate to pass this legislation and give our students and their families the clarity that they need in order to return and resume their education.

Mr. Speaker, right now, more than 500 elementary, middle, and high schools across the U.S. contain Confucius classrooms. These programs, which have been introduced slowly over a number of years, share CCP propaganda and provide cover to communist regimes.

At a time when Christians and Uyghurs are being persecuted in China, we cannot allow curriculums written in support of the Chinese Communist Party to be taught in the American classrooms.

To address this issue, it is time to pass the Crucial Communism Teaching Act, which would direct the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation to provide civic education curriculum and materials for middle and high school students about the true dangers of communism.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation. We cannot afford to allow this growing influence to continue in American classrooms.

Remembering Monsignor Raymond Balta

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Monsignor Raymond Balta who passed away this weekend at the age of 80.

For the past 28 years, Monsignor Balta has served as the pastor of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Johnstown where he led services, he prayed with his congregation, and he comforted those who were sick.

During his time at St. Mary's, Monsignor Balta helped to grow and refurbish the parish, ensuring that congregants would be able to continue worshipping there for decades to come.

At his retirement this past summer, Monsignor Balta was asked about his activities outside of his religious duties. In response, he said that the church does not exist in a vacuum and that the church is an integral part of the community.

This afternoon, please join me and all those in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District in praying for the members of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Johnstown as they mourn the loss of their beloved Monsignor Raymond Balta.

Greater Transparency from Federal Agencies

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, as Americans celebrated Small Business Saturday by shopping small and working to support local businesses, those same businesses continued to struggle under oppressive Federal regulations.

Under President Biden, burdensome rules have dramatically hurt small businesses that are forced to spend more time and money to meet Federal requirements. This week, the House will vote on the Prove It Act, which would require greater transparency from agencies on regulatory decisions that affect small businesses and ensure that small businesses can petition the SBA to review the economic impact of new rules and regulations.

More than 61 million Americans are employed by small businesses, and any regulation that unfairly targets them is a danger to their families and the communities that rely on them every day.

It is time to pass this legislation and stand up to the Biden administration's failed policies that have hurt our local economies over the past 4 years.

Congratulating Geistown's Chief of Police Edward Porada

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Geistown, Pennsylvania's new Chief of Police Edward Porada.

Chief Porada brings 27 years of experience to the borough where he will continue his career in law enforcement.

As a former canine officer, a former deputy sheriff, and a firefighter, Chief Porada has a deep understanding of public service, and the chief knows what it takes to serve and protect the people of Geistown.

His background in criminal investigations and public safety make him the ideal leader in this role. I look forward to working with him to serve the people of Cambria County, addressing public safety and the issues that matter most to that wonderful community.

Mr. Speaker, over the past several years, there has been a sharp increase in hostile and adversarial nations kidnapping American citizens and holding them for ransom. While these Americans are being held hostage, the last thing that they and their families need is more bureaucratic red tape here at home.

The fact that the IRS has been charging these hostages with late fees and penalizing them for failing to file their tax returns is yet another sign of the agency's failure to serve the American people.

It is time for the House to pass the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, which will address this issue and support these Americans during one of the most challenging times in their lives.

An equally important component of this bill is that it would revoke the tax-exempt status of organizations that support terrorist groups like Hamas. No organization that supports terrorist groups should have tax shelters here in the United States.

It is time to stand with our allies and Americans. We need to pass this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 9495, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act.

Celebrating President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Mr. Speaker, 161 years ago today, President Abraham Lincoln stood before a group of soldiers, citizens, and elected officials to deliver the Gettysburg Address.

His words offered a chance to reflect on the terrible cost that this battle had brought to Gettysburg, to the soldiers who had fought there, and to our Nation that was strained by years of a devastating Civil War.

Here in Congress, I have the honor to represent Gettysburg and the Gettysburg National Military Park. Today, the park does incredible work to tell the story of Gettysburg and to preserve the memory of all those who fought during this historic battle.

Please join me in remembering the words of President Lincoln: ``That this Nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the Earth.''

Mr. Speaker, over the past 3 years, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has withheld critical information and worked to conceal the truth about the decisions that were made in the weeks and months leading up to the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The American people deserve to know the details about the failed strategy that allowed the Taliban to topple the Afghan Government.

These failures have created a crisis that once again is providing a safe haven for terrorists in Afghanistan, giving space to al-Qaida and ISIS-K so that they can train, equip, and arm themselves to attack Americans and our allies.

It is time to hold Secretary Blinken accountable for this coverup and for the State Department to fully comply with the congressional investigation into the withdrawal that has put Americans into danger and the failures that resulted in the deaths of 13 courageous American servicemembers at Abbey Gate.

Brendan Carr to be Named FCC Chair

Mr. Speaker, last night, President-elect Donald Trump announced that Commissioner Brendan Carr would be named as the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.

Over the past several years, I have been proud to work with Commissioner Carr to help deliver reliable high-speed internet to the communities across south central and southwestern Pennsylvania. Together, we have sat down with teachers, doctors, and businessowners in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District and heard firsthand about the hardships that occur with the lack of access to internet connectivity.

We spoke to a teacher who could tell which students had internet access by how well they had prepared their homework assignments. We spoke with a doctor about how spotty connections made it impossible to conduct telehealth visits for patients who cannot leave their homes. We spoke with businessowners who were struggling to reach new customers and work with vendors because of slow connection speeds.

Commissioner Carr will help lead the way on internet connectivity, and I look forward to working together to ensure that everyone in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District can have access to affordable and reliable internet throughout the district.

Unleashing American Energy

Mr. Speaker, under President Donald J. Trump, we used the energy that is underneath the feet of my constituents in Pennsylvania. President Trump lowered gas and electricity prices and expanded our national security through energy dominance.

In sharp contrast to that, on his first day in office, President Biden sent a clear message to Americans when he canceled the Keystone XL pipeline and halted new permits for oil and natural gas development.

With President Trump set to return to the Oval Office, we have a chance to unleash American energy by reissuing these permits and encouraging the development of new technologies that harness the oil and natural gas that we can produce right here in the United States.

I look forward to working with President Trump's nominee, Chris Wright, once he is confirmed as our next Secretary of Energy, to utilize Pennsylvania's energy resources to power our Nation and to provide to our allies throughout the world.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Judge Fred Miller, a beloved Blair County, Pennsylvania, judge, a dedicated public servant, and an incredible supporter of the community, who unfortunately passed away just this week.

Throughout his distinguished career, Judge Miller personified compassion, honesty, fairness, and integrity from the bench. During his more than two decades of service, Judge Miller applied the law fairly and impartially.

In addition to his professional expertise and achievements, Judge Miller will be remembered for his personal warmth, his sense of humor, and his remarkable ability to foster lifelong friendships.

As we remember Judge Miller, we also keep his loved ones in our prayers, including his wife, Tracy; his son, Grant; his parents, Dr. William and Melissa Miller; as well as his siblings, Norman and Veronica.

Today, please join me and all Members of Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District in remembering the remarkable life of Judge Fred Miller.

Madam Speaker, as a child growing up in Altoona, Pennsylvania, I recall the bread man, Schmidy, who made twice- a-week visits to our home.

During my training at Johns Hopkins Hospital, there were very few people who were awake as I walked to the hospital early in the morning.

One exception was the bread truck.

For generations, American bakers have risen early, rolled up their sleeves, and literally rolled out the dough.

I proudly represent Martin's Potato Rolls in central Pennsylvania in Franklin County carrying on that tradition of bakers.

Today, I am proud to introduce a resolution that would recognize the thousands of bakers across our country who knead and create the foods that so many Americans need to feed their families by making November National Bread Month.

In addition to introducing this legislation, I am proud to be launching the Congressional Baking Caucus, a group of lawmakers who are committed to addressing the critical issues facing our baking industry.

Together, with Congressman Don Davis of North Carolina, we will focus on growing the industry's workforce and ensuring that bakers can thrive in the years ahead.

Across our country, these men and women are working tirelessly to support communities, and the Congressional Baking Caucus will work to ensure that families have the food that nourishes them each and every day.

Mr. Speaker, throughout American history, leaders of various faiths have impactfully tended the needs of believers while simultaneously participating in political movements relating to significant issues, such as equality, the right to vote, and the sanctity of human life.

The roles of leader and political organizer never have been mutually exclusive.

I was reminded of this duality in roles, by choice of the individual, during a recent conversation with a constituent. In short, the constituent informed me that the onstage appearance of current and former Penn State wrestlers at President Trump's rally at Penn State was drawing unneeded criticism. Just as religious leaders can be both devoted advocates of their ministry and passionate champions of their causes, the Penn State wrestlers are most certainly entitled by our Constitution to be both representatives of their athletic program and citizens who are actively engaged in the electoral process.

The Nittany Lion wrestling program is renowned, not only for producing national championship teams, but for developing wrestlers who have dominated their sport on the collegiate level and then represented our country in international competitions as recently as the Olympic Games in Paris this past summer.

Our Nation prides itself on the inclusive nature of our political process. It is wrong to advocate for engaged citizenry on one hand while selectively choosing citizens who can participate and who cannot on the other hand.

According to recent reports, voter turnouts among people ages 18-29 was a mere 42 percent overall in the most recent Presidential election. That figure, that 42 percent, is at least 10 percent lower than the turnout of the same group 4 years prior in the 2020 Presidential election.

Mindful of that decline, the Penn State wrestlers, particularly those who are still pursuing their degrees, should be applauded for embracing one of our most cherished freedoms: the right to vote.

Competing as a wrestler does not preclude an individual from expressing political viewpoints, despite criticism that might or might not be of a partisan nature.

As a proud Penn State alumnus, I witnessed firsthand the wrestlers exercising their First Amendment right to free speech and encouraging all Americans to cast their ballot. Our great Nation needs the wisdom, enthusiasm, and talents of people across generations to overcome the challenges that were the focus of our most recent election. It is fair to say that the generation with the most at stake is the youngest generation. It is their leadership that should be encouraged. It is their perspective that must be considered. It is their voice that must be heard.

For the benefit and for the enrichment of all Americans, I congratulate these young wrestlers for exercising their constitutional rights, and I personally thank them for their commitment to engaging in our political process.

The American People Have Spoken

Mr. Speaker, for the past 4 years, the Biden-Harris administration has failed the American people.

Under President Biden's watch, our adversaries have been emboldened, inflation has skyrocketed, and our borders have been left unsecure.

With these crises, we have seen Americans be put in danger. We recognize that the Biden-Harris administration had no answers. They had no solutions on how to keep us safe, and now the American people have spoken.

When voters were asked if they were better off now compared to 4 years ago, they resoundingly said no. That is why in January, President Donald J. Trump will return to the Oval Office.

Under President Trump's leadership, we will, once again, lower energy prices by utilizing the energy sources that are under the feet of my constituents in Pennsylvania.

Under President Trump's leadership, we will secure our southern border and put a stop to the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl that have taken far too many American lives.

Under President Donald J. Trump, our Nation will, once again, return to a policy of peace through strength that has helped to keep our Nation safe and the American people free.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Food Service Employee Day.

The food service workers at hospitals and care facilities across Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District work each and every day to ensure that patients are fed the healthy and nutritious meals that they need.

Last month, I had the honor to meet the food service staff at the Conemaugh Miners Medical Center in Cambria County. Each and every one of them showed their firm commitment to the patients at the hospital, and it is unparalleled. Far too often, their work goes unrecognized.

Today, please join me in recognizing these men and women for their work and for their compassion for the sick and the injured as they heal. Their outstanding public service should not go unnoted.

Madam Speaker, for the past 4 years, American communities have been forced to live with failed, soft-on- crime policies that have sought to free violent criminals and defund our law enforcement.

In California, a recent study showed that 70 percent of individuals who received zero-dollar bail were subsequently rearrested. A study focused on Chicago identified that 50 percent of offenders who were released committed another violent crime.

Now isn't the time to put dangerous criminals back on the street. It is time to pass legislation that stops violent criminals and instead backs the men and women in blue. We rely on our police officers to keep us safe, and we cannot allow far-left policies from prosecutors continue to allow criminals to go free.

It is time to pass the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act and help to put a stop to the unaccountable bail systems that have allowed these violent criminals to roam the streets of America.

Peace Through Strength

Madam Speaker, since President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris first took office, they have allowed the Chinese Communist Party to continue their unlawful abuses of human rights and international standards. These failures jeopardize our security and put every American at risk.

When a Chinese spy balloon floated across the American heartland, taking photos of our military installations, our critical infrastructure, and our farmland, President Biden and Vice President Harris did nothing.

It is time to take direct action and enforce strict sanctions on the members of the CCP that have taken these aggressive actions against America and against our allies.

It was President Ronald Reagan who said that ``weakness only invites aggression,'' and the Chinese Communist Party accepted that invitation. It is clear from the past 4 years that the Biden-Harris administration has failed in its duty to stop the aggression of the Chinese Communist Party.

It is time for a President who believes in peace through strength. It is time to stand up against the Chinese Communist Party and protect American security, both here at home and abroad.

Madam Speaker, after months of falsely claiming that the Biden-Harris administration was not pursuing a ban on gas-powered vehicles, the EPA has reversed their position by finalized policies that would create a de facto ban over the course of the next 10 years.

The light- and medium-duty tailpipe rule would require 68 percent of all sales of new passenger vehicles to be electric or plug-in electric hybrid by 2032.

The fact is simple. Electric vehicles cannot meet the demands of my constituents in Pennsylvania. The mountains in Pennsylvania, along with the harsh winters and the hot summers, make driving an electric vehicle both unreliable and unrealistic for my constituents.

Simply said, they do not want to be forced into choosing what type of vehicle they can drive. At a time when inflation has skyrocketed over 20 percent and the average electric vehicle costs more than $55,000, forcing Americans to purchase these vehicles is a disaster for working families.

The Biden-Harris EPA cannot force the American people to purchase cars that they don't want and cars that they can't afford.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution and stand up to the EPA bureaucracy that continues to harass working American families.