Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, President Biden's economic policies continue to wreak havoc on families across our country, including the Tennessee families I represent.

Prices have skyrocketed by 17.2 percent since the President was sworn into office. The experts tell us these rising prices are a direct result of the deficit spending of the last 3 years, coupled with rising energy costs. However, this administration continues to borrow and stifle American energy growth with multitudes of new and costly regulations.

When President Biden took office, gas prices averaged less than $2 per gallon in Tennessee. Right now, they are more than $3. This is a direct result of the President's ongoing war against American energy production.

House Republicans remain committed to getting our fiscal house back in order by cutting deficit spending and passing legislation that robustly grows our economy to help get us out of the red.

Mr. Speaker, House Republicans are committed to conducting the necessary congressional oversight of President Biden's administration. That is why we have initiated a formal impeachment inquiry into the President, because bottom line, Americans deserve to know that the office of the Vice President and now President is not for sale.

According to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, evidence reveals that President Joe Biden knew of, participated in, and directly benefited from his family cashing in on the Biden name. Through evidence uncovered in financial records, wire transfers from foreign entities, emails, testimony from credible IRS whistleblowers, texts, and transcribed interviews with Biden family associates, the evidence paints a clear picture.

During President Joe Biden's time as Vice President, his son, Hunter Biden, sold his father as ``the brand'' to reap millions from oligarchs in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine. The family even began working with a Chinese entity during President Biden's time as Vice President. It appears that no real services were provided other than access to the Biden network, which makes this look even more suspicious.

Most intellectually honest and objective people would call this a smoking gun, but unfortunately most members of the mainstream media do not fall into this category these days. That is why most Americans have turned away from mainstream media outlets. These media outlets have lost all credibility because they refuse to dig deeper to answer the legitimate and obviously newsworthy questions that many Americans have about the evidence showing President Biden's central role in his family's unethical business schemes. That is why House Republicans must remain committed to finding answers.

Some of these answers may come from the President's son, Hunter Biden, who up until recently has defied congressional subpoenas to testify before the relevant committees. He even had the gall to recently show up to the Capitol and to a committee hearing simply as an outrageous publicity stunt. He offered to answer any question but actually answered none. Then, after making an ugly scene, he left with his taxpayer-funded security.

The Tennesseans I represent in Congress deserve transparency. They deserve to know what qualifications Hunter Biden had to serve on the board of the scandal-ridden Ukrainian oil company Burisma. They deserve to know who was purchasing Hunter Biden's artwork and why. Because, after all, we know Hunter Biden isn't an artist producing works worth the hundreds of thousands of dollars that he is receiving.

What is most unfortunate about House Republicans' work to uncover this evidence is that not a single member of the Democratic Party has joined us. This is about doing what is right on behalf of our Nation and about defending our Constitution. It is our constitutional duty to find out whether the President has committed an impeachable offense.

We will leave no stone unturned; no lead or shred of evidence will be left behind. That is our commitment, and it always will be. We are committed to finding the truth, delivering accountability and transparency to the American people, and committed to the Constitution of the United States of America above all else.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to correct a misconception about the surge of illegal immigration plaguing our Nation, particularly since President Biden became Commander in Chief.

Under this administration, more than 8 million people have crossed our southern border illegally. That is more than the population of my home State of Tennessee. The misconception is that this is the result of failed policy, but it is not. This is the policy of the Biden administration.

On the campaign trail in 2019, then-candidate Biden told a crowd of Iowa voters: ``We could afford to take in a heartbeat another 2 million. . . . `'

Well, Mr. Speaker, that was a promise made, a promise kept, and a promise multiplied by four.

I continue to admonish the President to listen to the American people who desperately want him to rescind his disastrous executive actions that created this humanitarian disaster, to end his catch and release policy, and to finally begin to secure our borders.

Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 6679, the No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act. My amendment simply requires an annual report to Congress from the Secretary of Homeland Security on the number of individuals found to be inadmissible or deportable as a result of the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on the State of Israel were a barbaric atrocity that claimed the lives of over 1,000 people. Hundreds of individuals were further taken hostage, and many were severely injured.

In addition to condemning this act of brutality and supporting our ally Israel as it fights to eliminate Hamas, it is imperative that the United States imposes the absolute strictest possible immigration barriers to those who participated or otherwise facilitated the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel.

Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to thank my colleague, Mr. McClintock of California, for introducing this vitally important piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, my amendment is a commonsense pro-transparency measure, designed to help inform Congress on the number of individuals who are declared inadmissible or deportable as a result of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is important that Congress receive continuous feedback on how effective the laws that we pass have become.

By requiring an annual report to Congress on the number of individuals found to be inadmissible or deportable as a result of this legislation, we will ensure that this body is continuously well informed on how effective this bill is at keeping terrorists out of the country.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on my amendment and ``yes'' on the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding to me tonight.

Mr. Speaker, President Biden's policies at the southern border are working if the goal has been to let more than 8 million illegal immigrants enter the country. That is more than the entire population of my home State of Tennessee. If that is the goal, then indeed his policies are working.

For example, look no further than on the campaign trail in 2019 when then-candidate Biden said to a crowd of Iowa voters: ``We could afford to take in a heartbeat another 2 million people.''

While campaigning from his basement for the job of Commander in Chief, he never hid the fact that he would use his executive authority to ``increase the total number of immigrants able to come to the United States.''

He was clear as could be. It was a promise made, a promise kept, and a promise multiplied four times over.

That quote, which can be found online in seconds, gives much-needed context as to why he issued 94 executive actions on immigration in his first 100 days in office, fought to end the Trump-era remain in Mexico policy and title 42, and why the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has released millions of illegal immigrants into our country in open disregard for the law. These actions, coupled with dozens more, continue to send a message to Latin America and around the world, including to suspected terrorists, that our borders are open.

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has willfully misused parole authority to flood communities with illegal immigrants, despite a conclusion from the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that the department could not simply parole every illegal alien they are unable to detain. Without any approval from Congress, Secretary Mayorkas has also created and expanded several parole programs. Again, this isn't a policy failure. This is their policy.

Despite the department recently admitting that 40 percent--40 percent--of catch and release migrants had disappeared, the open-border policies of this administration continue.

Americans should know that President Biden already has all of the power and authority he needs to end this crisis immediately. Just compare his numbers to President Trump's. In December, 2023, alone, DHS reported 302,000 illegal immigrant encounters at the southern border, which is a 300 percent increase from December 2020.

This marks 34 straight months where illegal immigrant encounters were higher under President Biden's administration than they ever were in a single month under President Trump.

In the last fiscal year, DHS encountered 169 people on the terrorist watch list. That set a record as it was more than fiscal years 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 combined--the majority of Trump's presidency.

The Immigration and Nationality Act, coupled with recent Supreme Court precedent, gives President Biden

ample authority to suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate. The sad reality is the President isn't asleep at the wheel when it comes to securing the border. He is alert with both hands on the wheel driving it into the ditch.

This is the America he told us he would champion. Despite his desire to usurp Congress, however, House Republicans will continue to hold his administration accountable for its unwillingness to enforce our laws. That is why House Republicans continue to push for H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, which would force President Biden to end the catch and release policy, pay more for Border Patrol agents, and restart border wall construction.

Unfortunately, even with thousands of pounds of fentanyl pouring through and thousands of young people dead, I don't believe we will see a change of heart needed by this President to secure the border. In fact, it has become apparent that we likely won't see any impactful changes at our southern border until a new President takes office. Until then, I won't hold my breath waiting for President Biden.

Mr. Speaker, after nearly a year-long and thorough investigation by the House Committee on Homeland Security, House Republicans have released Articles of Impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for his willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law and breach of the public trust.

As many of my fellow Tennesseans know, for quite some time now I have fully supported the House's efforts to examine whether Secretary Mayorkas has committed an impeachable offense. Now, after an investigation into the causes, costs, and consequences of Secretary Mayorkas' actions that have exacerbated this historic humanitarian crisis at our southern border, the time has come to officially release Articles of Impeachment.

According to the House Committee on Homeland Security, DHS Secretary Mayorkas is ``chiefly responsible for the chaos and devastation that has unfolded over the past 3 years'' at America's borders and ports of entry.

The committee has found that Secretary Mayorkas violated his oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States by willfully and systemically refusing to comply with Federal immigration laws. He has also acted in a manner subversive of the law.

These subversive actions and willful negligence of our country's laws have led to an unprecedented level of illegal immigration at our southern border and ports of entry, a fentanyl crisis killing thousands of Tennesseans, and skyrocketing financial costs on the U.S. taxpayers.

That is why the first Article of Impeachment being released is titled, ``Willful and Systemic Refusal to Comply with the Law.''

The second Article of Impeachment being released is titled, ``Breach of Public Trust.'' As a Cabinet official and someone in the line of succession to the Presidency, the American people must trust Secretary Mayorkas to say and do the right thing. Unfortunately, he has done exactly the opposite. He has knowingly made false statements about his refusal to comply with the law and the impact his decisions have had.

He has even obstructed the committee's work to save the American people from this catastrophe.

We must take all national security threats seriously and after a thorough, fair, and comprehensive investigation into Secretary Mayorkas, remaining in his position is a threat to our national security.

Not only has he willfully ignored his constitutional duty to defend our country and breached the public trust, but he has also demonstrated an unwillingness to change course or correct his mistakes. One could only presume that he would continue to be a threat to the health of our Nation, its security, and our Constitution.

Americans deserve better than what they are getting. Every town in America doesn't have to be a border town. We must exercise our constitutional duty and hold Secretary Mayorkas accountable to our best abilities. It is, therefore, my sad but straightforward duty to vote for his impeachment and support his removal from office.

Mr. Speaker, President Biden opened another front in his ongoing war against American energy by halting all pending approvals of liquified natural gas, or LNG, export terminals based on the so-called climate crisis.

When President Biden takes such drastic action to kneecap an American industry like liquified natural gas, he paralyzes job growth, innovation, and future sustainability research and development in America. Instead, he offshores this progress to the Middle East, Russia, or South America, all while raising Americans' energy bills, fueling inflation, and destroying good-paying American jobs.

President Biden's job-killing New Green Deal agenda can't continue. For every woke action he takes, Americans suffer the consequences.

House Republicans are fighting back by passing legislation to grow energy industry jobs and bring back energy independence to America. We stand firmly on the side of most Americans who prefer an all-of-the- above energy strategy for our country in which all forms of energy are pursued.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Utah, Vice Chairman Moore, for yielding and for claiming time this evening to discuss these important issues facing our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, Tennesseans across the State will travel to Washington to March for Life in our Nation's Capital later this week. I have had the opportunity to meet many of these people at various pro-life events throughout the years.

As they make the trek, I want them to know that this week, House Republicans are standing up for life on the House floor. Thanks to Republican leadership, the House will consider two pieces of pro-life legislation--the Pregnant Students' Rights Act and the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act.

Both bills are important steps toward ensuring that every child has the right to live and is protected. The Pregnant Students' Rights Act would require colleges and universities to disperse information to both prospective and enrolled students on the rights and resources available for pregnant students.

Too often, college students make the irreversible decision to have an abortion because they are unaware of resources that would support an alternative decision. This bill ensures that they have important information on their options and rights while pregnant.

The Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act would block an out-of-touch, proposed Biden administration rule that could prohibit States from giving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, funds to pregnancy centers that support the life of both the mother and the unborn child.

Pregnancy resource centers provide miracles for children and mothers seeking assistance with pregnancy and raising a child. The last thing the Biden administration should be doing is implementing rules that discourage their use.

These bills are in addition to steps House Republicans have already taken to protect the sanctity of life, like passing the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and a resolution supporting crisis pro-life organizations that have been attacked, like the one in recent years in Nashville.

I was honored to speak in support of this resolution when it was brought to the floor last year and I was a proud cosponsor of the Born- Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.

Just because Roe v. Wade was overturned does not mean our work fighting for the right to life for all children is over. In fact, our work has just begun. As a pro-life father of two young sons, Guy and Sam, I will always stand for the right to life.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Utah, Vice Chairman Moore, for yielding and for claiming this time this afternoon to discuss these important issues facing our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, as the music note dropped in Nashville and Americans rang in the new year on January 1, we woke up in the morning to horrifying news. 302,000 illegal immigrant encounters had occurred at our southern border, the most in any single month ever, in December 2023. To put this number into perspective, that is more than the entire population of Knoxville, Tennessee, which is the third largest city in my home State of Tennessee.

Keep in mind, Mr. Speaker, that out of the 302,000 illegal immigrants encountered at the southern border, none of these includes the illegal immigrants who successfully evaded our Customs and Border Patrol agents.

Nevertheless, Mr. Speaker, it is actually much worse. In fact, in fiscal year 2023 which ended on September 30, so it doesn't include the record-breaking month of December, Customs and Border Protection reported 2.48 million illegal immigrant encounters, and there were over 1.1 million known got-aways. That includes 169 people who were stopped trying to cross the border in fiscal year 2023 whose names appear on the terrorist watch list, which is more than in fiscal years '17, '18, '19, '20, '21, and '22 combined. Or to put it another way, the entire Trump Presidency plus Biden's first 2 years.

Additionally, border officials seized 27,293 pounds of fentanyl in fiscal year 2023. That is a whopping 464 percent increase from 2020 and, obviously, points out the failure of the White House and the Department of Homeland Security to enforce our Nation's laws.

Their desire for open border policies is wreaking havoc on an entire generation of young people in my home State and across our country who are dying from fentanyl overdose at an alarming rate.

From halting border wall construction to ending the successful remain in Mexico program implemented during the Trump administration to ending title 42 powers that kept illegals out of the country, the White House continues to send a message to the world that our borders are wide open.

Thankfully, there is a solution that would make for a great new year's resolution. The House Republicans passed H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023. It would end the catch-and-release policy, pay more for Border Patrol agents, restart important border wall construction, and strengthen and streamline the asylum process.

The bottom line is we must enforce the laws already on the books and pass new ones that put an end to the skyrocketing illegal immigration disrupting every corner of America, including my home State of Tennessee. Unfortunately, until then, every town in President Biden's America will be a border town.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding and for claiming the time this evening to acknowledge and honor our Nation's 82nd National Bible Week.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to join those Members here tonight on the House floor to share the Lord's Word, its meaning, and the lessons I have learned from reading and studying it throughout my life.

There are many lessons we learn throughout our lives, whether in school or our careers, as parents, or throughout the countless challenges life provides. However, there are no better lessons than those revealed in God's Word in the Bible.

For example, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we learn about the importance of gratitude when the Apostle Paul writes: ``Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ.''

Mr. Speaker, I know many of us tend to voice our displeasure with many of the world's current affairs on the House floor, but thankfully there is so much for which to be thankful.

We also learn about forgiveness when Jesus dies for our sins on the cross. Ephesians 4:32 says: ``Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.'' There is nothing more powerful than the message of forgiveness.

Each and every lesson found in the Bible of forgiveness, compassion, gratitude, generosity, faith, humility, wisdom, perseverance, patience, and respect, among many others, are powerful lessons on their own.

Each lesson has had a tremendous impact on my life and the lives of those around me. I couldn't be more grateful to have them impact me the way they have so that I can go forth and spread them in my community and in my family, including with my two sons, Guy and Sam.

Of course, as Christmas quickly approaches, there is no Biblical story more significant than that of the miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ. As always, it is important to remind ourselves what we are celebrating this time of year: the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Of course, there are no better reminders than those that exist in the Bible, which is why we are here today to honor the Bible during our country's 82nd National Bible Week.

So, Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Mr. Lamborn, for taking the time today to recognize the importance of the Bible in our Nation and its history. As a Christian, I am proud to recognize National Bible Week, and I pray that by doing so I will be able to encourage more souls to know the teachings of the Lord through His written word, the Bible.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a one-of-a- kind man, father, husband, businessowner, U.S. veteran, and a great friend of mine, Mr. Albert Burr McCall, or A.B., as many called him.

Mr. McCall passed away on September 13, 2023, at the grand age of 94. Living to that age is obviously quite a feat, but in A.B.'s case, the real feat was the full life he lived and the accomplishments he achieved.

A.B. was a man of faith, a loving and loyal family man, a proud and patriotic American. He was an unwavering believer in the preservation of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans, and he contributed generously to those causes that shared his convictions.

He saw the importance of hard work at a young age when he worked at the general store his grandparents started in 1896. That entrepreneurial spirit would prove to run in the family.

A.B. graduated from Smith County High School in Carthage, Tennessee, and later earned an undergraduate college degree in agriculture from my alma mater, Tennessee Tech. He then earned a master's degree in animal nutrition from the University of Missouri.

Mr. McCall started his professional career as a teacher, but after only 1 year, he found himself answering the Nation's call to serve in the military in the Korean war from 1952 to 1954. He was later discharged with the rank of first lieutenant after being wounded in combat by enemy fire.

When he returned to the States, A.B. headed back to the classroom to teach agriculture to World War II veterans at an Iowa high school. While holding down that job and four others, he also worked toward a Ph.D. at Iowa State University, and most importantly, he met his wife, Virginia.

They wed just 9 months after their first meeting and soon thereafter moved to Smith County, Tennessee, where he would buy into his father's furniture and appliance business and eventually open D.T. McCall & Sons, which is still thriving today in the Smith County town of Carthage and surrounding middle Tennessee towns and cities.

A.B.'s success in business is attributable in no small part to his uncanny ability to sense a profitable opportunity when it came along. In 1958, he learned that a local cheese company was changing the way it made its product, which he realized would in turn require approximately 1,700 Tennessee dairy farmers to obtain a new type of industrial cooler in order to keep supplying milk.

A.B. did some digging and found a surplus of these coolers in North Carolina that were perfect to fill the needs of dairy farmers in Tennessee. After several trips east, he bought approximately 1,000 of these coolers to sell to Tennessee dairy farmers. He even stopped in South Carolina on the way home, filling one of the coolers with peaches to sell back in Carthage.

Mr. McCall clearly had an eye for finding deals and passing savings on to his customers, but he was also a marketing genius. He is still known throughout middle Tennessee from his days as a regular on Nashville's ``The Ralph Emery Show.'' Thousands would tune in to watch him list all the deals he had on furniture because he made them laugh while doing it. He ended his live television ads by holding up his right hand and fist and saying, ``hey,'' which became an unofficial trademark of his.

According to Home Furnishings Daily, D.T. McCall & Sons is ranked in the country's top 50 independently owned furniture dealers today. In terms of warehouse and sales floor footage, it is the largest furniture and appliance store in the United States.

Albert and Virginia McCall leave behind two children, A.J. McCall and Menda McCall Holmes, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Menda and her husband Howard are with us in the gallery today.

D.T. McCall & Sons continues to be a family business, something in which A.B. took great pride. Mr. Speaker, A.B. McCall's life is a lesson for us all--that while a long life is a wonderful blessing, having a life well lived is the superior goal. Albert McCall did both.

My prayers go out to all of his family and friends as they continue to mourn

the passing of their loved one and this great Tennessee man. Mr. Speaker, with that, I say ``hey.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate First Baptist Church of Cookeville on 150 years of spreading the gospel throughout Middle Tennessee. I was raised at First Baptist Church. I came to know my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, was baptized, and was a member for many years at First Baptist. My wife Chelsea and I were married in this church so, needless to say, I received many blessings from this congregation.

The church was organized in 1873 as the Cookeville Baptist Church of Christ. The church's first Pastor, Patrick Moore, led a congregation of 34 members. Together, they agreed to a church covenant, which reads in part, ``the purpose of this body is to advance the church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort promoting prosperity and spirituality.'' They continue to fulfill that commitment 150 years later.

Today, the church enjoys a membership of more than 1,300 members and an average attendance of more than 450. But their story isn't one of instant success. It's one of persistence and faith.

There were long periods of time when the church stopped meeting for worship. In fact, with 20 members at the time, the church underwent a reorganization in 1892. And it wasn't until 21 years after the church's founding that the congregation was able to secure their own House of Worship.

Like so many churches, First Baptist Church of Cookeville was impacted by the Great Depression in the 1930s, which led to the church opting to discontinue their pastor's salary through the end of the year. But that decade was about more than loss for the church. It was also in the 1930s that the Women's Missionary Union was formed, along with the Young Women's Auxiliary and Girl's Auxiliary for the women and girls of the church. The church also formed groups for the boys and men of the church, including the Royal Ambassadors and Baptist Brotherhood.

This is a common theme of this church's story. Through difficult times, they stood firm in their faith and found ways to continue being a blessing to others. First Baptist Church of Cookeville started several missions over the years, missions that later became standalone congregations.

The church began reaching out to students at the nearby Tennessee Polytechnic Institute, now known as Tennessee Tech University, as early as 1926. They even built a Baptist Student Center, which continues to be a resource for young people to this day.

First Baptist Church of Cookeville was also a pioneer in broadcasting sermons on tv, which they began doing in 1973. The church continues to broadcast their services today, bringing the Word of God to homes throughout the Upper Cumberland.

Whether it be serving their local community through missions like Operation Christmas Child or the Family Life Center, or a mission overseas, the folks making up the church embody what it means to have a servant's heart.

Again, I want to congratulate First Baptist Church of Cookeville on continuing to fulfill that covenant written all those years ago. I wish Pastor Scott McKinney the best of luck as he continues to guide the church in the years ahead. I pray they will continue to be a blessing to their community, and to the region, for another 150 years.

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate First Baptist Church of Cookeville on 150 years of spreading the Gospel throughout middle Tennessee.

I was raised at First Baptist Church and came to know my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was baptized, and was a member for many years of First Baptist. My wife, Chelsea, and I were married in this church. Needless to say, I have received many blessings from this congregation.

The church was organized in 1873 with a congregation of 34 members. They agreed on a church covenant, which reads, in part: The purpose of this body is to advance the church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort, promoting prosperity and spirituality.

They continue to fulfill that commitment 150 years later.

The folks at Cookeville First Baptist embody what it means to have a servant's heart, whether it be through their many Bible study groups or missions, like Operation Christmas Child or their Family Life Center.

Today, the church enjoys a membership of more than 1,300 members. That is the result of 150 years of persistence and faith.

Madam Speaker, I pray they will continue to be a blessing to our community for the next 150 years.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey) which would reduce funding for the Office of Air and Radiation under the EPA by 50 percent.

The EPA's Office of Air and Radiation is one of the most radical, out-of-touch, and burdensome regulatory authorities in the Federal Government that most Americans have never heard of. They are essentially charged with carrying out the Biden administration and progressive Democrats' job and economy killing Green New Deal agenda.

The unelected bureaucrats at the Office of Air and Radiation have repeatedly targeted small business industries--people's livelihoods and the way of life for thousands of Americans--with little or no regard.

It is time the American people's Representatives in this body, the U.S. House, say enough is enough and remove the EPA's boot from the neck of the American people.

Mr. Chair, there is no better way to start than supporting Mr. Posey's amendment, and I urge my colleagues to join me in doing so.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 4821, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

In June, the Biden administration's Department of the Interior led by Secretary Deb Haaland issued an order to phase out the use of single use plastics, including plastic straws, by 2032.

My amendment is straightforward. My amendment will prevent the Department of the Interior from banning the sale of plastic straws on public lands and national parks.

According to a study published in the journal Food Additives and Contaminants, paper straws may not be more eco-friendly than plastic straws. The majority of the paper straws in this study included perfluoroalkyl substances and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, which are often referred to as forever chemicals.

According to a recent article in USA Today, scientists in Belgium tested 39 brands of straws made of paper, bamboo, plastic, and stainless steel found in shops, supermarkets, and restaurants across the country.

The article continued that: ``These `eco-friendly' plant-based straws are not necessarily a more sustainable alternative to plastic straws, said the study's conclusion, because they can be considered as an additional source of PFAS exposure in humans and the environment.''

Mr. Chairman, we have to ask: Why is the Department of the Interior rushing to ban plastic straws in national parks when it is far from clear whether or not there is any environmental benefit to switching to paper straws?

Additionally, paper straws are absolutely despised by many Americans because they start to become soggy almost immediately when you put them into a drink. I think probably, Mr. Chairman, most Americans have experienced exactly that.

So, Mr. Chair, I include in the Record the text of this USA Today article titled ``Not so eco-friendly? Paper straws contain more `forever chemicals' than plastic, study says.''

[From USA Today, Aug. 28, 2023]

Not So Eco-Friendly? Paper Straws Contain More `Forever Chemicals' Than

Plastic, Study Says

(By Mary Walrath-Holdridge)

Not a fan of those paper straws that have replaced

disposable plastic ones in the name of being eco-friendly? As

it turns out, some of those efforts to save the environment

may have been in vain.

A new study, published Thursday in the journal Food

Additives and Contaminants, found evidence of ``forever

chemical'' PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in the

majority of both paper and bamboo straws tested.

Scientists in Belgium tested 39 brands of straws made of

paper, bamboo, plastic and stainless steel found in shops,

supermarkets and restaurants across the country.

Of the straws tested, almost all contained some

concertation of PFAS, which are often used during

manufacturing to make products water resistant. Out of the

total 39 tested, the chemicals were detected in 27, none of

which were stainless steel.

Paper straws, on the other hand, were the most likely to

contain PFAS, with 18 out of 20, or 90%, of paper brands

testing positive. They were also found in four out of five

bamboo straws, three out of four plastic straws and two out

of five glass straws.

not so eco-friendly?

Eighteen different PFAS were detected in total, though

overall in low concentrations. The chemical most commonly

found, however, was perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) which was

banned globally in 2020.

``These `eco-friendly' plant-based straws are not

necessarily a more sustainable alternative to plastic

straws,'' said the study's conclusion, ``because they can be

considered

as an additional source of PFAS exposure in humans and the

environment (e.g. after degradation in landfills or through

incomplete incineration) .''

The study also discovered PFAS that are known to be highly

water soluble, meaning they have the potential to bleed from

the straw into a drink, but did not investigate this

component further.

The researchers proposed that, while manufactures could

intentionally be coating their plant-based straws in

chemicals to make them water-repellent, the presence of PFAS

could also be attributed to contaminated soil or an

unintended consequence of material recycling. The authors

suggested further analysis and studies be conducted to

determine the primary source of contamination in the straws

and how the chemicals may impact drinks and people consuming

them.

This Belgian study comes on the heels of a 2021 U.S. study,

which found the presence of 21 PFAS in paper and other plant-

based straws versus no measurable amounts in plastic ones.

While PFAS were present in most straws tested, the low

concentration, paired with the limited extent to which people

use straws, means they don't pose an immediate risk to

humans.

Small amounts of PFAS are not harmful in and of themselves,

but rather their ability to build up over time, including in

the human body, is what poses the most risk. Even with these

findings, plant-based straws are still better for the

environment than straight-up plastics.

As stainless-steel straws are reusable long-term and all

tested PFAS-free, the study authors suggest the use of these

straws for bother environmental and health-related reasons.

what are pfas?

PFAS stands for ``per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,''

and refers to a collection of long-lasting chemicals that

take a very long time to slowly break down in the

environment.

According to the United States Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA), PFAS are widely used and persist for long

periods of time in the environment, meaning they are found in

the blood of people and animals around the world, as well as

air, water, soil and in low levels in foods, packaging and

household products.

what health risks are associated with pfas?

While scientists are still working to determine the extent

to which PFAS impact us, animals and our environment, they

are already associated with a list of health concerns.

According to the EPA, PFAS have been linked to:

Reproductive effects such as decreased fertility or

increased high blood pressure in pregnant women.

Developmental effects or delays in children, including low

birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone variations, or

behavioral changes.

Increased risk of some cancers, including prostate, kidney,

and testicular cancers. Reduced ability of the body's immune

system to fight infections, including reduced vaccine

response.

Interference with the body's natural hormones.

Increased cholesterol levels and/or risk of obesity.

where are pfas usually found?

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),

PFAS can be found in hundreds of products we use daily. In

some cases, they are approved for use in limited amounts by

the FDA, such as in food packaging.

They are commonly found in:

Stain- and water-resistant fabrics and carpeting.

Cleaning products.

Paints.

Fire-fighting foams.

Cookware.

Food packaging

Food processing equipment.

Mr. Chairman, the American people do not want their government dictating what type of straws they can drink from.

A ``yes'' vote on my amendment is a resounding repudiation of the nanny state that the Biden administration is currently building via edicts from unelected bureaucrats.

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

Mr. Chair, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. Chair, it is time to get the government out of our drinks. I understand the concern that my colleague expresses, Mr. Chair, but I would say that the best way to avoid the need for congressional intervention would be for the administration to not be chasing its tail trying to force American consumers to make choices that are absolutely not clear in terms of the environmental impact that they would have.

The plastic straw ban being implemented by the Department of the Interior is fundamentally and fatally flawed. Numerous scientific studies have cast serious doubts as to whether or not paper straws are more environmentally friendly than plastic straws.

Mr. Chair, just listen to these headlines regarding paper straws.

From the National Post, ``It turns out all those paper straws are bad for the environment too.''

From U.S. News & World Report, ``'Eco-Friendly' Paper Straws Contain Harmful PFAS Chemicals.''

Finally, from KSL News, ``Paper straws are no better than plastic, research says.''

Mr. Chair, I include in the Record these several articles.

[From nationalpost.com, Aug. 29, 2023]

It Turns Out All Those Paper Straws Are Bad for the Environment

(By Tristin Hopper)

Canada has legislated the mandatory adoption of paper

straws just in time for new evidence to emerge that the new

straws may be just as unsustainable as their plastic

predecessors.

A new study published in the journal Food Additives and

Contaminants examined more than 20 different brands of plant-

based straws and found high levels of toxic chemicals in

almost all of them.

``These `eco-friendly' plant-based straws are not

necessarily a more sustainable alternative to plastic

straws,'' concluded a research team based at Belgium's

University of Antwerp.

Straws examined by the researchers were largely found to be

laden with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS),

commonly known as ``forever chemicals.''

This not only means that the straws likely aren't

biodegradable, but that they are vectors for chemicals

considered hazardous to human and environmental health.

The report noted that even in situations where a plant-

based straw doesn't become litter, it will most likely end up

in a landfill where it will spend the rest of its lifecycle

``releasing PFAS further into the environment.''

``Straws made from plant-based materials . . . are often

advertised as being more sustainable and eco-friendly than

those made from plastic. However, the presence of PFAS in

these straws means that's not necessarily true,''

environmental scientist Thimo Groffen said in a press

statement.

Canada is in the midst of an all-out drive to prohibit the

distribution of single-use plastics, with plastic straws

being one of the most visible targets of the ban.

In December 2022, Environment Canada made it illegal to

manufacture or import plastic straws, cutlery and checkout

bags, among others. At the end of this year, the sale of

those products will also become prohibited. The transition is

not free; even according to the most optimistic estimates of

the Government of Canada, the average Canadian can expect to

pay $50 apiece in the higher costs of plastic alternatives.

The University of Antwerp team performed chemical analysis

on 39 different types of straws sourced from Belgium

supermarkets and fast food outlets: 20 paper, five glass,

five bamboo, five stainless steel, and four plastic.

Only the stainless-steel straws were found to be completely

PFAS-free. The steel straws were also the only type that

could realistically be recycled. Researchers were surprised

to discover that even glass straws contained measurable

amounts of forever chemicals.

As to why these chemicals were so widespread in alternative

straws, one reason is that they were added to make the

products water-repellent. The Belgian study also noted that

it might be partially unintended; with so many paper straws

made from recycled materials, manufacturers might be

unwittingly using raw ingredients that were previously

infused with PFAS.

Although Canada's straw ban has often pitched as a means to

protect ocean health, the vast majority of plastic in the

world's oceans comes from a handful of countries (largely in

South Asia) that dump their waste directly onto beaches or

into rivers.

In Canada, by contrast, the vast majority of single-use

plastics are captured by existing waste-management systems. A

2019 report commissioned by Environment Canada determined

that of the 3,268 kilotonnes of plastic waste Canada

generated in 2016, 3,239 kilotonnes were ``collected.''

Ottawa has also done little to no research on the

environmental impacts or the potential unintended

consequences of finding alternatives to single-use plastics.

A Government of Canada report on alternatives to plastic

straws and checkout bags simply advises retailers to find

products that won't be ``problematic.''

That same report touts how Starbucks replaced plastic

straws in 2019 with specialized ``strawless'' lids, but fails

to note that the new lids actually contain more plastic than

the prior cup/straw combo.

Mr. Chair, my amendment will stop the nonsense that the Biden administration is trying to force upon the American people through the Department of the Interior by prohibiting any funds from being used to implement, administer, apply, enforce, or carry out any plastic straw prohibitions.

Mr. Chair, in closing, I urge Members to vote ``yes'' on my amendment and the underlying bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to remember a fallen officer from Tennessee, Sergeant William Cherry of the Macon County Sheriff's Department.

Sergeant Cherry passed away following a head-on collision that occurred while he was conducting a routine patrol on July 29, 2023.

Those who worked alongside him described the sergeant as a leader and mentor. They say he wore the badge with honor and that he truly carried out his oath as a law enforcement officer.

Sergeant Cherry cared deeply about protecting his community, especially protecting children from potential harm. The outpouring of support shown to his family since his passing is a testament to his impact on the community he cared so much about, an impact that will be felt for some time to come.

We lost a truly dedicated public servant and a great example of what it means to be a Tennessean.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my deepest condolences to his wife and daughter.