Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, today I rise in opposition to President Biden's and the extreme Green New Deal Democrats' attempts to ban gas stoves and cooking appliances. I rise in support of H.R. 1615 and H.R. 1640, which would extinguish this egregious abuse of power.

Madam Speaker, natural gas stoves are currently the preferred cooktop appliance for nearly 40 percent of American households. In fact, nearly 187 million Americans use natural gas because it is a relatively affordable and reliable source of energy.

As Americans have been facing the gripping reality of surging prices for almost everything, thanks to the reckless and out-of-control spending of President Biden and Congressional Democrats, the last thing they need is to be forced to spend an additional $1,068 per year from using only electric appliances.

During debate, Democrats will say, and have said that no one is trying to take away your gas stoves. That couldn't be any further from the truth.

In fact, a recent CNN headline read: ``New York becomes the first state to ban natural gas stoves and furnaces in most new buildings.''

While discussing gas stoves in January of this year, Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Richard Trumka, Jr., said: ``Any option is on the table,'' meaning that banning gas stoves was certainly a potential option.

A month later, in February, seemingly following the Consumer Product Safety Commission's lead, the U.S. Department of Energy issued a proposed rule that, if finalized, would set maximum annual energy consumption standards for electric and gas cooking tops manufactured and sold into commerce.

This proposed rule would have an estimated cost of $183.4 million for manufacturers that will need to comply with the new standards. Somehow, the administration tentatively concluded that the new standards would be ``technologically feasible and economically justified.''

Give me a break.

Now, Madam Speaker, gas stoves in my home State of Tennessee may not be as common as they are in some other States. Given our relatively affordable electricity rates and our historical reliance on other forms of energy, Tennessee's use of gas stoves accounts for only 20.4 percent of households in our State. But even though only one in five Tennessee households use a gas stove, the Tennessee State legislature passed, and the Governor signed into law, legislation that prohibits local governments from banning gas stoves. As a result, no localities in the Volunteer State have pursued this ill-guided policy.

All of this to say, Americans should be allowed the freedom to make this decision for themselves. The last thing they need is the Federal Government coming into their kitchen and telling them what appliances they should be using. Not only is it extremely costly and ineffective but it is another step toward becoming a socialist nanny state.

Lastly, Green New Deal Democrats in favor of banning gas stoves claim that it will save the environment and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The truth is that homes with natural gas appliances emit 22 percent less CO2 than all electric homes.

Madam Speaker, let's call this what it is: a blatant overreach and abuse of power by Green New Deal Democrats and the power-hungry Biden administration.

Thankfully, House Republicans are taking action to protect America's freedom to choose for themselves whether a gas stove is the best choice for their needs by passing H.R. 1615, the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, and H.R. 1640, the Save Our Gas Stoves Act.

It is a shame that we have to take these types of actions to push back against an overly aggressive regulatory state led by the Biden administration.

Madam Speaker, the Securities and Exchange Commission--not the social and environmental commission--has proposed a rule that would require small farmers in America who sell their products to large,

public companies to potentially have to calculate and report their total climate-related risks, including their emissions.

This proposed rule would upend the entire agricultural economy and impose a tremendous added cost to farmers who put food on our tables and subsequently to all of us who eat that food.

Congress never gave the Securities and Exchange Commission the authority to enact regulations regarding the environment or climate, but the Biden administration has been adamant about carrying out their progressive agenda nevertheless.

That is why we are working to put an end to out-of-control government and Washington bureaucrats by passing the REINS Act.

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in voting ``yes'' on this legislation so that Congress can go back to being the necessary check on these rogue officials just as our Founders intended.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of legislation I am proud to originally cosponsor, H.J. Res. 44, which would strike down the ATF's unconstitutional pistol stabilizing rule.

Time after time, this administration has shown they show little to no regard for our God-given rights protected under the U.S. Constitution. That is why it is no surprise to see unelected agency bureaucrats pushing for this

outrageous and draconian regulation that criminalizes firearm ownership for millions of law-abiding Americans.

Under this rule, many of the service-disabled veterans who rely on these braces would no longer be able to exercise their Second Amendment freedoms and right to self-defense.

That is why I was proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation and to vote in favor of its passage on the House floor.

``Shall not be infringed'' means exactly that. Rest assured, I will always stand against efforts like these to diminish our God-given Second Amendment rights.

Mr. Speaker, House Republicans are the only ones that have done their job to pass legislation that raises the debt ceiling in a reasonable, responsible, and sensible way.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen tells us that the United States may run out of funds to pay our bills in just 8 days. Yet, the Democratic- controlled Senate has yet to put forward a proposal or even hold a single vote.

Unfortunately, the President has wasted valuable time refusing to negotiate. In fact, it has taken more than 100 days for him to even come to the negotiating table, despite Speaker McCarthy's repeated calls to the White House to just have a meeting--President Biden declined at each and every turn until recently--inching our Nation toward a Democrat-induced default.

With only 8 days left until our Nation potentially drives off the fiscal cliff, thanks to Democrats' wasteful and out-of-control spending, you would expect the President would be at the negotiating table each and every day, around the clock, until we get a deal done to avoid the disastrous default. Instead, he spent the weekend traveling overseas.

To me and many of the Tennesseans I represent, the President seems to be neglecting his duties during these most critical moments. Republicans have done everything we can to avoid this scenario. Like I mentioned, the House is the only body to pass legislation that responsibly raises the debt ceiling and does so while also saving American taxpayers trillions of dollars.

President Biden's actions remind me of a child who doesn't get their way. Unfortunately, the President's temper tantrum will have much more dire consequences than that of a toddler.

There is an easy solution to this problem. If the President were serious about avoiding default, he could instruct his counterparts in the Senate to pass our bill, the House-passed Limit, Save, Grow Act, which raises the debt ceiling in a reasonable, responsible, and sensible manner.

Sure, maybe the President and Senate Democrats didn't get their homework done by the due date, but they are more than welcome to copy ours and turn it in for full credit.

Mr. Speaker, if a Democrat President delays negotiations, and if a Democrat-controlled Senate doesn't pass anything, what do you get? You get the United States' first-ever default that will lie squarely on Democrats' shoulders--a Democrat default.

It is a shame that after all of these years the President spent in the Senate, a body known for its bipartisanship and ability to compromise, the President has brought us this close to default.

Mr. Speaker, make no mistake, the Democrats' default will have catastrophic impacts on the U.S. economy. Let's hope it doesn't come to that and that we can come together to save our country from fiscal insanity by limiting Washington's out-of-control spending.

Mr. Speaker, America is a country built on the idea of freedom. Freedom to most means the ability to live and make decisions without unreasonable constraints. Freedom does not mean freedom from individual responsibility.

Unfortunately, President Biden and those who support his wealthy student loan giveaway scheme have gotten it backwards. They believe that hardworking, blue-collar Tennesseans should foot the bills for the wealthy.

Simply put, this is plain wrong. Because in America, we are free to make decisions on our own and no one should be responsible for someone else's personal decisions.

Mr. Speaker, by forcing this draconian student loan buyout down the throats of taxpayers, President Biden is hindering our freedom. That is why I urge my colleagues to join me in standing on the side of freedom by voting ``yes'' on H.J. Res. 45.

Mr. Speaker, once again, Americans are waking up to another embarrassing headline from another self-inflicted wound from President Biden.

President Biden delayed almost 100 days to begin good faith negotiations with Speaker McCarthy. In the meantime, House Republicans passed a bill that is a reasonable, sensible, and responsible solution to the default Democrats' debt ceiling crisis.

Unfortunately, because of President Biden's unnecessary delay, the President has to cancel part of his international trip to Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Australia.

The cancelation is extremely disappointing for Papua New Guinea, which spent 6 months preparing for its first-ever visit from a sitting United States President. They even designated the day of the President's visit as a national holiday.

Now, after this embarrassment for our country that is sure to result in a waste of taxpayer dollars, Americans can only hope the President has started to take this self-made crisis seriously. If not, he will be to blame for a default on our Nation's debt.

Madam Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the 75th anniversary of the founding of Israel.

On Sunday, May 14, not only did we celebrate 75 years since the birth of Israel, but we also celebrated 75 years since the birth of a special friendship between the United States and Israel.

For 75 years, there has been no better ally to the United States than Israel and no better ally to Israel than the United States.

There is no issue more bipartisan than that of continuing to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. Because of this, I believe our relationship will continue to grow stronger over the next 75 years.

Madam Speaker, I hope all Members of this body join me in wishing a very happy birthday to Israel. May the next 75 years be a time of hope and prosperity.

Mr. Chairman, today I rise as a Christian, a husband, and a father in support of H.R. 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, a bill that I am proud to cosponsor.

Tennessee is well-known for its iconic and legendary women's basketball program, the Lady Volunteers.

Thankfully, our State has taken action to protect the Lady Vols from ever being threatened to have to compete against biological males. Whether it is for scholarships or national championships, biological males ought to compete against biological males, and biological females ought to compete against biological females.

Most Tennesseans consider this to be common sense.

That is why I am very thankful the House is considering the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act today, and I am extremely proud to support its passage.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on this legislation.

Madam Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act because lowering energy costs is a top priority of Tennesseans.

Since President Biden took office, energy costs have skyrocketed. To make matters worse, congressional Democrats poured gasoline on the fire by passing a $370 billion Green New Deal giveaway that has done nothing to address the root cause of record-high energy costs and inflation.

My neighbors often ask, Why have energy costs gone up so much, so quickly? Why is the President not doing anything about it? Unfortunately, the Biden administration prioritizes the demands of woke, leftwing activists that would rather hold our economy hostage than promote the cleanest, most affordable energy produced right here in the United States.

Madam Chair, because of the reckless policies of the Biden administration, Republicans have many priorities this Congress, but our number one priority is to lower energy costs on behalf of the American people.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment designated as Amendment No. 9 to H.R. 140, the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act, and I thank my friend from Kentucky (Mr. Comer) for introducing this important piece of legislation.

Federal employees should absolutely not be censoring lawful speech, and I am proud to support this bill which will clearly prohibit that practice.

My straightforward amendment simply requires mandatory annual training on the requirements of the underlying bill. We were all recently made aware of the shameful instances of Federal Government- driven censorship that occurred in conjunction with Twitter over the last several years, and with that revelation, we must be suspicious that similar censorship has occurred in conjunction with other Big Tech social media platforms.

The goal of H.R. 140 is to eliminate such instances of Federal Government censorship, and my amendment furthers that goal by requiring Federal employees to undergo annual training to inform and remind them of their obligations under this bill to refrain from any and all censorship activities.

Kara Frederick, director of The Heritage Foundation's Tech Policy Center, recently penned a Heritage Foundation backgrounder titled: ``Combating Big Tech's Totalitarianism: A Road Map.''

In her piece, Ms. Frederick writes: ``The Biden administration is attempting to circumvent the Constitution by pressuring private tech companies to take down content under a broad and politically biased definition of misinformation. When Big Tech companies do the government's bidding by removing users and content that the government tells them are objectionable, they are essentially acting as government agents, a potential violation of the First Amendment.''

Mr. Chair, I am proud that this Congress has made this bill a priority. Government censorship and government-pressured censorship of lawful speech are just plain wrong.

Today, we are pushing back on this anti-freedom activity. My amendment will strengthen H.R. 140 by helping to ensure a high level of compliance with its requirements.

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

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

Mr. Chair, when it comes to censorship or pressured censorship by Federal Government employees, ignorance is not bliss. My amendment seeks to further the anti-censorship goals of H.R. 140 by requiring mandatory education for Federal employees on the bill's new anti- censorship requirements.

Therefore, because of my amendment, Federal employees will not be able to claim ignorance of the new requirements we are implementing in the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act.

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

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

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

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment designated as amendment No. 10 to H.R. 140, the Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act.

Mr. Chair, I sincerely hope that after H.R. 140 is enacted, there are zero violations of the bill's new anti-censorship requirements. However, if any violation or allegations of violations do occur, then the public has a right to know.

My amendment is simple. It states that it is the sense of Congress that inspectors general should publicly report the number of complaints and tips received, the number of investigations opened, and statistics on how investigations were managed and their disposition by the inspector general related to compliance with the underlying bill.

The amendment specifies that the inspectors general should publicly report no less than annually. The amendment also sunsets after 7 years.

Whether or not my colleagues on the other side of the aisle support the underlying Protecting Speech from Government Interference Act, I hope they will support this amendment as it is vital that the public have an accurate picture of whether the laws that Congress passes are being followed.

Public reporting of the number of tips and complaints received and statistics on investigations related to compliance with H.R. 140 is a pro-transparency measure to hold the government accountable that I hope we all can support.

This amendment is a commonsense and gentle nudge to inspectors general that it is the sense of this body that public reporting related to compliance with this bill is an important endeavor.

Mr. Chair, I urge support of my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I have no further speakers and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

By voting ``yes'' on Amendment 10, Members are reaffirming their commitment to transparency and government accountability. If my amendment passes, along with the underlying bill, the American people will be more well-informed of violations of the underlying bill.

In closing, I urge Members to vote ``yes'' on my amendment and the underlying bill.

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

Mr. Chairman, free speech is the cornerstone of a free and thriving society.

Unfortunately, recent revelations made in the Twitter files show that free speech under the First Amendment is under attack--even by those within our own Federal Government.

Our Founding Fathers fought hard to enshrine the right to free speech in our Constitution. As social media companies and Big Tech corporations collude with rogue Federal officials to censor and deplatform members of our free society--including Members of Congress and other conservative voices--we must continue to do everything we can to fight to protect the First Amendment for everyone.

The Protecting Speech for Government Interference Act does exactly that. It is a victory against the modern-day attacks on our freedom, and it is a victory for all freedom-loving citizens of the United States who embrace and accept the right to free speech.

I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to celebrate a U.S. Army veteran, a great Tennessean, teacher, and mentor to many.

Hugh Hix Stubblefield, also called Hix or Stub, passed away late last year after a long life of inspiring others.

Professor Stubblefield discovered his passion for the classroom in 1951 as a student at Texas Tech University. From there, he became an educator himself, teaching high school in Atlanta and Cincinnati.

He went on to earn a master's degree from George Peabody College and the University of Missouri. And then in 1962, while reporting for the local newspaper, he returned to Tennessee Tech to teach journalism until he retired in 1999. I had the pleasure of being one of his many students.

Another former student of his, Lindsay Pride, now the editor of the Herald-Citizen in the local paper in Cookeville, wrote, ``Hugh didn't lecture students, he shared stories.'' I agree.

His experiences gave students real-world examples of the do's and don'ts of journalism, and those nuggets of wisdom could apply to any field. His advice was just flat-out helpful for an undergraduate student getting their start in life or a journalism student.

Perhaps one of the most important lessons he taught us was patience. He emphasized that it is better to be accurate than first. He stressed the importance of having multiple genuine sources. He spoke about the consequences of lacking accuracy and objectivity.

We are living through many of those consequences right now as a country. Now more than ever, we could all benefit from Professor Stubblefield's Introduction to Journalism class.

He fostered discipline in his students, discipline that came in handy in many professions and even everyday life, including independent thought, double-checking facts, and fairness.

He showed a genuine interest in the long-term success of his students and kept in touch with many of them as they maneuvered the professional world. That kind of attentiveness had an impact on countless alumni, including a writer for the Los Angeles Times, an editor for The New York Times, a novelist, and, yes, at least one United States Congressman.

Professor Stubblefield did more than teach. He served as adviser for the university yearbook and student newspaper for decades. In fact, he received several honors from the National Council on College Publication Advisors over his career.

For years, Professor Stubblefield was an active member of the community, serving on the Upper Cumberland chapter of the Tennessee Trails Association. He was also very involved with Park View Friendship United Methodist Church in Cookeville.

He leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Ann Elizabeth Blair Stubblefield--also a teacher of mine--two children, Katie Elizabeth and Jon David; a granddaughter, and several great-grandchildren.

I know his kindness will continue to live on in them and his many former students.

Tennessee Pilots Remembered

Mr. Speaker, for 136 years, the Tennessee National Guard has stood ready to respond to any State or Federal mission. That takes more than manpower or equipment. It takes training to ensure our soldiers and airmen are truly prepared for any emergency scenario or conflict. But even training comes with its share of hazards and sacrifice.

Our hearts are still broken after two Tennessee Army National Guard pilots lost their lives during some of that training in a helicopter crash in Huntsville, Alabama, 12 days ago.

Chief Warrant Officers Daniel Wadham and Danny Randolph had nearly 30 years of combined public service. They left behind a grateful State and Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I invite my House colleagues to join me in praying for their families. Let us all do what we can to make sure their commitment to freedom is never forgotten.

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

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

I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 185, and I thank my friend from Kentucky, Mr. Massie, for introducing this important piece of legislation.

We all know that the People's Republic of China has not been transparent regarding its handling of the COVID crisis.

My amendment is simple. This amendment will add language to the underlying bill to clarify that no provisions in the bill shall affect the order issued by the CDC requiring negative COVID-19 tests or proof of recovery from COVID-19 for travelers coming from the People's Republic of China.

A Bloomberg news article from last month said that: ``After years of meticulously testing to find every last case of COVID-19, Chinese President Xi Jinping is now effectively looking the other way as the virus ravages the nation's 1.4 billion people.''

Mr. Chair, we cannot fall asleep at the wheel when it comes to protecting our Nation, its people, and our safety with respect to the adversarial and all-too-often nefarious actions and intentions of the People's Republic of China.

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

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

Mr. Chair, just a few days ago, we saw the People's Republic of China send a high-altitude surveillance balloon over our airspace spanning almost the entire continental United States. No one believes the government of China's ludicrous explanation that this was simply a weather balloon that inadvertently went off course. If the Chinese Government is willing to make such a bald-faced lie to the world, then how can we possibly trust the information they are releasing regarding the current COVID crisis in China?

The easy answer is: We can't. Because we can't trust the Chinese Government to be transparent and honest about the scope of their current COVID crisis, we must take appropriate precautions. Continuing to test travelers from China is essential to our national safety. A vote for this amendment is a vote in favor of holding China accountable and ensuring the safety of our Nation and its people.

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

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to express my support for H.R. 139, the SHOW UP Act, which was introduced by my good friend from Kentucky, the chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, Mr. Comer, and passed on this floor yesterday.

Millions of Tennesseans show up to work every day. However, more than half of Federal Government workers, who are expected to serve the American people, still aren't showing up for work. This has led to extremely long wait times and delays in services.

Veterans who showed up to work and served our country can't get their proper VA benefits. Families are waiting months for their passports. In my district, a father waited for more than 8 months to receive his tax return. The entire time, he was left in the dark by the IRS.

Tennesseans deserve better, Mr. Speaker. The pandemic is over, and it is time to get back to work.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support like-minded measures.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 9, which denounces the horrors of socialism in all its forms.

Whether it is communism, Marxism, Leninism, Stalinism, Maoism, anarchism, democratic socialism, ecosocialism, or liberal socialism, all of these have failed, and none of these ideologies should, God willing, ever be implemented in the United States.

By passing this resolution, we can send a message to the American people that we reject these deadly ideologies, and our Nation will always and forever be a bastion of freedom and a beacon of hope.

I pray for the more than 100 million lives that have been lost at the hands of Communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships.

Socialism should never play any part in the American way of life. I hope we can all agree on this commonsense resolution. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on its passage.