Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I will address a couple of things that my esteemed colleague across the aisle talked about. Gas prices, do you want to go back to the gas prices under Joe Biden? I think not.

As long as we are talking about 13 dead servicemembers, I want to remind you of how often our colleagues across the aisle refuse to talk about the 13 servicemembers who died in the most disastrous, the most despicable operation in U.S. military history at Abbey Gate. They refuse to talk about and refuse to recognize the 13 dead then.

As long as we are talking about this operation, we tend to forget that President Obama attacked Libya for 7 months, with no authorization from Congress--7 months, with no authorization from Congress.

I have a question for my colleagues across the aisle: Why do you hate U.S. success so much? How can you do that? How can you hate the success that we have had strategically in the last couple of months?

We now control the Venezuelan oil, much of which went to China. We now have cut off the Strait of Hormuz, where much of the oil that went through the Strait of Hormuz went to China. We have done it with no boots on the ground.

There are three priorities of the regime in Iran. One is regime survival. Two is their nuclear program. Three used to be--although it is no longer, because they don't have any proxies left to speak of.

We have taken out their proxies. We have destroyed much of their nuclear program. If we can get the 60 percent uranium, get it under our control, it would be very beneficial, but they no longer have the machines or the people to enrich it to 90 percent, which is weapon- grade uranium.

You asked what we have accomplished in this war. We have neutered Iran, which has been at war with us for 47 years. What have we accomplished? We have accomplished quite a bit.

I ask my colleagues, again, how can you hate U.S. success so much? I have been deployed on three continents with the United States Army, and I will tell you the support of the American people is what sustained you when you are deployed overseas.

I implore my colleagues across the aisle to support our troops who are in harm's way.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues from the Sharia-Free America Caucus, which my good friend and fellow Texan Congressman Chip Roy and I proudly co-chair.

Just today, we added our 60th member. I am delighted to announce that the caucus now has representation from 25 States across the United States, which is half of all the States in this Union.

America was founded on a timeless principle, individual freedom secured by self-government under our clear and supreme rule of constitutional law.

As John Adams warned: ``Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.''

Today, we witness the painful truth of those words. Multitudes arrive at our borders with no intention of assimilating into our culture or embracing the founding principles of liberty under the U.S. Constitution.

The clash is not new. In 1786, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams asked the Ambassador from Tripoli why his nation attacked peaceful countries with no provocation. He replied that it was their right and duty under their laws of the prophet and the Koran to make war on all who do not acknowledge Islamic authority to enslave prisoners and that every fighter slain would go to paradise.

This was then and remains today a stark contrast of civilizations, one rooted in submission and domination, the other in individual liberty under constitutional law.

Sharia poses a unique and profound danger. It is far more than a personal faith. It is a comprehensive system of governance, culture, and domination that enforces submission through violence.

All cultures are not morally equivalent. Whereas, Christianity is the religion of peace, reconciliation, and love, Islam is a religion of the sword. It stands in direct irreconcilable conflict with a maximum individual freedom at the heart of Western civilization and our Judeo- Christian heritage.

Our rights derive from our creator, not from any man-made supremacist code. America gladly welcomes those who come to assimilate and worship freely according to conscience, but we must never accommodate a system that demands the submission of every surrounding society. And sharia explicitly requires precisely that.

The evidence is mounting right here in my home State, the Lone Star State. In my own Congressional District, Texas' Third District, the East Plano Islamic Center, one of the largest mosques in north Texas, already operates a sharia-adherent enclave in Plano. This is not merely a house of worship. It serves as the foundation for something far more troubling.

The same organization spearheaded a proposed 400-plus acre residential development in unincorporated Collin and Hunt Counties near Josephine originally called EPIC City now rebranded as The Meadow to deflect scrutiny and confusion over its separatist intent.

Marketed as a Muslim-centric community, it was designed around sharia-adherent living, over 1,000 homes, a new mosque, a K-12 school, and other facilities tailored to enforce submission rather than assimilation.

Both the existing EPIC enclave and this affiliated project are abominations that threaten American principles of equality, individual liberty, and the rule of law.

We have seen alarming incidents of Muslim intimidation. An imam in Dallas called the police on a fellow Muslim for merely speaking to a Christian pastor. Another in Houston captured on video threatening to occupy noncompliant businesses under sharia.

Texas is seeing explosive growth with roughly 48 new mosques in just the last 2 years.

That is why on March 3, Texas Republicans overwhelmingly passed proposition 10 with 95 percent support, a clear mandate to ban sharia in our State.

Texans have spoken: American law only. No foreign ideology should make Americans feel like foreigners in their own country. Texas stands as ground zero in this fight. Yet, this is not just a Texas issue. Sharia's influence is advancing from Arizona to Minnesota to Alabama, Florida, and beyond. No State is immune. That is why our caucus has surged to 60 members across 25 States bolstered by strong Senate support from figures like Senator Tuberville.

As I have said repeatedly, sharia has no place in America. Do not sharia our America. Defend the West. Ban sharia.

The urgency of this fight was laid bare in the opening days of March when a disturbing wave of Islamist-inspired attacks struck our soil. On March 1, in Austin, a gunman opened fire outside a downtown bar, killing three innocent young Americans and wounding more than a dozen others. The Islamist terrorist, a naturalized citizen from Senegal with prior arrests, wore a sweatshirt proclaiming: ``Property of Allah,'' an undershirt bearing an Iranian flag, and left a Koran in his vehicle.

This was no isolated act.

March has seen multiple incidents linked to Islamist extremism: a failed ISIS-inspired bombing attempt outside Gracie Mansion in New York City on March 7; a vehicle ramming and a shootout at a synagogue in Michigan on March 12, injuring dozens; and an ISIS-inspired shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia that same day, targeting ROTC members and claiming one life.

These attacks, clustered in a single month, underscore a chilling reality: The enemy is inside the gate, driven by a supremacist ideology that claims divine authority over our Constitution and justifies violence against those who refuse submission.

Nowhere in this ideology is it more barbaric than its treatment of women. Under sharia, women are relegated to second-class status. It explicitly permits wife beating as discipline. Imams have preached that women feel honored by beatings, or liken them to livestock, cows, sheep, horses, and mules, created solely for men's use.

Sharia codifies female genital mutilation, forced child marriage, honor killings, half inheritance for women, and testimony worth half that of a man.

Its nations enforce these rules, from Iran's reign of terror to places where adultery brings stoning, apostasy brings death or public floggings, and men and women live in slavery.

Even more horrifying, sharia permits the rape and enslavement of non- Muslim women, with some scholars openly declaring it permissible under the Koran and hadith. These are not fringe opinions. They are preached publicly, and they are infiltrating Western Civilization.

If you don't believe this is happening, Mr. Speaker, then tell that to the thousands of British teenage girls groomed, plied with alcohol, gang-raped by Muslim gangs, and then arrested by police for being drunk while their rapists go free.

Let me repeat: The victims are arrested. This is sharia. Sharia does not content itself with private practice. It demands eventual dominance over the host culture. Look at France and the U.K., Mr. Speaker, where unchecked immigration has eroded heritage, culture, and freedoms. We cannot allow that fate here in the United States.

According to Islam, many non-Muslims like me are regarded as infidels, and Muslims who convert to Christianity or any other faith are apostates, punishable by death under Islam.

As Karl Popper wisely cautioned: ``Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance.'' Mr. Speaker, we must claim the right to not tolerate the intolerant.

Sharia embodies that intolerance, rejecting free speech, equal rights, and constitutional supremacy. We must reject it in turn.

Legislation alone cannot halt this creeping threat. Congress has a sworn duty to act. Seven bills stand ready to ban sharia's influence regarding immigration and legal systems, deporting adherents who promote it, designating the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as terrorist organizations, strengthening vetting, advancing the PAUSE Act to stop all immigration, and ensuring no court ever considers sharia or any foreign religious code.

Mr. Speaker, the American people demand that we defend the Constitution against ideology seeking to supplant it and replace it. That is why Congressman Roy and I founded this caucus. It has grown rapidly because patriots nationwide are awakening.

Mr. Speaker, I urge every colleague, Republican or Democrat, who believes in American sovereignty to join the Sharia-Free America Caucus today. Let us stand firm: one nation, one Constitution, and one rule of law.

Sharia has no place in America.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Harris).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Fulcher).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Moore).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from South Carolina (Mrs. Biggs).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Fine).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments, and I now recognize my colleague from Arizona (Mr. Crane.)

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments. And I now recognize the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy), the cofounder of this caucus and my fellow Texan.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).

Mr. Speaker, sharia is alive, well, and operating in Plano, Texas. Right now, as I speak, there is an existing sharia-adherent enclave run by the East Plano Islamic Center in my congressional district. It has been functioning for 12 years right in our midst. This is not a hypothetical or future threat. It is here now and operational.

Let me lay out exactly what already exists in Plano today under EPIC's control: 74 homes sold exclusively to Muslims affiliated with EPIC, no outsiders permitted; a massive megamosque, serving as the central anchor of the enclave; sharia-adherent Islamic schools indoctrinating the next generation--by the way, we believe that the girls disappear at a certain point; a medical clinic; multiple businesses; and an Islamic financing institution providing sharia- compliant financing that rejects conventional American banking principles.

Most alarming of all, according to a former senior Plano law enforcement official, there is speculation that there are unattended deaths in this Muslim-only community that are not being reported, as required under State law. That is, individuals in this community die, as is natural, and first responders are never called to the scene.

Let me be clear. Not reporting a death is a crime under Texas State law. My office is going to follow every lead we have on this to ensure American law is being followed.

The bottom line: This is no ordinary neighborhood. It is a parallel society, a de facto sharia enclave operating in defiance of full assimilation into American law, situated immediately adjacent to the very law enforcement facilities meant to protect our communities.

Alarmingly, and as a matter of fact, the pattern of Islamic centers being built next to police training facilities is emerging. There is also one in Irving, Texas. Intimidation is clearly the intent.

EPIC is phase 1 of a broader strategy. EPIC City, a proposed 400- acre, Muslim-only housing development, now rebranded as The Meadow to deflect scrutiny and public opposition, is phase 2.

While this larger proposed development remains in the planning stages, with no construction underway, it is far from resolved.

As of March 2026, developers continue pushing forward, submitting plat applications, refiling despite rejections, and facing ongoing legal battles. Collin County has paused or rejected plans due to deficiencies, missing documentation, and incomplete submissions.

State investigations led by Governor Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and agencies like the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality have secured court orders, including a recent temporary restraining order in March, blocking illegal utility district maneuvers.

Federal probes, such as HUD's active Fair Housing Act investigation into potential religious discrimination, add significant pressure. Yet the developers persist, rebranding and refiling to wear down resistance.

Make no mistake, the enemy is inside the gates: building exclusive zones, enforcing foreign codes, and seeking to grow despite every obstacle.

Sharia does not assimilate. It dominates and conquers.

America welcomes people of every faith to come to live under our Constitution and assimilate into our society, but we will never tolerate a system that creates submission-based enclaves, exclusive housing markets, or fortresses overlooking our police academies.

This is why our caucus continues to grow rapidly. This is why Texans passed Proposition 10 by a 95 percent landslide to ban sharia in Texas. That is why we must remain vigilant at every level: local, State, and Federal.

Mr. Speaker, the American people demand that we defend the rule of law, not allow its gradual erosion. Sharia has no place in Plano. Sharia has no place in Texas. Sharia has no place in America.

I urge every colleague who values American sovereignty to join the Sharia-Free Caucus today. Let us defend the West. Let us defend our freedoms and let us defend American sovereignty.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4294, and I am here to represent the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris) in his opposition to H.R. 4294.

I include a letter titled ``Coalition Letter from Maryland Blue Catfish Processors Opposing the MAWS Act.''

March 12, 2026.

Coalition Letter From Maryland Blue Catfish Processors Opposing the

MAWS Act

We write as a coalition of small, family-owned seafood

processing businesses, which are among the only facilities in

Maryland actively processing blue catfish for human

consumption, to express our serious concerns with the

proposed MAWS Act introduced by Representative Sarah K.

Elfreth and co-led by Representative Robert J. Wittman.

For several years, our businesses have worked alongside the

Maryland Department of Agriculture and other state and

federal partners to invest significant time and financial

resources into building a viable commercial market for wild-

caught blue catfish. This effort has required overcoming

longstanding public stigma and educating consumers that blue

catfish is not only safe, but a highquality and desirable

protein-rich seafood product. Progress has been hard-won.

The MAWS Act, however well-intentioned, risks undermining

this progress by shifting public messaging toward the use of

blue catfish primarily for pet food or similar byproducts.

Headlines suggesting that blue catfish is destined for pet

food damage consumer perception and directly threaten the

emerging market for human consumption--the very market that

sustains Maryland watermen, processors, and our Bay

communities. Our shared goal has always been to add value to

this fishery, increase demand, and raise dockside prices so

that watermen are incentivized to harvest more invasive blue

catfish from Maryland waters.

It is also important to note that the utilization of

processing byproducts for rendering or pet food is already

occurring through existing private-sector relationships that

we have worked hard to establish, typically at prices between

$0.10 and $0.20 per pound. Government subsidies directed

toward a new, bureaucratically-selected recipient would

therefore not create innovation, but instead introduce market

distortion and unfair competitive advantage--jeopardizing

longstanding partnerships and destabilizing an industry that

is only beginning to succeed.

Currently, many processors struggle to secure sufficient

supply to meet growing consumer demand. Introducing a

government-funded competitor capable of paying above-market

prices for whole fish would further strain supply chains and

place small Maryland processors at significant risk. Fish in

the one- to two-pound range, as well as larger specimens, are

already valuable components of our processing operations and

product lines, despite misleading claims made by entities

like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

We are equally troubled by the legislative process that

produced this proposal without meaningful consultation from

the processors who have pioneered Maryland's on-the-ground

response to the blue catfish invasion. Members of our

coalition attempted outreach to Representative Elfreth's

office but were unfortunately met with a resistance to engage

in substantive dialogue regarding the bill's impacts on

private industry.

Ultimately, we share the goal of addressing the ecological

challenges posed by invasive blue catfish and strengthening

Maryland's seafood economy. However, we believe public funds

would be far more effective if directed toward initiatives

that can help the watermen, the processors, and the people in

our working waterfront communities. For example, USDA grant

funding secured by Congressman Andy Harris has helped several

Maryland processors to make investments into costly new

facilities upgrades that we otherwise would not have been

able to make. New programs should build upon, not undercut,

investments that have already been made by taxpayers.

Without a strong processing sector, Maryland cannot sustain

a viable blue catfish industry. We remain ready and willing

to work collaboratively with Representative Elfreth,

Representative Wittman, and other sponsors of this

legislation to identify policies that genuinely support

watermen, processors, and working waterfront communities

while continuing to remove invasive blue catfish from the

Chesapeake Bay.

Sincerely,

Nick Hargrove,

Tilghman Island Seafood, Tilghman, MD.

Stephanie Pazzaglia,

J.J. McDonnell Seafood, Elkridge, MD.

Amanda Williams,

BSA Seafood, Grasonville, MD.

Patrick Welsh Jr.,

Reliant Fish Company, Jessup, MD.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my very good friend, fellow Texan colleague and cofounder of the Sharia-Free America Caucus, Congressman Chip Roy, for yielding me time.

First of all, I have been aware of and been involved in Iran since 1979. I commanded the Special Forces Detachment 18 at that time. While the trigger was not pulled, I was in a forward-deployed battalion, and we were prepared to go in early to get the hostages should we need to. We had just came out of a--actually, we had literally, just the week before, I believe, come out of a shooting house in northern Germany where we had actually rehearsed a hostage rescue.

I also was involved in Iran in 1984, when the 82nd Airborne Division was preparing Op Plan 1004.

I have been cognizant of and aware of Iran and planning for Iran since the late seventies, since the ayatollah took over.

Mr. Speaker, we have in the United States one Constitution, one legal system, and one supreme law of the land. No foreign code, no religious legal system, and no ideology that rejects our founding principles has any place here.

Just this week, as you heard, on March 3, 2026, Texas Republicans delivered an overwhelming message that cannot be ignored, should not be ignored. Proposition 10, which states that the State of Texas should prohibit sharia law, passed by--get this--a 95-percent landslide in the Republican primary.

Texans are saying loud and clear: American law only. Sharia is not compatible with our Constitution, and our constituents reject any attempt to import it.

This nonbinding proposition is a clarion call to this Congress: Protect our sovereignty before it is too late.

Tragically, just 2 days before that vote, on March 1, we witnessed exactly why this mandate is so urgent. In Austin, Texas, as the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy) just outlined for you, a gunman opened fire on innocent people enjoying their night. He killed three young Americans.

We always say their names: 19-year-old Ryder Harrington, a Texas Tech student; 21-year-old Savitha Shan, a University of Texas student; and 30-year-old Jorge Pederson. Mr. Speaker, 13 others were wounded, some critically.

The suspect, as you have heard, was a naturalized U.S. citizen, originally from Senegal, who entered the United States on a B-2 tourist visa in March 2000, overstayed illegally, married a U.S. citizen in 2006 to adjust status to lawful permanent resident, and was naturalized as a full citizen in April 2013, despite a history of arrests both before and after receiving his green card.

Our broken legal system let him in, let him stay, and, disturbingly, made him one of us via naturalization.

Investigators found him wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with ``Property of Allah'' and an undershirt featuring an Iranian flag design, and recovered a Koran from his vehicle. The FBI is investigating this as having a potential nexus to radical Islamic terrorism tied to U.S. actions involving Iran.

These three young lives filled with promise, dreams, and futures were stolen in an instant.

This is not random violence. The symbols were unmistakable and intentional: ``Property of Allah,'' references to Iran, and a Koran at the scene. This attack was a direct, bloody manifestation of the supremacist ideology that sharia promotes, one that claims divine authority over man-made law, demands submission, and justifies violence against those who stand in its way.

Islam steeped in sharia teachings that reject equality under the law, free speech, and constitutional governance is not some abstract debate. It arrived here through failed vetting and immigration loopholes. It took root over the years as a legal resident and citizen, and struck at the heart of Texas.

The enemy is inside the gates. Wake up, America. We don't have to accept this. We don't have to watch leaders, Republican and Democrat, allow individuals from regions hostile to our values to enter on temporary visas, overstay, marry their way into permanent status, become naturalized despite red flags, and then unleash terror on our streets.

This horror is precisely why Proposition 10 passed with such overwhelming numbers, because sharia ideology fosters the very extremism that turns foreign loyalties or personal grievances into mass murder on American soil.

This brings us to the heart of this matter. Sharia is not merely personal religious observation. It is a comprehensive political and legal system that stands in direct conflict with everything we hold sacred.

As Karl Popper warned in ``The Open Society and Its Enemies'': ``Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them.''

In the name of tolerance, we must claim the right not to tolerate the intolerant, although I admit that we, unfortunately, have to tolerate the Democrats.

Sharia, as a supremacist ideology that demands submission and rejects our freedoms, falls squarely into this category. It refuses to tolerate dissent, equality, or our Nation's law.

To preserve America's tolerance, liberty, and open society, we must firmly reject and refuse to accommodate sharia. Unlimited tolerance for such intolerance would destroy the very foundations of our tolerant Republic.

Sharia includes clear, real-world practices that directly violate our Constitution, such as wife beatings. Although, in America, you are prohibited from breaking your wife's bones--I mean, it is disturbing that we even have to say this. It includes forced child marriages, child genital mutilation, and death penalties for apostasy, which is leaving Islam, and blasphemy. It also includes harsh penalties, like hand amputations for theft and stonings for adultery, and public floggings.

Sharia law is systemic inequality. Women receive only half as much inheritance as men. Their courtroom testimony counts as half a man's value. Non-Muslims are treated as second-class citizens.

Sharia explicitly asserts supremacy over man-made law, explicitly, directly contradicting ``we the people,'' and the very foundation of our Constitution.

The Austin attack is a tragic, real-world illustration of what happens when elements of this supremacist ideology take hold here. We cannot afford to ignore the warning signs any longer.

That is precisely why Congressman Chip Roy and I launched the sharia- Free America Caucus. It has grown rapidly to dozens of members, now 46 strong, from across the country, representing 22 States. The caucus' mission is clear: ensure sharia never gains a foothold in America, protect the Constitution as the supreme law, secure our borders against ideologies that refuse to assimilate, and defend Western civilization. We will not surrender our freedoms.

I urge every colleague, Republican and Democrat, who believes in American sovereignty to join us.

Mr. Speaker, the American people expect us to defend the Constitution against any ideology that seeks to replace it. Let us pass legislation affirming that no court may consider sharia or any foreign religious code. Let us strengthen vetting to keep out those who adhere to sharia. Let us advance the PAUSE Act to freeze immigration until our system is secure. Let us stand with the sharia-Free America Caucus and declare once and for all: America must be made sharia-free.

Mr. Speaker, I represent a district in north Texas. Mr. Roy represents a district in the Hill Country. I would ask the gentleman how bad he thinks the Islamization of Texas is.

Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, I would say absolutely.

Absolutely. Texas has seen 48 new mosques in the last 2 years, just 2 years. That is roughly one every month. This is the fastest pace in the Nation, and it reflects rapid Muslim growth in suburban areas like DFW where I live and Houston which is closer to where Chip lives.

Frankly, it is not just in Texas. I was told by one of our North Carolina Members just today that in his district they plan to build the largest mosque in this hemisphere, I believe is the way he characterized it. So, no, it is not just

in Texas. However, Texas is ground zero.

My district, I believe, Mr. Speaker, is ground zero because of this EPIC City, because of the mini mosque. EPIC City was going to be a 400- plus-acre compound, Muslim only, and if you invested a certain amount of money, Mr. Speaker, then you might be able to buy a plot of land and you might be able to build a house. However, when you sold the house, Mr. Speaker, you had to sell it to the right person using contract law and using our own freedoms, our own legal system against us.

Absolutely. I understand that from the local officials that women are not comfortable traveling there because, frankly, to quote an imam, women are animals created by Allah to be used by men. Women are no different from cows, sheep, horses, or mules. God made women resemble humans.

That is totally anathema to our vision of equality between men and women. It is not that men are women and not that women are men. We can define what a woman is. However, women have certain individual rights under our concept of individual human rights. Under sharia law, it is total submission. It is totally different. We need to understand that.

Absolutely. In fact, there is a term now that is being used: civilization jihad. This is the importation of Muslims who are under sharia. It reaches the accommodation phase: Yes, we will pray in the middle of the street. No, you can't walk your dog on the public sidewalk. Then it goes to the intimidation phase that my friend was referring to earlier about women feeling unsafe on the street.

We do not want to get to the position where Great Britain is where they have rape gangs that kidnap young girls off of the street, take them and fill them full of drugs and alcohol, rape them mercilessly, and then the police arrest the young women for being drunk in public.

We do not want to get to that point that the U.K. is at currently.

We are 46 strong as of today.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend very much for allowing me to participate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise here in response to my colleague from across the aisle. I thought we were talking about the War Powers Act and not the Democrats' social programs. That is what I am going to do.

President Trump's decision to strike Iran is not starting a forever war. It is ending a forever war. For half a century, the Islamic Republic of Iran has cast a shadow over the Middle East and trapped the region in a dark age. When the regime chants ``death to America, death to Israel,'' they mean it.

The Islamic Republic is responsible for the deaths of hundreds, if not thousands, of Americans, thousands of Israelis, and tens of thousands of their own people, including up to 30,000 in just the last few weeks. Iran has slaughtered more Americans than any other terrorist regime in the world, and they will continue to kill Americans until they are stopped.

Iran is the number one sponsor of terrorism in the world by nonstate actors, something that is not even contemplated by the War Powers Act. The regime funds, trains, and equips countless Islamic terrorist groups, including the Houthi rebels in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and many others across Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere in the region. For years, Iran has leveraged these terrorists to wage war against and kill Americans and countless civilians throughout the region.

Just last weekend in my home State, a gunman horrifically killed three innocent people and injured four others in Austin, Texas, while reportedly wearing a sweatshirt that read ``Property of Allah'' and a shirt with an Islamic Republic of Iran flag on it. While law enforcement continues its investigation into a connection with the Islamic Republic, Americans must understand the enemy is within the gates.

The current regime in Iran is the poster child for Islam and sharia law, a culture of violence and domination that is totally incompatible with individual freedoms, our Constitution, and our heritage.

Islam is an existential threat to our constitutional republic. By conducting this joint operation with our partners in the region to defend against tyranny, we are defending Western civilization.

Furthermore, the Iranian people have overwhelmingly demonstrated a clear will to overthrow and change the radical regime. Tens of thousands of civilians have sacrificed their lives as a testimony to this point. By giving the green light to Epic Fury, President Trump is giving the Iranian people a fighting chance to alter the course of history in the Middle East and the world.

As the Article II branch, the President is undertaking his constitutional duty as Commander in Chief to defend the United States from a tyrannical, murderous Islamic regime.

Finally, I would also like to note that since the War Powers Act was enacted, every President, both Republican and Democrat, has agreed that this law is unconstitutional.

Instead of airing personal grievances with the President, the American people and our servicemembers would be better off if Congress focused on reopening the Department of Homeland Security to prevent attacks on American soil and support the President in executing his Article II duty.

Mr. Speaker, while I agree that this body should engage in discussions about the War Powers Act, this is not the appropriate time. U.S. troops are currently in harm's way, and they need to have our full-throated support, full stop. I urge my colleagues to oppose this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Chairman for the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this resolution.

This is neither the time nor the right legislation to deal with this issue. This resolution suspends all military actions against any organization that the President deems a designated terrorist organization unless Congress acts.

This is a dangerous limitation on the President's constitutional authority to defend the United States. Our world is changing and changing fast. The President must have the flexibility to change with the threats.

These drug cartels, especially Tren de Aragua, are behind much of the drug trafficking, human smuggling, and violent crimes that are tearing communities apart and fueling the opioid crisis in America.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were more than 72,000 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2023, the last year available. This number represents a tragic national public health crisis.

The intention of this resolution may be to stop the attacks on the drug boats, but by refusing military action against presidentially designated terrorist organizations, you shut the door for action against other dangerous groups, including Mexican cartels or Islamic terrorist groups that might want to establish themselves or attack elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere.

Instead of considering this resolution, which carries little or no consequences for hostilities that don't exist, this Chamber should focus on supporting the President's efforts to deter the growing national security threat from Venezuela.

Hundreds of Americans die each day due to illegal drugs like fentanyl. Rather than Democrats making it their life's mission to destroy Donald Trump, America would be better served if Members of this Chamber would help him prevent the flow of illicit drugs.

As a 25-year Active-Duty member who deployed multiple times, including that invasion of Grenada that Ms. Salazar mentioned in the Caribbean without congressional action, I caution the ranking member on accusing the President of the United States of war crimes. That is beyond the pale. I recommend he walk those comments back.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding to me.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this resolution, which is not necessary, as it removes our Armed Forces from hostilities against a country where there have been no hostilities. The War Powers Act has no legal bearing on actions that could happen in the future. Yet that is exactly what this concurrent resolution attempts to do.

To date, there are no confirmed U.S. servicemembers engaged in combat with Venezuela.

While I could end it there, since Democrats are turning a blind eye to the killing of Americans by illicit drugs from Venezuela, I also highlight that Venezuela has become a strategic outpost for China, Russia, and Iran, not to mention criminal and terrorist organizations.

Just yesterday, at a Europe Subcommittee hearing, I made the point that China and Russia are engaged in hybrid war against the United States today.

Not only has Maduro's regime purchased Iranian-armed drones, but they have also allowed Iran to establish production facilities for its military drones within their borders.

Terrorist organizations like Hezbollah use Caracas as a base to operate their criminal terror organizations in South America, generating revenue through narcotrafficking.

Russia, a longtime ally of the regime, still provides Venezuela with military aid while also facing the challenges of waging war in Ukraine. In fact, Venezuela opened a factory last summer to manufacture Russian Kalashnikov rifle munitions.

China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba use the country as a platform for intelligence operations in asymmetric warfare.

Instead of considering this resolution, which carries little or no consequences for hostilities that do not exist, this Chamber should focus on supporting the President's efforts to deter the growing national security threat from Venezuela.

Hundreds of Americans die each day due to illegal drugs. Rather than Democrats making it their life's mission to destroy Donald Trump, America would be better served by Members of this Chamber if we helped him prevent the flow of illicit drugs that are killing our citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this resolution.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 3638. The bill requires DOE to assess supply chain vulnerabilities for the generation and transmission of electricity, including barriers to expanding capacity here in the United States.

My amendment makes a simple clarification. It ensures that DOE evaluates barriers not only to manufacturing components, but also to their delivery and installation. In the real world, grid reliability depends on whether critical equipment can actually reach the job site and be installed on time.

If we want a serious assessment and serious recommendations, then we cannot stop at the factory gate.

Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 3383 to strike section 307.

Section 307 directs the SEC to issue new rules forcing issuers with multi-class share structures to include prescribed ownership and voting-power disclosures in annual-meeting proxy or consent materials, and potentially other filings.

That is statutory micromanagement and another compliance mandate. More fundamentally, Washington should not be holding investors' hands. The key facts about control and voting rights are already available to the market through public filings and governing documents, and investors can decide for themselves whether they want to buy into a multi-class structure.

My amendment keeps this package focused on capital formation and avoids turning it into another paperwork bill.

Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.

I say, again, Mr. Chairman, the information that she is referencing is already readily discoverable by investors, and they have the choice whether or not they want to invest in a multi-class structure.

I will tell you, Mr. Chair, this section 307 specifically targets directors, director nominees, named executive officers, and any holder with 5 percent or more of total combined voting power. It requires their share ownership and voter power to be expressed as percentages.

Mr. Chairman, investors are not children. The Federal Government should not be in the business of holding investors' hands over congressionally mandated proxy script disclosures. This section turns a capital formation package into another compliance mandate by hardwiring a one-size-fits-all disclosure regime into statutes instead of letting the markets and existing disclosures do their jobs.

Striking section 307 keeps the INVEST Act focused on expanding opportunity and liquidity rather than adding a new paperwork burden for public companies. If the goal of this bill is to increase investor opportunities and expand public markets, then Congress should be cutting friction, not adding a new compliance hook that falls on public companies and ultimately on shareholders.

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

Mr. Chair, as the chairwoman referenced, organizations that want to do this are already doing it voluntarily. We should not add micromanagement to it.

Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment of H.R. 3383, the INVEST Act.

Section 105 creates offices of small business within key SEC divisions to coordinate on capital formation priorities. My amendment makes one commonsense clarification. It says this subsection may not be construed to authorize expenditures for additional full-time equivalent employees.

In other words, if the SEC wants better coordination for small businesses, it should do so with existing resources, not by treating this bill as a blank check for new hires. This keeps the policy goal intact while protecting taxpayers.

I urge adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner).

Mr. Chair, I will point out that those words are dangerous words, ``do what we can,'' because normally that means we are going to spend a lot more money. Congress, in this case, should not accidentally write an open-ended staffing authorization into statute just because we want better cooperation. This is a narrow, practical guardrail that keeps the INVEST Act focused on capital formation instead of quietly growing bureaucracy.

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

Mr. Speaker, Islam is a culture with a patina of religion. Sharia is the law of Islam.

Sharia is dangerous. Western values form the basis for the founding of America, namely that rights come from our creator. Ours is a Christian-based culture. Sharia, on the other hand, is a culture of violence and domination, totally anathema to the concept of individual freedom.

The United States Constitution and sharia are fundamentally at odds with one another. The Constitution begins with: ``We the people.'' Sharia states: ``Allah has said.'' Followers of sharia believe Muhammad received a divine legal code that stands supreme over all man-made laws.

While Western civilization has evolved, Islam has not. Islam is stuck in the eighth century, and if they succeed at imposing their beliefs upon us, we will be dragged back into the Dark Ages.

The contrasts are stark when comparing sharia to the strides made by the United States in 250 years.

The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery, but there has never been an abolition movement in Islam. The Koran and hadith even contain rules for slaves and the slave trade.

Sharia prescribes inhumane punishments viewed as normative. Stoning to death for adultery is common, as are public beatings of women, the amputation of the hand of a thief, and the execution of Christians and Jews in accordance with the Koran. Several hardline clerics have even issued fatwas for the assassination of President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu.

The Declaration of Independence states: ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'' That is not so in Islam. According to sharia, the testimony of a non-Muslim is not valid against a Muslim in a court of law. A woman's testimony is equal to one-half of that of a man. Non-Muslims living in majority Islamic societies are second-class citizens with few rights and little protection under the law.

The Sixth Amendment speaks of an impartial jury, but the testimony of a non-Muslim is deemed inadmissible. In an Islamic sharia court, the only testimony allowed is that of a Muslim. That is hardly fair and impartial.

Sharia prohibits marriage between a Muslim woman and a non-Muslim man. A Muslim man may marry a Christian wife, but not vice versa. Sharia also gives the man, but not the woman, the unconditional right to divorce.

Freedom of religion is in our First Amendment, but freedom of religion in sharia means one is permitted to embrace Islam but one is never free to leave Islam. Abandoning sharia is an apostasy punishable by death.

Freedom of speech in America extends to expression not only of verbal communication but also in art, writing, the media, and action. Certain forms of expression are forbidden by sharia. Non-Muslims and moderate Muslims who openly criticize Islam, Muhammad, or the Koran face severe punishment. Remember Salman Rushdie, who was stabbed under a fatwa just for writing about Muhammad.

America was founded on a basic concept of freedom of the individual, self-governing under the rule of law. John Adams said: ``Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.''

We are witnessing the reality of Adams' wisdom in the clash of cultures as outsiders stream into our country without assimilating. A prominent Muslim attorney argued in the U.S. court: Islam is sharia; sharia is Islam. The two cannot be separated.

There are acceptable actions in sharia that are illegal in America: murder of family members who dishonor the family, child marriage, spouse abuse, to name only a few.

Our legal processes developed through centuries of Western civilization are not sufficient to confront the sharia influence spreading across America. Even legislation may not stop the encroaching danger. It will take more.

In the streets of New York City, a Muslim imam recently proclaimed: ``We will not stop until Islam enters

every home.'' There is no denying Islam's intent to dominate Western civilization. Their stated objective is to destroy us from within.

All who serve in this Congress swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. This is a time for choosing. Either we defeat the sharia advances in America, or government of the people, by the people, and for the people may indeed perish from the Earth.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 22 of our Nation's finest veterans.

These individuals are exceptional American heroes who demonstrated selfless commitment to serving our Nation and their communities.

This is a moment to acknowledge those who have sacrificed much and devoted all to safeguarding our country. This year, Texas' Third District is saluting brave veterans who have exhibited remarkable service, leadership, integrity, and dedication. These veterans represent true role models within our community, deserving our utmost respect, acknowledgement, and honor.

The veterans from Texas' Third Congressional District receiving the 2025 Veteran Commendation Award are as follows:

Sergeant Christopher Acevedo, U.S. Army.

Captain Travis Mills, U.S. Army.

Major Gary Billings, U.S. Marine Corps.

Second Lieutenant Charles Neubecker, U.S. Army.

Master Sergeant Fernando Cruz, Jr., U.S. Marine Corps.

Senior Chief Petty Officer Vincent Riggs, U.S. Navy.

Senior Airman David Davis, U.S. Air Force.

Major Philip Shortino, U.S. Army.

Staff Sergeant David DuBay, U.S. Air Force.

Senior Airman Danny Stasik, U.S. Air Force.

Staff Sergeant Robert DuBay, U.S. Air Force.

Sergeant Willie Frank Stephenson, U.S. Army.

Master Sergeant Patrick Ervin, U.S. Air Force.

Captain Ean Sullivan, U.S. Marine Corps.

Sergeant Ayman Hatkwa, U.S. Army.

Colonel Dick Thompson, Jr., U.S. Air Force.

Sergeant Paul David Hoch, U.S. Army.

Chief Petty Officer Michael Thompson, Jr., U.S. Navy.

Petty Officer Second Class James Johnson, U.S. Navy.

Lance Corporal Frank Walker, Jr., U.S. Marine Corps.

Command Master Chief Petty Officer Robert Jordan, U.S. Navy.

Gunnery Sergeant Nick Mendoza, Jr., U.S. Marine Corps.

Mr. Speaker, I salute these 22 veterans. God bless them, and God bless America.

Honoring Captain Carol Young MacGibbon

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Captain Carol Young MacGibbon, a distinguished graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Commissioned into the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1980 as part of the historic first class of female graduates, Captain MacGibbon served our Nation with distinction in leadership positions in Germany and beyond.

Following her Active-Duty service, Mrs. MacGibbon dedicated 22 years to mentoring future Army leaders, assisting over 165 candidates in earning admission to West Point. Since 2003, Captain MacGibbon has been a West Point admissions representative.

Since 2006, she served as the congressional district coordinator for Texas' Third Congressional District. In that capacity, she served as the West Point liaison officer for three successive Members of Congress, beginning with Congressman Sam Johnson from 2006 to 2018.

Mr. Speaker, recognized by peers and leaders alike, Mrs. MacGibbon received the Congressional Veteran Commendation Award from Congressman Sam Johnson in 2017 and the Ray Colvin Service Award from the West Point Society of North Texas in 2023.

Captain MacGibbon's legacy of service reaches well beyond her professional achievements. She met her late husband, Kevin Vance MacGibbon, while they were classmates at the United States Military Academy, and they married in October of 1981 after graduation.

Captain Kevin MacGibbon served as an infantry officer stationed in Germany during the Cold War from 1980 to 1985, earning his Ranger tab and Airborne wings.

Together, they raised three children, who continue the proud tradition of military service, including officers and graduates of West Point and the U.S. Air Force Academy. The Army Lacrosse Endowment stands as a testament to the enduring commitment of Carol and Kevin MacGibbon to the values of West Point and the U.S. Army.

Carol MacGibbon's dedication to West Point and to our Nation embodies the highest ideals of Duty, Honor, Country.

Therefore, I honor Captain Carol MacGibbon for her lifetime of service to the United States, to West Point, and to the countless young men and women whose lives she has helped shape.

We extend our gratitude and best wishes upon her retirement as academy liaison officer for West Point.

The enduring legacy Captain Carol MacGibbon leaves at West Point stands as a beacon for those who aspire to lead and serve, ensuring that the academy's proud tradition endures for generations to come.

May God bless Captain Carol MacGibbon. May God bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 4700.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendments Nos. 476 and 478.

We are at an inflection point in American history. China is investing heavily in AI, integrating it into its military and economy. America cannot afford to fall behind.

My first amendment expands AI pilot programs and logistics, cyber defense, intelligence, and maintenance. AI is a vital force multiplier, cutting costs, speeding decisions, and keeping our warfighters ahead. It also mandates regular reports to Congress for swift, informed action to maintain our edge.

My second amendment ensures an immediate pay raise for Department of

War blue-collar workers, the mechanics and technicians who keep our bases and equipment ready. These Americans have yet to receive a 2025 pay raise because the fully partisan committee that was supposed to represent these blue-collar workers failed in its mission and had to be dissolved.

Mr. Chair, I look forward to working with the Department of War on implementing recommendations to make sure these crucial workers are paid what they deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Roy and Mr. Pfluger for those personal memories. I thank Morgan Luttrell, our Texas colleague, who has been in the river recovering bodies.

When I look at the Texas flag, I see more than a symbol. I see a legacy: a legacy of grit, resilience, and people who never fail to rally when faced with adversity.

The devastating floods that swept through Mr. Roy's district brought unimaginable loss. Homes were destroyed. Families were torn apart. Entire communities were forever changed.

In the midst of destruction, Texans are still standing tall. We remain strong, as we always have, even in the face of overwhelming hardship.

My wife, Tracy, my team, and I continue to pray for the victims and the families affected by this tragedy.

As Christians, we are called to be there for one another. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us: ``Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.''

In the wake of this disaster, our Texas communities embodied those verses. Neighbors helped neighbors, strangers became friends, legislators became volunteers, local businesses donated millions to support recovery, and ordinary Texans became extraordinary heroes.

More than 12,000 volunteers have flocked to Kerr County to help with search and recovery efforts. Together, we lift one another up.

Texans have always exhibited an undeniable gift and a deep-rooted spirit of resilience. In the face of tragedy, we do not break. We build. We rally. We rise.

As we begin the painful process of moving forward, let us never forget the lives that were lost, their families, their stories, and their names.

I pray that when their sorrows begin to ebb, that cherished memories will begin to offer comfort, that all of us will remain mindful of the fragility of life and the strength found in the unity forged by the bonds of grief.

May the peace that passes all understanding be felt by those whose hearts are broken, and may all Texans find hope in the unwavering spirit that binds us together.

Finally, let us remember that the Lone Star State is not only defined by its wide open spaces and rugged land but by its people and by the guiding spirit and will of our creator.

We will rebuild, we will recover, and we will remain Texas tough.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute our soldiers of tomorrow, the service-bound academy students of the Third Congressional District of Texas.

This district of Texas is home to some of the best and brightest young people, and it is always an honor to recommend such fine students to our Nation's service academies.

I am confident that they are ready to join the premier service academies and ultimately serve with the best in the United States military.

This year, Texas' Third District is going to send nine cadets to the United States Military Academy, six midshipmen to the United States Naval Academy, eight cadets to the U.S. Air Force Academy, one midshipman to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, one candidate to the United States Military Academy Civil Preparatory School, three candidates to the Naval Academy Preparatory School, one candidate to the United States Naval Academy Civil Preparatory School, and three candidates to the United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School.

Mr. Speaker, to these 24 appointees and 8 preparatory candidates, I say God bless them and God bless America. I salute them.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the names of the 32 academy students and their respective hometowns.

u.s. military academy

Nathan Ooreoluwa Adejokun, Melissa TX; Caleb Wesley

Caldwell, Allen TX; Jordan Crandall Curtis, Plano TX; Reed

William Hisle, McKinney TX; Blake Ryan McKenna, Plano TX;

Owen Younghoon Ryu, McKinney TX; Dillon Avery Watt, Plano TX;

Anna Faith Williams, Prosper TX; Matthew Sumin Wooton,

McKinney TX.

u.s. naval academy

Brandon Preston De Vun, McKinney TX; Aden Tye Lewis,

Greenville TX; Sophie Ella Lopez, McKinney TX; Matthew David

McCoy, Allen TX; Nickole Sophia Rios, Allen TX; Joaquin Cruz

Vargas, McKinney TX.

u.s air force academy

Sophie Belle Bridges, Prosper TX; Taylor Rae Carroll, Allen

TX; Sara Elizabeth Compton, Prosper TX; Bryce Tanner Denton,

Anna TX; Corbin Benzi Glass, Parker TX; Garrett Christopher

Hutchins, Lucas TX; Luke Tyler Phillips, McKinney TX; Timothy

Hunjae Seo, McKinney TX.

u.s. merchant marine academy

Jack Quinlin Flannery, McKinney TX.

u.s. military academy civil preparatory school

Ethan Hunter Hayward, Allen TX.

u.s. naval academy preparatory school

Trystan Rohan Hutchison, Sachse TX; Tyler Aiden Wall Sr.,

McKinney TX; Benjamin L. Yost, Princeton TX.

u.s. naval academy civil preparatory school

McKenzie Kendall Quigley, McKinney TX.

u.s. air force academy preparatory school

Howard Fisher IV, Wylie TX; Christian Rome Jeffers, Wylie

TX; Aidan Marc Wylie, TX.