Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to strongly oppose Democrats' cruel efforts to repeal the Hyde amendment.

My wife, Cathy, and I are proud parents because of two women in difficult situations who chose life and, through adoption, gave us two loving sons.

Since 1976, the Hyde amendment has saved the lives of nearly two and a half million innocent babies, and whether you are pro-abortion or pro-life, as I am, Americans have always agreed, Washington should not use their taxpayer dollars to pay for and encourage abortion.

Unfortunately, that is what President Biden is trying to do, repeal this important humanitarian protection of the innocent unborn.

This is an affront to the majority of Americans who do not want their tax dollars to fund abortion.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 18, and ask for its immediate consideration on the House floor.

Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Graves for his leadership trying to find a bipartisan framework on our Nation's infrastructure priorities.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of my amendment that would add crucial taxpayer safeguards to the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing.

With this amendment, 67 percent of total funding for projects would be required to come from sources other than the Federal Government. This ensures Federal funds are going towards projects with sound financials that partner with other public or private entities.

My amendment would require borrowers to document a revenue stream with the sole objective of paying off the loan. If the Federal Government is going to lend money to a project, we have to make sure they have a plan to pay it back. And this provision does just that.

Another provision would require the Federal loan be repaid, along with primary debt, if the loan defaults. This requirement protects taxpayers from bearing the brunt of costs from bankrupt projects.

In my district, constituents are seeing firsthand how high-speed rail projects with uncertain financing and lacking necessary permits in place, are looking to the RRIF program for funding. Even though Texas Central Railroad vowed for years to not seek Federal funding for the high-speed rail projects, just last year they lobbied Congress to loosen the RRIF lending requirements even further.

This amendment protects Federal taxpayers not only in my district, but across America, to make sure our constituents aren't stuck holding the bag when rail projects default on their loan.

Madam Speaker, I urge bipartisan support.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the career and community service of Doctor Edmund W. Robb III, Senior Pastor of The Woodlands United Methodist Church.

Dr. Robb will be retiring as Senior Pastor of The Woodlands United Methodist Church after 43 years of honorable service. Before beginning his career with the church, Dr. Robb earned his Master of Theology from The Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. In 1978, Dr. Robb was appointed to start a new Methodist church in his growing community and began knocking on doors in the neighborhood to recruit members. The church was born when The Woodlands was just a budding community of young families, but under Dr. Robb's leadership, it has grown to over 14,000 members.

Dr. Robb is not only recognized today for his 43 years as an impactful pastor, but also for his dedicated service to The Woodlands community. He spent 20 years serving as an elected official of The Woodlands Township and its predecessor, Town Center Improvement District (TCID). Alongside State Senator Tommy Williams, he led the way in negotiating the agreement that would allow The Woodlands to become a Township. He was an instrumental guide in leading the TCID in partnering with private developers to build the Convention Center, develop Town Green Park and expand The Woodlands Waterway. Dr. Robb has also authored several published books, including ``The Wonder of Christmas,'' ``Under Wraps,'' ``Mountaintop Moments'' and ``Making Room: Sharing the Love of Christmas.'' His commitment to our community has left a positive impact that will continue to influence The Woodlands area for generations.

Today, Dr. Robb continues to serve the community on the board of the Houston Methodist Hospital and as board Chairman of ``A Foundation for Theological Education.'' He and his wife, Bev, are parents to three married children and grandparents to eight grandchildren. Though he is retiring, he will remain actively engaged as a leader in his community and a calming voice of reason to those around him.

After 43 years of exceptional work and service to our community, I am proud to join Dr. Robb's colleagues, family and friends in congratulating him on his retirement and thanking him for all that he has done for our community.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Cawthorn for his leadership on behalf of working families, small business--of which he is one--for getting this economy going again. I thank him for allowing me to be part of this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, when President Biden promised to focus on climate change, I didn't realize he meant changing the climate of the U.S. economy by cooling off the jobs recovery. The President inherited a strong recovery, life-saving vaccines, a reopening economy, and trillions of dollars in COVID stimulus.

Yet, in his first 5 months of this year, America is nearly 550,000 fewer jobs than in the last 5 months of 2020 under President Trump-- 550,000 fewer jobs. Inflation is running twice as high as wage growth. In fact, for Americans, their pocketbook, their paycheck has actually declined in buying power since President Biden took office.

America's jobs recovery ought to be surging, but instead, April/May reports were just disastrous. Main Street businesses, Congressman Cawthorn, as you said, they are struggling to find workers.

Labor force participation is back in the 1970s. Inflation has hit a 13-year high, and a lot of Americans are fearful about the impact of rising prices and slow growth economy when the sugar high from all this COVID stimulus goes away, which is exactly what President Biden's budget admits will do.

This President is sabotaging America's jobs recovery, with crippling tax increases and antibusiness policies that hurt working families and Main Street businesses and drive U.S. jobs overseas.

Treasury Secretary Yellen, the other day, conceded that just as you heard tonight, these lavish Federal employment bonuses really are hurting Main Street and hurting hiring. Thankfully, half of American States, including one blue State, have opted out of these benefits to help reconnect workers and help our economy survive.

A recent analysis of the Ways and Means' staff shows that Congress has

already approved, for an average family of four, where both parents are out of work, we have already approved over $109,000 in stimulus checks, unemployment checks, and child checks.

We were incredibly generous during COVID to help people get back on their feet, defeat this virus, and move back. But the time for emergency spending is over; the time for endless government checks is over. We cannot become the Olive Garden of never-ending government checks. It won't help people rebuild their lives. It won't help us rebuild the economy.

Unfortunately, because of these Federal bonuses on unemployment, we are seeing a record 9.3 million unfilled jobs. It is hurting Main Street businesses; they are struggling. And frankly, it will hurt families who are not going to be able to reconnect again when all these checks run out. And our job creators shouldn't have to compete with the Federal Government.

Instead of helping America get back to work, the Biden administration is pushing crippling tax hikes that will cost us millions of new jobs. I am proud to have led, on behalf of President Trump in a Republican Congress, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that reduced tax cuts across the board, or reduced taxes across the board, redesigned our Tax Code so American businesses could compete and win anywhere in the world.

It made America the most competitive economy on the planet, lifted millions of Americans out of poverty, and stopped U.S. businesses from moving overseas. But now, we face a big risk. President Biden's insistence on repealing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will cost 6 million U.S. jobs. For that family of four, middle class, making maybe $73,000 a year, it will rob their family budget of over $20,000 over time.

The attack on American energy will cut jobs by 1.5 million U.S. jobs and repealing stepped-up basis on family farms will cost us another 1 million jobs over 12 years.

Congressman Cawthorn's efforts to lead commonsense proposals, stop these crippling tax increases, and get the economy back on task is exactly what our country needs today.

Mr. Speaker, I thank him for letting me join him.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Sam Houston State Bearkats and their first NCAA FCS title in program history.

Throughout the season, the team faced countless unprecedented challenges. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FCS football season was moved to Spring 2021. Additionally, following the February Winter Freeze, players and coaches used feed shovels to clear snow off the field for practice. Meanwhile, due to renovations to the football facilities, the Sam Houston St. players were without locker room and shower facilities.

Despite the season's difficulties, Sam Houston State's resilience made the year one that will not be soon forgotten. The Bearkats finished their regular season undefeated with a 10-0 record. The team clinched its eighth Southland Conference championship. Additionally, coach K.C. Keeler won the Southland Conference Coach of the Year. With such a successful regular season, the Bearkats entered the postseason with momentum and with the No. 2 seed in the FCS playoffs.

After defeating Monmouth, South Dakota St., and James Madison, the Bearkats secured their place in the FCS title game. The 2021 FCS Championship Game, played in

Frisco, TX between the Sam Houston State Bearkats and the No. 1 seed South Dakota State Jackrabbits, was an instant classic. After a back and forth game, the Bearkats' resilience proved to be the difference. With only 16 seconds left in the game, Eric Schmic found Ife Adeyi for a 10-yard touchdown to take the lead. With a 23-21 victory, Sam Houston St secured its first FCS Championship in program history.

This was not only a first for Sam Houston State and Texas, but it was also a first for Coach K.C. Keeler, who became the first coach to win an FCS Championship at two different schools: first at the University of Delaware and now at Sam Houston State. Coach Keeler also became the all-time winningest coach in FCS playoff history with 24 wins. The Bearkats' Jequez Ezzard was also named the FCS Championship Game's Most Outstanding Player. The team's achievement will be long remembered. As Coach Keeler said to his team after the game: ``It's immortality for the rest of our lives and beyond that . . . Sam Houston State is the national champion.''

I join the rest of the state of Texas in honoring Sam Houston State and the Bearkats for their historic victory. They truly represent the best of Texas and its fighting spirit of strength and determination.

Madam Speaker, I am sorry I missed a vote, as I was unable to be present. Had I been present, I would have voted yea on Roll Call No. 139.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to be present for this vote.

Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 129.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to be present.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 99; YEA on Roll Call No. 100; YEA on Roll Call No. 101; NAY on Roll Call No. 102; and NAY on Roll Call No. 103.

Madam Speaker, I apologize for missing votes. I was not able to be present. Had I been present, I would have voted Yea on Roll Call No. 98.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Gerald Irons, a treasured member of my community, who sadly passed away Thursday, April 1, 2021.

Born May 2, 1947 in Gary, Indiana, Gerald Irons, Sr.'s life was marked by outstanding achievement and service. After graduating from Gary Roosevelt High School, Gerald attended the University of Maryland- Eastern Shore. During his time in college, he excelled

both on and off of the football field, serving as captain of the football team and as student government vice president.

After being selected in the third round of the 1970 draft by the Oakland Raiders, Gerald continued his run of excellence at the professional level. After six years starting at linebacker for the Raiders, Gerald spent four years with the Cleveland Browns before retiring in 1980. Named an ``Oakland Raiders Legend, ``listed among the ``100 Greatest Cleveland Browns'' of all time, and named to the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 2013, Gerald's athletic career proved truly remarkable.

Even so, his time off the field proved as noteworthy as his time on it. During the off seasons of his NFL career, he continued his pursuit of education, earning a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Chicago. Gerald put his skills and experiences to quick use. He spent a distinguished 32 years working with The Woodlands Development Company, helping hundreds of businesses relocate to The Woodlands. Gerald also served for 22 years on the Conroe ISD Board of Trustees during a period which saw student enrollment double. Because of his continued commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for others, Gerald D. Irons, Sr. Junior High School was named in his honor.

Gerald and his family were a driving force behind the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration and Drum Major Awards held each January in the Woodlands. Gerald was integral to the founding of Impact Church in the Woodlands where he served as an elder. Due to their exemplary lives of active involvement in the community, the Irons were named Hometown Heroes.

In the words of his family, ``He lived a life of service to his family, church and community; to know Gerald was truly to love Gerald.'' Gerald is remembered by his loving wife, Myrna, and many loving children and grandchildren.

I join the entire community in honoring Gerald Irons for his dedicated life of service to others. His amazing legacy will always be cherished in our community.

Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve better.

They've been told that this bill is about Covid, but less than a dime of every dollar goes to Covid vaccines and defeating the virus.

They've been told that this is a stimulus, but it doesn't do anything to stimulate the economy--in fact, it could make it even worse, especially paired with President Biden's war on energy jobs, and Democrats' looming efforts to raise your taxes.

The White House refuses to tell the American people how many jobs it will create because they know it won't create jobs. It won't even secure the jobs most Americans have.

The February jobs report shows that, although we are far behind where we were prior to the pandemic, jobs are picking up.

We could help Black Americans, Asian Americans, women, and those without college degrees get a stronger foothold in the workforce.

But Democrats are leaving them behind today. This won't lift people out of poverty, it will only create more barriers out of it.

The only jobs this bill is intended to secure are those of political friends. It's a political payoff.

The list of things Democrats left out of the House bill was bad enough.

They preferred to pay people more to stay at home than go to work.

They left behind poor kids in West Virginia in order to give preference to Democrat states.

They left behind kids who want to go to school by sending money to schools that will stay closed.

They left behind front-line health-care workers without protections from frivolous lawsuits.

They left behind the millions of Americans whose identities were stolen during acts of unemployment insurance fraud.

They left behind the #JoeJobless--the victims of President Biden's war on energy.

They left behind special-needs kids and their parents who need help saving for their therapies.

They left behind families who worry about losing the doubled child tax credit.

They left behind the unborn by allowing health care dollars to be used for abortions.

They left behind the families of the victims of Governor Cuomo's mismanagement by refusing to require governors to report accurate data on their nursing home deaths.

They even rejected more fixes offered by colleagues in the Senate.

Republicans wanted to provide more support for resident and employee safety in nursing facilities. Democrats said no.

Republicans said let's target stimulus checks towards those who have lost jobs, people who don't need to pay rent, or buy groceries. Democrats said no, let's send checks to prisoners.

Republicans said let's make sure stimulus checks go to Americans who need them. Democrats said no, let's allow them to go to people in this country illegally because they've overstayed their visas. During a crisis on the border? Really?

Just one year ago, Democrats said it was not possible that we would have a vaccine in a year. Our own President and Vice President said they would not trust such a vaccine.

Today, we have several vaccines. And, unless I'm mistaken, every member in this Chamber has had an opportunity to receive one.

Every American that we serve, however, has not. And yet the Democrats' Covid bill is 1 percent about the vaccines they didn't believe would exist.

Democrats are today saying that there is nothing they could have done to make a $1.9 trillion bill more targeted, while admitting there's plenty of waste, and yet still defending funding for museums.

We did better when we worked together. Through December, over five Covid aid bills, Republicans and Democrats, we worked tirelessly to deliver over $3.5 trillion, the largest amount of relief in American history.

Instead, we have this political payoff, which leaves Americans behind, while Democrats demand they foot the bill for it.

I urge my colleagues to vote no.

Madam Speaker, I apologize for missing these votes, I was unable to be present. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 63 and NAY on Roll Call No. 64.

Madam Speaker, I apologize for missing this vote. I was unable to be present. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 65.

Mr. Speaker, I apologize for missing this vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 44, MTR on H.R. 803.

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

Mr. Speaker, America is hurting, but regrettably this so-called COVID-19 stimulus is neither.

Less than a dime of every dollar goes to COVID vaccines and defeating the virus. Less than a dime. It does next to nothing to help struggling Main Street businesses survive or to get America's jobless back to work.

In fact, the independent Congressional Budget Office reports the bill's controversial job-killing mandates will kill as many as 2 million jobs. Maybe that is why the White House refuses to tell the American people just how many jobs it will create.

We need truth in advertising: This is a payoff to political friends.

We did better when we worked together. Through December, over five COVID aid bills, Republicans and Democrats, we worked tirelessly to deliver over $3.5 trillion, the largest amount of relief in American history. A whopping $1 trillion remains unspent today by States, local governments, and schools.

Economists, including President Obama's own economic adviser, Larry Summers, worry this will actually make things worse.

The Washington Post called this ``sausage-making'' that ``strays from the most urgent COVID-related needs.''

The Wall Street Journal said this is a ``non-COVID spending blowout.''

Even Democratic colleagues, like New York's Adriano Espaillat, admitted this bill will have embarrassing provisions.

House Democrats rejected every commonsense Republican improvement.

Help millions of unemployed, but make sure no one gets paid more to stay at home than go to work? Rejected.

Send child poverty funding equally to all poor children in America, rather than a chosen few in Democrat States? Rejected.

In fact, Democrats said that miserly States didn't deserve this funding. Miserly States like West Virginia. I hope you heard that, Senator Manchin.

Require that crucial school funding goes to schools that are open? Rejected.

Protecting frontline healthcare workers from frivolous lawsuits? Rejected.

Stop rampant unemployment fraud simply by verifying the identity and wages of those applying? Rejected.

Giving a second stimulus check to the millions of Joe Jobless, the victims of President Biden's war on energy and his minimum wage mandate? Rejected.

How about helping parents use education and savings towards kids' schooling, and especially therapies for special-needs kids? Rejected.

What about aiding families by making permanent the 2017 tax reform's doubled child tax credits? Nope.

Make sure precious healthcare dollars aren't used for abortions or diverted to undocumented immigrants? Uh-uh.

Republicans proposed requiring Governors report accurate data on their nursing home deaths, but Democrats unanimously chose to protect New York Governor Cuomo's deadly policies and cover-up. Hours later after the vote, Cuomo's aides admitted they had reported false data.

Speaker Pelosi's favorite pet projects and other wasteful spending could go to more vaccine distribution for needy Americans. But no, rejected.

President Biden promised unity. Now he threatens to punish Republicans who oppose this massive payoff to Democrats' political friends.

But President Biden and the Democrats are not punishing us by rejecting bipartisanship, they are punishing the American people.

If you don't know how many jobs this will create, then don't repeat the failed Obama-Biden stimulus that led to the worst economic recovery in our lifetime.

Stop this political payoff. Let's find common ground, as we have before, on what is truly urgent: crushing the virus, rebuilding this economy, saving Main Street businesses, and getting Americans back to work.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Miller), who is a new member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson), who is the lead Republican of the House Agriculture Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman), the lead Republican on the Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/4\ minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Palmer).

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

Americans struggling with COVID, businesses fighting to survive, seniors waiting for vaccines, millions of Americans now jobless due to lockdowns, they all deserve better than this partisan, rushed, special interest payoff to political friends.

Less than a dime of every dollar of this bill goes to COVID vaccines and defeating the virus. There is next to nothing to save Main Street businesses or get Americans unemployed back to work. And after spending nearly $2 trillion, the White House can't, or won't, tell us how many jobs this will create.

History will describe this moment as a time when more than 500,000 Americans have lost their lives, millions are jobless, small businesses are struggling, and seniors are praying for the vaccine, and House Democrats said: Let's build our Speaker a tunnel.

Come on, man. We can do better. We can work in a bipartisan way to crush this virus and rebuild America's economy, just as we did five times this past year to deliver the largest relief in American history. Vote ``no'' to payoffs to political friends.

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