Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Armstrong Flight Research Center. Located on Edwards Air Force Base, NASA Armstrong is well-positioned in the western Mojave Desert of California for its innovative research and testing that keeps our Nation on the cutting edge of aeronautical advances.

Formerly known as the Dryden Flight Research Center in honor of Hugh Dryden, a former Director of Aeronautical Research for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the Center was founded in 1946. With faith, ingenuity, and grit, 13 engineers and technicians from NACA's Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory came to Edwards Air Force Base, then known as Muroc Army Air Base, to prepare for the X-1 rocket plane's first supersonic flight in the Mojave Desert. Retired U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager completed this important supersonic mission, breaking the sound barrier on October 14, 1947 by flying the X-1 over Southern California.

In 2014, the Center was renamed the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center to honor Neil Armstrong, a former aeronautical research scientist at Dryden and astronaut who became the first person to step foot on the moon. Since its inception, NASA Armstrong has been involved in historical space and aeronautical milestones, including supersonic and hypersonic flight and the development of our space shuttles. NASA Armstrong also developed the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) and served as the testing site for Apollo's famous X-15 rocket plane. The importance of the LLRV was recognized by Neil Armstrong, who said that the technology played a critical role in the success of the Apollo 11 mission.

Today, NASA Armstrong is known as the premier research center for testing high-risk atmospheric projects in the United States. Its Research Aircraft Integration Facility can check the systems, electronics, and controls of aircraft simultaneously--the only facility controlled by NASA that can achieve such a feat. In addition to its research, NASA Armstrong is a leader in safety. In 2020, NASA Armstrong won the Federal Aviation Safety Award among Premier Federal Aviation Programs.

From the Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) program to partnerships to advance commercial space, NASA Armstrong is helping America learn more about the vast unknown beyond Earth. As a faithful pioneer in aeronautics, NASA Armstrong is focused on advancing technology with projects like the X-59 which would demonstrate that supersonic flight over land is feasible by reducing the noise of the sonic boom. NASA Armstrong also supports progressing space technology with its management of the Flight Opportunities program to partner with industry to improve technologies for space exploration.

On behalf of the 23rd District of California, it is my honor to celebrate NASA Armstrong's historic 75th anniversary. I wish NASA Armstrong and its devoted team of nearly 1,100 civil servants and contractors continued success in maintaining America's edge in space and aeronautic research.

Madam Speaker, over the past week we have seen tragic images coming from Del Rio, Texas. Caravans of migrants wading across the Rio Grande. Families sleeping under bridges. Border Patrol who are overworked and overwhelmed.

These images don't show a border under control, as President Biden promised. Instead, they are a picture of chaos, incompetence, and crisis.

When President Biden picked Vice President Kamala Harris to be border czar, he assured us she was ``the most qualified person to handle the job.'' He also said she had a plan to ``stem the surge of migrants.''

Was the plan to dismantle Title 42 and return to Mexico, which would have prevented this crisis?

Was the plan to release hundreds of thousands of migrants into the country each month without a COVID test?

Was the plan to effectively give the cartels control over the border and disrupt local communities?

If that was her plan, we can't afford it anymore. This is more than a disaster; it is a direct threat to Americans' safety.

The Vice President often says we need to examine root causes to solve the border crisis. Well, the chaos in Del Rio confirms that the root causes are Democrats' radical immigration policies. It is time for Congress to hold this administration accountable and secure the border.

We need to hear from those responsible for this failure, starting with the Vice President. Right now, it seems she is more interested in visiting talk shows and football games than visiting the border.

Madam Vice President, this isn't a news cycle to hide from, it is a humanitarian, national security, and public health crisis that must be stopped.

The American people need action and answers, not the largest amnesty plan in American history. Do your job before the crisis gets even worse.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Tom Burke for his exemplary leadership in serving the residents of Kern and Tulare County for 20 years in his role as the Kern Community College District (KCCD) Chief Financial Officer and Chancellor.

Tom graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 1981, and has lived in Bakersfield, California since. Before working for the KCCD, Tom was employed by the Getty Oil Company from 1981 to 1985 and earned his master's degree from California State University, Bakersfield shortly thereafter. He moved on to work for Contel, a telecommunications company, until joining Bakersfield College in 1997 as the Director of Business Services. In 2001, Tom was tapped to be the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the KCCD, beginning a long career serving community colleges in the Kern and Tulare counties. When Tom first took over as CFO, the district's finances were shaky and the fiscal reserve was only at 5% of its annual operating budget, making the district vulnerable to financial difficulties. As of this past year, the district's reserve is about 50% of its annual operating budget, making it one of the healthiest in the State of California. The turnaround is a testament to Tom's leadership and commitment to our community.

In 2017, Tom was appointed Chancellor of the KCCD, a widely supported move that was also endorsed by the Bakersfield College Student Government Association, who called him a ``champion for student voice and concerns.'' While Tom retired from his role in July of this past year, his mark on the Kem Community College District will undoubtedly endure. As Chancellor, Tom oversaw Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso College, and Porterville College. His deep understanding of student's needs and higher education allowed the district to increase its enrollment and seamlessly transition to virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tom played a significant role in overseeing the management of the district's water-approved bond monies, which aimed to fund new construction projects throughout the KCCD, such as the Bakersfield College Vernon Valenzuela Veteran Resource Center. Under his leadership, Bakersfield College saw its largest graduating class in history, and the district's three schools were among California's community colleges that were least affected by the pandemic in terms of enrollment.

Throughout his 20-year tenure with the district, Tom devoted himself to improving community education and serving others. He has worked to ensure that all students are provided with the resources and services that are fundamental to an effective education, and in doing so, Tom has established himself as an educational standard and community leader of utmost integrity, generosity, and competency. I am grateful for Tom's friendship and the service he has provided for the Kem and Tulare communities. On behalf of the 23rd Congressional District of California, I wish Tom and his wife, Tina, the best as he embarks on this next chapter in his life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Blanca Cavazos after nearly four decades of public service to our community. Blanca is stepping down as the Superintendent of the Taft Union High School District after dedicating 39 years of combined service to the Kern High School District, Kern County Superintendent of Schools, and most recently, the Taft Union High School District.

Blanca's life exemplifies what it means to achieve the American Dream. Born in Mexico to farmworker parents, Blanca's family moved to Arvin, California when she was three years old. After graduating high school, Blanca enrolled in California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB), where she earned her bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies and earned two master's degrees: one in Bilingual Cross-Cultural Education and one in Educational Administration.

In 1997, Blanca served Arvin High School--her alma mater--as the school's first woman and minority principal, beginning her career as a trailblazer in the field of education. She led the school to great success by doubling the number of Advanced Placement courses offered to students, building up the school's We the People civics education program, and providing educational trainings to parents on high school graduation requirements and the college application process. In 2011, she brought her talent to bear to the Task Force Administrator position at the Kern High School District and later as the Chief Instructional Officer for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools. In 2013, she received her doctorate in education from Fresno State University and was appointed to the role of Superintendent of the Taft Union High School District, where she has selflessly served over the past eight years as the district's first woman superintendent.

Throughout her life, Blanca has broken many barriers and gone above and beyond for her students, colleagues, and community. Bakersfield Life Magazine showcased her service in multiple editions, including ``Ladies Who Lead Schools'' and ``Thirteen People to Watch.'' In addition to her work, Blanca has spent time serving on the Finance Committee, Audit Committee, and State Board of Directors for the Association of California School Administrators. In 2019, she received the Administrator of the Year Award from the Association of California School Administrators and in 2020, she was inducted to the CSUB Alumni Hall of Fame.

Blanca's commitment to our community is undeniable. She has touched the lives of many, watching her students grow into the

next generation of leaders. Although she will be greatly missed, I am confident that her record of service will continue to impact the people of Taft and the rest of Kern County for years to come. On behalf of the people of the 23rd Congressional District of California, I want to thank Blanca for her steadfast service to our community, and I wish her and her family only the best as she embarks on the next chapter in her life.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to today's rule.

Madam Speaker, before I came here, I was listening to the debate. I listened to Congressman Gallagher, a veteran, come to the floor and talk about an idea that he has, an idea that here we are, Afghanistan is collapsing, and thousands of Americans in Afghanistan are trying to get out.

Here we are, called back for a special session. All his previous question would say is that we would have to have a report every day on those Americans, that we wouldn't pick a timeline until the mission is finished, and that people would be able to be brought back.

As I listened to his impassioned speech, I waited for the response. I listened to my friend on the other side. He respects Mr. Gallagher, but he could not turn the floor over because if the floor were turned over to Republicans, instead of changing the election law and spending $5 trillion, they would put the American public first. God forbid we would do that.

Madam Speaker, I heard the Democrat on the other side say we could not turn the floor over to the Republicans to let the American public know how many Americans were there. It would be devastating-- devastating--to allow that to happen.

This week, the House is in session for the first time since Kabul fell to the Taliban. What is happening in Afghanistan is a disaster for America's security and credibility, not for just today and not for next week, but for decades to come. Other countries are questioning whether we have the resolve to honor our word because of the bungled withdrawal.

President Biden magnified this damage over the past week by hiding at Camp David, delivering incoherent speeches, and is reported as failing to contact a single foreign leader for 36 hours. Today, he signaled an unconditional surrender to the Taliban, promising to leave in just 7 days.

We just had a classified briefing for all the Members. I don't believe any Member walking out of there believes that in 7 days we could get the thousands of Americans out. That is why we can't relinquish the floor to the Republicans to actually get a report on it.

Madam Speaker, the President's actions gave the impression of incompetency and a declining power. This week, we learned that the Taliban seized millions in U.S. weapons, making them stronger than they were 20 years ago.

Madam Speaker, it is reported the Taliban now has more Black Hawk helicopters than Australia. Military missions should be dictated by our Nation's interests, not by our enemies or by arbitrary timelines.

Right now, there is no greater national priority than getting our people home. But I just heard from the Democrat on the other side that we could not relinquish the floor to allow Mr. Gallagher's, a veteran's, previous question to come up because that would be dealing with the Nation's interests right now. No. We need to deal with the Democrats' priorities right now.

As I look around, I see our allies responding to this crisis with the seriousness it deserves. Madam Speaker, the Speaker called us back here. We are not the only body of power that has been called back.

In Britain, Parliament returned from its summer recess. Do you know what they are doing, though, Madam Speaker? They are working in an emergency session on this current situation to get their citizens home.

In France, President Macron is trying to rally the U.N. Security Council.

This House should be correcting this disastrous record left by this Commander in Chief and proving that America never abandons her people or shrinks from defending our interests.

Madam Speaker, that is not what I heard on this floor. I heard a direction, Madam Speaker, by the Democrat leading and in charge of this right now that we could not relinquish the floor simply to Mr. Gallagher's request of letting America know how many Americans are there and to not put a timeline until every American comes home.

We should be doing nothing else on the floor until every single American is home. Democrats called us back for an emergency session, the first session since Kabul fell to the Taliban. But faced with a national security and credibility crisis in Afghanistan, they have done nothing to plan to address it.

We were allotted 90 minutes, and, oh my God, we went over 15 minutes. But we made sure that then the Democrats had to shut that meeting down, that Members of Congress could ask no more longer questions because we needed to get back to the floor right now.

When history writes about this day, they will talk about the entire week. They will talk about last night, how Congress worked late into the night, actually ordered food to come in, was in the Speaker's Office for late hours, spent their day calling other Members and twisting votes. We had reports that the President called people, that former Presidents called people, and that people were threatened and that their spouses were threatened about jobs. We heard that they were threatened even in their own campaign.

But what were they threatened about? Was it anything to deal with Americans coming home? No. It was about this rule. It was about what we are bringing up right now. The reason we had to stop our briefing was because we had to come to the floor to deal with this.

So, what are we talking about? $5 trillion of hard-earned taxpayer money being spent on more Big Government, changing election law to benefit one party over another, outlawing IDs even though the majority of America wants it, and nothing about how that $5 trillion will spend $1 bringing Americans home or making us safer.

What is the definition of a public servant? I would say doing something for the good of the others.

Madam Speaker, the party today of the majority, the Democrats here, their interest is themselves, to stay up late into the night while other nations are working to bring their citizens home.

Madam Speaker, as people walk onto this floor and vote on this bill that they worked late into the night on, I want them to think about one thing. I want them to think about those American families in Afghanistan who late into the night were not knowing if they could even make it to the airport, not knowing if they will even get out, and wondering if the public servants were thinking of them. The sad answer is the majority was not. They were thinking of themselves, that it is too important to deal with anything else.

Madam Speaker, there are allies who are sitting in Afghanistan. Why did they go? They went to defend America because America was attacked and out of the respect and character of who we are.

This body, elected and respected around the world, in a time of crisis doesn't speak of it and doesn't act on it but only acts for themselves and, in a moment of time of using the rules to allow the opportunity to change its course and to correct them when they were wrong, the voice of the other side says: No, we could not turn the floor over to allow America to know how many Americans are there or to get a report on it.

Just as they bang the gavel down, the 90 minutes have come. You have asked enough questions. You can ask no more because we must get to the floor to pass $5 trillion and change election law so the Democrats believe they can buy and change an election.

Madam Speaker, if there is any moment in time to put an election aside, if there is any moment in time to put politics aside, I would have thought today was the day. I would have thought we were being called back so that we could focus on what the rest of the world is focused on.

So when the Speaker came to the floor to speak, I turned my volume up. Surely, she was going to speak of this day. Surely, she was going to talk about the Gold Star families. Surely, she was going to thank those veterans and those who have served here knowing what they are going through and what they are watching.

And you know what she said? Speaker Pelosi actually said: Today is a great day of pride for our country and Democrats. Today is a great day of pride for our country and our Democrats.

Let me be very clear. It is not. It is an embarrassing day for our Nation. We are 3 weeks away from the twentieth anniversary of 9/11, and this is what history will write. This is what you did with your majority. This is what you controlled. This is how you made sure you would not release the floor for the idea that Americans can find out how many are stuck in Afghanistan or how they are going to get home.

I hope you are proud of that because this is what your leadership has done. This is what your leadership worked on. This is what the power of the twisting of the arm has delivered. The United States of America is not going to let terrorists dictate when and how we get Americans out.

I firmly believe what has been said many times and especially by Abraham Lincoln, `` . . . government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.'' If you believe that too and you are watching, I ask that you pick up your phones and you call, especially if you are a Democrat because I do not think the leadership here represents you with what they are asking for. I know your love of this country.

I know the thousands upon thousands of Democrats who served their Nation, who served in Afghanistan, and I know those Americans who are in Afghanistan are not just of one party. I would like to see both parties work on the issue, what is really before us.

Can you not put politics aside? Can you not care for one moment that you could rig an election to get elected? Can you not care about making government so large that you are going to bring more inflation and trillions of dollars?

That is what you spent last night on. That is what you spent the whole time on. That is what you brought us in for. That is what you closed the briefing on, but we couldn't ask any more questions. Time is up. That is what you are fighting so hard for that a veteran who has served his country asked for a previous question to simply say: Can we get a report of how many Americans are still there? And asked that we do not pick a date when we get out until every American is out.

But I heard the leadership on the other side say that we could not do that. We have to change the election law. We have to spend $5 trillion. This is what we came back for in a special session. This is what our mission is.

Everyone who votes for this rule today, that is what you are voting for. That is what you are championing. That is what history will write. And, no, it is not a good day. Maybe in your caucus you think it is a great day for you and the Democrats. It is an embarrassing day for America. It is an embarrassing day for this floor, and it is embarrassing that you would even move forward with it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize David Witt on his retirement as the Chief of the Kern County Fire Department (KCFD).

David graduated with an associate's degree from Bakersfield College and a bachelor's degree in Range Resource Science from Humboldt State University, giving him a unique skill set for tackling the diverse terrain that the Kem County Fire Department covers. His interest in firefighting and emergency response were rooted well before his time in Kem County, as he had served with both the United States Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection before being hired at KCFD.

David served in a variety of roles at Kem County Fire Department, including managing its air program, operations, and logistics. In June 2019, the Kem County Board of Supervisors recognized his leadership and hard work on behalf of our community by unanimously selecting David to become Fire Chief.

As KCFD Fire Chief, David successfully led a department of nearly 500 uniformed staff and oversaw emergency responses over a two-year period that included historic wildfire seasons, massive earthquakes, and a global pandemic. He was not only responsible for the safety of his personnel and the people of Kern County, but he was also responsible for overseeing the finances and operations of the department's $150 million budget. In that role, he excelled. KCFD was $10 million in the red when David took over the top department spot. Yet as a fiscally responsible, no-nonsense Chief, David turned the Department's finances around and KCFD is now operating in the black.

Even before becoming Fire Chief, David was well-known for his hard work and contributions throughout our community. In 2010, he was recognized by the American Legion, earning a certificate of commendation. In 2013, he received the Kern River Valley Exchange Club's Firefighter of the Year Award. In 2017, he was recognized by KCFD with a letter of commendation, a testament to his work ethic and savvy that set him apart. David also serves on the Board of Directors for Kern County and Eastern Sierra Chapter of the American Red Cross, where he lends his expertise to the organization. He also previously served as a Board Director and as Treasurer for the Southern California Association of Foresters and Fire Wardens.

David knows the needs of the people he protects, and when that includes nine different cities, 41 different distinct communities, and 8,163 square miles, that becomes an incredible challenge. David may be taking a step back from his role as Fire Chief of the Kern County Fire Department, but I am confident that his tenure will be remembered across our community through his mentorship of firefighters and his leadership during times of emergency response and disaster recovery.

On behalf of California's 23rd Congressional District, I want to thank David for his service to our community, and want to also thank his wife Pegeen and their children Andrew and Courtland for supporting him during his many years of public service to our community. I wish David and his family well as he settles into a much-deserved retirement.

Madam Speaker, I want to take one second to congratulate Jake Ellzey on his election to Congress.

It brought two people back together. Mike Garcia and Jake actually served our Nation earlier, before he served in this body. He flew F-18s off an aircraft carrier into Iraq. They were brothers, and now they are back together again, serving their Nation and putting it forth.

It might be a little ironic that they both came in in a special election. They both were turning points on those elections and, I would say, underdogs in those elections. But it shows they both graduated from the Naval Academy, served their Nation, and continue to serve again. This is a good day in this House.

Madam Speaker, 1 week ago, President Biden said inflation was temporary. He went on to say that spending trillions more would ``reduce inflation, reduce inflation, reduce inflation.'' I think he is the only one who believes that.

I say to the President, with all due respect, we need to wake up. Inflation has risen every single month since he took office, and last month was the largest increase in 13 years.

Now, let's be very clear. Inflation is a tax on every single American. Everyone who is buying groceries knows it. Everyone who is filling up their car knows it. Everyone who is booking a summer flight knows it.

Yet, President Biden told a townhall in Ohio last week: ``I don't know anybody . . . who is worried about inflation.''

Madam Speaker, the only people I could imagine who are not worried about inflation make $5 million in a couple of months trading stock options or sell paintings for half a million dollars.

Why doesn't the President of the United States know what is going on? This is what Americans hate about Washington. They turn on their TV and hear the President telling them their concerns aren't real.

Enough is enough. People are fed up with the ignorance and arrogance and hypocrisy.

Madam Speaker, President Biden needs to get a clue about inflation before it is too late. And it is not just Republicans who have been warning the Democrats if they pass the bill it would bring inflation, and here it is. It was Democrats who served in the Obama administration and Clinton administration, who warned them if they spend more trillions, inflation will come. And it has come every single month. And what is their answer for the future? More trillions. They will probably even try to call us back in August to make sure inflation grows a little more.

And, if that is not enough, just yesterday, we missed every indication and every prediction for growth in America. Americans can't take this much longer. November can't come sooner.

Inflation is a tax on every single American. But for those who don't know it, spend a little time with the real America and you will realize it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendments and to this bill.

Mr. Speaker, earlier today the Speaker of the House said that people who are fully vaccinated but don't support wearing a mask are morons. She went on to say that the House should follow the science.

Madam Speaker, you don't know the facts nor the science, so let's talk about it.

The Speaker is referring to the CDC current recommendation. I just left speaking with Dr. Monahan from the House. He said he used the CDC recommendation on a report that hasn't been printed yet. He did not know that the report is based upon India, about a vaccine that is not approved in America. And now he did not know that it didn't even pass peer review.

That is why vaccinated people in this House now have to wear a mask. There is no science. But I guess the Speaker must have not known that.

Why wouldn't the Speaker know the facts? Do you know what frustrates Americans the most? Hypocrisy. They hate the idea that you tell people if you get vaccinated, you don't have to wear a mask. First, they tell us don't wear a mask, wear a mask, wear two masks, then take the mask off.

They said if Americans got vaccinated, we would get our lives back. And we did, thanks to Operation Warp Speed and the past administration.

But what they also hate about hypocrisy is when you break your own rules. It is kind of like telling America you can't go get your hair cut, but you get caught on camera because you do it. Or you tell people you can't go out to dinner, but in my same State, the State that the individual got the haircut, that Governor went out to dinner with a lot of people.

Today the Speaker, who didn't know her own science and said names to people, broke her own rules. Twice today I saw the Speaker in a crowded room without a mask, less than 24 hours after imposing the mask mandate, which, again, is not based upon a study. It is based upon a study in India, based upon a vaccine that isn't approved in America, and it didn't pass peer review.

Could this be a plan to try to keep our schools closed?

Worst of all, this administration and now this House has broken the country's trust. One size fits all.

You know, if you read the CDC recommendation, it said you only should wear the mask for the hot spots. I am sure the gentleman on the other side knows which States and which cities are hot spots, because those are the facts. You can see the facts. You can read the facts. You can understand the facts.

So what is Washington? The vaccination rate for the Members of Congress is over 85 percent, and as of today the transmission rate on the Capitol campus is less than 1 percent. Well, the facts will tell us this isn't a hot spot, so the CDC recommendation doesn't apply to us.

Meanwhile, the hospitalization rate for the people who are vaccinated is 0.003. As Washington Post columnist Henry Olsen points out, you are more likely to get struck by lightning than be hospitalized with the vaccine. It must be a stormy day in the House.

You know what is interesting? We serve in this Chamber, we represent our districts, and we have Senators who represent our States just down the hall. The science based upon the Speaker of this House changes somewhere around the rotunda.

You see, you have to wear your mask here, otherwise you are fined; because that is what government should do, they should punish people. You get vaccinated. But if you walk across the hall, you get somewhere around the rotunda, you don't have to wear it anymore. Somehow the science is different.

One thing we do know about COVID, it affects older people different than younger. Facts tell us people who serve in the Senate on average are older than the people in the House. But the science and the health over there is different than in here.

It is interesting, too, because I remember a short time ago when we had the mask mandate during one of the impeachments the Democrats brought up, the managers wore their masks here, but as they walked to the Senate, they were able to take them off.

I am not quite sure how much COVID lives on this side of the building. That must be science. That must be what the Speaker was talking about.

The past administration worked hard for Operation Warp Speed. I am proud of the fact of what we voted for. When we brought up bills on this floor that talked about working toward a vaccine, that is where the money went, not the trillions of dollars that were wasted that now gave us inflation.

Americans want to get back to work, back to school, and back to health. But we now have a majority that doesn't want to base anything on science. They want to base something on a report that is not printed, that can't pass peer review, based upon the country of India, based upon a vaccine that is not even approved in America, because the facts and the science are that the vaccines in America work. They are effective. They are free.

I got a vaccine in December. I recommend all Americans get a vaccine.

It is a concern we all have. We go every day trying to get more people vaccinated. What do you think the message is today? Those who run this side of this building believe now if you are vaccinated, you have to wear a mask even though the science doesn't say you should. I am not sure how many more people are going to rush to get vaccinated.

But it is just like their philosophy. They want to mandate. They want to impose. They want to tell you when you can go to school, when you can eat.

Do you know what they are going to do if you walk into this building without a mask? They are going to charge you $500. Why? Because they have the power to do it.

You walk across the hall, not quite sure where they morph it into a different science, you don't have to.

Mark my words, this is just the beginning. In a few weeks, schools are supposed to open again. We know what the science says about COVID with children. I think you are going to start seeing new reports. They won't be printed, but they will try to keep the schools closed.

Maybe if I whisper, the President will listen. He tries it.

Then, they will try to shut our businesses down one more time. Operation Warp Speed provided vaccines that were tested, that worked, that are effective. The study, the science, proves it so. The hospitalization rates prove it so.

I don't know of one person in this Chamber that is going to get struck by lightning today. But I do know, even though the odds are better you get struck by lightning than being hospitalized if you are vaccinated, we are all going to have to wear a mask, or we have to pay $500.

I don't know, the gentleman over there is going to run for the Senate. Maybe he wants to do that so he doesn't have to wear a mask. The science over there is better.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Arkansas for yielding to me.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment to division E that would prioritize funding for critically important U.S. Forest Service initiatives, to mitigate safety hazards, to reopen and rehabilitate the Sequoia National Forest following the devastating SQF Complex fire.

Giant sequoias are the largest trees in the world. Some tower over 26 stories high and grow wider than a city street. They can only be found growing naturally on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, including in my district, in the Sequoia National Forest.

Last August, the SQF Complex fire burned over 170,000 acres, primarily in the Sequoia National Forest, after being ignited by lightning. A preliminary interagency report, led by the National Park Service, estimates that this fire killed ``10 to 14 percent of all large sequoias across the tree's natural range in the Sierra Nevada. This translates to an estimated loss of 7,500 to 10,600 large sequoias.''

In modern history, we know of no other time to have this much devastation. In fact, the ninth largest giant sequoia, the King Arthur Tree, is still on fire to this day, almost one year later, and may ultimately die because of this fire.

These losses are devastating, both environmentally, and for the communities. The giant sequoia and redwood capture more carbon than any other tree.

But communities like Porterville, Three Rivers, Springville, Kernville, and Lake Isabella depend on the revenue from tourists coming to see the giant sequoia groves.

Following the fire, the U.S. Forest Service closed a large portion of the Sequoia National Forest in Tulare County because of public health and safety concerns, such as falling burned trees and mudslides. Addressing these safety concerns is critical so the forest can be fully reopened as quickly as possible.

My amendment supports over $13 million for three initiatives in the Sequoia National Forest.

First, mitigating public safety hazards so the burn area can be reopened to the public;

Promoting ecological restoration activities; and

Supporting activities to reduce the risk of future catastrophic fires from killing additional giant sequoias.

If you check, to this day, they believe there are only 5 percent of the giant sequoias on Earth still alive.

I have spoken with the Sequoia National Forest supervisor and have been assured that all of these actions are or will be reviewed under the National Environmental Policy Act and will be conducted consistent with the Giant Sequoia National Monument Management Plan and the Sequoia National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.

These ancient giants, some of which are nearly 2,000 years old, must be protected so they can continue to inspire

and amaze future generations. Funding through my amendment would help ensure this so the public can once again see these breathtaking trees.

I want to thank Ranking Member Granger and Ranking Member Joyce for their work to protect our natural resources.

Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of my amendment to division F to prioritize funding for the VA's Readjustment Benefits account for the Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses program, also called the VET TEC program, in fiscal year 2022.

I was very proud to introduce the original VET TEC Act back in 2017, after hearing that veterans could not utilize their GI Bill benefits for nontraditional, technology-oriented nanodegree courses. After speaking with veterans in my congressional district and across this country, it was apparent there was significant demand from veterans interested in utilizing their GI Bill benefits for these types of classes.

From these conversations, the VET TEC pilot program, which allows veterans to apply for and enroll in nontraditional, technology-oriented classes, was born. Now, over 2 years into the 5-year VET TEC pilot program, I am proud to say over 3,000 veterans have participated in it, with 90 percent of these veterans graduating from these programs and 72 percent attaining employment in their chosen field of study. On average, graduates of the VET TEC program have an annual starting salary of over $59,000. That is approximately $25,000 more than the average salary in the United States.

Since its launch in 2019, over 44,000 veterans have applied to participate in the VET TEC pilot program. That is far outstripping current funding. These numbers paint a clear picture: VET TEC is a popular and a successful program, and I believe that Congress should fund this program at its fully authorized level of $45 million in fiscal year 2022, which my amendment seeks to do.

Even with this funding, the VA estimates it will need $80 million more for this program to keep up with the current demand. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House to increase the VET TEC program's authorization in the future.

Think about that, Mr. Speaker. Here are men and women who served their country that can use the GI Bill for nontraditional technology classes. In today's world, that is the workforce we need. They jump ahead. They get paid more than the average American. But the desire and the need and the applications are much greater than we fund. I think we have a responsibility here.

I want to thank House Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Bost, Congresswoman Miller-Meeks, and Congressman Khanna for joining me in offering this amendment and for tirelessly advocating for the VET TEC program.

I also want to thank Ranking Member Granger and Ranking Member Carter for their work to support our Nation's veterans.

Madam Speaker, I rise to a question of the privileges of the House, and I send to the desk a privileged resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, consistent with Israel's request for $1 billion in emergency military aid to fund the Iron Dome, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Appropriations be discharged from further consideration of House Joint Resolution 54 and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. Speaker, can the Speaker inform us of the composition of the floor leadership?

Mr. Speaker, I thank you for that clarification.

So that means that the Speaker and majority leader are blocking funding for Israel?

Madam Speaker, you have been a dear friend for a long time. You have been in my office, and you sat on the couch. I sat across, in the chair. And you know the portrait that hangs in my office, a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. I am proud that he was the first Republican President of the United States. I am proud of the action that he took in a defining time of our Nation. The greatest challenge ever to our Constitution was the Civil War, by long and by far.

The bill we are voting on today we voted on before. I supported it then, and I support it now.

But let me state a simple fact: All the statues being removed by this bill are statues of Democrats. Madam Speaker, as I heard the Speaker talk earlier about removing the four portraits of Speakers in the hall, the same answer goes for that, as well. They were all Democrats.

What is interesting is the statues that need to be removed were sent to the Capitol by States that were a majority controlled by Democrats sent to a House that had a majority controlled by Democrats accepting of these statues.

I think the bill should go further. Maybe it is time the Democrats change the name of their party. They may be desperate to pretend their party has progressed from the days of supporting slavery, pushing Jim Crow laws or supporting the KKK.

But let's be honest, at any place at any time if those fundamentals rest somewhere, we cannot let them.

Let's go through some of the words and actions of a few Democrats. Just a few years ago then-Vice President Joe Biden praised Democrat Senator Robert Byrd. He was an ``exalted cyclops'' of the Ku Klux Klan. In his eulogy for Byrd he said: ``For a lot of us, he was a friend . . . mentor . . . and guide.''

Another leading Democrat who praised Byrd at the time was Speaker Pelosi. She called Byrd a friend, a great person, and a great American patriot.

Madam Speaker, today the Democratic Party has doubled down on what I consider this shameful history by replacing the racism of the past with the racism of the critical race theory.

They continue to look at race as the primary means of judging a person's character. We saw this just last week. Senate Democrats voted to confirm one of President Biden's appointees who said: ``We must do everything in our collective power to realize Dr. Kendi's vision for America.''

Let me be clear about what that vision is. Kendi, the author of ``How to Be an Antiracist'' proposed in his book that the solution to past discrimination is present discrimination. Now that is what the person who is now in charge of the personnel of the entire Federal Government is endorsing. And this divisive vision isn't confirmed or just confined to one person or department.

The Navy included Kendi's book on its official reading list for sailors and the Department of Education has praised the debunked ``The 1619 Project,'' citing it as an example of what should be taught to our children.

Critical race theory is the governing ideology of what we are now finding in the Biden administration. By advocating for it Democrats continue to fuel hatred and division across the country.

I agree with Senator Tim Scott: America is not a racist country.

America must reject critical race theory for the simple reason: State-sponsored racism is wrong and always will be.

It was wrong when it was segregated lunch counters of Jim Crow, and it was wrong when it was segregated classrooms of critical race theory.

Madam Speaker, many times I wonder what would America have looked like had Abraham Lincoln not been assassinated? Malice towards none. What would America have looked like had the agreement to remove the Federal troops from the south because Joseph Rainey was elected to Congress, and Jim Crow laws were passed by Democrat-controlled offices in the south?

Our Nation was built on a unifying vision from the beginning. As Lincoln said, we are conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that we are all equal.

I will vote for this bill today, just as I voted for it before, but, Madam Speaker, if we have not learned anything, we should not divide our Nation based on race.

I applaud the Democrats for standing up, removing Democrat statues from Democrat-controlled majorities sent to a Democrat majority House that accepted them. It is about time. But, Madam Speaker, to continue along in a critical race theory where you would teach an individual that they are right or wrong based upon the color of skin goes against everything that we are voting about today.

Madam Speaker, you know my heart, and I know yours. There are times we might disagree on philosophy or how best to run a government, but we never disagreed by judging somebody by the color of their skin.

And I hope we take this moment and this opportunity as we promised before to strive to be a more perfect Union.

Madam Speaker, the Declaration of Independence says that our God-given freedoms are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As Members of Congress, we made a commitment to uphold those freedoms equally for everyone, but Democrats and their radical allies are chipping them away.

Let's be clear. The Hyde amendment is not discriminatory. Instead, it is an essential safeguard that not only protects Americans' right of conscience, but also has saved more than two million lives from abortion since its first enactment in 1976.

Until recently, it was also overwhelmingly bipartisan. In fact, one of the most vocal supporters in Congress was then-Senator Joe Biden. He told one of his constituents in 1994, ``The government should not tell those with strong convictions against abortion, such as you and I, that we must pay for them.''

Well said, Mr. President.

Since then, the purpose of Hyde hasn't changed. The strong convictions of American people against abortion hasn't changed. In poll after poll, they tell us they strongly support a wall of separation between abortions and taxpayers.

And the science hasn't changed. If anything, it has proven beyond a shadow of doubt that human life begins at conception.

One thing, however, has changed: The Democrats. By putting Hyde on the chopping block, the message they are sending is clear and chilling; that the radical demands of the socialist left drown out common sense, science, and the views of most Americans; that the party of ``safe, legal, and rare'' is now the party of abortion on demand, until or even after the point of birth, and funded by taxpayers; and that the government will compel taxpayers to violate their strongest convictions.

Madam Speaker, the question before us today is a simple and straightforward moral issue. To represent the values of all Americans, Congress must respect their rights of conscience and not disregard them.

Therefore, 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, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, on the Republican side, it is cleared, so there is only one party denying it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to raise a question of the privileges of the House and send to the desk a resolution (H. Res. 414) directing the Attending Physician to take timely action to provide updated mask wearing guidance applicable to the Hall of the House of Representatives and committee meeting spaces for Members and staff who are vaccinated against Covid-19, consistent with the public guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on May 13, 2021.

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

Madam Speaker, 35 years ago, I fulfilled my American Dream to own a business when I opened a small deli. I was only 20 years old.

As a former small business owner, I understand how tough things can be, even in the good times. Running a small business taught me two important lessons: first, you are the first to work, last to leave, and the last to be paid; second, your margins are tight, and high taxes too often make it impossible for Main Street to beat the odds.

These lessons, which inspired me to enter public service, come to mind as we mark tax day. We should be on track for an incredible comeback. From jobs to vaccines, President Biden inherited an economy that was moving in the right direction because of Operation Warp Speed and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which created the best economy in more than a generation.

But the policies of the current administration have squandered all that progress. Bidenomics has made a mess of the economy, transforming what should have been a strong comeback into a serious crisis in less than 6 months.

First, Democrats jammed through $1.9 trillion of the so-called rescue plan that continued to give taxpayer-funded handouts to people to stay home and do nothing.

When he signed this spending package into law in March, President Biden promised America that help was on the way. But for business owners across the country, help wasn't on the way; ``help wanted'' signs were.

Describing his struggle to hire employees, Rod Harl, the CEO of Alene Candles, told his local paper last week: ``We have had more than 100 positions open since the start of the year, and just recently, we increased sign-on bonuses to $1,200 for hourly positions, in part because we were competing with an entity that can print its own money-- the Federal Government--and its $300 extra per week additional unemployment benefit.''

Sadly, this isn't unique just to Mr. Harl. It is the same story I hear from businesses nationwide.

In a matter of months, we went from the highest job openings on record in March, 8.1 million--remember, that is the same month that President Biden signed his bill, that he thought help was on the way-- to the biggest jobs report miss in more than two decades. Unemployment actually increased, despite the record number of openings.

For a brief moment during the pandemic, it made sense to encourage people to stay home, but now in May 2021, it defies logic. We should not tax the people who are working to continue to pay people who choose not to.

Another concern I hear from businesses and workers is rising inflation. Consumer prices in April saw their largest increase in a single month since 1981, soaring by more than 1 percent. Inflation taxes every single American and especially affects those with the least income.

But remember what President Biden promised, that he wouldn't raise taxes on families making less than $400,000. By causing inflation to rise, President Biden has broken that pledge, and we are less than 5 months into this administration.

Madam Speaker, any economics class would tell you that the worst thing to do is exactly what Bidenomics has done to this country. He inherited one of the strongest economies, a GDP growing, and he actually did the opposite. He paid people to stay home. He put more money into the economy from government, which only drives up inflation. We have not seen something like this since Jimmy Carter took this country into stagnation.

Now, Americans are paying more at supermarkets, hardware stores, and gas stations, and it has only been 5 months. In fact, we have a serious gas shortage in a nation that was recently energy independent.

Could you imagine, Madam Speaker, becoming President of the United States and having a country that is energy independent, that is actually sending natural gas to other nations, to waking up to no gas in the gas lines in America--not because Congress passed a bill but because the President signed an executive order?

Madam Speaker, I remember wanting to see my grandmother one day. It was back during the Jimmy Carter years, and my father told me no. I asked why we couldn't drive to see grandma, and it was because our license plate ended in an even number, not an odd. That is the only other time that you can compare what is happening in America today.

17,000 gas stations nationwide were completely emptied out. The average price of gasoline remains above $3. This is the highest gasoline has been since the last time Biden was in office. In California, the average was $4.12. In Virginia, prices were as high as nearly $7 a gallon.

It didn't have to be this way. He didn't have to attack the hardworking Americans in the energy industry. His own Secretary of Energy said pipelines were good, even though he ended the Keystone XL pipeline and went after the ability for Americans to even drill on Federal land.

So now, Russia is sending gasoline to America? Does that make any sense, to make our enemies stronger, while Russia builds up thousands of troops along the border of Ukraine or enters into negotiations with Iran, who supplies missiles to shoot at our allies?

Instead of priming the pump, Bidenomics has emptied the tank. From inflation to gas lines, the American economy today looks more like it did in 1979 than in 2019, when wages were rising, businesses were growing, and unemployment was at record lows.

None of this is an accident, you see, Madam Speaker. It is a direct result of bad Federal policies that have distorted incentives and prices.

Yet President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, and other Democrats still want to tax and spend more. Even the most liberal economists tell you that is wrong, which very seldom happens. They decided to propose another $5.2 trillion in new spending, as if there is a bottomless cash pit for politicians to draw on.

They also decided to propose the largest tax increase in American history, including making the corporate tax rate the highest in the world; higher than France; higher than Venezuela, a socialist country; and higher than Communist China.

Madam Speaker, why would the Democrats and Speaker Pelosi want to give China a benefit over America? I don't understand why we wouldn't look after American workers first.

These proposals reflect a fundamental difference between Republicans and these new socialist Democrats. Republicans believe that there is dignity and value in hard work and risk-taking. Democrats believe that progress comes by forcing people to be dependent on their government. That is not

progress, to force somebody to be dependent on government.

They want to control the decisions you make: when you can work, when you can drive, whether you should wear a mask. It doesn't matter what the science or the CDC says. If Speaker Pelosi has the power, she will enforce it on you.

They want to control what you can read on the internet and what you can teach your children. But look at history. I don't see a single country where Democrat socialist ideas worked before. They have all been failures.

My greatest fear is the direction you are sending America. In 5 months, America goes from energy independence to having gasoline stations without gas; from an economy where you have done nothing but grow back, to creating inflation we haven't seen in decades; to empowering our enemies, who only harm our allies. You have more help wanted signs in America--8 million--and you missed the jobs report, the worst we have seen in decades, by the action taken on this floor.

The hard part about it, Madam Speaker, is we warned you. We told you what would happen. We told you you were going to create inflation. We told you you were going to kill American jobs. You are going to reward people not to work. I have never been a believer in participation trophies. They don't work. They don't help. Certainly, those small businesses that have struggled to survive, you are crushing them.

Every indication, every number shows it. To sit here on the floor and say you will not raise their taxes, you are doing it right now. You are hurting the most vulnerable. Gas prices are higher. The bread, the lumber to even build the house, you are pricing them out.

The recent surge of bad economic news, in what should be a robust recovery, is a warning sign that your ideas are not working now. The last time inflation was this high, Joe Biden was Vice President. The last time gas prices were this high, Joe Biden was Vice President. We found the common denominator: President Biden's bad policies. Unfortunately, instead of learning from history, President Biden and Democrats are choosing to repeat it.

That was one of the low points in America, when inflation was high, interest rates were there, and the rest of the world questioned whether America was what they used to be. We proved what policies could matter: incentive to work, letting people keep more of what they earned; making America energy independent.

What is so amazing to me, when President Biden was elected, he had Operation Warp Speed, he got a vaccine, and he was vaccinated before he was even sworn in. He had millions of doses of the vaccine being produced. He had an economy rising, coming out of the COVID pandemic. He had more help wanted signs. If he literally did nothing, America would be stronger. But he took the wrong actions, led by the socialist Democrats of this floor, Madam Speaker. Now America is hurting.

The only thing I ask: study history, listen to those who are creating jobs, take the incentive away where government is everything, and unshackle what holds us back. Let Americans have the freedom they deserve and desire. Prove that the next century will be ours once again.