Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, good morning. I rise in opposition to amendment No. 455. It is currently almost 2 a.m. here on the House floor and most Americans are asleep. In China, they are finishing up with lunch, and after the videos we have seen this week, it is possible that Hunter Biden is on to his second fix for the night. Sadly, we are here on the floor trying to sneak in land grabs to the NDAA.

This Federal land grab would lock up 400,000 acres in Colorado with no regard to the terrible consequences this would have on the constituents of Colorado's Third District.

The bill also seeks to permanently prevent responsible oil and gas production on nearly 200,000 acres. While Americans are paying record- high gas prices, while Biden is shipping our oil reserves to the Communists in China, Democrats here in the House want to lock up more of our oil and gas underground never to be seen or utilized.

Mr. Speaker, 65 percent of the lands impacted by this amendment are in my district. Numerous stakeholders from the American Colorado Farm Bureau

to the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce all oppose the CORE Act. It is stuff like this that ticks the American people off, and it is why the GOP will have the majority in November.

There are reasons why the Senate rejected this bill outright. It is because the American people don't want it. I am proud to have worked with them last time we passed the NDAA to remove this from the final passage. There are good reasons why it is so unpopular.

The CORE Act threatened to accelerate wildfires due to its numerous wildfire designations and other provisions that restrict Federal agencies' ability to actively manage their lands. Are Coloradans supposed to simply stand by and watch more and more of our State get swallowed up in wildfires?

That is what this legislation would do.

Nothing good happens after midnight, and this bill is no exception. I do believe that my colleague from Colorado wants cleaner air and cleaner water. I would ask him to help me in managing our public lands rather than locking them down. We all want to be good stewards of the land that we have been given.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to amendment No. 456, an amendment that would add the Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act into this year's NDAA.

This bill would add nearly 1.5 million acres of new wilderness and permanently withdraw 1.2 million acres from mineral production. Democrats already locked down our businesses, they locked down our churches, and they locked down our schools. But that wasn't disastrous enough. Now they want to lock down our public lands.

Approximately 550,000 of those 1.5 million acres that will be locked up by these new wilderness designations are in my district. Over 55 percent of Colorado's Third Congressional District is already Federal land. The last thing that communities in my district need is further restrictions imposed by government limiting what they can do on public lands.

People back home impacted by this lands package have raised significant concerns ranging from the loss of recreation, the elimination of multiple use of the land, and the overall threats to local rural economies.

However, one of the biggest concerns in the Western States is the increased threat of disastrous wildfires that will result from the new wilderness designation and other land grabs in this bill. Wilderness is the most restrictive land use designation possible. It prevents active management in our forests which is critical to preventing catastrophic wildfires.

Placing my district under lock and key will prevent all Americans from being able to access the lands and experience our majestic purple mountains firsthand.

I have also visited the HAT facility in Eagle County. I have talked to our military pilots who would actually lose some of their land that they currently train over. This is a national security threat. They need that land to be able to train as they protect our country and then, of course, the 1,200 miles of river that would be designated wild and scenic, well, that is not fair.

That is in my district. I am not going to the gentlewoman's district and designating the 16th Street Mall wild and scenic, but I do believe we can all agree that it is pretty wilderness down there.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Rosendale for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I love what Mr. Biggs was saying, how these are our God- given rights. That right there is fundamental, and that is why we have a government, to secure our God-given rights.

None of our rights come from politicians. Our rights are not granted to us by the executive, by the legislative, or by the judicial branch. They are granted to us by God. These are our natural rights. They are unalienable. For anyone to say: ``I am from the Federal Government, and I am here to help,'' well, those are very dangerous words.

Another thing that is dangerous is gun-free zones. I am a cosponsor of Congressman Massie's bill that would remove the law that makes our schools gun-free zones. That makes them soft targets. Our children are our Nation's most valuable assets. The more value an asset has, the more protection it should have.

We secure our banks. We secure our airports. We secure the White House. We have even seen the Capitol surrounded by fences, miles of razor wire on top of that fence, 26,000 armed National Guardsmen, because even my colleagues on the other side of the aisle understand that borders that are secure and armed security work.

We need to harden our schools. We need to secure our schools. I believe this starts at a very local level. Maybe there is something there that can be boosted by the Federal Government, some of this unspent COVID money to go toward boosting security in our schools.

We don't need to be inching away the rights and liberties of American citizens. Liberty lost never comes back. We don't get that liberty back that we give away. We certainly were not elected to legislate away liberty from our constituents. We are here to keep the American people free. That is the proper role of government.

A lot of people would like to say that the Second Amendment, well, it is great because we know you want to hunt. The Second Amendment has nothing to do with hunting. Our Founding Fathers did not just return from a hunting expedition when they created the Bill of Rights, when they drafted that. No, they had just got done liberating a nation from a tyrannical, oppressive King, and they wanted a government that was so strong and powerful that it would be able to fight off that tyranny and oppression that anyone from around the world might seek to reimpose on this people. But they also wanted a government so limited that it would never impose that same tyranny and oppression on its own people.

Isn't it interesting that we heard for weeks how American taxpayers need to send money to Ukraine to make sure that those citizens are armed?

Now the same people who are saying that we were bought by Putin because we didn't want to send billions and billions of dollars to Ukraine while our southern border is unsecure, while we have an invasion taking place at our southern border, when we have our own supply chain crisis, we have inflation that is skyrocketing, and we said maybe let's just put America first for a minute. But the same people who made these accusations against those of us who would vote against that spending are now seeking to take the rights away from American citizens.

And these same people who had no problem arming Ukraine and wanting to disarm American citizens also call to defund the police. We even saw 24 of our colleagues from the other side of the aisle just today vote to not provide added security to our Supreme Court Justices who have had mob violence at their homes, murder attempts against a Supreme Court Justice. And 24 of these radical leftists said: No, they are fine. We are not going to send police to protect you. You won't be able to protect yourself. It is all rogue.

This is a lawless administration that we are serving under, and I would implore the Senate to not compromise on the American citizens' rights.

And I would like to just note that the 10 that we have heard of who are considering siding with these people who would limit the liberties and freedoms of American citizens are either not coming back to the Senate, they are retiring, or they are not up for reelection. I think that that is very telling, and I will not give an inch on the Second Amendment, of the rights of the people to keep and bear arms to protect themselves, especially when cries from this Chamber are calling to defund law enforcement and our southern border is wide open, allowing the cartel to send whatever they want through those borders without any added security.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Rosendale for leading this special order tonight, and I make reference that it is the House Freedom Caucus that is really setting the standard and protecting American liberties.

Madam Speaker, I rise to oppose the previous question so that we can immediately consider H.R. 7690.

Madam Speaker, the Biden regime wants to talk disinformation? Okay, let's give them something to talk about.

Let's talk about how the White House said that it was Republicans that want to defund the police.

Let's talk about how Secretary Mayorkas said the southern border is closed.

Let's talk about how Joe Biden said his Build Back Better agenda cost zero American tax dollars.

Let's talk about how Biden's new press secretary falsely claimed Trump stole the 2016 Presidential election.

And remember Afghanistan? Let's talk about how Joe Biden said any American who wants to come home, we will get you home. Well, that sounds like the words of a lying, dog-faced pony soldier to me.

The American people will not have their speech monitored by corrupt, career professional politicians who lie day in and day out.

And now the DHS, a militarized department, has established a new Disinformation Governance Board, or more accurately known as the department of propaganda. DHS was created to stop terrorism. Now it is being used to terrorize the American people.

And who did Mayorkas hire to run this Orwellian ministry of truth? This lady, Nina Jankowicz. Mayorkas calls her an expert on disinformation, probably because she tells lies all the dang time. Nina said that President Trump would embolden ISIS. Well, he defeated it. Nina said the Hunter Biden laptop from hell was a Trump campaign product. Nina said that concerned parents who wanted a say in their children's education were pushing disinformation; and Nina said Big Tech should censor the Wuhan lab leak theory because it was, you guessed it, disinformation.

Nina doesn't seem to have a good relationship with truth and will surely use this board to silence Americans. Nina is no public servant. How is that, you say? Don't take it from me. Here are her words. Are these the words of a public servant? What do I need to do to--well, Madam Speaker, I will let you read the rest of that. This doesn't sound like someone who should be monitoring Americans' speech.

The Democratic Party has truly lost their minds, from intimidating judges at their homes, burning down pregnancy centers, and vandalizing churches, to calling moms and dads domestic terrorists, and now creating this department to censor free speech because extremists are scared of, what, Elon Musk?

They say social media censoring doesn't go far enough. And this needs to be defunded.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for leading us on this topic, once again, because this is such an important topic to get out to the American people. Just listening to the gentleman from Georgia speak about this being a national security crisis, that is exactly what this is. We are not a secure nation without secure borders.

I live in Colorado, and my State is a border State right now with all of the illegal aliens. We are up to 2.5 million who have been apprehended at the southern border, not including the 700,000 gotaways that went past CBP and were not apprehended, probably because they did not want to come into contact with CBP.

Who knows what kind of history they have?

Just like Congressman Good spoke on, we don't know who is coming across our southern border. It is estimated that if this pace keeps up under Biden's tenure, we will have 8 to 10 million illegal aliens in our country by the time he leaves office.

This is absolutely absurd.

And now what?

I serve on the Budget Committee; and everyone is wanting more money right now, more money from the American taxpayer. We can't say where the money went in Afghanistan. We can't talk about the $86 billion in weaponry and equipment that was left behind. The southern border has millions of dollars being spent each and every day on a border wall that is not being built.

Secretary Mayorkas was here today testifying in front of this body, and he says that there are millions of dollars being spent on this wall that is not being built, and they want more money--not to secure the southern border though, but to process and release more quickly.

This is not what we need to be spending the American taxpayer dollars on. Customs and Border Patrol agents are not travel agents. Secretary Mayorkas needs to be held accountable for what is going on.

I just want to say one thing, he did mention that it is Congress' responsibility to fix what is happening at the southern border. Well, we want to do that. We want to be a part of the solution. We want to secure our border, stop the human trafficking, and stop the flow of fentanyl that is coming into our country killing record amounts of Americans. We want this to end. We want our Nation secure.

That is why we have the title 42 discharge petition, to force a vote on the House floor under Speaker Pelosi's House of Representatives where she won't voluntarily bring that up. We want to be a part of the solution.

I am proud to be serving with Members here speaking about this and informing the American citizens back home, and I thank the chairman for doing this tonight.

Mr. Speaker, so many times we are accused of being callous and heartless toward the people who are coming across our border. But I attended a naturalization ceremony in my district, and it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced. I saw 41 true new Americans. They held in their hand the American flag. Tears streamed down their faces. They invested their heart, their soul, their resources, and their minds because they know they have what it takes to do this the right way and make this a more perfect Union.

I saw the conviction that that flag right there, to them, is the one universal symbol for liberty and justice for all.

There is a right way to do this, and we have to keep America free and secure so people can come and live the American Dream.

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

Mr. Speaker, this past Friday, Biden's CDC, formally known as the Centers for Disease Control, but often referred to now as the center for Democrat control, announced that it would be ending title 42.

At a time when liberal mayors across our country are extending mask mandates on our children in schools, and the American public is still being forced to mask-up on airplanes, the Biden regime has decided that protecting the American people from diseases, including but not limited to COVID, is not a priority if it comes at the expense of their amnesty and open borders agenda.

Now, it is no coincidence that the Biden regime has decided to drop title 42, a policy that has been used to prevent communicable diseases from spreading into the homeland via illegal aliens entering our southern border.

In fact, more than 2 million illegal aliens have been apprehended at our southern border since Joe Biden took office, and Border Patrol agents estimate another 70 percent of these illegal immigrants have not been apprehended. They call them got-aways. So, in fact, that means nearly 3.5 million illegal aliens have come across our border on Biden's watch.

Now, Republicans and Democrats from both the House and Senate have condemned canceling title 42. Some have called it dangerous, and others have called it frightening. I call it an attack on the safety and security of the American people.

It has been reported that by the time the mid-terms roll around in November of 2022, nearly 7 million illegal aliens will have crossed the southern border this year. That is larger than the populations of Denver, San Francisco, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Boston, Seattle, Miami, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Portland, Tampa, and Detroit combined. Can you imagine?

We have a product here that is working. We have a policy that is working to deter some people away from the border, but we are going to take whatever sliver we have that is keeping people out of our country illegally and do away with it.

Maybe it is to overrun our system, maybe it is to create chaos; 8 to 10 years of backlogs, so then the American people have to accept amnesty. I am not sure exactly what the plan is, but it certainly is intentional, and that is what members of the House Freedom Caucus are here to discuss tonight.

I have with me members from the House Freedom Caucus who are going to address what has been going on at the southern border. We have been to the southern border multiple times to see firsthand what is happening-- the invasion that is taking place in our country--unlike the border czar, who has failed to visit the most dangerous parts of our southern border. I think she made a trip to El Paso. And then, of course, the Commander in Chief, who is in command of nothing, he hasn't been there at all.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the former chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs), my good friend.

Mr. Biggs, do you believe that the cartels have been emboldened during Biden's first year as President of the United States?

What about these illegal aliens who are coming through with the help of the cartel, what do they owe the cartel for getting into the United States?

Mr. Biggs, you also chair the Border Security Caucus, and you recently brought in Secretary Mayorkas. Thank you for bringing him here to the Hill so we could ask some questions.

Now, he was talking about title 42 being a CDC issue, and that is not really his issue to enforce. That is not his policy to enforce. What is a policy that he could enforce that would effectively secure our border?

Thank you. Now, one final question for you here. You are a businessman. We may have 7 million undocumented workers in our country by November. What does that mean for our economy?

We have more Members joining us here from the House Freedom Caucus to talk about title 42. Thank you so much, Congressman Biggs, for your insight on this. I know that you work really hard in studying what is going on at the southern border.

I have the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman) here now. Do you believe that this regime is responsible for signaling to poor and desperate people that now is the time to take this dangerous journey, to break our laws, to come into our country, and live under the freedoms and protections our country provides but not as a citizen?

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, absolutely not. The city of Rifle just hit 10,000 for our population. I mean, 18,000 people a day, that right there exceeds the little city of Rifle, Colorado.

But this is something that we absolutely cannot endure, so I am glad that we have this time tonight to discuss this.

Representative Good, you have been to the southern border. You have talked to Border Patrol agents. Can you tell me what you have seen, what you have heard from Border Patrol agents?

Mr. Speaker, I agree that that absolutely needs to be brought up in the next Congress.

Now, these appointed Secretaries, they really have turned our Border Patrol agents into travel agents. They are being shipped all throughout our country, these illegal immigrants, and every State is now a border State.

Congressman Good is from Virginia. We have Congressman Ralph Norman here from South Carolina. I am from Colorado. But someone who has a front seat view here, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy), this has been a really hot topic for him, and rightfully so.

Republicans and Democrats from both Houses of Congress have said that they don't support ending title 42, yet no legislation or action has been taken to reinstate it. What are your thoughts on that?

Mr. Speaker, we talk about this issue regularly in our meetings with the House Freedom Caucus, and one question that comes up regularly is, where is Kamala Harris? Where is the border czar in this? Are there any plans for her to visit the southern border?

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Mr. Speaker, we are wrapping up here. We have 30 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the chairman for his final thoughts.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues from the House Freedom Caucus for joining me here on the House floor tonight to discuss this issue.

I would encourage all Members of Congress--both bodies, the House and Senate--to talk to a Border Patrol agent. Ask them about the policies that they need to secure our southern border. I guarantee you, they won't be telling you they need funding or personnel or even infrastructure. They

just need the policy to do their jobs so they can go home feeling like they have accomplished something and have protected American citizens.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Minnesota for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so that we can immediately consider the American Energy Independence from Russia Act.

Gas prices are at $5 and even $6 a gallon. The average household is now spending $2,000 more a year because of increased gas costs on Biden's watch. Biden and the Democrats think that now is the time to add $45 billion in new taxes on the oil and gas industry. Many Americans have been and are being regulated into poverty in an unnecessary sacrifice at the altar of climate change.

Instead of unleashing our domestic oil and gas industry, Biden is ``simp'' to radical environmentalists and not-in-my-backyard extremists, and literally begged OPEC to drill more oil instead of relying on the hardworking American roughneck.

On day one, he canceled the Keystone XL pipeline, killing 11,000 good-paying American energy jobs. But that didn't stop the big guy from approving the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and benefitting our enemies.

Because of Biden's fake ban on Russian oil and gas, that won't even go into effect for 22 more days and is littered with waivers to keep Russian energy flowing, the U.S. continues to import 100,000 barrels of Russian oil and send them roughly $10 million each day. We folks are funding the Kremlin.

Why does Biden favor foreign energy over domestic energy? We know that American natural gas is 42 percent cleaner than Russian gas, so it is not for environmental reasons. But maybe there is another reason we don't know about. Perhaps there is 10 percent in this tucked away for the big guy.

How about this: Instead of funding both sides of the war and playing Biden and Pelosi's con games, we should restart construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, overturn Biden's energy leasing moratorium, and expedite permits for pipelines and natural gas exports.

We need the American Energy Independence from Russia Act and stop playing Biden's energy-from-anywhere-but-America game.

Mr. Speaker, America should not only have affordable energy for our own use, but we should be exporting it abroad. We can literally export strength and freedom to our allies.

In short, the solution is very simple. Drill, baby, drill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today having received a message from the mother of a young American hero, Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, who tragically and unnecessarily lost his life during the Biden administration's catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

She encouraged me to publicly share her message, which in part read:

Mrs. Boebert, I am the mother of Lance Corporal Kareem

Nikoui, one of the 13 killed in Kabul. I wish more people had

the backbone that you have. When I heard you say, ``13 of

them,'' my heart dropped, my eyes filled with tears, and I

was so happy to hear about our 13 kids at that very moment.

You have no idea how much that meant to me.

We have been lied to over and over, and then we watch this

administration act as if it never happened. The pain of

losing my son is unbearable.

Just know when I heard you say, ``13 of them,'' it gave me

hope to help us get some type of justice about what this

corrupt administration has done and is still doing. Thank

you.

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to say it was impossible to ignore our 13 servicemembers, and they will continue to be honored and remembered, despite their Commander in Chief intending to ignore them.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the families who lost so much during the Marshall Fire in Colorado as well as the brave and selfless first responders who answered the call following this tragedy.

On December 30, 2021, the Marshall fire started near Marshall Road and Highway 93 in Boulder County. This massive fire engulfed several neighborhoods, destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses, caused more than $575 million in damage, and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate. Rather than celebrating the new year with their loved ones, families in Boulder County, the Town of Superior, and the City of Louisville were displaced and left wondering how they would recover from the terrible disaster.

Firefighters, law enforcement officers, search and rescue crews, National Guardsmen, emergency medical technicians, nurses, and others from across Colorado stepped up and came rushing in to control the fire and help local communities evacuate safely and begin the process of rebuilding. In the face of tremendous tragedy, they ran to help.

The Marshall Fire was the most destructive fire in Colorado history. Despite the dangerous conditions, our emergency responders worked tirelessly to save property and lives. I am so proud of these Colorado heroes.

I will continue to pray for those who lost so much during the Marshall Fire, their families and loved ones, our first responders, and all of those who suffered loss from the Marshall Fire. May God bless them, may God bless the state of Colorado, and may God bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the life of Montezuma County commissioner, Joel ``Joe'' Stevenson. He will be remembered as a larger-than-life champion of rural Colorado who never wavered in his belief that the world needs more cowboys.

He was a rancher, a caring husband, a loving father, and a friend. Joe was a happy warrior, and his passion with a smile will continue to inspire me as I serve in Congress and generations to come. Joe devoted his life to the agriculture community where he served his neighbors as a brand inspector for the Colorado Department of Agriculture for 20 years.

Mr. Speaker, Joe's life of service has come to an end but his legacy will live on in Montezuma County and the Colorado agriculture community; and in his wife, Sheree; and his children, Colette, Chelsi, Mary Jo, Jodie, and Sam; and in his 7 grandchildren who affectionately called him ``Papa.''

Mr. Speaker, I take comfort knowing God's wraparound presence is surrounding Joe's family today and he has entered into the joy of his Lord. America needs more cowboys like my friend, Joe Stevenson, but I know that heaven just gained one.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my friend, Roger Nicholson.

I love this photo because this was a really great day with two of Roger's, I like to say, greatest friends. Maurice was his buddy that he traveled all over Colorado with, and Roger caused a lot of trouble on the way, too.

Roger is the embodiment of what I love about Coloradans, with his fighting spirit and grand vision for the future and his faith in the American Dream.

Roger immigrated to the United States legally as a child. And starting from nothing, his mother gave everything to build a life for their family through the promise of opportunity.

Roger often told me how I reminded him of his mom. I will cherish that comparison all my life.

The lessons Roger learned from his mother's grit pushed him forward as he strove to make something great out of his life as a businessman; a friend to all; most importantly, a husband to his beautiful bride, Bobbie; a fierce father; and a loving grandfather.

Roger was my friend--stubborn, ornery, funny, and driven. Roger's support was rock solid, and his dedication to the fight for freedom was unmatched.

Roger's legacy will live on through the conservative movement in his community and in his family.

To spend time with Roger was to live in the moment and cherish every spoken word. Even during our last conversation, Roger was full of spunk and optimism. Joy was his strength until the end.

My friend Roger understood life, and he had the tough skin and tender heart to prove it.

I love you, Roger, and we miss you greatly.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life of my friend, Tom Kilduff.

Tom was a man of grit and glory, whose great sense of humor and love for America will be greatly missed. Tom gave so much to his country, most notably his service in the Marine Corps. Tom once told me that the Army told him to be all that he could be, so he became a marine.

Tom completed three tours in Vietnam where he distinguished himself as a man of valor, sacrifice, and also a really great shot, earning the USMC Rifle Expert Shooter's Badge and Pistol Sharpshooter Badge, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. Upon returning home, he married his wife, Jeannie, and raised three beautiful daughters and had seven grandchildren.

Meeker, Colorado, is a better place because of Tom. We will surely miss his love of country, passion for the great outdoors, hanging out at Meeker's coffee shop--or the Shell gas station, as others may call it--and, of course, seeing him along with his precious dog, Sarge, following close behind.

Semper fi, Tom.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania and the chairman of the Freedom Caucus. I thank him for leading on this issue and thank him for putting together a hearing yesterday so we could hear from people who are on the ground at the southern border.

It was so difficult to look these Border Patrol agents in the eye and hear their frustration, to hear their hearts cry, to say that they feel useless in their capacity, in their jobs. They said that they used to work all day and go home feeling like they had accomplished something. But since Biden took office, that is no longer the case. Since January 20, when the so-called President of the United States canceled construction of the border wall, since then these men and women have felt like they are not providing a service to the American people.

When I was talking with these agents, one thing that they said was, This isn't a resource issue. We aren't here to ask for more money. We aren't here to ask for more personnel or more infrastructure. We just need policy. Policy solves this. Returning to the Trump-era policies solves this. Canceling construction of a border wall and still continuing to pay out Federal contracts, $5 million each day, is not solving this problem.

Nearly 2 million illegal aliens coming into our country, and that is not even counting the hundreds of thousands of got-aways that are not included in that number.

Madam Speaker, I understand that this is a Special Order, but I think it would do you and your party a service if you would lift your head and pay attention to what is being said on the House floor of the United States of Representatives. Maybe that is too much trouble to ask of you, Madam Speaker, but we are here talking about real issues that are impacting America and you still continue to sit and ignore what I am saying.

I think that is very reflective of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who have ignored what is going on at the southern border, who have ignored the children who are being trafficked by cartels, who have enriched the cartels, who have smuggled enough fentanyl to kill every American at least seven times over.

Madam Speaker, this should concern you. As a mother of four boys, this certainly concerns me, and all we need to do is implement policy to secure the southern border, allow our Border Patrol agents to do their jobs, have someone in the White House who will faithfully execute the law and uphold it. We are here to hold people accountable who are not doing those things.

Madam Speaker, let the Record show that you still have not glanced up one time to acknowledge this humanitarian crisis that is taking place in our country.

Chairman Perry, I thank you so much for yielding on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the life of Dr. Anthony Ortegon of Pueblo, Colorado.

Dr. Ortegon and his amazing, strong, powerful wife, Vera, realized their American Dream early on. He will be remembered by those he loved as a God-fearing, country-loving, family man who was defined by his strong work ethic and love for helping others.

Dr. Ortegon was born in Bogota, Colombia, and made a courageous move to America, determined to create a better life for himself and his family. He finished college in 2\1/2\ years and attended the University of Miami's medical school to begin his passion for medicine and his patients, whom he loved. His work ethic was guided by his faith in God, and he trusted that he could build a life for himself in America.

He served the community of Pueblo for over 40 years, providing care to thousands of southern Coloradans through his medical practice, and he owned several small businesses. His spirit will live on through his strong wife, Vera; his sons, Anthony and Arthur; his four grandchildren; and through his impact on the community as a constant reminder of the potential of the American Dream.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and remember the life of Sheriff Sydney ``Duke'' Schirard, the longest serving sheriff of La Plata County, Colorado.

His lifetime of public service included time as a soldier in the Army,

as a Durango police officer, as the Bayfield marshal, as a deputy in the sheriff's office, and finally as the La Plata County sheriff for 20 years.

Sheriff Schirard fought the good fight, and he finished his race well. His watch may be over, but the community he protected will forever be better because of his efforts day in and day out.

While others ran away from danger, he ran toward it and woke up with courage each and every day to serve and protect his community. He strove to create peace, for ``blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.''

I grieve with the people of La Plata County and with Sheriff Schirard's family--his two sons, four stepchildren, and three grandchildren--and with his extended family in the La Plata County Sheriff's Office who were positively impacted by Sheriff Schirard's exemplary life of service.