Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the North End-Sterling Heights VFW Post 6250.

VFWs across the country provide sanctuaries of support for our nation's veterans. Post 6250 is no different. In their times of need, Post 6250 has been there for the veterans of Macomb County by assisting with the VA, providing wheelchairs and helping veterans restart their lives. This is only a drop in the bucket for what this post has done, and their assistance even extends to the widows of our fallen heroes.

The men and women who serve are our nation's most selfless citizens, and they should have all the support they need when they come home. Luckily for the veterans of Macomb County, VFW Post 6250 has been their strong ally for a century. It is an honor to congratulate them on reaching this historic milestone, and I wish them many more years of dedicated service to our veterans.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize a future leader of my community, Sarah Bussineau of Macomb, for being named the Michigan Association of Teacher Educators Secondary Grades Student Teacher of the Year for 2020.

This award recognizes student teachers who have demonstrated outstanding performance during their student teaching tenure in an academic school year. Sarah's award-winning year took place at Cousino High School in Warren, where she taught band and choir students in grades 9-12.

Sarah's achievement is all the more impressive when you think of the dual task student teachers face in balancing teaching with their own educational pursuits. As a student herself during this time, Sarah pursued a degree and graduated in December 2020 from Oakland University. She took on both the role of teacher and student with passion, dedication and commitment. I know there were probably bumps in the road, but I hope Sarah is able to recognize her hard work has paid off.

Again, I congratulate Sarah on this well-deserved recognition. I wish her the best of luck as she begins her new job as a full-time teacher at St. Regis Catholic School in Bloomfield Hills, where she will teach general music, band and choir. I am confident Sarah will continue to excel and inspire in this exciting new role. We are proud of Sarah and we thank her for her dedication to our students, and we support her in her future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, today I rise because of the double standards in this Chamber. Once again, this weekend we saw a Member of the majority openly call for more confrontation in a Minneapolis suburb. That very night there was a drive-by shooting in that community where police and National Guardsmen were targeted.

If this were reversed, if this were said by a Republican, you know, Madam Speaker, that the majority in this Chamber would move to strip that Representative of their committees and possibly move to expel them from Congress.

We have actually seen this before.

If what President Trump said on January 6 was inciting a riot, then what do the words ``get more confrontational'' mean?

Are those not the words someone would use if they wanted to incite more violence or insurrection?

If the majority cares about this institution, and if the majority cares about our Nation, then they need to get their own house in order and tamp down this vile rhetoric.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition of H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act.

We don't need the government telling business how much they can pay their employees. Let's not forget that it is business that has lifted us out of poverty, not the government.

As a former businesswoman who has actually signed the front of paychecks, not just the backs, what you do as an employee and what you produce as an employee matters, and what you produce should be reflected in your outcome, not your gender.

Do not--please, do not insult me as a woman by lowering the bar for me. And please, do not insult me as a business owner for forcing me to lower the bar for my employees. Outcomes and hard work are what leads to success, not your gender.

Gender discrimination is already against the law thanks to the Equal Pay Act.

At a time when businesses are shutting their doors due to the pandemic, we should be creating jobs and incentivizing people to work.

Madam Speaker, I rise today because I am absolutely furious. Every single day, 5,000 new illegal aliens cross our southern border. Every single day, more men, more women and children are smuggled across our border and being trafficked. Every single day, the drug cartels and human traffickers are raping and abusing our women and children. One out of three of these women and children are being raped.

I ask the administration this: How is that not a crisis?

Madam Speaker, for almost 2 months, our Nation has refused to call this a crisis, what is occurring at our border. You cannot solve a problem unless you first admit there is a problem; and we have a problem. This bill today does nothing to solve that problem or even acknowledge that we have a problem.

We, as a Congress, need to say in unison: We have a crisis at our border.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Kacie Cornett on being named the 2021 Youth Female Citizen of the Year by the Lapeer Area Chamber of Commerce. Kacie has already logged 150 hours of volunteer work in this school year despite COVID restrictions. She is a volunteer at the Paradise Animal Rescue, works with middle school girls through the ``Grow to Glow'' program, participated in charity runs, and is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, Art Club, Photography Club, and the Dance Club. Through all of this, she has been able to maintain a 4.16 GPA, ranking her 9th in her class. I thank Kacie for her tireless dedication and selfless service to the Lapeer community.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Samuel Howard on being named the 2021 Youth Male Citizen of the Year by the Lapeer Area Chamber of Commerce. Samuel is a founding member of the Lapeer Youth Council and the Lapeer City Superheroes. He was also involved with the LINKS peer-to-peer mentoring and support program for students on the Autism spectrum, as well as a volunteer for the Forever Friends Autism Resource Center bottle drive fundraiser, the annual Salvation Army Red Kettle bell ringing fundraiser, and the Lapeer High School Angel Closet cleanout. Through all this Samuel has been able to maintain a 4.2 GPA, ranking him 7th in his class. I thank Samuel for his tireless dedication and selfless service to the Lapeer Community.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Ramsay Coronado on being named the 2021 Adult Citizen of the Year by the Lapeer Area Chamber of Commerce. Ramsay has volunteered his time at the food pantry at Immaculate Conception church, the Church of Christ, Good Samaritans, Habitat Restore, Love INC, Families Helping Families, and the Lapeer Interfaith Community Association. I thank Ramsay for his tireless dedication and selfless service to the Lapeer community.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Raeven Periso on being named the 2021 Junior Citizen of the Year by the Cass City Chamber of Commerce. Raeven has volunteered at Northwood Meadows for banquets, the VFW Hall for Christmas in the Village, and for many other activities. Raeven is also the current Salutatorian and is preparing to become a registered nurse. I thank Raeven for the tireless dedication and selfless service given to the Cass City community.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize to Kacie Cornett on being named the 2021 Youth Female Citizen of the Year by the Lapeer Area Chamber of Commerce. Kacie has logged 150 hours of volunteer work already in this school year despite COVID restrictions. She is a volunteer at the Paradise Animal Rescue, works with middle school girls through the ``Grow to Glow'' program, participated in charity runs, and is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, Art Club, Photography Club, and the Drama Club. Through all this she has been able to maintain a 4.16 GP/A, ranking her 9th in her class. I thank Kacie for her tireless dedication and selfless service to the Lapeer Community.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Jim and Debra Kranz on being named the 2021 Citizens of the Year by the Cass City Chamber of Commerce. Jim and Debra Kranz were former longtime owners of the Kranz Funeral Homes. In their free time, Jim and Debra are highly engaged in their community. Debra is a member of the Rotary Club, and the former president of the Cass City High School Band Boosters, as well as a former member of both the Hills and Dales General Hospital Board of Directors, and the Cass City Women's Club. Jim has been a member of the Cass City Downtown Development Authority and the Rotary Club. I thank Jim and Debra for their tireless dedication and selfless service to the Cass City Community.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma.

I rise today to echo many of my colleagues in the call for unity and a peaceful transition of power. I say this as a believer in the Constitution and the fact that the election has been certified.

First, the incitement of politically motivated violence that we saw last week is intolerable. Words have consequences, and, yes, the President could have done more. But I ask you this: Doesn't everybody need to play by the same rules?

Let me highlight some other questionable statements.

And I quote: ``Let's make sure we show up wherever we have to show up. And if you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gas station, you get out and you create a crowd, and you push back on them, and you tell them they are not welcome anymore, anywhere.'' That was not President Trump.

Let me give you another one. ``I just don't even know why there aren't uprisings all over the country.'' Again, not President Trump.

Can we all agree that at times our emotions get in the way because we love this country so much? But I ask you this: Whatever is good for one side, isn't it good for the other?

We all have the same name on the front of our jersey, and that is the United States of America. We need to start acting like it and let our actions follow our words.

Impeachment only incites more division. It does not provide unity.

I offer a solution. I am ready to come together and get to work for this great country in which we live.