Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, Doug was one of the first friends that I made when I joined the Agriculture Committee back in 2021.

I soon learned that we had a lot in common. We are both fourth- generation family farmers with a shared love for the land which we call home. Doug was also one of the first Members to join my Congressional Family Caucus and was a strong advocate for parents and children.

One of my funny memories was somehow we were having a conversation about what we would do if we had to bug out of D.C., and he offered to give me a ride in his classic Cadillac--I guess he had it here--and give me a ride to Illinois, as he headed to California.

I was deeply saddened to hear of his passing. Mr. Speaker, because Doug accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior, he is now in the presence of the Lord.

I am praying for his wife, Jill, and their children. May they receive comfort from Revelation 21:4 and the promise that: ``He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.''

We thank Doug for his friendship, and we will carry on with the work that he started. He will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 498, the Do No Harm in Medicaid Act.

Medicaid was designed as a safety net to be used only by U.S. citizens when they fall onto hard times and need medical support. It was never intended to bankroll irreversible, gender-mutilating surgeries on vulnerable children. Yet, today, this program is being exploited by the far left, preying on young children to advance their radical trans agenda.

Adolescence is a vulnerable time for boys and girls. They are growing into the young men and women that God intended them to be. What these children really need is love and wise counsel, not taxpayer-funded permanent chemical sterilization, mutilating surgeries, or activists profiting from their confusion.

The most egregious actor is none other than Planned Parenthood, the leading abortion provider in the Nation and now the leading provider of these dangerous procedures. The Do No Harm in Medicaid Act shields innocent children from predatory companies and stops Medicaid from being weaponized against our next generation.

Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government has no business paying for the destruction of children's bodies, and the American people should never be complicit in it. I thank my colleagues for leading this bill, and I urge all to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today truly heartbroken over the tragic loss of my friend and fellow Illinois native, Charlie Kirk.

Charlie was a devoted husband and father, a bold Christian who never backed down from speaking truth peacefully. Charlie inspired millions with his courage and convictions. Because of Charlie, countless young people love America, boldly stand for their faith, and proudly defend our freedoms on college campuses and beyond.

His death was not an isolated tragedy. It is part of a disturbing trend in political violence in our country, encouraged by the radical left and amplified by a corrupt media that has gone from being fake to totally evil.

As we grieve, let us honor Charlie's legacy by continuing the work he so faithfully championed, and let us lift up his wife and children in our prayers.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Smith so much for his decades of service to the pro-life movement.

June 24, 2022, will forever be one of the greatest days in American history. After 50 years of peacefully praying outside clinics and marching in Washington and our State capitals, Roe v. Wade was no more. While the Dobbs decision was a monumental victory, the fight for life has only just begun.

Many States have stepped up to the plate, with over half of them enacting laws to protect unborn life. However, blue States have doubled down on their murderous assault of the unborn. Sadly, my home State of Illinois has become one of the destination States in the Midwest for abortion. In 2023, we recorded the most abortions ever in our State's history, and our radical Governor proudly signed legislation allowing abortions through all 9 months of pregnancy.

Since the previous administration rescinded safety regulations for chemical abortions, women are being harmed, and our water supply is being severely contaminated.

Republicans are the party of life, and we must protect both mom and baby. That is why I have introduced legislation like H.R. 796, the Second Chance for Moms Act, which would require the FDA to place a warning label on chemical abortion drugs so that women can reverse a chemical abortion before it is too late.

I have also introduced H.R. 797, the Ultrasounds Save Lives Act, which would mandate an ultrasound be performed before an abortion can take place. Up to 90 percent of women seeking an abortion who see an ultrasound of their baby change their minds and choose life.

The Dobbs decision ended the greatest human rights violation of our time, but our work has just begun. Republicans stand ready to support women facing crisis pregnancies not just with words but with actions.

I again thank Congressman Smith for commemorating this important anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the rule, which includes several Congressional Review Acts against the disastrous Biden-era electric vehicle mandates.

These create undue, burdensome rules, which impact our rural communities. Rural communities are the backbone of our country. They are the farmers, ranchers, teachers, and parents, and they are being crushed by the costly and out-of-touch policies from Washington.

There is no doubt EV mandates only add further financial strain to hardworking Americans, especially in my district.

Have you seen an electric tractor, baler, or plow? I haven't because they

don't work on farms or in the real world. In fact, the heavy-duty trucks in cold weather States lose 20 percent of their battery capacity.

When compared to cities, rural areas have extremely low EV rates, with the vast majority of rural areas having EV registration rates between zero and a half of a percent. This means there are between zero to five EVs registered per 10,000 people in rural areas.

It is simple. EVs are for urban elites in warm-weather States who have no concept of rural America.

A government EV mandate is unjustifiable. Vehicle decisions should be left up to the American consumers, not woke extreme climate activists.

I urge the passage of this rule.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in recognition of Faith Month, a time that we set aside each year in this body to share the importance of our faith and how it inspires us in public service.

We just celebrated the greatest event in human history: the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

When Christ ascended into Heaven from the Mount of Olives, he promised that the Holy Spirit would comfort and guide us. He also left us with Scripture that provides answers to every problem we face.

Our Founding Fathers acknowledged the importance of God's Word and the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

In his ``Notes on the State of Virginia,'' Thomas Jefferson wrote: ``God, who gave us life, gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a Nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.''

Our first freedom, religious liberty, even finds its roots in Scripture in that God gives every man and woman the freedom to accept or reject His free gift of salvation.

Patrick Henry acknowledged that: ``It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great Nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and the freedom of worship here.''

When the Constitutional Convention was about to fail, Benjamin Franklin called the delegates to prayer and declared: ``I have lived, sir, a long time; and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings that `except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.'

``I firmly believe this; and I also believe, that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.''

You can't design a building without a firm foundation, and that is why our Founders made sure our Republic was founded on Judeo-Christian principles.

The Bible contains the answer to every major political issue we face, whether it be life, marriage, family, or the difference between a man and a woman.

The Bible gives warnings to nations, governments, and rulers on how to properly lead its citizens. The Bible teaches us how to treat each other with dignity and respect and provides the ultimate source of purpose and contentment: a life committed to Jesus Christ.

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

Mr. Speaker, our Founding Fathers, including George Washington, did not shy away from expressing their religious beliefs.

In 1854, Congress made the statement: ``The great, vital and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and the divine truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.'' That is Congress, 1854.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Harshbarger).

Mr. Speaker, it is such a privilege to be able to meet with you and other legislators to pray for our Nation.

To quote another one of our Founding Fathers, Patrick Henry, Revolutionary general, legislator, the voice of liberty, ratifier of the U.S. Constitution, and Governor of Virginia. He said: ``Righteousness alone can exalt America as a Nation. Whoever thou art, remember this and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others.''

One of the verses that I came to Washington, D.C., with to be a plumb line for me, to remind me, is II Corinthians 5:9: So whether we are at home or away--this is the Apostle Paul--we make it our aim to please Him, knowing that we are going to give an account for what we have done in our bodies whether for good or for evil.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen), my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Allen for his faithfulness to show up to pray together for our country and to always be bold to share his faith.

I also thank the gentleman for the compliment that I am a light out here, but I do say along with the First Book of Peter 2:9: `` . . . proclaim the

excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.''

What is the darkness? The darkness is sin. It is what has afflicted mankind since the Garden of Eden, and it causes humans to be self- consumed, rebellious, and foolish. Yet, we should draw near to the Lord and come boldly to his throne in time of need.

Hebrews says: ``Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman), my good friend.

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

Mr. Speaker, I remind everybody again that our Founding Fathers did not shy away from sharing their faith.

Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence, Surgeon General of the Continental Army, ratifier of the American Constitution, father of American medicine, Treasurer of the U.S. Mint, father of public schools under the Constitution, said: ``By renouncing the Bible, philosophers swing from their moorings upon all moral subjects. It is the only correct map of the human heart that ever has been published.''

Daniel Webster said: ``The Bible is a book . . . which teaches man his own individual responsibility, his own dignity, and his equality with his fellow man.''

``Whatever makes men good Christians, makes them good citizens.''

``The Christian religion--its general principles--must ever be regarded among us as the foundation of civil society.''

I conclude by saying that I begin almost every morning by reading Psalm 25, and I encourage us as a country to read that and pray over it. I have almost gotten it memorized.

Psalm 25 reads:

``To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait on You shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You, I wait all the day long.''

God's Word unites, and I believe this body would function a lot better if we took a little time each morning to pray and meditate on this Psalm. It is Psalm 25.

What a privilege that we get to share our faith on the floor of the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I thank each of my colleagues for participating in this year's Faith Month Special Order. I especially thank the ladies of Concerned Women for America for their work in sharing their faith across our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, may God continue to bless our Nation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the SAVE Act, which includes robust measures to prevent illegal aliens from participating in our elections.

Under Joe Biden, millions of illegal aliens flooded into our country, and many were given the benefits and privileges that should be reserved for American citizens.

In Illinois, JB Pritzker and the Democrats rolled out the red carpet

and actively enticed illegals and those covered by Biden's bogus asylum programs to settle in my State, to the tune of over 500,000 people. They received welfare benefits, CDL licenses, and State identification. The Democrats have even voted to allow them to be law enforcement officers.

I do not have to tell you how dangerous this situation is for Americans, especially for Americans' confidence in the sanctity of our elections.

As far-left jurisdictions seek to allow illegals to vote in local elections, let me be clear about this one thing at this point: Every vote cast by an illegal alien is a vote stolen from an American citizen.

Congress must defend the integrity of our elections. We must aggressively push back against the left's attempts to change the electorate and dilute the voices of actual Americans in our democratic process.

This past week and today, all we hear are the Democrats sharing their concerns that rural Americans, women, and people of color are not capable of getting an ID. This is insulting and condescending and an untrue argument.

You need an ID for most everything else in daily life. Maybe if the Democrats would quit pushing for our schools--

Mr. Speaker, maybe the Democrats should quit wasting so much time in our public schools indoctrinating our children and, instead, teach them real-life skills such as reading, civics, and how to get an ID.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the declaration below on behalf of Moms for America.

As the mothers, chief architects of the homes of America,

and molders of the future of our nation, we declare that the

liberty and freedom of all people begin in the home and that

a nation is but a magnified home. The values and virtues

taught within the family will determine the values and

virtues of the Nation as a whole.

We uphold the laws of nature affirming the gender roles of

male and female as essential elements for the perpetuation of

life. As life is our most fundamental right, protected by the

Constitution, so too is the truth that God created two

distinct genders--male and female--each with purposeful

design and irreplaceable roles. We honor both mothers and

fathers working together to protect and nurture the

fundamental unit of society which is the family.

We recognize the sacred role of mother as the heart of the

home and home as the heart of society. The liberty of each

individual begins in the home and parents are, first and

foremost, the primary teachers and protectors of their

children in a free society. Properly constructed social,

religious, and governmental institutions are designed to

support and strengthen the family unit, not restrict it,

regulate, or replace it. No association or government

organization can replace the family no matter how well-

intentioned or well-designed it may be.

The privilege of living as a free people in a free society

is dependent on being a people of faith, virtue and

patriotism--the three pillars of liberty--and these

attributes are best developed and nurtured in the home. Each

generation has a responsibility to instill a love of liberty

and virtue in the hearts of the next generation.

We affirm that ``All men and women are endowed by their

Creator with certain unalienable rights and to secure these

rights, governments are instituted among men, [receiving]

their just powers from the consent of the governed.''

To secure the blessings of liberty, the Founding Fathers of

the United States of America created a written constitution

under the inspiration of Almighty God. The preservation of

this sacred document and trust is dependent upon each

generation who bears the stewardship of safeguarding the

constitution and teaching their children the rights and

responsibilities associated with the noble cause of liberty

and keeping the Republic.

Every individual is born with intrinsic dignity that is

inherent to each member of the human race with life being our

most fundamental inalienable divine right. All men and women

have the right to liberty, self-determination and self-

governance. The individual's responsibility of work,

education, and industry are crucial elements of self-

governance in society and the preservation of human dignity.

The rights of a free people are protected and preserved

through honorable, virtuous, leadership which invokes the

nobility inherent in all men and women. As the lessons of

history clearly demonstrate, we recognize that freedom is

fragile. It is a rare and prized

possession and requires constant care and vigilance for its

preservation. Living as a free people does not come

instinctively; principles of freedom must be studied and

applied. Home and families with mothers who nurture and teach

these principles produce leaders who honor and hold sacred

the intrinsic dignity of the individual and inalienable

rights endowed to all people.

To safeguard the liberty and enhance the future of our

grandchildren, we affirm our commitment to ``stand fast in

that liberty wherewith God has made us free'' that

``government of the people, by the people, and for the people

shall not perish from the earth.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of H. Res. 190, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet on Monday next, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. Speaker, it is a great day in America. We heard from President Trump last night. Clearly, he loves our country. He is amped up to fulfill his promises and get things done that matter to Americans.

Thank God for a landslide victory. We can only imagine the dreadful consequences if Kamala would have been our President. I am afraid that Barack Obama's dream of fundamentally transforming our country would have been complete.

President Trump is getting it done for the American people, America first as every President should have been. Americans have been abused by a bloated, unaccountable government. We all knew that taxpayers were being abused, but the level of abuse to use the hard-earned money that taxpayers have had to cough up to promote evil in our country and to fund terrorists around the world, it is unbelievable.

Thank God for Elon Musk and for DOGE to uncover all the waste, fraud, and abuse. I thank President Trump for securing our border and deporting the murderers, rapists, terrorists, and gang members. I thank him for going after terrorists. I thank him that we are not going to be taken advantage of anymore by unfair tariffs, trade agreements, and funding wars around the world.

Instead of driving our manufacturing overseas, I thank President Trump for incentivizing companies to come back and create jobs and leave the money here in our country. I thank him for incentivizing production, for deregulating so Americans can be creative and productive like they want to be. I thank him for getting our economic machine going.

Finally, I thank President Trump for standing up for women, for declaring that there are two sexes, that we were created by God, and that we need God's help.

Mr. Speaker, I urge our country, as it says in 1 Timothy, to pray for those who are in authority. To every child in America, we agree with President Trump. They are perfect exactly the way God created them.

Mr. Speaker, today, Senator Mike Lee and I will reintroduce the Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net Act, also known as the SCREEN Act.

The average age of a child's first exposure to pornography is 11 years old. Blocking and filtering software is ineffective, with nearly 80 percent of children and teens between the ages of 12 and 17 being exposed to pornography.

Not only has pornography become easier to access, but the content has descended further into violence and degradation, glamorizing assault, physical abuse, and nonconsensual acts.

As children become desensitized to depictions of sexual abuse, research indicates that adolescent users internalize and emulate these harmful behaviors.

Research reveals a list of psychological effects stemming from modern pornography on the developing brain include anxiety, addiction, low self-esteem, body-image disorders, an increase in problematic sexual activity in younger ages, and increased desire among minors to engage in risky sexual behaviors.

There are 16 States that have declared youth exposure to pornography to be a serious public health issue, and

19 States have enacted some form of website age verification requirement.

The Supreme Court is poised to rule on the Texas age verification law. Whether they apply strict scrutiny or a lower form of judicial review, it is abundantly clear that the SCREEN Act is the answer.

We must take decisive action to protect our children from the scourge of pornography. I urge the House and Senate to act swiftly in passing the SCREEN Act so that President Trump can sign it into law.

Mr. Speaker, I commend President Trump for his steps to close down the Department of Education and to return power back to the parents. For too long the Department of Education has overstepped its bounds, imposing top-down policies that have done more harm than good.

Since its creation, this bureaucracy has grown into a bloated, unaccountable institution that prioritizes Federal control over the actual needs of our children. It has drained billions of taxpayer dollars, while delivering little in the way of education. Sadly, we have declining test scores, a one-size-fits-all curriculum, and policies that have often placed ideology over learning.

It is time to recognize that the Federal Government does not know what is best for our sons and daughters. Decisions about education should be made at the State and local level by those who are closest to the students, not by bureaucrats in Washington. Eliminating the Department of Education isn't radical. It is common sense.

I thank President Trump for standing up for all the parents and students across this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank President Trump for his efforts to reverse the harmful immigration policies of the last administration.

On his first day in office, President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border and reinstated policies to stop the flood of illegal immigrants into the United States.

Under the Biden administration, migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border reached an all-time high. Open-border policies made it easier for military-aged men to enter our country and allow drug and human traffickers to take control of our borders.

In 2024 alone, Customs and Border Protection seized over 21,000 pounds of fentanyl at the U.S.-Mexico border. Fentanyl overdoses during this time remained to be the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45.

I applaud President Trump for taking border security seriously, including his threat to impose tariffs on Mexico, which led their President to deploy 10,000 members of the Mexican National Guard to strengthen border security.

It is time the rest of the world sees again we have a President willing to put America first.

Mr. Speaker, as a family farmer, I am very concerned with America's prime farmland being covered with taxpayer- subsidized solar panel installations.

Food security is national security, and if we cover our farm ground with Chinese solar panels, we will become dependent on foreign adversaries for food.

According to the EPA, solar panels contain hazardous waste that can be harmful to human health. That is why we should be alarmed by the increasing number of solar panels being installed on our most fertile farmland, especially when the Federal Government is handing out tax credits for it.

Today, I reintroduced the No Solar Panels on Fertile Farmland Act to stop Federal Government tax incentives for installing Chinese solar panels on American farmland.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to cosponsor this important legislation and put an end to the left's green bad deal that puts fake environmental goals over food security.