Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 429 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Leger Fernandez), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Madam Speaker, last night the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 429, providing for consideration of three measures: H.J. Res. 45, H.R. 467, and S.J. Res. 11.

The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 467 under a structured rule, with 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Energy and Commerce Committee or their designees and provides one motion to recommit.

The rule further provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 45 and S.J. Res. 11 under closed rules, with 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the committee of jurisdiction or to their designees.

Finally, the rule provides one motion to commit for S.J. Res. 11 and one motion to recommit for H.J. Res. 45.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of the rule and the underlying legislation. Included within the measure is H.R. 467, the HALT Fentanyl Act. It is important to say that the HALT Fentanyl Act makes great strides in addressing the growing fentanyl crisis in our country. By making permanent the scheduling of fentanyl-related analogs in the schedule I category, in addition to giving researchers the ability to conduct studies on these substances, we can begin to repair the damage that this drug has inflicted on our communities and our Nation.

I spent almost three decades practicing as a physician. I have witnessed and heard so many devastating stories of the consequences of this crisis which we now face. We face it in north Texas; we face it across the country.

Between September and March, nearly a dozen teens spread across three schools in Carrollton, Texas, were injured because of fentanyl poisoning. In fact, three of those poisonings were fatal. One death is too many, and we must equip our communities to address this issue from the source.

The Committee on Energy and Commerce has a long history of producing bipartisan policies to actually address the opioid crisis in this country. The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, known as the SUPPORT Act of 2018, was a product of our committee, and it made reforms to the way we administer programs to control and respond to and better treat individuals who have a problem with opioids.

However, the landscape has drastically changed. It is now a different disease than what it was in 2018, so we have gone from diversion of prescription opioids to the manufacture and importation of illicit fentanyl, products that are created in the People's Republic of China in their base form, exported to Mexico, imported by cartels, and poisoning our children.

We need to better understand the effects of fentanyl and fentanyl- related substances to better treat patients suffering from exposure. The HALT Fentanyl Act will improve regulations to encourage research so we can better understand the impacts of fentanyl on human health.

Our recent bipartisan mental health package passed in the Energy and Commerce Committee worked on several provisions that would relax regulations to expand access to evidence-based treatment programs and ease restrictions on treatment options for substance use care.

Finally, the HALT Fentanyl Act will ensure that law enforcement officers have the tools to prosecute cases relating to fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances. Due to the crisis at our southern border, illicit fentanyl remains an imminent threat throughout the country. At a time when people are dying at alarming rates from fentanyl poisoning, this legislation is an absolute necessity to counteract this crisis and save our young American lives.

Madam Speaker, also included in this package is a provision that would repeal a continuation of President Biden's war on affordable energy and consumer choice.

S.J. Res 11 would be instrumental in protecting American families who would suffer from additional costs passed along to them and ensure that they, the American public, are able to select vehicles that best fit their needs rather than functionaries in the administration in a far- removed Washington, D.C.

If not for our Republican majority, Madam Speaker, President Biden could continue to act unilaterally to enact his radical Green New Deal agenda. Thankfully, the American public saw fit to entrust Republicans with the majority in the people's House to prevent President Biden and Democrats from acting upon their worst impulses.

Once again, Democrats have seen fit to attack a vital component of our Nation's economy. Why Democrats would want to make more difficult the lives of those who deliver our food and our goods to our grocery stores and our homes, and the fuel to our gas stations, I do not know.

Madam Speaker, what I do know is that every American owes these hardworking men and women a tremendous debt of gratitude that we will not soon be able to repay.

Madam Speaker, in 2021, trucks moved close to 11 billion tons of freight across America. That is over 70 percent of the cargo shipped in the continental United States.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some were sitting in the comfort of their homes while dozens of Amazon packages were dropped at their doorsteps. That was only because of these long-haul drivers who traverse our Nation daily, ensuring our communities are supplied with goods that allow Americans to enjoy a high standard of living and literally preventing American families from starving during the pandemic.

So it is bewildering, Madam Speaker, that Democrats have decided to reward the courage and perseverance of long-haul truckers with onerous and expensive new regulations that will have a devastating effect upon their livelihoods.

Madam Speaker, implementing these new regulations and standards will burden truck drivers with as much as $8,000 per driver in new costs when it comes time to retire their current vehicles.

Democrats pride themselves on being advocates of the little guy, the downtrodden, but I would ask you, Madam Speaker, how is forcing Americans already suffering from the sky-high inflation brought to us by the Biden administration, saddling them with an additional $8,000 from their hard-earned dollars, how is that lightening their burden? Madam Speaker, simply, it does not.

Once again, President Biden and members of the Democratic Party are so single-minded in their pursuit of this Green New Deal agenda that they are blind to the obvious collateral damage that their policies are inflicting. Thankfully, our Republican majority will be able to deliver tangible relief by repealing this counterproductive and misguided executive action.

Madam Speaker, today, we are also considering H.J. Res. 45 to formally disapprove of the authority the administration claims it has to unilaterally forgive student loans.

In August 2022, the Biden administration announced a plan to cancel student debt up to $20,000 for Pell grant recipients and up to $10,000 for non-Pell grant recipients for those making under $125,000 a year.

Madam Speaker, on May 11, 2023, 2 weeks ago, a glorious day, the public health emergency came to an end. Americans are back to work. They are back to school. They are returning to normal life.

The Biden administration is attempting to claim authority for this $315 billion student loan forgiveness through the COVID-19 national emergency status and the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act, the so-called HEROES Act of 2003. This 2003 law provided temporary relief to military members during their deployment following 9/11. This is a twisted interpretation of a bill that compensated our Nation's servicemen and -women for their heroic efforts after the Nation was attacked on 9/11.

The bottom line is this is quite likely unconstitutional. It is an overreach of executive authority and would not make student debt disappear. It would instead unfairly shift the burden of

student loans to the 87 percent of Americans who did not take out such loans.

Madam Speaker, this is an important rule to consider these important bills.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Langworthy), a valuable member of the Rules Committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy), another member of the Rules Committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman), another member of the Rules Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Molinaro).

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

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson), a fellow member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, it is important to point out, first off, that the Republican House has voted on and passed an increase to the Nation's debt limit. This happened 2 weeks ago. Further action is awaiting in the Senate. Further action is awaiting down at the White House. This House, under the leadership of Speaker McCarthy, has acted and acted appropriately.

Furthermore, I would like to point out, in October of 2018, President Trump signed the SUPPORT Act. The SUPPORT Act was the first meaningful step toward countering what was at the time a crisis in this country because of diversion of prescription drugs, the so-called opioid crisis.

Mr. Speaker, it has changed since then. Since 2018, we are now faced with a different disease in fentanyl poisoning brought to us because of an open southern border, because the President has refused to secure the southern border and because the border czar has refused to secure the southern border. As a consequence, we have an unprecedented amount of fentanyl flowing into our country.

Yes, it is quite right, apps on social media have made it easier for kids to get access to this than ever before.

There is some good news. The Food and Drug Administration has allowed for the over-the-counter sale of Narcan that is to begin this summer. That is a good thing. However, that in no way counteracts the increase in illicit fentanyl that is coming across the southern border because of the refusal of this administration to secure our sovereign border.

Back in 2018 when the SUPPORT Act passed, it was largely through bipartisan efforts on the Committee on Energy and Commerce that brought that bill to its signing. Once again, I thank members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and members of the Senate for bringing before us these important pieces of legislation to roll back the damage that President Biden has done in the fentanyl crisis.

Republicans remain united in pursuing a legislative agenda that puts the welfare of Americans above the special interests of a few.

Mr. Speaker, I urge fellow Members to support the rule and support the underlying legislation.

The material previously referred to by Ms. Leger Fernandez is as follows:

An Amendment to H. Res. 429 Offered by Ms. Leger Fernandez of New

Mexico

At the end of the resolution, add the following:

Sec. 4. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution, the

House shall proceed to the consideration in the House of the

resolution (H. Res. 178) affirming the House of

Representatives' commitment to protect and strengthen Social

Security and Medicare. The resolution shall be considered as

read. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on

the resolution and preamble to adoption without intervening

motion or demand for division of the question except one hour

of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and

ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means or

their respective designees.

Sec. 5. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not apply to the

consideration of H. Res. 178.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exemplary leadership and public service of Chief Ed Reynolds, as he retires as Police Chief of the University of North Texas (UNT) Police Department. Chief Reynolds has served as Police Chief since November 2015, and since joining the UNT Police Department in 1994 as an officer, he has accumulated almost three decades of faithful service to the 45,000 students, faculty and staff members on UNT's Denton campus.

Chief Reynolds earned an associate degree in criminal justice from North Central Texas College and graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from UNT. He attended the UNT police academy and graduated as valedictorian. He holds a master peace officer, firearms, and instructor license issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

During his career at UNT, Chief Reynolds has served the department as a police officer, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant and deputy chief. In doing so, he has supervised every division within the department including operations, investigations, and administration.

He led the department's successful effort to become nationally accredited in 2006 by The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, a distinction that fewer than 7 percent of law enforcement agencies nationwide achieve. He received a UNT Presidential Award, the Bob Rogers Service and Community Engagement Award, in 2023, for outstanding service to the university and collaboration with the surrounding community. In 2018 he was also recognized nationally by Campus Safety Magazine as their Higher Education Director of the Year, honoring him for outstanding achievement and leadership in security, public safety and emergency management.

The UNT community is indebted to Chief Reynolds as he steps down from leading the 65 full-time employees and the department he has directed for almost 8 years. He has put the safety of others above his own and has honorably carried the burden of law enforcement leadership during one of the most challenging periods our country has witnessed. I am proud and grateful to have had someone with the character and servant heart of Chief Reynolds serving my alma mater, and I wish him and his family the best in retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of New Fairview as they celebrate the municipality's incorporation 50 years ago on May 21, 1973. In the late 1800s, settlers moved to Wise County, Texas, many traveling from Illinois. The area that covers roughly 16 square miles was originally named the ``Illinois Settlement.'' As time passed, the population grew slowly, and the agrarian community established a church, cemetery, and a school. In 1973, the city's name was changed to ``Fairview'' based upon the residents' beautiful point of view overlooking the north Texas prairie.

By 1980, the city had a population of 180 people. Almost two decades later in 1999, the population had grown to nearly 900 residents, and the city officially changed their name to ``New Fairview'' in order to distinguish themselves from several other cities in the State of Texas who shared the name.

As a result of its prime location in close proximity to job centers in Fort Worth and Alliance Airport, the City of New Fairview continues to expand and develop while still retaining the semi-rural environment that its residents appreciate. The strong Texas economy has fueled expansive business development and population growth in New Fairview. The North Central Texas Council of Government has estimated the 2022 population at 2,060, resulting in the city being one of top ten fastest-growing cities in the 16-county region. City residents are served by excellent schools within the Northwest and Decatur ISDs, which also have encouraged new housing starts for families. In the short 50 years that New Fairview has existed, the city has had significant growth and shows no sign of slowing down.

It is my honor to represent the citizens of the City of New Fairview, Texas, in the U.S. House of Representatives and join its citizens in marking the thriving city's semi-centennial and look forward to ``The City with a View's'' bright future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize May 14th as IgA Nephropathy Awareness Day. IgA Nephropathy is a rare autoimmune disease that causes a person's immune system to attack the kidneys. In the United States, fewer than 200,000 people are diagnosed with this incurable condition per year. Yet, it is one of the most common diseases affecting the kidneys other than those caused by high blood pressure or diabetes.

Although IgA Nephropathy can develop at any age, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) notes that it most often affects younger Americans, usually appearing between the teen years and the late 30s. Tragically, according to the IgA Nephropathy Foundation, as many as half of those affected by IgA Nephropathy will develop end- stage kidney disease and eventually require dialysis or a kidney transplant. Sadly, IgA Nephropathy can recur in the transplanted kidney, and after a period of increased quality of life, families find themselves in yet another familiar battle.

The diagnostic journey to IgA Nephropathy tends to be long. There are usually little or no immediate signs and symptoms. The disease causes inflammation that can trigger complications, including high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease. In fact, many patients are not diagnosed until they show some of these complications and blood or protein in the urine.

IgA Nephropathy was first identified in 1968, and it is viewed as a condition without a cure. While some patients have been able to delay kidney decline and failure through lifestyle changes, supplements, and medication, many others have seen no effective treatments for almost four decades.

This is all beginning to change, and IgA Nephropathy patients finally have the tangible hope of new treatments here today, and a growing number of clinical trials are underway. Mr. Speaker, this new hope results: from a combination of a number of things, including the renewed medical cures innovation environment Congress helped foster on a bipartisan basis with the drafting and enacting of the 21st Century Cures Act. Rare kidney diseases, in particular had been an area of little to no development in promising treatments for those suffering from these devastating diseases. The FDA approved the first-ever medication for IgA Nephropathy in late 2021, and progress is picking up even more speed, as earlier this year, the FDA approved another new drug therapy which proved to demonstrate rapid and sustained proteinuria reduction--a key to maintaining healthy functioning of the kidneys.

These advancements in IgA Nephropathy treatment and hope for more on the horizon, are providing lifechanging care options for so many patients struggling with this chronic disease. It's important we help raise awareness of this condition to counter the fear and uncertainty that can come with an IgA Nephropathy diagnosis. More needs to be done to develop the means for patients to manage their conditions and live normal lives even while dealing with this cruel disease.

IgA Nephropathy May 14 is the 19th anniversary of its founding, the IgA Nephropathy Foundation. On May 14th, 2004, Bonnie Schneider and her husband established the IgA Nephropathy Foundation from their home. Eddie, their 13-year-old son, had been recently diagnosed with the condition, and they saw firsthand the unmet need for answers, resources, and a supportive community for individuals with IgA Nephropathy and their families.

Yesterday, the IgA Nephropathy community and partners came together to raise awareness about this disease while celebrating the strength of the patients and caregivers who battle this daily. Their hope is that this important day will drive people to check their risk and recognize symptoms, including getting routine urinalysis, improve awareness among primary care physicians, build a more robust network of support for patients, and encourage further research to build on the new therapies helping to improve the lives of those battling this disease--and to one day find a cure. As a Texan, I know that it is not our challenges that define us but rather how we rise above them. The IgA Nephropathy Foundation and the IgA Nephropathy community are working to do just that.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the IgA Nephropathy Foundation for creating this important opportunity to improve awareness. Today, I stand with the many Americans and their families, doctors, and other caregivers who must battle this disease and continue educating the public and partnering with those working on new treatments. We honor them all this IgA Nephropathy Awareness Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the underlying bill, H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023.

For over 2 years, the Biden administration has continued to ignore crisis after crisis. Just 2 weeks ago, the American people saw that President Biden and the Democratic Party were just fine ignoring our looming debt crisis.

Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago, House Republicans kept their promise. They kept their promise to the American people and passed a responsible solution to raising the country's debt ceiling.

Now this week, House Republicans are having to once again clean up after this administration and their reckless policies that are hurting the lives of Americans around the country, but especially in my home State of Texas.

Our southern border is not secure. This administration does not have operational control, and their claim that they have decreased immigration by 90 percent is simply laughable.

President Biden's destructive policies and continued lies to the American people have only worsened this deepening crisis.

My fellow Members and I have heard from law enforcement on the ground that this country has gone from one of the safest and most secure borders under the Trump administration, to an unsustainable humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, and it is getting worse by the hour.

With the expiration of title 42 tomorrow, it will be unfathomable of what will be facing our friends on the Texas border.

This all happened within the first 24 hours of this administration. President Biden sits in the White House and threatens to veto our bill, calling for comprehensive immigration reform, while vulnerable migrants crossing our southern border are raped, killed, or trafficked every single day.

Along with all my fellow Republican Members, I want to see comprehensive

immigration reform, but that cannot be done until this crisis on our southern border is under control. H.R. 2 will do exactly that.

Mr. Speaker, this bill will finish the border wall, will provide adequate funding for our Border Patrol agents, and ensure that the migrants most vulnerable, the unaccompanied alien children, are taken care of once they become this country's responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is just common sense. I urge my fellow Members to support the underlying bill, and I urge support for the rule.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the extraordinary life of the Honorable Mary Horn, Denton County Judge. Her relentless dedication to public service and remarkable contributions to our community will always be remembered.

Judge Horn began her public service in 1993 as Denton County's Tax Assessor-Collector, breaking barriers as the first woman to hold this position. She served in this role for nine years before making history once again in 2002, becoming the first woman to serve as Denton County Judge .

During her unprecedented 16-year tenure serving as Denton County's chief elected official, Judge Horn played a vital role in managing Denton County's unprecedented growth. She accomplished so much, including completing the I-35E expansion, bringing in over 3 billion dollars in road improvements by leveraging 335 million dollars in local funds with state, federal, and regional partners, and helping Denton County achieve a AAA bond rating.

Beyond her noteworthy professional accomplishments, Judge Horn was a loving wife to Jim, mother to Jennifer and James and a dear friend to many, including myself. She was a role model for all, and her passion for serving the community was contagious,

I was deeply saddened to learn of Judge Horn's passing on April 21, 2023. My thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time. Judge Horn will always be remembered for her unmatched contributions to Denton County, and her legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations.

I thank Judge Horn for all that she has done for our community. She will be greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the University of North Texas Men's Basketball team for winning the 2023 National Invitational Tournament. Starting in 1916, the UNT Mean Green have a rich history. However, this year's accomplishment on the court is arguably the most exciting and meaningful.

On March 30, 2023, led by Coach Grant McCasland, the team completed their remarkable 31-7 season with the school's first ever NIT Tournament Championship. In doing so, the Mean Green successfully battled through five successive games, starting with dominating wins over Alcorn State and Sam Houston. They then advanced to the tournament semifinals with a chilling overtime win over Oklahoma State. The team then showed its grit to hold Wisconsin scoreless for over nine minutes in closing-out a final-four victory for the chance to redeem a Conference USA Tournament loss to the University of Alabama-Birmingham. They completed the run with a 68 to 61 NIT Championship game victory.

Led by NIT Most Outstanding Tournament Player Tylor Perry, Kai Huntsberry and Aaron Scott stepped-up to record double-digits as UAB unsuccessfully struggled to limit Perry on the court during the championship. Rubin Jones stepped-up with scoring and rebounds at critical points throughout the tournament, complimenting Moulaye Sissoko's domination of the backboard in each game and highlighted with his double-double in the victory over Wisconsin. A team accomplishment, the postseason opportunity and victory could not have happened without critical individual contributions throughout the season from Abou Ousmane, Jayden Martinez, Matthew Stone, Tyree Eady, Rasheed Browne, Christian Moore, Grayson Allo, Chris Morgan and Arsh Mattu.

The historic NIT Tournament Championship victory underscored the original strength of UNT's Conference USA schedule and set a new standard at a critical time for UNT's national profile. UNT became one of four C-USA teams setting national notice by either winning, or competing in at least the final four of the three major post-season college tournaments, as a final benchmark before moving up to join the American Athletic Conference this Fall.

The accomplishment is bittersweet, as it also marks the last game that Coach McCasland will be at the helm of the squad. UNT's President Dr. Neal Smatresk extended his sincerest thanks and best wishes to Coach McCasland and his family, recognizing that he `` . . . has been a great mentor and leader for the student athletes on our men's basketball teams for six seasons, and he has taken our program to great successes including this national championship run in the NIT.'' However, a strong foundation has already been set for the next stage, with longtime Assistant Coach Ross Hodge announced as the team's new head coach, ensuring that opponents in the new AAC can expect no relief from the suffocating defense experienced throughout the season by UNT's challengers.

I join Dr. Smatresk, the returning team members, the UNT student body and Alumni in looking forward to the next exciting accomplishment to come. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the 2022-2023 North Texas Men's Basketball coaches and team for representing their school and community so well. Best wishes to the team's seniors as they graduate, and we look forward to another opportunity to celebrate the next exciting year and championship.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend congratulations to the American Flood Coalition. They celebrated 5 years of driving solutions to build resilience in the face of flooding just this past Sunday.

As a nonpartisan group of cities, elected officials, military leaders, businesses, and civic groups, the American Flood Coalition provides a platform to advocate for a unified voice for solutions to flooding.

My district in north Texas knows firsthand the destruction caused by extreme weather and floods, including in 2015, when Ray Roberts, Grapevine, Lewisville Lakes flooded after sudden heavy rainfall.

I recently joined the coalition as a Federal champion, and I look forward to working with the American Flood Coalition and other Members of Congress on long-term solutions that speed up the recoveries, boost local economies, and prepare us for what lies ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I do want to rise in support of the rule and in support of the underlying bill.

It is interesting that our Secretary of Energy, Secretary Granholm, came to Austin, Texas, 3 or 4 weeks ago and talked about how we should learn from the communist Chinese and their approach to climate change. Talk about putting polluters over people. If she would consult her own energy information agency, she would see that China gets 55 percent of its energy from coal, whereas the United States gets 11 percent of its energy from coal.

Guess what? China is building more and more coal-fired plants each and every week that goes by.

So who, indeed, is putting polluters over people?

I submit it is this administration, and in the last Congress it was congressional Democrats.

This bill before us today is a culmination of years of hard work by the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Natural Resources, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It is a critical step forward.

One of the things that I have worked on for a number of years is the Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act. It is included in this bill. I think it is critically important, not just for a State like Texas but, literally, the entire country. I am grateful that other Republicans Members saw fit to include this legislation as we seek to address the obstacles preventing Americans from actually achieving lower energy costs.

In less than 2\1/2\ years, we have gone from relative energy abundance to energy scarcity. We have gone from energy affordability to energy unaffordability.

Why in the world would we want to continue down that pathway?

H.R. 1 also contains the repeal of section 50131 of the Inflation Reduction Act. This provided a billion dollars to coerce State and local governments into adopting costly energy codes. If these grants were allowed to stand, they would take away local control over energy code adoption and Federalize these overreaching mandates.

Efforts to push costly and restrictive energy codes across the country overburden new construction and largely ignore the energy performance of the existing housing stock. New homes built to modern codes are already energy efficient, and further increases in that stringency must be carefully considered because, in fact, we are not doing that with these grant programs.

Mr. Speaker, 2 years ago the Congress started with what was called the American Rescue Plan. It brought us high inflation and it brought us high prices. This is truly the American Rescue Plan. Let's put energy affordability back within the reach of the average American.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Jack Oliver Faegre. His familiar face, engaging personality and the guidance he regularly provided will be missed within the Robson Ranch community and among local voters who knew him for his faithful service each cycle.

While widely known within Denton County, like many North Texans, Jack became a proud Texan after spending most of his youth in the Midwest. Jack was born June 15, 1934 to Selmer Albert Faegre and Mabel Lucile Monroe in Jefferson Township, Allamakee County, Iowa. He graduated from Iowa State University with an Engineering Degree and served as an officer in the Army Corps of Engineers from 1959 to 1969; retiring as a Captain.

After serving in the Corps, Jack settled in Texas to raise his family, working initially at Texas Instruments in Dallas before moving to other engineering roles at Frito-Lay and Rockwell International. A lifelong supporter of the Dallas Cowboys, Jack was also an avid skier in his younger years and loved taking ski vacations with his family. He eventually retired from Rockwell International and settled into the Robson Ranch Community just outside of Denton.

During his retirement years, he was highly active in Denton County elections as an Election Judge and served as Republican Precinct Chair for Robson Ranch, the only person to hold that office in his precinct. One of his passions was making sure that the people in his community had an opportunity to vote. He was very instrumental in convincing the Robson executives to allow the clubhouse to be a polling site for Early and Election Day Voting.

The void Jack leaves will be felt by his family, friends, and all who knew him. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Creeda, and his entire family. I join them in the appreciation of his memory and in celebrating the long-term impact he had on the lives and communities where he was so actively engaged.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 166 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

House Resolution 166 provides for the consideration of two measures, H.R. 347 and H.J. Res. 30. The rule provides for H.R. 347, the REIN IN Act, to be considered under a structured rule with 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability or their designees and provides for one motion to recommit. The rule makes in order 15 amendments.

Additionally, the rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 30, a resolution of congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to ``Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights'' under a closed rule with 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce or their designees and provides for one motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and in support of the underlying bills.

Today, the Republican majority is holding the Biden administration accountable. The American people sent the Republican majority to Washington to exercise a moderating influence on the executive branch and as a

check against President Biden and the Democrats' worst policy impulses.

Mr. Speaker, over the past 2 years, the American people have been at the mercy of President Biden's and the Democrats' reckless tax-and- spend agenda. Having survived those 2 long years, the American public could not stomach 2 more years of unified Democratic control in Washington, so this past November, American voters elected a Republican majority in the people's House to address the people's business.

Instead of devoting all of their time and effort to service industries and projects favored by Democratic consultants, the green lobby, and woke political activists, Republicans are working at breakneck pace to address the issues that the American people actually care about: protecting the retirement savings of hardworking Americans from Green New Deal radicals. The House GOP is the last line of defense between the American people and President Biden's inflationary agenda.

Mr. Speaker, I also commend Mr. Barr for introducing H.J. Res. 30 so we can bring this important piece of legislation to the floor today. Without his leadership on this issue, pensioners and retirees would be defenseless against the designs and machinations of a loud but vocal minority planning to conscript the retirement savings of retirees and American workers to pursue an investment agenda that is not founded on a fiduciary responsibility to maximize a return on investment.

Democrats understand that their Green New Deal agenda is politically toxic as far as the American public is concerned. They know that their radical energy agenda has been exposed and laid bare to the American people. For that reason, they have orchestrated and overseen a coordinated campaign to capture the boardrooms and the pension funds, seeking to implement the change that they simply could not achieve at the ballot box.

What Democrats are trying to achieve would be more intellectually and morally defensible if they had the courage to bring these measures to the floor for a vote in the people's House. In fact, the Democrats could not take that risk, Mr. Speaker. It would be a highly embarrassing spectacle exposing their woke, ESG agenda as toxic to the American public. Instead, Democrats and their radical environmental NGO allies will continue to work in the shadows, strong-arming and intimidating corporations and investors alike, using any means necessary to conscript the life savings of pensioners and retirees to implement a dangerous and illiberal investment strategy centered not on the welfare of retirees but on their favorite pet political projects.

In addition to this being an unwise and undemocratic investment strategy, Mr. Speaker, if this investment strategy is allowed to metastasize, the traditional energy sources that heat our homes, clean our drinking water, and power our electrical grid will be seriously placed in jeopardy.

This isn't hypothetical, Mr. Speaker. Democratic policies are pushing our electrical grid to the brink. Reliable baseload generation sources are being phased out at a dizzying pace. The traditional energy projects that make the comforts of modern life possible are being prematurely marked for closure, not because they are uneconomical but because they run counter to the Democrats' crusade against fossil fuels.

In my native Texas, Mr. Speaker, I am in communication with capital market professionals who inform me that their firms will no longer invest in energy projects that provide dispatchable and reliable power to the electrical grid; not because these projects are undeserving or won't deliver a return on investment, but for fear of being named by Democrats and their corporate allies for being insufficiently committed to their radical environmental agenda.

I am reminded of the passage from the Gospel of Matthew, Mr. Speaker: ``You will know them by their fruits.''

Democrats are once again looking to conscript the life savings of pensioners and retirees in this Green New Deal agenda.

Mr. Speaker, this is the deleterious downstream effect of the Democrats' Green New Deal and their moral panic. It is jeopardizing the health and well-being of American citizens in pursuit of a disturbing, dogmatic energy agenda that is myopically focused on potential environmental impacts rather than the flourishing and prosperity of all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, the conventional wisdom would suggest that President Biden and his Democrat allies in the House would step back and reassess their policies after having lost their majority in November.

One could be forgiven for thinking that having been humbled at the ballot box, Democrats would benefit from reflection and introspection to try to understand why American voters rejected their policies so thoroughly in the midterm elections.

Unfortunately for the American people, President Biden and House Democrats have doubled down on their inflationary and unpopular agenda all in the wake of November's election.

Instead of triangulating and trying to better align themselves with the priorities of everyday Americans, the Biden administration has continued this barrage of unpopular executive orders. From trying to cancel student loan debt to increasing household costs for American families through increased energy and food costs, Democrats and President Biden have demonstrated once again they are simply out of step with the American public.

This is why Republicans are united in holding the Biden administration accountable for their reckless economic policies that seek to supercharge and further embed inflation into the American economy. The Republican majority is proud to bring to the floor H.R. 347, the REIN IN Act, which would mandate that the Biden administration undertake and produce a report for any major executive order that it issues that would detail the inflationary impact of said executive action.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

You know, driving to the airport early Monday morning on the way back up here for another week in Washington, the price of gas was $3 a gallon in Texas in February.

Now, that is bad news because by the time you get to Memorial Day, the peak of the summer driving season, gasoline is always a dollar more than it is in February.

So, look. The President was able to bring the price of gas down artificially by depleting our emergency reserve, and who does that? Who does that?

Who spends all of their emergency funds and says, ``Good on me. I brought the prices down,'' when you didn't do anything to increase the supply?

Now, here is the good news. One of the reasons we aren't surrounded by a lot of our colleagues right now on the floor of the House debating this rule is because Members, both Democrats and Republicans, are in committees, in the committees of jurisdiction, doing the actual work.

I left a markup from the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Subcommittee on Energy, looking at ways to increase our supply of energy to do what? To bring down the cost of energy for consumers.

That seems like a logical thing to do. We see what the administration's response was. It was to sign an executive order to say, we are going to cut off a pipeline so you can't bring any more product into the United States.

You can't ship that product from Canada down to Port Arthur, Texas, and refine it with Texas jobs. No. They cut that off. As a consequence, it has to be made up somewhere else.

The good news is we didn't run out, and there is additional supply. There is additional energy to be pumped, harvested certainly in the Permian Basin and the Delaware Basin of Texas.

The good news is that producers, a lot of small and independent producers, are doing just that.

So rather than having to go hat in hand to OPEC or OPEC+--I guess, now because they added Russia to OPEC--rather than having to go to a dictator in Venezuela, you can buy your oil and gas from the United States of America.

Who is doing that? Well, Germany is doing that. They hastened the development of several LNG offshoring plants so that they could bring in that Texas product to heat the homes of Germans who have been cut off by Vladimir Putin in an attempt to starve Europe for energy during the Ukraine war.

You know, one of these bills that we are debating, the rule that we are debating will allow a bill to come to the floor for debate on looking into the cost of executive orders.

I already referenced one of those executive orders; one done on the very first day of the Biden administration, which was to negate the Keystone pipeline, but there were others.

The Committee for Responsible Budget actually has calculated a total of $1.1 trillion in executive orders in the last 2 years and 2 months since this President has taken office.

Digging into the numbers--and, of course, it will be a big story over at the Supreme Court later this week--but the President wants to cancel student loan debt; that is $750 billion.

Shouldn't that be a consequence that is argued in Congress? It is not done just through an executive order.

Look, we wisely rejected a monarchy, and we said we want government with the consent of the governed. That means that all of the decisions do not flow from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

By virtue of the fact that we have a divided government, the people's House is supposed to weigh in on these decisions.

They are not made unilaterally by the President of the United States, which, by definition, is what an executive order is.

So we have $185 billion in increased staff benefits. Maybe good; maybe not. The gentleman from Massachusetts and I agree on programs that tackle hunger in this country, but shouldn't we as Members of the people's House have the opportunity to debate that rather than the decision simply made by one individual down at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue?

We already talked about the Keystone pipeline. Canceling ANWR. Canceling ANWR, the exploration and development of oil in that plain in Alaska, which has been--honest Injun.

If Clinton had not prevented that, if President Clinton had not prevented that in 1997, that would be a producing field today that would reduce our trade deficit, to be sure.

So we would be able to produce American energy but also would have had a profound effect on the budget because, in fact, Mr. Speaker, you will recall it was a budget bill that year where President Clinton then blocked the development in the ANWR.

What about repealing President Trump's rules on the waters of the United States and the NEPA streamlining rules?

All of these things have been done as executive orders since this President took office, and the consequence, the fiscal consequence, the downstream consequence has been profound.

So, look. I want to encourage everyone in the House today to support these measures when they come to the floor.

If you want to remake financial markets, you can't do that by congressional fiat. You have to have the courage to bring that measure to the floor for a vote.

I would encourage Members additionally to support the REIN IN Act, and this measure will act as an important check on the Biden administration, forcing President Biden to grapple with the harm that his executive orders are inflicting on the long-suffering American people.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans remain united in pursuing legislative policies that put the American people at the forefront, put them ahead of the special interests, put them ahead of the army of lawyers and lobbyists that occupy this town. Let's put the people of America first.

The text of the material previously referred to by Mr. McGovern is as follows:

Amendment to House Resolution 166

At the end of the resolution, add the following:

Sec. 3. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution, the

House shall proceed to the consideration in the House of the

resolution (H. Res. 178) affirming the House of

Representatives' commitment to protect and strengthen Social

Security and Medicare. The resolution shall be considered as

read. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on

the resolution and preamble to adoption without intervening

motion or demand for division of the question except one hour

of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and

ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means or

their respective designees.

Sec. 4. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not apply to the

consideration of H. Res. 178.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the storied public service of State Senator Jane Nelson. Senator Nelson retired from serving the people of North Texas in the Texas State Senate after a historic 30-year career, making her the longest-serving Republican in the Texas State Senate. She served as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and was the first woman in Texas legislative history to chair a standing budget-writing committee. Before becoming Chairman of the Finance Committee, she was the longest-serving Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee. She even authored three consecutive balanced budgets--a feat, if accomplished in Washington, D.C., would be of great benefit to our country.

Her legislative accomplishments are far too numerous to name and speak for themselves. Senator Nelson displayed a tireless commitment to her constituents and conservative values throughout her time in the state legislature. Senator Nelson is a businesswoman, former teacher, and proud mother and grandmother who was never afraid to tackle issues that matter the most to Texans.

Senator Nelson is truly committed to public service. She has a proven track record and a deep understanding of state government. Because of this, Governor Abbott appointed her to serve as Texas Secretary of State. In her new role, I know she will work hard to ensure that elections in Texas are fair and have accurate, timely results.

On top of her years of public service, Senator Nelson remained active in the North Texas community. While raising her children in Denton County, she founded adult literacy programs, served in the PTA, and volunteered in her community.

I am honored to know Jane Nelson and call her my neighbor and friend. I congratulate Jane on her retirement from the Texas Senate. A job well done. I know she will continue to deliver results for the great people of Texas in her new chapter of Public Service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bob and Terry Widmer for receiving the honor of the Dr. Bettye Myers Humanitarian Award. Terry has spent her life in North Texas. She grew up in Denton and has a nursing career that spans 20 years. In 2014, Terry oversaw the housing component of the Denton County Behavioral Health Leadership Team. Two years later, Terry became the charter appointee for the Denton County Homelessness Leadership Team. She has been a long-time advocate for the homeless community in North Texas and has made a profound impact on improving the livelihoods of those citizens that have been affected. Both she and her husband, Bob, have been active members of the Denton Community for decades and they helped form vital nonprofits in Denton County such as The Daily Bread, which serves food to individuals in need. They have served on numerous boards of nonprofits. Bob is a board-certified tax attorney and currently serves as a professor at the University of North Texas. In 2016, he started the North Texas Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. This clinic allowed local graduate students to assist lower-income members of the community with specialized and qualified tax assistance. This provided a wonderful opportunity to members of the community and helped graduate students gain experience before applying to bigger employers. Bob has not only been a valuable part of educating the younger generation in North Texas, but he has been involved in serving local Veterans. Terry referred Veteran clients to Bob's clinic from the Veteran Community Navigator pilot program. When Bob learned from Terry that clients of the VCN program were working in crowded, unsuitable offices, he contacted the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and mobilized a community effort with donations and volunteers to renovate office space into what is now known as the Denton County Veteran Center. This center provides critical and quality care to all Veterans who are in need. These actions are remarkable, yet Bob did not stop there. He went on to mobilize the community to help the United Way of Denton County create the Veterans Mental Health Annex, which expands access to mental health services for veterans. These incredible actions have not gone unnoticed. In November of 2022, they were recognized by the Board Members of the United Way of Denton for their efforts and impact on helping those affected by homelessness and mental health challenges in their community, especially veterans. The Widmer's have invested their time and talent into serving their community, I am honored to recognize Bob and Terry's achievements today and I am humbled to share a home in North Texas with this couple of such high character. Bob and Terry's family, their community, their state, and their nation are made better by their selfless contributions and dedication to others. I thank Bob and Terry Widmer for their excellent work, and also thank the United Way of Denton County Board of Directors for recognizing them with the Dr. Bettye Myers Humanitarian Award of 2023.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an important milestone in the history of The Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange--the organization turns 45 this year. For those not familiar with the group, the Franklin Center was founded in 1978 and is a nonpartisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to enhancing understanding of important international issues.

Along with its partner organization, The Ripon Society, The Franklin Center holds an international policy conference each year in a foreign capital. Called the TransAtlantic Capital to Capital Exchange, the policy conference brings Republican and Democratic lawmakers together with their legislative counterparts overseas to discuss and learn more about the challenges facing America and her allies around the world.

Closer to home, the Franklin Center and Ripon Society also hold a dinner each year at one of our Nation's Presidential Libraries, where they present Members of Congress with the Roosevelt Leadership Award. This award honors those lawmakers who embody the qualities that Theodore Roosevelt spoke of when he said: ``The credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena, who strive valiantly . . . who at best know the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if they fail, fail while daring greatly.''

Finally, the Franklin Center and Ripon Society hold a bipartisan luncheon at the end of each year to honor the ``Unsung Heroes of Capitol Hill''--that is the schedulers and executive assistants who quietly and faithfully work behind the scenes to keep the trains running on time in both the House and the Senate.

In addition to its work with the current generation of world leaders, the Franklin Center seeks to invest in the leaders of future generations by funding a scholarship program at Johns Hopkins University. The scholarship is named after The Honorable Connie Morella, who represented Maryland's 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987 to 2003, and later served as Ambassador to the OECD from 2003 to 2007. A longtime supporter of the Franklin Center, Ambassador Morella currently serves as the Chairwoman Emeritus of the organization.

The Constance A. Morella Scholarship is offered to an undergraduate student at the Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins and requires an independent research project that examines some of the most pressing questions in global affairs.

At a time when so many groups and organizations seem to come and go in American politics, the Franklin Center for Global Policy Exchange has been a fixture for 45 years. I congratulate them on this achievement and wish them all the best in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bob and Terry Witmer for receiving the honor of the Dr. Bettye Myers Humanitarian Award. Terry has spent her life in North Texas. She grew up in Denton and has a nursing career that expands 20 years. In 2014, Terry oversaw the housing component of the Denton County Behavioral Health Leadership Team. Two years later, Terry became the charter appointee for the Denton County Homelessness Leadership Team. She has been a long-time advocate for the homeless community in North Texas and has made a profound impact on improving the livelihoods of those citizens that have been affected. Both she and her husband, Bob, have been active members of the Denton Community for decades and they helped form vital nonprofits in Denton County such as The Daily Bread, which serves food to individuals in need. They have served on numerous boards of nonprofits. Bob is a board-certified tax attorney and currently serves as a professor at the University of North Texas. In 2016, he started the North Texas Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. This clinic allowed local graduate students to assist lower-income members of the community with specialized and qualified tax assistance. This provided a wonderful opportunity to members of the community and helped graduate students gain experience before applying to bigger employers. Bob has not only been a valuable part of educating the younger generation in North Texas, but he has been involved in Veterans Affairs. Terry referred Veteran clients to Bob's clinic from the Veteran Community Navigator pilot program. When Bob learned from Terry that clients of the VCN program were working in crowded, unsuitable offices, he contacted Veterans Affairs and mobilized a community effort with donations and volunteers to renovate the office into what is now known as the Denton County Veteran Center. This center provides critical and quality care to all Veterans who are in need. These actions are remarkable, yet Bob did not stop there. He went on to mobilize the community to help the United Way of Denton County create the Veterans Mental Health Annex, which expands access to mental health services for veterans. These incredible actions have not gone unnoticed. In November of 2022, they were recognized by the Board Members of the United Way of Denton for their efforts and impact on helping those affected by homelessness and mental health in their community, especially veterans. The Witmer's have invested their time and talent into serving their community. I am honored to recognize Bob and Terry's achievements today and I am humbled to share a home in North Texas with this couple of such high character. Bob and Terry's family, their community, their state, and their nation are made better by their selfless contributions and dedication to others. I thank Bob and Terry Witmer, for their excellent work, and also thank the United Way of Denton County Board of Directors for recognizing them for the Dr. Bettye Myers Humanitarian Award of 2023.