Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, make no mistake: Our border is broken.

This administration, for over 2 years, has been unwilling or unable to secure our southern border.

Statistics show that in FY21, President Biden set a record with 1.9 million encounters. In FY22, he broke that record with 2.7 million encounters. In FY23, President Biden is on pace to break that record once again.

The numbers to my left paint a grim picture of the dire situation along our southern border, and these numbers will only grow worse as title 42 expires.

Republicans from Homeland Security, from Judiciary, from Foreign Affairs, have worked together to craft legislation that will combat the border crisis, a crisis created by the failures of this administration.

This legislation will hire thousands of new agents, pay retention bonuses to our frontline officers, invest in new technology, construct hundreds of miles of walls and barriers, and support our local and State partners.

Congress must fill the gap of leadership created by the inaction of this administration. We must stop the flow of illegal drugs from pouring into our communities. We must end the flood of immigrants that are coming across each and every day. We must support the hardworking men and women of law enforcement who are on the front lines of this crisis.

We will not back down from this fight, and any veto threat by this President be damned. We will deliver security to the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Angie Womble Rawls on the occasion of her retirement as Director of Choral Activities at Pearl High School.

Mrs. Rawls has dedicated her 30-year professional career in the Pearl Public School District to cultivating excellence in education through her role in the tine arts. Not only has she taught her students how to read music and stay on key, but she has also helped build leaders through guidance, encouragement, and persistence. Mrs. Rawls has provided her students with exciting opportunities and has given them lasting joy in music.

Mrs. Rawls has been recognized by her peers as a phenomenal pianist, an award-winning choral director, and a respected clinician and adjudicator. Her choirs regularly receive all-superior ratings, and she has played an integral role in building a legacy of success in the Pearl Schools choral activities program. Mrs. Rawls received the Ernestine Ferrell Award, the highest honor for a choral director in Mississippi, in 2018, the Heart of the Arts Award for the State of Mississippi in 2019, and the Mississippi Music Educators Association Outstanding Music Educator of the Year Award in 2020. Mrs. Rawls was named 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year for the Pearl Public School District in recognition of her dedication to her students and for her substantial role in the success of the district overall.

I thank Mrs. Rawls for her dedication to Mississippi's future leaders and for her success in bringing the joy of music to so many in our state. May the Lord continue to bless her and keep her.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th year of distinguished service by a small business in the Third Congressional District of Mississippi--Brookhaven Monument Company. This also marks the 45th year that Mr. Dave Pace and the Pace family have operated the business.

Since 1947, Brookhaven Monument has served families throughout the state with honesty and empathy. Like so many other small businesses in Mississippi, Brookhaven Monument is family owned, creates jobs for its community, and provides exceptional service to its customers. Brookhaven Monument and Dave Pace have been a constant presence in Brookhaven and Southwest Mississippi. I commend them for their years of service and join with my fellow Mississippians in wishing them many more years of success.

Mr. Chair, in many places across our great Nation, parents are being denied, being denied a voice in discussions around what their children are being taught in schools.

As Republicans, in our Commitment to America, we made a promise, a promise to establish the rights of parents to protect their children from indoctrination in our classrooms.

As a product of the public school system and father of two sons who graduated from public school, I understand the significant role our schools play in the education of our future leaders.

However, far-left ideas have seeped into America's classrooms and have blurred the line between education and indoctrination. We cannot allow that to continue.

This bill simply protects the rights of parents, the rights of parents to know what their children are being taught, what their children are hearing in school, the right to see the budget that the school is spending, the right to protect their children's privacy, and the right to keep their children safe.

Simply put, this bill protects those parents who want to play a role in their child's life and to protect their children from indoctrination in the classroom.

I encourage all my colleagues to support this critical and commonsense piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Brandon High School volleyball team and Coach Kelsa Walker on their remarkable achievement of winning the 2022 MHSAA 6A Volleyball Championship. This victory is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and commitment to the sport of volleyball.

Throughout the season, the team displayed an unwavering determination to succeed and a desire to push themselves to new heights. Their teamwork and camaraderie on the court was a true demonstration of what can be achieved when individuals come together and strive for a common goal.

I would also like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Coach Kelsa Walker and her staff who played a critical role in the team's success. Their guidance, support, and leadership have been instrumental in helping the team reach their full potential and in inspiring the players to strive for excellence.

This state championship is a source of pride for the entire Brandon community and serves as a reminder of the importance of hard work, dedication, and teamwork. The young athletes on the Brandon High School volleyball team have set an excellent example for others to follow, and we look forward to seeing all that they will accomplish in the future.

In recognition of their achievement, I again congratulate the Brandon High School

volleyball team on its state championship win. To be recognized are Coach Kelsa Walker, Assistant Coach Laine Marler, Captain Sunni Sheppard, Reagan Jordan, Emma Levingston, Cambell Herrington, Mia Williams, Katie Thornton, Layla Mccollum, Emily Davis, Ella Owens, Hannah Jo Sullivan, Brooke Bankston, Reagan Enis, Aubrey Dale, Kallie Johnson, Sophie Warren, Anna Claire Berry, Zendeh Wyatt, Fisher Enis, Avery Power, Taylor Shane Parker, Ragen Lamm, Ivy Bankston, and Kadence Anding.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 83, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 76) removing a certain Member from a certain standing committee of the House, and ask for its immediate consideration.

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 H. Res. 76.

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

Mr. Speaker, I come today to the floor pursuant to the process put in place by the previous majority in the 117th Congress. At that time, I served as a member on the House Ethics Committee. Today, I serve as chair of that committee.

Roughly 2 years ago, on February 4, 2021, I publicly warned of the dangerous precedent set by the previous majority as they put in place an unprecedented process to remove minority Members from their committee assignments.

Two years ago, Democrats offered a resolution. That resolution, based on clause 1, House rule XXIII, removed a Republican Member from all committees and referred the matter to the House Ethics Committee.

However, the process instituted at that time by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, bypassed any Ethics Committee involvement and brought the matter directly to the House floor for a vote.

I, and many other Republicans, warned that this majority veto over the minority party's committee assignment appointments removed important rights of the minority party. Republican Members also warned that this process set a precedent that future majorities would follow to remove Members from committee assignments.

Following the roadmap previously approved by the Democrat-controlled 117th Congress, we are here today to debate and to consider H. Res. 76, a resolution to remove Representative Omar from serving on the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Today's resolution, as it relates to Representative Omar, details six statements she made as a sitting Member of Congress that, under the totality of the circumstances, disqualify her from serving on the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

It is important to note that this resolution is very narrowly tailored and does not prevent Representative Omar from serving on other committees. H. Res. 76, instead, simply states that she cannot serve on a committee that receives classified briefings and is responsible for maintaining international diplomacy.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs is a prestigious committee, viewed by nations around the world, both allies and adversaries, as speaking for Congress on matters of international importance and national security.

All Members, both Republicans and Democrats alike, who seek to serve on the Committee on Foreign Affairs should be held to the highest standard of conduct due to the international sensitivity and national security concerns under the jurisdiction of this committee.

Based upon the important mission of this committee and the precedent previously set to remove Members from their committee assignments, I support this resolution today.

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

Mr. Speaker, before I yield time to the gentleman from Ohio, I do want to point out that H. Res. 72 of the 117th Congress, which is the resolution that stripped Marjorie Taylor Greene of her committee assignments, contained no language whatsoever relating to due process and set forth no appeals process for her to be able to appeal the ruling of the body as a whole.

I will say that the resolution that we are debating today does contain language as to an appellate process. So I do believe that the resolution that we are debating today does contain additional rights to the Member that we are seeking to remove than what was offered in H. Res. 72 as it relates to Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from the great State of Ohio (Mr. Miller).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Kustoff).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Malliotakis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Spartz).

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lawler).

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman from New York.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida, (Mr. Gimenez), my friend.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Madam Speaker, I adopt the comments that were made by the then- chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel.

In late February 2019, after a third anti-Semitic statement in just over 2 weeks--17 days, to be exact--then-chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Eliot Engel said these words: ``It's unacceptable and deeply offensive to call into question the loyalty of fellow American citizens because of their political views, including support for the U.S.-Israel relationship. We all take the same oath. Worse, Representative Omar's comments leveled that charge by invoking a vile anti-Semitic slur;''

Whereas, Chairman Engel went on to say that ``such comments have `no place in the Foreign Affairs Committee or the House of Representatives.' ''

I agree with the statements made by Chairman Engel.

Not only do Representative Omar's comments have no place in the Foreign Affairs Committee, I hold that anyone who makes such statements has no place serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee.

I ask all Members to support this resolution removing Ms. Omar from the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to rise today to honor an incredible woman, my deputy chief of staff, Sharon Johnson. Today marks Sharon's 35 years of service to Mississippi's Third Congressional District.

Sharon was born and raised in Louisville, Mississippi, and began her career in Washington, D.C., under the legendary G.V. Sonny Montgomery and has served our district under all three Members of Congress since: Congressman Chip Pickering, Congressman Gregg Harper, and now I am blessed that she has been a member of my team since day one.

Over the past 35 years, Sharon has proven to be a true asset to the people of Mississippi's Third Congressional District. Her unwavering commitment to service and community has earned her the respect and admiration of those who have had the privilege of working with her.

Today, we honor Sharon and celebrate her service. I am hopeful that Sharon's record of public service will inspire future generations of young women to consider this important work.

On behalf of Mississippi's Third Congressional District, I extend my sincere thanks to Sharon Johnson for her 35 years of unwavering service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and to encourage my longtime friend, Alan Loving. Alan serves as pastor for students and families at First Baptist Church of Madison.

Alan has dedicated his life as a minister of the Gospel and has impacted countless lives for eternity during his many years of service as a youth minister.

Recently, Alan suffered a life-changing accident that has left him paralyzed from the waist down. We praise God for Alan's continued recovery and rehabilitation.

God's word tells us in Proverbs, ``As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.''

Throughout this journey, Alan and his family have been an inspiration to me and so many others throughout our community. We have been sharpened by his strength and his faithfulness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to let Alan know that Mississippi loves him and his family. We are praying for him; his wife, Courtney; his daughters, Mary Addison and Anna Claire. We are inspired by his determination and faith.

Mr. Speaker, on July 4, 1776, our Founding Fathers in the preamble to the Declaration of Independence wrote these words that form the very foundation of our great Nation: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to say that we cannot and to say that we will not forget the duty of this Congress to defend the inalienable right to life.

We cannot forget the devastating impact that Roe v. Wade caused on families and the unborn.

That devastation would have continued if Dobbs v. Jackson--a case that proudly originated in my home State of Mississippi--had not come before the Supreme Court and opened the pathway to allow States to protect life.

If our great Nation can unite around any singular issue, it should be that life is sacred, that life is a gift from God, and that life should be protected.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 31 (H.R. 22).

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution condemning the recent attacks on pro-life groups, facilities, and churches.

Last summer, in a landmark decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of my home State of Mississippi in returning decisions on protecting life to the States.

Unfortunately, the leak of the Dobbs decision led to instances of extremism committed against churches, pro-life institutions, and crisis pregnancy centers.

Sadly, my home State was not spared. Mississippi has a robust network of crisis pregnancy centers that provide care and resources to expectant mothers.

I, and many of my Republican colleagues, have called on the Biden administration to address these criminal acts and hold accountable those who committed these offenses. To date, no action has been taken.

I am hopeful that this legislation will move the administration to act, and I am grateful that the Republican majority is standing with those impacted by last year's extremist acts.

It is with great sadness that I rise today to honor the lives of Bay St. Louis officers Steven Robin and Branden Estorffe, who lost their lives in the line of duty. Both officers served their community with distinction, bravery, and honor and gave their lives in their mission to serve and protect their community.

Sgt. Steven Robin and officer Branden Estorffe displayed incredible courage in the face of danger, and their actions are a testament to their character and the dedication of all of our officers who risk their lives to protect their communities. They will be remembered for their commitment to protecting and serving the people of Bay St. Louis, and their sacrifice will not be forgotten.

I offer my deepest condolences to the families, friends, fellow officers, and colleagues of these two courageous officers. They will be greatly missed by all who knew them, but their legacy will live on in the lives they touched and the countless lives they protected. As we honor their memory and mourn their passing, let us also remember the sacrifices of all law enforcement officers and the important work they do to keep us safe every day. May they rest in peace and may their loved ones find comfort in knowing that their heroic actions in protecting the life of a child will never be forgotten.

It is my honor to recognize Sgt. Steven Robin and officer Branden Estorffe for their heroism and dedication to the people of Mississippi, the community of Bay St. Louis, and the United States. I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in remembering these brave officers.

Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to rise today to recognize David Tadlock.

As the owner and operator of Tadlock Stockyards for nearly 50 years, Mr. Tadlock has played a crucial role in the success of the cattle industry in Mississippi. David's commitment to the industry is clear, not only in the time and energy he has dedicated to his business, but also in the fact that he comes from a long line of cattlemen.

Mr. Tadlock's family has owned and operated Tadlock Stockyards for nearly a century, passing the business down from one generation to the next. David's dedication to his family's legacy is evident in his determination to take over the business at such a young age, and in his plans to involve his granddaughter in the family business.

I want to extend my sincere congratulations to Mr. Tadlock on his induction into the Mississippi Cattlemen's Association Hall of Fame. This is a well-deserved honor. The Mississippi Cattlemen's Association is blessed to have members like David Tadlock, who have made such a significant impact on the industry as well as my home state of Mississippi. I am pleased to highlight this prestigious honor and recognize a lifetime of contributions and impactful service.

It is my honor to recognize Mr. David Tadlock for his many accomplishments and his dedication to Mississippi and the United States. I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in honoring David Tadlock.

Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to rise today to wish Ms. Eleanore Johnson a happy 100th birthday. While reaching 100 years is an impressive accomplishment, I am here to honor Ms. Johnson not only for her centennial birthday, but also for the life she has lived and the service she has given to others.

Ms. Johnson was married to her husband, Howard, a World War II pilot, for 48 years. Together, they raised four daughters and now have seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Ms. Johnson began her career as a secretary and later worked as a teacher and librarian's assistant. She also dedicated time to being a stay-at-home mom while her children were young.

In her retirement, Ms. Johnson has remained dedicated to serving her community, She has volunteered at Rankin General Hospital and Peachtree Retirement Center, and she has been a committed Christian her entire life. Additionally, she has served as a Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School Director, and church librarian, among other roles. Ms. Johnson also has a keen interest in politics and stays informed on national, state, and local matters as a lifelong Republican.

It is my honor to recognize Ms. Eleanore Johnson for her many accomplishments and her dedication to Mississippi and the United States. I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in honoring Eleanore Johnson.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Mississippi State University head football coach, Mike Leach, a man who left a substantial mark on the game of football and served as an inspiration for players and fans alike.

Coach Leach was, in a word, unconventional. The air raid offense, which he brought to college football, changed the game of football forever; but the sports world will not soon forget Coach Leach's unique personality that entertained everyone who had the opportunity to listen to his good-humored interview style and memorable one-liners.

I am thankful that Coach Leach chose Mississippi State University as his new home in 2020. The last three seasons with him at the helm have produced some of the most memorable football seasons in my lifetime.

Without a doubt, Coach Leach will be missed, and his impact on the game of football and Mississippi State University will prove to be timeless. We will continue to look back fondly on the memories that Coach Leach, the pirate, graciously left us with.