Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, this week, we commemorate National Police Week. It is a time for us to honor

our brave men and women in blue who steadfastly dedicate their lives to serving and protecting our communities.

This week is a solemn reminder that our peace and security are often maintained at great personal risk to these brave individuals.

I thank our officers and first responders throughout the 17th Congressional District of New York. Many of them I have had the good fortune to know personally and to understand the sacrifice that they and their families make day in and day out to keep our community safe.

My district has roughly 50 percent of households that have a cop, a firefighter, a first responder, or a veteran living in it. These brave men and women go to work every day knowing that they are risking their own lives to protect, defend, and save the lives of others.

Just last week, I joined my colleagues in placing wreaths at the names of fallen police officers all along the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

I placed a wreath by the names of Sergeant Edward O'Grady and Police Officer Waverly Brown, who, along with security guard Peter Paige, lost their lives protecting Rockland County during the Brinks robbery in 1981.

We will never forget their sacrifice or their families--nine children who are fatherless because of the actions of depraved criminals and domestic terrorists.

Placing that wreath served as a solemn reminder to me that our police officers stand on the front lines of our society, never knowing if they will make it home while working to keep our communities safe, which is why our support must transcend beyond mere words. It must reflect in our actions as a Conference and as a House, which is why House Republicans just passed H.R. 2494, the POLICE Act.

This legislation will help maintain the dignity and safety of our officers by providing serious consequences for those who harm them. Under this bill, noncitizens found guilty of assaulting a police officer would face deportation.

In the face of increasing challenges, the POLICE Act is a crucial step toward ensuring that our police officers are afforded the respect and protection they deserve.

Another important bill we are voting on tomorrow is H. Con. Res. 40, which expresses support for law enforcement officers all across the country and condemns calls to disband or defund the police.

There are colleagues on the other side of the aisle who spend days assailing the brave men and women in law enforcement, and this resolution will very quickly weed out those who back the blue and those who don't.

Living just north of New York City, I am reminded of the days of 9/11 and the aftermath, and the brave men and women who went running toward danger, going to Ground Zero to try to recover and save lives.

Many of these individuals today suffer from 9/11-related illnesses. It is a travesty, and we must always stand by them and show our support for them.

Today, when I think of New York City, I see a city that is hurting, a city with a massive increase in violent crime, disastrous policies at the State and city level, and a failed cashless bail law, which releases violent criminals back onto the streets.

Over 40 percent of those who have been released on nonmonetary bail for felony offenses have been rearrested while those charges are pending.

It is such a disaster that the Governor and the State legislature have tried to amend it three times. It needs to be scrapped, and they need to start over.

You have the anticrime unit being disbanded. Its primary function is to get illegal guns off the street--parole for unrepentant cop killers and child rapists; non-enforcement of petty crimes; raising the age where 16- and 17-year-olds are being treated in family court while using a gun in the commission of a crime rather than criminal court.

It is not just New York City. It is happening in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Portland. It is shameful what is going on across America, and it must be stopped.

As we honor police officers and law enforcement everywhere during National Police Week, let's make a commitment to act at a Federal level, at a State level, at a local level. Let's stand up and support the men and women in law enforcement. Let's hold violent criminals and repeat offenders accountable for their conduct.

This is a choice. They choose to commit crimes. Nobody is making them commit a crime. They must be held accountable, especially in cases of violent offenses, period.

I thank the chairman for hosting this Special Order hour tonight, and I encourage all of my colleagues to stand in support of the men and women in law enforcement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the Senate to take up the bill we just passed, H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act.

With title 42 having expired, we are seeing a surge of migrants approaching our border that will add to a crisis in New York State that has seen New York City take in over 60,000 migrants so far. Now, Mayor Eric Adams has resorted to busing migrants into the Hudson Valley, despite previously decrying southern States from doing that to New York City.

This is a completely untenable situation and demands immediate Federal action, which is why the House Republican majority passed H.R. 2.

As the husband of an immigrant, I know why so many people immigrate to our Nation. We are the greatest Nation in the world. But we simply cannot continue to let our borders be wide open as they are now. We are seeing tens of thousands of people cross our borders illegally every single day.

I urge the Senate to pass this legislation. Having spoken with the President yesterday in my district, I know he understands the need to act on our border.

We have to work together to secure our border, end this broken system, and ensure the safety of our residents.

Mr. Speaker, throughout this debate, I have had three basic parameters: The President and the majority leader must negotiate with the Speaker. We must cut spending. And we must not default.

This bill, the Limit, Save, Grow Act, is a beginning and puts the President and Senate majority leader on notice: The days of one-party rule are over. The American people elected a House Republican majority to serve as a check and balance on the reckless, out-of-control spending that was the hallmark of the last 2 years: $5 trillion in new spending, $10 trillion total, a 41-year record high on inflation, skyrocketing energy costs, America saddled with over $31 trillion in debt and counting.

It cannot continue.

This bill would save Americans $4.8 trillion over the next decade. It would restore FY22 spending, which every Democrat previously voted for and supported.

If it was good 4 months ago, why is it not today?

It would cap future spending at 1 percent per year. It would claw back billions in unspent COVID funds, which the President has acknowledged COVID is now over. It would stop the hiring of 87,000 new IRS agents and employees. It would restore work requirements on able- bodied Americans, requirements previously championed by President Joe Biden and President Bill Clinton. Finally, it would unleash American energy, increasing domestic production while reducing costs for consumers and ending our reliance on foreign oil.

Simply put, we cannot continue to borrow and print new money at the levels this administration has. Republicans and Democrats must come together to rein in spending, protect vital programs like Social Security and Medicare, reduce inflation, and avoid default.

Mr. Speaker, this bill begins the conversation, and President Biden and Senator Schumer must now come to the negotiating table and work with Speaker McCarthy in good faith to move our country forward and restore fiscal sanity and solvency.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize one of America's greatest allies, the State of Israel.

Tomorrow, Israel will celebrate its 75th anniversary. As a Representative of New York's 17th Congressional District, which is home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the country, I stand here with a deep sense of pride and honor for all that Israel has accomplished.

Israel is a beacon of freedom, liberty, and hope, and its success is testament to the resilience of its citizens. For 75 years, the State of Israel has stood strong, overcoming countless challenges and emerging as a leader in technology, science, and diplomacy.

As a staunch supporter of Israel, I am proud to stand with this great nation and its people. I have seen firsthand the impact that Israel has had on the world, from its many contributions to medical research to its efforts to promote peace in the Middle East.

Israel's story is one of courage, determination, and hope. I look forward to joining Speaker McCarthy in Israel as we celebrate the momentous occasion of their 75th anniversary later this week.

Let us never forget that Israel's strength lies in its people, a people who have overcome adversity time and time again.

Mr. Speaker, as a point of personal privilege, I wish my daughter, Julianna Elena, a very happy first birthday today, April 19.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the success of some of our athletes in schools across New York's 17th District.

Earlier this month was Student Athlete Day, a date on which we celebrate the achievements of the young men and women competing in interscholastic sporting events across our country.

It has been a great winter season for our Hudson Valley athletes, and I would like to take a moment to congratulate some of these teams and individuals.

Congratulations to Section 1 Boys Basketball champions, Tappan Zee High School, as well as the Boys Swimming champions, Horace Greeley High School.

Congratulations also to Carly Sardo from Tappan Zee High School who was this season's floor champion in gymnastics, and Dami Modupe from North Rockland High School who won the girls 55-meter hurdles in indoor track and field.

Our athletes should all be commended for their hard work during this season and throughout the year.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.

On this day, we honor and remember those who suffered and lost their lives in one of the darkest moments in human history, the Holocaust.

Yom HaShoah is a day of remembrance, a day to pay tribute to the millions of innocent men, women, and children who were brutally murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, a day to reflect on those atrocities, and a day to commit ourselves to never forgetting or ever letting this happen again. Over 6 million Jews were killed.

Earlier today, I joined a number of my congressional colleagues at a ceremony recognizing this somber day. We were joined by Holocaust survivors and descendants who shared their stories and experiences, which were heartbreaking.

As we light candles and say prayers today and this week in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, let us also renew our commitment to building a world that honors survivors, respects all faiths, and ensures that this never happens again.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember and pay tribute to a true hero, Alan Moskin, a resident of the 17th District of New York who recently passed away at the age of 96.

Alan was a World War II veteran who fought with valor and bravery against Nazi Germany.

Alan was among the liberators of a sub-camp of the notorious Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria, where he and his unit freed more than 1,500 prisoners from certain death.

Alan Moskin's service and courage serve as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by so many of our Greatest Generation during the Second World War.

Alan dedicated himself to fighting for freedom and justice, and his bravery will never be forgotten. He frequently visited schools and spoke with students about the importance of never forgetting the Holocaust or the horrors perpetrated during it. He spoke at Yom HaShoah events.

How fitting it is that his passing comes as we enter Holocaust Remembrance Day.

His community involvement was a testament to his desire to further the education of our youth and impart to them the importance of treating each other with kindness. Most of all, I will miss seeing him at our naturalization ceremonies where he would talk about the importance of service and lead new citizens in the Pledge of Allegiance.

May Alan's memory always be a blessing. He will be sorely missed.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to voice my support for H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act. This is about clean, reliable, and affordable energy.

My constituents in the 17th Congressional District are feeling the pain at the pump, on their electric bills and their home heating costs, and in almost every single one of their purchases due to the increase in energy costs under the Biden administration.

Gas prices have risen over 51 percent since President Biden took office. Residential electrical costs in New York State have risen over 26 percent since President Biden took office, 24 percent nationwide. Utility gas is up 44 percent.

In just the last year, energy costs in the New York metropolitan region are up almost 10 percent. Not only does the cost of energy take a toll on families across America, but it has a compounding effect throughout the supply chain, driving prices of groceries and food ever higher.

This out-of-control inflation has created a massive crunch on the budgets of middle-class families across New York State, but perhaps no more so than right in the Hudson Valley where folks are facing energy bills in the thousands of dollars every month just to heat and power their homes.

It is fueling the affordability crisis in New York State, and it is exactly why I am proud to support H.R. 1, which will restore our Nation's energy independence by increasing the production and export of domestic energy while reducing the regulatory burdens that stifle American energy.

We need an all-of-the-above approach that includes gas, nuclear, and renewables. That has been emphatically clear for years.

Making America more dependent on foreign energy adds more pollution, not less, to our climate. H.R. 1 unleashes American energy and will drive down inflation, providing Hudson Valley families with the real relief they so desperately need.

Just some facts: 60 percent of New Yorkers rely on natural gas, and 70 percent of our electricity is generated by natural gas.

We have had a 60 percent reduction in greenhouse gases because of natural gas, greater than renewables. Those are the facts, and that is why we need to pass H.R. 1.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize a fallen hero from Rockland County.

Two years ago yesterday, Jared Lloyd went to the Columbian Engine Company No. 1 firehouse, like he had hundreds of times before, to help keep our community safe.

He did not know that it would be his last call when he and his company were called to the Evergreen Court Adult Home in Spring Valley to combat a fire that started, putting the lives of hundreds of elderly residents at risk.

He, along with hundreds of other first responders, descended on the scene, running headlong into the building that was becoming engulfed with flames. Together, they saved over 100 lives that day, a heroic feat.

Tragically, Jared lost his life in this effort, which serves as a stark reminder of the incredible bravery shown by all of our first responders in the Hudson Valley and across our Nation, but especially our volunteer firefighters.

Thank you, Jared. Thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your example. I know all of Rockland mourns you today and every day, and we will always be there to support your family, including your two incredible sons.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the opportunity to address a technical issue I have on the bill.

First, let me say I have been a strong supporter of the Parents Bill of Rights

Act, and I believe this bill gives much-needed certainty to parents that they will have transparency in their child's education.

Simply put, this bill guarantees all parents a voice in the decisions that affect their children and a seat at the table. It makes clear that you do not relinquish your rights as a parent simply by sending your child to a public school.

Now, among the bill's main components, parents have the right to know what their children are being taught. Parents have the right to be heard. Parents have a right to see the school budget and spending. Parents have a right to protect their child's privacy. Parents have a right to keep their children safe.

Some say this is already the case, and that this is just codifying. Well, if that is the case, then great. We are codifying into law the ability and the rights of parents.

Now, these are important safeguards that not only ensure parents' rights, but they also respect State and local control of our schools. It does not get into what is taught in schools, what books or materials are used, or how a school should address a given issue. Those decisions are still left to the State and local school districts.

In addition, when it comes to their child's health and well-being, parents have a right to know if a school employee acts to treat, advise, or address issues of cyberbullying, bullying, hazing, mental health, suicidal ideation or self-harm, possession or use of drugs, an eating disorder, or if a child brings a gun to school.

Now, there are also protections included in this bill that require parents to be informed if their school takes action to change their child's gender markers, pronouns, preferred name, or make sex-based accommodations for locker rooms or bathrooms.

Mr. Chair, I recently met with constituents from the LGBTQ+ community in my district, including trans youth and parents. They raised several concerns about this language, concerns primarily focused on the safety and well-being of these youth, especially trans youth.

So Dr. Foxx, I am hoping that you can clarify some of this for me and for the Record.

Does the bill require teachers or school officials to disclose the sexual orientation of a student or statements made by the student about his or her gender identity?

Second, will students still have the ability to speak with teachers, advisers, or school officials without fear that those conversations will be subject to disclosure?

And finally, will States and local school districts still be able to come up with their own policies and best practices for informing parents about these issues so as to ensure the well-being and safety of their child?

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for her clarification.

Mr. Chair, I have amendment No. 14 at the desk.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act.

In my district and in districts across the country, our education system is a balance of public schools, private schools, charter schools, parochial schools, vocational schools, and home schools.

My amendment would make clear this bill only applies to schools that take funds from the Department of Education and would ensure that non- public schools are able to determine their own curriculum and not have curriculum imposed on them by local school boards and States that disregard that right.

In New York, for instance, this is of great concern as the current Governor and her administration have attempted to impose severe restrictions on private schools, including Catholic schools and yeshivas in school districts across the State. A key provision of this new State regulation was actually thrown out in court today.

Parents choose to send their children to the school they feel best fits their needs and beliefs. It is not the role of any government to dictate to parents and children what they should believe or practice, and in my district, that certainly is a concern held by many parents.

I have parents contact my office every day with concerns about their children's education and the State trying to force itself into the relationship between educators and students.

I am hopeful that my colleagues will join me in supporting this amendment, which protects non-public schools from being forced to adopt questionable practices forced on them by school boards and States.

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

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, it is hard to believe Tuesday will mark 10 years since my dad passed away from cancer at the age of 54.

When I think back on that moment in my life, I will never forget the last conversation that we had when he told me to always keep my moral compass, to always do God's work, and that to whom much is given, much is required.

Hopefully, over the last decade since his passing, I have lived up to his expectations as a person, as a son, as a brother, and now as a husband and father.

My dad was a recovering alcoholic. He had been sober for 20 years when he passed.

What was remarkable at his death was that over 1,300 people showed up--half of whom I had never met in my life. Almost all of them said how much ``Kevin L.'' helped them to become sober and to live their life in a purposeful way.

I can think of no better way to honor his memory than to see the lives that he impacted during his lifetime.

So, Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to enter his name, ``Kevin A. Lawler,'' into the Congressional Record and remember him on what will be the 10th anniversary of his passing.

Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I acknowledge and thank my colleague, the gentleman from Florida, for his service and for his insights, which are invaluable to our committee and the work that we are doing. I thank him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H. Con. Res. 21, which would remove the United States Armed Forces from Syria.

While the situation in the Middle East remains complicated and volatile, we must not forget the critical role that the United States plays in furthering peace and combating international terrorism in the region.

As the chairman just pointed out, the use of military force is authorized under the 2001 agreement. We must fulfill our obligations in rooting out al-Qaida and its direct successors in ISIS.

As a resident of New York who was in his fifth day of freshman year of high school on September 11, I will never forget the events of that day, what occurred and the aftermath of it, and our obligation to combat and confront terrorism wherever it rears its head.

ISIS may no longer hold territory, but they are still a threat. They were responsible for 72 terrorist attacks in Iraq and Syria in the last quarter of 2022 alone. Just last month, U.S. Forces killed a senior ISIS leader in Syria.

ISIS once held territory the size of Great Britain, but thanks to our ongoing efforts, it no longer does. A complete withdrawal of U.S. Forces, however, will have the same disastrous consequences as our rapid withdrawal from Afghanistan, a topic on which our committee is holding a hearing today. Without U.S. Forces in Syria, our enemies will return; they will regrow; and they will come after our allies and, potentially, the United States.

While I appreciate and support the desire to prevent any further loss of American life and limb, there is no doubt in my mind that if we let international terrorist groups run rampant in Syria and throughout the Middle East, especially in the wake of a devastating natural disaster that the

country just experienced, we are abdicating our responsibility to keep the American people safe from harm.

Not only that but by maintaining our troop presence in Syria, we can continue to support our allies in the region and work toward a more stable and peaceful Middle East, including supporting and growing the Abraham Accords.

Of course, we must always prioritize the safety and well-being of our military personnel, and any decision to maintain a true presence in Syria must be carefully considered and strategically planned. The Biden administration must be cognizant of this fact and not allow our true presence in Syria to go the way of the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal.

I agree with my colleagues about the need to reevaluate and look at the AUMFs, reform the process, and move forward, but we need to do so in a deliberative manner. This is not the way to go about it. For those reasons, I cannot in good conscience support this.

Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that this body will reject this resolution and allow our committee to do the work that it needs to do to reform this process.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on this body to work in a

bipartisan way to preserve Social Security and Medicare.

As I have said time and again when meeting with constituents, I am fully committed not only to protecting Social Security and Medicare for current and near retirees but also strengthening and preserving these programs for future generations.

I was proud to sign on to H. Res. 109, which reaffirms this commitment, and to cosponsor H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, another important measure.

Those who have paid into Social Security should not have their benefits reduced, especially given the affordability crisis impacting so many families across my district and the country, including our seniors, who are among the hardest hit by inflation and rising costs.

It is incumbent on all of us to never cease fighting for the millions of Americans who have paid into and rely on these crucial programs. We must preserve them for future generations.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Roxanne Watson, a resident of the 17th Congressional District who is here in the gallery today.

Roxanne has dedicated herself to raising awareness about organ donation, serving as a patient advocate and as a transplant ambassador for Donate Life, WomenHeart, and the American Heart Association.

As the recipient of an organ donation herself, which saved her life, Roxanne has taken this issue head-on.

She has served as an advocate and volunteer with LiveOnNY for over a decade and as a volunteer with the New York Organ Donor Network, where she has used her platform to help increase the number of organ donors in Rockland County by over 15 percent in the past 20 years.

For these efforts, she has recently been recognized as a Guinness world-record holder having signed up over 13,000 individuals to become organ donors.

Roxanne Watson is a leader within our community and a role model for others, and I am honored to recognize her today on the House floor for her lifesaving efforts.