Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the drumbeat for war in Eastern Europe we have been listening to for weeks now.

For over two weeks the American people have watched with intense concern and uneasiness the heightened tensions between Ukraine and Russia.

It is not so much the border issues between these nations that concerns Americans, but the loose talk of the Biden Administration to involve the United States in a hot war against Russia.

Americans do not dread that territorial disputes are taking place over 6,000 miles away. They dread that the Biden administration may involve them in another costly, stupid war, one with potentially devastating results for their families.

The foreign policy issues of Eastern Europe are complex, but the law is not. The Constitution of the United States, written plain as day in Article I, Section 8, Clause 11, gives Congress the so le power to declare war.

No one else.

Not the president, not the lifelong bureaucrats in the State Department, or the diversity-trained generals in the Pentagon, and especially not the quote-unquote ``experts'' educated beyond their capacity.

Only the people's elected representatives.

I have served in this body for over a decade, and it's clear to me that Congress has no interest in picking up its constitutional prerogative or making itself accountable to the voters.

In their absence, I believe the need for action must devolve to the states. Federalism requires as much.

In Arizona, State Senator Wendy Rogers has introduced a bill called the Defend the Guard Act. It stipulates that unless Congress has formally declared war, Arizona National Guardsmen are prohibited from being deployed into active combat overseas.

Rogers is a retired Lieutenant Colonel who served for twenty years in the U.S. Air Force. And I think she speaks for a lot of soldiers who are tired of being sent into undeclared, no-win wars that go on for decades.

One of America's finest soldiers, two-time Medal of Honor recipient and Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler, said of our troops, ``We Americans who will protect our flag should have a voice in where it is flown.''

I agree.

The United States of America has the greatest, bravest fighting force in the history of the world.

And if Congress has one ounce of respect for their courage and sacrifice, and the founding document they swore an oath to defend with their lives, we would vote before ever sending them into battle.

Our names should be on the dotted line before their boots ever hit the ground, whether in Ukraine or anywhere else in the world.

And until Congress declares war as required by the Constitution, not a single Guardsmen from Arizona or any other state should be deployed into combat.

I believe Arizona ought to be the first state to pass the Defend the Guard Act and lead the way in protecting our sons and daughters in uniform from federal abuse and challenge this Congress to start following every part of the U.S. Constitution.

If history has taught us anything it is this: we have lost trillions of dollars and tens of thousands of American lives fighting ridiculous wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. We have the best military force in the world and some of the most inept military leaders. And to be fair, the political rules imposed on our military leaders, the so called Rules of Engagement, deprive our military of a clear path to victory. Indeed, the political aspects of those wars, to ``build nations'' or to win hearts, is as inane as it was unsuccessful. War is to destroy the enemy, not build nations.

Historical failures of Western countries confronting Russia militarily in Eastern Europe in the winter taught us the foolhardiness of such an effort. We cannot make the same mistake, in a conflict which we have no justification to be in to begin with.

Most critically, the United States has no interest to protect there. Certainly no interest strong enough to risk war with Russia.

I denounce the war mongering.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Apache Junction Police Chief Thomas E. Kelly who is set to retire this January after nearly 50 years of service in law enforcement. Chief Kelly has been a steadfast defender of our community.

In Apache Junction, Chief Kelly worked his way up through the department, serving first as captain of the criminal investigations division before serving as Deputy Chief and then Chief. This impressive period of service made Apache Junction safer under his watch, however we are only a portion of the country which has benefitted from his service.

Prior to his arrival in Apache Junction, Chief Kelly worked in the Chicago Police Department. From there he accepted a position with the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), working in various capacities in the U.S. and around the world. He finished his time with the DEA as Special Agent in Charge in the Chicago Field Division.

Chief Kelly is a model law enforcement officer, which is why he has also worked with the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, leadership of the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police, and trained law enforcement partners on a global scale.

Chief Kelly will be greatly missed. While we claim his service in Apache Junction, Chief Kelly's retirement marks the end of extended service to the entire country. His commitment to protecting his community and setting high standards for law enforcement excellence will be greatly missed. We wish Chief Kelly a great retirement and thank him for giving his life to the protection of our community.

Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding such time.

I rise today in strong opposition to the current form of H.R. 4352.

In 1988, Congress enacted the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, or IGRA, with the intent to restrict casinos to Tribes' original reservations.

H.R. 4352 reverses a major 2009 Supreme Court decision, and the bill would lead to future abuses of IGRA. The bill gives unelected bureaucrats a blank check to take any land anywhere in America into trust without respect for impacted communities, including other Tribes.

More importantly, H.R. 4352 allows reservation shopping and for lands to be taken into trust for off-reservation casinos in places where States, local governments, and other Tribes oppose such action.

H.R. 4352 will result in a flood of new off-reservation casinos that cause harm to States and local communities. Many of these casino locations are nowhere near Tribes' historic reservations and will be handpicked by gambling investors and Washington bureaucrats.

If H.R. 4352 passes, all Tribes would have to do in order to get land taken into trust and open off-reservation casinos is to show that they are federally recognized by the Department of the Interior.

The reality is that this bill could be fixed.

Last Congress, in committee, we talked about the importance of finding common ground on which to address community concerns about off- reservation casino abuse and the valid concerns brought to the committee by State and county governments.

H.R. 4352 should be considered under an open rule and amended prior to being brought to the floor to address these real bipartisan concerns about the real-world impacts of the bill.

Taking land into trust divests the affected State and local governments of jurisdiction. When land is taken into trust, for example, the Tribe will pay no applicable taxes on the land, but the county or city in which the land is located might nonetheless be required to supply the Tribe with county and city services, and non- Tribal residents will pay for it.

At least consultation should be a minimum. Tribes demand this in reverse.

The bill as currently drafted, therefore, increases the power of an unelected bureaucracy to divest nonconsenting State and local governments of jurisdiction over their land. This, by itself, is a great cause of concern.

Let's be clear about H.R. 4352. A bill of this scope and magnitude deserves more careful consideration than is being given here today.

Currently, there are almost 600 recognized Tribes in the United States. About 240 of them have gaming operations.

H.R. 4352 removes the dam that provides some restraint on the number of Tribal casinos and would be a dramatic departure from the existing Federal law that has been in place for almost a century.

Before voting on a bill of this magnitude, I hope Members all understand that H.R. 4352 will open the floodgates to off-reservation Tribal casinos all over the United States.

If H.R. 4352 passes, all federally recognized Tribes will be eligible to receive land in trust and potentially open off-reservation casinos. This includes any Tribe recognized by the Department of the Interior that was ineligible to receive land in trust and/or was denied land in trust prior to H.R. 4352.

According to the National Indian Gaming Commission fact sheet, as of 2016, approximately 329, or 58 percent, of the recognized Tribes have no gaming operations.

There is a responsible way for Congress to address these issues. Just 1 month ago, the House passed H.R. 4881, the Old Pascua Community Land Acquisition Act. The broad bipartisan bill was done exactly the way it should have been done, with community input, broad bipartisan support, and, most importantly, congressional oversight.

But H.R. 4352 ignores all of that and more. It lets an unelected bureaucracy give whatever land it wants to all recognized Tribes. Thus, the important process that made H.R. 4881 a success would be ignored if H.R. 4352 passes.

Let's be clear. Passage of H.R. 4352 will allow for new off- reservation casinos to be opened in your States, in your communities, and in your backyard, and for land to be ripped away from local jurisdictions without recourse.

As I have constantly said, good process equals good policy equals good politics. This wasn't done.

I urge all Members to vote ``no'' on H.R. 4352.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to address and reject the mischaracterized accusations from many in this body that the cartoon from my office is dangerous or threatening. It was not, and I reject the false narrative categorically.

I do not espouse violence toward anyone. I never have. It was not my purpose to make anyone upset.

I voluntarily took the cartoon down not because it was itself a threat, but because some thought it was. Out of compassion for those who genuinely felt offense, I self-censored.

Last week, my staff posted a video depicting a policy battle regarding amnesty for tens of millions of illegal aliens. This was an anime that speaks to young voters who are too often overlooked.

Even Twitter, the left's mouthpiece, did not remove the cartoon, noting it was in the public's interest for it to remain. The cartoon directly contributes to the understanding and the discussion of the real-life battle resulting from this administration's open border policies.

This body is considering passage of Mr. Biden's reckless, socialist/ Marxist $4.9 trillion spending bill that provides $100 billion for amnesty to tens of millions of illegal aliens already in this country. This is what the left doesn't want the American people to know.

Our country is suffering from the plague of illegal immigration. I won't stop pointing this out.

Millions of illegal aliens, drugs, and human traffickers are being let in and moved around our country in the dead of night, all condoned by this administration.

For this cartoon, some in Congress suggest I should be punished. I have said decisively there is no threat in the cartoon other than the threat that immigration poses to our country, and no threat was intended by my staff or me.

The American people deserve to have their voices heard in Congress. No matter how much the left tries to quiet me, I will continue to speak out against amnesty for illegal aliens, defend the rule of law, and advance the America First agenda.

If I must join Alexander Hamilton, the first person attempted to be censured by this House, so be it. It is done.

Madam Speaker, it has been over a year since the end of the 2020 44-day war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This short, but furious and deadly, conflict stemmed from historical differences regarding geographic territory based on ethnicity and religion. I do not pretend to know the details of this conflict. The seeds for this conflict were

sown decades ago, perhaps even a century ago, with the advent of the Soviet Union as well as the decline of the Ottoman Empire.

Here is what I do know. The Armenians and the Azerbaijanis deserve to live and prosper in peace. Nations require territorial integrity. I am hopeful for the future that these two nations, both with a proud and great history, will be able to resume their relationship in peace and that the parties work, in good faith, to resolve their issues without bullets.

God bless the people there and through His will it is my hope peace will prevail.

Madam Speaker, it has been over a year since the end of the 2020 44-day

war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This short, but furious and deadly, conflict stemmed from historical differences regarding geographic territory based on ethnicity and religion. I do not pretend to know the details of this conflict. The seeds for this conflict were sown decades ago, perhaps even a century ago, with the advent of the Soviet Union as well as the decline of the Ottoman Empire.

Here is what I do know. The Armenians and the Azerbaijanis deserve to live and prosper in peace. Nations require territorial integrity. The boundaries of a given nation should also reflect history, ethnicity, and religious differences to minimize conflict.

I am hopeful for the future that these two nations, both with a proud and great history, will be able to resume their relationship in peace and that the parties work, in good faith, to resolve their issues without bullets.

God bless the people there and through His will it is my hope peace will prevail.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend Marine veteran James Kilcer, whose exceptional heroism and extraordinary courage prevented an armed robbery at a Yuma, Arizona convenience store.

On October 20, three men, one of whom was armed, entered the convenience store where Mr. Kilcer was shopping. Acting without hesitation, Mr. Kilcer disarmed the gunman and detained him until police arrived.

Because of his heroism and swift action, no one was hurt and the robbers were all arrested. James Kilcer is well-deserving of the Citizen's Valor Award recently presented to him by the Yuma Sheriff Department. Madam Speaker, I commend Mr. James Kilcer for putting his own life on the line while aiding his fellow citizens.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the malicious, false, and defamatory statements printed in Rolling Stone Magazine about me.

Every statement about me in the October 24 article was false or misleading. Moreover, the

author knew they were malicious and false when he made them.

For example, the author lies and says that I offered ``blanket pardons'' for unknown people for crimes that had not yet occurred. First, there is no such thing as a ``blanket pardon.'' The author states that a ``blanket pardon'' can be used to convey legal immunity on a person forever in perpetuity, presumably for any crime including murder or arson. It is ridiculous to say this, but he did in fact write this, and he knew no such thing occurred and nothing like that exists. Rolling Stone did this to defame me and make it look like I was planning for violence on January 6. This is malice.

My work on pardons is a public record on file with the National Archives. For example, I wrote letters to the White House and the Office of Pardons on behalf of Stephen Bannon, former Congressman Rick Renzi, and for members of We Build the Wall. The President in fact granted pardons to Mr. Bannon and Mr. Renzi. But these pardons pertained to specific allegations in a criminal complaint or an actual conviction. These are not ``blanket'' pardons that forgive a person of all crimes forever, like a Papal indulgence.

The author and Rolling Stone Magazine falsely claim I planned for violence by merely attending a rally on January 6 or lending public support for this speech prior to January 6. Or by speaking out on the floor of the House under the Electoral Count Act. These allegations and statements are false, defamatory, and malicious. There is no evidence of this because it never happened. To conflate support for election integrity, and support for the President to speak, with support for violence is false and defamatory. To then claim I planned the violence and did so to such a degree I was inducing people to commit violence with the prospect of the mythical ``blanket pardon'' is beyond the pale defamatory.

At this time Rolling Stone refuses to issue a correction. Indeed, it published a follow up article on October 26 doubling down on its malicious defamation.

I continue to demand a retraction. And an apology.

Rolling Stone Magazine has a history of lying and defamation. It's ivermectin story turned out to be pure fiction. So is this one about me.

Since it refuses to correct the story, retract it publicly with a full apology, I will be investigating legal options. The malicious lies this magazine has spread went viral and I received hate mail, death threats, and opprobrium across the country by people who believe what this author wrote. I will not accept this.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support of victims of violent religious persecution in Bangladesh. I have been informed that currently, about 14 million people are facing religious persecution solely for their Hindu beliefs. There is documented numerous attacks on Hindu temples, businesses and homes. People have been brutally killed and raped due to their religious beliefs. l strongly condemn the violent and immoral actions of those who harm others simply because they have a different religion.

Madam Speaker, the persecution of religious minorities will not end without strong action by the government, in this case Bangladesh. All governments are duty bound to protect their citizens and promote the freedom to worship. I call upon the government to make every effort to end the violence and protect religious minority populations within its borders. In order to protect its people, the government should restrict extremist groups that exert any violent influence over the country's political, social, legal, and religious affairs. Only then can peace and religious freedom be restored in Bangladesh.

The United States and Bangladesh have a friendship with deep ties among and between its people. Like Bangladesh, the United States has religious minorities. To truly flourish and prosper, the rights of all people to be secure in their property and their lives must be ensured. I encourage the government of Bangladesh and offer the full support of the United States in helping it protect its religious minorities. May God bless both our nations.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Sergeant Michael Rudd. Immediately following his 2002 high school graduation, Sgt. Rudd served his country by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force before going on to join the U.S. Army National Guard. After his military service came to an end, Sgt. Rudd continued to serve his country and community. He then became a law enforcement officer for LaPaz County, where he would remain in service to his community until his passing. Sgt. Rudd worked tirelessly for the people of LaPaz County, hoping to soon become a Lieutenant within the sheriffs office. His entire life was spent in service to the people of his community, state, and country.

Madam Speaker, I wish to offer my deepest condolences to Sgt. Rudd's entire family. He is survived by his wife Amanda and their 6 wonderful children. His contributions and public service will never be forgotten by the state of Arizona or the people of LaPaz County.

Madam Speaker, I am compelled to use proxy voting this week as I am currently spending time with my father who had a terminal diagnosis and passed away this week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my appreciation to the Prescott Chapter of the Arizona Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and to commemorate the chapter's 25th Anniversary.

Originally founded in 1997, the Prescott Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution have consistently honored the memory of our forefathers for over two decades. I deeply admire the chapter's unwavering commitment to our constitutional republic, our nation's rich history, and our deep-rooted founding principles.

On the 25th Anniversary of the chapter's formation, we have gathered to celebrate and recognize the chapter's civic-minded mission and achievements. I commend the previous and current members of the Prescott Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution for their achievements and continued impact on the Prescott community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Prescott Valley Mayor Harvey C. Skoog. Harvey selflessly served his community as Prescott Valley Mayor for a total of 19 years, excluding the additional years he spent serving as a council member and vice mayor. Harvey maintained a consistent leading record in his local community through his involvement with the Arizona Society of Practicing Accountants, Arizona Association of Enrolled Agents, Good Samaritan Nursing Home, Chamber of Commerce, League of Cities and Towns, Northern Arizona Council of Governments, and Central Arizona Senior Association, to name a few. Harvey's accomplishments are widely recognized in the state as he was honored as a co-recipient of the 2015 Prescott Area Leadership Man of the Year award. He was also passionate about expanding home ownership, religious freedom, and educational opportunities for the youth.

However, Harvey's contributions reach further than his professional, service, and leadership roles. After marrying Edna in 1960, Harvey raised 9 successful children who have raised 59 grandchildren and 63 great grandchildren. Madam Speaker, I wish to offer my deepest condolences to Harvey's entire family. His contributions will never be forgotten by the state of Arizona or the people of Prescott Valley.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the life of Arizona State Representative Franklin M. Pratt. Frank represented the 8th Legislative District of Arizona well and served his community as a member of both the House and the Senate. A principled conservative who stood firmly for the values he believed in, Frank tirelessly advocated for the people of rural Arizona. He loved the state he called home and led a long and admirable life of civil service.

In addition to Frank's public service as a state legislator, he also served his community as a farmer, rancher, businessman, and was a dedicated family man. Madam Speaker, I am here to express my appreciation for the impact of Frank's service in our Arizona communities and to offer my deepest condolences to his family and beloved wife, Janice. Frank's achievements and community impact will never be forgotten by the people of Arizona.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment.

This amendment includes the Grand Canyon Protection Act, falsely named legislation, which has nothing to do with the Grand Canyon and is a cover for a giant Federal land grab that hurts our economy and our national security.

This land grab of over one million acres in my State will destroy as many as 4,000 jobs and cost $29 billion in sacrificed economic activity.

Now, I am perplexed that the majority would bring this up under the National Defense Authorization as this reckless land grab actually hurts our national security. We heard from the gentleman from Colorado that these are areas where we have some high grade uranium. In fact, the costarter of Greenpeace, Michael Shellenberger, has actually said that if you want a green economy like the other side does, you definitely have to have nuclear, and this is one of those ways.

But we constantly keep going down this road where we make ourselves dependent on other countries, like Russia, Uzbekistan, and those areas. Isn't it interesting that we want to subjugate ourselves to foreign interests and foreign oversight? That is not the way we should be doing it. We should have our own way of doing it.

Last but not least, the way uranium is actually leached into the atmosphere is by air and by water, which are the portals that these breccia pipes have contained. Actually, taking the breccia pipes out of this area actually makes it easier for penetration of water in our subsurface areas.

I urge this not be adopted and once again return it back to our States for any other jurisdiction.