Floor Statements

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I will start by acknowledging the extraordinary work of my friend, colleague, and mentor from Florida on this overall package, which I do intend to support, but no matter how great a job we do on anything, there is always room to improve.

At a time and a place in which we have a $40 trillion debt, I have an obligation to be looking to save money wherever we can.

My amendment would strike all funding for the Global Environment Facility, which would save taxpayers $140 million. The GEF, as I see it, is a wasteful fund that spends money to bankroll woke climate initiatives, including grants designed to bring countries such as Namibia and Serbia into compliance with the Paris climate agreement, which President Trump withdrew the United States from because it did not reflect American interests and priorities.

My colleagues across the aisle and other supporters of the GEF and green new scam argue that it is America's responsibility to give millions of taxpayer dollars to unelected bureaucrats because the GEF fights so-called climate change.

Let's examine some examples of the important work that GEF is funding with money that we are borrowing from our children and grandchildren: The Women Ocean Guardians project, which seeks ``to strengthen the sustainable use, management, and conservation of large marine ecosystems by enhancing gender-responsive ocean governance, empowering women frontliners in coastal and marine ecosystems and implementing community-led solutions'' because we have got to make sure when we fight climate change it is gender responsive.

Second project, in the Central African Republic, ``to catalyze land restoration and biodiversity conservation through inclusive and gender- responsive landscape governance.'' Again, just think of the absurdity of this, gender-responsive landscape governance.

Then there was a grant given in 2024 in Afghanistan for ``strengthened resilience of rural communities' livelihoods to climate risks and variability in selected provinces in Afghanistan.''

Let me remind all my colleagues that Afghanistan has been under the rule of the Taliban. Do we really think the Taliban is going to use this money to address so-called climate change?

The United States, as I said before, is almost $40 trillion in debt, and that debt continues to grow every single day, every single minute, every single hour that we are here.

I think it is a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars to subsidize an organization that spends money helping other countries comply with an agreement the United States is not even a party to or giving money to the Taliban for any reason, let alone for forestry.

President Trump's budget request eliminated funding for the Global Environment Facility. Congress should follow that example and eliminate this unnecessary $140 million expenditure.

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

Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.

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

Mr. Chairman, I will close by saying this: Irrespective of the ridiculous examples that I gave before, again, the idea that there is gender responsive ways to deal with environmental problems as though somehow men and women would deal with environmental solutions differently, setting all of that ridiculousness aside, I think we have a simple question before us. When you are $40 trillion in debt, Mr. Chair, and the things you are paying for are being borrowed from your children and grandchildren, the question is no longer whether something is a good idea. The question is whether it is worth driving us further into debt to do.

Even if I were to grant that these projects were noble--and I do not--it is not worth borrowing from my two sons and every American's children and grandchildren to do that.

If we do not begin to deal with these problems soon, then we won't have a budget to spend. This is one small step in order to try to get our fiscal house in order.

I hope that all of my colleagues will support my amendment.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the so- called Faster Labor Contracts Act.

I used to run businesses. That is what I was good at, and I understand the importance of collective bargaining, but I also know that the process shouldn't be rushed.

Labor contracts are not minor administrative details. These are life- changing agreements. But this legislation imposes rigid timelines and artificial deadlines that could actually hurt both parties.

Negotiations take time because real compromise takes time. Workers deserve the opportunity to organize, consult with representatives, and review proposals carefully.

The current law provides the right incentives for good-faith bargaining, but the Faster Labor Contracts Act does not do that. It does not even promise a quicker turnaround for labor contracts. It just promises that a third party will step in sooner.

The bill gives union workers and employees 90 days to reach an agreement before being referred to mediation and then 30 additional days before going to arbitration. But there is no time limit on the arbitration, which could last for months or even years.

Think about that. The only participants who do not face a deadline under the bill are the arbitrators the government is forcing employers and employees to submit to.

Despite the name of the bill, there is no guarantee the process will actually become faster. There is only a guarantee that workers and businesses may have no say in the final product.

This bill doesn't promise higher wages. It doesn't improve workplace safety. It doesn't strengthen retirement security. It does not protect healthcare benefits. What it does do is place private negotiations on an accelerated timetable that increases pressure on workers to settle before they have fully fought for what they deserve.

This is a bad idea, and I hope that we vote it down today.

Mr. Speaker, one would have thought after October 7, 2023, the world's worst attack against Jews since the Holocaust, which obviously took place in Europe, there would have been an outpouring of sympathy and less anti-Semitism in the world. In Europe, in particular, that is not what happened.

A study conducted by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights recorded an increase of up to 400 percent in anti-Semitic activity since October 7. That same study also found that 96 percent of European Jews that were surveyed, almost every single one said that they encounter anti-Semitism in their daily lives--not once a month, not once a year, but every day in their actual existence.

Crimes linked to anti-Semitism are on the rise all throughout Europe. Even our major allies in the region have seen a dramatic increase.

France saw 1,600 anti-Semitic acts in 2024, a 300 percent increase since before October 7. The United Kingdom had over 3,500 anti-Semitic incidents in 2024, up dramatically from the 1,600, which is still too many, that they had before October 7, 2023.

Statistics only show part of the picture. My friend and colleague, the chairman, gave some stories. What is remarkable is we didn't coordinate, and every story that he told is different than one that I am about to tell you.

On February 11 in Paris, a 13-year-old Jewish boy was attacked by five men on his way to synagogue--13 years old, five adult men. During the attack, he was called Jewish slurs by the perpetrators.

On March 23, in London, four ambulances operated by a Jewish charity were destroyed in an arson attack by three men.

Mr. Speaker, these are stories that affect Europeans, but the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe affects Americans, as well, particularly when we visit Europe. This isn't just about protecting European Jews. It is about protecting Americans when we go there.

On April 29 of this year, two Jewish men were stabbed by someone who said that he went out with the intention of stabbing people who looked visibly Jewish. One of the two was an American.

On November 10, 2025, in Milan, a Jewish American was attacked after he was identified based on his ``Orthodox Jewish attire.'' These are Americans being attacked in Europe.

My bill would direct the State Department to assess the growing threat of anti-Semitism in Europe and provide diplomatic channels to make clear to our European allies that this conduct is simply unacceptable. After this assessment, the Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs will engage with European countries that are identified as countries of concern to say that they have to cooperate with us to deal with this rising anti-Semitism problem.

This commonsense, bipartisan legislation passed through committee unanimously, 49-0, and I thank the cosponsors of the bill, Republicans Max Miller, Mike Lawler, and Representative Claudia Tenney, but also Democrats Eugene Vindman and Laura Gillen.

I also thank the chairman and the ranking member, both of whom have supported the bill, and I thank the majority leader for putting it on the floor today.

Finally, I would just say this. We said, after the Holocaust, never again, but the facts are that there is a real risk of it happening.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote today to take this one small step to make sure that it doesn't happen ever again.

Mr. Speaker, I will endeavor to do a better job of following the rules and addressing my comments to you than seems to happen by those who are supposed to know the rules.

I would say this: You hear in this debate that the concern is about affordability, the affordability of housing for Americans, the affordability of healthcare for Americans, the affordability of insurance for Americans, and the affordability of education for Americans.

Democrats say they care about these things, but they do not because the number one thing we can do to make America affordable again is to deport the tens of millions of people who should not be in our country.

Twenty million people living in houses they shouldn't be in drives up housing prices. Twenty million people going to emergency rooms that are being paid for by the taxpayer drives up healthcare costs. Twenty million people sending their kids to school, which costs $10,000 to $20,000 per student in Florida, drives up education costs.

Go look at your auto insurance bill. That line of uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance, that might as well be called illegal immigrant insurance.

When we do these things, we protect our border and make America affordable again, but we also make America safe again.

In my district alone, I want to tell you about three people who have been deported.

Rafael Hayas Salgado from Cuba committed the crimes of homicide, larceny, burglary, flight escape, and resisting an officer.

Alejandro Diaz Torriente from Cuba was arrested for stolen property, burglary, forced entry-residence, forgery of checks, and selling cocaine and marijuana.

Lioneleo Silva-Garcia from Mexico's crimes were lewd or lascivious acts with a minor and sexual assault.

When we don't fund these agencies, we don't find these people, and we don't send them home. Our objective here is not only to make America safe again, but it is to make America affordable again. Passing this rule to fund these agencies will do exactly that.

That is why I will be proud to support the rule and proud to support that reconciliation package when it comes to the floor later today.

Mr. Speaker, let me start with a simple premise: What Russia did was terrible, and Vladimir Putin is a bad guy. Hopefully, there is no one in this room who disagrees with that, but I also think that when you file a piece of legislation, it comes with an obligation to draft it carefully because laws have meaning. This proposed piece of legislation is incredibly poorly drafted. It contains numerous critical drafting errors.

For example, in section 313, which is related to dual-use export controls for Russia, subsections (e)(2), (f), and (g), the bill starts to mention Iran rather than Russia. It is clear after re-reading it that someone just copied and pasted from another bill that didn't have anything to do with Ukraine or Russia. It was a bill relating to Iran. They just simply forgot to switch the countries.

We deserve better than that as we debate a bill. Some of the sections are outdated, and they would harm U.S. national security.

Section 102(b)(5) urges all NATO allies to dedicate at least 2 percent of their GDP to national defense. As has been said at the June 2025 Hague Summit, they agreed to 5 percent. Why would we pass a bill that says we want you to do 2 percent?

We have NATO allies that ain't so great anymore. I would focus on Spain, for example. Why would we in this room want to pass something where we as a body are saying: No, you don't have to do 5 percent. Two percent would be A-OK.

The worst thing about this bill is that it would actually hurt Ukraine. It wouldn't even help them. Section 204 extends the USAI at $300 million for each of fiscal years `26 and `27 and moves the program's sunset to December 31, 2027. Under current law, thanks to the FY 2026 NDAA, the $400 million for fiscal year 2026, and roughly $800 million across fiscal years 2026 and 2027, extends the program through December.

This bill is not about helping Ukraine. This is not about standing up to Vladimir Putin. This is about engaging in Trump derangement syndrome as President Trump tries to bring this in for a landing.

Mr. Speaker, this bill should be voted down, and frankly, given the drafting errors, we shouldn't even be spending the time talking about it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, when I heard about this resolution being filed, I obviously had a great deal of interest, a War Powers Resolution related to Lebanon. So I said what we should do--I am not going to impugn the integrity of any Member of Congress. One might debate whether we should impugn the literacy of Members of Congress, because we are hearing about genocide and horrible things that have taken place in Lebanon.

So I got the resolution, and I read it. By the way, the good news is, to anyone watching, it doesn't take long. It is five lines long.

Pursuant to the War Powers Resolution, Congress directs the President to remove the United States Armed Forces from Lebanon by not later than the date that is 7 days after the date of the adoption of this concurrent resolution.

So I naturally asked a question: What United States Armed Forces are stationed in Lebanon? What are we fighting? What war? What genocide are we participating in?

The only troops, the only members of the United States Armed Forces, who are stationed in Lebanon are the marines who protect the embassy. That is it.

You remove them, and you let Hezbollah take over our embassy that is there. But there is another group of marines. There is another group of U.S. Armed Forces who are in Lebanon that, no matter what we passed, we would not be able to bring home: 241 of them died in 1983 by the very same people this War Powers Resolution would embolden and would enable.

This resolution is a disgrace to their memories because what it should be called is the Hezbollah empowerment act of 2026. It is a disgrace to every member of our State Department who protects us over there.

The only beneficiary of this resolution, were it to pass, would not be the good people of Lebanon. See, the United States is not at war with the people of Lebanon. The fact of the matter is Israel is not at war with the people of Lebanon. The civilized world is at war with the Muslim terrorists of Hezbollah, who would be the beneficiary.

While I would not impugn the patriotism or character of any Member of this Chamber, I would question the rationality and common sense of anyone who would consider voting for this. This should be an easy vote to vote ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry. I had to listen to this nonsense for a while now. Are you allowed to curse on the floor of the House?

I do, Mr. Speaker. Are you allowed to curse on the floor of the House?

Mr. Speaker, I find this debate incredibly disappointing because it is an intellectually bankrupt one.

For 4 years under Joe Biden--I looked it up--he engaged in 500 unique airstrikes. He engaged in some level of operation in 78 countries.

If there was a consistent view that Congress ought to weigh in every single time that force is used, then the argument--that I would still disagree with, but it would at least be an intellectually honest one-- it is not. In this case, it is even worse because I believe that, in proffering these resolutions, the other side extends the war that they say that they want to end.

Mr. Speaker, we may debate in this Chamber, but folks around the world watch what we say, and it is my view that the Iranians would have already surrendered and given up what it is that we want--the ability to create a nuclear weapon and fire it at the United States--if what was being done in this room did not give them hope that we would not have the confidence and the fortitude to see it out.

Every one of these debates and every one of these votes gives them hope that maybe America will choose to stand with them--them, who, for 47 years, have killed Americans all over the world. There have been imminent threats constantly for 47 years. From the hostages who were kept in Iran to the American soldiers who were killed in Iraq, to those Americans who lived in Israel who were targeted by their missiles, to the military members who they have attacked repeatedly over 47 years, it has been one constant imminent attack.

We should vote this down today, and we should stop doing this so that we can say to the Iranian people and the Iranian regime, in clear and unambiguous terms: No Member of this body is okay with you having a nuclear weapon and one that you could use to attack the United States, and until the President gets that job done, we are all going to stand with him.

These resolutions extend the conflict. They do not hasten it, and that is why we need to vote this down and stop doing this.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Mr. John Browning, Jr., a distinguished member of the Putnam County community who shows that leadership and civic duty are a full-time job.

During his time in the United States Army, Mr. Browning learned unique skills, such as teamwork and leadership, that has led to his business success.

After earning his associate's degree at St. Johns River State College and bachelor's degree at Florida State University, Mr. Browning began running multiple businesses in Florida, including his family's ranch and the oldest restaurant in Florida, Angel's Dining Car.

He was then appointed by former President George H.W. Bush to the National Council on Surface Transportation and the White House Advance Team.

Later, Mr. Browning became the senior vice president of political affairs for the Goodman Company, headquartered in West Palm Beach. His work aims to support real estate investments that center around commerce and energy grid initiatives.

John Browning, Jr., served Florida with humility, attentiveness, and an understanding of the Florida community, and I have enjoyed working with him since I first got elected to the Florida legislature in 2016. He embodies the very best of American citizenship, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing his remarkable contributions.

We Thank Our Firefighters

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the bravery and resilience of Putnam County's firefighters and first responders and the county's tremendous leadership on combating one of the county's worst wildfires in recent years.

I also thank St. Lucie County Fire District for sending their firefighters all the way up to Putnam to help extinguish our fires.

These railroad fires, which started with a spark from a passing train, have been raging for weeks now, destroying roughly 4,700 acres of land. The devastation has strained resources and forced hundreds to evacuate from their homes.

Thanks to the leadership of Putnam County's government and the tremendous hard work of our firefighters and emergency responders, the fire is now 95 percent contained as of today.

We can never ignore the dedication of our emergency responders and the sacrifice they make to our communities. It ensures our neighbors are safe and

why our communities will always be a place for our children and grandchildren to grow and to prosper.

I am grateful as well to our State and local partners for working together to contain this disaster, including to President Trump and FEMA for approving the State's request for Federal funds to help fight against the railroad fires.

I look forward to continuing to be a resource in any way that I can for the people of Putnam County back home.

Honoring Carol Peters

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the spectacular work and commitment of Carol Peters within the agricultural community of Florida's Sixth Congressional District.

Mrs. Peters is the owner of Slow Turtle Farms in beautiful Eustis, Florida. From her humble plot of land, she has transformed a dairy operation into a jewel of the Eustis community.

Carol Peters is no stranger to hard work. For years, she and her husband have faithfully stood as owners, operators, and tenants of their operation. Their farm is not just a simple pastime. It is an all- encompassing adventure that demands a level of perfection and quality. Through their efforts, Slow Turtle Farm wears the distinct badge of a USDA Grade A dairy farm.

In 2024, Carol decided to take a step back from the operation of the farm and apply her expertise to the future of my constituents in Florida's Sixth Congressional District. Investing into our future farmers and ranchers, Mrs. Peters now holds classes showing students how to raise, breed, and invest within their own livestock.

Agriculture is too often overlooked and something that we need to focus on, but she has made it a priority to keep that tradition alive. Working alongside the county Future Farmers of America and 4-H program, she has ensured the future of Florida's agriculture is in good hands.

It is my honor to represent a constituent who understands the vital role of the agriculture industry and where Florida's youth fits within this puzzle.

I also recognize a major achievement of Mrs. Peters and her students winning best in show for their prized doe goat.

Mrs. Peters serves her community with insight, attentiveness, and humility. She embodies the very best of American citizenship, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing her remarkable contributions.

Recognizing Police Week

Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure as a Member of Congress to recognize and honor the heroes of Florida's Sixth Congressional District that keep our cities, roads, and great State safe.

As we come to the end of National Police Week, it is imperative that we stand together to honor the brave men and women in blue who continue to protect our communities. Every day law enforcement officers put their lives on the line and continue to sacrifice home life and their safety for the American people.

As a Member of Congress, it is my duty to ensure that our Nation's police officers understand that I and the rest of Florida's Sixth Congressional District will always have their backs.

This week, let's take a second to remember the person behind each badge. Each officer has chosen to put their personal safety aside, swearing an oath to protect, serve, defend, and uphold the people and the laws of the United States. It is time our Nation places those who protect us at the forefront of efforts and give them the same honor they so humbly choose to serve our Nation with.

Mr. Speaker, for 47 years, there has been a war involving Iran. It has been a war against the United States. It started 47 years ago with: ``Death to America.'' When they chanted it, they meant it. It started in 1979, when they took our hostages. In 1983, when Iran killed 241 Americans, including 220 marines, Iran recognized they were at war with us. In 1996, at Khobar Towers, Iran, in their war for death to America, killed 19 more Americans. From 2003 to 2011, Iran, thinking they were at war with America, killed over 600 of our soldiers who were in Iraq. On October 7, 2023, Iran, realizing death to America, war with America, killed 46 Americans who were living in Israel.

Iran has not just been at war with us. They have been at war with their own people. We can hear tears for the schoolchildren who died, but we do not hear the tears for the 35,000 Iranians that we know of who they killed in January. We don't hear the cries for the Iranian people because of their war with their own people that has kept the internet off in their country for months now.

We will hear that we should just have more diplomacy. The 47 years of diplomacy are not enough. Make no mistake, Iran uses diplomacy as a weapon to create cover for their nuclear program.

We have to understand what is at stake today as President Trump makes extraordinary steps. For 47 years, as Iran has declared war with us, they have tried to build a nuclear weapon. They have enough material to build a couple.

While we do not believe that they could deliver that nuclear weapon to the United States today, that is their single-minded purpose. Their goal was to create a military infrastructure that created a shield so that they could develop those nuclear weapons and develop that missile.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle might be fine learning that they have that nuclear weapon and they have that missile when one lands right here in the United States of America. Thank God President Trump and the rest of us do not.

This resolution is a terrible idea. We should stand with our President. We should stand with our troops. We must end the 47-year war that Iran has had with the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful that President Trump is doing that right now. Vote ``no'' on this.

Mr. Speaker, I have heard now that having these Haitians in our country is good for our community, will lead to people's deaths if we send them home, and that we have selective amnesia.

Mr. Speaker, I will help with that amnesia problem by talking about three people from my State of Florida.

In 2022, Terry and Brenda Aultman were riding their bikes home when a Haitian in this country on TPS, which, by the way, is temporary, were killed. Their necks were slashed by someone who never should have been in this country. When do we care about their deaths?

Just a few weeks ago, Yasmin Easmin was murdered, again by a Haitian here on TPS, who didn't even use a knife but a hammer to crush her skull. When do we care about her?

This whole thing is a scam. It was created for people who were protected because there was an earthquake 16 years ago. Now 350,000 people have been able to stay in our country for 16 years, the majority of whom are on welfare and have created an entire generation of birthright citizens who can't be sent home now because they have children who are Americans.

Mr. Speaker, this is an effort to undermine our country with people who have killed three people in my State. I did not come here to protect Haitians. I came here to protect for the good of our country. The only discharge petition I will support is the one that discharges all of these people back to Haiti.

Mr. Speaker, I actually have an anecdote, as well.

Mr. Speaker, 35 years ago, when the previous speaker from the Democratic side was here as a Member of Congress, I was a 16-year-old page wandering around the floor in a blue blazer and a khaki pair of pants. It is an interesting moment for me because what he said is let's fund the important services that the American people deserve.

Let's talk about important services that they don't think they deserve.

Over the last 4 years, 20 million illegal immigrants have come into this country, and those illegal immigrants have killed 1,400 Americans.

Let me give you just a few of their names: Kate Steinle, who was 32 years old, in California; Laken Riley, who was 22 years old, in Athens, Georgia; Rachel Morin, who was 37 years old, in Bel Air, Maryland; Jocelyn Nungaray, who was 12 years old, in Houston, Texas; and Lizbeth Medina, who was 16 years old, also in Texas. Yet, those apparently aren't services that need to be funded.

Since the conflict in Iran began, there have been four terrorist attacks in four separate States by four unaffiliated groups. They were working independently. Those are apparently not important services that the American people need to know. Let's say their names: Ryder Harrington, 19; Savitha Shan, 21; Jorge Pederson, 30; and Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah, in Virginia. Those who are apparently stopping that are not important services that the American people deserve.

While I stood here waiting to speak, the government announced that they have arrested two Chinese people in the State of Florida for attempting to put an IED outside of a military base.

We are told that funding 86 percent of the Department of Homeland Security is funding all of the Department of Homeland Security. That is not true.

Also, as I stood here, I read one other thing. In New York City, a four-time deported Honduran illegal alien was charged with murder for shoving an 83-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran onto the subway tracks in New York City. Apparently, protecting him is not an important service that the American people deserve.

What I have learned in this debate is that Democrats care about three things: Muslim terrorists, Somali pirates, and illegal immigrants.

What is clear to me: If we want to fund the Department of Homeland Security and get them on board, there is one simple solution. Have all of those TSA agents declare that they are illegal immigrants, because then they will rush to get the money over to them to get them funded.

It is not right to keep the government closed. If people want changes in policy, let's have those debates.

The same people who demand these folks not be masked spent years demanding the rest of us get arrested if we weren't willing to wear them. The hypocrisy is stunning, and the American people are not being served.

Congress needs the job to get done. We need to get the whole thing funded, and I support the resolution fully.

Mr. Speaker, I will start by acknowledging that I think this is a bit of a historic moment to my colleague, Congressman Self, because you have just had more than a dozen Members of Congress talk openly and honestly about one of the greatest threats that is facing the United States today, the Islamification of our country.

As I will talk about in my remarks, too many would try to shut us down, using open threats and words to try to stop what they consider blasphemy. I will acknowledge before I begin the efforts of Congressman Self and Congressman Roy to form this caucus, reaching 60 members.

Every time I get asked how many there are, I get the number wrong because there is always one or two more, but I don't think we will be happy until every Member is a part of this caucus.

Why now? Why now? Why do we deal with this issue now? Why do we deal with this issue today? Because we have seen what lies before us. We can see it if we look across the ocean.

France, the United Kingdom, and Western Europe are no longer recognizable.

In France, they have had to cancel celebrations because they are afraid that they are not sharia compliant.

In the United Kingdom, they are actually debating in Parliament the idea of cousin marriage, a Member of Parliament crying, how could it be banned because under sharia it is allowed.

We have seen these countries become unrecognizable, but why now? Because we have to worry about it coming here. I could have done a greatest hits and read hundreds of quotes, quotes that are not hidden. They are not hidden camera quotes. These are statements that imams and Mosques in the United States publicly make with pride about their intention, but I just want to read one from one person, and I will put it in context again for why now.

I will read some quotes from Imam Siraj Wahhaj from Brooklyn, New York, that he has said quite openly.

``Islam is better than democracy. Allah will cause Islam to become a complete way of life, to prevail over every kind of system.'' I wonder what system he is talking about. ``And you know what? It will happen.'' That is his first quote.

Second quote: ``If only Muslims were clever politically, they could take over the United States and replace its constitutional government with a caliphate.'' ``If we were united and strong, we would elect our own emir and give allegiance to him . . . `' ``Take my word, if 8 million Muslims unite in America, the country will come to us.''

The final quote: ``You don't get involved in politics because it is the American thing to do. You get involved in politics because politics are a weapon to use in the cause of Islam.''

Now, why this imam? Why read three quotes from one leader when I told you I could read many. Because I want to explain who publicly praised him just a few months ago as ``one of the Nation's foremost Muslim leaders.'' That is a quote, ``one of the Nation's foremost Muslim leader.''

That is not my statement. That was the statement of the leading American-Muslim politician in the United States, the new mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani. Every quote that I read, again, as he put it, ``one of the Nation's foremost Muslim leaders.''

We have a challenge in this debate. Even some of my colleagues here today want to talk about radical Islam. I will talk about why they do that, but when you look at who the leading Muslim politicians are in the United States and their views on the issues, affinity for sharia, embracing of Muslim terror, you have to say that is not radical. That is the mainstream.

We have had four terror attacks by those who believe in sharia over the past month or so, but not outcries from those who are upset about it. So, having this discussion and talking about this is critical because what we have learned is, they will use our values to impose theirs upon us. It is okay to come to the United States and it is okay to practice your religion in peace and prosperity, but the line gets crossed when in order to advance your religion, others must submit to it.

Congressman Self was talking about not all cultures being equal, but part of what makes this debate so difficult is we are told that we are one giant, human family, that we all believe the same things, that we all share the same ideals, but if we have learned anything in the past few years, that is not always true.

We have seen those who have taken to terror to stop freedom of assembly in New York, freedom of worship in Michigan, freedom to go to a bar in Austin, Texas, and freedom to go to a university in Virginia.

I saw what sharia could do to the human soul on October 7, and not all Muslims are terrorists. Not even everyone who believes in sharia wants to hurt everybody else, but the fact that not all do doesn't mean that none do.

On October 7, a young man called his parents to brag about an achievement that he had done in his faith in advancing sharia, and he called his parents and he told them, mom and dad, I had an extraordinary achievement today, and his parents were crying.

Now, for us, in our culture, in our society, you would have thought he got into college, he got a job, he had a baby, or he is getting married. No. He called his parents who cried with joy because he had killed 10 infidels. He had killed 10 Jews.

Not only did he feel that was something to brag about to his parents, but his parents cried with tears of joy.

We have to be willing to have the difficult conversations about the threat that exists because, as Congressman Self said: The enemy is no longer at the gates. They are inside.

Now, they will stop at nothing to stop us from having this conversation. They will ratchet up. They will use a war of rhetoric to try to silence us. They will claim that we are racist, despite the fact that the philosophy we are talking about is not limited to any one race. It doesn't matter what you look like. You can believe in sharia.

They will say we are irrationally afraid of it. They will use the term ``Islamophobia,'' a word developed, by the way, not to say you are against something but to say that you are afraid of something.

Well, I think all of us who have spoken today would say this: We are afraid. We are afraid of what we have seen in Afghanistan. We are afraid of what we have seen in Iran. We are afraid of what we have seen in Gaza. We are afraid of what we have seen in France and Germany and the U.K. We are afraid of what we have seen in Dearborn and at Old Dominion University and in New York City. We are afraid of what we saw on September 11, 25 years ago.

We have ample reason to be afraid, but the good news is, because of these 60-and-counting folks being led by Congressman Roy and Congressman Self, perhaps there is hope that we will not need to be afraid for too much longer.

Again, I thank my colleagues for organizing this. It is an extraordinary moment. I know that this fight is just beginning, but I know by working together we will ultimately win it. We will make sure that we can continue to have that phrase that we put up there above that flag, above the Speaker's rostrum: In God we trust.

Mr. Speaker, 18 years ago at 6:08 this morning, my son Jacob Fine was born. Six years after he was born, inspired by what he dealt with as a first grader, I decided to run for office, and 12 years later, here I am today.

Members of Congress give up a lot in order to serve, but it is their families that give up even more.

Today, as Jacob turns 18, he is home in Florida, and I am here doing the people's business, but I would be remiss if I did not wish him a happy birthday and let him know of all the things that I and his mother will accomplish in our lives, nothing will be more important than having brought him and his younger brother into this world and preparing them to be the amazing adults that I know that they will both turn out to be.

So Jacob, happy birthday. I love you, and I look forward to seeing you on Friday.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to highlight a recent visit in my district where I had the privilege of touring MBI Direct Mail + Digital, a commercial printing facility in DeLand, Florida.

During my visit, I saw firsthand how hardworking people who show up every day and take pride in doing things the right way make Florida small businesses reach new heights every day.

Companies like this invest in their employees. I met people who had worked there who measured their time in decades, not simply in years.

I appreciate the assistance of PRINTING United Alliance in helping coordinate the visit and for their continued advocacy on behalf of America's printing and graphic communications workforce.

These are the kinds of businesses that form the backbone of our economy, creating good jobs, supporting families, and strengthening our communities. They represent the best of American enterprise: innovation, grit, and a commitment to serving their customers and neighbors alike.

It was particularly entertaining for me because a long time ago back when I worked in the private sector, I worked with companies like this every day using the mailbox to change how people made their purchasing decisions.

I am proud to represent businesses like MBI and will continue working to ensure all small businesses across Florida have the opportunity to grow and succeed.

Federal Elections Must be Safe and Secure

Mr. Speaker, in the last election, the American people overwhelmingly elected President Trump and gave him and the Republican Party a mandate to Make America Great Again.

Core to that mandate was a promise to restore confidence in the security of our elections--to guarantee that only Americans vote in them.

This is a promise that virtually every American agrees with. Mr. Speaker, 81 percent of all Americans, the overwhelming majority of Democrats, Independents, Republicans; Black, White, Hispanic; men, and women; college educated, not college educated; everyone overwhelmingly agrees with this simple premise.

But this has become much more important in recent years. During the Biden Presidency, the border was thrown open, and millions, some believe tens of millions, of foreigners streamed into our country uncontrolled.

But worse, that administration and allies at the State and local level shoved millions of drivers' licenses and Social Security numbers into the hands of these illegal immigrants. They created the means and the opportunity for our elections to be stolen.

My friend and colleague Chip Roy introduced the SAVE America Act that would fulfill a promise that we made to prevent foreigners from voting in our elections.

I and my Republican colleagues in this room have voted several times for this piece of legislation and passed it out of our Chamber.

The House agrees. Our elections must be safe and secure, where only Americans determine the leadership of this country.

If you don't think this is an issue, just last week in Florida in a local city election, someone won the election of mayor of one of our largest cities by only one vote.

It is critical that we have confidence in every single one of those votes, but unfortunately, as of now, the Senate does not agree with us. They have not been willing to state that only Americans should vote in American elections.

This legislation has been stalled, infuriating the American people. It stalled because the Senate refuses to use the talking filibuster to give the American people what they want.

Just yesterday, I toured the National Archives, and I was shown a document--I didn't ask to see it; it happened to be a document that they showed me--from when the Civil Rights Act was passed in the 1960s. Debate went on month after month after month in order to get it passed before they could bring that to a vote. Why did the Senate in the sixties, why were they willing to do that? They were willing to do that because making sure that every American who had the right to vote was able to do so.

Well, now we are faced with a similar challenge: making sure that only Americans can vote. If it takes months to make that happen in the same way it took months to make sure that Americans could vote, then that is what must be done.

To make that point clear, I and 24 of my distinguished colleagues signed a letter a week ago to Leader Thune that said we will vote ``no'' on all Senate legislation, save what is necessary to get the government reopened, until the SAVE America Act is passed.

I was encouraged to see debate for the SAVE America Act finally begin. The Senate should debate it for as long as it takes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, week after week after week until they figure out how to get the SAVE America Act to the President's desk.

Until that happens, I and, I presume, the other 23 who signed that letter alongside me will continue to vote against Senate legislation here on the House floor.

Let's do the work of the American people. Let's get the SAVE America Act to the President's desk.

Mr. Speaker, it is easy to criticize anti-Semitism when it happens on the other side. It is more difficult to address it when it happens on your own.

It was not enough for Tucker Carlson to, a few days ago, say that every Jew should have to do a DNA test to prove that they were Jewish. It was not enough for him to say that a terrorist should be able to kill us if they are under 18 years old.

Yet, yesterday, Tucker Carlson attacked perhaps the best and the most good group of Jews who are out there, a group of people who see their job to evangelize not other Jews but Jews themselves, Chabad--a group that no one ever has anything bad to say about because they care about everyone.

I wear a kippah from UF Chabad today in honor of them.

We have a cancer in this country. It is anti-Semitism, and Tucker Carlson represents it. He is many things, but one thing President Trump and I agree on is that he is certainly not MAGA.