Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Mr. Chris Delesandri on his retirement after a dedicated 41 years of service with United Way of Galveston County Mainland, where he served as the executive director for the past 10 years.

Not only did Chris serve Galveston County during his time with United Way, but Chris has also served as the president of the Rotary Club of Texas City. He was elected to the Roll of Fame for Rotary District 5910 and earned the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards volunteer.

Chris always prioritized giving back to his community, and as such, he has earned several awards through the Chamber of Commerce, such as Citizen of the Year in 2008 and the Leslie Hayley Community Service Award in 2014.

I commend Chris for his numerous accomplishments and his dedicated service to our district and congratulate him on his retirement. I am so glad to represent him and call him a friend. He deserves a great retirement.

Have a good one, buddy.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 471, the PAUSE Act, to protect all Americans from Biden's border crisis.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered.

Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question are postponed.

Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, further consideration of H.R. 3697 is postponed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of the First Lady of Bee Cave, Texas, and former First Lady of La Marque, Texas, Patricia Ann LeMay Hocking.

Patti, as she was affectionately known, was a fascinating woman with a colorful background. From an early age, Patti loved ballet. Patti took ballet lessons with the Houston Ballet Foundation. Patti worked hard in pursuit of that goal, and eventually, she danced professionally with the Houston Ballet Company.

Patti graduated from Incarnate Word Academy in downtown Houston, married Mr. Robert Ellis Hocking--Bobby Hocking--and they settled in Bee Cave, Texas, where she built, owned, and ran her first of two dance studios.

After Bee Cave was incorporated in 1987, Bobby Hocking was elected the town's very first mayor. Patti was always by his side as his biggest fan and supporter. They traveled together internationally when Bobby was lead singer in many bands, then as a gospel singer and evangelist. It was Patti's prayers and influence that brought Bobby back to his roots, and they spent many years in the ministry,

copastoring churches in Oklahoma and Texas.

Most recently, the city of La Marque was the beneficiary of her generous spirit and gift of public service. Patti was devoted to and passionate about her faith, her family, and her community. A gracious, giving, and loving woman, Patti was adored by all who met her.

Mr. Speaker, First Lady Hocking will be sorely missed, and I send Bobby our love.

Madam Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the life of Officer Christopher Wayne Berry, a member of the Vidor Police Department in Orange County, Texas.

Officer Berry was a dedicated public servant and an inspiration to the community that he cherished so dearly.

Ever since he was a boy, Chris wanted to be a police officer, Madam Speaker. Not only did he achieve that dream, Chris went on to serve honorably as a keeper of the peace for over 30 years.

Those who knew him will tell you that he always treated anyone he met with the utmost respect. He will forever be remembered as a kindhearted community servant who was always willing to lend a helping hand.

In addition to being a well-respected member of the Vidor Police force, Chris was also an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, beekeeping, and gardening.

Officer Berry is survived by his wife, Brenda, and their three children: Bailey, Brayden, and Amber. He is also survived by his parents, Norman and Loretta Berry, as well as his brothers: Mike, Stephen, and Michael Berry.

Madam Speaker, may Officer Chris Berry rest in peace. He will be sorely missed.

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

Mr. Speaker, when I testified before the Rules Committee yesterday on behalf of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee Republicans, I expressed my frustration with the process that got us here. At nearly 3,000 pages, H.R. 4521 is a partisan package tossed together by Democratic leadership behind closed doors with no Republican input-- probably the only thing they lacked was the cigar smoke.

As I stand before you today, Mr. Speaker, my serious concerns with the America COMPETES Act have only increased. After a back-room process last night, 261 out of the over 600 submitted amendments were made in order, and there seems to be no rhyme or reason why, Mr. Speaker.

That is right. This week, we are going to consider 261 amendments to a 3,000-page bill. Frankly, the sheer number of the amendments reflects what happens when rank and file Members on both sides of the aisle are not given an opportunity to legislate in their respective committees.

This is a stark contrast, Mr. Speaker, to the way we do business on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. The fact that there are a dozen bipartisan Science, Space, and Technology Committee bills mixed up in this bag of poison pills only adds to the confusion.

On that note, I want to be very clear. Just because this 3,000-page behemoth has bipartisan bills in it does not mean it is a bipartisan bill. Those bipartisan bills were hijacked and misused for political gamesmanship.

The plain truth is that the hundreds of unrelated partisan policies that were crammed into this bill ruined any chance of bipartisanship.

Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed in this wasted opportunity. We have had shared momentum to take action on China.

Instead of voting on this partisan catchall bill with more references to coral reefs than to China, let's focus on what is most important. I don't know, how about strengthening American competitiveness and holding China accountable for its actions?

We should get back to prioritizing truly productive legislation--by that, I mean bipartisan--to increase our international competitiveness like H.R. 3593, the DOE Science for the Future Act, which passed the House last summer with 351 votes, I might add.

Mr. Speaker, the stakes are higher than ever, and we cannot afford to put our national security and prosperity at risk.

Mr. Speaker, it is kind of ironic. The leftists on the other side of the aisle have ignored the Chinese threat for years, and now they have suddenly got religion. It is kind of ironic.

Now that I think about it, Mr. Speaker, the America COMPETES Act may actually be a good title as the so-called America COMPETES Act may indeed compete as one of the worst bills ever.

For that reason, I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 76th Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, Representative Dade Phelan of Beaumont, Texas.

Speaker Phelan, who is serving his fourth term representing the great District 21, is one of the most conservative Speakers in our State's history and has made it his priority to significantly improve the lives of Texans every single day.

As only the fourth Republican to hold the Texas House Speakership since 1871, or 151 years, he has set the bar high for any who might follow in his footsteps. He fought to pass landmark legislation that protects businesses, taxpayers, the unborn, religious freedoms, and our Second Amendment rights.

Under his leadership, the Texas House led on criminal justice reform issues, healthcare affordability, police funding, and addressing winter storm Uri's long-term impact on our State.

I cannot express how proud we are in Texas 14 to claim Speaker Phelan, his wife Kim, and their four precious boys, Ford, Mack, Hank, and little Luke, as our own.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Speaker Phelan for all he does for Texas.

Madam Speaker, tomorrow, January 20, 2022, is a day that will live in infamy and marks 1 year since Joe Biden was sworn in as President.

I remember saying: This is the most important election of our lifetime.

Unfortunately, I was right.

In 1 year--under one-party rule and in just 1 year--it has been one huge, continuing debacle and crisis.

We went from energy independence to energy crisis, Madam Speaker; from a rebounding economy to the highest inflation in 40 years; from international peace through strength to increased tensions with our greatest adversaries; and might I add, losing the confidence of our allies.

We went, Madam Speaker, from border security to 2 million illegal alien crossings; from the end of the pandemic to the never-ending pandemic, particularly with unconstitutional mandates.

What is the cause?

One Democrat disaster after another, and Americans are losing faith not only with the performance of the current administration, but also with our governmental agencies: the FBI, the DOJ, and the CDC. You name it. The list is endless.

Democrats are showing who they are: Socialists, police defunders, open border advocates, and anti-parents who just want a say in their child's schooling. Is that too much to ask?

That is what Democrats are. This is their brand, and that Democrat brand, I might add, is a disaster. We Republicans need to point it out every day in every way.

So to my Republican colleagues I say, let's go brand `em.

Madam Speaker, on March 29, 1971, in Pasadena, Texas, Mickey Gilley opened a honkytonk bearing his name and changed the world of country music forever. Gilley's reputation grew so much that Hollywood took notice with the hit movie ``Urban Cowboy,'' filmed in and around the Pasadena location. Man, was it a hit.

Inspired by the real-life romance of a pair of the club's patrons, ``Urban Cowboy'' put Gilley's on the map, revived music careers, and launched others. It introduced two-stepping to a whole new audience and created a lifestyle which has been adopted by millions.

Madam Speaker, 40 years later, America's love of Wrangler jeans, cowboy boots, and pickup trucks underscores that lasting cultural legacy.

Although the club is no more, Gilley's is certainly not forgotten. Its memory lives on decades later through music and film, of course, but even, more importantly, through the lives and loves of those who frequented Gilley's. And you always knew when someone had been to Gilley's because they had the bumper sticker to prove it.

Thank you to Mickey Gilley for introducing our way of life to the world. Thank you to the Galveston Chamber of Commerce--at 177 years young, Texas' oldest chamber of commerce--for honoring the 50th anniversary of our great southeast Texas true country club and Mr. Mickey Gilley.

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

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

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

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

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

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