Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, President Biden's radical open border agenda has resulted in the worst border crisis in our Nation's history.

Since taking office, this administration's policies have led to over 5 million encounters at our southern border; more than 1.3 million illegal immigrants have evaded apprehension; and CBP has seized over 38,000 pounds of fentanyl. Yet, President Biden would have you believe that the border is secure.

Exacerbating an already dire situation, in just the first 72 hours since title 42 ended, over 14,000 illegal aliens were apprehended.

Title 42 was vital in curbing illegal immigration, allowing for swift deportation of anyone crossing our border illegally.

While the administration continues to ignore this crisis, House Republicans have taken immediate action. I was proud to support H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, which passed the House last week. H.R. 2 upholds Republicans' commitment to a nation that is safe and a border that is secure by restarting construction of the border wall, increasing Border Patrol agents,

strengthening the asylum process, and much more.

The White House kept asking us, asking Congress, when are you going to pass legislation to address illegal immigration? Well, folks, the House passed it, H.R. 2. We have taken action. It is the most comprehensive immigration bill passed out of the House in over 40 years.

Democrats and President Biden need to wake up and obey the law, the current law. Constituents back home ask me, how is this happening? We have laws on the books.

In other words, if you enter this country illegally, even if you prove asylum, you have to show up for a court date. Those court dates are some 5 to 10 years down the road now, but you have to show up for that court date. If you don't get the asylum ruling, you have to return to your home country for 10 years before you can enter this country legally again.

These are laws that are on the books right now. In other words, you have to remain at the border and await that court date. Putting people out into this country and giving them free healthcare and other assistance is not in accordance with the current laws on the books.

I will finish with this: Border security is national security. The President is the Commander in Chief. Let's fix this problem.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of our law enforcement in the 12th District of Georgia. This is National Police Week. Not just this week but every week, the Members of this body should honor the often unsung heroes tasked with keeping our communities safe every day.

Unfortunately, many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have called to defund the police and promoted antipolice rhetoric that has resulted in a violent crime wave across the country, and in many cases against our brave law enforcement officers.

House Republicans proudly support law and order and stand with law enforcement nationwide. That is why our conference has dedicated this week to passing prolaw enforcement legislation, including a bill to make the assault of a police officer a deportable offense if you are in the country illegally, and more.

Madam Speaker, God's word gets it right. The greatest love that you can offer is to give up your life for another. We must always support our brave men and women in uniform. Those who have put their lives on the line for the safety of others should never be demonized; they should be honored. My Republican colleagues and I will never stop backing the blue.

Mr. Speaker, the modern American worker wants flexibility and choice. However, President Biden and Washington Democrats would rather force their radical labor agenda on the American people.

That is why Senator Tim Scott and I introduced the Employee Rights Act, which represents the Republican vision for the future of the modern American workforce.

Our bill updates our Nation's labor laws by expanding workforce protections for independent contractors, entrepreneurs, franchises, and anyone else looking to earn a living on their own terms and live the American Dream.

This bill also offers political protections to employees by preventing heavyhanded union leaders from abusing membership dues, as well as ensuring the union election process is conducted by secret ballot, a right guaranteed to every American, so employees are not intimidated or harassed for the way they vote.

Supported by dozens of national, State, and local organizations, I am proud to introduce this commonsense legislation that ensures workers' rights are protected from partisan union leaders and the heavy hand of this administration.

Republicans stand with the 21st century worker, and it is time our labor policies do, as well. Every American deserves the freedom to hold a job and not be forced to pay union dues.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mrs. Miller for holding this Special Order so that we can share our faith and the importance of our faith to this country.

Mr. Speaker, it is important that we take this opportunity to celebrate Faith Month. Faith in God is as important to our Nation today as it was in 1776. When faced with critical decisions, our Founding Fathers looked to the scriptures and sought the wisdom of God.

The church was the most important pillar in every community at that time and had tremendous influence over the establishment of our Constitution and the values as a Nation.

As my friend Mike Johnson explained to me, what our Founders did was simply this: They left God at the top, they got rid of the king, and put the people in charge.

I want to tell the American people today; you are in charge. The Constitution has not changed in that regard. They recognize, as many of us here today do, that the Bible is a life-changing source of eternal hope which sustains our faith.

President Adams stated that our Constitution was written for moral and religious people only. It will do for no other. I have often said that, and it offends some people. What did Adams mean by this statement?

Well, as I understand it, our Founders came to America for religious freedom. A couple weeks ago, Os Guinness spoke to us at the Faith & Law Breakfast, and he explained it this way. He said, you cannot have virtue without faith. You cannot have faith without freedom. You cannot have freedom without virtue. You think of this as a triangle, each dependent on the other.

We serve a God who created perfect order, because chaos is the absolute opposite of freedom. Based on these founding principles, we have ``In God We Trust'' above the American flag that hangs right there above the Speaker's podium. Behind us, looking down on this body, we have the full face of Moses who wrote the first five books of the Bible--the law, God's law. In this body, we are without excuse.

With that, let me lift up a few examples of faith in both the Old and New Testament. God chose Abraham to be the father of Israel, the home of God's chosen people. Why did God choose Abraham? I will read from Genesis 12: ``The Lord had said to Abraham, `Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great Nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on Earth will be blessed through you.' '' I would say to you today that includes the United States of America.

The second example I would like to share is from Matthew, and this is one of my favorites when Jesus calms the storm. This is Matthew chapter 8: ``Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, `Lord, save us. We're going to drown.' He replied, `You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, `What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him.' ''

That begs the question, who is actually in charge of the climate?

The third example I would like to share on faith is from John 20:24- 29: ``Now Thomas, one of the 12, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, `We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, `Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.' A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, `Peace be with you.' Then he said to Thomas, `Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.' ''

Thomas said to him: ``My Lord and my God.'' Those words were maybe the greatest proclamation of faith in the New Testament.

Jesus also told him: ``Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'' And that is what our faith is about today.

Over 50 years ago, the late Billy Graham prayed about the status of our faith in this Nation. I will share this prayer:

``Our Father and our God, Thou hast said, `Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord.' We recognize on this historic occasion that we are `a nation under God.' We thank Thee for this torch of faith handed to us by our forefathers. May we never let it be extinguished. Thou alone hast given us our prosperity, our freedom, and our power. This faith in God is our heritage and our foundation.

``Thou hast warned us in the Scriptures, `If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?' As George Washington reminded us in his Farewell Address, morality and faith are the pillars of our society. We confess these pillars are being eroded in an increasingly materialistic and permissive society. The whole world is watching to see if the faith of our fathers will stand the trials and tests of the hour. Too long we have neglected Thy word and ignored Thy laws. Too long we have tried to solve our problems without reference to Thee. Too long we have tried to live by bread alone. We have sown to the wind and are now reaping a whirlwind of crime, division, and rebellion.''

I ask you tonight: Why have we not passed down these very values to the

next generation, and why is this generation in chaos?

As chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, I am in a unique position to hear the spiritual concerns of the American people. Every week that we are in session, Members of Congress get together to pray for our great Nation and those with prayer requests.

I urge you to visit my website at allen.house.gov to submit a prayer request. Only through prayer and faith in God can we unite and heal the deep divisions and moral crises facing our Nation that Billy Graham pointed out more than 50 years ago.

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to rise to offer my sincerest congratulations to Jon Rahm for his decisive victory in the 2023 Masters Tournament.

Every spring, the world's greatest golfers travel to Georgia's 12th District to play at the world's greatest golf course, Augusta National, a tradition like no other.

As people from all around the world make the trip to my district or tune in from the comfort of their homes, they get to experience one of the country's greatest competitions in the world of sports. In doing so, they get a glimpse into the beautiful city I am privileged to call home, Augusta, Georgia.

Many thanks to Chairman Ridley, the members of Augusta National, the staff and volunteers, for another magnificent tournament.

In winning this year's tournament, Jon Rahm joins an elite group of Spanish Masters champions that include Sergio Garcia, Jose Maria Olazabal, and Jon's very own role model, the late Seve Ballesteros.

In typical Masters form, Jon made his charge to the top of the leader board on the back nine on Sunday to finish with a 3-under-par 69 score to finish at 12 under. He did so on the 66th birthday of his role model, Seve Ballesteros.

Congratulations to Jon Rahm, a most deserving champion.

Madam Chair, I stand here before you today because the American people are hurting. Over the past few years, they have been forced to cope with skyrocketing costs, a direct result of President Biden's misguided energy policies.

With every step the President has taken to restrict domestic energy, from canceling the Keystone pipeline to placing a ban on new drilling, it has become much harder for Americans to make ends meet. Fortunately, Republicans have a solution to this problem that will increase domestic energy production.

The United States is home to some of the largest reserves of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world. The Lower Energy Costs Act will allow us to tap into these resources so we can drive down the cost of energy and combat the out-of-control inflation that has devastated the American family.

Our legislation will increase American energy production, reform our broken permitting process, reverse President Biden's anti-energy policies, and improve the construction of energy infrastructure.

H.R. 1 also protects our energy future by boosting production of critical minerals, making us less reliant on our adversaries such as China.

Under the leadership of Chair Rodgers, my colleagues and I on the Energy and Commerce Committee have been working to shape policies that will unleash American energy and lower costs for our families. H.R. 1 represents our commitment to fighting for an economy that is strong and a nation that is safe.

This bill will help reduce our reliance on foreign oil, which would not only benefit our economy but also strengthen our national security and our safety.

The left's dream of a Green New Deal future has turned into a nightmare, and it is time for the President to wake up. With prices nearing record highs, the need to unleash American energy has never been more pressing and important.

This body must take immediate action to lower energy costs, fight inflation, and secure our energy future, and this bill will do it.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act.

Mr. Speaker, President Biden's proposed waters of the United States rule is a blatant example of Federal overreach. The rule will lead to further regulatory burdens on our farmers, and it gives unelected bureaucrats more power to dictate how landowners manage their own property.

Under this new guidance, the EPA would have broad authority to determine what is considered a navigable

water, which could potentially include anything from a pond to a puddle.

I would remind the President that American farmers are the original conservationists. They know how to take care of the land because that land is their livelihood.

The administration has already made life harder for our agricultural community through skyrocketing input costs, oppressive environmental regulation, and a war on fossil fuel. We should be supporting farmers' efforts instead of hamstringing them.

Do you know the water that I am most concerned about? It is not ponds. It is not puddles. It is the swamp here in D.C. that wants to take away our hard-earned property and take over every aspect of American life.

I was proud to just vote for the passage of H.J. Res. 27 today to nullify this terrible Biden waters of the U.S. rule.

Mr. Speaker, over the past 2 years, one thing has become clear: This administration cares more about advancing its radical Green New Deal agenda than about the financial well-being of the American people.

We have seen it with their energy policy, but the latest example is the Biden administration's rule to inject woke ESG factors into workers' retirement accounts.

Thanks to President Biden's economic policies, workers' retirement savings were down 10 percent in 2022 compared to 2021. Why is this administration doubling down to further jeopardize Americans' retirement?

Retirement plan sponsors have two responsibilities to their clients: maximize returns and minimize risk. The Biden rule would allow asset managers to impose a political agenda on Americans at the expense of retirement savings.

The Biden administration should not be jeopardizing Americans' retirement by allowing plan managers to gamble their savings on ESG funds that have proven to be riskier and charge steeper fees.

That is why I cosponsored this bill with my friend, Andy Barr, to use our authority to nullify the Biden rule and protect Americans' hard-earned retirement savings from politically motivated mismanagement.

Mr. Speaker, America has always been a Nation of trailblazers. From the automobile to the iPhone, the entrepreneurial spirit of the American people is the engine of progress that moves our world forward toward a better tomorrow.

As we chart a course toward rebuilding the world's greatest economy, we must ensure that this engine has the fuel it needs to get us where we want to go.

That is why earlier today I introduced the Startup Act, alongside my colleague from California (Mr. DeSaulnier). This bipartisan bill equips entrepreneurs and future entrepreneurs with the training and resources they need to start a business, create jobs, and grow our economy.

Having built several small businesses from the ground up, I know just how difficult that process is. I wonder how many Americans never make that leap simply because they don't know where to start.

The Startup Act is about removing barriers to entrepreneurship and expanding access to programs and tools that will help countless people turn their version of the American Dream into a reality.

Mr. Speaker, the pandemic is over. The President said so himself. So why, then, are our friends on the other side of the aisle fighting

to keep in place an authoritarian mandate on our healthcare workers?

When the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued its vaccine mandate in 2021, the emergency situation with respect to the delta variant was cited as its justification. The problem isn't just that the delta variant has come and gone, it is that we have an administration that has made a habit out of violating Americans' basic freedoms.

Our frontline workers were the heroes of the pandemic, but this vaccine mandate robbed those very workers of the right to make medical decisions for themselves.

All of the President's vaccine mandates are wrong. They have been wrong from the start. Today, House Republicans will begin to set things straight by prohibiting this administration from enforcing COVID vaccine mandates on our healthcare providers.

During a time of workforce shortages, especially among healthcare staff, no American should be forced to choose between the jab and the job.

Thanks to my friend and colleague from Georgia, Mr. Carter, for organizing this Special Order and for your leadership on this issue.

This is an important issue. You know, growing up and then, of course, now, you know, my pharmacist is a dear friend of mine.

I don't want to go to another pharmacist, although you get all these offers to get this through the mail and all that. To me, your pharmacist is kind of like choosing your doctor.

I mean, they do so much for the communities that they serve, particularly in rural America.

But what we are talking about here, and as Congressman Carter said, it is about the American troops, our veterans and their families that are at risk of losing access to lifesaving prescriptions.

In October, the Defense Health Agency's pharmacy benefit manager, Express Scripts, cut nearly 15,000 pharmacies from its network, all because they wouldn't accept Express Scripts' outrageous terms.

Why does this happen?

I mean, of course, obviously we are shining a light on this because the entire country needs to know about this, particularly our veteran communities.

This decision left a quarter of a million people with few or no local, in-person options to access the medicine and treatments they need.

Countless Americans choose to get their prescriptions filled at their local or independent pharmacy specifically because of the quality of service they provide.

Like I said, it is a personal thing. It is a relationship. Your pharmacist has knowledge of your medical history, and the relationship that patients have with their community pharmacist is important, and it must be allowed to continue.

This choice is important, especially for veterans who have sacrificed so much. This decision has negatively impacted scores of veterans, particularly those living in rural areas like the ones I represent in Georgia 12.

My colleagues and I will continue to put pressure on this administration to do the right thing and step up to ensure that community and retail pharmacies are able to continue to serve our military by offering reliable, local access to their medicine. This is critical.

Mr. Chairman, energy security is national security. Both sides recognize this, and that is why we have a Strategic Petroleum Reserve to begin with.

The President's idea of strategy means using the SPR to bail him out for his disastrous energy policies. In less than 2 years, President Biden and his administration have drained 250 million barrels from the SPR. You are going to hear that over and over again today.

Guess what? Gas prices are still over 40 percent higher today than they were before the President took office.

Americans are suffering through the worst energy crisis in decades. To make matters worse, the SPR, once the largest stockpile of fuel anywhere in the world, is now at its lowest level since 1984.

It is time to end this madness and commit to replenishing the SPR, and Republicans have a plan to do that.

Our legislation would tie any future nonemergency drawdowns from the SPR to a concrete plan of action to increase oil and gas production on Federal lands.

The bottom line is this administration needs a plan to refill our SPR. Quite frankly, it is a dereliction of duty that they do not have a plan to restore our energy security.

Mr. Speaker, God created all children with unique skills and talents. We should encourage flexibility in learning to allow each student's gifts to flourish so they can live the American Dream.

On this National School Choice Week, we must empower America's families to have a voice, enabling them to choose a learning environment that is just right for their children, one that will both challenge that student and encourage them to develop their God-given talents.

Sadly, our schoolchildren are facing years' worth of learning and development loss, which is why education freedom today is so important.

According to polling done by the American Federation for Children, 72 percent of voters polled support school choice, highlighting broad bipartisan support on this issue. A ZIP code should never determine a child's future.

As a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, I am committed to advancing the cause of school choice this Congress. I call on my colleagues on both sides to join me and to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Barbara Morris- Lent.

Barbara's late husband, Norman F. Lent, served as a member of this body from 1971 to 1993. Barbara is a past President of the Republican Congressional Spouse Club and has served faithfully as Secretary- Treasurer for over 30 years.

Barbara worked for Verizon until her recent retirement and has served on the board of the Congressional Institute for many years. Barbara has also played a major role in the Auxiliary of the Former Members Association on behalf of the Republican Congressional Spouse Club, for which we are very grateful.

I thank Barbara for all her hard work and dedication to the Club. Her many years of service will fondly remembered by all who have had the pleasure of working alongside her to help make this institution all it can be.