Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today, we are bringing a very important piece of legislation to the floor, the Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act, a key piece of legislation to ensure our country stays ahead of our adversaries.

Businesses and universities in the United States work constantly to innovate, improve, and invent the best technologies and systems in this world. This is what keeps America on the leading edge. Our Nation's determination and commitment to achieving the best has allowed us to develop the best technologies in all fields. Through strategic investments under the leadership of President Trump, this will continue for many years to come.

In today's era of strategic competition, Congress needs to provide the administration with the tools it needs to ensure American technologies are not falling into the hands of our adversaries. Malign actors like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran would gladly seek to use our very own goods and technologies against us, whether in military engagements or on the economic battlefield.

America's open, competitive economy has allowed us to become the global leader in cutting-edge technologies,

but in order to maintain this advantage, we must be able to track how American technology is used around the world.

My bill, the Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act helps to ensure increased transparency and accountability in the export control process by creating better reporting in the licensing application process, giving critical information to both Congress and the administration.

My bill creates a mechanism for tracking and reporting of export licenses and can be utilized to form a paper trail to understand where American-made technologies are going, who is using them, and how they may be getting diverted to adversarial nations. If our adversaries are benefiting from American technology, we must know exactly how that happened and who is responsible.

Further, my bill will provide necessary clarity on how licensing determinations are made by producing information for each application, including the applicant, the recipient, and the compliance measures implemented to uphold export regulations. With this necessary information in one place, we will have a better understanding of where American-made technologies are going abroad, who is supposed to have them, and how we can support the administration to close gaps being exploited by our adversaries.

The American free market has led to some of the most incredible technological advances of all time, so it is important that we modernize our export control process to help protect it. Export controls are a key national security tool for the administration in these increasingly dangerous times. Therefore, Congress should swiftly pass this legislation and send it to President Trump's desk.

As my chairman mentioned, this bill passed the House unanimously in the 118th Congress. The only difference between this year's bill and last year's bill is that we have incorporated some helpful technical assistance provided by the new administration to ensure the legislation better executes the letter of the law and congressional intent.

I thank Chairman Mast and Ranking Member Meeks for supporting this legislation and working together to see that this bill made it to the floor today. I also thank the co-leads of this bipartisan and bicameral legislation, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, Senator Jim Banks, and Senator Mark Warner.

Greater transparency and accountability in export controls is a critical national security issue that everyone should have an interest in supporting. I urge all of my colleagues to support this critical piece of legislation that will enhance our national security and economic competitiveness while protecting American innovation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and express my deepest gratitude to my former Chief of Staff, Jeffery Ronald Billman of Irving, Texas, for his dedicated service, steadfast leadership, and unwavering commitment to the people of Texas' Thirteenth Congressional District. As my first Chief of Staff, Jeff played an instrumental role in helping me to become a better Member of Congress, advancing the interests of Texas Thirteen, and ensuring that my constituents received the representation they truly deserve.

Jeff, a native from Sacramento, California, found himself interested in American History and Politics, which brought him to the University of Dallas, where he received his bachelor's degree in history and a master's degrees in American studies. Following graduation, Jeff moved to Washington, D.C. and started his career in public service.

Throughout his time in Washington, Jeff's distinguished career included serving as a Special Assistant to the Chief Deputy Whip for Deputy Whip Peter Roskam, Legislative Assistant for Congressman Peter Roskam, Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Peter Roskam, Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Kevin Hern, and Legislative Director and Deputy Chief of Staff for Ranking Member Kevin Brady before coming to Team Jackson as my Chief of Staff. His extensive experience, knowledge, and leadership in these roles have helped shape policy and governance at the highest levels.

During his tenure in my office, Jeff was instrumental in my success on the House Armed Services Committee, House Agriculture Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee, and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He provided key legislative guidance that strengthened our national security and helped assemble a top-tier team to serve the people of Texas Thirteen.

Currently, Jeff serves as Senior Vice President of Government Relations at AxAdvocacy, where he continues to use his vast expertise and experience to advocate for important issues that shape public policy.

While Jeff has moved on to new opportunities, his legacy of service will not be forgotten. I have no doubt that he will continue to excel and make a meaningful difference in whatever endeavors he pursues. On behalf of myself, my staff, and the people of the Thirteenth Congressional District of Texas, I extend my sincere appreciation to Jeff Billman for his years of hard work, dedication, and service to the state of Texas and our great Nation.

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

Mr. Speaker, on October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists brutally murdered and kidnapped hundreds of innocent Israelis. Over a year later, Hamas still holds hostages--some dead but many alive.

In response to these truly horrific attacks, Israel has defended itself from Hamas and other Iranian terrorist proxies.

I would have expected the international community to unequivocally condemn these barbaric terrorist attacks by Hamas and support Israel's fight for survival. However, corrupt international organizations like the International Criminal Court have issued arrest warrants against Israeli officials for simply trying to defend themselves and defend their country.

The ICC's anti-Semitism speaks volumes. This is an unacceptable attack against our greatest ally, and the United States must make it clear that those who participate in these illegitimate prosecutions from the ICC are subject to the strongest possible sanctions.

America needs leadership, and this is where we need it. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand with Israel and to vote for H.R. 23.

Mr. Speaker, the NDAA is one of the most important pieces of legislation we consider each year, and I am proud to support it this year.

First, I thank Chairman Rogers for his outstanding leadership in crafting such a strong defense bill.

This NDAA will modernize our military, improve the lives of servicemembers, and address the threats faced by our Nation.

This legislation will authorize major construction projects at the Pantex Plant, provide a pathway for Sheppard Air Force Base to be designated as a technical training center of excellence, and ensure key programs like the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft remain on track.

The NDAA also reestablishes the medical officer of the Marine Corps to ensure proper medical care is provided for our United States Marines.

Finally, the bill halts the dangerous proposed cuts to the Special Operations Forces of our country.

I thank, again, Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for their leadership in putting together such an impactful bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``yes'' on the NDAA.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 403.

Mr. Speaker, today we are bringing to the floor a very important bill, the Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act.

Our country's determination and commitment to achieving what was once thought impossible has led to some of the most incredible technological advances in the history of the world. Consequently, many of the world's very best and most advanced goods are made right here in the United States of America. However, the reality is that it is hard to keep good things to yourself, and nations across the world want to benefit from American goods themselves.

As a general principle, we are happy to export the fruits of our labor because international trade is an important part of any successful and vibrant economy, especially for a country like the United States, but the harsh reality is that not every country who wants access to our goods and materials is friendly to the United States. Malign actors like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran would gladly seek to use our very own goods and technologies against us, whether in military engagements or on the economic battlefield.

The type of goods I am speaking about are not just overtly military hardware, like night vision goggles, tanks, or stealth technology. These bad actors are constantly thinking of new creative ways to use anything and everything against us, making everyday commercial items produced right here in the United States ripe to be weaponized against the American people.

One example would be telecommunications equipment. Anything from routers to cell phones to Bluetooth technology are generally thought of as harmless commercial goods, but they all have huge national security and military implications as well, especially in the hands of our adversaries. These so-called dual-use technologies are the type of goods that our current export controls attempt to prevent from falling into the hands of malign actors.

My bill, the Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act, seeks to ensure increased transparency and accountability in the export control process by mandating a report on export control license applications.

Simply put, my bill creates a mechanism through tracking and reporting on export control license applications that can be utilized to form a paper trail to understand where dual-use technologies came from, who produced them, and whom they were sold to.

If our enemies are utilizing American technology against us, we need to know exactly how that happened and why. Further, my bill will provide some clarity to Congress on how these decisions are made.

Every 90 days, the House and the Senate would receive a report on export control license applications, gaining insight into where our American-made dual-use technologies are going abroad.

I want nothing more than for the American economy to be strong, open, and free, and international trade is a crucial part of that vision. Ultimately, our own free market cannot also be used as a source of our own downfall by allowing our adversaries to use our goods and technologies against us.

My bill ensures accountability and trackability when we send dual-use goods abroad.

In these increasingly dangerous times, there is a need for strong export controls with adequate oversight, which is why my bill passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee by a vote of 43-0. I thank Chairman McCaul for his cosponsorship of the legislation and Ranking Member Meeks for supporting this legislation in our committee. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, as it is necessary for our national security.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 8 o'clock and 35 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, and pursuant to House Resolution 1427, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate and noon for legislative business, as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Honorable William J. Pascrell, Jr.

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

Mr. Chair, Amarillo, Texas, is home to the Pantex plant, our Nation's only nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility.

The saying within the nuclear enterprise is ``all roads lead to Pantex'' because this facility in my district is a mandatory stop for every single nuclear weapon within our Navy and Air Force that provides continuous global strategic deterrence.

Despite the critical importance of Pantex, the Biden-Harris administration tried to cancel a key modernization project at the site, the High Explosive Synthesis, Formulation, and Production facility. However, Congress successfully rejected that proposed cut and restored funding for the project in March to help keep it on track.

Well, here we go again. The FY25 budget request once again seeks to pause this important project and provide zero funding for the High Explosive Synthesis, Formulation, and Production facility.

While the underlying bill provides some funding for the project, I believe that we need to take steps to ensure the Department of Energy cannot stop this vital project. That is exactly what my amendment does. It prohibits the administration from halting construction of the much- needed High Explosive Synthesis, Formulation, and Production facility at Pantex.

This major construction project will enhance our nuclear deterrence capability by allowing the National Nuclear Security Administration to modernize and scale its high-explosive production capabilities to meet the pressing and urgent stockpile requirements.

Right now, Pantex relies on a single, external vendor for large-scale synthesis, formulation, and blending for high-explosive products and, unfortunately, we have seen significant issues with that vendor, including lack of prioritization and late deliveries.

As it stands right now, this reality presents a single point of failure in the nuclear enterprise that could bring our nuclear weapons production to a grinding halt if anything goes wrong.

Once this project is complete, NNSA will be able to meet all long- term high-explosive material needs for the weapons stockpile while successfully mitigating nearly all risks associated with production. The new facility will improve the control systems for formulation and allow for higher confidence in repeatability between batches, something that is incredibly important when you are talking about high explosives combined with nuclear weapons.

Most importantly, I repeat that this will eliminate a single point of failure in our nuclear weapons supply chain that currently exists. We can no longer afford to delay investments in the Pantex plant and the nuclear enterprise. The world is in a dangerous place with constant global threats from China, Iran, Russia, North Korea, nonstate actors, and more, and our nuclear deterrent is quite possibly the most important tool in our arsenal.

Mr. Chair, I urge all Members to support my amendment to prohibit the administration from halting construction on this critical modernization initiative. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the gentlewoman from Ohio's comments, and I understand that the government does spend too much money. I am also interested in looking for ways we can stop useless or wasteful spending.

However, I will say that you are right that the money is in the bill for this particular project. I also agree with you that I don't want to take the autonomy away from all of these departments. I think they should have some autonomy to do what they need to with their budget and with their money.

However, I feel strongly about this because, as I mentioned, this is a single point of failure in our nuclear supply chain. I have spent lots of time at Pantex talking to them about the consequences of this, some of the problems with the single-source vendor that we currently have.

I feel like this is important enough that we need an insurance policy in the form of this amendment to make sure that this money that is currently in the bill does not get taken out and used for any other process.

I would be interested in looking at other areas to save money, but I don't think this is the particular area that is in our best interest, from a national security standpoint, to save that money.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate the comments of the gentlewoman, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues to support my amendment to rein in the overreach of the Fish and Wildlife Service under the Biden-Harris administration by restoring funding to the fiscal year 2021 level.

Under this administration, the Fish and Wildlife Service has caused significant harm to the industries that are most important to our rural communities. President Biden, Vice President Harris, and their entire administration have weaponized the Endangered Species Act to target America's agricultural and oil and gas producers in an effort to advance radical Green New Deal initiatives.

In contrast, during the Trump administration, the Fish and Wildlife Service undertook efforts to add and remove species from the endangered and threatened species list based solely on the best available scientific and commercial information.

Unfortunately, the Biden and Harris administration has proven they are more focused on political motivations and appeasing the radical left than they are in undertaking efforts to responsibly conserve species. Make no mistake: The listing of the lesser prairie-chicken, the northern long-eared bat, and the Texas kangaroo rat are nothing more than an attempt to destroy the livelihoods of America's farmers, ranchers, and oil and gas producers.

The conservation of our wildlife and natural habitats can only be done successfully when it is driven by local conservation efforts that balance responsible stewardship and economic development.

This cannot be done by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., who are pushing a climate-change narrative. This body must restore fiscal sanity and curb the Fish and Wildlife Service's abusive power and out- of-control funding level.

Mr. Chair, I urge every Member of this body to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I once again encourage all of my colleagues to vote for this. This is just another example of out-of- control government regulation, and I think this is in the best interests of our country.

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

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

Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to support my amendment to stop the Federal land grab happening in my district by the Biden-Harris administration's radical Fish and Wildlife Service.

My amendment will prohibit the implementation of the devastating proposed rule to list the Texas kangaroo rat as endangered which would subsequently designate 600,000 acres of private property across five counties as critical habitat.

This decision is another example of the Biden-Harris administration's weaponization of the Endangered Species Act against American farmers, ranchers, and oil and gas producers.

A designation of this land will significantly harm everyday Americans who provide food and fuel that our country relies upon by putting in place overburdensome, expensive, and overreaching regulations that are completely unnecessary.

While the State of Texas has already taken the initiative to voluntarily enroll thousands of acres of agricultural land to conserve the Texas kangaroo rat, the Biden-Harris Fish and Wildlife Service has decided to ignore these efforts by imposing aggressive regulations that carry significant civil and criminal penalties.

Farming and ranching industries are the cornerstone of Texas' unique history, heritage, and economy, and this proposed rule is a direct attack on Texas agriculture.

Unfortunately, the Biden-Harris administration will stop at nothing to advance its radical, Green New Deal agenda and destroy our way of life.

Texas has a proud history of responsible land management, and for any effort to succeed, it must be driven by our local communities rather than bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Chair, I urge every Member of this body to support my amendment to stop this radical overreach by the Federal Government, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I will say that as a marine biologist, I am totally in full support of making sure that we do not do things that drive a species into extinction. I will say, however, that there must be a balance with an economic impact, and the economic impact in the district that I represent in the panhandle of Texas would be devastating.

I think that these decisions on placing species on the endangered species list must be driven by scientific data, not by political ideology.

Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chair, my amendment seeks to reset the budget of the Office of the Attending Physician to appropriate levels.

The Office of the Attending Physician to Congress was created nearly 100 years ago following the unexpected deaths of several Members of Congress.

I think we can all agree there is a need for medical care here in Congress to provide things like preventative medicine, vaccinations for travel, and occasional emergency medical care. I do not disagree with that concept.

That being said, during the pandemic and in the years following, the Office of the Attending Physician was provided substantial increases in funding, which might have been necessary to meet the unique challenges being presented at the time.

However, the pandemic is long over, and it is time to restore fiscal sanity to the Federal Government across the board, and that includes bringing this office's budget back to prepandemic levels.

In addition, and, unfortunately, what was meant to be a nonpartisan role of Attending Physician to Congress has been highly politicized by the current Attending Physician.

Dr. Monahan was appointed to his current position in 2009, and according to the Congressional Research Service, has been the longest serving person in the role since the 1960s.

During his historically long tenure, the attending physician has grown extremely close to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In 2021, he actively did her bidding by implementing a politically motivated mask mandate here in the House of Representatives despite that not being in line with the best available science or the CDC recommendations at the time.

What made this mask mandate particularly political was that there was no mask mandate across the Capitol in

the United States Senate. Under Speaker Pelosi, masks were required in the House; however, crossing to the upper Chamber, the mandate went away. Members might ask how that is possible.

Well, it is possible because Nancy Pelosi directed it to occur. Dr. Monahan compromised himself and abandoned good medical judgment in order to appease the left's radical COVID lockdown agenda as part of their power-seeking political agenda.

While there are ample reforms needing to occur in this office and despite the fact that the person currently occupying the job has become political, I am not calling to completely slash funding. I simply want to bring the funding back to a reasonable level.

Before the pandemic, the Office of the Attending Physician received roughly $3.8 million per year. Since then, the budget has ballooned by nearly 15 percent. While that increase might have been necessary to address some of the unique challenges created by COVID, it is certainly not justifiable now.

Some might argue that this is a small amount of money and that we should look the other way because it is just a drop in the bucket. However, I personally refuse to stand by as taxpayer dollars are funneled to a now highly politicized office, which was weaponized at the time to advance the left's radical lockdown agenda at the Capitol during the pandemic.

Mr. Chair, I urge every Member of this body to support my reasonable amendment to restore the funding to appropriate levels in this particular office, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I would still continue to make the argument that there was care provided to this body before the pandemic with the budget that was in place at the time. I think we can reasonably go back to that same budget now that COVID is no longer a threat to this body, and I recommend that we do so.

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

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chair, I arrived just after the vote closed on the floor. Had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 327.

Mr. Speaker, I was talking on the floor and did not vote. I was not paying attention. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 283.

Stated against:

Mr. Chair, first, I thank the chairman for his leadership in crafting such a powerful Defense bill that takes transformational strides to improve the quality of life for our servicemembers.

As a former servicemember and as a father and father-in-law of Active-Duty members, I understand how truly important this is. This year's NDAA also ensures Texas' 13th Congressional District is at the heart of supporting our military.

It takes steps to designate a new Air Force Technical Training Center of Excellence, which Sheppard Air Force Base is well positioned for.

The bill improves the quality of life for our servicemembers and their families living in Wichita Falls while also helping to get the T- 7 program back on track.

This bill provides key support for our employees at Bell helicopter in Amarillo and will significantly modernize the Pantex Plant.

Last, I will give a special thanks to my defense fellow, Travis Clay, for his outstanding work in my office this year. Travis brings invaluable experience to the team as a Navy pilot, and the United States Navy is lucky to have him.

Mr. Chair, once again, I can't stress how important this year's NDAA is to the national security of our country.

Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this NDAA.

Mr. Chair, I was not paying attention and missed the vote. I was on the floor. Had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 244.

Amendment No. 45 Offered by Mr. Steube

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Paul Frederick Engler of Amarillo, Texas. Paul was a lifelong entrepreneur and innovator, whose passion and dedication transformed the cattle feeding industry.

Born in Stuart, Nebraska, Engler's passion for the cattle industry started at a young age, buying his first cattle herd at age 12. At 15 years old, Engler graduated from High School and went on to complete his undergraduate degree in agriculture at the University of Nebraska.

Engler moved to Hereford, Texas in 1960, founding Hereford Feedyard, where his entrepreneurial instincts and determination allowed him to drive economic development in the Panhandle. By 1972, he had become an executive at Iowa Beef Processors, once the largest beef processor in the Nation. While Engler had already established a notable reputation for himself in the cattle feeding industry, in 1975, he moved to Dumas, Texas, where he founded Cactus Feeders, and under his leadership, Cactus Feeders would become one of the largest feeding operations in the world.

Through innovative feeding programs, rigorous quality standards, and a commitment to continuous improvement, Paul Engler elevated the standards of excellence in beef production, earning the respect and admiration of his peers across the globe. To name a few, he was named a ``Top 40 Beef Industry Giant,'' received the Cattle Business of the Century Award, the Industry Advancement Award, and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association Vision Award. He was an initial inductee to the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame and the first recipient of the Industry Achievement Award. He was also inducted to the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Meat Industry Hall of Fame.

Beyond his professional achievements, at heart, Paul Engler was a philanthropist dedicated to giving back to the communities that have supported him throughout his journey. Through the Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation, he has made significant contributions to West Texas A&M University, where he received an Honorary Ph.D. in Business Administration and Agriculture from the College of Business and the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, both bearing his name. The Paul F. and Virginia J. Engler Foundation also helped establish the Engler Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to support agribusiness and establish a student program focused on entrepreneurship with the goal that students who graduate from the program would return to their communities inspired to build strong businesses.

Engler was laid to rest in Amarillo, Texas on May 8, 2024, surrounded by his family and friends. His contributions to the agriculture industry will remain unmatched, and he will be truly missed by the countless individuals he impacted. Engler was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia, and his oldest daughter Teresa Raizen. Engler is survived by Michael Engler and wife Dalia, Matthew Engler, Mark Engler, Jennifer Coleman and husband Tom, and Sara Cady and husband Steve. He also leaves grandchildren Rachel, Nat, Garrett, Ryan, Ben, Claire, Jaxon, Emma, and Sofia, and four great-grandchildren Able, Trevor, Tyler, and August. Engler is also survived by stepdaughters Claudia Gilson and husband John, Cathleen May and husband Jeff, and Caroline Faulks and husband Steve. Paul also leaves behind his beloved sister, Katherine Anderson. A mentor and friend to many, I join his family, friends, and the people of the Texas Panhandle in celebrating Paul Frederick Engler's life and legacy.