Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous material.

Madam Speaker, ladies and gentlemen, yesterday, the House Freedom Caucus held an offsite unsanctioned hearing on our circumstances at the border.

Now, we did that because we can't have a hearing right here in the Capitol. It is not allowed. The majority won't allow us to talk about it, doesn't want to talk about it themselves.

We are expecting the State of the Union Address from the President in about a month, and I suspect he won't talk about it then either. But the American people want to talk about it. They want to know about it, and they deserve to know about it. It is happening in their country.

Madam Speaker, Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution says that the President shall faithfully execute the laws. We have laws on the books, passed in the House, sent to the Senate, and ratified with a signature by the President of the United States that are being violated. They are being violated--not just disregarded--but actively violated by the President of the United States.

Actively violated. What does that mean? What is that? What would you call it when the Chief Executive Officer, the President of the United States, who takes an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution and the law of the land, not only disregards them but actively works to subvert them? What do you call that? I will let you decide that.

We learned a lot of things at the hearing. It was a great time. One of the things that you might not know as the Speaker's designee, as citizens, is that there is an organization, the International Organization for Migration within the United Nations, the United Nations that your tax dollars pay for. We don't know how much it spends on IOM, but the IOM is counseling people to come across our border illegally, counseling them so they can subvert the laws that your duly- elected legislature has passed, have been signed by the President and should be enforced by the executive branch.

And you are paying. Your tax dollars are going to pay for people to break the law to come into your country illegally, up to 2 million-- probably over 2 million--that the border has touched in the last year. Who knows how many there are that they haven't even interacted with? And that is just 1 year.

Madam Speaker, how long? How long will this go on?

Today is Groundhog Day. I am from Pennsylvania. We had the chief prognosticator, Punxsutawney Phil, who is predicting another 6 weeks of winter. Right? This is Groundhog Day in America for every citizen because every day when they wake up, it is not another 6 weeks, it is not another 6 minutes, it is not another 6 months. We hope, the good Lord, it is not going to be another 6 years. But this keeps happening. This keeps happening every single day. It is unacceptable.

There was a movie made about it, which was a comedy, but this isn't a comedy. This is a tragedy. This is horrific for our country. It is undermining the very things that we stand for, and we ask, we beseech our President to make it end.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Mrs. Boebert).

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Tiffany), a great member of our effort here.

Right.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman, and so well said.

Look, we all want to help. All of us want to help. We earned this position to speak on behalf of our constituents in our home districts. We all want to help; America is the most generous country on the planet. And we know that there are people that are wanting, that are hurting, that are seeking a better opportunity.

We have a process here. If you ask the American people to obey the law, why is it too hard to ask people that aren't American citizens to obey the law? Yet, that is exactly what is happening. That is exactly what's happening. It is unacceptable.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. Greene).

Madam Speaker, I don't know if I can help her with that. I was also in business, we had a mechanical contracting business. It is hard, heavy work, and we too hired American citizens. We had to have documentation for the folks that we hired.

Wouldn't it be great though, since you brought it up, the COMPETES Act, we all want to compete better with China. We know that they are our adversary. They consider us the enemy. First of all, the COMPETES Act doesn't do that, it doesn't do anything to secure America from an aggressive bellicose China.

Shouldn't the COMPETES Act be about a competitive America? What about the competition that American citizens are in in their own country for their own jobs with people that are here illegally. Shouldn't the COMPETES Act be about making sure people don't come here illegally?

Let's face it, some folks already talked about the policy that is-- the Border Patrol said, we need the policy. Policy is in place. Laws are in place. Article II, section 3 says the President will faithful execute. But if the President doesn't faithfully execute the laws that are in place, whether we call the COMPETES Act something against China or whether the COMPETES Act is about American citizens who have to compete in their own country against foreigners, if no one is going to faithfully execute it, it is not going to matter.

Madam Speaker, I think that is a great question. There are over 100,000 dead from overdose due to fentanyl coming through our southern border from Communist China, and yet we are locked down in many places. In the United States in our capital city, people from across the country can't come here and get a meal. You can't even come into the Capitol.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde), maybe he can answer his colleague's question because I sure can't.

Madam Speaker, I inquire with the Chair the time remaining.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy), who has been on the front lines of this issue.

Madam Speaker, I don't want to take from his time, but I just want to add this. People often say to me: What would you cut? What would you cut? Well, you know what I would cut from the State and foreign ops budget, money going to the UN to pay for people to come to our country and cross our border illegally. How about cutting that, sir.

Madam Speaker, if Mr. Roy would join me in a colloquy in the remaining 2 minutes. Mr. Roy sent a letter asking for the report on these Border Patrol agents that had been suspended for allegedly whipping these Haitian illegal crossers. Of course it never happened. Even the photographer that took the pictures said that it never happened.

The only thing that was abused or whipped was the truth and the reputation of our fine Border Patrol agents. Where does that stand right now?

Madam Speaker, no apology. What about for lying to the American people and creating this division. Didn't our Chief Executive run and say that he was going to unite the country? Didn't he say that? He was going to unite the country. Isn't this an opportunity. Release the report--look, none of us are perfect, we all fall short. I think that is one thing we can agree on.

Madam Speaker, when you fall short, is there something wrong with apologizing for your failures?

Madam Speaker, the Secretary knows it and the Secretary just went to the border and talked to Border Patrol. What did they tell him?

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues from the Freedom Caucus for coming and talking about what is happening on the border. I know that the left and the majority party in this House refuse to do it, certainly the President refuses to do it, but we don't refuse to do it. We are going to do it because our country is in peril; our families are in peril; our communities are in peril, and somebody has got to say something and do something about it.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, parliamentary privilege.

Madam Speaker, point of order.

It seems to me that my friend, the gentleman from Maryland, disparaged the gentleman from Indiana here personally and should have his words taken down.

Yes, I am.

Madam Speaker, further parliamentary inquiry.

Accusing a decorated naval officer in the United States military is never in good form and should be out of order in this Chamber.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent south central Pennsylvania, where there is a large community of Ahmadiyya Muslims, the most persecuted--the most persecuted Muslims--in the Muslim faith, but yet there is nothing in this bill to safeguard them.

As a matter of fact, many of my colleagues have and will continue to speak about the lack of definition because it is going to be made up, ladies and gentlemen, it is just going to be made up based on your political proclivities. You are either going to be persecuted or you are not, depending on who you are and who you vote for.

Let's face it, aside from the attempts to placate an anti-Semitic Member of this Chamber, all that is really happening here is that House Democrats are deflecting from the real issue confronting the House of Representatives, and that is that the maker of this bill has no business sitting on House committees, has no business in this Chamber-- a myriad of anti-Semitic comments and those of support of violence and terrorisms against the United States are wholly unacceptable. But we are not going to deal with that because we are going to deal with this.

Let's not forget the moment the author of this bill breathtakingly referred to the murder of nearly 3,000 Americans on 9/11 by Islamist terrorists as some people who did some thing--some people who did something.

During last week's markup of this legislation in the Foreign Affairs Committee, I was assailed by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, they told me I was Islamophobic, nasty, mean, and rude. Why?

Because I offered amendments that would have prevented American tax dollars from going to organizations with ties to terrorism. Ties to terrorism. You would think that that would be something we could agree on because we all agree that nobody should be persecuted based on their faith. We all agree on that.

But American taxpayers shouldn't be forced to pay terrorist organizations; organizations that the maker of this bill is affiliated with, like the one that is an unindicted co-conspirator in the largest terror finance case in the United States of America's history. Not because I say so, because the judge says so.

By intentionally leaving the definition of Islamophobia blank in this bill, the gentlelady and my friends on the other side of the aisle are creating an office in our State Department that will likely spew anti- Semitic hatred and attack Western ideas throughout the world under the farce of protecting Islam.

As you can see by this debate, the goal is to silence dissent and critics of terrorism.

Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 373; NAY on Roll Call No. 374; YEA on Roll Call No. 375; YEA on Roll Call No. 376; NAY on Roll Call No. 377; NAY on Roll Call No. 378; NAY on Roll Call No. 379; YEA on Roll Call No. 380; NAY on Roll Call No. 381; NAY on Roll Call No. 382; NAY on Roll Call No. 383; YEA on Roll Call No. 384; NAY on Roll Call No. 385; and NAY on Roll Call No. 386.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to commemorate the outstanding leadership and judicial excellence of Chief Justice Emeritus Thomas G. Saylor of the Pennsylvania

Supreme Court, for his earning the prestigious Judge Robert E. Dauer Award for Judicial Excellence on behalf of Amen Corner.

Amen Corner is an organization designed to foster relationships amongst people from all walks of life and honor those who have devoted their lives and careers to improving our communities, and serving Pittsburgh since 1870. Amen Corner has a long tradition of honoring members of the Judiciary and Bar Association of Allegheny County and the Commonwealth.

Chief Justice Emeritus Saylor graduated from the University of Virginia in 1969, followed by his graduation from Columbia Law School in 1972, before he began his career in general practice and prosecutor with Somerset County. He later earned a Master of Laws from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2004. His decades of service and tireless work in support of law and the Commonwealth also earned him honorary degrees from the Widener University School of Law and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

Prior to his election as a justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Chief Justice Saylor served as the First Assistant District Attorney with Somerset County before being named the Director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer Protection. He then served as the First Deputy Attorney General for the Commonwealth, preceding his election to the Pennsylvania Superior Court in 1993.

Chief Justice Saylor served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1997, prior to being named Chief Justice of the Court in January 2015. Throughout his time on the Court, he has written more than 400 main opinions and demonstrated the collaborative and effective leadership of an independent judiciary.

For Chief Justice Emeritus Thomas G. Saylor's decades of service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States of America, I am honored to recognize his achievements and contributions, and congratulate him on earning the Judge Robert E. Dauer Award for Judicial Leadership and Excellence.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize Mr. Larry J. Miller's retirement upon his 50 years of dedication and service to PeoplesBank, a Codorus Valley Company and its community. On December 31, 2021, Mr. Miller will retire from the Codorus Valley Bancorp, Inc. Board of Directors, the parent company of PeoplesBank.

On March 1, 1971, Larry joined PeoplesBank (then known as Peoples Bank of Glen Rock) as a management trainee. He was the youngest person to serve as a bank president in Pennsylvania when he became President of the bank at age 30 in 1981. He served in that role until 2016. In addition, he has served as director, President and Chief Executive Officer of Codorus Valley Bancorp, Inc. from 1986 to October 1, 2021. His 50 years of service to PeoplesBank, the community and the banking industry has been nothing short of remarkable.

When Larry Miller was hired, the bank had three branch locations and managed $23 million in assets. During his tenure, the bank's assets grew to over $2 billion. He led PeoplesBank's growth to become the largest bank with headquarters in York County. As CEO, he led the opening of 25, the relocation of four, the combining of one and the closure of three locations. In addition, he oversaw the purchase of two insurance companies, the creation of the mortgage and trust divisions, the development of corporate and administrative centers and the acquisition of four branch banks in Maryland. Fourteen limited-service facilities were also opened throughout his tenure.

His dedication to and impact on York County is evident through his active involvement in the community, as he serves on various non-profit boards of directors in leadership capacities. Throughout his tenure, he has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the United Way of York County, the York County Economic Development Corporation, YorkCounts, the Cultural Alliance of York County, and Wellspan Heath System.

Larry has been honored for his achievements and contributions through several recognition awards, including the York County Economic Alliance's Business Achievement Award, the Southern School District Foundation's distinguished Leader Award, the 2021 Distinguished Humanitarian Award Honoree by Penn-Mar Human Services, and his induction into the Central Penn Business Hall of Fame.

I am proud to honor Mr. Larry J. Miller and recognize his important contributions to our communities throughout his five decades of leadership in York County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I wish him God's many blessings as he embarks upon his next adventure.

Madam Speaker, in the name of science, congressional Democrats are continuing their unconstitutional, unlawful march to force Americans to get the jab.

Think about it. Democrats are already on the path to ruin Christmas, destroying the supply chain. They are just going to keep going, right? Destroying industry after industry.

For a party who praised America's healthcare workers when there wasn't a jab available, who were out there on the front lines, now if they don't get it, it is okay to fire them, and not a word.

Finally, mandates for defense contractors and intelligence workers who have to make a choice between defending their country and putting their own life in peril, and no discussion about natural immunity, none whatsoever. You could have had COVID already. Not good enough. You have got to get the jab or lose your job.

Vote against this.

Madam 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.

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

Madam Speaker, I'm honored to recognize Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) Nhan H. Vo upon his retirement as the Quality Assurance and Self-Assessment Program Manager of the 193rd Special Operations Wing (SOW), Pennsylvania Air National Guard.

SMSgt Vo began his military career in the United States Navy in 1991, as a Yeoman on the USS Nassau (LHA-4) where he deployed to Norway, Guantanamo Bay, Haiti, and two tours in the Mediterranean through 1995. In addition, he is an honorary Blue Nose and Shellback.

In 1999, he enlisted with the United States Air Force at the 193rd SOW where he served in various positions with its Communications Squadron, Readiness Squadron, and the 148th Air Support Operations Squadron.

Within the 193rd SOW, SMSgt Vo also served as Diversity Facilitator, Security Forces Augmentee, Physical Fitness Training Augmentee, Special Operations Logistic Readiness Squadron Top Three President, 148th Air Support Operations Squadron First Sergeant, FEMA Region III Homeland Response Force, and Joint Task Force /District of Columbia during Presidential Inauguration operations in 2009 and 2013.

SMSgt Vo's many deployments were in support of Operations Support Democracy, Deny Flight, Sharp Guard, Provide Promise, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Inherent Resolve. During his career, he twice was awarded the Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for the 193rd SOW, earning the designation with the 193rd Regional Support Group and 193rd SOW. His numerous medals earned throughout his decorated career of service include the: Air Force Meritorious Service Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Force Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Commendation Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

I am honored to honor SMSgt Nhan H. Vo's career of distinguished service to the 193rd SOW, the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and our United States of America. I wish him God's many blessings as he departs this phase of his life and embarks upon his next adventure.

Madam Speaker, on December 16, the Kingdom of Bahrain will mark its 50th National Day. I'm joined by many of my colleagues in congratulating the Bahraini people on this impressive milestone.

The contributions of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the peace and security of the wider Middle East region cannot be understated; look no further than the support of Bahrain in assisting U.S. evacuation efforts in Afghanistan, or to the Kingdom's hosting of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. Bahrain also assists U.S. counterterrorism efforts in marginalizing the use of drones by Iranian proxy groups.

Bahrain remains an instrumental security partner and ally of the United States. In 2002, Bahrain became a Major Non-NATO Ally, a designation given only to close partner states. Through our enhanced defense cooperation, we have been able to curtail the malign and toxic influence of the Iranian regime.

The Kingdom of Bahrain has so clearly augmented the prospect for regional peace through its participation in the Abraham Accords, and now maintains an embassy in Israel. Bahrain's Constitution continues to enshrine freedom of religion guarantees for all Bahraini citizens--to include women's right to vote and run for office.

In recognition of its 50th National Day, I warmly congratulate the people of Bahrain on the founding of their young nation, and wish them good health, prosperity, and security for many more years.

Madam Speaker, on November 10th the world saw the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh come to an end, and with it, the rightful restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

As many Azerbaijani citizens know all too well, last year's war was not an isolated incident. After a ceasefire agreement ending the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in May of 1994, in which Armenia took approximately l4 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized

territory, tensions between the two countries remained unresolved, and for good reason--the illegal seizure of these territories was in direct violation of no less than four United Nations Security Council Resolutions passed the year before (UNSCRs 822, 853, 874, and 884).

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States and Azerbaijan have maintained robust ties and a strong strategic partnership. Our Nation was one of the first countries to recognize Azerbaijani independence in the early 1990s, and since then, we have worked together with the Azerbaijani government to protect and promote European energy security, increase trade and investment, and combat terrorism and other transnational threats.

Azerbaijan has proven time and again to be steadfast partners, with her servicemen proudly serving shoulder-to-shoulder with U.S. Forces in Kosovo and Iraq. Azerbaijan began its peacekeeping presence in Afghanistan in 2002 and was one of the last foreign countries to withdraw its troops. In support of the U.S. mission, Azerbaijan allowed about 40 percent of all cargo destined for NATO personnel in Afghanistan to pass through their country.

One year following the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, I extend my best wishes to the people of Azerbaijan following the fortification of their nation's territorial integrity, and urge both Armenia and Azerbaijan to sign a definitive and final peace agreement. Peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan will boost bilateral relations between the two countries and ensure increased regional cooperation.

Madam Speaker, I am privileged and humbled to recognize Officer Robin W. Bloss upon the occasion of his retirement from the Penbrook Borough Police Force after more than thirty years of service.

Officer Bloss began his journey as a Paxtang Borough Police Officer upon completion of Officer Training at the PA State Police Training Center in Hershey. Despite his recent introduction to the Force, he managed to remain employed full-time as a maintenance electrician with the Ames Companies Inc., while working 20-hour weeks with the Department.

Officer Bloss later transitioned to the Penbrook Borough Police Department, serving as a Bike Patrol Officer and the Borough Business Contact for maintaining emergency notification information. Throughout his many years with the Department, he received a litany of awards for his service, to include: Medal of Valor; Certificate of Merit; and multiple Lifesaving Awards.

In the Fall of 2003, Officer Bloss received the Medal of Valor when he and Officer Swank saved an infant's life during a violent domestic dispute on Boas Street. His Certificate of Merit was earned as he was on duty when shots were fired at Capitol Police. He earned his three Lifesaving Awards for CPR performed throughout his decades of service.

Officer Bloss loved serving the community and was proud to wear the uniform, which he did with dignity and integrity. As proud as he was of his work in law enforcement, his three sons were his priority and focus of his greatest pride. He was blessed to serve simultaneously with two of his sons--one as Swatara Township K9 Police Officer, and one as a Dauphin County Dispatcher.

Throughout his work as a patrol and bike patrol officer, he served with distinction, working the job and community events that frequently took him away from his family and myriad holidays and special events. Despite his retirement, however, Officer Bloss will remain in service to citizens of the Borough of Paxtang as its EMA Coordinator.

I commend Officer Robin Bloss upon the auspicious occasion of his hard-earned retirement and lifelong commitment. For his tireless, selfless, and loyal service to our community, Commonwealth, and Nation, I wish him Godspeed on his next adventures.