Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, up there where you sit, last night Joe Biden stood here and delivered his State of the Union address. He spoke about lots of issues. But he didn't even touch on the biggest issue facing our country today, and that is the southern border.

Make no mistake, the state of our border, it is not good. The Border Patrol has encountered over 150,000 illegal aliens--not last year but just last month, in January, just 33 days ago, when they tallied up those numbers. That is a 96 percent, almost 100 percent increase from last year.

Over 62,000, out of that 150,000, 62,000 of those individuals were released into the United States. It is unbelievable. It is unacceptable. It is dangerous.

When I get to travel around North Carolina and visit with law enforcement, as I love to do and have the honor of doing, the sheriffs tell me there are about 3,200 counties in this amazing country. They said every single sheriff right now is a border sheriff because of the policies that are happening right here, just down the street in the White House. There are drugs, fentanyl.

We think about the devastation and the suffering years ago in the Vietnam war, a decade where we lost about 70,000 servicemembers. We think about what we lose every single year, not in a decade, but every single year from drug overdoses. That is about 70,000, largely because of what happens at the border.

Just a few months ago, when I was down there visiting with our Customs and Border Patrol agents, they were off duty that day. We were in a pickup truck as far as from here to, Madam Speaker, where you sit. They slammed on the brakes and said: I am sorry. I have got to go on duty. I have to arrest these cartel members.

He said the sad thing is they will be back out on the street or, in this case, back out in the desert in just a few days.

We looked all up and down the border, and there was tens of millions of dollars of steel just laying there. Then there was tens of millions of dollars' worth of idle diesel equipment that has been idle since January 20 of last year.

He said: You know what? We need to finish this wall.

That is what the Customs and Border Patrol agent told me. He says: But what we really need, what we really need is an administration that has our back and, sir, right now, we don't have that.

Instead, Madam Speaker, what we have is an astounding 11,200 pounds of fentanyl, deadly fentanyl that was seized last year, and even more has made it into the homeland. It is killing thousands of our fellow Americans. Dangerous cartels are flooding this country with counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and meth. All of this can be prevented and should be prevented. It must be prevented.

The bottom line is it is time to finish the wall. It is time to support our border agents and end this administration's dereliction of duty.

Madam Speaker, as we close out the calendar year, I rise today to commemorate the 250-year anniversary of the Battle of Alamance.

In 1771, a group of North Carolinians took a stand for their rights, raising their voices in opposition to the unjust overreach and abuses they were subjected to under the watch of royal governor William Tryon. These colonists branded themselves as the Regulators--seeking to protect individual liberties that had been encroached upon by a government more interested in serving itself than its people. Of primary concern to the Regulators were issues of unfair taxation, corruption, and illegally assessed fines, penalties, and fees.

Governor Tryon caught wind of the Regulators' revolt and moved swiftly to silence them. Assembling a militia at New Bern, Tryon and his forces headed west. The conflict reached its height when armed Regulators were met by the Governor's militiamen in modern-day Alamance County. Refusing to be subdued, the Regulators defied Tryon's call for their surrender and the Governor charged his militia to open fire. Many Regulators were killed, injured, or taken prisoner; but their cause was not forgotten and their bravery not wasted.

Preceding the onset of the Revolutionary War, the Regulator Movement gave public face to the frustrations of colonists who recognized they were toyed with like pawns at the hands of a power-hungry British Empire and its corrupt regime of abusive officials. Surely, it was the righteous anger, bold indignation, and strong resolve of these early North Carolinians that set flame to the hearts of their fellow American patriots who would declare their independence with resounding authority in 1776, affirming:

. . . That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to

be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they are absolved from

all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political

Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain is and

ought to be totally dissolved.''

Madam Speaker, as we reflect on the Regulators' courage, may we in this Congress vow to preserve the fundamental rights to life and liberty that undergird our American prosperity. Please join me in tribute to the spirit of the American Revolution as displayed in 1771 at the Battle of Alamance, in a county I have the high privilege of representing within North Carolina's 13th Congressional District.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) for hosting this very special hour.

Now, the Apostle Paul, when he was in prison and was persecuted for his faith and was awaiting execution for it, he wrote to his young mentee, Timothy. He wrote in the original Koine Greek, which was the trade language of the day, and he penned these words: ``kyruxon ton logon.'' That is, again, Greek, but the English translation would be ``preach the word.'' It is 2 Timothy 4:2, and it is the motto of my alma mater, Dallas Theological Seminary.

The verse goes on to say: ``be ready in season and out of season.''

There are moments when the Word of God is popular and people want to hear it. Now it seems there are increasingly frequent moments when it is unpopular and out of season to preach the Word.

Friends, colleagues, Madam Speaker, social trends, they come and go, and as the prophet Isaiah and then again the Apostle Peter hundreds of years later tells us, ``The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord,'' the very one we honor this week and in this hour, the Word of God stands forever. Peter closes out that chapter by saying: ``And this Word is the good news that was preached to you.''

So as we approach this Christmas season, might we do something a little out of season in this day and age. Might we turn to the Scriptures, whether it is the Old Testament that prophesies forward to the first Christmas, or to Matthew and Luke's account of that first Christmas, or to the rest of the Scriptures that show our saving response to that first Christmas, that first Good Friday and the very first Easter, resurrection Sunday.

Friends, the Word of God stands forever in these tenuous times, and in these tenuous times, access to the eternal is really what we need. The apostle Peter closes out this chapter and this verse that I referred to earlier and he says, ``And this Word is the good news that was preached to you.'' And, friends, good news it is.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of James Merimon Painter, who passed away in Prospect Hill, North Carolina on October 23, 2021.

James Painter spent his entire life advocating for and serving the community he loved. From helping his parents on their farm during the Great Depression, to advising the Caswell Vocational Commission Services and the Caswell Civic Center Committees, Painter was one who truly put his community before himself.

James took his knowledge of farming with him to the United States Navy where he was selected to lead a farming unit on the Mariana Island of Tinian to feed American Gls in the Pacific. While serving, he sustained serious injuries from sniper fire; and on a separate occasion, his tractor ran over a land-mine. Following the incident, Mr. Painter jokingly said, ``that was a waste of a perfectly good tractor.''

After the war, James returned to his cattle farm and got married to his wife of 55 years--Ms. Josephine ``Jo'' Murchison. While predominantly raising beef cattle and grain, he served his community as the President of the Caswell County Farm Bureau, a position he proudly held for 17 years. Additionally, he was a member of the NC Farm Bureau Federation Board for 23 years. He won several different agriculture awards over the years--most notably being named ``Cattleman of the Year'' in 1975--while his family received the Soil and Water Conservation Farm Family award of 1979.

In describing Mr. Painter's life, Caswell County Farm Bureau colleague Lucas Bernard wrote that, ``James Painter will be remembered for his service to his community, Caswell County agriculture, and his nation. He has been an inspiration to me by seeing and hearing about his dedication to farming and agriculture locally, as well as overseas during WWII.''

James Painter was preceded in death by his wife, Josephine, and is survived by his nieces and nephews. The Caswell County community has lost a great soul, advocate, and gentleman with Mr. Painter's passing. May he forever rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring James Merimon Painter for his service to his community and his sacrifice for this Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Dr. Gary and Karolyn Chapman as they celebrate 50 years of ministry at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC.

When Gary and Karolyn Chapman began their ministry at Calvary in 1971 at the invitation of Dr. Mark Corts, they didn't land immediately within the business of strengthening marriages. It was only after the Chapmans had been faithfully leading the college and single adult ministries of the church that God opened a door for them to reach those encountering relational difficulties, primarily focusing on married couples and families.

Karolyn has long been involved in encouraging other pastors' wives, a hugely important work to minister to the behind-the-scenes supporters that she's uniquely suited to care for. In addition to this, Calvary and all its members have been blessed through Karolyn's beautiful voice and her devotion to the church's choir ministry.

Millions of relationships have experienced healing and restoration through Gary's work as a pastor, marriage counselor, and author of over fifty books including his best-selling The Five Love Languages, which has sold over 20 million copies and been translated into more than 50 different languages. While Gary formally retired from his position as Senior Associate Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church at the end of July, he continues to write and teach, and neither he nor Karolyn have any plans of retiring from ministry altogether.

Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Gary and Karolyn on a half-century of faithful service invested in sharing Christ's love with the world. Their example has been an inspiration to me, my family, and to so many. May we all continue to grow closer to Christ as we follow their example.

Madam Speaker, the situation in Afghanistan left behind by the President's hasty withdrawal has been horrific. It has been unconscionable and unacceptable.

We have thousands of American citizens unable to get to the airport in Kabul because this administration botched the withdrawal, sent mixed messages, and undercut our allied partners.

Let me be clear: We should not leave Afghanistan until every single American citizen has been safely evacuated, period.

For the last 20 years, our brave servicemen and -women have served in Afghanistan with honor, with valor, and with distinction. They have done everything that our country has asked of them and more. They deserve our gratitude and our respect.

It is time for this President and this administration to do right by them, to rescue every single American, and to demonstrate the leadership that our country needs. At this point, Madam Speaker, that leadership is severely lacking.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mountaire Farms and their enduring tradition of business excellence.

The family-owned poultry farm and processing company is the fourth largest in the nation, boasting a storied presence within North Carolina. Despite their scale, Mountaire has continued to cultivate a reputation for family values, business success, and giving back to local communities.

Aligned with a 2019 expansion in Chatham County, Mountaire features newly opened plant operations in Siler City, NC, the largest city in the county, and a portion of the 13th District that I have the pleasure of representing. The project represented a $170 million investment, generating county tax revenue and creating over 1,000 jobs.

Partnering with over 500 growers and employing over 1,500 workers in Siler City, Mountaire's economic footprint is essential to the region. Statewide, Mountaire is an economic powerhouse employing over 5,000 employees and processing over 840,000 chickens on any given day, and is a major asset to North Carolina agriculture, the state's largest industry.

While continuing to increase production capacity and growing their business, Mountaire has remained focused on what really matters: the community they set up shop in. Through initiatives like Mountaire Cares, their annual Thanksgiving for Thousands drive, scholarships, and other community service projects, they are deeply invested in improving the quality of life for Chatham County residents.

Through it all, Mountaire embodies their core commitment ``to be good stewards of all the assets God has entrusted to us.'' This includes caring for employees, neighbors, customers, and others by doing business the right way and by prioritizing people over mere profits.

Please join me in commending Mountaire Farms on a job well done.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the American spirit of determination, resilience, and steady faith as embodied by Special Event Services (SES), a full service technical production company headquartered in Mocksville, North Carolina.

Keeping time with the music industry, it came as no surprise to founding partners Jim Brammer and Jeff Cranfill that earning a living from their craft would require infectious passion and a commitment to the next show, regardless of the size of the crowd. From their opening act as a 1986 garage start-up, the duo steadily grew SES into a major industry player, eventually providing their live-event production services in audio, lighting, video, and rigging to the likes of 18 Grammy winners and many more.

SES' clientele ranges from iconic legends of decades past, like Hootie and the Blowfish and Lynyrd Skynyrd, to contemporary chart- toppers such as Luke Combs, Ed Sheeran, and The Avett Brothers. Also aligned with the heart of the company's business is their desire to amplify Christian voices, and SES has provided services to Franklin Graham, Joyce Meyer, and Joel Osteen, among others.

Such success, however, hasn't been achieved without its own share of challenges. When concerts, shows, and national tours came screeching to a halt at the onset of 2020's COVID-19 pandemic, SES too was forced to take a hiatus from their regular way of doing business. Due to lockdown and stay-at-home orders, the company pivoted instead to producing intimate online sessions streamed for fans to view from their homes.

In October of 2020--despite a grim outlook for the live event and performance industry as they knew it--SES celebrated the grand opening of their recently completed new base of operations, planting them in the historic town of Mocksville, the heart of Davie County. Fast- forward to the summer of 2021, and business is rapidly picking up tempo, proving our economy is primed to rebound to its former heights. One higher profile example of recent note, the Carolina Country Music Festival, featured a star-studded lineup and over 30,000 fans in attendance for the multi-day festival. Being tapped to lead the production was SES, a decision that's indicative of the industry's confidence in the company and its work.

Though 2020 was a year of uncertainty, the company set their sights ahead and continued working towards the reemergence of their core business: live-event production services. With tours, festivals, performances, and gatherings back in full swing, it's abundantly clear that a central belief of SES that ``Together we are greater than the sum of our parts'' is ringing loud and true.

Please join me in applauding Special Event Services for their perseverance through adversity as they faithfully live out their work's mission, one show at a time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the time-tested excellence of Gary's Bar-B-Cue, a local favorite and culinary staple of the town of China Grove.

The North Carolina barbecue place, owned and operated by Gary Ritchie, celebrated 50 years of business on April 21, 2021. The restaurant's popularity and longevity can largely be attributed to Gary's principled commitment to ``Good food, good service, and a clean restaurant,'' Gary's Bar-B-Cue epitomizes the core American values of hard work, determination, and generosity that fuel small business success and turn paying customers into lifelong friends.

Like many business owners, Gary Ritchie's start in the barbecue business began before he opened his own shop. After six years of working in curb service at Johnson's Barbecue, Gary converted a former Gulf Oil service station into his own restaurant, eventually expanding the venue's capacity three times. Gary's Bar-B-Cue now accommodates up to 216 diners. The building's seating expansion testifies not only to business success, but to Gary's aim to make everyone feel at home in his restaurant.

Gary's is a family business--but not just because Gary and Sylvia Ritchie married the

year before they opened the restaurant. While the Ritchies have worked together throughout their restaurant's tenure, Gary and his staff make a point of treating every customer like kin, and many customers keep coming back because of the friendly service. Some might even say that Gary's barbecue dip is the only sauce around that runs thicker than blood.

For Gary, his family, and staff, the business was never merely about turning a profit. Over the decades, Gary's has become much more than just a restaurant serving up delicious southern food and barbecue. The China Grove establishment regularly hosts community organizations and groups that come for a good meal--yes--but foremost to belong Through it all, Gary seems to have had his sights set on something loftier than pulled pork-namely, making every diner in his restaurant feel known and respected, regardless of where they come from, the clothes on their back, or even their political affiliation.

In a culture of heightened fear, animosity, and division, perhaps we could learn a thing or two from the slow-cooked wisdom of Gary Ritchie: ``The easiest thing in the world is to be nice to people. It don't cost you nothing.'' Please join me in celebrating the enduring success of Gary Ritchie and Gary's Bar-B-Cue.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary career of duWayne Amen.

duWayne is retiring from his position as Director of Facilities at Summit School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. duWayne started at Summit School in 1976 with an acute skill for all things mechanical. In the following 45 years, duWayne became ingrained in nearly every aspect of Summit's community and physical development, as he oversaw a number of expansion projects within the school.

Madam Speaker, it is not often that the influence of an individual's career is physically visible, but one walk through Summit School's campus is a testament to duWayne's hard work and dedication. Men like duWayne are hard to come by, and everyone who met him is better for it, myself included.

When asked about the way he hopes to be remembered, duWayne responded: ``That I was professional-minded, to the point of being a perfectionist. But I enjoyed a good laugh. I wanted always to make things better than I found them. And that I really care about people, especially children.'' This is exactly how I remember duWayne and his work during my years at Summit.

You see, duWayne and I started about the same time, except he was graduating from Wake Forest University and I was starting kindergarten. duWayne was my bus driver, and because we lived on a farm so far away, we really got to know each other on those long drives. A lot of my love for the woodshop, mechanical shop, and life in general, came from duWayne, and I'm very grateful for him.

Madam Speaker, please join me in thanking and honoring duWayne Amen and in wishing him well as he embarks on the next season of life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of Douglas Roger Lewis, who passed away in Winston-Salem, NC on April 2nd, 2021.

Doug Lewis spent his life empowering later generations to flourish as equipped leaders. Beginning his career in Buffalo, NY, where he was born, Doug took a position as a teacher at the Nichols School. He later taught in Pittsburgh, PA at Shady Side Academy before moving to North Carolina in 1957.

Doug came to Winston-Salem to serve as the headmaster of the Summit School, a role he faithfully carried out for the next 33 years. Working tirelessly to build on the foundation of his predecessors, Summit School grew by leaps and bounds. Under Doug's leadership, the school expanded by adding a junior high building and gymnasium in 1962, a science center and another gymnasium in 1977, a teaching and learning center in 1984, and a middle school building in 1986.

For Doug, working as an educator was far more than a job or a career, it was his calling. This was no secret to the countless students and staff who knew Doug as a friend, mentor, and encourager. The same was true for Bingle, Doug's wife, who also dedicated her life to education, working alongside her husband at Summit as a French teacher. Of Doug, his successor Dr. Sandra Adams, remarked, ``Mr. Lewis was above all a man of vision. He saw possibilities. And because he saw possibilities he was rarely satisfied.''

It was this same visionary drive that propelled Doug's work to fulfill his statement of Summit School's mission, ``Here we nourish all who come, especially children. We answer needs, enliven hopes, spur talents.''

Our Nation is better today--and tomorrow will be brighter--because of people like Doug Lewis. As a student at Summit School, Doug was my principal, and I count myself a beneficiary of his leadership. It would be impossible for me to forget his warm and generous spirit, extending not only to his beloved students, but even to wildlife. I will always treasure my memories of him with the squirrels and chipmunks that he befriended, to the point that they even accompanied him on his walks around campus, sometimes riding the shoulders of his tweed jackets.

May we all live with gratitude for the life of Doug Lewis. Please join me in celebrating his memory and work.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mac Williams' retirement from his storied tenure as president of the Alamance County Chamber of Commerce and in commemoration of his great achievements on behalf of the county's economy.

Departing with over 45 years of expertise in economic development, Mac's service as President of the Chamber since 2004 has been critical to the addition of numerous businesses and their operations to Alamance County. From 2017 through 2020, Alamance County saw over $425,200,000 in capital investment and has added over 1,265 jobs under Mac's supervision. While the numbers alone speak to Mac's extraordinary ability to attract new employers to Alamance County, Mac's accomplishments are even more impressive when considering the history of the county.

Long a fixture of North Carolina's textile industry, Alamance County's economy has benefitted from its central location within the state. As the textile industry began to boom in the mid-19th century, the area naturally developed into a transportation hub, serving as a link between Greensboro and Raleigh due to its close proximity to the two neighboring cities. Though the textile industry is still strong in Alamance County, textiles no longer make up the same share of the area's economy as they once did. Rather than allowing Alamance County's economic opportunity to fade as much of the manufacturing process has been moved overseas, Mac Williams and the Chamber of Commerce worked hard to ensure that the county adapted its unique geographic and historic advantages to preserve its strong economic performance, pivoting to become a

hotspot not only for the manufacturing that remained, but now also for logistics and distribution.

Those who know Mac recognize him as a leader amongst his peers and it has even been said of him by Greensboro Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brent Christenson that ``Mac has long been the standard by which other chamber leaders and economic development professionals have been measured.''

Please join me in thanking Mac Williams for his commitment to the economic wellbeing and continued prosperity of Alamance County. We wish him the best in his future endeavors. Today, Alamance County is ``A Great Place to Be'' in large part because of Mac's contributions.

[From the Triad Business Journal, Apr. 21, 2021]

Mac Williams To Retire as Alamance Chamber President by the End of

October

The Triad is soon to lose as second veteran economic

developer within a year as Alamance Chamber of Commerce

President Mac Williams draws the curtain on a 45-year career,

around the end of October.

But like Loren Hill, who retired after 20 years as

president of the High Point Economic Development Corp. at the

beginning of the year, retirement doesn't mean he is going

away.

Williams, who joined the Alamance Chamber in 2004, told the

Alamance News he will be seeking other opportunities in the

economic development community. He may not have to look far.

``Mac has another career in either consulting or site

selection,'' Bob Lewis, shareholder and broker at NAI

Piedmont Triad, told Triad Business Journal. ``I'd hire him

to come work with our company. He would be a dynamite

addition to our site selection group.''

Hill wasn't on the job market long. Within a month after

leaving his prior post, he was named economic development

director of the Piedmont Triad Partnership.

Lewis said Williams ``had a great run'' in his time in

Alamance County. He played a key role in the recruitment of

companies to both North Carolina Industrial Center and North

Carolina Commerce Park. He helped lead the transformation of

the county's former textiles-based economy into one focused

on logistics and distribution, maximizing the county's

proximity to major metropolitan areas and efficient

interstate access.

Under Williams' watch, Alamance County brought in food

distribution centers for Walmart and grocery chain Lidl; food

manufacturing and distribution facilities for Sheetz and

Lotus Bakeries; and had manufacturing wins such as Honda

Power Equipment expansions and Honda Aero, which builds

HondaJet engines for Honda Aircraft Co.

Most recently, he helped secure a new distribution hub for

United Parcel Service and a distribution center for Chick-

fil-A.

``Mac has long been the standard by which other chamber

leaders and economic development professionals have been

measured,'' said Greensboro Chamber of Commerce President and

CEO Brent Christensen. ``He leaves a lasting legacy of

creating jobs for the Alamance County community and being a

great advocate for this region. I know that his counterparts

in the region and state will miss him, but hopefully we will

be able to call on him for advice from time to time.''

Added Brian Hall, director of development of Samet Corp.,

one of Alamance County's more active commercial construction

contractors, ``Mac leaves a legacy of working in partnership

with both public and private partners, to secure economic

growth, driving investment in the county and helping to

create a brighter future for Alamance County.''

Not just ``elephant hunting,'' Lewis, who has known

Williams since the early 1980s, said Williams understands the

value of recruiting multiple smaller companies that

collectively provide similar impact to a single large one.

Economic development requires leadership that effectively

educates elected officials and the community on the value

what is a public/private venture.

``We talk frequently and keep each other informed about

various aspects of the market, and he has done just a stellar

job for Alamance County,'' Lewis said. ``He is highly

respected in the economic development community.

He's forgotten more about economic development than most

people will ever know.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Officer Justin Pacific of High Point, North Carolina, and his noteworthy accomplishment of being named Greensboro Police Department's Police Officer of the Year for 2020-2021.

Officer Pacific has dedicated his life to keeping his community safe through service. Beginning in November of 2005, he spent the past fifteen years across several different posts--working as a patrol officer, tactical officer, detective, and most recently as an investigator on the District 1 Critical Response Team. In each of the difficult jobs he has held, Officer Pacific worked tirelessly to make the Greensboro area a better place for all residents, earning recognition from his colleagues and superiors for his strength in leadership.

As an investigator, Officer Pacific has developed a reputation for his tenacity and consistent delivery of results. Having recently aided in the recovery of hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of stolen automobiles and machinery, Officer Pacific also brought perpetrators of the thefts to justice. He has assisted in procuring $40,000 of drug money, $4,000 of equipment, and has carried out the crucial role of investigating major assault and murder cases within District 1. However, these accolades alone do not speak to the true reason Officer Pacific is deserving of the award bestowed to him.

Rather, it is his mentor mentality and servant's heart that qualify Officer Pacific as 2020-2021's Police Officer of the Year. Going above and beyond his written job description, Officer Pacific has dedicated extra efforts to the education, development, and leadership of his teammates. His guidance and commitment to the professional development of his peers formed the driving force behind the readiness and success of the District 1 Critical Response Team. Even when acknowledged for the unit's high level of performance, Officer Pacific has humbly attributed his accomplishments to the strength of the team that he helped build.

Supporting Officer Pacific in his excellence is the team he has assembled at home. Backing his operation is his incredible wife, Jennifer. The couple have two children, Braedon and Addison, who play an equally important part in making Officer Pacific the man he is today. Together, the four-person crew form the accomplishment Officer Pacific is most proud of--his family.

Without a doubt, the lasting impact of Officer Pacific's service to our community is the increased safety and security of individuals and families alike. Please join me in celebrating Officer Justin Pacific and his dedication to the Greensboro Police Department. Congratulations, Justin on being named the 2020-2021 Police Officer of the Year.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to be in D.C. due to a pressing family obligation. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 219, YEA on Roll Call No. 220, and YEA on Roll Call No. 221

Madam Speaker, I rise today to defend the conscience of American taxpayers. Since 1973, both sides of the aisle have agreed that taxpayers should not be forced to fund the taking of an unborn child's life through abortion. This consensus was enshrined in the Hyde amendment. The Hyde amendment has saved the lives of almost 2.5 million children, including over 65,000 in my home State of North Carolina.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, President Biden and Congressional Democrats have decided to abandon the Hyde amendment in this year's budget. This is a grave mistake that will cost the lives of more innocent children, and therefore, it must be reversed.

Madam Speaker, let's show that this House stands with life, believes in science, and opposes the evil of abortion.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 18, and I ask for its immediate consideration in the House.