Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Republican lead, Mr. McCaul, for yielding. And Chairman Meeks, you are a force in the House gymnasium. You are a force on the House floor, and I appreciate you, brother.

The Chinese Communist Party does anything it can to get ahead of the United States, Mr. Speaker. It steals

our intellectual property and uses Uyghur slave labor to manufacture products. It is threatening the freedom of folks from Taiwan to Hong Kong. Our government needs to stand up to them.

Today, we are acknowledging some of the Chinese Communist Party's horrible, horrible behaviors. It is not enough. Additional action is needed, Mr. Speaker.

The Chinese Communist Party knows there are no consequences for its behavior. That needs to change. It starts with the Biden administration. They need to do more than just finger-wagging to effectively counter China. This administration needs to make it clear to the Chinese Communist Party that bad behavior will be met with action, not empty words.

President Biden also needs to set aside his climate agenda when addressing the Chinese Communist Party. His administration tried to kill the Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act because the Uyghurs mine the polysilicon for our solar panels. It is gross that this administration wants to let Uyghur slavery slide to advance its climate agenda.

I am glad we have these bills on the floor today. It is a start, but more work needs to be done. I hope in the Foreign Affairs Committee, both parties can work together and hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable, Mr. Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Knoxville Police Chief Eve Thomas, who recently announced her retirement after nearly 30 years in law enforcement.

Chief Thomas joined the Knoxville Police Department in 1993. She served in many capacities, including as a Patrol Officer, Problem Solving Instructor, Field Training Officer, and a Domestic Violence/ Terrorism Instructor at Walters State Community College.

In 1998, she was promoted to Sergeant and served as an Accreditation Manager, Patrol Sergeant, and Personnel Sergeant.

Chief Thomas was promoted again in 2005 to the rank of Lieutenant. With this promotion, she assumed administrative responsibilities of KPD's specialty units, including the Crisis Negotiation Unit, Special Operations Squad, K9 Unit, and several others. She was critical to all these units' operations and, as a result of her reliable performance, Chief Thomas was given additional responsibilities as Patrol Lieutenant, Central Business District Supervisor, and Traffic Services Supervisor.

In 2011, Chief Thomas achieved the rank of Captain and gained supervision of KPD's Support Services Division.

In 2013, she was assigned to the Patrol Division as East District Commander, and then served as Commander of the Department's Internal Affairs Unit and the Criminal Investigations Division.

In February 2018, Chief Thomas was promoted to Deputy Chief over the Criminal Investigation Division. Four months later, she became the 26th Chief of Police and the first woman to hold the top position at the Knoxville Police Department. She has served in this position ever since.

Chief Thomas dedicated her career to protecting the people of Knoxville. I thank Chief Thomas for her service. I wish her the very best in her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, our U.S. Supreme Court Justices held oral arguments in the Dobbs v. Jackson case, which addressed the constitutionality of Mississippi's law banning abortions after 15 weeks.

It is time to get rid of the rules that prevent our legislators from enacting the will of the people and passing laws to protect the unborn, Mr. Speaker.

Chief Justice John Roberts once argued that the right to abortion has ``no support in the text, structure, or history of the Constitution.'' I pray he and the eight other Justices uphold that view in Dobbs v. Jackson. They know the ability to murder unborn children is not one of our fundamental rights.

The Biden administration suspended basic healthcare regulations so doctors

could pass out abortion pills like candy, Mr. Speaker. It is time for our third branch of government to step up now, show some common sense, and make the right decision to protect millions of our unborn babies.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I always remember a story that happened shortly before my momma left this Earth. She was in hospice, and she started talking to folks that had passed a long time before her: my daddy, her daddy, her brother who died in the Second World War. She was looking off at one point, and I said: ``What are you looking at, Momma?'' And she said: ``Baby, I am looking at all of those sweet little babies over there.''

I can't help but think some of those sweet little babies my sweet momma was looking at were some of the unborn that were murdered in abortion.

Mr. Speaker, State and local governments across the country are caving to woke demands and removing statues of certain United States Presidents from their public buildings. Last week, Thomas Jefferson's statue--if you can imagine, Thomas Jefferson's statue--was removed from New York City's City Hall.

Radical leftists want these statues removed because their goal is to erase every part of our Nation's history that doesn't get their stamp of approval. They don't want to see statues of historical figures they don't like. They don't want you to see them, either, Mr. Speaker.

Governments can decide what they want to display in public buildings, but what happens to the statues of Presidents they remove? Will they get covered with a tarp or moved to a dusty corner of a basement somewhere? Or even worse than that, will they decorate our country's landfills?

Instead of taking up space in some storage or waste facility, statues of U.S. Presidents that get removed from government buildings should go to a national memorial garden. That way they can still be viewed by people who want to see them and learn about those who led our country in the past.

In fact, there is a pastor in my district who is a good friend of mine; he is willing to take presidential statues that these politicians don't want. Pastor Clarence Sexton will start the national garden himself at Crown College in Powell, Tennessee, where he serves as president.

Mr. Speaker, he has probably one of the best collections of United States memorabilia that I think I have seen outside of the Smithsonian and has letters and autographs and things from every President since George Washington.

The far left can pretend all it wants that these figures do not exist, but you cannot cancel history, Mr. Speaker.

UFOs are of Great Public Interest

Mr. Speaker, last summer's UFO report from the Director of National Intelligence was bogus. The report raised more questions than answers about unidentified objects in the skies. It stunk of a government coverup, Mr. Speaker.

Now the Pentagon is starting a new office to collect information on these unidentified objects. The office is called the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group. I don't know where they came up with that name. I am sure they paid somebody a lot of money to come up with that.

I do not trust this new office, Mr. Speaker. I don't think it will be transparent with lawmakers or the public about its findings. This is a national security issue. Congress needs to know what is going on so we can respond accordingly.

Today, I am requesting the leaders of this new office bring Members of Congress in on their UFO findings. This is a matter of great public interest and has been for a very long time to a lot of Americans. Our government should not hide the truth from us for another second.

If this new office is to be held accountable, our country will get more reports like the one that came out last summer or, worse, they will be silent and hope we all just forget about the phenomena.

We do not need to fear these airborne unidentified objects. They would have shown themselves to be dangerous a long time ago by now if they were a threat. Our citizens and country can handle the truth, Mr. Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I am glad the gentlewoman's mama chose life.

Madam Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to be here.

Joe Biden's build back broke agenda is for the coastal elites, not working Americans or middle class families. Increasing State and local tax deductions benefits rich Americans living in deep blue States. We all know the liberal media refuses to report it. This is a tax break for the wealthy, and we all know it. Even Bernie Sanders of all people is calling out President Biden for sneaking this into his agenda. So much for Biden's cries for the wealthy to ``pay their fair share.''

Well, it looks like who is paying their fair share are working Americans, once again.

There is also the $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicle purchases. Most Americans can't afford electric vehicles that cost an average of over $55,000, but I will tell you who can; liberals in California and New York have no problem whatsoever paying for this. It affords them this opportunity with this enormous tax credit--or as my daughter would say, ginormous.

Another tax benefit for the wealthy.

Heck, most Americans can't even afford to drive their regular cars right now because gas prices are too high.

What makes Biden think we will be able to foot the bill for an electric car?

Speaking of gas prices, build back broke ramps up the attacks on domestic energy production. This will make us all more reliant on foreign oil. Biden started this war on affordable energy the day he took office, and build back broke will make it worse.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Chief Master Sergeant Ronnie McGhee as Tennessee's Second District's Veteran of the Month. He served in the Air National Guard during the Gulf war.

Chief Master Sergeant McGhee was born and raised in Anderson County, Tennessee, and graduated from Oliver Springs High School in 1963. Two years later, he enlisted in the Air National Guard and joined the 119th Aircraft Warning and Control Squadron as an administration specialist and personnel specialist. When the 228th Combat Communication Squadron opened at the Tyson Air National Guard Base in Alcoa, he joined them as the communications training manager.

In 1990, Chief Master Sergeant McGhee volunteered to go with the 228th when it was deployed to Qatar in support of the Gulf war. While he was there, he participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.

Following his time in Qatar, he was deployed to Germany and Italy before settling in Nashville where he served as the command chief at State headquarters. After more than 37 years of military service, he retired in 2002.

Our country's heroes are the men and women of our Armed Forces, Madam Speaker, not famous musicians, not athletes, and not actors. I am grateful to Chief Master Sergeant McGhee for his service and sacrifice to our great country.

Madam Speaker, I thank Vice Chairman Johnson for yielding to me and the adequate job that he is doing.

Madam Speaker, I recently overheard some East Tennesseans talking at the gas pumps at the local Pilot station. And a fellow said, it is almost like these politicians want to make gas more expensive. Well, I think my constituents are on to something.

Conversations like this one I have heard at my local Pilot station have been happening everywhere all across this country. Americans are so displeased with gas prices, they are slapping these Biden ``I did that'' stickers on the pumps. I don't recommend doing that, but it seems to me somebody is taking the initiative to do it.

Madam Speaker, Joe Biden's war against affordable energy is hurting millions of Americans' ability to travel. Commutes to work, family road trips, trips to the park, airline travel--all are soaring in costs. The White House lacks any and all sympathy for what this crisis means for working Americans.

Joe Biden's Energy Secretary even laughed when asked how her department planned to stabilize gas prices. I thought that was the ultimate act of arrogance. It is the ``let them eat cake too'' kind of thing.

I guess this is easy for Joe Biden and his Cabinet to ignore. American taxpayers fund all their travel in those fancy private cars and jet airplanes they fly around in. Their attitude is insulting and it is arrogant. No wonder Joe Biden is blind to what is going on. He never sees a bill for any of it, not a doggone bit.

The holiday season is right around the corner, people will be celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas, and I predict holiday travel this year will be the most expensive on record. Americans will have Joe Biden's war on affordable energy to thank for their enormous travel expenses.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Johnson for the adequate work he is doing.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller), and thank him for his better-than-lackluster handling of this event tonight. It is much appreciated.

Madam Speaker, for the past several weeks, I have been coming down here to make the point over and over again that Joe Biden's vaccine mandate is ridiculous and unconstitutional. Many of my colleagues have done the same. We all agree that no American should lose their job for deciding not to take the coronavirus vaccine.

Today, our efforts paid off. Biden's Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced just a few hours ago that it is suspending plans to implement a vaccine mandate on large employers. The bureaucrats saw the writing on the wall after a court blocked the vaccine mandate last weekend.

The victory doesn't mean the fight is over. Joe Biden's administration will try again to punish Americans who decide not to take the shot. As a matter of fact, they are even advising some to just disregard the court order.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate Mr. Keller for leading this effort to overturn Biden's vaccine mandate. It is good to know we have this legislative measure ready to go if Biden launches another attack on unvaccinated Americans.

Madam Speaker, many Americans still have questions about the coronavirus vaccine. They should have the freedom to make the choice that is right for them without government threatening their jobs. Our country is a symbol of personal liberty and freedom, a government vaccine mandate is out of touch with these values.

We have a responsibility to preserve our Nation's values to protect our constituents from extreme government overreach.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Aaron Clay, who was named the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association's Athletic Director of the Year.

Aaron Clay is the athletics director at the Washburn School. He graduated from Washburn in 1997. His brother, Greg, hired him shortly after graduating to help the school's basketball team.

Since returning to coach the basketball team, Director Clay led several of Washburn's athletic teams to success. He coached two basketball teams to the substate tournament, won two district titles in basketball, and sent a cross-country student athlete to the State championship meet for five straight years.

Mr. Speaker, under Director Clay's leadership, the school recently completed a new gymnasium. Away from athletics, Director Clay also leads Washburn's academic curriculum as an assistant principal. In his academic role, he once again teamed up with his brother, Greg, who is Washburn's principal.

The TSSAA Athletic Director of the Year award celebrates an athletic director who builds up students on and off the field and, clearly, he does this, Mr. Speaker.

Director Clay's work throughout his career as a school administrator and athletic director positively influenced hundreds of Washburn students. Our community is proud of the impact he has had on young people.

Congratulations, Director Clay, and keep up the good work.

Huge Victory for Individual Freedom

Mr. Speaker, individual freedom just scored a huge victory. Last weekend, a court of appeals ruled what we already know. Joe Biden overstepped his authority with his vaccine mandate. No more jobs will be threatened by the administration over coronavirus vaccination status, for now.

I applaud those who stood up to Biden's vaccine mandate in court. But the fight isn't over, Mr. Speaker. It is clearly not over. Biden's far- left Justice Department is plotting a legal assault to revive the mandate. Those of us who value personal liberty cannot be content with one court ruling.

More action is necessary, Mr. Speaker.

My bill, the Keeping our COVID-19 Heroes Employed Act, which is sponsored in the Senate by Senator Marsha Blackburn, also from Tennessee, would further protect American workers by forbidding certain employers from firing unvaccinated employees.

We need to ban Biden's vaccine mandate because it is unconstitutional, Mr. Speaker, but also because of the crippling effect it will have on our economy.

For example, supply chain jobs will be lost if Biden's vaccine mandate takes effect. A labor shortage in the supply chains means it takes longer to move products to America's storefronts, Mr. Speaker. The costs of keeping up with demand is passed to consumers in the form of higher prices.

If Biden gets his way, it will devastate our struggling economy and steal paychecks from hardworking Americans, Mr. Speaker. Congress can't wait for the Biden administration's next attack on the unvaccinated. Let's protect the civil liberties of the workers by passing the Keeping our COVID-19 Heroes Employed Act, Mr. Speaker.

Madam Speaker, when the coronavirus shut down this country, first responders and healthcare professionals kept our communities going and safe. The essential services they provide can't be done from behind a computer screen, Madam Speaker.

Joe Biden's vaccine mandate undermines the preparedness of these services. The Americans we celebrated for the last 20 months are now forced to get the coronavirus vaccine or be fired from their jobs. It is disgusting that the Biden administration is threatening these public servants' livelihoods over these issues.

Our country cannot afford labor shortages in essential services. Look at law enforcement, for example. The defund the police movement continues to embolden criminals and lower morale among the law enforcement community.

On top of these problems, thousands of police officers are facing termination thanks to Biden's vaccine mandate.

This is a recipe for disaster amidst rising crime. I guarantee that if you are in danger of or a victim of crime, the last thing on your mind will be the vaccination status of the responding officer.

Congress needs to stand up for these essential workers under attack from Joe Biden's vaccine mandate. This week, I will introduce legislation allowing these workers to decide for themselves on taking the coronavirus vaccine, free from threats of termination if they decide against getting the shot, Madam Speaker. No American citizen should be fired for making a healthcare decision they believe is in their best interest.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Pastor Gerald McGinnis as Tennessee's Second District Veteran of the Month.

Pastor McGinnis, a very dear friend of mine, served our country as a specialist in the United States Army during the Vietnam war. In 1968, his compound was attacked by approximately 1,500 North Vietnamese Army soldiers in the middle of the night. Despite the intense enemy fire, he fought off the North Vietnamese in defense of the three wounded American soldiers sheltering in his bunker.

Relentlessly defending that bunker saved Pastor McGinnis' life and all the lives of his fellow servicemembers. He was successful against all odds. Nearly 40 years later, he was awarded the Bronze Star for his heroism. Last week, Pastor McGinnis was upgraded to the Silver Star in further recognition of his bravery.

Following his military service, Pastor McGinnis worked as a sheet metal worker for several years. He later decided that serving the Lord was his true calling and began studying theology. In 1980, he founded Park West Church of God in Knoxville, where he continues to serve.

Under Pastor McGinnis' leadership, the church has grown to serve a membership of over 2,000 Christians. He also served as chaplain of the Knoxville-based divisions of the FBI and ATF, as well as the Knox County Sheriff's Department.

Pastor McGinnis serves his fellow veterans every chance he gets. A few years ago, he started raising funds to purchase a farm where veterans could go to receive counseling and study the Bible to help cope with their PTSD.

Thank you, Gerald, for your service to our country, your fellow veterans, and the Lord. I would say on a personal note, I was at the service and my dear friend, Jenny Stansberry in my home office, helped him get that Silver Star. All he talked about was his buddies that he left behind. He is a true hero, Mr. Speaker.

Madam Speaker, the American taxpayers are expected to write the Democrats a blank check for this socialist scam. Democrats

want to squeeze as much money as possible from successful individuals and businesses.

Madam Speaker, this is completely wrong. We shouldn't be punishing success in America to finance this far-left political agenda. It is obvious why Joe Biden is pushing so hard for an aggressive expansion of government dependency programs and the dismantling of domestic energy production. He wants to virtue signal to his globalist pals during the United Nations climate summit this weekend in Scotland.

Democrats like Biden are embarrassed and ashamed of our country. He desperately wants acceptance from European countries to boost his progressive ego.

Why do we care what foreign elitists think of our country, Madam Speaker? Biden needs to prioritize American citizens instead of European politicians.

We do things differently than the rest of the world. I am proud of our national values. The leader of our government should take pride in the country he leads, too.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Wagner for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, the Congressional Gold Medal, as we all know and have heard, is Congress' highest medal. It is the least we can do for the 13 brave servicemembers killed during our withdrawal from Afghanistan back in August.

One of those 13, Army Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss, was from Corryton, Tennessee, in my congressional district. As a matter of fact, I live in Corryton, and his family, they are neighbors of mine.

His grandfather called me shortly after and described the scene. We have all seen it in movies, but he, unfortunately, had to live it. The car pulls up. The Army officers get out and, in fact, inform his family that his grandson had perished in Afghanistan.

Mr. Speaker, I have heard that story many times because my mama endured that very same thing when she was a young girl in Cheatham County, Tennessee, and her brother, Roy, had died fighting the Nazis. So it is in my head pretty thick, sir.

Of course, he was killed while helping complete strangers, and that is what he loved to do. He loved helping folks.

When Staff Sergeant Knauss succumbed to his injuries after the attack, he became the final American military

casualty from the war in Afghanistan. We were all devastated by this loss, but our community is very strong.

Mr. Speaker, on September 11, they held a great local tribute to this fallen hero at Gibbs High School, on the football field. And on September 21, I also attended his funeral as he was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

Today, we honor him and 12 fellow heroes further by passing this legislation. The true heroes in this country are the men and women of our Armed Forces. They are the ones who keep us free. Their patriotism and bravery have kept us safe every day.

Madam Speaker, back in 2020 when the coronavirus vaccines were developed under the Trump administration, Joe Biden and progressive Democrats trashed them in the media. As you can see from these

quotes, they were extremely skeptical about the effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines when Donald Trump was in charge.

Of course, when Biden became President, the vaccine suddenly became entirely effective and highly encouraged. But Jen Psaki still maintained in July that mandating these vaccines is ``not the Federal Government's role.''

But now President Biden is forcing millions of Americans to choose between keeping their jobs or getting the vaccine. My office is flooded daily with calls from constituents who risk losing their livelihoods because of this administration's mandate. Apparently, protecting Americans' freedoms to make their own healthcare decisions is too much to ask.

So far Joe Biden's Presidency has been defined by his out-of-touch agenda. A vaccine mandate is not what Americans want and is inconsistent with our national values, Madam Speaker.

Tennesseans value freedom from government tyranny. That is why we elect leaders like Governor Billy Lee and members of the Tennessee General Assembly, who are fighting outrageous vaccine mandates.

Our country prospers when elected leaders protect Americans' constitutional rights and freedoms. Unfortunately, this is a radical concept to President Joe Biden.

Mr. Speaker, forcing the Federal Government into Americans' private lives is Joe Biden's twisted idea of unity. It is sickening to me that this President is creating a situation where some Americans need to pick between keeping their jobs or taking the coronavirus vaccine.

This is a cruel way to treat Americans trying to earn a living. Even worse, Biden's vaccine mandate applies to brave military soldiers willing to die for us, Federal contractors, and the intelligence community. If too many are forced out of their positions, it will jeopardize America's ability to assess and address threats.

Mr. Speaker, you do not need to look very hard for possible consequences.

Over the weekend, our government's top intelligence personnel were caught off guard by the People's Liberation Army's test of a hypersonic missile capable of traveling at 25,000 miles per hour. Imagine that missile flying toward the homeland and important government or military roles were vacant because folks were fired over the vaccine.

Mr. Speaker, the result would be catastrophic.

Biden needs to back off his tyrannical impulses and allow Americans to decide for themselves on the coronavirus vaccine. If he doesn't, talented folks are going to exit critical national security jobs, and this clueless President will blunder his way into yet another crisis.