Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this legislation.

Improving and reauthorizing our Nation's surface transportation programs should take priority over advancing a very liberal, woke, partisan agenda. These programs should fund our roads, railways, and waterways, and should be the foundation of our country's long-term economic success.

Mr. Speaker, instead of working with Republicans, the majority advanced a partisan bill that dramatically increases spending and regulation that would stifle development. I even had an amendment that was nonpartisan. It was just a technical correction, which was agreed upon by several Members, and it went straight down party lines. So if anybody tells you this is a bipartisan bill, they are speaking with a very forked tongue.

It redirects funding away from basic investments and physical infrastructure and towards social programs, new regulatory regimes, and government mandates on business. Out-of-control spending by Congress and the Biden administration has triggered an inflation crisis that is leaving less money in the pockets of working folks.

Mr. Speaker, American citizens cannot afford another partisan spending boondoggle orchestrated by Washington liberals. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this bill.

Mr. Speaker, Joe Biden's budget request is troubling for many reasons. Today, I want to focus on how the President is weaponizing his budget to the left's anti-life agenda.

In his fiscal year 2022 budget, President Biden has called on Congress to eliminate the Hyde amendment, which Biden used to support when he was in the United States Senate.

The Hyde amendment is commonsense policy that has stood for decades. It would be wrong to force pro-life Americans to fund abortions against their moral will.

Mr. Speaker, abortion goes directly against the Catholic Church's teachings, but Joe Biden, a Catholic himself, has embraced abortion.

I applaud the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for sticking to their guns about the church's principles. On June 18, the organization condemned President Biden's assault on right to life by overwhelmingly voting to deny him communion.

Eliminating the Hyde amendment would be a death sentence for millions of unborn Americans, Mr. Speaker. Being anti-life is now the price of admission into today's Democratic Party, but Joe Biden knows deep down this isn't right.

The President needs to buck his party's radical base on this issue and ditch his plans to scrap the Hyde amendment.

Mr. President, get back to your roots from when you were a Senator. Make the right decision and protect the lives of the unborn.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to attend votes because I was under medical care. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 173, YEA on Roll Call No. 174; NAY on Roll Call No. 175; NAY on Roll Call No. 176; NAY on Roll Call No. 177; NAY on Roll Call No. 178; YEA on Roll Call No. 179; and NAY on Roll Call No. 180.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Roy ``Slick'' Leslie, who has had an admirable career at Shoney's of Knoxville, Inc. for 50 years.

When Roy was in high school, he started working at The Lamp Post Restaurant washing dishes, sweeping the parking lot, and cooking, all while helping on the family farm. In 1970, he married his wife, Donna, and together they had four children and 11 grandchildren.

In 1971, Roy started working for Shoney's of Knoxville, Inc. as a bus boy. He worked his way up through the ranks to become Manager, Area Supervisor and then Vice President & Chief Operating Officer. In 2016, he was promoted to President & Chief Executive Officer.

In addition to employing thousands of Tennesseans throughout his career, Roy approved many financial gifts from Shoney's of Knoxville, Inc. focusing on children's charities, healthy living, and strong families.

Roy has the respect of everyone who passes through Shoney's. People in the community admire him for his leadership, kindness, and generosity. I'm pleased to commend him on a successful career full of service and leadership.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding. Second Congressional District, but first in our hearts.

Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago, the average cost of gas in America was $2.17 a gallon. Today, it is $3.07 per gallon, a 41 percent increase.

But it isn't just gas prices. Costs for many goods and services Americans rely on are quickly rising. The Consumer Price Index, which tracks the cost of things, like food and energy, jumped 5 percent in May compared to 1 year ago.

This inflation is the ultimate cost of President Biden's $2 trillion Big Government spending spree back in January, Mr. Speaker. The Federal Government is printing money at a breakneck pace, decreasing the purchasing power of our dollars.

Meanwhile, businesses can't get folks to come back to work, thanks to President Biden's generous unemployment benefits. And lately in east Tennessee, I have heard stories from small business owners who can't find enough workers to keep up with their demand.

They need to tell the folks at Wright's Cafeteria, where my good friend David Wright owns his restaurant that was his mama's and daddy's, they can't get folks to come back to work. He is still too behind in the kitchen. He hasn't been open for months.

Another friend of mine, Mike Chase, owns Calhoun's, which is a world- famous restaurant chain in the area. And, actually, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, they have had to close down in a tourist section of our community that is heavily populated during the day by well-heeled tourists wanting to spend their money, yet he had to close down because he can't get people to work.

Another friend of mine, Charlie Peroulas, at the Pizza Palace, world- famous onion rings. Mr. Speaker, I would literally crawl across Magnolia Avenue on glass to eat their onion rings. They are that good. And his pizzas are great as well. He has not been able to have full shifts and to serve the community as he has in the past.

Stories like these, though, aren't unique to east Tennessee, Mr. Speaker. This is happening all over the country. Businesses are raising their prices to stay alive, and those costs are passed along to the American consumers.

President Biden promised there would be no tax increase on working Americans, but inflation sure as heck isn't leaving any money in the pockets of our middle class, Mr. Speaker. His outrageous spending is causing long-term economic damage and saddling future generations with debt. And if President Biden isn't stopped in this venture, future generations will inherit a worthless American dollar, Mr. Speaker.

Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure being here today. As we say in east Tennessee, you class up the joint. Thank you for allowing me to be here.

Today, I rise to celebrate the 90th birthday of one of my dearest friends, Julia Tucker, 90 years old.

Julia has served the Knoxville community in many different ways over the years. Julia was the first woman to chair the Knoxville City School Board, where she served with my daddy.

Julia is a force to be reckoned with, and she fights for things that are important to her. Julia once saved her unconscious neighbors' lives during a gas leak by dragging them out of their house.

Since Julia's son, Bill, lost his tragic battle with AIDS in 1991, Julia has dedicated her life to raising money and awareness to combat the disease and also to fight the bigotry. I still have his minibike, a ``Lil'' Indian, in my collection, and I treasure it very much.

Julia also honored her son by building Williamswood Castle, which is a castle modeled after a Scottish hunting lodge, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Madam Speaker. Bill was a historic preservationist way before his time. People weren't doing things like that, and Bill kind of set the mark for it. Bill was incredibly proud of his family's Scottish heritage, and this castle is a unique way for Julia to preserve her son's memory.

Julia allowed my sweet little girl, Isabelle, to have her birthday party there, and it was magical.

Julia also serves on committees and boards for local organizations. Julia adopts orphan dogs--I guess me being one of them--and fiercely loves her family and friends.

When I was mayor of Knox County, I had the privilege of publicly recognizing Julia's exemplary work in the community, and now I am pleased to stand on the House floor and wish her a happy 90th birthday.

Julia was the first person I knew who had cable TV. She introduced me to Shirley Temples and rare roast beef sandwiches when I was a little boy.

Madam Speaker, I wish Julia a happy birthday. Julia is loved by many people, and especially the Burchetts.

Honoring the Service of Corporal Rollen Delano Bradshaw

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Corporal Rollen Delano Bradshaw, an American hero and Korean War veteran, as Tennessee's Second Congressional District's Veteran of the Month.

Corporal Bradshaw was rejected three times from joining the military during the Korean War because of his partial blindness, but he didn't let that get in the way of his patriotism. With just a seventh-grade education and a whole lot of persistence, he memorized the eye chart and was accepted into the United States Army on his fourth attempt.

Corporal Bradshaw served in Korea for 18 months, where he worked as a postal clerk delivering mail to his fellow soldiers. While deployed, Corporal Bradshaw earned the Korean Service Medal with Bronze Star, the United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

Following his service, Corporal Bradshaw spent 17 years in American Legion leadership roles, serving as commander at Post 120 for 15 years and as Tennessee's national executive committeeman for 20 years.

Corporal Bradshaw remains dedicated to his military fraternity to this day. Every year, he coordinates Loudon County's Memorial Day and Veteran's Day ceremonies. Our country's heroes are the men and women of our Armed Forces and those that wear our country's badges, like Corporal Rollen D. Bradshaw, who served and sacrificed for our freedom.

Thank you for your service. And, brother, I am truly sorry to hear about the passing of your sweet wife.

Mr. Speaker, Joe Biden says America is on the move again. But to me, folks, it looks like Americans are still at home. There are a record 8 million job openings in America right now. Eight million, folks. That is the population of the great State of Tennessee, where I come from.

We are hurting small business recovery and the economic growth. We have got to get our country back to work, Mr. Speaker. Joe Biden and the Democrat policies are not helping our recovery. The $15 minimum wage makes it harder on the very small businesses. The McDonald's restaurants in the district that I represent are now starting folks off at $15 an hour, and some are offering health benefits as well.

Bonus unemployment benefits that we are paying Americans to stay at home is just not working. The job-killing regulations that are directed at industries, like our energy sector, as well. The Green New Deal and more of this push to the left is only hurting us further.

Worst of all, we are pushing tax increases during an economic recovery. This is totally backwards, Mr. Speaker, and this is keeping Americans dependent on Big Government, which I am not so certain is not the ultimate goal.

Instead, we need to be encouraging the private sector to invest in recovery areas. My Opportunity Extension Act does just that, giving investors more time to use the highly successful Opportunity Zones program.

Opportunities Zones are in areas that are hit hardest by COVID economic fallout. These Opportunity Zones represent areas such as our rural areas and our inner cities, areas which I am proud to represent.

Our Opportunity Zones were responsible for $52 billion--$52 billion, Mr. Speaker--in new investment, and a half a million new jobs in our underserved areas before COVID hit.

This bill renews investment in these communities. It spurs economic growth. It attracts business. It is creating good-paying jobs, a much better alternative than the Federal Government handouts being pushed by many of my colleagues across the aisle.

Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to discuss my bill further with anyone who is interested.

I thank the vice chairman for yielding to me. I appreciate you for organizing this event, brother.

Mr. Speaker, what Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad are doing to Israel is nothing short of evil and barbaric. Even worse, some of my colleagues across the aisle and in the national media are excusing this violence against our closest ally in the Middle East.

It is a fact that Hamas and the PIJ, if they were to lay down their weapons, there would be peace. But if the Israelis laid down theirs, they would be exterminated. This is no secret because these two terrorist groups explicitly say their goal is to wipe Israel off the face of the map, and their actions back up their words, Mr. Speaker.

I think a history lesson and global current affairs update is in order for Members of Congress and media organizations taking the side of terrorists intent on exterminating Israel and the entire Jewish population.

For starters, nobody should forget that, in 1997, it was President Bill Clinton's State Department that placed Hamas and the PIJ on the United States' list of foreign terrorist organizations. Both groups are still on the list today and for good reason.

Israel removed their forces from the Gaza Strip in 2005, but in 2007, Hamas violently forced out Fatah, its rival Palestinian faction, and consolidated its control over the entire Gaza Strip. A terrorist organization controlling territory within mere miles of Jewish communities leaves Israeli civilians vulnerable to violent attacks, Mr. Speaker.

Israel's military blockade protects its rightful homeland from infiltration by radical jihadi terrorists. The blockade is important for preventing the transfer of weapons from Iran's Revolutionary Guard, which gives support to Hamas and PIJ. God only knows the devastation recent missile attacks would have inflicted if the Iranians were able to smuggle guided missiles into the Gaza Strip.

Despite the blockade, Hamas and PIJ still construct their terror tunnels and manufacture their rockets with dual-use materials like concrete, steel, chemicals, fuel, explosives, and many other things. These materials, which the Israelis allow to pass through their blockade, are meant for infrastructure in Gaza, only to wind up confiscated by the terrorists for their horrific attacks, Mr. Speaker.

If anybody questions the existence of the tunnels or their use, I recommend they go on the next codel to Israel to

see for themselves. I have been there and stood in them. They are, in fact, 100 percent real.

This is a dilemma for Israel. They want to improve civilian life in Gaza by letting these important materials pass through its blockade, but they also know their enemies will steal these materials and try to harm Israelis.

The violence that began last week came as a result of protests regarding an ongoing Israeli court order to evict Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is serving his 16th year of what is supposed to be a 4-year term, Mr. Speaker, called for unrest in the streets. Not to be outdone, Hamas and the PIJ recognized a political opportunity to assume the mantel as protectors of all Palestinian people.

These terrorist groups responded by gutlessly and indiscriminately firing over 3,000 missiles since last Monday at hospitals, schools, and other civilian population centers across central and southern Israel.

Thankfully, the United States provides Israel with generous military assistance for the Iron Dome and other missile defenses. This system has intercepted 90 percent of the missiles. However, there have been 10 Israelis killed, including two children.

Israel has the right to defend itself from unprovoked terrorist attacks from Hamas, PIJ, and anybody else. The Israelis responded forcefully, actively trying to limit civilian casualties by calling residents in targeted buildings and deploying ``knock on the roof'' warnings. This is a courtesy that terror groups like Hamas and PIJ do not and will never return.

Without these important measures, Mr. Speaker, hundreds more Palestinian civilians would be dead because Hamas and PIJ use commercial and residential buildings to house their military operations and ammunition depots. This disgusting tactic is the reason why the Palestinian death toll is higher and why the lives of dozens of innocent Palestinian children have been lost.

These terror groups are more than willing to use their own people as human shields for the sake of vilifying Israel. Unfortunately, the most radical Members of Congress and the American mainstream media have bought this narrative hook, line, and sinker, Mr. Speaker.

Hamas and the PIJ are no friends of ours and want the same fate for Israel that so many terrorists want for the United States: the complete and total destruction of democracy.

If you are going to blame Israel alone for the recent violence, you are being nothing more than a useful idiot and a publicity tool for the two terrorist organizations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my dear friend, Steve Rose, who passed away on December 14, 2020.

He lived his whole life in Knoxville, served our country in the U.S. Marine Corps, and went on to graduate from Fulton High School after he left the Corps and attend the University of Tennessee.

Steve was known around town as a hell-raiser who never did anything halfway. He was an adrenaline junkie who enjoyed things like boxing and motocross racing, and he lit up Knoxville's music scene playing the drums with local bands around town.

Above all else, Steve had a ferocious love for his friends and family. He showed an unconditional love to Janice, his devoted of wife of 52 years, until the moment he passed away with her by his side. He was an amazing father to his children, Amy, Michael, and Tracy; and he spent many years working hard to get Amy the best possible care for her cerebral palsy.

Five years ago, a stroke left his body broken, but his strong-willed spirit stayed intact. He never let his condition dampen his attitude, and he kept on loving friends and family with the same vigor he always had.

Mr. Speaker, he will be truly missed by those who knew him.

Madam Speaker, this week is National Police Week, and I rise to honor the brave men and women of law enforcement who gave their lives to protect our communities.

In 1962, National Police Week was established by President John F. Kennedy, a Democrat. But back then, honoring our fallen officers was a bipartisan issue, Madam Speaker. Today, many Democrats are so set on demonizing law enforcement they won't even use this week to honor those lives that have been lost in the line of duty. It is a shame that supporting law enforcement has become such a political nonstarter for my colleagues across the aisle.

Police officers in our communities are cracking down on gangs, getting drugs off the streets, and stopping crime before it happens. They are keeping all of us safe and deserve to know those who made the ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten and will always be honored.

Law enforcement, particularly our local sheriff's offices and police departments in Tennessee's Second Congressional District, will always have my gratitude for the great work they do to keep us safe from bad folks.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my good friend, Gerald Clark, a true American hero from my district who passed away on April 19.

Gerald dedicated his life to helping his fellow veterans and their families and patriotically served his country during World War II.

Gerald viewed his time with the U.S. Army as an adventure. He fought with the 75th Infantry Division at the Battle of the Bulge and lost his leg defending our country fighting the Nazis.

He was awarded a Purple Heart for his service and sacrifice. He was honorably discharged after being hospitalized over a year. Then he returned to Tennessee; married his wife, Bea; raised five children; and continued to serve his community.

For decades, Gerald held memberships in the American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, in the belief that his support lent strength to the voice of each organization.

Gerald was also a leading advocate for opening a Tennessee State Veterans' Home in Knox County. Thanks to his efforts, Ben Atchley Tennessee State Veterans' Home opened in 2006, and my father actually passed away in that veterans' home, so I hold it very close to my heart, Madam Speaker.

It is my honor to salute Gerald Clark one final time here on the House floor. He will be greatly missed.

Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Jordan for yielding.

Madam Speaker, right now, we have an immigration disaster at the southern border of the Biden administration's own creation. Instead of putting a stop to this madness, my colleagues across the aisle are encouraging this open borders agenda by bringing the NO BAN Act to the floor today.

The NO BAN Act limits the President's ability to make executive decisions about who should be allowed to enter our country. This would dangerously weaken the President's executive authority on important issues related to national security.

To put this reckless idea into perspective, Customs and Border Patrol agents recently caught two Yemeni terrorists at the southern border. Thank God, law enforcement caught these terrorists, but this is exactly why executive authority on immigration issues needs to remain in place.

Madam Speaker, a responsible President would notice what is going on at the southern border and use his authority to step in for the sake of national security. It is naive to believe there aren't bad actors who want to hurt Americans actively trying to exploit this ongoing crisis.

President Biden needs to use his executive authority to solve the immigration and national security crisis his administration has created. If he is not physically or mentally capable of doing this, he should step down.

Madam Speaker, I thank Vice Chairman Johnson for yielding.

Madam Speaker, the crisis at the southern border is a problem of the Biden administration's own creation. As soon as they took office, the Biden administration slapped an ``open for business'' sign on our southern border. They scrapped commonsense immigration policies that were keeping our country secure. Now, our southern border is overwhelmed with immigrants who expect to enter the country without proper vetting.

Hiding among those massive crowds of people are drug smugglers, child traffickers, and terrorists who have no intention of positively impacting American communities.

We need to know who is coming into our country and why, for the sake of national security.

Ironically, even though Joe Biden and Kamala Harris decried this practice, children are still being packed into overcrowded detention facilities and sleeping in cages. They were outraged about this back when they were campaigning for President, but now they are actually silent on the issue.

We need to get back to the successful border security policies of the Trump administration, including construction of our border wall. I am an original cosponsor of the Finish the Wall Act, which would resume construction of the border wall and make it more difficult for folks, especially the bad actors, to cross the southern border illegally.

House Republicans are ready to secure the border, and I am proud to join my colleagues on the floor this evening to call out the Biden administration's ongoing inaction. If President Biden is not physically or mentally capable of addressing this problem, he should step down.

Madam Speaker, today, I recognize longtime East Tennessee resident Edith Bettis as she celebrates her 100th birthday.

Edith was born in Oconaluftee, North Carolina to Arthur and Ellen Chambers on April 16, 1921. She lived in Smokemont, North Carolina until age 11 when her family's land was made part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She then moved to Sweetwater, Tennessee where she attended high school.

After briefly attending school in Oak Ridge, she moved to Detroit, Michigan to help with the war effort. During World War II, Edith worked on airplanes as a riveter, and after the war, she returned to East Tennessee to work in a Lenoir City hosiery mill.

Edith married her late husband, Clarence, in May of 1947, and they had 4 children: Janis, Charles, Nancy and Rickey. They were later blessed with 6 grandchildren and 4 greatgrandchildren.

It's my honor to wish Edith a happy 100th birthday and, on behalf of Tennessee's Second Congressional District, congratulate her on becoming a centenarian.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Captain Patrick C. Polis as Tennessee's Second District Veteran of the Month.

Captain Polis was drafted into the United States Army in 1966 as a private, then attended Officer Candidate School and earned the rank of second lieutenant. He served two combat tours of duty, Madam Speaker, during the Vietnam war, rising to the rank of captain during the war. He was later awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Army Commendation Medal for his service.

He left the Army in 1974 and, regrettably, he attended the University of Alabama, being we are from Tennessee, but he did graduate magna cum laude in 1981.

Following a career in business management, he returned to school at the Asbury Theological Seminary and earned a master's degree in divinity in 1993. He used his religious education to serve as a pastor at the United Methodist Church in Knoxville from 1993 to 2019. He also served as chaplain for the Knoxville Police Department.

In 2019, he was inducted into the Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Captain Polis and his wife, Sandra, still reside in Knoxville. He remains active in the veteran community through the Vietnam Veterans of America, serving as president of the Captain Bill Robinson Chapter 1078.

I thank Captain Polis so much for his service to our country. It is my honor to recognize him today on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Madam Speaker, he is just an outstanding individual.