Floor Statements

Madam Chair, today's measure covers the Department of Homeland Security and is critical to defending the homeland and protecting the American people.

From the crisis at the southern border, to the scourge of fentanyl, to the threat of terrorism, the United States continues to face an evolving array of threats. It is more important than ever that we place the Department of Homeland Security in the best position to fulfill its mission.

Today's bill accomplishes that goal.

It invests the resources we need to secure the nation. In fact, this bill provides $64.8 billion to meet our needs, which is an increase of $2.9 billion over last year, and a full $4.25 billion over the President's budget request.

This increase is sadly necessary. President Biden's policies at the southern border have created a humanitarian and security crisis, overwhelming not only the border itself, but also communities across the country. Each month hundreds of thousands of migrants cross the border illegally, many of whom are allowed to remain in the country without consequence. The decision to allow an open southern border has meant that countless wrongdoers--human traffickers, narcotraffickers, and potential terrorists--can enter our country freely.

Enough is enough. Today's bill will take steps to end this state of affairs. It will provide $600 million for construction of the border wall. It will force President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas to adhere to the law. It invests resources to halt fentanyl from entering our country and our communities. It makes critical investments in the Border Patrol and the Coast Guard, and it forces the Department of Homeland Security to focus on its core mission: to keep the American people safe.

I applaud Chairman Amodei for his good work in putting this measure together, and I urge all of my colleagues to support its passage.

Mr. Chair, the United States has long been the global leader for peace, stability, and international cooperation. This role did not come easily or through weakness. It is the result of the great sacrifice of the American people. It came about not only because of our armed might, which served to defeat the fascist powers during World War 2, but also because of America's clear commitment to the values of freedom and democracy, not only for ourselves, but for all of humanity.

Today's measure--the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025--reflects that persistent commitment to our national values. It also commands American excellence--we will not only be a participant in the international conversation, but the global leader of it.

The bill prioritizes programs to protect our national security; enhance our working relationships with friends, allies, and partners

around the globe; and promote freedom and democracy abroad.

It supports our allies and partners like Israel and Taiwan, both democracies that face external threats.

It includes funding to enhance security partnerships in the Indo- Pacific region, which is critical to countering Communist China's continued aggression.

And it prioritizes funding for combating fentanyl, a crisis that is touching every community in every state in the Nation.

The bill accomplishes these goals in a fiscally responsible way, ensuring that funds are spent where they are needed most. Critically, the bill also maintains longstanding bipartisan policies to promote religious freedom and to protect life, which are of great importance to so many Americans.

I'm deeply proud of the work we have done on this bill, and I applaud Chairman Diaz-Balart for his hard work. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Chair, I thank my good friend from Texas, the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee, for yielding.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of this important piece of legislation.

There are many things that set our Nation apart from others. One of our greatest differentiators is the sustained call to service Americans have met generation after generation. Those who have worn the uniform past and present took an oath to defend our country, our ideals, and our people. Just as our veterans and troops answered the call of duty, so must this Chamber in meeting our constitutional obligations.

That is why it is deeply fitting that the first fiscal year of 2025 appropriations bill we take up covers military construction and Veterans Affairs, two of the highest priorities for our Nation.

This bill provides robust funding for military construction projects with a particular focus on the Pacific region and military family housing. These projects ensure that we can meet our national defense needs both at home and abroad. They also support housing at bases across the country and around the world, allowing members of our Armed Forces to serve their country without being separated from their loved ones.

Even more importantly, this legislation provides full funding for healthcare and benefits for our Nation's veterans. Through devotion to duty and great personal sacrifice, our veterans have served this country and served it well, defending not only our homeland but our families and our way of life. The services the VA provides have been truly earned and represent the thanks of a grateful nation to our men and women who have served in uniform.

Critically, today's bill fulfills these priorities while remaining true to the budgetary levels outlined in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, but in a reflection of the deep importance of this topic to America, this bill actually appropriates $400 million more than the President's budget request. We can and must direct our taxpayer dollars to our most important priorities, and today's bill succeeds in that important objective.

Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Carter for his hard work on this measure, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting it on final passage.

Mr. Speaker, I thank very much, Leader Scalise, for yielding. I also thank my friend from Maryland for those incredibly kind and gracious remarks.

Mr. Speaker, in the history of my State, there is a great political figure, former Governor, former Congressman, his son was later a Governor, he was once asked what makes a great public servant, and he said to look for three qualities: First, look for somebody too honest to be bought. If you think you could buy Kelly Dixon whether it was with money or flattery or kindness, because she is not susceptible to kindness, or any other way, you can't. You were always going to get an honest answer, a straight opinion, and a straight call on any issue. The second thing he said is to look for somebody too wise to be fooled. If you think you can fool Kelly Dixon, you are the fool because she sees clearly and sharply. She judges people wisely and well. She judges the institution and the motives well. I don't think I have ever seen her fooled or flustered in her life. Finally, he said to look for somebody too courageous to be intimidated.

Now, who the hell here thinks they can intimidate Kelly Dixon? She intimidates you, but she does it for a wise and a good purpose. I did have the great fortune to have followed her most of her career and then obviously got to work with her very closely at Rules, and I can tell you several things about her.

Number one, there is nobody in this institution that has a better friend than Kelly Dixon. It doesn't matter which side of the aisle you are on. It is the way she treats you, the way she responds to you. She is your friend. There is nobody in this Chamber that has a better staffer than Kelly Dixon.

She started with my friend, Ken Calvert. She has held some of the most senior and responsible positions in our Conference and she has had the respect of her peers and colleagues and the Members on the other side of the aisle. That is a hard thing to do to command that kind of respect in this Chamber.

The other thing I will tell you about her is, she is also the ultimate institutionalist. Everybody has in a long career a finest hour, a moment of supreme effectiveness in a worthy cause. I think Kelly Dixon's finest hour was in the 3 weeks of turmoil that we had when we lost a Speaker. She was a preeminent staffer for the Speaker pro tempore. She helped us through a difficult period and kept us together and kept us focused, and we ended up where we needed to be in an orderly way.

I think it was absolutely an heroic moment, not one that most people had an opportunity to witness, but I bet you if Patrick McHenry was speaking, he would get up and tell you exactly the same thing.

I would say that, too, for the way in which she has performed to help our Speaker, Speaker Johnson, get set up, get established, and move forward.

This is a complex institution with great traditions, and nobody knows those traditions and knows this institution better than Kelly Dixon.

Kelly, we are all going to miss you, but nobody is going to miss you more than me and, frankly, nobody is going to ever replace you. Thank you for what you have done for this institution.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to vote in favor on the motion to table the motion to vacate the Speaker.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 188.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 162; YEA on Roll Call No. 155; YEA on Roll Call No. 156; YEA on Roll Call No. 157; YEA on Roll Call No. 158; YEA on Roll Call No. 159; YEA on Roll Call No. 160; YEA on Roll Call No. 161; NAY on Roll Call No. 170; YEA on Roll Call No. 171; NAY on Roll Call No. 168; YEA on Roll Call No. 169; NAY on Roll Call No. 166; YEA on Roll Call No. 167; NAY on Roll Call No. 164; and YEA on Roll Call No. 165.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 153, and YEA on Roll Call No. 154.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1160, I call up the bill (H.R. 8036) making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the Indo-Pacific region and for related expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer H.R. 8036, the Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Act of 2024.

The bill provides $8.12 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations to continue efforts to counter Communist China and ensure a strong deterrence in the region.

It includes $3.3 billion to develop submarine infrastructure; $2 billion for the foreign military financing program for Taiwan and other key partners in the region; $1.9 billion for replenished defense articles and defense services provided to Taiwan and regional partners; $542 million to strengthen U.S. military capabilities in the region, and $133 million to enhance the production and development of artillery and critical minerals.

Today's bill should not be viewed in isolation. It is part of a series of three security supplemental bills and a related national security measure, all of which are being considered as part of a comprehensive funding package.

This measure and the other two supplemental bills will provide needed military assistance to Israel and Ukraine during their time of crisis; will provide support for Taiwan as it confronts aggression from the Chinese Communist Party; and will provide support for the U.S. military forces operating in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, including the critical replenishment of American stocks of ammunition.

American's greatest writer, Mark Twain, is reputed to have said: ``History does not repeat itself, but it does sometimes rhyme.''

Tragically, the past 2 years have produced echoes of a dark time in world history, the 1930s.

In the 1930s, evil regimes bent on aggression, domination, and even genocide, took their first steps down a dark road that would eventually lead to world war.

Tragically, the democratic West turned inward then, standing idly by while fascist regimes began to take aggressive actions against their weaker neighbors.

There was time then to put a stop to aggression, if only we had had the fortitude and the wherewithal to stand firmly on the side of freedom.

Today, we are seeing uncomfortable parallels to that dark time. In Europe, Vladimir Putin launched an unjust and illegal invasion of his democratic neighbor, Ukraine. In Asia and the Pacific, the Chinese Communist Party encroaches on its neighbors and openly threatens the continued self-determination of Taiwan, a nation which continues to show the world what a free and democratic China could look like.

In the Middle East, Israel faces attacks on multiple fronts, beginning with the horrible terror attack launched by Hamas on October 7, and continuing with an unprecedented direct aerial assault launched by the Iran regime over the weekend.

These events do not take place in a vacuum, Madam Speaker. They take place in regions around the world critical to American national security. They threaten our friends and partners around the globe and threaten the continued safety of democracy.

The security of our fellow democratic states is our security, and protecting their security is undoubtedly in America's national interests.

Some of America's greatest leaders of the 20th century recognize this fundamental reality. I think of Franklin Roosevelt calling on America to become the great arsenal of democracy to defeat Nazi Germany. I think of Ronald Reagan reminding us that the preservation of a peaceful, free, and democratic Europe is essential to the preservation of a peaceful, free, and democratic United States.

Madam Speaker, peace through strength cannot be delivered through appeasement. We cannot wish our way to national security, and we cannot thrust our heads into the sand while aggressive nations threaten their neighbors.

Today's measure is not only about safeguarding the ideals of democracy and peace, but it is also central to our own national security.

The actions we take today will be seen and heard around the world. Vladimir Putin is watching. Xi Jinping is watching. The Iranian mullahs are watching. What will we show them? Will we show them that our commitment to security does not stop at the water's edge? Will we show them that we know that the security of our friends and our partners around the globe is our security? Or will we fail to take action and, in doing so, give these powers the same gift we gave to the fascist powers in the 1930s?

I know which I would choose. I know what I would show our adversaries, these tyrants and dictators, that just in Ronald Reagan's time, the United States stands committed to the common defense, that our commitment to our friends and partners stands both now and into the future.

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Womack), chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies of the Appropriations Committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), my good friend.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), my very good friend.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn), my very good friend.

Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for closing.

I begin by thanking the Speaker and the Rules Committee, particularly my good friends Chairman Burgess and Ranking Member McGovern, for structuring this debate so every Member in this Chamber would have an opportunity to express their opinion on every issue. This is really a very welcome gift. Nobody is being jammed. Everybody can voice their own opinion.

I thank my good friend, the ranking member of the full Appropriations Committee, for working with me. We have had a long friendship and a long professional relationship, and I look forward to the years ahead working with her.

Finally, Madam Speaker, I urge all our colleagues to support all four of these bills. We are, as speaker after speaker has said, at a critical moment in our history. We need to stand firm. We need to send a clear signal to the rest of the world, so please pass the bills.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my very good friend from Texas, my classmate, my colleague when I served on the Rules Committee, and now I am very proud to say our very distinguished chairman of the Rules Committee for yielding. Today's rule makes in order a series of three critical security supplemental bills, Mr. Speaker, paired with a fourth bill covering other high-priority national security matters. Collectively, these bills represent the commitment to move much-needed security assistance funding for America's friends and partners.

Mr. Speaker, the members of the Rules Committee faced a serious challenge in putting together today's resolution, but they met that challenge in admirable, bipartisan fashion. I can't tell you how proud I am of both sides of the aisle, including my friend, the distinguished ranking member, for the manner in which they responded to this particular difficulty.

Today's rule creates a full and fair process for floor consideration of these measures. It grants ample debate time on these bills and makes in order a series of amendments ensuring that the entire body has the opportunity to work its will and make our voices heard.

It ensures that Members have a full 72 hours to review these bills before the vote. After all, taking up a matter as important as this, both Members of Congress and the American people deserve no less.

Finally, it provides an up-or-down vote on each of these bills. Importantly, this rule allows every Member to vote his or her conscience on every issue. Thanks to this process, the House will be able to work its will. That is the way the Founders intended this institution to work.

Speaker Johnson's work in setting this process in motion has been admirable, and we all owe him our thanks for ensuring both that the House takes up these critical funding measures and that each Member can vote his or her conscience on every single issue.

Mr. Speaker, the need for this funding is not hypothetical. Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan are on the front

lines of the struggle to preserve democracy and freedom around the world.

In the case of Ukraine and Israel, these two nations are, quite literally, in harm's way. Ukraine is entering the third year of their struggle against Vladimir Putin's unjust and illegal invasion. Its continued ability to resist hangs in the balance dependent on foreign aid. Its people need the weapons and ammunition provided in this bill to keep them in the fight.

Israel, meanwhile, is involved in a life-and-death struggle against the perpetrators of the October 7 terror attack, Hamas. Over the weekend, Hamas' backer, the Iranian regime, launched an unprecedented and direct aerial assault on Israel. That attack has been thwarted, and an appropriate response is underway.

Taiwan faces ongoing threats from the Chinese Communist Party which continue to threaten Taiwan's right of self-determination.

Around the world, the United States and our partners are confronting a tinderbox of uninvited aggression on multiple fronts. America must stand firmly on the side of freedom.

Peace through strength cannot be delivered through appeasement. Taken together, these measures protect our friends and partners and replenish American stockpiles of ammunition, weapons, and supplies. This is not only about safeguarding our ideals of democracy and peace but is central to our own national security.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to vote to support the rule and the underlying legislation.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 87, and YEA on Roll Call No. 88.

Mr. Speaker, I begin with some much-deserved thank yous. I thank the Speaker of the House. This deal would not have come together without his leadership and support.

I particularly thank Chair Granger and Ranking Member DeLauro for their work and their leadership in putting a package together they can get across this floor in a bipartisan manner.

I would be remiss not to thank my negotiating counterparts, Ranking Member Quigley and Senator Schatz and Ranking Member Hyde-Smith on the Senate side of the rotunda. They were just terrific to work with in every way.

Finally and always, we have outstanding staff. We all know that. This bill wouldn't be here without their hard work.

Obviously, I focus my remarks, Mr. Speaker, very quickly on the portion of the bill that I had the most to do with, and that is the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development portion. There are four areas in that bill I am especially proud of.

First, Members of both parties on both sides of the rotunda worked really hard on safety first: safety for people who are flying, safety for people who are traveling by rail, and safety for men and women on the highways. We met the requirement there and fully funded all those agencies.

Second, this is probably the most robust funding that the Federal Aviation Administration has ever received. We have money in there for 1,800 new air traffic controllers who are desperately needed. We have additional money for technology and infrastructure programs and simulators to make sure they get the most up-to-date training we can possibly provide for them. That was a real accomplishment, and it marries up very nicely with the FAA reauthorization bill that I hope we pass later this Congress.

Third, we maintained the safety net for people in public housing. We all know what has happened to the cost of rents and housing; and, frankly, we didn't want to put anybody out of their home, and we avoided doing that.

Finally, and particularly important to me personally, we have historic gains for Indian housing programs and Indian road programs in this bill.

Again, none of that could have happened without the people I thanked earlier: the Speaker and particularly the chairwoman and ranking member of the subcommittee and my negotiating partners.

I urge passage of this legislation, Mr. Speaker. I am very proud to be associated and very proud that it will come to and move across this floor, as it should, in a bipartisan fashion.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Section 5(a) of House Resolution 918. 118th Congress, I hereby submit the following impeachment inquiry procedures in the Committee on the Judiciary for printing in the Congressional Record.

Impeachment Inquiry Procedures in the Committee on the Judiciary

Pursuant to H. Res. 918

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up H. Res. 918 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 918.

Mr. Speaker, today is a sad day for myself, for the institution, and most of all for the American people. My duty today is one I do not relish. I am sure that every other Member of this institution feels the same way.

Yesterday, the Rules Committee met and reported out a measure under our original jurisdiction. H. Res. 918 formalizes an inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its constitutional power to impeach the President of the United States.

Three months ago, at the direction of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, three committees--those of Oversight and Accountability, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary--began this impeachment inquiry.

Over the succeeding months, the committees have done their work and have done it well. The inquiry is now at an inflection point. The three committees are nearing the end of their investigations. The White House has chosen this moment to stonewall and resist the legitimate investigative powers of the House.

Mr. Speaker, while I do not believe the House must hold a vote on the floor to initiate an impeachment inquiry, doing so may be said to be best practice.

We are taking up today's resolution that will formalize the impeachment inquiry that has already begun. This will ensure not only that the inquiry has the full authority of the House but also that the House can enforce its subpoenas and ensure that the Biden administration can no longer refuse to cooperate with the investigation.

I will briefly describe the procedures for this inquiry. The resolution tasks three committees--Oversight and Accountability, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary--with continuing their current inquiries. It establishes procedures for conducting hearings and calling and questioning witnesses. It grants the minority equal time to question witnesses and the right to request their own witnesses.

At the conclusion of their proceedings, it provides for the Committees on Oversight and Accountability and Ways and Means to transmit their findings and supporting documents to the Committee on the Judiciary, which is the committee that traditionally considers impeachment matters. It gives the President the right to participate in the proceedings before the Committee on the Judiciary.

Finally, the resolution authorizes the Committee on the Judiciary to transmit to the House resolutions, Articles of Impeachment, or other recommendations.

The procedures we are adopting today closely parallel those the Democrats created in 2019. In fact, H. Res.

660 from the 116th Congress was our guide. After all, those procedures are now a precedent of the House.

Mr. Speaker, impeachment, especially impeachment of a President, is a starkly serious matter. It is something that no Member of the House should want to do. The House has rights and obligations under the Constitution. We are charged with providing the oversight of the executive branch, and we are the sole institution in the country granted the awesome power of impeachment. It is a power that must be used selectively and wisely, and only after full deliberation.

With today's resolution, we are ensuring that the House will be able to complete its inquiry. We will secure the evidence we need and uncover the facts we need to make that full and fair determination.

Only at the end of the road can we make a decision on how to proceed. I take no joy in today's resolution, but I know the House will do its duty. We owe our committees, the institution, and the Constitution no less.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer), who is the chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Jordan), who is the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Houchin), my very good friend and distinguished member of the Rules Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Just for the Record, all these amendments are on the website of the Rules Committee. It is not like they are mysteriously hidden someplace. They are in plain view on the website of the Rules Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman), my good friend and also a distinguished member of the Rules Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy), my good friend and distinguished member of the Rules Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith), my very good friend and distinguished Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock), my very good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Timmons), my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Fry), my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Donalds), my very good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I do.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Armstrong), my very good friend and the sponsor of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close, and I urge all my colleagues to support the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot today, heard a lot about Donald Trump. We have had ad infinitum insults to the majority. We have had pejorative language. We have had pounding on the table.

Why? Simply because we want to empower three committees in Congress to do what the White House asked us to do; that is, to have a formal vote on the floor before they fully cooperate. That is all we are doing.

If my friends are so confident--again, as one of my colleagues mentioned from the Rules Committee--what are you worried about? It is an investigation. It is open.

We hardly talked about what the resolution is about, which is how we are going to proceed.

How are we going to proceed? Almost exactly as my friends proceeded in 2019. Their playbook, their play, their approach. There is nothing unfair that we are asking to be done.

Since September, the House has been engaged in an impeachment inquiry, examining whether sufficient grounds exist for the House to exercise its constitutional power to impeach the President of the United States.

Today's resolution simply formalizes that inquiry and grants the House full authority to enforce its subpoenas--subpoenas that have been denied as recently as today.

My friends have some pretty experienced lawyers on their side. Most of them will tell you it is better to have a deposition before you have a hearing, let alone a trial.

All we are trying to do is get the needed people who have been blocked or refused to cooperate to come in and testify under oath before Congress.

The resolution follows closely, again, as I said, the procedures established in 2019. It empowers the three committees to continue their existing inquiries. At the end of the inquiry, it provides for the Committee on the Judiciary, the traditional impeachment committee, to report to the House resolutions, Articles of Impeachment, or other recommendations.

It is deeply unfortunate that we are here, Mr. Speaker, but today's resolution will ensure that the House can fulfill its obligations under the Constitution. So it is with respect for the Constitution, for this institution, and for this great Nation that we proceed. That is all we are trying to do today. We had very little discussion of that, but we ought to entertain that.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to remind everybody of a few facts.

We have millions of dollars from foreign entities that have flowed towards shell companies that we didn't even know existed until the investigations uncovered them. We have whistleblowers, public servants of long standing that have come in and told us their efforts to investigate either Hunter Biden or the wider schemes that have been obstructed.

We have lots of things to be concerned about. Our committees need to be empowered with the tools that are required to pursue the truth and then come back and tell us what they found and have a recommendation as to how we should proceed. That is all today is about.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today out of extreme gratitude for my previous Defense Fellow, Major Arthur Miller, or Art as he is well known, and want to congratulate him on his retirement from the United States Army. Major Miller, a commissioned field artillery officer, served as my Defense Fellow during the second session of the 117th Congress. He consistently demonstrated exceptional and effective leadership, dedicated service, and commitment to the legislative relationship between our branches of government.

As a Defense Fellow, Major Miller positively and directly influenced the Army, Department of Defense policy, program recommendations, and the Fourth District of Oklahoma. His carefully communicated advice reflected the depth and breadth of his considerable experience and affected future programs appropriations and policies that will carry the Army through the end of the decade. Selected for this assignment from hundreds of applicants, Major Miller represented the Army and Department of Defense with distinction. His professional conduct with Members of Congress, and senior government leaders while assigned to Capitol Hill is to be commended.

Major Miller is no stranger to a history of honorable service. As a field artillery officer, he served proudly in the 18th Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Liberty, NC, where he performed duties above his grade multiple times, including as the acting Brigade S4 during multiple brigade-level exercises and several functions in garrison, and as a Battalion S3 during 3-27th Field Artillery Regiments Cumulative Training Exercise for deployment to Operation Spartan Shield in 2019. As a Captain, Major Miller planned, synchronized, and executed over 20 training fire plans in the brigade's first externally evaluated Large Scale Combat Operations Exercise in support of FOCUSED READINESS.

Major Miller commanded Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3-27th Field Artillery Regiment while deployed to Operation Spartan Shield and Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 18th Field Artillery Brigade. Major Miller commanded the battery through COVID-19, meanwhile, his battery was recognized by GEN Michael Garrett, the commander of Army Forces Command, for having the best tactically emplaced area of operations of all units at the rotation.

As a junior officer, Major Miller excelled at every level in the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 2d Infantry Division from 2012 to 2015. Major Miller served with distinction as an executive officer in two formations and was then selected above all lieutenants in the brigade to serve as the adjutant for the 210th Field Artillery Brigade before being selected to attend the Maneuver Captains Career Course, a unique and noteworthy honor given to only the most talented of young officers in our Army.

Major Miller is a proud member of the Military Officers Association of America, the Association of the United States Army, the United States Army Field Artillery Association, and is a recipient of the Honorary Order of Saint Barbara. His continued commitment to our Soldiers and their families will never go unnoticed and signifies the important degree of character in which he holds.

Mr. Speaker, in recognition of his distinguished service to our country, I wish him, his wife Cassie, children Emma and Arthur, and their shell-protected friends, Donatella and Leonardo, all the best in his retirement. It is well deserved, and our country owes him a wealth of gratitude for his service. God bless my good friend.

Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.