Floor Statements

Mr. Chair, communities in my district and across the country continue to feel the devastating impact of the opioid and fentanyl crisis. We all know someone who has been affected, and many of us felt that loss ourselves.

The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, first signed into law by President Trump in 2018, brought vital resources to those on the front lines: patients, families, first responders, and recovery providers.

Since then, overdose deaths have dropped significantly, but as we all know too well in Appalachian Ohio, there is much more work to be done.

Today's reauthorization builds on that progress. This bill ensures access to lifesaving medications for first responders, expands treatment for pregnant women, strengthens prescription drug monitoring, and supports recovery centers and workforce reentry programs.

By continuing this critical work, we can save more lives, restore more families, and bring hope to communities hit hardest by the addiction.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Weber for yielding me time.

I rise today in strong support of S.J. Res. 31. This resolution would disapprove of the Biden-era EPA's ``once in, always in'' rule, which was finalized in the final months of the previous administration.

Simply put, the ``once in, always in'' policy hurts America's manufacturing and energy sectors while doing nothing to actually improve air pollution.

In 2020, the Trump administration first reversed this policy, which encouraged businesses to lower their emissions and reduce pollution.

My home State of Ohio ranks third in the Nation with almost 700,000 manufacturing jobs. The manufacturing sector is responsible for over 17 percent of Ohio's gross domestic product and has an annual payroll of $48 billion in the Buckeye State alone.

It is critical that we support this resolution today and send it to the President's desk to deliver on our promise to unleash American manufacturing and energy.

I am proud to have introduced the House companion to this CRA with the gentlewoman from North Dakota (Mrs. Fedorchak), my good friend, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support this commonsense resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.J. Res. 88.

In the final weeks of 2024, the Biden-led EPA approved a waiver allowing California to ban the sale of gas-powered diesel and even hybrid vehicles by 2035, effectively paving the way for the State to set emission standards for the entire Nation.

This resolution overturns this waiver, protecting the right of every American to choose the vehicle that works best for them. For many consumers and entrepreneurs, they see conventional gas-powered cars as reliable, affordable, and able to meet the needs of their families and small businesses. Yet, the Biden administration chose to team up with radical climate activists to support the one-size-fits-all electric vehicle mandate that the market and the American people have clearly rejected.

This legislation is about defending consumer choice. Let's make sure California does not dictate what the rest of America drives.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Westerman for yielding to me.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 26, the Protecting American Energy Production Act.

This bill is critically important to supporting Ohio's energy producers and restoring American energy dominance long into the future. This bill supports the current framework that gives primary authority over regulating fracking to the States and prevents any future President from unilaterally banning fracking.

The shale revolution has been a game changer for the Appalachian region and my congressional district. In fact, Utica shale leases have boosted central and southeastern Ohio's economy by nearly $1 billion.

We all saw the rules that the Biden administration pushed out over the last 4 years, including efforts to mandate EVs for American consumers, blocking new LNG exports, and shutting down our most reliable power plants.

This bill makes crystal clear that no future administration can decide to ban fracking on a whim.

Mr. Speaker, fentanyl has ravaged communities in my district and across Ohio.

In 2023, our state saw more than 3,500 fentanyl overdoses, representing 98 percent of all opioid deaths.

Families are being torn apart and law enforcement is fighting an uphill battle to keep this poison off our streets.

That's why I proudly support the HALT Fentanyl Act, which gives law enforcement the certainty and stability they need to crack down on traffickers and prevent illicit fentanyl from entering our country.

We cannot allow this crisis to continue unchecked. And we must act now to protect our communities, support law enforcement, and save lives.

I urge my House colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the outgoing chairwoman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, on an extraordinary career in public service.

As a leader of the most powerful committee in Congress, Cathy has stood out as a dedicated public servant and a tireless champion for the children.

Under her leadership, we have advanced policies that uplift American families and inspire a new era of innovation. Her commitment to service and her vision for a brighter future have left a lasting mark on this institution.

Back home in eastern Washington, she is known simply as a humble public servant and a dedicated voice for her constituents.

Cathy has served the people of Washington's Fifth Congressional District with grace and dedication for 20 years, and she leaves behind a legacy of selflessness and service.

As she embarks on her next chapter, I extend my best wishes to Cathy, as well and my heartfelt gratitude to her husband, Brian, and her children for their unwavering support of her and her work.

Thank you, Chairwoman McMorris Rodgers, for your exceptional leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Fairfield County Commissioner Dave Levacy, who will be inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame this November. This distinguished honor recognizes Dave's exemplary service in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

Dave was drafted into the Army while a student at Ohio University, serving for two years between educational deferments. During his time in the military, he oversaw the development of Fort Story in Virginia. As a new inductee into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame, Dave views this recognition as an opportunity to highlight the importance of military service and to support veterans facing challenges.

Dave has held many roles in his community. He has worked as an accountant, business owner, paramedic, and firefighter with the Millersport/Walnut Township Fire Department. Dave has remained deeply involved in public service, serving as a county commissioner for over a decade. As a lifelong resident of Fairfield County, his years of dedication have established him as a pillar of the community.

I am honored to join in celebrating Commissioner Levacy as he is recognized by the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. I thank him for his service to our Nation and to Ohio's 12th Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the work of Dr. Richard K. Vedder, a resident of Ohio's 12th Congressional District and an exemplary figure in the fields of higher education and economics.

Dr. Vedder is a Distinguished Professor of Economics Emeritus at Ohio University and the founding director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity in Washington, DC.

His contributions as a member of the Secretary of Education's Commission on the Future of Higher Education illustrate his commitment to reforming the higher education system. His research and proposed reforms address critical issues, including the high cost of education, the suppression of free speech on campuses, and the privatization of education by giving teachers a financial stake in schools.

Dr. Vedder's dedication to education goes beyond words. His fifty years of teaching experience at Ohio University, the University of Colorado, Claremont Men's College, and the MARA Institute of Technology reflect his lifelong commitment to educating others.

Dr. Vedder will be deservedly recognized at the Ohio Board of Trustees Symposium later this month.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.J. Res. 136, which would disapprove of the EPA's radical tailpipe emission rule and EV mandate.

This rule would mandate that two-thirds of the new vehicles being sold by 2032 be all electric, strong-arming auto manufacturers into building cars that simply do not reflect market needs.

America is in the middle of a historic surge in power demand, yet the Biden-Harris administration has chosen to implement policies that will force the early retirement of some of our most reliable power plants.

The EPA's EV mandate will put more strain on our electric grid and further undermine the grid's reliability for years to come.

Simply put, increasing demand on the grid through forced electrification while reducing our power supply is a recipe for disaster.

With the passage of this legislation today, we can reaffirm our support of the free market and consumer choice, and we can defend America's energy security.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Awning Safety Act, which aims to enhance the safety of awnings commonly found in Ohio homes and households across the Nation.

A retractable awning can serve as a valuable source of shade and a gathering spot for family and friends. However, it can pose a significant risk if not properly handled.

This legislation directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish safety standards for fixed and freestanding awnings being typically installed in homes.

My Energy and Commerce Committee colleagues and I learned of the serious risk surrounding the awnings this past August when tragedy struck the family of Olivia Shields, a staff member for the committee at the time. Olivia and her mother are in the gallery as I speak.

Her father, Michael Hnat, was carrying out a routine household task, taking down the retractable awning from the family home.

He was on a ladder when the spring-loaded arm of the awning unexpectedly shot out at him, forcing his ladder to tip and causing him to fall.

Michael suffered a severe spinal cord injury, and despite efforts to save him, he tragically passed away a few days later.

His passing affected his family profoundly and reverberated throughout the communities he touched. Michael was renowned for his kindness, generosity, and selflessness, often going above and beyond to help others in need.

He was a devoted family man, a cherished husband to Jill, and a loving father to their children, Annaliese, Olivia, Abbey, Seamus, Emma, his sons-in-law, and his grandchildren. Michael's untimely death underscores the importance of ensuring the safety of household products like awnings, and by passing this legislation today, we can prevent future tragedies.

Mr. Speaker, on April 17, 2024 I inadvertently missed Roll Call vote No. 136, H.R. 4639.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 136.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Now more than ever, there is an urgent need for American energy leadership. Yet, with the President's most recent announcement banning new American LNG exports, he will singlehandedly undermine our energy sector and endanger our allies overseas. Rather than holding countries like China and Russia accountable, President Biden would rather play politics and appease the radical climate activists.

Here are the facts. Increasing LNG exports would add over $70 billion to the U.S. economy and create over 400,000 American jobs by 2040. American LNG is more than 40 percent cleaner than Russian LNG. Also, since we have increased our LNG exports, domestic natural gas prices have remained affordable and stable despite record inflation.

I thank August Pfluger for his work here, and I also thank our former colleague and my good friend, Bill Johnson, for leading on this legislation and the LNG export issues for many years.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Congressman Joyce for leading the Special Order this evening.

Mr. Speaker, over the last 3 years, we have seen the Biden administration oppose American energy production at every turn. Biden's most recent announcement not only undermines our energy sector, but also endangers our allies overseas.

Since Putin began his invasion of Ukraine, our European allies have raced to transition away from Russian energy by importing clean American LNG.

The administration's shortsighted, dangerous decision accomplishes one thing and one thing only: empowering Russia.

Claiming that this decision is based solely on protecting the environment is just absurd. Because of natural gas, the United States has reduced its own emissions more than any country in the world over the last 20 years.

The President's ban on new LNG export projects is not an environmental decision, it is a political decision.

Rather than holding countries like China and Russia accountable, President Biden would rather appease climate activists who are determined to ban fossil fuels at all costs.

This latest announcement hurts producers here in America, in Ohio, the thousands of men and women working to keep our lights on every day, and throttles investment in clean American energy.

Simply put, by freezing LNG export permits, the President is putting election year politics ahead of the interests of American workers, consumers, and allies abroad.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my good friend and fellow Ohioan, Bill Johnson, as he steps away from Congress to serve the students, staff, and faculty of Youngstown State University.

I have had the honor to work alongside Bill for a number of years, and one thing I have learned is that he is passionate about public service.

I met Bill in 2010 during his first campaign for Congress where he was faced with the tall task of unseating an incumbent. As we all know, Bill never shies away from a challenge, and he came out from the other side victorious thanks to his relentless work ethic and dedication to serving the communities of eastern Ohio.

He provided guidance and support to me when I decided to run for Congress, and he was an important resource for me when I worked to earn a spot alongside him on the Energy and Commerce Committee, the greatest committee on Capitol Hill.

We will certainly miss having Bill here in Washington, and I wish him; his wife, LeeAnn; and his son, Nathan, the best in this exciting new chapter of their lives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4468, the CARS Act.

President Biden has made it clear since day one that he will use the full weight and power of his office to push a radical climate agenda at the expense of consumer choice and American energy security.

His rush-to-green agenda, drawn up and enforced by Washington bureaucrats, pushes for a one-size-fits-all approach to vehicle purchases.

The Biden administration's standards would mandate that two-thirds of all new vehicles sold by 2032 be electric. The standards strong-arm manufacturers into building cars that simply do not reflect market demand.

In fact, last month nearly 4,000 car dealers from all 50 States joined a letter to President Biden urging him to slow down the EPA's proposed rule.

Just last week, Consumer Reports released a survey showing that electric vehicles proved far less reliable than internal combustion engine counterparts.

The survey found that EV model years 2021 through 2023 encountered nearly 80 percent more problems compared to the conventional vehicles. It is no wonder Ford and GM recently announced they are cutting back investments in EV production and reassessing their EV production goals for the first half of 2024. The American people just aren't buying them.

Furthermore, the EPA's rule, if implemented, will increase the strain on our electric grid at a time when misguided State and Federal energy policies are already driving power plants to retirement.

With the passage of this legislation today, we can reaffirm our support of the free market and consumer choice.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote in support of the CARES Act today.