Floor Statements

Mr. Chair, let me start by saying, I commend Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, and Ranking Member Cohen on a very successful bipartisan FAA reauthorization bill.

One of the issues that I feel very adamant about is addressing the pilot shortage, which is crippling the air industry. According to the Bureau of

Labor Statistics, it is projected that 14,500 pilots will be needed every year through the year 2030. Some other outlets have estimated the number to be even higher.

For this reason, I am proud to cosponsor the Pre-Pilot Pathway Act by my friend Byron Donalds. This commonsense amendment requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish a voluntary apprenticeship program at Part 141 flight schools around the country.

More importantly, this program incentivizes retired pilots, those who are often the most experienced--the guys with the gray hair around the temple--to remain involved in the industry and train the next generation of pilots.

Mr. Chair, I support the amendment, and I urge adoption as one of the critical ways to support our pilots and alleviate the pilot shortage.

Mr. Chair, every person should have an opportunity to view and experience our amazing national parks, whether it is Mount Rushmore, whether it is select areas in Hawaii, or whether it is the Grand Canyon.

I can't remember the last time somebody in this room or anybody has ever tried to walk it, if you have ever tried to walk it. I bet you there are people up in this gallery who have been to Las Vegas before, and they see these beautiful helicopters that give you an opportunity to view the beautiful Grand Canyon, that big hole in the ground. You can do it, and you can do it safely and effectively through a helicopter.

The ranking member just mentioned that it supports the privileged few. I would argue that for the disabled and elderly, how else are they going to get there? That is not the privileged few. It is right for grandma and grandpa that may want to go and view the Grand Canyon or Mount Rushmore. It makes no sense what we are trying to do here.

Air tours are often the only way that disabled and elderly are allowed to see our national parks. It is regulated by the FAA, and these operators have a great safety record.

Unfortunately, the Biden administration is attempting to limit the number of air tours at a number of our national parks, all at the request--go figure, no surprise--all at the request of certain environmental stakeholders. This is irresponsible. It is un-American.

Also, air tour operators oftentimes, in the off-season--don't forget what they do in the off-season--partner with Federal, State, and local governments to help fight wildfires.

They are great Americans. We need to continue to support them. I ask my colleagues to support Representative Gosar's amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S.J. Res. 11, which nullifies the Biden administration's heavy-duty vehicle emissions rule.

I am proud to have led this effort in the House, and I commend my colleagues in the Senate for swiftly passing this important legislation.

The joint resolution before us today would overturn the EPA's aggressive heavy-duty vehicle emissions final rule, which provides 80 percent more stringent regulations than current standards and unfairly targets our trucking industry. By imposing these new emissions reduction requirements for vehicle models that are made in 2027 and beyond, it will significantly increase the cost of heavy-duty vehicles.

Whether you own an F-250 or a semitruck, this new regulation will directly affect you. According to the EPA, it is projected to cost between $2,500 and $8,300 per vehicle to adhere to this new final rule. Other estimates, such as the one from the American Truck Dealers Association, stated it is closer to $42,000 per truck.

Mr. Speaker, let me be crystal clear today. Woke bureaucrats in Washington are on a climate justice crusade, using the heavy hand of government to go after the trucking industry that keeps America moving.

In the last three decades, we have made significant strides in the right direction to decrease emissions and increase efficiency. Today's new trucks have reduced nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 98 percent since the 1990s.

The EPA's final rule is also ineffective, given that it incentivizes older and higher emitting trucks to operate longer due to the expensive technology required for compliant vehicles.

This is unacceptable and yet another blatant example of burdensome government regulation.

Simply put, the EPA has failed to address legitimate concerns for the

trucking industry. However, the EPA unilaterally imposes this detrimental rule, which could lead to a litany of further supply chain disruptions across the country, hit the smaller mom-and-pop trucking companies the hardest, and pass along increased costs to the American consumer.

Amidst record-high inflation and supply chain challenges, more expensive freight costs and fewer truckers on the road will only further perpetuate this problem. This is exactly why it is imperative that the House pass this joint resolution to nullify this burdensome regulation.

I thank OOIDA, Senator Fischer, and the trucking industry for being front and center on this issue. I proudly support our truckers, our small businesses, and progrowth policies to keep our economy strong.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this joint resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber) as cosponsor of H.R. 1761.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, let's be clear. We are here today because Joe Biden opened his mouth.

When Joe Biden took office, he had to do nothing. He had to do nothing to secure our southern border. All he had to do was keep President Trump's policies in place. Instead, he halted the construction of the Trump border wall and left over 150 miles of planned border wall unbuilt.

As I stand here today, materials are lying at our border, they are lying on the ground, and they are rusting in the sun as hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens wait to flood into our country.

To date, Mr. Speaker, over 5 million illegal aliens have invaded our border, and an additional 1.5 million of them, the bad hombres, have evaded capture since Joe Biden took over.

This historic legislation restores Trump-era immigration policies that prioritize the safety of the American people, take away the incentives that the Biden administration created to encourage illegal aliens to enter our country, defend our brave Border Patrol agents, and, of course, reform the asylum process.

H.R. 2 criminalizes those who overstay their visas, stops the abuse of parole authority to bypass immigration law, and helps employers to ensure that the workers they are hiring are legal and authorized to work in the United States.

It is past time we restored law and order at our southern border. We cannot continue to allow illegal aliens to infiltrate our country, kill American citizens, rob hardworking Americans of healthcare and other services, increase housing costs, crowd our Nation's public schools, and create a country filled with chaos.

Mr. Speaker, if you think the homeless problem is bad now, just wait. The Biden administration has failed to prioritize the safety of our country, our families, our livelihoods, and our children's future.

House Republicans are committed to securing the border and ending the national security crisis that the Joe Biden administration has created and ignored.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation. Let's take back control of our southern border and restore the rule of law.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the great Tom Reid, who was recently honored with a post office in my district. Mayor Reid has led a life of service to Pearland, the great state of Texas, and this country.

Tom has an impressive resume. He served in the United States Navy during World War II and worked for NASA's Johnson Space Center.

He also served as the Mayor of Pearland for nearly four decades.

Spending more than 50 years in government, Tom served on the City Council and municipal boards. As one of the longest-serving elected city officials in the area, he was Mayor from 1978 through 1990. In 1993, he successfully ran for re-election and held the position until his recent retirement in 2020.

During his time as Mayor, Tom ensured the city of Pearland had the infrastructure it needed.

Without the passion, grit, and determination that Tom embodies, Pearland would not be where it is today.

There's no doubt that the legacy of Mayor Reid will live on in the city of Pearland for years to come.

I am honored to recognize the dedication of a post office in recognition of his selfless service.

I thank Mr. Reid for his heartfelt contributions to the great city of Pearland. May his service inspire others to do the same for future generations to come.

Madam Clerk, I rise to nominate Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House.

Kevin McCarthy has been our leader for the past 4 years and has overwhelming support within this Conference. My intent today is to address the American people who have been watching these proceedings and are concerned about what they have seen in this Chamber over the past 2 days.

I am a Member of the House Freedom Caucus, and I am proud to say so. I believe the 20 Members that have nominated an alternate candidate have expressed their concerns with leadership, and many of those concerns have been addressed and accepted by Leader McCarthy and this Conference.

I believe this battle we are waging must end. Kevin McCarthy fully understands that being Speaker of the House will not be easy. Kevin is aware that any legislation he would like to pass out of this House will require support and enforcement from the Freedom Caucus. This is where I believe we can hold the Speaker accountable.

Kevin has made changes to the House rules at the request of all Members. One of those rule changes was the motion to vacate the chair, which Nancy Pelosi removed 4 years ago to avoid the scrutiny and the accountability.

The motion to vacate the chair, which has not been offered for a floor vote in over 100 years, calls for the removal of the Speaker of the House. Kevin has reinstated the motion to vacate the chair, which I believe was the right thing to do. This motion allows us, the Republican Conference, to hold the Speaker accountable. The American people gave us, my friends, us, the Republicans, the majority, and their vote of confidence to change the direction of our country. The American people are begging for leadership because the Biden administration certainly has not placed the American people first.

Kevin McCarthy understands. He understands he must protect that Speaker's gavel and abide by the will of the American people. The decisions we make in the 118th Congress are critical to the future of our country. The decisions we make, the legislation we pass as a Republican majority must have the support of the American people. We have a crisis on every corner in America, and the American people are expecting Republicans to bring this much-needed change. We must come together today and implement that change.

To those of you outside of Washington that are watching, Kevin McCarthy and this Republican majority understand your pain. We understand your pain. We feel it.

We understand we must secure our southern border. We must unleash our energy sector and become energy independent. We must curb inflation by reducing spending, and we must support our law enforcement officers. We have to get crime under control. We must place America and its people first.

I say to my friends on the Republican side that we can do all this while holding the Biden administration accountable and the Washington bureaucrats who have infringed and abused the rights of the American people and their families long enough. Under Speaker McCarthy they will be held accountable. They will be held accountable.

Today, let's do what is in the best interests of the American people. Let's get to work. Let's elect Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House.

Madam Clerk, at the direction of the Republican Conference, I advance the name of Kevin McCarthy as the next Speaker of the House for the 118th Congress.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to celebrate and recognize the extraordinary work of my Deputy Chief of Staff and National Security Advisor, Kevin Countie. Kevin has proven to be a true American patriot and devoted public servant through his 32-plus years of active. reserve, and national guard service, 20 years of service with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and having

served the people of TX-22 for the last two years.

Having achieved the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Army, Kevin served across various units including Long Range Surveillance, Aviation, Signal, Airborne Infantry, Civil Affairs, and Information Operations. He also supported the Pentagon and the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence with several top-secret security programs and served a tour in Baghdad, Iraq.

With the DEA, he spearheaded the first detailed area survey of Austin's illicit drug trade by collaborating with local, state, and other federal law enforcement partners, successfully resulting in an in-depth assessment disseminated to partner agencies to further mitigate illegal drug trade activity.

In my congressional office, Kevin was a trusted advisor who brought his wealth of experience and a commitment to excellence to every task he worked on.

While Kevin prepares for the next steps in his career, it is my honor to recognize the selfless service of my friend, Kevin Countie. On behalf of Texas' 22nd Congressional District, I thank him for his service and wish him the very best.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize a young man from Houston, Texas, who, as long as he can remember, wanted to be a police officer.

DJ Daniel was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and spine cancer when he was just 8 years old and has undergone 11 brain surgeries. He has spent half of his life battling cancer.

I cannot think of a braver young man than DJ. Given 5 months to live, he made it his mission to be sworn in by 100 law enforcement agencies. Here it is, 3 years later, and he has been sworn in by 743 police departments across the country.

DJ has made a tremendous impact on many across the Nation and is a shining example of what makes Texas so great.

Anyone who has followed DJ's story will be the first to say how he embodies the qualities we look for in law enforcement. Strength, courage, resilience, and selflessness are all traits I have heard describing DJ.

May God bless him and his family.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true musical prodigy with the kind of gift that many of us may only come across once in a lifetime, my constituent Tayte Choudhury.

At only 17 years old, Tayte is internationally recognized for his outstanding ability in piano. He is a first-place winner of the American Protege award and is performing a winning piece at the world- renowned Carnegie Hall in New York City on June 26.

Despite a physical disability that left him 70 percent deaf in both ears, Tayte has achieved great success in both music and scholastics. I was sent a video of Tayte playing this week and was completely blown away to be hearing and seeing such talent that can only be handed down by God himself.

But the thing about talent like that is that it is meaningless without hard work, sacrifice, resilience, and an entire village to get you where you need to go.

From myself and all of Texas 22, we are extremely proud of you, Tayte, and can't way to see how high you fly.

Madam Speaker, Representatives Perry and Biggs speaking the truth here today.

Madam Speaker, listen to these words: ``Sense of desperation and disappointment may lead to more of an incentive to become violent. Congress itself is the target. There has been a worrisome call for protestors to come to these events armed, and there is a possibility that protestors may be inclined to become violent. Propensity to attract white supremacists, militia members, and others who actively promote violence may lead to a significantly dangerous situation for law enforcement and the general public alike.''

These words are taken directly from the intelligence assessment on January 3. So why didn't they request the National Guard? Why were the Capitol Police so ill-prepared?

A couple of months ago, I had the opportunity to question then-D.C. National Guard Commander, General Walker. Now he is the House Sergeant at Arms.

I asked General Walker, I said, ``General, if the National Guard would have been on our Nation's Capitol on January 4 as the intelligence called for, would January 6 have ever happened?'' And he said no.

And I agree, General, I agree.

Capitol Police leadership had the intelligence days and weeks in advance and did nothing with it. They let it happen, folks. The Capitol Police leadership team failed, and this sham committee continues to give them a pass.

These hearings are clearly not about finding the truth. They are a sad attempt to put the blame on Donald Trump. This committee--make no mistake--this committee doesn't want to see Donald Trump as the Republican nominee in 2024 because they can't beat him.

Never in the history of Congress has the majority party used their power to smear, destroy, and intimidate the minority party ahead of an election so brazenly on a public stage. They know they can't win elections fairly, so they will use every dirty trick in the book and try to cheat their way to a win. But the American people know better. They can see through this political theater and their voices will be heard at the polls in November of this year and in 2024.

Mr. Speaker, Hurricane Harvey exposed how unprepared our infrastructure and flood mitigation efforts were for one of the most strategically important regions in the Nation.

Aside from the emotional and psychological toll Harvey inflicted on my community, it is estimated that Harvey cost $125 billion in damages.

Instead of continually spending money on the back end of tragedies that experts agree cost infinitely more, I am proud the Federal Government is authorizing investments in flood mitigation and prevention that will help deter another Harvey-like scenario.

I am also pleased that language in section 325 authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance related to non-Federal interests and the removal of sediment obstructing inflow channels to Addicks and Barker Reservoirs.

In addition to the statutory changes for sediment removal, I am proud to support the authorization of $19.2 billion for the Texas coastal protection and restoration project.

The Port of Houston is home to the largest petrochemical manufacturing complex in the Americas; 42 percent of the specialty chemical feedstocks, 27 percent of the gas, and 60 percent of the jet aviation fuel are all produced in the region. It is good to see government working for the people.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 471, the PAUSE Act, to protect all Americans from Biden's border crisis.