Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 3.6 million American truckers during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

Truckers keep our Nation moving forward. Every year, across more than 300 billion miles of highways and back roads, these men and women deliver 11.5 billion tons of goods to feed our families, fuel our industries, and sustain our communities.

Whenever you see a truck on the road, Madam Speaker, know that behind the wheel, someone is often miles away from home and family to deliver goods we usually take for granted.

Without these unsung heroes, grocery shelves would be bare, factories would shut down, hospitals would run out of medication, and cars would be stranded without fuel.

I thank all our truck drivers for their hard work in undertaking one of our economy's most demanding and vital jobs.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment.

Mr. Chairman, the United States must never relinquish its sovereignty. Without question, we must work to ensure that, in the eloquent words of President Lincoln during the ``Gettysburg Address'': ``This government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.''

The power bestowed upon our government is derived from the will of the American people, not by foreign governments or organizations that syphon away our money as if we were a cash cow.

Foreign entities, such as the World Health Organization, or WHO, should never be allowed to corrode America's sovereignty and hand down edicts to the American people. We chart our own course, and we will not be deterred from doing so.

We should be even more skeptical of foreign entities, like the WHO, that are bedfellows with Communist China. China and its international cabal of bureaucrats would love nothing more than to have the United States follow their direction and the direction of their puppets like mindless lemmings.

They are hell-bent on controlling our God-given freedoms at the expense of our livelihoods. This cannot and will not be allowed to stand.

My amendment strengthens the underlying bill to ensure that H.R. 1425 will slam the door on any attempt to allow international bureaucrats at the WHO to undermine U.S. sovereignty and the will of the people.

My amendment clarifies that no WHO convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, or response can have any force or effect in U.S. law before or unless the Senate ratifies such a treaty.

This includes the clarification that no WHO agreement may be used to establish standing to sue under U.S. law or to challenge U.S. agency actions. Only if the American people's Representatives have spoken, with two-thirds of the Senate ratifying any WHO agreement, should it be allowed to have any impact on U.S. law.

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

Mr. Chairman, I am, frankly, surprised at my colleague for opposing an amendment that does nothing more than strengthen this piece of legislation. This amendment ensures that we do not violate our national sovereignty. I think it is the right thing to do.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. Chairman, I reiterate what I said a few minutes ago. I respect my colleague from New York (Mr. Meeks), but what harm does it do to put belts and suspenders on a bill?

The gentleman says it is not needed. It takes up a few words more. It is not going to have any negative effect on the national debt, but it makes it abundantly clear that no organization, particularly the WHO, can order this country to do anything under any kind of an agreement without a vote of the United States Senate, as we would do with any kind of treaty or other agreement.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment, strengthen the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize an exemplary North Carolinian and someone who is a visible active leader in his community, Scott Sewell.

At the end of August, Scott will be retiring from Cook Medical, a company where he has built a distinguished career spanning nearly 40 years.

He has previously served as the chairman of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, as president of the Winston-Salem Police Foundation, and represented Cook Medical on the boards of NC Bio and the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Speaker, Scott is a workhorse, and everyone who is fortunate to know him can attest to this simple fact. I congratulate Scott on his well-deserved retirement. His work has left an indelible mark upon the lives of many across the Tar Heel State.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support Prime Minister Netanyahu in the just cause of eliminating Hamas.

Soon, the Prime Minister will address the people's House. As he speaks, we will be reminded of the mounting peril facing America and our allies around the world.

In the struggle for freedom and democracy against anti-Semitism and terror, the Committee on Education and the Workforce is proud to do its part.

We have held countless hearings exposing the roots of anti-Semitism on the home front and will continue to do so. The success of this vital mission will help decide whether America remains safe for the Jewish people.

As Ronald Reagan once said: ``Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.'' His words ring especially true today. Not since World War II have the stakes felt so high.

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

Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1341, I call up the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 165) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to ``Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance,'' and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the single most important issue for the next generation of daughters soon to enter the world of women's sports.

President Biden issued a final Title IX rule that would effectively end a woman's right to female-only organized athletics. The resolution up for debate today sponsored by the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller) would put a stop to it.

A woman's athletic journey starts at a young age. At the outset, it serves as a vital source of empowerment for young girls. Every young woman remembers gym class and the experience of getting hit with a rogue football or being caught in the middle of a boy-dominated dodge ball dispute. Even from a young age, the inherent value of female-only sports is readily apparent. Young girls grow together, learn from each other, and earn a unique sense of female camaraderie.

Then some women get the chance to carry their talent on to college. Post-

secondary athletic opportunities were slim prior to Title IX when I was growing up. However, Title IX came around in 1972 and swung open the doors to college athletics for women who had historically been excluded from such opportunities.

As the first in my family even to graduate high school, I understood the importance of Title IX to women's fight for access to post- secondary education. I immediately saw the law as a means for women to pursue their passion and further their education, just like the boys did. It was a watershed moment.

Title IX ushered in a golden era for women's competition in education. There is sanctity in the community and tradition of these memories and these spaces and these opportunities for young girls. That is why I want to preserve Title IX and ensure the same opportunities for the next generation of daughters.

This is the task today. Congress has the choice before it to either stand with Title IX and the protection of women, or don't. By adding gender identity to Title IX's protected classes, the radical left and the Biden administration will tear down women's sports and eliminate safe and private spaces for girls.

The rule puts a man's perceived feelings of femininity on par with actual womanhood rooted in biological sex. Effectively, it ensures that anyone who says he is a woman can compete in women's sports, shower with women, and go to the bathroom with women.

My womanhood is not a costume, nor is my daughter's or my granddaughter's. I find it offensive that the Biden administration would treat it that way.

By equating perceived sex with biological sex, this rule is at odds with reality. I, along with my Republican colleagues, stand firmly on the side of reality against this onslaught of gender madness. Biological sex exists. It existed when Title IX was first drafted. It still exists today.

Moreover, this isn't just an issue of fiction versus reality. This is an issue of fairness and safety. Men and women are not physiological equals and treating them so is inherently unfair and dangerous.

The Biden administration's rule will strip women and girls of athletic opportunities and put them in danger.

Finally, this rule prohibits female-only spaces, such as locker rooms, bathrooms, and other sex-separated areas. I will stop at nothing to ensure that America's daughters are not put in that situation.

Today, Congress is called upon to vote for young women across America who would have opportunity, safety, and innocence ripped from them by the Biden administration.

We cannot allow that. Therefore, I urge a ``yes'' vote on Representative Miller's resolution, H.J. Res. 165, to stop Biden's Title IX rule.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller), the vice chairman of the committee and sponsor of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman), a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg), a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It is not we who are misleading the American people or scaring the American people. Just read the regulation, which says that schools are not allowed to prevent a person from participating in an education program or activity consistent with the person's gender identity. There are exceptions to the general policy included in the regulations, but athletics are not included among the exceptions.

We are not misleading or lying. The other side is misleading.

It is true the Biden administration has proposed a separate rule on athletics, but it is also true the Biden administration is using that proposed rule to mislead the American people and Congress into thinking athletics aren't affected by the rule this resolution would stop.

Thankfully, the American people can see through the Biden administration's attempts to mislead. We have an opportunity to pass this resolution and protect women's sports.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens), chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Good), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. McClain), a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentlewoman from Michigan.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bean), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Moran), a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).

Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Tennessee an additional 15 seconds.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lopez), our newest Member in Congress.

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

Madam Speaker, we have heard a lot of misleading comments today, as I said earlier--misleading verging on untruths.

The Department isn't following court precedent. In Bostock, the Supreme Court specifically warned against applying its decision in that case to Title IX or any other civil rights law preventing sex discrimination.

In addition, there is currently a split among Federal appeals courts on this issue. In January of last year, the Eleventh Circuit held that a school district's policy requiring people to use the bathroom that corresponds with the student's biological sex is allowed under Title

Mr Speaker, I rise to acknowledge members of the Associated Equipment Distributors from all over the country who came to D.C. for their annual fly-in. These great men and women are entrepreneurs who provide millions of pieces of equipment to all kinds of industries in our country every year that help our country's economy. They deserve our admiration and thanks. They certainly have mine.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge members of the Association of Equipment Distributors from all over the country who are in D.C. this week for their annual fly-in. In fact, some of them are joining us in the gallery tonight. These great men and women are entrepreneurs who provide millions of pieces of equipment to all kinds of industries in our country every year that help our country's economy. They deserve our admiration and thanks. They certainly have mine.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Fred Manocherian, an entrepreneur, innovator, and a role model without peers.

More than 60 years ago, he founded the National Road Safety Foundation, an organization that holds the mission of educating individuals of all ages about the risks of dangerous driving behaviors. The information, resources, and efforts spurred by Fred's work have saved lives and have helped educate countless Americans while creating safer communities in the process.

Fred Manocherian deserves to be commended for his efforts and for his longstanding commitment to helping create a safer society for Americans of all ages. He and his wife, Jennifer, have inspired their children to broaden their philanthropic efforts into other areas, such as healthcare, and they have made a tremendous impact in doing so.

All Americans should be immensely grateful for Fred Manocherian, his family, their examples, and all they have done for others.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge members of the Association of Equipment Dealers from all over the country who are in D.C. this week for their annual fly-in. In fact, some of them are joining us in the gallery tonight.

These great men and women are entrepreneurs who provide millions of pieces of equipment to all kinds of industries in our country every year that help our country's economy. They deserve our admiration and thanks. They certainly have mine.

Mr. Speaker, employers across all industries are looking for qualified workers to fill in-demand jobs. Job creators are consistently finding that skills-based credentials can successfully, oftentimes more effectively, prepare workers for success on the job.

It is not just employers who are recognizing the value of upskilling. A recent poll found that 82 percent of American voters are in favor of bolstering the Nation's workplace development programs.

The Education and Workforce Committee is proud to spearhead this effort with legislation like the A Stronger Workforce for America Act, which makes critical updates to the Nation's workforce development system.

Additionally, the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act will help connect low-income students and workers with the experiences and programs they need to gain relevant skills for in-demand jobs.

In conjunction, these pieces of legislation will be transformative for America's workforce and prepare more Americans for success in the 21st century economy.

Mr. Speaker, this week, we celebrate and recognize the impact of the 8,000 public charter schools across the country.

Charter schools offer students and their families a crucial alternative to the one-size-fits-all education model. About 4 million students benefit from charter school education, 60 percent of whom are from low-income communities.

In a clear testament to the effectiveness of charter schools, a recent study found that charter school students gain an additional 16 days of learning and reading and 6 days of math per year over their traditional public school peers.

I thank all the advocates across the country who are working tirelessly to expand charter school access. Their work is vital for the parents who desire more options and for the students who are now able to learn in an environment best suited to their individual goals and needs.

Mr. Speaker, America's colleges and universities are experiencing an explosion in anti-Semitism, including explicit support for terrorism. That these taxpayer-funded institutions have become forums for promoting terrorism is unacceptable.

Campus life has become a daily trial of intimidation and harassment for America's Jewish students. Two months ago, nine brave Jewish students described for the Education Committee how their schools have become hostile environments that include death threats and physical attacks.

At numerous schools, unlawful encampments now disrupt learning and endanger students. At Columbia, a campus rabbi warned Jewish students to leave campus. A Jewish Yale student was stabbed in the eye. The Antisemitism Awareness Act would provide a needed tool to help better determine anti-Semitic intent, which in turn would help ensure the safety of Jewish students.

I commend Representative Lawler for this bipartisan, bicameral bill, and I urge its passage.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Jack Miller, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and champion of civic education.

He founded the Jack Miller Center, a nonpartisan, nonprofit dedicated to reinvigorating education in America's founding principles and history, an education vital to thoughtful and engaged citizenship.

He recognized that the future leaders of our Nation lack a fundamental understanding of the founding principles of our Republic as well as our history.

Madam Speaker, we can agree that Mr. Miller's endeavor is of paramount importance, and it underscores a serious demand that we prepare future generations of Americans to become both informed and engaged citizens.

Thank you, Mr. Miller, for your continued work in ensuring that America's bedrock principles remain alive and revered.

Mr. Speaker, while Women's History Month was in March, the impact that the women on the Education and the Workforce Committee have can be felt every day. I would like to take this time to highlight the accomplishments and legislative wins that Congresswomen on the Education and the Workforce Committee have secured.

When Congresswoman Stefanik was elected in 2014, she was the youngest woman ever elected to Congress and is currently the youngest woman to serve in top House leadership. This Congress, she coauthored the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, which will tackle workforce gaps and equip students with transferable skills.

Congresswoman Steel was the first Korean American to be elected to Congress and has continued to pave the way ever since. Her bill, the DETERRENT Act, passed the House and will prohibit foreign adversaries from using monetary incentives to infiltrate U.S. universities.

Congresswoman Letlow is the first woman to represent Louisiana in the House in more than 30 years. As a former education professional, she saw the need to increase transparency and expand school choice options. She authored the Parents Bill of Rights Act to restore parents' presence in their children's education and the Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act to aid the charter school application process.

Congresswoman Houchin has been a leader in her community for years and served in the Indiana State Senate for 8 years before her time in Congress. Language from her Students Bill of Rights Act, which codifies free speech protections on college campuses, was recently passed by the committee.

Congresswoman Miller of Illinois is a conservative champion, local farmer, and vice chair of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. Her work on the Parents Bill of Rights Act was vital to its passage and enshrines parents' right to make decisions for their children. Additionally, her work to protect women's sports has been instrumental. She will lead a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Biden administration's dangerous and unfair Title IX policies that allow biological males to compete in women's sports.

Before her time in Congress, Congresswoman McClain spent more than 30 years growing her own successful business from the ground up. She currently serves in House leadership and authored legislation to save taxpayers from Biden's $559 billion student loan transfer scheme.

Prior to her time in Congress, Congresswoman Chavez-DeRemer served as Happy Valley's first female and Latina mayor. She is the first Republican woman from Oregon elected to Congress. This Congress, her Health DATA Act was passed by the House to increase transparency in the health insurance marketplace.

This committee is dedicated to advancing opportunities for women both in the workplace and throughout their education. The remarkable women who serve on the committee play an indispensable role in that mission, and I thank them for their tireless work on behalf of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6655) to amend and reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 6655.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of A Stronger Workforce for America Act.

I thank Ranking Member Bobby Scott for his bipartisan work on behalf of America's workforce without which this bill would not be on the floor today.

Bobby and I decided on day one that while we will not always agree on every issue, we will work diligently in the areas in which we find common ground. It is safe to say we agree that workforce development is too important an issue not to get something done.

I thank each and every member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. Due to their efforts, we were able to pass the bill through the committee on a wide, bipartisan vote. Now it is the turn of the full House.

Mr. Speaker, A Stronger Workforce for America Act owes its bipartisan appeal to two main features: its principles and its promises.

The principles of this bill are firmly rooted in increased efficiency, innovation, and accountability in the workforce.

A Stronger Workforce for America Act will bolster the efficiency of the workforce system by dedicating 50 percent of funding to upskilling workers. Skills are becoming the currency of the labor market and the key to unlocking career success, yet too few of the taxpayer dollars provided to the

workforce system currently are being spent developing the skills of our workforce. By elevating skills development, this bill will deliver more opportunities for Americans to prepare for good-paying jobs.

Moreover, this bill gives States more flexibility to innovate and to support employer-led initiatives. Empowering States and employers is the best way to ensure the workforce system is nimble and adaptive in the modern economy.

Also, it will enhance the performance accountability system in the law that has suffered from nearly a decade of delayed implementation and low expectations, meaning States and local workforce boards will truly be held accountable for the labor market outcomes they produce.

Efficiency, innovation, and accountability are the shared bipartisan principles A Stronger Workforce for America Act rests on.

Now for the promises: A Stronger Workforce for America Act is a bill for those who believe in the incredible, boundless potential of the American workforce.

This is the American workforce that smelted the steel that built the engine that propelled man to the Moon in a Saturn V rocket. This is the American workforce that has repeatedly dropped its tools and its livelihoods on a moment's notice to go fight in service to our country. This is the American workforce that put the world in our pocket when it created the iPhone, a transformational tool that has revolutionized the way we communicate and that has enabled drones, smart homes, self- driving cars, and more.

It is our constant duty and our promise never to forget, neglect, or discount the American workforce. American workers built this great Nation. They deserve nothing but the best opportunity to succeed as rapid changes in the modern economy necessitate new skills in order to keep pace.

Therefore, the legislation before us today should be seen in that light. It is a promise that as the economy changes, we will always ensure that workers have an opportunity to gain the right skills for the job.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of A Stronger Workforce for America Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson), who is the chair of the Agriculture Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Smucker).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Owens), chairman of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Moran).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Houchin).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Ranking Member Scott for his good work on this, as well as the staff on his side who have worked so diligently on this as well as the Members on the other side of the aisle.

Fighting on behalf of American workers has been one of the great privileges of my time leading the Committee on Education and the Workforce. In fact, it has been one of the great privileges of my entire career.

Mr. Speaker, I thank each staff member who has undertaken this duty with me over the years and especially on this bill.

There is an unsung army behind me that equals every bit of my passion for the American worker. Together, we hammered out the details of this bill the old-fashioned way. This is a product of negotiation and compromise, and it is a welcomed sight.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support from many organizations, including the Business Roundtable, Americans for Prosperity, and Associated Builders and Contractors.

Americans for Prosperity,

April 8, 2024.

Dear Member of Congress: On behalf of more than 3 million

Americans for Prosperity activists across all 50 states, I

write in support of H.R. 6655, the Stronger Workforce for

America Act. This bipartisan legislation represents a

significant step forward in reforming our Nation's workforce

development system. Since the enactment of the Workforce

Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in 2014, our economy

and labor market have evolved dramatically. However, the

existing framework has struggled to keep pace with these

changes. H.R. 6655 addresses many of these gaps, offering

innovative marketplace solutions that are crucial for both

economic growth and individual prosperity while reducing

governmental inefficiency and interference.

Specifically, the Stronger Workforce for America Act

emphasizes the importance of upskilling and reskilling

workers by allocating substantial funds towards individual

training accounts (ITAs), on-the-job learning opportunities,

and employer-led initiatives and less on the system's

bureaucracy--shifting misallocated taxpayer money away from

unaccountable and irrelevant programs. This focus on

enhancing individuals' skills aligns with our commitment to

fostering economic freedom and ensuring competitiveness in

today's job market by strengthening labor force

participation. This bill takes important steps to empower

states to pilot One Door to Work reforms to assist working-

age Americans re-enter the workforce more effectively by

integrating workforce development and safety net programs

while reducing the burden on taxpayers. Additionally, the

bill strengthens the connection between employers and workers

through enhanced employer involvement and industry-relevant

upskilling programs. By fostering collaboration between

employers and education providers, the bill ensures that

workforce programs align with the current labor market

demands, facilitating individuals' access to meaningful

careers.

Furthermore, the bill introduces measures to improve

accountability and quality in workforce programs by

implementing reforms in program evaluation and performance

indicators. This emphasis on accountability and results is

essential for building a more efficient and effective

workforce development system that reduces the governmental

footprint and propels individuals towards self-sufficiency.

Additionally, the bill prioritizes modernization and

innovation by emphasizing digital literacy, virtual services,

and skills-based hiring practices, reflecting a forward-

thinking approach that aligns training programs with the

realities of the 21st-century workplace. This includes

pathways for ex-offenders to re-integrate into their

communities.

H.R. 6655 is a blueprint for a more dynamic workforce where

the private sector and education providers rather than

government are empowered to meet the needs of America's

workers and employers. We urge you to support this bill,

recognizing its potential to significantly contribute to a

stronger, more resilient, and more prosperous America.

Sincerely

Brent Gardner,

Chief Government Affairs Officer.

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

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