Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Harley Cross. Harley is a member of Girl Scouts of Gulf Coast Florida, Troop 5005, and has exemplified extraordinary leadership, innovative problem-solving, and a demonstrated commitment to making a lasting, positive impact, by earning the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award.

Gold Award Girl Scouts are recognized as trailblazers who are willing to tackle the most pressing challenges facing their communities and the world with measurable, sustainable, and far-reaching results. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, high school-age Girl Scouts must identify and investigate an issue they care about, devise a plan, and then lead a team of experts and community members to implement a project that produces lasting change. Over the course of 1-2 years, Gold Award Girl Scouts demonstrate significant initiative, commitment, and leadership, distinguishing them from their peers. Through their resourcefulness and perseverance, they embody the Girl Scout Law to truly make the world a better place.

Harley's project, Community Food Pantry, in partnership with the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office, Stamp Our Hunger, DeSoto Cares, All Faiths Food Bank, and local Girl Scout troops, was an excellent endeavor to address hunger in our community. Harley took action by collecting food donations, educating community members about food insecurity, and building a brand new food pantry to serve her community, which will have a positive impact on our community for years to come.

On behalf of the 17th Congressional District of Florida, congratulations to Harley Cross for achieving the highest distinction in Girl Scouts, the Gold Award. We thank Harley for her leadership and making such a positive, lasting change in our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Victoria Morton. Victoria is a member of Girl Scouts of Gulf Coast Florida, Troop 135, and has exemplified extraordinary leadership, innovative problem-solving, and a demonstrated commitment to making a lasting, positive impact, by earning the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award.

Gold Award Girl Scouts are recognized as trailblazers who are willing to tackle the most pressing challenges facing their communities and the world with measurable, sustainable, and far-reaching results. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, high school-age Girl Scouts must identify and investigate an issue they care about, devise a plan, and then lead a team of experts and community members to implement a project that produces lasting change. Over the course of 1-2 years, Gold Award Girl Scouts demonstrate significant initiative, commitment, and leadership, distinguishing them from their peers. Through their resourcefulness and perseverance, they embody the Girl Scout Law to truly make the world a better place.

Victoria's project, ``Pet Resource Central,'' in partnership with the Community Resource Center of Punta Gorda, the Harry Chapin Food Bank, the Animal Welfare League, the Suncoast Humane Society, and peers at Port Charlotte High School, was an excellent endeavor to address food insecurity and animal welfare in our community by creating a pantry for low-income pet owners. She collected donations to stock the pantry and hosted free workshops on affordable pet care. Additionally, Victoria provided free grooming services, including ear and teeth cleaning, nail trimming, and created a resource booklet with spay and neuter information. Victoria dedicated 136 hours to her project, which will have a lasting and positive impact on the community for years to come.

On behalf of the 17th Congressional District of Florida, congratulations to Victoria Morton

for achieving the highest distinction in Girl Scouts, the Gold Award. We thank Victoria for her leadership and making such a positive, lasting change in our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Krysta Fowler. Krysta is an individually registered member of Girl Scouts of Gulf Coast Florida and has exemplified extraordinary leadership, innovative problem-solving, and a demonstrated commitment to making a lasting, positive impact, by earning the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award.

Gold Award Girl Scouts are recognized as trailblazers who are willing to tackle the most pressing challenges facing their communities and the world with measurable, sustainable, and far-reaching results. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, high school-age Girl Scouts must identify and investigate an issue they care about, devise a plan, and then lead a team of experts and community members to implement a project that produces lasting change. Over the course of 1-2 years, Gold Award Girl Scouts demonstrate significant initiative, commitment, and leadership, distinguishing them from their peers. Through their resourcefulness and perseverance, they embody the Girl Scout Law to truly make the world a better place.

Krysta's project, ``BAT-vocate: Appreciation and Awareness for Bats,'' in partnership with The City of North Port, North Port School District, The Environmental Conservancy of North Port, Peace River Wildlife Center, Girl Scouts of Gulf Coast Florida, was an excellent endeavor to address the issue of bat endangerment, conservancy, and awareness in our community. Krysta took action by constructing 26 sustainable bat habitats across Bradenton, North Port, and Ft. Myers to support endangered bat populations. She led educational workshops for Girl Scouts and community members on bat conservation and successfully petitioned the City of North Port to establish a Bat Awareness Day. Additionally, she collaborated with the council to develop a Girl Scout badge curriculum, ensuring ongoing education on bat conservation. Her efforts will have a lasting positive impact on the community. It is an honor to represent brave individuals like Tigran Gambaryan in Congress, and I celebrate his return home to his wife Yuki and their two young children. God bless their family.

On behalf of the 17th Congressional District of Florida, congratulations to Krysta Fowler for achieving the highest distinction in Girl Scouts, the Gold Award. We thank Krysta for her leadership and making such a positive, lasting change in our community.

Mr. Speaker, Scripture reminds us that, at the beginning of time, God created mankind as males and females, and He blessed them.

All throughout humanity, we have recognized as a species that there are women and there are men, as God created, who are obviously biologically different and, dare I say, scientifically different. Even science agrees with this premise.

Yet, our culture and civilization continue to be subjected to the perverse lie that there are more than two genders or that men can be women or women can be men.

The distinction between men and women is clear and evident, and the erasure of this division has been promulgated by those in the radical left who seek to dismantle the core foundation of our society.

We must never let our country and the American way of life surrender to this immoral ideology. What a shame it is that, over the last several years, the radical left has tried to corrupt the minds of many Americans with the ideology that gender is just a spectrum, that it is fluid, or that you can be whatever you want, whenever you want, depending on how you feel. To them, it is just a social construct.

The radical left has taken gender identity so far that many on the left can't even define what a woman is for fear of retribution or cancelation by transgender activists. They have adopted completely made-up terms, such as nonbinary, trans male, and trans female. Some even say there are 74 genders, everything from agender to omnigender. There is even an astral gender, which is having a gender identity where you feel related to outer space. How can the radical left be able to identify that gender, yet they can't even define what a woman is?

Not too long ago, progressives would say all that is ridiculous, but today, it is their religion. If you question their lies and fictitious terms, you are labeled a transphobic bigot and canceled.

In giving homage to the trans movement, radical leftists have given way to the corruption of the minds of our Nation's youth by dismantling the very protections that Congress created to ensure fairness in education and athletics. In 1972, Congress created Title IX to protect women's sports and to give women their own playing field in athletics. In worship of their trans idols, radical leftists want to kill Title IX, abandoning women across the country.

Parents don't want biological men in locker rooms with their daughters, nor do they believe it is fair that a male could compete with women in female athletics. This is why Title IX protections were implemented in the first place.

Radical leftists want you to believe that this is never happening or that it is so rare that we shouldn't be concerned.

The other side just made a comment that so few of these people are involved in college athletics. The truth of the matter proves otherwise. In my very own district, my constituent Emma Weyant, an incredibly talented swimmer and Olympic medalist, lost the 2022 NCAA women's swimming championship title for the 500-meter freestyle by less than 2 seconds. The man who beat her formerly competed for years on the men's swimming team and took home that title after identifying as a woman.

It is a sad day in our country when radical leftists are willing to erase the rights that women have fought decades to obtain, all to elevate biological males to the top of women's platforms.

An overwhelming majority of Americans believe that men don't belong in women's sports and that we must allow common sense to prevail. This bill would deliver upon the mandate the American people gave Congress to restore the integrity of women's sports, just as Title IX intended.

Now is our time to act. If my liberal colleagues truly believe in supporting women's rights, as they often tout, they will vote in favor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand for women's free and fair opportunities in athletics and to stand for truth, not lies.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Ms. Tenney's Anti-BDS Labeling Act. The United States is Israel's single largest trade partner. This bill would codify a Trump administration notice that required products made in certain areas of Judea and Samaria be labeled as originating from Israel.

In April, I led a letter to the Biden-Harris administration slamming them for considering reversing the labeling policy. It is common sense for goods produced in certain areas of Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank, to be labeled as made in Israel because Israel exercises relevant authorities in these areas. President Trump was absolutely right to issue the product of Israel policy because Israel is exactly where these products originated.

Current law already requires accurate labeling. This should not be a bill that we need to pass. This should be settled law, but the Biden- Harris administration refuses to accept reality so they can, once again, pander to certain radical terrorist sympathizers in their political base.

If the Biden-Harris administration goes through with reversing trade policy decision, it will legitimize anti-Semitic efforts to weaken and isolate our closest ally in the Middle East.

In a time of global uncertainty, the last thing we should be doing is abandoning our strongest ally in the Middle East.

Mr. Speaker, I am thankful that the House of Representatives is taking up this important bill, and I urge all my colleagues to vote for this important piece of legislation.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, Americans deserve the assurance that their hard-earned taxpayer dollars are going to fulfill the needs of the American people and not be funneled to terrorists who threaten our very existence.

I stood here just 9 months ago offering the same amendment to ensure that no taxpayer funds would be made available to the Lebanese Armed Forces, a military force that emboldens Hezbollah and their Iranian handlers to spread terror and destruction upon our ally, Israel, and the entire Middle East. Guess what happened just 9 days later on October 7?

To say that Hezbollah and the Lebanese Government are two separate entities is just plain false. They are merely two sides of the same coin. Not only do Hezbollah and its allies control dozens of seats in Lebanon's parliament, but they literally sit at the helm of the military force that our tax dollars have been propping up since 2006. Its grip extends across its military, through its government, and over a majority of its politicians.

Even advocates of aid to the Lebanese military recognize Hezbollah's influence over its Defense Ministry is rampant. We may as well be sending these checks directly to Hezbollah headquarters.

Money is fungible. Why should the generosity of the American people be used to fund a terror haven unwilling and unable to counter Hezbollah?

As we stand here today, Israel is in a state of war with Hamas. An all-out war with Hezbollah to the north seems to be imminent. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has repeatedly threatened war with Israel while suggesting his force far exceeds 100,000 fighters. We are fighting an army that emboldens Hezbollah to spill the blood of our allies.

This really should be a bipartisan issue, but where are the Democrats complaining about Lebanon's human rights atrocities? The Lebanese Armed Forces shoot protesters and forcibly repatriate Syrian refugees. Yet, on this issue, Democrats tell us to turn a blind eye and fund Hezbollah's allies in the Lebanese Armed Forces.

In fact, the majority of Lebanon's military expenditures don't even go toward its defense. Over 70 percent of its budget is allocated for personnel salaries and excessive benefits, which even include domestic servants and drivers for high-ranking officers.

This didn't stop the United States last year from partnering with the U.N. to implement the Livelihood Support Program, which disbursed more than $55 million to 70,000 LAF personnel and helps fulfill their generals' lavish lifestyles. American taxpayers expect their hard- earned dollars to be spent on American interests, not armed Mercedes and other luxurious goods for Lebanese generals.

Given the rampant terror financing and money laundering activities that Hezbollah uses to extend its reign across nearly every facet of life in Lebanon, we must acknowledge that foreign aid dollars sent to the Lebanese Armed Forces will ultimately be used by Hezbollah to further expand its terrorist actions against our ally, Israel.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, by safeguarding the actions of Hezbollah terrorists and their allies, the Lebanese Armed Forces fundamentally empower Iran in their mission to kill American troops and wipe Israel off the map. Now more than ever, following October 7, giving them any taxpayer funds from America is just simply unjustifiable.

I encourage my colleagues to stand with our ally, Israel, and recognize the dangers of funding the Lebanese Armed Forces by voting for my amendment.

Madam Chair, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, Hezbollah's influence on the Lebanese Armed Forces is rampant. They have members in their parliament. The influence is overreaching, and Americans are sick and tired of sending our tax dollars to countries and to people who absolutely hate our values and hate America and hate our ally, Israel.

Why would we continue to fund money for Lebanon? Why would we continue to fund humanitarian aid to Gaza when we know that all that money is going to Hamas?

The American people are sick and tired of it. The American people want this body and this House to put America first, and I think it starts with focusing on the challenges that face America and not giving money that is ultimately going to end up in the hands of terrorist organizations.

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

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

Mr. Chair, Americans entrust us with ensuring that their hard-earned tax dollars go toward measures that advance our interests, not undermine them.

Over the past quarter of a century, not only have Americans provided billions of dollars to Iraq, but thousands have lost their lives in that country. Essentially, Americans have been generous enough to give Iraq a blank check payable not only in cash but with American lives.

Yet, in 2024, we see a country that is becoming increasingly anti- American, essentially becoming one of Iran's strongest proxies. I served in Iraq, and protecting American interests should continue to be our number one priority in the region. We cannot justify funding a foreign government unable to safeguard our dollars from exploitation by Iran, ISIS, and other terror groups.

Yet, the money we send to Iraq has been funding Iranian militias that target and attack our troops. Iran's influence over the Iraqi Government is rampant. Over 2 years ago, the Pentagon's inspector general disclosed that Iraqi security forces are overrun by Iranian- backed militants and IRGC terrorists. These are the same terrorists who attacked the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad in 2018 and continue to threaten our troops to this day.

Yet, every year, we continue to provide millions of taxpayer dollars to Iraqi security forces and expect a different outcome. It is the definition of insanity.

These militias are part of Iraq's own government. They are officially part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, which fall under Iraq's Ministry of Interior. These militias are funded by the Government of Iraq and then attack our troops with the financial backing of our own taxpayers. Let that sink in.

It is apparent that our funding for the Iraqi Government is not countering terrorism. In fact, it seems to be emboldening the terrorists.

It is time for us to stop the endless cycle of trading blank checks for false promises with the Iraqi Government, especially when they use it to put Iranian-backed terrorists on their payroll.

This does not give us leverage, nor does it safeguard American interests. It is unwise, unacceptable, and, quite frankly, inexcusable to send American taxpayer dollars to Iraq when we know that these funds end up in the hands of terrorists.

The underlying bill should support our diplomats and servicemembers overseas, not threaten them.

Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to stand up for the American taxpayer and support my amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I don't believe that American taxpayer dollars should be going to a country that supports terrorism. There are no assurances that, once the money is sent to Iraq, it is not going to be in the hands of Iranian proxies and terrorist organizations to then attack our own troops.

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

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

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment that would prohibit Immigration and Customs Enforcement from sending funds to the Department of Veterans Affairs to process medical claims for illegal immigrants in ICE custody.

This is a similar amendment to one that I led earlier this month on the

funding bill for the VA. I was pleased that my amendment was included in that bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment that would ensure that the VA focuses its resources on veterans, not illegal immigrants.

Last December, I led a letter to the VA with 23 other Republican Members after seeing reports that ICE was using VA personnel to process medical claims for illegal immigrants in ICE custody.

Thanks to the Biden administration's reckless policy on the border, we continue to see record numbers of illegal crossings. This will inevitably increase the burden on VA workers who should be fulfilling their duties to serve veterans instead.

The VA exists to serve American veterans who risked their lives to protect our country. For far too long, the VA has fallen short on its mission: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise ``to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan'' by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's veterans.

Veterans continue to experience unacceptable wait times in receiving medical care and disability benefits. Under the Biden administration, the disability claims backlog has exploded. As of last week, there are 273,307 outstanding disability claims that have been pending for more than 125 days. This is unacceptable, and the VA personnel should not lift a finger for illegal immigrants in ICE custody while thousands of veterans are forced to wait to receive the benefits they deserve.

Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to support this amendment to ensure that VA personnel work for veterans, not illegal immigrants held by ICE. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, the money appropriated by this body and by Congress for the VA, for veterans and for veterans healthcare, should not be used to provide medical claims for illegal immigrants.

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

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

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

Madam Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment that would restrict radical gender ideology and pornographic content from entering the libraries and classrooms of schools operated by the Department of Defense.

These morally corrupting materials have no place in an educational setting and could seriously harm the educational and psychological development of school children belonging to our servicemembers.

Oftentimes, DOD schools are the only option that servicemembers have to educate their children, and we must ensure they have the resources to prepare them for success in their future careers and society.

Yet, radical leftists desire to use schools as a tool to indoctrinate our children as soon as they enter kindergarten. I wish they were all just theoretical, but there exists a litany of examples of inappropriate and pornographic material that is available in DOD schools.

Much of the material is far too graphic for me to read verbatim here on the House floor, but one example includes the book ``Gender Queer,'' which includes explicit imagery of explicit acts.

In some DOD middle schools, young children are able to access a book called ``Middle School's a Drag,'' which is a story about a 12-year-old boy who starts a talent agency for child drag queen performers.

In elementary school libraries, students can read many books about radical gender ideology, like ``When Aidan Became a Brother,'' which tells the story of a girl who believes she is a transgender boy.

This material has no place in our schools, and Congress has the power to put a stop to it in DOD schools. The DOD school system serves over 66,000 children across the world, and we owe it to our servicemembers to provide their children with a topnotch education. That education should include lessons about reading, writing, and arithmetic, not explicit pornography and radical transgender propaganda.

Madam Chair, I encourage my colleagues to join me in protecting the children entrusted to DOD schools by our men and women in uniform.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, these decisions are not best left to educators. In my opinion, it is best left to the parents to decide how they want to teach their kids.

Our schools should be about teaching for the success of our children in mathematics and arithmetic and writing, not in gender ideology and pornography. What is unwelcome intrusion is teaching our kids pornography and transgender ideology.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

I just think that the purpose, especially having been a military servicemember and been on bases that have schools for our children, one of which was actually in Hawaii when I served at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, the purpose of our DOD institutions and the education that our kids are getting there should not involve gender ideology, transgender propaganda, and radical sexualized ideology that just, quite frankly, shouldn't be taught to elementary school kids or middle school kids.

Middle school children have access to some of these things that are very explicit pornography in these types of books. My belief is that our education system should be focused on teaching our children the types of things to make them successful as students, not sexual content.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Self), and I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to urge support for Congressman Self's amendment, which will prohibit the funds from this bill to be used to give critical skills incentive, or CSI, bonuses to senior executives at the VA Central Office.

Recently, the VA Office of Inspector General released a report that found that the VHA and the VBA improperly awarded over $10 million of these bonuses to senior bureaucrats in the VA Central Office. What is worse is that this was no technical glitch or error. This was a strategic move by the Under Secretaries of Health and Benefits to line the pockets of D.C. bureaucrats.

Just this week, we held a hearing in the House Veterans' Affairs Committee where Secretary McDonough tried to explain their actions. However, their actions are inexcusable. Meanwhile, this is a slap in the face to rank-and-file VA employees, such as the nurse making sure a veteran has a quality visit to a VA hospital or the caseworker assisting a veteran with a claim, who will work their tails off day in and day out to serve our heroes.

I served in the U.S. military, and one of the guiding principles is that leaders eat last. Clearly, in this instance, the bureaucrats at the VA ate first.

This is why I have sponsored this amendment, which would prohibit the VA from using these bonuses to pad the pockets of their bureaucratic friends, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

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

Mr. Chair, VA money and the money that is appropriated by this body from taxpayers should go to the service of our veterans and not to millions of dollars in bonuses for senior bureaucrats.

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

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

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment that would prohibit the Department of Veterans Affairs from using any funds under this bill to process medical claims for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In December of last year, I led a letter to the VA, along with 23 other Republican Members, after receiving reports that the VA had contracted with ICE to process medical claims for illegal aliens in ICE custody.

Considering the record numbers of illegal aliens streaming across our border, thanks to the Biden administration's reckless policies, we were concerned that the VA personnel were being taken away from their mission to serve our veterans.

I am pleased that the underlying bill prohibits the VA from providing benefits directly to illegal aliens; however, my amendment is still necessary to ensure that the VA resources are focused solely on veterans since the current interagency arrangement allows the VA to provide this service to ICE.

The VA exists to serve American veterans who risked their lives to protect our great country. For far too long, the VA has fallen short in its mission: ``To fulfill President Lincoln's promise `To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan' by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's veterans.''

Unfortunately, veterans continue to experience unacceptable wait times in receiving medical care and disability benefits. In particular, the VA's disability claim backlog has been a source of significant frustration in the veteran community.

After several years under the Trump administration in which the VA disability claims backlog was consistently under 100,000 claims, the backlog has nearly tripled under the Biden administration to 278,000 as of last week. This is an abject failure, and our veterans deserve better from the VA.

Despite the longstanding issues with its claims backlog and customer service issues, VA personnel are being tasked with serving claims for government-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants, not veterans.

VA resources should be used solely for veterans and their survivors. Congress appropriates funds to the VA to provide services to our veterans, not illegal immigrants. Our veterans serve our country, and it is high time that our government starts serving them.

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

Mr. Chair, the gentlewoman just admitted that the VA is administratively using resources to help illegal immigrants. I think the VA's mission, being a veteran myself, should be to support veterans, not illegal immigrants.

In my first Congress, I served on the VA Committee, and you heard time and time again, despite adding more and more money to the VA, they can't deal with the backlogs. If they need more funds to do that, then why are we using resources that are at the VA to assist illegal immigrants and the processing at ICE?

I think that is completely unconscionable, not only as a veteran and somebody that served this country, but I think if the people in my district certainly knew that money and resources that was appropriated to the VA are being used to help illegal immigrants through ICE, would be completely objectionable to everybody in my district.

Mr. Chair, I ask all of the Members of this body to support this great amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

``Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

``You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

``Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.

``But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!

``I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!

``Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.''

General Dwight Eisenhower.

Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of H.R. 5863, the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023.

In a historic act, last week, a majority of the House of Representatives made clear that the House should act to provide tax relief to victims of natural disasters all across America. I thank every Member who stood with me in this fight, and I am thankful that this bill is finally being debated on the floor.

On September 28, 2022, southwest Florida was ravaged by Hurricane Ian, one of the most devastating hurricanes to ever hit our Nation. NOAA ranks Hurricane Ian as the third most costly hurricane in United States history, killing nearly 150 people and causing billions of dollars in damages. For Floridians, we know that the recovery from Hurricane Ian is far from over.

Despite experiencing numerous hurricanes yearly, Floridians are resilient. I have been working tirelessly on disaster relief legislation for Floridians to recover from various storms that have decimated so many communities around our State. The most recurring and pressing issue I hear in my district is that the sun coast is still waiting for Congress to do its job to provide much-needed relief.

More than a year-and-a-half after landfall of Hurricane Ian, Congress has yet to provide disaster relief for those impacted financially by Ian. I have received thousands of letters, calls, and pleas for help from people in my district who have incurred tens of thousands of dollars in recovery expenses and are having a hard time getting ahead.

On eight separate occasions since 2002, Congress has provided tax relief to victims of natural disasters. Since 2021, over 300 disasters across 47 States have been declared without Congress taking action.

Additionally, wildfires across the Western United States and Maui have greatly impacted many Americans who have not received any relief from this body. Similarly, the victims of the East Palestine train derailment are facing the same situation.

This bill helps everyday Americans and provides them the ability to deduct their expenses from a natural disaster from their taxes.

This bill will not just aid Hurricane Ian victims. It will provide relief to the millions of Americans around the country who are victims of federally declared disasters. It will help victims of flooding in the Midwest. In the Pacific Northwest, victims of wildfires will get the relief they deserve. Those affected by severe winter storms in the Northeast will benefit from this tax deduction, as will our friends in Texas who have experienced damage from a wide variety of disasters, including winter storms, tornadoes, flooding, and fires.

In short, this is not a problem that just affects Florida or California. This impacts millions of American families, and Congress must act to provide them relief.

I am grateful to be supported by many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to lead the fight for Americans all across the country to get disaster relief. Disaster relief is not a Democratic problem or a Republican problem. It is something that all of us face.

I give sincere thanks to Members and staff who have worked tirelessly on this bill. I give special thanks to California Congressmen Mike Thompson, Jimmy Panetta, and Doug LaMalfa, as well as Congresswoman Jill Tokuda of Hawaii, for their leadership on this effort.

I also thank former Congressman Bill Johnson, who represented East Palestine, Ohio, and played an important role with this bill.

I give special thanks to Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith for passing this bill out of the committee.

The constituents of my district and the districts each of these colleagues represents are in need of help. Today, I urge swift passage of this bill on the House floor and urge expeditious consideration in the Senate so that Americans all across America can get much-needed relief.

Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga), and I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of an amendment originally sponsored by Congressman Huizenga that requires the Secretary of Energy to disclose certain stakeholder meetings with any entity that meets the following criteria:

First, the entity must have ties to the People's Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party.

Second, it must have produced studies regarding or has advocated for policies to limit, restrict, or ban the use of any type of energy.

Third, the entity must have applied for or received Federal funds.

In June of last year, nearly the same amendment was offered to Save Our Gas Stove Act, and it passed by a voice vote--because this is a solid policy prescription for a serious problem. The problem is that China-connected groups seem to have fast-pass access to the White House and our Federal agencies.

The entities I am concerned with are not only tied to the Chinese Communist Party, but they are peddling anti-energy policies that raise costs on American families and businesses--like gas stove bans. In addition to access, they often receive your tax dollars as well, in the form of grant funding.

Unfortunately, the Biden administration has not been transparent about who it is meeting with, let alone their plans to ban gas-powered appliances.

Last year, a government watchdog group revealed a private meeting between the Secretary of Energy and one of these types of groups. We have since found this has not been an uncommon practice.

Over the past few years, we have faced a litany of burdensome regulations from the Biden administration targeting appliances.

As the underlying bill reflects, it is not just gas stoves--it is your washer, your dryer, your dishwasher, and much more.

We have a major problem if groups with known connections to China are able to successfully influence the executive branch in ways that undermine cost-effective appliance options that meet Americans' daily needs.

This amendment would inject critical transparency, curb the influence of the CCP-connected groups, and responsibly expose to America who has the ear of our regulators.

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

Mr. Chair, this bill would provide transparency to who the Department is meeting with and who is influencing their decisions.

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

Mr. Speaker, in September 2022, my district in southwest Florida was devastated by Hurricane Ian. Totaling over $112 billion in damages, Ian was the third costliest hurricane in American history and the most expensive ever to hit Florida. Over a year later, my constituents are still working toward rebuilding their lives.

I introduced the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, which is included in this bill, to deliver relief for American families in 45 States who were victims of federally declared disasters. This includes victims of wildfires, chemical spills, and hurricanes that have affected millions of Americans over the past several years.

Mr. Speaker, we should pass this important tax relief for victims of natural disasters. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6918, the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act, introduced by Congresswoman Fischbach, and I thank her for introducing this important bill to push back against the Biden administration's shocking demonization of pregnancy resource centers.

These centers provide loving care and resources for pregnant women and mothers of newborns who face trying times.

Pregnancy resource centers provide a wide array of services, including free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, parenting and prenatal education, and lactation consultations. They give out free diapers, formula, and baby clothes for mothers of newborns.

In my district, the Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center does tremendous work as a lifeline for pregnant women in need. They lovingly care for these women who face challenging circumstances. There are trained medical professionals present who perform free ultrasounds and provide the care these women want and need.

Unfortunately, Democrats continually seek to delegitimize these vital organizations simply because they provide an alternative to abortion.

After the Dobbs decision was released, nearly 100 pregnancy crisis centers, including 4 in my home State of Florida, were attacked and vandalized by leftwing radical groups. Despite repeated pleas from Members of Congress, our Department of Justice largely refused to actively investigate this organized criminal activity.

Now, the Biden administration is singling out pregnancy crisis centers to exclude them from eligibility under the TANF program, all because these centers encourage women to have their babies.

It was a deliberate act by the Biden administration to appease radical pro-abortion activists by attacking pregnancy centers that provide so much to pregnant women.

This bill simply ensures that the Biden administration cannot exclude these centers from TANF eligibility.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to support pregnancy resource centers, and I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this important legislation.