Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, seven Jewish worshippers were murdered in cold blood outside a synagogue in Jerusalem.

Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, this was no random act of violence. This was a heinous and cowardly attack rooted in hate, bigotry, and anti-Semitism.

In the face of such evil, it is imperative that we come together not as Democrats or Republicans but as Americans committed to fighting against anti-Semitism and defending the sacred relationship between the United States and Israel.

``Never again'' is more than a mere hashtag for social media. It is a solemn oath.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to act against anti-Semitism wherever it is or whomever it comes from.

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

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of amendment No. 77.

Listen, the American people have been hit so hard by inflation and the

rising cost of goods. In its current form, the Strategic Production Response Act deprives the Federal Government of one of the most important tools in its toolbox to fight inflation and to lower gas prices.

Mr. Chair, my amendment is simple. It would protect our ability to fight inflation by releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and would create an exception clause to ensure that the Secretary of Energy can draw down the reserve if a delay in drawdown would worsen inflation.

Releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine was a critical strategy that helped lower gas prices for American families. This bill, without my amendment, could hurt working Americans struggling so hard with rising prices.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment to protect American families from rising gas prices and runaway inflation.

Lowering gas prices is not a political tactic; it is a question of survival for many Americans.

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

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Offered By: Mr. Nickel

Amendment No. 77: Page 2, line 11, after ``(d)'' insert

``or if the Secretary determines that a situation exists in

which a delay in executing a drawdown of petroleum products

in the Reserve in order to comply with this paragraph will

worsen inflation''.

Madam Speaker, it is the honor of a lifetime to represent the people of North Carolina's 13th District.

While we have seen chaos and confusion play out in this very Chamber over the past week, I want to make it clear that I am here to solve problems and not get caught up in politics as usual.

It is important for the American people to know that there are adults in the room, and reasonable minds will prevail. I am committed to working across the aisle to do what is right for North Carolina.

North Carolina's 13th District is one of the fastest growing districts in the country, and Congress needs to address the challenges that come with that growth.

My constituents need their tax dollars to be used responsibly to improve roads and bridges. They need solutions that bring down the cost of housing and childcare. We need immigration reform that allows our economy to prosper.

Madam Speaker, I support immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented immigrants known as the Dreamers, along with robust border security.

From Apex to Goldsboro, my district has a diverse set of needs and priorities, and the time for action is now.