Floor Statements

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7002, sponsored by my Republican colleague, Ann Wagner of Missouri, would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to illuminate the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

Throughout the world, international landmarks have been illuminated in blue and yellow as a sign of solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

These landmarks include the Kennedy Center, Niagara Falls, the Sydney Opera House, the Empire State Building, the Seattle Space Needle, and the Eiffel Tower.

In 2004, Congress enacted legislation requiring the Secretary of Interior to illuminate the Gateway Arch with pink lights in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month each October.

In 2015, the Gateway Arch was illuminated gold to commemorate its 50th anniversary. Most recently, in 2020, the Gateway Arch was illuminated purple and gold to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.

The Gateway Solidarity Act, as amended, would require the Secretary of the Interior to illuminate the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, in blue and yellow lights for 5 days following enactment, and annually on August 24th, in recognition of Ukrainian Independence Day, until the President reports to Congress that Russia has ceased its hostilities against Ukraine.

I thank Representative Wagner for sponsoring this bill. The bill's sponsor regrets that she was unable to be here today due to weather delays.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill and yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7025, the Advancing Human Rights-Centered International Conservation Act of 2022.

This bill is the result of a bipartisan investigation on how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's international grant program helped fund human rights atrocities committed by eco-paramilitary forces in Africa and elsewhere.

The bipartisan investigation led to an oversight hearing at the Committee on Natural Resources last year, where we heard from expert witnesses about the need for reform in this program. The hearing and the findings of our investigation ultimately led to this bill.

The fundamental concepts of this bill are agency accountability and transparency. This bill would specifically require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to vet the human rights record of conservation groups and their subgrantees prior to awarding the grant.

The inclusion of subgrantees is critical. Unfortunately, we have seen some conservation groups avoid taking responsibility for the actions of their subgrantees.

Experts, such as Wake Forest University International Law Professor John Knox, who has extensive knowledge on this issue, recommended this reform. Mr. Knox and other witnesses and experts have been instrumental in helping the committee throughout the legislative process.

The experts and bipartisan members of the committee agree that the Federal Government has a responsibility to ensure that American taxpayer dollars are not being spent to perpetuate human rights abuses. This bill requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to live up to that responsibility.

This legislation is a much-needed and significant change from the status quo. This is a matter where both sides of the aisle have come together to ensure our conservation efforts do not occur at the cost of human lives.

I thank Ranking Member Westerman and Chairman Grijalva and their staffs for their hard work and cooperation on this bill. I urge adoption of this bill and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7693, the National Park Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2022. This bipartisan bill has the support of 51 cosponsors. This bill will leverage private investment and innovative public-private partnerships to reduce the $21.8 billion deferred maintenance backlog at our national parks, and address pressing issues like park overcrowding.

Very importantly, the foundation is required to provide a dollar-for- dollar match with private funds for their Federal appropriations, and Federal funds cannot be used by the National Park Foundation for overhead, administrative expenses, or land acquisition.

In 2016, Congress passed the National Park Service Centennial Act, which authorized the National Park Foundation, the official charitable partner of the National Park Service, to receive up to $5 million in discretionary appropriations annually through fiscal year 2023.

The foundation utilizes its Federal appropriations to work with local partners and leverage private investment to achieve the greatest impact possible.

The foundation works together with the National Park Service to identify projects, including rehabilitating trails, visitor centers and other facilities, expanding youth access, and conserving park habitat.

To date, the Foundation has routinely exceeded the minimum 1-to-1 required match and has more than $20 million worth of projects awaiting funding in the pipeline.

Since first receiving an appropriation in fiscal year 2018, the Foundation has funded more than 100 projects in 32 States and two territories. By the end of next year, the Foundation plans to have funded projects in all 50 States and multiple territories.

This bill builds on the National Park Foundation's success by creating additional opportunities to encourage even more private funding for the parks.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of H.R. 7693, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of 19-year- old Lance Cpl. Evan Strickland of Valencia County, New Mexico. On June 8, he was tragically killed during an Osprey helicopter crash at a training exercise near San Diego, California. Lance Cpl. Strickland graduated Valencia High School in 2020, where he made an immense impact on his fellow peers.

He chose to serve our nation honorably in the United States Marine Corps within the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing as a tilt-rotor crew chief. Lance Cpl. Strickland will be remembered for his good-hearted personality, kind character, and calling to serve our nation. My deepest condolences are with his family, friends, and loved ones during this extremely difficult time. While he will be deeply missed by our nation and our communities across New Mexico, we will be forever grateful and remember Lance Cpl. Strickland.

Madam Speaker, I missed this vote because I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No, 261.

Madam Speaker, we have heard heartfelt discussions today about how Federal taxpayer dollars should be targeted toward poverty assistance. I am also concerned about Federal agencies' current ability to administer Federal programs efficiently and effectively.

Under the pandemic, we witnessed an unprecedented reliance on telework across the Federal Government. This reliance on telework has been to the detriment of the Nation's taxpayers who rely on Federal agencies.

These are our constituents who are struggling to face out-of-control spending, inflation, scarcity of goods, and other hardships, while Federal workers receive perk after perk from Democrats in Congress.

My House colleagues are all aware of the problems their constituents have faced getting Federal agencies to process the necessary paperwork. There are numerous examples of backlogs at agencies like Social Security and the Internal Revenue Service.

In my own district, energy producers are struggling to get permits to drill approved due, in part, to Bureau of Land Management field offices only having 25 percent of their staff in the office at one time.

Even our veterans have been facing trouble accessing records of their service to receive the medical care and benefits they are entitled to.

Let's be clear: Federal employees not being in the workplace has hurt the government's ability to achieve its mission. House Republicans have fought hard to find out just how much expanded telework has hurt agencies' ability to deliver to our constituents, and we have tried to get this information, but to no avail.

Recently, the House Oversight Committee Ranking Member James Comer wrote to the administration requesting information on Federal workforce return-to-work policies. Last year, my colleague, Jody Hice, the ranking member of the House Oversight and Reform Committee's Government Operations Subcommittee, led oversight letters to the inspectors general of the largest agencies, requesting details on how telework has impacted agency missions. The committee has not received adequate responses to our inquiries.

We will offer a solution to this problem as a motion to recommit. If we adopt the motion to recommit, we will instruct the Committee on Oversight and Reform to consider an amendment to require Federal agencies to immediately return to prepandemic levels of telework.

The amendment would also require a governmentwide review of pandemic- era teleworking policy.

Finally, it would prevent the administration from locking in higher levels of telework until Congress receives detailed plans on how agency mission performance would be impacted.

These needed reforms will be included in my bill, the Show Up Act, which I am introducing later this week.

It is time to get the U.S. Government back to work for the American people.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of the amendment in the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.

Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the previous question so that we can immediately consider my bill, H.R. 471, the PAUSE Act, which prevents the introduction of new COVID cases, as well as other infectious diseases, from our land and sea borders with Canada and Mexico.

This was the very first bill I introduced when I came to Congress, and recent events have proved it to be the most important ever.

Just this week, The New York Times warned readers to prepare for a new wave of COVID. We also can prepare for a new wave of migrants, about 18,000 a day, when they take title 42 away.

The Biden administration has consistently advocated mandates, masking, lockdowns, and other extreme measures on our American citizens. Yet, they ignore the single biggest danger for the new wave of COVID to ravage America: unvetted, untested illegal aliens who are allowed to flood our southern border, unhindered.

The Biden border crisis has exploded after 1 year under this President. His administration demonizes the men and women of Border Patrol and ICE, refuses to enforce immigration law or enhance border security, and allows hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to disappear into the mainland without vetting.

There were 165,000 encounters at our southern border in February, and we are on track to hit 2 million in fiscal year 2022.

Despite this clear and present danger to the people of the United States and the integrity of our borders, the Biden administration still seeks to throw away the few tools available to fix the situation, like remain in Mexico and title 42.

Title 42 has been an effective containment and mitigation strategy, resulting in the reduced introduction of COVID-19 into the U.S. from outside our borders, by making it easier to turn away illegal aliens traveling from or through countries with continuing COVID cases.

My PAUSE Act would keep title 42 in place until: All State and Federal mandates, requirements, and limitations related to COVID end; all public health emergencies for COVID are over; and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reduces the traveler health risk level for Canada and Mexico to level 1, which they are currently level 3.

Eliminating title 42 at this point is reckless and harmful to our national security and our communities. It will lead to more illegal immigration, more drugs, and more hardship on everyday Americans.

I urge my colleagues to support the PAUSE Act, preserve title 42, and stand up to protect both the health and borders of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor New Mexico's first radio station, KKOB, which this year celebrates their 100th anniversary in broadcasting.

KKOB was founded in 1922 by Ralph Goddard and has remained in the Land of Enchantment.

KKOB has won four Marconi Awards from the National Association of Broadcasters and, since 2000, has received ``Station of the Year'' 12 times from the New Mexico Broadcasters Association.

To celebrate their 50th birthday, in 1972, the radio station invited an adventurous bunch of hot air balloon operators to the Coronado Mall parking lot, creating a tradition that has now become known as the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

KKOB is the leading voice for southwest New Mexico, sharing news, sports, traffic, weather, opinions, and the occasional joke--some good, some bad, some just dad jokes. They have loved our community for over 100 years.

I commend KKOB's dedication to New Mexico, and I look forward to their next century of broadcasting.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a decorated American war hero, Sergeant Dan McBride, Jr., of Silver City, New Mexico.

Dan passed away at the age of 97 on February 16, 2022, and was among the prestigious members of New Mexico's and our Nation's Greatest Generation.

In 1942, during World War II, Dan enlisted as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne, also known as the Screaming Eagles.

He was one of the first American servicemembers on the ground in Normandy during D-day and was one of our longest-living World War II heroes.

Dan was an exceptional marksman, which served him well as a sniper and a machine gunner. He endured unspeakable challenges and overcame tremendous adversity during his time at war. He fought German forces during record low subzero temperatures at the Battle of the Bulge. He took heavy fire, was wounded in action, and had limited access to food and resources behind enemy lines.

His heroic actions did not go unnoticed. After honorably serving our country, Dan returned home with three Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star because of his courageous service.

He was also featured in the book ``Three of the Last WWII Screaming Eagles'' along with his fellow paratroopers, Dick Klein and James Martin. That book has now been made into a documentary film called ``A Rendezvous with Destiny,'' which premiered at the National Veterans Museum and Memorial in Columbus, Ohio. I can't think of a better way to honor his legacy than by immortalizing his story on film.

We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to our World War II veterans, of whom we are now one fewer. Dan will be missed dearly but will never be forgotten.

It was abundantly clear to everyone who met him that he loved this country and enjoyed life with a passionate American spirit.

Dan was laid to rest at the Fort Bayard National Cemetery with full military honors. He is survived by his three children: Danny McBride, Pat McBride; and John Carr.

Thank you, Dan, for your bravery, for being a true representative of the Greatest Generation, and for making the world a safer place.

We know that freedom isn't free. Today, we enjoy the benefit of living in a Nation of freedom because of Dan's sacrifice and the sacrifice of so many others.

Dan, you possessed the courage of David; the patience of Job; and, like Paul, the willingness to stand for your convictions and for what you believed in. Everyone who had the privilege to meet you was immediately drawn to your stories, your strength, and your heart, so full of joy and pride. You have impacted more lives than you will ever know. And even in death, your legacy will live on.

Dan, today, the United States House of Representatives thanks you for your service and a life well lived. I am confident that on February 16, you were welcomed into God's loving arms, and you heard him say: ``Well done, my good and faithful servant.''

Rest in peace, Sergeant Dan McBride, Jr.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the previous question so that the rule can be amended to consider H.R. 6858, the American Energy Independence from Russia Act offered by my colleagues, Ranking Member McMorris Rodgers and Ranking Member Westerman.

The Biden administration has taken seemingly every step possible since taking office to cripple the energy dominance agenda of the Trump administration that saw America become an energy-independent Nation for the first time in decades.

In New Mexico, the Biden administration has yet to hold a lease sale since taking office, which is a direct violation of Federal law. By not holding a lease sale, the Biden administration is robbing the citizens of New Mexico of revenues that could be used to improve vital services like our public education system.

By artificially reducing our energy production, we are only increasing Russia's power in the world. Since the beginning of 2020, imports of Russian oil into the U.S. have increased by nearly 300,000 barrels a day. This is a direct result of the Biden administration flipping the switch and taking disastrous executive actions that prevent energy development here at home. Our increased dependency on foreign sources of energy is causing energy prices for our constituents to skyrocket. Gas prices are up over 50 percent, which is hitting our constituents hard every time they go to the pump and every time they buy groceries or heat their homes.

If we get back to producing energy at the capacity that we are capable of, our energy supply will be secure, gas prices will fall, and economic outlook will vastly improve. Advancing innovation and increasing U.S. production is the only effective way to achieve American prosperity and reduce global reliance on Russia.

By accepting the status quo of being an energy-dependent Nation, my Democratic colleagues are willfully weakening both our national and economic security.

H.R. 6858 will change the course of American energy policy and bring back the era of American energy dominance. I urge my colleagues to oppose the previous question and support the American Energy Independence from Russia Act.

Mr. Speaker, today, it is my great honor to pay tribute to my friend and colleague, Bob Wooley.

Bob Wooley and I served together in the New Mexico House of Representatives, and he has a passion for the people. He served as chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. He also

served in the Army during the Vietnam war. His passion for helping our veterans stems way beyond his service in the State; it stems throughout the Nation.

Bob is a no-nonsense cowboy. He has got a zest for life and a zest for serving God. He also has a zest for telling the truth, even if you didn't want to hear it.

I am honored today to recognize Bob and his beautiful wife of 48 years, Janna. They have two children and five grandchildren.

Today, in New Mexico, we are celebrating Bob Wooley's 75th birthday. On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, I wish Bob Wooley a happy 75th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the Finish the Wall Act, for which I am a proud cosponsor.

By the end of this year, 2 million people will have tried to cross our borders illegally. That is more than or almost as many people as the State I represent. Hundreds of thousands have succeeded, and many thousands more are being released into our communities, never to return to an immigration status hearing.

When Border Patrol agents courageously tried to do their jobs against overwhelming odds, they were attacked by President Biden, who said that he would make them pay. That is not how we lead a country. That is not how we treat American heroes who keep us safe.

But past Presidents did not abandon our border. Under President Trump, 458 miles of border wall system were completed, with hundreds more fully funded. Of course, on his first day in office, President Biden sabotaged this important project and undermined the physical border security promised to the American people.

This is unacceptable. We must protect our country. We must protect our people. We must finish the wall.

This legislation would compel the White House and the Department of Homeland Security to do their jobs.

The funding is there. The plans are there. The materials are there. All we lack is leadership from the Oval Office. And until true leadership returns to the White House, the people's House will have to step in and solve the Biden border crisis.

I urge my colleagues to pass the Finish the Wall Act, keep our promises, and secure our borders.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my fellow Members of Congress to think about the reputation of this institution, the trust of the American people, and beyond their political passions of the moment.

I ask, frankly, for us to be statesmen.

Rather than focusing on inflation, jobs, or the border, our colleagues across the aisle are focused on this distraction.

House Democrats have now held or threaten to hold three Americans in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with their arbitrary demands.

Democrats assured us that if their first target, Steve Bannon, had just shown up to be deposed, he would not have faced consequences. However, Mr. Bannon felt that this would violate former President Trump's executive privilege and raised questions to the committee in letters from his attorney.

Next, the January 6th Committee threatened Jeffrey Clark with contempt, holding a Rules Committee hearing for the contempt charge. This was based on Mr. Clark agreeing to appear but not saying exactly what the partisan political operatives of the committee wanted him to say, while Mr. Clark asserted his constitutional rights.

It is a staggering abuse of power for the House of Representatives to threaten someone for merely using the rights the Constitution affords them.

Now we reach my friend, Mark Meadows. He has cooperated, and provided thousands of pages of documents; however, Mr. Meadows, President Trump's chief of staff during January 6, invoked his executive privilege. In his opinion, his testimony about interactions with President Trump would erode all future use of executive privilege. Even after Mr. Meadows turned over texts, Democrats have now gone so far as to subpoena Verizon for Mr. Meadows' phone records.

Such naked scheming should stay in House of Cards and other TV shows, not in this Chamber.

What is the purpose of this? Is it not to secure the Capitol? It is a political exercise to exact political revenge against allies and employees of the former President.

This is about using the government to punish political adversaries. This is not an American practice but something akin to a banana republic on its way to tyranny. I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor a great friend of mine, a true patriot in New Mexico, Representative Dianne Hamilton, who passed away very recently at the age of 87 after serving for 18 years in the New Mexico House.

Dianne was more than a representative. She was truly my mentor, a colleague, a friend, and a person whom everyone looked up to and aspired to be. When I say ``looked up to,'' she was over 6 feet tall. She had an incredible personality; she was very quick-witted; and her gift was public service.

She was a military wife, so working for our veterans was something that she held very deeply in her heart. She also had an interest in the people of the communities that she served. She opened up the first domestic violence shelter, so this will be something that lives on in her memory.

Mr. Speaker, to tell you the number of stories about her would take up more than the time allotted today to share with you what an inspiration she was.

What was very unique about Dianne was she was a radio host before she got into the New Mexico House of Representatives. She had a knack for making everybody feel important, whether they were a student who had shown an animal at the local fair or if she was meeting with the Governor or somebody beyond.

She was worthy of every award she was ever given, which were things like the Governor's Award for Outstanding New Mexican Women. She was given the Citizen of the Year from her respective counties.

The world needs more Dianne Hamiltons because, truly, her gift was her heart. Her gift was helping people like me pioneer the way to public service where we could learn from a true champion. We learned how to work across the aisle, and we learned how to carry bills and negotiate to get what we wanted.

She was an inspiration and will continue to be even after her life because her family is beautiful. She was an inspiring mom, and she is a woman of such great character.

I can't sit here and say enough about her because there just isn't enough time to really give you, Mr. Speaker, all the aspects and all the benefits of having somebody like Dianne Hamilton not only as a friend but also someone who served and served with purpose.

Again, she pioneered the way for people like me to come up behind her. She taught me how to do things, to make relationships happen, and to be successful as now a U.S. Representative and before as a State representative.

The world needs more Dianne Hamiltons. She was a patriot. She was a mom who gave everything to her loving family. She was someone who gave of herself to her community, to her peers, to her friends. Dianne Hamilton is truly a woman's woman, a person who I will dearly miss. I know her family and her community will miss her as well.

And I just will always take with me the two biggest pieces of advice she ever gave me. First, she said, never let anybody see you cry. Fight for what you believe in and do it with all of the character and class that you can.

And number two, never leave your house or your office without your lipstick. Those are the important things I will always remember.

I am forever indebted to her, her family, and we will miss her.

Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to rise in support of the brave men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol. I believe our agents need to know how grateful we are for their service to the United States of America.

No doubt they have rewarding careers, but these days it has become a thankless job. Sadly, the media often ignores the role our agents play in humanitarian efforts along our borders. They save lives and rescue women and children who are being trafficked and abused.

U.S. Border Patrol agents are some of the most amazing people I have ever met. Every day they risk their lives during confrontations with cartels, coyotes, drug runners, and criminal gangs, all to keep you and me and the sovereignty of our Nation safe.

It is time we stand in support of these fine men and women, encourage them with prayer, and support them with policies and procedures they need to keep America safe.

God bless each one of our U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents.

Madam Speaker, today, I rise in defense of American families who are worse off in every way since President Joe Biden took office exactly 10 months ago.

Today, the average U.S. household now spends $175 more per month on groceries, gas, and their homes. In New Mexico, gas is a full dollar per gallon more than it was just 1 year ago. That may not mean much to Washington politicians, but it means a lot to people in rural New Mexico who have to drive long distances. It is the kind of cost that can hurt a family.

Food is more expensive, jobs are not coming back fast enough, and the Biden administration tells Americans that they will have to be happy with no Christmas presents this year. In the middle of all this, Democrats think that a Bernie Sanders' budget bill makes sense.

Here we sit, not even discussing the supplies and cargo sitting off the California coast. If this is the Build Back Better plan, then count me out because it looks like we need to start making America great again.