Debate on H.R. 5376, Build Back Better Act — Congressional Record, House
Summary
Page H6615 of the House section of the Congressional Record for November 18, 2021, from debate on H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, in interleaved columns. It lists a roll call with 2 not voting, amendment text striking references to health professional shortage areas designated under section 332 of the Public Health Service Act and inserting underserved areas, and a remark that Democrats delivered a bill and will deliver the agenda. The House adjourned until Friday, November 19, 2021, at 8 a.m.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
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“Debate on H.R. 5376, Build Back Better Act — Congressional Record, House.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-11-18-crec-2021-11-18-pt2-pgh6615-7d627b8d9c/
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6615
Waltz Westerman Womack Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy ignated under section 332 of the Public
Weber (TX) Williams (TX) Young Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319k),’’ and insert ‘‘to Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e)’’ and in-
Webster (FL) Wilson (SC) Zeldin sert ‘‘underserved areas’’.
further the goals under section 1473H(b)(2) of
Wenstrup Wittman
the National Agricultural Research, Exten- Page 700, lines 19 through 21, strike
NOT VOTING—2 sion, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 ‘‘health professional shortage areas des-
Gohmert Perry U.S.C. 3319k(b)(2)),’’. ignated under section 332 of the Public
Page 93, lines 25 and 26, strike ‘‘and other Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e)’’ and re-
b 2011 academic partners’’ and insert ‘‘institutions place with ‘‘underserved areas’’.
So the resolution was agreed to. of higher education (as defined in section 101 Page 707, beginning on line 4, strike ‘‘under
The result of the vote was announced or section 102(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Edu- parts A, B, C, and D of title XXVI of the Pub-
cation Act of 1965), non-profit organiza- lic Health Service Act and section 2692(a) of
as above recorded. such Act (42 U.S.C. 300ff–111(a))’’ and insert
A motion to reconsider was laid on tions’’.
Page 96, strike ‘‘relating’’ on line 10 and all ‘‘under sections 2601, 2611, 2651, 2671, and
the table. 2692(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42
that follows through line 13, and insert a pe-
MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE
riod. U.S. Code 300ff–11, 300ff–21, 300ff–51, 300ff–71,
RESOLUTION 8, 117TH CONGRESS Page 103, line 25, insert at the end of the 300ff–111)’’.
Amodei Gonzalez (OH) Mast (Waltz) sentence before the period ‘‘of the Division’’. Page 707, line 25, strike ‘‘title XXIX of the
(Balderson) (Armstrong) McEachin Page 104, lines 18 and 19, strike ‘‘for car- Public Health Service Act’’ and insert ‘‘sec-
Barragán Green (TN) (Wexton) rying out the activities of the Board’’ and in- tions 2902, 2903, and 2904 of the Public Health
(Allred) (DesJarlais) Meeks (Jeffries) sert ‘‘for the National Labor Relations Board Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300ii–1, 300ii–2, 300ii–
Blumenauer Hagedorn Moulton (Kahele) 3)’’.
(Beyer) (Moolenaar) to carry out the functions vested in it by the
Napolitano Page 887, beginning on line 14, strike ‘‘the
Boyle, Brendan Harshbarger National Labor Relations Act’’.
(Correa)
Page 148, strike lines 12 through 15, and in- restrictions described in’’.
F. (Jeffries) (Fleischmann) Nunes (Garcia Page 918, line 22, strike ‘‘Amounts made
Brooks (Moore Hartzler sert the following:
(AL)) (Walberg)
(CA)) available’’ and all that follows through page
Payne (Pallone) (2) EMPLOYEE.—The term ‘‘employee’’
Brown (MD) Herrera Beutler 919, line 3.
Porter (Wexton) means any individual employed by an em- Page 935, line 23, after ‘‘change.’’ insert
(Blunt (Moore (UT))
Reed (Walorski) ployer. ‘‘Funding provided under this section shall
Rochester) Issa (Garcia
Buchanan (CA)) Rice (NY) (3) EMPLOYER.—The term ‘‘employer’’ only be executed through existing coopera-
(Waltz) Jackson (Nehls) (Murphy (FL)) means any person acting directly or indi- tive agreements with non-Federal partners
Burgess (Lucas) Johnson (OH) Rodgers (WA) rectly in the interest of an employer in rela- or used internally for United States Geologi-
Calvert (Garcia (Fulcher) (Moore (UT)) tion to an employee, but does not include cal Survey activities.’’.
(CA)) Johnson (TX) Roybal-Allard any labor organization (other than when act- Page 948, line 4, insert ‘‘, established in
Carey (Jeffries) (McCollum) ing as an employer) or anyone acting in the section 25(b) of the National Institute of
(Balderson) Joyce (OH) Rush (Quigley) capacity of officer or agent of such labor or- Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
Carl (Rogers (Valadao) Salazar (Waltz)
(AL)) Joyce (PA) ganization. 278k(b)), including programs established
Sewell (Cicilline)
Cawthorn (Keller) Page 148, line 16, strike ‘‘(3)’’ and insert under section 25A(a) of such Act (15 U.S.C.
Sires (Pallone)
(McHenry) Katko (Meijer) Stauber ‘‘(4)’’. 278k-1(a)) and section 26(a) of such Act (15
Cleaver Kelly (PA) (Bergman) Page 150, line 4, strike ‘‘(4)’’ and insert U.S.C. 278l(a)),’’ after ‘‘Technology’’.
(Butterfield) (Keller) Steube ‘‘(5)’’. Page 948, line 5, insert ‘‘, except that no
Comer Khanna (Gomez) (Timmons) Page 150, line 8, strike ‘‘(5)’’ and insert funds shall be used for subsections (c)(2),
(LaTurner) Kind (Connolly) ‘‘(6)’’.
Stewart (Moore (c)(5), (l), or (g) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 278k)’’
Crenshaw Kinzinger Page 158, strike lines 13 through 17.
(Mullin) (Valadao)
(UT)) before the period.
Curtis (Moore Kirkpatrick Strickland Page 158, line 18, strike ‘‘(bb)’’ and insert Page 1091, strike lines 16-21.
(UT)) (Stanton) (Jeffries) ‘‘(aa)’’. Page 1091, line 22, strike ‘‘(d)’’ and insert
Davids (KS) (Kim Krishnamoorthi Swalwell Page 158, line 23, strike ‘‘(cc)’’ and insert ‘‘(c)’’.
(NJ)) (Levin (CA)) (Gomez) ‘‘(bb)’’. Page 1379, strike lines 4 through 21.
DeFazio LaHood (Miller Thompson (MS) Page 169, lines 9 through 11, strike ‘‘appli- Page 1576, strike line 21 and all that fol-
(Carbajal) (WV)) (Butterfield) cable to eligible child-care providers under lows through page 1577, line 13.
Duncan Lamborn Thompson (PA) the Child Care and Development Block Grant The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen-
(Timmons) (McHenry) (Meuser)
Emmer Lawson (FL) Tiffany
Act of 1990’’. tleman from Massachusetts (Mr. NEAL)
(McHenry) (Evans)
Page 169, line 13, strike ‘‘such Act’’ and in- has 9 minutes remaining. The gen-
(Arrington)
Fallon (Nehls) Lesko (Miller Trahan (Lynch)
sert ‘‘the Child Care and Development Block tleman from Texas (Mr. BRADY) has 11
Ferguson (WV)) Trone (Beyer) Grant Act of 1990’’. minutes remaining.
(Kustoff) Letlow Underwood Page 419, line 7, strike ‘‘; and’’ and insert a
Fitzpatrick (Cammack)
The Chair recognizes the gentleman
(Casten) semicolon.
(Bacon) Lieu (Raskin) Page 419, line 9, strike the period and in- from Massachusetts.
Welch
Garbarino Long
(McGovern) sert ‘‘; and’’. Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased
(Jacobs (NY)) (Fleischmann) to yield 1 minute to the gentleman
Wilson (FL) Page 419, after line 9, insert the following:
Gibbs (Bucshon) Loudermilk
Gimenez (Waltz) (Cammack)
(Hayes) ‘‘(C) that is not on a military base. from Maryland (Mr. HOYER), the major-
Gonzales, Tony Lowenthal Zeldin Page 663, beginning on line 18, strike ‘‘com- ity leader and a real champion of this
(Timmons) munity health center, or other facility that
(Ellzey) (Beyer) institution.
f provides health care’’ and insert ‘‘or commu- Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, it is No-
nity health center’’. vember 18, 2021. Those of us who serve
BUILD BACK BETTER ACT Page 674, line 4, strike ‘‘global and domes-
in the Congress of the United States on
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. tic’’.
Page 676, beginning on line 22, strike ‘‘(as this date will be able to tell our chil-
AGUILAR). Pursuant to clause 1(c) of described in Healthy People 2030)’’. dren and our children’s children that
rule XIX, further consideration of the Page 681, beginning on line 16, strike ‘‘a we were there when the United States
bill (H.R. 5376) to provide for reconcili- health professional shortage area designated Congress passed one of the most trans-
ation pursuant to title II of S.Con.Res under section 332 of the Public Health Serv- formational bills in the history of the
14, as amended, will now resume. ice Act (42 U.S.C. 254e)’’ and insert ‘‘an un- Congress for the people.
The Clerk read the title of the bill. derserved area’’. Tonight, House Democrats will vote
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Page 681, line 19, insert ‘‘, consistent with
on the Build Back Better Act as will
ant to House Resolution 803, the fur- section 846 of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 297n),’’ after ‘‘shall’’. House Republicans, legislation to
ther amendment printed in House Re- transform our country by making op-
Page 682, beginning on line 18, strike ‘‘a
port 117–175 is considered as adopted. health professional shortage area designated portunities available and equitable for
The text of the further amendment under such section’’ and insert ‘‘an under- all Americans.
printed in House Report 117–175 is as served area’’. Its name, of course, refers to the
follows: Page 683, strike lines 3 through 5. broad recognition that too many Amer-
Page 12, beginning line 18, strike ‘‘estab- Page 697, beginning on line 13, strike ‘‘for icans are just barely getting by in our
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lished under the Cooperative Forestry As- carrying out section 301 of the Public Health
economy, and we simply cannot go
sistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101 through Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241), with respect to
2114)’’ and insert ‘‘established pursuant to child health and human development and’’ back to the way things were before the
section 10(b) of the Cooperative Forestry As- and insert ‘‘consistent with the child health pandemic.
sistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2106(b))’’. and human development’’. We have to ensure our people can ac-
Page 50, beginning line 23, strike ‘‘under Page 698, beginning on line 18, strike cess the tools and resources they need,
section 1473H of the National Agricultural ‘‘health professional shortage areas des- not just to survive, but to succeed.
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H6616 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
This bill does so by making invest- 21st century and make businesses in Our Democratic colleagues claim
ments in four key areas. America grow and succeed. bank surveillance is not in there. Yet.
First, it will invest in childcare, uni- Democrats will not rest until all The Biden White House is still insist-
versal pre-K, and home care so that Americans have the tools to build back ing.
more Americans can get back to the better, to access opportunities to get So join with us, accept this motion,
workforce and grow our economy. ahead, to achieve real economic secu- and stop it right now, once and for all.
Secondly, it further expands the Af- rity, and to reach for the American Mr. Speaker, you know, Americans
fordable Care Act coverage, reduces Dream that has been this country’s need to know what is in this bill. And
out-of-pocket costs, caps insulin at $35 promise for generations. under this $4 trillion Biden-Pelosi
for everyone, and finally gives Medi- This bill, Mr. Speaker, as I said at scheme, let’s look at a day in your life.
care the tools and authority to nego- the beginning, is for the people, all the So you wake up in the morning and
tiate lower drug prices for seniors just people, the little people, the big people, pay a ‘‘heat your home tax.’’ You show-
as we do for veterans. all the people. er and get ready and pay a consumer
Thirdly, it will bring down the every- I urge my colleagues on both sides of products tax.
the aisle to be able to say on November You drop your kids off at childcare
day costs for housing and higher edu-
18, 2021, I voted for that legislation and pay a ‘‘toddler tax.’’
cation that make it harder for Ameri- You drive to work paying higher gas
cans to secure a place in our middle which made America, as John Kennedy
prices. You take a break and pay a big-
class. said, a great country even greater.
Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- ger nicotine tax. At work your com-
And fourth, the Build Back Better pany pays a Made in America tax, a
Act makes the largest commitment to- self such time as I may consume.
So America, the results are in, and ‘‘small business surtax,’’ or a tax on
ward addressing the climate crisis ever your retirement plan.
considered by any Nation in history. now we know it was all nonsense, just
On the way home, you swing through
Mr. Speaker, in all four of these crit- nonsense. The claim that this costs
your pharmacy and pay a ‘‘no
ical areas, the Build Back Better Act zero and reduces the national debt?
generics’’ tax. Stop for groceries and
will make transformational invest- Nonsense.
This bill, even counting the budget pay the ‘‘Bidenflation’’ tax on every-
ments that will help more Americans thing you need. And then you get your
access opportunities and achieve great- gimmicks, is several hundred billion
mail on the way home, and you get a
er economic security. dollars short today, and the inde-
letter from the IRS; you are being au-
This bill is truly for the people, not pendent Committee for a Responsible
dited.
just those who have much, but those Federal Budget says over 10 years it is And then you are getting the kids
who have too little. closer to $3 trillion in national debt. ready for bed, and you realize Demo-
Many Americans are looking at the It won’t tax the middle class? Non- crats are forcing you to send $12,500 of
investments this bill would make in sense. your taxes to the wealthy neighbor to
The Joint Committee on Taxation
America’s workers and families and subsidize their luxury Beemer electric
and the liberal Tax Policy Center both
asking: How are we going to afford it? vehicle.
confirm that up to one-third of middle- Plus, they are getting a massive
My friends on the other side of the
class Americans will see a tax increase SALT tax windfall for the wealthy
aisle have raised that and I am sure
starting next year. while you get nothing, except 80,000
will raise it again.
This will make the wealthy pay their new IRS agents to make sure ‘‘you pay
First and foremost, Mr. Speaker, this
fair share? More nonsense. your fair share.’’
bill does not raise taxes from house- Two out of three millionaires in
holds or small businesses earning less So when your head finally hits the
America will see a huge tax cut in this pillow, as you lie awake in bed too wor-
than $400,000 a year. bill.
In fact, the Build Back Better Act ried to sleep in a community less safe,
And this will reduce inflation? Non- in housing more expensive, in a coun-
would provide a tax cut—contrary to sense.
the rhetoric I have heard on the other try that lurches from crisis to crisis,
Even the President’s own favorite an- ask yourself this question: Under Joe
side of the aisle—to 80 percent of Amer- alyst, Moody’s, admits that Americans
ican households next year. Biden is my life truly built back bet-
ought to brace for higher prices for the ter?
Not only that, but it will raise rev- next decade because of this bill and the
enue, according to the Treasury De- Americans already know the answer,
infrastructure bill and the COVID and that is why this President’s polling
partment and outside analyses. stimulus bill.
My Republican friends should be ex- is at the bottom of the heap and why
But there is more than just nonsense Americans have lost any confidence in
cited that we give a tax cut essentially in this bill. There are dangerous provi-
to 80 percent of Americans, not just 1 his competence to heal this economy.
sions dealing with the IRS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of
percent. By most estimates, this bill Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time my time.
reduces the deficit. This bill reduces I will offer a motion to recommit the Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield my-
the deficit. It also ensures that all of bill to the Budget Committee. self such time as I may consume.
us will pay our fair share to support I will also ask to include the text of Just before I recognize the distin-
our democracy. an amendment in the RECORD that I guished majority whip, I want to take
The impacts of this historic legisla- would have offered had the rules al- a moment to acknowledge the around-
tion will be reflected in the greater lowed me to offer instructions with my the-clock work of the staff who made
economic security of millions of fami- motion to recommit. this evening possible.
lies and in the growth and competitive- And my amendment is simple. It First, my team on the Ways and
ness of a robust American economy. stops Democrats from unleashing 80,000 Means Committee that have helped
President Biden said, in fact, very new IRS agents on American tax- bring about this evening. They have
truthfully, this will be trans- payers. And more importantly, it poured their hearts into developing
formational, and it will be measured in blocks the House and the Senate from these policies that will make America
the deeper sense of hope that Ameri- ever imposing a dangerous bank sur- a better place. In their pursuit, they
cans will have when they see their veillance scheme targeting America’s have sacrificed holidays, sleep, and
economy working for them instead of families, farmers, and small businesses. time with loved ones, and their service
holding them back. The truth is the IRS doesn’t need to our country will not be forgotten.
I am hopeful that the Senate acts your private information. It has a Let me also acknowledge the CBO
quickly to pass this bill under rec- record of targeting Americans based on with a round of applause because of the
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onciliation even while Republicans all their political beliefs. In fact, this great work that they have done this
sit on the sidelines on this historic mo- year, they discriminated against a non- evening, as well as legislative coun-
ment, just as all but 13 of them did profit focused on biblical teachings and sel—who have not put down their pen-
when we passed a transformational in- continues to fail to stop massive leaks cils—to make sure that this extraor-
frastructure investment bill, which of private taxpayer returns to the dinary pressure that they have been
will make America competitive in the media. under has helped to get us here.
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6617
Now, it is always a pleasure to yield paying more for everything they buy at nology, skill set, the decline of unions.
such time as he may consume to the the grocery store. This Thanksgiving is But what we can’t argue about is it
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. expected to be the most expensive ever happened. And we have a chance to-
CLYBURN), the majority whip. because of President Biden’s radical night to reverse that course.
Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank agenda and all the spending, the tril- We speak frequently in this institu-
Chairman NEAL for yielding. lions in spending that has already been tion, sometimes in terms of hyperbolic
This Build Back Better bill is the done. rhetoric about history. Tonight, the
third leg of a three-legged stool that So what is the answer of this major- vote we cast is about history. And the
balances the American Rescue Plan ity? To raise more taxes, to spend tril- Committee on Ways and Means, since
signed by President Biden last March lions more dollars, jacking up inflation spring of a year ago, wrote much of
and the bipartisan infrastructure bill even higher. this legislation.
signed by President Biden last Monday. And who is it to benefit? Let’s look Mr. Speaker, I call attention to 33
These three bills provide the where- at the Joint Committee on Taxation years ago when I joined this institu-
withal to fix our roads and bridges, re- who just came out with an assessment tion, to just above the Speaker’s ros-
pair our rails, deepen our harbors, and of this. trum. It is very hard to visualize; it
provide long awaited broadband to You know who benefits the most in was easier 33 years ago for me to read
households and neighborhoods. this bill? The largest decreases go to it than it is now when I walk in. But
Mr. Speaker, I have often remarked those making a million dollars or Daniel Webster said, here in this Cham-
that America is not in need of being more. That is right. The largest tax ber, ‘‘Let us develop the resources of
made great. It is great and has been for cuts go to the multimillionaires. our land, call forth its great powers,
a long time. Do you know who gets the smallest
build up its institutions, promote all of
tax cuts? The smallest goes to those
b 2030 its great interests and see whether we
making $40,000 to $50,000. They get the
I often quote Alexis De Tocqueville’s also in our day and generation may not
least amount. And where are they pay-
observation that America’s greatness perform something worthy to be re-
ing for it? They are paying for it in a
is not that it is more enlightened than membered.’’
natural gas tax. Everybody who uses
any other nation, but rather, that it natural gas to heat their home this Mr. Speaker, tonight, that is what we
has always been able to repair its winter is going to be paying about 30 intend to do. We are going to make
faults. percent more. For what? To give tax transformational changes that are
The Build Back Better Act will re- breaks to millionaires in five States. going to lift the people of America to a
pair some longstanding faults, many of And don’t just take the Joint Com- new sense, born of optimism, as that
which have been exacerbated by mittee on Taxation’s word for it. Let’s son of Massachusetts, Mr. Webster, ac-
COVID–19 and our feckless early re- listen to BERNIE SANDERS, the chair- knowledged. We are going to change
sponse to it. man of the Committee on the Budget. the lives and livelihoods of Americans
This Build Back Better legislation Do you know what he just said yes- for generations to come; and as he
will make healthcare accessible and af- terday about this? ‘‘You can’t be a po- noted, we will do something tonight
fordable for 2.2 million low-income, un- litical party that talks about demand- that truly will be worth remembering.
insured Americans that exist in the ing the wealthy pay their fair share of Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of
Medicaid coverage gap. It makes bene- taxes, and then end up with a bill that my time.
fits accessible and affordable to mil- gives large tax breaks to millionaires.’’ Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1
lions of children who will be able to That is what BERNIE SANDERS said. minute to the gentleman from Cali-
continue receiving the child tax credit. He also said the hypocrisy of that is fornia (Mr. MCCARTHY), Republican
It will make childcare and preschool too strong, giving tax breaks to mil- leader of our Conference.
accessible and affordable for children lionaires in this bill. And for what? So Mr. MCCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I
who have been struggling to get a fair that low-income families who are pay- thank Mr. BRADY for his work.
start in life; and it will make housing ing it can then see their tax dollars go Mr. Speaker, we are minutes away
accessible and affordable for their par- to give $450,000 checks to people that from voting on a $5 trillion, more than
ents. come here illegally. That is right. You 2,000-page, bill. A bill that the White
The Build Back Better Act will make are going to be paying 30 percent on House Chief of Staff recently bragged
clean air and plant life on this planet your household electricity bills for is twice as big in real dollars as the
accessible and affordable for future 87,000 more IRS agents, who President New Deal was.
generations by taking historic steps to Biden says want to comb through your
Mr. Speaker, I just listened to Con-
combat the climate change. bank accounts.
gressman NEAL, ‘‘to build up the insti-
The coronavirus pandemic didn’t just If you make more than $10,000—not
tutions.’’ I have heard that in a lot of
cause great harm for some; it exposed the millionaires and billionaires—if
different countries, countries that have
great harm that has existed for far too your grandmother on a fixed income,
a different philosophy than America.
long, denying far too many of our citi- makes $10,000, 87,000 IRS agents will be
Let that sink in for 1 minute. Let that
zens access to America’s greatness. unleashed on her bank account to then
sink in: More than 2,000 pages, $5 tril-
Build Back Better provides an oppor- go and give $450,000 checks to people
lion; twice as big in real dollars as the
tunity to make more of our Nation’s who came here illegally.
New Deal was.
greatness accessible and affordable for Stop this madness. Did you not pay
all. attention to the results of the Virginia Let me be clear. Never in American
Mr. BRADY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 election just two weeks ago? They said history has so much been spent at one
minutes to the gentleman from Lou- enough of the spending in Washington. time. Never in American history will
isiana (Mr. SCALISE), the chief minor- Let’s focus on helping those hard- so many taxes be raised and so much
ity whip of the Republican Conference. working families who are being crip- borrowing be needed to pay for all this
Mr. SCALISE. Mr. Speaker, I thank pled by this inflation. This will only be reckless spending.
my colleague from Texas for his leader- made worse if you throw trillions more I listened to my friend, STENY HOYER,
ship and for yielding time. dollars in taxes and spending onto this earlier. He started his speech by stat-
Mr. Speaker, we are facing in Amer- dumpster fire. ing this date, because this is the day he
ica crisis after crisis after crisis cre- Let’s save America. Stop. Defeat this is going to tell his children’s children
ated by President Biden’s policies. Just bill. where he spent all that money. Every
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
look at some of the crises we are fac- Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- page of all this new Washington spend-
ing: self such time as I may consume. There ing will be paid for or borrowed from
There is an inflation crisis that has are a lot of reasons tonight that this you, the American hardworking tax-
probably the worst effect on lower- and legislation has come forth. We can payer.
middle-income families. They are pay- argue about why income inequality in Every page of this new Washington
ing 50 percent more for gas. They are America happened; globalization, tech- spending supports more waste, more
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H6618 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
fraud, more abuse, and more corrup- higher grocery prices, and higher Make no mistake, overspending is
tion. And every page of this new Wash- crime. This isn’t politics, as the Demo- just the start of how this bill is so com-
ington spending shows just how irre- crats claim. This is real life in America pletely out of touch with the needs of
sponsible and out of touch the Demo- today under one-party rule in 1 year. our people. Its destructive policies
crats are to the challenges that Amer- When our country doesn’t have the should also alarm every single Amer-
ica faces today. resources or won’t commit them to ican. I think we should talk about that
Nowhere in 2,000 pages and $5 trillion fund the basic needs of our citizens, since we debated all during the day,
in spending are measures for more effi- like basic human security, nothing else but a new bill came tonight. You let us
ciency, better results, or just genuine matters. Yet, at this very moment, the have 20 minutes, 10 minutes on each
accountability. This is the single most Democrats are preparing to go on yet side, to further that debate. Much of
reckless and irresponsible spending bill another unnecessary spending binge. that was to pat yourselves on the back.
in our Nation’s history. Some of its ef- Then, in a couple of weeks, they will In my remarks, I will go through
fects will be quickly felt, others not for have the audacity to ask Congress to each of these provisions in more detail.
a few years. But I guarantee you that raise the debt limit to borrow more on First, let me tell you why I oppose
no matter the time frame, all the new the overspending. I look forward to this bill. It will crush American indus-
Washington spending in this bill is that debate as well. tries. It will destroy countless Amer-
only the beginning of disaster being My colleagues on the other side often ican jobs, more than have already been
thrust upon us. say that what Washington borrows and shut down while you destroyed energy
This year, Washington has reached spends doesn’t matter, that the lessons independence and rely on OPEC. As the
the highest level of sustained Federal of history don’t apply here. They also price of gas goes higher, I hear from
spending since World War II. That is said the bill wouldn’t cost money. the White House that that might be a
this Congress’ history. It took 4 years Those Democrats are wrong, plain and good thing.
and $4.1 trillion to end World War II, in simple. Mr. Speaker, you are from my home
dollar terms. It was the most expensive Spending your money that we do not State. We are both from California.
have on programs you do not want is $4.50 is the average. You and I drive
war in history.
By contrast, in the fiscal year we not the solution. In fact, it is the prob- past those gas stations. We see them
lem with Washington. It is getting even higher than $5. Do you know who
just finished, Washington, under a one-
worse every single day one-party rule that hurts the most? The hardest work-
party rule, has spent $6.8 trillion. And
is in this city. ing Americans. That was driven by
that is on top of the trillions of dollars
So many Democrats refuse to fund many of the policies from this adminis-
Congress spent the year before in the
our police. So many Democrats refuse tration.
heart of the pandemic to offer relief to I heard my good friend, STENY
to fund genuine security at our bor-
struggling Americans. HOYER—and he is my friend, and we
ders. They only want to spend your tax
Today, House Democrats want to disagree, but we disagree respectfully.
dollars on programs that benefit them
pass more wasteful, unnecessary spend- There is something I disagree with that
politically.
ing by Washington. The American peo- Mr. HOYER said earlier. He said we
As the leader of the Republicans in
ple obviously know this bill won’t cost can’t go back to where we were before
the House, I say, on behalf of the tens
zero dollars. the pandemic.
of millions of citizens we proudly rep-
Mr. Speaker, I wonder why people I want to go back to when we didn’t
resent, enough already.
waited for the CBO score. They said it My principle is simple. Don’t spend have inflation. I want to go back to
costs more but still want to vote for it. what you don’t have and, certainly, on when the border was secure. I want to
The CBO score says in 5 years it is what you don’t want and need. go back to when I didn’t pay $4.50 for
going to cost $800 billion; in 10, only My fellow Americans, we don’t have gas. I want to go back to when people
$367 billion. That is what your chil- trillions of dollars to spend on pro- were employed. I want to go back to
dren’s children will have to pay. And grams that will never go away. when we didn’t have Americans held
they will mark this day that it hap- The American people understand hostage in Afghanistan.
pened. what this out-of-control spending will I want to go back to when we were
We know it means more crushing do because they felt it from your very respected around the world. I want to
debt for the 330 million Americans and first bill you passed. You created infla- go back to when we didn’t have North
generations to come. The Democrats tion. Korea testing nuclear weapons. I want
are showing once again that they are The first thing that was said: It is to go back to when China wasn’t flying
not focused on the financial health and just temporary. Our own President said over Taiwan every day and threatening
well-being of the citizens of our econ- he doesn’t know of any economist that and rattling, and when China would not
omy. Instead, Democrats are focused is worried about inflation. offend us on our own soil. I want to go
on themselves, their lobbyists, and Go to the grocery store. Stand in line back to when Russia didn’t have thou-
their special interests group. at your gas station. Talk to one of your sands of their troops along the Ukraine
If I sound angry, I am. I don’t think constituents. They will tell you be- border.
the generations will laugh at the cause they feel it every single day. Yes, I want to go back because if we
spending and what you do tonight. I The American people understand go forward with this bill, we won’t
don’t think they will laugh about the what will happen. They understand be- have the resources for the things we
continuing inflation you will create. I cause they live it in their own lives re- need.
don’t think they will laugh about not sponsibly, because they set priorities, I want to go back to when we caught
one dollar going to support or defend and because they live within their those on the terrorist watch list com-
the border. I do not think they will means. ing across our border.
laugh at the benefit that China will get If they do it every day, why can’t I think if you simply read the polls,
from this bill. Washington? Why can’t Washington America wants to go back. If you listen
It is clear to us that this bill is wrong ever say no? to the last two Tuesdays ago, I think
on the merits, and they have responded Many of you said you were going to they said they want to go forward but
with a single word the American public say, no, you couldn’t vote for it until back to what they knew, the policies
have said; enough. Enough with Wash- you got the CBO score because you that worked.
ington waste. Enough with fraud, wanted to hold them accountable that History sometimes repeats itself. I
Washington abuse, and Washington it couldn’t cost money. You got the wasn’t here 33 years ago—I don’t know
corruption; enough with higher taxes, CBO score, and it cost $800 billion in if I was old enough 33 years ago to
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
higher prices, and higher borrowing. the first 5 years. run—but I was here in 2010. I watched
Simply enough. What are you going to say to your the wake-up call in Virginia and New
constituents when they ask you that Jersey, and I watched this exact same
b 2045 question of why you held it up? Why Speaker 4 days later walk the Demo-
Today, millions of Americans are did you want the paper? Why did you cratic Members right down here and
struggling with higher energy costs, want to know? Math is hard, I guess. pass ObamaCare and lose 63 seats.
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6619
I wondered why she wouldn’t wake up this vote. That alone is reason enough paying Americans. But for those who
to what the American people said. She to defeat the bill. died, those 13 Gold Star families only
just got a bigger wake-up call in Vir- Second, this bill provides amnesty get $400.
ginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and for millions of illegal immigrants and You are charging more than $5 tril-
New York. In Minneapolis, where this visa overstays. It provides this massive lion in this bill. It is more than 2,000
body of the majority championed grant of amnesty in the middle of the pages. Enough.
defunding the police, they said no. In worst border crisis a country has ever You are empowering China to be even
Seattle—yes, I say Seattle—they elect- seen; indeed, the worst border crisis in stronger.
ed a Republican as the city attorney recorded history, period. This bill spends billions of dollars to
that believes in law and order. I know President Biden has been in hire 87,000 IRS agents. You are hiring
In New Jersey, we got good news and office for more than 40 years, and I 87,000 IRS agents, but you are not hir-
bad news out of New Jersey. I hope you know he drove by El Paso one time in ing one new person to protect the bor-
listen to the good news. Did you hear those years, but now is the moment he der.
about a guy who has never run before, should go. He should see what the poli- And what is the job of the IRS
who was just a truck driver? He was a cies in a one-party rule in this Nation’s agents?
Republican. He spent less than $200, Capital have created. He should see it They are going after Americans.
and he defeated the second-most power- is not just those coming across the bor- And what Americans are they going
ful politician who happened to be a der. They are not just coming from after?
Democrat in the Senate, the President Central America. We catch people on Anyone who spends $28 in one single
of the Senate. the terrorist watch list from Yemen day. If you go to Starbucks, if you sim-
That is the good news. Do you want and others. ply put 3 gallons of gas in your car and
to know what the bad news is? In this Ask yourself this: Why is somebody you go through a drive-through, maybe
new Biden administration, we just lost that is on the terrorist watch list from you get a dollar meal at McDonald’s,
another truck driver. I thought that a faraway land, why would they want the IRS is coming for you.
was pretty good. to come to America? Who are they You are proud of that fact. That is
Its destructive policies need to alarm talking to? What do they have what you held the CBO up for: How
you all. It would pave a glide path for planned? much money can we get from Ameri-
China while placing a devastating It is not just people; it is fentanyl. cans by auditing them?
weight on American companies. It will Fentanyl is killing Americans, more so Do you know what you just provided,
hammer American workers and Amer- than any other place. Where does it whom you are auditing?
ican families in bruising inflation. come from? China through Mexico and You are auditing 1.2 million more
It wasn’t just Republicans who across the border. Americans. You are bringing this bill
warned you about the $2 trillion you Many of these same Democrats who on the premise that you don’t trust
spent earlier in your one-party control. support amnesty also support giving il- Americans.
We warned you it would be inflation. It legal immigrant families nearly half a Do you know what Americans you
wasn’t just us. Summers, who worked million dollars each. If they are suc- are going after?
for Clinton and Obama, warned you, cessful, a billion dollars of hard- One half of those 1.2 million are peo-
but you felt you had to go forward. You working taxpayer American money ple who earn $75,000 or less. That is
felt it was good for the American pub- will be given to illegal immigrants. At what you are trying to pay this bill
lic to pay more. And it will infringe on the same time they have to pay more from.
our fundamental American rights and in taxes, they have to pay more for The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mem-
liberties. milk and more for gas. bers are reminded to direct their re-
Here are some of the worst provi- The answer from the White House: marks to the Chair.
sions. Expect less for Christmas. I remember Mr. MCCARTHY. Yes, Mr. Speaker,
First, this bill massively raises prices back in the late 1970s, in 1980, we had a do you know where 25 percent of those
on all products made and manufactured President in office. I was in the sixth 1.2 million audits are going?
in the United States. It is placing a grade. He put a sweater on and told us To Americans earning less than
massive burden on American workers to turn our heater down, and the best $25,000.
and consumers at the very moment we days of America were behind us. It is Sometimes math is hard, Mr. Speak-
are under attack by the Chinese Com- interesting; some of that same lan- er.
munist Party and the companies they guage and same ideas seem to be com- It will double the size of the most in-
support. ing from this White House. trusive bureaucracy.
My friend who is sitting in the This is just outrageous. By compari- So when you tell your children’s chil-
Speaker’s chair right now, his district son, if an American servicemember is dren what you spent the money on or
is in California just like mine. We see killed defending this country, his or you talk and you listen to the speeches
those hundreds of tankers sitting off her family gets less than a $400,000 in- tonight, Mr. Speaker, and you listen to
our coast. One-party rule created a surance payment, those 13 Gold Star the chairman of the Ways and Means
supply chain problem. One-party rule is families. Those killed by a suicide Committee, where he was proud of the
going to empower China to even have bomber when Bagram was shut down fact that he was going to build up these
more of those tankers because you are before Americans were out. The prison agencies, he is building up the IRS to
benefiting China over American work- was released. They killed 13 American go after every American who spends $28
ers. You are pushing American compa- men and women servicemembers. They a day.
nies away from America. didn’t get $450,000, but you are going to Mr. Speaker, that is not what Amer-
I guess you did that in energy as give more. ica asked for. Make no mistake. Under
well. You just asked OPEC to produce this provision, every single American
more, and you will ask China to b 2100 is a target. In the eyes of the IRS, you
produce more. This Made in America This alone is reason enough to defeat are guilty until proven innocent. That
tax will send our jobs overseas, send the bill. alone is enough to defeat this bill.
the rest of our supply chain to China, How can you look at your constitu- This bill imposes a tax to heat your
and make us dependent on foreign pro- ents in the eye? home. It puts American gas prices in
ducers, foreign countries, and foreign With one-party rule in 1 year you the hands of OPEC.
dictators. created inflation we haven’t seen in 31 Mr. Speaker, I remember back when
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
Every single American will pay for it years. You made gas prices higher than Jimmy Carter was President, I wanted
every single day in every single pur- it has been in 7. to go visit my grandmother down in
chase they make. The Americans don’t You are passing a bill that gives am- southern California. I asked my mom
want to be punished, American employ- nesty to illegals. You are going to re- and dad if we could go—this is the
ers and American job creators. But ward people who came here illegally same President, Mr. Speaker, who put
that is exactly what will happen with with $450,000 from hardworking, tax- a sweater on and told me to turn the
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H6620 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
heater down and that as Americans we As prices rose on everything, Mr. FDR. This even spends more than FDR
are supposed to expect less. Speaker, the White House told us that while he was fighting a world war.
I can look anywhere I want, Mr. is probably a good thing. Senator MANCHIN echoed that senti-
Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I even heard from ment. This is not a center left or a left
Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe the MSNBC that it was good you had to country. We are a center, if anything, a
amount of control one-party rule pay more. People should. little center right. That is being
wants. They now want to dictate to a They are going to have to pay more shown, and we ought to be able to rec-
Member of the floor where I can look? as they get audited. ognize that.
Are you afraid of the basis of the in- This bill abandons the longstanding, The New York Times editorial board,
formation in the bill? bipartisan Hyde amendment. they even went further. I am not a big
I am glad we can look at you, Mr. Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of people fan of the New York Times. I read a
Speaker. There is a difference between who have been in this Chamber for headline yesterday. Mr. Speaker, you
addressing and looking. I know one- quite some time. Mr. Speaker, I heard know what it said? It was talking
party rule wants to control every ele- the chairman of the Ways and Means about your party. It said, after the
ment of our lives. Committee say he has been here more election last Tuesday, Democrats
Mr. Speaker, this President put into than 30 years. How many times has he should not panic. Don’t panic. Because
effect that you could only get gas on voted for that Hyde amendment? they think it is already over. This bill
the even days when your license plate I don’t know what changed this year. is going to seal the deal.
ended that way. So, no, I couldn’t go Maybe it was one-party rule. They are The New York Times, in a blistering
see my grandmother that weekend. now allowing taxpayer funded abortion editorial said, the Democratic Party
I wonder how many people this win- on demand and violating the rights of ‘‘has become distracted from crucial
ter may not make it through because the conscience of millions of Ameri- issues like the economy, inflation, end-
they can’t pay the price of their heat- cans. This alone is enough reason to ing the coronavirus pandemic, and re-
ing bill. defeat this bill. storing normalcy in schools.’’ That is a
Mr. Speaker, I know you wouldn’t quote, Mr. Speaker. That is the New
This bill dictates our children’s edu-
want that to happen. But maybe we York Times.
cation standards, giving Washington
could ask OPEC to produce a little The Times went on to describe this
the final say in what our children
more. bill, not as a solution, but as part of a
Mr. Speaker, did you know that learn. Parents should make that deci-
sion, not government bureaucrats. sharp leftward push in the party which,
American natural gas is 42 percent as they point out, most Americans
I don’t know if you dictate in this
cleaner than Russian natural gas? don’t want nor need.
Mr. Speaker, they are importing Rus- bill where children can look, like you
But despite those overwhelming
sian natural gas into America. tried to on this floor, but, Mr. Speaker,
warnings from moderates in their
Why? I don’t think that would be right ei-
party, from liberals in the press, and
Because, Mr. Speaker, our adminis- ther.
from the American people at the polls,
tration is allowing Putin to have a Mr. Speaker, I listened to a promi-
House Democrats are plugging their
pipeline but not America. nent Democrat run for the office of
ears.
Do you know who works on American Governor again in Virginia where he Mr. Speaker, even if somebody looks
pipelines? said that parents should not have a say at them and tells them what is in the
American workers. in their children’s education. bill, they want you to look away. Why?
Do you know what they do with their It doesn’t matter whether you are
Why wouldn’t they be proud of it?
money? Republican, Democrat, wealthy, poor, The Democrats aren’t just ignoring
They buy a home, they send their or the color of your skin. The moment what is going on. It is worse. They
kids to school, they buy trucks, they you have that child, you will do any- aren’t even pretending to listen.
buy cars, they stay in hotels, and they thing. It is no longer what you become; Don’t take my word for it. Listen to
eat out at night. But those more than it is what opportunities your children what a member of your own party,
1 million people lost their job after will have. It is not a place government Congresswoman SPANBERGER, said re-
President Biden was sworn in because should dictate. cently. We are not willing to say, yeah,
he shut down a pipeline that would This nationalized, Washington-cen- inflation is a problem, and supply
make America independent but allowed tered education will take away par- chain is a problem, and we don’t have
Putin to produce more. ents’ choice of local control of parents enough workers in our workforce. We
That is going to make prices higher across the country, instead of sup- gloss over it.
this winter. In other words, every mo- porting and empowering them. Clearly, the challenges Americans
ment you heat your home in the winter
b 2110 are waking up to every day are not
or cool it in the summer, you will pay concerns, Mr. Speaker, of the Demo-
more. And every time you start your Mr. Speaker, remember when I
crats. And that is the fundamental dif-
car, you will pay more. That alone is talked about Terry McAuliffe, what he
ference between Democrats and Repub-
reason enough to defeat the bill. said. This takes it a giant leap further
licans.
This bill will make the labor crisis by putting the Federal Government in House Democrats are focused on se-
worse by fundamentally transforming full control of every education. curing the Speaker’s legacy. House Re-
the child tax credit into welfare with- I am not sure if that is what the publicans are focused on solving the
out any work requirement. It will place chairman of the Ways and Means Com- labor crisis.
small business owners into direct com- mittee was meaning why we should Mr. Speaker, House Democrats are
petition with the Federal Govern- build up more bureaucracy, but it focused on mandates. House Repub-
ment’s unlimited printing press. This seems to fit in this bill. That alone is licans are focused on more freedom.
alone is reason enough to defeat the reason enough to defeat the bill. House Democrats are focused on so-
bill. Mr. Speaker, from bank surveillance called equality. House Republicans are
Mr. Speaker, did we not learn that if to bailouts, this bill takes the prob- focused on quality education.
we pay people more to stay home and lems President Biden and Democrats House Democrats are focused on pay-
not go to work that is what would hap- have already created and makes them offs for illegal immigrants. House Re-
pen? We learned that this year, did we much, much worse. publicans are focused on protecting the
not? It is no secret that this bill is too ex- border.
Mr. Speaker, small businesses are treme, too costly, and too liberal for And House Democrats are focused on
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
hard. I started my first small business the United States. My colleagues here the Green New Deal. House Repub-
when I was 20 years old. There are in the House and in the Senate know licans are focused on lowering gas
three lessons I learned. I was the first it, and staunch liberals in the press prices.
to work, I was the last to leave, and I know it as well. Just a few weeks ago, When you look at those differences,
was last to be paid. I don’t know if I Congresswoman ABIGAIL SPANBERGER it is no wonder the American people
could start that business again. said, nobody elected Joe Biden to be want new leadership.
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6621
Mr. Speaker, Democrats have no clue Mr. Speaker, in June or July, on a much money is chasing too few goods.
about the damage they have done to CNN townhall meeting, the President It all started with one-party rule for 1
America with one party, with one rule, said he wasn’t worried about inflation. year in Washington. It first started
in 1 year. But if the Democrats won’t Mr. Speaker, President Biden with $2 trillion; now it is $5 trillion.
listen to our fellow citizens, they will launched a campaign to dramatically Americans are also witnessing short-
have to listen here. raise taxes and regulations on our ages and supply chain problems, too.
Before I describe in greater detail the workers and manufacturers, destroying Again, put politics aside and just look
contents of this bill, let’s take a step the amazing record of economic growth at the numbers. They are jaw-dropping.
back and understand how we got into and job creation he inherited. Americans are paying $20 to $30 more
this mess. for groceries per week. Thanksgiving is
Mr. Speaker, we want to explain it to b 2120
coming, a time when Americans gather
our children’s children. When President Mr. Speaker, President Biden paid together with family and friends. I will
Biden walked into the Oval Office on workers not to work and fired workers guarantee you what they will talk
January 20, 2021, he was handed every who were working because they about around that table: This is the
single ingredient he needed for unprec- wouldn’t comply with his COVID man- most expensive Thanksgiving they
edented success. dates. These were the same people who have ever had.
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure, but I were heroes a year before when we I know those in Virginia and New
know Speaker PELOSI likes to remove didn’t have one-party rule. These were Jersey realize what one-party rule in 1
people from committees if they don’t the same people who showed up to care year can do. Americans are paying
reach the higher standards. I would be for us and risk their lives. more for gasoline, the highest price in
worried, with the much interruptions, The supply chain crisis was dramati- 7 years—Mr. Speaker, that was the last
that something may happen to some- cally worsened by the return to the time President Biden was down in the
body. Mr. Speaker, I am worried for failed tax, regulatory, trade, and for- White House—to get to and from work,
them. eign policies of the past. to drive their kids to school, or to take
All President Biden had to do was Mr. Speaker, President Biden used their elderly parents to a doctor’s ap-
nothing. Just think about where we the FBI to target parents as domestic pointment.
would be today if he had done nothing. terrorists. Can you imagine that? To Americans are paying more for mate-
Our economy would be booming. Our use the FBI to go after parents, calling rials their businesses need to operate,
supply chain would be intact. Our Na- them domestic terrorists, without any which means higher prices for con-
tion would be energy independent. Our evidence, simply aiming to silence sumers and less opportunity for wage
children would be free from burden- their First Amendment rights. A whis- increases.
some mandates. tleblower just confirmed it. Inflation is a tax on all Americans.
Our borders would be completely se- The President’s rhetoric is dividing Inflation is robbing families of the fu-
cure, without those on the terrorist and inflaming us rather than uniting ture they deserve. Mr. Speaker, when
watch list coming across. Our dollar us, like he promised to do. Majority Leader STENY HOYER men-
would be sound, with no inflation. Our And when his administration tioned this date and what our chil-
enemies would be on notice, not on ad- missteps, and it does often, President dren’s children will learn, they will
vance. Biden will blame the military, our al-
But what happened instead? The last probably be the first generation in 30
lies, the Vice President, Congress, ordi- years to learn about when inflation
10 months have been the most radical,
nary Americans, anyone but himself. came back. It was one-party rule in 1
the most extreme, and the most incom-
That is not what leaders do. That is year.
petent 10 months in American history.
Mr. Speaker, it is one-party rule in 1 not what leaders do. Leaders take re- Americans are bracing for higher
year that created all this. From the sponsibility and then take action. costs to come. They realize our eco-
first day in office, the Biden adminis- As elected leaders, it is our job to nomic future is grim under President
tration has waged war on American take action that makes life better for Biden. The Biden administration has
workers, American values, American all Americans. That is badly needed proven themselves untrustworthy when
borders, American energy, and worst of today, Mr. Speaker. But President Joe it comes to handling the economy. He
all, American families. We have never Biden and Democrats in Congress have pursues counterproductive policies and
seen anything like this before. failed at that basic duty. Let’s look at does not keep the promises he makes.
Biden terminated every successful how. As a candidate, President Biden
immigration policy put into place by President Biden has defaulted to a pledged nobody making under 400,000
President Trump, triggering the larg- failed economic agenda of the past. bucks would have their taxes raised,
est wave of illegal immigration in all This administration is plainly incom- period, bingo. Mr. Speaker, then, on
of history. Mr. Speaker, I know he put petent and is growing the government the eve of the election, he promised
the Vice President in charge. at the American people’s expense. that those making less than $400,000
Biden shut down the production of Americans are paying more for wouldn’t pay a penny more. Mr. Speak-
American energy and closed down things they need today than they can er, as President, he said: I give you my
American pipelines, surrendering the afford. The latest CPI report is stun- word. If you make under $400,000 a
energy independence that was achieved ning news. Mr. Speaker, the Consumer year, I will never raise your taxes one
during the Trump administration. Price Index soared 6.2 percent in the cent.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if you can last year under one-party rule in Wash- Each of these statements claimed to
remember back 10 months ago what the ington and almost 1 percent in October have no exceptions, no qualifications,
price of gas was, but I know every alone. It is the fastest pace in 30 years. and no conditions. But here we are,
American can. When we were energy Do you know what the common denom- just 40 weeks later, with one-party
independent, it was a time when price inator is? One-party rule for 1 year. rule, and the President has already
was low. Today, the new Biden admin- Last week’s inflation results under- broken these promises to the American
istration is making us reliant on for- cut the idea that inflation is tem- people. He has broken them because in-
eign producers once again. He is lit- porary or transitory. If you look under flation is a tax on every American.
erally begging OPEC to produce the en- the hood, the numbers suggest that President Trump and congressional
ergy that we could easily produce right higher prices are not only being passed Republicans took a better path. We cut
here on our own shores. on to consumers; they are becoming taxes and left Americans with more of
President Biden spent trillions of dol- the new normal. their hard-earned money in their pock-
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
lars on left-wing social engineering and Even the politicians responsible for ets. Mr. Speaker, it led to the best
printed money we did not have for inflation now concede that Americans economy in 50 years.
projects we did not need, leading to will continue to live with it for at least When taxes go up through inflation
massive runaway inflation. another year. or otherwise, Americans have less for
Mr. Speaker, Larry Summers warned Make no mistake, inflation is becom- utilities, prescriptions, and other
the Nation about this in February. ing implanted in our economy. Too things they need. As prices continue to
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H6622 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
soar, the inflation tax is hitting hard- ‘‘The fact that more people and orga- competent contempt for the American
working, middle-class families the nizations on the Democratic side aren’t people.
hardest. up in arms about this is wild.’’ Mr. Speaker, as I listened to the
What do you think is going to happen Mr. Speaker, maybe they are not up other side make their comments, not
to inflation if this bill becomes law? It in arms because they just got the bill. once did I say something. I disagreed
is only going to be greater than the And you allow 10 minutes on one side with what they said, but I knew there
first $2 trillion this body wasted, Mr. and 10 minutes on the other to debate was a moment in time when I could
Speaker. it. speak.
But here is the dirty secret. Most Mr. Speaker, I know at times it is I know, Mr. Speaker, that people
Democrats who vote for these policies hard to hear what is in the bill, but I might disagree with what I say, but we
won’t be affected by the inflation rate. think the American people have a right are in America. We are in Congress. I
But seniors, working families, and to know. respect their position, even though I
those living paycheck to paycheck Over the last 9 months with one- believe it is wrong.
have been and will continue to be, even party rule in this city, families have I respect that they may believe they
in a greater sense. watched energy prices rise dramati- want to build up these bureaucracies.
Through no fault of their own, good, cally. West Texas intermediate has I respect that they think spending
hardworking Americans are being hurt doubled since President Biden took of- more with inflation, that somehow
by their own government. And, Mr. fice, and a gallon at the pump costs 60 that won’t cause more.
Speaker, that is just wrong. percent more. I respect the idea that you shut down
What is the White House and the lib- You know where that comes from? an American pipeline and allow Putin
eral media’s response? Telling Ameri- The hardworking taxpayers who have to have one and the prices go up. I
cans to just accept it, lecturing us to to live in a lower standard because of think you are wrong, but I respect the
be more like Europe, to build our bu- one-party rule in Washington. right for you to say it.
reaucracies, saying we should lower What does that mean in everyday Mr. Speaker, not once did I look at
our expectations. life? Chairman NEAL and tell him he
Lowering expectations is what it It means that when families fill up at couldn’t look at me. Not once did I say
means to be an American? I think not. the gas station, they are seeing the something to him as he made his point.
No, this is a Nation that conquered the highest price of a gallon of gas in 7 Mr. Speaker, just last week we set a
wilderness, sent a man to the Moon, years. That is the last time Joe Biden record here twice by holding a vote
and developed a lifesaving vaccine to was in office, Mr. Speaker. open longer than this Congress ever
COVID–19 in less than a year. Ameri- It means that from the factories has. We have changed more of the his-
cans don’t lower expectations; we rise making new products to the trucks tory in Congress than at any time of
to the occasion. that transport them to the retail any Congress under one party and one
But under one-party rule, in 1 year, stores that sell them, every part of the rule.
we have inflation we haven’t seen in 31 supply chain is paying more for energy. Members get fined $5,000 when some-
years; we have gas prices higher than In every State in America the aver- how they walk through a magne-
we have seen in the last 7 years; we age price of a gallon of gas is now over tometer and they didn’t hear. Do they
have Americans stranded once again in $3 for the first time in years. In my get any recourse?
the Middle East, being held hostage; we home State of California, Mr. Speaker, No, they get a letter.
have a border unsecured, with fentanyl the average price is over $4.50, and in Mr. Speaker, you may have set a
coming across, increasing by 300 per- some parts it is as high as $7. record tonight for trying to control the
cent. Every city in America is a border Mr. Speaker, when I listened to the House. Maybe they don’t like hearing
city now. White House, I thought they would be what is in the bill because they haven’t
b 2130 concerned. They said it was good, peo- read it, but I think, regardless, Mr.
We have Putin with a pipeline, but a ple should pay more. Speaker, the American public has a
President who tells Americans no. We The pain is being felt beyond the right to hear it.
have a President who looks to OPEC to pump, too, Mr. Speaker. When families Mr. Speaker, I will tell you this: I
produce more, not American energy. turn on the lights or heat their home don’t care how many times I am inter-
Mr. Speaker, another area where this winter, they are expecting the rupted. I am not going to stop until the
President Biden and Democrats in Con- price of heat will be 54 percent higher. American people hear it.
gress are failing is in the energy crisis. Mr. Speaker, when we are back in Mr. Speaker, I know the Speaker
The American people want to afford these Chambers next year, I will won- says we have higher standards. I am
gasoline, afford to heat their homes, der how somebody on a fixed income just hoping to see them.
and enjoy the upcoming holidays to- chooses to pay their heating bill or It also isn’t funny for Californians
gether. maybe go cold throughout the night. like Scott Daniel, who runs Young’s
But what are they going to have? The energy crisis we face today is Commercial Transfer in Porterville,
The most expensive Thanksgiving in devastating for working families. California. Scott told me that higher
the history of America. God forbid you Every dollar spent on gasoline is a dol- prices are making it hard to stay in
have to drive for Thanksgiving because lar that isn’t spent on groceries or business. Scott says, Mr. Speaker, ‘‘My
you are going to pay more. other essential goods. company alone will burn around 3 mil-
Americans don’t need their govern- And yet, the reaction from this ad- lion gallons of fuel this year. And with
ment spending billions of dollars to ministration, who kneecapped oil and fuel as expensive as it is right now,
subsidize car chargers or parks for the natural gas production by canceling that adds millions of dollars to our bot-
wealthiest people in the country. new pipelines and freezing new lessees tom line, which makes it really hard to
Mr. Speaker, it is not just Repub- altogether, when asked if the United stay in business and keep this going.
licans who warn you. Mr. Speaker, States would increase energy produc- More importantly . . . it’s immediately
even JARED GOLDEN on November 17, a tion, the Secretary of Energy told going to hit all of your food at the gro-
Member of the Democratic Party, said, CNBC, ‘‘That is hilarious.’’ cery store.’’
‘‘If you’d told me a year ago that the Let me tell you, Mr. Speaker, that is Mr. Speaker, that is why your
second-biggest piece of a signature bill not funny to the American public. That Thanksgiving in America is going to be
of this Congress was $280 billion in tax is not funny. They expect more from the most expensive.
giveaways to millionaires, I’d have told their leaders. They expect their leaders The President talks about a world
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
you the Republicans were in charge. to look out for them, not Washington where every nation plays by the same
‘‘Proponents have been saying that and one-party rule looking out for rules, but when it comes to global
the BBB taxes the rich. But the more themselves. elites, he makes sure the rules he ap-
we learn about the SALT provisions, Go watch the video for yourself. It is plies to us don’t apply to them. That is
the more it looks like another giant just a few seconds. It perfectly cap- how socialism works. You see, they
tax break for millionaires. tures the Biden administration’s in- build up the bureaucracies. They spend
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6623
more than they spent during World Mr. Speaker, in the late seventies, we sive unneeded stimulus has left Ameri-
War II. It creates inflation, creates were beholden to OPEC. Today, Mr. cans worse off, it is their inaction
supply chain problems. Speaker, we have a President who begs along the southern border that has left
b 2140 OPEC. Mr. Speaker, in the late seven- our country less safe.
ties President Jimmy Carter told us You see, Mr. Speaker, it wasn’t just
By the way, those who run society, the heater had to go down because the Americans left behind in Afghanistan,
get ahead; while those who make soci- price is going up, and we needed to ex- it was billions of dollars of our mili-
ety run, are pushed back. pect less as Americans. Mr. Speaker, tary equipment.
Republicans know there is a better today the White House laughs if you Mr. Speaker, do you realize that the
path. Instead of wasting the energy po- ask them what their plan is for Amer- Taliban has more Black Hawk heli-
tential in this country, we want to un- ica to become energy independent and copters than two-thirds of the NATO
leash it. We don’t want to build up gov- lower gas prices. countries? More than Australia? Mr.
ernment, we want to build up Amer- Mr. Speaker, in the late seventies, we Speaker, do you realize when Bagram
ican families. were concerned about the Soviet shut down and 5,000 of some of the
Instead of killing good-paying jobs, Union, of the buildup in Europe. Today, worst human beings escaped, Mr.
we want to create them. Instead of can- Mr. Speaker, Russia is building up Speaker, do you realize by the Biden
celing the Keystone Pipeline, we want along Ukraine. They have more money administration opening up our border,
to complete it. Republicans will make for more soldiers because they got a more than 160 countries of people have
America energy independent again new pipeline while America was denied. come across that border?
through innovation so working fami- Mr. Speaker, after the 1980 election, Mr. Speaker, they don’t have to wear
lies have affordable, abundant energy. those problems went away because you a mask or be fined. They don’t have to
So the answer won’t come as you will no longer had one-party rule in Wash- be tested. The government actually
have to pay more. What they will hear ington, D.C. You had policies that pays them for a trip somewhere in
is they will pay less and have more for didn’t talk about building up the bu- America.
themselves. reaucracy. You had policies that un- b 2150
You know, I just mentioned Scott shackled what held back the American
Daniel, the owner of a commercial Inaction on the southern border.
worker. When those policies were en-
transportation company, who talked Mr. Speaker, almost every single Re-
acted a decade later there was no
about how high prices are hurting his publican on this side of the aisle has
longer a Soviet Union. There were no
ability to do business and deliver been to visit the border, almost more
longer two Germanys. The Berlin Wall
goods. But that is not the only way than once.
had collapsed. The shipyard workers of Mr. Speaker, I heard the President,
Democrat policies are making it harder Poland understood. They knew that
for businesses to survive. who has been in office more than 40
America was more than a country, that years, say he drove by El Paso one
Another is a labor shortage. Walk America is an idea.
down any Main Street, if the crime is time. But when we went to the border
Thirty-two years ago, one million
not too bad for you to do it, or a city earlier this year, after one-party rule
students went to Tiananmen Square.
avenue in America, and I guarantee in Washington, that changed by execu-
They built the Goddess of Democracy,
there will be help wanted signs. Ask a tive order.
Mr. Speaker, that looked just like the I can wait, Mr. Speaker. They can
waiter how many shifts she or he does Statue of Liberty. They put it directly
in a week, and I bet they are covering finish their conversation. You can fin-
across from the portrait of Mao. They ish.
for someone else because they are understood the greatness of America. Don’t lower your mask, you will get
short-staffed. Ask if they had to take Who doesn’t remember that man stand- fined.
anything off the menu because the res- ing in front of the tank when China Mr. Speaker, I know you hold the
taurant can’t afford to find it anymore. was rolling in? He stood in front of gavel, but I heard from your side of the
I bet they have. This is what our small that tank. When the tank moved to the aisle tell me when to speak, where to
businesses are dealing with. As a right, he moved to the right. When the look, and what to do, and interrupted
former small business owner, I know tank moved to the left, he moved to many times.
these conditions aren’t sustainable. the left. Then he climbed on top of that I heard your Speaker talk about a
And, Mr. Speaker, if Democrats just tank. I cannot tell you his name, Mr. higher standard. Mr. Speaker, I am
cared to listen, they would know that, Speaker, because I doubt he is alive. waiting to see it.
too. Instead, the Democrats’ idea of an They respected America. They knew Are you going to laugh, too, Mr.
economic plan is to punish citizens who what America stood for. Speaker?
are producing for our country and Mr. Speaker, now we have a bill that Mr. Speaker, I know your side of the
working to support their families while will bring more ships from China to aisle has no problem removing people
rewarding themselves and others for America because it will give them an from committee. I wonder if people
staying home. incentive. keep talking they should be removed
Americans don’t deserve to bear the Mr. Speaker, I hear your party talk a from the floor.
brunt of policies pushed by one-party lot about a Green New Deal. Ninety Mr. Speaker, when we traveled to the
rule in Washington who will never feel percent of all those are being built in border in February, we watched some-
the effects of them and who will re- China. So you are taking the hard- thing we have never seen before. We sat
ceive a solid paycheck every month earned tax dollars of Americans, you and we interviewed a new facility that
even if they show up to vote or not. are shutting down the policies you just was built, and it is built in the ca-
Joe Biden’s Presidency has often don’t like, the energy you don’t care pacity that it would never be filled. It
been compared to Jimmy Carter’s Pres- for, and laying those off while making hit a record that day. And we inter-
idency. He has proven that comparison the gasoline prices higher and taking viewed the families and asked how long
wrong every step of that way. That their tax dollars and shipping it to they had been on the road. They said
comparison now is unfair to Jimmy China. And you are creating a greater ever since President Biden told us to
Carter. inflation, Mr. Speaker. One-party rule come.
Mr. Speaker, when you study the his- for 1 year. As we sat with those brave men and
tory of America in the late seventies Mr. Speaker, if there is good news for women of our border protection, we
and in 1980, Americans were held hos- America, it is less than a year away. It watched what they had to do, the job
tage in the Middle East. Today, we is less than a year away. And I tell you, they were doing day in and day out, the
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
have hundreds of Americans being held America, help is on the way. History conditions, when COVID was rampant
hostage in Afghanistan. repeats itself, and, oh, it is going to re- and nobody being tested. And we went
Mr. Speaker, in 1979 we had inflation, peat itself big next November. up along the line, against the wall.
taxing of every American. Today we Mr. Speaker, while the Democrats’ Mr. Speaker, this is important. I
have inflation we haven’t seen in 31 action on our economy such as think people should listen, and I will
years. antiwork welfare programs and mas- show you the point why.
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H6624 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
As we talked to the border agents, crossings between the months of Feb- the armed services on both sides of this
they told us they are seeing something ruary and October under Joe Biden aisle. I have never watched Members
they have never seen before, where peo- than in 2018, 2019, and 2020 combined. work so hard to get the American hos-
ple would rush the wall. So everybody So when somebody asks me what does tages out of Afghanistan to only be
would go there, then they would come it mean if you have one-party rule for shut down by our own State Depart-
the other way, the cartel, bringing 1 year, you get more illegal crossings ment.
fentanyl across. They said they had simply from February to October than Mr. Speaker, I want to tell you a per-
never seen anything like it. you did in 2018, 2019, and 2020, all com- sonal story. Mr. Speaker, I picked up
And I asked them—I listened to the bined. the phone one morning when this first
Vice President. One-party rule; one What do you think is going to happen started, and I called the regular num-
year. And I sat and I talked to the bor- after the billions of dollars you spend ber to the White House. I said I would
der agents. They told me of the border in this bill providing amnesty? That like to talk to the President about
cities that had to close their schools number will look small to you. what is happening in Afghanistan. The
because of the cartels coming through Mr. Speaker, but I am sure some peo- White House recently called and want-
and shooting; of the ranchers who are ple will say let’s wait to see what the ed to know if it was really me. To the
having their houses burned or their CBO says. So when the CBO comes President’s credit, he called me back.
grandchildren kidnapped. Then they back and tells you you got millions I said: Mr. President, I know you are
said something so shocking, I had to more, it is okay; we will still vote. trying to hold this deadline for the
ask them twice. Let that sink in. What is the Biden Taliban, but what about our allies?
You see, I heard the Vice President administration’s reaction? To now con- What about those from the U.K. and
say, This is just a Central America sider paying illegal immigrants $450,000 France who fought side by side, not be-
problem. I said, Is that really what is per family, an action that President cause their country was attacked, but
happening? Oh, they told me people Biden admits would incentivize more because we were attacked?
were coming from 160 countries. They people to come over illegally. He told me he wasn’t going to budge.
said they just caught people on the ter- Mr. Speaker, when we tell our chil- I said: Mr. President, there are thou-
rorist watch list. dren’s children about this night, we sands of Americans who are held there
I came down and we did a press con- that can’t get out.
will tell them that is where their fu-
ference. In the press conference, I men- He said: Kevin, no, no. The number is
ture went. When they ask us why did
tioned that we had caught people on much smaller.
they pay such high taxes, we will re-
the terrorist watch list from Yemen. I said: Mr. President, what is the
mind them about this night, because
Do you remember the USS Cole, the number?
we built up our bureaucracy.
American Navy ship that was bombed? Oh, it is just smaller.
Mr. Speaker, you are actually cele-
Or maybe you need to refresh your I have watched the President look
brating this bill.
memory. It was recently. America in the eye and tell us he would
You know the U.S. Embassy that was b 2200 not leave until every American is out.
overtaken? No, I am not talking about That is more than some of the 9/11 What do you say to those Americans
back in Iran in 1979. I am talking about victims received. Think about that. who are still stuck there? The last
the comparison to today. And as I said Mr. Speaker, my friend STENY HOYER time we felt like this, Jimmy Carter
that to the American public—I respect said so proudly, he mentioned today was President.
all of you, you come here because you ‘‘our children’s children.’’ How do we Mr. Speaker, what does it say to
want to legislate; I expect you would explain that those who were killed on those Gold Star families? Mr. Speaker,
be shocked, too, that you would prob- that fateful day of 9/11 received less I had one in my office, a father whose
ably call me up, What can we do? You than those who came across illegally? daughter wasn’t even supposed to be
want to protect your constituents. I It is okay. I will be here a long time. there but volunteered. She was an elec-
know you do. Mr. Speaker, I have to apologize to
Mr. Speaker, there was a Member of trician. Just days before, you see
you. I think I am upsetting people on photos of her holding a young child.
the Democratic Party on the Intel
the other side of the aisle when I tell She told her sister: I am going out in
Committee, tweeted, said I was lying,
them what is in the bill. They just front of the wall because you can’t be-
said he gets the same intel as I do be-
yelled at me that they are leaving. I lieve it. Someone needs to be there for
cause I am on the Gang of 8. Inter-
apologize. Mr. Speaker, nobody on this them.
esting, when I put the facts out—I
side of the aisle wrote this bill. She wasn’t supposed to be out in
don’t know, maybe the mail is slow—I
I thought that was going to be dif- front of that wall.
never once heard him apologize. Or
worse yet, I never once heard him say, ferent, Mr. Speaker, because I took That suicide bomber that was locked
How can we stop it? How can we stop President Biden at his word. I took him up in Bagram who never should have
it? at his word when he said he was going gotten out—and that we never should
I didn’t even see an amendment to get COVID under control. Mr. have shut down—killed 13 of the finest
added to this bill—think about that for Speaker, unfortunately, more Ameri- Americans we know. Do you know
one moment, for the American public. cans have died this year than last year what this bill does? Nothing for them.
You are spending more money than we under COVID. It gives more money to an illegal per-
spent to end World War II. You are hir- Mr. Speaker, the $450,000, that is son who crossed this border. I am
ing 87,000 IRS agents, not one Border more than some of the 9/11 victims re- sorry, Americans expect more. Our pri-
Patrol agent, not one new dollar. ceived. It is more than the next of kin orities should be different. These peo-
You are providing money for am- receives in insurance to those 13 Gold ple risk their lives every day for us.
nesty. You are providing money, Star families of those killed by a sui- Just let that sink in, to your children’s
$450,000, for people who came here ille- cide bomber, who was in the prison at children.
gally, and you are taking it from Bagram. One-party rule for 1 year has brought
American hardworking taxpayers. But Mr. Speaker, I watched in disbelief as us inflation we haven’t seen in 31
you do nothing to stop those on the President Biden said he would do noth- years; gas prices are the highest since
terrorist watch list from coming across ing different. I watched in disbelief, the last time President Biden was down
this border. Nothing. Mr. Speaker, when he had a press con- at the White House; a Thanksgiving
There has been nearly 1.7 illegal bor- ference and told Americans it was safe that is going to cost you more than at
der encounters at the southern border to come to the airport. In less than 30 any time in your life.
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
since President Joe Biden became minutes—you were on that conference A border where there are 1.7 million
President. And our border czar, Vice call, too, Mr. Speaker. The Secretary encounters, a border between February
President Kamala Harris, still has no of State and Joint Chiefs said, no, it and October that more people have
plan to support our Border Patrol. wasn’t safe to come to the airport. crossed than 2018, 2019, and 2020 com-
Now, let’s put this in perspective. Mr. Speaker, there are many people bined—Mr. Speaker, the closest the
There has been more illegal border who have served this Nation, served in President has ever been to the border
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6625
in 42 years is to drive through El Paso. serve on the Permanent Select Com- I know it is not cheap. But I am willing
Mr. Speaker, the Vice President is the mittee next term. Because America to make that offer.
czar of the border. needs to be protected. These patrol members along the bor-
This isn’t a Republican or Democrat For anyone who thinks they are not der bear the brunt of dangerous poli-
issue; this is the safety of this Nation. a border city, just look up how many cies. While the Democrats act like
What do you think is going to happen deaths you have from fentanyl. Let me there is nothing going on, Texas Mayor
to that border when you provide a bil- tell you where fentanyl comes from. It Don McLaughlin told us, Mr. Speaker,
lion dollars in amnesty? What do you comes across that border, but it comes just a few months ago, that nearby cit-
think is going to happen when you re- from China. ies are expected to see an inflow of mi-
ward people with $450,000? Mr. Speaker, let me tell you another grants much larger than the size of the
Where do you get the money? From story. I have a friend who serves in the towns themselves.
the hardworking taxpayers of America Senate. Right before COVID he was on He said, ‘‘We’re not equipped in our
who have less to give. Do you know a codel with other Senators, and he area to handle this. Our resources are
what? They are going to have to give was sitting and having a communica- strapped as it is because of the pan-
more because you are hiring 87,000 IRS tion—maybe you have experienced this demic.’’
agents to come after them—1.2 million as well—with a military general in the The mayor said his own town will try
more audits. And half of all those 1.2 Chinese Communist Army. to quarantine COVID-positive migrants
million are going after Americans who Do you know what that general said in hotels. But when they come back to
make $75,000 or less. to him? check on them or bring them food,
That is what you base this entire bill America, you are weak. You are some of the migrants are gone.
weak, America. You are weak because That is just not here, Mr. Speaker.
on. That is what you waited for the
you believe in God and you take When we departed Afghanistan, a lot of
CBO to tell you, how much money can
fentanyl. people got on that were never searched
we get from them.
Fentanyl has increased 300 percent or had gone through any process. We
How is that possible? The payments
only because the border is not secure. put them on military bases in America.
for illegal immigrants are just the lat-
There is no city in America that is Some just depart. Some people have al-
est data point in a much larger trend of
safe. This is deadly. They have handed ready been arrested for crimes they
failures on this border, cheered on by
the border over to the cartels, committed.
leftwing activists. President Biden and We heard from our constituents who
Vice President HARRIS have presided unleashing these monsters onto our
were stuck in Afghanistan who said
over the greatest series of border secu- people. They compromised our national
they went to the airport because they
rity blunders in American history. security.
watched the President tell them. And
Mr. Speaker, if 160 different countries Answer me this question, Mr. Speak-
the Taliban grabbed their papers, tore
had people come across that border il- er: If somebody is on the terrorist
them up, and shot at them. Or they are
legally, if we have caught people on the watch list—and Mr. Speaker, they en-
hiding in the halfway houses, and the
terrorist watch list, if a suicide bomber tered our State of California. They
State Department denied just letting
got out of Bagram in 1 week and killed weren’t together. They came on dif-
them get across the border so they can
13 American soldiers, do you think ferent days. And do you know, right
get out.
they know how to get into America? now, if you are a Member of Congress Aside from the health risks, these
Do you think they know where to go? and you ask them: How many more you circumstances create physical risks for
Maybe they have to go at night. They got? innocent bystanders. There are not
have a better chance now because they They don’t want to tell you, just as
enough officers or agents to handle the
have night goggles that we had. They they don’t want to give us the number
intake and regular patrol, so the issues
have Black Hawk helicopters. The of how many Americans are still stuck
are spilling onto the streets.
Taliban has more Black Hawk than there. They are hoping if we don’t pay Now, I am sure in your committees,
two-thirds of our NATO countries. attention anymore, we will forget. I Mr. Speaker, as you went through this
They have more than Australia. promise you this: we will not forget, bill, as you knew you were going to
In that phone call with the Presi- and we will not stop. spend more than at any time in Amer-
dent, do you know what he told me? Here is what the National Border Pa- ican history because the Chief of Staff
Oh, Kevin, we are going to have a lot of trol Council President Brandon Judd to the White House—and many times,
leverage with the Taliban because they told us, ‘‘This administration says it is Mr. Speaker, people refer to him as the
are going to need help running their just Central American countries, but in prime minister—said, ‘‘It’s twice as
country. just one week in the Yuma, Arizona, big, in real dollars, as the New Deal
Why don’t you tell that to the hun- sector we have seen people illegally was.’’ You must have thought some-
dreds of Americans who are still there enter from countries like Egypt, Rus- where when you saw these statistics, it
trying to get out? sia, Armenia, Georgia, Haiti, Niger, is okay, we have so much money, let’s
Every time there is a Member on this Portugal, and Uzbekistan. . . . There is give them some and help those border
side of the aisle—because they care no better time for them to come into agents.
about their constituents, they try to our country than now.’’ I am sure somebody raised that issue,
get that American out—the State De- I didn’t think Egypt and Russia were did they not?
partment attacks them. You try to in Central America. They must have been voted down be-
criticize them. They risk their own Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer cause it is not in the bill. But whoever
life. this invitation: We have Thanksgiving raised their hand and said: Let’s spend
coming. We are both from California. $1 billion to give people amnesty, that
b 2210 Why don’t we invite the Vice President made it in.
Mr. Speaker, even in our own hear- to come down to the border with you The only thing I question, Mr. Speak-
ings, I respect greatly anyone who and me both, and let’s take a tour. er, is why did you stop there? Because
served in uniform, and you have some And while we are there, let’s go to there are going to be billions more
tremendous Members on the other side the Port of Los Angeles and Long coming.
of the aisle who have. I have watched Beach and talk about the supply chain. You were able to do in one-party rule
them question the Secretary of State Let them see that these ships that are in 1 year just between February and
and still not get an answer. waiting and coming in when they un- October more than everybody has been
Mr. Speaker, that Member on your load, they go back empty to pick up able to do in 2018, 2019, and 2020 com-
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
side of the aisle who sits on the Perma- more from China. They don’t load bined.
nent Select Committee on Intelligence American products. Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if that is
who said I wasn’t telling the truth that Now, it may take a little while to get what you talked about, building bigger
we are catching people on the terrorist from the border of San Diego up to bureaucracies, but this bill does it.
watch list and haven’t done anything Long Beach, so we may have to stop to Mayor McLaughlin said that they
about it since. I wonder if he should get gas. I will split it with you because had about two to three car chases a
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H6626 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
week back in 2019, then none for a few Russell Johnson, it is remote, and he And now you are providing more
weeks. Now it is every single day, gets little service where he lives, mak- money for them to come, less agents
roughly 10 to 12 high-speed car chases ing it a prime place to illegally enter there, and it is just a spiraling effect.
per week. He says, ‘‘It’s escalating. the country. You know, between inflation, gas
We’ve had houses broken into, we’ve This is what Russell told me, with prices, the border, crime, there is a
had to put our schools on lockdown be- the way things are right now, we don’t common denominator; one-party rule
cause they’re armed out in town near let our kids play outside by them- in Washington for 1 year.
the schools. When that happens, then selves. They can’t play outside by U.S. Border Patrol members from the
we have to pull all of our officers out themselves. southwest division of the border alone
on a manhunt.’’ This isn’t Chicago. This is on a cattle saved 4,920 lives in 2019; 5,071 lives in
Mr. Speaker, how would you like to ranch. There is no telling who they FY20; 12,833 lives in ‘21; and 836 in FY22
represent a city where every single day might encounter while they are out so far.
there are roughly 10 to 12 high-speed there. Why don’t we pass a bill to honor our
car chases? Mr. Speaker, I am going to invite Border Patrol agents? Why don’t we
I remember on the news when there Russell Johnson to come to D.C., and I bring them here to Washington? Better
was one, the whole Nation would want to invite anybody on the other yet, why don’t we go to them?
watch. They don’t even put them on side of the aisle that votes for this bill, It is our job to secure the border. You
because they are every day. and I would ask you to take his ques- are spending trillions of dollars. You
But where are they running by? And tions. I would ask that you point out in know what you are spending money on?
it is not just a car chase, just a cop this bill where does it protect his chil- Not to build the wall. You are taking
chasing them. It is a cartel with weap- dren as an American? taxpayer money or material they al-
onry. They are going by schools in I don’t think you will argue that you ready have there and paying them not
America. are going to cost him more. You see, to build it.
In America they have to shut down the interesting thing is I am okay pay- So Russell Johnson’s children can’t
American schools because you opened ing taxes if they go to something. play. That is what you are taking tax-
the border. You do nothing to protect Richie Neal says it is going to build payers money for.
it in this bill. You only incentivize a bigger bureaucracy. Not along the That is why you are hiring more IRS
more people to come. border it is not. It is tearing down agents to audit more Americans to get
Did you put any money in here for walls. Schools are closing. more out of them, because you don’t
car chases? You know, for the first time in the trust that they are honest.
Did you put any money in here for country, Mr. Speaker, this generation There is not a day that doesn’t go
the schools? doesn’t believe they will be better off by—just this week—of a 5-year old
I hope you put money in here for than the generation before them, and child all by himself. You know, on one
drug treatment because, Mr. Speaker, this bill almost guarantees it. They are of the trips down to the border, I was
there is sure a lot of fentanyl coming guaranteed they are going to have to talking to this Border Patrol agent,
across that border. pay more and get less. and I was asking about her job. You
b 2220 I will be sure and let you all know of could tell the stress that she has felt to
that date. You are celebrating the bill. work under these conditions, the
He told us recently that just last threat of the cartel, the crime coming
spring they had to put schools on Celebrate with Russell and tell him
where he is better off. across, the families, the children.
lockdown 48 times. Think about that. And she told a story of three young
Your child goes to a school—just in Just think for a moment that, in
America, children can’t play outside on children. She saw them in the distance.
spring—48 times they are on lockdown. The oldest was five, the next was three,
Do you think your child feels safe? Do their own property for fear of their
safety from cartels and traffickers. I and the other was 11 months.
you think your child is learning? I said, where was the parent? There
What do you think those parents are am not talking about the city where
was no parent. What crowd were they
going to think when they hear about you defunded the police. I am talking
with? No, they were all alone. If she
this bill? about remote cattle ranches in a place
had not found them, they would not
I don’t think they could just leave I think every American dreams they
have lived.
the Chamber. I think they will prob- can retire one day, on a ranch. So let this sink in. You are encour-
ably want to come to a school board Build back. We are going all the way aging more of them to come. People
meeting. Maybe the FBI will inves- back to the westerns, I guess. People don’t make it all the time. People are
tigate them for terrorism because they have to fend for themselves. raped. Human trafficking happens be-
care about their children’s safety. I can’t believe that is America. I
cause they don’t have the money to
One-party rule in 1 year has brought don’t accept it. I know we are better
pay the cartel. Then when they come
America to this. Our children’s edu- than that.
to America, they have to work to keep
cation and lives are being interrupted I know some of you are mad at me,
paying them. You are incentivizing
nearly 50 times in just a few months. think I spoke too long. But I have had
that. And while you incentivize that,
That is in America. enough. America has had enough.
you make Americans unsafe.
When personnel and resources are Not only do communities at the bor- I don’t know, Mr. Speaker, if it is
pulled from one area to another along der deserve protection, the selfless men something that the administration
our border communities, it leaves fam- and women of our Border Patrol de- does in the Cabinet or everywhere
ilies like Russell Johnson’s in danger. serve more support to do their job. I when they are asked a question—I
You see, Russell lives on a ranch with don’t know if you have been down to know what the Secretary of Energy did
his family in New Mexico, just miles tour with them. If any of you are going when she was asked about how to lower
from the border. and you want to make it bipartisan, I prices; she just laughed.
I am proud of my family. My family will go. I know a lot of people on this
emigrated from Ireland and Italy. They side of the aisle will go with you, be- b 2230
worked on the railroad, and they be- cause we think it is an American prob- But I remember, Mr. Speaker, when
came a cattle rancher. It was a tough lem. We want to solve it together. Vice President KAMALA HARRIS was
life. My grandfather got married, lived But when someone comes across the asked about the border. She has a very
with his brother on the ranch, but the border and you have children—it is in- definite laugh. Do you know what her
ranch didn’t make enough to pay for teresting, Mr. Speaker, when it became answer was? Well, I haven’t been to Eu-
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
both, so he went back to working on one party with 1 year, you changed the rope, either.
the railroad. definition, they are no longer cages. It Well, she could go to Europe because
To make money as a rancher, they is still the same place. But it is the people from Europe are coming across
never had to worry about a cartel, they border agents who have to go off the that border, too. She could go to Rus-
just had to worry if it rained enough, border and inside to care for them, so sia, Egypt, Yemen. She could go
or if the cattle price was high enough. the border is less secure. around the world.
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6627
Now, speaking of safety and security, right? Just outside? You are to the unacceptable. Instead, you are enabling
as hardworking Americans are being east. The LAPD budget is set to be cut it.
ignored by Democrat politicians, let’s by $150 million, a decision triggered by The Biden Justice Department
talk about law enforcement. Because, widespread protests. dropped nearly half of the cases against
Mr. Speaker, I remember on this floor, My son just moved to San Francisco rioters in Portland. Can you imagine
in the last Congress, the chant ‘‘defund with his new wife. Do you know what that? Half the cases.
the police.’’ I remember what this city he told me? He had to buy a car when We all watched it, burning buildings.
looked like. I remember one night he moved up there. He said: Dad, I am I remember one of my constituents
looking out on the rioters. I remember excited. I got car insurance. I didn’t came to testify. Mr. NADLER and JIM
the Speaker yelling about having the think that was a big deal. But my JORDAN were there. Do you know why
National Guard at the Lincoln Memo- street is the safest street in San Fran- she had to testify? Because her brother
rial. cisco. I got a little savings. was killed protecting a Federal court-
That spread across America. I can’t Do you know what people put on house. He was protecting a Federal
keep count of how many people die in their windows in San Francisco on courthouse in a riot.
Chicago in one weekend. In Min- their cars? ‘‘Please don’t break the b 2240
neapolis, where George Floyd was mur- window again. Nothing is inside.’’
dered—and he shouldn’t have been— You know, if you want to walk to a You know what is worse?
when they decided to defund the police, There are people in the administra-
Walgreens in San Francisco, it is
it was on the ballot 2 weeks ago on tion at the highest of offices that gave
closed. They can’t make money be-
Tuesday. It failed. money to bail these people out. I won-
cause people just come in and take.
Mr. Speaker, you and I have known der why Russell Johnson worries about
That is how you build up bureaucracy.
each other a long time. We are com- his kids playing outside.
That is how you cut police.
petitive. I know you didn’t get to Con- Biden also supports a bill passed by
In Austin, the city council voted to
gress your first time out. We beat you the House Democrats which would cost
cut $150 million from the police depart-
that first time, but you came back. police departments hundreds of mil-
ment. Mr. Speaker, you and I have seen
You are competitive. You work hard. It lions of dollars.
a lot of businesses in California leave
is not my job to give you political ad- It is not a Democrat, Green Party, or
and go to the city of Austin.
vice. I don’t know if you have seen the Republican idea. American people want
A good friend of mine, Elon Musk,
numbers. It is nothing we are doing. safe streets. I don’t care if you live in
built a car company when others were
You know, 110 polls have been taken the poorest neighborhood or the
already developed. They said he
since 1981. Never, never have they re- wealthiest. You want your kids to be
couldn’t do it. He risked his wealth to
flected what they reflect today. able to walk down that street.
do it. He is pretty dang successful. I can’t forget that video of those two
But it is not just that. You see, we A State rep from California—I can’t
all have the pleasure and the honor— young kids in New York walking while
use the language he used on the floor
less than 13,000 people have ever had one man is shooting another man.
because it started with an f—tweeted They want law and order.
this honor to represent in this Cham- at Elon because he wanted to expand
ber, the debates that have taken place Is it any surprise they overwhelm-
his business, so he left. ingly rejected defunding the police
here. And on the biggest of items, it is Do you know what California does?
always bipartisan. The President prom- when it was on the ballot?
They raise their price. They tax you The only place that passes defunding
ised he would bring that back. There more. They cut their police.
hasn’t been one time, not one time. To- police is on this floor. But if you let
When Elon got to Austin, he said if the people vote, they say no.
night is not bipartisan. He didn’t work you cut the police and make crime like
with anybody. Why? They want to be safe. That is
the place he just left, he won’t stay. not rocket science.
You are spending the most money
In Baltimore, the city council elimi- In the liberal enclave of Seattle—
ever spent in a single bill in the history
nated $22 million from the police de- former home of the so-called Capitol
of America, the greatest Nation ever
partment. New York City wants to Hill Autonomous Zone. Remember
on the face of the Earth, and your chil-
take $1 billion from the police budget. that, where they took over entire
dren’s children will read it was one-
And here is the kicker: Many Demo- streets?
party rule for 1 year.
Mr. Speaker, I watched the American crats don’t think that goes far enough. Why did they do it?
voters in States that are blue States These efforts to defund the police Because they were building a bigger
overwhelmingly, from Seattle to Min- send a dangerous message that public bureaucracy. See, they didn’t believe in
neapolis to New York to New Jersey to safety is not a priority in Democrat- private property. They celebrated it,
Virginia, reject exactly what is in this run cities. Worse, these attacks on law just like you celebrate this bill—the
bill. enforcement demoralize officers and voters elected a Republican as a city
Look, it would be beneficial for me to dismantle police departments. Retire- attorney over a self-described police
cheer you on, but I care too much ments are surging. Recruitment is apologist. Think about that. Seattle.
about this country. If you turn back sinking. Look, we are in the only occupation
now, you might be able to survive. But My father was a first responder. He where on a given day we learn how
I know what will be more important. wasn’t a police officer; he was a fire- many people like and dislike us. Come
America could survive. man. My uncle was a fireman, too. I did next November we will know. That is
But I know you are down on this 3 years as a seasonal firefighter. I 435 seats. We are all competitive. We
floor, just 10 minutes debate on each wanted to be a first responder, but will work in all sorts of districts trying
side, and the bill just came. I know my there was a nepotism clause. I don’t to capture that majority.
friends on the other side of the aisle think my mom thought I was success- I don’t spend much money in Seattle.
are mad. I know some of them have to ful because I wasn’t a firefighter. There are not a lot of Republicans
get to Puerto Rico for a fundraiser. These are people who 1 year ago we there. But it doesn’t matter when it
I am sorry. That may be one of them. celebrated on this floor. We touted comes to safety. Every American wants
It sounds like a couple of them. them. We touted the first responders, it except, Mr. Speaker, in this House.
This is too important to America. It the medical community, the checkers. In Minneapolis, where violent crime
is a moment in time. Why? Because they went to work in the has surged over the past year, voters
At a time when violent crime is spik- middle of a pandemic. They looked resoundingly rejected a ballot initia-
ing nationally, cities under Democratic after people. And after we got one- tive to defund the police. In Min-
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
rule have or are seeking to defund their party rule in Washington, a lot of them neapolis.
police departments. It is just another are now fired; they are no longer he- These results give me hope. I want
move lacking common sense, logic, or roes. the American people to know, one-
leadership. President Biden and Democratic party rule will not be in one year.
In Los Angeles, I represent a little of leaders in Congress can send a message It is clear to most Americans that
it. I don’t think you have any of it, to local officers that this lawlessness is defunding the police is wrong. The
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H6628 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
American public is getting this issue But that is not in here. water. Not only do we win; we dry off
right despite the Democrats’ best ef- So, Mr. Speaker, what are you going before second and third arrive.
forts. to tell the children’s children? So in the next year we think, you
While our inflation rises, chaos en- You got a really big bill, and we can’t know, that is a little unfair. The other
gulfs our southern border, and crime protect you. But you have got a lot of countries got destroyed a little more
overruns our cities, Xi Jinping is good products you can buy made in than America. Why don’t we put a tax
watching us and laughing. China is China. on ourselves to help the others? So we
being rewarded with the Olympics. I General Milley described the launch put a little weight belt on. We still
didn’t get to get on the Zoom with as a near-Sputnik moment. Mr. Speak- win, but we don’t swim as fast.
President Biden and Xi Jinping. But er, I imagine you and I weren’t alive in As the years progress, last time we
did any of us hear? Sputnik. But you know what happened had one-party rule in 2010, you made
Did he ask China why won’t they be after that? this stimulus bill, so you put a 50-
more open or let our scientists in to America acted as one. They knew the pound weight on. So now, when we
see where COVID started? threat of the future. So when someone jump into the pool after this bill, we
Did he ask Xi Jinping about his on the floor that night that focused, don’t win.
promise to stop producing fentanyl? they said our children’s children would Everybody says, why don’t you swim
Because it has increased by 300 percent. remember this night. We thank them like you used to? But the real question
Did he ask Xi Jinping why does he for that. is, why don’t you take off the weight
continue to fly his jets over Taiwan? We won the Cold War, not because we belt and let us compete?
And how much technology have you rewarded people who came here ille- You are adding another 50 pounds of
stolen from us today? gally with $450,000. weight to America, and you are en-
Just this August we were reminded of We won that war because we invested hancing China. I promise you this:
the seriousness of the China threat in the future. China is not adding 87,000 IRS agents to
after Beijing launched an advanced We won that war not because we go after their people.
hypersonic missile into orbit. I know built up bureaucracy, but because we All you have to do as an American is
you all don’t serve on Armed Services. unshackled our private sector. spend $28, and the IRS is going to
I don’t. And you are not on Intel. But We won that war not because we kept knock on your door. Don’t think it is
hypersonic is a first-strike weapon. having inflation. We ended one-party only going to happen to those million-
When President Biden was Vice rule and had the biggest economy we aires.
President, they cut R&D for have had since the last time Repub- You are a family struggling, making
hypersonics for America. You see, licans were in power and passed the tax $75,000, and you used to take that vaca-
China has tested more than 200 cuts. tion every year. But with inflation and
hypersonics, America about 9. We have gas prices and heating oil going up, you
b 2250
a missile defense. But you see, tell your kids you can’t. But we built a
hypersonics don’t go high. They go five The sad part, Mr. Speaker, is Presi- bureaucracy, so they are going to
times the speed and low. You don’t dent Biden could have done nothing. knock on your door.
have 30 minutes to calculate where Part of me feels sorry, Mr. Speaker, for This bill, if you measure all the
they are. all of you. Because had he done noth- things it does in it, it rewards million-
You know what China does, too? ing, I don’t know if we could win in a aires. It adds 1.2 million new audits by
They build replicas of American air- year. But because of his actions, Amer- the IRS, and half of that goes after
craft carriers in the desert. I don’t ica is weaker. people making $75,000 or less.
think it is to teach their sailors. I When Russia launched Sputnik, the I know so many people like that. I
think it is to teach their Air Force how United States responded with a sense worship with them, play sports. Our
to bomb them. of urgency and a show of industrial kids interact. I don’t know how I tell
I am not sure, President Biden, if you force. So when China did this them I work in a body that celebrated
asked Xi Jinping, why did you lie to hypersonic, what did we do? You are doing that to them. I know what their
President Obama when you built those passing a bill that is incentivizing struggles are.
islands and said you wouldn’t companies to leave America to be in You know, it is interesting. These
weaponize them? China. The global minimal tax? You people work hard. They dream of the
I don’t know if you watched the re- make more going to China. That is American Dream, and you just put hur-
ports of the number of nuclear weapons what your children’s children will dles in front of them. You put strug-
in silos that China is building not far learn. gles. Families are going to have to
from Afghanistan. I am not sure we can But don’t worry, you can celebrate. move in together.
keep track of it anymore because we You are going to have a big bureauc- But I am going to tell them what you
don’t have Bagram. We don’t have Af- racy in America. Remember, that is did. You helped everybody making
ghanistan. But we are going to look what the Soviet Union had. $800,000 to get that electric car, that
over the horizon. I don’t know how. We But, today, the Biden administration Tesla.
don’t even have light goggles anymore. has responded with weakness, not I still live in the very first house I
We left them for the Taliban. strength. They actually said that stiff ever bought. I can’t afford a Tesla. The
Hypersonics are unpredictable. They competition between China and Amer- people on my street where I live, if
are fast, and they are nuclear capable. ica is welcome. I would like competi- somebody’s car breaks down, we work
If deployed correctly, they can beat our tion, but why don’t we have it on a on it together. We help one another.
missile defenses. level playing field? Why is China given I remember driving home just the
Now, earlier in this conversation I an advantage? other day, and there was a young fam-
told you, Mr. Speaker, what the Chief Now, I was in a classroom a little ily. It was the grandmom, the mom,
of Staff of the White House said, This while back, and we were talking about and the daughter. She pulled over at
is bigger than a bill we spent on the California, the Golden State where ev- the side of the entrance to my neigh-
New Deal. erybody wanted to be. Why is Toyota, borhood. Her hood was up. Her car was
So there must be some money in here why is Tesla, why is everybody leaving overheating.
for hypersonics. I know you don’t want California? Then they got into the as- I pulled up. I asked her if she needed
to protect the border, but you surely pect of America. How did China rise? help. She wasn’t sure what was hap-
want to protect us for our defense, do Well, a student asked me, and I asked pening. I said: Wait, I am going to go
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
you not? Because it is going to lose her if she played a sport. She said she right over to my house. It is a block
$800 billion in 5 years. was a swimmer. I said, well, let me try away. I will get some antifreeze. I will
But you can tell your children’s chil- to answer your question with an anal- get a towel. We will open this up, and
dren that the reason why you borrowed ogy of swimming. Picture America at a we will fix this.
the money is so they can be alive in swim meet after World War II against I come back, and as I go to work on
America and not in China. every other country. We jump into the that car, another neighbor comes by.
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6629
She is a grandmother. I have known You know, I admire everybody with a there. Look at the slaves they make
her for years. She gets out with water job. My first job was at the Quick and work there.
bottles to give to the family. My Handy Market, and people brought bot- I am proud Abraham Lincoln was the
daughter had made cookies. I brought tles back for deposit. And my job, in first Republican President. And I will
cookies for the young child in the 110-degree temperature, was to sort tell you, at night I look at these two
back. those bottles. It gave me a sense of paintings, and I wonder in moments
My other neighbor works in the oil worth. and time what if Abraham Lincoln was
business. But do you know what? He You may all admire Europe, you may not assassinated.
won’t be my neighbor long because, admire building big bureaucracies. I Malice towards none. There would be
you see, you shut down his business. He know you even thought of a plan in no Jim Crow laws.
told me he has to move. He doesn’t live here to tax people just on what you Mr. Speaker, I would love to debate
alone. His brother lives with him. He thought their world was worth. France Jim Crow one day, because another
has roommates, and young kids, just to did that, and it failed. portrait just hanging down from Lin-
afford to live there. Mr. Speaker, we cannot become a so- coln is Joseph Rainey, the first Black
He pulls up. He gets some antifreeze. cialist country. They have all failed. American to get elected to Congress.
And everybody works together to get There is a reason America should lead, He was a Republican.
her back on her way. but we cannot lead if we are weakened. Mr. Speaker, 60 years later, the first
That is the American way. It is not A lot of you have been to my office. Black Democrat was elected to Con-
building up big bureaucracies or rais- In my office, I keep portraits. gress. You see, Joseph Rainey was a
ing gas prices because the White House I don’t know if you know this, but I slave and broke free and came back
will tell you that is a good thing be- wasn’t born a Republican. My family after the Civil War and got elected in
cause you can afford a Tesla. We are were all Democrats. If anybody ques- Charleston, South Carolina. We de-
going to take taxes from you so some- tions me about my beliefs, I left what feated that original sin. But Joseph
body who makes $800,000 can get a tax I heard at home because I knew there Rainey wasn’t the only Black Repub-
break to buy a Tesla. I can’t even af- was something better. lican elected. More started getting
ford to test drive a Tesla, and Elon is There are two leaders in this Nation elected. And in the South, we had a
one of my best friends. that still inspire me to this day, and I competitive Presidential election. But
How is the competition going? For am proud of who they are and what the Democrats said they would recog-
the Chinese Communist Party, it is not they did. And if you come to my office, nize the Republicans if they moved the
much of a fight. You see, Xi Jinping is you are welcome. We can disagree, but Federal troops out of the South. And
not going to abide by the term limits we should sit and talk. The problems in when they did, the Democrats won the
of his constitution. But we should trust America are too big. We can find com- States and they enacted Jim Crow
him. We should just compete together laws—one of the darkest moments in
mon ground. We would have found com-
because when he told President Biden our history. Had Abraham Lincoln not
mon ground here, if we were welcomed.
he wouldn’t weaponize those islands You see, I have this portrait of Abra- been assassinated, we would not have
and he did, oh, Xi Jinping, you old to wait until the 1950s for the civil
ham Lincoln. It is in black and white.
friend, you. rights.
A friend of mine painted it; his name is
When he builds those aircraft car- Abraham Lincoln, if he was here
Penley. It is large, too. It is in black today, he would tell you—and Mr.
riers in the desert that look just like and white for a reason.
the American aircraft carriers, that Xi Speaker, I believe he would look to
The greatest challenge ever to our
Jinping, he just likes the Navy. your side of the aisle, he would say, be
Constitution was the Civil War. While fearless when it comes to votes; don’t
When he tells Australia, when Aus- you are celebrating this bill tonight,
tralia asks where did COVID come blame others.
you are doing it on the exact same You see, when Lincoln was elected in
from, we are sending our nuclear weap- floor we debated the Thirteenth
ons right down to you. November 1860, he wasn’t sworn in
Amendment, or the day that would live until March 1861. It is late, so I am not
Lithuania opened a consulate for Tai-
in infamy, or the civil rights. sure if my math is right, if it was seven
wan this week. You see, Lithuania has
Mr. Speaker, the best thing you say or nine States that left the Union be-
a long history of big, controlling coun-
is we are going to build a bureaucracy. fore he was sworn in. Never once did he
tries next to them that try to push
You know, it is the anniversary just blame Buchanan.
them around. But they know what free-
this week of the Gettysburg Address. Mr. Speaker, today, I heard our bor-
dom is.
Could you imagine being President of der czar blame Trump for the border. I
Do you know what Taiwan is? Tai-
the United States; you are not the key- don’t know, in the short months of one-
wan is that young man who stood in
note speaker. The keynote speaker party rule, they have broken all
front of that tank 32 years ago, who
speaks for 2 hours. I think I have al- records. He would tell you this, though:
craved the freedom of speech, who un-
ready broken that record. I am sorry if Your children’s children, do not put off
derstood America is more than a coun-
you are missing Puerto Rico’s fund- tomorrow what you could do today.
try.
When I look at this bill, it angers me. raiser. The debate of slavery didn’t start in
We are so better than this. You are There weren’t a lot of words, but this the 1850s. That original sin started at
spending so much money. Never be- is what Lincoln said, believe in the creation of our country. Our fore-
fore—think of our history books. Think exceptionalism of America. Why? Be- fathers thought it was too divisive so
of how we honor the Honor Flight. cause we are conceived in liberty and they said, put it to the side. Hundreds
Think about the Greatest Generation we are dedicated to the proposition of thousands of their grandchildren had
that sacrificed so much. that we are all equal. He goes on to to die. We don’t have that same debate
We spent less to feed Hitler, Musso- say, but if we fail, ‘‘government of the today, but you got a big debate on this
lini, and Japan than you are spending people, by the people, for the people floor.
tonight. We spent less, but it cost us shall not perish from Earth.’’ Do not blame others when inflation
lives. And you are celebrating it. You We were not the world power at that is higher. Do not blame others when
are celebrating it when inflation is at a moment, but he knew that America your children’s children ask you, why
31-year high. was more than a country, that when we did you make the bureaucracy so big,
work for and by and of the people, we but keep the borders open, and em-
b 2300 will always lead. There is no other na- power China? Why did my father and
Gas prices, Thanksgiving, a border tion in the world that is conceived in mother lose their jobs? Why can we not
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
that, in a few months, breaks every liberty and dedicated that everybody is go downtown? Because there is no po-
record of the last three years com- equal. lice to protect us. Or that Russell
bined. And not one dollar is going to So when you spend this new green Johnson’s grandson or granddaughter,
protect the border or make our chil- deal money and you send it to China to who can’t carry on the legacy of a gen-
dren’s children safer for the next gen- buy the solar panels and the batteries, eration of a rancher. They will point to
eration. look at the slaves they make work this night, this time, and this moment.
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H6630 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
The other portrait that hangs behind Reagan looked at everything in ger than life. He is so stoic, I bet he has
my desk is Ronald Reagan. You see, there, and he thought it was a pretty never lost a battle.
Ronald Reagan was a Democrat, too, good agreement. He paused for a mo- Do you know what history tells us?
but taxes became so high, you know ment. It did nothing for those who At that moment in time, Washington
what he did? He stopped working. He were in the Gulags. It did nothing for had only been a loser. He had never
took the incentive away. Lech Walesa and the shipyards of Po- won a fight. But google this painting to
Sound familiar? If you pay people land. see if I am right. You have your
more to stay home, they will stay He did something that most politi- phones, and you are welcome to do it.
home. If you take away the work re- cians couldn’t do. He got up and I don’t want you to look at Wash-
quirement—this bill now creates 90 per- walked away. Had Reagan not at that ington. I want you to look at who is in
cent of all Americans qualify for the moment walked away, the Berlin Wall the boat.
child tax credit. But what did you do? would have never collapsed in the So- The second person is wearing a beret.
You took away the requirement to viet Union. He is Scottish. The person in the green
work; hurting the small business. Then I tell you that story because I hope directly across from him rowing in the
you took away the Social Security. five of you listen. I hope five of you exact same cadence is African Amer-
You might as well take more American walk away from this bill. It doesn’t ican. You come down the boat and in
taxpayer money, because you got all bring more freedom. You cannot have the middle is this person in red. They
these IRS agents but you are giving it peace without freedom. look like they are the strongest. It is a
to people who are not Americans. Do you know what is interesting? In woman. In the very back is a Native
Reagan would tell us this—Reagan is modern history, there have been two American.
in color and Reagan is smiling. U.S. Presidents to win the Nobel Peace Mr. Speaker, I cannot tell you if that
diversity was in the boat that night,
b 2310 Prize, Jimmy Carter and Barack
Obama, not Ronald Reagan and not but to this young immigrant who had
Mr. Speaker, I think at moments of lived in America, that is who he be-
the times Reagan would talk to my Donald Trump after the Abraham Ac-
cords. lieved would be in the boat.
party. We are not perfect by any The second to last person was a
means. He would tell us: If you believe All elite press criticized Reagan, but
he knew his principles. Reagan didn’t rancher, a farmer. I don’t know if he
your principles bring people more free- was related to Russell Johnson or not,
dom, be happy about it. People will have one-party rule. Speaker Tip
O’Neill would spend time with him, but the same occupation. He has his
wonder what you are drinking. I am a hand across his face. You see that it is
happy conservative, but not tonight. would talk about the challenges. When
they talked about the challenges, they the hand of the 13th person nobody
Reagan would tell us this—and he sees.
would talk to this entire body. He invested not for more illegals coming
This artist was saying: Here we are,
would tell us, Mr. Speaker, peace with- across the border but to compete
not a country but an idea. Having lost
out freedom is meaningless. Think against Russia.
every battle before us but willing to
about that for one moment: Peace Mr. Speaker, inside my conference
risk everything on our holiest of nights
without freedom is meaningless. It is room, I have another portrait. It is a
for the idea of freedom, here is a hand.
human nature that we crave peace, but big one, 8 by 16. It is a portrait of
Would you get in and join us?
we only attain it with freedom. Washington crossing the Delaware. I wish we hung that portrait in here.
Reagan came into office after Jimmy You all know that painting, do you I wish we would look at that portrait,
Carter made inflation high; Americans not? This is a replica. that when we brought bills to the floor,
were held hostage; gas prices, you Do you know who painted that paint-
we were all rowing together.
could only go to the station on odd and ing? It happened Christmas 1776. The I will tell you the challenge that
even days. He was happy and honored person who painted it wasn’t there that Washington faced that night. Our two
to be able to do it. People had written day. He painted it from 1850 to 1851. He biggest challenges for the future are
us off. wasn’t even an American. He was a the debt and China. This bill makes us
There were two Germanys. I remem- German immigrant who lived in Amer- a loser on both. Mr. Speaker, it spends
ber, in my high school, they had one of ica, Emanuel Leutze. He lived here for more money than we spent for the en-
those Hallmark shows about the Soviet about 10 years, I believe, and then he tire World War II. It sends our jobs to
Union invading us, ‘‘Red Dawn.’’ Peo- went back to Germany. China. It does nothing to stand up to
ple on my street built bomb shelters He knew the same thing that Lincoln them.
because there was a Sputnik moment, knew about America, that America is I know this: It is not too late. It
much like a moment we just had. That more than a country, that we are an might be late into the night. Mr.
is what our top military agents tell us, idea, an idea not of more bureaucracy Speaker, Members on your side of the
Mr. Speaker. but of more freedom. aisle, they have staff. They can get a
Reagan had the same dilemma. He His talent was art, so he thought: I new plane to Puerto Rico. This is too
was in his second term, and I believe he will paint this painting to inspire my important.
was in Iceland, sitting directly across country to have a revolution based
from Gorbachev. They didn’t take staff upon the freedoms of American democ- b 2320
into the room. Mr. Speaker, he started racy. There are moments in time in his-
negotiating a nuclear reduction. He He gets it historically incorrect. If tory that change the course of this
was getting most everything he want- you look at the painting, it doesn’t country, and they have happened on
ed, then Gorbachev asked him one look like the Delaware. It looks like this floor—the 13th Amendment and
thing: Would Reagan end the SDI pro- the Rhine. He is German, so we will the day that will live in infamy. We
gram? give him a break, right? were bombed by Japan, and it almost
Remember what the SDI program He puts Washington in a rowboat. wiped out our Navy. That Congress
was at that moment? It was made fun Historians will tell you he probably didn’t turn around and say, Let’s take
of, Mr. Speaker, by the Democrats. It crossed in a Durham boat. He puts 13 away work requirements, let’s give in-
was called Star Wars. Today, it is part people in the rowboat. Why? Thirteen centives to people who are coming ille-
of the Iron Dome. Colonies. He only shows you 12 faces. gally, and let’s spend nothing on our
Mr. Speaker, you might remember If you ever look at the painting—and defense; but let’s make it bigger than
the Iron Dome. Your party actually please come to the office. You can any other bill we have ever had, and
defunded that along with the police. bring your constituents. I don’t have to let’s make sure nobody on the other
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
Reagan didn’t hesitate. He didn’t ask be there. side works with us. Now we are going
Congress; he didn’t ask the Senate. He He has Washington in a ceremonial into war, so we should send a letter to
said, no, I will not end the SDI, but uniform, standing up in a rowboat in OPEC and to Putin because he can
what I will do is I will share with you the middle of winter with his hand on lower our gas prices and help us out.
so the world could be safe. Gorbachev his chest. If you look at our Founding This is that moment. We can have
declined. Father, you would say that man is big- that courage. We can have that ability.
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6631
It is not too late. Aside from But, Mr. Speaker, do you ever wonder what could America have done before
hypersonics, the Pentagon is esti- and start to think, you have these nu- then so that they would not have lost
mating China could have 1,000 nuclear clear weapons, you have hypersonics, their lives?
warheads by the end of the decade. and then you invade Taiwan. What could we have done before the
Last year they built 38 gigawatts of Do you think that may keep more rise of Hitler or Mussolini?
coal-powered plants. That is one large people at bay? Where could we have made that in-
coal plant every week. I don’t know. When Putin took Cri- vestment?
I know a lot of Members on both mea, he said he took it because no one Then I thought to the future of us as
sides of the aisle went overseas. Mr. said he couldn’t. He has built up, along policymakers. History repeats itself. I
Speaker, I know Speaker PELOSI has the road, Ukraine. watch China steal our technology. I
been able to go to Europe three times Mr. Speaker, does it make you won- watch them test hypersonics. I watch
in the last 3 months. I don’t know if it der after Afghanistan where Americans them build a new coal plant and shut
is a farewell tour. But if it is, I want a were left behind, that China flies more ours down. This isn’t like the Soviet
T-shirt. of their aircraft over Taiwan? That Union. We are not going to outspend
Mr. Speaker, we have been limited on China did not show up at the global them.
what we can build nuclearly because of warming party? When I asked the Speaker: Could we
our agreement with Russia. China There are so many things to be proud create a committee with an equal num-
makes no qualms about what they of about our country. I am worried ber of Republicans and an equal num-
want to do with Taiwan. If you wonder, about the environment. I wish every ber of Democrats to just focus on
look at Hong Kong. My first trip ever country was like America. We lowered China?
to China was back in 1995. Some of you She thought it was an interesting
our CO2 emissions. We didn’t mandate.
have probably gone with the American idea. I called Steny, the majority lead-
Do you know what we did while we
Council of Young Political Leaders. er. I presented the same idea to him. I
lowered them?
They pick five Republicans and five spent 8 months on this.
We became energy independent. And do you know what, Mr. Speaker?
Democrats under the age of 40 to go to But do you know what happens when
China to interact to find their leader. They agreed.
you shut down an American pipeline
I remember sitting in a room with a and you allow a Russian pipeline to go? b 2330
former U.N. ambassador, and he told You make the air dirtier. American So we agreed. We picked the number
me they became Communist because natural gas is 42 percent cleaner. of members, and then they came back
they had always been conquered by Do you know what else comes with to me and said, no, we had to shrink it.
somebody else. There used to be signs American natural gas? That is okay. That is okay. I just real-
reading no children or dogs in American jobs. American kids can ly want to have this happen. Because
Tiananmen Square. He said, We have pay for college, they can buy a car, and you know Xi Jinping isn’t going to
no fear of being conquered now, so I they can buy a house. I don’t know if in abide by the term limits; he tries to
don’t know what binds us together. today’s America they can afford to fill wait everybody out, Mr. Speaker.
When I went to Tiananmen Square it it up. We got so close; we invited the Wash-
was moving for me because I remember But you are going to restrict Amer- ington Post reporter in to interview
that moment in time. There are two ica. Mr. Speaker, I have heard a lot of the members who were going to be on
parts in history I wish I could have people brag about this bill. They are this committee. They pre-interviewed
been a part of: I wish I could have been really happy about the Green New it so we would be able to introduce it.
in Tiananmen Square and I wish I Deal. I don’t know if many read the The night before that moment, like the
could have been there knocking down Chinese paper, they are happier. Be- time in the boat, I was proud of Con-
that Berlin Wall. cause that is where you are sending gress. We were going to do this to-
There was a sign there in Tiananmen gether in one of our greatest chal-
Americans’ hard-earned taxpayer dol-
Square, Mr. Speaker. It had two mo- lenges.
lars. And if you don’t get enough, the
ments: the number of days and the I got a phone call. They said, we are
IRS agents are going to pound on their
number of minutes until Hong Kong not doing the committee. I said, what
door.
came under their control. They said are you talking about? We spent 8
Meanwhile, President Biden is acting
that for 50 years nothing would change. months at this.
like there is no competition at all.
Mr. Speaker, after unleashing COVID You see, COVID had hit, and they
Today, on a few important issues Biden
on the world, it all changed. thought it might give a political ad-
has folded on, he bailed out Huawei and
But do you know what happened vantage if we focused on China. I went
refuses to investigate the origins of
prior to that, Mr. Speaker? ahead anyway and started the China
I am not sure; I think Hong Kong had coronavirus or hold China accountable
for its actions. Task Force. And in that China Task
about 8 million people. Even on rainy Force, all the ideas that we came up
Saturdays 3 million of them would Mr. Speaker, I want to tell you an-
other story. This is a personal story with, two-thirds of them, were bipar-
show up and bring umbrellas. tisan.
Do you know what else they would with your leadership and ours. Many of
Mr. Speaker, we talk a lot about the
bring? us had the pleasure and the honor of
future. If this body changes power, we
American flags. They knew the exact going to the 75th anniversary of D-day.
will have a committee that focuses on
same thing as Abraham Lincoln, Jo- I think every American should go and
the future of America and China. We
seph Rainey, and Frederick Douglass: read the headstones with the ages of
need to plan.
that America is more than a country, the thousands upon thousands of Amer- This is going to do a lot of damage to
that it is an idea. They stood out in the icans who all died in a short time- us. I hope five of you change your
rain knowing what China would do for frame. Look at the Stars of David and mind. And you know what? I am going
freedom of speech but not for more bu- crosses. to welcome you to serve on it, too.
reaucracy. I traveled with the Speaker, NANCY I want one American policy. I don’t
The moment China came in, did we PELOSI. As we flew in on a helicopter want to look out in California and see
do anything? and we went down the path with the all those ships anymore. I want to look
We are going to buy more batteries doors open, we wondered about those at California and see all those ships
from them. They use slave labor to cre- brave men. You still saw the guns of leaving with American products going
ate them. the Germans. They had to land, and to other countries.
If you question where COVID came they were sitting ducks. They had to We need to hold them accountable.
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from, they say they are going to send climb up, and they were just being shot Why would the world stay silent after
their nuclear weapons to you. Mr. one after the other. They were so the millions upon millions who have
Speaker, I don’t know if we know how young. But their children’s children died from COVID?
many nuclear weapons they have be- are proud of them. Would it not raise a question if China
cause we can’t fly over them much When I looked at those headstones, I shut down their domestic flights but
anymore. looked at the Speaker, and I wondered: kept their international open?
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H6632 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
Welcome, Madam Speaker. I am just but he felt he lost his father that Madam Speaker, it is different today.
getting geared up. It is good you sit. night. For all of those Democrats, Madam
Now, Republicans are offering a bet- You know who he was most mad at? Speaker, that would not vote for the
ter approach; instead of cooperating China. I never heard him cuss until bill unless they got the CBO report
with China from a position of weak- that night. He just felt it was so unfair. that told them it paid for itself—I
ness, we need to compete from a posi- Don’t we all? watched some of them on TV—I feel
tion of strength. Don’t we remember being in this sorry for them. I don’t know how they
Madam Speaker, you are new, and I Chamber, struggling in our own com- will face their constituents again.
am not sure you have been listening. I munity, trying to find PPE just for our But what about those 21 Members,
hope you were. hospitals? You know, some of the Madam Speaker, in your Caucus that
I would think, Madam Speaker, why brightest moments of America hap- sent a letter to the Speaker that said
don’t we have a full Congress briefing pened at that time. We watched people to take out the IRS agents. I guess if
on China’s hypersonics? risk their lives. We watched what you send a letter, it is okay to vote the
Why don’t we do one thing? Why America does best, ingenuity, invest. opposite. I don’t know. Where I grew
don’t we pause this bill? If this bill is We don’t have one vaccine, we have up, in my family, that is not what we
going to spend $5 trillion, more than three. were taught.
any other bill we have ever spent, more You ask anybody in the world, do The CBO came back. In 5 years, it
than what we spent to end World War they want a vaccine from Russia or costs $800 billion, and that is after you
II, why don’t we pause this bill, have a China? They want America’s. We did have played all the tricks with all the
briefing of all of us together about that that. We did it faster than Fauci ever dials where you don’t pay for every-
Sputnik moment that our top military said we could. thing.
tells us? You know what else we could do? We The difference today is our debt is
And why don’t we rise to the occa- could do hypersonics, too. We are not larger than our GDP. When that hap-
sion? Why don’t we do what America going to gain on China if they tested it pened before, we weren’t fighting for a
did at that moment, with our chil- 200 times and we are at 9. Green New Deal; we were fighting to
dren’s children? Witness one Germany? Madam Speaker, hypersonics is a save America and the world. The
Why don’t we pause and let’s see if first-strike weapon. minute World War II was over, it
we ought to spend the money there? Look, I was a smart aleck growing dropped.
You see, with one-party rule, the last up, and I got in a few fights. But the Madam Speaker, I think you are
time you had it, you cut the funding one thing I will tell you, in a school- fighting to make this country a social-
for hypersonics. Now, I don’t remember yard, I never won one that someone got ist country.
the debate, and I don’t know, Madam to punch me five times before I could Margaret Thatcher said it well: You
Speaker, if somebody on the other side swing. But that is what your children’s are going to run out of everybody else’s
said, by this cut, our children’s chil- children are going to learn tonight. money. The difference now, though, is
dren will be excited about this tonight. They could strike us before they could you have inflation. What is so sad is,
But I do know where we stand today, defend us. you were warned that would happen. I
more than 12 years later; in a weaker Are we weaker based upon what hap- know you don’t want to listen to me. I
position, more dependent, and more pened in Afghanistan? Oh, yes, we are. know you don’t like me. That is okay.
vulnerable. If you don’t read China’s papers, you But Larry Summers worked in two
You know what that means if we know what they told Taiwan the next Democrat administrations. He serves
want to do something different? That day? See, America won’t be there for in one of the most prestigious univer-
means strengthening our military, re- you. sities in America. He is partisan, par-
building our economy, and regaining I was speaking soft, Madam Speaker, tisan, but he is an economist.
our position of leadership in the world. but I wasn’t imitating President Biden. Before you passed that $2 trillion—
I don’t know how many of you are I imagine the papers in China will and remember what happened. It is
historians, but if you study the entire read, soon after this bill passes, that similar to this bill. It was not bipar-
world, there have only been two na- America is going to ask them, the Chi- tisan. What is so unusual, when COVID
tions that have had the largest econ- nese to buy our bonds so they have hit, all of those bills we did, we did it
omy, China and America. You know, in greater control over us; that America together. But when January 20 hit,
the last year, ours grew faster than is going to be weaker; that they did when it was one-party rule, all
them. But they are catching us. After nothing to stop the flow of fentanyl changed. We were no longer welcome.
this bill, they put a weight belt on it. made in China coming to America. So we warned you, but you thought it
You gave an advantage to them. was politics.
What if we did this, too? What if we b 2340 But then Larry Summers warned you
paused, and what if we, together, in- We cannot lose sight of the ultimate in February. You passed it anyway.
spired the rest of the nations in the goal. We will not allow America to fall Nine percent went to COVID. The
world and said, let’s not reward China further behind like the Biden adminis- school money, a lot of it didn’t last but
with the Olympics. Do you want to re- tration has. 2 or 3 months. Then we read all about
ward them? Madam Speaker, when they study these schools. They had too much
I will guarantee you their economy history, our children’s children, I am money. They were giving bonuses to
will be stronger after this bill. sure the chapter will read ‘‘One-party people who didn’t even work.
We can’t keep being nice. We can’t control for one term: The damage that You passed rules that said bills didn’t
let them continue to lie, to steal. was done.’’ have to go through committee. You
It also means delivering truth and There will be college courses. There made proxy voting. I remember the ne-
accountability when it comes to the will be people who are nominated to gotiation on proxy.
coronavirus. the Fed simply because they studied I remember, Madam Speaker, talking
There is not one in this Chamber the inflation that came back today. I to the Speaker and the majority leader
that does not know somebody who died don’t know about you, but if you study at the very beginning, saying: We will
from COVID. I was talking to a friend history, there is no easy way of getting never do proxy. It will destroy the body
last night. He is about my age, but he out of inflation. There is only pain. of Congress.
had these two mentors. They are older Don’t take my word for it. Just pick up Historians will tell you that. Even
men. They are farmers. He is a farmer. The Wall Street Journal and read the when the Confederacy wasn’t that far
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
And he had been calling them. He was story of Turkey today. away, we still met. August 24, 1814,
down looking for them; couldn’t find Madam Speaker, I know my friend, when the British burned this building
them. I never heard this friend of mine Mr. NEAL, has been here 33 years. He down, we still met. Through every pan-
get emotional. He said he just got a has to remember what inflation looked demic, we still met.
call back. One of them died from like in the 1970s, interest rates in dou- But what we thought was that, and I
COVID. His father is no longer alive, ble digits. disagreed, it was only those few people
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6633
who have respiratory problems. We are tion in 1993, and it was a shock in Vir- fore that election, after Virginia and
going to make it tough. Only a few peo- ginia and New Jersey, and in 1994, New Jersey, do you realize more people
ple are going to do it for a short time, something unheard of happened. Re- in America thought Elvis was alive
and they are going to sign a letter that publicans won the majority. than the stimulus created a job?
says they just can’t make it here. I should have known in 2006 that was If you look at your COVID bill, the $2
Madam Speaker, I was shocked when going to happen because in 2005 there trillion—there are other moments I
I saw a Member on your side of the was an election in Virginia and New have had in here. You know, I came in,
aisle. He must have been really fearful Jersey. Democrats won, and it flipped. and one of the most moving votes we
of COVID because he was on a boat. It In 2009, I was in my second term. I have ever had—I wasn’t here to vote on
looked like a vacation to me. was a deputy whip. I remember certain whether we went to Iraq or Afghani-
Madam Speaker, today, I got my moments. I didn’t know STENY HOYER stan, but I was here to vote about the
booster shot, my third shot. I have had at that moment. I respected him. I re- surge. And I came in when we lost the
COVID. I have had three shots. I went spected his years of service. I respected majority, and a lot of that had to do
down to see Dr. Monahan. I said, will I the leadership in which he served. with the continuing war.
have any side effects? I got my second I remember it like it was slow mo- I wanted to do something different,
shot the morning of January 6, and I tion. It was back when you could speak so I invited anybody who had an opin-
got the chills. I got the shakes that in the well. President Obama had just ion, that was opposed, that was for it,
day for a lot of reasons. I wondered if become President. We invited him to foreign ambassadors, and I remember
it was the best idea to get that shot our conference. He wanted to do a the ambassadors telling us, ‘‘We did
today. I took it anyway. I didn’t know stimulus bill, and I was proud of our not agree with you coming, but you
if I was going to be too tired. I might conference that day. President Obama better not leave it this way.’’
have a little headache now. treated us with respect. We even met in And for anyone who serves in a
But this is too important. This is just HT5, where you meet now. body—and I served in the legislature
We got up one by one. I remember before I came—nobody can prepare you
too important. This is a turning point
KEVIN BRADY. The President said, ‘‘I
in our country. We are at a tipping for a vote like that. You know when
want to hear your ideas.’’ We didn’t
point because let me tell you what hap- you take a vote like that you are going
play political games. We gave him
pens: You cannot curb inflation with- to look a mother and a father or a hus-
ideas. And with respect to President
out devaluing the dollar or raising the band or a wife in the eye, and you are
Obama, you know what he said: That is
interest rate. We raised it high after going to have to explain why their
a good one. No, I am not going to do
the last time the Democrats had one- loved one gave their life.
that one.
party control in the late 1970s. But do I liked that. He said we were going to So I did not want the administration
you know what? It will cut all the work together. As he walked out, we to tell me anything. I was going to
economy, but we won’t be able to pay thought we were going to work to- come to this conclusion because I had
our bills. We have too big of a debt gether that day. Henry Waxman was to make the decision myself. I had to
now. the chairman at the time. He dropped look people in the eye. I voted for the
The Wharton School is an amazing the stimulus bill, as the President left surge that night. It was packed. It was
school. They would never accept me. us saying he was going to work with one of the first times I spoke on the
They studied this bill. You didn’t have us. floor. I remember calling home. I was
to wait for the CBO. You know it costs I used to spend my time down on the nervous.
$4 trillion. It also tells you it is going floor. I thank you for being here. I That April I went to Iraq, Afghani-
to lower our growth. know it is late. But I would spend my stan. A group of us, bipartisan, we
Only two countries in the world have time on the floor because most Demo- spent Christmas morning with General
had the largest economy. If our cur- crats didn’t know who I was, and some- Petraeus in one of the little amazing
rency is not the world currency, if our times I would sit over there, and I houses in there.
debt is too big, unfortunately, Madam would listen, so I could learn. And I remember that was bipartisan.
Speaker, what the majority leader said It is like slow motion, what STENY I remember respecting the other side. I
to start this out, that our children’s HOYER was saying. When that stimulus remember America coming together. It
children will remember this night, oh, came to the floor, it was a lot of was tough. You had just won the ma-
they will remember this night. money. It was a lot of money. He said, jority. The debate was about war. Men
We are a great Nation. We are excep- I don’t know if this will work, but I do and women were losing their lives, but
tional. This body has risen to so many know, you are going to have to go we didn’t think America should lead
occasions. But on the occasions they home and tell your constituents why that way. There were people on both
rose before, they didn’t do it with one you voted no, why you wouldn’t help sides of the aisle. You were in the ma-
party. them. jority. President Bush was still Presi-
If America asked me what went I didn’t want to be the party of ‘‘no.’’ dent, and we came to what was best for
wrong: one-party rule for one term. Di- So I remember sitting up in Eric Can- the future together.
vided government makes you have to tor’s office, and we would bring people. Then I remember the financial col-
find compromise. Brady was there and Camp and Lott. lapse. I remember being on this floor
Madam Speaker, when I came to this He said, The President meant well, but with TARP. For any of you that were
body, I came at a time in 2006 when Re- his own party won’t let him work with here, it was all packed. Do you remem-
publicans lost the majority for a lot of us. So let’s make our own bill. Let’s ber the chant? 100, 200, 300, 400, the Dow
different reasons. There were only 13 compete on the power of the idea. Jones going down. The Dow Jones, I
Republicans, the smallest freshman So we produced our own bill. We had think, went past 1000.
class since 1914, and that is when they outside score it, created jobs with less Ever since my days as deputy whip, I
enlarged this body. money, and 30 seconds before that have this philosophy, the first one to
I have made friends on both sides of gavel went down, I remember talking 200 wins on any big bill. Now that
the aisle. I believe in competition. I be- to two Republicans right here. Presi- proxy is here, it doesn’t work, but for
lieve in debate. But I believe in re- dent Obama thought he was going to those voting in here, if you get to 200
spect. get 60 Republicans to vote for it. He first, that is usually where it is going
Four years later, it was a big night in was literally calling Members back in to go.
Virginia and New Jersey. If you study the Chamber. At that moment, more than 1000
history, Virginia and New Jersey are That bill passed. It was popular. It is down, the noes were at 200. Then it col-
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off-year elections. kind of like your COVID bill when it lapsed, and the market went up a little
first passed. I don’t know if you looked more, only down maybe 800.
b 2350 at the polling today. This was early on Do you remember how big that was?
Madam Speaker, your party had had in that majority. The world’s largest economy on a fi-
power for a long time in Congress, for And I remembered the whole time nancial meltdown, and we both came
40 years. Before 1994, there was an elec- what STENY HOYER said. And right be- together. Because it was a big vote,
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H6634 CORRECTION CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
right? Do you know how much we spent are in America. I don’t want control Or what about those Members that
then? $800 billion. $800 billion. over you. I want to participate with said they could not vote on this bill
You are spending $5 trillion. While you. I want to work with you. I want to until the Congressional Budget Office
we have inflation. $800 billion was solve problems with you. proved to them what President Biden
enough to save the financial markets You know, people ask me what has was saying, that it didn’t cost any-
of America. We have got 10 million jobs gone wrong, and I will be honest with thing.
out there for people to work on. You you, I have spent a lot of time thinking Well, you know what, that letter is
are doing nothing for the border, noth- about the next Congress. How do we
back, and, no, it costs. In 5 years it is
ing for the children’s future when it heal this place? Mr. Speaker, if you are
going to cost you $800 billion. It is
comes to China. No incentive to go to all thinking of running again, for those
going to cost us much more. It is going
work. You are incentivizing people to who win, no more proxy voting. You
to cost us the rule of law.
come here illegally. You are are going to have to show up to work.
Mr. Speaker, America is more than a You are incentivizing people to come
incentivizing people to stay home and
country. We are an idea. Every single across this border illegally. We believe
get a check.
one here, except a few that are Native in the rule of law, but if you start a
I like to study history. Every great
American, came as immigrants. I have generation that breaks the rule of law,
society that has overextended them-
told you about the paintings in my of- you break down society.
selves has collapsed.
fice. I also have the papers from Ellis You are taking this money. How you
Madam Speaker, I don’t mean to go
Island of my grandfather, 100 years ago brag about how you pay for the bill.
back to what my friend STENY HOYER
this year, came at the age of 10 from
said, but tonight will be the night that You hire 87,000 IRS agents. You are
Italy. Giuseppe Palladino. He dreamt of
our children’s children—oh, I apologize, saying to America: We don’t trust you.
a new world. He knew America would
it is you back in the chair, Mr. Speak- be better with each generation. He You are adding 1.2 million more audits.
er. came, like many of your ancestors. One half of all of those audits are going
Mr. Speaker, may I ask you a ques- One of the greatest strengths in this after Americans who only make $75,000
tion? Did you get to take a bathroom country is the rule of law. Even in the a year or less.
break and I didn’t? But I understand. financial meltdown people still in- And you know what those Americans
It’s okay. vested in America. So many times are doing right now?
b 0000 when I was in graduate school, I would They are wondering if they can pay
do a SWOT analysis, strengths weak- for their gas this winter that goes up 50
Mr. Speaker, tonight will be the
nesses, opportunities, threats. You something percent. They are traveling
night of that tipping point. Tonight,
start with your strengths to see if they less because gasoline is the highest it
will be the night. Have you looked at are big enough to overcome your weak-
the market? Have you looked at the has been.
nesses. Are the opportunities big
numbers that just came back this week enough to overcome the future threats? And for our President to say he
on retail? We are still the largest economy in doesn’t know anybody worried about
You know what happens—please talk this world. But it won’t stay if this inflation, Mr. President, come to the
to the economists—if you supply all passes. grocery store with me because I will
this money in a tight economy, you are We have the greatest fighting force, show you the prices are rising every
going to create more inflation. volunteers. day. Just walk the streets.
Mr. Speaker, when I served at that If you are wealthy and you live in an- Or what is even worse, you are spend-
time, 4 years later, we became the ma- other country and you are sick, you ing more money than we spent to solve
jority. I had the honor and privilege still want to come here for your World War II, to win it. And you are
when my conference elected me major- healthcare. proud of it. You are championing it.
ity whip and majority leader. And I You still want to send your kids here
You do nothing for Russell Johnson,
know the frustration I had when you to go to school.
They admire who we are and what we the rancher on the border, whose kids
would do your motions to recommit,
have been. can’t even go outside to play. From
but I never once said I wanted so much
I talk about what made me a Repub- February to October more people have
control to take that away from you.
lican. I was in the sixth grade. I turn come across that border illegally than
I respect that you run for this office.
on the TV. I watch Jimmy Carter with 2018, 2019, and 2020 combined. Those are
I respect that your constituents elect
a sweater on telling me to turn the the numbers.
you. And what your constituents do is
they lend you power. They lend you heater down, and that the best days Americans are dying at unbelievable
their voice, so their voice needs to be were behind us, and that as an Amer- levels because of fentanyl. Where do
heard. When you shut out the minor- ican I had to accept less. That wasn’t you think that comes from? China
ity, you are shutting out millions of how I was raised. through Mexico.
Then I watched this other man, Mr. You heard from one of the mayors in
Americans.
Speaker, that came from my home
Now, I don’t know what the case was, these border cities. Just in the last
State of California. He went to the po-
but I remember talking to my fresh- year, 46 times the school had to be on
dium. He said no pastels. Fly that bold
man class in 2011, and I put up the 63 a shutdown because of the cartels and
color and go to that shining city on the
names of every Democrat that lost, Mr. the car chases. You do nothing in this
hill. I knew what he meant when he
Speaker, and they had two things in talked about that shining city. That bill for that.
common. They all voted for a motion was America. That was more than a You have the top military general
to recommit, and they all lost. country. That was an idea, an idea of tell you about the Sputnik moment
In the 8 years that we were in the freedom. It went beyond Maine, beyond with China when they did a hypersonic,
majority, we never lost one motion to California. I know you all believe that something we don’t have because the
recommit. is America. But under one-party rule, last time we had one-party rule with
Why would you change the course of under 1 year, that light has been all of you in charge, you cut
the history of this body to take away
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dimmed. hypersonic funding.
the voice of the minority? Our task should be to join together,
You are not hurting me. You are climb that mountain, and reach toward b 0010
hurting millions of Americans who par- that light. Five of you should rise up,
ticipate in the electoral system. Is that put the country first, and say no. Mr. Speaker, you have a Chief of
about control? Twenty-one of you signed a letter that Staff at the White House that many
I know our tempers flare, but I prom- said take the 87,000 IRS agents out of refer to as ‘‘the prime minister.’’ He
ise you this, Mr. Speaker, I will never the bill. It is still in it. says this is twice as big in real dollars
tell one of you you can’t look at me. Does your name matter? Does the as the New Deal. You got Members of
Even if you are saying something bad letter matter? You sent it to the your own conference that said Presi-
about me. You have a right to do it. We Speaker. You told her she had to. dent Biden wasn’t elected to be FDR.
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6635
We are better than this. How can you Mr. Speaker, one-party rule in 1 year one hearing we have had in the last
spend so much? When the financial has given us the highest inflation in 31 month to help those Americans come
markets were melting down, when years. And I know I said it before, yes, home. I don’t even know if someone
thousands of people were losing their we warned you from the other side, but would give us the number. But this is
jobs and we didn’t know if we could your own side warned you as well. what I do know. Republicans are not
still be the world currency, this body Larry Summers, serving two Democrat sitting back. There are a number of
came together and thought $800 billion administrations, begged you, told you Members who served in the military,
was enough to do the trick. We weren’t not to do it in February, but here we who sacrificed in the military, who are
in inflation. are. still helping their constituents and
Mr. Speaker, you already know from Mr. Speaker, the President, even in a others come home.
your past of passing trillions of dollars, town hall meeting on CNN, said he Mr. Speaker, and the saddest part
you created inflation. Now you are doesn’t know anybody that is worried about it is, we have to work with other
doubling down. The American people about inflation. I want to invite the countries. We have to go around our
have said it in so many ways. Enough. President to so many meetings. I want own State Department. This isn’t an
We don’t need more waste. him to go to the border with us. You image of a thriving Nation. It is the
Mr. Speaker, when you have infla- know, I know we come from different image of a country that is clearly on
tion, you either devalue the currency parties, and I know we fight in cam- the wrong track and on the wrong side
or you raise interest rates. You are paigns. But when the election is over, of history.
going to break America. We can’t af- America expects us to govern. There
are many times—I know the President b 0020
ford to pay our debt. We are going to
have to cut. hasn’t been to the border, but we sent Are we better off today than we were
Mr. Speaker, I will tell you this, and him letters, we have been there. We 10 months ago? No.
I will make this promise to you, if we will tell him what is happening. We Mr. Speaker, I remember STENY
are fortunate enough for the American will sit down. We will talk. He doesn’t HOYER. I listened to him. He started
public to trust us for a new direction, want to meet. I want to work with this off, he said, we don’t want to go back.
we will change the course. We will President. These problems are too big. He doesn’t want to go back when we
focus on small business. We will focus I took President Biden at his word didn’t have inflation, when gas prices
on the border. We won’t let runaway when he said if he became President, he were $2, when we were energy inde-
spending create inflation. would work with the other side. pendent, when in the last 16 months
Mr. Speaker, and we will trust you. Mr. Speaker, the American people not one casualty in Afghanistan, when
We won’t fine you to walk into your sent Washington, D.C., an unmistak- North Korea was not testing missiles,
place of work, because there won’t be a able message on an election day earlier when China hadn’t sent a hypersonic
magnetometer out there. We believe we this month: Our country has drifted around the world, when we had the
are going to work together. We believe too far to the left. strongest economy in the last 50 years.
bills will have to go through com- Mr. Speaker, if you study history, Mr. Speaker, I know there are people
mittee. One-party rule for 1 year has there was a moment in time like this; who got upset with President Trump’s
done so much damage. We will not let it was back in 1994. Again, it was a one- personality. As I travel the country
America fall further behind, like the party rule. You controlled it all. And today, Mr. Speaker, I hear of a lot of
Biden administration has. In a sense, when you controlled it all, your party people who want to take that vote
falling farther behind has been the wanted more control. They wanted back who like his policies, who under-
theme of Joe Biden’s Presidency in the ClintonCare. The country rose up. And stand policy matters.
first 10 months. As leaders, it is our re- at that moment in time, I remember We are not better off than we were 10
sponsibility to understand the position watching President Clinton tell the months ago. Do you know the dif-
American public the era of Big Govern- ference? Ten months ago, we didn’t
and condition our country is in. When
ment is over. have one-party rule in this city.
it is not providing Americans the op-
Mr. Speaker, where is that Democrat That is why the voters who could
portunity to meet their daily needs, we today? Because many of these Mem-
must fix it. vote earlier this month overwhelm-
bers, they serve 30, 40 years; they have
Mr. Speaker, we trust parents. I don’t ingly voted to send Democrats a mes-
been there with them. And they just
know if you heard, we introduced a sage. Mr. Speaker, that message was
championed, We got to make the bu-
Parents’ Bill of Rights. I never thought one word: Stop.
reaucracy bigger.
there would be a day that the Federal Mr. Clinton listened to the American In 2010, you didn’t listen—ObamaCare
Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, public. You know, this last election in 4 days. You are doing the exact same
would go after parents simply because was driven by intense disapproval of thing.
they went to a school board meeting, Democrat’s radical policies, absolute Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if Speaker
and lied to Congress about it. It took a chaos on the southern border, out-of- PELOSI finishes out this term. I know
whistleblower to come forward. control crime, record-breaking gas she made everybody vote on
Mr. Speaker, I never thought there prices, and inflation, a broken supply ObamaCare and 63 Democrats lost.
would be a day with gas prices so high the chain. Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if she will
that the Secretary of Energy, when Mr. Speaker, I know you care about be here after people vote for it. It could
asked for a plan of how to bring the the environment, and I know you are be the last term for them. The problem
prices down, to laugh. The Vice Presi- not far from Southern California. I will be that the damage will be done.
dent of the United States that was know you have seen those ships. You Stop overspending. Stop the war on
given the job by the President to be the see them sitting there for a month. working families. Work gives you a
border czar—I understand why he You see the pollution. You know what purpose; I don’t care what job you
moved it to her, because in his 42 years they are doing? They are dropping off have. Stop giving those who run our
of elected office, the closest he came to products from China and going back country more control over the lives of
the border was driving by El Paso—but empty. those who make our country run.
when she was asked, she laughed as Mr. Speaker, we got a failing edu- The election on November 2 this year
well. cation system, where some of the in Virginia, New Jersey, and across the
Mr. Speaker, these are serious issues, strongest leaders in your party say par- country, that should have been a wake-
not one to laugh at. The American pub- ents have no right in their children’s up call. Why did President Clinton hear
lic is not laughing. When it is not pro- education. I just can’t imagine that. it but not these Democrats? I don’t
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
viding Americans the opportunity to And, of course, the surrender in Af- know.
meet their daily needs, we must fix it. ghanistan. I know you cannot be proud Mr. Speaker, I don’t want to give po-
But that is not what President Biden of that moment either. There are still litical advice, but when President Clin-
has done for the last 10 months. That is Americans there. ton heard it, and he changed course
not what Democrats have done with Mr. Speaker, I don’t know—and I and said the era of Big Government is
this bill. could be wrong—but I don’t know of over, he got reelected.
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H6636 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
Washington Democrats obviously them. I am talking to the American stopped off at the Food Town Market,
aren’t listening to the American peo- people. my neighborhood grocery store that is
ple. Instead, in a desperate attempt to I have so much here, but I have a no longer there. At one time I worked
save face and appease their extremist, couple of other binders. I think it is at the meat counter. I went there to
leftwing base, Speaker PELOSI has important for the American people to cash a check.
crammed even more radical policies know how this bill works. When I got As I stood in line, something inter-
into a partisan bill that costs trillions done with the speech, I was able to col- esting had happened in California the
of dollars we don’t have for govern- lect all the amendments that Repub- day before. The Lotto started. In the
ment-run programs that nobody wants, licans offered that were denied. The last election, so the schools could win,
not even Democrat voters. American public should see what could too, we passed the lottery. It wasn’t
What the Democrats are proposing is have been in the bill, what could have the big lottery; it was just the scratch-
out of touch in the extreme. What we helped them. off. So as I cashed this check, I bought
have before us isn’t a social spending It is probably healthy, Mr. Speaker, two lottery tickets.
bill; it is a pathway to socialism. If you for all the constituents to know who Do you know what, Mr. Speaker?
don’t believe me, Mr. Speaker, if you voted how. I think that would be im- I was a lucky Irishman that day. I
listen to the majority leader and you portant. won the lottery—$5,000, the most you
listen to the chair of the Ways and The effect of this heat your home tax can win. Think about that for one mo-
Means Committee—what a prestigious would increase family heating bills by ment. In 1985 I am 19 or 20. On a Friday
committee that is. as much as $242 per year. I don’t know night, I just won $5,000 back when we
Mr. Speaker, Article I, Section 7 says if you think that sounds like a lot, but didn’t have inflation, and I ended up in
all tax reform starts in the House. Our put it in perspective. How much more San Diego 10 minutes from Tijuana.
rules say it all starts with Ways and I came home, and I took my whole
does it cost to fill up their tank of gas?
family to dinner. We went to the new
Means. It is interesting that your own How much more does it cost them at
hotel, the Red Lion. I was so proud of
Member, JARED GOLDEN, talks about the grocery store? How much less is
myself, I bought dinner. I could still
what you do in this bill. You go after their paycheck worth because of infla-
tell you what people ordered: Steak
people who are just making ends meet tion? It is not just this. As many as
Diane. My brother ordered dessert just
to give it to people who are making 90,000 jobs could be lost as a result.
to make the price higher. I gave my
$800,000 and millionaires. Do you know what it won’t do? Re-
brother and my sister each $100 bucks.
These are radical policies in a par- duce global temperatures by 1 degree. Do you know what I did with the ma-
tisan bill that costs trillions of dollars Mr. Speaker, $242 doesn’t seem like a jority of the rest of the money?
that we don’t have for government pro- lot of money for the elite liberals. For I put it all into one stock because I
grams that nobody wants. It doesn’t all those who make $800,000, you will believe in risk. But I also believe if I
work now, and it won’t work in the fu- love this bill because you will get a tax failed, government shouldn’t bail me
ture. In fact, as I said earlier, it will break for buying a Tesla, but only if it out. But if I was successful, they
make the problems we face as a Nation is built at a union shop and if your kids shouldn’t tax all my money. It wasn’t
much, much worse. Here is how. go to the most expensive colleges. because I was bright, but I made 30 per-
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if your I don’t know about you, Mr. Speaker, cent on my money in 6 weeks—not bad
other side left to eat, but I will buy but I went to junior college. I was for- for the market back then.
dinner if they want to stay. I think it tunate enough to start a small busi- We were coming to the end of the se-
is important. I don’t know that any ness, and I sold it to pay my way mester, so I decided I was going to take
have had time to read the bill. through college. a break from school. So I refinanced
Consider the energy crisis that Amer- You see, Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if the current cars I was selling, I took
icans are facing today: high gas prices you know my story. I grew up in Ba- my money out of the market, I went to
and budget-breaking heating costs. In- kersfield, California. I was the young- the bank, but they weren’t going to
stead of relying on American energy to est of three kids. My father was a fire- loan me anything. I wanted to buy a
increase production and lower costs, fighter, and he moved furniture on his franchise, but no one would sell one to
the answer from Democrats seems to days off. My mom worked in a dental a 20-year-old.
be to beg OPEC to produce more, gath- office. And they made an unbelievable Another thing you will learn about
er wood for the fireplace, and put on a life for us. me—maybe you will learn about me be-
sweater. cause of this speech—I never give up.
Do you know what happens when b 0030
So I opened Kevin O’s Deli. I even built
OPEC produces more? American dollars You see, Mr. Speaker, when I got out the counter in my dad’s garage. There
go to the Middle East. Do you know of high school, I didn’t have the ath- were good days and there were bad
what happens when you shut down letic ability or grades to get a scholar- days, but by the end of the year and a
American pipelines? American workers ship, so I went to community college, half I was pretty successful, if you rate
lose their jobs, but Putin gets more. and I am proud of it. success based upon my family.
Mr. Speaker, winter is coming, and Mr. Speaker, I met this guy. He had I now had enough money saved that I
this bill would make our energy crisis a car dealer’s license, but he owned a could pay my way through college just
worse. Consider the heat your home liquor store. I will let you figure out as long as I went to California State-
tax bill the Democrats have included in how I met him. But I asked him if he Bakersfield. I wanted to finish my de-
this bill. By imposing a fee on methane would take me to Los Angeles because gree. At that moment in time, I don’t
gas, this bill would penalize the very it is not far from Bakersfield. It is believe any of my family had finished a
resource that helps produce the elec- where all the car dealers were bringing 4-year degree. So I sold my business. I
tricity that keeps the lights on and their trade-ins. When I went there you was a much better student this time.
heat running. had to be a dealer to get in. I started My local paper, The Bakersfield Cali-
Mr. Speaker, I think I owe you an buying and selling cars and flipping fornian, had an article about being a
apology because I understand the them to pay my way through college. I summer intern in Washington, D.C.,
Democrats have left, and they want to found out later it was illegal, but I with my local Congressman. I had
recess when I am done. I don’t know if didn’t know it when I was doing it. never met this man but, boy, I thought
they can get to the airlines at this When I went to community college, I he would be lucky to have me. So I ap-
time to change their flights to Puerto had a lot of good friends who were plied.
Rico for later tomorrow for the fund- away at college. One of my best friends But do you know what, Mr. Speaker?
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
raiser. I am sorry for that, but this is was up at Stanford. I had some friends He turned me down.
just too important. at USC, and I had a lot of friends down Do you want to know the end of the
Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if they at San Diego State. So on the week- story, Mr. Speaker?
think, because they left, I am going to ends I would go visit them. I am now elected to the seat I
stop. I am not. It is too important. Mr. So this one weekend I went to San couldn’t get an internship for to work
Speaker, I am really not talking to Diego State to visit my buddies. So I in. Only in America could that happen.
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But I am fearful, Mr. Speaker, that if b 0040 You know, I come from an energy
this bill passes then there will be fewer Maybe OPEC will send them some producing district. I don’t know if my
entrepreneurs in America but more in money. They are making a lot more. children’s children can do it, because
China. The hurdles will be too high. We should ask them. the same policy that Biden has, Gavin
How do you get somebody to work if Americans need relief at the pump. Newsom has.
government is paying you more to stay As I said, in this past year the price of See, there was a moment in time in
home? gasoline has reached its highest point my county, we produced the second
How do you get somebody to work on in over a decade. The good news is that most amount of oil in the entire coun-
the child tax credit if you take away we know what it takes to lower our try. We are top in wind; we are top in
the work requirement? gasoline prices. Let’s embrace innova- solar; all of the above.
Mr. Speaker, an interesting thing, if tion and American resources. But China, China’s economy is grow-
we go back to 1994 again, another rea- We lowered our CO2 and became en- ing, as they shut down. You know, a lot
son why I believe President Clinton got ergy independent. We lowered coal of those wells are owned by people just
reelected was because he listened to when we offered more natural gas. We like Russell Johnson. They are called
America after they gave him that are the Saudi Arabia of natural gas, stripper wells; a lot of regulation on
shock in 1994. but the President looks to OPEC. them, but they produce, for more than
But do you know what he signed? Do we really think Putin wants a 100 years.
Welfare reform. Welfare reform had a second pipeline because he loves Eu- They were there when America need-
work requirement. rope so much? It couldn’t be that he ed us when we were in World War II.
Do you know what happened? wants more control. That couldn’t be And it wasn’t government who invested
More Americans had jobs. They had a the case, would it? I don’t know. Ask in them, but they are the people you
higher income. It gave people an incen- the people in Crimea. are going to take the tax from, so peo-
tive. That is what America has been doing ple who make $800,000 a year can buy
You are doing the opposite, Mr. for nearly a decade; and at least that is an electric car, but only if it is built in
Speaker. You are giving an incentive what we were doing, and the results a union shop. I guess that is what the
not to work. completely shifted the energy land- President meant when he said fair.
And do you know what? scape in our favor. I don’t know if Abraham Lincoln,
It especially hurts our seniors. Listen But it wasn’t just energy. I don’t be- when he said, we are conceived in lib-
to what Claudette Duff, President and lieve we would ever get the Abraham erty, that everybody is equal, really
CEO of Integrity Senior Services, told Accords if we weren’t able to do that. thought that a union worker and a
us about the implications: The world became safer. The world is a nonunion worker were different. I
I am concerned that vulnerable seniors are safer place and America is stronger.
not being considered. While I believe we
think he looked at them just as Ameri-
The only thing you have to look to in cans.
must battle climate change, I am also pain- history is why does Putin have all
fully aware that most seniors have little fi- And by the way, when America is
those troops along the border? Why producing the energy that powers our
nancial wiggle room. Any possibility of an
added cost to seniors must be seriously con-
does China say they could take Tai- lives, it is safer. If the Biden adminis-
sidered. wan? tration was truly interested in reduc-
One-party rule in 1 year. That is
How many of us have a senior person, ing emissions they would be looking
what it has accomplished.
a family member—and I have been Just a few years ago the United toward American oil and gas, not away
privileged to meet a lot of your moth- States, while it was lowering CO2, pro- from it.
ers, fathers, uncles, and aunts. We care duced more oil and gas than any an- Instead, their methane tax, the
for them, but we know they live on a other country in the world. And guess methane tax will make it harder for
fixed income. Those are the people who what? Our gasoline prices reflected it. those companies to invest in tech-
get hurt the most. Those are the people So not only did it help business nology, like carbon capture, that re-
we are going to have to answer to. produce more and hire more, the en- duces emissions. Technology will help
So when the Speaker talks about ergy industry was hiring more people us in the environment. There are so
eldercare, we now know it is nothing at a high wage, more people working. many Members behind me that have
but empty words, Mr. Speaker. You watched that every day in your championed this.
Throughout this process, the Demo- district. But you also watched what We should be building pipelines here
crats made it clear they wanted to happened. in America. It is safer than a tanker.
freeze the American people out from Mr. Speaker, I am referring to KEVIN Instead, Joe Biden blocked the Key-
knowing what their Government has in BRADY—what happened to Houston stone pipeline.
store for them. Now it seems they also after that pipeline was closed. You had Just listen, Mr. Speaker. Biden’s
want to freeze them out of their own to look them in their eye. press secretary said they are looking at
homes this winter. In addition to high- The sad part about all of this, I re- another pipeline, too. I don’t know,
er home heating costs, consider higher member speaking to this man who they had better get to a gas station.
gas prices in our near future—even worked on the pipeline. He wasn’t of Mr. Speaker, I don’t know. You know
higher than they are today. the Republican Party. He was in the what you and I should do? Why don’t
Mr. Speaker, I like to take risk. I union, and he voted for Biden. It was we go on a codel, fact finding. You in-
don’t know if you want to make a like a punch to his gut. He was told not vite any Democrat you want, I will in-
wager. Let’s wager dinner. Let’s wager just to vote for him, but work for him, vite Republicans.
dinner. After this bill, if gas prices are because he believed in good American Let’s first go to the Keystone pipe-
lower, I will buy you dinner. If they are jobs, union jobs. Then they just cut it. line, and then let’s go to Nord Stream
not, you buy me dinner. Then he goes in to stand up next to 2, and let’s see why Americas should
You believe in the bill. You believe in Putin; and he gives him his pipeline. I allow Nord Stream but not Keystone.
the economics. don’t know if Putin did anything to It would probably help our constitu-
I know what President Biden re- help elect him. I guess we should ask ents if we could explain it. I don’t
cently did. I know our State is not far Schiff. It doesn’t have to be the truth. know if Putin would let us near it. We
from New Mexico. New Mexico is an You just have to say it. will have to wear a mask because the
amazing State. Congresswoman There were no lines at the gas sta- natural gas from Russia is much dirtier
HERRELL represents New Mexico and tions like we saw earlier this year, and than the American natural gas.
fights hard. New Mexico schools get al- no anxiety that you would blow out And this makes it clear. Democrats
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
most half of their money from the roy- your budget just by filling up your car. in Congress want to double down on its
alties of the energy they produce there And by the way, when America is costly extreme agenda. This bill bans
on Federal land. So there it is not just producing the energy that powers our drilling for oil and gas development on
the workers in the field who got laid lives, we do it safer and cleaner than Federal land.
off. I don’t know how the schools are any other country in the world. I am What does it mean when you drill on
going to survive. proud of that. Federal land? You pay taxes. Who do
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H6638 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
you pay them to? The government and Members driving that electric truck so going to build our bureaucracies. We
the schools. The kids win, too. fast and so excited. Do you know how are going to give you free healthcare,
You know, in my community, there much that truck costs? $125,000. Who do free education.
is a place called Taft. At Taft Junior you think is going to get the tax break They had a lot of oil. He could do it,
College, they have a whole program for for that? I guess it is the people Jared right?
people who want to go into the energy was talking about, the millionaires. So he got in office. Do you know
business. There are more women in Maybe we could have debated that if what he found out? You run out of
that program than there are men. They we had time on the floor. other people’s money. So he decided to
are the brightest people I have seen. There is a direct correlation to the capture businesses, but the supreme
I was just out there. They have this price of gas and to January 20, and it is court said he couldn’t do that. So what
old logger base. Taft has been through just getting worse. We heard earlier was his answer? I don’t know if he
boom busts. When they first discovered from Scott Daniel what these dan- started with a commission, but he tried
oil back in the day, not far from Elk gerous policies will do to customers. to pack the supreme court. Sound fa-
Hills, the Teapot Dome scandal, oil I want you to think for one moment. miliar? When that didn’t happen, he
flowed freely and made a lake. What if you are a truck driver? There changed the Constitution.
I don’t know if America understands, are many up in my district in agri- You know, I went on a codel down
oil doesn’t just go into your cars, your culture. They take a risk and buy their there. We were in Colombia, and we
phone, almost everything you buy. own truck. They have to fill it up. I went to the border of Venezuela. Twen-
You know, California, under the es- imagine it probably takes 300 gallons, ty thousand people came across that
teemed leadership of Gavin Newsom, don’t you think? day. I would interview them, husband,
has more homeless. He is shutting The price of gas has increased by wife, and young child. They thought all
down the oil. He has pledged we won’t more than 60 percent. Do you know these people just didn’t work hard
have any combustion motors. how much more it takes that small enough. One was a doctor.
business man or woman to fill up that Do you know what he showed me a
b 0050
tank? Almost $500. Where do they pass picture of? That free healthcare in a
We pay 40 percent higher than other that on to? hospital. There is no electricity, and
States. But I guess it makes you feel So when you wonder, do we have when a baby is born, they put him in
good. But what happens when you pay more truckers? They have to park the the shoebox. They use the iPhone for a
40 percent higher for your electricity? truck. Could you pay $500 more every light. They were coming to get milk,
You move. single day? Inflation is rising so fast, and they went an hour-and-a-half to do
Mr. Speaker, you and I are both from you are not passing that on. it.
California. I am sure we both look at I have this dear friend. He is the I pulled out my pocket and had a $50
the commission to see where the lines mayor of Taft. His name is Dave Noerr. bill. I handed it to the kid. I didn’t re-
are. They will be different this year. He is like John Wayne. This guy alize that could be how much his father
For people here who aren’t from Cali- worked in the oil business, and he cre- made for 6 months.
fornia, 12 percent of the Nation’s popu- ated his own business. When he runs a They got hyperinflation. He tried to
lation lives in California. For the en- meeting, he will listen to anybody in change the courts. They promised you
tire history of California, they always there. He will respect them. He won’t everything is free. I am sure Hugo Cha-
gained seats. Last time, they broke tell them they can’t look at him. I vez said somewhere, on the day of his
even. We have 53 seats. This year, we didn’t know I was that scary. inauguration, that this is the day the
are losing. But this is what he told us. Only as children’s children will remember.
When they asked Governor Newsom recently as 1988, the State of California
why did the population go down, you b 0100
only imported 4.5 percent of all the oil
know what his answer was? President we consumed in our State. Think about I am sure somewhere in a speech he
Trump secured the border. That is ex- that—1988, 4.5 percent. California, the said he needed to build the bureauc-
actly what he said. I was shocked. biggest economy—do you know Califor- racies. I am sure he probably wrote a
I worry about if my children can stay nia’s economy is bigger than Russia? bill like this. But to be honest, I don’t
in California. But after the esteemed leadership of even think Hugo Chavez would spend
Why is it that Texas and Florida are Gavin Newsom, last year, because of this much.
gaining seats? Why is it in this body shutting it all down, because they are Or what about Robinson Oil Corpora-
you refer to them as red States? Does going to end oil production, because tion? Erin is the president. She is in
it have anything to do with freedom? they are going to save the environ- California. She says: ‘‘We have already
Why is the tax policy in Florida that it ment, we import over 70 percent. We seen refineries move out of the State or
has no State tax, and California has import over 70 percent. reduce production, and that increases
the highest? Florida has great roads. Mr. Speaker, I believe you agree with costs and causes a fair amount of sup-
They have an old population. They pro- me, because all the stats say it. Name ply issues . . . pushing oil extraction or
vide for them. I guess they believe in me one country that produces oil and field production outside the U.S. will
accountability. They don’t spend gas more environmentally safe than only exacerbate that problem.’’
money on things people don’t want. America. But what is worse is, our money is
They don’t tax you or try to control Have any of you ever been up to Alas- going to another country to get strong-
you. ka? I went to the North Slope as a er.
When you ban oil and gas—think freshman. A group of us all went. JIM I hate to tell you this, Madam Speak-
about that, Mr. Speaker. One-party JORDAN was with me. We all went up er, most of these countries don’t have
rule, 1 year. What has happened to there. If you park your truck, you have the same policies that we do. They are
make the gasoline prices so high? One- to put like a diaper underneath it. It is not democracies.
party rule, 1 year. They banned drilling not oil from the ground. You can’t even Madam Speaker, it was only a few
for oil and gas. let a drop of oil out of your car. years ago that women in Saudi Arabia
Mr. Speaker, I know I didn’t go to Do you think they do that in Ecuador got the right to drive. That is where
Stanford. I didn’t go to Yale. I didn’t or Venezuela? I am sure they probably our President asked to produce more
go to Princeton. I went to Bakersfield do. oil, but he looks in the face of Ameri-
College. I got my undergrad at Cal It is interesting. I like to study his- cans and says no.
State Bakersfield. I got my MBA at Cal tory, and beyond America. It wasn’t Emmons Yates, vice president of the
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
State Bakersfield. I am proud of where that long ago that Venezuela was the New Mexico oil and gas company,
I am from. But the one thing I do know jewel of Latin America. It had oil. It Jalapeno Corp., ‘‘A lot of what I am
is you have to have a bridge between had wealth. It had a strong economy. seeing in these bills is that these are
fuel and a solar panel. They had a democracy. Hugo Chavez things that will raise costs, we all
I watched President Biden up in ran for President and won. How did he know that. But the real effects of them
Michigan with the other Democrat win? He stood up and said: We are aren’t going to be seen until the next 2
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6639
to 3 years.’’ Maybe that is when our and not tomorrow, I know some people Why would we empower the Attorney
children’s children will realize. have got to get to Puerto Rico for a General to make parents terrorists,
Our colleague STEPHANIE BICE, she fundraiser, and I screwed that all up, and let terrorists on the watch list
noted that many Western States great- and I apologize. I apologize. I apolo- come into America? That is backwards.
ly rely on oil and gas for their State gize. Now, how tough is it to spend $28 a
budgets. STEPHANIE is an amazing Con- But they asked the CBO, because day? You go to Starbucks. What can
gresswoman. She is from Oklahoma. there was an argument with the White you do? Can you get three gallons of
What is interesting, Madam Speaker, House and with the Members, how gas? Does McDonald’s still have the
that great Chamber of Commerce en- much money could those 87 IRS agents dollar meal? Yes. Yes. You are still
dorsed the Democrat. I wonder what get? going to hit it. That is less than $200 a
they think now. I wonder why. And it got you to thinking, right? week. But you know what, I was fearful
But I remember watching the com- Well, these IRS agents, are they when I heard about that. But I remem-
mercials of STEPHANIE BICE, and they going to pay more taxes or something? ber reading, 21 really tough Democrats,
caught my eye. There was this guy who No, they are going to go after Ameri- Madam Speaker, they signed a letter,
worked in the oil fields, and he was on cans. Oh. and they told the Speaker, you get
a couple different commercials. He was So you have to start with the that out of there.
concerned about what would happen if premise for this whole bill, that you You know what would be nice? Now,
there was one-party rule. His name don’t trust Americans. So the premise I don’t know if it is in the rules, I don’t
wasn’t Nostradamus, but he was close. is, you are guilty until we audit you. know if you will kick me off commit-
In 10 months. I don’t know if he has Now, what is interesting, they have tees, but good thing I am not on any
lost his job yet from Joe Biden, but done some statistics on this because committee. It is only me, GOSAR, and
STEPHANIE BICE says: ‘‘Approximately there are a lot of things that have been MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE. That is
25 percent of our State’s revenue comes said, and at times it doesn’t pan out. right. But don’t worry, there will be
from the oil and gas industry. The fees, So there is a new analysis of this that many more next time. I never liked
taxes, and regulations that this admin- just came out. You know what you get this new policy, but it has kind of
istration is looking to levy will impact when you get 87,000 new agents? You grown on me.
every single piece of Oklahoma.’’ get to have 1.2 million more audits. But just $200 a week. We should get a
If you vote for this bill, I want you to Now I don’t know, Bernie is probably poster, because there is a lot going on
go back to your districts. I want you to excited about that. But you know, Ber- in your life when you are a Member of
look families in the eye and tell them nie wants to tax you whether you Congress. Maybe those 21 don’t remem-
why you voted to make it more expen- spend your money or not because he ber if they signed the letter or maybe
sive to heat their homes, turn on their doesn’t want you to invest it. But I they haven’t read the bill? Or maybe
lights, and fill up their cars. If you are would think it is probably just going to that is why they left? I am not sure.
doing a townhall and you want me to go after really wealthy people, But you know what I can do, too?
come, I will come with you. You know, wouldn’t you think? Do you know Maybe we should send that letter to
that would be healthy. where half, 600,000, of those new 1.2 are their constituents and just put up how
The Speaker is from California, going to go? After people who make they vote, because if they vote ‘‘no’’ I
right? Madam Speaker, we are from the $75,000 or less. want to tell all their constituents they
same State. I don’t mean to interrupt. Madam Speaker, I know your district kept their word, they are fighting for
I will wait. is in San Diego. It is probably much them. Would that be helpful, Madam
Madam Speaker, I know we are from wealthier than mine. But this would Speaker? I think it might.
the same State. You know what would probably encompass my entire district. And that is what they do throughout
be healthy? I made a lot of promises to You know, a quarter of those 1.2 mil- its regulation and all the power that
the last Speaker. I want to make them lion new audits are going after people comes from doubling the size of the
for you, too. We are both from Cali- who make $25,000 or less. most intrusive bureaucracy in the Fed-
fornia. Why don’t we travel—I will You know what we should do? In this eral Government.
come to your district, you come to townhall, let’s do it by segments. Let’s Madam Speaker, the one thing I won-
mine, okay? And we will do a townhall. do an IRS townhall first. And if you der with one-party rule, is that abso-
You can explain why you are going to want, I will do it right before the elec- lute power corrupts absolutely? I
vote for this bill, and I will explain tion. Whenever you want. mean, I wonder, General Keane, what
why I did not want to. Will that be Madam Speaker, I met your family an amazing patriot he is, right? He
healthy? You know what, you can look before. Your family is pretty remark- served his Nation time and again, Re-
at me when you talk. I won’t interrupt able. They made America proud, inno- publican and Democrat Presidents. The
you, and we will have a very cordial de- vated. And they did that because they last President appointed him to one of
bate. I think that would be healthy. made investments. When I met some of the academies. Advisory board. We
The power of the idea should win. your older family, they are not afraid would be so fortunate to have him on
Now, let’s talk about Americans to pay taxes. They want to see it go to an advisory board, would we not? But
spending their hard-earned money. The something. But if they have less to one party, one rule doesn’t only give us
one thing you ought to know, I tell give, they have less to invest, and your inflation, doesn’t give us higher taxes,
Americans, it is your money. What you business is a pretty competitive busi- doesn’t give us higher gas prices, do
do with your money is for you to de- ness now. It is not that America domi- you know what else it does? It picks
cide, not Washington bureaucrats. But nates it. China is on the rise. and chooses.
get this, Washington Democrats not There is a reason, Madam Speaker,
only want you to pay more in taxes, b 0110 that somebody on your side of the aisle
they also want to spy on what you Democrats told us what they want to said I couldn’t look at them. They
spend your money on. do is to spy on every American bank thought they had the power. Can’t we
Madam Speaker, I am not sure if you account spending as little as $28 a day. respect someone that risked their life
are the one, but there were 21 Demo- Now, I know if I ask my colleagues for the freedom of America, that led
crats who signed a letter to Speaker on the other side of the aisle, Madam men and women into battle, did it bril-
PELOSI asking for the 87 new IRS Speaker, if I asked you, you would say, liantly, and could train the next gen-
agents not to be in the bill. I am not no, we don’t want to do that. You know eration, the children of children? Oh,
sure if you were one of them. But I what is interesting, Madam Speaker? no. Oh, no. We have the power now.
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
wonder why we need those IRS agents. That is the exact same answer the At- You are not allowed to serve. You are
I always thought the IRS was supposed torney General gave us when we said, not allowed to serve because President
to be there to help me, right? Are you spying on the parents? No, we Trump appointed you. He is an Amer-
What is interesting, too, a number of are not doing that. But if it wasn’t for ican. Been in battle his whole life. Did
Democrats, why we are here late to- an American whistleblower, we would it when many millions of Americans
night—now, why we are here tonight never know that. never would. Risked his life for people
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H6640 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
he didn’t know. Did he really want to You go down, you see Joseph Rainey, me, small businesses in Pennsylvania
spend more time? But he was going to the first Black American ever elected and throughout the country are strug-
do it because he cared about what he to Congress in 1870 from Charleston, gling with labor shortage, rising infla-
spent his life on. South Carolina. If you know your his- tion, and supply chain disruptions.
Is that what Joe Biden said when he tory, that is where the Civil War start- Given these challenges, the Biden ad-
was going to work with the other side ed. You know, today there is only one ministration’s proposal to require an-
of the aisle? When did the military be- Republican Black American elected to nual IRS reporting of inflows, outflows
come political? What do you think Congress in the Senate, TIM SCOTT from small businesses and individuals’
China said about that? All right. I from Charleston, South Carolina. accounts would just add insult to in-
don’t think the Taliban cared about And TIM would tell me the story, you jury.
the pronouns in the military. know, his mother and father got di- Democrats say the IRS needs to spy
I don’t understand. One party, one vorced early, and he lived with his on every American bank account be-
rule, 1 year. It is just like Jared said, grandparents, and just recently he cause, otherwise, billionaires will
Madam Speaker, he never thought, if took people on a tour. The little house cheat on their taxes. That is just non-
somebody asked him, they were going they lived in—I think is only 700 square sense.
to produce their biggest bill that just feet—has been torn down. Where did the Speaker go? Did you
goes to millionaires that it would be a TIM gets his faith from his grand- fall?
Democrat bill. mother and his mother. If you ever met I will wait.
Oh, my God. We are so much better his mother, what an amazing lady. Can I be Speaker? I can finish my
than this. But every morning TIM’s grandfather speech up there.
If you or your family spends $28 a Eric Bruen, another friend of mine,
made TIM and his brother sit at that
day, prepare to be under constant audit he runs a small credit union in
table and have breakfast. And his
of the IRS. I don’t know. We walk into Ridgecrest, California. He also happens
grandfather had that newspaper in
these Chambers—the public can’t come to be the mayor. He said this: Look at
front of him. He wanted those boys to
into these Chambers—and, Madam what it is going to do in the long run.
see that. Do you know TIM didn’t find
Speaker, we start by not trusting each Individuals are already beginning to
out until after high school his grand-
other. We start by saying you can’t withdraw savings from our credit
father couldn’t read? But he wanted
come in unless you come through a unions. We don’t want to go back to
more for his boys. He wanted them to
magnetometer, because we don’t trust the cash-under-the-mattress approach.
you. participate in current events.
We obviously will see liquidity issues
I remember when we were in the ma- b 0120 and our ability to lend to the commu-
jority, John Lewis and others took TIM and I went down there on the nity. This is going to hit the middle
down the floor. John Lewis I respect 50th anniversary. President Obama was class and America’s families the hard-
greatly. John Lewis was a dear friend. President, and John Lewis introduced est, especially those two-income fami-
He took me across that bridge a couple him. I was emotional that day. Because lies.
times. You know what John Lewis did? when you think for one moment, 50 I know a lot of Members here did a
For any of you who haven’t made that years before, John Lewis was beaten, lot of things before they were Members
trek, you should do it. I wish you could almost to his death, where when he of Congress. I remember when I first
have done it through John Lewis’ eyes. tells you the story, he will say, That
I was so excited about the oppor- started out; we were both working. We
Woolworth counter over there, I got ar- had to live on a budget. We had to cut.
tunity. I took my entire family, my
rested because I tried to eat. I got this When we bought that first house we
son’s girlfriend, who now is his wife.
far on the bridge—inside that coat he still live in today, we were living in an
We were excited. And it was in a Presi-
dential year, and it gets so big as you had. He says, I can’t remember any- apartment. I remember a lady who was
walk out of that church the first time, more. But they carried me back to this coming by and she was collecting cans
and the crowd comes around and every- church. And 50 years later, he was out of our trash can at the apartment
body else. And John Lewis grabbed me nominating and introducing Barack complex. And I asked her if she needed
at the very beginning, and he said: ‘‘I Obama as President of the United some furniture. Because what I wanted
want you to walk next to me.’’ And I States. to do when I bought the new house, I
am walking, but I am getting crowded I am proud of the fact that Abraham wanted to buy all new furniture.
out by everybody else, and I fall be- Lincoln was President in the most dire So I loaded it all up, load it on the
hind. There are thousands of people. time of our Constitution, the Civil car—the couches and everything else.
Do you know what John Lewis did? War, and brought the Nation together. When we got in the new house, we had
He stopped. He stopped and said: I am fearful of the division that is to paint; we had to get carpet; we had
‘‘Where is Kevin?’’ And there was Hil- being created in this House. to get new shades. I ran out of money.
lary Clinton, there was every big name Madam Speaker, it almost feels like So we had a TV on a box, and Connor
you could imagine there. We didn’t the Speaker is burning it down on her had a little couch. And we would lay
agree on certain things, but we had re- way out the door. I made the promise our heads on both sides of the couch.
spect for one another. to the last Speaker, and I will make it But you know what we didn’t have?
I will tell you this, TIM SCOTT and I to you too, ma’am. We will run it dif- We didn’t have gasoline this high. We
were down there on the 50th anniver- ferent. But there are some things we didn’t have inflation. We didn’t have an
sary, and I have told the story earlier will keep. I may not agree with you, unsecure border.
about how proud I am, you walk in, the but I respect you. You have a right to I worry about those two-income fam-
portraits, the first one you will see is your opinion, but you also have a re- ilies. It is not just what you are taking
Frederick Douglass. Frederick Doug- sponsibility to show up to work. You from them at the gas pump, now they
lass had every reason to hate this Na- also should bring a bill through a com- have to be fearful that they are going
tion, but he did not. He did not. He mittee. You also shouldn’t debate a bill to get audited.
knew it could be a more perfect Union, all day long and leave 20 minutes be- Madam Speaker, why can’t you trust
not perfect, but could strive. He didn’t fore you do the manager’s amendment. Americans? I firmly believe Americans
even vote for Lincoln, but he was Lin- And I know you want to get to Puerto are good people. They love this coun-
coln’s friend, because he wanted Lin- Rico. I know your donors are down try. But when you start an entire bill
coln to move faster. He pushed. When there. But the American people are out to pay for it—and Madam Speaker, you
Lincoln died and down at this park there. promised the American public this
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
when they put the statue that they Warren Hudak runs a small business would be paid for, and it is not. I didn’t
wanted to remove, Mary Todd was accounting firm in Pennsylvania. Like believe you when you said it.
there. She had a cane of Abraham Lin- many small business owners, he knows Do you realize you debated the ma-
coln. Do you know what she did? She how tough it is to succeed. Even in the jority of this bill before it was out
gave it to Frederick Douglass. She best of times, this new proposal will here? You left 20 minutes of 10 minutes
gave it to Frederick Douglass. Respect. make it much worse. He recently told on each side for debate on a bill that is
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6641
the largest in our history. You are Think of the fabric of this country side said: We can’t do it to her. She is
breaking so many records. Just last that it is going to tear. Everyone in different. She is special. She is special.
week, you left two votes open longer the country knows what the COVID–19 See, yes, she is.
than in the history of this Congress. pandemic did to families and local So when you put magnetometers up
I never thought I would serve in a businesses. Almost immediately, the here and she walked around them, you
body that absolute power would cor- Trump administration and the last know what the answer was, Madam
rupt absolutely. I have said it. I don’t Congress took action to provide imme- Speaker, why she didn’t get a letter
know if Speaker PELOSI stays around. diate relief. and why she didn’t have to pay? The
Well, the damage that she is doing is a As we pulled ourselves out of the Capitol Police determined that. They
lot. Personally, I hope she stays. I want pandemic, the wind should have been didn’t send her one. Oh, I guess she is
her to hand that gavel to me. I want at our backs, especially for small busi- different. I guess she is special.
her to be here. nesses. Americans were eager to go When JIM CLYBURN, with his detail,
Now, the Democrats have had three back to restaurants with their families walked around, he was shocked he got
chances to remove intrusiveness, abu- and friends. We are eager to shop at a letter: I am JIM CLYBURN. I have a de-
sive, and indefensible policy in re- local stores after being forced to live tail. I am not like all of you.
sponse to the public outrage and oppo- by delivery services and online shop- The only way you can get out of it is
sition. When pressed, they just adjust ping. Those people were heroes, but not if somebody on the other side in Ethics
their rhetoric. They thought they this year, even people in the medical will say it is okay. Do you know what
would fool the American public. I don’t community. Republicans said? Yeah.
know if this happened, but you could Do you remember how there were But that didn’t happen to you. It
envision it, right, because they are lis- proposals that you even had to pay didn’t happen to Louie.
tening to what the Democrats are say- more to grocery workers or to nurses? I wonder why you would do that?
ing. So you have got Congresswoman But once you got that one-party rule, When I read this bill, that you don’t
SPANBERGER saying, Biden was not you determine if you can look at some- even trust Americans, why would you
elected to be FDR. body, what they have to put in their trust us? Why would you trust us?
So what they are probably saying in body. They don’t even care if they had We are eager to be there for the busi-
the White House, let’s tell the Amer- COVID. We don’t care that you were a nesses that are usually there for us.
ican public it doesn’t cost anything. hero a year ago. But instead of businesses experiencing
Just tell them; they will believe it. We don’t care if the response rates new opportunities, they are again fac-
Just say it a couple times. It is kind of for firefighters and police officers are ing the threat of closure, and it is not
like, ‘‘if you like your doctor, you can going to be longer. Why? Because we because of the pandemic. The threat
keep him,’’ right? Or ‘‘you got to pass have power. We have power, and we are comes primarily from a historic labor
the bill to know what is in it.’’ going to use it. But we only use it on shortage, which, as I described, is driv-
Then when the public found out people we want to. en by Democratic policies passed ear-
about this IRS, it was $600, everybody Madam Speaker, I watched, in the lier this year.
got mad. They said, oh, no, it is not last Congress, Speaker PELOSI on the You see, I have been in the room
$600. It is $10,000. They didn’t think the floor here. She was giving a speech. We many times—not since you had one-
public would figure out $28 a day hits all live under the same rules. She said party rule. When Republicans were in
it. something she shouldn’t. She broke the power, they invited the Democrat lead-
And then they wouldn’t allow the rule. Somebody challenged her on it. ership in. We worked together. One
ability at the end of the day to find out You have to take down your words. All thing the Democrats would always say:
how many the audits it was until the she could do is yield back; she didn’t We need to give people $15 an hour
last day. want to. more than what the unemployment
Remember when the President was So the Parliamentarian makes the pays. Now you know where the labor
asked whether they were going to give determination. I don’t know if you shortage comes from, and inflation. I
$450,000 to illegal immigrants that were here. It was one of those other don’t think America is cheering that.
came over the border? He got so mad at times we set a record. The economists told you. We told
that FOX reporter. Nobody would read what the Parlia- you. I remember being in the Oval Of-
No way. No way. mentarian said. Speaker PELOSI left fice, and I asked the President about
The next day, it was a whole other the floor—left the floor. We were going that. They were encouraging small
story. around and around. business after small business. I invited
But telling, they have never aban-
So I come to the floor, and I am talk- him to go to businesses with me. He
doned the policy. Even after we learned
ing to STENY HOYER. What are we going said that is not happening. That is not
about it, it would not pay for their new
to do? Oh, my God, Speaker PELOSI happening.
social programs. They said this is how
might have to live under the same I said, Mr. President, with all due re-
they are going to pay for it. The White
rules. Can’t be. Can’t be. spect, you have to get out of the White
House told everybody, Oh, it’s 400, 400.
They took a couple of hours. Every House. I talked about the border. He
They tried to press so many times.
Member that was supposed to stand up said: Oh, no, no, no. We are making it
Madam Speaker, I felt so sorry for
there backed out. They walked up better.
Josh. All those times he was promised
there, and the Parliamentarian gave I wondered, what is his definition of
they were going to have a vote.
them—‘‘Oh, I am not saying that,’’ and better?
b 0130 they walked. They were all afraid. If you take away the work require-
They wanted to press you before you STENY HOYER had to do it. ment and child credit, do you know
could read it, before the CBO score Do you know what the rules say? If who that is going to hurt? Small busi-
would come back. I don’t even know you won’t take it back and you push it nesses, not large. It gives the incen-
why people waited for it or asked for it. and you are wrong, you can’t speak tive. The majority of Americans are
It didn’t change the outcome. anymore that day. Madam Speaker, going to get a paycheck for doing noth-
I don’t know, maybe I am wrong. I that wasn’t for Speaker PELOSI. That ing.
thought when I listened to them on TV wasn’t going to happen. So the Parlia- I wondered, when I first came in and
they said: We cannot vote for this until mentarian made a decision. I listened to Congressman NEAL and
we get the CBO score to prove that it Madam Speaker, I don’t know if you STENY HOYER, I don’t know who wrote
pays for itself. I guess that last part were here at that time, but do you their speeches, but, man, it sounded
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
was kind of like the 21 people who know what your party did? Rules for like it was from Europe. They cele-
wrote and said the IRS has to be out of thee, not for me. They changed it. brated it. The sad part about this is we
it. I don’t know. She is from my State. have confronted this before.
You just need a CBO. It doesn’t mat- We have about the same amount of Objection to this proposal isn’t about
ter what it says. You just want the constituents. She said they have a being antifamily. Republicans believe
paper. higher standard. Everybody on that the family is the foundation of a strong
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H6642 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
society, which is why we have sup- I had people come to me and say that there when they caught those different
ported expanding the child tax credit they lost their job and now the govern- people on a different day. They came
in the past. But we also know work es- ment is telling them that there are no into California. They were on the ter-
tablishes purpose, and there is no gov- government benefits available because rorist watch list from Yemen.
ernment substitute for a job and an they misappropriated upwards of $50 Your counterpart who serves on the
earned income. We have proven that billion in unemployment funds. Permanent Select Committee on Intel-
time and again. So the government misappropriated. ligence said that I wasn’t telling the
I remember back when President Do you know what Andrew did? truth. He says he gets all the intel-
Clinton and Democrats believed in He started a GoFundMe. He had just ligence.
work, when we did welfare reform and opened another restaurant for pizza, I don’t know how much intelligence
there was a work requirement. It gave and he let everybody come in and eat he gets, but, Madam Speaker, I remem-
people purpose. It gave them training. for free. He struggled, but he kept peo- ber seeing him and SWALWELL in the
ple on. Middle East with their shirts off on a
b 0140
Madam Speaker, I cannot believe camel. So maybe that was the time the
We all know people who when you this body which was so quick to pro- paper came through and they didn’t
fall, we want to build you up. That vide local businesses with what they have a chance to read it. I am not sure.
should be a trampoline, not a La-Z- needed to survive in the pandemic. If I thought he would apologize, or at the
Boy. there is something our children’s chil- very least call and say: How can we
Do you know what happens, Madam dren should learn, when we had divided work together?
Speaker? government and the pandemic hit us, I I don’t know what advice I would
Families get proud. You get proud. think PPP was one of the most amaz- give him. Maybe just keep your shirt
By removing the work requirement, ing things we did. We kept people on.
the government is putting itself in working instead of off. During the worst border crisis in our
competition with small businesses. Do you know how we did it, Madam Nation’s history, Democrats want to
Larry Allison, the owner of Allison Speaker? make it even more attractive to cross
Crane & Rigging, told us, ‘‘We are con- We didn’t build the bureaucracy; we the border illegally to break our laws.
cerned about where we are going to get actually tore it down. We loaned more According to its supporters, this bill
the employees. money in 14 days than the SBA had grants amnesty for millions of illegal
‘‘What are the costs of the employees loaned in 14 years. immigrants.
going to be? Why? Now, Madam Speaker, there are a lot
‘‘I am trying to get more and more First, we trusted Americans. We said: on your side who weren’t able to stay.
diversified today, getting ready for the You can go to your bank, your credit They need to get their rest. They have
next time the Governor tries to shut us union, or your Fintech. They know got a long weekend in Puerto Rico
down here in Pennsylvania.’’ you. We gave them a little money for after this. And I understand that. But
Andy Ray, owner of BrightStar Care their effort. They already weren’t there are a lot of Members behind me,
in Mesa, Arizona, echoed a similar con- qualified yet, but they worked over- and if I was to guess, if you asked
cern, ‘‘I find myself emerging from the night. We had problems at the begin- every single one of these Members if
pandemic, heading right into another ning. they had been to the border this year,
one that is very clear. This legislation We said: You can take this money as they would tell you ‘‘yes.’’ Some would
is very clear. I am extremely worried a loan, but if you pay rent, if you pay tell you more than once. And to any-
that if this legislation goes through your employees, you pay your elec- body on your side of the aisle, Madam
and the disincentives to work continue, tricity, it is a grant. Speaker, who has not been, we will
where am I going to get the team to do We had to modify it along the way take you. We will take you.
this? And what are my options? because it was so successful. When you sit and interview people
‘‘This bill raises taxes right when I But, Madam Speaker, do you know and you ask them why they come,
am going out of the pandemic. what was one of the saddest moments? many of them have Joe Biden’s shirts
‘‘And for a government that has prov- Because we really worked together on. They said: He told us to. He told us
en so incompetent this year, do we on that. And this was so successful. to.
honestly expect an expansion of wel- But not all of the businesses got in at I remember early on, I was down in
fare programs not to be overwhelmed the beginning. Most of them were AUGUST PFLUGER’s district. It was one
with fraud?’’ small. They were having problems. So of the first big rushes. He is an amaz-
Madam Speaker, I have some facts it ran out of money. So we wanted to ing Member. I don’t know if you met
about our State. I don’t know if you put more money in something we all him, Madam Speaker, but he served
are taking notes. I can send them to voted for. our country proudly. He flew F–22s in
you if you are not. Madam Speaker, I remember seeing Speaker PELOSI on battle.
last month, it was reported that unem- late night TV. I don’t know the name Do you know what he did?
ployment fraud in California—that is of the refrigerator. I can’t afford one. I At 20 years you get a retirement. He
where we represent—reached $20 bil- like ice cream, but I don’t buy that left right before that. He gave that up
lion. kind. That is expensive. I wonder how to serve in this body not knowing that
Do you know how many audits of much it costs now with inflation. It is he would win. That is how much he re-
people earning $75,000 you have to do to probably much more. But she picked up spects this body.
get $20 billion? that ice cream. She smiled into the I remember I was with him that day
Now, that is 10 percent of the State’s camera to America and said ‘‘no.’’ and we were in this event and the
entire budget—10 percent of the State’s How could you do that? mayor came. August looked fraught be-
entire budget—fraud. How could you do that? cause, do you know what the Biden ad-
Do you think there will be any fraud We are in a pandemic. It was work- ministration did?
in this $5 trillion? ing. It was bipartisan. That is the He had moved 1,000 illegals that they
Oh, no. No. No. No. They are going to power of the Speaker. had caught into his city without even
have a lot of accountability in there. But let’s talk about another idea in calling him.
Andrew Gruel is the founder and ex- this bill that is so unbelievably out of
ecutive chef of Slapfish Restaurants. touch with reality and flat-out dan- b 0150
Nobody had it harder than the res- gerous to our citizens: amnesty for ille- You know why they went to his city?
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
taurants. He is down in Long Beach. He gal immigrants. Because Joe Biden became President,
is an entrepreneur. He illustrated how Madam Speaker, you are a little clos- shut down oil production, and they had
this isn’t just a line-item issue on a er to the border than I am. I know this little oil cities there. So all those peo-
ledger. When they shut down outdoor is an issue for you, too. I am not sure ple who lost their jobs, that had to
dining, 90 percent of the restaurants in how many times you have been to the leave, moved them in. And not one of
southern California closed. border. I am not sure if you were down them were tested for COVID; not one.
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6643
It was going rampant. And when you they signed a letter to the Speaker and sure it put in the calculation of why
would talk to the doctors there on the said they would not vote for it unless Putin has thousands of his military
border, they said more than 10 percent this was in the bill. They got it in the next to Ukraine, or China pushes on
have COVID. bill. Taiwan every day.
And when you would walk—and this So I think Josh and those 21 and ev- We have seen it time and time again,
is interesting to me, Madam Speaker. I erybody that signed that CBO, they allowing illegal immigration fuels
know when President Trump was Presi- should talk to these people. Their let- more illegal immigration. Talking
dent, the other side of the aisle called ters work. I don’t know about the other about amnesty is a public relations
where people were stored, cages. I don’t ones. coup for the coyotes. We have seen this
know if Webster took that away, but I The winners of this mass amnesty before.
don’t hear that anymore. But it is the are going to be the smugglers and the The losers, however, would be the
exact same place where they are, and it criminal cartels who get a government- rule of law, legal immigration, and,
is overcrowded. provided advertisement for new cus- most importantly, American citizens.
But you know what is even worse? tomers. They don’t even have to adver- Madam Speaker, I know your dis-
They have expanded the cages. It now tise anymore. trict, like mine, has a lot of first-gen-
hangs under freeways. They just walk I seriously would request, let’s all go eration Americans.
right on across. to the border together. Let’s fan it all b 0200
But you know what happened? A the way through. Let’s do Republican
I go to naturalization services—the
news agency went down and started and Democrat together.
look on these young Americans. They
filming it; 10,000 people, just there. So I don’t care how you feel about immi-
raise their hand. Do you know what I
what did the Biden administration do? gration, but I know in your heart you
tell them? It is a struggle.
They used that Machiavellian ap- are opposed to human trafficking. And When my grandfather came here,
proach, right? They banned the news I want to sit with the children and let’s Giuseppe, his father was already here.
agency from using a drone so America talk to them. Let’s hear what has hap- He and his mother had to stay back in
couldn’t see it. That is how they will pened to them on their journey because Italy. If you walk into my office, right
fix the problem. they are going to need more help than there, you get the Ellis Island. They
Well, that didn’t work. But you you can imagine. had to say: Where are you going to
know, with one-party rule in 1 year, Let’s talk to the ones who do make live? Who are your sponsors? His fa-
you can try anything. So then the Sec- it; that are now going to be trafficked ther, my grandfather, was working in
retary came out and said, We hear you. in our country because they didn’t an ammunition factory in Connecticut.
We are moving them all back. They are have enough to pay; of what they are When I look at the faces when they
all going back to their country. And lo going to have to do for the cartel. take that oath, do you know what I tell
and behold, everybody was moved out. Can you imagine who is getting them? Valley Forge is now their strug-
And what did we find just a few days, across we don’t know? I fear greatly gle. George Washington is their Found-
weeks later? that someone from that prison in ing Father. Abraham Lincoln is their
I don’t know what training it is for Bagram finds their way. They found emancipator. Martin Luther King
the Cabinet, but first the Attorney their way in a suicide vest that took 13 spoke of their dreams. And the flag
General comes to Congress and says he American lives, while 16 months prior, that flies on the Moon is their flag.
is not spying on parents, and the whis- not one casualty. They have as many rights as I do,
tleblower says he is. Why should America, Madam Speak- who was born here, but they also have
Then we got a Homeland Security er, trust the Biden administration with a responsibility.
Cabinet member, says he is sending $5 trillion after how he handled Af- Madam Speaker, when I hear from
them all back. And then a whistle- ghanistan? my constituents who are here and
blower shows us late at night, they are Why should we trust him if he looked waiting for their family, for 10 years,
not sending them back. They are send- in the eyes of the American public and to be reunited, and they watch what is
ing them all around, all around, all-ex- said he would not leave until every happening, they get the most upset.
pense-paid trip. American is out? They left what they knew. They risked
I won the lottery, but I didn’t win Why should we trust him if he said everything because they believed in the
$450,000. we could do nothing better? rule of law. They believed in America.
Where is the trust and respect for the Why should we trust him if he treat- I saw Victoria back here earlier. She
American public? ed our allies the way he did? He treated knows what it is like to immigrate
And here is the kicker. According to the Taliban better than the U.K. or here. She knows what it is like to take
supporters, this bill grants amnesty for France. a risk. She knows what it is like to live
millions of illegal immigrants who will Madam Speaker, it is reported that up to the rule of law.
be able to obtain a government-issued Boris Johnson learned that America As this crisis gets worse, it will creep
ID. But it doesn’t have a single cent for was going to pull out. He calls the further into American cities. We know
more border security. President, who we all watched in that now that the Biden administration
Madam Speaker, I made a little lonely photo in Camp David. He didn’t isn’t sending illegal immigrants back.
wager to the last Speaker, and think it return his call for 36 hours. This is an They are flying them into cities across
will be a fun wager. We have really ally we have fought side by side with the country in the dead of night.
never spent much time together. We from World War I to World War II, who Madam Speaker, I don’t get to see
should. We come from the same State. has sacrificed lives in Afghanistan, not the President much. When I asked him
So let’s make a wager on dinner, because their country got attacked, about the border, he was telling me he
okay? Let’s say, if this bill passes, I be- but because America got attacked. is making it so much better.
lieve more people will be attracted to But the President of the United Can you ask him why they fly them
come here illegally. And I assume, if I States accepted a deadline from the in the dead of night? Do they get a dis-
listen to the talking points, you think Taliban when our allies asked for a lit- count, or is that so people don’t see it?
it will be different. So let’s look at this tle longer. That same President prom- It is interesting to me, the word ‘‘re-
in a year. If you are right, I will buy ised America no one would be left be- spect.’’ I know many times I travel the
you dinner. If I am right, you buy my hind. country—I see my friend across the
dinner. Sound good? We can talk all Madam Speaker, never in my life did aisle here. The flood in Houston, I re-
about it. I believe a man, woman, Republican, member us all going down to the facil-
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
But this is the unbelievable kicker. Democrat, whoever, had the honor to ity, the families there. We worked to-
Many Democrats think this doesn’t go serve as President of the United States, gether. You were there; the mayor was
far enough. You know, it is inter- would knowingly make that decision. there; everybody else was there. Why?
esting—and, Madam Speaker, you I know, Madam Speaker, people Because we told each other we were
should find these Democrats, because thought the issue would leave. Unfor- coming. We serve together. We work
some of them are from California— tunately, it is here for decades. I am together.
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H6644 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
Why would we fly people into a city I remember another family a few to me because they see it every day.
and not talk to the mayors? We hold years back was strolling out on the They see it every day. I can’t walk by
them responsible for public security pier, a beautiful place to go. His family one without saying thank you.
and safety in COVID. Why do they have watched their daughter die, get shot. But you know what is happening?
to find out? Is it because you are not The person who shot her was somebody They are retiring. They are not appre-
telling the American public the truth? who came across the border illegally ciated. It is only making it worse. Just
Every American city is set to become a and took her life. five, just five is all it takes. Pause the
border city and a sanctuary city. The defunding of police has destroyed bill.
Madam Speaker, you live toward San our cities. It is interesting that the Look, I promise, I promise if five
Diego, and I think San Diego is a beau- first time I ever heard that phrase was would pause this bill, I will pay for
tiful place. in this Chamber. Madam Speaker, it your plane to Puerto Rico later, if you
I loved San Francisco. I thought San was from your side of the aisle. The just help those along the border. I will
Francisco was the only East Coast city first time, Madam Speaker, was this pay for your ticket. I promise, you will
California had. But I still remember, I year. get there.
was in sixth grade and saved up $400. I watched your party defund the Iron Now, let me be clear. Objections to
That year was tough. My family didn’t Dome for Israel. I never thought that mass amnesty are not anti-immigrant.
have money for a vacation. So I told would happen. I never thought that Republicans recognize the value that
my mom and dad I would give them the would happen. immigrants bring to American society,
$400 if we could go to San Francisco The first time I watched $5 trillion, American culture, and America’s econ-
and could go tour Alcatraz. bigger than the New Deal, and not one omy.
Some of my fondest memories, my dollar to protect Americans—Russell You know what is so sad? The public
dad driving the van, my sister, my Johnson. I don’t care how you feel doesn’t realize a lot of us talk to-
brother, my mom. My dad was a fire about immigration. The drugs that are gether. When I was majority leader, I
chief. He was straight-laced. We were coming across the border are coming to would bring Members in, and we would
yelling at him because we were hungry. talk a lot about this broken immigra-
your district.
We wanted McDonald’s. We told him to tion system.
I don’t care if you live in New York
get off. He cuts across all of these I understand, we have a government
or Maine. Call your coroner. Call your
lanes, and he gets pulled over. He has that you have got to find compromise.
sheriff. Ask them. It comes across from
never had a ticket in his life. Do you If you don’t find compromise, you are
Mexico, but it is made in China.
know how your father can punish you going to end up just like we are today,
just with the look of his eye? Oh, I b 0210
one-party rule in one year.
have never forgotten that moment. We heard from Mayor Don We brought two immigration bills to
We went to San Francisco. We down McLaughlin about the effects this dan- the floor, and not one Democrat would
to the Wharf. We went to Lombard gerous policy will have on American vote for it. You know the sad thing,
Street, drove all the way as it curves cities, especially those that are near Madam Speaker, I am not sure you
down. My mom went and got tickets the border. were here yet. I went to a number of
for Alcatraz, but she bought the wrong I don’t know if I will get this right. the Members of the Democratic Party
tickets. She bought a boat that just You may want to tell me, August, who said they wanted it; it was so im-
went around Alcatraz, didn’t get to go Cochise County? Yeah? You don’t portant, they wanted to vote for it. But
into Alcatraz. Then we went to Lake know. the minority leader at the time, now
Tahoe, and we went back home. Sheriff Mark Dannels told us: ‘‘The the Speaker, told them no, they needed
It wasn’t until my children were rule of law is being destroyed here. The an issue for the campaign. They needed
born, until they were in elementary violent behavior we are seeing from the an issue for the campaign.
school, that I did get to go to Alcatraz. cartels’’—listen to this—the cartels So when STENY HOYER talked about
My son just moved to San Francisco call my office, saying they’re gonna the children’s children learning about
with his new wife. He had to buy a car. kill my deputies’’—they’re gonna kill it, I hope they read about that, too.
He was living in D.C. I had an uncle my deputies. We know that America is a nation of
pass away last week, and they were ‘‘And the things we’ve seen, our qual- immigrants. We honor this tradition in
home for the funeral. ity of life, not just on our borders, but
I am worried about him living in San history. As I often say at naturaliza-
in America is being diminished.’’ tion ceremonies—as I told you earlier,
Francisco. I read about the Walgreens.
Maybe you haven’t heard that before, we are the only nation in the world,
I was worried about him getting a car
but now you have. and we have Members on both sides of
because the last time I was there, the
So, Madam Speaker, could five the aisle that were born in other coun-
signs on every door said: ‘‘Please don’t
Democrats pause this bill and put some tries—Lady Liberty does what she does
break in. I have nothing inside.’’
He says: Dad, I just got insurance. money in there to protect these depu- best, she opened up her arms, she
I didn’t know that was a big deal. But ties from being killed or protect the brought you in to America, and you be-
he said: I found out I live on the safest children in schools? It just takes five, came a citizen.
street in the whole place. that is all. Just five. You have got $5 George Washington, right there, even
But it still costs him three times trillion. $5 trillion. No one has ever if you weren’t born in this country, he
what mine does. seen this type of money. is your Founding Father. Abraham
I watched the policies of San Fran- I can’t believe it. Who gave you the Lincoln is your liberator. When Martin
cisco change that city. I watched peo- right to sacrifice those lives, those Luther King spoke down at the Lincoln
ple like Chuck Schwab, who seconded dreams, those futures? Memorial, he spoke of your dreams.
his house to start a business that al- You know what gets to me? I have Right, JUAN? And now you have the op-
lows Americans to invest at the lowest told you my father was a firefighter. It portunity, that less than 13,000 Ameri-
cost possible. He has changed so many is interesting, if you have a first re- cans have had, to serve in this body.
lives. sponder job, it is not a job, it is a fam- But, Madam Speaker, why at times
Do you know what his greatest love ily. The firefighters, the police officers, do I feel the rhetoric that I hear from
was? San Francisco. There is not a mu- you are together on Christmas, you are some, they almost dislike this coun-
seum or a homeless center that Chuck together all the time. If one of them try? They want to tear down the
Schwab hasn’t funded. He doesn’t live needs work at the house, we are over Founding Fathers, they want to re-
there anymore. there pouring concrete, we are fixing name the schools. No one ever said we
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
Do you know what my son told me? I the roof. It is a way of life. were perfect, but we strive to be a more
was kind of excited when he said he I cannot imagine a deputy coming perfect Union.
lived in a safe place. He has a little home, a mom, a deputy being threat- I would hope those Members would
dog, Otis. He said: But I can’t wear my ened with their own life and looking at come to my office, see the paintings,
AirPods when I take him for a walk be- their children—because I know they see how far we have come. Frederick
cause you have to be looking. don’t sit back and say it won’t happen Douglass had every reason to hate this
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6645
Nation. Born into slavery, sold from it is their future. And, Madam Speaker, We are not far from the Supreme
his parents, taught to read but was these are the children that Majority Court. I am not sure—a lawyer can cor-
beaten for it. Gave Bible studies to the Leader STENY HOYER talked about, the rect me—what is the name of the stat-
other slaves. Was beaten, escaped, be- children’s children learning about ue out there, is that Lady Justice? She
came a free man, and became an ad- today. I hope they are not denied to is blindfolded with a scale in her hands
viser and one of the best friends to hear what went on on the floor tonight. that is supposed to weigh equally. The
Abraham Lincoln. He had as much to That would be a travesty. same Attorney General came this close
do about America bonding together, of Over the last year, everyone has lis- to being on the Supreme Court. He
healing and driving where everybody tened to passionate parents speak out looked at the Members on both sides of
would be equal. when out-of-touch politicians and inef- the aisle and said he wasn’t inves-
So, yes, we are a nation of immi- fective school boards keep their chil- tigating them. Could you imagine what
grants, but we are also a nation of dren’s school closed for months on end. it took for somebody working in that
laws. Madam Speaker, I know you must body to risk their job as a whistle-
Amnesty is unfair to everyone who have had your heart torn when we blower to put forth the information
plays by the rules, whether they are watched that father, the father that that he lied?
American citizens or legal immigrants. went to a school board—and I didn’t Madam Speaker, I heard the Speaker
The depressed wages, rewarding quite grasp it at first. I just watched— just yesterday tell me they are at a
lawbreaking, and straining public re- he was being wrestled down. He was higher standard. Madam Speaker, I
sources. That is why Republicans re- trying to talk. And it depends on which know your body knows how to im-
ject the growing calls by Democrats to station you listen to; on one station peach. You have done it twice. You
defund ICE and open our borders to ev- they said he was like a terrorist. You even have now Special Investigator
eryone. know what we found out? He was hand- Durham tell you the first time you did
Madam Speaker, I said, the first time cuffed and removed. Why would he do it it was all lies.
I ever heard the phrase ‘‘defund the po- that? Why would he fight so hard? The If you believe in the rule of law, if
lice’’ was on this floor. The first time I same reason all of us would: His child. you believe in these parents, where is
ever heard the phrase ‘‘defund ICE,’’ I You see, he went to that school board ADAM SCHIFF when you need him,
thought they just wanted to drink meeting. His daughter was raped. She Madam Speaker?
water without ice at first, I wasn’t sure was raped by an individual that was We write law. The Attorney General
what they were talking about. How not of the same gender that went into is the highest law enforcement officer
could that possibly be? that bathroom. That father notified in this administration. He is supposed
JUAN, you would not want to defund to be fair on both sides. He promised us
the school board. The school board
ICE? he wasn’t going to play politics. But
didn’t know about it. Lo and behold,
Just for the American public to
we found out later, oh, they knew now we have found that he lied there.
know, Madam Speaker, I have the ut-
about it, and the emails were there. Now they even go further. They use it
most respect for JUAN VARGAS. He and
Why? Why would they arrest that fa- for intimidation.
I have served together in the State leg-
ther? I am shocked he didn’t do more. Do you know, no subpoena in Con-
islature; we serve here. We vote dif-
But you know what happened? That gress since 1983 have the Attorneys
ferently. I respect his character. I re-
is not the end of the story. They just General done anything with. For those
spect your faith. You know what I re-
transferred that student to another who are held in contempt here, nothing
spect as well? Your respect of other
school to do the exact same thing. I ever happened. It was interesting,
people who have a difference of opin-
think every parent in that school Madam Speaker, I don’t know if you
ion. You weren’t here earlier, I don’t
should have known what took place on caught this, but ADAM SCHIFF said, but
think.
that campus; and every student, every now it is different, we have an Attor-
Madam Speaker, I couldn’t believe
parent should have known in the next ney General who will do what we want.
there was a person in this body that
school that that student was there. Madam Speaker, ADAM SCHIFF was
told me I couldn’t look at them when I
They have a right to know it. right. He has become the most political
talked. I have never heard that before.
Madam Speaker, we introduced a bill Attorney General in the history of this
I am sure people on that side of the
to do just that, the Parents’ Bill of Nation.
aisle might look at me as being unwor-
Rights. I tell the American public if it Now, I worry, I worry greatly. If he
thy, not equal. That is unfortunate. We
gets denied by this Democratic major- lies about spying on parents, what else
are all Americans. I didn’t disrupt one
ity, it will be passed 1 year from now. does he lie about? If he picks who he is
word they said. I didn’t agree with it. I
It will be one of the first bills we take going to go after based upon your polit-
thought this place was a place of de-
up. ical affiliation, he is not wearing a
bate, a place of ideas, Madam Speaker,
We have seen and heard parents and blindfold, he has got binoculars looking
where the best idea could win.
children speaking out at school board right at you.
b 0220 meetings frustrated by the govern- Madam Speaker, if we are going to
Without the rule of law we could not ment-knows-best approach to edu- hold this body to a higher level, I
have a fair, functioning, or secure im- cation. would think we could work together on
migration system. Without the rule of You know what is interesting, there this. Wouldn’t you at least want to
law, we could not have a free society. was an election in Virginia, and it was have a hearing on it now that you have
Finally, Madam Speaker, I want to pretty big in Virginia, this issue. You got the facts? Wouldn’t you want to
discuss an issue that has sparked a par- had a Democrat running for Governor call them back? Not for me, but for the
ents’ movement across this country: that is a former Governor, and he made parents. What about that father? I
Education. Every parent in every com- a statement: ‘‘Parents don’t have a wonder if he was investigated.
munity and every corner of this coun- right to know what happens in their You know what is interesting, the
try has a right to know what their chil- children’s school.’’ I think he lost the Attorney General said he based this all
dren are being taught and what they election over it. But parents rose up. on an organization that sent him one
are actually learning. And no politi- What did the Biden administration letter. One letter. That was put out
cian or government bureaucrat should do? Well, the Attorney General stopped publicly. Do you know what that orga-
have the power to deny you that right. looking at those who were killing peo- nization did? Oh, I’m sorry, I will take
I got a lot of hope 2 weeks ago. There ple in Chicago on the weekend or why it back. But the Attorney General
are so many times in American society Walgreens was shutting down in San never took it back. I wonder if we had
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
you get down. But we are the best form Francisco. You start looking at the to question, did anybody in the Attor-
of government. At any moment, our parents. They were terrorists. But ney General’s Office call that organiza-
power is not driven from here, but from when he came before this body, you tion and ask for that letter so they
people. And they spoke loudly. have got to understand who this person could take that action? I don’t know. I
Republicans respect the right of par- is. He is the top law enforcement offi- don’t know this. I would feel better if
ents. After all, these are your children, cer of this country. that didn’t happen.
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H6646 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
b 0230 know what is in the bill before it gets Madam Speaker, on my first trip I
But it is interesting to me, if they passed. Because I trust you enough if went to my friend, STENY HOYER. I
acted so fast on that letter, is he open- you stayed and heard what is in the said, let’s don’t go on separate weeks.
ing all his mail that quick? Because we bill, you wouldn’t vote for it. I don’t Let’s spend a couple times where we
have sent a lot of things to him. It is know, my political team would prob- overlap, because I don’t think our
almost like he was already prepared. ably get mad at me for saving some of greatest ally should be a partisan
And it was interesting, he had like a you, but I don’t care. I want to save issue.
deadline, had to get done before two America. And you know when we did this—I
weeks ago last Tuesday. Yeah, I don’t But let me tell you what I never hear may get the number wrong, it is late
know what happened back then or from families, hopelessness. As any into the morning—but I think we had
what the deadline would be. But why parent can relate, our children are the 25 percent of the Congress there. We
wouldn’t he back away? most important people in our lives, and did a press conference together with
You know, what is interesting with we will do anything to protect them STENY and I talking, showing the en-
those who sent the letter, once it was and make sure they have the best op- tire world of our commitment to Israel.
made public, they didn’t want any part portunities available. That is why de- We broke up in groups of Republicans
of it. spite being targeted by President and Democrats alike, and we went and
I would hope that organization would Biden’s Department of Justice, parents toured different parts of Israel. But
change their leadership. They should are speaking out louder than ever. you know the one place we went all to-
change their leadership, rightfully so. Madam Speaker, maybe you and I gether? The Iron Dome.
Over the last year, parents have be- can go down to the White House and You see, the Iron Dome is not
come the teacher, the coach, the music see the President. You see, he picked hypersonics. It is not a first-strike
teacher, science teacher, had to do al- the Attorney General, so I don’t want weapon. It is a defensive weapon. You
most all. But you never would have to judge the President based upon the see, what the Iron Dome will do, it will
thought they would have become the actions of the Attorney General. But look when a missile is shot from Gaza
terrorist. You never would have now that the President knows what the and it is coming, it will take it and it
thought they would become the ter- Attorney General did, I would hope the is going to calculate. If it is going to
rorist. President didn’t know he did this be- hit in a populated area, it shoots up
You wonder why all of a sudden are fore the whistleblower came forward, and blows it up, but if the calculation
more parents coming out to the school because I know ADAM SCHIFF will hold means it goes in an unpopulated area,
board? Could it be because of the pan- that for impeachment. let it go.
demic and the Zoom meetings where But, Madam Speaker, now that the
b 0240
the parents are having to teach, they President knows the Attorney General
are beginning to hear what is being of the United States of America lied to It is technology worked on by both
taught. And it is interesting, one Congress and spied on parents saying countries. We were so proud of this, 25
party, one control, 1 year, and the Fed- they were terrorists, you know what percent of this body. We took a picture
eral Government can come after you in we could do? Just five Democrats vote in front of the Iron Dome. If you
a school board meeting. with us and we will hold the Attorney looked at each other’s faces, we were
Now, in this bill, they could dictate General in contempt. I am sure the At- with pride. We fist-bumped each other.
what your children can do. But no- torney General now will base his policy We went back to the King David and
where in this bill does it say that par- like no other attorney general has done did our press conference. We were
ents have a right to know. Nowhere. since 1983 and go after himself. Because united.
Nowhere in this bill does it deny the I am sure he is very fair. It is the rule Madam Speaker, when thousands of
Attorney General to spy on a parent. of law. rockets were shot at Israel just this
Madam Speaker, now that you know Parents nationwide refuse to accept year, never before have we seen these
this information, with five Democrats, lower expectation for their kids. And numbers. When it was time for our
hold this bill up. Don’t do it for me, this month, we heard Virginia parents greatest ally in the Middle East—and
but do it for the parents. Simply say, say enough. not to provide them a weapon to at-
we don’t need credit for this; a Parents’ Madam Speaker, I hope your side of tack anybody, but to say that exact
Bill of Rights. They have the right to the aisle heard it. I know many had to same weapon that we all stood beside
know of the curriculum. They have a go home. It is okay. They still get paid each other on, Madam Speaker, your
right to know what is being taught. whether they are here or not. You can party took it out. Your party took it
They have a right to know what is vote proxy. out. Even today, with one-party rule in
being spent; and they have a right to You know, Madam Speaker, I am 1 year, Israel is now political.
know if there is a violent incident on worried about some on your side of the The Hyde amendment, the millions of
the campus. aisle. You know some of them haven’t lives that it has saved—I know the de-
Just five. Just five; that is all it been back since they voted for Speak- bate of abortion is controversial, but
takes. I promise you this, you will be er, but they will probably still vote for what has been around for 20 to 30 years,
the most popular five Democrats in the this bill. I am sure they read it; maybe we both agreed, whether you support
Nation. You will. I could tell you which they are watching. abortion or not, don’t take American
five are in the toughest races. Madam Speaker, I believe Puerto taxpayer money and make them spend
Listen, far be it from me, but it Rico is on the same time zone. It is not on it. That was fair. That was where we
would be smart of you, because I will a long flight; it is just past Florida. found compromise.
tell you this: Two of them are in Vir- You know, after the hurricane in Puer- That is what America looks at when
ginia. Madam Speaker, Governor-elect to Rico, I went to the minority whip at they look at this body, year after year.
Youngkin won one by 11 points and an- the time, STENY HOYER. We were on a It wouldn’t matter if you were in power
other by 8. Biden had won that State codel together down there. We went all or we were in power; we all kept our
by 10; he won New Jersey by 16. through their struggles. We came up to word. If you have been here longer than
Listen, President Clinton realized Florida, toured there as well. one term, you have voted for the Hyde
after losing all those seats in 1994 that You see, I was in the majority. I amendment. Your leadership—Speaker
he needed to listen to America. That could have had one-party rule in this PELOSI, STENY HOYER, CLYBURN—years
the era of Big Government is over. In House. I could have gone myself and upon years, they have been here and
2010, this exact same thing happened: said no Democrat can go with me, but supported it. One-party rule, 1 year,
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
2009, Virginia and New Jersey, Repub- I don’t think that is good for the and it is wiped away. It is wiped away.
licans won. And four days later, Speak- House, so I reached out to STENY. You Madam Speaker, when STENY HOYER
er PELOSI said you have to pass the bill know, STENY will lead a group of fresh- said our children’s children will learn
to find out what is in it. man Democrats to Israel, and I lead a about today, there are going to be a lot
So if you ask me, why am I still group of Republicans. We have done it of children who don’t learn anything
speaking? Because I want America to for a number of years. because they won’t be here. They won’t
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6647
be here. There are so many reasons Madam Speaker, it is almost with She is right.
why this bill is wrong. fear when you say it. I don’t know. But do you know what, Madam
Madam Speaker, just five Democrats Next week, there may be a $5,000 fine if Speaker?
put a hold on this bill. I know there are I raise her name. Never, when we were I love to study history. I watched the
more than five over there who think it in the majority, did I ever think to closing days of the campaign because
is wrong because you told me so. take away the minority right for people asked me: Could Youngkin win?
I will never question anyone’s faith. I amendment, never in the majority. Man, that is so difficult, but it is going
have witnessed the faithfulness of peo- When my own Conference was as mad to be close. Boy, he put up a good fight
ple on both sides of the aisle. I prayed as can be because the Democrats over- in there, right?
with them. We have wept together. We took this body, I let you express your- I know Terry McAuliffe. I have
prayed for other Members. We break selves. watched him.
bread. They wanted to come back. They How was he going to close after ev-
I have seen your heart. I know what wanted to fine you. They broke every erything that was going on?
you believe. Of all the politics, don’t do rule around. They put it online. They Madam Speaker, at the Washington
this. Don’t do this. Don’t do this. did all that. I took arrows for not doing Post they are so smart in politics.
For decades, this body has upheld. something. Do you want to know why I Do you know what they wrote,
From people who are the biggest pro- didn’t? Because I believe in this insti- Madam Speaker, after the last debate?
choice people I know to those who are tution. I did not want to destroy it. I This is the debate where Terry
the biggest pro-life, they would look did not want to burn it down. It kills McAuliffe said that parents don’t have
each other in the eye when doing ap- me to watch what is happening in this a right to have a say in their children’s
propriation bills and keep their word. I Congress. education.
know it was difficult. Just because you are leaving, don’t They said: Terry McAuliffe put this
I know it was very difficult on the burn it down because you are not going race away. He turned the campaign
other side of the aisle, Madam Speaker. to be here to pick up the pieces. That around. This is it. It is over.
They would get attacked from some is wrong. That is wrong. So every time they write an editorial
people in their own party, but we knew
b 0250 about me—they have never written a
this is where we came together.
That is the history that is being good one—I know I am on the right
Enough of elected officials who pay
made. That is the history that is tak- path. But Terry McAuliffe, with all
more attention to the head of the Na-
ing place. That is the history we can’t that was going on in the schools, brings
tional Teachers Union, Randi
afford. You cannot put a price on the in Randi to tell the parents: You don’t
Weingarten, than to the needs of the
life of a child. You can’t. have a say, she does.
Nation’s children.
What is worse, Madam Speaker—I Madam Speaker, I watched that Vir- What did Governor-elect Youngkin
don’t mean to highlight JUAN VARGAS, ginia race. I watched Governor-elect do?
but for those in America who don’t Youngkin who was never elected to He held a rally. He didn’t take his
know him, he is a faithful man. If I am anything before. We all know what it is talking points from the White House
correct, you were going to be a priest like to run. It is difficult. You are that says that nobody cares about in-
at one time. When we were in Sac- scared. They say things about you that flation and that it is good for you.
ramento, we would pray together. I aren’t true. He was running in a State Do you know what he said?
have watched your servant’s heart. I am going to lower the tax because
where people said he didn’t have a
I just wish, of all the things—and I I am going to help you.
chance, learning as he went.
want to tell our Members, if the Amer- I am sure his political team said: Oh, Then do you know what he said?
ican public will trust us with the ma- you should bring in all these elected of- He didn’t say: This bill is so great. If
jority, we will bring it back. Madam ficials. I get in, I am going to build up the bu-
Speaker, I know people laugh at that, He knew where he stood. He said: No. reaucracy so our children’s children
but, Madam Speaker, I am pretty sure No. No. No. The people of Virginia are can learn about it.
it is going to happen. my heroes. They are my stars. That is He said that he is going to make the
I tell America, don’t get down. It who I want. DMV answer the phone and say: How
may be your religious belief, but now He watched and challenged where ev- can I help you?
Big Government is going to take your erybody made fun. He was going to break the barriers,
taxpayer money and spend on it. We all I remember reading on Twitter right make it smaller, hold them account-
know people—there are people we serve after the primary, David Wasserman, able, and make them more efficient.
with—who their own lives a doctor told who works for the Cook Political Re- Do you know how many people I
their mother to abort, but she didn’t port, tweeted. He got this one right; he know in Virginia who would never vote
and then put them up for adoption. got the last election wrong. He said we for me and never vote for a Repub-
This is so personal to them. would lose 15 seats. He got the number lican?
With technology today and medicine, right but the party wrong. He said that Not only did they vote for Glenn,
a child can live so early. In America, there is a chance Youngkin could win. they walked for him, and they called
the land of opportunity, the oppor- Madam Speaker, you have watched for him. The point is, Madam Speaker,
tunity just to live—but how can we? Twitter. Oh, my God, they attacked you are doing the exact same thing
Why is it—one-party, one rule—that this poor man, and it looked like he Terry McAuliffe did in this bill.
you are going to go after people? You would be wrong throughout this pri- Madam Speaker, 1 year from now, if
are going to go after people who work mary because here you are, Madam you lose your majority, don’t blame
in the faith community, who have dedi- Speaker, with Terry McAuliffe, a me. I have warned you. America has
cated their life, who just fundamen- former Governor and the right hand to warned you. They sent you every sign
tally disagree with this. the Clintons. possible. A truck driver spending less
Now you hired 87,000 agents. You are Terry McAuliffe is the guy who than $400, spending $60 of it in Dunkin’
going to grab it out of their hands. loaned the money to Bill Clinton when Donuts, beat the president of the sen-
Why would you do that to them? he left the White House to buy his ate of New Jersey.
Can’t we disagree? Do you know how house. He has won it before, he knows Enough of politicians who tell them
tough it was to come to that agree- what to do. Biden just won by 10 points they don’t deserve to have a say in
ment? I don’t know why it has changed less than 1 year ago. their own kids’ education. Enough of
so greatly. I don’t know why there is I watched all the people they brought local school boards who listen to divi-
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
one set of rules for you and a different in: President Obama and KAMALA HAR- sive activists who want children to
one for us. I don’t know why there is a RIS. I believe what KAMALA HARRIS judge each other on the color of their
whole other set for the Speaker and no- said. She said: This is a bellwether. skin, but who ignore the parents who
body else. That is not a proud moment What happens in Virginia is an indi- try to explain the devastating and
for this floor. It is not a proud moment cator of what is going to happen in the long-term effects of a year of lost
for the country. future. learning.
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H6648 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
The message sent by Virginia parents b 0300 and how well they are doing. Because
on November 2 was loud, clear, and in- Will they keep childcare costs down they know that that generation can do
spirational. You see, Madam Speaker, and give parents better choices? No. better than their generation. And this
they didn’t have some political organi- I am not sure in the new provision, bill tells them they don’t get to have a
zation giving money and training. All but you know what you do to say in it.
they had was love for their children— childcare? If you want to be in I will tell you this, a school on one
much more powerful. These are our childcare, you have got to have a col- side of my district and the other, needs
kids, and we will have a say in what lege degree. Do you know how many are different. But it doesn’t matter if
they learn in the classrooms. people you are going to knock out? you come from the wealthy.
A few of these parents joined me ear- You are going to make it more dif- Just outside my district, in DAVID
lier this month for a discussion on the ficult, more expensive. VALADAO’s, is a charter school, Barbara
harmful policies in this bill. Some of the greatest childcare pro- Grimm. The Grimm family are major
Jenny, a northern Virginia mom and viders are your neighbors down the entrepreneurs.
school choice advocate said it per- street that open up their house; that You see, in my district, there are two
fectly: Many parents are frustrated probably lost their job, if they are from families that grow 50 percent of all the
with the K–12 public schools. We expe- Bakersfield in the energy industry and carrots in the country. Have you ever
rienced over 1 year of closed schools, tried to do something else and cared eaten one of these baby carrots? I will
disastrous remote learning, misspent for the children. But in your bill, it let you in on a little secret. There is no
emergency Federal money, refusal to won’t let them do it. such thing. They are just big carrots
meet the needs of children with disabil- Will they create new opportunities? they chop and they charge you more
ities, lowered academic standards, and No. Instead, it will invariably result in and you buy them.
classrooms focused on woke agendas lower standards, limited choice, and They have a workforce of like 7,000,
rather than addressing learning loss more indoctrination. That is the path immigrants from all different parts.
and essential academic instructions. that would quickly transform society; They love education. They put to-
We are fed up. the great equalizer into its greatest gether a fund to pay for the college of
One parent told me that the school failure. the children of their workers; that is
board said the kids aren’t doing well in I don’t believe anybody in this body how much they care.
testing, so we are going to lower the doesn’t believe education is the great You know what? They just don’t put
standards. We are going to lower the equalizer. it together and leave it. They started
standards. I was visited the other day by Condi to wonder, because their projections
Do you think they say that in China? Rice. What an amazing woman; such were they would be spending more and
No. This is America. We want to talent, such a heart. She grew up in a they are not. They could have easily
raise our standards, and if the kids country that judged her, wouldn’t give said, oh, we saved money.
aren’t learning it is not their fault. Fix her equal; a concert pianist; fluent in But then they went and listened.
it. Russian; to the highest office advising Why aren’t the kids going to college?
Republicans hear their concerns, but, our Presidents. You know what they found out? The
unfortunately, Madam Speaker, Demo- I watched her on a show, The View. local school wasn’t preparing them.
crats in Congress are choosing to ig- She has reasons to be mad at the coun- They say, you know, what about the
nore them. They would rather appease try. I have never seen Condi mad. She money? We will put a charter school in.
teachers’ unions than listen to parents loves this country. You know who fought them the hard-
and students. You know, the interesting thing she est? The teachers’ union. But that
Madam Speaker, I wonder what told me? Here she is, growing up in the didn’t stop Barbara Grimm.
would have happened in that campaign sixties, fifties—and she is not the first The school has uniforms; does an-
if Terry McAuliffe could have said Ph.D. woman in her family, her aunt other period of school. And the parents
‘‘no’’ to the union and ‘‘yes’’ to the was, because they knew what it meant have the biggest say in it. You know
parents, he had on stage parents and for education. that school, on the outskirts of this
teachers. But I guess they didn’t write She grew up in the South. And when farming community, in less than a cou-
a big enough check. she watched and she got this question, ple of years has better scores than the
Here is how in this bill Democrats critical race theory, with all that she wealthiest schools in my district.
want the Federal Government to dic- went through, she could not under- It doesn’t matter where you come
tate education standards. Make no mis- stand why, in today’s education, they from. They just need opportunity. This
take. Nationalized education means will judge these innocent children takes it away.
less control for parents and more con- based upon the color of their skin; to We have a better vision, and I don’t
trol for Washington politicians who move some to the other side, to the want it just to be ours. I welcome you
want to spend hundreds of billions of other, because she witnessed that. She to join us. We believe that parents
dollars on unionized universal pre-K. knew what happened to her. matter. Madam Speaker, anybody on
I listened to the President, Madam We are better. I know we are better. your side of the aisle that believes that
Speaker, money could only go if it is a Education gives everybody an oppor- parents matter, join us. We put the
union. There are a lot of States that tunity. Now, what you do with it, there parents’ bill in writing. You could co-
are right to work. If you look at the is no guarantee. sponsor.
data, right-to-work States grow faster I am fearful that in this bill, you The parents know best; and the par-
in their economy. It means that Secre- guarantee an income. You take away ents belong at the center of their
taries of HHS and Education have the the incentive. child’s education. They have not only
final say in what our children will Education is not the same. I know the responsibility but the right to
learn. you go to your schools in your district. know what their kids learn in the
I wonder if these Cabinet members Just in your district, the schools are classroom.
will be different from the other Cabinet different. Madam Speaker, I was shocked. Do
members? My district is unique; kids from you realize, in Virginia, if a parent
I wonder, Madam Speaker, if we ask every walk of life. I am a product of went to a certain school and wanted to
them what will be the curriculum, will public school. When I go back to my el- know what was being taught, they said
they laugh at us? ementary, it is more than 90 percent you can, but you first have to sign an
Democrats describe their policies as Hispanic, a lot of first generation, a lot NDA. What? An NDA? You can’t talk
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
investments. But the truth is these are of school lunches. about it?
not the kind of investments that pay I give out certificates for those who You know, that kind of goes back to
dividends. In fact, it is the opposite. reach the criteria of a GPA. I watch the 87,000 IRS agents. If you start with
Will they improve education per- the grandparents, the parents gleam. the premise that you don’t trust some-
formance for children? Why? Because their greatest invest- body and you know best, and you want
No. ment is their grandchild or that child control, that is the policy you write.
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6649
That is why Republicans have un- doctor, you can keep it? Because I came back? Well, it really doesn’t have
veiled the Parents’ Bill of Rights. It would like him to talk to a few of my to pay for itself anymore.
doesn’t matter your wealth or the constituents. There is a family, hus- I don’t know how you go home to
color of your skin. You have the right band and wife, who have a beautiful your constituents because if you tell
to know what is being taught in family. One of their sons has little them one thing and you vote for an-
schools. You have a right to have a movement. He is confined to a wheel- other, what are they going to believe
seat at the table. Our children have a chair and needs a lot of help. They lost you on?
right to have a seat at the table, too. their doctor; they lost their I don’t know. Maybe they are home.
Education is the great equalizer. We healthcare; and they had to pay more. I don’t know. There could be Members
are all created equal in God’s eyes. And That is what happens. here who didn’t want to change their
we are going to make sure we make I wonder if he checked NANCY PELOSI, airline tickets, Madam Speaker, and
that happen across this country so all Madam Speaker, when she said you had are already in Puerto Rico because
students have a bright future. to pass it to know what is in it. they can vote proxy. Maybe they are
Madam Speaker, over 10 years ago I have said this before. It came just 3 down there. I don’t know. I mean, you
this body rushed to pass the govern- days after Americans in Virginia and don’t want to make the lobbyists wait,
ment takeover of our healthcare sys- New Jersey elected Republican Gov- do you?
tem now known as ObamaCare. You I wish we had a debate longer than 10
ernors, sending a loud and clear mes-
know, it is interesting, Madam Speak- minutes on each side for the final bill.
sage to Democrats in Washington to
er, when they passed it there was a How long do you think they debated
stop what they were doing. When the
Member in the Senate that offered an the New Deal? Do you think it came in
Speaker was talking about the bill be-
at the end of the night? Do you think
amendment. It said Members in Con- fore it passed, that is when she fa- they gave 10 minutes to each side? You
gress have to be in ObamaCare. My mously said: We have to pass it to know, that was one-party rule with a
healthcare is ObamaCare. But they know what is in it. much bigger majority.
wrote it in a way that the staff of lead- I remember that day. There were We have to pass it to know what is in
ership doesn’t have to be in crowds out in front. I remember walk- it. Sound familiar? It should. It is al-
ObamaCare. ing out to the balcony over here, most what is happening on the floor
Rules for thee, but not for me. watching the people concerned. They today, only much worse.
I remember talking to a leader on remind me of those parents who went It is the Green New Deal, historic tax
your side of the aisle. Boy, was he mad. to school board meetings just a couple hikes, historic borrowing and spending,
He was not putting his staff in of weeks ago. a government takeover of our edu-
ObamaCare, and he wasn’t going to be The majority in here just wanted to cation system, open borders for illegal
in Obamacare. But he was going to con- rush through the bill. It was thousands immigration, and incentives to make
trol it and put it on everybody else. of pages, too. I didn’t have a magic products anywhere in the world but
b 0310 minute, so I couldn’t talk this long. I here in America.
I got fact-checked by The Wash- wish I could have. Do you know what is interesting?
I don’t know if this speech is going to When we passed the tax cut bill, I re-
ington Post on whether I won the lot-
make a difference. But in my heart, I member watching television. I remem-
tery and whether I had a deli. They ac-
know America will know more about ber people coming up and shaking my
tually said it wasn’t true.
I was on a trip overseas. It just so it. hand and saying: I got a raise. The
I hope, Madam Speaker, your Mem- company saved money, so they gave me
happened, Nick Bikakis, who is a friend
bers know this isn’t the last time you more money. Now that they have to
of mine, was traveling with me to San
are voting on this bill. Because, Madam pay more, I wonder if they will take it
Diego that day. He was in line with me
Speaker, I know when that poor Josh back?
when I bought the ticket. I literally Do you know what is interesting,
said to Nick: Hey, Nick, you know made that incredible dealmaking, that
he was not going to vote to start rec- too? Since that passed, there has not
what? If I win the lottery, I will give been an inversion. Just so you under-
you a hundred bucks. onciliation until he got the BIF, and he
was going to have to get an agreement stand what that is, it is an American
You know what? I kept my word. company domiciling in another coun-
This fact checker at The Washington that it has to be conferenced before
you vote on it, in less than 24 hours— try to get the tax benefit. Why? Be-
Post called Nick 25 years later: Did he cause they no longer got a benefit to be
really win it? it was true he didn’t vote on it. He
deemed it. He was promised a BIF vote, somewhere else. It was beneficial to be
He called the food critic for Bakers- in America.
field, California, that wrote an edi- only to feel like he was Charlie Brown
torial about my deli. But he said it with the football being pulled out from b 0320
really wasn’t. He wanted to know him every couple of weeks. A lot of people made big decisions to
which door opened first. This bill was supposed to be move back to America. I have had a
I can’t believe how far people will go conferenced with the Senate. But you few of them call me and say if this
to try to have control or take some- couldn’t pass it off this floor because a passes they are staying in the other
body down. I think he called a few of group of Members said they wouldn’t country. They say they have a respon-
my employees. I don’t know who was vote for it unless it had amnesty, so sibility to the shareholders. They could
paying them. you are all going to vote for that. be sued because it is beneficial for tax.
It is interesting. One of my top-sell- It is interesting. Madam Speaker, I I guess JARED GOLDEN is right when
ing sandwiches still sells in some of the don’t know. You need to correct me. he says the second biggest item in here
delis back home. They really call it the But it seems to me, from this side of is to millionaires. But you did not
McCarthy sandwich. But that fact the aisle, that Members in the Demo- leave out those who make between
checker says it is not true. cratic Party are not equal. You see, $25,000 and $75,000. They won’t get
I wonder if that fact checker—he is those who ask for amnesty get it. SALT, but they will still get a knock
still there. Remember what he did to Those who ask for the IRS—and they on the door of their house from the
poor TIM SCOTT? TIM SCOTT got up and are a larger number—say it has to be IRS. I don’t know, with that many
gave a tremendous speech. I may get it kicked out of the bill, they don’t get it, agents, they probably come to your
wrong; we are late into the morning. I and they still vote for it. home.
believe his grandfather picked cotton. Then there is this whole group that If I need to, I must remind my col-
So he said he went from cotton to Con- says stay tough; they are not voting on leagues on the other side of the aisle
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
gress. This fact checker said it wasn’t this until the CBO score, the Congres- what was awaiting the Democratic
true. sional Budget Office, the independent, Party nearly a year after that vote.
Does he despise Republicans that affirms what President Biden has told Americans across the country stood
much? Interesting. us, that this pays for itself. and sent a historic message to Wash-
But did that fact checker ever check Madam Speaker, did you listen to ington. Sixty-three new Republicans
President Obama on, if you like your some of their quotes before the CBO were elected that next year.
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H6650 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
Madam Speaker, I study history, but seems like there is no seat that is safe. ing card over to Speaker PELOSI, if you
I haven’t counted the numbers yet. After the vote on this bill, I imagine it put partisanship above people, that
Speaker PELOSI lost 63 there. She said, is going to be much higher. same fate awaits you in 355 days.
though, I remember, during a press You know, there are going to be some But that future is not yet set in
interview with the DCCC chair, they people who still get reelected on the stone. You have a chance, a chance to
were going to win and keep the major- other side. Madam Speaker, those peo- make a choice. And don’t worry. You
ity. ple went along with all the rule all don’t have to do it, just five. That
Remember when we invaded Iraq and changes. They voted for the rule pack- is all, just five.
they had that Iraqi spokesperson as we age that took away the MTR. They That choice is not the Speaker’s
are landing on the runway saying, oh, voted in Ethics to fine Members on the choice because I can almost certainly
nothing is happening here. It kind of other side. They voted to remove a promise you there is a good chance she
felt like that. freshman Congresswoman from her won’t be here to face the consequences
So she lost 63 there. I don’t know how committees based upon something she before voting for this bill.
many she is going to lose after this said before she ever got here. Just Madam Speaker, I don’t know in his-
vote. But I need to get that data. Could voted and spoke on this floor of higher tory there has been a Speaker that in 3
she be the Speaker in modern history, standards. months, when you are working on the
one of the few to lose the majority What was interesting, Madam Speak- most important bill, the culmination
twice and lose the most seats? I don’t er, be it a California Member with a of your career, that you have been able
know. Maybe I have got some time to- Chinese spy, another California Mem- to go to Europe three times in 3
morrow, I will look that up. ber that uses a dossier to take the months. I am not sure if there are
You know what is interesting? I re- country through something very dif- shirts with cities on them and a tour.
member, I don’t know—some people in ficult, Madam Speaker, that the world But the only thing I would say,
the press stay—but I remember all has learned was not true; created the Madam Speaker, if the floor and the
these press people coming to interview Intel Committee, Madam Speaker, to rules are going to change like this, peo-
me before the last election. You know be an impeachment committee. ple should stay for the consequences if
what they asked me every time, So when we were shocked that China they believe in them. That is in her
Madam Speaker? Can you still be lead- had hypersonics or that Afghanistan own words, the culmination of her ca-
er after losing 20 seats? I was dumb- would collapse so quickly, did anybody reer. That is what she said at the press
founded. I said, did the election already ask the Intel Committee chair? They conference.
happen? Well, no, PELOSI and STENY probably didn’t have any hearings on Now the question, Madam Speaker,
HOYER, everybody, The Cook Political that, did they? But they had a lot of for all of you: Do you want it to be the
Report, oh, man, you are going to lose. other hearings. culmination of yours? When your con-
You know what was interesting that Madam Speaker, I remember watch- stituents call for help to secure bene-
night? That was the first night since ing the chairman of Intel on a Sunday fits at the VA, where do you want them
1994, not one Republican incumbent show. He was really excited because to be? When a crisis hits your commu-
lost. Not one. Since 1994. this whistleblower came forth, was nity, such as a hurricane, or a wildfire,
Madam Speaker, you know what else shocked by it, shocked by it. And they or an earthquake, where do you want
happened? That number they put out asked him, do you know this whistle- them to be? Or when they are hurting,
there about 15 Republicans losing, they blower? You could see his body lan- when they are suffering, when they are
were right on the number. They were guage. I don’t know, I don’t know. in need of your help, where do you
just wrong on the party. But then you know what we found want them to be? I trust that answer:
You know what was interesting, too? out? Here.
Every single Democrat incumbent who Oh, he knew the whistleblower. They That is why you ran for the position
lost, lost to a Republican woman or a already met with the staff. He has al- in the first place. But if you vote for
Republican minority. I remember after ready been directed where to go. But it this bill, I can promise that many of
that, it was a sad day, and in Statuary was a little like the Attorney General you will not be serving in this body
Hall there, STENY HOYER, he is a good today, he doesn’t live by the same after the midterms.
man, he felt bad for everybody. So he standards and the rule of law. Today is not just about saving your
got them all a resolution, and he took Madam Speaker, a lot of these seat; it is about saving our country. It
a photo of all of them, and he put it up changes that have been made are hard is about showing your constituents and
on Twitter. Well, he was the majority to change. They are going to be hard to the American people that Members of
leader, and I am the minority leader. I change. We will change proxies. Congress still vote their conscience,
thought that is rude to all my Mem- We believe in science. You won’t have that Members of Congress still put
bers who lost. So I went out there and to wear a mask. I don’t know what hap- country before party. Your vote is pre-
took a picture of myself because no- pens in that rotunda, but the science cious. Your vote is sacred. Your vote is
body lost. shifts. I am not sure. But once you get yours, not PELOSI’s and not Biden’s.
Madam Speaker, you probably know halfway past, I am not sure how the Cast it accordingly to your conviction
the answer to this one. Do you know doctor writes that. Maybe they have and your faith in what is right.
which State was the best for the Re- better filtration. I ask you, is it right to raise taxes on
publicans in Congress? Our State. Do you think that is what it is? I
small businesses whose only crime is
Wasn’t that great? Do you know, we think they might be more susceptible.
making their product in America?
didn’t win the majority, but we elected They are older. No, not disrespectful, Is it right to ignore the dire, des-
more Republican women to Congress just history. No, it is the average. perate pleas of our border agents and
We will trust you. You won’t need to
than any time in history. Isn’t that pass a colossal amnesty for illegal im-
walk through a magnetometer. We
amazing? In California. migrants during the middle of the larg-
won’t fine you.
Now, there was a Presidential elec- We will respect what you say. We est wave of illegal immigration in
tion going on. President Trump lost won’t tell you you can’t look at us human history? Is it right to cast a
California by 5 million votes, but I bet when you talk. vote that will bring more drugs, more
you are probably thinking, he probably But the one thing we will do, we will crime, more job losses into your com-
picked up these seats. Oh, no, no. The tackle inflation, we will make America munities? Is it right to destroy safety
four seats, he lost all four, three of energy independent again, and we will to accommodate open borders?
them by 10 points. make sure parents have a say in their Is it right to tax the energy our sen-
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
You know what is interesting? When kids’ education, and we will secure the iors need to heat their homes in the
you think about that in California, and border. winter?
you think about what happened in Vir- Is it right to cut taxes for the
ginia, and you think about what hap- b 0330 wealthiest Americans simply because
pened in New Jersey, where Biden won If you vote for the bill, I hope you they live in NANCY PELOSI’s district or
by 10 and Biden won by 16, it almost know it is wrong. If you hand your vot- Senator SCHUMER’s backyard? Is it
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6651
right that $200 million goes to the posed to be inscribing what is being He built the intercontinental rail-
Speaker’s district for a park? Who is said on the floor. I ask them, what way, because no matter how dire the
going to protect it? It is in San Fran- time is it? If they look now, they would country looked, in those words of Get-
cisco. say 3:40 in the morning. I ask them tysburg, he said, but if we fail, ‘‘gov-
Today is a day to make your choice, twice: 3:40. I say, do you know what? ernment of the people, by the people,
to make a choice for your community. Do you know why I asked you to do for the people, shall not perish from
Your community isn’t hives of that? Because that is the exact same Earth.’’
hyperpartisanship. They overflow with view, the exact same clock, that Abra- Think about the time and place. We
proud Americans who work hard today ham Lincoln looked at. were not the world power. But he knew
so that tomorrow can be brighter. b 0340 where our power came from; the peo-
But what the radical left is trying to ple. All I am asking you tonight is to
do today is crushing, it is callous, it is That is what this House means. It listen to them. They are trying to tell
cruel, it is craven and a sign of colossal doesn’t mean what has happened with you—two weeks ago. I don’t know how
contempt for law-abiding Americans. one-party rule in 1 year to destroy so clearer they can be.
This is not about compassion. It is much. He knew we could not fail. He knew
about control. And you know, you can go up—you that tomorrow would be better than
Madam Speaker, we watched that. take a door by my office and you go up, today. He risked building an inter-
We watched that from the moment I you go up in the pillars up above; and continental railway to bring the coun-
got to talk, first interrupted every cou- when you look down, that floor looks try together. That is the first Presi-
ple of words, to when I looked to the really clean. It wasn’t at that time. dent of this party. That is the philos-
side out of respect for my friends They had spittoons. ophy that is instilled in us.
across the aisle. I was told as the lead- They fought. Democrats fought be- You know, we hung a portrait here.
er of the Republicans not to look that cause they wanted to maintain slavery; He is not an American, but we couldn’t
way. Has it gone so far that the Demo- Republicans said no. Divided the Na- have been a country without him.
crats think they control everything? tion. I could only imagine in a war, Those two men, he loved George Wash-
This is not PELOSI’s House; this is the family against family, more lives lost ington so much. He only had one son,
people’s House. as Americans than you could ever and he named him George. They came
But what the radical left is trying to imagine. But Abraham Lincoln says to our time of need when we weren’t
do today is crushing. It is worth saying ‘‘malice towards none.’’ even a country but an idea. And what
again: callous, cruel, craven, and a sign It is the anniversary of the Gettys- did we do to them just this year? When
of colossal contempt. burg Address. Can you imagine being they had their soldiers, once again, in
I want to know if anybody on the invited to be a speaker, and you are the Afghanistan, when they had their own
other side, Madam Speaker, thinks President of the United States, and you citizens, because they have been there
that there is compassion in this bill. I are not the main speaker? The person for 20 years, side by side, just like they
want to know where the compassion is. before him went for two hours. I will were when we tried to create a nation.
Where is the compassion when you re- give 100 bucks to anyone who can quote And what did we tell them? Sorry,
move the Hyde amendment? How can what that person said. Abraham Lin- the Taliban picked the day. I am sure
you? coln just spoke a few words. they have just as many of their citi-
Madam Speaker, you have been here If you go to the Library of Congress zens stuck there as we do. And what is
longer than one term, right? No, this is every five years, they will put out this interesting, their country has helped
just your first term? You are doing a exhibit of what was in Abraham Lin- us get some Americans out. I never
great job. That is probably why they coln’s pockets that day when he was thought in my entire life, I would have
made you take the midnight hour. It is assassinated. to go to another country to help an
good for you because it is a three-hour He had two pair of glasses. Some had American.
difference. The people in California are a little rubber band put together. He At your own State Department, if
still watching. had some Confederate money because you told them of an American that
You know, somewhere along the way he had just been down to Richmond. wants out, they work against you to
this year, the voices of the American But he scribbled, and he wrote a cou- make sure they couldn’t get there. But
people vanished from this Chamber. ple. You know, Abraham Lincoln, they the Taliban literally told us, They can
When you think about it, they didn’t didn’t think he could become Presi- leave if you get the Secretary of State
have the chairs like this. Now, I know dent. He didn’t run again because he to say it is okay.
we all give tours of the Capitol, but we was going to lose. He didn’t win on the Inflation now is at the highest rate
can’t do that now because those in con- first ballot to be the nominee. He gets in years, which is now impacting all
trol say we can’t, but do you know elected 1860. He is not sworn in until Americans. Housing, food, furniture,
where my favorite place to go is? Stat- March, but he is sworn in right outside groceries, and many other goods are
uary Hall. You know they have the lit- there, on the east side. more expensive and disproportionately
tle tiles for anyone who became Presi- His own rivals he puts into his cabi- higher burdening on lower-income fam-
dent that was a Member of Congress. I nets. You know why? Because he trust- ilies.
like to go back to Father Serra from ed Americans. He was so compas- The cost of home heating is projected
California, and right in front of that sionate; when a soldier wouldn’t do to rise even as much as 50 percent in
tile is where Abraham Lincoln served. what they wanted, when they wanted the coming months. That is reducing
He only served one term. to hang him, many times he said to let buying power for the household ex-
There is a great new book I just read them go. penses. It is especially hard on the low-
about his mentors. Do you know who If you go to the Library of Congress, income households and seniors on fixed
some of his mentors were? His political they have—for the President, it is like incomes. What do you think is going to
enemies. I don’t know if people would his library card. They tell you what he happen when the big storm comes in
say that today. checked out. Think about the time and and somebody on a fixed income is
But what I like to do is I like to place that he served. going to make a determination on
stand right on that tile, and I take the And he checked out this book. The their prescriptions, their food, or heat-
constituent and say: I want you to best way to describe it, it is like fight- ing.
stand right here. This is where Abra- ing wars for dummies. And he checked I am scared about that. Because you
ham Lincoln, a young Congressman— out this book because general after know what compassion is going to be?
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
the country was not so big. They were general was losing. It wasn’t until he There are some that are going to make
in chairs, and he sat right there. hired Grant that he returned the book. the wrong decision and freeze to death.
Then I tell them: I want you to look At the same time war was going on, We have not talked enough about
over your shoulder. I want you to look not knowing if we would win, just down how the massive increases in home
at the clock. There is a muse there. If the road, the Confederates. They had heating costs are going to impact peo-
you look at that artwork, she is sup- wealth; they had the South. ple. This winter, the poor and senior
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H6652 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
citizens will likely face a choice. You Here is what that report says about COVID when only 9 percent goes to it
heat or eat. the direction we are heading. It kind of because you will get inflation. He
I don’t have any of my grandparents goes to the point that the majority knows his business.
left. I have my mother. My mother leader brought up on this day. In the There was another. It is a long night
called me the other day; she was mad. future, our children’s children, that for me. It starts with an r, Ratner? He
She had just gone to Costco. She fills would be 2051, America’s debt-to-GDP just came out with a warning, did he
up once a week. She could tell me ex- ratio will be over 200 percent, twice the not?
actly how much more she had to pay. size of our entire economy. We have amazing people on this side
She wasn’t the only one. Madam Speaker, I got an MBA, but I of the aisle. Madam Speaker, I don’t
Literally, the threat of winter deaths will tell you this, if we have a 200 per- know if you ever had a chance to meet
are real when the high cost of heating cent debt-to-GDP ratio, we will not be FRENCH HILL, but this isn’t the first job
homes forces them to live in homes the world power. We will not have the he ever had. This isn’t the first time he
that are too cold. next generation doing better than the served his country.
Research has shown that energy inse- generation before it. He was in the Treasury Department.
curity is associated with poor sleep Every great society has collapsed He was in the time they had to clean
quality, mental strain, respiratory ill- when they overextended themselves. up from the last time the Democrats
ness. Others have found that cold Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, STENY had one-party rule. Then he went out
stress is connected to cardiovascular HOYER and I disagree. He thinks the and made capital. He created capital
risk and declines in neurological func- children’s children will love this day. I for people to grow jobs.
tion. am fearful. I am fearful. I just hope I went to his district. He has a very
b 0350 they teach it in school. I hope they can unique district, a lot of history in that
look at each other when they talk. district and in that school.
Our seniors in America struggle That CBO report said a growing debt You took me to those entrepreneurs.
enough without having the policies of burden could increase the risk of a fis- They are all in this facility. They had
one-party rule in 1 year cost them so cal crisis and higher inflation, as well such hope. They had great ideas.
much. It is not just costing them as undermining confidence in the U.S.
money; it could cost their lives. b 0400
dollar, making it more costly to fi-
In fact, it has been reported that ex- nance public and private activity in But I wonder, if this bill passes, will
cess winter deaths caused potentially the international market. I will guar- they still take that risk? Or can they?
by fuel poverty kill more from antee you this, Madam Speaker, the I am not sure. I fear that the major-
Vermont each year than car crashes. dollar won’t be the world currency ity, Madam Speaker, doesn’t care.
Think about that. Fuel poverty will then. Maybe the 21 who signed the letter to
kill more people in Vermont each year The CBO reported that with a grow- the Speaker care. I guess we will find
than a car crash. What do you think a ing debt and rising interest rates, the out when we vote. Maybe five of them
50 percent increase will do this year? net spending for interest more than tri- will have the moral courage to say
Oh, I sure hope OPEC helps us. Maybe ples the relative size of the economy ‘‘no’’ to the bill. They said it in a let-
if he sends another letter. over the last two decades of the projec- ter. I respect them. I take them at
The projected use increases for nat- tion period, accounting for most of the their word.
ural gas, propane, heating oil, and elec- growth in total deficits. I guess you are Madam Speaker, I talk a lot about
tricity—low-income families and the going to have hire more IRS agents. this bill, and I want to save this for
elderly with preexisting conditions are A New York Times article reported later.
going to be in great danger this winter. that the CBO warned that such high Madam Speaker, I got a new binder.
Your bill makes this plight even worse. debt levels would lift borrowing costs, There are a couple pages. I want to
It is by no means an exaggeration to slow economic output, and raise the save that for last. That is the closing.
expect thousands of excess winter risk of a financial crisis. But, Madam Speaker, I have just
deaths as a result of President Biden’s The Committee for a Responsible spent almost a full minute covering
energy policies and what you have put Federal Budget, a fiscal watchdog this bill’s partisan, extreme, self-fo-
in this bill. group, warned after a preliminary fore- cused, and ultimately destructive poli-
At least the elderly will suffer at cast was released last month that the cies. For every one of those policies
home and not be forced to suffer and Nation’s long-term outlook was an air there is a reason to defeat this bill on
die in a COVID-infected nursing home, raid siren that can be heard for miles. the merits. Another reason is that
like thousands of senior citizens. It said that the mounting debt would Democrats kept bipartisan, common-
Madam Speaker, I watched families make it harder to address income in- sense amendments out of the final text.
who lived in New York, their loved equality and to make needed infra- Do you know what is interesting,
ones pushed into a home, infected. I structure improvements. I don’t know Madam Speaker?
watched that Governor write a book if Buttigieg is going to solve all that. How many of you grew up—and I am
and win an Emmy. I watched those This is the second time tonight that much older than you, Madam Speak-
families. I hope they get some of the I have quoted The New York Times. er—I don’t know if they had it, but
royalties from that book. I don’t think What I want to know is, does it con- Schoolhouse Rock.
they will get $450,000, but I think they cern you that even The New York Didn’t you love that?
need something. Times is raising the alarm about your Conjunction junction, what is your
What my Republican colleagues and I excessive spending? function?
want to know, what the American peo- Madam Speaker, I don’t know if you Hooking up phrases and cars. Or the
ple have a right to know, is this: Did have had the opportunity—I know you Preamble, We the People in order to
you fail to take these people into con- have been here a short time—but have form a more perfect Union. But my fa-
sideration when you wrote this bill? you ever met Larry Summers? Larry vorite was: I am just a bill on Capitol
Madam Speaker, do we just consider Summers worked in the Clinton admin- Hill and I sit here and wait.
them collateral damage? Are all of istration and the Obama administra- That bill, Madam Speaker, taught
them just part of the cost for ramming tion. He is highly respected on eco- you a lot about Congress, and in less
through your agenda? nomic policy. He is a strong Democrat, than 1 year with one-party rule, they
I am wondering, how many hearings a strong Democrat. He works hard to changed all the rules. I don’t know if
did we bring senior citizens in to tell us elect Democrats. we can show it anymore. But that bill
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
so we can listen? We have all been He realized you had one-party rule in says you have got to have compromise.
waiting on a CBO score for this bill, this country again. He wants you to You have got to be in committee.
and they did. They projected billions of succeed. He wants the best for you. He I am afraid that this House has been
dollars in deficit spending. Did you warned you in February: Don’t do it. closed for so long that the public
consider another CBO report that was Don’t do it. Don’t take $2 trillion and hasn’t been able to be a part of it.
released earlier this fall? tell the American public it is about Luckily, I talk fast and I can get this
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6653
all in in a minute. But I can show you ployers in meeting the costs to provide But it is not over. Let’s finish it. If
and tell the American public, take paid leave benefits to employees. the government plans to spend an enor-
them on the inside. That sounds pretty good, right? mous amount of money, the least one-
What was offered? This would allow employers and em- party rule in Washington could do is
What was the offer, but what was re- ployees—you see, Madam Speaker, that make sure it has the capability to ef-
jected? is working together—employers and fectively spend the money. Boy, that is
Because maybe they would end up employees to negotiate. It is not gov- harsh.
liking the bill. What would be good, ernment telling you. It says you guys You want to know what happened?
Madam Speaker, when we do that work together, you work it out. The Democrats rejected it. So don’t
townhall meeting, we could bring some What type of leave makes the best blame us if you make another website.
of these, too, because everything I am sense for them and their families? All right. Here is an amendment of-
going to talk about is an amendment Boy, that is nice, rather than impose fered by our Budget ranking member,
that was brought up in committee, and a one-size-fits-all Federal mandate JASON SMITH. Is JASON still here? You
House Democrats rejected every one of that would reduce flexibility and hurt know what? Somebody call JASON on
them because of the enthrallment of workers’ ability to grow in their ca- the phone and wake him up. It is not
power. I am not sure anyone was told reers and provide for their family. That very often I talk about him, in a posi-
not to look at each other. That may is reasonable. I actually think that tive sense, too.
just be a rule for the floor. could have been in Schoolhouse Rock He is a really nice guy, Madam
This is just another way Democrats because it would illustrate how govern- Speaker, you need to meet him.
aren’t listening to the American peo- ment wouldn’t build these big bureauc- Okay. He is from Missouri, works
ple. But Republicans have listened. We racies but would unshackle business, hard. Helping hardworking families.
are listening, and throughout this employers and employees. It would em- Who is opposed to that? That would
process, we offered a different path. We power the employee. means test—means test, that is good,
wanted to participate. Every amend- My daughter has practice here and right?
ment I will read offered by Republicans there, so I will work this hour instead So you make sure—I mean, you
was rejected. This is a record of what is of there because it is better for me. would be embarrassed if you spent so
not in the bill. Do you know what happens when you much money in here and it just went to
As I read this record, I want my col- have happy employees? the millionaires because what would
leagues on the other side to answer a Productivity goes up. happen is, in the election, people would
simple question when you are on the I will promise you this. I am a former say, wait a minute. You said that
beach in Puerto Rico: When you said employer. KEVIN HERN has employed wasn’t going to happen. So here is
the House would consider the best hundreds. You want to help your em- JASON helping you out.
ideas no matter where they came from, ployees. But the Federal Government It would means test the new paid
did you really mean it? is telling you ‘‘no’’ now. So she offered leave benefit, limiting it to families
So let’s start with KEVIN HERN’s com- it as an amendment. with incomes under $100,000. I think
mittee, the Ways and Means Com- Do you know what happened, Madam that is pretty good, wouldn’t you?
mittee. What a powerful committee. I Speaker? I mean, I know, Madam Speaker, you
It was rejected by the Democrats. raised the limit now to $800,000 for
wanted to be on that committee. They
This could have been in the bill. The those people to be able to have tax-
never let me.
Article I, section 7 of the Constitu- American public has to understand: payers benefit them for buying a Tesla.
tion says that all tax reform starts in this could have been in the bill. All So I don’t know, you may be upset with
the House. they had to do was vote for it. this; it is just limiting it at $100,000.
But that would have relinquished
Do you know what our rules say? And guarantee a minimum benefit
control.
All taxes start in Ways and Means. for lower-income families. So what you
Now, this is an amendment offered by
So it doesn’t matter the power of the are doing is, you are guaranteeing the
MIKE KELLY. I love to hear MIKE KELLY
Senate. It starts right here. benefit for the lower-income families.
talk. He is not from Indiana, but he
Now, this is an amendment offered by Isn’t that what we want to do? We
went to Notre Dame. He is from Penn-
Congresswoman JACKIE WALORSKI. She want to help the needy, right? And if
sylvania. Oh, he and Victoria have a
is from Indiana, too. Boy, she works somebody doesn’t need it, why should
beautiful family. They work hard and
hard. When she first got here, she made they get it?
employ a lot of people. When he talks,
sure women in the military were not Under the bill as it was marked up,
he says, What does it take to put you
abused. She fought. the Democrat program would benefit
in this car today?
But do you know what she did? substantial benefits to families—get
Okay. So his amendment—because he
She worked across the aisle. She got this: Did you know this? Oh, my God.
wanted to work with the other side of
something done. You see, Madam The bill you are going to vote for, lis-
the aisle—was making government
Speaker, when you work together, you ten to this, it is going to benefit fami-
work more efficiently and effectively.
can achieve so much. And I don’t know, lies with incomes up to $500,000. Oh, my
Whoa. I bet you that statement is al-
she is so optimistic. She probably God.
most in every mailer of everybody who
thought this would pass. But let me So you are hiring the 87,000 IRS
runs for Congress. It doesn’t matter
read to you what she said. agents to go after that poor husband
which side of the aisle you are on. So
She works in Indiana, and in Indiana- and wife working so hard making
this is starting out pretty good. That
2 they build a lot of RVs. She talks to $75,000 to give the benefit to them.
would have changed the effective date
her businesses. I have been there many Man, JASON was really trying to help
to 6 months after the Treasury could
times with her. She has got Notre you. But it wouldn’t guarantee any
certify they have expertise to stand up
Dame in there, too, Touchdown Jesus. minimum benefit to families on the
a new entitlement program.
When she talks to the families, what low end. You are not even guaranteeing
Now, I actually believe he is helping.
they tell her is they want flexibility. Do you know why? to those who need it.
In today’s world somebody needs to Because he is remembering what hap- Man, it is anticipation, huh? You are
drive an Uber to buy a refrigerator. My pened in ObamaCare. Remember the wondering what happened. It was re-
kids need to be somewhere. Can I have website? jected. It was rejected.
flexibility? Oh, my God, never been so embar- You know what is interesting? These
But the hard part, Madam Speaker, rassed. would be good things to show to con-
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
for your side of the aisle is that means stituents for those who thought this
you would have to release control. b 0410 wasn’t good, because it would help
So this is what it said: Defending I mean, when I read this, I think, them with those making $500,000. It
worker paychecks and family choice. whoa, why didn’t a Democrat think of really would. It really would.
Now, this would improve the existing that? And here is MIKE KELLY helping Okay. Here we go. Here is another
45(S) tax credit to better support em- you out. amendment in Ways and Means by a
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H6654 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
Member that would limit benefits to BRAD WENSTRUP, amazing man. He is do you know what the good news is?
one caregiver per household for the here for all the right reasons. He has You don’t have to drive to it. I am sav-
same caregiving days. Okay. Let’s little Brad, cutest little guy. Little ing you on gas.
think about that. That’s kind of ac- Brad likes to wear a uniform like his KEVIN HERN, that American Dream of
countability, right? dad. He will bring him on the floor owning a McDonald’s, he had to go
Should the Federal Government pay sometimes. Come say hi. through the pandemic. He knows what
more than one caregiver on the same Now, his is stopping taxpayer theft. it was like. He knows what it is to try
caregiving day? That would seem like Now who could be opposed to that? to hire somebody. Now, his amendment
it would be fraud, would it not? You That would stop the greatest theft of would protect Americans’ existing paid
would think. taxpayer dollars in our lifetime. family and medical leave plans and
It was rejected. You know these Now, I believe—I am no pollster, but prevent unfairly forcing the middle
Members never talked to me ahead of I don’t believe any party—I believe class to subsidize corporations’ paid
time, but they were really helping you they would all support this. If you are leave plans.
out. I am surprised you didn’t take going to take hardworking taxpayer Here is a guy who worked—and think
some of these. money, they don’t want it stolen. about his workforce. They are young.
LLOYD SMUCKER, Pennsylvania 11. As written, the Democrat socialist He is mentoring them. One of our last
You know, I was just in his district the spending bill—who would have thought Speakers worked in a McDonald’s, Paul
other day. We were in a barn that the this—includes a lot of loopholes. I won- Ryan. He is trying to look out for the
Amish built; every walk of life in der if they are going to talk about
there. I wish you would have gone with little guy and gal. I won’t keep you in
those in Puerto Rico. suspense any longer. It was rejected.
me. I think had you gone with me you Madam Speaker, that would be inter-
probably wouldn’t vote for the bill. Now, here we go with KEVIN BRADY. I
esting. Madam Speaker, I wonder—and can’t believe he left us. This is bipar-
These are hardworking people. I don’t have any facts here, but if it is
Now, he wants to strengthen our tisan retirement options and Main
a fundraiser in Puerto Rico, and there Street protection—this is important
workforce. You know, he had nothing,
are lobbyists down there, would they for people—that would restore the bi-
he had no money, going to school, bor-
rows $1,000 and creates a construction celebrate if they got a loophole? That partisan agreement in H.R. 2954 in the
company that is putting up ply board; was never in Schoolhouse Rock. 117th Congress. Well, that wasn’t very
builds it into something more. So he It includes a lot of loopholes that long ago, and we both agreed upon it.
knows about the workforce. could be easily exploited. We don’t Let’s find out what it does.
Now, that would require individuals want that. Republicans identified these As reported by the Committee on
to be employed in the last 30 days, and vulnerabilities and tried to introduce Ways and Means by a voice vote, it pro-
have an earnings history in at least amendments that would have strength- tected small businesses from a new
four of the last 5 quarters in order to ened the eligibility requirements by re- Federal retirement mandate. I wonder
qualify for paid leave benefits. quiring a simple proof of identification what changed. One party, one rule, 1
Now, that is really giving account- and certification. year.
ability to the taxpayer, would it not? I Whoa. How rough is BRAD? A simple Here is an amendment offered by
mean, we want a healthy people. Is it proof of identification to get taxpayer VERN BUCHANAN. That is who you real-
too much to ask, have you been em- money? Geez. ly want to meet. It is small business
ployed in the last 30 days? I guess for You can’t eat in New York without protection. This guy started with noth-
the Democrats it doesn’t. showing your COVID ID. ing. He made a copy company, ex-
Oh, here is BRAD WENSTRUP. Madam b 0420 panded it. That would exempt from the
Speaker, you do need to meet BRAD Federal retirement mandate excise tax
I can’t fly here each week without
WENSTRUP. I will tell you a quick on small businesses with 50 or fewer
showing my ID. The gall of BRAD. The
story. He is out of Ohio 2. employees.
He joined the military late. He served gall of BRAD.
Remember, Madam Speaker, I talked Well, that is pretty good, right?
overseas. He is a doctor. He has a serv- These are the people just trying to
ant’s heart. He is an athlete. He plays about all of that fraud in California. I
think this would help. I don’t know if start out. They should not be held to
baseball. And any time you see STEVE the same standard as some big corpora-
SCALISE, it is because of BRAD you guessed. You all voted it down.
Now to my friend across from me, tion because it is going to put them
WENSTRUP. out of business. I bet a Democrat prob-
The moment he ran onto that field KEVIN HERN, from Oklahoma’s First
District. I don’t know if you ever met ably cosponsored this. Let’s see.
once that shooter was stopped, he
KEVIN. KEVIN is one of those guys that Oh, it gets better: minority-owned
saved his life. Why? Because he served
is an entrepreneur, takes a risk. He is businesses, women-owned businesses,
in theater. He knew what that looked
this guy right here. and veteran-owned businesses. Now, as
like. And I will tell you, that night, I
Do you know what we should do? We written, the Democrat bill would apply
went to the hospital, I waited for Jen-
should do like a block party, and we to any firm with six or more employ-
nifer Scalise to come up. KEVIN BRADY
should meet each other. Wouldn’t that ees. Whoa, whoa.
and I wrote, with the doctor, the press
be better? Remember what happened with
release.
And I will tell you this, it is a mir- I appreciate the times I got to eat ObamaCare? You put that 50 in, and
acle that STEVE is alive. dinner with you. I really do. You you crushed so many businesses. Now
On my way home, BRAD called me. taught me how to do a townhall meet- you are going after businesses with
Many of you called me; I gave you a ing. I am serious. And when we went just six employees. Friends, I am sorry.
whole different impression. Oh, he is through Israel together and you I don’t think the incubator is going to
fine. He is fine. brought your sister, I thought that was make it.
BRAD was the one you couldn’t say fabulous. Oh, yeah, I remember. I think The smallest employers lack the fi-
that to. He saw him. He knows how that is what America wants us to do. I nancial and logistic ability to provide
much blood he lost. He knows where really do. retirement benefits, and paying the
the shrapnel was. I will tell you what. Madam Speaker, penalty will often be cheaper.
STEVE SCALISE has possibly the you and I can do this because we are Man, I wonder where you got that
greatest strength. When I watched Jen- from California. Let’s have like pot- idea? Remember, in ObamaCare, you
nifer Scalise—I don’t know if I shared luck dinners because we could get to said if they didn’t get it, you would
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
this with you before, but STEVE and I know each other’s district. I have a just penalize them. It was cheaper, and
have been friends long before we ever conference room in there. We don’t everybody just took the penalty.
came to Congress. We were in Young have to do everybody at once because Madam Speaker, you really have to
Republicans together. I was actually at we want to spend time. get some new people working on these
his swearing in for the State Senate in Now, the only thing, it is going to bills. They are regenerating bad, old
Louisiana. cost us more. You know, inflation. But ideas.
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6655
The Republicans’ amendment would b 0430 and he would be upset if I didn’t. TAA
have, instead, provided for the retire- Look, I remember when my kids were for energy workers. You see, JODEY is
ment support package included in the young. When we played sporting events from Texas.
bipartisan SECURE 2.0 legislation. and others, we went to the church. I don’t know if you have met him
That dang VERN. He went back to Why? Because we knew everybody. yet, Madam Speaker. Nice guy. He will
something we both agreed upon and of- They knew us. We knew what was talk a lot, but nice guy. Spend some
fered it to you, but now you are one- being taught. Isn’t that interesting? time with him, though. He is pas-
party rule so you said no. That is inter- I would hate for government to get in sionate. He is passionate. You know, he
esting. You support it one day, but the the way of raising your children with served in the administration before.
next day, no, don’t even let us look at faith. Wouldn’t that go against the He’s got young kids, a beautiful wife.
them. founding of our country? I am not a He is out not far from August. This is
Whoa, listen to this one: protecting the energy-producing part of Texas. So
history major, but weren’t there a lot
workers from financial predators. They he sees the families that are getting
of people that helped found the country
would strike the requirement that em- hurt.
because of religious freedom? Surely,
ployers must offer employees the op- Now, this would provide assistance to
we can’t change that now.
tion to take half of their retirement communities and blue-collar workers
The Democrat bill includes a con-
account as annuities. This requirement harmed by President Biden’s
stitutionally questionable prohibition
creates a large burden on employees to cancelation of the Keystone XL pipe-
on religious-affiliated childcare pro-
set up these financial contracts, which line. I would think the President would
viders from receiving funds under the
at a low-dollar value will end up being even lean into this because he promised
bill. Whoa. Did you know that, Madam
a bad deal for retirees who rely on this those union workers. They endorsed
Speaker?
for their retirement income. him, they walked for him. He said he
So what is going to happen here to
Why can’t we let the employee have was going to take care of them.
those churches? They don’t do it for
more choice? We want to determine This one probably went big. On day
that everybody makes the same profit. They do it because their con-
gregation needs it. one of his administration, President
amount? The Democrats rejected that. Biden canceled the Keystone pipeline,
An amendment offered by the rank- Do you know how many people I
know that are single parents that take resulting in thousands of blue-collar
ing member of Ways and Means, KEVIN workers losing their jobs. That is okay,
BRADY: No new mandates from Wash- a second job so their children can go to
a faith-based school for childcare? Do the government will still see them,
ington. Whoa, that would be great.
you know how many work in the they will audit them. The amendment
Now, that KEVIN, do you know what
he is doing? He is offering a bipartisan church so they can get a discount? I would have allowed those workers who
auto-enrollment that passed the House, guess it is rules for thee but not for lost their jobs to this political decision
where Republicans and Democrats both me. The government is going to pick. to TAA benefits. Don’t you think that
voted for it. But do you know what You know, I told this story early on is fair?
about some Senators that went on a Because they didn’t lose their jobs
changed? One-party rule. They voted it
down. codel to China, and this general came because they didn’t work hard. They
Here is JACKIE. She is so optimistic. and lectured them. It hadn’t happened lost their job because one man became
She didn’t quit defending worker pay- before. He looked these U.S. Senators President on January 20. And by one
check and family choice. Gosh, she in the eyes, and he said, ‘‘America is stroke of the pen—it wasn’t anything
keeps fighting for the families, doesn’t weak because you believe in God, and voted on in here. You didn’t need to de-
she? That would strike the Democrats’ you take fentanyl.’’ I don’t know, if fend that.
government takeover of childcare, China reads this bill, they might not Madam Speaker, I see friends over
which would increase costs for fami- think we believe in God anymore. there from Texas. They know what is
lies, and instead insert an alternative This could carve out the most pop- happening in the oil fields. They know
which would improve the child care tax ular and trusted options for working people need help, and I know that. I
credit and provide flexibility for fami- parents. The amendment would have have seen them work hard for them.
lies to arrange for the type of childcare struck the prohibition. You know what Now, here is an amendment offered
that is best suited for their family. that would do? It would allow the par- by CAROL MILLER. She is a fabulous
Now, why would JACKIE think about ent to decide. lady, great grandma. You know she
that? Madam Speaker, if your party Now, I don’t know if this came up in raised buffalo? She is tough. Small
does not believe parents have a say in the Virginia Governor’s race, too, but business.
their education, you definitely don’t it smacks of the exact same philosophy You know what is interesting in West
believe that parents have a say in their and principle. You can have the chil- Virginia? She would probably be a good
childcare. It has to be one size fits all, dren, but government is going to raise person to talk to on a political basis
so you rejected it. them, and you have no say. because West Virginia used to be all
Protecting taxpayers from wasteful I am not sure, I don’t want to put Democrats, and she ran, and she won.
duplication is a positive thing. Do you words in anybody’s mouth, Madam There was only a couple of them, now
know how much duplication there is in Speaker, but when I heard the chair- they are heavily in the majority. If you
government? People hate that. That man of Ways and Means was real ex- ask her what happened, it was Demo-
would keep States from receiving more cited and said we were going to grow cratic policies. People changed. It is
unnecessary government spending. The the bureaucracy, I am not sure if he kind of like what happened 2 weeks
amendment would have required States was referring to this, but it meets that ago.
to spend down their ARP childcare dol- criteria. This is combating maternal mor-
lars before receiving new funds under Here’s an amendment by DREW FER- tality that would take the funding
this bill. Well, that is pretty smart. GUSON from Georgia. He is supporting from the ineffective Health Profes-
Make them spend their money before women-owned and minority-owned sional Opportunity Grants, that pro-
you give them more. businesses over bureaucrats. He is gram, and put it towards funding for
Here is MIKE KELLY back at it. Mike picking the right side. That would pro- mothers in poverty. Man. So you take
went to Notre Dame. Not all of us vide $1 billion to HHS to support five a program that is failing, and let’s use
could play for Alabama. If you want to new childcare grant programs. that money for women in poverty. And
find Mike in the morning, even if he is Well, that is pretty good, right? You even more, domestic violence preven-
up late, he will be down at Mass. He provide that grant so they can start tion as part of the Maternal, Infant,
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
never misses. I respect that man. these childcare programs. That helps and Early Childhood Home Visiting
His amendment is the religious free- the economy, too. I don’t know, maybe Program. Who could be opposed to
dom amendment. It is personal to him. if a Democrat offered that, it would that? The majority.
It is personal to a lot of his friends. It have been accepted. But it got rejected. All right. I see ADRIAN SMITH here,
would prevent discrimination against All right, I have got to read one from Madam Speaker. Have you met him
faith-based childcare providers. JODEY ARRINGTON. He works too hard, yet? We came in together. ADRIAN,
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H6656 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
great guy. I was at his wedding. I was An amendment by DAVID back to New York, and the doctor
going to sing, but I can’t sing. But I did SCHWEIKERT. This guy is smart. Smart. would never know to look for it be-
a reading. Always thinking. Oh, my gosh. Madam cause they don’t know. So we have got
I don’t know, if you want to see some Speaker, I don’t mean to keep both- to bring awareness to it. And DAVID
of the cutest kids. He has got this ering you, but this one is good. DAVID works hard on that. He really does.
beautiful son; he just adopted this SCHWEIKERT is one of those individuals Okay. TOM REED. I remember TOM.
beautiful daughter. We were actually that God touched. He was adopted. He Have you guys ever met TOM? He is
roommates for a while, but he got mar- has the most beautiful daughter, going to retire after the end of this
ried and kicked me out. When we ran Olivia. And do you know who her favor- term, but he came in from New York,
for office, he got the President and Air ite Congressman is? Me. I am not teas- came in the majority, serves on Ways
Force One to come campaign for him. I ing. You come to my office; you’ll see and Means, really good man.
didn’t get anything. I don’t think they the picture. If you see her on the floor, He has a son and a daughter. His son
liked me. He got on Ways and Means. I she will run up to me. I have never seen has some health issues. His son, when
didn’t. It was tough. It was tough. a child like this laugh. Have you spent he was young, would come down to the
His mom and dad are great people. any time with Olivia? My God. Sweet- gym and we would play ping-pong. His
Great people. His brother, a State est thing. And when she comes here, wife, she is fabulous.
Farm agent, great kids. Kids went to she comes to my office. She sits on the Now, TOM has no tax shelters for Ivy
Liberty, got married, some live here. It couch. League elites. That is right up your
is good to meet people we work with. It Now, I am going to be in Arizona, alley, right? That is right up your
is good friends you make, lifetime. too, in another week, and I hope I get alley. Let’s make sure this bill is not
Lifetime. to see Olivia. But DAVID SCHWEIKERT, going to help Ivy League elites.
You know, he is Scottsbluff. I don’t this is an idea guy. He was just in my Now, I know you made a mistake,
know if you have ever been to office tonight. He walked in, and he and you are helping those $500,000 peo-
Scottsbluff. It is in Nebraska. If he says, I have another idea for you. But ple and those 800,000, but this time you
gives you his business card, Nebraska he is fabulous. He has all these ideas. have a chance to correct it. Now, this
only has three congressional seats. That is what this body should be about. would strike out the carveout for the
There is Omaha, there is Lincoln, and Now, this one he says, true priorities. college endowment anti-abuse tax.
then there is all ADRIAN. He has got a It would invest in cures, development, The change proposed in the Democrat
big district, big district. He wins by big and research at the National Institutes bill would carve the highest cost
margins. They like him there. of Health. schools that inflate tuition and aid
Let me tell you what he did. He Whoa, that sounds pretty good, amounts back out of the endowment
wanted to lower costs for seniors with right? Think about the pandemic. tax. That is dirty. That is not right.
chronic conditions that would require Think about what we have been going It was enacted by the Republican-led
patients’ exposure to supplemental through. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to ensure that
benefit cost to be no more than that of Now, what is it going to invest in? endowments were being used to fund
the average Medicare Advantage plan Diabetes, minority health, and health their charitable purposes of educating
for enrollees with chronic conditions. disparities, maternal mortality, and students, not simply as tax shelters for
Well, that is reasonable. They voted it postpartum care. This is DAVID donors, pet projects, and vanity build-
down. SCHWEIKERT. Does not seem self-serv- ings. Now, how many of us—these Ivy
Madam Speaker, I will give you one ing there. Do you know what else? Can- Leagues, do you know how much
other idea, if you walk up to ADRIAN, cer and Alzheimer’s and other diseases money they have in their endowments?
don’t tell him I told you to say this. affecting the brain. Do you know, if we We are talking billions.
Just talk about horses. He likes to talk cured cancer and Alzheimer’s, we The first moment I found out that I
about horses. would do a lot for people’s lives? It was going to have a son, I don’t have
would also do a lot for the budget. wealth, but I believe what Einstein
b 0440 You know, DAVID SCHWEIKERT and I, told me: There is only one miracle in
What else do we have here? My eye- he is in Arizona and I am in California. this world, the compounding of inter-
sight is going. Don’t worry, I don’t You have a little of this, too, in your est. I don’t think I was making more
have that much. I just have to get to a district, and if you want to join us, you than $35,000 a year. I started taking $50
certain time. There is a record. I am can. every time, and I bought this mutual
competitive. You know what is the We have a Valley Fever Caucus. Now, fund. And by the time Connor could
hardest part of this? I can’t tell you. Valley fever is an orphan disease. And make it to college—I wanted him to go
Now, this is by RON ESTES. Now, RON the hard part is people don’t know to any college he could get into. Smart
is another guy that I met before we when they get it, they think they just kid. Good kid. Proud of him. He and
ever came to Congress. You know, he have the flu, but it comes from the Meghan, God blessed us tremendously.
was in the Young Republicans from spores of the Earth and the dirt, right? I tried to talk him out of going to
Kansas, and his wife, Susan, oh, my And two-thirds of all of it is in DAVID’s Georgetown. I said, Why do you want
God, fabulous. He comes from Wichita. and my district. And we got together, to go there? Why don’t you go to a
I am going to be there next week. So I and we were thinking, and we created a California school? I have enough
don’t know if you’re listening but come symposium. And do you know, the di- money saved up. We were able to
on down and see me. rector of NIH, the director of CDC scrounge and put together—and we
So RON, before he got here, he was came to the district, and we had a were fortunate his grandmother gave
State-wide elected. He is really fo- townhall meeting. And here are some him some money one time. We had
cused. He is a treasure. This guy knows of the brightest minds. And I said, about $150,000. And this was important
how to do stuff. whoa, we didn’t know it was this big. to us because we had to pay our own
Keep our promise to seniors. Now, Afterwards they invested $7 million to way through college. I wanted some-
who could be opposed to that? see how best to treat it, because an or- thing better for my son and daughter.
That would prevent cuts to benefits phan disease, they really don’t want to So we went and we toured all these
for seniors should the Medicare Trust work with, and DAVID and I have campuses. But I remember when we
Fund run out. worked really hard on this. And it is walked through Georgetown, he said
Whoa. Are you telling me the Demo- not just people who get it, animals get this is where he was meant to be. So I
crats voted to cut benefits to seniors if it. And so there is a vaccine that is said, okay. And do you know it was a
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
the Medicare Trust Fund runs out? being tested for dogs right now. But it great decision. I believe you end up at
Whoa, I don’t think they knew what can kill you. the college you are supposed to be. It is
they were voting on. And what happens is you could be tough. It is tough on parents. It is
Look, I don’t know what is going to driving through our district, a spore tough on students. You get rejected or
happen, but I bet you that is going to could come through the air conditioner something else. That wasn’t enough
be a mailer. and go inside, you never know, you go money. I am still paying on a $90,000
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November 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6657
loan. He is a smart kid. He got scholar- merce, great committee, important just happened to call him that morning
ships. He got help. Every year it went committee. to check on him. I said, MARKWAYNE, it
up higher. Every year. Now, this amendment that would just so happens the best brain rehabili-
So if these Ivy Leagues are telling prevent millionaires—and there is that tation center happens to be in Bakers-
their donors they are going to help the word again, millionaires, I think they field, California. It was almost like it
kids who can’t afford it, we are going are sneaking into your bill—prevent was just on my heart.
to be the great equalizer. We are going millionaires from receiving taxpayer He got in that camper and he drove
to allow people who have never been to dollars to replace their plumbing. Holy all the way to California. And I am not
the Ivy League not to be stopped by moly. telling personal stories. They put this
their brain but the dollar. Now, I don’t know if you met out and it has been in magazines. But
MARKWAYNE back here, but this guy is I am just so proud of Jim. When Jim
b 0450
a plumber; a pretty good one. Madam first got there, this is an elite athlete.
But now, we find out they’re not Speaker, if you ask MARKWAYNE—I got This kid was only a freshman or sopho-
using it for that. They use it for tax to highlight him for a second. He is an more but colleges were looking at him.
shelters, for pet projects, for vanity amazing guy. I don’t know if they And he couldn’t touch his toes. He
buildings. opened the gym back up, but we do a couldn’t remember anything he read.
Madam Speaker, I don’t know, but is bipartisan workout. He is a former You would never know it today.
there somebody lobbying for these peo- cage fighter. He teaches me boxing at And I remember the first time he was
ple? Because that would be wrong. night. reading a Bible verse and he could re-
That would be wrong. I want to brag on myself. Is it okay member. Well, Jim had some other
Madam Speaker, I am going to chock if I brag on myself? friends who wrestled, too. And this
this up that you guys didn’t even know So we were boxing. The rule was you guy, he is a year younger than Jim. I
this was in here. I can’t believe you can’t hit me in the face, and I could try don’t know why things happen, but his
would vote against that. Now if you to hit him anywhere. The boxing father got sick; his father died. It is
want, now that I have explained it, it match had to stop. You know why? His MARKWAYNE and Christie, with a good
only takes five to say, Whoa, whoa. We nose was bleeding. Not bad, right? He number of kids, didn’t bat an eye and
could still go to Puerto Rico. Let’s just scratched it on my glove. But think brought them right back into the fam-
add this in. It is okay. about this, on a very serious note, I ily.
Don’t worry, TOM is retiring. He is will give 100 bucks to anybody in Con- Madam Speaker, these are the people
not going to use it for campaigns. He is gress that can tell me they knew mil- we work with. These are the people
just using it because it is good policy. lionaires were going to get money for sometimes that the press tries to de-
I am giving Committee on Ways and their plumbing. That is outrageous. monize without ever telling the true
Means a lot of attention. I need to— Well, they need plumbing, too, I guess. story behind something or the passion
let’s see. I didn’t finish about MARKWAYNE. of why.
All right. This is a good one. I am You know, I met MARKWAYNE when he If he gets a phone call from a woman
going to give ADRIAN another one: first came in. And on his very first day, with young kids stuck in Afghanistan
Cancer cures instead of SALT tax he missed his first vote. I had to call that he would risk his own life, but his
shelters for millionaires. him back to come in. And Christie, his own country attacked him for it. He
Whoa, I bet you this is what JARED wife, oh, she is a saint. Now this has has a giving heart. He really does. He
was talking about. You see, JARED been written about in a lot of maga- really, really does.
doesn’t even serve on the Committee zines. What magazine, MARKWAYNE? All right. Who didn’t I—there has got
on Ways and Means. Did you tell him Women’s Health? What was it? The to be somebody. Who has been sitting
about this? story of your daughters. Well, I know the whole time that didn’t get one
Now, this would make permanent the it better than he does. read?
SALT deduction cap for millionaires. So I met him, he has these two won-
Because I remember, I listened. I lis- derful boys, when he first came here— b 0500
tened closely. That this bill was going and a daughter. And, oh, my gosh, if Let’s do GREG PENCE. He is not here,
to help those under $400,000. Now, don’t you see the two twins. You see, these is he? He needs his sleep. GREG is a
take my words. two twins were related to him but they very good guy. His wife is hilarious.
Madam Speaker, surely you know weren’t his. And they were being raised His kids are great. He is on the Energy
JARED GOLDEN. He is in your con- by separate grandparents. And here is and Commerce Committee. He offered
ference. Have you talked to him today? MARKWAYNE coming to D.C., Christie is an amendment that would ensure poli-
He has been reading the bill. He is pret- back there working on everything. And cies in this bill would not lead to job
ty concerned about it. He literally was she kept asking MARKWAYNE, Let’s losses or transition to lower paying
shocked. He makes a quote, and I may adopt these two. MARKWAYNE said, Oh, jobs. Who could be opposed to that?
not get it right, so don’t hold me to it, that is hard, that is hard. The majority.
but he said, If you would have told me You know what Christie did? She GARY PALMER. Nobody works harder.
a year ago that the second most came to him one day and she didn’t ask He is the head of our policy. I don’t
amount of money in this thing was that. She just said, MARKWAYNE, I want know if you know the background for
going to go to millionaires, I would you to pray about it. MARKWAYNE looks GARY. He played for Alabama football,
have said you guys were Republicans. at me—I am still the before guy; he is Bear Bryant. Pretty impressive. He ran
No, no, no, no. You are a one-party the after. We were working out late think tanks for years, so it is ideal to
rule in 1 year. I can’t believe it. They one night—if you wonder how that mir- be a Member of Congress. His whole life
rejected it. We will bring it up next ror in the gym got broke, we dropped a is trying to find solutions.
year, ADRIAN. weight one night. His amendment that he offered would
All right. Hold on. I got to thank But what am I going to say? Dear require funds to be used on domesti-
staff for putting this all together. Not God, make me selfish? Those two little cally produced critical minerals. Whoa.
bad. girls, sometimes you will sit here and This guy is thinking in the future, is
Oh, here is a good one. JOHN CURTIS, they jump into your heart, just there. he not?
what a nice man. But that wasn’t the only thing. You This bill is going to empower China,
Madam Speaker, if you meet JOHN see, MARKWAYNE is a good wrestler, but he is now thinking about the chil-
CURTIS, he is a former mayor, trans- too. His boys, Jim, oh, my gosh. dren’s children so we could have the
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
formed his city. He will bring you a And I got to spend a lot of time with critical minerals.
pair of socks. He is literally one of the Jim and MARKWAYNE because Jim had Madam Speaker, I would actually
nicest men you would ever meet; he is an accident in wrestling that could like to work with any Democrat that
from Utah. He works across the aisle; have killed him. Took the oxygen out wants to work on critical minerals. I
he cares about so much stuff. He is on from his brain. And you know what? think it is very important, really im-
the Committee on Energy and Com- One week, I think he was in Kansas. I portant.
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H6658 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 18, 2021
DEBBIE LESKO. If you spend some Democrats were so unnerved with the will always fight for you, fight for your
time with DEBBIE, take her to dinner. I truth behind this bill they booed, they family, and fight our country.
am not going to share it here, but just yelled, they heckled, they even mocked The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. JA-
have her tell you her story of growing me. Quite honestly, it was shameful be- COBS of California). Pursuant to clause
up. There is no stronger woman than havior. It was shameful. I am not sure, 1(c) of rule XIX, further consideration
DEBBIE LESKO. but if it was on the other side, they of H.R. 5376 is postponed.
Her amendment would prohibit funds probably would have lost their commit-
from going to entities tied to the Chi- tees. f
nese Communist Party. Come on. Seri- Not long after that, Speaker PELOSI
ously? I am serious. This is an amend- heard enough of how this bill will hurt ENROLLED BILL SIGNED
ment that was rejected. I should have hardworking Americans. She came to Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk of the
started with this one from the very be- this floor and directed her Members to House, reported and found truly en-
ginning. That has to get five votes to leave. Why are we afraid of debate? rolled a bill of the House of the fol-
say ‘‘no.’’ It has just got to. Why are we afraid to learn? I imagine lowing title, which was thereupon
Seriously, if you vote for this bill, there are Members—they are not on all signed by the Speaker:
there is nothing that prohibits it for the same committees. They didn’t
the Chinese Communist Party. Let me H.R. 5142. An act to award posthumously a
know they were funding the Com- Congressional Gold Medal, in commemora-
tell you this. When you spend $5 tril-
munist Party. They didn’t know they tion to the servicemembers who perished in
lion, that party is going to be cele- Afghanistan on August 26, 2021, during the
were paying for millionaires’ plumbing.
brating. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. evacuation of citizens of the United States
I want to apologize to the staff. You They may change their votes.
Maybe that is why the CBO says it and Afghan allies at Hamid Karzai Inter-
do a great job. I owe you another din- national Airport, and for other purposes.
ner. We might make her pay if I win costs so much. Could you only imagine
the bet. You are working late. You some senior paying a lot for their heat- f
didn’t count on this. Personally, I ing, but choosing not to, and some mil-
didn’t think I could go this long. lionaire getting their plumbing paid SENATE ENROLLED BILLS SIGNED
Madam Speaker, my 1 minute is al- for. It just doesn’t seem fair to me. It
just doesn’t seem fair. The Speaker announced her signa-
most up. Madam Speaker and Parlia-
She decided it wasn’t worth their ture to enrolled bills of the Senate of
mentarian, is there any way that you
time to hear how their fellow Ameri- the following titles:
can verify—I guess you can’t say that
because that would be past a minute. cans would be affected by this bill. S. 796.—An Act to codify maternity care
That is exactly what the Democrats coordination programs at the Department of
How far over? I can still tell some fam- Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
ily stories. don’t understand. It is not about them.
S. 894.—An Act to identify and refer mem-
No. I will not yield. I am not trying It is about you, the American people.
bers of the Armed Forces with a health care
to be rude. You are trying to trick me. This is the longest 1 minute I have occupation who are separating from the
I watched ‘‘Mr. Smith Goes to Wash- ever given. It is the longest 1 minute Armed Forces for potential employment
ington.’’ I just need the Boy Scouts. It ever given in this body. There is a rea- with the Department of Veterans Affairs,
is important. son why. This is a tipping point. This is and for other purposes.
I am a competitive guy. I am a com- a point of not coming back from. The S. 1031.—An Act to require the Comptroller
petitive guy. American people have spoken, but un- General of the United States to conduct a
Madam Speaker, this 1 minute feels fortunately, Madam Speaker, the study on disparities associated with race and
almost like 8 hours now. I want to Democrats have not listened. ethnicity with respect to certain benefits ad-
ministered by the Secretary of Veterans Af-
thank my colleagues for standing with I tried to stick to the facts. I did not
fairs, and for other purposes.
me, for standing with their constitu- yell back when someone told me I S. 1095.—An Act to amend title 38, United
ents, as we do everything in our power couldn’t look at them or when they States Code, to provide for the disapproval
to stop this bill. heckled me. I simply asked the Speak- by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of
I hope the American public learned a er that the House was not in order. I courses of education offered by public insti-
little more. I hope my colleagues did, don’t know if he set a record this tutions of higher learning that do not charge
too. While it has been a long night for night, but I imagine it came close, to veterans the in-State tuition rate for pur-
many of us who have been on this floor, try to get the House in order. poses of Survivors’ and Dependents’ Edu-
my Democratic colleagues chose to There have been times in people’s cational Assistance Program, and for other
handle this debate differently. purposes.
lives when they act emotionally, when
There have been good moments and they don’t want to hear the truth com- f
bad. I just never thought power would ing at them. I don’t know if that is the
go so far as to tell another Member reason why they acted the way they ADJOURNMENT
where they can look. Maybe he was did; it could be.
having a bad night. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu-
I want to thank my colleagues on the b 0510 ant to section 11(b) of House Resolu-
other side for being here. I have en- I don’t believe there is ill will. I tion 188, the House stands adjourned
joyed your company. I probably owe won’t bring a censure. I am not sure if until 8 a.m. today.
you dinner, too. Will you get in trouble they will be back here next time. Thereupon (at 5 o’clock and 11 min-
if you have dinner with me? We don’t Madam Speaker, this evening showed utes a.m.), under its previous order, the
have to tell people. You can pick the that no matter the time, the day, or House adjourned until today, Friday,
restaurant. the circumstances, House Republicans November 19, 2021, at 8 a.m.
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