Rick Allen

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 375. members recorded pursuant to house resolution 8, 117th congress Auchincloss (Clark (MA)) Blumenauer (Beyer) Carter (LA) (Kahele) DeFazio (Brown (MD)) Garcia (IL) (Ocasio-Cortez) Grijalva (Stanton) Herrera Beutler (Rodgers (WA)) Horsford (Allred) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Lesko (Joyce (PA)) Lowenthal (Beyer) Matsui (Thompson (CA)) McEachin (Wexton) Pascrell (Pallone) Payne (Pallone) Phillips (Jacobs (CA)) Porter (Wexton) Pressley (Bowman) Rice (NY) (Murphy (FL)) Roybal-Allard (McCollum) Ruiz (Aguilar) Rush (Quigley) Swalwell (Gomez) Underwood (Casten) Wilson (FL) (Hayes) Yarmuth (Beyer)

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I was attending to an urgent matter in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 330 and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 331. members recorded pursuant to house resolution 8, 117th congress Adams (Brown) Bowman (Khanna) Castro (TX) (Escobar) Cawthorn (McHenry) Cicilline (Pingree) Cooper (Clark (MA)) Cuellar (Costa) DeFazio (Brown) DesJarlais (Fleischmann) Doyle, Michael F. (Cartwright) Frankel, Lois (Clark (MA)) Fulcher (Johnson (OH)) Garamendi (Sherman) Garbarino (Jacobs (NY)) Garcia (TX) (Escobar) Gonzalez (OH) (Herrera Beutler) Harshbarger (Kustoff) Hartzler (Bucshon) Hice (GA) (Greene (GA)) Huffman (Stanton) Jayapal (Raskin) Jones (Jacobs (CA)) Kahele (Case) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Lee (NV) (Clark (MA)) Lofgren (Jeffries) Lynch (Trahan) McEachin (Wexton) Meng (Jeffries) Mfume (Evans) Moore (WI) (Beyer) Napolitano (Correa) Nehls (Fallon) Ocasio-Cortez (Escobar) Payne (Pallone) Perlmutter (Neguse) Porter (Wexton) Rodgers (WA) (Joyce (PA)) Rush (Underwood) Salazar (Cammack) Sires (Pallone) Smucker (Joyce (PA)) Speier (Scanlon) Steel (Obernolte) Stewart (Crawford) Suozzi (Panetta) Timmons (Reschenthaler) Vela (Correa) Velazquez (Jeffries) Waltz (Diaz-Balart) Wasserman Schultz (Soto) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Williams (GA) (Jacobs (CA)) Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from Louisiana for holding this Special Order and his leadership in our conference. It started off with the war on fossil fuel and then the border crisis. Now, this new deal is about a war on small business. And the Biden administration and Bernie Sanders' trillion-dollar tax-and-spend bill, it is not about addressing our Nation's urgent needs, which I have just described, like: rising inflation; supply chain crisis; illegal immigration--we should not say illegal immigration; it should be human trafficking and drug trafficking--or the crime rate in the country. It is a blueprint to bankrupt and fundamentally turn America into a Big-Government, socialist Nation. So what is included in their House Democrat bill? It includes a radical expansion of the IRS, granting them unprecedented access to the bank transactions of a vast majority of Americans. Again, a war on small business. It allows on-demand, taxpayer-funded abortions by excluding the Hyde amendment protections. Folks, we are just one of three countries that allow elective, full-time abortion. The other two are not good company: China and North Korea. It provides college financial aid for illegal immigrants. It advances Green New Deal priorities to the tune of $630 billion at the expense, again, of small businesses. It forces taxpayers to spend nearly $14,200 per person per year for government-controlled healthcare plans, doubling the cost of the average employer-sponsored healthcare plan. It continues welfare benefits without work requirements for able- bodied adults without dependents, at a time when there are 10.1 million jobs openings. Folks, I am talking 25 million people, work-capable people. That is not all. The Democrats are desperately trying to sell this bad bill, with both Biden and Nancy Pelosi falsely claiming it will cost zero dollars. You have got to be kidding. But the American people can see that this costly bill will wreck our economy, all to advance the Democrats' socialist agenda. We must fight for the future of this Nation by stopping their tax- and-spending spree. My friends, why in the world would you follow the Biden administration and Bernie Sanders over the cliff after every legislative initiative that has been created by this administration has resulted in a crisis and caused the American people tremendous suffering? Stop this nonsense.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Joyce for yielding to me. Madam Speaker, under the Trump administration and the Republican majority, our Nation was energy independent for the first time in my lifetime. Sadly, after everything we did to become more energy independent and grow our economy, President Biden and the Democrats have done the opposite. As a result of the Biden administration's policies, American jobs have been destroyed and families are paying more for everything. The fact that Biden begged OPEC and Saudi Arabia to boost oil output because Americans have been paying over 40 percent more at the gas pump is a sobering example of this weak leadership, and it demonstrates how this administration's constant assault on American energy has embarrassed us on the world stage. To make matters worse, the Democrats are marching full steam ahead with more job-destroying and cost-raising policies as part of their $3.5 trillion tax and spending spree. For example, their proposed natural gas tax would eliminate up to 90,000 jobs in just the first year of the program. Whose side are they on? It is also alarming that Democrats are proposing $150 billion to mandate deployment of clean energy that is manufactured in China, while at the same time China is building hundreds of coal-powered electric generation plants around the world. They have got to be laughing at us. This massive package--which, by the way, we still don't have the full cost details yet--will punish American households and consumers through higher costs while sending good paying jobs overseas. Like I said: Whose side are they on? Sadly, this isn't anything new. President Biden has continued to hand our adversaries like Russia and China victory after victory while chipping away at our energy dominance. Madam Speaker, I urge President Biden and the Democrats to put Americans first by ending their war on fossil fuels and instead work with Republicans on policies that will get our Nation back on the road to energy independence.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, this country is going through crisis after crisis. The Border Patrol apprehended over 200,000 immigrants at our southern border last month. August's border numbers are alarming and mark a 21- year high. The Biden administration cannot blame this surge on seasonal trends as this number is a 317 percent increase from the same time last year. So what is the Biden administration doing to stop this ongoing border surge? Absolutely nothing. In fact, over 43,000 illegal immigrants were released into the U.S. last month. This is a national security crisis. We don't know who is pouring across our border, and, unfortunately, this is a humanitarian crisis to the fullest extent. Just last week, we saw tens of thousands of Haitians make their way to Del Rio with reports on the ground describing horrific conditions in their makeshift camp as two women reportedly gave birth--including one who later tested positive for COVID-19. This crisis is one of the worst in history. It is time to finish the wall, end catch and release, and secure our border.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 261 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 262.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 234. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Aderholt (Moolenaar) DeSaulnier (Thompson (CA)) Fulcher (Meuser) Grijalva (Stanton) Horsford (Jeffries) Katko (Joyce (OH)) Kelly (PA) (Keller) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Lowenthal (Beyer) Maloney, Carolyn (Velazquez) McEachin (Wexton) Meng (Jeffries) Napolitano (Correa) O'Halleran (Stanton) Payne (Pallone) Porter (Wexton) Rush (Underwood) Sires (Pallone) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Wild (Axne) Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Arkansas for yielding and also my colleague from Oklahoma for introducing these commonsense amendments to rein in spending and counteract the bloated spending package that our Democrat colleagues are ramming through this House. It is past time we tighten the purse strings in Washington. There is no doubt that we are in the midst of a Biden economic crisis, thanks to wasteful Washington spending. Just this morning, I hosted a telephone townhall, and I asked my constituents in Georgia's 12th Congressional District if they are feeling the impact of Biden's inflation. Overwhelmingly, 93 percent said they are paying more for everyday goods and they got less money every week. This inflation is a result of Biden's and congressional Democrats' spending spree, and here we are, debating more irresponsible and unrealistic spending that will do more to harm the pocketbooks of American families. When in the history of civilization has any Nation survived this insane spending? It is not sustainable. Families work hard to live within their means and manage their household budgets, and it is a dereliction of duty as elected officials to keep spending money we don't have. While many American families are suffering now due to the rise in inflation, our future generations are the ones who will eventually have to pay the price. I urge my colleagues to support the Hern amendments so that we can start to get our fiscal house back under control.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 212. members recorded pursuant to house resolution 8, 117th congress Aderholt (Moolenaar) Buchanan (LaHood) DeSaulnier (Matsui) Doyle, Michael F. (Cartwright) Frankel, Lois (Clark (MA)) Fulcher (Simpson) Garcia (IL) (Garcia (TX)) Gottheimer (Panetta) Granger (Calvert) Grijalva (Stanton) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Jones (Williams (GA)) Kahele (Moulton) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Lawson (FL) (Evans) McEachin (Wexton) Meng (Jeffries) Napolitano (Correa) Payne (Pallone) Ruiz (Correa) Rush (Underwood) Stewart (Owens) Trone (Beyer) Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, Congress has appropriated well over $300 billion to State and local governments over the past 14 months to help provide broadband access, but we must ensure these funds are being utilized to meet the needs of rural America. This is only possible if Federal broadband maps are accurate. Last Congress I supported the Broadband DATA Act, which was signed into law and directed the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, to allow independent third-party data to challenge these maps. Many States, including Georgia, have already done their own work to identify areas with immediate broadband needs. I recently sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the FCC urging them to utilize data from the Georgia Broadband Map program in their new mapping program and insisting that regular updates be provided to Congress. House Agriculture Republicans have also marked up the Broadband for Rural America Act, which will provide targeted assistance to the least- connected residents. I look forward to working on bipartisan solutions to ensure every household has broadband access while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, H.R. 18 must be immediately brought to the House floor for a vote. The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act would make the Hyde amendment and other current abortion funding prohibitions permanent and governmentwide. The Hyde amendment was passed in 1976 and has shared bipartisan support for over four decades, while saving at least 2.4 million lives. But, now, my Democrat colleagues want to break with precedent and pave the way for taxpayer-funded abortions. This is wrong. It is in direct opposition to God's word and the will of the American people. Psalm 139:13 is clear: ``For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.'' Polling shows that 60 percent of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 18, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, when considering any legislation, Congress first should determine whether the legislation is needed and, next, whether the bill under consideration will provide a workable, feasible, and effective response to the issue at hand. Proponents of H.R. 2062 claim that the Supreme Court's decision in Gross, 2009, and Nassar, 2013, have harmed workers who faced age discrimination or unlawful retaliation. Publicly available data does not show that the Supreme Court decisions in Gross or Nassar have discouraged individuals from filing Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charges of discrimination, which is a signed statement asserting employment discrimination. Unfortunately, the one subcommittee-level hearing earlier this year in the Committee on Education and Labor on H.R. 2062 also covered several other unrelated bills. At the very least, this far-reaching legislation deserves more than a cursory examination. Furthermore, a Democrat-invited witness who testified at the hearing in favor of H.R. 2062 acknowledged that ``it is difficult to quantify the impact that the Gross decision has had on the number of older workers who bring cases and the number of those who win them.'' The reality is that a review of EEOC data shows that the rate of EEOC age discrimination charges as a percentage of all charges filed is approximately the same for the 11 years before and after the Gross decision. In fact, there has been an uptick in title VII retaliation charges as a percentage of all charges filed in the 7 years following the Nassar decision, which does not indicate individuals have been discouraged from filing these charges. Court decisions show that plaintiffs have continued to win age discrimination and title VII retaliation cases in the wake of the Supreme Court's decisions in Gross and Nassar. Like other Democrat-sponsored legislation in the 117th Congress, H.R. 2062 has been rushed through the committee without necessary examination, discussion, or consideration. We should go back to the drawing board on this bill, because H.R. 2062 begs for reliable data and evidence, thoughtful deliberation, and genuine consideration.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, when considering any legislation, the House should first determine whether legislation is needed and, next, whether the bill under consideration will adequately address or improve the situation. Before H.R. 2062 was brought to the House floor, the Committee on Education and Labor did not have a standalone hearing on the bill and instead held a subcommittee-level hearing on multiple, wide-ranging topics. This complex and sweeping legislation deserves further examination by the committee so Members can gather more information from a variety of experts to make an informed decision regarding its practicality. Supporters of H.R. 2062 claim the Supreme Court's 2009 decision in the Gross case and 2013 decision in the Nassar case have harmed workers who faced age discrimination or unlawful retaliation for claiming discrimination. Publicly available data does not show that the Supreme Court decisions in the Gross or Nassar cases have discouraged individuals from filing EEOC charges. A Democrat-invited witness who testified acknowledged that ``it is difficult to quantify the impact that the Gross decision has had on the number of older workers who bring cases and the number of those who win them.'' This witness also acknowledged that ``when we might have expected a drop in charges due to Gross-inspired discouragement from employment attorneys, there was a sizeable jump in the number of ADEA charges filed with the EEOC.'' In addition, a review of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, data shows that, as a percentage of all charges filed, the rate of EEOC age discrimination charges is approximately the same as 11 years before the Gross decision, with a slightly higher percentage of age discrimination charges filed after the Gross decision. As a percentage of all charges filed in the 7 years following the Nassar decision, there has also been an increase in title VII retaliation charges, which shows that individuals have not been discouraged from filing these charges. Further, a review of court decisions shows that plaintiffs have continued to win age discrimination and title VII retaliation cases in the wake of the Supreme Court's decisions of Gross and Nassar. Bottom line, we must ensure that before we continue to legislate on an issue that may not need additional Washington interference, we have accurate data. My amendment simply states that before H.R. 2062 goes into effect, the Government Accountability Office must conduct a study and report to Congress on whether individuals have been discouraged from filing age discrimination or title VII retaliation charges and from filing lawsuits following the decisions in Gross and Nassar and whether there have been fewer plaintiffs winning age discrimination and title VII retaliation lawsuits. If the GAO finds that individuals have not been discouraged from filing charges and lawsuits, and have, in fact, won more lawsuits than prior to the Supreme Court decisions, then the bill would not go into effect. Let's not put the cart before the horse. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of my amendment to ensure this legislation is actually needed and adequately addresses the purported concerns of the bill's sponsors.

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, again, I simply state this: My amendment says that the Government Accountability Office must conduct a study and report to Congress on whether individuals have been discouraged from filing age discrimination or title VII retaliation charges and from filing lawsuits following the decisions in Gross and Nassar, and whether there have been fewer plaintiffs winning age discrimination and title VII retaliation lawsuits. We must have the data before we move in this body. We do not have sufficient information at this point. Again, no one wants discrimination in the workplace, but we have a justice system that provides for relief for people who bring these cases. And I have just cited the cases presented here today. Mr. Speaker, I urge a vote for this amendment so that we can get the proper data.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege today to rise to honor the life of Foster Friess, an American patriot who was a warrior for conservative and Christian values. Foster truly lived the American Dream. He started his own business that led to incredible success. But Foster leaves behind a legacy that is far greater than success, as his generosity impacted the lives of countless people. His favorite Bible verse from Galatians: ``Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.'' To Foster and his wife, Lynnette, that verse was more than words; it was put into action daily. They were passionate about charitable giving and always looking for ways to lend their support to people in need. He will be missed by many, and my prayers are especially with his wife, Lynnette, their 4 children and 15 grandchildren. Foster's life glorified God, and his legacy will live on far beyond his years. We must all learn from his example.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Johnson for yielding and for holding this Special Order this evening. Thanks to the success of Operation Warp Speed, we have been able to get millions of Americans vaccinated. Georgia has led the Nation in COVID-19 economic recovery, and I am proud to say that Georgia's economy has reached prepandemic levels. Now that the CDC has rolled back mask recommendations, we are finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. But there is a lot of work to be done to get this great American economy, the greatest economy in the world, growing again. Unfortunately, the Biden administration is asleep at the wheel when it comes to what needs to be done to spur economic growth. As of March, U.S. job-makers reported 8.1 million available jobs, a record high. But I am hearing from small businesses that they can't get their employees to go back to work. That is because President Biden and congressional Democrats are paying people more money to stay home than to go to work. I am grateful that, starting next month, our Governor, Governor Kemp, is ending the extra $300 in Federal weekly jobless payments. It is time for all States to opt out of this Federal job supplement and quit wasting taxpayers' money. Let's get Americans back to work and focus on rebuilding our economy.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for our vital ally, Israel. The recent rocket attacks launched by Hamas terrorists against innocent Israelis must be unequivocally condemned, and our support for Israel's right to defend herself must be crystal clear. Between President Biden's weak leadership and anti-Semitic comments made by Members of this very body, terrorist organizations like Hamas feel that they can get away with attacking our ally. They have emboldened them. The world is watching, and there is no room for silence or appeasement of terrorists. Congress and the Biden administration must immediately reaffirm America's longstanding commitment to Israel and offer any and all support. Mr. President, wake up. There is only one democracy in the Middle East, and we must stand with Israel.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 141.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Sheriff Tyson Stephens, Emanuel County's longest-serving sheriff, on his recent retirement. Sheriff Stephens first entered public service in 1982, and has spent his career ensuring the community is a safe place to live, work and raise a family. He has certainly made an impact on Emanuel County, and it will continue to be felt for years to come. I know that his family has made many sacrifices over the past three decades, and it is time for him to enjoy this next chapter with his wife, children and grandchildren. I thank Sheriff Stephens for his service and commitment, and congratulations on his retirement.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Dr. Sandra Carraway, Superintendent of the Columbia County School System, for her commitment to our students' education, and to congratulate her on her upcoming retirement. Dr. Carraway has dedicated her life to education, starting as a teacher and working her way up to superintendent. Both the county and school district saw growth while under her leadership, and she will be remembered for always prioritizing the well-being of our students-- including in the midst of unprecedented challenges. She led the school district as it was one of the first in Georgia to reopen following the COVID-19 outbreak. Thanks to her leadership, Columbia County students were able to continue learning and stay on track academically. I know parents are eternally grateful for her actions to get students back in the classroom in such a prompt and safe manner. Congratulations, Dr. Carraway, on an incredible career. I wish her the very best as she enters a well-deserved retirement

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, just yesterday, the squad and other Democrats reintroduced the socialist Green New Deal. This dangerous proposal costs over $90 trillion and will destroy thousands of American jobs. But Speaker Pelosi and President Biden have no intention of stopping it. In fact, they are planning to use their partisan infrastructure package as a vehicle to enact several Green New Deal priorities. While details of what they consider infrastructure, and I use that term loosely, are not finalized, it does not inspire confidence that the Democrats are already turning away from regular order, which requires bipartisanship to get the bill through Congress. Here is what we know about the package so far. It advances $600 billion to Green New Deal priorities. Only 5 percent will go toward roads and bridges and 2 percent for airways, waterways, and ports. They are planning the largest tax hike since 1968 to pay for their agenda, and an estimate from the National Association of Manufacturers shows that their proposed corporate tax hike would cost 1 million jobs.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, during the first week of April, the world's top golfers are invited to my hometown of Augusta, Georgia, as they compete in the most prestigious tournament in the world known as The Masters. As people from around the world visit the Augusta National Golf Club or tune in from the comfort of their homes, they get to experience a tradition unlike any other. After the 2020 Masters Tournament was postponed to the fall with no spectators due to the pandemic, there was a lot of excitement to be back this year--even at limited capacity. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Ridley and members of Augusta National for putting on a safe and memorable tournament this year. And I want to extend my personal congratulations to the 2021 Masters Champion, Hideki Matsuyama. He is the first-ever Japanese professional golfer to win a men's major golf championship, and he has made his nation of Japan very proud. Hideki is an inspiration to young golfers around the world, showing that you can reach the pinnacle of your profession through dedication and hard work.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1195. Madam Speaker, our healthcare and social service workers deserve tremendous praise for their work over the past year, as they have faced unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also deserve protections, as they face a significant risk of workplace violence. This complex issue deserves an evidence-based solution, not a rushed and costly top-down government mandate. Unfortunately, H.R. 1195 would prevent workers and stakeholders from giving meaningful input based on experience regarding how to address this highly technical issue. It forces the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, to issue an interim final workplace violence prevention rule within 1 year, significantly impacting the healthcare industry as they remain on the front lines of combating this pandemic. I have heard firsthand from our healthcare facilities--especially our rural hospitals--that the pandemic has caused serious financial struggles, and many are already at risk of closure. The CBO estimates that the rushed rule will cost private entities at least $1.8 billion in the first 2 years that the rule is in effect and $750 million annually after that. For public facilities, it will cost at least $100 million in the first 2 years and $55 million after that. The last thing our healthcare facilities need right now is another costly top-down mandate from Washington. Our Founders envisioned a government by the people. I am always amazed that the intellectuals in this town know more about solving problems than the great people on the front lines. My colleagues are approaching this issue the wrong way. We must address this from the bottom up by empowering healthcare workers, hospital leadership, the scientific community, and the public to have a say in the development of a new comprehensive standard. That is why I oppose this bill today and I urge my colleagues to ensure our healthcare workers and caregivers are protected in the workplace by allowing them to give their input directly.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, we all agree that every American should be compensated for the quality of their work and not face discrimination in the workplace based on race, color, national origin, religion, or sex. That is why Congress passed the Equal Pay Act in 1963 and broader nondiscrimination laws under title VII of the Civil Rights Act the following year. However, unlike those bills, H.R. 7 offers no new protections. It is simply a messaging bill to score political points. What will the bill actually do? For job creators, they can expect more lawsuits and more regulatory burdens. While limiting legal options for women by changing EPA class action lawsuits from an opt-in system to a mandatory opt-out system, H.R. 7 allows trial lawyers to pursue unlimited compensatory damages, making it nearly impossible for employers to defend against frivolous lawsuits. Additionally, it requires employers to make intrusive data disclosures to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding the sex, race, and national origin of employees and, for the first time, the hiring, termination, and promotion data of those employees, ultimately posing a threat to workers' privacy. The compliance costs to satisfy these requirements can total more than $600 million a year. We have already seen a number of small businesses forced to close this year because of COVID lockdowns, and now my Democratic colleagues want to impose more regulatory burdens on businesses that were lucky enough to survive. Thankfully, my colleague from New York, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, has a solution that will actually address pay discrimination and support women in the workplace. The Wage Equity Act protects workers' privacy by encouraging voluntary pay analysis while bolstering women's employment through the creation of a grant program for women in college or career and technical programs to provide negotiation skills education. I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 7 and work with Republicans on meaningful legislation to ensure all workers have the opportunity and wages they deserve.

Mr. ALLEN

Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, there is an undeniable crisis along our southern border, and the most recent numbers we have received are alarming. Last month, there were over 100,000 illegal immigrants encountered at our border. That is a 173 percent increase from the same time last year and the highest number of encounters in 7 years. From January to February of this year, we saw a 163 percent increase of family unit encounters, a 61 percent increase in unaccompanied minors, and a 28 percent increase in encounters overall. This surge is a direct result of the Biden administration's failure to secure our border and enforce our immigration laws. Now we face a humanitarian crisis. While the President refuses to acknowledge this dire situation, my Democratic colleagues are turning a deaf ear by advancing two bills this week to grant blanket amnesty to millions of illegals. Are you kidding me? This sends the wrong message that our borders are open and that our laws don't matter, which will only incentivize more illegal immigration. It is time to build a wall, end policies like catch and release, and oppose mass amnesty. We must secure our border.