Jodey Arrington

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, these CRs, these fits and starts of prioritizing the Nation's resources and allocating these resources so we can run the people's government, are inefficient at best, they are dysfunctional, it is disgraceful, it is pervasive, and it is a structural issue that both Republicans and Democrats have to solve ultimately. I am trying to be fair about this, because I have seen this happen when Republicans have been in charge, in all fairness. I think the difference this time in the life of our country is that my Democrat colleagues have been distracted while trying to pass a massive tax-and-spend bill. It is the largest expansion of government and the largest tax hike. It is the biggest transfer of wealth. It is a lot of things, and they ain't good. Meanwhile, we are just totally punting on managing our budget. Three years in a row, my colleagues have not put forth a budget. What I would like to see us do, to fix this for both sides, is to consider when we are talking about CRs and the debt ceiling and we are putting on display for the entire world how dysfunctional we are with respect to budget and appropriations, is that we would actually put forward bipartisan reforms like enforceable spending caps. Those are gone after this year. How about paygos and CutGos that are actually enforceable so that we force Congress to do what everyone else in the country does, which is live within their means. There is a whole list here. Debt targets; no budget, no recess. How about we stay here and celebrate Christmas together and the holidays until we get a dadgum budget passed? There are lots of bipartisan measures that I implore my colleagues to talk to their leadership about while I am talking to mine, so we can do something about it and not just keep this dysfunction going infinitum.

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from the great State of Texas for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I have said a lot about the disastrous effects of this gargantuan tax and spend bill on the heels of an economy that is sputtering on account of massive spending, which is driving inflation, and on the unemployment policies that have locked labor on the sidelines, and you have got vaccine mandates coming down the pike. This is the proposal from my Democrat colleagues and my friends. What I can't understand, for the life of me, Mr. Speaker, is that in this bill, that is supposed to go after the inequity gap in our country, they have the largest spending program as a giveaway to millionaires from high-tax States like New York and California, $280 billion. There are special interest carve-outs. This looks like a Christmas tree of giveaways to political allies, unions, plaintiffs' attorneys, and media corporations. That is all in this bill, Mr. Speaker. I plead with my colleagues: Relent.

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I can't for the life of me understand why my Democrat colleagues insist on passing this multitrillion-dollar monstrosity of a tax-and-spend bill that not only I, but the American people believe will be an economic and societal disaster on so many levels. Mr. Speaker, the American people have spoken in countless polls and surveys and elections, not just in Virginia, New York, and New Jersey, but in my State of Texas where House seats have flipped from Democrat to Republican for the first time ever. As recent as last week, a Democrat changed parties to Republican because they cannot explain the current policies that are destructive to the ends of recovery and support the American people's freedom and our way of life. They said as clearly as they can: No more Big Government control over our lives. That is what they said in Virginia. No more socialist spending our country into bankruptcy. No more growing the government at the expense of our freedoms and our children's future. Mr. Speaker, Virginia, a blue State, one-third of the electorate said the economy was their number one issue. Biden won that by 10 points. They voted for a Republican Governor. Two-thirds of the American people in recent polls have said that the Biden economic plans are bad and they have no confidence in his policies. They connect his policies with the current economic conditions. The majority of Americans attribute the inflation to Biden's failed policies, just like they do the disastrous border and the debacle in Afghanistan and in the generic ballot. The generic ballot among registered voters, there is a 10-point spread, if the elections were held today, between Democrats and Republicans. That is the highest in 40 years ever recorded. The American people are speaking and they are crying out to their country's leaders: Relent. Relent. But they have made the connection between the policies and the disastrous effects in their lives and in the life of their country. Enhanced employment benefits, in other words, paying people more to be on unemployment than to be at work, coupled with wasteful partisan multitrillion-dollar spending packages under the guise of COVID relief have created an economic firestorm, runaway inflation. Real wages, 7 of the 9 months this President has been in office, have gone down. Real wages have gone down. There has been an inflation surge to the point of double-digit inflation in the last month, which have put us, over the year, at a 30-year high. Gas prices are up 50 percent. We are almost a million jobs short of what President Biden promised as a result of that blue State bailout that he called COVID relief. This is the solution that the Democrats are offering. Let's raise prices even more and lower wages by taxing the American people. Let's further extend our recession by chasing jobs overseas and putting the highest tax rates in the developed world on the job creators of the United States of America. Let's burden small businesses with higher taxes and less people willing to work. Let's drive labor participation further down by removing the work requirement. Let's trap more people in poverty and the cycle of dependency on government by removing the incentives to work. Let's wipe out 20 or 30 percent of the workforce by thrusting a Big Government mandate that is unconstitutional, overreaching, and would destroy any prospects for recovery. Mr. Speaker, this was supposed to be about income inequality, but if you read the tax bill--and I don't know how my progressive colleagues can look the American people in the eyes with a straight face and say that this is not a swampy, special-interest package of the century, because they have tax breaks for the wealthy by raising the SALT deductions. They give tax breaks to green industry, to unions, to plaintiffs' attorneys, to media corporations. That is all legitimate. That is all true. If you look close enough, that is what this is about. Not to mention they stuffed the stocking with early Christmas presents for progressives and political allies of the Democratic Party--amnesty for 8 million people while our southern border is melting down; unionization of every employee, every employer, every State in the country; Obamacare subsidies for people making hundreds of thousands of dollars. Mr. Speaker, the list is too long. I implore my Democrat colleagues to relent and stop this. Let's get back to work on behalf of the American people.

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bryan Mudd on 20 years of service at KAMC, which is a local television station there in Lubbock. Bryan's dedication to keeping the citizens of Lubbock and the surrounding area informed about what is happening at home and across this country has been invaluable to West Texas. Bryan and his wife, Sherry, are both servant leaders who go above and beyond their work to give of their time and talents to support many causes and multiple non-profits in our community. And I know their fellow West Texans and I am deeply grateful for their efforts. I have always appreciated Bryan and his commitment to excellence in journalism and his unwavering dedication to bringing timely, fair, and balanced news to the people of West Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent Bryan and his family in our Nation's capital. God bless Bryan, my dear friend. Congrats, and go West Texas.

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a trusted leader in Lubbock County and a man I am blessed to call a dear friend, Sheriff Kelly Rowe. Sheriff Rowe was recently elected by his peers to be president of the Sheriff's Association of Texas. I can think of no better Texas lawman to represent the character and noble calling of the law enforcement profession, and the central tenet of a free society, law and order, than Kelly Rowe. Sheriff Rowe served in the United States Army and the Texas National Guard. He has been part of the Sheriff's Department since 1999, but he has been our sheriff for the last decade. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, law enforcement in Texas is under tremendous strain as they work to protect our citizens and secure our southern border, which is in complete chaos as a result of our Federal Government's failure to defend our country and our President's failure to uphold the laws of the land. As unprecedented numbers of crime, drugs, and gangs pour through our open border, our law enforcement officers have never been more important to the safety of our neighborhoods and our families. Sheriff Rowe is a leader among his colleagues and the Lone Star State is safer and stronger as a result of his service. Mr. Speaker, I also thank his lovely wife, Nola, and their family for sharing Kelly selflessly with our communities. Law enforcement, as you know, is a family commitment. It is a family sacrifice. So congratulations to Sheriff Rowe on this great honor. We are incredibly grateful for his service. We are extremely proud of his leadership contributions to West Texas and beyond. God bless the men and women in blue. God bless America. And go West Texas. Congratulating Bryan Mudd

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, before my commentary on this disastrous border self-inflicted by this administration, I want to speak on behalf of my fellow Texans. I think I can say this with confidence: They welcome the immigrant, the God-fearing, freedom-loving immigrant that wants to make this country their home, pledge allegiance to our flag, embrace our ideals and improve even our way of life. Mr. Speaker, we welcome the immigrant, but only if they respect our laws, our sovereignty, and the safety of our fellow Americans. Since January, this administration has created an unprecedented and unmitigated crisis at our southern border. They have repealed every effective measure that was in place to stop the flow of illegal Americans and to secure the border. They have willfully disregarded the Constitution and its mandate on the people's government to provide for the common defense. Our President has failed to faithfully uphold the law, to fulfill the sacred duty to enforce the laws of the land. They have completely ceded control of our border and the sovereignty of this great country to paramilitary drug cartels. They have enriched, empowered, these narco terrorists at the expense of the vulnerable migrants who take this dangerous trek and, most importantly, at the expense of the American people, our families, our children. Mr. Speaker, this administration has intentionally opened up our border to a flood of human trafficking, unprecedented drug smuggling, and a record amount of crime and gang activity. There is no apology for it. There is no recognition of it. There seems to be no sign of changing the posture and policies of this administration. There is no accountability. They are not committed to detaining and deporting. Mr. Speaker, they are catching and releasing, there is lawlessness, chaos, and a border beyond recognition. This central tenet of catch and release has not only rewarded illegal immigration, but it has dispersed this crisis beyond our border to every State in the United States, making every State a border State. Since March, 160,000 illegal immigrants have been released into the United States. This, in addition to almost a half a million got-aways. Mr. Speaker, I recently learned that folks who were being detained, illegal immigrants, were being released into neighborhoods in communities in my district. They couldn't tell me how many. They couldn't tell me where they came from. They couldn't tell me who was going to follow up, when they would show up for court. They had nothing. They could confirm, however, that there were people being released, illegal immigrants, into our communities who were COVID positive, and some who had criminal records. Nobody notified. Not me, not our governor, no local officials--just releasing folks. Meanwhile, this administration is mandating and insisting on vaccines and public health protocols, but letting folks just stream into our country. They say one of every five illegal immigrants crossing is COVID positive, and so there is this public safety threat of another surge inundating our hospitals while they force their policies on the American people in this regard. Shameful. And there has been an exponential increase in criminal aliens apprehended at the border. These are folks who have committed a crime on our soil who have crossed back over--four times as much criminal activity, criminal aliens. Mr. Speaker, the numbers are startling: 348 percent increase in criminal aliens convicted of DUIs coming back to the United States; 454 percent increase in criminal aliens convicted of drug possession; 477 percent increase in robbery, theft, burglary; over 200 percent increase in sex offenses, and over 1600 percent increase in criminal aliens who have come over to our country and committed murder.

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize an outstanding west Texan, Ms. Mindy Patterson. Mindy has served the city of Abilene for three decades, from her start as an entry-level accountant to her current position of deputy city manager. This year marks her 30th year of service for the city of Abilene, and her colleagues know her as a servant leader and a tireless worker who will do anything for her beloved community. The city manager, Robert Hanna, describes Ms. Patterson as somebody who is, ``simply indispensable to my leadership team.'' I am grateful to Ms. Patterson for her service to Abilene and look forward to even more successes from her in the future and for our great city and community. God bless Ms. Patterson, who is keeping the wheels turning out in west Texas. And go west Texas.

Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of a remarkable young man named Luke Siegel, who inspired so many with his strength of spirit and will to live in the face of tremendous adversity. On July 28 of 2015, Luke suffered severe brain damage as a result of a tragic golf cart accident that changed his life forever and left him immobile, lifeless, and even without the ability to speak. Doctors said, Madam Speaker, that he would stay in that condition as long as he lived. But, through the love and support of his family, the prayers of our wonderful community, and the relentless and tenacious fight that Luke brought every day, he defied all odds and the diagnoses of numerous doctors, recovering to a life no one believed was possible. Sadly, on August 19, our hero and west Texas warrior, Luke Siegel, went home to be with his Heavenly Father. Luke is survived by one amazing family: father, Tim; mother, Jenny; and sisters Alex, Kate, and Ellie. Madam Speaker, Luke never gave up. He was a symbol of hope for people throughout the country whose families have struggled with the challenges of traumatic brain injury. Luke is an inspiration to us all to live every day to the fullest and never give up no matter what the circumstances. I am confident that Luke Siegel heard those beautiful and sweet words of our creator and Lord of heaven and Earth. Madam Speaker, Luke fought the good fight, he finished the race, and he kept the faith. May Luke enter into his eternal rest. God bless Luke Siegel, coach, your family, and God bless west Texas. Recognizing Nancy Liles

Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of an outstanding lady, Nancy Liles, who recently retired after an illustrious 36-year career as executive director of the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau. Ms. Liles' passion for hospitality embodies the spirit of west Texas and has made Abilene a thriving tourist destination where visitors feel right at home. West Texas is known for its friendliness and hospitality, and Ms. Liles has exemplified these attributes in her service to our community and the Key City. Abilene, Texas, is a warmer and more welcoming place because of the leadership and service of Nancy Liles. We wish Nancy well as she spends more time with her family and continues to be a champion for the Big Country in Abilene, America. God bless, and go west Texas. Recognizing Mindy Patterson

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I was unable to be present for one of Wednesday's votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 319.

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for yielding, and he almost got there--the food, fuel, and fiber capital of the world in West Texas. But we are proud to be partners with our friends in Oklahoma who produce a little oil and gas and a little food and fiber themselves. But the gentleman from Florida is exactly right. I don't think that there is enough Democrats to support this gargantuan tax-and-spend bill on the American people because it would be their political death warrant, quite frankly. Because they represent people, working families, who will no doubt feel the burden. Even the most liberal tax policy experts say that the corporate taxes, in large part, will be borne by working families with lower wages and higher cost of goods and lower benefits. That is what taxing American job creators will do, as well as run those jobs right back to overseas where we brought millions back when we cut taxes. We will ruin America's competitive position, and we will no doubt be in a far worst situation than we are today, with runaway inflation, with labor locked out by foolish policies to pay people more to be on unemployment than to be at work. This is the largest tax bill, the largest spending bill, the largest expansion of government, the largest redistribution of wealth in the history of the United States of America--in the history. And part of this bill--and it is hard to know where to end and begin because the Democrats have had sort of a shock and awe strategy where it is hard to unpack all of the disastrous provisions--but they expand the welfare system in this country and trap millions more people on government dependency. And they will trap generations in a cycle of poverty because of new cash entitlements without any regard for personal responsibility or work requirements. The refundable child tax credit is exhibit A. It is half a trillion dollars in its current temporary form. But I guarantee you, if it goes into place, in any form, it will be made permanent. It is over a trillion dollars, and people will be paid cash per child with no regard for their ability to work, their responsibility to look for a job. Work-capable people with no responsibility. This will also enact the green new economic disaster. This is a climate alarmist utopian fantasy that will break the bank of our American coffers. It will ruin our economic prospects of recovery. It will certainly undermine, if not flat out destroy, America's energy independence and give the keys to China in terms of the future global economic leadership. But what is not discussed enough, because Democrats claim in their rhetoric that this is a tax on the rich; this is a tax on corporations. Well, first of all, the facts are, out of the 1.7 organizations, job creators organized as C-Corps, $1.4 million are small businesses. Small businesses in their proposal would be death by a thousand tax increases and mandates and regulations; marginal tax increases; a cut in the small business deduction; you have Obama surtaxes. Madam Speaker, in 41 States, small businesses under this proposal will pay more than 50 percent of their income to the government. On top of that, they have expanded powers for regulators like OSHA to increase their penalties upwards of 500 percent, increase their Fair Labor Standards Act penalties by 900 percent, empower regulators to fine small businesses upwards of $700,000 for not enacting, implementing the Biden vaccine mandate. Madam Speaker, to my friend from Oklahoma, this is riddled with horrible provisions, and to suggest that small businesses get a pass is more than disingenuous. Again, in addition to the tax increases, they have got mandates on government-approved retirement plans. They will be forced to unionize their workforce; taxpayers will subsidize union dues; unions will be able to funnel billions of dollars to Democrat organizations. So in addition to the progressive wish list part 2, after ``COVID relief,'' in addition to amnesty and citizenship for people who came into this country illegally, they have got a whole list of goodies for their union buddies and bosses, not the least of which is Americans get a higher tax break if they buy their electric bicycles and electric vehicles from unionized corporations. So this is a parade of horrible policies. It is an economic disaster. And as we unpack it, I hope and pray that the American people and our colleagues on the Democrat side of the aisle will do the right thing for our country and keep America in that pole position for future prosperity.

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, to answer my friend's question about would we do this again on tax cuts, the answer is absolutely. We grew the economy. We created jobs. We lifted 6 million people out of poverty. And guess what--2 years in a row, we have record revenues in the Treasury coffers to bring down our deficits and our national debt, which by the way, is the greatest threat to this country and the prospects of our children inheriting the blessings of liberty and prosperity. Mr. Speaker, but instead of putting that as the central issue of debate today, we are here--we flew from all over the country--to vote to raise the debt ceiling, but it is buried in a bill that has family violence, nursing mothers, protecting old job applicants. I don't know what costume party I have arrived at here in Washington, but Halloween has come early here because nothing on this rule bill says, ``debt limit.'' It has nursing mothers--I know that my Democrat colleagues want to be involved in every facet and phase of the lives of the American people, including nursing mothers, but the reality is, we are broke. Our budget process is completely dysfunctional. We ought to be talking about spending caps, no budget, no recess, debt targets; things that we could work together on to actually get on a sustainable path to fiscal sanity. But instead, we bury a debt ceiling vote--which is what this is--in a rule bill about family violence, older Americans, and nursing mothers. I mean, that is the most Washington shuck-and-jive thing I have seen in a long time. What deception. What swampiness. Mr. Speaker, that is why the American people can't stand this institution, and they certainly can't trust this institution to do the people's business.

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, it is not our duty to raise the debt limit; it is our duty to not spend so recklessly and so egregiously and irresponsibly that we bankrupt this country, and we rob our children of their freedoms and the opportunities that we have all been blessed with as Americans. That is our duty. I won't give Republicans a pass on this, Madam Speaker. This place is broken. We play by a different set of rules--if we are honest--than the American people. The pay-fors just for the infrastructure bill are total jokes. It is a gimmick. It is Enron accounting scams. People in our country who operate that way would be thrown in prison. So we are all accountable. But I have never seen this kind of spending spree to accelerate the curse that we are putting on the heads of our children. James Madison said: `` . . . a public debt is a public curse, and in a Republican Government a greater curse than any other.'' Trillions of dollars have been spent. We were promised bipartisanship and restoration of unity in this place. We are jamming more bipartisan spending bills starting with COVID, which was a bailout of union pensions and which was a bailout of blue States and Democrat-run cities. Very little went to COVID. That is deception. We are accelerating what Admiral Mullin said was the greatest threat to the United States. He said that the greatest threat to our national security was our national debt. So we promised the cradle-to-grave cash, entitlements, and more handouts without any regard to responsibility and without any requirement for work, and we are going to bankrupt the next generation. We are going to steal from them what we have enjoyed. This is not a profile in courage. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reconsider all of this spending that is bankrupting the country, and I urge them to vote ``no'' on the reconciliation bill.

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a few outstanding members of the next generation of west Texans. The Wylie Little League baseball team from Abilene, Texas, represented not only District 19 well but the whole State of Texas in the Little League World Series there in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. This team knows what it is like to compete in true west Texas fashion. The success of this team is unprecedented, winning against teams from Washington, New Jersey, and Nebraska. To the Wylie All-Stars, their proud parents and coaches, and especially Manager Reggie Regala, west Texas is so proud of you, all of your achievements, and your outstanding representation of west Texas and Congressional District 19. Thank you. Go All-Stars. And God bless west Texas. A Tax on Every American

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, we are, as a Nation, looking down the barrel of the largest tax-and-spend proposal in the history of the United States, this while our Nation suffers from a recession and major runaway inflation on account of policies from my Democrat colleagues to sideline labor by paying people more to be on unemployment than to go to work. So you have labor sidelined, which distorted supply and demand. You also had a bill that was $2 trillion, with the flag of COVID relief wrapped around it, to bail out union pensions and blue States and blue cities that were broke before COVID ever hit our shores. This has created inflation, a tax on every American. The answer from my Democrat colleagues is to tax the middle class, to chase jobs back overseas. After the tax cuts lifted 6 million people out of poverty, gave us the largest wage increase in 20 years, the largest household income increase on record, we want to tax our job creators. We want to load the working man and woman and families with lower wages, with higher cost of goods and services. That is what the tax will translate into for these folks. This is not only the largest tax increase; it is not only the largest spending boondoggle; it is the largest redistribution of wealth, the largest expansion of government, the most radical reimagination of our government's role in the American people's lives in the history of our country. I believe that. I don't think that is hyperbole. What are we taxing? To make America less competitive and to put more burden on the American people? To what end? To pay for the green new disaster, in my humble opinion, their extreme environmental policies based on the premise that we will have an apocalyptic end of the Earth in 10 or 15 years, trillions of dollars, while we cede economic leadership to the likes of China and Russia. We give them the keys to the kingdom, and we end up defaulting our energy independence, which is such an important part, not only of our economic prowess, but of our national security. We are racking up debt that is completely unsustainable. Mr. Speaker, this bill represents $27,000 per household on top of $200,000 per household already of the $28 trillion in debt. This bill will not be paid for. We continue to put a deferred tax on our grandchildren, and we rob them of their freedom and their future in this great country. All of this is because of an income inequality crisis or a climate crisis. Before, it was the COVID crisis. Let me tell you the crises the American people are concerned about: the chaos and lawlessness at the southern border, along the border of my home State. They are concerned about the runaway inflation and the crisis of being able to make ends meet. They are concerned about the crisis of the debt that will be borne by their children and grandchildren. They are concerned about the sustainability of the safety net for our seniors, Medicare and Social Security. Both are insolvent in less than 10 years, and my Democrat colleagues didn't spend a dime, not a dime, of the trillions of dollars, to make sure that wasn't the case and that we could fulfill that promise.

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, to my colleague, my Democrat colleague: From west Texas, our heartfelt condolences to Corporal Lopez and his family for that ultimate sacrifice. I am about to really launch into the debate over the tax-and-spend bill, but we stand united for our troops and for those who are willing to give up their tomorrow, or their today, so that we can have a future in this country. God bless the Lopez family, and I thank the gentleman for his remarks. Congratulating Wylie Little League Baseball Team

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I was unable to be present for one of last week's votes. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 280.

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana, my dear friend. I am honored to be here and to stand with you and so many of my colleagues who believe, like we in west Texas believe unquestionably and unequivocally, that life is sacred, and it is a gift from God. We celebrate that, and we praise God for that. We also believe that whether you are 2 weeks in the womb as an unborn citizen of this great country or you are 2 years old or you are 22, you deserve the constitutionally protected right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If anybody questioned whether the Democratic Party has been hijacked by the radical left, look no further than H.R. 3755, abortion on demand for any reason at any time, right up until the child is born, when the child is viable to live independently outside the womb, when the child can feel pain in the termination of its life. Mr. Speaker, this would put us on par with the likes of North Korea, China, and only seven countries in the world that allow for late-term abortions. It usurps States' sovereign rights to determine their values and their culture of life and to restrict reasonably this horrible procedure where people would abort a child simply because they didn't get a boy when they wanted a girl, or somehow they discovered that the child has Down syndrome. They can't put these reasonable protections in place because this is yet another top-down from Washington, a one-size-fits-all to impose Washington values on the American people. I can just tell you, Mr. Speaker, I am proud of Texas' record of passing pro-life legislation that reflects the pro-life values of the people of Texas. I stand against H.R. 3755. As for me and my house and the people of west Texas, we stand for life, which is why we oppose this.

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, with respect to the rule and bills, if someone were to devise a plan to intentionally destroy the great State of Texas, they would do the following: They would sabotage their sovereignty by opening its borders and granting amnesty and citizenship. They would steal the right to safeguard the integrity of their elections. They would strip the freedoms of both employees and employers by forcing unionization of the workforce. They would destroy its agriculture and energy economy by abusing their regulatory authority and weaponizing the tax code in the name of a politically manufactured climate crisis. They would crush the most prosperous economy in the Nation under the weight of the highest tax rates in the world. They would quench the spirit of self-reliance. They would diminish the dignity of work by trapping their citizens in an endless cycle of government dependence and poverty. And they would permanently plunder the freedom and independence of the Lone Star State by saddling future generations with a debt they could never repay. While this legislation, Madam Speaker, may not have been written with the intention of destroying the State of Texas, it is clear that should these bills pass, that is exactly what it would do, and not only to my great State but to the entire Nation.

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Louisiana for yielding. Madam Speaker, COVID was the excuse to bail out blue States poorly managed and union pensions poorly managed. Our current recession has been the excuse to pay people more to be on unemployment than to be at work or to permanently expand the social welfare programs that were supposed to be temporary and targeted. The supposed climate crisis is the excuse for destroying our energy independence. And if you listen to my colleagues' comments today, you would think there was rampant voter suppression and a rise of racial discrimination in voting. That is not true. That is simply not true. It is divisive, and I would suggest that it is dangerous for our country. The real crisis, Madam Speaker, is America's confidence in the integrity of our elections because elections are the backbone of our democracy, and so we need to make sure we do everything to ensure a free and fair process and an accurate outcome. That is the responsibility, according to the Constitution, of the States. We don't need Federal Government lawyers or the DOJ to be weaponized against States' efforts to make these reforms with respect to voter ID, mail-in ballot eligibility, and other integrity reform measures. Madam Speaker, let's stick to the Constitution. Let's uphold it. Let's protect the States' right to secure and improve election integrity for our citizens and our electoral process in this great country.

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, to comment on my Democrat colleague's comments that they are just trying to build America back better, nobody in the United States of America in their right mind believes that what is happening in this country--the disastrous economic policies, the spike in crime in the neighborhoods from sea to shining sea, the chaos that burns out of control at the border--believes that you are trying to make America better. I associate myself with the comments of Representative Roy from the Lone Star State. It is absurd for us to be mandating and restricting the American people when we have hundreds of thousands of people pouring into this country, and in the last 2 weeks we had a 900 percent increase in COVID-positive people illegally crossing our sovereign border into the United States. We can't take anybody seriously, not the President, and with all due respect, not our colleagues who think they are trying to make our country better, stronger, and safer. That is just absurd. It is ridiculous. I can hardly get through my comments about the appropriations on account of some of this rhetoric that is empty. It is absolutely hollow in the ears of those who hear it who live on the border and who are experiencing the devastating effects; not the least of which are the poor, vulnerable people who are coming over here and paying a high price by the cartels who we, because of the policies of this administration, are enriching and empowering every day. I rise in strong opposition and great concern as a result of the proposed massive and irresponsible spending bills that reflect, Mr. Speaker, the Democrats' insatiable desire to expand the Federal Government beyond recognition, beyond the recognition not only of our Founders, but of our citizens here today, and to, once again, jam through their partisan priorities. These spending levels are beyond fiscally unsustainable. They are going to push us to the brink of bankruptcy, into a place where we can see the sovereign debt crisis from the precipice upon which we stand. We won't be able to print money or borrow to bail out of that crisis, Mr. Speaker. American families have worked hard. They have made sacrifices, tightening up their belts. And by the way, dealing with the every-man tax of inflation while our Democrat colleagues continue to push these massive spending bills. It is completely irresponsible. It is unbelievable that my Democrat colleagues would ask the American people for a 21 percent pay raise, $100 billion. The White House wants a 40 percent pay raise for the crimes fight, for the chaos at the border, for the inflation, for the fact that their policies have locked people into unemployment, and the policies they are proposing will trap them in poverty for the rest of their lives, and generations to follow.

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, aside from the insulting disregard for our national debt for our children and grandchildren, this is the greatest threat. It is not the existential threats. It is our insatiable appetite to expand the government, government's power, and the costs associated. If these bills, these supposed funding bills are enacted, here are the policies that will follow: Abortion providers will be funded and abortion, and the abortion manufacturers that abort, terminate unborn children at a rate of almost 1,000 a day. Allow illegal immigrants to receive our tax dollar financial aid and Federal employment. What a disrespect to the law-abiding American citizens. Choke out our ag and energy producers with extreme environmental policies, disrupt the supply chain, undermine our ag and energy independence. The list is too long, Mr. Speaker. Give contraceptives to students without parental knowledge. Fund sex changes at the VA. These are the priorities, these are the values reflected in the budget of my colleagues? Mr. Speaker, this is a radical reimagination of government's role in the life of its citizens and a drastic departure from America's values and interests, and I oppose it. I pray to God I can get a Democrat to oppose it. I doubt it.

Mr. ARRINGTON

Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and honor the memory of Tony Lee Dill, a west Texas farmer, who I had the privilege of representing and the great blessing of calling my friend. Tony was born on June 3, 1960, to G.W. and Sue Dill in Terry County, Texas. Tony had a lifelong passion for the land and a love for people that was second to none. Tony wasn't just a great farmer, he was a great leader, dedicating much of his life to being a voice for agriculture in rural America. He was absolutely committed to public service for his community, for his industry, and for the country he loved. When I first met Tony, he was president of the Western Peanut Growers Association. Tony was the epitome of a west Texan and a great American farmer. Tony was honest, humble, and hardworking. Tony was a gentleman, a man of great faith and love for the Lord, and he was happiest when he was with his family, his beloved wife, Donna, five children, and eight grandchildren. I know they miss Tony something fierce, and I do, too, but I am confident that Tony is in the presence of the great farmer, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, and all that share Tony's faith will be with him for all eternity. God bless and go west Texas. Honoring Josh Bartlett

Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, last week west Texas witnessed an unspeakable tragedy. One of Lubbock County's true heroes, Sergeant Josh Bartlett, lost his life in the line of duty. Our hearts are heavy with grief for the Bartlett family, and our prayers are with them along with the injured officers and their families, especially including Sergeant Shawn Wilson. Sergeant Bartlett dedicated his life to the sacred calling of wearing the uniform in defense of his country and community, honorably protecting and serving his fellow Americans. We are all heartbroken for his wife Rebecca and their children, Zachary, Christian, Logan and Kasidy. Like so many in law enforcement, Josh watched over our families while taking care of his own as a husband and a father. We must never forget that the men and women in blue represent the very best of our Nation, the bravest and most dedicated among our citizens. We all owe them the highest respect and deepest gratitude for their willingness to sacrifice their lives to protect ours. West Texas, Madam Speaker, is a family, and west Texans unapologetically, unreservedly love and respect our brothers and sisters in law enforcement. We know they stand between us and the bad guys, and we stand with them and their families, especially in these times of sorrow and loss. May God comfort all the families affected in this tragedy, and may He protect and keep those who keep watch over us along the thin blue line. Congratulating the New Deal Lions

Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the New Deal Lions on winning their first 2A baseball State championship. The Lions' State championship win comes after a playoff loss in regionals and a 2020 season where they canceled six games due to COVID. Fueled by those setbacks, the New Deal Lions took head coach Jason Ybarra's motto, ``Unfinished Business,'' to heart during the 2021 season. Led by Kyler Reed, Harley Patterson, and Noah Rodriguez as team captains, the New Deal Lions season included not only a State championship, Madam Speaker, but a 13 and 0 record district play. Kyler Reed retained district MVP, Harley Patterson was named offensive MVP, Tanner Seeley was awarded defensive MVP, and Noah Rodriguez was recognized as the Newcomer of the Year. So congratulations to Lion Nation. This team of young men, along with their coach, represent the west Texas value of hard work and dedication and the west Texas spirit of excellence in all things. God bless and go west Texas.