Sanford Bishop

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, this Workplace Safety Plan was developed according to the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Decisions regarding the safety of Federal workers and returning to work should be driven by science and the methodical recommendation of experts not by broad Congressional mandates. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I claim the time in opposition to the gentlewoman's amendment.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. The USDA Equity Commission was set up in 2022 to address the historic inequities in implementation of the programs by the Department of Agriculture. The Department has a long and storied history of discrimination, as evidenced by the billions of dollars that it has had to pay out as a result of discriminatory policies over the years. To quote directly from the USDA website regarding the commission: ``At USDA, we acknowledge we have not done enough to provide all farmers and ranchers an equal chance of success and prosperity. We are committed to changing that, actively working to build a USDA that ensures none of our customers are ignored or left behind.'' What is so threatening about that? The bill already came out of committee bearing harmful policy riders restricting the administration's efforts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The continued assault on equity initiatives at USDA is not helping our farmers. This amendment is a distraction from the real issues that are facing our farmers, and it does nothing to move us closer to a bipartisan conference agreement, an agreement we know we must reach to pass these appropriations bills. I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I am perplexed that anyone would not want to provide good-paying jobs that will help our Nation tackle the climate crisis and build a stronger country. The goal of the Civilian Climate Corps is to put more than 20,000 young people on career pathways in the growing fields of clean energy, conservation, and climate resilience. In launching this effort, President Biden is calling on Tribal, State, and local governments, labor unions, nonprofit service allies, the private sector, and philanthropy to collaborate with the Federal Government to build on current relationships and expand skills-based training partnerships to ensure that our workforce is ready to meet the climate crisis. We have seen the devastation to coastal communities impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms. Why would we not want to train our youth to restore coastal wetlands that can protect communities from storm surges? We know the damage and the loss that accompanies wildfires across our Nation, so why would we not want to train youth to manage forests, to improve health, and prevent catastrophic wildfires? We know the power of skills-based training as a tool to expand pathways into good-paying jobs. Let's not deny our youth this opportunity, and let's not deny our country the resources for our future. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I rise in extremely strong opposition to this amendment. This amendment would take away all State waivers for able-bodied adults without dependents, the so-called ABAWDs. If employment is over 10 percent or there are not sufficient jobs for people in the State, again, who are we to take that State's judgment away? If you think we will never experience these conditions again, think again. Neither you nor I can foresee the future. If these conditions do occur, what are the chances that these folks will find jobs? I cannot and will not support this amendment, nor will any of my Democratic colleagues. If it is included in a final conference report, I doubt my Democratic colleagues will provide the necessary votes for final passage, nor will President Biden sign it into law. It is a bad amendment. Let's vote it down. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I claim time in opposition to the gentlewoman's amendment.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, this amendment prohibits funds from being used to carry out President Biden's climate change executive orders, specifically: Executive Order No. 13990 relating to Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis; Executive Order No. 14008, relating to Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad; Section 6 of Executive Order No. 14013, relating to Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs to Resettle Refugees and Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration; Executive Order No. 14030, relating to Climate-Related Financial Risks; Executive Order No. 14057, relating to Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability; Executive Order No. 14082, relating to Implementation of the Energy and Infrastructure Provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; and Executive Order No. 14096, relating to Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All. Who could be against that? Oh, well. The scientific consensus is clear, however, that we need to take significant steps to reduce carbon emissions moving forward while also working to mitigate the damage from climate change that we are already experiencing. Extreme weather events and changing temperatures and weather patterns are extremely relevant to America's farmland. The Department of Agriculture should be at the forefront of ensuring that our farmers remain productive and successful on the global market in the years to come. Tackling the climate crisis is an essential part of that work. Our farmers are on both the front line of dealing with the effects of climate change as well as taking steps to reduce carbon output and to promote sustainability. This amendment being offered on both appropriations bills brought to the floor this week would hamstring our government's response to climate change. This amendment is shortsighted and does nothing to help our farmers. In fact, it hurts our farmers. Madam Chair, I urge the defeat of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I claim time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. It targets a career civil servant for apparently doing their job as the law requires. This House should hold its actions to the highest standards, and attacks on the civil service have no place in this House. This is a bad amendment. It sets a bad precedent. It is beyond our duties. It is ultra vires. Mr. Chair, I urge the defeat of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I do rise in opposition to this misguided amendment. The amendment would eliminate research funding into novel approaches to keeping livestock healthy. Livestock disease costs hundreds of millions of dollars per year. Producers lose revenue and consumers pay higher prices as a result. An ongoing avian influenza outbreak has devastated poultry producers across the country, devastating that industry in many areas. Innovative research on methods to cost effectively protect livestock benefits both producers and consumers. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to defeat this misguided amendment and let USDA work to keep livestock healthy for producers and prices low for consumers. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I appreciate and share the gentleman's support for our meat and poultry producers. However, this is an amendment to permanent law that, with very rare exceptions, should not be in an appropriations bill. This issue should be considered in the context of the next farm bill. Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Who in the world knows what ``woke'' means? I think all of us should be awake to the dangers of overreach in this appropriations bill. This amendment would prohibit funds for courses, books, or study guides on 17 topics related to inclusion, diversity, and supporting LGBT employees. These topics include issues such as empathy, fostering an inclusive workplace, or becoming an ally to all. I do not believe we should be spending our time here on the floor today debating ways that we can cut back on teaching empathy. Instead, what I think would serve our constituents the most would be a discussion on how we can better help American farmers remain competitive globally, help put food on the tables of those in need, and, yes, help foster an inclusive and welcoming workplace for all at the Department of Agriculture. Mr. Chair, I urge opposition to this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.