Stephanie Bice

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend votes yesterday, as travel back from the Congressional Delegation to attend Pope Leo XIV's Mass for the beginning of his Pontificate was delayed due to a mechanical problem. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 132, and YEA on Roll Call No. 133.

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Police Week, which serves as a reminder to remember and memorialize law enforcement officers who have fallen in the line of duty. During this week, I am reminded of a quote from Matthew chapter 5, verse 9: ``Blessed are the peacekeepers, for they shall be called the children of God.'' Our law enforcement officers put themselves in harm's way every day in the pursuit of justice and protection of the innocent. They are the thin blue line that represents courage when faced with unbelievable chaos and uncertainty. One of the greatest strengths of law enforcement is their ability to bridge gaps, forge connections, and build trust within our communities. For our officers, stopping criminals, saving innocent lives, and helping our communities is more than a job. It is a way of life. I thank them for everything they do to protect and safeguard our communities.

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or the SAVE Act. Mr. Speaker, under President Biden, nearly 5 million illegal aliens were released into the United States. Biden's failure at the southern border has diluted the voting power that is reserved for only American citizens. This crisis is not only a national security concern but one that can seriously alter the outcome of our elections. Just this past election cycle, both the States of Alabama and Virginia removed thousands of registered voters who were not American citizens. Securing our elections is of paramount importance, and we must ensure that it is easy to vote and hard to cheat. The SAVE Act will strengthen our election administration, improve voter confidence, and ensure that American elections are only for American citizens. Specifically, it amends the National Voter Registration Act to require States to obtain proof of citizenship when an individual registers to vote. Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. This legislation does not prohibit married women from voting, and the absurd narrative of this has gotten out of control. Mr. Speaker, when someone changes their name, just as I have when I got married, they have to provide their birth certificate and a marriage certificate. This is already required when you update your ID, your Social Security records, and, yes, your voter registration, too. When your name is legally changed, it updates across government systems. REAL IDs, passports, and other valid forms of ID mentioned in the SAVE Act are sufficient proof of citizenship. Your birth certificate doesn't have to match your current ID. I will add this: The claim is that it will disenfranchise married women and others who might have to change their names because the documentation might show two different names, but the SAVE Act itself addresses this point in the text. Page 14, line 9 directs the States to create a process for addressing this exact issue. I find myself asking: Why are the Democrats refusing to take steps to safeguard our elections and protect the votes of every single American citizen? Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the SAVE Act, and I look forward to voting for it. I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1234) to direct the Librarian of Congress to promote the more cost-effective, efficient, and expanded availability of the Annotated Constitution and pocket-part supplements by replacing the hardbound versions with digital versions.

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on this bill.

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this is the Constitution Annotated, or CONAN, as it is better known today, weighing 8 pounds, 14 ounces. Its origins date back to 1797 when Congress passed legislation requiring every Member of Congress to be provided with a copy of the Constitution. These copies were eventually expanded to include Supreme Court case citations so that Members could see which clauses of the Constitution the Court used in deciding cases. However, as the number of citations grew by hundreds, the copies became less useful to Members because most had no idea what the cases were about and what questions were before the Court. So, in 1921, Congress began requiring reprints of the Constitution to include explanatory language that would make sense of the case citations throughout. This format is still used today. Initially, CONAN was printed every 10 years or so, but by 1970, Members began to complain that it was outdated almost as soon as it was printed. They addressed this by requiring that paperbound supplements to CONAN be printed every 2 years. Since 1972, that is what we have done: print a hardbound version of CONAN every 10 years and a paperbound supplement every 2 years. CONAN obviously has a rich history, dating back over two centuries. Nothing about H.R. 1234 erases or changes this history. The Constitution provides the framework for our government, and understanding that framework and how the Supreme Court has applied it to its decisions over the years is as essential today as it was 200 years ago. What has changed, however, is the way people get their information. Today, most of us rely on digital sources for the most up-to-date information, whether it is news, airfares, the weather, or Supreme Court case citations. According to the GPO, the number of print copies of CONAN requested in 2012 by the House, Senate, and the Joint Committee on Printing was just over 1,000. Ten years later, in 2022, the number of requested copies dropped to just 659. It is no coincidence that this drop in requests coincides with the 2019 launch of a digital version of CONAN. Over the past 5 years, the CONAN website has become an invaluable resource to individual citizens, schools, libraries, and, of course, Congress. It has received more than 28 million visits since it was created and features hundreds of pages of constitutional analysis and content. The site is publicly accessible, easy to search, provides links to Supreme Court decisions, and, perhaps most importantly, is updated in real time by the CRS. All of this raises the question of why are we wasting taxpayer dollars printing this giant, hardcover version of CONAN, along with the paperbound supplements, when a superior, digital version already exists? According to the CBO, replacing this version of CONAN with a digital version would reduce the Library of Congress' operating costs by $4 million over the next 4 years. Eliminating the print requirement will also eliminate inefficient use of CRS staff time. Requiring CRS staff to spend countless hours formatting and paginating the print version of CONAN does not support the work of Congress, nor does it benefit our constituents. Mr. Speaker, replacing the CONAN print requirement with a digital requirement is a no-brainer. The digital version provides Members and other users with the most up-to-date information and constitutional analysis available at a significant cost savings to taxpayers. History shows that Congress has consistently taken steps to ensure that CONAN meets the evolving needs of Members and other users. Passing H.R. 1234 is a logical next step in maintaining CONAN's relevancy and usefulness, both to Congress and to the American people. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1234. I urge quick action in the Senate, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I thank the ranking member, Mr. Morelle, for his support and bipartisanship in coauthoring this legislation with me. This is an easy win for taxpayers, saving taxpayers $4 million using a digital versus the current printed version. Mr. Speaker, I urge support from my colleagues, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I rise, obviously, in strong support of H.J. Res. 24, legislation that I authored which uses the Congressional Review Act to overturn regulations by the Biden administration. I was extremely excited this morning to be notified that I have a Statement of Administration Policy from President Trump on this legislation, which I include in the Record. Statement of Administration Policy H.J. Res. 24--Joint Resolution, Providing for Congressional Disapproval of the Rule Submitted by the Department of Energy Relating to ``Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-in Freezers''--Rep. Bice, R-OK, and 10 cosponsors The Administration strongly supports passage of H.J. Res. 24, a joint resolution to disapprove the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to ``Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers.'' The December 23, 2024 rule adopts amended energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers impacting commercial vendors who store food, beverages, flowers, and other goods that require chilling at low temperatures. The rule, issued in the final days of the previous Administration, imposes complex energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and freezers, leading to unnecessary costs on small businesses and everyday Americans. If H.J. Res. 24 were presented to the President in its current form, his senior advisors would recommend that he sign it into law.

Mrs. BICE. In December of 2024, the Department of Energy enacted new energy efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and freezers, equipment vital to pharmacies, convenience stores, food processing facilities, food banks, restaurants, and many other establishments nationwide. These regulations will impose significant financial burdens on small businesses, which will have to absorb major upgrade costs to meet these new aggressive standards. At a time when our focus should be on lowering the cost of living for our constituents, it is clear most of these expenses will be borne by consumers in the form of increased prices. Mr. Speaker, furthermore, they threaten significant operational disruption for many enterprises that rely on this equipment. We have heard from many businesses in rural areas which will have to go through extensive structural and electrical upgrades to accommodate the new equipment. These same businesses have reported that getting the refrigerators and freezers repaired is a process which is already taking too long and is expensive and will become even more so. For businesses looking to enter underserved markets, this will be another barrier in doing so. For businesses operating on a narrow profit margin, this could be what sends them under. Recognizing these detrimental impacts, I fought against the adoption of this rule and expressed my disapproval last year during the public comment period. Like many of the rules handed down by the Biden administration, this effort will have a harsh economic impact while failing to achieve its own stated goal. DOE estimates that the rule would carry a minimum price tag of nearly $1 billion with minimal energy usage reduction. My colleague mentioned that it would be a savings of $6 billion over 30 years. What he didn't mention is the cost of replacement equipment with these new energy efficiency standards could be tens of thousands of dollars, adding up to billions and billions of dollars that are going to be borne by these businesses. I am grateful President Trump has taken the decisive action to halt these rules by having the Department of Energy postpone the effective date of these standards, providing breathing room for businesses. However, more work needs to be done; and Congress has a role to play. My resolution seeks to ensure that these overreaching regulations are permanently overturned. By doing so, we will protect small businesses from unnecessary compliance costs and preserve the diversity of choice available to consumers. This action aligns with our broader commitment to roll back burdensome regulations that stifle economic growth and infringe upon individual freedoms. In fact, according to the National Association of Manufacturers, in 2022, the total cost of regulations is estimated at over $3 trillion. We cannot continue to allow burdensome regulations on every aspect of our lives and our businesses. I urge my colleagues to support H.J. Res. 24, legislation that will reduce burdens on businesses and serve the best interests of the American people.

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1968, a clean continuing resolution that funds government through September 30, 2025. I think my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are confused about what is in this bill and what is not. They keep talking about impacts to mandatory spending, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. That is not in this bill. Just because you keep repeating the same dishonest talking points doesn't make it true. This legislation continues funding and prevents a government shutdown, which would have a devastating impact on my home State of Oklahoma and communities across the country. We must keep government open so we can continue the America First agenda, which is focused on securing our border, unleashing American energy, safeguarding our Nation, and rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse. This legislation fully supports our vets and servicemembers. It does not cut 1 cent from toxic exposure funds or eliminate COPS grants. Continuing resolutions are not ideal, but we cannot allow for the distractions of a government shutdown, which is why I support this bill. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Madam Speaker, I am proud to support H.R. 26, the Protecting American Energy Production Act. The previous administration made it their mission to undercut our energy sector, adding burdensome regulations at every opportunity. In my home State of Oklahoma, upstream oil and gas activities contribute to over 278,000 jobs and bring in billions of dollars in revenue. American families deserve access to reliable and affordable domestic energy. According to the America First Policy Institute, hydraulic fracturing saves Americans $203 billion annually in reduced energy costs. It is also important to remember that the argument against updated drilling technology is built on misinformation. Under the Obama administration, the EPA found that hydraulic fracturing has no widespread systemic impacts on resources in the U.S. Modern drilling technology techniques are safe, effective, and crucial to maintaining our energy independence. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 26, and I thank Mr. Pfluger for bringing this forward.

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, January 9, 2025.

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding correspondence from a young constituent of mine, Lauren Tappert, who expressed her desire to make a Federal holiday in recognition of World War II. I was impressed by Lauren's patriotism and her initiative, especially given the fact that she is just in middle school. This week, we remember one of World War II's most significant battles, the Battle of the Bulge. As Winston Churchill famously said: It is ``undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war.'' The Battle of the Bulge, which occurred in the Ardennes Forest of Europe, lasted over a month. It is significant because it was the last major German offensive on the western front, ultimately ending in an Allied victory. In this defensive stand, the courage and fortitude of the American forces were challenged, but liberty ultimately prevailed. I thank Lauren for taking the time to write to me and for placing special emphasis on a conflict that affected every American family and spanned the globe.

Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma

Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate my incredible Marine Corps Fellow, Major Suzanne Mulet, for her tremendous work this past year in my office. Suzanne has been instrumental in helping prepare for defense events and legislation, especially when it comes to the Defense Appropriations and MilCon/VA portfolios. Her tireless work, wealth of knowledge, experience, and expertise has been crucial in crafting legislation that directly benefits our servicemembers in Oklahoma's Fifth District. Her hard work in my office and service to our Nation is applaudable. I would be remiss if I didn't mention Sue's leadership during Marine Corps Day. She led a group of Hill staff through numerous exercises, and my office still talks about it to this day. I can't thank her enough for her dedication, not only to her country but to her office, her family, and her horses. She will be truly missed. I thank Sue for everything she has done for America and for Team Bice.

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Thank you very much. First of all, thank you, Barbara, and to the former Members for honoring me. It is truly an incredible honor for me to receive this. I think it would be wise for me to share with all of you how I got here because it is sort of a fun story. When I came to Congress, it was 2021. COVID was rampant. Being a freshman and going through orientation was challenging for a lot of reasons. I had served in the State legislature prior, and I had done a sort of mentor program. As I did orientation here in Washington, there were some things that I thought should be different. The Speaker talked about coming on the House floor with the midshipmen last night. When I was a Member-elect, I walked onto this floor after about 3 days of orientation, and I thought to myself: Why did it take so long? When you have that first moment on this House floor, there is no greater moment. You have worked so hard to get here. You never forget it. I wanted that opportunity to be the first thing that happened on orientation. When you got to D.C., it should be at night. It should be quiet. You should get to come and sit in these chairs, where only a few thousand people before us have sat, and take this moment in. I decided to take it upon myself to make a suggestion to the Speaker, the leader at the time, on what should be different, should we be in the majority and be able to sort of decide how orientation goes. Fast-forward a year, I landed in D.C. from the Marshall Scholars trip. I got a call from the Speaker at the time, Kevin McCarthy, who said: I have some great news for you. I am going to put you on the House Administration Committee, and you are going to be the chairwoman of the House Administration Subcommittee on Modernization. I didn't call him ``Mr. Speaker'' for a reason that you will understand in a second. I said: Kevin, you have waived me onto the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. I am now the designee to Budget from Appropriations. I am an appropriator, and now you have put me on House Administration. His response was: It is going to be great.

Mrs. BICE. It is true, Mr. Upton. It is better than the House Committee on Ethics. For those Members that have been around for a while, I tell you that to say that I was in for a challenge. As the Members know, being on four committees is not an easy task. The coolest part of that experience, though, is I had just landed and had just spent 4 days with Derek Kilmer, who I did not know until that trip. I think it was serendipitous that I was given this opportunity. It has been a great pleasure. It has taken a lot of work because I was not on the select committee to be able to understand what had been done the 4 years prior. I feel honored and privileged to be in this role. I hope that I am making the former Members proud, and I hope that I am making this institution better for the long term. I could not do this job, this role, without staff. I see Derek Harley sitting over here, who, sadly, is leaving me soon. I couldn't do it without an incredible staff on the Committee on House Administration team, so thank you to Derek and Marian and all of those who have been a part of this. My personal office staff, Robert Sar, Wesley Harkins, my deputy chief, Jett Thompson, these individuals have all been a tremendous part of making sure that I am successful in this role. I couldn't do this without them. I want to say thank you. Thank you for this great opportunity and for this honor to be recognized today.

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bid farewell to a dear friend and a colleague who has been with me from the very beginning. In the spring or summer of 2020, I received a call from a number I did not recognize, from an area code I had never seen. I answered the phone, and on the other end was a gentleman by the name of Kelly Armstrong. He told me he had been watching my race, that he was very impressed, that he heard about me because of connections through the oil and gas industry, and that he wanted to support me. Why, I didn't know, and to this day I still wonder. That began an incredible friendship. For the last 4\1/2\ or 5 years, he has been an incredible mentor, a wonderful friend, and the best strategist in Congress. He makes us laugh, and that is something that money can't buy. It was mentioned earlier that this is a lonely place. It is one of those institutions that you really don't understand it unless you are here. It is hard. There are hard days, and you need those people that you can look at, smile at, and recognize that they get it. They understand what you are going through. Then they can pop off some sarcastic comment and make you smile. That is why we love Kelly. Kelly has given me hope when I didn't think there was much there. He has sat across the table from an amazing group of people and negotiated deals that no one thought could get done, and he has provided a path for many of us. His guidance and his wisdom will be incredibly missed in this institution. Here is what I know: I know that come a few days from now, that Kjersti, Anna, and Eli will get to see your face a lot more. Although we may not be, I am so happy for them because I know that is what he and they would want. As has been said many times over: the people of North Dakota have won, but so has this institution and those of us here tonight.

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Shawn D. Dillon of Oklahoma City on his retirement from the United States Army after a distinguished 20-year career. Lieutenant Colonel Dillon's service in the United States Army began after graduating from Wentworth Military Academy where he was a Macarthur Awardee and the Tedd Messmore Honor Graduate. In 2004, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and entered Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Second Lieutenant Dillon went on to serve as a fire support officer in 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry. After being promoted to First Lieutenant, he then went on to serve as the executive officer of B and E Companies in 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry. From 2010 to 2012, he served as the battery commander in charge of 160 field artillery soldiers responsible for the headquarters support of a M777 Field Artillery Battalion in Colorado and Afghanistan for 2nd Battalion 77th Field Artillery Regiment, and the office-in- charge of Torkham Gate strategic port of entry from Pakistan. In 2015, Captain Dillon was selected to instruct English Composition and Literature at West Point Military Academy. From 2017 to 2018, Major Dillon served as the operations officer for a 400-soldier Multiple Launch Rocket System Battalion, preparing the battalion for deployment to Korea. Major Dillon was subsequently selected for the 75th Fire Brigade as the executive officer, and then hand-selected to be the fire support officer to manage fire support functions and operational plans for the largest field artillery brigade in the United States Army, with over 3500 soldiers. In this position, he developed and executed the largest combined, live, and virtual exercise in over five years, incorporating nearly 1,000 soldiers, to prepare the brigade for deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield in 2020-2021. In 2020, Lieutenant Colonel Dillon became the division chief for the Army MultiDomain Targeting Center, responsible for building an Army-wide targeting enterprise of over 40 organizations and thousands of soldiers and civilians. Throughout his career, Lieutenant Colonel Dillon demonstrated remarkable leadership and dedication, participating in deployments to Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan. A lifelong learner, Lieutenant Colonel Dillon earned his Master of Arts in English Language and Literature from the University of Central Oklahoma and attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College. Mr. Speaker, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to Lieutenant Colonel Shawn Dillon for his exceptional service and unwavering dedication to our Nation. His remarkable career and leadership in the Army significantly contributed to our Nation's defense. As he continues to serve his community in new ways, we commend him for his achievements and wish him continued success in all his future endeavors. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Lieutenant Colonel Dillon a happy retirement as we celebrate his legacy of selfless service to the Nation. Lieutenant Colonel Shawn Dillon's outstanding contributions and steadfast commitment have left an indelible mark on the United States Army and our Nation. His dedication to duty serves as an inspiration to all who follow in his footsteps.

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 9468, which addresses the VA's budget shortfall. The Biden administration shared news of this impending budget gap days before we left in July with very little information on why there was a shortfall. In fact, following several inquiries from my office, the administration still has not been able to fully substantiate why the budget projections were so off. I thank my friend and colleague, Mike Garcia, for his strong leadership in authoring this bill. Ensuring the men and women who honorably served our Nation are provided the medical care and benefits that they have earned is my top priority. I am also pleased the bill includes new reporting and accountability requirements to ensure this type of budget mismanagement does not occur again in the future. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to support H.R. 9468 to preserve the benefits of our veterans.

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7593, the Modernizing the Congressional Research Service's Access to Data Act. In order for Congress to fulfill its Article I obligations and act as the first among coequal branches of government as the Framers intended, its support agencies need to be fully equipped to assist Congress in all of its legislative and representative duties. When our support agencies falter, we falter, and it is incumbent upon us to fix what is not working. CRS is a case in point. The agency is bound by statute to outdated rules that do not reflect how Congress works today. CRS' statute was last updated in 1970, and back then committees were very much at the center of the policymaking process. The agency's authority to request data and information from Federal agencies reflected that reality. Requests for data and information could only be made to support the work of committees. More than five decades later, CRS continues to operate under this narrow and outdated request authority. Congress has evolved as an institution, but in many ways CRS has not. Its ability to fully support today's Congress is hindered by a statute drafted to support yesterday's Congress. Committees continue to play an important role in the legislative process, but so do Members. Members today are doing more work on behalf of their constituents and relying more heavily on CRS for support. Whether they need data and information to better understand and address a problem in their district or in anticipation of an emerging policy debate, Members rely on CRS for its nonpartisan expertise. All of this work, for committees and for Members, depends on CRS having access to current and reliable data. It is the basis of the objective and informed analysis on which Congress depends to fulfill its Article I obligations. When Federal agencies are compelled to share data and information with CRS only when it is requested on behalf of a committee, CRS is unable to fulfill its statutory obligation to support Congress in all of its duties. H.R. 7593 fixes this limitation by granting CRS the authority to secure information and data from Federal agencies, as necessary, to carry out congressional requests; not committee requests, but congressional requests. This fix is neither groundbreaking nor controversial. There is a nearly century-long chain of Supreme Court precedents that recognize the authority of Congress and, by extension, the legislative support agencies, to gather information from the executive branch. In fact, GAO and CBO, CRS' sister support agencies, already enjoy greater access authorities because, as Congress has added to their responsibilities, it has also provided them with the additional tools and authorities needed to carry out that additional work. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for CRS. The agency's work has expanded tremendously since the 1970s, but Congress has failed to pair its extra responsibilities with extra support. In granting CRS greater access, this bill requires CRS to maintain the same level of confidentiality for the data and information it receives, as is required by law of the agency from which it obtained. Any CRS employee who violates this requirement will be subject to the same statutory penalties that an employee of a providing agency would face. These provisions, it should be noted, mirror CBO's rigorous confidentiality authorities. CRS has a long-established record of not making inappropriate or overly expansive information and data requests. Nothing about this resolution changes that. The agency routinely engages in an internal consultation process to ensure that requests are properly scoped and tailored. Maintaining these guardrails around its requests helps CRS properly evaluate the potential ways that data and information may be used. The agency's strict adherence to its statutory mandate to advise and assist Congress without partisan bias has and will continue to guide its requests. Updating CRS' statute to better reflect how Congress works today is an Article I strengthening endeavor. It does not concern politics or partisanship. It concerns institutions, plain and simple. When CRS is unable to fully support Congress, Congress cannot fully act as a coequal branch of government, and when CRS is unable to fully support us as Members in our legislative and representational duties, we are unable to fully support our constituents. Mr. Speaker, I think we can all agree that both of these scenarios are unacceptable. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 7593.

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, as was mentioned by my colleague Mr. Kilmer, this is the Constitution Annotated, or CONAN, as it is better known today. Its origins date back to 1797 when Congress passed legislation requiring that every Member of Congress be provided a copy of the Constitution. These copies were then expanded to include Supreme Court case citations so that Members could see which clauses of the Constitution the Court used to decide those cases. As the number of citations grew, Members became frustrated with the new format. The hundreds of citations listed under each clause of the Constitution were useless to most of them because they had no idea what the cases were about and what questions were before the Court. In 1921, Congress passed a resolution requiring reprints of the Constitution to include explanatory language that would make sense of all the case citations throughout. This requirement made the reprints much more useful to the Members, and the format created then is one that is still used today. Initially, CONAN was printed every 10 years or so, but by 1970, Members began to complain that it was outdated almost as soon as it was printed. They addressed this by passing a resolution requiring that a paperbound supplement to CONAN be printed every 2 years, in addition to printing the hardbound version of the CONAN every 10. Since 1972, that is what we have done: Print a hardbound version of CONAN every 10 years and a paperbound supplement every 2. CONAN obviously has a rich history dating back over two centuries. The Constitution provides the framework for our government, and understanding that framework and how the Supreme Court has applied it to its decisions over the years is as essential today as it was over 200 years ago. Nothing about H.R. 7592 erases or changes this important history. In fact, the legislative history of CONAN makes it clear that Congress has consistently prioritized up-to-date interpretation and analysis of court cases, and this resolution honors that longstanding tradition. Today, people rely on digital sources for the most up-to-date information. This is true whether we are talking about breaking news, airfares, restaurant reviews, or Supreme Court case citations. CONAN is a case in point. According to the GPO, the number of print copies of CONAN requested in 2012 by the House, Senate, and Joint Committee on Printing was just over 1,000. Ten years later, in 2022, the number of requested copies dropped to just 659. It is no coincidence that this drop in requests for the hardbound version of CONAN coincides with the 2019 launch of a digital version of CONAN. Over the past 5 years, the CONAN website has become an invaluable resource to individuals, citizens, schools, libraries, and, of course, Congress. The user-friendly site has received more than 28 million visits since it was created and features hundreds of pages of constitutional analysis and content. The site is publicly accessible, easy to search, and provides links to Supreme Court decisions. Perhaps most importantly, it is updated in real time by CRS. All of this raises the question of why we are wasting taxpayer dollars printing this giant hardcover version of CONAN along with paperbound supplements when a superior digital version already exists. According to the CBO, replacing this version of CONAN with a digital version would reduce the Library of Congress' operating costs by millions over the next few years. Eliminating the print requirement will also eliminate inefficient use of CRS staff time. In addition to updating the online version of CONAN in real time, CRS staff have to spend countless hours formatting and paginating the print version of CONAN. A more efficient CRS ultimately benefits Congress and, in turn, our constituents. Mr. Speaker, replacing the CONAN print requirement with a digital requirement is a no-brainer. The digital version provides Members and other users with the most up-to-date information and analysis available at a significant cost savings for taxpayers. History shows that Congress has consistently taken steps to ensure that CONAN meets the evolving needs of Members and other users. Passing this legislation is a logical next step in maintaining CONAN's relevancy and usefulness, both to Congress and to the American people. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 7592.

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the bipartisan BIOSECURE Act, which I am proud to cosponsor. I reiterate the bipartisan piece of this because I think the integrity of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission is being questioned here, and it shouldn't be. It is a bipartisan bill. As a member of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, we looked at ways to strengthen America's bioeconomy while countering malign foreign influence, which this bill seeks to do. It is no secret that China is attempting to dominate the global biotech market. While this is concerning, even more so is the fact that the Chinese Communist Party utilizes laws which require Chinese firms to share data requested by the CCP, including those of biotech companies which collect, test, and store American genomic data. It is unacceptable for U.S. taxpayer dollars to ever subsidize biotech companies of our foreign adversaries. This act is a necessary step in protecting the privacy rights of Americans and our national security interests. Moving forward, we must take steps to promote growth, stability, and innovation in the biotech industry. America can and should lead in this sector.

Mrs. BICE

Mrs. BICE. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. BICE. Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of my amendment, which would prohibit the use of any Federal funds or resources from being used to host drag shows at the Smithsonian. I have had several interactions with Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch on this very issue. In a House Administration Committee hearing in December of last year, I questioned Secretary Bunch on whether or not taxpayer funds were used for drag shows and if the Smithsonian had plans to continue to promote drag shows for children. During the hearing, Secretary Bunch said, ``I think it's not appropriate to expose children to drag shows. I'm surprised and I will look into that.'' I was pleased to hear this answer as I also believe it is inappropriate to expose children to these types of events. Only a few weeks later, I was shocked to see that Secretary Bunch had begun pulling back on his answers to me. I believe this is in large part due to the blowback from staff who worked at the Smithsonian. A few months later, the Secretary followed up with answers to additional questions I had. While a response from the Smithsonian stated taxpayer funds were not used for drag shows directly, official time and Smithsonian resources, such as websites and staff as well as building space were being used. To me, this is completely unacceptable. The Smithsonian then hosted an event titled: Neurodiverse Drag Story Hour, utilizing a taxpayer-funded Smithsonian building, advertised on taxpayer-funded websites, and using taxpayer-funded staff. Madam Chair, the Smithsonian should focus on education and research, not inappropriate entertainment. Instead of diffusing knowledge, which is the mission statement of the Smithsonian, we are diffusing the intent and the mission of the institution. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.