Lauren Boebert

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I, too, stand here today celebrating the success story of the Endangered Species Act, seeing that the gray wolf has been fully recovered. I also stand today, Mr. Speaker, in defense of our farmers and ranchers, just like the Farrell family in Grand County, Colorado, who has lost up to five of their cattle in a 10-day span from wolves attacking their ranch in Grand County. In my home State of Colorado, out-of-touch Denver and Boulder leftists voted to reintroduce gray wolves. Since 10 wolves were reintroduced in December, there have been eight confirmed wolf livestock depredations and six separate incidents involving wolf attacks in Colorado just this month. My Trust the Science Act delists the gray wolf from the Federal Endangered Species List and returns the issue of wolf management to States and Tribal wildlife agencies. Again, this is a success story that we should be celebrating here today. Specifically, my bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to reissue the 2020 Department of the Interior final rule that delisted gray wolves in the lower 48 United States and ensures that the reassurance of the file rule will not be subject to judicial review. Gray wolves were first listed under the Endangered Species Preservation Act in 1967. That was 57 years ago. In 2009, the Obama administration upheld the decision to delist gray wolves when their Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar, a Democrat from Colorado, announced the decision at a press conference that the Fish and Wildlife Service decision to delist gray wolves was ``a supportable one. . . . Scientists have concluded that recovery has occurred.'' In 2011, Congress directed USFWS to reinstate a rule to delist the gray wolf in the Northern Rockies ecosystem. In 2013, the Obama administration proposed delisting gray wolves in the lower 48 states. In November 2020, scientists and nonpartisan career employees at the Department of the Interior once again found gray wolves were fully recovered and once again issued a rule that returned management of gray wolf populations to State and Tribal wildlife agencies. Unfortunately, frivolous litigation was filed by the Defenders of Wildlife, WildEarth Guardians, and other extremist groups, and an activist California judge subsequently pandered to these groups by vacating the 2020 rule and ultimately relisting the gray wolf by judicial fiat. In April 2022, the Biden administration appealed the ruling of this California activist judge and supported the 2020 rule that delisted gray wolves in the lower 48 United States. In February of this year, the Biden administration announced a ``not warranted'' finding for two frivolous petitions that tried to list gray wolves under the ESA in the Northern Rocky Mountains and the Western United States. In the 115th Congress, the House of Representatives passed legislation similar to my bill in a vote of 196-180, with 9 Democrats voting in favor of passage. State and Tribal wildlife agencies have a proven record of successfully managing gray wolves. In fact, Montana's successful State management resulted in gray wolves being 500 percent above Fish and Wildlife Service recovery goals. Idaho's successful State management resulted in gray wolves being 700 percent above recovery goals. Now, there are an estimated up to 6,000 wolves in the lower 48. Furthermore, there are an estimated 7,000 to 11,000 gray wolves in Alaska, and there are an estimated 30,000 gray wolves in Canada. Again, this is an endangered list success story. Let's do as my bill says: Trust the bipartisan science and pass this bill so we can finally delist the fully recovered gray wolf and focus scarce taxpayer funding on endangered species that actually need help being recovered.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, on day one of his administration, Joe Biden declared an all-out war on American energy production and exploration. He has made it clear that he cares more about appeasing the radical climate change activists than protecting the millions of oil and gas workers and producers in America. I was disappointed but not surprised when the Biden administration filed this proposed rule titled ``Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process,'' which mandates provisions from the partisan so-called Inflation Reduction Act--we know that it didn't reduce inflation; it expanded it--which increased the royalty rate for production on Federal lands while also increasing and creating new fees for domestic energy producers. This fluid mineral leasing rule is further proof that Joe Biden is using every tool in his administration to dismantle American energy production. It codifies pieces of the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, which is really the Green New Deal, and makes major nonstatutory changes to the BLM's onshore leasing program. It increases bonding levels for production on Federal lands and proposes ending nationwide bonding and increasing the minimum bond amounts for individual lease bonds and Statewide lease bonds from $10,000 to $150,000 and from $25,000 to $500,000, respectively. This significant increase will tie up capital that would otherwise be put back into production and is unjustifiable as there are only 37 orphaned oil and gas wells on BLM-managed land. These increases will impact smaller producers that can't afford to operate in the market. These additional fees will ultimately harm returns and reduce revenues to State and local governments by disincentivizing development on Federal lands. When environmental extremists create rules like this that are grossly restrictive, they can hinder the development and availability of energy resources that are fundamental to human progress and prosperity. It is important to remember that energy is not just another commodity; it is the lifeblood of modern civilization. Any regulation in this domain must be evaluated through the lens of its impact on human life and prosperity. This means considering not just the environmental aspects but also how these rules affect energy affordability, reliability, and scalability. Not-in-my-backyard extremists have regulated States like Colorado into poverty with their reckless and extremely flawed policies. The proposed rule also introduces the idea of using preference criteria to inform the BLM's selection of lands for lease sales. BLM's rationale for this change is to avoid conflict in areas with ``sensitive cultural, wildlife, and recreation resources.'' I think the people who occupy these lands most--our farmers, our ranchers, and our energy producers--understand the land better than BLM agents in Washington, D.C., in some concrete building or maybe even still working remotely from their homes. These are stewards of our lands, and they do a darn good job at it. This means that the BLM field office could avoid leasing in all areas with endangered or threatened species, critical habitat, or nearby recreation areas, a move that would greatly limit leasing on Federal lands. With the wars happening in the Middle East and in Europe and with OPEC significantly lowering oil production, we cannot rely on foreign nations, especially our adversaries, to control our energy supply. That is why I introduced the Restoring American Dominance Act, to terminate this proposed rule and protect American energy producers. America makes the cleanest energy in the world. American innovation, in particular, fracking, has allowed America to be the global leader in reducing emissions since the year 2000. We need to stop buying oil and gas from Russia and stop begging Venezuela and Iran, our adversaries, to produce energy for us. We need to start producing more energy responsibly right here in the United States of America. Rather than begging OPEC, let's bring back the American roughneck. American energy security is paramount for our Nation's economic stability and national security. When we produce our own energy, we control our destiny. We are not at the mercy of international politics, conflicts, or the whims of foreign governments that may not always have our best interests at heart. Remember, energy is the industry that powers every other industry. The more control we have over our energy sources, the more competitive and secure our economy is. The concept of American energy dominance is not only desirable, it is essential for both national security and global human flourishing. We can literally be exporting freedom around the globe. Relying on countries like Russia and others for energy is problematic not just from a security standpoint but also from a moral one. Many of these countries have questionable human rights records, to put it mildly. By producing our own energy, we are not just securing our future, we are also not indirectly supporting or enabling regimes that do not align with our values of freedom and human rights. In essence, producing energy in America is about taking control of our future, ensuring our economic stability, and standing by our principles. It is about ensuring that we can continue to innovate, grow, and flourish, without being beholden to anyone. Frankly, given our vast resources and technological capabilities, there is no good reason not to. I thank Chairman Westerman and the committee for working with me on this bill to rein in Joe Biden's out-of-control, rogue bureaucrats. I urge my colleagues to support my bill to stop BLM's proposed regulations before they increase energy costs and threaten American energy production even further. American jobs and our national security depend on us taking a stand against this regime.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, let's call a spade a spade. The uniparty's deal to keep spending taxpayer dollars like drunken sailors is a horrible deal for the American people. It is immoral and unsustainable to continue the reckless spending in Washington, D.C. This debt is going to our children and our children's children. The American people elected a majority that promised to cut spending, cut this out-of-control spending from Washington, D.C., and put an end to the Biden regime's policies that are destroying America. This bill does the opposite of what we, the majority, promised the American people. Voting for this bill is voting to fund Joe Biden's wide-open border policies that killed 22-year-old Laken Riley last Thursday. Crime in Venezuela sure is going down, and that is because they are all coming through our wide-open borders--criminal, illegal aliens coming through. Additionally, voting for this bill is voting to enable the cartel, which has operational control of our southern border, to continue the flow of fentanyl into our communities, which is killing our children and our families, our loved ones. They are a foreign terrorist organization, and they are guilty of narcoterrorism. We need to execute our military's ability to stop them. Instead, we are funding these policies to continue. Voting for this bill is voting to continue Nancy Pelosi's spending, taxpayer-funded abortions, and Green New Deal policies. Everything we campaigned against and we won this majority on, we are now going completely against it. We need to govern as we campaign and do what we promised the American people that we would do. That is why I have led to impeach Joe Biden for his dereliction of duty to secure the southern border, and now we must use the power of the purse and not fund a government that is allowing this against its people. Mr. Speaker, I am voting ``no'' on this continuing resolution, and I urge my colleagues all to do the same.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Madison Marsh, a distinguished second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and the first active-duty service member to be crowned Miss America. Madison graduated from the Air Force Academy with a degree in physics and represents the epitome of dedication, intelligence, service, and class. She entered the world of pageantry motivated by a desire to serve and inspire others. and she has redefined what is possible for women across America. From a young age, Madison had a love of science and a dream to be a pilot and astronaut. Her parents encouraged her dreams, sending her to Space Camp when she was 13 years old where she met astronauts and fighter pilots. Around that time, she learned about the United States Air Force Academy and at 15 years old, started flying lessons. She earned her pilot's license two years later and then began to work towards her goal of becoming a cadet. Upon graduation from the and commissioning into the Air Force, she received a coveted pilot slot and is currently determining the career opportunities and personal projects she wants to pursue. Madison's accomplishments reach far beyond the Air Force and pageantry. She founded the Whitney Marsh Foundation to raise awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research in memory of her mother. Madison is an exceptional role model for women and girls across our great country, teaching them that even the sky is not the limit. She is currently studying public policy as a graduate student at the Harvard Kennedy School, working to earn her master's degree. She is a two-time National Astronaut Scholar, National Rhodes Finalist, certified private pilot, black belt in tae kwon do, and U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent's List NASA Intern. Mr. Speaker, Madison is an inspiration to women across America and a shining role model for all. I urge all Americans to join me in congratulating Madison on being crowned Miss America. Madison's journey reminds us of what we can accomplish when we work towards something greater than ourselves. I thank Madison for showing America what it means to be a Coloradoan.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor Alex Ferreira, an exceptional athlete hailing from Aspen, Colorado, who has once again earned a gold medal in the men's Ski SuperPipe at the Winter X Games. This is the third time Alex has won the X Games for the United States. He is an inspiration to us all, and he has shown the world what it means to be an American and a Coloradan. The X Games invite athletes from across the world to compete in extreme sports, including skateboarding, BMX, motocross, snowboarding, and skiing. The SuperPipe event stands out among the events as a monumental challenge, allowing athletes to utilize towering walls to showcase breathtaking aerial tricks. The Winter X Games take athletes to the heart of Aspen to show off their skills to the world. Alex did not have to go far to remind us all, once again, that he had what it takes to win the X Games for a third time. Alex's journey reminds us of what we can accomplish when we embrace difficulties and continue to push on. Time and time again, Alex kept going after setbacks that would have caused many people to give up. Last year's competition left him with two hard falls, a disappointing finish, and critics calling for his retirement. But Alex never gave up. At this year's X Games, he won not only for himself but for every young athlete across America who looks up to him. Mr. Speaker, Alex Ferreira is a true inspiration to athletes across our nation, and I am incredibly proud to honor him today. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Alex for his spectacular win at the X Games and for redefining what it means to be a Coloradan. Alex is the best that Colorado's Third Congressional District has to offer, and his story pushes us all to strive for greatness.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2997, my Clifton Opportunities Now for Vibrant Economic Yields Act, the CONVEY Act. This commonsense bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey 31.1 acres of land that the Federal Government no longer wishes to manage to Mesa County for economic development in Clifton, Colorado. Mesa County will purchase the land for fair market value. For over 5 years, Mesa County has been stuck in red tape as they have been diligently pursuing the acquisition of this parcel of land that is on the BLM disposal list. This land holds immense value for Mesa County as it presents a critical opportunity for economic development in Clifton, an area of the county that has struggled economically. I have worked closely with BLM, the committee, and the Mesa County commissioners to cut through the bureaucracy and expedite this process. The Principal Deputy Director at the Bureau of Land Management, Nada Wolff Culver, said: ``The BLM supports H.R. 2997,'' the CONVEY Act, ``and the direct sale of the parcel to Mesa County.'' The economic potential of this land will allow Mesa County to attract job creators and foster an environment that encourages economic prosperity for Clifton. Once Mesa County is able to secure the land, they will establish an economic development board to solicit input from local stakeholders. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, this bill would reduce Federal spending. It also ensures the funds from the sale of this land will be deposited into the Federal Land Disposal Account, established by the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act, and retained by the Bureau of Land Management Colorado office, so the funds from the sale will actually be used in Colorado. More than 55 percent of Colorado's Third District and 73 percent of Mesa County's land area is Federal land. As Mesa County continues to grow, the county is significantly limited in the land it has available to develop. These large Federal footprints often stifle local communities that lack power in decisionmaking over the land in their own backyards from moving forward on important development opportunities. I am proud to empower local communities and jump-start rural economies through innovative solutions that reduce our Federal footprint and cut bureaucratic red tape that is stifling economic growth with the CONVEY Act. It has been a pleasure to work on this piece of legislation and to offer this to Mesa County to see what they come up with for their economic development. I urge my colleagues to support this simple, straightforward bill, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life, sacrifice, and service of Cortez Police Sergeant Michael Moran, a true American hero who laid down his life in service to our great country and to his community. Sergeant Moran was fatally shot during a traffic stop on November 29, providing a tragic end to a life of great dedication and service. Sergeant Moran answered the call to serve our nation as a Marine for nine years, including two tours in Iraq, before joining the Cortez Police Department in 2012. His life was marked with selflessness, courage, and love, always putting others before himself. He was a man of honor, and his presence was a source of hope and encouragement to all. His smile lit up even on the toughest days. He was known for his integrity and his mentorship of the officers who looked up to him, instilling in each of them the value of trust. Those close to him say they will remember him for his humor and dedication to serving his community. Sergeant Moran was a respected leader and a true friend, always ready to lend an ear or offer words of encouragement. While Sergeant Moran's passion was law enforcement, his top priority was always his family, and his passing tragically leaves behind two daughters and countless friends and family. Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Moran was an incredible gift to this world and a shining example for all Americans. He touched countless lives and was a blessing to everyone who had the honor of knowing him. His career was marked with an unwavering willingness to put everything on the line in service to our nation and the safety of his community. I urge all Americans to join me in honoring Cortez Police Sergeant Michael Moran for his selfless sacrifice and service to his fellow Americans. Sergeant Moran dedicated his life to serving others. His passing is an immeasurable loss for us all, and he was the best that Colorado's Third Congressional District had to offer.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life, sacrifice, and service of Cortez Police Sergeant Michael Moran, a true American hero who laid down his life in service to our great country and his community. Sergeant Moran was fatally shot during a traffic stop on November 29, providing a tragic end to a life of dedication and service. Sergeant Moran answered the call to serve our Nation as a marine for 9 years before joining the Cortez Police Department in 2012. His life was marked with selfless courage and love, always putting others before himself. Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Moran was a shining example for all Americans. His passing is an immeasurable loss for us all, and he was the best that Colorado's Third District had to offer. My prayers go out to his family, his loved ones, and the community of Cortez. I pray for God's wraparound presence to surround them, comfort them, and heal them in this time of mourning. Mr. Speaker, I thank Sergeant Moran for his selfless service.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde), and I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment that will transfer funds from government bureaucracy to the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program. The rural hospital closure crisis continues to intensify. Unfortunately, over 138 rural hospitals have closed since 2010 and over 450 additional facilities are vulnerable to closure. While recent innovations in healthcare, such as the implementation of telehealth technology, show promise to rural communities, rural America is facing crises that are leading to dwindling access to essential care. Competitive grant programs like the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program play a large role in ensuring that Americans living in rural communities can access quality, cost-effective healthcare. This program supports small rural hospitals in meeting value-based payment and care goals for their respective organizations through purchases of hardware, software, and training. While current spending for rural health discretionary programs is relatively small in the largest discretionary spending bill, it plays a critical role in solidifying the fragile healthcare infrastructure and workforce in rural communities. Americans, especially in rural communities, continue to struggle with affordable coverage, yet Joe Biden has done nothing to actually lower costs. Let's empower our rural communities to keep providing high-quality healthcare and eliminate red tape and useless bureaucracy that is standing between doctors and patients. This amendment takes an important first step to accomplish both of these goals. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment that will transfer funds from the HHS bureaucracy to the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program. Again, I urge colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my straightforward amendment that seeks to provide more resources in the bill for telehealth services for veterans in rural areas. Colorado's Third Congressional District has over 100,000 veterans who call our beautiful State home. I am committed to ensuring that our veterans receive the care and respect they have earned for their service and sacrifice. That is why I am here today to talk about the importance of telehealth for veterans in rural areas. Telehealth is the use of technology to deliver healthcare services remotely, such as through video, phone, or online platforms. Telehealth can help veterans access quality care from the comfort and convenience of their homes or nearby locations without having to travel long distances or face transportation barriers. Telehealth is especially important for veterans who live in rural or highly rural areas like many of the veterans in my district. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are 2.8 million rural veterans who are enrolled in and rely on VA healthcare systems. However, these veterans often face challenges in accessing timely and quality care due to provider shortages, limited facilities, and geographical isolation. These challenges can result in poor health outcomes, such as higher rates of chronic diseases, mental health issues, and, unfortunately, even suicide. For instance, rural veterans are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart conditions than veterans living in more urban areas. Rural veterans are also 65 percent more likely to die from suicide than those residing in urban areas. These statistics are unacceptable. They are absolutely heartbreaking. Our veterans deserve better. They deserve to have access to the best care possible regardless of where they live. I will continue to advocate for these programs and for the expansion of telehealth access for rural veterans. I believe that telehealth is not only a matter of convenience, but a matter of necessity. It is a matter of honoring our veterans and fulfilling our promises to them. Let's pass my amendment so we can increase telehealth services for veterans in rural areas. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment that will transfer funds from the Federal bureaucracy to the Rural Emergency Hospital Technical Assistance Program. Programs like the Rural Emergency Hospital Technical Assistance Program play a large role in ensuring that Americans living in rural communities can access quality, cost-effective healthcare. The program works to ensure rural hospitals and the communities they serve have the information and resources needed to make informed decisions as to whether rural emergency hospitals are the best model of care for their communities and facilitate a successful implementation of REH requirements for those hospitals converting to this new provider type. This program provides hospitals and rural communities considering this new model assistance across a broad range of issues, including financial analysis, workforce or staffing planning, establishment of referral relationships and processes, determining REH service lines, community health needs, and impact on the community health system including emergency medical services. I will keep working for responsible healthcare policies that respect the dignity of individuals, support rural communities, decrease healthcare costs, and restore free market competition to the healthcare industry. Let's empower our rural communities to keep providing high-quality healthcare and eliminate red tape and useless bureaucracy that is standing between doctors and patients. This amendment takes an important step to accomplish both of these goals. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment that will transfer funds to the Rural Emergency Hospital Technical Assistance Program, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment that will transfer funds from government bureaucracy to the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program to support physician workforce expansion in rural areas. On top of closures, the healthcare workforce shortages continue to plague rural communities. Over 75 percent of rural counties are designated Health Professional Shortage Areas. Programs like the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program support the development of new rural residency programs in family medicine, internal medicine, and psychiatry to address the physician workforce shortages and challenges faced by rural communities. Rural residency programs are accredited medical residency training programs that train residents in rural settings for greater than 50 percent of their total time in residency and focus on producing physicians who will practice in rural communities. This program also contributes jobs to rural economies, provides access to a range of medical services, and strengthens communities throughout rural America. Competitive grant programs, like the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program, play a large role in ensuring that Americans living in rural communities can access quality, cost-effective healthcare. Let's support our rural communities instead of handicapping them with one-size-fits-all mandates as the Biden administration has done. In September, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed a rule to mandate increased nursing home staff ratio which will put nursing homes, particularly in rural areas, in an impossible dilemma as they grapple with how to manage current occupancy levels with the insufficient workforce available to meet the requirements. Rules like this fail to adequately balance the needs of both patients and healthcare staff in rural communities in the face of the current staffing shortage gripping our Nation. This is why we should focus on giving our rural communities the resources and support that they need to provide low-cost, high-quality healthcare. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment that will transfer funds to the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program to support physician workforce expansion in rural areas. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today to offer my amendment to redirect $2 million in this bill to the Office of Inspector General to combat waste, fraud, and abuse. As a proud member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, I am a firm believer in holding our government accountable to the people we serve. Honest, hardworking American citizens should be able to trust that their tax dollars are being spent responsibly. To achieve this goal, the Office of Inspector General must have the funding they need to ensure that the Department of Health and Human Services is using our tax dollars efficiently and for their intended purpose. Inspectors general across the Federal Government have saved taxpayers billions of dollars and exposed numerous instances of criminal wrongdoing. According to the most recent report from the HHS on healthcare fraud and abuse: ``In FY 2021, investigations conducted by HHS's Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) resulted in 504 criminal actions against individuals or entities that engaged in crimes related to Medicare or Medicaid, and 669 civil actions, which include false claims and unjust enrichment lawsuits filed in the Federal district court, and civil monetary penalty (CMP) settlements. HHS-OIG also excluded 1,689 individuals and entities from participation in Medicare, Medicaid, and other Federal healthcare programs. Among these were exclusions based on criminal convictions for crimes related to Medicare and Medicaid or to other healthcare programs, for beneficiary abuse or neglect, and as a result of State healthcare licensure revocations.'' Mr. Chair, the American people believe the government is corrupt and rife with fraud. The only way to address these concerns is to promote accountability in the Federal Government and ensure that their tax dollars are used responsibly for their intended purpose. My commonsense amendment will ensure that the HHS Office of Inspector General has the funding and resources they need to keep this agency in line. Two million dollars is a small sum to pay to restore faith in our institutions and to potentially uncover billions and billions in fraud. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment to promote accountability and oversight in the Department of Health and Human Services, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise to urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, which would provide for additional funding reductions for NIH. If we have learned nothing else from the executive branch's involvement and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, at the very least, we learned just how corrupt and money hungry the NIH as an organization truly is. It has been over 3\1/2\ years since the initial COVID lockdowns and the NIH continues to cover up and downplay its gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Earlier this year, the Inspector General's report found that between 2014 and 2021, the NIH did not adequately follow its policies with respect to three grants totaling about $8 million to the EcoHealth Alliance. The EcoHealth Alliance had a relationship with the Wuhan Institute of Virology in which it subawarded $600,000 to research coronaviruses in the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic. The NIH terminated the EcoHealth grant in April of 2020, then later reinstated it, only to suspend it again after setting conditions for resumption that EcoHealth claimed it could not meet. The NIH permanently terminated the award in August 2022 for compliance issues, including the Wuhan Institute of Virology's failure to provide NIH with laboratory notebooks related to the funded experiments. Then again, in May of this year, the NIH reinstated grants to renew its ``collaborative research to understand the risk of bat coronavirus spillover emergence.'' Seriously? In late last year, the NIH issued a new grant to EcoHealth Alliance for a project titled: ``Analyzing the Potential for Future Bat Coronavirus Emergence in Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos.'' The grant provides EcoHealth Alliance with $653,392 covering a period until August 31, 2027. Why is an organization that failed to comply with reporting requirements continuing to receive more and more American tax dollars? Even more disturbing, earlier this year, the acting director of NIH, Dr. Tabak, testified before the House Appropriations Committee. I asked him whether gain-of-function research was conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and he responded ``no.'' In an October 20, 2021, letter to then-Oversight and Reform Committee Ranking Member James Comer, the NIH admitted to funding gain-of- function research on bat coronaviruses at the WIV. Ironically, Mr. Tabak authored this letter in which he stated that the limited experiment tested whether spike proteins from naturally occurring bat coronaviruses circulating in China were capable of binding to the human ACE2 receptor in a mouse model. This is classic gain of function and this is unacceptable. Americans deserve to know the truth, especially when their tax dollars are funding these dangerous practices. As if that were not enough evidence to justify a budget cut, the Biden administration has also inappropriately used the NIH as an extension of the President's radical, unethical policies. For instance, in April of 2021, the NIH reversed restrictions governing Federal- funded research to allow the use of fetal tissue obtained from elective abortions. I am grateful the underlying bill includes several guardrails for fiscal year 2024, such as prohibiting funding for unethical human embryo and aborted fetal tissue research, prohibiting any support to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and prohibiting gain-of-function research in an adversarial country. These are good provisions, but they are simply not enough. I recognize that the underlying bill has reduced the NIH's funding by about 12\1/2\ percent, but I strongly believe a larger cut is warranted if we want the NIH to realign its priorities with congressional intent. Not only would a larger budget cut force the NIH to eliminate irresponsible spending and research, but it would also send a strong message to the Biden administration that Congress does not approve the NIH's actions. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment that transfers funds from government bureaucracy to charter school grants. As a mom raising four boys, I understand that families across this country want the best education possible for their children. One size does not fit all when it comes to education and our Nation's youth, and education matters are best handled at the State, local, and especially family levels. Charter schools are an important part of the public education landscape because they empower parents to choose a high-quality educational environment for their child regardless of income or ZIP Code. The unique educational experience of attending charter schools ensures more children have a chance to achieve the American Dream. During the first two full school years of COVID, nearly 240,000 additional students enrolled in public charter schools. Charter schools were the only sector of public education to grow during the COVID lockdowns. They also serve our Nation's marginalized children. A 2021 analysis of research on charter school effects and competitive influence by the National Bureau of Economic Research highlighted trends from three decades of research on charter schools. They found that charter schools boost student test scores, particularly for Black, Hispanic, and low-income students, and that attending charter schools increases college enrollment and civic engagement. The competitive impact of charter schools on traditional public schools suggests a beneficial influence on neighboring schools' student achievement. The Charter Schools Program is the only program at the Department of Education that supports school choice and allows parents to place their children in a school that works for their unique needs. Parents know how to raise their children better than government bureaucrats and teachers' unions. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment that transfers funds from the government bureaucracy to charter school grants, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I also have an amendment to add funding to the IG's account, and this amendment takes no funds from public schools. This is simply giving more choice to families throughout our Nation. Transparency is good, and the argument that we just heard was not so good. Parents know how to raise their children better than government bureaucrats and politicians. We certainly experienced that during the COVID lockdowns. The restrictions that we saw to our children's education and the educational experiences that were lost during those 2 years or more of COVID lockdowns were a travesty. I cannot reiterate enough that parents know how to raise their children better than politicians, better than bureaucrats, better than teachers' unions. We want to strengthen the Charter Schools Program, and that is what this amendment does. Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment that transfers funds from the Department of Education bureaucracy to support the Rural Education Achievement Program, REAP. Most of the country's poorest counties are rural and are often disconnected from the nonprofits and social service agencies that fill the gaps in urban and suburban schools. After decades of population loss and divestment by State governments, many rural communities are struggling to keep up when it comes to educating our children and are being forced to close. When these schools close, children are forced to travel additional hours to get to school. Closures and consolidations also force teachers, administrators, and educators out of their jobs. Yet, America has continued to turn a blind eye, leaving our rural communities helpless. More than 9.3 million children attend rural schools. This makes up nearly one-fifth of public school students across the country. Rural children had an especially hard time keeping up when Democrats shut down our schools for 2 years and required students to learn via Zoom. Many of our children in rural communities don't have access to the internet, and some don't even have cell phone service. They deserve better than this. The Rural Education Achievement Program initiatives are designed to help rural districts that may lack the personnel and resources to compete effectively for competitive Federal grants. There are two dedicated programs funded by this account that aim to assist rural school districts with improving teaching and learning in their schools. The Small, Rural School Achievement Program provides funds to rural districts that serve a small number of students. The Rural and Low-Income School Program provides funds to rural districts that serve concentrations of poor students regardless of the number of students served by the district. Our children deserve a proper education no matter what their ZIP Code is, and it is our duty to build a better future for them. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment that transfers funds from the Department of Education bureaucracy to the Rural Education Achievement Program. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.