Lauren Boebert

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Madam Speaker, America is in a race for the future, and that future is artificial intelligence. We need to build data centers that will power American AI. We need to create jobs, grow our economy, and make sure that the next generation of technology is built right here in the United States. But there is one principle that we should never compromise: American families should not be forced to pay for someone else's data center. That is exactly what the Ratepayer Protection Act addresses. If a massive data center wants to come in and consume hundreds of megawatts of electricity, it should pay the full incremental costs of providing that power, not the families struggling to pay their electric bills and not the small businesses trying to keep their doors open. The companies creating the demand should pay for the demand. This is not antibusiness. It is not anti-AI. It is certainly not antigrowth. It is common sense. In fact, when we get this right, the data centers can actually strengthen communities. Georgia Power was able to freeze residential rates for 3 years as large-load growth expanded. In Virginia, data centers took on a dramatically larger share of transmission costs while residential customers saw their share decline. In Loudoun County alone, data centers have generated $1.1 billion in tax revenue. Madam Speaker, let's build. Let's compete. Let's win the AI race. Let's also protect the people who keep this country running. The Ratepayer Protection Act gives States a practical tool to make sure that massive new electricity users pay their fair share while preserving State authority over their energy markets. America can lead the world in AI without making American families foot the bill. That is not a radical idea. That is responsible leadership, and I applaud my colleague from Colorado (Mr. Evans) for leading on this issue.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs) for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in defense of the judicial branch of the United States Government. The Supreme Court of the United States is not a partisan prize to be captured. It is an independent branch of our government, and it must remain impartial. My colleague's amendment to limit the Supreme Court to nine Justices preserves judicial fairness, ensures unbiased decisionmaking, and upholds the constitutional duties of our Nation's highest court. Some on the left have advocated for expanding the Court to 13 Justices, paving the way for the majority of leftwing ideologues to sit on the Supreme Court under future Presidential administrations. We cannot simply change the rules because one side thinks that they are not getting their way enough. That is not how a constitutional republic works, Mr. Speaker. This is what happens in the Third World, and it cannot happen here in America. Democratic Socialists, kind of an oxymoron, are on the rise, and they want to pack the Court so they can impose an agenda the American people never voted for. Look at what happened yesterday. Democrats could not even vote against socialism because their own party is overrun by self-proclaimed socialists. We already saw what the far left did under Joe Biden by opening our borders. Just imagine what they would do with a court packed with DSA judges. The proposed expansion of the Supreme Court is not about faithfully interpreting the laws of the United States and the Constitution. Rather, the expansion would support a radical leftist agenda, repugnant to the ideas in equality, liberty, and impartial justice under the law of our Founding Fathers. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Speaker, I missed votes due to a previously planned familial obligation on July 16, 2026. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 248 and NAY on Roll Call No. 249.

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. There are no further arguments on this amendment.

Ms. BOEBERT. My time, my right to close, and I closed.

Ms. BOEBERT. He has no time remaining, Madam Chair. He is not a member of the committee, and he claimed time in opposition. You didn't, sir.

Ms. BOEBERT. And he doesn't get any time to close.

Ms. BOEBERT. That was not a member who claimed time from this committee. He was not able to claim the time in opposition.

Ms. BOEBERT. No. I closed. The Acting Chair. The gentlewoman's time has expired.

Ms. BOEBERT. Madam Chair, since a member of this committee did not reserve the time, I reserve my right to close at this time. I would just say if gender dysphoria isn't a mental illness, then why do 42 percent of those who identify as transgender attempt suicide? We don't hand nuclear weapons and fighter jets to people in that kind of crisis. We shouldn't start now. We should be helping these people in real ways rather than handing them weapons of destruction. This is a very serious issue that we should address right now. No other severe mental disorder gets a waiver into the United States military. Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, they are all disqualifying. Gender dysphoria is no different, except politicians changed the label. My amendment treats it exactly the same. Madam Chair, I urge adoption of my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of America's brave men and women in uniform to ensure America's warriors have the tools and environment they need to defend our Nation. Shortly after taking his second oath of office, President Trump acted to protect our servicemembers. He signed an executive order prioritizing military excellence and readiness to prevent radical transgenders from serving in the United States military. My amendment codifies this executive order, ensuring the integrity of America's great Armed Forces is not jeopardized. Gender dysphoria was considered a mental disorder by psychologists for decades until 2019. Even the leftist World Health Organization listed it as a mental illness in the international classification of diseases. According to the Williams Institute, 81 percent of transgender adults have seriously contemplated suicide. That is 15 times higher than the general population. Forty-two percent of transgender adults have attempted suicide, and 56 percent have harmed themselves. People with gender dysphoria are a danger to themselves and others. The United States military possesses the most powerful weapons known to man. We are the largest Air Force and Navy in the world, with nuclear weapons, artillery, and a host of other weapons with immense destructive capacity. Every day we trust our brave men and women in uniform to protect us and to use these weapons that we possess responsibly for the defense of America. We the people have placed our faith and trust in our Armed Forces, and they have placed their faith in this Congress to make responsible policy. The United States of America cannot allow mentally ill individuals to possess and operate these weapons, and this Congress cannot allow transgenders to jeopardize the safety and readiness of our Armed Forces. My amendment protects America's servicemembers, ensures force readiness, and prevents dangerous individuals from accessing destructive weapons. No other severely mentally ill person would ever be allowed in the Armed Forces, and this Congress should not make any exception for gender dysphoria. The risk to the American people and our Armed Forces is simply too great. Secretary Hegseth has often highlighted the need to restore the warrior ethos in the Department of War. After the Armed Forces endured 4 years of waste, fraud, and abuse under the Biden administration, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have restored the United States military to greatness. Keeping weapons out of the hands of dangerous, mentally ill individuals is a critical step in maintaining this warrior ethos. I am proud to support the President in ensuring the United States Armed Forces remains the finest military in the world. My amendment to codify the President's executive order ensures servicemembers are of sound mind, body, and discipline, and no future administration can rescind these protections for America's heroes. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. BOEBERT

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my colleague Chip Roy's amendment No. 1301. This amendment strikes the pilot program that would authorize voice analysis technology as a substitute for additional drug testing. Our Armed Forces rely on proven standards to ensure military readiness, maintain good order and discipline, and uphold public confidence. Traditional drug testing has long served as a reliable and established tool in meeting these objectives. Before replacing a proven system with a new and untested technology, Congress should be confident that the alternative has demonstrated the same level of reliability and effectiveness. This amendment takes a straightforward approach. It maintains the current standard rather than authorizing a pilot program to substitute for traditional drug testing. Our military deserves policies built on proven methods, not unnecessary experimentation. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support amendment No. 1301, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of amendment No. 1300. Our Nation's military service academies exist to develop officers for the United States Armed Forces. Every cadet and midshipman receives a world-class education funded by the American taxpayer in exchange for a commitment to serve our country. This amendment restores a longstanding cap on the number of cadets who may be released early to pursue professional athletics. Exceptional athletic talent is something we certainly should celebrate, but the primary mission of our service academies is military service, not professional sports. This amendment helps ensure that early releases remain the exception, not the rule. It preserves the longstanding balance our service academies have maintained for years. Our military academies should remain focused on preparing leaders of character for our military, as Congress intended. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support amendment No. 1300 offered by Chip Roy of Texas, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer amendment No. 3 as the designee for Mr. Roy.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, again, I urge my colleagues to support Chip Roy's amendment No. 2, and put American cadets first. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, this is an example of what the American people are frustrated with right now. We have a majority here. The American people gave Republicans a trifecta, and every time that Republicans step up to put America first, to make our industries, our military, our economy stronger, we side with Democrats to limit those capabilities. I have talked with Americans from coast to coast. From our southern border to our northern border, from the heartland of America to the Rocky Mountains, people want us to do the right thing and put Americans first. This is a commonsense amendment that reserves these special, limited opportunities for American citizens. Our service academies, again, should remain focused on producing American military leaders for the American Armed Forces. When we see this kind of behavior of crossing the aisle to limit these possibilities for Americans, it is exactly why people back home watch us here on the House floor and get frustrated. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.