Gus Bilirakis

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the abortion on demand until birth act. I have worked in Congress to promote a culture of life and remain supportive of measures that respect the sanctity of human life by encouraging alternatives to abortion, including counseling and pregnancy centers for women. By contrast, the abortion on demand until birth act attempts to override past and future pro-life laws at the Federal and State levels. This will allow abortions based on Down syndrome diagnosis, sex of the baby, and even dismemberment abortions. Simply put, this bill's goal is to promote abortion anywhere, anytime, from conception to birth. Madam Speaker, our Nation should be investing in women's healthcare and the healthcare of unborn babies. This bill does the opposite. I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I was recorded as ``no.'' I intended to vote ``yes'' on rollcall No. 288. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Babin (Nehls) Boyle, Brendan F. (Jeffries) Carter (TX) (Calvert) DeFazio (Brown) DeSaulnier (Thompson (CA)) Escobar (Garcia (TX)) Frankel, Lois (Clark (MA)) Fulcher (Johnson (OH)) Grijalva (Garcia (IL)) Higgins (NY) (Tonko) Issa (Calvert) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Kim (NJ) (Underwood) Kirkpatrick (Levin (CA)) Latta (Walberg) Lawson (FL) (Evans) McEachin (Wexton) McHenry (Banks) Meng (Jeffries) Morelle (Tonko) Napolitano (Correa) Norman (Timmons) Payne (Wasserman Schultz) Porter (Wexton) Reschenthaler (Meuser) Rice (SC) (Timmons) Rush (Underwood) Ryan (Kildee) Sewell (Cicilline) Stanton (Levin (CA)) Stefanik (Miller-Meeks) Strickland (Torres (NY)) Swalwell (Veasey) Wagner (Walorski) Wilson (FL) (Hayes) Amendments En Bloc No. 3 Offered by Mr. Smith of Washington

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Mr. Bryan O'Brien, a recently-departed constituent of mine who served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. Due to contentious public debate on our nation's involvement in the war, returning Veterans were denied the appropriate recognition for their service. Thankfully, Mr. O'Brien and his fellow service members did not accept this unfair mistreatment. They advocated for one another and for future generations to ensure all returning service members are treated with respect and honor, regardless of the public opinion of the war itself. They have been quite successful in this endeavor. Bryan was a proud Member of the SPC Zachary L. Shannon Memorial VFW Post 2550 in Dunedin, Florida. He also served as the national sergeant at arms for the VFW. He was a founding member and past vice-president of the Heritage Springs Veterans Club. A true patriot, Bryan loved his country and made an indelible mark on both our community and those who had the privilege of knowing him. Indeed, Bryan leaves behind a legacy of service and sacrifice. May his memory be eternal! My thoughts and prayers are with his widow, Patricia, and his three children: McKenzie O'Brien, Craig Wagner, and Robert Wagner. Thank you, I yield back my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, in Pasco County, one of the counties in my district, we have seen a huge spike in overdoses, including 25 fatalities in the month of June alone. Very, very sad. During January through June 2021, we have seen more overdoses than any other similar period on record. Fentanyl continues to be a significant factor. We must do everything we can to prevent fentanyl from flooding our streets, including stopping the free flow at our Nation's southern border. I have been to the border, Madam Speaker, and I have seen how easy it is to move drugs into our country. We must secure our border. Additionally, we must implement commonsense safeguards to prevent opioid abuse and improve access to quality treatment options. I will continue to work on these priorities. Separately, Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 18, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we need due process in this particular bill. I believe that this bill is incomplete. We do have to protect the honest small businesses in this country. As a matter of fact, I heard just yesterday, from over 100 small businesses, and they have real serious concerns, legitimate concerns about this particular bill. This bill is not ready for prime time at this particular time. As I said, it is incomplete. Mr. Speaker, we must go after the bad actors. There must be restitution for our victims--there is no question--but it has to be fair, with a fair and reasonable legal standard. Mr. Speaker, on that particular note, with regard to the legal standard, former head of the FTC Consumer Protection Bureau and committee witness, Dr. Howard Beales stated that a reasonable person standard was an appropriate standard to include in any restitution or disgorgement legislation. He testified that this will ensure that the FTC focuses its efforts on bad actors, not honest small business people, but bad actors when using its limited resources to bring these claims. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis).

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I will continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I will continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers), our great ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence), a great member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I had hoped to stand before you today urging my colleagues to support this legislation. Sadly, I must oppose because the expansive authority included here goes way beyond the new agency power I and my colleagues were willing to put into statute to ensure the FTC has the ability to get financial restitution to constituents who were victimized by scams as quickly as possible. So, we do agree on the concept but not the details. Instead, this bill before us will provide the FTC with new authorities that far outpace the need supported by a consensus of the FTC Commissioners. Even more concerning, Mr. Speaker, as we heard from the former head of the FTC's Consumer Protection Bureau, who testified before our subcommittee, it signals a return to the broad overreach we saw with the FTC in previous decades, a situation so bad that a Democratic Congress crippled the FTC's funding and stripped it of its authority at that particular time. But, alas, here we go again. History is repeating itself if this piece of legislation is passed. Separately, H.R. 2668 has been riddled with process fouls and has ignored well-founded concerns from Republicans, including the lack of needed transparency reform and the lack of a national privacy standard, which will protect consumers. We are overdue for this, and we must have a national privacy standard as soon as possible, Mr. Speaker. I have heard from my colleagues. They claim this bill only establishes a statute of limitations, but that simply is not the case. In fact, if you listened to the rhetoric from my Democratic colleagues, you would believe this bill was narrowly targeted at fraudsters and scammers, but that is not the case. Under this bill, the FTC could obtain billions in penalties without ever proving that the alleged company ever knew or intended to mislead at all. The Supreme Court ruled 9-0, a unanimous decision, that the FTC never had the authority to grant monetary relief under 13(b). Even the liberal Justices of the Court, Mr. Speaker, said that 13(b) was only designed for injunctive relief. We all agree on that. So, let's fix it for the benefit of our consumers and any future victims. Let's make sure that they get the restitution they deserve. An important principle of the American justice system is that the harsher the penalty is, the more due process is needed. So while I do agree with my Democratic colleagues that 13(b) provides sufficient due process for injunctive relief, the new authorities this legislation bestows on section 13(b) does not, however, provide enough due process if the penalty is monetary relief. Perhaps therein lies my colleagues' true intent. This legislation is not really to fix a problem or restore a power but instead aims to grant the FTC with brand-new and unchecked authorities, rivaling those of the 1970s, to seek financial penalties for what it alleges is fraud and anticompetitive acts through section 13(b) of the FTC Act. To those listening today, do not be fooled by the title of this bill. I believe it is irresponsible that the Consumer Protection and Recovery Act grants these new authorities without any guardrails to ensure due process remains a foundational American principle or to protect American companies from egregious enforcements that are not intended to protect consumers or help them recover from the harm of bad actors. We all want to go after the bad actors, Mr. Speaker, but there must be due process. Now, if it is a clear-cut case of fraud, like Volkswagen, then I agree that we should be able to use 13(b) to seek monetary relief, and my amendment captures such acts. That is the exception to the legal standard. But if the FTC has to look back 10 years--and that is what we do with this particular piece of legislation, if it passes--and not have to prove there was deceptive intent, as there was in Volkswagen, then we need to ensure due process before the FTC can take money from small businesses and entrepreneurs. I feel that that is only fair. That is why I was proud to offer a compromise during our Energy and Commerce Committee markup, which was the only portion of the markup that received bipartisan support. My amendment was the only one that received bipartisan support, and I believe it is fair and reasonable. My amendment struck the right balance between providing the FTC with the new authorities to go after bad actors but also placed much-needed guardrails to keep the FTC from short-circuiting due process and seeking disgorgement from small businesses unaware of any potential violation. Our small businesses are struggling, and those that conduct bad acts should be punished, absolutely should be punished. There should be restitution for the victims. But our innocent small businesses are having a hard time as it is. One of my Democratic colleagues even commented that to go from 5 years to 10 years will increase the cost of businesses' errors-and- omissions insurance policies. We must consider that as well. Now, combine that with no standards attached to the behavior in question, and we will see even more inflation, ultimately hurting our small businesses and allowing the big guys to pass on the cost to constituents, which they most likely will do. They have the lawyers on their side, so they will pass the costs on to the constituents. We can't have that. Without these guardrails, the FTC will create a ripple effect that will kill small businesses, unfortunately, innovation and ingenuity, while raising prices in our economy. My amendment found the right balance, I believe, on the statute of limitations to ensure businesses are not blindsided by the assertion of claims long after the potential conduct, when evidence may no longer be available or is stale, and it is only right. Five years--I would even compromise and go a little higher, but the information must not be stale. I would say in most States, and also DOJ in some criminal cases, the statute is roughly 5 years. In most States, approximately 5 to maybe 7 years, at the most. While shortening the statute, it also provides the FTC with a unique, equitable tolling period to allow the FTC the ability to seek monetary relief beyond the 5-year statute of limitations in the case of intentionally deceptive or fraudulent conduct. This addresses examples of the fraudulent behavior you will hear from my Democratic colleagues, when the FTC failed to act in a timely fashion. The tolling language is in my amendment. Despite receiving bipartisan support, the majority rejected this amendment. One can only wonder if this is because it stands in the way of remaking our entire country into a managed economy and one that, again, strips due process rights from its citizens. I hope that is not the case. Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, Republicans and Democrats both want to protect consumers. We were in Rules yesterday, and we both agreed on that; we want to protect our consumers, and we want to make sure that they get the restitution that they deserve. I have stayed at the table to negotiate this and even offered an amendment that went a step further than the one I offered in committee. Unfortunately, it fell on deaf ears. The Rules Committee did not make my or any other Republican amendment in order today, ignoring our serious concerns. We were concerned about pending cases, to make sure that the FTC had the time to look at all the pending cases, and that would make an exception to the statute of limitations, the 5 years. I think we thought of everything. To my colleagues, let's work together and properly empower the FTC to protect constituents and pass a national privacy standard. This is our opportunity. As a matter of fact, the Senate is working on a bill that includes a privacy standard; a 13(b) fix, but also a privacy standard. I urge a ``no'' vote on this particular piece of legislation. I want to get back to the table and get this right. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg), my good friend and a great Member. Michigan is the home of Tom Brady; at least he went to college there, a great American. Mr. Walberg is also a great American.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise for this Special Order to commemorate the 47th anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey, and to further call attention and demand action on the continued Turkish settlement of Varosha. On July 20, 1974, a very sad day, Turkey invaded the Republic of Cyprus and violently captured the northern part of the island and established a heavily armed occupation force that continues to control nearly 37 percent of Cyprus' territory. As a result of this flagrant violation of international law, 160,000 Greek Cypriots, 70 percent of the population of the occupied area, were forcibly expelled from their homes. In addition, approximately 5,000 Cypriots were killed, including five Americans, Mr. Speaker, of Cypriot descent. More than 1,400 Greek Cypriots remain missing since the Turkish invasion, and their fate is still unknown. Greek and Turkish Cypriots were forcibly divided along ethnic lines and remain so to this day. It is utterly baffling why over the past 47 years the U.S., the E.U., the U.N. and the international community writ large have failed to take meaningful action against Turkey for the invasion and subsequent occupation of Cyprus. Indeed, lack of action has emboldened Turkey to treat the occupied north of Cyprus as an unannexed province of Turkey where Erdogan seeks to, among other things, build a presidential palace, presumably as a precursor to the caliphate he expects to lead. Decades of failed reunification attempts have jaded even the most optimistic of us. Today, after President Erdogan defied warnings from the U.S. and the international community, as well as U.N. Security Council resolutions and went ahead and changed the status of Varosha, there can no longer be any doubt that with Erdogan leading Turkey and Ersin Tatar leading the Turkish Cypriot community, there will be no Cyprus solutions, sadly. The tragic story of Varosha is perhaps the true embodiment of the permanent harm Turkey's direct interference has had on the island. Once holding international renown as a premier tourist destination, it has fallen into a state of dilapidation--sadly, Mr. Speaker, and I did witness it myself--after its lawful inhabitants were forced to flee in the face of the Turkish invasion. Varosha, particularly the resettlement of its lawful inhabitants, has long been a central issue in the negotiations for Cypriot reunification. However, Turkey continues to unilaterally threaten the noble dream of one people, one border, one Cyprus. Unfortunately, it was not by coincidence that Erdogan chose this day--the anniversary of the fateful Turkish invasion of Cyprus--to take this illegal action. I emphasize ``illegal,'' Mr. Speaker. Although the events of the Turkish invasion 47 years ago are not new, I feel it is important that the severity of the invasion and its lasting effects are not understated or forgotten. We must never forget. It was then, the Turkish forces ethnically cleansed and then fenced off the beautiful area of Varosha, holding it hostage for decades as a bargaining chip in reunification negotiations. All despite the two Cypriot communities' intention to reach an agreement on the resettlement of its lawful inhabitants. The 1979 High Level Agreement made it clear that the resettlement of Varosha was a unified Cypriot priority, that both sides were open to such acts of goodwill, and that the United Nations should play a role in the resolution of the Cyprus problem. However, the status quo radically changed in 2019 when the Turkish occupation authorities announced their intention, sadly, to open Varosha to Turkish settlement, directly contradicting the United Nation's role and legitimacy on the issue, specifically U.N. Security Council Resolutions 482, 550, 789, and 2483. Back in October of 2019, I even wrote that the Turkish settlement of Varosha would be a step in the completely wrong direction of what the Cypriot people want--and I have spoken to the Cypriot people--which is the eventual reunification of Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus continues to maintain the return of Varosha as a cornerstone of confidence building measures with the Turkish Cypriots, including joint ventures seeking to restore the dilapidated city. Indeed, the present government of the Republic of Cyprus proposed a confidence building measure that would have turned Varosha over to U.N. control and allowed the Turkish-Cypriot port Famagusta to trade with the world under E.U. designation. And Famagusta is a wonderful place. I had relatives that had to leave during the invasion in 1974, Mr. Speaker. They lost their homes, they lost their livelihoods, and they moved to Athens. But, again, a beautiful place, and it is a very sad situation. And it is action we need, not words, and that is why I am here tonight, Mr. Speaker, to educate the American public and the Members of Congress. So the Erdogan government, Mr. Speaker, and the Turkish occupation authorities in Cyprus rejected this win-win proposal and decided to keep this one time jewel--and it is a jewel--of the eastern Mediterranean sadly, a ghost town. Turkish Cypriots, in particular, want to be part of the E.U. and share in all the economic benefits that their compatriots, the Greek Cypriots, enjoy. We support them in their efforts and condemn Erdogan for using Turkish Cypriots as pawns. That is exactly what he is doing. He is using them as pawns to help bolster his dismal record on Turkey's economy. The world knows that Erdogan is desperate and trying to distract from his failed leadership in Turkey. With his sinking poll numbers, Erdogan must shore up his nationalist base ahead of Turkey's 2023 election. That is what this is all about. That is why he has converted his rhetoric into action and moved to reopen parts of Varosha for Turkish recreation and tourism. It is outrageous, and it must be stopped. We need to speak up now before it is too late, and fight for the dream and hope of an eventual Cypriot reunification. These are our allies. These are great allies, Mr. Speaker. The United States, the U.N., the E.U. cannot simply continue to just simply offer its sentiments and vocal displeasure. They must match their displeasure with action, not limited to U.N. management of Varosha as outlined in U.N. Security Council Resolution 550, diplomatic isolation, or sanctions, not limited to just that. The permanent Turkish settlement of Varosha without justice to the Cypriots who had their homes unlawfully taken from them should be the final red line for the international community that cannot be crossed. We, the international community, have an opportunity and an obligation to stand and fight for justice for our ally, the Cypriot people. The Cypriot people have a right to their dream of a united Cyprus without direct interference from the Turks, and the displaced Cypriots are entitled to return to their homes in beautiful Varosha. The United States must take real action and let Erdogan know in very clear terms that the U.S. will no longer put up with the blatant exploitation of the Cypriot people. And that is what it has been all these years. Last week, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators led in part by my good friend, Marco Rubio, called for the Biden administration to pursue multilateral sanctions if Turkey changes the status of Varosha. Senator Menendez has also been a great leader in this area, too. Turkey crossed that Rubicon today. And like it did when we warned them not to go ahead with the Russian S400 purchases, they thumbed their nose at the United States Congress, the State Department, and the White House. It is time that Turkey be held accountable for acting contrary to U.S. policy, U.S. interests, and U.S. law. And I ask this House to echo the call by the Senators asking the Biden administration to pursue multilateral sanctions in response to Turkey's flagrant violations of international law. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Pennsylvania, a great member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. I want to express my disappointment with the inclusion of a partisan auto safety title in this legislation before us today. I hope the Senate is listening and sees that this does not represent a consensus, since this product completely bypassed the Energy and Commerce Committee. We even agreed in April to circulate a draft safety title to stakeholders with our majority counterparts; drafts, I would add, that were largely written by them. But, sadly, they walked away from their own proposals, completely ignoring minority and stakeholder concerns, and bypassed regular order altogether. One could only surmise that the directive came straight from the majority leadership. And for what? To snatch defeat from the jaws of a bipartisan victory? The National Federation of the Blind even supported an amendment I drafted, with their input, to increase transportation access and benefits for Americans with disabilities. The Rules Committee voted not to make it in order. It is truly puzzling that a vote for this previously bipartisan initiative would fall victim to such partisan politics. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this legislation. We need to get back to the table and deliver for those who are left behind by this partisan bill.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, crime rates spike when you give in to leftist demands and defund the police. It is as simple as that. Sadly, we are seeing this play out in major cities across the country. The New York Times reports a sample of 37 U.S. cities saw an 18 percent increase in murders in the first 3 months of this year when compared to last. Mr. Speaker, this rhetoric and policy is dangerous and, worst of all, it is responsible for the dismantling and demoralization of police departments across the country. We have also seen the dramatic increase on a tax against law enforcement this year. Tragically, two of my constituents are among those who have recently been killed in the line of duty. We must have law and order and support our heroes who place their lives on the line to keep our communities safe. In short, we must defend, not defund, the police.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, we know that more than 600,000 Americans and 3.8 million people worldwide have died as a result of COVID-19. A recent study found that cases could have been significantly reduced around the globe if interventions in China could have been conducted just weeks earlier. It is a widely accepted fact that China's obstruction and coverup cost lives. It is simple: China lied and Americans died. Also, despite mounting credible evidence that COVID-19 may have actually originated from a Chinese lab, Congress has not held a single hearing on the origins of COVID-19. I am proud to be one of 200 Republican Members calling for these necessary investigations. Americans have a right to know the truth, and we must hold China accountable for their COVID coverup.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3182, the Safe Sleep for Babies Act. I thank Mr. Cardenas and, of course, Chair Schakowsky for their hard work on this bill. H.R. 3182 addresses the risk of dangers that infants face from inclined sleepers and crib bumpers. This bill bans all products with an inclined sleep surface greater than 10 degrees to address the tragic deaths related to inclined sleepers and any crib bumpers intended to cover the sides of a crib or that prevent access to openings on the sides of the crib. I am always ready to work with my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee to help protect Americans from potentially harmful products. That is the reason I requested this subcommittee. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this particular measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this very important bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this bill directs the Consumer Products Safety Commission to issue a consumer product safety standard for clothing storage units to protect children from tip-over related injuries, as the chairman stated. The CPSC has recognized this as one of the top five potential hidden hazards in the home, with an average of one child fatality every 2 weeks from falling furniture and appliances. It is good to restate it because people need to know. We support this bill moving forward with House passage today. I thank the chairwoman of the subcommittee, my colleague, Ms. Schakowsky, for championing this bill; along with Mr. Cardenas and all of the members of the Energy and Commerce Committee for their efforts. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1314, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BILIRAKIS

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Lesko), an important member of the Energy and Commerce full committee and also the subcommittee.

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers. Mr. Speaker, this is a very important bill. We have to get it past the finish line this time. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.