Andy Barr

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, I rise to today to honor St. John's Episcopal Church in Versailles, Kentucky, on their 175th anniversary. The church was officially established on June 29, 1847, under the leadership of Reverend John N. Norton and Mr. John Amsden. The current church building was consecrated on May 28, 1885. In 1930, the parish house and the chapel, gifts from Senator Johnson Camden and family, were consecrated. The church has been visited by important dignitaries including Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England in 1986 and President George Herbert Walker Bush, who worshipped unannounced at St. John's in 1989. As the congregation gathers to celebrate the 175th anniversary, I recognize the impact that this congregation has made on the Versailles community over the years. The church has reached thousands of people with material needs and spiritual sustenance. I congratulate the Reverend Dana Lockhart and all the members of St. John's Episcopal Church in Versailles on their 175th anniversary and wish them many more years of successful ministry, serving God and reaching out to the community.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the city of Versailles, Kentucky, on its 230th anniversary. Located in Woodford County, Versailles was founded June 23rd, 1792. This was only 22 days after the Commonwealth of Kentucky was accepted into statehood. The city was located on 80 acres of land that was owned by Hezekiah Briscoe, who at that time was only a child. It was named for Versailles, France, in honor of General Lafayette and his contributions to the victory in the American Revolution. Versailles is located in the beautiful Central Kentucky area. The area is renowned for its thoroughbred horse farms, bourbon distilleries, and small-town charm. Over its history, Versailles has been home to military leaders, artists, actors, athletes, and politicians. Tourists from all over the world visit this beautiful town, with the most famous visitors including Queen Elizabeth II and President George H.W. Bush. Versailles is currently led by Mayor Brian Traugott. Thank you to the Woodford County Historical Society for preserving the history of this wonderful town and for organizing the 230th anniversary celebration. As the citizens of Versailles remember their history, I wish them all the best for a bright future.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 291.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Kevin Hern, from the great State of Oklahoma not only for his leadership on the Republican Study Committee Budget and Spending Task Force--ably chairing that committee--but also as an advocate for more domestic energy production to deal with this energy crisis. Like your constituents in Oklahoma, my constituents in rural Kentucky are feeling the pain. I was just with some farmers in Fleming County, Kentucky, on Friday when we were back in the district. And one of the farmers stood up, and he said: I don't know where you get your numbers in Washington, Congressman, but 8.6 percent doesn't sound right for us in Fleming County. It is more than twice that. It is painful to fill up the diesel in our tractor. It is impossible for us to fill up our trucks to get around to move our produce. This is not 8.6 percent. You all don't know what the real number is and how it affects real Americans. That is how bad this inflation crisis is. But I rise in strong support of this Republican Study Committee's proposed Federal budget. Our Nation is over $30 trillion in debt. This debt crisis threatens the long-term prosperity of every American. It is that debt, and it is that overspending, Mr. Speaker, that has helped to usher in this historic inflation crisis that is crushing my constituents in Fleming County and so many other middle-class Americans across this country. The RSC budget restores fiscal responsibility to Washington by balancing the Federal budget within 10 years and rescuing America from bankruptcy, stopping the spending binge in this town. Let's be clear, we will never balance the Federal budget if Democrats continue their spending spree. We will never balance the budget continuing this reckless deficit-producing fiscal policy and threatening tax hikes in this ``build back better'' calamity that fails to raise revenue, but instead would crush economic growth and actually diminish the tax base. We will also never balance the budget if the Biden administration continues its inexplicable war on American energy, which is key to economic growth, key to reducing the deficit. That is why I commend RSC Budget and Spending Task Force chairman, Kevin Hern, for including my legislation in the budget, the Fair Access to Banking Act. This legislation, the Fair Access to Banking Act, protects key American industries, such as energy producers, from discrimination by banks and lenders who politicize access to capital to satisfy the radical agenda of climate extremists. And here is the irony: We all care about the environment, especially farmers. We care about the environment. They are the ultimate environmentalists. But what sense does it make to deprive financing to the very energy companies that can innovate our way to solutions to the climate issue. When President Biden was sworn into office, gas prices averaged $2.36 across the country. This month, gas prices reached $5 nationally for the first time--and they are on their way to $6 a gallon. In less than 2 years, our Nation went from energy dominant to energy desperate. And yet, the Biden administration continues to push ESG investments and regulations such as the SEC's new climate risk disclosure rule designed to choke off investment in energy production. The Biden administration for sure is blocking construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, another energy infrastructure. It is halting new lease sales for oil and gas. It is stonewalling over 4,400 permits to drill. It is thwarting new large-scale refineries. And this has all contributed to constraining energy supply, contributing to inflation. But ground zero in this war against domestic energy production is the Biden administration's weaponization of financial regulation to redirect capital away from fossil energy. The European financial sector, Wall Street banks, large, woke asset managers have all started the trend of politicizing capital allocation through the environmental, social, and governance movement. But the Biden administration's Security and Exchange Commission is now making matters worse by proposing a regulation that would force every public company to disclose reams of immaterial and unreliable information about the Green House gas emissions arising from their operations, the producers of energy they consume, and even the activities of their suppliers and customers. This 534-page monstrosity marks the transformation of the SEC from an independent agency dedicated to investor protection to an unaccountable and politicized bureaucracy intent on advancing radical environmental policy over which it has neither jurisdiction nor competency. Not only does this regulation discriminate against affordable, reliable energy by redirecting capital away from the American energy sector, it directly conflicts with the SEC's mission to protect investors. While asset managers continually prioritize ESG funds, the fees for those funds are actually, on average, 43 percent higher than nonESG funds. Stocks and many ESG-related exchange-traded funds have elevated price-to-earnings multiples precisely because investment returns are sacrificed for nonpecuniary factors and policy objectives like social justice, diversity quotas, and lower carbon emissions. It is time for us to stand up for American energy dominance. It is time for us to stand up for the American energy sector. It is time for us to stand up to retail investors who depend on returns instead of some woke political agenda that, frankly, they don't care about. My farmers in Fleming County depend on returns. They depend on affordable electricity. Washington is out of touch with the reality and the hardships of American savers and American workers who can't afford Biden's inflation. That is why we need this budget. Now more than ever we must defend and encourage investments in American energy production to lower costs for Americans at the pump. Mr. Speaker, the duel visions for the future of America on this issue could not be clearer. On the one hand, Congressional Democrats are doubling down on a dangerous agenda in the middle of a generational energy crisis at cost to millions of middle-class Americans. Out of touch. On the other hand, Republicans are renewing our commitment through the Fair Access to Banking provision contained in this budget to require lending to be based on risk-based metrics, not on the woke politics of the day. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand with my Republican colleagues in support of this budget. I am proud to stand with Americans who depend on energy independence and energy dominance and affordable, reliable energy. I ask all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand with the American people, not with woke Wall Street, not with large asset managers who put politics ahead of returns. Vote for the Republican Study Committee budget. Mr. Speaker, I thank the leadership of my friend from Oklahoma.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, for over a year, Democrats have dismissed the historic inflation crushing American households. First, they said it was transitory. Then, they played it down as a high-class problem. Now, President Biden ridiculously and falsely refers to rising prices as Putin's price hike. But the American people know that Democrats' failed policies created this inflation crisis. Their overspending created excess demand. Their war against domestic energy production constrained supply. And this supply-demand mismatch pushed prices to a four-decade high. In March 2021, the Consumer Price Index was at 2.6 percent and gas prices were $2.70 per gallon. That month, President Biden's American inflation plan was signed into law. What happened as a result? We have 8.6 percent inflation on the CPI from last Friday, the highest in over 40 years. On top of that, we are seeing historic energy prices. Fuel oil is up 106 percent, the highest ever, and regular gasoline is up over 50 percent year over year. For the first time ever, gas prices reached $5 per gallon nationally last week. Instead of addressing the cause of inflation, such as Big Government spending, radical energy policies, and politicization of access to capital, they continue to push partisan packages that will do absolutely nothing to correct historic inflation that is plaguing the middle class. Case in point is this bill, the Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Economic Justice Act. At a time of historic inflation, the central responsibility, the core job, of the Federal Reserve is to ensure price stability. But instead of responding to Democrats' fiscal policy errors, the Fed failed to tighten monetary policy fast enough to address this inflation crisis, especially at this time when they should be focused on price stability. What does the Democrat majority do? They want to give the Fed more responsibilities. They want to give them responsibilities beyond their core competency or expertise.

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, instead of diverting the Fed's focus away from their responsibility of tackling inflation, the Federal Reserve should be focused on dealing with inflation. If Democrats were truly interested in helping low- and moderate- income households, fixed-income households, and communities of color, who are suffering the most under Biden's inflation crisis, they need to keep the Fed's eye on the ball. Don't have them weigh into social policies and controversial policies that are in the responsibility and jurisdiction of Congress. The Fed needs to be focused on helping tame inflation. This bill gives the Fed responsibilities it doesn't need to have.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Rosemont Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky on their 75th anniversary. The church was founded in 1947. At that time, it was the entry point to south Lexington. There weren't any houses or other buildings in the area when the church was built. The neighborhood grew up around the church. As the congregation gathers to celebrate the 75th anniversary, I recognize the impact that this congregation has made on the Lexington community over the years. The church has reached thousands of people with food, financial assistance, and spiritual sustenance. I congratulate Senior Pastor Eddie Benton and all the members of Rosemont Baptist Church in Lexington on their 75th anniversary and wish them many more years of successful ministry, serving God and reaching out to the community.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life of a patriotic American, George Washington Garrett, as he approaches his 100th birthday. Mr. Garrett lives in Montgomery County, Kentucky. Mr. Garrett was born on June 7, 1922, in Mt. Sterling, KY. He was inducted into the United States Army on January 29, 1943. Mr. Garrett served in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe as part of the 989th Quartermaster Service Co. For his brave service to our nation, Mr. Garrett was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Service Ribbon with five Bronze Stars. Following the war's end, he was honorably discharged on November 19, 1945. On Veterans Day in 2020, Mr. Garrett was presented with a Quilt of Valor Award from the Quilts of Valor Foundation in appreciation of his service. It is my honor to recognize Mr. Garrett, celebrate his 100th birthday and thank him for his service and sacrifice to our nation during World War II. As a part of ``The Greatest Generation'', Mr. Garrett and his fellow soldiers fought to preserve the freedoms that we enjoy today, and we can never thank them enough. I am forever grateful for Americans like George Washington Garrett.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the members and coaches of the Montgomery County High School Mock Trial Team, winners of the National High School Mock Trial Championship. The students defeated over 40 state champion high school debate teams to capture the title on May 7, 2022 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. These students worked for months in preparation for this challenging competition. Mock Trial provides students with the opportunity to improve critical thinking and public speaking skills, to gain exposure to the legal system, and to compete at the highest level. Over the years, Montgomery County High School has won 14 state titles. Special congratulations are in order for Bryce Charles, who was named a National Top-10 Witness, and Ollie Fegenbush, a National Top 10 Attorney. Thank you to coaches Ryan Allison, Jamie Allison, and Elizabeth Davis for their leadership and for the opportunity they provide for the students. Thank you also to the parents and the entire Montgomery County community for their support and encouragement. Winning against much larger schools from across this Nation brings a great deal of pride and hope to all in the community. As a former debate team member myself, I appreciate the dedication and hard work of these students. They have learned skills that will serve them well as adults and have made memories that will last a lifetime. I commend them for their wonderful accomplishment as National Champions.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor a patriotic American, Mr. Phillip Pittman. Mr. Pittman lived in Versailles, Kentucky and passed away on April 6, 2022. Mr. Pittman was born and raised in Jackson, Tennessee. He was drafted by the United States Army in 1966 and attended flight school as a warrant officer. Mr. Pittman flew the OH-6 on his first tour with the 7th squadron, 17th Cavalry ``Ruthless Raiders'' at Pleiku Air Base, Vietnam. He was commissioned to Lieutenant. On his second tour of duty, he flew RU-8Ds with the 1st Radio Research Company at Cam Rahn Bay Air Base, Vietnam. After a 26-year distinguished Army career, Mr. Pittman retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Following his active-duty service, Mr. Pittman had a 20-year career with L3 Communications, supporting SOFSA at Bluegrass Station in Lexington, KY. He also was a founding member of Honor Flight Kentucky in 2015. He served as the organization's president from 2019 to 2021 and was an ambassador since Honor Flight Kentucky's beginning. Honor Flight Kentucky has flown 1,000 WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War Veterans to their memorials in Washington, D.C. Along with co-founder George Campbell, Mr. Pittman believed strongly in providing a meaningful experience for each veteran who was able to participate. Through his work with Honor Flight Kentucky, Mr. Pittman created a lasting legacy of appreciation for our veterans. It is my honor to recognize this amazing patriot, celebrate his life, and appreciate him for his service and sacrifice to our nation. Mr. Pittman exemplified the American spirit through his courageous service and his dedication to his fellow veterans. I am forever grateful for Americans like Phill Pittman.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the members of the Bluegrass Area Development District on their 50th anniversary. The BGADD is a non-profit organization serving over 800,000 residents in the Kentucky counties of Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Harrison, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Nicholas, Powell, Scott, and Woodford. For the past 50 years, The Bluegrass ADD has provided a regional voice for local governments on issues such as planning, economic development, environment, transportation, homeland security, public utilities, aging and independent living, and workforce development. The concept of Area Development Districts (ADDs) originated in Kentucky in the early 1960's with the establishment of Area Development Councils. These Councils were organized in all counties and ultimately became the model for the Area Development authorization in landmark federal acts such as the Appalachian Regional Development Act led by Kentuckian John Whisman and the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1963. The fifteen Area Development Districts were formed during the period that followed, 1966 to 1971, serving all 120 Kentucky counties. The Bluegrass ADD (BGADD) was the last ADD to incorporate, filing their articles of incorporation on November 8, 1971. It is my honor to recognize the members, the leaders, and the dedicated staff of the Bluegrass Area Development District. I congratulate them on their 50-year history, celebrate their many accomplishments, and look forward to many years of serving the citizens of central Kentucky.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from South Carolina for his leadership on the Foreign Affairs Committee, his leadership in the Congress, and his advocacy for the free people of Ukraine. Mr. Speaker, as the United States, our NATO allies, and other allies respond to Vladimir Putin's unprovoked and brutal attack on the free, sovereign, and independent nation of Ukraine, we must assess the many ways in which Russia is seeking to evade sanctions. That includes the extent to which Russia is turning to China to enable its aggression. Mr. Speaker, the unholy alliance between the Chinese Communist Party and the authoritarian oligarchs running the Kremlin is a serious threat to the United States and our allies. It is enabling this illegal aggression against Ukraine. On February 4, Russia and the CCP released a joint statement following a meeting with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping outlining a strategic partnership with ``no limits.'' Following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, China refused to condemn Russia's gross violation of international law. China has continued to be silent while Russia targets and kills innocent women, children, and civilians in Ukraine. Instead of condemning Putin's war crimes, the CCP is rewarding them. On February 28, after the invasion, the CCP struck a massive deal with the Russian energy company Gazprom. Gazprom will deliver 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year to the CCP under the agreement. Mr. Speaker, it is time for the United States to confront this new axis of evil head-on. My legislation, the Assessing Xi's Interference and Subversion Act, or the AXIS Act, requires the U.S. State Department to submit an ongoing report to Congress detailing the CCP's support for Russia before and since the invasion of Ukraine. This includes troubling reports about CCP efforts to assist Russia in evading the effects of international sanctions. The AXIS Act also requires the State Department to submit its first report to Congress within 30 days of the bill being enacted and 90 days thereafter. I plan on receiving a commitment from Secretary Blinken at tomorrow's Foreign Affairs Committee hearing that he will comply with this deadline. I thank my Democratic and Republican colleagues on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including Chairman Meeks and Ranking Member McCaul, for their support. I thank my friend from Minnesota for his support of this legislation, and I thank my friend from South Carolina, as well, for helping us unanimously pass this bill out of committee. The threat that this new axis of evil poses to the United States is not a Republican one or a Democratic one. It is an American one. This full report on the Russia-CCP alliance will inform the American public and enable lawmakers to begin positioning the United States to overcome this geopolitical challenge. As a member of the House China Task Force, and with my strong belief that freedom must be defended from the aggression of authoritarians, like this invasion that we have seen, we must confront it; we must repel it; and we must call it out when we see it. That is why I urge all of my colleagues in the House to vote ``yes.''

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I mistakenly voted. I intended to vote ``nay'' on rollcall No. 95. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Baird (Walorski) Bilirakis (Fleischmann) Bowman (Meng) Crist (Wasserman Schultz) Cuellar (Pappas) DeGette (Blunt Rochester) Evans (Mfume) Gimenez (Diaz-Balart) Harder (CA) (Gomez) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Joyce (OH) (Garbarino) Kahele (Mrvan) Lawson (FL) (Wasserman Schultz) Mace (Rice (SC)) McHenry (Budd) McNerney (Blunt Rochester) Newman (Beyer) Owens (Stewart) Payne (Pallone) Roybal-Allard (Wasserman Schultz) Salazar (Diaz-Balart) Sanchez (Gomez) Sires (Pallone) Strickland (Takano) Suozzi (Beyer) Taylor (Carter (TX)) Trone (Beyer) Valadao (Garbarino) Wilson (FL) (Jeffries)

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life of a patriotic American, Jacob (Jack) Blanton, on the occasion of his 102nd birthday. His life story exemplifies true American spirit, determination, and love for our country. Mr. Blanton was born on March 25, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Silas Blanton, a native Kentuckian, had been serving in the US coastal defense in New York before WWI where he met a young German immigrant working as a nanny. They married and eventually moved their family to Kentucky when the burgeoning coal mines in Eastern Kentucky began aggressively recruiting miners. Jack grew up during the depression and the tumultuous years of union conflict in Harlan County. Mr. Blanton was in high school when WWII broke out. He volunteered for the Army Air Corp to become an airplane mechanic. He went to school at Long Beach, CA, for Douglas Aircraft A-20 planes. After his training he was sent to Asia, where he served in the 348th Night Fighters and also worked on Cargo Transport planes C54 and C47 that flew personnel and supplies over the Hump, the Himalayan Mountains. He was promoted to Tech Sergeant and became Crew Chief for the Douglas A-20. Following the war, Mr. Blanton married his high school sweetheart, who had gone to Washington, D.C., after high school where she worked for the FBI. They went on to raise four children in Lynch, KY where Jack was a Boy Scout master, Sunday School teacher at the Lynch Methodist Church, little league baseball coach, and a member of the Masonic Lodge. He retired from United States Steel as a mine foreman in 1980. He and his wife then moved to London, KY, to be with his elderly mother. He lost the love of his life to a heart attack three days before 9/11. Mr. Blanton continues to live independently in London where he still raises a garden and takes care of his home and property, even at 102 years old. He takes tremendous pride in having all four of his children pursue college, with two earning advanced degrees. He is a Christian and attended Liberty Baptist Church in London. He is also an unabashed patriot with an undeterred determination to vote in the next Presidential election. It is my honor to recognize Mr. Blanton, celebrate his 102nd birthday and thank him for his service and sacrifice to our nation during World War II. As a part of The Greatest Generation, Mr. Blanton and his fellow soldiers fought to preserve the freedoms that we enjoy today, and we can never thank them enough. I am forever grateful for Americans like Jack Blanton.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor a patriotic American, Mr. Joseph Rupsis. Mr. Rupsis lives in Clark County, Kentucky and celebrated his 100th birthday on March 15, 2022. Mr. Rupsis was born in Albany, New York. He enlisted in the United States Navy in October of 1942 when he was 20 years of age. Following basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois, he was sent to the Pacific Theatre and assigned to the USS Victoria, an oil tanker. At the war's end, he was discharged in December of 1945. Mr. Rupsis resumed his work at a factory but signed up to serve in the reserves. During the Korean Conflict, he was called back into service in October of 1950. He was assigned to the USS Bataan, an aircraft carrier. His mother passed away while he was serving. Mr. Rupsis attained the rank of Petty Officer Second Class. He was discharged in December of 1951. Following his discharge in San Diego, Mr. Rupsis decided to remain there, where he met and married his first wife. Mr. Rupsis worked at an aircraft plant, graduated from San Diego State, and worked for many years in radio broadcasting. He later moved to Florida and worked for the Florida prison system, where he retired. After Hurricane Charlie destroyed his home and possessions, Mr. Rupsis moved to Winchester, Kentucky to be near family members. It was there that he met his wife, Mary. It is my honor to recognize this amazing patriot celebrate his 100th birthday, and appreciate him for his service and sacrifice to our nation during World War II and the Korean Conflict. As a part of ``The Greatest Generation'', Mr. Rupsis was an important part of the war effort to preserve the freedoms that we enjoy today. I am forever grateful for Americans like Joseph Rupsis.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Pennsylvania for his leadership on this issue. Madam Speaker, the Biden administration's war on domestic energy extends beyond canceling pipelines and infrastructure, suspending oil and natural gas leasing on Federal lands and waters, or opposing funding of construction of projects that could lower the cost of gas, diesel, or energy-derived fossil fuels and slow-walking liquified natural gas exports that could reduce Europe's dependence on Russia. No, in fact, what most Americans do not understand is that the central feature of President Biden's anti-energy agenda is the weaponization of financial regulation to choke off capital to heroic American energy companies. And this agenda has been enabled by woke corporate leaders who have elevated a political ESG agenda ahead of returns for retail investors. And we knew that the ESG agenda, the environmental social governance agenda, was prioritizing climate alarmism over and ahead of investor returns, over and ahead of affordable reliable energy. But now as we see how Russia is using oil and gas exports to finance their illegal and brutal war against Ukraine, Americans can now see how the ESG agenda is compromising both American energy dominance and our national security. The job of bank regulators is to ensure the safety and soundness of financial institutions and to promote financial stability. It is not to pick winners and losers in the credit markets or politicize the allocation of capital or solve climate change. The central irony of the Biden administration's climate finance agenda is that it will neither promote financial stability nor help the environment. On the contrary, it will actually destabilize the economy by destroying jobs, driving up energy costs, and severely reducing the reliability of our electric power grid. It will also compromise efforts to combat climate change by starving innovative energy companies of the capital that they need to develop new technologies and processes to capture carbon, discover alternative uses for fossil fuels, harness the carbon cycle, and reduce emissions. Biden's regulators say they want to assess how climate change may create risks to the financial system. But let's be honest. Biden has pledged a whole-of-government approach to ending support for fossil fuels. This is not about assessing risks for the financial system; it is about creating risks for our economy. It is about redirecting capital away from fossil energy and weaponizing regulations to discriminate against the most reliable, affordable energy we have. The Federal Government should not be in the business of punishing heroic American energy companies, especially in a time of a national security crisis. Unleash the power of the American innovative energy sector, not only to lower costs here at home, to restore American energy dominance, but to defend our allies in Europe to defend free people all over the country and to get rid of our overdependence on sources of energy from enemies of the United States.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life of a patriotic American, Johnnie Lee Patrick II. Mr. Patrick lived in Estill County, Kentucky and passed away on January 10, 2022, at the age of 46. Mr. Patrick served our nation proudly in the Kentucky National Guard for more than twenty years. Following the terrorist attacks on our nation on September 11, 2001, Mr. Patrick joined the 149th Infantry ``Charlie Company'' in Ravenna. He was attached to posts in Louisville, Burlington, Richmond, and Jackson. He was deployed for two tours in the Middle East. Mr. Patrick attained the rank of Sgt. 1st Class and was a member of the 207th Engineer Company in Jackson, Kentucky. While on active duty with the Southwest Border Mission in El Paso, Texas, he passed away on January 10, 2022. He was laid to rest with full military honors. Mr. Patrick is survived by his wife, Jackie Lynn Bowling Patrick, his sons Alexander Matthew Patrick and Ryan Alan Patrick, and a large, loving, extended family. Sgt. 1st Class Johnnie Lee Patrick II was a true patriot and a great American. His service and sacrifice are greatly appreciated and must never be forgotten. It is my honor to lift up the life of Johnnie Lee Patrick II.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, let's be clear, the so-called America COMPETES Act, is not about countering the threat from the Chinese Communist Party. It is a subterfuge intended to conceal what this legislation is actually about, a repackaged Build Back Better, and the Democrats' backup plan to push their Green New Deal agenda. It is $350 billion in deficit spending to pay off the climate activists and the labor unions that run the Democrat Party. It sends $10 billion of taxpayer funds to a climate slush fund at the U.N. that subsidizes solar projects in China that use Uyghur slave labor. The bill implements a Supply Chain Resiliency Program that gives preferential treatment to labor unions, a scheme designed more to maintain resiliency for Democratic Party fundraising than resiliency of our supply chains. The bill references coral reefs more times than China and climate change twice as much as national security. The bill bans overfishing and the sale of shark fins from the Pacific, but it doesn't put more Virginia-class subs in the Pacific. It doesn't put more forward class aircraft carriers in the Pacific. It does nothing to hold the CCP accountable for the origins of COVID at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. By trying to copy China's Big Government, central planning, industrial policy, the bill would actually make the United States less, not more, competitive. We cannot out-compete China by trying to become more like China. But most troubling of all and what underscores that this bill is not a serious effort to confront the very real economic and security challenges posed by the People's Republic of China, is the fact that this bill completely disregards the work of the China Task Force, as well as the work of this, the bipartisan United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission. If this bill were serious, it would take into account these recommendations. It does neither of those things. This was a very serious effort that this bill completely disregards.

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, exhibit A of how unserious this bill is when it comes to confronting China is how it does nothing to address the key challenge facing us from China, and that is the unfettered access that the Chinese Communist Party military and surveillance companies now have to American capital markets. If we really wanted to confront the threat from China, we would protect American investors from unwittingly financing and fueling the rise of China. This bill does nothing to address that. Right now, American investors are unwittingly fueling the civil-military fusion of the Chinese Communist Party. The House should pass a real bill, a bill recommended by this report, the Chinese Military and Surveillance Company Sanctions Act, that would actually address Chinese access to American capital markets. Mr. Speaker, today, I urge my colleagues to reject this subterfuge, reject this distraction, this bill that they say confronts China but does nothing of the sort, that actually assists and enables the rise of China. Let's formulate a real strategy that will position us to take on the military, economic, and technological threat of the Chinese Communist Party.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Emmer). This Member of Congress not only played collegiate hockey, he is a hockey dad, and spent over 20 years as a hockey coach, he is one of the best fans of the game of hockey in the United States Congress.

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of S. 452, the Willie O'Ree Congressional Gold Medal Act. Willie O'Ree's story is one of determination and perseverance, one of the greatest qualities a human being can have. Willie, born October 15, 1935, was the youngest of 13 children of parents Rosebud and Harry O'Ree. The O'Ree family was one of only two Black families that lived in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Willie is a descendent of Paris O'Ree, a slave who escaped servitude in South Carolina in the late 1700s at only 15 years old. When he was 3, Willie fashioned skates out of wooden blocks with metal blades attached to the bottom and took to his frozen lawn in the backyard. He had a knack for skating. Two years later at age 5, Willie began to play organized hockey. Many refer to Willie as the ``Jackie Robinson of hockey.'' Interestingly, at Dodger Stadium in 1949, 2 years after Robinson broke baseball's color barrier, a 14-year-old O'Ree had the opportunity to meet his hero. In one interview, Willie recalls that as Robinson made his way down to the receiving line, Willie waited patiently. When his turn arrived, he spoke to Jackie and said, I am a baseball player. But what I really love is hockey. Robinson replied, Oh, I didn't know Black kids played hockey. Nearly 9 years later, on January 18, 1958, Willie put on a Boston Bruins uniform for a game against the Montreal Canadians and became the first Black player in NHL history. From 1958 to 1961, O'Ree played in 45 games for the Bruins, all while hiding a secret that he was, in fact, blind in one eye. Willie paved the way for a new generation of hockey players. Wayne Simmonds of the Toronto Maple Leafs was quoted as stating: Willie set the table for everyone else to eat, and he did it all with dignity and class. I used to think about Willie's story whenever teachers or hockey parents or coaches would laugh at my dream of making it to the NHL. Willie's story did not end after he left the ice. Seventeen years after he retired from professional hockey, the NHL hired O'Ree as their first-ever diversity ambassador. This role put Willie in a position to grow the sport by providing access, opportunity, and motivation for children of all races, ethnicities, origins, and abilities. In November of 2018, O'Ree was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and just last night, 64 years to the day of his historic entrance into the league, his number 22 jersey was raised to the rafters in TD Garden and retired; an act of ultimate recognition of what a player means to a franchise, a fan base, and a community. Mr. Speaker, Willie O'Ree forever changed the sport of hockey. His determination and perseverance should be recognized with a Congressional Gold Medal. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to, once again, reiterate the significance of this Congressional Gold Medal. Willie O'Ree not only forever changed the sport of hockey, but he truly helped change the history of this country. His determination and perseverance and his trailblazing spirit should be recognized with a Congressional Gold Medal. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1404, the Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act, the Senate version of H.R. 707, which the House passed in May 2021. The Ghost Army, comprised of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, is renowned for creating large-scale deception operations capable of pulling Axis focus away from the actual movements of the Allied forces. During the early phases of World War II, the 23rd division mastered their skill of deception by studying unit atmosphere and collecting materials for their new special effects tactics. Knowing that enemy ground agents looked for vehicle bumper markings, Allied shoulder patches, and well-defined checkpoints, the 23rd collected shoulder patches for phony major generals, created realistic inflatable vehicles and artillery, and even recorded the sounds of heavy machinery movements to sell their deception. They built their own modern-day Trojan horse, down to the last detail. The Ghost Army, unlike many other units, was comprised of civilian soldiers with a proclivity for art, architecture, acting, set design, and engineering. As Jack Masey, who was recruited into the Ghost Army at age 18, remembered: ``We were told we were going to be using inflatable equipment to try and fool the Germans into thinking that we were a real army, when we were, in effect, I suppose, a rubber army.'' Anyone who has watched a History Channel World War II documentary has undoubtedly seen the Ghost Army in action. The historic videos and herculean photos of four men holding a tank over their heads is a testament to the Ghost Army's ingenuity and bravery during World War II. The 23rd did not limit their deception to the battlefield. In fact, on numerous occasions Ghosters were dispatched to French cafes near the front of the war to order some omelets and talk loose among the spies who might be there. The 23rd would go to great lengths to cause chaos and confusion, and they succeeded. Mr. Speaker, recognizing these true American heroes hits close to home for me, as the 77th Ghost Army veterans originated from the great State of Kentucky. There is no doubt that the Ghost Army saved thousands of lives during World War II. Their unique and highly distinguished service during this great war should be recognized with a Congressional Gold Medal. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Ms. Kuster, for her leadership on this, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BARR. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from Pennsylvania. I thank my friend and colleague from New Hampshire. I would just reiterate the significance of the Ghost Army. I thank my colleagues for recognizing these extraordinary members of the Greatest Generation and their significant contributions to our country. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 1404, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BARR

Mr. BARR. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life of a great American, Courtney Lykins, Jr. Mr. Lykins lived in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, and passed away on December 15, 2021. Mr. Lykins served our nation proudly in the United States Army Reserves from 1970 to 1997. He served in the 100th Division, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade as Sergeant First Class/E7, Senior Drill Sergeant, and Senior Tank Commander. He trained soldiers heading to Vietnam in 1970 when he served at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Mr. Lykins was an active member of the American Legion, Post 22 in Mt. Sterling. He was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in recognition of his service and accomplishments. Mr. Lykins worked at Hobart Manufacturing Company for ten years. He then worked for Kentucky Utilities, LGE in Mt. Sterling for 32 years until his retirement. He is survived by his loving wife, Janet Wilson Lykins, two sons and daughters in law, Chuck and Nancy Lykins and Wesley and Allison Lykins, and six grandchildren. In addition, he leaves behind two brothers and two sisters. Courtney Lykins was a follower of Christ, a true patriot, and a loving family man. It is my honor to lift up the life of Courtney Lykins before the United States Congress.