Tim Burchett

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the consequences that come when we stay home on election day. Since President Biden took the oath of office on January 20, 2021, this country has been unrecognizable. Unrecognizable, Mr. Speaker. We will lose it completely if we don't get out in November and vote for constitutionalists who will defend the oath they took. We are in a battle for our way of life, and we better start acting like it. Since Biden took office, he has let over 10 million illegal aliens cross our border, the government has completely weaponized our Federal agencies against the beliefs and interests of the American people, and war has broken out around the globe. If you don't want to keep paying hundreds of billions of dollars to clothe, house, and make sure illegals are getting quality medical care before the veterans who served our country, dadgummit, you better get out and vote. If you don't want to see theft and assault in broad daylight, violent protests in our streets and on our kids' college campuses, and see our men and women in law enforcement demonized, dadgummit, you better get out and vote. If you don't want public school systems to tell your children that changing their gender is okay, that praying in public is wrong, and that our flag is a reason not to stand for the national anthem, you all better get out and vote. If you want a secure border, a fair justice system, and law and order in our communities, you better get out and vote. If you want a military that is focused on its mission and not about meeting diversity quotas and having male recruiters out in dresses, you all better get out and vote. If you want cheap, clean energy that is made in America instead of relying on our enemies, we better get out and vote. If you want to quit sending money overseas to pay for drag shows and climate initiatives, we better get out and vote. If you don't like where we have been, don't like where we are now, and don't like where we are going, folks, we better get out and vote.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, this May is National Missing Persons Month. Over 600,000 people go missing in the United States every year. Tens of thousands of these folks remain missing every year. Law enforcement officers work hard to solve these cases as quickly as possible. I thank them for all they do to find these people and try to ensure their safety. Congress should do everything it can, though, to help the men and women in law enforcement do their jobs and bring these people home. That is why I joined Congressman Joe Neguse in leading a bipartisan bill to improve reporting requirements for individuals who go missing on public lands. This bill, called the TRACE Act, enhances reporting requirements of the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System so investigators across multiple agencies have access to all the important information to catch criminals behind people's disappearances. No missing persons case should go unsolved just because investigators couldn't easily access the information they need. Improving the way our agencies record and share case details could save lives. Mr. Speaker, 600,000 missing persons is too many. One missing person is too many. We should do all we can to find them and help them get home safely.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I recognize my dear friend Lauren Click for all of her hard work and dedication at Henry's Deli in Corryton, Tennessee. Lauren first started working at Henry's Deli through a program at Gibbs High School where she got on-the-job training. After she graduated, she walked back into Henry's and asked for a full-time job. She has been working there with Betty and Austin for 17 years now, and she is Henry's longest-standing employee. She takes care of stocking their chips, drinks, paper towels, and occasionally greeting me. She absolutely loves her job, and she knows everyone coming in and out of the deli. Everyone knows her, too. I would bring groups to the deli back when I was county mayor where I would see Lauren working there, and she and I got to be friends then. I still go in there, and she always has a big smile for me and a big hug whenever I walk in. On February 5, she turned 39 years old. I was disappointed I had to be up here with you-all and couldn't go to the deli and wish her a happy birthday, because I was stuck up here with you-all, as I stated once before. I will say it now here on the House floor: a very late and very happy birthday to Lauren. She brings a lot of joy to the folks at Henry's Deli, and I am glad that she and I are good friends. I say a special thanks to the folks at Henry's for helping Lauren find a great place in life because she is wonderful, she is one of God's creatures, and she is perfect.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Lance Corporal Gary Koontz. Gary enlisted in the Marines on October 26, 1967, and attended basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina. After basic training, Gary was shipped to Vietnam, where he drove a truck that carried supplies. After a short time, he was transferred and was then a door gunner with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. His unit played a crucial role in Operation Dewey Canyon, and their legacy remains tied to the challenges and triumphs of the Vietnam war. During his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with device, the Vietnam Service Medal with device, the Combat Aircrew Insignia, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Air Medal Award with strike/flight 4. When Corporal Koontz returned home, he was transferred to the Marine Reserve to complete his obligation. Once returning to Knoxville, he became a super successful Realtor and developer, and he is an active member of the Vietnam Veterans of America. He recently worked with the VA and a local assisted living facility to help a veteran get transferred closer to his wife. He is always calling me about veterans and the problems they are having, and he is trying to work to resolve them. It is my honor to recognize Corporal Koontz as the Tennessee Second District's April 2024 Veteran of the Month. He is an incredibly good friend, and dadgum, he is just a great American.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor First Sergeant Wayne Edelen who served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. In 1952, he was deployed to Korea where he spent 8 months in combat and earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge. After that, he was sent back to the United States for a while, then reenlisted and served in Japan for 1 year. Then he was deployed to Korea again for 1 year. He then spent 3\1/2\ years in Germany before coming back to the United States where he served as the senior instructor of ROTC at the University of California, Santa Barbara. After that, he served as a drill instructor for new recruits at Fort Polk army base in Louisiana. In 1968, he deployed to Vietnam where he participated in combat operations and earned his second Combat Infantryman's Badge. He also earned the Bronze Star Medal with Valor for heroism in ground combat. Wayne left Vietnam in June of 1969 to return to Fort Polk as a drill instructor. He retired from the Army in October 1971, with the rank of first sergeant. He eventually made the wise decision to move to Tennessee and has lived in Blount County since 2010. We are so glad to have him in our community. I am glad that he is a constituent of mine. Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Edelen served and sacrificed for our country for many years, and I am pleased to honor him as Tennessee Second District's Veteran of the Month.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. President Biden's $7.3 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2025 is full of costly woke policies that will end up hurting the Americans who elected us to office. Here are some of the things he wants. Mr. Speaker, $895 billion for defense--it comes as no secret in the history of audits that our Pentagon has never passed an audit. How did we punish them this last budgetary cycle? With $20 billion more. Of course, that is $9 billion more for defense than we spent this year. For the American Climate Corps--we are not sure what that is--there is $8 billion, and $3 billion for the State Department to advance gender equity and equality worldwide. Worldwide, Mr. Speaker. President Trump asked for $4 billion to help secure the border, and we said he couldn't have it because, as our friends across the aisle said, that would bust the budget. There is $1.5 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. There is so much more, but we don't have all day to go over every item. President Biden also claims this budget would lower the deficit. We all know that is a lie but think about how that happens. If he is spending more money in lowering the deficit, it means he plans to significantly increase the government's revenue. How does he do that? He will do that by taking in more taxes. His plan would raise taxes by nearly $5 trillion. Of course, he claims no one making less than $400,000 per year will pay more taxes, but we have seen what this promise has done so far in the past. If he is making companies pay more in taxes, these companies, of course, need to make up for the lost profit, so they charge us more for gas, food, energy, and other essentials we use every day. To put it better, Mr. Speaker, companies collect taxes. That is what they do. Corporations collect taxes, and they pass it on to us. Even if Americans don't pay more in taxes, they will pay for this plan somehow. It won't do them any good unless they want to get one of these new government jobs that will focus on climate change or diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my dear friend Joe Landsman, who is retiring from his position as CEO of the University of Tennessee Medical Center in April. Joe started at the UT Medical Center in 1999 and has been the CEO since 2005. In that time, he significantly increased the hospital's patient capacity and services. He added clinics and regional health centers across east Tennessee, renovated and added surgical units, and built parking garages to accommodate the rapidly growing number of patients who were coming to the medical center. He has also been known to treat his employees well and drive everyone to success. During Joe's time as CEO, the hospital's revenue increased by 451 percent. Only the most passionate, effective leader could achieve that, Mr. Speaker. The UT Medical Center has received many awards under Joe's leadership. One of his favorites is when the U.S. News & World Report named the UT Medical Center as one of the best hospitals in America in 2012. The news just happened to come out on his birthday. The UT Medical Center wouldn't be the great hospital it is today without Joe's leadership. I wish my dear friend good luck in his retirement, and I wish Dr. Keith Gray the best as he takes over that position.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4693, the Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency Act. The Tennessee Valley Authority controls a vital part of east Tennesseans' lives. It controls how they get energy, Mr. Speaker. If my constituents are going to rely on TVA every day, they deserve to know how TVA is spending its money. They deserve to know with certainty that TVA is doing right by them. My first bill in Congress focused on transparency in TVA and, dadgummit, I have been proud to partner with my friend, Congressman Steve Cohen, on several bills over the past few years on that very issue. This bill, the Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency Act, would make sure the public has access to information about the salaries of employees at TVA. If government money flows into it, Mr. Speaker, we ought to know what they are paying and who they are paying. These are the GS-15 level or above. My constituents and all the Tennessee Valley should know exactly what the high earners at TVA are really making. Transparency has been a problem for TVA in the past, but it has been getting better recently. I want to make sure that that pattern continues. This bill will help make that happen. The Tennessee Valley Authority Salary Transparency Act will help Congress keep TVA accountable for how it pays its employees, which is an important part of preserving the public trust. I thank my friend and colleague, Steve Cohen, for his hard work. When I think of Memphis, I think of barbecue, Stax Records, Elvis, Al Green, and Steve Cohen. I thank him for working with me on this bill, and I strongly encourage all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor State Representative Sam McKenzie who represents House District 15 in Tennessee and Knoxville. Representative McKenzie has been serving the people of east Tennessee for a long time. He was on the Knoxville Utility board of directors from 2003 to 2008, and he spent time working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and sat on the Oak Ridge Federal Credit Union board of directors. He then served on the Knox County Commission while I was the mayor of Knox County, so we worked side by side on a lot of important issues. We met at FCA camp in high school. We played high school football for different schools. He played for Austin East, and I played for Bearden. We also share a love for the Pizza Palace on Magnolia Avenue. I know from time to time working alongside him that he is a straight shooter who asks solid, direct questions about what is happening in our government. It is clear he cares about our community and the work he is doing for east Tennessee. Representative McKenzie was recently awarded the 2023 Crystal Gavel Award of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators at its 47th convention in Nashville. He was given this award because of his leadership of the Tennessee Black Caucus, which has over 700 members. Sam and I are on opposite sides of the political aisle, and we might have different visions of how things should get done, but we both want what is best for our constituents and the areas we represent. Congratulations to Representative McKenzie on receiving the 2023 Crystal Gavel Award.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the Biden administration took a bad situation at our southern border and turned it into a complete and utter disaster that puts Americans in danger every day. It is often said that every State is a border State, and that is very much the case, as we see now. There is no way on God's green Earth that President Biden can spin this any other way. The President can blame it on Trump, blame it on the Republicans, but, for the last 3 years, Mr. Speaker, dadgummit, he has been in control of this. We recently learned that, in 2023, the Biden administration flew 320,000 illegal aliens into 43 airports across the United States. Let me say that again--320,000 illegals into 43 airports across the United States. Mr. Speaker, that is in your backyard. That is in my backyard. That is all across our great country. They pay for these flights with the American people's tax dollars. Unfortunately, this latest stunt is not nearly as surprising as it should be. Since Joe Biden took office, over 10 million illegal immigrants have crossed into the United States. What is most troubling to me in all of that, Mr. Speaker, 100,000 children are in the system somewhere. Additionally, these cartels, they are evil, and they are from the pits of hell, and it would be my desire to send them back as soon as possible. Mr. Speaker, 100,000 children are somewhere in this system, possibly sold into labor, possibly victims of sex crimes, possibly victims of many other horrendous acts. There have also been 8.7 million illegal alien encounters, plus 1.7 million got-aways. Every day, we are hearing about Americans who are hurt or killed at the hands of illegal immigrants. These are people who were released into the United States without being properly checked, and Americans are suffering because of it. A dear family that is very close to me back in Knoxville, they lost their son because of this. This week, the House is voting on the Laken Riley Act, which was named after a young woman who was brutally murdered by an illegal immigrant. He had been arrested three times before and, yet, he was still released back into the United States each time. He was a criminal in his homeland. He is a criminal up here. He should have been deported the first time, Mr. Speaker. If he had, that young girl would be alive today. The Biden administration is inviting illegal immigrants into this country with its open-border policies. We have magnetized this country. We allow the giving of credit cards, free healthcare. We put them ahead of our veterans. We put them ahead of our citizens, and that is disgusting. The Biden Administration has been actively fighting the border States that are trying to fix the problem. It has gone as far as filing lawsuits. They are using your tax dollars to fly immigrants into every State, including Tennessee, without telling the American people what they are doing. Mr. Speaker, it is unacceptable, and we need to close the dadgum border.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I remind Members it is a little crowded back there, but we have a few more seats down front if you all want to come down here. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the folks at Back Yard Burgers, which recently closed its doors after 35 wonderful years. The managing partners, David and Natalie Broyles, are a dynamic duo. They are a wonderful couple and loving parents to their kids, Kelsey and John, and great business partners. When I was county mayor, I would host employee appreciation luncheons for my staff. We would always eat Back Yard Burgers because they were delicious, and I knew it would put a smile on my employees' faces. I also saw David and Natalie at my nephew Charlie's football games, where their son played as well. We would sit together in the stands and hurl insults at the referees when they made bad calls. David and Natalie used Back Yard Burgers to serve the community in lots of different ways. They hosted the Back Yard Burgers Bowl, which was a football game between Alcoa High School and the Christian Academy of Knoxville. They would donate a $1,000 scholarship to each school for a graduating senior that year and also raised funds for the Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries. They also held a pillow fight event one year to collect pillows for the Knoxville Area Rescue Mission and collected over 600 pillows for them. The Knoxville community will miss Back Yard Burgers. I wish David and Natalie the best in their retirement, as well as everyone else who is moving on to the next chapter in their lives.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of my dear friend, Bob Booker, who passed away on February 22 at 88 years young. He was a historian, a U.S. Army veteran, and a passionate civil rights leader who was not afraid to stand up for what he believed. State Representative Joe Armstrong and I named a bridge after him when we were both in the State legislature because of all of his hard work. He really cared about his community and making it a better place. In 1966, Bob was also elected as Knoxville's first Black Tennessee State Representative. Bob was a dear friend of mine, and I knew him for many years. He worked with my dad at UT, and he knew my mama because she taught at Knoxville College, a historically Black college. He continued to be a great friend to me and my family after they passed away. I have one particularly fond memory of Bob. One night when Kelly, my wife, and I were at a noted honky-tonk in Knoxville, Bob was there, as well. Kelly and I had snuck in, and we were in the back row. He belted out a karaoke song and dedicated it to us. He knew his music and had an incredible record collection that I loved and admired whenever I went to his house. He was an excellent host and an excellent cook. I give my condolences to Bob's brother, Percell, all of his friends at Marie's Old Town Tavern, and everyone who knew and loved him. Bob will be missed.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Long's Drug Store, a family-owned and operated pharmacy that has been serving the Knoxville community since its opening in 1956. After 67 years, Long's had its last day on January 16. My very good friend Hank Peck and his family has kept the store running for over 60 years. His dad became a pharmacist at Long's in 1959 alongside Clarence Long and John Benson. Actually, Mr. Peck was my Sunday schoolteacher for a while, so if you all need to blame anybody for anything, that would be him. When Long's first opened, the idea was to open a drugstore that would also be Knoxville's first shopping center. It was a place where you could stop and pick up your prescriptions, enjoy a milkshake, and pick up some comic books. All the folks at Long's Drug Store are wonderful people. I am so grateful I got to know Sharon, who worked behind the pharmacy counter; Ruth, who has been working there for 47 years and who is pictured right there with Hank; and all the other lovely folks at Long's Drug Store. They have been good friends to me and my family for a long time, and I wish them very well in the next chapter of their lives. Knoxville will not forget Long's Drug Store and its many years of service to our great community. Celebrating Joe Duncan's 100th Birthday

Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Judge Joe Duncan as he celebrates his 100th birthday. Joe was born February 11, 1924, in Scott County, Tennessee. He was raised on a farm with his nine siblings where his parents taught him all the values of hard work, responsibility, and a good education. During World War II, Joe enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps, and he was honorably discharged in 1945. He then got his law degree from the University of Tennessee. Later on, he worked as a special agent for the FBI and was given a letter of commendation from none other than J. Edgar Hoover when he retired. He also served as the Knox County criminal court judge and spent 15 years on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. In 1946, Joe married the love of his life, Louetta; and they had a son, Phillip, and two grandchildren, Meredyth and Tyler. Joe and his family have been working in public service in east Tennessee for many years. Joe supported his brother John's successful bid for Knoxville mayor in 1959 and 1963, as well as John's successful campaign for U.S. House of Representatives in 1964. Joe also supported the political careers of his nephew, my predecessor, John Duncan, Jr., who was Tennessee's Second District Representative in Congress before me; as well as his niece, State senator, Becky Massey; and his son, Falls Church city councilor Phillip Duncan. Judge Duncan has lived a beautiful and full life in public service, and I am honored to wish him a happy 100th birthday on the House floor today. Recognizing Charlie and Patsy Daniels' 70th Anniversary

Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Chair, I want to recognize my dear friends, Charlie and Patsy Daniels, who are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary this year. Charlie spent 60 years as a successful political cartoonist in east Tennessee, and he just retired a few years ago. Many of his cartoons are hanging on the walls of my Knoxville office. As you can see on one of them in the poster beside me, during my first years of Congress, I spoke here on the House floor about his retirement. I said back then-- and it is as true today--that I have been made fun of by people all over the world, but my friend, Charlie, is my favorite. His cartoons were razor sharp while still being very respectful. Charlie's lovely wife, Patsy, has been at Charlie's side since they were childhood sweethearts. They made their home in Powell, Tennessee, where Charlie cooks breakfast for Patsy every morning. Charlie and Patsy often attend reunions for the alumni of Fork Union Military Academy where Charlie attended high school, as well as Tarheel football games. When they travel for reunions or to visit family, Charlie is always the willing chauffeur. They have a great love for their children, Charles, Jr., and Sarah, as well as their grandkids and great-grandkids. Madam Speaker, I wish a happy anniversary to Charlie and Patsy. They are an example to all of us of a faithful and loving marriage that has lasted a lifetime. I would be remiss if I did not note that Charlie is also a member of the United States Marine Corps. Corruption in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency

Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, for a long time, there have been rumors that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency had a relationship with Hamas. Last week, those rumors were confirmed when we discovered that 12 members of the agency were directly involved in the horrific attacks by Hamas on our friends in Israel on October 7. Another 1,200 employees of the agency have direct connections to Hamas. That is 10 percent of all the agency's employees in Gaza. The State Department did the right thing by pausing its funding to the agency, but it is also something President Trump did years ago. The Biden administration restarted the funding in 2021. Clearly, the administration did not do proper research to ensure this funding wasn't going to friends of terrorists. Also, pausing the funding did not have the huge impact they want us to think it did, since the United States has given them at least $730 million in taxpayer dollars since 2021. That is about 99 percent of what has been allocated, and we only paused about $300,000 in the remaining funding. Now, an Israeli firm is investigating the United Nations Relief and Works Agency's digital wallets to see where their cryptocurrency is going. The firm has found that at least one digital wallet that belongs to Hamas is still active. We need to defund the United Nations, Madam Speaker.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I thank my brother for allowing me to speak tonight. Mr. Speaker, the American people are not as blind and they are not as stupid as this administration and the mainstream media makes them out to be. Everyone in this world can see that this President is not well. The Justice Department recently released the report by Special Counsel Robert Hur, and in that report was some very damning notes that were made, facts, I guess I should say, that were stated. The President wasn't charged in the case of mishandled documents, but they couldn't rush to judgment fast enough against President Trump in a similar situation, but the report said: ``It would be difficult to convince a jury that they should convict him--by then a former President well into his 80s--of a serious felony that requires a mental state of willfulness.'' That was the quote. Let me read that again: ``It would be difficult to convince a jury that they should convict him--by then a former President well into his 80s--of a serious felony that requires a mental state of willfulness.'' This wasn't my friends on Newsmax or OAN or FOX; this was the prosecutor, the Special Counsel Robert Hur. President Biden's own Justice Department knows that he is not in any condition to run this country as do our enemies and our friends abroad. The whole world knows that he is not in a condition to run this country. I have said for a long time that this would happen. I said when everything goes down the drain for him and he is having to take the stand, they will use his mental condition as an excuse and they will kick this can not down the road, but off a cliff. If he is not fit to be prosecuted, Mr. Speaker, he definitely is not fit to be the Commander in Chief.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a true American hero who gave his life while keeping my community safe. On Thursday, February 8, a violent criminal opened fire during a traffic stop. He put Blount County Deputy Shelby Eggers in the hospital and killed Deputy Greg McCowan who was 43 years old. McCowan was known for being a loving man and a brave officer. His family was the light of his life, Mr. Speaker, and he loved them dearly. His fellow deputies knew they could count on McCowan when he was serving alongside them. One of his colleagues described him as one of those guys you always wanted on your side. In 2021, he received the Sheriff's Office Lifesaving Award for rescuing a man from a burning vehicle. I give my sincere condolences and prayers of healing to Greg's parents, Dallas, Elizabeth, and Jeff; his fiancee, Leah; his children, Cayley and Cayden; Leah's children, Caven and Jacob; his sister, Charity; and everyone else who knew and loved him. I also thank a very good friend of mine, Blount County Sheriff James ``Jimbo'' Berrong for his leadership through this tragedy. He is a good friend of mine, and I know he has been working so hard to take care of his department and deal with this incredible loss. Earlier today, they caught the murderer, and it was due to east Tennessee law enforcement's tireless work to bring him to justice. We can never forget exactly how much our law enforcement sacrifices to keep us safe every day, Mr. Speaker. My prayer is that this never happens to any of your communities.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of my dear friend David Earl Foulk, who passed away on January 8 at the age of 72. Dave was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he fell in love with his portable transistor radio. He would hide it under his covers at night and would try to pick up faraway stations. This fascination grew into a career, and David grew up to become a beloved personality in Knoxville and Atlanta. Dave was never more comfortable than when he was sitting in a studio, had a hot mike in front of him, and five police and fire scanners going off behind him. Dave was an accomplished journalist. He earned numerous awards, including the Edward R. Murrow Award, the Green Eyeshade Award, and honors by the Associated Press of Tennessee and Georgia. You know he is good at what he does when Hallerin Hill calls him one of the greats. He knew everything about fire engines and firefighters, and they were as enamored with him as he was with them. He actually survived two helicopter crashes, if you can imagine that. He is survived by his wife, Dena; their three children, Bethany, Jonathan, and Julia; as well as eight grandchildren. I always remember being in the studio, Mr. Speaker, as a young man; they would ask me to host a show. I didn't have any guests. I was running out of things to say, and Dave walked in and filled in 15 minutes of dead air for me, and it was just wonderful radio. It was a wonderful experience. I will miss Dave.

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I will remind Members, we have a few more seats down front. I notice some of you all are crowded up in the back, but if you want to come down front, that would be quite all right. Mr. Speaker, we are nearly $35 trillion in debt right now. That is over $100,000 per American, including children. It is all because of our out-of-control spending, and so much of that money is either unaccounted for or just plain wasteful. The Pentagon can't even tell us where half its funds end up, and right now they have about half a trillion dollars that is unaccounted for--half a trillion dollars. Foreign aid ends up in the hands of terrorists because we don't actually track it. Pandemic fraud was through the roof because we just threw checks at people like they were candy. Democrats also force Americans to spend a bunch of money on things we don't need. Americans could be on the hook for over $450 billion a year to take care of illegal immigrants because the Biden administration won't close the dadgum border. We are spending money on drag shows at military bases. We are paying for more diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in our Federal Government. We are funding government employees' out-of-State trips to get abortions. It is so ridiculous, Mr. Speaker. Americans elected us to handle the budget, and they are suffering as a result. The Democrats' massive spending policies take more of their hard-earned money and drive up the prices, so their paychecks don't go as far as they used to. Congress needs to stand up, Mr. Speaker, and we need to get us some dadgum guts right now and make some real fiscally responsible changes on how we spend or else we will lose this country. Honoring Chief Master Sergeant Chrystie Shawhan as Second District Veteran of the Month

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Chrystie Shawhan. Chief Master Sergeant Shawhan joined the military right after high school and was deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Southern Watch at the age of 23. Chrystie comes from a family of Air Force servicemembers, and her grandparents served in World War II. When Chief Master Sergeant Shawhan took off the uniform for good, she continued serving her fellow veterans in east Tennessee. She became involved with a national military support group called Irreverent Warriors, whose mission is to bring veterans together through humor and camaraderie to help prevent veteran suicide. The group also organizes hikes, marches, and other gatherings to bring veterans closer together. I have been invited and attended many of their events. It is quite a day, Mr. Speaker. When she was asked if she feels honored and respected for serving her country, she said, In east Tennessee, I do. That is a testament to our community. I am proud to represent folks who truly appreciate our veterans and make sure that appreciation is known. Chief Master Sergeant Shawhan served our country faithfully for 28 years before retiring, and I thank her so much for her service. We wouldn't have a country, Mr. Speaker, if it weren't for men and women like Chrystie Shawhan. It is my honor to recognize her as Tennessee's Second Congressional District January 2024 Veteran of the Month. Honoring the Life of David Earl Foulk

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my dear friend, State Senator Art Swann, who served in the Tennessee State Senate since 2017. Senator Swann is a seventh-generation Tennessean who was born and raised in Blount County, where he now represents. He graduated from Maryville High School, pronounced Maryville if you are from there, and got his bachelor's degree at the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1975. Senator Swann was serving the Tennessee General Assembly on the house side when State Senator Doug Overbey, another good friend of mine, was appointed by President Donald Trump to be the U.S. attorney for east Tennessee. The Blount County Commission appointed Art to fill the vacancy, appropriately, and he has been in the role ever since. He recently announced, though, that he won't run for reelection. Senator Swann is an outstanding public servant who has served the folks in Blount and Sevier Counties very well. He has proudly stood for the conservative principles that make east Tennessee so wonderful and that make our country the best in the world. It is not in my notes, but I would be remiss without saying that the State of Tennessee has zero debt, Mr. Speaker--zero debt. I wish him and his wife, Janet, the very best in his retirement.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, this week marks the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade case, which prevented States from protecting unborn children from the mass murder we now call abortion. Thankfully, last year, that case was overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson. That case was celebrated across the country by everyone who wants to protect these sweet little babies. The day that case was decided, I went out to the front of the Supreme Court, and I saw crowds of young people celebrating the victory. They were playing music, blowing bubbles, and just having a great time. I also saw crowds of angry pro-abortion activists chanting, holding obscene signs, and even crying. They were mourning the fact that abortion couldn't be forced on States that didn't want it anymore. Unfortunately, some of these people were Members of Congress. Every step of the way, my pro-abortion colleagues have blocked our efforts to protect babies from abortion. They have pushed for taxpayers to fund it. My constituents don't want their tax dollars paying for doctors to kill babies. They call it healthcare, to make it seem less evil than it is, but, Mr. Speaker, it is like putting lipstick on a pig. It just doesn't work. When faced with the true horrors of abortion, most Americans don't want to see this happen, and they certainly don't want to be forced to pay for it. It is sad that I even need to say this, but we will fight to protect babies from being killed as long as I am in Congress.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of my dear, good friend, Pastor Clarence Sexton, who passed away on December 12 at the age of 75. He was very kind to me through some tough times and would often pray with me and congratulate me on tough wins and an occasional loss. Pastor Sexton loved the Lord, and everything he did was to serve Him. He founded Crown College in 1991 to train students to serve Jesus Christ in local churches and all across our great world and to help spread the Gospel. Everyone who met him knew of his faithfulness as well as his support for conservative ideals and family values, which is why he was given the opportunity to conduct the funeral of Robert Trump in 2020. My dad always used to say that if preachers would just preach the Gospel, we would solve most of the world's problems. Pastor Sexton did preach the Gospel faithfully, without any agenda except to serve the Lord. I offer my sincere condolences to his lovely wife, Evelyn, of 56 years, his two sons, Shannon and Matt, and everyone else who knew him and loved him. Ms. Evelyn said her husband loved people, his country, and, most of all, loved his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. She said he lived his life to advance God's kingdom on Earth. We will certainly miss Pastor Sexton, but he is with the Lord now. We will never forget him. On a personal note, I always remember that when I adopted my little girl, he came and prayed for us. He will be missed.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, today, I recognize Kelle Shultz, a devoted and compassionate leader who has served as president of Knoxville Habitat for Humanity since 1995 and is now entering a well-deserved retirement. Kelle's work has helped many East Tennesseans who otherwise might not have a place to call home, and her efforts earned Knoxville Habitat recognition as a top 40 Habitat affiliate worldwide. Since she took over, she significantly increased the organization's home-building and repair services for low-income families, peaking at 24 homes a year in 2018. Under Kelle's leadership, Knoxville Habitat also built the 200,000th home built by Habitat for Humanity globally, and Knoxville Habitat became the largest home builder in the city during the 2008- 2009 Great Recession. Knoxville Habitat also implemented a series of Financial Fitness classes to educate Habitat homeowners, and this program is now a prerequisite to Habitat homeowners around the world. Knoxville Habitat has an overall homeowner success rate of 96.4 percent, which is a testament to how well Kelle understands what these homeowners need and how to provide paths to prosperity. She has also shown leadership for Habitat for Humanity in other ways. She has actively led the East TN Executive Directors group, served on the Habitat Tennessee Board of Directors and the U.S. Council for Habitat International, and fostered collaborations with local organizations. She was named Outstanding Leader of the Year by Habitat Tennessee in 2015 to recognize her amazing work. Kelle Shultz is a pillar of the Knoxville community and I wish her well in her retirement.