Tim Burchett

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Chair, I rise to speak on this amendment, which will reduce the salary of the chief management officer for the U.S. Agency for Global Media to $1. The chief management officer of the U.S. Agency for Global Media is responsible for rehiring Setareh Sieg, who knowingly misused Federal tax dollars and lied on her resume. Whistleblowers have come forth to shed light on the rampant misuse of taxpayer dollars, and the chief management officer at the U.S. Agency for Global Media is responsible for rehiring the individual that did so. There should be no place for this conduct in public service, Mr. Chair. I am requesting the salary of the chief management officer at the U.S. Agency for Global Media be reduced to $1. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Chair, we cannot continue to keep rewarding bad behavior. This isn't some soccer game where nobody keeps score and everybody gets a trophy. This is the American government. We are responsible to the taxpayers for this money. I submit to you, Mr. Chair, that this type of activity, if we turn the other cheek, it will continue to run rampant in our society and in our government, and we have got to start somewhere, Mr. Chair. We are $33 trillion in debt, and paying people that are doing things that are illegal should not be the makeup of this government. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would reduce the salary of the deputy chief executive officer at the U.S. Agency for Global Media to $1. The deputy chief executive officer at the U.S. Agency for Global Media is also responsible for rehiring Setareh Sieg, who knowingly misused taxpayer dollars and lied on her resume. Whistleblowers come forward to shed light on the rampant misuse of taxpayer dollars, and the deputy chief executive officer at the U.S. Agency for Global Media is responsible for rehiring the individual that did so. There should be no place for this conduct in public service, and I am requesting the salary of the deputy chief executive officer at U.S. Global Media to be reduced to $1. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Chair, if misusing public Federal tax dollars is part of our policy, I suggest to you that we need to get a new policy. This is what is wrong with this country. It is wrong when we tell our children, well, it is okay for these folks up here to steal because they are in the Federal Government. That is why nobody trusts us up here. We can cover this up with flowing words, but the reality is it is wrong to knowingly misuse Federal tax dollars. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Chairman, this amendment does one thing, it would prohibit funding for the Art in Embassies program. At a time when the government is nearing a shutdown, we don't need the State Department spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on paintings and sculptures. During the shutdown at the end of 2018, the State Department spent $84,000 on a Bob Dylan sculpture. Mr. Chair, I submit to you, I did not know Bob Dylan was a sculptor, his real name is Bobby Zimmerman. He did have a song out when he became a Christian for a while that was called ``Gotta Serve Somebody.'' We need to be serving the taxpayers up here, and obviously we are not. We are $33 trillion in debt. The State Department can continue its work without expensive art throughout our embassies. The government needs to cut its budget, and there is no better place to start than on unnecessary and high-priced art galleries for the State Department. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Chair, I submit to you what is disingenuous is the fact that most of this art is never viewed by the public or the people coming in. It is put in the embassy back offices. It is not out front. It doesn't show anything about this country other than we are hiding this stuff in the back for the well-placed embassy employees, and the rank-and-file ones never even see it. I submit to you this is obviously another boondoggle. We need to start somewhere. This is a good start, Mr. Chair. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Chair, this amendment does one thing: It prohibits funding for the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. This envoy has provided no discernible value to the American people. I remind you, he is nonelected. I don't believe he was even confirmed by the Senate, but Secretary Kerry uses his position in this special envoy to fly around the world in private and heavy-polluting jets so he can attend the coronation of King Charles III on the taxpayers' dime. Somebody please remind me how this is helping the American people or even addressing his climate concerns. I submit to you it is making them worse, according to their statistics and facts. He recently stated the American people would need to contribute trillions of dollars to fix the climate. Trillions of dollars. Mr. Chair, this is nonsense. This special envoy should not exist. I am asking to prohibit any funds for it. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Chair, I submit to you that having a multimillionaire fly around in a private jet does very little for the image of global climate issues. I also submit to you that he has no scientific background. He has not been elected nor has he even been ordained by our U.S. Senate. I submit to you that this is not a good issue, and tying the hands of this country while the folks in India, China, and some of these other countries continue to pollute, to me, is counterproductive. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart), my friend.

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

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Chair, the key to this amendment is just four words: ``or across State lines.'' One of my cosponsors, Mr. Donalds--I guess it is like football practice this morning--is absent. This amendment prohibits Federal funds from being used to transport illegal immigrants over the age of 18 across State lines except for the purpose of removing the individuals from the country. As it currently stands, the bill prohibits funds from being used to transport illegal immigrants into the interior of this country but fails to recognize there are already folks here illegally. This amendment will cut wasteful and unnecessary spending of taxpayer dollars. It will get the Biden administration out of the human trafficking business. It will focus Homeland Security operations on removing the people who enter our country illegally. Mr. Chair, our border States have been overwhelmed by the Biden administration's pro-illegal immigration agenda since he first came to office. This amendment would help our border agents do what they are supposed to do, and that is protect our border and deport illegal immigrants. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Chair, we are leaving out a key element of this. I, too, trust our Border Patrol agents. They are underpaid and overworked. I do not trust this White House. This has four words added to it: ``or across State lines.'' That is what is currently happening. It needs to stop, Mr. Chair. That is the bottom line. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, in 1993, the United States Air Force deployed Task Force Ranger to Somalia to restore order to the capital city of Mogadishu after it was taken over by a rebel warlord. The Battle of Mogadishu was the event which inspired the movie ``Black Hawk Down.'' The Somali people wanted democracy, but this general and his militia took over the nation to impose radical Islamic Sharia law. They hijacked food supplies and cut off water to anyone who did not support their reign of terror. After several successful operations, Task Force Ranger set out on a mission to arrest two of the general's top lieutenants in a building by the Olympic Hotel in a militia stronghold neighborhood. The plan was to surround the building the lieutenants were meeting in, lower themselves on ropes from helicopters and surround them, then take the prisoners to the vehicles that would be waiting outside. Unfortunately, the mission took a catastrophic turn, Mr. Speaker, when two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down by rocket-propelled grenades. The soldiers were attacked, and the battle that followed lasted 18 hours. Eighteen of our brave men were killed and dozens were injured, and the Somalis lost over 1,000 men. This October, Knoxville is holding a 30th anniversary event to commemorate this mission, where surviving members of Task Force Ranger can be reunited and they can remember their fallen brothers. As a Christian, Mr. Speaker, I owe everything in my life, except for my salvation, to the men and women who wore our country's uniform. Members of Task Force Ranger are no different, and I look forward to seeing them in Knoxville this year and welcome the heroes and give them some true Tennessee hospitality.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart to honor the life of former Knox County Commission Chair Thomas ``Tank'' Strickland who passed away on July 18 at 70 years old. Tank grew up in east Tennessee and attended Austin-East High School. He graduated from the University of Tennessee before becoming the first Black chair of the Knox County Commission. He dedicated his life to making Knoxville a much better place. When he announced his retirement, he said he hoped he left every single situation, organization, and person in a better condition than when he started. Mr. Speaker, that was a great understatement. Even after retiring in 2016, Tank continued to serve the east Knoxville community and the entire community as a whole. Just a week before he passed away, he asked me to honor some other east Tennesseans, Leo and Judy Whiteside, here on the House floor for their service to the community. He handwrote his notes about them and sent them to our office. This is truly a testament to how much he loved our community and the folks around him. Mr. Speaker, I am thankful not just for his service to Knoxville but also that I could call him a dear friend. When my daddy had his stroke, Tank would check on my mama every day in the hospital. My mama would always say: ``That handsome young man came by.'' I guess he had a way with the ladies, and my mama loved him. Tank was a dear friend to my parents and my girls. He left behind a great legacy and made our community a better place. He leaves his lovely wife, Terry, and a bunch of Omega Psi Phi brothers. I know he is in Heaven with Jesus, Mr. Speaker, but in a selfish way I will miss him for the rest of my life.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor World War II veteran Anthony R. von Klock. Anthony is 95 years old and was born in Waltham, Massachusetts. Anthony was drafted into the Army Air Corps, where he served as an airplane and engine mechanic. He completed his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas before he was stationed at Great Falls Air Force Base in Montana and Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, and in Japan. He received an honorable discharge in 1949 and earned the World War II Victory Medal and the Japanese Occupation Medal. During the Korean war, Anthony was called back to service, where he was stationed at the Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. After serving in the Air Force, Anthony worked for Mackey and Eastern Airlines while living in Florida with his wife, Leah, and two daughters. He received the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award in 1996 for his accomplishments as a senior mechanic. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Anthony von Klock as the Tennessee Second District's July 2023 Veteran of the Month. I thank Anthony for his service to our great Nation. Do Not House Illegal Immigrants in Public Schools

Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the latest scheme to house illegal immigrants in public schools. The mayor of New York City announced plans to house illegal immigrants in gyms on up to 30 public school campuses, which is a move that poses a serious risk for the students attending those schools. Our children's safety should come before anything else, and we need to stop this kind of nonsensical policy in its tracks before it is too late. This is just another addition to the long list of Democrat schemes that waste taxpayer dollars and fail to prioritize the safety and well- being of American citizens. It dries up resources that should be used to improve our students' education, and it also puts those children at risk. Parents should not have to send their children to schools knowing that they are sharing a campus with illegal immigrants whose backgrounds we know nothing about. We need to protect our schools' true purpose: educating our children and keeping them safe, not providing shelter for illegal immigrants. Recognizing Leo and Judy Whiteside

Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Leo and Judy Whiteside for more than 50 years of dedicated service to the people of Knoxville and their continued love for each other. These two have spent a lot of their free time doing great things for those in need in and around our community. They have delivered Mobile Meals to homebound residents, given communion to church members who were unable to attend the church service, and even advocated for a citywide class reunion at the Austin-East High School. Go Roadrunners. When people volunteer in their communities, it demonstrates what is really in their hearts. It shows they are willing to sacrifice their free time, effort, and money to help those in need and expect nothing in return. Madam Speaker, I am so proud to represent people like Leo and Judy, who love the people around them. They love their family and friends, but they also love strangers they have never met before and take true compassion on them. If you want to know how to care for your community, I think you should look to Leo and Judy for an example. Leo and Judy have been doing it for over 50 years, and so many lives have been made better because of them. Madam Speaker, I thank Leo and Judy. Their service and kind hearts have made the Knoxville community a much brighter place. I am proud to represent them.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, our troops risk their lives and make sacrifices every day in service to our great country. Many have given their lives to defend the freedoms we take for granted, including my Uncle Roy, who died fighting Nazis in France during World War II. Unfortunately, our military has become a victim of the woke agenda. The Federal Government should focus on strengthening our Armed Forces, but Democratic leaders lost sight of that a long time ago. Defense leaders in the Biden administration are now focused on creating the most diverse military instead of the best military. They spend time and taxpayer money pandering to those folks because it scores political points, Madam Speaker. It scores points with the woke mob, and the world is laughing at us for it. Military leaders are forcing soldiers to read books on critical race theory and scheduling drag shows on the bases, of all things. President Biden requested around $150 million in the defense budget for diversity and inclusion programs. That is the American people's money spent on this nonsense, Madam Speaker. If the Biden administration is so serious about prioritizing so- called equity, then no one should have a problem with my amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, which would require anyone who identifies as a man to register for the Selective Service. If these folks want to be treated like men, they need to act like men. I don't support the woke agenda, as you know. I am fully against it, but if Democrats want to play ball, then let's play some ball. Let's see what excuses they come up with for opposing this plan that puts some real responsibility on the folks. We are all sick of these games. We are sick of the Democrat leaders' hypocrisy. If they insist on going down this road, they should expect the responsibility that comes with it, or we could toss the whole woke agenda in the garbage can where it belongs.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to underline the partnership between the United States and the Republic of India. I recently met with India's consul general, Dr. Swati Kulkarni, and an entrepreneur, Mohit Mankad, in my Knoxville office. We talked about India's developmental journey, its leadership over the G20, and the growing partnership between our countries. I believe it is important to the United States to align itself with countries that share its values, and our Nation clearly has a lot in common with India. They are, apparently, the oldest democracy in the world. We all value democracy, the free market, and international trade. I see these values in my Indian constituents who came to this country to live out the American Dream. They work very hard to earn an honest living. They love their families, and they contribute to the communities around them. I fully support expanding our diplomatic relationship with India. As we work toward that goal, I will encourage the Indian Government to make it safer for Christians and people of all religions and faiths to safely practice their faith in public as they do in a truly free society. I think we would all benefit from a closer relationship and growing our shared values.

Mr. BURCHETT

Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Hardin Valley Academy AeroHAWKS for their achievements at the American Rocketry Challenge. AeroHAWKS Team 1 came in first place, and Team 2 came in 10th place. Both teams scored high enough that they were invited to participate in NASA's Student Launch Initiative, and Team 1 has just headed to Paris, France, to represent the United States in the International Rocketry Challenge. I say ``Paris, France,'' because many of you realize there is a Paris, Tennessee, and that is home to the world's largest fish fry. I wanted to clarify that. This was Hardin Valley's first appearance in this competition, and they competed alongside nearly 800 teams from 45 States. The fact they did so well demonstrates their intelligence, dedication, and teamwork abilities. They rose to the challenge and brought pride to east Tennessee. My office gave these students a tour of the U.S. Capitol before their competition here in Washington, and it is clear these students are passionate and bright and will do great things with their future. I congratulate everyone from Hardin Valley Academy who competed in the American Rocketry Challenge. I wish the best of luck to Team 1 as they compete in Paris for the world title. They are making east Tennessee and the entire Nation proud. Mr. Speaker, on a personal note, from my days of rocketry with my Estes rocket, I believe my V2 rocket is still in the tree of my neighbor's house. I will state for the record that if any of these young people would like to climb up and get it, I would gladly reward them. Honoring Corporal Joe Allen Vinyard