Kat Cammack

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 382, the Pandemic is Over Act. I thank my friend and colleague from Kentucky, Mr. Brett Guthrie, for leading this important effort. This action is long overdue. This week we are voting on several bills designed to do what we all in America have known for some time, that the emergency declaration should go away. Constituents have been asking--heck, demanding--that we end this perpetual state of COVID emergencies in the Federal Government and get back to normal. More than 4 months ago, President Biden declared that the COVID-19 pandemic was over, yet interestingly the Federal emergency declaration is still in place. It makes you wonder, why would the President declare that the pandemic is over but not officially rescind the emergency declaration? In fact, many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle seem more concerned with keeping the public health emergency in place rather than addressing the problems we are now being faced with: Things like investigating the estimated $163 billion with a b in COVID unemployment fraud and recovering those funds that were stolen from the American taxpayers; or the approximately $150 billion in unobligated funds that is just sitting there for COVID. That is a pretty easy way to start reducing spending. Or how about the approximately half a trillion dollars that has been obligated but hasn't been pushed out the door yet? Ask yourselves, who benefits from the emergency declaration remaining in place? It is a fact that the continuation of the public health emergency is costing taxpayers billions of dollars and worsening already-crippling inflation, inflation which is costing Florida families in my district an estimated $10,000 extra a year in basic goods and services. I don't know anyone who can afford an extra 10 grand a year. The Federal mandates, like this, have increased private health insurance costs and grossly exacerbated the ever-increasing national debt that will be passed on to my generation, our children, and grandchildren. It is time to get our kids back to school, folks back to work, and life back to normal. It is time for us to turn the page and end the COVID-19 public health emergency powers. Let's get back to commonsense fixes to our healthcare system. Let's get back to work on lowering energy costs. Let's get back to work, and let's get back to work in person.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 497, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act. This bill would repeal the Federal CMS mandate imposed on healthcare workers nationwide. On December 4, 2020, then-President-elect Joe Biden was asked pointblank if he would mandate COVID-19 vaccines for Americans. His answer? ``No, I don't think it should be mandatory. I wouldn't demand it be mandatory.'' Well, as we came to find out and have since learned, you can't take him at his word. By September 2021, the President's tone and position on vaccine mandates did a complete 180. He said that he was getting impatient and ``frustrated'' with unvaccinated Americans. He went so far as to call it ``a pandemic of the unvaccinated.'' Mr. President, I hate to break it to you, but the American people do not exist to please you or any President for that matter. We don't simply comply because you are ``frustrated.'' Yet, it was his impatience that led to this vaccine mandate. I don't know about you, but I am not sure where in the Constitution the government's powers over one's personal health decisions can be found, but apparently, those signs that we see so often, particularly outside the Supreme Court Chamber in bold letters screaming, ``My Body, My Choice,'' are only applicable when it is a certain political agenda. What we do know is that the Biden administration's authoritarian COVID-19 vaccine mandate on our dedicated medical professionals is an absolute abuse of power. It is an attack on the personal freedoms of our frontline workers, and it has certainly unnecessarily exacerbated the healthcare workforce shortage. This bears repeating: We are not anti-vaccine. We are anti-mandate. If you want the vaccine, great. Take it. If you don't, then don't. It shouldn't be mandated. As many of you in this Chamber know, my husband serves our local community as a firefighter paramedic. At the height of COVID, as he was showing up--not staying home--and continually responding to 911 calls of folks who were getting sick, not once did a patient ask if he was vaccinated. Not once did they demand that the firefighters who showed up be vaccinated. When they did answer the call, they went with honor and diligence, and they continued to do their job. Not once did they ask if that patient was vaccinated. Not once did fellow firefighters ask my husband if he was vaccinated. Likewise, as the hospitals filled up, doctors, nurses, medics, and EMTs were working double and triple overtime, taking care of the sick, comforting people who had been left to take their last breath alone as families were left outside. They never once demanded a vaccinated doctor, never once asked for a vaccinated nurse. They were doing their jobs taking care of them because that is what they do. These are the frontline workers, and it is time we stand up for them. Today, in every congressional district in America, hospitals are struggling with staffing shortages. We can address these shortages by looking to the thousands of healthcare workers who were fired or left their job because of this mandate. Let's stand up to the Big Government, one-size-fits-all power grab. It is wrong. It ends today. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Florida's Third Congressional District, I'm proud to honor Councilwoman Mary Sue Rich for her service to the City of Ocala and her efforts to support the construction of the brand new community center at Reed Place. Mary Sue Rich dedicated 24 years in service to her community as a councilwoman, working to improve the quality of life for Ocala's citizens. Among her many other accomplishments as a councilwoman, Ms. Rich recently led the charge to develop the community center for purposes of enhancing the quality of life for Ocala residents. Councilwoman Rich recognized the need for Ocala residents to have ready access to health and wellness and social opportunities at a high- quality facility, and her vision to create a multi-purpose center, serving the entire family unit, across multiple generations and all walks of life, is now a reality. Ocala's new community center will be named the Mary Sue Rich Community Center at Reed Place in honor of her dedication and service to the City of Ocala and its citizens. I'd like to thank Ms. Rich for her service and commitment to Ocala and look forward to seeing the community center's growth. Also, on behalf of Florida's Third Congressional District, I'm proud to honor Mrs. Ruth Reed, a long-time resident of Ocala. For years, Mrs. Reed has worked side-by-side with the City of Ocala to help create a new vision for the site of the new community center as a member of the West Ocala CRA Advisory Committee, and the City's 2035 Vision Leadership Group, the steering committee for the West Ocala Community Plan. In honor of her dedication and service to the City of Ocala, the new property on which the Mary Sue Rich Community Center sits has been renamed Reed Place after Mrs. Ruth E. Reed, a long-time resident of the surrounding neighborhood. We look forward to seeing how Reed Place continues to grow and serve the residents of Ocala.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 26, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This bill does exactly what the title says, which in this town is a novel concept. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, Ann Wagner, for her tireless efforts. I thank our majority leader, Steve Scalise, for his efforts on this issue. And, of course, I thank Chairman Jim Jordan of the Judiciary Committee for being such an advocate for the pro-life community. Today, we are not talking about abortion. We are talking about children. We are talking about children who have been born and are fighting to survive despite an abortion attempt. In some cases when a woman receives a late-term abortion, the baby can be born alive following the procedure. Federal law currently recognizes these babies as persons but fails to outline any requirements of care after the infant is born alive. H.R. 26 would rectify this by requiring healthcare practitioners to treat any child born alive after an abortion as they would any infant and requires that the infant be immediately treated with lifesaving care and transported to a hospital. I honestly do not understand what is so controversial about that. Madam Speaker, this bill establishes criminal penalties for any healthcare practitioner or abortion clinic employee who fails to comply with the requirements established by this bill, because let's face it, no one can deny that a child who survives an abortion attempt, who is outside the womb, breathing, and struggling for life, despite all attempts to end it, doesn't deserve equal protection under the law. Under our law, murder is illegal. That shouldn't be a controversial position. Eight babies in Florida alone, just last year, eight babies were reported to have been born alive during an abortion attempt. The stories are horrific. One that sticks out in particular was an NBC report in 2006. They told the story of a 23-week-old baby boy that was born alive at an abortion clinic in Hialeah, Florida. When he began breathing and moving, the abortion clinic owner, Belkis Gonzalez, reportedly cut the umbilical cord and zipped him into a biohazard bag where he then died. It is hard to read those words. But as has been stated here on this floor in this Chamber, this isn't about pro-life versus pro-choice. This is about protecting those most vulnerable. It is about who we are as a society, who we are as a people, and who we are as Americans. I hope that both sides of this Chamber can agree that accountability is a good thing. Protecting these children is a good thing. It is time to put the party politics aside and the talking points aside and give these children, wanted or unwanted, a fighting chance, a chance that they all deserve.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 5, adopting the rules for the 118th Congress. First, this rules package is an incredible win not just for conservatives but for all Americans. Americans deserve a House of Representatives that serves the people, not a political or a personal agenda. For decades we have heard a series of questions, things like: Why can't we simply pass bills that address a single issue? Why do we have to Christmas tree these bills? Why isn't there enough time to read the bills? Heck, why don't Members have to show up to work to get paid? I hear that all the time. That, among other things, is what we have addressed in this rules package. To be sure folks back home understand, this rules package is the document that dictates how we, as Members, conduct business up here, and that is why it is so important to get this right. This is the most conservative and transparent rules package in recent history, and the thanks go to the Republican Conference at large for working on this and approving this and debating these proposals on three separate occasions since November. Here is a sampling of just what is in this commonsense package: First, every single Member of this body will have at least 72 hours to review each bill. Second, Members will now be forced to vote in person rather than via proxy. Personally, I have never voted proxy, and for me it is pretty simple. If you collect a paycheck, you should show up. After nearly 3 years of abusing this historic voting change, we are finally putting an end to proxy voting. If my husband as a first responder along with thousands of other first responders across this country showed up every single shift at the height of COVID without complaint, then Members of Congress should be able to do the same. Now, on November 29 I testified before the Rules Committee that single-issue bills are one of the single most important things we can do to restore trust in this institution. I am proud to report that this package includes this new requirement, and that is for all Members to certify that bills introduced in the House address a single issue. A huge thanks goes to my friend and colleague from Virginia, Representative Morgan Griffith, for his work on this issue. Additionally, this rules package establishes a brand new select committee that will be tasked to investigate the weaponization of the Federal Government. No longer will the Department of Justice be allowed to target parents who show up for their kids. No longer will the FBI be able to collude with social media companies to censor Americans. Finally, in the ultimate move to drain the swamp and one that I am particularly proud of, this rules package reinstates the Holman rule which allows Members of this body to offer amendments to appropriations bills to reduce the salary or to fire certain employees or cut Federal programs. These unelected bureaucrats--the true, real swamp creatures here in Washington, D.C.--have run roughshod over the American people without consequence, and today marks our first, but certainly not our last, move to hold them accountable. Mr. Speaker, this package is a product that brings transparency and trust to a broken process. I thank all of my colleagues from the Republican Conference for their grit and grace in working to put this package together, and I urge its passage.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, on behalf of Florida's Third Congressional District, we recognize the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard. We thank them for their hard work in commemorating the lives of fallen veterans in North Central Florida. Funeral services for our fallen servicemembers deserve the utmost respect and care, and we are grateful that the Honor Guard provides such memorable honors ceremonies for veterans and their families. With many in our district having served, it is a comfort knowing the Honor Guard bestows such a great appreciation for our servicemembers. We thank each of the 20 members of the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard: Captain Stephen Peter Foster, U.S. Air Force, Retired; Captain Stephen Petty, U.S. Army, Retired; 1st Lieutenant Peter Peno, U.S. Army, Retired; CWO Bill Dorsey, U.S. Coast Guard, Retired; ATCS(AW) Donald S, Kennedy, U.S. Navy, Retired; MSG James Lynch, U.S. Air Force, Retired; MSG Sharon Cooley, U.S. Air Force, Retired; ASMC Ron Roberts, U.S. Coast Guard, Retired; SGT Tommy Carter, U.S. Army; RM2 Thomas Dewey, U.S. Navy; EON2 John ``Moses'' Morris, U.S. Navy; Cpl Joe Dewey, U.S. Army; Cpl. Lewis Alston, U.S. Marine Corps; Cpl. Lew Wolfe, U.S. Marine Corps; Cpl. Jack Kiner, U.S. Marine Corps; EM3 Marshal Searles, U.S. Navy: LCpl Larry Barnes, U.S. Marine Corps; PVT Bruce Hutchinson, U.S. Army; Mr. John Earl, Bagpiper; and Roberta Foster.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, on behalf of Florida's Third Congressional District, I honor the life of Colonel James F. Dougherty Jr., USAF, Retired. He died at the Lake City VA Medical Center on June 16, 2022 at the age of 80. Remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather, Colonel Dougherty was a pilot in the Air Force before moving into financial management. The unprecedented projects he tackled in the Air Force and the Department of Defense were a credit to his willingness to do the impossible in financial management and in support of military pay improvements for our troops stationed around the world. Colonel Dougherty served in Vietnam and in support of Operation Desert Shield/ Storm. I extend my deepest condolences to Colonel Dougherty's family and friends and celebrate his life well lived. Our nation is grateful for his service and sacrifice to the Stars and Stripes.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, on behalf of Florida's Third Congressional District, we honor Mr. Ansil Lewis as the 2022 Veteran of the Year. Mr. Lewis served as a Sergeant Major in the United States Marine Corps from 1987 to 2017. While serving, he received the Bronze Star; Legion of Merit; Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal. After years of military service, Mr. Lewis has continued to show his dedication to our community as the past Commandant of the Roy S. Geiger Marine Corps League Detachment 1047, a member of the board for Operation Bambas, and the President of the Veterans Council of Clay County. We thank Mr. Lewis for his service and sacrifices for our Nation and hope that his volunteer spirit will continue for many years to come.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in overwhelming support for the passage of S. 2159, or H.R. 1960, a bill designating the Florida Veterans Affairs Clinic in Middleburg, Florida, the Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs. First, I thank the entire Florida delegation for their support of this legislation, the entire Clay County community, the local elected officials who participated in this process, and all of the many veterans who call Clay County home. Of course, my biggest thanks go to Ms. Tina Baker, the widow of Chief Andrew K. Baker. Without a doubt, today's legislation would not be here for a vote without my colleague from Florida, Senator Marco Rubio, who ushered this legislation through the Senate Chamber earlier this year. I thank Senator Rubio for his work on this bill. This bill honors Antisubmarine Warfare Chief Andrew Kenneth Baker of Middleburg, Florida. Tragically, he lost his life in service to our great Nation. On March 13, 1997, Chief Baker's H-60 Seahawk crashed at sea during a SEAL training exercise. The mix of rough seas, the pitch of a frigate, fatigue, and visual disorientation caused by the night vision goggles they were all wearing were all factors in the accident. As a result of his death, the Navy launched a formal review of its training policies and has since made drastic changes with regard to night vision training. His widow, Tina, not wanting her husband's death to be in vain, has worked hard to make sure his memory and service didn't get lost in time and paperwork. Today, we have the chance to make sure that her husband is remembered forever. Chief Baker served on the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Coral Sea as the ship's serviceman and completed training in Search and Rescue Swimmer School at Pensacola, and Fleet Replacement Aircrewman training at NAS Jax, where he earned his ``Wings of Gold.'' Chief Baker then reported to HS-9, serving on the USS Nimitz, then on HS-3, where he was assigned as the Training and Operations Chief. At home in Middleburg, Chief Baker was an avid fisherman, always scouring the waters of Black Creek and the St. John's River as much as he could. He coached his son's Little League and served as the troop leader for the local Cub Scouts. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Tina, and sons, Andrew and Jacob. As a personal point of privilege, I say that this clinic has been a large part of my professional life for the past decade. Back in 2015, as the deputy chief of staff serving this district, our team worked hard to secure the appropriations funding for this clinic. Once we succeeded in getting this project funded, finding the building that met the required specs was an entirely new and frustrating battle. After multiple failed attempts to secure a building, we finally succeeded. This clinic has been a blessing to my beloved Clay County and to the veterans who call her home. With today's legislation as the final task outstanding, I can say with confidence to Chief Baker's widow, Tina: Now, he will always be remembered. Mr. Speaker, I urge unanimous passage of this legislation and look forward to it being signed into law to honor this incredible servicemember and his family.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, on behalf of Florida's Third Congressional District, we honor Mr. Paul Blow for receiving the Congressional Gold Medal for his services to the U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. Congress and is given to honor those whose dedication, heroism, and public service have created a lasting impact on American history. The United States will always be grateful to the thousands of Merchant Marines for the gallant support of our nation during times of both peace and conflict.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and remember a special little boy from my district in Florida, Baby Zion. Like about half of people born with Down Syndrome, Baby Zion also had a heart defect--often easily corrected with surgery. Unfortunately, Baby Zion's surgeons were unable to repair his heart, and the only option left for his family--the only way to save his life--was a transplant. His family went through all the right channels to request one. They followed the rules. The answer that they got was no. Why? Because he had a disability. The system failed him. The system decided that his life was worth less than someone without a disability. No Federal law exists to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities who need an organ transplant. No Federal law exists to help these families when they are most vulnerable. No Federal law exists to save these lives. Today, I am asking my colleagues to support legislation by my colleague from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers) to fix this tragic situation. H.R. 1235, the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act, is commonsense legislation that has absolutely no cost--unless we ignore it. I personally met with Zion's family, and, in their grace, their hope is simply that we do the right thing and save the lives of many others like Baby Zion.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the previous question so that we can immediately consider H.R. 6184, the HALT Fentanyl Act. Before I begin, I have to address something that was said just now. I am the wife of a first responder. My husband sees these overdoses every single day. In my community, in just this year, we have apprehended bricks of fentanyl stamped with border cartels' stamps on them. We know it is coming from the border. We know it is being trafficked across, both in trucks at ports of entry but also illegally. We know this to be a fact, and if we do not secure the border this will continue to happen. I will say, as the wife of a first responder, someone whose husband has continually responded to these calls and is reviving people who have been poisoned by fentanyl, it is not a matter of if he, himself, overdoses, it is when. And that is going to be a very bad day because I think that Members of this Chamber need to be held responsible for the open border policies that this administration continues to allow. But I digress. Mr. Speaker, 108,000. That is the number of Americans who died from drug overdoses last year. Of those, more than 80,000 were connected to opioids. The lion's share of those opioid deaths were linked to fentanyl. Now, it is important that we remember that these numbers are actually people. They are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles. They are people. Not statistics. They are humans. They represent millions of families who will never see their son, daughter, husband, wife, brother, sister, father ever again. Millions of people whose families have been shattered and feel helpless, broken, and angry as these horrific substances destroyed their communities and their family. These thousands of victims represent communities crushed by this epidemic, swept away by the flood of lethal substances that are ripping apart the fabric of our society. These thousands of people lost lay bare the denial, the weakness, and the lack of compassion that this administration and my colleagues across the aisle have shown through their ambivalence toward border security, our Nation's security, as literally tons of fentanyl is trucked and walked across the southern border and into our communities. A few months ago, a mother from my district cried in my office as she talked about her beautiful daughter, Mackenzie, who died from fentanyl poisoning, not overdosing, poisoning, after taking what she thought was a Xanax. She was 28 years old. Now, unfortunately, Mackenzie's story is not unique. It is not rare. Her mother, Rebecca, is now dedicating her life to saving mothers across the country from the pain that she has endured from a preventable loss and their daughters from Mackenzie's fate. To my colleagues on the left, you control this Chamber, so it is up to you to decide. How many more Mackenzies have to die before you will take action? You can pretend that there is no crisis at the border. We see that. That is evidenced in your remarks. But we know that is a lie. You visit any community in this country, and you will see that it has been ravaged by the death and destruction wrought by fentanyl. You cannot deny it. Your constituents know it. The American people know it. Mr. Speaker, it is time for our colleagues across the aisle to wake up. So I stand here once again, as I did back in March, fighting against the horrors of the opioid epidemic that have a stranglehold on our communities. We once again have an opportunity to take a stand today, not as Republicans or Democrats but as Americans and concerned citizens, for those that have lost their lives, but also for those potentially in the future. The families of those who lost deserve this. Today is an opportunity to act. Today is an opportunity to put people above politics. I commend my friend, the gentleman from Virginia, for his great work and for sticking with this bill and seeing it across the finish line. I urge my colleagues, please, think with your hearts, perhaps in vain but with hope, to defeat the previous question so that we can immediately consider this bill, the HALT Fentanyl Act.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, on behalf of Florida's Third Congressional District, we honor Eagle Scout John Christopher Bonner, who achieved the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout on March 14, 2022. As a member of Boy Scout Troop 72, John has dedicated over 10 years of his life to serving in his local troop and making the greater Marion County community a better place to live, work, and play. To earn the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout, John completed 36 merit badges requiring him to demonstrate knowledge of and expertise in various life skills, served in troop leadership positions, including Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, and planned and executed an Eagle Scout Service Project. For his project, John built a large movable snake habitat display case for Silver Springs State Park, now named the ``Snake Shack.'' It included a large base cart for storage of supplies and the upper display habitat for the snake with large viewing windows, with overall dimensions 6' L X 6' H X 44" W. This display case will be used as an educational exhibit at Silver Springs. The Snake Shack was constructed with approximately 87 percent repurposed material supplied mainly by Silver Springs State Park. Congratulations to Mr. Bonner, his family, and his troop on this prestigious honor. We look forward to seeing all of his accomplishments in the future.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, on behalf of Florida's Third Congressional District, we honor Eagle Scout Logan Catalanotto, who achieved the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout on July 18, 2022. As a member of Boy Scout Troop 72, Logan has dedicated over ten years of his life to serving in his local troop and making the greater Marion County community a better place to live, work, and play. To earn the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout, Logan completed 26 merit badges, requiring him to demonstrate knowledge of and expertise in various life skills, served in Troop leadership positions including Senior Patrol Leader and Quartermaster, and planned and executed an Eagle Scout Service Project. For his Project, Logan renovated the State Flag Display area in the Marion County Veterans Memorial Park. The renovation consisted of removing 52 flag poles and existing mulch, regrading the area, pouring a 4,000 sq. ft. concrete slab, where the flag poles were reinstalled. The project has made this area easier to maintain, provided more accessibility, as well as making it ADA accessible, and more visually appealing. With all of the various events and ceremonies that are held throughout the year, the park has become a more valuable asset to Marion County. Congratulations to Mr. Catalanotto, his family, and his troop on this prestigious honor. We look forward to seeing all of his accomplishments in the future.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the inflation expansion act. It feels a little bit like Groundhog Day here on Capitol Hill because it wasn't but about a year ago that we found ourselves debating almost this very same legislation. It was a bad idea then; it is a bad idea now. Even Bernie Sanders isn't buying this bill and has said that it won't do much to reduce inflation. The only difference here really is the price tag from a year ago-- $745 billion in new spending. That is not cheap. Do you know what we could do with that? You could give every single working mom in America a check for $96,000. You could give hardworking American seniors, who are, many of them, now retired and having to go back to work, and they are on fixed incomes, you could give them $14,000. You could give every homeless veteran in America a check for $5.6 million with this bill. Instead, we are going to double the size of the IRS and target hardworking families who make $400,000 or less. We know it to be a fact. Stop denying it. The Senate Democrats refused and rejected the amendment that would have protected families making $400,000 or less. Reject this bill. Put Americans first. It is time to vote hell no.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 8373, the right to deception act. First, this bill is completely unnecessary. In no way, shape, or form is access to contraception limited or at risk of being limited. The liberal majority is clearly trying to stoke fears and mislead the American people, once again, because in their minds stoking fear is clearly the only way that they can win. No State--not one--not one State across the country has banned access to contraceptives. That is a fact--and an inconvenient one on the left. Now they are left to make up wild stories about States that they cannot name banning contraceptives. However, rather than uniting behind the broad and commonsense notion that access to safe and legal contraception is important, my colleagues on the left have once again chosen political theater. I guess that would explain the connection to Hollywood, right? It is time to get past the theater and look at these inconvenient facts that my colleagues on the left will not tell you about, and their outrageous claims. They claim that this is a clean codification to ensure that contraceptives can never be banned in this country. Let me be clear, this goes far beyond that claim. In fact, this bill jeopardizes constitutional rights of individuals and organizations across this great land by forcing providers to prescribe various forms of contraception that violates their religious rights. We are a Nation that upholds and values religious freedom, and this bill here today flies in the face of individuals with religious liberty concerns. As a constitutional conservative, I am also disturbed by the provisions within this bill that attempt to provide a back door for abortion service providers, like Planned Parenthood, to tap into more Federal taxpayer dollars. This bill, brought under false pretenses by the left, in a vain attempt to scare Americans with lies and exaggeration represents a clear overstep of Federal authority. If you are still wondering why every single Member in this Chamber should be voting against this bill--the right to deception act--you should know that this administration has already proven that they will sick a highly politicized DOJ on concerned parents.

Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, if you are wondering, once again, why every single Member in this Chamber who took an oath to uphold the United States Constitution, not a political parties' oath, if you are wondering why you should vote against the right to deception act, you should know that this administration has already proven that they will sick a highly politicized DOJ on concerned parents. They have done it before. They will do it again. This bill here today would take away a parent's rights with regard to their children and the State laws that are designed to protect minors. No bureaucrat in Washington knows better than our parents back home. I would be happy to debate that fact any day. Let's recap. This bill--the right to deception act--is looking to solve a problem that doesn't exist. But more than that, in seeking to solve a problem that doesn't exist, you want to spend more of our taxpayer money to grow the size and scope of government and to allow more abortions to occur and kill our children. Cool. You all are a real piece of work. Folks back home, they see right through this, and they will see through it in November. Madam Speaker, I urge opposition to this bill.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record some articles that I feel are relevant to this debate. [From the New York Times, July 3, 2022] Abortion Laws Around the World The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on abortion quickly led to bans in at least eight states, a shift toward criminalization that runs counter to recent easings in countries that had longstanding bans. The Supreme Court's elimination of the constitutional right to abortion, after nearly a half-century, has made the United States one of the few countries actively strengthening abortion restrictions. Abortion is now banned in at least eight states, a shift toward criminalization that runs counter to the longstanding policies of some close allies, like Canada, and to recent easings in several nations that had long imposed bans, like Ireland, Mexico and South Korea. But no nations share the same history regarding abortion, nor does any part of the world have uniform laws: Women seeking abortions everywhere must navigate distinct rules, in a variety of health care systems, if access is available at all. The following examples, while not comprehensive, illustrate the diversity of those laws--and how they're changing. Canada No laws restrict abortion in Canada, where it is covered by provincial and territorial public health care systems as an essential medical procedure within 20 weeks of conception and, under some circumstances, after that point, such as when a pregnancy threatens the mother's life. Access and exceptions vary by province, and sometimes by hospital. Until 1988, criminal laws allowed abortions only if approved by committees of physicians. That year, the Supreme Court struck down the laws in a landmark case. Most legal scholars agree that if the issue were to reach the court again, it would make the right to abortion explicit.--Ian Austen Mexico Before a court ruling last year, abortion was largely restricted, with Mexico City and only three of 31 states permitting the procedure up to 12 weeks of fetal gestation. But the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in the fall that penalizing women who undergo abortions was unconstitutional, and in the months since, five more states have moved to legalize abortions. The justices did not specify how far into a pregnancy abortion was permitted, leaving the details to the states. For the states that still ban abortion, legislatures will need to change laws to permit the procedure.--Maria Abi-Habib nicaragua Abortion is completely illegal and punishable by jail for the woman and the doctors. The Legislature eliminated all exceptions in 2006, ending a century of law that allowed abortions in cases of life- threatening complications or pregnancies caused by rape. President Daniel Ortega, a strong supporter of criminalizing abortion, has received support from Evangelical leaders in Nicaragua and the United States.--Yubelka Mendoza and Maria Abi-Habib Britain Abortions have been legal in England, Scotland and Wales for more than 50 years, protected by the Abortion Act of 1967. Abortions can be legally performed up to the 24th week of pregnancy and must be medically approved by two doctors. The 1967 law allows some exceptions for later-term abortions, including when the pregnancy endangers the woman's health or if a prenatal scan reveals a fetus abnormality. A provision of the law allowing abortion if the fetus carries significant risk of serious disability was at the center of a court case last year. In rare circumstances, such as when a woman, without doctors' consent, takes medicine intended to terminate a pregnancy, an abortion could be prosecuted as a criminal act. The 1967 law did not cover Northern Ireland, which for decades prohibited almost all abortions. British lawmakers overturned that ban in 2019, legalizing ``unconditional termination'' of pregnancy within the first 12 weeks. But with resistance coming from anti-abortion and church groups, abortion services remain limited.--Saskia Solomon Ireland A 1983 constitutional amendment banned nearly all abortion, reflecting the Roman Catholic Church's deep influence in the country. That influence had waned by 2018, when a referendum to end the ban was approved by 66 percent of voters. Lawmakers then legalized abortion in the Health Act of 2018, allowing abortion for any reason up to the end of the first trimester. The law provides exceptions beyond 12 weeks in cases of fetal abnormalities considered fatal after birth or a potential risk to the woman's health.--Saskia Solomon Poland Soviet-era Poland offered some of Europe's broadest abortion access, and it became a destination for women seeking abortions. But after the Soviet Union's collapse, and under the influence of the Catholic Church, the Polish Parliament in 1993 passed one of Europe's strictest bans, asserting that ``every human being shall have an inherent right to life from the moment of conception.'' It allowed three categories of exception: danger to the mother's health or life; rape or incest; severe fetal abnormalities. Despite mass protests, the ban was tightened last year by the nationalist Law and Justice Party, eliminating the most- used exception--fetal abnormalities--which accounted for almost all of the roughly 1,000 legal abortions a year. An estimated 100,000 to 150,000 illegal abortions take place very year in the country, activists say. The remaining exceptions are problematic for abortion seekers. Rape victims face a deadline of the 12th week of pregnancy, and they require a certificate from a prosecutor, which takes a long time to acquire. And the definition of what constitutes a ``serious'' risk to a woman's health is too vague for doctors to always act decisively. In a small number of cases, women have died of sepsis after doctors refused to intervene while the fetus's heart was still beating. Women cannot be punished for taking an abortion pill or undergoing an abortion abroad. Anyone deemed to have aided or abetted an illegal abortion faces up to eight years in prison.--Katrin Bennhold India A total ban was eased in 1971 with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, which made some abortions legal. But activists continued to seek further easing, to include abortion in cases of fetal anomaly or pregnancy caused by rape. In 2021, the federal government amended the law, expanding the criteria for legal abortions and adding a privacy clause to protect women who went to clinics. The law allows women to terminate pregnancies until 20 weeks. Between 20 and 24 weeks, a woman needs two doctors to approve an abortion, and after 24 weeks, abortions are allowed only when the woman's health is at risk. Women can now terminate unwanted pregnancies caused by contraceptive failure regardless of marital status; before the amendment, only a married couple could do that. Still, abortions done in violation of the law are punishable by up to seven years in prison for the woman and medical personnel.--Sameer Yasir China Abortion has been legal in some form since 1953. By the 1970s, as the ruling Chinese Communist Party grew increasingly worried about overpopulation, abortion became more widely accessible, and the one-child policy led to some forced abortions. Sex-selective abortions are illegal, meant to counter the widespread preference for boys over girls. In response to recent concerns over declining birthrates and an aging population, families may now have three children without penalty. Given the government's invasive family planning policies, some women fear it will restrict abortion access. The authorities last year said they intended to reduce ``medically unnecessary abortions,'' without explaining how. Access to abortion services varies by region, with some requiring women to produce certificates of medical necessity. In Jiangxi Province, women who are more than 14 weeks pregnant need three signatures from medical personnel. Scholars, activists and some foreign governments have accused the authorities of using family planning policies to suppress ethnic minorities, which the government denies.-- Vivian Wang Kenya Under the 2010 Constitution, abortion is permitted if a trained health professional determines a need for emergency treatment, or if the pregnancy endangers the life or health of the mother. In other circumstances, abortion providers can face up to 14 years in prison under Kenya's penal code. In practice, many women who could obtain a legal abortion cannot because of poverty, lack of access to health services or a lack of information about their rights.--Matthew Mpoke Bigg Benin Last fall, Benin joined South Africa and Mozambique as one of the few African countries to broadly legalize abortion within 12 weeks. Under the new law, abortion will be allowed ``when the pregnancy is likely to aggravate or cause a situation of material, educational, professional or moral distress incompatible with the interest of the woman and/or the unborn child.'' In doing so, Benin became the third country in Africa, along with Ethiopia and Zambia, to allow abortion based on the social or economic needs of the woman. The previous law authorized abortion only if the pregnancy endangered the woman's life or was the result of rape or incest, or if the fetus was malformed. The new law will take effect after the authorities detail how it will be applied, which could take months.--Elian Peltier Egypt A strict anti-abortion law has been on the books for 85 years, derived from the French Penal Code of the colonial era that bans the procedure under nearly any circumstances. The woman and doctor face imprisonment if convicted. It does have one loophole, which is based on the medical code of ethics: Doctors are allowed--but not legally obligated--to terminate a pregnancy if it puts the woman's life at risk and she signs a document saying the procedure was lifesaving. Though convictions are uncommon, the law and social stigma have pushed abortion practices out of public sight, where the woman's safety cannot be protected and the procedure can be prohibitively expensive.--Nada Rashwan Turkey Since 1983, abortion has been legal up to 10 weeks after conception. Married women need spousal consent. The law allows exceptions after 10 weeks when the pregnancy threatens the life of the woman, if the doctor concludes the fetus has a grave disability, and in cases of rape. Violators face prosecution and prison--for both the woman and the doctor. Abortion remains a divisive issue. In 2012, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, now the president and then prime minister, called abortion murder and urged more restrictions. After popular outrage, the law was never amended, but in practice, abortion services are unavailable in many state hospitals--Safak Timur

Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to fight for life and in strong opposition to H.R. 8296, the abortion on demand until birth act. You know, I never thought that I would have to stand here on the House floor and debate the fact that killing someone for their gender, their sex, their race--but here we are. We are debating a bill that is being pushed by my colleagues on the other side that would legalize abortions based on a baby's sex, race, or potential disability. I am going to say that again because I think that is perhaps the most outrageous, horrific, regressive, sexist, and racist part of this legislation. This bill allows for abortions up until the day of natural delivery because the child maybe isn't the right sex or the right race, according to the mother, who is a woman, by the way. We need to stop this lie that suddenly abortion is healthcare--it is not. I have heard repeatedly talk about this 10-year-old girl who was brutally raped--this is a heartbreaking situation--yet, not a single peep about the man who did this. He was an illegal who crossed our border, who never should have been in our country in the first place, who committed this crime. Not one peep. In our country, we are based really, quite frankly, on a simple notion that we are of equal opportunity, not equal outcome. Abortion, that is equal outcome. We know the outcome. All I am asking today is that my colleagues think a little bit critically about what they are doing and what they are saying, the message that they are sending--that they believe in equal outcome, not opportunity because they are, quite frankly, denying the right for every single one of these children the opportunity to live.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to stop lying. Stop lying. Roe did not make abortion illegal, it returned the issue to the States. Now we see that you all want to take those rights away from the States--strip them, in fact. Under this bill that we are considering here today, you want to take this issue further than Roe ever did and take away the rights of children, those most vulnerable. The notion that women will somehow be stopped at checkpoints, in some 1984 scenario, this is insane and political fear-mongering at its best. You know that. You know that. I hear constantly about these ``extreme positions'' that conservatives and those in the pro-life movement are taking, but what is extreme is not taking a stand for the child that survives an abortion attempt. That is extreme. Denying medical care for that child, that is the extreme. Madam Speaker, I always say--and bless your heart, 36 years of service, that is incredible, 2 years longer than I have been alive.

Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, in that 36 years of service, Madam Speaker, 60 million children have been murdered, with over 30 percent of them being minorities, African Americans and Hispanics. It is curious logic that we murder these children to empower them. Where were the rights of those young, little girls that were murdered? They didn't have a voice. Yet here we are debating the fact that this is a right. A right? No, no, no. This is an issue that has gone back to the States. Not an issue for us here in this Chamber to be deciding, when we know that this Nation is based on life: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It starts at life. The extreme positions, they are being held on that side of the aisle. We are a Nation of equal opportunity, not equal outcome. We know that abortion is equal outcome. Give those children the opportunity to live. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this ridiculous bill.

Mrs. CAMMACK

Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, if we adopt my motion to recommit, I will instruct the Committee on Agriculture to add my amendment that would prohibit the EPA from regulating or taxing emission from livestock. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to support the motion to recommit.

Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 7606, the higher food and increased fuel costs act. I just cannot believe that at a time when we Americans all are paying more for everything, from gas, groceries, energy, and beyond, my colleagues on the left want more regulation and more government intervention. They want to blame Putin and the war in Ukraine, but they don't want to accept responsibility for the very policies that are helping drive these increased costs. If the last year has taught us anything, Mr. Speaker, it is that Big Government with a one-size-fits-all approach of spending into oblivion does not work. It turns out, shockingly, that taking cues from the Easter Bunny doesn't work. Look at the facts: fuel, 106 percent up; eggs, 32 percent increase; fresh and frozen chicken, up 19.3 percent; milk, up 15.9 percent; bacon, up 15.6 percent; baby food, up almost 13 percent. Oh, by the way, we can't find it. Let's talk about that. Right now, our farmers--and I know this for a fact because I come from a rural producing district--have their backs up against a wall. With skyrocketing prices for inputs like fertilizer, fuel, and feed, many of our producers are now reaching a breaking point. This administration, however, seems hellbent on pushing them over the edge. The regulatory regime at the EPA--and I use that word deliberately--threatens the very livelihood of our producers and the long-term food security of our Nation. Everyone in this room can agree that food security is national security, and it is dangerous policy what the left is doing in taking out our producers. Now, it seems as if they are more focused on Green New Deal policies, and our districts will never be the same if we continue down this path. Any sort of tax or additional regulation is increasing the costs to produce fuel and produce our food. This is a time when Americans, keep in mind, are making decisions between gas or groceries, and we are seriously up here talking about increasing costs for fuel and food? Give me a break. We need to slam the brakes on any policy that empowers more government bureaucrats and impoverishes the people. We need to ensure that the EPA does not threaten the future of our producers with such ridiculous, out-of-touch policies. I know that many of my colleagues, particularly in leadership, have not filled up a gas tank in probably 40 years, but I have. Two days ago, I paid over $5 per gallon of gas. That is what Americans are facing. We need to stop empowering these bureaucrats. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of the amendment in the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.

Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.